Fissures of Time: Conclusion

[voidtreckermods]

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FISSURES OF TIME: CONCLUSION

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MISSION CONCLUSION

THE BATTLE LASTS LESS THAN AN HOUR, BUT IN THAT TIME, CHANGE HAS COME. The ring of equalisers used to keep the distortion at bay are a scattered mess; some broken, others barely functioning, overheating from the power of what they had to send back into the stream of pocketed time. Shattered remains of the building-high horned mirror clutter the upturned landscape, and some speck of rain has come back with them, leaving bodies both drenched yet sweltering.

But for the mess, there's no scars or tears in reality. Everything has settled, and Kolokifi and Sylnis have disappeared. Eilifi, appearing to confront the God of Summer and Life, cannot be seen. But what does remain...

...is a floating mass of energy, drifting gently from where Kolokifi had risen from her temple. It floats down from the sky, slowly; pastel colours blending into one another, shimmering in the sun's light. Roots form as it gathers inward, reaching for the ground, and curling around the energy to cradle it. Protecting it, while branches unfurl upward to form the fingers of branches that greet the sun, tiny flowers following soon into blossom.

It meets with the ground eventually, but when it does, there's no refuge under the stiff and cracked surface. But softly, there comes a rain - from the canopy of the tree itself, to moisten the ground below, and its own plant.

The two powers mingle, and within seconds, the soil relaxes to let in the roots. A light wind rustles the branches, and an air breathes from the plant.


'Eilifi...' speaks a voice. The haze of Silifi figure appears before the shrub, a vague visual of furs, soils and vines to represent a body, tattered and spilling a golden liquid from cracks in their body. A mask on their face, but they turn to no one but what has become of their Twin - their Eili.

Another figure appears, if barely a shape of all. A mist of grey-and-silver, with strings shaping a body that hang both connected and loose. A mask with closed eyes makes their face, a third eye open at the forehead, that stays transfixed on the growth before them.

They reach out with skeletal-shaped fingertips, barely caressing the surface of the sphere before collapsing on their knees, head bowing.

'Heri...Herios...' A deep voice echoes.

The leaves of silver shimmer and wave, and a bittersweetness permeates the space.

--
For the rest that had been in the distortion, they find themselves on leftover patches of soft grass. The burns from the ribbons and tendrils no longer hurt, the curse neutralised, even if the physical marks remain. These will fade slowly over the next few days, merely reminders of all that has been.

Back in the camps, the world seems calmer than it has been in a long time. There is an ease the Voidtreckers will be able to feel in the people. Something has changed; like the sun coming out after a rainstorm, there is a sense of relief in the air.

"Hey, Zhak here." The voice greets them, either in person or over the SCAs; once everyone has had time to return to camps or to the train, whichever it is their exhausted feet and mind leads them.

"Good work out there. Sili's gonna be moving her sister and Herios to her domain - what happens now is anyone's guess, but it looks like Spring's going to be out of commission here for a while. Don't worry though, we'll be covering it. The world's gotta go through a lot more bumps before it gets where it needs to, but it's always been heading in the right direction.

"Come to the base if you need anything post mission. But oh yeah, drop off our gear there before you leave. Your craft's agreed to a hefty fee if anyone thinks about taking anything, but if it turns out you just forgot, you can let it know and it'll send it back. "

Of course.

"Feel free to keep the alcohol and medical gear - that's on us. And before I forget, a few of you - you'll be getting some messages soon. Stuff about your world - Ten-Nank's called."

--
THE MINISTRY WORKERS ARE AROUND, HELPING WITH THE CLEANUP. They will greet Voidtreckers warmly when they see them, pointing them in the correct direction for dropping off equipment.

It's not much longer before a message appears on their SCA's. All Voidtreckers to return to the Voidtrecker Express.

It takes time, of course, for everyone to board. But soon the train doors close, the countdown starts, and they rise into the air flying up and vanishing, out of the world and back to the kaleidoscope of the void.

OOC NOTES

OOC post. Ask questions here. Rewards go here.

Last Notes: Thanks for your engagement! We hope everyone had fun - sorry that things got abruptly hectic in the middle! Please continue with threads as you please, and don't forget your mission rewards.

A note on stealing: The ministry have a good inventory system and will notice if anything missing. Anyone who has stolen anything will be penalized in points and their name noted by the ministry. If your character would still nab things that aren't the medicine/alcohol Zhak offered please let us know in shenanigans.

If people want a scouting drone: While they can't have the ones on the planet, they can buy a version from the train store by asking for a 'Scouting Drone' under 'Weapons'. These will come with an attachable earpiece and will sync to the SCA and earpieces, so they can be used at a distance.

