"You're a dog catcher now?" Midge demanded. "Huh? You go round catching E's like they're mongrel imps? Are you proud of that?"

Queen waved him off as he gathered up the diskettes. "I came here to enforce a judicial order, issued because of a nobleman from the Bauch section. I didn't gaw-ro know the house used a Cleaner, all right? What the hell were you doing opening a house to your kind of power anyhow? You're lucky it didn't react to you sooner." He paused and turned to his twin, finally. "And what are you doing here? I issued that eviction notice directly."

"Eviction notice?" Midge calmed, though his body still buzzed with rage. Their eyes met and he looked to Queen for honesty. "Queenie, tell me you're not honoring that judicial order."

"Of course, I'm honoring the gaw-ro judicial order. I can't pick and choose what I enforce. I'm trying to challenge it but that'll be hard without some solid proof. So yes, I requested to come in person and I took it to the highest power I could find."

Queen wore a scowl, one that Midge was well aware he probably mirrored. "Dad."

"Dad." Queen echoed, giving him a plastic smile.

"Dream on. He won't fight that order."

"Mr. Osbourne." Lydia called from the hallway. In her hands, she carried a metal box but the expression on her face held horror. "They, they're trying to get into Dizzy's room. Could—I know I don't have a right to ask but—could you just ask them to be careful with her? Please."

"Dizzy?" Queen turned to him. "Oh yeah, the nut-job I'm sensing—"

Nose to nose with him in record time, Midge gritted his teeth, speaking German, "If anyone ever called our mother a nut job, you'd be the first in line to wield the gaw-ro ax. So don't you ever disrespect a woman's family in her own gaw-ro home, you frigid, overachieving prick."

Queen let out a slow breath. His scowl was still in place when he turned to Lydia again and said in the Common language, "I'll see to it that she's treated well. This house will continue to stand, meaning that no one will know it's in litigation. All messages in and out will be forwarded to whatever location you want, but this house is now officially off the Colony's grid lines. Do you understand?"

Face pale, Lydia looked between them then settled on Midge, finally. She didn't understand and Midge hated the fact that he'd have to be the one to explain it.

"Mr. Queen's challenging the judicial order. Someone of standing's accusing a nobleman, the guards will investigate it. In the meantime it'll put this place in a total blackout, no power whatsoever, other than minimal oxygen. If you don't have any generators or an E, you'll be in darkness, and cold."

Lydia took her time in answering. "But I can stay?"

Queen snorted out a laugh, to which Midge explained, "It's...it's not a good idea. In theory, you could, but...it's really not a good idea. Nothing will function once the guards leave."

Lydia didn't seem shocked, so Midge was sure she'd known the answer was coming. Queen was quiet at least, which was a good thing.

"Do—do you have somewhere to go?" Midge asked.

The shaky smile took some time to form, and Lydia almost pulled it off. "Sure. I've got tons of friends to bunk with. I...I'll be fine. Um, I just need to get some clothes, but I'm more worried about, about my mom. They say she's locked the door again. Could...."

Midge didn't want to force Lydia to beg, so he nodded and stepped past her into the hall. He called to two of the more pleasant looking guards who sat chatting against the wall. Their Lower-Level accents were a comfort.

"You two. There's a noblewoman behind that door. She's only in her nightgown, so I want the Cleaner turned off. I'll go in and get her and dress her. You two make sure she can walk out of here with her head held high. Do you understand?"

"The Cleaner stays on," Queen called from the kitchen doorway, a diskette in his hand. He had the grace to frown at least. "Met's orders."

"Met's orders," Midge repeated, his mouth dry and bitter. "I bet it gaw-ro is."

"Sir," The darker skinned guard stepped forward. Out of everyone here, he seemed almost giddy with excitement. "It's probably poor form, sir, but do you think I could ask her for an autograph?"

Midge was stunned. When he glanced to Lydia and saw the noblewoman's actual appreciation, he told the guard, "Don't get blinded by the lights. We're about to forcibly remove someone from their home. This is not the time or place."

"Oh. Yes, sir," the guard said, backing down.

"All right." Midge looked back to Queen who shook his head miserably, then to Lydia who seemed ready to cry, and sighed. "I'll be right back."

"Midge," Queen called out, his tone doleful yet smug. "You're an E, going to attack someone in a house which will fry you if you release your power, and best yet, you're armed with a shirt for a kilt and good intentions. Think about that for a minute."

