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Under Deepspace 07: Moonlight Under Sea, pt 1-11

01: Investigation: Using the high-level access, FMC manages to find a news article from two years ago; a man shot and killed in his apartment, with no evidence about anything. After listening to the recording*1 and viewing the video, she gets an offer to take a bounty: the bounty on Qi Yu's head.

02: Canvas Enigmas: FMC heads to Qi Yu's place, where she finds him on the floor. Luckily he's not dead, only asleep. All over the floor are sketches, each labeled with 'Lemuria.' When Qi Yu wakes up, he asked FMC to help him up; if she chooses to, Qi Yu yanks her to the floor, and they go out to eat. While at lunch with Qi Yu, FMC lets him know there's a bounty on his head in/from the N109 Zone, which he is already aware of.*2 He also notes that someone has been following them, and the two of them make plans to give the pursuer the slip.

03: Secret Tracking: As it turns out, their follower is a reporter, looking for gossip re: Qi Yu's possible involvement in Raymond's death by drowning, as his painting vanished from Raymond's room without anyone else being in or out. There were also rumors that Raymond had cut up the skin of his arms and legs to look like fish scales. After some sufficient threatening, Qi Yu lets the reporter go with the suggestion that he make up for his reckless behavior by finding out who exactly has been spreading the rumors/trying to cover up information in the first place.

04: Under the Waves: FMC and Qi Yu have a quiet moment in a sky garden; Qi Yu mentions that he daydreams in his studio all the time, and has difficulty remembering what the real world is actually like. He thanks FMC for "bringing (him) out of his dreams today." When FMC begins to leave, Qi Yu reminds her that they still haven't gone to find a replacement for the coral stones for his paintings. FMC is less than enthused, until Qi Yu offers his help to get her into N109. He says, "when you see the big picture, you need to use some bait... Trade intel for intel, gamble to make gambles with higher stakes. But whether or not you can play the game is up to you." He tells her that if she decides she wants to go through with it, she can meet him at Whitesand Bay the next day. She goes, of course; as it turns out, and according to Thomas, Qi Yu has rented a rowboat "for a date."

05: Set Sail: Qi Yu and FMC head for Hat Island*3 while conversing about how Qi Yu is going to try and obtain a protocore to make paint. There's some exasperated banter, and just after making a comment about how he'd rather swim, the trip is interrupted by a very sudden incoming wave. The two of them arrive at Hat Island somewhat worse for wear. Interestingly, FMC says she's the reason they made it to shore in the first place, while Qi Yu announces that "(he'd) rather float in the sea than be on land."

06: Spring Excursion: On the island, FMC explains field trips to Qi Yu, and he suggests that FMC resonate with the coral to see if she can pick up any Metaflux fluctuations; he stops her from accidentally breaking it, and assists her in resonating; he says, "Everything in this world has a unique, unmatchable frequency. That's why each life is isolated. But your Evol allows you to change your frequency. You can resonate with others. If you open your heart, you can establish a connection. And share your power."*4 It works, which visibly startles Qi Yu, and some Wanderers show themselves.

07: COMBAT

08: Weak Fiends: Qi Yu gives FMC the protocore they obtained. FMC is surprised that her resonating with the coral had any effect at all; she and Qi Yu decide to camp for the night. A cat with a metaflux injury makes itself known. Qi Yu is extremely upset about it.

09: Withstanding the Storm: FMC drags Qi Yu to find the cat, which scratches him. Almost immediately, a 'Deluge Wyrmlord' arrives. It attacks, and Qi Yu splits the water with his Evol. He says, "Guess you like my blood a lot more, huh? Sorry to break it to you, but my fire can never be extinguished."*5

10: COMBAT

11: Indomitable Spirit: After defeating the Wanderer, FMC and QI Yu are dragged out into the ocean; seeing Qi Yu in the water, FMC tries to head toward him. After a brief exchange (and a flashback scene where Qi Yu says, "It's settled then. If you don't return, I'll... I'll chase you to the ends of the Earth.") FMC starts to sink, and Qi Yu is going to let her. He only hesitates because he 'hears' FMC ask him not to go. A little red fish appears over his heart. He reaches her, and says, "You forgot everything. Yet, you still insist... All right... This is your choice." His eyes flash completely blue, instead of their usual blue-pink, and we are given a glimpse of his 'real' Lemurian body as he heads towards the surface.

*1, In hindsight, we will recognize this voice as Qin Che. It's likely that the two people with him are Luke and Kieran. *2, See World Underneath: Long Lost Treasures. *3, The MERMAN is taking his (probably) Long Lost Love out on a goddamn ROWBOAT. Just so we're all on the same page. *4, I believe this is the cleanest explanation of what exactly FMC's Evol is truly capable of, so far. *5, It can be universally agreed that it's a bit strange for the mermaid to have fire Evol, though that doesn't explain why the Wanderer appears after Qi Yu's blood, specifically. There may be some background lore happening there; also, I'm not entirely sure the English translation is 100% accurate.

#ref: user23412 #ref: qi yu #ref: raymond #ref: lemuria #ref: qin che #ref: n109 zone #ref: thomas #ref: hat island #ref: whitesand bay #ref: wanderer: deluge wyrmlord #ref: qi yu's evol #ref: fmc's evol #ref: mermaid qi yu

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.)

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.'

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.

04: COMBAT

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.

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.

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.")

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.

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.

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

11: COMBAT

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.'

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."

*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.