Exhaustion, that is what the cyborg feels as he frantically tries to flee from the ones chasing him. Trailing behind is a dangerous group he noticed was tailing him so he took off running into the desert, trying to evade his would-be captors.

With every desperate step, sand is kicked up behind him flying through the air before settling back among the dunes. He looks back for a second, seeing that one of the four that were chasing him is gone, the man with the mustache and fancy clothes, perhaps their leader, is unable to keep up. Good, the cyborg tells himself as he continues to run for his life.

What confuses the cyborg is why the wolf that is running along with them hasn’t sped up and caught him by now. Wolves are much faster than humans so he should have no chance of outrunning it. He doesn’t question it, thanking his lucky stars the beast is so slow.

“He’s getting away!” The woman behind him yells out, not catching the following words as she starts to bicker with the man who looks to also be a cyborg. Concluding they must be getting tired, the cyborg smirks, already thinking about the nearest civilization he can hide away in once he loses them. Just as he ponders this he feels a prick on the back of his neck. His legs slow as he feels the capsule that was shot into him.

“Shit…” he laments as he falls flat into the sand.

“See? Was that so hard?” Lunette comments as she, Kayde, and Fore stand over the unconscious body of the cyborg they were chasing.

“I already told you. I didn’t want him to be afraid of us. I just wanted to catch up and talk it out,” Kayde reiterates, negotiation being easier when the person isn’t hostile towards them.

“Yeah, yeah. Can you carry this guy?” Lunette asks him, noticing the large stature of the man they chased down and drugged with a tranquilizer dart.

“I don’t think so, we’ll need to wait for Maximus to catch up and he can help me bring him back to the city,” Kayde suggests, sitting down on the sand as he catches his breath.

“You got him, magnificent!” Maximus declares, after showing up a few minutes later, sweat dripping down his face, the clothes he is wearing not helping stave off the heat in the slightest.

“We did, would have liked to just talk to him but here we are. Anyway, help me carry this guy back to the city so we can talk to him when he wakes up,” Kayde orders, positioning himself by the man’s feet.

The two of them carry the cyborg back into the city and return to their room, passing off the man as their drunk friend when people question why they are carrying a man who has passed out.

“Mister Kayde, why were we chasing this man again?” Maximus asks, Kayde never having explained it well, to begin with.

“We know that this guy or his organization has information on who is behind the trade union. He could work for whoever is behind it or he could just know something,” Kayde explains, their mission of finding out who is behind the desert trade union still underway.

Kayde looks over to Lunette and notices she is in one of her states, watching as she stares directly at the cyborg they just captured. “Lunette? Hello, don’t space out on me right now,” Kayde tries to get her attention as he waves his hand in front of her face.

“Oh did I do it again? My bad I’m here now,” Lunette realizes, focusing back on the present.

“So… why were you staring at him so intently, do you know him somehow?” Kayde asks, knowing she only gets that way when she is thinking deeply about something.

“You know that stun rod I’ve been working on. There is a part on his left arm that would be perfect. He would only not be able to use his arm anymore, can I have it?” Lunette requests, selfishly not thinking about how the loss of an arm would affect someone.

“He is waking up. Maybe you two should discuss that later,” Maximus warns them, looking down at the cyborg starting to move.

“Lunette, keep staring at him the way you were, I can use that,” Kayde tells her quickly as the man’s eyes open.

“Where am I?” The cyborg asks as he looks up at his captors, trying to suppress the fear so he doesn't come off as weak.

“Just the place we’re staying in… wait, I’m the one that’s supposed to be asking the questions,” Kayde answers before realizing, faking ignorance when he said that on purpose.

“We hear you know something about what’s going on with the desert trade union and who might be behind it all,” Kayde gets straight to it, studying the man’s reaction as he brings this up for the first time.

“Why should I tell you anything?” The cyborg remains steadfast in his defense.

“You see her over there,” Kayde signals to Lunette who is sitting behind him.

“You mean the woman who hasn’t stopped staring at me?” The cyborg asks, having noticed since he woke up.

“Exactly, she wants to use some of your limbs in an experiment of hers. She likes to make these little gadgets for us so we could always use the spare parts, that is unless you tell us what you know,” Kayde gives him an ultimatum, using Lunette’s interest to his advantage.

