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The Bridge to the Non-Existent: With the Master's Permission
A large green steam locomotive is stopped right in the street. Outside is a small cardboard sign in front of a table. It reads, "Special Viewing! Step into a different future!". Sitting at the table is a strange humanoid creature. One could mistake it for a costume. It waves at passersby cheerfully, blissfully offering candy to anyone close enough to hear him.
"Step aboard for an amazing experience! Simply sign some papers, and we're on our way to the future that doesn't exist!"
The most noticeable thing about the stand is the strange flag with an old man smiling on it. To those who could read it says, "Station Master approved!"
"There's nothing to be afraid of except there is because even I don't know where we'll end up! Honesty is our only policy!"
Hmm... what a strange promotion this is.
Izumi would check her watch, noting that it's working as intended.
Well there's nothing suspicious going on here, so I guess I can see what it's all about.
Deneb would stand up, but the chair he was sitting in was a tad more firmly planted and knocks him in the knees. This causes him to fall over to the side of the table.
"W-Wait a minute! I-I'll be with you shortly!"
After a couple of awkward seconds he finally arrives to his feet. After brushing off his cloak he'd bow and begin to speak.
"Would you be interested in seeing something miraculous!?"
Miraculous? Well, that's a bold claim, given where we are. Though I suppose getting a train into the city is a good start.
Deneb briefly turns to the train, seemingly surprised.
"Is it really that hard? I could have sworn I saw several trains on my way in..."
Deneb seems to be momentarily lost in thought.
They usually run on rails, not in the street like this.
Deneb seems to grasp the moment of confusion.
"Oh no no! See? There are the rails!"
Deneb points to the front and rear of the train, and of course, there are a few meters of rails extending in the front and rear of the train.
"I thought you meant there weren't trains at all! That would be a miracle in and of itself!"
Hearing about a glimpse into the future Aitome is inclined to check it out, wasting no time to enter the scene and to try and read the signs. Having some difficulty with it however.
Hmm.. A glimpse into the future? This must be important!
Aitome then enters and sees two people. One she recognizes and one she doesn't, waving to the both of them
Oh! Hey there Denby! What's going on here? Is this one of your friends? I'm Aitome! Nice to meet ya!
[Kazuya was taking a stroll down the street when he notices and oddly placed locomotive in the middle of the street. Curious, the young man stands in front of the written message and raises a single eyebrow.]
Well, this is something new.
I just hope it's not something dangerous.
[Kazuya shrugs as he didn't have any plans for today, and decides to go in, noticing other three people in there, recognizing only Aitome.]
Figures people would find themselves in the strangest of places.
I'm no different.
[Kazuya chuckles to himself.]
Eito was also taking a stroll, as you do, before noticing the fucking train and signs in the middle of the road.
"This ought to be fun."
He walks over.
Izumi looks at Aitome for a moment.
Hmm... you seem oddly familiar, do we have similar goals or something?
Deneb jumps back to attention.
"Welcome! Please take these!"
Deneb brings around a handful of pamphlets, the front bears a striking resemblance to the train. Upon closer inspection it'd reveal what was actually about to occur. The inside details something about junction points, sand, and time. The most interesting portion is likely the part mentioning "Journeying to a different time." The details still seem a bit vague. As Deneb gets a pamphlet to Aitome, she'd find a small piece of candy inside hers, and Deneb giving a small wave, but still carrying on his business.
Makoto, who was taking a long walk reflecting on past events and more, stumbled up to the locomotive. She looked at it and the sign. She thought to herself. "A View into a different future?" She looked at her phone to see the time, and sighed
I guess I have a lot of free time as of now...so I guess it wouldn't hurt to check this out right?
She walks in and sees the people aboard. She saw Kazuya and walked up to him
Well hello there, what a coincidence seeing you here! Did the sign get you curious as well?
[Kazuya takes a seat as he reads the pamphlets. Indeed, the part about "Journeying to a different time" was the most interesting part of this. He was used to time travel, sorta, kinda. So this might prove fun or at least educative.]
As long as we don't-
[Kazuya would then look up and smile at someone he hadn't seen for a long time, Makoto.]
It's been a while, and you got me there.
I was pretty curious about this whole deal.
Eito shrugs, sits down and starts reading. He finds it quite interesting.
"Time travel, i'm sure nothing will go wrong at all."
She reviews the pamphlet....
Interesting... this sounds surprisingly close to how I know time works....
As it seems the cabin of the train is full, Deneb now walks around with a sheet of paper and pens for each of the passengers.
"Let me say this to start. I am FAIRLY pleased you all decided to take this trip. Though there is one more thing we must do before departure. I must request that you each sign these forms, acknowledging that you accept anything that may occur while we are journeying. It was the Station Master's one order so I could do this, so please respect it!"
On each paper is an official looking seal and some writing reading, "I acknowledge that should anything traumatic occur in my experience aboard this liner, that I will bear it in stride and shall accept the occurrences as purely my own doing. I also acknowledge that should I meet mine own demise, that I forfeit any memory of this event in exchange for my life. I have read these terms and accept them of my own will.". So the paper says.
"No need to worry though, I am equipped to aid you in any way I deem fit!"
*Aitome looks at Izumi confused, but decides to answer her question before proceeding
Well! I like to think of myself as a warrior of fate! Where evil goes I shall meet them head on! If you also strive to help this place then our goals do line up! The only other thing I can think of that might be familiar is my Multiple Personality Disorder? Other then that I'm not much to write home about!
*Aitome then gives Izumi a small smile before turning to greet the rest of the party,
Green Coat! Good to see you'll be with us! To be honest I think you'll have a hard time not finding a place that's strange in the Nexus!
Oh hey there! Elton was it? Well its good to see you again!
Uhm..! You're the Biker lady right? Heh.. I suppose I gotta apologize for our last encounter! Needless to say I hope we can work together this time!
* Aitome then takes the pamphlet and tries to read through it, all these terms swimming in her head and generally not making too much sense to her. She does pocket the candy. After she tries to read the contract but most of it goes over her head. Trusting Denby she signs without a second thought
(edited by Aitome_Korichi)
It has been a while hasn't it?
Makoto smiled and let out a brief sigh
I had nothing really to do and so happened to walk upon this thing. So I walked right on. I'm honestly glad someone I know is here. It would have been awkward if I was just here alone.
