PROTA ARC PART I: Keep Your Silence Or…

Home was so far away now.

Gone were the green grasses and the blue waves, the sound of the sea and the smell of salt. Now all that greeted him outside the window was the abyss, and distant light he longed for. The “Brave New World” called for them, but for the home he knew, far off in the dark… it turned to fire and ash.

The death of all we know. The end of the planet Earth.

*-*-*

The sands burned. On the outskirts of the city, two motorcycles steamed at the roadside. One rider remained seated, but the other was amongst a group of ten others. Both riders were clad in green synthetics, red falcons on the back. The rest, a band of merchants, tattered linens and face covers.

Both bikers were young, still in their teen years and yet, the merchants cowered from them, and for good reason. The youngest of the duo who had approached the crowd, grabbed hold of one merchant in particular and yanked forward strongly, launching the man to the sands. Immediately he faced the boy and bowed low, his head touching the ground.

“Please, I’ll pay! I have a shipment tomorrow! I can pay tomorrow!” He pleaded, a boot to the face was the response. The other merchants winced back, some held out a hand as if they were going to stop the assault but their better judgement kicked in a moment later. These were Vagrants, the plight of this local group of stars. They did not fear justice. For here on the Frontier, laws were defined by the strong and the Vagrants were judge, jury and executioner.

The boy knelt facing him, eyes red like magma and a sadistic smile accompanying them. “You knew the deal you made with us. 10,000 caps, every week, no excuses, no exceptions. You think our boss is gonna be happy when we come back empty handed?” He asked, grasping the older man’s hair tightly.

The merchant’s gaze fixed onto the boy as hairs began to rip from his scalp. “P-please, my daughter is sick… I needed medicin-“ he was hit again, knocking him to the ground.

”I said no excuses, no exceptions!” he scowled, gripping the old man’s shawl to pull his attention back to the front. “Pay what you owe. There’s a lot of monsters out there, want to meet them?”

“You’re the only monsters…” the old man spoke under his breath, but the thug heard the words clear as day. They thought they saw the extent of his anger, veins came forth on his brow and the pupils of his eyes shrunk so small they seemed to disappear. His fist rose suddenly, high in the sky, and it came down like thunder.

“That’s enough, Sao.” The voice came from the bikes, belonging to the one still keeping watch. Spared by mere milliseconds, the old man’s eyes drifted to him.

Another one young, maybe slightly older than the one he called Sao but not by much, a year perhaps. Still, the air around him was different, as were the two golden stars glittering in the sunlight set on his chest. He was a Vice Captain. “If you kill him we don’t get the fee. Commander Ghrian’ll have our heads decorating his Comet.”

“Yes sir.” Sao responded, hiding the irritation.

His Vice Captain relaxed his chin on his forearms, held atop the handlebars. His eyes covered by dark shades. “You’d say time is money, is that right elder?”

The old man erred. “Yes…” his response, met with a nod from the VC.

The boy stared into those tired eyes. “You have two choices now.” Continued the biker. “Pay what you owe, or we take you to work the difference. I’d appreciate an answer quickly.”

“To Vitu?” a single bead of sweat fell from his brow.

“To Vitu.” The Vice Captain confirmed. “Commander Ghrian has final say.” The name itself was enough to put the most hardened man shiver. For a lowly seller of spice, it was enough to bring tears. “Please…” the merchant cried, shielding his face with his hands. “I have a family…”

The others that watched on knew the man was doomed. Get on Vagrant Ghrian’s bad side even slightly and you’d feel wrath like the lowest level of Dante’s Inferno. The name like a spell, binding the strongest of wills. But she, she had seen far too much.

“Thugs beating the weak and old…”

The Vagrants saw her stood ahead of the pack. She was different from the rest. Not a merchant, not of their age or ilk. She was younger than the thugs, darker skin with a more red hue. Her hair a burning flame of black, swaying in the breeze and her eyes a piercing green. She was a red rose in the snow, an island in the deep waters. Lawless was an uncaring beast faced with “different”, the red rose plucked, the island swallowed by the waters.

The Vice Captain’s tongue stilled, his henchman however still had bloodlust, he still wished for violence. Over he stormed, the other merchants scrambled away by foot or by hand with fear in their eyes, but she did not waiver. “You’re scum.”

