WASSUP FAM, IT'S YA GIRL, STOM.

Out of character for me, but this chapter is mostly just filler, to be quite frank- but it's still important so don't skip it, you piece of-

WC: ~1400

Enjoy!

"I know I just called a meeting," Xisuma sighed, speaking to the group of Hermits. "But, once again, this is important."

The Hermits glanced around at each other, mounting expressions of confusion and worry on their faces.

"Xay, can you- wait," Xisuma looked at his brother. "Don't you have an entire race to lead?"

"Xexzi is in charge, currently," the Watcher replied dismissively. "She's great at this stuff, and she's my second in command. Don't worry about the Watchers, they're in good hands."

"Alright," Xisuma agreed. "Now, could you please explain your theory?"

"I think that Zena is infiltrating the server code," Xay didn't bother sugarcoating it, or trying to deliver warnings before the news, he just said it.

Which might've been the best idea, considering the Hermits just stood there in shock.

"She's not dead," Xay continued. "I've been feeling her in my mindspace, and... Grian was possessed by her."

"It was only for a second," Mumbo hurriedly added. "Three words, then she went away."

"That means that her power is weak," Xay supplied. "Or Grian's is strong. Honestly, both."

"Probably just mine being strong," Grian pointed out. "Because she was able to whisper into your mindspace, Xay, so she's gotta have some strength. And my mindspace was able to hold two people, so it's gotta be at least semi-solid."

"That," Xay agreed. "So basically. We're doomed."

"We're not doomed," Xisuma cut in. "We just need to take precautions."

"First precaution, eye color," Xay bounced off of Xisuma. "Watchers are the most likely to be possessed. So try and remember- my eyes are red, Xisuma's are indigo, and Grian's are violet. If you catch us with the wrong color, tell someone immediately. Try not to interact."

"If we switch mid-conversation," Xisuma added. "Then do whatever is necessary to trap us. Even if it means physical harm."

"If all three of us are possessed," Xay continued. "First try and trap us all, then go and get Xexzi. I've already told her what's going on, so she'll know. Oh- and her English isn't amazing, so be patient, please."

"That was a lot of information," Xisuma mumbled. "All at once. Uh- summary- don't die?"

"We just managed to get the entire server together," Xay pointed out. "Don't want any of you guys dying after all our hard work."

"Any questions?" Xisuma asked.

The room was silent, and Mumbo and Grian exchanged a glance.

"What's the second precaution?" Etho asked.

"Oh, we didn't get that far," Xay sighed. "You get one precaution."

"Can we get possessed?" Impulse pointed to himself and the other Hermits as he spoke.

"Good question," Xisuma sighed. "I don't have an answer."

Xay mumbled something, and Xisuma tilted his head at him.

"I... could try?" he offered awkwardly. "Maybe? With your permission, of course."

"Alright!" Impulse stood up, seemingly unbothered. "Go ahead."

"You... don't mind?" Xay said slowly, cautiously. "You don't care if I try to step into your head?"

"I live with Tango and Zed," Impulse said simply. "I'm used to weird things."

"Uh... alright," Xay chuckled nervously, then held out his hands. "I'm not as good at Zena, so I need physical contact." he explained, nodding at his outstretched hands. Impulse took them.

"Remind me of your name?" Xay muttered. Impulse laughed.

"Impulse," he replied. Xay nodded, then closed his eyes.

There was a beat of silence, filled with tension and anticipation.

For half a second, Impulse's eyes flashed red, then back to yellow.

Impulse pulled back with a gasp, clutching his head. Tango rushed over to him, but Impulse recovered quickly.

"I'm sorry!" Xay cried. "I didn't think it'd actually work!!"

"It's like... it's like my brain was being pulled," Impulse said. "By a string. It felt like it was being stretched by a string, then the string ripped and I was flung backwards, then thrown forward again."

"The feeling of being flung backwards," Xay explained. "Was me taking over."

"So... if you can do it," Grian said slowly. "Zena can too?"

"I... yes," Xay mumbled. "But it was hard. Really hard. The mindspace is an immediate location to break into, but non-Watchers don't have a mindspace, so you have to get into their actual brain. I would tell you exactly where, but I failed biology."

