I do not in any way, shape, or form lay claim to either of these works.

This is just a work of admiration from one fan, to those others that share the same interest.

The only characters or places I lay claim to are those solely of my own creation.

Time and Time again, Book 2.

Time waits for no one.

Chapter 3:

Wednesday, September 8th, 1926. 7:00 A.M

The residence of Rhiner Neumann and Vooren Grantz, Berlin, Germany.

Vooren walked down the stairs of the house he shared with Rhiner and his wife as he finished making himself presentable. It had been eight years since they had come to this world on the end of what was being called the Great War. It had been on a massive scale, but still it had seemed to not quite reach the scale of the war that they had escaped in their own world, but perhaps that had simply been because in this world, magic had not yet been militarized and industrialized. At this time, it was still something that was only found in stories and childrens books.

Some part of Voren hoped that would always be the case, that the true hell of a magically augmented world war would never come to it. That they might find the peace that eluded them in the end.

But that peace seemed to be a fragile thing, a piece of gossamer ready to blow away in the wind.

And it was possible that wind was named Adolf Hitler. Both Vooren and Rhiner had heard the charismatic leader of the Nazi party speak on a few occasions, and how he had seemed to capture the attention and the minds of those that he had spoken to reminded them both of a certain Imperial mage from their previous world. The selfsame young officer that had instilled such devotion that they were here now, carrying out the tasks that had been given to them by an enigmatic being that they had felt like they could trust on an almost instinctive level.

Just like they trusted Tanya herself.

Vooren was pulled from his thoughts as Gretchen, the wife of Rhiner locked eyes with him for a moment before she sighed and walked over to adjust his collar. Where Rhiner was still a study in curves and short, stocky power his wife was a tall, thin woman who had been graced with piercing blue eyes, fine blonde hair, and a sharp tongue that she had never once hesitated to wield like a knife when she felt it was needed.

"You could at least try to look presentable, Vooren. Honestly, how you can think that you would ever land a wife when you are like this, I don't know. If you don't learn to at least pretend to be presentable, then it is only a matter of time before the Hoffman's chase you off, and away from their Anna. I honestly don't know why they haven't yet." Gretchen said with a roll of her eyes.

"It could have something to do with the fact that we have a working relationship, or perhaps that I am a reasonable and hard working man?" Vooren said with a grin.

"I swear, if I had met you first instead of my Rhiner, I would have walked away from both of you." Gretchen said with fond exasperation.

"But you met him first, and you didn't do the reasonable thing and run away from both of us years ago." Vooren pointed out as he looked around.

"If you are looking for Rhiner, he has already left for the office at the airfield." Gretchen said as she shook her head and turned to walk back towards the kitchen.

Vooren nodded as he made his way out of the house as well. In the eight years since they had come to this new world, they had worked hard to establish Neumann-Grantz air services, and had gathered a core of former soldiers from all services to work together. The founding of the company, just like Rhiner meeting Gretchen, had been from prompts found in the infamous Book that Tatania had entrusted them with.

As Vooren walked, he contemplated what they knew so far, and what the pair had been able . They knew that the next date in The Book was approaching, but not what it might entail. This Germany had done its best to rebuild, but the heavy weight of reparations had crippled the economy. Perhaps worse was the perception of what it had cost, and the impression it had left in the minds of many of the citizens. It was not uncommon for people to blame every little failure and setback on either the reparations, the government that was compliant with them, or some other convenient scapegoat.

That seemed to be what Adolf Hitler had tapped into, using and feeding off that unrest to advance himself and his party into a place of power and influence. One of the main differences they had noticed was that this Germany did not seem to have embraced a meritocracy and logic the way their Germania had. Honestly, the similarities only made the differences seem more alien and out of place. Of course, they had no idea if their Germania might not have taken a similar path after the Rus and their allies had finished picking over the bones of the Empire.

Vooren pulled himself back to the present as he neared the airfield that was in walking distance to the house they had bought. He spotted the Hoffman's car and quickly made himself a bit more presentable. He had no illusions about marrying Anna, but he did enjoy the time that he was able to spend with her so far, so it was always in his best interest to make a good impression for both his business and personal endeavors.

Especially since it was surely only a matter of time before Rhiner and his wife had little Neumann's underfoot. As much as their current living situation was convenient for all of them, it was always possible that it might not be the same in the future.

Vooren smiled and shook his head as he walked into the small office that was tucked into a corner of the main hangar. Perhaps he had spent a bit too much time with the Argent over the years, because it seemed that her pragmatic outlook had rubbed off on him.

Vooren scanned the room, and noticed immediately that the door to the inner office was shut, so Mr. Hoffman was almost certainly with the books. He could see Mrs. Hoffman and their younger daughter Sarah in the hangar as Rhiner explained something to the youngest Hoffman before his eyes settled on the pensive young woman who had stood up as he walked into the office. How she looked at him, then jerked her gaze away had him on edge immediately, but he still gave her a friendly smile as he walked in.

"Hello, Anna. How are you today?" Vooren asked as he carefully hung his coat on its usual hook.

"I… I am good, Mr. Grantz…." Anna said without looking at him.

"I am glad to hear that, really." Vooren said as he poured them both a cup of coffee. He handed a cup to Anna, as she continued to not look at him. "Why don't you tell me what is wrong, please?"

"Mother and Father… Have found me a husband. A good Jewish boy, from a good family." Anna said as she gripped her cup tightly

Vooren sighed and nodded as he led her over to the table to sit and talk. "Have you met him yet, then?" At her quiet nod, he smiled softly. "Do you like him?" He asked next. She once again nodded and gripped her cup tighter. "Then, isn't that something to congratulate, then?" He said with a gentle smile.

