As Daniel came back to the kitchen, the vacuums stopped and sounded a jingle, Daniel, “Stated, the cleaners are finished, clean their filters.”. I told him, “I’ve put the steaks into the BBQ, they should turn out nicely.”. Daniel shrugged, “I hope so.”.

I went to clean off the drones. As I was removing the hair out of the brushes. Hassen came in the kitchen. He greeted me in a cheery voice, “Hey Kleicha.”. I don’t know what ‘Kleicha’ means but it sounded, cute. I started to empathize what Reba had felt, I’ve felt bad, like Reba sent him to me personally.

I simply greeted back, “Hi Hassen.”. Daniel came up to Hassen, giving him a handshake, saying “Hey man, how has it been?”. Hassen said back, “Hey, just doing watching on the areas for the doctor. Has Lue been of, good assistance?”. Daniel replied happily, “Yes, do you know her? She trimmed the steaks perfectly and she does everything so fast and efficiently.”. Hassen smuged, “Really, yes? She would make a good wife.”. Just saying that made my face cringe in embarrassment.

Daniel replied, “Wife? Oh I’m not interested, um also I’m like in my thirties and marriages are kinda dated. Love shouldn’t be dictated by government documents my brother.”. Hassen laughed, then followed, “No, I know you are not interested.”. Hassen then looks to me and took a few steps close to me, asking, “So Lue, how have you been enjoying the work?”. I didn’t felt like talking to him, his attraction towards me was too bothersome and just gives me anxiety to even just speak. I told him, “Its, alright, nothing special.”. It was silence, then I added, “Um, is there a place that we can talk tonight?”. Hassen took a deep breath, then said with delight. “We can talk at the roof top at the Warebox office building. Meet me there, eleven P M, tonight. Its south west from here where the industry area is. If you have your phone working, just search it up. You can’t miss it.”. I simply said, “Okay, now I gotta get back to cleaning.”. Hassen nodded, “Farewall.”. Then left the kitchen.

*

As we almost set up the food at the tables, the scarfs of the Vollers seem to be important to their society, so I asked Daniel, “Hey, Daniel, what are the scarfs for exactly?”. Daniel notices after a sec, then said, “Oh.”. He presented his white scarf, then continued, “These are basically a sign of membership, we wear them in down time when we are not out spooking or taking out goons. Tho Hassen wears it where ever he goes.”. I said, “I see, how do you get one?”. Daniel gave a worrying laugh, then state, “Oh, the Doctor is the judge of who gets in and who gets out. I am here because I was his personal chef in the old world and no where better else to be, I sticked with him.”. He then asked, “How did you found out and got into this place?”. I chuckled, then said, “Hassen spilled his mouth, I asked for where he is from and if he knew anyone that needed work. I think the rest you can make yourself.”.

Daniel spoke, “So you are just a drifter?”. That word didn’t sit on me well for some reason, but I replied, “Yes.”.

After finishing off your preparations, the people came into the cafeteria, they were sweaty and ready to munch. Me and Daniel moved back to the kitchen.

We cleaned ourselves, Daniel complimented, “I’m so glad you came in the right timing Lue. That trimmer machine got me worried.”. I responded, “No problem.”.

I was about to get outside to get some fresh air and relax, but then the door to the cafeteria squeakily opened, followed by a young voice, “Yo, this steak is amazing Daniel, did you put something in it.”. I looked back and saw a happy young man with dark skin and was short like me, Daniel said with his hands up to his chest, “Um, Lue was responsible for the barbecue.”. Daniel pointed at me. The young man said to me, “Thank you for the food stranger.”. It brought a smile to my face.

I went to the back and took a sit on the wall. I played on my phone as a pass time after my hard work. Soon after Yannic came out the back door. He called for me, “K three.”. His voice was loud, irritating me. I turn off my phone, rise my hand and said, “Right here.”. I got up, Yannic gave me six gold coins which was 120 universal dollars. Yannic said in a monotone voice, “They said they like your cooking.”. I laughed awkwardly, then spoke, “Thanks.”.

Yannic looked at me in the eyes with this down staring gaze with his bunch stature, trying to insight an imagery of the great giant over the pesky dwarf. Yannic announced, “I have word of, agents in black around the area, presumably your people.”.

I didn’t like the sound of that one beat, I didn’t want to plague them with the hidden ones. I told him, “I assure you that I don’t know of them, I don’t know what they want. I’m just going to leave. Thanks for the gold.”. I wave my goodbyes and quickly ran to the south west.

