It was only when the carriage had traveled far enough for TO to once more hear pedestrians and entertainment outside the carriage that they truly relaxed. If things were calm enough for people to go back to their business, then TO could easily assume that there were no security vehicles or higher Arkanian or Okoian authorities to be seen, and that it was very probable that they had gotten away.

Safe was perhaps an overstatement; they wouldn’t feel safe until they were back underground. Until they were in DH’s arms they wouldn’t consider their mission completed, and thus couldn’t let their guard down entirely.

Still, they were probably alright to wake Pearla. The ServAi had placed her on the seat across from TO, letting her lie down while still in the body bag. While the bag was helpful for keeping her tail from going everywhere, it was still disconcerting to see their friend in one and they didn’t want her to wake up in a body bag. Slipping over to the other seat, TO quickly found the zipper to the bag and pulled it down. Pearla still looked quite dead, and TO had to remind themself over and over that it was just the makeup Mira did. They also had to remind themself that because of her hibernation state coupled with the distilled berry juice she drank before going into hibernation, TO wouldn’t be able to feel her pulse and confirm that she was alive. While it kept her safe earlier, TO now found that fact disturbing.

She felt so cold and looked truly dead. TO couldn’t let GiDi see her like this. They could only imagine how they would feel if they saw DH in such a state. No amount of reassurance from anyone else would convince TO that their mate was ok, and they’d panic over them until signs of life were visible. No, Pearla would be awake when they got back. TO pulled away the rest of the bag and repositioned her so she was laying back on TO’s lap. They didn’t know how long it would take for her to wake, and had no idea how they’d get her out of the carriage if she was still asleep when they got to The Cabin. Well, Problems for later. Perhaps it was adrenaline still pumping through TO’s veins, or the slight pride they felt from so many off-the-cuff plans working out so well, but they felt as though they could handle any issue right now.

They had formed a plan going into the indebted center but from the moment they set foot inside everything had gone wrong that could go wrong. All the careful planning they had done was for nothing, yet, they still got through it.

If Pearla wasn’t awake TO was certain they could figure it out.

======

Even with the heat on in the carriage and Pearla resting on TO’s lap, it took nearly an hour for Pearla to wake up properly. Thankfully, it only took ten minutes for the first signs of life to show. Her heartbeat sped up and strengthened so TO could feel the steady thumping of her heart when checking her pulse. It felt so odd to feel the pounding of a heart as opposed to the constant thrum of their own heart. Did the heartbeat distract her? A little longer and her eyes flickered, and the dullness in her complexion faded off and the warmer purple shade colored her cheeks. Still, it took an hour for her eyes to flutter open. She squinted against the light in the carriage, looking around with eyes that were far too dilated. Was that normal, or was it a result of the distilled sea-berries?

She blinked, squinted, and stared at TO.

“GiDi?” Her voice cracked due to disuse, and she coughed slightly as she spoke.

“Not GiDi.” TO said, keeping their voice low, “Just me. Just TO.”

“TO…” She closed her eyes again and lifted a hand to her face. Her movements were still jerky, and her hand shook horribly as she rubbed at her eyes. “Where…?”

“There were complications.” TO said, “It's nothing to worry about now. We’re in a carriage, and heading to the Cottage.” They paused and knocked on the window that separated them from the driver. While the window didn’t open, ServAi's voice echoed over speakers in the Cabin.

“How can I help you, Mx. Tio?”

“There’s a bar called Cottage Core Pub.” Can you take us there now?”

“Of course, Mx.” The ServAi said, and immediately the speakers clicked off.

“I… I’m not supposed to be here?” Pearla asked as she tried to push herself up. She struggled, so TO helped her into a sitting position.

“No; you were supposed to go right to the underground but Gyrini tried to redirect the transport. I grabbed you.”

She blinked again, this time her eyes focused a little more. She tried to speak again, but her voice cracked and she coughed. TO put a hand on her back, unsure what they could do but wanting to help‌. Maybe that was why she had been so helpful to TO that first night when their eyes and head throbbed so badly; seeing them in pain made her just want to help. Now, TO wanted to repay the favor.

Pearla was still catching her breath a few minutes later when the carriage came to a stop. The speakers crackled to life one more time. “Mx. Tio, we’ve arrived at the destination.” the ServAi said.

“Thank you.” TO said, “Could we go to the back entrance-”

“We are already there, Mx.” The ServAi said, “You requested a discrete arrival.”

