"So how are your legs feelin'?" Chais asked Accura as he carried her in his arms with a bag of weapons strapped around his back.

"They're broken! How else can it feel?" Accura said. "Besides, you shouldn't be carrying me. I'll manage."

"How? By crawling?" Chais laughed. "So what did you say your name is?"

"Accura," she responded, folding her arms.

"Sorry 'bout puttin' that sword in your face. I thought you were a-I mean, the enemy . . . at first."

"Um. Thanks," she said, grunting a bit. She turned her head to get her bearings straight. "Look. You can put me down now. Police will be here soon to take me to the hospital."

"Police? Why didn't you tell me that earlier?" Chais asked rhetorically. He looked for a place to set her down, found a crate and laid her on it.

"Ugh!" Accura winced in pain. "Thanks," she said, trying not to think of her legs.

Chais surveyed the area for police and tightened the strap to his weapons. "Well, I guess this is the end of the road for me. I'll see ya soon."

"Hey, wait a sec!" Accura said as he started to leave. "I didn't get your name."

Chais stopped and looked back. "Just call me Chais." He waved good-bye and jogged away.

He hadn't gone far before someone else called him.

"Hey, you!" a familiar voice yelled. "Where's Vecto?"

Chais spun around to see Crysilis standing in front of him and Streamline running to catch up.

"Oh, uh, hey, guys," Chais stammered. "I see you found your gun," he said to Streamline. "Did ya'll bring the credits?"

Accura sat up on the crate and saw Streamline, recognizing him as the attempted bank robber. "Hold it right there!" she yelled and reached for the handgun at her side. It was missing.

Streamline ignored her.

Chais sheepishly smiled with his back turned to her and twirled her gun in his hand, slipping it in his trench coat.

Crysilis watched him hide the weapon and noticed the large bag of munitions over his back. "I see you're still at your thievery games," he said.

Streamline pointed his Omega Blaster at him. "Now, where's Vecto?"

"Whoa. Geez! Calm down," Chais said, raising his arms in the air. "He went that way." He pointed behind him. "He's headed for Leroy Johnson's farm."

"Leroy?" Crysilis repeated, recalling that name.

"Yeah, the Zarlero master," Chais said. "He'll take care of that robot jerk!"

Crysilis placed his hand on Streamline's Omega Blaster as if to say that Chais wasn't worth a bullet. "Come on, let's go."

Streamline kept his eyes on Chais while pacing around him, backing up with his rifle still aimed at him. "You're lucky, kid!' Streamline said, and ran after Crysilis.

"Come back here!" Accura yelled, struggling to move her legs. She heard sirens echoing in the distance and was somewhat relieved, but she knew they couldn't catch Streamline in time.

"Well, see ya!" Chais waved a hand in the air and ran in the dark toward the abandoned alleys of the factory.

"Hey, you too!" Accura yelled. "I want to know where my gun is, you thief!"