Vertin: You are saying we are in 2007?
The heart is pounding fast in the chest.
Perhaps it's the only chance.
???: ...
She nods her head.
Vertin: Do you know the "Storm"?
???: Is that how you call it?
???: We call it the Emanation.
???: The tide of pneuma is pouring down from above and converging. It would raise as a tsunami and break the world of Matters where darkness abounds.
Vertin: I don't understand.
She tilts her head and seems equally confused.
???: This shouldn't be hard for you to understand. You are also a real number.
37: I am 37. What's your number?
Vertin: I'm Vertin.
37: No, no. I'm asking your number.
37: The scripture says, only the people who are still in search of their essences would identify themselves by a combination of meaningless phonetic symbols.
37: Hmm, well, so you don't know your number yet, just like Sophia.
None of her words make any sense.
But this is not the most urgent matter one needs to worry about.
Sonetto, Regulus, Lilya, Ms. Radio, and the Razor Squad ... where are they?
Vertin: Have you seen my companions?
37: Yes!
37: Are you looking for the integer or the fraction? Or the irrational number? Or the imaginary number?
Vertin: What?
37: Integers are the living example of virtues. Fractions can be understood through specific means. Irrational numbers are the free spirits, while imaginary numbers are the existence which doesn't belong to this dimension of the number axis.
37: Which one are you looking for?
Vertin: I'll ask something else instead. What is this place?
37: Island.
Vertin: What island?
37: Have you seen another island?
Vertin: Huh! Maybe another question.
Vertin: Did a biographer named Urd visit here before, in 1999?
That takes her a while to think about.
37: 1999 ... Oh, 1999!
37: 1999 is a lovely centered triangular number, but I believe this number has been abused in the doomsday stories. I mean, people are too invested in its meaning. In fact, 1999 is nothing special compared to 1991 and 1993 …
37: However, 999 is a brilliant number! It is a Kaprekar number, a Palindromic number, and the largest three-digit natural number ...
Vertin: Sorry to interrupt, but I only meant to ask about Urd, the biographer. She had been here on this island and written a travel note called Roaming in Apeiron.
Vertin: Does the name or the book ring a bell?
37: I am sorry.
Once again, she shakes her head.
37: I have no idea about the fragments of Matters you are talking about.
Vertin: Fragments of ... Matters?
Regulus: Help! Somebody help!
A scream comes from behind.
APPLe: coughs Captain, you should go. This APPLe's arm has ...
Regulus: No, Mr. APPLe, stay with me for a little longer!
Regulus: Piss off! Shush! You wicked dolphins! Mr. APPLe is not your breakfast, nor are my records!
Regulus: Huh, isn't that Vertin?!
Regulus: Vertin! Are you done with the standing and staring?! Come give us a hand!
COMBAT
Regulus: Phew, thank God you are here, Vertin! Mr. APPLe and I were this close to being made a Stargazy pie by these clever bastards and served to the dinner table!
Vertin: You've also been incredibly helpful, Regulus.
Regulus: Is that so? Like how?
Vertin: You rebuilt my confidence in communicating with people.
Vertin: Have you seen Sonetto and the others?
Regulus: No. I woke up on a dolphin's back.
Regulus: Thought they had saved my life at first, I was quite grateful to them. But the next moment, they just started all the beating and biting!
37: They think you are an irrational number. That's why they bit you!
Regulus: Whoa, this little lady made me jump! Vertin, who is this long-haired stranger?
A familiar voice calls from the distance.
Sonetto: Timekeeper!
Sonetto: Thank goodness. You are all safe and sound!
Sonetto: Lilya is on her way. Now we only need to find the captain and his team members ...
Next to her stand several strangers in white garments.
Vertin: Sonetto, these people are ...?
Sonetto: They are the Apeiron believers. They lent us a helping hand after the ship went down.
The robed figures stand unspeaking and motionless.
Until one steps forward to break the silence.
6: Not at all. An integer is under an obligation to help his kind.
6: Ms. Sonetto, have you found your friends?
Sonetto: Yes, only the members of the Razor Squad are still missing. They also belong to the St. Pavlov Foundation, like we do.
6: Imaginary numbers are not of our concern.
Sonetto: Imaginary numbers?
6: You should not linger here if you've already found your lost friends. We will provide a boat for you to leave.
6: Our school of thought does not accommodate uninvited guests.
Sonetto: Wait, we have something to ...
Vertin: What if we know about the Emanation?
The man halts.
Vertin: We are the investigators from St. Pavlov Foundation. We are glad to share the information about the "Storm" or the Emanation.
Vertin: Please grant us entry to this island so that we can share them.
Sonetto: Timekeeper?
Vertin: I'll explain to you later. Trust me, please, Sonetto.
The white robes whisper to each other.
6: Come this way. We will talk.
6: However, only integers and fractions are welcomed here.
The man puts out a finger, directly pointing at Regulus.
6: No irrational number is allowed on this island.
6: Throw her into the sea!
Regulus: Huh?
Regulus: Wait, now hold on a second! I said hol- …
Regulus: ...!