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"Go!"

Heavy, percussion-focused music beat through the air, the rhythm strong enough that Kajjex could feel it on his bare skin. His foot tapped four times to get the beat down before he started, more than enough time to steady his confidence. Once he had the rhythm down, he grabbed the pole, doing a relaxed circle around it as he stared out into the club seating, his other hand on his hip. The texture on his arm-length gloves felt smooth against the pole, and for a moment he could almost envision it as a bare hand against a slick shaft. He managed to stifle a laugh, his loose cock twitching slightly as he completed the circuit by swinging around the pillar.

When he'd started practicing there had been a rigidity to his movements, a stiffness that spoke to his lack of self-confidence two weeks before. It had taken time and the effort of several new friends, but with every session that unease and doubt had been chipped away. Now it was being replaced with a growing sense of conviction and real enjoyment; a constant, intoxicating joy from feeling sexy and confident, where once he would have sought validation. His movements were open, laced with flair, and in perfect rhythm with the music. He paused in gyrating against the pole long enough to run a hand through his hair, his fingers brushing through the strands of black and gold. Two weeks had passed since altering parts of his physical appearance, and yet he still felt satisfaction with his choice to change. It was liberating, not being so worried about the future all the time, the negativity being pushed back by a brighter perspective. He was starting to look forward to the next day, whether it was waking up and getting some more practice with Tawdd and Myrreah, scribbling down a new idea for a combat technique, or getting to work with the Telumarx krewe and learning from those who valued his ideas.

"And... up!"

Kajjex leapt, backflipping as he kept a tight grip on the pole, quickly hooking his leg around it and bringing his other straight up. The friction from his black leggings helped him keep a grip as he hung upside-down on the dancing pole, holding the position and staring out into the relatively empty club. From his elevated position he could see Tawdd, Myrreah, Mykksa and Preeke lounging in the closest seats, paying keen attention to his performance. He chanced a brief look down his body, his cock and balls dangling just above him with a small bead of precum forming at the tip. As aroused as he was, he steeled himself and kept his focus, counting to five in his head as he allowed himself to slide down the pole slowly.

"Release!"

He grunted and kicked away from the pole, landing cleanly on both feet with his back to the chairs and tables just as the music ebbed away. A smile played along his face and he looked over his shoulder, folding his arms in a coquettish pose, his face burning a deep red. His current audience clapped vigorously, with Tawdd and Myrreah just below the stage while Mykksa and Preeke had dropped their sandwiches to join the applause. Raxio was the only one who didn't, though Kajjex had known him long enough to know his signature thumbs-up was his way of relaxed ovation.

"Judges?" Preeke called out, looking to the other three asura.

"Nine," Tawdd responded.

"Nine," said Myrreah.

"Ten!" Mykksa finished. "Loving that over-the-shoulder look!"

Kajjex faced them and bowed, feeling a light sheen of sweat on his body. "That felt better than the last time. The flip back onto the stage is getting easier."

"You landed it perfectly," Preeke said, tossing a dry towel up at him. "The only obstacle now is that you're focusing a little too much on executing that last part, so you're not smiling when you do it. That's normal, once it becomes second-nature you'll do it just fine."

"Agreed," Myrreah said. "And don't be afraid to show those pearly-whites. Practice in the mirror, see what kind of smile suits you best. It's not just asura that come to watch and drink, so you need to give them a grin that's cute and welcoming as opposed to looking like we're about to bite them."

"I'll try to remember that," Kajjex said, wiping himself off and jumping off the stage to take a seat at their table.

"So, how are you feeling about this?" Preeke asked, pushing a canteen of water to him. "Think you're ready for your first performance tonight?"

Kajjex shivered with equal parts anxiety and excitement. Preeke had broached the topic with him three days prior, telling him that performers were needed for later in the week to cover a few vacancies that Tawdd, Myrreah, and the other performers could not cover. He had not pressed for a definite answer, but had made it clear he felt Kajjex was ready for his debut on stage. For three days the event had loomed over his head like a storm cloud – it was something that he both dreaded and looked forward to.

As such, he didn't answer immediately considering the question, taking a swig as he did. "That depends on you two," he finally answered, gesturing to Myrreah and Tawdd, "but I think I've finally gotten over being body-shy. I guess once you do it enough times, it just becomes the new 'normal.' I like doing it. It's hard to explain it in words... 'exhilarating,' I guess? Especially when I'm focused on it."

"Maybe you have an exhibitionist streak just waiting for the chance to come out," Tawdd suggested. "I did. You have a different, stronger body type that the rest of the club's performers lack, so that helps."

"I agree," Myrreah said. "No pressure, but you'd cater to some tastes that we haven't been able to cover. I think you're ready, in any case."

"It comes down to you, though," Preeke told Kajjex. "I've given you every possible out in case you wanted to back away and leave it until later, or even give it up entirely. If you say yes now, I'm putting you on tonight's schedule, and you can't back out." He half-smiled. "Unless you want to cover tonight's expenses for a no-show. It'd put a dent in your account."

It brought a chuckle out of Kajjex, but he understood what the older asura was saying. "I've had three days to think it over. I'm not going to make excuses, not for something I enjoy doing." He took a breath, ran it through his head one last time, then nodded. "Put me in tonight. I'll know by the end of it if it's for me. But I'd rather do it, fail, and be humiliated for one night, than wonder for the rest of my life if I was wrong to pass up the opportunity."

Preeke considered him with a warm, proud smile. "Alright, kid. Then you'll be our main event, with Tawdd and Myrreah as the opening act." He glanced to Myrreah. "Are we good for now?"

"Yeah, that's everything in the current song list we're running with," she replied, pushing Kajjex's clothes and weapons to him. "We don't want to tire you out, so we'll end the session early today. I also don't want to keep you too long if you need to check in with Professor Bronk and the rest of Telumarx."

"I already sent a messenger golem to him, asking him not to give you any big workloads," Preeke said. "You're to take it easy for the rest of the day, and I'm certain he'll give you time off. Just try to relax and avoid getting into any fights."

"I'll give it my best," Kajjex replied, getting his shirt on. "I'll just spend the silver and waypoint there, the wilds are getting too chaotic these days."

"Well don't go there without your pants," Preeke advised with a grin. "The Peacemakers might have questions for you, otherwise."

The remark caused Kajjex to look down, noticing that he had, in fact, not fully redressed. "Guess I really am getting over my aversion to nudity after all," he chuckled, quickly donning the rest of his clothes and getting his test weapons on his belt. "What time should I drop by?"

"No later than five in the afternoon, so you have enough time for makeup and warm-up. It'll also be enough time to steady your nerves, just in case you get stage fright."

He shivered again slightly, his cheeks burning. His nerves were singing, it was true, but there was nothing unwelcome about the sensation beyond the fact that he had to wait. He would need to calm down and relax, he knew, lest the anxiety sap away his stamina. "Yeah, I think... I'm sure I'll be alright," he replied, taking a deep breath and letting it out, then pulling his waypoint fob from his pocket. "It's happening. I'll be ready for it."

"We'll be waiting for you – enjoy the rest of your day, kid," Preeke said, giving him a wave.

Kajjex smiled back, then activated his key.

"One asura for Desider Atum waypoint."

Traveling through waypoint had ironically become somewhat pedestrian for most Tyrians who could afford to use the system. Considering the accident/mortality rate was practically nonexistent, it was preferable to most other forms of travel, but the novelty of having one's consciousness and physical mass transferred into energy through the miniature gate system quickly wore off, particularly for merchant, travelers, and adventurers. Still, to Kajjex there was a pleasant coolness in the traversing process, which lingered as he reformed beneath the waypoint and stepped out into the jungle air, nearly bumping into Plek, a fellow krewemate who was moving a pair of crates by hand.

"Whoa, alright there, Kajjex?" he said, peeking over his boxes.

"Doing fine, Plek," he replied, helping him keep the stack steady. "Need a hand with anything?"

"I'm good, but since you're early you should check with Poola – she might want a strong set of arms to move around metal. I'll shout if I need a hand."

"No promises," Kajjex said, grinning as he hurried up the ramp into the workshop. "Preeke says to take it easy today." Even as he said this, he looked forward to being able to provide a little help to the krewe. Being able to get to work quickly was all the more important given how much he was enjoying being able to put his skills to practice. For the most part he had only dealt with some wild beasts near Desider Atum, though twice he'd scuffled with a handful of human bandits that had strayed too far south, but it still felt like he was making a difference. Having a krewe that valued his opinions about warfare and combat was refreshing.

The markets were already bustling with activity when he arrived at the crafting halls. A few of the traders waved to him in greeting, which he returned, though he only stopped to speak when Poola flagged him down.

"Bit early today, aren't you Kajjex?" the armorsmith noted, as she plunged a pair of tongs into a furnace and pulled out a red-hot crucible.

"I'm performing tonight, so we finished practice ahead of time," he replied, watching as she poured some molten steel into a mold. "Plek said you might need help."

"Yeah, be a dear and close the kiln for me," she said. "Professor Bronk is inside, but you'll want to give him a bit. Apparently, the Inquest have been trying to accuse him of theft and fraud for that big monster you subdued a couple weeks ago. A messenger golem arrived a few minutes ago, outlining their demands."

"What did he say?"

"Nothing," Poola said with a grin, pouring the steel into a nearby mold. "He blew it apart. He and Millo are cleaning it up right now so he can have a bigger golem deliver the scrap back to the Inquest."

