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@DearTricksterThe Night Before the KidnappingLekh had sent the relevant information through the normal channels, assured that it would reach the Cowl within a couple of hours. As far as he was concerned, that would probably be it for him and this job, unless the boss' interest in the woman had progressed to more insidious levels. In which case, Lekh could probably expect a note from on high that he had to get his hands dirty. He wasn't exactly looking forward to it, to say the least.
Still, work was work, and for another day it was over. Lekh got out of the taxi a couple blocks down from his rented apartment building just outside the French Quarter. He had taken off his guard uniform and was wearing ordinary clothes, though his jacket had been chosen specially and to the trained eye it was a little conspicuous, as it wasn't a cold evening. Despite that small blip in his otherwise carefully constructed vale of plainness, Lekh wasn't much to catch the eye. The way he dressed, the fact that he never took a taxi to his doorstep, one might almost consider him paranoid. True, he was involved with criminal elements but to his knowledge he hadn't actually made any enemies in the three months or so he'd been in town. The fact was, Lekh was always careful. Probably why he'd lived so long.
His apartment was on the second floor, in his mind offering the perfect balance between prior warning of activity and ease of escape. Not that he ever wanted to let things get that far, if the authorities came knocking at his door anytime soon he'd have messed up something fierce. Lekh was hardly what you would call a prideful man, but his family took their work very seriously, and he was no exception. Musings aside, he stepped inside and checked over the rooms. Not that there was much to check, obvious hiding places were hard to come by in the small but neat apartment he rented. Satisfied with a still overly long search, he allowed his pent up stress to escape with a tiny sigh and shrugged off his jacket, revealing a pistol holstered over his white shirt. His blinds were closed, the door was locked, for a moment the Polish criminal lay on his bed and closed his eyes, though he doubted sleep would come. There was many a price to pay for a life of crime, not just the punishment of the law.
Odette stepped out of the manison varying amounts of pleased while riding a good mood. The pay off for this kidnapping was promising while already planning to take advantage of a few loopholes within the bargain she made with The Cowl. Not meant to slight nor harm her relationship with him but rather following an instinct. Her eyes scanned for an address for the man she'd be working with, Silence. She scoffed at the presumptuious name but withheld judgement until she met him.
Bach was close behind reading over her shoulder hungry for more information. He seemed rather focused on Racheli pulling out her photo again from the file to examine it. Odette caught his apparent interest and questioned, "
Do you know something I don't?"
Bach held up the photo with a grin, "
She's cute."
Scrunching her nose in distaste she grabbed the photo back and snapped, "
Stop messing around"
He snickered at her reaction but the gleeful grin disappeared as soon as her back was turned. A darkness passed through his features hinting at something below the surface that would give even Odette pause.
"
Looks like we're heading over to the French Quarter of Lost Haven. We'll meet with Silence and set this kidnapping in motion." She said memorizing the address and tucking the dossier away back into her purse.
Whispering a illusion charm on herself she pulled out her broomstick next swinging her legs over it to fly. Bach shrunk down in a cloud of autumn leaves taking to her shoulder at a mere 6 inches. A strong kick off and she was soaring directly back into town having masked her approach from human eyes.
Within minutes she passed over the city, the streets were uncharateristically quiet having been cleared due to the Pax threat. Shortly thereafter having arrived to her destination she had spotted a man exiting a taxi from above where she hovered before slowly descending down to streetlevel. Wondering briefly if that was Silence. Stowing away her broom she walked up to the door letting herself in.
She ascended the stairs quickly to the second floor the building itself was generally musty and on the old side. Dust lined the railings in the stairwell and she noticed mouse traps tucked discreatly into it's corners. Pulling a face she carried on through the door walking at a brisk pace down the hallway bright blue eyes flicking right and left counting the door numbers.
Finally stopping on apartment 19 at the end of the hallway her knuckles rapted against the wooden door her hands clasped behind her back.
A loud knock shook Lekh from his meditation and for a moment adrenaline surged through his body. Perhaps a by-product of his general cautiousness he had a tendency to coil up like a spring, hence why he sprung from his bed silently and drew his pistol upon hearing an unscheduled noise. Unheard, his phone buzzed on his sofa-side table as he focused in on the doorway, crossing through his living room/kitchen area to the door quietly, his footsteps muffled by a thick beige carpet. Now he had a choice, he could look through the peep-hole and gauge the potential threat of whoever was outside, but they might be waiting for just that to unload on the door. Or he could tear open the door and take the person by surprise. Problem was, if it was just an accident and whoever was outside meant him no harm, he'd have to explain why he'd confronted them with a gun. He took a breath. Then, quietly exhaling, he put his eye to the glass. The sight that met him eased his caution somewhat, but not entirely. It seemed his visitor was a woman with incredibly vibrant hair, with no visible weapons, checking some sort of papers in her hand. She looked like a saleswoman, but that seemed unlikely, the apartment was sealed from casual bystanders. Perhaps she was some sort of building official?
