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It's still dark outside when Taako, Magnus, and Merle get the call from Lucretia to report to her office for a job. She isn't at all surprised when the three of them show up in their pajamas, it’s practically a habit by now. She simply stands when they come in, looking down at the three of them with a carefully set expression on her face.“I need the three of you to… do me a favor,” she says. “It’s nothing to do with the relics, but all of the other bureau employees are otherwise occupied today.”The three boys exchange glances. “What kind of favor,” Merle asks, raising an eyebrow suggestively.Lucretia bites back a smile. “I just need you to… pick something up for me,” she says. “Avi will know where to send you, and all you need to do is find someone named Emi. She’ll know what to do, as well, when you tell her that I sent you.”Taako crosses his arms. “This sure is some cryptic bullshit,” he says, as if she can’t hear him.Magnus punches his shoulder lightly. “I’m sure it’ll be nice to go planet-side,” he says. “Sure thing, Director.”She just hopes they don’t find their mission too weird.-By the time the three of them are dressed and ready to go, the sun has risen. and they can see most of the planet below.Avi is waiting for them in the hangar, on cannon duty as usual. Magnus sneaks up behind him and throws an arm around him. “Avi, my dude,” Magnus says.Avi chuckles a little, used to Magnus at this point. “Is he drunk again, boys?” Avi asks.“Nope,” Taako says, disinterested.“Not that I know of,” Merle says at the same time.Avi laughs. “What can I do ya for?” he says, still fiddling with a keypad in front of him.“The Director wants us to go planet-side to pick something up for her,” Magnus says.“Said you’d know where to shoot us,” Merle adds.None of them see the frown that flits across Avi’s features. “Oh, uh, sure,” he says. “Is it Sunday already?” he mutters under his breath.Magnus hears him. “Does she do this every week?” he asks.“Uh— yeah,” Avi says, fiddling with the keypad some more. “It’s just a routine pick up, I suppose. Weird she’d be sending you three, but what can I say. Usually Killian goes, or Carey.”“Apparently everyone else is busy,” Merle says.“Right, makes sense,” Avi replies, only half listening to them. The door to one of the spheres slides open. “You know the drill,” he says, “hop on in, boys.”Taako practically leaps into the sphere. “Taako’s driving this time,” he shouts back at them.“I mean, it’s not really driving, but—“ Avi begins, but Magnus shushes him.“Let him have his fun,” Magnus whispers, ignoring Taako’s shout of “I heard that” from inside the sphere.-The sphere lands in the middle of an empty field. There’s nothing around for miles, except for what seems to be a single wooden table a ways off in the distance.When they climb out of the sphere and notice the table, the three boys exchange glances.Magnus shrugs. “Guess that’s where we need to go,” he says, lifting Taako—as is almost habit by now—and setting off across the field, Merle making his way through grass almost as tall as him behind them.“Put me down, you oaf,” Taako says as they reach the table, and Magnus sets him carefully back on his feet. Taako indignantly brushes himself off, narrowing his eyes at Magnus.“You wouldn’t have come otherwise,” Magnus tells him, earning an eye-roll from Taako.Merle catches up, panting a little. “Could ya go any faster?” he asks, catching his breath.The three of them are interrupted by a voice at the table in front of them.“Welcome to Emi’s Excellent Milk Express, may I interest you in some lich milk?”