Ten Minutes Off

"Ah," said Old Gek, "then we have a bit of time. Do you know how to play gin rummy?"
"What's that?" asked Astra.
"Excellent," replied Old Gek, "we will play."

And so they did. For the next hour and fifteen minutes Old Gek taught Lord Fred and Astra how to play the variant of gin rummy from his world. It was very much like the gin rummy of earth, but with more swearing and cheating. Astra did very well.

"Let's get ready to go," said Old Gek, collecting his cards and putting them away. "Your freedom (and my fortune) awaits!" He had Fred and Astra stand, and he stood with them. Only two of his goblin associates were to come with them. Old Gek recited the incantation to restore the store to its lively appearance [97282] and then docked it with the mall. "Lets go," he said, "we will use a transfer point so we can all go together. No funny business."

1. They use the closest transfer point and arrive at the Starbucks storefront with twelve minutes on the timer. "Looks like you were ten minutes off," muses Old Gek. "Ah well, let's sit on that bench."
2. On the way to the closest transfer point, Fred and Astra try to make a break for it.
3. On the way to the closest transfer point, Fred and Astra try to overwhelm the goblins and take them captive.
4. Fred pushes his "Security" button on his wristband as soon as they are all in the mall. "You shouldn't have done that," says Old Gek with a leer.
5. On the way to the closest transfer point, they are spotted by someone who knows Fred and/or Astra. "Be cool," warns Old Gek.

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