Night Terrors

Daybreak

Murder! Murder in the night!

Yes, once again, your failure to catch a Ghost has resulted in death most unsavoury taking place during that most sacred time of the day. 

The victim? None other than Moment!

Alas, poor Moment… you scarce knew him! And now you never shall. A Noble lacking in Patronages, he was.

A most distressing turn of events, I am sure you will agree. 

But you must respond with renewed fortitude. Execute an Evil Ghost, I prithee! Do so this night, or forever shall you live in shame! As ever, please react to this message with the emoji denoting your victim of choice by 9pm BST.

And a reminder - please ensure that I am privy to any and all discussions relating to the game. This is most important!

I hope for better tidings this night!

The last words of Moment:

"Well then... I guess the moment has come! 

Now down to it! I placed my trust in those I believed to be most helpful, Buster. While I became incredibly suspicious of those voting against Buster, brought it up publicly and now... here I am😢🌹"

Captain’s log, stardate 77670.5: Another night passes, and another victim is claimed. Crew morale is the lowest I’ve yet seen. But even as we prepare ourselves for another day of discussion and execution, something odd has happened to Mr. Eustace Scrubb: He has been transformed into a dragon.

None of us are able to explain this sudden turn of events. Even the cause is a mystery. I have been able to cast a translation spell on him, allowing him to speak Federation Standard, but that is all I can do for him at this time. The current murder investigation must take precedence.

Part Three

[Bryan is digging up the grave of Russorbaloff, when the spade hits something solid.]

I found something!

I saw, quickly, get it out.

[After an amount of effort, a coffin is removed from the ground. They open the lid.]

What’s that?

It looks like a computer recording.

Poxxy must have a screen where we can watch this.

[In Poxxy’s study, while the Regent is busy elsewhere, the duo watch the recording.]

“My name is Russ, and I have fallen back through time. When we left VibeCity, we believed we were safe from insurrection. I was wrong. One of them pursued me and in the explosion my ship was sent back through time and landed here. If you’re watching this, you have found my grave. But I am not in it. I did not die in a sacrifice to summon up the Demon Shark. That was someone else, I am alive. I am out there, somewhere. Cardinal Poxxy is not safe. The king is up to something. Don’t trust them son, Bryan, get out of the castle and come find me! I’m waiting for you in--”

* * RECORDING CORRUPTED * *

[The computer explodes, startling Bryan and Shark.]

NOOO!! Come back!!

How did he know we would find and watch this?

I still don’t have any answers! Just more questions.

I know about the VibeCity events. He was proven innocent of all the wrongdoing.

I know.

Whatever is going on here Bryan, we need to find a way out of here. We need to track down Russorbaloff and ask him what really happened ten years ago.

[Bryan stares meaningfully out the window into the distance.]

Well then, Shark. Let’s finish things here so we can get going.

Right you are Bryan. Let’s get to work.

[The End…?]

In her room, Gem has a dream… or is it a nightmare?

"Military log, supplemental. Lieutenant Kyla Verger has transferred to the Sovereign-class Endeavour, where she has taken over tactical duties. Meanwhile, our long range scanners have picked up Romulan battle cruisers on an intercept course."

“Number and type of ships, Ms. Avalon?” Gem asks as she sits down in her command chair.

“Three Valdore class battlecruisers, ma’am,” reports Ensign Artoria Avalon.

“Hm. They're not even troubling to cloak themselves,” Gem comments.

“They shouldn't be so confident after the pasting we gave them on Archer Four,” adds Aífe from the tactical station.

Gem opens a ship-wide channel. “Attention all hands! As you know, we could outrun the Romulan vessels, but we must protect the Sovereign-class Endeavour until she enters the temporal rift! And we must succeed. Let's make sure history never forgets the name… Endeavour. Shadow out.”

The Romulans fire their disruptors, causing the bridge to shake.

Gem looks over at the Ops station, where Lieutenant Agatha Alden was stationed.

“Shields are holding, ma’am,” Agatha reports. 

“Hold fire,” Gem orders. “Ms. Avalon, come about to course one four eight zero zero three.”

“Aye, ma'am.” Artoria adjusts her console.

“Photon torpedoes ready,” reports Aífe.

“Dispersal pattern, sierra!” Gem barks. “And fire!”

Photon torpedoes streak away from the Nebula-class Endeavour toward the Romulan warbirds and detonate, even as the Romulans return fire.

“Damage report!” Gem orders.

“Heavy casualties in the secondary hull,” Aífe announces. “Navigational sensor array inoperative.”

“Ms. Alden, how long until the Sovereign-class Endeavour enters the rift?” Gem asked.

“Fifty two seconds, ma'am,” Agatha reports.

“Let’s make them count!” She jumps over the rail to help Aífe at tactical. “All remaining power to the defense systems!”

Gem’s ship continues to exchange fire with the Romulans. Damage increases, and several bridge crew are killed, including Aífe.

“Power couplings severed in forward phaser banks,” Agatha said. “Attempting to bypass. Controls not responding.”

