#ref: shen xinghui's evol

[lndslorepuzzler]

Anecdote: Passing By

01: Team 013: Sixteen years ago, the Bloomshore District’s Special Task Force welcomed a new recruit. Arthur is gung-ho about it, despite Team 013 being the bottom of the barrel; despite the teams misfortunes (which include staff-cutting, relocation, and chance of duties) he’s determined to make the best of it. Enter the new recruit: 23 year old Shen Xinghui, who moves to an isolated desk in the corner, and silently settles in.

Shen Xinghui always completes his duties quickly and efficiently. He works until things are done, he is never late but also doesn’t leave early. It turns out he transferred in to read through old Linkon city records. Arthur tells him there are millions of them, and he can’t spend his entire life in the archives, and invites him out to hot pot. 

Shen Xinghui is very enthusiastic about eating. Shen Xinghui tells Arthur that he was injured when trying to rescue someone; he was traumatized by the experience, and applied for a desk job instead.

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02: An Unspoken Secret: Shen Xinghui keeps to himself, but is easy to get along with; the target of their current case is Lawrence, who sells Evol hallucinogens, and has always managed to evade capture. The entire team knows that this is essentially their last bid for a continued existence, and so Arthur takes it very seriously. 

They know Lawrence is going to be at the Palace Bathhouse next month; after drawing straws and no one being happy with the result, Shen Xinghui is nominated to go.

While the entertainment district is short, bright and crowded, the alley behind it is “narrow and seemingly endless, almost devoid of light.” A group of young men loiters; a man approaches “a lanky young man with silver hair… engrossed in the music from his headphones.” When asked, Shen Xinghui tells the man he’s looking to make some quick cash, and does he know how he can?

The man leads Shen Xinghui into the Palace Bathhouse to meet Roman, the man in charge. He introduces himself as Bob, and is ready to be exposed and execute ‘plan b,’ before Roman tells him that the name is too plain, and they’ll call him Christian, instead. 

The Palace has been open for a month, and all the staff are Shen Xinghui’s age. One of those staff is out, and so Shen Xinghui offers to go deal with the important client; the supervisor expresses regret that it’s a pity the handsome young man is going to deal with Lawrence and their boss “discussing business.”

Shen Xinghui is allowed into the private room after a thorough search; Lawrence is already on the massage table. He proceeds to press on each vertebrae, and by the time Shen Xinghui reaches the seventh, Lawrence realizes he’s being held down. When bodyguards arrive, Shen Xinghui lets him up, and removes his own gloves. In a flash of light, all the men are down, and Shen Xinghui is holding a lightblade to Lawrences neck. 

“By the time Luke arrives as backup, Shen Xinghui stands alone amidst a circle of fallen bodyguardsIn the corner, Lawrence is tied up with bed sheets, his neck at an odd angle.  “Shen Xinghui? Did you take out everyone in this room?!” “No,” Shen Xinghui walks down the corridor, pulling Luke by his collar. “They ran into my sword.”

Luke gets a a commendation for his part in the situation, but tries to explain that Shen Xinghui is the hero. More such incidents happen, with drug addicts turning themselves in, punishing themselves on cameras, etc. 

Members of the team refuse transfers, feeling that Shen Xinghi’s arrival helped them find their fighting spirit; and while no one is sure Shen Xinghui is as simple as he seems, none of them are willing to snitch. 

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03: A Familiar Face: Shen Xinghui attends New Years festivities under the promise of food. Arthur catches him alone for a talk, telling him that found a file missing from the archive; from an event that happened decades ago. He requested Shen Xinghiu’s personal files from HQ, and notes that they’re impeccable; his portrait also brings up a match in the database, and he offers Shen Xinghui a yellowed photograph: the blurry white silhouette of a man with silver hair. He assures Shen Xinghui he’s not going to say anything, and that he’s glad he’s sticking around. 

Later that night, Shen Xinghui decides that it’s time for him to leave.

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04: Old Friend: Shen Xinghui puts the ‘missing file’ in his mailbox, and heads upstairs. He has a text thread with Noah, transcribed below.

