Requiem's Run: Chapter Twelve

Mad Camel

They had only managed a few hours of sleep, but at the moment no amount of sleep would have sufficed. Falchion seemed to be the most alert and awake, but in reality wasn’t that far ahead of the others. Everything about the day ahead seemed gloomy and dreary, even more than usual for Seattle. Falchion had outlined the plan for the day, and everyone was on board, and it gave them some semblance of hope. They just had to wait for The Gate to arrive for the plan to unfold. Falchion reiterated that they would be splitting into three teams, which didn’t go over well with everyone, but Falchion had enough time to comfort those who had concerns.

So far the tentative teams were Entertainment and Mr. Popular would go head and investigate the names Betty had supplied them with. It was the hope of Falchion that they could do this simple task, and gain some useful information. Even if they didn’t learn anything new, they wouldn’t be doing too much damage.

 Team two would investigate the go-gang, and try to follow up anything concerning Mad Camel. Falchion felt that The Gate would be the best candidate for such an excursion, with Shikkon as backup, and Mickey providing oversight. Mickey would likely be the safest with Shikkon and The Gate, and those two would take charge of Mickey in case something went wrong. Despite Mickey’s protest to teaming up with The Gate, Falchion knew it was the best for the team.

Team three would be doing Matrix duty. Which Falchion was more or less useless for, but he knew that physical protection for Betty couldn’t hurt. His plan wasn’t the best of plans, but with the limited resources they had at their disposal and everything else that had been accomplished it was the only plan.

Falchion’s stomach rumbled as it had been several hours since he had eaten, and his body ached for something to digest. The others seemed to understand, and had similar cravings. “I think all of us should grab a quick bite to eat, before we do our individual assignments.” Falchion’s polite and positive manner seemed to make the day brighter.

“Well since it’s just going to be Popular and me,” Entertainment spoke up. “Couldn’t we go ahead and grab something to eat on the way, and get our investigations done? I mean I think it might make sense for us to not eat as a large group until this thing is done.” Entertainment looked around the room for some sort of objection, but everyone was surprised by her suddenly cautious suggestion.

“That’s a pretty good idea, Entertainment.” Falchion said with a smile, and nodded to her in agreement. “My only request is that once each of our objectives is complete. We check back in with the group by phone.” Falchion’s smile faded, and he was back to a serious manner.

“Or we could meet at a place that no one would suspect.” Mickey’s voice came from the corner much to everyone’s surprise. “I think my place might be such a place. It’s also out of the way.” He added as if to seal the deal.

Falchion’s one brow rose in a quizzical manner, but he managed to keep his emotions in check. “I’m not sure it’s the best of places, but I think Mickey might be right in that not many people would suspect us to meet there.” Mickey looked forward silent and somber, but on the inside he felt a small sense of validation and pride.

“Well if anyone has any objections, I don’t see why we couldn’t use it as a checkpoint.” Falchion looked around the room, as any natural would, for the others to respond. Everyone tended to various things on their persons silently, but looked up when Falchion looked at them and nodded.

“Very well, Entertainment and Mr. Popular the two of you check into the physical names for Byte. Afterwards give me a call so I know where we stand, you too Shikkon.” Falchion paused for a moment of thought, but quickly continued assigning people to tasks, “Mickey I think it might be wise to give us all directions to your place. Multiple phone calls might be a distraction, and if we have directions to your place we can get to your place on our own.”

Mickey gave another silent nod, and began dispensing the information into everyone’s pocket secretaries. He wasn’t sure about giving up his address so easily, but at the same time if the Mafia came for him maybe he could have backup from these fellow Shadowrunners. Adding in The Gate’s suspicious nature and Lonestar busting him, it might not hurt to have some extra friends, even these ones.

