Julianna takes a quick glance at the window, and softens her voice as she says, "She's a robotic engineer working for one of our contractors. Her specialty is technology for police and surveillance applications. Very skilled at what she does."

Given this information, it makes sense that she can kill a lot of people, if she can monitor their every move.

"I think you know how people treat Blackmoon with suspicion in the main planet. The same is true inside the Corporation. Blackmoon himself has so little confidence in even his most loyal employees, that all of us are required to wear bugs at all times." She scoffs. "They don't work inside this room, though. I've asked Aria to jam signals in this room so I can use it as a private meeting place."

She pulls out something from her pocket. It looks like a mechanical spider with a central eye.

"Some spytech looks very innocuous. At least this thing is just a model, so it doesn't track me."

"It should be obvious by now. Aria's body of work has to do with surveillance technology. They," She clears her throat. "Rather, we…" She stammers at that last word, before she continues, "I have some unfinished business with her. She was an old flame."

"That's a relief. We can't stay here for much longer." Julianna pushes her finger inside her ear, and gives you a warm smile. "As soon as we leave this room, they'll hear me and everything around me." She walks to the door and holds it open for you.

"Where are you going now?", you ask her as you walk to the elevator.

Julianna flips her short hair backward. "I'm going home. I live nearby."

You stop in front of the fire exit, which you find to be open. There, Makoto is lying down against the steps, with a stranger crouched by his side. He opens his eyes, pulls out a gun from his pocket, and stands up behind Julianna, pointing his gun at the side of her abdomen as he firmly covers her mouth with his other hand. He drags her inside a dark room.

"Who was that just now?", you hear him ask. From the faint glint of light illuminating the room, you see him slide his arm down to hook Julianna by the neck.

Julianna grits her teeth and says, "I told you... we don't play dirty."

Makoto gives her the side-eye. "I don't trust you, Julianna."

She folds her arms across her chest. "Suit yourself."

Ron's cheeks flush as he looks away from all of you. From the trembling of his hands, you can tell that he is trying hard to fight a change in his facial expression from his usual stoic demeanour.

"Come on, Ron. Say it!", pleads Bella, who tugs on his coat.

Turning away from all of you, Ron focuses his gaze on a grandfather clock close to the front door. "I once loved a woman named Chae. I still do. She passed away when the world we tried to protect got destroyed. In this new world, I found someone who looks exactly like her. I don't want anything to happen to her because of that bitch."

"Who?" Grace raises an eyebrow.

"How could none of you idiots remember Vera? She destroyed our world!" Ron yells at the top of his voice.

Bella goes behind Ron and tip-toes. She kneads his shoulders gently. "We know about Vera! Who's the girl, though?"

Ron's lips are sucked in for a moment, before he flattens them. "Idiots! I saw someone who looks like Chae."

Grace says, "What are you doing not getting to know her? Chiharu's getting close to the guy who looks like her husband."

"I've been punished once for my mere existence, twice for what you did, Grace," Ron sternly declares, pointing at Grace, "and this woman might be punished if I try to get close! That's why I've… been trying to prevent Chiharu and Makoto from meeting. I am jealous because they can do something I can't!" He takes a few heavy breaths, his gaze scanning through at each of you.

"Ron…" Bella leaps behind him, getting on his back, and embraces him from behind. Ron struggles to keep his balance, when you hear a loud scream coming from behind. All of you look at the corridor nearly at the same time, and run towards it, searching for its possible source.

You pass by the first few doors when you hear a loud and shrill, "Help!" It seems to come directly from your right. You look at the door and quickly twist the doorknob, finding it unlocked, and find…

"Oooh, Sky's in luuurve!", jeers Grace.

Ron's cheeks flush as he looks away from all of you. From the trembling of his hands, you can tell that he is trying hard to fight a change in his facial expression from his usual stoic demeanour.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of, Ron! It's bound to happen to all of us.", teases Bella, who tugs on his coat.