N: Aren’t you going to ask what I’m going to do with this? SXH: Thats ur business N: I want to use this for a new identity. N: I just want to be an ordinary person in this timeline. N: Are you still there? Do you think it’s funny? I don’t blame you, though. I agree. SXH: I was heating up some food N: … N: Is it that Earth junk food with absolutely zero nutritional value again? I don’t get why you like it. Their convenience stores can’t even be bothered to change the flavors of their chicken cutlet rice bowls! SXH: And what about U SXH: U mentioned how youre not acclimated to the climate, and youre not fond of the food. But U fell in love with some1 here N: … SXH: Theres nothing wrong with that N: Enough about me. Are you really going to wait for that person SXH: Yeah N: How long are you going to wait? 10? 100? Or 1000 years? N: Something messed with the slipspace during the Backtrack. The spaceship couldn’t handle the Deepspace Tunnel fluctuations. N: Both she and the Aether Core vanished without a trace. For all we know, they might already be cosmic dust. SXH: I know N: Even if  you press on, you’re not going to get the outcome you’re hoping for.

Noah is at the intercom; Shen Xinghui tells him the file is in the mailbox, and to leave.  (This next section of dialogue is transcribed directly, as the speakers are unclear.)

“You…!” The young man is startled. He looks from left to right before he composes himself. He focuses on the camera. “Goodbye.” “Wait! I have something to say!”  With a certain resolution set in his heart, he stares at his former friend on the other side of the screen. “Be careful. They’re going to find you.”

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05: The Road’s End: Shen Xinghui decides to ‘die’ in a fire. He sets the stage, and leaves. He finds a little girl on his way, and tells her to hurry back home, since she lives nearby. The girl asks about whether he ran away from home, and what the shiny thing around his neck is. He tells the girl he’s leaving soon, when a third voice interjects. 

A young man with silver hair is leaning against a sign. 

(The conversation has been edited to be dialogue-only.)

“Long time no see.” “It has been a long time. You followed me all the way here to let me know. It must have been hard.” “I’m curious how you managed to elude us. Hiding in plain sight as an inconspicuous guy. It’s not much different from what I imagined. I thought you’d kill them before leaving. You abandoned them. Just like the Backtrackers. How are you going to cover your tracks this time? Kill me? Or let me—”

Shen Xinghui and the girl disappear in a flash of light. The stranger gives chase. After putting the girl somewhere safe, Shen Xinghui once again encounters the stranger, named Isaiah. They have a confrontation. 

Elsewhere, Arthur is awoken by a phone call, leading him to a factory in the south part of the city. His colleague tells him that Shen Xinghui was trapped inside the burning building, and couldn’t get out. He honorably sacrificed himself during his solo mission to apprehend Gray Hawk in the winter of 2033. He was 23.

Shen Xinghui makes his way home, but he’s exhausted, and ends up “(leaning) against the wall and slowly (sinking) to the ground. After such a long journey, it’s time for a good night’s sleep.”

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06: The Passing Spring: In the spring of 2045, Shen Xinghui considers the funeral for “ST-1101.” There weren’t many people, but all of them were crying. 

“It’s a peculiar feeling, as if part of his life is buried beneath the tombstone despite it being empty. It’s not the absurdity of ‘being taken by death,’ but rather the unfamiliarity of being remembered for the first time by those who should not remember him. It’s like a traveler, after many years, returning to the place from which he departed, only to discover someone still gazing at the spot where he vanished.”

At the present, in the cemetery, an elderly man calls out to Shen Xinghui; his granddaughter apologizes for his confusion, but Shen Xinghui doesn’t mind it. She asks if she can take a picture of the two of them, so Shen Xinghui wheels the man under a huge old tree. 

“I may be old, but my memory isn’t as frail as you might think. Long time no see.” “Long time no see.” “Don’t worry. I won’t remember you for long. In a few more years, when people ask about Shen Xinghui, I’ll have forgotten about you.”

