Into The Past 5

Into The Past 2018/05/23

Radical Raven Timewarp Jak Venture Aaliyah 5

Where Did He Go?
The worse of the carnage has been averted. The valient heroes, spliting up, have neutralised the bishop's men-at-arms. Albeit with so many groups of men-at-arms in play the heroes weren't able to prevent some casualties among the drugged church soldiers. As the Cardinal and monks stir and awaken, all that remains to deal with is the 'bishop', who has revealed himself to be a dark unSeelie Lord. That fight is continuing in the cellar, and although the dark lord is currently bound in webs and partially hurt it's no foregone conclusion. Only Amelia and Alliyah are in the cellar at this time, with other heroes some 20m away.

Tali does a quick scout and finds that the cellar is the only place with remaining action. Also that the big bad looks rather... evil. Huh, worth a go. She zips to the chapel, scoops up the holy water there in the biggest vessel she can find, and rushes to the cellar.

Tali has to make do with what she can hold in her hands. She hopes it's enough!

The Dark unSeelie Lord is bound in webs, which he makes an effect to tear asunder with a casual shrug of his shoulders. Whether he succeeds or not, he is facing Tali and Amelia. Sensing the contents of Tali's hands he smiles - charmingly - at the time traveler and speaks to her in Old English, "Come, mortal child, join me in combat as my vassel and your reward should be great."

However, charming or not, the webs resist his effect to casually break them.

Venture brings his hands back out from holstering his weapon. "I left that Mummy lady downstairs with that Bishop guy- we'd better get back to the basement!" He exclaims to Radical. "Let's move!"

Knowing he's speaking to a fellow teleporter he doesn't bother to offer a ride. Instead he redraws his weapon and pops right into the basement below leveling his weapon as he arrives at the area he remembers the Evil One being. He might be off, but its a good starting place he figures.

He aquires his target, and checks to make sure his shot won't send his target flying into an ally. If he can't make that happen- well he'll need to reorient himself.

Venture squares his shot and squeezes the trigger- his Thunderbolt spiraling a wave of compressed sonic energy straight at his target. The sonic blast picks up the dark lord, webs and all. Hurled back into a large cask the webbing around the dark lord is ripped apart as he smashes into the cask, breaking in the side to release a flood of red wine gushing all over the floor of the cellar. Apart from the indignity of it the dark lord seems unaffected.

Radical can't teleport quite as far as Venture...and he's feeling a bit cautious. He aims to teleport just outside of the basement itself and see if he can tell the tactical situation from there.

Radical catches sight of the dark lord. . o O (A fae? Here? That's...odd.) He brings up his bracers and decides to go for a full focused singularity on the fae, keeping the fissure in space nice and compact.

The dark unSeelie Lord is slammed back against the broken cask by Radical's shot. He looks to have felt that.

Radical grunts as the shockwave slams through his arms and the energy is sent outward to tear a brief hole in space. He says in fae, << I think you made a poor decision to come here. >>

Amelia says, "Radical, he's not from Undermoon or the Twilit Realms. I've never seen that dimensional signature before. He may not understand you."

Tali can't resist the dark fae's commands! At the same time she doesn't really want to hurt her friends, so though she changes side in the fight, she chooses to do so in a relatively harmless way, by binding and blindfolding them - having first dumped the holy water on the ground. "As you command, my lord."

The Dark Lord stands, his elven finery dripping with wine. His purpose here has been foiled and he is hurting. In a cold voice of malice and hatred he speaks in oddly accented Fae, "This day you have made an enemy. In the dark of night, the cold of winter, the places where mortals fear to tread, look for me for I shall be there." And with that he vanishes from sight.

"I don't know what the hell you're saying, but I can tell I don't like it. So here- take my regards, Chuckles." Jak says with a snarl as he teleports out of the webbing remnants- about 3 feet backwards and a few meters to the left or right to account for the locations of others, appearing with his weapon leveled at the Dark Lord's previous position.

He'll deal with Tali as soon as the Dark Lord is down. But by the time he's reoriented, the Dark Lord has vanished from sight.

In frustration, he considers pulling the trigger where the Dark Lord was anyway not hoping to hit anyone.

Instead he turns his weapon on Tali. "Alright- so what's going on with you? Going all 'As you command, M'lord?' Not arid. Not arid at all."

