Liaison

Unsolicited Invasion (Earth-F67X Chronicle)

J'Samberabram’s weary trio of eyes scaled the tilted towers and dancing houses of Plusari Ave from tinted windows. He lounged in the spacious cab, ashing a navy cigar on the scarlet interior’s floor with two gentle taps. He paid no mind the itsy-bitsy critters scurrying from beneath the seats, shamelessly gobbling up the residue and inadvertently cleaning. The Jorian’s legs crossed after their departure, resting his white wing-tipped shoe on the knee of his tacky bengal-striped suit stolen from Betelgeuse. He was convincing himself to relax. Yes, many parts of Allure were in an absolute frenzy but in some ways, it wasn't much different than earlier episodes of the madcap megalopolis. After settling on that outlook, his almost-ghoulish hand stroked his peppered stubble and a smile with teeth resembling piano keys wedged into his face. “Why yes, I shouldn’t worry at all” he spoke out loud.

Following that statement, the vehicle came to an abrupt stop. A collective gasp overtook Allureans large and small packed like sardines on the sidewalk. They too, like traffic and perhaps the entire city froze in place. The mild-mannered toad in the driver’s seat, Krupis, croaked “What…is that” and J'Samberambram’s neck practically broke with how quickly he jerked upwards. His cartoonishly erupting eyes punched the lenses right out his aviator frames in disbelief. Intensely glaring out the sunroof, the violet bands outlying the moon made him slow to respond. “… I thought this was an Earth?” In all truths, it was but its exponential transformation put it on pace to compete with Allure in outright zaniness.

In less than a New York minute, the collective shock dissolved, followed by a burst of rage as impatient citizens gaveled their horns, manufacturing a horrific conglomeration of pitched animal cries, blaring synths and alien obscenities. One resident went as far as to reach their gargantuan fiddler arm out a window, muscling a path through hysterical sidewalk crowds as opposed to waiting in traffic. Looking in on the carnage, J'Samberambram chided "You know, he has a point. Let's jet."

Without a response, the toad substantially bulked up to the point where he barely fit in the front seat and J'Samberambram fastened his seatbelt. The interior below the amphibian retreated into a slot and its lanky arms snapped to the side of the vehicle like a junkyard magnet. Powerful legs propelled it off the cobblestone and for a while, the toad hopscotched his way through and on top of traffic, evading the abundance of gamboge carnivorous plants snapping at him and the jungle of vines draping between buildings. Krupis stopped, planting his feet in the middle of a busy intersection, narrowly avoiding collisions with one building scaling leap. Out of breath, he informed the mobster of whispers from the underground; rumors as good as fact from their network. "Boss, I’m getting reports of portals opening all around Allure."

Noticeably reserved, J'Samberambram closed his baggy eyes, exhaling a pall of glimmering blue smoke which took the shape of a group of insectoids in an alleyway examining a rift in space. Two peaked around the entrance with one eye open as a masked mantis repeatedly jabbed at the potential portal with its bladed arm. This went on for at least a minute before the mobster lost his temper. His enlarged face embossed the brick wall beside them like it was elastic with a fuming expression. “Figure out what's on the other damn side! While you're at it, organize the rest of Mantodea gang to find any more and lock them down.” The group cowered but the orders from the head of the Bernulogos Crime Family were clear. Get it done.

Rubbing his wrinkled forehead with his left hand, he blew the lingering smoke out a slit in the window and leaned into the backseat. “Krupis, take me to Pleiades. Send a memo to Ixxa. Let her know I have one of her girls in the back.” Silence hit the cab before the toad tucked in his lips. “I... forgot about that. You think she's okay back there?” Lighting another cigar in his mouth muffling his speech, J'Samberambram angrily uttered: “How should I fucking know.”

Cat, got your tongue (Earth-F67X Chronicle)

Preface

The inherent wantonness of Merse single-handedly antagonized Allure. Impulsively, he knew this debacle of an interrogation constricted Margaret, forcing her hand with much already on her plate. This kept her busy and more importantly, it shortened her reach. And to think, a "slip" of the tongue could pave for worse! Tingles finger-walked his spine. The tantalization of the operative with unspecific and open to interpretation statements only added to this but alas, the jig was up. His stamina waned, having had little time to collect himself. With just a minor lapse of concentration, a hiccup allowed The Aldare to learn something about him no one else knew...

