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 [center][b]MEANWHILE...[/b]
[i]A brief interlude to meet the self-appointed nemesis of the [/I]Quest For Flavour[i] and find out who paid for the meal.[/i][/center]

 The stone hall is barely lit, and mostly empty. The wind howls outside, lashing snow and kicked up ice against the thick walls. Inside, two people seek shelter from the storm. One is a spindly, insectoid creature, with a black carapace that absorbs what little light there is. It crouches down on three legs, while rows of smaller arms bristling with hairs are folded up to keep warm. It's head is a mess of clicking mandibles, segmented eyes and weird little twitching antennae. The other is a small, fuzzy thing - like a polar bear that had an accident with a shrink ray and decided to walk about on its hind paws to impress passers-by.

 "[color=f7941d]It's just, sir, Doctor, with all due respect, I think there's some, um, points to this plan that don't make sense,[/color]" the little bear bravely fought her growing sense of unease and the stutter that came with it, "[color=f7941d]if you could just see fit to run it past me again, maybe, maybe I'll un-un-understand...[/color]"

 "[color=6ecff6]It is [b]tremendously[/b] simple, Cold Front! Even a fresh larvae could grasp it![/color]"

 "[color=f7941d]Yes, I under- I mean, the details, Doctor Frosty, the [i]details[/i], how are we going to p-[/color]"

 "[color=6ecff6][b]Tremendously simple![/b] Let me explain it one more time! I set up an account with [i]Henderson's Ribs[/i] for the [i]Quest For Flavour[/i],[/color]" Doctor Frosty clicked his mandibles happily, clearly keen to be given an opportunity to monologue and show off his diabolical plan, "[color=6ecff6]and attach our cred-card to the account! Now whenever [i]they[/i] eat at a Henderson's Ribs, I shall know! Our monthly cred-card statement will tell us [i]exactly[/i] where they have been! There is no escaping the reach of [b]Doctor Frosty![/b][/color]"

 Cold Front (or, as her parents had named her, Tabby) sighed a little. There were problems with this plan, many problems indeed, and one of the most pressing of these was the use of the phrase '[i]our[/i] cred-card'. What Doctor Frosty really meant was [i]her[/i] cred-card. This pointed sigh did not do anything to disturb Doctor Frosty's rant, which was really getting into full swing now. It was only a matter of time, Tabby thought, before the puns and bizarre metaphors started.

 "[color=6ecff6][i]While they dine on my generosity, I shall be able to predict their movements![/i] None can surpass the icy intellect of Doctor Frosty! Their own gluttony shall be the harbinger of their downfall! The snow shall settle upon their bones, their bones, I say! The ship will be mine, and the galaxy shall once again shiver at my name! Come, Cold Front! We wait... [i]for the mailman![/i][/color]"
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