The granddaughter takes the photo, and while wishing a happy new year, Shen Xinghui ruminates on the fact that he’s “finally (left) a bit of himself in someone else’s story.”

[lndslorepuzzler]

World Underneath: Sealed In Dust

Part 01: Whispers

A young man in a duckbill hat and an older man in a raincoat exchange verbal barbs and a briefcase that still smells like an explosion; the older man (who has been watching EVER) is careful not to touch it with his bare hands as he opens it to expose 4 pieces of yellowed paper.

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Part 02: "Unicorn"

Subject Anomalies Record (directly transcribed) Recorder: Josephine, Gaia Research Center, Unicorn Team, Researcher/Team Leader Date: Observation No.5, Day 42 Anomalies: Subject 001 regained vital signs after death. Details: Subject 001: Female, Evol: Anhaunsen Class Day 41 of Observation: 2:00AM For reasons unknown (suspected to be a researcher's mishandling of the subject,) the subject's energy values rapidly increased and peaked at 2:39AM. It resulted in a powerful energy burst within her body (no casualties or equipment was damaged.) All vital signs disappeared after the explosion. Day 42 of Observation (Today): 4:00PM Vital sign monitors suddenly restarted and slowly transmitted data again. Heart rate, breathing, and brain activity resumed. Not only did Subject 001 appear to be alive again, but energy values also returned to normal. A comprehensive physical examination revealed a newly created, unidentified substance in her heart.

Experiment Notes (summary): Josephine is of mixed emotions about the event; if the thing in the subject's heart is an unknown element, "then what kind of existence is she?" The group collectively decide to tall the element Aether, and thus the object in the subject's heart is called an "Aether Core." It is quietly determined that the only way to study the subject's 'resurrection' is to kill her again, to see if the subject wakes up. She calls the subject a "unicorn." Josephine finds herself unable to give a vote of approval for the process, despite believing that Subject 001 "holds too many secrets that are worth researching and carries an unpredictable amount of energy;" she "still can't ignore that (Subject 001) is a child."

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Part 03: Observation Log (summary)

Observer: Josephine Entry No. 1 They have taken to calling the girl Unicorn. After her 'resurrection,' all memories and cognition of her previous 'life' was erased; though she is able to pick up, absorb, and understand information far above the capabilities of her peers. Entry No. 2 The girl uses the Resonance Evol unconsciously. Entry No. 3 The voting results result in the beginning of experiments to kill Unicorn in an observation unit. The energy is agitated to the point where it burst, and Unicorn 'dies.' She wakes up again, and the energy of the Aether Core is even stronger than it already was. Josephine is begins to struggle with emotional attachment to the subject.

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Part 04: Post-Catastrophe Journal (summary)

Day 49, Post-Chronorift Catastrophe, Sunny The Gaia Research Center was destroyed, and Subject 001 was lost. Josephine found her in a shelter, and the girl called her 'Grandma,' though she'd never learned the term, and didn't appear to recognize her. Josephine brings her home. Day 75, Post-Chronorift Catastrophe, Sunny The little girl is still with Josephine. "Her memory is like a faint signal, intermittent and sometimes wavering." She continues to take care of her. *1

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Part 05: Journal Entry 4 (summary)

Day 134, Post-Chronorift Catastrophe, Sunny Josephine has been unable to get into contact with any of the researchers she worked with. She wonders about the intents behind EVER's research and investment. The only person she's found is Dr. Noah, and the data after the girls checkup shows her energy at half of what it used to be. The girl doesn't communicate anything about her experience in the Chronorift Catastrophe; she was alone the whole time. Josephine thinks that "maybe forgetting isn't such a bad thing for (the girl.)"

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Part 06: Dust (summary)

Duckbill feels Raincoat has more than enough information to "confirm her identity and role." Raincoat commends Duckbill for "(silencing) Josephine," and gives Duckbill a vial of some kind of drug. Raincoat gives the briefcase back, and tells Duckbill to watch the smell; Duckbill tells him to watch his handkerchief, since he'll be implicated, too. He asks when Raincoat's people intend to make their move, and Raincoat tells him there's no rush.

