The Tavern hummed with life. Soldiers were singing and dancing with women in bright dresses, children played outside. Musicians played flutes and drums as the people celebrated. Over by the bar, Nameless, and Rachel sat together. Each was silent, sipping their drinks as the bartender came over behind the bar, cleaning a mug with a cloth. His bearded face was framed with a gentle smile as he eyed Nameless and Rachel holding hands. He leaned over the bar, as he put down the mug, and handed them two new drinks.

“If it please ya, may I lend a suggestion for the young lords,” the bartender smiled.

“What is it, Reggy?” Rachel smiled.

“There’s a lovely spot down the road, half a day’s ride but your horseless carriage will make there in no time. Bit quieter,” Reggy winked.

Nameless looked over at her.

“You good to drive?” he smiled.

“Yeah, fuck it why not,” Rachel shrugged.

The two got up after finishing their new drinks and walked through the Tavern. The people cheered and raised their mugs as the two walked past. Outside the tavern, the brisk night air met them. Rachel shivered as Nameless chuckled. He took his jacket off and wrapped it around her as they walked to the car.

The villagers where dancing in the village square, as several knights and soldiers regaled the people with tales of war. Rachel and Nameless got in the car, and gently drove along the dirt road, the people parting for them. They left the village and followed the road as it wound up and around the hills.

“You know the spot?” Nameless laughed.

“Yeah,” Rachel sighed.

“You good?” Nameless asked.

“Mhm,” Rachel nodded.

Unease filled him as Nameless studied her. They where silent as Rachel turned the radio on. The car wound its way across the hills, a winding stream on their left. They emerged unto grassy plaines, as the mountains climbed up on the left. Farms dotted the horizon, as Nameless saw a hilltop come into view.

The car pulled in front and stopped at the bottom of the hill. Both got out, and Nameless smiled, gazing upwards at the stars behind the ring of Talabor. Rachel led the way, and Nameless noticed a single tree standing on the hill. The old tree was proud and strong, with a rope swing hanging from its right branch.

Rachel went over and sat down on the wooden swing, pulling out her pipe, striking a match, and inhaling the smoke. Nameless put his hands in his pockets and looked at her. She seemed sullen, as her eyes gazed at the stars.

“Wanna tell me what you’re thinking?” Nameless chortled.

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She sighed.

“This was where it all started for me. I was sitting on this exact swing a year ago, when my taskforce inserted unto the planet for a missing professor,” Rachel murmured.

“Lots happened since then,” Nameless nodded.

He looked out over the planes, and recognized the five hills, where the battle for Zyhara’s exfil had happened. The land was healing, but even from such a distance, one could tell a great battle had happened.

“You really love me?” Rachel sighed.

Nameless snapped his head back to her, eyes wide.

“Of course!” he gasped.

She looked him the eye, as she picked at the pipe with her fingernails.

“Sure, you want this?” she muttered.

“Why are you acting like this,” Nameless chuckled.

“People in our line of work don’t get happy endings,” Rachel sighed.

Nameless walked over and held the rope as he knelt in front of her.

“Nah, but that’s why we gotta make every moment count,” Nameless nodded.

“Like Aj and Sammy?” Rachel tilted her head.

“That’s not going to happen to us,” Nameless grunted.

“I just don’t want to get my hopes up-” Rachel whimpered.

Nameless cut her off as he leaned forward and kissed her.

“Doesn’t matter how this story ends, being with you is the only good thing I got left,” Nameless sighed.

He leaned his head forward, and their foreheads touched as Rachel started to cry. Nameless bit his lip and hugged her.

“You really scared me on Barouge,” she sniffled as she embraced him back.

Realization crept into his mind as he realized why she was so upset. He pulled away as he held her.

“This is about our promise, isn’t it,” he sighed.

She nodded as she sniffled. He wiped her tear away.

“We’re gonna beat him, one way or another. You already started wiping stuff from my mind, I know you can control this,” Nameless smiled.

“There’s more caches out there. How much will I have to wipe away before there’s nothing left of you inside? I don’t want to lose you before we even fight him.”

“That’s not gonna happen.”

“You can’t say that.”

“Just did,” Nameless laughed.

“This isn’t funny,” she grimaced.

“People like us might not always get happy endings, but I’ll gladly trade in the bullshit happy ending for moments like these. All we can do is make every second count, and live in the moment,” he nodded.

She pierced her lips.

“Fine, but please for the love of God stop charging headfirst in all the time. I’m not trying to lose you before he shows up.”

“Done,” Nameless smiled.

Rachel sighed.

“Go get the blanket and whiskey from the trunk,” she smirked.

“You got it!” Nameless laughed.

He bolted up and went to the car. As he popped the trunk and rummaged through the contents, he noticed Rachel was studying him from the swing. He got the bottle and blanket and shut the trunk. She looked incredible, as the wind softly rustled her raven hair, her slender form gracefully perched on the wooden seat. His chest burned and his heartbeat rapidly as Nameless came back up the hill.

“What you are staring at fuckboy?” Rachel chortled.

“The most gorgeous fucking person I’ve ever seen,” Nameless smiled.

He put the items down and scooped her off of the swing as she yelped. He held her in his arms as they kissed, the stars twinkling amid the rings of Talabor as the air gently cooled. His first real date, and Nameless wouldn’t have it any other way.

Thank you for reading Wrath of The Puppet Master, I hope you enjoyed it! It was an albeit slow but rewarding process writing this novel, and I hope you join me and the Vagabonds in the next installment, Birth of The Red Star Confederation, as the Vagabonds face their next great challenge, both from beyond our own galaxies, and within. Thank you! -Nick Simon.