“Holy Shit!” Roy said as he stared out at the underground cavern that housed Under-Town. “How long has this been here? And why wasn’t I told about it?”
Kaleb smiled and shrugged his shoulders, nearly dislodging Daivor. “I don’t know on either count. Now close your mouth before someone mistakes you for a tourist. Let’s go and make sure you watch your wallet.”
Kaleb yawned as he waded his way through the main street of Under-Town. He had wanted to get here early, hoping the streets would be less crowded. But he got a rude awakening when he and Roy had slid down the entrance tunnel. The streets were almost just as packed as last time he was here. Although the noise and excitement from the arena was far more muted than the last time.
Kaleb adjusted his armor as he squeezed himself between the crowds. His armor was noticeable warmer after he added the Ifrit skin lining. He briefly wondered if there was a Rune for comfort or something to moderate his temperature. Even a lizard can get too hot. Kaleb thought as he continued down the street.
“Watch it, Human.” a gravelly voice said from behind Kaleb.
Turning, Kaleb saw that there was a stocky red pig-man staring down at Roy angrily. Roy was glaring back at the taller alien and rubbing his shoulder. Kaleb sighed as he walked back to diffuse the situation. Roy had brought his bracers but Kaleb wasn’t too keen on starting a fight in the middle of the street.
“How about you watch it, pig!” Roy snapped back.
Damn it. Kaleb thought as he moved behind the red bipedal pig-man. Roy had missed the pig guy’s two friends moving behind him. When Roy had insulted the first pig-man his two, likewise porcine, friends reached for Roy. Kaleb coughed loudly as he threw his metal shoulder into the center of the bipedal pig’s back. Luckily Roy caught his rather obvious cough and dodged to the side causing the red pig-man tumbling into his two friends. Kaleb clamped his hand down around Roy’s shoulder and fast-walked him deeper into the crowds.
Kaleb could hear the porcine squeals of the three red pig-men as he weaved through the crowds. Roy seemed to catch on and followed along with little fuss. As they got to a part of the street lined with kiosks Kaleb ducked between two, dragging Roy with him.
Kaleb set his back against a stall as he scanned the crowd. Roy stood opposite him and crossed his arms.
“I could have handled that.” Roy said.
“And gotten into a brawl in the middle of the street. Because… what? A pig guy was rude?” Kaleb said sarcastically.
“They were Famerions.” Farrah supplied.
“They?” Roy asked.
Kaleb nodded. “Yeah, you missed the first guys two friends. They were either going to pick your pockets or knock you out and drag you to a nearby dark corner where they can strip you of anything of value.”
Roy shifted uncomfortably, so Kaleb patted his shoulder. “Hey, it’s no big thing. You live and you learn. Best to ignore guys like that and keep moving. If they won’t let you, then it’s safe to assume that something is up.”
“And then I should fight?” Roy asked.
“No. you should distract and get away. I still don’t understand the hierarchy down here. For all I know those aliens work for some crime lord. Then again, maybe not. Best to keep our heads down until we know who we can piss off and to what extant.” Kaleb explained.
“Shouldn’t you tell the kid, NOT to piss people off at all?” Daivor whispered from Kaleb’s shoulder.
“Ha! Of course not. But he should do so responsibly.”
Roy scanned the crowd once more before he said. “I think we are clear. How much further until the Quinica’s stall.”
Kaleb shrugged, unsure. After making sure the coast was clear he and Roy rejoined the flow of people. Kaleb continued down the street keeping an ear on the various vendors selling their wares. The street seemed more subdued than the last time he was here. But Kaleb chalked it up to the time of the day. A familiar scent wafted past Kaleb’s nose as he walked, making Kaleb grin wide. Just like last time, Kaleb stood before an orange and yellow reptile selling his rat stew and burgers.
“Hrck!” a tiny voice came from Kaleb’s shoulder as he paid 40 credits for two burgers.
“What’s that?” Roy asked from nearby obviously not wanting to get too close.
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Kaleb shook his head. “Food for reptiles. Lets just leave it at that, yeah?”
Roy nodded and covered his nose. Kaleb chewed slowly as he delighted in the rat-burger. He kept his eyes open, remembering that the Quinica stall hadn’t been far from the burger seller. Sure enough, Kaleb spotted the same bald, pale, pointy-eared vendor from last time. Except this time the stall was sparse, only having a few bits of equipment on its large white table. As Kaleb approached, he spotted Herr Blutschläger.
“Herr Blutschläger! Good to see you this morning.” Kaleb said walking over and waving.
The slim pale man tensed for a second before he saw Kaleb. Blutschläger straightened the vest of his three piece suit before he returned Kaleb’s greeting in his gravely accented English.
“Ah, the good Professor. I wasn’t sure if you would be returning.”
“I always keep my word.” Kaleb said before he turned to introduce his two companions. “And I brought you some extra hands. Allow me to introduce my assistants: Roy Nova and Builder Gnome Daivor.”
Blutschläger’s eyes grew large as he stared between Roy and Daivor. “Professor, I wasn’t aware that you kept such illustrious company. A member of the Nova clan AND a member of the Realm of Fairy. But as we agreed before, you work for me and I let you keep the occasionally trinket. Your friends do not have such a deal.”