Radical co-locates two locations in space..and disappears from hwere he's standing, appearing in the middle of the basement. He looks around, "I didn't see where he went. Did he teleport away? Turn invisible? Shift dimensions?" He looks over toward Tali, "She's been affected by a spell, I'd guess. That would match the M.O." He raises his voice, "Tali! Snap out of it!"

Radical manages to smell the scene of wine on the slight breeze coming from the sercet tunnel the bishop entered the cellar in the first place."

Radical takes a deep breath and looks around, assessing. He abruptly turns and points toward the secret tunnel. "I think I know where he went." Amelia ports out of the makeshift Tali entangle and calls over to Tali. "Tali, snap out. You've been charmed." she says.

"Oh good because I'd really like to shoot him in the face now." Jak replies. "But we need to deal with our comrade." He nods towards Tali. "Any suggestions? I could teleport her into a cold lake osmewhere."

There's the sounds of people coming down toward the cellar. Led by a portly middle aged man in a nightgown holding a heavy brass candlestick as a weapon.

Tali places herself in front of the secret door in less than the blink of an eye. "Let my lord go, and we need not fight. Pursue, and I shall protect him."

Tali shakes her head. "What did that [expletive that would get one arrested on the spot in the 28th century] do to me?!" And she's gone off, down the tunnel, intending to collapse a support to block the escape.

Tali bumps into the daek fae before she can carry out her plan. Rather than risk letting him goes, she tries to tie him up with her rope belt.

Tali shouts, "He's here! But he slipped out of my grip!"

The Dark Lord becomes visible. There's an expression of shock and maybe even fear on his face. Then he frantically blurts out the words to the spell he was silently preparing... and seems to shrink away as if vanishing down an infinite tunnel of chaotic energies.

Radical and Amelia sense the disturbance of a dimension shift. Not a gate. Personal. And strange. Almost as if not to a dimension but a fractal plane of existance.

Tali says, "Shick!"

Jak looks to Radical as soon as the Dark Lord appears and then shrinks down. "Please tell me you have a gadget for that?" He asks, his mind stuck on catching the Dark Lord, so he isn't aware the Cardinal and his monks are en route.

Radical teleports over to where Tali is...and then activates his dimensional sight to try to get a better feel for what just happened.

Tali meanwhile decides to explore to the end of the tunnel to avoid the cardinal and his men. She then doubles back overground to search for the da Vinci documents we came in search of.

It's hard for Radical to see. It seems the dark lord didn't go to another dimension as such, but a fractal sub-dimension of our realm. A fractal dimension of chaos and evil.

Venture doesn't holster his weapon. Instead he keeps it pointed up at the ceiling while he scans for signs of the Dark Lord. "Alright- so what's our plan B?" He asks.

Radical takes a deep breath. "The plot's foiled. The unseelie ran. Let's just...head out."

The monastery is in an uproar. There are monks everywhere, rushing around. The Da Vinci sketches and notebooks are in the Cardinal's quarters. However there are several fearful servants in there making accquiring them difficult.

Venture nods before inquiring as the thought hits him, "That I can do. But what about the documents?"

Radical takes a deep breath. "Oh...right. We could try teleporting around to where they are. If we know where they are."

Amelia says, "Plan B ought to be our original plan A. Getting sight of the Da Vinci notes so Tali can find out where and when the painting of her father was done. But the doing it with nobody ever knowing is out the window. I'm a witch. It's up to someone else to deal with irrate churchmen."

Tali stands outside the quarters, then rushes in, grabbing the documents and pictures before the servants can understand what's going on, and rushes off.

Tali says over comms, "I've got the papers. Meet me by the grove of trees above the pond."

As he descends the stairs towards the cellar the Cardinal can be heard saying, "Those were the King's men. Why would the King send men to kill my household? He must know this will mean war between crown and church." The Cardinal is speaking in Greek to the monk beside him.

Jak touches the earpeice tucked in his ear. "Oh- bad***, T. We'll meet you there. You want to race?" He asks playfully before reaching out for Amelia and Radical, but he stops halfway as he notices Radical seems to be up to something. He looks on impatiently.

Radical takes a deep breath..and tries to reach a hand through a portal just long enough to say something in Greek through it. So the sound comes from the portal and not the tunnel. He says in Greek, << Cardinal...these are not the King's men. Check them. Make sure before you make war. These are not who you think they are. >>

Amelia casts a spell. One that seems to be taxing her ability. But to the people now starting to enter the cellar, Venture, Radical, and Amelia aren't in sight.

