Roy

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My lawyer was ready to go, even if I wasn't, so we are going to have to cut this conversation short. There was still a lot we haven't discussed, but I am not sure if Dave is ready to be read in to the whole story. Really, I just met the guy after all. I have no idea how he would react to the truth. Odds are he won't take it as well as Tyler did. Odds are I won't be that lucky again.

I broke the connection with Nola and followed Dave to the car. We'd be back in touch after we got out of the parking lot. If Dave isn't a talker, I can absentmindedly stare out the window while secretly having a conversation about everything else. If not, which seems more likely based on our first interaction, then I guess catchup has to wait.

"So what makes a garbage man take his work home with him? When we first met on the mountain I thought....." I guess that answers that question. Silent car ride is out of the question.

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Dave and I made some polite small talk as we drove. I tried to practice splitting my attention between the dungeon and Dave, but I am not good at multi tasking. I will have to have Tyler help me practice that. Have him test me on trivia or tic tac toe while trying to expand my mind into the dungeon. That seems like a fun mental strengthening exercise.

You and I can battle some bugs while you and Tyler play chess. He has been trying to get Burt to play with him

"Who the heck is Burt?" I asked

"Who is who now?" Dave said in response. See this is the sort of thing I need to work on. I can't keep doing this

"Sorry, I am remembering what the cops said. My supposed accomplice. They never told me who Burt was." That should work

Dave gave me a look "Neither of the other suspects were named Burt, as far as I saw. They may have been playing this one closer to the chest if there's a 4th. Not surprising, considering how much equipment was stolen"

"Yeah, must be that. How much was stolen, after all? I just heard it was a bunch of large equipment." I said, genuinely curious.

"About 8 million worth. The insurance companies are still bickering about valuing used equipment, but it turned out to be quite a bit." If I had been drinking anything now would be the time for a spit take.

"Well at least insurance is covering it, that's good right?" I said in response

"Yeah. They'll make everyone whole just like they should." Dave said, dripping with sarcasm. "You don't have a lot of experience with insurance do you?" He said "Most of what I do seems to be suing them for failing to live up to their end of the deal. If they cover half the losses I'd be shocked. That poor guy who owns the yard is going to take the worst of it"

Good to know, I guess. Add that to the list of problems to solve. Take care of the yard owner, insurance companies and bring the equipment back. Nola should be able to do something that big by now, right?

Yes. And much bigger. I'll stop interrupting, I promise

Ok. Find some rural places along your roads, we'll talk later.

"Poor guy" I said to Dave. I hoped the pause was as short as it felt for me.

"Yes indeed." Dave said contemplatively. "Oh, look, I can see your place. Doors closed. Shouldn't you guys be operating today?"

"Yes we should. There must have been some tech issues while I was out. Experimental machinery, its finicky. Sometimes it breaks down for no reason."

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Hey!

That was directed at Dave, not you. Doors are unlocked right?

They are now.

Good, see if you can get a message to Tyler to act normal. Or at least Ty normal.

The gate opened automatically before us and we drove right in.

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Tyler

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Bendy straws are the best thing Joseph Friedman ever invented. I couldn't get in to feed and water the dog man, but the straws and the little rust holes made that a non issue. He still doesn't seem happy with me. I don't speak a word of alien, but I can tell when someone is threatening me.

I'd open the door if I could Buddy.

I've always wanted to fist fight an alien. And punching down at Burt seems unfair. Since we're friends and all that.

The gate was secure. The perimeter is being patrolled by Burt. And Nola just recently took in the stuff in the pit. Maybe she's getting better. If she does it again this afternoon we may be able to open up in a limited capacity. Get her some more goods and delvers.

I was absently tipping and playing with the succulent on Roy's desk when I was dive tackled from behind. I came off my feet and face planted into the gravel driveway.

Ow.

Clawed hands were wrapped around my waist. I guess Buddy found a way out. And he's cruising for some southern hospitality.

I threw my head back with full force at the same time as my right elbow. A quick one- two- crunch came in reply. And Buddy released his hold on me. I kicked up to get my legs back under me and threw another elbow into his ribs before shucking him off my back.

You had all the advantage Buddy, and you wasted it.

The back of my skull was wet, my blood or his wasn't clear yet. But It was time to get him under control. Reaching towards my waistband while backpedaling I saw him roll away to create distance and jump completely to his feet with out so much as a hand touch to the ground. Good core strength on the guy. Got to watch out for a punch.

It takes about 1.5 seconds for me to draw under normal circumstances. I feel like I was moving faster in this case, adrenaline doing its thing, but 1 second is still a long time in a fight. It takes even more to get on target. I had just barely gotten my gun out and level when he raked his claws around my non dominate arm and pushed them down and away from his body. A qucik second strike with a closed fist on my wrist loosed the pistol from my grasp and sent it flying. My knee came up to create some distance, maybe slow him down. But the connection was bad. I glanced off the outside of the hip, he turned into it and it forced me back off my feet and onto my back. Not good.

But the hip strike wasn't entirely useless. His stance was wide and he had made tactical error of being in kicking range as he repositioned. I targeted the family jewels. Whether he has em or not, it should un balance him enough to give me a moment to get back up.

He has em.

But he recovers quickly. I got just enough time to get up and start a haymaker. Start, but not finish. He turned through the punch and got a hold of my arm. He turned my wrist over and took control of that side. I did not have good leverage to counter, so I was reduced to throwing punches behind my own shoulder with my non dominate hand. Not powerful, but it can't be comfortable.

And then Burt came in clutch with a distraction. We weren't fighting over one of his holes, but he had waddled his fat ass on top of the dirt over to us and latched on to Buddy's leg. The distraction causes him to loosen his grip for just a second, but it is enough to rip my arm out of his hands. I keep the turn going and use the momentum to slam my non dominate fist into his solar plexus. The punch and Burt together put him on his back. I reached for my belt buckle knife and pulled it out. A quick jab to the head again as I knelt on top of him, holding the knife to his eye. I don't speak alien, and he doesn't speak American, but I have to try. Roy went to the trouble of keeping the guy alive

"Yield" I shouted at him. The word might not have meant much, but he saw his position. He made the smart decision that second, and the fight went out of him.

Victory. Earth one, Alien zero.

Burt didn't let go, but he definitely loosened up a tad. He knew we were the victors. I wish I could give him a high five.

Now we just have to figure out a way to tie him back up now that he's escaped the shed.

"What the hell is that" I heard a new, very agitated, voice say behind me.

I kept the pressure and the knife in place as I turned to look. Some body was standing next to a sedan inside the gate. The main gate was open. How? I put a lock and a chain on that thing, on the inside too. And now there's some tweed wearing idiot in our spot.

I still had my ankle piece.

I pulled an shouted "Get your hands up and get on your knees" He quickly made to comply, just as I saw Roy get out of the car.

Oops.