The air in the middle of the large room thickened. Several uniformed Mentari materialized, as well as a cart with cyberlarvae.

"Rhaine imGair," one of them stated. "Naturally. We have twenty standard hours, gentlemen. After this, the place has to become ours, completely. I'm providing the magical protection, if you're curious."

In the next twenty hours the warehouse turned into a madness. Metallic vines pierced the walls, silplast leaves formed the new cover of interior, liquid living metal and strange organics reformed the place. In the middle of the madness the Mentari seemed at home - ideally at home, eyes half-closed, sending commands to the quasi-life.

Meanwhile Rhaine installed tiny organic-based devices in each corner. Perfectly engineered, protected from mechanical damage by Mentari quasi-life, these created a web of disguise, dissipating any change in magical fields, or storing it in special accumulators. Dampeners, accumulators, and "fake activity" simulators created the magical image of a regular warehouse rented by a local.

Finally the modifications were over. The null-gate was installed, and hidden from view. The Mentari left. Rhaine was left alone in the new location, a tiny spot of Mentar.

She didn't even bother to change from her bioprotection suit. Good that Mentari were always keeping aesthetics in mind, and it looked quite good on her. One-piece matte blackness, with a silver line encircling her neck and shoulders, that was so much different from the clumsy stuff local epidemiologists had to wear. Arriving at the Annex, she found Governor already there and in the center of attention. Recognizing most of these duelist folks was a matter of using structured memory. Finally, she found a place to watch Governor and his wife for a while. How do dhoine get so careless, she thought. She has seen Matt in the Dockside a few times, but the district wasn't even closed to outsiders! Did the dhoine not think about possible spread of the disease" Where were teams in bioprotectors, why wasn't the district isolated" Why were those who do venture into Dockside still in the Arena and careless about others"

"Evening. Please excuse me for bringing up an unpleasant subject. Do you happen to know a research team with primary focus on current filovirus outbreak?" she finally decided to speak to Koy. In the end, if men were careless, women should have some brains to use and memory to keep the information?

The Inn was loud as usual. Rhaine picked up several cans of beer, and got herself a cup of coffee when she sensed a familiar spectral image. Artemus. She sighed - mentally, of course, there was not a single chance she could show she did notice him.

The communicator buzzed on her wrist. "Bad news. Another new mutation," - Aquira's voice in her mind was angered. "Does that mean we're here for FalconFly's?" "Hell no. It can't be in a marker segment. So we're leaving, and having fun," Rhaine replied. She had to finish her cup of coffee at least, and find a moment to spend with Artemus.

It's been well over a year since he decided to leave RhyDin for a reunion with nature. More like two years, she reminded herself. He returned and for a few months they've been meeting almost daily - unless her duties took her elsewhere.

"Whazzup?" Rhaine tried to mock one of local accents. As usual, it's been a miserable failure, and as usual it triggered a laugh she loved so much. "Yeah, my language skills have been dead for a couple of centuries. So, what?s the headache of the day?" "Ha...haha....at the moment this bottle. Not sure what?s written, but don't want to rub the dust away as it will either ruin the text further, or...well...I've found a djinn bottle on the same shelf I got this one from before." Artemus had shown her that dust-covered object. She decided not to use scanning. In the end that was his fun. "Up for being adventurous?" "At least to have fun for a few hours, before I take off for Mentar Station," Rhaine replied. Again to Mentar. A place she considered the best refuge from the outside world for many purposes. "How are your projects there going along" And I am still interested in that trip you mentioned a while back. I'm sure you would prefer having me up there, so I can't get in your hair down here," the shifter continued. Right, she mentioned a trip to Mentar once. So he did remember. But "get in your hair down here?"!

"Had you tried being an obstacle for me, if you just dared to interfere....applying minimum effort I would have melted you into a quartz boulder and placed in my garden as an accent to peony flowers. I could have simply cleansed your mind from any memory of me, or even my name. In case I wished to. I could have simply said 'It's been sweet, bye' or just left without any goodbyes"

Of course her memory presented her the quote instantly. It took some effort NOT to say it aloud. In the end, Artemus has hardly any time for spending his leisure time reading.

"You may come along if you like. Because of this epidemic in Dockside I'm dreaming of a day without my nose in the project," she said instead. She knew Artemus would doubt her motives. Naturally. She was an asmodean after all. And telling him too much would....would what - make him leave" Make him despise her for what she is"

And would it really matter to her, if that ever happens"

She attempted to shift the subject towards the coming trip. In the end, it was the time of FalconFly's, the most anticipated and loved holiday of Mentar. But Artemus seemingly paid no attention, he even suggested he might help Matt's researchers. Something vampiress hated about him - his manner to poke his nose into just about every danger. Especially when she knew how dangerous it really was...