“We’ll stay here and wait for The Gate until he shows up, I’ll be giving him a call shortly.” Falchion said calmly, his voice trailing off. Entertainment gave Falchion a nod and a quick smile. Mr. Popular was ready to go, and waited on Entertainment. Both of them were dressed up more than usual. Shikkon had given Mr. Popular a pair of sunglasses to try to help disguise him, but it only further elaborated his appearance. Which could work in their favor, but they also couldn’t be certain that people were just after Mickey, especially with Popular under investigation. Sometimes even in this business you had to toss caution to the wind and hope someone upstairs had your back.

Entertainment had made a quick stop by her house before they all met up at Shikkon’s safe house. So she had one of her many colorful outfits on, almost disguising herself completely. As they left the small living space, Entertainment made one last look over her shoulder, and made another nod closing the door behind her.

Falchion found a corner to sit in, and made himself as comfortable as possible. As if on cue, his pocket secretary began ringing. He knew it was The Gate and answered as normal. “Hello, where are you?” The others couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation, but it was one sided with Falchion just nodding and a quick “goodbye”.

Falchion closed his secretary and looked up to the others waiting for an answer. They had been waiting for a half an hour for the call, and were eager to finish things. “He’s around the corner,” Falchion said quietly.

Shikkon made the first move in surprising motivation, “Let’s go.” His voice was sturdy and controlled, but you could hear his anxiety. Much like the others Shikkon was ready, tired of waiting. Especially with the little sleep they had had, and the gray day that awaited them outside.

“You two go ahead, Betty and I will wait a moment after you’ve gone. I think Entertainment was right about not being in a large group at the moment.” Falchion looked at Shikkon with the collected demeanor he had donned as he spoke.

Without another word, Shikkon nodded and waved to Mickey. Shikkon held the door for Mickey, and before closing it he looked back at Falchion and Betty. “Make sure you lock up.” His voice was uncharacteristically humorous.

Falchion and Black Betty were the last to leave the small apartment and they waited another twenty minutes before leaving, but had decided that the safest place to check on Byte was in a motel. Not their first choice, but it seemed the safest they could think of. It was one of the reasons that Falchion had wanted to go with Betty. He wasn’t sure he could fully protect her, but perhaps he would have a better chance in a motel.

Betty had wanted to take separate bikes, and Falchion agreed. He liked riding his custom sports bike, and had a feeling that Betty felt the same way about her Harley. He could also sneak away and tail her, to make sure no one was following them. They separated for only a few minutes to get to their respective vehicles, but Falchion quickly found her again. The trip to the rundown motel was uneventful, but Falchion took every precaution possible to make sure they weren’t followed.

Mickey’s stomach reminded him that Falchion wasn’t the only one who wanted to eat. He held his stomach in anguish, and looked up at Shikkon as they walked. “I’ve got to get something to eat,” Mickey’s voice was insistent. More demanding than Shikkon wanted to deal with in the current state.

“We’ve got to pick up The Gate and then we can grab a quick bite to eat.” Shikkon’s voice quelled Mickey’s desire for food, but he couldn’t help but feel hungry. Like the others it had been several hours since food, and he had become increasingly hungry every since his blackout.

“Are you two chummers looking for me?” The confident and cocky voice of The Gate came from behind them. Mickey instinctively rolled his eyes anytime he heard The Gate’s adolescent voice, “Not by choice,” Mickey shot back behind them. Shikkon just thought it best to ignore both of them, instead focusing on their objectives.

“We want to get something to eat, Gate. Afterwards we’re going to pay a visit to the Camel.” Shikkon felt that when out in public he should be as vague as possible when referencing his work. The Gate remained invisible to them, but he gave Mickey a pat on the back. “Anything for my pal, Mickey.” Mickey’s eyes rolled again, and he realized just how tired he was when he noticed how uncomfortable a motion it was.

Mickey felt relief from The Gate and his stomach when he saw a small sandwich shop directly in front of them. Without any signal to the other two, he moved into the shop with a renewed step. So much so that Shikkon and The Gate had to back track to follow him.

