Episode 01 - I for an Eye

**I for an Eye** is the first episode of The Scratched Universe. It was released in May 26, 2020.

## Summary

### Chapter 1 - "Peace"

Twenty-five players are logged onto *Lazytropia #32* on the map cp\_process\_final, a server filled with random events and lazy gameplay. Several events that occur within the server include, but aren’t limited to, model distortions, anomalous & freak smuggling, and odd gameplay mechanics (including the placement of multiple dispensers and a non-functioning sentry gun).

A notable player within the server is a BLU Demoman - who upon logging on for the first time, takes a swig of alcohol and is the first to leave the spawn room. After eliminating a RED Engineer, and subsequently his sentry gun, the BLU Demoman takes a lengthy swig of alcohol, where afterwards his head is replaced with the *MONOCULUS!* head cosmetic.

### Chapter 2 - "Plotting"

After some time (and another swig of alcohol), the BLU Demoman is suddenly approached by *MONOCULUS,* commenting that he must be drunk upon the sight of the monster. With Monoculus’ influence, the BLU Demoman rips his new head off of his body, thus resulting in the creation of the *Acoleyet* (the ninth pupil of MONOCULUS); after some initial confusion, the freak immediately thanks MONOCULUS and sets off into the server.

### Chapter 3 - "Disturbing Peace"

He eventually makes his way over to Mann.Co Supply Storage Room 4, initially without a way to get through the multiple RED Sniper class mercenaries in the room, until he spots one outside the immediate area. Upon gaining a new body, he makes his way inside and initially makes it past the Snipers after gaining their trust (and imitating a Sniper). When he came close to the supply crate, one of the RED Snipers approached him and spoke to him again, asking him to take a look at his gun before challenging him to a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Begrudgingly, the Acoleyet obliges, and wins against him, resulting in the Sniper’s spontaneous demise. Immediately after, three more Snipers challenge him to a game of RPS, and fed up with the situation, he used his magic to eliminate every person in the room. In the explosion, the supply crates breaks, revealing a present that, upon being opened, contained a Hustler’s Hallmark, to which the Acoleyet takes a fondness to.

The explosion within Storage Room 4, however, triggers a server-wide alarm, alerting the server’s V.A.C Security team to the scene. Members of the team include 4 level 2 personnel mercenaries: a BLU Heavy, a BLU Engineer, a BLU Scout by the name of Ace, and a BLU Soldier by the name of Houston (who is the team’s commanding officer). Upon hearing the alarm set off, the Acoleyet dons the hat and makes his way outside to confront the Security team.

### Chapter 4 - "Authority"

The V.A.C Security team station themselves outside of Storage Room 4, right beside the 2nd control point outside the RED base, calling out for the aggressor to show themselves. When the Acoleyet reveals himself to the team, all four members are initially shocked or surprised as to who the offender was, Ace comically taking off his Macho Mann (glasses and moustache combined) and swearing in shock. After the Acoleyet warns them that they’re making him angry, the Security team quip back with promises to take him down and aim their weapons at him, their confidence back after the initial shock; this, however, only leaves the Acoleyet temporarily confused. After Ace’s comment “head’s up”, the anomalous creature chuckles before growing himself a pair of functioning Demoman arms, much to the shock and disgust of the Security team. He then points to Houston and tells him that he’s brought hell to the server, proclaiming his reign of blood had now begun.

In response, Houston commands for Ace to fire at the Acoleyet, and in response (and thanks to his magic), he turns the bullet around, killing the Scout instantly. Immediately after, Houston commands for the rest of his team to attack. Despite their attempt, however, the Acoleyet uses his magic to take the bullets and fires them back at the team, killing the Engineer and Heavy instantly, and mocking Houston after. Enraged and devastated at the loss of his team, the Soldier insults and talks down the Acoleyet, filled with sheer will and determination to take him down. In response to the speech, the Acoleyet doesn’t hesitate to put a bullet through Houston’s head and killing him.

This, however, leaves the Acoleyet in a state of weakness, his magic drained. Despite this, he was able to dodge a shot from a BLU Sniper (most likely a member of the V.A.C security team), though the shot goes through his hand instead. When the Sniper fires again, the anomaly disappears before reappearing behind the Sniper, dragging him with force into the wall and killing him, before taking over his body for personal use.

### Chapter 5 - "Aftermath"

Within twenty-three minutes, the Acoleyet killed the entire playerbase, including the extermination of the server’s backbone. Afterwards, he conjured up a plan to collect the necessary components for a blood portal. With no one to stop him, he was successful in collecting the parts necessary to create the portal. Using the blood of the dead sniper to fully complete the portal, the Acoleyet cheers with glee and leaves the server. Due to the deaths of the Security team, no contact was able to be made with higher authority, and the server was deemed as compromised. Because of the backbone’s destruction, the server was not only unable to recover from the incident but reestablish authority, leaving anarchy to determine its fate.

