The Return (IC/OPEN)

[Cadia]

Mike watched along the walls, looking for some sort of entry point. It was when he was looking around did he see the lizard dog walking away into the corridor.

"Whatcha find Butters?"

He followed Butters into the other room.

Butters looked back at the man than forward once more, as though expecting the human to follow. He moved off, nudging the access point open and scampered down the stairs into the dark hole.

"Umm, guys? I think Butters found the exit to this place."

He walked back into the room and pointed down the corridor.

"Black hole in the wall. Exit is this way."

[Mincaldenteans]

Thelin turned and smiled, "Great! Let's get going." She moved off into the room where Mike pointed and to the access hatch Butters had disappeared into. Her eyes immediately adjusted to the dark and it was a welcoming to her eyes. Indeed she felt much better and at ease instead of the blurriness and light that had bothered her earlier.

Hunter moved with some aid from George to the access hatch. "Alright, better than out here," he mused. "Hey babe," he called to Cymitia, "let's get going."

[Lancearc]

Anna ducked as the heavily armoured car crashed through the camp, covering her head. She wasn't sure who had planned such an attack or where these cars came from. She quickly got up and looked to the direction of where the car crashed. "Connor! Get up!" She said, trying to help him up.

Connor wasn't in the best condition to be taking random dives out of the way of speeding vehicles considering his recent operation, so it took him a bit to finally stumble to his feet with Anna's help. He retrieved the gun he'd dropped, looking around. "Alright, for future reference...scrappers are bad." Connor joked, trying to manage a smile but not being able to in the present situation. "I think we should let the soldiers handle this fighting." he suggested quickly, hinting to them finding a safer place while these 'scrappers' were dealt with.

---

Cymitia had heard the call that Butters had apparently discovered something, and had earlier noticed him nudging her leg, though she didn't pay much attention to him then. She only joined the others on Hunter's call for her though, she noticing the opening that their vorshaj had apparently discovered. "Good job Butters!" she said with perhaps a bit too much cheer, kneeling and hugging the scaly animal before it scampered down into the entrance to the smuggler's tunnels. She took Hunter's hand as she began her descent. "Watch your step..." she said, as she knew his vision was still impaired somewhat.

[Cadia]

Cymitia had heard the call that Butters had apparently discovered something, and had earlier noticed him nudging her leg, though she didn't pay much attention to him then. She only joined the others on Hunter's call for her though, she noticing the opening that their vorshaj had apparently discovered. "Good job Butters!" she said with perhaps a bit too much cheer, kneeling and hugging the scaly animal before it scampered down into the entrance to the smuggler's tunnels. She took Hunter's hand as she began her descent. "Watch your step..." she said, as she knew his vision was still impaired somewhat.

"My turn. Wheee."

He walked into the all encompassing darkness, almost stepping on something in the process. He grabbed Thelins hand after finding her by the light of the room they left.

"I don't detect anything. Won't you help a blind man see?"

[Mincaldenteans]

Cymitia had heard the call that Butters had apparently discovered something, and had earlier noticed him nudging her leg, though she didn't pay much attention to him then. She only joined the others on Hunter's call for her though, she noticing the opening that their vorshaj had apparently discovered. "Good job Butters!" she said with perhaps a bit too much cheer, kneeling and hugging the scaly animal before it scampered down into the entrance to the smuggler's tunnels. She took Hunter's hand as she began her descent. "Watch your step..." she said, as she knew his vision was still impaired somewhat.

"My turn. Wheee."

He walked into the all encompassing darkness, almost stepping on something in the process. He grabbed Thelins hand after finding her by the light of the room they left.

"I don't detect anything. Won't you help a blind man see?"

"Why yes, I think I can be persuaded to do so, come down to the rabbit hole, Mike, down we go," Thelin giggled, gripping his hand and guiding him.

Hunter's sight improved dramatically upon entering the dark tunnel and he felt a whole lot better that he could see. Though not as clear, this was still a vast improvement than earlier. His headache suddenly didn't feel all that bad. "Let's press on, the sooner we're at the end of this, the sooner we're out and we can start looking for George's sister immediately."

"That would be great, Hunt. Are you all sure you're fine. I've never seen a flash grenade that could affect anyone that way." The first words out of George in awhile.

Hunter nodded, "Yeah, we'll be fine. Let's just hope we don't get that again. Anyway, let's move."