The Cardinal looks around in shock. He sees nobody. And after a moment he drops to his knees and gives thanks for the grace of hearing God's voice. The rest of the monks with the Cardinal do likewise.

Jak raises an eyebrow at Radical when he sees the Cardinal and his men, silently inquiring if he's finished. The Cardinal and his men falling to their knees seems to answer that question for him.

Jak reaches out and places a hand on Radical's shoulder and another on Amelia's forearm before teleporting them away- towards their rendevous location.

Amelia is out of breath from maintaining the mass invisibility spell even for the short time she had to. But she's also laughing. "Connor.. the voice of God." she says, and breaks into laughter again.

Radical nods and closes the portal just before they are teleported out. He also chuckles. "I'm surprised it worked, but...I figured if I could avoid a war, it was worth it."

Amelia goes to Tali and hugs if allowed. "Glad to have YOU back. You scared me for a second back there."

Tali says, "Shh! Not too loud - people still might hear us...." And then she's hugged. "I'm glad to be back! What did he DO to me?"

Amelia tells Tali, "He 'charmed' you. It's an ability most vampires and many fae have. To warp your mind to their own ends."

Tali shivers. "I never want to feel that again. I mean, you read about these things, but....."

Amelia nods, "Yeah."

Radical rubs his chin, trying to remember if an actual war started historically from this point.

Jak joins in Amelia's laughter and claps Radical on the back. "Great thinking man. That was arid." He says appreciatively as his eyes cut to Tali. He nods to her curtly before agreeing with Amelia. "Yes- glad to see your brain is working again."

Tali says, "I never knew my brain was so appreciated! So... what next?"

Radical nods, "We got what we came for, and kept a war from breaking out. I think we head back to regroup a bit."

Amelia points to the pile of sketches and notebooks, "Does it tell you when and where the painting was done?"

Tali says, "I haven't a had a chance to see them in decent light yet!"

Tali says, "Let's go somewhere bright and then I'll look through everything."

"Sounds like some place with electricity to me." Jak says not at all hiding his relief.

Amelia says, "Or sunlight."

Tali says, "Either works."

Amelia says, "Sunlight I can do. As can Radical and Venture. Electricity, that's you, Tali."

Tali says, "Let's do sunlight. I think maybe your aim is better than mine."

Radical shrugs, "I wouldn't be able to bring people with me. Yet."

Amelia check on her PDA and then looks at Venture, "Persia? There's a tolerant culture there at this period according to my history download."

Tali says, "Probably best to be away from people, wherever we go. Fewer questions."

Amelia nods, "Ayres Rock?"

Tali says, "Um, sure!"

Amelia chuckles, "No Persian coffee though. Venture, can do?"

"Haha- Good thinking. I can do that." Jak says. "Alright everyone hold on to your priceless documents." He adds as he holds his arm out for everyone to grab on.

Tali holds on to Jak, and the documents.

Once everyone is attached he vanishes down a quantum hole, pulling the others along with him to the top of Ayer's Rock- or Uluru.

Tali has a quick look round - to make sure we are in fact alone.

Radical looks around as well...and then pulls off his mask. The black armored outfit isn't exactly cool, temperature-wise, here.

Amelia far reaches... and reaches... and reaches. Then draws her hand back empty. "This truly is beyond civilization. No bottled chilled water in reach."

Jak immediately tosses his period peasant clothing, feeling better immediately. "Ah- that's better. Seriously- I would start a revolt over wearing those clothes all the time. Its like they add itchiness just to make things more miserable." He groans as Amelia states there is no chilled water within her reach which to him seemed infinite.

Tali nods, and sits in what shade she can find, but with the documents in the light. She examines them in detail.

Radical contemplates, in the meantime, how to try to extend his dimensional rig to allow others to go with him on his travels.

It doesn't take Tali long to find the relevant note. Salai started his coffee shop painting, the one in which Tali, Elizabeth Victoria Moriarty, and Tali's father appear in the background, on 12th Jan 1512, in the House of Isoef. A coffee shop in Milan.

Tali says, "Huh! That's specific! 12th January, 1512. Julian Calendar, of course."