Lekh pondered things for a moment. Someone as experienced as he knew not to judge a threat based entirely upon appearances, women did not commonly enter the more violent professions, but the ones who did were terrifying. Finally, he placed his weapon down on a table just out of view from outside the apartment, leaving his holster as a warning that he could be armed, as taking it off would be an unnecessary hassle. He mutely reprimanded himself for forgetting to remove it when he came in. Mask set, slightly furrowed and disapproving brow of a hard-working security guard home from work who wasn't in the kind of mood to be bothered. Everything was ticked off, and finally, after an awkward length of time he opened the door. He looked at the full figure of his visitor for the first time, his frown masking a calculated stare. No words left his mouth, she instigated the conversation, so she could start it.
Bach immediately jumped off her shoulder then ran past the man's legs entering the home still small and inivisible to the naked eye. Odette barely flicked an eye at Bach's quick entrance but decided to say hello first before inviting herself in past the unremarkable man The Cowl directed her to.
"
Good evening, sir. I'm here on behest of a mutual friend, may I come in? The hallway is nowhere to talk business." She said briskly observing the man, she thought maybe she had the incorrect building. Though a man undercover would hardly look the part of a criminal in his off hours.
Bach pointed and began making gun fingers at her, she knew then the man was armed and probably not made aware of their mutual job.
Lekh, for his part, was caught in another awkward position. He hadn't been with the Syndicate long enough to know the majority of the local operatives. He had rightly assumed that the mutual 'friend' she spoke of was either the Cowl, or the Syndicate in general. Point was, he had no way of confirming her claims, but what he did believe was that if she had been sent by the Syndicate in regards to his intel, they had moved quickly. Almost too quickly. He would also have expected prior warning, though he hadn't checked his phone, damn, he'd just have to wing it for the time being. Which was arguably his least favourite thing in the world.
"I see." He said simply, buying himself a moment so as to not let the pause grow too lengthy.
"I reckon you should come in then, Miss." His accent was nondescript American, not betraying his origins. His visitor's speech however had a fair more perceptible French inflection, though she spoke surprisingly good English. She could have potentially been French-Canadian, but the twang was different, and Lekh was pretty familiar with the original accent as a European himself who had travelled the continent for, ahem, work.
Lekh had, obviously, no reason to suspect an invisible imp had crept into his apartment. With careful subterfuge he beckoned his visitor in with an expansive wave of his right arm so that as he turned to the side and she passed, he could slip his firearm into the back of his trousers. If she was worried by the obvious holster she hadn't shown any signs, her confidence spoke of one of two things, either she was who she said she was or she was incredibly competent at whatever it was she did instead. He shut the door and turned to face her, hoping she would walk further into the apartment so he could check his phone that lay on his side table, next to the solitary couch in his meagre living room.
Muttering a quick word of thanks as she passed him. Casting a wary eye around the apartment she made her way into the living room straight for the window taking a quick peak outside. Bach returned shortly to her shoulder giving her the thumbs up that the rest of the apartment was clear, the only weapon being the one on Silence. Leaning against the couch she introduced herself with a short bow of her head, "
You may refer to me as The Ambassador. Our mutual friend of course being The Cowl. He sent me work with you on the transport of Miss Desdemona." Whispering a levitation spell the gun floated out of the back of Silence's pants then placed on the floor between them well out of reach from them both, "
Judging by having your weapon at the ready you were not expecting my visit."
Confronted with the unknown, Lekh took the wise course and decided to wait and see how things played out, as his gun floated away from him, seemingly suspended by the woman's, The Ambassador's, whim. Thoughts raced through his mind as he took in this voluntarily offered information, not to mention further questions. She spoke the Cowl's name, hardly proof of her purpose, but more importantly how did she know where his weapon was and how was she currently manipulating it from afar? Evidently, she was a metahuman of some kind, but what exactly could she do?
"Interesting trick. No, I was not."Opening her palms up to Silence as a show of peace, "
According to the dossier The Cowl gave me, the CDC will be moving Miss Desdemona very soon."
Bach whispered in her ear, "
He seems a wee bit jumpy."
"Oh?""
We'll be relying on my 'tricks' to kidnap and deliver Racheli safely into the Syndicate's hands. I am here to coordinate with you on the..." She pulled out the folder from her small clutch purse pursing her lips while she read, "
You will be responsible for diverting the transport truck while I take Racheli. If you do not believe me or you are still scratching your head at the floating gun then I will move on with the plan without you."