“Who gave you permission to talk!?” Sao was feral, with his last word accompanied with the sound of fist hitting face. He struck high above the eye. She did not flinch, instead, she let skin hit skin. Hers however, it was the strength of stone, it did not give. Sao’s wrist gave in to the force and blood found its way from his knuckles as his flesh ripped.

Sao dropped to his knees holding his broken arm, and she pounced forth to the last enemy, murder in her eyes she reached him in an instant, a fist of hardened skin aimed right between the eyes and yet…

It stopped.

Below her jaw was a hand canon, finger on the trigger. There was no fear for the Vice Captain.

“Careful.” He cautioned “I’m not trigger happy like him but I’ll do what I need to.”

“So will I. Let them go, the old man too.”

“Shoot her Ryūsei!” Sao howled in between the pain but his senior kept his aim true, kept his finger still.

“You don’t have much in the way of leverage right now you know? Why let them go? Our boss wants money, they owe it.”

“You and your people are owed nothing! You come here and kill our families, then expect a ransom. We were here first, this was our world!”

“The Empire’s actually.” Ryūsei rebuked.

“They aren’t here anymore”

“No, they aren’t!” At this point his patience had worn thin. His finger squeezed the trigger just a little harder, something the girl noticed. “But we are! So what’s it going to be?! Back off or do I have to become a killer?!”

A stare off, moving micrometers and watching for a reaction, a chance to fake and finish it. The boy stood strong. She knew she had nothing now, no way to escape and no chance to fight back. Her arm lowered, and a sigh followed. Ryūsei calmed but kept his eyes focused and his pistol steady. “You alright, Sao?”

“What do you think?!” He responded, clutching his wrist whilst writhing in the sands. The other merchants had scurried away like rats when they had the chance. “There goes the money…” Ryūsei sighed. “Seems they weren’t as keen on sacrifice as you were.”

She looked back, she risked a lot for people that wouldn’t do the same. It was over now, no matter what she was the one taking the fall.

The Vagrants had tied their prizes, restraining them on the back of their bikes. “You gonna be okay driving?” Ryūsei asked

“I’m fine.” Sao barked back as he carefully clutched the handlebars.

Looking back at her, thinking of what she did, he felt a little bad for her. “Our Commander is harsh but I can reason with him. Try and keep him from his gun, but I can’t guarantee he’ll let you leave.”

She looked up and was surprised at his words, after what had happened… “Why?” She asked.

The beast beneath them powered on as Sao shot forward down the dunes towards their home of Lawless. She watched him go, and then back to Ryūsei who had lowered his visor. “We’re not all bad.” He handed her a helmet that she cautiously took. As the sands flowed in like water, they set off to the broken city.

*-*-*

Prota, the first settlement built outside of Earth. The tomes of the first would tell you it was once a magical place. White stone chased in azure sat upon the red sands, and green sprouted from the hanging gardens. Indeed a second coming of ancient Babylon…

And just like that lost city, so was Prota. The archways and towers crumbled, the great streets of cobbled stones were swallowed by the sands, and the hanging gardens fell limp and dead. In its place, was Lawless. And at its heart was the home of thugs, cutthroats and thieves… Vitu. Ryūsei had called this home for the past 10 years, and since then he had gone from peon to Vice Captain. Still, this place was haunted to him, souls of the damned circled around it like the river Styx.

The bikes pulled in at the gates. Sao was doubled over, still holding his wrist. “I did say you could ride with us.” He gave a look over as if he wanted to bite back but realised it wasn’t the best idea.

It was quieter today, Ghrian must have sent the other divisions on their missions… that or they were still passed out in the club’s bar, Rogue.

They stepped in the office of the commander. He looked like an ordinary businessman… if that businessman had a craving of violence and a taste for blood. The crimson carpet was pristine, the white walls adorned with a picture of the Commander himself, along with the red falcon. Even as he noticed them enter he didn’t lift his head and continued writing. “I’ll tell you something, if I knew being a leader would mean a shit ton of paperwork I’d have snapped my own neck.” He complained. “I take it your job’s done.”

Sao lifted the battered old merchant. His commander smiled and lifted himself from his desk, wandered over to the old man and knelt down facing him. “Farid! It’s been so very long… where the fuck is my money?” His expression stuck on a single menacing smile. The old man was still unable to answer, whether through fear or pain.

