So, the votes right now still say you guys want OFF THE RAILS. This chapter is your last chance to vote for your pick though, so don't forget. That said, there will be a large plot twist next chapter either way, so….

WARNING: Rated T for swearing. Oddly, nothing else. Unless you count Batter's general creeper-ness.

The Elsen looked away, coughing evasively. The Player appeared to give up, and moved towards the elevator.

"Looks like we'll have to find it on our own then," she huffed, ignoring the amused glance the Batter tossed her way. He had never seen her so exasperated before, but he supposed even saints had their breaking point. Stepping into the tiny elevator, the Batter was forced to hunch over his Player to fit. Definitely designed for Elsens, miniscule things that they were. His Player had little difficulty with the tiny box, fitting snugly beneath his hunched form. Batter could feel the warm and purity pulsing off her skin, matching her heartbeat. It felt so sweet, searing across his skin; he may have become accustomed to the feeling, but that did not mean he could not feel it still.

Turning his attention away from the searing pleasure rippling across his skin, he looked at the floor selection. "Oh," his Player said, looking at the options. Instead of the normal buttons one would find in an elevator, there was a keypad and a small plaque.

Basement—00000

Ground floor—00001

Roof—99999

Postal service-?

The elevator was silent for a moment, the Batter shifting uncomfortably. He stared, baffled, at the plaque. "…Why did they not just write it down?" He finally asked, looking down at his pure Player. She had no answer, just shrugged dejectedly and entered in for the Ground floor. The elevator started up at an agonizingly slow pace. The Batter took a deep breath, his chest brushing the back of his Player's head. He moved back as far as he could, trying not to violate her space. He did not wish to make her uncomfortable with him.

After a seeming eternity pressed to the back of the elevator, the Batter was relieved when they finally reached floor 00001. Unfortunately, as they went around trying to glean any information from the Elsens on that floor, it quickly became apparent that the fools would be of no help. They were far too enraptured in their bureaucracy to even notice his Player trying to get their attention, or his own efforts. The Batter quickly wrote that off as a hopeless venture, and peered out the front door before allowing his Player through—after she had run into that room where Zacharie had been waiting, the Batter was taking no more chances. It had only been luck that had dictated that Zacharie was not hostile towards them; it rankled him. He had to do better, he had to protect her for the mission! If he couldn't prove himself worthy of continuing his holy duty, then… No, he would not allow that to happen. He had a world to eliminate, to purify for the sake of pure beings like his Player. He would not allow another to take his place.

Outside the building was a singular path of metal leading out over an ocean of pink plastic. His Player grimaced, before moving down the path. The Batter nodded, following after her closely; an intelligent decision, looking for clues to the location of the postal service out here, instead of systematically searching every floor. As they walked along the desolate land bridge, the Batter could feel a faint sensation crawling across his shoulders. He glanced up at the building, attempting to pinpoint its origin, with no luck. As it was, it was so faint he could not even identify the sensation, so it was not an immediate threat. With that dismissed, he turned his attention forwards towards the metro station, SHACHIHATA. An Elsen stood near the metro, aimlessly looking around. What, did it have nothing better to do?

"Excuse me," the Player called to the Elsen, "Can you tell us about that building?" She pointed at the Plastic Administrations building, head tilted ever so slightly. So cute, his Player, so innocent and naïve.

"Um, well… The Queen's—" Ignore her, she does not matter. "—general has an office here… But his true house is in Alma." His Player tilted her head further, brow furrowing slightly.

"The General?"

"Dedan," the Elsen answered simply, blinking blankly at them. The Player shivered at the name, and looked away, considering.

"…and Dedan was joined by Sheba*…" she murmured, much to the Batter's confusion. Did she know his name from somewhere else? He stiffened sharply, eyes cutting to her small form. Was her reaction to his name more than just the weight of his impurity? This required fixing, if that was the case. If she did indeed know Dedan, then he would be a distraction to her.

That was not allowed.

