While your conversation with Shadow may have shed light on a few things... it's obvious he doesn't think you all are up to the task of saving the universe from Eggman. Which also means that now you're dealing with his test, starting immediately. Some of you may be whisked away with no time to even blink, while others may find themselves wandering the Void aimlessly. Regardless, it seems this week won't be a particularly easy one.
THE VOID
Nothing has changed in the Void. Nothing ever changes in the Void. It's impossible to track the passage of time in here, and your only escape are the rings... though you should be careful with them, as there's far fewer this week. You're free to travel between worlds as you see fit - Shadow won't stop you - but you can be snatched up from wherever you are at any given moment and pulled back into the Void. Maybe don't plan on spending to long anywhere else, because it won't end well for you if you do.
The hexagonal shards will still show you visions of other worlds... but this time they all show the same thing. You'll see worlds - maybe even your own - taken over by robots and Eggman's chroma, reduced to smoldering ashes or being rebuilt in Eggman's image. Your friends, allies, and enemies may even be going about their lives just as listlessly and dutifully, heedless of their surroundings. You may even see alternate versions of yourself among them. Regardless, it seems all these shards have to show you this week are all the possibilities of failure - that other versions of shardbearers in other timelines have already lost.
MINDSCAPES
Shadow's usage of the Phantom Ruby and his own fake Chaos Emerald shard have caused quite the problem for you all - namely, you'll find yourselves traversing each other's innermost thoughts and dreams. Exactly how this mindscape manifests depends on the individual, but one thing will always remain true: you won't be able to find the owner of the mindscape easily.
As a reflection of these inner thoughts, mindscapes can be any sort of place. Perhaps they are a reflection of the owner's inner demons and fear, or perhaps they showcase a bright future they want to work towards. Regardless, this is a dream and one the owner must be awoken from... which means finding them and bringing them back to reality. That's easier said than done when traversing through this dream-like state, where the rules are made up by the owner and you're a foreign being that the dream recognizes as a threat (even if you aren't).
You may encounter familiar places or people within these mindscapes. You may not. You may end up fighting for your life in here... or you may not. Each one is individual, and the experience can vary wildly from person to person. No matter what you face, you must find the owner of the mindscape and bring them back. You must ensure you're strong enough to support them... and protect yourself.
Curiously, you can activate your shared shard power with the owner of the mindscape at any time - or bolster your own power if you share shard colors - even without them being present. Will this make it easier or harder to help bring them back? It depends on the person, your bond, and the mindscape itself...
Waking them up is as simple as convincing them that they're dreaming - that this isn't real and that they still have things to return to - but that may be easier said than done depending on the person... or the mindscape itself. There's no telling what you'll encounter, after all.
SHARDS
You'll find you're capable of more now than you were before. You're really adapting to using your shard powers and fighting with others. Those of you who share shard colors will feel the strength of your shards increasing even more when working together.
As you fight with your allies - particularly those you have a close bond with, positive or negative - you may feel the tug of something in the back of your head; it tells you that you can do more. Together, you can become more powerful. You can use your shards together. Doing so will grant you a new power, or strengthen the one you already have. The more you trust one another, the easier this power will be to use.
It might be good to experiment with these new powers; after all, you never know when you may need them.
TAILS' TASKS
Given that your allies are being pulled into mindscapes and are unable to break free of their own, your task this week is to help your friends. Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are off dealing with their own mindscapes, but whenever they are around, they're adamant about the importance of making sure everyone is freed and prepared for whatever comes next.
ENEMIES
Like last week, you will not encounter any of Eggman's robots. The Void is still free of enemies, though other worlds may possess their own threats. Mindscapes are a bit of a different beast; each one varies, and you may or may not encounter threats of any sort in them. Best be on your guard.
[ they will help a friend out so he doesn't die before he achieves marital bliss with his plant boyfriend. IS SUCH A WILD STATEMENT… but of course void archives would try to feed wolfwood some semblance of hope for his situation. (and of course wolfwood would be quick to want to discredit it.) there is just something so funny and ironic that it’s them who is saying all of this to him. if it had been someone else then wolfwood wouldn’t have found as much “issue” with it. regardless, wolfwood will simply shake head with a humorless laugh. ]
Yer really hellbent on makin’ sure that everythin’ I tell ya is invalid, aren’t ya?
