Duck Behind the Conveyor

Texas looked over to the conveyor belt. It was a bit of a distance, but it was a natural low barrier. If she was careful and quiet she'd be able to overhear, so long as Copperbutt never thought to look over there she'd be fine. Texas took a deep breath and darted over. She moved as fast as she could quietly, and she saw Copperbutt start turning when she flung herself the last few feet. She pressed her back against the wall, her heart pounding as she heard Copperbutt groaning. "Ugh, ah've had enough of this shit," the mare grumbled, stretching out her back. "But it'll all be worth it when we blow this joint and ah leave that weasel to suffer." Texas's ears pricked up at her words. It looked like Copperbutt was involved in this plot, though the question was how?

The huge mare wiped her arm against her brow and looked back at the various carts with a frown. "Consarnit! Why are they all so full? Ah can't be asked to do any more of these," she grumbled. "Maybe ah'll just do an easy one," she reasoned. "Then ah can grab some of that slop they call food and see if I can find mah new ass floss in the yard, that darn weasel," Copperbutt declared with a grin, letting the smile sustain her as she stepped over to the carts. The copper mare looked in the first cart and shook her head. "Nah..." She moved onto the second cart and looked it over. "Not this one either. Ah ain't cleaning up after Sally Sludgeripper," Copperbutt said with a gag, stepping past the second card and to the third. "This one's gotta be the fullest and ah ain't got time for it..." she commented as she moved straight on to the fourth. There she paused. "Hmm, this one ain't so bad." She looked it over then nodded. "Yeah, this one'll do!" She gripped the cart and started wheeling it over, pushing it towards the vat. "All this for a few stupid sheets! As if that damn dragon can't get them herself!"

From behind the conveyor Texas frowned. She'd dealt with many gals over the years, but only one of them had ever been a dragon, even if she was more of a snake. Incina Scarletta, the fraudster who'd tried to rob her of her badge. So she was in on this plan too. And for some reason they needed sheets? She caught her breath as Copperbutt started using the conveyor, the steam powered wringer hissing as it got to work. Texas didn't want to risk moving at all so she stayed where she was, only turning to the side and laying down just in case Copperbutt peered over the edge. She pressed herself right up against the machine, the rumbling and hissing making it hard to hear anything. She just had to wait it out...

After around half an hour the conveyor shut down, and Copperbutt sighed. "Now to stash those sheets." Texas heard her walk over to the clean sheet cart. Texas saw her hand fishing around and grab out a stack of sheets and then it disappeared from view. What she did hear was the sound of twisting and shaping and then the *splat* of them being crammed somewhere wet. "Aaaahhhh, that's the spot. Always good to feel fresh linen on my fat ass!" Copperbutt huffed. Texas risked a peek, looking around the side to see Copperbutt's fat ass was clad in the sheets, using them like panties to hide them away before she pulled her pants back up. "Well time to grab some grub! Want the tank full for when ah find that weasel!" Copperbutt declared, before stomping off and away. Texas frowned as she considered what she was doing. Stashing a whole bunch of bed sheets, was she going to make some rope like a Princess in a tower? Either way she wasn't going to risk trying to get the information out of Copperbutt directly. Incina though... she was a much easier target. Texas was pretty sure she could take her one-on-one any day of the week. She stole her way out of the Laundry Room and was walking down the service corridor when she heard a *Pssstttt*.

Texas froze, before looking to a row off to the side of more locked doors. One at the end was facing her. Texas approached the very large metal door. "El Sherif! I heard Copperbutt stomping past here and thought you might be behind her." There was no mistaking the voice of Maria from within.

"Maria, what are you doing in there?" Texas asked.

"Bah, accused me of starting the fight. Idiotas! This is solitary confinement. Which means I cannot protect you, el Sherif," Maria admitted with a sigh. "Did you find out anything?"

Texas frowned to hear that. It sounded like she was alone now, she'd need to be very careful. After a second to process that she nodded to the door even though Maria couldn't see her. "I did. Copperbutt is stealing bedsheets for some reason. And she seems to be working with Incina," Texas explained.

"Hmm. Maybe there is something to this misión of yours, Texas. If you are looking for Incina she spends a lot of time in the prison factoría," Maria replied.

"This prison has a factory?" Texas asked, somewhat surprised this was the first she heard of it.

"Si. Warden Ramshackle had it built. They break rocks in the yard to ore. Then the ore is processed in the factoría. All kinds of things are made of copper, and they don't pay the prisoners," Maria continued. "Breathing fuego has made her the warden's favourite for the job."

Texas could see the logic. It sounded like she was making her way to this factory, but was that the best place to confront the dragoness?