84. MENDING FENCES

“You might be surprised at what I understand.”

Mar 27, 2026

When the Gem awakens to call a Hero, the world is ill prepared...and its fate is placed in the hands of a 17 year old boy, named Wendell.

Some will say this is nothing but a tale of fiction.
Let them think as they may.

After all...I can't fix stupid.

Previously: With the Government announcing the planned execution of Dax, Wendell was about to cut all ties and focus on his friends rescue. That is, until he discovered his influence on the heart of the city.

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Chapter 84

Most religions profess that we’re required by the universe to love everyone. Love your friends, love your family, even love your enemies. That’s fine.
On the other hand, no one said we have to like anybody.
To say you ‘like’ someone means, “I know stuff about you…but choose you anyway.”
That’s personal.

“Don’t look at me like that. You agreed to help me first.”

“I did help you.”

“The deal was to get the monkey back…I was very specific. Or did you forget that essential part of the agreement?”

“No, I didn’t forget that part, but…”

“Well this is the next phase of that strategy, child, so stop fidgeting. Smile. Put all your worries and concerns behind you for now. I need that smile.” He rapped her on the forehead with a knuckle. “No, not like that. You look constipated when you do that. I want the smile that makes all these male gnomes go weak in the knees.”

“You’re pushing it, no matter what our agreement may be.”

“Oh please. If anyone so much as hints at being improper, I’ll turn them into a toad and squash them under foot!”

She relaxed. “Really?”

“Well, no. I don’t know how to turn gnomes into toads.”

Lili sighed.

“Oh for goodness sakes, child, all I’m asking you to do is smile. Distract. Help me get what’s needed without having to resort to violence. Besides, you really do look adorable as a gnome.” Chuck adjusted his top hat and gave her a grandfatherly wink.

The elevator slowed, the groan of the cables vibrating through the swinging metal cage. The floor swayed under their feet. Lili gasped and gripped the handrail. “W-what am I supposed to say to him? He’s…” She hesitated.

Lifting the cage door, the wizard held out a hand. “He’s what?”

Gratefully, she accepted and staggered into the hallway. Straightening her business suit, she fixed her massive tuft of hair, letting the soft curls fall over her shoulders. “Mature.”

“That’s not what you were going to say.”

“Does it matter what I was going to say? I’m trying to be respectful and polite.”

“You were going to say old.”

She bit her lip to keep from retorting.

Shaking his head, “Old is relative anyway…and remember, if anyone asks, you’re mine.”

“What do you mean I’m yours?”

“Grandchild. You’re my grandchild.” He scoffed. “Silly child. Come on.” He glanced at a scrap of paper. “342C.”

The building was a retirement community for older gnomes, which seemed to be a term used for substandard housing slapped together for seniors. The elderly that no one cared about any longer. Just outside the dark and dirty tram station, this decaying building looked as old as its occupants. Heavy rust covered most doorways, knobs stuck or were missing altogether, and Out of Order signs seemed to be as common as the rats. Piles of garbage lay in clusters along the hallways, and one gnome, wrapped in newspaper, snored peacefully as they passed. Lili wrinkled her nose, the acidic, pungent smell of mold and urine lingered in the air.

“How do people live like this?” she gasped, trying to speak without taking her hand from her nose. “It’s revolting!”

“Not everyone has a choice, dear. For some, this is the best they have available. Better to be here than out in the cold or under some freeway.” He grinned as 342C appeared. Folding the paper, he slid it into his vest pocket. Adjusting his jacket, Chuck briskly rapped on the door. “Which is why Wendell needs to step it up a notch. Gather the people. Start a revolution!”

They could hear the footsteps shuffling across the floor. Heavy. Tired. There was a tiny thud. A small window in the upper center of the door opened, a single eye appearing, then a muffled voice said, “Whaddya want?”

“We’d like to talk to you, Tumbler,” Chuck said evenly. “We have a…”

“I don’t give a rat-spit what ya got. Go away!” The eye vanished and the small window slammed shut.

A hungry-looking rodent, foraging for food, took notice of the two standing in the hallway. It stood up on its back legs, staring at Lili. She grabbed the wizard’s arm. “Why didn’t we go to Freak and Socket first?”