“Federation ship Endeavour. Surrender and prepare to be boarded,” said a Romulan voice over a comm-link.

“That will be the day,” snarls Gem, as flames grow around her. Her ship is pounded by disruptor fire as the Sovereign-class Endeavour glides back into the rift.

Then she wakes up. It really was a dream after all… 

Commander Aife: "Alas, poor Moment! I knew him well. So well. You wouldn't believe how well I knew him."

Gem: "They were quite a valued officer... their loss is crushing to us all."

Bryan:Not Ryan... why him? I don't get it.

Shark: Goes to show, there's no hiding now.

Bryan: We need to find a ghost today.

Shark: Absolutely. There's no question about it.

Bryan: I wish we had anything resembling a solid lead.

Gem: "As do I, Mr. Bryan, Mr. Shark. Prepare for an all-hands meeting as soon as the last words are known."

Eustace: ???? !!!!!!!

Bryan: Yes, a load of question marks does sum it up nicely.

Shark: Really Bryan, that's the part you comment on?

Bryan: What do you mean?

Shark: The boy's turned into a dragon! And you don't remark on it at all?

Bryan: Well, it's . . . kind of obvious, isn't it?

Gem surveys Eustace the dragon, really wishing Q hadn't stolen her tricorder. "Fascinating... it's as if he was never human in the first place... the transformation is utterly complete in every conceivable respect! Could this have been his true form all along?"

Commander Aife: squints "And what, pray tell, is this?"

Eustace: (furiously) !!!!!! 😠

Gem: "Don't glare at me like that, I'm trying to make a scientific analysis! It's not often cross-species transformations happen so suddenly!"

Eustace: 😦

Gem has a sudden idea and lights her horn. A bubble appears around the dragon's head. "Okay... if this works, you should be able to speak. So, first question: are you alright, Mr. Scrubb?"

Eustace: What the devil do you think?? I’m a dragon!!

Gem: "Well, yes, of course! But you're not in pain? Everything is working as it should?"

Eustace: I have no idea how dragons ought to work!!

Gem: "No, I suppose you wouldn't... different planet. Anyway... I suppose it could be possible to change you back, but I don't have that kind of power at my disposal. That's alicorn magic, and I am no alicorn."

Eustace: I suppose I should have expected something like this to happen eventually. One thing after another in this wretched place. … I don’t know why, but I wish Sir Reep was here. I suppose he must know all about dragons.

Gem: "I wish for that too, Mr. Scrubb. The castle is not the same without him."

Commander Aife: sits down beside him "I'm sorry for your situation. There are a good number of people in this castle who know what it is to be stuck with some curse or another, or some dreadful personal revelation. I among them."

Eustace: I… suppose that’s true. Blast! How do you people live like this?

Commander Aife: "It's difficult! But you find ways of getting by. I've been looking for a way to break my curse. Once I do, I'll lose the jagged teeth and brittle bones and this smell of apples in my head at all times. I don't know how long it will take, but I have hope it won't take forever. So I have that on the horizon, that this will only last for an amount of time, and then there will be a next part of my life."

Gem: "Exactly right, Number One. You still have a long life left to live, Mr. Scrubb. You'll make some adjustments and succeed, as we all must do."

Artoria: Ahhh! Vorigern is back! --oh wait that's not Vorigern.... E ... Eustace? What happened to you !?!

Gem: "We're still trying to work that out, Ensign Avalon... but I have the feeling it's permanent."

Commander Aife: "This is just like those children's novels. Animorphs"

Gem: "Ah, yes... the series about the slug creatures that infest people... remind me to tell you about a similar incident that occurred in 2364, Number One."

Shark: Demon slugs? Ew.

Bryan: Just because they're slimy... how is a demon shark any better?

Gem: "Demon sharks are better conversationalists."

Shark: I'm glad you think so, Captain.

Gem: You say conversational, I say he doesn't shut up.

Bryan: Did you hear my news Gem? I learnt overnight that I'm somehow the son of Russorbaloff, a friend of your friend Emerald.

Shark: Once we're done here, we will need a way to track Russ down.

Bryan: Can we hitch a ride in your spaceship?

Shark: We don't know where he is, but surely you have the means or the contacts to help us?

Bryan: Let us know.

Gem smiles. "Absolutely you can come with me. Just as soon as our mission here is complete, of course."

Artoria: 2364 Before Christ? You truly are a scholar

Gem: "Oh no, Ensign... 2364 AD."

Sir Jo walks around the castle in a state of great disturbance, speaking aloud as they pen their latest letter to their fiancée.

Dear Mina,

Alack, another death this morning! That’s three innocents who have died here (besides the King), and I’m complicit in one of those murders! Although is it really complicity when Poxxy forced us? He would have killed us all, otherwise! And now he is forcing us to execute a second person this evening. I am most distressed

“OH FUCK IT” shouts Sir Jo loudly, and runs off into another wing of the castle. 

Sir Jo returns

Jo: If we’re going to die, we might as well die looking fabulous! (Sir Jo returns, wearing an outfit of many colors.) Fuck the Great Game-Players’ rules! Where are they now, anyway? They’re not doing a damned thing to protect us!

