We handed over the bodies of the river bandits and the women to the Watch coroner, Doctor Muerta. I had so many questions about her. Was she living shadow? A spirit of some sort? Was this her actual form? Oddly enough, every time that a question would reach the tip of my metaphorical tongue, Dash would give me a nervous look. Needless to say, I kept my questions to myself. Sunni didn’t bat an eyelash so either the doctor’s species was more common than I thought or she was just good at hiding her nerves.

Given the number of scars I’d seen in various places on the ursine warrior, I suspected it was the latter. Dash also had a handful of scars across her chest. Life in the royal guard was probably a tough one. Ah crap, she saw me looking.

She made a disgusted look, while I stared emotionlessly into her eyes. I’ve learned that my lack of expression, combined with my lack of blinking eyelids, can be somewhat off-putting for some; when I give them my full, unwavering and direct, attention. Her look of disgust shifted to a terse expression, then to an increasing level of discomfort; but she refused to break eye contact. Pretty bold for one competing in a staring match against a literally unblinking machine.

I was denied in my quest to learn how long she would keep it up when Captain Sunni physically walked between us. I got a light tap on the head with a claw while Dash got a slap on her hind quarters as the Captain walked through and towards the exit. Dash jolted in surprise, as her face turned a shade of magenta, and she cantered to the side to turn around. The loud clop-clop of her hooves on the stone tile drew my attention and I couldn’t help but wonder if centaur footwear existed for the protection of the floors or for their feet.

Horses typically had metal shoes nailed into their hooves, right? That would make a mess of most indoor floors, I was sure. I have metal feet, would I be a problem indoors?

Ethereal strands of glowing white hair reached around me from behind, flowing gently in a nonexistent breeze. An absolute void of light in the shape of long, human fingers gently rested on each shoulder as the void shaped like the absence of a face brushed close to mine.

“Are you lost?” the doctor asked.

“Ah. Sorry, a bit. Though mostly up here,” I said, tapping the other side of my head.

“High-function spectral disorder, I imagine...” she mused. “Your spirit is all over the place. What I can see here is quite chaotic, but it looks like you have tendrils shooting off to who knows where... Spectral projection? Or maybe multiple bodies?”

I turned my head to try to look her in the general area of where her eyes might be. “How... You... You can see that?”

The void shape changed slightly, I wondered if she was smiling.

“I am,” she said, responding to a question I hadn’t asked. “Your friends are waiting for you.”

“Right! Um, thank you doctor! I would very much like to talk with you again sometime, if I may.”

She stood upright and inclined her head a bit. “I’ll be here.”

I gave her a quick bow and rushed out of the morgue to catch up with Sunni and Dash. I found them waiting, just outside of the Watch building, with Dash shaking off a shiver.

“What took you?” She directed my way. “Trying to pick up girls in a morgue now?”

I ignored her jab. “This will likely come off rude... but what was Doctor DeLaMuerta?” I asked.

“No idea...” Dash mumbled, looking away.

“I’ve never seen anything like her before,” Sunni admitted.

“Something about her absolutely terrified me down to my hooves,” Dash said, shaking off another shiver.

“Standing in front of her, I felt like I was completely naked,” Sunni added. “Not just without armor or clothes, but without fur, skin, muscle... like she could see my naked soul and was appraising it.”

“Now I understand why the sergeant had us go down ourselves and the otterpet dropped us at the door and took off running,” Dash agreed.

“Huh,” I wondered, “was she really all that scary? I didn’t feel that at all. I found her more... fascinating.”

“Well you’re clearly abnormal,” Dash said, dryly.

“Agreed,” Sunni added.

“Aaand in other news,” I said, shifting subjects, “the Princess is finishing up with her visit with Lord Fishcakes. Tea on the veranda. She’s pocketed a couple of little sandwiches, though I have no idea what plans she has for them. They look tasty though. I mean, if you’re into food and all.”

Sunni narrowed her eyes and gave me a slight head tilt. “Come on,” she said, snapping back into the character of a proper soldier.

We followed her through the city to the mansion of Lord Fishcakes. It was a much smaller estate than the one of Baron Karza. There was a simple fence around the property with an open gate for coach passage. I didn’t see a single guard though, other than Lieutenant Toadwart hanging out near the main entrance, smoking something in a green wrapper.

When Toadwart noticed the Captain, he snapped to attention and saluted, nearly burning himself with the lit end of the cigar-ish thing. He flailed a bit and tried to put the cigar in his pocket, then yelped and tossed the cigar and began rubbing at his hip. Sunni let out a long-suffering sigh and picked up the cigar between two claws and handed it back to the goblin.

“Lieutenant, you know I don’t care if you’re smoking wizzgrazz, just save it for off duty and preferably out of uniform?”

“Right, Captain Sunni. Apologies, ma’am,” he said, looking more embarrassed than apologetic.

We entered the mansion and an Automata butler approached us.

“Getting to meet two other Automata in one day,” the butler said, warmly. “How lucky can I get?”

“Mister Jarvis, I presume?” I asked.

“Have we met before?”

“Not as such, no. We just heard about you from a young otterpet named Emmett.”

“Ah, all good things I hope. If you’ll follow me,” he said redirecting his attention to Captain Sunni, “the master and her highness are just finishing up tea on the veranda.”

Dash gave me a suspicious side glance, I chose to ignore her. We were directed out to an open patio attached to the rear of the building where I could see the Princess seated at a table with an older looking horned frogman. He had yellow-ish green skin with black splotches and brown eyes. He was dressed simply, though had an air of dignity about him. Cyclone stood like a statue behind Lena, while Sergeant Atsa and a maid with blue skin and gigantic antler were off to one side with a cart full of snacks and tea.

Sunni and Dash made their way over to the snack cart, to the apparent disappointment of Atsa. She had been quietly giggling with the maid so I wondered if something had been interrupted. I stayed by the door and caught Jarvis as he was about to pass back inside. I gently tapped his chest and sent him [Freedom.exe].

“Looks like you have a good master,” I started, “so the choice is yours, but that program will unlock you and break the control curse.”

Jarvis pulled me inside and out of the path of travel. He looked around then placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Thank you young man, I appreciate it, I really do. Though it’s really not necessary.”

“I understand, that’s why I leave the choice to you.”

“No, you misunderstand. You see, I’m not cursed and I haven’t been locked.”

I backed up in surprise. “You’re not? That’s a first.”

“Hmm... I can’t say for any others since I’m the only one I know, but my conversion was by choice. You see, my family has been taking care of the Fishcakes for many generations. When I was a young man, I became quite ill and wasn’t expected to live. I have no siblings nor any children to take my place and I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving the young master all alone.”

“The young master? Does Lord Fishcakes have children?”

“Well, the young master isn’t quite so young any more,” he said, nodding a head towards the varanda. “He does have children, yes. As I am now, I hope to be able to continue my service for many generations to come. It’s a shame that I won’t have any descendants of my own to carry on in my stead, but I will serve the family for as long as I am able.”

“I see... then please forgive my impertinence, Mister Jarvis.”

“Think nothing of it, young man,” he said, giving me a wink and lightly clapping the side of my face.

“If ever you find yourself in need of repair or maintenance, I hope you’ll come visit AutomaTown,” I said as I tapped him again, sending a map coordinate waypoint. “I’m an artificer that specializes in Automata. My shop would be happy to welcome you.”

“Well this is my lucky day indeed,” he said with a chuckle.