Paradox Lost: Part 14
This is it! The bridge to the future has finally opened! Now we can move on to seeing if I can properly write Professor Layton's dialogue for more than just a few brief flashbacks. And don't think I've forgotten about Don Paolo; he'll be showing up soon, once everything gets under way.
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Paradox Lost
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Helena and Harold sat side by side in the parlor late that night. Hershel had already been put to bed, falling into a restless sleep after the excitement and terror drained away his adrenaline and left him exhausted. Luke sat across from the Laytons on the couch, wrapped in a blanket and sipping at a cup of tea, still trembling from the events that took place in the Historical Museum. He was tired and pale, but wouldn't be going to bed anytime soon; from the way the Laytons were watching him, he figured they had questions. Difficult questions.
"What happened, Luke?" Helena began softly, "What happened in that room?" Luke winced, gripping the cup more securely as he shifted in place.
"We had an argument, that's all. I didn't agree with what he was telling me, so I told him to bugger off. He attacked me in return." he murmured a mix of truth and lie, "I tried to defend myself, and then you two appeared. You know the rest." Harold shook his head and pulled the cloth-covered dagger from his coat, placing it on the table between them.
"This dagger was found in the room. It is the exact same as one my wife possesses. She assures me that this dagger is yours; can you explain how you came by a perfect duplicate of a unique dagger that was requested to be one of a kind?" he asked firmly. Luke shook his head. "Your hand is badly bruised; I suspect Odan struck you to relieve you of the dagger." Harold added, gesturing towards the bandages that wrapped around Luke's left hand, done in a way that left his fingers and thumb free for movement, "This argument escalated to violence very rapidly. Why?"
"He was threatening the Layton Family. I wanted to defend your name. It's... very precious to me." Luke whispered, running a fingertip over the edge of the teacup. The two adults glanced at each other, one in confusion, the other with a faintly calculating look.
"You've only been with us for just under a week. How did we come to be so treasured to you?" Helena questioned. Luke tightened his mouth, gazing into the tea and shaking his head. "We heard part of your conversation with Odan." Helena tried her trump card, watching Luke closely. The teen's eyes widened considerably, mouth opening in shock as his face paled further. "Care to explain it for us?"
"It's not what you think!" Luke blurted out suddenly, staring between the two wildly, "None of it is! Don't believe a word that was said!" He put a hand to his mouth, stunned by his own response. Helena's eyes flickered and she looked to her husband, nodding ever so slightly. They had indeed heard part of what was said, but only Odan's last words. His booming voice was what let them know which door to break down.
"Luke, it sounded like he was threatening you, not us." Harold pointed out carefully and steepled his fingers together, leaning forward to focus on the teen's expression, "Would that have anything to do with what he was talking about? A Binder and Slipstream?" Luke immediately reacted, dropping the teacup as he dragged the blanket more tightly around himself, the same wild expression returning to his face.
"No! No! You couldn't have heard that! Don't ask me about them! Forget you heard those words at all, please! I beg of you!" he cried as the Laytons stood in shock at his reaction, rushing to his side to calm him down.
"Sir Luke, get a hold of yourself!" Helena urged, grabbing his shoulders and trying to hold him still, "We only want to know so we can help you!" Luke stared up at her for a long moment before burying his face in his hands, sobbing bitterly. Harold sighed heavily and looked at his wife.
"I think it's best for Luke's nerves if we dropped the matter for now. He needs rest to clear his mind and then we can discuss this more civilly in the morning." he murmured and Helena nodded, both of them helping Luke to his feet and guiding him to his room. "Maria, tend to the parlor. There's been a spill." the professor told a passing maid, who bowed and rushed off. The night had been hectic; perhaps the daylight would bring better luck.