### Chapter 6 - "Consequences"

Unbeknownst to the Acoleyet, the magic he possessed unintentionally brought Houston back to life. Observing the bodies of his deceased team members, he punches the ground and lets out a scream of grief and defeat into the air. The Acoleyet’s anomalous abilities also created a stand by the name of *American Myth,* a ghost-like individual now connected to Houston, and begins to motivate him into fighting before introducing himself. Confused, Houston asks him if he was dead, to which the stand responds that he was dead, but is now alive. Helping him up, Houston understands that the stand before him was connected to him, and with his newfound abilities, resolves himself to push forwards. Before leaving the server, however, he takes the time to mourn the loss of his security team, fondly remembering them in his grief.

As he went through the server, he eventually stopped at the body of a BLU Engineer. His attention, however, was drawn to an anomalous creature that immediately ran towards him with the intent to kill. With no weapon on him, Houston backed up with the intent to run, but tripped over a dead player and landing on the ground. As soon as the anomaly went for the attack, American Myth appeared before him and eliminated the creature with a reserve shooter, disappearing afterwards. In relief, the Soldier laid on the ground and commended the stand for his actions. Eventually, he reached the Server Communications Centre, most likely attempting to make contact with a higher authority, though soon discovered the compromised status of the server, proclaiming it dead. American Myth reminds him to “stay frosty”.

Heading inside Server Security Room #5, he comes across a deceased BLU Medic (who appeared to have tried to flee from the Acoleyet), Houston commemorating his efforts. On the wall, written by the deceased Medic, was a code to the briefcase that, when unlocked, contained a set of keys. Taking them, Houston makes his way to the entrance of the server’s backbone, opening it up and making his way inside. In its compromised state, the backbone had become murky and littered with bodies and ruin.

### Chapter 7 - "Escape Plan"

Making his way through the server’s backbone, Houston observes the environment around him and takes note of the mysterious green liquid on the floor. Because of his footsteps, an anomalous Pyro (revealed to be a Sniffer in later episodes) begins to groan. After testing out how it responds to its environment through noise, Houston commands American Myth to eliminate it. He does the same thing to four more Sniffers, clearing the area. He eventually comes across a vehicle that the keys belong to, cheering when the car roars to life. With newfound grit, Houston makes his escape from the now compromised server, revealed to have been infected with a viral outbreak.

### Post-Credits

Nine hours after the outbreak on Lazytropia #32, two mysterious figures (both of whom appear to be Medic class individuals) are seen on the abandoned server in the pouring rain. Holding the dead body of a Sniffer, the first Medic speaks to the other, and through anomalous abilities, the second Medic seemingly absorbs the Sniffer. Hearing the radio from the Server Communications Centre, the episode ends with a brief look at the first Medic.

## Appearances

* Houston/KIA - A Soldier class mercenary who worked for the V.A.C in the Security Sector as a Level 2 Commanding Officer on Lazytropia #32. He was temporarily killed by the Acoleyet until his anomalous abilities brought him back to life.
* American Myth - KIA’s stand, and the first introduced in the series. American Myth was created through KIA’s sheer will and determination, alongside the Acoleyet’s anomalous abilities.
* Acoleyet - An entity created from a BLU Demoman, and the ninth pupil of MONOCULUS responsible for killing KIA (albeit temporarily) and the members of the server’s security team. His anomalous abilities helped in the creation of KIA’s stand American Myth.
* Unknown Heavy - A Heavy class mercenary who worked for the V.A.C in the Security Sector as a Level 2, assigned to KIA’s team. He was killed by the Acoleyet.
* Unknwon Engineer - An Engineer class mercenary who worked for the V.A.C in the Security sector as a Level 2, assigned to KIA’s team. He was killed by the Acoleyet.
* Ace - A Scout class mercenary who worked for the V.A.C in the Security sector as a Level 2, assigned to KIA’s team. He was killed by the Acoleyet.
* Sniffers - Zombie-like Pyro entities infected by Veerus’ Stand. While they are completely blind and partially deaf, they rely on echolocation and their sense of smell to traverse their environment and interact with others.
* Veerus (Post-Credits)
* Veerus’ Stand (Post-Credits)

## Trivia

* Not much is currently known about the members of KIA’s team. In Episode 6 Part 2, however, it is revealed that the Scout assigned to KIA’s team went by the name *Ace.*
	+ As of Episode 6 Part 2, Ace is the only named member of KIA’s former team.
* As of Episode 6 Part 2, it was revealed that KIA originally went by the name *Houston*.
* Episode 1 marks the only known appearance of the Acoleyet in TSU so far.
* This is the only episode in the series where V.A.C Personnel do not don the badges on their uniform
* This is the first of only two episodes in the series where Veerus has spoken lines.