Five shocked minutes later...

"...and that's the situation exactly as we know it to be now."  Officer Wilks clapped his hands together.  "More than happy to take statements from any of you regarding the events of the night once we get out of the theatre and back to the comfort of the station."

Todd tugged on Wilks's sleeve to pull him aside. "We haven't finished our job here, WIlks," he spoke quietly but urgently. "We can't get in contact with the rest of the team and don't even know where they are. And we can't be dragging a group of civilians into this mess. What's your plan?"

"The rest of the team are re-grouping at the other end of that corridor.  If they're following the plan."  Wilks nodded at the doors under the "Fire Exit" sign.  "We came through there on the way in.  We take this lot down there, hang a right at the end.  You and Tara can take these guys out, the rest of us can deal with the target.  Anyway.  We can't leave them here, can we?"

Todd nodded glumly in agreement. Yeah, stick the rookie with the babysitting job. That's all he's good for.

"I'm not going anywhere until someone tells me what's really going on around here. I don't know what the game is but there's no way a week has passed." Peter said to the officers.

Ryan nodded in agreement. "I like a good time as much as any of ya'll, but this has gone way past ridiculous. I don't know if you've pumped us full of wacky gas or drugged our drinks, but this isn't funny anymore." He shoved his hands in his pockets and glared at he policeman. "Now, since yer the cops, what're you gonna do to straighten this whole thing out?" 

Todd glanced at Wilks, recalling his dislike of "mundane" matters and wondering if that extended to dealing with civilians. Figuring he at least had a smidgen more familiarity with this bunch and had been given responsibility for them, he stepped into the breach.

"Gentlemen, Miss, I understand this's been rather disconcerting, but it's best we move along to a safer area before..."

He paused as something that had been itching in the back of his mind finally burst into the light. "Wait. Wasn't there one more of you?"

"Sure," Ryan agreed. "And here's hopin that she woke up, or found her way out, or whatever it took to stop this craziness." He shrugged. "Now, hows about getting the rest of us out of here pronto?" 

"After you tell us what's really going on here. With the night we've had I'm not trusting anyone." Peter crossed him arms in front of him and planted himself firmly.

Wilks tapped McGill on the shoulder, drew him a little away from the group.

"You're sure there were five in the group?"

"Definitely.  Australian tourist, Annabelle something."

Wilks nodded.  "Interesting.  Right.  Our concern is the immediate here and now.  Get these four to safety.  InterVention are better placed to deal with missing persons.  Chances are they've already found her and she's having a brew with them back at their HQ."  In a quieter voice, he continued "If they've not found her, then we don't stop looking.  The Aspects are a strange place.  We've solved missing persons cases over two hundred years old, found them alive and well and living in Leith.  She might not turn up on our watch but there's no reason to presume something horrible's happened to her.  We'll find her.  Alright?"

"Excuse me." Peter approached the two officers. "It's been a long night and I'd appreciate it if we could get some answers. Some real answers and not this crap about a week having passed since you last saw us." The last was directed at McGill.

Todd didn't let Peter's insinuation get to him. He'd already begun to adopt the "seen it all" attitude common to Department 13 officers, the faint patronizing view towards those who hadn't accepted the carnival ride that the world (worlds?) had become.

"Sir," McGill patiently explained, "Whether you choose to believe it or not, it's been a week since we last met. I'll be glad to tell you what we know at this point, but can I do so while my partner and I escort you out? I'm sure your mates and you are anxious to get back to your lives."

With a glance towards Wilks for confirmation, he guided Peter back to the group and addressed them all. "The Department is currently investigating the death of Lorelei Finlay as murder."

If McGill's statement meant anything to Peter he did not show it. His only expression one of annoyance. Ryan sighed heavily and shook his head, the news merely confirming his own suspicions.  James managed to look surprising unsurprised, but in reality, the seemingly constant changes to reality had simply left him in a kind of fuge state.

Noting the reactions of the group, Todd looked at Ryan. "You would be Ryan Cross, correct? Our presence here is for the purpose of questioning someone who may have information regarding your godmother's death. As to the circumstances of your disappearance..."

He slowly turned to focus his attention on Lucy. "Miss Talbot, I believe? Pardon me if my question seems incredibly silly right now, but has anything unusually strange occurred to you during the tour?"

Lucy gaped and didn't recover well at all. She looked helplessly from Peter to Ryan to James, and then back to the officer. Then she looked towards the floor and spoke quietly. "I've started having terrible headaches. Fainting."

She wanted to go on about the Possibilities, but everyone seemed to think they were drug-induced hallucinations, and she wasn't at all sure about what had happened or what she had imagined. She looked back up at the officer. "I ..." and she stopped. <I don't know what's real anymore> she thought to herself.

"I'm sorry," she said, "Everything just seems so out of focus, disjointed. The whole night has been strange."