“Said he hasn’t got it.” Sao explained. Ghrian lifted his gaze to him, his smile changing to a blank stare. “You’re getting blood on my carpet.”

Sao shuddered and dragged the old man out the office, almost hiding behind the door. “Take him to the cells, I’ll deal with him later.”

“Yes sir!” Sao complied, and only the muffled sound of heavy footsteps and sobbing could be heard, quieter and quieter as they moved along.

“He said he can pay, it’s just not today. Wouldn’t it make sense to let him go?” Ryūsei asked.

“Ah, they’ll tell you anything. Only way to get the truth is through pain. The body doesn’t lie.” It was at this point Ghrian noticed the girl. “You get hitched or something?”

“She was there when we took Farid. Sao took offence to her interference and lashed out.” Ryūsei informed carefully, omitting what he believed would set his boss off.

“That explains the arm. What? Your boys never dealt with a Chayon before?”

“Not often sir.”

“But she did interfere, did she?” His eyes honed on her, unpredictable eyes, the type that caught those that viewed them off guard. His expression changed so quickly, she thought, from lazy boss to serial killer in a matter of moments.

“Yes sir…” Ryūsei admitted. “We handled it either way. Had Sao not attacked first she likely would have just ran.”

Telling him the truth was his duty, but he knew Ghrian better than most. Would he be lenient just because she came here without struggle? Or would he take it as an insult and take it out on her?

“What would you do, Vice Captain?” Was his reply, calm and collected as he wandered back to his desk, sitting on the worktop and awaiting a response.

“We got what we wanted, it’s not like our mission failed. However, it is an insult to us.”

“Quite a big one I’d say.” Ghrian added.

“I would have her work at Vitu. For a few days to make back the cost and send her on her way”

“She works here a few days then goes home? I’d be better off selling her to the Govets… I bet they’d pay quite a pretty penny to see under those linens.”

It was like a centipede scurried across her skin, biting away flesh and crawling into the wounds. She covered herself with her hands, scowling at the Commander who took great humour in the reaction. “I do like the fiery ones though, it would be a shame to let you go.”

The govets were slave traders that loved to sample their own product, some would say Ghrian was more merciful. She looked to Ryūsei, eyes that pleaded with him and his not-so-dead soul, eyes that cut straight through him. “I seem to recall we are still owed for the last three we sent their way.” He noted

“Paid in full this morning. Taara had their leader’s balls in a vice, soon as he felt them squeeze he squealed.”

“Do you trust them to pay without such measures again?”

Ghrian laughed. “If they don’t I’ll have Taara rip them off and film it. I could do with a good laugh.”

Ryūsei was running headfirst into a wall with this, each time he tried to turn back, Ghrian placed a wall to keep him moving forward. There was only one play left.

“I’ll take her.” He announced, stuttering a little.

Ghrian’s eyes fired over at his subordinate, astonished to be hearing such words. “I’m sorry?”

“I’ll pay you what the Govets would pay. A little extra on top for the inconvenience of today.”

His superior grinned watching the kid struggle to get it all out. “Doesn’t hurt she’s a looker, huh?”

“…no sir” better to agree than argue with Ghrian, though his bashful expression certainly didn’t help. “Govets would pay me 10,000 for one like that, should be a month’s salary for a vice Captain, sure you have the credit?”

The boy bled financially, just the thought of it all gone brought a tear to the eye. “Yes, sir. I can pay it.”

“Well, I suppose we all gotta lose it some time. I’ll allow it, only because it’s you. You should know though, kid. You gotta be careful with first gens, get too used to the taste and you’ll get addicted.”

Not too certain of the meaning, nor did he wish to find out, Ryūsei grabbed a hold of the girl and reached for the door. “I’ll keep it in mind sir, goodbye for now.” But Ghrian held his jacket. “Hold up.”

“Sir?”

“I said I’d let you buy her, I didn’t say she was free. I’ve been disrespected, my business interfered with, I can’t simply let that slide.” Ghrian explained. “She’ll work here to pay it off, then you can do what you wish. That sound fair?” He asked. The kid nodded.

“Good, now go on, I’ll work out a deal with her and speak to you afterwards. Rogue after sun down.”

Reluctantly he let go of her hand. She turned to face him, anxious but he had no other choice but to leave her there. Ghrian was a businessman above all else, he told himself as he walked down the corridor, he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardise a deal he had struck…

Would he?

