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‘Good luck with that,’ said Dozer. ‘He’ll never show himself before you unless the stakes are sufficiently high.’

‘Yeah, he’s been a real jerk about that, lately. Even more so than you, actually! And you never do shit! Maybe you could help me test my Roberts out, then!’

‘I don’t think you want me to do that.’

‘Pah! Why? Because you you’d destroy them totally? Big talk, old man! I bet they’re tougher than you think!’

‘Is that another wager I hear?’

‘It might just be!’

‘Interesting. Once we’re done here, bring them to my camp and have them assist against the Mendocava. If they prove useful in concluding my business there, then I will test them for you.’

‘Mm, tempting, tempting! But I feel you’d be getting way more out of this than I would!’

‘We can work out the details of the wager later, once it is assured to occur.’

‘Sure, but I’m still lending you my toys. My toys that I’ve spent years working on, by the way! You gotta give me something more for that kind of assistance!’

‘What do you want?’

‘Hmm! Mmm! How about Lucky?!’

‘Why are you so fixated on him?’

‘Honestly, I dunno! He just seems like a funny little guy! Piqued my curiosity, somehow!’

‘Honestly, you’re lying.’

‘Bah, you always think that!’

‘Because it’s always true.’

‘Is not!’

‘What if I offered some land, instead?’

‘Land? I got plenty of land. What do I need yours for? You’re just being stingy because I expressed an interest in something! That’s so spiteful! Just gimme--’ Morgunov cut himself off, and a beat passed. ‘...You sense that?’

He did. A new presence. Faint but distinct. Even the Void State itself was beginning to shudder. But why?

Because it was preparing.

To welcome another into this place. A third mind capable of existing here.

‘Who is that?’ said Dozer.

‘Can’t tell yet,’ said Morgunov. ‘Ooh, maybe it’s one of these two here. Finally manifesting a presence of their own, hmm?’

Sanko or Lamont? He greatly doubted that, but it was possible, he supposed. Even he and Morgunov still knew very little of this Void State, since it was virtually impossible to study. Neither of them had ever been able to find mention of it in any of the Archives around the world.

Though, admittedly, Morgunov could have been lying about not finding anything. The man liked to claim that he did not hoard knowledge for himself, but Dozer knew better than to take him at his word by now.