Marron sighed over the hum of her diesel-engine car, a rather large... very expensive item. Accompanying her as always were few of her thugs, dressed up in suits, as usual. Her eyes rolled around to them, and they gave a slight nod to her. Back to the window flew her gaze, her fingers drumming upon her chin. Today was a dull day. No crimes or misdeeds planned for today, noone to collect 'Protection' from. Nothing. At least she was going to get to go out today. After what seemed like an eternity of waiting, her vehicle came to a halt, and she would step out, fluffing out her dress, and looking at the place in question. It looked like a rather nice building, and the aroma of food was enthralling. Nothing she hadn't smelt before, but it was a nice change.

She walked in the door, and almost immediately was seated. Being the leader of a Gang had it's perks. As her two bodyguards went to sit down, he held up a hand, to signal them to stop. "Nah-ah-ahh! No, you won't be eating here. Or at least not at this table. I'd prefer a while without your company, if you would." She said, grabbing her napkin, and placing it in her lap. The two men looked to each other, shrugged, and went out to stand next to the door.

A server came by with a bottle of wine, and poured her a glass, before moving on to serve other people. She smiled, took a sip of her wine and sighed, enjoying the reletive quiet of the eating establishment. Perhaps someone would come by. A playful harlequin. A prude strumpet. A quirky inventor? You never know....

It was a warm morning as always in the town of Sapphire Falls. Ara got up wearing only bike shorts, a black tank top and her black choker. She got dressed into her white shirt, her skirt, socks and boots. Before leaving the house she tied her red tie. Ara began to walk down the road to her workshop.
Meanwhile Illa walked down the other way and noticed Ara. Suddenly she had a flashback: Ara was hit by cannonfire. When the dust cleared a mechanical neko body stood there with glowing red eyes. It began shooting with a machinegun in her right arm. Then a cannon came out of her mouth and she shot at the enemy cannon. After the enemies were dead, she disappeared.
Illa fell back in fear. Ara noticed Illa and held her hand out. "Did you trip? I will help you up." Illa looked at Aras smile but didnt trust her.

Derrik yawned and promptly fell out of his bed. His eyes flew open and he looked up at his bed. “Oh dear,” he sighed, “I’m sure that’ll hurt later.” He took the opportunity of being on the floor to get to work at his morning push-ups, after which he stood to get dressed. He pulled on his white shirt and trousers, then took them pack off, realizing he hadn’t yet taken off the cloths he’d worn to bed. So he undressed then redressed in the proper clothes, and ran a brush through his hair.

“Derrik! Breakfast!”

Graycie was a humble Neko, not exceptionally beautiful, but born to be a housewife. She was a wonderful cook, an excellent cleaner, and an amazing sewer, and her faithful husband, Keltin the mechanic, never let her forget it. Still, she wasn’t proud, only thankful she’d been blessed with such wonderful skills, and an equally wonderful family to match. Sure, she’d married a Daja, even though her mother hadn’t approved, and perhaps the young boy she considered her son wasn’t hers by blood, but she loved them both without question, and even chuckled when Derrik flew down the stair and into his chair at the table, half dressed, tail wagging and comb wedged into his hair.

Derrik was out of the house in less than an hour, prowling the town for scraps of metal, used tools for sale, or anything else that might come in handy. He strolled over to the town’s restaurant, seeing as the chef in the back almost always had something interesting to give him, and Derrik hadn’t been in for a while. He paused a moment at the two large thugs standing just outside the restaurants doors, but smiled and waved as he walked in. “Hiya ‘gents!”

Outside, Marron's bodyguard stood like statues, unresponding to people...untill one person in particular came up to them. He walked straight past them, with a cheery “Hiya ‘gents!". The guards raised an eyebrow each, as their head slowly turned to watch him walk in.

Marron inside, now had a rather appealing looking table to an outside. Wine. Lamb. Potatoes. Honey rolls. The fine eating establishment really did aim to please. She smiled as she took another sip of wine, before picking up her diningware, and begining to eat as manneredly as one would expect.... from a tomboy leader of the gang. Of course, everyone knew who she was, and didn't want to correct her on how she should eat. While modest, it wasn't the most civillized thing in the world. Just as she was about to have into the lamb, she would note a man walk through the door. He was...in Marrons oppinion, poorly dressed, badly groomed and all around sloppy. No reason to shout it at him yet. She would keep an eye on him though, a very light one. He was TOO scruffy looking to be in the right place. He couldn't be here to eat. No self-respecting man would come here to eat like that. She would wait...and see what he wished.... But she couldn't help but feel nosey...