Anna bit her lip and wiped at her eyes. "Aren't you angry at me? Didn't I lead you on, all this time?"

"And why would I think that? Aren't we friends? We have known each other for years, Anna. I am happy for you, and all I can hope for is your happiness. I would like to meet your future husband, and perhaps the three of us can be friends going forward?" Vooren said, as he made sure that the disappointed feeling in his heart didn't show.

He had felt like things with Anna would not go any further than they had for a while now. As much as she was a good, even an amazing woman, he had not felt like he could confide in her. Rhiner had found a good match in Gretchen, but Vooren knew he needed something more in his partner for the rest of his life. He needed someone that he could share this burden with, but he doubted that he would ever find that person.

After all, who could he really trust with the truth?

Rhiner might think that this mission would end during their lifetime, but Vooren knew better. There were too many pages still sealed, and they still had no idea where, or when, The Argent and Visha would be returned to them. There were just too many things that they didn't know. This was going to be a long mission, one that would last long after they were gone. They had to look towards the future, and it was obvious that Rhiner was too focused on the here and now to think like that.

That meant it was up to him to do that, to try to make sure that the mission would not end when they died. That when the time came, the pieces that they would set up, the actions that they would take, would be prepared for when they were needed.

After a bit, Vooren looked up to see Rhiner and the two other Hoffman ladies walking towards him and Anna. He smiled as he stood up and offered his seat to the pair on the couch where he had been sitting, as he moved to refill both his and Anna's cups of coffee. "I hope you ladies haven't been bored to tears yet by Rhiner." Vooren said in an amused voice.

"Mr. Neumann has been a gracious host, Mr. Grantz. He has been telling Sarah about the new aircraft your company has added recently." Mrs. Hoffman said as she sat with her youngest daughter, and smiled as Vooren placed a cup of coffee for her, and a cup of tea for Sarah in front of them.

"It looks like the two other fields that we have been looking at should be approved soon, Vooren." Rhiner said as he walked over and filled himself a cup of coffee and sat at one of the chairs.

"That is good news, indeed." Vooren said as he moved to sit in a chair across from the Hoffman's, and met Anna's eyes for a moment before the eldest daughter smiled warmly at him. It seemed that at least he would still be able to count on Anna as a friend going forwards, at least.

It was about this time that Mr. Hoffman exited the office and wiped his glasses before he sat down with his own cup of coffee in one of the chairs near the couch that his wife had settled on with their youngest. "Everything looks good, as usual. I wish that our other partners were as diligent with their record keeping." Mr. Hoffman said with a smile. "Oh, and I have been looking into those other properties you had me inquire about. It's not often that anyone is interested in buying up some of the land that was used as battlefields during the war, so much of it is available. Why those particular pieces, I wonder?"

"Some of them are in good locations for future airfields, the locations that made them hotspots for conflict also make them rather ideal as potential hubs." Rhiner explained as he settled in and smiled. "And since they are not really suited well for being returned to fields, it will make a good use for land that will otherwise sit for years."

What was not said was that one of the sites was where the bunker that they would have used in the war in their world was situated. They had not tried to enter it, since it had been collapsed, but it seemed likely that it would be where their commanding officers would be found, one day. It had seemed like a good idea to try to buy up the land that it sat on, so that when the time was right, they would be able to have everything in order.

It was, after all, why they were here.

"Mr. Neumann was telling us that you have started to work on expanding your routes, even into France and other countries outside of Germany?" Mrs. Hoffman said as she looked at Vooren.

"Yes, we have. We are very excited to be able to start working with other companies outside of our own. With any luck, we will be able to help establish a network of companies that work together to make better use of this new era in aviation." Vooren said with a smile.

Vooren could surmise from the looks that Anna and her mother exchanged that her talking to him about her fiance had been the mothers suggestion, and he relaxed somewhat. He could understand why Anna had been hesitant, but it seemed that things were working as well as could be expected. He just hoped that there were not too many other curve balls thrown their way in the near future.

"Oh yes, Vooren! It seems that a couple of the political parties have been looking at establishing relations with some of the air carriers, and we will have a guest tomorrow. With any luck, it could lead to any number of new contracts! Your idea to pick up some of those new passenger planes, as well as the newer air mail carriers, seems to have paid off already!" Rhiner said with a grin on his face, even as his eyes flashed an unspoken message to his business partner.

It seemed that they might end up getting drawn into the maneuvering of the various parties, after all.

"You know, when we do get the other fields opened up, perhaps the Hoffman's would like to take a tour of them, by air?" Vooren said as he changed the topic.

The Hoffman's exchanged a look, and the smiles and eager look from young Sarah worked wonders on easing Vooren's heart.

It seemed that everything would work out, after all.

"When that time comes, would it be okay if we invited Anna's future husband along, as well? He will be joining the family business, so it would be good for him to get a good idea of what assets our bank is involved in." Mrs. Hoffman asked, and Vooren felt his heart sink a little even as he smiled and nodded in agreement.

What else could happen, the former member of the 203rd asked himself in the quiet of his mind, even as he knew that those were thoughts that were best left untouched, if anything that he had encountered on the battlefield under the Argent had taught him, but still, Vooren couldn't help but ponder that even as he refilled their guest's cups.

Little did all of those present know just how much, and how quickly, things could change in just a matter of a few years.