middleofsomewhere | Not with a Bang: Conclusion

Not with a Bang: Conclusion

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.

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Senku had been spacing out so he didn't catch that Gen was in his field of vision, but at the same time he didn't have the energy to tense up and react too much to his shoulder being squeezed.

He did react by looking up a little bit, not even moving his head.

"Mentalist." He returned the greeting.

Yes, none of those were super great signs. Gen idly hoped that he wouldn't have to carry Senku back to a bed or a double-seat somewhere. He could manage it, sure, but it wouldn't be exactly fun for either of them, for different reasons. "I'm thinking I'd like to take a short nap, my dearest. Would you join me?"

"Wasn't planning on taking a nap." Senku answered, stubborn as ever even though he certainly looked like he might get one anyway, draped on the table.

"But I am, won't you join me?" Gen coaxed gently. "I can tell you all about the parts I found out in the jungles, we're going to have a bit to sort through later, when I feel less like sleeping."

"You're trying to trick me." Senku whined a little bit, accusing him. It wasn't fair, he wasn't hurt or sick or anything, just tired and sluggish.

"That's cheating, my brain's not working, I can't keep up with you."

"Like you wouldn't cheat whenever you get the opportunity, darling," Gen pointed out with a soft smile. "Like you wouldn't trick me for my own good."

"After a nap, your brain likely will be working better, and give you a chance to get your revenge on me," Gen told him.

He groaned. He just knew Gen was going to cajole him and nag him until he did as he liked, coaxing him out of his seat.

"Fine. But there will be revenge." He promised, getting to his feet slowly, scrubbing his hand down his face.

"I'd be disappointed if there wasn't!" Gen told him, and offered him his arm, letting Senku lean against him for additional support if he wanted, as they'd make their way slowly through the train.

His tone was gentler when he said, "And this is only temporary. I'm sure as soon as your brain is fully charged, you'll have a million projects for me to do - won't you?"

"Probably but I can't think of what they are right now..."

He took Gen's arm, he really was wiped and he leaned against him a little bit.

"Wait. I know. We got all that stuff." That...was descriptive.

“That’s true. We have a lot of stuff,” Gen said, even more fond now, but he tried not to sound too amused. He’s not making fun of Senku. “I gathered tons of spare parts from robots, you’re going to have a lot to sort through.”

"Yeah there was you and me and..." He trailed off a moment. "Roland. And...and..."

Give him a moment Gen, it was going to come to him.

"The blonde one...and...Inigo, that's it." It was beyond clear that someone needed a nap still.

"Mmhmm," Gen nodded and squeezed his arm. "All of those people, because you're good at that. Collecting friends. We'll definitely have a lot to keep us busy, once you're well rested, my darling."

He held him careful and close as they moved down toward Senku's cabin. "And maybe, once you're a little less muddled, we can talk about robots punching you and explosions and missing SCAs. I think it's all the fault of bad luck, mind you. I'd like to find lady luck and punch her in the nose on your behalf."

"I'm rested now, you saw me sleep." Senku complained a little bit as he was escorted rather willingly. Unfortunately it was going to take awhile.

"The robot was definitely bad luck." Senku complained. "Just showed up an' tried to kill me." He rubbed his face.

"I didn't explode anything either, it was an accident from the next room, I can't be blamed for that."

He could be blamed for the SCA.

"Your batteries need more charging, Senku-chan," Gen told him. "We've got to get you back up from the negatives."

Gen squeezed him gently. "The robot was incredibly rude. And I'm pretty sure you were trying to fix things to keep them from exploding - I don't blame you for either of those things, as I mentioned. Just bad luck. But I'd still fight luck for you, I'm feeling very vengeful."

He was terribly drained, but it wasn't fair. He hadn't really done anything that was overly taxing, aside from whacking his head which hadn't helped any.

"Vengeful, huh." Senku murmured. "Ah, I keep losing my train of thought. I hate it. I don't think you should make my luck mad at me, it's already a pain in the ass."

"All right, all right," Gen told him, another gentle squeeze. With Senku being so fanciful? That's part of proof that he's out of it. "I'll be nice to luck, try to sweet-talk it maybe, instead."

At least they're almost to the door, he can get Senku lying down, maybe nap alongside him to better lull him to sleep.

"Yeah, that sounds like a better idea." Senku agreed with a little hum.

He was tired, but he let Gen have his ticket, he could work the machine.

"This isn't fair, I have things to do." He whined lightly, but once the door opened he would lie down on his bunk.

Gen opened the door for them, slipping Senku's ticket back into his pocket as he helped him inside of his room. "There'll be all the time in the world, later, to do those things, my darling."

He'd sit down beside him on the bunk first. "Would you like a bit of company?"

"You're patronizing me." He complained, but he moved over and made a grabbing motion for Gen's shirt, he did want company if it was Gen.

"Never," Gen told him. "Just reassuring you."

Senku was always much better with having arms around him if they were lying down - so he got comfortable beside Senku and cuddled up close. Gen knew of course he could never refer to it as cuddling aloud, even if - in retrospect - they've been doing that for years.

One hand went to the back of Senku's head, to rub small circles into his scalp. "You'll have your revenge on me later."

"Yeah, revenge, vengeance all that." He said sleepily and he leaned into that hand, he loves having his hair played with and his scalp massaged.

"So much revenge..." Senku closed his eyes, yawning as he closed his eyes.

Gen kissed his temple as Senku drifted off to sleep, and let himself doze.

Really, this was the most he could do to help him feel better.

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Not with a Bang: Conclusion

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