We finally get to one of the epic length co writes Dash is better known for.

There's a lot going in on this one, where the two are trying to get into the Feline Empire controlled Degrassi Knoll. There's also a little insight into their pasts for you to enjoy.

Note: Takes place, obviously, after the Live RP X

When it was all said and done, despite his very best efforts, Sebastian Dash didn’t make a very good patient. He was pretty sure he spent a good deal of his recovering being obnoxious, demanding, ill tempered, and at times condescending. Trying to put a smile on things didn’t seem to help at all, and taking it easy was impossible, given..

Given the recent events. Fortunately, Dash had finally gotten out, and immediately began preparing to help. The zombie crisis was serious, but Dash was more interested in applying himself to the Degrassi situation. Whatever was going on, it had control of Cat.. at least in Dash’s mind.

As Dash prepared himself for the journey, his companion, Todd Blackpaws, and if he threw a few extra healing tunes into his usual playlist, all the better. Dash had been insistent they could simply overpower the line of guards protecting the city. Todd had simply let him ramble and rage, but as they were actually nearly ready to depart, he felt the need to speak up on the situation.

Todd looked down upon the entrance to Degrassi knoll, letting thoughts of scum, villanry and hives just pass on through.

C'mon, mate! He chided himself. You aren't that old a fox by any stretch!

He spied something and pointed it out to Dash. In their haste to close off all but the main way into Degrassi the Felines had seemed to have overlooked one side way... either that or it was an obvious trap that only the most tricksy of tricksters could get through cleanly.

He smiled at Dash.

Dash looked around, expecting an ambush could come out of pretty much any point capable of obscuring a body.. or a few dozen. Dash surveyed the area. “Bloodstains. Food wrappers. We have a clear way in, but what are the odds if we came back later with backup, it’d be overwhelmed with Knobs and Knolls again?”

Todd nodded. He'd long decided to take Dash's advice when it came to strategy. However one thing did nag him.

"It's a clear way in-maybe too clear. I just hope there's a way out once we get the information we need."

Dash shrugged. "Do you think they'll buy into these outfits?"

Todd frowned, looking behind him. Since there were no foxes in the Feline army (Well... one now but he couldn't imitate her, now could he?) Todd had had to take a more... personal approach to his disguise.

He sighed, At least Lapine thought the reason he got shaved was a turn on... and she promised to help him grow it back.

"Yeah- but you came by yours alot easier mate."

"Yeah," Dash said, wincing his nose. "But this robe stinks. Seriously, what am I supposed to be, a sewer mage?!"

Todd shrugged. "I've smelled worse- and before you ask, you don't wanna know." He chuckled at an old memory. "Anyway, since that Cattaras dud is hanging around this place, and since he and you have a past- I was thinking you'd want to do everything you could to make sure that, to him, you weren't you."

“So learn what we can, make as much trouble for the traitors as we can, and get out..” Dash made a face. “Should we start a fight, do you think?”

“Only if we want to get caught in it- which I, for one- don’t.” Todd began to pick his way toward the entrance he had seen, attempting to keep hidden from any other prying eyes. Dash followed him, silent as night. At times, Todd found it hard to believe he moved so well for a smoothskin. Then again, he’d heard tales of Dash’s experience overseas and in the Kingdom itself.

Unfortunately, even with the cover of twilight, there was still an obsessively large amount of open space to cross inside of the town. Dash whispered, “We’ve got two options. Camp here.” Here being on of several likely abandoned outposts dotting the land between Degrassi Knoll and The Misspelled Cemetary. Spelling purposeful if you missed it, since badly spelled horrors kept them well abandoned.. or is that banandoned?

“Or move inwards under the cover of night,” Dash continued. Neither option was ideal.

“Well, one thing we’re not gonna be doin’ here mate is ‘camp.’ Too... army like. Now we could crash here, if you want, just a couple bums down on their luck and only able to sleep with the least offended neighbors. Or...” He looked at Dash and chuckled. “Nah- no way you’d try to keep that ruse up for long if we were caught.”

Dash actually chuckled. “Besides, I don’t think I’m into rats, Muri-Dan.” Dash paused, looking up, towards a rope ladder leading to a second and possibly third floor. “I get the impression this is set up to let a Knollish guard live here for days, maybe weeks. Might be a pantry and bed upstairs. And I’m sure the view of the wlaking dmaned in the cemetary is lovely at nights.”

