AvaldoniaBoard

"Nowhere." A voice speaks through the dark. Michelle replies, "You... You're that hooded figure, right?" Michelle can barely make out the figure. It replies, "You already got my name, Michelle." Of course. Michelle responds, "Tom. So you're Alans son, huh?" Tom nods, his ghostly figure wispy through a transparent fog in the void they're standing in. "I'm the link between your dimensions," Tom explains, "I choose. I choose who lives and dies, just like you did." What? Michelle didn't choose anything on life and death. Well, recently at least. Being a Leader is surprisingly quite an action-packed adventure. Michelle shakes her head, "What do you mean?" Tom shouts in reply, "You know what I mean! Everything you did in the capital? The cruelty of the camps? The zones you left me and Daisy to die?" Michelle argues, "I didn't order that! Director Alans, your father, was given control of containment procedures from the moment that city went into lockdown. I only ever recommended a change rather than the shelter-in-place so citizens could leave. I could've never known your father's true intentions for those camps, and I'm sorry." Tom breathes shakily, shaking his head, "No. My father would never! Just... just go!" And Michelle is swept away...

GASP! Back to the "Stranded" universe. Michelle's hand rises through the snow as she pushes herself to the surface. The plane, their shelter, is almost completely filled with snow, only leaving room on the ceiling. Everyone else shouts, some rising from the surface, others shouting for help from under the snow. "Somebody! Help Anna!" Maya yells, half submerged, "Don't step on her!" Michelle rises, along with Ivan. "Michelle!" Ivan yells, "Go, go help Anna! I'm going to get Andrew and Ernest!" Michelle crawls over to Maya as Ivan goes to where Ernest and Andrew seem to be shouting. Maya digs around, screaming for Anna. "Maya, Maya please work with me!" Michelle says through her shivering, but Maya is hysterical. "GET ANNA OUT!" Maya screams, possibly delirious from injury, the cold, or both. Regardless, Michelle digs. Her hands sting, but she continues digging. And digging... Then... Anna. But she's... Maya shouts louder, "Anna? ANNA!? WAKE UP!" Michelle closes her eyes...

Michelle reverts to the "Landed" universe... Ivan walks off stage, finishing a celebration song of some sort..? "🎶We'll teach the world to love... My dead gay SOOOON!🎶" ...What did Michelle miss? The crowd claps in relief as Ivan runs off the stage with his Scientific Advancement Peace Award. Harrison leans to Michelle, "Are... you crying?" Michelle touches her face, tears spilling from the ongoing events in the "Stranded" dimension. Harrison continues, "Well, I guess I can't blame you after that ear-shattering song..." Michelle looks back to the stage, and Anna and Maya are already up there to receive the Medical Advancement award. Anna shakes hands with Duchess Anna, the very woman she's named after, before speaking on the pedestal, "Even though the trip here started a bit odd... May pilots Erin Walker and Ian Kinley rest in peace... Me and my fiancée are so grateful to still be here today for this award. After discovering Eko, and fighting for the antiserum to the very same virus, we have come a long way..." The pilots... Michelle remembers them dying right after they died in the Stranded dimension. Tom said he was a link... If Anna died, could that mean... Michelle stands as she realizes. Anna and Maya complete their speech by the time Michelle is rushing down the aisle, to backstage where they're headed. Michelle enters the backstage area, shouting, "Anna, Maya!" The two turn around and stop walking just in time... An overhead ceiling fan disconnects and falls directly where Anna would've been had Michelle not stopped them... That confirms it for Michelle.

