Night Clubbing in Atom Nocturne (Worlds Beyond)

Night Clubbing in Atom Nocturne is the twenty-first and last episode of Worlds Beyond.
== Summary ==
=== Time to dress up ===
Inan takes her friends — sans Jade, who was dragged away to get new organs — shopping to a fancy boutique she used to patronize. It is at the top of a shopping mall building; there are flutes of champagne but no price tags. Personalized shopping goes as far as staff changing appearance so that clients see what they'd look like with the clothes the covet on.
This is where Inan went for her fashion: shimmery flowing things that reveal and hide at the same time — anything to be noticed.
An intimidated Oz is having a flute of orange when the self-styled artist of the body who owns the boutique sees their new muse, the model they have been looking for, in him. They personally outfit Oz, down to a pinky ring. The result: You are already perfect. Now you are more perfect.
This is like a dream to Oz.
Pine is entranced: he has never been to such a place of luxury, with so much fabric. Pine gets an elf thing. The outfit includes a necklace; a shirt in boring cream fabric, with flowy sleeves, an open back and a front such that Nipples don't show; you can always see the sternum; the slight-yellow trousers blend into the boots.
Dale, always wary of bugs, wraps himself in a piece of white tablecloth as if it were a robe. He accesorizes this simple outfit with his ever-present danglies. Pine uses jewelry from the boutique to pin the robe. Dale is suspicious because there might be a security device in that jewel.
Inan likes what she sees: You all look so lovely. 
The owner, whom Inan addresses as JaquelineThanks, Lauren, for the spelling., gushes over their wonderful muse again, which, Inan points, is high praise from them: last one was fifteen years ago.
Oz is proud and honored; he is also happily engaged and needs a planner for his weeding: Jaqueline — who sometimes goes by Jack — is hired.
Dale mentions them; Pine agrees that Dale helped himNftE: My notes are spotty here..
=== Jade's whereabouts ... and consequences ===
They still have time before the gala. A servant brings Inan a message: Jade is on an operating table; there is a delay, complications. Inan just tells the group Jade is okay, she doesn't show them the pictures with the blood.
Dale thinks aloud again:They might clone her; that's how they make babies.Rigel Darth will only meet them at the event: there is so much scandal he and Inan can afford.
Pine, realizing that Jade is gone for now, is intent on killing all the champions. Inan has to remind him they will still investigate first. If the September Project is controlling a champion in some way, this champion must be given an opportunity to quit before Pine can do what he wants. Inan insists she is the one who will tell Pine to kill, not Dale.
As the admiral, Oz also commits Pine as the protector of Inan for the night.
Inan requests that Dale get consent before infiltrating people's minds; Oz explains the difference between prying — which Pine calls drawing a spike into people's skulls, his mind spike — and letting people reveal things.
A servant lets them know that their ride — a hover-flying limo — is ready.
They fly through the traffic, where the richest are at the top. Inan's family is incredibly rich; it's not so great if you aren't rich.
In the twilight sky stars start to show, as well as the fractals from The Strange. Around them and below them everything is bright in the metropolis.
=== At the gala ===
The limo docks at a place that overlooks the Splendor Dome; it's a a very exclusive event sky bar. There, Inan and her friends are offered drinks and food, and can enjoy the view on three floors.
Rigel Darth comes up to Inan and graciously bows. He is impeccably dressed, in loose pants; a long-cut sleeveless robe, more ornate than last time, with a large collarBig collars are cool, in Lauren's words.; short gloves; constantly changing LED tattoos; pointy shoes and a single glowing earring. His hair is perfectly coiffed and he has perfect makeup on.
Inan holds the ensuing embrace to catch the room and make sure where the attention is. Introductions are madeNftE: here is another place where my notes are spotty..
Darth notices Jaqueline's ring and tells Oz he is lucky; then he turns his attention to Pine: Pine, you're impeccable. He proceeds to feels Pine's fabric ... and Pine's muscles. This doesn't escape Inan's notice, and she quips about checking the other sleeve.
Darth changes the subject:We should go in. We have an entrance to make.Inan agres:We do, do we not?Darth blushes a bit.
Pine approaches everybody, he touches Dale's robe: It is strongThis, in response to Lauren's It feels like a tablecloth..
=== An Entrée ===
Darth convinces the bouncer to let the group enter as his guests. They enter the interior and are truly welcome by the entire splendor of this gala. They intentionally waited until it was going to be busier, after one or two hours. Rigel and Inan are presented with all of their titles, which takes a significant amount of time.
Inan is known as the Daughter of Hera and Juno Nissi, Lord Chancellor of the Illusion Skills and Successful Initiator of all Scripted Work, as well as the Diplomat on CourtNftE: Not sure I got it all right..
Rigel is the Son of High Diplomat Kara Darth and Orens Darth, Leader of the Seventh Circle of Bells and Quadrant of Skara at Atom NocturneNftE: Same caveat as above..
There is a hush around, as the people close enough to hear the formalities listen and turn to look at Inan and her friend. They see Inan take Rigel's arm and place her hand on his.
Darth leads Inan into the room, which draws as much attention. He wave to multiple people: people Inan attended classes with or related to other important diplomats as well as well-known celebrities of some kind: musicians, performers, former champions ...
As the attention is focused on Inan and Rigel, the rest of their group are mostly clearly ignored.
They have now entered the gala; there is raucous celebration and quiet celebration occurring; there is food and drinks available; there are lots of people. Like in Inan's penthouse, servants are invisible until you need one.
=== Dale's new outfit ===
Dale, whom Pine thinks could pretend to be a table, starts looking for a mark to knock out in a dark corner in order to steal their clothes: he wants to convince that he is a server but the piece of fabricHere, Lauren remarks that this is the second time Dale has been wearing basically just a piece of fabric. he has been wearing won't do.
Rather than resorting to violence, Dale tries to convince a server. This is a challenging task, because he was seen coming in through a guest entrance with a toga on.
Dale explains a suspicious server holding a tray how he couldn't find the back door; he is very sorry; he drank too much, took too many pill; this is his last chance, he told Arizona he'd make up for this, ... and so on.
Dale adds: I know you're very busy; this is very high profile; just hurry it along. His roll (13, with Deception and 2 levels of effort) is a success.
The server asks Dale to meet her at the door after she's cleared her tray. Then she hurries Dale into the back, through a kitchen area and into a locker room, where she starts rifling through some stuff and throws a few things at Dale. She urges him to grab his tray and go see Kara in the kitchen to get started.
After Dale thanks her, the server adds: Just don't get me in trouble. Also: why were you wearing a sheet?
