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Not much more was said to Marty at the end of the Summer Festival. No one dared bring up Lord Stein again. People simply drifted away, quiet and uneasy, as if speaking the name might invite something listening in the dark.

When Dane returned home, he learned that Vi and Dusty had escaped the jail, triggering an all‑night manhunt. By the time his father stumbled in at nearly noon, exhausted and hollow‑eyed, Megana had vanished too. The house felt colder after that. Life in town pretended to continue as normal, but everyone walked a little faster, spoke a little softer, and kept their doors locked.

In the weeks that followed, Dane barely saw his father. George threw himself into the investigation, chasing dead ends and contradictions. Two of Dane’s closest friends had disappeared with Dusty, who'd stolen Marty’s prized APC, a machine worth more than a Smith Falls luxury sports car. Six months later, there's still no sign of the girls, Dusty, or the vehicle. A witness, Ingrid, claimed she saw Dusty kill a man in the lumberyard. Lysanthra, from Smith Falls, was able to verify that Ingrid had witnessed it, prior to it becoming public knowledge.

Marty sold off most of his inventory at desperate prices to cover Teddy’s medical bills. Teddy lost an eye, which was replaced with a cybernetic one. Much of his skull was rebuilt with a super‑alloy. After an expensive trip, to a place called The Baronies, he recovered with unsettling speed. He grew quieter, more recluse, except for the occasional urge to smack Johnny without warning. But something in him had changed. His obsession with finding Vi bordered on frantic. He and Sam spent months digging for clues no one else could find. Then, four months later, Teddy vanished too. Marty didn’t look for him. Not really. People noticed.

Dane’s relationship with Megan grew in the shadow of all this. More dates, more gambling nights, more old movies streamed on his mysterious tablet. The device held archives of films long lost to time, but when Dane tried to dig deeper, he found entire sectors locked by an unknown user with higher access. Someone who shouldn’t exist. Someone who didn’t want him looking. His full access had lasted only a single day.

Still, their gambling streak earned him a pile of credits. Even amateurs get lucky. Unless it wasn’t luck...

Dane’s computer skills brought in steady work around Fort Hammer and Smith Falls, earning him about two thousand credits and catching his father’s attention. George asked to see him first thing in the morning. Dane yawned, stretched, and peeked out at the light snowfall. The world looked quiet, but the quiet felt wrong.

Things around town had changed since the festival. Coach Driver took Johnny under his wing, training him to stand up to Teddy. Dane overheard his father say Johnny was a fast learner... Maybe too fast. Johnny regularly rented Bravo, an energetic Clydesdale, to taxi people between the towns. When he wasn’t working, he was mooching food or drinks from Frank. He even taught Dane how to ride and care for a horse, though Dane couldn’t shake the feeling Johnny was trying to distract himself from something.

Frank had shifted from brewing drinks to becoming a full‑fledged chef. After failing miserably at the festival cooking competitions, he spent five months in expensive culinary classes. He returned transformed as more confident, precise; maybe even obsessive. Business boomed so much that he hired Sam to decorate cakes with gallery‑level artwork. People whispered that Frank had changed too quickly, learned too much too fast.

Brad thrived working with Doctor Lewis. Marty thanked them both by donating a Mountaineer ATV, which they converted into a mobile clinic. Brad now traveled regularly between the towns, delivering medical supplies or transporting medical teams to emergencies. He recently hired Lysanthra, whose medical training seemed… unusually extensive for someone her age.

But the biggest talk of the town was Kendal. For a month after the festival, she barely left her house. Then her parents pushed her into a fashion shoot in Smith Falls, which led to modeling gigs. Somehow, she landed an acting role on the popular show "Eagle Rock Spuds," skyrocketing her into celebrity status. Dane watched a few episodes. She's surprisingly convincing as the shy younger sister of a wealthy potato farmer. He swore he saw Steve in one of the motorcycle chase scenes. The show was good, but he hadn’t had time to keep up. Meg didn’t buy Kendal’s persona, especially since the festival.

He barely touched his Gameboy anymore; its battery was probably dead. The tablet dominated his time. It taught him how to navigate logical systems and chipboards so intuitively he felt he could understand a computer just by touching it. When it wasn’t a computer, the tablet taught him how to jury‑rig temporary fixes for almost anything. Sometimes he wondered if the tablet was teaching him… or preparing him.

George had also taught him how to use a knife and pistol, just in case. Recently, Dane assisted on a disturbing case involving a local man photographing graphic images of his own daughter. The man denied everything, but Dane’s forensic analysis exposed him. The man now awaits possible execution. George, immensely proud, paid Dane a hundred credits, bringing his savings to 5,245 universal credits. Dane tried to feel proud too. Mostly, he feels older.

He rises from bed, stretching and yawning, hoping to slip into a warm shower before he and Meg head to Smith Falls to watch "Stress Fracture." Critics loved it, and Kendal has a small role; though Megan didn’t know that yet. The film follows a team of racers in a demolition‑style gauntlet, outrunning bandits while trying to repair their vehicle without ever stopping. With the snowfall making travel slow, Dane wants an early start. Then he remembers his dad wanting to talk.

