Chrono Helix (script)

[mav]

In other news, I keep getting distracted from working on the script, but I should
finally be having Magus meet Kid tonight.

As in you'll have it posted or completely written? Or both?

[alfadorredux]

As in, I left off just before that the last time I was working on it. However, it's possible that I might finish the segment tonight--I'm really just re-writing an early draft, with ~150 more lines to go over--and if that's the case, I'll be posting tomorrow. (Basically, I have at least something for all of the Magus-branch scenes up to the meeting with Harle in the Temporal Vortex tower. It's after that that things are going to get scary.)

[alfadorredux]

Well, here it is--Magus' long-awaited first appearance in Chrono Helix, and
the first portion of the script written nearly entirely from scratch. Hopefully I
didn't mess anything up too badly. Stage directions are of necessity rather more
complete here than in previous chapters.

Sorry I'm late, since Thursday isn't early in the week by even the most optimistic of definitions.


9a. Guldove - Magus/Guile Branch

Max recruits: Serge, Leena, Guile. (Kid is temporarily out of the party until the
      end of this segment, and this branch is not available unless Guile was the
      Viper Manor guide.)
Recruitable: Kid, Magus.

=================================================
Inner Room, Doctor's House, Guldove (Another)
=================================================

Guile:
   If transportation is the only
   problem, there may be a way.

[Everyone turns and looks at him.]

Guile:
   I may be able to get something
   brought here from the 
   continent within a few hours.

Serge:
   You can?!

Guile:
   So long as the item is no
   larger than a man can easily
   carry, it is possible.
   However, my success will
   depend on how effectively I
   can grovel. Now, if you will
   excuse me, some preparations
   are required...

[Guile leaves the doctor's hut]

Leena:                      | Korcha:
   I hope he's telling the  |    Ya think he can 
   truth... Not that I LIKE |    really do it?
   Kid all that much, but   |
   seeing her die like this |
   would just be...wrong.   |

Serge:
   So far, Guile's always
   delivered on his promises.
   I think we can trust him.
   (Although I do wonder what
   grovelling has to do with
   anything... Who--or WHAT--
   is he going to ask for help,
   and why did he dodge out
   without talking about it?)

[Picture fades out.]

=================================================
Outer Room, Doctor's House, Guldove (Another)
=================================================

[Picture fades back in. Doc is sitting on the stool in
the corner, and Korcha is tapping his foot impatiently.
Serge is standing in the foreground with his arms folded,
staring at the floor.]

Doc:
   Your friend's been gone for a 
   long time, hasn't he.

Serge:
   Maybe we should go look for 
   him. (I just hope he hasn't 
   been eaten by whatever he
   was going to grovel to...)

[But before anyone can leave, Guile enters the room.]

Korcha:
   Didja get it?  What took ya so
   long?

Guile:
   ...

???:
   Even on the continent, it 
   takes a few hours to find a 
   hydra and extract its Humour.

[Magus enters behind Guile. He still looks very much like he did in his
CT days, right down to the cape and the pointed ears.]

[Magus]
   If he'd asked anyone else for
   help, you'd still be waiting.

[Magus tosses the bottle of Hydra Humour to Doc with apparent negligence.]

Korcha:
   Whoa!  Can't ya be more 
   careful with that?  Who the 
   hell are ya, anyway?

Magus:
   Call me Magus.

[Doc examines the bottle]

Doc:
   Yes... YES! 
   This is the real thing. 
   Looks like I've got 
   work to do.

[He leaves with the bottle.]

Magus:
   Hmph.

Guile:
   Will you be going back right
   away?

Magus:
   If you're afraid that I'm 
   going to take you up on that 
   ill-thought-out offer of 
   perpetual slavery...don't 
   worry. I don't enjoy your 
   company that much. No, I'm 
   not going back right away. 
   After spending most of the 
   afternoon tracking that 
   damned hydra for you and 
   then teleporting all the 
   way here from that 
   misbegotten swamp in 
   southern Porre, I think I 
   deserve a decent meal and 
   a little rest.

[He takes a step back toward the door, then pauses and glances back
over his shoulder.]

Magus:
   And don't forget, Guile: you
   OWE me for this.

[He leaves.]

