[ You'd think that, after a certain point, people would stop doubting that you're strong right? Especially after you've proven it time and time again. I swear, it's like the more I do and the more people see me doing, the more they question whether everything about me is fake or not. There are so many damn stories and rumors. The zealots quiet a lot of that noise, but they can't get all of it. Marlene floated the idea of making our own counter-propaganda so we can control the narrative, and I'm honestly starting to warm up to it. I'd rather everyone think one specific bad thing instead of inventing new stuff every year. It's exhausting. Anyway, I remembered to light a candle for you this time and it seemed right to write you something while I did it. Love you, dad. ]

  Changing back into the prison jumpsuit - after getting used to the higher quality robes - made Reid's skin crawl. Win and Lycra seemed to have a hard time going back to the old fabric as well. They itched and pulled at themselves just as much as Reid did.

  The poop cavern was empty, and Win explained that quakes meant evacuating to the canteen area. It was, in her words, 'reinforced rock' that would generally survive even if the rest of the tunnels collapsed. Reid's stomach grumbled at the rations and water left behind, but he pulled his own food from storage and ate that. Someone would eventually be down here to retrieve what they'd left.

  He did grab himself an empty minecart, though. Popping the king's head out of storage would be more than a bit suspicious to the rest of the miners.

  There was, of course, a high chance that them coming back at all was suspicious. They'd been gone for a long time, and more often than not, that meant someone was dead. The fact that they were only now returning after a quake would probably make them seem even more odd. While they rested, Win prepared them for the concern and scrutiny. She took them through more detailed answers they could give on how they'd survived, and what specifically they'd found.

  Win had set the expectation that Reid would look different with her mention of the pills and fake condition. He'd falsified things in identify close enough to his 'name' he'd given everyone that it should pass for 'truth'. Their story was believable - at least for a group of people that already had a track record for killing moles. The only thing left to do now was return - and deposit the king's head.

  #

  The brighter lights of the tool station, canteen, and showers came into view - and Reid sighed with relief. He'd been worried most of the way up that somehow, some way, a mass of insectoid creatures like the one he'd fought had somehow found other ways up the tunnels. He'd checked behind him as they walked - and idly imagined that the things had managed to beat them to the main camp and massacred the miners there. Despite Win's assurances that people were just following earthquake protocol, the fact that they hadn't seen anyone else on their walk seemed to support Reid's worry - and had helped it grow.

  The mine cart squeaked and continued on. As they got closer to the facilities, they saw every single miner was packed into the area. People were huddled together, speaking remarkedly reservedly with one another. When they noticed Reid's trio and the mole head, whispers and murmurs excitedly swept through the groups, and they began to follow the cart. Most stared directly at Reid.

  It was an odd thing, but Reid had gotten so used to the hero's welcome after killing the other moles that this time, with more hushed and reserved responses felt... wrong. The lack of energy, the amount of suspicious glances at his changed appearance, and the fact that no one had seen them in so long combined to put him in a serious state of unease. A few of the miners shouted questions, but they waved those people off and continued.

  It was good form to allow someone to deposit their haul before getting into details, after all. So Reid, Lycra, and Win ignored the pointed asks, and instead listened to the intermittent squeak of the minecart's wheels. Everything about the walk put Reid on edge. He felt like dinner walking in front of a line of hyenas. The conversations around moral scale came back to him, and his head swiveled to find the people ready to hurt them for what they'd earned.

  When they finally made it to the processor, a group stepped forward to block the chute.

  It was a subsection of the muscle and shopkeepers he'd savaged previously - though he noted that the melting beaver and his bears were missing from the bunch. Most of the faces he recognized had been people he took it easy on, towards the end of the fighting. There were also people he didn't recognize at all - that must've been away when the altercation occurred.

  A furry, goat-like biped with corkscrew-shaped horns stepped forward. He stood a bit taller than Win, and growled his words out low.

  "We wanted to extend a warm welcome to you returning heroes." He gave the head a pointed look. "I don't think we've properly met. You see, I was out when you had your little tantrum, Roc. I think you and I should get properly-"

  Reid exchanged a look with Win. The corner of her mouth was turned up in the barest smile, and she held up a finger toward Reid as she interrupted the goat.

  "Bartholomew, I'm well overdue for a goddamn shower so I'm gonna be blunt. You're interfering with us turning in a haul. You've been here over seven years, so I know you know the rules. You don't want to follow them, then they won't apply to you either. I'll let Roc fight you."

  The goat snorted and stood taller. "I'm not afraid of this little-"

  Win slammed a hand against the mine cart, and the metal bowed at the point of impact. Bartholomew stared at the bent metal with wide eyes.

  "Bart, dear. I wasn't just talking to you. All of your friends need to make themselves scarce. I'd snap your cocky little jaw right now and let Roc break legs on the rest - except then I'd have to listen to all of you whine in the clinic later. And I'd like some peace and quiet after I shower. Now - find yourself somewhere else."

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  The crowd partially dispersed, eyes still on the dented minecart. Bartholomew saw his backup retreat, and held up both hands.

  "I... didn't want any trouble, I promise."

  Win let out a curt laugh. "Of course not, you little rascal. Run along, now."

  As the goat awkwardly sidestepped away from them, Reid gave win an incredulous look.

  "How did you do that? Nobody ever believes me when I tell them I'm going to kick their ass."

