Not with a Bang: Conclusion

[voidtreckermods]

The base camp is a mess by the time the fight is over. The heavy rain alone would have been enough, but the battle has churned up the earth itself. The previously peaceful clearing is pockmarked with craters and dark puddles where ash has mixed into rainwater, along with oil and blood that swirl unpleasantly through the shallow pools. The trees are bowed outwards with the force of the powers that waged through the area, trunks shattered and torn, boughs hanging haphazardly or draped with the remnants of tents and equipment.

Perhaps all that can be said is that it gives the Voidtrecker Express a decidedly clear landing spot. The train snakes its way through the jungle, coming to a stop in a familiar, though now lopsided, coil around the clearing, and opening its doors to allow injured to be carried on, or anyone from the train to disembark.

It’s clear that there are indeed people aboard - as the doors hiss open, activity is already visible inside, as well as voices audibly going back and forth over the tinny speakers of the ICP.

Now that the saboteurs are dealt with, the final repairs can be made to the damaged stations and the shields locked into place. By the time they are done, nothing and no one will be able to enter the planet - from space, anyway.

The train will remain in the clearing through the night of Imagination 12 and the morning of Imagination 13, until all the stations are prepared, the pandas returned to their rightful place and everyone has rejoined the train.

By midday of Imagination 13, the train is ready to leave. Everyone gets a message on their SCA to return to the train, if they haven’t already. Once all are onboard the doors shut and the train begins to snake through the jungle.

“Re-entering Voidspace in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.”

The train rattles and shakes as the greenery around them (and the purple of a few farewell pandas) fade into the colours of the void.

Comments

[magicurls]

Mami waits quietly...she doesn't seem to revive over time, instead she's half-asleep over the chair.

But that's all right, it doesn't take much to wake her. When she does wake:

"But...Trunks, are you okay?"

[light_of_willpower]

Tea, at least, he could make even if it won't be the best tea ever. But he's brought tea and a light sandwich, rather than biscuits. Bit more filling, he hopes. There is concern as he gently jostles her shoulder.

"I came out of this latest mission relatively unscathed. I'm fine." He's not fine, but he's not physically hurt so it can all wait okay? Parts of this mission just hit close to home.

[magicurls]

Oh, a sandwich. That's different. Mami takes it, trying to suppress any tremors in her hands.

"I'm glad at least...some people made it through. I don't know how we'll handle another mission like this."

[light_of_willpower]

"We learn from this one." Trunks said with determination. He would be faster next time, to go Super-Saiyan. To deal with their enemies, no matter what the numbers. It would have to be enough...

[magicurls]

Mami agrees, taking it quietly.

"I'm just not sure...how to handle my limits. We don't have enough healers."

[light_of_willpower]

"No, we don't. So we might have to work on stocking up more healing items. I know there's one that'd be useful from my world. Piccolo and I were discussing it, and he may try and get some. We also look into healing potions." But that wouldn't help Mami...

"Do you want me to stay here with you, Mami?"

[magicurls]

Mami shakes her head. "It's...fine. I'll recover once I see someone. But thank you anyway."

[light_of_willpower]

"If you're sure..." Trunks doesn't sound so sure, but he'll have to trust Mami to know herself best.