(6 Days Before the Switch)
Location: Downtown San Francisco, California, on Earth
"Vivian? The driver is already here." Alex's voice, smooth as polished stone, cut through her thoughts. He was already walking beside her, a hand subtly guiding her toward the exit. He didn't ask if she was coming; he simply assumed it. "Liam? Take Ms. Lorenson's car keys and have her car delivered to her apartment's designated parking spot."
Alex held out his hand expectantly, and Vivian found herself automatically giving her keys to him with a completely blank look on her face. It was a bizarre, almost hypnotic efficiency. She was used to being aware of what was going on around her, to making her own decisions, but Alex moved with an undeniable force that swept her along.
"Not to rush, Vivian, but the driver is already waiting. And I'm sure you want to see the site while it's still daylight." Alex gave the keys to Liam.
"Huh? Oh. Yes. I do." The words felt clumsy on her tongue, her mind still catching up.
"Good. I'll call the elevator while you square things with Liam." Alex walked down the hallway toward the elevator bank, his back hiding his faint, satisfied smirk.
Vivian looked at Alex as he walked away, then turned to Liam, who was still holding her keys. "Is he always like this?"
Liam was also turned toward Alex's retreating form, a weary but knowing expression on his face. "Mostly. Especially if he is curious about something." Liam took down the information to have Vivian's car delivered and gestured for her to be on her way. "Good luck, Ms. Lorenson."
Though Vivian had started down the hallway, she paused in her tracks and looked back at Liam. "Luck? Wait. Why?" But Liam just waved and pointed to the elevators, his cryptic smile her only answer.
The elevator doors hissed open, revealing Alex already inside, holding the door for her. As they descended, the silence stretched, punctuated only by the soft hum of the machinery. Vivian found herself studying Alex's profile as he looked through his phone. Alex's sharp line of his jaw, the slight curve of his lips—he really was objectively handsome. It was almost annoying how easily he commanded attention.
When the elevator chimed, opening into the ground-floor lobby, a black, polished SUV was already waiting curbside. A discreetly dressed man, clearly a professional driver (and possibly also personal security), opened the rear passenger door. Alex gestured for Vivian to enter first, a subtle hand hovering over the small of her back without actually touching.
When she buckled in, she surveyed. The leather seats were cool and plush, and the car smelled faintly of Alex's aftershave. Like his office, the SUV could be anyone's, and she thought it might actually be a company pool car. But then Alex pulled some items out of the console next to him that were clearly meant only for him.
"The old warehouse on Bayview, please, Thomas," Alex instructed the driver, settling in beside Vivian. He turned to her, his expression shifting back to one of engaged professionalism. "This particular site is interesting because it's been off the grid. No official reports, no insurance claims. Just... a clean slate, as far as the public record is concerned. Which means no fire department investigation has touched it. If your data are correct, we may be able to find something."
Vivian nodded, pulling out her tablet. "This is definitely one of the sites that caught my attention. The interviews with the garbage collectors gave the only hints that this might be one of the earlier test sites." She pulled up the map, zooming in on the location. "It's a GIG property, but it's been vacant for years, correct?"
"Correct," Alex confirmed. "Scheduled for demolition next quarter, followed by remediation. Old industrial space. No active tenants, no valuable assets inside. Or so we thought." He leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping. "I'm curious to see what you find, Ms. Lorenson. What your unique perspective uncovers."
The drive was relatively short, the city gradually giving way to a more industrial landscape. The warehouse stood on a quiet street, a large, unassuming brick building with boarded-up windows. It looked like any other abandoned structure, but as the car pulled up, Vivian felt a strange, subtle sensation on her skin, almost like a faint hum in the air. She dismissed it as a draft or perhaps the lingering scent of something in the industrial area, but a part of her, the part that knew of Aethelgard and Ally's world, recognized the sensation. Not now, of all times.