"I've already prepared a datapad for Matt - you'd consider it fun to read stuff from it. Though almost got my fangs knocked out by Koy" she said, laughing silently. "Did you insult Matt, her, both, or dhoine in general?" "Insult' Do you really think I'd throw insults around" I was merely in my bioprotection suit, without a slightest hint of fashionable. So probably Koy thought it was an insult to her refined sense of beauty", she kept the light tone. And grew serious, realizing that it won't distract the shifter enough. "And while we're at it....Please, please, please promise not to poke your curious feline nose into the Dockside without appropriate protection. I can get you one of our lab bioprotector suits, might take a day, but don't go without it."

"I just....can't allow anything to happen to you." Was it a thought of concern, or did she say it aloud"

Alain was already in the Inn when she arrived. Matte blackness of bioprotector was normal in this world, she didn't have to explain the purpose of the suit. Stretching to climb on a bar stool, she grabbed herself a mug of lager as Alain actually greeted her. "How are you, Rhaine?" "Definitely enjoying RhyDin in its worst. We got the outpost set up fully, despite the additional issues demanding attention of my team," she preferred at-length reply. "Nothing too bad?" he seemed to be nearly not concerned. "Ah, definitely nothing too bad for business. I had to order my team to perform an urgent research of filovirus outbreak in Dockside. Currently the results have already been given to Governor, and I'm having fun waiting for reaction. And for the imports - it's all ready and set, and first containers for your poor marketing specialists are already in, I'm feeling nearly sorry for them."

Oh yes. And Matt's been showing his public interest in what - in Tour de RhyDin and other dueling-related crap. Common sense, hellooooo' Good that he did at least trouble his own pocket research teams with that, but how about bringin in every damn resource possible"

"Filovirus?" Alain frowned. "Ah. Well, you can check the news. They're fun nuff. A fine hemorrhagic fever in Dockside, very interesting virus mutation," she spoke with a certain share of fascination. "It's most fun to study. Both the virus and locals' reaction to the outbreak." "Mm. Any races it's targeting over the others?"

Smaaaart human! She was nearly glad that one of this otherwise careless folk finally got a good question.

"Oh. You want more info' Just say it before I talk you to death. I do keep my nose in the tests I force my team to do," she grinned. Matt was supposed to make sure the information gets to each and every interested party. If he didn't....that was his problem. Even a copy sent with a brief note in RhyDin Post where to go for another one would have been good. "Anything that could kill my workers, I'd like to know about," it looked like Rhaine had certainly ruined Alain's relaxed evening. "Ah. The basics in this case," Rhaine did her best with mad-scientist-attitude. "It targets most organic carbon-based races, with fatality rates from 90 percent for Elves and Fae, to less than 30 percent for elementals. Undead are immune, dragons - nearly immune. By Midnight, there's no need to panic that much, it's not airborne yet! It's less deadly for humans than for elves, still about 80 percent fatality. I do not know if your workers are human though."

"Yet," he chuckled softly, almost mirthlessly. "You know what RhyDin can do....and a virus with a mortality rate that high is bound to draw in bioweapons 'prospectors.' " "Ah," vampiress was nearly radiant. "You want it to be isolated for being used as a weapon' We can do that, certainly. It's not that hard, just have to watch what Governor chooses to do" "Oh, I'm sure there are corporations hard at work on that already..." his eyes narrowed, just a little. That was reasonable, vampiress mused. "With the information we've given.." she sneaked in a smile. Oh yes. With the info from the datapad she's given Matt, 'investors' into biological warfare would have no problem creating a weapon.

"What I'd prefer is a safer waterfront I can return my ships to," he finished his scotch. "The Barony's turned profitable....but her ports will never have as much potential as the West End. I'd hoped to send my ships back as soon as Prop-Three-Seven cooled off..."

The number of deaths in the Dockside was now over three hundreds. And growing. First cases were reported in Old Temple, and Querylon seemed to have trouble providing potions to cope with the symptoms. Rhaine paced nervously around her quarters on Four Moons.

"Any news?" she asked Aquira. "None, imGair. Looks like we've drowned them in information. Will you please stop circling like a caged tiger?" "Sorry, dear. I'm merely upset with the slowness of locals" "Just don't ruin this vacation. I'm not really happy to skip Falconfly finals"

It was time to talk. Definitely. Especially with Alain with his corporate interests trying to press matters with potential collaboration.

Tired. She left the Outpost after waiting for any sign of Matt's expert team for infinite, slow, dragging hours. Daily contacts with humans seemed to leave her more and more vexed with each passing day. While the Althos' part of team was having fun at the FalconFly fest, she had to remain in the medieval city....Oh great joys of leadership...

