Night Ride

"Night Ride" is the tenth episode of Reflection.

*The wounds of the CODA were superficial but the tax on our agent’s minds was immense. Verona tasks FLOW with really considering their futures with the organization. It’s time to introspect.*

## Summary

A group of civilians in the red light district of Fuse City discuss the events in the Coda. Some are skeptical as to whether or not what happened was even real, while some are confident. From a secluded location, a disguised Uno spies on their conversation. On the first floor of the Coda, the Hunter of Mortals inspects the environment created by the GEIST probes after the events of Superhero, wondering as to why they chose this scenery specifically. He is approached by another Stranger, Sonnet, the Stranger of the Court of Instrumentality. She explains that her mistress has tasked her to approach a mortal that's caught her interest. A Demon appears from the darkness, missing an arm, which Sonnet readily heals. The Hunter of Mortals inquires as to why Demons of Instrumentality look like birds, to which she responds it's simply her "Mistress's design". She inquires as to why Demons of the Court of Death act like "good little soldiers", to which the Hunter agrees it's simply up to the whims of the Archdemons. Sonnet then teleports away to continue her mission.

At OPIA HQ, the participants in the Coda dive have gathered in Dr. Verona's office, where she tells them that, after being subject to the hallucinations brought about by the Muse, the agents of FLOW Wave Two have arrived at a crossroads. She gives them the opportunity to back out if they so choose, but if they choose to remain, they will continue to discover knowledge about themselves and the universe. She gives the group a day to heal their Burn and consider their choice. Before departing, the Director, revealing that his usual persona is actually a rudimentary AI that pilots his armor while he sleeps, recants a tale of Sir Isaac Newton refracting light through a prism and seeing the spectrum of colors, and creating the color "Indigo" which, while technically "artificial", helps to balance out the division of wavelengths in the spectrum equally. The Director tells the agents of FLOW to find their own "Indigo".

Ace, Willow, Lyst, and Mic head to Station One to give food to Ascalon and Twice, who greatly appreciates it. Ace talks to Ascalon about his plan to leave FLOW after finding his sister. Ascalon tells Ace that, if he leaves, she'll eventually drag him back to FLOW. They then enter Station One proper and eat the somehow well-cooked spam that Willow made. They head to FLOW Wave One's old bunks, where Ace looks at Ruth's bunk. Willow suddenly becomes upset, and reveals that she was actually a member of Wave One who was a friend of Ruth's and the actual first Reflection wielder. Twice is overjoyed at her suspicions being correct. Willow still feels upset, blaming herself for Ruth's disappearance, but Ace reassures her that Ruth is "too much of an asshole to die". He promises to keep Willow's secret for now as he leaves Station One.

Up at the OPIA bar, Arg0s gets a drink with Ridill. He explains the vision he got from Singlehanded Savior, finding it odd to see a round world since the world he knows is assumed to be flat, with the oceans simply stopping after a point. Ridill is also confused, since, as an artificial Reflection, Singlehanded Savior shouldn't be able to hold such an ancient memory. She wonders how much the Demonic Courts know and why the Muse wanted information from Singlehanded Savior specifically. She reveals that Singlehanded Savior is an artificial Reflection formed from both the memory of losing her arm, as well as OPIA in general, making it unique even among artificial Reflections as a Reflection who's story is still unfinished. Suddenly, Sonnet appears in the room, which shocks Ridill, but she reveals that, as the "Envoy of Absolution", she has immunity to anything that would restrict her or cause her harm, in exchange for losing the ability to harm others. She has simply arrived to give Arg0s a message that, if he chooses to, to come to a bar in upper Fuse City to have a conversation with the Muse. She then vanishes, prompting Ridill to reconsider OPIA's security system.

In the GEIST district, Basilisk Id has purchased a new outfit on a shopping trip alongside Cam and Aura. Sitting at a nearby bench, they discuss what they saw in their hallucinations within the Coda, with Aura saying he's going to remain with FLOW to figure out what he saw and what it means to him. Basil says she finds most of her past selves annoying, but will remain with FLOW because she likes them. Willow attempts to hang out with Melli, Circuit, and Colt, but they're harassed by paparazzi, and have to flee through a back door in Melli's cafe with the help of some Rangers. Meanwhile, Ace and Lyst ride on a motorcycle through Fuse City, before an alarm begins to blare signaling another case of Demonic outbreak. All of the nearby FLOW agents, accompanied by Uno and Melli, arrive on a highway to assist with a car accident, redirecting traffic and helping the people trapped in their cars. Returning to OPIA after a successful mission, all of the members of FLOW decide to stay.

Time then flashes a few days forward, as members of FLOW head down for another mission in the Coda. From a nearby rooftop, the Hunter of Mortals watches them, commenting he's impressed with their committment. He makes a passing sarcastic comment about the Muse, which upsets Sonnet, who is also nearby. Before vanishing, he tells Sonnet that the Court of Death is about to put on a "pretty big show". He reappears in Melli's cafe, where he sneaks into a VR room and informs a shadowed "Ms. Fenrir" that the Court is beginning its plan. She bemoans that Willow had to live, but is excited to fight her again.

## Characters

### Party

* Ace Galatine
* Arg0s
* Willow Wisp
* Basilisk Id
* Ridill Arondite

### FLOW

* Aura Pridwyn
* Lyst Solais
* Ascalon
* Lugh
* Twice

### OPIA

* Dr. Verona
* Director
* Cam
* Mic
* Circuit

### Demonic Courts

* Hunter of Mortals
* Sonnet

### Other

* Colt
* Melli Luxity
* Uno
* Cal