Nathaniel: What the fuck was THAT? Jesus Christ!
At Aiden's house; New London, Britannia:
Zoe: OW! What the fuck was that!?! ... Nate, are you okay? Nate? Where the heck are you?
Aiden (to Zoe): Miss? I don't know who you are or what you think you're doing here, but you have made a very big tactical mistake. My house is not so easily robbed. (to Mrs. Esterly) Mrs. Esterly? Check her for weapons, if you please.
Zoe (to Aiden): Haha, very funny, Aiden. It's me, Zoe... You really need to practice your jokes more.
Mrs. Esterly (to Aiden): Of course, Master Aiden. (to Zoe) (to Mrs. Esterly): Be a good girl. I wouldn't want to have to hurt you, dear.
Aiden (to Zoe): I don't really do jokes... How do you know who I am?
Zoe (to Mrs. Esterly): Really? I can't believe you're going along with this, Mrs. Esterly. Bad jokes don't seem your style.
Mrs. Esterly (to Zoe): They aren't dear. And if you know us as you claim, you know jokes aren't Master Aiden's style at all. You need to start talking and quickly, I think.
Zoe (to Aiden & Mrs. Esterly): … I'm Zoe Meriwether, your boyfriend's cousin. He's been staying with you for the last couple months because Hiiri ruined your lives on the other side... Mrs. Esterly is a whiz in the kitchen & with questions. Any of this ring a bell?
Mrs. Esterly (to Zoe): No. It doesn't. You need to tell us why you're really here.
Aiden (to Zoe): Are you crying? (to Mrs. Esterly) Is she crying?
Zoe (to Mrs. Esterly & Aiden): Oh... Shit. She did it... She really fucking did it... Go ahead shoot me. What's the fucking point of anything? My parents are dead. Nate's gone to I don't know where. You're back to being all stodgy... I don't know where my brother is... I'm on my own.
Mrs. Esterly (to Aiden): Yes, dear. I believe that's what she's doing. (to Zoe) Come along into the kitchen, Zoe. Sit down. Good girl. No one is going to shoot you. (to Aiden) Master Aiden, please put your gun away and put the kettle on.
Aiden (to Mrs. Esterly): Yes, Mrs. Esterly.
Mrs. Esterly (to Zoe): Why don't you tell us exactly what's going on, dear? What happened to your parents?
Zoe (to Mrs. Esterly): I-- I think Hiiri killed them.
Aiden (to Zoe): Hiiri? As in the chief advisor to the director of CLANNG?
Zoe (to Aiden): ... Yes, I guess so.
Aiden (to Zoe & Mrs. Esterly): That's ridiculous. Ms. Meriwether & her husband died in an airship explosion over three years ago. It was ruled an accident.
Mrs. Esterly (to Zoe): Well that wouldn't really surprise me. They're a nasty sort. What do you mean you think your parents are dead?
Zoe (to Mrs. Esterly & Aiden): Well, if you & Aiden don't recognize me then it's already happened. Hiiri must have done it as I crossed over. That's why I'm not changed & I remember what it was supposed to be like... Oh my god! Victor!
Mrs. Esterly (to Zoe): Wait a moment, dear. You're not headed anywhere just yet. Not until Master Aiden and I understand. What did Hiiri do?
Zoe (to Mrs. Esterly & Aiden): ... Don't you get it!?! She went back in time & killed my parents, Vincent Potter & Poppy Meriwether.
Mrs. Esterly (to Zoe): Young lady, you sit your bottom down this instant. Now. You're quite upset, so I'll forgive you your tone, but, if this situation involves myself & Master Aiden as you say, then we need to understand. You will be calm.
Zoe (to Mrs. Esterly): I'm sorry... I just lost everything... I'm sorry.
Mrs. Esterly (to Zoe): Oh, sweetie. Have a biscuit. I understand. I very much do, but now is not the time for hysterics. Master Aiden is right, you know. Their deaths were ruled an accident three years ago. And more to the point, as far as I know, the Potters only had a son. What was his name, Master Aiden?
Aiden (to Mrs. Esterly & Zoe): That would be Victor Harrison Potter… Last I heard he was hanging about the Longfellow Inn doing odd jobs. But that was some time ago. He could be anywhere by now.