Kaleb blinked rapidly at Blutschläger’s newfound eloquence. He still spoke in accented English but he was far more well spoken now. Shaking off his surprise Kaleb made his case for his two friends.
“I know, however they are just as skilled as I am and can help get the… merchandise into tip-top shape. Not to mention Daivor here can also spot the more rare pieces. For the low price of a few bits of equipment you get three skilled workers that can increase your profits.” Kaleb pitched.
Blutschläger scratched his chin as nearby the Quinica manning the stall was bringing a few bits and bobs from behind his kiosk. Eventually Blutschläger nodded slowly.
“It’s a fair exchange. But I get a say in what you can take home as pay. If I feel that the equipment taken is worth more than the work you have done then I will keep it. Gut?” Blutschläger asked grinned toothily.
“Gut.” Kaleb responded smiling in kind.
After the two shook on their new deal Kaleb followed Blutschläger behind his standing kiosk and between an alleyway leading to an adjacent street. Roy kept silent as he followed behind but Kaleb thought he saw the young man tense up whenever the stall vendor got close. Once they were in the street Blutschläger held out his hand.
“I will need your little communicator, Professor Rat.”
Kaleb stepped back placing a hand possessively on his communicator. “Why is that?”
Blutschläger laughed. “Hahaha. Nothing nefarious, I assure you. It is just that we are lucky you arrived this early. You can go out with the next group to collect the… merchandise.”
“And that means I have to give up my means of communicating with the outside world?”
“No, no. You have to leave your handheld Geosync Device. The location we work from is a kind of trade secret and while I like you. I am not sure if I trust you yet. You and your associates will also have to be blindfolded.” Blutschläger explained.
Kaleb weighed his options as a large green and white garbage truck hovered its way slowly toward them. Really, he didn’t think it was that dangerous, Blutschläger seemed more like a businessman than a gangster. But he wasn’t sure. Just when he was about to ask for assurances, Farrah spoke up.
“Don’t worry, Professor. If you disappear for too long, I’ll call in the cavalry.”
Blutschläger didn’t react to Farrah’s obvious suspicions about foul play, still holding his hand out. Kaleb sighed loudly before he removed the device and handed it over. He still had an ace in the hole with his headband. He couldn’t communicate but the crystal would record their whereabouts. Blutschläger took the device carefully in his hands as the garbage truck whirred over on its hover repulsors.
Two Quinica jumped out from the cab and opened the wide mouth back of the truck while the vendor moved into the driver’s seat. Kaleb hesitated for a few seconds before he and Roy squished into the cab. The driver held out three long black strips of cloth meant to be blindfolds. After helping Daivor with his blindfold, Kaleb slipped his own under his headband and tightened it tight.
“I shall keep you communicator safe, Professor. Do not worry. Now, go bring me a lot of pretty trinkets to sell today.” Blutschläger said from somewhere outside the humming garbage truck.
Kaleb gave a noncommittal nod before he felt a pit in his stomach and heard the garbage truck’s repulsors hum louder. After the hover garbage truck leveled out, Kaleb thought he felt the driver spin the truck. Probably trying to confuse their senses even more. After a few more spins the garbage truck started on a leisurely pace winding up and down.
What followed was a long dull car ride through the dark. Periodically Kaleb felt the truck dip and raise, but he thought, ultimately, they were heading upward. 10 minutes into the trip Kaleb heard the loud snores of Daivor blasting right by his ear. He wasn’t sure how Roy was faring but he could feel the boy’s arm next to his. The young Nova seemed to be tensing his muscles every few minutes. 30 to 40 minutes later Kaleb felt the truck slowing.
Soon the truck came to a complete stop but before Kaleb could reach up to remove his blindfold their Quinica driver, stop him.
“Nein.” said the rough voice.
Kaleb stopped himself as he heard the driver having a muffled conversation out of the window. Soon afterward the truck resumed its journey. Kaleb felt the truck wind its way slowly for another few minutes before stopping again. This time the rough voice gave him the ok.
“Is okay now. We have time.”
Kaleb whipped off his blindfold briefly noticing Roy do the same. As Kaleb tried to wake his dozing Gnome, he heard Roy give a gasp of surprise. After Daivor cursed himself awake, Kaleb turned to look out the front window and he had to agree with his assistant. Sprawled in front of the three was what they could call an alien planet.
Towers of junk and trash stretched out as far as he could see. Kaleb stumbled out of the truck still taking in the smell of smoke and metal. Kaleb could see and feel the warm glow of fires burning but he couldn’t see where it was coming from. The Quinica went to work as Kaleb glanced around in awe.
*SCREEEEECH*
A loud metal noise resounded from above them drawing Kaleb’s attention. Looking up, he realized that they were still underground. And hundreds of stories above Kaleb could make out the bottom of a building that was opening and dumping trash down on their location. Kaleb stood there in shock as bits of metal and equipment rained down on him. As he watched he realized the bigger pieces were being drug through the air toward something off to his left. Kaleb felt a hard pat on his shoulder when their driver tapped his shoulder.
“Work. Only have minutes before I time is up.” Their driver said.
Kaleb nodded absently as Roy joined him. “Yeah.” Kaleb said before he shook himself out of his stupor and continued excitedly. “All right boys, lets go to work!”