He gets dressed, brushes his teeth, and steps into the kitchen. George already has breakfast waiting, reading the Smith Falls Tribune. He pointed at the plate, “Eat up. It’s gonna be a long day. Fort Hammer Sheriff and Smith Falls PD requested you specifically. Five thousand credits up front. Another ten thousand if you finish the job. That’s basically a bounty payout.” He crunches another spoonful of shredded wheat. “No idea what the job is, but if they want you, then it’s probably computer‑related.” He glances up, noticing Dane’s conflicted expression. “Yeah, I know. You’d better call Meg and tell her you’re busy today. The movie just came out, but you’ll have a week to see it. Or… I can talk to her. I know you hate letting her down.” His voice is steady, but something in his eyes says otherwise...

Dane stops and stares at his dad for a second while he digests the unusually high payout. That is three times as much as he has made in the last six months. He slowly sits down across from him and eats mechanically while trying to figure out what would be worth that kind of money. His mind finally settles on one conclusion: he does not have enough information to make a calculated guess.

After an unnaturally long pause, one his dad is probably used to by now, he speaks up. "I’m interested. I mean... that kind of payout doesn’t happen for nothing." He hesitates, then adds, "If this is bigger than normal computer work, I want to know what I’m walking into." He glances down at his plate for a second before looking back up. "When and where are we meeting with the departments? If there’s time, I’d like to swing by and give Meg the bad news in person."

Dane stops and stares at his dad for a second while he digests the unusually high payout. That's three times as much as he's made in the last six months. He slowly sits down across from him and eats mechanically while trying to figure out what would be worth that kind of money. His mind finally settles on one conclusion: he doesn't have enough information to make a calculated guess.

After the unnaturally long pause, one his dad is probably used to by now, he speaks up. "I’m interested. I mean... that kind of payout doesn’t happen for nothing." He hesitates, then adds, "If this is bigger than normal computer work, I want to know what I’m walking into."

"Not exactly sure, son," George manages between bites, "But, I'd already told them that you'd do it. It's a lot of money. Enough to live on for most of the year."

Dane glances down at his plate for a second before looking back up. "When and where are we meeting with the departments? If there’s time, I’d like to swing by and give Meg the bad news in person."

"That's fine," he says, drinking down the remaining milk in his bowl, "We're gonna go meet with the sheriff in about thirty minutes. He's going to borrow one of Marty's trucks to get us there. In that time, I figure we could go talk to your girlfriend and you can wish your friends farewell." He waits for a reaction, but keeps talking when it looks as though Dane is about to reply, "You've been so busy that you haven't really seen much of your friends since you last visited with Frank about that movie that you two have been so excited to see," he places the bowl and spoon in the sink and gulps down his tea, then continues, "Brad, Johnny, Frank and a bunch of the kids from Smith Falls are heading to Rifle Ridge for a wedding job. Brad also found some temporary work there and is taking that girl who was with Ingrid... Lizabeth, I think was her name?"

George grabs his jacket, adjusts his belt and holster, straightens his deputy star and collar, "Like I said, if you accept the job, then it's going to be good money to get your started on life. While I'd love the privacy, it's going to be lonely once you marry that librarian and move away," he flashes Dane a grin, "We both know that'll be a while, right?"

“Hopefully I’ll see them all again soon,” Dane says, though it comes out sounding more like a question than a statement. He finishes off the rest of his breakfast and drink, then carries both to the sink with his dad’s dishes. Normally, he would wash them too, but this morning he is in too much of a hurry to spend a few minutes with Meg while he still can, and he hopes his dad doesn't notice the minor lapse in chores.

As he gathers up his tech gear, leaving the handheld game behind, along with his heavy coat, boots, and wool cap, he blushes at his dad’s suggestion about marriage. “I’m only seventeen, Dad. There’s plenty of time to get married without rushing into it. Besides...” He hesitates, suddenly more self-conscious. “What if she doesn’t feel the same?”

“Hopefully I’ll see them all again soon,” Dane says, though it comes out sounding more like a question than a statement. He finishes off the rest of his breakfast and drink, then carries both to the sink with his dad’s dishes. Normally, he would wash them too, but this morning he is in too much of a hurry to spend a few minutes with Meg while he still can, and he hopes his dad doesn't notice the minor lapse in chores.

As he gathers up his tech gear, leaving the handheld game behind, along with his heavy coat, boots, and wool cap, he blushes at his dad’s suggestion about marriage. “I’m only seventeen, Dad. There’s plenty of time to get married without rushing into it. Besides...” He hesitates, suddenly more self-conscious. “What if she doesn’t feel the same?”

"That's my boy!" George booms proudly, "Live your life first! And if she doesn't, then maybe she isn't right for you, just yet. But don't let it bother you if she doesn't. Right now, you two are doing great!" He flips his jacket on in one smooth motion. "Let's get moving!"

