Under the Sea: Conclusion and aftermath

[voidtreckermods]

Ritual

The jellyfish is no more and as red team take stock of their injuries, or collapse from exhaustion the lights zip around them, singing their song of joy. They gather around the light that had been inside the jellyfish and now that it has been released it is obvious this light is different. Stronger. They surround it and the song gets even louder as they begin to move towards the plinth.

In the caverns where the purple and orange team are there is a stillness. For those in orange team still in the cavern they can only hope that the instructions they gave out had been followed. Luckily for them they have been, Purple team have done a remarkable job of defeating the crabs and cleaning the temple. The priests gather around the shell on the alter, arms linked together in prayer as they seek to re-sanctify their temple. As their prayer begins they will invite the voidtreckers to join them, though no one is forced into taking part in the ritual. They suggest that they use their strange wrist jewellery to open communication with their friends in Bui.

The monster on the beach is defeated and though the fight is still raging against the crabs, a beacon has been built and lit. The islanders who are not fighting gather around it, linking arms, drawing any voidtreckers who don't object to joining them into the circle.

The song begins hesitantly, almost as if everyone has forgotten the words and only half remembers the tune. The SCA translates, the prayer is simple, a blessing on the land and its people, deliverance from the darkness and hope for the future.

The light from the jellyfish reaches the plinth and is set upon it. The song heightens and the light shoots upwards, blinding in its brilliance.

Through the dark storm clouds a light streams towards the island, most of it towards the beacon on the island though there is a break away light that goes towards the train, where some of orange team have set up a second beacon. It swirls around those on the train roof, singing a song of happiness and bounces back towards the island.

The light reaches the main beacon and hits it with a strength that lights up the whole sky. The light splits more solidly into two and speeds off over the ocean. Light pours into the underground caverns, not caring about the ocean and rock in the way, the light pools into the shells, the caverns glow warmly.

Outside the storm calms, clouds roll back, the sun shines. The sea stills. The wind stops. The sun is rising, a beautiful dawn. Any monsters left scuttle away, vanishing into the ocean, away from Bui.

Those with any powers that they couldn't reach before find them returned in a rush. Those who can sense life find this world teeming with it. A song that dances between every plant and creature.

Some of red may have evacuated to the train but those who stayed to see the ritual through, the world around them seems to melt away and they find themselves back next to the rock pools. Among their number there are some confused looking islanders who intrinsically draw closer to those who helped free the lights.

Orange and Purple

Down underwater there's noise and a babble of voices as the citizens of Bui wake up. There's a shimmering around the city now, like a shield though they can pass through easily. Parents scramble to locate their children and all check on loved ones and friends.

The familiar voice of train announcements is heard through Orange team's SCAs. Orange return to the VoidTrecker Express. Once everyone is on board it flies low over the ocean, skimming the waves.

In the underwater temple the priests finish sealing the ritual and then it is time to begin the return trek. There are no monsters this time and after a few hours, as they emerge onto the first of the sandbanks they will find the VoidTrecker Express is waiting for them.

Red and Blue

The monsters gone, those of the island gather everyone from the rock pools and for a few hours everyone sleeps.

At about noon the islanders begin to stir, begin putting things to rights. Wood is moved from the strategic points to more communal campfires on the beach. Any dead monsters that haven't been gathered for food have been washed out to sea, disappeared into the depths. They begin to prepare food and won't turn away any helpers. Though those who have been fighting are encouraged to rest.

The islanders bring blankets and start to gather. Everyone is exhausted but the children, in the way of children find the energy to play in the sea and the sand.

Beach Day

Early afternoon the train lands on the beach and everyone gets a holographic message to their SCA.

Mission successful. Well done Voidtreckers. Enjoy the rest of your day. You will find suitable clothing in the dressing room. A new recipe has been added to the kitchen information points.

The dressing room is indeed open once more, this time it holds swimsuits of every style, shorts, t shirts, wraps and beach skirts. Sun hats and sunglasses can also be found. It's a bit of a mush mash but they should be able to cobble together something other than their uniform wet suits.

Time to laze around on the beach or for those who still have energy swim or play. A few hours later a ripple across the water brings some of those from Bui and they swim or lounge on rocks to talk.

Food and stories

Food is cooked and shared, the islanders will happily try the voidtreckers' offerings and share their own. As the sun begins to set they gather around the fires. Stories and songs are shared and there's even some dancing for the brave.

Voidtreckers can choose whether to sleep in their own beds or spend one last night on the island before the train flies off into the sunrise and into the void.

Comments

[singlefaith]

Hearing Conan referred to as "Edogawa" feels a little strange. It's his family name, of course, but it's more as one would refer to an adult or an equal than a child. There's both familiarity and distance to it.

Ran isn't quite sure what to make of it, though. Maybe it's something she can ask Conan. Maybe he has the same eerie sense of knowing this person as she does. "I'm sorry about when I came," she offers softly. "You do . . . look very much like someone I know." A small knit of the eyebrows. "And even then, I could swear that we met before."

[stealsyourheart]

There's always an oddity in dealing with Conan in front of people who don't know the secret. But he'll be damned if he reveals Conan's secret when Kudo is keeping his.

"It's ok." He shrugs with a smile. "I admit, it's the first time I've been mistaken for someone else, but there's a first time for everything, right?"

He shakes his head. "Sorry, can't say that I know you. Maybe we've passed each other in the streets?"

[singlefaith]

. . . If only Ran knew how much of a lie "it's the first time I've been mistaken for someone else" is. Lightning could have struck Kaito in all directions for that one.

Fortunately for him, the sky remains blue, and Ran remains in the dark on that -- though she starts at the words "passed each other in the streets," sitting up suddenly. "Ah! I remember!"

[stealsyourheart]

Lucky for him~

"You do?" He blinks at her, nonplussed. "You mean we actually DID pass each other in the street?"

What really he'd just been making random suggestions. Tokyo is crowded enough that the likelihood of such things happening are really low after all.

[singlefaith]

"Mm-hm!" Ran is beaming, happy at finally having cleared up the mystery. "It was on the street at a crosswalk. It was raining . . . You and another girl passed by, carrying umbrellas."

A little pink emerges in her cheeks. ". . . I thought you were Shinichi then, too, which is probably why I remember so well. I nearly chased after you."

[stealsyourheart]

"Huh." He blinks, his earlier worry vanished.

"Small world! You probably saw Aoko, I suppose. I sometimes go with her into Tokyo when she is visiting her dad."

He can't remember when that was, but he didn't notice her himself, so the biggest surprise is that she remembered an incident like that.

"I hope I didn't spook you!"

[singlefaith]

A little laugh. "Mm, a little, but not in a scary way? Shinichi's my--" Brief cutoff, unsure how to refer to him. "Childhood friend." (Safe enough, at least?) "He's a detective, and he's been on a case away from home for a while. He'd been gone for a bit by then, and seeing what I thought was him walking across the street with someone . . . It really startled me."

And had caused a little twist in her gut at the time -- as though Shinichi had formed a new life elsewhere somehow, and hadn't been honest about it. (Maybe an irrational thought, but still there within that moment.)

Eyes coming back to rest on his face again, ". . . It almost seems like there was another place that I saw you, too? But I'm not sure where that would have been . . ."

[stealsyourheart]

Oh ho? Well, presumably the detective is AWARE his affections are returned, so Kaito will leave that well enough alone.

"I bet, yeah." He nods and suppresses a twitch.

"Me neither!" Ahahahaha.... "I'm honestly surprised you could remember even that one incident, but I suppose as you say you were kinda missing your friend. Say, he's not that Shinichi, is he? The one in the news?"

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