WEE͠K ̸́4͝

[strangerpeople]

W҉͘E͜͠͝E̕K̡̛͡ ̡͟4̸

[The blight is all-consuming.

Within days dozens are confirmed infected, and you and your unexpected new scientist friend find yourselves trying to work on a cure. If not a cure, a stopgap of some kind. Anything to prevent this thing from destroying everything. It's hard work. It's not going very well. Really, it feels like with every step forward, you're taking ten steps back. Discouraging is an understatement, to say the least.

A week passes, and the death toll rises. It's really starting to look bleak. You constantly second-guess yourself, and even get into a fistfight with your new ally one night. It's getting to the point where you are working on fumes.

Then, unexpectedly, you get a phone call. It's been a long night, and the sun is beginning to rise above the mountains, when it happens.

You and the scientist are not the only ones looking for a cure. In fact, there are at least a dozen others-and they think they may be close to a breakthrough.

But-and you can't believe you're hearing this, after all of the failure you'd experienced throughout this blight-they need your help.]


---


[To say that the end of last week sucked would be an understatement. To say that no one knows what this week will bring is not even in question. Yet even as you wake, you feel a cloud lift from your mind, as one of the truths you've been living with since the beginning has suddenly changed.]




[But is it possible to abide by this new truth? The Hosts, and IT beyond, seem intent on making that impossible. And the rat...well. Obviously the rat's not an ally. Let's not kid ourselves.

There's only one way to find out if more deaths can truly be prevented-and that's to keep going, and hoping that the new floor that has opened up will offer something in the way of an opportunity.

In the meantime.


There are 11 strangers left in this place.]

Comments

[notthebreakman]

[Proto Man is stumbling out of the van as soon as it comes to a complete stop. Honestly, he looks a bit ready for death to take him all over again.]

"Seven people," I said. "Alright, we'll just get creative with the seating arrangements," I said.

[otherworldlyking]

[ He came along to see if there was some interesting commotion here. Looking from Emma then to Protoman. ]

...Can't say I expected this.

[notthebreakman]

Neither did we. We just wanted to find out where the Kyuubeys were wandering off to.

...By the way, does having to go through this again at least mean you get a different power?

[HE STILL REMEMBERS, MCBURN.]

[otherworldlyking]

You were hanging around those things?

[ Judging by the look on his face, the answer became probably real obvious to Proto real quick. ]

.......No.

[notthebreakman]

It's more like they've been hanging around us.

[Never mind that the reason any of them are here right now is because Proto willingly followed after one instead of eliminating it with extreme prejudice.

Also, he shouldn't be taking such petty satisfaction from McBurn's displeasure. He really shouldn't. And yet.]

[otherworldlyking]

Why's that?

[ Good on you, Proto.

Well, it's probably not often to get a chance like this, so hey why not. ]

[whitemoontiger]

[ Following him is Atsushi, offering a sympathetic look and shaking his head. ]

I'm sorry. I guess that got a bit much didn't it?

[notthebreakman]

A bit.

Though if this is the result... [He looks at all the reunions taking place and smiles a little.] I can't say it wasn't worth it.

[whitemoontiger]

I agree. A lot of people seem so happy and I think they needed this.

[ He gestured vaguely to all around them and what was going on. ]

Though it doesn't surprise me that Eliza came along just so she can go after Caleb.

[notthebreakman]

It looks like the people here needed something like this as well.

...Someone should tell Eliza that if she kills Caleb, she'll be stuck in the afterlife with him.

[Damn it, Proto's going to have to be the adult again, isn't he?]

[whitemoontiger]

Definitely. From what i've heard so far, this might just be that pick-me-up they needed.

[ A sigh escaped him and he shook his head. ]

I'd offer to but if she hits me... I'd rather not scare everyone here.

[notthebreakman]

...That might actually be a reason for you to go talk to her. Striking out at the person she herself killed would damage her argument from a moral standpoint.

[Proto, that's not...]

[whitemoontiger]

[ Atsushi blinked a couple times, about to reason against it but he honestly couldn't. ]

You have a point. I guess I really could go and try and talk to her and see what happens.

[poorlovefool]

[Eric comes out in his pajamas and sees this ... guy?? Who is talking like he was in charge of this whole mess. Yeah, he'll talk to him first, because it's a dream and Lala clearly needs to catch her breath, although he is happy to see her again.]

What the hell's going on here?

[notthebreakman]

[Oh, thank goodness. Someone Proto doesn't have any previous connection with. His emotions could use the break.]

Did you know there's a portal in the afterlife that leads here? And the Kyuubeys can use it like their own front gate?

[poorlovefool]

[boy is it ever a sad day when Eric counts as an emotional respite.]

Of course I didn't know that!

[I mean, not that he'd want to use it anyway, going to the afterlife sounds like a bad idea. But still, he'll dial it back, no need to be TOO sassy even if he's still pretty sure this is a dream with no consequences. ...Maybe it will still give him information, like a psychic dream! His ESPer potential could have finally randomly awakened!]

S-So you're saying that's where they've been coming in from?

[notthebreakman]

[If this was a dream, there'd be electric sheep running around by now. But sure, if telling yourself that makes it easier to accept, then go for it.]

It seems that way. I suggested that some of us take the van and follow after one of them to see where they were going. Things... escalated.

[poorlovefool]

Where did you even get a van? Lala said you were in a void...

[notthebreakman]

The void isn't very empty, surprisingly enough. The van was there, along with a crashed plane, a train's dining car, a house, and a department store, among others. Several of them seem to be related to previous versions of this "game," as a matter of fact.

[poorlovefool]

Wait... but that's really similar to what we have going on here! The main building is like a jigsaw puzzle of places that were in other games... Whoa. I really don't like that!

[Eric looks like he's started to freak out, in fact.]

It was too easy for you to come here! Kurama's still here even though he said he should have stopped existing after dying twice... Oh god, what if we're all dead too?

[unwittingking]

Proto?

[King's walking up to the robot, sill not sure if he's real or not. He'd like it to be, but...he's just not sure.]

[notthebreakman]

[King gets a weary smile. Sorry, it's the best Proto can muster after that... experience. Give him a few minutes and he'll hopefully recover a bit.]

Hey there, King. Were you able to see your family again, at least?

[unwittingking]

[He gives small, sad smile himself, before nodding.]

Yeah, I...it wasn't for long, but I got to see them again.

…sorry. I couldn't get to your family before I ended up here.

[He grabs at the scarf-Proto's scarf-that's still around his neck. The same way he wore it in Perdurance, mostly under Bailey's bandana, but the a good portion of the tail sticking out to show it's there.]

I wouldn't blame you if you wanted this back.

[notthebreakman]

At least there's... oh.

[Proto looks at the scarf with an unreadable expression before shaking his head.]

It's not your fault. I'm sure they didn't... never mind.

Go ahead and hold onto it for now. If things work out, you can give it to Doctor Light then. If not...

[...if they meet again, Proto can get the scarf back in the afterlife.]

[unwittingking]

Yeah...

[He wishes it could be different, but at this point? There's nothing he can do.

He nods, though, and let's the scarf go. Despite the lack of any strong wind, it billows a bit behind him. Even with a new owner, it has a flair for the dramatic.]

It'll get to Dr. Light. I promise. Even if it's not through me, it will.

[No one is going to change that.]