Chapter Text
—
—
—
SHAPING - And you're back again. It's dizzying, going from the cloying nothing to being something again. Your head is like spun cotton, emerging back into wherever you are.
HALLWAY - Your arm steels you against the wall, just barely keeping you from completely tumbling to the floor. This isn't the break room anymore— you're in the hall of the station again.
RED STRING - How did you get here? Assuming this is in the future, of course— for all you know, you're even further in the past. If it isn't, though, there's a gap between being now and being then that you don't remember. Are you ever going to know how you got here?
FLESH - Your breathing is coming out in heaves, almost sobs. It's making your ribs hurt from how forceful it is. Calm down. Take deep breaths.
COMPOSURE [Formidable: Success] - Just stay here until the world stops spinning. Until it makes sense again.
MISERY - That might never be possible.
HALLWAY - The LED lights hurt your eyes and head, making your ever-present headache even worse. You can hear people chattering in the distance, going about their lives with no clue about how your reality is falling apart.
PER ASPERA - Alright, that's enough moping. The ground under you is almost stable. Get it together.
YOU - (breath in. Calm down. Look around.)
HALLWAY - There's a door in this hallway, as well. You're standing almost right in front of it. It's like it's expecting something from you. The plaque on it reads "Captain".
DEJA VU [Challenging: Success] - You were supposed to go to the captain's, weren't you? That's what Kerr told you to do, at least. Whatever gap you have in your memory, maybe it's just ended up with you here.
WORLDVIEW - Who were you during that time? The same you that you've been, but you just forgot? The you that remembers all of this? The you that's supposed to be here? Or something else entirely? Is this body, this life— even yours? Or are you just an invader?
SELF [Formidable: Success] - No. Things are hazy, but familiar. Even with your memories gone, grooves have been left behind in your mind, ready for you to fill. You aren't a stranger to this existence.
SYSTEM - Talk to the captain about this. Explain what's happened. She'll be able to help you.
YOU - Wait. How do I know I didn't just talk to her and leave? Wouldn't it be weird if I left then immediately went back in?
PERCEPTION [Medium: Success] - You were facing towards it when you came back. Most likely, you were just about to enter.
SYSTEM - Besides, you can explain it as the memory loss, anyways. There's no need to be secretive about this.
YOU - I don't even know this person. How do I know they'll actually help?
INSIGHT [Medium: Success] - You don't. Considering you have no evidence of your condition, no explanation, how outlandish it is, and how you've been disregarded by your coworkers so far, there's practically no chance you get taken seriously.
INSTINCT - Do you have any other choice?
YOU - (Breathe in and knock on the door)
THE CAPTAIN - "Come in," A gruff, female voice calls from the other side. She sounds like she's expecting you.
YOU - (Enter)
THE CAPTAIN'S OFFICE - The room is slightly larger than your own office, able to comfortably hold maybe a half dozen people. It's neat, almost clinically so, with no decoration besides the absolute essentials— and a single thriving houseplant, sitting proudly at the edge of the desk. File drawers dot the edges of the room, and a window frames the back wall, overlooking a vast city.
WORLDVIEW - A window! You can get a better look at the world you're in— if you get the opportunity, take a better look outside.
CAPTAIN HAUKR - A woman sits behind the desk, flipping through a folder. Lines of age trace around her mouth and up to the crow's feet around her clear blue eyes. Her jaw has a hard set, her expression caught in concentration and mild annoyance, accompanied by an air of constant exhaustion. Her hair is braided and pulled back into a harsh bun, making her expression seem even more severe. The nameplate on her desk reads "CAPTAIN K. HAUKR".
SPITE - Oh, so she gets her name on her nameplate, and you only get your title? Rude. Obvious favoritism.
SYSTEM - Most likely, it's because she's higher ranking than you.
SPITE - You don't know your first name because of this bullshit. You have a right to be miffed.
CAPTAIN HAUKR - As you enter, the woman closes the folder and slides it down onto the desk, looking up at you. There's no visible change in her demeanor upon seeing you—just a shift of priorities. "Inspector Edda. Please, sit." She gestures to one of the chairs across the desk from her.
YOU - (Sit down.)
IMPROV [Easy: Success] - Say something. A greeting of some kind. Walking in silently is awkward.
YOU - (Be awkwardly silent, anyways. You don't know what's normal for this interaction.)