[ and thanks for the reminder of the very likely and very real situation that he and vash are going to find themselves in every scenario—optimistic or not. wolfwood will inevitably die long before vash and whatever impact he has made on him will need to be dealt with by him and him alone. this probably wasn’t the point that void archives was trying to make, but they sure did bring it to the table. so much for their glorious rebuttal. not that it matters too much as little will change about wolfwood’s overall attitude. ]
It wouldn’t be the first time that someone he knew died; ya can’t live as long as he has and not experience losin’ someone important. [ here is where he would name drop vash’s mother-figure but he doesn’t know her and never learned about her so that is definitely not happening. instead wolfwood will simply try to brush off the horrible side effects of understanding the depths of his feelings for vash. ] He’ll find a way to deal with it.
[ honestly, the fact that they call him a downer right after all of what they said before is something else. truly wolfwood is just going to end up in a certain kind of way with his thoughts after this. when he speaks, there is only a thin layer of sarcasm to his voice. ]
Me a downer? If that’s what ya think of me—fine. I’ll be a downer.
[ Wow, this fellow has sure got a mouth on him, doesn't he! Void Archives merely raises a brow. What kind of haughty declaration is this... ]
Deepswim and darkness?
Perhaps you should fear the onslaught of a holy light that shall deliver you from this plane of existence, and straight into the hands of the realm above.
[ There is a beat where his "companion" looks at Void Archives in a way that seems to indicate that what they are saying is extremely out of pocket. But, look, they are just playing a role here and think it's absolutely hilarious to say something ridiculous. Come on, it's boring sticking to the usual expected shit.
Speaking of unexpected things, though, the sudden potential arrival of a storm causes the unfortunate shaking of footing... but, Void Archives is too into the script to even be bothered and keeps it just fine (18) ]
Let's give them a little taste of something else far less pleasant, shall we?
Together now!
[ And now, time for an enactment of the combination ability. Say hi to the Trojan Horse Cube that's being flung out and the incoming light implosions with the projectiles - it's a wide area of effect so hopefully it can catch wherever that nuisance so happens to be under the waves as well! ]
[The golden cube flings out into the surf, resting in place with only rings of light keeping it afloat for several seconds.
While the figure in the air easily gets out of the way, the inward pull of its implosion causes a pocket of the sea to collapse, only for the force to shoot outward with the projectiles of light. The shadowed figure of blue can be seen and briefly heard in amidst the crash of water, a female voice yelling in alarm as it is tossed about, the glow of its mask fading, before all the projectiles hunt the figure down in rapid succession right as the sea violently closes itself back up to the gap.
Their enemy in the air calls out - a name that is nothing but static, a name that is many names at once. A brief crack, before its attention is back on the boat, swirling closer as the rain and wind start to pick up.]
Proudtalk to call strangers a danger of the heavens, huh? Like Great Beings that longrest beyond highcloud and sparkling stars?
Hahah! It's silliness!
Toa-heros know no fear if they are together! Air has no truelove for the deep and the wet, but maybe fallen starfighters may find it a better home!
[And with considerable force, the figure drops itself at the very end of the boat. Given it is standing at a good 7 foot 2 inches, the force of its landing immediately rocks the canoe nearly 45 degrees.
Roll 1d20 to keep yourself from being swept into the ocean.]
[ Well, Void Archives' expression looks pinched and annoyed when Wolfwood presents the question that he does. They thought that, even if Wolfwood had his complications towards life, he might at least look towards it more favorably if there was a true opportunity to extend the time he had with someone who seems so important to him. Yes, he had all of that guilt, but he also seemed adamant about sticking close to Vash's side - and there was the bit of determination or resolve towards whatever feelings he had in the man's direction in that previous week.
So, maybe, Wolfwood had experienced some personal changes? But, it seems that they misjudged that, to the point where he said that they are the ones who are so 'hellbent' on 'making sure everything he's said is invalidated'. They huff as Wolfwood says the rest of his words, trying to sort out the rest of whatever they can say.
They...just really wanted to help...that's all. And, they don't want Wolfwood to die an early death. This feels even less complicated than before. But, perhaps it is still as much as before. ]
I didn't mean to suggest I was diminishing what you said before.
...Even if we spoke about such matters that were related to this subject, I didn't know the strict details of your situation. Still, I wouldn't say such things if I did not know a method.
So, can you tell me you have not considered it? I also wondered, if perhaps, you had changed in certain respects yourself? And truthfully, you say that your friend will be fine, dealing with it...but, are you alright with it?