Turning away from all of you, Ron focuses his gaze on a grandfather clock close to the front door. "I once loved a woman named Chae. I still do. She passed away when the world we tried to protect got destroyed. In this new world, I found someone who looks exactly like her. I don't want anything to happen to her because of that bitch."

"Who?" Grace raises an eyebrow.

"How could none of you idiots remember Vera? She destroyed our world!" Ron yells at the top of his voice.

Bella goes behind Ron and tip-toes. She kneads his shoulders gently. "We know about Vera! Who's the girl, though?"

Ron's lips are sucked in for a moment, before he flattens them. "Idiots! I saw someone who looks like Chae."

Grace says, "What are you doing not getting to know her? Chiharu's getting close to the guy who looks like her husband."

"I've been punished once for my mere existence, twice for what you did, Grace," Ron sternly declares, pointing at Grace, "and this woman might be punished if I try to get close! That's why I've… been trying to prevent Chiharu and Makoto from meeting. I am jealous because they can do something I can't!" He takes a few heavy breaths, his gaze scanning through at each of you.

"Ron…" Bella leaps behind him, getting on his back, and embraces him from behind. Ron struggles to keep his balance, when you hear a loud scream coming from the corridor. All of you look at the corridor nearly at the same time, and run towards it, searching for its possible source.

You pass by the first few doors when you hear a loud and shrill, "Help!" It seems to come directly from your right. You look at the door and quickly twist the doorknob, finding it unlocked, and find…

"The last thing I heard was Aria severing her professional and personal ties with her former employer after he was arrested. The guy used psychotrauma victims as test subjects for his experiments, and had this fanatical obsession against aliens. He's pretty unhinged."

She glances at the window, telling you to keep quiet as a man in a suit passes by outside. As soon as he is out of view, Julianna rests a palm against the table and leans closer to you. "Don't worry. It's a one-way mirror." She leans back, and asks, "Where was I, again?" Julianna snaps her fingers a few times. "Ah, Aria. She told me that she'd kill the people she used to work with. Maybe she actually did it, this time."

Julianna looks at you intently. "Do you have any other questions?"

"She's involved in Blackmoon Corporation's work on robotic solutions for the Ziaran Police Department. You know the Spydrs that were for sale in the Token Shop? She's part of the research team behind that." Julianna takes something from her pocket, and presents it to you.

"Here's one of the empty prototypes. There's no circuitry inside that spydr, so I don't have to worry about it monitoring me."

She places it back inside her pocket. "Do you have any other questions?"

"Aria gave this to me as a gift. That was when we were still in good terms. Lovers, even."

She takes the model in her hand, and plays with it. Her eyes still focused on the spider-like object, she says, "The functional models are made to sneak through narrow crevices and confined spaces to collect photographs, videos, and recordings through the built-in camera. They were not supposed to be for public consumption, but someone must have stolen the tech from our labs and showed it to the Wizard."

She hangs her head. After a few moments, she moves her head back up to look at you. "Do you have any other questions?"

She looks away from you as she says, "That's not the primary reason..."

"Then, what?", you pry.

"The last project she worked on before leaving her employer was a police robot based on a technology Blackmoon tried to acquire. These were called PAPABOTS. Their creator died a few years ago, and Aria studied one of the salvaged models for her research paper. I tried to convince her to sell the tech to Blackmoon, but she's hard-headed…" Julianna heaves a sigh. "She told me that she still needed to polish some rough edges. The prototype worked perfectly, so I wonder what else she needed to do with it."

"You mean between Aria and I? She wanted me to help her kill her co-workers. I told her that I'm done with that kind of life. I've spent my teenage years as a hired gun." She holds up her left hand in front of you, showing that she's missing a finger. "This is testament to that. She told me that if I really loved her, I would support her in everything she wanted to do."

