"Back up a sec there," Gabe said. "You mean to say that Nash came out here himself when he is one of the clients?"

"Yes," Nyz answered. "I would have done the job myself, except Kal decided to see if anyone else wanted to hijack on it. Kal, why are we looking for lube?"

"Erm… because they're paying?" Kal answered. "Anyway, I'm done uploading the information to you guys, follow the route. You'll look for the canister before heading to the location for our job."

"Kal…"

"I honestly don't know myself," he said. "And we're leaving it sealed if it's there."

Nyz rolled his eyes, then began the trip to the location, the ruins of a single-story building. Gabe and Lyan went into the ruins in their walkers, moving pieces of rubble around as they traveled. They returned a few minutes later, Gabe's mech holding a green metal cylinder with a golden tint to it in a claw arm. The canister itself was three feet in height and eight inches wide, capped tightly on both ends with a label etched onto it.

He passed it off to the beetle, which took it with a claw of its own, pulling the cylinder inside.

"I'm surprised it's still sealed," Kal commented. "But that shouldn't be too surprising considering what the canister is made of. Anyway, that added on an extra five million to each of you, plus those benefits you heard about. Head on to the final location."

The team made their way to the last location, where Nyz exited the beetle, telling everyone to stay put. He entered the remains of the building, navigating through the roots with the help of the route displayed on his helmet's glasses.

Eventually, he came to a room where the remains of various tools and machines were scattered about, most rusted and missing anything not made of metal or clay, the materials long-since decomposed.

Nyz located the rusty metal crate he was looking for and lifted the lid up. The hinges, rusted from centuries of fog, snapped immediately and part of the lid dissolved in his hand. He tossed the lid to the side, where it exploded into a shower of rust dust, but he ignored it.

Lifting out each of the twenty-eight ingots in the box, Nyz let his suit scan each one. All were alloys known on the market, his glasses displaying their official name. Nyz went through two more chests before finding an ingot his suit didn't recognize, the only one out of all of the ingots in the chests.

It was dark blue, nearly the same color as his own combat suit, and much lighter than any other alloy he had ever touched.

"Holy fuck," Kal said. "Nyz, I'll need it back here to be sure, but that might be it."

"Got it," Nyz put it into his pack, then returned to the beetle and climbed in. After decontamination, he pulled off his suit and dressed, then returned to the cockpit and sat in his seat. "We recovered the item, everyone, so you'll be paid. If it turns out to be what we're looking for, then you'll be paid five times as much."

"How much are we being paid?" Gabe asked. "Just out of curiosity."

"Two hundred million," Kal said.

"Split seven ways," Harn said. "That's-"

"Each," Kal said.

Nyz smiled a little at the sight of the shocked expressions on everyone's faces. The recovered item earned them more than double what they earned from the other two jobs, and if it turned out to be the item they were looking for, then each member of the crew would become billionaires. Other than Wys, of course, as he already was a billionaire.

"Damn," Gabe said. "Let's head back to Honlar, then."

"Let's," Nyz muttered as he began driving.

Wys gave him a look, and Nyz knew his friend was aware there was something to his tone. The crew began the journey back to Honlar. With Kal guiding them, they faced little in the way of monsters, easily making the eight-day trip back to Norulb.

After resting there for the night, they continued on their journey, Nyz growing quieter and quieter the closer they drew to Honlar.

"What's wrong, Nyz?" Wys asked as they finally began the end of their journey to Honlar. "We're only a few minutes from the Gate, and once we're there, there's no fog, plenty of fresh food, and hey, even a couple of brothels you can visit for free, if that's your thing."

"It's not," Nyz muttered. "Most sex workers won't work with someone as big as me. Anyway, there's something you guys should all know."

"What?" He asked.

"What the hell?" Zech asked. "Why is the Gate broken?"

Everyone looked forward, their attention reaching the Gate into Honlar. The heavy adamant barrier had been broken off the concrete walls, large dents in it where it lay to the side of the entrance.

"Is that fog?" Gabe asked. "Wait. The wall's lights are-"

"About three days after we left," Nyz said. "Honlar was attacked by the AMF. Communications went down as well, so only we are aware something happened due to how infrequently trips to or from Honlar occur. Kal told me not to tell any of you so that it wouldn't distract from the mission. There isn't much you could do, anyway."

"Our homes," Miyak said. "Our friends and family. They all died, and you didn't bother telling us?"