Michelle pushes the two towards the exit, "We need to go somewhere safe, now!" Anna and Maya stop Michelle, Anna yelling, "What is going on!? Is this to do with your multiverse nonsense?" Michelle sighs, "Yes! Look, the worlds I'm in are linked. You died in the alternate dimension..." Michelle gestures to Anna, "And now you're in danger here too! Just like with the pilots!" Maya gives Michelle a sympathetic look, holding Michelle's shoulders, "Okay, just slow down. Explain." But Michelle's head is hurting too much. Next thing she knows, it's back to the "Stranded" universe... "Where's Ernest and Judy!?" Ivan shouts, returning to the snow-filled wreckage with Andrew and Harrison. Michelle looks back, seeing Maya holding Anna's lifeless body. Ivan can only look for a moment, "We need to look outside. Harrison, Andrew, start clearing out the snow. We should leave Maya be for now..." Michelle hesitates for a moment before following Ivan outside the wreck. They search through the frigid blizzard before Ivan shouts, "Here!" They dig up Judy, who's still alive. Michelle sends her back in to start clearing out the snow. They then pull out Ernest, who's in much worse shape. They're unconscious, shivering so violently that they almost look to be convulsing. Michelle notices Ernest's hands and lips. They're black and blue. Ivan simply mutters, "Frostbite..."

The group clears out the snow from the wreckage, the blizzard outside clearing as the mountains enter night. Anna's body is laid on a luggage rack at the front of the plane, with Ernest being placed nearby as they fight for survival. But it won't last long... Maya, who's calmed slightly from Anna's death, inspects Ernest. She speaks, "Severe frostbite and possibly pneumonia. They're not going to last the night..." The group silently takes that in. Two lost in one day... Ernest is too weak to speak, but is just strong enough to write out his last words on a notepad. The note is passed around, finally reaching Michelle: "Coming home is terrible, whether the dogs licked my face or not. Whether I had a wife, or just a wife-shaped loneliness awaiting me. Coming home was always terribly lonely for me, but you guys made that feel less so. I've never had much of a family, but you guys are the closest I ever got. Survive. Take Judy's hike toward the city of Azzule. Eat my body if you must. Don't let us die in vain. Fight open mouth, open heart." Ernest would soon take his last breath. Judy would put her foot down, announcing to everyone before bed: "Tomorrow, I'm hiking east toward Azzule. Come if you want, I don't care if I go alone." And the survivors rest...

Michelle returns to the "Landed" universe, everyone's now outside of the venue's back entrance. They seem to be... arguing. "Michelle would never lie about this, I've gone through it too!" Harrison yells to Maya, disbelieving of Michelle's story in the "Stranded" universe. Ernest and Andrew mostly stand aside, holding their National Protector Peace Awards. Eventually, Anna shouts over everyone. "Enough! All of you. I'm not going to let the death of me in a seperate dimension rule my life here!" Anna steps away from the group, further down the sidewalk, where there seems to be an outdoor cafe. "I died in that world, but here, I lived! We should just... Get over it." Anna turns on her heel. Suddenly... CRACK! The outdoor cafe's neon sign disconnects from the roof, swinging down right toward Anna. "Anna!" Michelle screams, but there's little time to react... Ernest pushes Anna to the ground as the sign swings overhead, saving her. Ernest stands back up, and Anna sits back up slightly before looking behind Ernest in terror. Andrew and Ivan shouted something Ernest couldn't quite make out. But as Ernest turns around... The sign swings back at him. CRASH!

to be continued...

An hour of dreadful waiting later, a doctor comes out from Ernest's room. "Despite all our efforts... Leader Kensington, Crown Emperor Ivan, everyone else... I'm afraid to say your friend Ernest has died. They failed to respond to our treatments, the injuries were simply too dire." Andrew is the first to speak, "But I was just with Ernest... He can't be, no, you're lying! Let me talk to them!" The doctor raises his hands calmly, "Denial is a normal part of grief, so I'll send in a counselor to help you all along..." Andrew reluctantly sits back down as the doctor continues, "Did Ernest have any final wishes? Perhaps a will? Are there any family members of theirs to reach out to?" No, there isn't. There's only them. Ernest is gone from both dimensions... It was just too late. She needs to do something, avenge Ernest! It'll start with the "Stranded" group's hike toward Azzule. It's their last chance. Michelle closes her eyes, returning to the "Stranded" realm. Michelle volunteers herself to join Judy's expedition to civilization first thing in the morning. Harrison joins as well. They decide that if they'll die, they'll die fighting.

