Okuu Quest After - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'm on the roof of your building, actually. I can fly down your way once the police pass by. And what's happened is a long story. In a nutshell, Kanako, Suwako, and Koishi used a jewel containing the essence of a hakutaku to remake the world. We're in the Gensokyo they created. There are very few of us who remember anything of our old lives. Most everyone is living as a normal human."

> "You could say that the current Gensokyo we're on is an island in the Outside World."

>"I see," she says. "I suppose that would explain...well, a lot of things. I...lived a whole life here, haven't I?"
>The cruiser turns down a side street.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yeah, we all have. I'm not sure how much of it really happened, and how much we just remember happening, but it all feels plenty real to me."
>If the coast is clear, stealthily fly to her balcony

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yeah, we all have. I'm not sure how much of it really happened, and how much we just remember happening, but it all feels plenty real to me."
>If the coast is clear, stealthily fly to her balcony

>"I see," she says. "I suppose there's no use worrying about it..."
>It isn't difficult to get down to the balcony. Keine is there, clad in a sleeping gown. She steps back and offers you a hand as work your way over the railing and the low roof.
>Looking at her, the change in color aside, you can see some resemblance to Stargazer in her. Their body shapes, horn and tail aside, are practically the same. "You mentioned a jewel?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yeah, this here."
>Hand it to her
>"Stargazer seemed to feel there was another being like her inside it. I hope you might be able to know how to use it."
>"You know... it may take some getting used to to not thinking of Stargazer as a separate entity..."

[Kilgamayan]

> "It's also worth noting that Kanako nipped it from Eientei. I'm hoping to also get Eirin's help somehow to fix things."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yeah, this here."
>Hand it to her
>"Stargazer seemed to feel there was another being like her inside it. I hope you might be able to know how to use it."
>"You know... it may take some getting used to to not thinking of Stargazer as a separate entity..."

>She takes the gem in hand, and her eyebrows raise. "...So many surprises in one night. And yes, it does have the essence of one of my ancestors, I think. I have no idea how it got there. As for Stargazer, I suppose it's alright if you want to use that name still."

> "It's also worth noting that Kanako nipped it from Eientei. I'm hoping to also get Eirin's help somehow to fix things."

>"I suppose I'm not terribly surprised," says Keine. "I don't think Eirin will be necessary, though."
>"Do you intend to stay? It'd be no problem if we went inside."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Surely you've seen me on the news? If you're willing to harbor that, then I'd be glad for a place to stay. Lord knows I could use it after completely wrecking myself tonight."
> "I actually have Sakuya Iazyoi's pocketwatch as well. I think it may be worth our while to bring her back to reality. With the firepower that was behind this in the first place and is now seeking to maintain it, I think we're going to need all the help we can get."

[DracoOmega]

>"Kanako and Suwako already fought me to prevent me from trying to change anything back. They should still be unconscious, but I don't know how much time we have before they start moving again."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Surely you've seen me on the news? If you're willing to harbor that, then I'd be glad for a place to stay. Lord knows I could use it after completely wrecking myself tonight."
> "I actually have Sakuya Iazyoi's pocketwatch as well. I think it may be worth our while to bring her back to reality. With the firepower that was behind this in the first place and is now seeking to maintain it, I think we're going to need all the help we can get."

>"I have," she says, "But I think I've already trusted you over the past few days."
>"She would be a useful ally, if you intend to take your time about things."
>She walks into the condo.

>"Kanako and Suwako already fought me to prevent me from trying to change anything back. They should still be unconscious, but I don't know how much time we have before they start moving again."

>Keine nods. "If it's just returning things back, with this it should be no problem."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Follow her in
>"No problem? How does it work, then?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Follow her in
>"No problem? How does it work, then?"

>You head inside. This is a nice place; the carpets are soft, the walls clean and well painted. You are in a living room with tasteful, matching furniture.
>"It's difficult to explain. But let me summarize that in the properly skilled hands, it allows one to make alterations to the flow of time. From what I have seen of it, they've made numerous little changes to things. But, that should be easy to counter simply by removing everything they've done with the gem. Of course, this is going to cause some degree of historic uncertainty, but that's impossible to avoid at this point."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I must admit I'm curious about something. Is your green spirit experience the reason you trust me this much even now? One of the pretenses Kanako and Suwako claimed they kept in mind was to change the lives of those in Gensokyo that 'suffered' so they'd be happier here. Do you feel this way at all, like you would have been happier if I hadn't come to you tonight and let you live the life they gave you instead? Part of the reason I'm working to undo what they did is because I don't think it's right they did this without asking people first, but obviously I can't say everyone would prefer to return to their real selves or even that everyone feels the same way about the rightness or wrongness of not asking."