Leena:                            | Korcha:
   His manners are even worse     |   What a prick! Why'd'ya let him
   than a certain other           |   talk to you that way?!
   person's...                    |

Serge:
   (Never mind his manners--I
   couldn't even open my mouth
   while he was here! It was 
   like the entire room suddenly
   got really cold... Wait a
   minute--MAGUS?! Wasn't that
   the name of some legendary evil
   sorcerer up on the continent?
   I'd swear those stories are
   really old, though--maybe
   he just decided he liked the
   name...? I could believe he
   was evil, though. Whew.)

   Um, Guile, who was that man,
   exactly?

Guile:
   ...He is the greatest mystery
   I have ever encountered.

Serge:
   (Just what we need--more 
   mysteries... Can't say that,
   though, or Guile will sulk.)

   What do you mean?

Guile:
   Ten years ago, when I was new
   to the wandering life, I met
   him under the eaves of a 
   forest not far from Porre: a 
   highly-trained mage who could
   remember nothing of his past,
   not even his own name. All
   he knew was that he was 
   looking for something. And so
   it remains, even to this day.

Serge:
   (Poor bastard... Somehow, I
   don't think pitying him would
   be safe, though.)

   And you've been hanging out
   with him since then? He doesn't
   seem like the easiest guy to
   make friends with.

Guile:
   He can be difficult, yes.
   Nor would I claim that he
   is exactly a friend. But
   I have found, from time to
   time, that he is a useful
   person to know.

[Doc re-enters]

Serge:
   You used the Humour? Is Kid
   okay?

Doc:
   Yes, she has passed the critical
   period. There are no signs of
   complications from the poison.
   The girl has held up well,
   but only thanks to that man...

Doc:
   You, with the red bandana,
   you are Serge, correct?

Serge:
   Yeah, that's me.

Doc:
   She would like to speak with you.
   It will be a little while longer
   before she falls asleep from the
   anesthetic.
   Will you speak with her, dude?

Serge:
   Yeah, sure. (After all this,
   I'd feel a bit silly saying
   no!)

=================================================
Inner Room, Doctor's House, Guldove (Another)
=================================================
[Serge goes into the back room]

Kid:
   Hehe, you've become
   bloody handsome while
   I was out of it.

[Unfortunately, the graphics aren't good enough for us
to actually see Serge rolling his eyes!]

Serge:
   Give me a break. Are you
   feeling better?

Kid:
   Eh, it's kind of like I've
   been on a three-day bender--
   got a headache the size of
   one of yer bloody coconuts,
   and I feel limp as a noodle.

Serge:
   I think you're kind of lucky
   if your worst problem is a
   headache--and how would you
   know what spending three
   days drunk to the eyeballs
   feels like? (Okay, so I've
   had a hangover myself. Once.
   And got so thoroughly scolded
   for it I wished I was dead.)

Kid:
   That's none of yer bizzo--
   you ain't me mother! 

Serge:
   Okay, okay, I was just 
   wondering.

   ...So what did you want to
   talk to me about?

Kid:
   Well, the doc told me some
   of what's been going on
   while I was asleep, and...
   y'know, that guy who got the
   antidote...I'd like to thank
   him.

Serge:
   I don't know if that's a good
   idea--he's a little hard to 
   deal with. (Understatement of
   the century--I don't think I
   want to be in the room if she
   and that Magus guy decide to
   have a fight...)

Kid:
   What, you think it's okay for
   me just to take 'im for granted?

Serge:
   Of course not, but--

Kid:
   Then I guess I'll just have to
   break the doc's orders and go
   find him meself!

[Kid starts to get up, but Serge puts his hands on her
chest and pushes her back.]

Serge:
   Do you want to have a relapse?
   I'll go. (Proving once again
   that I am a total sucker. Oh,
   well, I still owe her one.)

[Note that there's no way that Serge can leave Guldove at
this point, even though he's about to be allowed out to
wander around--he has no boat yet.]

=================================================
Left Tower, Guldove (Another)
=================================================

[Magus is standing on the balcony-thing around the shaman's
tower, on the opposite side from the walkway granting access,
staring out to sea. He turns around when Serge walks up to
him.]

Magus:
   What do you want?

Serge:
   Kid wants to talk to you.

Magus:
   Kid...? Oh, of course, the 
   girl. And I suppose you won't
   leave me alone unless I 
   indulge her whim.