Agatha: Oh wow, you're in lots of different colors! That's amazing

Gem: “I choose to die in my uniform, myself, but you look wonderful!”

Artoria: You're looking great Sir Jo!

Jo: For a long time, I believed that I should dress only in blue, to honour the Great Game-Players. But… well, even though I’m terrified about all the deaths etc, it feels good to finally be able to express myself.

Gem: “I’m very glad you’ve come to that realization, Sir Jo.”

Jo: Thanks for your kind words, comrades 🥺

SMG: I love Animorphs, it's incredibly popular right now, the year of our lord 2001!

Eustace: growls

Commander Aife: "It's okay, Tobi-- Eustace. Eustace."

Jo: Ahh! A dragon! Where did that come from?

Artoria: We have to figure out how to turn you back!

Eustace: GOOD QUESTION

Agatha: Did you perhaps find any bracelets or crowns or buttons or whatever that aren't yours?

Victoria: What the... Victoria surveys the dead body of Ryan, and the sudden dragon.

I locked myself in a room after the execution last night because I was so...hmph, never mind. 

You thought I might take over and set the place on fire, didn't you.

Who the hell is the dragon. 

I like 'em.

Eustace: No!! What are you implying?

Victoria: You would.

Eustace: Yes!! We do!! It’s so terribly dreadful being a dragon. I miss being a boy! I miss - …. Do you know what, I can’t seem to think of anything?

Shark: Does anyone have any unsubtle religious symbolism to hand?

Agatha: I just know from my reading that there have been cases where items from a magic hoard can turn people into dragons. I can't say if that's what happened to you or not. I'm just trying to help figure out why you're suddenly a dragon

Eustace: There must be something! Being a dragon is so - so - undignified, and - I certainly don’t like it! And being a boy, was - Well.

Jo: Oh my word, it talks!

Eustace: Was I happy, do you think? I thought I was happy. But now I’m not so sure.

Victoria: The dragon is that obnoxious child? What in the name of the ancients...

Artoria: puts her hand gently on his dragon paw there there. Don't worry we'll be sure to find a way to get you back to being your old self. And big sis Artoria will clock anybody who makes fun of you for being a dragon! Hold in there. You're not alone, Eustace, you have Friends.

Commander Aife: "If you want to get back to your old self. It could be good to have a think on it for a moment."

Shark: What we need is a prayer circle around the dragon.

Bryan: Okay...

Shark: Wait, hold on. Bryan, take this.

[Bryan picks up a guitar, which Shark conjured up. He starts to play.]

(Singing) Our Shark is an awesome shark...

Artoria: He reigns from waters below

With fins, and powerful strokes

Our shark is an awesome shaaark...

Commander Aífe doesn't know what this is but she hates it.

Bryan: Our Shark is an awesome shark

He comes from deepest dark

His speech is layered with snark

Our Shark is an awesome shark

EVERYBODY, all together now!

Bryan: Our Shark is an awesome shark

He comes from deepest dark

His speech is layered with snark

Our Shark is an awesome shark

[Bryan has finished the song.]

Bryan: Did it work?

Shark: Still looks like a dragon to me.

Bryan: Well that's disappointing.

Shark: Yep. I'm all out of ideas. Anyone else got any suggestions?

Eustace: sighs

Commander Aífe considers if Eustace could possibly have had any true loves to administer a true love's kiss. She quickly dismisses the thought. Too outlandish.

Shark: Sorry Scrubb.

Bryan: We tried to help.

Shark: But we're all-ears for other ideas.

Bryan: If anyone has any.

Commander Aife: ”Any ears?"

Shark: Any ideas! If you didn't hear the "i" perhaps get your ears checked.

Bryan: Calm down Shark, what the hell was that???

Eustace: Dragon hearing must be different from human hearing, because that sounded… almost alright.

Victoria walked up the dragon that had been Eustace. Actually...sorry, kid. With my sins, I'm not the best person to judge, and I kind of have a bit of experience with unwanted transformations as it happens. Generally they stop after a battle, but, is this really a battle? I don't know. Victoria rubbed her temples thoughtfully.

Commander Aife: ”You too, huh?"

Victoria: Yeah. It's very annoying. Sometimes it just feels like someone selects an option from a menu and there you are, not looking particularly human any more and with not a lot of control.

But I'm probably imagining that.

Chaos just laughs

Poxxy: Dragons are much preferable to petulant children. And they are spoken of in most positive terms in our new Prayer Book. The old King did so love dragons... How I miss her.

Victoria: You do such a great job of demonstrating that.

Commander Aife: ”Hmmmm... do you know of any possible way to break your curse?"

Victoria: I’m not sure it's really a curse, exactly...I was...sort of experimented on. I don't know if that's a concept that exists in this world.

Poxxy: Oh yes, we experiment on Enemies of the Crown all the time

Aife: nodding along

Poxxy: For example, just the other day, we gathered five traitors into a room to find out what would happen if we simply sang religious songs at them constantly, all day and all night. We thought perhaps it might reform their ways, but instead, they went insane. A preferable outcome if you ask me.