“I don’t know anything about your boss okay! All I know is they are going to be at that conference in the capital in a few days. Please don’t tear me apart, I can’t afford these parts again!” The cyborg begs in fear, not wishing to part with his arms.

“Wait… did you just say your boss?” Kayde asks, confused as to what he meant by that.

“Yeah, don’t you work for whoever is behind it? I found out too much so they sent you to take me out,” the cyborg reasons, assuming that is who they are.

“Hold on, we’re on the same side then. We want to catch whoever they are and end their wicked wicked ways,” Kayde explains, using this to end the air of hostility between them.

“Wait, why did you run from us?” Kayde asks, thinking this could have been avoided.

“You guys had been following me without approaching me, a group like you guys stands out so I thought they sent you after me,” the cyborg explains.

“Oh… yeah that makes sense. Now that we have that misunderstanding sorted out and know we are on the same side we should share information to help each other out,” Kayde suggests, wanting to work together to take whoever is behind this down.

“Okay, I’ll bite. What do you guys know?” The cyborg asks, sitting up so this is more of a discussion instead of an interrogation.

“This guy is a meanie who won’t let me swindle people anymore. Also, they feed their orders to a council of old dudes who tell this young figurehead guy named Cooper what to do,” Kayde divulges, letting the man know what they know.

“So you don’t know that much then. It’s not just the desert trade union, this person is planning on taking over the entire desert, the trade union is only a tool to help them do that,” the cyborg reveals, explaining that their plot is much more ambitious than Kayde realizes.

“Yeah, I only care about the trade thing. Just want to convince them to change that. Anyway, you mentioned something about a conference?” Kayde changes the subject, not caring about the whole taking over the desert thing.

“We got a tip from one of our informants a couple of days ago that the person behind it all will be at the all-desert conference in the capital in a few days,” the cyborg enlightens them.

“What is this conference for? I’ve never heard of it,” Kayde asks, wanting to know why it’s significant.

“A bunch of different organizations from across the desert come together to discuss how they can work together to improve conditions throughout the desert. It’s kind of just general stuff. I’m a part of the Center for fair treatment of Cyborgs, one of the organizations that will attend the conference. We want to stop this person because if we don’t we might lose the little sway we have,” the man discloses, clarifying why it is he wants to stop whoever is behind the desert trade union.

“Who else goes to this thing?” Kayde asks the next logical question.

“The big cities like the capital and Aconblasam have their own representatives. The smaller cities are all grouped together so they only have one person speaking for all of them. The trade union will be there this year for the first time along with who is always there: Water Distribution, Brothel Regulations, the Silent Brotherhood, the Iron Legion, and Special Services,” he lists them all.

“Interesting,” Kayde smiles, hearing some familiar organizations, knowing that this will be a good opportunity for him.

“Lunette, why would they invite a mercenary group to a conference like this?” Kayde asides, finding it odd to hear the Iron Legion in that list.

“Not sure, maybe because they’re the largest group they hold enough sway to get a seat at the table,” Lunette theorizes, having just snapped out of it, thinking she was going to get his arm to use in her new stun rod.

“Anyway, can you take me to your leader? I think I might be able to help you guys out,” Kayde requests, already knowing what he wants to do.

“Wait, we are working with this guy now?” Lunette asks, seeing only the negative of not being able to take the part from his arm. Kayde nods, giving her a weird look.

“So I can’t have his parts now?” Lunette pouts.

“No, you can’t. We’ve got important things to discuss and this guy is our friend now. So just forget about it. I need you sharp from here on out,” Kayde tells her, trying to get back to business.

“I can bring you to my boss but I don’t know if he’ll want to work with you. I don’t know if he’ll see you guys as useful,” the cyborg warns them, having witnessed how they border on dysfunctional and thinking his boss would conclude the same.

“Thanks, man, and don’t worry about it. We are very useful,” Kayde assures him, all of them standing up to follow the cyborg.

They head to the other end of the city and arrive at the headquarters of the center for fair treatment of cyborgs, a simple building made of a light brown brick, the edges of which starting to deteriorate due to the sandy climate. The cyborg makes them wait in the lobby as he explains to his people who they are and why they are there.

Eventually, he returns and they are led to an office where they find an older-looking man with a mechanical right arm sitting behind a desk.

“Yo, my name is Kayde and these are my associates Lunette, Fore, and Maximus,” Kayde introduces all of them.

