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Marian’s second energy drink went flying as someone tripped her. Her arms flung forward, and she turned it into a somersault. She straightened her hoodie, picking up the bottle. “Waste of money…” she muttered before striding away.

“Aren’t you gonna do anything?”

“No.” She hopped onto a treadmill and began to run, already regretting changing gyms.

The young man pulled the emergency break. Marian stumbled to a halt, glaring at him. “You want to cause problems?”

“You should leave before you start any.”

Marian’s nostrils flared. “I’m just here to exercise.” She pulled on her hood, realizing he’d seen her ears.

“I work here…” He growled, his hands balling into fists.

“Actually, you don’t.” A clear, militant voice jarred them.

Marian’s eyes widened as the man flinched away from Leo, growling, “This is none of your business undergrounder.”

“Goin that low?” Leo raised his eyebrows as he crossed his arms, taught with muscle now he wasn’t wearing his tattered jacket. “Even if I was, I would hate to put your photography skills to the test, as that’s all you do here.”

Marian noticed Leo’s stance, it was stable, but his weight rested on the balls of his feet, as if he was ready to dodge an attack if need be.

The man tried to punch Leo, but he stepped out of the way and the man stumbled forward, throwing too much of his weight into it. Leo’s hand flicked ever so slightly and just as he was about to regain his balance, his face struck the floor.

Leo offered him a hand, “Are you overdue for your naptime kid?”

The man glared up at him before walking away.

Marian chuckled as she watched Leo glare at the man as he scurried out of the gym.

“What’re you looking at?”

Marian sobered, “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Leo turned to go. He paused and turned back to her, “By the way, don’t work that treadmill too hard, it’ll start to smoke.” And walked away.

Marian changed treadmills, saying, “Thank you.”

But Leo was out of earshot.

She focused on her running. Her lungs clenched and she forced herself to breathe deeply, slowing her pace. The moment she stopped moving, she’d start feeling about Jake and Fabian, instead of just thinking about them, and she couldn’t do anything but stare out the window of the gym until Tammi came home, she was an enforcer, and could log onto databases and find a lot more on people than the average citizen or exterminator could. She cursed, she shouldn’t’ve held off telling Tammi about them, why was she so hesitant?

An hour later, Marian got off the treadmill, feeling her legs tremor with fatigue. She sighed, heading to the drinking fountain and swallowing mouthfuls of stale water.

“You didn’t bring a water bottle?”

Marian glanced up at Leo as he exited the bathroom, “My roommate doesn’t keep up with dishes, and I didn’t want to wash anything.”

“Oh.”

Marian straightened, pushing her hair out of her eyes.

“You need a hair tie?”

“It hides my ears when I leave it down.”

Leo nodded, “I see. I know a hair lady, she could probably help you find a style that might do better.”

“Thanks for the suggestion.” Marian’s face flushed, “But I don’t have enough money.”

“Ok.” Leo frowned, “What are you even doing here?”

“It’s the cheapest gym I can find.” Marian shrugged. “Have to stay in shape.”

Leo nodded.

“What about you?”

“Just a hobby.” he yawned, “I have to go,” he headed to the counter to scan his card, saying, “Nice seeing you.” As if it was an afterthought.

***

“The house is clean?” Tammi untied her hair, widening her arms in delight as she flopped onto the newly-vacuumed carpet, “I love your off weeks.”

Marian smirked, handing Tammi a frozen dinner. “I get bored faster… and it’s only an hour of work.”

Tammi sat up, wrinkling her nose at the plate, “Oh. I forgot I don’t like your off weeks.” She took the tray, “Vague mush, my favorite.”

“It’s not my fault you ate all the good ones, and you bought these anyway.” Marian went back to wiping off the counters, “This is your eating day, right?”

Tammi nodded, shoveling the food into her mouth. “Did you eat?”

“This afternoon.”

Tammi raised an eyebrow, “You do know regular people need more than one meal, right?”

