Sos’s arrangement for the tests was simple. I either lived in the laboratory or close to it. Not keen on sudden tests at odd hours, I chose the latter. As for Oso, she had more freedom somehow and decided to stay put. She said she could use the exercise, walking to and from her new workplace. I shrugged, still trying to figure out why Sos caved in so easily to Oso’s demands in the first place. It was unnatural, but my new routine kept such thoughts away.

The reason why is simple: the tests were painful. It has only been three weeks since I walked into the laboratory and catching sight of the door makes me shiver now. I complained, of course, but Sos waved it away and gave me the rhetoric about “mind overcoming body”. It unnerved me then and there how cold she was. Perhaps that’s how she carried herself for her job, no matter what it was. Interactions between me and her were few, for obvious reasons.

My complaints did come through in a way, with Sos taking away my sense of pain with a hideous drink. It made my tongue shrivel up and die. Twice. Every moment that “liquid” spent in my throat was one less spent on cursing Sos and my life. Once, I accidentally “spilled” it onto a guard. I could tell by the frantic shaking and slamming of its trunk that it was in hell. That scene lasted ten minutes before the afflicted guard stopped moving altogether. After that, I no longer cared about the taste.

Right now, I was in-between tests, lounging around in my new bed at my new place. It was bigger and had more stuff in it that the old one, but still too cramped. I haven’t slept with Oso in here yet, but it’ll come to that soon. Didn’t think taking is easy would feel so boring. I scratched another notch to my right bedpost, bringing the total amount of notches on it to about two dozen. I was keeping track of how many times I’ve felt bored while in the room. Once that notch was carved, I had the good sense to get out of my room and start moving. To where I did not know, only that staying still did no wonders for my mind.

I passed the health rooms, getting lost twice before I left them. Then, I walked as I always have until I saw it. A sign, like an oasis in the desert. Unlike other signs, it had a more appealing color to its lighting, with the words “Biji Timah” in bold letters. Seeds sat on the background, with water spilling out from both ends. I gave it a slight nudge as I walked inside.

“Hey, look who’s back from the good doctor!” A man with a girth matched only by his beard shouted at me. “Carran, it’s good to see you. Here, have an appetizer, on the house.” He threw a mug as big as my face towards me with no hesitation. I managed to catch it barely, catching an errant drop from spilling out. My arms shook from the stress, but I felt no pain yet.

“Good, you can still catch mug just fine. I would’ve made you pay if it spilled.” The bartender said with a smile.

“Then you wouldn’t be able to listen to me and my amazing stories.” I replied, “You know that’s the only thing keeping people flocking to this bar.”

“Hah! You jest, Carran. My food is what keeps them coming.” Mann showed the various foodstuffs laid out behind him. “Fresh and hot, with taste to spare!”

“How do you cook without a fire?” I said glibly as I ordered some roasted nuts. “Don’t the guards hate fire?”

“That, my friend, is a trade secret.” Mann passed me the nuts, along with some salt. “Well, Angan knows how, but no one can keep a secret from her after all.”

I sure hope not. I thought as I flung a nut into my mouth. Or my entire plan is going to end with me skewered by a guard’s branch. Or worse.

“So, what have you been up to, Carran? Manam tells me you no longer work with the newborns.” Mann kept his hands busy as he talked.

“Yeah, that’s right. I’m doing something else now, can’t talk about it. Angan’s orders.” I took a sip from my mug and felt the tipsiness crawl in.

“Is that so? Well, it has to be something important.” Mann delivered a plate of cheese and grilled meat to a one-eyed man. The man nods. “You’re welcome, Larry. Let me know if you want another drink.”

“It is.” I looked at my mug and peered its depths. It seemed infinite. I took a mouthful this time around, feeling my shoulders slacken and my lips loosen. “It’s to the outside, to Edgetide, or somewhere near it. Do you know the place?”

“Edgetide? Do you mean Dangergulf? Mann frowned as he scratched his chin. “Did the name change?”

“I think it’s always been Edgetide. The place’s just shy of high tide, hence the name.” I shook my head at Mann’s odd question. “Something big is about to happen and Angan wants someone in at the action. Doesn’t matter what the action is, only that our beloved leader gets to play a role in it. And I’m her pawn.”

“You’re selling yourself too short, Carran.” Mann laughed. “You’ve got spirit and vision, which is why Angan put you up to care for the newborns. That stuff rubs off on them.”

“Thank you, but no, I don’t think anything of mine gets through to those things.” I sighed and massaged my temples. “As for Angan, she has something I don’t. Power, and lots of it. After all, she made all this possible.” I nodded to the bar around me.

“Now you’re selling me short.” Mann squinted his eyes at me. “Makes me wonder if I should get my beer back from your belly.”

“Ah, come on Mann, you know what I mean.” I tried to pat Mann, but my arm was too short. “You know people love you, and that’s good.” I stared at my mug as though a rebuttal would come from it. “To the best bartender in town, Mann Masterson! Hip hip hurray! Hip hip hurray!”

Mann shook his head at my enthusiastic display and left to attend the other patrons. Alone, my appetite for nuts and drink lessened, making me slouch in my seat. I pinched a nut from its ilk and looked at it. Some parts of its skin clung even after being roasted, like tattered clothes on a beggar. With a bit of pressure, it cracked and I flung the remains into my mouth. The bits rolled in my mouth as I chewed. Then I winced as I felt a rock hit my teeth. A rock? I thought, bewildered as I tried to push out the unwelcome thing. I mean, I am underground, but how did a rock get inside the nut?

“I ask myself that same question, Carer.” I turned to see who it was and saw a stranger. He had … an ugly face. It made me turn away and pretend I didn’t see him. The man shrugged and took the seat beside me, a half-empty bottle already in hand. He put the bottle on the counter and looked at Mann expectantly. Without a word, Mann tossed a glass out. It was caught and the stranger immediately filled it with his stuff. The liquid that poured was clear.

“Who-”

“Kook.” The man downed his shot and poured another. “As for the others you’ve got clamoring inside of your head, well, I can answer one for now.” I studied the man closer, avoiding his face all the while. His clothes seemed familiar, and then it hit me.

“You work at the lab?” I asked.

“That’s right. Assistant Kook, off-duty, and ready to get drunk.” Kook smiled as he drank his fourth shot. “Your girlfriend is a hard driver.”

“No, your boss isn’t my girlfriend.” I shuddered at the thought. “I’m dating her twin.”

“Huh.” Kook scratched his head. “That doesn’t get weird? You don’t get them switched up?”

“No, they stand out in completely different ways.” I was about to rattle off the list of things where they differed but stopped when I realized what I was about to do. “But that’s not for me to say. I should go.”

“You do that.” Kook said, “Or you’ll stay a bit longer and have a chat?"

“I don’t even know you.”

Kook grinned.

“ … I got to get back now. Another test is coming up.” I finished up my snack and drink, tipping Mann as I took leave of my seat.

“Sure. See you later, Carer.” Kook gave me a wave before returning to his drink.

I was halfway through the health rooms before I realized that I was running. That was unexpected. I thought as I stopped to take a breath. Well, not entirely. You'd have to be a special kind of weird to work for Sos.

"Well, I got out and had a drink and ate some nuts. I suppose I'm ready to take another round of those shitty tests." I said, "And after, I'll go and visit Oso. I kinda miss her."