"Well, I'm glad he's got a more direct opinion about the Inquest than most," Kajjex chuckled.

"The feeling is mutual, but I wouldn't say that too loudly," Poola cautioned, as she closed the mold. "He's open about his dislike for the Inquest, but his reasons for being as direct as he is when they're involved are more personal. If he hasn't told you yet, don't ask. Don't even steer the conversation that way."

"I won't fault a genius for keeping things hidden – not my business, anyway," he said, shrugging. "And the Inquest won't hear it from me if he breaks their toys."

"Oh, by all means, let them know the next time you see them," Bronk said as stepped out of the inner halls, a golem following behind. In its arms were the smashed remains of the messenger golem, haphazardly assembled in a wooden box. "Arrogant blowhards, trying to muscle in on smaller krewes. Well, I say it's past time we shed our fear of them." He waved the larger golem away. "Take the remains to the gate of the Funhouse and leave them there."

"How long have they been badgering you?" Kajjex asked, stepping aside to let the golem lumber past him.

"Since the day after the beast was felled," Bronk grunted. "At first I thought it might have been one of their foul experiments gone wrong and them wanting to cover it up by getting it back quickly. But their persistence suggests that they don't have access to another specimen, or can't create a new one, so I suppose I was giving them too much credit. The hylek turned the remains over to me, and I had them delivered to PR&T Esoterics to have them investigated, as it falls under their area of study. They got back to me last night with the results, and they could find no evidence of tampering or modification. Even with an in-depth study we still can't identify it, but whatever that thing was, that was it's natural form."

"There's a lot of surface on Tyria that's unexplored. It could have come from the western Maguuma," Kajjex suggested. "Or it could be a new dragon minion."

Bronk shook his head. "All dragon minions have some level of the elder dragon's magic in them. This one didn't."

"We haven't seen all the elder dragons yet," Poola pointed out. "We only know of four out of... six, I think?"

"Their energy signatures are still similar, though," the elder asura countered. "This one did have magic, but the readings are completely foreign from any flora or fauna on Tyria." He shook his head and smiled. "But anyway, let's move on to work, shall we?" He turned to the other krewe members. "Millo, Poola, you have the floor for now. Make sure those rifle orders for the Peacemakers are ready before they arrive this afternoon. The lad and I will be near the entrance."

"Sure thing, Boss," they said together.

The elder asura led Kajjex down the stairs leading out, until they were near the bottom. "Now, I believe you have a report for me," he grunted, taking a seat at the second step.

"I've got everything here," Kajjex said, pulling the swords and their sheathes from his belt, setting them down as he sat next to Bronk. He drew a slim, blue crystal from his pocket and handed it to him. "And the report, too."

"Excellent, I'll go over it tonight. Give me a brief summary of what you found."

"The blades are well balanced for their length, but a bit too light. I could only ever cause shallow cuts even when I put a bit of punch behind the swing," Kajjex said. "In the hands of a Mesmer, it should do fine for fencing and for shattering illusions, but for a direct confrontation something with more cutting surface would be better."

"Very good," Bronk said, nodding and taking the weapons. "I'll go over the details once I get a look at the report." He reached into his satchel and drew a yellow data crystal from it, handing it to Kajjex. "I've also gone over your treatises and had them hard-copied to store here, with another copy ready to take with you if you'd like. I must say, you continue to surprise me. I made no modifications to the original work, but I did add a second file with some thoughts, suggestions, and minor corrections I thought you should look over. I think you'll be pleased. If you have a moment I'd like to talk to you about them."

"I'll be glad for your input, Professor," he said.

"You were incredibly detailed on your training regimen, and you correctly ascertained the necessary exercises to build strength and flexibility for combat purposes. There were a few additions I added based on my own studies that I feel merit some investigation, particularly focused on diet – at my age, diet tends to become critical," he sighed, smiling wanly.

"That makes sense," Kajjex nodded. "I'll definitely look into it, maybe take up cooking and studying recipes for better protein intake."

"Very good. I also did have one point of criticism to make about your work. I'm sure you must have your reasons, yet I found very little data involving the infusion of magic into your treatise, which I found a bit unusual." He tilted his head. "All warriors of any race are known to practice magic that enhances their abilities – durability, strength, even exuding magic to recover from injury or bolster the morale of others. You added your work involving meridian channel points and arcane pathways, which was an excellent start. But you added nothing after that. I'm curious as to why."

Kajjex flinched, looking away. "Mm.... yeah. That was a... deliberate omission," he admitted. "I have reasons for it. I'm not sure an elder genius would understand why, though."

"Then help an old genius understand a young genius' work," Bronk said kindly.

He didn't answer immediately, looking out at the jungle. Buried memories were beginning to rise back to the surface, the pain of failure creeping into his heart. In many ways, he considered it amazing that he had gotten as far as he had with his limitations. To be reminded of them again brought a sense a shame..

"... There are three reasons," he finally said. "The most basic and logical answer was that I didn't want the data to be skewed by introducing elements of magic so soon. I wanted the foundation of my studies to be focused on physical strength first, to have a consistent baseline that doesn't fluctuate. That's why I never used elixirs or potions. It makes it easier to track and calculate my natural growth through training."

"An excellent reason," Bronk said, nodding. "And the second?"

Kajjex smiled blandly. "... Pride. Or what little I had left. I wanted to prove I could go far without having to use magic, that my hard work was valuable by itself, without having to take shortcuts."

Bronk frowned. "You never felt it would be doing yourself a disservice if you neglected magic as a part of your studies?"

"Why would it be a disservice if it's beyond me?" Kajjex chuckled, feeling little humor in it. He hesitated, then leaned in close. He felt sick even before uttering his next words. "That's... that's the third reason. I'm... not proficient in using magic. Not even on myself."

The elder asura's brow raised fractionally. "You lack access to it?"

"Far from it – I lack control," Kajjex explained, his shoulders slumping. "It's not like I haven't tried to implement magic into my studies, but I kept hitting roadblocks in actually using it, even as a child. It's like... a faulty pressure valve, where there's either too little pressure or too much, with nothing in-between. Anytime I tried, I either wasn't generating enough or it was spilling over dangerously. It was a point of disappointment to Torkk, something he was always keen to remind me of."

"Ignore that hateful bastard," Bronk said firmly. "You've no reason to value the words of someone amoral enough to join the Inquest. It sounds to me like he was a poor mentor, if he did nothing to help cultivate your natural talents." He sighed, putting a hand on the younger asura's back. "All asura know that all beings throughout Tyria – and likely beyond – embody magic. You are no exception, even if you shy away from it. It's as much a part of you as your soul is. You have latent potential, something you owe to yourself to build and grow. In the few weeks I've known you, I've been more impressed with your drive and talent than I have with most of the people I've worked with. You don't need to hear these words from me for them to be the truth, but I will gladly admit them to you if it helps mold you into a better person."

"I appreciate the vote of confidence," Kajjex said gratefully. "But that doesn't change the fact that I don't know how to control my own magic."

"It should," Bronk countered. "The key to a finer control of magic can vary from person to person, but confidence is often a critical component. Humans fuel their magic through their faith in their gods, their belief in something bigger than themselves – and their potential to emulate that power. The norn do the same with their devotion to the Spirits of the Wild." He smiled wryly. "Asura have confidence as well. Too much, in most cases. Why else would we have a penchant for blowing ourselves up?"

Kajjex shook with a sudden chuckle. "That's a... curious point to make."

"Yet a salient one," Bronk insisted. "You are a humble soul, and to your credit that makes it easier for you to admit your mistakes. But that lack of confidence could be holding you back. I understand that having Torkk as your mentor may have left you with a severe lack of morale. You don't need to worry about him any longer. You have people who see your value. You just need to see that value in yourself."

Kajjex sighed, nodding. "Well... hopefully taking the stage tonight will facilitate that in some small way."

"Let's hope so," Bronk nodded. "Try finding paths to inner peace in the meantime. If you find that through training, all the better. Try meditation, breathing exercises – a mental journal, even. Your physical body is something you've been training and taking care of quite well, but your mental and emotional health shouldn't be neglected, either."

"I think I'll try those," he replied, feeling a little better. It was a pleasant change to admit his shortcomings in magical control and not be mocked for it; to be given advice instead of pity or disgust. "If I'm already making changes to my life around Preeke, the krewe, and the club, then a couple more won't hurt."

"Exactly," Bronk agreed, thumping his back. "And on that note, you can try making those changes immediately, since I'm giving you time off today and tomorrow."

"Oh boy, my first day off," Kajjex chuckled. "I wasn't expecting it so soon."

"Given the work you've been putting in, you've earned it," Bronk said. "Preeke asked that I let you take it easy so you can focus on tonight. You have the rest of tod--"

A sudden crash drowned out his words. It was quickly followed by shouting and yelling elsewhere in the outpost. Bronk jumping to his feet while Kajjex's hand went to the sword hilt on his back. "What in the Eternal Alchemy was that?"

"Sounded like it came from the market stalls," Bronk said.

A shrill cry rang throughout Desider Atum, a sound Kajjex knew was not from an asura, hylek, or skritt; yet one that was clearly agitated and confused. With his hand still on the hilt of his blade, he started running up the steps towards the markets. "I'll take a look, stay here!"

