The Ultimate Regressor System

"Why does it matter so much that we leave?"

Lucas’ eyes widened and he stepped back in disbelief...

What?

Did she just ask why?

This can’t be happening...

Coming out of his stupor, he said to her: "Because this isn’t our faction, Elle."

He placed a hand on his head, confusion and frustration showing on his face... "None of this makes sense. You built an entire fortress out of nothing in a matter of weeks. You can’t just abandon that to ’fix someone else’s’."

Eleanor crossed her arms. "Maybe I see something here worth fixing that you don’t. Her voice hardened. "Maybe not everything has to be about what benefits us."

"That’s not what I—"

She cut him off. "You’ve been here for what, a little more than a week and you’re already making decisions like you know something I don’t." Her voice sharpened, making him swallow his words. "That’s not fair, Lucas."

"I’m not trying to—"

She cut him off again. "You are, though."

"You always do this. You decide something’s wrong and expect everyone else to just fall in line and you decide you owe no one an explanation."

"But I’ve always been right," Lucas said, "I have good instincts, Elle. They’ve kept us alive more times than either of us can count you should know that by now."

"And have you ever stopped to think that maybe, just maybe, you could actually be wrong? That maybe your ’instincts’ might one day lead us to our deaths?."

Her expression twisted into something close to irritation. "Don’t get ahead of yourself, Lucas."

"Eleanor, please, just listen—"

"I have listened." She said. "I’m done." She turned and walked away before he could get another word out, and Lucas stood there, stunned, staring after her with a mix of confusion and dread.

"That went well," Mark said, appearing at his side as they both watched Eleanor walk off.

"Something’s wrong with her," Lucas said, still staring at the spot where she had disappeared around a corner. "That’s not... she doesn’t storm off like that after an argument."

"Maybe she’s just tired," Mark said with a shrug. "Give her time."

"You don’t actually believe that."

Mark didn’t answer right away, and that silence made Lucas stare at him warily.

"Mark. We should be leaving. You know that, right? We came here to regroup, not settle in like this."

"I mean..." Mark rubbed the back of his neck, "It’s not the worst place to stay a while longer. It’s got good food, bigger beds and Elle’s clearly invested in helping these people—"

’The fuck?’

"Are you serious right now?" Lucas cut him off, outrage filling his voice.

"I’m just saying, maybe there’s no rush—"

"Mark." Lucas grabbed his arms, panick slowly setting in. That answer was way too casual, even for him...

"You’ve spent the last several days telling me you missed Eleanor so much you get dreams of her. Now you’re fine with just staying here?"

Mark blinked at him. "Look, it’s not that deep, man. I just don’t see the problem with staying a little longer."

"That’s exactly it, though. It IS the problem. Staying here is the problem. You would have screamed my head off if I said these exact words a week ago."

"Would I have?" Mark said looking like he was thinking about something. "If so, that version of me is very stupid. Who would want to leave such a place?

Lucas released his arm, panick creeping into his chest.

First Eleanor, now Mark. Two people he trusted more than anyone in this entire nightmare both suddenly, reluctant to leave a fortress that they were so ready to leave a week ago.

’This isn’t them. This isn’t them at all...’

’Something’s off...’

Then before the panic fully took root in his chest, exhaled. "I need to think," Lucas said quietly and Mark shrugged, already wandering off and apparently having no clue of how serious this was.

Something odd was going on here. If not, why would both Eleanor and Mark be so against leaving?

The changes were so sudden that he didn’t even know where to start.

Just then, the system bloomed in the corner of his vision.

[Error]

[Error]

[Error]

[Player has failed to fall—]

"And what’s this supposed to mean. What exactly is doing on here..."

This hadn’t happened before. And the glitch didn’t allow him to fully see the message.

Maybe if he could see the rest of it, he would probably have some kind of basis to work on...

Lucas stood alone in the courtyard, mind racing, running through dozens of thoughts in his head, when Ryker’s voice cut smoothly through his spiraling thoughts.

"Settling in alright?" Ryker asked, approaching with his usual confident stride, hands behind his back.

"It’s fine," Lucas said absentmindedly, then he turned to him. "Actually, I’ve been thinking. I’m going to start gathering our people. We’ll be moving out soon."

Something flickered across Ryker’s face. An expression of shock of something close to it before he quickly straightened.

.

"Ah." Ryker’s smile didn’t waver, though his eyes narrowed before he said this.

"Well. I’m sure you’ll do what you think is best."

"Yeah... I just have to find a way to get Eleanor on board."

"Well, if she doesn’t want to leave, you can just leave her be. I’m sure you still need to find the rest of your faction members anyway."

And that reply was enough to make Lucas snap his head towards him.

’Leave her be? What did he—’

"If you’ll excuse me—" Ryker’s voice cut through his thoughts as he saw him turning away " I have matters to attend to."

He left, his movement looking hurried, like he was he wanted to be as far away from Lucas as possible, as soon as possible.

Lucas watched him go and clenched his teeth. "Something’s not right here. And I don’t know what it is or how to fix it."

He clenched his fists, resolve etched into his face.

"Whatever this is, I’m going to find it. And I’m getting everyone out of here, no matter what..."