Polcompball: Nexus/Old Chapter 1: Downfall

= Chapter 1: Downfall =

Inner Circle

 * [[File:Anrad.png]] Anti-Radicalism
 * [[File:Apolit.png]] Apoliticism
 * [[File:Altcentr.png]] Dead Centrism
 * [[File:Horshu.png]] Horseshoe Centrism
 * [[File:Lib.png]] Liberalism
 * [[File:Moder.png]] Moderatism
 * [[File:Neoliberal-icon.png]] Neoliberalism
 * [[File:Radcent.png]] Radical Centrism

Outer Circle

 * [[File:Altcen.png]] Alt-Center
 * [[File:Antideo.png]] Anti-Ideology
 * [[File:Asiaapol.png]] Asian Apoliticism
 * [[File:Classdeal.png]] Class Dealignment
 * [[File:Intcen.png]] Conscious Centrism
 * [[File:Demtrans.png]] Democratic Transhumanism
 * [[File:Egolib.png]] Ego-Liberalism
 * [[File:Glib.png]] Green Liberalism
 * [[File:IndCent.png]] Individualist Centrism
 * [[File:Libfem.png]] Liberal Feminism
 * [[File:Libtech.png]] Liberal Technocracy
 * [[File:Librtrans.png]] Liberal Transhumanism
 * [[File:Modcon.png]] Moderate Conservatism
 * [[File:Modnat.png]] Moderate Nationalism
 * [[File:Neocen.png]] Neo-Centrism
 * [[File:Non-ism.png]] Non-ism
 * [[File:PoliticalIndecisiveness-icon.png]] Political Indecisiveness
 * [[File:Radape.png]] Radical Apoliticism
 * [[File:Radlib.png]] Radicalism
 * [[File:Reform.png]] Reformism
 * [[File:Relreject.png]] Religious Rejectionism
 * [[File:Statlib.png]] State Liberalism
 * [[File:Soclib.png]] Social Liberalism
 * [[File:Synclib.png]] Syncretic Liberalism
 * [[File:3way.png]] Third Way
 * [[File:Veganapolit.png]] Vegan Apoliticism

Outer Circle Hall, Centrist Congress
( Moderatism, Apoliticism and  Radical Centrism stand in an empty congress hall)

So, we're the first ones here.

Yeah, can't believe Radical Centrism actually got up early for a meeting.

Oh, shut up, this is important.

What's this "important" thing you keep going on about? Care to tell us?

Sorry, but no. I want to show it to everyone at the same time. I can't just freely show it to anyone I want.

Oh, come on, don't be such a bummer. Can you at least tell us what it is?

I bet it's a present for his girlfriend.

N-no it's not! It's way more important than that!

( Horseshoe Centrism and Non-ism enter the hall)

-and so I said to him, "there's literally no difference between being alive and being dead.", and he just up and left! Can you believe it? At least Annil liked my joke.

I don't care.

Well, there's some more people, even someone from the Outer Circle. Can't you show it now?

No. Why do you want to see it so badly?

I'm just being cautious. You're the most extreme person here, who knows what you'll whip out?

...

(The rest of the congress members arrive over time)

Well, everyone's here. You gonna show it now?

Let's just do the normal proceedings first.

Whatever you say.

( turns to face everyone in the hall.)

Welcome, everyone, to the 12107th weekly Centrist Congress meeting! Who would like to start?

I would like to bring up the issue of having people like Class Dealignment in our group.

Oh, come on! You guys bring this up every meeting! I come here because I have nowhere else to go. Now are you gonna be nice to me or just ditch me like everyone else?

That's not what you said the last time we brought this up.

Well, I had to mull over it for a bit!

Alright, I'm vetoing this discussion. Too angry for my tastes. Who else wishes to speak?

I would like to talk about how I completely owned a POLITICOID the other day! Said his name was Social Technocracy or something. Me and Antideo crashed into him with our car and we threw his body into a lake!

Okay...

Can I talk about how bullshit it is that I'm not a part of the Inner Circle? Seriously. I'm stronger than everyone here. How come Deadcent gets to be there but I don't?

You weren't a founding member!

Who cares about that?

How about we meet at the middle and make a Middle Circle Statelib and I can be in?

You guys really need to try some yoga. It'll calm down your nerves.

This sort of garbage is why I never talk here.

Don't act like you're superior to us just because you refuse to have an opinion on anything!

What's wrong with not having opinions, eh?

Apoliticism is an extreme!

God, sometimes it feels like we have more in-fighting than the leftists..

Because nobody can agree on the boundaries for centrism! Or maybe they can, I don't know.

Sigh... can anyone say something actually worthwhile or is this going to be like every single meeting?

