"I've only been a handful of times," Dwight says, leading the way to the museum. "They haven't really updated it since I was a kid. Not to mention, it's been closed for the last three years because the Necromancers claimed it as one of their bases."

"On Alpha Centauri, there was a museum that showcased human history and technology throughout time. That's where we found the steam generator to get us out of that universe. Do they have something like that?"

"Maybe for Carmsborough history, but I doubt if you'll find anything as complicated as a steam generator. That would likely be at the tech museum, while this is just the history of the earth, period."

"Yes, that would just be too easy," Holly says, experimenting with her materia. She's discovered the ability to make things like necklaces, bracelets, and rings with her power, all that shimmering gold color of the aura atoms.

"Glad to see you're figuring out how your aura works."

"Is there a way to make this permanent?"

"Yeah, but you can only do it with one item. For example, Lady Maxima had a shield made of aura atoms. I think someone gave it to her, but it would allow her to use her negation aura to shield herself from attacks that normally wouldn't be protected by materia. In her hands, that shield was indestructible."

"What all auras did she have?"

"Maxima, her main one, which let her grow and shrink, negation, which prevented her from being affected by a lot of intrusive auras, and aura boost, which made the auras of everyone else around her more powerful."

"Well, that sounds a little overpowered."

"Yeah, it's no wonder she became a Champion."

We walk another block before Dwight stops. "This is as far as I can take you. If you continue to walk straight, you'll run into the museum. Assuming museums look like what they did a thousand years ago, it should be pretty obvious to figure out which one it is."

"That is a very large assumption."

"Remember the plan."

"Of course." Holly flashes the watch she'd been given this morning before hiding it in her sleeve.

We march forward as Dwight slips behind. The museum building isn't immediately obvious, but we figure it out without too much worry. It helps that the word "MUSEUM" was written in bold on multiple signs out front.

As we approach, two Necromancers watch our steps, likely guarding the place like the one with the gathering at the mausoleum.

Right as we are within discussion range, I show off my materia wall, and they let us through with a nod.

As little as I have been to museums before, the immediate interior matches exactly what I would've expected. Multiple flashy signs show off the main attractions they were advertising three years ago. Most are overrun with new Necromancer banners, talking about events, meetings, and re-purposed exhibit areas.

Where do you think we're going to find the neutralizer exhibit? Holly asks.

Heck if I know, I answer. It would be too easy if there was a section specifically labeled for the Atom Smasher neutralizer.

Then I guess we play the guessing game.

Holly leads the charge, heading off in a random direction. We passed what used to be an exhibit for the Industrial Revolution, meager in size, which has since been repurposed into some sort of food kitchen. Whether or not it's for homeless people or just for Necromancers passing through, I guess I'll never know.

If we were to find a steam generator anywhere in this museum, it would have been in the Industrial Revolution exhibit. I think it's safe to say it wasn't going to be that easy again.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

We spend a few more minutes looking through different sections, speeding past a probably very interesting exhibit on the Champions of Carmsborough, which is intensely graffitied, before I feel a tap on my shoulder behind me. Every single muscle in my body tenses, but as I turn around, I met with a familiar face.

Hello Ally, I sign.

* hello. What are the two of you doing here today?*

Holly must've noticed that I wasn't following her anymore, and turned around to reconnect with me.

"Good to see you again," Ally says, signing and speaking.

"You as well," Holly says, not pleased in the slightest.

The museum was on our list for sightseeing today, I answer.

"What a coincidence. Anything in particular?"

"Not really," Holly answers. "We were hoping to see if they had anything about that neutralizer, but we haven't found that yet."

"It's over this way. Follow me."

Holly and I look at each other and decide to do as requested. We have no reason to think Ally is on to us. She leads us through a couple of exhibits we've already seen, up a flight of stairs, and into a place that used to be marked as "Employees Only." It's an old storage closet with a bunch of random things in it.

"Somehow I don't think this has the neutralizer," Holly says.

"Before I show you two, I need to know one hundred percent you're Necromancers."

I display my aura, creating little sizzling chains that flop to the ground.

"Okay. Great."

She turns to one wall and waves at it. The wall disappears, revealing a much larger room with scientists running around every which way. Not a single person pays us any attention, save for a man in the center of it all, looking dead ahead with a clipboard in hand.

"Ally, my beloved," the man says. Ally signs it for me, like she has been her own talking. "Have you brought some test subjects?"

"Funny. Dad, this is Holly and Tes, the two from America at the presentation last night."

"Good to meet you, Holly and Tes from America. You may call me Mr. Bones. I run the science division."

"You too," Holly says. "We were interested in seeing the neutralizer they talked about last night, if at all possible. I'm sure that's under lock and key right now, but—"

"I would never deny a tour! Allow me to show you our greatest crowing achievement: the neutralizer blaster."

He leads us into a sequestered room, which has three scientists studying various pieces of a strange-looking machine in the center. It's all strewn about haphazardly.

"At least, it will be, as soon as we can figure out how it works."

"You don't know how it works yet?"

"Nope. We have an idea, but it seems to run on some sort of elemental compound we simply can't nail down. It seems to be antimatter, but none we've experienced before. Maybe a brass or copper."

"Well, that's weird."

"Not even the weirdest part. The core seems to be impossibly dense. Like a black void on all of our scanning machines. Without knowing those two aspects, we're left in the dust on this."

I think back to the scientists on Alpha Centauri who couldn't figure out what Aurora was made of. Could this be the same stuff, or along the same lines?

"Still," he continues, "it produces a trace amount of usable liquid that can be injected into a victim to neutralize them. Not sure how or why, but we have a couple of those. It's incredibly slow, though, and definitely not ready in time for the bosses."

"You're doing a lot of narrating, Dad," Ally says, trying to keep up with the sign language.

Holly steps forward to get another look at the machine, then pretends to itch at her lower arm. "This stuff is way over my head, that's for sure."

"It's over all of ours. Some days it's like we're a thousand years behind whatever technology this is."

"I get the feeling."

A moment later, blaring alarms echo through the building.

"An imminent attack is underway by Luna. Everyone is to prepare for battle. Find your section leaders and follow their instructions."

"This just figures," Mr. Bones says, placing his hands in his wiry hair. "All hands in the main area to discuss protecting our research."

Do you two have a section? Ally asks me.

"No, we don't," Holly answers before I can.

How safe do you think it is in here? I ask.

"Probably safe for the time being, until we hear otherwise from my dad. I have to go join my section. Do you two want to come with?"

"If it's alright by you, we're fine with hiding away in here for now."

"Suit yourself."

Ally runs off and out of the room, leaving the two of us alone with our target.

"Okay, Dwight said to press the bomb button on the watch, set it on the machine, and find the quickest way out of the building."

She fiddles with the watch for a moment, trying to figure out its interface, until apparently activating the bomb. A one-minute timer counts down. We both make a break for it, but right before leaving, she runs back to the machine and grabs the two canisters of that neutralizing liquid before putting it in her pocket and rejoining me.

"What do you say we go out the window?"

Works for me.

She shatters the window with a materia spear, and we climb out, using a dark materia ramp to land on the concrete sidewalk outside. Everyone is on high alert, preparing for an attack that will never happen. We effortlessly slip away, loop around a few blocks, and meet back up with Dwight, who is inconspicuously eating at a Chinese restaurant.

"You know, as simple of a grain as it is, rice is just so good."

"Done and over with," Holly says. "That neutralizer should be no more."

"Shhh. Not here. Let's head back to base."

He pays for his half-finished meal, and we head out the door, the midday sun beating down on our back as the confusion at the museum continues on loudly behind us.