"Stay close," Alex said, stepping out of the car. "It's an active demolition site, even if it's currently dormant. There might be hazards."
Vivian nodded, not bothering to remind him that she was a firefighter and often had to make her way through active fire scenes. The driver opened the back of the SUV and produced three hard hats that were still wrapped in plastic and bearing the GIG logo. She put one on and turned the knob that tightened the straps on the other side of the helmet, a good fit before she entered the building with Alex. As she followed him, her eyes were already scanning the exterior. This was one of the yellow markers on her map, a suspicious fire that had never been officially logged and one that Vivian had flagged as a possible early "test" burn.
The building still held the faint, acrid scent of old burned wood and an earthy smell of mildew. Vivian pointed to a section of a boarded-up window that looked slightly more charred than the rest. "The charring is deeper and more concentrated in specific spots, rather than a wide, even spread. And the way the wood splintered inward, not outward, indicates the fire started from the exterior and moved in, not an internal explosion." She recited the facts she'd gleaned from her research like a monologue, not trying to sound convincing.
They moved inside, the cavernous space echoing with their footsteps. The air was heavy with dust and an even stronger scent of burnt materials. The persistent off-putting stench of porous drywall, particleboard-covered shelving, and PVC pipes reminded Vivian of third-hand smoke exposure. She reached into her attaché and handed out masks to the others before putting one on herself. Alex questioned the use, and Vivian gave a terse, "Harmful chemicals. I'll explain more when we get outside." Alex and the driver acquiesced after the quick response.
A late afternoon sun streamed through gaps in the roof and broken windows, casting long, eerie shadows. Vivian turned on the light of her smartphone, sweeping its glow across the walls and floor. Alex seemed to want to assist and followed her light while she took some pictures.
"What are you looking for?" Alex asked, his voice low in the vast space.
"Burn patterns, charring depth, spalling on the concrete," Vivian replied, her eyes meticulously examining the surfaces. "The more time that has passed, the less evidence will still be around, especially if people have been trampling over it to set up for the demolition. But, even after two years, fire does leave a story. The patterns on the walls and concrete floor, the remnants of the materials that melted—it all tells us about the fire's intensity, its path, and potential accelerants."
She moved deeper into the warehouse with fluid and purposeful movements, completely absorbed in her task. Alex followed a few paces behind, observing her with an almost scientific detachment, yet his eyes held a keen, personal interest.
"Interesting," he murmured as Vivian paused, her light focused on a section of a concrete pillar. "What do you see?"
"Significant spalling here," she said, delicately palpating the concrete, which flaked off at the slightest tap. "Indicates prolonged, high-temperature exposure. And the charring on the remaining support beams and columns is deep. You see what looks like alligator skin in places?" She frowned slightly. "And something that is not there." She pointed at an area on the floor. "A peculiar, almost too-clean area around this section, as if the fire was simply... stopped or was contained unnaturally. It's unusual, but not unheard of in complex burns." She quickly moved on, pushing down the fleeting thought of magic she had witnessed at times when her conscience was in Aethelgard and the inexplicable phenomena that existed there. But in her world, it was important to stick to science.
They spent another hour combing through the site. Vivian pointed out subtle clues: the way a certain type of debris was scattered, suggesting a specific kind of explosive force; the faint, almost imperceptible sheen on a section of concrete that hinted at a chemical accelerant. Alex listened intently, asking probing questions that showed a surprising grasp of the technical details, despite his earlier claims of just wanting a "summary." He was testing her, but he was also genuinely learning.
As dusk began to settle, casting the warehouse in deeper shadows, Alex finally clapped his hands together. "Remarkable, Ms. Lorenson. Truly. You've seen more in an hour than my entire security team has in weeks." He smiled, a genuine, appreciative smile that reached his eyes.
"Your security team was here?"
"Yes. When we did a walkthrough in preparation for the demolition, we noticed some fire damage. But the best my investigators came up with was likely a vagrant or delinquent," mused Alex.
