The Parallel Universe.

Epilogue Of Part 1.

Epilogue

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He lowers his gaze, eyes scanning the patio below. There is no sign of her now; that beam of light had, quite literally, swallowed her up. Must be one of the Agency's new tricks.

A sigh slips through his lips just as the sound of a door opening reaches his ears.

"Sir." Her voice is nervous, almost frightened. "It is as you said…the three of them are gone."

Vherian shrugs. "I knew that they would leave. I didtell them that I wouldn't be keeping them here against their will, didn't I?" He twirls around and squints at the young woman before him. She is still wearing her glasses, but he doesn't need to see her eyes to know that she is deeply troubled.

"Don't be so sullen, Jeal," he says. "You're the one who helped them create the distraction, after all. It's alright—" he adds, raising a hand to stop her when he sees her opening her mouth to offer an explanation. "I know why you did. You already knew that I intended to let them choose what to do, so what does it hurt to help them escape, right? They're the ones who didn't take my word for it and talked you into creating that massive diversion."

A high-pitched giggle escapes him at the memory. Of all the things that his son could have chosen as a distraction, the bells were by far the most dramatic. It is as he has always said; Azuridian really is his father's son.

"I tried to talk him into staying," Jealene mumbles unhappily. "Or, if he's so set on leaving, to at least not bring Rheylo with him. But, to no one's surprise, it proved useless in the end."

"And you just can't say no to him, can you?" Vherian chuckles. "It's rather adorable." He pauses, as if debating whether to bring up the subject. "Am I right in assuming that the greoz is dead?"

"Yes…," she says, then hesitates. "I had no idea that Phion turned into that…but it all makes sense, now. Do you think the others knew?"

Vherian cocks a brow. "That was hardly our little Phion anymore. And my eldest knew, no doubt. As for the other Insurgents? I would say that he's got a lot of explaining to do." He chuckles. "What I'd give to hear that conversation."

"And the human?" Jealene asks. "What do you intend to do with him?"

"Ah, the Agent, you mean?" It had been sheer luck that one of the guests at the party had been in a position close to the balcony, and even luckier that they had rushed out to keep the Paev'ur from jumping. It was not quite as lucky, perhaps, that they apprehended the wrong person and instead pulled the young Agent back up instead.

"He'll be safe here until the Agency returns for him. Provided they'd bother, of course." He smiles cheekily. "I doubt the Insurgents will put in the effort to save someone who's spied on them all this time."

Jealene sighs, her shoulders slumping as if some heavy weight has been placed there. "What do you reckon they will do now, anyway? The Hideout is destroyed; they have no place to turn."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that." He turns back to gaze out over the balcony, feeling the corners of his mouth twitch as his eyes fall on the horizon. "We do have some very, very friendly neighbors, after all."

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His eyes scan the empty shed, every nerve in his body on high alert.

Having determined its state, he nods at his two companions, who follow him in.

"Well, that was a shitshow if I've ever seen one," Gwyndal mutters. "And I've seen a lot."