The Phantom Thieves entered the Metaverse once more, appearing right before the tunnel leading to the Gates of Sacrifice, just as planned. Wasting no time, they rushed past the first two shattered Gates until they finally reached the third. While it was still closed tight, the absence of the Palace Ruler caused the atmosphere to feel completely different.
"So, it's still here..." Mona bemoaned. "Oracle, do you see any other changes!?"
"I'm scanning for Okabe's Shadow to see if he's made any moves, but I'm not picking anything up... Where the heck did he go!?" She replied, annoyed.
"Hey, there's something written here." Queen noticed, looking toward the Gate where Okabe's Shadow had previously been.
"Oh, that's right. The other Gates had names, didn't they?" Noir recalled. "I believe they were... the Gate of Family and the Gate of Identity, respectively."
"In other words, they would seem to be named after what the individual depicted upon them would "sacrifice"." Fox summarized. "What does this one say, Queen?"
Queen's expression darkened as she read aloud the inscribed words. "Gate of... Life?"
Her words hung heavy as the implication of that name weighed down on the party. Before anyone could say anything about this revelation, a familiar voice rang out.
"That's enough."
With those two words, the world around them began to violently shift. When the dust settled, they realized they were no longer in front of the Gate, but rather the open area of the Palace, in the midst of the cognitive Akihabara. Before them stood this Palace's Ruler, the Shadow of Rintaro Okabe. His stance was slightly hunched, hands buried in the pockets of his weathered and tattered lab coat.
"I will only say this once. Leave." He said sternly, his glowing yellow eyes staring daggers at them.
"We can't do that!" Panther exclaimed. "We need your help, but if things keep going like this, you're going to end up destroying yourself!"
"And...?" He relied with an apathetic tone.
"What are you saying!? How can you just accept that?" Noir cried out.
"This worldline is immutable... Come nightfall, Mayuri is lost. That worldline is unacceptable... Upon my return, Kurisu is lost." He lamented. "I refuse to make that choice. So I will remain with them for as long as I can in this period of recycled time. That's all I can do. All I have left. If it should result in my demise... then so be it."
"To think this entire Palace stems from such a cruel ultimatum..." Fox said sadly.
"That may be true, but we can't forget what's at stake here!" Mona reiterated.
"Right! At the end of the day, we still got a Treasure to steal!" Skull agreed.
The Shadow looked down disappointedly upon hearing their response.
"So... You still refuse to acknowledge the futility of your actions here?" Swirls of black fog began to surround him as he spoke. "Very well. I'll have to demonstrate it."
The black masses of energy moved faster and faster as they completely engulfed Okabe's Shadow in darkness. Feeling the overwhelming hostility before them, the Phantom Thieves took combat stances and prepared for a fight.
"Everyone, get ready!" Mona cried.
The Shadow before them continued to grow in size before the maelstrom of darkness lifted, revealing Shadow Okabe's new form. The weathered lab coat he wore now towered above them. The form within, while still vaguely human shaped, appeared akin to an empty void, reminiscent of a black hole. His face too, was concealed by darkened shadows, his expression only readable by the bright yellow eyes that stared out from within. Finally, and most notably, a series of iron chains extended from his wrists and neck, leading up to a massive clock face floating above. Tensions were high as the Shadow's new form, almost phantasmal in appearance, looked down on them with eyes radiating a sorrowful malice.
"Let's do this!" Skull yelled out, breaking the silence and charging forward, pulling away his mask. "Captain Kidd!"
With a mighty battle cry, he summoned his Persona, firing a powerful blast of lightning at the looming Shadow. Turning toward his aggressor, the Shadow's coat opened slightly, with Skull's attack seemingly vanishing into the emptiness contained within.
"The hell!? It didn't work!" Skull shouted in surprise.
"You still believe your actions have any meaning...?" The Shadow said, his eyes now focused directly on Skull. "This will make you understand."
He lifted his dark, featureless hand toward Skull. At that moment, a black, ethereal chain shot out from the clock face above him. It flew forward with incredible speed, striking Skull directly in the chest.
"Gah!" He gave a grunt as the mysterious projectile pierced him, and his eyes went wide before immediately losing focus. He dropped to his knees as his Phantom Thief outfit, his symbol of rebellion, vanished with a flash of blue light, replaced by his usual attire.
"Skull!" Panther cried, running over to him alongside the others.
