What Happens Tomorrow
Daybreak
Hey gang! So, uhhhhh… I was making my rounds this morning, and I heard this really loud noise. I thought it was screaming. But as I got closer, I realised it was more, like… singing? This really bad loud screechy singing by someone who clearly had a lot that they needed to get off their chest. Proper metal stuff. Pretty intense. But anyway, I decided to ignore it, and move on, cos people are weird, y’know.
But then, I got closer, and it actually WAS screaming! At least, I think it was. I was too freaked too go and check what it was. But when the screaming had stopped, I went to have a look, and - gosh! - I found Retsukaggro dead on the ground! Throttled to death, it looks like. Maybe someone just got fed up of the singing.
So, sorry to tell you that! But anyway, I have big and exciting news!
In response to the ongoing crisis, the leaders here on VibeCity - that is to say, me - have decided that we need to raise some money to pay for the unprecedented public costs being incurred. So I am pleased to announce the new Powers Charge. Those with special powers will now be charged two credits per day to maintain their powers from this point on! Any failure to pay will result in them losing their powers. That’s the free market, baby! If you can’t pay, we’ll take it away! Yay! Payments will be collected at Nightfall.
One more thing! There’s a new Landlord in town! Emerald Wave will be taking over Snooze-Pod Gamma. Russ remains in charge of Snooze-Pod Beta.
And, there's been something of a power outage, which means not everything is working quite properly… it seems that each of the snooze-pods has lost power to one of their compartments. In consequence, one less person can sleep in each of the pods. The cost of maintenance hasn't changed, though!
And, uhhhhh… That’s about all, I think! Y’know, even though people are dying left, right and centre, I’m so glad we’re all here together! I feel like we’re way better friends than we were. :D
The last words of Retsukaggro:
Welp, I've been murdered
If I had to accuse anyone, it'd be The Absorbalof, who is never subtle about being evil and accused the Doctor on spurious grounds, Lady Hinesley, who may have defended someone she knew to be innocent to deflect suspicion away from her, and Piglet because I have nothing else to go on and it's funny
metal scream DEAAAAAAAATHHHHHH
THE SHROUD OF DARKNESS COMES FOR ME
DEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAATTTTTHHHHH
I'LL HAUNT YOUR ASSES FOR ALL TIME
DEEEEEEAAAAATHHH"
Harley: While all the murder an drama has been going on, Harley has been dutifully cleaning up the mess. It's been miserable and they're quickly running out of cleaning supplies.
Clarence: I really don’t think it’s standard protocol to immediately clean up a crime scene Harley, usually they let it sit a bit so people can take pictures and make chalk drawings on the ground. I’ve already done my duty for that one points to a chalk outline of a blender
Clarence has no way of knowing it, but he has just signed his own death warrant.
Harley: Well, Tilly told me to, and considering there's still a large chance she's a murderer, I'm gonna do what the lady says. I like your drawing though.
Clarence: Thanks, I worked hard on it! Okay, I'll be honest... I kinda traced it, there was already a blender on the floor and I just did my drawing around it
Harley: That's okay, lots of artists learn by tracing 🙂
Chromia: Another person dead. This is truly a horrid situation. I simply do not know what to do. tries to get through to her diplomatic corps
Kyla: I'm a little worried about your diplomatic corps. I hope they're okay.
Clarence: Maybe their diplomatic corps are the killers, doing a little first-hand diplomacy - he mimes stabbing someone - like in the days of Julius Caesar the Lion
Chromia: I am also worried about them. And what if they're worried about me? What if... realizes that it's Kyla, pauses slightly What if my being alone and here was not a coincidence, but rather a deliberate provocation of the Empire against the Googolplexian Monarchy? I shudder to think that, but I suppose such things are possible in diplomacy, regrettably.
Kyla: sighs judging by the last few days.... I can't rule that out as a possibility.
Chromia: I am surprised to hear you say this, but I suppose the last few days have shown us a few things, have they not?
Kyla: When I came here, I was certainly a different clone than I am today...
Chromia: What we experience in life gives us the opportunity to change, both for bad and for good. We get to choose how to react, most of the time (unless, say, being forced to murder people and pay outrageous sums at the same time), and that allows us to grow as people. You have done a fair amount of growing, Kyla.
