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Vertin set down a half-empty cup of London fog, waiting for a member of the St. Pavlov Foundation to contact her for a preliminary meeting. She checked her pocket watch, nearly half past two. The captain of the investigators was supposed to be here by now. She'd been in London for a number of months already, recording and photographing historical events for the Foundation's records. Normally she had no business with the other departments. Being lackluster in practical arcanum meant that she had little use outside of observation-based missions. Today was different however, Madam Z specifically tasked her with meeting with an action-team leader. On the basis of possible joint operation in light of the incoming Storm.
Behind her the sound of the door chime sounded, but Vertin paid it no mind, slipping her watch back under her jacket.
“Greetings, Timekeeper.”
A familiar voice. One that she hadn't heard for years.
“Sonetto?”
Sonetto dipped her head as Vertin turned to face her, ochre locks swaying with the movement. She had her usual air of formality, but a small smile graced her lips when she raised her head. “It’s been quite some time since we last met. Have you been well?”
“Yes...And you, Sonetto, are you here as the captain of the investigators?” It wasn't too surprising for Sonetto to be in such a position given her talent. When they were children, she never failed to rank at the top of the class every year. The merit medals she wears serving as further proof of her outstanding ability.
The uniformed girl nodded, taking a seat, “I’ve been dispatched on field to familiarize myself with the city. My team is tasked with the registration of an arcanist who operates in this part of London.”
“Regulus of the APPLe I presume?”
Sonetto's viridescent eyes widened, “How did you…” Vertin couldn’t have possibly been given the mission details prior to this meeting. Moreover, she was the Timekeeper, regular Foundation operations were generally outside of her responsibilities.
“I was listening to Regulus on the radio near the beginning of this month. From my deduction she must be an arcanist, the Foundation sending you only confirms it.” Before Sonetto could say anything in response, Vertin called a server with the raise of a hand, “Could we get a slice of chocolate cake and a cup of Earl Grey?”
“Right away.”
Sonetto stared at Vertin in confusion as the server left, “It’s not necessary for me to have anything. I’ve already had lunch before coming.”
“Since you’re already here, it would be a waste not to get something. The chocolate cake here is quite good.”
Sonetto frowned as the chocolate cake and tea were set before her. It seemed Vertin’s whimsical nature remained over the years after all. From the papers and books she had read, cake was said to often be served for celebratory occasions such as birthdays, and sometimes eaten for enjoyment. Perhaps the current situation could be under the category of ‘for enjoyment’? Breaking off a piece off the dessert, she brought it to her lips.
“What do you think?” Vertin had picked up her cup, working on finishing the rest of her drink.
“It’s quite sweet.”
A pause. It seemed that she had nothing more to say as she continued eating. Before long, the plate had been reduced to mere crumbs and cream.
“Did you like it?”
“It was good.”
Vertin nodded, as if expecting the curt response. Sonetto was different from most, the strong sense of duty she had to the Foundation made it so she had little to say regarding anything outside of its teachings.
“How long will you be in the city?”
“For as long as it takes to recruit Regulus.”
Vertin checked the Storm countdown on her right arm, its red incandescent numbers having already changed from the usual 9999. “You have a little less than a week at max then. Since you’re already here, why don’t we visit a few stores later. Maybe the theater after dinner? I hear they’re showing some of Alfred Hitchcock's movies at the cinema in Chelsea.”
Sonetto froze, the job today was to meet with the Timekeeper, nothing more. She should bid goodbye and monitor the progress of her investigators. Her chest tightened at the thought of doing something outside of her mission outline. It was grossly inappropriate to indulge in activities that in no way bettered the future of mankind.
Vertin, noticing Sonetto’s hesitation, promptly backtracked, “I just meant it would be nice for us to catch up if you have the time.”
If she refuses now, when will she have the chance to see Vertin again? It was by pure coincidence that they were operating in the same city given their drastically different roles.
“No...it’s alright. I’ll come with you. It’s an opportunity for me to get a lay of the land for the upcoming operation.”
“Really?” Vertin couldn’t hide surprise despite being the one offering to hang out. From how things were going, she thought for sure that a refusal would have been the result. “Well, in that case, let’s get going.”
After Vertin paid for the meal, the two exited the cafe and entered the streets of London. Rife with cars and buses, people wearing all kinds of colorful clothing livened up the atmosphere with laughter and chatter. The city block was as alive as ever, with some groups gathering outside venues for unknown events. Sonetto and Vertin didn’t blend in, their outfits peculiar, even eccentric compared to the modern style surrounding them. Due to the fashion influence of Carnaby Street however, no one batted an eye as the two strode through the crowds.
Stepping through the doors of an unassuming building, Sonetto immediately noted the faint scent of lavender. It was a small bookstore, the quiet rustic environment served as sharp contrast to the vibrant hustle and bustle outside. Behind a nearby counter sat an older gentleman, the owner no doubt, who nodded in greeting upon seeing them enter the store.