Hey, now, Radcent, not every meeting-

I'm so sick and tired of this. Day in, day out, we discuss the same menial bullshit over and over! This is why we get pushed over by extremists! This is why they're growing in numbers every day! We come here to "rationally" discuss things and end up fighting and crying over the same topics each and every time!

(The hall goes silent.)

There used to be way more people here! But they've all left over time, to join their real friends in the other factions. We're weak, and it's worsening by the day.

...

However.

I have something that will bring us back to our former glory. Something that will make us more powerful than any faction on this planet!

( grabs something from behind him and shows it to everyone.)

Now, this! This is the Moment Gem!

Forest, Unknown Location
(A peaceful forest, away from any civilization, sits undisturbed.)

...

(Suddenly, a small spaceship comes crashing down from the sky and abruptly stops.)

...

(The spaceship's dock opens.)

...

( Galacticism and a mysterious hooded figure carrying a small maroon box walk out of the ship.)

Alright, we're here. Can I get paid now?

...

(The hooded figure threatens with a sword between the eyes.)

Okay, okay, Jesus!

...

( gets back into the spaceship and drives off.)

...

(The hooded figure heads into the forest.)

...

(The hooded figure walks out of the forest and into some plains.)

...

(After walking for a long time, the hooded figure suddenly stops to look at a strange radar, with a buzzing red dot in the middle of it. The hooded figure looks up at a large building. In front of it is a sign with the words "CENTRIST CONGRESS: MEETING IN PROGRESS".)

...

We're here.

Outer Circle Hall, Centrist Congress
Moment Gem?

Indeed! I bought this off of Esoteric Transhumanism! He said he found it in some old decrepit laboratory.

What is it even for? How exactly will it solve our problems?

Glad you asked! He said the gem had enough energy to keep the status quo... forever!

I highly doubt that.

I trust him. Eso is a smart guy, he knows what he's talking about.

Exactly!

Why would we want to keep the status quo? Some of us want to actively change it!

Hey! I can hear you!

Will it move the status quo closer to the center?

Well... I certainly hope so! We'll just have to test it out to see if it works.

And how in the hell are we going to do that?

I hate this idea! We should work within the system to change it and maintain the status quo that way.

Yeah... This seems a little extreme.

Ugh. Just trust me on this one, you'll want this.

I'm not trusting you! You don't even know how it works yourself!

We'll figure it ou-

(Suddenly, part of the roof and wall behind Radical Centrism explodes.)

What the-!

(A hooded figure jumps out of the hole in the wall and drops a maroon box on the ground, which dematerializes on impact. Out of the box come out dozens of Hive-Mind Collectivists.)

What the hell are those?!

(Suddenly, the s jump into the crowd, while the hooded figure approaches and .)

Moderate, look out!

Huh?

(The hooded figure slashes in half.)

Give me that gem.

(Meanwhile, the s begin to corner a few     of the ideologies present.)

Oh God, what are we going to do?!

Well, kill them, of course! Here, grab some of these!

( throws out a variety of sharpened grilling tools towards the others.)

( and manage to grab a couple of the "weapons".)

I like this idea!

( begins to clobber one of the s with a spatula.)

Why aren't you fighting?!

Huh? I'm not gonna kill these guys. I don't feel like i-

(Suddenly, one of the s jumps on top of and absorbs him, turning him into another .)

What the fuck was that?!

I'm not dealing with this!

( begins to run away, but is caught by a and assimilated.)

Good riddance! They were going to drag us down anyways.

Jesus, man!

(While   continue fighting, another pack of s approaches     .)

Uh... transhumanists? You guys have weapons right?

Right!

( and bring out some advanced swords and guns. They keep the swords while handing the guns to the others.)

Oh gosh, I don't know how to use a gun!

Of course you don't! Just aim at one of them and pull the trigger. They're so close to us that you can't miss 'em!

( and begin to shoot at the horde.)

Can't we just try talking them out of this? Why are we killing them?

Just shut up and shoot!

(While    defend themselves against the s,  notices the hooded figure approaching, clearly heading for the  gem.)

Radcent! Over here!

( motions to to throw the gem to him.)

Hey, you! You want this? Go fetch it!

( throws the gem, and the hooded figure chases after it. catches it.)

Come at me!

(The hooded figure pulls out a medieval sword and begins to duel with . notices this and decides to find out who the figure is. He approaches the hooded figure from behind and cuts its hood in half.)

Aha! ... Huh?

(The unhooded figure turns around.)

Fool.

( pushes to the side with incredible force, and stabs  in the visor.)

No!

(Meanwhile, the rest of the members of the      Inner Circle try to evacuate.)

Come on, people! Move, move! Let's leave this place!

I don't think they can. Look at the entrance!

Holy shit.