Dale explains he had too many of these Galaxy drinks.
The server warns him not to have any of the Red Snapper because they topped it up and it's extra strong tonight. They both agree Dale isn't supposed to drink anyway.
This is when the server realizes she can't place the Arizona Dale mentioned earlier: she must work in a different shift; and she herself is kinda new here. They go their separate ways, he thanking her; she wishing him good luck.
Dale is now attired like a proper server: mostly in black, with color-changing patterns that are specially cued to whatever the lights in the arena are; the servers' outfit, designed to blend the servers in a little bit more, comprises a sleeveless long vest with long tails in the back that bares the midriff; really short shorts — they're booty shorts and they are flattering: everyone looks good in them —; and a little jaunty hatNftE: Sarh concludes the hilarious scene with Welcome to Atom Nocturne. Whoop..
=== Looking for September ===
Dale goes to retrieve food then uses his cover to look for the September Project, as a pin, a tattoo, anything. He may remember Inan saying in front of him once that all of Atom Nocturne's inhabitants are psychicsHere, Lauren finds it really cool that Inan didn't tell the others much about people's psychic abilities. , that a lot of people play mind games with everyone else in a literal sense and would notice their minds being read. Dale's own research led him to believe he's better at reading minds than everybody else, anyway. He also believes that he can read minds by adjusting his little hat.
Oz, before he goes scouting around, asks Pine to give Inan one component of a cypher — a communication deviceNftE: Not sure what it is. I haven't really kept track of all the cyphers. — for her to activate, as soon as he sees her. Pine puts the device in his vest pocketTo which Lauren concurs: Everything here has pockets.. Before Oz leaves to attend some business he agrees with Pine on a code word for danger: Pumpernickel!
Oz then goes into the fray, has conversations, does schmoozing, while looking for someone wearing the September Project sign proudly and trying to get a feel for the room, checking entrances and exits ... He sees the main entrance with the bouncer, balconies, and a back entrance. There are also a lot of sequestered areas and VIP-only sections. There is no one looking earnestly down from a balcony. Oz activates his Blend In twist on the way to the VIP sections: people don't pay attention to him — and therefore don't interact with him—; they just nod to him as someone who's supposed to be here and let him in.
Pine is going back to his old days of working as a protector: he stays a few feet away from Inan; he has the social graces of a knight that allow him to know how to give compliments, to know if people are trying to talk to Inan and distract them away. he is a very good assistant. He waits until Darth is no longer in Inan's vicinity to give het the cypher, not out of distrust but to ensure Inan is readyHere there was a short play on words: Claudia: the night is young; Pine is about 22; Nat: the Night is young; Lauren: You're off the show..
Inan encourages Rigel, who keeps glancing back to Pine, to ask Pine, who is her protector, about his nameNftE: before this, we learned about the characters' current ages. I put that information in their dedicated pages.. To Rigel, who thinks Pine should know Inan doesn't need a protector, Inan explains that:Sometimes it's good to appear like a delicate flower ... er, for other reasons.
=== The champions ===
Before Rigel can step aside and let Inan and her friends learn as much as they can, he still has to introduce her to the three champions: 
Soma Kitsune, Asian, petite as she is, exudes power: she could probably deck you if she wanted to. She has her hair in a low bun and is relatively formally attired: not quite as showy as Inan, but in that vein of dress; more flowy and fairly elegant. She seems to be talking around; a lot of people come and talk to her. Though she is sponsored by the Nissi family, Inan is not familiar with her. 
Arion Telsin, Polynesian, is larger and taller than Soma. Their build is broader, stockier, but they are also formally attired in a kind of cyberpunk suit: extra buckles, shiny and chrome. There is a brightness to them. They seem to be mostly with other people and largely not particularly talkative; they do a lot of nodding and don't seem to be the center of the conversation. They are sponsored by Katra family. 
Keris Olistrad is a white man with a medium build. He looks a little bit like Pine, but a broader and with slick hair. He is the most high-fashion of the champions, the most showy and snob. Pine thinks he is the most gorgeous man in the universe.
In way of introduction, Rigel just points these people to Inan. He also reveals that all of them have connections outside of Atom Nocturne, which could potentially link them with a different organization. They are all powerful, and not just in a telepathic way; their abilities make them well known in the arena.
Before he leaves, Rigel offers to to separate Inan from her guardian, You know, like you used to.
Inan agrees, but Only as long as my guardian doesn't go off on his own without returning back to me.Rigel then turns to Pine, who is currently asserting with a candle that fire works the same here. His hands covered in was, he snaps the fire. Rigel heard that Pine has more than one name. Pine clarifies he actually has but one name; In the Pines when the Sky was Night I Took a Breath is the chosen name that he selected when he became a guard to the Sage ... which reminds him that I suppose I will have to pick another name soon. Pine and Quake were chosen to be knights at the same time; they chose names that would align and yet represent who they were separately. 
Rigel, who has picked up a drink and hands one — Try this one, it's one of my favorites — to Pine, is intrigued by the talk of name change. 
Pine needs more prodding from Darth to drink when on duty: It will allow you to blend in, it's a low proof [...] It won't intoxicate you. The layered drink is fuzzy at the top, with heavy syrup at the bottom, liqueur and more ... 
Pine answers Darth's question: he was relinquished about two weeks agoHere Lauren corrected Claudia: It's like a week ago.. You have to move on, he adds as Darth reckons he's taking this very well, I missed him for a long time and I do not want to be missing someone that is not deserving it.Darth offers a toast: To living your own truth!
 Meanwhile, Inan keeps an eye on them: she doesn't trust Rigel entirely, but she can tell he's interested and won't stand in the middle of that. She is going to talk to Soma Kitsune first. 
Pine, who's noticed You guys seem very close, thanks Darth for reaching out to Inan. Darth and Inan have indeed known each other for a long time; they were friends and then rivals; now he hopes they'll be friends again. Pine also noticed Darth seems like one of the few people who can guard their words against Inan. Darth reckons She's very talented, but we were trained by similar people. Pine goes on: You must be very good at words then.Darth admits I have my moments but sometimes I just like to listen ...because I think if you give people space to talk they often tell you things, reveal truths.Pine has noticed that Inan does similar things. She likes to listen, she makes friends, she is truly a companion. I do not know what I'd do without her.Pine walks a little bit closer. Darth is taller, but Pine has heels.NftE: This is about the moment when @MonteCookGames posted in chat: Bruce Cordell, the designer of the Strange, is watching and enjoying thoroughly tonight too! Ain't it cool? @MonteCookGames added, a few minutes later: [...] we all love this team and community SO MUCH [...] Darth puts his drink on a tray that, naturally, is here. Darth listens to the music as it changes slightly then asks: I know you're working but ... would you dance?Pine glances at Inan as he tentatively agrees:If it means we will blend, then ... and you can tell me about this StradNftE: Olistrad, one of the champions, see above. who I would like to speed in combat, then ...Darth agrees to tell Pine all about Karis Olistrad and pulls him on to the dance floor; he gets as close as Pine will let him; he's a flirty boy. They look good on the dance floor and probably draw a lot of attention. Pine is very good at following DarthNftE: Meanwhile saucy notes are being passed in the studio: Everyone's being a flirty boy. Lauren "scolds" Nathan: You're engaged, Oz. To which he replies: Happily. Chat will never know exactly what Lauren was referring to when she said: You are a hardcore shipper over there..
