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"His girlfriend?" Tom asked.

"Yes. We've been seeing each other for a little while now. I met him when he came into the cafeteria. It was a bit of a love at first sight kind of moment." Terri replied.

"No one else seems to hardly know who you are. You didn't seem to spend enough time together for people to get to know you." Derek commented.

"It was tough to get to spend much time together. Jared is always out with the scavengers, and I have my duties in the kitchen that make my hours unreliable. Why are you asking about Jared?" Terri asked.

Tom looked at Derek, who nodded back to him, "Terri, I don't know how to say this. Jared is dead."

"What? How?" Terri asked as her eyes went wide, and she sat forward in the chair anxiously.

"We don't have all the details yet, but it looks like it happened in the guild somewhere. We are still looking into it." Derek replied.

Suddenly, the door to the security office burst open, and a manic-looking James walked into the room, staring at Terri.

"You," he said as he pointed at her.

"Me?" Terri asked, fear evident on her face.

"You did this. It's your fault," James said, appearing to grow angrier as he stepped toward her.

"What? What do you mean?" Terri asked.

"There was a whole sheet of cookies that got left in the oven, and they burned! Those poor cookies. What did they ever do to you?!" James almost shouted.

"Oh, god," Tom sighed loudly.

"They didn't deserve that! They were innocent, delicious cookies!" James continued.

"Get...out..." Derek said, his ire rising so much he was almost shaking.

"Those cookies couldn't get out," James tried to turn the conversation.

If Derek had been at the front of the Titanic, the look he gave James could have melted the iceberg, saving their trip.

"I can't stand to be in the same room as you!" James said, turning to leave.

"Sorry about him. He's...honestly, I can't explain it." Tom tried to explain to Terri as he apologized.

Terri didn't say anything, continuing to stare after James even though the door had closed behind him. After saying her name three times, Tom finally had to touch her on the shoulder to get her attention. She jumped at his touch and came back to herself.

"Sorry, I just can't figure him out," Terri replied.

"If you ever do, please let us know. I've known him for years and still can't get it either." Tom smiled warmly at her.

Nodding without smiling back, Terri diverted her gaze from him as she seemed to think hard about something.

"Everything ok?" Derek asked, noticing her shift in mood.

"Yeah, just...can't believe Jared is dead. It's hitting me again." Terri replied.

"Maybe remembering the good times would help," Tom offered.

"He was kind. He didn't talk much about his work, but when he found something cool, he couldn't shut up about it. I think he had some trouble with someone on his team because he always complained that one of the guys kept trying to take the better stuff. But he was just happy to try to contribute." Terri said.

"Do you even leave the guild at all, Terri?" Derek asked her.

"No, not really. I don't like going out anymore. This place is comfortable, and going out reminds me of what we lost. How it was before and what we lost. So I go outside the building from time to time and walk in the farming area, but I just stay here." Terri replied, a sadness coming over her.

"You know that the area around the guild is regularly patrolled, and it's become much safer, right?" Derek asked.

"I know. But after everything we saw when the apocalypse first happened, I'm not brave enough to go out there yet. I'm sure that will change, but for now, it's too much," Terri said, hanging her head as she seemed to get overwhelmed.

"I thought we were taking people out to help them level?" Tom asked.

"We advise everyone to do that, but we aren't forcing them. If they refuse, we let them stay. It makes no sense to put people in a situation they don't want to be in," Derek replied.

"Still, can you account for where you were for the last few nights?" Tom asked Terri.

"Why? Am I a suspect?" Terri asked, beginning to feel attacked.

"At this point, everyone is. We are just trying to rule out suspects. It's nothing against you; it's something we would ask anyone close to him," Tom explained.

"I didn't do it. He's my boyfriend." Terri said firmly, beginning to stand.

"We didn't say you did. All we want to know is where you were." Tom continued explaining.

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"I don't have to take this," Terri said, moving toward the door.

Derek stepped in front of it to stop her.

"You can't do this to me," Terri spat, now really getting upset.

"Terri, think about how it looks if you don't want to answer questions and then storm off." Tom pleaded with her.

"I'm insulted I'd even have to answer," Terri shot back at Tom.

"Just tell us, and you can leave," Tom said, looking up at her from a relaxed sitting position.

"I was having a poker night with some of the kitchen employees," Terri finally relented.

"For several nights?" Tom asked.

"There's a place where people gather after hours to gamble. Some games are set up. I play five-card draw with some of the others I work with, though I'm apparently pretty bad at it," Terri explained.

