"Okay, but if there's a mad science immortality project, that makes the blood make much more sense!!"

"Do we want to keep arguing with the brightly wrapped mystery while he's hanging upside down, visible to all around here on the highest part of the nearby wasteland, or do we want to say this is out of our paygrade and leave before we learn all the answers we probably don't want?"

".... Point. Uh. If this is a trap it's a garbage one that we already fell for, cut our losses and cut him down to interrogate on our way to Jeneora?"

"You're asking that like you're not the one paying me."

"Oh, shut it, I value your tactical contribution, I absolutely want you to tell me if and when I'm being a dumbass."

"... Eh. If it's dumb it's the kind of dumb that might end up being worth it, with all the holes in his story and the things that don't add up. Could go either way."

"Then we're taking him, but he's staying tied up in the back of the car!"

He perks right up at that. "Oh, thank you! I love Jeneora Rock, we should go there."

"I am now filled with distrust and apprehension and doubt all of my decisions and also choices."

Vernon snorts, then gets to getting the brightly wrapped mystery down. But first he begins with checking him for weapons or bombs or the like before he gets anywhere near their vehicle.

He does seem to have a pistol in a holster attached to his right thigh.

"We'll give this back to you if your story ever starts making sense."

But, yes, this gun is getting taken from him. Why was it even left with him in the first place, actually? Just another question for their brightly wrapped mystery.

And then: their new friend can be lowered down from his perch (onto the long dried, too-large bloodstain), have his bindings retied to make sure he's not about to wiggle free, and then into the backseat he's (gently) dumped. It is nonetheless significantly more comfortable than hanging upside down in the hot sun.

"They left him armed?" says the easily distracted boss-lady, who had been investigating the blood stain itself. She sounds more offended than anything else. "Aren't people here supposed to loot and scavenge relentlessly."

"Just another thing that doesn't make any sense," agrees Vernon. "C'mon. Interrogate on the way."

"Yeah, thank you."

Into the car they all go.

"Do you want some water or something before I ruthlessly interrogate you?"

"I'd appreciate that, thank you."

Then he will be very gently fed water before interrogations can begin. She is in fact willing to let him have as much of it as he'd like.

He drinks... somewhat less water than one would imagine he'd need after being left in the sun for who knows how long. Inside that absolutely bonkers red coat.

"Thank you!" he repeats. "So, who are you guys and what twists in the river of causality brought you to this junction?"

She notices, but doesn't push. Maybe trying to prevent throwing up from imbibing too much, or something? Still. Odd.

"No, no. The questions go the other way, but nice try," she says, brightly. "Why'd they leave you armed?"

"...I genuinely don't know," he says, with the apologetic airs of someone who feels like this is a personal failing.

"He does have you there, doesn't he," says Vernon, as he adjusts their route to correct for the detour and make sure they're heading in the correct direction again.

"I suppose asking the victim of whatever that was for the motivations of their aggressor is rather dumb. Fine. Where are you from? Do you have family we could return you to?"

"I... no. Not anymore. I just travel."

Yikes, that's like she just stepped on a landmine. Now she just feels like a horrible person.

"Do you know anyone at Jeneora?" asks Vernon, instead.