Chapter Text
From the moment Ash arrived on the island, he knew what he was meant to become.
Power and violence came naturally to him. While the other players formed groups for basic comfort and companionship, Ash built something greater, real.
He didn’t lower himself to the level of those pests for he knew that groups that were only connected through sentiment were doomed to break under the slightest duress. Unlike the others, the regime had an actual goal. When those fragile friendships inevitably collapsed, the regime would still be there, unyielding and strong.
Ash envisioned the future of the island: one nation unifying all players with himself standing at the top.
He wasn’t naive. He knew what this goal entailed, what obstacles he would have to crush to get his way. Even though the regime had recently made peace with the north, make no mistake. There was no such thing as a stable relationship when his goal was to take over the entire server.
Those who surrendered would be assimilated with open arms, those who resisted would be crushed. That was just how things worked. The strong ruled over the weak, and Ash would prove that he was the strongest of them all.
Ash was willing to play the role of the villain. He didn’t fear blood on his hands, no, he relished in it. He was willing to do anything, anything.
But Multi…
Multi made Ash uneasy in a way he couldn’t explain.
Ash liked Multi in the sense of seeing him as a potential ally, a useful asset that could bring him closer to domination over the island. But when Multi talked about experimenting on other players, putting them under surveillance and torturing them for the sake of research…
It made him feel strange. There was an uncomfortable wriggling deep in Ash’s chest that said ‘Is this seriously something I want to do?’ Ash didn’t even blink when he sunk an axe into a northern soldier’s chest, but for some reason, this made him hesitate.
Ash didn’t like it. He didn’t even know what he was experiencing, but it felt like weakness, and weakness couldn’t be tolerated. But he trusted his gut, and it told him that Multi was bad news.
Perhaps that’s the reason why when Haiper offered to look into Multi, Ash said he’d handle it himself. There was something about Multi that made Ash uneasy, something about the deranged look in his eyes that told Ash not to let his underlings within 20 feet of the man. He wasn’t worried for them – supreme leaders didn’t care about underlings – but there was no reason to risk them being put out of commission, unable to serve the regime to the fullest.
Ash was just the most qualified for the task. If you wanted something done right, you had to do it yourself, which was why he was here, stalking Multi’s nametag through stone walls in the dark.
His footsteps were silent as he crept along the cavern wall. He could faintly make out Multi’s voice, muffled by thick stone. He couldn’t see any other names, just the erratic pacing of one nametag, telling him that Multi was talking to himself.
As Ash snuck closer, his hand, which had been tracing uneven stone, hit a smooth, polished wall, jutting out of the cave’s surface. Man-made for sure. This place must be the laboratory Multi had shown him before.
He couldn’t see Multi’s name tag anymore, the low mutterings now silent. He must have warped out, perhaps having been summoned by one of his Polish allies. The timing was almost too perfect, but when Ash checked his mini-map, Multi was far away. All the better then.
The lair was completely sealed with reinforced stone walls, unbreakable to anyone besides the owner. It looked impenetrable to most players, but he noticed that the edges where the walls met the root weren’t filled in with reinforced blocks. It was likely to conserve resources, but he knew how these small vulnerabilities could be exploited.
Concentrating hard, Ash lined up his aim and threw an ender pearl straight into the corner. It clipped through the walls and Ash appeared inside with a burst of purple particles.
His boots landed softly on smooth stone. He didn’t move at first, just listening. When he didn’t hear the sound of an alarm go off or angry footsteps approaching, he straightened and began to walk.
The laboratory was like how Ash remembered. Narrow walkways of metal grates were suspended over uneven stone. Water dripped somewhere in the dark, echoing across cavernous walls, in a slow, uneven rhythm that could be barely heard over the constant mechanical hum vibrating through the floor.
There was a row of vertical glass tubes, glowing with a sickly, green light that bathed the entire area. The glow pulsed and flickered, turning the shadows into something alive. Ash approached one of the tubes. The inside was coated in a dark residue. He could make out the faint outlines of hand prints against the glass.
His jaw tightened. “What the hell are you doing, Multi?” he murmured.
He forced himself to move on. As he walked deeper into the lab, the humming grew louder. It ebbed in and out like the raspy breaths of a beast.