Derrik whistled a merry tune as he waked into the restaurant and plopped himself into a booth. The waiter approached. “Good day sir, might I start you off with anything? A drink perhaps?”

Derrik smiled. “Just a glass of water if you don’t mind, Jer. Oh, and would you tell Kassidy, I’m here?”

“Of course.” The waiter smiled kindly, hurrying away to do as asked. Derrik leaned back in his booth, glancing around at the people in the restaurant. His eye was caught by a young woman at a nearby table. She was very beautiful; even if her eating habits didn’t quite mirror the elegant clothing she wore. But he did catch of glimpse of combat boots. “interesting.” He murmured to himself before he realized she’d been staring at him as well. A little embarrassed to be caught people watching, he grinned widely and waved at her.

Marron continued to eye the boy, before finally, their eyes met. Her lavender pearls would shoot a look of interest onto his. The look of curiousity even. She lifted the now almost empty glass of wine to her lips, downing what was rest of it. She noted that he had been lead to a booth, which proved her wrong about him not being here to eat. Or at least so she thought. He was getting an eyeful of her, which only caused her to grin. But the finishing touch was when he shot his own toothy grin at her and waved. What a delightful little Daja. He thinks he's cute. He seems amusing, and he might could pull me from my rotten mood. She thought, only smiling gently back. However, as the hand left the wineglass, she pulled her hand slowly to the air, pointed at him, and began to gently beckon him. Her fingers slowly danced, before going back to her meal, looking away from him.

She wondered if he'd actually partake...

Illa got up and stumbled backwards. "Whats wrong? Have I done something wrong?" Ara said. Illa stumbled into a restaurant and said: "Stay away. I have seen you before. You are not human!" "Not human? You must be mistaken. We havent met before." Ara said. Illa then replied with sweat pearling on her forehead: "I have seen you before. You ruthlessly killed Iterans and their children. You were hit by cannonfire and still stood as a machine." "A machine? Tsk. I might have a few modifications but I am not a machine. Look at your mechanical left hand. Does that make you a machine? And killing Iterans is probably something many here have done. They arent worth living because they killed so many of our people." Ara said. Illa was even more shocked that Ara didnt show any sign of regret: "Just stay away!" A tear ran down Illas cheek.

Derrik was surprised the woman had beckoned him. Never one to turn down an invitation he stood and walked over to the table. His eyes never left her as he approached. She was a curious person, presumably a Beru, though her skin and hair were rather light. The way she dressed she had to be rich, or at least pretending, meaning the thugs outside were most likely hers. He stood beside the table a moment before sitting in the chair opposite her. “Hello, mam.” He smiled lightly. “How are you this fine afternoon?”

Marron smiled as he indulged in her offer, sitting across from him. She offered him a rather bright smile, assuming him a peon of the work force of the lower cities. As he took a seat, she propped her elbows up on the table and propped her chin on her hands. "Why hello, my industrious worker, I presume. How might you be this fine evening? Well, I assume? Or am I to assume wrong? You seem rather misplaced, not exactly a rose in the desert sort of misplaced, more like....an open air debre garden in the middle of a royal park." She said, waving her hands as if it didn't matter what she said.

"It's not every day that the Leader of the Shaded Gears gets to have an unplanned dinner with a complete stranger. I do hope you are not nervous." She said, pridefully. "But I am rambling.... Marron Veceldo. Charmed, truly. You may call me Marron, I suppose, just for that the only thing I hear these days is 'Miss Veceldo, Miss Veceldo.'" She said with a lighthearted giggle. She stopped giggling, and let out a light, obviously fake gasp. "Oh my, where are my manners. Please, may I get you anything to eat? To drink? You are not asking for anything too much here." She said, truly being generous.