The wizard tugged at his beard, eyes locked on the door. “Because there’s no guarantee this old bird would agree. I don’t want to go through the effort to persuade the rest of them, only to be stuck in this hallway. On the other hand, if we use all our powers of persuasion on Tumbler, the rest of the crew is in the bag. He’ll help us. That is, if we can win him over.”

It made sense. The old welder was a blunt, but honest member of the TNT crew. The father figure of the team. Over the past month, Lili had watched members, including Freak himself, come to Tumbler when they needed counsel. When they needed encouragement or a new perspective on any issue. He was the heart of the best Trench pit team in Clockworks City.

But he was also the most stubborn.

Lili leaned against the door, placing her tan forehead against the cold metal surface. “Tumbler? Please let us come in.” She glanced back at the rat, which was still staring at her. “We really need to talk with you.”

“I ain’t interested, so git!” the voice yelled back. “We don’t need yer lying kind around here. We’ve got the government for that crap!”

She placed her hand near her cheek, fingernails tapping against the surface. “I’m sorry we lied to you, Tumbler. You’re mad. I…” She paused. “I would be too. But we never meant any harm. It’s really not Wendell’s fault.”

“Not his fault?” Tumbler boomed. “This is all about him, how can it not be his fault?!” Footsteps came back to the door. “They hauled me off like some…some…common street thug, and accused me o’betraying my own people! ME! When I served my country!” His voice trembled and Lili couldn’t tell if it was anger or sorrow. “Said I was a traitor and a disgrace of a gnome…not worth spit.” Tumbler’s head thumped against the other side of the door, his voice barely above a whisper. “They called me a traitor.”

There was a long pause.

Lili clenched her eyes tight.

“I may not be worth much,” he choked, “But I always thought it was a sight more than spit.”

Her hand spread out across the surface of the door. “I’m so sorry. We’re all so sorry.” But her words were empty and she knew it. They had come here with the intention of changing the very fabric of this society. It was plain in her voice. She needed to say something she believed herself. So Lili said the only thing she could think of. “Wendell never meant to harm you…or anyone for that matter. That’s why he was…”

The door latch clicked.

With a creak and a moan, the thick slab of metal pulled back to reveal a solemn looking gnome in faded and stained overalls. Tumbler’s face had the remains of a wide bruise across one cheek, while one of his eyes was still swollen shut. He looked down at his own shoes, as if he were ashamed. It was then that Lili noticed his bandaged hand.

Lili raised a hand and placed it over her mouth. “Did they…beat you, Tumbler?”

“Come in or stay in the hall, I don’t care, but I’m shuttin’ the door.”

Both she and Chuck stepped past the welder and into the tiny studio apartment. Machine parts were stacked neatly along the floorboards, a current project spread out across a small round table in the corner. Tumbler shut and locked the door, then shuffled back to the table, switching on a mini television, which perched on a nearby foldable tray. Without looking up, the old gnome grabbed a pair of pliers and went back to work. “Say what ya gotta say, so I can kick you out.”

Chuck found himself drawn to the welder’s creations. Scraps fastened together to make chairs, tables, even a foot rest. The apartment wasn’t dirty, or even cluttered for that matter. It was just crowded. Spiders made from an old toaster sat along one counter, while industrial cables were splayed out along one wall, mimicking creatures of the sea. The wizard smiled to himself. Tumbler wasn’t just good. He was talented and clever.

Lili sat in the second seat at the table, ignoring the creations around her. She watched the welder in silence, as his nimble hands, wrinkled as they were, connected piece after tiny piece to what was looking like an animal of some sort.

“You have the touch,” Chuck said aloud. “I’ll give you that.” He reached up and brushed his hand against the hanging lamp that looked remarkably like a jellyfish. “Spent time in open waters?”

“Coast guard,” Tumbler grunted without looking up.

But there was more. Some of the metal sculptures were used as planters. Ferns grew in every corner and hung on walls instead of pictures.

Pictures.

Chuck spun around on the balls of his feet, a quick whipping motion. There was not a single picture on the walls. Only a single frame, centered on a TV tray, surrounded by plants and oil cans converted to hold flowers.

Lili leaned forward. “Tumbler, we really…”

“It hurts, doesn’t it,” Chuck blurted out.

Lili looked up at him, confused.