--
Luke ate breakfast in somber silence with the family, glancing over at Harold and Helena now and then. He held himself as if he'd put up heavy defenses during the night, slipping into a cold aloofness that even extended to Hershel. The boy had tugged at his coat and sleeves, trying to get a response from him, bombarding him with questions and pleas for attention as Luke went on shutting him out and packing what few things he had into his satchel. Once he was dressed for travel again, he walked out of the room and headed for Sun Room, where Helena and Harold stood waiting for him.
"Thank you both for allowing me to stay until my watch was repaired. The work should be done by now, so I'm on my way to collect it and continue my journey." the young man told them quietly, "I would very much appreciate it if you were to go on with your lives as if I'd never been here, and make no mentions of what you heard last night. I'll miss you all dearly, but I have a mission of utmost importance that can not be delayed any longer."
"For what it's worth, Sir Luke, you will always have a place here with us. While we pray for your success in your mission, should anything go wrong, you can always return here." Harold replied gruffly, "Though I hope with far less tromping through the house like a herd of wild beasts." Luke managed a smirk at that and tipped his hat, then finally sighed harshly at the hundredth tug to his sleeve.
"Hershel, for the last time, stop that. I am leaving now; I've told you this twice before." he growled at the boy, "Go to your parents and leave me be!"
"But I don't want you to go! Please, please! Stay here with us!" Hershel cried, clutching at his arm. Helena walked up to him and pulled Hershel away, holding him in her arms as he squirmed and wailed.
"Will you ever return to London, Luke?" she asked softly. The young man bit his lip, thinking it over.
"I will, but not for a rather long time." he answered at last, "I should get going to the Museum of Science. From there, I'll be leaving London." He bowed to the family one last time. "Goodbye and thank you again for everything. I'll remember your kindness for as long as I live." With that, Luke left the room and, thus, the Layton estate. Helena finally set Hershel down and the boy raced for his room upstairs, sobbing as he slammed the door shut.
"Have you decided on whether or not you'll be solving this puzzle, my dear?" Harold asked of his wife as they gazed overhead at where Hershel would be in his room. Helena put her fingers to her chin in consideration, smiled enigmatically, and shook her head.
"I leave it in the care of our son. He seems most suited to rise to the occasion, don't you think?" she purred and returned to the couch to sip her tea. Harold huffed before finally joining her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Olivia and Barnsworth Hawkes stood at the front desk of the museum, waiting nervously as Luke opened the door and spotted them. He gave them a questioning look and the grandfather held out the golden pocket-watch. Olivia still looked flustered as Luke moved towards them, reaching into his satchel to pull out a bundle wrapped in plain brown paper.
"Here. As promised, I'm donating this to your museum as thanks for the repairs." he remarked solemnly, handing the package to Barnsworth in exchange for the Time-Binder, "And the blueprints?"
"It's the oddest thing, Sir Luke. Almost as soon as Grandfather replaced the final gear and closed up the watch, the blueprints vanished into thin air!" Olivia exclaimed fearfully, "All that's left is this blank piece of parchment!" Luke blinked, surprised, then quickly dug out his notepad, flipping it open. Several more pages had gone blank, and he frowned slightly as he put it away.
"It's all right. Just burn the parchment and no harm will be done, madam." he replied softly and tucked the watch into his vest pocket, "I should get going now. Thank you both very much."
"That thirteenth hour is still a bad omen. Why do you insist on keeping it?" Barnsworth asked gruffly, folding his arms over his chest, squinting through his glasses again. Luke simply smiled, spreading his hands in an innocent shrug.
"My answer remains the same, sir. It marks the end of my mission, for better or for worse, though I hope for the best." he replied. He bowed and turned to leave, halted by Olivia grabbing onto his arm.
"Wait!" she exclaimed, her face a bright pink as she darted in front of him, "Before you leave... I wanted to... that is, I...." She twined her fingers together nervously before taking a deep breath, stepping up on her toes and pressing a kiss to a startled Luke's cheek. "Good luck, Sir Luke, and I pray you return safely." she murmured, then fled the room with her hands over her face. The teen held a hand to his cheek, eyes wide with shock as Barnsworth huffed behind him.
