As soon as the lyrics hit Yan seemed to swell, standing straighter and rolling his shoulders.

“This is rather good Micky, why haven’t we been doing this more often?” Yan asked with a grin in his direction. “I’ll be sneaking up on Zofia at this rate.”

“I’m not sure I’d go that far byt,” laughed Gwilym.

“Right, no more BLEEPING about gents” interrupted Algernon. “Get yourself down to the edge of the range and bring back both of the firing dummies.”

“Will do boss.” Yan left at a dead sprint, covering the ground in an easy stride.

Reaching the leftmost mannequin he wrapped both arms around its wooden waist. Clasping his hands in a gable grip he leaned back. Pushing his heels into the dirt of the range he heaved once, tearing the base of the wooden figure from the soil.

“He definitely couldn’t have done that easily before, boss. I’d say the buff is working pretty well” Gwilym said after a brief pause.”

“Micky, stop playing for a second lad,” said Algernon as Yan approached the second mannequin. Micky stopped singing and let the last notes fade away. Seemingly unaware of this change Yan wrapped his arms around the dummy, looking to repeat his earlier feat. Leaning back and heaving once more he was able to gradually ease the base free from the rocky soil, his earlier power and fluidity completely gone.

“I’d say that answers that question then lad” Algernon laughed as Yan slowly dragged the two wooden forms up the range back to the group.

“It worked for a bit,” Yan panted out through heavy breathes. “it seemed to run out as I went to lift the second one.”

“Uh, yeah. My bad mate. I sorta stopped playing as you went for the second lift” Micky admitted slowly.

“Why would you do a fool thing like that man?”

“Algernon’s orders. I’m pretty sure it was part of the test. Sorry mate.”

“I would have appreciated a heads up there bossman, I damn near threw my back out pull that second one out.”

“Would have wrecked the test if you had known Yan” smiled Algernon unrepentantly. “Righto, I think I’ve seen enough. Let’s head back to the office for a chat. Piotr and Yan, you boys can knock off for the day. Micky and Gwilym, you’re with me.

Piotr and Yan thanked Algernon and headed off towards Baer’s Landing at a gentle stroll.

Back in Algernon’s office, Micky pulled up a chair opposite the desk and sat down with a thud, exhausted from the day’s exertions.

“So what’s the story, guys?” He asked slowly, “How did I do?”

“As far as I’m concerned lad, you’re good to go” Algernon replied happily. “You’re decent with the spear and your Abilities work well enough with the other members of the team. You’re still on probation for at least another five months though, so keep training and don’t BLEEP about.”

“Ah mate that’s wicked. I was pretty stressed out for a minute there.”

“You’ve done well byt, and I’m happy to have you on the team for the next expedition,” said Gwilym with obvious enthusiasm.

“Speaking of which lad, you might have heard bits and pieces about the expedition around the compound.”

“Not really mate, I’ve been pretty focused on training over the last week. You said it was coming up pretty soon right?” Asked Micky, leaning forward in his chair.

“That’s about the sum of it. You’ll be doing Gwilym and the rest of the team on a survey mission. There was a convergence with a high gravity ‘verse last month. That means plenty of minerals and potentially leftover pockets of gases.”

“That actually sounds pretty cool. When do we leave?”

“Three days lad. That’s why we rushed you through the assessment. The briefing is in two days.”

“Oh BLEEP mate, that’s not long at all.”

“Not at all, so take tomorrow off, then get your BLEEP back here first thing in the morning the day after for the briefing.”

“Sweet deal, I’ve got a couple of errands I need to run and Yan is helping me sort some gear out, but I’ll be here with bells on for the briefing.”

“Good stuff, now BLEEP off you lot. I’ve got work to do.”

Micky strode out of the office shoulder to shoulder with a grinning Gwilym.

“Well done byt. Welcome to active duty. Fancy a drink or two to celebrate?” Gwilym asked as soon as they were out of earshot from the office.

“Ah mate normally I’d be well keen, but I’ve got a ton I want to do tomorrow and I can’t be dealing with a hangover” Micky replied.

“That’s more than fair. I know this has been pretty quick but you’ve done really well.”

“Thanks, Gwilym. I appreciate it.”

“Don’t mention it. Now, if you’ll excuse me I’m going to go catch up with Yan. I’d say he’s about three jars deep and starting to hit on Zofia right about now, and I’d really like to have my head of logistics stab free right before we depart.”

Micky laughed at this and Gwilym had walked away before he thought to ask the man if he was kidding or not.

The walk back through the city passed in a blur, the cooling afternoon air settling around Micky like a cloak. Wrapped tight in his thoughts he arrived back at the boarding house just as the streetlamp flared into life around him.

Micky walked into the kitchen to a very familiar sight, Ma Duke steeping a bundle of herbs in her chipped enamel teapot.

“Good to see you boy, I thought you’d gotten too busy for us since you got that new job” she greeted him. The wide smile across her face having taken any sting out of the words.

“Not at all Ma, I’ve just been busy training. I had kind of a test thing today so now I’m cleared for active duty. I get to go on expeditions!”

“That is good boy, you’ll get to see more of Outremer than just that compound and the inside of my kitchen” Ma Duke laughed.

“But it is such a lovely kitchen to see” Micky replied, sharing her good humor.

“Ah hush up boy. Drink some tea and don’t spoil an old lady's fun.”

Micky sat in his chair enjoying the herbal tea, which reminded him of chamomile and ginger. The bustle of the kitchen soothed his nerves after a trying day and the warmth of the oven lulled him into a gentle torpor. In this state, he completely missed the sound of the front door opening and was thus caught by surprise when Opal flopped down into the chair opposite him.

“Hey Opal, good to see you. How was work?” He asked after his surprise had faded.

“Not bad Micky, but I’m wrecked now. We’re pulling out a stand of old Sho-Ja trees, they’re resistant to most magical Abilities and magi-tech. We’re pretty much stuck ripping them up with a block and tackle.”

“That actually sounds like a nightmare, good thing you’re stronger than you look right?” Micky said with a grin.

“Hah, very funny” she deadpanned in response. “Honestly it’s not too bad, we got the stand cleared this afternoon so we’ve got the day off tomorrow.”

“Ah, that’s quality. Have you got any plans?”

“Is sleep a plan, I’m pretty sure it's a plan. If so then yes I do have a plan. Sleeping.”

“Far be it from me to interrupt such a detailed and well thought out plan, but I’ve got the day off too. Fancy getting that lunch?”

Opal made a show of flicking through an imaginary notebook, going so far as to convincingly convey the action of scribbling out an equally imaginary engagement before looking back at Micky. “I think I can find time in my busy schedule. Do you have somewhere in mind?”

“Do you know the Royal Mile?”

“That fancy gastro-pub in the government district?”

“Yeah, that’s the one. Meet me there around two-ish? My treat.”

“Free and fancy lunch, I’m in” Opal smiled tiredly.