THE SPACE NAVY AU (18+)

"Oh. He said something about recently dealing with clowns. So why are you hiding? They left."

 

"They'll find me. They'll— send— if they find me they'll send me back, they'll— send— YOU, YOU FOUND ME, THEY'RE NOT GONE, NOT EVER GONE, YOU'LL TAKE ME BACK, YOU CAN'T!" The troll lurches into the darkness, swinging their mace blindly. They clearly have no idea where Bel is anymore.

 

You could just escape. Your mental map of the area revealed by the cart's headlights is good enough to get out of range, at least, and you can be quiet when you want to. But then what? Also, you kind of think they're not entirely insane, just terrified.

"I don't know what to tell you," you say sympathetically. "I'm new here myself. All I can say is I haven't heard anyone talking about looking for you, or anyone being missing, or sending anyone back to anywhere." You move after talking so they can't follow your voice. "Are you hungry? I only have camping food, but I'll share if you want some."

 

The troll charges the direction Bel spoke from, lashing wildly around.

"I'm not stupid! You can't poison me!"

 

"The packaging's still sealed, but whatever, suit yourself." On second thought, you risk giving away your position by accessing your modus, and eject a stack of freeze-dried lasagne at them. It makes a tremendous amount of noise as it skids, rustling, across the floor. "I don't even like this stuff, do what you want with it."

 

The frantic troll leans on their mace like a staff, panting harshly, and casts around after the source of the noise.

"Sealed?" they ask, suspiciously, and retreat a few steps until, by the sound of it, they step on one. They make a startled noise and pick it up, then the rest, then slowly open and consume one.

"This tastes awful," they finally say, their voice rough but a lot clearer than it had been, and open a second one.

 

"Yeah, you're supposed to rehydrate it with hot water but that just makes it mushy. Keeps forever, though." You put your back to a wall and slide down until you're crouching on your heels, still ready to bail if things get unpleasant but now willing to wait and see where this goes. You could use a guide, if they do manage to come to their senses.

 

"No hot water down here," the troll says, and gives a hoarse, coughing laugh. "No nothing. Just the dark." They eat at least three more packets. "Tell them there's nothing here. They come looking, there's nothing here. Not me."

 

"Sure. I'm not supposed to be here anyway. I'm a warp accident. Do you really think someone's looking for you?"

 

"They're always looking. Our Messiahs see everywhere, they're looking— they see everyone, everyone, they got eyes in your soul." The troll shudders convulsively, the purple glow of their eyes flaring. "Drag my corpse back there. Not me. I'm gone. I got out. I'm here now. Aren't I?" This last bit is a plaintive appeal.

 

"As far as I can tell, you're one hundred percent real," you assure them. "I don't think there's any chucklevoodoos or other clown shenanigans going on, either, but I'm resistant to those, so I can't be as sure. What's your name? Mine's Bel."

 

"Punchline. They, they call us. That. They took my name away. Animals and jokes don't get names. Messiahs' rules." Another rusty, painful little laugh. "Messiahs rule forever and ever and ever. Not here, though. Not here."

 

"Yeah, no, I think Galley rules here. You don't remember your name?"

 

"No, man. It was taken away. What's Galley? It rule in the dark? I— I don't mean any disrespect. I'll pay up, I'll pay blood and all."

 

"Galley's the Helmsman. He's... the ship. The ship you're on. You know you're on a ship, right?"

 

"The ship. Yeah. I'm on... Sunslammer, right? Carrier ship. Carries me away. Not supposed to be here. You gonna turn me in?" Suspicion again. "Trying to play nice with me? Get in good with upstairs?"

 

"Nah. I'm just curious. Like I said, I'm not supposed to be here either. Anyway, I don't think Galley's afraid of any clown gods."

 

"He hasn't met them yet, then," the brownblood says grimly. "He will when he does. Everyone will. You don't know, man. When they see you. They don't let you go. They see you."

 

"Well, you've succeeded at creeping me out, congratulations. Can I come sit a bit closer so we don't have to talk so loud? We can use my phone for light."

 

"NO! NO LIGHT!! NO PHONES, NO COLORS!" The troll's got their weapon up again, on high alert, terrified and furious all over again.