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[1 - the announcement] I have some info that I thought might interest you. Paradigm's fishermen stopped doing their work, and I was hired to negotiate with them. Apparently a sea god was awakened, and they're too afraid to anger him. Some of them claim they saw him, and he's gigantic.
I don't believe in sea gods, but this might be something else - maybe even a Kaiju. I'm going to investigate this matter. If anyone wants to tag along, be my guest.
[2 - investigation] [Paradigm's docks are dark and moist, full of foreboding atmosphere and smell of fish. Just like Roger said, no boats are out in the sea - the fishermen are too afraid. It's hard to get a coherent testimony out of them, but something unexpected happens - when you're on your way to talk to one of them men who claim to have seen the sea god, turns out there's a lady already talking to him. And she notices you.]
Oh? What a surprise. I didn't expect to find you here, negotiator. And with company, no less.
Angel...
[3 - more investigation] [While walking around the docks, you suddenly hear a sound. It's coming from a dark alley between two seaside warehouses - it sounds like wet steps of large feet. And some shadows can be seen moving in the darkness - shadows that don't look entirely human...]
Do you see that?
[4 - single thread please]
This wouldn't have happened if you didn't jump in.
No, it wouldn't have happened if you didn't try to leave everyone behind.
[Welp. Roger, Angel, and maybe a few other people, are now stuck underwater, in the ruins of an office building. At least the building seems to be pressurized and have air and even electricity, but there's no visible way out - and these two spend as much time looking for one as they do bickering like children.]
[How did this happen? Roger decided to investigate underwater, and found a man whose Memories allowed him to build a batysphere, and paid him to borrow it. However, when he arrived later to actually dive, it turned out Angel was faster, paid the man more and already took the batysphere on her own! Roger - and a few others, maybe - barely managed to jump in before the vehicle dove underwater.]
[As it turns out, the seabed next to Paradigm is full of ruins - a whole city, old but surprisingly modern-looking. There are even underwater skyscrapers... One of the buildings seems to have power, and the batysphere heads there - but suddenly it is attacked! It's the "fishmen" from before (not covered in seaweed, they actually look more like men in diving suits!), wielding harpoons, which they use to damage the batysphere before swimming away. All Roger and company can do is head to the building quickly, before the batysphere stops working completely - and here we are. What will happen next, only time will tell.]
I don't believe in sea gods, but this might be something else - maybe even a Kaiju. I'm going to investigate this matter. If anyone wants to tag along, be my guest.
[2 - investigation] [Paradigm's docks are dark and moist, full of foreboding atmosphere and smell of fish. Just like Roger said, no boats are out in the sea - the fishermen are too afraid. It's hard to get a coherent testimony out of them, but something unexpected happens - when you're on your way to talk to one of them men who claim to have seen the sea god, turns out there's a lady already talking to him. And she notices you.]
Oh? What a surprise. I didn't expect to find you here, negotiator. And with company, no less.
Angel...
[3 - more investigation] [While walking around the docks, you suddenly hear a sound. It's coming from a dark alley between two seaside warehouses - it sounds like wet steps of large feet. And some shadows can be seen moving in the darkness - shadows that don't look entirely human...]
Do you see that?
[4 - single thread please]
This wouldn't have happened if you didn't jump in.
No, it wouldn't have happened if you didn't try to leave everyone behind.
[Welp. Roger, Angel, and maybe a few other people, are now stuck underwater, in the ruins of an office building. At least the building seems to be pressurized and have air and even electricity, but there's no visible way out - and these two spend as much time looking for one as they do bickering like children.]
[How did this happen? Roger decided to investigate underwater, and found a man whose Memories allowed him to build a batysphere, and paid him to borrow it. However, when he arrived later to actually dive, it turned out Angel was faster, paid the man more and already took the batysphere on her own! Roger - and a few others, maybe - barely managed to jump in before the vehicle dove underwater.]
[As it turns out, the seabed next to Paradigm is full of ruins - a whole city, old but surprisingly modern-looking. There are even underwater skyscrapers... One of the buildings seems to have power, and the batysphere heads there - but suddenly it is attacked! It's the "fishmen" from before (not covered in seaweed, they actually look more like men in diving suits!), wielding harpoons, which they use to damage the batysphere before swimming away. All Roger and company can do is head to the building quickly, before the batysphere stops working completely - and here we are. What will happen next, only time will tell.]
