Part one: The Meeting.
Chapter Text
Wu would eventually arrive at the top floor as she had to kneel down in between the cramped confines of the elevator. Her claustrophobia was getting the better of her as the large panda woman would take a deep sigh of relief at the ping of the elevator reaching top floor. While she savored her augmentations, it was time as these that she had second thoughts.
"Top level reached, please proceed" the elevator's voice of artificial intelligence would echo through the cramped chamber as suddenly the two black painted elevator doors would slowly proceed to open.
At this the genetically enhanced panda maiden would joyfully step out of that cramped elevator designed for much smaller and lesser beings. She was very much relieved to be in the much more spacious hallway as she would begin to casually stroll down the corridor. The room was properly lit and Order personnel and staff would casually walk down the hallway all the while trying to avoid her tall stature by moving to her sides, save for the ones that would try to get out of her way as she would stomp down the pathway.
Wu would take a glance every so often outside of the windows to her left and right that ported out of the Central Administration Building. As she moved, the large Moebian panda would stare off into the horizon and skyline of the city of Siag. For once it was rather sunny and the light would pierce through the shield dome and shine down upon the buildings off in the distance.
It didn't look as dreary from outside the building as it normally did upon her usual diplomatic visits to the Order's capital. She could also make out the massive Diplomacy Class Warships hovering outside of the dome and into the sky. She suspected that this was either heavy cargo freighters delivering goods to the city, or something much grandeur about to take place.
"Excuse me miss, let me get out of your way" Wu heard from below her as she turn her head downwards to glance to see a Moebian canine man try to avoid colliding with her while carrying some boxes.
"You best, out of my way commoner!" she would reply as try to shove him out of her path before advancing onwards down the hall.
The staff member would attempt to evade to her right as he would grumble as the tall genetically enhanced panda woman wouldn't pay him a second thought before continuing to stomp past him. He had half a mind to call her a name, but he knew that he would get in big trouble if he did with his commanding officers. Thus the staff member would try to scurry away with the boxes he was carrying to get her out of his sight.
She would eventually reach her destination, which was guarded by two elite Stormpanzer Troopers of the Grey Party. This, and an all too familiar sight of a comparably tiny pink feline woman in a dark green dress. Wu would gaze down and lock eyes to the miniscule feline woman for a bit.
"Well, I am here. Are you going to open the door for me?" she would snidely ask the cat as she put her left hand on her hip and narrow her eyes.
"Of course, Baroness of the East. The meeting hasn't begun yet, you may proceed" the tiny pink cat woman said as she would motion for the two armed guards to slowly open the doors.
"Thank you" Wu would say begrudgingly as she would take a customary bow before slowly stomping into the room and past the guards.
Inside, the room was bursting with activity. There was a huge meeting table filled with various officers, generals, and logistical staff within the Grey Party under the Order. Cats, dogs, foxes, wolves, they were all apparent sitting at the huge meeting table discussing matters. However, this wasn't why Wu was here. Instead, she would turn her gaze to the left of the room to see the Baron himself at the end of the table along with is two children.
The tall vulpine man was chatting with what she knew to be his kids, Grau and Tyrenous. Grau was sitting at a seat drawing a picture on the table while her older brother was playing a handheld videogame. Thus far this meeting was early in the morning and it looked like their father was yawning and watching while his daughter drew a picture.
She would smile as Wu would casually strode over besides the meeting table to meet him. At this some of the officers and staff would watch as the comparably Amazonian sized panda woman would make her approach towards the Baron.
"Ni Hao, Grief" Wu would say as she would step right up to Grief and his kids sitting at the table end with her rather loud ruby red slippers.
"Oh, greetings my esteemed guest from the far-east. I'm glad that you could make it for this crucial meeting. We uh, haven't started yet. I sort of planned this to be at least another hour, sorry if my family are running a tad late. Can I get you anything? My staff can get you a breakfast salad or some green tea to have while you wait" Grief said, with an uncharacteristically calm and formal manner.
"No, that is fine. I can wait. Perhaps you can introduce me to your lovely children's?" Wu replied, rather formally.
"Of course, this is my daughter Grau and my son Tyrenous. Say hi kids" Grief demanded from his two children
"Howdy!" Grau would blurt out as she would look up from drawing her picture.
