Chapter 1: Dawning Sun
"Activate Summons Protocol
Location Sector Alpha-2 [42.375/-70.983/03.57]
Time at 6:28:36 AM Local
[Priority code 1618]"
A sliver of crimson light tinged the horizon as September longed Winthrop's shoreline, where a light, salted breeze came to greet him from the twilight of the nascent morning. He had always enjoyed the calm period of transition between night and day, a brief encounter of worlds where time seemed to come to a standstill. He would have preferred to remain at the bench where he was seated earlier to savour it further, but the Summoning Protocol had been issued, and he had no choice but to respond, making haste for the rendezvous point displayed on the screen of his MultiCell.
The Arbiters issued the Summoning Protocol when they required an audience with one of their Division's agents, usually to hand out specific tasks or to inform them of significant developments. It was never anything too demanding, but in light of recent events, September braced himself for the worst. As he made his way to his clandestine meeting with December, his mind went back to that night in Kings Cemetery, the night he and October encountered someone who was as much akin to a Witness as he was radically different. It was as though he had been looking at a distorted reflection of his own self, and he found the very concept of such an entity unsettling.
He continued to think of that mysterious figure, of Thomas Moroe, of his meeting with Walter Bishop, of October's dealings with John Mosley, of Robert Bishop's grave, of little Cassidy and her mother. He tried to make sense of this pattern, to see where every piece stood in relation to the other, but it came to no avail. The Witnesses were supposed to know what the future held – they did have an intimate understanding of its probabilistic nature, after all – but with the introduction of so many things that eluded his grasp, September was starting to ponder the fallibility of his perception. He desired answers now more than anything, and though it opposed the passivity he had inevitably cultured over the years due to the impartial, detached nature of his work, he resolved himself to seek them out.
Perhaps December would be of some assistance, he thought.
At road's bend, he branched off, descending a staircase that led to a walkway bordering the murky waters below. In the distance, he spotted a suited man holding a briefcase. He was staring out at the ocean, watching the sun slowly emerge from the depths of its celestial burrow. September proceeded to place himself near the Arbiter's side; the latter promptly turned to address his guest.
"Greetings," said December. "I trust that you are well."
"I am," replied September.
The two admired the ocean for some time before December spoke.
"The reason I have summoned you here concerns your imminent departure for Sector Beta-2."
September looked over to his superior, who maintained his gaze seawards. Olivia Dunham was set to depart for Sector Beta to meet with David Robert Jones, and due to the Subjects Protocol, he was bound to oversee her activities during her stay there. But what relevance his trip to Frankfurt could possibly have eluded him.
"I require that you to deliver something to January," continued December.
"What is it?" asked September.
"It is a holographic conference module that the Overseer has recently created," the Arbiter explained. "With it, we will be able to hold joint Council meetings with the Aube Division from within the Crépuscule Council Chamber."
"Joint Council meetings?"
"Yes," said December, noting his agent's concern.
The Arbiter shifted his glance back at the swaying sea.
"The moment of Collision draws nearer every second," he began. "The humans are causing the Veil to decay at such a rapid rate that they have managed to artificially expedite the original predicted date of the Collision by a few years. The process is increasing at an almost exponential rate now, and it will all culminate in their ongoing Silent War."
He swivelled his head towards September, who reciprocated the motion.
"In times to come, our efforts will need to increase greatly if we are to counteract the War's facilitation of the Collision. Because of this, the Overseer has decided that it would be useful if all members of the League of the Witnesses were able to communicate with each other simultaneously in order to better mobilize our tactics."
September remained silent, processing December's words. All around him he could sense the weight of the impending Collision upon his shoulders, see its figure loom at the edges of his perception, hear the Veil's agonized wails as it slowly tore apart at the seams by mankind's quest for supremacy over nature. The Witnesses have been preparing for the onset of the Collision for thousands of years; and yet, it seemed like it was only yesterday when he watched from afar shepherds herding their flock, or nomadic tribes forging across the plains, guided by the whims of the wind. It was a simpler time back then, a time where man's means were greatly outpaced by their dreams and aspirations.
But those means have now almost caught up to them. There would eventually be no obstacles in their path; all possibilities will be within their reach. Beyond the point of Collision, however, both the fate of the humans and the greater whole of Existence were uncertain. Only a swirling nebula of vague possibilities existed, and no Witness, not even the Overseer, whose perception vastly surpassed that of every living thing, was able to accurately predict what would happen thereafter.
And the introduction of as rigorous a measure as communication modules linking the Council Chambers together came as a not so subtle reminder of the gravity of the situation. September had been working towards the prevention of the Collision for so long that it had somewhat lost its impact over time; that it was now just around the corner gave the Witness a small reality check that put things back into worrisome perspective.