Cetus is a psychic dog here: his appearance changes with Inan's mood: if she's happy he's like poodle; if she's upset he's like mastiffLauren's reaction: Yes, he does, accurate.. Cetus is a poodle right now. 
Dale finds his disguise doesn't serve him well for perception: there is constantly someone putting drays on your trinksOops, a rare slipup from Lauren. which means he ends going back and forth between the room and the kitchen. Bottom line is he doesn't see any obvious September Project symbols. Maybe he'd have more luck eavesdropping? 
Oz also makes a poor perception rollA 3. Which leads to a discussion of the dice cage, the roll to prison pipeline and not smelling dice lest it become a permanent thing ... Lauren also has a teacher flashback. and doesn't see anything obvious either, No 'Hello I am with the September Project, J'accuse...!NftE: I couldn't resist memorializing this historically significant quote from a famous Frenchman.'. There is a lot of August Club and October CommuneNftE: and here is another possible reference to Fench history: La Commune de Paris. going on but no September Project. 
Meanwhile, Pine and Rigel keep dancing and It's beautiful. Pine is very good at it. 
Inan has a conversation with each of the champions in an effort to identify their off-world connections and maybe trace them back to September Project. 
=== How Inan rollsNftE: Spoiler: poorly. ===
Inan starts with her family champion, Soma Kitsune, and puts enough effort into it to get an auto-success: Kitsune opens up a little bit; she is more bubbly, more effervescent and pretty chatty. She knows Inan's reputation and how she disappeared from Atom Nocturne. She herself spent time time out of Atom Nocturne while working for Twilight Tech, a company that does Import / Export from other recursions. She went to Earth, Ardeyn and a few other recursions. Soma doesn't mention any organizations she'd work with on Earth but she definitely could have encountered the September Project. Inan enquires about whether Kitsune has kept building connections on other worlds after leaving Twilight Tech. Her poor Insight rollA 1. One of many ones and twos Sarah rolled that night ... means she only gets this: being a champion has taken all of Kitsune's time recently. 
Arion Telsin is quieter. They are with a group of their own, mostly listening. This introvert steps away at some point, intentionally goes farther away from the group to get something and then walks back: it's a social obligation for them to be there. Inan catches up with Telsin when they are alone; she doesn't state who she is. Instead, she mentions she's noticed Telsin is a strong silent type, leads into the power of being quiet and the idea of keeping things quiet, brings up her own connections with people on Earth and on Ardeyn, but doesn't specifically mention either the September project or The Estate. The ensuing Deception roll, with all of Inan's relevant skills, is another 1, the re-roll is a 2NftE: See? And thus went another die into the jail.: They just look at you and then walk away. Inan had no difficulty approaching the champions in their VIP area: she can go wherever she wants here. She finds out that Oz, who picked up on the fact that Inan might be struggling a little bit, is standing behind her at the same buffet. Oz finds out Pine has not given Inan the cypher. Pine and Rigel are still dancing; Inan thinks they're not gonna be done for a while. Regarding the champions, she has little to report, which prompts Oz to mention more desperate measures: let the September Project agents out themselves or subtly challenge them. 
Dale is now in the VIP section: as a server he can go pretty much anywhere too. He uses his voice in your heada.k.a. telepathy. to warn his associates about staying sober if they have some of the Red Snapper. Inan and Oz can't see him until he realizes They just grabbed a drink off my tray; then they look around and see him dressed in the open, like, midriff-baring top, booty shorts... He also has beautiful flowing hairJason Momoa was mentioned at this point.. Dale walks away, pretending he doesn't see Inan and Oz, still listening to other conversations. He still takes time to warn Pine about the Red Snapper as well. Pine is confused: I'm sorry; takes an extra spin, looking for Dale; keeps holding on Darth. 
Dale just keeps walking around with his drinksWhich, Lauren's yes/no die decide, don't include Red Snappers., goes back to the kitchen to get a tray of Red Snappers and returns to the VIP area to start serving them. 
=== Dance floor success, fighting ring challenge ===
Rigel Darth spins Pine one last time; the song ends; He pulls you in, quite close: Thank you ... for that.Pine thinks he danced quite well because I have been trained; as for Rigel: You're a giving partner. Darth, who thinks Pine is fairly talented, steps back to let Pine go back to work. Pine asks if they have done a good enough job distraction to help Inan ... The reaction of the crowd that covers Pine's words suggests to Rigel that I think we did. 
Pine asks to be led to Keris Olistrad. Darth obliges and says, looking at Pine: Mr. Olistrad, it is a pleasure to introduce you to Pine Night; he is a fine and noble warrior.Then he adds, looking at Olistrad now: Perhaps even a challenge for you.Olistrad is not convinced. Pine states his case: I was a knight ... I ... Large weapons are my specialty. I am not as strong as Quake but I am faster.Pine gives more details after Olistrad leans in and asks What kinds of weapons?: He prefers the glaive because it is quite graceful in the way it cuts; the heft of the blade is a challenge, but once you gather that you can you use it to kick opponents who think much so a heavy sword would weigh you downNftE: This is my best effort at transcribing Pine's words but the sentence looks weird.. 
Olistrad, who tends to go for different weapons, would be thrilled to watch. Pine offers to challenge him in the glowing dome where they can fight. They will actually have to make do with the dance floor tonight, if Pine is really trying to fight Olistrad here and now. 
Darth, glass in hand, teases Olistrad: Well, if you don't think you can take him ... 
Olistrad is a champion, not just a strong warrior as Pine calls him; he will be the winner tomorrow. He is intrigued when Pine says he is aligned with the Nissi household; he kind of looks at Rigel Darth, who just keeps sipping on his drink. 
