We need these published by Random House. It’s the perfect name for a publisher.
2 Likes
Hell yeah, that’s what I’m talking about! The biggest loser from BoD has finally arrived, let’s gooooo!
7 Likes
I think you mean was technically here the whole time.
or did someone not read chapter 12 
2 Likes
I mean, this is the official reveal, so only now I can celebrate
8 Likes
4 Likes
Welcome the land of the great departed… or shall we say temporarily separated?
1 Like
–
Chapter 15
–
The corner was rounded, and eye contact with Diero was made, prompting him to dart forwards in an attempt to rush the figure escorting me. The figure escorting him, however, grabbed his ankle as he bolted and threw him into the wall.
“Is that everyone, Pakari?” The orange one - I recalled him name being Bird and immediately set to work to come up with insults - peeled Diero off the wall and attempted to set him upright. Pakari shrugged in response. “It’s all the ones I could find. Thought this one was a robot, so I stored him with the equipment.”
“Speaking of,” He tossed something towards Cordax, who was so busy being visibly depressed at the situation that it hit him in the face. With a scowl, he picked it up off the ground, only then processing it was his knife.
“I’ve been meaning to ask why your name is literally just your face.” I murmured.
“And I’ve been meaning to kick you into the ceiling.” Pakari shot back. “If you’re really nice I won’t have to.”
Winger had retrieved his inexplicable gadgetry and Racie had at least temporarily retrieved her will to live. I tightened my collar, prematurely cutting off a shiver that worked through my system. This was it. Everything that had been done was done to make this moment possible. To meet Volume face to face - to bring this series of events to a close.
I pulled the collar of my coat tighter. The tenseness seemed to be obvious to Winger as we ascended in an elevator, higher and higher up above this strange city, as his gaze did not travel across the endless grey rooftops dotted with neon lights from the streets which twisted and crawled in between them. No, under that obtuse helmet his eyes were fixed like welded iron to me.
My gaze turned to meet him. I only survived a few seconds before I had to break away, struggling to hide any sign of what was truly going through my mind. That I’d never be able to tell him… That if everything worked out, he’d never be able to know.
“Did you know this city was built on rock 'n roll?” Bird mused, looking out over the multiple districts with no visible difference to any of them while several party members in the elevator began to look annoyed. “And I mean literally! The cliffside there runs a long ways, and where we are is a rather circular portion, but the industrial areas hug the cliffside and wraps around to where it ends. The whole city’s shaped just like a musical note. That’s why it’s called Music-”
“NO ONE CARES.” Nearly everyone in the elevator turned and barked at him in near perfect unison. Thoroughly startled, Bird made eye contact with Pakari who had practically lead the cry before shrinking into the corner and trying to avoid any further eye contact.
“Welcome, welcome!” The voice of Zippy blared over the speaker. “You are the 17th party to meet Volume face to face! Unfortunately, Riot Break Officer Designation 44131 Assigned Title Bird, unlike Special Forces Trooper Designation 99872 Assigned title Pakari, you do not have the clearance to access Volume’s chamber nor ride in his personal elevator! I must ask you to exit the elevator now.” The elevator stopped high above the city and the doors opened, showing the way to an undeniably frightening death. I cowered back from the thought of the fall almost as much as Bird-brain did.
Okay, that was too easy. Surely I have higher standards than that.
“Are you insane?” Pakari blurted out. “Zippy, I have clearance and I say close the dang doors and get us up there!”
“No can do, Special Forces Trooper Designation 99872 Assigned Title Pakari! I don’t have the clearance to give you the clearance to give him the clearance to allow yourself up there.” The voice began whistling and I had to lay a hand on Cordax to stop him from potentially scaling the glass wall and ripping the speaker out.
“And who gives you that clearance?” Pakari growled, ready to imply a message would be sent to Volume if he did not comply with simple instruction.
“Only Volume and myself can!” Ziippy replied with glee. “I know your frustration, Special Forces Trooper Designation 99872 Assigned title Pakari, but I can’t let you access Volume’s chamber to get clearance with Riot Break Officer Designation 44131 Assigned Title Bird present in the elevator! It would-”
“Why don’t you just give yourself clearance?” Bird quipped.