Dash caught himself. “Sorry.. Damned curse of misspellings!”

Todd found himself flexing his muscles as he looked up the rope ladder to the second level. Or at least flexing the muscles he wished he had so that the upcoming chore wouldn’t be such a ... chore.

“Unless you prefer to sleep down here,” Dash said snarkily. “I could toss you down a blanket. Maybe a Knollish pet bed.”

Todd felt all humor leave him- and at the last bit of Dash’s words his fangs bared. He paused a moment, thinking before speaking. “Funny- in all that time with her in your bed did she know what a furrist you were?”

“Alright.” Dash threw his hands up in surrender. “You’re right, I’m sorry. It was wrong with me to say. I’m upset at what happened with her and I’m taking it out on you. It won’t happen again.”

Todd held his ire for a moment- then let it go just as quickly. He was right. Guy had been through a lot and hell, Todd didn’t know if he’d be able to face somebody like him so soon afterward himself. Or, more to the point. A smoothskinner so soon after...

“Apology accepted. Now, smarty- my only problem is that I’m gonna be tired as all hell once I climb up that ladder.” He gave a ‘manly’ pose. “These ain’t built like yours, man. It’s one of the reasons I’d end up being the butt buddy if we’d gone that way.”

“For Sneaky Pete’s sake, spare me the details next time?” Dash pleaded. He gritted his teeth. “I wasn’t born with a few muscles, either, you know. I’d probably make you look like Daisuke in comparison until I was .. “ He paused to think. “I started training for strength at age twelve and a half, actually. Before then, it was all really boring strategy lessons, morality, and tactical.”

Todd shrugged as he began to climb the ladder. Despite his complaints he was no slouch and made it up fast enough- although nowhere near as fast as the trained Dash would have. As he lay on the landing, panting he spoke quietly. “That... that’s were you an me differ...mate. While you ... were in class I... I was busy survivin’.”

Dash stayed below, hardly seeming to notice he’d ascended the ladder. “Fair point. In all fairness, I barely survived a few of the ‘classes.’ It wasn’t as pleasant - and a even more boring than it sounded- surviving a group of people that wrongly treated me as a guardian in training for their village and way of life.”

The whole thing still left a bitter aftertaste- so Dash decided to keep the focus of the story on Todd. “Where’d you grow up, anyway?”

Todd’s breathing steadied and he raised his head. He saw long abandoned bedding, a pantry, larder and fire pit in what he could see of the part of the room not dominated by shadow. Explore later, was his suggestion as he lay back and thought.

“Adrule- the Docks District, mainly. Heard of it?”

Dash just nodded- then realized he wasn’t there to hear him. “Yeah. I have.” Dash then turned to climb up the ladder. “What’s up there, anyway?”

Todd shrugged, lost in memory. “Nothing much. Ships, cutpurses and cutthroats mostly.”

Dash poked his head around, then sat opposite of the bed. Wasn’t much room all things considered. “I meant up here. It sounds like the area of Aldara Catrina told me about. The one she was at right before I .. encountered her.”

Todd chuckled. “She must not have been around long, man. Something as sweet as her would have been snatched up by one of the big bordellos in town easy!”

“She might have kept a low profile,” Dash noted. He settled back. “How’s you survive, musician or thief?”

Another shrug. “Wasn’t ‘either-or’ mate. Sometimes you sung for part of a guy’s purse- sometimes you cut it from his belt. And sometimes you found yourself with some smoothskin who had a taste for kit- if you know what I mean?”

“Not sure I want to know.” Dash leaned back against the floor, testing it. Sleep-able alright, though hardly comfortable. “No offense, but I don’t think I want that in my nightmares tonight. They’re full enough as is.”

Todd chuckled. “It’s not so bad- especially when you get older and it’s the smoothskin’s daughter come looking for a taste of the’wild side.’”

Dash groaned. “I’ll take your word for it. For the most part, my ‘wild times’ were Seaside Town, when I was a teenage punk. Found out a lot about stealing there, you know. Mostly applies and knives. No matter how hard I tried to forget that part of my past, I couldn’t shake my fascination with blades.”

“Me- I learned to fight with whatever I could get my hands on- and how to keep out of the fight and let everybody else kill each other first.” Todd chuckled. “Led to some interestin’ times.”