Pine keeps pushing, trying to instigateNftE: I think the mention of instigating started another train of thought about Pine and Darth, leading to Pine's next action. Olistrad: I do enjoy games; if you have some sort of competition we could do right now, let us ... let us do this.Pine is not dumb; he knows what flirting is; he does a hand movement and respectfully puts a hand on the small of Rigel's back: he may become the champion of a different house. Darth sees where he is going: The Darths? The Darth family is always after whoever is best, and I will say you are an impressive ... mover.Pine agrees: I do move swiftly, and I always take what I would like.His performance convinces Olistrad, who stands in a way that suggests living takes so much effort, right? Living is a lot of work. He looks at Pine; he looks at Rigel; there is like a moment ... Darth knows what's going on, claps his hands; the whole space goes silent, the music stops, the people stop moving; the clapping is artificially echoed in this place. Keris looks at Pine, again, and points at the dance floor:The Splendor Dome is unavailable, but I'm sure this ... arena will suffice.The dance floor rings; there is now a circle of light and it pops up and there is literally an arena now, for the two champions to fight.
Pine is delighted: The Circle of Excellence!
As his opponent walks into the circle, a voice announces: A contestant has entered.
Pine wants to excuse himself and sprint over, so as to alert his House of this change. Rigel stops him just for a moment, pauses for a moment and, if Pine doesn't stop him — he doesn't — he's 100% gonna kiss Pine, and then he pulls away. For luck, he explains, and nudges Pine into the arena.
Pine trips over the ring: Contestant Two has entered ... Let the game begin.
Now Rigel 100% helps Pine take his shirt off: he snaps his fingers and uses his mind power to take Pine's clothes off. Pine is more chiseled, has sideburns.
Olistrad still has the Life is hard countenance; living takes more energy than he wants to put into it. He cracks his neck; even standing is work. He lays out the rules to Pine: first blood, KO or submission. To Pine, it sounds feasible; even more so because Keris lets him fight with whatever he brought into the circle. But, If you leave the circle, you forfeit. Pine is ready.
The crowd gathers around; bets are being placed; there is cheering and murmurs.
Dale starts looking for somebody not interested in the fight, for anybody interested in Inan instead. Soma Kitsune is not here; Arion Telsin follows the group they were with to a balcony for a better view.
Everyone in here seems interested in the fight. Some groups are blasé about the fighting but no one stands out. Dale keeps trying to make their minds a little looser.
Inan pops the pill — the cypher — she's just been given: she and Oz are now psychically linked. Inan is worried about Pine, but her next thought is she's gonna take advantage of the situation; she'll go look for any clues while Oz takes care of Pine. Inan meep-meepsNftE: Thanks for this throwback to Leviathan. back that it Sounds good. They separate and Oz starts using his Encourage twist on Pine to improve his defense: Hey Pine, you can do it!
=== Begin when ready! ===
The circle flashes red; the voice says: Begin when ready. The circle is not big; the distance between the fighters can't exceed short range.
Pine thanks his Admiral for the help and tries to Bash and daze Olistrad: he sweeps his leg so fast that Olistrad wasn't ready yet. Olistrad lands, stunned, while Pine's beautiful rippling pectorals are shining in the light. Pine has only dealt one damage — just bruising —, not counting the damage to Olistrad's pride.
Pine could win by grabbing his opponent and throwing him out of the circle; he chooses to head-butt him insteadHe also considered biting him, because his teeth are the sharpest thing he has, and that's what you do: you use the weapons you have.
. His auto-success deals two points of damage but doesn't roll high enough — 10 vs. 15 — on a separate roll, to draw blood.
Olistrad doesn't scream, just sighs. Then he closes his hand; he has a psychic weapon; he sweeps up into Pine: it feels like Pine has just been stabbed with a sword. After his failed swing — with Oz's encouragement and three levels of effort, Pine's speed defense is an auto-success — Olistrad steps back out of the way and lulls a little bit. Pine's speed has piqued his curiosity: Where are you from?
Pine is from TrogNftE: I don't know how to spell this word as of yet., the castle within the woods; you have to be fast there.
Among the many people watching, Oz keeps encouraging his friend: Watch out, you can't see his weapon, be on guard!Inan uses her power to change her appearance and look liker her mothers' right-hand personNftE: Sarah didn't remember their name. I may find it when I look at my notes for ., who is also someone important, but not as noticeable as Inan or her mothers. Then she steps back: now is not the time for her to talk to Olistrad — he's a little occupied right now. She is intent on having a look at the stuff the champions have left with coat check.
Dale focuses on the group on the balcony; he does a shout-out whisper into them: there is no reaction; as far as Dale is concerned, they are clean.
Pine keeps going for head-butts. Olistrad, who's more used to mind-swordsHere, Lauren notes: First blood makes a lot of sense when your weapons are sharp mind-blades., is a little confused.
Pine's next face punch is another success: he clocks Olistrad on the nose for another two points of damage. Olistrad staggers back slightly. His resilient nose hasn't started bleeding yet.
Olistrad braces, smiles at Pine, and just flicks his hand: two slices go toward Pine, who dodges with another auto-success. Pine bends, but doesn't matrix. Olistrad now uses sheer force of will to stop his nose from bleeding; he telekinetically forces his blood to stay in his body. The more damge Pine deals, the harder it is to hold that in.
Inan is now at the coat check. With an auto-sucess, she deceives the attendant into letting her have a look at the three champions' bags for matter of highest importance. It will take her several rounds to go through Telsin, Olistrad and KitsuneSarah chose to have Inan end with the one she's supposed to start with.'s bags.
Dale notices Kitsune — a petite person Inan may have spoken to — and three other people very clearly clustered together; he makes his way over to that group.
Oz keeps encouraging Pine to improve his speed defense:Knock him off the ring!Pine kicks Olistrad in the sternum; he won't be able to keep putting so much effort into it. Thanks to a re-roll that results in an 18 without effort, Pine deals another four points of damage. The easier roll for blood is a success (12 vs. 10): Olistrad finally bleeds and looks at Pine, clearly impressed.
The usual voice proclaims: Trial ended. The victor is In the Pines When the Sky was Night I Took a Breath.
Olistrad holds out the hand not holding his wound: Well done!
Pine grabs it, pulls him in: You did great! He really appreciates that he had this great opportunity; where he comes from, some people are very skilled but they die — which, Olistrad points out, doesn't happen very often in the Splendor Dome. Olistrad has noticed how Pine elicited interest from the Darth family.
Pine joins Rigel at the edge of the ring. Rigel doesn’t mind that Pine is too sweaty to put his shirt back on and remains topless for now.
