After dispatching a few more guards, as well as teaching a few rebels on how to properly take care of them, you all have made it - the Casino. Weird that's called that. Weirder still, the door is shut, but you don't see anyone attending it. You look at your team. "Anyone wanna volunteer to open the gates?" Edgie nods. "Fortunately, Ika, I possess the strange ability of... how do you pronounce the words... 'taking a hint'?" You all approach on the stairs leading up, and the mage holds out a robed arm, causing the doors to jiggle a tad, but no luck. You instruct them, "Just keep doing that, we'll see what happens." They nod, and you take the opportunity to take Mako aside. She's still blushing, despite having walked all the way here. "Hey, Maks, you alright?" There's some tears in her eyes. She speaks with a somber tone, as if choking on the sadness, the embarrassment, the guilt. "N-no... I mean, yeah? I didn't want you to find out..." You put your hands on her shoulders. "Find out what?" "Th-that I wasn't calibrated..." You raise an eyebrow. "Maks, would that even matter? I'm Human, you're a Synth. I'm not worried about superficial things like that." "It's not super-whatever, Ika, I... I'm broken." She wipes a tear from her face. "I process things way faster, but my body is way slower, so I'm- I'm like- I'm different, okay?? I don't think like you..." You release your grip on her shoulders, instead letting your arms gently rest on them, you getting closer. "I love that you're different, though. Don't you forget that." There would have been a passionate kiss there, but by then, Edgie got the door open. After hearing it burst with all the sounds of ripping metal, a tornado of people rushed out - Synths, mostly Huma, but some Robo. In the rush, you barely manage to get you and Mako out of the way. Just following behind is a set of two guards - everyone readies their weapons, but they soon collapse to the ground, as a strangely familiar face shows his beard. "Yolk!", you cry out, running over and slapping his palm. "What are you doing here?" The dwarf himself is a bit flabbergasted. "Ika?? And your friends, hm? Didn't expect that..." He strokes his beard, like a million other times. "To answer your question, I came here under the pretense that you would also be here." Mako chimes in. "Did you hear about Era?" "Era, what? No!", Yolk scoffs at the idea. "I just thought you'd be the gambling type." You look around at your team. Mako shrugs, Toby shrugs, Edgie doesn't even say anything. "No, Yolk, I don't go to casinos. Why, are *you* the gambling type?" The dwarf scratches his beard. "I am. If I just get the jackpot here, I'll be one tenth the way out of my debt!" You roll your eyes and get to the point. "Look, you shouldn't be here. You should go home. It's way too dangerous right now." Yolk sags a bit. "Aw, but c'mon, Ika, this looks fun!" You scoff. "Fun? You think this is *fun* for me??" You grit your teeth, but looking at your team, you begin to relax. "Look, Yolk, just book it. You're over your head here." He groans, but he eventually accepts. You and your team carry on through the open doors. The casino floor seems demolished beyond repair - the lights have gone out, save for a few, the wallpaper is starting to tear, and by your count, there's far too many aces on the floor. You lead the team to the hallway on the other end of the floor, before showing them a random spot on the wall. Toby raises an eyebrow. "By the knights, Ika, are you sure you're a tactician?" You explain. "Behind here is an elevator, which is the only way up to the top floor - that's where The Lady is, most likely. It's a high roller's lounge." You grab your blade, turning it to its dagger form, before cutting into the paper adorning the wall, tracing a rectangle, before showing the elevator and the panel next to it. You turn to Toby, who looks like he's the president of the "I really wish I weren't here right now" fan club. "This seems like your area of expertise. Wanna help me out here?" He groans, but agrees, morphing his claw into something abstract, before plunging into the panel, near effortlessly. He sticks his tongue out, not something you would have to do for something like this, but it helps. After a bit, he pulls his arm out, and something in the mechanism clicks, opening the elevator. "I do *not* want a second date with that thing.", Toby remarks. You feel like Mako would say something, but she's just quietly holding your hand. You pat her on the shoulder, and enter the elevator. Edgie shuffles in last, and anomalously, the highest button on the panel is pushed. You look over at your partner. "Something bothering you, Maks?" She's still a little flustered, trying to hide her face form everyone except you. "It was supposed to be a secret..." You look over at Toby, and give him a glare, before returning to Mako. "It's not your fault, it's not. I love you no matter what, okay?" Wordlessly, she gives a nod, stifling tears, before opening her arms and giving you a hug. You embrace it, holding her gently, stroking her hair. The other two talk amongst themselves, but you're not interested in that. Something about what they're going to do when everything is said and done... You already know what you're doing. The elevator's gonna be a bit, so you're wanting everyone to be as calm and collected as possible. You stand in utter silence. Mako stands in a soft embrace. Edgie merely hovers above the ground, slightly. Toby is peering down at his claw, checking its various transformations. You feel the need to say something. "I'm sorry, guys. I know it's not like... well, this *is* my fault, Era's fault. Whatever." Toby interrupts you. "Just get to the point, Ika." You sigh. "Look. Whatever happens, we *will* prevail. You guys will have my unconditional guidance. My unconditional love. This ends *now*." You pause for a second. "Maybe then I can be free of guilt." Mako hugs you harder. You appreciate it, all the same. The doors open. What was once a high rollers lounge was instead a damaged warzone - the machines and tables are all destroyed, broken into pieces. The only thing illuminating your path is the blaring of alarm lights, crimson red in color. A memory comes to you - painful, but you know the end is soon. "I know the way. To the right is where the rift is." Edgie looks concerned, for once. "A rift? So even the Synths have mastered teleportation..." You shake your head. "No, I think it's got something to do with The Light. It's what the knights are mad at, undoubtedly." The group follows you to a metal door, split down the middle, top to bottom. There's a hand scanner to the side. You turn to the team. "Any last requests before we start the fight?" Toby shakes his head. Edgie stays silent. Mako approaches you. "I do have one." She motions to hold your hands, and you do so. "If we end up joining the spirits, Ika... Can we do it together? I would hate to be in a world without you." You chuckle. "Oh, Mako... I don't think I could keep going without you. It's a deal." Sweetly, she gives you a kiss. You all prepare your weapons. You put your hand on the scanner. It beeps. The door opens. There's only one option left. ``` JE: this is it !! YOU: I just hope they win. No offense, but I'm not exactly a fan of the current governing system. JE: idc i just wanna see someone get beat up YOU: Fair enough. I hope I'm not missing anything... ``` ### -> [[Take]] on the bad guys!