“To love so deep that you think you’ll never breathe again. Never be whole, because the one thing in your world, the sweetest part, the part that made everything else possible, is suddenly…gone.”

Hands shaking, the welder looked up. His face flushed.

Gently lifting the frame from the mini garden on the tray, Chuck studied the photograph. Tumbler looked like he was in his mid twenties. Tough, cigar-smoking rugged, his arm around a young gnome who kissed him tenderly on the cheek. They stood on the deck of an old barge. The wizard squinted. The Dreamboat. Curious name for a vessel, but there was no denying the two looked blissfully happy.

“She’s lovely.”

Tumbler set the pliers down and rose abruptly from his chair. “Put it back,” he said sternly, then meaner, “Now.”

Chuck mimicked the smile Tumbler wore in the picture. “What happened to change you from this,” he caressed the frame with a finger, then turned to look the gnome square in the face, “into a sour, old, crusty fart?”

Snatching the picture, Tumbler shoved the wizard away from the tray. “I said put it down!” he snarled.

The smile never left Chuck’s face. “What happened to her?” he said softly, his tone kind.

Gentle hands replaced the frame between the green and yellow flowers. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“You might be surprised at what I understand.”

Tumbler’s shoulders dropped as the gnome gave a heavy sigh. It was several moments before he even turned around. When he did, the moisture on his face was as plain as his overalls, tears streaking down his cheeks. “She drowned,” he choked out. Gritting his teeth, he turned away and wiped his eyes.

Lili looked away.

“Saved up, working every job I could get so we could buy that boat. All I wanted to do was live on the water. Get out of these city walls and give my girl something better. Show her a bigger world. But…” he looked back at the photograph, his voice turning bitter, “my closest friend decided she was too good for me. So he sabotaged the boat while I was away. Welded the main doors shut, so I couldn’t salvage anything, then sank it altogether.” His chest heaved, eyes clenched tight, hands curled into fists.

Lili raised her hand to cover her mouth. Tears trickled down her cheeks.

“Maggie was asleep in the cabin.”

Chuck’s smile faded. “I’m sorry for your loss. I know how hard it is to lose someone you…”

“Who do you think you are?” Tumbler cut him off. He spun around, staring at the wizard coldly. “Walking into my home and trying to play mind games with me? I may not be some educated normal, but I ain’t completely stupid. You’re trying ta play me.” He laughed to choke back the tears. “It ain’t gonna work!” He stepped forward, snarling into the wizard’s face. “I think you better leave now…before I help you leave.”

“I was going to play you,” Chuck said calmly. He held his ground, meeting the welder’s gaze. “Until I saw someone I could relate to. After a lifetime of sorrow, I saw a gnome whose sorrow could match my own.”

Tumbler blinked. “W-what are you talking about?”

“My wife was murdered. A long, long time ago. By my closest friend. It wasn’t by drowning.” He shook his head once, slow. “I walked into the room and he was holding her beautiful head in his hands,” he swallowed roughly, lips trembling, “unconscious, like it meant something.” His voice thinned. “…and he slit her neck from ear to ear.”

Lili gasped aloud. Tumbler, however, stood dumbfounded.

“I lost both my wife and my infant son that day.” Chuck slid around the gnome and took a seat on the other side of the room.

The welder stood in shock, watching the wizard for long moments before answering. He glanced between them, his voice barely above a whisper. “What do you want?”

“I want your help in two matters.”

“Which are?”

“First and foremost, to help me convince and gather the TNT crew to come work for me.”

Tumbler glanced at Lili warily. “And the second?”

Chuck smiled. “Help me rescue Dax from the government so we can leave Clockworks and go home.”

Tumbler folded his arms. “And why would I agree to such nonsense?”

The wizard let his head fall slightly forward, just enough to cast shadows over his eyes. “Because like me, you’re still here, fighting and kicking back because that’s what our girls expect of us. Helping others is what they taught us to do, by example. Isn’t it? It was what made Maggie special.”

The old gnome looked away, clenching his eyes tight. Nostrils flaring, his words seeped out in a whisper. “You’re a real bastard, you know that?”

Chuck looked over at a stunned Lili and winked. “I’ve been called a lot worse.”