Xamadia took a deep breath, holding the smells of the hot desert day inside of her. She wasn't bothered by the heat much, sure she sweated a little, even with the relief of her light cotton clothing. But hey, at least she was fairly comfortable and not freezing to death like she had been in the mountains. "Stupid cold resupply mission" she muttered to herself as Xamadia continued down the street. She had been given leave for the next few days and she intended to spend it in the easiest way possible. Sipping coffee in her favorite cafe, catching back up on the news, and possible reading one of the books she had been neglecting over the past few weeks.

Xamadia picked her way slowly through the streets, trying to take in all the sights and smells she had been missing but was forced to stop abruptly when two very large Beru seemed to be standing guard outside of the Cafe she wished to visit. Immediately Xamadia knew that something was slightly amiss. Sure, bodyguards weren't uncommon in some of the rougher areas of town, yet this was an exceptionally nice cafe and happened to be owned by her family. There was really no reason for the guards.

A brief thought entered her head that maybe it would be best to wait for her two friends to meet up with her before entering the establishment. However she quickly dismissed this as unneeded. She probably take out both guards if needed and if they stopped her from entering then something would definitely be wrong. Upon approaching the Rainbow Cafe though the guards made only a slight notice of her but did not attempt to stop her as she walked in. She kept them in mind as she sat down at an empty table and ordered a coffee when the waiter came around.

Xamadia very quickly made sure the guns strapped to her legs were very easily accessible as she began to observe the cafe around her. Nothing seemed out of place but their was one lady sitting at the other end of the cafe with a young Daja. The lady acted like a typical noble but despite the dress and the looks, her face wasn't soft and despite the dress and the attitude, she just did not look like a noble. Upon looking her over more Xamadia could glimpse combat boots underneath the skirt of her dress. Definitely not a noble Xamadia thought to herself.

The arrival of her coffee helped to sooth her nerves a bit but something just seemed off with the whole scene of the cafe.

Illa went to Marron and begged: "Please help me! That monster there wont leave me alone. I had done nothing wrong but I fear she might hurt me. She is a machine and one who likes to kill." Illa didnt have any since in her. She was only panicking because of flashbacks of Ara killing Iterans. "Dont listen to her. I only offered her help since she seems a bit disorientated." Ara said.

“Oh no, no I don’t need anything. “ He grinned. “I’m Derrik. My dad and I run the local auto shop. I’m delighted to meet you.” He opened his mouth to speak again, but was stopped by the epidemic suddenly at hand as the girls burst into the restaurant.

He watched the girl beg for help, and with wide eyes he glanced back and forth from the girl to Marron, and back. “Oh dear…” he murmured. He’d seen this girl around town, but never before had he thought she was mental. Strange maybe, but otherwise fairly normal. Perhaps this meant that the town would have to build a sanitarium.

Marron would note as another woman stopped in the cafe, getting seated herself.... No. Not a woman. A girl. She seemed to be much younger than herself. But she digressed. No matter her age, she was quite the beauty...now THIS girl she could see coming to the place more often....but this too was forgotten, as the lovely woman met eyes with her. She gave a very cute smile, and even a tiny finger-wiggling wave to her, shooting a wink her direction as well. She smirked, and went back to her current company, making a mental note of the woman....

"Oh! You mean that quaint little place not far from here?" She asked, smiling. "You don't say.... I bought my own auto from there. It would be right outside, but I'm sure...." She started, before the girls burst into the cafe. One dropped to her knees before Marron, and began to plead.
"Please help me! That monster there wont leave me alone. I had done nothing wrong but I fear she might hurt me. She is a machine and one who likes to kill."
Marron rose an eyebrow, obviously a little....put off by the girl's situation. Was she mad? Did she not know whom she was begging to? Or maybe she DID, know, and that's why there was pleading to her. She was about to say something, when the girl in question herself came up.
"Dont listen to her. I only offered her help since she seems a bit disorientated."

Marron looked between the two girls, a bold, expressionless look on her face. The one that was kneeling before her was also quite pretty...but the neko's looks were not to be underestimated. She honestly began to break it down into...Who's 'prettier'. She could only smile mentally. And all the wonderful ladies flock around me this day. Oh, how my luck has changed. She would pat the girl's head that was begging her, smiling down gently. "Now now, my sweetheart....there is no need to be afraid. You've obviously been near fumes, or inhaling things you should not have been." She said calmly, and only a little sarcastically. "She seems like a beautiful neko, don't you agree?" She said, leaning down to place a very slight peck upon the girl's forehead, as if trying to calm her down. "You seem to be over reacting. Please, calm down so you don't frighten any more people away from this resturant..." She said.