(The entrance is being blocked by about 20 s.    and  try approaching them.)

Fuck! I really should've brought my backup rifles today.

Oh, what a shame! The power of hindsight will really help us now!

Shut the fuck up, you! I'm the one with the gun here!

Can you stop fighting for a second and try to get out of here?

Hey, Vegan, can't your nasty-ass food distract these guys with its horrible smell?

Hm... Let's see.

( throws a vegan burger towards the pack, which the s begin to fight for.)

Oh, wonderful! Or not wonderful. I don't know what that did.

Come on, throw all your food!

This seems like a waste...

Fucking do it!

Okay, okay!

( throws his entire food stash towards the horde, causing even more fighting between them.)

Look, there's a gap to the side that leads directly to the outside! Let's go!

(The group begins to run out, except for .)

I'm not very sure about this...

(The Inner Circle notices the opening.)

Look! There's an escape route!

Hey, you! Wait for us!

No way! Get out yourselves!

How about we meet in the middle and only some of you wait for us?

...

( pushes into the feasting s.)

What the hell, man? Why did you do that?!

He was a burden. Come on, let's go!

(While        and  all exit the building,  is caught by a stray  and assimilated.)

(Meanwhile,    and  are trying to fend off the horde in any way they can.)

We can't keep this up for long! Look, people are leaving already!

I don't care. We need to help everyone else that is still stuck in here.

Their numbers are growing! They're assimilating all of our friends!

Friends is a strong word. I'd call them co-workers.

God, who cares?! Let's just get out of here!

Hey, who the hell is that?!

( points towards a fast-approaching .)

Uh, I don't think he's friendly!

Libfem, look out!

( jumps in front of and is sliced clean in half by .)

Holy fuck!

Oh, I know how to deal with this! Come over here, you bastard!

( massively increases the size of his tent and throws himself at . is caught inside and the tent closes.  begins to yell from the inside.)

Go on! Get out of here!

(  begin to push their way out of the horde.  sees this and joins in to help them.)

Follow me!

( begins to hack and slash through the horde. While doing this, he briefly notices his   previous group escaping.)

(Meanwhile, in the bathroom,     and  are all hiding.)

Well then. Guess we all had the same idea.

(The s begin to pile up and bang on the bathroom doors.)

What hell are we going to do?!

We're going to die here...

There's a window at the other end of the room.

It's too small! We can't fit through that!

Maybe through the toilets?

Oh yeah, the tiny, filthy toilets! Real rule of experts here. I'm so glad you're in charge.

Wait... but we can actually fit through the toilets! They lead to the sewers!

Anyone got any better ideas?

(Everyone goes quiet while the banging gets louder and louder.)

Welp.

(Meanwhile, breaks free from 's tent, drenched in blood and with a deep cut in his eye.)

Where is it? Where is it?!

(A strange, cyan-coloured comes up from behind him.)

You can't find it, eh? Have you double-checked everything?

I haven't! I've been stuck in that bastard's tent until now!

Wow, you're really bad at your job.

Shut up, you insolent fool!

(Meanwhile, is crawling through the floor under multiple tables, avoiding the many hungry s. Suddenly, he sees a group of survivors    and motions to them.)

Woah, look! It's Radcent!

He's still alive?

Help me out here!

( helps up .)

Hey, I found your thingy on the floor.

Oh, yes, thank you!

( hands the gem to .)

Let's get the hell out of here.

(   manage to avoid the still-feasting s near the entrance and escape.)

Hey, boss, they're all escaping.

Are they now?!

Well, yeah, but you can't see them. Just let me heal your eye first, we'll find it later.

Let me at them!

They'll kill you easily. You're almost completely blind.

Hmph.

( spots  and motions his group    to stop.)

What are they doing?

Looks like that... thing's eye is hurt. Synclib did him in good.

Uh... guys?

( alerts the others towards the horde of s banging on the bathroom doors.)

There's probably people stuck in there.

We can't help them. Not in our current state. Let's just get out of here.

( begins to mow through the stray s left around the Congress and the group    manages to leave.)

...

(After a significant amount of time, successfully fixes up 's eye.)

Alright! Where are they?! I'm killing them all!

Well...

( looks out to the almost empty room, with lots of dead s and two large groups concentrated in small areas.)

...

Yeah... This was a disaster.

( silently begins to kill all the remaining s.)

...

(After finishing off all the s, runs outside.)

Woah, hey, wait up!

( gets to the outside perimeter and finds it completely devoid of people.)

Where are they?! Why is there nobody here?!

I might have taken a bit too long to heal your eye... Sorry, my medical skills are a bit rusty.

( threatens with his sword.  doesn't flinch.)

You're lucky I can't kill you.

Heh.

CHAPTER 1 END