Zoe (to Mrs. Esterly & Aiden): I was adopted by them a year ago... I mean, I would have been.
Mrs. Esterly (to Zoe): You have to know this sounds all a bit far-fetched, dear. Isn't if far more likely you've had a shock of some kind, and you've concocted this whole elaborate story?
Zoe (to Mrs. Esterly & Aiden): ... Aiden had a younger brother named Theodore who was killed when he was eight. Aiden still blames himself. As does your father Lord Wilkes to some extent. You have an older brother Roland, who Mrs. Esterly thinks is an ass.
Aiden (to Zoe): How do you know that?
Mrs. Esterly (to Zoe & Aiden): Oh my...
Zoe (to Aiden & Mrs. Esterly): Because... Where I came from, you're dating my cousin, who tells me everything... Thank you for the tea & for not shooting me. But, I really need to find my brother & see if I can fix all this.
Aiden (to Zoe): ... Miss Zoe? If what you're saying is true. You're not going to be able to do this on your own.
Zoe (to Aiden): It seems I don't have much of a choice.
Mrs. Esterly (to Zoe): Don't be ridiculous, dear. If you know us, you know we're not about to let you go wandering off on your own. (to Aiden) Master Aiden, please take Zoe down to the Longfellow Inn. See if you can track down Victor. I'm going to go visit with an old friend. If Hiiri did indeed murder Poppy Meriwether, she'll want to know.
Aiden (to Mrs. Esterly): Of course, Mrs Esterly. (to Zoe) Come along, Miss Zoe.
Zoe (to Mrs. Esterly & Aiden): Oh, um, thank you.
Mrs. Esterly (to Zoe): Of course, dear. (to Aiden) Go ahead and get your coat, Master Aiden. I want to ask Zoe something in private.
Zoe (to Mrs. Esterly): I'm not crazy. Honest.
Mrs. Esterly (to Zoe): No, dear. You seem quite lucid. That's not what I was going to ask. What you knew about Master Aiden... You said you learned it from your cousin?
Zoe (to Mrs. Esterly): Yes, my cousin, Nate.
Mrs. Esterly (to Zoe): Nate, you say? Hee hee. Well, I can't say that's a surprise. Were they happy together?
Zoe (to Mrs. Esterly): Yes, I think so. They certainly seemed like it. They were always smiling and touching. Heh. They had even moved into together.
Mrs. Esterly (to Zoe): Had they? Good heavens. I can't imagine Master Aiden acting like that, which is a bloody shame. Shoo now. I won't keep you.
Zoe (to Mrs. Esterly): Thank you.
Meanwhile, at CLANNG Headquarters; New London, Britannia:
Hiiri: Where on earth has that boy gotten off to? He's going to be late for his debriefing with Carver & Parliament.
A few minutes later:
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Nathaniel? Where the bloody hell have you been? Carver has been waiting for you.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): I'm sorry, ma'am! I kinda passed out. I don't know what happened. I just woke up on the floor outside the armory. Director Carver isn't too angry, is he? Like, gut me in the board room, angry?
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Not, if you hurry... you weren't gambling again, were you?
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): Heh. Not this week, ma'am. I haven't got anything left to gamble with right now, do I? I think I overdid it with the training last night. My damn head is killing me.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Get some aspirin into yourself & then get to Carver's office. I'll send up Starling to let him know you're on your way. How are we ever going to teach you the ropes if you keep missing meetings?
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): Yes, ma'am. I keep telling you I'm too dumb to get this shit. Goes right the hell over my head.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Yes... That country bumpkin act may work on other people, Nathaniel. But, you are sadly barking up the wrong tree.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): ... Yes, ma'am. Let Director Carver know I'll be right there, and that I'm sorry he had to wait.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): I will.
Nathaniel: Jesus... I am gonna fucking die in this place.
An hour or so later, at the Longfellow Inn; New London, Britannia:
Aiden (to Zoe): I'll wait for you out here, Miss Zoe.
Zoe (to Aiden): Oh... okay. You sure you don't want to come in? I'm sure Perse-- won't know who you are-- nevermind.
