Ferrous looked good for his age. Of course, being ninety-something would take a toll on any regular human, but the 'good' doctor managed to retain his straight posture and most of his hair. The scowl that was seemingly permanently affixed to his face didn't do the man any favors, the dour expression highlighted by the coarse wrinkles brought on by advanced age. His attire defaulted to a simple white lab coat, blue gloves, black pants, and brown dress shoes shined to perfection. His appearance was essentially generic - nothing about the man stood out from thousands of other aged scientists, and that was JUST how he liked it. The flying rainbow, Ace, was engineered to grab the public's attention. Loud, boisterous, colorful, and a certified Hero... just what the people wanted.

It wasn't enough. Pitiful progress had been made on the theoretical upgrades for A1, and while Ferrous wasn't bankrupt, his funds had a strict limit that frequently proved a burden towards development. And with no patrons to speak of that could see his practical genius, it would remain that way. The situation was enough to give him conniptions, angrily worked away on his latest update to A1's personality matrix. There would come a time when the cadence of a braggart would best be replaced with a professional, and that's what this project was all about.

It was essentially a switch that turned A1 into a taciturn, silent killer hellbent on completing the mission. It made explaining the bouts of amnesia to the ignorant Ace harder when used, but fighting back the threat of Earth's destruction was something he took VERY seriously. The human species and their home planet deserved to place their collective fate in the hands of something competent. The events of Orange City were still burned into his memory. Those SAIYANS who so freely flitted about the planet had leveled an entire center of civilization, and hardly anyone worth something seemed to give a damn. Yangcong may have aligned himself with Red Ribbon, but that man had a point...

"Feh." He was getting nowhere. Ferrous' concentration kept slipping away into daydreams, away from the task at hand. It was primarily complete anyway, ready for alpha phase testing. Slamming his fit on the Android's pod release, Ferrous grabbed his elongated cane and made for the door to his capsule lab. For the time being, he had nestled it within a relatively quiet part of East City, paranoia of Red Ribbon interference prompting him to move his base of operations every so often. "We're going out for food, A1." The machine was still in the process of starting up, though he undoubtedly heard the scientist's words. A1, of course, didn't NEED to eat, but he could for the sake of pleasure and public appearances. Any calories would just get converted into pitiful amounts of extra energy for the Android's core.

As a matter of practicality, Ferrous beelined for the closest available restaurant - a quaint cafe-style business with outdoor seating. Finding a CHANGELING there of all things dug into his mood a little bit, aware that the PTO had been making minor jabs at Earth as of late. Still, if they were degrading themselves by daring to eat at an Earthling-run food service shop, they could potentially be not aligned with the organization. Ferrous took a table two down from Zero, resting his cane across the arms of another chair. Ace didn't take long to arrive either, the Android dropping down from the sky in his trademark outfit and easily sliding into the empty chair across from the Doctor. "You usually spring for delivery Doc; what's the occasion?"

PL: 3,643
Synthetic Gear Oil: +10% to PL gains
TWC: 611

Zero took note of the human man that had approached and took one of the tables outside, he did not pay much mind to him as he was just a general-looking scientist. The only thing that bothered him was that this man was not in West city putting his mind to work to improve the life on the planet there. Though perhaps he had not heard of the news of West Coty focusing more on Scientific discoveries, research and development, and even biological advances. If he was still there after his meeting with Liari, Zero would indeed ask him a few questions as to the subject of his knowledge, what he was working on here in East City, and if he needed a grant. A lot of grants were being given out for all types of projects in West City.

Then here came the Blue woman, Liari lowered from the sky with all that newfound power and the look of the Saiyans still on her person. She bowed to him showing respect and Zero smiled at her. "You honor me, my dear, no need for all that we are friends now are we not? They were not, but something like that from what Ryme had told Zero on his understanding of friendship. "Yes, please take a seat. Thank you for noticing you have inspired me to change as well. "

After Liari would take hr seat Zero waved over to the waiter so they could get something to drink and even order some food. He had no need to even ask the woman what she wanted to eat. When the Dog Beast man appeared to take their order Zero would order for them. " We will have a glass of red wine, the oldest you have, the special of the day, and my friend here will have a triple chocolate milkshake with peppermint straw, and ten of every dessert item you sell. Is there anything else you would like to eat my dear?"

