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

[quickpersuader]

Ah, that part might be difficult.

Kino hasn't kept in contact with anyone from our travels before! That's probably not changing, is it?

Pretty hard to...

[Someone get this girl a cellphone.]

[doublelammy]

Oh, c'mon. We had portable communications back where I'm from, there's gotta be something like that here, too!

So let's go find what they've got! And then wherever we go, we can keep sharing stories!

[quickpersuader]

As long as it works in all the different countries, I wouldn't mind trying.

...Eh? Ehhh?! Are you the real Kino?!

Nope. But you're not the real Hermes, either.

Huh!?

[doublelammy]

Ohhh, boy. You didn't tell him?

Yeah, uh. We're copies. We have all the same memories n' everything, but we're not really the same people we remember being. So we can start doin' all sorts o' new things now that the other versions of us never did!

[quickpersuader]

He was complaining about me taking too long to save him, so I thought I'd leave it for later.

Kino! That sounds kind of important, you know!

[doublelammy]

Oh, that's fair.

[Sorry, Hermes, logic does not run strong with this girl.]

[quickpersuader]

Not you too! You're both monsters! Monsters, I say!

[Kino just kicks him lightly.]

If you keep complaining, I'll really just leave you behind, you know.

You drive a hard bargain!

Anyway, what are you doing next, Millium?

[doublelammy]

Hehe. You guys seem close.

[It's cute.]

As for me... I'm not really sure yet. I have some people I need t' talk to, see what it is they're doin'. 'Cause I figure I've got this brand new life ahead of me, and I kinda wanna live it with the brand new family I found here.

[quickpersuader]

We've known each other for a long time.

Yup! I saw sweet little Kino grow into the scary Kino she is now!

[Another kick.]

Family...?

[doublelammy]

Aww, c'mon! Being scary is a good thing. Means you're a badass.

[What a time to not have cool sunglasses to sell this point.]

Yup.

Not that I ever had 'em before, but Oda, Dazai, n' Cian... they're kinda like parents are supposed t'be, I think. And Nine n' Bakky, they're my big dumb brothers.

[quickpersuader]

...Well, I wouldn't say that's inaccurate.

[Especially the dumb part.]

Do they all want to stay together, then?

[doublelammy]

Dunno! That's why I wanna talk to 'em.

I know Bakky n' Nine will, n' I imagine Oda, Dazai, n' maybe Cian will. It's a matter of seein' if their plans line up and then figurin' out who'll take me along with 'em.