A goon arrives to collect her for lunch.

On we go. She notices she feels like she feels a little hungrier now than she did last lunch. Progress.

Monoceros awaits her at one of the lunch tables. The menu today is Italian, lots of pastas and pizza options; Monoceros is working on a big pot of mussels that reek of garlic and she pushes this appetizer toward Katie when she sits down. There's veal to be had, and gnocchi, and assorted insalata, panelle and polenta and and something with swordfish in it among a lot of Italian words, and the dessert options are nearly as numerous as the savories. Monoceros finishes her half of the mussels and orders some concoction with pancetta and balsamic vinegar and burrata served on focaccia.

"Did you enjoy the show?"

"It's in the spank bank, my cremini mushroom. I'll get to it. Maybe on the submarine ride."

"Cute." Katie goes straight for the veal and devours it heartily.

"You ever been on a submarine before?"

"Can't say I have."

"It's - well, a lot like being here in my underwater lair, but I did it this way 'cause I like being in submarines. All the noises are the ones you bring with you and the whales."

"Sounds nice. Where is this biotech con, anyway?"

"Little technically-Indonesian island."

"And judging by the time zone and the Spanish-sounding names of the superheroes you said might show up, we're in the Caribbean, so that's basically on the other side of the world. By the way, some guy reported my kidnapping to the Convocation and they told him they received his request and we're processing it or whatever, so be prepared for trouble."

"Little gem lettuce we are off Baja. You thought we were in the Atlantic? Silly gooseliver."

"Oh, shit. Guess I got the time zone thing completely wrong then. How do the belugas survive in this climate, by the way?"

"They're very special."

"Not willing to divulge trade secrets? Fair enough."

"What, you want me to explain it? Half the concepts I use when I'm doing preturnatural shit wouldn't even make sense if you had a doctorate, that's what makes me so damn special."

"Also fair."

"They were my big showoffery at this same conference five years ago."

"Did they enjoy the attention?"

"Topsy did, I let folks feed 'em treats."

"Are you gonna let folks feed me treats?"

"Well, now I am!"

Katie's cheeks turn a little pink as she ponders the idea.

"Probably not live octopus though."