"We have a casino?" Tom asked.

"I wouldn't call it that," Derek said. "It's more like a game room. But they did find some pieces to make certain casino games with. It's not harming anyone. And there aren't any slot machines."

"You think you know a place," Tom muttered to himself. "Why wasn't I told about this place?"

"We didn't feel it necessary to burden you with it. There's a bar too. Some people have been brewing their own drinks. Did you know brewer is a profession?" Derek asked.

"I didn't. But then again, I've been too busy killing things to look into professions at all," Tom replied. "And I'm guessing the currency is Monster Cores?"

"Yup. It's the only thing that the vending machines take, so it's what we trade in now. Some people tried to get the good ole American dollar back into circulation, but it flopped almost immediately. There was nowhere to spend it," Derek explained.

"True, but where are they getting their monster cores from? Some people, it makes sense, but those that don't go out?" Tom asked.

"We started paying them. The monster cores gathered from teams that go out are brought back and they, along with everyone else, are paid a wage for the duties completed." Derek explained.

"And I didn't know about any of it?" Tom asked, standing himself now.

"Would you want to be a part of it? On top of everything else you've done, you are telling me you want more and that those things be small things like how to keep people happy?" Derek asked, a knowing smile on his face.

Tom couldn't reply. Derek was right; he would have gone off the deep end if he had had to consider things like an internal economy. His plate was already full of daily thoughts about training people, watching for enemies, killing monsters, and stopping threats. He had to admit he was glad he didn't need to worry about it.

"Fine, you're right. I couldn't handle that," Tom admitted.

"Now, can you let me leave?" Terri asked.

"Yes, sorry. You can go." Derek said, stepping aside to let her leave the room.

"Just don't leave town," Tom added.

Terri passed and turned, looking at Tom as though he had three heads.

"It's just a joke," Tom said, looking from Derek to Terri, who were both shaking their heads.

"Well, we have to interview people at the Gameroom. So, I guess you get to see it after all." Derek sighed heavily.

"That's what they call it?" Tom asked.

"Yeah, it's easy to remember. And it's not specific to calling it a casino. Look, let them have this. It's something that helps keep morale high." Derek pleaded with Tom.

"I'm not planning to shut it down. I have no issue with people spending their money how they want." Tom said.

"Lies. I know about your gambling addiction. You need to be careful when you go in there." Derek said.

"I can quit anytime I want!" Tom shouted suddenly.

"Tom, we know you haven't been gambling. James told me about it, and we know what's going on. You're still clean. You've been too busy keeping us safe to have done anything like that." Derek said, holding his hands up in a surrender posture.

"Sorry. That's an old habit. I can handle it, though." Tom said.

"I believe you, but I still don't want you going alone. I'll go with you for now. You were going to find out about it eventually, and we can't punish everyone else simply because you had a problem." Derek relented.

"I don't have a problem," Tom said defensively.

"And that's not the first thing every addict says," Derek countered.

"I don't like this," Tom said.

"You aren't supposed to. Getting better sucks. You've done it, but addictions are a lifetime struggle, not just something that goes away. This is just us looking out for you." Derek explained.

"Fine. But it might be a good way to cut loose." Tom began.

"Nope. Not for you. Don't even try it, bub." Derek stopped his train of thought before he could get rolling.

Letting out a huge sigh, Tom hung his head, "You're right. Sorry. I'm sure my sponsor is dead now anyway."

"We can be what you need. You just need to let us know how you're feeling." Derek said.

"Thanks. Support is key for this. I know that. But we have to do what we have to do." Tom said.

"You have a good attitude about it. But we will be watching. And we will be talking to Jerky. Sorry, but I know addicts too. My father was an alcoholic. It was bad. We had to get his friends to help him, and even that wasn't enough." Derek said as he looked at Tom firmly.

"I'm so sorry, I never knew," Tom replied.

"Well, until the Gameroom opened, I didn't know you had a problem. It's not something people like talking about." Derek admitted. "But talking about it is what begins the healing process. You can recognize there is a problem and have accountability partners who can help you when you struggle. It's the only way to heal."

"You're right. And I know it. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you sooner. I should have. You're only going to try to help." Tom said.

"I guess we should go pay the people a visit. We need to check with the other cafeteria staff, too, since they likely won't be there." Derek offered.

"Time to go face some demons," Tom said, sighing again as he headed for the door.