Meanwhile, Emerald hangs up a sign that looks like a concert poster. It reads:
LIVE, TONIGHT AT SLEEP POD GAMMA: YOU! Contact Emerald Wave now to reserve your spot!
And in the deliberation room, the action begins immediately as Emz makes another bold claim.
Hinesly: As per my previous defence: if I were an Insurrectionist, I would have kept my head down so as to not draw attention to myself - rather than stick my neck out for anyone.
Emz: Hah, what a bold claim Lady Hinesly, when I have just been contacted by the Detector who says that you ARE the Insurrectionist. They don't wish to be identified for fear of retribution, but they are speaking through me today.
Russ: Emz knows who the detector is, why would she lie about this?
Emerald's mouth drops open at this, and she turns a fiery gaze on Hinesly. Well, buck me sideways. Guess it's true what they say about never trustin' cats.
Herder: Excuse you! That’s very prejudiced Emerald
Emerald: Sorry.
Russ: Hinesly, when can we expect your confession then?
Herder: Anyway, I always knew Hinesly was slimy. Just like the spinach and fish she gulps down so eagerly
Russ: Nobody who eats so much spinach is to be trusted.
Hinesly: squints Hmmm. Hmm hmm hmm. Things were not as they seemed. It is possible that you are being deceived... but you have been so savvy so far that I would be surprised. If I am the Insurrectionist, why would I go to such lengths to defend an innocent yesterday? If Emz is a normal passenger, why did she so assertively state that the Doctor HAD to die?
Yes, it's clear to me now - the Doctor was very active, making questionable plays, and therefore the easiest person for Emz to frame.
Herder: Poor judgement. But you can’t really contest concrete evidence like the detector’s testimony. I suspect had the Doctor survived that the detector, whoever they may be, would have been checked instead of you last night and you’d have got away with it another day. Emz of course got checked the night before.
Emz: I was confirmed by the Detector, and they have now detected you, you've got nowhere to hide, Lady Hinesly
Herder: Unless the detector is lying, but why would they? It’s their word against yours
Hinesly: It is clear to me now that Emz does NOT have the Detector's testimony - that she is only claiming to have it. How long this strategy of hers can work, I don't know. But that is what she is doing.
Emz: It's also clear to everyone that you're a desperate capitalist
Emerald: This is why I hate capitalism. You scratch my back, I stab yours.
Russ: Or rather, Hinesly stabs yours. But never again, for at nightfall she dies!!
Hinesly: On this point - whoever the real detector is, I would encourage them to at least come forward to me.
Emerald: So what? You can hang 'em out to dry like yesterday's laundry? If I was them I'd keep my muzzle shut.
Billy: At the moment, I trust Emz more than the cat, but I am willing to be convinced. I will vote the cat for now, just so I don’t get on the Rock and Roll Hall of Shame but I will catch up later.
For now, now I have no credits, I have taken up a part time job in a shop. Tilly is timing my toilet breaks, so I’ll contact you when I’m free.
Hinesly: I encourage everyone to vote for Emz-Emily. If I do die, the announcement will reveal that I am a passenger. In that event, I urge everyone to vote Emz-Emily out tomorrow - although I'm sure I don't need to explain that to you.
Kyla: Yes, Emz has been consistently stating they were in contact with the detector--and yet until this moment where Hinesly's neck is on the line, no one came forward stating that they were in contact with a detector with contradictory information--or EVEN the same information.
So there isn't even a case here of us having a potential false Detector set up by the Insurrectionists--there's just one person putting forward information about a detector. Your arguments are flimsy here Hinesly, I'm afraid this is a cat-carrier with whose door snapped shut behind you.
Emz: It's a fairly standard strat for the Detector to check the leader first, and then form an alliance - it was told in the great story of the Alejandro Express
Hinesly: So the likely situation is: the Detector checks you, sees you're an Insurrectionist, but can't trust anyone yet and as such cannot share this information with anyone. You take advantage of this to assert that the Detector has been in contact with you, cleared you, and today you are using that to position yourself as an objective truth-teller with a direct line to the Detector.
Emz: Oh you are hilarious Lady Hinesly
Hinesly: Don't overplay the undergraduate debate tactics, Emz.
Herder: Then what the hell is the detector doing? Sitting on their ass doing shit all?
Emz: I mean, I know they're awake, since they told me you're an Insurrectionist, but there are still several hours til Nightfall. But if they don't come forward by then, your guilt is clear
Russ: I’ve cast my vote. It’s an open and shut case imo.
