January 26, 2019, 9:41 pm.

There's a moment of silence before Ivicka descends into another coughing fit, though I'm pretty sure there's some chuckling in there too.

Beth prods Ivicka's prone form with the top of her rifle. "Hmm. I'm not sure if I should be asking her more questions or if I should end her now."

Ivicka stares at Beth, her cough subsiding. "Still… have to give you… the message…"

"Why? It's clear you don't want to."

Ivicka's smile is equal parts satisfied grin and pained grimace. "Not telling."

Beth ignores Ivicka's comment about the message for several seconds as she pokes her again. I'm not sure, but I think she's making sure Ivicka's actually stuck there. "What about the soul stones? And summoned Fallen? How many are there?"

With only the occasional cough interrupting, Beth continues interrogating Ivicka. Ivicka's surprisingly forthcoming, if hard to immediately understand at times. Though with the details she sharing, I can't help but feel she's too forthcoming, explaining exactly how she's been trying to fix the Aetherium. Most of Ivicka's information is in the form of bragging. Those she'd fooled or been smart enough to join Ivicka in her takeover.

It's clear she's proud of the people she's killed, claiming they were just making the Aetherium weak. Finding a way to use them afterwards was only icing on the cake. Not that she used that phrase.

It's hard to listen to. Yet I not only listen, I also relay everything she says to the others. Though I leave out the grisly details.

For all her disjointed rambling, Ivicka avoids mentioning whoever this 'him' is, always talking about the things she's done. Partway through, the System updates the Anti-corruption Quest.

“Quest updated - Purge Corruption. Requirements: Summoner found 1/1, Summoners neutralized 0/1, Research destroyed 0/1. Rewards: 80 iron rank integration points, 4 class progression points. Time: unlimited."

Even with the update, Ivicka's giving Beth all sorts of info on who not to trust in the Aetherium, so Beth doesn't end her immediately. Though I see her raise her rifle, as though she's tempted.

Of special interest is her mention of Minister Yelthen. The minister of defence that the prisoner Balka mentioned. She's been one of Ivicka's closest allies since the start. She didn't question where the Fallen came from, but happily made use of them. It sounds like Ivicka never informed her of the process.

And regarding the process itself, Ivicka mentions less than two percent became awakened Fallen. Obviously, they're much more capable since they retain not just their former memories but also their skills and abilities from when they were alive.

However, as we discovered, they're also capable of disagreeing with her. She spends nearly a minute complaining about how much work it was to get Traxla to comply. Apparently, her Fallen can't disobey orders, but Traxla was adroit at interpreting Ivicka's orders in ways that tended to subvert them to the point of uselessness.

She even managed to get Ivicka killed once.

That particular bit sends Ivicka into a hacking fit that continues for nearly a minute after she screams about it. Traxla's aversions explain a lot about why she held back so much when we were trying to save Genitha.

At this point, Ivicka's rambling has grown mostly incoherent but Beth keeps her going, asking weirdly specific questions about the summoning process.

Pretty sure we don't need to know this much about how the Fallen are summoned to shut everything down. Which I mention to Beth over chat. Beth informs me she's trying to catch Ivicka in a lie. And getting her to keep talking is the best way to do so.

Beth's also poking around Ivicka's room, warily watching her 'supposedly' invalid form.

She doesn't find anything dangerous, but Ivicka does have a rather impressive collection of printed books ranging across a number of topics. I can't help but notice a dark blue one labelled 'Reign of Uthica' that shows obvious signs of perusal. It's funny, even with the ability to read directly from the System interface, written text is surprisingly common.

I suppose physical books do have a certain weight to them, a sense of being the interface can't match. Wonder if they're worth much? I never did find out if there was a market for those books from the silver bullet.

Even as I'm pondering, the books disappear into Beth's inventory. Guess I'm not the only one thinking they might be worth something.

Ivicka doesn't seem to notice, ranting about how unfair it is she's been stopped when she was 'this close' to setting the Aetherium "back on course."

Ivicka is starting to repeat her complaints when Beth prompts her, "So, you said you had a message for me?"

"For whichever one of you monsters showed up, yes."

"I'm sorry, we're monsters?" Beth can't help but chuckle.