TO, of course, had done no such thing. They assumed Vik had thought of that beforehand. They moved away from Pearla and peeked out the window. The alleyway was small enough for a carriage, but nothing else.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“... Last time I was in a carriage to get to this place, you had to stop by the main road.” TO said.

“Back roads are wider than the alleys to accommodate vehicles, but they are not part of our overall route as the back roads are not aesthetically pleasing. An exception has been made for this trip.”

Well, that made sense. It would be an absolute pain if deliveries had to be walked down streets filled with pedestrians. They turned to Pearla.

“Are you able to walk?” TO asked, “I can help, of course.”

Pearla looked at TO unblinking for several moments before she shook her head.

“No TO. I cannot walk.” A slight grin crossed her face., “But if you help keep me steady, I’m sure I can make my way in.” She lifted the end of her tail, the tip wiggling in the air, “But… I’m afraid walking is not an option.”

TO’s ears burned, dipping down as they realized their mistake. “Oh. I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean-”

Pearla just laughed, “It’s fine.” She said just before an enormous yawn escaped her mouth. “I’m just messing with you.” she shook her head, and carefully slid off the seat. “Just help me in… Wait. Why are we going here?”

“We’re going to rest until you’re more awake, and then we’re going home.” TO said. They knocked on the window again. “Open the door, please.”

“Of course, Mx.”

The door slid open before them, revealing the dirty, narrow alley. It was nothing like the main roads; which were clean and easy to move in. Back here, abandoned boxes in stacks leaned against the walls, and strange bugs scurried into the darkness.

TO shuddered, but at least the bugs here weren’t as large as the ones in the outer ring, and not as big as the one they had woken up to the other day.

TO slipped out of the carriage and looked around for any sign of surveillance. They didn’t see any drones, and though they saw a single camera in the corner attached to the back of the pub, a closer look told TO it hadn’t worked for a long time. They turned around and offered an arm to Pearla, who took it and leaned heavily on the taller synth as she maneuvered herself out of the carriage and to the ground.

“Will you be needing my services any longer, Mx. Tio?” the driver asked.

“No, that’s-” They paused, turned, and grabbed the body bag from the carriage. Last thing they needed was this being found and reported to Gyrini. “No, we’re fine now.” TO said. “Thank you.”

“Very good, Mx. Tio.” The ServAi said. “Please enjoy the rest of your day.” The carriage then lunged forward and made its way out of the narrow alley.

“Never been in one of those before.” Pearla said wistfully as she watched the carriage drive away, “I wish I had been more awake…”

“When all this is over, I’ll tell GiDi to take you on a date.” TO said, fondly remembering the advice that Lendulin had given about taking DH out. “And they’ll get even fancier accommodation for you than that.”

They went up to the door, and while TO was about to knock, Pearla put her hand over TO’s fist and pushed it down. In response to TO’s inquisitive look, she lifted her own fist and knocked on the door herself; a series of taps that made out some kind of melody that TO felt certain was familiar to them somehow, but which they couldn’t quite place.

A moment later, the door opened, and a frantic-looking woman about a third of TO’s size opened the door. She had white fur all over, a long tail, big black eyes and a long, narrow snout with very long teeth that protruded over her lower lip.

She took one look at Pearla and gasped before standing to the side.

“Get in.” She blurted as she moved aside. TO helped Pearla into the comfortable dim of what was clearly a stock room, filled with plastic boxes and crates.

“Thank you.” TO said, “I’m-”

“Shush.” the woman said as she closed the door behind TO. She pushed the two forward, towards the back corner of the room. At first TO didn't know where she was going as all they could see were more and more shipping crates, but once she got to two stuck right in the corner, she pressed a button on the side of one, and then easily pulled them forward to reveal a narrow staircase that led down.

“Go down here. There’s a sliding door to your right. Go there, go in, be quiet. I’ll be down shortly.”

The woman’s voice was so clipped and nearly frantic that TO obeyed without question. The moment they were in the hallway, the shipping crates closed behind them once more, and a tiny, dim light came on overhead.

“Ugh, I can hardly see anything in here.” Pearla complained.

“I’ve got you.” TO said, “Come on. I’ll help.”

“Right… I guess this lighting is just right for you.”

It was. It was so much quieter in here, and the light was perfect and comfortable for TO’s sensitive eyes. Despite being cramped and ugly, it was the most comfortable place TO had been in a long time.

If only DH were there with them.