Even if your heart is heavy with certain sentiments, with a feeling you must stick to this or that, can you truly say it does not trouble you at all?
If you still can answer so easily with that hardened heart of yours, I ask:
Why must things remain the same? Why can't it change?
[ Though, they look back at Wolfwood, if only just to ask: ]
...And, really, of all the things you have to accept myself saying - it's being a downer?
[He wasn't able to meet Vakama's eyes for long, ducking his head slightly in a mixture of shame and exhaustion. His wn arms dropped, back of his hand swiping quckly across his eyes. Still too weak, even now--too weak to do anything but shatter like a defective machine.]
I-I've truly enjoyed the time all of us have spent together. And that frightens me; it feels undeserved, unfamiliar, and painfully selfish. I want to feel as though it is deserved--to understand whatever it is the rest of you seem to that makes you care about me this way. It is...a struggle, one I have to contend with.
[ Weird, that sure is something odd - they wonder why it is static rather than anything truly audible. Maybe it isn't something to pay attention to, but Void Archives happens to have done so anyway; and then there's that crack or something?
Too bad they didn't exactly eliminate that one completely. It would have been fantastic. ]
...You sound completely and utterly ridiculous.
[ As if Void Archives can talk, but boy these guy is sure taking the cake from where they're standing. They even let out a derisive scoff. ]
You call yourselves heroes? Perhaps you would fancy yourselves as such, and yet have not so much as shown a bit of a "heroic" quality in the slightest.
To myself you are simply masquerading around as one, as if in a play, and finding themselves fancying the role far too much. Indeed, perhaps it is I who should be declaring myself something to counter your weak heroic nature - I wouldn't suggest that I am the 'hero' of the role. But rather something far more powerful:
[It's a garbled taunt from the one above as Void Archive drops into the water. The crashing of the waves under the growing storm knocks them to and fro. To their side, they can spot their partner also crashing down in a trail of bubbles, flailing to right themselves.
The green figure lands atop the upturned boat, obscured by the crashing water.
They will have only a few moments to gain their bearings before the blue shadowed figure can be spotted, just as fast in the water as the other had been in the air. Sharp hook-like objects seem to protrude where its hands should be.]
Shall we test your resolve, O Great Judge of Heroes?
[A hook is raised. The crashing water will press around them like a vice, even as the blue figure darts by like a fish and attempts to hook at Void Archive's waist with their weapon. If Void Archive fails their roll, they will remain underwater and will not be able to surface for a turn.
From the boat, the green figure swings its blade down towards your partner, blades of air slicing through the water to try and knock them further and further down.
You may roll dodges for both Void Archive and their partner, and may attack with both so long as they do not roll a 1.]
[ They are tempted to do something obscenely childish but fortunately because they're underwater I don't have to agonize over them doing it or not.
Anyway, this is hilariously embarrassing but you know what, it's fine. They've been through worse, which is actually true.
They're not human and they don't have to breathe so they don't have to worry about being drowned. But, anyway, they fail in avoiding the hook (7) and are stuck underwater. They look pretty pissy at the gal underwater, though.
But they then lash out underwater, sending light at their opponent - an ability that is unaffected by the water's waves.
As for their partner, they end up getting sliced too (8) but blow a sudden rain of icicles back at the green figure. ]
[At such a close distance, it's easy to tell two things:
1) The blue figure is definitely damaged, the marks from the light projectiles having left behind several ugly marks in its metal and a miniscule stream of blackened debris from one of its arms. 2) The figure's mask glow seems to be constant, ebbing with the sounds of respiration under the waves.
At the boat, ice blasts through the wooden beams of the bottom of the boat with a garbled cry of pain from above. (9) The green figure sways, and the boat rocks unsteadily, before it takes back to the air for the time being. It will be much harder to spot unless they get closer to the surface, but it doesn't stop them from trying to attack again with a blade of air towards Void Archive's partner. Hopefully they don't need to emerge for air anytime soon!
Though the blue figure attempts to whip Void Archive into deeper water first, Void Archive's attack hits quicker (8), the sound of crunching metal muted in their ears. Grunting in pain, it dislodges Void Archive like a hook shot of surprising strength, a whirlpool pushed in Void Archive's direction to try and trap them a good distance from the boat.
They are clearly not aiming to kill them outright. So what are they doing?]
[ Maybe it is fortune rather than misfortune that has allowed them to make such observations. Pretty interesting, though.
