But before we get to that, I loaded an aulder save to check if we can save Amos.
You did all this because of May Stein, didn't you?
Her gratitude is nothing. I had to... cleanse.
binge and purge
Cleanse?
My feelings for May! They wouldn't leave me! I needed to cleanse them. The way Stan Bates taught me.
Stan Bates taught you to... burn yourself?
No! He taught me to make a STATEMENT! Bring what's inside out into the OPEN! It was the only way.
There are lots of ways to deal with a break-up. Burning yourself alive is not even on the list.
You don't understand. You don't know what it's like to have... feelings. Feelings you can't get rid of.
I... understand, Amos. I understand more than you'd think.
You do?
I spent over a decade of my life trying to drink away feelings like that.
But... not anymore?
No. I got help. I... talked to people. Talking helps.
It does?
For a while. Then you have to do it again. So, do you want to talk to us about it?
More than anything.
Okay.
Show me the money, then we'll talk.
He's gone?
Yeah. He's gone.
Now that we've sent Amos into the wild blue yonder...
Back to the task at hand.
Taking the x-treme option won over
to screw them both 5:4.
We can't take the risk. Stan Bates has to die.
The blasphemer shall meet only with unflinching justice.
What? No!
Thank GOD!
Eli? Make it painless, if you can.
*Sigh* Don't worry, I'll make this quick.
Hadouken!
Blackout.
No. The right thing would have been to fry you both.
He didn't leave a lost spirit behind. That's... something at least.
I don't like killing human beings. Even if it's... unavoidable.
"unavoidable"
You know, I get that the party members are supposed not to have any agency with regard to these ~moral dilemmas~ but this kind of total cuckery on their part is just stretching it way too far.
But was he even human anymore? I dunno. A debate for another time.
c o p e
Well, thank you. Is all I'm saying.
You want to thank us? Just do one thing for me. EARN this.
Earn this? I spent thousands of YEARS "earning" this.
A man died so you could stay human. Make sure it's worth it, okay?
I'll... do my best.
Okay then.
Exeunt.
Back at the ranch.
Hello. I am Logan. I am defined by nothing more than two stupid shticks.
I... beg your pardon?
KayKay's wondering what level you'd be if you were in TrollGate.
I... see.
So many great bars in Brooklyn and we didn't walk past a single one. I call that a blessing. Anyway, what's up?
I can remember being Codexia so clearly. It's very... strange.
Listen. I can't begin to relate, but I DO know what it's like to have feelings you want to drown away. So my advice? Focus on the job ahead. That's enough to get you through today. Worry about tomorrow tomorrow. And... I'm here if you ever want to talk. Right. And KayKay too. Sorry.
Today is only yesterday's tomorrow.
Any thoughts on that last mission?
You meet some guys in the program. They might be trying, but deep down you know they're out of control. You know it's just a matter of time before they get themselves killed. And you pray they won't take anyone else with them. THAT was Stan Bates. He was not in control. I'm not sure he really wanted to be. Either way, what's done is done. If it turns out we made the wrong call, we'll try and make it right.
See you around, Logan. You too, KayKay.
Now for Womandana.
Your encounter with the creative force sounded... harrowing. I wonder what I would have seen there? Perhaps it is for the best I do not know.
indeed
Any thoughts on that last mission?
Stan Bates was given a power he could not control. Nor did he want to. Leaving him alive would have caused more death and chaos. Ending the menace before it spread was... the right thing to do.
Should we start a meeting?
A meeting is not necessary. We know our mission, we know our destination. When you are ready to proceed to the subway, we will follow.
I'll leave you to it.
Thank you.
♫ Mine, mine, mine, mine the data! ♫
Oh, hi. Sorry, I was a bit... distracted.
Reading some old books about the Hunters, and the Fire War. Well, I say "reading", but I'm really looking at the pictures. The ones of Aldin. He... really did look like me.
If looking like Aldin bothers you, you could always disguise yourself. Dye your hair or something?
i'm sure this will do wonders to confuse the vengeful pixies hellbent on his destruction
No need to go THAT far. I'll manage. Same as I always have.
dye your hair = "going that far"
I have so many memories of being Codexia. It's very... confusing.
I... can't imagine what that must be like. I'm sorry. But I do know that demons don't act like you do. They are chaotic. Mindless. Were you a demon before? Sure, maybe. But you're NOT a demon now, and that's what matters. That's all that matters.
roll credits, nothing more needs to be said
Any thoughts on our last mission?
I remember when my power first manifested. I had no real control. I was worried I was going to kill someone. But Stan... wasn't. He wasn't worried about people dying. He was more worried about losing his power. Killing him... saved lives. Most likely.
I'll leave you to it.
Right! See you around.
'Sup Vicki.
So. Muses exist. And they can kill people.
Nice that Vicki took over the role of the local bumpkin who has to act surprised about the existence of weird things from Mel.
I have so many memories of being Codexia. It's got me all mixed up.
Look, I get it. Things are crazy and you don't know which end is up. You wanna have a meltdown and drink yourself stupid. And when this is done? Feel free to do that. I'll even join you. Hell, I'll buy the first round. But right now? We need you focused. *I* need you focused. Okay?
Okay.
Any thoughts on that last mission?
You know how many idiots there are out there carrying weapons? As far as I'm concerned, Stan was just another idiot. I'm just glad he got put down before he could kill somebody else.
We'll chat later.
Right. Catch ya later, partner.
That way lies victory.
Damn it.
What? Is everything okay?
Just checked the score. The yanks are down 1 in the 6th inning against the Sox, so no.
just kwan things
You're a baseball fan?
Have you met a cop family? The order of religions is Catholic, Football, Baseball.
Heh, I used to take my kids to games in the summer time. Back when the Mets were worth rooting for.
Sorry, that was when again?
Ouch.
Duty calls.
Not for nothing, but I think you're gonna need some backup on this one.
Agreed. This is not the time to splinter our forces.
All the BROS rise to the occasion
friendly reminder they couldn't when we had to face galene in the north woods
Well, here's our stop. Let's get moving.
So... did we do it?
Yeah. Yeah, we did it. We can open this up whenever we want.
So what's on the other side of that thing?
It is impossible to say. It could be anything. It could be nothing.
Pocket realms can completely ignore the laws of nature, or invent new ones entirely.
So... be prepared for anything.
My pocket realm would have forced big heads for everyone.
You ready for this, Vicki?
Okay. Real truth? No, I'm NOT ready. I'm about to step through a portal into another WORLD. I could never be ready for that. But... I'm a Santina. I finish what I start.
So let's finish this.
Logan? Any thoughts before we go?
Yeah. I was thinking not a single person in the program would judge me if I picked up a drink right now. But that's not true, is it? That's just the addiction, making excuses and twisting the truth.
I don't often actually roll my eyes in person, but this time I did.
So all I can do is focus on what's in front of me. Which means going through that
glory glowing hole and stopping whatever's on the other side. That's enough for now. It'll have to be.
Any words before we head out, Eli?
Oh, I always have words. I was just thinking. It wasn't that long ago I was throwing lightning at you on a rooftop.
Speaking of which, the way this game completely skips any mentions of the passage of time is jarring at times as well. Sometimes it feels like the events from start to the current point transpire within a week or so, but then someone says something that would suggest much bigger timeskips between missions.
A lot has changed since then. You've made some... tough decisions. Decisions I'm not sure I'd have been able to make. I guess all I have to say is... whatever happens in there? I got your back. And I know you've got mine.
Do you have any sage advice for us, Mandana?
I have lived a long time, but I would hardly call myself a "sage".
you don't say
If anything, I know how easy it is to... reinvent yourself. Rediscover who you are, over and over. You have done much the same in your time with us. My only hope is that you do not change further. Regardless, know that I am with you. For as long as I can still stand.
or stand still
KayKay? How are you feeling about all this?
She says she's getting bored with all this talking.
*canned laughter*
Sorry, KayKay, we'll get going in a minute.
Yes. It is time. Eli? Shall we open it together?
All right. On three. One... two... THREE!
well then
Um...
Did something go wrong?
I... think so? Yeah, we definitely went through. I FELT it.
So did I. Something is different.
But what exactly is different?
Mayhap the answers lie through this door.