[Lancearc]

"It looks like he put up a better fight than we thought..." Cymitia commented in a hushed whisper, although there was no one around to hear her she still felt like she needed to keep her voice down. The bodies of HGV men were littering many of the tunnels, indicating the smuggler must have fought his way back to his home before being cornered inside. She was careful to step over them and make sure Hunter did the same, still gripping his hand to guide him along with her. "What do you think he was like?" Cymitia asked Hunter, not expecting much of an answer. She glanced back down at the map, attempting to track their progress through the tunnels.

[Mincaldenteans]

"It looks like he put up a better fight than we thought..." Cymitia commented in a hushed whisper, although there was no one around to hear her she still felt like she needed to keep her voice down. The bodies of HGV men were littering many of the tunnels, indicating the smuggler must have fought his way back to his home before being cornered inside. She was careful to step over them and make sure Hunter did the same, still gripping his hand to guide him along with her. "What do you think he was like?" Cymitia asked Hunter, not expecting much of an answer. She glanced back down at the map, attempting to track their progress through the tunnels.

Hunter shrugged, not knowing how to answer the question. Too random, in his opinion, but one couldn't help but wonder considering the amount of corpses littering the tunnels. The stench was unbearable. Hunter stopped at one and took the dead man's weapon, he gave it to Thelin and another one to George. "Precaution," he said plainly as the two took their weapons. Continuing on, "Guy must've laid this all out and knew how to put a fight, this is... kind of scary."

[Lancearc]

"Agreed..." Cymitia said, stepping over another of the dead men in the red uniforms. The smuggler did seem to have a good idea of how to hold his own, and knew his tunnels extremely well. It all seemed very eerie, especially in the low light - at least, for the Human members of their group. She was so wrapped up in making sure she didn't kick any of the bodies that she didn't notice the fine wire stretched across the way in front of her feet, just barely visible to the sharpest eye.

It was only the fact that there were two bodies ahead on the ground that protected her from the blast from a makeshift mine, the explosion in such close quarters sending her backwards into Hunter with a shriek and leaving a ringing in her ears afterwards. The concussive blast was all that was there, as the bodies had absorbed the shrapnel. Her heart was pounding, realizing just how close she'd come to death and hating herself for being so careless. "I-Is everyone alright?" she asked shakily, still gripping Hunter tightly.

[Mincaldenteans]

"Agreed..." Cymitia said, stepping over another of the dead men in the red uniforms. The smuggler did seem to have a good idea of how to hold his own, and knew his tunnels extremely well. It all seemed very eerie, especially in the low light - at least, for the Human members of their group. She was so wrapped up in making sure she didn't kick any of the bodies that she didn't notice the fine wire stretched across the way in front of her feet, just barely visible to the sharpest eye.

It was only the fact that there were two bodies ahead on the ground that protected her from the blast from a makeshift mine, the explosion in such close quarters sending her backwards into Hunter with a shriek and leaving a ringing in her ears afterwards. The concussive blast was all that was there, as the bodies had absorbed the shrapnel. Her heart was pounding, realizing just how close she'd come to death and hating herself for being so careless. "I-Is everyone alright?" she asked shakily, still gripping Hunter tightly.

"Are you?" Hunter said frantic. His eyes and hands were searching for injuries upon Cym's body but he saw none. The two bodies were obliterated from the booby trap. Satisfied and relieved that Cymitia was alright. He took a deep breath, his ears were ringing loudly. "That was really close," Hunter huffed, though he figured he was almost shouting, he couldn't hear much right now. "We'll go slower, guys, keep an eye out." Thelin nodded looking at Mike and George.

"Come on," Hunter said, helping Cymitia regain her balance. "You okay babe?"

[Lancearc]

"Agreed..." Cymitia said, stepping over another of the dead men in the red uniforms. The smuggler did seem to have a good idea of how to hold his own, and knew his tunnels extremely well. It all seemed very eerie, especially in the low light - at least, for the Human members of their group. She was so wrapped up in making sure she didn't kick any of the bodies that she didn't notice the fine wire stretched across the way in front of her feet, just barely visible to the sharpest eye.