"Those are still possibilities," Vivian retorted.
"Then let's discuss it more after we get out of here." Thomas walked ahead of them as Alex continued. "Now, I believe we've earned that dinner. My friend's restaurant is just a short drive from here."
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Location: Ember & Vine Restaurant, Downtown San Francisco, California, on Earth
His friend's restaurant was tucked away on a quiet side street, its exterior unassuming, but the warm glow from within promised a cozy atmosphere. The air inside was rich with the scent of herbs, roasted meats, and something subtly sweet. It was intimate, with soft lighting and a cozy atmosphere.
"Welcome to 'The Ember & Vine'," Alex announced, a proprietary pride in his voice. "My friend, Julian, is experimenting with a new seasonal menu tonight. We're his guinea pigs."
They were led to a secluded table (even though they were the only guests) by a man with striking grey eyes and an immaculate black chef's coat—presumably Julian. He took Vivian in with a quick, calculating glance before his expression shifted effortlessly into a warm, brilliantly confident smile.
He greeted Alex with a familiar nod, then turned his full attention to Vivian. "Alex rarely brings guests to my private tastings," Julian said, his voice smooth and commanding. "He usually prefers to endure my culinary experiments alone. You must be someone extraordinary to break his routine."
Vivian felt a blush creep up her neck under the weight of his focused attention. "Vivian Lorenson. It's a pleasure."
"Julian Vane," he replied, taking her hand with a firm, polished grip. "I promise my cooking is far more impressive than my name, Ms. Lorenson. I demand absolute excellence from my kitchen; I hope your palate is ready for the challenge."
As Julian disappeared back into the kitchen, Alex leaned forward, a relaxed smile on his face. "He's been trying to get me to bring someone with a 'refined palate' for months. I told him you'd be perfect."
"I'm not sure my palate is particularly refined." Vivian countered, picking up a heavy, ornate fork. "But sometimes I get lucky enough to be on shift at the Fire Station with someone who is a good cook."
Alex chuckled. "With how you notice even subtle things, I suspect your palate is far more insightful than any 'refinement.' Tell me, what are your initial impressions of the space? Any hidden fire hazards, Ms. Lorenson?" he teased, his eyes sparkling.
Vivian rolled her eyes playfully. "If it passed inspection, I trust our Fire Marshall and building inspectors to handle that. I only get called in after the fire has already started." She looked around thoughtfully. "I guess my first impression… I'd call this place rustic, yet elegant. It invites a longer stay, unlike many places more concerned with table turnover." Vivian then turned back, "All-in-all, I'd say it was classically appealing without any need to be flashy."
"A bit like me?" Alex asked, obviously playful.
"It is the least I expect from someone picked as People Magazine's Sexiest Man edition.
Alex started to pull his phone out. "Excuse me while I fire Patrick."
"You wouldn't?!"
Their conversation continued to flow easily as dish after exquisite dish arrived: a delicate amuse-bouche of smoked salmon with dill foam, followed by a surprisingly earthy mushroom consommé. Each plate was a work of art, and the flavors were complex and unexpected. Vivian found herself genuinely enjoying the experience, despite the underlying tension of Alex's somewhat unclear intentions.
"This is incredible," she admitted, savoring a bite of pan-seared scallops with a citrus reduction. "Julian is truly talented."
"He is," Alex agreed, watching her. "He pours his soul into his craft, and he is a worthy investment. I imagine you're the same—with your investigations." Alex paused, taking a sip of water as if indicating there would be a shift in dinner conversation.
"You know, you've given me a lot to think about regarding that 18-24 month window. Your theory about a 'testing phase' is looking even more compelling." He set his glass down to punctuate his sudden, steady gaze and inquiry. "What else have you learned?" His voice was soft, but the question was a hook, pulling her deeper into his world and into his mystery.
"Have you thought of something?" Vivian tilted her head slightly, biting into her lip.