Conversation: (Edited as dialogue-only)

"Your Prince Shen Xinghui has been glued to her side watching over her, right? I've been curious for a while. Do people still practice feudalism where you're from? Isn't that regression in a sense?" "Hmph, Shen Xinghui can only guard her for so long. He's too busy dealing with his own issues... Don't say I didn't warn you. It's not just EVER who wants her. Strike first to gain an advantage." "The one who strikes first is helping her cultivation. If you can get rid of Shen Xinghui in the process, you'd be doing us a big favor. Isn't internal struggle your specialty? Kill Shen Xinghui and let EVER crown you as a prince. Haha--" "I can't kill Shen Xinghui, but I can do more than deal with a two-legged, carbon-based monkey like you." "You... Kill me, then. But how long can you survive in this era?" "Tell your masters they better get their hands on her fast. Based on my experience, her existence isn't as simple as the observation records suggest. If you keep stalling, EVER will end up losing more than they bargained for once she develops."

Raincoat ruminates that the drug Duckbill just took has an additional substance in it, used to "control" him. The goal is to "control" Shen Xinghui: his Evol is feeding into Unicorn's, using his love for her to EVER's advantage.

"Letting his lightblade serve her and becoming the strongest weapon in her hands is something the Resonance Evol can easily achieve. Shen Xinghui will surely give her every bit of himself... Love truly is a wonderful thing."

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*1, The text reads, "It's always just been me at home. But with her and... /Things have started to change." That ellipsis haunts my dreams. *2, Unsure if this is the same backtracker Shen Xinghui merc'd in Galactic Sunset: Desecrated Soil.

I'm not sure if this is the same Raincoat as World Underneath: Long Lost Treasures, though I'm pretty sure it's not.

This section also confirms that Shen Xinghui/Backtrackers are from the future (though not necessarily the same 'timeline.')

And, for anyone wondering, 'anhaunsen' is essentially a root word for 'enhance.'

[lndslorepuzzler]

Under Deepspace: Galactic Sunset, pt 1-10

01: Bonfire: FMC wakes up to herself and Qi Yu beside a bonfire. Qi Yu chastises FMC, "The line between being kind and being dumb is very thin. A small, smart fish swims away while it still can when the big fish are hunting." She points out that he was swimming directly into a whirlpool, which he has no response for. He claims that saving FMC was just his act of kindness for the day, and asks how long the "malicious creature will keep an eye on (them...)" after which comes the best exchange in the main story.*1

Then, discussing animals in general, Qi Yu says, "Animals that are fond of humans usually have a tragic end... One moment you're cute and cuddly, the next they toss you aside. You're forgotten, left behind. ...And you? Wasn't there something important you forgot about?"

He informs FMC that he's keeping the protocore from the Wanderer, but gives her an invitation to 'Hunting Day' at The Nest. FMC says he must be a regular, which Qi Yu gives a flippant response to; then he makes a point that she'd best wear a disguise to get in, pick up some local lingo and stop flashing the Hunter's Watch. He says he'll cover for her when it matters, but points out that one "(has) to pay a very high price for obscure information. Especially for stuff involving-... Mysterious protocores."*2

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02: Desecrated Soil: In a dark alley, Shen Xinghui is confronted by a stranger, while the Astronomy Channel talks about a dead planet, -P0159, recently discovered by the DAA. The stranger says he can't believe that Shen Xinghui was involved in Isaiah's death, that he would never attack their comrades. "As you can see, I'm a monster now... You don't want to end up like me, right? But sooner or later, you'll be walking down this path as well. Only she can save us. You, of all people, should know!" He says he's seen "that thing" with her.

Shen Xinghui cuts him off, saying "Until that day comes, no one should even think about getting close to her. The same goes for me." The stranger accuses Shen Xinghui of being a traitor, forgetting about his home. Shen Xinghui kills him; he "transforms into specks of light soon corroded by black particles. They dissolve into the cracks of the road." Shen Xinghui leaves, and the narration notes "Cleanup isn't necessary. No one would notice there being one less person of their kind. Besides, this city is riddled with filth."

