Entering a nearby set of tubes close to the pods, Zan was surprised he hadn't seen the tubes before. In the shadows, they hid from him.

The receptionist helped them buckle in. The process seemed the same as it was for the vita-pods. Soon, the tube door closed, and Zan was left completely in the dark. He felt a motion. Machine parts coming to life. Then he heard a voice. "Beginning asset transfer. Please, controlled breathing only to ease the disquiet of passage." It was the clerk's voice. Where was it coming from? A speaker?

Not having time to dwell on process similarities before the machine activated in earnest, the clerk's voice said, "Tubes are now being lowered into the transitory passage. You may feel a slight pinch."

'A slight pinch?' Why would he feel--

And then Zan felt the pinch.

Except, it wasn't so much a pinch as it was several. And they hurt!

The whole of Zan's body shook after the pinches nipped his whole body. To be fair, the pinches did not last for long. But boy, what they lacked in duration, they more than made up for in sheer shock!

Then the machine stopped rumbling. Bing!

'Another bing? Is it done?' Zan wondered.

Instantly, the straps which had taken the clerk so long to affix loosened. With a steaming hiss, the tube door automatically swung open. Zan gently lowered himself to the ground, stumbling out, but with the grace of only a mildly drunken bum.

Where had he come to? He did not know. It looked like a large, white-silver room? It was faint, but he heard people nearby.

Then, someone was shaking him. "Zan, Zan! It's really you!" a voice said.

Zan looked at who was shaking him. But it was hard. His eyes saw everything in triple and details on what he did see where indistinct, at best.

"I can't see well. Is that you, Winters?" Zan said, knowing he heard his voice but not letting himself overly trust; until he could see and comprehend everything with his own senses, Zan didn't want to leap to conclusions. Though, the voice did confirm what Zan thought: "Aye! It is me, boy. Winters. What happened to you! And why can't you see?! Jezzum-heckum! Tell me everything!"

Hearing the voices of Jiehong and Whiskey call out to Zan, Zan returned their calls. "I'm over here, friends!"

His eyes adjusting, Zan began to talk, content the man who said he was Winters was, in fact, Winters. Zan told Winters their story. He told of the were-beast attack, their accidental collision into a wizard tower not meant as their destination, and the surreal, vicious assault of the unknown creature before the glass wall slid down to protect them. And to finish his spiel, Zan mentioned Jiehong's big purchase.

"Wow! What a misadventure! We were looking everywhere for you guys. No one in the tower's administration could tell us what happened to you. With time of the essence, though, we had to plod forward. We worked, collected the misermint ore like we were ordered. Once we reached the end, though, and you guys still hadn't returned to us, I demanded answers. Nothing came of it, alas. We were about ready to cut our losses and resume our trek, when a clerk suddenly stopped us on our way out and said they had information on what happened to you and how you would be back soon. It was bizarre behavior. But we waited. And now here you are! They never gave us that 'information,' though. Not that it matters now." Winters explained.

Stolen story; please report.

Though it saddened Zan to learn Colonel Winters planned to leave them behind, he also understood. This wasn't a civilian situation. It was military. Winters could not endanger the group for the sake of a few youngsters. Understandable or not, the thought of being left behind did not amuse Zan.

"What you're saying is 'we really need to go,'" Zan said. "I understand. Give me a moment to orient myself, please."

"Take a few minutes. I need to brief the men on the situation," Winters said, ending the conversation.

Walking with a slight unsteady swing to his gait, Zan prodded himself toward Jiehong and Whiskey, who were nearby, and still slightly on the woozy side. "Dizzy still? I am. Its good Winters didn't leave us behind. We got that going for us at least."

Whiskey and Jiehong muttered agreements. Still out of it due to the side-effects of being transported by Strange Tube Pod, Zan knew his friends only needed a moment of rest.

"Zan," Whiskey said, moving to a far side of the room, motioning for Jiehong to join as well.

Alone, Whiskey asked Zan, "Once we get to this delta hub place, the city, what is our plans? Are we going to continue campaigning with Winters? I am not so sure I still want to join your order if we are only ever going to be acting an auxiliary force for the loyalists."

"You don't have to worry about that, Whiskey. As an order, we are still finding our footing, finding allies. It's been a slow process. We help the loyalists because they are defending our country. It is not my intent to act as their hired gun. We have our own objectives. Part of which involves that bunker location you gave us the location of; once my contact in the Expanse translates a location list, we will be busy reawakening a local defensive system previous adherent to my Order, or a related Order, perhaps, created a long time ago. If it wasn't for this sudden influx of automotrons, we would already be on our way back to the command center," Zan explained.

"Okay. That is fine. Thank you for letting me know. I will hold you to that, Zan," Whiskey said.

"Hold me to what?" Zan said.

"Not becoming a mercenary. For the loyalists, I mean. I think I remember you telling me something about the bunker network a while ago? If you think this is the best way to go, then I support you. For too long has our part of the country been ignored. This bunker stuff is better than acting as a side-gig for the loyalists, anyway. If you take too many missions for the loyalists, I'm going to bounce. Understand?"

Zan nodded. "I understand," he said.

"Jiehong?" Whiskey said. "You've been awfully quiet. Have something on your mind?"

Grunting under his breath, Jiehong said, "If she is allowed to bluntly put a cap on how often we help our King, then I demand the same, but for the rebels! If we as a team take on too many missions where rebels benefit, then how about I bounce? Not all of us are anti-King, remember!"

It was evident Jiehong was angry. Angry with Whiskey for sneaking her measure in under the guise of 'what we do next' but also angry with himself for going along with Whiskey's proposal without lifting a finger in opposition. Zan had no other option. He told Jiehong he would be fine with having a similar measure. He looked to Whiskey to see if she had any objections. She shook her head no, saying, "I'm fine with a similar countermeasure. It is only fair, right?" Whiskey spoke without vitriol. She held her ground while letting others share the ground. An ideal teammate, Zan considered.

"Now that we have our 'Order Philosophy of Engagement settled,'" Zan said, a tinge of annoyance to him, mostly born of draining energy, "We should prepare for us leaving this tower. I have a feeling we will be encountering that airship sooner than we would like."

Nodding and grunting their agreement, the team broke off for a moment of personal cooling off time, then rejoined when Colonel Winters was done briefing the soldiers on the developments, specifically, of Zan and Company's misadventure. Zan joined Winters and his men as he finished the recap and proceeded to talk about the route they would take once outside of the wizard tower.

Came at just the right time, Zan thought, as Winters started in on their course of action.

Winters said to everyone, "So, with everyone returned, we are heading out of the tower. Our exit is yonder," Winters vaguely waved.

Continuing, Winters said, "Unfortunately, not all is good news. Though our destination is but a stone's throw away, not all is good. A supervisor took me aside to let me know of an enemy airship patrolling outside the bounds of the trading corridor. They told me there is no good reason for an Expanse strike force to be anywhere near the trading corridor unless they were hunting someone or group. Meaning, us. Once we leave the tower's limits, the airship will likely launch their assault. We must be prepared for a battle once we leave. I will give everyone a final moment of preparation."