Welcome to Gaia! ::

Tri waited at the one of the loading and unloading bays that was built underground with a sloped road leading down to it. The moment he received word that a van with high security clearance had made it past the check point he went to wait for it after sending a text to Mara and grabbing one of the ear transmitters which he had promptly put on. Now he just watched the formation of the security detail placed on the subject and the two others cars and just made a note of it. Turning his gaze to the man who approached him he nodded and silently took the manila folder his own expression was blank.

"Things have been prepared" was his only response as he watched them leave until only he and the child were left. Not to be afraid of her, but also not to underestimate her were the words Mara had passed on to him from one of her mysterious contacts. How much each was he supposed to give? Darkness swarmed up from the ground and engulfed the manila folder and his hand, once it faded the folder was gone, appearing on Mara's desk.

"Hexxis, correct?" He said quietly as he watched her look toward the light that was coming from some of the skylights. They will be taking a sloping path up toward the courtyard area before heading to what Mara had prepared. He felt a twinge of anger at the risk, at not being told how dangerous she was or could be and allowing everyone here that same risk. //don't be afraid ... don't underestimate her//. " My name is Tri, come with me" he took a step forward and turned to look at her waiting to see what she will do. A child... it wasn't that long ago Ree was that age.

Tri waited until she reached him before turning away and leading the way up. He missed Ree or even one of the human security guards to take up the rear , not bring one in the first place due to the fear of humans many metas had. Now he was kicking himself mentally for not at least putting on on stand-by.

As they walked up the slope, that also doubled as a road into the courtyard, he glanced toward Hexxis taking the moment to actually view her carefully. The first thing to catch his eyes was the collar, one that was almost similar to his own, supplemented with two on her wrists connected with a chain. Boots covered his view of her ankles but maybe there were there too. Overkill, especially for a child. Then her eye...was it damaged? how about the damage the collar and bracelets have done?

"Well this is fun"

Mara's voice whispered through the comm at his ear but going from her voice fun was the furthest thing from her mind. "What?" he muttered quietly, glancing at the child but still leading the way until they reached the courtyard itself. Pale sunlight was filtering in through the clouds above but there were a few breaks allowing the full strength of the sun to shine through. It illuminated the greyish/white of the buildings surrounding it and a few off in the distance. All lower level areas were lobbies or waiting rooms with the only exception being a coffee/sandwich shop having exclusive rights to sell their wares to the employees inside.

"I wonder how my contact will react if I gifted her a rabid porcupine"

Trisuri raised a brow and just waited.

"You're giving me that look aren't you? ::there was a sigh:: Okay " there was a pause. "Take her to the coffee shop.... tell her to pick anything she wants to eat or drink then go outside and eat it"

"What?!" Tri raised his hand and pressed the comm closer to his ear, there was a flicker of alarm on his face as he stopped abruptly.

"Exactly as you heard. go buy something from the coffee shop, let her pick ..pick something for yourself ...both of you eat it outside then you can take her to the room. No I am not crazy... I will meet you when you get there"

Tri stood still a few moments longer as he thought that through.. must be something from her file and so far ..there had been no trouble. The collar and bracelets were active and the previous detail had not restrain her more than she was. "What do you want to drink?" he said finally leading the way to the coffee shop as more employees and visitors walked on through. There were the normal glances directed toward Tri, a few even looking at the visitors who looked at him in amusement but now many were taking note of the collared and bracelet Meta by him. Tri muttered something quietly about Mara's mental state and he opened the door for Hexxis.

Tri watched her waiting, even if she did not talk or change expressions she still gave off the feeling of being confused. It was in the way she moved and look around before pointing at someone's cup instead of a word or even a picture.

That decided for him , he only cast a cursory glance at the person she pointed to and moved to the cashier. "Two hot chocolate and two glazed doughnuts " he said quietly, as he shifted to watch her while he took out the needed money and paid for the things. Taking the doughnuts he pass her one of the bags.

There were soft mutters of speculations and he could hear them as he moved to stand by her, one of his lower wings lightly brushing against her. A new meta to join Mara's pet project? or a new specimen? Did Tri bring back another egg? why two bracelets as well as a collar and all three active?

//Mara..// he thought his hand reaching up absently to touch his own collar under his jacket before bringing the hand down. It wasn't as if he wasn't curious as well but he wouldn't know until he was able to meet again with Mara. Until then he was flying blindly.. and that was not something he was happy with at all. As the barista placed down the two cups with a faint smile at both metas he muttered a thank you and sweeped up both the cups and the second bag before looking at Hexxis. "It's hot" he said handing the cup to her. "We're to go outside and eat it"

Tri looked faintly surprised to see her let go of his coat to grasp the cup, he had not felt her grab on in the first place. He mused about it as he opened the door for both of them. Including the faint flick of confusion and interest when he mentioned going outside.. was she not allowed too?