The chop shop where Telly rented a room wasn’t very far from Tumbler’s apartment. It was, however, in a rougher part of the neighborhood. Lili found herself walking faster so she could stay within arm’s length of the wizard. Each block corner they passed was met with wolf calls and dirty, grinning faces. Even with trousers and a jacket, she felt exposed.

Chuck patted her hand reassuringly and urged her forward.

“He’s up here,” Tumbler said plainly, grabbing hold of the rusty metal railing. The stairs wrapped around the outside of the automotive garage, which leaned to one side and looked like the roof was about to collapse in on itself.

Lili tested the second step with her foot. It creaked and moaned back at her. Apprehensively, she said, “I’m not sure this is safe.”

Tumbler snorted as he tromped up the stairs. “Of course not…that’s why he got the place so cheap! Now get yer cans up here—I ain’t doing this alone.” He rapped on the single metal door.

“Yeah?” shouted a nasal tone.

“It’s me,” Tumbler barked back.

The door opened to a bare-chested Telly, drying his hair with a towel. Lili’s eyebrows bounced upward. Even as a gnome, it was hard not to stare at the mechanic’s lean, muscular shoulders, arms, and chest. Seeing Lili’s wide brown eyes, he almost fell over in embarrassment. Grasping the towel to his chest, Telly bolted to the bedroom with a “DOH!”

“Come in,” Tumbler grunted.

Though bigger than the welder’s dwelling, the apartment was in far worse shape. Cluttered like only an unkempt bachelor knows how—clothes, magazines, dishes, and leftover food squatted on top of furniture, under furniture, and in furniture. Lili decided to stand.

“Whaddya want?” Telly called out from behind the bedroom door. “And whatcha doing bringin’ a girl here?!”

“They want our help,” Tumbler yelled back.

“I don’t wanna help ’em. I got a record now! Did you know that, Tumbler? Because o’ them!” There was a pause. “My mom’s gonna be disappointed in me now,” another pause, “’cause her son’s a convict!”

The old gnome sighed. “You ain’t no convict, kid. Dense and slow, maybe—but yer one of the honest ones, so kick it out of yer mind. It couldn’t be helped…what happened.” He glanced at Chuck, who was lifting a rag from a pizza box with a pencil. “It was beyond anyone’s control, and it don’t change who you really are.”

“Yes it does!” Telly appeared in the doorway. He hovered for a moment, glancing nervously at Lili, unsure if he should enter or retreat. “I can’t get a job now. Not at any of the local shops, anyway, ’cause they said they won’t hire a human sympathizer.”

Tumbler frowned. “Well that ain’t right.”

“I know!” Telly complained. “I don’t know what a ‘sympathizer’ is, but it doesn’t sound good.” He smirked. “So I punched ’em in the nose.”

Chuck covered his mouth to hide his smile.

Grabbing the young gnome by the elbow, Tumbler pulled him to a corner of the room. Leaning in, he said, “They need our help, kiddo.”

Pulling away, “I don’t care.”

“Sure you do. You’re a decent kid with a giant heart. You always care.”

Telly planted his feet and crossed his arms. “Not this time I don’t. I went to jail when I did nothing wrong.” He glanced over at Lili, but quickly looked away. “The Centurions shouldn’t be allowed to do that! All they did was ask me questions I didn’t know how to answer. Then they accuse me of being a liar! Stupid cops. How can I lie when I don’t even know the answers?”

Tumbler grinned and patted him on the arm. “You’re right. Good folks are being treated pretty bad by the government. They don’t listen to the people anymore…and they should. But why would they? No one stands up to ’em. No one’s saying what’s right and wrong, now are they?”

Telly’s forehead crinkled forward. “No, I guess there isn’t.”

“There’s no one to change the way things are done,” he paused, “well…”

The tall gnome frowned. “What?”

“The Gnolaum could.”

“Yeah, but…,” Telly’s frown deepened, “heeeeeyyyy.”

Tumbler shrugged. “That is what he’s here for, ya know. To change our society—for the better.”

Shaking his head, “Nope. Don’t care. Don’t want my mom to be more disappointed than she’s gonna be now.”

“Ya don’t want to be a hero, huh?” Tumbler asked, feigning shock.

A large hand reached out and gripped one of Tumbler’s suspender straps. “Hero?”

“Sure. These two are askin’ for help to get Dax out of the clinch he’s in.”

