Pepper walked outside and took a deep breath. He hated seeing 2,500 FLEX being spent on a gift. But at the same time, he knew it was far more valuable than that amount. In that moment he was more relieved that he didn’t have to load everything into a buzz podz. Jaymes informed him that he was happy to take care of delivering the items to the house.

  With that all sorted out he felt the urge to wonder around the city. He hadn’t been anywhere outside the neighborhood since he had initially arrived. Hopefully the block won’t get blown up from a bank robbery this time. He thought to himself.

  He popped open his map and realized that Pete’s restaurant and the bookstore weren’t too far away. At least, the distance was much closer than the runs he and Amprage would go on in the neighborhood. With that, he decided to give his legs a little bit more exercise and the two headed in that direction.

  The busy sounds of the big city were buzzing with activity. There were a great deal of people pan handling on street corners, mixed with a few food carts trying to sell anything from bagels to hot dogs. What really caught his attention though was seeing law enforcement golems actively patrolling the city streets. He also found some that remained stationary at street corners with a few bike patrol officers. They gave off the assumption that they were more of a rapid response force rather than anything else.

  Pepper couldn’t help but be curious at the golems construction but the police officers demeanor gave him the hint that they didn’t want to strike up a conversation. He simply passed them by but was then caught up in seeing a sign for a bike shop a few store fronts down. Could always use that instead of constantly ordering these Buzz Podz.

  It didn’t take more than ten minutes and he was coasting out the door with his brand new, Yassar Mountain Goat 20 Speed Ultra-Light. A shiny Golden Honey coloration with a perfectly padded seat, proportional response suspension and a set of 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes. He honestly didn’t know what any of that meant, but it didn’t matter. It looked like the most awesome thing riding up and down the street and made him feel like a million bucks. Or, at least feel more like 1,315 FLEX.

  Pepper shoved down hard on the peddles and he was off. Amprage ran along beside him and they both swooshed down back alleyways and side streets. The wind blowing against his skin and he felt like he was on a quest to outrun the police. That’s right coppers! I robbed the bank and you’ll never get me! Haha!

  His imagination ran wild why he nor Amprage had a care or concern in the world. The small side adventure was the next best thing after seeing Elowen again earlier that day. He had worked hard to get where he was, and in that moment, he felt like he needed to spend more time enjoying life, rather than being wrapped up in his work.

  But all that came to a slow stop. He pressed down on his brakes in the middle of one of the back alleyways. A hundred yards away or so was a large gathering of people and they all seemed to be in a large circle. He quickly glanced down at Amprage but his familiar simply wagged his tail, excited to see what the commotion was about.

  He quickly checked his map and realized he was just another two blocks or so away from Pete’s and this alley was the quickest way for him to get there. Guess a little curiosity never hurt, right? He mentally questioned and then muttered. “Stay close to me.”

  “Okie dokie” Amprage replied without a care or concern in the world.

  The two drew closer and as they did, Pepper could make out what sounded like cheers. People getting energized as if they were watching a Golem League match. They seemed to be trying to contain their cries of combat, however, not wanting to draw unwanted attention. As Pepper started to roll closer to the group a few took notice of him and gave him stern judgmental glares.

  He stopped his bike and propped himself up with his left leg while trying to grasp what exactly was happening. “Alright, you got 10 seconds to finish places your bets before the match starts!” A voice commanded from deep within the crowd.

  Pepper had to shift his head but finally was able to see through the gap of bodies. There in the center of the circle was an open space and what looked like two familiars facing off with one another. The two bonded companions slowly shifted from side to side and seemed ready to tear into the other at any second.

  What in the…

  “Hey kid! You hear to fight?”

  He shifted his gaze to see a questionable figure standing on the far end of the group. Pepper kicked himself forward a little bit to match up with the man. The man had on an old football jersey with a puffy black hooded sweatshirt underneath that. His hood was up and covered some of his facial features.

  “What was that?”

  The man appeared frustrated and shifted his gaze around. “I said… are you here to fight, to compete?”

  “You mean my familiar?”

  The man leaned back as if the answer was obvious. “Of course your familiar. Looks like you got yourself a strong competitor there… I’d easily put 300 FLEX down that he wins his first match.”

  Pepper looked down and saw Amprage wagging his tail with excitement. “Seriously? Can I?”

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  “No.” He said with a parental tone before returning to the stranger. “Naw, we’re not here to fight.”

  The man raspberried. “Well then, you hear to bet?”

  “No…”

  “Then get the hell outta here.” The man spat down close to his feet.

  Pepper didn’t wait any longer and instructed Amprage to follow him. He couldn’t ignore the cheers and groans as they departed, the all too familiar sound of competitors clashing soon followed until a giant roar of victory.

  He didn’t even turn around but kept peddling slowly gaining speed as he went. They crossed the street and Pepper finally slowed down once he felt there was enough of a distance between them.

  “Why did we leave?” Amprage asked.

  He took in a deep breath. “Because…. It, it just didn’t feel right. I didn’t get a good feeling with the entire situation.”

  “But they would have let me compete.”

  “No… they wanted to you fight off against another familiar.”

  “Is that a bad thing?”

  “Well… no, yes, maybe?” He sighed and shook his head. “I dunno, honestly, but its not what you were designed for. You were designed to be a companion and that’s what you are to me.”

  “But I protect you.”

  “Only if I need it, and what happens if you were to compete in that fight and be destroyed. I’d never be able to replace you. You’re one of a kind, we’re bonded by my blood, remember?”