She takes one of the sheets given and reads over before signing it
Well this will certainly be exciting won't it!
Makoto nervously laughs as she sits down. She then turns her attention to Aitome
Oh, don't worry about that. Its all in the past right? It was a intense time so I don't blame anything. And yes, I'm happy to see that we won't be on oppsing sides this time around. Hopefully we can even get to know eachother more!
(edited by Makoto)
Hmm... Well it seems tight, but it shouldn't be an issue. I can handle time.
*She signs the contract, OOC cursing their irl circumstances leading to slow responses*
I've been here for a long time now, Aitome.
It's basically law that things here get crazy from time to time!
[Kazuya goes back to the part about a contract. It as...interesting to say the least. He figured it might have been a bit dangerous to a certain degree, but it doesn't matter now. He might as well just pull through.]
It can't possibly be that bad, right?
[With the hope he has inside of his heart, the young man signs the contract, hoping of course for the best. He would then turn to Makoto.]
Right?
Things are usually much more fun with friends...and hopefully we don't find ourselves with one of those "World got destroyed" futures.
"Well, i'm sure this is gonna be real fuckin' safe."
Eito signs then starts looking at his fellow passengers, seemingly inspecting them.
Makoto nods at Kazuya's remark and laughs
Yeah, that wouldn't be the best would it? I'm sure it'll all be good, but who knows what the future holds. Theres a lot of strange possibilities that could happen!
Deneb walks around the cabin once again, this time gathering the contracts, briefly looking over them.
"It seems we are all ready for departure! Please remain seated until we have left the station!"
Deneb walks to the front of the cabin and bows. He walks through the door, and the train jolts to a start. After several minutes it seems to have taken a smoother, more regular pace. Deneb returns carrying a tray of many different culinary items.
"Alright! We have some time before we arrive at our destination, so please enjoy yourselves! We have fried rice, meatloaf, miso soup, arranged tempura, and pudding!"
He gives the okay to stand up and move about the cabin, should someone decide to look outside one of the windows, they'd see a vast desert, the sky is a strange color and full of auroras.
Pertaining to the food, there's only one plate of each, so it must be first come first serve.
[Kazuya leans against his own seat and looks out of the window.]
I can think of many different possible futures, some good, some terrible caused by our failures.
[Kazuya shows makoto his right hand, he has his fingers crossed.]
But here I'm hoping it one where I got married to some nice girl.
[Kazuya lowers his hands and laughs at his own hopes and dreams. After a while, the young man looks back at her.]
But tell me about you, I've been really busy and stressed up until a few days ago, but what about you?
Upon seeing the singular tray, and upon the OOC seemingly fixing their issues, Izumi quickly grabs the fried rice. It's simple, but probably not going to be messed up, right?
So where, or perhaps when, are we headed...?
As for our futures, I know of one in particular I've been trying to save.
Aitome gets up and wobbles around for a bit, not used to being on a train she's having a bit of trouble but eventually gets used to it. When the aroma of food hits her though she walks over and looks it over
Woah.. That's quite a diverse set of food! I think I'll be fine though! I might get sick if I eat!
Aitome then returns to her seat slowly, trying to get a feel as to how to move around more easily
Eito walks over and grabs the miso soup before turning to face Izumi.
"I dunno, but let's hope we aren't riding into an apocalyptic one, God knows we're already close to one as it."
Makoto looks down at the ground closing her eyes
What have I been up to? Well, ever since the whole events of the core and meeting with our old boss, I have just been wandering...
She looks at him and waves her hands
Not because I haven't had anything to do! I have been somewhat busy! I've honestly been training. Trying to keep my strength up in case I ever needed to act on something. I want to make sure Im ready, for anything really. When My arm was broken, I felt really powerless. I felt that I was going to hold the group back and not offer much to the table. Once it was healed however, I wanted to make sure that I could help. And now that the group has split. I've just been wanting to stay strong in case something did come up...so I would be useful. So other than that, I haven't done much.
Makoto let out a deep sigh and smiled
But, I'm back now! And hopefully I can use my new found strength for some good!
(edited by Makoto)
Deneb seems to shrug at Izumi's question.
"I haven't been informed! The Station Master should be calling any minute now to inform me of our destination, he picked it out by hand you know! He's such a wonderful man!"
Deneb DOES seem to pick up on the talk of futures, and quickly runs to the cabin's intercom.
"I must inform everyone, that we are not travelling to the future! We are travelling back to a moment in time where it split! Under normal circumstances we would be unable to visit the other alternative, but with the Station Master's grace he has opened up that time for us to interact with! It's exciting isn't it!?"
After the intercom falls silent again, a small phone can be heard ringing. The ringing can be heard from Deneb's direction. He walks to a small antique dial phone and picks it up.
"This is the ZeroLiner! Station Master, sir! I understand! Thank you very much! Yes of course I remember our deal! Of course I'll make it the best fried rice you've ever tasted! Understood!"
He places the phone back into its receptacle.
"Our destination has been revealed! Does anyone here follow politics? Perhaps you recall an election occurring a while back, well the time we are travelling to is if our current president hadn't been elected. I think that sounds pretty safe!"
The past huh? Not the Future? Well that could still be interesting! As for politics! I uh, don't keep up! Its a pretty foreign concept to me! But I'm sure it will still be cool! I'm ready for anything!
"Sounds boring."
Eito slowly eats from his soup.
And I'm glad you are back, just listening to the fact you've been trying so hard, it puts me at ease.
I was left a bit worried last time we met, especially because we didn't really meet after.
[Kazuya crosses both arms over his chest as he speaks.]
And I know you will do some good, beyond just your strength you have a pretty fast brain.
And lately, we've faced a lot of challenges that put our mind to the edge, rather than our own bodies.
Besides, a mind is not as easy to break as a bone, that should help my wallet's case a bit.
[Kazuya gives the girl a reassuring smile before paying a bit more attention to the intercom. Indeed, he had heard something about an election, but he never payed mcuh attention to it, a lto was happening around him while it occurred. It couldn't be such a different timeline then.]
And it seems we won't see such a tragic world, I believe.
But you never know, this world has taught me that the best.
Hmm... not all failed futures are evil, I suppose.
Though I don't really follow politics, that's more a city thing.