She slowly rose from her seat, putting the napkin in her lap a tad frustratedly. "Alas, when one is asked something, they must oblige, no? But I'm going to in a much different way. Her head turned to Derrik. "I'm very sorry, Derrik...but I've got some rather pressin business to attend to now. You're more than welcome to swing by later. You know where the Veceldo mannor is, don't you? Tell....No, better yet.... " Marron reached up, pushing her hand down into the top of her dress, a rather uncouth move, as her hand dug around at where her breasts were. She pulled out a small handgun, offering it to them. "Tell them that you are returning this to me, and they will let you in without question." She said, smiling as she lie the firearm on the table. She looked back to the two girls, leaning down, and grabbing Illa's hand like she was a confused child, and slightly pulled her to her feet. "Come now, little miscreants.... We're going to have a chat in my vehicle. Would you care to follow me, Araquel...? Or shall I have to lead you like a child as well?" She said, sweetly masking her voice for now....

Anyone in the resturant would notice that neither of the girls introduced themselves, either. She would walk out of the cafe, still holding Illa rather gently by the hand, where her auto was waiting. "Please, get in girls." She said calmly.

Xamadia had been listening in on the lady's conversation with the young boy but she was taken by surprise when the two girls ran in. She listened to the whole story but when they said Marron Xamadia almost choked on her coffee sending her into a coughing fit. THAT was Marron, THE MARRON. Something was definetly up and the girls were both activing crazy, though what they could be saying isn't impossible. Xamadia herself has fought with and against some very dangerous mechanical adaptations but the fact that Marron wanted them was a bad sign. She was already wanted on several occasions of armed robbery, grand theft, murder, you name it chances are she's done it. If the Girl begging happened to be right and the neko was one of these super weapons, then Marron would be very hard to stop.

Xamadia continued observation and almost reached for her own firearm when Marron pulled her's but she restrained herself until Marron had left outside with the girls. Once she was out the building Xamadia leaped into action. She didn't have time to call the police so instead she had to trust the waiter "Waiter, call the police, that women is a wanted criminal" she quickly told the waiter before rushing outside.. She quickly left the establishment and walked down the street a little ways, just so she would be out of the reach of Marron's guards before drawing her guns. The first was quickly pointed at Marron herself and the second pointed at her guards. "Second Lieutenant Xamadia Ackadi of the the Crystal Mountain Armed Forces. You are hearby ordered to release those girls and surrender your weapons at once. You are under arrest Marron Vecedo for crimes of armed robbery, kidnapping, grand theft, murder, and countless other crimes. Surrender at once"

As Marron grabbed Illas hand and pulled her to her car, Araquel smirked. "So it is the criminal Marron Veceldo. Sorry, but I dont work with criminals. Now let go of the girl and I will spare you. It is dishonorful to hurt the innocent. And dont say that the Iteran children I killed were innocent. They grew up to hate the Beru, Daja and Nekos. They gladly rose the weapons of their dead fathers against me and I struck them down to protect my brothers and sisters." She punched her fist against Marrons vehicle creating a huge dent and knocking it over. The fake skin over her right hand and arm deteriorated revealing her mechanical limb. Illa began to understand that Ara wasnt such a bad person but had a hate towards those who hurt innocent Daja, Nekos and Beru. "Aww. Did I knock over your vehicle?" Ara said then turning to Illa. "Young one, I am sorry that I lied but I am a dieselborg and a dangerous one. But I not all what I had said were lies. I dont want to hurt you and will protect you. I cannot hurt such a innocent soul as yours." "I am sorry. Please save me." Illa said. As a hitman shot at Ara with his petty small caliber pistol, Ara smashed his head against the was like a pea being squished by a spoon.

