Onboard the Wicked Sister:
Luc (to Zoe): Gah! Zoe!?! You almost gave me a ruddy heart-attack. What on earth are you doing out here so early?
Zoe (to Luc): Huh? Oh sorry, little brother. Felix had the early morning shift. I was just sitting out here thinking about life & how very funny it is, sometimes.
Luc (to Zoe): ... That seems a little too deep and philosophical for first thing in the morning. Is there coffee?
Zoe (to Luc): Heh. Yeah, of course... It was just that Craine fella reminded me so much of Dad when he was younger. I mean, well, you know what I mean. It just made me feel a bit nostalgic... And, I kinda miss Mom.
Luc (to Zoe): Heh. I know exactly what you mean. C'mere, sister dear... Don't you dare tell anyone I did this willingly.
Zoe (to Luc): What? Are you kidding? I'm going to tell everyone that you gave me a hug of your own accord. Can I take a picture? Cuz no one will believe me. ;-P
Luc (to Zoe): Hush you.
A few minutes later, in the galley:
Victor (to Luc & Zoe): <yawn> Morning. Coffee?
Zoe (to Victor): Here you are, brother dear... Luc hugged me of his own volition.
Luc (to Zoe): ... I will murder you.
Victor (to Zoe & Luc): Mmmm. That's nice. Thank you.
Zoe (to Luc): Heehee... See? No one cares.
Luc (to Zoe): Lucky for you... (to Victor) Rough night?
Victor (to Zoe): Nate used to hug you too when he was all angry and twitchy, yeah? You're like the Pied Piper of pissed off Potters. Angrier and more twitchy, I mean. In totally different ways... You know what I mean. (to Luc) Yeah. Yuki was awake, suspicious and patrolling the whole time that Craine was onboard. Not that the I blame her.
Luc (to Victor & Zoe): I believe I had the unfortunate pleasure of running into her during one of her patrols. She was in quite a foul mood. What the hell did that bloke do to piss her off?
Zoe (to Victor): Heh... Want breakfast? (to Luc & Victor) Heh. All I know is that he pointed out that her gun needed to be realigned.
Victor (to Zoe & Luc): There was that. She mentioned she didn't need CLANNG dregs telling her what to do with her weapon. Professional pride, I shouldn't doubt. And I'm SURE he made some kind of comments about getting her in bed. <yawn> Mostly I think she wanted to make sure he didn't murder us in our sleep.
Luc (to Victor & Zoe): Well, if I had known she was going to do that I wouldn't have bothered with my late night patrols... At least, I would have asked the captain for a different shift. :-D
Victor (to Luc): Heh heh. Yeah, you should have. :-P
Zoe (to Victor & Luc): Heehee. Here, have some breakfast... So, um, do you think we're clear of all this CLANNG stuff?
Luc (to Zoe & Victor): I certainly hope so.
Victor (to Zoe & Luc): Me too. Certainly seems that way, doesn't it? It's almost like the end of an era, innit? They've been messing with our family in one incarnation or another longer than any of us have been alive. (to Luc) How're you holding up?
Luc (to Victor): Me? I'm fine. Why do you ask?
Victor (to Luc): Cuz it's been a weird couple of weeks. Mum's dead and then not dead, Maladori might be dead, Uncle Thaddeus is alive... That's a lot of shite to take in stride. Even in this family.
Luc (to Victor): I believe where I grew up that would just be called Tuesday... But really I'm fine. I'm happy that our mother & Thaddeus are alive. Maladori's death is a shocking relief. I'm sure I would have been more upset about it, had I not found my real family. She was hardly maternal towards me at the best of times. And, until I see the bodies for myself, I am skeptical about all of them being dead. They have all survived far worse.
Victor (to Luc): Heh. That's more than true, innit? If you say you're peaches, I believe you. I didn't want you thinking if you needed time to be corked or sad or anything, we'd think less of you, or think you didn't wanna be here or something. Uh oh... Heh. You'd better prep yourself. Here comes Zoe with a hug. She heard that "real family" remark, I think...
