Richard watched the digital display over the Elevator's doors in silence, the numbers on it changing at what felt like a Snail's pace.  He wasn't late for his meeting with the CEO. He was never late. But that didn't make the wait any more bearable. The Chief of Security grumbled softly, a gloved hand coming up to fiddle with his tie. These meetings were not uncommon, Lorette took the safety of the building and all inside of it as seriously as she did the rest of her duties. However, she rarely called Richard to her Office so late in the evening, especially without making sure to schedule an appointment with him beforehand. He knew that the matter had to be serious if Lorette was willing to go off schedule and mentally prepared himself for the worst.

The Elevator dinged softly as it finally reached the top floor, and the doors had barely opened before Richard stepped through them. The floor was eerily silent, the Receptionist's desk empty in the dimly lit area. The Chief of Security set off at a brisk pace towards the imposing double doors situated just beyond the large desk, his footfalls muffled by the plush carpet on the floor. He didn't even make ready to knock as the CEO's voice rang loudly from within her office. She had expected him to arrive on time as he always did and wasted no time in bidding him to enter. Years ago, Robert had found her perception and timing unsettling, but now he could only appreciate the efficiency it afforded him. The massive office was as dimly lit as the rest of the floor and Richard could make out Lorette's form as she stood facing the floor to ceiling windows at the opposite end of the room. The many lights illuminating Arnvista cast a soft glow around the room, and for a moment the CEO was silent as she stared out at the busy streets.

[color=0072bc]"Lorette, do you think you can skip the dramatics this time and tell me why you called me up here?"[/color] Richard closed the heavy wooden door with a small grunt before turning to face the woman once more. Lorette pivoted sharply on a heel to face Robert, a stern glare leveled on him. A lesser man might have shrunk back from her gaze, but Robert had found himself under it for many years now and it had long since become exhausting to constantly cower before her. 

[color=0076a3]"I will be leaving for Tokyo in a few hours. Ms. Oshiro will be accompanying me there. As you are well aware by now, Sato-Yamasaki Genetics will be doing business with us going forward and I will be visiting their Headquarters to finalize our agreement."[/color] Richard sighed and sank into the chair seated in front of Lorette's imposing black desk. [color=0072bc]"I'm going to go ahead and assume there's more. I can't imagine that you'd call me all the way up here for something you could have told me in a text message."[/color] Richard leaned back in the plush chair, spinning it side to side as he eyed the CEO carefully. As was usual, her face betrayed none of her inner thoughts, but the man was not stupid enough to believe that she had nothing else planned for him. [color=0076a3]"This is a very crucial time for us Mr.Solberg. Sato-Yamasaki will, of course, be sending some of their own people overseas to assist in future projects here in the States. And while I have the utmost trust in them you are well aware of what is at risk should we allow anything to slip past our notice."[/color] The Chief of Security nodded silently, waiting for her to continue. [color=0076a3]"I need you go about finding a security force for our new Research facility. Nikhil will give you the details on what he needs specifically."[/color]

Richard leaned back in the chair to stare up at the ceiling in silence for a moment, not quite ready to voice his thoughts. He could feel Lorette's gaze continuing to bore into him and knew that she would not wait all night for a response. [color=0072bc]"So, you're taking the Lieutenant on a vacation overseas and leaving me to round up some new people along with maintaining the security of this building AND a Research Facility out in the middle of nowhere with Nikhil?"[/color] Robert looked back at Lorette, his blue eyes narrowed. [color=0072bc]"Did you know that I own a home, Lorette? I have a house, with a roof and a bed. At some point this year, I'd like to sleep in it."[/color] Lorette's expression and tone did not change, seeming unbothered by the man's quips. [color=0076a3]"Junior Officer Kinnaird is more than capable of carrying the workload with you Robert. Her....exuberance aside, she's proven to be more than effective at her job. She can handle things here while you are out with Nikhil. Allister will be staying behind as well and I'm sure that he can keep an eye on things while we're both away."[/color]

