William was waiting near the entrance of the underground when Abel stepped out.
"Good morning, good sir." William greeted him warmly.
"Professor! I hope you haven't been waiting long."
"Oh just a little, Caterina asked me to accompany you to meet up with her. So, how are you holding up?"
The men started walking towards the main buildings. It was a cloudy day, not quite rain yet but in Londonium it was always a step away from a shower.
"I had a few rough spots last night but… I think I am on my way to getting a handle on it. The nanomachines are a bit more sentient than you and I first thought."
William's expression sharpened with curiosity. "Oh? I admit it's something I've wondered.. will you tell me more about it?"
Abel had always liked that about William, he never pushed him no matter how badly his scientific mind wanted to dissect the mystery that the crusnik presented, and it built between them a strong bond of trust.
"Hmm, well... it does seem that the nanomachines absorb some of the consciousness of their previous host… which is part of why I believe I'm having trouble right now. Also, not all of my nanomachines are 02… Caterina had Tres give me what was left of 04, and some of her awareness transferred to me… and luckily she was a much more reasonable host than whatever 02 had.."
William Walter Wordsworth was rarely without something to say. He looked at his silver haired friend, the paleness of his skin, and the wintery cast of his blue eyes as his mind rapidly processed the fact that there was now two sentient forms inside of that tall lanky frame. William stopped and dug out his pipe.
"So… what will happen when you activate the crusnik?" He asked as he Iit his pipe.
"I hope it will be the same as before, once I can figure out how to get the restrictions back in place. Remembering how we had deduced the nanomachines to being a complex set of programs, well some of the uh… firewalls per say were torn down when I went to 100%. Cain appears to have fallen fully to his crusnik, the host overtaken by the virus or more like the symbiote… what I must avoid at all costs.." Abel looked past William and towards the far horizon. "I hope to stay stable enough to get more answers while in the Empire. From there perhaps I can have my monsters working with me instead of against, right?"
"That is the hope," he paused, grinning around his pipe. "When you stop tripping on your feet and eating everything in sight… you can do some pretty amazing things."
Abel grinned back and started walking again.
"Leaping out of a coffin has done wonders for my coordination, but I do seem to eat more." Abel remarked
William gave him a sidelong glance and chuckled.
"Some sarcastic wit must have come out of that pine box too."
Abel laughed and nodded. "Perhaps."
Once inside the palace, they could see the general hectic chaos of the many workers sent in to do the last repairs before the afternoon coronation. They weaved around the busy men and women, slowly heading towards the common area that Caterina had said she would be in.
Along the way, Abel did catch a quick glimpse of Virgil looking distractly at some notes, beside him was surprisingly, Ion. Abel waved towards them, Virgil was too absorbed in his task notice, but Ion did and he waved back enthusiastically.
"Ion is about in the daytime?" Abel questioned aloud.
"Hmm? Oh, the young lord, yes apparently using silver nitrate depletes the bacillus to where they can tolerate low sunlight environments. It was something Lord Walsh had developed so he could serve Queen Bridget better. I guess for the first while it hurts like the dickens as it eats the bacillus cells, so I'm a bit impressed to see Lord Fortuna taking the plunge to be around Esther more."
"I'm not surprised, he would do it as he holds her in high esteem. But that's very interesting about the silver nitrate, I'm curious if the nanomachines would react to him."
William paused thoughtfully. "From what we know of them, it shouldn't react… even with your levels."
Abel nodded and they continued on their way.
Cardinal Caterina sat in an informal meeting room that had been spared from the damage parts of the wing had taken. She sat comfortably in one of the chairs, a slender figure with abundant blonde curls that draped across her shoulders under her large cardinal cap. A full service of tea sat before her, Abel was expected given the amount of buns, cookies and other light snacks.
"Good morning gentlemen," she said as they entered the room and settled around the table.
"Your Eminence, I trust you have been well?" Abel said as he found a chair that somewhat fit, and poured tea. He remembered her words at their last meeting, how the lady of steel had said her goodbye to her agent and friend.
"I have, thank you Abel. I was able to get some information for you about the Order since the incident here. Some members have been spotted near the Outer lands to the East, south of the Empire and a few officers in Carthage. No word on Cain or his butler yet… the few who were spotted was due to a bit of terrorist bombings that could be a smoke screen to cover their tracks."
"That is very helpful, I hope I can pick up some sort of trail once I get to the Empire. They are trying to access ancient technology and I know of a few more locations. Lord Walsh needs to be vigilant as they might try here again."
"I will relay that to him. So, you have agreed to travel with the Duchess of Kiev?"
"Yes, with your suggestion as well as some answers I can only find within the Empirer."
Caterina nodded, and paused to drink some tea. Abel took the break to have some food, since his stomach was starting to growl.
"How will we stay in contact with you? What method?" William asked since he was done his tea first.
"Can I contact you though Sister Kate? If I'm given an access code I should be able to transmit to the Iron Maiden. It would keep things away from the Vatican directly. I truly don't want to cause issues within for you Caterina."
"That would work, do the same formats as you've done when on assignment, I will talk it over with her and bring you the codes before you leave." William answered.
Caterina reached over to a velvet bag beside her chair, she picked it up and handed it to Abel.
"No one else would use your old pistol, so I had it cleaned up and repaired."
Abel took out his peacemaker revolver, gun holster and a cartridge of .38 bullets.