With no leads as to the location of the postal service obtained, the Batter ushered his Player back into the building. Countless floors of useless Elsens were searched for clues but none yielded results. However, as they climbed up the building, the Batter could feel the tingling sensation growing stronger; it was almost strong enough for him to identify it now. His Player sighed as she input the roof, leaning back against his hunched form carelessly. So easily did she touch him, as corrupted and filthy as he was; she was truly kind and benevolent. He did not move his arms to hold her—as if he would dare to touch her without a dire need…at least, not to her knowledge—as the elevator crawled up the floors at its excruciatingly slow pace.

The roof was wet when they finally arrived. Apparently during the interval in the elevator, it had resumed raining. Joy. Stepping out and surveying the building, the Batter noticed the roof held an occupant. He subtly tried to usher his Player back into the elevator before she noticed, but it was not to be.

Her face lit up in a smile, as she slipped around his form. "Judge!" The Batter stared after her, then down at where he stood. How had she done that? He had completely boxed her in. A few seconds of consideration and the answer became blatantly obvious. Of course, as a pure and perfect being, she could easily fool his senses and slip by him. She had only not done so before out of respect, being the kind and noble being she was. He was remiss to dare to be in her presence, let alone dare to touch her as he had been. Not that she knew of his most grievous offence, that he had dared to caress her sleeping, vulnerable form. It was a sickening thought, that she had trusted him to care for her as she slept, and that he had dared to take advantage in such a situation. It was his only grace that she did not know, and that he did not have to taint her to make her forget, though his dirtying of her soul never lasted long. Her innate purity washed the stains from her soul swiftly, leaving no trace of his transgression against her, other than the lack of memory.

He truly was scum.

"Zounds! You again?" The Batter tuned into the conversation at the Judge's decidedly playful remark. "You are decidedly everywhere." The Judge tilted his head to the side, winking at his Player and purring out "One could believe that you are following me." The Player laughed, reaching down and petting the insolent fleabag. Coercing his kind and naïve Player into touching his filthy body! If it were not for the fact that it would upset his Player greatly, he would have done away with the mangy thing already.

"Nonetheless," the cretin continued, "your steps have not deceived you, for you are here in a lieu that can certainly use sacred blows from your holy bat. Perhaps you are already aware of this, but it appears that they storey housing the postal service is overrun by ectoplasm." An interesting way of putting it, but the Batter understood what he was getting at. "It would probably be wise to find the storey with the intangible creatures post-haste in order to dispatch them." Well, was that not just a revolutionary idea? The Judge turned to the Batter, eyes narrowing in smugness.

"But could it be that the task is too difficult for your narrow mind?" That little shit. "In that case, I may be able to provide you with some advice… To save you time waiting for him, of course." The Judge's even present grin grew as he returned to speaking with the Player, who smiled at him. Batter fumed quietly. Cannot kill the filth, he's important to the mission and to the Player.

"Some help would be welcome," his Player admitted, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly. Her hair had darkened in the rain noticeably, making the Batter more eager to sweep her inside…and away from that cat.

"Open widely your ears and listen, for I will not repeat this twice, not even in the midst of the most pathetic supplication." As if his noble Player would lower herself to beg this creature. "In one of the four rooms on the ground floor, all employees seem to be trained to a particular set of instructions. Additionally, if there was a choice to be made, I would prefer the lower-case over the upper-case." His Player groaned, shoving her face into her hands.

"Of course! It was so obvious! Ugh, I'm such a fool…" The Batter blinked at her, as she went about her untruthful self-demeaning. There was no possible way that she was a fool, not a being as pure as she. Naïve and easily tricked, perhaps, definitely far too trusting for her own good, but no fool.

Though he did have to wonder how that was obvious.

*Referencing Dedan from Ezekiel in the Bible. He was a war lord/monger/general.

Next chapter is the splitting point. If you want to vote about whether or not you want GOING OFF THE RAILS or STICKING TO CANON, this is your last chance. Final results will be announced at the beginning of the next chapter.

Also, since the next chapter is the splitting point, it's going to be another longer one. Be prepared to read.