Page 59 of The Timeless Vigilante

The waitress arrived with two plates of identical servings. One for Liv and one for Gen. They were apparently something called nachos, although Gen had never had them and didn’t know what she was staring at presently.

They appeared to be little, thin triangles of crispy bread covered in melty cheese and an assortment of toppings. Based on the look on Liv’s face, they were the best thing ever.

“Oh, and now we’re in business,” Liv said, settling back as the food was placed in front of them. “Get ready for your first experience of nachos. It will blow your mind.”

“How do I eat these?” Gen asked, staring down at her plate as if it were a complex math equation.

“With a smile,” Liv replied, picking up a piece from a non-covered edge and lifting the weighty portion to her mouth, pulling it away from its brethren. She engulfed the food, chewing with utter delight. “Go on then. I get to watch you do this. Just like a baby taking its first step.”

“I’m not a baby,” Gen fired.

“Then are you going to intervene on that museum heist or are you going to be a baby?” Liv fired back.

Gen thought for a moment. “I don’t know. My boss pretty much hates me and will never give me a case. I’m not sure that I need more heat on me.”

“Well, you are a Rogue Rider,” Liv countered. “So can I give you a bit of advice?”

Gen nodded, looking between the very enticing nachos and her relative across the table. “Yeah, go for it.”

“Go rogue, Gen,” Liv encouraged. “Be what you are. Go out on your own. If that sorry jerk won’t let you work a case, then throw down your badge and take one on your own. You never need permission to uphold justice. You only need a dragon and a weapon, and you’ve got both.”

Gen grinned, grateful that all these centuries later, there was a Beaufont just like her. Someone so bold and good that she could feel like she wasn’t alone—for once. “Okay, you’re right. I’m going to do it. Emperor and I are going to. We’re going to intervene in this museum heist. We’re going to uphold justice.”

Liv nodded, encouragingly. “But first, you’re going to eat nachos. Seriously, I need to see your face. Try them.”

“Right,” Gen said, more afraid of the plate of chaos in front of her than armed men. She reached down with a tentative hand and peeled one of the chips away from the stack, finding that it didn’t want to separate from the rest, but that it looked and smelled very appetizing as it did.

Then Gen took a bite of the vehicle full of goodness and found it to be the best thing about this time period. It was an assortment of flavors all layered upon a surface and delivered in the perfect way, atop a crispy bottom. Gen realized then that there might be other things in the modern era that would rock her world—and she welcomed it.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

DISGUISES AND DOWNTOWN DISCOVERIES

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, United States

From their perch atop a nearby rooftop, Gen and her dragon gazed down upon the bustling scene surrounding the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). The striking, modernist structure complemented the urban landscape, its angular lines and gleaming facades a tribute to the city’s embrace of contemporary architecture.

The exterior of the building was a patchwork of materials, with sleek metal panels interspersed with expansive glass walls that reflected the shimmering afternoon sunlight. It created a dazzling display that caught the eye of passersby.

In front of the museum, the iconic Urban Light installation commanded attention. It was a collection of restored antique streetlamps standing in perfect formation. They were like a group of glowing watchmen guarding the entrance.

Gen was immediately grateful that Liv and Sophia had given her an overview of the museum area and what she’d be seeing during this investigation. Studying the maps and getting the insights from the other two women helped give Gen references and assurances that she and Emperor could go on this rogue mission alone. She wasn’t sure what they’d find, but a feeling deep at her core told her that something was askew.

The traffic on Wilshire Boulevard ebbed and flowed, a constant stream of vehicles. The cars’ engines hummed and horns occasionally pierced the air, while pedestrians navigated the sidewalks, their chatter and laughter mingling with the sounds of the city.

Street vendors lined the edge of the building. Their colorful carts and savory and sweet wares tempting visitors with the scents of sizzling hot dogs, roasted nuts and fresh churros.

To the west, the Broad Contemporary Art Museum stood as a striking counterpoint to LACMA’s main building. Gen didn’t know what contemporary art was but Liv had described it as “trash put in a picture frame.” Although Gen thought that was probably a bit of a harsh and oversimplified explanation, she sort of understood what Liv meant when she described modern art as “understated ridiculousness.”

The Broad Museum, with its bold red exterior and undulating roofline, was like a visual exclamation point against the blue California sky. The Resnick Pavilion, with its elegant, glass-enclosed spaces, offered a glimpse into the museum’s extensive collections. According to Sophia, who had more tolerance for different artwork, it was filled with treasures beckoning to those with a thirst for knowledge and culture.

As Gen and Emperor surveyed the scene below, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation. Both shared the feeling that amidst the beauty and bustle of this cultural hub, a mystery awaited.

Gen and her dragon exchanged a knowing glance, their bond stronger than before—and growing with each day.

“Are you picking up on anything nefarious below?” she asked, looking at the purple dragon sitting by the edge of the rooftop, staring down, the same as her. However, she knew that Emperor saw the world differently than her. He felt the world through voices, hearing things people only thought to themselves. Not only that, but the ruler of dragons saw the future, but not with accuracy that could be fully trusted. It was more like shades of events that could happen, if everything went on the same path.

Emperor closed his glowing golden eyes, going within, taking a moment to sense the environment and people below. When he opened them, there was a new intensity to his gaze. “There are many outsiders below who know they don’t belong. They aren’t who they say they are.”

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