Makoto laughs and smiles
Yes, your wallet shall be safe...for now at least. And thank you Kazuya. It means a lot.
She listens to the intercom as well
To a time where our current president wasn't ellected huh? I wonder how that will be. I agree, a little change in presidential elections shouldn't be too bad.
Deneb reaches for the intercom again.
"Everyone! We are shortly arriving at our destination! Please gather your things and prepare to disembark at our destination!"
The intercom shuts off, and the light outside of the window seems to vanish. It seems that the only light is the one left behind the train, and a bright orange one ahead of it. The orange grows to a searing intensity, and also abruptly vanishes. The darkness is soon replaced with a striking scene. Outside of the train is a burning city. The train is still too high to make out any distinguishing features, but one can see irregular flashes in the streets below. Deneb, who hadn't seen the outside yet, begins to speak.
"At our destination, the Station Master has given us a goal! If we meet this goal a certain number of times, he'll give us a very special reward! So work hard!"
"Called it."
Eito finishes his soup and stares outside.
"Yo, boss man, have you actually looked outside?"
I stand corrected, the city looks like crap!
[Kazuya immediately turns to see outside. The burning city, the chaos...it felt familiar somehow, not because he had seen the city like this before, but because he's seen imegery like this in his own world.]
How can a single election...!?
[He was glad, at least this wasn't their own world, but to know it somehow ended up like this, only one word can escape from his mouth.]
Wow...
Makoto looks outside the window eyes widened
W-Well then...it seems one election can really change something so drastically...now that I think about it, I should have known that already huh...
She then sighs and laughs nervously
This really is something else, isn't it?
(edited by Makoto)
When Aitome looks out the window she sees the devastation and looks a little afraid, trying to find anybody out there alive
What... What happened out there? Can we even go outside? It doesn't exactly look... Safe? Well it can't be too bad. Whats our goal Denby? I don't exactly feel like staying here for too long!
W-what happened here....
I thought this was a future about politics, not fire.
Deneb seems to jump toward a window. He seems to be in shock, answering Aitome's question absentmindedly.
"The Station Master didn't tell me our goal... he said he'd get in contact with me once we'd accomplished it... I-I think it seems fairly obvious though..."
He takes a minute to compose himself, but once he does, his posture takes on a new determination.
"Those who do not wish to disembark into this world are free to stay aboard the ZeroLiner. If they choose to do so, they will not be permitted to leave the ZeroLiner until our goal is met."
Deneb's voice seems to tremble with the weight of what he'd witnessed, but he walks back into the front of the train, and it shutters to a stop.
"I've pulled us to a place of relative safety for our departure. Keep in mind my offer still stands."
"Politics often lead to fire."
"Unsurprisingly."
Eito shrugs in Deneb's general direction.
"I'm just fine, boss man."
(edited by Eito)
OOC: Can i join? Or it is to late?
I'm going. Maybe fixing things in this future will stop the emotions from coming back to the present.
Though it still amazes me how much fire politics led to. Are you sure this is just because someone else won?
(edited by Izumi)
After seeing all this I can't exactly stay here as chaos reigns.
I'm going out, might as well pay attention to the phone because the goal will be met soon.
[Kazuya was still looking outside with worry on his eyes. Simply due to an extreme taking over, he had to interfere in one way or another. The young man stands up and moves closer to the door. He would then look back at the group before nodding and looking back at the door, attempting to get out.]
Let's get down to business.
I'm sure some of you want to do something about this, right Makoto?
If that's the case, we should stick together.
We don't know our goal? That's... Unsettling... I suppose it can't be too hard though. Perhaps we have to help the survivors? Or maybe... Gah! This is a little too open-ended! Well! No use sitting around here! Let's get moving everyone! A hero doesn't stand idly by while people are suffering! Onwards!
Aitome then jumps up and looks over herself, making sure she still has her things before moving to the door
Makoto stands up and quickly streches before nodding her head
If something can be done, I want to try and do it. If we all stick together, I'm sure we can find a solution.
She walks towards the door near Kazuya
I'm ready.
The goal seems pretty simple, stop whatever is setting everything on fire.
She joins the group at the door, grabbing a green gem out of her bag.
So shall we begin?
"Here we go."
Eito walks over to the door, his eyes turning crimson.
"The goal will most likely be getting the fires to calm down, eliminating whatever caused them or save civilians."
"Easy."
(edited by Eito)
The door opens, and the passengers are met with a rancid smell of gunpowder... and decaying flesh. The smoke from the fires is suffocating at first, but eventually the passengers would become accustomed to it. The first noticeable thing about their surroundings is the pitch black sky. The time of day was unclear as the smoke blotted out the sun, the moon, and the stars. The sound of gunshots pierces through the haunting sound of flames. Screams echo across alleys and streets, only to be drowned out by others meeting whatever fate it was that befell their predecessors. Occasionally a loud explosion echoes over the entire hellscape before them.
"This... This is the future with no laws, no leaders... This is Hell... I'm making a new goal... end this nightmare... Does anybody object?"
"Dear God, this is horrible."
Eito nods, newly motivated.
"Alright, we need to stop all of this as quickly as possible."
"We got this!"
Yeah, sound like back at home alright.
[Kazuya lets out a joke without taste for once. Indeed, all of this reminded him of his own world, at least before the war between Law and Chaos was put to a halt by him and his small team. Kazuya would look at the group once again before moving forward.]
Let's try find the "center" of everything around here, ask around to find out anything useful.
This world still has hope, as long as people still live, it will always have it.
[The young man doesn't turn around, but gives everyone a thumbs up as he keeps moving forward.]
I've been in this kind of situation more than I would like to remember, so I can confirm we got this.
Ugh....
Izumi covers her mouth and nose as soon as the smell hits her.
This is... terrible. How can such a future be allowed to exist? We have to do something.
Makoto looks around, frightened by it all. She didn't know what to make of it really.
T-This is so...horrible. Knowing that this isn't just some illusion, and an actual thing in another timeline is saddening. If...if this was our timeline...
She clenches her fists
Ending this sounds good to me.
*Aitome coughs a few times before eventually adjusting to the smell,
using her shirt to try and cover her mouth
Ack... Hac! This... This is bad... We must save anyone who needs it. That is an admirable goal. Let's find them then. I'm not wasting any time! Er.. Do we know where to go though?
