Episode 39

"No, please, I…" He wouldn't get the chance to beg further as Helfeirch took a small dart with a small needle tip from one of his pouches and thrust the tip into Moshu Shi's neck. Within seconds, Moshu Shi felt his world spin and turn black as he fell into an induced sleep.

Turning to Flinch, Scarlet handed him the power cell. "I imagine you can find a use for this."

Flinch nodded.

"Can your machine fix his broken leg?" she then asked.

"It looks like a clean break, so it shouldn't be a problem. What do you plan on doing with him?"

"Since he seemed to have no issues selling others into slavery, I figured it only right he gets a dose of his own medicine."

"I'll have to do something about his memory, can't have him selling me out."

"I know. Do what you've got to do."

"Alright." Flinch looked at Helfeirch. "Could you carry him over to that table?"

Helfeirch merely nodded before doing as he had been asked.

Flinches eyes then fell on the android that lay in a heap by his door. "Say, Scarlet, since you seem to have gotten unbelievably strong recently, do you think you could move that thing to my store room?"

Scarlet looked over at it. 'I suppose I owe him that.'

Though, she'd never tried using her newfound strength when she hadn't been provoked, angry, or for the sake of survival.

'I reckon it's not a bad idea to learn how to control my new abilities when I'm not in a high-stress situation.'

With that, she walked over to the android body and began heaving it over her shoulders. Not surprisingly, she found herself struggling at first but soon managed to lift the machine before slowly carrying it back to the store room.

She shortly returned, still breathing heavily, to find that Flinch already had his medical machine working to mend the leg she'd broken while he sat at yet another machine, working away at something. Helfeirch stood over Moshu Shi with his eyes locked on Flinch.

"You really don't have any problems with all of this?" Helfeirch probed.

Flinch shrugged as he looked over at Helfeirch. "Nope. Why? Do you?"

"My loyalties lie with Scarlet. If she asked, I'd slit his throat right now." There was no hesitation in Helfeirch's voice.

Scarlet silently watched as Flinch met Helfeirch's gaze. "I wasn't lying when I said I've known Scarlet longer and like her better than this guy here." He paused as he went back to work. "The truth is, I wouldn't be where I am today if it hadn't been for her. And, this past week excluded, she's never caused me any trouble." It was evident that Flinch spoke with fondness.

The sharp gaze that Helfeirch had been throwing his way seemed to dull a bit upon observing how Flinch spoke of Scarlet. Sensing Scarlet's eyes on him, Helfeirch turned to find her standing in the doorway. Having been spotted, she proceeded to make her way over to stand next to him. Moshu Shi's leg had been mended. After which, a needle pressed into the base of his skull.

"Alright, and with that, all his memories that would compromise either of us are taken care of," the blonde-headed man stated as he checked another screen. "And it looks like it will still be some time before I get into those files."

"Guess I should get rid of him then," Scarlet said as she looked down at Moshu Shi.

"Leave that to me. I know the perfect place to send him," Flinch insisted.

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. I'll have one of my guys drop him off for me." Flinch walked over towards her. "Besides, I have the feeling that the less you're seen by others, the better."

'He's probably right there,' she thought. "Well, since you insist."

"You look tired. Why don't you go get some rest," Flinch continued. "The bed's that way," he said while pointing.

Scarlet only nodded, stealing a glance at Helfeirch before making her way back towards the room Flinch pointed to. She could quickly tell that this was likely Flinch's room.

'This is probably the only bed he has here.'

Flinch had always lived alone since she had met him. So, this didn't surprise her. After taking a moment to straighten the sheets, she sat down on the bed.

This wouldn't be the first time she'd crashed at Flinch's. After all, they often worked together before and had formed a fairly strong bond of trust and respect.

'I suspect that's why he is so willing to go along with the punishment I decided for Moshu Shi.'

She was fairly certain the two men had not been acquainted before she disappeared. She could hear Helfeirch and Flinch's voices carry from the other room as she laid down.