There was a long silence during which everyone stared at the speaker, only being broken after Pakari cleared his throat. “You there, Zippy?”
“I had not considered that.” Zippy replied, almost mesmerized by the thought. “Alright, then… I give myself clearance! Bird, you have been given clearance to access the personal chamber of Volume. Proceed. And have a pleasant evening!”
“Is there a reason Volume had to make Zippy so annoying?” Bird murmured towards his superior. “Or so… Dense, I guess? Although he’s a hologram AI, so it’s not like there’s any actual density…”
“I mean, they were all living people at one point.” Pakari shrugged. “It’s not like Volume made him that way.”
Bird nearly jumped through the ceiling, the elevator shuddering as he came back down. “Do you mean we’ve been deactivating these things when they’re people? We’ve been KILLING them?!”
Pakari opened his mouth to respond, but didn’t, holding his chin in thought. “I d… I don’t know. Volume simply told us to follow any directive from him, and he explained the process to me, but…” Pakari smashed his wrist into his forehead. “It’s just a little flame at the back of my mind now. I can’t believe it’s just a burning memory and not- Why didn’t I think of this til now?”
The elevator doors opened. Having been facing the city below, the party had to turn around to face the entrance. The moment they had, Diero jumped forward and entered a ready stance, growling through his teeth. Winger recoiled back, Cordax slunk forward with knife in hand, and Racie was still looking out at the city below through the elevator, not having processed that we had arrived. A cough from me drew her attention.
“GHID?!”
In the center of the room there was a red pillar, made of a soft fabric, and lined at the top with a collar of white fur. This cylinder turned until the figure inside was revealed. Very angular in appearance, with an insanely tapered waist and very pointed feet, he was wearing a slick black suit with a sharp red tie, and his head - which was the only thing about him that wasn’t angular - was pill-shaped, with a vertically-stretched hole for a mouth accompanied by two flanking it underneath, two grooves in the left cheek, and two flat and emotionless eyes embedded in his skull. As he stood, there was a click, and two extra eyes emerged from the right side of his head, like dials in a machine.
“You were expecting maybe Al Bowlly?”
–
4 Likes
Where we go, there is no joy.
Temporarily separated in both places, it seems. Now Renner is reunited with his friend, and Ghid…
Not too many chapters left.
3 Likes
I still cannot comprehend the fact that Tomorrow was actually Renner the whole time…
Is this a reference to me always promising to do something “tomorrow” and actually doing it like half a year later?
8 Likes
boi you better catch the heck up because next chapter the house falls in
at that point making theories about it won’t be too efficient
4 Likes
Speedrun mode: activated
9 Likes
5 Likes
Okay, I’m fully caught up now. Like, 100%.
As for my thoughts… I think I should say something quirky and negative (for reasons obvious to both of us), but I cannot, I’m afraid. So, I’m gonna break character and be completely genuine for a second and say that I really enjoyed this book so far… all of them, honestly. I think you’re done a great job with these, this has been a great read, and I’m very honoured to have had a chance to be a part of this whole thing. I regret that I didn’t participate pretty much at all in any of the discussions regarding this book… I’ve missed so many great opportunities, and I’m hoping that I will be able to make up for that now that this story is entering its final stage.
So, from now on you can expect some occasional wacky theories and chapter reviews from me.
I’ll try my best to make the good old days real again.
Uhhhh… wait, you aren’t supposed to be wholesome here… uhhhhhhhhhhhh…
I’ve found a typo or two somewhere in the book, so 0/10, did not enjoy 
8 Likes
there may be a twist
oh thank goodness I was worried
3 Likes
I cannot confirm or d-
yes.
3 Likes
new theory: the BoL universe was made by the government or something to trap ghid’s mind
unfortunately they took out almost everything except for the 60s sitcom dad part of ghid so he still functions
4 Likes
has nekidax appeared yet
2 Likes
read the book burnet
5 Likes
ah, a new chapter hath appeared.
Very interesting to see ghid make his return, but also
I come back
1 Like