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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"Vassals get the protection and power of the Overlord behind them, of course," Zetta said, rather impatiently. That was standard stuff! "Of course that's how it works! What else would be the point of being a vassal?"

"I.. Well, maybe some people think it's fun..?"

Frederick sure seemed to enjoy himself taking care of absolutely everything for Inigo's dad, so it's not even the weirdest suggestion for him to make!

But then again, Inigo himself definitely wouldn't belong in that category.

"But.. erm, I don't mean to sound arrogant," which sure is a sign that Inigo is being honest, since otherwise he would have milked that fake bravado for all its worth, "but I think I'll be alright even without your protection. Aren't we all protecting each other on the train anyway?"

Zetta regarded the kid with impatient, weary disbelief. "Please, it's every man for himself, people just pretend otherwise. Suppose tomorrow they said, 'hey you can go home, but you have to shank another person'. Even the heroes -- how many people do you really think wouldn't decide one life here is more important than all the people they're supposed to be protecting and all the good they're supposed to be doing back home."

To Zetta's credit, that does actually render Inigo quiet for a moment. Like he really has to consider it. Would the people here on the train do it? It's hard to imagine any of his friends taking a life, let alone an innocent one, but on the other hand, he has seen rather dark sides of humankind back home.

".. I wouldn't do that." He slowly answers, though a little more quiet than usually. "I know that just makes me sound like I'm lying to make myself look better, but it's true. They don't really need me back home anyway. Not badly enough for me to do that. And I believe in my friends enough to know they wouldn't hurt each other."

Yeah. Zetta expected that sort of answer. He wasn't about to let it stand, though. "Sure. You wouldn't. Right now. What if they did need you? What if the lives of your family and people you love were on the line back home? What if you believe, very strongly, that you being here was putting all the things you held important in danger?"

Usually Inigo is really, really good at keeping everything close to his chest. But it's something about this particular topic that loosens up the gate he usually keeps all information about himself locked up behind. It's a good thing they're out a bit into the water and it's hard to pay attention to anyone when there's so much beach ~~chaos~~ fun going on..

"The lives of my family and the people I love are on the line back home! For all I know, they could be dying back there right now while I'm stuck here, playing on the beach!" A fact he very sincerely believes, considering he even looks like he's getting worked up at the very thought. "And I still wouldn't do it."

"Great. You've got your moral high ground." Such as it was. Zetta didn't let that declaration move him so much as a hair's width. "Now can you really be sure everyone else feels that way?"

"I'm not-- I'm not trying to take the moral high ground! I'm just saying what I think."

Apparently that gets him to blush, especially while he's still so worked up to begin with. It makes him feel kind of ridiculous. Inigo knows he's not really better than anyone else.

"But.. of course. How many people here could really think that the fate of an entire world hangs solely on their shoulders? As long as my friends are still fighting back home, me being there or not won't change a thing. It feels to me like anyone would think that."

"You're... not up to date on stuff, are you? Look, I may be something special by anyone's standards, but the literal existence of an entire Netherworld rests on whether or not I can get stuff done that this train is getting in the way of. You really think all these protagonists, heroes, and gods here aren't critical to their worlds?"

Kid had no idea how video games worked, did he.

Listen, we can't all be the protagonist of our story! Some of us have to be entirely skippable recruitable side characters, Zetta.. Let Inigo live...

"And yet I don't see you murdering anyone to get back home."

Sure, no one has said murder is required to get home! But if Zetta really is supposedly some Netherworld's Overlord and all that, he.. technically wouldn't need much of an excuse to do so anyway, right.

"Sure, because that won't work. Now, if this train had enough energy to become a Netherworld suitable for my purposes, don't think I wouldn't consider it!"

Consider, but not commit to acting, right?

Inigo laughs - though with a tad of awkwardness in it, because he's not too sure how serious Zetta is about that. He's probably serious, but then again.. it's not like it's actually going to happen from what he's saying.

"Good thing it doesn't then. I don't really like the idea of living in some Netherworld." He pauses, seems to realise something, and then quickly adds-- "Erm.. no offense, I guess? Although I imagine you'd want the Netherworld to be unappealing, considering the name."

"Oh no, you'd love it once you started turning into a demon and your morals and ethics got replaced by power and fun." Really, Zetta didn't understand how non-demons could live the way they did, i.e. not as demons. "No one seems to get that part."

"But.. it's not as if you can't have morals and ethics and fun at the same time, you know? I'm having plenty of fun here on the beach."

When he's not nearly drowning himself to save your ass since he's way too nice, Zetta!

"I don't need to do something ethically wrong just to have fun. I'm sure you'd be able to have plenty of ethical fun too if you tried!"

"But I have MORE fun being an evil Overlord." Zetta considered this absolutely flawless logic. "Theft, for example, is freaking hilarious."

.. well, Inigo guesses theft.. isn't too bad? As long as no one is dying. And also depending on who is being stolen from, but it's not like Inigo can claim to be totally innocent of this one himself, so protesting would be hypocritical..

"What's the hilarious part to you?"

"Uh."

What kind of a question was that? It was just funny, damn it!

"...Depends on the circumstances!"

"Well.. Alright. Let's say you steal something from me right now. What would be funny about that to you?"

Does Inigo realise he's opening himself up to some true ego-crushing here? He probably ought to, yet at the same time totally doesn't...

"Your raw indignity that I actually did it, I'm guessing." That seemed the most likely answer. "Uh, your suffering in general, really."

"What?!"

He squeaks out the word, seemingly shocked despite the fact that should have been the obvious answer coming from an overlord of some netherworld..

"How is my suffering hilarious?! I'm a delicate soul..!"

Just saying that made Zetta burst into snickering. He's GOTTA find an excuse to steal from this guy!

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Under the Sea: Conclusion and aftermath

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