The center eh? Sounds good! Let's find it!
(edited by Aitome_Korichi)
As the passengers step out of the train, they're revealed to be atop a building. Beneath them it seems a firefight is going on. One can hardly see any distinguishing features between the groups on opposite sides. To the observers, it simply looks as regular people are gunning each other down.
As one falls to the ground, bleeding... dying... another would grab his fallen comrade's gun and begin firing it in his stead. The fallen are also patted down for any valuables by the surviving members. Behind them seems to be the entrance to the building they're standing atop.
"I suppose the fall would be too risky, let's take the stairs."
"Jesus fucking Christ..."
Eito seems both angry and somewhat disgusted.
"We need to stop this."
The teen rushes to the stairs.
I wonder what they're fighting over. I guess the Diet Building would be the goal?
She doesn't really understand that there's literally no leader. She assumes they're fighting to be the leader.
I can't imagine anything more horrible than this...We have to stick together in this timeline. If we split up we could easily be picked off. And if any of you have weapons, I say you get them ready. Its for out own safety, I don't want to hurt anyone if I don't have to...
She pulls out a Revolver from her bag
But, if it comes down to that, we need to make sure we can fend our aggressors off. This world is unlike ours so lets be ready for the worst. I really hope we can help this timeline.
She looks down below before quickly looking back at the group and heading down the stairs
Lets be safe, alright?
(edited by Makoto)
[Kazuya looks down at the scene, indeed, pure chaos unfolding. The young man looks at Eito rushing down. He wasn't exactly sure of how tall the building was, but the fall would definitely be risky, way too much.]
I don't think there is much to be done there, in the middle of battle men can barely think.
That's what I dislike so much about it.
[Kazuya would then type on his COMP and quickly summon a small, cute Pixie. The small fairy demon would then sit on his shoulder as the young man walks down the stairs.]
You are right Makoto, stay together and stay safe.
However, unless we are attacked, don't do anything other than try and talk to them.
Aitome looks over the edge and grimaces, taking out a short sword off her back and following the party down the stairs swiftly
We better hurry. We might be able to save somebody before they bleed out. Every second counts so lets move!
12th Floor
After the first flight of stairs, the group is met with an open office space, but it seems ransacked,
only remnants of cubicles and burnt scraps of paper providing any evidence as to what this building was before this catastrophe. From the floor beneath them, a quiet sobbing can be heard.
The sobbing stops abruptly with the sound of a gun going off twice.
"That... That doesn't sound good..."
"Oh no..."
Eito draws his gun but doesn't go forward.
"Look, if anybody's getting shot today, it's not gonna be me, kay?"
Stay quiet everyone, you don't know what we'll find.
The fact that they don't know we are here is our biggest advantage.
[Kazuya and Pixie share a look before they decide to silently move forward. They move quietly and slowly, cautious of anything and not wanting to get any attention to themselves. Kazuya prepares his COMP for a new summoning in case he needs it, and unsheathes his blade.]
(edited by Kazuya)
She whispers to the group as soon as the gun sound dies down.
Should we do something about that....?
Ah! Wh-what was that... Don't tell me...
Aitome then goes silent. Looking away and not making eye contact with the group.
Let's just... Things happen I suppose... The only thing we can do is to help the ones we can. We can't dwell on these things. Onto the next floor...
Aitome then conjures up a small ball of light as she investigates the floor more in depth. Looking around mainly for the stairs down
Makoto stops walking as she hears the gunshots
People just kill in this world with no remorse...its sickening...
She tightens her grip on her revolver why slowly walking across the floor hoping to not set off creaks to let whoever shot off know they were upstairs. She eventually crouched near a cubicle near the stairs readying up for a possible outcome
Better to be prepared...
11th Floor
The next floor is merely a straight corridor to the stairs, on each side are closed doors... save for the door at the end, which is wide open. A pair of footprints leading into it after they'd so clearly disturbed the debris, dust mainly. There's an eerie silence on the air as the gunshots outside go strangely quiet.
"I-I don't like this silence!"
T-that's probably the room. We should move on as fast as we can, in case whoever had the gun is still here.
"I agree with the girl in the hat."
"This is definitely horror movie stuff, and I don't think we wanna get involved."
Eito starts twirling his gun nervously.
Makoto gulps. She shivers as a chill goes down her spine while looking at the open door. She whispers quietly
I-I don't know about you all, but I don't think going in that room is a very wise option. If the person with the gun is still in there, they could surprise us and kill us. I-I think it would be best if we moved on.
If the person is still in there doesn't it make sense to announce we are here? It should just be one person, with all of us even if he is hostile we can stop him easily. What if the gunman is injured? It makes no sense to just leave it... But if you say so...
Aitome leaves the door alone. But keeps her wits about her, keeping her hand on her blade with her other arm sparking with magic
Its the fact that we don't know. What if the assailant has a walkie talkie or some type of decice to communicate to someone possibly in their group. If he gets a chance, they could call in reinforcements. Its just a risky situation, and unless we know who this person is and what they have on them, its just too dangerous.
[Kazuya had been preparing for something like this. Indeed they could simply ignore this, however, every single piece of information of clue was important to do anything. Kazuya was not afraid of bullets and guns, but he was not a fool.]
You guys go ahead, I'll risk it.
[However, he was preparing a summoning. Pixie stays with the group with the orders to heal in case it's necessary. He presses "Enter", and a vortex forms behind of him. From it, a tall, slender being of pure white shows up. The Brute demon, Shiki-Ouji. Just like Kazuya, he didn't mind guns or hits a single bit.]
Go in there and subdue anyone that tries to attack.
[Kazuya takes position faraway from the door as the demon kneels down and makes his way into the room. He is ready to knock down, disarm or kill if necessary to anyone there. Harmless people or injured ones wouldn't be dealt with.]
The demon would simply find a corpse huddled over something. It appeared that they held a gun in their hand, but other than that there was nothing else.
[Kazuya presses his headgear a bit to hear more clearly, the demon didn't find anything. Kazuya was still curious however, and he orders the demon to check what was under the corpse. After that, Kazuya walks closer to the group and rejoins Pixie.]
It looks like it was nothing, but I'm still a bit unsure.
Whoever killed that man is still close by.
