Searching through some of the rooms in the evacuated installation, Tom and Zabel found clothing for the people they rescued. Zabel led them out as Tom passed out glowing rocks to everyone and took up the rear-guard. The last guy Tom gave a glow stone to, slowed down to walk next to him. He had the appearance of someone blessed by Cthulhu with one long squid arm and smaller ones placed randomly over his body. He did not face Tom as he spoke in a low raspy voice.

"Hello Tom Fire Tail..."

The man paused before saying anything else as they walked along the gloomy hallway.

"This is the part where you pull out your six shooter."

The ominous sound of Tom's revolver caulking back could be heard over the foot steps of the odd group marching hopefully in the dark. He felt the muzzle press against the back of his head as it levitated.

"Oh good, that's one more point for I'm not crazy. Now, where was I? You are coming to a crossroads in time. There is no telling what will happen next. Xia will be on her way here to see you. How you prepare for this will determine the out come."

After making up his mind not to shot him on the spot, Tom asked.

"And how do you know all this?"

The off-kilter man smiled.

"I can not say his name, but some know him as T̶̸͘͟h̨̛è̢ ̸̧̧͜͠O̴̸̶̢͡ņ̷̀e̕͢͢͠ ̕͟͟W̴̕͞h͏͝o͏̷͟ ̸̷̧͠Ś͠l҉͝u̧̕͠m̴͘͞͠͡b̡̛́e̷̵r̴̴̸̸s̀͘͡."

A glowing stone flown by the cultist's head as a woman with four spider legs on one side of her back turned round to scold him.

"Damn it Paul! We told you not to talk about your creepy ass god. Now I have a headache and thanks by the way."

Tom seemed to be unaffected by the bizarre way Paul said the name as she faced away from them in a huff. Striding through the kitchen most of the starving ex-prisoner seized whatever food they came across. No one seemed to mind the dead bodies as they ate. Paul was the only one who didn't grab any food.

"Also, you don't need to worry about women you helped. She was going to kill herself even though I told her there is going to be a cure made for them. No, it's not going to work on me. I'm... different."

Paul half laughed and/or coughed as they walked up the stairs to the parking garage. Tom needed a second opinion as he reconsidered shooting the strange man.

'So... That was weird. What do you think?'

'We should keep an eye on him Sr. Also, that part were he talk about his god, it kind of blurred for out me at the end. What did he say Sr.?'

'I'm not going to touch it with a ten-foot pole. We'll keep a eye on him and forget about Th̴a͡t part.'

'Um, Yes Sr.'

Tom did put away his gun after awhile as they footslog up to the first-floor garbage heap. At the top of the spiral ramp, There were bullet holes all the place. Tick got to use her mini gun on a car that was trying to leave the party early. Sitting to off the side in a junk pile, the remains of the vehicle looked like it got into a fight with a wood chipper and lost. When the long parade got out of the foul-smelling dumping grounds, Silent was having an argument with two police officers. Tom stomped over to them as he began to interrogate the officers.

"You two, what are you doing here?"

Silent came to attention.

"Sr. these two want us to come down to the police station for questioning."

As she was explaining this, two more police vehicle turned onto the road and stop behind the first patrol car. Tom glared at them waiting for an answer. The orc officer stared at Tom's rank insignia with alarm. Her partner got a mocking smile as he scrutinised Tom's out outfit.

"Hey, go do your cosplay R-Ping somewhere else kid."

A green fist hit him the solar plexus with a oof. Before the police man could crumpled to the ground, she grabbing him round the waist with one arm and did a bow to Tom.

"First Claw, please forgive my partner. We will be leaving if you allow it."

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Tom made a shooing away gesture and asked Silent.

"Whats that ETA on the transport?"

As Silent spoke with Tom, the orc ran back to her parked car and threw her wheezing partner in the back of the black and white vehicle. Yelling at the other four officers who just got there as she opened the drive side door.

"We are leaving! Now!"

The three police cars pealed away from the apartment building as Tom and Silent wandered over to SUV. After getting out of the damaged suit, Zabel changed back into her combat kit. The half spider girl awkwardly walked up to Tom and asked.

"Um Paul said we could we take off if whenever we like, is that true?"

Unhooking the micogun as he answered.

"Yeah, you all can go if you like. I was just going to make sure that you got home."

She did a happy little clap and smiled.

"Cool, I'll go tell them."

Only one person chose to walk home when she told them the good news. By the time the convoy got to run down apartments, Tom had a new ammo box on his back and ate some food.They were about ready as they could get, but for one thing. Tom notice how exhausted Zabel seemed as the leading APC slowed down.

'Hey bell, need a pick me up?'

'No, I should be good Sr.'

'Too bad.'

Tom sent some mana over the mental connection to see if he could. Zabel was more prepared for the terrific jolt this time as she sucked in a steadying breath. She glared up at him with a punched to his hip. Jester naturally thought this was hilarious. The other three kobolds gazed at Xia as she steped out of the black armored vehicle with dread in thier alert eyes. Xia strode over to Tom with a fierce scowl as she glanced uneasily between him and Zabel.

"My dear, why did she strike you like-"

Her mood soured as she caught something in the foul air.

"Sergeant, maybe you can tell me why Tom's delicious scent is mixed with yours and how I can all most tastes his mana dripping off you?"

They made eye contact with each other and thought.

'Oh shit, the scarf'

'Oh shit, the mana'

Tom sighed and looked at Xia.

"We need to have a talk."

Still scowling at Zabel, she said.

"No need, I'm going to execute this trash and then we will go home."

He took a step forward and pulled out the bottle mixed with water and sand.

"No your not and I'm not yours."

Focusing on Tom as she regarded him.

"And why can't I have you? What is wrong whit me? I can give you whatever you want."

Groaning as he uncaped the bottle.

"Because all I want is to be left alone. If you don't, I'm just going to kill you."

Pointing at the rotting apartments before she could say anything.

"Take a long walk in there and think about the last group of people how didn't listen to me."

Xia looked like she was about to cry by the end of it.

"But I want to have children."

Tom took in a deep breath and let it go.

"Come here..."

The seven foot tall woman trembled as she got closer. Tom rased a head to her abdomen and gently poured mana into it. She went completely rigid and then dropped to her knees as the mana was cut off. Clutching her glowing stomac, she gasped out a eager question.

"What, did, you do?"

Tom toss back his head at the men behind him.

"I gave you the mana, now go get fucked."

Paul produced a wicked smile as he pushed a man with blue and green scales to the front of the group. Xia seized him and dashed into the APC. Everyone undoubtedly heard her yell "Get out!" as kobolds darted from the doors and hatch on top. Tom limp over to the SUV.

"Take me back to my office. I need some sleep."

Chuckling delightedly at how the cultural events unfolded, Paul started to followed Tom. A charming girl with one cat ear asked bluntly.

"Hey, whats so funny?"

Pausing to answer her.

"Its upon us."

They all rolled their eyes at him as one of them asked anxiously.

"Whats upon us?"

"Th̵͘e̶ ̸͝Ḛ̱̯̦̙̳̮͓̘n̢d̨͈̱̪̹̰͖̹͙̻͙̬͉͟͡"