Before they leave for the expedition, Michelle sits with this universe's widowed Maya by the side of the crashed plane. "Hard to believe it's been 4 days since we went down..." Maya mutters. "Yeah... It's just..." Michelle tries to collect her words, "Why, you know? Why did any of this have to happen at all? What's the point, our purpose in this?" Maya looks Michelle up and down, responding, "When that avalanche happened yesterday, I was trapped in the snow in such a way that I was basically standing on Anna. If I tried to push myself up, Anna would only get pushed deeper. There was nothing I could do. There was no purpose to her death, or anyone's. You can live with purpose, but you can't die with it..." Maya continues, "Last night, I dreamed of a hooded man. His name was Tom, said he'd lost someone of his own. He tried to sell me on the idea that if I "murdered the woman with all the blood on her hands, then all the souls she damned would be set free from the lie of it all." I asked what the "lie of it all" was, and he said: "That things get better, that clouds have a silver lining, that there's a plan for us all..." He went on, but I knew he was full of it when he said "...That we have a purpose." Do you know why? Because my purpose now, even with Anna gone, is to give all the love that I had for her to my family when we make it out of here. I told the figure that, told him to take his clowning back to the circus, and he left without a word. He seemed to think about my words before he'd left though. Weird dream, but it did teach me." Maya concludes. Michelle wipes her eyes of tears before they can escape, simply nodding to Maya. Judy and Harrison await Michelle, and so she leaves, clinging to every one of Maya's words.

For the next few days, Michelle is between the two universes. In "Stranded", she fights against the cold and nature itself to get closer to Azzule. In "Landed", Michelle can't help but notice that Anna seems to no longer be in danger, despite the link between the dimensions. Could Tom have listened to Maya during that visit to her? Michelle got her answer on the final night of the expedition... "Hello." Tom whispers through Michelle's dreams once more, almost sounding... Friendly? "What do you want to say?" Michelle asks, the figure remaining distant in the void. "Your friend Maya put things in better perspective. The events of the camp... They really weren't you?" Michelle shakes her head, "No. As hard as it may be, it was your father, Ken Alans. Did you learn about the 1979 Epidemic Preparedness Act in class?" Things click further for Tom as he replies, "Oh... Yeah. After the 1978 Maxtopian Pox, for Leader protection during an infectious disease emergency, all duties of containment protocol and press involvement were to be delegated to the Health Board Director rather than the Leader." Tom says, as though reciting something from a history book. "And Alans was the Director. I'm sorry he couldn't accept your relationship with Daisy." Tom laughs, "When he called me to leave the city on Lockdown Day, I thought he was trying to tear us apart. He'd tried it before." Michelle smiles, despite the tense air. "At least we can smile now." Michelle adds, Tom nodding, "The truth is just hard to accept and smile at, I suppose." Michelle pauses, simply stating: "Keep trying. The truth will set you free, Tom." Tom laughs again, taking his hood off of his head... Michelle awakens under a pile of snow. There was a blizzard last night, the three's only protection being their many coats and garments, and a massive tarp for use as a blanket. It's still a wonder how they don't have frostbite. The three continue hiking, the snowy mountains visibly becoming grassier as they move along. Eventually, they find a river of fresh water.

Judy and Michelle immediately drink from the stream. It's the best water they've had. They didn't even know they took water for granted. It's been at least 4 days since they left for the expedition. 8 Days since the crash. They're far from the wreckage now. But with the week up, shouldn't search parties be starting to look for them? Harrison speaks, his voice astonished at something. "Guys..." Michelle and Judy turn. Across the stream... A searcher on horseback. They're saved...

