<div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Eesh, this post took long enough, huh? &gt;&lt; I deeply apologize to the players and the readers, had some crazy finals and family stuff to contend with. Needless to say, I'll try to return to my regular posting frequency, and I hope you all continue to enjoy the game!</div></div></div><br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Kitts wrote:</cite> "Oooo...you touched my tra-la-la. Mmm, my ding-ding-dong."</div></blockquote><br/><br/>Naya's ascension up the ranks in the Alkarom Alliance had taken him to a myriad of places, and as such  he had seen far more than his relatively young age would reflect. He had encountered his fair share of unusual events, learned to understand eccentric individuals, and developed ways to remain professional regardless of what he came across. By and large, there were few things that could throw the marigold-furred fox for a loop.<br/><br/>However, the abrupt revelation that the two kitsunes before him might be more than just siblings was one of them.<br/><br/>“Ohh...” he muttered with an astonished tone, breaking his formal demeanor and tilting his head to the side. “Are you two... you know...?” He twirled his finger about, searching for an appropriate word before finally giving up. “Not to judge or anything, I was just surprised, and... You know, nevermind.”<br/><br/>He lowered his voice once again, a decidedly comical look coming over the lieutenant’s face as he averted his gaze sheepishly. Taking a moment to recompose himself, the vulpine looked over the last of the shuttle passengers as they slowly disappeared out of sight down the stairwell. Before long, only the two kitsunes and the rest of his unit remained in the large room, along with a few stragglers fussing over more unwieldy pieces of luggage. As he looked over these last travelers, Naya realized how uncomfortable Kahmori and Sheva must be after the earlier incident and from being held back so, and upon meeting the eyes of one of his privates he decided to give a kinder gesture and gave the soldier a nod. Before long, his weapon had been holstered in the interest of carrying some of the luggage for them, following them down to the lower decks.<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Kitts wrote:</cite> "If that pole was crammed any further up their ass, you could use them as a flag. At least you don't seem so stiff."</div></blockquote><br/><br/>Naya let out a soft chuckle now that he had regained his composure, folding his hands behind his back as he turned back to the two kitsunes. He had to admit the taller male had quite a way with words, a trait that only made the lieutenant more open to them.<br/><br/>“Well,” he explained. “Like I said, the folks on the upper decks tend to be a... how to put it, 'punctual' lot? They are the types who think crimes can be solved in an hour when a competent force is on the job, and given we haven't had success with our own problem after three weeks...”<br/><br/>A smirk crossed his face as he shook his head. “Let's just say the image of my team they're cultivating isn't the easiest to bear.”<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Kitts wrote:</cite> "If it's something that's been happening...why the harrassment of folks just getting to the station? Wouldn't it be easier to just have them check in before they headed inside? Rather than sticking armed soldiers in their face right when they get off the ship..?"</div></blockquote><br/><br/>It was clear Kahmori had hit a nerve as soon as he finished the sentence, the fox letting out a long sigh while his peaceful smile faltered. “That would be my superiors logic at work,” he muttered. “You see, their concerns lie in ensuring none of the unscreened refugees into the upper levels. They are afraid that one of these people will be an associate of the predator, and if such a person was to join them the predator's actions will be doubly effective.”<br/><br/>His look only soured the more he explained, and soon the fox stepped closer to whisper. “Between you and me, I know how idiotic of a measure this is. Unfortunately, I'm not the one in control of what my unit does, my superiors seem eager to let me know...”<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Sillyness wrote:</cite>"Forgive me for saying, it’s very odd that a Lieutenant would go out of his way to inform simple travelers about the situation, usually such things are kept under wrap as to not frighten away potential visitors”</div></blockquote><br/><br/>Naya froze immediately, his eyes alighting on the smaller kitsune as a grin again curved his lips. It looked like he had been called out, he thought to himself, impressed at just how sharp Sheva really was. It made the vulpine's interest in the duo grow further, his impression that there was something special about them only growing more pronounced in his mind. However, he reminded himself that they weren't on the job yet, and as such he continued to proceed as if they were regular visitors he had so happened to talk to.<br/><br/>“I don't mean to make you uncomfortable with this explanation Miss Ittsoro,” he proceeded. “I just figured you deserved to know what was going on after Renning's behavior. Besides, I-”<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Sillyness wrote:</cite>“Are you hoping to employ my brother to help search for this predators whereabouts?”</div></blockquote><br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Kitts wrote:</cite> "We just got here, obviously. A bit low on funds...you can imagine how expensive it is to travel around so much. Aaaand...everyone needs a place to stay and food to eat, right?"