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Crim` woke up and fell, well, into the bedside lamp. Damn, why was he so clumsy in his sleep? The answer to this fateful dilemma would be the recurring dream where Crim` is in that carnival episode of Scooby Doo and when the gang gets knocked over they all run into him. At that moment, he wakes from his dream FREAKED OUT and falls out of bed, off the couch, or whereever the hell he fell asleep at. Often into stuff. Often into knives. Often needing disinfectant.

No knives this time in his arm. Only more profanities! Oh well! He stood, shaken but not stirred, and wobbled to the bathroom. He took a quick shower and ran his fingers through his terribly kept hair, split ends that would make a hairstylist cringe. Good enough. He quickly got dressed in some fresh clothes and concealed the customized stabby implement he's grown to love, a few throwing knives, and then headed out of the door.

He gazed at the mini-bar, his eyes suddenly filled with that fateful look anime characters get swhen they're about to do something very VERY vital to the plot. Indeed, he wanted one, but maybe he should stay sober. Never know what lurks on these streets. Well, actually, the problem was he DID know, and it was a bit of a push toward sobriety... for now. And so he pulled out a cigarette from the crumpled pack he had slipped intohis pocket when gathering his personal effects, grabbing a butane lighter shaped like a voluptious woman, tilted her head to the side and suddenly, a blue flame turning green sprouted! Puff puff.

He looked around for Kat.

Crim` nearly spit his cigarette out in laughter. "Die an early death... Hahah that's rich. Don't you remember who you're talking to? Ahem... Yeah. I did say that... I guess that would make us late, the Serano building is on the other end of town and actually I was hoping to catch the guy I'm looking for while he's out at lunch... He's pretty predictable so he'll probably be at a coffee shop across the street from the building." he said, then taking a long drag of his cigarette. His mind began to wander as to Kata's control over fire. He hoped she wouldn't literally detonate the cigarette in his mouth due to his earlier laughter. His eyes wandered to her slowly and he saw a bit of a disgusted look onher face. He raised his jacket's sleeve and checked the time on his wristwatch, lowering the cigarette. He frowned. "s**t, it is getting late. We'd better get going." he said, then he began walking toward the main door of the suite, flicking his cigarette into the kitchen sink before he'd get a face full-of tobacco and ashes. Terrible manners, amirite?

"He's the guy almost solely responsible for my right arm, he designed it so he's pretty much the only one that can repair it quickly." he said, looking at his right hand as they exited the elevator and arrived in the lobby. "He's one of the main scientists of Serano's military development branch, probably the best.

And soon the two had made it to the garage. Crim` hopped onto the bike and yawned, still kind of sleepy apparently.

Crim` twitched a bit. "Ah... Ha... Hadn't thought of that. He is kind of old..." he thought for a second, adjusting his helmet. "And Aekea isn't the safest place to live, even if you are the upper class. I guess I'll have to find a better plan B than the one you mentioned, because as you've seen I'm not exactly careful with it. I mean, seriously other scientists can fix it, but like I said earlier he's the only one who can do it quickly being that he's the only one who understands it's design. It'd take a lot of analysis of it for anyone else to know how to fix or rebuild it..." He continued, cranking up his bike and revving it a bit. "Well, I'll think about that later..."

Soon the two were off and in around 15 minutes of reckless speedy driving that'd make any Grand Theft Auto character proud they arrived at the building. Crim` looked across the street and sure enough saw the guy he was looking for sitting and drinking from a cup in a small coffee shop. "That's him." he said as he turned off the motorcycle, getting off and removing his helmet. "Okay now... Might wanna take it easy with this guy. He's a bit... jumpy." he said to Kat, frowning a bit. Suddenly he had a look on his face that showed reluctance. Was there a reason he wasn't too thrilled about going to see this guy?

Crim` looked at Kat with a raised brow, the look on her face very discomforting.

Never trust a cute girl with that look, he'd learned that a long time ago. Knowing Kata's history further enforced his hypothesis that there was something devious floating through that pretty little head of hers.

He coughed.

"Yes... Just... Don't pull out the guns... Or threaten anyone for a little while... If you don't mind." he said, his eyes a bit wide. And with that and a look both ways, he would walk across the street and scratch his head before going into the coffee shop. Still hesitating, he lowered his head and pushed in the door. The guy still didn't notice. Crim` got distracted by a cute waitress. "Hi there..." he said softly, a smirk on his face.

Wait, why am I here again?

Oh right!

Rather than hitting on her he instead began walking toward the man he seeked. He would set his hand on the man's shoulder as he sat there. Suddenly, a spark of madness, surprise! The man JUMPED up, turned and quickly pointed his finger at Crim's face after spilling his coffee. His mouth opening widely with every pronounced insult.

"You b*****d! I spilled my coffee! Don't you know who the hell I am! You unrefined cur! Dirty son of a..." the short man paused, looking up at Crim`, who stood there with his arms crossed, leaning against the boothseat with a look on his face that showed he expected just that reaction. Crim` sighed.

"Oh it's you..." said the scientist, his large framed glasses drooping on the bridge of his pointy nose.

"Right. I have to talk to you..." said Crim` pushing himself off of the seat and sighing again.

Crim` continued, his tone becoming serious as he looked the man dead in the eyes. "My arm needs maintenance. Now I've done favors for your little corporation in the past as payment for you guys giving me this thing, but this time I'm paying in cash so don't think that I'm going to be your corporate lackey again..."

"Ohoho, so all that wreckless behaviour finally caught up with you eh? Well, it'll cost a pretty penny. Hope you can pay. How could you possibly neglect a work of art like that? That is one of my finest creations!" replied the scientist, his demeanor reverting bck to his earlier overenthusiasm.

Crim` sighed again. "Look let's just get it over with..."

The man hopped off of the booth table he had apparently been standing on for the duration of the coversation, landing with surprising agility for someone who looked like they were in their 60s, and landed near Kata. He was a short man, even shorter than the catgirl.

"Ah ha, I saw you come in with him!" He leaned extremely close to Kat, so close that she could see the small hairs on the mole on his wrinkly forehead. An ultra wide grin spread across his face as his squinty eyes peered up into hers. "So are you two... Getting it on???" asked the old man who apparentlywas also an enthused pervert.

(( xd I did that solely to see what Kata's reaction would be!))

Crim's eyes widened as he noticed Kata was seemingly seducing the man. I mean, he'd have understood if that reach for her bra would end with a gun to the man's head, but he was, to say the least, VERY surprised. He noticed she was looking at him and his mouth widened as he heard her statement about himself not being so high on the list. Ouch.

Needless to say the scientist was equally surprised, if not more. His eyes seemed to begin to water a bit and his cheeks began to take on a bright shade of red.

"I-I-... Oh really?" asked the clearly nervous scientist. "So... Where does that put me?!" asked the man, a ray of HOPE seeming to shine in his eyes, perverted thoughts clearly racing through his brittle old mind.