The Will to Fight: Conclusion

[voidtreckermods]

The battles rage loud and ferocious at the gates of the city and off in the ruined wastelands of Erda, and on the walls a struggle of a different kind occurs. The team who stayed behind at the towers are small but determined as they move stoically across the walls to right the stones that have become misaligned, even as their friends battle not too far away.

The city begins to hum. It's a quiet hum, not loud enough to be heard out where the others are fighting but it vibrates even through stone. The recovering monks assure them that it is done, the wards are back up and no demon will be able to enter the city.

Eventually the battle is won, all three battles. The demons fought back and killed, a major blow to their gate system that will keep them back for hopefully a long time. Those waiting in the caverns return to the city and by the time they get there the illusions are gone. Everyone can see the world for what it really is.

But despite the ruins of their world the people are relieved, the adrenaline of the fight coursing through their veins and the mood is one of hope. They will build again, their people will survive.

All Voidtreckers please return to the Voidtrecker Express. Departure will be in a few hours

It has landed not too far from the city, cloaked to make it unnoticeable to the citizens, for all the good that does. No one has been particularly subtle this last week. People can begin regrouping, packing up the camp and getting any wounded not already healed to the train.

However roughly half an hour later another message appears on their SCA.

Passenger Persephone has requested we remain on system System #86525656412355 for an additional day to further assist the people of Erda. The Voidtrecker Express will depart on the morning of Day Fifteen of the month of Kazoo.

The train remains where it is, so the voidtreckers can use its facilities. There is definitely a lot that can be done to assist those of this world and the citizens will welcome any helping hands.

After an extra day they finally depart, returning to the void once more.

(OOC Note: Once the wards are up any characters who are demonic in nature will not be able to enter the city either!)

Comments

[voidtreckernpcs]

She looks a little confused, but more curious, watching all three of them quietly as Chiff vibrated in Inigo's arms. First Roland's question and then Tidus' outburst, the silence and then Inigo's apology.

"You need help? What sort of situation? Is it something to do with the illusions here?"

Or something else? It's clear she's thinking, trying to figure this all out.

[blitzcheer]

Tidus is watching Roland, hoping on some show of support. But he gets maybe what he deserves, if still some of what he asked: submission, but with nothing more than the man's back, and Tidus feels the weight of what it signifies. It's one way of tempering his mood, guilt pressing down his panic to a less erratic state, and his head hangs eventually by the time that Inigo speaks to smooth the atmosphere.

He doesn't know if he should speak, but he knows - that he can't keep silent. If he's going to go down this road, then he has to stick to his game. And if this all comes crashing down...

"It's not the illusions," he says plainly, not yet looking at her, not looking at anyone, "and it's nothing to do with voidstorms. We... we didn't choose to come here. We're--"

The letters. He has a note, his notebook, and he brings out his left hand, makes appear in it from a light gold dust the standard one that all passengers get, worn around the edges, though mostly bent. He opens it up, pulling out a folded sheet of paper, a message printed on it. He holds onto it though, holding back, reconsidering his approach.

"Every month, the train stops at platforms and picks up people: people from anywhere, everywhere. We don't choose it, we don't have training - we don't know anything about the void 'til we're there. We're just shoved into groups and we're stuck on the train until a mission comes along. We've been doing this for months--and we don't know how to stop it. We don't know how to get home or who'll even help us." Now he looks over at Anan, his desperation contained, but his brow is hard, and he grips the book tightly.

"Look, I can tell you every place we've been to, there was a report on us -- I just need you to believe me. All we want is help, someone to help us - stop this train," he shakes his head, "--or just find out what it's trying to do. Please. I promise I'm not lying."

[adregem]

The energy changes when Tidus begins to spurt out details - too many details, Roland thinks immediately, his mind already racing to follow. With a composed breath, a brief yet deep inhale, he turns back around with arms crossed over his chest as if nothing happened. Poised to catch whatever either of them miss, whether it was in Inigo's attempt to smoothen the twist in the situation or the words that flow out of Tidus's mouth so naturally, so desperately.

So be it, he said to himself, and that was what he was going to do. He did promise Tidus earlier in the mission he'd take risks. That he's in.

At the drop of the beat, Roland takes a step forward and dovetails quickly. His voice is low and calm, though it was nowhere near close to the veil of nonchalance he assumed before, play-acting to gauge trust.

