--
Nick and Pat only took a break for a month before returning to their seclusion.
Aside from eating, cleaning up, unwinding, and sleeping, they didn't do anything else during that month. Even their clones that handled the usual matters of the council were left on autopilot.
After that, they returned to their seclusion rooms without a word of complaint. They know what must be done, and they've come too far to stop.
Gibson, Berk, and Urek kept an eye on things while the both of them were occupied as usual. But now that they've learned the truth about the next step, they too began making preparations.
No, they themselves didn't go in seclusion. Their clones did in their stead, one of each.
It's not really a priority, more like a head start while they're still occupied with other matters. If, somehow, their clones got lucky, great! If not, no skin off their backs.
They'd eventually get there. Sooner or later doesn't matter much for now. They have plenty of time.
