Author's Notes: Here's the last main chapter of the fic, though not quite just yet. Hopefully through this interesting take on a story, you enjoyed the ride!

Through a Board Director's Eyes: A tale beyond the RDNA-verse.

Or, a snapshot from within the Agency.

Chapter 5 - Surrogate Family

On a balcony above the Sanctuary Gardens.

"So, you wish to adopt the child, Mister Herz?" The ancient dragon-esque being known as Madam Gverza, asked Logan in impeccable English. As the High Director of the Agency and his old superior back in his junior days as an Agent, she easily towered over him. Over two and a half metres tall. "I was just about to call you about this young boy you rescued some months ago. Jonatan Edelstein-Hedervary, wasn't it?"

"Ja," the Austrian nodded calmly as handed the last of the paperwork regarding to the adoption and legal guardianship over the child's well-being. "But I don't think it's a good idea to use that surname. The last thing the kid needs is to be constantly reminded of his ordeal." Or his heritage.

"The Edelstein-Hedervary name is his birthright, as much a part of him as the rest of his inheritance. He will have to confront that one day, Logan. Denying him that will only delay it," Madam Gverza chided.

The senior Agent sighed, biting back his tongue. The ancient being was right, after all. "Perhaps. But the he's lost everything. Gott,he lived through the last days of his already hellish world! Not to mention saw his own parents die!"

"So I was told, Mister Herz," the figure nodded with a saddened frown. "So I was told. But won't it be better for the child to learn how to cope with what he had endured? Rather than forgetting and wishing it all away as if they were nothing? As I said, the time will almost certainly come, whether he likes it or not. Sooner or later-"

"I know, Gverza!" he snapped before clearing his throat in an attempt to calm down. Just like my first meeting with her. Can't ruin this now! "It will be a very long road to recovery for the kid, no matter how tough he is. But the past and future will have to wait. Jonatan's well-being is my concern. Surely you understand that." He knew that whatever choice he would make there and then would leave a lasting impact on the boy.

Madam Gverza nodded, a knowing smile appearing on her face as she held his hand. "Much like what you put up with perhaps, Logan?"

Ja, very much so, come to think of it. For a brief moment, he recalled another world's dying light. And a young Austrian man out of school getting yanked out just in the nick of time before his world was consumed by atomic fire. Saved. By you. Still, the Agent managed to smirk wearily. "I'm surprised you remembered the old days, Madam. But that was a long, long damn time ago."

The being returned the gesture with a smile. "No matter. I trust that you will do your duty as the boy's new caretaker. The child may not have an ordinary life but at least give him a good one, my good friend."

"You can count on it," he replied with a soft nod. "Just you wait."

-0-

15 years later.

Smiling for a moment, Logan took out a more recent photograph of Jonatan in his graduation attire, taken just outside the steps of the University of Vienna. Back in my new home anyway. Guess I did a fine job raising that kid. And following his footsteps, the young man had become one of the Agency's best operatives. Highly skilled with many capabilities such as combat, weaponry, espionage, impersonation and reading body language, as well as being highly knowledgeable in many topics like history, culture and language, he went above and beyond what was expected of even most other Agents. But despite that, he was still quiet and rather awkward when it came to socialising with others outside the his closest friends, let alone his family. A pleasant and dependable young man. Almost like a son to him. Almost.

Indeed the young Agent grew up to inherit many traits from his parents. His true ones. Jonatan after all had the same face and hair like his father as well as the softness and build of his mother. His father's leadership and sense of initiative displayed the most in difficult moments, while his mother's kindness and warmth showed when with close associates.

And as much as Logan was proud of his adopted kid, it also worried him. From what the Austrian learned in all those years of being his caretaker, any mention of his sordid past usually triggered his traumatic if at times painfully severe episodes. Even after all that time, no treatment and method the Agency had to offer provided much consolation in fully erasing the pain of losing everything. Still, the child persevered. But for how long?

It wasn't long before a hovering probe returned to the old Board Director, "[Logan Herz]," it intoned in stilted German. "[Your presence has been requested in the Portal Terminal.]"

"Oh, who is it now you bucket of bolts?"

"[A Caddison Dawnwood has returned from the universe codenamed RDNA-verse. She requests for your presence immediately concerning two persons she brought over from said world.]"

I was wondering why the lass was taking so long there... This perked the old Austrian's interest. "Well then, it'd be nice to meet some kindred spirits. That will be all."

He packed the documents back into their files and headed over towards the elevator lift to the surface. But not before taking one last look at the grimly yellowed photograph of an aged Roderich Edelstein and his frail wife, Elizaveta Hedervary smiling with a familiar kid.

Their kid.

"You have my word," the Board Director whispered under his breath as he got going. For a brief moment, he thought there were two other figures closeby. But maybe that was just his fatigue.

As the elevator doors closed behind Logan, two ethereal voices could been heard whispering.

"Wir sind dankbar..."

"Köszönöm."

-ENDE-VEG-

For some added information:

Caddison Dawnwood is another OC from the RP by Aufigirl: an Australian young lady turned Agent sent to the RDNA-verse who is a lot more than she appears to be.

Wir sind dankbar - "We are grateful." (German)
Köszönöm - "Thankful." (Hungarian)