“You called those things creeps, the lifeforms your companion and I fought back in the abandoned city. What else do you know about them?”

“Aside from their traits, being aggressive and quite adaptive to their prey, we know nothing. All we know is that they’re released to the surface by that ground egress to roam around every night. Usually, one or two are let out at a time, but today was obviously very different.”

Miya lifts her arm so that one of the white spheres can scan her lower elbow and move up to her fingertips. “Your talking about the fact that they let out four?”

“Well yes, that, and you showed up out of the blue, and engaged on one of my comrades.”

Miya leans herself up and faces Loliel still looking down at the dashboard. “She shot at me first, if you should know. If it weren’t for her awful aim she would’ve taken off my head. Quite the shorthand of associates you got working with you, huh?”

“I apologize if Koko’s shot caused you any unease.” Loliel pardons, ignoring her taunting statement.

“She didn’t do shit to me,” Miya growls with clenched fists.

The white holographic screen behind Loliel shatters down, with her making eye contact with Miya once more. “Then what’s the problem?”

Miya rolls her eyes and jumps off of the table. “As I said before, I’m a Space Patroller for the Galactic Federation. I was sent here to meet with a certain individual involved with Stavros, name is Kekdric Giroka, do you know of him?”

“Who wouldn’t know of Stavros, however, that person in specific I’ve never come across in person. I do though, have a contact that’s incredibly close to the Stavros board, a high influence if you will.” Loliel discloses.

“Great. As Space Patroller I’m ordering you to give me said contact and I’ll be out of your hair. Or else.”

Loliel tilts her head with lowered eyebrows. “Or else… What, exactly?”

A grin grows on Miya’s face as she crosses her arms. “You do know that the Ya’valt has started senseless orbital cannon strikes for lower instances than not taking a Patroller seriously.”

“I don’t think you have the same authority as other Patrollers, in fact, I’m sure of it.”

“Hmm? And why is that?”

“Well, for one, you’re Yak’sha. You’re basically like the Ya’valt’s guinea pigs, I don’t think they’d do anything too hasty for someone as insignificant as you.”

The room became still, an unnerving silence growing between the two girls. Miya then reaches for her holster with an irate glare.

The hatch to the door then slides open, and a man wearing a white dress shirt with the top unbuttoned pokes his head in the door.

His curled hair and well-kept beard were both jet-black, the same color as the oval lenses resting on his nose.

“O-oh sorry. Was I interrupting something, Lo? It’s just that uh, Kyamyo wanted me to let you know that Koko was awake.” He scratches the back of his head with a nervous chuckle.

Loliel continues to stare Miya in the eye. “Was, he interrupting something? If not, I’ve got people to attend too.”

The shadow being cast down from Miya’s cap made her crimson pupils seem seditious by nature. She lowers her hand so that it rests on the metal hilt of her holster and nods her head.

Loliel brushes past her and stops near the exit of the door and curls her finger toward the man. He bends down, allowing Loliel to whisper something in his ear. He then straightens himself up and looks at Miya, still about-faced, while nodding his head several times.

“… Thank you, papa,” Loliel murmurs while intercrossing her fingers together with a smile.

She then turns around to Miya. “This is Dr. Yamauchi, he’ll be giving escorting you back to the Quarters until I call for you. Is this acceptable?”

Miya turns around and takes a step forward. “Does this mean I’ll be able to meet your contact?”

“We’ll see, we need to discuss some things first.” Loliel turns around and continues down the corridor.

“Dam her… She’s dragging me like I got some fuckin’ collar on my neck.” Miya curses beneath her breath.

She then walks over to the man, not giving him a second look as he extends his hand.

“Ha ha, you don’t have to listen to Lo. Just Ashihei is fine, even Ashi if it’s still a bit too much.”

Miya looks down at his hand and then up to him with a scowl.

Ashihei chuckles and scratches the back of his hair. “Well, yeah, formalities are a bit old-timerish, aren’t they? Call me old-fashioned, I suppose.”

Miya rubs under her eye and opens her mouth for a lengthy yawn. “You were supposed to, I don’t know, take me to a place where I could rest or something?”

“Oh yes! Your clothes are totally filthy from what seems to be, blood… Both yours and someone else’s, oh my! A-And you’re tuckered out, poor thing. I suppose being a Space Patroller has caused you quite the ordeal.”

“Are you…? Are you trying to mock me?”

Ashihei throws his hands up and shakes his head. “N-not at all!”

Miya performs another yawn and walks forward. “Good. Or I’d have to shoot you.”

Ashihei gives off another nervous chuckle. “Let’s, erm… Let’s get you to that room so you can rest, shall we?”

After several corridors, they reach the hatch with the words ‘Quarters’ written on a glowing panel. Ashihei steps through the narrow yet broad enclosure with multiple silver hatch doors on either side.

They stop two doors down, he then places a hand on the door and it shoots open, revealing a small bedroom with two bunk beds, a metal desk, and a holographic planet swirling in the middle of the room.

“I’m sure you’re tired… I don’t know if we have any uniforms in your size, but I can check with Vivi if she has any clothes from our… Our uh…”

His thought is lost as he looks at Miya now sound asleep in the bottom bunker with her body turned to the wall. Ashihei smiles and walks over, pulling the cover up to her shoulders. He then tiptoes out of the room and cuts off the lights.

“Sweet dreams~” He murmurs with the door sliding down in front of him.