"I'll do no such thing!" Bronk grunted, keeping pace with the much younger asura despite his advanced age. They hurried up the steps to the market and rounded the corner just as another crash rang out. Several stalls were upended and shattered, produce and product strewn around the area, while a knot of asura and hylek traders scurried away. Kajjex waited for the crowd to pass before he took a few steps further, spotting the source of the commotion.

At the far end of market, surrounded by a semi-circle of nervous-looking Peacemakers, was an enormous yellow bird with a large, rounded beak, long and strong legs, and a simple leather saddle and bridle. At first glance it looked like a moa had been covered with a bucket of yellow paint, but it was easily twice as large and lacked a pointed beak. It twisted to snap at a guard, and Kajjex could see a patch of red on its left side, droplets of blood forming at the tips of its golden feathers. Every time it snapped at them it backed away, limping as though favoring its left leg, and only swiping its clawed foot when someone got too close. The Peacemakers had backed it against a wall near a bowyer's stall and were jabbing staves at it.

"Easy, watch those talons!" one of the Peacemakers cried out.

"It's huge!" another wailed. "Somebody get a gun and put it down!"

The words spurred Kajjex into action, a flare of fear stabbing his chest as he ran forward. "No, wait! Get back, there's no need to kill it!"

"Stay back," a nearby Peacemaker said, holding up her hand and blocking his way. "We'll deal with this violent beast, stay out of it."

"It's not violent!" Kajjex shouted. "Look how it's moving, it's scared! You've backed it into a corner while it's injured, all you're doing now is agitating it!"

"My krewemate would know a thing or two about hostile animals," Bronk said, nodding. "I pay him to cull or knock out the dangerous ones. Who brought the moa?"

"Nobody brought it, it just showed up and ran through the market," the Peacemaker told them. "Just stay back, it'll be over soon."

But Kajjex forced himself past her, looking around at the ruined alleyway. One of the produce carts was upended nearby, with a few heads of kale and turnips strewn around it. Moa or not, it still looked very moa-like, so he stooped and collect a few heads before sprinting to the Peacemakers. The bird flicked its eyes towards him and let out another dismayed cry as he approached.

"Get back, don't crowd it!" Kajjex told them, trying not to shout too loudly. The Peacemakers looked at him as if he'd gone mad, until Bronk approached.

"Do as he says," he ordered calmly, staring ahead with his hands resting on his cane. "My krewemate here knows how to handle such beasts. If it attacks, he can take the hit, and I'm sure he can dispatch it if he needs to." He nodded to Kajjex. "Easy lad, best to take it slow."

The Peacemakers traded uneasy glances before backing away, keeping their staves pointed at the trembling bird. Once they'd given him a few meters of space, Kajjex approached slowly. The giant bird turned its attention to him, letting out a squawk and a snap of its beak while raising one of its legs as if ready to attack, but he did not let it deter him.

"Easy there," he said soothingly, keeping his voice even and soft, yet clear enough for it to hear him. With as much care and smoothness as he could, he took one of the kale heads and raised it up towards the creature. Its eyes flickered towards the leafy greens, then back to Kajjex. He took a slow step to the side, the bird's gaze watching him as he moved, until it was no longer stuck between him and the wall. Some of its tension seemed to ease away, and though it still shivered with pain, it lowered its foot until it stood on both.

"How are you doing that?" one of the Peacemakers said in a low voice.

"It's domesticated," he pointed out in the same calm voice, not looking to the side. "Or at least, someone thought it was tame enough to domesticate. It wouldn't be wearing a saddle and bridle otherwise. It probably went wild after getting hurt." The bird cocked its head to the side, staring at the gold highlights in his hair. "Can someone grab an elixir for me?"

"What are you, a ranger?" one of the Peacemakers snorted. The noise made the bird flinch and jerk its head towards them, causing the lot to take a step back.

"No, but I've studied animal behavior as part of my research," Kajjex replied, still keeping his voice calm and his eyes on the avian creature. "If you want it gone without needing to clean up a corpse, then go get me an elixir while I calm it down." One of the officers broke formation and scurried away, the bird watching them retreat until they were out of sight before returning its attention to Kajjex. Again it cocked its head at him, and Kajjex got the feeling it had noticed its lapse in attention had not resulted in further harm.

"Good... I'm not going to hurt you," he said softly, waving the kale in front of it. Now there was a look of hunger melded with caution in its eyes as it followed the greens carefully. It leaned forward, flicking its gaze to him once before suddenly lunging out and snatching the kale out of his hand, backing away as it began to munch on the greens. He stole a quick glance at Professor Bronk. "Think we could get two or three more of these?"

Bronk tapped his cane against a nearby Peacemaker's helm. "You, go get us some more kale. My krewemate is paying for it."

"Er, yes sir," the asura said awkwardly. This time the bird did not pay any heed to another person retreating, though it was now regarding Kajjex with less fear than it had before. It seemed to alternate its attention between the asura in front of it and the surrounding environs, as if seeing them for the first time.

Kajjex waited until the bird swallowed before holding up the next head of kale. "Alright, easy steps." The creature watched as he moved closer, though despite its shivering it didn't back away. Once he was within reach he offered the kale to the injured bird. Though it hesitated for a moment it eventually leaned in and took the food, much slower than it had the first time, before settling into a sitting position. Kajjex smiled and let out a sigh. "There, you're not so bad after all, are you."

"Sure does stink though," one of the officers muttered. The creature stopped chewing and looked at him through narrowed eyes, letting out a squawk that sounded strangely indignant.

"I think he understands you," Kajjex chuckled. "Or she, I guess," he added. To his amazement the creature faced him and shook its head.

"Well, now we know it's not a new type of moa," Professor Bronk said, stepping past the line of Peacemakers with a head of kale in one hand, and a stoppered bottle in the other. "Moas are clever, but not nearly intelligent enough to understand and respond to speech. This creature must be something else."

"Where did it come from, then?" another Peacemaker asked.

"Who can say? Something very strange is happening in our neck of Tyria, for yet another unknown animal to show up without warning," Bronk mused as he handed the kale to Kajjex. "But as my associate was the one to calm this poor beast down, I suppose that means the discovery is his."

"Hey, wait a second," one of the Peacemakers said. "We were the ones who cornered it!"

"And likely would have killed it, too, had my krewemate here not stepped in," Bronk replied, glaring at the officer.

"The law states that all new or reacquired discoveries are declared the ownership of those who secure them," another started to say.

"Which is certainly none of you imbeciles, since you didn't secure it!" Bronk shot back in a stern, scholarly voice that caused everyone to flinch, including the bird. "Now, if we're quite done debating discovery rights, you might better spend your time cleaning up this mess! We have merchants here with businesses to run! Go on, hop to it!"

"But I-- I mean, that is... y-yes sir," he said lamely, before motioning the rest of them to follow and assess the damage.

Kajjex arched an eyebrow at Bronk as he fed the creature another head of kale. "Not that I don't appreciate it, but you were a bit quick to credit this discovery to me. Most people would say you run most of the operations at this outpost, I'd figured you'd want to claim it."

"As interesting as it'd be, this creature might be better served in your hands," Bronk reasoned. "Best we get them away from our new avian friend before they rile him up again." He uncorked the bottle and looked over its body. "This one is a strong beast. The saddle's a giveaway it's been used as a mount, probably for a human, but it looks sturdy enough to carry a norn or a charr with no issue."

"I don't doubt it but the saddle is too small," Kajjex pointed out. The seat seemed the perfect size for an asura, not large enough for any but the most petite human or sylvari.

"Let's see here," Bronk grunted, kneeling beside it and running his fingers along the red stain along its feathers. "Hmm... ah, here it is. Seems it took a dart to the upper left thigh, but moving around has caused the shaft to be buried. I'll need to make a small incision so I can remove it."

The bird straightened up and let out a whining warble, but Kajjex reached up and touched its beak, using his other hand to grab its loose reins. "I know, I know," he said soothingly. "But if we're going to heal you, the arrow needs to come out."

It stared at him for a few seconds as he stroked its beak, then leaned into him, shuddering as Bronk worked. Kajjex found himself struggling not to get too excited as he stroked its neck to calm it down, thrilled though he was to interact with a creature that wasn't trying to eat him for a change. It was a little smelly, true, but hardly offensive enough to ward him away. Before too long, Bronk was back on his feet, holding up an empty bottle and a dart the length of his hand.

"Got it," he sighed. "An Inquest suppressant dart, no less. If I had to guess, this creature was either too big for the dosage or too resistant to the compound." He patted its back. "It'll ache for a bit, but that elixir should have you up and moving."

The creature looked between both of the asura curiously, then shifted around a bit before standing up to its fully height once more. A relieved-sounding 'kweh' left its beak as it flapped its wings and shivered, stretching out its leg.

"He looks happy enough," Kajjex noted.

"Indeed, but we might want to get it out of here for now," Bronk said, looking around. "The traders are clearly displeased, and the smell of blood may might attract a predator or two from the jungle. Grab one of the buckets from the smelters and wash off the blood in the river."

Kajjex's eyes went wide. "W-wait, what? Why me?"

"You were adamant on saving this poor beast in the first place. Like I said, I feel that the care and treatment should be put in the hands of one capable of showing it," Bronk replied, bearing a smirk that was tinted with slight mischief. "More seriously, you might be the only person this creature will trust to be around for the time being. I'm afraid that you've only yourself to blame for intervening."

"But-but – I was supposed to take it easy today!" Kajjex objected.