"Figures my granddaughter would come to fancy a gent like you. Don't break more hearts than need be, you hear?" the old man lectured, "And take care of yourself." Luke swallowed hard, nodding back at him before running for the door.
--
Tiny steps pounded on the pavement as breaths came in quick gasps. Faster, faster, hurry, hurry. Almost to the museum! Around the bend and up the street and there! Luke had just come down and was now entering an alley, a grim expression on his face. Rush, rush, just a little further. Around a bit and down the home stretch! Now!
--
Luke stood in the alley and pulled out the Time-Binder, flicking open the watch and thumbing a tiny button. The numbers reset themselves, flipping to the time that he had wanted to arrive at since before the whole mess started. He grinned as the face began to glow, then....
"I'm coming with you!" Hershel's voice exclaimed suddenly and Luke spun around in shock, watching with wide-eyed horror as the small boy lunged for him, top hat and all. His little arms wrapped around his waist, his school satchel swung at his side, and all Luke could think was 'Dear God, no!'
"Hershel! Let go of me!" Luke screamed in a panic as the Time-Binder's glow spread down his arm to the rest of his body, the light of something more crackling over him as the power of the Slipstream Device was sent to the watch through time, "What are you doing here?!"
"I left a note with Mother and Father!" Hershel exclaimed happily, still gripping his mentor tightly and oblivious to the soft blue glow washing over them both, "I'm going to travel with you and help you help your other friend! I even packed! See?" Luke tried to push him away frantically, eyes darting back and forth between the boy and the pocket-watch.
"You can't! The watch wasn't designed to carry more than one person my size through time!" he exclaimed and the boy looked up at him curiously, finally noticing the light covering them.
"The watch is going to carry us?" he asked and the first shocks of the Slipstream's overload hit them both. Hershel shrieked in pain, his grip tightening as the light blazed and filled the alley. Luke's voice joined his, crying out in agony as space and time warped around them and dragged them both into the time stream with a violent explosion of energy. People in the vicinity would report later that it sounded as if a bomb had gone off, but when they went to check for the epicenter, all they could find were a few burnt bits of garbage.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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Paradox Lost
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Helena and Harold sat side by side in the parlor late that night. Hershel had already been put to bed, falling into a restless sleep after the excitement and terror drained away his adrenaline and left him exhausted. Luke sat across from the Laytons on the couch, wrapped in a blanket and sipping at a cup of tea, still trembling from the events that took place in the Historical Museum. He was tired and pale, but wouldn't be going to bed anytime soon; from the way the Laytons were watching him, he figured they had questions. Difficult questions.
"What happened, Luke?" Helena began softly, "What happened in that room?" Luke winced, gripping the cup more securely as he shifted in place.
"We had an argument, that's all. I didn't agree with what he was telling me, so I told him to bugger off. He attacked me in return." he murmured a mix of truth and lie, "I tried to defend myself, and then you two appeared. You know the rest." Harold shook his head and pulled the cloth-covered dagger from his coat, placing it on the table between them.
"This dagger was found in the room. It is the exact same as one my wife possesses. She assures me that this dagger is yours; can you explain how you came by a perfect duplicate of a unique dagger that was requested to be one of a kind?" he asked firmly. Luke shook his head. "Your hand is badly bruised; I suspect Odan struck you to relieve you of the dagger." Harold added, gesturing towards the bandages that wrapped around Luke's left hand, done in a way that left his fingers and thumb free for movement, "This argument escalated to violence very rapidly. Why?"
"He was threatening the Layton Family. I wanted to defend your name. It's... very precious to me." Luke whispered, running a fingertip over the edge of the teacup. The two adults glanced at each other, one in confusion, the other with a faintly calculating look.
"You've only been with us for just under a week. How did we come to be so treasured to you?" Helena questioned. Luke tightened his mouth, gazing into the tea and shaking his head. "We heard part of your conversation with Odan." Helena tried her trump card, watching Luke closely. The teen's eyes widened considerably, mouth opening in shock as his face paled further. "Care to explain it for us?"