Many people come up to Pine and try to sponsor him. Kitsune sees all of this, takes the measure of Pine, and returns to her group. Dale finds her behavior suspect and points her to Oz after mind-whispering him to look in the corner where she stands. Kitsune's group see Dale just next to them before he sneaks back and turns invisible using his cypher shirt. Dale stays near this group.
=== Suspicion ===
Inan is now getting to Kitsune's stuff; she finds several recent travel notes referencing travel to Earth and meep-meeps that information Oz, alongside the suspicion it’s made arise in her because it shows Soma lied to her earlier. Inan is now sure that she is connected to the September Project and that the other two champions, in contrast, are clean. Meanwhile, Oz is heading towards the corner where Dale — whom he can't see — and Kitsune — the tiny one — are. Inan starts walking over there too when she realizes it is Kitsune's location.
Dale keeps standing with the three people in Kitsune's group and sees Kitsune actually walking up to them.
Rigel Darth puts a hand on Pine's back: he's very cozy with him. Pine uses his curative cypher — a little sticker that just dissolves and absorbs into his skin — to get his might back very quick, tonight. He looks around for everybody, doesn’t see Inan. Rigel helps him get out of the crowd by drawing attention to himself. Darth sends Pine on his way with this compliment: You were phenomenal; I've rarely seen as alluring a performance as that.Darth starts speaking to the crowd on Pine's behalf, as Pine puts on his shirt and goes looking for his friends.
Oz blends in on his way towards Kitsune's group; he also activates his Understanding on the diminutive champion. Oz asks her if fights in the middle of the dance floor, that make for one hell of a party, usually happen — they do.
Oz, though not judgmental, expresses his surprise that such an advanced society, for all its pleasantries, still seems to have a liking for bloodshed. She starts to argue:Well, is it better to do it in controlled and formal conditions, or ...Oz abruptly changes the subject to Earth, the place he's from; Kitsune is open about knowing Earth.
He keeps pushing until she inquires, defensively: Why do you ask? Then he switches back to the bouts. Kitsune admits she gets involved in one every so often. Oz, unlike others, won’t make the mistake of underestimating her; he can see that she's quite a fighter.
Oz changes the subject again — to planetvores now; he heard about these terrible creatures onetime he was off world.
Kitsune is familiar with these creatures of the Strange.
Oz pushes even further, mentions some super kooky cult that actually try to worship them ...
Oz keeps snapping his fingers as if the name escaped him ... August?
Kitsune comes to his help: The Estate.Oz sensesWith a successful roll. she is more familiar than she is making out to, but wasn't joking about the Estate. He meep-meeps a transcript of his conversation over to Inan.
As Oz stays on The Estate, Kitsune keeps looking over at her group, which she hasn't been able to get back to yet. Meanwhile, these hooded figures who are just standing there, watching in silence, are ringing all of Dale's conspiracy bells; they are 100% shadowy figures.
Dale failsAll his bonuses and effort weren't enough to offset a disappointing 4. to mind-read the figure in the middle of the group; his mind sliding off theirs like Teflon — to the point that they don't even notice the attempt — is confirmation enough of his suspicions — they are them —; time for him to panic and whisperPumpernickel!Inan contacts Oz, whose reaction leaves Kitsune wondering if he had some of the Red Snapper — he didn't. His sudden silence worries Inan, who decides to come up.
Oz keeps pressing Kitsune over The Estate, and their goal. Still, he cuts her reply short, apologizing for keeping her away from her friends. They part in agreeable terms, shaking hands; Oz immediately tries to head over to the still invisible Dale by following Kitsune who is walking up to them. Pine gets to Oz right away; Inan, still in disguise, weaves her way through people toward them.
Oz tells Pine how he’s trying to find Dale, following the direction his voice seemed to come from. Pine hasn't seen Dale either, only heard his loud mind voice; he's afraid for him. Then Oz meep-meeps Inan, who is relieved by this sign that he's still alive.
Oz explains why he had to go silent, and lays out Kitsune's conviction that The Estate is the cult trying to reach out to the planetvores ... He has more news he can't share just now.
=== Trailing the champion ===
Dale is still standing near the group Kitsune has now joined; he can overhear the quiet conversation going on between them. As they turn and walk past Oz and Pine, Dale tries to mind-read any location the centermost — and therefore the most important — person in this group may have in mind. He fails againThis time, he rolls a 5 and his 3 levels of total bonus aren't enough either. This is enough to bring up the dice jail, and a prison break, and more.. He just keeps on following them then — still invisible — as they make their way out; he also meep-meeps an update to his companions.
Pine still needs to put on his shoes before he can head out with Oz. Inan follows suit when she sees Kitsune's group leaving through the main doors. She also calls her mother's assistant to have him track the whereabouts of the family's champion. The reply to her message is a question: You're back? The assistant reminds Inan that her mothers want to see her; by the time they tried to say hello, Inan had already gone shopping — It was a good shopping trip, by the way —; Inan has to justify why she's after the champion — trying to save other worlds — to get the bloop! that announces the tracker has arrived; another bloop! signals an appointment with her mothers at 7 AM.
Pine slowly realizes why everyone is quiet today: they are just using the mind powers they have here.
Inan shares the news about the tracker. Oz announces that, By the end of this day, Atom Nocturne's sky City is gonna be down to the ground level, which thrills Inan at first: Yeah! but then she realizes the implications: Wait, what? Inan has to face how privileged she is.
Kitsune and her group get into a vehicle. Dale turns around and sees his companions behind him. He considers gripping the bottom of this flying car and going on a very dangerous ride.
Inan reminds him the group still can't see him. His ten minutes of invisibility are coming to an end soon, though.
Dale can't hear anything, because I'm on the case, focusing on catching the bottom of the car.
Inan insists: But we're right behind you, right?
Inan is indeed in short range. She could attack, but won't do it. The others are farther, still in long range.
Dale won't attack either:I was told lots of times not to attack, to get information first.Lauren's reaction: That is true!Inan agrees that We're on a mission.
The smart car opened its doors automatically for Kitsune and her group; once they're in, it psychically knows where they want to go.
Dale is still considering his options ... I don't really have a lot of strength, this is true ... Worst case I fall ... And then he remembersWith help from Lauren. NftE: Lauren also said: If you wanna try this, you can try this; still, she made sure Banzai understood the stakes before letting her commit Dale to a bad idea. they are taking off from the top of a skyscraper, not ground level: if he falls, he dies. He renounces and tries mind reading one more time instead. He targets the one whose robe is a different color ... and failsBanzai rolled 3 times for this, and failed each time. Bottom line: The box is cursed.. All he can do now is wait for the others.