Serge:
   Um, I wouldn't have put it
   quite that way... (There is
   one good thing about having
   this guy around--he makes
   anyone else look polite and
   friendly by comparison! I'll
   just show him where Kid is 
   and quietly leave the room...)
   
[Magus now tags along after Serge, although he doesn't--yet--
appear as part of the party on the menu screen.]

=================================================
Inner Room, Doctor's House, Guldove (Another)
=================================================

[Serge enters first. Magus begins to follow a moment later,
but freezes in the doorway, staring at Kid.]

Serge:
   Magus, this is--

Magus: [interrupting]
   You! I know you, but...

[He shakes his head in frustration]

Kid:
   Well, I ain't never seen you
   before in me life. Just wanted
   to say "thank you", that's all.

Magus:
   ...

Doc:  [From offscreen]
   If you two dudes are done in 
   there, let her get some rest--
   she isn't completely recovered
   yet. She needs to rest until
   tomorrow morning.

[The scene fades out.]

=================================================
Left Tower, Guldove (Another)
=================================================

[Fade back in. It's sunset. Magus is at the railing again,
and Guile is standing beside him.]

Guile:
   So, is Kid really...?

Magus:
   I don't KNOW, damn it all. 
   It's like that time in Guardia.
   I think I knew someone LIKE her
   once, just as I once visited 
   somewhere LIKE that place.

[Magus shakes his head]

Magus:
   Whoever that other person was,
   I...valued her. My heart leapt
   when I saw that girl...and
   sank again the moment she
   spoke. It felt almost as though
   Time or Destiny were playing 
   some kind of sick joke on me. 
   I could have blasted her from 
   existence in that moment.

Guile:
   Magus...

Magus:
   Don't worry, my grip on my 
   sanity hasn't yet slipped that
   far...although my capacity for
   rage sometimes disturbs even 
   me. Will you continue 
   travelling with them once they 
   leave here?

Guile:
   That is my intention, yes.

Magus:
   Hmph. Leave me alone, will
   you? I need to think.

[Again, the scene fades out.]

=================================================
Outer Room, Doctor's House, Guldove (Another)
=================================================

[As the scene fades back in, Serge is talking to Korcha, Doc, and Guile,
making elaborate hand gestures in the process.]

Serge:
   ...so that's the story.
   (Whew. My throat's dry.
   I didn't realize things 
   were getting so 
   complicated.)

Doc:
   "Where Angels Lose Their Way"
   --That sounds far out, dude.
   Got any idea what it really
   means?

Serge:
   Not a clue...unless it's...

Kid: [from offscreen]
   Should be the place where it
   all started, don't ya think?

[She enters from the ward area, all dressed and
ready to go.]

Serge:
   Where it all started...you
   mean Opassa Beach? (I guess
   that kind of makes sense. I
   mean, it was after I woke up
   there that everything 
   started to go freaky...)

Kid:
   Got any better ideas? Anyway,
   I'm tired of sticking around 
   here. Why don't we head out?
   We're supposed to be headed
   for the Sea of Eden, ain't we?

Korcha:
   I'll ferry ya back to Termina
   --just come by my boat and ask.

[Korcha leaves the room. Kid is automatically recruited again--there's no
point in letting the player refuse her here.]

================================================= 
Guldove (Another)
================================================= 

[When the player approaches Korcha and speaks to him,
intending to leave]

Magus: [From offscreen]
   Wait.

[He enters the area from the direction of the shop-tower
and walks up to Serge et al.]

Magus:
   I'll come with you.

