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"The first rule to working with a pole - skin. Keep it clean, keep it reasonably dry. Your number one enemy when using the pole will be slickness in any form, be it lotion, perspiration, or ejaculation."

Kajjex winced. "That's a bit too on the nose, isn't it?"

Preek shrugged. "It is what it is."

As Preek had suggested, Kajjex had taken a day to recuperate and reflect, to plan out what he would do next, or reconsider Preek's offer to teach him to perform for the club. By the end of that day he had made his decision to at least practice, hitting the hammock early and showing up early the next morning to get started on his training. Preek had anticipated this, showing up only minutes later with Flitt and Myrreah in tow. Twenty minutes later they were on the stage, the club completely empty save for a few of the cleaning staff and the club's charr bouncer, Raxio, who had taken a seat next to a portable holoprojector. Without a crowd there was no need for any of them to strip, though they were wearing shorts and tight shirts for practice.

"You'll have to get over the idea of shame while you're on stage," Preek said a little more seriously. "Not to the extent of being clinical, of course, but you're here to have fun, and to make sure everyone else has fun too. Sometimes a little mess will help with that, but in those situations you need to do your best to keep the pole and your skin as dry as you can, to avoid slipping and causing an injury."

"So what about when someone is going for a green-light finish?" Kajjex asked, looking to the asura couple. "You guys got, well... pretty messy."

Myrreah raised her arm, showing him the fingerless, arm-length gloves she and Flitt had been wearing during the performance. "Simple magnets, activated via pressure switch between the thumb and finger. The fabric is also water-resistance, though that won't cover condensation on the pole itself. You need to keep up the momentum and maintain a good grip all the same, but if you ever get a little too worked up these babies will save you from a bruised backside and bruised ego. We'll practice with these once we get a pair for you in your size."

"Anyway, you won't have to worry about green-light finishes," Flitt said. "We don't want to overwhelm you on your first day. We'll keep that private between us."

"Y-yeah," Kajjex replied, managing a nervous smile in return.

"He's cute when he's shy," Myrreah said with a grin. "Okay, let's get you up there. Raxio, are you ready?"

The charr gave them a thumbs-up before reaching next to him and triggering the projector. The ghostly image of a featureless asura appeared on the stage next to a holographic pole. After a few moments of idling the figure grabbed the pole and spun around it once before hanging off it in a pose.

"When you're ready," Preek told him, "try to replicate the projector's movements. Don't worry about doing it quickly or copying it precisely, just try to go at your own pace."

Kajjex watched the projection once more, then grabbed the pole and repeated the move. The projection flashed red and a buzzer sounded, causing his brow to furrow. "Was that not it?"

"You need to loosen up just a little bit, let yourself swing around," Myrreah told him. "I get it, it seems awkward doing something like this for the first time, but it helps to relax. Take a breath, and try again."

He nodded, breathing in and letting half of it out. Once more he spun around the pole, letting his arms extend a bit more before hanging off it in the same pose. This time the projection flashed green and let out a warm tone.

"Good, much better," Preek said, a grin painting his face as he watched from his seat on a table. "Now, the next one."

This time the projection swung its leg in front of the pole and hooked around it, pushing off the floor with the other foot for a single spin. Kajjex watched it perform twice before attempting, keeping his body loose and relaxed as he did. The projection flashed green again, though this time a label appeared over it, titled "Inside Hook Spin."

"Next!" Preek said. This time it gripped the pole with both hands, lifting a leg off the ground and holding it straight out, spinning slowly. Kajjex took note of the balance, posture and angle the projection was displaying, before repeating the movement. A smile formed along his lips as he performed the move, feeling the slight tension in his arms and legs as he did - it was a bit different from practicing a weapon swing, but familiar enough that he was starting to get some enjoyment from it.

"There! Right there!" Preek shouted suddenly, pointing at him.

The sudden outburst startled Kajjex and his grip faltered, resulting in him falling flat on his back with a yelp. "Ow! Preek, what gives?!"

"Sorry, my mistake," the older asura chuckled sheepishly. "But I_saw_ you smiling there, for a second! That's _exactly_the kind of attitude you need while doing this. I mean, I wasn't going to bring it up until later, but if you're genuinely enjoying this, then this may be easier for you than you might realize."

"You sure about that?" Kajjex groaned as Flitt helped him up.

"Won't know unless you keep up with the rest of the projection's moves," Raxio said, triggering the projector once again - this time music accompanied the maneuver, a nice steady rhythm that seemed to pulse against Kajjex's skin.

For the next hour they went through the list, Kajjex working hard to keep up with each of the maneuvers. Myrreah and Flitt kept close, critiquing his efforts with no real judgment, only ever offering positive encouragement. The only times they physically intervened was when Kajjex lost his balance or seemed like he was slipping. In only minutes he was getting into the swing of things figuratively and literally, even as the moves started getting harder. Some were simple and elegant, flashy yet easy to execute; others were more complex, requiring a few attempts to pull off; and others put his strength and balance to the test, requiring him to flip or hang upside-down for seconds at a time. Halfway in the sweat started to flow, requiring him to dab away the excess, but though Preek had told him to call for a break when he needed it Kajjex never requested it. It was strangely too much fun to stop.

It was Myrreah who finally stepped in, waving to Raxio. "Alright, I think that's good enough. Let's take a break." The charr nodded and deactivated the holoprojector, leaving Kajjex hanging upside-down hanging from near the top of the pole. She looked up at him with a smirk. "Having fun?"

"More than I thought I would," he admitted, blushing as he righted himself and slid down the pole. "That execution program is really useful, I wouldn't mind borrowing it to see if it would work with the combat maneuvers I designed."

"I might let you borrow the design, if you give me a special mention in your treatises," Myrreah replied. "Anyway, you need to take a break. Preek was right about you having a lot of stamina - not that we didn't notice it last time we met," she added with a wink. "But you still should take it easy."

"I agree," Preek said, nodding. "Not a bad first run, kid. I'd say you'll be ready for the stage in less than a month, if that's what you want."

A surge of anxiety rushed through him at the words, mixed with excitement at the prospect. "I... haven't decided yet. But I'll keep the offer in mind."

"I still don't get how you squirts are so acrobatic," Raxio said, tossing a canteen of water to Kajjex as he hopped off the stage.

"A byproduct of evolving underground and needing a sense of balance to know which way you're digging," Preek explained. "That, and it helps against natural predators. Many stuck-up old fogies like to forget those natural gifts in lieu of depending on golems, but there are plenty of us who remember what we are and where we came from." He turned his attention back to Kajjex. "How are you holding up, kid?"

"It's new, but it uses the same muscles I've been using developing my fighting maneuvers," Kajjex told him. "I'm open to continuing this for a while, if that's okay with you."

"You said it's what you wanted and so it's what I'm giving you," Preek said. "What I'm a little more interested in is what your plans are in terms of your research."

The younger asura paused long enough to take a swig from the canteen, before taking a seat and shaking his head. "I don't know. I figure I can get my submissions back on a data crystal and on paper, though that's not going to keep them from using their system to block me out from submitting anything similar. If there's any application for my research, then I'm not sure where to start looking. There aren't many asura in Rata Sum who have any interest in martial prowess."