"If it were between saving this bird or taking a break until your performance tonight, I think we both know what choice you would make," Bronk chuckled, patting his shoulder. "Alas, no good deed goes unpunished. Grab a pistol from the armory and find someplace to hide it once you've cleaned it up. We know it was the Inquest that shot it, so it's likely they'll come looking for it soon. For the creature's sake, we'd best keep it out of their hands."

Kajjex sighed, but nodded. While the performance was important, it would have felt wrong to abandon the animal while it recovered. He looked up at the bird, which was peering at him with interest. "Well, would you say you trust me enough to keep you out of trouble, big guy?"

The bird clicked its beak and let out another 'kweh', bouncing between its feet before leaning in and bunting the top of his head gently. The affectionate gesture brought a smile out of him.

"Alright, then let's get you squared away," he said, taking the reins and guiding the creature away.

There were no shortage of nervous glances and hot glares from the traders and crafters as he led the animal out of the market area, such that Kajjex almost decided against stopping to buy more kale; but the produce seller wasn't so angry as to turn down the sale. After borrowing a bucket and a pistol, the two made their way out of the outpost. Fortunately the bird did not react negatively to the others, looking more curious than fearful of its surroundings, though it stayed in close step with Kajjex as they left Desider Atum. It was still early in the day and few people were on the path, and while those they passed gave the bird an odd look, the two were left alone.

They reached the stream before long, still within sight of the outpost, and the creature lunged towards the waterway with another happy warble. Kajjex sighed but smiled, watching while it drank from the stream.

"Running from the Inquest must be thirsty work," Kajex chuckled, filling the bucket and pouring it over the red-stained feathers. "You did well to evade them. If they'd caught you, well... I'd rather not think about what they'd do to you.'" He refilled the bucket and pouring it over the bird's feathers. For a few moments he regarded the creature, his mind wandering back to the tentacled beast and out-of-town invaders from Ivalice before he shook his head clear.

Now that he had time to think, it would be best to figure out where to hide the creature before more people know about it. He turned his gaze to the south: the Serpentwind caverns had plenty of space, but it was home to the rat-like skritt, and even if he had enough shiny baubles to pay them there was no guarantee that they wouldn't eat the bird. He turned to the north: the Michoan Marsh and Artergon Woods were teeming with predators and Inquest research labs. To the east was the Caledon Forest, as wild as the northern sector; and to the west were more asura labs who would have no reservations against cutting open an unknown beast just for the accolades.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Quite the conundrum. We can't have you wandering around – but on the other hand, I can't think of anywhere you'd be safe. We need something like a stable or a private observatory." His ears perked up after a moment. "Maybe Tawdd might know someone he trusts, he's got an eye for animals. I'll have to pull him aside after the performance tonight. Ah, the performance!" His nerves seemed to surge with excitement. "We gotta find someplace to hide you, or else I won't be able to focus on it!" He gave it a few more minutes of thought, watching as his avian companion began to drink again from the stream, then got to his feet and trod up to the bridge before looking around. "Hylek to the north, asura and skritt to the south, krait to the west – and too many Inquest labs in between," he added. "If only they weren't a probl--"

He went silent at once and ducked behind the end of the bridge railing, peeking over it. At the end of the path were a trio of asura clad in black and red, with a similarly-colored combat golem tailing closely. There was no mistaking it – their colors, armaments, and self-assured swagger were dead giveaways that they were Inquest. Kajjex backed up towards the stream, drawing the pistol he'd borrowed and grabbing bird's reins.

"Quick, under the bridge!" he hissed. It followed quietly, alarmed by his sudden agitation. Barely half a minute later they heard the heavy thump of a golem's feet passing the bridge overhead, as well as two voices.

"Last report said it was in this direction," a female asura said.

"Then we'll ask the locals. If you see it, shoot the damn thing – it's too fast to catch," another asura replied.

"Not fast enough to outrun a rocket golem's ordinance," the other countered.

"No explosives! We need it mostly intact so we can study it!"

"Ugh, fine! Rocket punches only! I swear, you take the fun out of everything..."

Kajjex waited until the golem footprints had softened to almost nothing before letting out a breath he hadn't been aware of holding. "Okay, we have to go now!" he muttered, holding the reins tight and guiding his companion back up the bank. "That was you they were talking about!" The bird let out a quiet 'kweh' and followed, leaning down and bumping its head into his back, nearly causing him to trip. "Hey, what's the big--"

It ran ahead and Kajjex's hold on the reins slipped, but before he could reach out to grab them the bird circled in front of him. It shifted into a strange sitting position with its right leg held out to the side. Baffled by its behavior, it wasn't until it shook its head and swung the reins around that he understood, his brow raising.

"What do-- wait, are you telling me to ride you?"

The bird let out a chirrup.

Logic was telling him it made more sense to mount up if they wanted to make a quicker escape, but the prospect of riding an avian steed he knew nothing about was daunting. The chances of being thrown off and trampled by something four times his size seemed like a horrible way to die."N-no, I'd rather not. I've never ridden a... well, anything before, not even a golem!"

The bird chirped at him, looking mildly exasperated.

"No offense meant," he said quickly. "I'm sure we could outrun them if I go on foot. I'd probably need weeks or months of experience before I could even be qualifi--"

"There it is, kill that bird!"

The crack of a gunshot scattered the nearby wildlife, landing an inch from his right foot. He whipped around, spotting the trio at the top of the stairs with their rifles aimed at his direction, while the combat golem skipped the stairs with a massive leap, shaking the earth as it landed and sprinted towards them. Kajjex reached for his pistol and was halfway towards raising it up when something grabbed the back of his tunic and threw him into the air. He caught the movement of the bird's leg tossing him skyward, crying out in surprise until he landed stomach-first into the saddle with a cough. It only took a moment to figure out what had happened, and another moment for him to realize there was no point in arguing. With a quiet groan, Kajjex grabbed the reins tight and got into the saddle.

"Fine, you made your point – move!" he said, gritting his teeth.

The bird let out a loud 'wark' and reared back, forcing Kajjex to cling to its neck before it lunged forward and sprinted away from Desider Atum at a speed Kajjex was not prepared for. It was easily twice as fast as a scampering asura, quickly outpacing the Inquest agents' aim as their shots landed behind it. Wind whipped through the asura's hair and past his ears, displacing his anxiety with exhilaration in only a handful of seconds as the bird followed the path north into the jungle. For a few moments it felt more like the world was moving past them, until Kajjex realized that the bird's speed was matched by its smooth movements; it was enough to encourage him to sit upright in the saddle, now able to keep his balance. He gripped the reins, pulling them back gently and sighing in relief as his steed slowed to a stop.

"Okay, let's slow down a second," he sighed. "I think... I think we got a head start." He turned in the saddle, spotting the trio and the golem out of range, but approaching quickly. Estimating he had only a handful of seconds, he set about figuring how to ride properly. "Ah, now how do I..." He gave the reins an experimental tug to one side. Almost instantly the bird's heading shifted in the same direction, facing the path from the outpost and towards the next research lab in the distance. "Okay, so that turns you around, right?" The bird looked back at him and nodded, looking pleased. "Oh thank the Alchemy, that's much better," he sighed. "I was hoping it'd be simple."

A shout from his right nearly caused him to fall off the saddle. "Over there! It's getting away!" Several more Inquest agents were running up the hill from the swamp in their direction, most of them armed with clubs. A pair knelt and raised their rifles. With a curse Kajjex drew his pistol and opened fire, scattering them opposite directions. More by luck than intent he landed a shot on one of the riflemen's hip, dropping them. The other fired, his shot whizzing past Kajjex's left ear and almost causing him to fall out of the saddle before the bird jerked to the side, using the momentum to keep him in his seat. The Inquest agent fired again, grazing past the bird's tailfeathers, but started backing away the moment it let out an aggressive squawk and charged at him. In a panic, Kajjex grabbed the reins and tried to jerk them back, to no avail; in less than two seconds they had closed the distance and his avian mount swung around it's leg, catching the agent in the chest and sending him flying like a rag doll.

He had only a second to marvel how far the bird had sent the agent before his attention returned to their pursuers. He sent several more suppressing shots in their direction, but the remaining agents quickly took refuge behind their golem, using it as moving cover and returning fire. Without pausing to think, Kajjex grabbed the reins again and gave them a sharp snap – the steed cried out and lunged down the road northwards, just as a volley of shots sailed around them. He returned fire, keeping his head low and his grip on the reins tight, his wild shots doing just enough to keep them behind the golem. But the war machine itself shrugged off each round as if they were little more than spitball, its paces long and steady as it followed.

Realizing it wouldn't be long before his sidearm would run dry, he holstered his weapon and jerked the reins to the right, guiding the bird westwards. "Not north!" he cried out. "There's too many Inquest here, we need to at least get far from them." He grit his teeth, quickly measuring their options while doing everything he could to ignore the arcane bullets whizzing around them. Even at the bird's current speed, it was too much to hope for that they wouldn't be spotted by patrolling Inquest; but there was no guarantee the open roads would be safe until they got closer to Rata Sum. Hoping that they would at least be able to outrun any new pursuers while using trees as cover, he guided his mount deeper into the swamp, keeping his eyes open for dry patches of earth.