Telly smiled, lowering his voice. “They’re gonna kill that troll, I hear.”

“He is NOT A TROLL!” Chuck burst out. He shot both gnomes a warning glance from across the room.

“Right,” exclaimed the mechanic, gulping nervously. He glanced over at Lili again, this time letting his attention linger a moment longer. An awkward grin surfaced across his face. “Not a troll,” he said almost to himself, “got it.” But he shook his head almost immediately. “No! Blast it, Tumbler, no! This ain’t right. They ain’t right!” He glared back at the wizard. “There ain’t nothing you could say to make me change my mind, and that’s final. You hear me?”

Tumbler nodded once. “Then I won’t try usin’ words on ya.” He looked at Chuck, then winked at Lili. “Give the poor boy a smile, will ya, dear? Let him know we ain’t got no hard feelings.”

Taking a step forward, Lili laced her slender fingers in front of her and looked up into the mechanic’s face. Her deep brown eyes reflected the light seeping through clouded windows. Long black lashes fluttered as her full, soft lips parted in a sparkling white smile.

Telly’s knees buckled before Tumbler could steady him. Falling backward, he hit his head on the coffee table as he collapsed, unconscious, onto the floor.

Lili rolled her eyes.

Nibbles dabbed the cloth around the base of the large knot on Telly’s forehead. “That’s all she did. Smile at you?”

The mechanic scoffed. “You had to be there.”

“Yeah. Whatever.”

“I’m serious, Nib.” He paused, glancing behind them. Lili was in a whispered argument with Chuck in the kitchen area. “She’s gotta be the prettiest thing in the whole world.” He flinched. “OW.”

“Sorry.”

“No yer not,” Telly grunted. “You can’t be jealous when ya never pay no attention to me anyhow. I’ve been here for years. Just never sat in a wheelchair.”

Tumbler slugged him in the shoulder. “Watch it. Nat’s been good to us. Always has. So don’t fault the girl for liking a decent gnome—whether it’s you or not.”

“Sorry, Nib.”

She grinned, leaned forward, and kissed Telly on the forehead. “Well, I’m sorry if I ever hurt your feelings, but I do love you. You’re family. Isn’t that a good thing?”

He chuckled, nodding. “Yeah, it’s good. But you will let me know if Wheels doesn’t cut it, right?” He flinched again. “Ow. Alright, alright. I get it.”

“I’m just angry that Alhannah didn’t tell me sooner.” Nibbles watched Chuck lean closer to Lili, clearly upset, but the girl turned a shoulder. “And you think they can be trusted, Tumbler?”

The old gnome sighed. “I don’t much care anymore, to tell ya the truth.”

Both Nibbles and Telly turned their attention to the welder. “Why would you say that?” she asked.

“Because I don’t see that it matters. The city’s gone to crap—we can’t get decent jobs because of false accusations and twisted perspectives. If you ask me, the whole blasted system is ready for an overhaul…” His head tilted slightly to one side. “Which is what I’m seeing.” Nudging Telly over, the old gnome sat next to him on the coffee table. “For just once I’d like to do something I actually believe in, instead of always doin’ what others think I should be doin’!”

“Like breaking out a…” Nibbles started to say, but Telly slapped his hand over her mouth.

“Don’t say ‘troll’,” he whispered just above a breath. Without moving his head, his eyes shifted to the kitchen area.

Chuck was staring right at him.

Gulping, he lifted his hand from Nibbles’ mouth. “He ain’t a troll.”

The wizard grinned and went back to his own conversation.

“Fine. So he’s not a troll.” Nibbles crossed her arms. “That doesn’t make breaking into the Citadel any less crazy.” She shook her head. “Or stupid.”

“But what if it’s the right thing to do?” Tumbler reached out and grabbed their hands, squeezing them tight. “There’s not one of you I don’t look at like my kids. You’re right about us being family, Nib, so listen to me. Listen to the old gnome of the bunch who’s lived a life o’ regret.” Gritting his teeth, he forced out a smile instead of tears. “Let’s do the right thing, ’cause it’s worth doing—not because it’s easy.”

She squeezed back. “But who says this is the right thing to do?”