"It's not what you think!" Luke blurted out suddenly, staring between the two wildly, "None of it is! Don't believe a word that was said!" He put a hand to his mouth, stunned by his own response. Helena's eyes flickered and she looked to her husband, nodding ever so slightly. They had indeed heard part of what was said, but only Odan's last words. His booming voice was what let them know which door to break down.
"Luke, it sounded like he was threatening you, not us." Harold pointed out carefully and steepled his fingers together, leaning forward to focus on the teen's expression, "Would that have anything to do with what he was talking about? A Binder and Slipstream?" Luke immediately reacted, dropping the teacup as he dragged the blanket more tightly around himself, the same wild expression returning to his face.
"No! No! You couldn't have heard that! Don't ask me about them! Forget you heard those words at all, please! I beg of you!" he cried as the Laytons stood in shock at his reaction, rushing to his side to calm him down.
"Sir Luke, get a hold of yourself!" Helena urged, grabbing his shoulders and trying to hold him still, "We only want to know so we can help you!" Luke stared up at her for a long moment before burying his face in his hands, sobbing bitterly. Harold sighed heavily and looked at his wife.
"I think it's best for Luke's nerves if we dropped the matter for now. He needs rest to clear his mind and then we can discuss this more civilly in the morning." he murmured and Helena nodded, both of them helping Luke to his feet and guiding him to his room. "Maria, tend to the parlor. There's been a spill." the professor told a passing maid, who bowed and rushed off. The night had been hectic; perhaps the daylight would bring better luck.
--
Luke ate breakfast in somber silence with the family, glancing over at Harold and Helena now and then. He held himself as if he'd put up heavy defenses during the night, slipping into a cold aloofness that even extended to Hershel. The boy had tugged at his coat and sleeves, trying to get a response from him, bombarding him with questions and pleas for attention as Luke went on shutting him out and packing what few things he had into his satchel. Once he was dressed for travel again, he walked out of the room and headed for Sun Room, where Helena and Harold stood waiting for him.
"Thank you both for allowing me to stay until my watch was repaired. The work should be done by now, so I'm on my way to collect it and continue my journey." the young man told them quietly, "I would very much appreciate it if you were to go on with your lives as if I'd never been here, and make no mentions of what you heard last night. I'll miss you all dearly, but I have a mission of utmost importance that can not be delayed any longer."
"For what it's worth, Sir Luke, you will always have a place here with us. While we pray for your success in your mission, should anything go wrong, you can always return here." Harold replied gruffly, "Though I hope with far less tromping through the house like a herd of wild beasts." Luke managed a smirk at that and tipped his hat, then finally sighed harshly at the hundredth tug to his sleeve.
"Hershel, for the last time, stop that. I am leaving now; I've told you this twice before." he growled at the boy, "Go to your parents and leave me be!"
"But I don't want you to go! Please, please! Stay here with us!" Hershel cried, clutching at his arm. Helena walked up to him and pulled Hershel away, holding him in her arms as he squirmed and wailed.
"Will you ever return to London, Luke?" she asked softly. The young man bit his lip, thinking it over.
"I will, but not for a rather long time." he answered at last, "I should get going to the Museum of Science. From there, I'll be leaving London." He bowed to the family one last time. "Goodbye and thank you again for everything. I'll remember your kindness for as long as I live." With that, Luke left the room and, thus, the Layton estate. Helena finally set Hershel down and the boy raced for his room upstairs, sobbing as he slammed the door shut.
"Have you decided on whether or not you'll be solving this puzzle, my dear?" Harold asked of his wife as they gazed overhead at where Hershel would be in his room. Helena put her fingers to her chin in consideration, smiled enigmatically, and shook her head.
