Clockwork nods understandingly. "The Rift!You wasn't too happy about it all either," he says. "It's a complicated mess."

Victor gives Radu and Eric friendly grins. Scraps, his skeleton dog, is by his feet, sniffing the newcomers curiously. Don't ask how a dog with no nose can smell.

TeenDoc watches the foursome at the pool table while working on his automated pool cue. He'll let them have their game, then he'll SHOW THEM ALL! Or maybe just launch the cue through a window. Either one. Clockwork keeps an eye on him as he makes sure there's enough food and drink for everybody.