A Barter For the Sake of Old Memories

Chapter 1: An unlikely Trade

Sam stopped to check her work. Dominic Santiago had asked her to add to the tattoo that already exsisted on his arm.

She brought a damp cloth across her freish lines to examine them better. The heart with his wife's name: Maria was trasnforming nicely. The tatto was becomming an Angel, her long hair fanned out around her, and her slinder arms crossing in front of her chest.

Dom, who had been staring at nothing in particular finally looked down at it.

"It looks great, Sam. Thank you for doing this for me."

"No problem. I'm glad I can do this for you."

They sat at the bottem of a small janitor closet, a little cramped but away from any prying eyes.

Sam had her tattooing supplies spreaded out on a few empty boxes.

The COG didn't support self-done tattooing, but they didn't really try to stop it either. Still, it was better not to flaunt it.

Seeing his wife's name still brought pain. Who knows how long it will take for the heart.

"Sam?"

"Hm?"

She shook her head. "Never mind."

Carefully she brought the neelded upwards, making the first wing. Several minutes of silence passeed between them as she continued on the work at hand.

After some time, she placed the tattoo gun down, rinced the old cloth rag and begain to wipe away the blood.

"Again, thank you Sam."

Sam gave him a gentle smile. "Really, it's no problem. If there is anything else I can do let me know."

Dom watched as she quickly disassembled her gun and start washing off the ink and blood Her hands moved quickly as she put everything away.

They silently opened the door, peeking out only to find the halls empty. After a quick goodnight, the two parted ways to hopefully get some sleep for once.

A week came and went quickly and once again things picked up with Prescott niviting the stranded into the base. Before coming to the island, several Gears had been found, just barly getting by.

"Samantha Byrne?"

She did not reconize the voice and quickly turned.

It was a female Gear, her brown hair cut short, very thin looking even in big bulky chest armor.

"Yes? Do I know you?"

She smiled, a very friendly and open smile. "No, but I have heard about you."

Sam gave her a confused look. This must have been one of the Gears that had been out there when the Hammer of Dawn distroyed all of Sera.

"Can we talk in privet?"

"Sure."

Sam lead her to an empty part of the base, stopped and turned to her.

"You're works nice." She kept her voice low.

"And what work is that, because I don't think you're talking about me being a Gear."

She smiled. "No, but I have seen your addition to Dom's tatttoo."

"How do you know about that?"

"I should introduce myself. My name is Emily. I already have one tattoo, it's a cog at the base of my neck. During the fifteen year war, I was captured and taken down into the hollow where they braded and torchered me. They had braded me with the symble into my right shoulder so I thought maybe getting a tattoo of two lancers crossed in between. Good verses Evil."

"So what do I have to do with it?"

"I am hoping that you can do my new tattoo in return I believe that I have something that will make it all worth your time."

That cought her attention.

"What do you have that you think would interest me?"

Emily smiled. "You have to take your chance."

A second later, Sam hed out her hand. "It's a deal!"

"Great." Emily shook her hand. "I promise you will not regret this."

"I hope not."

"Oh, you won't. Thank y ou, Sam. I should get going."

"Alright. I"ll gather my supplies and let you know when I'm ready."

"Alright. Thank you."

Sam watched as Emily walked away. Everything was hapening so fast and now she was dying to find out what Emily had.

TBC

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