A moment later, in the back garden:
Victor (to Persephone): Yeah? Is there something you need, or do you have something else gross that Uncle Bernard wants cleaned?
Persephone (to Victor): I think that's it... You should probably hose yourself off. You smell like a pig sty.
Zoe (to Victor): Oh my god! Victor, you're okay! I'm so glad to see you! (to Persephone) And, Persephone, you're here, too! I'm glad to see you, too.
Persephone (to Zoe): Do I know you?
Victor (to Zoe): Uhhh... (to Persephone) Hey! Don't look at me! I don't know her either. (to Zoe) I'm sorry, love. I don't quite remember your name. And you'll want to back up. I'm a bit on the foul side.
Persephone (to Zoe): If you're one of his girlfriends I'm sorry to say he never remembers any of your names. I hope he didn't tell you that you were special... Though, you don't look like his normal type.
Zoe (to Persephone): I'm not a bloody girlfriend! I'm his sister... Or at least, I used to be... I'm sorry. I don't know what I was expecting to happen here... I just wanted to see my big brother.
Persephone (to Zoe): HAHAHA! That's a new one on me.
Victor (to Zoe): I don't know what kind of scam you're trying to run here, but I don't have a sister. Plus, I hate to be the one to shatter your illusions, but lordship isn't all it's cracked up to be. Take a deep whiff if you don't believe me. I've been mucking out chicken coops all day, so I'm afraid that I don't have any grand inheritance to share with a "long lost little sister."
Zoe (to Victor & Persephone): I'm not after your inheritance, you big ninny! I'm here to stop Hiiri from killing our parents or at least, fix what she already did... You're supposed to be captaining an airship with your fiancee right now & Seph you were helping out at the inn while your mom was busy with the new baby... I know it sounds crazy, but it's true! I'm Zoe Meriwether, Mom & Dad adopted me a year ago... I was crossing over with our cousin when Hiiri changed the timeline.
Persephone (to Zoe & Victor): ... Wow. That's quite a story. Victor, did you get drunk and natter on again?
Victor (to Persephone & Zoe): ... Who can bloody well remember? You look SO familiar. Tell us the truth! How do I know you?
Zoe: ... God. I'm really going to regret this... Deep breath. (to Victor & Persephone) I'm one of your Aunt Emma's clones that Hiiri made I was considered defective so Maladori didn't bother to complete my maturation process. In this timeline, I could be anywhere... Still in the stasis pod in Siberia, working for Hiiri or dead, for all I know. Look, Hiiri killed ou-- your parents, I can't prove it, yet but it's true.
Victor (to Zoe & Persephone): ...I don't doubt for a second Hiiri killed my parents, but even if she did... What the fuck am I supposed to do about it?
Zoe (to Victor & Persephone): Fine. You know what!?! You stay here & keep wallowing & feeling sorry for yourself. I'm going to try & fix it with or without your help. I'll just do something stupid that's what we Potters are good at. Besides, if I fuck it up, it can't be any worse than it is now.
Persephone (to Zoe): Wait! You can't be serious... Grunt! (to Victor) She's going to get herself killed.
Victor (to Persephone): I know. I KNOW! (to Zoe) Wait a minute, will you? You can't go up against Hiiri. She has all of CLANNG AND half the bloody Empire in her pocket. What are you hoping to do?
Zoe (to Victor & Persephone): I don't know... I need to go back and stop her from killing our parents. I just don't know when she did. If she made it look like an accident, she could have set the bomb at anytime... You once went back and stopped Hiiri from killing Seph's parents, do you remember doing that?
Victor (to Zoe): I... I did WHAT?
Zoe (to Victor): ... Oh... Well, you were a different Victor then... You were following in dad's footsteps. Heh. you even had a spy for a girlfriend... God, everything is going to be different over here... Um, when was the last time you saw Mars?
Victor (to Zoe): ... Not since a little while after Mom and Dad died. Aunt Emma wanted me to live with her, but it was too bloody confusing. You really ARE from an alternate timeline aren't you? I haven't opened a portal in... That isn't how you got here, is it?!?