Thumping the center of his chest with two fingers, “My heart does. That’s what that old coot got me to do—listen to my own heart. It’s been wrapped in dust and cobwebs for so long, I forgot what it was like.” He swallowed. “There’s not a single reason why I should doubt what they’re telling us.”

“Sure there is,” Telly argued. “The Centurions told me all sorts ’o charges they had against Wendell and Dax.”

“But have you seen these two—or Alhannah for that matter—hurt another soul? Did you see ’em use, abuse, or manipulate anyone…other than tryin’ to keep their identities a secret?”

For several moments they sat in silence.

“But the media,” Telly started to say.

“Is a bunch of diseased rat feces!” the old gnome snapped. “And you know it, too!! You can’t get an honest word outta that lot, so you might as well stick yer head between the mattresses and leave it there.” He took a breath. “Those kids have tried to make things better for all of us from day one. Nothing about that has changed. Steel and Stone fights for the people of this city.” Standing up, he squeezed Telly’s shoulder. “I aim to help ’em, too.”

“And they’re alright with this?”

“They will be. They’re good kids with good heads on their shoulders. If they don’t understand it yet, they will.”

“And you?”

“I’m in. TGII help me, but I’m in.”

Chuck grinned to himself. “Welcome aboard.”

Tumbler snorted. “You just let me do the talkin’…and promise me I can blow something up that belongs to the government.”

“Done.”

They all stopped in front of The Freakshop. Located in a semi-high traffic area of the warehouse district, it was nestled between a parts shop and the local metal fabricator. The street seemed unusually deserted at this time of day. Transports that normally lined up around the corner for quality oil changes, tune-ups, and modifications were nowhere to be found. The side shop, built for government contract work on transports and S.L.A.G.s, was closed. In fact, the small warehouse was locked up completely. The giant sign, displaying the owner with his wife, Socket, had been vandalized.

The sign read: No matter what you want done with your machine, we won’t think you’re crazy! From the simple to the unique, you’re important to us! Yet, across their happy, eager faces, were spray-painted words: Traitor. Troll Lover. The brick building had been bombarded with food, paint, oil, even feces. Flies and other insects swarmed about the broken windows and a torched driveway.

“Yeah,” Tumbler snarled, staring at the destruction and abuse, “leave the talkin’ ta me.”

There was a notice taped to the locked front door. Chuck popped his reading glasses on and leaned closer.

“Looks like the bank called in their loan. The whole business is going to auction in a week.”

Tumbler kicked a paint can out into the road. Pedestrians jumped aside.

“Who’s out there?” called a nervous voice from the alleyway.

Telly walked further down between the buildings. “It’s us, Craig! Me and Tumbler and Nibbles, and…” He paused. “Some friends.”

Peeking around the corner, the chubby mechanic squinted, his head bobbing up and down slowly. “Telly? Oh—sorry, I…I don’t have my goggles on. Can’t see any of you. Come around back, quickly, before anyone sees you!”

Ushering them down the alley, they followed Freak into the basement apartment and shoved the heavy door shut.

“What are they doing here!?” Socket snapped as she entered the dimly lit room. Baring teeth and raising her hand in a fist, she marched toward Chuck. “You have no right to destroy our lives and then step into our home!” she cried. “You arrogant pieces of—”

Tumbler stepped in between the wizard and Socket, grabbing her arms. “Woah, child. Slow down. Don’t say nothin’ you’re gonna regret in a few minutes.” She yanked her wrists free. “These two didn’t do a thing to you.”

“Guilt by association,” she spat.

“That’s funny,” Nibbles smirked. “You’re starting to sound like the corporate suits who said the same thing about us.”

Socket pointed at the door. “Don’t let it kick you on the way out.”

“Enough!” Freak bellowed. His wide chest heaved. “This is my home—at least it is until next week… and half these folks are our friends, Sophia.” Then calmer, “Is anyone thirsty? Hungry?”

“We’re fine, Craig,” Tumbler said softly. “We came to ask for your help.”

Socket laughed and plopped down in a chair on the far side of the kitchen table. “That’s rich. They destroyed all we had!”

Tumbler looked at her coldly. “I can see what’s destroyed, Sophia, but it ain’t got nothin’ ta do with them. You want the ones responsible for your sign? Look for the ones with the paint cans. Your business? Try the bank.”