More Of The Same

Margaret's affinity for wacky space imports was vein deep. The occasional magical artifact even found it's way sprinkled in under the guise of interior decorating. As prude as Margaret was, her sense of style was just as appalling with alien rights organizations lamenting her exotic rugs and wall busts. Fearis' and Eal's not bound to lockers, locker room talk, in which she was often the topic of, offended less. For this moment, Merse too was focused on her visage but not because he received his jungle fever vaccination the day prior. A skeptic squint pried through his poker face.

"A rare error..."

He thought to himself, recalling the perplexity around Margaret's oh so situational appearance among species. Allureans knew, and them, this was no big deal but in this instance, it confirmed Merse's suspicion. The projection was falsified, and perhaps some of the others as well. Despite the dubious display, he was inclined to believe much of it. Clearly, it represented the direction in which the EarthF67x favored. The prospect of Allureans banding together wasn't preposterous but Merse wasn't the only individual capable of such trickery. His stomach turned at the idea of disloyalty but it was his reality as long as he was bound.

THE MIND

THE MIND

THE MIND

The deeper I voyaged, the crux of normalcy waned. Wicked ideas roosted in flocks within this callow mind. A cauldron where vanity reigned unsupervised and details became muddled. After every question, spontaneously I examined more. I provided insight regarding the creature’s statements, as he routinely left out details. Despite my apparent effectiveness, I felt stonewalled. For not my own recollection, said revelations vanished as quick as they surfaced. With every disappearance of memories, the louder a sound became apparent to me.

A hissing purr...

It lead me away and only then I realized it wasn't a mere sound. I was enlightened to a new sense, comparable to nothing I’ve encountered prior. It appealed to my desires, its message felt...like...like me. Trapped...

It wanted to escape. The oracle placed upon me swung gates, allowing for a detour into a chamber of memories. I poured my own into the pool and witnessed burdens I carried, great traumas and evils I ported from the fallen flushed with the mundane. More than ever, it was clear to me now. These were not the memories of Merse Granstrum. In fact, I could not find any in this boundless vat. Where was I exactly?

I followed what I could only describe as a canal, allowing me to traverse into a lightless space. An apparition then made itself known. Its body, if you could call it one, was a pulsing violet nebula of wispy chromatic tones. A cheshire grin of white and amber hues unsuccessfully contained itself, overlooking in entertainment. Three felinoid figures caromed off each other like a newton's cradle, lynched and caged behind the creature's fangs. The celestial entity continued to laugh, forever cementing its convicting gaze into me. It acknowledged my presence, which seemed like an impossibility, but as time lingered, the phantasm drifted further and further away…

"Give me the 4th..."

The inhabitants of Spain... They can be saved...

THE HOW?

Merse’s mind emulated corpus callosotomy subjects gone mystical, possessing an ethereal sense of duality, routing VPN-like consciousnesses within alternating cerebral hemispheres. Memetically induced pathogens entered lobes unhampered, only for facsimile systems to filter channels and reset before information could be passed to the intended cognizance. As clever as Merse was, he was an individual of many tells. Inconclusive biometrics, constant twitching, the lack of response to pain and induced ailments. It took an extreme amount of concentration for Merse to keep his body in such a homogenous state. One capable of misguiding Earthf67x's sensory systems, for the most part. Under a greater scope, the mystifying nature of his paleomammalian cortex unswervingly defied logic, often empowering organs and body systems beyond their means.

The Aftermath

“Tic…Tic…Tic…”

His watch was soundless, but the tics pinged in his head thunderously like loud consecutive sonic booms. Merse realized what happened even though it was less than a second in realtime. The moment she slipped through this game was over. Balling his fists, he prepared himself. Liaison's fur stood on end. His zig-zagging whiskers operating like audio spectrums interpreting signals before pointing upwards like tv antennas.

A hurried tone uncharacteristically left his lips.

"You know, operative... Your unwillingness to be lured down the rabbit hole is impressive, almost as much as it is disappointing. Its simply not as fun without a struggle, but I give. You win.

“Is that so?”

