Seven in the morning, in a dingy dining room that could have passed for a smoky, outdated bar, Scotch slowly stirred his coffee, gazing into the unappetizing beige liquid. Last night, after arriving at High Collection Station, they grabbed the cheapest looking motel and hunkered down. 

But Scotch hadn't been able to sleep much, worried about Tyler and if he would ever get to see him again. Then he did the worst thing—he kept himself up to date with what was going on at school through CPA student news.

"Mornin'." Mason sat down across from him with his own coffee. "Looks like ya slept none last night."

"Look at this." Scotch pulled out his Bolt and showed Mason the newest development. Captain Morgan Trinity announced at six in the morning that it was, yes, indeed, a gang of Humans that caused the explosion and killed ten citizens. 

But Cataloogy Police Force had it all under control. Justice would be served. In CPA student news, there were articles about how the Human gang killed Officer Regalous Dornt and Quinn Torrent. An article by 'frostycityman' said it was the same one that killed Bran Borrecki ten years ago and they had come to the Halfhuman police for revenge.

"Shite," Mason breathed out, "Alex."

"River has proof it was Alex killed Dornt." Scotch yawned a great big one. His eyes felt like they might fall asleep. "But we'd sure as get shushed."

Mason ran his finger across his neck. Scotch grimaced because they both knew Trinity had that power.

"Good morning, villagies," Christoph said, plunking himself down at the next table. He had served himself some eggs, sausage, and a piece of toast with butter on it. "What's new?"

"Mornin'!" Ginger skipped over to them with a smile on her face. Her red sweater was larger than her, almost like a dress, and with the sleeves coming over her hands. The collar was barely hiding anything underneath although she did have a pink shirt on.

She plunked herself across from Christoph. "Slept well, every—damn, Scotchie, ya look like a sock!"

"A sock?" Christoph chuckled.

Ginger made her hand flabby and waved it around. "Like a sock, ya know? We say that."

"I'm an orange sock. I couldn't sleep." Scotch drank some more coffee. He really couldn't stomach food, but he knew he had to eat. A big day was supposedly ahead of them. "Anyone wanna get food with me?"

Ginger shook her head, saying she already ate. "Remember 'em cupcakes at the hotel? I stole tons and had that. Squashed in my bag, fine!" She grinned.

Scotch and Mason were at the self-serve stands when River came in. Her hair was back in a tight, neat ponytail. Her often drooping ears were upright and alert. She was dressed in a black t-shirt with a slightly dipping collar, a white sweater, and blue jeans. A pair of strapped sunglasses hung around her neck.

Mason whistled. "Damn, she lookin' fine."

"Yeah, you should've changed." Scotch pinched Mason's parker, the same black one with the words 'LIFE HIGH LIFE' on it that he wore the day before. Mason reached over and stole Scotch's sausage.

"Oy!" He hissed. "You can't eat here, bastard."

With Mason ogling River and making no attempt to hide it, Scotch went over to a stand near the back that had cereal. It was always his comfort food in the morning. Damn, did he need one this morning.

Making his way over, he noticed a few citizens in pairs here and there. By the cereal stand was a pair of male Leovras easy to tell because they had a brush of an orange beard connecting to their blonde or orange hair. Not a full mane, but close enough to know their sub-specie. They were dressed quite casually—t-shirts and jeans, talking in low, serious-sounding voices.

Wonder why it's called 'jeans'? A random thought popped into his sleepy mind. What in the name of the moons is 'jean' and why does it need to be plural? Because it has two legs?

As Scotch decided if he wanted to do all the same cereal or a mixture and be fancy, his ears picked up the Leovras' conversation.

"So, he's okay, yeah?" said the one with blonde hair.

"Aye, but quite traumatized 'bout what he saw."

"But he was knocked out, right? How can you be sure it wasn't actually a Human?"

"Fig, Yuna, he's my brother!" the orange-haired one hissed. "He would never lie. I know him. And he sent me this."