Queen was calling him stupid, again. It was rare he would come out and say it in front of others, but nothing'd ever changed. His twin loved to remind him who the brains of their operation was. And worst yet, he was right. The chances of that mad woman going along calmly was slim, but there had to be a solution.

When his gaze settled on Lydia and the threat of tears in her anguished brown eyes, it was over. Lydia sucked in a deep breath and found her composure, as if to say I'm counting on you, Mr. Osbourne, and Midge felt crippled by the pressure. There had to be a solution, and he found it.

"If this house has a Cleaner, me opening it should have had lasers blasting the hell outta me from here to next year."

Queen didn't look convinced. "So that means—"

"The cleaner doesn't respond in her bedroom."

He said it matter-of-factually, as if he really believed it, but Queen worried for him because he stepped into the hall.

"Midge...let's think this through."

Even Lydia stepped forward. "Mr. Osbourne. My bedroom has that same laser."

Midge's stomach dropped, thanks for shooting me in the foot, you traitor. But he could see it, Lydia worried, too. That was unexpected. It hadn't been his imagination, though. When he'd cleaned the room earlier, he'd stripped the walls, literally, of a layer of matter. No. For whatever reason, that Cleaner didn't touch the room. If the woman did abuse Mystic, he could only assume she'd taken advantage of that E in her bedroom.

"It doesn't respond in the bedroom," Midge repeated. Queen did have a point about how he was dressed. The woman, Dizzy, was unstable and touching the bare skin of someone like her by mistake could drag him into a state of madness as well. So why hadn't Queenie come prepared? You're always prepared.... Midge's eyes scanned the man. The boots belonged to Queen, but not the rest. Instead of the typical E uniform, Queen wore something that looked like black artificial leather. It covered him entirely, right up until his throat. "Give me your armor," Midge demanded.

As reluctant as he knew his brother was, he did see the slight smirk of satisfaction. "This is pretty expensive, and you're not known for bringing anything back intact," Queen chided.

Midge didn't respond because he refused to make light of the situation. He was grateful when his twin held the armor at the chest and muttered the release command. It segmented and Queen pulled it away, revealing his usual E-clothes below.

"It won't work though," Queen warned. "For once, stop fighting a battle that's beyond you."

"What's the alternative?" Midge asked. "Let you go in there and kick the poor woman to the ground and cuff her? She's five-foot-ten, and one hundred pounds if she's lucky. Not on your life."

He tried to reach for the armor, but Queen pulled it away, right eyebrow raised. "It won't work," he repeated and Midge understood.

"Armor, prepare yourself for a new host." Midge wasn't sure that would work, but it was worth a try.

The System's voice sounded from above. "Warning: this device is the property of the Colony. It is suited for one wielder. Please call for the proper authorities. Do not touch."

One look at Queen's smug expression, and Midge felt cold.

"Fine," he said, grabbing the armor despite the warning. "Let's see just how much DNA we gaw-ro share."

"Midge..." Queen cautioned but Midge wasn't listening.

Instead, he held the armor out.

Queen caught his arm before he could make an attempt at wearing the suit. His blue eyes shimmered as he said, "Mikael...don't."

Hearing his given name, Midge paused in his task. Queen was serious about his worry and as much as Midge knew he should take the advice, he glanced at Lydia to see tears on her cheeks.

With a sigh, Midge yanked off the shirt and tossed it to the floor. He held out the partially segmented suit and said, "Engage." Nothing happened. He tried again, "Suit start." That attempt garnered a sob from Lydia. Midge's eyes were pleading when he focused on Queen. His brother looked sympathetic at least and Midge nodded as he'd figured out the puzzle. He said finally, "Arise."

The texture of the fabric liquefied and Midge watched it melt down and stretch along his left arm. Within seconds he was covered in the liquid, and when it solidified, he flexed his body.

"Right then...."

"Midge," Queen said, stopping him. "We're not the same, you and I. Eventually that armor will realize it and it'll start releasing each and every weapon...inward."

Yanking his shoulder free, Midge backed away. "Contrary to popular belief, little brother, I am not in any way interested in being you." He turned and made his way to the door, praying that he was right about the cleaner. The armor might protect him, but not for long. And if he planned to dress the woman without touching her, he'd need to amp up. Fighting using his power wasn't as much of a chore as doing something as innocuous as this. Regardless of which, in the rest of the house, he'd have to physically hold her.

