[Munch's Master]

Dek felt guilty as he watche Slap leave. He knew how talented the Intern was at medical work and felt bad ordering him around like a servant. He'd make it up to him somehow, maybe buy him some new surgical tools, or a computer upgrade.
He listened to Praetyre's in-depth discussion about past places of employment, and answered.
"Yes this palce certainly is bizzarre. You haven't met Arthur properly but he's odd for a Slig, no doubt, considering he gets on with mudokons and now enjoys cooking. Then there's Gappiqu, who seems to have affection for Dionysia, an experiment mud I briefly examined. Then there's Anni, sheesh, I won't even go there. I tried to examine her to see why she' different- she used to have visions or anger spats, you see- but when I returned she'd escaped and another Slig said she set the restraints on fire somehow. The place certainly attracts both the oddballs and the dregs."
"Anyway did I lsoe anybody in the Lab 13 incident.....yes but, I'd rather not talk anbout it. A cousin of mine was killed in it. And he was a friend as well. We broke into the medial proffessionat the same time, me slightly before him. Both of us went to Lab 13 about oh.....18, 19 years ago? Before that I was an engineer and inventor. I left there around 12 years ago, having set my sights higher, he stayed. I also met Arthur there, funnily enough, but he left shortly before me and went to some obscure place. Anyway, i don't know if I worked with you. Were you at Lab 13 around 18 years ago? The only thing of notice I can remember is there was once a riot that broke out because someone hadn't laoded the fuzzle cages properly and they broke open, and while everyone was rounding them up the Scrubs took it upon themselves to stage an escape attempt."

"And as for where I've worked, I worked at Lab 6, Eugene's Engineering 2, Slog Hut 247, some small pharmaceutical compnay, and most recently Lab 15, where I was very high up the social ladder until i got kicked out. I never even intended to join here as n employee you know. I was called out on a 'one-off' medical call by Arthur, as a couple of hsi friends had sustained accidents in the Boilers. I was delayed however, as treatment took longer than I expected and more people soon became patients, so I got the sack. And that's pretty much my lfie history. How about you?"
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Arthur tore up the staits by thre first grinding area, noticing a large batch of mudokons down there as he went. He shot out into the 2nd floor corridor and managed to ctach Slap. "Pant.....*Pant*....Slap, Boy am I......*wheeze* glad to see....8You buddy......*deep breath*..What's the Foine number for the Patents office you want me to ring to confirm our soup deal?....Tell me and I'll...phew I should never run on a full stomach again......I'll go ring 'em and get a Chronicler down here to sort it out." He leaned against a wall, still catching his breath.
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Dean started heading to the security office, expecting Kix to follow.
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