Victoria points her gun at Poxxy out of instinct.

Back. Off. *Chaos growls.

Eustace: That’s just the sort of thing I’ve come to expect from your lot. Barbarism all the way down! Never mind the British Consul! You’re lucky I don’t burn you to a crisp!

Poxxy: Be not afeared. I have no intention of torturing anybody, at least until this business of the King's murder is sorted out. After that, anyone's fair game if I take a disliking to them! Any more language like that, and I shall be compelled to find a muzzle

Eustace: Good luck with that, you brute! I am speaking through magic, you know. And it seems my teeth are sharp.

Bryan: Turning into a dragon hasn’t changed him that much. If anything, I think he’s even less aggressive now.

Victoria: Oh shit, this thing isn't loaded anyway. Victoria puts the gun back in its holster.

There's always the Hellfire.

Please don't.

Poxxy: Damned magic. We really must outlaw the use of magic by non-elites

Eustace: Really? Do you really think I’m the same?

Victoria: He’s almost...cute.

Eustace: I’m not sure how I feel about that. Pleased, I suppose.

Victoria gives a slight smile. How are you feeling, child? She considers for a moment ...Actually, do you prefer to be called child or dragon?

Eustace: Definitely not dragon. Not sure about child. … it’s jolly good of you to ask, though.

Victoria: It’s always nice to be asked. Some people...don't.

Captain’s log, supplemental: I have been accused of being an evil ghost by Buster, one of the castle’s spirits. I will offer the rabbit one compliment: his argument is persuasive, and were it not for the fact that it is a pack of lies and falsehoods, even I might be swayed. But as the argument concerns me (and I know I am speaking the truth) I know I am no ghost.

Gem: “Crew, the situation is grim indeed. The time for locating allies has passed, we can no longer afford to not kill a ghost tonight. Does anyone have any recommendations on how we may accomplish this?”

Buster: I may be able to help with that

Gem: "I'm glad to hear that, Mr. Buster. By all means, enlighten us."

Buster: I understand that people might not be able to trust me after yesterdays reckless stunts, however I may be able to make up for that today.

In full transparency, yesterdays plays were a deliberate attempt at poor strategy in order to observe what everyone did. I used poor arguments that made no logical sense, jumped on leads that were as weak as my characterisation, and flip flopped between several people to see who would follow, and who wouldn’t bit. My logic was that while the good guys can’t rely on usual strategy, the bad guys can, as their role remains largely unchanged. You can’t catch out ghosts by behaviour or reckless play, as they’re too smart to do that, but you can observe their voting matters.

I was surprised at Captain Shadow's actions in particular. Who did pretty much what I asked when I told she too no matter how poor my logic was. When I said vote Agatha, she voted Agatha, when I said vote Artoria, she voted Artoria. She also switched her vote several times between me and Hook in the last couple of hours, when she had absolutely no reason to do so, which irked my suspicions.

Luckily, I was granted a patronage by the dead last night to check somebody’s allegiance, but not their role, and naturally I chose Captain Shadow.

And yes, my suspicions were correct. Captain Shadow is a ghost.

I understand if you don’t trust me, and I am willing to offer myself as a self sacrifice if you need to. HOWEVER, I suggest the king appoints a Vao today. That way when I am revealed as innocent, we can kill Captain Shadow in the night, to which if that doesn’t happen, we will know the person who was appointed Vao is a ghost as well.

Gem: "An unseemly accusation as anything I've ever heard! How dare you, sir!"

Dress: That is… wow. I was not expecting that, but that’ll teach me to underestimate the dead

Eustace: Buster, could you tell us more about this patronage?

Buster: It’s called Queen of the Underworld. You choose someone at night, and at daybreak you are told if they are noble or ghost, but not their patronages.

Agatha: I’d forgotten this but from the rules: Additional Patronages will be assigned by the Noble Dead, once the killings have begun. These Patronages will not be revealed to the living.

Buster: It was a gift from the Noble Dead. I’m guessing the cat trusted me after all.

will not be revealed to the living

Bryan: But there's nothing to stop him revealing it himself, if I'm understanding correctly? Not sure why he would, but if it's true then we shouldn't miss the chance to eliminate a ghost. And if he's making it up and it turns out Captain Shadow is innocent, we know who to execute tomorrow.

Dress: This is my thought

Agatha: Right, nothing in the rules against revealing you got a patronage, even from the dead

Buster: We need to catch a ghost today, and I was lucky enough to find one

Bryan: You have put a massive target on yourself for the ghosts by revealing this, and a massive target for execution if you're making this up. 

I don't know what to think of all this, but if there's even the slightest chance he has found a ghost in Captain Shadow then we shouldn't miss the opportunity.

If he's lying, he's a either ghost himself or a massive liability.

Agatha: The Living (us) just haven’t been given a list of the Dead’s potential patronages

Buster: If a bishop has been elected, I hope they will protect me after my information has turned out to be correct

Commander Aife: Okay. I am going to make the case that Alex is a ghost and that Captain Shadow is innocent. My reason for believing this is that Gem is the Rook.

