melodiesoflife | Event || Strategy

Was Lady Matsya not able to come? I had hoped to finally meet her...

[Ramza was a little disappointed, but he could not let it distract him from this meeting. It was too important.]

The Calamity is made of the ghosts of other worlds, is it not? We want to put them to rest. Unless the Avatars are of another opinion, I think that is the right thing to do. Trying to kill the Calamity will not give justice to those lost worlds. They deserve better than that.

I hate to say this, Ramza, but we really can't do it justice in any sort of manner.

[Twilight spoke up and made herself known, that large airhorn by her side in case things got rowdy.]

Even if they are ghosts, it would be pointless to try to do something less than outright destroying them. We try to bring them to rest, we run the risk of letting the Calamity take hold even further. We can't let our feelings dictate this.

[Ira had told himself he wouldn't say anything. That he'd stay quiet, lest he accidentally cause an incident. Again. Yet when Twilight shot down Ramza's idea, he can't help himself.]

Sorry, but I can't believe that.

[He'd spent over a week with the shades of his own timeline's residents, feeling his life slowly ebb away... To hear that there are countless other souls suffering the same torment that they likely still suffered, beyond his ability to sense them.]

If the Calamity truly is made of the phantoms of other worlds, then maybe the song we used to end the "Good King's" rampage would work?

[Duster has remained quiet for most of the meeting, as he expected. He isn't a leader, he's used to being ordered around, but the mention of the events that transpired in October catches his mind. Maybe...maybe this is the time for him to take charge.]

The one to put them to rest! [He stands up, rather too quickly, and the chair he was sitting on scoots over loudly.] Maybe...Kalki did say that songs were powerful when it came to this world. If just a few of us can send strong ghosts to the afterlife, if we all worked together...

[He shook his head.] But we'd need more Bards for that.

I agree with Ramza and Ira. Not just because it's the ethical thing to do, mind you. Unless someone has been withholding information, we don't have a way to outright destroy such a gigantic mass of souls.

Not to mention, allowing them into Crystallis' normal cycle of souls could solve the issue of revitalizing the First Crystal... at least, if we can ensure they won't just devour it in the process. [He turns to the NPCs.] I'd like input from our Avatars in regards to this.

[Duster's idea makes him pause, then nod.] There might be something to that. The core of the Soul Divider is shaped like a harp. That's no coincidence, I'm sure.

[ Cid shook his head with desperation at Ramza. ]

Someone get him a replacement brain...

[ When Jade asked for input from their Avatars, none of the NPCs react. It might very well be none of them know they are actually Avatars yet. Prajapati remained very calm and stepped forward after a moment. ]

If I may- It is my understanding the Calamity is made of the remnants of dead worlds. For all intent and purpose, they were already destroyed and yet they are unable to die. [A pause.] Bringing further destruction upon it sounds counter-productive. Whilst fighting might pave the path to the solution, I do not believe it is the solution itself.

[ She then looked at Duster. ]

I would, however, advice caution trusting anything from Kalki. She was a master of deceits and had no qualms committing the worst atrocities to accomplish her ends.

[Selphie raised her hand before standing up and looking around at everyone in the room before settling on Twilight briefly with a very worried frown on her face.]

We may not be able to save the worlds that have already been devoured by the Calamity but we can still try to save the worlds that haven't been devoured yet. We can't give up because something seems impossible. Nobody here would have done any of the things that we've all done if we'd just sat down and given up. I don't know a lot of the stuff that the others know but I'm not giving up on my world or anybody else's.

[Her expression took a turn to the thoughtful.]

Is there any way to use our power to help those devoured worlds and their souls find peace? Like... an exorcist or something? Or maybe fix the Soul Divider so that it can start doing its job again?

Edited 2017-01-26 12:12 (UTC)

[None of the Avatars are stepping up... Interesting. Before he touches that, though, a brief clarification might be in order, especially given that many of the natives likely aren't aware of all the details.]

Technically, the Soul Divider is doing the job it was originally designed for. It takes the energy from our worlds and recycles it through Crystallis. From what I could tell, that part of it is still functional.

The trouble is that it was never efficient enough to sustain this world for very long, even back when the Ancients first built it. That's why they resorted to assimilating such an excessive number of worlds and inadvertently gave birth to the Calamity in the process.

[Jade glances at the other Heroes he spoke to during their earlier meeting.] We do have some ideas for improving the Soul Divider to handle significantly larger amounts of energy. However, we'll still need an energy source to revitalize the First Crystal. Otherwise Crystallis will run out of energy and die once we stop the assimilation.

[All that said, he'd be interested to hear an answer to Selphie's first question.]

[Cloud nods as well.]

The cannon might seem like an option as a last ditch effort to save all other worlds but I have a feeling it won't work like we want it too. All of this is about the Planet's desire to live and doing all it can to survive right? The cannon could make things worse for all we know.

Ira has the right idea I think. We need to get this thing to stop, and based on everything we've been through it feels like this is something alive. [He pauses, thinking of the Avatars.] Not a force of nature we can just stop with overwhelming force.