"He did it under my orders," Kal said. "Nyz always follows my orders. That's how our dynamic works. If you're upset, be upset with me. It was my decision to keep it from you. Now, there are Scavengers still alive. They're holed up in the hanger near the Gate leading to the next city. They've tried to leave a few times, but bograls have gotten in the way each time and they don't have any mechs other than non-combat walkers that they've tried outfitting with guns. Hurry on over, they're engaged in a fight right now."

The team quickly made their way through the city, and Nyz could tell everyone was doing their best not to look at the bodies on the ground, at the way they were brutally torn apart or ripped into, many partially eaten.

It took them nearly fifteen minutes to reach the other hanger, and the moment Nyz saw the fighting, he called for Wys to take control.

"Why?" Wys asked.

"Carmie!" Kacy exclaimed as Nyz rushed to the general room.

Without bothering to put on a combat suit, Nyz left the beetle, launching himself at a bogral holding a body. A combat suit was ripped to shreds on the ground, the body suit also discarded in a similar manner, the woman herself with a glazed look in her eyes, hanging limply in its grip as it brought its mouth to her chest.

Nyz tackled the bogral, causing it to drop the Scavenger. Pressing his hand against the bogral's chest, he felt for her soul, then pulled it out, a green mist pulling out of the bogral's body as Nyz pulled his hand back. Delivering a swift kick to the monster's head, Nyz turned to the body, pressing the soul back into it, ensuring it reconnected to her before he rounded on the bogral once more.

Beginning his assault, Nyz released all of the souls whose power had yet to be absorbed, then tore the monster apart, ripping off each limb before tearing its head from its shoulders. Standing, he glared at the other bograls, which gave him hesitant looks as the other Scavengers simply stared at him.

Letting out a snarl, Nyz snapped, and the air ignited, a swirl of flames roaring around him, lashing out in ropes at the bograls, reducing them to nothing but ash.

"Nyz," Kal's voice came in through Nyz's commpiece. "You got away with telling Taylor that was a hallucination. You just did that in front of thirty people."

"You know how I get around bograls," Nyz muttered. "I acted without thinking."

"Yeah," Kal said. "Well, I guess that changes some things. There aren't monsters nearby, and I've tapped into the comms of the other Scavengers. They have a group of children and a few other survivors hidden in the hanger as well. Everyone, I'm making you an offer now. You've lost your homes, friends, and family. Nyz, the young man you just saw wipe out the bograls with magic, and I run an island. It's safe from the fog and any possible monsters. If you wish to come live with us, we'll supply you with anything you need until you're able to afford it yourself."

"Kal-"

"Nyz, it's time," Kal said. "We don't have the orb yet, but it's still time. We'd already be bringing people to the island had Asterox not stolen the orb, anyway."

"Fine," Nyz said.

"Nyz?" Gabe said. "I thought your name was Nash? And how are you out there, in the fog? How did you do that with the flames?"

"My name is Nyz," Nyz stated. "Come to the island and you'll have your answers. Don't, and never bring it up again to avoid being put in a psych hospital. Kal's right, though. The island has plenty of food, green space, and living space. There's no threat of monsters or the fog."

"You'll also get much, much cooler toys," Kal told them. "And we can ensure the children are taken care of."

"Kal, did you-"

"I've already swapped them back for the featureless ones," Kal said. "Don't worry, I'm keeping the children in mind. If you wish to come stay on the island, in a place safe and free from the fog and AMF, just say so. If you don't, say so. I'll transport those who do to the island, and those who don't to a safe city. Take some time to decide, but not too much. Ten minutes. I'm taking her, though, because we need to purge the AMF from her body."

The Scavenger which had fallen victim to a bogral disappeared, and Nyz didn't have to see anyone's faces to know they were stunned by it.

"Damn!" Wys exclaimed after a few moments of silence. "So you finally figured that out, huh little bro?"

"I've had it for years," Kal told him. "I just need a teleport relay set up in the area. It's one of the first things I have Nyz do when he goes to a new town. Discuss among yourselves what you wish to do."

Nyz returned to the beetle, stripping off his clothes between the first and second decontamination. He ran a third just to be sure, then descended into the general room and dressed, rejoining Wys at the front.

When the ten minutes were up, the Scavengers unanimously voted to go to the island. Either their only family and friends were killed in the attack by the AMF, or their only family and friends were Scavengers who survived it. Other than Wys, no one had much of a connection outside of Honlar.

"Alright," Kal said. "Then we'll begin the transfer."

"What about the people in the hanger?" Gabe asked.

