Cass approaches the “astronauts”. “Hello?” 

All the suits jump up and point raygun looking weapons at him. “They found us!” the forward most one said. 

Cass puts his hands up, “I was in the neighborhood. I don’t even know who you are.”

The suits don’t move. “Name and occupation!?”

“Cass and I'm a Multi.”

The group move to the other side of the room while keeping their guns pointed toward Cass. After a few moments of chatter the forward most one moves closer again.

“Multi’s are mercenaries, correct?”

Cass nods, “More or less.”

The astronaut motions for him to sit at the fire. Cass sits as the others put away their weapons and sit around the fire. “Okay. we need assistance. In the building next to us is a room full of PreApoc military intel that we desperately need.”

The astronaut on his left speaks, “The problem is the flying rats. We can’t search while looking over our shoulder.”

Cass smiles, “luck is on our side then. I also need to get up there. There is an item that they have and I could use a hand.”

“Then we take turns. You watch our back as we search and we’ll watch yours after.”

Cass holds his hand up, “Wait. I need all the info I can. What info are you looking for?”

The first one is hesitant so the one to his left speaks up. “It’s an old military outpost for a last ditch effort to save important people. It was a joint American and Russian program to fly a ship off world and to mars. It was mainly abandoned as people began dying but the ships are still around. Hidden but they should be intact.”

Cass looks them up and down, “Sure. Why not.”

“Is that enough or do you need more details?” 

Smiley appears next to Cass as he speaks. “That sounds good. Do you want to wait or go now?”

The group starts shouting as they discuss.

‘Are we actually helping them or are we assuming they are gonna leave us high and dry?’ 

He glances at Smiley, ‘Hope for honesty but plan for betrayal.’ 

The group stands and readies themselves. “We’ll go now.”

Cass silently gets up and begins to walk with the group to the building over. He looks to the top as they pass and sees the Flyboys flying around. “The Flyboys are here so step quietly as we get to the higher levels.” 

They make their way through the lobby and ascend the stairs. After quelling the occasional bickering fight, they quietly reach level fifty two. Cass leads them to the door and hits the lights. 

The astronauts gasp, “They still have power?! This is unforeseen.”

Cass sits at the entrance to listen for the Flyboys. “You said it’s a military outpost for when the world ends or something so having an independent power source isn’t super crazy.”

They silently look at each other before they begin tearing through all the desks. A few minutes go by before one yells out, “I found it!”

“Quiet!” Cass quietly but sternly said.

“Sorry. I found the location of the nearest three ships.”

Cass motions for them to be quiet and hide as he hears footsteps and indistinct talking coming toward them. He turns off the lights and narrows the door so he can still see out.

“Who even was that?”

“I have no clue but he wanted these.” The Flyboy said as he carried the box of medals and placed them in a locked box.

The two leave toward the stairs, “It’s a good thing he didn’t get them. I can’t believe there are still thieves in this day and age. Unbelievable.”

Cass motions for the astronauts to leave. They all quietly move out of the room and he tries to pick the lock but fails. He turned to ask the astronauts for help and they vanished. 

Smiley floats by him, “Sadly, predictable.”

Cass sighs and tries to tear the lock off but is unable to. He tries to lift the box but is unable to. “What is this made of?”

Smiley puts his hand on the box and his eyes flicker. “It’s gravitationally locked.”

Cass cocks his head, “What?”

“Crazy advanced tech. Maybe it’s repurposed flight tech.” Smiley said with a shrug. “Does it matter? I can open it all the same.” He waves his hand and the lock disengages. 

Cass grabs the box and quickly makes his way down the building until he reaches the twentieth floor and leaps through the glass to land in front of the lobby and directly in front of the astronauts. “Hey guys! Forget something?”

All seven pull out their guns. “No hard feelings but we have a mission.”

Cass nods, “Fair enough. I’ll let it go this time but you owe me.”

An ear pounding loud sound builds behind Cass as the astronauts point their guns into the air.

“I believe you have something that belongs to us.”

Cass turns around to see a dozen men hovering a few feet above the surface. The astronauts begin to argue with the Flyboys about lost knowledge and the importance of their mission as Cass slowly moves behind them. He almost makes it in the building, “Hey! You took that box from us. Return it, now!” 

Cass points at himself then the box and nods then points at the box then points at them and shakes his head. The Flyboy begins to shout but Cass kicks one of the astronauts and he misfires at the Flyboys and a large fight breaks out.

“Consider us even!” Cass calls back as he hops on his bike and takes off toward the other end of the lobby. 

Cass takes the long way back out of the city and heads straight for Trash Heap. He makes sure that he isn’t followed and drops the transformation as he pulls into the town.

He parks his bike and stretches his back. “What a day.”

The door creaks open and confetti rains down on his head. Stone and Lila cheer as he enters. 

“I’d like to formally welcome you to the guild as a full fledged Multi.” Stone said as he took the box and checked the contents. 

“Thank you, thank you.” Cass said as Lila hugs the air out of him. “It’s good to be a full-fledged member now.”

“There’s a bit of a ceremony.” Lila said as she let him go and led him to the backside of the front desk.

Stone hands him a knife. “Make your mark.” 

The back of the desk is covered in different symbols and initials. Lila kneels down and rubs the marks. “Each mark is a full fledged Multi. It’s a reminder of all the lives that pass through here.”

“What should I carve?”

Lila taps his forearm, “That is up to you.”

Cass thinks for a bit before carving into the wood.

Stone looks a little confused. “It’s a book?”

Cass hands him back the knife, “An inside joke. Kinda. Fitting.”

He shrugs and hands him his new card. It’s a gold plated card with his name engraved and the guilds mark. “Gold rank?”

Stone laughs, “The test aside, you performed above and beyond on them and the separate jobs you took. It seemed right.”

Lila hops behind the desk, “So, what’s next for you?”

Cass places the card in his pocket after handing the temporary one back. “I have to head to Necropolis for recon on a job and a few personal things.”

Stone holds up his finger, “hang on.” He rushes back to his office. He comes back out and hands him a letter. “Can you deliver this to the guild master there? It’ll be an official job with pay, of course.”

Cass takes the letter. “Of course.” 

The three share a few drinks before Cass leaves. Smiley appears ahead of him as Cass leaves. “We should check in on Sock.”

Cass chuckles, “Oh? You were upset that we had a detour a while ago and now you are willingly doing so?”

Smiley shrugs, “What can I say, I’m invested.”

Cass walks a few streets over and finds Sock right where he should be. “Hey Sock.”

Sock looks at him confused. “I don’t have much to show yet.”

“Ah, well, I am leaving for Necropolis and I’ll be gone for a while.” 

Sock looks at him suspiciously, “Did you wreck the bike?”

“No, it’s fine. Just letting you know.” 

“Alright, I’ll keep you updated.” Sock said as he went back to his work.

Cass heads back to his bike, “A little of a let down.” Smiley said as he floated down to walk in step with Cass.

Cass hops back on his bike. “Maybe, but it is good to know he is working on it.”

He nods, “True.”

He takes off from the town gate. A few days pass as he reaches Necropolis. The city is truly massive. It’s divided into eight districts. It’s as if someone took a dozen cities from around the world and mashed them together. Cass looks to the massive doors to the south east.

“The south east gate is the closest to my apartment. Let’s head that way.”

Smiley pops in, “Finally made it. Let’s find my family.”

Cass revs the engine, “Let’s do it.”