Gannon came down the stairs from his lab wearily attempting to ignore everything going on in the compound below. It had been a long day of accomplishing nothing. The work he was doing, or attempting to do, seemed particularly pointless. The early evening breeze stirred his long white lab coat and ruffled his light brown, unruly hair. He only wanted to get some dinner and retire with a good book. He certainly didn't want to know what the crap was going on down there but couldn't keep from looking over at where the altercation had broken out.

Two of the compounds male patients seemed to have tried to get to know a young woman. She obviously hadn't wanted to get to know them as they were now laid out on the ground, while the woman was standing, hands in the air, a guard's pistol aimed at the skin tight armor almost covering her ample chest. Stupid drugged out idiots, he thought. Only a fool would accost that piece of work, she sure looked like she'd been around the block more than a few times. He turned away, shoving the incident out of his mind as he considered the impasse his research had reached.

"Hey, Doc." He looked up from where he had been desultorily pushing his food around on his plate.

"You planning on eating that or what? Sure looks like your skinny ass could use it."

He turned to stare at the woman who had slid onto the bench beside him. He took in the oval face framed in long, raven black hair, the dark eyes glittering like onyx in the dwindling light. The slight upward tilt hinted at some oriental in her heritage somewhere, as well as the smooth golden tint to her skin.

"Excuse me.", he said. "Are you always so rude?"

She laughed, a surprisingly pleasant sound. "No. Just trying to get a rile out of you. You seemed so glum."

"I'm thinking.", he grumped. She quirked a look at him that told him what she thought of that.

"Don't you have anything better to do?" he asked.

"Not really.", she replied. "I seem to be between jobs. Know of anyone who could use a good mercenary?"

"I am not aware of anyone who could even use a bad one.", he growled. She laughed merrily.

"Wait. Hold on. Who's that?", she asked with a sudden quickening of interest, staring toward the open gate. The man who had entered was used to being stared at. He was tall with wide shoulders , narrow hips, and, she noticed, large strong hands. His honey blonde hair lightly swung about the strong jaw. His sharp masculine features were made more rugged looking by the slight, rough beard and mustache. His steel blue eyes swept the enclosure as though assessing and categorizing every element, every person. He appeared to be young but there was nothing immature about the strong stance and ready smile. An eye bot hovered over his shoulder following his every move. That was unusual enough in itself.

"That.", Gannon said sourly. "Is the Courier."

"You know him?", the woman asked, watching the man making his way through the compound toward them.

"I've met him.", he said shortly.

"Great. Maybe you can introduce us.", she cooed. Gannon snorted, disgruntled at her obvious admiration for the Courier. He should be used to that by now, and after all he didn't even know this woman.

"Now how do expect me to accomplish that? I have never made your acquaintance." , he grumped.

"Oh, yeah. Hi, I'm Matilda.", she turned and smiled at him, her onyx black eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Matilda? You don't look like a Matilda." She laughed at that, tossing back her silky hair.

"What do I look like?", she asked.

"Interesting conversation I seem to be interrupting. " The deep voice said right next to her. "What does she look like, Gannon?" Matilda glanced up at the Courier, flashing him a quick smile.

"She looks like trouble to me, Jay.", Gannon said, boldly looking the woman over.

This time Matilda's smile wasn't merry as she turned to the Courier. "I am trouble", she said. "What do you say, Courier? Could you use a spot of trouble?" He assessed her barely covering, all black leather armor, heavy pack lying beside her, and the weaponry adorning her. A side holster held a .45, a deadly looking combat knife nestled in a scabbard on her right calf, a solid, closed heavy leather pouch hugging the left. An old but obviously well maintained cowboy repeater leaned against her pack. What interested him most was the bow slung over her shoulder. It wasn't large but it had enough pulleys and strings to make a confusing looking weapon. He had never seen one like it before.

"Are you any good or is all of that just decoration?", he asked.

"Pick a target.", she said smoothly.

"About 20 feet behind you on the pole is a poster. Can you hit the eye?"

Hardly had he finished speaking when she seemed to drop and spin. A knife quivered in the eye on the poster, glinting silver in the failing light. She sauntered over to the pole. The Courier watched her, his arms folded, admiring the sway of her hips and tightness of her form. She reached up and pulled the knife free, bending to replace the knife in the holster on her calf, allowing the men an excellent view of her excellent backside. She slowly straightened as she turned and walked toward them with the lithe sensuous grace of a cat.

"Hmmmm.", he said. "Maybe I could use some trouble this trip. Are you staying in the compound tonight?"

"I was planning on it.", she replied, casting a glance at Gannon.

"I have something I wanted to discuss with you, Arcade.", the Courier said pointedly.

"If it's going to take awhile why don't you stay with me tonight?", Gannon asked, ignoring the look the woman was giving them.

"Sure. I'll see you in the morning , Trouble.", the Courier said.

The men walked off while Matilda watched them, fuming. Men! Now where was she going to sleep tonight? She didn't have any money for a bed. She would be asked to leave soon before the gates were closed for the night. Not only would she have to sleep somewhere she was still hungry. She wolfed down the rest of the doctor's meal while she watched them stop to talk to the administrator before heading for the stairs to the doctor's lab and private quarters.

The administrator came over to her. "Come on.", she said. "Jay's got you a mat for the night. You can stay in this tent here."

"He rented me a bed?", she asked, surprised. Julia shook her head.

