With rapid steps the ornate chamber gave way to a rather mundane hallway, then to a tunnel through rubble, and finally to a dusty outside world. Harlow winced at the light filtering through high clouds and couldn’t help but turn and consider the way from which they’d come.

Jasper, seemingly unaffected by the transition snapped, “Markin you better have a good reason…”

“Don’t take a tone with me, tovarich,” Markin shot back, “We both know the directorate places me in command…”

“Blah, blah, blah,” Jasper interrupted, hands flailing in rude contempt, “Gimme a reason or I’m taking the geek back inside.” Harlow bristled at the terminology but appreciated the dedication.

A few workers quickly averted their gaze from the interaction before they could be reprimanded. Markin huffed and reviewed paperwork on a metal clipboard. A dirty wind kicked up still more dust.

“So?” Jasper pressed.

Markin didn’t look up, “So, you go back inside…or you go take look in hole. You tell me, mudak, is reason or not.”