IMPROV - Why do you scorn me in this way?
CAPTAIN HAUKR - If she cares for your silence, she gives no indication. "The files you requested came in, though I do apologize in advance that they aren't nearly as detailed as would be preferred. Considering that the entire government was overthrown and replaced after the incident, it's remarkable we were able to patch together anything— but nonetheless, it is frustrating. I trust you'll be able to find what you need, though." She slides the folder across the table, over to you.
INSIGHT [Medium: Success] - She really does trust you to work under dire circumstances. She knows you can do this.
SYSTEM - Typically, these would be delivered to you by someone, or if digital, simply emailed to you. And even if it was neither of those, it isn't a police captain's job to hand off paperwork, unless it's management.
YOU - "You brought me all the way down here just to hand over some files?"
CAPTAIN HAUKR - She doesn't seem surprised by the comment. "No, no. Simply convenience's sake. Have you had an opportunity to begin sifting through the black box footage yet?"
INSIGHT [Medium: Success] - She has a similar look in her eye that Kerr did— The case your solving is important, and she's craving answers.
YOU - (Shake your head)
CAPTAIN HAUKR - She's mildly disappointed, but not surprised. "I see. Apologies for interrupting if you were about to get started on that."
YOU - "It's fine."
CAPTAIN HAUKR - She inhales, slightly, preparing herself for the words to come. "Inspector Edda, I must be frank with you. I'm sure you understand the importance of the Ratatosk express, especially the amount of turmoil it has caused for the general public, but I don't think you understand how much trust I am placing in you in regards to this."
WIT - You don't understand any of this. This is all fucking confusing.
SYSTEM - So explain it to her, and get the knowledge you need!
YOU - (Say nothing.)
CAPTAIN HAUKR - She continues, leaning forwards and threading her fingers together. "This case only falls under the Transport Police's jurisdiction by technicality, truly. With how major of a case this is, most would prefer it go to a division more equipped for something as… historical as this. A museum, maybe."
INSIGHT [Formidable: Failure] - It's impossible to say whether that is meant as a joke or a legitimate offer from her tone alone. You doubt she's actually proposing a museum investigate the case, however…
CAPTAIN HAUKR - "But no. It's fallen onto our station's shoulders, and I have placed it upon yours, specifically. Most people would have given the case to an officer of higher rank. However, I've entrusted it to you." She gives you a look. "Do you know why I've done so?"
SYSTEM - This is the perfect time to tell her about your condition. You've held off long enough. This conversation seems like it's leading somewhere you're going to need context for— don't dig yourself deeper.
YOU - "No, I don't."
SYSTEM - Okay, well then. Just take your time. Sure. Definitely. Doesn't matter to me.
CAPTAIN HAUKR - "Because I know you're going to take this case seriously." Her voice lowers slightly and she leans forward, like she's telling you a secret. "Because I know you care about the Bifrost Incident, and the revolts afterwards, and its effects today. And I know you will take care of it as efficiently as possible to avoid any public… incidents. You are a reliable, intelligent, and quick worker, and I want you to know that that is why you have been trusted with this case."
INSIGHT [Challenging: Success] - Certainly laying it on thick, but this seems to be genuine— this woman doesn't offer compliments like this often. She wants you to know she genuinely has faith in you. The question of why she is telling you this is more pressing, really.
MISERY [Easy: Success] - To placate you, maybe. Everyone's interested in this case, apparently, and therefore, you. You've already been stuck in one horrid interaction. And considering the fact you don't even know what the case is about right now, there may be something very, very unpleasant coming your way.
WORLDVIEW [Easy: Success] - Something unpleasant has already come. And if that ship was a glimpse into your future, it's going to keep falling, and falling, and falling apart. How is this connected to that?
CAPTAIN HAUKR - "The investigation into the Ratatosk Express is incredibly important to keeping the public satiated. It'll be a new source of finger-pointing and accusations on all sides, and showing that the Transport Police is taking this seriously is critical to our image." Her eyes study you intensely, as she sets her head on her threaded fingers. "And no matter what the results of your investigation are, you'll be dragged into the conflict, just for being affiliated with the case."
WIT - There's the punchline. By doing this, you're going to be the face pinned to the dartboard. You won't be escaping the public eye for a long, long time.
COMPOSURE [Easy: Success] - Does that matter, right now? Whatever's happening is much more important than some PR. This conversation doesn't matter.
