FINAL TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

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.]

Comments

[biddentodance]

[The faces of the people close to him flash through his mind. Junpei. Aigis. Yukari. Ken. Shinjiro. Akihiko. Mitsuru. Fuuka. Koromaru. Kenji. Bunkichi and Mitsuko. Maiko. Yuko. Bebe. Chihiro. Tanaka. Mutatsu. "Maya". Hidetoshi. Keisuke. Kazushi. Mamoru. Nozomi. Akinari.

Eliza. Beatrice. Proto Man. Atsushi. Tali. Zack. Mithos. Ris. McBurn. RGB. King. Towa. Caleb. Charlotte.

Ryoji.

There is warmth in his chest, like he hasn't felt before. For the first time in ten years - more like eleven, now - nothing is wrong or broken inside him.]

There has to be, and is, another way. The Sapphir'd King started, this, right? Any solution - any real solution - will have to involve that, then...

[He's said his speech, now it's time for thinking....]

[otherworldlyking]

Sounds like a good point.

[ Not said grudgingly, at the very least.

What has been done can be undone. ]

[thricerenewed]

{ They do not listen. The suns say it is my problem. They are expecting me to fail. They expect to put one of their own on the Throne when I do.

Even as an Axile, I am not like them. I am not liked well by them. }

[katzenpfote]

... You must feel very alone.

[thricerenewed]

{ I long ago understood I could not be human anymore. }

[Yet she is quiet.]

[katzenpfote]

'Human' is relative... but I understand becoming a monster.

[He takes a step closer to her.]

But there are good people trying to help. You need not do this alone.

[Another step.]

Your people... there are so many of them, now. Together, they can find something, not just those in your court.

[And another step.]

... You need to trust them. Trust us.

[thricerenewed]

{ ...I wish I could. But...I am already in debt to the Incubator. If I do not contract, I lose the protections they have already offered me.

What would you have me do with the time I have left? }

[katzenpfote]

Name those protections. We may be of aid.

[thricerenewed]

{ ...

Isolation barriers.

They can slow some time down without the use of Hours, to an extent, and isolate what's within from outside effects. It lessens the need for me to waste Hours that can be used to slow the Sun's disintegration. }

[katzenpfote]

Well, for one...

[He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the Hours-chunk, handing it out towards her.]

[thricerenewed]

{ An Hour Geode? }

[A tentacle goes to take it. As it does, Caleb may notice something hanging from it.]

[katzenpfote]

I admit I have... sticky fingers when it comes to magical items.

[Go go perception! What is it?]

[thricerenewed]

[It's covered in goop. It's a bit ragged and some of the hair is gone.

But Charlotte would recognize-and Caleb can see-the doll in that tentacle, wrapped tightly and securely within it.]

[katzenpfote]

... A friend of yours?

[thricerenewed]

{ !

. . . he is...someone dear to me. Even though he is human. }

[katzenpfote]

... There's nothing wrong with caring for people... though it is easier said than done.

[thricerenewed]

{ . . .I could not run away. This is not the universe I was born in...but it is the universe where my humans are.

I know I have failed.

I know I can only delay the inevitable. I would be foolish to not think at this moment, that that is not all I am doing. }

[katzenpfote]

It is another moment to breathe free. To think. To plan.

[He takes another step forward, and reaches out to put a hand on her shoulder.]

[charmingheroine]

To try and negotiate with something like that....

[Charlotte has heard enough to know what the King in question must be and must do. She approaches Minato, as unsteady as though she were wearing pinheels and not combat boots, and glances back at McBurn.]

He's right, everything's so insane that is sounding good, but... don't go all "Divine Wind" on me at the last minute, for Pete's sake....

[thricerenewed]

{ "Divine Wind"? }

[technicolourdifficulties]

To go out in a blaze of glory as a last desperate attack. Not a recommended tactic.

[Ugh, he feels like they just keep chasing their tails...

...Wait. "Divine".]

...What precisely can you tell us about the Saphir'd King? He sounds a far less reasonable bloke than Time, but... Well, he did start this.

[He's sure someone already mentioned it, but in the midst of things he can't remember who.]

SUNLESS SKIES SPOILERS

[thricerenewed]

{ Leader of the Amaranthine Conjunction. Overseer of Death's Door. One of the strongest and hungriest of suns.

Humans tried to wage war on him once.

They were erased from existence in seconds. }

[otherworldlyking]

Any weaknesses for those suns or for him that you'd know of?

[biddentodance]

Don't plan to, not the kind you're thinking of. Have a promise to keep.

[He smiles. He feels...safe. Secure.]

Straightforward approaches aren't going to work, Her Majesty would've tried those already. Not going to be easily talked around, either, not when they're so very different from people...but there has to be a way.

[charmingheroine]

[Charlotte smiles back, and closes the distance between them. She takes his hand, laces her fingers with his, and leans to press her shoulder to his for a moment.

She still can't see a way out. After all of this, if anything she sees less of a possibility than before. But Minato is confident that there is a chance. So is Ris. Even McBurn... everyone has faith that things will work out.

She can't manage that, but she can have faith in them. She can have faith in a promise to watch a real sunrise together.]

All right. Just don't go leaving me behind....

[And if that means dying together, well, it's better than dying alone.]