Chapter CCCLVII ~Multehx

Abruptly the Maestro came to a halt. Ratch and Kenzo stopped just a few steps behind him, looking about for the cause of the hold up. Their blindfolded leader spoke up before they found it though. "It has been a long trek, the sun is high in the air and it is remarkably hot and humid in this forest we have been moving through. We should wait here until it grows cooler, or you too will surely melt your joints."

Kenzo was about to protest his were above normal atmospheric temperature tolerance, but then he remembered it might have been different for Ratch. Simultaneously, the tall robot was about to castigate their temporary man in charge when he remembered their knightly companion, and, considering he was probably made of older, faulty, human-made metal, he was probably subject to such, so he just refrained from comment. The two simply joined the other in taking spots beneath the shade of the canopy of the trees above.

* * *

Yawning, Scilas blinked his eyes open wearily. He was having a tremendous dream, but for some reason, he was feeling remarkably uncomfortable. He seemed to be sweating and his clothes felt hot. Sleep muddled, it took him a few minutes to regain enough realization ability to see that he was sitting in broad daylight, the sun beating down on him. Further glancing about confirmed to him his location – still at the statue, his partner asleep against the other side of it.

Slowly he edged over, reaching out and shaking the mercenary lightly by the shoulder. Mumbling something incoherent he slowly opened an eye slightly.

He glanced about for a moment then asked in a groggy tone, "So...we seem to be sans a robot, a knight, and the English lizard kid... any ideas?"

The assassin shrugged. "None. Not good streets for leaving trails anyway, with all the people passing through."

Jaded grunted, closing his eye again. "I'm catchin' a few more, then. Odds are, if we wait here a few, they'll show. If they're not here by the time I wake....we'll think of something."

Scilas smirked slightly as he leaned back against the base of his side of the statue again. The ever pleasant part of waiting, or ever going anyone with an alias belying their brigandry; them wandering off and stranding you, to leave you waiting with nothing more concrete than coincidence.

* * *

"Well, YOU'RE the one who belongs in a Radio Shack, and I don't mean workin’ the place!!" D'Nel raged back.

Ray snorted angrily, cracking his metallic knuckles with his opposite hand. "You're askin’ to be bit in the brain by your own teeth, pal!"

D'Nel growled, pulling up the sleeves of his jacket and shirt. "You're getting a little big for your model, bot."

"Um, excuse me," a new voice timidly interrupted the glare-down.

The two turned to Rainy, who was now on his feet, rubbing his head where he had been ambushed by the beast Ray had to beat off him. "...Hey, when'd you wake up, anyways?" they said in almost unison.