middleofsomewhere | Fighting Headstrong in our Final Hour:Conclusion

Music plays, voices sing, barriers form, attacks spring from every direction as the voidtreckers make their final stand against the tendrils of the Void.

Voices of defiance rise up. Despite the despair projecting into them, they will not give up, they will not give in and fade from this void. Their words join their attacks as their blasts are concentrated towards the large creature made of void.

The world explodes, colours blinding them for a moment and it feels they are falling, but not down. Not to that endless nothing that lies off the platform, but up, through the void.

They are still connected and they can draw strength from each other as they tumble, through and through before landing with a crash.

A BATTLE WON

Once More for Old Time Sake

It is probably a familiar feeling, as their senses come back to them. The whole train, crammed and sprawled in the luggage carriage, a tangle of limbs.

Injured perhaps but all accounted for, even if it might take a little while to ascertain that in the chaos. Over the speakers comes a very familiar voice, that of the Voidtrecker Express.

Thank you, my Voidtreckers.

A Heroes Return The train returns them to the Voidbase, it is not a very long journey. The train is very cramped, the Voidtreckers, the Voidtreckers of old, brought through to the present and the scientists who act now as medics and try and encourage everyone to rest.

They don't push too hard, they have known the Voidtreckers for a few months now, they know how stubborn they are.

They enter the voidbase, waiting as usual until it is safe to open the doors. More scientists are waiting there, the atmosphere one of excitement and awe. Anan paces worriedly and the moment the doors open she rushes over, Chiff beeping anxiously as they check among the Voidtreckers, not bothering to hide the worry on their face.

The head scientist Till is there as well and she draws everyone's attention for a moment.

"Congratulations Voidtreckers and our greatest thanks. I know you must be exhausted and that... something happened there at the end." She doesn't seem like she knows what that is, but she is assuming it was bad. "The mission was a success, the void rift has been closed, the paradox has been repaired and the shapes imprisoned on Chaos' world. We have scientists there to ascertain they cannot escape and to aid Chaos in any way they need." Her voice was slightly wry, it seemed Chaos had been very... vocal with their demands.

"Voidtrecker Express." Her eyes move, from the people to the train itself. "On behalf of the ministry. We are deeply sorry for all that you have gone through. We remember now. Your service to the void has been ever strong." Near the doors of the train stood the Voidtreckers of old, looking confused still and exhausted.

"We encourage you all to rest, if anyone needs medical aid please report to the infirmary. If anyone needs to keep busy we are expecting a large influx of refugees, from those who were not on system #1015 when it was destroyed."

Those who had once been wiped out by time itself, written back into the void. "There are many rooms to prepare."

Work to Be Done No one is forced to work. But for those who need to do something there is a lot of work to be done in the civilian quarters, rooms to be prepared, beds to be made, clothes and food to be ready to be distributed.

Ministry workers have been sent out to gather anyone registered to system #1015 who now found themselves with no where to go. The offer was given to them as it was to those of Osiga, they could be tethered to this base. Some would be tethered and go off travelling again, others remained, seeking comfort with others.

There is other work as well, for those wanting to stay in the scientist quarter of the void base. Now that the immediate problems of world eating shapes has been dealt with the scientists are working round the clock to figure out how to finally free the new Voidtreckers from their service to the train. Anyone who wishes to help with the experiments can do.

Of course for those that do not wish to work there are all the usual enemities of the Void Base to enjoy.

A Feast

A few days after their return it is announced there will be a feast day, for the whole void base. The suggestion came from the previous Voidtreckers and those of system #1015. A wish to thank those who had saved them, to mourn their loss and look to the future.

The base is a flurry of preparation. Truthfully there are a number of feasts, the void base had no space large enough to hold everyone on it. But the Voidtreckers are invited to feast with the ministry, the scientists and the previous Voidtreckers.

It is an occasion of both sadness and joy, music plays and those guests who had talent (and some who didn't) were encouraged to play or sing. Stories were told, the food was plentiful and the drink similarly so- there were even fancy non alcoholic drinks for the children and non-drinkers, with flavours that exploded in the mouth.

A time to celebrate and remember. A time to dance, sing, tell a story of heroics or just sit quietly with friends and be glad that they had survived.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

1. Once More for Old Times Sake (Closed to Jolyne Cujoh)

[It takes a bit thanks to everyone being called back to the tiny luggage car once again, but once Masumi's wriggled free, she sets about finding one specific person.]

Jolyne!

[Jolyne. Her girlfriend. She has to know she's okay after that fight.]

2. Work to be Done

[Masumi helps out around the base, of course. There's so much to be done here now that the former residents of system #1015 have been retconned back into existence and need somewhere to go.

But there's a sad look in Masumi's eyes sometimes, since she knows that she'll likely get to go home soon, leaving everyone she's met here in the process. Sure, she wants to go home, but it'll be hard to say goodbye when the time comes.