They're remote control, and allow for scouting an area in advance without too much movement. They will show up on SCA maps, and will also have a very tiny laser, but can't be fired too many times before needing to cool down - they're better as a deterrent.

Guns can already be bought, and there's no equivalent for the equaliser boxes.

Comments

Cassie Cage | OTA, one thread locked

[nutkrusher]

Base

There are more communal supplies to be dealt with than just the ones that the Ministry wants returned. Team Purple has their own stock, and it's Cassie's job to handle it. Anyone with supply questions can talk to her.

Though she's also not opposed to being interrupted.

Train, locked to Trunks

Regardless of how many senzu beans and other miraculous healing items they have on board, it isn't enough by itself to help with mental exhaustion. That's what the spa car is for. Cassie has changed into her bathing suit and made a beeline for the spa the moment she sets foot on the train.

And there's one person in particular she's looking to meet here - someone who needs it even more than she does.

Base, because we're overdue for a new thread

[renegadeprince]

What a mess. And a mess Vegeta hadn't had a chance to get his hands dirty in. Which honestly, he's a little annoyed about. A giant god to fight, and he missed out on it. It was beyond frustrating.

And even more concerning seeing those that had came out of it.

There had been quite a few injuries, and he has to question himself if he hadn't been intentionally holding himself back during this mission if he could had prevented some of them...

But it was done now, and he was checking around those he was closer to to see how they were doing, as well as just getting everything set up and ready to leave. "Cassie, how are you?"

We are indeed.

[nutkrusher]

"Tired and past ready to go home," Cassie says. "So about normal for a mission back on Earth. And better than a lot of people here."

She finishes filling another rucksack and sets it on the table in front of her.

"Still, they actually had us fighting a god this time, so at least I can say they brought me in for something."

[renegadeprince]

"Understandable." It certainly is never as comfortable as being on the train, especially with access to the private rooms.

As the topic switched to that last fight though... "How did it go?" He asks, having been able to pick up a bit here and there but not a full clear picture of what the hell had happened behind that barrier that blocked them off from entry. And all those who had came out injured...

[nutkrusher]

"We won, and no one died," Cassie says. "Back home we'd call that cause to hit the bar and celebrate."

She grimaces.

"But this isn't the Special Forces, and nobody here's a volunteer. Fighting for your life against a pissed-off hundred foot tall summer goddess with burning tentacles isn't most people's idea of a day at work, much less a good time."

[renegadeprince]

Vegeta actually nods along to that first part, it rather similar to what they did after a great danger to Earth. Winning was a chance to celebrate surviving, something Bulma knew how to do well. "As would we. Bulma often organized parties for those involved and friends after difficult battles."

He can't believe he missed out on fighting a god. How annoying. Though it sounded like it did a number on those who he would normally consider decent enough to put up a good fight. "Most people's." He muttered, then dismissed with a sigh. It was done, he missed out on it. However, she's right. "Glad to hear there were no causalities." Though some serious injuries by the looks of it.

[nutkrusher]

"We'd have some serious long-term wounded to deal with if it weren't for our store of senzu beans and other healing items," Cassie says. "So I wouldn't quite say no casualties."

She leans over to look at her inventory ledger.

"Speaking of which, we're gonna want to order a few more of those."

[renegadeprince]

Fine then, he'll correct himself. "No long term physical causalities then." After all, sensu beans and the like can't help the emotional or mental effects of battle...

"Considering any of us could vanish at any time, that's a smart idea. We should stock up on them just in case." Was it a little blunt, sure, but firstly he doubts Cassie minded it, even if the topic could be a sore one, and second... it was true. Any of them could just up and vanish, there seemed to be no reasoning to who left and when. If all those who came from his universe suddenly vanished he would assume the train's access to sensu beans would also go with them.

"I'll consider it for the next stop." Or the one after that, with how distracting cleaning this up was going to be. It's not like Vegeta was short on points now days, and he really didn't need anything from home.

[nutkrusher]

"I'll probably do it on the stop after," Cassie says. "Given that our schedule seems pretty consistent, we've got two stops before the next mission. In the meantime I've decided to get some other things Purple might have a use for. Like restraints."

[renegadeprince]

"Short of something strange happening on the train again." Then again, most of those incidents seem non-violent. Annoying, sure, but nothing that resulted in serious fights for the most.

Her comments on her next purchases raised a brow from him. "Restraints? You mean for taking prisoners?" ...he can see how that may have helped with the camps this time around. "Won't those be bulky to carry and manage?" Doesn't that kinda thing also need a bunch of keys?

