Conscious, Conscientious

Deon couldn't feel a sinking in his gut like he'd grown accustomed to from previous ascents into the sky. Unlike rides on Gibblezgorv, this colossal vessel's liftoff was much more gradual–not to mention graceful–so all he felt was the pressure of inertia pushing his feet harder against the pristine bronze floor.

Skrili stepped closer to join him as he gazed out of the nearest circular window into the Fantasy Country sky, and together, they watched clouds and traveling dragons grow smaller below them.

The Worlds above seemed practically touchable like dangling ornaments, and the sun shone brighter. Gazing back downward, the ground had become the more fantastical frontier of the two. Its flatlands, lakes, and mountains were mere strokes of a brush, and its buildings subtle dots.

When the flying facility evened out and began a steady acceleration forward, Deon and Skrili deemed their environment comfortable enough to resume walking.

"I guess this is it," Deon commented. "Weird…you think our rooms will be as nice as the Gloat Center ones?"

Skrili shrugged. It was to be expected–she hadn't been particularly moved by their previous luxury.

"I wonder if Lammy found his room alright," Deon added. "I told him where our hall is, so he'll catch up later."

His eyes remained fixed on the sky every time they passed by a window. Slowly but surely, they were making their way towards their first Special League event's host reality: Normal Country.

A place he'd yet to experience.

Off the top of his head, he remembered old opponents Ashley, Miranda, Xavier, and that 'Fullmetal Consciousnesst' guy all mentioned being from that Country. But the diverse vibes between them didn't exactly paint an idea of what to expect.

He was getting ahead of himself, though.

First, we still have to get through two weeks of training on this ship thing, he reminded himself.

Given the steady speed at which they were traveling, the timing made sense. And the day they'd spent traveling from Hidakala to the announcement, and then to their initial meetings, had taken them even deeper into the Fantasy Country Mainland. So they still had much of the Mainland to cover before crossing the Worldline.

At least, he figured, that would grant them time to mesh as a unit–especially with Otogi thrown into the mix.

Then…it's fighting time.

But he sighed, thinking back on their initiation just before the takeoff.

The Multiverse has always been weird…Deon thought, his attention falling on Skrili. THIS whole deal, though, has to be the weirdest…

~~~

(Less than an hour before…)

"Now, we have quite a few freshly-certified pros on this team," a woman said. "If you've worked with an agency before, raise your hand."

Looking around the golden conference room, Deon noticed only Otogi's hand lift up between two of his bodyguards. Then Kotono's emerged from her bundled hoodie beside him, uncertain if she needed to state the obvious.

Deon, Lammy, Skrili, and Phillip stood like awkward statues.

"Okay, that's what I remembered. Then, sorry Kotono and Otogi; I'll need to start with the basics. Here's how we do things in the Inoue Agency…"

It's named after Kotono? Deon questioned. He and his cousin exchanged equally uncertain glances.

He tried not to lose attention on the group of astoundingly plain individuals before them. All ten of the executives were smiling, aside from the woman speaking, but Deon wondered if it was because their faces were stuck that way. Their stiff suits contrasted their relaxed demeanor, emanating a contentment Deon couldn't quite interpret.

"Don't get too scared; this is a family. And you've made it. This is the big leagues," the woman continued. "That's why, if you remember our private meetings, we're dedicated to reflect that in your paychecks."

Deon remembered, alright. The number they'd told him in their one-on-one was so large, it didn't matter that it was in a currency he barely knew–it made his head spin.

He was grateful, then, that it was going towards Pang's investigation.

"So let's be sure to honor Hiroko’s legacy the best we can by leaning into that virtue," the woman preached. "I'm sure you all read the contracts, but here's a crash course of the important stuff. First: always present your best self. That's why Volona is here to help."

"That's why WHAT?!" Deon blurted out before he could catch himself.

A drooping puff of orange hair poked out from behind a few of the executives. Volona emerged, already in a different dress than before, her howling laugh filling the room.

"Silly forest boy. I always try to travel with my clients!" she declared. "Phillip, you looked dazzling! I already have a favorite!"

Phillip simply nodded, his skull medallion dangling amongst his dreary designer clothing.

"Everyone follow Phillip's example." Volona ordered. "How else will I convince Otogi to fire his fashion team and come to me?"

Deon glanced over to Kotono, who sat hugging her hoodie with her hair uneven and her baggy-eyed attention anywhere but here. She looked like she might doze off.

"Thanks, Volona," said the agency woman. "Second: always act like your best self. Your fans are the reason this League can exist. Treat them the best you can. And please, avoid speaking negatively about the League or the Inoue Agency. We're all here to build each other up."

Hiroko and Kotono have ignored that one a lot, Deon thought to himself, especially recalling Hiroko's speech at the end of the championship.

"And here's the last thing I'll mention now, because I have faith you're all professional enough to uphold the rest," the agent told them. "This is the most important one: no dating. ESPECIALLY not your fellow teammates."

