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Lying very still Loki felt the rise and fall of Mairta's chest as she slept peacefully beside him. Touching her forehead lightly he closed his eyes letting down the barriers around his mind. Carefully he working around her barriers he gently sent her deeper and deeper into sleep. Satisfied she would sleep without waking for several hours he withdrew from her mind. Rising from the bed he quickly dressed and crossed to the window. Pushing open the windowpane he leaned out looking down at the street. The first thing he saw was Trai's white hair shining in the moonlight. Loki assumed he was talking to Rreiku, but couldn't find him; the Kavaal's black pelt fading into the night.

"Hey, Trai!" He half-shouted, half-whispered. The Petrixan looked up and grinned his pale skin a beacon in the dark. Gesturing to Rreiku Trai took a step away from the building and hurled the weighted end of the rope up to Loki. Catching it he quickly secured it to the leg of the bed. Returning to the window he climbed through and down to the street. On the ground he nodded to Trai and Rreiku, "Vex is in a bar around the corner. We'll meet him there."

"What if someone sees you?" Trai asked handing him an overcoat.

Loki snorted in amusement, "Like anyone will notice me in a group with a Brandeisan, a Kavaal, and a Petrixan."

"He meant if someone recognizes..." Rreiku said.

"I know what he meant," Loki snapped. He turned down the alley then glanced at them, "I'm sorry. It's just I can't take much more of this. No one will notice me. I have a few tricks up my sleeve."

"Let's go then." Trai gestured for Loki to precede him. Striding through the alley Loki seemed not to notice the refuse around them. Following behind, Trai and Rreiku noticed Loki had to walk around people when they reached the main street. It was even more obvious upon entering the bar. Loki easily threaded his way to way to where Vex, now sporting bright green hair, waited for them.

"How'd you do that?" Trai asked sitting down in the booth. The waitress arrived just then.

"What can I get you gentlemen?"

"I'll have another glass of what's on tap," Vex said handing her his glass.

"I'm fine," said Rreiku.

"Same here," said Trai. Nodding the waitress left. Before Trai could ask Loki said, "I'm projecting the idea that I'm not here. She saw me, but didn't think she saw. It's hard to explain."

"Yeah, we'll talk about it some other time," Vex interrupted. "What we're here to discuss is how much longer is he going to have to whore himself to that woman?"

"Thank you for your bluntness, Vex," Loki glared at him.

"You're sleeping with her?" Trai asked, "I thought you were an assistant or something and got the information that way."

"You wouldn't need me for the job if it were that easy. Of course I'm sleeping with her."

"But you're a Tele...."

Rreiku covered Trai's mouth before he could finish, "Quiet. We all do what we must."

"If we could please get back to the fact that I'm about to go insane?" Loki shifted away from Vex who was sitting next to him, "Your shields, Vex."

"Sorry. How much longer before we can pull him out?"

"It depends," said Rreiku.

"On what?" asked Loki.

"On how much and what kind of information you can get from her," answered Rreiku.

"You're looking for something specific. What?"

"We need to know where it comes from and where it goes. Not just the couriers."

"Are you trying to kill him?" Vex demanded. "It's hard enough as it is getting the information he does."

Loki gently touched Vex's arm. They exchanged a look, Loki shook his head. He turned to Rreiku and Trai, "What you ask isn't impossible, just extremely difficult. Assuming she knows the information in the first place."

"Does she know what we need?" asked Trai.

"At least some, yes. I don't really know how much though. It takes time to get that much information. More time than I've had before."

"Can you do it?" Rreiku asked leaning forward.

"In the current circumstances, I doubt it. I can try, but I doubt it will work."

"What circumstances do you need?"

"Honestly, she needs to be unconscious for long periods of time. I need to know I won't be interrupted and that I won't have to touch her for a while afterwards. I don't have that, though. She'll be missed if she disappears for too long."

"See how much you can get and we'll see what we can do about arranging to give you that time."

"It's all I can ask." Loki glared at Vex, "Leave it alone. I can handle it."

"Fine," he grunted. "You'd better get going before she wakes."

"I'm going." Rising from the booth he said, "Let me know soon what the plan is."

"We will," Rreiku assured him. Loki slipped through the bar and out onto the street.

Climbing back into the hotel room he untied the rope and let it fall to the street. Starting to close the window he realized he was still wearing the overcoat Rreiku had given him. Pulling it off he let that fall to the street as well. Undressing he got a drink of water from the bathroom. Staring at Mairta lying sprawled on the bed he wondered how long before he would be free of her. Steeling himself he climbed into the bed, trying not to shudder when she snuggled up to him. The sun was coming up over the horizon before he drifted into sleep.