[He frowns, shifting his stance, his hand going to his hip as he looks down.]

I think we also need to prepare ourselves for another possibility. If we do all of this right, there's probably no going home for us. Not if the worlds have really been destroyed and consumed. It's also possible we won't survive in the end...I'm not talking about sacrifice or anything like that. If we undo all this and set things right there's no way to know what will happen to outsiders like us. Or the moogles. Those of us with blue crystals, we're part of THIS Planet now, right? Those red lines in the soul divider and the red of our crystals when we arrived. They have to be related.

[He looks around at the others, gauging their reactions.]

And we have to be ready to accept whatever comes from our actions.

[Ira blinked in surprise, turning his gaze briefly to Duster, Jade, and then Cloud. Wait, people were seriously agreeing with him? This is a thing that could happen? Perhaps showing his age a bit, he let out an amused-yet-relieved noise--the smallest of chuckles--before turning to Prajapati with as serious an expression that he could muster.]

Exactly. Which is why we we don't trust the other idea she gave us so willingly.

[Sacrificing everyone and becoming a god? Seriously, who in their right mind would think that's a good idea? No, that would be out of the question for most of those in this room with few exceptions.]

You're right, Cloud. Whether there is a way back or not, once we go through with this there's no turning back.

[Yet for how sure he sounded, his heart felt... heavy. Heavier than it had felt in a long time. Maybe even ever--but definitely more than when he'd died. resting his hand over his heart, he continues.]

Still, it's what she would have done... Follow her heart and do what it said was right, no matter the cost to herself. And mine's saying we have to at least try. If we don't, there won't be anywhere to return to.

[Could it really be that simple? Just dispelling the fragments of souls that's holding the Calamity together? Well they have constantly been dogged by this idea that it's quite-likely not so over-complicated as the collective group of them seem to have been making everything. Sephiroth's gaze is drawn over towards Mograma, the parallels between this idea and what went on in October are bright indeed.

He tries not to get pulled into the heavy that lingers behind both Cloud and Ira's contributions, instead blinking a little as a thought strikes and turns back towards Jade and whoever else might be more informed of the mechanics than he is.]

Does anyone know what powers the Lunar Base? If I'm to understand it's from the Ancient's first-home and if going kamikaze with the cannon is really the only use...there isn't anyway it could be converted into the desired power source?

No, there isn't. The Lunar Base's power is vastly different than something that could power the First Crystal. The Lunar Base was essentially made to watch over Crystallis and "regulate" the people down below, so to speak. The main cannon, at full power, was powerful enough to destroy the planet. The other cannons were designed to attack the other cities.

[ Once more Cid rolled his eyes and shook his head, but that time it was directed at Cloud and Ira. ]

Y'know kids, if your plan involves everyone dying you might as well call it a day now. I'm sure Garland will even lend you a hand for that.

[ This aside, Kurma was the next one to step forward when the soul divider was mentioned. ]

If that's Ancient construct, our people specialized in Magitek can work on it. However, there are still two issues. We don't know anything about the melodies and we're running out of time. [ A pause. ] The Ancients died out before ever perfecting their system. Even if you have a plan to modify it, three months won't be enough.

[Jade crosses his arms and drums his fingers on one bicep. Kurma has a point, unfortunately. Any plan they want to enact with the Soul Divider would require man-hours they don't have. Even if they started months ago, it probably wouldn't have been enough. They need more time.

Time... Well, this idea might not convince anyone of the Heroes' collective sanity, but...]

...There is one place that isn't bound by time. And thanks to the Ancients, we know it's possible to move celestial bodies there. At least moons, possibly planets.

[A dry smile.] Of course, going there would present a whole new host of unknowns.

There is a profound silence following Jade's statement. "You want to- stop time around Crystallis. Even try to pull the entire planet into the Rift?"

Jack leans on his hands and goes very stiff and still, and he stares Jade down with an indecypherable gaze. Concern, wonder, but what wins out is that he's considering it.

When he finally speaks, it is in a matter-of-fact tone. "With a powerful-enough time engine, it would be possible to pull Crystallis into a pocket of Time, remove its influence from the rest of space and time. It would prevent the Calamity from infecting other times. It may also keep us from going home." The sheer tension in Jack at this idea comes out through those last words.

"There's no breaking a Time Bubble from the inside. And just because I know it's possible doesn't mean I know how it was done. But if we get to the point that we are completely out of options..."

Doctor.

Jack's voice falters. "...it's there."

[Twilight blinked once, twice...]

Yeah, let's keep that as the very last resort... though, I wonder if it's possible to shove the Calamity in there instead.

I mean, at the very worst, one of us might have to shove it in there and get caught up in it, but it would be a lot better than shoving the entire planet in there.

Inside a Time Bubble? Given that the Calamity has already contaminated most of the planet, I'm not sure if they can be easily separated like that...

[Not that he knows much about this Time Bubble business, so really, Twilight's guess is as good as his.]