Despite shaking him vigorously, he didn't respond, simply staring into space with empty eyes. There didn't seem to be any external damage from the attack, leaving everyone utterly baffled.
"What on earth have you done to him!?" Fox demanded, glaring at the towering Shadow.
"To fully comprehend your own powerlessness, you must be faced with it time and time again, as I have." He emotionlessly explained. "I have bound his heart to his deepest regret, a moment of futility he will live ad infinitum."
"You trapped him in some kind of illusion!?" Queen shouted.
"C-come on now, Skull's not that dumb!" Mona exclaimed, his bravado clearly attempting to mask his own concern. "Surely even he'll see through something like that!"
"Perhaps. And what comfort will such knowledge provide?" The Shadow replied unflinchingly. "One could describe events preceding a time leap as "illusions". After all, in the most technical sense, such events never took place. Yet when one experiences that despair for the tenth time, the hundredth time... the thousandth time...! The very concept of authenticity begins to lose any meaning at all..."
As everyone looked to the still motionless Skull with newfound concern, Okabe's Shadow concluded his cold speech.
"I suppose there's no need for me to explain... you'll all understand soon enough."
With that, he lifted his hand once more. Realizing the critical danger they faced, everyone frantically looked around for a solution, but it was too late. Chain after chain emerged from the clock, and Joker could only watch as each of his allies fell, their rebellious wills bound within their own memories just as Skull's had been. With only himself remaining, Joker braced himself as the final chain pierced his chest.
"...Huh?" Opening his eyes, Joker realized nothing had changed. He felt no pain, and he was still wearing his Phantom Thief attire.
"Strange... Could it be that your heart simply holds no regret? Or perhaps it's that unique power you alone hold..." The Shadow seemed surprised by this, but quickly regained his composure. "Regardless, I see you still have no intention of standing down. A shame. I had hoped to make you see the truth, but it seems I have no choice but to simply destroy you."
Looking around to his incapacitated allies, Joker called upon the power of his bonds and mustered every last ounce of his strength to help him face this threat. With indominable resolve, he reached for his mask once more.
"Persona!"
Suzuha and Akechi now stood before the Ohiyama building, standing ready to infiltrate the Palace. As he pulled out his phone and prepared to activate the Nav, Akechi paused a moment before looking to Suzuha.
"Amane, there's something I'd like to ask before we enter." He said.
"What is it?"
"If we succeed here... The change of heart, delaying the Rounders, all of it... It is still uncertain whether Okabe will elect to return to that Worldline." He summarized solemnly.
"Right, that's where I come in." She responded. "Why? You're not having second thoughts, are you?"
"No. I've made up my mind, so you don't need to worry about that." He clarified with a determined nod. "That being said, if you do manage to convince him to return, I'd like an opportunity to speak with him myself."
"You want to meet with him?"
"That's right. I... have a favor to ask of him." He requested.
While initially inclined to ask about this favor of his, Suzuha ultimately decided against it.
"Of course, I'll make sure you get the chance." She agreed. "But first, we have to see this through to the end, right?"
"Right." He replied, activating the app and entering the Palace.
As expected, the pair stood before that tunnel once more. Crow looked down for a moment, feeling a slight wave of relief upon seeing his familiar white Phantom Thief attire. As they began to make their way inside, a familiar voice called out from behind them.
"You're late." It said. "The final act has already begun."
Crow and Valkyrie looked back at the speaker, only to see what appeared to be the Shadow they had encountered the day before. However, the one standing before them was distinct in several ways, most noticeably in his demeanor. In stark contrast to the nearly despondent husk they had spoken to prior, he carried himself with an air of confidence, bordering on arrogance, with a sharp look in his piercing yellow eyes.
"For the sake of time, allow me to be clear. The pitiable wretch you spoke with previously was not myself. At least, not in the ways that pertain to the matter at hand." He explained. "It would seem your bold declaration has shaken my more craven reflection more than he would care to admit. As such, the bonds that had once shackled me to the deepest recesses of the subconscious have been loosened, and I am now able to speak with you face to face."
Despite his initial claim, the pair found his explanation anything but clear. However, Crow noticed something familiar.
"This speech pattern... The voice we heard here and at the first two Gates belonged to you, didn't it?" He asked, met with an affirming grin.