Emerald: Same. No hemming and hawing from me today.
Despite brave attempts at arguing herself out of it, Hinesly is doomed. As nightfall nears, she has an important discussion with Kyla, while Emerald and Number One share a tender moment together. Love is beginning to blossom...
Number One looks at the picture of Retsukaggro displayed on a nearby monitor next to her last words She was so adorable, so fluffy...but she seemed so stressed all of the time. I wanted to scritch her behind the ears - with permission - just to see if it would help to calm her down but...now we will never know. she sighs, losing people is taking its toll
Emerald places a hand on Number 1’s shoulder. We’ll get through this, one way or another. We just gotta stick together, as friends do. They’re tryin’ to divide us, unity is our strength.
Hinesly: Correct! I'm feeling quite divided. Quartered, even.
Emerald: You, shut up. You’re lucky my magic is blocked or I’d’ve put a cone of silence spell on you by now.
Number One: Thank you, Em. She gratefully places her other hand on Emerald’s.
Emerald smiles and squeezes the green girl’s hand lightly. When this is over, I can take ya back to Equus if you want… I know somepony who could help with your memory loss.
Number One: Recovering Sorry about that Em, thank you so much, it really is very sweet of you but I am hoping I will not need to. Since the Doctor did...whatever it is zat they did, I am beginning to remember bits and pieces...I am hoping it will not be long before the rest returns.
Emerald looks a bit disappointed at that but quickly puts on a brave face. Yeah, that’s okay. I get it. Totally fair! And yeah, maybe…
Number One: Realising Emerald has the wrong end of the stick, she curses herself for not being more explicit No, Em...wait. I'm sorry. I didn't realise. shyly and quietly There are always other reasons to visit...
Emerald: At that, the unicorn perks up and whispers. I can think of one or two. She then nuzzles Number One’s cheek affectionately.
Hinesly: downs a whiskey, downs another whiskey, downs another whiskey, downs another whiskey, downs another whiskey... She has to assume some of these belong to someone else. Alright. I believe it may be time to set my affairs in order. Kyla, are you available?
Kyla: Aye, I am here....
Hinesly: She sighs deeply, joins her hands together. First, I want you to know that I am proud of the incredible young woman you've become. I hope more than anything you can get out of here - if you do, you'll do incredible things.
Send your mother my love too.
If you're an Insurrectionist, I forgive you of it. I don't know why I do, but I do.
Kyla: I don't know what to say. I've helped condemn you to death.. But... thank you. I'll do my best to live on. I wouldn't have voted how I did if I didn't believe Emz but... if we've been fooled I promise you, for what little it matters, that we won't let that go. Before I got here no one ever believed in me. Now it seems the people that do are dying. And I know in your case that's my fault. But I won't look away from it. For what little it matters, I wish we'd met under brighter skies.
Hinesly: Thank you. And, you know, I understand. I can't expect you to trust me when I haven't respected your intelligence as an adult. And I'd like to do that now, before the end... Kyla, I think it is time I told you what sex is. She leans in and discreetly whispers an actual, accurate, and surprisingly politically correct explanation of what sex is into Kyla's ear.
Clarence: Oh thank God someone finally said it.
Kyla: sits in stunned silence Wait-- Hold up-- But you and Emily--- And she's the one who--
Hinesly: nods in an 'I can't believe it either' way
Kyla: I really wasn't aware bodies did that... That's... a lot to think about. I was wondering why... never mind that's not important--
--so you two had sex, which is... not very literary at all as it turns out--and now you're getting condemned to death by her testimony? How does that even work!?!
Emerald: So much for the book club.
Number One: She's been watching with affection Maybe we could just...call the book club...not zat.
Hinesly doesn't tell Kyla that her mother tried to do worse. I suppose these things are complicated.
Kyla: Wait--so when I was doing all that practice with my tongue... oh. OH. oh.
Hinesly: I can't say too much but I hope it serves you well!
Kyla: Th-thanks I think.
Hinesly: Herder, Emerald, care for a drink? Humour me.
Herder: I would never deny a dying woman’s wish, even if she is a wealth hoarding harpy. I also wouldn’t say no to a free drink
Emerald: Yeah, alright, sure. Emerald joins Hinesly at the bar.