Scotch finished scooping in cereal and glanced up. They were looking at a Flat Bolt, larger screen, and more memory, but unable to use to call. Casually, Scotch lowered his glasses from his head. The blurry picture focused. 

It was a short video of Maya standing near a concrete wall, her back to the camera. It looked like she was staring at something. Then she ran from the scene. Seconds later, the camera closed in on a hole in the wall. A black device, countdown twenty seconds. 

It was a bomb.

"Excuse me," Scotch said and the two Leovras jolted upright. The orange-haired one hide the Flat Bolt. "I'm a student at CPA. Scotch Borrecki," He held out his paw, "cadet."

The one called Yuna glanced at his friend. His mouth lifted in a lop-sided smile. "Yunaki Trioko," He shook Scotch's paw, "This is my best mate, Sariko."

Sariko shook Scotch's paw. "Sariko Rukiti. Borrecki, eh? Bran Borrecki? He had a son, eh?"

"I know that girl, she's goes to CPA." Scotch lowered his voice. "She's trouble."

Yuna leaned back in his chair. "So, you're here, why's that? Running away? Flying solo? Graduated early?"

Scotch licked his lips. He wasn't about to reveal too much about why he was out here to these total strangers. "I was hopin' you'd share that video."

Sariko laughed. "With a stranger, eh? How'm I supposed to know you're not with Captain Ice Pick? Only proof I have is your word and these days, word proof doesn't cut it."

"You know her reputation around here, eh?" Yuna linked his fingers and rested them on the table. "Ain't good to side with her, covering up, yeah?"

They weren't going to give it up unless he told them more. "I think she killed my father," he whispered.

Sariko's eyes narrowed. He took the Flat Bolt out again. "Give me your bump."

"Thank you." Scotch said and opened the bump feature which allowed Bolts and Flat Bolts to send things to each other with just a bump. They didn't have to disclose their numbers or addresses. Once the bump was complete, he thanked Sariko and was about to leave when Yuna grabbed his wrist.

"Hey, Bran Borrecki was my hero. A great officer. Yeah," He shook his head, "I was livid with that weak trial." He bared his fangs. "Livid. All evidence was weak. He deserves justice, Scotch. Do him right, yeah?"

"I will." Scotch gave a firm nod. 

After thanking them again, he retrieved his food and joined his friends, telling them all about the encounter when he got there. Having lived so long in Marmaglaid, Scotch, like many villagetownies, were a bit out of touch from the rest of the world. He hadn't thought about or realized how much those outside Marmaglaid knew about his father. That he was a hero to many was something Scotch had heard about many times, but he hadn't met anyone that said he was their hero.

And it feels good. He smiled, proud to be the son of a hero. Despite the lack of sleep, he felt energized and ready to go. "After we eat and get ready, we'll check the portal times. Also, some guidebook for Syaraize would be nice," he said between spoonfuls of now soggy cereal.

"I got one, actually," Christoph said rolling up his white shirt sleeves, "because I thought about visiting the warped city in my spare time."

"We, least yer useful for somethin'," River said with a frown. "I was beginnin' to wonder if you'd be baggage."

At the mention of 'baggage', Scotch shot a look at Mason. 'Don't say it, not here,' he tried to convey with his eyes. Mason had his mouth open but closed it with a grin.

"Dang, Scotchie, sometimes we know each other so well it's scary."

Scotch scoffed. "You mean, I know you too well."

"Goes the other way." Mason moved his chair, so he sat next to Scotch. "He'll be fine. He's a senior, remember? I'm sure we'll find him, and he'll have knocked most of the crims dead."

That bit of panic festering inside him faded. Mason always seemed to know when Scotch needed assurance. He leaned against his friend's shoulder and took a deep breath.

"What's goin' on here?" River rolled her eyes. "I'm going back to the room."

"Comin' with," Ginger said and skipped after.