"Ahem, you too..Tyrenous" Grief would demand with a sharp tone in his voice as he looked over to his son still playing his game.
"Oh, hey" Tyrenous said as he would lower his game to look at the comparably massive panda woman in a green qipao dress.
Wu could tell that Grief's son was rather shy and wanting to play his videogame, which like most children do. Thus she would try to ignore his disrespect and instead bow to them and their father instead. At this Grau would giggle while her older brother would just stare with an blank and emotionless expression.
"This is Wu kids, she's one of daddy's allies from far across the globe" Grief stated to them.
"Indeed" Wu would respond.
"It's a bit early for them to go to school, but when the meeting happens I'll send em off to school. Kids got to be learning and all that good stuff" Grief replied.
"Of course, intelligent children are the future of our world" Wu responded with as she nodded.
"But dad, didn't you say aunt Scylla and grandma Amanda are coming over today?" Grau asked as she would turn her head over to her father.
"Yes Grau, but this is a private adult meeting and they're here on formal business. You know, really boring stuff that you kids wouldn't want to wait through. Presentations and formal greetings" Grief tried to reply, making it sound really boring for his kids.
"Aw dang, that doesn't sound fun" Grau simply replied.
At this Tyrenous just rolled his eyes while Wu would take note of it, yet Grau seemed to be more curious. Wu could recall in her youth all the formal meetings her parents had with Grief's father Ivan. Wu recalled how she herself was curious to all these important gatherings.
Now that she was of adult age like Grief she had realized how these meetings were far less intriguing as she thought in the past. Still, to the baron's daughter it would make sense she would want to be caught up in all the socialization. Her brother however was less than thrilled. Still, a young man his age would be more concerned with his videogames rather than formal gatherings.
"Please Wu, you've travelled far to attend this meeting. Have a seat next to me here" Grief would insist as he would wave his hand to a vacant seat to the left edge of the meeting table.
"Very well" she said as she would nod with a grin before she would move over the table towards the left seat next to Grief and sit down.
As Wu would proceed to sit down she would glance across the table to watch all of Grief's aids discussing, debating, and arguing about whatever Grief had planned. It was rather humorous and yet monotonous at the same time to see some many people debating each other at once even before the meeting had commenced. Still, it appeared to her that Grief had brought nearly all his advisors into the room for something important.
The two main doors would open once more as Wu would look up to observe three more people entering the room. The first one of course was that pink cat that agitated her, Sherly. The next looked like some sort of male fox officer of Grief's Order with a weird bionic eye and metal hand. Finally it looked like her old friend and business partner, Amanda would walk through the door behind them as her dark blue cape would flow as she entered.
The fox officer would stay behind the two as to guard the door from the interior. Meanwhile Perwinkle and Amanda would slowly advance over towards Wu and Grief. Sherly had on a blank formal face, but Amanda seemed to be rather welcoming for once as her face was smiling upon seeing Wu attending their meeting.
"Wu dearie, it is good to see you in Siag. How have you been?" Amanda called out to her associate sitting down next to her nephew.
"I have been good. Just waiting for the meeting with your nephew here. I see that your niece is late however?" Wu replied.
"Ah, si si. Scylla is always late for big family meetings and formal dinners" Amanda replied as she sighed and shrugged before walking over to table.
"I will leave your aunt in your capable hands, Baron" Sherly replied to Grief as he would nod.
"Right, you're relieved for now, Periwinkle" Grief ordered as Sherly would simply salute and proceed to walk over to the door with the taller vulpine cybernetic man.
Amanda would walk up to Wu and give her a slight hug. This always perplexed Wu, but she perhaps thought this was some sort of cultural difference for Amanda to be so physical with hugs for a business partner. Ironically, Grief didn't seem to show a sign of caring as Amanda strode over and gave a hug to the comparably giant panda, before going over to hug her granddaughter Grau. After this she would pause, remembering how Tyrenous hated to be hugged.
"May I sit, Grief?" Amanda asked trying to remain polite.
"Sure, there's a seat over there next to Wu" Grief would point to.
"Molto bene" Amanda would say as she nodded and went over to sit in the chair.
"We have almost everyone, other than my sister. I suppose I could commence with the meeting a bit earli-" Grief would suddenly hear a loud boom outside the window of the Central Administration Building.