"Wait, but how?" Valkyrie asked. "Does Okabe have two Shadows? Is that even possible?"
"I don't believe so... Each heart should only have a single Shadow." He confirmed. "That said, the form they take within the Metaverse varies wildly from person to person. I suppose a Shadow manifesting as two seemingly distinct entities could be feasible, depending on the individual's state of mind. Perhaps once he began his repeated time leaps, he further suppressed the part of his Shadow that still wished to open the Gate, thus causing his own Shadow to splinter."
The Shadow began to chuckle in response to Crow's deduction. "Indeed... I am the very incarnation of ambition and purpose that dwells within this brilliant mind!" He exclaimed, gesturing flamboyantly. "The insane mad scientist, Kyouma Hououin! FUAHAHAHAHA!"
After pairing his maniacal laughter with a dramatic pose, this "Shadow Kyouma" raised his hand to his chin and took a moment of contemplation before continuing.
"To think that my influence over the very mind in which I reside could be so thoroughly rejected, what humiliation! Although I suppose it does speak to the sheer magnitude of despair we currently face..."
"But the fact that you still exist at all means that Rintaro Okabe hasn't completely given up, right!?" Valkyrie shouted optimistically. "You're proof that deep down he knows what he needs to do!"
"Heh heh heh... HAHAHAHA! Well said, Part-Time Warrior!" He shouted with a flourish. "But be that as it may, my heartache fueled doppelganger still holds complete dominion over this cognitive realm. Were we to face him now, we would fare no better than your fellow thieves."
"Our fellow thieves? Wait, are you saying the others lost!?" Valkyrie shouted in concern.
"With the exception of the one known as "Joker", I'm afraid your allies have already succumbed." He responded, looking at them with a deathly glare. "My other half's stalwart belief in the unyielding nature of this worldline is immensely powerful here. One might even say, unstoppable."
"So... as long as he thinks that nothing in this worldline can be changed, he can't be defeated? Then how can we-"
"This worldline, huh?" Crow clarified with a somber smile. "I suppose I should have known it would come to that..."
His revelation was met with a wide grin from the Shadow. "Indeed. You carried another mask, did you not?"
"Crow?" She nervously addressed him.
"...Valkyrie, you said that whatever else I may be, you would place your trust in me. Does this still hold true?" He asked, his eyes cast downward.
"Of course." While his question was unexpected, she answered without a second thought.
"I see... truth be told, the thought of wielding that power, of losing who I am right now to it... it scares me. But I won't let that stop me anymore... I'm going to trust in myself, just as you have. Let's go."
"HAHAHAHA! Very well then!" Shadow Kyouma interjected, gesturing them to follow. "Onward! The fields of Ragnarök await!"
Quickly realizing that direct attacks were fruitless, Joker had focused his attention to the enormous clock face that continued to hang ominously overhead.
"Black Frost!"
Summoning yet another of his Personas, razor sharp shards of ice flew through the air, sailing toward the strange object. They were readily intercepted, however, by the rattling chains that bound the monstrous Shadow to it.
"Odin!"
Still refusing to give up, Joker changed Personas once more, summoning a mighty strike of lightning from above. This attack landed a direct hit to the floating disk, but any damage it sustained seemed to be siphoned away by those very same chains. Despite managing to avoid the Shadow's continued assault all this time and counterattacking besides, Joker felt his stamina reaching it's limit.
"Yoshi...tsune...!"
With what little strength remained, he called forth yet another Persona. Dual blades in hand, it flew forth in an attempt to sever the chains that hindered his every attack. However, with his energy so thoroughly diminished, this final attack too was easily repelled. Completely spent, Joker fell to one knee, his expression still without a hint of resignation.
Rather than immediately destroy his now prone adversary as he had promised to do, the Shadow instead had one of his many chains encircle Joker's body, lifting him to eye level.
"Why do you continue to fight...?" He asked. "You will fail. You cannot succeed. There is no hope. So... why?"
Joker struggled with all his might against these restraints, stopping for only a moment to look the Shadow in his massive yellow eyes.
"Because I can." He replied with a defiant glare. "And as long as I can fight... I will. For myself, and for everyone who can't. I refuse to give up!"
His answer was met with a long silence from the Shadow.
"Nonsense." He finally uttered with a disappointed shake of his head. "No matter how powerful your will, no matter how steeled your resolve... Destiny has already made it's choice."
