Alright, Chapter 2. If some things seem really strange, I must remind the reader that this story is AU and therefore does not take place in France. If you wish to learn more about the world they now inhabit, please follow the link given in Chapter 1. To clarify, the world is one with all the technology and advancements of our own however, both Javert and Valjean are still wearing their period clothing (because I love the way it looks and simply can't imagine them in anything else). …

2

Valjean's eyes widened in terror and disbelief. He thought that he and Javert had reconciled their differences. They had even been able to have polite conversations from time to time. He had observed Javert from afar and noticed how he got along, mostly begrudgingly but not uncivilly, with his flat-mate and other acquaintances. He also attended a support group with other members of the building and had made significant progress. But now the former status of predator and prey had been reestablished and Valjean, although sure he could win if it came to blows, felt like an animal in a trap. Attempting to hide his apprehension, he stood calmly and looked the inspector in the eyes.

"Monsieur, for what crime am I being charged?" Javert threw back his head and laughed derisively at his adversary.

"Have you forgotten? Has old age addled your brain? You are a convict! You have committed serious crimes, among them breaking the orders of your parole, and are sentenced to life in prison and possibly death. I doubt you will obtain leniency this time." Despite the threat, Valjean stood his ground.

"A crime cannot be transferred through death."

"Death? What nonsense is this?"

"We're dead Javert! Both of us. Don't you remember?"

"Dead? You senile old fool!"

"Look around you! We're not in France anymore. We're not even in the same century. Look!" Valjean picked up the telephone he had been using moments before. "This device runs on something called electricity. It doesn't exist in our time."

He stared at the device, dumbfounded. It was true he had never seen anything like it and as he looked around, the office itself was filled with objects supremely foreign to him. Furious as he was, Javert could not shake Valjean's explanation. It didn't take long, however, for duty to overshadow curiosity.

"Regardless of where or…when…we are, you are still a criminal and a thief! It is my duty to arrest you and see justice done."

Valjean sighed, his heart heavy. Javert had come such a long way in his time here. Why had he regressed back to before his death? And why had he forgotten everything about the new world in which they lived?

His options were few. He could run, it would be simple enough to knock the inspector out, or he could go with him. He had come to regard Javert as a friend regardless of everything the man had put him through. He did not blame him for doing his duty. Javert was an officer of the law, after all. And now, in order to help his pursuer and to find out just what was wrong with him, Valjean needed to allow him to finally finish their lifelong chase.

Stepping out from behind his desk, he stood in front of Javert, hands extended before him in surrender. A look of surprise and confusion flashed almost imperceptibly across the inspector's face. Valjean had seen it, Javert's moment of hesitation. No doubt he had expected a fight, or at least some form of resistance. But the act of pure surrender was so unlike the Valjean he knew that it left him stunned. He was quick to collect himself but not quite quick enough. The younger man bristled at letting his weakness show to his enemy, angrily berating himself. He hated weakness.

Javert grabbed Valjean roughly by the collar and spun him around, yanking his arms back behind him. The manacles bit into his wrists, clamped down as tightly as possible. He winced, numbness spreading through his hands as paresthesia set in. Valjean once again found himself abruptly turned around then pushed towards the door, a stern voice behind him saying, "March!"

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