Intermission 1: The Darkness steps back

Declan and the rest of the group finds the Cafeteria after the meeting ends. After the meal and checking out with a work manager, he is placed at the ship docks, which is a more like a large hanger that allows ships to land and be maintained.

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Corvin makes some friends with the guards of the colony complex. His new friends, however, think he is not authorised enough to peek into the records. They do at least say that no cult activity have been found recently. As for gun training, his new friend, Officer Maurice, offered to teach him at the small but sufficient firing range within the Security offices. Since ammunition is limited, Corvin also have limited tries.

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Abdullah finds a possible work as an entertainer/comedian for the local bar. It might be humiliating, but it helps to show off your improve skill. Another option is to be a janitor. You won't need experience to do this well, and you get to learn how the common folk life is like.

Wolf goes to work, focusing on his original job of being a professional electrician. His date with Connor shall wait while high voltage maintenance and installation work is at hand.

Not only that, but Matsuki have decided to join him too. It may seem a bit of a surprise to Wolf, but a welcome one. With a trusted friend guiding her, the work is less daunting.Somehow, Matsuki is paid more than Wolf. Apparently, the two of you have done your work really well, and Wolf have presented Matsuki to be a better electrician than he is despite the truth.

Declan did his first week of work well. Unfortunately, he wasn't aware of the politics going on within the working force. As he asked around for the latest rumours of cultists, he is given silence. He didn't think of it much, until it comes to his time to collect his pay. Just before the work day is over, a trio of tattooed tough guys came over to meet him.

"You must be the new kid, Declan Smith."
A big man in work clothes with a scar on his cheek growls.
"I heard that you think going around asking about cults is a good idea. Wrong move, buddy. We now have to teach you about what we think of the nightmare-loving nutjobs trying to act like they know the truth while messing with our brotherhood."The three of them proceed to beat Declan with their blunt tools at hand. Declan didn't stand a chance, but thankfully someone alerted a nearby security officer and the thugs flee the scene. Soon, Declan is patched up by his hero while the guards make their arrest.

"That should stop the bleeding, but some time off should do you good before you return to work. The name is Pedro, by the way. About what happened, I think you have made some folks here pretty mad. Over here, several of the working men and women have formed gangs and cliches so as to protect each other since individually we are the most vulnerable.

As for your attackers, they are known as the Steel-bond Brothers. One of their members had recently joined a cult, one that calls themselves the Visage Conversation Club. Before we know them as a cult, we already felt their interests in nightmares and strange geological formations to be too excessive. Turns out, upon being accepted into the Club, your personality will change, as you won't stop talking about how enlightening the Club is. This was treated as an act of betrayal and the Steel-Bond Brothers made it a rule that noone is to speak of the club-cult ever again."

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Corvin did some bad shots, and he felt that his colony colleagues would look down on him, but turns out he is given a pat on the back.

"Not bad for a first timer. I'm sure you can improve more if you had practice, but so far, if you ever find yourself in danger and with a gun in hand, you should be able to defend yourself. At least, if they are close enough." Maurice says.

The others are indeed impressed by Corvin's athletism, and comments that he is perhaps better off using his boxing skills than using a firearm as self defence.

---

Abdullah worked at a job. It earned him 100 Credits, due to having caused some trouble, but nothing that have made his employer mad at him.

"Thanks Pedro. Steel-bond brothers huh?", Declan winces as something shifts in his chest that definitely shouldn't.

"Can you point me towards the nearest clinic?, he says to Pedro.

Declan is helped to the local clinic. There, he spent a few days to sleep it through to regain his full fitness. While there, he was also interviewed by a security officer. They just needed to record his testimony of the incident and who his attackers were. They already detained the suspects.

As he return to work what he can, he noticed how his fellow dock workers became anxious with him around. He then learns that remaining members of the Steel-Bond Brothers have viewed him as an enemy, and that co-workers who are in the know keep their distance due to that.

Wolf went on to spend more time with his date. From this, what may had been an attempt to distract a staff had blossomed into a mutual romantic relationship. It is uncommon for romantic relations to form locally in the base, both because it is subtly discouraged and that distrust seems to be the culture here. In any case, walks around the indoor park and occasional visits to the bar room counts as good dates.
(The Bar Room is a fairly small establishment that a local drink mixer decides to open instead of a common stall in the park hub. The hardworking staff hang out there, often being a meeting place of the worker gangs. Violence is discouraged, even towards the occasionally bad stage performer, but sometimes anger flare up and security is called in.)