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RP: Cirrus Station [Episode 8] That Sinking Feeling

Claire was not at all suprised or discouraged by Cassefin's snooty and rude demeanor. "Aw, but Cassie... who'd want to harm you, huh? Can't you just say you enjoy our charms and our company? We sure enjoy having -you-around, dear. It's never boring!" That much was true at least. The woman honestly couldn't think of any time spent with Cassefin that could be considered 'dull'.

When Popjoy spoke, Claire's cheerful demeanor dampened considerably at the the mention of Keziah. "Vanderhuge, huh...? I guess that means we won't be running into her for a good long while." If it weren't for her helmet, one would see a considerably saddened expression playing across the Geshrin's face, followed by a sigh. Her disappointment was winning out over her optimism for a change.
 
Once some more people had filed onto the tram, Method insinuated herself in amongst the crowd just behind Cassefin. Her eyes hadn't moved from the briefcase the entire time, and her claw was once again reaching for it.

"Are they going to make mouth touching?" she mumbled to no one in particular, regarding Kokuten and Purina, who, from what she could hear, seemed to be complimenting each other to an outrageous degree.
 
Noboru's ear picked up on Method muttering to herself about Purina and Kokuten. What was she talking about? He leaned in a bit closer, and raised an eyebrow as comprehension dawned on him. Then a grin broke across his face, and he had to put his helmet on to keep everyone from noticing him from sniggering.

When he finally did remove his helmet, the expatriate wayfarer's face was red, but his expression was neutral. "No, Method, I... I don't think that's going to happen." His voice lowered a bit. "At least not before I can tape it."
 
"Personally, I think it'd be beautiful. The Sargeant and the Administrator are both very pretty people and I think they'd look good together," chimed Blake, sticking his nose where it didn't belong.

"Although," he continued, "I'm more interested in the exotic things. I'd like to see the Freespacer and the Kohanian making love. Things that aren't safe are usually the most fun."

Blake made a muffled sound of shame before turning to Method to clarify, "I think your new arm is very pretty. It makes you more attractive."
 
While waiting for her suit's filters to finish cleaning her air supply, Tweak busied herself by 'researching' everyone as they arrived.

<scan started>
Morris, Blake. New arrival. One mission found, first log [searching... ... ...]
Chiaki, Kokuten. Two missions found, first log [searching... ... ...]
Drakon, Stovaa. [searching... ... ...]
Winters, Claire. Three missions found, first log [searching... ... ...]
[naming error], Method. New arrival. One mission found, first log 0503.20108:56
<continue> <abort>

When Lenny and George arrived, Tweak was puzzled when they weren't listed as being with Squad 35. After wondering about this for a moment, the disguised neko shrugged it off; maybe they were on loan from another squad. Going through the roster, it did seem like several of her teammates were not accounted for. Though, as she found related entries, the two Nepleslians seemed to have been showing up with some regularity.

Further musing was interrupted by Cassefin's arrival. The rest of the squad didn't appear very surprised at the Head Administrator's treatment of them, so Tweak just frowned to herself before hurrying over to George and offering a hand to help him up, then following Kokuten's order and boarding the shuttle with the rest of the team.
 
Serra was silent, puzzled over how Squad 101 had an elysian patriarch, with her exact build on the team. It confused her to no end and she couldn't stop thinking about it. Just like there being a Kohanian the same size and build as Deacon.

She perked up when Kokuten made mention about modifying their uniforms. "Ah, Sir. Mine and Deacon's uniforms are the only ones modified, and that was to accomidate our non-standard body types." She said, "and, with the track record we get, I honestly doubt we will be allowed." She muttered. Now remembering how angry she was, suffering an arm injury from the Tram incident and the lack of a squad based reward from preventing a disaster, furthered by learning that a different squad was given leave over watching the repair job.
 
"Ungh," Cassefin finally groaned in displeasure as she hoisted herself up the short ramp leading into the shuttle. She had been doing her best to not respond to Claire's sugar-coated words; the woman just seemed to press all of Cassefin's nerves so easily.

---

George, groaning from the brunt of his fall, was both surprised and glad to see a helping hand assist him. Upon realizing that it was Tweak, however, George's pains seemed to give way to another feeling. "OH, UH. Thanks Tweak. Uh...yeah," George said with a wide grin, completely forgetting that his visor obscured his facial expressions. After he was back on his feet, the short Nepleslian was quick to hurry to the line up, waiting for the others to begin filing into the shuttle.

