A/N: Shout-out to my fantastic co-author, Panzercrappitastica! She's writing this story with me from the Scott Westerfeld forum (or Westerforum, for short), and is pretty awesome. And now, without further ado, the first chapter!

Count Volger strolled nonchalantly down one of the London Zoological Society's administrative hallways. Dr. Barlow had sent a message lizard a considerable amount of minutes prior to summon him to her office. She had, however, forgot to disclose her office's location, and thus Volger had wasted quite a bit of time attempting to find it.

"Doctor," the wildcount said as he entered. Of course, he had knocked—Volger was a gentleman—but there were a few areas where a lapse in manners was acceptable. "It would be wonderful if you would include directions with your next message."

"Did I forget that?" Dr. Barlow said without looking up from the papers on her desk. "My apologies, Count."

Volger made a discontented noise, but said nothing more. He'd learned a long time ago that arguing with the lady boffin was a pointless endeavor.

"But that is of no concern right now. We are here to discuss the education of Alek and Deryn, if I remember correctly." Dr. Barlow stood up and began pacing around her office.

"Yes," said Count Volger. He wondered at Barlow's sudden nervous activity; it was quite unlike her.

Tazza walked to him and licked his hand. He recoiled instinctively; he still hadn't gotten used to the godless beast, even if it was natural.

"I do have a place in mind," Barlow said, stopping and facing him.

"Where?"

"Kadic Academy. It's a boarding school, so we won't be seeing much of them." She took a breath, then continued, "Of course, we'll be in communication with them, but for the most part, letters will be few and far between."

"Hmm..." Volger thought, absorbing the information. There were many things about this situation he intended to discuss with the lady boffin before giving his approval, but decided to start with one of the simpler nuances. "I've never heard of it. Where is it?"

"France," Dr. Barlow answered.

"France? But -"

"In the twenty-first century."

"What?" Volger spluttered, thylacine all but forgotten.

Was there something about working with and creating fabricated creatures that made one lose their mind? Time travel was nothing more than a fictional fancy; everyone knew that. Perhaps it was time to have Nora examined by a medical doctor.

Dr. Barlow held up a hand in protest. "I know this sounds mad, Count, but I assure you this offer is completely legitimate."

"How can this be legitimate?" Volger said, a storm of confusing thoughts roiling silently inside him. "You're trying to convince me that these children can go to a school that doesn't even exist yet!"

"Time does not work the way we think it does, Count," Dr. Barlow said, a warning in her tone.

Volger sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. This day was not going as planned. Still, he wasn't going to give in so easily. He knew what was best for Alek, at least, and heaven forbid that his plans be disregarded so that that boy could go gallivanting on strange adventures again.

"What makes you think you can send Deryn to school, anyway?" Volger asked calmly. Calmly, because he would get nowhere any other way.

"I have been exchanging letters with her mother."

Of course, he surmised. But still..."Why would we send them to the future?"

"Think about it, Volger, really," Barlow scolded, casting him a sideways glance. "Think of how much more technologically advanced the future will be. They'll learn so much more than they ever could now."

Volger nodded slowly and began to formulate a plan to dissuade the lady boffin of her mad notion.

A soft strangled noise caught his attention. Volger turned around and saw Newkirk standing in the doorway, eyes wide, mouth hanging open. He realized that he was on one knee, dodging away from Tazza.

Barlow's face turned slowly pink as she said. "Ah, Mr. Newkirk. Take Tazza for a walk?"

"Are you quite certain we can get him back, Dr. Barlow?" Volger asked later . "How exactly does this work?"

He hoped she understood that his question was meant to be taken literally.

"Some of the more mechanically gifted employees of the Society have spent the last several months building machines called scanners," Dr. Barlow began. "They will connect to similar devices at Kadic, so all we have to do is scan them—one at a time, of course—and they will come out of the scanners in France." Her lips curled into a small smile. "It's very similar to teleportation, in a way."

"We're teleporting our wards to a school in the future? Alek won't go. Send Deryn if you like, but Alek won't go."

"Deryn won't go anywhere without Alek. You know that as well as I," Barlow pointed out.

Volger sighed. It was true, and it frustrated him to no end. However, in the time that Volger had taken to think about Dr. Barlow's plan—and the time that she had taken to force him to listen to it—he had to admit that it was exactly like her.

"Very well. I'll allow him to go... if, and only if, you can promise two things," he said slowly.

The lady boffin raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"Firstly, that we'll be able to get him back," Volger said.