Taking a mentari field sample kit, including a probe with a full set of delicate glass-like needles, she finally left for Dockside, hardly aware it was already late morning. The stealthsuit adjusted automatically, and her eyesight was the last thing to give her a hint.

One of the houses with a few prospective cases seemed more agitated than before. Humans in and out. Humans in local variant of hazmat gear. Vampiress shook her head, trying to get rid of dizziness, and cussed quietly.

"Idiot. It's past 10 AM. They're planet-humans, not your half-insane team. They work during the daytime".

Though seemingly curious about the lady in black Le first greeted Topaz with a warm hug and Lucien with a short nod before she turned to look at Rhaine. "As much as I'd like to assume you came to pay me a visit and perhaps share a glass of wine I can sence that isn't why you are here." Rhaine smiled slightly at the suggestion. "Wine is hardly the most urgent issue. Information sharing and your expert opinion - these are." She was as straightforward as an asmodean knight could be. "Though Midnight knows I'd prefer a painkiller if one could work..." she muttered hardly audible.

Topaz would have made the introductions, but Lucien was quicker.

"Rhaine Rustovich." Le nodded to her with a grin. "I see why Topaz likes you. We can get to murdering pain before you asbcond with information." Le's elven hearing worked just fine. "What is it you'd like information on?" Le started to lead the group down the hallway toward the research wing. "This," she handed Le the datapad with copy of every bit of data she's given to Matt. "It may be too much of geneticist gibberish for Governor Simons, but your reputation of a doctor and researcher seems enough recommendation. So far we've used the solution for the filovirus-based disease spreading in Dockside, and the solution is nearly ready for mass production. Oh....sorry I'm rambling," she paused for a moment. "We've had nineteen people gone through this treatment, we simply have no facilities for a large number of patients. We're a reasearch group after all..." Rhaine looked embarrassed. Research group working on their own accord and against the regulation of Four Moons council. Le took the data pad and scrolled through the information as she listened. Her steps only slowed to press her hand to a pad by a door. Once the door swung open she continued, certain her guests would follow. "Nono, do go on." Le poked her head into one of the offices lining the hall. "Groupak, I need the most recent compilation on RVPN45-0." She nodded to Rhaine again, already continuing down the hall. "We had to name it something, your designation works too." "What's in a name. I have to balance between making this available and keeping my team out of sight." Rhaine appeared to glance around with curiosity. "Feels like back at Four Moons," she admitted with a smile "Hold up, Jomer!" Le called to a short man in a green lab coat. "Dr J. Pakar, Rhaine Rustovich. Please show her your latest test results while I check if one of our patients would like to meet Rhaine. Full access." "I appreciate this, Dr Amon," Rhaine bowed slightly. Her eyes were gradually covered by thick pale mist visor, sparking with pale cyan sparks (and magic-intense as possible).

"It's a nice place to call home." Le smiled at Rhaine's compliment. Topaz, Lucien, why don't you step in here, have some coffee and we'lll join you once your friend has all she came for?" Le opened a door for the couple and handed Rhaine the info pad back. "I'm glad to be able to help out." With that Le went on her way and left Rhaine with Jomer. Topaz winked to Rhaine.

Vampiress looked calmly at the man in green lab coat. "Any data is appreciated. And you can compare them with what we got. So that our data pool is large nuff," she held the datapad awkwardly. "Our testing methods may be similar based on what I already know of this place," she suggested. "Not a problem. "Jomer adjusted his glasses in an approving fashion of Rhaine's figure. "Could even put it all on a pad like that. Should have a spare."

Jomer went on to show Rhaine to his lab. He thought of his anyway, though several people were working there. He was particularly proud to show the beautiful woman a few of the slides under his microscopes so she could see for herself how well the new med worked under varying circumstances. Rhaine had to stick a transparent disk to her forehead - to make sure she could see the slides - and also opened several files on her own datapad.

It looked like a part of solution suggested by the Mentar group was more of an overkill type, something of "universal antivirus" sort adjusted for a particular virus. Quick, effective, specific, but potentially dangerous.

"We had some experiences with Psilon biological weapon caches," vampiress smiled. "So developed a solution that requires adjustment only, which we've done."

Leaving the data and what Mentari considered a basic set for a field geneticist lab in Riverview, Rhaine and Keith returned to the Outpost. In the end, Althos-Gair's were a research group, not a hospital, and having them performing hospital functions would have been inefficient.

"You think it would help them?" "It should. Doc Valkonan appears to be a rational enough woman to have our data vetted and used if they don't contradict their ideas of ethics. Let's hope she doesn't mention us" "True. That article in the Post has nearly put us into danger of annulment." "I'm planning to use that, Keith. For the benefit of Althos Bloodline". "You're as much of a forked-tongued snake as my sister, imGair"