\u201cWhat do they want with you then?\u201d Doug asked, curious.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026I was at one point one of their members,\u201d Gratin admitted. \u201cI was not happy with the amount of freedoms I had so I left. Unfortunately, enrolment in the Galactic Finders is for life, and those who try to leave become a target themselves. They\u2019ll only stop pursuing me once I am dead.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot happy with you skimping out on your membership fees? Seems a little harsh. You sure there wasn\u2019t more to it than that?\u201d Gratin went quiet, considering Doug\u2019s question. He wasn\u2019t being entirely honest, his thoughts casting back to the first time he was able to sneak away from the others soon after arriving in Galmanoc…<\/p>\n
\u204e \u204e \u204e<\/span><\/p>\n Gratin was lurking on a roof overlooking Galmanoc\u2019s mage quarter. It had been years since he had last set foot in an Elementist settlement. He had only ever visited the City of Light\u2019s Mage Town2<\/a><\/sup><\/span>1<\/a><\/sup><\/span> once, that area having been a typical suburban block that had been re-purposed by the magically-inclined citizens to suit their needs. Galmanoc\u2019s Magic Quarter in contrast had been designed specifically with mages in mind. Quaint shop fronts lined a verge of green, market stalls were set up on the grass and decorations left over from the recent harvest festival hung from the lampposts, which utilised oil rather than electrical power. There were no supermarkets or modern trappings, the Magic Quarter being a small slice of a simpler time. Gratin felt like he was home.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n The roof he was currently stood on lay opposite a pub called \u2018The Dragon\u2019s Talon\u2019 which Abaddon had frequently used as a meeting point to parley with clients back when he and Gratin worked together. Gratin was certain that if Abaddon was going to meet with his clients anywhere, it would be here. Gratin floated casually down from the roof and entered the pub.<\/i><\/p>\n At the time the Talon had been experiencing a busy lunch hour; this was good as it meant no one paid attention to Gratin as he entered, but he had been worried that he wouldn\u2019t be able to find what he was looking for amidst the crowd. He scanned the throng, looking for anyone that seemed out of place amongst the colourful inhabitants.<\/i><\/p>\n There, sat at a table in the centre of the bar, had been three men who neglected to follow the mage fashion trends3<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0of colourful silken attire, having instead settled on plain white shirts, ties and bomber jackets. Given the fact that they blended in with the crowd about as well as a luminescent banana at a watermelon convention, it seemed reasonable that these gentlemen represented Abaddon\u2019s current clients. Gratin had found a space at the bar close enough to eavesdrop on their conversation without being noticed.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhere the bloody hell has that mage gotten to?\u201d one grumbled.<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cQuit your whining, he said it\u2019ll take at least another hour for them to get back to Galmanoc. They can\u2019t be far off,\u201d the second in the group urged the first, who grunted in annoyance.<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cWhy\u2019d we have to deal with these bloomin\u2019 mages anyway? They\u2019re all flash.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cDidn\u2019t you hear how much damage our boy did the last time he was in the facility? The observation wing was closed off for a month,\u201d the third chimed in, \u201cno, I\u2019d rather leave the mages to it than get in their way.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Even so, we can\u2019t wait around here forever. It\u2019s a long way back to Polaris and the Sisters don\u2019t like it when you go off schedule,\u201d the first complained.<\/i><\/p>\n Gratin had frowned at this. He knew of Polaris \u2013 it was a collection of towns situated around the southern pole. Its main commodity was research facilities, many high profile companies setting up establishments there in order to test their more controversial products away from interference, with the surrounding small towns housing their staff. There was nothing else of note about the place besides a spaceport, the terrain surrounding the settlement being barren, frozen wasteland.<\/i><\/p>\n One of the men\u2019s digibooks began to ring, the shrill electronic tones of whatever pop song was making the rounds on the charts ending the conversation like a jack-hammer to the ear. Its owner fished it out of his pocket and answered but Gratin missed what was said, the barmaid having chosen that moment to try and serve him. Gratin quickly ordered a drink and a pasty to go and turned back to the group only to catch sight of them leaving. He guessed that they must have received word of Abaddon\u2019s defeat, their superiors ordering them back now that there was no one to collect. He had then waited for his food, paid, and left, deciding it was best he reunited with his friends before Blaise cast suspicion over his disappearance. In the end, he had learnt very little\u2026<\/i><\/p>\n \u204e \u204e \u204e<\/span><\/p>\n Gratin shook himself out of his reverie to find that Doug had moved his attentions elsewhere, having become accustom to Gratin becoming unresponsive due to being lost in thought. Gunner was currently grilling Doug to check for brain damage.