No Place Like Home: The Return

[voidtreckermods]

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NO PLACE LIKE HOME: THE RETURN

---

a silence broken...

It's been a very difficult few days. Rocking and rolling into the void and out again. Watching their friends out of the window as they wander from world to world. Meanwhile those lost on worlds continue to wander unable to return to the train at all.

"All attempts at returning those who left have failed. This voidcraft cannot do it alone. It is lucky that unlike those that have left before them, I can still sense them.

But I cannot bring them back alone. This is perhaps too advanced for Voidtreckers, but you have done the improbable before. You say you wish to help. This is how you help."

Their SCA's light up with a message. Or rather, a series of instructions:

In the unlikely event a tether gets stranded on a liminal space platform or between their own world and the platform space, you should, in the first instance, contact the Void technicians who monitor their non-travelling self. However, in the case they cannot be reached or there is a mass displacement of tether, an anchoring procedure can be carried out.

Ideally, this will involve two fully tethered individuals to retrieve the lost tether. One should be a stationary anchor. They should be outside of their void craft, if possible, and in physical contact with it. The second should be a roaming anchor reaching to draw the tethers back. In situations of mass tether displacement the stationary anchor can hold mutiple roaming anchors but it is recommended to not exceed five. In this situation, it is recommended that anchors rotate between stationary and roaming.

To start an anchoring of this kind, those anchoring should activate their anchoring program. Those staying station should reach out to the tethers of those they plan to steady. This might cause some emotional upheaval, and they will need to stay steady, especially if connecting to more than one roaming tether. Roaming anchors then must hold the person they search for in their thoughts and move towards them. It is recommended that the lost tethers activate their emergency beacon to facilitate being found and returning but this is not a necessity.

Once the roaming anchor has found the lost tethers they must keep hold of them and guide them back towards their craft, the stationary tethers must draw them back, pulling them through.

There is an additional note at the end, in different font.

It is as Anan told you. Your minds should visualise it. Be strong Voidtreckers.

... a short-lived dream

The doors open and anyone who wishes to try this can leave onto the platform. It is empty, devoid of the figures they had seen before; and, beyond the fog, devoid of anything. But searching requires their SCAs, not a path, and as people get into teams, they can activate their anchors and begin.

For those who will roam, their minds become filled, visualising light, void, voices and chaos; their bodies feel less stable, like they might unravel if not careful. But for those who will stay, when they touch the Voidtrecker Express, they will feel more stable, grounded. The fog shifts, but the world moves around them without pulling them in.

Thinking of the person they wish to keep stable, a mental and emotional link will be established, and they will feel each other as the roaming anchor sets off to find their missing crew.

---

Outside the train...
For those that had left - either by choice or by strange happenings - they have found themselves back at their anchor point during Poi 26, regardless of where they were before. For those unfortunate enough not to have a world to return to, or those who were stuck between in the first place, they will find themselves alone, in a fog filled space where no matter how far they walk, nothing greets them.

All those in fog or back in their world receive the same message from their SCAs.

Hold fast. Press your evacuation button. Your friends come.

---

RETURNERS: FLEETING HAPPINESS

But it's likely before the message arrived, that something wrong has been noticed by those outside the void. More than the bizarre ability to travel between existences, an inability to move far from where they appear. Back at their anchor points, they may notice - in time - colours sometimes flash across the sky, streaking through clouds or making trails in a night sky. At first not much, something to be easily dismissed but it builds. People talk, wonder at what is happening.

For the colours aren't the only thing. Across worlds, in cities, kingdoms, villages, underworlds and space stations, people are dreaming. Bright colours, vivid dreams. Prophets spring from nowhere, people claim to know the future or to have seen the past. Some talk of places and worlds they could not have seen.

Perhaps at first it can be explained away, there are always such people. But more people talk, from urchin children to commanders, people dream and the colours dance.

ANCHORERS: A STEADY HAND

While the stationeries will feel grounded, they aren't blind to what's happening to their roamer. It's as if they're both linked, intimately, meshing together, and they will need to work to keep their feelings separate; hearing each other's thoughts, their feelings. Images of what the other thinks and memories shared between them.

And then there is the search for their teammates, amongst the multiple of realities. Existences move past the roamer, threatening to lose them in the mess, but they must persevere, keep their thoughts on the individual, their stationary anchor to help them. Until finally, they appear - in a world they perhaps know, don't, the kaleidoscope colours of the void faint above their heads.