She rests an elbow against the table and tilts her head to the side so that her cheek rests against one of her palms. "My current work has a lot to do with diplomacy and nothing to do with killing people. I want it to stay that way. Blackmoon tells all its employees that the technology it's acquiring is meant to keep peace and order in Ziara, but many of us suspect that Calvin Blackmoon has more nefarious plans."

"I never thought she would actually do it. It was too late when I found out. She was in the news as a serial killer." She hangs her head. After a few moments, she moves her head back up to look at you. "Do you have any other questions?"

Woah. that went from 0 to 100 real quick.. again. xD

"What are you using this information for?", Makoto asks Julianna.

Julianna looks at the remaining stretch of corridor that lies ahead of you, her distant gaze clouded by bleak eyes. "I'm afraid I've overstayed my time here. I can't tell you what you must know," she says as she turns to Makoto, before she continues, "but I ask that you trust me."

Makoto rubs his chin. "Give me some time to think about it."

"You're running out of time, Maki." Julianna taps the face of her watch, turning her body towards the elevator. "Follow me to the security office now, and worry about our agreement later." She paces forward. "I'm a person whose word is my bond."

"What are you using this information for?", Makoto asks Julianna.

Julianna looks at the remaining stretch of corridor that lies ahead of you, her distant gaze clouded by bleak eyes. "I'm afraid I've overstayed my time here. I can't tell you what you must know," she says as she turns to you, her eyes narrowed and her forehead furrowed, before she continues, "especially since this person here does not seem to trust me."

Makoto rubs his chin. "Give me some time to think about it."

"You're running out of time, Maki." Julianna taps the face of her watch, turning her body towards the elevator. "Go to the security office now, and worry about our agreement later." She paces forward.

Julianna walks closer to the dusty door, each knock she makes against its surface making a hollow noise echoing within your immediate surroundings. The door opens to a spic-and-span office with clean, white walls. You go inside after Julianna, where the odour of a fresh coat of paint greets you. A large display showing multiple screens is propped against the wall directly in front of you. Someone is seated facing the monitors. They turn their chair and stand up.

A pout forms on the lady's face. "What brings you here, Julianna?", she asks dryly.

"Can you show us the mezzanine cameras?" Julianna rests her hand against the backrest of the chair, and push it forward, bringing the chair closer to the screens.

"About that, someone tampered with their direction. I know someone messed with the cameras, so I've been checking them right before you knocked." The woman with long, purple locks points to one cluster of screens. "See? These weren't pointed at the wall earlier."

"Raine, you have to check the rest of the floors and elevators. That person could still be in the hotel, or on their way out. Any delays will favour their escape."

"No guarantees." Raine pulls her seat backward, and props herself on it, mouse on hand. Her other palm rests against a panel of keys on her desk.

With a single key press, all video feeds rewind to a point where the mezzanine cameras were strategically monitoring corridors. Raine hits "Enter". One feed is disrupted, as though the camera's direction was being adjusted, until it is pointed against a wall. Systematically, nearly all the mezzanine cameras are manipulated in a similar way, in intervals of a few seconds. Based on the timestamps, it takes a few minutes in real time for this to happen.

"They know what they're doing.", remarks Makoto.

"Have any people visited this office lately?", he asks.

Raine pauses the feeds and says, "We just moved the monitors here a week ago. That's why everything looks new. I've only taken care of security for about that time. At least there's something interesting this time." She slouches forward, her elbows resting on the desk as she tilts her head towards her open palm.

"So you wouldn't know, huh?" Julianna gives Raine an intimidating glare.

Raine focuses her attention on the screen, replaying the camera feeds.

It becomes apparent to you that the person who did this knew that Makoto would be in the mezzanine at that exact time.

"What were you doing in the mezzanine?", you ask Makoto. You knew that he received a call telling him to go there, but what was it for?

Makoto takes out his phone from his pocket and looks at the screen, swiping his finger against it. "I received a call from an unknown number. Whoever it is told me that Aria was in the mezzanine. If Gloria were here, I'd ask her to trace this number. The voice was distorted, almost like it was being passed from some kind of filter."

