Chapter Text
[Sparrow Timeline; April 21, 2019]
“Time-Space manipulation requires precise calculations.”
It wasn’t an inquiry on the function of his powers, Five realized. Rather, a conclusive statement arrived at after decades of theoretical analysis.
Five looked up from the drink in his hand, attempting to read Reginald’s intentions. The two sat at the bar at the back of the main foyer of the Academy, evocative of their last conversation decades prior; for Five, merely 3 weeks ago.
A soft jazz tune swayed in the background. The offer for drinks worked well to calm the discussion, showing Reginald’s skill at diplomatic hosting.
Five shook his head slightly. “It does afford a margin of error, though too much could be…” his eyes dropped momentarily to his drink as he swirled the contents, before returning his gaze to his father, “...rather hazardous to my health.”
Reginald’s face betrayed none of his thoughts, keeping an emotionless exterior. Not really cold, Five assessed. Rather, a mask to keep intentions or emotions behind.
Reginald’s eyes narrowed slightly in thought, accompanied by a twitch of his head, thinking carefully before speaking. This conversation was important to his father. Five pushed away the nerves that bubbled up in his chest.
“Quantum calculations are extremely complicated.” His father spoke slowly, subconsciously tapping a finger on his glass, curious eyes studying the boy in front of him. “You can come up with the equations and perform the calculations, and mostly in your head.”
“Mostly,” Five replied. If he wasn’t struggling as he waded in these strange waters, he would be basking in that compliment. “But it requires numerous trial and error to arrive at the correct solution. Writing out the equations is much more conducive to categorizing the different avenues I’ve taken and retaining a paper trail when I have to backtrack. Which is quite often, as you can imagine. But yes, I can perform the calculations in my head when the need arises.”
A slight upward twitch at the ends of Reginald’s mouth, eyes brightening as he straightened himself on the stool. An uncomfortable feeling settled over Five, like he was a lab mouse being observed.
“The dexterity of your mind most likely rivals that of a supercomputer.”
Five blinked in confusion, but his need to appear self-assured clamped on the words before a question could escape from his mouth. He continued his confident gaze instead.
Reginald tilted his head ever so subtly, eyes glistening anew in mild amusement. Five bristled under Reginald’s observant gaze.
“Why have you been attacking my family?” Five asked, gripping his glass tight, terseness and impatience creeping into his tone.
Reginald lowered his eyes to the drink in his hand, tapping a finger on the top of the glass, thinking through his words. “Because your family’s mere existence here could change the timeline in catastrophic ways. I need to contain that disaster until I have set my plans into motion.”
Reginald reached for the wine bottle and began to pour in his glass. “On that note, I would like to interject that I am in need of your assistance.”
Five took a deep breath, exhaling slowly through his nose as he studied his glass, then looked up with only his eyes. “Back then, you gave me advice that proved to be extremely useful, so I am inclined to consider your request.” Seconds, not decades. It had saved his life and his family’s, but he thought it safer to not let his father know how truly indebted they were. “But you do know that my family's safety cannot be compromised.”
“Oh, I am sure you will more than consider my request. Because it aligns with your own goals,” he replied, the amused little smirk returning to the old man’s lips.
Five straightened himself, the need for more information drawing him in. “You have my attention.”
Reginald reached over to pour more drink into Five’s glass as well. “We will destroy the Commission once and for all.” Reginald looked up, eyes observing his guest. “The entire organization, from top to bottom. Which will result in the apocalypse being permanently averted, and you and your siblings no longer being pursued through timelines. I believe the saying goes: it’s an offer you can’t refuse.”
This time, Five couldn’t help the surprise from appearing on his face. His father knew of the Commission’s goals, knew of his family’s predicament. And was planning on destroying said organization. His father’s play at omniscience was cause for caution.
Taking a sip of his drink, Five forced his demeanor back to calm. “Pardon the side commentary, but the plan sounds rather ambitious, if not outright impossible.”
Reginald placed both hands on his lap, a satisfied expression on his face at finally having his guest’s full interest and attention.
***
[Current Timeline; June 3, 2019 - Mission Day]
Sleeping neighborhoods and darkened parks sped past the windows as the Hargreeves' 7-passenger van drove through the late night suburbia streets.
Diego twirled a knife across his knuckles, right leg bouncing up and down. Car rides always made him restless.
Viktor drove carefully, turns subtle and stops from a comfortable deceleration that a baby could be rocked to gentle sleep during the ride. Luther was in the front passenger seat, Allison and Klaus in the middle, while Diego sat in the back with Five. The seating was unusual, Five usually took shotgun or drove.
