Part 125: [continued]

So, this thing happens.



Then this thing happens.

It's all identical to before; everyone swaps portentous remarks about Radical 6 before realizing they're due at the Chromatic Doors. Since this is our second time down the Yellow branch, our options at this point are the same; as the Magenta Pair with Clover, we can take the Red door with Dio, the Green door with Quark, or the Blue door with Tenmyouji.

VLR OST: [Strain]



Listen in: [English/Japanese]


I won't go with Sigma.
He betrayed me last time.


What about Phi?


You hit the button, right Sigma?


Well, yes, but...




Same reason. I can't trust that he won't betray me again.


Arg... Thanks a lot, Quark. You've single-handedly torpedoed my reputation...




No. We can't do Option B.


Why not?


I'm sorry Luna, but I can't trust you or Phi either.
The way he is right now, someone's going to have to carry Quark.
I just can't afford to give him to someone I don't trust.




Not enough for this.


Then what do you intend to do?



Quark shifted silently in K's arms.




Quark is a solo, as are you, Tenmyouji.
Solos can't pair with one another. You do remember that?


Yeah, of course I do.
I didn't say there wasn't anyone I trusted. There's one person...


Who do you trust, then?


Clover.




Yeah, that's what I said.


Why...?


I can't tell you.
I just know that you'll keep him safe.


Um... Well, that's nice of you to say, but...
My partner is Sigma. Are you sure you want me to take him?


It's fine.
Clover, you just vote by yourself.
Make Sigma wait outside the AB Room.




If Clover takes Quark, then we have to go with Option C, right?




There's no way in hell I'm going to let that happen.


Who do you want to pair up with, then?


Isn't it obvious? Quark.
Remember what the announcement said?
Something about how the system will automatically vote "ally" for anyone who doesn't enter their own vote in time.


If Quark doesn't wake up by then...


No!
This is exactly why I can't trust any of you!




We don't have time to argue this. Let's take a vote.
Those opposed to C?



Alice and Dio's hands went up.




What? Why don't you want C, Dio?


Well, if she's got that much of a hate-on for me, that hardly plays into my hands, does it?


Hm. Fine. Whatever.


I assume anyone who didn't raise their hand is all right with Option C, then?



No one objected. I kept my mouth shut too.
Just as Alice had said, there was an excellent chance that Quark would default to "ally." If that happened, he'd make a great opponent.
I'd choose "ally," of course, but it would be good to not have to worry about him choosing betray...
...
...

Listen in: [English/Japanese]




Wait! What about me?!


Stay here if you don't like it.
I imagine your partner might have something to say about that, though.



K handed Quark to me gently, then crossed his arms and turned to face Alice.
Her jaw clenched as she stared up at him, and I could see the gears turning inside her head.




F-Fine.


Ten seconds remain until Chromatic Doors close.


Hurry Clover! The door's closing!


R-Right!


Hey!
Take care of Quark!


Don't worry about it!

[Music fades out]



I got a good grip on Quark, nodded to Tenmyouji, and took off for the door.
Our feet slapped against the metal floor as we ran. The empty voice of the announcer echoed in my ears...




Two... One... Zero.
Chromatic Doors closing...



VLR OST: [Placidity]





Listen in: [English/Japanese]


Well, there're three doors here...
But it looks like they're all locked.


Hmm...




Can you pull the lever?
Come on, my hands are kinda full right now.


Oh yeah...
I can take Quark then.


You really don't wanna touch that thing, do you?


Well, I mean look at it! It looks...suspicious.


Like I'm gonna touch it and WHOOSH a bunch of poison needles fly out of the wall! Maybe if I had, like, a piece of wood to move it with or something...


I think you might be a little paranoid.


Then you do it.


Fine...



I shifted Quark over to one shoulder and flipped the switch with my free hand.






For now. ...Only one of the doors opened.


Did you see the plaque on that door before it opened?
I think it said something like "Treatment Center."


Do you think that's some kind of medical thing?


First an infirmary, now this...
Why do I keep ending up in these places?



I glanced over at Quark, asleep on my shoulder.




Hey...
You know what, we may have lucked out.


Huh? What do you mean?


Well, if this is where they treat people, maybe they've got something that can cure Quark?


Oh... Yeah!


Let's head on in, then.


Okay!

[Music fades out]

VLR OST: [Sinisterness]






It says on the side... "Treatment Pod."


So I guess it...treats people?
Maybe it can help Quark!


Yeah!




...


Let's take a look around.
Maybe something in here will tell us how to unlock this door.


Okay!



Clover nodded and bounced off to examine the room.
I lay Quark down just outside of the door to the treatment center. Clover might have been overly paranoid about the lever, but there was no harm in being cautious.




_{Hang on there, little guy.
We'll get you fixed up soon.}



I ruffled his hair gently, then turned and headed back into the room.
I had some investigating to do.