The large transport ship glides upon the Nile River as the sun is setting.

  Another world is on the shores.

  Aziza is watching temples and towers and things beyond imagination go by.

  She smiles.

  Ziyad clumsily walks over and leans on the railing near her, ruining the view and moment on purpose.

  As Ziyad does, Amen stares at the map. His display keeps unlocking secrets from it...dates and stories, and learning XP's keep populating around him.

  Amen does not notice an older man watching him, spitting.

  Babi shakes his head angrily at Amen, and walks towards him, then turns around and walks back.

  They keep this range of motion going over and over.

  Ziyad does not notice this. He just enjoys bothering Aziza.

  "Enjoying the ride?"

  "I was."

  "I thought so. I had to ruin it for you."

  "You are a fool, Ziyad. You always have been."

  "I am not denying it."

  Aziza stares at where his hand was and softens.

  "I am sorry about your hand."

  Ziyad looks at where stub his burned and sealed off.

  "A thief's mark. How's my cousin been?"

  Aziza shrugs. "This is the first time either of us have seen him in years."

  "A friend you are! After all we've been through. You knew he would be alone with me locked up."

  "I couldn't," she says, staring at some temples right off the water.

  "You could. You just didn't want to."

  "Not true. He's a thief."

  "You are blaming that on why things never worked? That is your reason?"

  "Look at your hand and tell me different," Aziza says, pointing. "He will always be a thief, Ziyad."

  "I remember a young girl who used to be one too. Some say she was the one who taught Amen everything he knows."

  "She grew up. And ran away from her family and friends. I know the story," Aziza says softly. "And she is still alone."

  Ziyad's face shows the conversation has gone too far and deep.

  "I'll tell you a secret. After this? Whatever this is? I’m gone. I’m leaving. Leaving Egypt.

  I will go north to the end of the Nile, then across the sea. I’ll stop when I get there. Wherever there is. I will take my cousin.

  You should come as well."

  Aziza smiles.

  Babi, the snarling nasty man, finally steps all the way up to Amen.

  "Trouble," Ziyad says.

  People on the boat start to mummer.

  Amen pretends not to notice under his hood.

  Babi screams a guttural cry.

  "Something wrong with your throat?" Amen says casually.

  His display has every single warning going off.

  FLEE

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  DEESCALATE

  The little information on Babi shows that he is dangerous, cruel, angry and sick.

  "You," Babi screams. "You are Amen, the thief."

  People point and whisper.

  "Maybe," Amen replies. "And you look like you need to release your bowels. Leave me."

  "You stole from me!"

  Amen puts his scroll down, angry at the accusation.

  Thief, yes. Not like that. At least, not now.

  "I've never seen you."

  "Lies!" Babi announces. "You stole from me and ruined my life. I am Babi!"

  Amen steps forward.

  "I did not. If I did steal from you when I was younger, I would remember. I repaid or atoned for every person I took from. I apologize for who I was when I was young and wild.

  I would remember you. Frankly, I wouldn’t have bothered with you. You would have nothing to offer."

  Amen goes back to his scroll.

  The warnings over his eyes flash imminent danger.

  Babi screams again, possessed. The first accusation does not land.

  "You steal from the gods!"

  "Them? Yes. That's good business."

  "You die!"

  Babi pulls a large sword.

  "Put your sword away," Amen says loudly.

  Aziza moves to break it up.

  Ziyad stops her with his arm, shaking his head.

  "I am not fighting you," Amen says.

  Babi slowly circles around Amen.

  "I will kill you, your friend, and take your woman."

  "You will do no such thing."

  Babi screams again and slams his foot on the deck, breaking a board with his madness and violence.

  Amen takes a deep breath.

  He frowns.

  His displays warn him. His experience points will drop, his honor will drop, his wanted meter will raise, and his notoriety will spread.

  Amen motions for Babi to attack.

  Babi runs at him and swings his sword.

  Amen ducks, then comes up and punches Babi directly into the chin as hard as he can, then continues punching with both fists all the way down his chest.

  XP goes up. New combo unlocked.

  Babi falls, coughing blood and wincing in pain, but recovers and turns and attacks like a mad dog, snarling while swinging his sword over and over.

  Amen ducks every swing, dodging, jumping here and there, across the whole deck.

  Points up. Points up. Points up.

  The passengers are entertained and horrified. Amen trips and falls backwards, hard.

  Babi laughs.

  Suddenly, a sword is thrown to Amen from someone on the deck, wanting to make it a fair fight.

  Crowd favor starts to sky rocket on Amen's displays.

  Amen catches the sword on the ground as Babi is bringing his sword down.

  Their swords hit, and then Amen kicks Babi’s leg out.

  Babi collapses again as Amen pulls himself out of harms way, now armed with a sword.

  Babi stands up, now limping. Now the two start to circle each other.

  "Stop. I don't want to hurt you," Amen pleads.

  "I'll stop when I'm dead."

  "This is your last chance."

  "Yours too, thief."

  Babi runs at Amen.

  All warnings go off. A death will occur.

  Amen, like an assassin, swings his sword, slicing Babi’s legs, stomach, and chest in a graceful yet brutal move.

  Babi falls forward, blood pouring out.

  Amen drops his head, upset and angry and embarrassed and full of adrenaline.

  Any good will he had drains from the displays in his eyes. His honor drops. XP go up and down and then land in the middle.

  Babi shakes his head, going into shock.

  No. No.

  I can’t be dying.

  Amen tosses his sword on the deck.

  The passengers moan.

  Babi is faint and near death, but still alive.

  Amen picks him up gently, the beast of a man he is, bleeding out all over the deck.

  He takes him over to the side of the boat and tosses his nearly dead body into the water.

  The river runs red. The passengers go back to their business.

  Ziyad and Aziza don't say anything.

  Amen just stares.

  His display darkens but never leaves.