Because Void Archives' partner can dodge more than Void Archives, he's fine (19). But that isn't the only thing he does - he manages to rise out of the water, forms an icicle chain and tries to use it to grab a hold of the green one from above with a swing from down below.
As for Void Archives, they...get caught up in the damn attack (10), but they try to use light instead to blast it behind themselves so they can slam back into the blue figure - bodily.
Man, this is really going sucky for them in particular, but they are trying. And honestly, they have no idea what the two are aiming for here, but Void Archives is trying to figure it out...kind of. ]
You are a kindred spirit that I didn't think possible to exist in the first place, Viktor. Intent and regret in like measure, with our mistakes and creations always hanging over our heads...
In that way... I know I don't have the answers to help you, no more than I have any answers to help myself. I am no more than a hypocrite, to say otherwise. And yet...
[He hesitates, almost as though he intends not to keep speaking. But his touch drops, from shoulders to wrists, to try and take Viktor's hands in his own.]
How... how desperately I wish to see you have more kindness towards yourself than I was ever able to find, my friend.
You have been given this beautiful, frightening chance at more time... and I ache for you to be able to accept it in whatever way you can. No matter how selfish, I want to see you fulfilled.
[Their partner just barely manages to grab the green figure by the ankle (10). It's not enough to get it out of the air completely yet, but they definitely have leverage until the chain breaks!]
Wh -- No coldleashing! Get off!
[The green figure will attempt to break the chain, but its first attempt is unsuccessful. (2) It will roll disadvantage on your next attack.
Over with Void Archive, the blue figure has completely turned away from them, which might explain why they are completely caught off guard when Void Archive shoots through the water. The body slam hits hard (1), and the jolt alone seems to dislodge the mask on its face.
Instantly the glow from the mask stops, and air starts to bubble from its mouth with the tell tale signs of someone drowning.
It fumbles to reattach its mask first and foremost, even while trying to shove its legs up between itself and Void Archive and kick off their stomach to gain some distance.]
[He let Vakama take his hands with no resistance--more frail than the touch of the machine, though not yet as thin and cold as they became in the years that followed this day.]
I am sure I would be lost here without your support, Vakama. You need not have every answer, you simply...understand, in ways I would never have believed possible. Undertanding I sincerely hope I have been able to extend in turn.
I have never truly...fit anywhere. Outsider to Piltover, defector to Zaun--I had nowhere, save only for our laboratory. That was the only 'home' I have ever known for most of my life. In all of this I feel...lost, drifting from one small purpose to the next and hoping it can all be enough. [Enough to help the allies he had made, enough to make up for everything he was and everything he had done, enough to save this and every other world.]
I think I-...I would like to belong somewhere else. Until this ends and I return to that anchoring point...no, perhaps even beyond such a time as that. With you, Dorothy, Basilio, Ashley--everyone.
You have done so enough, my friend. How I wish I had time to tell you all the stories I could, before our time was up... to hear as many as I could from you, so that I could remember them into eternity...
You are... easy, to talk to. To listen to.
[The grip feels so weak against the armor of his hands. So fragile and unfamiliar to the touch of the metal he is used to. But he still lets himself grip them gently.]
To want to belong... I would say it transcends beyond humanity alone, Viktor.
You will always have a place with us. And you will continue to have one with us all, myself included, no matter where your heart chooses to roam.
[A beat.
He glances off towards the docks, just briefly - down to the cane, still discarded - before letting his eyes settle back to Viktor.]
[ The partner's expression looks satisfied - which is, well, unsurprising given that the chain seems to have managed to grab a hold of the green figure. Then, there is a rough tug on it, aiming to try to bring the green figure down onto the boat, as well as leap back onto it.
Also, the words "No," might have been mouthed at some point in all of this. Seems like Void Archives might not be the only one who is inclined towards...taunting...
But, speaking of which!
...Oh, that is certainly someone drowning.
For the love of all that is holy, Void Archives can't dodge worth a damn (7), but the blond does try to grab a hold of one of those legs after being kicked at?? There is a process here, but it is just yakkety saxing through this, apparently... ]
...I...do not mind. Telling you these things, I mean to say. Perhaps if we find time we can simply exchange stories a bit less dismal than our usual fare.
