Log:Epilogue: The Long Track Ahead

Grimm Family Matters 2020/09/10 Radical|Connor Grimm 18

After being returned to the material plane by Gwen, Grimm is left in shock to process...all of that. She helps drop off people as needed, opening a gate back to the city for Slinger. The others have their own ways to go. Given the condition of Radical's gear, Grimm teleports them to his home, the pair appearing in the comfort of Connor's living room.

Gabrielle's given thanks to the others, but oddly enough, Radical was only included in the group gratitude she gave. Now that all eyes are no longer on her, she looks at him and takes a breath, then moves to give him a big hug as her eyes well up. She closes her eyes tight and says in a voice that trembles again, "Thank you so, so much. For everything."

Connor pulls his mask off as he hugs Grimm. "You're welcome. I'm sorry that it didn't end with a completely happy ending, though."

Grimm sniffs and gives him a squeeze. "Are you kidding?" She pulls back and wipes at her eyes. "I know she's not the little girl I remember. But she's still my little sister. And she has powers. She wants to be a hero because of -me-. Maybe she...she can't come back like I hoped, but what matters she's okay. And she can still visit," she smiles as she tries to look at the bright side of things. She even lets out a bit of a laugh. "And...apparently she could hear me all along. So...I guess there goes my sex life," she chuckles despite the tears.

Connor chuckles, "Try to not think about it too hard." He sighs. "I still feel sorry for her, though. It reminds me of when I was the Cartesian. Or my family was. I worry that she's been...coerced, effectively. But I know that's my personal biases starting to bleed into what I'm seeing...and I should try to take her answers at face value."

Grimm places a hand on his shoulder. She says quietly, "I...don't think you're wrong. But we have a chance and time to figure that out now." There's concern in her eyes for him. "I already know you seem like such a different person now then you were the few times I dealt with you as the Cartesian. And from the first class I had with you. If you could find yourself again, so can she," she smiles at him.

Connor smiles and nods after a moment. "That's true. You have time to talk to her now. And maybe you can get more details about the situation." He takes a deep breath. "I'm glad we found her. That wasn't what I would call trivial. It makes me wonder about that company we looked into."

Grimm nods slowly. "That was...very rough. Even with the help from Slinger and the Travelers. And definitely an emotional rollercoaster. I...I didn't want us to kill him. And when it looked like you and I both did, I felt awful. Especially because I dragged you into that." She takes a breath as well. The whole incident is still sinking in for you. "What're you thinking about that company? And maybe we should have a drink to calm us down. Tea? Or do you think we need something stronger?" she chuckles weakly.

Connor smiles, "Tea. If I drink something stronger, I might drink too much." His smile fades as he starts to head toward the kitchen. "We killed someone. I think. But I'm not sure. What that an illusion? One of his servants? Or was it him, and the subsequent version we saw of him...less human, and more...Qliphothic? I have a lot of questions and few answers." He shrugs nad pulls his coat off as he gets to the kitchen. "As for that shipping company...they deliver other things...or people. I wonder where. And for whom."

Grimm follows him to the kitchen, but she stops and her expression falls as he says that. "I'm going to need something stronger. Maybe later," she says in a small voice after that. "We...we really killed someone? I thought it was a trick. But it felt so real. Even to my shadow sight. I...god. I'm sorry," she rubs her face as she starts recalling the details. Her hands drag down and she looks to him, shakened. "The Railroad. They were mercenaries. Apparently the forces of Order think they're an organization to use. Do you think they're neutral? Playing all sides? What sort of company just takes a girl and doesn't ask questions?"

Connor shakes his head as he puts the water on for tea. "Well, we killed...someone or something. It's possible that was a simulacrum of some kind. I don't really know. It looked like him. I wonder if we 'killed' his human shell, and that's what caused him to start to transform into..whatever he ended up as?"

Grimm leans against a wall, looking like she's going to be ill. "From what Gwen said, he changed into ...whatever it was he wanted to be all along, I think. But how? He was supposed to need Gwen for that, I thought. What'd I miss while I was...um...out?"

Connor pulls off his damaged harness. "Not a lot, honestly. It was only a few seconds. Maybe ten? As we kept hitting him, he kept darkening. And it was starting to affect us. I was able to perceive that he was...effectively infecting all of us with it. I'm not sure we could have beaten him down enough. In the end, we pushed against the trap. Amelia had tried to get us out of there, but her magic was blocked. She and I worked together on the second try, pushing against the barriers holding us in. I just tried to reach across the barrier...and she was trying to open a portal to a dimension with a LOT of light. At my suggestion. Neither of us succeeded. But we did cause enough stress on the containment that it collapsed...and Victor was consumed...and pulled to the other dimension he was drawing power from."

"The Shining Darkness. It's a qliphothic realm. I don't know how he was pulling that into this reality," Gabrielle says, thinking on the details Connor explained. She looks at his harness. "I'm sorry about your gear. I don't think I can help with the repairs, but I owe you. I could make you unlimited tea and go on food runs for you while you work," she offers a weak smile.

Connor chuckles. "It's fine. I wanted to make some changes, anyway." He hangs the harness on the back of a chair. "Well, that's waht the containment was for. FRom what I can tell, Qliphothic energy is hard to control under the best of circumstances. So, he had created the equivalent of a magical circle to contain the energy...and trapped us all inside it. We effectively did the equivalent of scuffing the circle and it was...catastrophic."

Grimm nods and winces at that. "That was smart thinking. I'm glad it didn't obliterate us in the process. I don't know if it's good news, but at least we didn't kill him. Just banished, I guess."

Connor nods, "If he's stuck in another dimension like N-raz..." He just randomly flips the bird upward toward nothing in particular. "...then good enough for now. He won't plague us." He chuckles. "I have no idea if he's that direction. I can't see through dimensions without my goggles. I'm just guessing."

Grimm chuckles as Connor flips off N'zrathol. "I'm sure he saw," she reassures him with a wry grin. "I really owe you for everything. You know you can call on me whenever you need me, right?" she offers with feeling. She knows he knows, but she isn't sure how to properly thank him.

Connor smiles. "I know. I'm sure I'll have to call that in sooner or later." He gives her a wink as he pulls out the tea.