Neither Valkyr nor Seeker had said a word since returning to the Skin Drum. Letting themselves back in they headed straight to the bar and Seeker pulled off a pint each. Not even bothering to take a stool down off the bar they both stood there and finished their drinks in one long draught.

“What the FUCK was that?” Valkyr finally managed as he came up for air.

“The fuck was Levi Prime.” Seeker responded “You just saw what it is like being a copy.”

“But he killed a man! No one said anything, no one even reacted!” Valkyr was visibly shaking now. “What about the police? Can we tell them?”

Seeker laughed bitterly. “They don’t see it as murder, where’s the corpse?” He shook his head “Also, Levi is a Super, he can do pretty much what he wants.”

“But that’s not right.” Valkyr said softly. “That man had a life, he was trying to…” Valkyr trailed off as he looked at Seeker. “Can he do that to you too?”

“Of course he can. I am just another copy.” Seeker shrugged. Suddenly, Valkyr’s hands were holding his so tightly it hurt, they were face to face over the bar top. Seeker could see the determination in Valkyr’s eyes as if he was trying to will strength to him.

“You are not just a copy. You are your own man, you are my friend, you will find a way through this.” Valkyr said fiercely.

Seeker tried to pull away, he closed his eyes and started to shake his head. Valkyr jerked him back closer, their skin almost touching. Seekers eyes flew open and was captivated by what he saw in Valkyr’s.

Valkyr breathed out softly “You don’t see it now my friend. That’s okay. I am happy to believe enough for the both of us until you can.”

Seeker felt how warm Valkyr was, how much his words meant to the both of them. The faintest glimmer of hope and of something else flickered in the Seekers chest, weak and scared like a small bird. It was there though.

Then the moment was broken and they released their clasped hands and stepped back, awkward and uncomfortable. Seeker busied himself with drawing another pint each and setting up behind the bar while Valkyr begun pulling the stools off the bar. They worked quietly together for a while, glancing at each other while trying to not show it.

They had been working in silence for a while before Valkyr suddenly spoke up.

“You need to get out of this city.”

“What?” Seeker asked confused.

“This city. You are dying here. It is killing you. You need to leave.” He responded.

Seeker paused “Are you trying to get rid of me?”

“No, I want you to stay. But think about it. Even if Levi Prime doesn’t come knocking because he needs to know how to run a bar or something stupid, look at you. You are killing yourself slowly trying to deal with this. The drinks? The smokes? You don’t think I see how much you have aged in the few months I have known you?”

Valkyr was right, Seeker didn’t leave the bar often but today, seeing the other copies had made Seeker confront just how much of a toll his lifestyle was taking on him. How Levi Prime had not even recognised a copy while looking right at him. Seeker could not remember the last time he had gotten out of bed and not had a hangover or doubled over in a hacking cough. Or both.

“Where would I go?” Seeker asked, not Valkyr, just the world in general.

Valkyr answered though “Somewhere far away from here, somewhere were you can live your own life.” He paused and finally looked straight at Seeker. “Somewhere that Levi Prime can never find you.”

They didn’t say much more after that. After a while Valkyr said his goodbyes and mumbled about having to go do something and left.

The afternoon passed and Seeker tried to keep himself busy, the things he had seen this morning, the idea of leaving, all bouncing around in his head. He was so distracted that he didn’t notice at first when Handsy Pete and Steve né Levi headed in for their usual afternoon drink.

They both sauntered their way up to the bar. Handsy Pete got his usual and happily burbled off to a booth while Seeker took his time for Steve so they were left alone at the bar.

“So, Steve. I wanted to ask you something.” Seeker started, not sure of how to go about bringing it up. “I saw you with a bunch of other copies?” “Are you in a cult?” Real smooth there. He decided to go with “How are you going? You getting your stipend?”

Steve lowered the pint mug “Yeah, as shit as it is. Although you end up with most it don’t you?” There was no sting to the words. They were true, Steve was in the Skin Drum most nights.

“Ha, yeah. You put away almost as much as I do.” Seeker cheers on that one. It was also a bit of a lie, Steve still looked like a Levi while Seeker was starting to look more like a leather handbag.

“Not much else to do is there? ‘Cept for the Mission of course but that only gets you so far.” Steve looked at Seeker then “You know, I have never asked what your Mission is… or what I should call you? You don’t go by Levi do you?”

The shudder was enough to answer the second part. “No, not Levi. I go by Seeker these days.” He said with a shrug.

Steve got an interested look on his face then “That your Mission then? You looking for something?”

“Something like that.” Seeker tried to say casually. “What about yourself? I don’t suppose your Mission is to be called Steve is it?”

Steve laughed “Nah, was just the first name I could think of. Mine is, well, there is a reason I drink most days.”

Visions swam through Seekers mind then, how to get away with murder? What flesh tastes like? Learn what depths of depravity you can sink to and still stay sane? Ohh God. What was this poor bastards Mission?

Steve saw the slow look of horror creeping over the Seekers face and laughed again “Nothing like what you are thinking! Nah mate, my Mission is to learn how to make the perfect sandwich!”

“What? That’s….” Seeker trailed off. He knew what having a Mission was like. Always having an itch you can’t scratch, the feeling of someone watching over your shoulder constantly. Seekers Mission was impossible but at least it was in pursuit of something grand, something useful. What would he be like if he was brought into this world, to be another persons play thing, knowing he only had death to look forward too and the reason behind it all? The reason for your existence was to make a sandwich.

He understood. No one other than a Levi could.

Seeker raised his mug with a toast “Fuck that guy, may he die, painfully in a fire.”

“Amen to that Brother.” Steve responded.

Brother.

Seeker found he liked the sound of that.

Steve continued “You know, it helps to talk about it with people who actually understand. I know you have your good looking friend but he doesn’t get you. He never will. There is a group of us that meet so we can look out for each other.”

“Ohh yeah?” Seeker tried to not show he already knew about it. Steve didn’t seem to notice.

“Yeah, I can take you there tonight if you like. There are always a few of us at the house.” Steve offered.

“Sounds perfect Steve. Is it alright if we head there after I close up?”

“No worries Brother! I’ll come back and get you then.”