He would pause to wait and see if she answered or not, then moved on after the waiter left. I have asked you here today for a few things Liari, first and for most, how have you been since the events in West City? Have the events affected the nightmares you were having before it and also has it unlocked anything else about the woman we are searching for?"

He took a breath but had more to say. "I ask because, with the information I had before West City, nothing is still coming up on another one of your kind at all. This leads me to believe either you are from a very far corner of the galaxy, or there are just not that many of you. Now, to be fair it is a very narrow amount of planets that my agents have scanned as I am using the PTO's resources to draw out information about other Majins. From my understanding though your race is going to be a tough one to track down given the ability to change appearances just by absorbing another being. So any and all information would be helpful. "

He would let Liari respond to him as he wished to see what she had to say before he pushed on with his next topic at hand. Though he might not be as close to her as Ayu, or anyone else in her life Zero did care about the well-being of the blue Majin, even if it was all self-interest.

WC 584
TWC:1056
Weighted PL :17,062

"Please, my lord. This is a formality you have earned, is it not?" Liari offered the changeling a smile before taking her seat before him. "After all the work and planning you have put into what you now have, surely a title such as yours befits acknowledgement." Internally, the majin grimmaced that SHE would have influenced HIM to change. If it weren't blatantly obvious, it was as if Zero had chosen to wear all the blackness in his heart on the outside, his bio-armor tinted as dark as coal with his flesh either resembling that of similar earthly materials or as red as dried blood. He had taken on a form befitting of his nature... while Liari had taken a form befitting of others. 

...He must have been enjoying that little stab at her character. 

However, that moment of bitterness was VERY QUICKLY CANCELED OUT when Zero ordered like... EVERYTHING SWEET ON THEIR MENU to be brought to their table, the Majin's eyes shooting wide... and her mouth already starting to drool! ...Looking back, she might have revealed a bit too much about her true feelings in that moment... But, then again, that was a LOT of gourmet sweets! 

WELL as Liari awaited her own personal buffet to roll in (with no small amount of eagerness, mind you), Zero would take this moment to reveal that he had made very little progress into finding that Majin Liari had seen. In all honesty, Liari didn't expect much different... but that didn't stop the disappointment from showing on her face. Perhaps it was a long-shot, but she had hoped he'd managed to salvage SOMETHING out there! 

"Oh... I see..." She mumbled, cupping her face in her hands! "...I have been having fewer nightmares since I have absorbed Callion and Kombu... Its as if my mind is leveling out somewhat or... is perhaps buried under the other minds I have taken in but... Sometimes... I still see... her." Liari muttered, referring to the girl in her dreams! Zero would then propose two theories: That Liari might have been from the DEEP recesses of space... or perhaps there just were not that many of her sort around! Liari's eyes widened thoughtfully, staring past the changeling as if processing the thought.

"...Or maybe I am much older than I thought..." She mused, cupping her chin between her forefinger and thumb. "Thinking back, that ball-like object of mine... that was near me when I landed... It almost looked like some sort of egg or... or shell... And, not only that, but it appeared ancient.... and not like anything on this world... Perhaps... Perhaps I was not born here at all... and perhaps these nightmares... are something much more..."

WC: 452
TWC: 890

Ah. That was... really concerning. Ace's mechanical body held steady even as his implanted mind ran wild with possibilities, relaying the information as quickly and silently to Ferrous as he could manage. Between the Majin admitting to having absorbed TWO people already and the Changeling's casual offer for a slice of Earth, things weren't in their favor. Ferrous' knuckles whitened, eyes flashing in understanding. The crotchety old man might've been morally bankrupt and intent on ruling the world to some degree, but hearing that ALIENS had already started dividing up his home like slices of pie!? Ace could sense the bubbling anger within his benefactor, pulling his shades down to shoot the doctor a look of warning. "So, anyway, figured I should start trying to make a plan. The whole public persona thing is going well. Still getting overshadowed by Red Ribbon, unfortunately."