[DracoOmega]

>"Historic uncertainty? What does that mean?"
>"And... would it be at all possible to keep a couple of the changes they've made, in isolation? Even if that was trickier to do?"

>"And, Keine, I'd... like to know what you think of this life you've led. Do you think it was better than your old one?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I must admit I'm curious about something. Is your green spirit experience the reason you trust me this much even now? One of the pretenses Kanako and Suwako claimed they kept in mind was to change the lives of those in Gensokyo that 'suffered' so they'd be happier here. Do you feel this way at all, like you would have been happier if I hadn't come to you tonight and let you live the life they gave you instead? Part of the reason I'm working to undo what they did is because I don't think it's right they did this without asking people first, but obviously I can't say everyone would prefer to return to their real selves or even that everyone feels the same way about the rightness or wrongness of not asking."

>"To a large degree, yes," says Keine. "I remember everything that happened. Including earlier this evening, which is somewhat awkward.... Ahem. And...I'm not sure whether they were right or not. But, one thing I've learned is over time is not to alter time from its natural flow. It...just doesn't work well. As for asking, I don't know if it would be practical to try and waken everyone and ask. And, trying to make that many exceptions would be insanely complex, the work of years."

>"Historic uncertainty? What does that mean?"
>"And... would it be at all possible to keep a couple of the changes they've made, in isolation? Even if that was trickier to do?"
>"And, Keine, I'd... like to know what you think of this life you've led. Do you think it was better than your old one?"

>"It's a useful term for not being able to predict all the results of changing or undoing a change."
>"I don't know. It depends on what you're going to try to change."
>She sighs, as she has a seat on the easy chair. "I don't know. I really don't. I've not even really been able to sort the two...the three of them out yet. But, I don't think I have a strong aversion to either of them. As for life as Stargazer...well, it was interesting to speak through emotion, at least. I might miss that."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"If you change everything back, will.... will we all forget that this happened? I feel like I may be a better person for some of what I've learned through this life, and I... I'm not sure I want to lose that."

[Kilgamayan]

> "So bad things could have happened to this reality even if we all continued on in these lives as if nothing had happened? I wonder if Kanako and Suwako tried to account for that."
> "By the way, are you aware of a group called 'The Foundation'"?

[communist unity (comm-unity)]

> "After we change everything back, how do we prevent Kanako and them from just doing this all over again?
> "Anyways, got any ideas on what to do next? It'd be nice if we could restore someone like Reimu so they'd be able to help us..."

[Hello Purvis]

>"If you change everything back, will.... will we all forget that this happened? I feel like I may be a better person for some of what I've learned through this life, and I... I'm not sure I want to lose that."

>"If we did it the most sure way, it's very likely, yes." She gives you a little smile. "But, I understand you don't want to lose what you've gained. But even in the worst case scenario, I might be able to do something for you."

> "So bad things could have happened to this reality even if we all continued on in these lives as if nothing had happened? I wonder if Kanako and Suwako tried to account for that."
> "By the way, are you aware of a group called 'The Foundation'"?

>"It could," says Keine. "Even the best laid plans aren't perfect when it comes to something large scale. I have no doubt they'd try to fix it if they knew of one, though."
>"I know the term from my time with you, and I vaguely understand they were hiding things away. But I don't really know anything of them."

> "After we change everything back, how do we prevent Kanako and them from just doing this all over again?
> "Anyways, got any ideas on what to do next? It'd be nice if we could restore someone like Reimu so they'd be able to help us..."

>"For my part," says Keine, "I fully intend to hand this over to Komachi, so my great grandmother resting within can move on. I would hope it'd stymie them a bit.
>"I suppose it depends on what you want to do. I would advise against awakening too many people though. Especially if you're not near them. They might do things to complicate the situation without meaning to."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Are you able to use this to awaken people directly, somehow? There are a couple of people I'd like to be able to talk to."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Are you able to use this to awaken people directly, somehow? There are a couple of people I'd like to be able to talk to."

>"I think so," says Keine, "But it would depend on their case. With yourself, for example, I don't think I could have. It would have been too complex. But if the person isn't missing any part of their being, it should be okay."

[DracoOmega]

>"Does that mean it would only work on humans? I wanted to speak to Satori. Apparently, she was one of the main people Koishi did this for. I'd... like to hear what she has to say."