[Shiki-Ouji would check the corpse first before joining Kazuya and Pixie, who are now going to the next floor.]
Great, so there's a killer on the loose.
There was a hint of fear in her voice. Monsters? Those could be handled. A person lurking with a gun? That's a whole nother story....
Also fair warning I may have to disappear here shortly. So if I stop responding feel free to continue on without me.
Shiki-Ouji would find a much smaller corpse, one belonging to a child. Both corpses seemed to have died via gunshot to the head. If Shiki-Ouji were to check the gun in the man's hand, it'd find that two bullets were missing from the clip.
-------------------------------------------------------------
10th Floor
The eerie silence continues as the group is once again met with a corridor. This one seems to be filled with piles of trash, mainly cans of food, bottles of water, and paper scraps. The place seems to be lacking the smell of decomposing food, as it looks like the cans were picked clean.
"This place is filthy! Perhaps someone was living here? Probably not, these cans look old and worn!"
It was probably whoever was crying that lived here. Or maybe those people we saw fighting on the street below.
Still, we're not making progress scavenging the place... we need to stop the fighting, right?
Yes, we have to stop whatever is happening down there as soon as possible, it doesn't look like there is anything here for us. Although this does show the situation that these people have to live in... Wish there was more we could do...
[Shiki-Ouji quickly rejoins the party and informs Kazuya of what he saw. Kazuya would look down in sadness, and soon Pixie would too. He keeps the information to himself, however, he doesn't want to disturb any of his teammates needlessly. Despite this, Kazuya keeps onwards.]
It needs a proper clean-up, that's for sure.
Regardless, we should reach the bottom floor.
I don't think there is much of us here.
"Yup, I don't see any point lingering here, why don't we go down as fast as possible?"
Eito is quite impatient yet nervous at the same time.
"I mean, I know that this is a bit of a shock to us, me included but we don't get any results if we just sit around and stare."
This place could have been some type of camp at one point. This place certainly is big enough to hold a large number of people. But you would think that they would at least like to keep things clean...but seeing how this place is, I guess they have bigger things to worry about.
8th Floor
Due to the rush put on by the group, they'd decided to hurry, rushing through the 9th floor. The stairs were once again at the end of a corridor. This time, the place seemed shockingly clean, as though it had remained untouched throughout the chaos. Some boots stood at the stairs, numbering three pairs. One pair was significantly smaller than the others.
"Boots...? Gah, no time to pay attention to detail. We need to run!"
Izumi rushes past with the others, but does keep count of them.
Three pairs. Does that mean there's two more people here? That would be bad for us....
"Mmmmmmm, two normal pairs of boots amd a kid's one, i'm sure nothing but good things happened to them!"
Eito eagerly sprints past the boots, trying not to pay too much attention to them.
Makoto sighs as she walks past the boots. She wonders what could have been the fate of those three, but before too long she took her mind off of that and focused on the goal of getting out of the building
I just want to get out of this place...
["Three pairs of boots?" Two of those had to belong to the dead kid and man a few floors above them. This meant someone else was still lurking around, or at least still was living here.]
Maybe it was family, a woman perhaps...?
I don't know, could be anything at this point...
[Kazuya says to himself as he heads to the stairs quickly along with his demons, but he would take a closer look at the boots before going down.]
Aitome looks at the floor, strange.. 3 pairs? Wasn't there only one?
Strange...
This.. Doesn't bode well with me. Its too.. Something... I can't tell what though. I can't forget our goal though.
7th Floor
The groups descent seems stalled by a makeshift barricade. It looked fragile enough to break down with enough force, but sturdy enough to dissuade any scavenger looking for a quick meal.
The group is met with a decision, either break down the barrier, or search for an alternative route.
"A barrier? I don't know if I could take this down. Should we find another way?"
Just to make sure, let's look for another way.
I...have the feeling this barricade should stay here.
[Kazuya's expression darkens as he looks for any alternative route. Maybe it was no use, the kid and man, who might have been his parents were now dead, but maybe the possible mother or anyone else could make use of this.]
Remember, there is a kid somewhere around here.
[Kazuya lies of course, but it was necessary he felt.]
"I highly doubt the kid survived..."
"Anyway, I say we go around, i'm pretty sure this is here for a reason."
Eito goes in another direction, looking for alternative routes.
I agree, the barrier is here for some reason, and its probably best we conserve our energy for harder tasks. If that child is still alive, I only hope that they are safe. I also hope they aren't alone here, but seeing how this place is, I can only imagine they are somewhere hiding. Maybe even from us...
If you say so. I'll follow your lead. If need be I can probably burn that barricade down though. I hope it wont take long to find another exit. We are losing valuable time...
Aitome then begins to search with the rest of the party. Although the heavy atmosphere is weighing down on her head
The party finds a room with a hole in the floor and the ceiling, looks like a support beam collapsed and destroyed the one beneath it. It seems capable of serving as a makeshift stairway.
6th Floor
The party arrives at the stairwell past the barricade, this time met with a corridor; however, the walls seemed torn down, and larger piles of rubble lined the rooms that were visible. There seemed to be empty bullet casings near one of the windows.
"This isn't ominous at all!"
Eito is obviously joking as he skips everything else and goes to the stairs.
It's clear something bad happened here, could be related to what was happening down in the streets.
[Kazuya takes a deep breath and speaks up as he gazes at the empty bullet casings and walks forward and into the stairs. However, he orders Pixie to go check the caliebr of the weapons that may have been used, usually the bullets leave that very clear.]
Everyone!
If you really want things to go fine or at least survive, remember to stay calm.
Breath, think clearly.
[Kazuya sighs and keeps walking forward.]
Hopefully just handguns...
More and more destruction...
Aitome tries to lift a few of the boulders to see if anything is underneath, before continuing
There has to be a way to stop this. No matter what the cost.
Makoto looks around an d at the scene where she quickly looks down at the floor and continues to walk. Seeing the constant despair around has gotten to her
I...I just want to get out of here soon.
Pixie's search would reveal .22 caliber casings. It could have been a hunting rifle or a pistol, but no heavy equipment.
-----------------------------------------
3rd Floor
The past few floors had been more or less the same as the 6th, just with more obvious destruction. The 3rd floor; however, had a corpse lying at one of the windows. It seemed age as decomposition had set in, but the long hair, and the torn clothes made it obvious that the corpse belonged to a woman.