~~~

As the duo continued down the hall, Deon couldn't get that last rule off of his mind.

'No dating teammates…' he mocked in his head.

That made three-for-three of rules Kotono and Hiroko completely ignored, but that was the least of his focus.

He watched Skrili walk with him in silence.

"I hope Lammy's room situation is okay," she uttered. "They should have put him with you."

"Yeah…let's all hang out once we get settled in," Deon decided.

Skrili nodded.

They neared an inward curve in the wall, which led to a narrower hallway. According to the map the agency added to their TeamTracks, this was where all the team members would be staying.

Sure enough, Deon's room came first: his name was engraved on a knobless black door.

"It's a common rule for League agencies," Skrili suddenly said.

"Huh?"

"The 'no dating' thing."

She knows I'm thinking about that, huh? Deon noted.

We really have spent a lot of time together.

He watched her cool pace as she slowed before his new room, and for the first time, he pondered how they'd gone from a lost guy and a loner, to an unlikely team, to…whatever they were now.

He could still picture the girl who begrudgingly taught him what the Multiverse was. After all, it wasn't that long ago.

But through risking her life to save his, and then overcoming her failures to help save Lammy, too, she became the girl who taught him how to live.

Deon realized his stubbornness to encourage her out of her shell was his greatest triumph. Because what she opened up to show him was a more beautiful soul than he could have ever fathomed.

That rule couldn't have shown up at a worse time.

Skrili entered a number on the screen beside Deon's door. They'd already exchanged codes for each other's rooms.

The door opened. With only the windows providing natural light from far across the space, the entryway was much dimmer than the hall.

"So…does that rule…mean anything to us?" Skrili checked.

She stopped and faced him, her purple eyes expressionless.

But Deon knew precisely what she was asking. His heart skipped.

Instead of answering with words, he closed their distance and guided her backwards against the wall. The notion came without thought. Skrili's mouth followed his as he leaned forward into a kiss.

There was no other possible motive this time. Her affection was all that kept her lips in place, and it was even more tender than before.

"Wait."

Deon felt the world sink. He released at her demand.

I screwed up.

But Skrili didn't attempt to make space. Instead, she reached her arm out to the switch beside the open doorway.

"Moron…" she whispered. "You forgot to close the…"

Their lips brushed each other's, and she never finished. While the door slid to a close beside them, Skrili pressed her body against him to receive the outpour of his kisses.

Deon closed his eyes. This warmth, though physical, was everything he'd felt whenever his gaze found her in Fiction Country. Her quiet essence, her secret beauty unfolded against his body just as it already had in his mind. Deon's hands slipped to her waist, cradling her there to keep her this perfectly close.