"You didn't even bother to ask for their name?" Julianna gives Makoto a blank stare.

"They hung up immediately, and I was in a hurry. I should have--"

Raine asks all of you which cameras she should check.

With the press of a single button on her desk, the elevator feeds enlarge to fit the entire screen. You observe all twelve of the hotel's elevators for anyone wearing a jacket with the hood up.

"There, that's the one!" Raine pauses the feed and points to the screen where a solitary passenger has their back facing the camera, their head obscured by a black hoodie. She pushes another button to resume playback at normal speed. She taps her fingers against her desk and slouches forward, and pauses at the very moment the hooded person in the feed leaves the elevator. Using one of the controls on the panel of keys in front of her, Raine enlarges the camera of interest, revealing the suspect's stop as the fourth floor. The person of interest walks to the right.

"Gotcha!" Raine turns around to look at your group. "Well, you all better get going now. She might still be there."

With the press of a single button on her desk, a set of hallway feeds enlarge to fit the entire screen. You cycle through groups of twelve hallway views, watching for anyone wearing a jacket with the hood up. The mezzanine cameras are pointed to a bare wall, as they were earlier, but the rest of the cameras seem to be unaltered.

"There, that's the one!" Raine pauses the feed and points to the screen where a solitary person faces away from the camera, their head obscured by a black hoodie. She pushes another button to resume playback at normal speed. She taps her fingers against her desk and slouches forward, and pauses at the very moment the hooded person enters one of the doors. Using one of the controls on the panel of keys in front of her, Raine enlarges the camera of interest, revealing the suspect's location as the fourth floor.

"I can't make out the room number, but it has to be one of the first rooms to the right from the main elevator." Raine turns around to look at your group. "Go on and start knocking on each of those doors."

With the press of a single button on her desk, a set of lobby feeds enlarge to fit the entire screen. You watch closely for anyone wearing a jacket with the hood up. There seem to be large groups of people congregating around the reception area, probably more displaced attendees of the music festival, along with a few people loitering around the pastry displays and bar.

Raine pauses the feed then pushes buttons to slow down the playback. "You all look at the people entering the lobby, while I look at those exiting it." She increases the speed at which the recordings play, until it reverts to real-time mode.

"I don't know. I already had a hunch that they wouldn't go out through the lobby."

"Are you both okay?", you hear Bella ask from behind you.

The character nods, and rocks their unresponsive companion in their arms. You can see the back of the individual rise and fall slowly and rhythmically, as that of someone in slumber.

Bella crawls to both of them, and holds one of her hands out as she gives them a warm smile. Neither of them respond to her gesture, as the one with Kanis-like ears gives her a blank stare. For a split second, their head and eyes twitch slightly towards the window, before returning to its previous position.

"No tell please?"

You look behind you and see the once quiet white-furred being, her eyes wide open, still tightly holding on to her sleeping companion with her other arm. You ask her what she means by "no tell".

"The blood… no tell… please!"

She is in tears. Bella rushes to her side. She pulls out a packet of tissues from her pocket, and hands it over to the Kanis-like creature. The character takes a single pull of tissue in her hand, and wipes her face with it.

"Human language not speak good. That not good." She points at the window. A look of bewilderment in her eyes, she wraps her other arm around the sleeping person.

"What is your name?" Grace motions for the being to sit down.

"Lili.", she says in a sheepish voice as she sits on the floor. "Here Aya." Lili points at her companion, who is still fast asleep.

"What happened?"

"In triangle house go. The tea drink. Now here wake up. Human see. Attack Aya do. Aya protect." Lili carries Aya to the bed, and gently rests her there. She brings her hands to her face, and pushes the tips of her index fingers together.

A look of confusion on his face, Grace asks, "You got that, Ron?"

Ron nods. "They're one of the missing performers from the festival. Someone offered tea to Lili, and took her here. She woke up to see Aya being attacked by this person, and she tried to protect Aya from them."

