“Chief sure is stressed out since the Sleepers woke up, have you noticed?”

Anyone passing down the main street in the Cave, the one that went from the entrance all the way to the cryogenics and broke off in the center toward the greenhouse in one direction and the supply depot in the other, had the chance to overhear one particular guard force lackey shooting the breeze. He currently had his helmet off to wipe the sweat off the side of his face and run a hand through long, spiky locks. Next to him was another of the mooks, though this one seemed to be much more comfortable keeping his helmet on.

After only receiving a noncommittal nod and grunt from his companion, Blondie continued on, “He doesn’t like to let people see — and I mean anybody — but I can tell. Maybe I’m just good at that.” He grinned. It did not get much reaction from his friend.

“Guess it’s just me,” he decided after a suitable pause. “Did you hear what Ryan did a couple of days ago? With the bat?”

That prompted a chuckle. The reticent guard acknowledged the memory with an indistinct, “Yeah, heard that one.”

Blondie laughed along, then let it develop into a sigh. “He gets all the fun jobs.”