*-*-*

At last, night fell, and the time for festivities commenced. The frontier had no moon, leaving a dark cold to sweep over the sands. Fires kept both at bay. The main hall of Vitu was more alive than Ryūsei had seen for quite some time despite a good number of the Vagrants away on missions, his Captain being one of said absentees.

“For a man living the high life you sure look glum.” To his left was Ghrian, leaning against the bar and requesting another drink. “Commander Ghrian” Ryūsei muttered. “Just, a long day, that’s all.”

Ghrian wrapped an arm around his shoulders, squeezing lightly. “Relax, Ryūsei. You’ve shown your loyalty. Even with Liu away your second division has done the job.” He spoke like a proud father, placing a drink in front of the young lad. Ryūsei took the drink in hand, “thank you, sir.” Down the hatch it went. Strong stuff, more than enough to make a grown man grimace. He held the poker face well, but not the splutter and coughing fit right before the fire breathing. Ghrian laughed aloud as he signalled for a fresh batch.

“Listen kid.” the commander spoke as the liquor burned his gut. “You’re a good Vagrant, best I’ve seen so young. Hell, Liu was still a snot nosed whiny punk at your age. You? You know where the line is. When a job needs doing you shut up and get it done. I wish I had a hundred more of ya” the next drink, slapped down by the barkeep, whispered horrors to the kid. Instinctively he moved back a little, the room swaying a little making him hold the side of his seat to avoid a tumble. “Keep up!” Ghrian shouted gleefully.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea” Ryūsei responded, still feeling the after effects of his first drink. “Your commander commands it.” A look of pleading from the vice captain was met with pure denial and once more, the kid reluctantly took another shot. “Good!” Ghrian cheered. This one was like an acid volcano, had he not been in the presence of his commander he may have retched it back there and then, somehow he held it back.

Ghrian was already four shots deep with not a hint of slowing down. The kid rested the shot on the bar and took a second to compose himself as his drinking buddy could barely see. “People like you need to be properly rewarded, and I mean to. There is an opening in the sixth division if you’re interested.”

“What kind?” He asked, sneakily throwing away the liquor.

“Captain.”

Said so nonchalantly Ryūsei assumed the drink was talking, he had to confirm what he heard was right and sure enough, Ghrian’s look was serious. Gone was the cheery peer pressure commander, here was the bonafide ruler of the roost. The kid hadn’t the words to respond, the drink he would assume. “I mean, Liu won’t be happy losing his second in command… ah fuck him. He’ll get another, anyone you’d recommend?”

The kid looked like he was still on point two as Ghrian was discussing point twelve. It took him a second to think straight “uhhh… Sao? I guess…”

“The kid that punched the girl? Really?!”

“He’s a good guy.”

“I’m not looking for good guys,” Ghrian chuckled. “I’m looking for killers, ruthless cunts I can rely on”.

A look to the clock above the bar and Ghrian’s smile dissipated slowly. “Ahh, to be so carefree again. I gotta go.” The commander hit the kid on the shoulder as he grabbed his jacket. “Think on it. Tomorrow, I got one last mission for you. Just a little something to show if you’re ready to be captain. It’ll be over in no time.”

“What is it?” Ryūsei asked as his commander headed for the door.

“Meet me in my office, 10 sharp. If you’re late I’ll make ya drink this place dry!” His promise sealed with a death stare that made Ryūsei shudder… or maybe that was the thought of more drinking…

A Captain though… it needed a drink just to soak in… ah, not that one! Lava gut engaged!

The glasses had gathered gradually and a hand pulled them away, a strange looking hand. Slender like a woman’s but, rugged, and dark? He lifted his head with the strength he had left, she stared back with pure aggression. “Celebrating another torture are we? Perhaps you’ve extorted your millionth credit?”

“You?” He returned, his eyes darting up and down her.

“What? Surprised? Your Commander thought it’d be funny.” She was a sight, yep, just that, a sight. Commander Ghrian had a penchant for dressing his captives up and having them work at their base. For the girls, let’s just say he believed his soldiers needed a bit of motivation now and again. Gone was the tattered garb of the desert and in its place, a shirt with plenty of cleavage and cut leaving a fair amount of midriff. Beneath, a frilly skirt and heels higher than most would try to pull off. “A bit too risqué?”