A very neatly dressed gentleman — Inan still is disguise — approaches Dale; he is wearing white slacks, a very put-together, nondescript jacket: he is the sort of person who obviously dresses in the exact same very way every day. His hair is perfectly slicked back so as not to get in the way. Inan wastes no time explaining her appearance and tells the group how the tracker will allow them to follow the car. She adds, on a different note, also apparently my mothers want to meet tomorrow morning.
Pine, who hasn't inferred the man's true identity, is glad her mothers appreciate him; he is surprised when Inan, in turn, asks him if he won.
Dale is there, no longer invisible. He is sorry his quarry got away thanks to their powerful mind protectionNftE: a.k.a. awful rolls.; Oz thinks You did a great job.Pine thanks the nice gentleman for ringing the car they need to start the pursuit. He asks him to send his appreciation for Rigel, because they'll all have to leave after they find their friend. Oz points to Inan: this is Inan. Inan is sorry about that: I forgot; it can get distracting. 
Their car arrives. Inan calls Rigel. He says hello, she replies: No, no, not me; somebody else wants to say bye.Pine is as confused as ever by the wizard in the box. They all tumble in the car as Darth, on speakerphone, advises: Have fun, stay safe, don't die.Pine and Rigel exchange compliments: To Pine's Lovely dancing, Rigel answers You were charming, and proceeds to offer: Perhaps, er, when this is all done, we can meet for breakfast in the morning. That sounds great to Pine ... unless he is meeting Inan's mothers at 7 too?
As Oz complains about Darth being given such sensitive information, she suggests that he refrain from speaking right now and hurries the phone call: Pine is not meeting her parent unless he really wants to; therefore he can meet Rigel, should he want to; they'll have this conversation at another time; she says bye dear, and sends a kiss; he replies bye, dear and kisses back.
Dale feels like he missed something.
Oz is now worried that maybe the car itself is listening? After Inan reassures him that No, not any more, he repeats Kitsune's assertion that The Estate are the ones who are trying the planetvores to eat everything. Inan is not surprised that Soma is going to believe that unless she's a high-level cult leader intentionally trying to deceive others. Bottom line is they don't know whether or not the September Project are holding anything over her head yet.
Oz reckons that when she needed to get away, she got away; when she got back with them, they seemed pissed she'd talked to him. Kitsune looked very distressed to him, or distracted. Pine lays it out in his own terms: A knight does follow their lord's orders, so if ... we learned that she is reined in, correct?
According to Oz, she's not just reined in; she thinks that we're the bad guys.
Pine suggests they take her and relearn her brain, which Oz rephrases: Convince her, through evidence. Such as Kitsune's group probably trying to kill them when they show up: That would be a great indicator.
Dale doubts it will work: to Kitsune, The Estate is a secret organization with high-level officials and We seem like them; that's why Dale knows how her mind works and that she doesn't have to have anything pulled in over her head; she just thinks she is protecting ...
Inan finishes the sentence: Kitsune's group are protecting her too. But, didn't she seem concerned, agitated, as if she didn't want to be there?
Dale thinks she didn't want to be talking to Oz — one of the cultists.
The car brakes: they have arrived.
Oz resumes his thoughts: in Kitsune's place, he wouldn't drop any information on people coming after her and calling her the bad guy.
Dale disagrees: cultists are very charismatic people, and very open about what they do. Oz insists it's the opposite. Dale justifies his opinion: real cults are indeed very closed about what they do; in the cults that Hollywood knows, that Kitsune knows if she is from Earth, everybody is very out there, everybody is a charismatic person who tries to lure you in.NftE: here I noted: Lauren likes it.
Inan agrees with Dale about the other side of the cult, where they present a facade, a beautiful thing that people can believe in, unite behind, in an effort to acquire more [...]NftE: I'd quite the whole sentence if I could. This was great dialogue. and followers.
Dale has a few organizations in mind he sees as semi-cults : Microsoft, Amazon.
Oz doesn't grasp why a cult would project what it is entirely based around onto another organization, and also wonders: Do we tip the car?
No, Inan reminds him, because it's her family's car.
Meanwhile, Dale finishes his explanation: the goal is to trick other fools into thinking "For all we know, maybe The Estate is bad".
They get out of the vehicle.
They are in the lower levels of the city's tall skyscrapers; it is a different plaza — an office complex. Inan finds it interesting that Soma hasn't returned to her house. She sees the car on the tracker. She doesn't mind that they may already have blown their cover, they can just walk upstairs and have a frank conversation.
Pine is confident he can beat another champion. Inan didn't know he had won his fight until now; she gets the details; Oz confirms it was really impressive. Pine's regeneration ability has caused his skin to slowly heal. All get to do their action and 10-minute recovery rolls.
Dale reiterates that he is the good person to talk to Kitsune, because he knows how this mind works. He also convinces the others it's worth a shot confronting Kitsune in front of her group, and letting them show their true colors. Pine gets they are going to go up there and duel the group for Kitsune's honor. Dale clarifies it's up to her to decide.
Inan agrees it's best to start with a conversation, but is adamant about taking away the September Project's ability to send more information back — by force, if necessary. Pine picks up his small pole arm that becomes the glaive. He understands they'll attempt talking first.
=== The Truth ===
Dale plans to throw the book at Kitsune — the evidence. Here, it means throwing a data pad with The Truth — not just the words "The Truth"NftE: Nice pun, Lauren., but something Dale has put together from a bunch of documents with all the connections, and how many people the Project has killed. Thanks to a great Computer Science roll — 11, with 2 levels of effort — Dale's Truth bomb is really good. Dale feels the need to justify that when The Estate gave him permission to know about September, it amounted to consent to hack their systemsHere Lauren just says an unconvinced Sure. Sarah/Inan agrees with Dale's reasoning completely.: They told me it was okay. 
They go upstairs and get to the front of the office building. It's later in the evening, there is a security guard. They somehow get to the elevator after convincing or murdering said guardNftE: it was getting late; there was no time for a real encounter.. They go up a few floors, and start going down a long hallway. They end up at a locked door behind which they believe Kitsune and her group are.
Dale starts hacking the door; Oz just knocks on it. Dale freaks out and succeedsWith a 7. The difficulty was dropped from demanding to 6.. All four people in the open plan office suite turn on their seats and look at them. They were talking, notes scattered on the table. Oz enters and introduces himself: Oswald, sorry. He is recognized from earlier. Kitsune finds it hard to believe he just wanted to ask if she would meet up sometime.
One of the figures stands up, asks them to leave. Inan then walks in: Oh, that's not happening right now. Hi!