“Why, yes! It's that easy. Some time ago, I copied the blueprints of an ancient piece of technology that I believe to be all-pervading in regards to time and dimensional barriers. For several lifetimes I gathered materials, including a series of stone rubbings of interstellar smaragdine tablets. I haven’t been able to find out where they are from but the language is clear to me. I also believe one is here. Which I happened to want to find for charitable reasons...

(A visible sweat dripped down his brow)

If what I’ve built so far is handed to an Allurean engineer, it can be completed. After that, discretion is yours.”

"You must forgive me if I find this sudden change of heart disingenuous. Despite the confidence I have in my own talents, it would be foolish of me to think you have no ulterior motives.

I will graciously accept this olive branch, on certain conditions. Would you be so kind as to inform us of this cache's location? We have assets situated across Allure that could secure said designs in moments."

"Well, I could direct you to Xercial to build it but you'd need someone who could decipher it. I suppose you have a few talented espers around?"

---

-

Unsolicited Invasion (Earth-F67X Chronicle)

“Former?” Margaret said this with genuine surprise. Still, she displayed great poise, taking a deep, slow breath before opening her turquoise eyes.

“Oh! So we’re taking that route?” she said to herself. “Very well, operative…” Her demeanor suggested little shock but inside she was a peeping kettle. If anything, she was more upset at the informality of how the news was delivered to her. Just a common soldier? Hours ago, she pleaded on behalf of Allure but her attempts to play victim were ineffective. They didn’t trust her, which they were right to. Before she could ponder further about a means to fix this, there was one thing she had to address before proceeding.

As a public advocate of personal space, Margaret took a step back, reaching into her purse, pulling out a yardstick from seemingly nowhere. She placed it between them on the wooden floors. “Thank you," she said before turning her back to the soldier.

“In Allure, there are territories which abide by the law, others who don’t, a few who instill some practices and sections, though rare, who govern themselves in isolation. Order is maintained out of the fact that opposing factions never collaborate against the state. I had other means of regulating balance but due to unforeseen circumstances, I must play the situation with more finesse.

The streets will calm with time and will not exceed its borders due to our presence in the northeast. To maintain the balance on our side, I suggest your planet give no further reasons for uncooperative parties to work together. So no bombs, okay? If your government can do little as that, I can arrange a meeting amongst the most influential citizens of allure who might have answers to our current crisis. Well, those who aren’t tied up for obvious reasons.”

An ingenious smile followed her spiel. Shortly after, the towering operative tossed a communication device her way, forcing Margaret to quickly turn around and fumble the device in her grips.

"Put that on. It will help us stay in touch. In order to preserve the illusion of your authority, I'll become invisible. That doesn't mean I am gone."

Tristian said this, but that illusion was already shattered. Before they could progress further, a ringtone slipped out of her purse, initiating an awkward silence in the room.

"Don't be shy. Answer it." he prodded.

Margaret rolled her eyes. The cumbersome ornate-handled rotary phone brought out was complimentary to her aesthetic. After pulling out the antenna, the other end of the phone was met with a stern "I'm busy."

"Quite sociable are you in times of crisis. I've noticed that. Always in to save that fat ass."

"Excuse me?!"

Margaret's face turned bitter in disgust.

"Cameras are mighty convenient for catching rats. Just make sure I get invited to that little meeting of yours. I have some company myself. They're known here as the Goldman Broth---"

*Click*

"Something tells me that wasn't a prank call."

She needed to hear no more. Fearis Caldwell has been a torn in her side for some time now. He was someone she tried to dispose of in the past but he lived up to his nickname. He really was just a dirty roach. As problematic as he was, she had to involve him even without the dirt he recently gained on her. His knowledge was imperative to Allure's survival. She was worried about her reputation now, however. Her standing among Allureans would falter were they to see her in this weak moment.

No qualms existed in her about cooperating but practically wiretapping her colleagues was particularly conflicting. The board she found herself apart of revered betrayal. If they couldn't trust each other, they were no different than the wild cast of powerful gangs and factions spread throughout the city.

On top of this, the "Parliament" she led worked more along the lines of state-approved mafia so she could only imagine the fallout of such a revelation. The only position voted on was “Prime Minister” and even then Margaret received this title by suspicious means.

With the operative over her shoulder, she sat back on the couch. Call after call was made. It was time to set up the holo chamber.