WORLDVIEW [Easy: Success] - But it might— even if things are messy right now, the long term consequences could leave you choking on attention for years to come. Unable to do a single damn thing without eyes on you. Wrapped up in whatever politics are apparent, here, as well— and there's never a moment when politics doesn't mean lives on the line.
YOU - "That's… not ideal."
CAPTAIN HAUKR - She raises an eyebrow, almost amused by your choice of phrase. Almost. "No, it's most definitely not. This entire situation is one mess I'd rather had never happened. The only thing it's good for is people's personal curiosity, and causing outrage."
"But as I was saying, you were placed in charge of this investigation, because I know I can trust you to solve it. However, I understand you aren't a very…" She searches for the right word, desperately, before deciding upon "Social person."
MISERY [Trivial: Success] - So your friendless, aggressive reputation among your peers is known to your supposed boss, as well. Enough that she explicitly dragged you out because of it.
CAPTAIN HAUKR - "The level of public exposure this case will cause would be distressing even to someone who lives on attention." She adds to the first statement. Attempting to clarify her meaning, it seems. "And will lead to getting wrapped up in more political scandals that most would be comfortable with. I know you have no interest in such things. So, I'm giving you this chance before you truly begin investigating, and before we release anything that could be connected to your name to the public:"
She rests her hands on the table solemnly. "If you would like to walk out on this case, and have me pass it on to someone who will not mind the amount of interaction with the public, I will."
THE DEFIANCE - What.
SELF [Easy: Success] - It may be better for you, right now. Whatever the hell is happening in your head, putting your actual job off to piece together the who, why, how and what of everything could make things bearable.
JUSTICE [Easy: Success] - Absolutely not. Give up a case just like that? Not happening. It's your duty to figure out what's happened.
FLESH [Easy: Success] - You couldn't even do much right now, with how fucked up your body and mind are. Can you even think through the pounding in your skull? Breathe through the tightness in your throat? Swallow through the nausea swimming around in your intestines? How could you investigate a case like this?
INSTINCT [Medium: Success] - No, no, no no no no no— If there's one thing you have to do, it's solve this case. You don't know the details, you don't know why this matters— You were shunted into this reality, this body, without knowing why or what you're supposed to do— but this is it. There's a thread of truth here, and it's wrapped itself around your tangled existence and cut into your being— you have to find out where it leads.
THE HUNGER - Keep unraveling the line, Inspector, and see what unravels with it.
JUSTICE [Trivial: Success] - Whatever the case— absolutely not happening. There's no way this case isn't connected to what's happening to you and what was happening to the rest of the system, with how much everyone's talking about it. In order to get answers, you need to figure out this mystery. Besides, you heard what she was saying— she trusts you with this case. You can't give this up.
YOU - "I— no, I'm good. I'd like to stay on the case, please."
CAPTAIN HAUKR - She raises an eyebrow. "Really? Why? I thought you'd jump on the chance to avoid dealing with people."
INSIGHT [Medium: Success] - She's noticed how quiet you're being, and how nervous you seem— she thinks something is off.
IMPROV [Medium: Success] - Maybe if you'd listened to me she wouldn't have. Whatever. Think of something, quick.
YOU - "This case is important to me. On a personal level."
CAPTAIN HAUKR - "Yes, I do understand you're a devout Midgardian sympathizer. I can understand why you might want to be involved. However, are you prepared if it turns out one of the Midgardian terrorist cells caused the incident? Your status on the matter could very easily cause more trouble your way."
INSIGHT [Medium: Success] - It's something, but not enough. She's still doubting.
YOU - "And with the amount of trust you've put in me, I don't just want to throw this away. It's a good opportunity."
CAPTAIN HAUKR - She's still not entirely convinced, folding her arms and scanning your face. "Edda. This doesn't come with any catches. If you'd like to walk away, I won't strike it on your record or anything. You're completely free to leave."
WIT - Why does everyone in this damn place only call you Edda? You still don't know what the rest of your name is.
SYSTEM [Easy: Success] - Even if there's no technical consequences, and even if the public doesn't know, the rest of the station does. What kind of comments do you think Kerr would make if it got out you'd dropped the case? It might be just as bad as keeping it.
CONNECTION [Medium: Success] - Facts don't add much to this. Maybe just convince her you really do want this, instead of how it might benefit you.