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you know what month it is?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLupos4<\/a><\/sup>, unless you\u2019re saying I slept through that too,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you got that one right. It\u2019s Lupos. What was your mother\u2019s maiden name?\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cMcCracken,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s your last name, I want your Mum\u2019s original last name,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, \u2019cus my Mum never got married, did she? She was a single mum! I was born a McCracken and I\u2019m gonna die a McCracken, okay? I\u2019m a bastard in every sense of the term,\u201d Doug grinned at Gunner, who merely shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you insist, mate. As far as I can see, your noggin\u2019s working fine. You just need to exercise a little to ease off the stiffness,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo worries on that front. I foresee myself being very active in the future,\u201d Doug winked at the man, \u201cwhat do I owe you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cS\u2019been taken care of. Your boss has everything sorted out,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy what? I don\u2019t have any boss…\u201d Gunner paused, then pointed at Gratin.<\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s the chick that one keeps sayin\u2019 is the mistress?\u201d Doug shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cBlaise ain\u2019t anyone\u2019s mistress, Archie there just has a weird habit of calling her that,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, I\u2019m not judging. I don\u2019t know what kinda freaky deal you three\u2019s got going on. I ain\u2019t about to pry into that!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, really, it\u2019s not what you\u2019re thinkin\u2019-\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSeriously, I don\u2019t wanna know. Now, unless you guys have another medical emergency for me to look into, I\u2019ll be off. Hopefully you won\u2019t be needin\u2019 my services again but I know a magnet for trouble when I see one so do us a favour and make the next injury less severe, right? See you lot around,\u201d Gunner gave a little mock salute, grabbed his things and left. Doug managed all of five seconds before he burst out laughing, slapping his thigh for emphasis. Gratin sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cI see nothing wrong with calling her mistress. It\u2019s a mark of respect,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cS-sure, haha, if you insist, Archie! Doesn\u2019t give the wrong impression at all! Haha!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHmm,\u201d was all Gratin could manage in retort. Doug regained his composure and shakily got to his feet, taking a few test steps before making his way to the en suite bathroom, hesitating as he caught himself in the mirror.<\/p>\n \u201cAw hell. You couldn\u2019t find time to give me a shave while you were looking after me?\u201d he complained as he examined the state of his chin. Thick hair covered the bottom half of his face like a moss. He ran his hand through it experimentally. He could feel Gratin\u2019s stare boring into the back of his head.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was bad enough that we were expected to keep you clean. We weren\u2019t about to go to the trouble of catering to your vanity,\u201d Gratin scolded.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you saying, that you had to give me a sponge bath?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot if you paid me. I assume Mistress Blaise took care of that but she wouldn\u2019t speak to me of it,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh,\u201d the soldier gave his hairy chin a thoughtful scratch for a moment, \u201cwhere has she gotten to, anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe is napping in the next room. She has not been sleeping well of late. I insisted she rest,\u201d explained the mage, causing Doug to grin.<\/p>\n \u201cAw, she hasn\u2019t been losing sleep over little ol\u2019 me, has she? How sweet!\u201d Gratin remained silent, unmoved by Doug\u2019s amusement. The soldier smoothed down his hair as best he could, gave an armpit an experimental sniff in order to check that he wasn\u2019t smelling too funky, then made his way to the door.<\/p>\n \u201cBest we put her at ease, I\u2019ll just go let her know I\u2019m alright,\u201d he crossed the threshold into the room beyond. The building they were staying in was a rented villa, the walls an earthy hue. This room was a living room, bookshelves and a TV dominating one wall with a sofa sat in front of it. Blaise was curled up on the sofa, asleep. Doug, still smiling, approached his slumbering companion and knelt down beside of her, gently nudging her shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cRed…Hey Red…I got something to show ya…\u201d she grunted in her sleep, murmuring to whatever dream she was having.