"I-I-I... she's in a much happier place..."
Makoto stares at the body as some tears start to form. She thought about the child who could have possibly been in the building. She knew what it was like to lose someone close to her, and knowing that child is going through the same thing, she cried. This future, it was terrifying to her. If this is what their timeline was like, she wondered if should would have been able to survive through this. She wondered and shuddered at the thought. After some time she wiped the tears off her face and clenched her fists. She had to stay strong. If she broke down here, she knew that would be the end of her
This timeline...I'm glad that it isn't our own...but I feel terrible for those who live this nightmare.
Makoto then took her eyes off the dead body and continued on
Don't look and keep walking.
[Kazuya made it very clear as he slowly approched the corpse of the woman. The young man would kneel down along with Pixie. Then, they would bow down a bit with their hands together, showing her their respects. It was clear, this family were together at some point, and them running out of food make it too risky.]
The man must've ended his son's life and his own...
I can only imagine their suffering.
[He had seen scenes similar to this in the past, back in 1992 Tokyo during the inital two weeks of the demon invasion, before the ICBM attacks, and even more in 2022. The young man would then keep moving forward.]
Nngh! This...!
Aitome expected the worse, but even this was a little too much, how much more did they have to go through? The pressure on her psyche was rough, it doesn't look like there will be much respite soon.
.. Keep moving. There is nothing for us here. We just have to help whoever we can. That is our objective. Just move forward.
1st Floor
At last they reach the first floor. It seems to be an empty lobby. Just as destroyed as the last, the door leading to the front is shattered, and hanging on a single hinge. The outside is much darker than the inside, given Aitome's light. It is also considerably more silent than when the group arrived. Of course, the distant roar of flames could still be heard, but all of that was far away from their location.
"At least we're almost out of this building. I can only wish that the rest of this time isn't as horrific as this building, but far too often do wishes not come true..."
Makoto looks around the area
It is strange how silent the streets have gotten since we descended...it gives an ominous feeling. But I am glad we are finally getting out of this building.
Aitome takes a look around outside. Probably too late at this point.
But it can't hurt to check. She is mentally exhausted however. The tower didn't hurt her physically, only mentally
Gah... Hopefully we can find some hope in this desolate space. Its going to be hard to keep this up.
I don't want to say it, but it might be even worse if...this building was any indication.
[Kazuya returns Pixie to his COMP, and instead replaces her with Pascal, his Cerberus. Both Cerberus and Shiki-Ouji stand by his side. The trio would then move outside as the try to stay cautious.]
If anything...I can try to be your shield, I've been through this enough times.
Please, try to stay calm
Outside
The smoke clouding the sky seems thicker now, as though the fires seem to only fuel them. The only remnant of the gunfight is the two walls where the opposing forces were fighting, a rasping cough is heard behind one of them. It seems there was only one survivor left behind, but it didn't look like he'd be a survivor for long.
"H-He needs some help, someone get keep on lookout! I'll give him some water!"
Deneb pulls a canteen from under his cloak, and offers it to the dying man, he drinks it greedily, and coughs after some time.
"S-Slow now!"
After he finishes coughing, the man continues to drink, but with more pacing to it. Once he's finished, he looks up at Deneb with tears in his eyes.
'W-why...? It He coughs again. It's been... three whole years... since... since I've last seen kindness...'
Makoto stares at the man for a bit before opening her mouth to ask him a question
If you don't mind me asking sir...what has happened her? Everything is like a war zone. How did this place become like it is now?
Makoto stopped herself realizing all the questions at once may bother this man
I-I'm sorry for bombarding you with these questions. Please take your time..
Are you alright?!? What happened? Ah, I'm asking too many questions! Just rest for now okay! Even if its one life its worth protecting.
Aitome then takes a post up on the street, watching for dangers along the road
Let's hope nobody else tries to mess with us..
[Kazuya immediately rushes at the side of the man. It was clear that it may have been to late for him. The young man kneels by his side and clears his throat. However, before he could speak, Makoto took the words right out of his mouth. The young man smiled in the middle of this dire situation and placed his left hand on the poor man's shoulder.]
We are here to help, you can calm down.
[Kazuya curses at returning Pixie to his COMP, she had healing abilities, and him using Skill Crack will definitely not be enough. Still, the young man prepares the program and chooses "Dia". Slowly, the man begins to heal, maybe just enough to ease his pain in his last moments.]
Alright?
[Kazuya gives the man a warm smile, trying to share with him some hope.]
With a weakened smile, the man nods.
'I... It was three years ago... After the election we ... we had nobody to lead us... at first we seemed to get along fine... nobody noticed we didn't have one... but... then some thugs took over... they tried... tried to keep infrastructure... they tried to keep it working... at first it did... lights were on... water flowed from the sink... but then they started charging for it... normal prices at first... but it kept going up... nobody could afford it... some people.. grouped up... they started living together... sharing costs... but it still... it still wasn't enough... eventually... the people fought back... they attacked... the thugs in charge... beat 'em too... but the last guy... their leader... he blew it all up... that's when this shit started... we... we... we were desperate... no food... no water...'
His tears well up again.
'They started fires... for warmth... but there were too many... half the city got burned down... still burnin' too... now people fight... fight for water... fight for food... fight to survive... I... I know this... this is my end... but... please... I want to... I want... I want to see... the sky... one last time... before this hell went down... it was a lovely blue... please... grant me... one last glimpse... please...'
His eyes darken, and his breath becomes ragged. He's still alive, but that's not gonna last long.
"Wh-What do we do!? It's too late to go and get the ZeroLiner... anyone can we give him his last request!? I beg of you!"
Man.. I.. Don't understand how it got so out of hand... Maybe we do need a government in the Nexus.. As for your wish. I can try this..
Aitome then concentrate's as she pulls out her sword in front of the man, visioning the outside of a cafe that's been blown to bits far too many times, before slashing in front of the Man's face, careful not to actually hit him. With a bit of luck and rift magic it should open a rift to the sky
Oberon.
[Kazuya closes both eyes and summons Oberon as quickly as he can. The fairy comes out of a vortex and flies to Kazuya's side. He points both hands at the man, as magic begins to form around them.]
Brain Jack.