It was only the fact that there were two bodies ahead on the ground that protected her from the blast from a makeshift mine, the explosion in such close quarters sending her backwards into Hunter with a shriek and leaving a ringing in her ears afterwards. The concussive blast was all that was there, as the bodies had absorbed the shrapnel. Her heart was pounding, realizing just how close she'd come to death and hating herself for being so careless. "I-Is everyone alright?" she asked shakily, still gripping Hunter tightly.

"Are you?" Hunter said frantic. His eyes and hands were searching for injuries upon Cym's body but he saw none. The two bodies were obliterated from the booby trap. Satisfied and relieved that Cymitia was alright. He took a deep breath, his ears were ringing loudly. "That was really close," Hunter huffed, though he figured he was almost shouting, he couldn't hear much right now. "We'll go slower, guys, keep an eye out." Thelin nodded looking at Mike and George.

"Come on," Hunter said, helping Cymitia regain her balance. "You okay babe?"

"I-I think so, thank you..." Cymitia said with a shaky nod and a total lack of confidence in the fact, though she didn't want to have her near death experience impede their progress through the tunnels too much. She continued, now keeping closer to Hunter than before, but also keeping an eye on the ground in front of them to watch for any more explosive wires, at least that's what she thought they were. "I was told about those explosive wires in the rebellion, but I'd never seen any up until now..." she commented to no one in particular, returning her gaze to the ground ahead.

[Mincaldenteans]

"I-I think so, thank you..." Cymitia said with a shaky nod and a total lack of confidence in the fact, though she didn't want to have her near death experience impede their progress through the tunnels too much. She continued, now keeping closer to Hunter than before, but also keeping an eye on the ground in front of them to watch for any more explosive wires, at least that's what she thought they were. "I was told about those explosive wires in the rebellion, but I'd never seen any up until now..." she commented to no one in particular, returning her gaze to the ground ahead.

"Same," Hunter said, "But I somehow always thought it'd be used above ground. I've never thought they could be used anywhere. We'll just take it a bit slow, not like we have HGV on our heels," he said and realized the morbid ration of humor as he saw a few more HGV victims at the hand of the smugglers handiwork.

[Cadia]

"I must say the smuggler was thorough in his handiwork."

Mike leaned to scavenge one of the dead officers, taking any ammunition he could find. He placed all of the extra clips into the various pouches on his belt that he had taken off the HGV men in the basement.

"Anyone else have the feeling they're being watched? Or is it just me?"

[Mincaldenteans]

"I must say the smuggler was thorough in his handiwork."

Mike leaned to scavenge one of the dead officers, taking any ammunition he could find. He placed all of the extra clips into the various pouches on his belt that he had taken off the HGV men in the basement.

"Anyone else have the feeling they're being watched? Or is it just me?"

Thelin gripped her pistol and Mike's hand a little at the idea that more HGV could be around. She didn't want to voice a complain about the possibility, there was no point to that, but Mike's hand was reassuring and he wasn't on edge. She was. One fight, one grenade, a slew of corpses and a trap that nearly took Cymitia out in the span of a few hours, she was unnerved. Feeling as though this was beyond her, she continued, she had to.

"If we are," she whispered, "I don't want to know. Let's just keep moving."

[Lancearc]

"You're just claustrophobic, I think." Cymitia said with a glance back at Mike, though the dead bodies gazing up at them as they made their way through the tunnels was more than a bit eerie. Unnerving was probably an understatement for the atmosphere it was setting for them. "I think we're getting close to the exit, though." she said positively, trying to lighten the mood a little bit. It wasn't entirely untrue either, looking at the map it did seem as though they were approaching some sort of exit.

[Cadia]

"You're just claustrophobic, I think." Cymitia said with a glance back at Mike, though the dead bodies gazing up at them as they made their way through the tunnels was more than a bit eerie. Unnerving was probably an understatement for the atmosphere it was setting for them. "I think we're getting close to the exit, though." she said positively, trying to lighten the mood a little bit. It wasn't entirely untrue either, looking at the map it did seem as though they were approaching some sort of exit.

"Probably. Doesn't stop me from feeling creeped out from the, I don't know, dozens of dead bodies strewn about."

He looked at the bodies as they walked by them, one fellow even had a twisted smile on his face.

"That's not disturbing at all."

[Jessjohnesik]

Anna ducked as the heavily armoured car crashed through the camp, covering her head. She wasn't sure who had planned such an attack or where these cars came from. She quickly got up and looked to the direction of where the car crashed. "Connor! Get up!" She said, trying to help him up.

