middleofsomewhere | Under the Sea: Conclusion and aftermath

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Under the Sea: Conclusion and aftermath

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.

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Sam shifts awkwardly at the stare. He barely tolerates short conversations with people, let alone prolonged ones like this. The stare doesn't help at all.

"Didn't really want to deal with the hassle that would come with telling people about it." It's not much of an excuse, but it's all he can really think to say.

It's not like it's much of a secret that Sam actually hates the UCA.

Unfortunately, Higgs holds that gaze for... a little while longer, before he looks back out toward the ocean. It's kind of a weak excuse. But Sam's sure trying, isn't he.

"That really the reason?"

... He's gonna push it, though.

Sam doesn't have answer, so he doesn't answer the question. He doesn't want to think about it for very long, as it is, so instead he looks out into the ocean with Higgs.

There were plenty of people he could have told. But Sam didn't.

"Why don't you act anything like you did the last few times we met?"

The question probably isn't entirely fair, considering he can still tell Higgs is Higgs, but he's still... very different in a way Sam is starting to find a little unsettling.

... Higgs doesn't know how to answer that.

It's obvious. Higgs doesn't make any secret of how he feels at any given moment, really. He's just hard to read, to some. Apparently, one of those is Sam.

He doesn't know how to even start. Or where. Or when, for that matter.

"Don't know why it's so important."

Except he does. He knows why it's important, he's just trying to stall while he figures this shit out.

Sam works his jaw, frowning.

He's never been good at reading anybody, but he at least has thought of Higgs as someone who is going to say whatever is on his mind at a particular moment. Higgs has never been one to shy away from it in the past.

"You're here paling it up with me," Sam says. Despite the wording, it's obvious he doesn't mean it as a negative. Sam is getting along with Higgs, and he's not so much of a stubborn asshole to not be able to admit it.

He doesn't know what to do with it, but it's something that's happening.

"Sure am."

He doesn't refute it, because of course he is. They're idiots, but they're not stupid. Higgs glances at him, then back away. It's easier to look at the ocean right now.

"And you don't seem too bothered with that idea, Sammy."

He's deflecting at an absolutely wild pace, here, but Sam's unsettled him.

It's definitely not easier for Sam to look at the water, so eventually his gaze travels upwards to the stars. It's not the sky he'd see over his head back home, if he could, he's pretty sure. But Sam also doesn't have a clue what the night sky is supposed to look like to begin with.

"And here I thought you never stopped talking," Sam mutters.

There's no heat to it, and he's not sure what to do with the fact that he just can't find himself to be angry right now.

... Hm. Higgs is quiet for a good few moments. Sam's had to have noticed--that he's different. Truthfully, being away from Amelie....

...

Anyway.

"Stranger things have happened, ain't that true? Nothin' to really make note of."

"Right," Sam says, looking back at Higgs for a long moment.

Something been bothering him, something he hadn't given any thought to at all in the heat of the moment, but now that he's had a few weeks to think about it...

"You like tellin' me anything you think is important at all; can I ask you a question?"

... Ah. Well. This feels vaguely like a trap. At least it gets Higgs to look at Sam, even if he squints a bit.

"You can ask."

But the way he says that... well. Doesn't mean he's gotta answer.

Yeah.

That sounds about right. Sam doesn't look bothered, though. "How were you able to capture Amelie and hold her hostage on the Beach when you weren't even aware of her location until the chiral network was completed?"

... Well.

Higgs blows out a breath and stretches his legs out in front of him. A couple more inches and he could touch the water. He's pretty sure it wouldn't hurt him, but he can't help but be reminded of the Beach.

...

"You really wanna know, Sam? Once you find out, ain't no way you're goin' back."

Sam doesn't say anything right away, still looking at Higgs like he's trying to get a read on the man.

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to know."

God.

He misses his masks.

But Higgs lets out a breath, all the same. Alright. Sam wants to know, so Sam's gonna learn. Higgs can't help but think he's gonna regret it, but.

"Y'know, I used to be a porter just like you. 'Course you knew that. Fragile told you." He stares up at the sky. "Knew I had DOOMs, ever since I was a kid. Sure as hell never expected to end up doin' what I did. Nah... that came after I met your dear old sister."

He's still looking at the sky. Who knew there were so many stars up there?

"Learned a few things from her. Shit, that changed everything. And I mean everything." And finally, he looks at Sam. There's nothing in his look that suggests he's joking.

"After all, who else'd give me that fucking BB so I could detect BTs and enter her Beach?"

Sam doesn't look like he knows what to do with his face right now, the way his expression morphs from surprise, to anger, to back to just being incredibly blank like he usually is. He doesn't call Higgs a liar, or look like he's thinking of standing up and walking back to the train.

He doesn't do anything like that, instead looking up at the stars for a very long moment. "I read something Heartman wrote about you, about how your company was servicing the entire Western region." It's not really clear what he means by that, though, considering he doesn't clarify. "The first thing you do when we meet is tell me your actual goddamn name, and note a code like nearly everyone else at Bridges."

...God, he hates Bridges. He hates how every fucking person he's worked with has been keeping him in the dark about countless things. There's probably even more he doesn't have a clue about, and it makes him so angry.

He'd only done any of this because Amelie had been in trouble, and it turns out that was all bullshit too. "Amelie spoke to me through you in one of my visions. I didn't know what to think about it, and when I woke there were other things on my mind." Now, he's at a complete loss.

He's not even sure what he's trying to imply.

Higgs mulls that over for a few long, long moments. There's something he could say, but is that-- well. You know what, the facts of the matter have been laid bare between them, and they both know it. Sam knows the truth.

"Done a lotta bad shit, Sam." He lets out a breath. He isn't making excuses, just stating a simple fact. Higgs shifts, propping one leg up. His arm dangles off of it, and he levels him with a piercing look. "But one thing I've never done? Is lie to you."

Sam isn't sure how to take all of this.

Higgs has done a lot of terrible things, and Sam's positive there's a lot he hasn't been told. But the idea that Sam wasn't the only person manipulated, that Higgs had been dragged into this mess without wanting it either is...

"I know," he says. "You're the only one who hasn't ever lied to me."

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Under the Sea: Conclusion and aftermath

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