***

"He put me in trousers," Dizzy said, a tear running down her cheek. "Trousers."

An hour later, in the medical section, Midge was feeling awful about his 'rescue.' He hadn't thought it was possible to feel worse, but he had been wrong.

Lydia stood sniveling at his side. Before them, Dizzy sat in a white gown. She turned her back to them.

"Mama, I'm so sorry," Lydia managed through the tears. The woman didn't respond, and Lydia turned to Midge. "I need—can I, can I talk to her for a minute?"

Midge whispered, "I was just...I figured—"

"I know, Mr. O...." Lydia paused in saying the nickname and instead said, "I understand, but I have to talk to her. Could we have a minute?"

Feeling small, Midge marched from the room, angry with himself for being in this situation. He felt lighter once he'd exited.

Queen stood from his rested posture against the wall, his arms folded across his chest. As was his way, he laughed while rubbing it in. "It's funny, by trying to keep her decent by putting her in trousers, you actually ended up violating her culture. It's nearly poetic in the irony of it."

The words made Midge seethe, but he held his tongue. He began to pace, trying to think of whether he should say goodbye to Lydia before he left. He'd have to make his curfew, which meant he couldn't take Lydia to his home. Bringing Yules out of this realm was forbidden, but Lydia could at least use some of the one hundred and twenty-five years of credits to rent a place.

"Oh, and bring that armor in for delousing after you're through. I don't care how much gaw-ro DNA we share. I'm not putting that back on now that your naked giblets have touched it."

That was the final straw. To make jokes at a time like this was unforgivable.

"Don't you feel anything, Queenie? Anything for what she's going through?"

Queen rested against the wall by his right shoulder. "I think I feel a lot more than you." His eyes held hope. "Are you saying that you feel something? You're gonna need that passion after today."

The sound of metal instruments crashing to the floor had Midge hurrying to the doorway.

Behind him Queen called up an interface. "Get me some medics in here, and some restrains."

The slap Lydia took across her face was so hard that Midge swore he could feel the impact. When the woman spat on the young noblewoman, however, that action surely hurt the most.

Lydia remained rigid at least. She wasn't sniveling as before. She didn't even shed a tear. She barely flinched at the second slap, but by the third, Midge had to step in.

"Useless, useless child! You've buried us. You useless filth."

Midge grabbed hold of Lydia's arm before Dizzy could strike her again. He paused at his own action then calmed once he remembered the armor. If she struck him, there'd be no affect. When the medics rushed in and the woman wailed, he said nothing.

Lydia stepped closer, burying her face in the crook of Midge's arm. The way her wry body shivered broke Midge's heart all the more.

Midge led Lydia out, and it was the longest march of his life. He couldn't help Dizzy this time, he refused to. He judged from her scream that she was thrown on the bed, but he didn't want to see. She wasn't wearing trousers by now at least, but he thought of the saliva on Lydia's face, and concluded there wasn't much that was decent about her anyway.

Lumbering to the chairs on the wall outside, he flopped down, Lydia next to him.

Midge stared at the wall across from them. Lydia rested, her feet curled up on the chair, her head on Midge's shoulder.

"Today, before I called you," Lydia muttered. "I called my dad, but he didn't answer. He doesn't care."

Midge wasn't sure what he could say. He decided to lie. "I bet you he'll come find you."

Lydia snorted out a laugh.

Midge kissed her brow, whispering, "I'm sorry."

"No. I'm sorry." Lydia looked up at him. "You said you wanted to sleep and here you are with me."

Midge kissed her. He wasn't sure why he did it. His own actions startled him so much that he kept his lips against Lydia's waiting for a reaction. Distant thoughts of how Lydia had pulled away from him faded when the noblewoman parted her lips and returned the kiss.

It was the sweetest kiss. Not lustful, but tender and somber.

When it ended, Lydia pressed her face against Midge's neck, gasping. "Thank you."

Those weren't the words Midge expected to hear. "What?"

"I dunno. Just...thank you. Thank you for coming. Thanks for coming into my life. Thanks for not running away from me, too. Maybe that's why I can't let go. I've watched everybody else do it, and the way you feel when you're left behind...I just...I can't give that feeling to anyone with a clear conscience so I hang on. But thank you."

