The Northern Fixer (before battle)

<This place is huge...>

That was my first impression of the WARP train station.

Ooho! So this is...!!!

Don Quixote shouted vibrantly, immediately recovered from her previous apprehension of the sheer possibility that she might be separated from Rocinante.

<So each Nest has one of these... massive structures in them?>

I've got nothin'. Oi, know anything about what they're asking?

Heathcliff asked, gesturing toward Meursault with his chin.

…….

Every WARP train station has been built with a general design philosophy that draws from its respective Nest's architectural idiosyncrasies. It can also be said that many critics in relevant fields praise the WARP train stations as one of the many cultural cornerstones of the City.

... I have no idea when it happened, but Heathcliff's started treating Meursault like a walking encyclopedia from time to time.

Meursault, young Meursault...!

Lo! Is that passenger over yonder one from the west?

Mm...

Incorrect. Leather-based clothing and metal armor are predominant fashion trends often visible in the outfits of the western population. While that individual's cloth-based style is something ubiquitously observed throughout the population of north and south, they are largely considered to be an eastern fashion trend, rarely seen among western -

Prithee, slow thyself! For I must make a record of thy lecture...!

What wisdom dost thou have to impart regarding the fashion of the northern region? I have once espied in a magazine that they are garbed in puffy, loose-fitting outfits. Understandably so, given the colder climate of the region!

An opportunity for a firsthand observation stands before you.

Hm?

UOOOOOOH!!!!!

AAAAAAAH!!!!!

Three seconds of screaming duet; one of utter fascination, the other of unmitigated frustration.

What the shit?! You nearly blew out my eardrums!

You're the one to talk...

Dude, I've got an audible frequency range expansion implant in my eardrums!!! Holy shit, man...

Now, get the hell outta my way! You're blocking the walkway like a ragtag band of hicks who's never even seen a WARP train before.

Dammit, I take the train all the way here for an expedition, only to lose my target, and now these assholes are trying to blow out my eardrums. Great, just great. I love this.

G-guys, is it that obvious that we've never been on a WARP train before?

And the round trip ticket fee came straight out of my damn pocket!

Woah... Watch out, big fella... Someone might get seriously hurt if you keep swinging those four arms around. Each holding a weapon, to boot...

P-prithee, wilt thou stand still for but a moment to satisfy a few inquiries of mine regarding thy outfit? Ooh, yes, yes!! Stand in absolute stillness for five minutes, and I -

Seriously?!!!

The Fixer, with a particularly impressive set of prosthetic arms, spent a few minutes venting several of his numerous grievances at us before storming off to a different platform.

Ah, indeed... 'tis grand, this City of sundry odd personalities...

I'm pretty sure he was thinking the same thing...

I guess there really are a lot of people in the City with full body prosthetics...

That's when Vergilius slowly walked up to our group.

Well, then. We'll rendezvous at the destination.

Huh?! Wilt the illustrious Red Gaze not ride alongside us?

W Corp. policy demands that Fixers bestowed with a Color title must board a train specially prepared for them instead.

Ooh, are you like, riding the "First Class Plus" or something?

That's a Color Fixer for you, I guess. Special treatment from the Wings no matter where he goes.

Charon wants to go back to Mephi. Mephi'll be lonely.

I've told you before, Charon - three separate times, actually, each time I bought you one of those candies - that people aren't allowed aboard the freight cars.

Well then, Miss Faust.

... Yes.

Vergilius, after exchanging a knowing look and a nod with Faust, escorted the particularly peeved Charon away.

Dante, let us proceed this way.

We followed Faust's guidance to the entrance of our train car.

Damn...

Woah... hey, our colors are starting to come back!

Ooh... oooooh...

Hey~ These must be the fabled complimentary food & drink of the first class seats...! Heck yeah, of course! Quality stuff like these gotta be included with that insane pricing...

The general response to this room was a surprise at the rows upon rows of expensive-looking, sizable capsules.

Flash-freeze hibernation, huh... I guess it literally freezes our bodies in a flash?

<Faust, are these flash-freeze hibernation devices... safe?>

Please elaborate on your exact definition of "safe."

