A dark shadow fell across Marla.
"That's odd... I didn't think you could get rain clouds in here." Said Marla looking up.
Her gaze locked with that of a very irate FOmarl. Decked out in purple and white, hands on her hips and looking down her nose at the RAmarl, mainly because her very tall hat threatened to fall off at any moment.
"Where is he?" Said the FOmarl in a very snotty tone.
"Uh... There?" Said Marla uncertainly as she pointed at Bernie.
"Not him. Zonky!"
"Oh! That guy. I'm sure he's running around Pioneer Two somewhere looking for clues for me."
"And exactly what time in the morning did you recruit him for such a time wasting exercise?"
"I don't really remember... Probably around oh-twenty."
"You mean my Zonky has been running around the city late at night, alone and defenceless?"
"YOUR Zonky? You're awfully concerned about the little freak all of a sudden Sollah." Said Marla with an evil grin.
Sollah's cheeks reddened when she realised her slip, but her face turned stern again and she poked Marla in the chest with the tip of her Cane of Lotocium.
"REGARDLESS of HOW I address him, YOU should be out looking for him."
Marla stood, removed one of her Varistas from its holster and poked Sollah's chest back.
"Them's fighting words, missy."
"Ladies! Ladies!" Said Bernie inserting himself in-between the warring females. "As much as I would like to see you poke each... Other..." He Cleared his throat. "I mean, I think it would be best if we looked for this Zonky fellow. He hasn't checked in yet has he?"
"No and I did tell him to meet me at the lab. I guess with all the excitement I'd just forgotten about him." Said Marla re-holstering her gun.
After much grumbling from Bernie, he settled the bill and they set off for Doctor Montague's lab for the third time today. They had barely gotten ten steps down the street when Marla was almost knocked over by a FOnewearl dressed in black and blue running the other way.
"Sorry!" The FOnewearl shouted out as she continued running. Marla could have sworn that the eye on the FOrce's hat winked at her as she looked back.
"I must be going cra-" She was interrupted as a group of four soldiers barged past in pursuit.
"Damnit! I don't get any respect anymore!" Marla fumed.
She drew out a Varista and pulled the trigger. The soldier closest tumbled to the ground, waves of orange electricity crawling over him.
"Ah! Much better!" Said Marla, her mood lightening immediately. "I should do that more often."
-----
Torrik looked at the clock on her wrist communicator. She had been running for nearly four hundred Beats now, she liked to stay in shape but this was starting to border on the ridiculous. On the other hand, if they wanted the Crystal this badly then it was obviously more valuable.
"If they are still chasing me in another four hundred Beats then I'll stop and try and bargain with them." She thought to herself.
It was unfortunate that she was not paying attention for the second time today as she collided with yet another person. This time she bounced off the person and landed flat on her back.
"I really need to get an eye put on the back of my hat too." She mused out aloud.
"Are you alright? I hope you didn't hurt yourself against my muscles..." Apologised the HUmar as he extended a hand to pull her back up.
Torrik glanced over her shoulder at the soldiers coming down the street and the HUmar noticed the motion.
"Trouble eh? Don't worry, Solstis will protect you."
"Oh thank the Light. I've been chased all morning and only that Toldos guy would help me before..."
"Toldos? Toldos? TOLDOS?!" Shouted Solstis becoming enraged.
The HUmar grabbed Torrik by the front of her dress and hoisted her up until her nose was millimetres away from his.
"Why are you telling me these lies? Toldos is dead, you hear me? DEAD!"
With that Solstis dropped Torrik and ran off sobbing loudly, straight into the oncoming group of soldiers. Like a man-shaped bowling ball getting intimate with three human bowling pins, they were all sent flying. As Solstis sat up he noticed that one of his Pallashes had somehow been knocked out of his Photon Storage Unit and had landed on the floor, shattering into several pieces. He stood up and loomed menacingly over the dazed soldiers.
"Oh, you're going to pay for that..." He said rolling up his sleeves.
-----
"Finally! I thought we'd never reach the place." Said Sollah as she climbed off Bernie's back, Bernie in turn collapsing to the ground exhausted.
"That's a very strange habit you know. To insist that someone carries you." Remarked Marla.
"Well, a lady should never have to walk anywhere, much less run." Replied Sollah.
"Piggy-back rides huh. I'll need to give it a try some day... Bernie, you alright?"
His loud gasping for air told her that he would be fine in a couple of Beats.
"Right, spread out, comb the area."
"What?" Said Sollah taken back. "You don't expect me to help you do you?"
"So why the heck did you demand to come along?"
"Yeah..." Said a weak voice from the floor.
"Well, I wanted to make sure that you actually found him."
Marla rolled her eyes.
"Fine I'LL look for him, you just stand there and pretend to be important."
It did not take Marla that long to find the errant Zonky. The black suited FOnewm was curled up asleep under a tree, his red and purple cloak wrapped around him like a blanket. Marla managed to give him a few 'wake-up kicks' before Sollah could stop her. He stirred from his slumber.
"Sollah rescue numbskull from Mean Lady?"
"Yes Zonky. I'm going to take you home now." She replied.
"Whoa whoa whoa!. Not so fast. He's on duty now, I own his ass... In fact... By the powers vested in me by Hunters Guild... I now pronounce you... My Deputy! Now you and your... 'Partner' get going to the main plaza and report to BOC for security detail."
Marla grinned smugly as she watched the hapless Zonky carrying Sollah back towards the city. Once out of sight, she gave Bernie a few playful 'motivation kicks'.
"Come on. We've got a talk to a few robots..."
-----
Solstis folded his arms and looked at the soldiers unimpressed.
"It's that all you've got?"
"It's all we could manage, we don't carry more that ten Meseta in change on us. You know, on account of criminals and all." Said the Captain apologetically.
Solstis accepted the thirty-seven Meseta grudgingly.
"Just don't let it happen again and next time, look where you're going."