Working With Phantoms

The Shady Underbelly

October 5th

Madran arrived in the Velvet Room and noticed that she, Chicory, and Elia were the only people there.

"Hey, where's everyone?"

"I dunno. Perhaps, you could, like, get Dharma out?"

"No. I can't do that here."

"Well, that's a shame."

"Ooh, I know, I'll text the group chat."

Madran then sat down and got her phone out before texting everyone.

Madran: Hey, where are you guys?

Madran then began to wait with her family for someone to respond. Eventually, her luck came with a response from Suga.

Suga: I'm just heading in. What about Philemon?
Madran: He isn't here, for some reason
Suga: Hmm

Suga then arrived in the Velvet Room and sat next to Madran.

"Wow, you're right, Philemon's not here. Uh, perhaps, he's in the training hall?"

Madran looked over towards the training door and saw that it was askew.

"Yeah, that's probably it."

Madran's phone then went off.

Sheila: Hi, sorry, mom needed help xP
Madran: It's fine

Sheila then eventually arrived and sat next to Madran.

"Hey, so, is everything alright?"

"Yeah, I'm just worried, kinda."

Katsuya and Maya then walked in, with Rosana also making her entrance.

"Hello, I got your text. So, Philemon's just gone poof, huh?"

"I hope this isn't a repeat of March."

"Me too. That would be hell..."

Suddenly, Philemon appeared in a red and black blink on the floor.

"Hey, Philemon? Is everything..."

"No. I was taking on this 'special challenge' that Elizabeth thought up."

"Elizabeth? Is she the bellhop?"

"Yes, Katsuya. Her challenge was, well, facing off against all of her scattered personas, and I made it to her Pixie."

"Why were you taking on a random challenge?"

"Elizabeth, in all her glory, wanted to see how well I could operate my personas, due to concerns that I, well, had lost touch."

"That just sounds like an excuse to bat you around. You've had your persona abilities current since March, right?"

"Yes. Anyways, let's get into the Metaverse and try to get further into that dumb palace."

"Wow, you sound upset. Well, uh, let's do what he said!"

The group then went back into the Metaverse, with Suga, Elia, and Maya splitting off with Philemon. After Madran's team was sent to their last-used Safe Room, they all began their journey into the third deck of the ship.

"So, Fwoosh, what's the deal with this part?"

"Uh, from my scans, it seems to be a more recreational area than the shopping malls up above."

"Geez, this ship is crazy."

"I know, right?"

"By recreational, what do you mean?"