<These things are supposed to freeze us solid, right...? Can we really come back from something like that?>

A flash-freeze hibernation device will put you in a temporary state of death caused by a rapid cellular cryopreservation process. However, the rapidity of the process prevents damage to your cells during the phase change. Therefore, in most normal cases, this will not cause any issues.

Faust is aware that this model has fully resolved cell membrane-breaching issues caused by cryogenic density change or by the formation of sharp ice crystals from frozen water molecules.

<... I missed about half of what you said, but your point is that it's safe, right?>

Yes, as far as Faust is aware. Even if an issue were to arise during the journey, everyone will be reverted to their original state at the start of the train trip upon arrival. The outcome will be no different from there having been no issue in the first place.

You've got some real talent in dragging out something so simple as "yeah, it's safe" to so many words. Seriously.

Indeed, as Faust's talents are not limited to a singular field.

<…….>

Okay, but... that still leaves a lot to be worried about... Just as I was wondering, however, I realized that there was something odd about the way she phrased that answer.

<As far as Faust is aware...? Are you saying that it could be wrong?>

As a general rule, Faust does not err. However, Faust is also not a divine being.

There still exists in the world information to which Faust is yet to have access. Therefore, while Faust may speak the facts, what is said may not always align with the truth.

<Okay...>

They don't call first class "first class" for nothing, I guess... P Corp.'s way up there in the northernmost corner of the City, but this thing'll take us there in the blink of an eye, huh? That's one helluva timesaver.

Hoo-hah! Hoo-hah! Hoo-hah! Prepare thyself, Rocinante!! Thus begins the long jaunt...

Oh, I've been meaning to ask, Don Quixote...

... Do ya ever... y'know... wash those shoes?

<Where'd that come from, Rodya?>

No, I mean, like, think back to when we were inside that Whale.

When that Whale blew up, we got all kinds of its gross, slimy bits on us. They were on our clothes, our shoes, everything!

... Yeah.

And do you remember how much we had to scrub to get that bloody, fishy, fleshy, gunk out of our clothes...?

This really isn't something I want to revisit, but... yeah.

Right? And do you also remember how Don Quixote never took her shoes off once during that whole ordeal?!

... Okay, I guess they do look a bit filthy...

I ask thee, dear compatriots. Hast thou ever witnessed an errant knight who leaves the side of their beloved steed?

Can't say I've ever witnessed a "knight" before, though...?

Then thou shalt know... starting now! Behold it, hearken to it, and remember it well!

Hmph, they don't spare us even a moment of quiet, do they?

Wowzer~ Have you been on one of these before, Outis~?

I have been treated to premium, VIP seats of similar grandiosity back when. This is nothing to fuss over.

Outis, who was sitting there and shaking her legs, suddenly asked Faust a question.

... Hey. You're confident that no accident's ever occurred on one of these first class cars, yes?

In order to prevent cases of unnecessary anxiety and misgivings among the Sinners, the history of accidents that has occurred aboard WARP trains will not be shared.

... Wait, what do you mea -

BEEP -

Oh, looks like the train's about to depart.

This is for WARP train PW-612 bound for P Corp. Boarding period is ending soon.

The Sinners, who were either leisurely enjoying their complimentary snacks or taking a look around the first class car, suddenly became a lot busier.

Then, let us hurry and enter our capsules before it is too late.

<O-oh no, why isn't this - >

The other Sinners made it into their capsules no problem, but...

... I felt like I was the only one who was fumbling.

Are you nervous, Dante?

<I think so...>

Initiating warp in ten minutes.

Allow me to assist you. Stand as though you are leaning back, and...

Faust expertly guided me into the capsule as though she'd done something like this before, then pressed the button inside the capsule that closed the hatch.

Do not worry too much.

... We will meet again in but a moment, Dante.

I thought I heard a brief sigh, but the hatch shut tightly before I could ask her anything...

Initiating warp. Please confirm that your seatbelts are firmly fastened.

The last thing I saw before my capsule began to fill with gas was Faust climbing into her own capsule opposite of mine.

... Little did I know back then...

... what she really meant by "We will meet again in but a moment."

<…?>

Dante, you must wake up. Dante -

But one thing I knew for sure was...

... An unexpected situation has occurred.

... that something had seriously, seriously gone wrong.