"I've heard more than enough of this "destiny" bullshit to last me a lifetime! Come, Loki!"
Both Joker and the Shadow turned in surprise to face the sudden voice coming from the distance. As they did, a searing red blade flew through the air, severing the chain that had restrained Joker.
"...Crow?" Joker said hesitantly as he stood up from his fall. Despite recognizing the voice of his fellow Phantom Thief as well as the visage of Valkyrie who also stood before him, the dark suited figure standing alongside her and the monochromatic Persona they had summoned were far from familiar.
"That power... Why?" The Shadow asked in disbelief. "I thought of all these intruders, you had come to understand my choice."
"Choice, you say? Don't make me laugh!" Crow shouted derisively. "You've made no choice here! All you've done is cover your eyes and ears, hiding in this cocoon of time, forcing others to face your consequences!"
"This world still needs you, Rintaro Okabe! You can't just die here!" Valkyrie added emphatically.
"No! I won't go back! I refuse to face that gruesome scene again!" With an outburst of emotion, the massive Shadow sent his chains forth to ensnare the two of them.
"Enough of this! Persona!"
With a mighty shout, Crow called forth Loki once more, who began to advance. As he did, his red hot sword cleaved through the oncoming chains like butter, but he didn't stop there. With one final swing of his blade, Loki cleaved apart the chains binding Okabe's Shadow to the airborne clock face, causing his massive form to recoil and stagger.
"Now, Joker!" Crow cried.
Still dazed, the Shadow looked in the direction Crow had called out to. Standing atop the ruins of a shattered building, Joker faced the now unchained clock with a clear line of sight. With nothing left in his way, he pulled away his mask one last time, making his decisive strike.
"Finish it, Arsene!"
Charging forward wreathed in bluish flame, his Persona struck the Shadow's source of power, shattering it to pieces. With that, the defeated Shadow was once again engulfed in darkness as he returned to his true, humanoid form. At that moment, the other Phantom Thieves began to regain consciousness now that the Shadow's influence had waned.
"Everyone, you're okay!" Joker exclaimed, running over to his recovering allies.
"...Joker?" Queen was the first to speak as everyone awoke from the Shadow's psychological assault.
"Ugh... Dammit! The hell was that!?" Skull asked frustratedly, still fairly dazed.
"Forced to relive such a painful moment..." Fox muttered. "What a cruel power."
"I-I knew it wasn't real, but still... seeing that again and again was just... too much." Panther said, frustratedly holding back tears.
"I knew you'd pull through, Joker! Looks like we owe you big time." Mona triumphantly declared, his shaking voice clashing with his attempted bravado.
"I'm just glad you're all alright." Joker replied, helping the others to their feet. "Besides, I can't take all the credit."
He looked over to Crow, who hadn't joined him in reuniting with the others. Instead, he simply looked down at the now defeated Shadow, his expression a mix of pity and contempt.
"You weren't entirely wrong, you know." He said, prompting the Shadow to look up weakly. "I do understand. Whatever happens to the worldline, my future is grim. But that's just it, isn't it...? It's not only my future, it belongs to everyone. Cruel as it may be, you have a responsibility to face that future, whatever you decide. I'll admit, I don't envy you your position."
"I can't make that choice! I just ca-"
"How much longer will you continue this detestable charade!?" A commanding voice boomed from the distance, prompting everyone to look in that direction.
Everyone was shocked to see Shadow Kyouma walking up to his counterpart with a confident stride. Crow and Valkyrie, however, had expected this, and stepped back from Shadow Okabe. Before arriving, they had been informed by Shadow Kyouma that he intended to, in his own words, "arrive belatedly and with a dramatic flair, for maximum effect".
"I should have known... You haven't taken enough already?" Shadow Okabe lamented.
"It's true." Shadow Kyouma responded. "Much has been lost as a result of my own thoughtless and selfish ambition... A cross I will forever bear. Yet your shameful inaction spits on the names of those comrades who made such sacrifices! You would have their pain, their resolve, their very courage be for naught!"
"That's not...! I just...!" The crestfallen Shadow was simply lost for words.
"Do you truly believe I don't share this heartache? That I revel in the loss we've inflicted upon those we hold dear?" Shadow Kyouma sighed, turning his gaze skyward. "For good or ill my friend, we have opened Pandora's Box, and as penance endured every despair contained within. But should you continue to hide within this temporal prison you have crafted, that which lies at the bottom will forever remain outside our grasp!"
