Man it stinks in here. Neo thought while he crawled through the tight ventilation shaft. Gerald had been right about the thermal scanners. It was only because of the said small Durkanese man that he was still breathing. The moment he pried open the vent cover made the system think there was a small army of mice breaking in, and of course the only way to stop a rodent problem before it became uncontrollable. . . Was to close all other ventilation shafts to suffocate the poor creatures and stay in lock down for several hours. Well. Okay. Poor creatures, was an understatement. The mice on Crex were nowhere near the size as one might think. A female mouse could grow almost bigger than the size of a common Earth dog. The males were even bigger. Neo shuddered, he didn't really want to think about the size of a rat if these giant things were just mice.

"You still alive in there?" Gerald asked through his hyper link, Neo could only reply with a soft tap onto his mic. If he spoke his cover would be blown and then every Physoldi in the palace would be on him like flies on shit. Damn Physoldi and their cat-like hearing. He'd be screwed if he accidentally sneezed in here. . .

"You're almost there. Take the next left and you should be able to see the command room. The codes will be in the hidden compartment behind the bookshelf. Remember, as soon as you signal me you'll only have 60 seconds to get down there and get out."

Yeah. . . that was something he couldn't forget no matter how hard he tried.

He could jump off the roof of an 80 story building no problem. He could swim in the most dangerous of waters just to get onto a private yacht to snag the diamonds and pearls on board, easy. He could go into the most locked down of prisons and steal the codes someone would need to break out a lost friend, piece of cake. But this? This had to be the most sketchiest, the most dangerous, and the most plain stupidest job he's ever taken. Why? Because not only was stealing from a Physoldi unheard of; but also, because one small peep from him, and the Physoldi just outside that door would run in and charge him like a rhinoceros and he wasn't exactly prepared to pick a fight with the giant cats at the moment. A thermal suit was made of a very thin material and it made thermal scanners blind so they wouldn't see you which was a blessing for him right now. (Seeing how if he wasn't wearing it the vents would have locked down 15 minutes ago and he'd be dead despite of Gerald's constant hacking.) But damn was this suit also a curse. He couldn't bring his gun, or even a small knife. He was defenseless. He couldn't bring anything besides a rope, a raffling hook, his set of lock-picks and his hyper link, and this was the smaller version that just barely stayed on his ear.

He made a left at the corner of the vent and peered into the expensively furnished room. He couldn't see them, but he knew they were there. Not only were there lasers just millimeters from the nonexistent stubble on his chin, but they were also on the floor of the room and who knows where else. He tapped the mic twice which was what Gerald and him agreed to be code for: trouble.

"What's up? Activate your video feed and show me what's wrong," Neo pulled the small ear piece off of him and angled it to the lasers that flickered across the floor, barely visible to his naked eye. If he hadn't been as experienced as he was, any fool thief would have already set off an alarm. It was moments like these where he was proud to be considered a professional.

"Eesh.... Dun'mar really just hates you," Gerald winced once Neo put the piece back into his ear. Neo had to try and not scoff at Gerald's gentle way of putting it. Dun'mar would personally drag Neo to Versaria hell and leave him there for dead with a giant smile on his face. Now there was a nightmare he didn't want to think about. Dun'mar smiling anyhow.

"Okay, give me a minute, let me see if I can find something for those lasers."

Neo rolled his eyes, not like he was going anywhere. He had to do this job, Tamara needed him to. . . He owed her at least this much.

"Got something," Gerald finally said after a minute of frantic typing. "And you are in luck, I, a small Durkanese, just found this giant security's weakness," Gerald giggled on the other line which made Neo growl under his breath. As soon as the low guttural sound escaped from his mouth however he instantly wished he had better control over himself as a Physoldi burst into the room appearing armed and ready.

Well, Shit.

"Damn those Sonar!" The Physoldi snarled, sliding all of the books and computers off of the giant desk by the window Neo had intended to escape from. "Who the hell do they think we are? Some common house cat to be taught tricks and how to use the litter box? We are Physoldi! I won't do this anymore My Lady, I can't!" He pulled off his link and sat it onto the desk. A video feed quickly popped up into view.

