So the group discuss their approach in Kojak’s office – they’re going to make their way to America on Fulcrum and then use their winders to travel down into Death once they land there. Kojak warns them briefly about the Blue Chamber, an offshoot of the Caliber Institute that went independent and now governs Outside affairs in the US. He tells them it’s a lot more strict and zealous than the Caliber Institute in the UK.
Before leaving, Merlin asks Kojak how the Morris Server is leaking out of its containment, and Kojak tells them that’s literally impossible, it’s an anti-magic pocket dimension. Merlin says that obviously it’s gotten out somehow, and Kojak says he’ll check it out after Sarolt is done at the hospital with Imrus. Ursa tells him to give them her best, and he softens a bit and tells her ‘Of course.’ He still calls her Ursa, because it’s still Kojak.
They head home, and pack their bags, making sure to follow Kojak’s advice and retrieve their Institute I.D pins to protect them from being unlawfully uh, disappeared when they get to the US. Nora is still avoiding Brynner, so takes her time texting and writing a note for Ella while Ursa and Merlin go to inform him they’ll be leaving the country.
On their way to the Direcotr’s office, Ursa asks Merlin if he’s really cool with coming with her on this. Because he can leave, honest. Merlin insists it’s ok.
Brynner is in a reflection of his office, but gets out of bed when they come knocking and re-enters the proper one. When Merlin asks why he’s in bed so early, Brynner points out that he’s like at least 75 years old.
They basically let him know they’re going to rescue someone and he asks if Helton is safe. He says she’s clearly acting different, usually when stressed she just throws herself into work.
Ursa tells him that of course, she almost lost her sister. Merlin says that maybe she’s just becoming more human. Ursa tells him off, and points out that Nora’s one of their closest friends. Nora, elsewhere, feels like she needs to sneeze, like in the animes.
But no, it’s not Nora that needs rescuing, it’s Alkahest. Panacea’s back and she’s got him on their home world. Brynner makes a call to request that the Institute records be updated, as Panacea is a person of interest in the ongoing Demonic King situation. He mentions there’s a list of Demons that the Institute needs to keep an eye on, but won’t give any names when Merlin asks because the DM hasn’t thought of them yet.
Speaking of the DM coming up with shite, Brynner gives them a bit more info about their destination and the Blue Chamber that polices it. He advises that they remain polite and cooperative, and things should go smoothly. Hopefully. There might be some issues with them being Outsiders – even if they were born here – because the Blue Chamber only employs humans and is proud of that fact. He tells them about the Green Chamber too, which is their ‘heavy artillery’ consisting of ‘machines designed to bring down Auditors’, though they’re more often set loose on regular Outside folks.
Ursa says ‘So they’re bad dudes, then,’ and Brynner says ‘Bad dudes that think they’re good ones.’ He says he’s sorry he can’t help more, but the Institute has to stay out of things. But personally, he gives them a £20 note for a cab to the airport. It’s one of the old paper ones that isn’t legal tender anymore.
We also get to see Ella receiving Nora’s text, letting her know she’ll be out of the country on business for a bit. Ella’s at a nice pub with a load of her friends, and as she checks her phone Laniakea sits back down next to her and tells her ‘I can keep an eye out for her if you want’, but Ella smiles and says it isn’t necessary, Nora can handle herself. Adagio is there too, eating bar nuts. They do seem to be having a good time.
Merlin and Ursa reunite with Nora, who provides additional coffee. She’s even gotten a sweet frappe one for Ursa. Good team. Proud of them. Merlin asks, ‘Before we go, there is one thing I have to check.’
‘What?’ asks Ursa.
‘Are you sure you can’t just get a different fiance?’
‘Merlin.’
‘I’m just saying, there’s… Raoul. He’s very loyal. He’s a demon too! And you know, he could probably go at it and all that. And you’d break his little heart if—’
‘Merlin.’
The Uber arrives. It’s that fire genasi from before, so they make it to the airport pretty fast (after more polycule jokes like last time after Cepheus was trying to stop them). The flight itself passes without issue, so the party enjoys a long rest.
Upon arrival in America, they’re asked to step aside by the staff at the arrivals gate, and left to stew in a cramped room for more than half an hour. When Ursa mentions that their Caliber Institute employment could be the reason they’re in here, and she’s starting to get antsy, two Blue Chamber agents appear.
Agents Edelweiss and Blackball sit down and quiz them on why they’re here and why they think they’ve been detained. When they insist – Ursa especially – that they’re here on holiday, Blackball does some magic and reveals the Death flavour fruit winders he’s stolen from their carry-ons.
Edelweiss mentions that they were flagged by their detectors, and asks why they were lying. And why they’re trying to smuggle controlled magical substances through US borders.
Ursa tries to insist that they’ll be no hassle, they’re just heading into Death – leaving, not arriving, so it shouldn’t be a problem. Merlin doesn’t like being called ‘Mr. Gnome’ and starts talking shit, but Edelweiss is unmoved and has Blackball Silence him. It doesn’t actually work thanks to Merlin’s resistance, and she states that this Gnome might be dangerous.
She wants to talk to Nora, who says that ‘Guns and Death kind of are why we’re here. But we’re just passing through.’
Edelweiss signs a bit to her colleague (Billiard) Blackball, and says ‘Well in that case you’re free to go, but we can’t have you doing it illegally; if you can fill in the proper forms we’ll have you on your way in a manner that doesn’t weaken US borders in as little as 3 to 4 weeks.’
‘We can’t wait that long!’ says Ursa, but after she’s shut down again she realises they can’t be moved and decides to go for another approach. Merlin too is like ‘May I speak now? Look, we’re here to deal with Panacea; she’s a threat, you must know this. We can work together and you can even take the credit for dealing with her.’
‘She isn’t here, in the real USA,’ says Edelweiss. ‘So she’s not our concern.’
‘Alright, fine,’ says Ursa. ‘Why don’t you get us those forms then?’
‘Cool,’ says Edelweiss. She and Blackball get up, and Blackball pockets the winders. Of course. They’re obviously going to leave them sat in here for a few more hours, so Ursa – with extra help from Nora’s Guidance and Merlin ready with a fucking Witch Bolt in reserve, just in case – casts Sleep by humming a frantic little tune.
She rolls well enough to drop both Blue Chamber agents for one minute. Rummaging through Blackball’s pockets, she retrieves the winders that will get them into Death, along with the lollipops to get them back home – if they’d just grabbed the winders off the table they’d have gotten stuck there.
Merlin tries to shut off the camera in the room, but it’s hooked up to a control somewhere else in the building and thus can’t be reached. Panicking a bit, they decide to eat their winders there and then, maybe ending up a bit lost but at least getting out of Blue Chamber jurisdiction.
Arriving at Death 49, the airport is all spooky and abandoned. They make their way out past flickering lights and rooms with dripping taps, and upon reaching the exit are confronted by a massive man with a hockey mask and a knife. He tries to knife Ursa when she attempts to communicate, but Merlin fires a Witch Bolt that sends the man bursting into a screaming shadow that billows away. Nora kicks the locked door open.
Outiside, beneath a horrible spiral sky, a guy on a bike tells them it’s past curfew and they’ll get killed, idiots. Ursa tries to use her ring to contact Alkahest, but there’s no response. It seems when the last message she tried was cut off, it wasn’t a signal thing, it was the ring being taken from him or something.
Ursa wonders aloud about the world itself. She relays some of the stories Alkahest told about the place, about how he was from basically a haunted slaughterhouse. Maybe the world is like a horror movie?
Nora is like, ‘You know, we had an eight hour flight when you could maybe have mentioned this.’
Roll History 