Tali Meets Her Father
The Travelers have suceeded in their initial objective of obtaining Da Vinci's sketches and notebooks. And incidently foiling an attempt by a dark UnSeelie Elven lord to forment a war between king and church in 15th cent France. They're now resting at Ayers Rock in Oz in 1529. Tali has read through most of the notebooks and discovered the painting showing her having coffee with her father and Elizabeth Victoria Moriarty was started on 12th Jan 1512 in the House of Isoef, a coffee house in Milan.

Radical remains in the shade on the side of the rock, lamenting some of his lost powers, "I wish that I could still scry. Maybe I'll try to come up with some way to simulate it. Because I kind of feel blind. If that makes sense." He pulls his mask off again. "So...what's the plan?"

Tali says, "I dunno. I mean, clearly I have to go there some time. But it's weird, because I don't know what it's about! Though I do want to meet my Dad...."

Amelia far reaches, and brings back a raindeer hide bucket with icy cold water in it. "That's up to Tali. We're in her hands." she says.

Tali says, "This is where time travel gets really confusing. I guess what I should do is to go pretty much immediately, because that's exactly the sort of thing I would do if I found out where to meet my Dad. So I assume that must be the decision I made, which I'm making now. I mean - if you're happy with it. We can wait if you need a break!"

[To Radical] Tali says, "What are your powers, anyway? It would help to know since we're on the same team!"

Amelia grins, "A coffee sounds good."

Tali says, "But we'll need a change of clothes. Peasant garb isn't a good idea. Or what's in the painting."

Radical smiles. "I'm fine with going now. As for my powers...I can warp space. I can teleport or walk through dimensions, but not take anyone with me. And I can warp distances...or create small singularities, which can...well, they can be destructive. And I can see through the dimensional barriers with these." He holds up the goggles attached to his mask.

Radical adds, "I have magical knowledge, due to my prior job as the Cartesian. But no longer have magic at my disposal. For the time being." He nods to Amelia, remembering what she has said to him a couple of times.

Amelia smiles, "I envy you the last, Radical. I have to go to another dimension to see what's waiting for me."

Tali says, "Wow. Not many people can get a new set of powers when they lose them....."

Amelia adds, "Clothes I can get. The local alter earths are close enough in tech and style for me to far reach for them."

Tali grins. "Not in Australia, I bet."

Radical chuckles and nods to Tali, "Not everyone has the knowledge...and a couple of immense libraries to pull things from to create the necessary gear. I don't have natural powers at all. It's all equipment." Amelia points to the raindeer hide bucket with water in it. "That didn't come from Aus. When I far reach I'm not limited to geographic location.

Tali says, "Oh yeah - I meant the fashions wouldn't be the same here. Not that you couldn't reach them."

Amelia laughs, "I wonder what the local style is? Feathers and paint?"

Tali shrugs. "No idea. Never been to Australia before, in any time."

Radical shakes his head, "I have no idea either. I think it's my first time here as well."

Amelia says, "Anyway, I'm thinking Tali has to be the lady of the group. But not Italian. Unless you can speak the language? I'll be her servant. I speak Latin which ought to get us by. And you stay with your cleric role, Radical. What do you all think?"

Tali says, "I'll have to be English. I can manage the English of the period."

Amelia nods.

Radical nods slowly, "Sure...that works."

Amelia far reaches for the required clothing.

Radical says, "Though I think I'll just take my gear in a bag with me, if you can grab one for me."

Tali changes into the new clothes in an instant.

Amelia nods, and far reaches for a traveler's bag. It's well worn, leather with carrying handles. And when opened, has seaman's clothes on top, and a woman's undergarments at the bottom. "Oops."

Radical raises a brow, "That'll work, I guess. I won't worry about it."

Tali says, "How do you get what you're reaching for?"

Tali says, "I mean, you said you have to go somwhere to see what it's like."

Amelia says, "It's all in the initial formulation of the spell. It's... well, like reaching into a dark closet for something. You feel around, and only grab on if you feel what you're looking for."

Amelia adds, "Sometimes what I'm reaching for isn't in my reach and I come up empty."

Tali nods.

Amelia turns invisible while she changes into servant garb.

Tali says, "So, time to go back in time again? Not that I imagine it will look much different here!"

Radical changes out of his armor and into the clerical robes again. "I'm all set."

Amelia nods, "Go ahead, Tali."