Suddenly it felt like looking her way was some sort of perverted act, like he was doing something he shouldn’t be doing. His eyes averted hers and darted back to his drink. “Sorry…”

She also followed his view, seeing enough glass by his side to hold an ocean. “Guilty conscience?” She asked, pointing at the remains of the fire water.

“If a Captain or Commander offers you a drink, you take it.”

“Huh, not even the Vagrants are safe from themselves.”

“You could say that.” Ryūsei thought to take another, then remembered the fire and instantly put the glass back. “What did he say?”

She hung the drinks tray she had been holding onto the bar and took the empty seat beside him. “Not much. He wants repayment for the merchants, and he was eyeballing me the entire time.”

“Sounds like Ghrian. Keep your distance and you should be fine. A few weeks of work and he’ll let you go”

“Weeks?”

“He likes rare things. People most of all.” Ryūsei remembered a few of them, all different shapes, sizes and colours, all he took great enjoyment in, all he tormented. “Luckily he gets bored quickly.”

“Oh, and what then? Just stick around with you?”

A thought not worth thinking of. Like bile it caught in the back of his throat, swallowing was the best choice. “I’ll figure something out.”

It was another moment she looked at him surprised. Since young, her people were tormented by the red falcon of the Vagrants. She’d met several in her life, all bloodthirsty, all sadistic and cold. “Why are you one of them?” She asked. “You’re not exactly what comes to mind when hearing Vagrant.”

“I did what I had to survive.” The candle-like lights running low and glowing a warming sunset, the smell of the night air and the fiery waters, all it calming. Maybe it was the drink making him loose-lipped, he wasn’t quite sure. “I was just a kid looking at the stars in the sky wondering how far I could reach…”

“And then you became a Vagrant. Chained yourself to this rock like a moth to the flame.”

“No,” he responded. “Not chained. The Vagrants stay here for the most part, but a select few are given ships. Comets powerful enough to journey the abyss on missions.” He spoke almost as if he was reminding himself, speaking to some part of himself hidden away in the fibres of his being, hidden away behind a rugged exterior. “What about you?”

“Sorry?” She jolted back a little as she spoke.

“Can’t imagine your dream was being a scantily clad barmaid.” He joked

“People like us weren’t allowed to dream.” As she spoke, she brushed her fingers along a scar on her arm, a reminder of the torment.

They sat in the silence for a moment, Ryūsei trying to keep awake and the girl fighting off the awkward vibe. “Say… what’s your name? Your real one.” He asked, the only question that came to mind

…

“Astra.” She sheepishly responded. “Why?”

The vice Captain smiled and held up his drink. “To the dreams we never achieved, Astra”. After a bit of time he thought he built up a bit of tolerance to the fire water… he was wrong. Doubled over the bar ejecting shiny rainbows. Astra just looked away, threatening to puke as well.

*-*-*

The dark streets he had learned to call home felt so different spinning as they were, the drink piled up to the point that even putting one foot in front of the other was a daunting task. Still, his heart was pounding.

He somehow stumbled into the bathroom, hoping to clean off from a hard day but, alas, he was not as steady as he wanted to be. Flashing in and out of consciousness while half in the tub and half out. One moment he would see the spinning room and the nauseating light above, the next he saw a shadowy figure. It spoke to him but no words were really said, it was something he had heard before, something he had felt before.

“Out to space… far from pain… freedom…” he whimpered slowly. “I’ll get there soon. Like you always wanted. Dad.”

“One more mission…” he whispered, over and over again until the night took him to the stars above.

His dreams were a movie, of a boy with a spiral face, and that same shadowed figure. The home he had escaped from all those years ago. Next was behind glass, the shadowed figure reached for him, and behind him were another two figures; one pink and one red. Instantly he felt ice cold, like time itself had frozen. When the next vision came, it brought heat, he knew this place. “We’re here …” spoke the shadow figure, holding his small hand in his own. “Prota, our new home.” He remembered the moment the city gates creaked open, and the feeling of his hand being squeezed just a little tighter.

“We need to hurry!” That figure spoke, this time in darkness. They ran through the waters, hearing noise behind them, seeing lights flash past them.