[The smallest laugh left him, easily mistaken for a quicker than usual exhale in how slight and faint it was. Viktor found it difficult--perhaps impossible--to simply not understand something, such was just his nature as a scientist. But the heart was unquantifiable; even if logic dictated the architect of Runeterra's near-destruction deserved death at the bare minimum, there would be those who foolishly diagreed and would not be dissuaded. People like Jayce, like Vakama, like so many of their allies-]
[Friends, he corrected himself with a similarly indefinable warmth mixed with confusion. He never had very many of those, and now here he was with a shocking abundance even in spite of everything he had done. Undeserved kindness, unwarranted sympathy, illogical care for a steel monster and mass murderer.]
[He might never understand it. Maybe he didn't have to.]
That...would be nice, if you would accompany me. [The corner of his mouth twitched into a crooked smile--none of the precision of the machine's movements, as uncertain and exhausted as the rest of him. But the effort was there--Viktor had never really known how to give up, for better and for worse.]
[Fortunately, the training session that Turo walks in on is a very obvious illusion- a residual memory of whoever this mindscape belongs to.
Dozens of soldiers fill the chamber, with the man from before at the front of the group leading the session. This seems to be a training session for new recruits, and the man is putting them through rigorous heats to test their mettle.
Interestingly, Turo will be able to pick up on a few moves that Raven taught him not too long ago. However, the way this man instructs is very different. He's stoic, serious and no-nonsense.
The session draws to a close, the recruits are totally wiped out from exhaustion. However, they can't stop going on about how amazing it is to be under the tutelage of the Captain Schwann.]
[Carefully, he kneels down to pull Viktor's cane off the stone walkways, a quick eye over it to look for damages before handing it up to Viktor.]
Always.
[It is long since time to wake up.
As he straightens himself back up, he will hesitantly hold his hand back out for Viktor's unoccupied one.]
When my time as a Toa is at its end, there are many stories I wish to find ways to share with my people. In... what ways we can, that is. [Much would have to stay secret for the rest of their lives, as far as Vakama is concerned. Better that than to bring undue unrest and anguish at everything that had been lost. But surely... surely... they could tell what needed to be told, for the better of the Matoran.]
I would find the greatest joy, my friend, to know you had a touch on those.
[So long as Viktor accepts that outstretched hand, it will not leave Viktor's.]
[When Void Archives enters the hallway, that dull ache slowly morphs into the sensation of a heartbeat against their ears. A disembodied voice echoes around them.]
I can't see anything.
I can't hear anything.
Is someone there?
Answer me. Help me.
Someone--
[A deep, garbled voice interjects and a sudden jolt of pain shoots through Void Archives' chest.]
There's no one left except you.
[And just like that, the voices disappear along with the pain.
As Void Archives reaches the end of the tunnel, they'll see the man from before. Younger, but the uniform is the same. He's reading a letter aloud, voice devoid of any emotion.]
You'll live a new life here.
You are one of the few knights who survived the Great War. Even though you are a commoner, you possess great skill and a certain level of pride. Your name is...
[Schwann deserves exactly this. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a response for Yeager. In fact, he seems to have disappeared into thin air.
It doesn't help that at the end of the hall is definitely not more of the shrine.
It's the streets of Dahngrest. One that Yeager knows very well, even if he hasn't been allowed in the city for quite some time. He's been placed right in front of the Union headquarters.
A young man is scaling the side of the building. He looks a little like the man from earlier, only younger. But he also resembles a younger version of someone Yeager knows very well by this point. There's no mistaking him. Yeager's met him at this stage of his life, after all.
He watches the Don through one of the windows into the main chamber, which...proves to be a mistake. The Don immediately notices him and catches him by surprise by smashing through the very window the man was looking through. A fierce fight breaks out, but Yeager can probably imagine how it's going to end. It's the Don, after all.
After doling out a serious thrashing, the Don stands over the man.]
"Not bad. What's yer name?"
[The young man simply stares at him, dead-eyed.]
"If ya don't answer, I'll kill ya."
...Kill me.
"So, ya have a death wish, boy?"
[The Don gives him a harsh look.]
"You moron. I hate kids like you."
[He lifts his foot and stomps on the man, knocking him unconscious. Of course, he doesn't just leave him there. He takes him in.
[After a bit of chasing, Vakama will find Schwann's figure descending a worn down flight of stairs leading deeper into the shrine. But should Vakama follow him down there, he'll witness flashes of a fight breaking out between a younger Schwann and an absolute mountain of a man, with the man easily coming out on top. By the time he reaches the bottom of the stairs, he'll find himself in...an inn room? It's as if he's been transported to another place entirely.
The man from before sits in front of a bedridden Schwann.]