"Yes. I promise."

"And that I can go with him." After a pause, he continued, "I promised Alek's father that I would keep him safe. I cannot allow him to go to the future unattended. And I don't mean Miss Sharp," Volger added before Barlow could say anything.

Dr. Barlow walked over to her desk and opened a drawer. She pulled out a laminated pamphlet and handed it to the wildcount, then sat down in her plush chair.

"You don't have to take my word for it," she said simply.

Volger sighed, but opened the pamphlet and began to read. Apparently, Kadic Academy was one of the highest ranked private schools in all of France, and many of the nation's brightest minds had been educated there. (Or, rather, will be educated there.) Photographs of classrooms and dorm rooms and students studying and smiling, laughing, and spending time together were littered among the information. But they were doing strange things—some were crowded on brightly-colored furniture and staring, enraptured, at a light-emitting electrical machine, some were playing board games Volger had never seen, and others were holding telephones no bigger than the palms of their hands.

"This is a confusing future," he finally said.

Dr. Barlow arched an eyebrow. "But what do you think of the school, Count?"

Volger sighed. "I do believe a private school is best for Alek. Just one that exists right now."

For a moment, the two just looked at each other as if the winner of a staring contest would choose where the children were educated. After a few moments, Dr. Barlow spoke.

"Talk to Alek about it," she suggested. "I was planning to do the same with Miss Sharp."

Volger sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. It seemed there was little chance of avoiding this mess—at least, by voicing only his opinion. Perhaps he could persuade his ward to see things his way. Alek may occasionally take unnecessary risks, but the boy knew where to draw the line.

At least, that was what Count Volger told himself as he left Dr. Barlow's office.

He found the former prince in a most undignified situation: in a janitorial closet, his head tilted back and eyes closed, Miss Sharp's lips on his neck.

And just when this day couldn't possibly have gone worse, the wildcount thought, pursing his lips in irritation.

"Count," Alek stammered, turning scarlet almost instantaneously. Deryn bit her lip and turned her face away, but still kept her arms wrapped around him.

"Barking spiders," she mumbled. "This didn't work well at all."

Alek's face only turned redder, though the wildcount thought he saw Alek slightly shake his head.

"I need a word with you, Aleksander," Volger said simply, calmly, not letting his true emotions show. They would discuss this later. "And Dr. Barlow wishes to speak with you, as well, Miss Sharp."

The children said nothing to each other, but Deryn cast Alek a reassuring smile and squeezed his hand before squeezing past Volger.

"Your Countship," she said, bowing, then left.

Volger snorted once, then turned to face Alek. In that moment, he very much resembled a small child who had disappointed his father, but as soon as the notion entered Volger's mind, he tried to forget about it.

"I suppose you're going to lecture me," Alek said quietly, not making direct eye contact.

"We'll discuss this incident later," Volger answered. "I just need to inform you of the current situation."

Several minutes later, Aleksander and Volger were sitting in a currently unused conference room, Alek listening as Volger told him of Dr. Barlow's mad plan. Confusion was evident on his face, but there was a spark in his eyes that Volger assumed was fear—or perhaps curiosity.

He hoped it was the former.

"And Dr. Barlow is certain it will work?" Alek finally asked.

Volger shrugged. "Certain may be a stretch, but she is fairly sure things will go smoothly."

Alek went silent for a moment again, then asked, "You said Deryn would be going with me."

"Yes."

"Would we be alone, then?"

"Yes," Volger repeated. "Kadic is a boarding school."

"But..." Alek sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "I don't think this is a good idea."

Finally; another person in this strange Society had some common sense!

"Unless you could somehow come with me," Alek added quickly.

Even though Volger himself had suggested the idea not long ago, he was still a little shocked. "Really?"

Alek gestured to the pamphlet Volger had taken from Dr. Barlow. "It said that some students live with their families, off campus. I'm sure Dr. Barlow could arrange that."

For a moment, the wildcount wondered why Alek wanted his company, but then remembered what he had said the night they'd escaped from the Leviathan in Istanbul: I can't do this without you. Not any of it.

I'm afraid you must, he had replied, and certainly Alek would have to be independent someday. But time travel was rather risky business, and Volger did have a promise to keep, to a rather close friend. Besides, an off campus living situation would certainly be easier to accomplish.

That didn't mean, of course, that a future school was better. There were plenty of fine academic options that existed in the present.

"We'll see," was all Count Volger said.