Dash looked around, and found a comfortable, if dusty and unsavory- blanket to throw his 6’2” frame on. “How’d you learn the music magic, anyway? It seems like you’ve got a spell for every possible occasion.”

Todd smiled, although Dash couldn’t see it. “I had been sneakin into this one bordello in town- partly to get a look at the girls but mostly to listen to this old bard they had. If he talked or moved you‘d think he was about to die of old age right there- but when he sang? When he played?”

Todd sighed. “It was as if somebody had taken us all away to a better place- just for as long as the song lasted. Well... One day I get caught by one of the girls- She was a nice cheetah named Celeste.. heh I remember when she and I... um... maybe later.

“Like I was sayin luckily I wasn’t looking up her dress at the time but at this guy playin. She marches me right into the bar and shoves me in front of him, ‘I think little Todd wants to learn to play his instrument.’ She snickered.

“The old man- he was a smoothskin and I never really learned his name- smiled from me to her and cocked an eyebrow. ‘Isn’t that your department, kitten?’

“Celeste hid any anger, smiling. ‘I prefer to wait for my men until they quit sucking tit for food. Besides he was watching you- not me.’ She sounded a bit pissed at that last, but I was too nervous to tell anything.

“The old man just smiled at me. ‘Fancy yourself a Bard, son?’ Now, I didn’t really know what a Bard was but... well if he was saying I could do what he could then I nodded and he chuckled. ‘Okay... well let’s see what you got to start out with... Sing me some of A Hundred Years Ago.’

“I looked at him and nearly froze. But Celeste had heard me singing around town- mostly to tourists and stuff for beggar’s money. She whispered in my ear and I stiffened up- no not THAT way- and began:

A hundred years is a very long time, Ho, yes, ho! A hundred years is a very long time, A hundred years ago.

They used to think that pigs could fly Ho, yes, ho! I don't believe it, no, not I. A hundred years ago.

They thought he moon was made of cheese. Ho, yes, ho! You can believe it if you please. A hundred years ago.

They thought the stars were set a-light, Ho, yes, ho! By some good angel every night, A hundred years ago.

They hung a man for making steam, They cast his body in the stream. A hundred years ago.

A hundred years is a very long time, Ho, yes, ho! A hundred years is a very long time, A hundred years ago.

Todd finished the song, and looked over to Dash for a reaction. Since Dash was apparently sleeping soundly, there was none. No surprise, given the head injuries Dash was recovering from, not to mention the long, restless journey over here, sans Dash’s horse for most of it.

Todd continued looking around. He was a bit peckish at the moment, but decided that any searching for food could wait until morning- when there'd be better light. Besides it wasn't the first time he'd bedded down with a growly gut.

As he closed his eyes he smiled. The song, the tales- everything had combined to give him a little reward- the memory of Celeste, still in his mind. This memory was for him and him alone- of her, swaying there before him, tail high as she stripped while she danced and he lounged on her bed, visibly trembling at her beauty and an intense fear of what was about to happen to next.

A boy lay on the bed- but for not much longer.

For that night we can say no more- beyond the fact that when our Todd drifted off to sleep he was a bit messier, a bit more relaxed. And his sleep was the sound one of a man wrapped in the warm fur of the cheetah he loves. Dash’s was anything but peaceful, however. He tossed and turned, before finally waking up just past the crack of dawn, jerking free from his nightmares and nearly from his bed.

Dash’s eyes took several seconds to orient themselves as his memory slowly filled itself in on the recent events.. the trek down here, and their fortunate discovery of an entry to Degrassi Knoll by way of an unguarded portion of the town laying on the border of the ...

Dash was surprised the moans of the undead (unded?) hadn’t awakened him in the middle of the night.

Todd woke soon afterward, urged awake by the motions of his friend. He stretched, groaning softly- a smirk crossing his face as he thought how he'd of late become spoiled by comfortable beds- and by shared comfortable beds particularly.

He started to rise but decided to figure out where he was going first as part of him already had- and although Dash probably understood all to well it was still bad form to stand in the middle of the floor with morning wood at full attention!

If Dash noticed, or even had the same issue himself he gave no indication, other than to pull the blanket around himself a little more tightly. “Ahh... nightmare. But it looks like daybreak, anyway.” He rubbed his temple, annoyed by the lingering memories which seemed to Todd to be giving him little respite.

Todd didn't want to risk going back out in the open, so he found himself a private corner of the guardroom and took care of business. From the lingering scent, he figured he wasn't the first to do this.

