middleofsomewhere | Enemy Unknown: Conclusion

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Enemy Unknown: Conclusion

The third night is as long and creepy as the others...

It might be that they found the engine room, solved the puzzles and found themselves in the hangar bay with no way out. It might be that they were still in the station hiding from the invisible monsters. Or it might be that they had been plucked from the mission and were waiting in their holding room.

Either way morning dawns on the fourth day...

ENEMY: UNKNOWN

DAY FOUR

the trapped. THOSE WHO SOLVED THE ENGINE ROOM SPENT THE NIGHT IN A LARGE HANGAR THAT DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE ANY DOORS. Their SCA's are working, so they can still communicate with those in the station, perhaps talk them through the engine room puzzles or tell them to stay clear. As morning comes all the lights in the hangar come on. Brighter than any lights so far in the station, harsh white light after the eerie red of the rest of the mission.

Everyone still in the station wakes where they fell asleep - if they slept at all. It's not long after most people are up and about that they will hear a high-pitched beep from their SCA, and then a blue light will envelop them and those around them. It might be they spot their friends vanishing before they too disappear.

They arrive in the hangar, reunited with those who spent the night there. All their gear is with them at least, but that doesn't solve the problem of being in a hangar with no obvious way out. Nor are any of those who vanished during the last three days here, their SCA's still go unanswered.

the vanished. FOR THOSE IN THE HOLDING ROOM, THEIR NIGHT HAS PROCEEDED MUCH LIKE THE NIGHTS BEFORE. One of the screens showed the hangar, and those that had succeeded in completing the engine room task. The lights had dimmed for sleeping and turned on again bright in the morning. For those watching the screens they will see those in the station vanish in blue light and turn up in the hangar.

Around half an hour later a voice sounds in the room. "Please gather your belongings and prepare for release."

It's another ten minutes, allowing them to make sure they have all their things before their SCA's beep. They are then surrounded by a blue light, taking them from the room they had spent the last few days in.

REUNITED

reunion. AN HOUR PASSES AFTER FIRST ARRIVALS PASS IN THE HANGAR. Suddenly, there is another flash of blue light, and the missing eighteen Voidtreckers appear with the rest of their crew. They will find they had all their gear as well, including their missing weapons.

They are left to their own devices for a small while, a time for reuniting with friends, but not long enough to exchange stories before a voice rings out in the hangar:

"THANK YOU CREW OF THE VOIDTRECKER EXPRESS FOR YOUR COMPLIANCE. YOU MAY RETURN TO YOUR CRAFT."
There is a loud mass of beeping as everyone's SCA's flashes at the same time, holographic messages popping up too fast to be able to read them in their entirety.

Voidtreckers come in.

All Voidtreckers return to the Voidtrecker Express
Voidtreckers evacuate now

Voidtreckers do you read?

Layers of holographic messages pile on top of each other but a moment later everyone's SCA's glow gold and everyone vanishes from the hangar...

LUGGAGE CARRIAGE

return. EVERYONE ARRIVES INSIDE THE LUGGAGE CARRIAGE, PACKED LIKE SARDINES BETWEEN SUITCASES AND TRUNKS. There is no announcement, no warning of returning to the void; just a lurch that is likely to throw anyone on the train unaware of what has just happened off their feet, no matter the carriage they're in.

They return to the void at what feels like breakneck speed. Colours fly past the windows, and it is a good few hours before they seem to slow to their normal travel speed.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I don't know!" He looks at his SCA, frowning as the messages ping up. The train? It was trying to?

Everything blurred and the next he knew he was squashed, in what was becoming a distressingly familiar situation.

"Inigo? Tidus?" Were they near?

Ughhhhhh. Whhhhhyy.

It's always finding yourself on top of someone, someone half on top of you when these returns happen. And that's even without how abrupt the return to the train is, Tidus not realising the space for the luggage car, nothing making sense when the blur and darkness of his vision turns to a view of figures, the light stinging his eyes.

But then his brain catches up, and he realises the familiar, the call of his name muffled somewhere near. Right next to him, actually - as he tries to find his feet and his own sliver of personal space, arms squished up against himself.

"Taiki! Inigo!"

Inigo remember the first time this happened - at the end of that mission that suddenly got cut off when the train pulled them back from the shadows.

He remembers already having found that annoying. But it's only gotten worse over time, with more and more people to fit into this tiny space. He sucks in a breath, trying to let action fuel him right now, rather than any annoyed or nervous thoughts. He tries to take stock of his surroundings, trying to see where he can move.

Following the sound of Taiki and Tidus's voices, until he's managed to squeeze over a little to the side until he's right next to what seems like a blur of Taiki, grabbing the other's hand with his own.

(At least, he is hoping that is Taiki's hand.

But without Inigo realising it, that's actually 100% Tidus's hand. Sorry, bro.)