Metal crates sealed green chunks of uranium. Thick pipes snaked across the walls and ceiling, pulsing faintly with neon light as condensation dripped through the grated floor. They were supported by sturdy metal rafters, holding up cracked deep slate.
Ash squinted upwards. He couldn’t make out the details in the dark, but the ceiling appeared to sag slightly between supports. On the metal brace holding it up, a bolt had rusted away, barely holding on.
He stared at it. It was strangely cheap compared to the rest of the area.
Something wasn’t right.
Ash took a step back. The grate beneath his foot dipped, and a sharp crack rang throughout the air.
His instincts screamed, and he moved–
But it was too late.
The support above him snapped, metal raining down. Ash fell down as the floor collapsed beneath him, the grate wrenching sideways. He hit the ground hard, barely managing an awkward roll to absorb some of the impact. He blinked rapidly, trying to regain his senses, when something burst above him.
Glass. A tank. Ash barely had time to lift an arm before glowing green liquid rained down on him.
It splashed on his arm, cold, thick fluid soaking into his cloak. He scrambled away before any of it could get on his body. For half a second, nothing happened and then his entire body seized.
It burned into his skin, seeping inside of him, like it had skipped his flesh and gone straight for his frayed nerves. His muscles locked, fingers spasming as he tried to push himself up–
“--ghk—!”
His vision went white, the world flickering in and out in green flashes.
He writhed uselessly on the ground. It was inside of him, fire in his bloodstream, eating, eating, eating. He didn’t even have enough air to scream, mouth agape in animal anguish.
Another tidal wave of pain hit, dragging him halfway to unconsciousness. He had to move. He had to run.
Run.
Run!
With all of the concentration he could muster, Ash willed his warpstone into his hand. His shaking fingers clenched it tightly as his mind landed on the place that meant safety to him.
With a pop, Ash’s knees hit the ground, purple lavender cushioning his fall. The pain in his arm was so violent that it might as well have been cut off. Rolling into the soft flowers, he curled instinctively around the injury, fingers digging into the soil hard enough to rip out roots.
The world tilted, and for once, Ash did not fight it. The last thing he remembered before his vision went black was the gentle scent of lavender and copper blood.
A sharp buzzing dragged him back.
His eyes opened weakly. It was night now, the stars blinking down at him.
His communicator vibrated beside him in the grass.
With shaking, dirt-stained hands, Ash picked it up, nearly dropping it before his bleary vision was able to focus on the glowing screen.
Needyourblood whispers to you: :)
Ash’s arm twitched. The skin that got splashed was tinged a sickly green.
“...shit.”
That probably wasn’t good.
—-----------------
Despite that ominous message, the next few days are uneventful. He finishes some work around the compound, talks to potential new recruits, and has a few not-so-peaceful peace talks with the north. Things are always busy for the supreme leader of the regime, and he doesn’t have time to dwell on his new injury.
You could hardly even call it an injury. Sure, the area on his arm feels numb and aches occasionally, but besides that, nothing much. Ash had dealt with far worse in the past. A bit of calculated maneuvering of his cape to cover his left arm, and just like that it was like it didn’t even exist.
He didn’t tell anyone of course. Tubbo was already so busy with creating his machines, and Haiper worked tirelessly to bring him gear and information on the other islanders. They didn’t need to be distracted by something so inconsequential. Did the supreme leader have to let the whole island know every time he got a tiny paper cut?
Getting hurt on a simple reconnaissance mission was embarrassing enough already. The last thing he needed was to be hovered over like he was fragile.
So, that was why, when Tubbo asked for some help collecting materials for his newest invention, he immediately agreed.
“Thanks for the help, boss man, really appreciate the second pair of hands,” Tubbo said. They walked deeper into the dungeon, Ash scanning the area for any stray blazes.
Ash only hummed in reply, rolling a rod absently between his fingers. “What do you need blaze rods for anyways? I thought we had stocked up a large supply.”
“Well, yeah, but with the new update to the Create mod, they added tons of new psychics systems!” The engineer’s eyes positively sparkled with passion, shaking his fists excitedly. “I’ve gotta stock up on fuel so I can experiment with the air ship mechanics.”
The corners of Ash’s mouth twitched before he forced them down.
He shook his head, exasperated, “Normally, I’d warn you not to get distracted with side projects, but since it’s you, I’ll trust your judgement. You’re more qualified on these matters than I am.”