“Are you searching for a particular book?” Sonetto asked, voice low. It seemed a bit inefficient to search in such a small place, a library would have a much higher likelihood of carrying what she was looking for.
“Just browsing.”
Was it normal to enter a store without knowing what to buy? Not really understanding, Sonetto followed the Timekeeper through the many sections. It seemed like Vertin really didn’t know what she wanted, going through random genres and examining the contents of any book that apparently piqued her interest.
“Oh? This book has a movie coming out in September this year.”
Sonetto leaned over, peering at the work in question. The movie was scheduled to come out months after the incoming Storm, it was no surprise that Vertin had seen it given her job.
“Fahrenheit 451?”
Vertin gave a nod, “The movie was poorly acclaimed. I remember hearing much controversy surrounding Julie Christie’s role in the film. The book is quite good, the main character reminds me of you in a way. I recommend it.”
Sonetto took the book from Vertin’s offering hand. She was not one for reading literature outside of the Foundation’s library, but for some strange reason she had no objections when Vertin told her to do so. It was a bit embarrassing, but every poetry book that Vertin had gifted her for her birthdays had been read and treasured neatly on a dedicated section of her bookshelf.
“I will definitely read it.”
Vertin smiled, pale green eyes still glued to the shelves. There was no doubt that Sonetto would keep her promise. A followup gift of Tales of Mystery & Imagination would be a clever choice for the future.
Hours passed. Over time Sonetto had grown comfortable with browsing and had slowly drifted to the poetry section. Despite the small selection, there were still many pieces that Sonetto had yet to read. After much consideration she decided on getting two collections: 77 Dream Songs and Expeditions ; more contemporary works.
The streets were now much less noisy than before, street lights already alight in preparation for the darkness to come. It seemed that most Londoners were done with their weekend shopping, carrying bags on their return trips.
Vertin checked her pocket watch, its metallic surface glittered in the orange hue of the setting sun as she shut it with a click, “I didn’t expect a visit to the bookstore to take so long.”
“I don’t mind at all. I found the experience rather relaxing.”
Sonetto had a soft expression, looking very much content. Her usual alertness had been replaced with a quiet reflection.
“Why don’t we head to Chelsea for dinner.”
Each passing moment beckoned the night closer.
The pair step off the bus in Chelsea. The streets illuminated by various storefronts, splashed color onto the normally drab stone tiles.
“Have anything in mind?”
“Anything is fine.”
“Since we’re in Chelsea, I believe Au Pere de Nico on Lincoln Street is a popular choice. It’s also not too far from here.”
The nightime scenery gave off a different impression as they weaved their way through the maze of buildings. Sonetto couldn’t help but admire every bit of scenery, reading nearby billboards and various advertisement posters. The world was so different from what books and poems described.
Without noticing, she found her eyes drawn to Vertin’s back. Even though it was their first proper meeting after years apart, she felt the same nostalgic familiarity from their school days. Since graduation, they had exchanged many letters. Vertin often mailed gifts from various parts of the world. Sometimes it would be caramels, other times it would be a music box or handkerchief. It really didn’t matter what she received, Sonetto was happy.
“We’re here.”
Before them stood a Bistro, its bright interior gave off a welcoming ambience. Being rather early for dinner, the restaurant wasn’t too crowded. They found a vacant table easily, situated adjacent to a decorated wall. The menus were already at the table, hand-crafted, each sporting a crudely painted tower as a shared motif.
Sonetto looked over the menu, the names of many items were in French, reminding her a bit of a certain classmate. Matilda would often talk about dishes such as foie gras, confit, and the like when asked about her life before coming to the SPDM.
A woman with an apron came to take their orders with a smile, “Welcome to Cafe Au Pere de Nico, what may I get you?”
“Steak frites and…” Vertin looked towards Sonetto for her part of the order.
“Duck confit, please.”
“Anything to drink?”
“Just water is fine.”
“Your orders will be here in a few minutes.”
Now that they ordered, Sonetto took the opportunity to examine her surroundings. It was a nice restaurant, the walls lined with photos of various celebrity visitors and signed menus. It really had the characteristics becoming of the Swinging 60s; relaxed, fun, and full of creative novelty.
Noticing Vertin watching, Sonetto suddenly felt self-conscious, “Am I acting strangely?”
Vertin shook her head, amused, “Not at all. I was just thinking about how much you’ve changed.”
“Changed…?” Sonetto brought a hand to her chin in thought, “I don’t think I’ve changed much aside from my appearance.”
“Before, you were always against doing anything outside what was allowed by the Foundation, but today, you came along with me.”
“…It’s important as an on-field operating member of the Foundation to better understand the outside world in order to complete missions more effectively.” Once again, Sonetto tried to explain it within the confines of her role. In part, she was also trying to convince herself that she wasn’t neglecting her duties.
The waitress returned, setting the dishes down for their respective customers. “Here you are. Sorry for the wait.”
