Visitors From Another World

21. Between Roses and Guns

"And who're you?" Boothill asked Cale. "You're not part of the Nameless are ya?"

"No." Cale answered.

"He's a passenger of the express." Dan Heng said. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard there's another Galaxy Ranger here that calls 'emselves "Acheron."

"And?"

"There's none of us called "Acheron." She's a imposter! I'm telling ya. And that's why I'm here." Boothill spoke.

"So you're here to take care of her?" Dan Heng asked.

"Not exactly, that would be too difficult for even me, the Memokeeper, my informant, tells me that she could be the emanator of Nihility." Boothill declined. "Anyways, she's holding on something I need back. The Galaxy Rangers also want to uncover her true intentions for hiding under our name."

"And why can't you look for her yourself? The Galaxy Rangers are also esteemed guests of the Penacony" Pom-pom asked.

"I tried, but it's not as simple as you think. Enamators have the ability to conceal their identities." Boothill answered him. "The reason why I reached out to you is because the Memokeeper says that the Astral Express crew has met with her, not just once." He turned to Cale, "so, what do you say, pretty guy?"

Cale flinched, not expecting he would also get involved in the conversation.

Boothill then faced the others again, "before the situation gets worse and your friends get hurt, do as I say will ya?"

Dan Heng sharpened, "we'll help you, but don't think we trust you yet."

"Nothing wrong with that I guess."

They exited the express without Pom-pom and quickly checked Boothill in under the registered name "Pom-pom" and walked over to the lounge and bar inside the hotel.

"Would ya like a drink, pretty boy?" Boothill asked flirtatiously.

"Alright." Cale just accepted a free drink without a thought. "And my name is Cale."

"Whatever you say, pretty boy." Boothill ordered the drinks, including one for the lonely boy.

After drinking up and taking a look around the hotel grounds, Boothill told them they should go back to the express.

"The Memokeeper told me to meet back at the express." Boothill said. "I'll be waiting for you on the Astral Express." Her exact words."

"That's no doubt. Let's head back then, it's not safe here." Dan Heng said.

They reentered the express and regrouped with Pom-pom.

The sound of Black Swan's heels clicking on the floor reappeared as she entered the room.

"My apologies, conductor, I overlooked my sudden entrance into the express. But given the circumstances, I had no choice. The Nameless are the only ones that can be trusted in Penacony so far." Black Swan apologized to Pom-pom. "We meet again on this fateful day, Cale, Dan Heng." She looked at them with a soft gaze.

"Cut to the chase, Memokeeper. I don't got all the time for this." Boothill threatened her.

"That's what I came here for." Black Swan smiled. "But before I do so, I would like to introduce someone who will explain the story better than I do. Please welcome, Acheron."

The sounds of someone else's footsteps entered the room and closed in on them.

"Greetings, I am Acheron."

"You're the imposter!" Boothill said in a loud, harsh voice. "You, the Garden of Recollection, you dare betray me now?!"

"Quiet down now. Don't you want to hear her story?" Black Swan calmed the man down. "I brought her here for you." She continued to smile.