"Not all asura live in Rata Sum, though," Raxio pointed out. "There's no shortage of asura that have joined the Lionguard, or the Vigil, I'm sure they could find a good use for it."

"Those are prime places to target once the ball gets rolling," Preek agreed, "but we need to think about who would be interested here. The Peacemakers, maybe?"

Kajjex shook his head. "They're nearly firearm-exclusive. Granted, they're good shots and I've learned quite a bit from them, but they prefer to use golems if they need any muscle."

"Hmm... quite a conundrum," Preek muttered. "If we can get at least one krewe to take you on seriously, it'd be a source of cover for you. The Arcane Council would be obligated to hear out any krewe that you're affiliated with to ascertain your value, before they can vote to strip you of your credentials. It's not a guarantee, but it'd buy you some time."

"Assuming the krewe doesn't drop you and lock you out," Flitt intoned with an undertone of slight bitterness. "You could work for our krewe, we work with golems and animals, so a strong set of hands would be valuable."

"I'd be open to take you on," Myrreah said, nodding. "Though it's likely they'll look into our backgrounds and determine that we're associated through more than just work. So it would help to have another krewe to vouch for you, one that would make use of your talents. Who would have use for an asura who specializes in combat maneuvers?"

"Not many geniuses will appreciate having a strong arm to go with a strong mind," Preek mused, before glancing up at their charr employee. "Raxio, got any ideas? Maybe a gladium's perspective would help," Preek suggested.

The ebon-furred charr looked thoughtful for a moment, then shrugged. "I know next to nothin' about asura krewes, other than they ain't much like charr warbands. That said, I feel like the Iron Legion is about as close to an asura mindset with the weapons R&D and whatnot. The warriors in the Iron Legion function like any other in a fight, but they'll usually have a set of gear for... heh... 'field-testing.'"

"I like it," Preek said, nodding. "That might be our lead. I'll talk to a couple of former associates and see if they can find a few armorers or golem frame developers that might be looking for someone to field-test their equipment. Are you good with that, Kajjex?"

The asura gave it some thought, intrigued by the idea. "I never considered field-testing gear, honestly. I suppose I was so busy keeping my head above water I never really thought outside the box." He chuckled. "I feel like a simpleton for not considering it sooner."

"Nah, you've just been confined to the box so long you never got time to think outside of it," Preek said encouragingly, hopping off the table and grabbing his coat. "Just leave the connections to me for now. You work on building your confidence both on and off the stage, and getting your research back in your hands. Flitt, Myrreah, have him go through one more run of the projections, then call it a day."

"Where are you going?" Kajjex asked.

"I've got nothing better to do, so I'm getting started. Keep your chin up, kid, we'll get you through this," Preek said, heading for the club entrance with a wave and leaving the three asura and lone charr to watch him disappear.

"Is he normally like this?" Kajjex asked, feeling more than a little perplexed by Preek's sudden departure. "Going out of his way to help people, I mean."

"Only with people he likes," Raxio said. "He's a nice guy in general, but he only really goes out of his way for people that catch his attention. It doesn't happen often, so take it as a compliment - he sees something in you."

"He also likes any opportunity to stick it to the Arcane Council," Flitt added.

"We're not likely to know what he's up to until he tells us," Myrreah said, helping Kajjex back onto the stage as Raxio restarted the projector. "Might as well get some more practice in. Let's try it from the top - and this time, try adding some flair to it."

"Flair?" Kajjex repeated, replicating the first move once again.

"If you decide to go through with this, you're going to be on this stage wearing nothing but a smile," she reminded him with a grin. "It'll be a performance. You gotta sell yourself - be a sexy slab of charm, a specimen that all asura will want to get genetic samples from, straight from the tap! You gotta add some spice to those moves!"

"I have no idea where you get this level of confidence," he said, feeling his cheeks burn as he scaled the pole and hung from the side.

"Give us three weeks and a total makeover kit, and we'll get you there!" she said. "Next one!"

Since the beginning of his research two years prior, Kajjex had done a moderate amount of training, having no other asura to put his findings into practical application. Even with the training dummy's simplistic system, sessions often left him exhausted at the end, and though he could reliably avoid too much soreness it didn't become much easier over time. It was made all the more difficult by his personal restriction against the use of healing elixirs, as using them would skew the data and invalidate his findings - any injuries he picked up, he would have to recover from himself.

After each training session at the club, however, he had quickly realized he now had more energy throughout the day than he usually did. There was a distinct feeling of limberness and flexibility, a slight bounce to his step that may have been a byproduct of a flexibility-based workout; or perhaps a more positive outlook on his future. It had only been three days since Preek had left to meet his contacts, leaving the club to run itself; yet even though he had yet to return Kajjex felt a growing sense of hope as he became more accustomed to the lessons.

That hope and energy lessened only a little as he crossed the Creator's Common pathway to the college archives, though the dread he normally felt being within walking distance to Torkk's office was little more than a reluctance to stick around longer than needed. As much as he wanted to put it off for a little longer, he knew it would be best to get his research copies out of the archives before Torkk could do anything with it.

"Just in and out, get the stuff and scarper," he muttered to himself, spotting an archivist and approaching. "Pardon, I require your assistance."

She looked up from her desk, offering him a strained smile. "Welcome to the College of Statics academic archives. What do you need assistance with?"

"I need full copies of my thesis and dissertation drafts, plus compiled study manuals," he told her. "ID is Kajjex, Statics Biologist, one-one-seven-five-sigma-epsilon-chi."

"One moment," she said, tapping her console. "... There you are. Published or unpublished?" she asked.

"All unpublished," he said quietly, looking around - an unpublished asura was an unusual anomaly. "I need physical copies delivered to my apartment, plus copies in data crystal format, preferably topaz-grade security matrices, plus one blank data crystal of the same grade."

"Very well. For which krewe?"

Kajjex paused, a surge of alarm flaring through him. "Ah... it's for myself. I just need copies of my own work."

She looked up, her eyes narrowed curiously. "Without an authorized krewe's clearance, data transfer to topaz-grade security is a ten gold charge, five for blanks. Are you in a hurry?"

"Er..." He hesitated, then opted for the truth. "It _is_a matter of some urgency, so getting the data crystals now would be appreciated."

She stared at him for a few moments, then sighed and tapped several options on her console. A holoprojection sparked to life between them, showing a little more thirty different files on his record. For a few moments she scanned through the list, nodding to him. "Well, everything is accounted for, no alerts or restrictions imposed. Sorry for the holdup, usually when a student or professor wants to extract data personally it's because their research is slated for deletion or is under investigation by the Arcane Eye for some reason or another."

His thanks were halfway out of his mouth when he glanced over her shoulder and nearly gasped, quickly turning it into a cough. Some thirty feet back, just in front of a group of older archivists, Torkk had ambled down a ramp with his staff in hand and a sour look on his wrinkled face. Almost as soon as he reached the end of the ramp he began berating a young asura student in a loud voice that was almost audible even from where Kajjex was standing, and in seconds he had reduced the poor girl to tears. Not satisfied he turned his attention to another student and continued to rant.

