Journey's Sort-of End

Jason landed sharply on the planet, pulling himself from the slightly smoking pod. "Who's there," Jason grunted, standing up defensively.

Rick stared at the Seraph. "I am Hideki Ryuzaki. Nutopian and Roman Emperor."

"Romans," Jason asked, lowering his arms slightly, "The Romans?"

"Nova Romans."

"Well met, friend."

"RYUZAKI," Cyril snapped as her appeared in a pop, "WHY IS THERE A BURNING SCARF IN MY- Oh. I didn't realize we had company. Hello!"

Rick blinked. "Er... what?"

"My name is Jason... you are?"

"There was a burning scarf in my library! I know you must have done it!" Cyril said as he swept Jason's hand up in a hearty hand shake. "I'm Cyril, ah, you're a Seraph. Don't pay much attention to politics, eh?"

Rick coughed.

jason stepped back. "Cyril? As in, the lord? You're alive?"

Cyril raised an eyebrow, "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

Jason glared, "I was one of the several that died on Heaven. You may not have led us then, but your damn family started this. 'OOooh, let's play god!"

Cyril's cheery demeanor vanished. "What? But... that's not possible." Cyril grabbed his shoulders. "Jason, everyone died," he said slowly. "I managed to escape with the children and begin anew but... you shouldn't be possible..." Cyril looked confused but over joyed, "How did you do it!? You must tell me! If you could come back, then.. then maybe so can the others!"

Jason put a pink bow in his hair. "I'm cute."

Cyril stared at Jason for what seemed like an eternity but was probably just five seconds. He looked like he wanted to punch Jason very much. "Yeah, so was my wife. Things don't always work out for the cute." A moment passed, "But do you really know how you got here or not?"

Jason blinked, "No... Oh." He gulped, "Oh."

"What is it?"

"An old ritual. For oneness with the planet. Several hundred Seraphim decided to perform it. To help protect Heaven. I seem to be the only one to have made it, but...."

Ryuzaki piped up, "If it was a blood ritual, there's a chance we can find anomalies in your DNA and use the holes to reformulate the other ritaul goers' DNA right down to memories." He blinked, "I read a book."

"One with Heaven eh?" Cyril stroked his chin. "I suppose that's possible."

Rick read the book from the future aloud, "And it was found that several members of high-ranking positions and families engaged in this taboo ritual, consequently saving their lives. Such entities include Xoran the Sanitary Engineer, Haluz the Whore, and Lil---"

Jason snatched the book up. "Don't. You'll destroy thd Universe."

Cyril made a mental note to hunt that book down. "Um, when in the war did you perform this ritual?"

"When it was apparent we wouldn't make it. Before the worst casualities. Before the siege."

Ryuzaki shrugged. "We'd better get to work, eh? Resolve Cyril's war crimes and such."

((COUGHCOUGHSTOPRIPPINGOFFOFFDOCTORWHOPLOTLINESCOUGHCOUGH))

"I didn't commit any war crimes!" Cyril insisted. "There's nothing to resolve!"

((IT DOESN'T EVEN GO HERE.))

Ryuzaki sighed, "That was a joke. But seriously. They need to live."

"I agree." Cyril said hesitantly. This complicated things.

Jason clapped. "Leggo!"

Ryuzaki kicked him in the shin. "No! None of that!"

"This is the future Jason, we moved on." Cyril said, absently wondering how things would work out.

"So not krunk, dawg," Jason said.

Rick let Cyril take them wherever. "Say, what's Emily been up to?"

"Jason, an appropriate place to start this is probably the place where you initiated the ritual. Where's that?" Cyril responded to Rick, "She went off to some hot springs on Earth with Amaterasu and I haven't seen her since."