At Casino de la Renard; Nice, French Republic:
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): Good morning, dear. Judging by your face, Master Aiden wants us to get started on those memories right away, doesn't he? Good heavens. He can't even give us a day to relax in the sun, can he?
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): ... Guess not. He's kinda twitchy about this whole thing.
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): We'd best get to it, then. Let's go inside. Make yourself comfortable, sweetie. I'm going to get the the curtains drawn, and make some tea. I dare say this will take a few sessions. I've never had to draw out memories of an alternative timeline.
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): ...Yeah. I'm kinda... Honestly, I'm nervous as hell about this. There's a lotta stuff rattling around in my head, and not all of it's super pleasant, you know?
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): I know, dear. I'm afraid this will be a bit difficult on you.
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): Yeah. I figured. It's alright. If it'll help, even just a little, then it's worth it.
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): Very good. Drink this tea, sit back, and try to relax. We'll begin shortly.
Meanwhile:
Persephone (to Lily): Come on, Little Bit. While the grown-ups are off doing grown-up boring things, let's you, me & Joseph go to the beach.
Lily (to Persephone): That sounds like fun.
Persephone (to Lily): Heehee. You're a girl after my own heart. Joseph down there already getting us a cabana. I don't want to burn.
Lily (to Persephone): Heehee… This place is like a fairy tale.
Persephone (to Lily): I'm sure it gets boring after awhile… Too many fancy ladies for my taste.
Joseph (to Persephone & Lily): Heh. No one can compete with you, Seph. You're the prettiest one here… Besides, Lilian, of course. :-)
Lily: Heehee.
Persephone (to Joseph & Lily): Very good answer…
A couple hours later:
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Hey there, handsome. How'd the session go? Need a drink?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): ...Yeah. Yeah, I think so. Thanks...
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Here, you are. Are you okay?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Right this second? I feel kinda scrambled. It's OK. I'll be alight. Heh. Alright. Not, alight. I'm not setting anything on fire just yet.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Heh. Let me know if you start feeling the urge, ok? I had Mr. Yong show me the grounds & security. I think we're safe here and, the inhibitor field is up and running.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Yeah. Mrs. Esterly said she had a hard time gettin' me to come back around. Heh. Guess all the extra shit I got in my head makes things a little complicated.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): I'm sorry… If it's too much for you, you don't have to do it again.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Pfffft! Like hell. If there's something in my head that can help, I can fuckin' cope with a few bad memories. S'not like any of that shit can actually hurt me, right?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): True. But, if you can't handle it, please tell me or Mrs. Esterly, ok? No sense in breaking your brain over this. I like you the way you are… only slightly broken. :-P
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Ha ha ha! Broken in ways that mesh with your broken ways, right? Heh. I'll let you know if I can't hack it. Promise.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Good. Want some food? I've been told the seafood here is to die for… by several women.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): So while my head's been scrambled, you've been gettin' hit on by gorgeous French women? Heh. Sounds about right. We can get some lunch if you want.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Heh. If one of them had a filthy mouth like yours, I would have wandered off with them. ;-P
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Damn. Thank god they were all proper fuckin' ladies, then. Heh heh heh. I'd better keep Hari away from you, then. Unless she's still shacking up with Mr. Hot Bod Bodyguard.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Heh. I believe Miss Fenris & Mister Yong are very serious. You should have seen the way his eyes kept wandering to her from across the room. Heh. What is it with you skippers & former assassins?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh. Who the fuck knows. Apparently we all gotta thing for dangerous, weirdo types.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): It certainly would seem so… I hope Lily doesn't inherit that trait or we're in trouble.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): ... Shit. Is it too late to figure out how to be a boring normal couple?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Heh. I think that may be harder than it sounds.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Fuck yeah. I have no idea how'd I even go about that.
A little while later, in the lobby:
Sang Gi (to Ariadne): Miss Fenris? I have a delivery for you.
Ariadne (to Sang Gi): Hey, Gee… You didn't have to do that.
Sang Gi (to Ariadne): Uh yeah, I kinda did. It's my job. Well, for the next week or so. There's a card. I need to get back. I'll see you later.
Ariadne (to Sang Gi): … Thanks and congratulations. I'll see you later.
Onboard the Wicked Sister:
Felix (to Zoe): Headed out, pretty girl?
