Chapter Text
VR-LA's body has slowly started to return to its form. They were still days away from being able to call it complete again, but the progress felt good. Emi stayed installed to VR-LA. She didn't really say why she wanted to, but she was stubborn about it, and after everything, the two artificers understood, so they decided she could stay. Sometimes they'd get Kyana to mind-link with her, so they'd know, she was still in there.
Every now and then the rest of the two crews would check on them. The healers would cast some healing spells at the unmoving body, hoping it did something. Neither of the two artificers was resting enough, but no one bothered to tell them to rest anymore. It would've been of no use, and they knew it.
After a few days of this routine, K-LB remembered the goggles. Godsdamnit, he really was getting dull from the exhaustion.
- I just remembered something - he blurted out. - I'll be back in a second.
He tried his best to not run but speedwalk back to his room, to find them. His thoughts scrambled, his hands shaking again. The place was a mess. Not exactly like him, but he stopped caring. He had more important things to do than keeping his room tidy recently. On the walk back to the workshop he felt a bit better. They were doing everything they could. They were going to get VR-LA back. Right?
He sighed and looked down at the goggles in his hands before putting them on. Maybe they could help, he thought. As he activated the spell, the room lit up with an iridescent silvery gold glow, interlaced with a much warmer shade of gold. VR-LA's magic flying and Maxim's magic protecting the ship.
Looking in VR-LA's direction, he saw his body wrapped with sickly green thread, that pulsed every time Dani adjusted something. He watched as it readjusted around him, and made a note in his head to tell Maxim about it.
His powercore suddenly grew heavier, as he stepped closer and saw the magic emanating from each gear, screw, and bolt in VR-LA's body. The same silvery gold that glowed through the Sanctum could barely be seen around a few small parts. Some were glowing with pale blue sparks K-LB knew as his own artificer magic. Most were flickering with either orange or bright cobalt blue flames, indicating that Dani had to replace or mend them in the last few years.
Between the gears, there were glittering purples and faded reds waving themselves through the intricate machinery in a few places. He assumed the purples must belong to AS-TR and Finbar, leaving the red to Vhas. The healing magic brushed some misaligned cogs into place, correcting the work of the two exhausted artificers and soothing K-LB's nerves somewhat, as he realized that even if his shaky hands made a few mistakes, it was going to be okay. Looking towards VR-LA's head, he saw some silvery white, that he assumed belonged to Emi. It flickered with a strange rhythm as if she was talking or maybe singing to him. Was she? Who knew?
At this point, K-LB started regretting his decision to refill himself with oil, as he folded over and let out a quiet static sob. Startled by his own voice, he looked up at Dani. If the Genasi heard him, she didn't show it. He sat down at the opposite side of the table and joined her in the work, trying to ignore the tears of oil collecting between his goggles and cheeks.
- Dinner's ready - Finbar's voice sounded almost irritated. He was probably just tired, like everyone else, plus out of all of them present he probably hated Mechanus the most. Not that he ever complained about it, but it was an open secret at that point.
Dani got up slowly, dragging her right foot slightly.
- Need some help with that? - the firbolg asked.
- Nah, it's just numb, 'cause I've been sitting on it all day - she said.
- You should really stop to stretch for a few minutes every hour or so.
- I'll stop to stretch when VR-LA's in one piece.
Finbar sighed and stepped closer to the table with VR-LA on it. He was one of the few people, who didn't look away.
- Anything new since yesterday?
- Well, he's definitely in less pieces - K-LB answered, trying to lighten the mood a little. - I'll join you in a few minutes. I just... I want to finish something first.
The genasi and the firbolg shot him a questioning look, but he just raised his shoulders, hoping they wouldn't ask any questions. He let out some steam as they left the room, and returned to work on the left hand in front of him. Technically he shouldn't have started working on it yet, but it was going to take the same amount of time anyway, he told himself, as he attached it to the half-done arm.
He joined Finbar in the kitchen shortly after everyone finished their meals. It was soothing to just sit and eat, and watch the druid prep for the next day's breakfast.
- How's your headspace been? - the question startled him a little.
- Well I... it hasn't really been the best time of my life. I man, not like anyone's having a good time here. I think I'm mostly over the worst of it. I hope. I still feel like shit for not figuring it out before we started... - he trailed off. Before they started taking him apart, he wanted to say, but the words didn't seem heavy enough to describe how he felt about the whole thing. Finbar turned around to look at him, and they just stared at each other for a few seconds, before the firbolg took a chair and sat down.
- You know, it's not your fault, right? Sometimes people miss important details. You were emotional. The important thing is that you can still put him back together, and we can figure out how to get him back.
- Yes, but...
