Brilliant Man/Vir Clarissimus (Latin)

Chapter 11 Spatial Trouble

Hirashita's resistant response, "Certainly not me!!" echoed in the vast, steamy mine. Every unstable turn, steel veer, and mechanical twist reminded Ozwald that this Zone was still crazy until the end. In spite of this, the journey was only a half-hour long.. a treacherous re-run of spanning roads, cavities, loop-the-loops, steep falls, burrows, quarries, and shifting earth plates before reaching their destination; with every motion, Ozwald's mind was tipped towards victory.

Alicia revealed their fizzing tank tucked beside her in their railway journey. Gazing into its reflective material, a brilliant overlay of her determined expression was reflected onto its metal face. Pleased by her beauty, she stroked the object to rest, as if extending her own comfort to a distressed animal.

When the ride was over, everyone piled into the left passage, emerging from the steam into a familiar scene. Chests, barrels, and skulls were scattered over the floor.

"Finally, we're done!" exclaimed Alicia, satisfied with the idea of leaving this place for good. After clambering up a set of muddy stairs (it allowed Junctioners to make rounds inside and out of Junction Zone) the party reached the finale of Junction Zone. Hirashita came out first, followed by Ozwald who nearly tripped off a step, and finally Alicia. The undead plaza altered its form, beige rocks morphing into dunes which gravestoned the machines of this steel cemetery; Pluto's sky was a complimentary flat-violet.

"Wait!" Ozwald said. "Just to be sure, I'd like to check for anything abnormal." Nodding, Alicia and Hirashita withdrew into the tunnel, leaving him to the outside world. He remained alone until he felt they were sure to be safe, then informed his comrades they were good to exit. "We'll be alright for now. Come you all, let us— Hold on.. I just.. Ah! Before I forget! I experienced a drumming feeling from my far left; we should probably check it out.. unless we're digging ourselves two graves."

The trio set out on their new route. Pluto's harsh terrain of dunes made it hard to walk without crashing into things. The land was strewn with trash collectors solidified and reduced to ice, frozen after decades of non-use. Bitter winds whipped up soot and detritus from the floor, tainting the air and sky its classical midnight-violet.

As the company continued, imaginary silhouettes flashed and blinked away. Each appearance added to their anxiety, making it feel as if these poltergeists teamed with one another to scare them.

Alicia suddenly stopped, then led them behind a barrier. She explained that in the distance, while Ozwald was busy fretting over imaginary spirits, she'd glimpsed the outline of an enormous, angular object resembling a spacecraft. She and Ozwald loosely strung together this description with other clues to form a presumption. This discussion, however, abruptly terminated once they noticed the number of humans pouring out this ship's entrance. They carried bulldozing and digging supplies.

"Alicia... I think we may have found Zed!" Ozwald said, feeling the same rumbling sensation go up his throat.

"For him to know that his oil lies in the Junction Zone means he likely has intelligence on us; we must leave so that we can form a rebutting plan!"

Ozwald nodded. "Your brilliance is why we're friends, Alicia." "Appreciate it, dude."

"Nevertheless!.." appeared Hirashita, extinguishing any more flirtation, "we should keep in mind his confidence. We'll mostly likely be successful in exiting the planet without Zed spotting us... but with his recent victory in locating the oil, if we're not extremely careful, he'll probably be inclined to kill us."

"True," Alicia acknowledged.

"Indeed." Ozwald clapped his hands together, then added, "O..kay. Anything more? No? Good. Let us resume the search for Spirit!"