</div></blockquote><br/><br/>Naya was unable to maintain his firm demeanor, staring wide-eyed at them for a moment before his muzzle split in a wide smile, his tail waving slowly. It was exactly what he had been hoping to hear out of the two kitsunes.<br/><br/>“My, it looks like I've been the one caught red-handed this time around,” he joked to Sheva, her conjecture haven been spot-on. “I know it probably seems odd for a military official to look to civilians for help, but... to be perfectly honest, I had a good feeling about you two as soon as I saw you. You two look like you can handle yourselves, and I can already tell both of you are quite sharp.”<br/><br/>His attention now turned to Kahmori as he explained their situation, the fox nodding understandingly as he spoke. “Well, like I said before, we do have monetary awards posted for anyone who can provide concrete information about the serial predator, and I'm quite sure the exact location of the suspect's whereabouts would fetch quite a price indeed from this organization. And I personally would be happy to find accommodations for anyone generous enough to aid in this investigation.”<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Kitts wrote:</cite>"Sooo...whatcha say, chief? Trust me - I'm good at my job. Well worth the price. A week's worth of motel bills, a few meals...and, of course, the eventual reward."</div></blockquote><br/><br/>The vulpine's grin softened slightly as he turned away, running Kahmori's numbers through his head. His proposal for payment was undoubtedly steep, likely far more than he could negotiate as a grant from the admirals present in the station. That most likely meant a significant portion of the expenses would have to come out of his own paycheck. Even so... Naya hadn't felt this close to making real progress in the case since it began, a chance to bypass all of his superiors' red tape and possibly even get the job done...<br/><br/>It had a decidedly rogue feel to it. He loved it.<br/><br/>“Hmm... your price is indeed a steep one,” he admitted with a chuckle, facing the male kitsune once again. “But one way or another, I'm sure I could meet those numbers.”<br/><br/>His eyes shifted to scan the room momentarily before he lowered his voice again. “Would you mind us discussing this in my office? This isn't a conversation for a public place.”<br/><br/>(If they agree) Naya took a few steps back before clapping his hands a few times, rousing the attention of the soldiers in the area. “The next shuttle won't be here for at least a few hours. You are all dismissed until I call you back here!” As the men began to scatter, he nodded towards the security booth, letting them know they were free to leave as well. With that out of the way, he grinned towards Kahmori and Sheva and beckoned them to follow him.<br/><br/>“Right this way,” he said happily, heading for the right elevator next to the booth. It would open as soon as the fox approached it, the interior large enough for perhaps nine people and the same steel-blue tint as the rest of the station's walls so far. However, unlike most elevators, the side panel contained a keypad instead of the usual numbered buttons, and after Naya punched in an encrypted code the door slowly slid shut. Kahmori and Sheva would feel the surface below them shift as the lift whisked them away upwards, and before long the elevator came to a halt, the door parting with a ding to reveal the office beyond.<br/><br/>The inside of the room was likely a relief for the two kitsunes' eyes, the repetitive grays and blues of the station's walls finally broken by the more pleasing beige and mahogany tones inside. A large wooden desk sat at the office's center, bordered by four plush red chairs on either side. The left wall bore a large file cabinet, each drawer digitally encrypted to protect the contents within, while the right wall was lined with a bookshelf, filled with a myriad of both fictional and technical texts. Across the uppermost shelf lay a sizable collection of awards, most of which were military awards, but upon closer inspection some of the older plaques would bear honors for various martial arts events. Lastly, the far wall across the elevator bore a wide window, through which Kahmori and Sheva would get their first view of the station's interior.<br/><br/>It would quickly be clear they had ended up on the third floor of the station level, the ground floor a good distance below while the remaining levels stretched up beyond the window. Although most of the structure itself bore the same blue-gray tone they had seen before, it was now brightly lit up with a plethora of holograms and neon lights; signs, billboards and storefronts alike all advertising their products and displaying what they had to offer. The colorful lights would seem to stretch far out to the sides of the window, a subtle curving sensation arching away from the office in line with the contour of the station's circular shape.<br/><br/>“That's much better,” Naya said cheerfully, letting Kahmori and Sheva look about as they wish before offering them seats. He settled down in the chair before the window, waiting for the kitsunes to settle down as well before hardening his gaze. “Now... before we begin, I must be honest with you. What we're about to arrange is a decidedly... renegade endeavor, and although I will try to keep any trouble that may arise to myself... there is always a risk. With that in mind, would you still be willing to do this for the price you offered earlier?”