He managed to tear his gaze away from Torkk, hoping he was giving the archivist a believable smile. "No, it's no trouble at all, thank you," he said quickly, rummaging in his wallet and setting fifteen gold coins on the desk. They disappeared in a flash behind her till, but Kajjex was too busy to notice, keeping his eyes on Torkk again. The old man nearly looked in his direction but seemed to miss spotting him, crossing to the opposite side of the archives.

She looked over the list again as she inserted a gold-colored crystal into her console, transferring data into it. "'Secondary Analysis On Asuran Musculature and Meridian Pressure Point Manipulation?'" she read aloud, arching an eyebrow and holding out a second pale yellow crystal. "That's a... unique branch of study."

"Er, yes, it is," he admitted, taking the blank crystal from her and stuffing it in his inner coat pocket. "Something I did a bit out of mild curiosity, I made a few discoveries, figured I may as well add them. Nothing major, more of a joke." He looked back over her shoulder, his alarm spiking - in the few seconds that he'd looked away, Torkk had vanished from sight. He wasn't making any scene or noise and for a horrible moment Kajjex wondered if he'd been spotted and was now being stalked.

"Probably, but I've seen worse," she said, shrugging. "Alright, the file transfer is almost done. It'll take a couple of days for the paper copies to be delivered to your residence, unless you want them delivered directly to a krewe."

"N-no, back at my apartment is fine," he replied, still looking around for Torkk. It seemed impossible for him to just disappear without a trace, and unlikely that he'd gone back up the ramp, yet Kajjex could not fathom where he would have gone to. He only ceased his searching when the console let out a high-pitched tone, the data crystal popping up from its fixture and into the archivist's palm.

"Alright, there you go," she said, handing the crystal to him. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

He breathed a sigh of relief. "No, I think that's it, thank you very much."

"_I_require your assistance, archivist," a voice spat from next to them.

It was because he recognized the voice that Kajjex drew his hand back with a sharp gasp, only to cry out in pain as a strong, invisible hand closed around his wrist and wrenched it down to the desk. Kajjex's blood ran ice cold as the air next to him shimmered, slowly taking the form of the cruel-faced elder asura, his pale yellow eyes glaring down at him. The archivist gasped, backing away.

"P-Professor Torkk! Where did you--"

"As I was saying," he interjected, "I require your assistance. Call the Peacemakers and let them know there is a _failure_of a Statics graduate who is trying to abscond with research. Theft of college documents is an arrestable offense."

"'Theft?!'" Kajjex shouted.

"But the data is his, sir!" she said meekly.

"I very much doubt that," he sneered, twisting the younger asura's wrist tighter. "He knows his records are soon to be expunged for academic dishonesty, I wouldn't be surprised if he were to be guilty of base plagiarism!"

Kajjex's eyes went wide. The cold fear of being caught by Torkk suddenly ignited into a searing fury at the allegations. "You rotten bastard," he growled. "That's a fucking lie and you know it! Let go of me!"

"You're not going anywhere with that research! Bad enough to be an imbecile, but you had to be a thief as well! Now call the Peacemakers, girl!" he snapped, drawing the eyes of several nearby onlookers.

"Y-yes, Professor," she said, giving Kajjex an apologetic look. It was clear she did not buy Torkk's accusation, yet she hurried to the archive entrance, calling for a guard.

Torkk yanked at Kajjex's wrist, but by this point he'd had enough, pulling back. The older asura's eyes narrowed, his words quiet enough for only the two of them to hear. "I told you not to come back."

"I'm just about done giving a damn what you have to say," Kajjex hissed back, baring his teeth. "Should have guessed you'd be paranoid enough to keep watch, but I've never seen you stoop to use stealth magic to stalk people. One might think I was a _threat_to you."

"Don't make me laugh, imbecile. I'd been expecting you to come back and retrieve your research. You think I'd be foolish enough not to oversee access to it? I came down the moment it was requested." He smirked. "You're no threat to me. As it turns out, you might yet provide me a means from serving on the Arcane Council after all. You only have to stay here and let yourself rot in prison for plagiarism."

"Yeah, no thanks," Kajjex muttered back, trying to wrench his arm free. "I don't know why you suddenly have an interest in my research but you're only getting it when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers."

"Careful," Torkk warned him, "or I might just take you up on that offer."

They both glanced back to the archive entrance, where the young archivist was leading a trio of Peacemakers towards them. She hesitated, then reluctantly pointed at Kajjex. "Torkk says that... he's the thief."

Kajjex tensed, quickly looking between them as they drew kinetic maces from their belts. A single Peacemaker would have been no problem, not after the two fights he'd been in, but a trio would be more than enough to subdue him if he tried to resist. It didn't help that Torkk's grip on him was unnaturally strong, far stronger than Kajjex had any right to expect from the older asura. There was no reason for him to think Torkk would actually get his hands dirty in a fight, but if he was underhanded enough to use stealth magitech to get the drop on him, then it was reasonable to assume all bets were off.

This is insane, he thought. I'm actually tactically analyzing a situation where I either fight or evade the Peacemakers. If I fight they'll pummel me to a pulp and toss me in a cell; if I run I'll be registered as a criminal. What the hell do I even do?

Torkk's grin was nothing short of cruel. "Give up. You _can't_win."

Kajjex glared back. "Maybe not. But I _can_survive."

The Peacemakers were almost within arms reach when he acted, jerking in Torkk's grip and allowing him to yank his arm. Rather than resist he stepped in, throwing the older Asura off-balance, balling his other hand into a fist and smashing his knuckles into Torkk's nose. Torkk snarled in pain and rage, his grip faltering just enough for Kajjex to twist his arm out of his grasp. The Peacemakers lunged for him and he jumped onto the desk, kicking one of the guards in the chest and rolling to the other side as the other two swung at him. Their maces missed the mark, shattering the console's faceplate as Kajjex landed on his feet and broke into a sprint.

"Stop him!" Torkk shrieked, still holding his bloody nose. "Kill him! Get the golems!"

It took only a few seconds for them to collect themselves and give chase. Cursing himself for the situation Kajjex stuffed the data crystal into his coat pocket and dashed up the ramp, barreling past a pair of archivists carrying stacks of books and littering the air and floor with loose leafs and hardcovers, giving him a few seconds more to get ahead as the Peacemakers stumbled through the mess. He reached the top of the ramp and spotted an open viewport, leaping out onto the slanted side of the archivist hub.

It was carved stonework, but one still subjected to the Maguuma jungle, with no shortage of moss and vegetation on parts of it, and it took only a moment of sliding for his hand to snag an embedded vine, slowing his descent just enough to safely slide the rest of the way and drop to safe footing, landing just in front of the entrance to the archives. He spared just a few seconds to glance at the viewport to see the Peacemakers cursing at him before taking off in the opposite direction, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Looks like I'm in it now," he said to himself, descending into the undercity.