Freak reached out and laid a hand on the old gnome’s forearm. “Please.”

“I’m sorry, Craig. I really am. But we’ve all been hit by this—not just you.” Tumbler jabbed a finger toward Chuck and Lili. “These folks didn’t do it.” His attention snapped back to Socket, eyes narrowing. “And neither did Wendell or Dax.”

“Now you’re just talkin’ stupid,” she breathed.

“Is he?” Telly jumped in, stepping forward, eyes pleading. “’Cause that’s what I thought too, Socket. That all my troubles were because of what Wendell and Dax did or didn’t do—what they were…who they were.” He shrugged. “But was that the real problem? Or was it the way people reacted to them?”

Tumbler sat down next to Freak. “Listen, kid—did these folks ever break their word to you? Even once? Did they pay you on time?”

“That could’ve been a setup,” Socket scoffed. “They were playing us.”

Lili started to step forward, but Chuck grabbed her arm and held her back.

Nibbles slid into a chair on the opposite side of the table. “Really? How about when we watched our own people—unprovoked—throw Wendell helplessly into a garbage chute? Watched a murder attempt with our own eyes. And what did he do when he got back? Did he rant? Seek revenge?”

“He played by the rules and still won,” Tumbler finished. “Played by our rules, mind you. And why?” He gave Freak a soft jab in the arm. “Alhannah told us what the goal was. There was no deception, no secret there. We had the purpose of the Gnolaum starin’ us in the face the entire time—to call out the crap goin’ on in this city.” His gaze shifted to Socket, hardening. “Which started with us. Nat gave us the job so we could piggyback on that boy’s success and make names for ourselves.”

“Or did you happen to forget that part?” Nibbles sneered at Socket.

Freak listened patiently, then scratched his chin with oil-stained fingers. “I don’t blame them, Tumbler.” He looked up, squinting in Chuck’s general direction. “Really, I don’t. I just believed too much…that’s all. And TGII dealt me a harsh blow.” He exhaled. “We’re out of time, out of money, and out of contracts.” He sighed. “I have six days left here, then I’ll be on the streets. Don’t have the ability to help you, even if I wanted to.”

Chuck took a single step forward, his face solemn. “What if you did?”

Everyone in the room paused. Eyes stared back at him, confused.

“What if I did…what?” Freak shifted in his chair.

The idea formed as the wizard strode forward and abruptly knelt on the floor in front of the mechanic. “What if you had the time… the money… and the contracts?”

“Well…I…”

“It wouldn’t be enough,” Socket grumbled. “We’re being forced to start a whole new life now, because of you.” She turned and sneered back at Nibbles. “Even if they ain’t at fault.”

Freak sighed heavily. “She’s right. This is a blow I don’t know how to recover from. Running a shop and crew is all I’ve ever known how to do.” His jaw tightened. “But if there’s no work and no one trusts you… you’d best throw yourself in the garbage.”

Tumbler nudged him. “Now don’t talk like that. You’re made o’ sterner stuff.”

“Then what would it take?” Chuck asked plainly.

“To join with you?!” Socket laughed.

“To join me and work with me…for the people of this city and possibly against the government, yes.”

Then it was Freak who laughed out loud. “I don’t think you could afford it!”

Both sides of the wizard’s mustache lifted high in a smile. “Try me.”

Socket slapped her hand down onto the table. “A new warehouse. Not rented—given to us. Something bigger than this place, so we can run three or more crews… and a guaranteed contract for the next three years to not only replace, but double the total we just lost!”

Freak shook his head and smiled at the wizard. “See? You’d have to do the impossible.”

“And,” Socket blurted out, her grin taunting Chuck, “a million credits.” She paused. “Tax free.”

Tumbler stood up and walked toward the door. Nibbles shook her head and joined him, while Telly simply sighed. Lili followed their lead.

“Done,” said Chuck.

Socket glared at him, not catching the joke.

“Only make it two million, eighty-three thousand, four hundred and twelve credits… and you have a deal.”

Telly looked over at Lili, confused. “Isn’t he supposed to negotiate less?”

Chuck reached over and lifted Freak’s chin, closing the chubby gnome’s open mouth. Socket was frozen at the table, eyes locked on the wizard as he winked back at her.

“Impossible is my specialty.”

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