Speak to each other, keep each other focused, certain, and find who you came to save.

BOTH: HOLDING ON

Searching for individuals, the anchorers will find themselves at a character's anchor point; if they haven't moved far from here or another world, it will be easy to locate them. Now is the time to convince them to come back, and then the eventual work of doing so.

It can be in agreement, or force. Taking a hold of the person, the anchorer can pull them into the mass of chaos. Just like when they helped the guests return to their worlds from the false Diagad, all parties become battered by images, voices. Voices like sirens; 'Just stay,' the voices encourage. 'Just let go and drift into the chaos. It will be easier.'

But they must be strong, move towards their anchor and towards the craft. The crossing doesn't take too long, perhaps ten minutes each way, and once they get to the craft the person they are rescuing glows gold and vanishes. The anchors will know instinctively that they are safe on the train.

And indeed, the rescued will find themselves within the luggage carriage - exhausted, but safe.

TRAIN: AN INEVITABLE RETURN

Exhaustion is something all parties will experience, once everyone is returned to the train and the adrenaline wears off. Those who anchored will be hit with a total exhaustion, leaving them unable to do much more than eat and sleep for a few days. Those rescued won't be as bad, but if they decide to join in with the efforts, they'll too face the soul-tiring experience that other anchorers are.

There's likely to be efforts, to help soothe people over this time. And as people return to their life on the train, they will see the marks of the last few days for those who stayed behind. Broken ceramics, books out of order in the library; the ICPs in the standard coach, storage, sports and games carriages broken, and some damage to furniture.

But for the scars brought on by this event, surely, they will heal - eventually.

OOC NOTES

OOC post. Ask questions here. New second part OOC post here.

First phase of the event took place during Poi 22 to 25; the second phase takes place during Poi 26 to 28 (20-25th February).

VISITING WORLDS: While during Poi 26, it will be possible to go back to wherever they were, or other spaces. However, they will have increasing difficulty doing this, and will feel themselves getting more lost if they try world hopping too much over the next 3 (void) days. It's like something is trying to pull them back, or pull them, but into nowhere.

SCAs: The SCA's comms will not be active at this time.

Comments

[invigorates]

Lioriley had been watching the roster since the rescue missions had begun, making sure to track any changes — disappearances, appearances, changes in color from the standard four to gold. The marker beside Elidibus' name was not as foreign a symbol as one could hope someone so new would know; she had already seen it once before after the incident with Malekith aboard the previous platform.

She did not know him well, of course, but their previous discussion had been pleasant enough and even if it hadn't the heaviness in her chest still would have weighed her down. He had died out there — and she could only hope that it was not alone and calling for help. But death never was so kind, was it?

She checked, then; scouting the luggage compartment much as she had when the Svartálfar had died and been subsequently returned to the train, hoping to find a sign of life instead of the empty air and closed luggage. On that first trip, she did not find it, and with her self imposed duties to tend to - she could not linger for longer than a few moments before rushing off again, intending to return as soon as she was able.

Maybe it was pure luck (of which she usually lacked in the good variety), or maybe the train knew somehow that she was looking. Whatever the case, the Lunari had arrived back at the luggage area to hear the soft thud of the suitcase; the sound of it unzipping, and the familiar voice questioning nothing - or what he probably assumed to be nothing at the time. But Lioriley was standing there, wide-eyed, coiled lines of magic along her skin pulsing rapidly with her ever increasing heartbeat. How the train did such a thing was beyond her, but she could not help but be grateful for it when people returned whole and mostly unchanged from the jaws of death.

"Elidibus." She called softly, finally composing herself long enough to hurry over to him, hands outstretched to set gently upon an arm if he did not pull from it. "You are back. Are you...all right?" There was a hesitation, because she already knew the obvious answer, even if he did not say it. No one was just all right after they died, surely.

[wewillwewill]

Someone was already there. Elidibus hadn't been aware as he would usually be and perhaps Lioriley doesn't hear the catch of his breath at the realization but she might notice a brief tension in the figure that's laying on his side, back facing her at first.

His gaze would be dangerous. There are threats on this train, one which would fall on him as though he were prey if the opportunity presented itself or the timing was right. He must fight. He should... shouldn't he? The footsteps seem light as the figure approaches. Not the heavy steps he'd expect from a certain tall Garlean, nor someone digging in for a sudden burst of speed that heralds an attack. Light and quick but not silent. Elidibus hears the woman speak and closes his eyes. There may... be some relief.

