At Tesla's Monastery; Colorado Springs, Colorado, American Colonies:
Aiden: This is simply impossible... By my count, all 20 CLANNG bases have been hit within the last 48 hours in a random but precise manner. I've got to tell Mis-- someone... who will actually care. Which I believe may be in short supply at the moment. Shit.
Meanwhile, at Maladori's secret laboratory; Britannia:
Professor Maladori: What on earth is that blasted, infernal BEEPING?!?
Starling (to Professor Maladori): Professor, I think it's coming from the body...
Professor Maladori (to Starling): ... Bullocks.
Outside:
Poppy: Heh. Not a bad two days bit of work, if I do say so myself... I'm so glad Fiona showed me that snazzy little trick with boilers.
At Tesla's Monastery; Colorado Springs, Colorado, American Colonies:
Nathaniel: Jesus fuckin' hells! I... Oh. Oh, Christ. It was a dream... Sh-shit.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): You look like hell, handsome... Here. I brought you coffee. Don't worry, Emma made it. Does that woman ever sleep? Are we sure she's not an automaton?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): ... What? Why would you... Oh. Oh god. Heh heh. It was a joke. Sorry. I'm not awake yet. You said there was coffee?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Yes, I brought you some. Are you alright?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Yeah. Bad dream all mixed in with a shitload of bad memories. ...Hiiri featured heavily. I dreamt Emma was Hiiri. Had been this whole time, and since I've been working for her, I never actually left CLANNG. She said I had to kill Uncle Vincent and Zoe, and hand Victor over to Maladori, or she'd hurt Lily...
Aiden (to Nathaniel): ... I'm sorry, handsome, that sounds awful. On the plus side I don't think we're going to have to worry about CLANNG anymore. Someone or something has taken out all of their bases... And, I just got word there was an explosion at Maladori's lab. If Emma was Hiiri and behind all of this, I think I might kiss her.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): What? That can't be right? Is that right? Holy shit. How... How the fuck would someone pull that off? Jesus. That changes everything doesn't it? Heh heh. Nor more skulking around, worrying about running into a collection squad. No more freaking out Lily, ir Joseph or Seph's gonna get snatched off the fucking street... Shit. They couldn't have done this three fuckin' days ago, before Aunt Poppy... She wouldn't... No. No, course not!
Aiden (to Nathaniel): What are you thinking? Because, I've got a theory & I'm not liking it too much.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Nothin'. Just that it sounds like the shit Aunt Poppy used to do. You know, the whole multiple targets at the same time shit. And she's got real personal reasons not to like CLANNG, but she wouldn't put her kids or Uncle Vincent through all this shit. She wouldn't do that to us, right?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): ... That's what I would do if I was sent to pull off something like this. But, the resources she would nee-- Bloody Hell! Fuckin' Roland would have the necessary resources. And, it would explain why she faked her death, first... Of course, this is all just speculation.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Shit... Motherfucking spies... I'll tell you this much, if you ever, EVER fake your own death to me, I will make sure your goddamn corpse is in the coffin we bury, even if I gotta put it there myself.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): I'm retired and I wouldn't do that to you, Lily, or Mrs. Esterly. If Miss Poppy did it, she must have had a good reason. I just can't for the life of me think what it possibly could be.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): ... Jesus. You know this is all probably just fucking wishful thinking on our part. It makes more sense to our paranoid ass brains for this to be some grand conspiracy, rather than face the fact she's gone...
Aiden (to Nathaniel): You're probably right. Let's not mention this to the others, then... you know, I've lost people during missions before but I never thought it would be Miss Poppy... This is why they tell you not to make emotional attachments in this line of work… Speaking of which, I should get back to it. Gimme a kiss before I run off.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Huh? Oh yeah... C'mere. I love you. I'll see you later, alright?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Of course... I'd like to go to the house for a visit tomorrow, if you're up to it.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Yeah... I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. Go make sure them kids aren't driving everyone nuts.
An hour or so later, in the library:
Eva (to Mouse): Una?!? What the name of bloody... Oh. M-- Mrs. Estevez. I beg your pardon. I thought you were my sister. I quite forgot myself.
Mouse (to Eva): It's alright, Eva. I brought you food. I figured you weren't eating properly & could use some.
Eva (to Mouse): No, I suppose I haven't been. It's been an intense few days... Thank you.
