by The Eurostar
"I'll show you the complex, Edulcore," offers Shirley.
"Maybe later, thanks," I say, still watching the flying cows on TV. "Can you tell me which room can I have?" I ask. "Preferably on the top floor. I need... to stay high."
"Sorry, but the rooftop is for Turkish, and the fourteenth is... not usable right now. The thirteenth is available, but it was used by Sonja, who is now..."
"Is now...?"
"Well, I'm not sure. We thought she died right in that room, but later Naecken somehow implied... that she wasn't dead, like he resurrected her."
"That wouldn't surprise me. Can you show me her room?" I ask, by instinct. The memories of the girl who told us where Danny was kept captive in Mandelovia suddenly returns, and I must see a picture of her. A suspect is arising in my mind.
The elevator is not, by any means, fast. "Doc has talked about upgrading it," explains Shirley. From what I've seen, this place is an interesting mix of old furniture and high-tech marvels, straight from Malvan-X. My first reaction to the place was bad, but I am starting to feel that I'm gonna love it.
The elevator stops with a thud. The door opens to reveal a short corridor with a few doors opening over it and a window on the end.
"That apartment was Sonja's. I believe you can take any other."
"Uh... Okay. But can you show me Sonja's? I met her only briefly, before my... disappearance. Maybe there is a picture of her."
Shirley opens the door.
The place is eerie. Dark, a blade of light comes from the nearly closed window. Shirley opens it, and I look around. Not many things.
There are three pictures on the wall: one is of that boy who died when we took over the TriVext building, one is a picture of me, and one is of a girl. They are hand-painted, not really perfectly recognizable.
On a table are a few cosmetics, some books in Russian, and a photo. I take it; it's a group shot on a beach. I suppose it is one of the beaches on the island.
Mick, a slightly fat, black man (that must be Kit), Shirley, Naecken, Tobias, Lance, Danny, a young man I never seen before, Velo, and a woman, an Asian with blue eyes. I remember her now, perfectly. I have seen her two times, that day in Mandelovia when I supposedly died, and a few days ago when she helped me and Turner get away from the EPS. Only, then she called herself Nadia.
I put the picture back. Then, in an open drawer, I see another thing, a small circular disc, of which I had totally forgotten the existence.
It was the so-called future Eurostar who gave it to me that same fateful day in Mandelovia. "In the time of fire, the green will emerge from the red, bringing life where none existed before... Put this disk on Naecken's forehead at the crucial moment," he said. I still remember it, at least I remember when I heard it, if not when I pronounced it.
I don't believe in Naecken's death, and this, for me, is a proof of his survival. One day he will return, I am sure.
Now all the loose threads seem tied. I am back where I belong, and I am ready for my responsibilities. There is still one thing I have to accomplish, the rescue of my son. But the time for that is near, I am sure.
I took from my pocket a small card. It's an appointment in Paris. Jackie left it with me just before disappearing. She's a young woman able to teleport, like Nadia, like Crasher... pieces of a puzzle that took place. Someone wants my help and is evidently willing to help me in return.
With a Gaia unit, I could zap inside the EPS, take my son, and be back here in no time. Will that work?
Probably not. Walker, by this time, will have changed the location of Eddie, and maybe of the whole EPS. Well, the latter maybe would prove difficult even for him, but maybe his personal offices could have been moved. Who knows? There will be time for investigation.
Shirley is looking at me.
"Sorry," I say. "I was deep in thought. Okay, I will take the room facing east. Let me put there my sack, and I will come down with you. I want to see the parade."
Time to see my old friends and meet the new guys.