Chapter Text
It’s cold.
It has been cold for a few days now. The machine in the Regime keeps breaking apart. Even after fixing it, it still breaks apart. Ash questions how his engineer managed to handle this stressful stuff. Maybe because the engineer's brain is made for this while his own brain is made for fighting most of the time. That may be one of the reasons he respects the engineer, not like he will directly tell straight into the engineer's face. He would rather DIE than be someone weak for saying those stuff.
Now to mention, he hasn’t seen the engineer for a while now. Where could the man be? He isn’t the type of person to explore and talk to people after all. Maybe he should check on the current project the engineer is working on. The Deathstar. Surely, Tubbo would be there right? This man never ever leaves his own creation all alone without any warning. He then walks toward the Deathstar.
…
Nope. He was wrong. Tubbo is still missing. Now this is worrying Ash. Where did Tubbo go then? What if he is kidnapped? If so everyone should notice it right? …No. No one really notices about the Regime struggling as they are portrayed as the bad guys from the start. There’s no reason for people to care about the members, no? They are the superior. Still. He is worried. He is worried about what may happen to the engineer. Curse his caring heart.
You know what? He will just go to the storage system and get something out of it but before he could he would need to get those machines working. He looks into the horizon for a moment taking in the mental notes before walking to the factories.
The Regime is lacking people now. Compared to the North, their member size is far different. The high command only consists of him, Tubbo and Haiper. Who is now on medical leave until he gets better. He needs to know if Haiper manages to get out of control of the radiation..? He doesn't really believe that the radiation has done something to the Haiper head specifically. That Multi guy definitely has done something.
CRASH!
A crash could be heard from inside the factory which alerts Ash. Without waiting to see if it’s something minor he already drew out a sword and he ran forward to the noise. He’s expecting someone from the North to steal— or another hell breaks loose not expecting Haiper standing next to the storage system as if he just got caught red handed— or blue handed from Haiper point of view. He quickly puts down his weapon before looking straight into Haiper's face.
“Haiper? What are you doing here?”
Shit— shit shit this is not into Haiper bingo of the day. He just wants to visit the Regime because he is feeling nostalgic. As much as the chip is still working slightly, his mind still stays rooted for the Regime. Now then, how is he going to play it off from his suprem— Ash. Ash yes Ash.
“... I’m just taking my stuff from here! There’s a lot of stuff I left in the system so why not!”
He said quickly, maybe that’s not a great idea. Maybe he should look at Ash's reaction— Wait, how is he supposed to? That guy didn’t even have a face in the first place.
“... Sure bro.”
Ash said definitely not convinced with the answer. But what he can do. What else can he even say? This situation is already awkward enough. How would he even talk to someone who has betrayed him before? He is still pissed at that. No— no Ash that’s enough you are losing your composure.
“Don’t lie, Haiper. That stuff doesn’t suit you at all. Tell me now. Did your little ‘friend’ bring you here for something? Because he needs the Regime for something?”
“Hey! Don’t talk about Multi like that! He is very capable of doing stuff on his own! I really enjoy his company.”
“Then go back to where you should be. Next to him.”
…
They started to get so heated with their argument until other people could hear it from miles away. One of the said people is Katie. She’s been walking around enjoying the scenery while chopping down trees once a while doing anything to make herself feel contained. Sensing the problem, she thought she could pray it off by being the therapist they need! Yeah that’s a smart way Katie! This business woman definitely can take care of this!
“Hai guys!!!”
She said as she walked into the factory making both Ash and Haiper stuck in confusion. Ah, both of them are already at each other's throat before Katie interrupts. She looks at the situation laid in front of her before walking towards one of them and pushing them away from each other.
She quickly talks about how bad it could affect both parties' image if this continues, and they all should just be friends! That would be good, yeah! She continues giving the best stuff people could ask for from a therapist and honestly it kind of works. Although, it didn’t last long before they managed to ragebait each other again.
Honestly— at this point Katie just watches what might happen since it is more interesting to see rather than doing anything to stop it now that she knows it won’t do anything. They surely will resolve it themself! Katie is sure of it. Well— maybe she should do something when they are getting much closer to those big thingy. She didn’t really know what it is but she believes if Tubbo is here he would be pissed if something ever happens in here.
It didn’t take long until Haiper accidentally broke the vault since he was consistently running away from Ash until they went outside to the back of the factories. AND because of that action the vault released millions of items making the place crash. None of the three manage to avoid it before it crashes.
…
Ugh. It hurt Ash's head. That big spike of lag is causing nuisance. He quickly sits up as he doesn't want to be seen laying down like a pathetic huma— something. Looking around as he tries to adjust to the surrounding area. Huh. The factory looks weird right now isn’t it? They are somewhat cushioned by grass and not concrete. Which would be partially impossible as the entirety of the Regime’s ground is made of gravel, concrete— only the one near the watch tower has some grass laying around.
There’s no way the lag shoots them towards the watch tower. Now to think about it, he sees absolutely different stuff right now. They aren’t in the Regime. He knows that because there’s no watch tower— no pantheon— and certainly different buildings. Uh huh…. Okay this is definitely a joke. Maybe a dream as well? Maybe he should just slap Haiper for confirmation.
But! He is far too nice for that so he would just— pinch Haiper face which makes Haiper rose awake as fast as his own body allows. Yep, truly this is real if Haiper managed to get up like that.
“ASH WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU!?”
Haiper said as he held his hand close to the place where Ash pinched earlier. This FUCKING guy. Haiper would say into his mind feeling annoyed. Ash could just wake him up like a normal person would do! But no of course he had to be so different. He is so going to kill this fucking guy.
As much as he wanted to do it right now he had to take some time to look around because where the hell are they at? What even is this place? Certainly not the Regime he can say so for sure. Just as he was about to ponder more about this he heard a gurgle sound next to him making him notice that Katie is next to him.
Katie quickly wakes up from whatever happens earlier and asks where the hell they are, which both Ash and Haiper shrug at the question because how are they supposed to know? This place was never familiar for them at all. They keep trying to guess what part of the island is this place but nothing comes to their mind.
Just as they are about to give up, a figure comes up to them. Those silhouettes… They look quite familiar to Ash. Could it be? No, no way it could be him. But—
“New members? Why didn't the federation tell us about you guys?”
The voice said. With the voice already in mind, what Ash was thinking is correct. It is him. The Regime Engineer. Tubbo. He is back!
Oh how happy Ash is about this information. He has been missing the engineer like crazy. Not like people know about it though.
But wait. If Tubbo was here and he said new members… no. Did the Federation do something to him..?