“You must be truly desperate to be trying to strike a deal with a patroller. You do know that you’re in violation of federation law, right? Section 45, dash 9? I could arrest you right now.”

“Riree… Let’s just… Let’s leave it, this could only cause us more trouble…” Mensa murmurs with a bent head.

Riree lifts her head with a determined look, locking eyes with Miya. “Stravos has been making us complete odd tasks with the use of the turbine lift located in Loctor-D of our underground facility.”

“You mean the weird elevator that keeps sending up those monsters?”

“Correct. They know that if they’re caught that there’d be repercussions, and that’s why they're using us to move their goods up and down from the surface as we have clearance for going to the overground.”

Miya rests her cheek on her palm at an angle while resting on the arm of the chair. “Do you know who’s in charge of the operation?”

Riree nods her head. “N-no… We do not.”

“Do you know what they’re planning or what those things are?” Miya asks.

“Again, no. All we know is what they tell us, and we’re unable to negotiate or ask questions. Please, they’ve threatened the lives of our workers, innocent people… And my husband and son… I just want this to end before something terrible happens…”

Miya closes her eyes and rests her head on the back of the sofa. “And what do you want from me? What deal do you propose?”

Riree looks back at Mensa, who shakes his head with clenched teeth. “We want... We want you to put a stop to Stravos and their underhandedness, whatever plans their making us do for their own benefit.”

Miya sighs. “You must’ve had some pretty bad experiences with patrollers thus far. The armed personnel, the reaction of your subordinates upon knowing my affiliation. It really is such a shame, I’m here to help you not hurt you.”

She then opens her eyelids and jumps from her seat with a yawn while stretching her arms.

“Yeah, I guess I’ll help you out.”

Riree’s eyes brighten as she turns to look at Mensa sporting the same reaction. She then runs over to Miya and wraps both her arms around Miya’s head somewhat swinging her back and forth.

“Thank you, thank you! A million times thank you!”

Miya pulls herself from Riree’s embrace with a deep breath. “Uhm, sure. But that’s not all though, I’ll need some things from you too.”

Mensa runs forward while rubbing his hands together. “O-of course! What do you need, anything!”

Miya places a hand on her neck, causing a white blinking device to appear strapped around her throat. A blue hexagon screen appears in front of her, she then inputs a set of keys and throws it in front of Mensa.

He slides his finger down the screen with widened eyes. “This is quite… Quite the list you have here. All of this information is either data-locked, confidential or needing galac-ton clearance…”

Riree shoots him a glare causing him to cough with a short nod of his head. “H-however, I do have a few contacts in high places and some individuals that owe me favors. All of it will be given to you promptly.”

“Excellent! I’ll be looking forward to it then.” Miya then starts treading toward the door. “Now if you’ll excuse me-”

“…W-wait one minute! Where are you going?” Riree calls out.

Miya turns her head at an angle to look back at her. “That’s none of your concern. I’ll be in close contact with you, I know you by face and name anyway.”

“That’s not what I mean darling. Where are you going to sleep for tonight?”

“Still none of your concern. I’ll make due somewhere.” Miya replies.

“That won’t do at all!” Mensa disputes. “I’ll have Feann, my secretary, wait here until you conclude whatever business you have for the night. She’ll escort you back to our residence when you return. I’ll be busy with these little ‘errands’ here anyway, so it’s no trouble.”

“Do you know what I am?” Miya inquires.

Riree’s eyes scrunch down with a confused expression, exchanging it with Mensa. “What… What could you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb. I’m talking about the Yak’sha.”

Mensa puts a finger up to his chin. “Yak’sha…? Is that a different species of the Yamai, perhaps? Are you interested in them as well?”

Miya grits her teeth and walks in front of them, pointing at her face with a glare. “What do you see me as?”

Riree tilts her head to the side. “It’s quite hard to put my finger on it… It’s as if you’re Ya’valt but lesser, perhaps one of your kin were of a different race… Maybe Eikinian or Marale?”

“Ah yes, she does have that distinguishable brownish hair of the Eikinian, but she’s also quite straightforward, that of the Marale. Quite the conundrum!” Mensa jokes.

They then both laugh cheerfully, Miya looking at them with an irritant twitch of her eye.

“If what you say is true then I’ll be back. Just make sure you don’t forget what I asked.”

Mensa walks over to his desk and slides his finger upward, allowing a set of blue and white holographic screens to appear. “Already on it, it’ll be done within the next few hours.”

“Goodbye, Ms. Patroller. We’ll see you soon” Riree smiles with a short wave.

Miya then exits through the vertical-sliding door and takes a step out looking at the four black-suited officers on both sides of the entrance with their rifles raised.

“Oooh, scaary.” Miya mocks with a sneer before walking past them.

The Ya’valtian secretary shuffles to the side of the hall, letting Miya pass.

“W-who’s that?” The young boy holding hands with the secretary points. “Is that the Space Patroller?”

Riree walks outside of the office and bends down toward him. “Yes, indeed it is. She’s so young and quite cute too, don’t you think?”

“Wow… Do you think I could meet her?” The boy asks nervously.

“Of course, you can! I invited her to stay at our home while she conducts some business here. You’ll be able to play with her then! How does that sound Darfin?”

Darfin’s eyes continue to monitor Miya’s backside until she makes a turn down the hallway. He shakes his head several times with a wide smile, whilst rubbing his thighs close to each other as if he had an itch.

“Y-yeah! That sounds great!”

. . .