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[Setsuko turns around - and as her gaze adjusts to the darkness, she suddenly grows very, very still.]
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[Roger stealthily approaches the warehouse wall. He's about to peek behind the corner...]
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She's going to follow a few steps behind, looking around to make sure no one tries to sneak up on them.]
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Damnit! After them!
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[Setsuko whispers, but her words are interrupted by the sudden escape.]
Y-yes!
[Not thinking what happens if they actually manage to catch up, Setsuko tries to give chase!]
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Drat. So much for that. Hmm...
[Roger kneels down, looking at the marks left by their feet in the sand. They kinda look like flippers.]
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[Setsuko looks around. Are the creatures really gone? Her gaze falls on the footsteps.]
These look...
Well, I am not an expert but they look left behind by equipment. As in, a diver's equipment.
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...We need to find out where they went.
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[Peola blinked.]
Wait... didn't you say that if the fishermen in Paradigm saw a fish as big as the kind in Magnolys...
[She trails off.]
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[Peola actually seems to look a little anxious.]
So any idea where's a good place to start?
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[Tap tap tap.
[Her mechanical fingers softly clink on the floor as she sits and looks out into the sea.]
... They didn't even have the decency to finish us off.
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I don't know if I should be relieved or worried. Just what is going on here?
[Setsuko's gaze moves back and forth between Roger and Angel.]
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[Nothing except wait. Wait and wait and wait for either rescue or death. And Ana wouldn't be surprised if it's the latter because she's since used up her one miracle rescue back during her test piloting days. The similarity between then and now isn't helping her any.]
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Regardless, we can still do something, and that's look for a way out of here.
We looked everywhere already, and you didn't find anything. Don't waste your time, Roger.
And it's not the sea god they're guarding. It's the Memories within it.
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[Memories again. Everything in Paradigm seems to revolve around them.]
Why did they not take them for themselves, then?
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What poor hosts they are. Like dogs in the manger.
They might be doing us a favour. When you find Memories in this city, it's better to live them where they lie.
Ha. Another one of your Roger Smith Rules?
It's getting pretty hot in here. If you can think of a brilliant escape plan, you better let us know fast.
[Angel goes aside to the other part of the ruined room, and removes her jacket. But, when her undershirt is not covering them, an observer might notice two big, long scars on her back - and Roger certainly does.]
...
Setsuko? Ana? Come here for a second.
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[Setsuko decides not to stare, but she's still curious. Fortunately Roger provides a distraction for her to focus on instead.]
Yes?
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I can call Big O to rescue us, but I don't want Angel to know I'm its master. Could you distract her for a moment?
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[More conspirational whispering.]
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[An idea and possibly a chance to take off a little bit of tension that being stuck down here was forcing on her. If revisiting the past would help give her a future... might as well.]
... But I'm going to have to get really loud and angry for part of it.
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...Over there. Look.
[In the water beyond the glass window, it looks like some figures are swimming along in the distance! It's the divers again, and there's quite a few of them. They're descending down, towards a spot in the ruins that's glowing! It didn't use to, but it does now. A few of them seem to be carrying some glowing things, too...]
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[One look over though, and she can see the frogmen.]
... What are they doing down there?
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[Setsuko runs up to the window and observes the murky, watery outside. She needs a view as full as possible.]
Is that... the memories?
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To think they've managed to gather this many...
[Suddenly something goes wrong, and there's an explosion at the glowing spot! The explosion shakes the whole building, throwing everyone off-balance and making lots of cracks appear on the windows!]
...Deeper into the building! Quickly!
You don't have to tell me twice!
[Roger and Angel dart into separate directions - and good, because one of the windows breaks and water starts rushing in! Roger uses the distraction of the commotion to activate his watch, but if Big O doesn't come here fast enough...]
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[Setsuko stares at the window like a deer caught in the headlights - but her reflexes take over and she already bolts away while staring. The rest is a simple matter of not stopping.]
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Right on time, Big O!