Harry's Home III

The image was of a small black device with metal pins protruding from the bottom.

"This chip is specialized for the machine that can access the Library of Infinite Knowledge," Harry explained as he showed each person.

"What is the reward for obtaining it?" William asked.

Harry pondered the question for a while before grinning even wider than normal

"Six months of level five rations for the whole town," Harry said with glee "as well as individual rewards of two months of max level rations, level eight."

Terry began furiously clapping.

"We've only ever been supplied with level two, and that was Jovian's dad got some kind of reward," Terry said as he pretended to wipe tears from his eyes.

"Indeed, that was actually due to his promotion to Sleepwalker King, that is how important this piece is," Harry responded.

Syle popped off the wall and approached Harry aggressively.

"I don't want rations from the Fancies, I want a ticket to live there. I'm tired of these slums, tired of the people, tired of the memories, tired of the suburban section, tired of the urban section," Syla complained while calm, "and since I can't buy a ticket with pitiful bounty money I make, I want a full blown ticket."

"Unfortunately," Harry said before his three clones stepped between them, "the ticket is mine. The best I can do is add 2000 fantasci to your reward."

"'The heck is that?" Terry asked.

"Fancy bucks," Jovian whispered in his ear.

Terry nodded in response. Syla stared through the clones and lifted her hand slowly.

"You're gonna have to do better than that or else I walk," Syla threatened.

"Fine fine, make it 5000 fantasci, happy?" Harry groaned before his guards began to part.

"Yup!" Syla yelled with joy, "there is a sweet Gravlevi Bike in the Fancy shop by the guard shack. It costs 3,999 Fantasci, so I had to milk you a bit."

Harry ignored this and looked at Jovian. As he slowly walked to Jovian, he began looking him over. Terry quickly covered his ear.

"Bad thoughts, Jovian!" Terry yelled.

Harry handed Jovian the paper with the chip on it.

"Jovian, you are plan A. You will walk into the target's location, which will remain secret until we arrive, and present yourself as Mark's son. You will tell the boss that the Fancies have ordered your dad to personally retrieve this chip. Make sure you really ham up the confidence," Harry explained.

"That I can do, but, even if it comes down to something more serious, I can handle myself. Unless they have a bear," Jovian said confidently.

"If they don't give it up for free, we will have Thee blind the room with a flash and you can use your Waker ability to get away and go with plan B, that being take it in secret while we raid the compound using the clones, Thee and William. Oh, and William is team leader for now, " Harry finished, now starting to sweat from standing for too long.

"Side note, I bet that couple never fucks, William seems like a bit of a pansy," Terry said before immediately burying his head in his hands.

"What is his problem?" Reis yelled.

"He has, uh, a condition, his brain is all jacked up from a Fancy transport ship that hit him as a child," Jovian said quickly.

"Poor boy," William responded.

"Alright, people, let's head out. One of my clones has infiltrated the group that holds the chip, he will meet us at the edge of their city," Harry said as he slowly walked away.

Syla was the first to move. She quickly left the backroom and shot for the front door.

"Ugh, finally, the smell was killing me," Syla shouted as she took her mask off.

As Jovian and the rest followed, they finally got a good look at her in the natural light. Jovian figured she was most likely around Thee's age. She had dark brown hair, shoulder length at its longest, but it was uneven all over. Her pale skin was dirtier than most people Jovian encountered, but it made her look tougher than she looked physically, almost the exact opposite of the athletic build of Thee.

"Who the fuck cut your hair?" Jovian said, not bothering to hold back his chuckles.

"I did," Syla responded sternly, "are you guys always this annoying?"

"They are, I'm not," Thee said as she pushed Jovian from the back, "but he has a point, that's a chop job."

Terry pushed his way forward to Syla. He looked her up and down and smirked.

"Excuse me, madam, I'll clean it up for you. I happen to be great at cutting hair. Side note, you are definitely the second hottest woman in this city," Terry shouted.

"Thanks?" Syla replied, slightly disgusted.

William clapped three times to get everyone's attention.

"Well guys, it's a three day walk to that city so let's head out now. I'll be able to more accurately judge your skills when I see them in action," William said with his hands on his hips.

William had a small personality, but he was gigantic, nearly as tall as Jovian's dad, and even more built. His wife Reison on the other hand had a gigantic presence about her. One that screamed fierce, despite being the shortest one there. She also dressed better than anyone else there as well. Her clothing was immaculate in contrast to everyone else who was covered in various kinds of dirt.

"We are bound to run into the usual raider group here and there, I assume you all know how to defend yourselves?" Reis asked.

"Obviously, do you know who my dad is?" Jovian said, a hint of smugness in his voice.

"That to me says you are trained well, but grossly inexperienced. I bet you have never been attacked while out with him, have you?" Reis said with a smirk.

"Well, no, but one time this old dude tried taking my mom's cart full of rations while dad was away, I flattened that old bastard," Jovian boasted.

"...right. Well, be happy that the vast majority of raiders aren't Wakers, they are mostly Sleepwalkers, Dreamers and Sleepers. Should be light work for the son of the Sleepwalker King himself, eh?" Reis said.

Jovian was a tremendously skilled fighter, but he only ever fought his own father so he lacked confidence.

"D-do they carry weapons?" Jovian asked, openly nervously.

William patted Jovian on the back and laughed.

"Most do, but rarely do they have guns. And I'll take those ones out before they cause trouble. You can count on me," William said reassuringly.

"Oh, kid, before we go I want to ask you something," Reis said, "does your dad really use a stone ax and no guns or Hadron rifles, frying pans, anything?"

"He does the whole chieftain look as a scare tactic. He was born on the southside of Sol City, in one of the old high rises. Raised there by his parents who have never so much as heard of a native reservation let alone seen one, my dad is a city boy at heart," Jovian responded as he inspected his jacket which carried his dad's Mark.

Terry repeatedly gasped through the whole conversation.

"That scoundrel!" Terry yelled.

"Terry, you saw my dad in butterfly pajamas every morning practicing his scary voice in the mirror for week's when you stayed with us temporarily," Jovian yelled back.

"And that was also terrifying!" Terry yelled before he turned around.

"Let's get going before I lose my sanity!" Syla screamed.