She isn't here yet. Thee is early. Nia was early, by about fifteen minutes. Walking up to the bar she pulled her comlink out to see if she had missed any messages from Attie. Why am I so nervous? She didn't have Mimi with her, which felt odd, but Nia had left her with Woo-Yaal in their room. But something felt… wrong. A tickle in the back of her head. Putting her comlink back and waving down the bartender, she ordered a drink.

“What's a cutie like you doing here so early?” Nia jumped as the voice came from jest beside her. “Hahaha, I’m sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.” The speaker was a beautiful woman leaning against the bar next to her. A glass of liquor held relaxed in one hand, long dark hair, mostly, pulled into a truly messy bun. She had the sharp good looks of a model, but she was so---- relaxed. And amused.

“Oh, umm,” Nia Stammered trying to collect herself. “I am meeting a friend here.”

“Is it a date?” the woman asked, a sly glint in her eye.

“No, just” Nia shrugged. “Drinks ya know.” the woman laughed again.

“Yeah, I gotcha. If it's not a date though, do you think they will mind if I keep you company for now?” what?! Kyahaha!

“Y-yea. I-I’d appreciate that.” What am I saying? How can she fluster me so easily? “What are you doing here so early?” Asked Nia, trying to turn the tables.

“I am a doctor at VGH and I just got off a twelve-hour shift that turned into a twenty-one-hour shift. So,” she said, giving Nia a wry smile. V.G.H. was the shortening for Vah Galla Hospital, the largest most technologically advanced hospital in the system. “For me, it's basically midnight.”

“Well,” said Nia, returning the smile with a lopsided one of her own. “For a shift to go that long, you must be either really bad or really good. Which are you?” The woman took a drink of her liquor before responding.

“Cute and clever. You are quite a pleasant surprise. Pride makes me want to say I am “really good” but, my salary would say that I have transcended to something far beyond.” Now it was Nia’s turn to laugh, which seemed to make the woman quite happy. “Ya know Cutie, you haven't told me your name yet.”

“Nia.”

“Charmed. I’m Maal.”

“That's a scary name for a doctor.”

“It's a nickname,” Maal said with a sly smile.

“That makes it worse.”

‘It's not spelled the way you are thinking. Pull out your comlink, I'll show you what I mean.” Maal raised an eyebrow when Nia reached into her shirt to get her comlink. Keying it open, Nia held it out to Maal. Blink! Nia stared, dumbstruck. What is with this aura? (Clout) She is a fox. No, not a fox, a jaguar. Nia had expected Maal to type out her name on her comlink. Instead, she had pulled her own comlink out and exchanged contact information. I got played. Nia felt her ears get hot.

Happy with her swipe Maal leaned back, taking another sip of her drink “Feel free to let me know if you have any medical problems. I would be more than happy to have you visit my office, but, just for you, I might be willing to do a house call.” Something about this “house call” didn't sound very “medical” to Nia.

“You have your own office?”

“Apartment. I have been told it has a very good view if you like that kind of thing.” Maal said as she held up her comlink to look at Nia’s stolen info. Nia was gratified in seeing a blush spread across Maal’s checks as she mouthed “Donut”. I'm gonna overheat! Nia whipped her comlink up, covering her face.

“Oh, I see. Yea, I thought you meant Maul.” her com chimed as a message flashed on her screen.”

Maal: You are unbelievably cute.

received 17:01.46

“She is late,” Nia said, all embarrassment draining from her.

“Your friend? Do you think something is wrong?”

“I--- am worried.” there was still that uneasy feeling at the back of her head. Nia had never been the kind of person to fret and wait before making a decision. Once, she came to a conclusion she did what needed to be done, if new information came along she would adjust then. But it was always better to be prepared for the worst. Or at least, be aware of it.

Before she knew what she was doing Nia had opened a message to Zane.

Donut: Hack and track, you still have it?

received 17:02.23

Z: Ye

Z: Downloading it to your link now.

received 17:03.05

A loading bar popped up on her screen. Reliable as always.

Donut: Thanks Z, I owe you

received: 17:03.14

Z: Safe hunting.

received 17:03.31

“What are you going to do?” asked Maal.