- Listen, I'm not saying everything's fine. You and I both know, it's far from fine. But it's nothing he can't come back from.
K-LB stared at the plate in front of him. He knew the half-giant was right, and yet the feeling in his powercore told him otherwise. He should've run a round of diagnostics on VR-RA. He Should've... He...
- I... Can you heal him a bit?- he blurted out. Finbar gave him a questioning look. - I looked at him with my Detect Magic goggles, and the healing seems actually to be quite useful.
- Sure.
After K-LB finished his dinner they walked back to the workshop. C-RA sat in the corner in stasis. She'd been spending a lot of time around VR-LA. She knew she wasn't doing anything useful, but she insisted on being there. K-LB understood. The thought of not being able to do anything scared him. Even though he hated what he and Dani had to do, he was grateful, that he could at least do something about VR-LA's situation. Speaking of Dani, she was nowhere to be found. Maybe she finally decided to rest a bit, or at least have some fresh air.
The druid looked at the body lying on the table and put his hand on a freshly reassembled shoulder. This time even without the goggles K-LB could see stars light up around Finbar, and seep into VR-LA's body. He stared at the twinkling lights for a bit before feeling the felt the firbolg's hand on his own shoulder, followed by a flow of energy. He immediately felt less tired. The half-giant smiled at him, and quietly left the room, leaving him with his thoughts.
Maxim's door was closed.
No surprise there. He usually kept it closed. K-LB sighed before knocking on it, but there was no answer. He knocked again, calling out for his captain.
- Come in! - he heard. Walking in he saw the sorcerer kneeling on the floor, surrounded by books and scrolls. - I can't find it!
The artificer stared at his captain for a long moment.
- I'm sorry, I... I've been looking for descriptions and cures for any conditions that might look like VR-LA's, but none of them quite seem to match, and...
- I think I can help.
Maxim looked up at him. With what emotion, he couldn't tell.
- I... uh, the goggles... can you come look? - he hated himself for butchering that, but it really didn't matter whether he had the words to tell Maxim what he saw if he could show him. They stared at each other for another long moment before he got his answer.
- Can you help me up?
The sorcerer's joints creaked painfully as he pulled him up from the floor. They were going to the workshop anyway he thought. They could deal with it there.
- I uh... his left hand's done - he said. He didn't want to ramble more, so he left it at that.
Thankfully, Maxim understood. He stepped over to his desk and took a small blue box out of a drawer before following him back to the workshop.
Maxim held VR-LA's hand like both their lives depended on it, while examining the threads with the goggles. He slipped the ring back on his finger, and K-LB honestly felt like he was intruding while searching for oil in his toolkit.
- I'll fill up your joints while you're here.
- It's not necessary.
- Maxim, when you move you sound like you're a hundred! I can do it while you... examine the magic. All you have to do is stand still for a few seconds!
The sorcerer seemingly had no comeback for that. He stood still and allowed the artificer to fill his joints with oil.
- Done. If you don't mind, I'll leave you alone for a bit. I gotta go find Dani.
He left as fast as he could, hearing Maxim whisper to VR-LA behind him. He didn't immediately go to look for Dani, instead knocking on AS-TR's door.
The last few days seemed painfully long for everyone in the Sanctum. The two artificers knew no peace, as their crewmates asked over and over again: Is he done yet? They wished he was, but despite him looking close to complete, they still needed to do some finishing touches to make sure, that everything was going to work. No mistakes and oversights this time, K-LB told himself.
By the time they could call VR-LA complete, both artificers were dead exhausted despite numerous Greater Restorations from AS-TR and Finbar. Dani flopped down on the couch. Her work done, she could finally rest. K-LB felt himself slip into stasis in his chair but shook himself awake. Just a few more minutes.
He walked out of the workshop to see Maxim and AS-TR sitting at the table, hunched over an ancient book.
- Hey, I think... - they looked up at him startled. - I think we're done... I mean... We could always do some more finetuning, but I think... I think that the rest of that should be done when he can give us feedback on it... You know...
The sorcerer and the cleric stared at him some more, before AS-TR jumped up.
- I guess, time to test our theory then - she said to their captain, who was still frozen in place. - Maxim?
Finally, he got up from his chair and asked Docent to tell everyone to come to the workshop.
The two crews piled into the tiny room, shoulder to shoulder, waking up Dani. She had to be awake for just a few more seconds.
They all fell silent, as Maxim took VR-LA's left in one hand, a handful of diamond dust in the other, sprinkling it all over his body. The glittering dust lit up with a white light before disappearing into VR-LA's plating.
As they listened to the distant ticking of the plane, each second seemed longer and more painful.
A whole minute came and went.
And nothing happened.