"I understand your concern Commander. I do. But what choice do we have? They have us wrapped in their chains and we have no way of breaking them!" The female Physoldi, whom Neo soon recognized as the Queen of Crex, let out what sounded like a desperate sob. A sound that struck Neo into his core with guilt, and here he was just about to make it so the Physoldi's could never leave the likes of The Sonar despite how desperately they had been trying to break free.

"Forgive me My Lady, I never meant-!" The male Physoldi, also the Commander of Crex's entire army and defense, Ero, was cut off by his Queen.

"No. You were right to bring this to my attention... We need to get out, but how do we do this? How would we do this without hundreds to thousands of innocents getting harmed in the process?" The Queen practically begged.

"My Queen E'ga, I do not think I am fit to give you advice over sensitive material. Surely you councilor could give more sane ideas than someone like me, and then through them they could share with you my ideas in a more civil fashion," Ero's voice softened as he spoke to his distressed Queen, his tone softly lowering to one a man would speak to his lover or small child.

"If I could trust my councilor not to run off to The Sonar then maybe I would ask her, but surely even you know where her loyalties truly lie," E'ga let out a heavy sigh, her clawed fingers running it's way into her black braided hair, her ears pressed down onto her head. It made sense in a way. The Sonar would have never been able to keep a strong race like the Physoldi's in check without having a poisoned dagger at their leader's back 24/7. Neo frowned as a small piece of rage began to boil under his skin.

"Very well... But I fear my way of thinking will only upset you more," Ero warned.

"I'm a big girl Commander, I can handle it," E'ga smiled sadly. In truth she was the leader of the entire Physoldi race, but she was the Queen. She was to only help with the more sensitive things only a woman could take care of, such was most female Physoldi's nature. Hell, such was any female's nature. Ever since the King had fallen ill and passed away, E'ga with no children would have to pass the crown to a distant cousin, or else the small sense of pride and peace these feline races had would be lost under The Sonar. She may have been putting on a brave face, but inside she must have been slowly dying with the fact she hadn't been able to give her mate a child. And if that wasn't already eating away at her she still had an entire planet to protect, and no doubt she was stressing over the loss of her husband and who would be fit enough to take the crown. And now she was suppose to make a decision that could have catastrophic consequences.

"We need to arm our people and fight," Ero said, "We need to tell the people of our plans, force what small groups of Sonar off our planet and then stand on our own."

"You mean to start a war? With our people against the Sonar? But we have no allies! No one to call on for aid should we fall!" The Queen was shocked, to go against The Sonar was sure to get the attention of unfriendly races, something they obviously feared.

"There are always the Zaphrians. They despise The Sonar, and don't forget the rebels that have just claimed the Pixar solar system. There are many others who share the same hate for The Sonar," Ero explained.

"You want to side with rebels?! How could you even suggest such a thing?"

"What choice do we have Mah Furion? If we don't take this moment now, we won't get another chance!" Ero exclaimed in agony.

There was a long silence as the Queen paced while deep in thought. The Commander was right, Neo was only here because of The Sonar. Through him they were already here to steal their only chance of freedom.

Damn it. I'm going to do this aren't I?

"Alright. Then we need to keep what little we have hidden and safe. You still have the codes right? The ones I sent you?"

"Yes, My Queen."

"Good. Keep them hidden, keep them safe. I'll have one of my servants send a letter down to you so you may send it to our blacksmith, he can contact the others and spread word. We should be ready by the end of the week." E'ga began shuffling around on her side of the link, most likely grabbing some ink and parchment.

"Can this servant be trusted?" Ero asked, a furry eyebrow raising on his face while his clawed hand gripped his chin.

"Yes. She's very dear to me, like a daughter. I know she won't ever abandon me. Now go. Get your battlements ready. May Raë be with you." The link ended.

