The pleasant warmth of a tender summer day brushed past an exposed blue surface of a mutant’s curious visage. Large, mystical eyes remained closed beneath such light, a tail gently swaying from side to side with each, weightless step in succession. It was a sylph-like creature, indeed, the slender shape of Nico’s presence making itself known, clear as a beacon, where he walked. Ever so softly, the diminutive mutant tossed his head to the side, forcing an ever-present gathering of raven bangs to make way for sight as Nico’s obsidian eyes slowly opened to greet the sunlit street. Two bright, feline slits fought the illumination of a burning orb with starlit darkness, a blue, glowing echo within an eternal night.

Though he managed to appropriately ignore the many glares he had been afforded, Vitania would proceed to brand him a spectacle to behold, an azure entity visiting from beyond the stars. Sharp, pointed ears noted whispering lips, words desperately expressed in an attempt to dispel the mystery that had warranted attention. However, Nico’s visit found itself rooted in a mission, an assignment he was entrusted, and a team whose lives all embraced one another.

It was true that Nico’s position as leader was closely tied to his mother, a test to cement his abilities. Whether a blessing or a curse was yet to be decided, and the boy truly had much to learn, and more to master. Despite donning the title of Madame Amadi’s son, the matriarch of GBA, notable mistakes and an inability to properly manage his team would quickly relieve him of the responsibility. However, the boy was eager to prove himself, most of all to those around him. Living through the authority of his guardian was nothing if not embarrassing, and establishing himself as a leader was the first order of business. Nico was, in fact, the youngest and physically smallest member of his crew. He was more often seen as a plushie by others, than a young man of capable proportions. Proof, it was what others needed, and it was most certainly something Nico was fiercely pursuing.

Halting his stride, the mutant donned his helmet, a technical device that allowed for a display to form itself across a visor, soon followed by a hood draping itself over the boy’s head. He had reached their destination, Bronco Romano’s manor. A large, impressive complex with guards, servants, and gangsters inhabiting its walls. Who in their right mind would dare deal a striking blow against the mighty Bronco Romano?

”In position,” a soft, phantasmal voice slipped through the intercom, allowing itself to spread across Nico’s teammates. Shifting his attention sideways, the mutant spoke once more, his words aimed at Owen, or Outrider, who was at his side. Nico had put together these teams, and he managed to place himself alongside a human. Perhaps that, in itself, attested to his ability. However, that did not force the young man to enjoy these decisions. ”I’ll approach the front door, get them to focus on me,” he instructed, before motioning towards the surrounding buildings. ”Get to a vantage point and cover me from a distance as they greet me. Afterward, join the assault.”

Adjusting his gloves, Nico took a breath. Their first mission was underway, and this could go well, or horribly wrong. From the very start, the mutant had decided to make himself a decoy. He was the most flamboyant among them, his powers easy to spot. This was then multiplied by the boy’s appearance, despite wearing a combat suit. ”Get ready,” Nico, or Viper, instructed. He wasted no time in further approaching the complex, earning the attention of armed guards upon the mansion ground soon after setting foot on the premises.

“Woah, hold up, freak!” Came an interjection, before Nico was able to fully reach the front door. “Who the hell do you think you are?” The voice belonged to a man of respectable size, an assault rifle firmly held by strong hands. Dressed in a suit, it was clear that Bronco Romano demanded style, and even the lowliest of guards were expected to express that.

”Hand over Bronco, and I’ll be on my way,” Nico spoke, before showing the man his badge. A GBA symbol recognizable across the galaxy. A trinket that immediately twisted the man’s features into a deep frown.

“The fucking GBA?” Though a question, it was quite clearly rhetorical, “we’re not handing our boss over to you, fucking execu-..,” the guard tried, but was quite literally cut short. With a swipe of Nico’s clawed hand, a ghostly mist of spectral, azure energy manifested a large blade. Indeed, it was an instant action, that ghostly sword barely visible before it once more vanished, leaving behind a trail of shimmering, blue light to indicate where it had struck in its mere moment of existence. Severed in two, the man fell, a now parted body soaking the grass with blood.

With a single word, Nico spoke into the intercom. It was time. ”Go.”

Vitania was an unusual place. A locale unlike any Owen had come to before, with small trees breaching the street sides between shops and buildings. Outdoor cafes and food vendors carried interesting odors and scents the likes he hadn't had the chance to experiment with before. Eying some patron's glasses, he believed there were a few unusual wines as well. He'd have to get out here and make some quick purchases while the opportunity presented itself. Surely, Owen and Norville could make some fine food for the crew with the local ingredients. Oh, what a place! But what a day to be in a wonderland.

Death stalked these streets.

Aggro was a familiar weight, slung across his back on a strap as it was. Owen's cloak covered its explicit existence, leaving only its general shape visible through the cloth. At his right thigh, Catty's helmet sat atop Grimwald's short stock, mostly concealed aside from the bulbous shape, while its owners' eyes scanned the people and shops around. Even in full armor and armed for a mission, Owen's senses had yet to cease paying attention to the sights, smells, and chatter around. Civilians spoke as Nico and he made their way toward the objective.

The speech he caught was clipped, quiet, and tense, in a dialect he wasn't particularly familiar with. As much as his own eyes seemed to be gawking about the place, he had a feeling that more had begun to watch him. Or maybe it was the young blue man leading his way. And the fact that he obviously carried a certain kind of hardware. This was quickly getting awkward. Owen felt the need to tune it out, and the sooner he did so, the sooner he could get back in the mindset of being on-mission. He donned and adjusted his helmet, the seal locking into place and affording him the peace sought.

From inside the suit, there were no rich spices or fine odors, just a sense of focus as the world came into view from beyond the lenses. Owen's eyes settled forward, first on Nico, then on the mansion they were coming up on. Whatever was going to happen next, how much did he trust an unfamiliar person using the name Viper for his operation? On the ship, it was easy to be casual, easy to look at the young man like he was a kid. Out here, they both had to be quite different. Nico had seemed more of a leader than anyone else had been in the briefing, yet that seemed to contrast with the boy who childishly preferred a sweet sugary drink like vending machine hot chocolate. It brought a smirk to the hunter's lips.

I'll follow. But don't dare think you're the first on the chopping block, little one.

The duo came upon their position, and Nico prepped without a moment to spare. Owen heard his voice over comms as much as he heard the youth speaking close by. ”I’ll approach the front door, get them to focus on me. Get to a vantage point and cover me from a distance as they greet me. Afterward, join the assault.”

Viper, not Nico, moved forward after the order. In the next few seconds, as Viper closed the distance, Owen rushed his way at the nearest building, running up the wall a few steps before reaching a window ledge and scrambling up it in impromptu Parkour. He moved from one window ledge to another until he'd made it onto a balcony facing toward Romano's mansion.

Owen leaped forward, skidding to a knee as he drew Aggro forward, perching her barrel against the guard rail and finding Viper already being engaged by a man in a suit. In a blink, it was handled and over the comms came a single word that caused an immediate rush of adrenaline in his veins.

"Go."

A sharp intake of breath. Outrider raised his sights up to the nearest second floor outdoor walkway, where two guards were starting to react. Two shots answered their inadequate responses. Moving left to a third man on the walkway, one that wore a very different sort of suit, Owen forced himself to stay his trigger finger. That was a servant. Non-hostile.

He released his breath and began scanning for further hostiles drawing on Viper. "Outrider, engaging."