The next scene brings Shen Xinghui to The Nest, where he tosses the bartender a blood-smeared, damaged protocore. The bartender notes that he always takes bounties but never rewards, and Shen Xinghui points out that he might be on the bounty list, too. He says he won't be coming to Hunting Day, and the bartender gives him a dark-colored envelope.

Shen Xinghui notes that "someone deliberately stirred up trouble in The Nest today. But he doesn't have the patience for it... There are three pairs (of eyes watching him.) It's likely his actions in the alley caught their attention. After all, birds of a feather flock together. If he makes his move here, he'll have another bounty on his head. He needs to be more careful in Linkon from now on." FMC walks into The Nest, and Shen Xinghui catches her by the arm and pulls her outside.*3

03: Luminous Veil: Now in Azure Square, FMC and Shen Xinghui have a chance to talk; FMC figures that Shen Xinghui's dodging of her questions means that something bigger is going on, but he turns the conversation toward her intentions to enter the N109 Zone. She thinks about how they've reached an understanding, in that neither of them asks the other any questions. Shen Xinghui points out that it's not the getting in, but the surviving/getting out that's going to be tricky, and tells FMC about the protocore auction. He explains that Onychinus is likely going to auction off a high-grade protocore to the highest bidder due to their earlier business transactions being ruined by Lumiere destroying a large number of protocores.

Before they can get any deeper into the conversation, FMC notices that a bunch of the patrol robots are hovering/watching them, and asks/tells Shen Xinghui that the people trying to capture him have decided to make a move. She notes to herself that they always find themselves in this kind of situation, and it's more likely a threat to Shen Xinghui than it is a coincidence. Shen Xinghui and FMC resonate to allow Shen Xinghui's Evol to destroy the patrol robots. They leave the scene.*4

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04: COMBAT

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05: Philo: Shen Xinghui and FMC show up at Jeremiah's flower shop, Philo, in a flash of light; he's startled enough to chastise Shen Xinghui until FMC peeks around his shoulder, at which point he freezes up. FMC doesn't know what to do with Jeremiah's surprise, while Shen Xinghui just reaches to water the laurel Jeremiah is holding, and tells FMC that "he's not young anymore, so he's a bit slow on the uptake now." Jeremiah starts to say 'long time no see'*5 but stops himself, and does something to the glass that makes them 'out of sight,' so they can talk. Jeremiah brings up the no-hunt zone, but Shen Xinghui explains that he needs an identity for FMC to get into the N109 Zone safely. Jeremiah agrees to help, and creates a false identity for FMC to take on once at the protore auction/inside the N109 Zone. Jeremiah tries to measure FMC for clothes; Shen Xinghui gives him a good shot with the spray bottle, and tells him she can do it herself.*6

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06: Unconventional Advice: While Jeremiah goes to start taking care of the details of the false identity, Shen Xinghui and FMC have a conversation about how exactly to act convincingly in front of the people she'll be trying to deceive. FMC points out that there's no way this was a spur of the moment thing, and that Jeremiah is too helpful, and wonders why Jeremiah isn't helping Shen Xinghui, instead. He reminds her that he's 'just a normal Deepspace Hunter,' and what follows is a demonstration of all the things Shen Xinghui is telling her; she's too polite, she needs to believe she's always right, and that she shouldn't "provoke people who have yet to show their hand."*7 Jeremiah comes back then immediately leaves after glancing over them, claiming he entered the wrong room.

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07: Stellar Guidance: Jeremiah gives FMC a box of supplies to aid her in her deception; she's curious about who he is, given how quickly he put all of this together, and how sincere he is about being glad to help her, despite never thinking he would be able to do so. Shen Xinghui inserts himself between the two of them, and FMC heads home, since Shen Xinghui "(has) plans today." Before he goes, he gives FMC a transmitter presumably pierced into her ear; "Even if you're somewhere in the N109 Zone with no signal, we can still track your location." He also gives her an inhibitor (which will make her "temporarily immune to 98.7% of neurotoxins") and a self-defense needle. FMC asks if he has a magic pocket or something, and Shen Xinghui gives her a bouquet of flowers ("They just happened to blossom. So, I sincerely hope you'll accept them.")

