Better Eight Than Never

Chapter 20: Pipe Dream

Jill tapped her foot impatiently as she leaned against the rim of a small fountain outside Arowana mall. They'd been waiting for almost 20 minutes, and she was beginning to worry that they'd missed her when Stacey walked out through the double doors and into the sunlight, her team right behind her.

"There she is!" Jill said, then frantically waved. "Stacey! Stacey!"

Stacey seemed taken aback, quickly turning to her squad. "Hey, I gotta deal with this, we can chill tomorrow, alright?"

"Yeah, of course!" The Aerospray RG known as Agatha said, punching Stacey in her arm. "See you tomorrow when we win the tournament!"

"Byyyyeee!" Bobby chimed, skipping as he headed off to the train station.

Finally Tyson whispered in Stacey's ear before following the others, casting an uneasy glance back.

"Okay, what's up?" Stacey asked, stepping forward to meet the Sundaes, setting her splatling down at her feet. "Something tells me this isn't just a chance encounter. Where is she?"

"She's in here." Bato said, pulling the backpack off of his shoulder. "She's developed a fever, she couldn't run this morning."

Stacey peered into the bag. "Run?"

"Yeeeeah." Jill nodded, flashing a sheepish smile. "Have you gotten any messages from 1&2 today? Stuff's gone... wrong."

Stacey glanced around. "We can't talk about this here!" She hissed. "I live nearby, come on." She scooped up her splatling, then started down the street, nodding her head a little as she walked.

Jill gave Simon a bit of an awkward smile, then followed after her, trying to seem cheerful, all the while feeling dread gnawing at the pit of her stomach. She popped an extra root beer barrel she'd looted from Bato into her mouth, letting the flavor reassure her.

---

"Well, here we are."

Stacey's apartment complex stood before them... and it wasn't what you'd consider 'good' either. A few buildings that looked almost like four-story motels stood before them, ramshackle and worn. One of the doors on the third floor was covered with a tarp and caution tape.

"... It looks lovely!" Jill said, biting her lip at her obvious lie.

"Thanks-" Stacey said. "-but you can be honest you know."

"You really live here?" Simon muttered. "You're so renowned."

"We manage." Stacey said, leading up the stairs to the second floor, and hefting her splatling with one arm to open the door to her apartment. "Make yourselves at home while I get my gear on." She said, beckoning the others to come in. "My dad's not going to be home for a few more hours."

Jill strode in and took off her boots, taking note of a kitchen immediately on the right, and a living room straight ahead. There was an old sofa that had seen better days, as well as an armchair off to the side, a coffee table in front of them that was covered in newpapers and dirty dishes. A potted plant stood in a corner by the window, near doodles and art from years past that were taped to the wall. A few framed pictures rested on the entertainment center, around a rather nice LED TV. There were two doors to the left, and one door to the right, which Stacey entered. She guessed that was probably her room.

A moment later Stacey came back in, zipping up her agent vest. "Can you close the curtains?" She asked.

Simon nodded and complied, plunging the room into mostly darkness.

"Now... I don't want... 'Hachi' listening to us, so she can use my C-pod." She said, holding it up along with her headphones.

Bato nodded and set the backpack down, letting Hachi out. She took the headphones gingerly and slipped them on, but once she started listening her tentacles began to coil around the earpieces and she began to relax.