His limited experience in the marshes hadn't been enough to help him determine where the water was most shallow, but it didn't take long for him to realize it didn't matter; his avian mount seemed to move with equal parts care and speed, never sinking more than ankle-deep in marshwater nor slowing down even a little as they wove around trees and leapt over fallen logs. He risked a look back at the pursuing squad, half of which was left in the distance while the other half had climbed aboard the golem and was using it as a mobile shooting platform. Yet even with the golem at full sprint, the space between their mount and his was getting wider by the second, their shots drilling into the mossy trees and soft earth around them. No attention was spared towards their environs, and seconds later the golem's left foot sank into a hidden mudhole, causing it to lurch and fall flat into the marshwater while the Inquest went flying in all directions.

Even with this new development there was no time for Kajjex to celebrate. The splashing his steed causing quickly drew new attention as an Inquest patrol began filing out of a cliff-embedded gate. They had just spotted the pair when Kajjex made a bold decision, wrenching the reins in their direction. The bird seemed to be thinking along the same lines, letting out a shrill cry and swinging his head to the side as they blasted through the patrol, knocking them aside as easily as a boulder through a stack of ten-pins. Kajjex held back a laugh, keeping his focus on their escape and bringing them back near the road leading towards Soren Draa. What humor he'd gotten from watching the Inquest get thrashed disappeared as he saw a long line of non-Inquest asura and golems traveling the path and blocking up the nearby bridge.

"Out of the way, move!" he shouted at both asura and golems, and despite his best efforts to steer the mount away from former, the latter stood no chance of dodging as the riding bird crashed past them without the slightest sign of slowing down. Thankfully the asura were more aware and dove to either side of the road, shouting obscenities as the steed and rider passed. Before too long they reached the bridge near the old golem factory, where Kajjex and Preeke had seen Inquest traveling the river. He cursed silently, tugging the reins once they were on the other side of the bridge and directing it southwards.

"Hold up!" he said, halting the steed at the foot of the hill – ahead was the Funhouse, the Inquest lab. "Not up there!" He looked around desperately, hoping to find some foliage or boulders to take cover in behind, but there were none to be found. For a moment he nearly decided to press on past the Funhouse gates and hope the Inquest weren't at the door, but stopped short as he saw part of the road descend into the river. In the light of day he hadn't noticed it immediately, but it was the same stretch of riverbank where the Inquest skiffs had run aground. On the other side of the river were cliffs on either side of a small, shaded riverbank beneath a looming inselberg. A bold idea came to mind.

He leaned over and tapped it's side, then pointed to the shaded riverbank. "Hey, think you can make that jump?"

It looked at him quizzically and followed his finger until it noticed the opposite bank, then chirruped and hopped in place excitedly. The asura held on tight as the bird sprinted towards the river at full speed, dipped low, and bounded from the edge of the bank in a single, massive leap. Kajjex cried out and clung to the bird's next as they sailed over the river in a high arc, and for a gut-wrenching second he thought they would fall short. Suddenly, the bird's wings fanned out and caught the air beneath them, slowing their descent into a smooth glide that reached the opposite riverbank. The bird slowed to a stop and Kajjex tumbled out of the saddle, his heart hammering in his chest as he got to his feet.

"That was amazing!" he gasped. The avian steed snorted and puffed its chest out, looking rather proud of itself. Before he could say more he heard the sound of an asura shouting in the direction of the bridge, prompting him to grab the reins again and guide the beast up the boulder platforms. "Quickly, we need to hide before they spot us!"

It was easy enough to guide it up the boulders, its long legs easily capable of ascending the natural steps. At the top was a shallow incline that led to what looked like a dirt path beneath a stone arch. Bushes had grown in a gap between one of the boulders and the arch, which Kajjex ducked behind, while the bird took shelter behind the arch and peeked out. A light, mid-morning mist still hung across the river, though it wasn't difficult to see movement on the other side, near the old golem factory.

The Inquest finally caught up after a minute, and he dropped to his belly, peeking out from under the bush with his pistol drawn. A half-dozen armed asura in black and red started sweeping the old factory ruins, while a pair of combat golems at the rear kept a silent watch. While the mist was dense enough that he could not see their faces, he could certainly hear the discontent in their voices as they chatted among themselves.

A female voice broke the relative quiet, her shrill and demanding tone causing every other agent to flinch. "Damn! He must have gone up past the Funhouse!" she snarled. "By the Alchemy that thing is fast!"

"He can't have gone far," another said. "Someone in Soren Draa would have seen him, and the southern falls are too steep for it to climb."

"Maybe it flew away," one suggested.

"You idiot, didn't you check the bestiary?" the first groaned. "Chocobos can't fly!"

"Untrue," another interjected. "According to our research, some varieties of chocobo are capable of flight, and are often bred specifically for that purpose."

"ENOUGH!" the first shouted. "Whatever, I don't care – we know that this one can't fly! We need to sweep from here to Soren Draa! Did anyone get a look at that rider?"

"I caught a glimpse, but I can't remember details," one said sheepishly. "Dark skin for sure, maybe blonde hair – but that could have been the subject's feathers."

"Fuck... not much to work with. Alright, I'm heading back to Desider Atum to ask some questions. Half of you take a golem and check the Hinterlabs; the rest of you get to Soren Draa and start combing the area for that chocobo! Interrogate everyone for information, check every lab! Make no direct mention of the subject to anyone! And someone identify that rider!"

The group hurried up the dirt path before splitting into two, one heading west while the other kept moving south, leaving their leader to begin jogging her way back east. As soon as they were out of sight Kajjex sighed, feeling the tension drain away as he leaned against the rocks and slid into a sitting position. His breathing slowed and he nearly dozed away in seconds, only to be roused by the gentle nudging of the giant bird's beak against his cheek. He shook himself awake, looking up at his companion and feeling a swell of respect for its presence.

"So... a chocobo, is it?" he muttered, smiling up at it. The chocobo gave a single nod and quiet warble. "That's a neat name," he chuckled, getting to his feet. He took one last check to ensure there was no Inquest left, then took the reins in hand once again. "Well then, Mr. Chocobo – it looks like we lost them, thanks to your help. Guess we should be lucky they didn't have any competent trackers with them. Good work." The chocobo chirruped happily and nosed him again, getting another laugh. "Thank you, too. Now... let's see where this path leads. Hopefully somewhere you can stay hidden for a while."

The dirt trail winded around and up the inselberg, its outer edge lined with dense bushes. Every few meters there was a gap between the foliage, but while he could see across the waterway easily from his perch, the swamp trees jutting out of the surface seemed to obscure the platform itself with moss and leaf. The mist still hung over the river, though he thought he could see the outline of a nearby lab some distance away. No Inquest were within sight, at any rate, and he breathed a little easier as they continued up the path.

Before long the path turned inward towards the rocks, into a well-lit cave. A light fixture had been planted in the ground halfway in, and a pair of luminescent flowers taller than Kajjex jutted out at the back of the cave. In the center cave were over a half-dozen bunnies, every single one of them looking up at the pair of newcomers with curious, placid eyes. The chocobo chirruped quietly, leaning down to look at the nearest one while Kajjex released the reins and looked around, entering the cave. A trio of boxes rested near the back, all of them of asura make.

His brow furrowed and shook his head. "Hmm... maybe not here, my friend," he said, backing away. "Seems like this cave is occupied."

"You're darn right it is!" a sharp voice said from behind.

The sudden outburst startled Kajjex badly enough that he fumbled with his pistol and dropped it, but before he could stoop to pick it up a red-haired female asura stomped towards him with a glare in her cute, teal eyes. "Wha – who are--"

"I'm Snrif, and this is my lab!" she snapped, jabbing a finger in front of his nose and causing him to back away. "Now tell me what you're doing here!"

Kajjex frowned, looking around for any signs of hidden equipment. "You... call this a lab?" he asked, skeptical.

"Not all of us Statics graduates use cushy, sterilized indoor labs, you know!" she replied indignantly, jabbing her finger in his chest. "This is where I conduct my research in private, where nobody can bother me or get hurt!"

"I'm sorry!" he said quickly, finding himself backed against the wall and wondering how the shorter asura had managed to cow him into a corner despite being unarmed. "I didn't know, alright?"

"That doesn't matter, this place is off-limits!" she pressed, putting her hands on her hips. "So who are you, and what are you doing here?"

"My name is Kajjex, and I didn't see any signs saying this cave was a private area," Kajjex answered, gesturing to the chocobo now staring at the two. "I just needed a place to hide my friend here, and I was about to leave. The Inquest is looking for him."

"Inquest?" she repeated, her eyes narrowing. "You better not have led them here!"

"No, they moved on to the south and west," he assured her. "But he can't stay out in the open, either. Look, can he hide out here for now? He's docile, he won't attack your bunnies or--"

"They're not my bunnies, they're the focus of my research!" she snapped rather loudly. "And I'm doing very dangerous, delicate experiments here!"

Her shouting unnerved Kajjex more due to the chance that someone across the river would hear her and less than the fact that she was intimidating in her own right. He moved to the mouth of the cave and peeked out, seeing no sign that they'd been noticed by the world at large. "It won't be for long, it's just for today until I can come back and pick him up later tonight! Just... I dunno, pretend we're not here and go about your experiments!"

She gaped at him. "Pre-- what?! That doesn't make any sense! Even if I pretend your not here, the repercussions to your health could be catastrophic! My experiments are extremely volatile!"

"If it involves a handful of fluffy bunnies, then I think we'll be fine," Kajjex said, arching an eyebrow.

"Wh-- no, you're not listening!" she shouted, stamping her foot while he checked the entrance again. "You won't be fine! I just said you wouldn't, and you won't be! Now get going so I can return to my research!"