Talk to her?]

3. The Feast

[Masumi wholeheartedly joins in with the feast, mingling with everyone there for what could well be one of the last times. Eventually she pulls out her phone and offers to take pictures, in hopes that she'll have at least something to remember those here by.]

Hey, picture? I can print it off for you, if you want.

[Luckily she's not too far away, mostly leaning against a wall and looking utterly exhausted, but otherwise fine.

She blinks slowly as she hears her name before the voice clicks and she's perking up somewhat, as much as she can in this particular scenario.]

'Sup?

[Masumi wastes no time in running over to Jolyne once she spots her, pulling her into a hug and, before her still adrenaline fuelled brain can catch up with what she's doing, a kiss. She breaks off quickly, finally remembering where she is, and manages to ask what she'd actually intended to ask beforehand.]

Ah...you okay after all that?

[Give her a moment to process what just happened there as her brain is still a little sluggish from everything. Though as soon as it does process, she's turning a nice shade of red before sheepishly wrapping an arm around her waist in turn.]

Tired, but... yeah. Also that was nice. [Utter doofus.]

[Masumi leans in, her own exhaustion starting to kick in now that the danger is passed.]

That's good. And thanks, I was so happy to see you were okay and it just happened...

[Whoops, that is a distinct blush there. It seems Masumi is still easily flustered.]

[They're both utter morons, surprising literally no one. But she huffs softly and just leans against her a bit, it helps along with the wall.

Probably.]

Adrenaline does some crazy shit, but I ain't complaining. It's just... kinda weird to know all of this is over?

It is. I didn't think this would actually be it.

[She's silent, thinking. If this is it, then she might have to say goodbye soon...]

...I hope there's a way to stay together after this...

[And there's the part she hadn't wanted to think about. Her shoulders fall as she shifts to lean against the wall properly again, though using what leverage she has to coax Sera with her. Not letting go, thank you very much.]

Can't say I'm sure what they can do. Like, it's nice to have a place to go if you got one, but that leaves the rest...

[Masumi will easily be pulled along, not willing to break off from cuddling Jolyne at the moment.]

...Maybe they have a way to help everyone who can't go back to their worlds. I'm sure they could figure something out to help.

[A thought occurs to her, one sparked by the hope that she doesn't have to leave Jolyne behind at all.]

...Do you think they'll find a way for you to join me in my world if I asked? You wouldn't be left here, we could stay together...

[Good, because she's not keen on letting go anytime soon.]

Mm. Hopefully...

[She pauses as she mentions that particular line of thought, a brow raising slowly. She hadn't... really thought that might be a possibility, even if it makes perfect sense in hindsight.]

Possibly? Dunno how I'd do the whole... legal... thing... But it ain't like I have anywhere else to go. Though I wonder if they'd let more than one person do that, 'cause I dunno how I feel leaving the kid behind. [Look, that is her not!little brother.]

I'm not sure either. [That will be a problem if it's doable. Hopefully all the legal stuff can be sorted out.]

Emporio? I can ask to bring him with us too, but I should warn that I was living in hotels with my mom before this.

[Wow, is that Masumi trusting Jolyne with any amount of info about her mom? It is.]

[Girllll, she came from prison.]

You say that like I don't know ways to make money if it's remotely like where I'm from. [She can't help another little huff and shifting around to quickly steal another kiss because she does what she wants, thanks.]

We'll figure it out.

[Masumi flushes slightly at the second kiss, but cuddles closer anyways. Please steal all the kisses you want Jolyne, it's fine.]

I hope so. Maybe I can get my brother to help, he's actually got an apartment.

[Hopefully not for long, she doesn't want to tax Shuukichi for too long, but that is an option.]

[Oh, that's cute as hell. She'll take advantage of that later, for now she's still pretty damn exhausted.]

Wouldn't wanna... impose too long or anything. Get back on my feet and all that. [She has to. And it's a fresh start on top of it all, as weird as that feels.]

It wouldn't be for long hopefully, just until you can get going and all that.

[Hopefully. The key word is 'hopefully' there.]

And besides, I love my mom, but she's paranoid. Won't want anyone staying with us, even if you're my girlfriend.

[That's not weird at all! Masumi seems to realize this is potentially weird to say, as she looks around briefly before continuing.]

She was in a...bad situation last I saw her. Safe, but paranoid and needed my help to fix it.

[Yugi was helping out the best that he could, knowing full well that this could be the last time they ever all see each other. So in the back of his mind he knew that he wanted to at least also spend one last time with those he knew and cared about. Sera being one of those people.]

Seems like even though the mission is done there is still a bit of work left.

Fighting Headstrong in our Final Hour:Conclusion

Masumi Sera | OTA unless specified

Ooooone

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Work to be Done