----

The Pleiades Casino & Resort - Top Floor

A tall man in lavender bathrobes and under saturated blue skin paced up and down the halls of his presidential suite. To say this man was tall was an understatement. It was amazing he never managed to bump his head or clip his razor-sharp ears on any of the sputnik chandeliers. From the suite below, his tantrum was well documented. Coffee tables overturned, glass shattered by the minute, sprinkled along the polyurethane finished floors like patches of light snow and in a span of a few minutes, several doors flung halfway off their hinges.

Just when the lanky fellow began to calm, a pair of cerulean eyes crept from a slither in a door he had yet to attack. They watched the lanky individual's arms stretch before his neat black nails dug into his gainsborough grey hair. Figuring it was safe, a middle-aged red-skinned woman scratching her bedhead approached him from the bedroom.

“Vileiro, why must you make so much noise this morning,” she said in a heavy alien accent. Her sleep-deprived lids scanned the living room and its destruction through her draping snow blonde hair.

“You know, last night was kinky. Ceven was particularly impressed. You definitely learned some new mo---" Her yawn interrupted her speech. A bottle of scotch came crashing over her dome to ensure she didn’t resume her thought, painting the hardwood with a cocktail of liquor and blood.

“It's the afternoon you fancy wench!”

Vileiro's veiny expression said it all. “Don’t you understand? My flagship location is going down!”

“Who is going down on who?” A second individual, a short, muscular, yellow-skinned man with sabbatic goat horns waltzed out the same bedroom in nothing but briefs. A torpedoing iron board greeted him, racketing off the wall beside him as he rolled away. Trying to get up, his stubby hands were doused in the liquids on the floor. Naturally, the weird man sucked on his fingertips like a proud chef. He couldn’t resist the accidental creation of his culture’s version of a bloody mary. He smiled, but after a brief moment of bliss, only then did notice the woman lying unconscious.

“What’s the deal, ya bum! Why is Ixxa laid out on the carpet like some newborn baby that can’t help herself?”

He raised his finger to lecture but Vileiro closed the distance between them. “Listen here you midget. I have every right to be livid out my goddamn mind." The tall man snatched up Ceven, holding him against a wall by the band of his trousers, stuffing it painfully into his chest with his sharp, oversized knuckles

“I’m fucking ruined and it’s all that stupid cats fault!”

Every second Ceven’s feet were suspended off the ground, the more his lemony complexion resembled a ripening tomato. The wedgie he endured was so excruciatingly painful he felt his spine buckling.

*HAWWK...PTUI*

The yellow man spat into the casino owner's eyes with some regurgitated whiskey, promptly smashing his resilient ram-like skull against the blue individual's nose. The almost dwarf met the ground with a loud thump that was drowned out by his attacker’s screams. A lampshade fell over Vileiro’s fairly rectangular-shaped head as he lost his balance, tumbling onto his ass and against a wall.

"Get up Ixxa.”

Ceven looked at the murder scene disinterred, allowing his back to sink into the love seat. A large screen poked through a crevice in the wall as he scrambled for the remote he just sat on. A news report came on.

"No longer in Fortaire: Allure in peril. Will these tumultuous times end any time soon? In what has been the most disastrous day in history, many fear what's next. Many have begun preparations of war, some seek asylum with the hostile alien government.

Since her initial broadcast, Prime Minister Ieederen has not been seen. Many believe she is working behind the scenes, while others fear for her safety. Many just want answers from anyone willing to provide them."

Ceven grabbed a loose cigar from the floor, sparking it by grating his fingernails. Exhaling slowly, he digested the situation like a dry pill. "You think I'm stupid or something?" he said sternly.

Ixxa wouldn't even bother to move out of her own blood puddle. She just laid there, comfortably on her back, hands folded like a psychiatrist's patient gazing at the ceiling with her pulsing pupils. She wasn’t quite off her high lingering from last night but she was attentive enough to sink in the news report.

"You know, this quarter of business is going to be really terrible, Ceven.”

“Our Casinos attract too many of the black cat's clients. Vileiro doesn't think much of Merse but I've known him much longer. He wouldn’t do something this dumb unless allure was in serious danger. This is all probably apart of some terrible plan that just may work out for us in the end."

*RING* *RING*

Though probably concussed, Vileiro extended his slender hand over the armrest beside him to grab the phone off the couch cushion. He didn't even bother to remove the shade from his head before answering it.

