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

[mtsilver_conquor]

She looks exhausted and drained, like she should be sleeping, never mind she's already sleeping ten hours at a time.

As it is, there's a blink and a headtilt at the baby Digimon, as if Eva's trying to process it and hitting a blank. "I see. I think?"

Sorry Leafmon, her memory of the entire battle is pretty patchy thanks to shock and trauma.

[ourtomorrow]

Oh. All right, that's how Eva is doing. Ken sees he should handle this, after all.

"Put simply, Wormmon can change forms," he summarizes. "If you see me next to a new creature, it's probably him."

"Because I'M your only partner, right?"

"Mm."

Leafmon beams. He's! The only partner!

He has been for ten years, but this is still wonderful!

[mtsilver_conquor]

"I - How does that even work? Life isn't a video game???"

Her brain's a bit broken right now. Sorry Ken.

Later on she's going to be mortified by her reaction.

[ourtomorrow]

"I'm digital," says Leafmon, like that explains everything. "So when Ken-chan sends me energy, it turns into data and I evolve!"

"....Basically," says Ken, who is not sure this explanation is sufficient but is also not sure what to say to make it so.

[mtsilver_conquor]

"I-" That explains everything yet nothing and her head hurts.

Which, given she comes from a world where monsters routinely hurl around energy-based attacks is saying something. There's an apologetic smile though. "I think I need to come back to this later when I'm not fuzzy brained? But, either way, I am glad you're both OK."

[ourtomorrow]

"Thanks." Ken looks down, for a moment. "Ah..."

"Ken-chan." Baby snuggle. You can do it, Ken-chan! You can find what you need to say!

[mtsilver_conquor]

"It's fine, really," she says with a grin. "Give me a few days and I'll be much clearer-headed and ready to pick your mind about this."

[ourtomorrow]

"We'll be ready," Ken promises, starting to wonder whether he should leave Eva to rest.

"Bring it," contributes Leafmon, puffing himself up around his pacifier to look Tough. Ken-chan loves questions and answers! They've got this!

[mtsilver_conquor]

"I'll have a list of questions!" It's a promise for sure, though-

This is awkward, but- "Uh... Before you both go. L-Leafmon? C-can I uh. Hug you?"

By the time she's done, her shoulders are up to her ears. Local pokemon trainer has no pokemon to hug. Please help?

[ourtomorrow]

Oh. Oh, that's.....Ah.

Leafmon immediately perks up. "Can I, Ken-chan?"

Ken will even hold Leafmon out for easier transport. "Here you go."

This is a soothing and adorable baby. Maybe this is what he can do for his team leader, in this moment. He can't change that she'd been hurt while he was focused on other things. He can't change that he'd been of no use once she was out of the line of fire.

But he has a bug people can hug. That isn't nothing.

[mtsilver_conquor]

"Thank you, both of you." She means it as she takes the Digimon with care.

And then she curls around him -careful of the leaf- and Leafmon will very much feel a shudder run through Eva as she chokes back her tears. Ladies don't cry in front of boys they don't know that well.

As it is, she wishes, more than anything, her pokemon where here; but they're not, and for all being able to hug Leafmon helps, it's... not really the same.

Even so, it's a least a good minute before she uncurls and takes a shaky, steadying breath.

"Thank you both so very much for your kindess."