Luc (to Victor): Help?
Zoe (to Luc): Just shut up & take it, you! :-P
Several hours later:
Zoe: Ow! … What the hell is that? … I don't feel so good.
Luc (to Zoe): Zoe? Are you okay?
Zoe (to Luc): I'd love to lie to you right now, little brother… Um, can you please get Victor for me?
Luc (to Zoe): Yes, of course…
Zoe: Fuck… This feels familiar.
Hiiri (to Zoe): Oh, does it?
Zoe (to Hiiri): I am so not talking to you.
Hiiri (to Zoe): But, sweetie, this is the perfect time for us to have a little chat. You know, all alone. Just the two of us.
Zoe (to Hiiri): No. You were removed. I remember that.
Hiiri (to Zoe): Different timeline… And, Maladori sped up your growth… As if Hiiri didn't have a backup plan. tsk, tsk.
Zoe (to Hiiri):
A couple minutes later:
Luc (to Victor): Victor! Help!
Victor (to Luc): What? Are you alright? What's wrong?
Luc (to Victor): No. It's Zoe.
Victor (to Luc): Shit...
A few minutes later:
Victor (to Zoe): Zoe? Zoe!
Zoe (to Victor & Luc): Sedate me & put me in a stasis device quick!
Victor (to Zoe): ... Oh fuck me. (to Luc) Hand me that syringe! Quick!
Luc (to Victor): Of course... What the hell is going on?
Victor (to Luc): ...It's Hiiri. (to Zoe) Zoe? It's alright. We're sedating you. We'll get you to the brig and back to the Monastery. Don't worry. We've got you.
Luc (to Victor): Fuck.
Zoe (to Victor & Luc): <yawn> Tell Felix to stay away. Please?
Victor (to Luc): Yeah. (to Zoe) I'll do what I can. You know I can't promise anything. Heh. I don't know if you've noticed this, but he's kinda stubborn.
Hiiri (to Victor & Luc): Oh my! This is just simply adorable. And, now there's Lucas all grown up! The whole band is back together. Well, just look at you, Victor! You're practically a grown man. It's quite impressive that you made it this far. And, our dear Luc. You've grown into such a fine figure. I'm so proud.
Victor (to Hiiri): ...Hello, Hiiri. (to Luc) Luc, would you ask the first mate to change our course?
Hiiri (to Victor & Luc): Really? No one is going to give me a hug? I mean, I know it's all a bit of shock but this is the reason #5 was built. Hiiri knew Maladori would betray her, eventually. Especially, with that last body. There was clearly something a bit off about it.
Luc (to Victor): Sure… He's going to wonder why.
Hiiri (to Victor & Luc): Seriously? You're just going to ignore me?… So, rude. I would think your parents raised you better than that… Or maybe they didn't? Maybe, you're from the other timeline… Oooo, poor little orphan boy. Don't worry, there's a couple others that you don't remember, but I do… It's probably better that way. Heh. So, did you meet the man with the bird name? Or better yet, did the ninja girl say yes? Ooooo, is the squeaky one pulling a Schroedinger's cat? Because honestly, I'm really hoping for that one.
Victor (to Luc): Yeah. I know... I wish I knew what to tell you to say. (to Hiiri) Yeah. Yeah. Consider me crying myself to sleep tonight. So, you remember all the other timelines, huh? No wonder you're ruddy nuts.
Hiiri (to Victor & Luc): … Ah, this is the merged one… Roland Wilkes tried to kill your family, huh? … I know how to stop him & why you should.
Luc (to Victor): … I'll think of something… Good luck.
Victor (to Luc): Thanks. You too. (to Hiiri) Yeah. Definitely crazier than monkey arse. Is there some reality where I listen to anything you say? Do I have a mustache? Or maybe an eye-patch?