“Thank you.” Vertin removed her hat, setting it down on top of her suitcase under the table, before meeting Sonetto's eyes with a serious expression. “Sonetto, the world is vast, far larger and more interesting than what the Foundation can ever offer. It isn’t wrong to want to see more.”
“No…My desire to see the world is for the sake of mankind, for the sake of my missions. Anything more than that is meaningless. After all, we are…”
Born to die martyrs.
It was a line Sonetto often repeated when she found herself straying away from the Foundations teachings. When she was a child the words came so easily. To die a death for a greater purpose was something of reverence. Now, she had caught a glimpse of the world outside the well, things became different.
What if Vertin…
The thought was so painful that she couldn’t bear to consider it any longer. Since when had she become such a hypocrite? The waves of turmoil crashed with even more intensity, a spiral of thoughts flooded her brain, trying to make sense of herself.
“Sonetto?”
Vertin’s voice snapped Sonetto out of her rumination, “...Sorry. I was just thinking.”
“No, I’m sorry. I should have known better than to say something that brings you such conflict,” Vertin's cool demeanor wavered ever so slightly, a glimmer of vulnerability that disappeared as quickly as it came. “It was extraneous on my part...” The last few words were almost murmured.
Sonetto shook her head. Vertin said those things for her sake, but it was her own uncertainty that always held her back. The familiarity that she had always known, could she accept leaving it behind?
The two of them, similar, but fundamentally different. Their paths divergent, since that fateful day so long ago.
Silence ensued, only the scraping of knives and forks was shared between them. Sonetto glanced at Vertin. Her eyes were downcast, as if deep in thought. The messy hair from her youth tied up neatly in a bun, boyish personality replaced with solemnity. Without having known her, it would have been absurd to think she grew up running through the rain in search of frogs and rocks.
“Ms. Vertin.” Her voice hitched in her throat when pale green met viridescent. Now that they had spent the day together, what more would a few more hours be? “Does…does the earlier offer still stand?”
A flash of confusion, then a smile, “Of course.”
Rushing through Battersea Park, Sonetto came to a halt at a treeline with a clear view of River Thames, a small red ship could be seen bobbing in the current. Her investigators had been captured a couple days prior, and Regulus had finally sailed near enough to shore for Sonetto to locate them.
No one could have guessed that Regulus would react so strongly to a recruitment attempt. There must have been a misunderstanding, but frustratingly Sonetto had no way of clearing it up given her position at the riverbank.
Such a scenario had never come up in her training…
The peaceful day she had spent with Vertin earlier in the week was now a distant memory. After the movie, they had parted ways, each returning to their assigned objectives. By now how far would Vertin be? It was a question whether she was even still in London.
In her pocket, she traced the floppy disk that Madam Z had given her for emergency use. It was still under development, a spell storage system that allowed for the use of complex arcanum without complex ritual. With it, she could teleport to the ship to confront Regulus, but it was far too risky.
The Storm was coming, and soon. Dark clouds had long since begun gathering, meaning the reversal was going to occur in less than an hour.
There was no more time to hesitate, her investigators and Regulus were both in danger. Pulling out one of the experimental floppy disks, Sonetto hastily filled in the necessary blanks. Teleporting another person was more difficult than teleporting oneself, but there was no other choice.
With a spark, ‘Teleport’ came to life.
“Greetings Ms. Sonetto. Backup request received. Awaiting authorization.”
“Override.”
“Warning: Overriding authorization is only permitted under unique circ-”
“Circumstance: Storm imminent. Requesting backup of the Timekeeper under the Field Mission Evacuation Instructions special condition: ‘Less than 24 hours before Storm’.”
“...Override success. May the peace be with us.”
The disk flashed brightly, forcing Sonetto to avert her eyes. When she regained her vision she gasped.
The spell worked, forcing Vertin to teleport to her. Only…she arrived unconscious, her hat and suitcase haphazardly strewn around her.
“Timekeeper…please wake up.” Sonetto kneeled down and shook Vertin’s shoulders gently to no avail. There wasn’t enough time for this. Murmuring an apology, Sonetto grabbed Vertin’s arm to look at the Storm countdown.
52.
52 minutes before the Storm.
A boom sounded in the river. Tearing her eyes off of the countdown, she jumped to her feet. That must have been Regulus’ ship. From here she could already see billows of black smoke.
Manus Vindictae.
Sonetto held a hand in the shape of a telescope over her eye.
“Okuloj de aglo, vizio de akcipitro.” The spell came to life, magnifying her vision for a better view of the situation.
“Regulus’s ship was sunk.” Panning, she caught a glimpse of her investigators and Regulus on the opposite shore, “Landed…Good. They landed safely.” The relief was apparent in her voice as she breathed a sigh. It would have been terrible had they fallen helplessly into the water. “Caspita! The rioters are still after them! If it goes on like this…”
A groan off to her side interrupted her line of thought. Vertin had finally regained consciousness, looking around in confusion.
Their eyes met, and Sonetto dipped her head, “My apologies, Timekeeper. Are you feeling better now?”