"You can do it now!" he groaned. "Just let us wait here until things quiet--"

"RRRRGGGGGHHH YOU'RE SO INFURIATING!" she hollered, backing him up into another corner. "You're like my mother, never knowing when you're not wanted! I just want to sit here with my bunnies – undisturbed – in peace!!!"

He held up his hands, pressed against the stone wall. "Look, I'm sure your research is impor--"

He stopped short, her words finally registering. She did not seem to have realized what she'd said, but the pieces finally clicked, causing a slow smile to form.

"Wait. What was that about sitting with bunnies?"

Her glare faltered and fell into one of alarm, her cheeks reddening. "What? No, I didn't say 'sit with rabbits.'" She cleared her throat, folding her arms. "I-I clearly said that I was experimenting on them. You obviously heard wrong."

"My ears are ringing from being shouted at while in an enclosed space," he admitted with a chuckle. "But why are you so defensive about your bunnies?"

Her eyes widened and some of the energy she had returned, though the blush remained. "I'm not being – you – it's just--" She sputtered for a few seconds longer before throwing her hands up in disgust. "AAAAAUUURRGGG FINE! FINE! Are you really that interested that you're going to bug me?! You wanna hear the truth!?"

"I think I can handle it," Kajjex replied smoothly, folding his arms and giving her a patient smile.

She stared at him for a few moments longer, then sighed and slumped into a sitting position, staring at the bunnies. At no point had her yelling startled them or sent them running in fear. On the contrary, the moment she sat on the ground, half of them scurried over to her, one of them climbing into he lap. Something akin to a hurt expression was setting into her eyes.

"Fine. The truth is... I like bunnies."

Kajjex cocked his head. "You like bunnies?"

She nodded, not looking up at him. "My krewe tends to use them in experiments, but even though they aren't too painful I've never been comfortable using them for testing. I was always too friendly with them, and I hated seeing them get hurt. But that kind of compassion will get you a lot of strange looks from your colleagues, so I was something of an oddity in the krewe. We took a week-long break from our research, and I broke into the lab with the 'test subjects,' then brought them here. I used to use this cave as a kid to get away from my studies, and nobody ever found out about it. So I come here every day for a few hours, just to feed and care for them in peace."

"And... you wanted nobody to find out about it?"

"I could lose my job if they ever found out I'd stolen lab equipment. Pfft, 'lab equipment...'" she scoffed bitterly. "There are better ways to get results that don't require abusing critters."

For a minute Kajjex didn't speak. At the other end of the cave, the chocobo had settled into a sitting position, touching its beak playfully against a bunny's nose while the rest approached with curiosity in their eyes. Once it seemed like she'd calmed down, he approached, kneeling next to her.

"At least they have you." She looked up at him and he smiled. "There's nothing wrong with caring for rabbits – especially if it's to spare them from needless pain."

Snrif looked away, but couldn't hide her smile. "Thank you for understanding. Not many really give a damn these days. Honestly, I hate that I have to hide this."

"You shouldn't have to," he said. "I can sympathize completely with what you're doing, especially since I have 'lab equipment' to hide." He gestured to the chocobo. "I met him barely an hour ago, but I don't want to see him get hurt just to satisfy the Inquest's curiosity."

She looked over the creature, which had started to doze off as the bunnies nestled beneath his wings. "Why? It just seems like an oversized moa to me."

"No, this is something different. They called it a 'chocobo,' and they seemed to suggest that it's not a local species. He also seems to be intelligent enough to understand our speech, and that alone merits protection." He leaned forward. "If I promise not to reveal this place to anyone, would you allow him to stay here for tonight? I just need him out of sight until I can get a few friends to help me move him around."

Snrif looked reluctant, but it only took him giving her a wider, hopeful smile for her to sigh and smile back. "Fine... I guess he can stay. For tonight only!" she added. "And he has to stay here until you get back. I'm meeting friends for drinks later, so I won't be here. If he breaks any of my equipment or eats too much from my food stores--"

"I'll cover the cost, I promise," Kajjex said quickly. "Give me a second and I'll let him know to stay here."

"Go on, then – and mind where you step!"

He did as instructed, stepping carefully over the rabbits as they slept and kneeling next to the chocobo. "Hey." The bird snorted softly and opened one eye halfway. "I'll be heading out for now, buddy. Just stay here until I get back, I'll return either later tonight or tomorrow morning. And keep these bunnies safe."

The chocobo warbled affectionately, leaning in and bumping its beak against his chest; he traded the affection with a pat on the side of its neck, then got up as it dozed off again. "Alright, if he eats too much or damages any equipment here, get in contact with Professor Bronk at the Telumarx krewe, in Desider Atum, and tell him to take it out of Kajjex's pay."

"Kajjex, eh?" she repeated. "I'll remember that name in case I need to kick your ass for the damage – fair warning."

"By all means, hold me to it," he chuckled. "Thank you so much, Snrif."

"Glad to help – for now," she said, though her smile was genuine. "I'll stick around for a bit and then head out. Take care, Kajjex."

"Until next time, then," he replied, giving her a wave before trotting out of the cave.

He only walked as far as the archway before stopping, taking a few minutes to scan the opposite side of the river. When he and the chocobo had made their escape, nobody had been at the old golem factory site. Few enough krewes stuck around there, unless they were digging around for old tech lying buried in the earth or studying the old ways of developing golems; but as it was literally underneath the Funhouse, Inquest would often be seen in the vicinity. Even now he noticed a few of them walking up the hill to the lab gates, though they did not seem to be searching for anything. Satisfied with the lack of activity in the area, he slunk back under the archway and pulled out his waypoint key.

"One for Rata Sum – Lambda level, Indigo sector apartments."

As excited as he was to tell Preeke and the rest of the club about his day, he soon decided after returning home it would be better to stay indoors and get some rest, as Preeke had ordered. By this hour he would normally have been scribbling down notes, out on a job from Bronk, or doing light exercises to keep the blood running; but the flight from Desider Atum and their narrow escape from the Inquest had been quite enough excitement for one day, even without the looming stress of his upcoming performance. A quick shower washed away what little dirt he had collected, and the following nap – though not easily achieved – helped ease him back into a relative calm.

He awoke feeling physically refreshed, but now he was beginning to feel antsy in the best way possible. Even with his field of study, Kajjex was no different in his appreciation and joy for scientific discovery, and the urge to share it had become almost overwhelming before he realized he had an outlet to direct that energy – one that didn't involve physical activity. Minutes later he set to work on constructing VAL-A's new miniature golem frame, welding the first pieces of the golem core housing structure together before working on the plating. But even with this engaging hobby, his thoughts kept straying to chocobo, leading to him reactivating VAL-A and chatting with the disembodied construct to keep him occupied.

"Perhaps – it – is – a – sub-species – of – moa – yet – to – be – documented," VAL-A suggested. "The – largest – verified – fossils – of – the – proto-moa – stood – approximately – one-point-five – times – the – average – height – of – the – modern – domesticated – moa."

"I think you're right about it being a moa sub-species, but this was bigger than a proto-moa," Kajjex told the golem core, flipping up his welding mask and looking over the frame. "There might be other factors to explain the drastic difference in morphology, and its considerable intelligence. That's why I'm thinking about letting the rest of the club know, or at least Tawdd. If the Inquest haven't openly made a claim on it, I could have another discovery on my belt, next to that gross marsh beast."

"You – have – not – yet – informed – them?"

"Preeke told me to get some rest for today, and Raxio won't let me enter the club until an hour before opening. But I'm amenable to hearing a golem's opinion," he added with a grin.

"I – am – happy – to – provide – what – little – perspective – you – have – allowed – me – to – develop. What – is – your – current – hypothesis – when – considering – all – relevant – factors?" VAL-A queried.

Kajjex rubbed his chin, going over what little he knew. "Well... one of the Inquest mentioned a bestiary, and that these 'chocobos' are bred and trained for other purposes, so that likely precludes typical evolution by natural selection. A higher intellect and growth could be a side-effect from exposure to magic; there are more than enough experiments and lab disasters where that has been a documented result. If we're talking magic, it's probably not dragon corruption." He paused, considering what he knew of the local region's history. "Speaking in the general region, there are areas north of here once inhabited by humans, where one of the Bloodstones was said to be hidden."

"Your – analysis – seems – sound – thus – far."

"Then here's my hypothesis – the Inquest probably came across the 'chocobo' in the north-western reaches of the Maguuma; probably the Dry Top cliffs or the Silverwastes. Habitation there is dangerous, so most asura don't bother to travel out that far, but there are uncharted settlements in the arid cliffs to the north-west, and the Deep Maguuma." He leaned back in and made a few welding adjustments to the frame. "Inquest labs are everywhere, so it wouldn't surprise me if they have a few splinter krewes lurking in the hidden parts of Tyria. Maybe if I get this done, you and I can take a trip there in the near future."

"That – would – be – a – fine – idea – Master – Kajjex," the golem replied. A ding sounded from the voice module. "I – detect – that – it – is – now – an – hour – and – a – half – before – Preeke's – establishment – is – scheduled – to – open."

"Then I better get ready," Kajjex said, taking off his mask and setting his tools to the side. "I'm sorry this is taking a while, little buddy. I'll talk to Mykksa tonight. Maybe she can give us a hand."