"How do you do? It’s Margaret."

The blue tycoon sighed heavily.

In a defeated tone, Vileiro spoke from his heart. "Margaret...just what the hell are we going to do?"

“Prepare for an all-black holo chamber meeting in approximately an hour. Expect yourself to be accompanied by not just Parliament but the elite. The Senate will meet separately with factions and orgs recognized by the state as in good favor but you? Consider yourself lucky. Your resources and influence put you in a position to help us sort out this mess.”

---

Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar - Zaragoza, Aragon

The cathedral's candlelit halls were barren. Everyone was summoned.

“Do not grieve, for the joy of Berglund is your strength. At birth, we rid ourselves of worldly vision. A necessary sacrifice, as it is beneficial to our growth. We are a clan of great foresight. Were prepared for such a day.”

The Arms of Granite took Samael's sermon in. Had they eyes to see, one could mistake them for praying. A hundred bow-wielding warriors of similar build stood in solidarity, arms locked and cowls draping over their features.

“I see unification before me that is unrivaled. Ask yourselves, why has havoc overrun every region but ours? The answer is fear."

What earthborn individuals knew as Zaragoza was no man’s land in Allure. No officer patrolled their desolate avenues. No souls but asylum-seeking homeless communed its neighborhoods, yet crime and turmoil were nonexistent. Down its avenues were gothic sculptures of various creatures and abominations in dense population. They were clear warnings to the unjust and unruly.

“As each and every one of you shape history, your actions will be recorded by the Garnet.”

The Garnet Samael referred to was the colossal, million-gem littered cube of granite behind him. To them, it was all-knowing, all-seeing and all-powerful. With Samael as an interpreter, it even led them through this temporary journey they called life.

“With the Garnet's guidance, I have foreseen a meeting of powers. It is time we break our silence. At this moment, we cannot operate in solitary. It threatens our sanctity. We will make our presence clear outside our borders. The Garnet has spoken!"

---

Margaret’s eyes burned with intensity in her stare down with the phone. Her grand patience was on display. Expecting a particular call, she knew confrontation was inevitable. Secretaries consulted with less influential parties to make sure her line was clear. While she waited, a kid reminiscent of nineteen-fifties paperboys in blue overalls, a dress shirt and satchel set up a white archway several yards in front of her.

“Howard, how long were you in here…"

“The whole time, mam,” the boy answered bluntly with a hint of innocent glee. Turning back, he continued preparations for the meeting.

Her fist tightened in a fit of light rage but quickly she cooled down, forming a crooked smile on her face despite the thinning of her lips.

“I see.”

Knowing Margaret as well as he did, the frustration on her face was clear but he knew better than to doubt her. She was certainly plotting. Probably more than she should. Activating the arch, a space null of light opened. One by one, similar-sized white arches opened up in the black space, creating a circle. The meeting wasn't far away.

Cat, got your tongue (Earth-F67X Chronicle)

"Well, I suppose we all have our fetishes."

Merse joked, but the mention of Margeret opened a can of worms. There was much he could reveal in regards to her and maybe more she could reveal about him. In Merse's archives, Margaret Iedeeren was listed under Class A-2. The rankings in which Merse categorized millions of individuals is developed by a continually updating algorithm weighing hundreds of measurables from as basic as physical attributes to more distinct details such as supernatural affiliations and the scope of influence. Margaret checked off many red flags but what the interrogators would find juicy lied within her buyer's persona.

Age: (A lady never tells her age)
Height: 5'8
Weight: 137
Affiliation: Allure Parliament

Undeniably shrewd and deceptively controlling, Margaret Nancy Ideereen was an individual capable of gaining cult followings wherever she decided to go. How much of this was a product of natural charisma and captivating eccentricity was up for debate. Her wardrobe was a reflection of her personality. The abundance of post-war womenswear popularized on numerous alternate earths showcased a proudness in her femininity and first-wave feminism doctrine. She was a go-getter. An individual who wanted a hand in everything and often would achieve just that...

***Precaution: Do not attempt to deal with her solo or without surveillance by any means.***

Merse recited the briefing without hesitation. His tone, confidence, and immediate compliance should have eliminated any doubt in its legitimacy. The information broker left out several key details, however.

