Standing next to and leaning her back against a storage compartment in the cockpit area of the Flyer, Marie stares out of the vehicle's windows, watching the surface and the clouds of the planet below rush off into the distance, lost in thought. Right in between the scheduled flights, there was a gap large enough to allow her to take the Flyer up into space, without bothering anyone on their regular flights. It's her only little relief in the silence that seems to get louder, the further they get from the planet's surface. Marie doesn't feel awkward or anything like it, but rather at a loss how to conciliate Mu's general behavior with the earlier outburst.

Sure, she's displayed it before. But she didn't really...look like herself, then. Marie closes her eyes and sighs, seeing the other woman again, standing directly in front of her – above her, really, considering their rather large difference in height – and, with an eery low grumble of a calm voice, tell her "This is how fine I am." It sent a shiver down Marie's spine then and now again, and had her hairs stood on end, even though there was no fear for her in that moment.

Unconsciously focusing on the reflection in the sturdy Makrolon window in front of her, she eyes the small door to the rear compartment of the Flyer, where Mu... – Hides? – since they left the parking lot at the DS headquarters. Initially, it was obvious to Marie that the woman just wanted to calm down. Now though, especially after the woman's demeanor changed back like switch had been thrown, Marie starts to get worried again. The feeling doesn't stay for long, now that the second time she heard them, she takes them to heart.

Marie never had close, personal experience with the really intimidating type of person, like the usually charismatic evil in movies or the like and neither could she relate such behavior to Mu. The one time it had shown before, on the rainy rooftop, the being that displayed the anger there was so far detached from the charming CEO that it was hard for Marie to remind herself that the two were the same person. Even though it got a lot easier once her normal personality shone through again, back at her own apartment.

Now, however, seeing such strong hints of the same rage in the eyes, hearing it in the low voice of the woman turned human.. "Will it help me to scream and shout? To go off, blinded by my emotions, and try to get back what is mine?" she whispered, eyes closed, slowly leaning closer to Marie, almost touching foreheads. "I might do irredeemable damage, revealing my kind. Perhaps get myself captured." She regains her composure, visibly struggling to do so, and, as if tired, lowers her head and rests it on Marie's shoulder. "I would only lose more than I could recover. My offspring...and your trust."

The memory sends an entirely different shiver down Marie's spine. Sighing, she leans her forehead against the cold window. It isn't like I thought of her as a feral animal or something. It's just disconcerting that she hides this so well. I'd have locked up a normal human being behaving like that, but at the very least not take her to the possible source of her anger. Mu didn't assure or promise that she won't go on a rampage, depending on what they find up at the station, instead, when Marie thinks back, she repeatedly displayed that she can keep her composure and be rational about the situation.

When she opens her eyes again, Marie sees Mu stand in the small door, ducking slightly because of its height, observing her. "Welcome back." Marie says, turning around to face the other woman.

"I am sorry it took a little longer this time." Mari would love to tell her to stop apologizing, but she can guess that it helps Mu herself more than if she didn't do it, or worse, get dismissed for it. "I have been meditating." the woman answers Marie's unasked question, though she wouldn't have pressed, if Mu didn't say anything. Walking the few steps further into the cockpit, Mu still can't stand up entirely, so, inevitably, they are face to face again. "I am also sorry for alarming you earlier."

Marie immediately dismisses that, though. "You didn't." Which puts a smile back on the other's lips. Which Marie is staring at while their corners rise, remembering thoughts that were more the opposite of fear, back in the secluded parking lot. That's rather dangerous in itself. she thinks and tears her eyes away, up to the now calm golden ones of Mu. Who, naturally, noticed and couldn't let it slide entirely, which shows in a smirk. "That is good." she says, then, seemingly unperturbed.

A moment of silence, not awkward, but seemingly filled with expectation, falls between the two looking at each other. Each time the two of them find themselves in this kind of situation, Marie finds it harder and harder to resist leaning closer and...The distinct beep of the communication system startles Marie, before anything, whatever it might be, happened. She stammers "I-" pointing behind herself with her thumb "I'm gonna get that." Saved by the bell. Again.

Leaning onto the seat, Marie takes the call and the video screen flickers to life, revealing James, obviously sitting in his office. "You look a like you just did some sports." is his greeting, looking a little surprised. It doesn't help, making her flush a little deeper and glance back behind her, only just stopping herself from turning around completely. Still, it was already enough for James to think his part. "Marie..." he begins to say, but gets cut off.

"Yes, I know." she almost whispers. Just after it's out, she's sure that Mu heard it anyway, since the other woman is only a few steps away from her. The only thing Marie can hope for, is that she doesn't know what that was about. Sighing deeply, she asks "So you're not going to tell me about your problem with Andrews?" smirking at the look she receives and glad that the immediate change of topic works so well.

"Just let this one go, will you?" He almost pleads. But Marie really wants to know what would make him run from what she knows is a friend. At the shake over her head, he sighs. "This and that...you know." he mumbles, avoiding to look at her and seemingly busying himself with something on his desk. "Maybe some beers were drunk. Maybe some bets were made." he drawls out. "Maybe I lost and..." his voice trails off to an inaudible hum. Apparently, though, still loud enough for Mu, who laughs quietly. Glancing back to her, Marie appreciates the good humor back with the woman and turns back to James, rising an eyebrow in silent question.

