[center]A collaboration with [@Rune_Alchemist][/center] [hr] Good, good, everything was going...smoothly. A new peon to help her, Penny potentially being drawn to her side...the only things she needed to keep in check was making sure none of it got out. The Mint might prove troublesome, but even their vast information networks couldn't reach. The best kept secrets were ones never told, after all. But yet, sometimes, you had to let your secrets out if you wanted help with them. The girls from the Archive had been rather mute recently. Understandable, given what she assumed about their organization. Couldn't go around trusting random girls who just wanted help ressurecting something that really likely shouldn't be. She honestly didn't trust them either. But then, she didn't trust anyone. Chloe ducked into a small tea house. A bit out of the way, and much better than that stupid bar she had found those girls at. Classier and much less sketchy, not to mention they actually had edible drink and food. Alochol. Yuck. [i][color=violet]"I need to talk about our arrangements."[/color][/i] A simple text, along with her current location. If they came, exellent. If they didn't...well. Just more people that weren't worth saving. She ordered herself some tea, and waited. About a minute passed. Then there was a notification on Chloe's phone. [i][color=blue]"We'll be there in 10 minutes."[/color][/i] Ten minutes? Well they certainly had swift travel time. She had been prepared to wait for at least thirty minutes before they showed up. Well, she'd just enjoy some tea and a light lunch before they showed up them. She did hope they would be punctual. She was a busy girl, after all and had other things to attend too. About nine minutes later, the tea house's front door opened, and a familiar voice softly drifted in. [color=gray]"...this looks like the kind of place Lee would pick,"[/color] Collector Delta commented. She wasn't transformed at the moment - because, really, what would be the point of that? They'd already seen each other without their Magical Girl outfits on, after all. Scribe Xi glanced around appraisingly. [color=blue]"Maybe when we're not here for business,"[/color] she said. Then she noticed Chloe, sitting alone at her table. [color=blue]"Ah, there she is."[/color] [color=violet]"Ah,"[/color] Chloe quickly took note of the Archive girls as they entered the shop. Quickly she waved them over, giving them a friendly smile. [color=violet]"I trust you girls are doing well? I've had a rather lovely past few days, myself. It's always so relaxing when things go according to plan."[/color] She waved over a waiter, who brought over a small menu for the three of them. [color=violet]"Care for a drink or anything? I'll buy."[/color] The girls sat down, with Collector Delta electing to sit next to Chloe, and Scribe Xi sitting across from her. Xi shook her head. [color=blue]"I'm fine, but thank you for the offer."[/color] [color=gray]"Hmm... I do feel thirsty."[/color] Delta eyed Chloe's cup with interest. [color=gray]"What kind of tea did you order?"[/color] [color=violet]"A Black Pearl,"[/color] Chloe replied with a smile. [color=violet]"A black tea grown in Indeonesia. One of my favorites. They have almost anything you could want, so feel free to get whatever you want, Delta."[/color] Taking a sip of her own tea, she continued. [color=violet]"So what have you girls been up too, hm? I've been kept rather busy myself."[/color] Delta got the waiter's attention, and ordered a Black Pearl for herself. [color=blue]"We went before our superiors to propose the project, laying out the details we'd discussed in your home,"[/color] Xi explained. [color=blue]"And after some deliberation on their parts, we received the approval to move forward."[/color] She steepled her fingers. [color=blue]"The Analysts who've been assigned to the project have been advised on the time-consuming nature of the production. At the moment, they're monitoring the sample to establish a baseline."[/color] [color=violet]"Excellent."[/color] Chloe replied with a smile. [color=violet]"Anyway I could potentially help? I have my hands a bit full with working on things on my end, but I think I could squeeze something here and there for you girls."[/color] Good, good, things were moving along well then. She had been worried they had simply taken the sample and left, but it seemed they were mildly trustworthy after all. [color=violet]"I did offer collaboration of sorts."[/color] She didn't like being in debt with others. That's one of the reasons she left Penrose, out of the major influence of the Mint...but she could tolerate it. For awhile. [color=gray]"If you're willing to take the time to 'squeeze something here and there' for us,"[/color] Delta started with a straight face. [color=gray]"There are a few places you could start."[/color] Xi closed her eyes and let out a slow breath. [color=blue]"It would help if you've kept notes on what power sources you've introduced to them, and the effects they've had on their progression. You might be aware of this already, but replicating that data isn't exactly possible."[/color] [color=violet]"Massive amounts of love?"[/color] Chloe said with a giggle.[color=violet]"More seriously, I have tried a number of things, all yielding different results. It was quite an annoying process, especially since I was doing most of it myself."[/color] She took a quiet sip of the tea, running a finger over the rim of it as she sat it back on the table. [color=violet]"My lord feeds on those impure and uses them for sustenance. I cannot say what exactly qualifies as that, however, but usually any soul not connected to him in some way works. That is to say, Etheric energy, or energy derived from refining souls into power."