Hinesly: There's enough left in Hinesly's flask for two shots. She pours them out for Herder and Emerald. It's the wealth-hoarding I wanted to talk about, actually... I thought I had lived a good life, you know? When one looks back on one's works, one hopes to feel some sense of peace. I did a lot with HinesCorp.
But, ah. All the money got confiscated. And you know, I felt the same before and after? Still stressed and... hollow.
You'd think this situation of Emz would turn me more against... socialism? Whatever you would call this. But for a time, I saw how working together could-- She scoffs. I don't mean to be overly sentimental just because I'm about to die. I just mean, I see the value of the different perspective.
Perhaps if I could do it over again... but no. She raises her empty glass. Thank you. For changing my mind.
Herder: Clinks glass with Hinesly, nodding with newfound respect
Emerald raises her glass to Hinesly and clinks it against the cat's. You're welcome, kitty cat. Spreading the magic of friendship's what we do on Equus... I'm glad I was able to do that for you.
Chromia: If it turns out that you have been wrongly accused, then, well, hopefully we as a community can do something about it. I still blame Tilly and the Great Sweat for this on the whole
Emerald: Same. When this is over, I swear to Luna I'm bringin' Twilight and the girls here, and they can deal with 'em.
Kyla: Yes, it was.... a pleasure to know you, regardless of the outcome. But I'm sorry that things must end this way. I hope you find peace.... I am sorry. I too blame Tilly, yes. And... perhaps even the Great Sweat... why would he allow this to happen....
Hinesly: Keep an eye out, kiddo. I think the systems might be the problem.
Number One: I'm sorry, while we have had our differences and while I still find myself unable to trust you fully, I do want you to know I'm grateful for what you've done for Kyla, and for the help you gave me when I was in distress. I hope you do not...suffer.
Hinesly: I'm glad everyone is so sad to kill me! catches herself But, you know. I understand. Don't let the bastards get away with it.
Emerald: We'll try.
The axe fails to fall. Hinesly still lives.
Hinesly: So how is everyone
Emerald: 'Bout ready to see the last of this place, one way or the other. Might be putting my tour on hold... I got other things on my mind. Her gaze falls on Number One, and she goes sit next to the Twi'lek, a faint blush on her cheeks and a carefree smile on her face.
Number One blushes a deep green and mumbles something unintelligible
Herder: I see you’ve recovered from that soul-destroying guilt over voting to kill another under the duress of an oppressive state
Emerald: First of all, the Doctor was someone I actually, ya know, liked. Second of all, I'm in love, what's wrong with love in the midst of an authoritarian nightmare? You don't get to lecture me on this, Commander Hurricane! We need whatever happiness we can get in this bucking torment!
Herder: Apologies Emerald, I’m antsy and irritable waiting for Zombie Spinach over there to kick it
Hinesly tosses a flash drive to Kyla. I promised your mother I would destroy this, but I always hung onto it. You should have it now.
Kyla: catches it what's this?
Hinesly: You'll see. And move out of her house!
Kyla: I'll be sure to look through everything on it then.
Hinesly: Gives her a little thumbs-up.
Kyla: returns the thumbs up a little bashfully since I guess this is now the last chance to say anything, and we had a lot more time than we anticipated... You were nicer to me than my mother ever was. And that's actually true regardless of the verdict here... but thank you for that. For explaining things to me at the end. For whatever the hell this all was. long pause I already said it but... well, may the Space Magic be with you, always. Goodbye, and I'm sorry.
Hinesly: Thank you, dear. Get the hell away from your mother. I love you.
Having performed this last act of motherhood, Hinesly then goes to the window to gaze off sombrely and dramatically to the stars and have her final moments.
Hinesly: I was thinking. If I made it out of here, I'd do it all different. I don't want to be the top cat anymore. I want to be down on the ground with people like all of you, even though it killed me in the end.
I had a little plan made and all.
I could pack my bags, run away from HinesCorp.
Set myself up with an entry-level job in one of our smaller businesses, just to get by.
Go from running the multinational conglomerate to being a worker at a Resort and Spa.
Change my name so nobody could find me.
After all... Lady Hinesly is an anagram of Hyph3n Lives
Nightfall
Lady Hinesly has been waiting long enough. The scaffold is a true equaliser; she never expected to die a commoner. That’s a fate for, well, commoners. But it is the fate that befalls her. After some time being made to wait, because Tilly was trying to figure out how much was in the Community Fund and whether or not the various payments had gone through, because apparently that is more important than a cat’s life. There is also the painstaking declawing process, which must take place before the execution apparently.