  Amprage lowered his head and then rose it back up. “I still think it would be fun to compete. At least try, see if I’m any good.” There was a pause and then a slight chuckle came out of his bonded. “You never know, maybe one day the Golem League will let familiars battle.”

  Pepper rolled his eyes and shook his head. You wish. He thought and then narrowed his gaze when he saw a bright red modified trailer sitting outside of Pete’s restaurant. They crossed the street and before they arrived Pete leaned his head out of the service window on the trailer.

  “Well, looked at what the cat dragged in.” He formed a surprised expression when he saw Pepper roll up on his new bike. “Dear me, look at you rolling up in here with the fresh set of wheels.”

  “Hey Pete.”

  “Where you been?” Pepper couldn’t help but chuckled as the man continued to talk with his hands in an overly animated fashion. “You come eat my food one time and then, boom! You’re gone and never come say hi? What was Jez’s cooking really that bad?”

  Pepper laughed and rolled forward with his bike enough to confirm his suspicion. Yup… still a massive hole in the wall. “I figured you were closed seeing how you are still working on expanding your seating to outdoor dining.”

  “Outdoor dining?” Pete turned and then looked at the boarded up building. He listed his head and then swiped his hand towards Pepper, as if to wave away his countered jest. “Look at this guy, look at this guy. No need to go hitting below the belt now, come on. I had my life savings wrapped up in that old brick and mortar there.”

  A knot formed in Peppers throat and he immediately regretting telling the joke. “I’m sorry Pete, I didn’t mean for it…”

  “Ha! Got you again!” Pete rolled in a chuckle. “Come on kid, you can’t be that easy.”

  Pepper took a deep breath. It was partially to be a sigh of relief the other part being the question as to why he chose to come and suffer like this. “Well, I’m at least glad to see you’re in good spirits.”

  “Of course! Hell, you think a little extra air flow is going to get me down? Come-on, you see the name shmuck written anywhere on the sign to the restaurant?” Pepper pressed his lips together and tilted his head. Thankfully he didn’t have to answer as Pete continued. “So what you two metal heads up to?”

  Pepper curiously stared at Pete who turned his back to them and started to clank around the small trailer kitchen. “I stopped by the guitar shop to get a surprise gift for my girlfriend who’s coming down to visit.”

  “Jaymes’s place?” Pete called over his shoulder.

  “Yeah.”

  “Now that kid knows his stuff. My grand kid wanted a guitar, Jaymes got me a good deal on just the one he needed to learn. He comes by every once and a while.”

  Pepper smiled and flipped the kickstand down on his bike. He dismounted and took a seat on top of a picnic table placed just in front of the service window.

  “So, you pick up that bike from old Daren?”

  “Crew cut, grey hair, red flannel shirt with the arms rolled up?” Pepper asked.

  “Yup, that’d be Daren. How much he sell you that bike for?”

  Pepper huffed, “Too much.”

  “Ha! Sounds like Daren alright.” Pete turned around and placed two small paper food baskets up on the service counter. A quick dip behind the window and then Pete placed a cold soda can up on the ledge with the food. “Here you go slick, eat up.”

  He smiled and squinted. “But I didn’t order anything.”

  “Oh my gaw…. Would you look at this guy!” Pete started to over exaggerate and acted as if a gathering of people were all around. “First he rarely comes to visit old Pete, then I try to be a nice guy, because you know, I’m a nice guy. And what do I get for my kindness, resistance! I tell you, kids these days, dear me.”

  He laughed, “I didn’t come here for a free meal Pete. I’ll happily pay you.”

  “Naw, don’t worry about it. I make plenty, plenty, of the food cart. This one is on the house, you hear?”

  “Okay… okay. If you’re gonna be all salty about it.” Pepper stood up and grabbed hold of the food and brought it over to the table. “Thanks, Pete.”

  “No problem.”

  Pepper looked down and found a warm pita filled gyro. Tzatziki sauce drizzled all over the top while steam lofted up from the freshly sliced meat. The other trey had pita chips and another thick serving of tzatziki sauce piled on top. He sat down and started to enjoy the meal.

  To his surprise, Pete walked out the back side of the food cart and brought a small camp chair around and sat down with him. The two started to share with one another about their lives. There was something about old Pete, he acted like an uncle that he never had. An uncle who told stories of the good old days, and didn’t have a filter with how he talked or what he talked about.

  “Say slick, you got your girlfriend coming to town soon?”

  “Yeah, you want me to bring her by?”

  “Oh sure-sure, that’s fine. You’re always welcome here. I was just thinking about Aaron and Nathan’s bookshop.” Pete shifted around through his pockets and first found his reading glasses. He placed them on his face and then pat his pockets down until he found a folded up piece of red colored paper.

  Who uses paper flyers anymore? Pepper mentally laughed after he asked himself the question.

  Pete read over the flyer and then handed it to him. “They’re having this open mic night, poetry, music, the whole sha-bang. I’ll have the food cart out front here so you can grab some grub, listen to some tunes, buy a book or two. You know, make it a thing.”

  Pepper smiled when he saw that the events’ date which matched up perfectly with Andrea’s trip. “Thanks Pete. I’ll be sure to add it to the schedule when she gets in.”

  Pete pointed his finger right at him. “I’m gonna hold you to that.”

  He laughed and folded the piece of paper back up, placing it in his pocket.