Mouse (to Eva): I can imagine... Any thoughts as to what happened? And no, I'm not going to coddle you or tell you it's not your fault, because I know you don't want to hear it. I'm sure you've heard it plenty. So, you can lower the eyebrow. Ok?
Eva (to Mouse): Several. <sigh> And I'm not sure how accurate any of them are. I believe my sister offered up Mrs. Potter, and her knowledge about her hidden bases and the individuals within them in return for our ancestral home and our mother's former holdings. I shouldn't be surprised if she offered to run Vernian Industries for her. ...We spent most of our lives being groomed for it, after all. Looking at it that way I suppose I should have expected this, shouldn't I have?
Mouse (to Eva): Possibly... But, would you have done it?
Eva (to Mouse): ... No. Clearly not. I didn't, did I? I didn't even contemplate it as an option. I miss the comfort of our old life, and our WONDERFUL library-- it really was gorgeous-- but there is more from which I'm happy to be free... I loved my mother, but she was not a good woman. I have no desire to be her. It seems my sister does not share this opinion... Excuse me. I apologize for being so emotional. I've never... I've never really been entirely on my own...We were never encouraged to be very emotional. Or verbal. It was one of the reasons Una and got on so well. We had... I suppose I should say I thought we had a very good understanding of one another.
Mouse (to Eva): You're not on your own now, Eva. I know it might feel like it. But, you have everyone here. I know I'm an old lady and well, it's probably a bit weird to talk to me but you can, you know? I'm sticking around until no one needs me here... which might be awhile. And, if not me, I'm sure there's someone else you feel comfortable with Zoe? Or-- I have no idea. But, you're not alone, sweetie, I promise... Did you guys always get along? Because, I know what I was like in my 20s & I had a bit of a temper. Still do, actually. It's just a bit tempered with a little more understanding & empathy than it once was.
Eva (to Mouse): Yes. I thought so. We didn't really get on with other people, you see. They found us disconcerting. I would say I have more of a temper than my sister. People can be so infuriatingly stupid. She was more like mother: always in control of herself.
Mouse (to Eva): Well, there had to have been some sort of clue that she was planning this... Maybe, she asked you a question? Or said something a bit out of character? I don't know. You knew her better than I did.
Eva (to Mouse): She's been jealous of the time I've been spending with Luc, which I found very strange. She had no interest in him, and it's not like I haven't done it before. As has she.
Mouse (to Eva): .. Well, maybe that's when she realized you wouldn't go with her? It's just a thought.
Eva (to Mouse): ... If that's the case, she's been planning this for a while.
A couple hours later, at the ISS headquarters; Old London, Britannia:
Poppy (to Roland): Hello honey, I hope I didn't scare you too much...
Roland (to Poppy): ... I've come to expect that you'll pop in willy nilly whenever the mood should strike you, Ms Meriwether. There's a drink poured for you on the side table. I expected you about two hours ago, honestly. The reports have been very pleasing.
Poppy (to Roland): Well, you know how much I hate to be predictable, honey. I'm glad you're happy with the results. Now, are you going to release Thaddeus from your custody or do you want me to show you how I did it, firsthand?
Roland (to Poppy): <tsk> No need to be threatening. I'll be more than happy to honor our agreement.
Poppy (to Roland): I am very happy to hear that, honey. I still don't know how you found out about my relationship with Thaddeus but I suppose that is really not important, at this point.
Roland (to Poppy): You have your secrets, as do I. Here is the address where Mr. Von Clegg is located, and the paperwork detailing his release.
Poppy (to Roland): Thank you.
Roland (to Poppy): We'll be in touch should we need to know anything else about your case.
Poppy: ... Pompous ass. (to Roland) I'm sure you will, honey... I'll be around should you need to find me.
A little while later:
Percy (to Vincent): … Hi there, honey. Your sister sent me in with food for you & Lucas… I'm not allowed to speak.
Vincent (to Percy): Thank you, Percy... Who is it you upset?
Percy (to Vincent): Have you got an hour, honey?
Vincent (to Percy): Heh... Everyone is a bit raw at the moment, hun. Take it easy on them... (to Lucas) Here you go, my littlest man.
Percy (to Vincent): … I'm not really good with the serious emotions, honey. Never have been, which I'm sure you recall. Give me naked, mindless drunkeness, anyday.