"I offered them the choice as well," Kal said. "They've taken us up on the offer. I've already transported them. I'm going to send all of you into a decontamination chamber. Transferring in three… two… one!"

Immediately, the Scavengers found themselves in a decontamination chamber, gas filling the air immediately after those in the walkers exited. Once it cleared up, everyone pulled off their helmets, looking at Nyz as he exited the beetle. He could sense their curiosity and confusion regarding his actions in Honlar.

"In a bit," he told them, then pointed at a door. "Go shower up, then meet with the others. Kal probably has clothes in the changing rooms already."

Wys exited the beetle as everyone began moving, and he waited until they had left through the door Nyz indicated.

"So it looks like our story is being told," Wys said.

"Yeah," Nyz responded as they hopped off the beetle. "Do you want to be included in it?"

"Sure," Wys said as Kal entered the chamber through another door, beckoning for them to join him. "Looks like the other little bro has something he wants to talk about."

Nyz and Wys joined Kal, who led them to a cafeteria, where the simulacrums, all of them back to the neutral forms without genitals, had dinner prepared.

"They'll be in here in a minute," Kal said. "Wys, I wanted to talk to you about something first."

"Sure!" Wys pulled him against him, ruffling his hair. "Whatever you want, little bro. Good to see you again!"

"Yeah," Kal pulled away, struggling more than Nyz did due to Wys's strength. "Good to see you again, too, Wys. Your family has a project called the Superior Human Evolution, and it's meant to basically be another Kumix Project."

Wys growled low in his throat upon hearing that, his cheerful demeanor disappearing immediately.

"Would you mind asking them to cancel it?" Kal asked. "I set them back on it, but… they're probably going to continue pursuing it."

"I'll talk to them," Wys said. "But I'm sure they won't stop, not as long as the fog does, and the fog will last forever."

"I mean, it's not permanent," Kal said. "If I wanted to, I could have Nyz end it. The problem is that there's a lot of stuff in the world which relies on it, so… that's not really an option right now. That's part of why I built this island."

"You can end the fog?" Wys asked in shock.

"Yeah," Kal answered. "I know what's causing the AMF, and it really would be a simple matter to stop it. But as I said, the world not a part of humanity kind of relies on it, making that… not a good idea. Anyway, would you please talk to your parents about it?"

"I'll try," Wys said. "But it might have to wait to be ended for when I take over the company."

"About that…" Kal hesitated. "You probably have no more than five more years left in your life."

"What?" Wys asked. "Did you do some scan on me or something?"

"Yeah," Kal admitted. "It, well, we'll explain in a bit. It's almost time for everyone to join us."

"You're back!" Sen exclaimed, and Nyz looked over to find her entering the cafeteria.

"So are you," he said. "Weren't you staying away?"

"No," she answered. "My father refused to listen, so I left. I've been back a few days, but Kal told me not to bother you on the trip anymore."

"Thanks," Nyz told Kal.

"Welcome back," Sen told him. "I'm ready to help you with the next phase at any time, though Kal mentioned earlier there was an announcement once you returned."

"Yeah," Nyz, then growled low in his throat as Taylor entered. "Great. The terrorist is still here."

"He's reformed," Kal told him. "Anyway, let's wait for everyone to gather and get some food."

The Scavengers and other survivors began entering the cafeteria, grabbing food and taking their seats, digging in. Kal called for everyone's attention as he, Nyz, and Wys stood on a table.

"Most of you," Kal said. "Are probably wondering how Nyz did what he did earlier. We're not going to delay explaining more than now."

"My name isn't Nyz," Nyz stated. "But Nayz-21. I was raised in a facility that bred many thousands of people over four hundred years. I am the twenty-first to be assigned the identifier of 'Nayz'. Our naming system was set up to use a consonant for the first and last letter, then a single vowel in between. They would go 'Bab', 'Beb', 'Bib', 'Bob', 'Bub', 'Byb', then switch to 'c' for the last letter. Once they reached 'Byz', they would go to 'c' for the first letter, back to 'b' for the last. Once they reached Zyz, they began again, using a second vowel in front of the initial one. It made it easier to identify and code us.

"The reason they were breeding people for four hundred years," Nyz said. "Around twenty generations, was because they were performing genetic manipulation using a bit of magic. Their goal was to create the ultimate force to contest the fog. Within the bloodlines of us were various monster genetics, and it wasn't until about five generations ago that they managed to ensure we looked entirely human. I was bred in the warrior branch, and am, in fact, seven percent dragon."