15strangers | FINAL TRIAL

FINAL TRIAL

[The Strangers manage to escape. By the time anyone has realized they have left, the Analemma is already on a course to a new destination, one not intended by their Conductor-who was certainly surprised to find their ride gone, hours later.

Cardia has turned off radar and other equipment that would allow anyone to find the train easily. There is no barrier around this train, so everyone can see the Clockwork Sun as it gets closer and closer.

They aren't going to London, obviously. Cardia manages to explain that, originally, the Throne of Hours was located there, but after Victoria became Twice-Renewed, the Throne was ordered moved closer to the Sun. Now, it is connected to the station called Sunspur-a desolate place, formerly an exhibition hall, where only the Sun's engineers and wayward captains now go. No one dares to cross the bridge that connects the Throne to it, when they are there.

That will change, but not immediately. Even at top speed, it will take several hours for the train to reach its destination. Cardia suggests everyone relax in the Lounge of this new train. Apparently, this one was going to pick up its newest passengers very shortly, and so the bar and kitchens are stocked with food and drink, at least.

There is much to talk about. Much to look through, and much to consider. The past four weeks have been difficult to process, but the evidence from Perdurance has been especially daunting. It only shows just how stark the situation is-and it's up to the Strangers to figure out just what they will do when they do, at last, confront Her Enduring Majesty.
After all.

Whatever happens, a reckoning cannot be postponed. Not indefinitely. And the bill is almost due...]

[It's time! The objectives are simple in this trial: untangle the story of this place and decide what to ultimately do when they finally confront Victoria, the Mastermind of the Little Courtesy! It will not be easy and the truth, as ever, will not be a light one.

Will they triumph? Will they go home? What else might happen? What else could be in store? There's only way to find out!

Have fun, and good luck! And remember-

All shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.]

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An act of naked greed.... "What is existence to these things, but a means to sate their hunger?"...

[The visions are still burned into his mind. The knowledge of what the Sapphir'd King does, the image of the looming Earth...]

Has to be a way to stop it. Torn fabric can be sewn back together, just takes someone skilled with a needle... Otherwise - doubt this universe will be the only one destroyed.

...Wait, seriously?

[Ris was just going to let everyone else handle this, because like hell she knows what she's doing, but—]

You did exactly one thing right with my hostage, and now you've let that bastard go? You want to hold this place together, so you unleash a madman into a new world of horrible sciences he can dip his fingers into?!

Well. If we can find my group, we can take care of that problem very easily for you.

[He'll very gently (making sure he crosses her field of vision so as not to startle her) place a comforting hand on Ris's shoulder.]

After this, we will find him. We will make sure that he can do no more harm, to you or to anyone else. I may not participate, but I do believe I might enjoy watching whatever Caleb's group has in store for the bastard.

Good.

[He was willing to fight her for that if he had to, so hearing that that's already taken care of is a relief.

As for the other concern...]

Now, about ending these murder trains? Can you do that too?

[Ris doesn't flinch away from the touch, but the shaking of her limbs is bad enough to be visible. If she's still holding Mithos' hand, she's squeezing it tightly in rage.]

No. None of you get to deliver that unto him!

Give us back what you had them take from us, now, and I might just let myself stop at ripping that man open stitch by stitch!

[Yeah, she's. She's not okay right now, at all. Her voice is cracking from raising it.]

She still hasn't said where that freedom actually is, Ris.

[By which Charlotte means "if it is here, and he is on a piece of a world, we will find him". On second thought, perhaps it's best to voice that...]

If it's on land pulled through that lingers here, and he's allowed visitation... well. I doubt they'd deny us all the right to pay a nice, lingering social call with some pliers and... [God, what else is suggestive of torture without being too suggestive? Why does her mind blank now?] ...rock salt.

You'd need all three fates spinning triple-time to meet that thread quota....

[He's not alone in thinking in textile metaphors, at least. If that helps.]

But... you did survive it. I understand... no, I don't understand your fear. I can't imagine that. But I can understand why you're afraid, and... right now, that matches up with how I feel.

[She hates this. This whole world that doesn't make sense, where a man with a glass and plastic and metal head sings like a god-damned angel and everyone is willing to try to talk sense into some being from beyond time, and there is no good and so evil just is, is everything.]

That's why I wanted [still want]... why I said what I did. I don't want to live through something like that, or live knowing it's coming any moment. In the end, I'm a coward. You do understand that, don't you?

[Mmmmm, that's not good. Understandable, but he's definitely concerned.]

In that case, we'll just secure the exits to prevent his escape then, shall we?

Yeah, definitely.

[Now Ris he's afraid of, even he doesn't fully understand what she's talking about.]

{ . . . Ah. That man is still in custody.

Fork incident. }

{ They are free. Completely.

But they have been returned to the lads the wefts brought in. }

{ ...No. Not even a contract could stop the wefts. What can be done...it must be done with the Sun. }

[ ...He's sure that would sound impressive to anyone else but him. ]

So, you've given up and decided that a slow death's better - and putting people through all of this would be worth it?

There's many worlds out there. There could be something your calculations missed.

And those lands are still here, aren't they?

{ ...you wrongly assume I have not looked into options. }

{ Correct. There has so far been no way for us to reverse the weftings of the lands brought here. }

And what is your plan to finally end this?

[He quirks a smile at that.]

How could I not? I'm as much a coward as you- No, moreso. I look more the part of the Tin Man, but I have always been the Cowardly Lion.

{ I have considered it for many years.

My last resort...to make a wish. But if I do... }

...Then there will be a steep price to pay, I assume.

If that's what you want, if you really believe there's any kind of chance... I trust you.

[It's easier to believe in someone else than to confront the cold facts of their situation. It's easy. She has longed for anything in this hellish world to be easy, to be simple, to feel right.

And it does feel right, to nod, to gently squeeze Ris' hand. That Ris doesn't hate her has her too shaken by relief to do anything else. Even if it's a hollow hope born of exhaustion... Charlotte is letting herself hope.]

I wanted... do you think she'll remember us, if we die like all the others?

... Will it consume you?

No.

[Wait, that wasn’t-]

She will become a magical girl.

[One pair of red eyes open. Then another. Then another. In the dark it is hard to tell what this speaker looks like.

But there are hundreds of glowing eyes, all through to the top of the Throne room. They open and stare.]

The most powerful in this universe, in fact!

Page 22 of 30

FINAL TRIAL

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