"Oh." Bella's face turns pale. "So she killed her friend's attacker out of self-defence?"

"No tell! No tell!", Lili shrieks, in the same shrill voice as the cry of help that lead you to this room.

Bella runs to her and rubs her back gently, trying her best to comfort her. She then looks at you. "Can you call the police?"

With Grace watching over Aya and Ron serving as an interpreter, you probably don't have much of a choice. You go outside and walk to the reception booth to ask if you can make a phone call. The receptionist passes the telephone to you, which has a sticker containing a list of emergency numbers. You find the number corresponding to the Pina Park Police Department and dial it.

Patiently waiting for someone to answer your call, you see Vera pass by the lobby and head out the door. It occurs to you that you could stop her, but decide that reporting the incident is more important.

"Hello, Pina Park Police Department." "I'd like to report a crime." "Where are you right now?"

You double-check the name of the inn. Lakeside Inn, was it? You look at the reception desk for any flyers or promotional material with the establishment's name. Lakeside Inn, it is. You say this to person on the line.

"What happened?"

You think carefully about what you're going to say.

"There's a Kanis-like creature who killed someone and threw them over a window in the inn." "Are they armed?" "Who, the killer, or the victim?" "The murderer, of course." "There's a used knife beside the body." "Is the suspect still there?" "Some of the other inn's guests are with her right now. She probably won't get away." "We'll dispatch someone over there. Thank you for your report."

The officer on the other end of the line hangs up abruptly. You wonder if you did the right thing. Your attention turns to the front door, where you saw Vera exit earlier. You return the phone to the receptionist and thank her for allowing you to make a call, and head out of the lobby.

In the cold of the night, you see Vera sitting alone on a bench in front of the inn. As a gentle breeze blows, locks of her hair dance in the air, a cloud of dust blowing near her. She remains motionless, her eyes focused on the lake, illuminated only by the star flowers that surround it.

Before you can approach Vera, you see a police car, the lights on top of it flashing rapidly. It parks right in front of the inn. Three uniformed men leave from its doors. You approach them, and direct them to the room where Lili is. You follow after them, and stand outside the door as they barge in the room.

One of the men seizes Lili, while another officer walks to the window. He peers outside it for a moment, and immediately runs to Lili's side. He places her hands behind her back, and places handcuffs on her wrists.

"What are you doing?", Bella yells at the third policeman.

"A murder was reported just a few minutes ago. The suspect was described as a 'Kanis-like creature', which seems to match this person's appearance. We'll take her to the police office for further investigation."

Lili lets out a whimper, tears welling up from her eyes. Her eyes dart to and fro for a while, up until she takes notice of you. She bows her head down, and sniffs.

"She doesn't speak the language well. I can serve as an interpreter.", Ron remarks.

"We have our own interpreter for… sentient animals.", the officer says snidely as his companions take Lili out of the room, leaving Aya on the bed.

Before you can leave with the policemen, Bella walks to you, her eyes narrowing into slits.

"You." A menacing look forms on her face as leans forward and yells, "What did you tell the police?" Grace stands up and holds Bella's arms from behind.

"Two performers from the Infection Control Music Festival were abducted and brought to this inn. We found them unharmed." "What are their names?" "Lili and Aya. Aya is asleep right now, but Lili is talking to a few other guests in the inn." You recall that Lili cannot seem to converse with you very well. "You might need an interpreter if you'll interview her. She doesn't speak the language very well." "Do you know who brought them there?"

You think of the person Lili claims to have taken them to the inn after she drank some tea. You relay what Lili told you earlier, but make no mention of the dead body outside the window.

"We'll dispatch someone over there. Thank you for your report."

The officer on the other end of the line hangs up abruptly. You wonder if you did the right thing. Your attention turns to the front door, where you saw Vera exit earlier. You return the phone to the receptionist and thank her for allowing you to make a call, and head out of the lobby.

