GRADUATION

[descentinto]

[ There’s a spark in the darkness outside the dome, somewhere. The pale rainbow of some kind of bio-luminescent jellyfish. Then another. Then two more. Then ten more.

Within moments, the seafloor around you is illuminated by jellyfish, shining brighter than nature should allow, and you find your surroundings changed. Statues, piles of gold, paintings, all of them lie scattered around for as far as the eye can see in any direction. Just a disgusting amount of wealth.

The frosted glass box in front of all of you just… vanishes. And standing at a podium that doesn’t at all match the previous silhouette, you finally get to see The Professor, in all his slightly ghoulish glory.

Honestly? This might be exactly the kind of man you pictured he would be. ]

Allow me to introduce myself properly, boys and girls. I am Professor Gunnar Maelstrom, one of the five sitting members of the Faculty here at VILE. I suppose, one way or another, this is where it ends.

[ You’re getting close, gumshoes! Don’t give up! ]

Comments

[nothingcanstop]

[ OH. OH, HELLO TEENAGER AND WOMAN IN A STYLISH COAT. HELLO. ]

...Which choice gives us that shot at helping our friends you were telling us about, "Ghostworth?"

[wickedskills]

[HOLY FUCK IT'S A DUCK]

Honestly? Whichever one you choose, I think we still have everything we need to bring your friends back. Thanks to them, and a lot of help from Red Text. Actually, you wouldn't guess this, but Red Text is the backup data for Angel.

1/2

[nothingcanstop]

[ THE SUPERIOR NAME ]

Actually, we did guess that.

[ladygeryon]

We figured that out a while ago, actually.

2/2

[nothingcanstop]

B-but you can really help them?! ...They've been talking to you?!

[wickedskills]

You did? Wow, cool. [Teen sounds impressed.] You guys are just as on this as we are, even without a data screen in front of you.

Oh yeah, I saved everyone from getting brainwashed. They're waiting in a backup simulation for when it's safe to come out.

[nothingcanstop]

...Kid, how old are you?

[ ALL THIS??? AT YOUR AGE???? ]

[wickedskills]

Old enough to hack into a high-tech ultra-secret criminal organization several times?

[So, young enough that he can't legally drive.]

[philoxenia]

.... You might get along a little too well with Della's boys.

[nothingcanstop]

They're not meeting him.

[philoxenia]

Absolutely not.

[wickedskills]

I prefer to be internet friends, anyway.

[philoxenia]

[ oh thank god. ]

They've been doing their own thing, too, then? ... I'm not surprised, but I am relieved. You can really bring them back, then?

[wickedskills]

It's going to be a tricky science, but with everything we've learned from this, I'm positive we can make it happen. And we can save the other students, too.

[philoxenia]

Still, if there's a chance, that's a good thing. We're counting on you.

[ .... ]

And it's nice to meet you, finally, not through a spirit board.

[wickedskills]

Don't I know it? Talking through that Ouija board was rough.

Did you know those things were invented in Ohio? And it's actually just a toy.

[philoxenia]

At least we were able to talk somehow--I can't imagine how you would have reached us otherwise...

[ ... then again, he seems pretty dang resourceful. ]

... Well, it's better than actual ghosts.

[nothingcanstop]

...About that, Mira, honey, you're gonna sort of going to have to get used to one actual ghost...

[philoxenia]

.....

You know what, it'll be worth it.

[wickedskills]

I've got some pretty wicked skills, but the ouija board was a great idea. Gave me the perfect secret entrance into VILE's secure mainframe.

[philoxenia]

Really? [ A laugh. ] Then, I'm glad I did it. Anything to take them down, really.