This is Tomorrow/Synopsis

Overview**Synopsis**

***This is Tomorrow*** is the prologue to the Main Story of Reverse:1999.

Set in 1966, an expedition led by Sonetto of the St. Pavlov Foundation attempts to locate and recruit Regulus, a pirate radio operator, due to her Arcanum powers. Then, as 24 hours elapsed before the manifestation of "the Storm", the Timekeeper Vertin is called to aid them in their mission.

## Summary

While on air in her boat named *APPLe*, Regulus starts her program mocking the attackers who tried to board her ship earlier, mistaking them for government agents and forces from the Manus Vindictae. The program is then interrupted by cannon fire from an unusual vessel from the Manus Vindictae, and she scrambles out of her sinking ship with her companion APPLe, freeing the two intruders who were actually investigators from "the Foundation". While Regulus and the others make it back to dry land, Sonetto looks onto the commotion from Battersea Park and accompanies the Timekeeper Vertin, who had just recovered from a coma due to a teleportation ritual that was rushed due to the urgency of the situation.

After briefing about their current mission, Sonetto and Vertin head to Regulus' position through another teleportation ritual stored in a floppy disc and defeated the disciples of the Manus Vindictae pursuing Regulus. Then, as more powerful disciples arrived, Regulus disappeared in the chaos by using the ritual floppy disc she received from Sonetto. With the help of information given by the investigators, Sonetto and Vertin head to Kingly Court, which Regulus frequently visits, with 45 minutes remaining until the Storm arrives.

An invisible Regulus snuck into a cafe in Kingly Court for a snack but was quickly spotted by Sonetto and Vertin. When asked again about joining St. Pavlov Foundation, Regulus vocally refuses to comply with Sonetto and a battle between Arcanists breaks out, with Sonetto defeating Regulus. As Regulus feigns being hurt to Sonetto, Vertin prepares a Misty Bubble Ball and allows Regulus to use it to escape. With Regulus again on the run, Sonetto decides to continue searching, unaware that Vertin has set up a meeting with Regulus elsewhere and is planning to have her "brave the Storm" with her.

Ten minutes prior to the Storm's arrival, Sonetto hastily prepares her return to the Foundation, accepting that she had failed her mission to recruit Regulus. Meanwhile, Regulus is left puzzled as her surroundings are liquified and sent upwards by the strange phenomenon. Vertin sees this as confirmation that she is the one she is looking for and assures Regulus that she will protect her. She then pushes Regulus into the suitcase she carries just in time before the arrival of the Storm.

Regulus emerges from the suitcase in 1929, still confused about the events that unfolded. Vertin then takes her inside the suitcase, where there is a room filled with various things, including electronic machines and a wall of photos. Vertin reveals that the photos were remnants of various periods of time, and among them are photographs of companions she had failed to save from the Storm. Before preparing to head out due to the "tremors" in her suitcase being a sign of their location being found, Vertin reveals that her actions, unknown to the Foundation, are due to *something* she wants to find out. Setting aside some time to decide on her next move, Regulus decides to ask APPLe to join Vertin outside.

## Trivia

* The quote by F. Scott Key Fitzgerald featured at the start of the chapter is derived from his novel *The Great Gatsby*.
* A pirate radio station is a radio station that is not officially registered to the government. Some pirate radio stations are set up on anchored ships.
* Notable places in England that were mentioned in this chapter are Chelsea, Battersea Park, King's Road and Kingly Court along Carnaby Street.
* Among the vinyl discs Regulus lost during the attack by Manus Vindictae included performances of “Pete Windmill” and “John Thunderfingers”, both of which are references to the English rock band The Who. Pete Windmill was named after guitarist Pete Townshend who popularized the "windmill" move, while John Thunderfingers was named after bassist John Entwistle, nicknamed "Thunderfingers" for his quick playing skill.