The next, all was red, and that grip slipped. He felt warmth on his eyes, dripping down his face. “Get to safety” it told him weakly. “Find your freedom.”

Blinding light, searing pain and a whole lot of noise is what he woke to. Eyes heavy and vomit in the back of his throat he attempted to stand from the tub but winced and held his hand over his forehead. A quick glance at the time, another headache it seemed… 09:39.

*-*-*

He found himself in Ghrian’s office, the commander sat on the back of his sofa, with two other members at either side. Instantly he looked at the clock just over his boss’ desk. 09:59. Relief washed over him as the strength left his legs. Ghrian too looked for the time, with a smile on his face he crouched facing his subordinate. “Cutting it close aren’t we?”

“Sorry sir… Rough night…” the kid responded, still clutching his temples and wincing.

“Yeah… Well, we’re all here. Best get started, I have a meeting in..” He checked the glass band on his wrist “... Well, five minutes ago, but they can wait I guess.”

The Vice Captain slowly lifted himself back to his feet as he choked on the air, his knees struggling. Ghrian watched him rise, uninterested. “I was beginning to think you weren’t going to show. Late night?”

“Something like that…” He responded.

His superior moved on swiftly and the kid followed behind slowly. Ghrian looked different than he did last night, this was his professional self, the other side of the coin he didn’t like quite as much. His suit, made from Hieron spider silk, creatures ten times bigger than your ordinary arachnid, ten times as pissed off too. His aura was thick as the oil in his hair, this was no man to piss off.

The boss nodded to one of the other members in the room and they vanished into the corridors. Ghrian took his place at his desk and slammed a gun on top. Instantly it took Ryūsei’s attention, his mind racing through every kind of reasoning.

“Know how to use one of these?”

The boy checked his hip. Sat there was his own firearm, easily visible. “Uhh…” Signalling to it.

“Well, as far as I’ve heard you’ve never really used one. Right?”

“No sir.” He responded, feeling like this was more of a reprimand than a promotion.

“Liu speaks highly of you. And for someone that doesn’t kill, that’s quite commendable. Its a hard role we have, Ryūsei. Y’know when I was a kid, these streets were hell. The common folk’ll try and tell you that we are the reason this place is called Lawless, no, it got its name back then. Someone needed to step up, and bring order.” Each word had power, each word filled with purpose. He lit a cigar and took a few drags as he relaxed. “You’ve done a fine job until now kid, damn fine.”

“Thank you sir…”

“Its why you’re here. Talented men reap the rewards, but with that, even more trust must be given. As much as I like that you can do your job without blood… I need to know I can trust you with my corp, my name and with my symbol on your chest.”

The door swung back open and in walked the Vagrant that left earlier, only this time he wasn’t alone. He dragged in a slender figure and threw them to the ground. It was a figure he knew, only a thick bag covering the head, but that too would soon be removed.

She had been gagged, badly beaten and bound. Her hands lifted up and the rope binding her hung over a hook hanging down. Even if it wasn’t too high for her to comfortably stand still, her legs had no strength, leaving her to sway and bleed a red trail. Without a second to breathe, Ghrian had placed the pistol in his hands and a fist to his shoulder. “I know you, Ryūsei, know your history, know your future. I know why you were on those streets alone, your mother abandoned you and your father. Your father, he didn’t last long did he?”

The boy had no answer. Ghrian shouldn’t know any of this, it was all locked deep away in his memory. He shuddered thinking of it, and how they had found out.

But Ghrian continued. “He got in with us, badly. Owed more than he could ever have, and he ran. The wasteland took him. But his son? No, he was strong, survived the pythons and giant spiders and made his was back to Lawless with one goal.” His captain now stood in front of him, his eyes staring deep into his own. “I don’t know what you came back here for, but I can think of a few reasons. You either want to make it big… or you want blood.”

“I…”

“Shh…” Ghrian quietened him. “It’s okay. I can respect it, wanting to end those that killed your papa. I’d do the same. But… I can’t let you ruin my business. So…”

Ghrian let go and went back to his desk. “You have a choice, Ryūsei, no. Your real name is… Hochi? Hosi? Hoshi! That’s it. Are you Captain of the 6th division Ryūsei… or are you an orphan called Hoshi?”

The boy held the gun more snuggly, seeing Astra wake slowly from her deep sleep.

“Do you kill her dreams… or your own?”.