The pair walk out into a wall of bitterly frigid air. Dane's foggy breath instantly returns, assaulting his face, as the wind whips back. The two briskly stroll, shoulders lifted and arms squeezed tight against their torsos, towards the library. Upon walking in the side door, Meg gives her usual smile, leaping forward and planting a hair-lifting kiss on Dane before he can even speak. She pulls away with, "I'm gonna take off early so that we can get to the movie on time! I can't wait! I hear Steve is in it!"

George scratches his head as he avoids eye contact with her, pretending to take interest in a random magazine, "Fishing for Tots." She notices, "Okay, what's going on?" Her smile fades.

“I’ve got some bad news.” Dane grimaces as he takes her hands in his. “Dad volunteered me for a job working with the police. Both Fort Hammer and Smith Falls.” He hesitates, his expression tightening. “It pays really well, but I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. We’re heading to Smith Falls right now, and... I know this is probably the last thing you wanted to hear. I’m sorry. I know I’m letting you down.” He glances aside for a second, then looks back at her. “It doesn’t sound like I’m going to make the movie with you.”

He rummages through his satchel for a second, pulls out the CB radios, and makes sure they are both set to the same frequency before handing one to Meg. “Take this... in case we’re not near a phone. That way I can contact you and let you know more once I know more.”

“I’ve got some bad news.” Dane grimaces as he takes her hands in his. “Dad volunteered me for a job working with the police. Both Fort Hammer and Smith Falls.” He hesitates, his expression tightening. “It pays really well, but I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. We’re heading to Smith Falls right now, and... I know this is probably the last thing you wanted to hear. I’m sorry. I know I’m letting you down.” He glances aside for a second, noticing his dad's raised eyebrow, then looks back at her. “It doesn’t sound like I’m going to make the movie with you.”

"It's okay, we can go another time," she half smiles, obviously disappointed, but understanding.

He rummages through his satchel for a second, pulls out the CB radios, and makes sure they are both set to the same frequency (channel 19) before handing one to Meg. “Take this... in case we’re not near a phone. That way I can contact you and let you know more once I know more.”

She nods as George chuckles, mimicking using the CB. "Breaker 1-9, this is awe Stryker! Come in Bookworm..."

"Really George?" Meg laughs.

"Hey, I'll leave you to your goodbyes. Just gonna see how the sheriff is with getting along," he grins as he gives Dane a friendly pat on the back, which to Dane feels like a full bore slap. He flips his collar up and walks out the front doors, wind immediately whipping his hair with blowing snow.

Meg sighs, "He's so goofy. So, how long will this job take?"

“Yeah, goofy,” Dane says distractedly as he looks into Meg’s eyes. His heart flutters while one part of his mind briefly tries to analyze what, exactly, he is feeling for her. Still thinking on one track, another part of him answers her question. “I don’t know, but it’s a five-thousand-credit retainer, with another ten thousand on completion. Dad doesn’t know what the job is, just that it must have something to do with computers if they’re asking for me.” He pulls her in for another toe-curling kiss, then just holds her there in his arms, enjoying the warmth of her head against his cheek. He wishes he were not wearing the bulky coat so he could feel her against him more clearly. .oO Does she feel the same way about me as I do about her? Oo.

Finally stepping back, though still holding her arms gently, his eyes flicker briefly to the ground before lifting to meet hers again. “I guess I better get going. The sheriff is borrowing one of Marty’s trucks. I don’t want to keep them waiting.”

“Yeah, goofy,” Dane says distractedly as he looks into Meg’s eyes. His heart flutters while one part of his mind briefly tries to analyze what, exactly, he is feeling for her. Still thinking on one track, another part of him answers her question. “I don’t know, but it’s a five-thousand-credit retainer, with another ten thousand on completion. Dad doesn’t know what the job is, just that it must have something to do with computers if they’re asking for me.” He pulls her in for another toe-curling kiss, then just holds her there in his arms, enjoying the warmth of her head against his cheek. He wishes he were not wearing the bulky coat so he could feel her against him more clearly. oO(Does she feel the same way about me as I do about her?)Oo

Finally stepping back, though still holding her arms gently, his eyes flicker briefly to the ground before lifting to meet hers again. “I guess I better get going. The sheriff is borrowing one of Marty’s trucks. I don’t want to keep them waiting.”

"Dane, that's huge!" she claps, smiling with her mouth open, "We could BUY that movie with that kind of money! Go! Go! The sooner you get the job done, the better! I'll be here! Make sure you radio tonight!"

Upon walking outside, his dad is already at the Justice Center, visiting with the sheriff, talking about the old rusty pickup that they're to drive to Smith Falls. Further up the street, a crowd, four large cargo haulers, Brad's ATV and a Wastelander motorcycle sit in front of the Bottoms up. It looks like everyone is getting loaded up to leave.

Dane spots his dad at the Justice Center and holds up a finger in his direction — just a minute — then trots over to the group loading up in front of Bottoms Up to wish them safe travels. Once he has made the rounds, he heads back to join his dad at the Justice Center.

OOC: Feel free to improvise some dialog for Dane over on the other thread if you want.