By the time Kajjex got back to the club a few hours later Preek had returned and was talking to Myrreah, Flitt, Mikks and Raxio. Almost from the start Preek could tell something was wrong, waiting for Kajjex to catch his breath before asking what had happened. He told them all he could, from his attempts to get copies of his research, to Torkk catching him and making claims of plagiarism and theft, to his evasion of the Peacemakers. By the time he finished, Preek was uncharacteristically quiet and grim-faced.

"Your old man is starting to become an enigma," he finally said. "I agree with you, he's up to something, though what it could be is an even bigger mystery."

"He can't do this to me!" Kajjex said, fuming. "That was all of my work, he can't just claim that I stole it!"

"He can make any claim he wants with his level of seniority," Myrreah told him soothingly, rubbing his back. "None of it will stick, but that's not what matters. The Peacemakers and College of Statics archivists will do a full investigation into the matter and find you innocent, there's nothing that will stop that. What matters is that access to your work will be restricted until the investigation is over."

"How long will that take?" Kajjex asked, dreading the answer.

She hesitated. "A full month. Or until Torkk withdraws his claim."

"Oh, that's just great!" he groaned from behind his hands. "Long enough for him to be voted into the Arcane Council, throw out my work, and strip my credentials! I'm fucked, good and proper!"

"Calm down, kid," Preek advised. "You still have the data crystal, so you're not without your possessions. What I'm really worried about is what he said about you being a way out of he Arcane Council. It sounds like he was going to blackmail you somehow."

"What's the big deal about being in the Arcane Council, anyway?" Raxio asked. "What's with wanting to avoid being in a position of power? I thought asura were all about lording it over others."

"There isn't a single member on the Arcane Council who _wants_to be on it," Preek explained. "No asura researcher wants to be in charge of running a bureaucracy, it's a waste of time for a culture who would rather invent and research. Since nobody volunteers, the council makes it a point to elect asura who have made significant contributions to the sum of knowledge."

"What did Torkk discover?" Flitt asked.

"He analyzed and discovered each of the major races' energy flows,'" Kajjex replied. "Put simply, he mapped out the direction and flow of magical energy, then designed a system to determine aptitudes for those seeking to use it. It got him a healthy amount of fame, but it also made him a primary candidate for the Arcane Council for several years. The only reason he's being selected for a vote now is because one of the council members passed away."

"Could he use your research to convince the Arcane Council not to elect him?" Preek asked.

"I don't see how. My study on asuran meridian point pathways and manipulation was _tangentially_related to magic energy flow, but only barely. I don't see him trying to stain his reputation with my work."

"'Meridian point pathways'?" Mikks asked. "You'll have to explain."

"If I had a diagram I could-- nah, fuck it," he sighed, getting out of his seat and taking off the coat and shirt Preek had given him, leaving him in just his trousers. "I derived it from Canthan 'chi' diagrams, a sort of old human explanation for the flow of life. Most of it is spiritual superstition, but the foundations of it were based in sound evidence. Human bodies have seven hundred and eight pressure points, and affecting them was once thought to have a variety of health benefits."

"I hypothesized that most other flesh-and-blood races must have similar meridian point systems, and while the ancient Canthan explanations were bunk, some spots do have consistent effects. So I studied and discovered about three hundred on an asuran body - mine." He dug his fingers just above the inside of his elbow. "If you manipulate _this_one just right, a release of endorphins can tighten musculature, making you a bit stronger. One in the chest can jump-start your immune system and accelerate healing while also numbing pain."

"Well, I can see the possible connections to Torkk's work, but I don't see how it could help him," Preek said. "Other than probably using it to keep a hold of you, since you said he was stronger than you anticipated."

"Yeah, probably." Kajjex agreed, sitting back down and putting his shirt back on. He sat back down with a groan, burying his face in his hands. "After all this, I don't know what to do. I didn't want to run, but I feel like I've just made things worse for myself."

"It's not a good look," Preek agreed, sighing. "Even without factoring that you weren't stealing anything, you're still guilty of assaulting a professor and a Peacemaker. You'll have witnesses to back them up, too. It might have been better to just stay and allow them to arrest you."

"And get it marked on my record?" Kajjex asked incredulously. Hearing it from Preek made it feel painful. "Torkk was going to use my research for something, then have it erased after being voted in! I couldn't just let that happen! I'd be stuck in a prison cell long enough for him to get what he wanted!"

"I would have found out what happened sooner or later and bailed you out," Preek told him, folding his arms and giving him a firm stare. "And it's not like they would have confiscated your data to have it deleted. Torkk made a claim of you 'stealing' research, they'd have kept it for evidence; no matter how much power he wields, he'd never be able to make them erase it."

"But... but I--"

"Please understand, Kajjex," Preek continued in a soothing voice. "I'm not saying you did the wrong thing. Not really." He half-smiled. "In a perfect world, punching your old man in the face wouldn't be a crime. It's just... things would have been a little easier if you weren't so impulsive."

"I... I guess so," Kajjex muttered, looking away and trying to think of what to do. It had only been an hour after he'd fled the scene, but now he was starting to see that his actions were putting others at risk. After a few moments he got up and grabbed his coat. "I need to head out. I'm sorry for bringing this trouble here, I just needed a place to take cover in while I got my breath back."

Preek frowned. "Wait, where are you going?"

"I need to get back home and collect some of my things," he said. "I won't be able to carry much with me, but I can't stay in Rata Sum, not when Torkk knows where I live. Hopefully I can get there before the Peacemakers start surveying my flat, then it's just a matter of finding a place in Lion's Arch."

"Really? Your plan is to run away and live among former pirates? Just because you committed a couple of crimes doesn't mean you can handle living among cutthroats. You can't just make a snap decision like that."

"I don't have any other options, Preek!" Kajjex shot back angrily. "You think I want to leave?! This was my home!"

"Then we'll make sure it continues to be. You're staying here," Preek said firmly.

Kajjex stared at him, his anger evaporating in the space of a second. "What? I-- but-- Preek, they'll be out for my he--"

"That only lasts as long as the accusations against you hold out. Once they finish that investigation, they'll know that you were protecting your own research," Preek told him. "A dispute concerning research rights is just another weekend for them. If you can keep your head down long enough for it to happen, they'll wipe the slate clean for you."

"Preek, I..." Kajjex tried to speak, feeling his throat tighten and his eyes water. "You don't have to do this. I don't want to cause trouble just because you want to help. If they find out you've been helping me like low, they'll--"

"I've already done it a few times already," he said, looking to Flitt and Myrreah - the couple smiled back. "Why stop now when my track record is so good? I can house you in one of our rooms until this thing blows over, and if we can we'll try to sneak out some of your equipment from your apartment."

For a moment Kajjex trembled, overwhelmed by what Preek was doing for him. He couldn't bear to look the older asura in the face, turning in his seat and leaning over the bar, wiping at his face in frustration as a pair of tears ran down his face. Equal parts gratitude for the compassion, and guilt for the trouble he was causing, swirled in his chest. He wanted to curse his circumstances, yet those same circumstances were being balanced out by the kindness of a handful of people he'd known for only a week. What had become a source of distraction from his troubles in life was now becoming a lifeline when he needed it most.