"The... bottom?" Shadow Okabe questioned.
"Indeed. To one so accustomed to the dark, there are few things more frightening than the light of hope... But if we can only overcome that fear, that very light shall be our guide to a future for us all! What lies beyond that Gate is not the end of our journey, but merely another step upon it!"
"And what if you're wrong!?" Shadow Okabe snapped back. "What if all that lies beyond that Gate is a dead end? A world... without her."
"Need you truly ask such a question?" Shadow Kyouma responded, a maniacal grin spreading once more across his face. "If no such path exists... we simply forge it ourselves! We would shatter the very walls of fate itself to reach the future we desire! The future they deserve! FUAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Reaching out to his fallen reflection, Shadow Kyouma concluded his speech. "We will not rest until it is found, of that there can be no doubt! Surely you already know the reason?"
Simply staring at the hand offered to him, Shadow Okabe's expression lightened slightly, a nearly imperceptible upturn appearing on the corners of his lips as he answered the question posed to him.
"Of course. It's... the choice of Steins Gate." He said silently as he reached for the hand that mirrored his own.
As the two fragments of Rintaro Okabe's Shadow made contact, a bright light engulfed the area, causing everyone present to recoil in surprise. When it finally began to fade, they realized their surroundings had changed once again. Where once were two now stood a single Shadow, facing that all too familiar Gate.
"Forgive me, Kurisu... but this is not goodbye." He said softly, gently placing his hand upon the surface of the Gate. "I will find it. A future where we can all smile together again. I promise."
As he spoke, a split appeared down the center of the Gate, forming what appeared to be a pair of doors.
"Until then..." He said, turning to the others present as his form began to fade. "I'll leave the Treasure in your hands."
His current expression lacked the pained hopelessness of the first Shadow they had met, as well as the chaotic madness of the second. In their place was a look of sheer determination and resolve.
"So... I take it you've made your choice then?" Akechi asked, once again wearing his usual white outfit.
"That's right. You've all helped me find my way again, and for that you have my gratitude. Thank you, and farewell, Phantom Thieves. El Psy Kongroo."
With those strange final words, the Shadow vanished, returning to the conscious mind of Rintaro Okabe. There was a moment of silence as the gravity of what they had accomplished settled on everyone's minds.
"We should hurry and get the Treasure." Mona said, breaking the silence. "Without a Ruler, it's only a matter of time until this place destabilizes."
"Right." Joker said, stepping forward to open the now unsealed gate. "Let's go."
As he pushed it open, the room within was none other than the Future Gadget Laboratory, as recognized by the few present who had seen it before. Looking in the direction of the Treasure indicated by Oracle, they saw-
"Mayuri Shiina..."
Valkyrie was the first to speak upon seeing the curled up girl sleeping happily on the small sofa.
"Wait, the Treasure is also a cognition?" Noir asked.
"It makes sense I suppose." Queen said. "After all, everything began because he wanted to save her, right?"
"Sure, but... This doesn't exactly feel like stealin' a Treasure, y'know?" Skull added hesitantly. "Feels more like we're kidnappers than Phantom Thieves..."
As he voiced his worries, the room began to shake violently and the walls began to crumble away.
"Unfortunately, we don't exactly have time for such concerns!" Crow said, stepping forward quickly.
He gently picked up the sleeping cognitive Mayuri, who showed no signs of stirring despite the turbulent situation, and made his way back toward the entrance in a hurry, with the others just behind. They ran as fast as they could past all three former Gates as the world itself continued to deteriorate around them. Finally, they reached the entrance and returned to the real world.
"Ugh... why does it always have to be such a close call!?" Ann shouted upon their return, trying to catch her breath.
"I suspect the fault lies with Ryuji." Yusuke said with a playful smirk.
"Seconded." Futaba agreed with an exaggerated nod.
"What!? How's it my fault!?" Ryuji yelled indignantly.
"Can we focus please? Akechi, you have the Treasure, right?" Makoto asked, bringing everyone's attention back to the matter at hand.
Akechi held out his hand, which now held a small, silver pocket watch. Opening it revealed that it appeared to be broken, the hands completely motionless.
"So, does this mean it worked?" Suzuha asked.