After FMC leaves Philo, Jeremiah and Shen Xinghui talk. Jeremiah wants to know if Shen Xinghui managed to stay calm when he saw her the first time, and if he really doesn't care about the Nonintervention Principle. Shen Xinghui points out that some have already stopped caring about it, or else many of the bad things happening wouldn't have happened in the first place. He also notes that the N109 Zone will be safer than Linkon in a few days.

Jeremiah says he can't remember all the faces of the Backtrackers, and agrees that the Nonintervention Principle is useless "for (those) whose presence here was always a mistake... And mistakes are bound to be corrected sooner or later. Maybe we're slowly being erased as we speak." Shen Xinghui asks about the condition of the Traceback 2, and Jeremiah wonders if there's even anyone on the other side of the Deepspace Tunnel who could respond to them. Shen Xinghui promises that Jeremiah will return, while Jeremiah points out that "having Evol doesn't make you invincible... And you're... This isn't Philos. And we, you know, aren't truly immortal. Our kind, I mean."

This passage closes out the section:

08: COMBAT (Challenge)

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09: Into Deep*8: FMC takes in the information that she's learned from Li Shen (that Onychinus may already have protocores in their possession,) advice from Shen Xinghui (that a powerful reputation will keep people from messing with you,) and Qi Yu (that her best bet for getting what she wants is to make herself the bait) and decides she's ready to go. She calls Qi Yu and tells him to "meet (her) at The Nest. Show (her) how to fish."*9

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Qi Yu does meet FMC; he walks her through the process of 'setting up a deal.' He stops her just before she completes the last step, reminding her that if the deal "doesn't go smoothly, (she) will be the payment, instead." FMC decides the risk is worth the reward and finishes the transaction. Qi Yu walks away, saying "Since you've made up your mind, I won't stop you. I hope you find the answer you seek."

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10: Trap: It's Hunting Day at The Nest, and FMC is the target. The red eye is back, this time as a physical object; FMC is injected with C-003 neurotoxin, and falls unconscious. Up in a side room Qi Yu speaks with an unknown man*10 about how the situation is getting more dangerous; Qi Yu points out that things are still up in the air, and asks for/is given a small black box. When asked if he's "fine with handling over a fresh catch just like that," he asks, "Do you really think they can handle the prey I caught?"

There is then an ending sequence showing the (presumed) locations of Shen Xinghui, Li Shen, and Qi Yu; at Traceback 2, in the Arctic, and in front of/disappearing from the large painting in his studio. The text reads as follows:

Traceback 2 will reach the edge of the Deepspace Tunnel's umbra within one day.

Our journey through the Deepspace Tunnel begins.

Destination is in the Orion arm of the Milky Way--

Once the home of humanity: Earth.

Activating Course Correction Engine.

The final countdown has been initiated...

When P0159's light shines through the Deepspace Tunnel, illuminating Linkon Tower's pinnacle... The closest we've been to it in last 4.6 billion years.

This galaxy's name is derived from the Greek word, "philo." It is the most exquisite gem in Deepspace.

Philos.*11

Humanity remains shackled to time.

Fortunately, there are other lives in this boundless (unreadable)

Tonight's weather, clear sky with winds around 7 miles/hour.

Everything is serene inside the Deepspace Tunnel.

Goodnight, Linkon City.

May you rest in the Milky Way's embrace, drifting in a realm of long and happy dreams.

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*1, Bar none, this is still the best thing I've ever seen. I also enjoy the implication that Qi Yu can talk to ALL animals, not just fish/oceanic creatures.

*2, Obviously, Qi Yu knows more than he lets on, as we find out later in World Underneath: Long Lost Treasures.