Someone who seems inclined to offer help instead of ridicule or take advantage of his weakness. At least that seems to be most likely. The Ascian has a faint smile at what he sees as an irony though.

"What a curious question to ask someone who met their journey's end." As exhausted as he sounds, there appears to be something very like humor. Probably not exactly. There's too much boiling under his skin currently. Or rather too little. He's utterly exhausted.

At the touch of the Lunari's hand, Elidibus doesn't flinch away. Rather he starts to force himself to try and rise up by getting his vessel's arms braced somewhat beneath him and trying to push. This is meeting with mixed results but it's clear he's determined to show he still has the strength to rise.

Or at least the willingness to get to his feet and continue on. "...Pray help me to my feet. I would not lie on the ground as if I were defeated."

Whether he's going to be capable of keeping his feet under him is also in question. But when he turns his head to look at the woman, there's a deep well of determination that requests compliance. Elidibus isn't one to give up.

[invigorates]

Any humor in his tone was lost on her. In fact, the comment seemed to make her wince, her dark eyes misty with unshed tears she desperately tried to hold back. As relieved as she was to see him alive - well enough, apparently, to make such comments - she could not help the weight of guilt and sadness that always came with death. Even those she had no control over.

But she might have had control over this, if she had been quick enough. The past few days had been trying. There were just too many people to save and not enough left to save them quickly enough. If Elidibus did not make it, who was to say others would not fair the same?

"Yes - o-of course." She gripped his arm a little tighter, shifting to try and lift it up and over her shoulders to provide some kind of leverage for him to stand. She was not a strong woman - not physically, at any rate - but she still did her best to try and steady him, hoping to at least get him to his feet if nothing else. "Do you require healing?" There is an unspoken second question in the lilt of her voice: would it even help?

[Closing I (Luggage Entry) to Lioriley]

[wewillwewill]

What humor there was... perhaps it'd be better to say it was bemusement that the question 'Are you alright?' was asked. He certainly hasn't the energy nor interest to pursue it further. Already what little strength he's gathered is waning. Whether it's consciousness or the attempt to rise that drains him so Elidibus isn't sure.

Whatever the man is going through, he seems to have enough wits about him to take care with the help Lioriley offers. Both will probably realize soon that standing is too much to ask of his strength or hers; Elidibus falls heavily against the nearest wall, a knee weighing against an empty crate. Though with the Lunari's aid, he'll at least be able to keep a certain dignity by shifting around and turning crate to seat, wall to backrest.

Eyes closed, the Ascian sags against the supports, trying once more to assess his condition. Far, far more drained than his defeat, yes. But it would be shocking not to be. Elidibus opens his eyes again and studies the source of timely aid. Recognition dawns on him.

"You're one of the newest passengers. ...Lioriley, wasn't it?" Elidibus furrows his brow momentarily, having spied the mist of tears, the sign of guilt and sadness. They possessed no close bond and barely a handful of words had been exchanged between them before.

The Ascian muses the matter and comes to think of a few possible reasons. Though it will not be immediately broached. Instead he offers an answer to her unspoken question. One that takes a tilt of his head in consideration before giving a shake (very carefully) of his head. "I fear your own life would be spent ere I gained even an onze-" some unit of measure it seems "-of what I need to recover."

Not that he's in any shape to really determine if that is a fact, nor will he imply his uncertainty. It's usually a reasonable assumption in most circumstances. Now Eldibus looks steadily toward the Lunari.

"I don't know how long it's been. I believe it was the twenty-fifth of Poi." Since he died. Minutes? Hours? Days? "What day of the train's month is it? What has happened since?"

He has no reason to expect Lioriley's grief is specifically for him.

[invigorates]

She winced again, this time from the impact of his knee upon the crate. A softly murmured apology lost somewhere in the sound of shifting wood and the grunts and groans that came with adjusting until Elidibus was comfortable enough upon his new perch. Lioriley - somewhat reluctantly - loosened her grip and took a single step back, still well within reach of he needed to grasp her for any reason.

It didn't matter that they barely knew one another. Lioriley had cried for plenty whose names she did not even know - death was a companion she never wanted to see again, and yet it always came to visit without any warning; always leaving her unprepared and shaken.