"Obviously, you don't understand brotherhood," Christoph said as the girls left. "Well, let me just say, it's unclear if Maya did set the bomb. She could have also found it, but realized it was too late to stop it. Not defending her."

But she's with Trinity and Trinity was using the explosion as a diversion so the Humans could do things on campus, right? But what about Alex?

* * *

Back in the room, Scotch flopped on the bed. "So sleepy."

"Take a thirty-minute rest. I'll wake ya up." Mason lounged on the sofa. Christoph had turned on the television low and sat on his bed to watch.

With a loud yawn, Scotch lay on his stomach and closed his eyes. He imagined he was laying on top of Tyler. Then he remembered the kiss. He licked his lips and then he remembered Christoph's tease on the bus.

"I'm gonna take a shower," Mason announced, "but I'll wake you up in time."

Soon the shower began to run. Scotch let his eyes droop. In and out of relaxation he slipped, sometimes nearly falling asleep, but still all too awake. After a while, he picked up a slight sound of Christoph moving from his bed to Scotch's.

What's he doin'? Scotch kept his eyes closed, pretending to be asleep.

"Will he'll be mad?" Christoph whispered. A light chuckle followed. "Probably."

His presence umbrellaed over Scotch.

Shite, is he doin'? Scotch kept his eyes closed, but he knew Christoph was right over him. Then his presence left. Scotch let out a breath of relief, although he was sure what he was relieved about. When he opened his eyes, Christoph was leaning on his arms that rested at the edge of the bed.

They stared at each other. Scotch with surprise probably written a hundred times on his face. In contrast, Christoph seemed as calm as ever. He leaned in and whispered, "Your fur is so soft, what do you use to keep it that way?"

"I-I just—"

"My fur is so gruff, feel." Christoph rolled Scotch's sleeve up to reveal the Human part of his arm. The bare, tanned skin poked through and Christoph's coarse fur grazed against the skin.

"You woke me up to do this?" He grimaced.

"You were awake." Christoph smirked. "Such a sly fox." He lifted Scotch's paw and intertwined his fingers. "So soft."

"What's your game?" Scotch growled, but it wasn't a convincing anger. His heart was racing. What was bastard Two Names up to?

"My game is to make you mad." Christoph said with a lopsided smile. "I like making you mad," he said with a chuckle and left, returning to his own bed.

"Shite, bastard Two Names!" Scotch said, but he didn't have a good comeback. "Let me rest!" His heart was racing still, threating to overpower his clear thinking. There was nothing more annoying than being teased like this from your nemesis.

Irritating. Exasperating. Troublesome. Just overall a nuisance. Scotch had more important things to think about like today's strategy. How were they going to Ruggart Town, Uponalley and find Saber and Serelia Scuttle? Asking around Syaraize might be their only way if Ruggart Town, Uponalley brought up no results.

Once Mason got out of the shower and dried off with a blow dryer, they all grabbed their bags and headed down to the lounge which was non-existent. The dining room also sported as a lounge. Back in their same seats as breakfast, they went over Christoph's 'Guide In, Around, Through, and Over Syaraize' to figure out where they had to be at what time to get where they needed to go.

It was crazy. The map of nine o'clock was so vastly different from the map of noon that it was almost like a completely different city. The towns you could reach at any given time were different. Sometimes roads blocked off entire towns making them inaccessible.

"How do you think citizens live here without goin' insane?" Scotch frowned, narrowing his eyes at the map of noon and ten because there was just the subtle difference—but major difference—of not being able to access the main square if you wound up at the Umbrella Shop.

"Dang, I'd go mad." Mason laughed.

That was the price to pay living so close a magick portal. Warped time and shifting streets. Say if they did get to Ruggart Town, Uponalley and Saber was standing right there because they didn't even know what he looked like.

"Just found a mugshot," Ginger said and rested her Bolt on the table. "We ain't knowin' what we're lookin' for if we don't know who he look like. Didn't expect to get a picture."