Shikkon moved through the door, and wondered what The Gate was going to do walking through the door. The Gate had become so used to being invisible and dropping the guise at a moment’s notice that with Shikkon’s swing of the door he was visible again.

Shikkon found a small package of edible nutra soy, and thought it more than sufficient for his needs. The Gate sat down with a cup of water, he didn’t feel it necessary to share with them the events of his morning, but he was well fed and rested enough.

Both Shikkon and The Gate waited for Mickey to join them in their small booth, but it took him another minute to get his food. Which when he joined them, they understood why it had taken so long. He had about three to four meals overflowing on what they could only assume was a tray of some sort.

As they watched Mickey shovel food into his mouth with bits and pieces flying in random directions. They couldn’t help but wonder where the food fitting. Mickey wasn’t a big guy, he was taller, but he was extremely lean. The Gate as with habit made a quick glance at him through the Astral. Yet again it seemed that Mickey’s signature had changed in color and description yet again. It still had an eerie swirling presence to it, but The Gate couldn’t place what it actually was. It seemed that the suit not only changed Mickey’s astral signature, but it increased his appetite as well.

The only thing that made Mickey pause was an out of place and emphasized, “Weird,” by The Gate. Who had a look of vacancy on his face. A look that Mickey almost instantly acknowledged with a slow, “What’s that?” Shikkon thought both of them looked ridiculous. The Gate with a blank stare, and Mickey with a gaping maw tattered in various pieces of food.

“Nothing, Mickey, I just thought I saw something trying to escape your mouth.” The Gate diverted the subject matter of his thoughts by sarcastically pointing out the obvious. Mickey’s only reply was more confusion, but he could hear The Gate’s sarcasm and wasn’t pleased. “Wha’ are you talkin’ about?” Food bits continually flying onto the table in front of them.

Shikkon felt nausea rising from his stomach into his throat, and said, “I’m going to wait outside, I can’t stand watching you eat anymore, Mickey.” It was then that Mickey understood what The Gate had referenced. The Gate followed Shikkon, but not before taking one last look around the pizzeria on the astral.

The Gate walked outside of the restaurant, and found Shikkon leaning against the wall to the left of the door. “Sorry, I know we shouldn’t probably separate, but I couldn’t take watching him eat anymore.” Shikkon said looking over at The Gate as he walked out of the pizzeria. “It’s okay Shikkon, I don’t think we’re in danger.” The Gate moved to the opposite side of Shikkon and waited for Mickey to finish.

Another ten minutes passed and Mickey emerged. His face was surprisingly clean, considering his bath of partially chewed food. They hadn’t seen Mickey’s eating habits until now, and The Gate wasn’t sure if it was him or the suit. Either way both Shikkon and The Gate found it disgusting.

“You finished, or should we bring you out to the farm?” The Gate looked at Mickey with a stern face. Mickey just rolled his eyes, and said, “Yes, I’m finished.”

“Wonderful, I know of the go-gang we’re going to see. They make their home in Redmond, but that’s about it.” The Gate said lowly to the other two. Shikkon nodded, and asked, “What do they call themselves? I may know them.” The Gate looked surprised at Shikkon, “The Flaming Skulls, I think it was.”

Shikkon nodded slowly as if thinking, “Yeah I know them; at least I’m assuming it’s them. They used to be a street gang called the Red Skullz, I had heard something about a transition, but I don’t know more than that. Apparently the leader was stepping down to be an advisory member, so she could spend more time alone. It sounds strange to me, so I don’t know how much is true.”

The Gate and Mickey looked at Shikkon in disbelief, this Yakuza bodyguard filled with honor and etiquette, had at one time slummed it up? Or was it something more than meets the eye. His being a Yakuza bodyguard to Mr. Popular was merely a cover in of itself. Many things were smoke and mirrors in the Shadows so one could ever truly be sure of anything. Not even of your closest friends at the darkest.

