*label final_diplomacy_start

"Is it possible to negotiate with the Chaos Agency?" you ask.

"It's not like they're 'villains'," the Professor says. "They aren't dedicated to our destruction. It's more like they feel we're in their way. They want to change the timeline, and we feel the paradox caused by such things is too dangerous."

"But we do have a history of conflict," Renne mutters.

"That said," you say, "How do we get a message to them?"

"There's probably one way," Dan says. He nods to Frankie. "Frankie?"

"Huh?" She blinks and looks away from a screen. "What?"

"Your boxes. Do you have any boxes from someone who is going to pick them up and then visit Paradox Corps HQ?"

"Sure," she says. "But..."

"But," the Professor says. "If we leave a message in the box that says 'By the way, give this to Continuity', and the message to Continuity says 'If the Chaos Agency invades, give them a message to meet us at a specific point in time'..."

"Would that work?" you ask.

"Hey, one way to find out!" the Professor asks. He and Dan share a grin.

*page_break Later, in another time...

The wind blows over the field. Rows of lights stab at the oncoming twilight. A fence encloses the wide field, and a long stretch of asphalt marks out a runway. The only other feature is metal booth.

Space and time wrench aside, and a woman steps out of nothing, followed by two men. She's old, but still vigorous, brown skin and gray hair. The two others are of ambiguous gender, but they have black hair, epicanthic folds and very pale skin. All three are dressed in black uniforms with pockets and weapons.

The booth's door opens and four people step out.

You nod. "Thanks for coming," you say. "Welcome to Republic Airport."

"Indeed," she says. "Call me the Architect."

"I'm ${name}," you say. "Dan, Renne, the Professor. We'd like an end to hostilities, release of our people and our base returned."

The Architect snorts. "Or what?"

*if (diplomacy < 5)
	"Uh," you say. "Continued fighting?"

	"We can deal with a few prison breaks," she says.

	"But we can bring lots of resources to bear," you say.

	"And we can bring more." She shrugs. "I'm not impressed."

	You open your mouth, but she's waving at the commandos. Their weapons make subtle whistles as they charge up. "Stop!" You have to dive out of the way. Energy flies through the air. Renne is shooting from inside the time machine.

	And then--then a humming and pulsing. The machine fades from view. "No!" you gasp, stumbling back. "Wait!" You leap forward...and hit the ground.

	"Lucky shot." The Architect peers over you. "I think we hit the console. Activated the controls. Looks like they left without you! Sorry, little one." A metal prod is jabbed into you, causing intense pain, then unconsciousness.

	It doesn't get better after that.
	*ending

"Or we keep interfering with each other!" you snap. "Is that really what you want? I met an Orbiter once. He said that there was a state of 'detente' between you, us and them! If someone that alien can be at peace with us, can't we? Or are humans always destined to be our own worst enemies?"

The Architect is taken aback by your outburst. Her commandoes raise their weapons, but she waves them back. "I suppose," she says, carefully. Something is very familiar about her, but you can't put your finger on what.

"You've acted in bad faith," you say. "Kidnapping, locking us out of our own base. But we're willing to forgive! We can have a ceasefire, and then...and then we can start negotiating who has the right to perform what temporal manipulations, where."

The Architect eyes you. "A pretty dream," she says. "What assurance do we have that you'll do so?"

"A..." You rack your brain. "An exchange of hostages!"

"What?" several people say.

"Yeah. I'll go along with you." You straighten up and step forward.

"You?" the Architect says. "You're a trainee!"

"I'll go," Dan says. He puts a hand on your shoulder and steps forward.

"What?" you say. "But--"

"I'm the best negotiator the Corps has," Dan says. "Well. Maybe second best, now." He grins at you. "You pick up the slack while I'm off exchanging culture and stuff. In return, you guys leave us to our own devices."

The Architect watches you. Then, slowly, she nods. "Ora," she says. You don't recognize the word, but one of the commandoes steps forward. "This is Ora. She'll stay with you. And if you mistreat her, I'll hear about it."

You exhale. "Excellent," you murmur. "Is...is that it?"

"Sure, except for hugs." Dan hugs you, then Renne and the Professor, and even Frankie who has come to the door. "Don't worry, everything will be okay."

The three of them stand togther, then they vanish.

*page_break

You find yourself looking at the hologram of Continuity, the base AI. Activity has picked up quickly once the Agents left.

"Hey! ${name}!"

You look back and smile. "Elizabeth!"

"Hey!" She runs up to you and smiles. "I'm going to be staying here from now on. Studying and researching!"

"Excellent!" You glance back at Continuity. "I wonder what the future's going to be like. Not history, but...I feel things are different now. Maybe our mission will change."

"That's why we're here!" Elizabeth says. "A young, fresh perspective. Come on!" She takes your hand and pulls you along.

*ending

