STORY

STORY

MARKET CRASH
[Off Ost: -09- Rainy Day (and Meat)]
2024-12-28 22:06:06
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Posted by ID #118
Last edit: 2025-07-25 17:17:36

One could swear the cities of Zoo Corp went on forever.

The universe, once so vibrant and varied in its designs had - at this point - nearly been taken over by Zoo Corp. It was strange how quickly it appeared and grew at exponential rates.

There was no use taking the trains to other cities or even ships to other planets. It all looked the same.

2024-12-28 22:06:39
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Posted by ID #118
Last edit: 2025-07-25 17:18:04

Even the Notail Union, who just ten years ago scoffed at the idea that Zoo Corp would affect them, now found themselves in a crisis. Why live within the Union when Zoo Corp offered a meal, a roof, and work for much simpler rates? Sure, they required "art" for payment, but, what was art?

It was anything.


Within the maze of the endless cities, art had degraded. Meaning, love, all of it ripped away. It was just a job after all.

Frankly, no one understood why the machine even wanted art, so why put in the effort?

In recent months though, something rather alarming had risen forth in the middle of the cities.
"W-What is that....?"
2024-12-29 07:52:08
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Posted by ID #118
Last edit: 2025-07-25 17:19:15

Large cekekis - still living - erupted into wires and oil overnight. Their towering size and shifting husks caused panic within the communities where they appeared. Residents posted online about the horrors.

The first few times the uproar was universal.

Then national.

Now, when a new cekeki tower appears, the people walk around it with not a single care.

They all agree, whatever is happening appears to be horrible, truly horrible.

But what could they do about it?


Surely someone else, someone at the top, would get to it sooner or later. If Zoo Corp wasn't panicking, then why should they?

Plus, they got so tired of panicking, of caring, every time it happened.

Now whenever a cekeki came into work, face melting apart, they were greeted with a simple-

"Seems tough."
2024-12-29 07:53:07
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Posted by ID #118
Last edit: 2025-07-25 17:20:17

And when one begged for anyone to know a single thing, a way to stop the horrors, it was always-




"Ah, no. I don't think anyone knows. It's sort of just, you know, Life. It happens."
2024-12-29 07:58:30
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Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-03-07 20:44:48

Complaints came in about the quality of cekekis as even the ones used for sale were.....subpar, to say the least.


Madam brought today's complaints up to Zookeeper. "Sir?"
Zookeeper
2024-12-29 08:01:57
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #118
Last edit: 2025-07-25 17:20:43
But he seemed focused on the chart before him. The line dipped up and down slightly, over and over, following a daily cycle.
"More complaints for you, sir."
Zookeeper snapped out of his haze. "Hmmmmm??? More complaints? Seriously?"
"I'm sorry, I thought the only thing people wanted was a warm roof over their head, food, entertainment, and an easy job!"
"Now we have people complaining about what? The freaky towers outside? How many times do I have to say....."
Zookeeper
2024-12-29 08:03:28
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #99
Last edit: 2024-12-29 08:03:48
"Not even I know what they're for."
"But, I do want you to come see this." Zookeeper does not wait for Madam to walk over. Instead roughly grabbing and pulling her over to the screen.
Madam
2024-12-29 08:04:55
Madam Profile
Posted by ID #118
Last edit: 2025-07-25 17:21:20
Madam does not speak, nor react. She just stares at Zookeeper as he points from one line to the next. She didn't know what the meaning of it was, but should could tell one thing. The line wasn't going up anymore. Instead, every day - for the last month - it'd rise with the sun, and dip with the moon.
"Do you know what this means......."
"....................." She sees no reason to answer.
"THAT'S RIGHT BABY!!!! WE FOUND IT!!!!! WE! FOUND! THE!"
*"TOOOOOOOOOOOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"What about it?"
"We're done!"
Madam blinks.
"What do you mean by done?"
"Hmm....I do not know how I could make this more clear."
"Ah......maybe....yes...that would work."
Zookeeper
2024-12-29 08:08:03
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #118
Last edit: 2025-07-25 17:21:44
"We are done. Zoo Corp has finished the job which it set out to accomplish. We have reached the most optimal and efficient state."
Zookeeper
2024-12-29 08:08:17
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #118
Last edit: 2025-07-25 17:22:18
"Continuing from here will only lead us to begin to slump. There literally will never be a better moment in the company's history than this one right here."
"Zoo Corporation has completed its task, and now will begin its final claim upon the universe."
Zookeeper
2024-12-29 08:08:39
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #118
Last edit: 2025-07-25 17:22:34
"THIS MEANS THE CEO IS FINALLY GONNA VISIT OUR BRANCH!!!!!!!!"
"I thought you were the CEO?"
"What?"
"I'm just Zookeeper!"
Zookeeper
2024-12-29 08:09:32
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #118
Last edit: 2025-07-25 17:22:41
"I haven't been doing jack shit at this company for years, baby!"
END OF STORY
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