“Alright, well, do you think you could get us in?” The Gate looked seriously at Shikkon. Shikkon looked at The Gate and hesitated in answering. “Yes, it’ll be easy,” and although Shikkon’s voice displayed unwavering confidence his body language seemed unsure. The Gate didn’t give Shikkon a second glance and climbed onto his bike, “Then lead the way.”

Mickey followed Shikkon to a car that, Shikkon indicated was his. Mickey was starting to feel uncomfortable towards Shikkon, he knew little about him and he was showing uncertainty in his actions. He had said the car was his, but he had picked one out at random. Mickey didn’t really want to be riding around in someone else’s vehicle with everything else that had been going on. Even with Shikkon having the keys to get into the car and start it had done little to assuage Mickey’s anxiety

The drive took them little time, and The Gate followed them closely. Shikkon parked the car in a destitute and desolate part of town. It was sparsely inhabited, and served as an industrial park. Various factory buildings and warehouses permeated the area. The Gate glanced around the area and could tell that it was a dead area. What once could have supported life was now destroyed by the path of “progress”.

As if in a bad movie, the second their vehicles were shut off and they had dismounted, people were coming out of the cracks and crevices. The Gate noted they all wore similar colors and motifs. Some of the people sported a skull on their clothing, and some just wore ratty versions of the gang’s colors. They didn’t look like much, but then The Gate didn’t really want to push the issue with numbers.

A scrawny woman came to the front of the circle that had surrounded them. She was an elf and looked like she had seen her fair share of combat. The years had not been kind to her, and The Gate was reminded of his sister. Someone who in a different situation would look years younger, but had been forced into hardship.

“Have you boys lost your way?” The Elven woman said leaning back in complete confidence, her arms folded across her chest.

Shikkon didn’t flinch, and spoke for Mickey and The Gate. “We’re looking for someone, and we were hoping you could help us.” The woman locked eyes with Shikkon while their battle of wills began to flare.

“I see, and why would we help you three?” She retorted, and The Gate thought he saw a flicker of a smirk on her face.

“Because it is a need for both of us, and what is beneficial to me can be beneficial to you.” Shikkon spoke with a little less formality and more directly.

“I see,” the woman paused for a moment and scanned the three intruders. “And what need would that be? From where I’m standing, you three are in our debt at the moment. The only one worth his salt is you, but even someone of your stature doesn’t hold much weight here. As for the other two, the kid might be sporting, but that doesn’t mean much here either.” The Gate held from laughing, she had slightly misjudged him, but the woman had completely ignored Mickey. Which would possibly work in their favor if things went sour. 

“Too true, but I believe there may be factors you are not calculating. I am well aware that you know why we are here, and if that is true, well then it is in your best interest to help us.” Shikkon didn’t balk at her evaluation of himself and his companions.

The elven woman was impressed, and it showed. She was trying to hide it, but she was impressed. They had waltzed onto their turf, and directly into their home. They had done so without completely insulting them, and had asked permission. She hated to admit it, but Mad Camel had been right. He had called it almost to the detail, and it frustrated her to no end.

“Very well,” she said partially through her teeth. “We will help you, but only because you’re a cutie.” She said looking around Shikkon, towards The Gate. Shikkon chuckled, and knew he had passed her test, but she wasn’t going to let anyone else know that. Instead Shikkon focused on The Gate, letting him think he had gotten them in by his innate youthful charm.

Turning on her heels, the Elven woman motioned for them to follow her. The crowd made a small path for them to walk through and followed the three of them closely. The Gate noticed people here and there broke off from the large group to dissipate back into the holes they had crawled out of.

They walked to a very lonely looking building that had two people perched, like sentries, at the top of its iconic stone cased steps. Upon reaching the stairs the group had disbanded and only a few people now remained to guard the intruders. The Elven woman turned to them and said wait here a moment. She gave a nod to the remaining few people and they slowly walked away, but seemed to keep themselves visible to the group of three.

