“So are we taking the train?” Doug asked.

“No!” Lulu said quite emphatically. “Because it’s not a train. It’s a flying segmented transport.”

Bryce rolled his eyes. “Whatever. They call it a train.”

“I don’t care what they call it!” Lulu shouted. “It’s either a train or it isn’t. It doesn’t follow a track — it flies — ergo it is not a train.”

“It follows a virtual track set in its programming,” Bryce countered, “which is about the same thing.”

“That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard! You’re now dumber than Doug for saying that! You can buy us tickets, but don’t you dare tell them you’re buying the tickets for their train because they don’t have one!”

Doug walked over to Charlene. “So are we taking the train?”

Charlene kept scanning the people around them in what Doug thought was the train station. “Colette’s people are going to be looking for us here. I think its best we find another means of transport even if it’s slower.”

Doug and his friends wasted no time in preparing to flee now that they had some money. They first stopped at a thrift shop to get some new, more inconspicuous clothing (Lulu’s outfit could hardly be described as “cute” and barely emphasized her chest at all — though she still kept her face paint). Since Doug was already pretty non-descript in his t-shirt and jeans, he got a brown fedora and some sunglasses to hide his identity. He was also going to get a duster, but decided it was too hot out for that. Doug did get a duffle bag to conceal his sword in.

Charlene continued to appear quite concerned as she looked around the train station. “We have some powerful enemies this time, Doug; we have to take this seriously. It’s only luck some of us haven’t been killed by now, but luck isn’t going to hold up against this big a threat.”

“I don’t know; we always seem to do alright in the end.” Doug smiled. “Maybe it’s like there is someone watching out for us.”

“You’re an idiot.” Charlene walked over to Bryce and Lulu. “This is a bad idea. We shouldn’t take the train.”

“It’s not a train!” Lulu shouted. “It’s a–”

Charlene smacked Lulu in her raccoon face and looked to Bryce. “My plan worked with Colette, so why don’t you follow my lead again in getting out of here?”

“First of all, it wasn’t your plan,” Bryce said. “It was our plan. Also, that involved standing and fighting — which is your expertise — while this involves fleeing — which is more my expertise. They’re not going to attack us in broad daylight on a public transport. I kept the sum low enough that Colette can’t justify some huge pursuit of us; she’ll probably mainly keep quiet about it to avoid the humiliation. This is the quickest way to get to the Viathian border.” Taroth and Viath were practically allies and the border was supposed to be easy to cross. According to Bryce, Dammon’s people had had some trouble in Viath’s land, making it harder for them to operate there and a safe place for Hellbender.

Charlene sighed. “Fine. But all of you keep alert.”

“Can I have a gun?” Doug asked.

“I’ll give you one of mine, but not while we’re in a public area.” Charlene looked around some more. “There’s a man in a suit who seems to be looking our way.”

Bryce watched the crowds. “Who?”

“Are you talking about the one waving at us and walking our way?” Lulu asked.

They all tensed as a very important looking man came towards them. “Are you Hellbender?”

“Who is asking?” Lulu responded.

“We’re Hellbender,” Bryce said. He then shook the man’s hand. “You’re Robert Darius, aren’t you?”

“Yes, but I’m trying to keep a low profile.”

Charlene had not calmed down any. “How did you find us?”

“Let’s discuss this out of the public’s view,” Darius said. “I know about your trouble with one of Dammon’s people, and am quite impressed by your handling of it. I can assure your safety for now, though. I know a nice restaurant near here; I’ll treat you to lunch and we can discuss a business proposal.”

“Sounds good,” Bryce said, though he was the only one who seemed certain of that.

Darius led them out of the train station and down the street, but Charlene lagged a bit behind and whispered to the others. “There is something very weird about this.”

“For one thing, it’s a bit too early for lunch,” Lulu added.

“So who is this guy?” Doug asked.

“A very important person in Asmod’s government,” Bryce said. “He’s a Hollow one and a good path to the lucrative government contracts we should be pursuing.”

“And do you think he knows who we are since were until recently Asmod’s citizens?” Charlene whispered.

Bryce scoffed. “He’s way too important to know about the slave labor.”

Doug looked to Darius who was walking a couple yards ahead of him. “Being one of the Hallowed, do you think he has like super hearing and can hear what we’re saying now?”

Bryce looked startled by the suggestions, and all of them now quietly followed Darius until they reached the restaurant that looked fancier than any place Doug had eaten before. “One of your associates is meeting us here,” Darius said as they walked inside.

“Any friend of ours is a friend of ours,” Lulu said, looking as confused as the rest.

Darius led them to a table. Seated there was Lara who smiled as they approached. “Hey, buddies.”

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