Five hadn’t said a word since the house, and it wasn’t like him to be quiet. It was too dark to see much of anything in the van, but once in a while a passing street lamp illuminated Five’s face, that ridiculous glitter shimmering on his skin. He stared vacantly out the window, unblinking, still as a deer in headlights.
After a few minutes, more lighting made its way into the vehicle, drawing various shapes of light in the darkness, an indication that they were already passing midtown, leaving the slumbering suburbs behind.
It was a mere 15 minute ride to downtown, but any amount of sitting was too long for Diego.
Allison hummed a quiet tune that blended pleasingly with the soft drone of the engine.
“Oh, Luther!” Klaus suddenly groaned, a second before the smell of rotten eggs hit Diego’s nose.
Allison fanned her hand in front of her face. “Quick, the windows!”
Diego began to gag, quickly rolled his own window down.
“Oh God, mine’s stuck!” Klaus said in overdramatic panic.
The smell was relentless, so Diego looked over at Five’s window, which remained closed. “Five, can you...your window…” Diego said, climbing over Five as he rolled it down himself.
Five stayed quiet, still staring out, didn’t complain about the bustle and being shoved.
“Sorry!” Luther said from the front seat. “I’m a little nervous.”
The fresh air swooshed in, Five took a deep breath, savoring the cool, night air. The wind breathed life into his eyes as they grasped for the passing scenery. Body relaxing, expression softening, relief flooded over him. A small, sad smile crept over Five’s lips.
“I’m hungry,” Klaus complained. “Can we stop by a drive-thru to get some burgers?”
“I second that,” Diego said, raising a hand from the back seat.
Five’s chest heaved in a trembling breath, then he quickly swiped at his eyes.
The relative darkness still made it difficult to clearly see. Five must have been wiping the glitter from his face. Because he couldn’t be crying, Diego thought.
Five regarded the passengers in the car, then locked gazes with Diego. His eyes widened, quickly turned away toward the window as if caught doing something he shouldn’t have been, curling in slightly.
“No, we don’t want to be late,” Luther said.
Viktor shook his head. “I feel like I might throw up if I eat something heavy now.”
“Yeah, I guess we don’t want Luther getting any more gassy than he already is,” Diego said. “We’d all be dead before we even get started with the mission.”
Allison turned to Klaus. “Hey, we’ll eat afterwards. At that 24-hour Denny’s in Midtown. On me.”
Cheers erupted in the car.
Five had sat back, looking around the van. A light lit his face, showing an expression of fondness there.
That old sap, Diego thought.
Soon the bright city lights met them, late night businesses and the lively streets giving a vibrant welcome.
In the shadows Five trembled, hand clenched tightly at the edges of his suit jacket.
***
The sleepless city, its street lamps inviting evening bar hoppers and late night street dwellers to rove its illuminated pavements. Making an 11pm cloaked mission near impossible.
Still, it did allow the Hargreeves to camouflage within the nightlife population.
Diego flicked a pebble from the rooftop. It bounced off the head of a drunken man with a lady hanging on each arm down below. The man clutched his hat and spun to search his surroundings. Diego grinned in his mischief, then gazed at the Merkley office across from the building on which they stood.
It struck Diego on how much brighter everything was than the suburbs. Their rooftop - his and Lila’s - had been dimly lit, bestowing an ambiance of romance to a secret place of their own, relying only on the enchanting stars and sensual moonlight for visibility. Oh, and that one adjacent building, he remembered - the lone rooftop with a floodlight across from them that had lit her lovely face like so…
His head tilted at the phantom memory smiling at him.
The reminiscence brought a longing ache to his chest. He shut his eyes and clenched his fists on top of the ledge barrier, unable to decide between anger or sadness.
“It’s nice up here,” Allison said, taking in the cool, night air as a small breeze swept by. A pleasant distraction to the yearning that usually struck her at this time of night, sleeping on one side of the bed, the weight of the stifling loneliness taking up the space beside her.
Luther’s reassuring hand came to rest on her shoulder. She held it, giving it a grateful squeeze as she looked up with a melancholy smile.
He smiled in return and gazed out toward the lustrous skyline. Narrowing his eyes, Luther could almost glimpse the angel floating away, disappearing in the clouds the way she usually had done.
Viktor also leaned against the ledge of the building roof, with the barrier edge coming up to his waist, eyes trained upward at the stars. Decades ago, were these the same stars he and Sissy had sat under, surrounded by the spring grass? The smell of hay, the sounds of horses in the barn, her voice telling stories revealing her amazing life. Did he ever get to tell her how brave she was?