---

"Ah, yes!" Purina nodded once, her twin buns bobbing slightly. "Squad 35 has been a big help to me, more than once..." the sprightly administrator swayed a little bit as she spoke, but upon overhearing the others talking about Kokuten and herself, suddenly turned rigid, her face flushing almost as pink as her hair. "Oh my... I-... umm..." Purina averted her eyes and hunched her shoulders, smiling sheepishly.
 
Kokuten kept his smile as his squad mates made their comments, resisting a chuckle as they went on. He waved his hand at them, which stopped as it pointed towards the shuttle. His smile turned apologetic as he shrugged his shoulders to Purina.

"Administrator Popjoy is indeed a lovely woman, but I'm sure she could do much better than myself!" The Captain chuckled, starting to shoo his squad along. His voice gained a more authoritative tone as he went on. "Now, don't you all have a shuttle to be boarding? Come now, hustle up, double time! We've got somewhere to be!"

The Captain started to the shuttle, but stopped part way and turned to Popjoy. He smiled to her in the same apologetic fashion as before.

"I am sorry if that embarrassed you, Administrator. All in good fun, you know?"
 
Method leapt up the shuttle ladder, skipping several of the rungs as she made her way up. Once there, she crouched at the top and looked down at Kokuten and Purina. "You should make your mouths touch. And your hips, like in all those videos!" She stroked her chin thoughtfully with her claw, the hydraulics hissing softly. "They make happy noises when that happens."
 
Purina looked as though she would burst from embarrassment at Method's continued assault on their good senses. Before the flustered administrator could react, Cassefin Montreal popped her head back out of the shuttle doors. "PURINA!" Cassefin called down from the shuttle entrance. It was uncertain whether or not she had caught the conversation or not, but all the same, the Head Administrator motioned for everyone to get onto the shuttle. "Quit flirting and get in here. We're going to be late."

"Ah, yes, Miss Montreal!" Purina called, grasping her large glass case in her arms as she scurried towards the shuttle, heels clacking against the metal flooring.

---

The inside of the shuttle's seating area consisted of little more than a single, long room with individual seats in rows leading to the front and back of the shuttle. The shuttle, which was built for simple transportation on a small scale, was piloted automatically for the most part. Cassefin herself took a seat in the very front, setting her case on the floor under her seat. Purina, on the other hand, was quite content with sitting off to the side in one of the other seats.
 
"Maybe she likes flirting with guys every now and then, Cassie. You should give it a try. Or if guys are too embarassing for you, there's a few gals here who wouldn't mind your attention." If Claire was any less subtle, someone's pants could be removed at any moment. Fortunately, perhaps, she didn't seem to wait for a reply before entering the shuttle.

And of course, she sat right next to Cassefin. Though for once, she didn't invade the scientist's personal space by scooting too close to the next chair. After taking a brief glance around the shuttle, she turned back to her; "Don't you have your own shuttle by now? I'd think you would, but..."

As that question was pondered by others, she immediately moved on to the next topic. "So, Cassie. When are you going to tell us what exciting adventure you have for us this time?" She wasn't being sarcastic with her emphasis. The unsubtle subtext was that whenever Cassefin was around, it was never anything as boring as simple guard duty.
 
Kokuten hustled up into the shuttle and took his place at the seat nearest to the shuttle's door. He shifted around to make himself comfortable, having the helmet strapped to his hip and all. When he felt alright with his seat, he lifted up his weapon, and checked it up and down, and did the same with his hypolathe and dart gun. With his equipment checking out, he crossed his arms and closed his eyes, settling back to enjoy the cushy ride down to Fortuna. He gave a short chuckle at what sounded like a joke from Claire, despite the seriousness in tone.

"True, we have not been briefed on anything other than 'guard duty'." Kokuten spoke, still leaning back with his eyes closed.
 
"Oh, it's so exciting!" Purina piped in from her seat afar, overhearing the conversation up at the front. "We're going to the Eco-Eco Summit! I've always wanted to go, they talk about so many important environmental issues and updates on new planetary ecosystems... I just can't wait! I was personally invited to take a look at a new species of bio-luminescent amphibians they discovered on Fortuna! I'm so excited!" The pink-haired Administrator was practically brimming with excitement, shaking her clenched fists close to her chest in vapid anticipation.