In the cold of the night, you see Vera sitting alone on a bench in front of the inn. As a gentle breeze blows, locks of her hair dance in the air, a cloud of dust blowing near her. She remains motionless, her eyes focused on the lake, illuminated only by the star flowers that surround it.

Before you can approach Vera, you see a police car, the lights on top of it flashing rapidly. It parks right in front of the inn. Three uniformed men leave from its doors. You approach them, and direct them to the room where Lili and Aya are. You follow after them, and stand outside the door as they barge in the room.

"Where are Lili and Aya?", asks one of the officers.

Lili raises her hand, and points at Aya, who is still fast asleep.

"Are you okay?"

"Scary…" Lili mutters, hiding her mouth behind her hands.

"Are you hurt?"

Lili shakes her head and avoids eye contact with the policeman.

"Can you accompany us to the police station? E is waiting there. People have been worried sick about both of you, but it might be better for your companion to rest here."

Lili walks to the side of the bed, and nudges Aya vigorously. Aya turns her head to face the ceiling, rubbing her nose and eyes. Her eyes open like a sliding glass door, and she abruptly sits up. Turning to Lili, she says, "I'm hungry…" Lili spontaneously responds in a language unknown to you. Bella and Grace look at each other, shrugging their shoulders.

Dejected, Aya bows her head down and nods solemnly. She stands up from the bed, and skips to Lili's side like a little child. Lili holds Aya's hand, and they leave the room with the policemen.

Ron tells you, "Lili is saying she can't feed Aya now, and that they have to go to the police station."

"At least that's one thing less from the list of things the police have to worry about.", says Grace.

"Will they be okay?", Bella asks.

Grace pats Bella's shoulder. "I think they'll be fine." He plants a kiss on her cheek.

"It doesn't add up." Bella glances behind her, where Aya is still sleeping, as Grace holds on to her arms tighter, evidenced by the furrows formed on Bella's arms. "Why would they just take her away like that! It's like police are so quick to put the blame on people these days."

"Don't they all say that everyone's innocent until proven guilty? The police didn't say anything about Lili being under arrest, just that they'll ask her questions for further investigation.", explains Grace.

"We're talking about Ziaran Police, Grace. I don't trust them not to immediately mark Lili as a murderer. They didn't even look at the body properly!"

"I don't think all police officers are like that. There's got to be some good eggs out there."

"So you pinned Lili as a murderer when we don't even know what happened here?" Grace holds on to her arms tighter, evidenced by the furrows formed on Bella's arms. "Those policemen didn't even bother to check the body! They're so quick to blame people these days."

"Don't they all say that everyone's innocent until proven guilty? The police didn't say anything about Lili being under arrest, just that they'll ask her questions for further investigation.", explains Grace.

"We're talking about Ziaran Police, Grace. I don't trust them not to immediately mark Lili as a murderer. They didn't even look at the body properly!"

"I don't think all police officers are like that. There's got to be some good eggs out there."

"You can say this is my job. I chronicle history and preserve languages that I hear. Lili's language relies very heavily on context, dropping the subject when it's obvious. Word order is inconsistent, but it's easy to find out what role each word plays in the sentence. It resembles the languages spoken in Shengui Guo, but it seems to be specific to her species."

"What is she supposed to be, anyway?", you ask. Her ears are like that of a Kanis, albeit lopped entirely. Even then, you can't say they're Kanis ears. They're different. What's up with that tail of hers, too?

"She's not native to Subeta. I've seen a few of my kind in my old world."

"Wait, so you're from another world, or something like that?" You can hardly believe it, but if Al said something about not being from Subeta or Atebus in the past, could the same be true of Ron?

Grace chuckles. "Actually, all three of us are aliens." He frees Bella from his hold.

Aya sits up on the bed and yawns audibly, muttering "I'm hungry.". She stands up and dashes out of the room.

An uneasy feeling builds up on your back. You could have sworn you heard a faint noise coming from the window, but you're not quite sure.