Lorette moved away from the windows, her footsteps ringing loudly on the polished stone floor as she approached the sulking Chief of Security. A gloved hand settled gently on his shoulder and gave it a small reassuring squeeze. [color=0076a3]"It will be fine Richard. I know that I'm asking a lot from you right now, but you that it's only because I know you're capable of doing it."[/color] Richard glanced up at the woman, the small smile gracing the edge of her mouth not escaping his notice. [color=0076a3]"And besides, it's not as if I sleep in my own house any more than you do in yours. Sometimes I wonder if I'll forget where it is one day."[/color] The hand moved away along with Lorette as she walked away before coming to pause before the double doors of her office. [color=0076a3]"I will contact you when we land. Please turn the lights off when you leave."[/color] Robert didn't bother watching her as she left, and once the doors had slammed shut the Office descended back into silence. 

Richard rubbed tiredly at his face and resigned himself to his fate, knowing there was no point in crying over things as they were. Reaching into his jacket he pulled out his phone and tapped at the screen, pulling up a familiar number. The phone rang twice before the person on the other side picked up. The voice on the other end was thick with exhaustion, no doubt its owner had been asleep before Richard had called, but he wasted no time on that. [color=0072bc]"Kinnaird. I know you're off but I need you back at the Office. Something has come up-Are you crying? If you want to cry, then do it on your way over here. Now move your ass."[/color] Richard ended the call to loud tearful protests on the other side before tucking his phone away, muttering balefully to himself. [color=0054a6]"At least she can say that she  got some sleep tonight...."[/color]
[hr]
Matsuko grinned stupidly at her phone's screen, a string of expletive-riddled messages displayed prominently on the backlit surface. [color=f6989d]"Audrey is PISSED. This is wonderful, she's probably going punch the first person to start with her.....Oh God, I hope it's Allister. I would pay any amount of money to see that."[/color]  She looked across the aisle towards Lorette, the CEO's expression as unreadable as always. [color=0076a3]"Tell the Junior Officer that if she plans to assault Mr. Schoen, that she needs to do it when she's not on Company time and property."[/color] Matsuko let out a short laugh, tapping idly at her phone. [color=f6989d]"So what's the plan once we get there? I'm not sure that I'll be of much help, Allister usually goes with you to these things and I don't like leaving Richard and Audrey alone unattended."[/color] Lorette continued staring out the plane's window, her voice even as she watched the clouds roll by. [color=0076a3]"Don't be ridiculous Ms. Oshiro. Your presence will be indispensable at this meeting. I will need you to remain observant once we arrive at Sato-Yamasaki Headquarters. Pay very close attention to their Security measures, and keep a close eye on the people that they choose to present to us. We are there to forge an agreement with them, but I'd feel better knowing how they operate."[/color] 

A gloved finger tapped idly at the armrest of her seat, and Lorette pressed on. [color=0076a3]"And I need you to translate for me."[/color] Matsuko lofted a brow, eyeing the CEO quizzically. [color=f6989d]"You speak Japanese pretty decently if I remember. What do you need me to translate for?"[/color] Lorette's gaze slid over to the Lieutenant, her voice remaining even. [color=0076a3]"I speak the language well enough, but not enough to catch any subtle nuances in everyday conversation. Something that is quite important when conducting business."[/color] Lorette resumed staring out the plane's window. [color=0076a3]"And as far as they know, I don't speak it at all. I want them lulled into enough of a false sense of security that they might think me ignorant of everything that's going on. They may very well let slip something that they don't want me to hear." [/color]

Matsuko pursed her lips, brows knitted together. [color=f6989d]"You think they might be up to something?"[/color] Lorette did not make any movement to confirm or deny the other woman's question. [color=0076a3]"Hanshiro Sato does good business, but I hear that he enjoys gloating. He has no love for Americans either, though you wouldn't know it. Currently, I don't know if he plans to make the same offer that he's giving us to any of our competition.  But I do know that if given the opportunity to gain the upper hand, he will take it. I want you to keep your eyes and ears open while we are there Ms. Oshiro. Is that understood?"[/color] Matsko nodded silently, knowing that Lorette would see it one way or the other. [color=f6989d]"You've got it."[/color] Matsuko grinned at Lorette.  [color=f6989d]"I hope you aren't keeping tabs on me like this, you know."[/color]