Serge:
   ~~~We'd be glad to have you. |   ~~~Um, I don't think so.
                                |
                                | Magus:
                                |    I wasn't offering you a choice.

[Either way, he joins the party, producing the typical rename screen,
etc. At this point, one of the major reasons I insisted on having six
people nominally in the party even if only three are allowed in combat
comes up: Magus is downright obsessed with Kid, and if the player tries
to put her in the party without him, he will automatically grab the last
non-combat slot (and also vice-versa--put him in a party without her, and
he'll drag her into that last slot). Hey, it makes my life as a scriptwriter
just that little bit easier, okay?]

The matter of why Magus is still called Magus when he can't remember his name
will be dealt with in a later optional scene in Termina, which will also cover
some stuff about Guile's past and how the two of them met.

And no, Serge doesn't have the Astral Amulet...yet.

Anyway, the next bit I'll be covering will be the conventional "Save Kid" route
through the Hydra Marshes. I'm not quite sure how long it's going to be yet,
because I haven't decided whether I'm cutting Razzly entirely or leaving her
rescue in even though she won't be recruitable.

[Acacia Sgt]

So, according to all this, if you had Guile as the Viper Manor guide, this means it's theoretically the same as choosing not to save Kid if the guide was Nikki, am I right?

As in, now you go to Termina, Glenn advises you to visit Radius, and the like?

[alfadorredux]

It's closer to what happens if you choose to save Kid in the original version of events (Korcha, not Macha, ferries you to Termina, and you can't recruit Glenn) but yeah, we more or less rejoin the normal script for a while after this and go visit Radius. The next significant variation happens on board the Invincible, which is where Serge gets the Astral Amulet.

[Acacia Sgt]

Actually, I'm not sure if it would be in that case.

After saving Kid through the HW Hydra Marshes option, and reaching Termina, she reveals she learned back at Guldove that Lynx is at Fort Dragonia. By saving her early, which would be in this Guile path, she won't.

I'm sure this causes things to go different as the save Kid events.

[alfadorredux]

Now that I look at it, that's going to require some changes, yes, but I think it can be handled with a few carefully chosen lines. I'll figure it out one way or another when I get there. Worst case, that section will again be different from either of the other branches.

[mav]

Oh man--that was brilliant. You really captured Magus's character well--he kinda comes off as an asshole, not some flowery magician. Brilliant. I have no idea where this is going, but this is getting mighty exciting.

[Katie Skyye]

OH WHAT?! No Razzly...? So how do you do that tearful scene on Water Dragon Isle without her in your party?

I understand why you're cutting her out, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea in the medium-run.

[alfadorredux]

@mav: Thanks. Magus--as opposed to Guile or even Magil--has always struck me as both damnably
proud and intent on pushing away anyone who might infringe on his emotional isolation. Despite
being one of his many groupies, I would have no interest in meeting the Blue-Haired One in
real life, because I'm pretty sure he'd come off as a prick.


@Katie Skyye: Actually, I think I can slip most of Razzly's character arc in without making
her a PC. If I leave the rescue scene in, the logical thing for her to do if she's unable
to join the party is head back to Water Dragon Island. Assuming that it takes her a while
to get there, it wouldn't be impossible for her to arrive at about the same time as the
party. Nothing wrong with having a touching NPC moment, right?

(Guess it's decided, then--I'll be leaving Razzly's rescue in.)

[Acacia Sgt]

Now that I look at it, that's going to require some changes, yes, but I think it can be handled with a few carefully chosen lines. I'll figure it out one way or another when I get there. Worst case, that section will again be different from either of the other branches.

If you want a suggestion, do it the same way it's done in the don't save Kid path: They learn thanks to Glenn's conversation with the Flower Seller.

[alfadorredux]

It is going to end up having something to do with Glenn, but I'm not quite sure how yet. And it may end up happening that way in the normal Save Kid path as well, because I hate how the original has her drop one brief mention of it in the middle of screens of other text--I missed the mention of Fort Dragonia the first time I played CC and ended up having to resort to a walkthrough after flailing around a lot trying to figure out what came next.

But right now, I have something like 400 lines of Steena and Direa infodump to crawl through. ::sigh::

[alfadorredux]

By the Entity, what a pain! Discovering that this sub-chapter was on the order of 1500
lines long, I ended up splitting it yet again, so this is only the first half, covering
everything up to and including the return to Home World. If the Steena/Direa part looks
odd, it's probably because I took a machete to it and slashed out all the stuff about
Fort Dragonia and the Dragon's Tear that Serge (and the player) would have absolutely