“I’m Earl, head of the Center for the fair treatment of Cyborgs. My man tells me we are all after the same person and that you could help us,” Earl gets straight to business.

“Yes, allow me to offer myself to be the one who negotiates on your behalf at this upcoming conference,” Kayde suggests, knowing he can be quite persuasive when he needs to be.

“And why would I do that?” Earl asks, eyeing this strange man suspiciously at his wild suggestion.

Kayde responds by pulling out a parchment and placing it on Earl’s desk. “What is this?” He asks as he picks it up.

“My resume,” Kayde responds, waiting eagerly for Earl to look over it.

Earl eyes it with suspicion before reluctantly grabbing it and beginning to read. “This is very impressive but despite all the good you’ve done there’s also some unsavory parts. Why should I have to work with a man like you?” Earl questions after reading it over.

“You know my skill set, while unpleasant you know I’d be better than anyone you have in a negotiation, I can settle every little grievance you have while also catching the person who is behind this desert takeover in the process,” Kayde confidently declares.

Earl sits back in his chair, pondering the decision that has been brought before him. Everyone in the room looks at him in anticipation of hearing what it is he will do.

“I don’t doubt your ability to come through on what you have promised but you have no idea what we represent or are trying to accomplish,” Earl begins his response.

“We’ve got a couple of days, enlighten me,” Kayde suggests, ready to learn if he has to.

“Okay Kayde, here is my offer. We need to begin traveling to the capital by tomorrow morning. You may accompany us and learn from my associates along the way. But if they tell me you don’t understand what it is we want then I’ll be the one attending that conference, not you. Do you understand me?” Earl gives him the offer he was looking for.

“Yup, I completely understand. I won’t let you down bossman,” Kayde salutes awkwardly before leaving with the cyborg he came in with.

“That went pretty well don’t you think?” Kayde asks the cyborg.

“I wouldn’t be so sure. Anyway, meet us at the southern end of the city when the sun rises, we will begin teaching you then,” the cyborg dismisses them.

The next morning, the four of them meet up with the assembled caravan, staying near the back of it with one of Earl’s top advisors to learn about what it is the Center for the fair treatment of Cyborgs is looking to get out of the negotiations.

At first, it is difficult, but eventually, Kayde is finally able to grasp what it is they are after. No matter how hard they drill it into him though, Kayde only views it as his second priority, the first being catching whoever is making it difficult for him to trade.

On the second morning, a different cyborg approaches Kayde. “Hey, I was told to inform you of the other organizations who will be attending the conference so you know who it is you will be negotiating with,” the cyborg explains.

“Ah yes, you’re going to list out the suspects. Sounds good buddy go ahead,” Kayde urges him to continue, knowing one of the people he is about to name is behind all of his misery.

“Okay, other than us, there will be nine organizations at the conference. The first is the capital city, represented by the commander of the desert, Hector. According to everything I’ve seen he’s a stand-up guy and is well respected across the desert,” the cyborg begins.

“Yeah, we’ve met. He’s fine. Plus it isn’t him he’s not trying to overthrow himself,” Kayde notes, still looking at this more from an investigative perspective.

“Next is a guy called Cooper who will be representing the new desert trade union. As you already know this will be their first conference so we don’t know much about him,” the cyborg details, not having information on Cooper.

“It’s not him. He’s just a figurehead. Probably won’t give us much of a problem in negotiations either,” Kayde concludes, having worked his magic on Cooper already once before.

“Moving on we have Brothel Regulations, the name is self-explanatory. The guy in charge is named Zawar and he’s an unsavory character. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was him behind everything,” the cyborg comments, thinking this is the type of guy who would attempt something like a takeover.

“There’s also Water Distribution run by Manus Jarlath. Manus is super corrupt, he’s been using his monopoly over the desert’s water supply as leverage for years. In my opinion, it has to be either him or Zawar,” the cyborg guesses, harboring a grudge against both of them.

“We’ll see, I’ll think about it but I’m not going to jump to conclusions,” Kayde assures him.

“There are also the city reps, the one from Aconblasam is different every year. They always vote on who to send and this year it is a guy called Jean, I believe he’s a blacksmith. The other person represents all the smaller cities across the desert, his name is Ime, he’s been to this conference a few times. He’s a strong negotiator but he never really makes any headway because everyone else, who doesn't want things to change, shut him down. I feel kind of bad for him. He seems like a good guy,” the cyborg notes in a sad tone.

