Episode 8 - Off the Rails

A hundred years ago, before the sky shattered, a deadly plague spread across the human world. Only few infected survived and were left with animalistic, Ozar-like traits. Even a century later, the Plague still exists and inspires great fear.

Doctor Vee Lasetti has ventured out beyond Sayrem's walls. Their delivery of medical supplies has been delayed, after one of the Sleepers responsible for the shipment has contracted the Plague. Being a survivor of the disease themself, they agree to go to where the transport train has stopped in order to treat the infected.

Rail Care is divided. Not knowing when Vee will return, the Professor and Pashmina are at odds as to how to manage the establishment in the meantime. Pretty Baby has taken on the role of impartial judge and has decided to hold a contest: Patients will be treated as usual and asked to make a voluntary donation. Those that donate will count as Pashmina's patients, those that do not will count as the Professor's. Whoever has the most patients by the end of the day will be declared the winner. With Sabri's help, Pashmina takes the lead, convincing the first patient to donate.

Erion, the Sleeper that has contacted Vee, guides them to the train that is stopped beyond the Markers, outside the city. The small group of Erion's companions has self-quarantined themselves, awaiting Vee's examination to ensure that none of them have been infected either and they do not bring the Plague into the city. They are relieved to hear the doctor proclaim them to be healthy, leaving only Karina, the infected Sleeper, yet to be treated by Vee.

The Professor, not to be outdone, also recruits Sabri's help, earning him the next point in the contest, as well as protesting words from Pashmina. Pretty Baby intervenes once more, Abner already prepares his verbose complaint for Vee.

Isolated in a dimly lit train car lies Karina in a fever. Vee decides that is it safe for the rest of the transport to continue into the city, leaving only the doctor, their patient, and Erion behind. Since there is no known cure to the Plague, Vee does their best to treat Karina's symptoms and ease her pain. Luna, Pretty Baby's moth-like companion, had been sent along to watch over Vee. Vee decides to have Luna suck some of the patient's blood to possibly re-inject it, after antibodies have been formed.

Finally fed up with their games, Abner throws the others out of Rail Care. The Professor invites Pashmina and Pretty Baby into his train car. He admits that his strong aversion to Pashmina's plans are partially rooted in his past experiences of his own work being exploited for immoral purposes. He is willing to compromise and allow patients to make donations to Rail Care, so long as they are not being coerced or pressured into doing so. Pashmina agrees to the compromise, respecting that it is ultimately Vee's business.

The Dream is the realm that all people of Sayrem–save for the Ozar–enter every night in their sleep. It is where they receive the Midnight Message, the government propaganda constructed by the Weavers in the employ of the Ministry of Rest. Pashmina Myron, one of the very few Weavers not working for the Ministry, has agreed to privately train young Sabri, a Weaver himself, to control his powers.

That night, their lesson focuses on the form a Weaver can choose to take in the Dream. Sabri voices his concern that he may not be making enough progress. Failing to control his powers will result in him being detected by the Ministry, apprehended by their agents, and either being permanently separated from his mother to be trained by the government, or be executed. Pashmina does her best to calm his fears by not continuing to mention his possible demise and they complete the rest of the lesson.

The Professor is cleaning when he hears a slap outside his train car. A “Captain Establishment” poster has been put up outside. Used to the procedure, he rips it off and throws it into the cats' litter box next to the many other posters with the same image. He is unsure whether the sound of someone running away into the night is that of the one who put up the poster, only his imagination, or something else entirely. Looking out his window he feels uneasy, but sees nothing. Only darkness.

Pretty Baby goes out into the night. He has stayed at Rail Care all day, making it easy for the unknown hunter, who has been trailing him for several days, to find him and possibly learn about his relationships with its inhabitants. He heads for Warren Station, attempting to visibly scar himself while walking, in order to mislead his stalker into thinking he had spent the day at Rail Care to be treated. Again, he notices the signs that he is being followed. His thoughts are interrupted as Steiner's messenger Bubba, a large possum, finds him and delivers news: Steiner has confirmed Kasiel's suspicion. He is being targeted by the Ministry of Rest.

Pretty Baby turns to make his way to the pier in Rosebank. He decides to sit on a bench, simply waiting there to confront his hunter. With only few people on the street this late and not much cover or tall structures to use as vantage points, Pretty Baby hopes the situation is enticing enough for his stalker to approach him, yet still giving him the tactical advantage. An hour passes without incident. Despite his plan having failed, Pretty Baby cannot help but feel relieved as the sense of being watched finally subsides.

The next day, carved into the bench he had been sitting on, Pretty Baby sees the image of a lit oil lamp. The symbol of the Anointed.

Despite Vee's best efforts, Karina struggles with her fever throughout the day. Vee is still hopeful that their idea of re-injecting blood drawn from Luna may help her, given enough time. Whether there is enough time left is uncertain.

The following day, the doors of Rail Care remain closed. Abner has decided to take the day off. Still, there is one patient in the clinic. Pashmina finds Pretty Baby treating his own wounds. As they talk, Pashmina hints she needs to hire someone for a special, covert mission. She needs a date to accompany her to the “Beyond the Curtain” event in Crescent Hill, so that she does not have to suffer the embarrassment of showing up by herself. More importantly, she hopes Kasiel may be able to use his skills to find out, whether Pashmina's ex-fiancé is seeing someone else. She intends to get revenge on him for breaking up their arranged marriage after Pashmina's falling out with her family. Pretty Baby agrees and they make plans to meet in Rosebank to buy Pretty Baby an appropriate outfit for the event.