Connor wasn't in the best condition to be taking random dives out of the way of speeding vehicles considering his recent operation, so it took him a bit to finally stumble to his feet with Anna's help. He retrieved the gun he'd dropped, looking around. "Alright, for future reference...scrappers are bad." Connor joked, trying to manage a smile but not being able to in the present situation. "I think we should let the soldiers handle this fighting." he suggested quickly, hinting to them finding a safer place while these 'scrappers' were dealt with.

---

Cymitia had heard the call that Butters had apparently discovered something, and had earlier noticed him nudging her leg, though she didn't pay much attention to him then. She only joined the others on Hunter's call for her though, she noticing the opening that their vorshaj had apparently discovered. "Good job Butters!" she said with perhaps a bit too much cheer, kneeling and hugging the scaly animal before it scampered down into the entrance to the smuggler's tunnels. She took Hunter's hand as she began her descent. "Watch your step..." she said, as she knew his vision was still impaired somewhat.

Anna chuckled slightly, following Connor to wherever he thought would be safe, though she still wanted to know what the hell are these scrappers are and who they are controlled by. "Who do you think owns these 'Scrappers?'" She asked Connor while looking back at where the machine was supposed to be.

[Lancearc]

"Stop talking about them!" Cymitia scolded Mike, averting her gaze from the bodies at their feet. As they drew closer to the exit marked on the map, the bodies had finally stopped appearing and they could spot a ladder ahead. Cymitia wanted to rush towards it, but was still careful to look out for wires. "When we get out we should be outside the northern wall, where the HGV are camped, and the direction we need to head to reach Prince." she said with a grin.

[Lancearc]

Connor wasn't in the best condition to be taking random dives out of the way of speeding vehicles considering his recent operation, so it took him a bit to finally stumble to his feet with Anna's help. He retrieved the gun he'd dropped, looking around. "Alright, for future reference...scrappers are bad." Connor joked, trying to manage a smile but not being able to in the present situation. "I think we should let the soldiers handle this fighting." he suggested quickly, hinting to them finding a safer place while these 'scrappers' were dealt with.

---

Cymitia had heard the call that Butters had apparently discovered something, and had earlier noticed him nudging her leg, though she didn't pay much attention to him then. She only joined the others on Hunter's call for her though, she noticing the opening that their vorshaj had apparently discovered. "Good job Butters!" she said with perhaps a bit too much cheer, kneeling and hugging the scaly animal before it scampered down into the entrance to the smuggler's tunnels. She took Hunter's hand as she began her descent. "Watch your step..." she said, as she knew his vision was still impaired somewhat.

Anna chuckled slightly, following Connor to wherever he thought would be safe, though she still wanted to know what the hell are these scrappers are and who they are controlled by. "Who do you think owns these 'Scrappers?'" She asked Connor while looking back at where the machine was supposed to be.

"Whoever it is I don't think they're very friendly..." Connor muttered as they turned a corner between ripped tents, one of the men appearing. The scrapper was quite obviously under the influence of any number of drugs, judging by his behavior. "Watch out!" Connor shouted, not sure if Anna was already moving away from the man. He fired several shots into the scrapper's chest before finally landing a shot to the head, bringing down the hopped up bandit. "I think we need to leave, quickly." Connor said, shaking his head before taking off again with Anna in tow.

[Jessjohnesik]

"Holy shit!" Anna exclaimed when Connor started shooting the man. "I should probably take his gun." Anna muttered to herself as she kneeled down to take the scrapper's gun, even though she didn't know how to use a gun at all.
"So, you will tell me how to use these guns later, right?" She asked Connor as they walked.

[Cadia]

"Stop talking about them!" Cymitia scolded Mike, averting her gaze from the bodies at their feet. As they drew closer to the exit marked on the map, the bodies had finally stopped appearing and they could spot a ladder ahead. Cymitia wanted to rush towards it, but was still careful to look out for wires. "When we get out we should be outside the northern wall, where the HGV are camped, and the direction we need to head to reach Prince." she said with a grin.

"Sorry."

Mike was relieved when the bodies stopped appearing and the ladder appeared in front of them. The thought of making it to the surface made him somewhat giddy.

"So... How longs the travel to Prince anyways? From the Northern wall?"

