Chapter 64: Close

  Together with Alice, we made our way to S-Plaza.

  As we walked, I briefly calculated the chances I’d get marked by Erebus for possibly causing a significant change by utilizing her.

  After all, directing her to the Census Archives might trigger a chain of events that'll make this run drift far away from the original timeline – enough to get marked.

  Eventually, I ruled out the possibility.

  Afterimage had already shown me that I never came to this area before. And Déjà vu confirmed that I’d already met Alice in a previous loop. Taken together, the most likely place that meeting occurred was at the Expo in Skyhaven.

  Given the way Alice was directed to the orphanage this run, it was safe to say that was the other looper’s doing. And if that was the case, that’d mean he was the first one to move her differently than in the original timeline.

  Logically, the original timeline was changed the second Alice was directed here. Then, according to the butterfly effect, that single change in her day might've caused many other changes for the rest of the day – and not only in her life.

  There was no way Erebus was scanning around every new thing that happened to her due to that initial change. No. He likely goes to the root of things and stops there.

  Now, I couldn’t be certain, but if a significant change was bound to happen because of Alice this run, wouldn’t that make the second looper the one more likely to be marked?

  There were a lot of holes in my theory – I knew that. The biggest one being that if the other looper was already marked, I might automatically become the next target between the two of us. But considering I had no better idea on how I could find what I needed from the Census Archives – and no guarantee I’d even come across Alice in the next loop, assuming the second looper might not “activate” her search again – this felt like the best course of action.

  “What are you hoping to find in the Archives?” she asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

  That was a great question. One I didn’t fully have an answer to either.

  The identities of two people – sure. But what’s next?

  I couldn’t show hesitation or lack of planning. “I'll tell you when we get there.”

  She stopped suddenly.

  I turned, confused.

  “Listen,” she said. “I’m not exactly the trusting type, and you…well, you’re not exactly radiating trustworthiness with all your secrecy.”

  Knowing I couldn’t afford to lose her – or rather, the privileges I’d get by accompanying her – I decided to reveal a bit more.

  “There’s a name. Two names, actually,” I said. “People who knew my mother. I suspect one of them is Valdemar, but I obviously don’t have the proof. If we can find records on them in the Archives, it might give us enough to track them down.”

  She blinked. “Wait. You’re planning to track them down? But if you’re right and that person is Valdemar, Libra won’t ever let you get anywhere close. Do you have a plan for when that happens?”

  “Yes,” I said, assuming it’ll happen in a future run anyway – one she won’t be part of. “But we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Right now – the Archives.”

  She nodded reluctantly and resumed walking beside me. “So…how are we going about this?”

  ***

  The Census Archives building was massive.

  The closer we got to the entrance, the more towering and intimidating it felt – at least fifteen floors high and nearly five hundred meters wide in both directions.

  Adding to its already monstrous presence, was its depressing gray color, the complete lack of windows, and the army of Ironwatch Enforcers stationed outside – most clad in the Mark II Aetherguard suits.

  There were two checkpoints before you could even step inside.

  The first was Ironwatch’s outer blockade, where you had to pass a full body inspection. The second, right outside the entrance, had the Enforcers – joined by the Archives’ workers – questioning you about your intended business within the facility.

  If everything was in order, they’d direct you to the proper wing and floor.

  Having Alice with me made me hopeful we’d get through both without a problem.

  We reached the line at the first checkpoint – about three hundred people ahead of us, splitting between three gates.

  Alice didn’t hesitate. She walked right past the line and headed straight to the Enforcers near the rightmost gate.

  She was far more assertive than I expected. The curses from the people in line – telling us to "get the fuck back" – didn’t faze her at all.

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  “I wouldn’t normally do this,” she whispered as we approached the gate, “but we’re in a hurry, aren’t we?”

  I gave a simple nod. Like I mentioned before – privileges.

  The gate – like the other two – was guarded by four Enforcers, two Guardians, and two Turrets.

  I couldn’t tell whether the young Enforcer at the front recognized Alice specifically, or if he just realized she was a Skyhavener, but he stepped forward before we even arrived.

  “Miss - ?”

  “Verldson,” Alice said, already reaching out her COG for scanning.

  The Enforcer was caught off guard, clearly familiar with the name, before he scanned her COG to confirm her identity.

  “Welcome, Miss Verldson,” he said, giving a polite, slightly embarrassed nod.

  Then he turned to me – his expression noticeably less welcoming.

  “He’s accompanying me,” Alice interjected, stepping in smoothly. “Please expedite our entrance. We’re here on important business.”

  The Enforcer gave a short nod but still requested a COG scan from me. Once it was done, he gestured toward the gate. “Just go through the Crystal Check, and you may enter.”

  “Crystal Check?” Alice blinked, clearly surprised. “But I vouch for this man. Isn't that enough?”

  “Oh no, Lady Verldson,” the Enforcer shook his head. “Both of you have to go through it. New rules.”

  “What?” Alice’s surprise deepened. “Since when?”

  “Since this morning. Prime Vorrick’s direct orders,” said a voice coming from behind the Enforcer – one I immediately recognized.

  Stepping toward us was none other than Riven, Valdemar’s right-hand man. I recognized him from the Memory Fragment.

  Alice, of course, didn’t.

  I tensed as I sensed that somehow he recognized me as well - that much was clear by his knowing smile.

  He gave the young Enforcer a friendly pat on the back. “Good job, Private. I’ll take it from here. Continue with the other visitors.”

