[X] - Offer to help him with whatever problems he has in exchange for the Identity Card. [2] [hr] “ By the Boxes….” Melissa looks as if she’s one more insult away from knocking down the door and throttling the aisler by the throat. She knocks on the door once more with exasperation“ Repel, you promised me that you would see whether or not it was possible to give me the Identity Card yesterday. You can’t just back out of our deal without any explanation!” “ Explanation?” You flinch as Repel’s voice somehow goes up a few notches in enraged hysteria. “ Those thrice scammed Smilers are the explanation! If you expire out there and they somehow trace it back to me….” Repel’s voice trails off as he becomes silent. You see his silhouette remain still in the bottled window. Your trained ears make out muffled whispers of frustration as Repel seemingly begins talking to himself. “ No…..Stupid, stupid…..How am I going to deal with…..Ugh, just perfect, one problem after the next……” “ Great.” Melissa puffs up one side of her cheek, crossing her arms in annoyance as she turns her back to the door and begins walking away. “ All my years in gift exchange and I can’t even convince one lone aisler to give up his goods. Now, we need to think of a Plan B! Come on, samurai. He isn’t going to help us. ” You begin to follow her but your mind wanders to those words the aisler whispered. He ground beneath your feet sticks to you like elephant glue. There’s something more going on here than meets the eye. Instead of following Melissa, you walk to the door and give one single hefty knock that shakes the foundations of the makeshift shelter. “ What in the - !” Repel screams inside. “ Didn’t I tell you to go away, Cereai?!” “ You’re not dealing with the Cereai. You’re dealing with me now.” Melissa mouths a silent “what are you doing?” looking at you quizzically. You put two fingers to your mouth as you look at her as Repel replies back in a doubtful tone. “ What are you going to do, samurai? Cut down this door and drag me out until I beg? That’s what I expect from the Butchers of Black Friday anyway.” You ignore the barb and merely continue on, mustering all the calm you have in your body. “ As much as that is tempting, no. I’m going to offer you something more fair. We’ll solve whatever problems you’re having and you give us the Identity Card. You’d be foolish not to hire a Stationari and a Cereai in front of your door step. ” “Problem? What makes you think I’ve got any problems?” Repel scoffs out loud. “ Really?” You pretend to lose interest as you look at the silhouette through the window and shrug your shoulders. “ Well, I guess you’ve got a handle on it, then. We’ll go find others who are more willing to help. Come on, Melissa, let’s - “ The door slams open and Repel stumbles out, wheezing. Your eyes water at the white fog that hangs around his stick-thin body which is adorned in a simple rag of cheap tinsel wrappers. Around his waist is a belt of repellent canisters which jingle with each step he takes. His bloodshot eyes plead with you as he lifts out a hand. “ WAIT! Wait. Alright, I’ve got one task for you.” He gulps before continuing. “ I need you to get rid of a dire-roach.” “ A dire-roach?” You snort derisively. This was what the sampler was all worried about? “ All you need to do is just step on -” “ It’s not just a dire roach! It’s - “ Repel birefly grabs you by your pauldrons, spittle flying from his mouth, before letting go. “ It’s the most ferocious beast I’ve ever seen! It dragged my shopping cart into the depths of the Lower Shelves. I tried to use my stockpile of Raid on it but it just ignored and scurried off into the Bin!” “ So, what do you want us to do?” “ Kill it, get rid of it, I don’t care how you do it! Just make it not my problem anymore and you can have this stupid thing for all it’s worth.” He pulls out a moulded plastic blue square from under his belt. A faded picture of a smiling blonde man is in the center with a small printed name and a barcode underneath. At the top right corner is the unmistakable symbol of Sam’s benevolence, the six spoked star that the Smilers worshipped. It was a very good duplicate if it was one. Melissa pulls you aside suddenly and looks at Repel suspiciously. “ I don’t trust him. What if he’s lying?” “ There are better lies to tell, and do you know anywhere else in the Bin we can find an Identity Card?” The lack of reply is her answer. There’s distrust on Melissa’s face as her lips purse nervously, looking at Repel and then, you. She then sighs in defeat and give a deft nod. “ So, what’s our next move?” [X] - Accept the task that Repel has given to you immediately and make haste. [X] - You are not risking your life and Melissa’s to venture into the depths of the Bargain Bin to slay some creature. Take it from Repel by force. [X] - You know a PetMaster in the Bargain Bin, the one who was guarding Haagen. Leash. Just because he’s missing doesn’t mean he’s dead. Having him on your side would make this task easier.