[Lancearc]

"Holy shit!" Anna exclaimed when Connor started shooting the man. "I should probably take his gun." Anna muttered to herself as she kneeled down to take the scrapper's gun, even though she didn't know how to use a gun at all.
"So, you will tell me how to use these guns later, right?" She asked Connor as they walked.

"If we manage to live that long, yes I will." Connor confirmed, though again they were forced to stop when the Challenger 2 Connor had been admiring earlier rumbled past, firing its massive cannon and sending a sharp ringing through both of their ears. Over the ringing he could still pick out the sounds of a nearby helicopter, and once the vehicle was out of the way allowing them to progress he could see the evacuation vehicle preparing to lift off. Without another word he began leading the way to the aircraft. They passed numerous burning vehicles, each of them the makeshift armored cars that these Scrappers had thrown together which apparently weren't quite enough to protect from proper anti-armor weapons or tank cannons. He didn't waste any time in helping Anna onto the chopper and hopping in himself - a nearby sign said it was headed back into the rebel controlled half of London, safe enough and precisely where he wanted to be, headed back to The Shard.

---

Only when everything at the GEE camp had blown over did Cymitia and the rest decide it safe to enter. When they arrived the camp was certainly a mess, many of the tents had been knocked over or torn by bullets, metal carcasses littered the area, the bodies of men who looked like they hadn't taken a bath in ages dotted the ground, which reminded Cymitia of her own need to bathe. Still, they'd made it out of the city - again - and she was happy. With the town of Prince being a decent walk, it had been decided they'd find a ride within the GEE camp if there was one to be found. While all of the helicopters looked to be busy either getting people out of the camp or bringing people in, there were several old Jeeps sitting around that the military could spare. It'd only taken a bit of explaining of their situation and they were able to have one of these jeeps take them to Prince and a bit of George's status with the empire was all that was needed to have a helicopter waiting for them at the town.

When they arrived in Prince with Mike and Thelin they were greeted with enthusiasm by everyone they'd met the last time, especially Beth and, to a lesser degree of joy (though she imagined this was just due to his nature), Richard. While they were disappointed after they revealed that they wouldn't be staying for long once again, they were able to get Mike and Thelin a pleasant little home inside the town, something of a mid-sized home that was made all the more charming by the countryside feel it had to it. It was already furnished for the most part, but Cymitia, Hunter and George were unfortunately already scheduled to depart when one of the GEE's helicopters touched down just outside of the city for them. While they were taken back to the camp to finally ask what they'd escaped the city to ask, they were a bit disappointed with that no one at the camp seemed to know the whereabouts of George's sister. The general, however, was able to contact the census of several nearby GEE cities to assist, with the nearest lead being in a city called Cardiff. An overjoyed George all but pulled Cym and Hunter along with him back to their waiting transportation, the chopper lifting off again, for the final time this time.

---

4 Months Later
Sunday, December 8th, 2027
Prince, England
9:00 AM

The chill of the air outside was what made this morning so comfortable. With all the cold air about this time of year that Cymitia had come to hate so much, the season called winter, the heavy blankets she and Hunter hid under together kept her cozy and warm. Accompanying the body heat that resonated from Hunter as he held her closely, she was comfortably warm and regretted she'd have to rise from the bed like she did on so many other winter mornings, namely to haul herself off to work. Yes, unfortunately the ending of their fight did mean that she had to pick up a job once again, though Beth and Richard who'd hired her to work down at the inn always allowed her off on the weekends to stay home and be lazy, which was basically the only thing that was on the agenda for today, she didn't even know if she would get out of bed today now that she thought about it. She pushed herself closer against Hunter, pulling his arms tighter around her and snuggling against him comfortably.

Everything had actually been going well, for once. They'd been married not long after having helped George locate his sister, though rather than inside London where a war still raged they were married in Prince. Since then the war in London had come to an end, and the GEE took control of the city. From what she understood it was still autonomous, meaning the many people on the parliament were still in charge of the city's own affairs, but international issues were still handled by the empire itself. Not only that, London was made the capital city of the empire. The emperor had since moved himself into Buckingham Palace, she'd heard.

Meanwhile, tensions between the Grand English Empire and France were rising, though she never paid attention to that kind of thing anyway, she was more than content to be confined to her new home with her new husband for the rest of her life if it would be so.

