By the time the mist cleared, Cyne was pinned against the ground by pod-girl. “Don’t even think about going for your pistol,” she hissed, her lithe hands wrapped around Cyne’s neck.

“Touch that pistol, and I’ll break your neck! Who sent you!” she snarled, her knee pressing further into his chest.

“I’m… just a scavenger… Muriel wanted me to free you,” Cyne forced out, struggling for breath.

“Your gun. Take your pistol out and slide it across the room. No complaints or I’ll snap your neck.”

“Fine,” Cyne slowly slid his pistol out of its’ holster and threw it to the side.

The girl drew her knee back somewhat, but her hands were still firmly wrapped around his neck. After an uncomfortable minute of assuring her he meant no harm, she retracted her grip and rolled off of him.

She assumed a low fighting crouch. “So… you really are just a scavenger?” she asked, warily circling the young man.

“That’s right, I’m just a scavenger.”

“I don’t believe that. There’s no way a mere scavenger could’ve sneaked through the defenses of my villa. Are you an agent of Orbius, or a bounty hunter here to take my head?”

“Neither, and I don’t know what you’re talking about. There was no villa, just an old research center above.”

“That’s impossible. Unless I was moved while in stasis, but only he had any knowledge of where I was hiding. What year is this?”

“Hell If I know.”

“Well only Muriel knew where my villa was, so unless he moved me in my sleep, which I doubt he would, he probably told you where to find me.”

“I know Muriel! She’s the AI who told me to wake you. She was just here.”

“Muriel isn’t female, nor an AI. He’s the head scientist of my Star Reach Empire. I highly doubt the authenticity of your claim, but I will overlook it for now. My name is… Pris- Libra. And you are?”

“Cyne.”

“No surname?”

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“They don’t give those to scrap rats like me.”

“I see. Then tell me Cyne, how did you find this place?”

“It's a long story. We can talk about it later, lets get out of this place for now.”

Libra nodded. “I can work with that plan.”

Cyne walked over to his pistol and dropped it back into his holster. He was curious as to where Muriel floated off to, but he wasn’t looking to find any excuses to stick around underground any longer. Libra trailed behind silently while he retraced his steps back to the sliding doors.

“Careful, there were bots trailing me and…”

“You and…?” Libra asked, her brows furrowed.

“No one. Just me.”

Cyne froze at the door. “Somethings not right,” he muttered. “I feel like there’s something… No, someone-”

“Is something the matter?” Libra interjected, fiddling with the display board beside the door.

“No… It’s nothing,” Cyne muttered, his mind focused on other things.

Libra sighed, and then slammed her fist into the display, surprisingly the doors began to slide open. Cyne stared at her, mild confusion plastered over his face.

“How did you know that would work?” he asked, his brows drawing together.

She shrugged. “What? I mean it worked right?”

Cyne sighed. “Careful for the bots, I was swarmed in here by them earlier. They’re tough to-”

The hallway was littered with disabled bots, their static remains strewn all over the floor. “This isn’t… but how?” Cyne sputtered, his eyes darting around the hall.

“I see more and more holes in your story by the minute, I ought to just kill you now,” she said with a cheery grin.

“Try it,” Cyne growled.

“It’s just a joke, you’re pretty serious for a kid.”

“You grow up fast around here.”

“Doesn’t mean you have to be so serious all the time.”

“I’m not!”

Libra walked oddly. It was a self-assured gait, just like her own personality. She had a slight lean to her walk, and her nape supported by her hands like she hadn't a care in the world.

“These bots look pretty primitive, just what backwater planet did you stick me on?” she muttered, kicking a bot out the way.

“These used to be top of the line, well fifty years ago to be exact,” Cyne said, scratching his chin.

By the time they reached the lobby, Cyne could see the sun start to dip below the horizon. A whole day spent chased around by bots and rescuing women from pods. And nothing but an incorrigible companion and sword to show for it.

The sword was nice though, he took solace in his newly acquired electro-sword. Libra had to go however, he had a feeling she was nothing but trouble.

“So now that you’re out of that pod, we can go our separate ways right?” Cyne asked, approaching the exit.

“Nope, I think I’ll stick around a little longer.”

“That’s just… swell.”

Right out of the door, they were met by the sight of snow crawlers. Snow crawler hoverbikes encircled the entrance, blocking them in. Each of their bikes had a wolfs’ head surrounded by feathers emblazoned on the side. Wolves Nest. The biggest sand crawler tribe in New Belzan, and the most militant too.

Their leader, or so he assumed, stepped off of his bike. He towered over Cyne, his face obscured by a helmet.

“Now what do we have here?” he said, his voice rough and grating to the ears.

“Any chance you’re going to let us pass,” Cyne asked apprehensively.

“Surround them!” the masked man barked.

“I thought as much.”