Margaret’s mental prowess and her means of obtaining it was often a topic of debate between him and Fearis. Whereas Merse believed she obtained it via contractual means with a higher power, his partner pinned it towards natural aptitude. There was evidence that supported both theories but there was still much to uncover in regards to the politician. The enigma that was her existence did not exclude her from a lengthy psych profile, however. Her tendencies and thought process were well documented and handwritten by Merse himself.

Despite their differences and continuous bouts, there was a level of mutual respect among them. Often, Merse was able to know what she was thinking and vice versa. At this moment, there was no doubt in the information broker's mind that their thoughts were aligned. There was an understanding that they needed each other, not just for their own wellbeing but to maintain their assets. It would be very easy for them both to go down here. At the moment, protecting Margaret as much as he could without compromising his own position was imperative to the overall scheme.

"Based on all the questions you have, it's clear that you doubt her morals. I assure you, as bad as you think I am, in comparison you'd find her to be quite the angel. Just make sure you file down the horns that like to grow beneath her halo from time to time. Allure is a complex city. Some toughness is required to deal with the many factions and individuals like myself. She has it."

Unsolicited Invasion (Earth-F67X Chronicle)

Something was wrong. She rose out of her seat.

A cold sweat developed over her expression. An aura of different sorts overran Magaret's body. She slid her fingertips on the oak desk beside her but couldn't feel the ridges. The numbness stretched her legs, inhibiting her ability to stand straight. Before she knew it, a thunderous jolt of pain shot from her temporal to the occipital lobe, directly affecting her ability to see. Her body dropped like a stone and for a brief moment, her figure trembled as if she were being electrocuted. This was no mere migraine. The studio staff scrambled to aid her, gingerly lifting her head, supporting it with a plush couch cushion.

"Ms.Iedereen, are you ok? Ms.Iedeeren!"

It took some time for her to respond. The abundance of strobe lights made it difficult for Margaret to adjust with her heightened sensitivity to light. Coming to her senses, only then did she realize what she had lost. It hit like a knife in her heart. Fearing the worst, Margaret attempted to contact The Nexus.

Blank...

Her throbbing brain functioned like a modem, frantically identifying traces of local neural oscillation, striking her with the cruel reality that her means of modulating them were disabled. As crushing as this was for her personal endeavors, this couldn’t have happened at a worse time for Allure. With Merse apprehended by authorities, her actions alone would shape their future.

“On second thought...” Margaret thought to herself how this could be beneficial to her. A hungover smile crept onto her face when she realized she could proceed without having to account for Merse’s antics.

Cat, got your tongue (Earth-F67X Chronicle)

"Tell me about Fortis."

The feline raised his brow at the inquiry. They were finally getting to the meat of things.

"I see your intelligence community is quite active" Merse snarked.

In all likelihood, the information broker wasn't the only Allure native interrogated. It wouldn't surprise him if somewhere EarthF67x hauled in quite the load of info on Allure's former residence, mostly through local sources. What Merse still had yet to account for, however, was the possibility of an EarthF67x spy.

He took in a large breath before he spoke. As much as the restraints of The Aldaré allowed for.

"There's a lot to know about Fortis. Where should I start..." His voice echoed across the room. Before he went on, he briefly paused, gauging the behavior of the vibrations on anything it had the potential to bounce off. He observed much due to his sensitive hearing and though an idea sprung into his mind, he checked himself.

"Fortis, Fortaire. Whatever you knew it by, your perception of it greatly depended on two things; If you had wealth or more physical means of power. If you cared about neither of those things, chances were you at least found its culture amusing."

The interrogator had no immediate retorts. A sign to Merse that Fortis was indeed a huge point of discussion.

"Their means of governing the entire planet was through a rather small unit dubbed Parliament. Whereas more traditional governments are filled with career politicians, former activists, ex-military members, you wouldn't really see any of that. Their councils consisted of an odd cast of swordsmen, powerful sorcerers, anyone with some sort of power quirk really. It was interesting seeing this ragtag group of idealists attempt to work together. It was cute."

"Undoubtedly a suitable environment for your line of work. Egos clash and you consider yourself clever enough to go unnoticed, picking up the crumbs of greater beings. How banal." An image of Merse was projected against the chamber's wall, dressed in all black with a large sack slung over his shoulder. It moved in a pantomime of sneaking along when it was suddenly illuminated by a spotlight.

