middleofsomewhere | 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Tidus watches the ball in its travel, laughing with a cheer as it comes on down not far from where he hangs in the water. Swimming on over, he takes it in both hands, throwing Rapunzel a grin.

"See? You've got it! Now show me that again!"

But of course, he needs to send the ball her way first! So giving the ball a bump into the air that releases it from his hands, Tidus knocks it from an angle to send it towards her with an arch, so that she'll need to catch it as it comes down from above!

Rapunzel had been quietly watching and before she realized that maybe she could at least try hand catch it, the ball instead landed on the water. She soon went over to pick it up and she was sure that after watching how he had done it she could understand it.

"Okay... I think I can do it." She sounded a little more determined as she looked at the ball. After a moment she throws it lightly in the air, watching it fall down a bit before hitting it.

This time it was much better than previous and the young woman seemed happy about it.

And he catches it after swimming back some to get into a better position, throwing the girl a thumbs up after.

"Never be afraid to try something new!" That's what you've always got to keep in mind! "What's your name? Is this your first time with a ball?"

"oh, i'm never afraid to try something new at this point. I mean...if you had met me right when I arrived it would have probably been a completely different story." She had started to mumble a little bit before she catches on that she was even doing it.

"Sorry...I...tend to mumble sometimes. But I'm Rapunzel and yes. I don't use the gym so I've never thought to play with the balls that were there. But maybe I could have created a fun game or something."

"Yeah, there's usually people in there practising fighting and all -- not as many people playing with the actual sports."

Which isn't said with much judgment. The space isn't quite suited for it, and keeping fit and in shape for these missions is probably more important than chucking around a ball.

"You should try some with friends! Playing with a partner's better than kicking a ball around on your own."

"That's why I tend to avoid it. As much as it's important, I am not a fighter. I'm a healer." Sure she could use a frying pan when necessary, so she also didn't think she needed to do that much training. Plus Orange missions didn't tend to end up with too much fighting either.

"But I will try with friends sometime. Hopefully."

"Healers are good. Healers saved a bunch of our skin on Blue Team," Tidus points out, head cocking back to the island. "I know the villagers appreciated them."

He raises the ball in his hands.

"You wanna take this to have fun with your friends with?"

"Really I guess healers are more needed in other teams than Orange." This gives her a moment to wonder of perhaps she should be with another team on the next mission or not.

If she could be of use anywhere another tea,m might be the best bet.

Soon her eyes were focused back on the ball.

"I want to play ball with you first. Unless you don't want to be friends?"

O-oh. What a way to ask, and it catches Tidus off-guard a little, blinking in surprise.

"We can be friends!" he answers earnestly, and with that said he throws the ball with a chuck and a knock after, over to her side of the water.

"Blue and Red can always do with more people! You should talk to someone about it. See how safe it'd be!"

He doesn't know anything about her, but that's still a concern either way. Don't want her to go along on a mission and end up being the one who needs healing.

Rapunzel went in an attempt to be able to hit the ball back, but the water was one to slow the others movements a little bit, so she just missed it.

Going to pick up the ball she moves to hit it back. "Blue and Red are the real fight ones, I suppose. if so then I might before the next mission, but I don't think that will be for at least a few more weeks."

With the ball close to his waters, Tidus waits to respond by going to scoop it up where it lands. At least the winds weren't blowing to any force to get in the way.

"Do the team leads talk to everyone about the kind of help and people they need, you know? Wouldn't be a bad talk for us all to have."

"No...I mean I didn't even know people could change what team to go on. I always thought you got assigned when you first arrive and that is the missions you have to do."

Which was an assumption more than anything really. But now she knew she figured she could just make her own choices regardless.

Under the Sea: Conclusion and aftermath

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