The Plothook from Another Dimension

[Masquerade]

"Everything . . . gone?"

Taka tries to understand what she is hearing, but after the initial shock, is actually somewhat excited. If it was true that there are indeed multiple universes, her boundaries had once again been expanded, first from a single city to a whole world, and now from that one world to many worlds. Maybe somewhere in this multiverse she could find what she had been looking for.

Before anyone could notice her euphoric expression, Taka subdues the emotion, and returns her concentration to the situation before her. She looks directly at Zain, and asks "Am I captive here?"

 

[Shayuri]

Thessaly stares at Zain with an expression of openmouthed, bulgy-eyed horror.

...she does not prove immediately responsive, nor does she appear to notice Kei's look.

 

[Hurog]

Zain nods sadly.
"It's true, your world no longer exists as you knew it. But a major part that the nexus plays is to bring back and restore those worlds. I'll tell you more tomorrow, you've been through enough already today."
He turns to Taka
"No, of course not. We are trying to take this slowly, but as you seem to be recovered, we could offer you a guide to explore some of the more public places of the nexus. We just ask that you don't cause any trouble; some of the operations here are quite delicate, as are the mindframes of some of the people."

 

[Masquerade]

Taka nods, not entirely content with the response.

 

[Shayuri]

"...my family," Thessaly murmurs as if in a trance. "All my friends. My cat. All gone..."

Something deep inside her seems to crack open suddenly, and she yells, "THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE! GRIM!"

The last word seems like it's directed at someone, rather than just a description of the situation...accurate though it may be. And sure enough, a rich, deep...kind of annoyed voice emanates from Thessaly's wrist in response. Specifically, from that peculiar metal bracelet she wears.

"Ahhh, so you finally come running to me, eh? Pathetic. Wornton the Wise would have had it figured out by now all on his own. And it's Grand Grimoire to you. I don't answer to 'Grim.'"

Thessaly shakes her head impatiently. "Is it true, Grand Grimoire? Has the Earth really been destroyed? Are we really dead?"

The voice snorts derisively. "How should I know? If the Earth's ever been destroyed, I've been destroyed along with it, so it's a fool question to ask. If all you're going to do is waste my time..."

"Wait." Thessaly looks up at Zain, a gleam in her eye. "You made me think of something. Zain? You said this place, this...nexus...it touches every universe at every point in time, right? So...so we could go back to Earth at any point in time? We could go back before it was destroyed?"

Then she falters. "But...you said our bodies were gone. How can we go back without bodies?"

"Chapter thirty-seven," the bracelet proclaims proudly. "Astral Travel and Sub-Corporeal Ephemeral Bodies."

Thessaly sighs.

 

[Kafkonia]

Kei watches the exchange between Thessaly and her book with a blank look on his face. Slowly, he turns away.

"I must be on Candid Camera," he mutters to himself.

 

[Hurog]

Zain raises an eyebrow at the unusual conversation, but makes no comment other than
"Yes, the nexus does touch all points in time, and ordinarily such a thing would be possible, but NXGN also exists in the fourth dimension, consuming all time, past, present, and future, of that dimension. Only by stopping and reversing it can we hope to recover your worlds."
He pauses
"You seem to have more energy than I had first thought you would after going through the shift... if it will put your minds at ease, I suppose I can finish now. Unless you would rather rest first, of course."

 

[Shayuri]

"Rest?" Thessaly demands, "Rest?! How can I rest at a time like this? If there's something we can do to stop Earth from being eaten by a giant...space...monster thing, then we have to do it!"

She looks over at Kei, remembering his presence abruptly. "Um...oops." With an awkward clearing of her throat, she goes on, "Um, I guess you're wondering what that was all about, huh?"

Then she notices the other girl standing there. "Oh...hi! I'm Thessaly. Hi there. We're...Kei and I...we're from Earth."

 

[Masquerade]

Taka is taken off guard by the girl's demeanor. "Hm? I am Taka. I belong nowhere." She returns her gaze to Zain. "I must agree with Thessaly. This 'NXGN' has intrigued me, and I am hardly content to rest with so many mysteries unexplained. As for the fate of my world . . . I am not concerned. But, please, continue."

 

[Hurog]

"Well, if that's what you want."
Zain settles back down again.
"You see, the nexus' primary function at this point is to counteract NXGN and restore the multiverse. To do that we recruit people strong of will, heart, or form. The ironic thing is, most people that end up here fall under at least one of these categories. Thus, we hope NXGN is giving the nexus the help it needs to defeat it. And it is possible to defeat it. The way NXGN consumes a universe is to corrupt its Acad crystal. An Acad crystal is what ties a dimension to the rest of the multiverse. When the crystal is corupted, it is cut off, giving NXGN the opportunity to absorb it without the interference of the natural energy of the multiverse. Every dimension it consumes makes it stronger, allowing it to corrupt stronger ones until it hopes to eventually consume the nexus itself and ending all existance as we know it. Fortunately for us, NXGN cannot perform these actions itself any more than the nexus itself can actively fight it. This means it must corrupt and use those dark enough to sell out their own universe for power. This means if we stop these beings and reclaim the crystals, we can stop NXGN's advance, then hopefully even start reclaiming worlds that have fallen to it. This brings me to the point of the matter. Each of you are strong in some way, or else you would not have been able to come here. We here at the nexus need all the help we can get. Would you help us defeat NXGN and reclaim the dimensions he has taken?
It means you will have to travel dimension to dimension, experience wonderful and often strange things, and even combat the minions NXGN has influenced, but it will mean not only the safe recovery of your world, but of countless others, and the fate of the multiverse itself."
He lets out a sigh and draws his recruitment speech to a close.
"There is no need to answer now. Take as long as you need, and no is always an answer, but we do need all the help we can get. Sleep on it if you want, we will provide quarters and what sustenance your current forms require for as long as you choose to remain here."
He leans back and awaits some form of response.