"Sorry about earlier. You can imagine we're cautious for a reason." He says. "What the two of them are saying is true...Though I might be able to frame it a bit better for you, so you can understand it fully." Please. His hand gestures in a closed fist, gripped tight to emphasize the mood. Eyes on Anan and nowhere else. Conviction he wears on his shoulders, like a second skin.

"We are indeed, the unwilling passengers on the train... The Voidtrecker Express." Roland finally adds, quantifies. "But none of us remember signing up to be void missionaries. We come and go in cycles, just as Tidus said, and we have no way of knowing our real purpose or how to untether ourselves safely from the vehicle. All attempts to communicate with the conductor of the train are met with silence. The void ministry seems to see the voidcraft as a rogue, a potential threat, though the people riding it are far from it. And we're eager to prove that, if given a chance."

He swallows thickly. "I guess you could say that we're effectively hostages, Anan. That's the long and short of it. This planet is just one of many planets we're sent to assist with just our wits about us." He shares a glance with the two by his side. A pause on Roland's end, as he returns to gauge the woman with a sharp eye, hoping this gamble would pay off in spades.

[flatteries]

Inigo just watches as the other two explain so much to Anan at once - practically their whole situation. He's well aware that there's not really anything to add to it, especially since Inigo is already kind of worried that such a stream of information coming all at once may be overwhelming to the woman as-is. Especially since it's not exactly like it's easy to process information, about a train being out there that kidnaps people.

So rather than adding to the overwhelming stream, Inigo just stays quiet as he glances between the other two - Tidus's obvious desperation, Roland's attempt at calmer diplomacy - before his gaze moves to Anan and then finally lands on the small robot in his arms.

Sorry, buddy, he mentally apologizes to the thing. Guess they're holding up Chiff's pal for a bit longer than anticipated.

[voidtreckernpcs]

Her expression is concerned and that concern turns to confusion pretty quickly but she doesn't take her eyes away. She watches them all, listening intently to what first Tidus and then Roland say.

It's a lot. So much that when Roland finally finishes she is silent. Even Chiff is silent in Inigo's hands, vibrating a little and sending a metal limb to hook around Inigo's hand.

"There was a report. The Voidtrecker Express. That is you?"

She moved her hand, towards her bare wrist before remembering that she was missing her SCA. "I remember it. It said you were dangerous or in danger. That you were either part of a criminal organisation or were being trafficked by one." She shook her head.

"I also saw you save this world with my own eyes. I have never seen criminals throw themselves into danger to save unrelated civilians before." She looked at all three of them intensely.

"I... I believe you. But... Being held hostage by a train. You have truly seen no pilot? You say you know nothing of the void? You are from void inactive worlds? How..." She shook her head.

"I'm sorry. I do believe you. It is just a lot to take in."

Chiff beeped, the metal cylinder spinning around. "I will help you. Or at least try. I can't say I even understand it, or have any idea how to stop it but, you saved my life so the least I can do is repay you."

[blitzcheer]

There's a pressure in his chest, raw and painful, a vulnerability waiting on her response that only grows as he has to wait. Lies led him nowhere on that snow planet when he last tried to find help, and who can predict what this woman will say to them now? About all this? Tidus expects a fight to convince her, to be met with wariness and doubt, a demand for proof; maybe the accusation that they're all pulling her leg. His fingers are numbing from how hard they're pressing against the book, but he refuses to ease his grip.

Not even as his expectations...don't come to pass.

Tidus nods once to confirm the train's name - the voidcraft, whatever - but he otherwise keeps silent, even in the moments after she says those words: I believe you. His heart hasn't pounded so heavily inside him in a long time, and relief is a funny sensation; more like an uncomfortable prickling to his skin, a breathlessness to his lungs. A strange dizziness, almost like -- he's the one in disbelief.

But, he can't let it shake him.

"We can tell you everything we know-" Tidus throws a look to the other two - what's the point of holding back?, before he returns to her, moving on despite it. He's not about to make that decision without them; not a second time. "If we just can find a way to contact people, keep in contact... we don't know how much time we have here before the train leaves, but. Do you need anything? Have you had anything since, uh..."

A pause.

"...did you get caught in the illusions?"

...so maybe Tidus is realising all the polite steps he skipped over now. At least he's looking sheepish for it.