"Greater beings, huh? You clearly take my craft lightly but how great were they, who failed to defend the very society they formed to protect?" Merse clearly took offense to the remark and display.

"As the businessman I am, I took advantage of their dysfunctionality. Their general lack of involvement gave me the perfect environment to expand my financial ventures at the time. You call it crumbs but when you've been to as many places as I've been it accumulates to quite the feast."

Looking down, a sudden shift in body language gave him a look of disappointment, like he missed out on something.

"Nevertheless, All things come to an end. More frequent than ever I found myself having to defend my assets from otherworldly forces. The same forces I determined successfully undermined the government and used parliament as a figurehead for quite some time. Even before the government's great symbol of order, the architectural wonder that was the Fortress of Parliament was obliterated, the writing was on the wall. You didn't have to be as attentive as I to see that coming.

All their information, sorcery, different accounts of history, and scholarly entries on their findings in the universe, gone. At least that's what they believe. I know it was taken."

"And now I am to believe, with this tale you've told of your own resourcefulness, that you weren't the one to abscond with it all." The voice paused for a measured beat before continuing. "In any case, this isn't the focus of our interview. Much of our intelligence places you at the forefront of Allure's activities, acting more or less as its leader. Do you deny this?"

Their assessment wasn’t wrong. Moreso or less was a decent way at describing it but Merse wouldn't allow them to label him as the head of Allure. He had a good clue where that would lead to.

"I do wish I did make off it but yes, that isn't what you're interested in. To answer your question, yes and no."

By no means was this an easy question for Merse to answer. Though Margaret held an official title in Prime Minister, Merse's influence was second to none in Allure. Her ability to puppet the general populace was effective though one dimensional. Needless to say, she was the most popular figure in the city. Merse played chess from the shadows. Their power struggle was well documented over the years, but there were times where she found herself depending on the help of the information broker.

"Am I known to have a foot in almost anything that goes on in this city? Depending on who you ask, that might be true. Still wouldn't make me the leader of the city. I'm only interested in leading my business. If you want to speak to authority, contact the Prime Minister. Ms. Iedereen is quite an experienced diplomat."

Cat, got your tongue (Earth-F67X Chronicle)

The Aldaré constricted his neck. Merse clearly struck a nerve in the interrogator after stating his capture was voluntary. Still, his feline anatomy allowed him to find comfort on the accounts of uncanny flexibility. It would certainly take more than a neck choke and body restrictions to intimidate the likes of him. His demeanor remained consistent despite the measures taken against him.

Merse thought, how else could he have established a direct line of communication and end the conflict simultaneously? His capture was vital in all of this. What the information broker failed to account for was the bewildering arrival and equally destructive force of the beam ushering in the horde of space monstrosities. No one could have predicted that. No one in their right mind would invite such chaos. It was something he’d prefer to forget. Perhaps when this was over, if he made it out in one piece he’d do just that. Repress the memory altogether.

"...did you enjoy taking millions of lives with your arrival?"

The Allure resident took his time replying but when he did he spoke with the utmost conviction in his tone.

"You ask if I enjoy taking lives? Actually, you might be delighted to know the answer is no. Can I be described as a morally grey individual? Probably. Does this mean I'm a murderer? Absolutely not."

"Then can you account for those displaced by your arrival? There is no trace of them on this planet."

“That I have no definitive knowledge of. Though I suspect our arrival and their displacement is no coincidence.”

"Abandonment." The voice replied.

“Not that I would expect compassion from an alien planet but you all seem to be abandoning these innocent refuges. This beam you mockingly project into my forehead, it's the first I've seen of it. Whatever plot these creatures are conjuring, that seems to be the source and yet you watch. Several of my scientists are probably looking into it, so even if you do nothing, I'm sure they'll have a solution."

Cat, got your tongue (Earth-F67X Chronicle)

"No relation whatsoever. Figured he was an agent of yours. What a shame he fell into that pit I created. Probably could have made a solid watch, no? On a more serious note, ever since Allure arrived, I've been assaulted nonstop with not even a moment in-between for a cat nap. Usually, I wouldn't mind. I'd chalk it up to my lifestyle and profession but there's just one thing. I have no idea who any of these individuals hellbent on killing me are. Perhaps this planet is in dire need of a scapegoat. I could see how that would calm the public down for sure. Give them something to hate, perhaps even serve as propaganda to inspire the next generation."

