Chapter 1

Clickety-clack, clickety-clack, clickety-clack... 

Piercing and sharp, then throbbing and aching, that was the only way Bass could describe the pain. You’d think, after a few times, it would get easier to transition from one state of being to the other, but Bass felt the sting all the same. Bass sat up, and looked down at his pristine set of pyjamas, and large bed. It never failed to amaze him that he was more well of while being basically dead, than being alive. By the desk next to the window, a platter of fruit was waiting, with a note at the top written in familiar handwriting. Bass slowly walked out of bed, read the note, and smiled. He never changes, does he? 

Bass took a slice of fruit, and wandered out of his room. Out in the hallway, he saw Esper carrying a stack of sheets. “Back again I see.” they remarked, turning to face him. “Are you actually dead this time or are you still on your free trial?” 
“If I was dead there would be signs.” Bass said jokingly. “Maybe a bit of sadness, a dash of disappointment.” 
“True that. Anyways, looking for Rafiel again?” Esper asked. 
“How could have you POSSIBLY known that?” Bass asked, feigning shock. 
“It’s not like he’s the first person you see whenever your gracious highness decides to pay us peasants a visit. You should just re-incarnate with him already.” Esper said sarcastically. “He’s in the observatory, as always.” 
“Thanks.” Bass said, already walking toward the next carriage. 
“Just remember to visit the rest of us later.” Esper called out from the end of the carriage. “Cain was quite disappointed when you left us last time before you answered all his questions about A Flower to Bloom’s plot after he died.” Bass let out a chuckle. 
“One day, one day someone will invent TV for the dead.” 
“It’s probably Anikri. Apparently, she’s close to a breakthrough. According to herself, the last time she came out of her room.” Esper yelled, their voice already fading as Bass walked into the next carriage. 

The observatory... Bass thought, amused. He had never understood Rafiel’s obsession over the stars. The observatory’s sky reflected the one in life, but looking at nearly the same sky for weeks on end made no sense to him. As he passed through the intricate carriages, he gradually saw more and more people, old and new. Most of them just assumed he was another passenger, and paid him no mind. Some recognised him, smiled and waved. He waved back. 

Eventually, he made it to the observatory. An ‘Out of Order’ sign was placed at the door, a common tactic among the crew when they just wanted some alone time away from the passengers. Well, it’s now or never... Bass thought. Then he pushed open the door.