"Even that, it's not—"

He flinches mid-sentence, then straightens up, whirls to face south, and disappears. Half a second later he's back, looking very confused.

"I'm sorry. Someone was being very insistent about wanting my attention and I don't know who or why." His cell phone dings.

"...should you get it?"

"Probably. Contacting someone this way is really hostile, so it's either an emergency or an enemy."

"Emergency it is. Sadde, you just had the biggest lucky break I've ever seen."

".......I don't....... feel very lucky?"

He shows him the text chain. It's the conversation between the two of them. News, sympathy, and there at the bottom:

She's alive. Tell me time travel.

"Ask me for my code."

"You have a...of course you do."

He sends the message, and the phone in Sadde's pocket buzzes.

Sadde jumps.

And slowly reaches into his pocket, not daring to look at it, hands trembling. He raises its screen to eye level and unlocks it—why is the screen blurry—why is he crying again—he needs to stop this crying shit it's unseemly—he doesn't endorse that thought—can he just rub his eyes already so he'll see—he's stalling, he knows he is, and somehow knowing he's stalling doesn't make it any easier to stop—no, that's stupid, he'll just—clean the tears out of his eyes, read the words...

And drop the phone as he raises both hands to cover his sobs.

"It's okay. I really can say that this time. It's going to be okay."

He retrieves Sadde's phone and hands it to him, open. There's a new sent message at the bottom there.

Sadde nods into his hands, then accepts the phone, and reads what's there.

"I—I should go. I don't want to—mess up with time too much." He wipes his eyes again. "Can—I'm sorry, I keep asking, but—can you send me back to Toronto? I think I know where I should—start—"

Nod. "Of course. And– we don't know much. But we do know whatever happens, it works. I think it really is that good. We can even leave Conquest out completely, if you want to?"

"Yes. Yes, as far as he knows, you and I just had a chat—if my other self is here already." The corners of Sadde's lips tug upwards in a teary smile. "I can't wait to see his face when he sees Diana alive."

"It'll hit him right where it hurts.

So, right where I picked you up from?"

Sadde nods. "Please."

There is a complete lack of sound effect as they arrive.

"When it's done, you contacted me by calling my name and empowering the connection, and disguised it so it looked like it was coming from the main entrance to my demesne. Presumably with glamour. I'll look for you somewhere near there?"

He nods. "I guess that's as good a bet as any. I'll—see you in the future, then. Thank you."

"Just remember, you've already won."

Sadde smiles and salutes.