The lift's petty gate opened.

No one met them on the other side.

"Where is everyone?" Zan asked. On the verge of tears, he couldn't believe no one was here waiting for them. "What the feck?!"

Rushing from the lift the moment they could, everyone remained in shock at the encounter. No one could believe they had made it out safely. Other than the slain soldier...

Jiehong embraced Zan. "Calm," he whispered to his friend. Joining in on the hug, Whiskey and the remaining soldier did the same. "We survived," Zan said to the group huggers, his face and theirs on top of each other. "We did. We lived. Praise be to the gods, we lived!" the soldier said with intensity.

Breaking off and drying their tears, the group now approached the topic on everyone's mind: what happened to the others? Where were they and them? Zan wanted to know if tragedy befell Winters and the rest or if they made it inside the tower safely.

"Looks like stone," Jiehong said, touching the cool flat surface which lay ahead.

Walking forward, Zan saw the dirt end and the stone begin. Around this tower was a massive courtyard. Why? It doesn't matter why, Zan reminded himself. Whoever built this thing is long dead. With them, its original purpose. I can't waste time thinking about these things.

Before they arrived at the main gate, Zan and Friends walked up a series of staircases. At the end of each staircase was a resting section. These sections were basic. Benches made from some heavy slab or mineral. Unusual potted plants for decoration. But every section was sandwiched in-between the upcoming flight of stairs like a hidden world. So large was the flight leading to the doors, they needed to partake of the rest several times as they made their way up.

Between breaths, Zan uttered, "Is this... what they... had to... do?! No wonder, no one heard us!"

"That is assuming they even came this way," Whiskey said. "I am not seeing any traces of people. With a group as large as Winters's, I know there would be at least a scuffed mark somewhere. There isn't, though. I find the lack of evidence troublesome."

Jiehong did not contribute to the debate. Though he remarked how they needed to stay focused on reaching their goal. The tower entrance.

Reaching at long last the top of the zig-zagging path, Zan collapsed and fell to the floor. The cool marble floor. He groaned. "Whiskey! That tea you gave was nice. I am done, though. I need something to eat and to sleep. Badly. I can't keep doing this..."

Zan worried for a moment Whiskey would think less of him for being open with his feelings. For not putting on that bravado a leader should always wear.

Yet he worried for nothing.

"I'm right there with you," Whiskey replied, she on her knees with the rest. Jiehong was the only member of the group who remained standing, his watch redoubled while his teammates suffered and rested.

The surviving soldier was silent. No doubt still shocked by the encounter with the were-monster.

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"Let's... crawl," Zan said, flopping to his belly and inching his way forward like a worm.

"No, bud, just rest," Jiehong said, being the voice of reason.

Zan didn't argue and continued to rest. Once a firm quarter of an hour slipped through their fingers, Jiehong helped Zan and Whiskey up.

Recovered some, enough to move and think, Zan said, "My appreciation, buddy. I was losing myself there."

Jiehong didn't speak. Instead, he smiled, nodded, and let his hand linger on Zan's shoulder as a show of comradery.

The team entered the tower. Inside, they saw a large lobby with artificial ponds to the left and right. In the center back of the room was a desk manned by a chirpy young lady with fire hair, but hair bundled into a fashionable statement.

Not wanting to talk until they were within normal range of reach other, Zan endured the awkward stares as the receptionist gazed and smiled.

"Hello," Zan said. "Where is Colonel Winters?"

Complete silence reigned.

Widening her smile, the receptionist belatedly said, "Excuse me?"

"Oh... sorry. My friends and I were with a group. A group this trading branch's supervisor approved. We're refugees fleeing the war," Zan said, hoping he had his story straight.

Once again not replying right away, the receptionist lessened her smile. Turning his attention to a nearby mechanism of some kind, she palmed her hand over it. Lights and colors washed over the board. Looking at Zan once again, her face was blank when she said, "I understand. It seems your lift somehow became divested of its original path, the path your associates took."

"So, what does that mean? Where are we?" Zan asked, growing impatient.

"No need to become agitated sir. This sometimes happens--"

He couldn't take it anymore. Zan exploded. "What do you feckin mean don't become agitated?! Feck you! Do you feckin' know what feckin' happened out there?! A feckin' were-beast attacked us and nearly killed us! Don't tell me to feckin' calm down you feckin' piece of shet!"

Letting his voice curl into violent sarcasm, Zan cried as he yelled, finally letting himself feel some of what came of the encounter with the monster.

It feels good to let loose, Zan thought.

"I understand, sir," the receptionist said.

Slack jawed, Zan stared at her, not knowing what to say. He wanted to cuss her out again but felt drained.

Speaking again, the receptionist rolled her palm over a couple of similar mechanisms. Like the other mechanism, this one lit with colors and gentle sounds. She said, "I have let our on-site extermination teams know of the encounter you had. If the monster survived and is still on Sunstar Industry property, it will be exterminated. We are sorry for this bad experience. Please, allow us to make it up to you with a generous contribution to your health and service fund?"

Zan didn't know what to say to that, so he sputtered before settling ineffectually on "Yeah. Sure. I guess... what is that? My fund? I didn't sign up for a fund or whatever."

"Health and service funds are a mainstay of working with Sunstar Industries. Everyone who works for or on the premises of Sunstar Industries Ancient Societies Division are automatically given accounts as per our standard labor agreement with many local governments. Please take a moment to verify your account now and add impenetrable security," the receptionist said, handing Zan a piece of paper and pen.

"Sorry. I don't know how to sign my name..." Zan said, embarrassed for one of the first times in his life about his lack of an education.

"No problem. Use the pin to prick your finger and sign your blood. This is actually the most secure way to lock-in your account," the receptionist said, handing Whiskey and Jiehong their own sets of papers.

"Wait... is this a magical contract of some kind?" Whiskey asked.

"No contract. I do not know if it is magical. Once signed, however, you are under no obligation to perform or buy or behave in a certain capacity."

"If I sign this what will happen?" Zan asked, still unsure of the situation.

"It will give you secure access to your Health and Services account. Which will enable you to purchase Sunstar Industry products at any trading kiosk in the world. By signing, you waive your legal process concerning the monster attack. But you will receive the account credits by signing."

"Okay..." Zan said, still confused about what exactly he could buy but not wanting to press the issue further. He pricked his finger, smeared the paper, and that was that.