Their travel bags crashed and spilled to the floor by their feet, one after the other. But Deon and Skrili were oblivious to it as they shared their passion.

~~~

Lammy sighed.

He didn't exactly mind having to bunk with some of the ship facility workers–the dorms were cozy enough–but he'd assumed he would stay with Deon and the others.

Or at least, near them, instead of several floors away at the bottom of the ship.

The agency's confusion made a little sense: they knew nothing about the team's hidden purpose, and his relationship to it. As far as they knew, Lammy was a snotty kid mooching off of his cousin's success to catch a free trip.

He took solace in the fact that Credo sounded even more perturbed by the choice. He'd only found out shortly before Lammy and made sure to apologize. Not only that, but he commanded the pilots to add another 'VIP' bedroom near the rest of Team Hiroko.

Lammy wasn't sure how they were supposed to accomplish that construction while airborne, but after everything he'd seen these past couple months, he figured everything was possible.

Nonetheless, trapped in a spiral of discomfort, he found himself insisting they didn't need to bother.

Anyway, I might as well see what Deon and Skrili are up to, he figured.

He eventually made his way to the highest level, thankful there were floating pillars of flooring to carry him through the levels in place of stairs. Every corner of this ship so far glimmered with similarly sleek–and probably expensive–quirks, as if to flaunt its builders' enginuity. He was curious to discover what else this ship encased.

Lammy headed towards the curve in the hall where the team bedrooms started, guessing his friends were either getting things settled in Deon's room or Skrili's.

With Deon's room coming first, he started his search there. Remembering the code Deon shared with him earlier, he let himself in like he would back in Tailpiece.

When the door slid open, he found Deon and Skrili shifting to face him shoulder-to-shoulder only steps away, surrounded by a pile of their spilled belongings.

"Hey! What's up, Lammy!" Deon greeted.

Skrili evened out her ruffled clothes, some of her hair dangling loose from its tie.

Lammy stared at them blankly.

So obvious…he sighed to himself. Well, I guess there's no woods for them to sneak off to like back home.

They welcomed him in, seeming to notice for the first time that the lights had been off. Skrili found a series of knobs on the wall and flipped the room to life.

"This is one bedroom?" Deon double-checked.

Lammy was nearly as surprised, given they were on a traveling vessel, but he made some sense of it: this space was nearly as big as Kotono and Hiroko's place in the Hotel of Champions. And just like that setup, it featured every accommodation they could possibly hope for.

The round bed at the back, against the window views of the sky, was big enough to fit his father three times over. Beyond that awaited sleek, full furniture around a holographic screen, and some sort of bubbling tub of illuminated water.

A full kitchen was to the left, leading Lammy to conclude there must be somewhere to get groceries on this ship.

Skrili simply crossed her arms. "Talk about overkill."

Touring every corner of the space, Deon couldn't hide his smile. "Well Credo's counting on us to stop Proscious," he said. "I guess he wanted to take care of us. Then again, I bet the other teams get all this, too."

After Lammy helped them recover their pile of belongings, the friends found themselves congregating at the table by the kitchen.

"So uh…how's your room?" Deon dared to inquire.

"It's uh…good," Lammy uttered. "The other guys seem laid-back–"

Someone knocked on the door.

"Hey Lamfrey! You in there? The bunk you claimed is the one Leonardo always gets! Can you come pick out a different one?"

The three consciousnesses exchanged stiff glances.

Once again, Lammy sighed.

"I'll be back later," he murmured, hopping down from the chair and dragging his feet to the door.

"Wait! You can just crash up here with me!" Deon called after him.

"Nah, it's okay, Deon. Really!"

Lammy smiled back as the door slid closed behind him.

Skrili sent Deon a glare that shot straight through him.

"Yeah, yeah, I know…" Deon defended. "I'll go convince him and help get him settled up here. But…why did he even try turning it down?"

Skrili raised one eyebrow at him. "Really? You really don't know?

Deon thought back to his brief moment together with her. Accepting the reality, he leaned his head into his palms.

"That probably made him uncomfortable," Skrili said.

"Nah…well, yeah, but that's not why," Deon denied. "He's trying to make sure me and you can have time alone together, given those rules and everything. He's thinking of us. That's just how he is."

Endeared, a smile spread on Skrili's face. She breathed out a single laugh.

"He's sweet."

Deon nodded. Even after all this time apart, and in severe danger, and even while watching everyone but him get pampered like royalty, he was putting other people's feelings first.

That kid really is just like his mom, Deon laughed to himself.

"I bet I can change his mind," he assured. "I'll go talk to him now–"

Both of their TeamTracks rattled on the table. Retrieving them, they saw the same image:

Skip.

And underneath:

"6 missed calls."

Skrili slapped Deon's shoulder. "I thought you answered when he called us two days ago!"

"I meant to, but…then we had to rehearse for the announcement…" started Deon. "Wait–I thought you said you'd answer him yesterday!"

"I got caught up with those stupid press photos!" Skrili said.

They both looked back at their screens.

"Welp, he's gonna be pissed."

Skrili answered the call and placed her TeamTrack between them on the table. A small projection of Skip's face rose in front of them.

He simply stared at both of them, saying nothing. Soon Deon was convinced that once he was satisfied with their rising discomfort, he would hang up.

"Uh…hey–" Deon tried.

"You know, I have a lot of past students; you've seen my garden of team flowers," Skip started calmly. "So I receive the occasional call from time to time, and I'm always sure to answer…or at least call back…"

Deon and Skrili gulped. Their distance was too great for him to make them run laps, but somehow it still felt like a possibility.