*3, This entire section is heavy on the Shen Xinghui lore, and seems to be painting him in the role of the classic, amoral bounty hunter. The fact that his supposed ex-companion dissipates the same way Wanderers do (in a fizzle like Metaflux) is interesting; even more interesting is that Shen Xinghui has absolutely no hesitation in killing him. Isaiah is mentioned; he has his own tag, seen below. With all of these clues, we can safely extrapolate that Shen Xinghui just killed someone who was on the same mission as he was aboard the Traceback 2, and that his physical state was deteriorating for as-of-now unknown reasons.

*4, Worth noting that at the beginning, a newscaster talks about how the Deepspace Aviation Administration found traces of organisms that once lived on P0159.

*5, Connections to life before the Traceback 2 mission, see Shen Xinghui: Myth: ()

*6, See above, with specific attention to Shen Xinghui's canon jealousy/possessiveness/abandonment issues.

*7, Refer back to *3, and the general understanding that Shen Xinghui never reveals his cards until he's absolutely sure he's on the same page as the person he's with. The FMC also mentions the feeling of danger and weight; that she is not in control of the situation despite being the one standing up.

*8, I love that this can be taken as 'into deep,' as in 'into a deep place' or 'in too deep,' as in, 'in over your head.' I feel like both interpretations work.

*9, This occurs the day after Shen Xinghui pulls her out of The Nest.

*10, He is wearing this crest, is, in fact, the EVER Group symbol.

*11, In case any of us were wondering, 'philos' is in fact the ancient Greek word for love.

[lndslorepuzzler]

Under Deepspace 02: The First Mission, pt 01-13

01: In UNICORNS: After a night of bad sleep, FMC is given a Draumril by an OTTO-CSE unit. She heads up to the Alpha Team offices where she meets Nero, a man who appears to be extremely knowledgeable about Wanderers.*1 She draws the eye from last night, but he doesn't recognize it. Jenna tells Nero to head back to Data Analytics, and that if he's going to insist on hiding in this office, he should get a transfer. Jenna gives FMC an assignment, and a motorcycle to use to get there (270HM.)

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02: Close Encounter:*2 FMC is given a mission to check for Wanderers in the home of Mr. Raymond, the client's (Henry's) employer, who has been exhibiting "abnormal behavior." On the way, she meets Li Shen; his car has broken down, and he was on his way to Raymond's place to check on him as a doctor; Raymond is a former patient with congenital heart disease. Li Shen isn't keen on getting on the motorcycle, but does so. FMC teases him about it the entire time. They arrive at Raymond's house and enter to the sight of an "odd skeleton"*3 in a tank in the center of the room. Li Shen heads up to Raymond's 'collection room.'

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03: Powder Keg: FMC finds the skeleton to be suspicious, but there's nothing outstandingly strange about it. She accidentally overhears Li Shen and Raymond talking through the door: it is implied that there is a very known/distinct reason for Raymond's continued improving vital signs. He says that Li Shen's colleague (presumably Carter) praised him, and that Xander Sciences would provide him with the best accommodations, including the best treatment. Li Shen is uninterested in anything he has to say. Li Shen speaks to the FMC, who observes that his hand is covered in faint, countless scars. She teases him and promises to never be late to another appointment, when a ripple of Metaflux disrupts them; its resonance trail leads straight into the collection room, where Raymond is unconscious on the floor. Li Shen and FMC confront the Wanderer.

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04: COMBAT

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05: Artsy Dreams: Li Shen calls for immediate evacuation for Raymond. FMC makes note of the Wanderer (Intelligentia, Threat Level B, no protocore) observes the oil painting on the wall: an image of a "brilliantly blue sea with cascading white waves... at the edge of the sea, the water is gradually stained crimson like something is being torn apart, swallowed, and coalescing into a blood clot." She experiences a hallucination of a girl by the shore, her lower body submerged in the water. Li Shen uses a frozen cup to snap her out of it. She suspects that the painting was infused with Metaflux, and may also have been the Wanderer's hiding place. Li Shen goes with Raymond to the hospital, FMC arranges for the painting to be taken back to UNICORNS headquarters for analysis.

