"It's been a long time, Panther," the silver dragoness murmured, taking a sip from her mug. It wasn't normal Cornerian coffee, of that Panther was certain as he also took a drink from his own glass.
"Yes it has," he replied. "This time, perhaps would you be so kind as to provide me with a name with which I can properly address you?"
"Y'irel Adhoní would be just fine," she said with a smirk, "but if you must know my name, I am called Arellinn," the dragoness finished, placing her hands behind her back and leaning back in her chair.
"Very well. Arellinn," Panther murmured. "I have no idea how you did it…but you certainly have the wool pulled over the Cornerians' eyes," he said with a smirk.
The dragoness returned his sly grin. "I told you, Panther…I would take care of everything. I have the Lylatians eating out of the palm of my hand." Arellinn chuckled softly. "However, I'm sure that you didn't come here just to trade compliments with me. What is it that you want?"
Panther frowned, contemplating his drink. "I must apologize. Fay and Miyu have--escaped my grasp, and now are under the care of the mercenary team Starfox."
Arellinn raised an eyebrow. "This could be problematic--" she murmured. "How much does this Starfox team know about psions and elementals?"
Panther shrugged. "I have absolutely no idea. My relations with the team had been strictly limited to the encounter in the courtroom with Fox's father, James. He didn't give any indication that he knew the girls were elementals."
"Well, if they truly know nothing of the legend, then they will not give the girls any added protection. It should be a simple matter to snatch them out from under their noses." Arellinn's eyes suddenly acquired a strange glow. "I have been defeated once. I will not be vanquished again!" she growled softly. "This time, bring the girls directly to me. I see now that the only way to properly deal with this matter is to--dispose of them." She laughed, then turned to face Panther. "Soon, all of Lylat will be under my rule!" Arellinn suddenly became very quiet and smiled gently at Panther. "And, we can finally have peace."
Panther frowned. He was with Arellinn on this, mainly because he wanted to get paid. But it couldn't be clearer that the dragoness was unstable. Now, he'd have to be doubly on his guard if he wanted to make it out of this alive. "May I take my leave of you, ma'am?" Panther asked.
Arellinn nodded, airily waving her hand. "Oh. Yes. You may go."
Panther bowed, mumbled a thank you, then scuttled out of the room. As if on cue, a small device he had in his pocket began to beep. He waited until he was sure he was out of earshot of the dragoness before opening it. "What do you want?" he demanded tersely. "I told you that I would call you! You almost got me caught!"
"S-s-sorry--sir," a distinctly reptilian voice replied from the speaker of the communicator. "I just wanted to say that everything is going according to plan...please don't hurt me, sir..."
Panther smirked. "You've done well, Sllith. When the great Lord Andross returns, I'm sure he will...reward you."
Panther could almost feel the excitement in the lizard's voice. "Oh, thank you, sir! Thank you!"
Panther clicked off the communicator, chuckling to himself. "Such a simpleton," he said. He walked through the corridors of Arellinn's ship to the hangar, then climbed into his fighter, and jetted out of the hangar bay, returning to his own cruiser, several light-years away. 'Arellinn wants these two girls destroyed, but I think, after seeing their powers firsthand,' Panther thought, rubbing his cheek absently, 'I think that the great Lord Andross may have a use for them.'