[Is what the young man whispers, inflicting Brainwash on the dying man. He did this so he could modify the man's perception of things, making him believe the sky above was blue and clear once more, lying peacefully on the grass, surrounded by all the people that was important for him. The demon and Kazuya had no knowledge of them, but inside of the man's man, it was all there. He simply awakened those memories as vividly as he could. In a way, he was both aware of reality and his dream, right in the middle of them both]
Your struggle will end here, your dreaming self won't.
Sleep, you saw all you had to see, gave all you had to give.
You did good, son.
Close your eyes, I'll see you on the other side.
[Kazuya stops healing the man, and instead claps his both hands together with both eyes closed, along with Oberon, Shiki-Ouji and Pascal. This last one simply bowed down with his three eyes closed.]
It would seem to be of little effect. The fact that they were in a different time seems to have negated the dimensional powers of the Rift.
____________________________________________
As the man's life faded away. He could be seen smiling peacefully.
(edited by Deneb)
Heh, nice job Green Coat. Your digimons sure helped you out. You did what I couldn't! Let's continue forth. Unless our goal is done. From the looks of it no matter what we do it'll be near impossible to fix this. We can only hope to prevent it in our timeline. Remember. This is an alternate reality. These people who have died here are still alive in our world. We just have to make sure it stays that way!
Makoto stares at the man as she closes her eyes
A-At least he died peacefully, after all hes been through, he was happy in his final moments...
She wipes a tear from her face and smiles
You did good Kazuya.
I would never call fixing this "impossible".
As long as people remain, there is hope.
[Kazuya returns all of his demons to the COMP. And takes a deep breath before looking back at the group.]
We always do our best, that's what's important.
Even in the face of death, we do our best.
[Kazuya looks up for a good few seconds before looking at them again.]
That's why they still have hope.
Although...I want to more.
Deneb seems to stay staring at the man's now lifeless body. He remains silent for a good amount of time, but finally speaks again.
"Say... do you think he was alone? In wanting to see the sky I mean... This blackness... it's not right to be called the sky..."
Deneb lifts his head, but it seems it's struggling to stay aloft.
"Too many people... try to protect the world... when will they protect the sky?"
Actually I learned something from Tatsuya.
[Kazuya looks inside of his COMP and prepares is max number of summonings.]
You guys have magic, right?
I know Makoto is a Nuclear hitter, but what about you Aitome?
And you, Deneb?
[Kazuya smirks and points his left hand to the sky.]
Anything that can damage on a big scale.
Makoto looks up at the sky above. She stares into the pitch black sky and almost gets lost in it
I-Its like a void, something you can never get out of, once your in it...your stuck. Is that how these people are? Trapped on this city, not able to escape because they don't want to leave their home behind? Or are they afraid to go out of the city...is there more places like this? If only there was a good way to clearing th sky, would that gove people hope?
Makoto ponders at the idea. She then looks at Kazuya and back up at the sky.
You really think that could work? I mean theres no harm in trying I guess.
(edited by Makoto)
Deneb points to himself.
"Me!? Well I'm good with guns I suppose, but I do my best when I'm the gun... see?"
Deneb jumps into the air, folding into himself.
[DENEBICK BUSTER!]
When he falls down, he has taken the form of a large gun.
"If whoever uses me while I'm like this can provide enough energy, I can provide a massive blast!"
Heh, by fix I meant restore this place completely. That sounds impossible. But helping anybody we come across? I can do that. We can all do that just fine. Hey Denby! Any idea where to go next? I'm raring to go!
Eh? The sky huh? I'll be honest. I've never really thought of that. I suppose its hard to cherish what we have until we lose it all. Kinda cruel.
Eh? My magic? I've got lots of fire, light ice or nuke. Are you planning on making a light show? That.. Might work... Hehe! Well whatever you need I'll send it your way! Just give me an order!
It's simple, we combine our powers enough.
We can hold it and then shoot it.
[Kazuya gets closer to the Denebick Buster. Soon enough, Kazuya would summon into the city Beelzebub, Metatron, Satan and above them all, Lucifer. They all stand there montionlessly as they wait for Kazuya's idea.]
I want to shoot at the sky, clear it completely so all the city can see a clear sky.
Individually we wouldn't do much, but together, I'm sure we can blow all that darkness away.
[Beelzebub would then begin to charge up a massive ball of whit energy along with Metatron, they were charging up a Megidolaon with both of their powers. Meanwhile Satan would add to it, slowly raising the ball of energy up, above of the building they were just in. They also add into it with a massive ball of energy, Morning Star, and energy in the form of a Serpentine being, Black Viper. The gigantic ball of energy and black sparks is slowly being charged and kept in place.]
Concetrate all you have in there, and once that's done, release it and I will shoot at it with the...
[Kazuya looks at the gun once more.]
Denebick Buster.
Might be enough energy to clear the sky for the entire city.
"Understood!"
The gun itself speaks with a hopeful voice.
"Are we going to use a scatter shot or a solid beam!?"
Alrighty! Here we go! Time to put my powers to use! Blazing Star!
Aitome then takes a card and crushes it with a small spin, A Nine Tailed Fox appearing behind her and howling to the sky. As holy fire eruprts in an arc into the ball of energy
Let's give them something to remember!
Makoto smiles and lets out a slight laugh
Well then, lets get this done then. ANAT!
As Makoto shouts out the name, Anat appears behind her in blue flames. Makoto smiles and looks up at the sky
Atomic Flare!
A large, blue and flashing light surges around Anat before its gives form to a surging ball of blue light
Lets do this!
If anyone was paying attention to the buildings around them, they'd notice faces of all shapes and sizes peering out the windows at the display of light. Some people would look out from the alleys. Some were whispering among themselves.
'Is that some kind of bomb?'
'Thank god, I'm too old for this hell.'
'Where's papa?'
'Shh! They'll hear you!'
Alright just hold it there...!
[Kazuya runs to the peculiar weapon and holds it, pointing it directly at the ball of light.]
Alright, make it a solid beam.
I want the shot to be precise.
[Kazuya looks at the streets and tries to guess in which part of the city he was, and where the center of it was as well. Kazuya moves a bit to the right, still pointing at the ball and the sky. Due to this, he notices the people slowly gathering and looking at what was happening. The young man places his finger on the trigger and wonders for a moment. He simply wanted to push the trigger and do it, but now that people were watching, and Aitome commented "Make it something they can remember", he makes his choice.]
