Viviane shocked everyone by volunteering to help Dr. Renard with the Order’s crude Transportal. She stepped up to the Transportal’s control console and joined Dr. Renard. Dillon kept his gun pointed at the twin girls and did not try to stop her. Dr. Renard, however, thought only of his beloved Elise as Viviane approached him at the control console. He begged her to go with the others.

“No, Viviane! Please, escape with the others! I saved you once before as Elise. Now, I’ve bartered my life to save you again! The thought of putting you in danger and the risk of losing you a second time is more than I can stand. Please, don’t do this!”

Viviane had something to say that she kept to herself since she learned the truth of her origins. She had not found the confidence in herself until now.

“Although I may have a piece of Elise’s soul in me, I am NOT Elise anymore. I am my own woman now and I will make up my own mind about my own life. And I have decided that I will do what I can do to save the ones I care about and who are dear to me: Anaelle, Marielle, Kylian and Luc.”

“What about me?” Dr. Renard was desperate. “Don’t you realize you’re tearing me apart by risking yourself to stay behind with me? I didn’t love Elise enough when she was alive. Since then, I’ve realized just how much I did love her all this time. I’ve exchanged my life to save yours again. Do you so easily disregard my sacrifice?”

“No, I do not. Before I volunteered, I prayed to the spirit of Elise and asked her what she would do in the same situation. And I heard her voice inside me say she would want to be by her husband’s side no matter the danger or the outcome. So, I’m volunteering not only for myself, but also to honor the wish and the life of Elise, too.”

Viviane closed her eyes and lifted her face up as if looking toward the heavens and spoke the last part of her explanation only to herself. Elise, Lilou, please give me your strength and protect me and everyone I care for.

Upon hearing Viviane’s explanation, Dr. Renard was deeply touched that Viviane, proxy for Elise, would want to stay by his side, the two always together, facing their lives as one, ‘till death do they part. Leandre Renard realized that he could not refuse the will of Elise and accepted Viviane’s offer to stay behind and help him.

While this drama between Dr. Renard and Viviane unfolded, Kylian stood by watching and listening to everything in confusion. He did not understand what Viviane and Dr. Renard talked about which caused him much anguish. He wrestled with his own feelings, not knowing what to do, but seeing Viviane had made up her mind to stay, a flood of courage welled up within him and he finally confronted his feelings for Viviane. Kylian pushed past Dillon and rushed up to the control console.

“Stop!” commanded Dillon.

Judge Carswell raised his hand at Dillon signaling him to leave Kylian alone for now.

Kylian reached the control console. He needed to speak to Viviane face-to-face.

“I don’t understand everything that’s going on with you. Actually, I’m more confused than normal for me. But I can’t let you do this all by yourself! Is there anything I can do? Maybe I can take your place?”

The situation was serious, but Viviane still thought Kylian was sweet. She was still grateful. “I don’t think you can help us, Kylian. You haven’t been working on his equipment long enough and don’t understand it as well as Dr. Renard and I do.”

Kylian was upset at being rebuffed. He felt useless. “But I can’t leave you! I want to protect you! It’s because I love you, Viviane!”

Having admitted his love for Viviane, Kylian’s heart pounded in his chest while he hyper-ventilated waiting for her reaction. For her part, Viviane was not shocked nor surprised at Kylian’s admission.

“I know you love me, Kylian.”

“Then?”

“But I’m not there yet with my feelings for you. Please go and take care of Anaelle and Marielle and please wait for me.” Then Viviane, of her own volition, leaned over, closed her eyes and gave Kylian a kiss right on his mouth!

Time stopped as Kylian, surprised by the unexpected kiss from Viviane, froze in awe of her bravado to kiss him in front of everybody. Once Viviane broke the kiss, Kylian, dejected, realized that he could not defy the will of Viviane and trudged back to his place with the twins and Luc.

Viviane spoke in a loud, clear voice so that everyone could hear her.

“Listen to me, Case Carswell! I will stay and help Dr. Renard with his demonstrations on one condition.”

“You’re hardly in a position to be making demands, young lady,” the Judge scoffed, “but go ahead, I’ve been impressed with your display of willpower.”

“First, release my friends and allow them to escape. Then, Dr. Renard and I will demonstrate for you what you want.”

“If that is all you want, then your request will be granted. However, if you fail, you will be taken hostage in their place.”

“Agreed.”

Case turned to Dillon. “Release the prisoners and allow them to escape using the large evacuation pod.”

Dillon pointed to a passageway that led away from the laboratory and gave Luc and Kylian instructions.

“At the end of this passageway are two evacuation pods. One is large enough for twenty or so passengers. The other is a single-person evacuation pod. Use the large one to escape. It will jettison you into the sea outside of the compound.”

“Why are there two? What’s the single-person pod for?” asked Luc.

“That one is for Judge Carswell’s use only. It will evacuate him to the nearby Formosean military base which is a few miles away from us. Once there, the Formosean military will protect him from enemy capture or assassination.”

Luc, the twins and a distraught Kylian left the Transportal room and headed down the passageway themselves.