Memory Cave

[voidtreckermods]

After the passengers see a glimpse of a life that is not their own they appear in a cave. It is light, a strange moss glowing on the walls and ceiling illuminates the cave nicely and it is large enough for them to pace around in without trouble.

They are not alone. In the cave with them is another voidtrecker. Maybe someone they know well, maybe someone they have only seen in the aisles of the train. But they are together in this cave together.

The cave has no exit, at least not yet. They know that it will, eventually. When the time is right.

But for that time to come, they first must talk...

(OOC: For reference: memories!)

Comments

[blue_ice]

...Kaibaland. It was a spite project.

{ He's not sure what's compelling him to explain any of this, but...he goes on. This will likely scare Della away, and that might be for the best. ]

Our adoptive father was the head of a weapons dealing corporation. I swore to him I'd turn the focus to entertainment when I wrested control, and for Mokuba's sake I would build a park where orphans like us could play and forget their troubles. I'd give them free passes. He...hated that idea, to say the least.

He trained me to be as ruthless and cruel as him, and it took years after he left for me to start to claw back from that...but I finally managed to fulfill that promise.

[ But he still looks pensive. ]

...It took a lot to get back to your kids, I guess.

[sos_pilot]

[ Okay, the name of the park gets a brief snort out of her. But as he explains his motivations, her expression softens, and she walks up closer to him, hand on his arm. ]

Hey... I saw that kid's face. There's no way he'd love anyone really ruthless and cruel... you're a good brother.

[ But then it falls back on her, and she looks away. ]

And you might be a better parent to your brother than I was to my own... It's my fault I had to "get back" to them in the first place, instead of watching them grow up.

[blue_ice]

All I wanted was to see him smile.

[ There's more to the story...but that's not exactly relevant just yet. Instead, as they're in a bizarre spiritual space, her apparent touch causes a strange warmth to spread through him, and he briefly places his hand over hers.

The feeling grows stronger. This is weird. But he makes room for her to sit next to him if she likes, strangely connected to the determined mother. ]

What happened?

[sos_pilot]

[ He'd gotten bits and pieces before, but given that they were 'stuck' in each other's heads, she supposed he deserved the whole story. With a sad sigh, she sat next to him. ]

... Ever since I was young, I've gone on adventures with my brother Donald and our Uncle, Scrooge McDuck. I've always loved the thrill of finding new things, exploring uncharted territory... I could never see myself slowing down or stopping. Not even when I got pregnant.

In fact... it made me want to find even more places to discover, so I could give my kids the same excitement I always did. But it seemed like we've done almost everything, seen almost everything... so I thought about going into the most uncharted territory there was - outer space.

[ A bitter chuckle, closing her eyes for the moment. ]

Donald was furious when I brought it up... He argued that now that I was a mom, I had responsibility. I thought he was just being overly-protective. Uncle Scrooge was on my side, so... as a surprise gift for me, he and one of his top scientists worked on a special rocket ship for me. Not too long after I laid my eggs, I found out about the rocket.

[ Her hands clench up, angry at herself. ]

... I took it for a joyride. I thought... I could just take a quick trip, and be back in no time. I wasn't thinking of my uncle, my brother, or even my kids... I was only thinking of myself. It was the most stupid, foolish, reckless thing I'd ever done... and I paid the price for it.

... There was an asteroid field. I couldn't dodge them all. And the next thing I knew... I was on the moon. Minus one leg.

[blue_ice]

[ Kaiba listens patiently, squeezing her arm in return. Was that reckless? Of course it was. But it was familiar. ]

The first vision you saw of Egypt...that was much the same thing. I was confident I could return to the living world, but Mokuba was scared...I don't know if I made it back to him.

[ He reaches to open his locket, glancing down at the picture of a much younger Mokuba smiling. ]

Your boys forgave you. I could see it in their eyes.

[sos_pilot]

[ Della pushes the edge of her palms to her eyes - it would really suck to cry right now. But she manages to give Kaiba a small smile. ]

They're way better than I deserve. And... I guess you feel that way about your little brother. That even if you come back from what you did, he'll come running up to you, without hesitation.

[blue_ice]

[ Kaiba looks down at that smiling face and hopes, more than anything, that she's right. ]

We had our reasons and made our choices. All we can do is make better ones when we see them again.

You look back too much on what could've been, you start to lose the only thing you have left: the future.

[sos_pilot]

What are you, a fortune cookie?

[ But the teasing is affectionate, with a little push on his arm. ]

... I hear you. I mean, if I had a choice, I wouldn't be on this train at all. As much as I'm having... I'd rather be home with all of them.

[blue_ice]

[ He lets out a little squawk. ]

No, just my philosophy.

And agreed. I need to get back to him...I don't want him here, not when the missions get more and more dangerous every time. He's capable, but I'd never get sleep again.

[sos_pilot]

Maybe we can work together on that. Uncovering the secrets of the train, trying to find a way back to our loved ones.

[blue_ice]

You managed to come back from the moon with the rocket destroyed. And with all I've built...I think we can crack something open of this mystery.

[ He almost smiles. ]

...or the more immediate mystery of what's happening to us right now. The only person I talked to last night thought it was the weirdest thing he'd ever heard.

[sos_pilot]

Well, I had to repair the rocket... which took over ten years. Then I had help from the moon people during that last year... so, in other words, we can't do this alone.

[ However, he has given her something to think about. ]

You know, if I had to guess, these probably aren't just random memories being assigned. You haven't heard anyone whining about seeing someone go to the bathroom or just eating breakfast with nothing going on. These aren't the every-day boring memories, these are the significant ones.

[blue_ice]

Words I'm hearing a lot lately. I've been alone most of my life.

[ But he's adjusting, as slow of a process as it is. ]

Like it wants to forge bonds between us. It wants something from us before it will let us go, I felt that much.

[sos_pilot]

Hmmm... our memories do have a slight familiar tinge to them... And if not that, then we definitely understand each other's struggles. Maybe that's on purpose too?

[blue_ice]

Like a memory buddy system?

[ And they haven't even recovered any truly traumatic memories yet. He's a little afraid of what they'll find if this goes on...and that's likely why he seems to be withdrawing. ]

Mm. Fine. Just don't tell anyone else about what you've seen, and I'll do the same.

[sos_pilot]

I will definitely... stop doing that.

[ She glances aside, having told one or two folks about seeing a dude with weird hair in egypt. ]

[blue_ice]

...I said I was a duck with other ducks, when I was trying to figure out if I'd just hallucinated...but I won't, either. Your secrets are safe.

[ He offers his hand in peace. And something clicks in his mind...hm. Weird. ]

[sos_pilot]

[ Now that makes her laugh. ]

Since I'm the only duck here, I think that'll narrow it down for some people. But I appreciate it.

[blue_ice]

[ Kaiba laughs too, sitting back on his heels as they settle. ]

All right. I'll let you know if I find out anything else.

[ And two doors appear on opposite ends! That must be their cue. He walks to the door, hoping this is the last of it. ]

[sos_pilot]

[ She spots the doors, sighs, and heads to the opposite one Kaiba is at. ]

... See you soon, Kaiba.