elysm

(We were in the ashring for a while. I had wrapped it in cloth, but that's not exactly enough.)

(Seriously? Just my luck...)

(Well, maybe that's not so bad, given the situation...)

Things seem to have calmed down.

Good news. It looks like the Catastrophe has passed.

Any news?

Not yet, but I'm happy to report that I've achieved a breakthrough in the transmission range! Help should be here soon now that the Catastrophe is over.

I hope so...

Your wound looks worse. What about the secret weapon of yours?

Er... well, it's not time to use it yet.

Don't worry, I'll use it when I have to. When I have to.

How many layers of dirt are up there? We're not getting through!

We can't hold out much longer without food and water. Are you hearing anything?

Settle down. We should save our strength if there's no way through.

How are we supposed to settle down? You've been sending that signal for ages. With no response!

No one's coming to help us! We're all gonna starve to death here!

We might be able to get help if we can contact a nearby nomadic city.

That piece of junk doesn't have the range!

Right, which is where I come in.

Everybody, listen up.

Keep your distance from me.

Keep our distance? What do you mean?

Well... I mean what I said.

Give me space. Don't come close.

How many days have we been here?

I don't think I can hold on...

Just a bit longer!

How long do we have to wait...?

I've got this! I'm beaming a transmission out there!

We're done for...

We were always doomed, whether we stayed up there or came down here.

Don't... *cough*... say that...

(Almost... almost... we made it this far...)

(Come on, don't disappoint me, 'pharmaceutical company'...)

*cough*, *cough* *cough*...

(The wound's swollen, maybe festering, and I'm hurting all over, like that time I got run over by that contraption in Rim Billiton... worse, actually.)

(My Arts are getting more powerful, though it aches when I use them.)

(Is this how it feels to get Oripathy?)

(Looks like I won't get to use those meds after all.)

What's that... sound...?

Hey!

I got a response!

Response...

Yes! A station heard me and responded!

You hear me? Hold on! Someone's coming!

It's here, right?

How the heck did that signal find us?

Is Rhodes Island so well-known already? We've only just gotten started.

Captain, we're reading vital signs below.

Ready to dig.

Welcome... oh, it's you, Elysium.

Morning, folks. It's been a while! Nice to see that the rebuilding is going well.

Yeah... all thanks to you. We wouldn't have made it otherwise.

That's great! I'm glad I worked so hard.

Just simple houses to protect us from the elements. Nothing complicated.

Where have you been?

Me? A bunch of nice people who don't look so nice dragged me away to treat my sickness. I've never seen a doctor so scary, I tell you.

Your sickness...

Well, have a seat, er, I'll pour you a drink.

Oh, there's no need for that, I'll be going in a moment.

I just wanted to come back and say goodbye, because I'm leaving.

Y-You're leaving? But you said...

Oh, the Messenger thing? Well, er, sorry about that.

I guess I just want to see the world, you know? Like they say, don't put a fowlbeast in a cage... well, however the saying goes.

But we haven't thanked you for saving our lives yet!

Yeah. It's just a little sickness... it's no big deal.

If you're leaving because you're Infected—

It's okay, I hear you.

But people will get scared if there's an Infected living in town. They won't want to talk.

We're not scared!

I know, I know. There's always a risk, though.

But...

Oh, don't give me that look. It's not so bad.

You remember Rhodes Island? The people who dug us out of that hole? I'm going with them.

They're going to keep treating me. Things don't get any better than that!

Can they cure your sickness?

Well... I don't know.

Will you come back?

Of course! I'll drop by when I get some free time.

Where are you going now?

Well, I'm not sure.

I guess I'll go with the Rhodes Islanders for a while. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful journey.