<\/p>\n \u201c…Not the barn, Dad…can\u2019t get outta the barn…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cC\u2019mon, Blaise, wake up!\u201d her eyes finally fluttered open and focused on Doug.<\/p>\n \u201c…Doug?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, it\u2019s me Love. Surprise!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoug!\u201d before Doug could react, Blaise had shot up and had embraced him in a hug, holding him tightly. Doug was momentarily stunned, bewildered.<\/p>\n \u201cFaust, I thought you\u2019d never wake up! It\u2019s been weeks!\u201d she was babbling, dismayed. Doug couldn\u2019t help but chuckle.<\/p>\n \u201cDidn\u2019t think I\u2019d ever see you get all worked up about me!\u201d he said, clearly amused. Blaise pulled back, her expression more angry now.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you ever do this to me again! What were you thinking, rushing a mage that powerful head on?!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, I didn\u2019t know he could shoot lightning or still stand up after getting stabbed. Thought I was being smart,\u201d he beamed earnestly at her. Blaise\u2019s expression softened.<\/p>\n \u201cDoug… what am I ever going to do with you…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHugging seems nice. I wouldn\u2019t complain if there was more of this in the future,\u201d he japed. Blaise glanced down at her own arms and seemed shocked to find them currently resting around Doug\u2019s shoulders. She pulled them back so quickly, it could be thought that she was expecting Doug to explode. Face reddening, Blaise desperately tried to find some words to explain away her behaviour.<\/p>\n \u201cI…um…err…that was…\u201d this only caused Doug to burst out laughing, Blaise silencing herself.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t sweat it, I missed you too,\u201d Blaise frowned at his statement.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were unconscious…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean I didn\u2019t miss you. Who else is gonna laugh at my crap jokes?\u201d the grin was back. Blaise rolled her eyes and shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips.<\/p>\n \u201cTypical McCracken…\u201d she muttered, relaxing for a moment before growing serious, \u201cBut you are feeling ok, right? You\u2019ve been out for a while-\u201d she moved to rest a hand on his forehead to check for a temperature, Doug raising a brow in surprise.<\/p>\n \u201cI know, Archie filled me in. And that Gunner bloke\u2019s already poked, prodded and questioned me already. I\u2019ve got the all clear!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe said you needed exercise,\u201d was Gratin\u2019s contribution as he crossed the threshold behind the soldier.<\/p>\n \u201cRight, so I figure I\u2019d go for a stroll and sort out some stuff. Make sure all my kit\u2019s working and what not,\u201d he winked but this didn\u2019t ease Blaise\u2019s nerves.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, Doug. You should probably take it easy for a while. I can grab anything you need from town,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cC\u2019mon Red, I\u2019m not an invalid! Archie\u2019ll back me up; I\u2019m all good to go, ain\u2019t I?\u201d he turned towards the mage, Gratin now floating cross-legged above an armchair, attempting to meditate. It took him a moment to realise he had been dragged into the conversation, looking between his compatriots awkwardly.<\/p>\n \u201c…The meatbag seems perfectly healthy to me-\u201d he began only for Doug to cut him off before he could have a chance to develop this opinion.<\/p>\n \u201cSee! I\u2019m in the clear. I\u2019m just gonna clean up and I\u2019ll be off!\u201d he wandered back into the bedroom before Blaise could argue, the red head only able to shoot her floating friend a dirty look.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy\u2019d you have to go and say that for?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMr Gunner did indeed give him a clean bill of health. Besides, fresh air will do him good and his chipper mood is an obstacle for meditation that I do not need right now. Do enjoy your trip,\u201d and with that, he sunk back into a trance leaving Blaise to sigh in futility at the men in her life.<\/p>\n Doug continued to insist that they leave the comfort of the hotel and go out into the world, despite his condition. He\u2019d thrown on his clothes and went for his bionic arm only to find it unresponsive. Throwing it into a duffel bag he\u2019d found in the cupboard of the bedroom he\u2019d been sleeping in for the past week, he hefted it on to his back and strolled outside into the fresh air and sunlight, with Blaise hot on his heels. Gratin, much to Doug\u2019s renewed appreciation given the unfamiliar molly-coddling that Blaise was suddenly smothering him with, had remained behind indifferent in meditation.<\/p>\n \u201cNow if you get dizzy at all, it\u2019s straight back to bed with you,\u201d stated Blaise with a frown.<\/p>\n \u201cFaustus Christ, give it a rest,\u201d groaned Doug, \u201cI\u2019m not some injured bird you\u2019ve found in the back garden, I\u2019m a grown man with needs<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n Blaise rolled her eyes and followed, only hoping that the \u2018needs\u2019 Doug was currently craving weren\u2019t related to his trouser department.