More to the point, Gem was made the rook at yesterday daybreak and, in an unwise play, immediately told Agatha and me despite having no concrete reason to trust us.

As bad as this play was, it DID convince me that Captain Shadow is a Noble. It's consistent with the mistake she made in Vibe City of telling people she's the bomb planter. And if she were a ghost, she would know I'm a Noble and as such would have no reason to tell me she's the Rook.

Now, MY bad play from yesterday was deciding, on the basis of Reep's last words, to trust Caitlin and Alex and disclose to them that Christa is the Rook with a view to building an alliance. This is how Buster knows Gem is the Rook, this is why he's leading the charge against Gem now. He's doing it in a way that has plausible deniability, whereas just killing her last night would have made him a clearer suspect much faster.

As unwise as MY play was, I believe it's been an effective allegiance check on Buster. Buster finds out Captain Shadow is the Rook; the next day, Alex tries to lead a vote against Gem without mentioning that she's the Rook.

Make like Elmer Fudd and GET THAT RABBIT!

Buster: You can be the Rook and a ghost, just saying.

Commander Aife: But you didn't even bring it up even though it's obviously relevant information! And Gem would have no reason to tell ANYONE she is the rook if she was a ghost!

Buster: Yeah because if she is a ghost and a rook then the role is rendered redundant. So she would only have reason to mention it if they were a ghost

Commander Aife: Nope. That doesn't make sense. It doesn't make it redundant -- it's better for the nobles if the Rook is a Ghost. It would mean that the Ghosts can't attack the King. The Rook Ghost would die instead.

Bryan: Either the rabbit's lying and is a ghost himself, or he's telling the truth and Captain Shadow is a ghost.

Buster: Kill me if you want, just make sure you choose a Vao to kill Captain Shadow tonight

Agatha flips through her notebook, muttering 'But who to choose, my captain or my client, whose painting I've yet to recover' under her breath. She looks agitated as all get out

Captain’s personal log, stardate 77671.0: There are still a few hours to go before nightfall, but my fate is sealed. I will be executed tonight.

It is a terrible thing, being a victim of a mutiny… to watch the eyes of one’s crew become filled with disgust, hurt, betrayal, and hatred. I can think of no worse fate to befall someone of my rank… but what makes this case even harder to bear is that none of these people are trained officers, but a scattered assemblage from countless worlds and times. 

Since the current crisis began, I have done my best to keep this crew together, in the understandable absence of the king… and now, they have condemned me to die. I feel sick. And no amount of earl grey tea will help.

Ever since I was a filly, I have looked at the stars. I did this so often that my mother grew to call me the Star Gazer, and even wrote a piece of music by that name before she died. But on this night, though I have gazed at the stars for some time, I can find no comfort there.

I am utterly, entirely alone.

It was an hour before nightfall. Though there had been a 6-6 tie between Gem and Buster, it was finally broken by Victoria Valentine, who made the following statement as she cast her vote: "I've decided to vote for Captain Shadow. I'm not going to pretend this has been easy - Captain Shadow was the first person here to show me kindness, and I'll never forget it."

"But I did feel that something has been off over the last day, and I think we get more out of knowing if the rabbit is playing us. If Gemini is a ghost, I'm sure she has her reasons. I hope she understands that it's nothing personal. Now, it's decided, unless anyone else changes their minds."

No one did. Gemini's fate was sealed.

In response, Gem had attached a note to her ready room door, using her silver rank pips to hold the paper in place. It was written in her neat, precise quillwork, marred only by dried tear stains. Below this was her uniform tunic, folded up neatly.

Captain’s log, stardate 77671.6: This will be my final entry. Tonight, I die by the axe.

But as I write this, my thoughts are not for myself, but my crew. Whether I die by axe or spirit, there is great danger in their path, and I fear they will not see it in time. 

So… I will give them one last piece of advice, if they can find it in their hearts to believe me.

Beware the dress that floats unworn, for I’ve been told she is allied with the rabbit. 

Good luck. Fight well. Fight hard. And above all… be brave and bold. 

Goodbye, crewmates. I love you, I’ll miss you, and I am so very sorry.

Always,

Captain Gemini Shadow

In her ready room, Gem stared forlornly out the window, looking up at the night sky and feeling utterly bereft of hope. Her last cup of earl grey was held in her hands, and though it was now stone cold, she drank it anyway. She wore all black: the turtleneck from her uniform, and the trousers. It seemed appropriate.

A knock came at her door, and she called out lamely: "Come..."

Aife came in, looking as worried as Gem had ever seen her. "Captain... how are you feeling?"

"About as well as a mare condemned would be expected to feel, Number One," Gem said sadly. "But I thank you for everything you did for me today."

"I didn't save your life," Aife pointed out.

Gem nodded. "No, you didn't... but I would have died in the night anyway, now that the ghosts know they can kill me to get at the king." She sighed. "I was always doomed to die, Number One... at least like this, we deny the ghosts a kill."