Before long the weight of Preek's arm over his shoulder could be felt, and he leaned into it. "It's okay, buddy. I'm here for you."

Kajjex nodded, then let out a sniffle and wiped his face, smiling. "Thank you." He took a breath and let it out. "And... I'm sorry for snapping like that. I know you were just trying to help."

"Don't mention it. I understand, you're under a lot of stress." He squeezed his shoulder. "Let's talk things out. We have some problems, and I think we can provide solutions. Focus on the positives."

Kajjex took a deep breath. "You're right. For now, I at least have the data crystal with my copies on it. If I could get the hard copies that would be better, but only the archive hub can print out officially-recognized documents, so I'll just have to settle for this." He held up the shard, looking it over with a sigh. "I'll figure out something."

"There we go, a little confidence," Preek said, nodding. "Besides, I had some good news to share with you. I talked with a few former colleagues, and one of them is the leader of the Telumarx krewe, which develops weapons for asura. I mentioned that you were capable at testing weaponry, and they said they were interested in an interview with you."

"That's great to hear, thanks Preek," Kajjex said, and this time his sigh was one of relief. "Now I just need to stay out of the Peacemaker's way until this all blows over."

"Well, the good news is that the labs are out by Desider Atum, so it's well out of the Peacemaker's jurisdiction. All we have to do is sync up your wayfinder and registration key to the waypoint near the site, and you can travel to and fro. Best of all, your criminal status doesn't matter to krewes that operate so far away from Rata Sum."

"I can get there easy enough, but I don't have my wayfinder or registration key," Kajjex said. "Torkk confiscated mine after a lab incident, he still has them in his office."

Preek grinned. "Then I say we pay his office a little visit tonight."

The top levels of Rata Sum always saw less activity in the evening hours, with more golems and fewer asura walking the commons. Only those with late office shifts or hoping to do some last-minute experiments would bother sticking around and risking either the ire of an older genius telling them to knock off the noise, or the prospect of being stuck in the middle of a lab disaster with no hope of rescue until sunrise. With the city lights dimmed and fewer eyes keeping a watch out, it was easy for a pair of asura ruffians to scamper along the shadows without being caught. They paused for only a brief moment, eyes scanning for incoming golems, before ducking into the College of Synergetics lobby.

They each took cover behind a pillar, just in time to avoid being spotted by a wandering golem. The construct paused at the wide opening leading out onto the commons, scanning the interior of the lobby for a few moments, then marching off, leaving the two asura to breath a sigh of relief.

"This is going to get us killed, Preek," Kajjex whispered.

"Relax, kid - every genius worth their title has engaged in skulduggery or skull-bashing once or twice in their careers," he told him. "The worst that'll happen to us if we get caught is the golems will rough us up and leave us with a few bruises while carrying us by the ears."

"The difference is that _I'll_be in a prison cell," Kajjex reminded him, trying to keep his nerves steady.

"Not if I can help it," Preek assured him, pulling a disc-like device from his satchel. "You lead the way to your old man's office, I'll be right behind you."

The younger asura nodded and checked that the coast was clear, then gestured Preek to follow him up the ramp into the mid-level hallways, both keeping their eyes and ears alert for golems and late-shift Peacemakers. As anticipated, the office cubicles were completely vacant, and the majority of the doorways leading into each office were unlit, with only a few illuminated workspaces occupied. A brief scan in each direction assured them there were no Peacemakers present. Both of them kept low and beneath the lit viewports, their footsteps so quiet that even their keen ears struggled to hear them. Once they were at the end of hallway they paused, checking once more for guards.

"Never been in the Synergetics sector," Preek mused, looking around. "Tell you what, they _really_nailed the dimensional transcendence, it's bigger than I thought it'd be."

"Not so big that I don't remember my way to Torkk's office," Kajjex said, looking around. "What's with the acoustics here? I thought we'd be making more noise than this."

Preek held up the discus. "Aural dampener, good for a three-meter radius. As long as you stay in it, it'll keep us quieter than a progeny during nap time." He nodded to the ramp. "How much further?"

"Not too much, just one level up and at the end of the western corridor." He checked the adjoining corridors, frowning at how empty they seemed. "This doesn't seem right. Torkk might not have enough pull now, but I thought he might have ordered more guard detail after the incident today."

"Maybe not tonight, but tomorrow will be a different story," Preek said, nodding. "He probably thinks he scared you off, or that you won't be back after 'stealing' your research. Now's the time to get this done."

"You're probably right," Kajjex said, taking a deep breath to steel his nerves again. "Okay, this way."

The upper level was even more barren than the previous floor, with only a pair of lit offices at the end of one hall. Kajjex turned away from it and went the opposite way, towards the western side of the building. Ahead, a viewport looking out into the Creator Commons could be seen, the faint glow of its evening lighting casting a pale light into the hall. They reached the end of the corridor and Kajjex nodded to a door on their right.

"This is his office," he told Preek. "Now we just need a way in."

"I've got this," Preek replied, stepping up to the stone hatch and fiddling with the hatch's access panel, pulling out a paper. "According to the archives, Torkk's publication on energy flows is his most cited and viewed work, right?"

"Yeah, he usually won't stop talking people's ears off about it when it's brought up. What about it?" Kajjex asked, hoping to avoid any further conversation on his father.

"Well, if he's like most elderly and prosaic geniuses with no grasp on the importance of lab security - like most Synergetics professors - then his passcode should match the publication code of his most popular work." He began tapping the panel's interface. "If that holds he should be three-one-four-delta-iota-kappa--"

The panel flashed red and a nearly blaring buzz sounded through the hall, causing both of them to jump. The noise extended far beyond the radius of the dampening field, sounding frighteningly loud to their sensitive hearing. "Fuck, that was loud!" Kajjex hissed. "That's not the right one, we need to be careful!"

Preek gave him a nervous smile. "Alright, next one, then. Four-eight-two-alpha-sigma-sigma--"

Another flash and a loud buzz. "That's not it!" Kajjex groaned. "Uh... hold on."

"Got an idea?" Preek asked.

Kajjex thought it over, peering into the office. "Try... two-five-seven-iota-lamba-upsilon."

Preek stared at him, arching an eyebrow. "That's not one of his publications, is it?"

"I don't think so," Kajjex said. "But try it. I have a feeling it'll work."

If it had been any other asura, Kajjex was sure they would have refused to do it, yet Preek merely nodded and tapped at the panel without question. This time the panel flashed green and a calm tone accompanied it, followed by the sound of the door unsealing and sliding both ways.

Preek turned to the younger asura, impressed. "How did you know?"

"It's a publication code Torkk likes to mutter when he's frustrated in the lab," Kajjex said. "Kind of like a calming mantra. Never knew why, honestly."

"Remind me to look it up when we're done here," Preek said, gesturing Kajjex to get in. "Go find your wayfinder and key, I'll keep watch."

