Adelaide O'Donnell's Story

For the second time Khan was tasked with mooring their craft, Annika only helping with the first rope before returning to the group. He quickly found them again, though, as Adelaide's hair made a sharp contrast within the crowds.

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“Figure we’re on the outskirts of th’ market, now; it’s probably just up ahead. You all ever been there?” asked Adelaide to the group, despite the fact both Khan and Ari were keeping some distance behind and Moonie had disappeared into the stands yet keeping with the group.

"I've been 'ere a few times, though there were less stands. From what I remember there is a entrance up ahead, as in a few metal poles or the like. The last time I came a fire broke out though, and I ain't trusted the place since" Annika responded. She was walking alongside Adelaide, ignoring the traders' calls to what she figured was expensive tat. They weren't in the main trading centre so they were obviously scammers or the like. Despite this, she noticed that Ari had bought something from one of the stands and, in a swift by unsubtle move, placed the item on Adelaide's wrist before returning to the back of the group near Khan. Adelaide almost stumbled in the action and examined the trinket - a crescent moon, probably a remnant of Islam faith. That was the thing with post ignition religions, they had either merged into a single mess of beliefs or were extremist cults. Annika, still watching Adelaide saw her blush slightly and smiled. Annika didn't press about her feelings.

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Khan didn't escape the traders' insistence either, in fact he seemed to have got the worst of it. He had a polished, high quality rifle, what seemed to be a packed ammo belt, a backpack and untorn clothes. This alone would give the impression that he was the richest of the group and most likely to buy something. Traders were offering sizeable portions of their wares for his rifle, one even offering his entire stand, yet Khan ignored them. Even if he were interested it was merely aesthetics, tenth-hand clothing or in rare cases low grade food. He also noted that the drug pushing stands were by far the largest.

"Good to know they have there priorities right." Khan muttered to Ari, failing to notice that he was ahead busy clipping a copper bracelet to Adelaide.

A child, no more than eight, ran up to Khan with a clear path to bump into him. Khan only noticed him at the last second as the kid was grabbing onto his PDA pouch, not realising it was held on by a steel loop, and slipped in the process. Khan stumbled a little, but continued forward, with the kid disappearing into the crowd behind him. Ari had rejoined him and kept his head down, while Moonie flitted along each stand before shunning each trader in turn, taunting each of them. Within five seconds two rusted iron pillars rose in front of them, clearly made post ignition. This signalled the entrance to the main trading complex.