As he fastened his breeches back up, moving toward Dash he smirked. "Want to talk about it, mate? Dunno if you've noticed but I'm all ears."

Dash obviously did but instead said, “Later, maybe. Starved. Think they’ve got anything editable?”

Todd grinned. "You start talking. I'll sniff out what we've got on the menu this fine morn and get it ready." With that he got busy in the storerooms. Dash, meanwhile, carefully looked out one of two windows. Fortunately, they were boarded up, meaning no one should have seen them in the night. Dash then turned his attention to the other window.. the one facing the.. hmm.. “It kind of makes sense, actually,” Dash said, more to himself.

“What makes sense?” Todd spoke from the pantry, reminding Dash that when he said he was ‘all ears’ he was being more descriptive than humorous. Not that Dash had forgotten.

“The undead are repelled from here, right?” Dash slid quickly down the rope ladder. “Maybe it has something to do with keeping a defense against the misspelled cemetary.”

“Oh?” Todd poked his head out the window, watching Dash. “Think we might be able to use it?”

“Possibly,” Dash said. “If we had any idea where to begin figuring how it worked. We could head deeper into the city and try to take care of it, while we do our job here.”

Todd thought for a moment. “Maybe we need to have a mage with us?”

Dash frowned. “Like Lapine.”

Todd gave a chuckle. “Yeah, like her. She’d be able to sniff out any magic better than either of us can- and I promise we’ll keep it down to a dull roar at night.”

Dash glared at him but said nothing on the topic. “And for food? Anything worth eating should be worth keeping some aside to take with. I’m sure the food here is built to last, although I wouldn’t expect much taste. At least, not much in the way of good taste.”

Todd nodded, noticing the glare, but letting it pass it seemed. “Yeah, found a good bit of food put away up here. Dried meats and beans and stuff.” He began to slide back into the room. “Come on up if you want to see if it’s edible.”

Dash frowned. “Alright.. time for breakfast, I guess.”

There were a few dry chocolates left to go with a handful of seasonings. That and fresh water- soda water, specifically- proved to be a Jarlsburg-send for the dry, and mostly flavorless meat. It left Dash wanting real water to wash it all down.

Todd went about clearing their mess. “Okay, mate- later and no longer starved. And I’m still all ears for ya.”

Dash didn’t seem in a talking mood; he simply sidestepped the issue as he looked for supplies. “Check for hiding spots in the wall; anything hidden is probably something we could use for the mission.”

Todd chuckled as he tapped on a wall. “If you think it’s too personal I can trade a few more of my stories for it.”

Dash searched, without much luck. It was a longshot, anyway... “I really think we need to keep our focus on the job, here.”

So much for being gentle. Todd thought. “So do I, mate. Which is why I think you better get whatever it is off your chest before it ruins your focus any more.”

“I am focused,” Dash insisted. His instincts seemed to pay off in way of a loose portion of the floor. The boards were cut differently. Sure enough, it came loose with a simple, stiff jolt. “Might have something.”

Todd moved over to where Dash was searching. “Whaddya have?” He looked over Dash’s shoulder.

Dash made a face. “What would you expect from the Knollish military? Looks like mostly comicbooks and teen rated porn.. Still..” Dash picked through it slowly, hoping for something useful.

Todd looked over the teenyporn with a smirk. “Seen better... Done better, actually.” He then tossed it aside and went back to his own searching.

Dash is rewarded for his persistence with a small handful of papers, badly written in a Knollish dialect which Dash was barely familiar with. “So you’re saying if we need more meat, I can whore you out dancing for horny Knollish teenage girls?”

Todd chuckled as he scooped up and pocketed some loot. “Been awhile since the last time I had to raise my tail for cash, male or female. And no- you don’t get to hear any more until I hear from you.”

“Hmmm...” Dash’s attention seemed to be on reading the military papers. “Mostly basic information on restocking the fort. It looks out of date. There’s a few mentions of getting the fort blessed, and what to do when you run out of ground powder garlicotinum and zmobies attack. Any clue what that is?”

“Not a one, mate. Sorry. Never had occasion to pick a cleric’s mind- although there was this one who...” Todd chuckled and shut up.

Dash shrugged. “Guess we’ll have a conversational piece for when we head into town.” Dash started to say something else, when he realized something had caught Todd’s attention. Dash strained to pick up on whatever he was hearing or smelling. “What is it?”