"Oh, fine!" Turning back to the Monitor, James slaps his hands on his desk in a defeated gesture. "I lost the bet and now I've got to learn knitting." he shouts into the monitor, which, until she realizes what he said, makes Marie wonder if his subordinates outside of his office weren't also able to hear.

When what he said registers, however, she stares at him wide-eyed."That's..." With a groan, she quickly puts that aside, really not wanting to hear or think about where that kind of deal will lead. "I really don't want to know." Shaking her head, she sits down in the pilot seat. "Alright, what haven't you told me about what you found yet? Won't be long until we're at the station."

This time he turns to some paper that he actually wants, clearly relieved, picks it up and holds it in front of the screen. "I'll send this to you in a moment, but I just saw I had this handy. Where I left off before should've been about this: Kathrine Hofman née Bennett, daughter of...let's call him varied investor, single-person conglomerate – Miss Lunastra there should actually know him and perhaps his actual designation in the business – Isaac Bennett." He can obviously spot the surprise in Marie's expression, thus grinning, he continues "Yeah, that guy. The same one who, only a few years ago, made big money with developing military equipment."

"Did he? I knew him by name and a few of his endeavors, but not that." Letting that sink for a moment, Marie thinks over what that means to the investigation. "That's a rather nice loop back, don't you think? I wonder if his daughter told him what she – probably – did back then." Looking back to Mu, she asks "Do you know of him? Maybe even if he was involved back then?"

"I have heard of his work, of course." Stepping closer to Marie's seat, Mu looks over it's backrest to see the picture of the man in question. "A little more in-depth than you would find in your investigation. I do not think his name was ever in conjunction with that project. Nevertheless, he would be the type of person who has both the connections, as well as the gall to make indirect threats to your superior."

Finally Marie had a comment from the woman to overhearing her conversation, without having to ask herself. Not that I'd forgotten. "That's rather bold to say. Lobbying is illegal and anyone susceptible under tight control, ever since it degenerated into an irredeemable mess – several times – back on earth. And you're saying he might go as far as threaten high officials of the law?"

"You cannot prevent friends of the family to do the other a favor. Such things that are discussed in private and cannot be controlled. Direct payments, or even ones that leave only small trails, like they existed then, are not the only way to sway the opinion of a person. There are not many people who have his means of influence – and his gall –, but the others of which I know have little to no connections to the business you are now investigating." Thinking for a moment, she adds "What might interest you as well, is that Mr. Bennett is an honorary professor at Newman university. He even held lectures there."

"Attended by his daughter..." Marie mutters, typing away at the computer console next to the video screen, from which James tries to look over to her. "There it is. I thought I'd seen the name recently, just slipped my mind where." She pulls up the curriculum of the then scientist-to-be on the screen in front of her, and with a press of a button simultaneously sends it to the one at James' end. The three of them study the lectures that Hofman attended and how many were held by Bennett, her father.

A moment later, Marie types another set of commands into the computer "Well, that fits wonderfully with this, then." and pulls up the files of what she had found the previous day. "See, he's obviously helped her to get into a long term thing with the university, which allowed her to carry out this research." Next there is a document trail to the formal requests for access to university assets and laboratories from one Isaac Bennett directly to the dean of Newman university. Right beside them appears a short summarization of a few, apparently linked research topics, complete with the names of participants. Among which, for several years, Kathrine Hofman is listed.

Though not just her, as there are three more names that reappear as technicians time and again. Marie and James focus on the then still Bennett family, as they seemed to be pulling the strings at the time, where citations often go back to Hofman's father's own research even further in the past. After a few entries, a third name makes its importance obvious: the head of the faculty they all belonged to.

"So it's all about daddy's influence? At least for her." After a moment of silence between the three of them, Marie turns back to the video screen "Was this the incentive you spoke of that she had?"

"That and lots of money, of course. I just followed a few more strings I'd seen hints of before I went up to meet you and, as it turns out, there really was government funding. But that's only an educated guess by following some of the flow of money. I still need to see if I can find any conclusive trails, but so far, there's nothing I can pin them on. Naturally, though, I would assume that leads to officially overseeing parts of what was happening, even if they didn't show them everything. However, since they – allegedly – " he tries to shoot Mu an apologizing look "used hospitalized military personnel, there also remains the question why they didn't notice sooner."

"Alright. First of all, try to have a talk with the dean and the head of the faculty, see if they can remember anything, or if they might be reluctant to talk." A different signal rings from another computer in front of the pilot's seat and Marie switches on the screen next to the signal lamp that also lit up. "Oh, we're already there." Time flies... "When we go back, I'll head down to the Armed Services HQ." And in the back of her mind, she keeps the thought to ask Mu again, where the soldiers that had been used actually came from, since that was something that went under when Mu had relayed her story and started to realize the implications.

Shaking her head, she bids James good luck in his now upcoming hunt for the university staff that may even have already retired. But, if we're a little lucky, they might not know where Bennett's interests were back then and we can get them to testify later.

"Alright, this is it." she turns to Mu. "Apparently, we're one of the first people of the public to get to see this thing." Taking a deep breath, she adds "Let's hope we'll find something.", to which Mu nods in silent agreement and they both look at the second computer screen, which shows a small spec, growing quickly into the image of the new Space Station.