Metamorphosis

14. The letter

'What are you going to do?' L asked in amazement.

'Make the ruler cancel the launch.'

'What?' Mr. Baxter queried.

L approached Lucy and fixed a penetrating gaze on her.

'How will you do that?' he inquired.

'I'll make him understand the consequences of this attack.'

'And he'll believe you?'

Lucy sighed.

'Look, this is the last chance to rectify the situation. I must do it. I don't have much time.'

She took a step back. Her double was already in the right building, facing a wrinkled old man sitting behind a desk.

'You must stay here,' she said.

'Lucy, I know where the Control Center is, and if you move without me, I'll run there anyway.'

'But why?' Lucy said. 'They'll see you, they'll know you've helped me.'

'Nothing will happen to me, Lucy.'

'Nor to me,' she countered. 'You said I'm elusive?'

'I don't deny that,' L replied calmly. "The only thing I'm worried about is that they might kill you. No superpowers will help you there.'

Lucy's face darkened.

'They can't kill me there...'

'If they decide that you pose a threat to Erraticus, they can.'

Lucy didn't answer.

Time inexorably moved forward.

'If I realise that you're in danger, Lucy,' L continued, 'I'll tell you, and you must leave immediately. Do you understand?'

'Yes,' Lucy said, taking his hand.

'I have no idea what the hell is going on, Lucy,' Mr. Baxter interjected, 'but I must go with you too.'

'But Dad...' Lucy gave him a pleading look.

'I can't stay here alone, Lucy. And I can't leave you.'

Lucy sighed. He was right.

She took his hand, and a second later they appeared in the MCC hall.

The room was immense. The entire area of the hall was occupied by rows of tables, each with several monitors.

A large screen displaying information about the launch covered the whole wall. An image from Comrade was broadcast in the centre of the screen: against the backdrop of the black sky stood a giant rocket, supported by trusses, ready for liftoff.

The room was filled with people, and all their gazes were fixed on the monitors and screen. Behind the glass walls of the hall there were also several dozen people observing the proceedings.

Everyone present was engrossed in the work process, and when Lucy, L, and Mr. Baxter appeared in the room, no one initially paid attention to their arrival.

The first to notice them was the ruler.

He turned his head, looked straight at Lucy, and instead of surprise, his indifferent face suddenly showed something she never expected to see.

The look of his tired eyes warmed, and a faint smile touched his thin lips.

He seemed to feel relief and joy from meeting her.

For a moment, Lucy thought he might indeed be the one who saved them in the mountains.

However, in the next instant, his expression became impassive and distant again. At the same moment, bodyguards headed towards them from all corners, but Erraticus waved his palm and shook his head. More and more surprised faces turned towards them from everywhere. Gazes shifted from L to Lucy, and from her to Mr. Baxter.