River's wagging tail thumped against the chair. "I was just thinkin' about that. You go, Ginger." She grinned and Ginger beamed.

"Let's have a look," Scotch said and scrolled through the most recent article where Saber was fined thousands of omnias for robbing a bank. Only sixteen-years-old then, since he couldn't pay it, the Human police put him in jail for ten years.

"Ten years?" Mason yawned. "Isn't that the question you had, Scotchie? Why wait ten years since that day and act now? They were waitin' for Saber to get out of jail."

Scotch didn't think it had anything to do with that. The date Saber was convicted was weeks after OB was shot dead. It couldn't have had anything to do with Saber.

Or did it? Could Trinity have been waitin' because she had dealin's with him? Scotch rubbed his chin and stored those speculations in his mind along with the others.

"What a sickly-lookin' kid," River commented. "I've seen healthier Humans than this."

Saber was a sickly-looking kid. Sunken cheeks, paperwhite skin, large eyes with a redness underneath as if he had been crying or drinking or both. Cracked purple lips, and paperwhite hair. The way he had his eyes opened as wide as he could made him look absolutely mad.

"Anything about Ruggart Town, Uponalley?" Christoph asked. "It's where Saber Sickly wants to meet anyway."

"On it, Two Names," Ginger said, grabbing her Bolt. With quick fingers she found images of Ruggart Town at various times of the day. 

From morning to noon, it was more or less the same kind of rich town and nothing to do with a 'rug'. It had shiny new buildings and brand-name shops with sparkling no-doubt expensive things in the windows. But at four o'clock, the difference was like night and day. Ruggart Town certainly covered the 'rug' part of its name this time.

A few shabby buildings scattered around a dark, dismal square. Rickety lanterns with crooked poles encircled the square, but only some were on. In the middle of the square was a fountain and single citizen sat on the ledge with his head bowed between his legs.

"So, one of these. I think the plan's to find the town, but also find Serelia Scuttle. Ginger, you'll be our investigator." Scotch pointed to her Bolt. "Any—"

"On it. Serelia," she said, "Scuttle." She typed into her Bolt. "Nothing immediately comes out. I'd have to do more diggin'."

"Syaraize Center Square should be where we meet. By four, we fish around for Scuttle and meet up here," Scotch pointed to the Center Square Clock Tower that was literally a tower of clocks, "and then once we compare notes, we'll figure out our next move. Syaraize is the main hub, so I think we'd have good luck askin' for citizen registry, list of criminals, that sort of thing. Might show us if we say we're police cadets. And maybe a callbook if they still make individual numbers available."

Christoph nodded. "In that case, count on me for that. No offense, but authorities are more likely to listen to someone without slur."

"Ya mockin' us?" River narrowed her eyes. "I swear I'll—"

"I said, no offense!" Christoph argued. "It's just the way it is sometimes."

Scotch didn't like to admit, but he knew Christoph was right. "You be in charge, then River and Ginger, I think you should go together to the library. It says the library lines up with the existence times of the Center Square."

"Roger that," Ginger grinned, "I know I shouldn't be, but it's excitin' and me thinks, great first mission for us, eh?"

"First mission." Mason closed his eyes and nodded. "Mmm!" He licked his lips. "That is some delicious phrase, oh! Scotchie, synonym for delicious!"

"Scrumptious. Yummy. Tasty."

"Scrumptious phrase, that's it. That's what I wanted to say. Such a scrumptious phrase and makes me trill!" He said and trilled with excitement.

To Scotch's surprise, River's scowl softened, and she laughed at Mason. "Or a scrumptious first mission?" she said, wagging her tail.

"Ooo!" Mason trilled again. "I love that. Good one, River." He grinned, showing his fangs, and River smirked, letting hers peek out from between her lips.

They almost looked like they were finally getting along when a few seconds later, they began to argue about what the mission's secret name was going to be. But it was never decided, for they had to go. Scotch took the guidebook, and they left the motel for High Collection Station.