The Resistance

The following takes place following: Beauty & The Beast

A few nights later, Roger Wyndam-Pryce leaves his office and steps out into the misty night. Heading north from the Council chambers into the narrow terraced streets of Waldgate, he moves with care, making sure he doesn’t pick up a tail.

Upon reaching the Travers, Travers & Shiina office building, he circles to the back and knocks deliberately on the rear door: three firm raps, a pause, then two quick knocks.

A small viewing panel in the door slides open. In the gloom, the silver visage of Goblin Slayer is just visible.

Goblin Slayer: Password?

Roger: What? Oh. Right... yes, quite. Ahem... Hung... Kung?

The door creaks open. Goblin Slayer steps aside to let him in, then quickly scans the alley behind before shutting the door tight.

Goblin Slayer: Downstairs...

He gestures toward the door leading to the cellar.

Roger follows the direction, noting how empty and abandoned the building seems. He steps through the doorway and descends into a comforting glow of candlelight — greeted by a low murmur of voices and dozens of familiar faces.

At the far end of the cellar, Kaz Miller stands beside a large map of Widdlington and a cluttered planning board covered in photos, notes, and marked targets.

Wesley, spotting his father, approaches hesitantly.

Wesley: Hello, Father.

Roger: Wesley. You look well...

Wesley: You too. I’m glad you could come.

Roger: Of course. I was pleased to get your note. It’s good to see some have not yet given up entirely.

Wesley: It’s quite a turnout, isn’t it...

An octopus creeps up to join them.

Roger: Ah. Devlin, I take it?

Master Devlin: Indeed. Good to see you, Roger.

Roger: How... how are you?

Master Devlin: As well as can be expected, I suppose. Unfortunately, I can’t do much in this form — I can shapeshift but can’t hold it long without it becoming unstable. Although, for some reason, the octopus form seems to work just fine.

They glance over to the stairs as Goblin Slayer returns with Priestess, Chantelle, and Frakes.

Frakes heads straight for the chemical burger buffet table. Without Larry’s treatments, he’s begun to put the weight back on. He plonks himself down, takes an entire tray of burgers for himself, and pulls a copy of Playpen magazine out of his jacket.

Meanwhile, Mayuri wheels up to Priestess, and the two embrace warmly before starting to converse.

Kaz: Alright, I think that’s everyone. Can I have your attention, please? We’re about to start.

Everyone quiets down.

Kaz: First of all, thank you all for coming, but we all know why we’re here, so let’s get down to it. Thanks to the intel provided by Mr Boothe and Mr Konrad...

Kaz nods toward them in the audience.

Kaz: ...we've discovered that Dr Larry Fraser is being held at the Immigration Detention Centre here in West Widdlington (he points to it on the map). Dr Fraser and his associate, Dr Reddington, are being held by some kind of interdimensional holding device—the, uh… DRU?

Mr Boothe: DRU, yes, sir. Dimensional Restraint Unit, I believe.

Master Trelawny: Based on the description, it sounds like a simple phase suppression field generator that stops him from teleporting out of there. But it should be fairly straightforward to deactivate once we get inside.

Kaz: Right. Anyway, Ermintrude is also being held there in the infirmary wing of the detention centre. It’s our intention to break all three of them out.

Frakes: Good. I'd also like Dr Fraser returned to us. I’m in need of his treatment. It’s fact. I assume you have a plan?

Kaz: You bet! Simple guerrilla tactics. We create a diversion on the other side of town—something big to draw most of Travers’ troopers away... Meanwhile, we slip in and bust them out. We’re going to need volunteers for the diversion. I’m thinking we blow something up.

Joyce: But what about the beast? What can we hope to achieve with that monster in the skies?

Master Devlin: For now, we do our best. Unfortunately, we can’t simply kill the Waldobeast. Our best bet is to free Dr Fraser. I’m hoping that once we do, he’ll be able to switch my body back with Waldo’s—at which point the threat will be neutralized as I become the beast.

However, if that’s not yet possible, plan B is that I use myself as bait to lure the Waldobeast away. Widdle Frunkut is obsessed with me, so I can draw him out. Possibly we could trap him. But our first priority is Dr Fraser. Once we have the Waldobeast out of the way, then we take down Travers.

Chantelle: We’re not going to hurt him, are we!?

Master Devlin: That’s up to him. Though I suspect once he knows the game’s up, he’ll surrender and then likely pretend he was the victim in all this...

