The makeshift gymnasium was filled with people and the noise level was rising. At tables along one side of the caged ring, bankers took bets on the fighters entering the ring. On the opposite side, local medics briefly examined prospective candidates for the ring.

Gerrin and Doc stood in the middle of a short line, waiting for Gerrin to weigh in. “This is your last chance to back out”, Doc said.

“It’s a little late for that”, Gerrin replied uneasily. “I’m just hoping Reilly and Aldous work fast.”

Across town in the control tower, Aldous cracked the lock to the room containing the landlock controls. As he entered the room he started scanning every control console for the controls he needed. After a few consoles, he found what he was looking for. “Yes!” he cheered quietly as he went to work on the controls.

Behind the bank Reilly triggered the lock on the back door and his crew slipped inside. As they approached the vault, Reilly reminded the crew “Remember, once we’re in, only the box numbers on the list.” Reilly began working on the lock on the vault.

In the Troll’s mess area Anna and Loomie were still talking. Anna continued with “and you really believe he’s not the monster the Alliance made him out to be?”

Loomie replied “He’s risked his life for us more times than I can count. Monsters don’t stick their necks out for others. I know”.

Anna was curious. “You really have a thing for him, don’t you?”

Loomie smiled “He’s different from most. Most guys just care about themselves. He looks after others, and he cares about what’s right, too.”

“But how do you know he’s written off the Alliance for good?”

Loomie’s smile faded. “You remember that broadwave a couple months ago about Miranda and the Reavers?”

Anna nodded.

Loomie became solemn. “His sister settled on Miranda.”

In the gym, Gerrin was weighed and examined, the matched against an opponent of roughly