Ivicka snorts, but it turns into a wheezing cough. Spitting a disgusting lob of black phlegm towards Beth, Ivicka continues, "He said you'd understand, 'Give them the finger'."

Beth and I are both surprised when instead of flipping her off, Ivicka uncurls her hand to reveal the severed tip of a finger. I can't help but notice it's not a K'tharn finger. It's too smooth. Like, human smooth.

I can't help but analyze it, yet the only thing the System tells me through Beth is that it's a severed finger. Immediately, Beth messages me.

(B) "Kid, you got anything?"

(A) "Not yet. Seems like a severed finger. Hold on."

If I can extend attachments that let me teleport through others, surely I can copy the in-depth scanning method, right?

Reaching out, I am able to extend several tendrils towards the finger. The… severed… finger…

Why am I doing this again?

Right, could be a clue to preventing Akilo from being obliterated.

Kind of important.

"Object analyzed: Reaper Paragon Finger."

"The finger of a Reaper Paragon."

"Update: Biological signature of Reaper Paragon acquired. Initiating Scan for any matching Reaper biosignatures."

Huh, are we going to get something that leads us straight to the mysterious bad guy? But why would he leave his finger for us on purpose then?

Even as I'm musing, a golden wave of light sweeps across the room.

"What the-" Beth starts speaking, but she cuts out at the same moment as a new notification forces its way into my vision.

"Target found. Location: System MWVAE-22XXX at the outer rim of the accretion disc."

I'm sorry. Accretion disc?

"Quest updated: Kill the Bastard. Prove that the Reaper Paragon has fled System MWVAE-22XXX 1/1 as per standard Reaper Paragon observed behaviours. Rewards: 1 iron rank integration point. Cancellation of Star System Purge.

Permanent Bonus Objective Added: Tools of the Enemy. Rewards for relinquished Reaper Genitech remain in effect."

I can't stop myself from laughing. If I'm understanding correctly, the System knew he'd run away. No wonder the quest was only worth a single point.

While I'm laughing, Beth is sighing in relief.

Which Ivicka seems to notice. Or maybe it was the golden wave of light. "Wh… Coff… What?"

Either way, I can feel the smirk on Beth's face as she responds, "Not telling."

Beth's expression and my laughter falter when the black film covering Ivicka's side starts bubbling.

Then the bubbles start popping. The little black explosions don't seem threatening until I notice that everything they land on starts melting. Then they start bubbling again. They're spreading!

Beth doesn't stand around waiting, booking it straight for the door. But when she reaches the entrance, she finds a layer of the same black film blocking the hall. In the time it takes us to inspect the new film, I can hear hundreds of popping bubbles exploding throughout the room behind her.

"I'm going in," I warn the others, muting my connection to Beth for just a second. If she can't get herself out then-

A sharp pain explodes in my head, interrupting my thoughts.

As my sight returns, I realize I'm looking at my own knees. The connection to Beth is gone. "Beth!" I choke out, turning towards the cave entrance.

Roberts grabs my shoulder. "Alexis, what happened?"

"Beth finished the qu-" Tipan exclaims, but is interrupted by a loud rumble that echos from within Ivicka's Sanctum.

Roberts grasp loosens as he gets that far-off look in his eyes.

Checking my own notifications, I don't see Beth's name on my party screen.

It takes a second to remember I'm not in her party. Her name being absent from my list is normal. So, I read the notification.

"Quest Completed: Purge Corruption. Rewards: Rewards: 80 iron rank integration points, 4 class progression points."

"Citizen Anti-Corruption Systems Running Final Check. Expected time until deactivation. Twelve minutes."

But it's just a quest update. It doesn't tell me anything about Beth.

"Beth?" I ask Roberts, whose forehead is creased.

"Her name just went grey and there's a countdown next to it."

"So, then she's…" I can't bring myself to say it. Even if we're able to come back, it feels… wrong.

"We should check. Just in case," Roberts suggests, flying slightly closer to the cave entrance.

"Right."

We fly in together but we only make it to the open area with the pens before we come across a pile of collapsed stone. The passage that led towards Ivicka's chambers has completely imploded.

Working together, me and Tipan attempt to recreate the passage, yet the stone is surprisingly challenging to work with. Instead of simply shaping a tunnel through, we're forced to excavate materials while placing steel support struts to reinforce the tunnel. For a moment I wonder if this is how real miners feel.