"Here, Taiki, I've got you!"

It's a mess of voices and confusion as people realise what has happened and try and find each other in the mass of bodies, everyone calling out, worry in the air.

At least there was no strong smell of blood, it meant his mind was clear enough to follow his friends' voices.

"Where are you?"

He had him? Where? He can't see either of them.

Inigo can never be far from his emotional support hand.

Which is handy get it, though Tidus is confused as he hears Inigo saying something or the over, a hand grabbing his while he was already trying to find some way to any small amount of freedom. He tries to pull away from it without checking its owner, spotting some smidgen of space that might be useful; but his eyes turning to follow where the arm leads to, a side of blue hair visible.

"--Inigo! Hey!"

He gives it another tug, this time to get Inigo to see him, nodding backwards.

"Just try 'n' get out!"

A call out to both of them. Doesn't matter where they are in here if they can meet up in the corridor beyond.

Inigo's first reaction is just confusion. What does Taiki mean, where is he? He's right there, of course, holding Taiki's hand!

.. though it's a little mystifying as to why.. Taiki's voice is coming from the other side.. where he is not holding the hand...

Inigo frowns, trying to turn his head enough to look in the direction his hand is sticking out in, only to spot some familiar blonde ~~and a bit less blonde~~ hair.

"Tidus?" Wait, was that him? Then where's Taiki?!

"You know that's easier said than done, right?"

"Okay..." He would try. It's not easy. There are people everywhere and he doesn't want to hurt anyone or be rude. But with a lot of apologies and making himself as small as possible he finally manages to stumble out into the dressing carriage.

"Yeah, just do it!"

That's for Inigo, whose complaining can be saved for later - or during their efforts of getting out, once others start spilling into the different directions. Tidus isn't focusing on any but the one leading to the dressing car, less webbed and with more space these days. It becomes easier though, as people collect themselves, starting squeezing and popping themselves out from the luggage, and in time, that includes Tidus and Inigo - hands still held, scooting over first to get out of the way, and then to look for Taiki's figure.

And behold, in view!

"T!"

He's coming over, dragging Inigo if he isn't ready to move, only letting go of the guy's hand once they're with Taiki.

"Sheeesh. Okay, is it me, or is the world shaking?"

It's taken all that fuss, but Tidus feels the vibrations in the room, trembling over his own body.

The one advantage of Tidus dragging him along through the crowd that Inigo at least goes not whine or protest in the face of being told to just do it. Instead he tries his best to help, wiggling between people in such ways that keeps him from slowing Tidus down, trying to move his own feet as much as possible without parading right across toes.

It feels like it takes an eternity, but that feeling is exactly what just makes relief set in stronger once they actually are free of that mass of people.

.. relief, and a bit of dizziness. It's true, there's a feeling to the train that Inigo couldn't really notice before, as cramped between people as he had been.

"It's going fast," he mumbles, still adjusting to having actual room and the odd bumpiness of the train at the moment.

"Really fast." He agrees after reaching out to grab both his friends' hands, glad that they had managed to get out of the crush and find him out here.

"I guess... It was not expecting that."

What had happened. He's still not sure on the details, but it was clear that it was no normal mission.

"Guess we should've expected that." What, with the train not being fond of the Ministry much. Tidus shakes his head, as if to add to the dizzying world he's already experiencing; but it's all strange to his senses, going from the holding room to the hangar, to being packed up and now being in the dressing car.

He keeps a hold of the hand that Taiki gives, remembering what they had barely started, if not what was said. But, with the way the train vibrates under his feet...

"It was the Ministry," he explains to Taiki. "They set up the mission - and they're the ones who took us. We were stuck in a room."

Want to continue, Inigo?

Sure, sure, just give Inigo a moment over here to recover his senses. Thankfully it's a moment he has between Taiki first speaking up and then Tidus speaking up as well, which means his mind is relatively clear enough to talk once it's his turn to continue.

Especially since Tidus saying this reminds him that they were about to explain everything to Taiki when the train pulled them away. Right.

"They wanted to ask us questions about the train and about what we've been doing. They tried to talk to the train directly, but apparently it was ignoring or blocking their messages, so they instead had to do it in this roundabout way."

A not so great roundabout way, considering it hurt Taiki like this.

"The ministry?" He looked between them. They had set up the mission and put Inigo and Tidus is a room?

He looked at them, trying to check they really were alright. The ministry had decided to kidnap them to ask them questions?

"They could have just asked... I am sure we would have answered."

Rather than... Being made to lose people.

"I think they wanted to see how we acted too. I mean, they were watching everyone - they let us watch everyone." He shakes his head. "But we couldn't talk to you. There were a bunch of cameras, and that was it. Like the way we see people on the ICP screens."