Another warrior who had been waiting outside suddenly stolled in, ready to obey. Neo knew this guy, he thought as he stared at the tall warrior cat. He was suddenly very happy he hadn't taken his flirting any further with the waitress from yesterday.

"Sir?" The Second in Command Ri'zaar asked in a formal salute, awaiting orders.

"We need everyone. Go to the southern most outpost and rally them from there. I'll grab a small armada and head north. Hopefully everyone on Crex will be ready within a week. We only have one shot at this Ri'zaar... May the gods be with us all," Ero sighed.

"Yes Sir," Ri'zaar left the room instantly pulling out a hyper link, no doubt already acting on his orders.

Ero sloppily threw everything that was on the floor back onto his desk until a Vaulkarian servant girl came in.

"Allow me, Sir," she said trying to help the Commander. As she got closer to him, Neo couldn't help but notice her slip him something into his hand. She must have been the servant E'ga spoke of.

"Thank you..," Ero sighed and then went to the guards by the door. "Go and switch out with the morning patrol. You've all worked hard enough. You'll need your strength for what comes next." With a gentle pat to a young Physoldi they nodded and left the servant alone in the room.

"Hey Neo, you there?" Gerald asked.

Neo tapped the mic once.

"Because of that servant girl the defenses are down, and because of the patrol shift everything is being un-monitored for a few minutes. This is your chance! Go!"

Neo turned and kicked the vent cover off, the servant girl squealing in fright at this as she watched him jump down to the floor.

"Who are you?!" She demanded, holding a paper weight up in a futile attempt of defense.

"Oh yeah... I forgot about you..," Neo groaned, his hindsight kicking him in the ass. Neo acted as soon as Gerald told him to, but he hadn't really thought what to do about the girl making the situation suddenly very awkward. He knew he had to do something quick, time was money and in this case, his life.

"Listen, I don't know what you think you're doing but I am a loyal servant of her highness the Queen and I will do anything to-!"

Neo walked up to her, making her stumble backwards against the cluttered desk. She was kinda cute for a Vaulkarian. Most of the Vaulkarians he encountered outside his home planet used their. . . God given gifts for more pleasure than business. Basically said most male Vaulkarians became either mercenaries or like him, a thief--and in rare cases man whores. The women however used their bodies and more often then not became exotic dancers for famous clubs, or became prostitutes. It was nice to see an innocent looking Vaulkarian as a servant girl instead of the ladder. He leaned closer towards her which made her squeal in protest, her small body bending further away to escape his close proximity. Her golden eyes desperately fluttered and looked everywhere but up towards him, her light tanned golden skin tinting red as a dark blush covered her cheeks. He couldn't help but smirk at her futile efforts.

"Guards there's a man-!! Oof!"

Neo grabbed the paperweight from her hands and hit the small servant girl behind the neck. She let out a loud groan and slumped over into his chest. He gently led her limp body to the floor, leaning her up against the desk, her dark black curls becoming a curtain around her face.

Now that she's out of the way. . .

"Neo! Focus! You have guards coming up the elevators as I speak!"

Shit.

Neo ran towards the bookshelf and started fumbling around until he felt a very painful, and mostly startling spike of pain on the back of his head.

"What...?" He clumsily turned around using the bookshelf as support to help him stand as the room seemed to spin around him.

"I am a loyal servant to her Highness the Queen, E'ga. I will not allow you to steal from her palace," the female Vaulkarian growled.

"You..," he tried to call her out, or at least ask her why the hell she still knocked out, but he collapsed before he could get the chance.

"Guards!" She called out.

"Yes? What's the- !" The Physoldi guard froze at the sight of the unconscious Neo.

"Please take him to the prison cells. I must tell the Queen of what has happened." She said a little woozy. The mystery man had hit her pretty hard, but with how he did it he almost seemed careful... Whatever the case, he had hit her nowhere near hard enough to knock someone like her out.

"Are you alright?" The male Physoldi checked over the female Vaulkarian. He pushed her hair back to see a dark red mark on her neck.

"I'm fine. But I'm going to have one hell of a bruise later."