He glanced down again as they walked toward a couple of benches, one that was shaded by at least one tree and was luckily not taken. Looking away again he took a sip of his chocolate as he tried to understand the sudden protective feeling that arose when he noticed her walking close to him. Her size reminded him of Ree but not her personality...then why?

Yet, he did nothing to encourage or discourage the closeness. Instead he motioned to the bench in front of them and made no indication of going to sit himself. "Are you able to speak?" he may not have access to the file but it didn't mean he could not try to figure out the basics as he gave Mara time to so ..whatever the heck she was doing now.

------------



Mara shook her head with a sigh as she looked toward the file again and hanged up the phone. She had just ask for video of both the coffee shop and the courtyard for the current hour to be sent to her once it was done and for the surveillance video of the loading area for the same hour to be erased. A Gift....a gift. A bloody darn double edge sword was more like it. Plus..right out of Spectrum...or formerly Spectrum..weren't they supposed to be helping? hm..that will have to be a question for later.

Already they were moving what few things they had placed in specific room that they were going to give her to another more contained one as well as add a few things last minute from what they could find. Or at least her poor secretary was doing so, she was here breaking into Ree's room for one last thing. One she was sure he wouldn't miss one bit. Looking around the fairly clean room she moved toward the closet and dug out a green foot tall bunny that looked nearly pristine out from under a tiger, a bear, a whale, even a large mouse. The others had teeth marks on them but the bunny didn't. "Hmph. Hoppity hop hop to you mr bunny" she tucked it under her arm and left the room, locking it behind her.

Tri tilted his head slightly at the sound of her voice. Was that what Mara and Ree accused him of sounding like some times? It was odd to hear it coming from a child.

"Do you want more?" he offered the second doughnut, not going to touch it nor was he going to give it to Mara now. He had other more important questions to ask but the location was not ideal with all those listening ears. Not when two people took a seat in one of the other benches in the full sun.

"We're ready "

Tri blinked and nodded before looking at Hexxis. "They are ready. " he motioned her to get up and follow stopping to wait.


Mara along with three other researchers spoke quietly in front of the room as one technician inside checked the cameras before placing the protective plastic over them again. "No... We will need our own base values to compare too in the future. So yes a re-run of a majority of the test... except theses.. ive mared the ones where we will have to accept the previous values... I am sure you will understand why once you read them" she said handing out copies of one page to all three of them.

Tri watched her quietly, glancing up at the sky once but seeing nothing out of the ordinary before he turned and lead her through the doors to one of the buildings. They passed a waiting room with soft creams and whites and even some tans that made it almost seem serene, past a few people who were waiting and through some double doors that lead into a more utilitarian white corridor, one that spoke of age instead of the new like the waiting room behind them.

There were less and less people the deeper they went until they were almost alone when they reached Mara and the others. "Madam?" he said quietly to catch her attention.

Mara looked up and stared between them. "Hexxis correct? how was your trip" she motioned for them to come closer. "My name is (title) Mara Gold. You have been transfer into my care. Do you understand what that means?"

Mara frowned as she listened to the meta recite things off as if they had nothing to do with her. As is she were a computer, repeating things without emotion when it obviously pertained to her. small part of her mind wondered what they had to do to get her to be this way, while at the same time not wanting to know. She knew there were no real standards or safeties in place for those they worked on, that landed fully on the person running the project and she had no delusions that many held her view, if any did at all. "Hexxis " she said once and waited, seeing if she had her full attention before continuing. "I understand that. I want to know if -you- understand what is happening. What is to be expected and why you are here"

Feathers bristled slightly at her words. Owner... ownership as if they were nothing but pets. His shifted his stance slightly but otherwise he kept his calm outward appearance as he watched Mara and the other three researchers who had stayed back to watch. Eventually they would not be owned.. or pets or be forced to wear a collar for political purposes as he did .. only for those who couldn't control their power. Nor will children walk around traumatized by those who should be keeping them safe, instead of turning them into something for their own purposes. Mara wanted rights for them, safety for both species but still had to be a realist and work within her bounds. There was also the Sanctuary, if their words could be trusted..so slowly..slowly.

He turned his focused back to her words...authority level unknown? who was that contact? He narrowed his eyes before turning to look at Hexxis waiting to see how she would respond to that.