Vincent (to Percy): You weren't as bad as you pretended to be if I recall... Jesus. I'm sorry, Percy. I... Thank you for bringing us food. I'll bring the dishes out when Lucas is done.
Percy (to Vincent): … I hate seeing you like this, honey. Have you even left the room at all?
Vincent (to Percy): Of course. I had to check on the kids. So, you know. Once or twice... I'm not really feeling up to being sociable.
Percy (to Vincent): I'm not talking about being sociable, honey. I'm talking about fresh air and seeing the sky. Remember the sky?
Vincent (to Percy): Percy, I appreciate what you're trying to do, hun. I really do. But right now, not crawling into bed, and dying in a puddle of tears and my own filth is about as much as I can manage... I just wish I knew what I could do for the poor kids. They're just as hurt as me, on top of having me to fret over.
Percy (to Vincent): … Fucking hell! I can't do this, anymore. This isn't right… I'm sorry, honey. I REALLY do hate seeing you like this… Your hair is all limp & lifeless, you've clearly been neglecting your hygiene… Did I mention the hair? You are so not cut out for this… I don't know what she was thinking run-- getting herself killed like that.
Vincent (to Percy): Jesus! My hair is the last of my damn problems right now! I... <sigh> You're right. I could probably use a shower.
Percy (to Vincent): You are so not cut out for this… I don't know what she was thinking run-- getting herself killed like that.
Vincent (to Percy): I'll survive, Percy. I have to. But, I'm sure you'll excuse me if I'm a bit of a mess right now.
Percy (to Vincent): … She's not dead, honey.
Vincent (to Percy): ... I can't do this right now, hun. Please. Do not fuck with me.
Percy (to Vincent): I'm not fucking with you, honey… She was being blackmailed by that windbag at the ISS. I don't know with what but she's alive. Honest. I know where she's hiding out… I mean, if she survived the mission. I mean, she could be dead but not from Starling… I am so not helping.
Vincent (to Percy): I... I don't know what to say.
Percy (to Vincent): … If she managed to survive the mission she was sent on, she'd be at this address, honey.
Vincent (to Percy): Even if that was true, why would she let us think she's dead? Why the fuck would she do that? Why wouldn't she contact us? What are you playing at?
Percy (to Vincent): Oh my God, I am not playing at anything, honey… I told her this plan sucked. Just go to the address. Please? If she's not there, just think of it as a nice pilgrimage away from the needy masses. Or you could just stay here and be miserable? Your choice.
Vincent (to Percy): ... Just tell me one thing. If she did survive her mission? What was she going to do? Keep pretending to be dead?
Percy (to Vincent): Possibly, if it kept you all safe. She was worried about the fallout of what she was being sent to do… Heard anything interesting about CLANNG recently? Oh wait, I suppose not, since you've been hiding in here for days.
Vincent (to Percy): ... Percy. Don't take this the wrong way, but I need you to leave. Thank you. For telling me... Leave.
Percy (to Vincent): Fine, honey… I was just trying to help…
Vincent (to Percy): I know. That's why I'm asking you to leave. I'm more than a bit distressed, and I'm tryin' real hard not to take my temper out on you. Messenger an' all.
Percy (to Vincent): I'm going.
A couple hours later, in the kitchen:
Vincent (to Mouse): Hey, sister o' mine ... Didn't you have help in the kitchen?
Mouse (to Vincent): Yeah, but I sent them off awhile ago, I needed some time alone & doing prep work relaxes me... What's up?
Vincent (to Mouse): Would you watch Lucas for a lil' bit? I... I need to check something. In Scotland.
Mouse (to Vincent): Oh? ... Yeah, sure. Should I be concerned?
Vincent (to Mouse): I dunno. I think it depends on what I find there...
Mouse (to Vincent): Okay. Be careful.
Vincent (to Mouse): I will. Thank you, sweetie... I hate to say it, but the worst may be yet to come. Keep an eye on the kids for me. (to Lucas) Bye, baby boy. Daddy'll see you soon.
Mouse (to Vincent): Great. I am now filled with dread... I'm going to make misery cupcakes.
Vincent (to Mouse): ... You have no idea. I'll tell you everything when I get back.
Mouse (to Vincent): Okay... I love you, little brother.
Vincent (to Mouse): I love you too.