no interest in at this point--it'll be re-inserted later, in some form, after it's
become clear that they need to go to the Fort.


9b. Guldove - Save Kid route

   Max recruits: Serge, Leena, Nikki. (Kid is not in the party, and this branch is not
       available if Guile was chosen as the Viper Manor guide.)
   Recruitable: Luccia, Skelly (as of the moment Korcha's boat becomes available--see
       "early side-stuff")

=================================================
Doctor's House, Guldove (Another)
=================================================

Korcha:
   Alrighty then!
   I'll come along with ya.

Serge:
   Thanks. (Especially since
   we would be stuck here
   without his help--I'm
   pretty sure there's no
   way to get anywhere from
   Guldove without a boat.)

Korcha:
   ...By the way, do you even
   have a clue where to start
   lookin'?

Serge:
   Um...

Korcha:
   Hey, do ya?

Serge:
   Give me a minute--I'm 
   trying to think!

Korcha:
   Tsk, that's what I thought.
   Where in the world should
   we start...

Serge:
   Well, I think there's still
   a hydra in the Hydra Swamp
   in my world, or at least,
   everyone says there is...
   but I still don't know how
   to get back. (Dammit, I 
   just wish everyone would 
   stop LOOKING at me like 
   this! I'm not a genius--I 
   don't know what to do 
   either!)

Korcha:
   All we have left is that
   girl's amulet...
   Damn, what are we gonna do!?
   If only we had some kinda clue!
   
 [Demi-human Female]
   ...Um.

   Maybe you should go see
   the shaman?
   The shaman might be able to give
   you some clues from that amulet.

Korcha:
   ......
   That's right.
   The shaman...

Leena:                      | Serge:
   Shaman? Excuse me, but I |    What's a 'shaman'?
   don't think I've ever    |
   heard the word before.   |

Korcha:
   The shaman inherits the power
   of the Dragon God and governs
   the village.
   They're like a mayor or chief.
   The shaman might know
   something, although I can't say
   for sure. It's worth a try.

Serge:
   (Yeah, it does sound like this
   shaman person might be able to
   help--worth a try, anyway.)

Korcha:
   We'll continue this outside.
   Let's decide what to do
   at the boat.


=================================================
Guldove (Another)
=================================================

[A shadow cat appears as they leave the building]

[Korcha]
   Huh?
 
[It becomes an ordinary cat]

Korcha:
   Oh, you're...
   Luna, from Mel's place.
   What...

[Mel grabs the cat]

[Korcha]
   Oh, hey...
   
Korcha:
   ......
   That Mel...
   What is she up to?

Korcha:
   What's up?
   It's just a cat.
   Strange guy.
   Come on, let's get
   goin'.

Serge:
   (Am I being paranoid? After
   seeing those creatures Lynx
   had with him at Viper Manor,
   I have a hard time believing
   that anything is 'just a cat')

Korcha:
   We need to get goin' as soon
   as possible, but you probably
   need to equip yourselves, right?
   I'll be waitin' here.
   Call me when you're ready to go.
   We haven't got much time,
   so hurry.

Serge:
   Yeah, I know.

Korcha:
   If you need to see the
   shaman, go down this way.
   Take the ladder to the second
   floor of the merchant tower
   and go left. There's a tower
   called the Dragon Shrine.
   Compared to Termina, this is a
   small village, so you shouldn't
   have any problems of getting
   lost.

Serge:
   Thanks for the directions.
   (No thanks for the advice,
   though. Who does he think
   he is, my mother?)

[If they talk to the girl near the top-center
of the docks]

 [Girl]
   Dear sirs, you're
   travelers, right?
   Although I hesitate to do so,
   I have a favor to ask of you.
   I received this bone from
   a trader, but I would like
   you to set it adrift in the seas...
   I'm sure its real owner
   would like to have it
   returned to nature...

   So, can you fulfill my request?
   ~~~OK, I'll do it               |    ~~~Sorry, I can't help you
                                   |
Serge:                             | Serge:
   (It's a weird request, but not  |    Why don't you ask someone 
   difficult.)                     |    to take you on a boat trip?
                                   |    I have other things to do.
[Girl]                             |
   Why thank you!                  | [Girl]
   Here it is. Please              |    That's what I thought...
   take good care of it.           |    I'm stumped. There's no point
                                   |    releasing it from the village,
   [Member] received               |    because it always drifts back.
   Pelvic Bone.                    |
                                   | Serge:
Skelly: [if he's present]          |    Then maybe this is where
   Yeah, you need guts             |    it wants to be. (I'm glad
   to get through life!            |    I didn't say yes. I don't
   Hey...!?                        |    need any more weird in my
   That's right!                   |    life, and a boomerang bone
   My favorite dish is             |    is definitely weird.)
   Termina's famous                |
   squid gut pasta!                |
                                   |
Serge: [if Skelly is present]      |
   (I should have known it         |
   would be something to do        |
   with him.)                      |