To his question, she simply nodded, looking him over as if appraising his current state properly. He certainly seemed far worse for wear than Malekith had when he returned - and she had to wonder if it was the method of death that caused such lethargy, or if Elidibus was simply unlucky and the trains current state made it more difficult to wholly resurrect him. She could not say for certain herself.

"I am willing to try regardless." She could offer something and even if it didn't work, at least she could say that she tried instead of just letting him sit there to suffer.

She was silent for a moment; considering; still clearly distressed if the way her leylines crackled and pulsed was any indication. Something that only seemed to grow more intense when he said the date. Yesterday? That was when the symbol had appeared, so it made sense. That didn't make her feel any better about not being able to help him - the knowledge that it had been so recent and they had likely been so close making her stomach tie in knots. "The twenty-sixth. Since I saw the indication of your...condition, we have continued our efforts to find those lost in their worlds. Though I suppose you may not have been aware of that?" If he was home... probably not.

[wewillwewill]

Comfortable is a relative term. But for now he seems able to keep himself from tipping to one side or another and that's enough. Better than lying on the ground for anyone to see.

Elidibus admits internally that he likely wouldn't have been able to get to this stage for a while without Lioriley's help. But again he shakes his head at the offer of healing, remaining firm. "I'd rather you save your strength to aid me in reaching a more comfortable place to rest than exhaust yourself and leave us both wanting for aid."

Besides it's not healing he needs, exactly.

A day by the train's reckoning? Though the Ascian hesitates before nodding and pausing for thought, it doesn't appear he's startled. Relieved might be a better word, since there seems to be little to catch up on and no great crisis that is causing Lioriley's overt distress.

"Efforts? I was not aware, no. Of those who sought to return home have there been any losses?"

What an odd question for someone who seems to have been a loss to ask. He seems to realize it or maybe it's that and the Lunari's continued signs of distress. For Elidibus does offer quietly.

"What happened to me was entirely of my own volition and of a matter solely of my star. Pray do not consider it a failing on the efforts to rescue those stranded to reach me in time."

The man's eyes close again and only a slight list of his body suggests it is as much to weather a wave of exhaustion as it might be memory of whatever conviction led him to demise.

[invigorates]

Strength. Ha. She had already proven herself not nearly strong enough to even get him to his feet without him having to cradle against the wall. Perhaps she should call for another — Tidus, maybe, was the first that came to mind. But he was busy too. They were all busy rescuing those lost to the void, flickering in and out of their worlds onto the platform and then onto another.

"None before you." So far as she was aware. And she would be aware, wouldn't she? So diligently keeping records of those aboard, those who were retrieved, those whose names found a symbol beside them marking their end. Elidibus' words are comforting, in a way, but not enough to assuage the endless turmoil that frothed inside her. It was not his fault — she was always like this. Always staring death in the face and wondering if it was her fault even when, logically, she knew there was nothing to be done. She had not pushed him to his death, she could not read minds. But logic had no room to breathe with this particular subject.

She couldn't just...freak out, though. The Lunari took a deep breath and refocused, instinct drawing her mouth upwards at the corners even if it was far too late for saccharine smiles. Her facade had already broken with the unshed tears and the damned telltale signs of her magic causing sparks to crackle along her skin; emotions worn on her sleeve in a very literal sense. But she tried regardless, because maybe it would help. Just a little.

"Regardless." She said, voice steady as the small hand that braced upon Elidibus' shoulder when he tipped, doubtful she'd do much to leverage him at all but trying despite it. "You were lost, and you need to be tended to. The medical bay is —" a beat, and one could almost see her mind whirling as she mentally shifted through the layout of the train she had only just begun to memorize. "Not far. Once you find your feet, we can take you there. Tell me what your ails are — lethargy, aches?" another silent and very obvious question: tell me how I can help you.

[wewillwewill]

In fairness, getting him off the floor had been an exercise in virtually unresponsive limbs and deadweight. Still Elidibus seems certain that is far better than having them both on the verge of passing out and left to be discovered at random. To him, Lioriley is a neutral party, having no stake in the destiny of his star or had time to form a personal opinion of the one called Elidibus- negative or positive.

"Good," Elidibus answers with a brief nod. No others lost. At least not ones who've departed with the intention of going home. The effort to send people back seems to have failed; that much had been apparent when people began snapping back to the platform and the train didn't appear able to depart.