Interrupting his rant, the display in front of Merse shifted into a humongous gold watch, which oddly enough, remained comically dressed in the same attire that shamed all things dapper. Not short after, it morphed into several versions of Merse and his numerous assailants he encountered all throughout this disastrous day. He rolled his eyes. A montage of arguably his worst day was not something he wanted to see, nevermind having it literally dangled over him.

“Rubbing it in my face I see.” A deep sigh left his mouth.

"Listen, I don't want to be perceived as the fall guy. I don't even want to be seen as a foe. I do have quite explaining to do, that is undeniable, but— I'd rather extend my services in good faith for the sake of, I don't know, having all of us survive this ordeal. Please, feel free to inquire about anything you believe can get us out of the bind we're all clearly in."

All of the projections of Merse amalgamated into a large bust of the felinoid’s head with “BOBO” stamped across its forehead.

It was clear, his words weren’t getting through. Perhaps the examiner figured he could rile Merse up, making his case, confirming the idea that he was a threat. Whereas any half drawn together argument could probably deem Merse dangerous, it was rare to ever see him visibly enraged. If that was the strategy, it was bound to fail, though he was slightly irritated at the pace things currently went at.

As much as the information broker desired to control the narrative, all Merse could do was timely pitch his points. The severity of Earthf67x's crisis meant some of his statements could be taken in extremity but at the same time, opened up an avenue for his survival. All he had to do was play off of the terror of the situation and prove himself to be a greater asset than foe. Insight of the Val'gara Invasion, Merse was very low on the totem pole. Even without knowing the planet's history, this was obvious. It made sense, but part of Merse felt that his interrogator didn’t care. Not that Merse would know, but he should have considered the potential of encountering individuals who were directly affected by Allure’s tragic move. He should have accounted for thousands of people like Tartalo, but Merse naively figured there was no way he could be so unlucky in those regards. He was wrong.

The voice filled the room, seeming to come from every direction. "Such lofty notions. Let me correct you, because you seem to be operating under the assumption that guilt is a prerequisite for your detainment. You are a hostile force participating in an invasion."

Before responding, Merse stretched a bit, slouching some to ease the tension to get comfortable. He did this almost mockingly so.

“Is that why I allowed myself to be captured?”

"A grave miscalculation." The response hung in the gelid air.

Cat, got your tongue (Earth-F67X Chronicle)

Merse's fur stood on end, briefly taking on a rubbery nature in response to the excessive jolts taxing his body. To some degree, he insulated the shocks, showing a level of resourcefulness that justified Tartalo's suspicion and overall precaution. Not only was Merse not dead but his most valuable weapon, his mouth, was strategically curbed for the time being.

For once, the information broker knew little of what he was dealing with, elevating the stakes to immeasurable heights. The fine line he walked, if all for the sake of reasonable doubt, was bold, even for his standards. Despite the lack of incriminating evidence, Merse had many reasons to question his fate. Morality often called into question whether it is better to risk saving a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one. Having been on this planet for less than a day, it was evident, outsiders were the recipients of no such empathy. Earthf67x's relationship with aliens was not a great one. The information broker's disastrous actions only added fuel to the fire, validating such apathy, perpetuating their xenophobia for generations to come.

Knowing all of this, Merse weighed his options, calculating scenarios at a computing pace. He did this until he could no longer play possum. After the third jolt, it was clear. The jig was up.

"We'll begin with your name."

Merse's fur returned to its normal texture. The lethargic expression on his face was the most life he had shown up until this point. His slitted eyes widened, reflecting the tiniest of light as any cat's pair would. Without moving his eyes, the broker's pupils managed a detailed scan of the area. This was done without mustering any source of power whatsoever. The slightest action very well could be seen as a threat and Merse was cautious in his own right.

In any government, the complexity of federal criminal law, codified in several thousand sections of written code establishes a virtually infinite variety of circumstances that might trigger an investigation. Even at the interrogation stage, it was difficult for Merse to know, in advance, just what particular set of statements could incriminate himself. He knew his words would be twisted but he decided to respond regardless, citing no real alternative.

"Merse Granstrum, Information Broker, at your service. What business do we have here today, operative?"

This game of verbal chess had finally begun.