He clutched his chest. No, he didn’t think so.
Klaus crinkled his nose at a vague, unpleasant memory of falling off a rooftop. He glanced to the left at something that caught his eye. On the far corner ledge sat a middle-aged man in a business suit, covered in a soft glow, shoulder’s hunched, feet dangling over the empty air.
Curious, Klaus approached. “Hey there, buddy,” Klaus greeted.
But the ghost was still like a calm sea, a vacant stare at the world below.
“I guess you already jumped, so I don’t have to worry about you then.”
Trapped in unpleasant memories, it continued its mesmerized stare. Klaus wondered what played behind its gaze, what prevented the ghost from looking away. Were the scenes such beautiful memories? Or so horrific that it kept him entrapped?
Klaus sighed, took one last lingering look, then walked back to Viktor’s side.
Five was on his knees, back toward the ledge, organizing the building schematics on the ground. Another breeze blew, and Five climbed on the papers with his hands and knees, muttering curses all the while.
Diego had turned and leaned back, elbows resting behind on the barrier ledge, his open suit jacket softly billowing on a breeze. An amused smile on his lips as he observed their perpetually stressed brother.
He remembered Five’s worrying behavior in the van.
Diego shook his head, there was no way Five had been crying. In any case he was glad that Five had cooled down from his outburst at the house, but now he was very much on edge. With all of his reassurances of the simplicity and ease of the mission, Five sure acted the opposite.
Diego casually kicked off the barrier and strode toward Five, kneeling beside him to assist in holding down the documents.
Five sat back, the frustration visibly easing, but didn’t look up from the papers in his hands to acknowledge the help.
“You’re welcome,” Diego said pointedly.
Five’s split, bloodied lip tensed in a line. “Thanks,” he mumbled, and Diego’s forehead raised. Even though he knew Five had calmed, he still expected more of the usual ill-tempered mood that he normally smacked everyone with.
A palm over his eyes, Five took a deep, shaky breath.
Diego clicked his tongue and turned his head away at the realization that their fearless leader may still be a plan misstep or a poorly worded suggestion away from exploding at someone.
“Can you call the family down here?” Five said in a wearied breath without looking up.
Viktor was pointing at something below, Klaus crouched at his eye level beside him. A loud snort as Allison perceived the indicated source of amusement, followed by laughter all around.
“Hey!” Diego’s voice, deep and commanding, caught the family’s attention easily enough. “Meeting time.” The family gathered around. Luther stood at attention, hands on his side. Viktor rubbed his hands together at the anticipation tingling in his fingers, while Klaus hopped a few times to relieve the same feeling. Allison sauntered up, smoothly shifted her weight to one side and crossed her arms.
Diego grimaced in annoyance and gestured with his head toward the paperwork being held down.
“Oh,” Viktor said.
“Right,” Luther added, as each of them found a paper edge to sit on.
Allison tilted her head at the documents. “Hmm, that building over there doesn’t match these.”
“The time-space field doesn’t activate until you enter the building,” Five explained, pulling the backpack close to him. “Not to sound too science fiction cliche, but it is bigger on the inside. The Technical Engineering and Technology Control headquarters is actually located in a different plane altogether. You cannot physically cross over without wearing a proper ID badge, at least without force opening the gateway from the inside.” Five pulled out 6 thick, blank metallic cards on lanyards from the bag. “Otherwise, you’d just find yourself in the Merkley building when you enter through the door.”
Five turned to Diego. “The receptionist’s name is Margaret. Your job, Diego…”
“I know, I got this,” he reassured with a smirk, holding both palms up. “Turn on the charm and distract her while Allison, Klaus, Viktor, and Luther swipe their ID cards.”
“Yes, only you and I have legitimate identification cards. We removed the flags on the files and activated yours. But the rest have the wrong name and picture. You just need to keep her eyes off her terminal while everyone swipes their cards.”
“So, wait,” Diego said, a wide grin forming. “Does this mean I really am a Commission agent?”
Five blinked his eyes a few times at Diego, “No,” then distributed several small plastic baggies without a pause, leaving Diego gesturing his hands in disbelief. "The black strips are the explosives. You know what to do with those."
“These are the diverters, one for each team,” Five said. “I’ve compiled the pertinent instructions with pictures for those of you who didn’t study.” He looked pointedly at Klaus, who pulled his hand to his chest and mouthed ‘ Moi ?’ with all innocence.