[/color] [color=blue]"The sooner you're able to provide us with a record of that process, the better. Especially if some of those other stimuli damaged or destroyed the prototypes. By your own admission, it would be rather time-consuming and labor-intensive to gain another sample,"[/color] Scribe Xi explained. As Xi talked, the waiter came back with Collector Delta's tea. She nodded, and gracefully raised the teacup to her lips. [color=gray]"A very complex flavor,"[/color] she noted, her tone not unpleasant. [color=gray]"How appropriate."[/color] [color=blue]"It would also help if we knew the process you used to create the sample,"[/color] Xi continued. [color=blue]"Depending on the details of that procedure, we may be able to consider new potential power sources, or discover ways to optimize the synthesization.[/color]" [color=violet]"Hmm...a record?"[/color] Chloe frowned lightly. [color=violet]"...unfortunately that is not something I currently possess."[/color] That however, wasn't very helpful...and if anything, she was helpful to people as long as they were useful to her. [color=violet]"If you give me a few days or so, I could likely make a thorough transcript of the processes I tried, however the process to make it is rather...complex and requires a direct ability to interact with souls."[/color] Taking out a pencil and scribbling something on the back of a reciept, Chloe began sketching a representation of the process. [color=violet]"My lord desires purity in everything."[/color] She began, drawing a circle and shading certain parts of it, enlarging and seemingly causing it to bloat slightly. [color=violet]"The soul for example, is a very impure thing. In simplest terms, he takes the impurities and feeds on them, directly turning it into energy for himself. The leftover power is crystalized."[/color] Chloe drew another circle, having left off most of the bloat so it was smaller. [color=violet]"But it takes quite a number of souls to get anything substantial, and the crystals do need a host of a suitable, pure candidate to incubate and grow. Until now I have been using myself, but anything that has had its impurities removed should work."[/color] Delta, who had been intently studying the diagrams being drawn, looked up at Chloe. [color=gray]"How exactly have you incubated them?"[/color] [color=violet]"Hmm, my charm and good looks?"[/color] How to explain it well? [color=violet]"The easiest way to explain it, is that I am an extension of my lords will. A crystal myself, so to speak."[/color] Chloe began leaning forward slightly in her seat. [color=violet]"The crystals, when coming into contact with impurities can be used to draw out the impurities of those souls. Those impurities are then grown into a new crystal. I suppose you wouldn't need a host, but I do not have the resources to grow one using a crystal as a base so I settled on smaller ones, with the intent to make a few more...pure souls, to help with that endeavor."[/color] [color=gray]"So it is possible to use an existing crystal to create another one,"[/color] Delta said, taking a thoughtful sip of tea. [color=gray]"And while you're aware that you've lacked the resources to do so, does that mean you're aware of exactly what resources would be required?"[/color] [color=violet]"Well, the obvious answer is time and spiritual energy for the crystal itself."[/color] Chloe replied quickly. [color=violet]"As for whatever else, I do not have a place to discreetly house it. Once it started growing, I have no doubt there would be curious people who wanted to investigate. Curious people who may not exactly...approve of what I am attempting to do, for example. The amount of magical energy it would give off would likely be quite high and attract all sorts of undesirables."[/color] Chloe frowned, pursing her lips. [color=violet]"...aside from that I can not say what would be needed. I made the first on accident almost, and the rest by careful trial and error each with a slightly different method but I'll include those with the information I'll send you all later."[/color] [color=blue]"Well, we certainly have the discreet facilities,"[/color] Xi said. [color=blue]"Depending on whether we are able to make headway in that direction, we'll requisition more security for caution's sake."[/color] Delta took another sip from her tea. [color=gray]"And what method will you use to deliver that information to us, when you've compiled it?"[/color] [color=violet]"You're the one with the super shady and secretive organization, you tell me which method would be best."[/color] Chloe replied with a sigh, frowning lightly. [color=violet]"You haven't exactly given me very many options to contact you outside of a number, which isn't the most suitable for our needs...as well, I'd like to at least inspect the facilities you'd be using myself at some point."[/color] [color=gray]"A fair request,"[/color] Delta conceded, after nearly finishing her tea. [color=gray]"And one we intended to offer you anyway. I'm sure the Analysts would want you present at some point after the baseline monitoring is completed, to observe how the sample reacts to your presence and influence."[/color] She got out a small notepad and pen from her pocket, writing out the address to a P.O. box. [color=gray]"Electronic transmissions aren't always secure, and considering the nature of the information... well, I'm sure you're familiar with the concept of a dead drop. Leave the package there when you've prepared it."[/color] [color=violet]"Indeed. I've used a few dead drops before in my time with the Mint."[/color] Chloe smiled, taking the paper and slipping it into her dress pockets. [color=violet]"Now that we've gotten all the business out of the way, I have more things to do. If that will be all, ladies?"[/color] Xi nodded. [color=blue]"Yes, that's plenty for now."[/color] [color=gray]"Pleasure to keep working with you,"[/color] Delta said, smoothly finishing her tea. [color=violet]"Excellent, then. I'll have the information ready in two days."[/color] Finishing her own tea, Chloe stoodand swiftly made an exit. So many things to do, so little time, but as long as Penny was allied with the Beacon...this may be the most opportunity she's had in a while.