unknownseas | There's always a lighthouse

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endgame

There's always a lighthouse

And just like that, you wake up in the basement of a lighthouse in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. There's a circle of 25 pods in the middle of the room, and two more in a room off to the side, and you can imagine who is in which.

An elevator to the side of the room leads up to the ground floor (or to the first sub-basement, if you want to check out the machine that brought you here), where you can for the first time in weeks look out a window and see the sky. Its a beautiful sunny day, with a strong breeze on the grassy ground of the island where the lighthouse stands. Have you ever been this happy to hear seagulls?

You're free. Whatever comes next, you're free and you won. Take some time to relish your victory, won't you? Reunite with friends you thought you had lost, go forth and just... well, enjoy this.

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[At the same time Angel steps out of the side room, she is followed by your friendly(?) neighborhood ex-failsafe. Her suit of armor is no more, leaving her in the same jeans and t-shirt combo, with a matching VILE logo to boot. She's got no jacket though. A bit chilly in here.

Cassandra keeps to herself, when she isn't around Angel; giving people a wide-berth, enough for them to get their bearings. Watching, keeping watch. She doesn't start any conversations but if you catch her against a wall, or standing outside looking out at the ocean, she'll talk to you. Maybe with a tinge of reluctance.

It's a fine day, at least, to remember who she is again.]

So you're the famous Cassandra?

[ A face and a name she's seen and heard time and again, over the past week, but someone she hasn't gotten the pleasure of meeting in person yet. How could she let the chance pass her by? ]

I'm Ema. Glad to meet you at last.

Edited 2020-05-31 19:26 (UTC)

"Famous" is... definitely one word for what I am now. Infamous might be more fitting.

[On the other hand, this is not a face Cassandra knows personally. Goodness, there used to be so many of you before she had to step in.]

Ema, the Ace Scientist. It's uh, nice to meet you too. How are you feeling?

More of an ace forensic investigator, but I'll acknowledge that I got off easy, compared to some of the more offensive titles.

[ But whether she's famous or infamous, she's still Cassandra, which is the more important thing. ]

I haven't felt this good in a long time, actually. I never thought I'd be so happy to see the sun, even if I still can't really feel my legs.

Good riddance to virtual reality, right? Just try walking around a little.

[It is the most important thing. Something she has to consider more than the fact that she's now a international criminal.]

Yeah, there were a few pretty terrible ones back in my experiment, too. Honestly, Liquid Snake?

[Who comes up with that stuff.]

Liquid Snake was his name and his title, right...

[ As she hops a bit from one foot to the next, just to keep the circulation going... ]

We did manage to find their backups...they didn't seem like a bad bunch like that, even if your situation got a bit chaotic.

[ Which is saying something, compared to, you know. Her getting eaten by a shark. ]

I wonder if we'll get to meet them...

Yup. Weird guy, didn't like wearing shirts...

[Ah, good times.]

You found them? Wow, I'm impressed. [But she can still laugh it off.] It was always pretty chaotic, but we were united against Maelstrom. And he didn't like that at all.

[At least, they were pretty united after JD and Kaia got put in an extended time out.]

Unfortunately, that's not going to be easy. They're all still VILE agents. Probably off on other missions right now.

I see...so they'll need to be tracked down before we can undo the brainwashing and get them back?

[ Hm... ]

Maybe I'll see if I can talk to White Hat and our friend in red about that, then. I don't think I'd mind helping with that, if I can...at the very least, a detective probably wouldn't hurt, right?

Yup, out of one difficult job and into another. I'm going to be pretty busy for at least a few more months.

[Hmm...]

Forensic expert may come in handy. You'll have to bring it up with Bla- Carmen, I think.

I think I'll do that. I don't exactly have anything pressing going on at home, unless there's been an explosion of casework back at the precinct since I've been away. And that's assuming I still have a position in Criminal Affairs, after over two months of no-call no-show...

[ Of course, these are extenuating circumstances. ]

If she'll have me, I'll do what I can. No reason not to have each others backs, after everything, right?

I'm pretty glad I didn't have any major responsibilities around the time I got kidnapped.

[Besides the start of her new, big journey of re-discovery. Searching for her destiny. Normal things like that.]

Heh, right. [Having each other's back is the least she could do now.] I can't say I know her too well, but she seems the type that likes to work as a team. Basically what VILE hates.

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snackooed - 2020-06-01 08:40 (UTC) - Expand

Cassandra?

[ She's almost hesitant, considering the last time they'd talked, but.... ]

Do you mind a bit of company?

Mira.

[A gentle nod and a slight smile. She's... happy to see one of the nicer people that came to her, even if those meetings were marred by the brainwashing.]

Only if you don't mind being near me. I did cause plenty of trouble for you guys.

Like I told Rhea, if I didn't want to be near you, I wouldn't have come over.

[ But with that, she stands next to her with a smile. ]

... Honestly, I feel like I owe you a hundred apologies. We gave you trouble, too. [ ... ] I'm sorry about the toilets.

[ look she almost took a drill to it, at least there wasn't that ]

[She won't complain. There's plenty of wall for you, Mira.]

And I'm sorry about everything else. Being part of this experiment meant I was supposed to give you all trouble.

[...]

You did stop me from killing Angel. I'm pretty sure that waives anything else you feel sorry about.

Of course we did. She certainly has an effect, doesn't she?

[ So many of them care about her, after all. ]

I'm just glad we were able to help you, too.

...Yeah. She sure does.

[That's for sure some common ground.]

Thanks, Mira. For saving me... and for the cookies.

[ Ah, she turns a little pink. ]

... I-it wasn't just me, really. [ She clears her throat. ] But the cookies... you're very welcome. You know, if we can travel between worlds, I'll definitely bake you more. And I might even take requests.

Well... [She looks off, probably in a Angel-related direction.] I get the feeling I'm not leaving this world just yet. But if you ever have the time, I'd... like to visit.

And if you happen to stop by Corona, there's a great bakery I think you'd get a kick out of.

[It's run by a guy Rapunzel hates!]

[ A wall? Like a cool kid? It's too late, Cass, your dignity is gone. ]

...How's everything doing up there? [ Is it a reference to how everyone else is taller than her? Is she talking about Cassandra's profoundly messed up brain? You decide! ]

[A wall! Like someone who knows a chunk of the people here probably don't like her very much. But yes, her dignity is gone.]

...It's better now. I remember everything about my home, the experiment I was a part of... and how much of an ass I was to you guys.

Well, I wasn't expecting you to forget that last part, no matter how many hidden memories there were.

[ She's. It's a tease. A light tease. ]

Are the, uh...the headaches still comin'?

No, tell me more. Please. I deserve it.

[Dunk on her more. Throw her in the ocean if you want.]

There's... it's dull. Probably just from the process of putting everything back where it should be. But hey, it's the first time I've ever dealt with a backup of my own memories, so.

Edited 2020-06-01 09:04 (UTC)

How... How's that even working, I- I gotta admit, I did not understand all the backup stuff entirely.

Honestly? Who knows. All my memories up to the point where we lost are back where they belong. For once, I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

[Science? Saturday morning cartoon science? Does that help, Della?]

And I have your group to thank for it.

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