"And in return, I send the only woman I trust in this place to her death," Aife said bitterly. "Cold comfort, that. There's been talk of reviving you once we all know you're innocent, I hope we do."

"Mm... if you do not think it a significant tactical error," said Gem softly. "I've made many mistakes since arriving here... I am ashamed of myself."

"We all make mistakes," Aife said quietly. "And sometimes we even get to atone for them. I'll do everything I can to be ensure you do."

Another knock at the door, and the voice of a guard: "Captain Shadow, it is time. Please come with me."

"A moment!" Gem calls back, turning back to Aife. "Effective immediately, you are captain of this crew and the Endeavour, should you survive long enough to take command of her. Do all that you can to see this mission through, we at least know the dead will be of some assistance. And quite soon, that will include me." She wrapped her first officer up in a tight hug, and nuzzled her cheek. "Goodbye, Number One... live long and prosper."

"I'll try," Aife replies, missing the significance of the phrase entirely. "I'll try."

"No... you'll make it so," Gem tells her, as if issuing a last order. Which she was. Then, habitually tugging on her sweater, she took a deep breath and opened the door, following the guard to the room where she would die.

Artoria quietly exits the chamber Buster and Aife are arguing in with a deep sigh, and goes over to the gift shop. It's so empty

Looking around, she finds her old farmhouse habits coming back, and starts cleaning up. Tidying the shelves. Sweeping the floors. Soon the shop is looking pretty decent. Who runs it now? Certainly no one will mind if she mans the till for a little? She goes back to the front and flicks the sign over to open. 

Sitting back down with the register she notices something hidden behind the counter--a folder! Pulling it out she flicks through it. It appears to be plans on how to murder a bunch of kids who live on an island. Artoria quietly puts the folder back and pretends she never saw it.

...she'll just honor the part of her friends legacy that isn't that then.

Aífe climbs out a window to sit on the roof. Looks out over the dark marshlands, the distant craggy mountains. An overcast sky obscuring the distant, lovely stars.

For a moment, she had felt some semblance of belonging.

Was this the curse again?

What else could it be?

Artoria: a head peeks out of the window "Mind if I join you? Its better to be alone together... if that makes any sense."

Aife: She smiles weakly. "Please. I remember and appreciate your support of Captain Shadow."

Bryan: Oh Captain my Captain. It has been an honour.

Shark: Unless you’re a ghost. Then screw you!

Bryan: Shark, for goodness sake, read the room.

Artoria: slips out onto the roof, sliding a little before catching herself--a little awkward but when she grabs she's got it firm. Stronger than she looks for a slight thing as she is. "...How are you holding up? It looks like we've got bad times ahead of us..."

Bryan: If Captain Shadow is a ghost, I feel like she’d confess now.

Shark: She’s got enough time if she wants to make a final push.

Bryan: When she’s innocent and the axe falls—

Shark: IF she’s innocent!

Bryan: WHEN she’s innocent… Buster will have some explaining to do.

Aífe wants to say that she has nothing but bad times ahead, and nothing but bad times behind. But she holds it together for the kid. She gives Artoria a tight smile. "I'll cope," she lies.

Victoria kicks a chair, very hard.

Agatha sits quietly in a corner, poring over her notebook, hoping. She'd wanted to see the stars, you see. That had not been an idle wish. But she'd gotten her hopes up, and time had taught her that perhaps it was that which dashed them again and again

Artoria: she nudges her with her shoulder, giving her a sad but warm smile showing she appreciates the effort. "Its alright. I know. But thank you."

She wipes a tear from her eye and wraps an arm around Artoria's shoulders for a hug.

Buster enjoys another carrot

The clock ticks

Aife: ”So."

Artoria: she hugs her back "You know... I try to be cheerful, but I spent most of my life in a barn. Sometimes I was so hungry I had to eat the bugs on there. I helped on the farm... Merlin gave me most of my lessons in my dreams. You dream of a lot of things in life... having parents... things being fair but... that's just not how things are.”

But we still get to enjoy the moments we can. I know you're cursed and there's nothing we've been able to do about it. And we keep losing the people who have been kind to us.... but we can't give up. Not yet. Not when we're finally seeing the world outside the barn, you know?" pause "ha, I guess Merlin taught me to give speeches too for a reason... but I do mean what I said. And... I'm sorry."

Aife: ”Thank you, Artoria... thank you a lot. For giving me a moment to enjoy, even now.” She realised, vaguely, that she had to not die. She had to stay alive to make sure Artoria was safe.

Gem’s hooves scraped the cold cobblestone floor of the castle as she followed her guard to the room set aside for deliberations and the daily execution. The castle was silent as everyone, living person and spirit alike, came to watch her die.

Once, a very long time ago, William Riker had offered her a piece of advice: “Part of being a commanding officer is projecting an aura of strength, even when what you want to do is run and hide. That inspires the crew to put their own fears aside and focus on getting out of the scrape.” 

And ever since, Gem had tried to follow that advice: to be dispassionate, to not allow her emotions to influence the decisions she made. Even here, in this stonewalled Hell, her training had been what got her through this…

…until now.

