Savage can't be upgraded. Much sadness.

On the plus side, I finally got the middle-schooler angry bear who roars 'cyka blyat.' Much happiness.


It was commonly accepted by some of the residents of Rhodes Island that Closure was a suspicious individual.

It wasn't the fact she was a Sarkaz. It wasn't the fact that her traits were all too similar to the traits of the infamous Blood Drinkers, otherwise known as vampires. It wasn't even due to the fact she always somehow managed to replenish her store's stock, no matter how far Rhodes Island was from any habitable civilization, WITHOUT the use of Rhodes' drone system.

No, Closure was suspicious for the sheer reason she had never, not even once, charged any of the Doctor's purchases with Lungmen's monetary currency.

For those who didn't know or were curious about how to obtain the same privileges as the Doctor, they would always ask Amiya or Dr. Kal'tsit for any details, with not much success. For those members of Rhodes Island who were brave enough to ask Closure herself, they would be left in a daze and offer Jessica pitiful looks.

"Do you have the goods?" Doctor whispered, both hands folded over each other.

"Yes I do," Closure narrowed her eyes, the vampiric Sarkaz's expression dead serious. Any sign of her usual casual attitude was quashed under a stone-cold demeanor. She tapped the countertop patiently, responding with, "But, do you have the necessary funds to pay for them? You know I don't sell things for free."

Doctor whipped out his credit card, one hidden eye practically gleaming with unholy intensity at Closure's instant grin. He matched his eye level to that of Rhodes Island's resident shopkeep, one hand gesturing for Closure to seal her part of the deal.

"Now. As promised?"

Closure wordlessly reached underneath the countertop, pulling out a featureless white box, to which the Doctor gasped in a mixture of delight and terror.

It was an innocuous little thing, seemingly harmless to the outside viewer. The way Closure handled the package, however, made it feel like an illicit drug deal was taking place at this very moment.

...knowing the Doctor, it very well could have been cocaine.

"This is my rarest stock," Closure said ominously, red eyes practically gleaming in the dim lighting of the store. "While many have fought tooth and nail for the possession of the limited copies of this particular object, I saved this particular one for you specifically. It's even rarer than the most Prime pieces of Originium, even more considering the fact you made it a specific order."

Doctor gulped, his fingers gripping on the card with a little more force than necessary. At that, Closure chuckled eerily, fangs easily visible from the toothy grin she was giving to the Doctor.

"How...much...do I have to pay?"

There was a momentary mock expression of thought from the vampire-girl before she responded.

"300 credit–"

The card was flung at Closure's face, with Doctor raising his fist in victory.

"–sold," Closure's muffled voice lamely finished. "It was a pleasure doing business with you. Please come again."


Doctor's Notes: I have successfully acquired the necessary items for my next experiment! The trap has been laid and the bait has been set. The answer that had eluded me for so long is about to be revealed in this climactic finish–!

Amiya: Doctor, while I do appreciate your little gift, I am not quite sure what I am supposed to do with it. Please don't get me wrong, I do love the brown coat you've given me! But, while carrots are nice, now and then, I'm afraid I cannot finish all of these by myself. I've asked Miss Savage if she wanted to share, but she suddenly ran off to the armory with a scary look in her eyes.

Might you know why she was so upset? The last thing I heard from her was something about donkeys...