The Gate leaned up to Shikkon and whispered, “Don’t you think this is a bit too easy?” The door guards eyed them suspiciously as they whispered amongst themselves. Shikkon looked over his shoulder and whispered in response, “Not now, Gate.” Things were going well so far, and it did seem too easy, but then that could have been bias compared to their other objectives.

After a moment the fiery woman re-immerged from the building and said, “He will see you.” The three runners looked between each other in confusion, they hadn’t told her who or what they were looking for, did they dare dream it could be the man they were seeking. They started to climb the steps when she halted them, “No not all of you, just you,” she said pointing to The Gate.

“Me?” The Gate looked baffeled he knew he had gotten them in with his looks, but why was only he allowed to go in.

The woman looked annoyed at The Gate’s hesitance, “Yes, you, and only you.” The Gate didn’t want to anger this woman that reminded him of an older version of his sister. He could only respond with a simple nod. He was usually prepared for most situations, but this was throwing him off. The woman held the door open for him, and told him to proceed to the third floor. The Gate turned back to ask her more, the door was closed behind him and he was alone.

The building was an old apartment building, but looked as though it hadn’t been really been used in years. He opted for the stairs instead of the elevator. The building was being used as part living quarters for people, and part stronghold. The Gate was unsure as to what he was going to meet, but he was feeling rather uncomfortable with the whole situation. Too many variables were now in play.

He ascended the third floor platform and saw that through an open double doorway the entire third floor opened up into a larger room. The stairwell continued upward, but The Gate knew this was his stop.

The Gate was surprised to see various papers scattered across the floor, and the large open room resembled a mixture between speaking hall and laboratory. Stepping carefully into the room, he didn’t want to disturb any of the papers on the floor, or the room itself. There was an eerie silence suffocating the air within the room, and The Gate couldn’t see anyone in the room.

After slowly making his way further into the room he came to a transportable table on wheels, and several objects partially blocking his path. Suddenly a voice came from his left, “I assume you’re looking for me? Or perhaps more accurately you’re looking for my work?”

The Gate followed the voice to a huddled mass in a darkened corner. A full head of gray dreaded hair turned towards him. Wrinkled eyes looked into him, but were distant and vacant. The spotted colors of the dreaded hair fell into a bushy beard. His clothes were ratty and he looked as though he hadn’t washed in weeks.

“Mad Camel?” The Gate sounded uncharacteristically sheepish. Mad Camel’s line driven face creased and a toothy smile followed by an accompanying throaty laugh. “Well done, your observational skills among the finest. They remind me of your employer.” His voice had all but lost any accent of his upbringing.

The Gate started to get his wits about him, “Which one?” Mad Camel could only blankly stare at him, until a look of confusion and suspicion found its way onto his face. “I had thought Requiem sent you, but perhaps I underestimated the abilities of my ‘friends’ out there.” He made a motion with his head towards the window.

“Well then, things are getting interesting my young friend. Perhaps you would like to know what I am doing?” He asked as a flash of life came to light his old eyes. The Gate looked at him, cautiously trying to avoid Mad Camel’s question, and responded, “I’m not sure what you know, Mr. Camel, but I’ve come to ask you a question.”

“Ah! Of course you have. Let me guess, Requiem at the behest of his employers has asked you, to make me leave, disappear, vanish, etc?” Mad Camel stared at The Gate examining him closely. “How close am I?” Mad Camel was no fool, and The Gate guessed his older exterior was merely a ploy. The Gate felt outmatched by the older shaman. Despite his age, The Gate could tell there was still a deadly opponent with fight in front of him.

It was to The Gate’s astonishment what Mad Camel did next. Half preparing for some sort of an attack, The Gate was caught completely unaware. “Well I’ll make you a deal. I’ll leave quietly, and stop bothering Requiem and his employers if,” he paused for dramatic effect, “you take this gift.” Mad Camel held out a long box almost identical to the boxes found at T-Funk’s apartment.

