Endgame: Not With a Bang

[animusnpcs]

The whole Tower went a brilliant, blinding white. Then it went black, and there was nothing. Surely this is it--something's gone wrong, something's failed, it didn't work, everyone is dead, or maybe worse--

And then light filters back in--it lights only the various residents of the Tower. No matter where in the Tower they were before this happened, they are all together again now. It appears that they are in a void, but after a few moments, as if their eyes are adjusting to it, more things become visible: the machine that may be their salvation is here. Ruana, with a visible pulse of energy encircling her, is here, but appears colorless and frozen. Aria is here.

Zo is here. And he speaks. "I can't hold her forever. We have to act now. I want to save you all, so I'll do my best. Just tell me, okay?

What do you want me to do?"

Comments

[stitchedupbodyguard]

[Veronica's eyes flickered open, and her gaze immediately went to Ruana. She eyed the frozen woman nervously.]

What we want...? Why are you asking us?

[animusnpcs]

I don't know the solution. And, um... This whole time we've been deciding for you! Even me, I brought you here to save you--um, really it wasn't saving at all, but that's what I thought--but the point is no one ever asked any of you if you even wanted saving, or wanted anything! So I'm gonna ask you guys now instead of guessing.

[stitchedupbodyguard]

.....

[Huh. No one did ask them what they wanted... all this time...

It gets a sick chuckle out of Veronica.]

.... I would like to go home, but I think other people might want other things.

[animusnpcs]

I'll try to do as much as I can to make everybody happy for real this time.

[stitchedupbodyguard]

...Be careful to not strain yourself. We don't want you to die too.

[animusnpcs]

[Zo smiles in a bittersweet sort of way.] I'll go with Ruana, in the end.

[stitchedupbodyguard]

Wait, what?

[Veronica's expression dropped.] But, that shouldn't happen. You don't deserve that.

[animusnpcs]

I did help start all this. But really, I have to be here, and everyone who's still here when Ruana starts moving again is gonna die. It's okay.

[stitchedupbodyguard]

It's not.

[She looks off to the side, shaking her head.]

You don't deserve to die, Zo.