YOU - "Please. This case is important to me, and— I can handle the consequences. I just want to be the one to know."
CAPTAIN HAUKR - She looks at you skeptically a moment, before accepting your explanation with a sigh. "Alright, then. Just know that when the controversies from this start poking into your life, you aren't going to be able to take this back." She grabs a handful of papers from her desk and begins straightening them, beginning to turn away from you and back to her work. "Good luck, Lyfrassir. Unless you need anything else, you're dismissed."
RED STRING - Lyfrassir! There we go! Finally, a name besides "Inspector", or "Edda".
SELF [Trivial: Success] - Lyfrassir Edda. Inspector Second Class. It suits you. Fits nicely, like a glove.
YOU - "Thank you," (Leave.)
DEJA VU [Trivial: Success] - Wait, before you go— that window behind her. See if you can spy a glance of the city below.
REACTION [Challenging: Failure] - You squint, straining to see— however, the Captain's head and the filing cabinets are both blocking your line of sight. It's hard to see anything besides the top of buildings.
CAPTAIN HAUKR - The Captain has taken notice of your attempt, and looks up from her papers to raises an eyebrow at you. "Is… everything quite alright, Inspector?"
REACTION [Easy: Failure] - Play it cool.
YOU - "Uhm. Yes? Just… looking out the window. I thought I saw something."
CAPTAIN HAUKR - "…Right." She doesn't want you here any longer.
YOU - "…Uh. Bye." (duck out of the room quickly.)
WIT - Great job. Real smooth.
YOU - Shut up.
PER ASPERA - There'll be other windows to look through. Or who knows, you might actually go outside. Just try and return to your office and get started on this investigation, right now. The more pieces you have, the better.
YOU - That was a disaster.
SYSTEM - I told you to tell her about the amnesia, but no.
YOU - I don't know this woman! I have no idea whether she would've helped or believed me or not! And I don't have any reason to trust you all, either. You all have just been— barraging me with random, nonsensical comments and opinions while I try and actually focus.
SYSTEM - You would've actually gotten something if you'd told her. Some explanation of who you are. You can't do this on your own.
YOU - It's my choice who I get to trust. I'll find someone else. (Continue to office.)
THE OFFICE - You actually remain present for the journey, this time. It's difficult to tell whether that's better or worse. Whatever the case, the office is the same as you left it. The clock on the wall now informs you that it is almost 11:30. It's been maybe half an hour since you woke up, at the very maximum. It feels like so much longer.
YOU - (Put your head in your hands) Ghfgghhhgh.
THE OFFICE - Your noises of complaint echo around the room, making you realize just how far from everyone else you are.
YOU - Great. Love getting that pointed out. Let's just do whatever it is we have to do for this case.
THE OFFICE - You set the files from the Captain down on the desk— Your desk. It blends in perfectly with the rest of the papers. The label on it reads RECORDS: RATATOSK TRAIN PASSENGERS LIST AND FILES - RATATOSK EXPRESS BLUEPRINTS - RATATOSK CRIME SCENE PHOTOS.
SYSTEM - If you hadn't lost your memory, you'd know exactly what that meant. You'd already be flipping through each of the files, making note of who was where, doing what, piecing together what exactly had happened. But you don't, and all you can do is stare at it, trying to put stack the pieces of "What" "Why" "Where" and "Who" into something functional.
PER ASPERA [Easy: Success] - What you need right now is a plan— a to-do list. Some way to organize the mess in your brain. Goals. Just something.
FLESH - Your lungs are dancing on the edge of hyperventilation, leaping from edge to edge like a game to see how close they can get. Your mind and body are still aching, and without panic keeping your attention diverted, it's the only thing you can think about, now. Your hands are shaking, like whatever's inside you can rip itself out of your skin and run away.
YOU - (Sit down)
FLESH - Your knees screaming in pain fades to echoes. It's a beautiful relief, as slight as it is.
DEJA VU [Trivial: Success] - You store paper and stationary in the right upper drawer. Where it's easy to access.
YOU - …
SPITE - Well?
YOU - (Slowly, pull out a paper and pen)
SPITE - Good. Sitting and wallowing is useless.
YOU - Right. Of course.
PER ASPERA [Easy: Success] - Right, priorities, then. You can divide these up into categories— "Whats Happening", "The Case", and "Who Are You" and list questions for each. It doesn't have to be too in depth— this is to preserve your sanity, more than anything else.