I don't particularly like this idea either, but until we come up with something better, these are the sort of options we're dealing with.

[Wait a second. Time Bubble? It doesn't take long for Selphie to shoot Jade a very alarmed look.]

No! No compressing time. That's what's happening in my world right now and I dunno if the rest of my friends or my world are okay or not.

There has to be another way...

We do not need to put the Calamity into the Rift. If we choose to believe what Kalki told us in her...what was it called?...her 'video', the true body of the Calamity already resides there. What we see is as the tip of an ice burg.

[He shrugs, not meaning to tell the others they are wrong, but needing to issue the warning nonetheless.]

So if we were able to draw the whole of Crystallis inside, it would only bring the planet closer to the Calamity. I think that is why the spirit in the rift warned us away.

And Sir Kurma, I am glad you are safe. We have not heard from you for far too long.]

And the entire time everyone's been arguing over what to do, a certain red and black-clad figure has been... busy trying to set himself up to go to sleep.

"Look, this is all great and all, but does anyone else has a plan that doesn't require the impossible in saving everyone and their kitchen sinks? I mean, I'm all for world saving, but even the Avengers are forced to lose lives every once in awhile!" Deadpool said. "And just because everyone thinks I'm Ninja Spider-Man doesn't mean I'm going to act like him. Trust me, all you get is ulcers trying the whole 'everyone lives' schtick. That, or being hijacked by obese scientists with a superiority complex."

Gonna sound crazy, but I agree with our brain-dead friends for once.

[ Cid tilted his head toward Ramza and Selphie. ]

The Ancients moved the moon, that's all fine and dandy but that's basically a dead rock. Now you're talking about moving an entire planet. How in the world do you propose we move the atmosphere with it?

[ A sigh. ]

And that's not talking about the sun and the gravitational pull of all the shit that's out there. You know, we kinda need the sun not to freeze our asses off, plants kinda need sunlight, we kinda need plants for oxygen and we kinda need gravity to keep the seas from going cray. You don't want to move just the planet, you want to move the entire freaking solar system and pray it doesn't break down once it's in the rift. That's three dozen steps beyond moving a dead rock if you ask me.

...As I said, it would present a whole new host of unknowns. I wouldn't have brought it up if we had more realistic options readily available.

[Jade isn't surprised that the idea is shot down. It was little more than him thinking out loud.]

Regardless, right now time is our greatest enemy. We may be able to defeat Garland within two months, but that will mean little if we can't follow it up.

[Mary's been quiet this whole time, but the berating words that keep coming from Cid finally spur her to speak. She steps forward from the back of the crowd and makes sure to catch his eye.]

The fact is we've been doing all we can here with the limited information we have. We've worked hard to turn every stone we can find and try to uncover every mystery, and most of what we find is what others did wrong. The Ancients, the previous cycles, we've found their mistakes. We've found their attempts to try to change things. We have a long list of what didn't work and what made things worse. It may seem like we've gone around breaking things, but everything we've found only served to keep everything repeating as it had been, and that wasn't going to last forever.

[She slams her hand down on the table and glares at the non Heroes present.]

If any of you have been sitting on something, waiting to see if we were worthy of knowing it, now's a fine time to speak up. Kalki's been the only one to really volunteer anything and frankly none of us want to make that our plan if we can help it. We're willing to put ourselves on the front lines and confront whatever enemy we have, but we need to know you're supporting us from here.

[ Kurma turned to Mary and was the one to reply. ]

Whilst I will not comment on the diplomatic skills, or lack thereof, of the regent- [This caused Cid to shake his head and mutter something along the lines of 'precious coming from the emperor's sonny'.] You would do well not to compare our contribution to Kalki's. She always knew more than any of us and she had a gift to manipulate your emotions. Lest you forgot, our people's lives are on the line and they shall lose as much as you if we fail in our endeavors. Do not mistake our lack of answers for animosity.

[ With that said, Prajapati was the one to speak once again. ]

The last we need is for us to turn on each other. Would I know anything that could be of help, I would share it without a second thought. As it is, it is my belief working on the Soul Divider is our best option. It is close as we have to a peaceful solution to deal with the Calamity. More importantly, it is not something any of us could accomplish without the Heroes of Light. If the solution doesn't come from our world, then perhaps it is it.

[ She turned to Jade. ]

Sir Jade, I will have our people assist your work in any possible way. Even if our timeframe is limited, this is our best hope.

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[He inclines his head.]

I've been working on adapting my homeworld's technology to be compatible with the Soul Divider since we first found it. With the added knowledge of my colleagues [He nods to Jack and the others who'd chimed in during the pre-meeting] I believe we can have a theoretical framework and instructions prepared in the coming weeks.

As for the energy needed for revitalizing the First Crystal... Unless anyone has other suggestions, the only energy source large enough still seems to be the Calamity itself. The next logical step in our agenda would be deciding how we go about communicating with it, correct?

Event || Strategy

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I don't whether to love or hate you all right now.

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