Zoe (to Felix): I guess so, unless my brother & Yuki have changed their minds. Have they?
Felix (to Zoe): Not that I've been told. My guess is they think you'll be safer with Mamma and Poppa Bear.
Zoe (to Felix): It's total bullshit! There isn't anywhere safe from Hiiri… And, I want to stay with you.
Felix (to Zoe): ... I don't like being away from you either, but you say things like that and it makes me anxious.
Zoe (to Felix): I'm sorry… It's just that I saw what the world was like with Hiiri running about on two occasions… and it freaks me out. I know how she thinks. And staying in groups is a much better idea. We all start separating, that's how she gets us. She's a predator… We need to stick together. But, no one will listen to me.
Felix (to Zoe): ... Come on. Let's go talk to the Captain. I know I, for one, will sleep better if I know for sure you're alright.
Zoe (to Felix): Thank you.
Felix (to Zoe): When you're right, you're right, pretty girl.
Meanwhile, on the bridge:
Victor: Holy shit...
Yukiko (to Victor): What's going on, watashi no ai?
Victor (to Yukiko): I just spoke to my mom. Lord Wilkes is dead.
Yukiko (to Victor): … How is Aiden handling it?
Victor (to Yukiko): She hasn't spoken to him yet. He, Nate, Lilian, Seph and Joseph left New London to regroup...
Yukiko (to Victor): … I have no idea what to say.
Victor (to Yukiko): Why would Hiiri kill Lord Wilkes?
Yukiko (to Victor): Power, perhaps?
Victor (to Yukiko): It must be... I think we should talk to Zoe.
Yukiko (to Victor): Alright.
Victor (to Yukiko): She might know something about what Hiiri's... WHAH! (to Zoe) Zoe! We were just coming to talk to you.
Zoe (to Victor & Yukiko): Aaaah! We were coming to talk to you.
Victor (to Zoe, Felix & Yukiko): Same here.
Zoe (to Victor): Heehee. Well, spit it out. What's going on?
Victor (to Zoe, Felix & Yukiko): Hiiri has killed Wilkinson and Aiden's father.
Zoe (to Victor, Felix & Yukiko): … Shit… It's happening again.
Victor (to Zoe): What's happening again?
Zoe (to Victor, Felix & Yukiko): Hiiri's taking everything over. This happened in the other timelines.
Victor (to Zoe, Felix & Yukiko): ... Who wants to go to the beach?
Yukiko (to Victor): What are you talking about, Victor? I thought we were heading to the Caribbean? You can't get more beach-like than that.
Zoe (to Victor, Felix & Yukiko): … I'm not really a sun & sand type of girl.
Victor (to Zoe, Felix & Yukiko): We were. I think we should change course and talk to Nate. You and he are the only ones who might know what Hiiri is plotting.
Zoe (to Victor, Yukiko & Felix): … She's going to make a play for CLANNG next.
Yukiko (to Zoe, Victor & Felix): What!?! That's ridiculous. Where on earth would she get the firepower for that sort of siege?
Zoe (to Yukiko, Victor & Felix): She won't use firepower the first time, it'll be more subtle than that… She'll save the big guns for later.
Victor (to Zoe, Yukiko & Felix): And, she took over Vernian Industries when she killed Eva and Una's mother. They provide vehicles and munitions to both the Empire and CLANNG. Fuuuuuuck... ... I'm not going to lie. I really don't know what to do. What do you guys think?
Zoe (to Yukiko, Victor & Felix): … We work way better as a team, big brother. Mom had a whole network of spies at one point living in the bunker & they were causing a lot of grief to CLANNG. And, this time around we have more friends with quite a lot of skills. We may need to regroup & discuss.
Victor (to Zoe): I think you're right. (to Yukiko & Felix) What do you two think?
Felix (to Victor, Zoe & Yukiko): I don't really have a mind for this kind of political maneuvering, Captain. I'm going wherever Zoe goes.
Yukiko (to Zoe, Victor & Felix): I leave the plans for other folks… But, I'm with Felix. I go where you go, watashi no ai.
Victor (to Yukiko & Felix): Alright. You two are lovely people, but no help at all. :-P (to Zoe) So, Little Sister? What do you think? Should we head to Nice, or back to New London?
Zoe (to Victor): Well, is there anyone left in New London? Where were we supposed to be meeting Mom & Dad?
