In the Midst of Hounds  

Thud! Thud! Thud!

A few floors beneath Hao, Mentos, and the Bastians, the pristine, sterile corridors of Sphero's Inc echoed with the sharp staccato of high heels. Cinematic focus narrowed to a pair of stern, leggy strides. Her heels, lacquered in blood-red polish, clicked against the white ceramic tiles, each step portrayed a statement of authority that silenced the surrounding chatter of Sphero's staff. Those privileged to witness her passage could only stand in quiet awe, their eyes were tracing the slender silhouette of her legs through the sleek, professional pencil skirt she donned.

Thud! Thud!

Beside her, a hulking figure matched her pace, his footfalls resonated with a heavier, more ominous rhythm. Each step was heavy, moreover, his presence was heralded by a trailing noise of whirring servos and clinking steel, every movement of his mechanical limb created a chorus of intimidation.

"She's in here," a security guard escorted the formidable pair into a luxurious office. The room was a sanctuary of opulence, furnished with exquisite mahogany and polished chrome fixtures, the atmosphere had the subtle scent of sandalwood.

In the midst of this grandeur, Quory Vee stood beneath a soft light filtering through the crystalline windows. She was the epitome of elegance in her attire, a blend of pristine white and stark black. Her beautiful tresses cascaded around her shoulders. Her dress was a mini skirt suit that outlined her svelte figure while adding an unexpected layer of provocation to her mature allure. Her waist was adorned with a unique sword with a pure white scabbard. This was a symbol of her status and power.

As her guests entered, Quory was adorning herself with sparkling diamond earrings that were rare to come by. She turned to face them with a mask of cordiality. "Well, well, to what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from the Imperial Hounds at such an ungodly hour?" Her voice carried a harmonious blend of authority and charm.

The curtain of anonymity fell away, revealing Diana and Colgate. Colgate's mechanical arm produced crackling sounds as he moved a bit closer, opening his mouth, he got down to business, "We've come for that troublesome brat of yours. He stole something from us and we want it back. Our advanced surveillance systems, scattered all over the city, have traced his Identity Sword Detail to your establishment. Which isn't surprising since you are the one who brought that swindler into this world."

With a stern face, Diana added, "That's right. Our tech expert has accurately pinpointed his ISD traces to this location, madam. There's no mistake. So we would like for you to kindly hand him over. I would hate for things to get nasty between us."

Feigning ignorance while being elegantly perched on the edge of her desk with one leg crossed over the other, Quory asked, "Who might you be referring to, gentlemen?" Her way of speaking disregarded the feminine presence of Diana which was very rude of her.

Colgate stepped forward with a frustrated face that could barely contain his rage. "Stop protecting that thieving brat of yours and hand him over, right this minute!" His clenched mechanical fist created a tune of creaking hydraulics which set the room's atmosphere on edge.

"I haven't seen my son face to face in a long time," Quory retorted with a hint of indignation. "So how dare you accuse me of harbouring him?" Her statement held a kernel of truth; she had only seen him through a screen, a fact she kept to herself.

"By the way, what do mean by 'thieving'? Do you mind filling me in?" She went ahead and inquired about the stolen object, but both Colgate and Diana refused to divulge any sensitive information. Their stubborn silence was a web of secrecy, one that she knew all too well.

"Since you won't talk…" With a wave of her hand across a particular oval device sitting on her desk, she summoned security. "Gentlemen, I believe you've overstayed your welcome." As she spoke, the door slid open and a duo of burly security guards stepped in.

"So you refuse to cooperate with the law?" Colgate was ready to incite a confrontation, his mechanical arm was tensing to issue a punch, but Diana held him back.

"Don't bother, we will handle this professionally, Colgate." She tried her best to calm his nerves.

The security guards were polite yet firm. "Sir, madam, we request you kindly exit the premises."

Colgate turned for a final parting shot. "You'll be hearing from my superiors very soon, Quory." His words were filled with venom as he and Diana stormed out of the office, leaving a chilling silence in their wake.

Outside, Wiz stood across the street with his faithful robot by his side, he also had a tablet device in hand. His eyes vacate the screen at the sight of Colgate and Diana storming out of Sphero's Inc oozing with rage. He met them as they were coming across the street.

"How did it go, sir? Did you confirm that our target is there?"

Colgate answered roughly, "He is, but we've hit a snag."

"A snag? What are you talking about, sir?" Hearing Wiz's inquiry, Diana told him all about what transpired inside Sphero's Inc.

Back in her office, Quory watched them through her surveillance system while thinking about her son. "What trouble has that runt gotten himself into this time?" She whispered to herself. Pressing a button on her desk, she called for her assistant. "Nefuni get in here."

A short while later, a young woman who had the utmost respect for her superior, entered the room. "Yes, madam?" She eagerly awaited instructions.

"Keep those Imperial Hounds at bay, would you?" Quory's gaze was still fixed on the screens displaying the outside view as she issued her command to her assistant.

"Yes, madam," Nefuni acknowledged her orders. She then vacated her presence from the room to tend to it.