As I ran, Hassen yelled, “Lue!”. I looked at my back and saw Hassen running up to me as I was at the edge of the opening. I stop and Hassen caught up, he asked me, “Where are you going?”. I sadly remarked, “Yannic said that their might be, people looking for me. I’m not sure if he is right but I don’t want to risk it. I need to leave for now. I’ll maybe be back later.”. Hassen grabbed my right arm as I was about to run, he stated, “No look, he just doesn’t… I can convince him, and...”. I started to get tired of all this discussion, I really felt the need to be alone, I told him, “Look, we can discuss at Warebox. I don’t want them to find out I am here and wreck this place searching for me. I’m sorry, it happened once and I won’t let it happen again. I want to try to get my hands on those Volates but I don’t want to put your people at risk.”. He gave me a saddening expression and let go of my arm right.

I made my run, as I entered the woods and took my steps, I heard Hassen from a distance, “Eleven P M. Warebox.”. I signed and made my run.

*

I was at the roof of Warebox, programming on my laptop by testing and practicing advance math modules. The air was wet and cool in the clear night sky lit by the slightly greater halved moon. Surrounding the two floored warehouse was similar buildings for companies that may now mean nothing in the market of things.

A pop up of my newly programmed file that would print “Its working!” when the clock was at eleven P M. I smiled in little pride of my work.

I heard a ladder being climbed at the south. I turned off my laptop, put it away in my bag, strapped to my back, and got up. Hassen appeared from the ladder, chirping, “Nice to see you again, Lue.”.

I kept my hands low so I can obtain my blades if things get heated. I greeted, “Nice to meet you again, Hassen.”.

Hassen said, “I spoke to Yannic and the others and they actually want to get to know you little bit more.”. I shrugged, stating, “Later. Do you know anything about the hiddens?”. Hassen spoke up, “Look, we saw like three guys and we have no idea why they are here. But I want to expand on other things.”.

I started to get nervous, I knew I had to tell him, in an easy flowing way. I didn’t want to break his heart, he is so enthusiastic to getting to know me and I know he could be a viable friend for those Volates.

I looked at him, he was beaming with charm. I breathed in a deep breath, released, then said, “Look...”. He got closer, interrupted with, “I think we are going to have good adventures together.”. I exclaimed, “Look, your a nice person.”. Hassen smiled lowered a little, he said, “Too soon. I can slow down. I feel that we are all equal in this relationship.”.

I pronounced in kind concern, “Look, its not you. Its me, I am just more into, mirrored people.”. Hassen smile vanish, a spark of confusion dictated his face. He uttered, “What the fuck does that even mean? Look, maybe I should just give you some time. I know that there may be inner demons still haunting your mind.”.

I tried to get this resolved, but still tried to sugar coat it, I said, “It can never work because I’m more of a taco person.”. Hassen started to smile again, he calmly said, “I think you are just embarrassed. Its okay, but I think we are seeing eye to eye, heart to heart.”. He was starting to be correct, this was embarrassing me as I try to convince him to lay off. I try again as I made weird hand motions with my right hand, I said, “Like, I just like to touch melons. Okay?”.

Hassen was starting to laugh a little, he drawled chirped, “Oh, hungry? Wanting something easy?”. I stated, “I think you are getting the wrong impression, Hassen.”. He replied with disappointment, “Oh, you are actually hungry. Melons, I haven’t saw them in years, maybe I can get you something. Tacos would be easier to get.”. I laughed awkwardly, I said, “No, no, its okay. I’ll find my own taco one day. Maybe.”.

Hassen then looked at me funny, then he asked, “What do you mean, find your own taco? Its a taco. Just have lots of tacos.”. I laughed harder, how I am imagining it as turning it slang to literal. Hassen started to laugh with me with a hint of confusion, I muttered, “Hey, I may be a dyke, but I’m no polygamist.”.

Hassen laughter came to a sudden halt, with him looking at me with a dour expression. he demanded, “What did you just said you are?”.

I stopped my laughter, realizing I just revealed the truth more closer to the point. I looked at his eyes. It was so piercing and determined. I suspected disappointment and sadness, but I saw anger and disapproval.

While trying to remove the tension, I stated, “Okay, this sucks. Sorry to just spill it like that. You are a nice person, and I would be more than happy to be a friend. I’m just the way that I am.”.

He continued that stare, then spoke, “You can reject me, but if I see you with another woman, I will beat... you... down.”. He then continued to stare, then jump off the building.

I took a deep breath in, then out. That could have gone better. I seat down, pondering what is going through his head. Does he hate, homosexual people, fear? Or did he just took it as rejection?

As I thought about it, I saw a Voller soaring the night sky above the plains. As it flew, the back blew up and the Voller dropped to the ground to an urban area. It reminded me of the two falling planes back at Safia City, my stomach sank.

I saw Hassen pop out of the woods and ran to the crash site while avoiding my sights on Hassen by hiding in the darkness. I quickly stand on my feet and make my way to the crush site, hoping to get my hands on a Volate.