The office was unchanged from the last time Kajjex was in it, when the old man vocally disowned him. Lining the walls were plaques for his accomplishments; his degrees from the College of Dynamics; a few honorary degrees from the College of Synergetics; and trophies from his time as a progeny golemancer. Not a single part of the room suggested that he had a son, or once had a mate to bear him one. He quickly turned away from the displays and approached the desk, its contents ranging from ink wells to data crystals, broken quills and notes written so hastily Kajjex guessed that only Torkk would be able to read them. He pushed the office chair out of the way and pulled out two of its drawers. Folders of his work littered the bottom of one, while a series of small vials was set at the bottom of another.

He nearly closed this drawer before pausing, feeling a coolness emerging from it. He leaned in, brow furrowing as he recognized the interior being refrigerated, and with his curiosity aroused he drew one vial out. It was a long thin tube, about the size of a human finger and clearly meant for bloodwork, yet what set it apart from any other bloodwork vial was the fact that it was unlabeled. Kajjex frowned at it, not certain he would have liked the answer to the question those vials were causing him to ask, and after a few moments longer he slid it back into place, closing the drawer.

"Found it yet?"

"Not yet, I'm still looking," Kajjex told him. He drew open another compartment on the other side, seeing more of the same office detritus and supplies, and nearly closed it, only to pause again as the briefest flash of an image caught his eye, making his heart skip and his breath catch in his chest.

He thought at first that it was a picture of himself, a hand-sized, framed piece of beautiful artwork likely done by a human painter, but as he cleared shattered quill bits and pen caps from the glass surface of the image it became clear that the asura was female in a long, legless dress. Her eyes were a sunset gold, matching the strands of gold among her raven hair; her skin dark and mottled with striking black markings that trailed the top of her arms, a streak of it starting from her forehead and draping down her back. She bore those same streaks even along her legs. It was her smile that drew him in the most, kinder and more compassionate than Kajjex would have expected to see in any image even remotely connected to Torkk. He lifted up the frame, his throat tightening as a sensation of familiarity and loss started to creep into his chest.

"Mom...?"

"What was that?" Preek said, looking to him.

Kajjex shook himself out of his thoughts, dropping the picture. They still had a job to do. "N-nothing, still looking."

"Don't mean to rush you, kid, but we should probably get your gear and book it," Preek said. "I thought I saw some lamplight down the ramp."

It took enormous effort for Kajjex to tear his eyes away from the painting, opening the last two compartments he hadn't checked. The first was filled with folders, but it only took a moment of rummaging through the second to locate his waypoint registration key and his wayfinder, breathing a sigh of relief. "I found it!" he told Preek as he slid the device into his pocket. "After this, I'm going to spend the gold to get the implant version so this doesn't happen again. Alright, let's get out of here."

But Preek wasn't looking at him, his eyes wide as he backed into the room with a curse. "Trouble incoming, it's Torkk!" he whispered, sealing the door behind him and hitting the side panel to lock it.

Kajjex's heart felt like it had plummeted to the depths of the undercube. "Damn, we're trapped!"

"Quick under the desk!"

"But--"

"There's no time, just do it!" Preek told him, jumping over the desk while Kajjex dove under it. After a few seconds he heard Preek shut the desk drawers before he ducked into the snug leg-space next to him. Kajjex nearly spoke before Preek put a finger on his lips, shaking his head, then drew a pair of thin rods from his pocket and handed one to him. "Just trust me."

Kajjex nodded, knowing he had little choice. The older asura reached into his coat and pulled out a third device, a small fob with a purple button, pressing it in. A quiet hiss emerged from the rods as both of their bodies became completely translucent, making them nearly invisible save for the subtle shimmer of their cloaked outlines. Not half a second later they heard the outer panel being triggered, granting access as the doors reopened. The wooden thud of Torkk's staff accompanied his footsteps as he entered the room - and seconds later, a second pair of lighter footsteps joined his, stopping before the desk.

"Yes, I already told you," Torkk said to the other figure, his voice sounding strangely nasal. "The samples are still fresh, they're only a few hours old."

"How did you acquire them so recently?" a female voice replied.

"I had to make a trip to the infirmary earlier today," Torkk growled. "The imbecile smashed my nose when he escaped with his research."

"Have the Peacemakers found him, then?"

"No, but if he has even an iota of sense in that thick skull of his, he'll have left Rata Sum," he scoffed. Both asura wentr rigid as Torkk stepped in front of his desk, but he made no attempt to sit. Instead, he opened the refrigerated compartment, taking out the blood sample tray and placing it on the desk. "He's already proven a waste of time and effort, but what little value he might have left he'll never know about. As far as I'm concerned, he's a non-issue. Let him take his research with him, for all the good it will do - he won't realize it's true value."

Kajjex saw Preek move slightly, the two trading surprised looks at this admission. Curious, Kajjex paid closer attention.

"You would know better than the Inquest as to whether he is someone to be concerned about. Consider carefully, however. We could easily send an operative to track him if you believe it advisable," the female suggested.

"Hmm... no, it might clue others in on our little arrangement," Torkk muttered. "I'll keep the offer in mind, but there are already enough irregular variables at work in this project. In the unlikely event that we should hit a snag, it may prove useful to keep him unaware." A pause lingered, followed by the sound of the vial tray being lifted. "Here are the samples."

"You have our thanks, Professor Torkk," said the female voice. "The Arcane Council will simply have to elect another genius to its ranks. I'm sure the Inquest will be able to provide a suitable candidate in your stead."

"And you'll have them expunge my useless progeny's work from the archives?" Torkk asked.

"As you requested, though it will have to wait until after the elections. I doubt he will be in any position to submit his research, as he's under scrutiny for academic fraud. It is simply a matter of time."

"What of my place in this project?"

"Guaranteed. We need your mind and perspective for this. The Inquest will grant you direct portal access to the Funhouse labs, it will be the ideal halfway point between the area of operations and your residence."

"Any word on the specimens?" Torkk pressed.

"They will be acquired soon, I assure you." Another pause. "Be patient, Professor. You already have what you want, just as the Inquest has what they need. All that is required from you is your continued work and lifelong commitment to science."

"I'm well-aware of what my 'commitment' is to, Overseer," Torkk grunted. "But enough of this talk. It's getting late and we need to get an early start tomorrow."

"As you wish, Professor."

The asura pair watched as Torkk stepped out from behind the desk, his staff thumping by his side until he exited the room and sealed the door shut behind him. Kajjex was the first to roll out from under the desk, breathing out a sigh of relief leaning on the desk to support his shaking legs.

"By the Eternal Alchemy, I thought we were done for!" he groaned. "That was too close."

"I'm glad I carried my old kit around," Preek said, patting the satchel at his side.

"_Why_do you carry that gear around?" he asked, suddenly curious. "Most geniuses carry a notebook or lab supplies, but with the equipment you carry around, I would have thought you were a--"

"Thief?" Preek interjected, grinning. "Rogue? Former pirate from Lion's Arch?" He chuckled. "I was something of an adventurer five years ago, around your age. I had to be to make the trip to the Shiverpeak Mountains. I still carry around my old gear around just in case." He gestured to the viewport out into the Creator's Commons. "We should keep an eye out, the old man will be using the walkway and we don't want to be hanging out the window while he's still topside."