Zoe (to Victor): Yeah, I'm a skipper like you... Do you mean, to the inn or in this timeline? Cuz, I walked over with Aiden. He & Mrs. Esterly were nice enough to offer to help me find you.
Victor (to Zoe): ANYWHERE. Bloody hell! CLANNG tracks all portals opened within the confines of the Empire. Director Carver will be sending Hiiri's little "pet" over to ask questions soon enough. I should make myself scarce... Who's this Aiden who escorted you?
Zoe (to Victor): ... Oh, shit. No wonder Mrs. Esterly was so insistent about Aiden going with me. He's Lord Wilkes, the youngest. In my time, he was dating our cousin... who you probably haven't met yet. And, I should probably not tell you about, just to be on the safe side. He's out front. Or at least, he was.
Victor (to Zoe): THAT Aiden? Ha! Now I know you're lying. Little Lord Wilkes is a few gears short of being an automaton. (to Persephone) I'm going and taking my "little sister" with me. Tell Uncle Bernard and Aunt Molly I'll be back in a couple of days when the coast is clear. Probably.
Persephone (to Victor): Heh. Okay... Don't get yourself into too much trouble. If Francesca comes by, what should I tell her?
Victor (to Persephone): Tell her the truth. I've run off for a few days with some other girl. ;-P
Persephone (to Victor): Heehee... I can't wait to see the look on her face. It's going to be so moo.
Zoe (to Victor): Um... Where are we going?
Victor (to Zoe): We're going to my mother's house in the Tombs. Now that CLANNG's "respectable" they don't bother with us riff raff as much.
Zoe (to Victor): Oh... (to Aiden) Thank you for the assistance, your lordship. You'll probably want to get back home.
Aiden (to Zoe): <yawn> Of course, Miss Zoe... I'm sure Mrs. Esterly would thrash me soundly if I did not tell you to check in with us in a few days.
Zoe (to Aiden): Oh, right... I will.
Victor (to Aiden): My apologies, Wilkes. We seem to be keeping you awake.
Aiden (to Victor & Zoe): I just got back from abroad. Good day to you both.
A moment later:
Zoe (to Victor): Gosh, I even miss our Aiden... He's stuffy but, not that stuffy... Shit! Colin! I almost forgot... This timeline sucks.
Victor (to Zoe): I refuse to believe there's a timeline in which Wilkes DOESN'T have a very large stick stuck up his arse.
Zoe (to Victor): Heehee, oh don't worry, he did when I first met him.
Victor (to Zoe): He was the one who finalized the report that said my parents died in an accident. He told me this when he tried to tap me for the ISS. He advised me that I was holding onto a grudge for no reason, and needed to think of my future. Stuck up bastard.
Zoe (to Victor): ... Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't know. If it makes you feel better, I know all sorts of embarrassing things about him. :-\
Victor (to Zoe): Heh. The more you say shit like that, the more I think you've got to be running the greatest con I've ever seen. This way.
Zoe (to Victor): I wish I could prove to you that I'm telling the truth... I just want things back to normal. We were going to have a new baby brother... Who I guess won't exist now... Shit... I promised myself I wasn't going think about this stuff.
Victor (to Zoe): Are you seriously trying to sell me on the idea that my parents were gonna have another baby?
Zoe (to Victor): I'm not trying to sell you on anything... His name was going to be Lucas Potter. Mom & Dad were in discussion about the middle name. Mom had been teasing him about making it Walker. Heh. When I asked them to come up with a new name for me, you teased them about going for the sci-fi names.
Victor (to Zoe): ... I believe you. Which might make me a moron, but... You mentioned I could skip in time. No one, NO ONE, knows that. Not even Seph knows that. I haven't done it in YEARS.
Zoe (to Victor): ... Thank you. So, uh, this is where you live? This is… Nice… How come you don't stay in the bunker?
Victor (to Zoe): The bunker? Mom reinforced a couple of rum running tunnels, but I wouldn't call it a bunker.
Zoe (to Victor): Heehee, well then I have something to show you. There's a secret door. She told me she had them built a long time ago. I'm hoping that they're here, anyway.
Victor (to Zoe): What the hell are you... Holy shit!