<\/p>\n Galmanoc was warm, a humid climate. The city was built into a sizable overhang of rock emerging from the desert like an earthen wart hewn from the sand of the desert. The streets were winding, narrow and cobbled. Doug felt strangely at home as he pushed through the crowds jostling through the thin streets, like the lifeblood in the arteries of Galmanoc. It reminded him of Undercit, the same atmosphere of commerce and vice only with a more solid footing; the buildings were all built from stone and were a lot more permanent than the ramshackle houses of Undercit. He could smell exotic spices, warm fresh cooking, the tinny scent of metal baking under sunlight, the hum of people. After a week of inactivity, it was a buffet for the senses.<\/p>\n Most of this was completely lost on Blaise, who found the crowds a nuisance, the smells pungent and on the side of aggravating her nostrils, and the streets a confusing mess. Everything looked the same, and it actually made her appreciate Undercit all the more5<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n As it turned out, Doug\u2019s needs were for a quarter pounder cheeseburger with all the trimmings. They parked themselves at a table with bench seats outside one of the many food stands, and Doug tucked in. Blaise allowed herself a hotdog with mustard – energy food, she reasoned.<\/p>\n \u201cSo,\u201d Doug slurped through a greasy mouthful of burger, \u201cwhile I was laid up did you get any quacks to look at me?\u201d<\/p>\n Blaise coughed through her mouthful of hotdog and dabbed the paper napkin on her lips.<\/p>\n \u201cWe did find a guy,\u201d she said, \u201cbut he wasn\u2019t exactly a qualified doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFair enough. Some sort of back alley stitch \u2018em and ditch \u2018em kinda bloke?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was a veterinarian, actually. Horse racing is quite a popular form of entertainment out here, and you\u2019d be surprised how many qualified horse vets have turned to \u2018unofficial\u2019 lines of work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh. At least he didn\u2019t recommend me for the glue factory. Take me out back and one between the eyes,\u201d scoffed Doug, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. Blaise grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cOh no, that\u2019s exactly what he recommended. We just insisted that you had a few years left in you yet and that we couldn\u2019t bring ourselves to put you down. He bandaged you up and stuck some horse meds in you, said that the burns would need some time to heal and that you should take it steady.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh great,\u201d said Doug, rubbing his chest, \u201cI thought I felt a little horse. How much did you pony up to the doc?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot a lot, it was all out of your wallet anyway,\u201d sighed Blaise, ignoring Doug\u2019s horrible puns.<\/p>\n \u201cOh neigh, neigh I say! You never help yourself to another man\u2019s wallet!\u201d<\/p>\n The two chuckled. Blaise found it charming that most people would immediately pull out their wallet and check the damage after being told some money was taken, but Doug didn\u2019t seem the least bit interested, carrying on with the important task of demolishing his burger using his teeth.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve gotta ask,\u201d said Doug, around guzzling the meal\u2019s complimentary soda, \u201cI was out for a week, and I don\u2019t once remember getting up to use the toilet…?\u201d<\/p>\n He expected Blaise to go red in the cheeks and, through an embarrassed chuckle, explain that she\u2019d done the manly thing by helping with his needs. Instead she just grinned slyly and waved the straw of her drink at him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s funny, that. Despite being completely out of it, you\u2019d suddenly yell \u2018need toilet\u2019 like a five year old and would be very cooperative in being led to and from it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, but you must have had to…you know…disrobe me?\u201d said Doug, grinning from ear to ear. Blaise just beamed.<\/p>\n \u201cNope. Gratin was on toilet duty.\u201d<\/p>\n Doug\u2019s mouth dropped and he screwed his face up in disgust.<\/p>\n \u201cAwww naaaah,\u201d he whined with exaggeration, \u201cno wonder the bastard didn\u2019t want to talk to me! I\u2019ll never live it down!\u201d<\/p>\n The two laughed loudly, Doug\u2019s stopping abruptly through a sudden spasm of pain as he clutched his chest.<\/p>\n \u201cThat fuckin\u2019 mage Abaddon, he got me right in the funnybone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou had burns all across your chest,\u201d explained Blaise with an edge of concern to her voice. \u201cThe doctor managed to source some Comburetillon6<\/a><\/sup> to saturate most of the wound and save the skin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo that\u2019s why I smelled like the bottom of a petrol can full of Deep Heat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMost of the burns were superficial, but some went a little deeper. You really should be in bed still.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw, give it a rest, Red,\u201d whined Doug. \u201cIt\u2019s just a little bit sore. Feels like a pulled muscle more than it does a burn.