The Legendary Junkmaster

As day broke and the gates to Highrise opened up, Jason wandered inside, and under the watchful gazes of the guards, he registered his entry. He was thrilled right now following the events of last night. So much so that he hummed to himself all the way back to the apartment!

He wanted to store his gear at home, where it would be less likely that someone might discover it. However, after letting himself in, he found that Harry was nowhere to be found. 'That's strange. The old geezer shouldn't have gone anywhere.' Jason looked around to see if anything was off, but everything looked fine.

'Maybe he went to check on the store. He should be worried about his cut of the profits being affected by the gang's blockade.' Jason's eyebrows twisted into a frown. 'That sounds about right for him.'

Jason sighed as he realised he had probably got it right. It was unlikely that Harry had gone there to check up on him after all. Jason quickly ran up to his room, making sure to jump the gap in the stairs before dumping his bag inside.

'I guess we can go and see if anything has changed over at the store now.' Jason broke out in a broad grin as he left the apartment and locked it up. As he walked towards Crafters Street, he noticed more people than usual were headed in that direction. From the conversations taking place, he could piece together what to expect.

When he turned on to Crafters Street, there was a queue outside of Star Gear, and the door was already open. 'Trust Gramps. He's really too eager to earn a profit.' Of course, there were no signs of the gang members at all. Which was why people even dared to turn up to his store in the first place.

'Luckily, we still have plenty of stock left over from the opening day.' Jason clicked his tongue as he walked alongside the queue. The Red Steel Gang had really done a number on his profits then.

When Jason reached the door and looked inside, instead of seeing customers browsing his stock like he expected, he only saw an empty room. He could not help but frown when he heard banging noises coming from his workshop and what sounded like Harry's and Dani's voices. 'What the hell is going on?'

"Please! You have to find something that we can use!" Dani's voice rang out from the back with a tone full of desperation.

"I don't know what to say! You know it was Jason who made this stuff! I really want to help you, but I don't know the first thing about any of this!" Harry shouted back in evident frustration.

Jason's frown deepened when he heard that, and he rushed into the workshop area, taking them both by surprise.

"What's going on?" Jason asked hurriedly when he saw the tears running down Dani's face.

"Jason!" Dani exclaimed before rushing to him and throwing her arms around his neck. At that point, she could no longer hold herself back as she began to wail like a kid.

"Thank god you're here! Do we have any stronger antidotes than what's on the shelves?" Harry asked with impatience.

"Antidotes? Why would you need that?" Jason's mind raced as he tried to think of a reason that would have Dani so upset that she would need something like that.

"JASON! Just answer me! We've already lost a lot of time as it is!"

Jason was taken aback by Harry's tone. Whatever had happened, it seemed to be extremely serious. "Um, sure. That flask over there has the only thing stronger than what we're currently selling. But… I don't understand…"

Harry's eyes lit up as he rushed over and grabbed the glass container that Jason had pointed towards. Jason was subconsciously rubbing Dani's back, trying to console her, which made him fail to notice how Syssie's expression had become dark and ugly.

As Harry rushed past them, his tail grabbed Jason by the arm and dragged him along behind him. Jason struggled to keep Dani on her feet as he was dragged along with confusion written all across his face.

"Harry! I got here as soon as I could!" Raymond was standing at the head of the queue, preventing anyone from going inside.

"Thanks, Ray! I owe you one! Just keep an eye on the place 'til we get back!"

"No problem!"

By this point, Jason had grown even more confused. It seemed like he was the only one that had no idea what was going on. When he glanced towards Syssie, she just shook her head and turned off her avatar for the first time!

'Seriously! Come on!' Jason felt frustrated at her behaviour, but he did not have the time to properly consider it since their destination had just come into view.

Dr Cree's clinic stood before them, and Harry did not hesitate to knock on the door. As the door opened, Dr Cree revealed a flustered expression as she looked at them.

"Did you get anything?" She asked while staring at the flask in Harry's hands.

"I don't know if it will work, but this is the best we have!" Harry forced the flask into the doctor's hands before following her inside.

"Dani dear, you should come with me. Your mother is waiting inside as well."

Dani nodded slowly between sobs and moved to follow Dr Cree without letting go of Jason's hand. He looked towards Harry with a helpless expression, but Harry only nodded to show that he should go with her.

Dr Cree raised an eyebrow at that but did not say anything. Instead, she led them into one of the private rooms where Dani's mother was crying while sitting on a chair by the bed. Dani let go of Jason at that point and rushed over to hug her mother. The pair were a mess as they stared at the figure on the bed.

Jason gulped as he saw the wounds on the figure. How could he not recognise the hole in the shoulder or the bolt sticking out from the man's thigh?

'Dani's dad… is Wraith?'