“Maybe we can help him out this time, it’s always good to have friends in negotiation,” Kayde responds, although he is thinking more about Jean the Blacksmith when he says this.

“The next is a mercenary group called the Iron Legion, I don’t know why they even get invited to this thing since it came out a few years ago that they were working with the Sacrosanct Empire… but I guess that’s over with now. Anyway, they’ve been cycling through leadership like crazy recently. Last I heard a man named Varg is in charge, seems like the typical hard-nosed type,” the cyborg informs him.

“Never heard of him but the Iron Legion should be fine now. They were only a problem when Orrin was the one leading them. They cut ties from the Sacrosanct Empire after that,” Kayde notes, having intimate knowledge of that situation.

“There’s also this organization known as Special Services. They’ve been around a long time but to be honest with you I don’t know what it is they do. Their leader is a woman named Zala Verleiden, she’s uhhhh very pretty. She uses it to her advantage when at these conferences, or at least that’s what I’ve heard,” the cyborg continues on.

“Nothing wrong with using what you’ve got. Good thing you guys have me, I’m never swayed by a woman’s beauty,” Kayde assures him.

“Hey, I know for a fact that’s not true,” Lunette disagrees, having done just that to him before.

“I wouldn’t listen to her, she can be kind of kooky,” Kayde loudly whispers to the cyborg, the statement not instilling confidence in Kayde’s abilities.

“I’m serious though, I already have this one so don’t worry about me,” Kayde puts an arm around Lunette.

“Sure… anyway, the last group is called the Silent Brotherhood, they protect and procure different artifacts across the desert. I don’t know who is going to represent them though. It’s always been a man named Grayson who was their leader before becoming an advisor… but I heard their real leader returned half a year ago so maybe she will attend this time. Her name is Gwendolyn, she and her husband took down the Purity within the Sacrosanct Empire and defeated an immortal so they’re very famous,” the cyborg tells them, unaware of who he is talking to.

“Are you kidding me?” Kayde asks incredulously, annoyed that Xander and Gwendolyn always get the credit for all of their collective accomplishments.

“No, that information is correct,” the cyborg responds, thinking Kayde is in awe of their feats.

“No dude, I was there. My name is Kayde remember? Xander and Gwendolyn are my friends. We did all those things you just listed together. Didn’t you read my resume?” Kayde informs him.

“I don’t remember someone named Kayde in any of the songs… just a guy named Drakthar and a girl named Kali,” the cyborg tries to recall. Both Kayde and Lunette turn to look at Maximus with blank expressions.

“I might have more songs about the other four… I apologize, Miss Lunette and Mister Kayde, going forward I will make sure to sing more of my pieces written for you,” Maximus apologizes, this conversation confusing the cyborg greatly.

“That was all the information on the conference that I have. I will be going now,” the cyborg bows before leaving.

“So we have both Gwendolyn and Jean the Blacksmith coming. This should be easier than we anticipated,” Kayde notes once they are alone.

“It could be Grayson,” Lunette points out, remembering what the cyborg said.

“Either way, that’s two people that will be on our side, we need to be able to control the room if we start accusing people of being the one behind trying to take control of the desert,” Kayde notes, thinking through all the people again to try to make a short list of who he thinks it could be.

“If Gwendolyn is there, maybe she and Xander can help us try to figure out who it is,” Lunette points out, knowing would be able to help with that.

“Unless it’s them. I mean think about it, trying to take over the desert from the shadows is a total Xander move,” Kayde jokes, knowing it couldn’t be them.

“But according to the information we have gathered, the desert trade union was established while God’s tournament was going on so I find it highly unlikely that the two of them could have orchestrated this from there,” Maximus tries to defend Xander and Gwendolyn, not realizing Kayde was being facetious.

“Yeah… I was just joking,” Kayde informs him.

“Oh! That makes much more sense, we can’t seriously believe any of our dear comrades would be capable of treachery of that degree,” Maximus boisterously declares.

“While we’re there everyone stay on guard, whoever it is they’ll likely know who we are and possibly what we are trying to accomplish. So be careful,” Kayde warns of the challenges ahead in the Capital.