It didn't take long for everyone to gather once it became plain that the Sting had come up empty. Smith then quickly explained the threatening letter...and laid out a rather interesting request.

"Until we find the culprit, could you go out on dates with Caboose?"

And so the plan had been set. If whoever threatened Caboose didn't want him to marry one of the girls, then he would go on dates with them until whoever it was attacked him. It was highly doubtful that person would know what they were getting into.

The girls had quickly agreed to it, as they had all been eager both to 'protect' Caboose and to go on dates with him. There was some grumbling about it being two of them at a time with one of the MON squad watching over them, but it had eventually been accepted by all involved.

The first date was Caboose, Miia, and Mero at the aquarium. Miia was, as expected, upset that she had Mero to compete with as far as getting Caboose's attention. Mero was, also as expected, eager to support Miia in getting Caboose's attention as she was trying to be the last to get a place in Caboose's heart and thus be the one most likely to be neglected first as Caboose eventually began to wear himself out. Caboose was simply happy to be seeing lots of pretty fish. Tio was following along, attempting to look inconspicuous in a business suit despite being nearly twice as tall as most humans and having an alien sphere flying over her head. She was not succeeding.

When the group arrived at the aquarium, the ticket attendant took one look at the group and immediately bowed to Mero and told them they were free to enter. Miia frowned at that. "Did we get in just because she was pretty?" Miia asked flatly. "Or is it some mermaid VIP treatment?"

"Pretty sure she's royalty," Caboose pointed out logically. "Freckle? Is Mero royalty?"

[Can not confirm,] Freckle intoned, [but it is likely.]

"Yeah, makes sense," Caboose allowed as Miia stared at him in shock. "Oh look, fish!"

Miia rolled her eyes as she followed Caboose around the aquarium as he stared at all the fish, running from tank to tank like a little kid. She couldn't fault that it was adorable, but he rushed right past the kissing fish tank with only a cursory look, the one chance she might have had to turn things romantic. Still, the rest of it had been quite fun, and perhaps the dolphin show…

Would also not present itself well to romance since Mero was apparently participating. Miia couldn't fault Caboose for being completely enthralled like a little kid, and it was a wonderful show...but he was supposed to pay attention to her, dammit!

Midway through the show, Miia excused herself to get some warm air since it was somewhat cold where they were. She then moved towards the outer areas of the aquarium where it was warmer…

When the show came to an end, Caboose stood up. He knew Mero would be busy with the dolphins and the kids, so he decided to go check on Miia. "Freckle, where's Miia?"

[Lieutenant Miia is speaking with a masculine female reptilian demi-human she met in the aquarium,] Freckle responded. [Their discussion began with cold-blooded issues. Unit assigned to Lieutenant Miia is following at respectful distance.]

"Oh, Miia made a new friend?" Caboose asked eagerly. "I want to meet her! Where are they?"

[Present location, boating on the lake.]

"Okay!" Caboose decreed happily as he made his way out of the aquarium and towards the lake. When he got there, he saw Miia and her reptilian friend. He couldn't hear what they were talking about, but Miia looked quite happy...while her companion looked rather irritable. "I wonder what they're talking about?"

[Lieutenant Miia is praising Captain Caboose and speaking slightingly of Lieutenant Mero, as per their rivalry,] Freckle answered, receiving the information from Miia's Freckle unit. [Her companion has expressed irritation, and wants her to...forget about men?] This last part plainly confused the unit.

To Caboose's surprise, he saw the woman Miia was with - who most definitely did look more like a pretty boy than an actual girl - spread bat-like wings that ripped out of the back of her jacket. "Is she a dragon?" Caboose asked in surprise.

[Subject identifies self as Draco the Draconewt,] Freckle observed.

"...why do so many of the demi-humans have names derived from their species?" Caboose asked curiously. "Miia like Lamia, Draco the Draconewt, Rachnera the Arachne, Centorea the Centaur...it's very confusing! Just ask Hapi the Parpy!"

[...unable to determine if biting sarcastic satire or genuine Freudian slip.]

"Yeah, I could go for some fruit salad," Caboose agreed. Caboose started to say more...but his good mood vanished the moment he saw Draco lunge forward and grab Miia's chin with one hand. "Hey!" Caboose called out angrily, striding out across the lake in anger as he marched right up to the boat, much to Draco and Miia's stunned amazement. "That is very rude!" he lectured Draco angrily. "You should not touch someone like that when they don't want to be touched! I thought you'd be a good friend for Miia, but you are mean!" Turning, he scooped Miia into his arms in a classic Princess carry. "So I am taking Miia back to shore, and you can sit here and think about how rude you've been."

"D-Darling!" Miia gasped out in shock. "You're...you're walking on water!"

"So?" Caboose asked curiously. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, but...how?"

"Oh, that's easy," Caboose explained readily. "I know where the stones are."

"Two can play that game!" Draco suddenly roared. "I know where you placed your feet!" She took a step off the boat...and promptly dropped into the cold water.

"Did she miss the stepping stone?" Miia asked curiously.

"What stepping stone?" Caboose inquired.

"You..you said you knew where the stones are," Miia pointed out.

"Yeah!" Caboose agreed. "Just like in the joke! If you know where all the stones are, you can walk on water!"

"And...where are they?" Miia asked.

"On the bottom," Caboose allowed readily. "Rocks can't float."

[...Error: physics not found.]

Draco burst out of the water near them. "Take your hands off my bride!" she declared angrily.

"You have a bride?" Caboose asked excitedly. "Me too! Well, not yet! But a lot of friends I want to be my marriage friends! ...what's a bride again?"

Draco stared at Caboose for a time, then rounded on Miia. "And you would choose this over a noble Dragonewt like me?"

"Always!" Miia insisted as she clung tighter to Caboose.

"You aren't a very nice girl," Caboose observed to Draco. "How did you get a bride?"

Miia blinked. "Uh...Caboose?"

"Freckle says she's a girl," Caboose pointed out, causing Draco to blush in embarrassment. "Oh, she must be cold. Freckle! Can you get her out of the water so she can warm up?"

[Affirmative.]

"W-wha?" Draco gasped in shock as she was levitated into the air, the water in her clothes and on her body rapidly evaporating.

"Do you think she sent the threatening letter?" Miia asked worriedly.

"She didn't," Caboose stated firmly. "I know who did."

"You do?" Miia gasped in shock. "Why haven't you said?"

"Because then I wouldn't be on dates," Caboose explained simply. "I like dates. They're nice and fruity."

Miia brought one hand to her face as she shook her head. "Oh, Darling…"

"Put me down already!" Draco screamed out in despair.