1:4:5 Negotiations (Part 3)

The vision ended. “I think we both know what that was.” Lore spoke coldly.
Crait sat there. Eyes wide open, mouth firmly shut. “What did you do to them?” Loren now joined Crait in their fear. “What have you done?”
“I think someone may have shown us the future.” Lore smirked. “Time has a way of showing you exactly what you need to see. It’s very persuasive.”
“I don’t want to see the universe destroyed… I… I just wanted to help people.” Crait’s hands cradled their head as they rocked slightly on their chair. “Humanity cannot stand alone.” They shook their head. “You will have nothing to fear from me.” Crait’s hands dipped below the table, their fingers crossed as soon as they left Char’s sight. “I know now what I need to do.”
“Then we’re agreed?” Lore went to offer their hand but thought against it. “You leave us alone, give us some time, and we’ll try and come up with a better solution to the whole Omega Outcome?”
Crait nodded. “A toast to newfound alliances.”
“To a start.” Char corrected. She swallowed her drink as quickly as she could before activating her teleporter.

Their little sojourn had not gone unnoticed. Polymer clad clones surrounded their bungalow, weapons drawn and capacitors charged. “Do not attempt to leave the property. Do not attempt to arm yourself. Remain still and silent and wait for an officer to enter. If you resist arrest we will not hesitate to shoot you. If you attempt to flee, we will not hesitate to shoot you. Remain calm and come quietly when asked.” A voice boomed over a megaphone. The circle of clones closed around the house until a point where they formed a living wall a metre away from the bricks. Six of the clones broke formation and pressed into the house. Three came from the same door Lore and Char had used and the other three appeared through a door behind them.
“You’re going to have to come with us.” The leader of the clone unit gestured for two of their officers to handcuff Lore and Char. “You’re under arrest. Your rights are now void. Every word out of your mouth is being recorded and will be used against you should it be relevant.”
“Could we at least get your names?” Lore scanned the clone leader’s markings to see if they could reverse engineer a name. Their helmet had a single line running down the centre from the peak to the chin.
“One. I am Commander One.” One signalled for their remaining officers to prepare for transport.
Their arms were contorted behind their backs and metal shackles were slapped against their wrists. The bar that held them as a pair was twisted. As it rotated, the cuffs were activated, expanding over their Breacher and Char’s wrist device. The lead clone gave a slight nod and they were off. They were taken from the compound then led not back to the council chambers like they had been expecting but instead to a bar in Cyenzeit. As they got closer, their clone complement got smaller and smaller. By the time they arrived, there was only Commander One and another clone with them. One held the door open but stood in the threshold. They removed Lore and Char’s cuffs before thrusting them into the bar.

The place was seemingly empty. Lore and Char waited for a moment before taking the few tentative steps between the door and the bar. They sat down and waited; every hair on their bodies was on end, the atmosphere was palpably charged. That charge was soon and suddenly attracted and discharged as two figures appeared from a blinding flash of white.
“You two enjoy your trip?” The First’s voice was distinct enough for them to realise who was talking before the light dissipated. “I hear Dekk Rekkarvik is lovely this time of year.”
“How did you…?” Lore was cut off mid question.
“Trace you?” The First finished. “Your Breacher. I hope you don’t think that The Temporal Sciences Guild are the only people who can track you. We logged and scrambled your Breacher ID as soon as you arrived.”
Lore looked at the traitor on their wrist. “Why?”
“Can’t have you messing up the timeline after we’ve worked so hard on ensuring it’s security.” Charrlene smiled.
“So, what did you get up to on Dekk Rekkarvik?” The First poured themselves a drink.
Lore looked to Char and attempted to communicate with her by any means without using their mouth. They waggled their eyebrows vigorously but to no avail. “I was showing Char where I woke up and we walked the same route I took before meeting her.” Lore thought that telling the truth would be the easiest thing.
The First and their Charr seemed to believe them. “Anything interesting happen while you were there? One Breacher more wouldn’t be able to make a saturated point.” Charrlene projected a hologram from her wrist. “Just after you arrived, there were two spikes in temporal energy both were ID’s similar to yours. We can only conclude that they were both yours but the proximity created a variance.”
“Why are you being so hostile?” Char shook her head. “There’s no need for it. We took a trip; we didn’t think it would be an issue. We’re sorry.”
“Right now, you two are both key assets to our efforts. Somehow, only you two possess the necessary skills to create the amount of energy we need to finally end this once and for all. From now on, you will not be permitted to leave this area of the ship without prior permission.” The First was firm but their eyes told a different story. Charrlene was staring daggers at them but The First’s face looked as though they were not taking what they were saying seriously.
“You will be permitted to keep your Breacher but should it be activated, we will be alerted and you shall be instantly recalled and incarcerated. Is that understood?” Charr’s stare somehow became even more penetrative.
Lore and Char could only nod; they both thought it was their best and only option.
“There will be a briefing in about half an hour. You will be expected to attend. Someone will come and collect you when it’s time. Until then, I’d recommend you begin work on the Tether Project.” The First took a swig of their drink. “You’re ‘free’ to go now.” The bar’s doors opened and Commander One was stood there, ready to escort them back to their Quarters.