  “Yes, Captain Duran,” the Enforcer said with a salute. Then he gave us – well, mostly Alice – a polite nod before stepping aside and calling on the next people in line.

  “Casten asked for this?” Alice raised an eyebrow.

  “Afraid so. We were ordered to confiscate the crystals of anyone who may enter,” Riven replied, his tone casual. “Not supposed to talk about it, but apparently Libra can detonate crystals from afar now. Sounds like nonsense to me, but hey, I’m not Prime Security.”

  I didn’t know what to say. Seeing him here…this couldn’t be a coincidence.

  “What’s wrong, Viktor?” he asked suddenly, turning to me.

  He knew my name…

  Through Valdemar, obviously.

  Unless...

  If up until this point I considered three suspects to be the second looper, now I had a fourth one.

  Alice blinked in surprise. “You two know each other?”

  Riven smiled. “Something like that. Right, Viktor?”

  I nodded slowly, fishing for more. “Is there a reason you’re here?”

  His smile widened. “What do you mean? I’m here to secure the well-being of this platform’s citizens.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “Then what did you mean?” he asked, tone teasing. “You must speak clearer, or else I won’t be able to understand what you mean.”

  I stared at him silently for a moment. Then, catching the growing curiosity on Alice’s face, I decided to drop it. I didn’t want to face too many hard questions later.

  “Get us in faster, Captain Duran?” I asked, offering a smile of my own – testing the waters.

  He smirked and nodded. “Why do you think I came to welcome you personally?” He turned to Alice. “No offense, Lady Verldson.”

  Then, he turned and signaled to his men at the gate. “Lady Verldson and her friend may pass. They aren’t carrying crystals.”

  The Enforcers nodded and opened the first checkpoint for us.

  “Come on, Viktor,” Alice said, already walking ahead.

  I hesitated for a moment, still locked in a silent staring contest with Riven, trying to understand what this guy’s deal was…before finally following her.

  “We’ll catch up inside,” he suddenly whispered, sending a shiver down my spine.

  I sighed, refusing to let him see he’d unsettled me, then left.

  I caught up to Alice as we made our way to the second checkpoint.

  Between the two checkpoints, more Enforcers roamed the area with Iron Enforcers and Hounds by their sides - entire squads on constant patrol.

  “That conversation…was weird,” Alice muttered.

  You don’t understand how weird, Alice. Even I don’t fully understand.

  “Tell me about it,” I said. “I barely know the guy.”

  “And yet he got us inside without any checks,” she pointed out, her tone edged with suspicion. “Who is he?”

  And here come her hard questions. As expected.

  It seems like it’s always straight to the point with her.

  “I’m not sure,” I admitted. “But he’s connected to all of this.”

  Her eyes widened, and her voice dropped to a whisper. “Is he with Libra?”

  I was afraid she might suddenly turn back and go interrogate him if I told her the truth, forgetting all about the Archives, so...

  “I don’t know,” I lied. “But it’s not the first time I’ve seen him during my investigation.”

  “How long have you been investigating?”

  It was loop number nineteen, so…

  “About three weeks,” I said.

  “Not that long, then,” she noted, narrowing her eyes. “You said your mother died a year ago. What changed?”

  I didn’t like how personal her questions were getting, but I figured using her own line – calling it private – wouldn’t be the smartest move here.

  “Your parents died a year ago too,” I said simply, hoping she'd read between the lines and drop it.

  And...it worked. She didn’t press for more. At least for now.

  There was only one entrance to the Census Archives, but just like the previous checkpoint, it was blocked by a metal fence with three gates – each one with its unique line.

  We skipped the queue again, and Alice stepped forward to identify herself to the Archives’ worker – a middle-aged woman in a formal suit. She nervously ushered us to the side once she realized Alice was the real deal.

  “Yes, Lady Verldson,” she said quickly. “Please tell me how I can assist you, and I’ll make sure your visit here is as smooth and fruitful as possible.”

  “Thank you,” Alice replied with a polite nod. Then she turned to me. “Viktor?”

  I cleared my throat. “We’re looking for two people. We only know their first names and a few details. We don’t know what position they hold now, or where they live – “

  “Oh, but we don’t provide services such as this,” the worker cut me off, blinking in confusion.

  Alice stepped forward, her tone sharpening as she read the woman’s name tag. “Please help us, Mrs. Becker. This is an urgent matter. One we can’t elaborate on. But be discreet and helpful, and I’ll make sure Prime Security hears of your assistance.”

  The woman hesitated, eyes darting everywhere around us – she was considering breaking the rules for us.

  That was expected. Can’t blame her. Any Orlinther would kill for personal patronage from Skyhaven – especially from an oligarch.

  Mrs. Becker swallowed hard, then slowly nodded. She turned to a resting worker at the back, explaining they had a visit from an oligarch, asking him to take over her line.

  Then, she signaled us to follow her inside.

  As we walked, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me.

  I turned.

  Back at the first checkpoint, in the distance, stood Riven.

  He raised his hand in a small wave – just enough to make sure I saw him. Then, he tapped his ribs slowly before…pointing directly at me.

  My brow furrowed.

  Instinctively, I reached into the inner pocket of my jacket and felt it – a folded piece of paper.

  When did he -

  “Viktor?” Alice’s voice called out. I looked up and saw they were waiting for me.

  “Yeah, yeah. I’m coming,” I said quickly, catching up but staying slightly behind.

  As I walked, I opened the note.

  It had the same damn question from before:

  Have you ever wondered what would happen if you fed your COG an Aetheris?