Today, she did not feel like Captain Shadow, decorated Starfleet officer. She felt like a terrified little filly, on her way to certain doom.

For the first time in her life, Gemini Shadow knew real fear.

Her heartbeat and breathing thundered in her ears as she was led up to the scaffold. She could see the guillotine, and the hooded man standing beside it.  She was secured, and the next thing she knew, she was looking out at the audience… her green eyes held no anger or malice, but deep, endless sadness.

“Gemini Shadow, you have been charged with murder by a jury of your peers,” said the guard. “Have you any final words to say before the sentence is carried out?”

Gem gazed, one last time, at the people she’d come to know as her crew. And then she whispered: “O Faust, Creator of All Things… even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” She closed her eyes, and waited.

The clock struck nine.

The bells in the bell tower rang nine times.

And the last thing she heard was the swish of the blade as it flew toward her neck. The last thing she felt was metal slicing through her fur, skin, and muscle.

And then it was over. She was dead.

Nightfall

The Captain must always go down with their ship. And so it is with Gemini Shadow, who you have all collectively chosen to execute.

Were you right?

No. She was indeed the Rook, and a Noble one at that. 

So it is that you have slaughtered another innocent.

Have you damned yourselves? Or was this a necessary sacrifice? Only time will tell.

Sweet dreams... 

The last words of Gemini Shadow:

The axe fell with a swish and a thunk. In an instant, Captain Gemini Shadow was dead.

But from Gem’s point of view, everything went white. She got to her hooves, surprised and puzzled. “What in the world? Where am I?”

“Welcome to the afterlife, Gemini,” said a hauntingly familiar voice in her ear. “You're dead.” Q stood before her, dressed all in white.

Gem frowned at him, unamused in the extreme. “Q, what is going on?”

“I told you,” Q replied calmly. “You're dead. This is the afterlife. And I'm God.”

“You are not God!” Gem exclaimed.

“Blasphemy!” Q shot back. “You're lucky I don't cast you out, or smite you or something. The bottom line is, your life ended about five minutes ago, due to an attack by your own crew. What a wretched way to go, mon capitaine.” 

 But Gem was quiet. She said nothing at all for a long time. 

After a while, Q paused, and looked at her with avuncular concern: “Gemini? Gem? Are you alright?”

Gem wasn’t. She was crying silently, barely able to stop. “I failed them, Q…” she managed at last. “I failed them all!”

“You didn’t fail them, Gem,” Q whispered. “I know you. They’re the ones who failed you, listening to that rabbit. I believe you, Gem.”

“Thank you, Uncle… but I don’t know how that helps me,” Gem replied. “What do I do?”

“I think you’ll get a few ideas,” Q replied. “You just need a change of scenery!”

He snapped his fingers, and suddenly the world changed: they were back on the bridge of the Endeavour, but the room was empty save for the two of them.

Gem looked around in awe, surprised but happy to be back in the place she’d called home. On instinct, she took her command chair. “Mr. Q, status report!”

Q, now wearing an operations uniform with lieutenant commander pips, went over to the tactical station and declared: “Captain, incoming transmission from the planet below!”

“On screen!”

Q pressed a button and the viewscreen was filled with a horrible, frightening image: her own head, several feet away from her body. Some in the crowd cried or stood in respectful silence, others jeered and celebrated at the sight of a dead ghost.

“Q, turn it off!” Gem shouted, tearing her eyes away from the grisly sight.

Q did not turn it off. Instead he merely looked over at Gem from tactical and asked, “Not going to offer any final words of comfort, mon capitaine? Surely you must have something.”

Gem stared at the viewscreen, thinking very hard. The words flowed into her mind like a magic spell. She stood up, straightened her uniform, and said in a voice of quiet determination and suppressed fury: “Mr. Q… open a hailing frequency. Maximum volume.”

Q’s eyes widened at the stormy expression on his niece’s face, then pressed another button. “Open.”

Gem stood up, glaring at those who had voted to kill her.

“Spookalot Castle! You know who I am. And you know what I am. I am no ghost, I am a rook! Your vote to kill me put our mission in jeopardy, and I will not let that stand! I cannot let that stand! I know who the true killers among you are!

Beware the dress that floats unworn, for I’ve been told she is allied with the rabbit!

These are the enemies you must fight, I will see them defeated! The line must be drawn here, this far, no further!”

She paused briefly, then rolled on: “To those who killed me: I am on to you. If you think because I am dead, I am weak, then you understand very little. If you are not afraid, then you understand nothing at all. So, for your own sake, understand this. I am Captain Gemini Shadow of the Federation starship Endeavour. I'm coming to find you, and I will never, ever stop.” 

She closed hailing frequencies, and as she did so, Q looked to her. “Okay… but how are you going to come after them?”

“The dead have power, Q, power that even you do not possess!” Gem answered. “And with Celestia as my witness, I will use that power! I am their captain, and they are my crew! So I order you… set course for Spookalot Castle! Maximum warp!”

Q snapped his fingers one last time, and everything went white again.