“Can you just get on with it!!” cries Lady Hinesly, in desperation and frustration.
“Yes,” replies Tilly, and beheads her.
But lo! Her headless body, as it slumps to the ground, has no demons or worms flying out of it! For she was in fact… AN ORDINARY PASSENGER all along.
“Well, you’ve really fucked it now,” says Tilly, leaving everyone to their stunned silence and mourning.
Also! Harley failed to vote, and therefore finds herself on the List of Shame, unless she provides a good reason. You don’t want to be on the List of Shame.
That is all. Sleep well.
In the deliberation room, anger and heartbreak fill the air as the surviving Passengers make their accusations. But the twists have only just begun...
Kyla: after the execution, Kyla stares in stunned disbelief at the corpse, before she slowly looks up, eyes blazing with malice, staring down Emz / Emily with unspeakable fury
Russ: Whoever the detector really is has some explaining to do, and fast.
Chromia: We were wrong? fuck
Russ: Imagine claiming to be the detector when they’re not. Emily/Emz should outright tell us who it was that did that because they’re likely to be an insurrectionist.
Whoever that person was…
Emerald is kicking the nearest wall with both hooves, shouting. BUCK! BUCK BUCK BUCK BUCK BUCK BUCK! THAT MOON-BANISHED SCREWHEADED MUDPONY SON OF A MANTICORE TRICKED US LIKE WE WERE DISCORD'S PLAYTHINGS! BUCK!
Several more increasingly colorful swear words later, including a few in Yakyakistani and kirinese...
Okay. Okay. Sorry for all that, all. I swear I'm not a racist, I just... lose control when I'm under stress.
I wish Twilight was here... she'd know what to do. She was always better at this whole sorta figuring things out with her back against the wall and saving the day thing than I ever was... that's why she's the Princess of Friendship, and I'm just a regular ol' unicorn.
Emerald crumbles into a little ball and begins to cry.
Russ: Emz/Emily this morning comes to to me, a known innocent, with a plan she had pre-arranged with Herder and Piglet. It puts my head on the chopping block for when the other now-confirmed innocent (Hinesly) gets bumped-off, knowing the crystal I bear will give an extra kill when I die as I had bequeathed it to porky. I no longer am. I hope that fact will keep me alive through the night, as it’s recipient will be deadly to their axis.
Do with this what you will. May the recipient of the weapon use it wisely if pork-chop, two-brain, or glitcha-cat come for me.
The plan was to heavily imply I’m the detector as a false front and pretend The Honourable Now-Deceased Lady was a known insurrectionist. I even said as such to her in DMs, which I tried to brush off here as slander.
I hope I can be forgiven for my role in all this, but I do truly based on this believe that Emz, Herder, and Piglet are guilty.
Emerald eventually stands, and glares at the cat and the small pig with unbridled fury unlike anything she's ever felt before in her life.
Talk. Now. Before I do somethin' I regret.
Herder: Okay, so in the simplest terms possible. Piglet checked EMZ and reached out to them. I reached out to EMZ and told them was was the Protector. Piglet checked me on the second and we formed a small alliance.
Then we foolishly brought Russ into our little fold with the plan that we could expose Hinesly, one of the only real suspects we had, by using a fake detector. And the plan was if we were actually wrong for Russ or EMZ to take the fall and for us to regroup and come up with an alternative while keeping mine and Piglet’s roles safe. Russ was onboard for this possibility, albeit insisting that Hinesly was guilty.
However, the moment Hinesly’s innocence is publicly revealed he turned on us in the group chat, accused us of playing him, and left before exposing us all to everyone publicly.
That’s an incredibly reckless move for an innocent party. For all he knew Piglet or I could have been played by EMZ too!
Russ: If we have any sense, those of us who survive the night will execute Emz tomorrow. I’m going over to my corner of the hangar to get my rest. It’s a busy day tomorrow, working out how to execute you and which of you three it should be first.
Kyla just goes and screams in the corner for a solid hour Piglet, why did you think it was a good idea to lie about Lady Hinesly? Lying is bad and... welltearing up, then through clenched teeth holding back viciousness It has CONSEQUENCES....
