"Oh, fuck off," Mingi groaned as the water gatherers used the moment of chaos to dawn upon them. At the same time, they tried to pull the group apart and dodge their weapons. Wooyoung slashed at the one closest to him, leaving a bloody gash along his arm that would warn him not to mess around. The attention of the slave centered on Wooyoung and he feverishly thought of a way to divert it. Their number of people and a fighter like that might hinder his smooth escape plans.

Mingi hammered his elbow into someone's neck and kicked their staggering body off.

"What do you want with us?" Yunho grunted as he shoved back another gatherer. They were tentative to go for the kill, much too aware of the crowd nearby and of the mayhem that would break loose if they were branded as instigators. The best way to deal with those disturbing the brittle peace of a settled community was to execute everyone involved on the spot. Wooyoung's group knew, the gatherers knew, and they were at a sour stalemate.

"The stories of this brat's skills reach far and wide. He can win many fights for us," the gatherers snickered sinisterly, confirming Wooyoung's suspicion. When the slave neared him, he backed up against Yunho, aligning their spines to have an eye on each other's blind spots.

"Thanks for proving our point that you are some wimpy bastards," Mingi scoffed. He pulled his rifle from his shoulder in a flash, and the shot echoed in the narrow walkway. Wooyoung whirled around with a hiss.

"Mingi!" Yunho called, as well, as the limp body followed the brains splattered over the ground. Uncaring, Mingi reloaded and aimed at the next one.

"If we clear them out before the mass cares, no one will follow us. Their corpses will have more than enough to loot."

The gatherers shook themselves from their start. It didn't seem as if they expected retaliation, but now that Mingi initiated, they also drew their guns.

"That speeds things up," they grumbled. Two people were faster shot than twelve.

Cursing, Mingi and Yunho threw themselves into the bloodbath as their noise stirred the interest of the nearby people. It wasn't hard to see that this was a battle between specific groups instead of general havoc. Most left them alone, but kept a watchful eye on the outcome.

Wooyoung threw Yunho a packet of ammunition and whirled around to place his first shot, but his arms got blocked in the movement. Massive arms hugged him from behind and pulled him into a broad chest. The jingle of chains followed the sudden movement, then they crammed uncomfortably against Wooyoung's jutting bones. The heat of the earlier fight lingered on the slave's body, making Wooyoung feel stifled by his hug.

As promised, he didn't hurt him. But his heavy frame engulfed Wooyoung and rendered his wrists useless when he packed them with veiny hands to trap them against the raider's chest.

"Get off!" Wooyoung roared, snapping and kicking anywhere he could reach. He staggered when he was hauled backward and fumbled with his gun to angle it at his attacker's head, even when the recoil might knock it out of his hands.

Immediately aware of his dilemma, Yunho jumped after him. He knocked a knife aside and rushed to aid Wooyoung before he would get stolen because of lacking body weight. Mingi whirled his guns around, still finding the time to bark at the slave.

"What are you doing, madman?! This is your opportunity to break those chains!"

Wooyoung didn't know how it worked, but he wouldn't hesitate to shoot, no matter the kinship Mingi might feel. He squirmed, but the body behind him was used to punches and jabs. Wooyoung was hitting solid rock.

Perhaps Mingi called just at the right moment, however, because the man behind Wooyoung hesitated for long enough that Yunho didn't blow his head right off. Around them, the water gatherers fought a losing battle and suddenly, their slave had no guidance anymore.

Wooyoung used the moment to ram his head into the guy's nose.

"Back off! Have your crisis over there if you want to live," he hissed and this time, his arms loosened. They retreated, chains dragging across the ground. When Wooyoung rolled his shoulders, he felt three times lighter.

The battle was risky in such a narrow spot, but the water gatherers were no match for two trained raiders and a trader with a ridiculous amount of guns. Before long, the last one collapsed, and the trio found themselves alone with the slave, who made no move to help up his fallen comrades. Scoffing, Wooyoung aired out his shirt.

A fine servant, he was.

Mingi adjusted his hat and glanced among the fallen ones. Not all were dead, but they should leave before people started asking questions.

"Let's go," he gritted and Yunho and Wooyoung wasted no time. They picked up their fallen bags and hastened to skip over the bodies to exit on the other end of the alley. Enough curious onlookers would find the gatherers later.

Only Mingi lingered, despite his call. He stared at the helpless slave, weighed by his chains. His eyes were troubled in an otherwise blank face.

"Help them up if you want them to forgive your blunder, not that they would reward you. Alternatively, get out of here. Somewhere they won't find you," the trader barked, unexpectedly kind to this lost soul.

Wooyoung and Yunho waited in silence, wise enough in their shared story to realize this was Mingi's past. A version of himself who once had to make a decision.

And just like him, perhaps, the slave before them wrung his hands. He didn't grab at them anymore, unexpectedly on the same side. As the adrenaline died out to bring clearance, he greened at his treason.

"I- I don't know where," he choked out. His voice was deep, though not as scratchy as Mingi's. When he sunk into himself under his chains, Mingi exhaled. He glanced at the gray clouds as if asking them why, then he stalked back to the slave. His prior threatening aura evaporated.

Mingi grabbed his wrist brusquely and inspected the rusty chains. They were thick enough to withstand the raw strength of his muscles, probably able to hold large animals. Wooyoung couldn't help but wonder if this person got kept in cages like Mingi mentioned.