=================================================   
Orlha's Pub, Guldove (Another)
=================================================

[Serge walks into the pub, where Doc is slumped over
the bar, talking to Orlha. I was going to make some
changes to this section, but after I finally tracked
down a Youtube video of it to get the stage directions,
I decided it would be inappropriate.]

Doc:
   ...Another life is about
   to slip through my hands...
   just like before.
   Nothing has changed at all
   by studying medicine...
   Man, I am so powerless...!

Orlha:
   ...So are you going to just
   give up on this life?
   That's not the case, is it...?
   If you don't, who else
   will help her back from the
   edge of life and death?

[Doc]
   ......

Orlha:
   I don't know your past.
   Living bound by the past
   is a very painful thing.
   You need to face reality
   head on...
   Running away isn't a sin, but
   it accomplishes nothing.

Doc:
   But I...

Orlha:
   One thing is different
   from the past, you have
   the ability...to heal.
   Everyone in the village
   recognizes that.
   Don't suffer by yourself...
   If you give up now, you will never
   be freed from your past.

Orlha:
   Now go...
   Don't let it end without
   doing something first.

Doc:
   I have done them a discourtesy...
   I am a failure as a doctor, but I
   must do what I can.
   Thanks, Orlha...

=================================================
Doc's Clinic, Guldove (Another)
=================================================

[If they return to the clinic]

Doc:
   This is the best I can do
   without the antidote.
   Now, it is a matter of how
   long the patient can hold
   on...
 
 [Assistant]
   ......
   
   Please don't give up hope.
   We will do best that we can...

Serge:
   And we'll do our best too.
   (I just hope we come up
   with something that works.)

=================================================
Dragon Shrine, Guldove (Another)
=================================================

Shrine Maiden:
   Welcome to the Dragon Shrine.
   I am Steena, a shaman
   serving Village Chief and
   High Priestess Direa.

Serge:
   I'm Serge, from Arni, and
   this is Nikki.

------------------------------------------------

[If Leena is in the party]

Leena:
   Excuse me, Serge, but aren't
   you forgetting someone here?

Serge:
   Oh, and this is Leena. (Oops.
   I have a feeling I'm going to
   be in trouble over that one
   later.)

------------------------------------------------

Steena:
   I presume that you have come to
   this shrine seeking assistance?
   Please don't hesitate to ask
   Chief Direa for guidance...

Serge:
   Yeah, we've been having a little
   trouble...

Direa:
   ...You possess a young but
   gentle air about you...
   Hmm? There is an odd
   wind that is whirling about.
   I have heard that such wind-
   bearers appear at times, but...

Serge:
   Well, maybe it's got something
   to do with my being from
   another world--well, sort of.
   There was a 'me' in this
   world, but apparently he's
   dead...
   
Direa:
   ...Do you speak the truth?
   That you are already dead
   in this world...?

Serge:
   As I understand it, yeah.
   I was told that, ten years
   ago, there was a time where
   I could have lived or died,
   but for some weird reason,
   the world split in half. In
   this world, I died, but in
   the other one, I survived...
   (Which is kind of obvious,
   really, or I wouldn't be
   here.) 

   Anyway, the real reason 
   we're here is, we need
   some Hydra Humour to save
   our friend's life. I think
   I know where to find a
   hydra in my world, but
   first we need to get 
   there... Please, help us!

[Serge drops to one knee in front of Direa]

Serge:
   (I can't believe I'm doing
   this... But it's for Kid.)

Direa:
   Hmm, I see...
   So that's why you have an
   odd air about you.
   As for a way to return to your
   original world, I do not know.
   But there are always reasons
   why such phenomena occur...

Serge:
   (Here we go again. I just
   hope she gets to the point
   faster than that weird Prophet
   guy at the manor.)

Direa:
   The Land of Genesis.
   Your only key may lie there...
   The key that connects
   your world, to this one.
   ...Shall we say, it is a
   '"Dimensional Distortion"'
   of sorts?

Serge:
   Yes, but where is it?

Steena:
   If events in your
   world are different
   from events here...
   It may be possible to
   save the girl, stricken
   with the Hydra poison.
   That is if the extinct Hydra
   still exists in your world...

Serge:
   (ARGH! Isn't that what I just
   said?! I'm starting to wonder
   if these two are listening to
   me at all!)

Steena:
   The Land of Genesis...
   I have no idea where it
   may lie...