\u201d<\/p>\n Finishing their snack, the pair waded back into the throng of people. Their next goal was to stock up – Blaise required ammunition, Doug required his arm to be repaired and a new gun, having lost his back on the ship.<\/p>\n \u201cI still don\u2019t get why you had my gun back on the ship,\u201d said Doug over the bustle of the market around them.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were so pissed, you dropped it going back to your room,\u201d replied Blaise, her voice equally raised.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been that drunk before and never lost my gun,\u201d replied Doug. \u201cMust\u2019ve been a really heavy session for me to just drop it!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSomething like that,\u201d lied Blaise. \u201cYou were liable to shoot yourself in the state you were in,\u201d she added, a half-truth that was a bit too true for Blaise\u2019s liking. Doug just grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, probably. Shame it got left back in your room on the ship though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a piece of shit, Doug. I did you a favour!\u201d joked Blaise. She knew it wouldn\u2019t stop him from picking out a new gun that was equally, if not worse than his last one. Doug tended to buy guns based on how big and rugged they were. He tended to lean towards the hefty plasma handcannons; they compensated for his disastrous lack of marksmanship and also doubled as a melee weapon should he burn through the battery too quickly, as he often did.<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Red. Each to their own,\u201d he began only to quickly realise she was no longer paying attention to him, Doug nearly walking into the back of her due to her having come to an abrupt halt. Blaise was peering around her as if on the hunt for something.<\/p>\n Nothing seemed out of place to Doug; people milled about around them dressed in whatever they thought would attract the least heat. Thin cottons and silks in an array of whites and creams were the fashion of choice here with lots of people completing the look with wide brimmed hats ranging from fedoras to sombreros. No one was paying attention to them, most people more interested in the various shopfronts and market stalls that lined the street rather than a random couple wearing coats and leathers in a very humid climate. And yet Blaise was agitated, like a lioness that had sensed some odd movement in the brush. Doug was going to question her about this odd behaviour when she suddenly grabbed his hand and led him down a nearby alley.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t a particularly interesting alley, the walls consisting of bland brickwork and the occasional piece of graffiti that would make an art critic weep due to how mundane and uninspired it was. The only notable thing to be found here was other people\u2019s rubbish; a couple of skips and a collection of bins lining the walls.<\/p>\n \u201cErr, Red? Everything o-\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShh!\u201d Blaise cut him off and dragged him over to an alcove in one of the walls that was obscured from the mouth of the alley by a skip. Prodding at his back, Blaise urged him to take up position inside the alcove and swiftly joined him, pressing up next to him. Doug coughed awkwardly.<\/p>\n \u201cLook love, if you wanted to get cosy, all you had to do was ask!\u201d he japed only to be shushed again. Blaise\u2019s eyes were on the alley\u2019s only entrance, Blaise tentatively peering around the corner whilst hoping the over flowing skip would obscure her enough that she wouldn\u2019t be instantly spotted by whatever she was attempting to hide from.<\/p>\n A moment passed and a familiar face stepped into view, her impish features cast into a confused frown as she peered into the seemingly empty alley.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the chick that spoke to us at the meet, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Doug whispered, having joined his partner in crime in spying round the corner.<\/p>\n \u201cHarper, yes,\u201d Blaise nodded, not taking her gaze off of the other woman. Jess Harper continued her inspection of the alley from her position at the entrance, rubbed the lower half of her face in thought, grunted and then finally wandered off and out of sight. Blaise silently counted to 20 under her breath before breaking cover, still watching the spot she had last seen Harper. Doug casually followed suit, eyeing up his friend.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was that about?\u201d he wondered aloud.<\/p>\n \u201cShe keeps turning up. Been following us around…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat, you and Gratin?\u201d Doug began to busy himself with lighting up a fresh cigarette, Blaise finally shifting her attention back onto him.<\/p>\n \u201cHmm,\u201d was all she offered on the subject.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat you do? Piss her off or something?\u201d it was an innocent enough question but not one Blaise felt she could adequately answer.<\/p>\n \u201cThings… got complicated these past two weeks…\u201d she hazarded, choosing her words carefully.<\/p>\n \u201cOh? In what way?