But my thoughts quickly refocus on our work.

It takes us five long minutes to reach the room where Beth found Ivicka. It takes another two to find a sign of Beth.

The bottom of her boot is only barely visible under a particularly large stone. I don't have much hope of finding her intact, but still we dig.

She's not where I last saw her, near the entrance. Instead, she's practically on top of where Ivicka used to be. Used to be, because as we pull the rubble away we find nothing but a smooth spherical gap under the rubble. As we shift the last large stone, her boot is knocked free, sliding to the bottom of the sphere, the black leather surprisingly untarnished by blood.

When we wave Roberts in, he stares at the leg for a few seconds. "I truly hope the Restoration ability works. There's nothing I can do with just her leg."

Nodding, we continue searching. The entire time, I can practically feel her leg pressing against my thoughts. It's all I can do not to look at it instead of trying to find another trace of Beth.

Which is what it is. Just a leg, Alexis.

Beth will be fine.

As I repeat my mantra, we continue to scour the room. Luckily, there are no other 'pieces'. But everything Ivicka had in the room seems to have been crushed or burned away.

Not that any of us are in the mood to scrounge for loot.

Once we've confirmed there's no chance of finding her, we gather around Beth's leg.

"Should we… bring it back for her?" Rufka asks, nudging the boot gently with the tip of her bow.

Tipan nods, levitating the boot up while holding the foot in place with a stone vice. "I'm certain she'll appreciate it."

The sucking 'glorp' when the foot comes free makes my stomach lurch. Thankfully, I don't have to handle it. Tipan wraps Beth's foot in a layer of stone then both disappear into her inventory.

We remain quiet, everyone gathering around me as I prepare to teleport directly to Raz's. We discussed sorting out the prisoners first, but we're all anxious to see Beth as soon as she's 'Restored'.

There are only four minutes left to wait when we make our way into Raz's. Roberts halts in the doorway, causing me to nearly bump into him. Glancing over his shoulder, I discover what's caused him to halt.

Sitting at the table, enthusiastically bantering with each other, are Josh and Rose. I can't hear anything they're saying, the special System aura around the table muting their volume, but Rose's sweeping gestures clearly convey his excitement.

"Well. At least we know 'Restoration' works," Roberts notes before stepping forward to greet Josh with a slap on the back.

"Wha… Roberts! Good to see you! And Lex. Welcome back!" Josh practically trips over himself in his rush to get out of his chair. He doesn't have his robe. Instead, he's wearing a plain white t-shirt and a pair of jeans. It's so normal, it's utterly wrong.

After giving Josh a quick hug, I'm about to comment on his and Rose's conversation when he asks, "So, where's Beth?"

"She's…" my throat chokes closed before I can finish.

"Going through Restoration. Just like you did," Rufka finishes for me a few seconds later.

"Yeah. That."

"Oh. Shit. Sorry. But hey, she'll be fine. Better than fine," Josh reassures us.

"It really is good to see you're okay. And that you're getting along with Rose," Roberts remarks while directing Josh back into his chair.

"Oh yeah. I mean, who else am I going to talk about Corrie with."

"Corrie?" I can't help but ask. Was that the name of Josh's old girlfriend?

"Just a show I, uhh, we used to watch before we were brought here," Rose interjects. It's funny. Rose almost seems embarrassed but Josh is just excited. "Sorry Beth didn't make it. But you guys were successful. He got the update."

"Yeah. And check this out," Josh gushes, growing a thorn and rosepetal replica of the Eiffel tower over his hand. The moment the last thorn weaves itself into place, he passes it to Rose. Rose waves his hand over the replica, causing it to grow to twice its previous size.

"You both have powers. So cool." Glad to see at least one thing worked out. Not that I understand how.

"Yeah. I thought they were gone. But whatever you did… I'm not certain, but I think I'm a copy." Josh doesn't seem as upset about this possibility as I'd be. In fact, he seems completely unconcerned.

We continue to check with Josh on his condition, but he seems surprisingly relaxed as Roberts and I each do a thorough scan. The System is convinced that he's Citizen Rose, but my analysis does reveal a minor detail which explains why Josh thinks he's the copy. His name isn't just Citizen Rose. When I focus on it, his name comes up with an attached time-stamp labelled January 26, 13257, 22:13:05 GST.