[nutkrusher]

"These'll be zip ties," Cassie says. "Lightweight, disposable, for short-term use. Mostly just to keep people under control. Would've come in handy for the brainwashed refugees."

[renegadeprince]

.... "I have no clue what those are." It's not a word he's even heard of before. He can break it down, zip and ties, but doubts what he is picturing is accurate. It's really not a product he's come across before. Yet he trusts Cassie's knowledge enough that if she thinks they will be helpful then they will.

"However if they are capable of doing the job and are easy to use and transport, they sound like they will be an asset."

[nutkrusher]

"They're plastic," Cassie says. "Somewhere between rope and proper handcuffs. When it comes to baseline humanoids, they're good enough for most things you'd need handcuffs for. And also lighter and cheaper."

Train

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks made sure Leia had been seen to, then taken a senzu bean himself, and then gotten to work. Other than checking in with Cassie, and they'd both been focused on business. He'd checked on a few others, but hadn't really had a chance to decompress.

Normally he didn't use the spa-car, preferring instead to just shower and then go do something relatively mindless. Read, or maybe play a vid game. Or train--training was often soothing. But he knew after a mission like this, the spa was where Cassie'd be. And that's where he wanted to be right then.

This mission had been tough. It had almost been a relief to be fighting a crazed god. It was an easier focus than a lot of everything else had been.

So he's brought his hoody, but also is in his own purple swimtrunks and slippers, when he heads to the Spa Car. Not surprised to find Cassie already there as he put his stuff down. "Kinda figured you'd be here."

Re: Train

[nutkrusher]

Cassie leans back in the hot pool, reclining her head but not yet opening her eyes as a smile creeps across her face.

"'Cause I've been waiting for you the whole time."

Re: Train

[light_of_willpower]

Well, he'd gotten better. Her reply didn't make him blush automatically anymore. "So certain I'd show up, huh? I'm not usually one for this car." With amusement, as he moved to slide in. Close to her, closer than he would be than anyone else, while still remembering they are in a public space.

Re: Train

[nutkrusher]

"'Course I was. Shoulders don't rub themselves, babe."

She opens her eyes one at a time as Trunks slides in, leaning in for a kiss and nuzzle on the cheek once he finally settles. Even as she does, her right hand starts to drift toward his upper back, as though seeking to demonstrate her statement.

"Seriously, though. I just had a feeling we both needed to relax. Get warm and close someplace quiet."

Re: Train

[light_of_willpower]

"We aren't warm and close in our room?" Trunks asked, raising an eyebrow. Very proud of himself again that he didn't blush. He also didn't tense with the touch--which was progress. Not that he didn't like Cassie's touch, just...he had always been more shy, and somewhat more private. As it is, he reaches out to squeeze her shoulder affectionately.

[nutkrusher]

"Believe me,, we'll get to that later," Cassie whispers. "Besides, there's nothing like a soak in warm water."

Her hand begins to knead circles on his shoulder.

"Turn around."

[light_of_willpower]

Okay, now he blushed. Because somehow Cassie managed to make it seem more....naughty than he'd meant it. Probably on purpose, because she did like making him blush. So Trunks turned around, ducking his head and not saying anything just yet.

[nutkrusher]

Cassie's able to hold back a chuckle. She figures he's earned that much.

"Close your eyes and relax," she says. "Don't worry about our surroundings. I've got that covered."

She brings her other hand around and starts to rub slowly, gently, but firmly along his shoulders and upper back.

[light_of_willpower]

"Easier said than done, Cas." Trunks murmured, but he made himself take a deep breath. Hold it, then release. Trying to relax--she had his back, even here. And while she liked to tease, she also didn't like him upset right?

[nutkrusher]

No, she definitely doesn't. She'll be doing everything she can to keep him at ease, letting him slowly let go.

So her hands maintain strict discipline, seeking only to massage his shoulders and trapezius muscles. She breathes deeply but softly, unconsciously matching his rhythms as she keeps her senses open to him.

And to anyone who might come barging in, of course. But mostly to him.

[light_of_willpower]

Eventually, Trunks closed his eyes. Almost like when he meditated, from the way he breathed. But he was relaxing, slowly, keeping his senses passively alert. Smiling even, as he felt Cassie's ki right there with him. Where he'd come to expect it, and where he wanted it.

[nutkrusher]

It's a slow, but very noticeable change. Cassie knows his body language too well. As cute as he is when she makes him blush and squirm, she finds it so much more pleasing when he's at ease like this - alone, with her.

Gradually she starts to move her a little lower, and press a little bit firmer - but never too much. She'll do everything she can to make sure this quiet lasts as long as it can.