The rest of the group stand upNftE: it looks from the discussion that took place then like this group killed all the September Project operatives they met; like that time they were very thorough and chased them all down the stairs. No witnesses! .
Oz, who raised his hand at the beginning of this interaction, just wants to clear something up before they continue perpetuating the back and forth thing between The Estate and the September Project: it's at least fair all parties present are completely aware of both parties' intentions, because I just want an even playing field. Inan adds her aim is to make sure no more of our agents die.
The other three get in front of Kitsune, between her and Oz's group. They're not interested in talking, ask that they please leave. Oz just asks that they listen. The reply is more insistent: Leave! Inan starts walking around, in a threatening manner. Oz goes the other side, so that they circle around the group.
It's time for Dale to throw The Truth, or rather to slide it sneakilySarah's comment: Sneaky .. Yup, I appreciate you, Banzai. toward Kitsune: Let's do it!
Dale makes a successful Speed roll for the sneakyWith his sneak bonus and two levels of effort, Dale aimed for a 6 — which, Lauren remarked, in the past has been difficult for you. Banzai stretches — She needs to hear The Truth — and rolls a 14.. As Kitsune's companions are too distracted to the data pad sliding toward her. Kitsune doesn't even move when Dale mind-whispers The Truth. As the tablet telekinetically flies into her handHere, Lauren explains that Dale got the equivalent of an 18 on his roll for The Truth., she starts looking at it. Dale keeps mind-whispering: The truth ... you must know the truth. 
Meanwhile, Pine is standing in front of Dale to protect hime. He's waiting for the signal to take his glaive out. 
The unusual restraint in the September operatives' behavior suggests they're trying to front, to not aggravate Kitsune. 
Oz keeps requesting that they be frank and speak clearly, and gets confirmation that the group are, in fact, from the September Project. Oz lays out he was taught by one of their higher-ups about the Betrayer — a name that's kind of weird but he's not going to judge it ... 
His sentence is cut short by a threatening Stop talking! 
Oz is not impressed; he just thinks that's a weird person to follow, especially as they go by that moniker ... 
The next threat — Stop! — comes with an attempted hand slap at him.To quote @pumpikin1 in chat: the truth deals an extra 2 damage 
Pine wonders: Can I come in now?Lauren's answer to it, basically, is Soon. 
Dale opines that the truth will set her free. 
=== Breaking free ===
Oz went wall-sideAs decided by an even/odd dice roll. and Inan window-side. Kitsune has the window at her back. Oz resists the impact of the telekinetic blast slammed into him. Inan lurches the attacker into the air in responseBoth Oz and Inan dropped 3 levels of effort into their respective rolls.. 
Initiative time!And Sarah’s unlucky strike continues, with a 1.
 Inan looks at Soma in an attempt to signal she could have killed the goon instead of levitating him. Unfortunately, she doesn't come across as kind as she thinks she doesAnother bad roll: a 2, this time!. Kitsune has kept reading; a humming of power comes from her as she watches the scenes, not showing any emotions. 
Dale watches Pine, thinking how psychics are weak to hittingOr, in Nathan's words, Violence: their only weakness.. He deploys his ray stick — a lightsaber-like collapsible baton with a hard blade — and tries to hit the suspended foe like he would a piñata. She aims for the head in a non-lethal spirit, to make him go to sleep ... though possibly foreverHere, Nathan recalls how Oz's fight with Dracula screwedup his definition of non-lethal.. He ends up smacking him for 2 damage,thus making him spin. 
Inan allows Pine to come in. The fight really starts nowIn Lauren's words: This is the boss fight.. 
One goon charges towards Dale with two drawn lightsabers. 
Dale is still swinging very good fitting booty shorts that give him very good booty, over-the-knee boots and a little jacket that is long in the back but bares your midriff, and a slightly oversize collar ... and a jaunty hatQuoting Lauren here. This description was in response to Sarah picturing Dale as Jesus with a lightsaber. Claudia sees him as a Chippen-Dale.. Dale is still a Jesus-like boffo man with white hair, tooA reminder by Banzai.. 
Dale dodges the attack. 
The other September goon, seeing Inan as a bigger threat because of her telekinetic hold, pulls out a big old rifle and takes a shot at Inan. She doesn't get hitNftE: This only took three rolls and two XP: a 1, followed by a 2 and finally a lucky 13.. The suspended guy then tries to psy-kickNftE: this play on psychic-kick is mine, I think. her. Inan gets thrownNftE: this time, it took a worried Sarah a long time to summon the courage to roll: a cocked 4/18 was rerolled as an 11. Inan could no longer afford effort, and this was not enough to succeed. and smashes against the window; the glass cracks behind her and she takes 5 points of damage. Still, she manages to hold on to her concentration. 
Pine finds it hard to make sense of all the psychic stuff happening around him. At any rate, the baddies are all close enough he can get to any of them. 
Oz goes Bang! with a two-handed gesture at the levitated goon. He makes his mediumHere, Lauren jokesthat Nathan showed a heavy-weapon attack rather than a medium-weapon attack. She uses a different gesture for medium weapon. gun attack even more lethal with a Double Strike. His psychic energy, which looks like the thing you rub your eye and see into another dimension, deals a grand total of 12 points of damageTo Claudia, who wonders how he does it, Nathan explains:I read the book.
NftE: I'll also put Lauren's reaction here, because I love it: You're a munchkin, and you're a munchkin, and I mean that in two different ways.
. The poor guy is very hurt, for sure.
Pine deploys bid red laser glaive and runs it straight down the center of the same guy. He goes for lethal, obviously, because When is Pine not lethal? Inan approves his choice. Pine's first roll, a 2, is a fail, despite his bonuses and the effort he puts into it. The re-rollBecause it was the last episode, Lauren let Pine use of Inan's remaining XP points., a 9, is a success. This translates into a successful upswing following a missed downswing. Pine slices his victim in two as intended; he is covered in blood — a lot of blood — and the body he's holding is either dead or bleeding out. 
Inan drops her spell on the dead goon, and sends a plasma arc at the other twoNftE: at about this time, a conversation developing about The Betrayer compels Lauren to clarify that: None of them are The Betrayer. Trust me, The Betrayer's difficulty is higher than this.. She rolls a successful 14, and deals 4 damage each. 
Kitsune puts the tablet down. She crackles; after an instant of static electricity buildup, she just puts out her hands and then pulls them back. It almost feels like she ripped the souls of her remaining companions out of them for a moment and they just collapse to the ground. 
Inan and Pine are clearly appreciative of how the champion very efficiently disposed of the goons. 