"Do – not – worry – Master," VAL-A replied. "I – thank – you – for – any – effort – you – spend – towards – my – reconstruction. Good – luck – with – your – performance. 'Break – a – leg' – as – they – say."

A half-hour and a shower later Kajjex was at the door to the club, Raxio giving him a nod and letting him through. Without the distraction of VAL-A talking to him, the reality of his performance was starting to creep on his nerves. The moment he was inside he made a beeline for the bar, hopping onto a stool as Mykksa greeted him.

"Hey sweetie, you made it!" she said, grinning. "Ready for tonight?"

"I hope so," he said with a sigh, feeling slightly tense. "Got anything light? You would not believe the day I had."

"Preeke told you to take it easy, hon," Mykksa admonished him playfully, snatching up a glass and pouring a light-colored spirit into it. "Got just the thing, it's the strongest tonic Preeke will allow performers to have before they go on the stage."

"Is he here?"

"I'm here," Preeke said, slapping Kajjex on the back and jumping onto the bar with a smile. "Did I hear correctly? You get into some trouble?"

Kajjex winced. "You could say that, but not by choice. I've been taking it easy most of the day, otherwise."

"What kind of trouble did you get into, then?" Preeke pressed, looking interested.

He hesitated for a moment. "I... may have absconded with a creature that the Inquest wanted."

Preeke stared at him, brow raised. "Huh. That explains why Bronk dropped by."

"He did?"

"Yeah, he turned up around noon, asked if I'd seen you. I told him you were probably taking it easy, then he told me to tell you that everything was alright." Preeke shrugged. "I figured it was just him wishing you luck, but apparently I was wrong. So... what happened?"

Kajjex quickly went through the events of his day, about how the chocobo had turned up injured and trashed half the market stalls in Desider Atum; how the Inquest showed up a little while later looking for it; and how he'd escaped and come across Snrif (though he did not reveal anything about the location or her bunnies).

"So right now he's curled up in a hole with some food I left him, and I thought Tawdd could come take a look with me once we're done here," Kajjex finished. "Since he's better with animals than I am, I figured he'd want to know. The last thing I want is for the poor thing to end up on a vivisection table."

"Either you've got a heart of gold for wanting to help an animal or you really must want to stick it to the Inquest," Mykksa said. "Mind you, I'm in support of both."

"As am I," Preeke agreed. "We'll let Tawdd know what's up after he's done opening with Myrreah, I think they'll both be eager to help."

"Only if they're okay with it," Kajjex cautioned. "You know how I feel about bringing more trouble to you guys, especially the Inquest variety."

"Nah, don't worry about it," Preeke assured him. "Like I said, I'm here for the ride, and you're making things interesting for a change! We can all head out once we're done closing. As for the Inquest, I don't think we have to worry that much. Professor Bronk would never sell you out to them, and they'll be more likely to look in the wilderness than conduct interrogations. Interviewing others would give away the fact that they had something special on their hands, something competing labs would try to get to first. They won't risk that, if they can help it."

"I hope so," Kajjex sighed. "I can't be sure they didn't see my face."

"Doesn't matter – if I say you've been here all day, practicing for your big night, then they have to accept that," Preeke said, reaching down and booping his nose playfully before jumping off the bar. "And speaking of which, we'd better get you ready. Yours is the third act, but if we start your stretching and makeup now, it'll give you time to calm down before showtime."

Kajjex tossed back the rest of his drink, and got up from the bar. "Alright... let's go get ready, then. Thanks for the tonic, Mykksa." He nodded to Preeke and followed him towards the back.

"Good luck, hon!" Mykksa called after him. "I'll be watching from back here!"

Tawdd and Myrreah's performance had gone without a hitch, and from the volume in the club Kajjex guessed the crowd was double their usual numbers. It was normal for weekends to be packed, and Tawdd and Myrreah were popular enough openers that they never failed to get a loud reception; but tonight their applause was thunderous, audible even behind the thick door at the top of the backroom steps.

Part of the dread he'd felt earlier in the day had returned, a feeling of inadequacy. He stared at himself in the mirror, leaning over the table. The reflection was not the same person he was a few weeks ago. It felt fast, even though he knew he'd had more than enough time to process what he wanted, what he felt, and who he wanted to be. Back then, he'd been a normal-looking asura, dark-skinned, raven-haired, covering most of his body, and usually bearing a somber expression. Now his hair was styled and streaked with gold; his eyes brighter and more opened; his skin was streaked with black markings. His attire was little more than black arm gloves, stockings, and the piercings he'd given himself, yet his body shyness was almost completely gone. And if he were completely honest, he knew he had been smiling more in the last few weeks than he had probably in his entire college and career.

He just could not find it in himself to smile now.

The door to the backroom opened and Preeke walked in, spotting Kajjex at the mirror. "Hey, kid."

Kajjex cleared his throat, trying to lift the corners of his mouth as the older asura approached. "Preeke."

"You're looking good," he said softly, putting his arm around his shoulder and giving him a genuine smile. When it didn't get any reaction from Kajjex, he leaned in and kissed his cheek gently. Kajjex stirred, his cheek burning and the corners of his mouth lifting just a little. "Hey... I mean that. You know I do."

"I know you do," Kajjex replied, and he felt nothing but complete appreciation for the asura being at his side. "I'm just... wondering."

"About what?"

He hesitated, then gestured to the mirror. "I based this off of that picture we found. I don't know who she is, and I never made any attempt to ask anyone. There are times I wonder if I... took something of her that wasn't mine to have. That what I'm looking at right now isn't who I really am." He shook his head. "I'm sorry, I'm not making sense."

"No, you are," Preeke corrected him. "But I also think you're perspective is a little off. For one, she wasn't as well-built as you are." The tension seemed to disappear in an instant as a genuine laugh bubbled and burst out of Kajjex, his smile returning. Preeke grinned and pointed at the mirror. "But look, see? That smile? That is you. That's when you're at your happiest, when you're content with who you are and what you're doing. And if you're worried that you're about to show a crowd of people someone that isn't you, then take this to the stage – as long as you show that smile in front of them, then they're seeing the real you."

"Yeah?" Kajjex asked, feeling better.

"Absolutely," Preeke nodded. "Besides, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and I think you pull the look off perfectly."

"You know... someday I'll be able to do something without you needing to give me a pep talk," Kajjex sighed, finding his smile again and getting to his feet.

Preeke gave his shoulder a squeeze. "The fact that you believe that day will come means that you're getting there, kid." He thumped the younger asura's back. "Now c'mon – you're up in five minutes. Knock them dead."

Kajjex nodded, giving himself one last look in the mirror and flashing that same smile he'd had moments ago. "You've got this. It's just practice again, only in front of a crowd." With a deep breath and a calming exhale, he turned from the mirror and headed up the steps, waiting before the stone door. After a few minutes he heard Preeke's voice on the other side.

"Ladies and gents, lads and lasses! You've seen some of our top talent our club has to offer and they're as glad to see you here as you are to see them! We hope we did well in keeping you entertained with our erotic performances, because tonight, we've got something special for you all! A new male performer!" The crowd cheered and whistled, and while more than a few of those cheering sounded female, Kajjex thought he could hear some of the male audience express interest. "That's right! With a mix of strength and sexiness, he's ready to turn up the heat on the stage!"

The stone doors opened and Kajjex stepped through them, suppressing a shudder. He closed his eyes as he strode forward, recalling the opening – twenty paces, then a sprint. The music played, a heavy tune that beat against his bare skin, his steps matching the beat as it quickened.

"Put your hands together for..."

His eyes flicked open, just in time to realize he was exactly where he needed to be. He rushed in, certain of the timing and distance, seeing the sea of heads amid the lights bearing down on him. When he was close he descended to his knees and slid across the floor, holding his left hand out and catching the pole cleanly with a firm grip. The momentum swung him around, his right leg hanging out until he slowed, then rising to an upright position and swinging his other arm out with a wave – and when the smile came, he did not have to force it. It came as naturally as breathing.

Nailed it.

"... Kajjex!!!"

Whether it was because the adrenaline had spiked his senses or because the crowd was actually going wild, the cheering was almost deafening to his ears, enough that he almost missed the beats in the background, setting the pace for his performance. Yet it tapered off just in time, and once he caught the rhythm he started his performance in earnest. He followed the moderate pace, looking out at the crowd with a half-grin, circling the pole once before springing up and catching it nearly three-quarters of its length up. Eyes throughout the club seemed to follow as he posed for them, his movements smooth and trained as he descended the pole to the floor with a solid landing.

Everything he had practiced in the last three weeks came to him as clear as crystal, guiding his movements as he spun, twirled, slid and flaunted for the crowd; and they reacted with energy, their shouts and whistles fueling the burn in his cheeks. What fear and hesitation he had felt leading up to this moment was completely gone, replaced with a growing sense of joy for each maneuver he performed for the crowd. The shyness of being nude was nothing now – if anything, it had turned into arousal, an exhilaration that he'd never once felt. Even when his cock stiffened in mid-performance he didn't stop, spurred on by the confidence he felt in knowing he was not being shamed for it. From what he could see in between each technique, more than a few eyes had clearly noticed his arousal as well, and their awe could not be more obvious.

Five minutes of performance and he'd worked up a slight sheen along his body, his prick oozing from how worked up he had become. It was like an intoxicating feeling of power, a surge of pride and arousal borne from the knowledge that he was being desired by so many, the focus of an entire club of people of multiple races – if only for a few minutes. As the performance wore on and he swung around to the pace of the music, pouring his heart and energy into every motion and flaunt of his body, he felt himself truly getting into the act. He felt sexy. He felt proud.