Todd pressed himself against the wall and peered out the window. “If we’re lucky it’s just another mob fight down there.”

“And if we’re unlucky?” Dash prompted.

“If we’re unlucky we need to tidy this place up for company.”

Dash considered his options. “We should look into it, anyway.”

Todd nodded. “As long as we just look. Remember, I’m a lover not a fighter.”

Dash peered outside. His ever present frown deepened. “Hope you learn fast.”

Outside was a real battle scene.

Todd peered out and pursed his lips. “Shit... think I can talk you out of getting involved in whatever that is?”

“Probably could have if you didn’t waste time asking if you could.” Dash pushed forward. “Looks like a mob... one of those fancy new mobs I’ve been hearing about.”

“Uh huh... and these beat the old mobs how?” Todd followed, though he didn’t like it.

“More organized and violent,” Dash whispered. “So they’re easier to deal with.”

“Oh yay for us.” Todd sighed. “So what’s the plan- or do we have a plan?”

Dash shook his head. “I guess we could always watch and try to figure out what’s going on.”

It wasn’t a pleasant scene, either. There were at least a dozen and a half Knollish, flanked by two Knob Goblin Elite and a fat looking Muri-Dan. It was impossible to tell who they had surrounded at this point.Todd twitched his tail nervously looking at Dash. “No way we’re going to fight all that. We need a scam.”

“Ideas?” Dash asked, leaning in close. “We need to start scamming quick, if we’re doing something.”

The mob jocked and shoved against each other, trying to corner whomever it was they had trapped. Suddenly, there was a rash of cries from the inner part of the mob. A single, solitary penguin scampered through the legs of the mob, who were left in disarray, and ran directly for Todd and Sebastian.

It stopped, obviously taking the two as more Knob Goblins. Knowing they were sunk either way Todd stepped forward, summoning up all his foxy nerve. “What in the hells is going on here?” He let his shaved tail twitch angrily behind him.

“Sir, I'm sir I can explain- “ Dash started, letting Todd interrupt him before he could finish the thought.

Todd growled. “I’m sure you can, smoothskin. I was looking for an explanation I can trust.” His eyes were narrowed on the fat Muri-dan, who’s eyes went wide, realizing this should be one of his own.

“But, sir, I...” the fat rat sniffed the air. “Who are you?!”

Dash, naturally, punched him in the nose and growled a warning. “I don’t believe you’re in a position to ask a question of you superior officer!”

The Muri-dan’s nose twitched as he moved away from the two threats. He wouldn’t be sniffing through their disguises anytime soon. Dash turned towards Todd, making sure to lead with his jaw, as he used his positioning, in addition to his six foot two frame, to block the others from seeing what happened next. Todd could barely make out Dash going for a piece of flash paper as he turned.

Todd took the cover- and laid a hard right supposedly onto Dash’s jaw. Dash threw the flash paper down at his feet, giving it a bit more flare. As Todd’s companion reeled he leaped, knocking Dash down. Todd’s paws went for his throat, looking to squeeze the life out of him. “That is the last time you ever touch one of your betters, smoothskin! That thrice-damned bitch of a feline may have made me bring you along for this mission- but she did not guarantee your return!”

Dash’s eyes went wide, as he fought the natural urge to nail Todd, who was really digging those claws in. “S-sir, I’m sorry, sir! Don’t take it out on me and my men!”

That must have been enough to get the point across. One of them hesitantly approached the two. “Sir.. this penguin.. he doesn’t belong..”

“I seek only political sanctum!” the penguin complained in a stern voice, despite the obvious injuries he’d already taken. “As per our agreement with the Knollish government!”

Todd looked from the one to the penguin- and then looked down at Dash again, narrowing his eyes. “You had best pray to your Maker that I continue to have use for you, smoothskin...” With that Todd shoved Dash into the ground roughly and stood, brushing himself off and muttering several curses about mercenaries mixed in with racial epithets based on Dash’s lack of fur.

He then turned to the penguin. “The Knollish government is no more. We control here. If you wish sanctum...hmm...”He stroked his chin for a moment, then turned to his counterpart. “You have done well, and will be rewarded justly when you return to the Mountain. We will take him there now- so that he can plead his case before this new Queen of ours.” He chuckled. “With luck, she will at least make his end more entertaining than you lot.”