[color=0076a3]"No, I am not. I've seen how you live Matsuko and the thought of having to watch you depresses me."[/color]

[color=f6989d]"That's pretty rude coming from someone needing my help as much as you do!"[/color]

[color=0076a3]"If you thought that by leaving Audrey and Richard behind, that you'd be free of any suffering, you were wrong Ms. Oshiro."[/color]

[color=f6989d]"Right...Great."[/color]
[hr]
A metal door swung open with a loud clang and not long after a stubbled faced man was thrown unceremoniously through it. He landed with a loud cry on the cracked asphalt of the alleyway, his speech slurring as he yelled at the Daemon still standing in the doorway. [b]"This how you treat your customers, huh? You treat 'em all like shit?" [/b]The Daemon watched the drunken man through narrowed eyes, unimpressed with the display.[b] "Nope. Just the ones that are assholes. Get out of here, and if I see you around again, I'm breaking something."[/b] The Daemon retreated back inside, the metal door slamming shut behind them. The drunk man was somehow able to get to his feet, though he needed to lean heavily on the wall nearest to him for support.[b]"Fuckin'...A man can't even have a good time in this city anymore..."[/b] The man groaned and staggered down the alleyway, rummaging clumsily through his pockets as he weaved out onto the sidewalk. [b]"Where the hell are my smokes?"[/b] A small blue Ferret poked its head out of one the man's many jacket pockets, a package of cigarettes in its mouth. [b]" 'ey...Thanks Caby. You-You're a good friend. My Only friend in this shithole of a city."[/b] The Man gestured at the dilipated buildings on the street, almost falling over in his inebriated state.[b] "You and me. We're the only smart people here. You know that? And we...Shit man, we're not gonna be stuck in the Slums for the rest of our lives like everybody else, you hear me?"[/b] Caby only stared silently at the man with beady black eyes, prompting a laugh from the man. [b]"You never were a talker Caby. 's okay. I can talk for the both of us."[/b] The Ferret Daemon's head snapped over suddenly, staring intently down the street. The man paused and looked in the same direction, barely able to make out anything through the haze surrounding his vision. A large vaguely humanoid shape stood a few yards away, unmoving. [b]"Fuck you lookin' at? Keep walkin'."[/b] Rather than moving away, the shape drew closer and Caby scampered onto the man's shoulder, hissing loudly. The man lurched back as the shape drew closer, falling over onto his rear. [b]"Ah! Shit! You think you're funny? Got somethin' to say big guy?" [/b]

The figure came to a halt in front of the man, and through the alcohol induced blur the man could see reptilian features staring back at him. [b]"Oh..."[/b] The man shrunk back a little under the Daemon's gaze, though the alcohol in his system numbed any real fear he might have felt. [b]"If you want to fight or somethin' I bet you can find a good time around here. Otherwise, you can fuck right off."[/b] Caby continued to hiss at the other Daemon, the blue fur on their back bristling as they drew closer. The other Daemon cocked their head, eyeing the smaller creature with what looked to be a mixture of disgust and curiosity. [color=f7976a]"I had heard the rumors. But I didn't think they were true."[/color] A large clawed hand reached down and plucked the other Daemon from the man's shoulder, holding the struggling creature up for inspection. [color=f7976a]"Positively disgusting."[/color] The clawed hand wrapped firmly around the smaller Daemon and squeezed. Caby let out a loud squeal of pain before they dispersed into a small cloud of blue smoke. [color=f7976a]"Such things. When did we start allowing them I wonder?"[/color] Their reptilian eyes slid back down to the man on the ground, fear keeping him pinned there. [color=f7976a]"No matter. I will see to it that this problem is resolved."[/color] The clawed hand darted out and caught the man in the face, grabbing hold and drawing him close before beginning to squeeze once more, muffling his screams.

[color=f7976a]"Yes....I do believe that this is a problem that can be resolved with a little hands-on work."[/color]