Chapter CCCX: In the Stillness ~Multehx

As the group stared at the burning remains of the inn, they failed to notice something. Namely, the most humanoid, blonde, red jacket-wearing teen edging silently away from the group. As he passed the capsule droid he put a hand on Ray's shoulder and tugged him forcibly along. Fortunately, by this time, the pair had become highly adept at covertly sneaking off and covertly being pulled off.

As Ray got his bearings he began to angrily ask his partner what was going on exactly. D'Nel held a finger to his mouth and leaned on his shoulder, grinning slyly. He spoke in a low tone, as if to appear to not even be talking to the robot.

"Ray, I've just realized something."

Ray cocked one of the eyebrows attached to just above his sunglass rims. "It took you this long? I've been realizing things for quite a-"

D'Nel hit him sharply with his elbow, glaring. "No, you numbskull!" he hissed angrily, "I mean I just realized something NEW. It involves us getting rich and those people getting not richer."

"Hmm...yes, go on. You've got my interest now."

"Well, as I see it," D'Nel chuckled in evil glee, "those newcomers aren't onto us yet. So I figure we can make a few bucks offa them and still appear good in their eyes, as they're not alerted to us yet."

He continued as his partner slowly began to snicker. "Now, I figure it'll require a lot less skill than we normally use–"

"–so we'll find out if there is a degree of 'sub-sucking'–" the robot muttered.

"–but I'm convinced we can do a little ‘business’ on these people and relieve them of anything they're carrying."

Ray Noh thought for a moment. He lowered his head slightly to stare blankly in the direction of the ground for a time. Then, abruptly, he stood straight once more and tapped the side of his head with a dull metallic "thunk". "You know, I think you're actually onto something. We can really make a bit a dough if we play our cards right."

D'Nel grinned and nodded. "Precisely my point. Leave it to my genius to figure out a plan so brilliant I say."

Ray knew to pay this bit no heed and simply went on his thinking things through aloud. "Ok, I think I have an idea, you still have that doorknob?"

The pirate instantly paled. "Uh...I...hmm, I thought I gave it to you?"

Robot and owner stared at each other for a minute. Nothing really happened. A bird flew by in the sky. The burning timbers continued to burn. The robot began to savagely strangle the young man.

"What the HECK do you mean you thought you gave the damn thing to me?!" Ray shouted (as covertly as one could shout angrily) over his strangling.

D'Nel made a few odd gurgling sounds and signed to him rapidly some obscene things along with the fact that he could not talk as his windpipe was being pinched close. Reluctantly, Ray dropped the young man.

He fell to his knees, breathing hard for a few moments before he got back his ability to speak. "I was saying, before someone RUDELY tried to KILL me," he glared at the robot as he got back to his feet, "I'm sure I'll remember where it is as soon as I need to. You know how situational my memory can be."

"...Regretfully, I must admit, such is true."

"Bah, so, I say we get down to business now!"

"So...who do we start with?"

D'Nel looked thoughtful. "Uh...I'm not really sure. I think we should take that strange girl's mask first, then perhaps something on the winged lizard, then something on that strange kid who's following us around. And perhaps the mage has forgotten us...we might be able to get something from him."

Ray agreed. "Yeah, it has been a long time. He's probably forgotten. We should hit him last, tough. And make sure we have something blunt and a fire extinguisher. He's a spirited nut, he is."

D'Nel folded his arms and stared at the group. "Well, it's agreed then. We'll start slow and work our way up." He smirked, adjusting the glove on his right hand. "Just hope that mask isn't hiding anything, cause there's gonna be nothing covering that face when we get done."