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ximilialog2022-02-13 07:46 pm
CONCLUSION: bad company
It is during a lull in the battle — a brief moment of respite, to allow for both sides to regroup before the battle begins anew — that the team (or at least those still able to) gather to put together a plan. The longer they stay here, fighting the Bouldersnakes, the more in danger they are… and the further away is Welford, with the orb.
And so a plan is hatched: Rhys, with his scrying ability, will try to find the old miner — Peter and Xichen think he may be at the mines, having fled the town. The spell requires someone who has been in contact with the orb, so Sabriel and Finn volunteer… and it does not take them long to find the answer: Welford’s presence (and that of the orb) is on Guncross mountain, near the mines that he’s worked in for most of his life.
But who will go? It won’t do for the entire team to head there, as that would only scare the old man worse. Luckily, volunteers are quickly found: Clara, one of the few with a real connection to the Branson family, steps forward to lead the small group who will take on convincing Welford into giving up the orb. And others join her: Xichen, having spoken to Welford already once and wanting to undo the pain he inadvertently caused; Peter, there to support his roommate Xichen to make sure the orb comes to their possession safely; Percy, who is no stranger to losing one’s family; Blue, who hopes his abilities may be able to help; and Shinji, with an idea to negotiate with the orb.
As these six prepare to leave under the cover of the night’s darkness, Kaidan brings up another issue: the ore in the mines, the one that makes pulsefire possible. It should be destroyed — make sure no one else can use its terrible power. Daisy is quick to offer her powers for assistance in the effort, as are Shang-Chi and Yamato; meanwhile, Newt’s brain is already moved from Newtrilizer to thinking of a controlled detonation method, and he joins the team heading to the mines at the edge of town. In this, divide and conquer seems to prove true: heading to different exits, they all put their powers to good use. Shang-Chi’s ten rings make quick work of one, while Yamato’s kanabo smashes another; Newt’s quickly-put-together dynamite makes rubble of the third. And to be sure… Daisy feels for the entire mine, and releasing her power, a powerful wave quakes the inside of the mine, collapsing it on itself.
But efficiency has its downsides: in this case, the loud noise from the mine signals the end of the temporary cease-fire, and the Bouldersnakes, riding back from wherever their temporary camp has been, begin their relentless attack once more.
River, grabbing a knife and throwing it at the alien’s throat, is quick… but not quite quick enough, as the leader of the Bouldersnakes turns and sees Clara’s group from where they’ve made it, towards Guncross.
He doesn’t hesitate, yelling out one single command:
With answering shouts, all the remaining gang members take their steeds, on the ground and in air, and turn their attention towards the desert. But the team will not stand for that — the Doctor stuns those closest to him with a wave of sound from his guitar, and gives a clear instruction to the team who hear him: Disarm, don’t kill. Violence only begets violence.
Many seem to agree with him: Gwen and Itachi stick to non-lethal means, knocking out alien after alien… but there are also those who take a different approach. One of them is Kovacs, terrifyingly efficient in his fury, shooting down one gang member after another.
It is this clash of worldviews that brings about an argument, right there on the battlefield: Kovacs, backed up by Andy and Finn, don’t see why the people who killed everyone in Scorpion’s Bend should be saved; the Doctor, backed up by Itachi and Alina, refuse the use of lethal force. Others join in, siding with one side or the other —
But that momentary distraction is enough: the Bouldersnakes leader calls down one of the lizard falcons they’ve been riding, and, jumping on, speeds away towards Guncross Mountain. The team, refocusing, engage the remaining gang members… but the leader is beyond their reach.
It doesn’t take the six long to make it to Guncross — the unmistakable sounds of battle follow them there, distant yet still distinguishable, but they can’t turn back now. The trek up the mountain is strenuous, the winding mountain path full of sharp rocks, but eventually they make it to the entrance to the mines…
And there, Welford Branson stands, next to an abandoned mine cart, his red-rimmed eyes taking in the sight of the people who have finally found him.
Recognition flares in his eyes when he sees Xichen, but there is no hint of accusation in his tone. Just exhaustion. One by one, he looks at them all. He offers no resistance, no negotiation — nothing but a world-weary sigh that shudders dryly, voice hoarse from hours of crying.
Upon hearing that, Clara steps forward, softly explaining that they only want to give him peace: that those with her have some felt the same pain as him, that they understand — Percy and Xichen both nod, quietly offering their own stories for Welford. As the old man listens, with a heavy countenance, Clara hands him the sketch of his grandson Jeb, with a sweet story of a day at school with him; something that has Welford brushing a tear from the corner of his eye when he had thought he’d had none left to spare.
Shinji and Blue look at each other at this confirmation that old Welford really didn’t know the deal he was making — but before they can react, another voice joins in.
On a winged creature, the leader of the Bouldersnakes lands in the middle of the mountaintop; Welford, eyes wide with fear, clutches the locket around his neck.
The leader grins, alien features alight with the sweet taste of victory, and aims at Welford, the gun going off before anyone even thinks to respond — all they can do is watch in horror as the bullet hits the old miner straight in his chest, and a burst of dark blue flame flares out to engulf him. Welford gasps, sways…
And does not fall. The fire, once all-consuming in that instant, flickers out and fades.
Tiredly, as if disappointed, he lifts his gaze from the wound in his chest to the leader of the Bouldersnakes.
Welford’s voice, thin and old, breaks into a thousand pieces just as Peter turns around swiftly and points his gun at the alien gangleader — he does not miss.
It is Blue who turns to Welford with a question; the obvious one, here. How? But the one who answers is not the old man, but a chorusing voice that echoes in the minds of everyone in the team.
There is a pause, and then another sigh, the same reverberating sound they’d heard the day it all came crumbling down around them.
Fists clenched at his sides, Shinji speaks up, demanding a reason for such cruelty.
The voice seems satisfied, almost gloating, the chorus louder and louder, until it is near painful to listen to — as it gets to its final words.
With a sudden, wild gust of wind, the locket around Welford’s neck opens and a round, dark blue stone rolls out of it, gaining speed until it stops right at Xichen’s feet. It glows, like deep ocean when sunlight hits its surface, and as Xichen reaches down to pick it up as if on instinct —
Everyone on the team will feel it: the pull, and the call of the station. The last thing the team on Guncross hear, though, is the quiet sobs of Welford Branson, kneeling on the ground, holding his empty locket.
It is perhaps relief that hits the team when they open their eyes and see the teleportation machine once more underneath their feet — or perhaps what they feel is the exhaustion, finally overwhelming them upon knowing they are, for now, safe.
In the midst of it all, the dark blue power held in Xichen’s hands rises up on its own, floating — until it’s snatched by another. Degar stands there, deftly catching the orb in his hand, making a face as he makes contact with it.
With this rare show of seriousness, Degar, still decked in his Christmas sweater (paired with, you guessed it, his beloved cargo pants) lifts a hand towards the team.
With that, he turns and disappears into the North Wing — but Viveca’s voice flows into the earpieces shortly after.
N O T E S
This is the end of the fourth mission! If your character goes back to review the mission file, they will notice that next to its name, a little check-mark in green has appeared.
This is not an official log — however, for the next two weeks, your characters have downtime on the station and all its locations (aside from the north wing) are available. Players are encouraged to make their own logs for what they do during the downtime.
Please also note that the TDM happens during this downtime.
Should characters want to talk to Viveca, they can do so here.
And finally, your soundtrack for the conclusion: ♪