Keeping up a normal conversation would be vital to keeping Ferrous' temper in check AND sustaining the illusion that neither of them was paying any mind to the words of Zero and his subservient gumball. "I know it's not usually your area of concern, Doc," Ace kept rambling in a bid to keep things under control. "But I figured the mind behind the loose screws and cogs should be credited!" Ferrous' mouth twitched, the man reluctantly relaxing as much as he could. "You don't use 'screws,' A1," The scientist sounded almost offended at that claim. "It's unilateral polarized magnetic interlocking. What kind of buffoon would opt for primitive connectors on such a mobile frame?"

It was dangerous to stick around and let the duo know they had been spied on, but at the same time getting up to leave AFTER having gotten drinks yet before eating would be suspicious. "See? That's why you're the brains and I'm the brawn. And why it isn't totally fair all the credit goes to me! Most folks I know would be chomping at the bit to cash in on all that potential fame." Their waiter returned first, not having the burden of elaborating that YES, the order for every desert was actually legitimate. Ace flashed the Earthling a bright smile, opting to take a long, drawn-out slurp of his dark fizzy cola as Ferrous swirled his glass around thoughtfully. "Protecting the planet is a BIG DEAL. I knew what I signed up for going into it; Hell, that debacle at Orange City proved we need SOMETHING."

TWC: 1137

Excellent! Liari seemed to have the ball with her! This was going to be most helpful for sure. They could date the make of the egg, and maybe figure out what the make-up of its structure was to limit what part of space it came from, it should be all that much helpful. Unknown to him or Liari the man listening in on their conversation seemed to have the same concerns about the Saiyans as they did but extended to include all Aliens of Earth rather than the ones who had shown to be destructive. Zero had gone about his take over in a more peaceful way instead of wiping out an entire city. He had hoped this would bring him allies to help rid the planet of the USD, he honestly did not even wish to control Earth, his brother had made great points against doing so. However, if someone wished to take the earth for themselves and Ally themselves with the Ika brothers then so be it.

"The planet does not have to be one with anything besides animals and plants if that is what you wish. Though I see great things coming from you in the Future Liari. I dare say I have Pride in you which is actually out of character for me. However, watching you grow into the woman who sits across from me I can not help but feel that pride in you. I hope you come to Ryme and me whenever you need something. "

She then shocked him by offering her services to find the person he sought in East City. Zero gave that wicked smile of his as their drinks had arrived. He nodded thanks to the Waiter as he took the red wine and sipped it. It was not the best but it would do. Its bitter taste of it just made his mouth water with salvation. "Yes, if you can it would be most helpful. We need to make sure we can get everyone we can on our side to remove the USD from Earth. West City is all that I wanted here to increase the knowledge and import and exportation of Alien Technology. I think with West City under my control more advanced things will soon be brought globally. So if it is money they want, there will be much to be had. If it is the power they want, I can offer them that too, and if it is Earth itself they wish to control they can have that as well, all but West City. I am positive about your ability to get this done. Now, let us enjoy our time together with pleasant talks. No more need for all this business."

He took another sip of the wine as the food was now arriving at the perfect time. Three waiters with an arrangement of sweets arrived and sat them down around the table. Even Zero had to admit that this was all looking amazing enough to eat. Though he was not one for sweets. He was happy though to see a sea food platter brought his way.

WC 520
TWC 2078

Now he was just schmoozing her... that had to be the case. having "pride" in her, "watching" her grow up like they ever met up outside of work... That didn't stop his compliment from making her blush, though, the majin's eyes darting to the left of Zero as her face flashed a darker shade of blue. While she didn't break down as hard as she would have been in her younger form, Liari's vulnerable heart was still HIGHLY SUSCEPTABLE to any kind of praise! It was as if Zero had shot an arrow right through the chainmail covering her softer side, striking true, if not as deeply as he otherwise could have! 

"You do me too much credit..." Liari mumbled, her eyes then flicking downward! "...But thank you, Zero."