Without offering her an answer, Midge rubbed their noses together. Each small peck Lydia took after that put him at ease.

"When you kiss me like that, it almost makes me believe everything's gonna be okay," Midge admitted.

Lydia managed a weak smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "You have to go, don't you? You have to sleep?"

Maybe Lydia was hinting at wanting to come with him, but this wasn't the time to go into a lengthy explanation about it being forbidden. The thought of leaving Lydia's side left Midge feeling hollow, however.

"I'll hold you up and you can just...nap here a little bit?" Lydia suggested.

For how long? Midge shook his head. "I still have to look for my target. So let's see about getting you a home first, okay?"

When Lydia's grip tightened, Midge longed to have it last a lifetime.

Twenty minutes later, Lydia's diskettes retrieved, they stood before another interface, defeated and miserable.

When Lydia took the now blank seventy-five years of credits diskette from the interface only to find the negative balance notice unchanged, Midge said nothing.

Midge was reluctant to hand the remaining fifty over but did so. He held Lydia's shoulder before she could put it against the interface.

Run. Midge wanted to tell Lydia, Take that diskette and run. The average Lowlander spent under thirty years of credits in their lifetime, if they tried hard enough. Hell, in theory each year of credit should amount to a full year of active spending. Lydia could get by with that. It was madness to put it into a caustic estate. It was even more insane to let her.

Midge took his hand back, however, and Lydia put the diskette against the interface.

Once Lydia lowered the newly blank diskette, her breath hitched.

"It's still negative," she whispered.

Regret wouldn't be an adequate enough word. Over a hundred years of credits vanished, and for nothing. Midge only prayed Lydia wouldn't say something even more insane like beg to override her safeguard for that eight months of credits they'd won at Joshua's ill-fated party. For that, Midge would refuse.

There was one last sliver of hope and Midge didn't care how low it made him look.

"Here," Midge handed over the final one, "It's Joshua's dowry."

"Where'd...?"

Midge said, "I figured it was the least he could do for putting you through that. I haven't checked it, but I kept it just in case."

Lydia wouldn't look at him as she finally took the diskette. She scanned through the information and smiled.

Midge felt less sure, but smiled, too. Good ole Joshua, the bastard'd came through. Now Midge felt some guilt for hurting the guy. He wasn't all that bad.

"Three days' worth," Lydia said, meeting his gaze. "I guess he didn't think I was worth more than a red point."

They stared at one another for some time.

A commotion brewed further down the hall, but Queen was probably causing trouble. Midge didn't know what to say to Lydia. He himself didn't have even one credit to hand over. It wouldn't take long to make some more if he'd go and do a fight or a race, but in his condition, it was better not to.

"That's it then," Lydia said, letting out a deep breath. "That's it."

Midge took Joshua's diskette and put it against the interface. Joshua was a bastard, but he sincerely felt something for Lydia. This had to be a joke. Sure enough, it was only three days' worth.

A beep sounded and they let out a collective sigh.

"Balance even," Lydia whispered. "It's balanced."

Relief filled Midge's body. "It's balanced." And he'd punched the bastard.

"This month's stipend will come in and it can grow," Lydia said. She didn't sound all that thrilled.

Joshua.

So many things could have come to mind before today. Midge wasn't sure what to think. He hadn't regretted taking a swing at the bastard. Now, considering he'd been the factor to set this all in motion, Midge worried about his lack of emotion towards his former boss.

Lydia's thoughts were on the same wavelength. "I never hated him, not even once. Does that make any sense?" she looked up at Midge. "Even when he...tried to get back at me with what he said. I know it's because I hurt him."

"That doesn't excuse it," Midge muttered.

"I know. I just felt tired. Now? Now all I can remember is the buck-tooth boy who dragged me to the front of the line for every school function." Lydia chuckled. "And those big floppy ears I'd yank at every turn."

"Sounds dreamy," Midge mused.

"The best part was those weak little fists. He'd hit anyone fresh enough to call me an AeoD to my face." Letting out a sigh, Lydia shook her head. "I'm just mad about how it all turned out." She stared at the bare interface wall for some time. Finally, she said, "I want to accept him as my suitor." She hurried to add, "No. I won't sign a contract, but I did take his money."

"Three days' worth," Midge complained. "That's just fresh."