“Not hungry.” Marian crossed her legs as she sat on the couch, “Food isn’t as important for Enteks either.” She adjusted one of the throw-pillows to support her back, “By the way, I saw the eyepatched man at the gym, he scared off a guy that threatened me – he also tried to recommended a hairstylist.”

“So he actually did two public services?”

“I look that bad?”

“Not horrible, but it looks like you cut it with office scissors.”

Marian shrugged, “Well that’s what happened.”

“What does he look like?”

“He looks a little too old to go to the gym if I’m being honest.”

“Really?” Tammi leaned back. “How old is he?”

“About fifty.” Marian put her chin in her hand, “By the way, can you still access the database when you’re off work?”

“I might need to explain why.” Tammi set her empty tray on the table, “So… why?”

“It’s about Jake and Fabian.”

“Why Jake again?” Tammi turned Stumpy’s taillights on and watched him chase it, “And… I hate to be rude but isn’t Fabian dead?”

Marian sighed, “Turns out Fabian didn’t die.”

“What?” Tammi’s posture straightened.

“He was turned into a thrid.”

”WHAT?”

“But not like a regular one, he was an anthropomorph.”

Tammi rubbed her face, “You see, THIS is the kind of thing you share when I ask you how a mission went – not commenting on an ex’s hair choices.”

“Well…” Marian blushed, “Sorry… I… I was too tired.”

“Ok I guess!” Tammi flopped back onto the ground, thumping loudly. “You must be hallucinating with all those energy drinks… you’re way too nonchalant.”

“No.” Marian sighed, “They wouldn’t cause hallucinations… and I remember the cold of Pagos very well.” She felt the necklace in her pocket, “Fabian really was turned into a thrid.” Her eyes moistened and she looked out the window at the featureless wall of the neighboring apartment complex, “My last mission was to find him. He was on Pagos, and Jake was there. No one knew what had happened until Fabian told us.”

“And why was he there?”

Marian’s voice went monotone, “He was sent to kill Fabian… from what we could tell. Regardless, far out of line for a scouting mission. He shot Fabian in his mouth and put him in a coma.” Marian teared up, “For my own peace of mind, I need to know that Fabian’s safe, and where they took Jake.”

“Why Jake?” Tammi threw her hands up into the air, “You figured out he was no good, and this just proves it!”

“I know. But I still want to give him the opportunity to change. And he won’t have that if he’s dead.”

“He’s had his chances.” Tammi pushed her braids behind her, “Leave him alone.”

“I intend to, but I can’t if he’s in danger.”

“You really aren’t thinking this through.” Tammi shrugged, “What’ll you even do when you find them? How do you expect to smuggle a thrid and an almost murderer, and where’re you gonna take them?”

“I’ll take Jake to the underground, and for Fabian…” she sighed, “I wish I knew. But I have to make sure they’re both ok. And, if I can, give this back to Jake.” She pulled out the necklace, “He said it was an heirloom and gave it to me before he was taken away.”

Tammi stared at it, slowly, she said, “That’s… not an heirloom. It looks way too new.” Tammi held out her hand, “May I hold it?”

Marian handed it to her, Tammi held the charm close to her face, narrowing her eyes. “Yep. It’s designer, and the designer isn’t old enough to have heirloom material.”

“How do you know?”

“The red-haired lady on the T.V. the other day, you said you liked her dress. She designed it. You should check out her stuff.” She gave it back to Marian, “Try it on.”

Marian slipped it on.

“Wow.”

“What is it?”

“It looks perfect… Jake might be trash, but his taste isn’t. It was probably for you.”

Marian froze, she removed the necklace with shaking hands.

“What’s wrong?”

Marian put the necklace in her pocket, “He was planning on asking me to marry him. I could be wrong… but that has to be what it is.”

“No way… we use rings for that.”

“On Atlantis, it’s necklaces… this one doesn’t look like the ones that my people use, however.”

“Would Jake even know this?”

“He tried giving me a necklace once and I had to explain to him why I didn’t wear it.” Marian rubbed her face. “And he knows I like amethysts and silver.”

“Wow… that’s actually… sweet.” Tammi waved her metal hand dismissively, “Still good thing you broke up with him.”