"You ever keep up with your old buddies?"
435 took a sip of her brew. "What?"
The old sea dog took a seat next to her. "Like, keep track of them."
"Not really. Probably should?"
"Yeah, you probably should. Sometimes, they'll just disappear, and you'll never know. Or know why."
"First-hand experience?"
The man took a sip of his own. "Yep. Had a couple of dogs I used to sail with. Best of friends we were."
"What happened?"
"I got my own boat. Brice got his own. Lost track of Gnat. Winds carried us in different directions, I guess." Glazed eyes watched the horizon. "I'd drop by sometimes, but I could never catch them. The winds always carried them just out of my sails."
"You ever find out what happened?"
"Brice got his boat commandeered, so, you know what that means. Religious cultists do be like that sometimes. And Gant, well, just never found him again. Hope he is doing well."
435 shifted in her seat. "Were you close to them?"
"For a time." Another sip. "Closer to them than to some of my other mates."
"And how are they doing?"
"I know one is doing fine down south." He glanced over to her. "Personal favor, you know?"
"I know. I get it. Just cause I work for them, don't mean I got to be a perfect rule abider either."
"Right." A long sigh. "The last one found work. Think he's near the capital now."
"Really? What's his number? Maybe I met him along the way."
"Never found out his number. Just knew he joined the corps to get away from his family." The man snickered. "Good timing as well. Barely avoided the destruction of the bunker he was from."
A sly grin betrayed her intentions. "And how did you avoid all the cluster?"
"I was out at sea, minding my business. Dingy too small to commandeer, too far out to make it worth their time. Passing like ships in the night."
"But literally."
"Sometimes." Grunted the man. "Other times it was like noon."
"And they didn't shoot at you?"
"I made sure it looked like an abandoned boat when they passed by."
"And they never came aboard?"
"Too many snobby Lieutenants trying to look good. Didn't waste any time and shot warning shots at those who tried." The man snickered. "And shot those who actually jumped."
"Different times."
"Different times."