"Yes... Popjoy and I were invited to the yearly Economical Ecological Summit meeting. Purina Popjoy is more of a guest invitation," Cassefin explained, keeping her posture as straight as possible, chin up and eyes closed in quiet contemplation. "The summit is being sponsored by Vinross Yu-Cranker Materials... and is being held in one of their newest excavation digs, the Sinkstrip."
 
"Eco-Eco Summit, hm? I didn't know you girls were environmentalists. That's sweet of you." Claire seemed happy that at least SOMEone was excited about all this. Honestly, some of Purina's enthusiasm could stand to rub off on Cassefin. "Well still, you get invited to these things, it's still publicity for you, yes?" She was trying to get Cassie to open up a bit about it until...

Vinross Yu-Cranker... "...Materials...? Where have I he-" All of the sudden the smile vanished from Claire's face and she became eerily quiet. A deep breath came from the Geshrin woman and she began to examine her weapon in silence, cleaning it and performing what field maintenance that she could.
 
The squad's Captain chuckled a bit at Purina's enthusiasm. It was nice to finally know what was going on, and something as friendly as the Eco-Eco Summit? Why, nothing could--..

"The summit is being sponsored by Vinross Yu-Cranker Materials... and is being held in one of their newest excavation digs, the Sinkstrip."
Click to expand...

"Squad, check your weapons, ensure they're in working order before we get down to Fortuna." Kokuten sighed, now knowing that the likelihood of something going right was nil. He opened one eye and it looked over at Cassefin. You're not stupid, Montreal... You wouldn't just waltz down here without some ulterior motive, now, would you? The Captain thought to himself, but otherwise tried to relax with feeling the need to tense up.

"Secure your equipment as well, I want everyone looking sharp for this Summit."
 
"Hmph," Cassefin said, noting their sudden change in tone. "Well, it's about time you all started taking your job a little more seriously. Yes, our presence isn't so much a requirement as it is a special invitational; some of the other regular summit members have been pushing for my inclusion, seeing as the Cirrus Research Station also follows standard ecological protocols," the fiery-eyed head administrator explained, a clear presence of pride lacing her words.

"I can't say I'm as excited at Popjoy, but it is a good opportunity to spread the Cirrus Station's influence and establish its presence as a reliable research and development facility. There are still some who think the work I do on my station is unnecessary," Cassefin finished off her sentence in a tone of disgust, tinged with contempt.
 
Kokuten raised his head up and looked with both eyes at Cassefin. He looked somewhat tired, seeming to have started to doze off a little bit while he had put his head back.

"Head Administrator, as much as I could applaud your political maneuvering, I don't see it worth the likely trouble of going right into a former enemies playing field. As one of your Security Captains, and a Doctor, it would be unprofessional of me to not tell you that you are taking a somewhat grave risk." said the Doctor,verbally showing how the very mention of the company that had attacked them awhile ago had seemed to sharpen the edges of the man's otherwise curved personality. Kokuten leaned back, one of his eyes locking on Purina. "That goes for you as well, Administrator Popjoy."
 
"On the contrary, I think it's a good way to force them to make a mistake," Stovaa said. "I mean, they did something very brazen before, and managed to cover their tracks well. If the Administrator wants to get her revenge, she'll need to get them to expose a weakness. This seems like as good a chance as any to scope them out. But why bring us, won't they recognise.... Oh."

Stovaa paused, realisation dawning on him. He hadn't really thought about it before, assuming it to be another bungle in a long line. But really, it was incredibly ingenious. "Bravo, Ma'am."
 
For once, Claire didn't pipe up and add her own innuendo laced comments to the conversation as she usually enjoyed doing. The memories of what happened still fresh in her head, how close she had been to pulling the trigger anyway, and what finally stopped her.

As for taking her job 'seriously', Claire turned to Cassefin and smiled. The smile was neither friendly or reassuring.
 
There was a pause in the shuttle as everyone became tense because of the name 'Vinross Yu-Cranker'. Blake shuddered empathetically. Still, he couldn't help but wonder aloud, as he went over his as-of-yet unused Variable Weapon and his freshly broken in HHG, "So, what happened with Vinross Yu-Cranker Materials, and why is it scary to everyone here?"
 
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