Best of all... he felt happy.

Ten minutes approached, the end of his performance, and as far as he knew he had performed every move he'd learned perfectly – perhaps better, now he was truly getting into it with no restraints, giving into the motions and the thrill of entertaining an excited audience. The lustful gazes and blushing cheeks of dozens of patrons only spurred him on. One final move to finish off and flourish was all that remained. He leapt and flipped as he kept a tight grip on the pole, quickly hooking his leg around it and bringing his other straight up. The friction from his black leggings helped him keep a grip as he hung upside-down on the dancing pole, holding the position and staring out into the packed, energetic club. From his elevated position he could see Tawdd, Myrreah, Mykksa and Preeke at the back of the club near the bar, cheering with everyone else. He chanced a brief look down his body, his cock and balls dangling just above him with a long string of precum hanging from the tip. He ignored his arousal and counted to five, sliding slowly down the pole as he did.

Now... release!

He took a deep breath and kicked off the pole.

Too hard.

Oh SHIT!!!

A fraction of a second was all it took for him to realize he'd messed up. His feet hit the ground, but the momentum kept him going and he found himself falling backwards. In desperation he twisted and wrenched himself around, his left hand slapping the floor and keeping him up just long enough to turn it into a smooth, single roll. Mid movement he slid onto his side, putting one hand on his hip and the other supporting his head in what he hoped was a teasing, coquettish pose, mere feet from the club's closest patrons.

The cheer was so loud that it was enough to convince him that they either didn't notice the fumble, or they didn't care – they had loved what he'd done, had made it their focus even now. It nearly stunned him into inaction, until the nearest audience members got up from their seats. He eased himself back onto his feet, his heart hammering, his body sweat-slick, and his smile still wide as he took a few steps back to bow and wave. It only faltered for a few seconds at the sound of a familiar female voice to his left.

"That was amazing, Kajjex!"

His gaze snapped to her immediately, spotting Snrif just beyond the stage. For a moment he wanted to ask what she was doing there; but then remembered her telling him she was getting drinks with friends; and in the next moment... he found he didn't care. His smile returned, simply happy that she was there at all, that she had enjoyed his performance. He gave the audience one last wave, gave Snrif a small but noticeable wink, and backed up to the stone door.

It closed behind him, the backroom strangely silent compared to the din he had just walked away from. The reality of what he had done, had accomplished in front of so many people despite his reservations, finally sunk in. His body trembled, tears streaking down his face, his head swaying as he was hit with heavy waves of emotion. The culmination of so much work and cultivated self-confidence had gotten him through the performance. He took a deep breath, held it in with intent to breathe out slowly.

Instead, he howled in triumph.

With the main performances out of the way, all performers were clear to take to the stage in alternating shifts, though Tawdd insisted that Kajjex continue to take the center stage when he was up. The standards dances were less energetic, but no less fun, and it allowed the patrons to put their focus where they wanted, whether than meant drinking at the bar, dancing on the floor, or simply hanging out with friends. The latter seemed to be what Snrif was doing, though Kajjex noticed anytime he was on stage she was usually watching as opposed to talking with her krewemates. He didn't mind the attention, and in fact he was glad he'd found a fan so quickly.

Hers weren't the only eyes on him, either. Humans, sylvari, and even a handsome-looking charr seemed to be putting more focus on him than on the others. Part of him was surprised that some people of other races would have such an interest in him, but he was equally pleased all the same. With less energy on the performances, he was able to gauge individual interest, reading reactions for every movement he made. Whether it was a blush from a hip-thrust, or a gasp each time his cock slapped against the pole, he found it easy to keep their attention, cater to what they saw.

Still, the club's energy did wind down as the hours passed. Closing time approached and what was left of the club's patrons started to leave for the night, yet Kajjex was able to gesture to Snrif, quietly asking if she could stick around – she nodded an affirmative, keeping seated as they filed out. Preeke noticed this and approached, but Kajjex had already hopped off the stage.

"It's okay Preeke, she's with me," he said quickly.

"Oh, got yourself a girlfriend already?" Preeke teased. "Seriously though, you were amazing up there. I'm so proud of you."

"Thank you, Preeke," he beamed. "I know I've said it so many times, but I have no other way to say it. I had an amazing time. Enough so that I think, if you'd let me... I'd like to do it again."

"I think I speak for most of the club when I say we'd love to have you here," Preeke replied, holding his hand out to shake his hand, then pulling him into a hug. "No matter what you do, I'm behind you."

"Then the least I can do is help out here," Kajjex replied, hugging back.

"So, who's your new friend here?" Preeke asked.

"Preeke, this is Snrif, the researcher I came across while helping my 'friend' find a place to say," he said, looking around to make sure nobody else was close enough to hear. "Snrif, this is Preeke, a good friend of mine and owner of the club."

"I'm charmed," Preeke said, shaking hands with her. "Thank you for coming!"

"He failed to mention he was a performer," Snrif admitted, blushing as she looked to Kajjex. "But I'm glad I got to watch your first show. So you know about the bird, then?"

"I do," Preeke nodded. "I've agreed to help Kajjex move him somewhere else, though we'll need some help for it. I spoke with Tawdd, one of our other performers, and he said he'd be glad to be of assistance. He's a naturalist, and he's got a way of charming animals that most asura lack."

"That's good," Snrif sighed. "I can't come with, my krewe is starting some new tests early tomorrow morning, but I did want to have your promise to not tell anyone about the rabbits I've been keeping – they're technically 'lab equipment' but I've been taking care of them without my krewe knowing."

"We won't tell a soul," Preeke said. "And the fewer people we bring, the better."

"How was our friend, last you saw him?" Kajjex asked.

"He was resting with my other friends," she said. "When I left, there were some Inquest snooping around the bridge. I can't be sure they were still looking for him, but you never know. When they want something badly enough, they'll keep at it."

"Then we should close up quickly," Preeke suggested, thumping Kajjex's back. "Get cleaned up and dressed, then come help us out once you're ready. We'll pick up your friend as soon as we've got the place squared away."

"I will. And thanks for coming, Snrif," he added, shaking her hand.

"No problem," she said with a cute smile. "Expect to see me again soon."

A quick shower and redress later, Kajex was back on the club floor helping the rest of the club with tidying up, getting chairs hung over the tables and loose glasses collected. Most of the other performers had gone home by the time they were done, leaving only Myrreah, Tawdd, Mykksa and Raxio. Once Kajjex had the last chair on the table, Preeke called them over to the bar. Mykksa had put out several shot glasses and was pouring a strong liquor into each, grinning at Kajjex.

"It's bit of a club tradition to welcome the new blood," she explained. "We all share one shot of charr spirits for the new blood."

"Well kid," Preeke said. "You're in. How do you feel?"

Kajjex considered his feelings, the sensation he'd felt while on the stage. "I feel... great," he finally said with a content smile. "Less afraid than I was. I feel like I could do just about anything I want to do. I also feel kind of silly, and wondering why it took me so long to do something like this."

"Life's gonna throw potholes in the road, but it'll also teach you that you don't have to be afraid," Preeke told him. "Like I told you weeks ago – the first step is the most intimidating, but once you're past it, you know you have it in you to keep going."

"And I aim to keep going, part-time," Kajjex said, taking a shot glass and raising it. "To all my friends here, and my future career – excelsior."

Everyone raised their shots. "Excelsior!"

He downed his shot, gladly suffering the heat and burn as it flowed down his throat and bloomed in his stomach. Almost immediately he felt a warmth in his fingers, though his head still felt clear enough. "Good stuff," he managed to cough. "Let me guess, charr whiskey from the Black Citadel?"

"Naw, I know the burn of Flame Legion Liquor. That's the good shit from Fireheart Rise," Raxio noted with a grin. "You guys don't break this out often."

"Only the best for our buddies!" Mykksa said.

"And with that, Tawdd and I are going to head home and pick up some gear," Myrreah told them. "If what we're hearing about the Inquest is true, we might want some equipment to make this easier – and some weapons."

"I'll go grab some stuff from my apartment," Preeke said as the couple left. "I'll be back soon, so just hang out here for now." With that he jumped the bar and disappeared into the kitchen, leaving the two asura left as Raxio returned to the club entrance.

Kajjex leaned against the bar with a pleased sigh. "What a night! By the Alchemy, I don't remember the last time I ever had so much fun."

"You looked like you enjoyed it," Mykksa noted as she cleaned out the glasses. "You're new, you have a build and cock that put many male asura to shame, and you're cute as heck," she told him, blushing. "Don't be surprised if people start asking if you're open to more private performances."

Kajjex blinked, noticing the suggestive smile on her face, then laughed nervously. "Ah, well... I'd have to talk to Preeke about that." He cleared his throat, shrugging. "Not that I'm against the idea, I've considered it."

"You should give it a shot," she suggested, giving him a wink. "I'm sure you have at least one interested customer from tonight's performance. After what Myrreah told me, I might have to sneak myself on that list first."

The remark got a genuine grin from him, and now that he felt a euphoric high unlike any he'd experienced in years, the urge to capitalize on the offer immediately was almost irresistible. He was a quarter-second away from asking her when a snarl near the door drew their attention.

"I don't care if yer closed, cat! We know Kajjex is here!"