A few hours later the sky had lightened to chicory blue and Monkey was still snoring lightly.

"Monkey…" Trip tapped his shoulder. He barely stirred.

"Monkey… Monkey!" Gently shaking him caused his eyes to crinkle shut even tighter. With one more shake, his eyes snapped open and his arm shot out with blinding speed. The blow sent her sprawling in the dust, and in the same second he realized it was her. Not a mech or slaver. The terror in her eyes was fleeting, but it tore at his heart.

"Sh-shit! You ok?"

"Yeah…" she uttered, her breath still quick and shallow. He understood now; this was exactly why she had enslaved him. He pulled her up by the hand.

"I'm just not used to being woken up by someone who's not..."…gonna hurt me. "I'm sorry." He realized he was still holding her hand and dropped it self-consciously, turning towards his bike. "Let's get going."

The sooner they were on the road the better. He could feel a lump forming in his throat and once they were on his bike she wouldn't be able to see his face.