The trip back was somehow worse than the trip there. On their journey to the bar there was a certain anticipation, intimidation; now they were left, lingering in a feeling of disappointment and the feeling of being scolded by someone superior, even if that someone superior was a version of themselves. They eventually got back to their bungalow.
“Look, I know you’re not allowed to leave Cyenzeit but, if you wanted, I could send a message to your crew.” One winked as they put their helmet back on.
Lore thought for a second. “Tell them we’re alright and we’ll see them soon. Get them off the ship and into their quarters. Tell them to get comfy.”
One nodded then departed.
“Oh! Before you go.” Lore called over to One. “Could you ask Curve and Magpie to check and see if they’re putting something in the water?”
“Okay…” One’s confused look could almost be seen through their helmet. “That all?”
Lore closed the door then turned to Char. “I suppose we should get comfortable too.”
They moved into the living room and found a space on the sofa to sit down. Char wandered over to join them.
“We’re just going to sit down, do nothing?” Char stood in the doorway opposite them. Lore sat there and smiled. “What are you smiling at?”
Lore patted the sofa. “Come and sit down. Trust me?” Reluctantly, she joined them. “Inaction is sometimes the best form of action. Biding our time. Plus, it’ll take a while before we hear from the clones.”
Char took a seat in the chair opposite them. “How will the clones be able to talk to us?”
“Curve loves those old comedies; hopefully she gets the reference. If not, Magpie will hunt it down and understand what I meant.” Lore looked so proud of themselves.
“And what did you mean?” Char was even more confused than she had been.
“If I’m right, we will be able to hide messages in the fabricator code for water. We can use it to communicate.” Lore pointed at the fabricator. “I’ve linked my Breacher to the local network. I’m ready to put the first message in place if you think it’s a good idea?
Char nodded. “Go ahead… Hang on, why can’t we just call the clones?”
“Do you have a communicator?” Lore patted themselves down.
“Ah…” Char shook her head. “What’s the first message going to be?”
“I’m going to put a picture of a rainbow frog on the cup that the water comes in.” Lore smiled. “One in a hundred cups will be fabricated with that image on it.” Lore tapped at their display. “Done!”
“Now what?” Char shuffled awkwardly in her chair.
“I suppose we could have that conversation?” Lore shrugged.
Char sighed. “It’s as good of a time as any.”
Neither of them spoke.
“Okay…” They both broke the silence at the same time. “No, you first.”
Lore volunteered the floor to Char. “Okay. Should we start with the easy questions or go straight in with the big stuff?”
Lore shrugged. “Easy?”
Char paused. “Ah… I don’t think there are any easy questions left.”
“Hard it is then.” Lore chuckled.
“What are we then?” Char mumbled the question just loud enough for Lore to hear.
“I don’t know… I think that’s something we’ve both got to decide.” Lore’s deflection was masterful yet crystal clear.
Char slumped in her chair. “Look, I don’t know… I’ve got all of these memories about their relationships with their Lores and if I’m being honest, going off of that, I’d say we shouldn’t be anything more than friends. But…” Char couldn’t think of a way to end the sentence without it sounding cliché. “You’re different. I’ve seen how the relationship plays out between most Lores and Chars but you don’t act like any of them, you treat me like another person and not some go between.”
“I have no idea about the others but I do know a bit about how The First treated their Char. I don’t want us to be like them.” Lore took a drink. “I like you and I hope we can be happy and move forward together but I’d understand if you’d rather take it slower.”
“I like you too. I wouldn’t protest us moving a little quicker but I want us to do this together.” Char held out her hand. Lore took it and interlaced their fingers with hers. “This is what I’m after.” She smiled.
“Just this or are you after a little more?” Lore gave their best, seductive smile.
“I wouldn’t mind it… If you were game?” She waggled her eyebrows. “Of course, I’m not going to rush you.”
Lore backed away slightly. “Since you know more than I do about the other mes, I suppose you already know about… my aversion to… certain activities.” Lore’s wording was carefully chosen to avoid a specific word.
“I know you’re asexual and it doesn’t matter really. As long as you love me and I love you, that’s all I need.” Char pulled them back in. “And if that changes or you want to try something new, I’m going to be here for you whenever you’re ready.”
Lore pulled her in for a kiss. “One day. Yes.” As their lips pressed against hers, a spark of lime light filled their absent eye. They saw themselves stood beside a pregnant Char, still hand in hand, as she pushed her last. Her future scream forced them to retreat to the present. “Certainly one day.” They smiled. “Maybe after all of this, we could start a family?”
Char scoffed. “Woah… Hold your horses. We’ve only just properly started our relationship and you’re talking about kids?” She chuckled. “Randy git.”
Lore’s face transitioned hastily from ghostly white to raging red. “I didn’t mean now; just something to consider… You know, in the future.”
Char laughed. Lore joined her awkwardly. She pulled them in for another kiss. “Come here you.”

The two of them spoke for a while until the screen above the fabricator lit up, pulsing to show its activity. A cup materialised and filled with a lukewarm liquid. Printed on the side, a picture of a rainbow frog.
“I think they got the message.” Lore broke away from Char and removed the cup. It was seemingly identical to the one they had programmed. Lore brought the cup to their lip and gave it a sniff. “Just water. Warm water.” They took a sip before coughing. “Yep, warm water. No, no, no. Not nice.” They went back for another sip. Just before the water touched their lips, they noticed something embossed on the base. They looked around the bungalow for a sink or anywhere to dispose of the water before settling on a small, potted plant. “There’s something written on the bottom.” Lore ran over to Char and inverted the cup.
“Got your message. What do you want us to do?” Char read. “What do we want them to do?”
“I think now would be a good time for them to make friends.” Lore took the cup back to the fabricator. “The clones probably know more than we do about what’s going on.” Lore inputted the new message before getting themselves and Char another drink. “Now I suppose we should probably look into that Tether thing...”