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06: Next Target: Upon heading back to HQ, FMC finds out that the painting was sold by Thomas from Flux Arts, and that the artist is Qi Yu, whom she has already met ("He's that rambling weirdo with the fish?!") She notes that the photo of him is very different from the person she met. Arrangements are made for her to meet with Thomas; while waiting, she walks around the empty, silent gallery, and is told about Ebb Day/Day of Ebbing by an AI of Qi Yu.

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07: Heard About It: The AI leads FMC around the gallery, and is shown a hologram version of the painting Raymond purchased. The AI explains that the inspiration/story for the painting was a dream: "I dreamed I turned into a fish. I swam and swam and swam from the deep sea, seeking a place beyond the water's surface. Only to end up in blood-red seawater. It was the first time I ever saw such a color. Who knows how many years I've spent trying to recreate it. But I never really could get that same shade of red."

FMC meets Thomas; she explains that she's not accusing Qi Yu of anything, but since the Wanderer could have been anywhere between point A (the studio) and point B (Raymond's home,) precautions need to be taken. Thomas notes he had to nag Qi Yu to get him to sell the painting, and that more than a dozen people have been in contact with the painting. It's noted that Qi Yu is exceptionally difficult to work with. FMC notices some coral stones that have faint Metaflux fluctuations, and asks to take one with her when she meets Qi Yu. Thomas tells her where to go ("His memory is nonexistent, so the door's open. You can just walk right in.")

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08: Studio Encounter: FMC arrives at Mo Art Studio and meets Qi Yu. He recognizes her, and appears to be alarmed at her presence. There is a quicktime event to see if she catches him, or gets out of his way when he falls off the ladder he's sitting on.

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09: Coral Stone Mystery: Qi Yu and FMC converse; she notes he's more talkative than any interviews would lead a person to believe. He points out that she's not there to check on the fish, and that while he heard some strange noises while painting, he didn't see any Wanderers ("I'm not an animal that can use my ears to locate some prey.") He's also annoyed that Thomas sent her, and gave her the coral stone he uses to refine for pigment, and informs her he's only used it for one painting.

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10: Fiery Blood: FMC concludes that Qi Yu knew about Raymond's erratic behavior, that it is connected to Qi Yu in some way, and if he's not going to tell the truth, it won't just be her coming to see him next time. Qi Yu is annoyed, and summons his dagger. He cuts his finger, lets a drop of blood fall on the coral stone in her hand, and both of them watch as it conjures an illusion. A Wanderer appears right after. *4

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11: COMBAT

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12: Unfair Deal: FMC notes that the Metaflux in the stone is stronger, possibly because of Qi Yu's blood. She asks where he got the coral stone, and he dodges the question, claiming he might have bartered with Sardinian locals or suchlike; explaining that unless she acts as his bodyguard until he finds a replacement for it, he won't give her the little sample book. *5 FMC decides to do it, and Qi Yu says he will let her know the time and place, and that '(his) safety is in her hands.'

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13: In Hot Pursuit: On the train, FMC is told that a stele was found at the abandoned base where she met Shen XInghui, despite the fact that the base specialized in researching protocores. A Wanderer attacks the train. At a vending machine nearby, Shen Xinghui waits for an energy drink while getting a directive from Jenna: "Go help out your new teammate. We didn't expect things to escalate so quickly." When she tells him she'll send over his teammates info, Shen Xinghui tells her not to bother, because they've already met before. Jenna tells him to protect her; Shen Xinghui says, "She doesn't need protection."

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*1, Think Dr. Newton Geiszler from Pacific Rim; that's the vibe. *2, This event occurs 2 days after her check-in with Li Shen. *3, See post Bouquets and Dirges. *4, It's reasonable to extrapolate that Qi Yu's blood is what caused the Wanderer to appear; see Moonlight Under Sea, pt9. *5, This is the part where he claims he can't lift a paintbrush. With his left hand. When he's shown to be right-handed.