“Track her. If things seem normal, great! If not, I'll investigate.” Nia was in full op mode. Maal was taken back. Then with a smile asked

“You sure she isn’t your girlfriend?

The download finished, Nia started a hack on Attie’s link. The hack seemed to take hours. Finally, the comlink chimed with a location. Alarm bells rang in Nia’s head.

“That's on the lowest level, isn't it?” Maal had been watching over her shoulder.

“Yes.” Nia sprang into action. Holding her comlink up to her right ear and switching it to “Active Mode”. Her comlink transformed, attaching to her ear and extending along the side of her eye it deployed its transparent screen over her right eye. Grabbing her drink she drained it in one go, then, immediately drew on Void to keep the alcohol from hitting her brain. Fire blossomed in her stomach. Then turning to Maal.

“Sorry, but I have to leave. Thanks for talking to me.”

“Oh, Cutie, you'd best believe I'll be seeing you again.” Smiling, Nia spun and headed for the door.

“Wait!” Maal caught up to her just outside the door. “Do you have a bike? I can take you on mine. It will be faster than public transit.” Maybe she is more kind-hearted than I thought.

“Thank you, but I am plenty fast on my own.’ Nia said, activating her comlink. The display in front of her eye lit up, mapping her route, marking gates.

“If you say so,” Maal said. Then, after a pause. “Please be safe, Cutie.” Nia flashed Maal her biggest, most confident smile. Turning, she pulled her hair back in a ponytail, Void tying it. Breaking into a sprint, Nia summoned her Void Crown.

Maal watched the cute girl take off at an incredible speed down the street. Turning, she went back to her drink. She was here to meet someone as well after all. But after meeting that girl, Nia, she couldn't seem to feel as interested in meeting her “friend”. I'll com Yugen and cancel. She’ll understand. Sitting down and grabbing her drink, she pulled her comlink out. The scene of Nia tying her hair back and then running away. That smile. Her genuine laugh. She drained her glass and then ran off to save her friend. Maal sighed, slumping over her cup.

“Damn. She is totally my type.” Maal had never thought she needed close friends or love for that matter. The first was convenient at best and the second was a farce, used to trick people into unnecessarily binding themselves to one another. At least that is how Maal had always seen it. But, something about that Cutie. It made her want to… she didn't know. She couldn’t form the feeling in her chest into words.

“Someone is looking sleepy.” came Yugen’s beautiful, lightly accented voice. Maal sat up, sliding her com into her pocket, the message unsent, and smiled at Yugen.

“Sorry, I probably won't be much fun tonight. I am worn out from my last shift.”

“What are you apologizing for? Just leave it to me.” Yugen said, leaning against the bar.

Maal was beautiful and she knew it, she was constantly getting hit on by all kinds of people. It was a little annoying sometimes, but she did enjoy the ego boost it gave her. It feels good to be praised.

Yugen though was on a whole other level. One of those people that anyone regardless of taste or swing would be smitten by. Even now when she wasn't even trying, everyone in the bar was stealing glances at her. Maal on the other hand didn't have to steal glances, she looked straight into Yugen’s eyes. Yugen was a Yokarii. Human-kin with horns and, almost as a rule, more physically strong. Yugen had two beautiful, onyx black horns that sprouted from her head just above and behind her ears, sweeping forward along her head and turning up at the tips. Wavy red hair so dark it almost looked brown. Her flawless skin was a beautiful brown, starkly accented by white tattoos. Though they were covered now by her jacket and pants, Maal knew where they were. For now, only the three bands on her ear were visible. Dark eyes, high cheeks, full lips, her perfectly cut face couldn't help but look royal. Every bit of one hundred and eighty-nine centimeters, a perfect figure with posture to match. Yokarii were human-kin but there was something wild to them. A brutal beauty. Maal had told Yugan as much before. Yugan had taken it almost too well “Like playing with fire you say? You know, isn't the fun part about playing with fire the ever-present knowledge that you will get burned? But you play anyway because it's that edge that makes you feel so alive. It's fun because you might get hurt. Tell me, Maal, do you want to get hurt? Just a little?”

Draining her glass in one go, just like Nia, Maal looked back up at Yugen.

“I wanna get hurt. Just a little.” the corner of Yugen’s mouth turned up in a smile.

“Okay, I’ll be gentle.”