"Well... At least as far as the Metaverse is concerned, I'm inclined to say yes." Makoto answered.
Her phrasing was clearly intentional, and everyone knew what it meant. They had done everything they could, but that didn't mean they were safe. With the fear of uncertainty hanging over their heads, everyone decided what to do next.
"I'm going to go check on Rintaro Okabe." Suzuha said. "I know it's likely too early to speak with him, but I'd like to get a grasp of his current state firsthand."
Saying goodbye to the others, she lowered her voice as she passed Akechi so only he could hear.
"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten my promise."
He smiled upon hearing this and expressed his gratitude with a silent nod.
Everyone else opted to spend the rest of the day together, simply wandering through Akihabara with no real destination in mind, enjoying themselves as best they could until it was finally time to head home for the day. With a great amount of worry in their hearts, everyone went their separate ways, prepared as best they could be for what may come.
Fortunately, the night passed without incident. As did the next day, and the next, as well as the one after that. Even a week after the operation, and there was still no sign of the Rounders making their move. The days continued to pass as normal, and everyone wondered how long their luck would hold out until finally, it happened. An event that reshaped the very world. An event only observed by one man.
Worldline divergence.
As morning came, Ren slowly opened his eyes as the significance of today's mission clutched his heart in an icy grip.
"Are you ready?" Morgana asked as he made to get up from his bed.
The question was simple, but it weighed heavy on Ren's mind. The calling card had been delivered. The path to Sae Nijima's Treasure was clear. But today's infiltration wouldn't be like the others. While this plan was their best shot at outwitting the traitor in their ranks, learning the identity of the true culprit behind the mental shutdown cases, and ultimately clearing the names of the Phantom Thieves, it wasn't without extreme risk. In the end, Ren would have to be captured by the police and, if anything were to go wrong, he would very likely be killed. This possibility was terrifying to say the least, but he had decided to place his faith in his friends, and see this plan through to the end.
With this thought at the forefront of his mind, Ren turned to face Morgana and gave his answer in the form of a determined nod. "Let's go."
Descending the stairs, the pair began to make their way to the door of LeBlanc. Given the early hour, they had expected the cafe to be empty aside from Sojiro, but contrary to their expectations there was a single customer sitting at the counter. This would normally be fairly unremarkable, if not for the man's strangely out of place attire, namely a long, white lab coat. Initially paying him no mind and continuing on their way, the oddly dressed man's words stopped Ren in his tracks.
"Ren Amimiya, I presume?" He said, still staring down into his nearly empty cup of coffee. "I have a message for you."
"A... message?" Ren replied hesitantly.
The customer cleared his throat slightly before looking to Ren and responding. "Hold fast to the justice you've found with your allies, and do not waver in your convictions. So long as you never forget what you fight for, I know that every one of you can and will overcome anything and anyone that may stand in your way. That's all."
His goal apparently achieved, the unexpected messenger stood up after taking one last sip from his cup.
"Wait! Who sent you?" Ren quickly asked, his mind now racing.
"Who indeed? I suppose... A forgotten confidant? It would probably be best to leave it at that." He answered enigmatically before turning to the very confused Sojiro behind the counter. "The coffee was excellent. Thank you, Mister Barista."
The man then made to leave, stopping just shy of the door and turned his head slightly with a hopeful smile, sharing one final thought.
"If- no... when I reach it, perhaps the two of you can stand together once more, in Steins Gate."
Finally, he left the cafe and disappeared into the distance, leaving everyone utterly befuddled. Ren and Morgana immediately began to wonder exactly how much this stranger knew. That being said, despite not understanding what it all meant, Ren couldn't help but find a certain comfort in this bizarre message, and thought about who this "forgotten confidant" could be.
Before he could get too wrapped up in the thought, his eyes met Morgana's and they both quickly returned their focus to the matter at hand. Saying goodbye to Sojiro, the two of them left to prepare for what could very well be the Phantom Thieves' final mission.
*I had some final thoughts, so I guess I'll put them here at the bottom. I can't believe I finally finished this, this story has been floating around in my head for years, so to actually see it written out, as amateur as it may be, is kind of a trip. Honestly I think it turned out pretty okay, especially given that this is my first real attempt at any kind of storytelling. Hopefully it was at least passable, and at the very least, I'm glad to have actually written it instead of letting it eventually fade away as just another thought. That's all.*