Grey found an Outpost less than ten minutes later, the familiar Safe Room circuit flashing beneath his hand before the wall split open and allowed him inside. He had already pulled the Elemental blueprints out of Cyber Space by the time he stepped through, but the sight of the frog man standing behind the counter made his steps slow almost immediately.
Barkeep Ji was staring at him.
There was no grin this time, no amusement hidden behind narrowed eyes, and Grey had known the man long enough to understand what that meant without needing him to say a word.
"Not you too."
Grey rolled his eyes.
Ji didn't answer, though the silence was an answer in itself.
Grey shook his head and walked toward the counter, holding out a hand before Ji could find some indirect way to make his opinion known. The frog man looked at it for a moment before accepting the handshake, and once Grey released him, he planted both hands against the counter and stood a little straighter.
