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Turns it the archive tracks updates all the way to the end once logged. Who knew?
........
You follow Sam out through the mobs that clutter the first floor. As enormous as Martin's is, it always seems like most of the people stick to the ground level. Somehow Sam is able to walk through the tangeled mass of costumes, auras, and mechanical armor. You follow close on his heels until the both of you are out the doors.
You're getting used to a lot of things about Martin's faster than you thought you would. But you don't think you'll eve get used to the first floor. Maybe you should start flying to school and docking with the rooftop gardens? You do like seeing the trees, you could do with seeing them every morning, in fact.
"So, you really beat Copy Cat?" Sam asks, hardly able to hide his smile.
"Yeah! Right after my first judo lesson to! Yeah, I know judo now. I feel like such a badass! My boxing skills are kind of crap though. But yeah, I won! I think she might have underestimated me though, held back a little."
"That's on her. They tell us again and again, and they'll tell you again and again, you never estimate them. Even when it's someone like, I don't know, Loosed Moose, with the stupid antler hat that shoots lasers, you don't underestimate them."
"I still want to fight her at her best." you reach out your hands, grip an invisible arm, and move your foot to unbalance an invisible enemy.
"What are you doing?"
"Practicing."
"Oh, you're going to get plenty of that. You think you're badass now, but everyone learns how to fight. Even the blaster kids and mentalists. You go ERC 2 or 3 and you learn boxing and judo, at least. Some kids learn some out-there stuff."
"Like what?"
"Yubiwaza. Ketsugo. Stuff that lets you throw fireballs out of your hands."
"You learned any of that?"
"Naw." Sam summons a rumble ring and rolls it across his knuckles. "It would diminishing returns. For me, brawling is strictly a plan B deal."
"That's something new you've leaned." you remark on his knuckle trick. "I don't remember seeing you do that back on Beck Island."
"I learned a few new tricks. Mostly I just improved on the ones I already knew."
There's a whistling sound as Edith's rapidly beating wings brings her to a stop in front of you and Sam.
"Hey guys! Where are we having dinner tonight?"
"We're having dinner?" Sam asks.
"I mean, if that's okay with you guys...please?"
"It's cool." you say. "We were going to go to that ghost pirate place. That a place you'd like to go to?"
"Oh! Cool! Yeah, totally! That means we can take Old Ironsides!"
"Is that a ship?" you ask.
"Yes...and no!" Edith answers. "There's a really really old ship from like the 18th century or something called Old Ironsides, but the one I'm talking about is a currentknife serpent, you know, from the Nepots Ocean? The Thule place?"
"Uh...no."
