The Known/Unknown Quantity

Chapter 109: Doomed

Chapter 109: Doomed

Shadwell banked the fire, and looked out.

                The sun must have been up for a couple of hours or so, and now across the field he witnessed Aziraphale laden down with odd bundles trotting over to the cottage and disappearing into the door. So, breakfast would be soon.

                As he turned, something was gently placed in his hand, a mug: his thermos was long empty. Tracy slid down by his side, bundled in a '60s vintage red coat with a fur trim hood, and he smiled warmly to her, and gurgled the coffee down.

                "Condensed milk?" She nodded, watching his work.

                "You like it in nearly everything, don't ya?"

                "Aye, lass, I do." They sat quietly for a while, then as the smells of cooking wafted their way, mentioned," Are we gettin' anywhere, wi' o' this stuff?" She nodded, and huddled next to him. "Feel a bit useless right now."

                "Your time will come, love."

                "Ah."

                "But, it's odd, all this."

                "Oh?"

                "Well, Newt and Aziraphale finally scoured those papers and found a trail to that engineer person, and the doctor wunnit too hard to tract down. After dinner, they'll be heading out."

                "What about that weird sword? It's not the same as the original?"

                "No. It's a memory, a copy. But that wasn't the mystery so much as whether Crowley moves thru it, and why."

                "Well? Any consensus?"

                "Oh yes, finally. It's a bit a sling shot, and the bit that goes out like a boomerang. Like," she scooted closer to him," it takes such energy, such propulsion, it's got to pour out somewhere and curve back. That place is Alpha Centauri, and something there is pulling it, like a magnet, then sends it back along its way."

                Shadwell got a thoughtful look in his eye. "Is it his child?" he said almost in a whisper.

                "We think so, somewhere, but maybe. Not sure. But it's aware, and it's benevolent, and purposeful in its aid."

                "Too deep for me, Jezzie."  The older man shivered, and thru back the rest of his coffee, then smacked his lips. "What did the demon find out?"

                "Olivia says the homunculus is seeking family, the love of a mother. Maybe whoever created that thing. And if that's the case, that changes what we know about how it works. More reliant on the operator, you see? Like it's bein' starved for attention—"

                "—cos' that 'operator's' diverting resources."

                "Very good, dear! Yes! This person, whoever she is, knows she can't rely on the homunculus to do it all. She's saving it for when she can use it."

                "So, she's gonna strike on her own? The wards won't work then."

                "No. Which is why the clock is tickin'. We need a name, and a face, and to know the nature of those items. All this together could lead to a way to stop more attacks, or even how to finally destroy the creature and maybe the maker, before they make a final blow." She yawned into the back of her glove. "Oh, my, but how much longer can any of us go?"