Kajjex nodded, joining Preek and scanning the commons. After a few minutes the elder asura entered their field of view, completely alone. Resentment for the old man welled up in him, his hand tightening into a fist. "What I wouldn't give to smash his nose in again," he muttered.

"What I wouldn't give to watch," Preek replied with a smirk. "I couldn't see the damage from where I sat, but it sounds like you did a number on his nostrils."

"What did you make of all that?" he asked.

"Same conclusion you came to, I expect - he's joining the Inquest. I wish I could say I was surprised but he's the kind of amoral genius they prefer. It makes sense they'd want him out of the voting line-up, they've been itching for a seat in the Arcane Council for years, rather than just a representative." He shook his head. "He's giving them exactly what they want and need, a way for their research and rule-bending to be overlooked. In exchange, he gets to keep doing his own research."

"They talked about specimens," Kajjex pointed out.

"Nothing good will come of that," Preek replied darkly. "Doesn't matter what species or race it is, they'll vivisect it without an ounce of hesitation or empathy. And the worst part is that they'll get away with it, so long as they give the Arcane Council the results it wants."

He shook his head, watching Torkk disappear down a ramp into the lower city. "Wish I could do something about it. With the old man in charge... nevermind, I don't think I'd like to imagine what he'd bring to their tables," he said with a shudder. "Let's just get out of here. We have what we were looking for."

"Ah, not quite," Preek said, catching his shoulder.

The younger asura turned back to him, watching as he dug into his satchel. When he drew his hand out Kajjex swayed on the spot, feeling his throat tighten again as he was handed a small, framed picture. He stared at the image of the female asura for what seemed like hours, before looking up to Preek again, trying to find something to say. Preek spoke first.

"I, uh... saw you staring at it. I heard you mutter something, but..." He trailed off, looking uncomfortable. "It's just, she looks a lot like you. I thought you might know her, or might be related to her. Maybe I was wrong, though - I'm sorry for assuming."

"No, you weren't," Kajjex said quickly. "It's alright."

"So, you know her, then?" Preek asked curiously.

"No." Kajjex paused, frowning at the picture as pain and longing stirred in him. "I mean... yes. I think. I-I don't know, I just-- I mean, it's crazy. I've never met any extended family, so it's stupid to assume she's related." His hand shook as he held it. "We should put it back, he'll know it's gone missi--"

"Kajjex."

He looked up from the picture as Preek put a hand on his shoulder.

"I don't know who that woman is, and I believe you when you say you don't know for sure, either. But that look in your face tells me that whoever she is, she means more to you than she does to Torkk." He smiled. "So hold on to that."

Kajjex swallowed, clutching the picture tight in one hand and nodding, trying to find a way to express his gratitude. "I'll never be able to thank you enough for this," he finally said with a shaky laugh.

"You'll never need to," Preek replied, squeezing his shoulder. "Now c'mon, let's get out of here."

The club was still lively when they returned, but as much as Kajjex had enjoyed visiting to learn from its performers, he felt like he'd had enough excitement for one day. Preek hadn't needed to ask, quickly greeting the others before guiding Kajjex into the rear hallways. Neither of them spoke, though he felt the need to say something to convey his thanks to the older asura - and his apologies.

They hadn't gone far from the club when Preek stopped and keyed open one of the stone doors. "I had Myrreah and Mikks fix this place up for you to stay for however long you need it for. It's not much, but you'll have some privacy and space if you need it."

Preek was right, it wasn't much. In terms of décor, it was lacking in just about every way besides clean and coordinated color sheets and pillows. The resting comforts consisted to a nice, nest-like bed, and a few cushions for sitting. One wall had counters and a sink for what clearly used to be a lab, along with a few jury-rigged laboratory hot plates. Beyond these simple necessities there was a bathroom, a closet, and a lot of empty space.

It still brought a smile out of Kajjex. "It's fine, Preek. Fact is, it's better than my current flat. I might consider paying you rent to live here."

"Once you get things squared away and you're back on your feet, I'd be open to discuss it," Preek said, stepping aside for him. "But for now, if there's anything you need just let me know."

Kajjex took off his coat, tossing it onto the table. "Actually, if you have time I'd like to talk."

"No moment better than now," Preek replied, gesturing to the cushions. "I'm not surprised you have something on your mind - a good genius always does."

"Or someone who's had more happen to them in a week than most folks do in a months," Kajjex replied with a humorless chuckle, taking a seat on one of the cushions.

"How are you holding up?" Preek asked, sitting across from him. "I know today has been a hell of a day, but I'm concerned about your stress levels."

"Two hours ago I was about ready to start chucking filled beakers at everything, I was feeling so overwhelmed. Now, though... I feel like things aren't as bad as I think they are. It's just that it's so new, I have no idea what to anticipate. The waiting and seeing is what gets to me the most." He breathed in slowly, letting it out. "I'm calmer, at least. I resent that I don't have much data to keep going forward safely, but I'm hoping I'll get used to that."

"And what about... him?" Preek asked carefully.

"Fuck him," Kajjex sighed. "I honestly don't care what he plans to do, or who he's allied himself with. I'm tired of having to look over my shoulder and keep my head down just because he might be close by. Maybe cutting off all ties from him and finding work elsewhere will give me some closure."

"That's a positive attitude," Preek said, nodding. "The unknown can be scary, but it can't be any worse than that bastard. And at least you won't be facing it alone."

Kajjex nodded. "I know I keep saying this, and I'll probably keep saying it until the end of my existence, but... thank you. Really. For everything. You've gone much farther than anyone should expect from a relative stranger, and you haven't even asked for anything in return." He shook his head. "And I know you've given me a reason why. I just think there's more to it than you're telling me. You don't need to tell me what it is, but... just tell me if there's anything I can do to square things up."

Preek rubbed his chin with a thoughtful look, then shrugged. "Well, if 'anything' is on the table... you _could_suck my dick."

Kajjex blinked, surprised by the forward suggestion, but after a few awkward seconds of building up his nerves he got to his feet, taking a step towards him.

Preeks' eyes widened and he held up his hands. "Whoa-- no!" he said quickly, letting out a chuckle. "I'm just fucking with you, Kajjex!"

The younger asura stared at him for a few moments, realizing the absurdity of the situation, before bursting out in a laugh. For nearly a half a minute the two shook and rolled, completely in stitches from the joke; and in the entire time Kajjex forgot all the stress of the world, the headaches and heartaches of misfortune. Nothing beyond the room mattered beyond the fact that he was having a great time with a friend, something he'd never experienced often and was quickly finding the most valuable addition to his life. By the time Kajjex calmed down and wiped his face, his sides were sore from the giggling, his head felt clearer, and his body felt less tense.

"I-I'm sorry," Preek wheezed, wiping a tear from his eye. "I just_had_ to see the look on your face when I said that. I wasn't expecting you to give me a cute look and go in for it, I had to stop you before you did something you regret."

Kajjex chuckled and nodded. "No, it's alright, I should've been less gullible." He hesitated and blushed, still smiling. "Not that I would have regretted it, of course. I feel comfortable enough around you to at least admit that. Honestly, I'm the one who should be apologizing right now. I feel like I've been relying on you way too much, and not been able to handle things on my own."

"You don't need to feel that way, kid. Every asura needs a krewe to get the big stuff done; you can't do everything alone. Even when you _need_to face these things by yourself, you shouldn't feel bad just because you want the help." He got up, sitting next to him. "I do have my own personal reasons, yeah. Nothing I want to share just yet. It's not because I don't trust you, it's just that it's a lingering pain I try not to focus on."

"Then you don't need to answer," Kajjex started to say.

"Maybe not a specific answer, but I do want to say that there's more to life than research and joining krewes," he continued. "When we first met, and you talked about why you felt your research is important, you were thinking _beyond_yourself. Sure, it's important to be taken seriously, and the accolades would be nice, but that wasn't your priority. It was about giving people the chance to protect themselves, something from your mind that you didn't have to share. Too many geniuses these days focus on individual achievement instead of actually giving a damn about the work they're doing helping everyone else."

He put a hand on Kajjex's shoulder. "Not even ten minutes after meeting you, you put your own life at risk and saved someone from being killed by something that could have easily killed you. The day after, you put yourself at risk and even took a severe injury so you could try to save _two_lives, and one of them wasn't even from our own world, much less an asura. You know what that says to me?"

"That I'm an idiot who's likely to get killed one day by getting in over my head?" Kajjex scoffed.

"Nah, you're too good at what you do," Preek countered, ruffling the younger asura's hair. "Seriously, though - you're a good bean. You're also more than a little impulsive and hot-headed. It's not always a bad thing, but it can get you into trouble."

"Yeah, well... a good researcher will listen to constructive criticism." He smiled blandly. "I wouldn't be in so much trouble if I'd used my head instead of my heart."

"Hey, maybe so, but that heart of yours has also been key in saving people already," Preek quickly followed up. "To me, that says that you're a good person, brave even. Even if you logically know something is dangerous, even if instinct causes you to fear it, you still want to do the right thing." He put his hand on his shoulder.

"Then how do I know if I'm doing the right thing?" Kajjex asked. "I mean, as an example, this thing with working on pole-dancing is a nice distraction, but did I just rush into it?"

"I gave you a day to think about it," Preek reminded him. "And I don't think you'd have agreed to it if it wasn't what you wanted, at least in terms of learning. But if it helps, I will do everything I can to ensure you don't come away with regrets. You have enough of them as it is."

The younger asura reflected on Preek's words. It was true he'd had a day to decide, and in that time he had put more than a little thought into it. He'd stayed away from the club that entire period and found himself more bored and lonelier than he'd ever felt prior to meeting Preek, such that he didn't even feel the desire to train with the dummy in his room. By the end of his first day learning how to pole-dance, however, that urge had returned twofold; and the boredom and loneliness seemed to have been replaced by a growing sense of personal satisfaction.

But no regret. Not a hint of it anywhere.

He looked back up at Preek, the older asura giving him a smile that seemed to suggest that he knew what Kajjex was thinking. "The Sylvari have a saying: 'act with wisdom - but act.' You've got the first part down, you just need to work at the wisdom part of it. That'll come with time and experience, like any other experiment. You just need to remember that you don't need to go out of your way to try to prove anything to anyone, or be willing to do anything for anybody just to feel valued." He put his hand on Kajjex's chest. "Do it for you. Do it because it's what matters to you, what makes you happy, what you believe in. Your friends - and trust me, you do have friends, now - will support you, no matter what." He grinned. "Even if that means I don't get my dick sucked."

The abrupt joke brought another laugh out of Kajjex, the feelings of inadequacy washing away in seconds. "I don't know if I deserve a friend like you, but I'm glad I have you anyway."

"The feeling is mutual," Preek said, ruffling his hair again.

"And who knows," Kajjex continued, blushing slightly. "Maybe I'll work up enough nerve to that I can do that to repay you."

"I'm not exactly looking for a deep relationship," Preek chuckled, "but if you ever offer, I won't turn you down. Give it time, kid. You'll know what you want eventually."

"I'm sure I will," Kajjex agreed, yawning. "Anyway... thanks for the talk, Preek. I won't keep you any longer."

"No problem, kid," Preek told him, getting up and clapping him on the back. "I'll let you get settled in, then. We'll give it a few days and check your place out, maybe see if the Peacemakers are scoping out the place. If they aren't, we can move your stuff out."

"Sounds good. And the krewe interview?"

"That'll be a couple of days from now, in the morning. Depending on how quickly it takes we can swing by your place right after, fix two bugs with one patch." Preek yawned and stretched out, then grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. "But for now, I got a comfy hammock with my name on it back in my flat. Let me if you need anything, alright?"

"I will," Kajjex assured him. "And again, thanks. I'll make sure to capitalize on this opportunity so that I have more than just eternal gratitude to offer you. Sleep well."

"You too," Preek replied, giving him a thumb's up and a warm smile, before heading out and sealing the stone door behind him.

Now that he was alone with nothing but his thoughts, he got up and started to strip down. With only the one set of clothing he'd need to pick up some extras, especially if he was expecting to meet a krewe. He put it out of his head for the time being, hung his coat up next to his bed and got under the sheets, and was immediately grateful for how much more comfortable it was compared to his hammock.

Exhaustion came slowly, but it gave him time to reflect. The week had been as chaotic as an earth elemental in a museum, and even with a week to process each day it was still nearly insane. Where a Dynamics graduate would have to be prepared for their next concoction blowing up in their face, it felt like the Eternal Alchemy had blown a gasket entirely. Yet he would never say now that no good hadn't come out of it. For everything they'd done and for the friendship they'd offered, he felt ready to do what he could to repay it in kind.

A thought struck him and he reached for his coat again, digging into the inner pocket. He drew out the data crystal he'd taken earlier in the day, still intact and glowing slightly, and sighed in relief. No matter what happened to his data on the archive servers, he still had everything he needed on the crystal, ready to be perused once he had the means to access it. He set it aside on the bedside table and reached into another inner pocket, pulling out the small framed painting Preek had taken from Torkk's desk.

It was hard to deny what Preek had pointed out. She looked remarkably like Kajjex did in terms of facial structure and eyes, and also in the color of her hair, minus her blonde highlights. It was still unreasonable to assume that she was related to him in any way, though he recalled Torkk's hurtful words - that every time he looked at Kajjex it was a reminder of what he'd lost. He winced at the memory, but the pain wasn't nearly as bad the more he stared at her beautiful, kind smile. Though he had little evidence otherwise, he found himself daring to hope that she was connected to him in some way. He checked the back, noticing it had an easel attached to the back, and quickly placed it on the bedside table before pulling the covers over him. As sleep overtook him he felt himself smiling, calmer now than he'd been in days.

Whether the bed or the picture had been responsible, he later realized that before then, he'd never known a better night's sleep.