"Maybe." Lydia considered it. "Or maybe it's his way of showing off, showing that he'd calculated it down to the last credit. It's his bitchy style." She asked, "Am I a tease? I am, aren't I?"

Midge shook his head. "You just care too much. Joshua's a prick. That has nothing to do with you."

"I figured he'd file a complaint or raise a stink or something. He hasn't done anything. Maybe soon though."

"Maybe," Midge sighed. "I don't know what'll happen with Joshua. But whatever happens, it's on me. Not you."

Lydia digested the words. "All he wanted was to lie with me. I'll never understand why I couldn't bring myself to."

Midge didn't reply. Lydia didn't really seem to know what to say either.

She touched the wall, calling up the interface once more. "Can...can I write myself in as accepting his suit?" Lydia muttered. "I know it's too late, but I made a promise. I...I don't want to owe anyone anything. He gave me the amount I needed. I want to give him what he wants. Just put it in and then I'll write a formal refusal."

Maybe Lydia was justified in her way of thinking, but Midge couldn't do more than hover his hand over the interface. "Maybe you shouldn't do this when you're so emotional. A suit is nothing to mess with. He's got a reputation. You—"

"I'll put in a formal refusal and put an end to it finally," Lydia insisted. "I mean it out of respect."

"Lydia..." Midge said. It was the first time Midge could remember uttering Lydia's actual name. Lydia's widening eyes told him that surprise was shared. "He's already married. That's what I'm trying to tell you. You'd be taken on as a second spouse if you'd have married him. He...."

"Don't you dare say it," Lydia warned. Her body shook. "I've heard more than enough of that awful rumor."

Midge's tone was gentle as he shook his head. "It's no rumor. That's how they stay wealthy—they lower the diversity of their DNA. See for yourself."

But Lydia didn't move.

"It's about respect. No, Joshua was no catch. He wasn't always nice. But he did formally offer me a suit, however rancid and shitty it was along the way. I'll accept and refuse. It won't mean anything, but it will mean that I'm doing this properly."

Midge returned her gaze, willing himself not to plea.

"We made a fool of him in his own home and he got punched out. We owe him some respect," Lydia insisted.

That single word broke Midge's resolve. We. He typed on the interface for what seemed like ages before he finally stepped away.

"Before you do this, look at his spouse's name," Midge said.

Lydia didn't. Instead, she stepped forward and put her hand against the glass screen. A gentle beep sounded.

Taking a ragged breath, Lydia stepped back.

She spied Mrs. Laurence's picture beside Joshua's and she didn't seem capable of looking away. Deep down, Lydia must have known. It was so talked about that it wasn't really a rumor.

Lydia acted her status, however, and Midge felt nothing but pride as the last of the interface faded. He regretted not seeing Lydia's formal refusal. For a split second, he thought to double check to make sure Lydia had put it in properly but it was foolish to doubt her.

It was done. Maybe Joshua would raise some imp-shit complaint, but at least this bit was done with.

Something was working, finally.

Lydia turned to look back down the hall to her mother's room.

Midge tried to sound enthusiastic. "She's on the mend. Withdrawal is a hell of a thing to go through alone. She survived it. I'm sure she'll be all right, though she'll need some looking after. There's no cure for Mystic. She'll crave it till her dying day."

For a long while, Lydia didn't respond; she didn't move. She shook her head, finally.

"I've been looking after her since I could walk. I don't think I can do it anymore." She sighed. "I doubt she'd even care. Now that the balance is set, she can hire the servants back. I'll set up a few job requests."

A moment later, she lowered her hand from the interface which read, "Files locked: Head of the house." The words, "heir-in-wait" had a line through it.

Lydia's brown eyes settled on Midge as she gave a smile that failed to compliment her sorrowful expression. "She's changed the code—she's locked me out. I guess it's not up to me if I stay or go anymore." She held Midge's gaze as she said, "She called me filth."

Midge would take any blood sport, go up against an army, anything was better than witnessing Lydia's crushed expression. He felt as defeated as Lydia looked, yet he had nothing to say. Lydia wasn't disowned at least. If she talked to that woman, she might give her access. She'd no doubt get it once she accepted her title. Despite all that, Midge couldn't bring himself to give those words of comfort. He wasn't sure Lydia should seek out that title.

A quake rocked the room. The lights flickered on and off then steadied.

"Warning. E related incident. Contain at all costs. Level two evacuation notice of sections B through H in effect," the System said with a chime.

