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

[10billionpercent]

He found some vague point on the wall more interesting than facing that impressively penetrating gaze and he waved his hand a little bit.

"I got it. I won't leave the train without an SCA on my wrist." He promised. He didn't know how he was going to fix that, or how he was going to replace it if he couldn't, but it wasn't for him while his brain was still muddled.

[namethattune]

This is all he is likely to get. It is not a satisfactory answer, but sometimes good enough is the highest bar achievable. Siebren knows this; it does not stop him from being severely irritated at the fact.

He moves towards Senku, making absolute certain his placement interrupts Senku's view of the wall, before holding the SCA out for Senku to take. He waits for Senku to take hold of it before speaking, holding on to it for a few more brief moments. "I have lost too many people to senseless violence. I will not lose you to foolishness and arrogance." The anger has dropped from his tone; the intensity has not.

Only then does he release the SCA into Senku's custody.

[10billionpercent]

Siebren might not believe it, but he wasn't at all trying to antagonize him. He didn't realize that Siebren didn't find that to be sufficient, he just promised what he asked for, didn't he?

He did reach out to take it and was a little surprised when he was met with resistance.

He didn't feel particularly arrogant and as for foolish, he could admit it might have been. He wasn't sure what the alternative was though, maybe not to put himself in a situation like that again? Then again, he'd worked hard to fix the problems so it wasn't so much worse.

He blinked at him in the end. "I wasn't trying to die." He told him, that was true. "I did what I believed was the best at the time." Senku appealed to him slightly. "And I'm sorry that you've lost people like that. I understand not...wanting to face that again."

Senku sighed, running his free hand through his hair.

[namethattune]

Siebren listens, expression impassive, terribly calm. "If you do understand, then perhaps you will think twice before putting those of us who care about you in that situation again."

It is an unfair approach, and possibly cruel - Siebren can recognize that much, at least - but if it causes Senku to apply caution and common sense while in the field, it will have been worth it.

That imparted, he turns to depart the car. Perhaps now he will be able to find some measure of calm.

[10billionpercent]

He watched Siebren go, since he didn't think stopping him was a good idea. He knew people cared about him, and he certainly wasn't intending on putting himself in that position again if he could help it.

Senku didn't really know how to express that terribly well, so he didn't try. He was way too tired for this.

He did get up to refill his coffee cup while he mulled things over.