Tomorrow's chapter bears explanation. Aroslav was keying off my first ever story that the Sa'arm would be fought by a scorched Earth strategy, and he knew I was writing the story now under way. He needed a character to transfer that technique to his planet in Assassin.
I had other plans for Richard and Smokey, so I came up with Marcie and Crazy Edie. Though I needed them for a bit role in this story, they took on a life of their own in the next chapter, but mostly exist as a set up for that and other stories.
I had a lot of fun with them, and though the chapter is short, I hope you do too.