21 – On the Table“So, Grando says I’m supposed to make sure Pete does what you need,” Orin remarked as they embarked on their walk to the gym-clinic.Hector glanced at him sideways. “He told me he’d call Pete.”“Yeah, well, I guess when I went into his office he decided it was just easier to tell me to handle it. Don’t worry, I’ve dealt with him a hundred times.”Hector grunted.“Don’t talk a lot, huh? Oh—” He paused, interrupting himself as he stooped to pick up a half-spent chem stick. “Hah! I’ll give this to one of the boys. Anyway, Grando told me to keep that stuff about your, uh, history to myself. Don’t worry about that, neither. I know how to keep a secret.”Hector glanced at the much-larger man, noting the serious expression under his heavy brow. “You have an aura system.” It wasn’t a question; Grando had told him, but he could also feel the buzzing thrum of a nearby aura pool. It wasn’t particularly strong, but it was enough to notice.“Heh, yeah—only level four, but it’s won me a few fights in the silo.”“Archetype?”“Ah, take a guess.” He paused for just a breath and then said, “Brute.”Hector knew the Brute archetype; it was one of the more common ones. Being truthful, he said, “Not bad to start.”“That’s what Demon says.” He glanced at Hector and added, “He’s a fighter who trains at Pete’s.”Hector nodded. He knew, of course, but he didn’t need to tell Orin his life story.“Don’t suppose you want to tell me—”Hector shook his head, interrupting. “I won’t talk about my system.” When Orin grunted, gathered some phlegm in his throat, and spat to the side, Hector added, “Don’t get raw about it. I’ll give you some tips on yours.”That seemed to mollify the big man, and he nodded. “Thanks. Maybe we could train sometime?”Hector figured it wouldn’t be a bad idea to spend some time in the gym while he earned his bits and enough potentia to (...)