Chantelle: Sheeiit... I dunno. I mean, I get he’s gone a little off the deep end, but is all this really necessary? I mean, the Empire’s not that bad, is it?

Master Devlin: I’m afraid it is. He’s completely lost his mind. And this nation is on the verge of complete collapse. With the city council and local government now dissolved, he’s running things entirely unchecked—and straight into the ground. Mr Konrad?

Mr Konrad awkwardly stands up.

Mr Konrad: The Emperor's obsession with grandeur is accelerating his downfall: he demands oil changes every fifteen minutes and now requires a constant saline and electrolyte drip just to stay upright. There were even plans to rebuild the entire Citadel in gold, but that’s another story. Point is — all of this costs money, and money is something he no longer has.

Master Devlin: That means it’s time to act now.

Mr Boothe: Still, it’s risky, sir... He has a lot of men loyal to him for some reason. Some 70,000 he claims.

Master Devlin: Frankly, that number’s doubtful. What matters is this: his forces are vulnerable. Once the money runs out, they’ll stop getting paid and get taxed harder. That’s when morale cracks. Whether they can be turned to our side remains to be seen.

Joyce: Then shouldn't we just wait?

Master Devlin: To fund his lifestyle, Travers is likely to impose crippling taxes on the population, pushing the city further into poverty. Things will spiral fast, but I'd rather we didn't let it get that bad before we act... And as you said, Joyce, there's still the Waldobeast problem. Hence why we need Dr Fraser.

Kaz: Now listen up... We’re doing this regardless. Anyone wants to walk away and not get involved, this is your chance. No hard feelings.

Everyone looks at each other awkwardly. Only Tess von Hildendorf stands up.

Tess: Yes, well, frankly, I don’t care about any of this. I just came for the fish. I'll be going now. Good night.

Master Devlin (to Wesley): Who the hell invited her?

Wesley: I have no idea...

Tess waddles up to Goblin Slayer.

Tess: You there. Yes you, shiny fellow. Carry me up these stairs, will you?

Goblin Slayer looks to Kaz and Wes.

Kaz: Before you, Ms. von Hildendorf, I hope we can trust your discretion?

Tess: What? Oh, yes, yes. Fine. As I said, I don’t care. I’m not interested in taking sides. As long as I have my boutique, I couldn’t care less who’s in government... Have at it...

Master Devlin (muttering): Bitch. Maybe we should blow up Waldeo Drive as a diversion...

Goblin Slayer picks up Tess and carries her upstairs.

Meanwhile, Priestess returns her attention to Mayuri’s condition. She scratches her chin, deep in thought. Finally, she approaches Mayuri.

Priestess: Um... if it’s alright, Mayuri. I think I might be able to use a spell to try to help you...

Mayuri: Really? You can do that?

Priestess: It’s a bit more than the usual healing spells I’m used to. But I can give it my best shot...

Mayuri nods with a cautious but hopeful smile.

Priestess: O Earth Mother, boundless and true, heal these wounds and make them new...

Everyone goes quiet as a soft, holy light radiates from her staff. Priestess gently taps Mayuri’s leg with it.

Priestess: ...With your grace, restore and mend, bring life and strength without end.

The light fades.

Suddenly, Mayuri cries out.

Mayuri: I... I can feel my toes! Wesley, senpai, I can feel my toes!

She becomes very excitable. They all see her legs move under the blanket.

Priestess: Can you try standing up? I’ll help you!

She takes Mayuri’s hand, and Wesley eagerly comes round to take her other hand. With some assistance, Mayuri slowly stands.

She then cautiously takes a few steps forward.

Mayuri: I’m walking! Wesley, I’m walking!

Tears fill her eyes, and she hugs Priestess tight, lost for words.

Wesley: How can we ever repay you?

Priestess: No need. I’m just glad I could help. I’ve never successfully performed such a major healing spell before, but I guess somehow I just knew I was ready... Now, you’ll need to take your time. Don’t rush things.

Wesley: Yes, yes, of course, she’s right. Don’t want to tire yourself out.

Mayuri: Ok. But I want to walk to the other side of the room.

Wesley: Okay, I’ll come with you. Easy does it now...

Kaz: Well, this calls for a celebration.

Frakes: I agree. (belch) More chemical burgers...

Season 7 continues in The Diversion