TADC EP 7

Kinger: AH!

(Who in turn startles Zooble.)

Zooble: Oh, my God.

Caine: What's your takeaway from all this? Is it that I'm actually a cool guy with cool hobbies and am not that much different from you beautiful humans?

Caine: Wowie! I'm so glad we understand each other a little more. I really am trying my best to make you guys happy, and being appreciated for that just makes me want to...

(He tears up until he Blue Screens again. Jax makes another attempt to get into Caine's mouth.)

Ragatha: Huh? O-Oh, I probably know about as much as everybody else. But he's also helped me through some of my hardest times here. Is it weird to say I... I trust him the most out of everybody?

Pomni: No, that's not weird at all. I had a similar experience, and... I think he might know more about this place than he lets on.

Ragatha: Yeah, he has been here longer than anyone else. But I just -- I don't know. I think it's kind of strange that Abel isn't interested in him at all.

Caine: What are your thoughts on cedar smoked salmon? I see "cedar" smoked salmon, but I hardly "knowder" smoked salmon! [laughs manically]

Jax: Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha. Uh, do you have any secret hobbies?

Caine: "Secret hobbies"?

Jax: Hey, Caine! You around?

Caine: Hey, Jax. I didn't know you could ask if I was around like that. Good job!

Jax: Uh... You want to get dinner together?

Zooble: Yeah, I think we all got that.

Abel: An AI specifically created to keep your minds active. But he's just as much of a prisoner as you are. One that, uh... won't be able to leave with us.

Zooble: Just get to the meat and tell us exactly how we're gonna leave if we're all hooked up to stasis pods.

Pomni: I'll go get Kinger.

Abel: We can fill him in later. I don't really know if I'm, uh... ready to face him again after what happened.

Pomni: Uh-

Jax: [sighs] Sure. Why not?

(The group reunite with Zooble and Gangle.)

Zooble: Where even is Caine? He might be suspicious of us even being here.

Jax: You're what?

Pomni: Yeah. He's not actually an NPC. He's a human. Like us.

Abel: Yes, I know. [laughs ruefully] Getting stuck with a blank mannequin body of all things. Caine completely overlooked me. But because of this, I was able to, uh -- Well... I think I've found the way to leave.

(Jax turns away from the photograph and stares at the wall... And as he stares, a triangular gap appears in the corner, to his shock. And further shocking him, Ribbit's arms grow out from behind the gap and reach out towards him. Jax also reaches out, and the the tips of their fingers make contact...)

(A naked Jax now finds himself in a dimension of a colorful, changing landscape. He continues motionlessly soaring through as he closes his eyes and smiles...)

(… And his doorbell rings, waking him up. After a few seconds, he opens his door.)