That's right!
With our hope, we point at the heavens and call for it to comeback.
We humans want to fly and touch the sky, so now, come forth!
This key to salvation! The meaning of "human"!
CHAOTIC BLAST! LAWFUL LIGHT!
NEUTRALIZER!!!
[Kazuya laughs a bit at his exaggerated and overly dramatic words, indeed, it was like in the old Sentai shows he saw as a kid. But it didn't matter, they would never forget this. Kazuya finally pushes the trigger, aiming at the ball, hoping that the beam would make it explode high up in the sky, with a force enough to open a hole in the sky.]
The eyes on the gun begin to flare up with a green lightning. The lightning flows along the barrel, compressing into the tips. It radiates a bright orange light. After several seconds it unleashes a massive orange beam which flies into the heavens above. The black clouds swirl momentarily before the beam's impact. When it makes contact, a gaping hole appears in the clouds of smog and ash. The blast of pure energy pushes on Kazuya with significantly more force than was expected. Once the beam is finished firing, it flies off. When the tail can no longer be seen, the city is engulfed with a bright light is it detonates. The blast clearing the smoke covering the city.
'The cover!'
'I-It's gone!'
'Mama what's a "Sky"?'
'Something... something we forgot about so long ago.'
When the blast disperses, it seems as though the shade of night has changed. Glimmering dots fill the sky, twinkling as a reminder of their constancy. These lights quickly fade as a strange orange light begins to take hold of the sky, coloring it after itself. The fringes are a peculiar purple, and the purple soon fades to a quiet blue.
'I-It's gone...'
'Wh-What day is it... I-I've lost count...'
'After so long... it's finally The voice sounds like it's breaking down.'
A short old man walks into the street... holding his hands heavenward.
'Gramps what are you doin'!?'
'Shut it boy, can't you let an old man have some peace?'
His face is smudged with the ash, save for two streams running down his face.
'After all... it's not every day you wake up from a nightmare...'
WOAH!
[The blast forces Kazuya to drop the weapon and stumble pretty hard into a pole, hitting his own head against it and losing consciousness. The demons keep looking at Kazuya with a bit of embarrassment. Soon, Lucifer approaches the young man and presses a single button on the COMP, returning the 4 demons to the COMP. Leaving nothing but the young man on the floor, and a bump on his forehead.]
(edited by Kazuya)
Makoto looks around at all the people surrounding them. She smiles as she watches families come out and gathering while looking at the sky. She sheds some tears seeing these people happy. She then turns to Kazuya and lifts him up off the ground trying to get him to wake up
Hey! Come on now, you can't miss out on what you just did!
She laughs to herself as she looks up at the sky
What a great plan Kazuya...
Ha ha! We really did something special! I almost can't believe! It's no wonder people trust ya Green Coat! I think this place will change now! Even if it isn't back to its former glory! We helped then regain hope! Thats the first step to anything!
After a bit of celebrating Aitome notices Kaz on the floor and shakes her head, a large grin still on her face though
It's tough to wield eh? Don't beat yourself over it! It's really strong!
[Kazuya would slowly wake up. He opens a single eye as he looks at Makoto. He immediately closes both eyes at how bright everything is.]
Mom...?
[Kazuya holds his head for a few seconds as he groans. He then would shake his head and open both eyes.]
Ah, Makoto...I didn't miss out, did I?
Makoto laughs as she looks down at Kazuya
Well I can't say you didn't miss out, but you can make up for that by just looking around.
She let out a deep sigh of relief
I can't even begin to think that this place not only moments ago was a place full of despair...but now theres hope. Light pours down on the city once full of darkness. Its a nice thing to see after what we saw in the building. You did a great service for these people Kazuya.
She smiles once again
Even I feel the need to thank you. Seeing the sky clear...it gave me hope as well, and I'm not even part of this timeline.
She laughed quietly
It really is amazing though.
A loud, but slow sounding voice speaks into the ears of the party.
'I must congratulate you everyone... You have reached your goal, hmmm! You've brought some light back into this world, yes? You've seen all that was necessary in this time, so you must now return to your own time, hmmm. I have granted the Imagin the notes as to what happens now that you've finished here, yes.'
With that the party would find themselves once more on the ZeroLiner. Deneb would be back in his usual form, this time holding a white sheet of paper.
"I'm truly glad we've had this experience. It might not have been the nicest place, but I hope you all will come along when next we journey to a different time. Ah, about the future of that time! It says here, 'The people of that city would rally around the new sky before them, and would work together. There would be many hardships ahead for the residents, but whenever they felt like giving up, they would remind themselves of the heroes who gave them the sky once more. Such is the time that does not exist.' Well, I think that's quite a nice sentiment! I'll bring you back some place you can relax at!"
[Kazuya, now back at the ZeroLiner would slowly try to wake up, his cheeks blushing at the nice words she just gave him. The young man would then stand up and rub the back of his head as he bagan to speak once more.]
Don't thank me, it was everyone's efforts that made this possible.
Congratulate yourselves and all...that.
[Kazuya clears his throat as he makes his way out quickly.]
Regardless, I'm glad we managed to give them that.
The best thing we could've ever gifted them.
I-It was what had to be done anyway, haha...
Yeah...
[After this, Kazuya makes his way out and does his best to avoid the group's looks. He covers his eyes with his long hair and walks away with a bit of embarrassment.]
I'm glad we did some good, I really am...
But I can't take it when people thank me, geez.
(edited by Kazuya)
Makoto laughs to herself as she watches Kazuya walk away. She then stretches as she too walks out of the Zeroliner
Until we meet again Kazuya...
Makoto pulls out her phone and looks at the time
Well, I guess I should get going, wouldn't want to be late.
Makoto puts her phone away and walks away, she then looks back at the zeroliner and smiles
I'm glad I stumbled upon this today.
Well! All in a day's work and all that jazz! Still though, didn't expect that to happen today! I'm pretty beat! I kinda wonder if anyone remembers us specifically though, would be nice to get some recognition! Just helping is good though.
*Aitome then steps out and waves goodbye before walking away! Enough heroics for one day!
(edited by Aitome_Korichi)