September turned to the Arbiter.
"For what purpose does January require the device?" he asked.
"January and I ran some tests a few days ago," explained December. "Unfortunately, we have determined that the Crépuscule module is defective. We must therefore send it back to Für Immer so that the Overseer may repair it. Since you are leaving for Sector Beta shortly, I thought it would be more efficient to have you transport it there yourself and give it to January directly rather than having to process it through the Courier Network."
September was relieved. He was expecting a much more serious assignment, and was pleased that it was something relatively minor in comparison to the various scenarios he simulated on his way to the rendezvous point. December stretched out his arm, and September accepted the briefcase containing the module.
"I have already informed January of your coming," said December, relinquishing the case. "Contact him after you have overseen Olivia Dunham's arrival in Frankfurt, and he will arrange a meeting with you."
"Do you think we will have to use these modules often?" inquired September.
"I cannot say," replied December. "I would think that if we can continue to carry out our duties with the same perseverance throughout the Silent War, then we may never have to resort to its use. But in the event that we must, let us hope that it is not a sign of our faltering vigilance."
September's brows tensed slightly as he considered the Arbiter's words of warning. He too found himself sharing that same hope, but only because he was concerned about what that hope represented. What would happen if they were to fail? Would the Witnesses survive the Collision? And if they did, what would be their purpose from then on? He decided to swiftly end the train of thought, not wanting to pursue it any further.
He instead turned his thoughts to the questions he had for December; yet September could not bring himself to speak, debating with himself whether he should even go ahead as he had originally intended.
"I've reviewed your mission report for the Beacon assignment," said the Arbiter, seeming to catch on to September's hesitation.
"I've been meaning to speak to you about this, actually," began September. "Do you know anything about the individual October and I spotted at Kings Cemetery?"
"Unfortunately, I do not," said December. "It is a troubling matter, to be sure. That there not only exists an individual similar to the Witnesses that has not been accounted for, but that he is also interested in the Beacon, is a disturbing thought indeed."
"Have you contacted the Overseer about this?" asked the Witness.
"I was going to send out the message later today. The Overseer has just left on one of his excursions, so I can no longer contact him. He departed approximately two hours ago, and has informed us Arbiters to expect his return to Für Immer a few months from now. "
And now September's chance for answers was completely shattered. The Overseer periodically took lengthy trips to Potential States, and he always returned with new ideas and strategies that greatly benefited the Witnesses, but September wished that the head of their organization would have chosen a less inopportune time to depart.
"I have also spoken to January of the matter," continued December, "and as you have no doubt suspected, he is as unknowing as I am."
Another possible source of answers was crossed off. An unwelcome sense of doubt gripped September. The Overseer was the only individual who might have known something, and he would not be returning for quite some time. He could not sense the mystery man in his perception of the future, nor perceive any possibilities in which he was manifest. Until the Overseer returned, he hoped that he would not have the misfortune of encountering him again.
Having reached a dead end, September continued a new line of questioning.
"And what of the man named Thomas Moroe?" he asked.
"You'll be glad to know that we have managed to find some information on this man," announced December.
September eyes widened, having expected nothing at all.
"I've tasked the Proxies to uncover what they could," recounted the Arbiter, "and they have found some files and records of relevance to him. However, not only does he go by this name in both Sectors, but all records pertaining to this individual have been forged. Therefore, any information we do find – his age, his function, any registered places of residence – are rendered suspect by default."
"What are we to do with him?" asked September.
"I have assigned Moroe as a High Priority Target for the time being, so the Proxies will alert us if there are any new developments. By your description, he seems to be less of a concern than the man from the cemetery, but even so, we should not underestimate him or those he may be working with."
September reset his sights to the horizon. Even though the bigger picture had only partially unveiled its face, his inquiries have yielded better results than he had projected. But for now, it appeared that the key to these mysteries would only manifest later on. And yet, in a way, he wasn't completely sure that he truly even wanted to know, concerned that the true state of things would reveal themselves more dire than he could have ever predicted.
"Now is not the time to fret over these issues," reminded December. "We will deal with them when the time comes, as we have always done. I suggest that you instead direct your attention to the task at hand. In the meantime, I will be sure to forward this matter to the Overseer once he returns from his travels."
December checked his pocket watch.
"You should leave now if you are going to arrive at Frankfurt International before she does," he added.
"Understood."
December turned, leaving September unobserved. He felt a sudden change in ambient space-time, and when he turned around, September was nowhere in sight, having departed to Europe via the Roads Less Traveled By. The Arbiter of the Crépuscule Division then left the walkway to tend to his own affairs, but not before taking one last glance at the dawning sun as it emerged from the scarlet skyline beyond.