"I leave it in the care of our son. He seems most suited to rise to the occasion, don't you think?" she purred and returned to the couch to sip her tea. Harold huffed before finally joining her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Olivia and Barnsworth Hawkes stood at the front desk of the museum, waiting nervously as Luke opened the door and spotted them. He gave them a questioning look and the grandfather held out the golden pocket-watch. Olivia still looked flustered as Luke moved towards them, reaching into his satchel to pull out a bundle wrapped in plain brown paper.
"Here. As promised, I'm donating this to your museum as thanks for the repairs." he remarked solemnly, handing the package to Barnsworth in exchange for the Time-Binder, "And the blueprints?"
"It's the oddest thing, Sir Luke. Almost as soon as Grandfather replaced the final gear and closed up the watch, the blueprints vanished into thin air!" Olivia exclaimed fearfully, "All that's left is this blank piece of parchment!" Luke blinked, surprised, then quickly dug out his notepad, flipping it open. Several more pages had gone blank, and he frowned slightly as he put it away.
"It's all right. Just burn the parchment and no harm will be done, madam." he replied softly and tucked the watch into his vest pocket, "I should get going now. Thank you both very much."
"That thirteenth hour is still a bad omen. Why do you insist on keeping it?" Barnsworth asked gruffly, folding his arms over his chest, squinting through his glasses again. Luke simply smiled, spreading his hands in an innocent shrug.
"My answer remains the same, sir. It marks the end of my mission, for better or for worse, though I hope for the best." he replied. He bowed and turned to leave, halted by Olivia grabbing onto his arm.
"Wait!" she exclaimed, her face a bright pink as she darted in front of him, "Before you leave... I wanted to... that is, I...." She twined her fingers together nervously before taking a deep breath, stepping up on her toes and pressing a kiss to a startled Luke's cheek. "Good luck, Sir Luke, and I pray you return safely." she murmured, then fled the room with her hands over her face. The teen held a hand to his cheek, eyes wide with shock as Barnsworth huffed behind him.
"Figures my granddaughter would come to fancy a gent like you. Don't break more hearts than need be, you hear?" the old man lectured, "And take care of yourself." Luke swallowed hard, nodding back at him before running for the door.
--
Tiny steps pounded on the pavement as breaths came in quick gasps. Faster, faster, hurry, hurry. Almost to the museum! Around the bend and up the street and there! Luke had just come down and was now entering an alley, a grim expression on his face. Rush, rush, just a little further. Around a bit and down the home stretch! Now!
--
Luke stood in the alley and pulled out the Time-Binder, flicking open the watch and thumbing a tiny button. The numbers reset themselves, flipping to the time that he had wanted to arrive at since before the whole mess started. He grinned as the face began to glow, then....
"I'm coming with you!" Hershel's voice exclaimed suddenly and Luke spun around in shock, watching with wide-eyed horror as the small boy lunged for him, top hat and all. His little arms wrapped around his waist, his school satchel swung at his side, and all Luke could think was 'Dear God, no!'
"Hershel! Let go of me!" Luke screamed in a panic as the Time-Binder's glow spread down his arm to the rest of his body, the light of something more crackling over him as the power of the Slipstream Device was sent to the watch through time, "What are you doing here?!"
"I left a note with Mother and Father!" Hershel exclaimed happily, still gripping his mentor tightly and oblivious to the soft blue glow washing over them both, "I'm going to travel with you and help you help your other friend! I even packed! See?" Luke tried to push him away frantically, eyes darting back and forth between the boy and the pocket-watch.
"You can't! The watch wasn't designed to carry more than one person my size through time!" he exclaimed and the boy looked up at him curiously, finally noticing the light covering them.
"The watch is going to carry us?" he asked and the first shocks of the Slipstream's overload hit them both. Hershel shrieked in pain, his grip tightening as the light blazed and filled the alley. Luke's voice joined his, crying out in agony as space and time warped around them and dragged them both into the time stream with a violent explosion of energy. People in the vicinity would report later that it sounded as if a bomb had gone off, but when they went to check for the epicenter, all they could find were a few burnt bits of garbage.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*