YOU - Right. What do we need to know about what's happening, then?
RED STRING - First things first— What caused your amnesia? Is it connected to the case? And how did you jump between here and that ship— was that even real, or a hallucination of some sort? Time travel, or something else? In what way were you gone during the walk to the captain's office?
YOU - That's just more questions— not answers.
RED STRING [Easy: Success] - Questions are just as, if not more important than answers. The gaps in what you know, and why you don't know them will be what connects your facts.
YOU - Hmph. What about you all?
WIT - What about us?
YOU - You're not supposed to— be here. Exist.
SPITE - Well, if we're here, obviously we're supposed to be here. We're here for a reason.
YOU - But you weren't here before. …Were you?
DEJA VU - Were we? Do you just not remember?
YOU - I don't— I'm not supposed to have voices in my head. I know that.
SPITE - Yet, we're here. And we don't know any more than you do. So interrogating us on it isn't going to get you anywhere.
YOU - You're deflecting. At least some of you have more facts than I do. You've told me things I don't know yet.
RED STRING - Or are they facts you know, but just haven't acknowledged yet? We don't have any more information than you do— we are you, in a way. Just note down that we exist, and maybe we'll learn more.
YOU - Ugh. Fine. What's next? The case?
RED STRING [Trivial: Success] - Yes. The case— you have the files with the the "Ratatosk Passengers" that the captain just gave you. Ratatosk Passengers would refer to the "Ratatosk Express" that the captain mentioned, which is connected to the Bifrost Incident both she and Kerr referenced.
YOU - What is the Bifrost Incident?
ARCHIVE [Medium: Success] - Over a century ago, the greatest minds of the world discovered a way to leave our world. Heimdall, the leading mind of the project, was the one who pierced the veil: and the world's first manmade wormhole was created. The land beyond was a mess of rainbows, chaos, flesh, and fire, and claimed the lives of almost eight dozen scientists before they found an alloy that protected from it— steel, forged from the Bifrost's own chaos.
THE LOYALTY - It was horrifying.
THE HUNGER - It was beautiful.
THE SIGHT - It was both.
ARCHIVE [Medium: Success] - It wasn't just the discovery of a lifetime, it was the discovery of a new era. Quickly, technology began to develop around its existence— Bifrost powered engines, generators, torture methods—
THE SIGHT - Oh, so many torture methods.
ARCHIVE [Medium: Success] - Journey's into this strange new dimension, testings of it's effects. It enthralled all of Asgard, defied all previously known laws of the world, and revealed use after use. But nobody was more enthralled than the All-Mother, leader of Asgard herself. Especially when it was discovered that, with enough math, you could travel to any point within the Bifrost, and come out the other side in a thirtieth of the normal time.
A week after the first instance of using the Bifrost for expedited travel, barely half a year after its first discovery, Odin, the Allmother revealed the newest goal of the empire— to create a train that could travel through the Bifrost, with stations on each of the planets in the system. Revolutionize travel, and make the Asgardian Empire even more of a system-wide superpower.
THE SIGHT - If she actually cared about using the Bifrost for transportation, she'd have made ships capable of navigating in the Bifrost and defending against its effects. But instead, she wanted to do this.
ARCHIVE [Medium: Success] - Decades were spent on the project. Stations built on every planet in Yggdrasil. Until, finally, the project was completed, and the train was launched, with almost every single member of the Asgardian government aboard, meant to arrive on Midgard in three days. Unfortunately, it didn't.
RED STRING - And when the entire government of an empire vanishes, what happens?
YOU - Complete and utter chaos.
RED STRING - Exactly.
YOU - That was… a lot of information.
SPITE - You said you wanted more facts. And you already knew that all, you just didn't remember.
YOU - Any chance I can get the rest of the information I don't remember?
DEJA VU [Godly: Failure] - No <3
YOU - So: the Bifrost Incident was pretty much the tyrannical leader of a system-wide empire deciding to be an idiot and send her entire government into a hell dimension?
ARCHIVE - Correctamundo.
YOU - No wonder it went wrong.
ARCHIVE [Medium: Success] - After the incident, the planets formerly taken over by the Asgardian empire quickly scrambled for independence, leadership, and security. Asgard itself split into disorganized factions, too busy trying to keep itself from collapsing in on itself to bother with conquest. Midgard quickly, and with a short war, declared its own independence, forming multiple nations, the most notable of which being New Midgard. The rest of the colonies followed, for the most part, establishing their own governments and dividing and managing to function semi-sanely.
