EPILOGUE: WARRIORS OF JUSTICE

[strangerpeople]

WARRIORS OF JUSTICE


Conversion is complete...but the virus-

Probably just it's shell. Quick! Reverse the polarity and turn everyone back to normal size! We need to ask them how they did it - and try and stabilize the girl genius!

[Another bright light, but this time, also, the feeling of being squished by gravity as your ears pop. Soon enough, the forms become much clearer - and smaller. Soon enough, the sensation stops - and shouting from vaarious doctors and soldiers can be heard outside of the EPCOT and Diatron-15.]

The virus--!!

Look at the size of that thing!

Stand back, stand back! Let the micronauts have air!

[The shorter of the two men steps forward, and begins to wave their arm.]

Diatron-15! Welcome back! It appears you brought that nasty illness with you, but it can't harm anyone else now, at least! However, we need to find another way to stabilize the girl genius - you took so long her organs began to fail!

Don't worry, though, we will compensate you as promised! Please, please come out so we can put you through a check-up and decontamination! Then we can take this virus in for study!

[Ha. Ha. Hahahaha...

Well, congratulations. You are alive and back to normal size.

Also, those who have powers from before this journey will find they are back.

...

So, what now?]

Comments

[backuphero]

There's a... cost, Nagisa. Because I'm a Morris, not a Belmont... because they can't take the whip back until 1999. It was one of the things I forgot about. It's why my father refused to teach me past a certain point, he... he didn't want me to die the way he was dying.

[He never wanted to bring that up like this, not in front of everyone, not at a time like this.]

[theserpentsmiles]

....you're not using it.

[Don't you even dare think about it.]

[backuphero]

It's one of two weapons that can kill Dracula. The other... if Eric could give it to me, I know he would, but... that's a high order compared to small equipment and teaching Charlotte spells.

[He sighs, and shrugs helplessly.]

I guess I kind of accepted it when I found out. I... before we got our memories back, I'd already started to forgive my father, even if I couldn't understand him... everything's doubled up and I don't know what to think about it all, now.

[theserpentsmiles]

You're not going to use it - I won't let you. There has to be another way - and if there isn't, I'll make one.

I'm not strong like you or powerful like Yurick, but I'm not going to let anything happen to my family.

[Nagisa is shaking now. This is.....this isn't fair. To finally get out of that place, only to find out the same whip he returned to his brother could kill him?]

[crouching_sin]

... Once we’re done in my world, I’ll do it. It’s the least I can do.

[illusionarymelody]

[Vita is just going to take a moment to interject on this.]

No, you are not.

[crouching_sin]

Once I’ve broken my curse, I might as well do something good.

[illusionarymelody]

Neither of you are dying!

cw: suicidal ideation

[crouching_sin]

... To die permanently is the only thing I’ve wanted for thousands of years.

cw: suicidal ideation

[illusionarymelody]

Believe me, I actually can understand that. But that doesn't mean you need to seek it out. Maybe all you need is to come to a world that doesn't have your god.

[crouching_sin]

... Maybe. I don’t know. It’s possible.

I won’t let him die, though.

[theserpentsmiles]

...he said he doesn't have an heir to set the whip looming over other than me, so....if he uses it, I will too.

So he'd better not.

[ichbindereinzelganger]

Why not just use a laser?

[crouching_sin]

I don't think laser guns like the ones here exist in his world, and given Dracula being... somewhat of a unique creature, I wouldn't be surprised if he's somehow resistant to that.

But it's worth a try.

[ichbindereinzelganger]

That's why you use more than one?

[She's. She's trying.]

[crouching_sin]

[Precious...]

We can certainly see. I think multiple options for this would be a good thing.

[ichbindereinzelganger]

I guess it would also help to know if this Dracula has the normal weaknesses claimed in literature. Or if reincarnating him using tomato ketchup would render him powerless...

[crouching_sin]

... Using ketchup?

[losergod]

Mister Morris, if you die, I will bring you back to life and then kill you myself.

[ Said... from the body of... one of the researchers C GET OUT OF THERE. ]

We didn't go through all this effort so you could die.

[backuphero]

[He might be trembling a little bit but he has Vita to hold on to, so it shouldn't be too visible.

C is really a god.

C is really mad at him for thinking about dying as an acceptable loss.]

I mean, at this point I don't think I've got a choice except for "live", you're all... really determined to make sure I don't die....

[He's touched, and it probably showed in whatever that wobbly thing was that his voice did as he said that.]

[losergod]

[ He sure is, buddy. You probably saw him possess this guy, hahaha. ]

Even if you die, I will take your soul data and cram it into another body. I'm not going to let that happen. And if you do something dumb to kill yourself, I'll make sure it's an awful body you'll hate.

[ Okay, he's probably lying about that. He wouldn't do that to him. But he's trying to make a point. He cares, okay.

And this is how he shows it. ]

[backuphero]

[HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS SEEING???]

I'm - I'll do my best to stay alive, all right? Can't make any promises, there's a war on, you know.

[It's a joke, albeit a bleak and sarcastic one. But the bitter smile that accompanied it softens once the words are out.]

I mean it. I'll do my best to keep living.

[losergod]

If you die in a war after this I'm going to punch you, you Texas moron.

[ Gosh!!! ]

[backuphero]

Hey. I said I mean it. I know everyone here came back, but... it's a hell of a way to learn people care if you live or die, something like this, but I think I finally got the lesson.

[losergod]

Good.

[ He's pleased at least. He will... eventually take his current body back and leave the stupid doctor alone. ]

I would be genuinely upset if you hadn't learned by now, you know? After how hard we worked to exonerate you.