Tubbo grinned, bouncing on his heels. “Oh, you don’t know the half of it. Automatic air patrols, long-range cruise missiles– when I’m done, we’ll have a whole new arsenal of weapons at our disposal.”
Now, that sounded promising. Ash allowed a violent grin of his own to break across his face. “You always know how to put me in a good mood, Tubbo.”
“Anytime, supreme leader.”
They gathered the remaining blaze rods, Tubbo chattering away all the while. Ash could only follow about half of what he was saying, but he didn’t mind. It was pleasant hearing Tubbo just talk about whatever new discovery he had made or failed attempt he had to fix. Easy, calming noise.
It was much better than the cold silence Ash was used to. Everything was better nowadays.
Better than–
The glitch over his eye crackled.
“Hey, Ash.” Tubbo’s voice broke through the static in his head. “You good?”
Ash blinked. “Hm?”
“I was just saying that maybe you should talk to Haiper later. I think he said something was happening in the north.”
Ash huffed, “Something’s always happening with them. Fine, I’ll handle it.”
“Alright, good luck. Not that you’ll need it, it’s probably nothing anyways. Before you go though, do you have any redstone?”
“Yeah, I should have some on me.” Ash rummaged through his inventory, finding the red dust. Right as he was handing it over, sharp pain suddenly jolted through his arm.
“Shit!”
His hand spasmed, and the dust fell through his fingers, scattering all over the ground. Ash clutched his arm with his good hand, willing it still.
“Ash!” Tubbo stepped forward immediately. “What the hell was that?” He reached out, but Ash yanked his arm back before Tubbo could touch it.
“I’m fine,” he snapped too quickly. Shit, why did it have to flare up now?
Tubbo paused.
Ash forced his expression to smooth, flexing his hand despite the aching pain. “Muscle cramp,” he said, voice much steadier. “Probably from dealing with the north all week.”
“That was a cramp?”
“It’s nothing.”
Tubbo still seemed doubtful.
“I guess fighting every day can be tiring, even for you,” he pondered. He sighed. “Don’t let them stress you out, supreme leader. You don’t have to entertain their bullshit whenever they decide to pick a fight.”
Ash snorted. “The north isn’t capable of stressing me out.” He cocked his head to the side with a mocking smile. “But even paper cuts can get irritating when you collect enough of them.”
Tubbo laughed. “Wow. Remind me to never ask what category I fall under.”
With that, the little incident seemed to leave Tubbo’s mind. Ash left before his body could betray him a second time.
—---------------------
As Ash waited for Haiper’s report, he examined the terrain of his regime.
The air hummed with the churning of heavy machinery and metal clanging in the distance. Smoke billowed from the factory towers, staining the perfect blue sky with dark clouds. Ash preferred the controlled-chaos of the regime’s industrial complex over the rest of the island. Somehow, it felt more real than the artificially picturesque paradise that the Federation dumped them into.
He leaned over the railing overlooking the lower level of the compound, waiting for Haiper to arrive. His fingers tapped idly on his sleeve, right over the aching numbness underneath.
A loud whooshing noise resonated through the courtyard, and Ash looked up to see a waypoint activate with a rush of particles.
It was Multi. Great.
The man looked as shady as ever. White lab coat stained at the bottom, green dreads framing his face like the hanging vines of a weeping willow. His face was pale and gray, like he hadn’t seen the sun in months, which knowing Multi, might not be too far off. Deep, sunken bags hung underneath his eyes, the rest of his face covered by a black gas mask.
It was a wonder he didn’t attract more stares, but the general eccentricity of the rest of the islanders allowed him to blend in.
Ash jumped down from the plateau, deftly cushioning his fall with a wind charge. “Multi,” Ash greeted smoothly. He spread his arms out theatrically, a grin easily blooming across his face. “What brings you to our fine compound?”
“Can I not visit an ally?” Multi asked lightly. His gaze wandered across the complex. “I see that the regime has grown a lot since I last visited.”
“And that will only continue in the future. Things are progressing much smoother than I could have ever predicted.”
“Is that so?” Despite the mask covering his mouth, Ash could hear the smile in Multi’s voice. “But I have reason to believe that things aren’t going as well as you say.”
Ash felt Multi’s gaze move across his body, unsettlingly. Assessing. It was not unlike the sensation of a butcher inspecting a lump of meat before deciding where to cut, or more accurately, a scientist examining a specimen under a microscope. For some reason, the situation felt familiar.
