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~~((National Do Something Nice Day Special -- Page 10 of 24))~~
Qorvass fell silent, but Asad had heard enough to know there was a horrible tale there that the reaper had never shared with him.

And perhaps Morgunov could tell what he was thinking. "Eheh. Ol' Qorvy never told you about that, eh? Hmm, I can see why. Not the most comforting story in the world." His nose twitched and he rubbed it. "I almost feel like spilling the beans myself, but y'know what? That would be downright disrespectful of me, don't you think? So if anyone ever tells you that Morgunov is a disrespectful jerk, you go ahead and tell them that they're wrong. Got it?" And he winked.

The crystal prism that Asad had previously summoned was still largely intact, and they were now suspended a dozen meters above the busted bunker below. Asad's thoughts went to the two scouts who'd escaped. It seemed like the warning about Morgunov's presence might not have made it through the radio, but if those two could get back to base, then that was something, at least.

"Hey." Morgunov turned Asad's head back toward him. "Watcha thinkin' about, hmm? You never answered my question about your tattoos, you know. That's quite rude. You're not distracted by something, are you?"

Asad just remained silent.

"Like, maybe, those two dudes you were with earlier? You're not worried about them, right? If so, then let me dispel all your concerns. They're just fine." He released Asad's face and raised his hand. "See?"

The great prism shook and bent as two figures came shooting up through the bottom of it and stopped right in front of Asad, suspended on squirming tendrils of clanking machinery.

And Asad's heart sank.

The two scouts were struggling, but it was obviously in vain. One of them was trying to say something through his faceguard, but a mechanical mask covered his face and muffled his words to the point of near silence.