"Just a mat to sleep on, it's all we've got . We owe him a lot so if he wants you here tonight then you can stay. Do you want it or not?", she asked irritably. Matilda nodded.

"I never pass up a free bed.", she grinned.

Julia led her to a tent already occupied with three other women. They looked up at the new person but didn't invite her to join them as they went back to their conversation. Matilda went over to the empty mat and began to divest herself of her weaponry. No one would bother her here in the Follower's compound but she carefully placed the loaded .45 under her pillow anyway. She was actually glad she would be sleeping alone tonight. She was bone weary and needed a good rest. Maybe tonight she wouldn't dream. She listened to the girl's gossip with interest until she fell asleep. They obviously had no idea her hearing was so acute, she thought with amusement.

"Hey, Trouble. You better get your butt out here if you want breakfast before we leave."

Matilda peeked open one eye and glared at the Courier. Was it morning already? It sure looked like morning. Sunlight streamed in the open tent flap, dust motes dancing merrily in the air. Yeah, great, it was going to be another hot day.

"You buying?", she grumped. The Courier was entirely too cheerful so early in the morning.

"Yes. Now come on, get moving. We'll discuss arrangements over breakfast." , he said.

"So, what are we doing now?", Trouble asked as she finished off her breakfast and eyed the remains of Gannon's meal. He rolled his eyes and shoved it over to her. With a quick flash of white teeth she snagged it and dug into it. Jay ignored the byplay.

"We're going over to see the King. I have some news that will interest him.", he said.

Matilda snorted. "The King?", she queried. "Freeside has a king?" She appeared skeptical. Jay laughed.

"You haven't been in Freeside long, have you? The Kings are a gang with headquarters at the School of Impersonation. I guess you could say I'm going to see the King of the Kings.", he said, grinning at her. Matilda frowned at him suspiciously. Was he making fun of her? She swallowed the last bite on the plate and stood up.

"A King, eh? Can't wait to meet his royal highness.", she snipped.

Gannon had exchanged his white coat for an old but well maintained suit of leather armor. Matilda found her eyes wandering to him as they walked to the King's headquarters. She liked the way he walked so alert and easy. He didn't have the cocky confidence of the Courier but a calm assurance about him that she found comforting somehow. She mentally shook herself. It didn't pay to let her attention wander as even here there was danger around every corner. Besides she needed to be mapping out the territory in her mind.

The man caught her attention even before he jerked out the pistol and aimed it in their direction. She didn't have a chance to unsling her bow. Before he could get off a shot the ring of the Courier's shotgun brought an end to his murderous intentions. His friend with the knife joined him quickly at the business end of Gannon's rifle. As she passed the bodies she stopped to make a quick examination. What a waste, she thought, watching the blood seep from their wounds. She looked up to find Jay watching her. Casually rising she walked on after the men.

Matilda let her gaze wander boldly over the King. There was something about this man that interested her. Maybe it was the dark, slicked back hair she wanted to run her fingers through, or the hooded, dark eyes that stared right through you, or the sensuous mouth begging to be kissed….She felt her loins stir with the beginnings of attraction. This wasn't good. She couldn't let it get out of hand. This man was important and he was doing good work. His gaze swept toward her and held her. It would take just a spark to light a fire in her pit. He winked at her and turned his attention back to the Courier. Uh,Oh. That wink had said 'Later, girl'. Well, that wasn't going to happen. Couldn't happen. Not that she would have minded having a one night stand with him, it was what might come later that was unacceptable. If only she wasn't so hungry.

She turned and strode from the building. Leaning up against the wall she took deep breaths and calmed herself. She smiled at one of the guards she caught watching her appreciatively.

"Nice day.", she said inanely.

"Sure is.", he agreed. "You doing anything later?"

Gannon came out of the door and over to where she was flirting lightly with one of the guards.

"Jay sent me to ascertain that you were not becoming ill. The King wondered why you departed in such a hurry. Jay told him he thought you looked a little unwell. " , he grumped, frowning at the guard.

"Yeah, I was a little sick to my stomach. I needed some fresh air.", she said smoothly.

"Well, that isn't easily obtained here.", he observed looking around at the hazy atmosphere of the old town. Too many fires polluted the atmosphere to keep the people fed and warm. "We'll be leaving soon anyway. I think Jay's got us a job."

Just then Jay came out to join them with the big cyber dog trotting at his side. It cast continuous growls at the flying robot, occasionally lunging at it. Ed-E beeped annoyingly and easily flitted out of range, only to come back and buzz around the dog teasingly. Jay sighed.

"Look, you two go on back to the Follower's compound and get ready to leave. We're heading out this afternoon. And take Rex with you, would you? He doesn't seem to be getting along with Ed-E. I'm going back to the 38 and get my pack. I'll leave Ed-E there. I don't want to put up with this crap.", he said grumpily.

Damn. They were leaving that afternoon. She wasn't going to have a chance to prowl the midnight streets of the forlorn, broken old town with its forlorn broken people. There wasn't much progress here, just damaged buildings not being repaired and a damaged people barely eeking out life among the ruins. It would have been the perfect place to hunt. That's why she had come here. What she couldn't understand about herself was why she was leaving. Why had she agreed to accompany these men anyway? Oh yeah, right, she needed the caps. The problem was she was hungry and if that wasn't taken care of soon, well, it might not be good for her companions despite her resolves.