--- Kat ---

Kat and Lily spent the rest of the night chatting away. Kat would eventually get up to make breakfast, but even then their dialogue would continue. The pair were just enjoying spending time with each other, even at a distance. Kat was hoping that she’d actually be able to see Lily somewhat soon... and her wishes would be granted. Somewhat anyway.

Once breakfast was ready and everyone was already seated to partake, Steel arrived at the door. Making his way inside, Kat offered him a chair at the table. "Thank you. I’ve got a bit of time so I can explain what’s going on while eating."

Kat nodded and then watched as Steel practically inhaled three slices of quiche, barely stopping to take a drink. Granted it wasn’t like Tanisha was much better, so he didn’t look out of place. Appoline and Hedera ate in a far more refined manner. Though Kat was thankful she’d made so many quiches because between everyone at the table all four of them were eaten. They weren’t small either, each about pie sized but apparently Steel, Tanisha and surprisingly, Furen were all quite hungry. Kat blamed them not eating properly yesterday as the reason.

Once Steel had finished pretending to be a vacuum cleaner he said, "Sorry about that. I’ve been up all night and I forget to eat while I was up. This is the first proper meal I’ve had in a little over twelve hours. Now, it’s not a rush, but a team is getting together to investigate the core. In theory this is the team meant to explore the facility, mostly the same members anyway...

"But the core is the MOST important thing inside of their and it’s essentially going to be their only priority. I’d like you, and anyone else interested in coming along to be ready to take them into the facility. The plan is to head straight for the core room and begin fortifying it the best we can for any intrusions.

"We’ve investigated the team as best we can, and the core group is certainly clean... but we needed to pull in a few more to do the guarding aspect and while superficially they look clean, they haven’t had the same level of background investigation as the rest. We also have a last minute substitution with one of the warders but they’re twins and requested a switch between the two of them because one is claustrophobic and the other isn’t. The claustrophobic one was originally assigned to the team," explained Steel.

"I’ve got a few questions..." Kat said slowly.

"So do I," added Appoline.

Steel shrugged and grabbed ANOTHER slice of quiche, though it seemed like he was actually going to taste this one. At the very least it was being chewed. "Please, the expedition isn’t slotted to leave until after lunch so we’ve got plenty of time. I theoretically have more work to do...

"But my current plan is simply to pass out in my bed here until we need to leave. The work isn’t so important it needs to be done right now and I... have been convinced that I need at least some sleep, so a few hours before lunch will have to suffice."

"That makes me feel like I should keep my questions short," pointed out Kat.

Steel shrugged, not really sure what else to say. Appoline however, had her question. "Is there a reason I’m being offered a spot on the team?"

"Yes. Frankly, you’re still the most skilled alchemist we know of, and with the unique plants in the area we’d like to examine them swiftly. In addition to that, we don’t expect you to betray anyone even if your background isn’t perfect. The deal would ALSO be that you leave the area once Kat does." Steel turned to Kat. "I’d like you to stay down there a day or two, mostly just until the defences are up. Then you’ll be free to do other things, if that’s still fine with you? I know there was a plan to leave a while ago, but I’ve nothing else about it from either you or Hedera."

Kat shrugged, "Well... we probably need some more orbs. The barrel is looking a little lean but other than that... Hedera and I had a talk about it a few nights ago and we determined that hanging around here is for the best. Unless that’s changed?"

Kat glanced at Hedera who shook her head. "Nope, I’m still good with sticking around. Not the most enthused to go underground but I don’t hate it either. It’s more that my bow isn’t quite so useful down there. If you’ve got nowhere better for me I’ll go... but" Hedera shrugged at the end.

Steel shrugged back. "I’ve been mostly trying to keep you two as a unit, or at least in somewhat close proximity. Perhaps there is something better for you to do but I haven’t been looking either. I can start if you want?" Hedera shrugged, and Steel sighed. "Alright I’ll keep it in mind but not go out of my way."

"Well, let me jump in again," cut in Appoline. "What are the plans for dealing with the poison?"

Steel made a sour face. "Sadly we’re not really advancing on that front. The fact that a core was actually hidden inside has made everything else irrelevant. Even the argument for public safety doesn’t hold much water because of the damage one of those could do. Doesn’t matter that it’s currently quite secure with only a few people capable of getting in, plus if Kat returns the golem’s hands it’ll be even more difficult."

"Is that something you won’t me to do?" asked Kat.

"Not right now," admitted Steel with a sigh. "I’m not even sure if I should be fighting for approval on it. Currently the plan is to not worry about it unless the base we’re hoping to set up gets attacked, then the idea is that you’d give the golem back its hands to stand as another line of defence but nobody is really happy with leaving it like that."

"I see..." mumbled Kat.

Things settled down a bit at the table for a few moments before Furen decided to speak up. "What does that mean for me and Tanisha? I was under the impression that we were here for our safety... and if all of the potential protection has left, what does that mean for us?"

Steel nodded, "Well, you’ve got a few options. The first is you can go along on the expedition... but if you do we’ll need to put a tracking bracelet on you." Furen gave Steel a deadpan look. "Your alternatives are to simply go home and hope for the best, hang out in one of our nicer cells in a secure part of the city, accept a spot in one of the hidden bunkers... or I might be able to get you a ticket to leave the city for at least a bit, though that one might still come with a tracker. I can extend it to both of you... but Tanisha wasn’t really considered a priority target. Mostly just you."

Furen let a wry smile find her face "No plans to fix her arm?"

Steel sent a raised eyebrow back. "Unless Appoline is volunteering not particularly? I feel for her sure, but she’s not the only person missing an arm in the city. Fixing something like that isn’t easy and I’m honestly not sure who I’d even ask."

Furen glanced at Appoline who shrugged. "It’s not like I have the ingredients for a potion like that even if I wanted to volunteer my services. Perhaps if she’s exceptionally lucky the facility will have some rare plants that would allow for it but I wouldn’t hold your breath. Regrowing limbs once they’ve been severed is an issue."

"Sorry," apologised Kat.

"It’s fine," Tanisha said with a wave. "I was probably dead anyway so I’m not too worried. If it doesn’t get fixed, it doesn’t get fixed."

Kat could tell there was a slight lie there... but with Thyme around she doubted the limb would remain gone forever. That was likely what was causing the slight lie. The actor new this was something that WOULD be fixed, but the character did not. Wasting time trying to fix it, potentially in a subpar way would be a problem. Kat frowned. *Then again, do I really want her to just be down a limb for however many extra days? I sort of let it slide so far but... that’s a big injury.*

After a few more seconds of silence Furen sighed. "I suppose we’ll have to think about it then. Perhaps going down to be closer to those plants will be a good idea... or just staying safe. I am unsure of what I want to do. What are the chances I get attacked should I go home?"

"No idea," admitted Steel. "We still don’t really know who is behind all of this so it’s truly hard to say what levels there willing to stoop to."