---

London, England
The Shard

Only a few miles to the south in London a similar day began for Connor. After the civil war and his moving into Anna's home, he decided it best to at least find a good job, as he felt guilty living in her home while she was conducting her work that he didn't quite understand, and he'd managed to land an honest enough job working for a mechanic, something he had a little bit of experience in and was just dirty enough a job to keep him entertained. The government had given her quite the payout for her work with them, and he'd wanted to talk to her about perhaps moving into a larger home, though he didn't know if this apartment held too much sentimental value to her to move away, it having belonged to her parents. He didn't like thinking too much in the morning though, but he hoped she didn't have any plans today, or else she'd have to fight her way out of the bed, as he had his arms locked around her as he tried to doze off again.

[Jessjohnesik]

Anna Collins
The Shard

Anna slowly opened her eyes and lazily reached out her right hand to rub her eyes, only to find Connor's arms locked around her. Thankfully, the next two days were Anna's days off, meaning that she could sleep for as long as she wanted and do nothing but slack off, much to Anna's joy. But, she had another reason to get up: she had to feed the cat, who was clearly hungry by now.
Heavily breathing out, Anna tried to carefully take Connor's hands off of her to get up. She hoped she wouldn't awaken him.

[Lancearc]

Anna Collins
The Shard

Anna slowly opened her eyes and lazily reached out her right hand to rub her eyes, only to find Connor's arms locked around her. Thankfully, the next two days were Anna's days off, meaning that she could sleep for as long as she wanted and do nothing but slack off, much to Anna's joy. But, she had another reason to get up: she had to feed the cat, who was clearly hungry by now.
Heavily breathing out, Anna tried to carefully take Connor's hands off of her to get up. She hoped she wouldn't awaken him.

Connor felt her moving around a bit, a small smirk appearing on his lips. He tried to hide this though, pretending that he was still in slumber as she tried to get up, he only tightening his grip on her to prevent her from doing so while still trying to make her assume he wasn't yet awake.

[Mincaldenteans]

Prince
9 A.M.

Time in Prince had been everything Hunter wanted. Though the war raged on in the last few months back in London, everyone he cared about was safe. Here, within a street’s length away to check up on. He got a job all too familiar with when they settled in Prince: bartending, and the old man that ran it took comfort that his bar was in good hands while he enjoyed his time settling bones upon a porch as part of his new daily routine. Thelin had offered to help and while Hunter preferred it be Cymitia, he took it nonetheless.

George did what he did best; he became something of an official within the town. Right after finding his sister, all of them had returned back to normal lives. As normal as it could be given their past experiences. Hunter enjoyed it, however, relishing in the fact they didn’t have to fight any longer, enjoying each day that wasn’t filled with bigotry or violence. Things definitely looked up.

Now settled in on a lazy Sunday with Thelin running the bar on the evening shift, he preferred to just lay in bed with Cymitia and sleep it away. Getting married had also done something he thought impossible since he was a kid: he gained weight. It didn’t bother him any, but he realized sooner or later he’d have to get back to exercising. Maybe next week, he mused to himself.

“It’s your turn to cook,” Hunter reminded Cym with an unstoppable smile forming.

[Lancearc]

Cymitia rolled beneath the blanket to face him, sighing and rolling her eyes quite visibly. "Whatever." she said with a small smirk, turning away from him again as she prepared to stand, though she put it off for as long as she could being so comfortable in the bed. "My cooking is better anyway." she teased, finally deciding to pull herself up from the bed with a stretch, wiping the sleep from her eyes groggily and wandering out of their bedroom, into the kitchen not so far from the living room. It was certainly an improvement over the tiny kitchen in Hunter's old apartment in London, this one was actually full sized. She didn't waste any time in beginning to prepare what was readily available - pancakes, sausage, eggs, all of which could be bought here in Prince itself directly from the source, as several farms could be found not so far from the cozy town.

It was the most trivial thing, but cooking and simple, normal life things like it always put her in a good mood, and she couldn't help but feel a grin tugging at the her lips as she strolled into the living room and turned on the television, headed back into the kitchen. She couldn't watch it from there, but she could still listen. The news was on as it typically was, and she'd found that news had become considerably more pleasant since the end of the civil war, speaking more often of sporting events, weather, and things of the likes more than murders and robberies. This put her in an even better mood, and it was all she could do to stop herself from grinning like a fool as she prepared breakfast.