Because he knows Taiki knows some technology, but he'll explain what he means by cameras, just in case.

"I don't know what it proved though. Nothing about it made sense." He lets out a breath, mouth pulling.

"No one was happy about it."

"Yeah, it would have been better if they let us go right away, so we could have gone back to you guys and reassured you we were alright.."

That's the main thing Inigo had been worried about, honestly. Sure, being held in that room wasn't exactly fun, especially not the first day after his own interview, when Tidus nor Jingyi had been there with him. But more than anything, Inigo just felt guilty about seeing people wander around, Taiki looking as if he was searching for someone, and not being able to tell him he was right there. That he was alright.

"But.. maybe they can help us. We made sure to let them know what our situation here was." He glances over at the blonde. "Right, Tidus?"

There had been in cameras? That made sense, if they were monitoring them and a space ship seemed like the sort of place to have surveillance. But still it felt weird to know their friends had been able to see them, when they had had no idea where they had gone.

"You did?" He tilted his head. "Do you think they will be able to help? Did they seem open to that?"

"They need to go through system rigmaroles first," Tidus admits, a touch of exasperation on his face to be reminded about. "They don't make the decisions - some other guys do. But they said they knew we weren't deciding to be hooked up to the void. And whatever's going on with the planets disappearing, that's a big deal to them too."

He shakes his head, not completely certain, but...

"But, I think they're gonna try. I didn't get a bad feeling about them..." For all the off-putting parts about their meeting. "But they're just one part of the Ministry. Bigger problem is, is if the train's going to let them help."

Tidus gestures out towards the room, to the train itself.

Inigo nods along with Tidus's explanation, the other's sentiment entirely matching with Inigo's own. While they obviously can't be sure if they were being told the truth, it didn't feel like they were being lied to either.

.. or maybe the two of them are just a little naive. Inigo isn't sure which it is.

"At least it's better than nothing, right, guys? We have something to look forward to now." If they're going to be able to contact them at all, like Tidus says. "Especially since it didn't seem like we were going to get answers from the train itself anytime soon."

He can understand system rigmarole, he knows what it is like to have to wait and make sure that paperwork is completed and systems followed. So he just nods at Tidus though frowns at the end.

Because that's the problem isn't it? If the train is running scared right now, will it even engage with any outside help.

But they both seem positive, as if the meeting had been good rather than the terrible things that had been running through Taiki's imagination since they vanished.

"I'm glad... It's a lot better than nothing."

"It could all turn upside down for us," Tidus admits, the very possibility making him frown, unsettled even with the hopeful possibility there. "But, I'd say they got a lot of info from us talking or not talking. They said that fake mission was some kind of skill test - for what? They shut off what most people could do."

Their powers, even if that didn't entirely cripple them. But what did they want to see? How'd they react? And what for?

"They weren't getting a full picture of what we could do."

That's for sure.

"Yeah, it's.. a little strange."

But there's a kind of hesitation in Inigo's voice as he speaks. He doesn't want to think of things that are too negative, not when there's a hopeful thought to cling onto for now. Taiki's already done enough worrying for now, right? Inigo knows the other is smart enough to reach the more negative possibility in his mind without having to talk about it now in length.

Hence why Inigo shakes his head.

"Hey, you two, isn't the much more important part that we're together again now? Tidus, we should invite Taiki over to our room for tonight!"

It was strange, that they had been watching, but since their powers and abilities had been turned off could they truly understand what they were capable of?

And if not then what was it they were observing them for?

But Inigo at least seems determined to change the subject and Taiki nods. "It is important, I'm glad neither of you are hurt."

Tidus's instinct is to be incredulous about the switch-over, why this reunion deserves a sleepover in Inigo's opinion (other than he just wants one) - but before his mouth can voice confusion, he realises why; how Taiki must've been worried about them, how this would be the best way to assuage the misery of the last few days.

So he sighs instead, hefty, a put on display. "Fine, fine. But before that, shouldn't we see that Gyōkō's okay?" He then looks at Taiki in particular. "Was there anyone you were worried about in the station you wanna check on?"

See how good they're being in front of Taiki for once. Inigo doesn't even joke about Tidus trying to delay the inevitable over here or anything - because he doesn't want Taiki to feel rushed into this. This moment is all about their friend, and what he wants.

And honestly, it's a smart question on Tidus's part - Inigo hadn't even thought at all yet about Taiki's little friend, but it makes sense. So rather than piping up, Inigo just smiles (maybe even a little because Tidus actually agreed..), waiting for the other's answer.

"Yes. I want to check on him."

It hasn't been as long as usual and he had set the small jerboa with enough food and water for a normal mission. But he still missed him and wanted to make sure he was alright.

"I was worried about everyone... But it seems everyone is back... You were with Shuǐlóng... I mean Lan Jingyi... Right?"

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