[b]Kangchai, Underquarter[/b] The dark, damp bar dripped more with sickly moisture than it did with light. Flickering fluorescent bulbs cast an eerie blue glow over the room. But it was patchy at best. Large islands of light swam in a sea of blackness. Densely packed bat-like creatures hung huddled in this light, or outside of it. None too eager to enter too close to the other's group. Their flat-faced features snarled at each other from over cups of bone and metal, where swam a green sort of liquid broth. The smell of the drink was repugnant at best. The Tkrai however claimed it was sweet like fresh fruit, but the fact hadn't got many humans to sample the drink; if any at all. Even the most iron-bellied of man seemed to turn their nose away from the pungent brew, or on seeing the fuzzy nature of the over-ripened wine that it was. Some even claimed to have viewed worms swimming in it. But all the same, it had been a desired drink of the Tkrai, and many simply tolerated each other to drink it. They sat in silence though as they sipped their booze. Silent faint whispers carried in the dank silence. To man a silence, but a whisper to the Tkrai all the same. They allowed themselves to be lost in themselves or among their cliques as they regarded the foreign tribes with a distant sort of apprehension and distaste. Such silence could persist, and would have if the door had not opened. Hinges groaned feebly as to the front of the bar that rusted iron door swung open. Flashing through the door way the familiar bright white cones of flashlights bathed across the bar floor. There was one, then two. Then a full five that lit up the tattered wooden floor and the sagging tin roof as five guards stepped inside, holding in their hands the massive assault weapons of their trade. “[i]Brishai![/i]” cursed one of the Pups as he shot up from the table. His angry voice scratching the air in a shrill cry, “I have done nothing wrong today! Why are you [i]pavadi[/i] here!?” “I'm not looking for trouble from any of you Tkrai.” a voice called out from the middle of the trespassing guards. Dressed in the maroon robes of the Directors a young, balding human stepped forward. “I am Director Cai Mi. I wish to speak to a Mrs. Dullard. I was told she was here.” “Why would you want to speak to her, High One?” a Tkrai croaked aggressively from the far corner of the room. His voice boomed like a bullfrog. Cai Mi allowed his attention drawn to where the native patron had been sitting to see a large tank of a Tkrai shambling across the room on thick leathery arms and legs. “Merely respectable business.” Mi said. “Are High Ones capable of such respect?” the Tkrai grumbled in that low aggressive tone. His flat puged face gnarled in a disgusted sneer, bearing long needle teeth as he walked across the moldy floor. His small beady eyes glowed unhappily from a deep heavy brow, nearly swallowing them. Under his chin hung a thickly bearded jowl that sagged and flagged at every step. “We are all working men, so I do imagine we all know of respect.” Cai Mi replied back, holding his ground as the large bat walked defiantly cross the room to him. His large barrel chest held outward as he reeled up on his hammer-headed knuckles. The guards Cai Mi had with him tensed. The soft clicks of their weapon's safeties being turned on cut the tense silence that had prevailed. “Aliens should know if they start shooting they won't ever leave alive.” the Tkrai said sneering, without raising his voice, “Not if they want to leave with their hands on their bellies.” “I understand.” Cai Mi nodded. “Do you?” the Tkrai barked, “I don't think you do. Seated so high up in the sunlight while we dwindle in darkness. What do you possibly have with us! With the Only Good One?” his voice was deep and boiling. Despite the guards he stepped to the Director. Puffing himself out as he rose up onto his hind legs. “P'liash!” a female voice yelled from the back of the bar, panicked and clearly human. She was clearly stressed, and no doubt the Tkrai's stance was not making it any easier on her. “There is no need for that, you can step down.” she said. Her voice tense and restrained as she ran out into the light. The Tkrai hesitated, hovering over Cai Mi. Furrowing his brow he backed down. Cursing in spitting tongues as he balked away, calling him out in every word the local Tkrai had for his kin. “Mrs. Dullard.” Cai Mi responded, taking a deep breath. “Director.” the woman said. Her face was pale and gaunt, almost sickly. Golden yellow hair had been pulled back across her head. “You know the Underquarter is no place for you. You could have tried my office.” “I have, many times.” Cai Mi said with a snide smile, “You were always down here. So I decided if this was your terms, I'd meet you here.” “You're fucking mad, you know that.” Mary Dullard said with a snicker. Sighing, she rubbed her pale green eyes. “Alright, you can meet me in back.” she invited defeated, holding open her arms as she lead the Director and his escort through. The Tkrai pressed themselves back against the wall. Giving the humans a wide cautious berth as they passed. There was