\u201d Blaise hesitated, not sure where to begin or what to say. She was given a reprieve by way of the door the alcove housed opening and a shop keeper bearing rubbish bags stepping out. He was clearly confused by the sight of a random couple hanging out with the bins, staring at them curiously as he went about the business of adding to the already overflowing skip. Blaise sighed and indicated with a nod of her head for Doug to follow her.<\/p>\n They sneaked past the shop keeper, through the door and continued through the shop, ignoring the confused looks of the staff as they made their way through the staff only section and onto the shop floor. Pausing at the building\u2019s main entrance, Blaise double checked that Harper wasn\u2019t still hanging around the entrance to the alley, waiting for them. The red head was eager to avoid the scouse.<\/p>\n \u201cYou haven\u2019t really said much about what you guys have been up to while I was in that coma,\u201d Doug casually observed, clearly having been reflecting on his and Blaise\u2019s conversations since he woke up during the journey back to the crowded street, \u201cor even who that Gunner bloke was and why he was hanging around our safe house come to think of it…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMmm… Coast is clear, she\u2019s gone,\u201d murmured Blaise The two mercenaries stepped out onto the street \u2013 Blaise quickly double checking for signs of Harper \u2013 and resumed their stroll through the market, Doug trailing behind the red head.<\/p>\n \u201cYou ever plan on filling me in or are we just gonna act like all that was normal and ignore it?\u201d Doug continued his questioning, a note of frustration in his voice. Blaise sighed again and glanced over her shoulder at him.<\/p>\n \u201cI ran into some old… acquaintances soon after we arrived and they helped us get set up. Gunner…works with them…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh-huh, doing what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis and that. Gunner is good at getting what people need and we were in need of lodgings and medical treatment for you…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust \u2018this and that\u2019? That\u2019s weirdly vague coming from you, Love,\u201d Doug observed, his face a mask of thoughtfulness.<\/p>\n \u201cIs it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, yeah. Normally if someone does something illegal for a living, you come out and say what it is they do rather than beating about the bush like this. Sounds like you\u2019re dancing around the subject to me,\u201d Blaise came to a halt, turning to look Doug in the eye.<\/p>\n \u201cLike I said, things got complicated. I can\u2019t really say much more than that right now so please just trust me for a bit? Things will go a lot smoother if we just stay focused on what we came to Galmanoc to do in the first place, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre we in trouble again? What happened?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoug, please. We need to get rearmed. We\u2019re going to be very busy soon but I\u2019ll explain after our business here is over with…\u201d she pointed towards a nearby market stall. A scaly gentlemen wearing jodhpurs and a deerstalker was manning it, standing amongst a vast array of robotic parts and equipment next to a sign that read \u2018Surplus Bionics, Repairs While U Wait\u2019. Doug puffed on his cigarette pensively for a moment before shrugging.<\/p>\n \u201cFine, I\u2019ll drop it for now but you gotta fill me in at some point, Red,\u201d he informed her before readjusting the bag strapped to his back and slinking off towards the stall. Blaise watched him go, only turning to leave once he entered conversation with the stall owner.<\/p>\n \u201cNot if I can help it…\u201d she muttered to herself. The less Doug knew, the better. For now, she had people to meet, and they would be only a few streets over from here. He didn\u2019t even need to know.<\/p>\n The man returned at Gratin\u2019s request and formally introduced himself as Gunner Manford. Gunner Manford then proceeded to run some tests on Doug, checking his blood pressure, reflexes, how responsive his pupils were and so on. Doug allowed himself to be poked and prodded, having been used to routine medical…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":253,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[75,71,72,32,31,111,68,33,37,42,74,69,9,70,73],"class_list":["post-251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-mercenaries-tale","tag-mad-dog-delgado","tag-allan-parkinson","tag-annie-stone","tag-blaise","tag-doug-mccracken","tag-flashback","tag-galmanoc","tag-gratin","tag-jessie-harper","tag-magic-and-mages","tag-max-the-gentleman","tag-rogue-traders","tag-the-mercs","tag-the-monkeys-jewel","tag-tupper"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/251","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=251"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/251\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/253"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Joking](\"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/MercsTale_Joking_Around.png\")
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![\"Joking](\"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/MercsTale_Joking_Around-150x150.png\")
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