Everyone had gathered: Dr. Dawson, Ratigan, Hayley, and even the Flavershams. Basil and Ratigan sat in opposing chairs while the others stood close. The hearth was cold. Mrs. Judson offered coffee and biscuits on a tray, although she couldn't speak through the silence.
"It can't be all that hopeless," Olivia said at last.
"I'm afraid it is," Ratigan said, lighting a cigarette. "Without knowing where or when Chipendale took Kiara or Hayley's friend Kyrin, rescuing either of them could prove impossible."
"My own research on the clues Chipendale left have been inconclusive," Basil said, gesturing to his lab. "We know it was several months ago, during the chaos where Ratigan's home was destroyed that he stole the plans to create his own time machine. There's been no word of him returning to the London of our time, and we know he didn't stay in Kiara's time, so the only logical conclusion is he established a new base of operations in another era."
"He told no one what he was doing," Ratigan said around the stem of his cigarette holder. "The people who put together his machine were either uninformed tradies, or silenced after their work was done."
"He could've killed Kiara any time, why did he have to involve my friend? This is beyond normal revenge," Hayley said.
"Might it not be reasonable to assume that he wouldn't go further in the past than our own time, nor beyond Kiara and Hayley's time?" Dawson asked. "He seems like the sort of fellow who couldn't do without the technologies he's known, but would be confused by anything too advanced."
"Even narrowing the likely time periods by that much, we would never be able to find Kiara or Kyrin in time." Basil's voice reverberated bitterness.
"Why not?" Flaversham asked. "It's a time machine innit? Shouldn't you always be able to go to when they're both alive, when both can be saved?"
"It doesn't work like that," Ratigan hissed. "If it were that simple, we could go to before Kiara was kidnapped and prevent this whole mess. The nature of the time machine is that it doesn't allow for paradoxes." He gestured with his cigarette holder. "Once something has happened within a timeline, it can't be undone. Events only progress in a linear fashion, and better for all of us that limitation exists."
"But that means, if Chipendale kills Kiara and Kyrin before we can find them..." Olivia trailed off.
Heavy silence pressed down again.
Ratigan puffed, staring into the dark hearth. "There is one thing we can do…" he began.
"What?" Hayley asked.
"To find Kiara efficiently, we'll need a temporal-singularity-locator. However, even with my vast intellect I fear it would take too long to create the device myself. It would be more expedient if we paid a trip to the far-future, and borrowed the key components we need to make the locator."
"Ratigan, you're meant to have turned a new leaf," Basil warned.
"But it's for Kiara's sake! I did the same thing to get the medicine to fix her broken arm!"
"Do you mean the arm you broke?"
"Bygones, water under the bridge!" He waved a flippant hand, but wore a scowl.
"If you're going to the future to help Kiara, then I'm coming with you, and we'll acquire this technology ethically."
"Fine! Have it your way." Ratigan stalked off, out the door, stomping up the stairs.
Basil sighed, sagging into his chair.
"Don't worry Mr. Basil," Olivia said, drawing near. "You've solved all sorts of missing-person cases, including my father. I'm certain you can do it again."
"Thank you, child." He ruffled her hair.
"My parents and Kyrin's parents are all relying on you too," Hayley said. "You and Ratigan both. So don't give up, alright?"
He smiled. "Thank you as well." He stretched his back before taking a deep swig of coffee. "Right, let's find Kiara and your friend."