Zoe (to Victor): Heehee, there should be food & living quarters down here… At least, in theory.
Victor (to Zoe): Wow. How long has Mom been working on this? This is...
Zoe (to Victor): Amazing?
Victor (to Zoe): Yeah. Exactly. Heh. It's been three years, and I'm still finding stuff from them...
Zoe (to Victor): Heh. That sounds about right... So, tell me about yourself.
Victor (to Zoe): Oh no. You already know all about me, minus three fucking years or so. Tell me about you. What's your life like? In your time, are Mom and Dad still enormous pains in the arse?
Zoe (to Victor): Well yeah, of course... Um, I lived with Mom & Dad in west piedmont. I'm a junior in high school... I don't really know what else you want to know.
Victor (to Zoe): Shit. Heh. I don't know... Who's Colin?
Zoe (to Victor): Oh, He's my boyfriend... Or I guess, he was.
Victor (to Zoe): Wait right here...
A couple minutes later:
Victor (to Zoe): Here. It tastes like arse, and you'll probably feel like you're about to go blind, but it does the job.
Zoe (to Victor): Heh. Is this Uncle Bernard's hooch?
Victor (to Zoe): ... Heh. Yeah. It is SO strange having you know this kind of thing. So. I'm guessing you have questions too. Go on!
Zoe (to Victor): Gah! This stuff is as bad as I remember... At least, somethings don't change... Oh, um, have you been staying with Seph's family this whole time or have you traveled? How come you're not off pirating?
Victor (to Zoe): Heh. It's tough to be a pirate without money or a ship, you know. I tried joining a few crews, but it didn't really work out. Turns out I have opinions on how shit should be done, and that doesn't always go over so well with the captain. I stay at the Inn as much as I can, but that's getting to be less and less these days...
Zoe (to Victor): Oh? Why is that? ... Cuz of the women?
Victor (to Zoe): No, of course not! That's only 1/3... No, 2/3 of the problem at the most.
Zoe (to Victor): Heehee... So, what's the real reason, then?
Victor (to Zoe): CLANNG knows I'm a skipper. They're SALIVATING to catch me violating a law or ordinance so they can get their hands on me.
Zoe (to Victor): ... That doesn't surprise me.
Victor (to Zoe): They don't need that kinda trouble at the Inn.
Zoe (to Victor): I suppose they don't... I'm going to see if I can find a crash space down here, if that's alright with you... I'm sleepy.
Victor (to Zoe): Suit yourself. I'm not sleeping in this hole if I can help it.
Meanwhile, at Aiden's house; New London, Britannia:
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): Good evening, ma'am. I'm awfully sorry to disturb you so late, but we had a report that a portal was opened in this vicinity.
Aiden (to Mrs. Esterly): Mrs. Esterly, is there any wine left? ... Oh, I beg your pardon.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Aiden? I... I mean, have we... Don't I... Do I know you?
Mrs. Esterly (to Aiden): Oh no, dear. I was just about to explain to this young man, he must have had a faulty reading.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): ... I'm sorry, I don't think so. (to Mrs. Esterly) Quite right. We don't make a habit of opening portals in our domicile.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Oh! Oh. Yes... Of course. I'm... Excuse me. (to Mrs. Esterly) What did you say, ma'am?
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): Hee hee. I believe Master Wilkes already explained everything better than I ever could, dear.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): You know, if you're going to keep staring at a gentleman like that, someone might get the wrong idea...
Nathaniel (to Aiden): What kinda idea would that be, Lord Wilkes? Cause I got plenty of ideas. Fact that they're wrong is what makes 'em fun.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): ... I am not quite sure what you're referring to, sir. I do believe my family has immunity from these sort of intrusions or does being the son of the director of ISS now mean absolutely nothing?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Now, now. I ain't intruding. I'm following up on a lead. Just doing my job. We all gotta do our part, right? And it's a crying shame you don't know what I mean... Night!
Aiden (to Nathaniel): ... I know exactly what you mean, however there's a lady present... Good day, sir.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): As you wish…
A moment later:
Nathaniel: Am I fucking Wesley? Why the hell did I say that?