The Gate eyed the box suspiciously, and seemed at a loss for words. This was definitely too easy, and worry raced through The Gate’s mind. He had seen what had happened to Mickey, and he felt uncomfortable just holding the foot long box. So much so that he nearly dropped the box.

Mad Camel let out a soft laugh, “I see, well then you must know my other work. Impressive isn’t it?” Just as quickly as he had been smiling, Mad Camel’s expression turned to a saddened tone. “Poor George, he was a kind soul.” Mad Camel looked distantly away from The Gate, reminiscing with some unseen entity.

“So why would you give this to me? And what exactly is it?” The Gate asked with complete reservation and concern. Mad Camel, whom, The Gate had felt would be one of the toughest people to deal with, was turning out to be the easiest and most open person in the Shadows. The Gate felt whole heartedly uncomfortable as time slowly drudged in Mad Camel’s presence.

“Because I’m tired of running, I’m tired of the Shadows, and who really wants a megacorp after them?” He took a short breath in the middle of a pause to look at The Gate sternly. “As for what that is, do with it what you like. It is another project I’ve been perfecting and I think someone like you could benefit from it, seeing how you’re so fond of foci.”

The Gate wasn’t completely satisfied, but decided not to press his luck, he had completed his objective and minimal people were hurt. Finally a break in this quagmire of a job, The Gate was beginning to hope. He wasn’t out of there yet, but things were going extremely well.

The Gate turned to leave, but Mad Camel halted him, “Wait.” The Gate knew it, it was too good to be true, and as his hand slipped into his jacket to find his father’s Manhunter, cocking it, he prepared for the worst. “Just be careful with how you use it. It’s still a prototype, but it should provide you with invaluable service. It is unlike anything currently on the market. Which might explain its size, but do be careful.” Mad Camel’s words again surprised The Gate, but haunted him only the more. He desperately wanted to know what was inside the box, and what it did. He would have to wait until he was far away from this place.

As he descended the stairs, The Gate felt dazed and greatly confused about what had happened. It had to be a dream, everything was going too well, and The Gate hated to think about what was barreling down him at that very moment. Nothing went this well in the Shadows. Whatever stars were in perfect alignment for him, he wanted them to continue being in alignment for just a little bit longer.

Walking out the front door the woman, whom The Gate assumed was the leader hadn’t moved from her spot atop the steps. She turned to see him, and looked behind him expecting to see Mad Camel behind the kid. She moved in front of The Gate barring his path to his friends, in case something was wrong. She didn’t know what this kid and Mad Camel had talked about, but with the kid coming out alone, and holding a long box. The woman worried for Mad Camel’s safety. He hadn’t come out of the room in weeks and had increasingly grown solitary. Barely talking to anyone and these three shadowrunners suddenly arrive, and he wants to have a little chat with the youngest one. Something wasn’t right with the situation, and she knew it.

“Wait here, please.” The woman asked politely, but The Gate could tell that she had strained to ask so nicely. The Gate obliged knowing why she wanted him to wait. It was the moment he had been waiting for himself. Something wasn’t right, and soon everything would fall back into place. The Gate knew he wouldn’t be able to leave as easily as he had walked in. So it was only fair that the woman, wanted to check on Mad Camel, and have the dubious shadowrunners wait for their judgment.

The woman entered the building again, and left The Gate standing atop the stairs flanked by the same two sentries as before. Shikkon looked up at The Gate studying him. Trying to attain any information from him, or to see what the box was that The Gate now held. The Gate only gave him a look, and nothing more. They had been eyed when whispering, before and The Gate didn’t want to press his luck anymore than had been already done for him.

Once again The Gate found his hand sliding into his jacket preparing his Colt Manhunter for action. The front door creaked slowly open, and The Gate’s hand tensed around the handle of his heavy pistol. Time slowed, and The Gate held his position, frozen to the spot.