He doesn't try to give the Lunari further comfort. For one only she can choose whether to accept what's been given; at least it had some meaning to her. And for another he has no reserves to do more whether or not he would. As it stands, it seems a struggle to raise his head long enough to meet her gaze with a serious expression and focused consciousness. Smiles are not returned but also not necessary. Gratitude however is offered.

"My thanks," is spoken as she seeks to brace him before he tilts over and he's sincere. If there's frustration at his own lack, the Ascian hides it well. The medical bay and triage are... Elidibus closes his eyes as well to picture the possibilities before them. One thing he agrees on is that they probably need to get moving to a better location soon before he passes out. Triage is literally the next carriage over. But if others arrive and are in more pressing need of healing...

"My energy is completely spent. The only physical discomfort was the system's decision to place me inside a piece of luggage." Eyes open and he glances at the fallen-over suitcase that remains as damning evidence of his previous cocooned state. For a moment he does muster up the energy needed to make a sour expression. But then it's back to solving the problem of getting Elidibus somewhere he can go horizontal with diginity.

"The device over there is known as a transgate." A hand is raised, a finger pointed to a large ring. "Though the triage bay is closer, it may be best to leave it available for those who might arrive with physical injuries. There is another gate outside of the medical carriage. Pray aid me there."

The games carriage would be where it lets out again to be precise. The medical bay has beds for recovery and won't be as hectic. One might think his suggestion is practical and mindful. It is but only in part. The recovery rooms afford more privacy. Maybe it won't be as easy for people familiar with Elidibus to glance in and see a weakened, vulnerable Ascian.

But let's not think about that! First things first; see if Lioriley can be convinced to indulge him in his choice.

[invigorates]

He had a point, even if Lioriley did not care to admit as much aloud in that moment. There could likely be others with more pressing, physical wounds that needed immediate attention. And if they perished and appeared in the luggage car the same as he had, it would be better to bring them directly to triage, and know they had the room to spare for it. Still, going through the gate may only make him more lethargic, and they still had to get there, get through it, and make it into one of the medical bay rooms.

She could only hope she had the strength herself for it.

"When you are ready, then." She offered, pointedly moving to his side again so he could lean on her when he decided to stand. "We will make our way to the medical bay, and once you are there there should be plenty of space to rest. Few have needed such long-term aid." She would know; she had been keeping track.

[wewillwewill]

Both of them had to hope for strength it seems. And Elidibus pauses as if assessing his current limits; or what they seem to be. Which basically borders on 'if not now, then he's going to pass out right where he rests'.

"Then if you will," the Ascian says and begins the unenviable task of getting to his feet with Lioriley's help.

This will be slow and with the almost overpowering weight of the man's body listed occasionally toward the Lunari when wall or legs fail their support. But once to his feet, Elidibus will prove the type of strength of will that has driven him through thousands of years on a singular course. Or call it obsession. It provides the same result.

If he falls or they fall, he'll still get back up and complete the journey. Well at least by using the transgate, it's no more than a few extra steps to the medical carriage than it would be to have moved over into triage.

[invigorates]

Lioriley was nothing if not stubborn in her quests to aid those that needed her help. And right now, she would willfully suffer the aches and pains that might come with assisting a significantly larger person toward the transgate and into the medical car.

With no further words needing to be said, she wrapped a slender arm around Elidibus's middle and leaned her weight into him to counter what he pressed onto her, keeping balance as best she could along the way. They would not fall — not entirely onto their faces, though there were a few moments where Lioriley came dangerously close to doing so. And soon enough they made it through the gate.

All they needed now was a bed. Thankfully, mercifully, there were plenty open still, and she guided him to one as quickly as would be allowed by his lethargy and her lack of physical strength.

[wewillwewill]

A rare expression of intense relief shows on Elidibus's features once they finally reached a bed he can collapse into. The medical bay has actual recovery rooms in the upper floor and blessedly there's a lift. No need for stairs.

"My thanks," he offers simply. There will not be any complaint or belaboring on what happened between the luggage carriage and this bed. He knows full well Lioriley did her utmost and he would not have made it without her aid.

This is particularly obvious as he hasn't moved to do anything about his shoes or draw up the blankets. "I would like to ask one last favor. It's fine to say I've safely returned. But pray tell no one where I am."

It'll get around eventually but every minute he can recover is seemingly precious to him. Is it pride? Something more?