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Gino knew something terrible was brewing in G-Corp. Normally, his father would tell him just about everything related to the research company, but for the last few weeks, the older Gambino had been very hush-hush about the latest project...and Gino didn't like the idea that his own father was planning something terrible and...evil.

The day before Halloween, Gino decided to get his mind off of that problem and get some fresh air. Lately, Johnny had been keeping his son locked up inside the Mansion, but Gino wasn't worried. He knew how to get out without being detected.

Many years ago, when Gino was a lil child, he had stumbled upon a secret doorway right next to the servants' quarters. As he got older, he learned that the younger servants used to sneak out this way to spend "quality" time with those they fancied. Since then, Gino had used it whenever he wanted to get a breath of air on his own. Thankfully, his father hadn't caught him yet.

The servants knew--of course, they knew about his little excursions. After the first few times, however, they came to realize that he wasn't one to get into trouble on his own, and thus only the head butler still worries about him, though he was 16 years old and less than two years away from adulthood. Therefore, when Gino went down to the secret exit, one of the older maids simply asked, "Any particular place that you're going to, sir?"

"Just the Marketplace," Gino replied with a disarming smile. "I think I might get lucky and find a box of chocolates cheap."

The maid smiled, great humor showing from her eyes. "Well, just keep an eye on your purse, young sir." And with that advice, she shooed him through the trap door.

Once Gino was out of sight, he stretched his arms and took a deep breath of the tropical air. It felt good to be out and about all alone, with no servants or burly father badgering him about this and that. He wondered if Rina would be at her favorite stalls today; she could always help him find what he wanted for sale...

The young Gambino strolled through the brush until he was close to the Casino, then came out of the bushes and onto one of the main streets of the Isle, heading straight for the familiar sounds and scenes of haggling crowds. Thankfully, too many were busy with their own shopping to take notice that Johnny K. Gambino's son was actually at the Marketplace, so--despite the lack of Rina and her great shopping advice--Gino actually enjoyed a pleasant afternoon wandering the ultimate bazaar in all of Gaia, checking out costumes and various candies and Halloween-related stuff for sale. He noticed that the Jacked sets from last year was making a comback, but he still wasn't interested in such a thing. He did, however, pine over a pair of Fairy Wings that was 20% off, wishing that he had brought the credit card his dad had given him on his birthday. He asked the dealer if he could put it on hold for a few days, and the dealer--a cat-boy in a Vacation outfit--was more than happy to do so for the young Gambino.

As the sun started to set, Gino felt that he should head home pretty soon. He was carrying two boxes of chocolate that he got as a 2-for-1 deal, along with some Hibi Flower Wrist Bands that he planned to preserve and give to his father for Christmas; Johnny loved the native flowers, since they reminded him of his wife--Gino's mother. He stared to walk around the outer edge of the Marketplace when he stumbled upon a huge crowd of people gathering at one single stall. His first thought was that someone was selling a Halo or a Rose Corsage, since nearly all of them looked very well-to-do. However, there were some middle-class and even working-class Gaians milling around, and Gino found that very odd.

After several minutes, the young blond managed to push his way to the front of the crowd...only to see a Lab Tech. Now, Gino knew all of the G-Corp employees on sight, and many of the older ones by name. But he had never seen this man before. His lower face was covered by a green scarf, and his eyes were completely hidden under the glare on his glasses. Yet...Gino felt that he had met this man before...

"But it's too expensive!" One poor teen in Flame pants whined to the Lab Tech.

"That's my price--100g. That's rather cheap, considering the danger you are all in."

"Excuse me," Gino spoke up, moving towards this...familiar stranger. "What exactly are you selling?"

The stranger stared at young Gambino for a moment or two. "...Gino?" He finally gasped. "Is that you?"

Gino blinked. "Do I...know you?"

"...I cannot say anymore--not until the coming storm has passed. Until then, I can give you the protection you need from the evil your father's brewing." He then took Gino's hand, shoved a vial of green liquid into the palm, and closed the fingers around it. " Keep this on you, no matter what."

The teenage blonde looked at the strange, glowing vial. "What is it?" he quietly asked, quickly realizing that this man may knew what exactly his father was up to.

"The only thing that can save your life... Gino, I promise to explaining everything later, but know that I, LabTechX, am here to help you."

And then, he was gone, vanishing with only an explaination of getting more of the vials. The crowd groaned at the idea of waiting so long to get this weird new item.

Gino, however, furrowed his eyebrows as he stared at the vial in his hand. The G-Corp seal was definitely on top, and the liquid was certainly something that the company would brew up...

He then began marching home, determined to talk to his father--and hopefully get him to tell the full truth about not only this latest threat, but about LabTechX as well.