AND THE PEOPLE WHO GAIN THE WORLD

[strangerpeople]

AND LOSE THEIR SǪ͞UL̨̡͢


[The time goes down to zero. Vyce's fists clenched.]

. . .You fools.

[He raises a hand, and suddenly, Lala lets out a gasp as she begins to grab at her throat. Green lines begin to glow from within her body as she starts to writhe, before falling to the ground into convulsions.]

For all of your claims and bravado, you still voted to condemn her! You claim to care, you claim she is innocent, you claim to want to take her place, but in the end it never mattered!

THIS is why I cannot trust anyone with my mission! THIS is why YOU would fail in MY shoes! THIS IS WHY I ALONE MUST--



[Suddenly, everyone is thrown to the side as something violently jostles the whole house, Vyce included. Immediately, Lala collapses to the floor, and the glowing lines disappear.]

WHAT THE-

[It actually felt like the house was rammed just then.]

Comments

WHAT NEXT?

[adollnomore]

[In between the return of Inaba and revelations from the captain of the ship, Cardia can't help but try to move to the front of the group and wave her hands up.]

Excuse me! I know a lot is happening now and everyone honestly deserves to take a breath but...I wanted to let everyone know this: if you want to go back to your worlds, I can take you there on my train. We'll be able to help your friends and family get rid of the nanites as well!

But I know some of you are wondering what is happening with this part of the universe and the others as well. I don't think Linkara would mind if anyone offered to help him out if they wanted to.

Whenever you're ready to go, let me know.

[dereban]

[ raises hand ]

I have a question. If I were to go back. . . if I wanted to help, would I be able to go back and then return to assist? Or would this just be a one way trip?

[adollnomore]

Of course you can come back. The train isn't a one-way after all; wefts can be a little crazy but you'll be able to come back here.

[dereban]

Good.

I hate doing this, but I'll at least be able to celebrate my birthday properly and have myself checked out. Worst case scenario is that they can switch me into a new gigai since I look like this.

[ gestures at herself and how she does not physically look like Inaba, even if she sounds fine ]

[adollnomore]

O-oh, your birthday is coming up? Sorry that this had to happen around it.

[Wow, that's some luck.]

But I suppose this form is better than some I've seen...like this odd white big cat rat creature.

[whatsmytalentagain]

[... This is a hard choice...

You'll find Rantaro mulling things over. On one hand, he's still dead in his homeworld. On the other hand, just being returned to the Fayflower universe won't be enough... He doesn't want to be too much of a burden on the nice young lady here.

What to do...]

[adollnomore]

Are you...alright?

DRV3 Spoilers

[whatsmytalentagain]

[He glances up... Well. There's a nod, but he's writing something in that notebook of his.]

I need a moment to decide.

...

My friends from the last place I was stuck in just got out of their own murdergame, and I died in my own world.

[adollnomore]

[Cardia pauses for a moment and thinks.]

Hmm...maybe you can travel on the train with me while you wait? I certainly don't mind if you wish to do that.

[starswink]

I want to help Linkara, but I want to meet everyone too... what should I do? Can I just get on the train until you bring it back?

[adollnomore]

[Why not both?]

[starswink]

Then... all right! That's exactly what I'm gonna do.

I hope you have room for a lot of shades.

[because yeah, he wants to grab enough for his buddies in the simulation. It'll be lonely if he's the only one out of them who gets to see the universe.]

[adollnomore]

The more the merrier! Company is always welcome!

[They may need more blankets and pillows but there should be room.]

[touchsensors]

[Well, in that case...]

I want to go help, but I need to go back for a while first-lun. I need to get some things-lun.

Maybe some people-lun.

[thiscomicsucks]

The more the merrier, right?

We could definitely use all the help we can get for figuring out what's going on.

[touchsensors]

Lun. Like I told Vyce, I know people who will want to help-lun.

[carryabigstick]

[Estelle seems to hesitate for a moment. Right now, that's not an easy question to decide. There's already one problem laid out in front of her back home-- but it's not the kind of thing she can quick wrap up and come running back.

As badly as she wants to hurry up and find Joshua though... she can't just turn a blind eye to this. There has to be a reason she's here. It's not like they're not involved either-- they tried to involve him too. And she just hates the idea of leaving a problem in front of her alone, especially the kind that could hurt this many people.]

Ahhhhhh!! [She slaps her cheeks.] I hope you guys are saving room for me, because I'm gonna help!

[She looks at the harmonica she came here with fondly and-- a bit sadly.]

Sorry Joshua... It might take me even longer to find you than I thought... wait for me, okay? I'm gonna fix this and then I'm gonna go home and take everything I learned and shove it down Ouroboros' throats!!

[Okay, not that sadly. She's still Estelle.]

[nolongerasleep]

I would be willing to assist for as long as I'm able to as long as the immediate threat in my world can be dealt with. The nanites being placed in my sister may have woken it up though and I'd hesitate to put anyone in that sort of danger.

[adollnomore]

Oh, of course!

I'll do all I can to help you out as well!

[nolongerasleep]

My main concern is if Gardenia wakes up. It already calcified one planet and I'd not wish that to happen to any more people. It's quite a large creature too, about the size of a planet. So it's not really that easy to deal with.

[nightmareofdivinity]

[He pauses and then shakes his head.]

Whilst we art sure thou hath need of whomever canst help, we... must return to 'our' world. Our other half wilt be worried sick, and extended absence from him wouldst only make it worse, even if we didst return for a brief time to assist in curing this 'nanite' illness. We doth not belong apart from him.

And there still art much of our world to travel that we hath not yet seen. Though if any of thy number wish to visit, we art sure that the castle in Wyndia couldst be made available after some explanation. Our other half and ourselves art wandering the land, however, so there wouldst not be a guarantee we wouldst be there unless prior notice wert given.

[Even then... there's not exactly phones.]

[adollnomore]

[Give her a minute to parse through all that. She's from Steampunk London so olden talk is a bit hard for her. But she thinks she has it. Maybe.]

It's no worry, you were forced into this situation so I do not blame you for wanting to focus on other things first.

[If asked, she's sure they can provide a way for them to keep in contact.]

[stopfen]

[There's a curt nod and she stands tall. One first held in front of her heart, the other tucked at the small of her back. A salute.]

Thank you for helping us...

I'm sorry, but I can't return the favour. I have to go back.

[Even if it killed her.]

[thiscomicsucks]

Hey, it's understandable. It's a bit of a tall order to ask anyone.

But should you ever change your mind one day, or...if you ever need a really cool spaceship or cyperpunk train for some backup, we can give you something that will let you contact us.

[stopfen]

...I don't think it would be right to ask you for that. People die in wars, they're killed and there's no avoiding that. After all this, I can't ask you to kill.