Approaching, the AEP units did not take their eyes off of me. They clearly wanted to attack me, but they had the discipline to not move unless given permission from the clan leader. That was good. Our AEP units were the same way. I walked up to the leader and showed him the picture on my phone. "Where the hell are they!?" I demanded. The clan leader used a finger to clean an ear. "Who the hell are you talking about!? This is a picture from the open tournament he just held." he said. He was trying to play dumb. "Those AEP units really attacked us, and I want them locked down." I said firmly. His eyes widened. "They attacked you? That shows some balls. I know how tough you guys can be." he said with something that sounded like pride. "I know about the hubs and the factions. Just level with me. Which clan leads this area? Where the fuck are these guys?" I asked. He leaned closer to me and growled "I don't know what the fuck you know, but I suggest wiping it from your silly human memory. Humans forget things all the time." I smirked. "Remember the contest?" I asked.
He blinked. "What about it? Don't tell me you came all the way over here to gloat." he said quickly. "You know the conditions for losing. Don't make me pull rank on you right now in front of everyone. Tell me on your own and it's a clean slate going forward." I promised. He sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "Fine I can tell you this much. The nearest hub is ran by Void Clan. They aren't exactly happy with us now that we also have AEP units. Those 2 are not aligned with Void Clan or us at all. They just wanted to join the tournament. Our AEP units joined them. I led them of course." I had no way of really knowing if it was the truth. I needed to know way more than that. "Is that all that happened? No talks about an alliance, or where they were going next. Lives are at stake!" I urged him to keep talking. "Human lives, you mean." he replied blandly. "Clan lives. You don't think the Advocates won't try and use their own lives to stop their clanmates from being assassinated?" He sucked his teeth. "If they want to, let them." he said. I crossed my arms. "C'mon. There are some humans you like."
Looking off to the side he said "Only the freaks that know they have no worth. Because none of them do." That was deep and dark. "So, nothing at all about them." He groaned and said "Okay. You didn't hear it from me, but the one that was hacked said that he was going to save your clan for last. He said there were more humans to kill at the source location than you." That was good info. I reached out my hand towards the clan leader to shake. That thing 10-001 said to them had to be a big reference to Location C. I knew Clan Ghost was there and had 2 human members. "Pleasure doing business with you, friend." I said. He simply crushed my hand and said "We're not friends. We just happen to be allies. If it wasn't for that stupid bet, we'd be enemies." I barely winced. I turned to leave but one the AEP units was right in front of me. I flinched back into the clan leader's chest. He just chuckled at me. I turned to him and said "You could have warned me." "Let's play." he asked in a way that was not asking. "Sorry. I don't know how to play. It really wouldn't be any fun for you." I said.
That did not deter him. "Don't worry. You can learn with your body." he said with a smile. I knew from the report that the injuries in the tournament came from their team. I would have to be an idiot to say yes now. "I don't even have the gear. Sorry, it was just a business trip. I'm glad to see you. I was there when you were born if you remember." I said apologetically. "I know. That's why I really want to play with you!" "Next time maybe." I said hurriedly as I was making my way out of there. The black haired AEP unit with the yellow streak said "Play with us." He was not playing around. A giant speaker poked out of his chest. That was his sonic organ. I just looked at him. "If you attack me, the clan engineer of PBJ Clan, your clan will take the flack for that." I said loudly. "Quit it!" the leader said. The speaker disappeared and he pouted. I went past him and stopped. "You're still 100 years too early to beat my clan at anything, you idiot." I whispered. I knew he could hear me because he snarled. "I said stand down!" the clan leader snapped. I left their gym. I was probably not welcome back.