The fear leftover from the Bifrost led to the banning of any and all technology pertaining to the Bifrost and the opening of wormholes. The continued distrust between Asgard and Midgard remained prominent, as well as the cultural and political stains from their time ruling. The decades after the incident were nothing less than a disaster, with casualties in the hundreds of millions.
The world is a gaping wound, barely knowing how to heal after centuries upon centuries of constant pain. Kicked and ground underfoot, only just beginning to see the sun again. And as many things do, just beginning to grow.
YOU - That's… oddly hopeful.
TRIUMPH [Easy: Success] - 80 years ago, this was a towering monstrosity of a helpless city, each civilian torn apart a thousand times by near-gods. Each life plugged into a machine, a statistic in a problem, not a world. 70 years ago, it had become just another war-zone ruin, devoid of anything but the barest traces of the love that had been. 60 years ago, life began to fester in the gashes and blood of the planet beneath, stolen moments and lives hidden in squalor. 50 years ago, hearts began to heal without knowing how many had broken on the same earth. 40 years ago, patches of scarlet flowers grew where blood had been spilt, and with it green grass where children began to play.
30 years ago, people began to promise to try again. To unknit the knots from this land's back, and let it stretch itself into us. And in that same instant, you became witness to it; not the history, but the humanity. All the times people said "enough", and chose to sow, not reap.
SELF [Medium: Success]- You bore witness. You were a seed planted— you are a scar on this world— not the wound. The new skin, ready for what is next to come. Every soul another cell, healing and growing forever.
TRIUMPH [Easy: Success] - 20 years ago, there was new art, new parents, new "I love you's", just as there have been in decades before and decades since. A world that has kept its breathing as quiet as possible to stay unnoticed, finally allowed to scream. "I am here. I will always be here. This is our world, not yours. You watered our land with our blood, and we will grow from it, just as we always have."
10 years ago, the lungs of this world still ache with the pain of what has happened. But it fades, and the world grows around the pain. Every scream of joy comes with a hoarse throat, every exercise of free will with aches and pain. You hug onto the beauty of choice until it hurts, until you are both left breathless. We will love forever. It is not promise, it is fact.
And today, you will not think of the scars. You will just live. And it will be beautiful, not despite, but because.
YOU - I don't know how to— be this. Be a part of this.
TRIUMPH [Easy: Success] - You do. All you have to do is exist.
SHAPING [Medium: Success] - Three days remain. This land will die.
YOU - I— right, I have to focus on the case. Maybe I can stop that— whatever that was from happening. I have to.
SELF - You don't remember this place, but it is your home. And even if it wasn't, it's someone's. Everyone's. It deserves to live.
YOU - So I guess the last question on the list is… who am I?
SELF [Challenging: Failure] - Lyfrassir Edda. Inspector Second Class, of the New Midgard Transport police department. The poor dope who has to figure out how to save the world, without knowing a thing about it.
YOU - Do I have a family?
DEJA VU [Challenging: Failure] - The memories are only fingerprints on your brain. No faces, no moments. Only the knowledge that maybe, just maybe, you were loved.
YOU - What happened?
CONNECTION [Easy: Success] - Did something have to have happened? Maybe you still are. Maybe it's just waiting.
PER ASPERA - You won't ever know, if you don't do something soon. Whatever is going to happen, there are people to save. You need to start moving.
YOU - I— right. Right. Where do I start?
THE SIGHT - The Black Box.
ARCHIVE [Trivial: Success] - A black box, more well known as a flight recorder, is typically required in any sort of aviator vehicle or spacecraft. Back when people had actually been exploring the Bifrost, it had been established as a requirement to have one for any craft venturing in. Lucky for you, you suppose.
In later years, regulations have required the Black Box be colored neon yellow to aid in recovery, despite the name. However, Asgard wouldn't have known safety regulations if it bit them on the ass. It contains all of the video and audio recordings from the train's journey. If there's a record of what happened on the train, it'll be on there.
RED STRING - The most likely options are that some outside force from the Bifrost derailed the train, something malfunctioned, or someone sabotaged it.
YOU - …Do I have to look at it.