Serge:
   (Thank you for finally getting
   to the POINT, even if you don't
   have anything helpful to say.)

Steena:
   But...all phenomena
   have their reasons...
   I feel that there is some
   other will acting behind this...
   something other than the fact
   that you are dead in this world.

Serge:
   I've been thinking ever since
   I heard about that that there
   had to be more to it. I mean,
   I can't be the only person
   who's alive in only one of the
   worlds.

Serge:
   What I need to know is, 
   assuming I can find the "Land 
   of Genesis", how do I get back 
   to my own world? I don't think 
   just finding the place is 
   going to be enough, somehow.

Steena:
   I believe that there is a '"key
   item"' that you need to make
   the jump between worlds.
   Something that matches the
   missing piece of the puzzle.
   Something powerful enough to
   send Serge back, who is
   a missing piece of this world...

Serge:
   A..."key item"...

Nikki:
   Something powerful... Or maybe
   just something important? 
   Something that would remind
   you of all the reasons why
   you need to get back there?

Serge:
   ...!

Serge:
   Kid's amulet...

[Serge stands up and bows to Direa.]

Serge:
   Thank you.

[He turns to face Nikki]

[Serge]
   You, too, Nikki. Let's go.

=================================================
Guldove (Another)
=================================================
   
Korcha:
   Are you ready to go?
   ~~~Not yet                 |   ~~~Ready any time
                              |
Korcha:                       | Korcha:
   Hey, someone's life        |    Are you really sure?
   depends on this.           |    Don't ya dare tell me you
   Hurry up will you!         |    want to come back later!
                              |    Think about it really carefully.
Serge:                        |    Are you positively sure?
   (And it's going to help    |  
   Kid if we get killed       |   ~~~I'm ready                 |    ~~~Sorry, just a little longer
   'cause we left here        |                                |
   unprepared?)               | Serge:                         | Korcha:
                              |   (I'm starting to wonder      |    Then get yourself ready.
                              |   what I'd have to say to      |    Someone's life depends on
                              |   convince this guy!)          |    you, so hurry up!
                              |                                |
                              | Korcha:                        | Serge:
                              |    Alright, we're off.         |    Do you think I don't
                              |    All of you get in the boat. |    know that?!

=================================================   
Termina (Another)
=================================================

[When they dock in Termina, the docks' overseer is not
pleased to see them.]

[Overseer]
   HEY!!!

   Who said you could dock
   that thing there!?
   Get that thing out of
   here, right now!

Korcha:
   Hey, don't be such a hardhead.
   It's not like we're robbin'
   from anyone.
   Besides, nobody else is
   dockin' here, right?

[Overseer]
   That's not the point!
   What I'm trying to
   say is...

Korcha:
   Here, keep it.

[Korcha gives the overseer something]

[Overseer]
   You can't bribe me
   with some...
   !!!

   Th-The delicious scent and
   this subtle texture...!
   This must be the famous,
   rare drink of Dragonians,
   the '"Dragon's Glory!"'

Korcha:
   (I thought this might
   happen, so I snagged some
   from my ma's kitchen.)

[Overseer]
   A-Alright.
   I'll give you special
   permission this time.
   But next time I might
   not be so easy.
   When that happens...

Korcha:
   Don't worry.
   I'll get some more for you.

[Overseer]
   Very well.
   Heh heh heh...
   You're pretty quick
   for a kid.

[The overseer leaves]

Serge:
   (Heh--that was almost worthy
   of Kid. I didn't know Korcha
   was that sharp.)

Korcha:
   If you don't hurry, that
   girl's gonna be dead.
   What do you need?
   ~~~Return to Guldove             |    ~~~It's nothing
                                    |
Korcha:                             |
   Whoa, whoa!                      |
   Aren't you in a hurry!?          |
   Are ya sure you want to return?  |
                                    |
Serge:                              |
   Look, Kid's life depends on      |
   this--we need to be absolutely   |
   sure we're prepared!             |
                                    |
Korcha:                             |
   Okay, okay, I'll take ya back.   |
   This once.                       |

[If they speak to the boy in the upper bridge-type area near the
smithy]