Lydia looked up. "It seems appropriate that the world's about to fall in. That's kinda how I feel right about now."

Midge touched the interface and scrolled through it. Once Ruckus's face came into view, he said, "What the fuck is your problem?"

"What?" Ruckus appeared to be in the middle of dressing. "Did you get called in, too? They're taking every gaw-ro War-gen, including twins. The old man is not messing around. I'm heading out right now. See you there?"

Midge had no response and Ruckus paused in her task.

"Listen, no matter what, don't tell anyone that I know about Norman. Ya hear?"

The bottom of Midge's world fell out. "Norman?" he prayed Ruckus had something else to say. "Norman? That's Norman down there? He's supposed to sleep for two hundred gaw-ro years."

"Yeah well." Ruckus shrugged. "He woke up. And if you tell anyone, I'll make sure and let them know who shared that family secret. Get your ass down to section B now. This is the fight of a lifetime."

Lydia did a strange thing as Midge stared dumbly at that wall; she interlocked their fingers.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

"Not even."

In the distance, Queen closed in, a 'medic' badge on his shoulder. He must have been suiting up to head to battle. That badge indicated as much. Midge debated spilling his guts right now or waiting until the situation with Norman cleared up first.

Without saying a word, Queen punched Midge in the face.

He might have gotten a second jab in, but Lydia stepped between them. Queen wasn't one to resort to violence, and when provoked he rarely backed down.

Lydia wasn't backing down either. She matched Queen's every move.

"Stop," Midge muttered as he stood. "Both of you stop. I'm sorry. Queenie, I...I'm sorry. I—"

"Joshua's dying."

The next shaking of the room didn't offset the dead silence.

Face set in a frown, Queen struggled to take the badge off. He shoved it in Midge's direction but wouldn't make eye contact.

Midge didn't move.

Queen pushed him back. "Just gaw-ro take it!"

"Dying?" Midge struggled to speak. "Dying? How—he's dying?"

"His face is rotting. It's spreading and nobody can stop it. No E can stop it, not even me. You left a gaw-ro impression when you injured him. He started falling apart on the table when they were trying to repair damage to his fucking face. He's dying. What part of that don't you get, you dumb fuck? So take this gaw-ro badge already."

Midge couldn't will his body to move. He nearly forgot how to breathe.

Queen pulled him closer and pressed the badge against the armor instead.

"I'll turn myself in, and you keep your head down."

When Queen turned to walk away, Midge caught him by the arm. "Wait. No. I'll go."

"And do what?" Queen asked. "Turn yourself over and let them scan you?"

"I didn't try to kill nobody." Midge gasped. "It's gaw-ro impossible. I healed him. I gaw-ro healed him. It's impossible. I'll go and I'll see what happened."

"And if they run a medical check on you and find you're on the brink?" Queen challenged.

That reality was always looming overhead. Midge glanced at Lydia but kept his gaze low.

"It's fifty years, Midge. Fifty years to drain your power. Ten's never gonna be enough. It never was. I begged mom to let me go to ground first, to give you some time. But ten's not gonna be enough. It was never gonna be enough for you."

Midge met his twin's gaze and found Queen's expression somber.

"And fuck, fifty's being hopeful. You step one foot near a War-gen and they'll know. So just take the gaw-ro badge already." Queen stepped back. "You can't ever just keep the fuck out of trouble. And I don't know what to do for you."

"I was close. I almost found the guy who hurt Tan. I even got his picture," Midge confessed. "I was...I—I'm sorry."

Queen snorted out a laugh as he shook his head. "You promised to let that go."

"I can find him."

"His name's Abraham," Queen said, glancing to Lydia. "Ask her all about the bastard. They're well-acquainted. And I was about to file an appeal before you started with this shit."

A wall further down blew out, but for Midge everything stood still. Queen let out a shaky breath then turned to walk away.

Midge called after him, "Keenan."

Queen paused in his stride. "Everyone's gonna be down at the evacuation site. They won't figure out the switch till you're good and gone." He looked back at Midge over his shoulder. "Right? And you stay outta trouble. I'll find you once the dust clears."

"Keen...." Shaking his head, Midge said, "I'm sorry."

"Your heart's in the right place, Mikael. But for once in your gaw-ro life, be selfish and think of your own damn hide." Queen started to jog as he headed for the debris. "Run, you idiot."

(End)