Wilks nodded, threw a glance towards Tara.  "Have a quiet word with the lassie, see if you can find the edges."

James nudged Lucy gently.
"Remember, you don't need to tell them anything..." he whispered.

He was about to say something else when the double doors were flung wide open.  The three officers responded instantly, placing themselves between the civilians and the doors, guns drawn.

<-- Call a halt there.  Next page will bring the 2 halves of this one together. -->

<Yolanda>
"Later.  First, you introduce yourself to the officers, I'll be back in a minute."

Before she had a chance to object, Jade placed a hand in the small of Yolanda's back and pushed her gently but firmly down the last couple of steps and into sight of the officers.  Jade's footsteps made no sound as she darted back up the stairs.

"Good evening, miss.  Officer Darwin, Lothian and Borders Constabulary.  Can I help you?"

Yolanda catches the handrail using it to rights herself and casts a wary look back up the stairs to see Jade fleeing. At least At least I'm safe from you she thought considering what has been happening "Well not really.... unless you are... um" she nibbles her bottom lip in thought " I was wondering if you know about a person called Jade who professes to be an murderer. she calls it assassin, but One has some concerns about the accuracy of borderline types." taking another look up the stairs then leans forward. "She's just run upstairs. Do any of you know about branch 13 or whatever it is a  DCI Staneck is in charge some sort of Aspects and that No-one has tried to stop Tro... who she claims is behind something involving in the building"  she enquires with a soft voice.

Officer Darwin smiled what he hoped was a reassuring smile.

"DCI Staneck is my commanding officer, and we are Department 13.  If the lady you call Jade has just gone back up those stairs, then that is extremely useful information."  He turned to the officers standing behind him.  "O'Hare?  Brucatto?  You heard the blue lady, Jade's upstairs.  Off you go."

"I thought we weren't leaving anyone alone, Sir."  The name on the officer's jacket was Brucatto.

"And we're not, laddie.  I've got miss...?  Sorry, you didn't give us a name, lass."

"Please excuse my rudeness, resulting from my recent encounter,  Miss Yolanda Oliva Yaleford if you please, Officer Darwin." she returns his smile. If there really is a department 13 then perhaps this Jade is what she claims to be, or there all a part of a elaborate confidence trick or act. "You mean this Jade is actually dangerous and not just an... ill individual.... " she leaves the comment  unfinished. "And you want me to go with you...after her... So when you catch upto her what do you expect me to do...? On the other hand what are you all going to do?"

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Yaleford.  I trust you're enjoying your stay in Edinburgh.  Have we met before, only you do look rather familiar?"  Darwin cocked his head, mentally trying to place Yolanda.  The blue seemed to be throwing him off.  "At present, all we require from Jade is answers to a select group of questions.  She is exceedingly dangerous and if she believes that Johannes Tro is somehow behind recent events then the proof of that will be number one on the list of questions.  Right now, what I would like you to do is accompany me to the fire exit along this corridor.  Our van is parked just outside, I'll arrange for someone to collect you.  If you'll come with me?"

Darwin held the door open for her.  The green and white "Fire Exit" sign was about twenty yards along the corridor.

Giving Officer Darwin half a smile "Actually things have been rather odd, apart from juvenile antics of the Oxford debaters" presetting her hands to illustrate this. "One has either been slipped hallucinogenic or experienced some of what  this Jade has informed. Apart from that I'd recall if we ever met before." she informed following him towards the Fire Exit. "Officer Darwin do you have a Commission or are you just Warranted."

"Plain old warrant, miss.  You say things have been odd?  You weren't, by any chance, at the National Museum of Scotland earlier today, were you?"

They had reached the fire exit.  Darwin reached out to touch the metal bar but hesitated.  Taking some rather strange goggles from his belt, he donned them, flicked a couple of switches and looked at the door.

"Oh, bugger.  Now that is not good."

Concern showed on her face, for both his reference to the Museum and the Policemans comment. "Alow alow what have e ere then Officer?" she asked hoping he wouldn't take offence.

Darwin turned, gave Yolanda a slow stare and raised his left eyebrow.

"Miss?  Don't do that again."

Beyond the doorway was nothing.  Well, black clouds of roiling nothing.  Darwin carefully closed the door again, clapped his hands together and grinned.  "Right.  Plan B.  This way."  And he jogged off down the corridor, back towards the stairs Yolanda and Jade had descended.

With Yolanda in tow the pair passed the stairs, Darwin slapping a hastily scribbled note onto the wall at the foot of the stairs, headed the length of a corridor that must have run behind and below the stage.  As they got closer they could hear voices from the other side of the doors.

"Good.  Wilks and co. have regrouped here.  Mark 1 dramatic entrance, I think" and he flung the double-doors wide.

<-- Call a halt there.  Next page will bring the 2 halves of this one together. -->