SYSTEM [Trivial: Success] - Yes.
RED STRING [Trivial: Success] - Yes.
INSTINCT [Trivial: Success] - Yes.
JUSTICE [Trivial: Success] - Yes.
THE SIGHT - Yes.
THE LOYALTY - Yes.
YOU - …Fine. (Grab the Black Box from the drawer.)
BLACK BOX - It's just as horrific as before, if not more. When you touch it, it feels like something invisible is slipping its way under the skin of your fingertips, slithering up to your elbows, shoulders, throat, eyes, heart. You can barely keep yourself from shivering.
PER ASPERA [Heroic: Success] - As unpleasant as it is, you keep a grip of steel on it. No throwing it back in the drawer this time.
YOU - What is wrong with this thing?
SHAPING [Formidable: Success] - A single object with the knowledge of so much tragedy, a single vessel looking into a world beyond and all that has happened there. It traced the edges of the known world, and came out the other side— were you expecting it to be normal?
DRAWERS - You dig around in the drawers of your desk, attempting to find any sort of laptop to plug this thing into— reflecting that, really, past-you had no clue how to organize anything. Have you really been working like this?
MISERY - Exhaustion is heavy. It will defy even what is there to relieve it. You have learned this again, and again, and again.
YOU - (Ignore the rest of the clutter for now, and grab your computer.)
COMPUTER - You open it up, and a log-in screen pops up.
DEJA VU [Godly: Failure] - You don't know your password.
YOU - …
WIT - Really, were you expecting anything else?
YOU - (Put your head in your hands. And scream. Again.)
THE DEFIANCE - Really? This is almost pathetic.
THE LOYALTY - Like you'd do any different. Seems like this won't work, then?
THE SIGHT - It's alright. There's other ways. We know they'll get there somehow. Apologies in advance, Inspector.
YOU - Wait— What?
SHAPING - And then you're falling out of your mind again— out of this one, at least.
YOU - You little Motherfu—
—
—
—
—
—
—
SHAPING - The rise back to existence is slower than your descent was, lingering quietly as the world reconstructs itself around you. It's just like waking up— you can't name when you become aware again, but at some point, it becomes evident you are.
FLESH - You double over onto the floor, clutching your stomach, immediately. You're somehow even more sick to your stomach now. At the rate this is going, you're going to throw up soon.
WIT - I suggest you don't.
YOU - What the Hel.
WIT - What? I didn't do anything.
YOU - You can't just— yank my consciousness from place to place randomly! What the actual fuck is wrong with you!
WORLDVIEW - Evidently, they can. Or else it wouldn't have happened.
YOU - Mmmmfrrgghhhhg.
PER ASPERA - Complaining isn't going to help. Get going.
FLESH [Challenging: Success] - With some swallowing back of bile, and some concentration, your nausea fades just enough for you to open your eyes.
TRAIN CAR - This isn't your office. The only thing within sight are bare doors, evenly spaced across each side of the hall you find yourself in. The walls are a mix of painted white, marble, and intricate mosaic. Claustrophobic and cold. The sound of your heavy breathing could be the only sound to have passed through these halls in centuries, with how spotless it is.
PERCEPTION [Medium: Success] - It isn't, though— the faintest sound of music echoes. Not loud enough to distinguish the notes, but loud enough to notice. It's inhuman, and haunting, and makes everything from the walls to your bones hum along in accordance.
Not only that, but faintly enough it takes you a minute to notice— the sound of a choked, muffled sobbing. The two noises are so quiet you would never had been able to notice them otherwise, but in the silence, they set your nerves on edge. The crying seems to be coming from behind one of the doors, though which one, you can't say.
JUSTICE [Trivial: Success] - Somebody who needs help— don't just sit around, do something!
YOU - "Hello? Is anyone there?"
TRAIN CAR - The crying stops immediately, but no response follows.
CONNECTION - Obviously— they have no clue who we are, or what our intentions are. Considering how empty this place is, they might've been alone here for a while. Might not even be able to leave. They probably think we're going to hurt them.
YOU - "Are you alright?"
TRAIN CAR - Still no response. If there's any further noise, it's drowned out by the quiet song.
PERCEPTION [Easy: Success] - Wait one moment— not all the doors are the same. In the corner, farthest from you— there's a small padlock, hastily stuck on. It's simple appearance is jarring in the hall full of wild, garish decor.