... takes a deep breath I should have trusted my own reason instead of believing it was inferior to others. I will not make that mistake again. But I am still committed utterly to our survival as a team. So don't any of you dare give up.
Piglet: I know 😦 I’m sorry 😦 I thought it would save more people but instead it just hurt my friends 😦
Kyla: kneels down, puts a hand on Piglet's shoulder We've all hurt our friends here. Not one of us is innocent anymore. But that doesn't mean we can give up on each other, or on the belief we can and should do good. It just means we need to do better.
Piglet: Y-yes! I really am sorry about lady hinesly - she was nice to me and I wouldn’t have wanted to take her away from you. I hope we can protect the each other better from now on
Kyla: I hope so too, Piglet. I'm going to work in the memory of those we've lost... but I don't want to work in the memory of any more friends if I don't have to.
On that note, the Passengers retire for the night... all but one.
Emerald, the bomb planter, remains awake throughout the night, guarding the detonator: Number One. It's been several hard days nights for her, but she's committed to the mission... it's what her best friend would do.
Sitting alone in the dark hangar, she quietly sips a cup of coffee, listening to the soft snores of the girl beside her. 'Tomorrow,' she thinks, 'I'm gonna ask if she'd like to be my marefriend... Kyla too, if Emz hasn't killed her in the night.'
Hours pass. Emerald loses track of time. Not too hard, since Princess Luna isn't here to keep the moon going.
After a while, Emerald soon finds herself staring out through a nearby viewport, looking up at the stars. The past few hours have hurt her deeply, so as ever, the one thing she can do to comfort herself… is to playher music. So she begins to strum, finding the chords without needing to think.
“Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away
Now it looks as though they're here to stay
Oh, I believe in yesterday
Suddenly, I'm not half the mare I used to be
There's a shadow hanging over me
Oh, yesterday came suddenly
Why she had to go
I don't know, she wouldn't say
I said something wrong
Now I long for yesterday
Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play
Now I need a place to hide away
Oh, I believe in yesterday
Why she had to go
I don't know, she wouldn't say
I said something wrong
Now I long for yesterday
Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play
Now I need a place to hide away
Oh, I believe in yesterday…”
As the strings stop vibrating, Emerald looks toward the spot where Hinesly once sat, and sighs.
"I’m truly sorry, kitty cat. We can’t fix what we did to ya… but we can bucking well try to stop executing anyone else who might be an ally. With Luna as my witness, we’ll do what’s right, for your sake as much as ours."
She then looks to the place regularly occupied by Tilly.
"Ya know… I’ve set hoof in every bucking corner of Equus, playing to every crowd you can possibly think of. And I’ve known ponies who seemed, to me, like demons in equine form."
"But I ain’t ever seen anypony quite like you before. And I swear on my life, if I die here, I’m takin’ ya with me, and draggin’ your sorry flank to Tartarus myself. You can be Cereberus’ chew toy for all I bucking care. It’s still more than you deserve."
At last, she looks down at the floor, at her hooves, at her beloved guitar, at her hands.
"May Faust forgive us all."
But as she whispers this, Emerald's ears perk up. She thinks she can hear someone coming... someone with claws. They're trying to keep quiet, but Emerald can sniff them out... She thinks quickly. 'It must be either of the two surviving cats... Herder? Or that other one... the janitor?'
"Who's there? The insurrectionists?" she asks, whispering fiercely. "I ain't afraid of ya, ya moon-banished motherbuckers!" Thinking they're going for Number One, Emerald shifts her position to keep the Twi'lek blocked from view.
"Music time is over, my little pony," the voice says.
And before Emerald can stop them, someone cuts off every single one of the strings on her guitar with a giant pair of scissors... And the next thing she knows, the strings are being wrapped around a pair of drumsticks, and looped around her head, resting against her neck.
"Any last words?" someone asks in her ear.
Emerald's eyes narrow. "I'll see you bastards in Tartarus."
Someone pulls the strings taut, and Emerald finds her airway cut off as she's strangled.
She starts to black out... and soon falls to the ground, moving no further.
Someone else arranges Emerald's corpse to make it look like she's asleep, and still yet another someone goes to the trouble of re-stringing her guitar, leaving no evidence behind.
Their task complete, the three insurrectionists slip away into the shadows.
Emerald Wave is dead.