Epilogue

[cartesio]

Welcome to Cartesio!

You open your eyes and see the ceiling of the lodge. There is no real sensation of having slept, but you're still feeling rested. Sitting up, you can see that the building around you is in ruins. Dust and dirt dominate your environment. Around you, there are familiar people - some of them you've been with up until now, some of them you have been brutally forced to part with weeks ago. They all look alright, a little confusion aside.

From a corner of the room, you can hear the soft whirring of a machine. Upon examination, you can see that it's 3D-printing more gelatinous bodies like you've seen earlier today. Every body that is dispensed from the machine is a safe haven for another mind from the simulation, another mind to join your ranks as real people.

After you've adjusted to the new situation and left the lodge, you find yourself greeted with perfect sunshine. There's a town welcoming you, friendly and peaceful. Though it is more modern than what you are used to, there is no mistaking it.

Cartesio, Nevada, welcomes you.

You're new people, in a new world. Every chance it has to offer is open for you.

Comments

[linearcrash]

If they were badass, then it was him.

[ Pointing over at Bakugou. Guess who was playing as the fighter Gabe? ]

I didn't know how the hell to play most of those.

[ So yes, Nine was the slow one you were playing with ]

[quickpersuader]

Whoever played against me was really bad at it, so they moved to a different machine.

[And then, curiously:]

Do you know who carved messages into my wall?

[linearcrash]

[ Wow... He's sulking a bit. ]

I wasn't that bad...

[ And oh. ]

Yeah, that was me. [ A beat. ] I burnt that note in that version of town.

[quickpersuader]

You were pretty bad.

[And there's a hint of a laugh in her voice, although it fades when he mentions the note.]

Ah... you mean my secret? I wondered if that was what the other markings meant.

[linearcrash]

[ Betrayal. ]

Hey, at least I was trying.

[ Rude. He does crack a smile though. ]

Yeah. Didn't think you'd want that lying around for anyone to snoop in on, you know?

[ Like Nine kind of accidentally did... ]

[quickpersuader]

I ended up telling Keith about it, actually.

[Kino doesn't really mind most of the secret. Just...]

I actually forgot. My original name. I didn't remember it until I read it on that paper. It's been so long... I've accepted everything that happened then.