The Dig

[VaevictisAsmadi]

While the sandstorms raged on the planets surface. The rumors raged and spread underneath in the vast tunnel system of Pygar. If you weren't familiar with the normal buzz of the city, you wouldn't notice it, but locals and regular visitors saw it. The amount of outgoing flights was increasing. Some of the more ordinary shops, were starting inventarisation too early, some were outright closing.

In one of the common caverns the "Golden Eagle" bar was a lot fuller than usual. Arthur looked out of its window while he was waiting for his cards. He could see the change going through the community. The more downtrodden and dirty people of the populace had grim looks on their faces, while the scientists, traders and some of the religious folks were too energetic. Something wasn't right.

"Big blind has gotta pay, Arthur. You know the rules" said King waving. Arthurs attention went back to the burly Libertonian in front of him. "Sorry." he muttered before pushing some of his chips to the pool. "You seem distracted man, haven't you heard the news?" King continued "Some of them eggheads dug too deep. Don't you worry your pretty head, if something happens the Order will clear it up."

"Are we going to suffer with another rendition of Ode to Liberty, King?" the woman on Arthurs left pined. She leaned on to the table, her red locks falling over her cards. "Or are we going to play?" she smiled while calling the raise. King grinned "Oh, we can play Babs. Never knew you didn't like my singing. Maybe I can sing you something else?"

The Kusari man between them was sulking in his chair. "Should have went to Livadia. First Gran Canaria and now here. We Zoners are a cursed lot." he lamented. "How did the Order not find anything, but some Zoner hooked up on Moonshine could?". Babs looked playfully at the Kusari. "Come on Ace, you know nothing could stop a Zoner with a deathwish."

Arthur turned to King. "Do you know what they've found exactly?". King leaned in. "I don't know nothing. My friends don't know nothing, but their friends..." he looked around and raised the bet. "Their friends say it's something. Something big. And if you ain't up to it, better get moving. So are you in or are you out?"

The pair on fron of him had the answer. A two and a nine of spades. Tough decisions and bad luck. Was that his future? Arthur mulled over his choices. "I fold" he stood up from the table and gathered his things. "Are you going to Livadia by any chance?" asked Ace. Arthur turned, smiled and replied "I'm going to ask around."