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A large black motorcycle sped past cars on the highway. It was night in Aekea, the bright city lights cutting through the dense air on either side of the long stretch of road. The bike took an off-ramp to the downtown area and came to a halt on the near-desolate main street. The driver of the bike set his foot down on the pavement.

Looming corporate buildings towered around the two as the driver gazed up, removing his helmet and setting it atop the bike's handlebars. As grim and gloomy as ever, this city seemed to be coated in a constant haze, a cold and lifeless feeling. The population seemed scarce, only a scant few inhabitants seen walking the streets at this late hour,and they were all but human.

Crim`, the driver, turned and looked to Kata. "So what do you think?"

"Charming eh? I... Guess. Watch it though, there a lot more to most of these people than it seems. It's like my arm... Or that thing that attacked us. Well, he wasn't hiding anything, but yeah. I'm almost positive something like that had to have come from here..." Crim` stood and stretched after kicking down his bike's kickstand.

"So... I doubt the scientist I need to see is in, I believe the Serano building is closed right now, unless he's working late, security wouldn't let us in even if we did show up there right now so do you want to go get something to eat? A room? It's been a long trip."

"I know a pretty nice place nearby. A concierge owes me a favor. No worries, it's on me." Crim` said, hopping back onto his bike. "The food is great, by the way." he said with a smirk, flaring up the engine of his motorcycle again and sliding his helmet on, keeping the visor up.

((Hope you don't mind Kata, I'll just speak for both of us in some parts of this to move this along a bit quicker than it's going =O))

A hop, skip, and a jump away the two arrived at the hotel Crim` mentioned. It was a pretty ritzy place to say the least, classy. He parked his bike on the first level of the parking garage. Soon they were greeted by a doorman after a short walk around to the front entrance.

"I'm a friend of Sam's." said Crim`. "Is he in?"

"Ah yes, I remember you. A mister Skylicker, right?" asked the very young doorman, dressed in red attire. "Y'know, Sam is now director of the hotel. Actually I just saw him in the lobby a few minutes ago..."

"Oh really now? Looks like all his hard work finally paid off." said Crim` with a slightly surprised look on his face. After a quick glance to the young man's nametag, Crim` nodded to him. "Thanks, Otto." The two entered the hotel lobby and Crim` walked to the main desk, a woman greeting both of them. "Welcome to the Grand Fatale.(grim right?) What can I do for you tonight?"

Before Crim` spoke he was greeted by a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Ah Crim` Skylicker, I thought that was you!" said a man. Crim` turned to see a cheerful olive-skinned thirty-something man in a well-tailored suit. His onyx hair was combed neatly and he wore a thin mustache upon a narrow visage. "Ah Sam. Long time." said Crim`. "Long time indeed, what brings you here?" asked Sam. "Business." replied Crim`, simple and to the point. The man got a bit of a concerned look. "Hm, I see... Same old Crim` afterall." Crim` shrugged. "Anyway, congrats on the position! I hear you pretty much run this place now." said Crim`, changing the subject. "Yeah, now I can finally make this place into hotel I always dreamed of. By the by, who's the lovely young lady?" asked the man.

"Oh this is Kat, she's a... Friend." said Crim`. "Oh?" asked Sam, quirking a brow and giving Crim` a sly look which basically translated into "Ohoho I see how it is...". Crim` raised his hands in front of him and laughed reluctantly. "Oh no no, it's nothing like that. She's my... Partner." said Crim`. "Ah, so she is. You are here on business, afterall, right?" asked Sam.

"Right." said Crim`.

"Well miss Kat, my name is Samuel Deville, it's a pleasure." said the man, extending a hand to Katastrophy.

((The Grand Fatale: Their rates are TO DIE FOR! rofl ))

((Okay, so that would make me Squall, you... Selphie, Delve=Zell, CV ULTIMECIA! And like... Arch, well, Arch is Laguna. Or a Ruby Dragon. Or something called ARCH WEAPON...))

"Ah thank you, we work hard everyday to make it a nicer place." said Samuel, shaking Kat's hand. He looked back to Crim`. "Anyway, you two must be tired from the trip. You still driving that old suicide sled, Crim`?"

Crim` laughed a bit. "Yeah same one."

"How about I set you up in one of the top floor VIP suites? On me, afterall I do owe you one, Crim`." said Sam.

"Well that's quite an offer... You sure?" asked Crim`.

"Ofcourse old friend, it's the least I could do." replied Sam.

"If you insist..." replied Crim`, looking to Kat.

"I'm sure you'll enjoy it. There's two bedrooms, the best room service, a mini-bar and a great view. Feel free to stay as long as you need to." said Sam, smiling to the two. He gestured for a bellboy to come over and take whatever luggage the two had brought in up to the room. Each of them were handed a cardkey to the room and Samuel then bowed slightly. "Like I said, enjoy the room. I'm afraid however, that I have other pressing matters to attend to. If you two need anything feel free to let me know."

And with a nod from Crim`, Samuel was off to his office. Crim` looked down at the cardkey then at Kat. "Good deal. Well, I'm going to head to the Serano building first thing in the morning, eh... before noon at least." he said, clearly indicating that he wasn't a morning person. "But right now... I think I'm going to check out the room... And the mini-bar."

Crim` looked up at Kat from his spot behind the bar, pouring the brown contents of a Jack Daniel's bottle into a medium-sized glass with a couple cubes of ice in it. "Oh! What would you like? This place has some great cooks... They pretty much prepare anything. Oh, actually, here's a menu." said Crim`, pointing to a menu on the bartop.

((Go ahead and walk through whatever ya want, I've got work in the morning so bedtime for me. =)))

After two stiff drinks on an empty stomach, plus a tired body, Crim` was feeling kind of, well... tipsy. He smelled food. Hm. None for him. And so he called for roomservice himself and ordered a DOUBLE BACON CHEESEBURGER DELUXE WITH FRIES. It arrived soon after, he devoured it with zeal, and soon passed out in the other room.