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

[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.