“But this is our town!” A Knollish teen protested, which only drew the wrath of the two Knob Goblins, who cut him off with verbal warnings. At this rate, if this turned into a riot, it looked like the Knobs would side with Dash and Todd. That left too many Knolls on the other side, though.

Todd nodded and waved he teen off. “Yes, yes.. It is your town- it is still your town. Any decisions about Degrassi will still be made by the Knollish authorities. We have simply bought you the security you needed- and an end to mercenaries pillaging your town of its rightful possessions. In éxchange-- we have established a small presence here, with the aims of allowing yourselves to keep blissfully to your self for as long as you wish.”

Dash smiled an evil smile. “And if we need to take an occasional item ourselves, then it’s only done with your best interests in mind.”

That drew a murmur from the crowd.

Todd was itching to make a finish of this. They had a prize, they just needed a distraction... He then smiled as he listened to the crowd. “Is that smoothskin humor? I mean- that we would ever desire an item that was obtainable here?””

The crowd grew more restless. “We should dismiss them so they can return to hunting down the other Muri-Dan traitors,” suggested Dash. The fat Muri-dan looked furious at the suggestion. Dash shot Todd a subtle ‘play along’ action, hoping he got the message.

Todd nodded, letting his gaze settle on the fat Muri-dan and a smirk to cross his face. ”Yes... the traitors.”

“What do you mean, my sire?!” The Muri-Dan protested, upset at the very idea of Muri-Dan traitors. “I know the reputation of some of our brothers, but I’ve heard nothing of this!”

Todd gave a chuckle. “Yes... Indeed you haven’t.”

Dash turned with a venomous look towards Todd, almost buying into his Muri-Dan status. “I thought you claimed this was a well known problem!”

Todd ignored the venom- or redirected it. “It is... now why would someone deny it?”

“I don’t know what you mean.. I.. I know nothing, I swear upon the deaths of our enemies!” The other Knollish were turning towards him now. He panicked, and backed up slowly. “No, stop them! Get them away from me!”

Todd took a step back and glanced to the others. As he glanced at the penguin he got a smile and an indication that he was aware that something was up with these two. The three were able to slip away quite easily.

“Whomever you are, your assistance is most welcome,” the suddenly assured Penguin stated matter of factly, as if they’d simply helped him shoe an ornery horse, rather than, in most likely-hood, saved his life. He took out a piece of paper, signed it quickly with a series of numbers and fish symbols, and slid it to Dash. “I’d expect there are still those hidden deeper into town that may choose to respect this show of gratitude. Use it as you see fit, but bear in mind. It’s only good for one favor. It should be a good favor, as I am quite.. appreciative.”

“Sounds fair,” Dash said, eyes on the town ahead. “We’re not looking at the Penguins waging a war overtly here, I hope?”

“The plans of the Don are his and his alone,” the Penguin answered sharply. “Still.. I think we see the wisdom in .. allowing the people of Degrassi the right to choose their own destiny, so long as they remain.. shall we say.. cooperative?”

Todd regarded the penguin, trying to hide the grimy feeling that he hadn’t felt since he’d been around the thieves of Aldara- at least the thieves that took too much glee in their profession.

“You’d best get out of the town, then,” Dash noted. “You don’t look well, and my companion and I would rather not have to explain you.”

“The fish here isn’t to my liking, anyway. May the Don smile on your attempts to survive here.” He smiled with malice instead of humor, then turned to quickly waddle in a safer direction towards the Misspelled Cemetary.

“There but for the grace of the gods...” Todd growled as the penguin got out of earshot.

“Not that I like trusting the mafia, but this should come in handy.” Dash thrust the piece of paper into one of his more secure pockets. “Ready to go screw with the Feline Empire?”

Todd smirked. “Rather go screw with Felines. Ahh... Celeste.:”

Dash put his arm around Todd for a moment. “Trust me, you’d rather fight them in the end.”

Todd said nothing as the two walked deeper into town; time for idle conversation was over. They had a job to do.

I managed to avoid the exposition bug here early on. Good for me!

 
*Ahem*
I'd call that a highlight if the series, and its always fun to just start writing with someone you work well with and let the story lead itself where it will. Todd didn't get as much out of Dash as he wanted, but we learned a bit about Dash's past anyway, and more about Todd's.

An enjoyable piece that as noted takes place after our next part. That's right; it's time to get to the Live RP of the mission!