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It took Ra'Jirra three days to get back to Torval after she'd left the Hammerfell ship. The one thing she'd neglected to pack in the CAT was a stash of gold, and she couldn't very well sell the gun. Once she'd gotten to shore, she couldn't figure out what to do with the CAT itself, so she ended up dragging it into some weeds and just hoping no one found it till she could get some HMSS agents back to retrieve it. From there, it was a long hike with occasional stops on the way. She'd rediscovered her old talent as a dancer in the occasional bars along the way. Happily her talent was still in enough demand to keep her fed and a roof over her head. But the costumes she managed to get the regular girls to loan her were even skimpier than they had been in her day. She was rather proud that she still fit into them well, however.

When finally she made it back to the HMSS headquarters, she looked a sight and probably smelled about the same. Fortunately she knew all the correct codes and passwords so getting through security wasn't a problem, but she loathed what Em's secretary would have to say.

"Ra'Jirra?!" is what she actually said first.

"Hello. Yes, I know what I look like. It's been a hard few days, and I'm broke."

"Goodness, come with me. You're not going in to see Em dressed like that! Have you even taken a bath?"

"I had one two days ago," she confessed as she followed Em's secretary out of the office to the gym in the building, where she insisted that Ra'Jirra take a shower - though Ra'Jirra secretly longed to get clean anyway. The secretary then gave her a workout outfit she kept in her own locker. After she'd put that on, Ra'Jirra was taken outdoors to a nearby clothes store.

There, the secretary bought her an outfit she'd never have dreamed of buying for herself - frankly it looked like an old woman's outfit. The skirt was bad enough, covered all the way down to her feet with not so much as the slightest slit on the side. The collar was so high that not a bit of fur could be seen at the chest either, and even the sleeves were long and conservative. She came out of the dressing room feeling like an old maid.

"I suppose this is your idea of a joke," Ra'Jirra said to the secretary. "Sure. Kick her while she's down."

"I beg your pardon! Ra'Jirra, you have no gratitude at all. Now look at yourself in this mirror."

Ra'Jirra did as she was bid. She looked in the mirror. The khajiit that looked back at her was beautiful. The outfit was every bit as conservative as she had imagined it, but it's blandness just accentuated her best features, especially her hair. Even the high-necked shirt, covered with the laced-up vest looked unexpectedly sexy despite revealing nothing underneath. It was as if a light went off in her fashion-senses. By covering herself even more, she brought more attention to what lay hidden. The drab colors made her fur color stand out as well.

She looked back at the secretary, stunned.

"I... I don't know what to say! It's beautiful!"

"Of course it is, you idiot. Enough wasting time. Em will be wondering where I've gone. Why I risk my job for you, I really don't know."

The secretary stopped and paid for the outfit, then hustled her back to the HMSS headquarters.

"Miss... Ponsonby, right?"

The secretary stopped and looked at her, anger on her face.

"You've been here how many years? Yes, Ra'Jirra. My name is Loelia Ponsonby. Yes, I was raised by humans. No, it doesn't have any secret meaning."

"Miss Ponsonby, I'm sorry. I've severely misjudged you. I thought you hated me."

"Ra'Jirra, if you haven't figured it out by now, I hate everybody. Now get your ass in to see Em."

"Well, thank you anyway."

"About time I get some thanks. Now go on."

Ra'Jirra stepped into Em's office. He was writing a letter when he looked up.

"Ra'Jirra? Oh my god! Took you long enough! I thought we'd lost you to a Hammerfell prison, based on what Dar-Amon and Geeus told us!"

"No. I escaped. I just had a hard time getting back."

Queue walked in then and nodded to Ra'Jirra.

"Welcome back Ra'Jirra. Where's my CAT?"

"Long story Queue. Right now, if no one has found it, it's in some weeds near the beach a few miles south of Senchal. I'll draw you a map when I'm done talking with Em and you can send someone down to retrieve it."

"Ah, yes. Okay. Em, I just wanted to let you know. We've just finished the last quality check on the new engine. It passes with flying colors. We'll be fitting it to our first powered ship next week."

"Excellent," Em said. "Keep me updated."

Queue left and Em turned back to Ra'Jirra.

"Where's Wears-Only-Ropes? Does Hammerfell still have her?"

"I assume Dar-Amon has filled you in on the altmer underwater ship then?"

"Oh, yes, yes. We've got tons of argonian witnesses, Geeus among them. War's cancelled. In fact, your dark friend has sent us another secret overture for talks with normalizing relations with Hammerfell. It appears they know you and Wears-Only-Ropes saved their ship."

"Yeah, they do. The Captain let me go actually, Em. With the CAT."

"Really? That's... unexpectedly decent of him."

"But Wears-Only-Ropes was lost. She used one of the mines from the CAT to destroy the altmer ship but... It was a big explosion."

"Hmm. I'll send a message to Cyrodiil. Not sure if she has family there or not though."

"Let me know if so. I'd really like to visit them sometime. She was truly a hero, you know."

"I see. Well, welcome back. You can stay in the usual apartment. We keep it rented for visiting agents. Cheaper than a hotel, you know."

"I know, Em. But thanks. Except... Em, I'm broke. Could I maybe borrow a bit from petty cash till I can get to my bank?"

"Oh, of course. Ask the secretary on the way out. Now go on. Take a few days off. Nothing pressing right now. But I do want a full written report in 2 days time."

"Got it," Ra'Jirra said, adding, "It's Miss Ponsonby by the way."

"Eh? What's that?"

"Your secretary. Her name is Miss Ponsonby."

Em looked up from some papers on his desk. "Of course it is, Ra'Jirra. What, you think I don't know my own secretary's name?"

"No, not really. But maybe you should call her that. Instead of 'the secretary'"

He shrugged. "Okay, if it makes you feel better. See Miss Ponsonby on the way out."

She did so and was granted plenty of spending cash, then went to the old apartment she often stayed at.

"Hello?" called a voice from the bathroom when she opened the door. It was a voice she instantly recognized.

"Dar-Amon?! I didn't know you were here!" she squealed and ran into the bathroom.

"Ra'Jirra?!" said Dar-Amon. "Wait!"

"Whoa! Sorry Mister. I didn't mean to interrupt your bath. I thought you were someone else," she said at the naked Cathay standing in the bathtub.

"Ra'Jirra," he repeated and she suddenly figured it out.

"DAR?!"

"Yeah, Ra'Jirra. It's me. Sorry. Moon phases. I'm Cathay for two days."

"Dar, you're a hunk!"

"Really? You think so?"

"I do! Two days huh?"

"Yup," he said, stepping out of the bath and towards her. "That's an... interesting outfit Raj. Not your normal style though, is it?"

Ra'Jirra smiled and put her hands on his broad shoulders. "No. It's not. Maybe it should be?"

Dar-Amon shook his head, "Maybe, but not right now..."

He began to unlace her vest slowly, not taking his eyes off her face.

Ra'Jirra pulled his hands away, and Dar-Amon's smile faltered.

"No silly," Ra'Jirra said, and zipped the whole lace off in an instant. "Too slow!"

And then she pounced.