“The other items,” Five continued, “are synchronized watches that control the communication ear pieces. They’re preset to our transmission wavelength. Double tap the microphone icon on the bottom left of the display to turn your mic off and on.”
Viktor slipped the earpiece on - about the size of his thumb, the black and silver device wrapped around behind the ear, with a silicone-like piece that sat comfortably just outside the ear canal.
Diego tightened the watch around his wrist. Metallic black, lines of silver, a square face displaying digital time. And random teeny tiny numbers and symbols in the corners of the screen which he couldn’t make any sense of except for the microphone that Five had indicated to them.
He glanced at Five’s wrist, which wore the identical black and silver watch.
But he had always worn that. Diego couldn’t recall since when. But aside from that, something strangely familiar about the fancy timepiece crept at the edges of Diego’s memory.
“This is a little complicated,” Luther said, shaking the items in both hands, a bit of anxiety building with the last minute instructions. “We should have gone over these details at home.”
Five’s shoulders hunched inward. “Sorry. I wasn’t in the proper mindset back then.”
“Yeah, no shit,” Diego said, not too unkind, but Five made no retort and immediately dropped his gaze, busying himself with rolling up the schematics.
His voice was quieter when he spoke again. “We will enter as field operatives, but once we get through the checkpoint, we’ll acquire white lab coats to wear, which is standard dress for most everyone other than higher management and cleaning crew.”
“The time of day here and at the secondary base is synchronized. Even though there are workers there around-the-clock, most still work during the day, so by this time the place has thinned out considerably.”
Diego sat back on his hands, impatient with the extended debriefing. Allison shrugged and looked away. Luther gazing around, vacillating somewhere between building stress and confusion. Klaus had a troubled smile on his face, couldn’t decide whether he should look confident or be genuinely worrying about something. Viktor began fidgeting nervously with his hands again.
Five pulled out the gun from the bag and slipped it in his back holster under his suit jacket. “There are 3 outside entrances into the base, and the one we’re using is only used by those monitoring the Academy, but it all ends up in the same entrance.”
Luther shook his head at the weapon. “I thought you said no guns are allowed in this particular Commission base.”
“I’ll just need it at the checkpoint,” Five said, then added a thoughtful, “Just in case.”
Five’s eyes were a little too wide, a little too overwhelmed when Diego caught his gaze.
Diego huffed in frustration, again realizing that Five had most likely shared just a fraction of the stakes and dangers of the mission. He had a bad feeling that there would be more trouble than they had prepared for.
“That’s it,” Five said as he stood and stashed the bag in the corner of the rooftop. “We enter the building at 11pm, which is in 15 minutes. The mission will last 2 hours and 36 minutes. Afterwards, you can all go back home and sleep on your beds.”
“That’s oddly specific,” Viktor said.
Diego rolled his eyes at the mention of the time table. He was pretty sure that Five had acquired Luther’s annoying penchant for overly-planning and micro-managing during their teenage mission days.
***
The street where the Merkley building sat was quieter than the rest of the bustling city, with mostly office buildings of the 9-to-5 nature occupying the avenue.
A large group strolled the sidewalk, some holding take out bags of food, a few stumbling drunkenly, others talking louder than the rest. Six of them peeled away from the crowd and spent a few moments chatting by the railings on the front steps of the building.
Allison leaned back against the railing, Luther standing stiffly beside, while the other four sat on the steps.
When the vicinity had cleared for a moment, Diego tapped on Five’s arm, then gestured his head toward the front door. The rest continued their casual conversations as they ambled to the entryway.
Five clutched the keycard against his chest as he stared at the card reader beside the thick iron handles of the glass building door, breathing slow, steady breaths through his mouth. Diego waited impatiently on his right.
For all his ridiculously confident 2 hours and 36 minutes declarations, Diego thought, Five looked nervous as hell.
Allison glanced toward them, furrowing her brows at the delay.
Diego casually scratched his chin. “Five,” he said, soft but stern in tone. “Come on man, let’s go.” Two people standing outside a darkened building was not something that could be passed off as casual and normal if they were observed.
Five swiveled his head to him, took a sharp inhale. His mouth moved to say something, but whatever it was he simply swallowed down.
Diego read it in his expression anyway.
Diego swallowed nervously, tapped the knives under his suit jacket for reassurance.
Five closed his eyes, took a moment to breathe. When he reopened them, all traces of nerves and fear had vanished, replaced with the familiar mask of stoic composure and determination.
He reached out and swiped the card on the door.