"You've met with quite an unfortunate fate, haven't you?"
...Why did you save me?
[Schwann had told the man to kill him after losing that fight, and yet...]
"I'm no nice guy. I just can't believe that one guy could come in here with these worrisome thoughts."
[He looks down upon Schwann with a fierce expression.]
"Did your house burn down? Family eaten by monsters? So what? You think that kind of story is rare? Even if you're talking about the Great War, pretty much everybody lost something important to those monsters.
So what's your deal? Telling me to kill you. That you want to die."
[Schwann's surprised expression dissolves into one of listlessness as he lowers his gaze to his hands.]
I don't expect you to understand.
"Obviously, you idiot." [The man booms.] "I'm not you. Aren't you old enough to know better?"
[A young boy—introducing himself as Harry, the man's grandson—interrupts their conversation with a message for the man. After delivering it, he points toward Schwann and asks who he is...to which the man introduces him as "Raven", a new member of the guild, much to Schwann's surprise.
Schwann turns to the man after the boy leaves.]
Were you joking when you said I was a new guy?
"Treating your wounds takes time and money, so I'll just have you pay it back through work."
Are you serious?
"It's a pretty nice gig, huh? Getting to work by my side."
...But think about it, I might attack you again.
[The man lets out a boisterous laugh and slaps his knee.]
"Then I look forward to it!"
[The man turns to leave, telling Schwann...or "Raven", that he'll be back with a job for him later.]
H-Hey now. What's with the name "Raven"?
"It was the name of a pet mouse Harry owned a while ago."
[Raven looks on, dumbfounded.]
"Oh yeah, and another thing.
Do something about that face that's making you look like the most unfortunate guy in the world."
[As the man leaves, the scene fades back into the dank lower floor of the ruined shrine. Time to move on.]
Ow!!! I'm -- ghk -- I'm not your petthing, icebreath! Off, off!!
[Though the green figure attempts to resist the pull (16, 9), it does not work. Void Archive's partner will be able to climb onto the overturned boat, even as their tugging whips their prisoner into melee range. It is taking full advantage of that by immediately deactivating its mask once more to try and repeat the exact same trick it did before in catapulting its captor back into the water. Roll a d20 to prevent from going back into the ocean (again).
Void Archive's hands reach out to grab the blue shadow as it retreats, but it evades their grasp this time (15). Its focus seems to be torn away from Void Archive entirely at the sounds of the commotion above, trying to break the distance as quickly as it can with its injuries and prepare a counter to support its teammate above. Void Archive will not have to dodge and can act freely..]
[...So someone had caught him by chance in the midst of all this. Seen his state, as empty and broken as it was, taken a strange sort of pity on him, and offered him a very risky second chance.
And the name... this is where that had come from?
...
His expression tightens as he pushes his way through the stone and humidity. How desperate Raven must have been for an out, if he'd outright asked someone to take his life in such a way. No longer wanting understanding, only an end that felt deserved.
...]
I wish this is not something we shared, my friend. I am sorry.
[As Vakama ventures further in, the pulsations of topaz energy grow more frequent. So too do the glimpses into the double life of Schwann Oltorain of the Imperial Knights and Raven of the guilds.
He sees Raven's first days working for Don Whitehorse- the man who named him and took him under his wing. He sees him go back to Alexei some months later to report on his findings. Alexei tells him to continue his work in Dahngrest to keep tabs on the guilds, and so becomes a regular routine of switching identities to suit his purposes. Sometimes he even forgets which mask he's supposed to be wearing.
Vakama lays witness to the man's growth into the Raven he knows today- and just how much he's bonded with the Don, now seeing him like a second father. After having known Raven for years now, the Don is disappointed in Raven's continued listlessness. Life feels more free as Raven, but at the end of the day he's just the shell of a dead man wandering through life. What point is there in dreaming for something more?
One fateful day, Raven meets a young man named Yuri Lowell and everything changes. Vakama watches as Raven integrates himself into Yuri's group- primarily because Alexei wants him to keep tabs on Estelle. The kids are rightfully wary of him, considering he used them as bait to get past some guards on one of his missions, but over time he truly becomes one of the group. Even the Don can see a spark of life in Raven's eyes for the first time since they've known each other and encourages him to work with them. He's truly come to find something worth living for in traveling with these kids.
...but the other shoe has to drop sometime.
Deep darkness begins to set in and Vakama is forced to navigate without light as an oppressive atmosphere pushes down on him.]
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