Wow.

The fact the System has a way of handling this situation suggests it's not the first time it's happened. Glancing at Rose, I amend that. I doubt the System's had to deal with a pu'shaha gaining a core from one of its Citizens before.

After giving Josh a clean bill of health, we all settle at the table. Rose informs us that Demo's in his room, letting the device repair his leg. There's a nervous energy around the table as we wait for the timer on Beth's Restoration to count down. When there's less than a minute left we all go silent, watching the door to the change room.

Then Roberts informs us the timer has hit zero. "And her status has reappeared in the party screen."

I'm not the only one who sighs in relief. Despite having Josh sitting at the table as proof that Restoration works, I was still worried. Especially after seeing what happened to Ivicka.

We wait for over a minute but there's still no sign of Beth coming out of the change room.

"Should we check on her?" I ask.

"Yeah. We totally should," Josh states. But he doesn't make a move towards the door.

Roberts tugs at his still scraggly beard. "Can we even get inside without her letting us in? I believe we need to remain patient. She'll either respond through chat or come out on her own."

As if she heard us, Beth steps out of the change room. Like Josh, she's wearing a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. Is there a default replacement of non-Equipment gear?

Beth seems surprisingly uncomfortable as she makes her way over, regularly pausing to look over her shoulder while rubbing her arms vigorously.

"Beth, I'm glad you're okay," I state, getting up to give her a hug before she's even reached us. This is followed by a round of similar sentiments from everyone at the table, except Josh who remains quiet.

"Thanks kid. Everyone," Beth gives us a half-smile that doesn't reach her eyes. She's avoiding looking directly at Josh who's standing at the head of the table, his posture tense.

Suddenly, I realize we shouldn't be here.

Grabbing Rufka's hand, I wave for everyone to follow. Rose is the only one who delays, looking between Beth and Josh, his ears twitching before joining us.

I'm heading straight for the garden when Raz descends the stairs, a series of jingling bells trailing behind him. "Oh good. You're back. Your friend Genitha has awoken."

"Mum!" Rufka calls out, charging up the stairs. She doesn't let go of my hand, so I find myself pulled along. Good thing I fly everywhere these days or I might have tripped over myself.

Then again, with my improved Agility, maybe I wouldn't have.

Rufka charges into her mum's room, nearly knocking me off the doorframe in her haste. Not that it would have hurt now that I've finally increased my health attributes.

"Oh. Hey, kitten."

Rufka stops as quickly as she started, staring down at her mum, her jaw opening and closing but no sound issues forth. After a couple seconds, she shakes her head before kneeling down beside her mum and giving her a big hug. She doesn't let go of my hand, pulling me into the hug with her mum, which is a little awkward. When her mum starts whispering reassurances into Rufka's ear, I extract myself. I don't go far, mentioning I'll be waiting outside the door.

I'm not sure Rufka hears me, but her mum nods in my direction.

Roberts and Tipan are waiting for me when I step into the hall. I'm about to address them when one of the beetle-like patrons aggressively pushes me to the side before heading towards the pub. In fact, I think it's the same one who bumped into me before. Back before she went to Aethire to find her mum when Rufka and I were going to bed.

"Wow. Some outlanders are so rude," Tipan remarks at the beetle's back as it retreats down the stairs.

"A different culture, perhaps. They don't seem to be bothered when others bump into them," Roberts observes before asking, "How did she look?"

"She seems okay. I didn't scan her or anything though." Which I suddenly wish I had. Just to make sure she's okay.

Roberts steeples his fingers, tapping the peak against his nose for a second. "I'll give Rufka another minute then I'll check on her. I'm frankly surprised at how often my training has been useful here. Especially, considering I have magic capable of literally knitting together a life-threatening wound in seconds."

I can't help but give a nervous chuckle as we wait in otherwise comfortable silence. Just as Roberts is about to go in, Rufka emerges. She waves him in then leans her head on my shoulder.

"She's going to be fine. Apparently, she wasn't hurt bad enough to return home." There's a sense of disbelief in Rufka's voice.

"Well, that's good," I offer.

"Yep. Anyway. Let's go make sure Josh and Beth are okay. I don't know about you, but I could use a break. And then I can't wait to hit the change room."

Oh yeah.

We have levels to gain and points to spend.