When Sharron’s RV approached the shelter everyone in the area came out to watch. My semi ectacle, but I’d made enough of a name for myself that people would leave it alohat, and there were usually heavily armed bears withihe RV oher hand, if left outside, would have sgers climbing all over it within seds. Unfortunately, I didn’t know what was stronger, Css 1 security systems or the will and tenacity of every sger in the uy. In all hoy, I’d pce money on the sgers.

  That’s why I was waiting at the garage door when Sharron arrived, along with a half dozen bears. It was a statement. The RV is off limits. Even though only a couple of people saw her drive ihe word would get out soon enough.

  The rge camper nded on the southside of the garage, he residence area, and Sharron bounced out. “Hey Evelyn, thanks for letting me crash here.” She gnced around the cavernous structure, trating on my new produ area before walking over. “Last time I was here this pce was just a lot full of rubble. This is quite an improvement.”

  I ughed, “I couldn’t have do without Barricade’s help. The man does good work. I’ve been meaning to drop by and thank him, but I’m just stantly busy these days.”

  Sharron gave me a strange look, “What could you possibly be busy with? You just got back.”

  “The Guiding Light.” Sharron shot me a puzzled expression, so I just sighed. “It’s plicated, and probably something only the residents of the uy care about. Let’s talk about it ter, the kids are excited to meet you.”

  She smiled as I led her over to the residential area. I opehe door, not to a ballistic hug from Issi, but a calm atmosphere. “Everyohis is Sharron, a friend of mine. She’s the ohat helped up the Antithesis attack a couple weeks ago.”

  The kids just kind of stared, but Jaood up and introduced herself. “o meet you, I’m Jane Cire, and these are Edward, Jennifer, and Isabelle.” She said, pointing at the kids one by one. I khat Jenny was a little shy around people these days, I was more than a little surprised that Eddie and Isabelle were so quiet.

  “She’s not going to bite you.” I said, “As a matter of fact she’s one of the people I know.”

  The two kids exged a ghen Eddie spoke up. “Are you really a Samurai?” He asked.

  “I am,” Sharron smiled, “I’ll even show you my power armor ter if you want.”

  “If yood!” Jane added. That got Eddie smiling. Isabelle oher hand was still quiet.

  “Issi, what’s the matter?” I asked.

  The girl half hid herself behind Jane, “You’re not here to fight the bad pnts again are you?” As soon as the Antithesis were brought up Jeni tensed up, so I rushed to clear up the misuanding.

  “No no no. She’s living in her RV… a moving house, and needed a pce to park for a few days. There are no more Antithesis around, and even if there were, the bears would protect you. Ok?”

  Issi jumped up. “Do you really have a drivable house? Is it big, I see it?”

  We all ughed at that, and thankfully Jeni rexed a little. “Sure, I wouldn’t mind showing you all my pce.” Sharron replied.

  Jaepped forward and put on her best ‘I’m in charge’ voice. “After dinner. We have a guest, so best behaviour.” The kids all nodded. In the bay mind I couldn’t help but wonder how our best would stand up to someo from the streets.

  It turns out, not that bad. At least Sharron didn’t judge us on our atrocious table manners. I’m not sure if it was because she olite, or if her standards were a little lower because of her time living as an iured servaher way, it was an enjoyable meal.

  After the meal we took the kids out to Sharron’s RV so she could show off her suit, and so Issi could see the inside of the camper. The little one was more enamoured with the idea of a traveling home than Samurai tech, and Sharron was more than happy to show her new home off. We spent a good hour there before esc the kids back to the resideo get ready for bed.

  Ohey were all tucked away, I took Sharron out for a quick tour of the area. One of the few advantages about living in the uy was most of it en, or active, twenty-four seven. Down here everything was lit by artificial light, so a standard ‘day’ had no real meaning. Most uy residents had never evehe sun, so why would they care about where it was in the sky?

  The main roads, lit by indest lights, neon, and even the occasional hologram, were brighter. Even if the signage was lewd, or upsetting, the extra light gave a little extra sense of security. Ever since I’d moved into the shelter there’d been a lot more signage in the area, the streets were filled with street vendors, and the mood was generally positive. I guess people just felt safer with a Samurai around, even if I wasn’t doing much.

  I did have bears patrolling the exterior of the shelter, but they were purely for self defe seemed like none of the nearby gangs were ied iing my defenses, and the ck of hostile shakedowns really did wonders for the morale of the locals.

  Sharron and I had just stepped outside the shelter when I felt the o get something off my chest. “Sorry I didn’t tact you when I left Seattle, I heard you were still busy with the sea incursions so I didn’t want to bother you.” Sharron looked at me with a raised eyebrow, “Ok fine, I got distracted and fot, and now I’m feeling a little guilty about it.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” She broke out into one of her trademark smiles, “I know you wao get back to your family, and I was busy w.” She paused, “Speaking of which, you mentioned dealing with something here, the ‘Guiding Light’?”

  At the mention of Guiding Light I sed the crowd, some people looked up in arm, but most ignored our discussion. Not getting involved was the best way to survive down here. “They’re a cult, a dangerous one, and no one in their right mind would want to be associated with them.” I shrugged, “I’ll figure out a way to deal with them.”

  “If they’re so dangerous, how e I’ve never heard of them?”

  “I doubt that any topside news outlets even bothered to publish what happeo the uy the st time they showed up. ”

  “Which was…”

  “A lot of people died.” I shook my head, “You’re not from around here, it’s not something you should have to deal with, but while I’m iigating I would appreciate it if you’d look after my family. Just in case.”

  “You’re not going to do anything stupid are you?” She asked.

  “Probably not. I’m just pnning on doing some re, and light iigation, for now.”

  “And if you DO get in trouble, I’ll be stig around, just in case.” She smiled again, “Now, I thought you were going to show me around. If I’m going to be here awhile, I should know the basics.”

  I smiled, in spite of myself. “Ok fihere’s not much to see, but I show you the highlights.”

  Unsurprisingly, there wasn’t much to show. The highlight, aerpiece of the district, seemed to be the shelter these days. I did show Sharroerminal, Leah’s shop, and the stacks; she was already familiar with the scrapyard, and main lifts, which made the tour quick.

  Instead of ndmarks, we spent time perusing some of the dozens of stalls selling animal hoodies, pig up street food, and just generally wandering around. It was the first time I had to actually rex in a couple weeks, and was a nice ge of paot having to worry about people dying, or the world ending. We didn’t evetacked, or pickpocketed once. In the end, it was a really niight.