"It is a pretty decent gun, but again other than you two everyone thinks I use it because I can't see... I admit that with everything going on, my gun wasn't even a flicker in my mind, I am so glad you remembered." He paused and then looked up at them. "I will truly struggle without you both." He carefully set his things back in the bag to strap into himself later.
"It will be quite the experience I'm sure. I do hope that you can convince Astharoshe to join you when you go after him." Her eyes softened for a moment before she reached down to look at her watch.
"It's almost time for the coronation. I must do a few more things."
"Of course! Thank you again, Caterina… and I will see you again, I promise." Abel said solemnly, reaching over to place his hand lightly on hers for a moment.
She smiled warmly, reminding him of the young girl she once was. "I'll hold you to that."
Once Caterina had left the room, Abel quickly finished off the food since he was going to be in public for a while and who knows what the crusink would respond to.
"The coronation will be in about an hour, how soon are you leaving for the Empire?" William asked.
"As soon as Asthe can get Ion on the ship."
He nodded and checked the clock again. "Ok, well if you want to see Esther I believe she will be through that door and one more room to a grey door with a yellow handle. I'll sit here for a bit, when you get back we can find a spot out in the crowd, best to rest my old bones when I can," he smirked and lit his pipe, waving Abel to go.
Abel smiled and took the cue to leave.
Esther was standing in a smaller drawing room, nervously smoothing the heavy decorated gown she was in. White with gold beadwork, a high pre-Armageddon style called Victorian, that was from another Albion Queen, over a thousand years ago. At least that's what her maids told her.
She had asked for a quiet room to be in for a while once dressed, hoping Abel would be have a chance to see her like he said. Professor and Caterina had agreed to make it happen.
Abel opened the door and quietly closed it behind him, turning towards Esther he smiled warmly.
"You look amazing! And yet… how do you breathe or walk in that?"
"I'm not entirely sure to be honest, I just stay upright and hope for the best."
"I know you will do wonderful, you have done so much already and now you truly have the power to do more. You were a great partner for our missions and watched over me with true compassion." He watched her eyes water a bit as he spoke, so he moved closer and took her hands in his.
"I'm thankful we have this brief moment before we go down different paths. But I am most grateful that you were there when I came back… to give me a reason to fight him instead of staying adrift."
"Oh Father Nightroad… sorry Abel… I can't even begin to say thanks, you… you have been my rock since the beginning, clumsy, foolish and yet always right where I needed you." A few tears spilled from her azure blue eyes.
"Hey now, you'll wreck your makeup." He playfully scolded her and glanced around the room for a box of tissues.
She chuckled a little and carefully wiped her tears with a small cloth she had tucked into her sleeve.
"I was prepared for a few tears… I hope you can come back soon. There is so much I have to learn and if you were here.. it wouldn't be so daunting."
"I will come back, this isn't goodbye Esther it is just time that we must walk different roads. Trust your heart, Lord Walsh seems a good sort to help you, among a few others I'm sure will come up." He leaned down and gently kissed her cheek, lightly to avoid makeup smudge.
"Make me proud, I will stay in contact with William and I'm sure he will find a way to keep you in the know."
She smiled and reached up to hug him briefly.
"Ok, Father Nightroad. I'll make you proud, you can count on that."
A respectful knock sounded from behind Esther. It was the signal for her to make her way to the ceremony.
Abel smiled at his young friend, bowed low in respect. "Queen Esther, your kingdom awaits."
She laughed softly and curtsied in return. "Until we meet again." She watched him turn and leave the room before gathering her courage to start her new life.
Abel and William found some spots to watch the event. It was a grand affair with all the proper pomp and circumstance a coronation would deserve. As soon as the crown and sceptre was in Esther's possession, Abel could see her straighten her spine and soldier into her new role.
"She will be good for Albion, and now I must find my ship and get on my own journey." Abel said standing up and gathering his coat.
"Is it dark enough for Asthe to get around?"
"I think so… she didn't really say anything about when we would leave except after the ceremony."
"Ah, women like to be so vague with times… truly a mystery how they think." William smirked as he shuffled out of the seating area with Abel. "Oh, before it slips my mind, here's the codes for contacting Sister Kate." He handed a small card to Abel.
"Right, can't be forgetting this after all the reminders to check in." He smirked and tucked it away in his pockets.
The sky's had finally decided to open up with a chilly downpour. The crowd was dispersing quickly now as it was a noticeably ugly cold rain. The men made their way back to the entrance to the underground, hoping to catch either Ion or Asthe.
Asthe was leaned up against a lamp post idly crowd watching. Her bags were set by her feet, and Abel spied his suitcase rested along with.
"I was almost ready to send a search party," she teased as they walked up to her.
"Ah well it was rather well attended… has Ion returned yet?"
"Yes he is just getting his bags now… I asked Lord Walsh to have your suitcase brought up, hope that was ok."
"Oh yes. Remember we are flying because I don't want to walk anymore than necessary." He grinned and knelt down to put his gun and accessories in his bag instead of tucked in his coat.
William coughed politely, catching Abel's eye.
"You know how much I hate tearful farewells… so contact me as you can, I will work on the few things for you as fast as possible and let's see each other again."
Abel walked over and offered his hand to William.
"I can't thank you enough my friend."
"Staying alive is thanks enough for me." William grinned a little at his cleverness, shaking Abel's hand.
Abel chuckled and stepped back, "I'll do my best."
William nodded and left Abel and Asthe.