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Hector felt compelled to provide additional context. “It can shapeshift, too. So this isn’t necessarily its true form.”

‘What the fuck?’ said Voreese, her hollow-eyed skull poking out from Roman’s left pauldron. ‘Shapeshifting? If that’s not its true form, then it must be one ugly motherfucker, because how could this look possibly be an improvement? It’s like if an alligator came down with anemia. And depression.’

“Well, it might not even have a true form,” said Hector.

‘Damn,’ she said. ‘Hmm. You kill it already?’

“No,” said Hector.

‘Then why’d it go all boneless on you? Is it knocked out?’

“Nope.” He didn’t want to stumble over his explanation like he had with Garovel, so he decided to not even try this time.

‘Well, it’s creepin’ me out! What’re you gonna do with it?’

“I’m not sure yet. As far as we know, it hasn’t actually hurt anyone.”

‘So then, what? Are you gonna bring it with us? Up to the city? That thing will make people FREAK out! Hell, it’s makin’ me freak out, right now!’

“We’ve noticed,” said Roman.

‘You can shut up.’

Hmm. Hector might’ve rubbed his chin if his helmet wasn’t in the way. He decided to consult Garovel. ‘What do you think we should do?’

The reaper took a moment before replying privately. ‘I suppose it depends on how thoroughly your... suppression of it was. Do you think it’s going to just stay like this indefinitely? It was thrashing at you before, wasn’t it?’

‘It was, yeah.’ Hector had to think about that.

He actually did have a feeling that the Ceese was completely harmless, so long as it remained close to him like this. The creature’s aura was saying as much. It was scared and submissive, right now. Listening intently.

Did it actually understand human speech, though? That was questionable, at best. Chort certainly had, but this little fella was obviously much less powerful, so...

Hmm.

Well. There was one thing he knew for sure, at least. He knew that he didn’t want to kill a living creature without a good reason. And neither “inconvenience” nor being “grossed out” seemed like a good reason to him.

Hector materialized a large iron box for the Ceese. Then he placed the box in orbit around himself. “I’ll take it with us,” he said. “For now.”

‘Seriously?’ said Voreese. ‘Fuck me. I already miss Atreya.’