Tali says, "OK - all hold hands...."

Amelia holds Tali's hand.

This time the trip up the stream of time is relatively smooth.

Apart from a sudden shift in the position on the sun and a moderate increase in temperature the locale seems unchanged. Amelia says, "Okay, my turn. No GPS so I'll aim for the middle of Italy and refine our location in a series of smaller jumps."

Tali says, "Yeah. Inconsiderate of people not to send GPS satellites back in time for the convenience of time travellers!"

And indeed that is what Amelia does. The final gate is to a village just outside Milan, where Amelia bargains for a horse and cart to ride into the city, rather than trying to jump blindly into a busy metropolis.

Connor looks around at the new scenery. "I should be more used to this. I mean...I used to jump around to various places to help defend the dimension. But I keep being surprised at what we see."

Tali sighs. "No suspension, again. But as expected, this time.

Amelia hands the reins to Connor. "No driving licence required."

Connor glances at Amelia, "Not that I know what I'm doing with horses, mind you. I know some basics, but that's it. Pull back to get them to stop? On the right to get them to turn right...and left to turn left?"

Tali says, "I think so. I never learned to drive, myself. I rode a bit, but I've pretty much forgotten how to do that by this point...." Amelia lifts her hands, "Why ask me? I mostly stick with hi-tech alters. Try it and see, I guess."

Connor nods. He tests it out, seeing if he can get the hang of it. He more or less manages to...but probably not well enough to be able to do it in a hurry.

Tali grins. "Just don't kill us all in a high-speed collision before I get painted in the picture or history might break."

There's something to be said for old Roman cities. For those who recall London, the city of Milan smells immeasurably sweeter. Actual sewers. Amelia plays the dutiful servant asking directions, and by mid morning you're in the street where the coffee house is located.

Amelia asks Tali, "How do you FEEL?"

Tali says, "Excited - but really nervous! I never met Dad, and don't know why he never got in touch.... What if he has a reason for keeping away?"

Connor nods. "Well, only one way to know for sure, right?"

Amelia nods.

Tali nods and take a deep breath, before heading into the coffee house, chattering on about the excitement of the city and acting as if going to the establishment is a bit of a naughty treat that she wouldn't be doing at home.

There's a table set up for a chess game but no players at it as yet. The table where Tali, her father, and Ms Moriarty were seated is also empty.

Amelia follows Tali into the coffee house.

Connor heads inside as well, after securing the horse to a hitching post.

Tali makes a bit of a show of ordering refreshments with clearly little grasp of the local language. Amelia orders coffees for Tali and Connor, and a glass of wine for herself.

The server leads the group to a table, not one of the pictured ones, and serves food and drinks.

Connor nods to Amelia, "Thanks."

Tali says, "Ok, I guess they don't come to my table..... Guess there's nothing to do but enjoy the coffee till they turn up!" About an hour passes before a pair of elderly gentlemen enter and sits at the table where the chess is set up. And shortly after that... Naith and Elizabeth Moriarty enter chatting in period Italian. Niath is younger than in the photos Tali has seen, while Elizabeth is clearly several years older than when you saw her at Lord Berriwick's Hall.

Neither react to your presence.

Tali says, "Oh no! He looks so young! What if this is before he met Mom?"

Some of the other people in the coffee house call out greetings to Naith. Mostly the ladies in there.

Connor finds himself wondering if he'll be recognized by Elizabeth. If it's actually further down her personal timeline, it's possible.

Tali decides to adopt a policy, for now at least, of watching her father carefully but out the corner of her eye. She keeps up the English lady act and tries not to draw attention, at least yet.

Tali whispers, "Can you understand what they're saying?"

Naith and Elizabeth seat themselves at the table where they were in the painting. Elizabeth seems amused by the greetings called to Naith. While Naith delightedly waves back and returns some of the greetings. The rather nervous young Elizabeth you met previously appears to have become assured and comfortable with her time displacement.

Connor raises a brow, "I can't. But...you should introduce yourself. And when you do, it's going to become necessary to make the time travel connection believeable. That might be where I come in. She'll know me if I get her attention."

Amelia shakes her head, "Sorry, no. It's too different from Latin for me to make it out."

Tali nods. "I'll go. But if I can I want to work out why they're here - and why together!

Connor downs his coffee, "Let's do this. Time is wasting, so to speak." He smiles and gets up, "Come on, Tali. Let's find out."