YOU - (Approach and shake the lock)
PADLOCK - It is, as presumed, locked, and doesn't magically give when rattled.
YOU - "Hello? Are you locked in here?"
TRAIN CAR - Still no response— you'd almost think you'd imagined the crying, if it wasn't for the fact that you know what you heard.
YOU - "I— if you're in there, I'm going to come in? I don't— I want to make sure you're okay."
BRUTE [Legendary: Failure] - You try and yank it open, but unfortunately, it is metal, and you are weak flesh.
WIT [Easy: Success] - Have you tried maybe not using your bare hands? Typically some sort of tool would be great for this. Have you tried checking your pockets?
YOU - I have… pockets? Wait, why didn't you mention that earlier?!
WIT - Presumably, you also have eyes. At least, I'd hope so. Maybe you should try using them.
YOU - (Pat your pockets that apparently exist)
POCKETS - You do indeed have pockets. And they do indeed seem to contain things. For one, your police badge.
YOU - I've had my police badge this entire time?! The one that has my name on it? And my title? And probably plenty of other relevant information?
WIT - I mean, you've already figured all of that out from sheer guesswork. So it's pretty much useless at this point.
POCKETS - —For another, a small multitool pocket knife. After a moment of flipping through it, you find a small screwdriver type device that you think might be small enough to pick the lock with.
YOU - (Attempt to pick the lock.)
BRUTE [Medium: Success] - This time, you manage to jam the screwdriver in enough of the right places to make it click open. The padlock falls off the door and to the ground, quickly kicked to the side. It's presence here still feels strange and alien.
CONNECTION [Medium: Success] - Warn them before you go in.
YOU - "I'm coming in now, alright? Please don't be scared. I'm not going to hurt you."
LOCKED ROOM - There's still no response.
YOU - (Enter anyways.)
LOCKED ROOM - The room is as quiet as the outside hall. It looks like any basic hotel room— a bed too fancy to ever be comfortable to sleep on, walls too stark, the entire place reeking of medical and mechanical comfort. The sheets of the bed are made out of fine fabric, as are the curtains, firmly drawn over the large window on the far wall. The mediocre hostility of the place has been broken, or rather accentuated, by the bloodstains around, though. They litter the floor and sheets.
RED STRING [Medium: Success] - Not enough blood loss to lead to a dead body, but enough to lead to someone who needs medical help.
BROKEN WOMAN - As you move further into the room, rounding around the bed, you see her— the victim, presumably. It's evident she's still crying, but choking it back now so you wouldn't hear her, a hand over her mouth. Her hair is red, tangled and unbraided, though its color doesn't compare to the bloody scratches up her arms, neck and face.
PERCEPTION - Self inflicted. There's blood under her sharp fingernails, and the angle is obviously from clawing at her own skin.
BROKEN WOMAN - She wears a torn green dress, barely hiding her gaunt figure, covered in bruises. Scars dot her lips and cheeks wet with tear tracks, and a pair of manacles binding her wrists. When she sees you, her eyes widen in fear.
CONNECTION [Easy: Success] - You're still holding the pocketknife. Drop it, quick.
YOU - (Drop it, and lift your hands in surrender)
BROKEN WOMAN - She doesn't move, but she doesn't stop crying, either, just staring in terror. She rocks back and forth slightly, breathing raggedly.
YOU - "I'm not going to hurt you, I promise. I just want to help." (Lean down and try to get closer to see what's wrong)
BROKEN WOMAN - She flinches away from you, curling in on herself. "No, no, no, no, no—" She whispers, hand moving from over her mouth to pawing at the side of her head. "You aren't— you're new, you're not supposed to be here."
YOU - "What do you mean?"
BROKEN WOMAN - In a second, the woman's demeanor changes, from blind terror to determination. Her face untwists, and she grabs your wrist, before you have a chance to move away. Her grip is tight, and she looks into your eyes, her own shimmering with too many colors.
"No, this isn't right." Her voice is more even now, having lost the quiver of fear. "This is all out of order. We need to start from the beginning."
Before you can respond, you begin to slip away again, the world careening into white. She opens her mouth to say something, before hesitating and closing it again, simply giving you a soft, sad smile. Her eyes seem to contain a million apologies, and not a single one of them will ever be enough. Just for a moment, you wonder who she is to have hurt you so much.
And then, you're gone.
—
—
—