Natty sighed dramatically. “It’s not really like me to be splitting hairs, Opal. Leave that for those damned Engineer Class Citizens and their fucking Commission. I don’t really give a shit about all that. All I care about is the end result.” Natty paused. “The data is pointing to a failing system, Opal. Which is why things need to be tidied up a little.”

Opal turned towards the table again. She looked down distractedly at the objects on its surface. “I’ll handle it.”

Natty scoffed. “The only thing you should be handling are the Sleepers. Rive doesn’t want any distractions, or else she can’t complete the deconstruction project.”

Opal’s throat tightened, and her eyes moistened. “He’s just a kid,” she mumbled, her lips quivering. “He hasn’t even fucked yet.”

“Who is he, Opal?” She turned to face Natty. Tears streamed down her cheek. Natty snorted. “Don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to this Varling? You know, that’s considered a major breach of protocol.” He reached his arm out and flicked Opal in the forehead with his finger.

Opal slapped his hand away. “Fuck off, Natty.” She crossed her arms and glared at the floor.

Natty rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Look, I have no intention of getting involved with this filthy place. I’m just here to observe. Do my due diligence, so to speak. I need to know if there are any loose ends and then report back to Rive. That’s all. I mean, come on,” said Natty, pushing his hand through his thick, black hair, “Do I look like a murderer to you?”

“We’re all murderers,” Opal muttered. Opal glanced at a crumpled piece of paper, which had been tossed into a corner. She bent over and picked it up. She un-crumpled it and then handed it to Natty.

“Temple Pizza, huh?” He frowned, crumpled the paper up again, and tossed it to the side. “You know, you really shouldn’t be eating these kinds of things. They’re bad for your skin.” Opal rolled her eyes. Natty turned and stepped on the broken door. He walked onto the landing. He looked around the chilly, fog-filled sky and smelled deeply of its cleansing moisture. He coughed as he caught a whiff of decaying garbage, which had wafted up from the alleyway’s streets. “Well, let’s go see about this Varling that’s getting Rive’s panties all in a bunch.”