Amelia remains seated. "If you need nackup, you're got it."

Tali nods. "Right. Ok. I guess I'm not learning much sitting here!"

Tali gets up and heads across with Connor.

It's fairly obvious the relationship between Naith and Elizabeth is professional rather than romantic, although cordial and friendly. And Naith, while trying to charm, seems to be the junior of the two. At least in the sense he seems to be deferring to Elizabeth on some points."

Connor walks over closer to the table with the couple, and to help with the remembering, he says in English, "Miss Moriarty. It's good to see you again. It's been...some time."

Tali watches both faces as Connor says this. It's her father's reaction she's especially interested in.

As you make your way over the movement draws both Naith's and Elizabeth's attention. Naith takes in that you are approaching but doesn't react. Elizabeth suddenly smiles, and speaks in Victorian English, "This is a surprise. And a great honor." she says to the two of you. Then to Naith, "Naith, do you know the Travelers?"

Connor raises a brow but smiles. He..doesn't believe that name was mentioned to her previously. So...how she learned it is a mystery. But one that can be answered later..

Naith looks up with instant interest, "The Travelers? Really?"

Tali answers, "Really" - in far-future English.

Connor chuckles. "Okay. So...I'm now wondering if we've crossed paths more than I personally remember. Like...things have looped back on themselves."

Tali grin. "You'll get used to it." Naith stands and bows, "I'm honored." he says. His expression as he looks at Tali is not fatherly as he attempts to take Tali's hand and lift it to his lips.

Tali snatches her hand back hurriedly. "Um - shick, this is complicated!"

Elizabeth smiles, "Early days? It can be confusing. I've.. both of us have read so much about your deeds. There's a full segment of temporal history dedicated to your group at the Academy."

Connor looks surprised. "Which...Academy? That also seems to imply that we change a lot of things, rather than a few."

Tali says, "Which - you mean *the* Academy?"

Elizabeth says, "The Temporal Police Academy. Well, that's where I studied. Naith isn't one of us though. Time Patrol isn't it?"

Naith nods, "Yes. I'm a historian researcher with the Time Patrol."

Connor raises a brow again and looks to Tali, "Do you know what they're talking about? Because that's new to me."

Tali says, "Huh? That's not what... um, I was told. Though - well, maybe in your future..."

[To Connor] Tali says, "Future stuff. 42nd century? Unless it's a different Temporal Police."

Enter artist with easel and paints. He starts to set up in a corner.

Naith nods, "That's me."

Elizabeth says, "We're based downstream from that. 34th century."

Connor remembers he's not actually in the painting, but Tali is. "Tali, why dont' you go ahead and take a seat?" He looks to the two Time Patrol agents and says, "So...this might be something you're not supposed to tell me, but do you folks try to arrest us or something in the future? Well...our future, if not the ACTUAL future?"

Tali says, "Oh, 34th century. You're not from the lot that were trying to wipe me from existence then? That's good to know."

Tali takes a seat as she is in the picture.

Both shake their heads and start to speak. Naith stops and lets Elizabeth answer. "No. Our mission to preserve the history that leads to our society. And your activities are already a part of our history. However... The Stream of Purity cultists would act against you. With lethal intent."

Naith speaks up. "In case you don't already know..."

Tali was about to speak. but listens to Naith.

Connor nods. "Ah. No, I didn't know that yet. That's good to know. I guess they can travel through time as well, then. Makes sense." . o O (Hmm. Well, I guess I should have expected something like that. If not them, it would have been Order coming to have a word with me.)

Naith explains, "The Temporal Police and the Time Patrol are the two big well organised groups with time travel. Then there's the Stream of Purity cultists. From the 23rd. They are fanatically opposed to time travel and time travel themselves to hunt down other time travelers. Although fortunately most of their efforts go towards stopping assassination attempts against Hitler, Xi Lupan, and the Ebony Klan. Then you have the Accquistors. They collect artifacts that are 'lost to history' and take them upstream. The Genealogists do the same for lost metagenes. And finally there are the independents, like yourselves."

Connor takes all of that in. "Huh. I didn't realize there was that much...traffic. Or who Xi Lupan and the Ebony Klan are. But I'm going to guess I'll find that out eventually.

Tali nods slowly. "Ok, that makes some sense of people I've met before. I think. But the cult are only 23rd century? Don't you outstrip them technologically?