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm, let me think. I'd like to awaken Orin, her youkai spirit has found her so she knows all this is fake, but she's still not herself, so she's had to live through knowing this world is wrong without being able to do anything. Given I lived through that hell myself, it's not something I like seeing her subjected to. Then, of course, Satori and Yamame and Nitori. After them...Reimu would be helpful, though I think she'd resist, given how she is now. Yukari would be helpful, I remember her being really powerful. I thought Reisen and Eirin would be helpful, but you think we don't need them, so I guess they're not that necessary. Uh, who else...The leader of the Armistice High bike gang, Yuugi. I know her pretty well, she's a really strong oni. And then there's Parsee, though I don't know how she's going to react to being awakened, given...the circumstances. Oh, and maybe Sakuya too. Hopefully that won't be too many."

[Serela]

>Keine can kinda just fix everything now when we're all ready, can't she? We don't really need to go awakening people that we don't need to talk to. Well, I can understand if it's someone who could help fend off Suwako/Kanako/Sanae trying to get back the gem, but we don't need to go on an awakening spree.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Does that mean it would only work on humans? I wanted to speak to Satori. Apparently, she was one of the main people Koishi did this for. I'd... like to hear what she has to say."

>"Let me find what I can about Satori," says Keine, and she takes hold of the crystal again. After a few moments, she says, "We'd have to find her youkai aspect first."

> "Hmm, let me think. I'd like to awaken Orin, her youkai spirit has found her so she knows all this is fake, but she's still not herself, so she's had to live through knowing this world is wrong without being able to do anything. Given I lived through that hell myself, it's not something I like seeing her subjected to. Then, of course, Satori and Yamame and Nitori. After them...Reimu would be helpful, though I think she'd resist, given how she is now. Yukari would be helpful, I remember her being really powerful. I thought Reisen and Eirin would be helpful, but you think we don't need them, so I guess they're not that necessary. Uh, who else...The leader of the Armistice High bike gang, Yuugi. I know her pretty well, she's a really strong oni. And then there's Parsee, though I don't know how she's going to react to being awakened, given...the circumstances. Oh, and maybe Sakuya too. Hopefully that won't be too many."

>"Orin sounds possible. The youkai, on the whole, I don't think I can do. And, I really wouldn't recommend wakening Yuugi or Yukari, though the latter could be very helpful. Really, that many would take practically all night to do safely. Parsee...I may be able to do something to keep her from forgetting, too. I really shouldn't, but...I feel for the two of you."

>Keine can kinda just fix everything now when we're all ready, can't she? We don't really need to go awakening people that we don't need to talk to. Well, I can understand if it's someone who could help fend off Suwako/Kanako/Sanae trying to get back the gem, but we don't need to go on an awakening spree.

>It would probably be a good idea not to go nuts.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Do you have any idea how we even COULD find her youkai aspect?"

>"And so, you think humans would be doable, then, without any special work?"

>"How long would it take you to restore things, anyway? Would I need to be able to buy more time against Suwako and Kanako?"

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "Her Youkai aspect... this will not be easy... I don't even have any clue on what it would look like, let alone where it would be. Unless you have an idea."
> Consider calling Orin again, to see if she is safe.

[Serela]

> "Her Youkai aspect... this will not be easy... I don't even have any clue on what it would look like, let alone where it would be. Unless you have an idea."

>Well it'd be her third eye, wouldn't it? They said some youkai aspects materialized as objects.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Do you have any idea how we even COULD find her youkai aspect?"

>"And so, you think humans would be doable, then, without any special work?"

>"How long would it take you to restore things, anyway? Would I need to be able to buy more time against Suwako and Kanako?"

>"I can search," says Keine. "Just give me a few minutes."
>"And they should be. They haven't lost anything essential that would have memories tied to it, I think, than you or I have. I may be wrong, though. Some borderline Youkai, such as Alice, may be fine as well.
>Wholice?
>"Once the real work begins, time won't be an issue."

> "Her Youkai aspect... this will not be easy... I don't even have any clue on what it would look like, let alone where it would be. Unless you have an idea."
> Consider calling Orin again, to see if she is safe.

>"I'll search for it. Is there any other you want me to seek?"
>You could do this. Might be rude to Keine, though.

>Well it'd be her third eye, wouldn't it? They said some youkai aspects materialized as objects.

>It sounds plausible.

>_

[Serela]

>What happened to that eye pendant we had? Did we leave it at the base? Did it look anything like Satori's third eye?

[Kilgamayan]

> Do we recall additional voices accompanying Reimu and Marisa when they first came down to beat us up?