Buster: And I find it kind of funny

I find it kind of sad

The dreams in which you’re dying are the best I’ve ever had

I find it hard to tell you as I find it hard to take

When people run in circles it’s a very very 

Mad world

Mad world

Agatha bursts into tears, and then drops her head onto her arms while she sits at a small table in the corner

Artoria: The news comes of Gemini's death, and she bursts into sobs

Buster: One day I went to the fridge. Saw our jug in there and I thought ”what’s in it?”. Tears. What tears? Fresh tears. sniffs. Mmmm. Smells nice. Finger in, lick it. slurp tounge-click. Tastes nice. Lift the jug and drink a bit. slurp. tongue-click. Oh this is good, this is slurp. tongue-click. Salty tears. Tinned salty tears. What a drink!. So I drank the lot. sluuuurp. tongue-click.

Not long after, few days later, I went to the fridge, saw our jug in there. What’s in it? Tears. What tears? Smell it. sniffs. Lift the jug, and drink some more slurp and drink some more sluuuuurp.

tongue click I drank the lot!

Not long after, few days later, I went to the fridge, saw our jug in there. What’s in it? Tears. Yes! Lift the jug, and fill my mouth with that thick, sweet, juice! Bleurghhhhh These aren’t tears this is Bleurghhhhh. Syrup. My mouth is full of syrup. Thick, sweet, peach syrup.

I wonder who put that in there…

Buster: Oh yeah, I stole my own painting for insurance fraud reasons. Solves that mystery.

Agatha: YOU WHAT

Victoria had gone to sit by a window away from the others, sighing deeply and knocking back a glass of something it probably shouldn't be possible for her to have in this time period, but eh what do you know. 

I know you want to comfort them, Vessel. But you feel like you can't. Chaos was quieter than usual.

You seem to think you know me better than I know myself. Victoria's reply was hollow and bitter. 

You think this is like Lucrecia. That it's your fault. You took their friend away, your friend, even. 

Victoria swirled the remaining liquid around her glass. I mean, if it was true, what would that mean? I did take her away. 

You only did as instructed. 

Victoria considered this. Just following orders, was I? Well, I'm sick of it. I didn't want to do it for Shinra any more, I don't want to do it for anyone! I'm sick of all of this, of losing people. Is anyone I know back in our world even still alive? Just how fucking long was I asleep in that coffin? She sounded exhausted, and much older than she physically was. 

Honestly? I don't know. We're not even in the same world. 

Everyone I care about disappears. Perhaps I was meant to be alone. It's how it's always been, really. It's when others get involved with me that things go wrong. 

Chaos scoffed, almost affectionately. Enough of the pity party, Vessel. I do know you can't just blame yourself for everything. Things which you could not have prevented.  And not everyone disappears, Vessel. 

Despite herself, Victoria laughed. Are you implying you've grown to care for me?

 I-certainly not! It's just exhausting, living inside you, watching you blame yourself, detach from everyone, when there are people you can help. Ugh. Disgusting.

...I see. Thank you, Chaos. Victoria raised her glass. To you, Gemini. My sincerest apologies. She knocked it back, and stared out at the beautful night sky for a minute before heading back toward the others.

Galdalf: Everyone, no need to panic. I know there's been a lot of deaths, but there's also some good news - I've translate the first line of my inscription! Into Greek, which I can't read. But we're making progress! Or I am, anyway

Artoria: Let me know if I can help in any way, Galdalf! If you can get it from Greek into Latin or ancient Babylonian I can read it...

Um, also with... with Gemini gone... does that make you the new captain, Aife?

Aife: Dead behind the eyes. She says without much affect: "I suppose it must, yes. Of Hook's ship for a time, and of G-- The Endeavour. Of the Endeavour."

Artoria: nods solemnly ...I understand, Captain.

Aife: "I don't know if it's safe for a minor. But it seems to me that whatever road you walk will be full of dangers."

Artoria: "I think that's impossible for me to escape at this point. Better to face dangers head on, I suppose. Well, maybe from the side a little bit."

Aife: "And what of the prophecy? Can you choose your own path?"

Artoria: a long pause "Well the prophecy just says I need to overthrow Morgan Le Fey and bring a brighter future to Britain, doesn't specify HOW I do that, so I'd say we have some leeway!"

Aife: "Honestly, there are worse prophecies!"

Artoria: "Yes, honestly just pleased it wasn't more specific on the how these days." pause

"How about you, and your curse? Do you think we'll have a path there?"

Aife: "I've been so preoccupied with this damn mystery that I haven't thought about it so much. It makes for a change. But yes, there must be some cure for it among the stars, if nowhere else? Certainly, I keep hope... As should you. Perhaps we could find an unexpected means of overthrowing Le Fey. It could be a useful exercise in finding out what a torpedo is." She giggles "Just, take him up into space, drop him off. One small step for man."

Artoria: "Well, that is a good point as well! Gemini's life sounded very interesting. I am still amazed that a ship could fly! And we will find a cure for you, I'm sure of it. If they can make a ship fly, I'm sure they got around to curses."

Aife: She smiles. "Yes. We'll do it all in her memory."