Part 184: BCP 13 - Grave of Cherry Blossoms

X-394 is a big facility, full of mysterious creatures known as Abnormalities. Many of these Abnormalities can do very bad things if they're handled improperly, and it's vitally important that our agents know just what may happen if they're careless. What's a manager to do?



Episode 13: Grave of Cherry Blossoms

Music: trailer


Hi! I'm Paul! Just your everyday plucky employee of Lobotomy Cobotomy, here today to talk about Grave of Cherry Blossoms!



Grave of Cherry Blossoms is a TETH Abnormality which takes on the form of a tree.

I've heard rumors about how if you confess your love for another agent under it when it's in bloom, you're guaranteed to live happily ever after! Is that true, Miss Hod?

Whether it's true or not doesn't matter, Paul! Company policy states that we can only have one agent in a cell at a time.

Shucks, Miss Hod! So much for my lofty dreams of domestic bliss. That's okay, I've got my other dream: Being the best darn worker in the company!

It's good to dream big, Paul! However, since this Abnormality requires Good works to lower its Qliphoth Counter, we'll be sending in someone a bit more experienced.

More experienced? But I've been here since Day 1!



Be that as it may, you're more of a Normal-work fellow, Paul. D.A.D's statistics are showing as being significantly higher than yours, so they'll get Goods. Therefore, it makes the most sense to send them in to handle the work for the day. Don't worry, I'm sure there's still plenty for you to do.

The right agent for the right job! That's what our Manager makes sure of, right Miss Hod?

That's right, Paul! Our Manager's so brilliant that he'll make sure everyone does just as they're supposed to.

Wowsers! I hope I'm that brilliantly resplendent someday!



Hey, Miss Hod..? Is it just me, or did the Tree change a little?

It's not just you, Paul! As Grave of Cherry Blossoms's QC lowers, its form changes as it gets closer to blooming! This is at 2, and when it hits 1…



It's nearly full bloomed! How pretty…

That's right. This is a warning to the Manager to get ready if they're going to work it again. One more Good result will result in its ability triggering.

And I'm guessing that ability doesn't provide anyone with true love!

Nope, though it can certainly make people see things through rose-colored lenses!



Here we see the tree in full bloom. This means that its QC has been reduced to 0, and it is using its ability. Five employees are randomly affected throughout the facility.

Blooming blossoms, Miss Hod! It's just like the end of one of my animes!



Wowsers, I sure look dazed down there, too!

That's because of the Grave of Cherry Blossoms's ability, Paul. The five employees are given a pink glow and try to make their way for its cell to see it in all its splendor. The Manager can snap them out of it by clicking on them quickly, and it's vital that he do this.

Why's that? Surely a tree can't be that dangerous, can it Miss Hod?

Don't be silly, Paul! That's not a tree, it's an Abnormality. And Abnormalities are always dangerous.

Gasp! I almost forgot! Wh-what happens to whoever goes in?



Yowie wowie! I've been stumped by a lot of things, but never like this before!

It's just as you saw, Paul. The first agent to enter the cell is consumed by the tree as nourishment-when this happens, all the other affected agents and clerks are released from the hypnosis.

What happens to the tree?

It remains fully bloomed like this until it's worked again. At the end of the next work with it, a strange reaction occurs.



The tree glows with a pink light, which fully heals all employees in the facility. In exchange for this, it loses its blossoms and returns to normal.

Wowsers! That means I became a part of healing everyone else, huh? What a worthy use of a transient and meaningless existence such as mine!

That's a very good way to look at things, Paul! Always try to remember that no death is meaningless-you're contributing to the company even if your own heart stops beating.

We are who we are together, everyone!

Well, that's all the time we have today. Thanks for joining us! And remember…

Knowledge is just pain plus observation! Have a great day!


Music: Aspire


Good evening, future Managers. Let's waste no time, shall we? Angela, graphics.





Grave of Cherry Blossoms's gear is good for a certain type of aesthetic, but it is not my type. Its requirement of 3 Good works before causing issues means it will only be a problem if work is focused upon it, or if we push far into a day and become unlucky with Meltdowns. Even then, negating it is as simple as allowing a clerk to walk in before any agents.

Clerks don't count, after all.

In exchange, we get a free full heal for the entire facility after a short 12 or so second startup. That startup time makes it difficult to time for anything, however, rendering the entire thing more of a sideshow than an actual, useful ability. It may seem tempting, but I recommend focusing attention on less temperamental Abnormalities should the option be available.

Setting that aside… did you see it? You must have seen it were you looking, but if not…

The hands in the hole on that tree, they move. They grasp outward, pulling things inside to spur its own growth, then continue to move afterwards. Then, when the time is right, the tree spreads its light over the facility-curing it of its every ailment.

My, that sounds familiar, doesn't it? That does lead to several questions… In its pursuit of healing the world, why does it resort to unnatural means to make others follow?

Given that it does, and given what it is… Is there any difference between that Tree and this facility where we sit right now? In this case, we know the answer: We do what we must, because it must be done to do what we must do. Those hands, trapped underground, pulling others in to become the lifeblood and nourishment of a plan to heal the wounded… Truly, they are my own.

When the time comes for our own petals to spread over this world, I wonder if it will be as calming as the spring? Or, perhaps, it shall simply be a prelude to a world of more bloodshed than has ever been seen before.

...It's funny. Speaking so much of trees and graves has made me become nostalgic a little early. Ah, well. It's time for this old man to cease his ramblings.

Manager-

Not now, Angela.

...ah. I shall leave you to your work, then.

_{Now… fade away, without a trace…}

Next time's featured Abnormality…


New Guidelines

Grave of Cherry Blossoms

New Gear


Requirements: None


Requirements: Temperance 2

New Story

Grave of Cherry Blossoms (Part 1)
Grave of Cherry Blossoms (Part 2)