The ground was fairly level heading east. Scrub woods and low rolling hillocks for a solid two miles. The mists had long since cleared, their chill forgotten as the sun shined warm on the three youths. Even their newfound armor and weapons seemed light, though their packs were a bit heavier than before. Making their way to the very top of the gulley, the view was breathtaking. The gully was a drain, a waterfall that ate its way back into the bluffs.

Akio raised his lap top slightly and turned slowly.  "This way," he said.  He led the team down a small alley, the usual trash and vomit was somewhat obscured by the pounding rain.  As they exited the other end of the alley, they saw Elias next to an attractive young woman who seemed to be cleaning his face.  Nearby a man held a second man in some kind of armlock. The younger, cleaner man seemed to be talking, while the other man howled and twisted, trying to escape.

Akio stopped and stared for a moment, looking at his laptop.  He muttered something in Japanese that Michiko could barely make out as, "More of them?  How can this be?"

All six of their group were sitting around the wide-open living room area of the suite.  Nine was rummaging through the plastic bags from radio Shack, occasionally mumbling a "yes" or a "hmm, that should work".  Tom and Ghost had taken off their coats as Ghost finished giving his story about the girl in the lobby.

 George looked at his cards, looked up across the table, and back at the cards. He bit his lip. Finally he asked, "Does a straight beat a flush?"

Edison tried not to smile. His partner looked like a twenty-something hipster, but sometimes acted a lot younger. Point one: George had blown off his friends, who were going to a club to pretend to listen to droning electronica, to hang out and play cards. Point two: He wanted to play poker, just like his father. Point three: They did this almost every month, and George still couldn't remember how to play.