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I awoke to the sounds of screams. Brendan was getting dressed, and Shrendice was
exiting through the rune-door. “Brendan, what the fuck is happening?”
“I do not know, my friend, I heard the blasts of an atom-cruncher beyond the stone and
hideous screams of mole-people soon followed.” I quickly rose out of bed and clothed my naked
body.
“We must make haste and leave” I said.
“Aye, that is true, but the only way to leave is to inject more of that serum I gave ye.
“Well, do you have any more?”
“Nay, and the supply is behind the rune-counter at the other end of the hall.”
“You mean towards the sounds of the atom-cruncher.”
“Aye” he said gravely.
“You don’t think it’s him, do you?”
“Not many men on Zalpha-Omega hold atom-crunchers.”
Years ago, Brendan had made a sour deal with a bounty hunter named Aetario
Atomcruncher… And Aetario Atomcruncher was not one to forget those who had cheated him.
On his belt he always carried The Father, his family’s ancient weapon, and with it he smote all
who he felt wronged him. The Father was a death ray which tore your atoms apart into nonexistence, and only three were known to exist in the universe. The wise-tales claim atomcrunchers were forged by the old folk before they blasted themselves into oblivion, though most
on Zalpha-Omega believed them to be punishments from the Gambit God, meant to keep the