Evening came. Coo and Umbra got up. The others were talking. Telling stories in the half-light of the sunset that streamed in through the large windows.

"So..?" Bissu asked when she saw Coo.

"So what?"

"What does "Puyo" mean?" Cole inquired, getting annoyed.

"Oh... right..." He scratched his head, "Fenris wasn't very helpful, but I think that this Puyo means "Intercept" or "Seek and destroy". I can't figure it out."

"My dad's a linguist." Hal commented, "And I learned something from him."

"Then please, share it with us, Hal." Umbra said patronisingly. When everyone glared at him, he added: "Sorry, I got up on the wrong side of bed this evening,"

Hal continued, "So, I've been mulling it over, and I figure that he wants us to go to Katina and find something. And, yes, it does also mean both of the things that Coo mentioned."

"How'd you figure that?"

"The emphasis was on the first syllable. There are several other one-word languages I know of, so..."

Everyone looked puzzled.

"Okay, the Boss knows that someone will go to Katina and try and find something. If we get there first, we can intercept them, and then "Seek and destroy" the object in question,"

"It's the coldest night of the year. If we go out now, we'll be waiting for a miracle to survive."

"Right, Umbra. And we need preparation. As he is now, Hal doesn't stand a chance. He needs training."

"The longer we put this off," Bissu started, "The less we're going to get paid."

"Is that all you ever think about?" Cole shot at her.

She grinned "Not quite all."

Coo yawned, "Well, I don't know much about training, but I'm sure that Hal isn't qualified to use anything more powerful than a light blaster, right?"

"Um.. well, uh... No, but-"

"So what's he going to use?"

"Look, Coo, since when has qualification stopped us?"

"SHUT UP!" Hal snapped. "I don't care what you say, I have seen every sort of weapon in existence, and I know how to use them all. Heck, I even MADE some of them. If you're trying to tell me that I can't set my hands on anything like a DC-M17 or a.. a... magmaul then, tell me all you want, 'cos I won't listen."

There was a long, shameful silence in the room. Cole started to laugh. "See? That's what I like about you, kid."

"So... Is everyone okay with a magmaul?" Umbra grinned.

"Bissu, I need you to go down to the armoury and get Hal a weapon. Something heavy, but light. If you know what I mean."

Bissu just shook her head and stared blankly at Cole. "I'm not sure I do."

"Just... a weapon," Then he turned to Coo. "Coo, Hal needs hand-to-hand training. You're in charge of that. Umbra, you're our stealth...guy. Hal needs to be able to sneak... Sneakily..."

"What about you?"

Cole raised an eyebrow. "Tactics."

"What do breath mints have to do with this?"

He sighed "No, moron. Not "Tic-tacs", tactics!"

"Oh... Right..."