"In loving memory of everyone lost in the Amaxon City quarantine. Thank you for your support of #NeverAgain. Fight open mouth, open heart." The movie rolls credits as Harrison and Michelle turn off their television. "That was Lockdown... Did not disappoint." Michelle says, astonished at the movie before them. It's been a month since "the split" by now. "I liked my lookalike guy during the announcement scene. Such realistic portrayals of everything, too..." The camp scenes were too much for Michelle to bear, especially the stadium scene. Michelle tries to push the sadness away, "Anna's role was also neat. I was glad to see her face her fears and play as herself, even if it meant reliving the events." Harrison replies, "Everyone's role was neat. Such a great movie! Judy's gonna win so many awards for sure." Michelle smiles. The two prepare for bed while Michelle thinks...

It was late, but Michelle couldn't wait. In the garden of the Lexxonian Palace's honorary military graveyard, she visits Ernest's grave once more. Michelle can only wonder how Tom might be doing, how everyone in the "Stranded" universe is doing... But deep down, Michelle knows they'll be okay. Once back inside the Palace, Michelle finds herself unable to sleep. Bored, hyperactive, and with nothing else to do, Michelle opens her laptop and creates a document.

"A LexFlix Screenplay - The Mountain Society."

Following the recent collapse of the second government of Great Britain, the Lovlincian government announced today the establishment of the semi-autonomous region encompassing the island of Great Britain and the Isle of Man. This decision comes after the tumultuous history of Great Britain, namely, the Conutoan War which caused the first governmental collapse in Great Britain and the ensuing state of anarchy, and the collapse of its second government due to various factors. The war left Great Britain with heavily damaged infrastructure, a demoralized populace and the old political system completely broken down. The second fragile government limped along for 2 years, with efforts to address the nation's damaged infrastructure and political instability, before returning Great Britain to anarchy.

Due to these developments, Lovlincy has stepped in, the government of which reasoned a humanitarian imperative and a desire to prevent further destabilization for why Lovlincy dispatched peacekeeping forces and provided general aid to Great Britain following the collapse of its second government. Lovlincy went on to establish a new government subordinate to Anarmosstan, incorporating Great Britain as a semi-autonomous region of Lovlincy. With this intervention, Lovlincy would essentially act as a caretaker, providing security, infrastructure rebuilding, and a path to eventual prosperity for the war-torn region under the umbrella of a stable, secure democracy. The House of Windsor, a royal family of Great Britain, are to be granted status as a sub-national ceremonial monarchy.

The intervention has been met with mixed reactions in both Lovlincy and Great Britain. Generally, Lovlincians agree with their government's support for Great Britain although they express concerns about the cost and potential security risks associated with such a large undertaking. In Great Britain, its people, who are weary of conflict and desperate for stability, have expressed light optimism for Lovlincian rule as a promise of restoration, however, some express concerns about the loss of Great Britain's nationhood.

The details of the new arrangement are still being finalized. Lovlincy has promised a high degree of autonomy, with a locally elected parliament managing regional affairs. An independence referendum for Great Britain can be held when Great Britain is deemed to be able to stand on its own and when the governor of Great Britain believes that a majority of voters in Great Britain would support independence in the referendum. All said and done, Great Britain is from today onwards a territory of the Grand Queen!

February 14th, Empress Augusta signs the Emergency Powers Act. Giving Her (or in the event she cannot take the helm, Emperor Ivan) the power to declare a national emergency and seize complete control of the nation. Empress Augusta also establishes the Orleanian Administration of Meteorology and Astronomy (OAMA), given the aim to create weather outlooks and investigate space.

February 20: OAMA (look above) establishes the Severe Weather Risk Format, with the levels Marginal-Slight-Enhanced-Moderate-High-Extreme. Colorado State University begins compiling Hurricane Season Outlook.

February 14th, Empress Augusta signs the Emergency Powers Act. Giving Her (or in the event she cannot take the helm, Emperor Ivan) the power to declare a national emergency and seize complete control of the nation. Empress Augusta also establishes the Orleanian Administration of Meteorology and Astronomy (OAMA), given the aim to create weather outlooks and investigate space.

February 20: OAMA (look above) establishes the Severe Weather Risk Format, with the levels Marginal-Slight-Enhanced-Moderate-High-Extreme. Colorado State University begins compiling Hurricane Season Outlook.