Multi’s eyes lingered on Ash’s arm. He smiled knowingly. “Giving you any trouble?”
Ash grinned back, all teeth and blood. “Not at all.”
Multi hummed. Tilting his head to the side, he tapped a finger against his chin. His voice was playfully teasing, like this was an inside joke between friends. ”I don’t know if I believe you.”
Ash cocked his head to the side, mimicking his friendly demeanor. “Care for a demonstration?”
Without waiting for an answer, he whipped out his axe, swinging it at the nearest tree. Pale wood gave away easily under enchanted purple metal, collapsing with a violent crash that sent splinters flying everywhere.
Ash swung the axe over his shoulder. “If you want a closer look,” he said, voice lowering dangerously. “I’m happy to provide a hands-on demonstration.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Multi replied smoothly. He couldn’t see his expression underneath the mask, but his voice sounded almost amused.
It sent a pang of annoyance through Ash, and suddenly he was tired of the games. They both knew what had transpired in that lab. The conveniently placed broken grate, the rusty bolt, all manufactured to create the appearance of a natural break. Ironically, it only made the tampering more obvious.
“What do you want, Multi?” He asked quietly. “I hope that wasn’t some pitiful attempt to kill me because if so, I would be quite disappointed.”
“Kill you?” Multi sounded almost offended. “Ash, if I wanted you dead, you would be. That was just meant to be a little trust test after our last conversation.”
Their last conversation where Multi brought Ash into his mad scientist lab and said he wanted to kidnap the other islanders to experiment on them. Right.
Multi continued, “No worries, though, I’m not offended. I know you’re the type who doesn’t trust anything you haven’t confirmed yourself. I’m sure we’ll have the opportunity to earn each other’s trust in other ways.”
“How gracious of you,” Ash drawled. “And what if I’ve decided that I have no need for your trust?”
Multi’s eyes curved up into crescent slits. “Oh, I think you’ll have plenty of reasons to work with me. For you see…” He chuckled softly. “We’re in the same boat.”
Then, slowly, Multi pulled back one glove.
Green light flickered faintly underneath the pale skin of his hand. His veins glowed beneath thin, sickly skin.
Ash’s expression finally faltered.
“I’m infected as well,” Multi said calmly. “Though you could say that my condition is more… stable than yours.”
“You… did that to yourself?” Ash asked. He stared at the unnatural color of Multi’s blood.
“Of course,” Multi replied, genuinely puzzled. “How else could progress be made?”
Ash’s heart clenched uncomfortably.
“I’m sure you’ve begun experiencing symptoms already. That’s normal,” Multi said conversationally. “Pain, numbness, fatigue. Muscle spasms. Eventually, insatiable hunger as your body burns through energy reserves to fight the infection.” He put his hand under his chin in mock curiosity. “I wonder how long it’ll be until you’re unable to get out of bed.”
Ash gritted his teeth. “Well, what about you? I assume you’ve found a way to deal with the radiation if you’re standing and talking here now.”
“I’m developing a cure as we speak. It’s still a work in progress, but enough to stall out the symptoms. Of course, it’s all still very experimental. I don’t have any guarantees on how it’ll affect different physiologies from myself.”
Ash scoffed. “I think I’ll have to pass.”
Multi shrugged. “Suit yourself,” he said pleasantly, slipping the glove back on. “But if your symptoms ever become too difficult to manage, I’m happy to help.”
“They won’t,” Ash said shortly.
That made Multi chuckle, and he seemed to be about to reply, but he was interrupted by the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps.
“Ash!” Harper called, jogging towards them, book and quill tucked under one arm. “Sorry being late, the north—“
He stopped abruptly upon noticing Multi.
“Multi? What are you doing here?”
Multi took one smooth step backward.
“I was just about to leave. Me and your supreme leader were finishing up our conversation.”
He turned around, gaze lingering on him for the final time.
“Take care of yourself, Ash.”
Then, he placed a hand on the waypoint and disappeared with a flash of purple sparks.
Harper stepped forward to take his place, brow furrowed. “Were you two talking about anything important?”
“No,” Ash replied. “Nothing at all.”
—-----------------
The next morning, Ash woke up vomiting blood.
Maybe this would be more of a problem than he thought.