Seeking Answers

Posted on Thu May 16th, 2024 @ 3:01pm by Ignatius & Raven Mattel

Mission: The Only Thing Left Was Hope
Location: Earth - New York
Timeline: Morning

ON:

It was the morning after Ignatius' last work session at the factory with Raven, and after the two had been visited by the mysterious man in the darkness. The city was just as alive as it was last night - this time with people going to work, brunch, shopping, sightseeing. A constant stream of shuttles flew overhead, while the streets were packed with people. Strutting down Seventh Avenue, Raven was holding two carry-cups of coffee. One was hers, which she diligently attempted to drink every chance they stopped walking for a second; and the other belonged to Ignatius, whose face was just-as-diligently focused on his PADD. She was navigated them both through the pedestrian traffic as best she could.

After a few blocks of his grumbling and complaining, Ignatius finally stopped and sighed. "I don't get it."

Grateful to have stopped so she could sip her drink, Raven raised an eyebrow, "The colours again?"

"No, the footage." Ignatius replied, showing his friend the PADD he had been so fixated on. It was showing a video recording of the security camera outside of his factory in Chelsea. "This is the time of our visit last night. The last worker leaves around two minutes before and then... nothing."

"Nothing?" Raven asked, leaning in closer to look.

"No one else enters, no one else leaves." Ignatius shrugs. "I've checked the entire day's footage. Whomever that was didn't walk inside the building."

Ignatius finally retrieved the coffee from Raven's hand and took a heady gulp of the caffeinated beverage. He had been obsessing over this strange visit since it happened last night. Of course, primarily because of the intrusion into his private space, but also because it gave him a suitable distraction from his fashion line. The dress showing last night had deeply disappointed him, so having something else to focus on for a moment was giving his doubts a rest for a change.

"So... Transport then?" Raven offered.

"I didn't see any blue lights, did you?" Ignatius asked. "It was pitch black in the room, we would have seen them transporting in and out."

At this, Raven nodded. She wanted to frown but as they were so close to Fashion Week and Ignatius' show, she trying to avoid the physical manifestation of emotions lest they created unwanted lines on her face. Instead, she just took in that thought quietly.

"The only other thing I can think of is that maybe he was in the Factory already?" Ignatius wondered, "Transported in without us seeing, hid somewhere and just, like, waited for us to be alone?"

"Oooh that's so creepy!" Raven exclaimed. "Surely someone would have seen him though. We were all there for a very long time. And how did he know we would be alone?"

Ignatius frowned, but then he agreed with a reluctant nod.

"Speaking of, have you messaged your team yet about the adjustments you'd like to make to the dress?" Raven bravely enquired.

"No." Ignatius sighed. He could only avoid the subject for so long. "But this is adjustment number - god, I forget how many. Hundred? Thousand? It's still not right and I don't know if it ever will be exactly what I want."

"But it's your dream dress." Raven replied, "And I look absolutely sickening in it, I might add. I have to wear that thing in Fashion Week. The world must see your creation, Iggy."

"Look, to be honest Raven, now I am doubting whether or not I will show it at all." Ignatius warned, "If it's not exactly as I intended. How can I stand up there in front of everyone with a design I don't truly believe in? I'd feel like a fraud."

Raven sighed, "I know. But you've worked so hard on it. And maybe the exact colouring won't ever be perfect, you know, without..."

"Without?" Ignatius asked.

"Without going back to the Pandora." Raven finished. "Maybe that's why that guy was telling you to go back there."

"I don't think he pulled all that trickery to send a message about a dress." Ignatius shook his head.

"Probably not." Raven agreed.

"Have you managed to get in touch with Mindo?" Ignatius asked as they resumed their stroll down Seventh.

"Not yet." Raven replied, "He's very elusive these days. I keep sending messages and videos, but he only sporadically replies. I think he's on Risa now."

"Risa?" Ignatius lit up a little at the name.

Raven side-eyed her friend. "Iggy?"

"Well... maybe a quick break from designing wouldn't be a bad idea." Ignatius suggested. "And maybe Mindo will be able to use his skills to program the colours exactly as we remembered them. He saw everything we did, too."

"He's the only Engineer I'd trust with it." Raven added, "The only Engineer who could do it. No offense to your team, of course."

"Bah, I agree." Ignatius shrugged. "So we pack up the dress and take the next transport to Risa? What do you think?"

"A brilliant plan!" Raven cried. "A dynamic trio reunion."

Ignatius grabbed the two cups out of their hands and threw them into a nearby receptacle. He took hold of Raven's hand and started jogging. "Well, what are we waiting for?!"

"WE'RE COMING MINDO!" Raven gleefully shouted as the pair went skipping down Seventh Avenue.

[Earth - Orbit]

Quietly orbiting around the dark side of the moon, there was a small black craft - cloaked from view and detection. Inside at the cockpit, there was a console screen showing a series of maps from different locations. Denmark. San Francisco. New York. Drax. On each of the maps there was a marker with a name: Temple. Nash. Jameson. Smith. Ignatius. Kaleri. The markers changed every fifteen seconds, showing their movements and direction.

An alert displayed on screen, revealing the designer and his friend had requested passage on a civilian transport to Risa.

"Risa." Came the voice. "So that's where the next one is."

He tapped on his screen and set in a course. Around the hull of the ship came a dense purple fog, which enveloped the craft before quickly dissipating - and now the ship had disappeared too.

OFF