Kitsune, looking at the group, says: I suppose you can kill them if you want to, but I want no part of that.She gestures at the guy split in half on the ground, as Oz protests: Kill? No! and Pine is already getting ready to stab again. 
Dale wants to make sure what the September Project know so they can't destroy more worlds. After he confirms that all of this on the table is true, Kitsune reckons I should have known. She blames herself, despite Inan's exculpatory That's what they do, because My job is to read people's minds. Dale — who's also very good at reading minds — insist their foes have very powerful mind lockers. 
Kitsune proceeds to testing Dale's mindIn what feels like an awkward silence. Dale's own pushback at her failsDespite a very good roll: 17, with 2 levels of effort to boot.; he only manages to hear Don't!
They all end up agreeing the September Project operatives had a lot of ... conviction. Kitsune is sorry for all the dead people; she can give Inan some reassurance she won't work for them anymore: she intends to win tomorrow and leave Atom for awhile. Besides, Inan's family has her well-tracked. 
Pine's suggestion that she stop by Earth to help The Estate instead makes Kitsune uncomfortable unless you have a ... different way of traveling than them — which they do: they can travel right now,from here, with the two unconscious goons, no gate required contrary to September. It just takes ten minutes, Inan explains, and time to adjust on the other side. 
Kitsune points to an opposite gate, then marks its location on the map. This is how they used to not only go back and forth between Earth and Atom Nocturne, but also hold on to their psychic powers for a while. She suggests Estate agents would find a September Project campus — an outpost, at least — at the gate's location. She is sorry she can't do more. 
Dale wishes her good luck on her competition. As he also offers to weaken one champion with a pod of his and suggests that the one Pine beat up has his pride down, Kitsune reckons tomorrow should be an easy day for me. 
Kitsune hands the tablet back to Dale, saying You know how to find me. 
Inan touches her phone, declines the appointment with her moms — she is now ready to go. 
Dale suggests they cut off the thumbs of the unconscious goons before they leave. This unnecessary cruelty makes no sense to the othersNftE: also, in chat, @bpphantom mentioned Dale's Thumbectomy Services. — even on Pine's world they don't do that to their enemies, they just kill them. Dale's reasoning is they can't really turn door knobs without thumbs. Pine helps him realize they could still do it with two fingers, let alone their two hands. And Oz wants to take them back home anyway. 
Oz tells Kitsune she doesn't have toget involved; he starts telling a sory about a farmer and ... Inan has to explain a farm is a place where food is grown in the ground and people tend the food very carefully. It's similar to the hydroponics Soma is more familiar with, but the machinery is much bigger. 
Dale wants to hogtie the goons now. 
The farmer in Oz's story had a bunch of horses — motorcycles with feet instead, Pine offers. Then Oz changes tack, and drops the story: Kitsune helped already; she did good and she needn't feel obligated to try to fix something she had no idea she was doing. 
Kitsune will win tomorrow's fight; that will end her contract with Inan's family and she'll look for more gainful employment. 
Inan hands her a card: if she ends up with The Estate she can always come say hello. 
Pine starts describing the perks of the job: a running circle with ground that slightly bounces back and a small box with a lady in it ... 
Kitsune thanks them, turns and leaves. 
Inan texts her mother’s and prepares the captured foes for the translation. Dale knows they won't be psychic on Earth this time, but still wraps foil — he always has foil handyIn Lauren's words: You're Dale, you always have foil. — around their heads. 
The group translates back. 
They turn their prisoners in to Riley; he takes them and puts them in whatever dank, dark dungeon the Sage is in. 
This is how this chapter of the characters' story comes to a close. In the words of the GM: You did it; you succeeded.
=== Epilogue ===
After this adventure, Inan finds herself on many missions to Ardeyn, where there is a lot to do because it's the base of Fall's Harbinger and the Betrayer.
There is also a certain ship there ... and a certain captain, who works for The Estate now. Inan's linguistic skills are very needed ... especially when you are on a pirate ship ... you never know when you are going to need to talk to somebody about something in a bedsheet.NftE: and here are further comments on this hot topic in chat: —@deceptivemirror: Inan shagging herself a dowager---ER a captain —@Kol_Drake: Cunning linguist?
Whenever she's back at The Estate, Inan hangs out with whoever of the crew is still there and she always goes to see Jade — speaking of Jade, she comes back on her own and is not especially happy that You left me there?
The image of Inan in a bedsheet on the deck of Storms Lament is replaced with Jade, drinking whiskey and smoking a cigar ... no, two cigars.
In the next scene, Dale prepares to take Pine and Quake on a new quest; they are going to introduce Sanzut to The One whose approach the scholars have foreseen, the one that they have been promised to save their world. He won’t be known as The Sage anymore, or The Savior; neither will he go by Anthony: he will just be ... Dale — it has a good ring to it.
Dale still plans to spread the truth about them in Sanzut; then they’ll get a recursion full of them; and then they’ll use them to battle the Badness, the Evil, the Darkness. Dale overcomes Quake's last-minute second thoughts with the promise of getting WatertookNftE: I like references on this character at this time..
Dale's speech notwithstanding, he's actually referred to as The Savior in the book he plans to spread to educate Sanzut's masses — a book Pine and Quake neither can nor want to read.
Before he leaves, Dale get a call from mom and dad in his voicemail: will he be back home for Thanksgiving? They'll have mutton. Dale sends them a package withthes words: Sorry, mom in response. The package contains his book, and more about his mission. There are also Christmas presents: portraits of him with his two new friends, two actual friends.
Mom and dad are thrilled that he’s got friends and our baby boy is growing upLauren conclud, after a round of laughs: You're welcome, I'm sorry..
Oz and Laura's wedding, their three weddings actually, take place before Dale and friends leave.
There is a small wedding ceremony at The Estate; it's small, it's nice, it's sweet; everyone is there. Jaqueline works hand in hand with Persephone; there is a lot of pomegranate. It all works.
Then they move it over to New Roma, where Terra has overthrown the infamous Lupe.
The last wedding takes place in Paradiso. It's great, it's much fun; it's a little awkward when people get booted out during the ceremony it it's fine. When the great reception is all done and they're cleaning up, Oz finishes up on a little thing on his laptop that night and prints it out; then he puts a mountain of stuff in his jacket and falls asleep. He wakes up walking down a very long hall, he has this big stack of huge pages of paper, single-spaced typed out: everything about The Strange, as promised.
Oz just sees a huge mouth; the Librarian whispers something; this disgusting tongue comes out and slurps it all out of his hand. Oz has one request: the Betrayer. He is ready ready to give up everything else in return. The librarian accepts: Very well.That was it.
== Notes ==
Category:Worlds Beyond