a clear apprehension for the guards, dressed in heavy carbon-fiber battle armor. Faces masked behind foggy opaque masks, they had a spook quality to them. A ghostly demonic presence to the Tkrai. *** The backroom wasn't anything better than the front. It was dilapidated, old. No doubt a running effect of contact with too much local water. Impurities that came naturally made the water acidic when untreated. Outside massive columns of pipes ran over-head, buckled to the ceiling of the cave by heavy steel buckles. Or in the middle of the street, slowly being devoured by crimson rust. A large pipe had to run just over head, or a number of auxiliary systems or local plumbing within the walls. In the light shining diamond beads of water dripped down through the floor boards carrying a soft, subtle sulfuric smell. Stalactites of yellow calcium bloomed over head from the ceiling, growing in around the cable that kept the back room's single light up. What could have been a store-room had been quickly converted to a rudimentary doctor's office. An aluminum bed sat in the corner, where a frail young Tkrai sat curled against the wall naked. Its legs pulled up against its bald chest as its claws gripped the bedside tightly. It regarded the new host of men with anxious tension that only forced it harder against the wall. Flicking ears and wide eyes made it look – and act – more like an animal than a sentient creature in any case. “Don't mind him, in the corner.” Mary said softly, “He can't speak English, or New Mandarrin.” “So he's deaf to all of this?” Cai Mi said. “As if it would matter. I imagine already the news a Director is in The Pit will be making its way through the entire quarter. Your presence isn't really unknown.” “It hasn't since I first stepped foot outside the gate.” Mi laughed, casually looking over the whole of the room. On a table by the bed sat a small holographic tablet, a medical report on its screen. On shelves and a table nearby was a drugstore's worth of prescription drugs. “Nice set-up.” he complimented. “Listen, I know you're not here for tourism.” Mary said flustered, approaching the young Tkrai pup, “So why not cut the shit and get to it? I got things to do.” “Very well.” Cai Mi nodded, “I have a proposition I would like to make to the foundation, a favor I'd like to request that if accepted by Hou will be returned to you in four times its value, maybe five.” “I'm not interested in money.” Mary said, gently holding the young pup's hands. Turning to him she started speaking in some crude human imitation of one of the intense and complicated Tkrai languages. It was no secret that humans couldn't always get the high-notes in the Tkrai library of hundreds of tones, but placeholder sounds and substitutions had been developed for between the two races. “What if the offer involves a fully funded chance to mount an expedition into the wilderness of Brahma.” Cai Mi continued, “Fully funded, fully resources, fully protected, and fully backed by Kangchai. With the primary mission to be to assess – at least on a local scale – the full effects of the human effect on Tkrai communities. Displacement, society, economy, health. “And if in the end, what if I said the Executive may be willing to support accommodations to alleviate such ill effects?” “You're asking for a big thing.” Mary replied, having comforted the young pup enough to continue with what checkup she had been doing. She reached down into a bag by the bedside for a stethoscope, “Are you sure the Board has the money for such a mission?” “We do.” Cai Mi said, “And we will, if some one or some persons are willing to make a sacrifice for it.” “Well I'm not paying, which leaves you and a handful of others. But I can hardly believe it.” Mary said cynically. “I inherited a lot of things from my father. Most of it I'm not sure what to do with to be honest.” Cai Mi laughed, “I could blow it away on frivolous things. Activated Tkrai Almonds. Cultured ham. A private fleet of warships...” “Stop, you're getting too China.” Mary snickered, “And my ancestors own legacy persists. That's saying something!” “So we're at an understanding?” Mi said. “Depends, what do you want?” asked Mary. “I need you to lend me your support, and to come to the Upper Quarter to discuss details with the Executive. Make some calls back to the Foundation. Help us organize this. “And return my calls.” Cai Mi added, with a matter-of-fact grin. “I know there's more to that...” Mary growled, “But if I don't I get the feeling you'll come back here and 'remind' me. When?” “This evening.” “Fucking Christ.” Mary swore, “Alright. I'll be there. Just don't get killed on the way out, I can't protect you there. I don't want blood my hands, and I can only imagine what the board will do if you are killed.” “It's my plan not to.” Cai Mi bowed, stepping back, “I'll be sure to give my regards to the brute in front.” “It'd be best if you don't.” Mary nearly shouted, “P'liash is angry at a lot of things. And best to give him a wide birth if you may. Just... Just don't talk to him. Ever. Again.” “I'll keep that in mind.” the Director grinned, turning to the door.