At the sound of this commotion, Grief, Grau, Tyrenous, and Amanda's foxy ears would all begin to perk up and twitch as the sky outside of the window right behind Grief would begin to darken. Sure enough, everyone in the room would begin to gasp as a massive pair of green eyes would begin to peak inside of the entire room from outside. This would cause some of Grief's staff to gasp, but also Amanda to sigh as Grau left out a giggle. Wu on the other hand was rather startled.
"Great, just great.." Grief would mutter to himself under his breath.
"SORRY I'M LATE EVERYONE! I GOT HERE AS FAST AS I COULD!" a booming feminine, and yet ironically clueless voice would echoed throughout the entire room.
At this Grief would clench his fist showing signs of agitation and stress. While he appeared to be taken by slight surprise, he honestly couldn't deny he had a hunch this would happen. At this he would turn around in his chair and stare out to see none other than the gigantic face of his sister peaking through the entire building.
"SUP, BRO!" Scylla boomingly said as she would notice her brother's animosity.
"Don't 'sup' me Scylla, I told you to come into this meeting normal! This is supposed to be confidential meeting!" Grief yelled out at her as he would point loosing it.
"Calm down dad" Tyrenous would simply reply.
"Yeah dad, no need to shout!" Grau would reply, by shouting.
Grief would start to pant and put his hands on his forehead. Scylla would try everything within herself to not try to laugh, but as she saw her aunt Amanda in there starring at her as well with slight disappointment the jovial scene quickly turned sour.
"SORRY GRIEF, DO YOU KNOW HOW BAD TRAFFIC IN SIAG IS? I HAD TO GO OVER LIKE FIVE OFFICE BUILDINGS JUST TO MAKE IT HERE THIS MORNING!" Scylla boomingly replied to him.
"Perhaps we should just wait for the meeting until she does that shrinking thing you do, Grief?" Amanda said, trying to be the voice of reason.
"She better, I have half a mind to use the Omega Turrets on her" Grief muttered.
"Grief, she's your sister! Do not talk that way about your sorella! What would mio fratello Ivan be thinking if he were with us to hear that?" Amanda replied to Grief.
"Fine! Scylla shrink back to normal and get yourself in here for the meeting, right now!" Grief barked.
"UGH! FINE GRIEF, DON'T HAVE A PANIC ATTACK" Scylla said as she would close her massive green eyes and slowly begin to shrink smaller and smaller to where her face would disappear and the morning sunlight would pierce behind the window once more.
Grief would start to pant and try to calm down himself as he would turn around to see his family and literally everyone starring at him. All he could do is simply sit back into his chair and try to soothe everyone by taking a breath or two before trying to regain his composure.
"Sorry about that everyone, let's just wait for Scylla to enter and we'll begin the meeting" Grief stated.
Grief would nod to the fox and Periwinkle as they would open the door and proceed to walk outside the room once more. It took a few minutes but eventually the green eyed vixen would appear into the room. Only this time she was her normal size and revealed herself to be a slightly tall, yet athletically build vixen with long ginger red hair and in purple.
She would casually walk in, still rather clueless about the distress she caused her brother as Sherly would close the doors behind her and get back into guard position. She would walk over to the table, but this time Grief would simply point to an open seat next to Amanda.
"There, now" Grief simply directed for her to sit while still irritated.
"Alright" Scylla replied trying to not invoke the ire of her brother any further.
"Also, I feel it's time you kids get ready to go to school. Periwinkle, please escort them to the bus for me" Grief instructed Sherly.
"Right mate, come along children" Sherly said as she would motion for them to come over to the doorway next to the cybernetic fox male.
"Aw shucks, do we have to?" Grau said a she groaned and grabbed her art supplies.
"Now, Grau" Grief said as he sternly replied to her and pointed towards the doorway.
"Fine.." Grau said as she groaned and go up from her seat and walked that way.
"You too, Tyrenous" Grief said as he turned his head towards his son.
"I know, father" Tyrenous said as he turned off his game and would walk with her.
As the two vulpine kids would proceed to walk towards Sherly, the bionic fox behind her would walk up to them to escort them outside as the trio of foxes would exit the room. This was followed by Sherly closing the doors behind them. After Grief's kids have left the room Grief would stand up and clap as the lights would begin to dim throughout the meeting room and automatic blinds would lower down on each of the various windows shutting out light.
"Alright, now we may begin" Grief replied to everyone within the room.