 [Boy]
   Hey, weren't you
   on Korcha's boat the
   other day? I'm jealous...
   How was the ride?
   ~~~It was great!          |   ~~~It was terrible!
                             |
   Just as I thought!        |    Huh!?
   Umm, one day,             |    Really?
   I want to build a         |    That's weird...
   ship just like it.        |    I wonder if the saying
                             |    '"Ships are not what [/I]
Serge:                       |    they seem,"' is true...
   I'm sure you will. (He's  |    I gotta do some
   so enthusiastic about     |    research on that...
   that glorified canoe...   |
   I can't bring myself to   | Serge:
   tell him the truth,       |    Try actually RIDING a few
   though.)                  |    boats before you make up
                             |    your mind about them. Korcha's
                             |    boat is tiny--it can't handle
                             |    heavy seas very well.
                             |
                             | [Boy]
                             |    You think so?
                             |
                             | Serge:
                             |    I've fished off a lot of
                             |    different boats, so I know
                             |    a bit about them.
                             |
                             | [Boy]
                             |    Hmmm...
 
=================================================
Opassa Beach (Another)
=================================================

Nikki:
   Rockin'...
   So this is Opassa Beach.
   Where angels lose their way...
   I wonder if it's true
   that the flow of time
   has split in two?

Serge:
   I'm pretty sure this has to
   be it--the Shaman's "Land of
   Genesis". It's here that
   everything started going weird.

Nikki:
   Serge, let's
   just get on with it.
   I don't have time for a
   leisurely walk on the beach.

Serge:
   Give me a moment--I need to
   find the exact spot... (Where
   was it that I woke up after
   I fainted? I think... Here.)

[Serge walks over to the exact point of the dimensional
distortion and the greenish circle-y thing appears under
his feet.]

Serge:
   This has got to be it. (Or
   at least, I don't see what
   else it could be--it sure
   LOOKS freaky enough to be
   a path between two worlds.)

Leena:                    | Nikki:
   Hey...                 |    Hey, Serge, are you
   What is this?          |    sure this thing is
   It's kinda scary going |    safe?
   in this thing...       |

Serge:
   It might be dangerous--I
   don't know. But we have
   to take the risk. Come on.

[Nikki--and Leena, if she's present--walk over to stand near Serge.]

Serge:
   (So I guess this is the 
   moment of truth. Now, what
   did I do with Kid's amulet?)

[Serge holds the amulet up, and we see the transition FMV for the
first time.]
 
=================================================
Opassa Beach (Home)
=================================================

Serge:
   (Ugh. I don't think I'm ever
   going to enjoy going from one
   world to the other. Still, at
   least I didn't pass out this
   time.)

Nikki:
   It felt like my
   body spit in two.
   Man, that was weird.
   
Leena:                              | Nikki:
   So we made it to the             |    So I guess this is the
   other world, right?              |    other world. Funny, it
   Are you sure, Serge?             |    doesn't look all that
   I still find it hard to believe. |    different.

[Serge moves away from the transition point and looks at one of
the cliffs.]

Serge:
   This is my world, all right.
   See? I made this mark here
   when I was twelve. (And I
   really, really hope the
   world wouldn't just go crazy
   around us like that for no
   reason.)

   Anyway, let's get going. We
   have a hydra to find.

In Part the Next, we will have Razzly, Beebas, Dwarves, Hydras, and havoc. Unfortunately,
it's going to take longer than this bit did, because there are a lot of lines marked as
being for "Member", which I'm going to have to re-write for Nikki and/or Leena.

[Katie Skyye]

Direa:
   The Land of Genesis.
   Your only key may lie there...
   The key that connects[P][A HREF="helix09-save-b.htm"]Guldove--Saving Kid, Part II[/A]

[A HREF="helixscriptindex.htm"]Index[/A]
  [/BODY]
[/HTML]
   your world, to this one.
   ...Shall we say, it is a
   '"Dimensional Distortion"'
   of sorts?
[/I]

What just happened there...? I'm sure that was a mistake.

Anyway, good work, again! I pretty much have NOTHING useful to say, I'm just here for encouragement! This is epic stuff!

[mav]

Great stuff! Serge has some good backbone here; I like it. Though one thing did really trip me up:

Korcha:
   ......
   That Mel...
   What is she up to?

Korcha:
   What's up?
   It's just a cat.
   Strange guy.
   Come on, let's get
   goin'.

Apparently I don't remember this scene...what's going on? Is it just some cat? And when he says "strange guy" who's he referring to? I dunno if you can clarify since this was from the game, but I'm just curious...