"...And I try not to play favorites, but basically admitted to you guys that you were my favorites…" Skip continued, his voice darkening. "But no, not a single call. Not one. And even when I'm worried sick about you…YOU NEVER PICK UP!! WHAT GIVES, EH?!?!?!!"

"S–sorry, Skip…" Deon said, shielding himself from his teacher's wrath.

Skrili's head hung in shame. "We…got really busy…"

Skip sighed with as much emphasis as possible. "That's what all my best students end up saying eventually…no time for ol' Skip," he lamented. "You guys got mixed up with the people I warned you about. Now we've both lost friends to them. And now…you joined a team that's funding something to help lure them back out? Guys, listen:"

Deon and Skrili's ears perked up. The extra dramatics in his tone were gone, replaced with sober gentleness.

"It's a miracle you're still okay. This is the exact thing I told you guys to come to me about first," Skip said. "So…what happened?"

Throughout the duration of their recount, Skip's expression never changed. He was keen, but somehow never surprised–even when they mentioned the most absurd parts like Wei and his silent minion's unclassifiable abilities, their mission to copy Dreamer powers and 'reset the Multiverse,' and even their willingness to kill a young girl to do it.

Now Hiroko was gone in her place, and many others according to Lammy…but Skip didn't flinch in the slightest.

It seemed the only thing that deepened was his sorrow.

"I told you not to get their attention at all costs," Skip urged.

"We didn't know it was them," countered Skrili. "And even if we did…"

"...We still had to face them," finished Deon. "They took my cousin, Skip. The one from my visions. That was the future we had to overcome. And we did, because of your training. We stopped them."

"And it cost you Hiroko Hamasaki…" Skip uttered.

Heat sparked into Deon's eyes. He banged his fists on the table. "What were we supposed to do, then?!" he shouted. "Nothing?!"

Skip merely shook his head–not as an answer, but in contemplation alone.

"I'm glad the kid's okay, but…I don't like this, guys," he uttered. "I really don't like this…"

"Skip…" said Skrili softly, "that doesn't sound like you…"

"I'm sorry, guys…this group–I guess you know their name now, Proscious–they're not something you can just snuff out and beat up," he said soberly. "And…now…"

Deon could practically feel the weight pressing at Skip's chest by watching him alone.

"They know about you, Deon. You and your cousin used your extra powers on them," he said. "So…I know for a fact that looking for them doesn't mean a thing. Now…they're gonna want you two. They'll come for you next. So by hunting for them on top of that, you may as well be offering your life to them."

"Fine, let them try. We have to find them," Deon stressed.

"They have Pang," added Skrili. "And they have your old teammate."

Skip's eyebrow twitched.

"And they'll have all of you, too, if you keep going like this," he snapped.

Deon paused. He could see Skip's heavier breathing even through the hologram.

"We got this, Skip. We have everything you taught us," he finally said. "You should've seen our powered-up team combos. We've fought these guys once already, and we won."

"That was only a small piece of what they're capable of," Skip said lowly.

He stared at them, just as before. But his eyes pleaded instead of judging.

"I can't tell you guys what to do. That's not my place anymore," he said slowly. "But please…whatever you decide to do, just try to stay safe."

He didn't look away even slightly, as if he couldn't tell whether his students were already ghosts or not.

"Skip…" Deon tried. "What's your old teammate's name–"

"Oh! My ravioli is ready!" Skip conveniently realized. "I've been on a big pasta kick lately. Talk to you soon!"

"Hey!" Deon urged.

"Be sure to call every day!"

"Answer my…" Deon started. "Wait–every day?!"

Skip's hologram faded and the TeamTrack screen went black.

Deon slapped his hand against his face. "Well he's just as nutty as ever…"

Skrili exited her seat beside him, suddenly dropping to her hands and toes on the floor.

"Skrili? What are you…?"

She completed her first pushup. "If they're even stronger than we saw, I'm not sitting around and waiting for the fight," she said in between three more. "Let's be even readier this time. That's how we stay safe for Skip."

Deon smiled. Hopping out of his own chair, he joined her.

~

The flowing blue and green lights casted a watery effect on the evening ceiling. It was a nice room feature, but it couldn't relax Deon enough to help him drift to sleep regardless of how many hours he'd already spent staring at it.

There was no way he could slow his thoughts now…not after everything Skip alluded to.

"That was only a small piece of what they're capable of."

Deon raised his hand up and clenched it into a fist.

We gave it everything we possibly had…

…Fine. We'll just have to find more to give.

His hand fell back to the perfect mattress. Deon hoped Lammy was sleeping, at least. Even when he'd tried to offer again over dinner, Lammy insisted on sticking with the bunks.

He's too nice sometimes.

Deon closed his eyes, figuring he'd give it another shot tomorrow.

But even with his resolutions squared away, he remained wide awake.

This just…didn't feel right.

And now, with his mind finally in a clearer place, he knew exactly what was missing.

Alright. She might get grumpy if I wake her…but…maybe if I'm quiet…

Deon rolled his way to the edge of the bed and stood. Decidedly, he made his way to the door.

But before he could open it, it opened on its own.

Skrili stood as a silhouette before the hallway lights, hugging a pillow to her face with her travel bag loosely strapped and her hair down.

"I gave Lammy my room."

She brushed past him into the low light without another word, dropped her belongings beside the bed, and flopped into it.

Deon chuckled to himself. Clearly, she hadn't fallen asleep for the very same reason.

By the time he made his way over, Skrili was already nearly asleep in her new bed. He found her tucked into the exact nook he'd warmed up.

Accepting his fate, he crawled back in and wrapped himself around her. Within moments, they drifted off.