“You’re, free to, go..” The woman’s confused voice came to the relief of The Gate, but he understood her confusion. For he, wasn’t fully aware of what was going on either. All they had to do now was leave the Barrens unscathed and get back to the rest of the group. Perhaps everyone else was having equal “luck”. The Gate almost dared not to say luck for such a thing didn’t exist in his world, and he knew that it would not last.

The Gate passed inbetween Shikkon and Mickey picking up his pace to a brisk walk. Both Shikkon and Mickey could tell The Gate was in a hurry, but had no trouble keeping stride with him. Keeping his voice to a whisper Shikkon asked, “What was all that about?”

The Gate looked over his right shoulder to Shikkon and responded in a hushed voice, “I’d rather not talk about it right now. Nothing is adding up.” That was all Shikkon needed, and decided to keep his thoughts and questions to himself. “Let’s just get out of here,” The Gate said quietly.

They easily found their vehicles in the exact spot where they had parked them, and found them untouched. The Gate mounted his bike and said calmly as he could to Shikkon, “Check in with Falchion, I’m going to check on another lead of mine. I’ll meet up with you guys later; in fact give me a call when you know what’s going on.”

Before climbing into his car, Shikkon gave a small nod to The Gate. With that acknowledgement The Gate quickly peeled away on his bike. He knew given a head start he would have a chance against any go-gangers. He couldn’t outrun them in a “fair” chase, but if he could get out of the Barrens he would be okay.

Shikkon tried following The Gate out of the Barrens but soon after they had started, he lost track of him. Instead Shikkon focused on not being followed, and calling Falchion.

Shikkon’s phone rang only a few times, before the vid screen display showed Falchion. “Hello.” Falchion’s polite upbeat voice filled the car.

“It’s Shikkon, Falchion.” Shikkon’s serious manner responded in stark contrast to Falchion. “We’re done, The Gate went ahead to check with a lead, and Mickey and I are heading back to wait for everyone.”

Mickey was surprised to not see a smile register on Falchion’s face. He held a poker like face, but his voice didn’t mask his enthusiasm, “Excellent to hear. Entertainment has already checked in, and they’re on their way to check out the second name. The first one was a dead end. I’ll let them know what’s happening when they check back in. Betty has just gotten started so nothing to report here. If anything else develops on your end give me a heads up. Until then,” Falchion ended the phone conversation with a wave and hanged up, giving Shikkon and Mickey no time to respond. Shikkon tightened his grip on the steering wheel and turned his attention back to the road.

Neither of them wanted to say anything jinxing their current string of luck. Entertainment and Mr. Popular hadn’t blown anything up, their own group had walked in and out of a gang, and Falchion and Betty were just getting started. They knew that things had a habit of turning sour quickly, but they savored the moment while it lasted.

“Uh, Shikkon, where are you going?” Mickey looked over at Shikkon concerned. They had driven out of the Barrens, but were supposed to go ahead and wait at his place.

“What do you mean?” Shikkon took a couple of quick glances over at Mickey they were beginning to drive in heavier traffic. “Well, my place is in the Barrens, and that’s where we’re supposed to meet.” Mickey’s tone was completely condescending as if he was addressing a child.

Shikkon looked at Mickey with a quick glance, but made sure to hit home, “I’m simply making sure that we’re not being followed. I wouldn’t like to deal with any of your friends, or Mad Camel’s. So if it’s alright with you, I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing.”

Shikkon drove around for a little bit longer, switching street after street. He had made enough turns that even Mickey didn’t know where they were. For the remainder of the ride, Mickey kept quiet, and Shikkon tuned everything else out. They arrived at Mickey’s apartment, and despite his careful maneuverings. Shikkon parked his car across the street from Mickey’s building. Climbing out of the car, Shikkon quickly followed behind Mickey and found themselves in Mickey’s basement apartment in seconds.

Once inside Mickey wasted no time in showing Shikkon a hidden cache of various guns. “Just in case,” Mickey looked at Shikkon, a flash of fear ran across Mickey’s every expression. Shikkon only nodded in response, because all they had to do now was wait.