"The hippocampus and cerebrum are safe," Xisuma supplied. "Or rather, your memories and thoughts. However, as we already know, motor is at huge risk."

"Xisuma, on the other hand," Xay said, narrating. "Did not fail biology."

"Wait, hold on," Mumbo interrupted. "If Xay was able to possess Impulse, then couldn't he possess Zena?"

There was a beat of silence.

"I... maybe?" Xay responded. "I mean, her mindspace is strong, probably twice as strong as mine."

"How do you make your mindspace stronger?" Impulse asked.

"Uh- practice?" Xay chuckled. "It's like a muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it becomes."

"So you could practice on me!" Grian offered. "I don't mind."

"Crazy idea," Tango interrupted . "What happens if you're possessing Grian and then Zena possesses you?"

"Then she gets us both, I think," Xay's laugh was nervous. "But that's not likely to happen."

"Knowing our luck, it certainly will happen," Xisuma grumbled.

"So either we just follow the precautions of eye colors, or we risk Mumbo's plan," Xay summarized.

"We're a server," Xisuma said firmly. "Let's put it to a vote."

"Risk it for the biscuit, baby!" Ren called enthusiastically. "I say let's try and get her under our belt!"

"I agree!" Tango chimed in. "Let's do this!"

Zedaph and Etho nodded their agreement, but Doc shook his head.

"It's too risky," he said. "And pretty stupid. Last time Grian was possessed, Mumbo nearly died. What happens if both Xay and Grian are possessed?"

"That's true," False noted. "We could be in huge trouble."

"I'm with Ren," Grian offered. "I think it's a good idea."

"I'm against myself," Mumbo muttered. "I say it's not worth it."

The discussion continued, but as things normally go on the Hermitcraft server, risks prevail.

"So it's final then," Xisuma spoke up, exhaling. "Xay will train on Grian."

"Uhm," Xay's voice was soft. "I've detected a huge hole."

"And that is?" Xisuma asked.

"I already know Grian's mindspace," Xay sighed. "Really well. I even set up a Detector there, though I've destroyed it now.

"So you're saying it'll be too easy and not good enough practice?" Xisuma confirmed. Xay nodded.

"Then do it on me," he offered. "You don't know my mindspace."

"I- I can't possess you!" Xay cried. "You're my brother!"

"And if Zena happens to pop in," Etho added. "She gets our Admin, plus the Watcher ruler."

Xay hissed a string of unpleasant words in Galactic, and Xisuma gave him a horrified look.

"L-language," Xisuma sputtered.

"We're in a life-or-death situation," Xay snorted. "And you're 'language'-ing me?"

"Can't we just try and hack into the communicator system ourselves?" Doc's voice broke the interaction. "Break into it and make it back to the death setting we originally had?"

"It would work," Xay agreed. "But only for so long. It's not about permadeath anymore, it really isn't. It's about Zena. If our situation is a Hydra, then you can't just kill a head- it still has four more. You need to aim for the body, and slay the beast completely."

"He's right," Xisuma pointed out. "Zena is our main target. Remember, anyone could kill her. Permadeath is on. Even if she was poked by a sweet berry bush, the game's over. It's just about knocking out the pieces in the most strategic way possible."

"Can we kill her with a berry bush?" Grian couldn't help but ask. "I mean- that'd be pretty legendary."

"It would be, but it's far too risky," Xisuma sighed. "And unnecessary."

"That's his way of saying 'stop giving us stupid ideas, Grian'," Xay supplied helpfully. "'We don't want to give Etho any ideas.'"

"Anyway," Xisuma changed the topic. "So, same plan, but Xay practices on me this time?"

"Yep," Xay agreed, sighing softly in submission. "And we wait. We can't track her, so we'll have to wait for her to come to u-"

A communicator buzz.

Xay opened up his communicator, and his eyes widened.

"Oh my void," he whispered.

"What?" Xisuma demanded. Xay opened up his wings, moving to the Town Hall exit.

"It was from Xexzi. There's a rebellion, and they've chosen to attack. Now.

"We didn't have to wait long. Zena's back."

oH?

-Stom