Naith shrugs, "That gets... complicated. They accquire tech from their upstream. Same as we do, really. Elizabeth is from, 21st? But she has the same equipment as we do. Everyone ends up with that tech. And we're close to the 4879AD barrier."

That word raises Jak's eyebrow. Most of this stuff has been way above his head so far. But a barrier? Well that he gets. He fights the urge to ask and sips his tea instead.

Tali says, "That makes sense. Wait, what's the barrier? I've never been that far,"

Connor moves a bit to give the painter a good view of the table. He starts to say something, but Tali's question is one he also wanted to get answered.

Naith says, "It's a barrier to time travel. If you're heading upstream and you get to 4878AD you get dropped back to norm-time. You can travel back downstream but no further upstream. And nobody who's crossed the barrier in norm-time has ever come back down from behind it."

Elizabeth says, "Not that we know of, anyway."

Tali blinks. "Do you know what it is? Is it natural? Artificial?"

Connor looks confused by that. "Huh. That's interesting. I wonder why that's the case? Again...I kind of get the feeling we'll find out sooner or later." He pauses and then says to Elizabeth, "So, you know about our group. What do you know about us individually? I'm just curious what you were taught, more than anything."

Naith says, "It has to be artificial."

Tali says, "I'd have thought. Someone's defence against time travel?"

Elizabeth smiles, "The first rule. Never reveal to a traveler what happens in their future. I'm sure you understand why."

Tali says, "Um, yeah."

Connor nods. "Well, that's not really what I'm asking. I'm wouldn't want to know my future, honestly. I'm curious what you know about our pasts."

Connor smiles. "I realize that might be difficult. As you're guessing about where we are in our personal...history."

Tali says to Elizabeth, "I'm also curious if it's just a coincidence that artist is painting us and that painting brings us here in the future, or if this is in any way an arranged meeting.

Naith says, "You're from Colonial Bay in the 21st, right? You're a natural." He points to Tali. "One of the first if not the first. The others in your group aren't naturals. There's a teleporter with you, and you and another are dimensional travelers?"

Tali nods. "I guess you could say that, yeah."

Connor nods as he listens, "That's...pretty well informed."

Elizabeth nods, "Those kind of closed loops are common. If we hadn't been here to be painted, and there was a painting of us, sooner of later we would have been sent here to close the loop. That's the real mission of both our organisations. To ensure that our history happens as the record books say it does. It may not be the best possible future. But it's the future we know and our task is to preserve it."

Tali nods. "That's why I had to come too. But I was also really curious about - well. among other things, how you ended up here!"

Elizabeth smiles, "That I can tell you. You remember I borrowed Mr Wells' device to travel back to the auction. I didn't know at the time that Mr Wells was, will be, the founder of the temporal police. He recuited me. That was a few years ago in my timeline, and I'm now a full agent."

Connor nods slowly. "That was only a couple of weeks ago for us."

Elizabeth says, "You get used to it."

Tali says, "Huh. So writing was just a side line for him?"

Elizabeth shakes her head, "Oh, no. Writing was his vocation. His true love. Establishing the temporal police was something he considered a duty."

Tali says, "Oh? Why's that?"

Connor takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. Initially he had intended to surprise Elizabeth with his appearance here. And it turns out the shoe is on the other foot entirely.

Elizabeth says, "He believed he invented time travel. He felt responsible for what happened because of it."

Tali says, "Ah. Right...."

Connor nods slowly. "So...are the Morlocks real? Or just fiction?"

Elizabeth says, "That's a good question. Mr Wells claimed he travelled far into the future. Far past the Barrier. He never varied from that story. I'm not sure if I should believe it or not." She turns to Connor, "I do want, with this opportunity, to thank you for not bidding against me. My grandfather told me many times of the agreement he made with you and how disappointed he was when neither he or you accquired the manuscript."

Connor smiles slightly, "Perhaps he visited the future before the barrier was put up? As for your grandfather, I hope you explained to him why you did what you did."

Elizabeth shakes her head. "No. Never. Living with a fading disappointment is better than knowing you became a monster. He also told me that his discussion with you in the coach clairified his throughs enough he didn't need to see the Newton paper."

Connor nods slowly again. "Hmm. I hadn't considered that. But I'm glad it worked out for the best, all the same."