Hiiri (to Victor): No… But, perhaps you should… I'm not the enemy. Not, this time. It's not even Wilkes. He's only a symptom. The cause is far worse… It's that moron Franklin.
Victor (to Hiiri): The dead scientist? Sure. Whatever you say.
Hiiri (to Victor): Humans! You think so one-dimensionally. Not the Franklin here. The Franklin in another reality… What do you think would happen if dear little George was taken to the 'Isla de Puertas'? Do you think it would only affect one reality? Because, I'm here to tell you that's not the case. Look, this is going to come as something as a shock. And, I don't expect you to believe me but, in my reality, skippers can no longer skip because Franklin took his daughter George to the island. It released all the energy and destroyed all the machinery. It released a giant EM pulse and caused massive devastation. Our Nate figured out that the wave is potentially cross-dimensional. He's super smart. I was sent here to ask for help & the only way I could do it was to use Zoe if & when Maladori killed the Hiiri here. Because, she's a paranoid freak & had a backup plan of her backup plan.
Victor (to Hiiri): So what you're trying to tell me is Franklin took some bloke named George to La Isla de Puertas and it's cocked up all the the realities that are and were to be?
Hiiri (to Victor): Time isn't a straight line. Some skippers can skip cross dimensions if you know how to do it… Nate & Persephone rigged a device to allow me to jump sideways into Zoe, because she was a clone of this timeline's Hiiri & made for this purpose. We've been watching all the timelines, waiting for the right moment to jump.
Victor (to Hiiri): Right. And who does that make you?
Hiiri (to Victor): I'm Hiiri… I know how this all sounds. Look, Zoe, is in here sleeping. As soon as I'm done, she'll be back. I promise. Though, you are going to want to get this Hiiri crap out of her head completely because trust me, it's not pretty in here. And, he's making the Potter face of distrust at me… Look, in my reality, I was #5 but I grew up to be Hiiri. And then, I met someone and he changed my life. I'm not going to try and kill you… We're wasting time with all this.
Victor (to Hiiri): If Zoe's head is a mess, it's not her bloody fault, so shut your goddamn mouth about it! ... We've already changed course.
Hiiri (to Victor): ... Fine. But, if you don't deal with it. She'll turn into Hiiri on her 30th birthday & it's not pleasant. It was a failsafe timer, Maladori put in. I think she had a bit of a soft spot for #5.
Victor (to Hiiri): ... Boody 'ell.
Zoe: Oh fuck... (to Victor) <yawn> Why am I awake?
Victor (to Zoe): Hey, little sister... Apparently, you went to sleep, but Hiiri didn't.
Zoe (to Victor): Is everyone okay? I didn't hurt anyone, did I?
Victor (to Zoe): No. Nothing happened. Don't worry. Besides, even if something had, it wouldn't have been you. It was Hiiri. From a different dimension, or reality, or... something.
Zoe (to Victor): Oh...
Victor: Cor blimey.
A little while later, on the bridge:
Luc (to Felix): Felix! We need to head back to the monastery post-haste.
Felix (to Luc): What? Why are we doing that?
Luc (to Felix): … Um, mechanical problems?
Felix (to Luc): You know, for a pack of pirates, thieves and spies you lot are terrible liars. What's really happening? I'm changing course... Is it Zoe?
Luc (to Felix): Would you believe nothing? Simply because I don't know how to steer this thing if you go running off.
Felix (to Luc): I know. That's why I'm still here.
Luc (to Felix): Look, it's Zoe but Victor is dealing with it. We just need to get back to the Monastery as quick as possible. You going down there will just make more problems… She'll be okay.
Felix (to Luc): ... I'll get us there.
Luc (to Felix): Thank you… Do you need anything?
Felix (to Luc): No. Sorry. No, thank you. If you could put a pot of coffee on for me... I might want it later. It doesn't have to be hot.
Luc (to Felix): Will do.
