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This world ended.
It ended a long time ago, in fact. Nearly 20 of Earth’s rotations.
These trains aren’t built for multiverse travel.
Genba is stuck.
He’s just grateful he got his hands on the guy who found him’s lollipop collection.
“If the world ended,” he says. “Why are you here?”
The guy scoffs. His language isn’t Japanese - louder, wider. It certainly isn’t Burekian - too grunting and lacking in elegance and trills.
It’s been years since Genba heard Burekian, even in his own voice. Was that really the last time?
Everyone… I’m sorry.
Apologies are all that slip through nightmares, as well.
“Well,” the man says. “Because I didn’t die.”
“I see,” Genba says.
“And because after the world ended, some idiots kept fighting,” Dillon says. “We even won.”
“But the world still ended.”
“We rebuild,” Dillon replies. “Slowly. Very slowly. The atmosphere became toxic, even after we won. Reversal is… slow. We have to build domes.” A sharp grin. It reminds Genba, suddenly, of Chasshiro or Sakito. A little bitter around the edges. “I usually help, since I ended up liking the exploring part.”
There are planets, like that. Earth is not one of them. As far as Genba knows, “domes” meant “planet shields”, incompetent or corrupt and always temporary.
Bureki wasn’t one of the bubble worlds. Burekia was a developed planet. Until it wasn’t. Millennia old architecture reaching for the heavens - gone. If it was terraformed, such actions were too long ago for Genba to remember.
Genba looks down.
“It must be nice to have a team.”
“It is,” Dillon says. “And we can work alone. What about you?”
I want to have a team.
I worry for what they say.
I saw them with a princess whose planet is only half fallen. They helped her. They still had bruises that night, even though our Changers are supposed to heal us quickly.
How do I ask, I—
“Is that my lollipop?”
Genba grins.
“I need sugar,” he says. “Medical reasons.”
Default excuse. Simple. Easy to pretend, easy to justify.
Taiya, worried. Chasshiro, rolling his eyes and calling bullshit but not actually doing anything.
Jou, trusting him and offering to help. Mira comments that he spends too much money on lolipops.
Boondorio nods along as Genba buys 12 of a Berora themed lollipop.
Sakito stole one of his.
“Sure,” Dillon says. “Whatever.”
A fight. Fighting is natural. His axe in hand. Moving, jumping. If he lets heat consume him, he’ll look like an animal - even as human as he is, Burekians are not human enough for most of the universe to respect. Or to trust.
This planet is destroyed. It makes people distrustful.
(Dillon has not given him any reason to distrust.)
If he lets heat consume him, he’ll be stronger.
He does not.
His ride arrives. Another misadventure. Things go haywire, when other heroes get involved. A new lollipop handed to him, apologies. So sorry for the trouble, train’s—
“Train’s not actually built for multiverse travel.”
“Good to know.”
He wants to go home. He wants Taiya, his safety, his hope. Mira and Jou, new lights. Chasshiro and all the questions he doesn’t ask and all the silent hands he offers. Sakito, so new. He knows so much, and it scares Genba because—
Because knowing can shatter illusions.
He doesn’t want to think about another team, after the end. Bright smiling faces, respect, competence.
Family.
Genba is lying to his new family.
And Dillon’s flat lolipops run out to fast.
Slit eyes that shine blue-gold-white in the light narrow.
Close.
Just breathe.
He will ask them. If they have the time.
When he deserves them, maybe, he can ask for help.