"Our mechanic isn't far; he can help you out of these. That's all we can offer. If your life has any worth to you, you leave." Mingi dropped his hand and didn't wait for his reply. He jumped over the bodies to follow Yunho and Wooyoung and, hastily, they made their escape from the scene of the crime. Just when they rounded the corner, the jingle of chains came after them.

The ride up in the elevator was awkward. The slave huddled in a corner, not looking at them since he needed time to sort himself. Though the overseer on top of the wall looked at them weirdly, she didn't bother to question them. Another tense ride, but this time down into freedom. Wooyoung picked at his torn sleeve. Yunho had some minor scratches.

No one addressed Mingi's apparent familiarity with this topic. They brooded to themselves and Wooyoung was once more proved right that settlements weren't worth the hassle of getting close. As convenient as they made trading.

Everyone calmed from the sudden attack by the time they reached the bottom. With quick steps, Mingi led them ahead, coat flaring with the whirling dust as they made for the car. Yunho and Wooyoung scurried along and their newest addition followed, if slower. The chains were long, and he looked burdened by both them and the fight. His nose was bleeding where Wooyoung hit it, but he wiped the blood with absent-minded fingers.

Halfway to the cliff, irate voices bellowed after them. Mingi glanced toward the fort.

"Shit. We have pursuers."

"Time to run," Yunho suggested, and they didn't wait around to find out if it was revenge or their slave they wanted. They rushed through the dry desert, skittering across the sand. The slave stumbled behind them cumbersomely, trying to gather up his chains and keep his pace at the same time. Ultimately, Yunho dipped to help him carry one.

They made it almost around the corner when the shots whizzing after them came close enough to get dangerous. Mingi fired back, aim just as bad to keep running. The roar of an engine made Wooyoung's heart jump into his throat.

San and Jongho must have monitored them because they had the car loaded and ready to go. Before the group had to round the entire cliff, the massive black vehicle shot out of its hiding spot and raced toward the panting group. Ready, Mingi tucked his gun away.

Yunho twirled to fire at their enemies for long enough that the swaying car could halt before them. San crouched on the back seat and beckoned them to crawl inside. Once Mingi squeezed past him, Wooyoung grabbed his open hand.

"If you are here..." He panted as San checked him for injuries. He huddled into his side for a moment so they could make space for their newest addition. None of them thought about leaving him.

The question answered itself when Wooyoung spotted the brown head of hair behind the wheel. Jongho clutched it with both hands, face pale, but determined. Seonghwa sat in his lap and reminded him of where which pedal hid.

The slave's arrival was sudden, but San didn't question it. They shoved him and all his chains onto the front seat, since there was more space. In the meantime, Mingi threw their loot into the back.

A bullet scraped by the metal housing, and all of them ducked.

"Shit, go, go, go," Mingi urged Jongho, and he hastily stepped onto the right pedal. The car lurched and almost trapped San's arm in the door, but he shouldered it back open. Yunho came springing their way as San stretched out his hand.

For a brief second, Wooyoung feared Yunho wouldn't take it. That he would recoil from this man and the fungus under the bandages. Wooyoung knew to interpret the suspicion in his gaze, knew Yunho had second thoughts.

But their fingers clasped into each other and San's shoulders bulged when he yanked Yunho inside the moving vehicle. Wooyoung landed in Mingi's lap as they all ducked low to pull the door shut. Jongho's driving was messy and nauseating, but he soon found his balance and stepped on the gas pedal. They zoomed away and their enemies were left in the dust.

Coughing the dust out of his lungs, Yunho lay sprawled between the seats with his large body. In the front, the slave's face was ashen. He clutched to anything he could reach, and no one had the time to apologize as Jongho raced into the desert as instructed by their panicked AI.

Wedged between Mingi and San, Wooyoung took his rifle off his shoulder.

"Shoot or not shoot?"

"Let them be," Mingi grumbled, too queasy to bother sorting them into position. Since no more harm could be done, Wooyoung left it. San didn't mind that he huffed against his shoulder, nor did he mind Yunho's proximity.

"You brought a friend," he noted instead, wary of the new dark-haired male in the car with them. Currently, he posed no danger, but he might as soon as Jongho slowed from his mad trip.

"He's a slave we freed," Wooyoung explained when he could tell the other two were just as vigilant. "What's, um, what's your name? We can let you off once we halt and help you with your chains, but the timing is bad right now."

Terrified, the slave didn't even turn to glance at him. He looked as if he wanted to launch himself out of the moving vehicle just to escape this unexpected torment.

Wooyoung related. They all got car sick, some faster than others.

"I'm Yeosang," he muttered, too overwhelmed to question the talking laptop and their odd group.

Yunho made an effort to sit up.

"He deserves better, so endure him for a bit," he suggested to San without looking at him. His sudden compassion for the slave stung, but Wooyoung knew he just wanted to help. It was his right. Wooyoung wasn't the only person in his life anymore.

When Mingi leaned forward to mutter to Jongho to slow down to a reasonable pace, he transferred Wooyoung onto San's lap. Caught like a bunny even when he had more space in the middle, Wooyoung muttered his apology.

Yunho didn't protest, too busy trying to fiddle the cuffs on the spooked slave open with a lock pick. Wooyoung counted it as a win Yunho took San's hand and didn't mention it anymore, either.