Liari would then offer to seek out this interesting stranger personally and Zero seemed VERY INTERESTED by that idea, a dark, almost twisted smirk arching across his normally calm and polite face! She could offer him anything, after all, ZERO HAD anything someone of this caliber COULD want! ...Autonomy, huh? It was... weird not to have any overly specific instructions laid out for the task ahead. Before, Zero only had simple or very specific tasks for her to do from bombing the capital over in West City to getting this or that object from this or that place. ...This would actually allow her to think and make real decisions on how she needed to get things done! 

...Good. She could finally test out some new infiltration techniques she had been working on. 

"It will be done." Liari stated firmly, once more locking eyes with the changeling. "...And, if I may, I wish to show you how." Liari would extend her arm out towards the changeling nonthreateningly... before her arm would begin to shrink! Slowly, it would grow thinner, shorter, resembling more like a child's arm! Her body would then follow suit, Liari seeming to grow YOUNGER and her attire seeming to change to a breastplate Zero might find VERY familiar!

"This is only a minor example of what I can do." The now 4'6'' majin claimed, her voice much higher, childlike... yet sophisticated with how she spoke! "...It seems I am able to push my body beyond even what I had thought possible in days past. I can... grow and shrink," Liari raised a thumb to her mouth which she bit down upon and blew into, her OTHER arm slowly starting to swell! "...Change my face..." Liari's form GREW back to its original 8'3'' size, the breastplate melting back into Callion's black shirt. "...And mask my ki-signature." Suddenly, Liari's energy SHIFTED feeling, resembling more of a... a sayain's power than a Majin's! 

"I imagine the last thing you would want is for someone to recognize me as the beast that devastated the planet's capital... much less as one who works for you. Now... those worries will be completely unfounded." 

It would be THEN that Liari's small banquet would arrive with several waiters in tow, the majin's eyes WIDE and sparkling as she surveyed EVERYTHING THEY HAD TO OFFER! Chocolate dipped strawberries, little candied pastries, those fancy square marshmallows, small plates of cake whose flavors Liari couldn't even identify and MORE! SO MUCH MORE!

"Oh.... My..." She whispered, covering up the BIGGEST SMILE EVER with her hands, excitement radiating off her as if it were her ki! "So... much..." It was only due to the restraint of Callion that the majin didn't POUNCE on the TABLES-WORTH of sweets now displayed before her, Liari instead choosing a piece of cheesecake covered in a DELICIOUS-SMELLING red fruit-sauce to be where she'd start! 

"MMMMMMHHHH~!" She practically moaned with outright euphoria, cupping her cheek as she took her first bite! "Shooo GHOOOODH!"

...Liari almost didn't notice the two individuals intruding on their conversation, so deep into her desserts was she! It SOUNDED, though, from what she heard over her sweet-tooth-swooning, like the man they were looking for had come to them.... and came with a friend! A1 (like the steak-sauce?) was this doctor's companion... a bodyguard, perhaps? It would seem, either way, that Zero would have a direct hand in these negotiations one way or another!

WC: 700
TWC: 2004

Morbidly curious at the blue one's affixation to sweets, Ace watched with a placid expression as Liari started inhaling the veritable buffet of food with nary a care in the world. Had she even noticed them, or was the allure of food strong enough to completely disconnect the Majin from reality? The Android's attention swiveled back to the now upset Changeling, aware he had nothing to fear from being scrapped in a rage. "The first thing would be profound apologies. The second would be our greatest thanks; allowing this opportunity to explain after such disrespect is generous of you indeed. My reason for doing so is out of reasonable caution - after all, a man of your caliber is surely aware of the Orange City incident that had transpired not too long ago."

Though without trepidation at Zero's wrath, Ace spoke carefully, preserving a deep amount of open respect and subservience to assuage the Changeling's temper. "As for more practical reasons... you were the one responsible for West City's current enlightenment, weren't you? Quite a bold statement, but one we're sure Earth will come to recognize as beneficial in the long run. That being said, this particular planet isn't quite as important as the folks living here think it is. With how much a visionary like you has planned, devoting personal time to somewhere insignificant like Earth must seem like a waste. The good doctor here and I would like to request a formal position under you. WE happen to care about this planet and its' growth. Let us administrate. You could turn your full attention to other matters and be confident that any current or future interests in Earth are already secured."

TWC: 1826