Marron sighed, as neither of the girls got into the vehicle. "Very well. I was hoping tha-..." She started, before she heard the rather familar sound of a handgun having the first round chaimbered. Against all of her instincts, she resisted the urge to turn around. However, her hands were not raised, nor did they have any intent of raising. "Oh my. I've been caught. Honestly, Lieutenant, do you honestly think that you're going to be the one to put me away?" She said, releasing both of the girls. Her armed guards were quick to raise their own weapons, but Marron held her arm out, signalling them to stand down. She turned sharply, suddenly, hopefully surprising the young woman...after all, she was a highly wanted criminal, and her 'arrestor' was a young woman. Marron's eyes opened in mild shock. "Oh. Wow. I'm honestly surprised. Such a beauty, and a police officer? And I thought you people fought fairly." She said, grinning.

Her attention only mildly turned to the neko, as she drastically punched over her vehicle, and killed one of her guards.... and honestly she didn't really notice the second action. "You know, I was willing to go with you.... Untill that happened. I SUPPOSE that now we'll have to wait to get away, seeing how apperently my vehicle deserved to be punched. It was probably to help cope with the fact that she'll never be completely real. What a fakie." She said, returning her attention back to the officer.

"I suppose I've not the choice. At least let me grab my things. I was honestly hoping that I would get to have some fun with the ladies here. But I suppose that I'm wrong in those points too." She said, mildly. Her hands would float mildly in the air, showing that she meant no harm as she went around to the backside of her upturned vehicle. She would keep a hand mildly in the air as she opened the smashed trunk, and dug inside. Following a very minute while of sounds...she pulled out a dark sage green handbag, setting it on the ground beside her. She would even wait a few seconds longer, turning over to the policewoman. "Okay, beautiful.... I suppose we wait for the other police to show up? So you can tell them that you caught Miss Veceldo...." She said, raising her arms back to the sky. She took a step forward, and knocked over the handbag...causing a few cylindrical objects to roll out. If the policewoman would taken the time to look at what they said....they would have read in bold white print: SMOKE

"Almost. There are also Tabun gasses mixed in there. Hold your breath, love." Marron said lightly, before taking a deep breath herself. Almost as if on que, as if waiting for her to take a breath..the smoke grenade exploded with a light pop. Smoke bellowed forth in thick, black clouds. The colored smoke was so that not even thermal vision could penetrate the smoke, and it was far too dense just to be blown away. It was like smog. It hung in your lungs, it clustered around you, it burned your eyes. And the fierce hissing sound it created blurred any other sounds around. It was nightmarish. Marron, still holding her breath, reached back into the trunk of her car, which holstered her BAR. She yanked the automatic rifle from her vehicle, and turned the oppisite way, begining to run. The smoke clouded her eyes as well. But not as fiercely as she was sure it had both of her attackers, and anyone it affected. After all, the policewoman had no chemical protection gear, and the Neko was still PART living. She still breathed. She still had eyes that saw. The tabun gas would wreak havok too, if they stayed in it for too long. Blistered-over eyes, and blistered lungs would occur...

Marron struggled to find her way out of the ever-expanding smokescreen. Her vision burned, but she could see from her watery eyes. She pushed herself to run farther, before letting her breath out. She took deep ragged breaths, as she made her way away from her capture. She looked behind, begining to strip her clothing. She flung her jacket off her, and began to tear at her dress. Slowly, the delicate fabric ripped as she ran. It wasn't long before she peeled it off, leaving her running through the streets in a tanktop, and a pair of shortshorts, her combat boots running up to her knees. No longer having the heavy, constricting dress on, she continued to run ahead, dodging traffic as nessicary.

As the smoke went off, Ara grabbed Illa and dashed out of the smoke. She noticed how Marron ran away in the distance. "Damn. What a coward." Ara said. Illa was tearing from the smoke. She hugged Ara. "Thank you." Illa said. As the other bodyguards of Marron came out of the smoke, Ara quickly killed them. Illa saw the blood and fell to her knees. She held her head screaming. Ara went to her and held her: "Whats wrong? Are you alright?" Suddenly Illa started to giggle in a psychotic manner and said: "Everything is alright, big sister." Illas personality had changed into a psychotic persona with a sister complex. "I am Illa, please take me with you. I dont have anywhere to live." Illa said. She idolized Ara now but in a sick and twisted way. Thinking about maybe hurting herself just to become a dieselborg just like Araquel. "Fine. I will take you in Illa." Ara said and carried Illa home.