  Win shook her head. "That's a promise that gets you into a fight. You bluster, they bluster, and everyone escalates. It's not about telling them you'll beat them - it's about pressing the right buttons to show them what the consequences could be." She motioned to the minecart's dent. "Bluster, but with tact. Presentation and framing is a big part of communication. Get it right, and you can avoid unnecessary conflicts. Push the right buttons for enough people, and you can turn a whole situation around."

  She raised a hand and waved at the miners, then shouted.

  "Thank you to our welcoming party, it's good to be back! But - and I'm really sorry for calling you out like this, Cassie - I really hope nobody tried to 'bake a cake'." She made motions with her fingers at the last bit, and a few chuckles went through the crowd. A small number of people visibly relaxed. "Where's Travis? Get him and his cone up here. Good, let me see that - I have good news, all! We sit here in the safest, reinforced section of the Warrens. You might be taking refuge from the quakes, but soon you will be celebrating! I mean, you were already going to be celebrating me being back, but there's even more to drink to." More laughs ran through the gathered miners. Win pointed to the head. "This is the culmination of months of my little trio's effort. While you lazy bums have been profiting off my stinky crystal find, we discovered the mole's nest!"

  Murmurs spread as the crowd traded glances.

  "That's right! Drinks are on me tonight - because this decapitated old mole was the king! Stupid things were killing each other off, and we helped it along! Now their nest is cleared, and all the strong moles are dead! When the time for aftershocks ends, the Warrens are yours to explore and profit from! Celebrate our victory! Raise a toast on me - and you damn well better make that toast to me. Well, and to Roc and Lycra too - but I'm buying the drinks, so shout my name the loudest, you ungrateful deep-dwellers!"

  She tossed the cone back to Travis as portions of the crowd began to cheer. Reid stared on as she took the mine cart and wheeled it forward. Minutes ago, everyone in the crowd had been on edge and the whole cavern felt like a powder keg. There were still plenty that looked like they wanted a fight - but now, there were sections chanting Win's name, and they balanced out the rest. She'd broken the tension, then completely upended the whole scenario. Sure, she'd got a bit off-script on their plan to reveal the story in order to make it happen - but Reid didn't give a damn about that. Stopping the fight - and this - they both looked so... effortless.

  The clunking of the head falling into the processor brought him out of admiration for his friend, and he stepped forward to be even with Win and Lycra in front of the machine.

  Reid let his hope rise as the machine whirred and sang its familiar tune. The level 17 mole had been worth 20,000 credits. The level 19 was 84,000. That meant... somewhere around a 2.05 multiple between each of the higher levels - or maybe 2.05 rounded down? He was still doing math in his head when two messages flashed onscreen.

  [Lvl 26 Deep Mole King - 12,780,000 credits awarded. Split 4,260,000 / 4,260,000 / 4,260,000]

  [Balance for prisoner 841F0537 and 841F0538 now positive. If you maintain a positive balance, a guard will retrieve you for debriefing within one week.]

  The crowd close enough to read the screen quieted in silent disbelief.

  It was gone.

  His debt had been wiped out entirely, which meant Reid was free. Free to get out of this hole and see the sun again.

  And Lycra had been freed with him.

  A week. They would be out of this place in the next seven days, and then he and Lycra would be able to start the next leg of their journey.

  They'd need jobs, and transportation. He could look into how to get Win above ground. Reid's mind whirled with possibility and plans.

  Travis - the man with the cone - cleared his throat and swallowed.

  "TWELVE MILLION! ROC AND LYCRA ARE BOTH FREE MEN!"

  #

  #

  Another hand smacked Reid on the back and wished him well. Despite his resilience, Reid's shoulders were starting to get sore from all of the congratulatory slaps. He couldn't exactly be mad about it. People were giddy - Reid included. They had stopped trying to slap Lycra on the back a while ago, though - and instead gave his head a rub. Even drunk, people still had some sense to not get rough with a small and fragile-looking individual.

  There were plenty of sour faces - just like last time - but Win's promise to keep taps flowing, coupled with people's desire to forget about the earthquake seemed to put more into a state of revelry than envy.

  Reid smiled and took a sip as he closed his eyes. He let himself feel the moment. He imagined what it would be like, when the ship came down to get them. There would probably be engines that were like those he'd heard on the Wheathop when it crash landed - but without the spiraling. They would just be a solid, throaty roar. People would quiet down as they heard the noise, and the sound of the engines would reverberate through the cavern. In his mind, it was so real, he could practically hear it all.

  Reid opened his eyes, and saw the drunk crowd all facing towards the opening, and the net.

  He hadn't imagined the engine noise.

  A pair of well-worn metallic ships lowered themselves into view, dropping fast into the opening.

  One stopped fifty feet above the cavern floor, and hovered with a pair of sliding side doors open.

  Automatic turrets were mounted in each door, flanked by the barrels of sharpshooters' rifles.

  Win tensed, and whispered a hushed warning across the table. "Don't move. That's an assault bus. Crowd control. It means someone is coming down here. To the ground. Don't make any sudden moves."

  Hope and unease washed over Reid in equal measure. Was this their ride, already? It felt like no time at all had passed since they paid the debt.

  If this was their ride, was it good or bad that they'd come so quickly?

  Reid calmed himself, and information slotted itself into place.

  On the way into the warrens, the guards had shown them complete distain and apathy.

  There was no way those same guards would show any sort of priority or urgency when someone did clear their debts.

  It also took a long trip to get this far down.

  For the ships to be here now, it meant they'd started the descent before Reid deposited the mole head.

  There was almost no chance the ships were there for Reid and Lycra.

  So why had they come?

  Character Cheat Sheet: