The porcupine stood lazily on the porch of his penthouse suite, idly watching the clouds go by. Things weren't quite as exciting around this time of the day, and as such, Vince had a habit of retreating to his office for a spot of smoke - perhaps even a drink on the side. As of this moment, even, he gently swirled around the contents of his wine glass as he examined the skies...

"Ah... Tell me, Terra..." His eyes drifted to his right, the pupils meeting that of his trusty bodyguard. "... It certainly is a sight to see, even during the brightness that is the daytime, isn't it...? My lovely resort-slash-city.." He sipped at the beverage once, pinky extended, before plopping another bulky cigar into his mouth to give it a light. And thus the cycle of his habit continues.



While Vince was content at the moment with the scenery, his bodyguard was anything but. Ever since the whole tournament had been announced Terra had been on edge. There were many people after the prize, a good portion willing to get it by other means. There was also a high chance that someone would most likely attempt an attack. After all, it was the perfect timing. None of this made the feline feel any better.

"Yes sir," she replied with a bored tone, "Its wonderful." As her eyes scanned across the skyline she noticed something. It was a blurred shape and at first could have passed off as a kind of aircraft. As it approached however, she could make out more of a body shape. Only with flames. Eyes narrowing at the sight, she placed a hand over the concealed gun at her side. "Sir, you should move inside. Now."



The porcupine merely glanced at her again, cocking an eyebrow. "Hm? I should go inside..? What fo..." Vince's voice trailed off as he gazed up into the air. He frowned slightly, and took a few cautious steps back as it drew closer. "... what the blazes is..?"



It was more certainly a person with what looked like a burning thing strapped to it. A bomb? Moving to the edge of the balcony, Terra pulled out the revolver from underneath her jacket. "Hell if I know.", she replied curtly as she cocked back the hammer. "So get inside." It was one of the few times she felt able to command her employer around. Terra wasn't going to waste the chance.



Vince spat the cigar out onto the balcony floor, huffing a bit as he decided to follow his employee's instructions. "Do be careful." Keeping an eye on the figure in the skies, he warily stepped over to the entrance back into his office, and headed in.

... that wasn't to say he was completely obscured -- he was still capable of viewing the show from the large glass windows by his desk. Although, he decided it best to keep from standing -in-view, and just seated himself at the desk to wait. He popped another cigar in, and gave it a light, to replace the one he so suddenly dropped onto the porch.

"Hrm.."



Though she didn't outright aim the gun at the thing approaching, she did keep it at ready. Last thing she needed was a repeat of the drunk guest from last year and an excitable trigger finger.



A few rivulets of blood trickled down the raptor's shins and arms, a result of the crash landing he had just commited upon the rooftop. Making his way to the bottom of the service stairs to the roof, Randall opened the door into an abrupt change of scenery. Instead of the stark white and dull grey of the walls and stairs of the corridor he was just in, the space before him was instead a large, sumptuous hallway, the walls decorated with hand-painted portraits of several different, very well-dressed people of indeterminate age. Each was framed in very ornate-solid wood frames and hung on walls painted a rich, non-abrasive red.

Swanky. thought the raptor, his eyes darting to either end of the hall. One end had what appeared to be two shiny, metallic doors with no knobs or handles, a set of buttons off to the side. An elevator, no doubt. The other end, atop the stairwell, held a set of overly-large double-doors, the doors themselves seemed to be made of ornate bronze(or possibly gold, he couldn't tell), with huge, needlessly ornate handles.

That'll be it. thought the raptor, making his way up the stairs to the doors, straightening up his appearence as best he could, before knocking politely on the doors.

Not at all polite to just barge in uninvited, you see.



The door was opened quickly. Not by Vince, but instead a rather upset looking woman. A quick glance at the jetpack strapped to the raptor confirmed her suspicions. It seemed that this was the flying person from before. It was an annoyance he crashed into the roof and she was forced to back-track through the whole place. If he was an hit man, he was a stupid one. Making no moves to conceal the gun at her side, she spoke sharply, "Keep your hands in front of you. Don't move much."



"Hmm?" He looked at the bossy feline quite bewilderdly before the cogs fell into place in his head.

"Oh, no no no, pardon me ma'am. But this is definitely not what it may seem to you. I've no intent to harm your employer or cause any damage to his property I assure you."

His assurances, of course, did not do much to change the woman's demeanor, sadly. His hands moved forward, palms out. "Yes, now you see? No bombs or weapons or implements of any kind. I'm simply here to meet our mutual benefactor. I have a few requests to ask for him and a bit of information to exchange."



Though there were no weapons in plain view in his hands, she still felt unsure about the machine. Really she would have liked nothing more than to toss him out but appearances had to be kept up.

"Appointment only." With that, she attempted to shut the door without even a farewell.



"Ah, wait! Wait, Miss Terra..." The porcupine stood from his desk, arms spread out in a welcoming gesture. "Let our visitor inside... I have no appointments for the time being... let us here was he has to say." A dangerous glint flashed in his violet-hued eyes, one that only Terra might have been able to catch. "... if he were to try anything, rest assured, you and I both have the means to detain him..."



Though she looked the least bit happy about it, Terra moved away from the door and held it open for the raptor. "Yes sir."

She sometimes doubted her employer's choices and wondered if he was set out to just make her job more difficult. Really though, he was right. If something was going to happen, it would be handled. As always. Eyes never leaving the reptile, she closed the door as he entered. As normally, she took her stand a few feet behind the desk at Vince's back.



He entered the lavishly adorned office with a florish, giving a slight bow to his host before crossing the gulf of the room to the desk, extending his hand over the desk to the red-quilled benefactor of the building they both currently resided in.

"I appologize for interrupting your undoubtedly busy day, Mr., uhm, Vince." He suddenly realized he had no idea even if the Porcupine had a last name or not. "But I do have a bit of buisness with you, if you do not mind a quick chat? And I do assure you both, besides the propulsion device attached to my back, there is literally nothing I could do to subdue either one of you."



The porcupine gave a nod to his associate as he took his seat once more, leaning forward with elbows on the desk, hands clasped neatly together. "Keh heh heh.. You certainly have that right, sir Jetpack. So... if I may ask, what exactly prompted such an interesting entrance..? We do have an elevator, you know..."



"Sir. To be blunt. Would you take an elevator if you could fly at half the speed of sound whenever you wanted?" Said the raptor, a small smirk on his face. "About my being here, though. I stumbled upon a group of ne'er-do-wells conspiring just a few buildings over, no doubt with the intent to lift from your possesion a certain energy-dense bit of crystal."



The porcupine chuckled a bit through his cigar smoke, taking it from his mouth as he leaned somewhat in his chair, his features reflecting that of amusement. "Hah... who isn't intending to lift the rock...? Indeed... There's no need to worry, honestly..." He gestured to Terra behind him with a grin. "Not only have I employed the best of the best for security measures... But I also do not lack the foresight to take certain steps to ensure the safety of something as important as the prize on hand..." Puff, went the cigar smoke. "I assure you, Sir Jetpack... you need not worry.

"However..." Snuffing out the cigar in his personal ashtray, Vince's expression seemed to darken slightly as he prepared another smoke. "If you would be so kind as to point us in the direction of these particular 'ne'er-do-wells'..." He snapped his fingers, to grab Terra's attention once more. "... we will be able to keep an extra special watch over them... And, please, if names aren't enough, do be so kind as to inform us of any... defining characteristics." The porcupine readied another wine glass, and began to pour a drink from a blank-faced bottle.

"A drink, Sir Jetpack?"



Terra's attention was had at the mention of 'ner-do-wells'. It wasn't unusual that someone would try to steal the gem but this was a first that someone would tell them about it. She didn't put much trust in this man though, if anything she considered him a loon. The jetpack really didn't help that impression.

When Vince snapped, she took a step forward. It seemed she would have to track people down. Peachy.



"If that drink would happen to be alcohol, no thank you. I don't drink and fly, you see." Said the Raptor, putting up a hand to refuse the offer. "I'm not totally charitable, Mr. Vince, I'm here to trade information with you, not to offer it up freely. I want a good look at that gem of yours."



The porcupine's gaze seemed to darken further. As he sat back into his chair with the glass of wine, Vince gave it a sip, and furrowed his brow.. "... I am sorry, Sir Jetpack. But you are simply a contender in my tournament, and as such, are disallowed from seeing the prize before the initial hand-off to begin with... Secondly, seeing as it is a matter of security... You will give me the information you have... and you will not barter details with me. Now then..." He set the glass back down onto the desk, and lit up a new cigar. "... Please inform me the details about these individuals that you went through the trouble of crashing through my hotel roof to get over to me..."



Terra couldn't help but give the raptor a slight smirk as she stood there. Perhaps this would be more fun that she first though.



"My good sir, I'll have you know that I have absolutely no intention of ever theiveing from you anything that is yours by right. I only wish to do a few simple tests on the thing, for the science of it, you see. I understand your concern, but I do not give anything away for free, a policy I'm sure a buisnessman of your calibur can understand." He moved a hand toward his jet-pack strap, the controll arms extending. "Now if our buisness is indeed concluded, I'll be on my way, your porch over there seems to be quite the perfect place to take off from."



Vince eyed the raptor for a moment, before raising a hand again to snap his fingers.



Barely even two seconds passed before Terra had her gun out and ready in her hand. There was a loud click that echoed in the room as the gun was cocked and the barrel aimed directly between the raptor's eyes.



"Now then... I'm sure someone of your apparent knowledge will come to understand, that someone of my calibur does not trust individuals such as yourself, especially one with such intent to fool around with my personal pieces of property. Now, I'm going to politely inquire that you give me the details that you have. If you refuse, I will have security detain you on the grounds of withholding important information from us that could compromise the safety of my guests."

"And if you choose to make a run for it..." he added, puffing a bit of his cigar. "... Well... you can take three guesses on what will occur afterward. Sir Jetpack."



"You know, it's just so sad that you cannot see the light of reason." Said Randall, silently warming up his engines, ready to bolt should things get any worse. Because his mind had already come up with several situations much worse than the one he was in. "A few days with that crystal of yours in lab conditions, and who knows what I could uncover. If harnessed, perhaps infinite energy. Imagine that, my crimson friend, have a completely infinite power-plant that outputs enough energy to power the world. Energy you sell at an excessive profit, of course. Pure profit." He looked back to the weapon-brandishing kitty-cat and shrugged, "But if you're more interested in agression and spectacle, I guess I'll leave you be."



The porcupine simply gave the raptor an incredulous stare for a moment or two... His eyes shifted to Terra and back a few times... Soon, it appeared something just struck him as amusing, because Vince was chuckling quite soundly all of a sudden...

"Keh hah hah hah hah!! Really, Sir Jetpack? Me, in need of more profit? I run one of the most popular casinos and resorts in all of Westside Island! I can turn a profit by simply sitting on my tuckus in this office, or by being loved and adored by my guests at a dinner party! The funds roll in so fast, I will never have to lift a finger for the rest of my life!" The porcupine stood up from his chair, palms planted firmly onto the surface of his desk as his posture leaned forward.. "I don't -need- any more profit!" He paused, and snickered a bit more, giving one last finishing drag to his cigar before tossing it aside into the empty fireplace behind him.

"Keh heh heh... What I do desire... has nothing to do with your... what was it... science? Hah!" He returned to his chair, steepling fingers together as he kept an eye on the reptile. "Besides... You have no need for concern... Being who I am, I already have some of the most intelligent properties gathered in my personal laboratories, keeping the stone itself in check. I daresay, they're doing research of their own as we speak, anyway... Your science has little purpose here. However, you have information I desire, and it was by your own mouth that you piqued my interest. So, I do politely request once again - Spill what you know. I should remind you of my bodyguard, who is one hell of a shot... Do not force me to ask you again. This is your last chance, Sir Jetpack."



"Well, I dare say we're done here then. I'll surrender my information to you, as you request. It's a group of what seem to be eco-terrorists, they kept mumbling something about 'restoring nature' or some such. They approached me to enlist my chemical expertiese, no doubt to help them construct high-explosives. I refused, of course." The lie flowed forth from his lips like the most natural thing in the world.



After Randall had spilled the 'information', Terra glanced at Vince as if asking for confirmation if she should shoot or lower her gun.



Vince peered into the eyes of the reptile, taking in the details that he had finally relenquished. Remembering his loyal employee, though, he gave her the most curt nod, to signal that it was fine to lower the weapon. The porcupine nodded, and stood once more, extending his hand to give the raptor a most polite handshake. "Thank you, Sir Jetpack. I do apologize for our... aggressive nature, but for the sake of my guests, I really would much rather ensure their safety, and we are willing to go to great lengths to make sure that those who come to my resort... leave it happy, and not in pieces."

His expression had appeared to have softened considerably, and he most certainly seemed quite genuine with his words. It was up to Randall to take him up on the handshake, of course... "We will keep an eye out for such suspicious persons, I promise you. My company thanks you for your information."



Once given the signal, the gun was lowered and uncocked. Slipping it back into her jacket, Terra clasped her hands behind her back.



Ohthankgoodnessthatwassocloseadrenelinerushingeverywhere.

The repitle would indeed be sweating bullets if he had sweat glands of any kind, we was only so lucky that the porcupine had not thought to ask for descriptions or names of the 'eco-terrorists', lies that he had not come up with yet. "I suppose I'll take my leave then." He said, maintaining his composure, and taking the short steps toward the proprietor's balcony.



Vince coughed. "Ah, if you don't mind, would you please just take the elevator down to the first floor? Not that I have a problem with your device, but... I don't think my guests would be too pleased witnessing your acrobatics in the sky right now... Plus, I would rather not endure a hundred security reports about some unidentified flying reptile in my skies..."



Randall was crestfallen. "Alas, my muse shall evade me this night." He said, a hand extended toward the sky, before smirking and turning away, "Sorry to wax romantic there, I'll be on my way then." He walked to the door, opening the massive entrance and stepping halfway out. "It's a shame though, the man who discover's infinite energy would be the one of the most famous men on the planet." With that, the door shut and Randall strode to the elevator shaft, pressing 'down' and waiting patiently to leave this science-forsaken hotel



Once the door closed behind Randall, Terra rubbed her forehead as if trying to coax the small headache away. "I have to say sir, this contest has certainly attracted all kinds."



Once the inividual left, he turned his ear to Terra, and chuckled quietly to himself. "Yes, it certainly has... This was to be expected, although... even I find myself feeling surprised every so often... A jetpack crash on my roof as a means to gain entry... that's a new one for the books..."

Standing up, he casually strode to the large windows displaying the penthouse garden on the other side, a wine glass in hand. "Terra... This should go without saying, but... I don't exactly...trust the words of that fellow. Heh... do you...?"



A grimance marred her features as she shook her head. "Not in the least sir. Perhaps we can find out more?" Glancing over at Vince, she turned to face him. "I can have someone keep an eye on him. He does stand out well."



"Keh hah hah hah hah! My, he certainly does, doesn't he?" The porcupine mused quietly for a moment or two, swirling his beverage about before giving it a sip... "But, yes, you've got your job down to a T, Miss Terra... I humby request that you keep an eye on him, either personally, or through another employee... I wish to see who he has been interacting with on that side of the fence, so to speak..." He gave the bodyguard a bit of a grin, the porcupine seeming quite pleased with everything so far..

"Can you do that for me, my dear..?"



Giving a curt nod, Terra pulled out a small handheld device that resembled a cell phone. "I know who would be best. After all, keeping an eye on you is a full-time job." Turning her back to him, she walked a few steps away and punched in a few numbers. Bringing it to her ear, she relayed orders to the worker on the other end. Though her tone to Vince was calm, her tone on the phone was far less pleasent.