Victor (to Zoe, Felix & Yukiko): I think only Charles and Auntie Margaux. Mum and Dad are in the wind. Everyone else is in France, I think.
Zoe (to Victor): Well, I think we shouldn't waste any time. We should go to the bunker & prepare until we can get hold of Mom & Dad. We need to start getting things in order so we can figure out what Hiiri's next move is.
Victor (to Zoe, Felix & Yukiko): Alright. You know the most about this, Zoe, so we'll follow your lead. We'll stay on course to the Caribbean, moor the Sister and we'll jump to the bunker. I still think we should try to get a hold of Nate. He was in CLANNG with Hiiri for a couple of years, so he might know something that will help. Is that alright with you two?
Zoe (to Victor): True...
Yukiko (to Victor, Zoe & Felix): I'm fine with that.
Felix (to Victor): Aye, Captain.
Victor (to Zoe): Is that alright with you? You've got a look.
Zoe (to Victor): … Yeah, that's fine. I was just thinking.
Victor (to Zoe): Alright. I need to get us back on course. Don't worry. We'll be alright.
Zoe (to Victor, Yukiko & Felix): I should go write down what I remember from the other timelines.
Victor (to Zoe): Oh! That's a good idea. Included everything you can remember. Even if we don't think it's important, it might be.
Zoe (to Victor): I will.
Yukiko (to Victor, Felix & Zoe): Heh. And, I will go do something productive if you tell me what that would be. ;-P
Victor (to Yukiko): Ha ha ha! Uh, Moral support?
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. I'll try my best… Uh, you are doing a super job.
Victor (to Yukiko): Thanks. I feel very validated now. :-P
Yukiko (to Victor): Heehee. (to Felix) So, Felix, what was it that you & Zoe were coming to talk to us about?
Victor (to Yukiko & Felix): Oh! That's right. I almost forgot.
Felix (to Victor & Yukiko): Oh. Heh. Seems my objections over sending Zoe away to deal with all this madness alone are rather moot now. I'll tell you true, Captain: she didn't want to go, and I wasn't real keen on the idea myself.
Victor (to Felix): Heh. Of course. I apologize for any distress I caused you or my sister... May I ask you a question, Felix?
Felix (to Victor): Aye. Of course. You're the captain, Captain.
Victor (to Felix): Did your former crew-mates really think you were illiterate? You don't have the vocabulary of an illiterate man
Felix (to Victor & Yukiko): ... Heh. I suppose that's why I didn't talk around them very much, sir. If you'll excuse me.
Yukiko: Heehee.
Victor (to Yukiko): I do believe I was just burned.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh! Do I need to get you some salve? How bad is it?
Victor (to Yukiko): Ha ha ha! Sorry. I'm not injured. It's slang from the other side. It means that Felix said something clever enough that I don't have a witty retort.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh... Well, it was bound to happen, eventually.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. And again, I have nothing clever to say. :-P ... You're sure you still want to follow me into this mess?
Yukiko (to Victor): I'm sure I've been worse situations, Victor. Besides, I love you & you're going to need someone to watch your back. And it's in my best interest to make sure you survive. ;-p
Victor (to Yukiko): Worse? Possibly... I'm glad you have a vested interest at any rate.
Yukiko (to Victor): I can only imagine what kind of trouble you'd get in without me around.
Victor (to Yukiko): Loads. Or none at all, which would be even worse.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. If you didn't have a ship to pilot, I would show you how much trouble I can get you into. ;-)
Victor (to Yukiko): ... Wow. If I were a cruel man, I'd make Felix come up here and take over.
Yukiko (to Victor): I've been told that it's good to be the captain...
Victor (to Yukiko): Yuki, that is... That is VERY distracting...
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh it is? I'm sorry. It's just that these coveralls are so hot... Oops, I don't appear to have underclothes on... So sorry. I guess, I should just go & get cleaned up.
Victor (to Yukiko): You... You are downright EVIL, you know that? (to Felix, via intercom) Felix? This is Victor. I was wondering if you...
Felix (to Victor): Heh. Aye, Captain. Say no more. I'll be on the bridge shortly.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. I can live with that, watashi no ai.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. I love you, you crazy, evil woman.
Yukiko (to Victor): I love you, too... I'll meet you in your room.
Victor (to Yukiko): You can count on it.