"One moment, if you would be as kind as to pass that phone there to me then perhaps I could confirm who you are?" He nodded calmly at the mobile on the side table, unconsiously reverting to his normal accent as he dropped his persona.
She nodded placing the folder on the couch then saw the phone on the end table she plucked it off the table then gave a liberal toss across the room,
Go ahead, you may make the call. Confirm to your heart's content." Making a sweeping motion with her hand. She was speeding things along not wishing to waste time. Having to explain herself and magic was something she had little patience for anymore. Humans had one or two good reactions in them for seeing the strange.
Lekh caught the phone easily and flicked it open to turn it on. He glanced down briefly and then back up at the woman, noting he had an unread message from his contact in the Syndicate. He opened it in his peripheral vision, still distrustful despite the show of strength and trust on The Ambassador's part. Though she may not have been there to harm him, she was still not necessarily who she said she was. He read the blocky text.
Blue hair, trustworthy, listen to her, direct from C."Ah." Lekh closed the phone and slipped it into his pocket, he should have probably carried out a more thorough check but further caution would have probably been insulting.
"It seems you are indeed who you say you are, in which case I owe you an apology, we got off on the wrong foot so to speak. You may call me Lekh, Ms Ambassador. Would you allow me to read this dossier of yours?" He walked over to her slowly, without any violent intent.
Watching him her back straight she picked the folder back up holding it out for him to take. "
Apology accepted, Lekh. It mainly details the plan you have set in motion and your reconnaissance from within Lost Haven's CDC. You did a lot of the heavy lifting." Allowing a smile of admiration for his work.
He nodded his head in acknowledgement of the compliment as he scanned over the offered dossier, looking for inconsistencies in what he knew and what had been recorded. It checked out. Except for one small factor that had been playing on his mind, namely the video recordings of Racheli's arrival at the CDC. Though it could have been nothing, he deemed it worth mentioning.
"So I am to infiltrate the transport and drive it to a pre-determined location?" He asked rhetorically.
"You will be waiting at this spot I presume? It may be of little consequence, but I believe this woman may have allies of a sort out there, people who may perhaps interfere with the kidnapping." He paused for a moment.
"My point being, you may wish to ready yourself for such interference, just in case." It wasn't much of a warning, but Lekh was one to cover all the bases.
Her eyes narrowed at Lekh's warning. "
I will be waiting and prepared. What gives you reason to believe there will be intereference?"
"Two things, unrelated incidents perhaps but enough to raise my suspicion. I reviewed the CCTV of Racheli's arrival to the CDC and found she was escorted in by individuals who seemed to know her. On top of this, I witnessed an extraordinary event regarding her person where I believe a phone was... transported to her. I have no way of explaining what I saw, for I am unfamiliar with the meta-humans." He said truthfully, glad to be relaying his concerns even if he was unsure if they were well founded. They had not made it into his brief report, which concerned itself with objective truths.
Cocking her head listening waiting for any inflection of a lie or listening for a falter in resolve. Odette nodded then asked, "
Extraordinary? Please describe it, you did not report any of these findings but... these observations are clues to what we will be dealing with."
"To be frank, I cannot confirm that either of these incidents are important. Isolated, they are inconclusive at best, and the extraordinary event I referred to I am still unsure of. What I believe to have occurred is thus, some object, perhaps a phone, was transported to Racheli as she lay in sealed containment. There is no other explanation for the object's appearance, at least none within my realm of experience."Chewing the inside of her cheek in thought she shrugged, "
I am capable of handling multiple enemies. Although...can I count on you to stay and help if such interference were to overwhlem the kidnapping?"
Lekh, for just a moment, looked pensive at the sudden request. He had only just found out he was directly participating in a kidnapping, which strayed out of his preferred areas of criminality on a day to day basis. Now he was being asked to potentially engage in direct violence, of a type he was completely unfamiliar with if Racheli and The Ambassador's strange abilities were concerned.
"
While we are on the Syndicate's payroll for this job I have basic expectations not to be abandoned. If the job's success is not enough incentive perhaps I can sweeten the deal to ensure your..." Her hands gestured vaguely trying to find the appropriate translation. "
Fidélité. Loyalty."
Another man perhaps might have been insulted that his loyalty and courage was being called into question. In Lekh's case though, the questions were perfectly pertinent. He looked at her awkwardly as he considered his options, his face revealing little of the internal conflict but his silence making suggestions on its own. Ironic, considering his chosen name.
"I see. As you may be aware, I did not seek employment in the Syndicate to work as an enforcer, I have not been told that I would be expected to take unnecessary risk in conflict." He looked at her for a moment, wondering if he should fear her, he decided he did a little.
"What I mean to say, is that I would like to hear what you would offer me in return for this service. For it is a service, regardless of appearances or what capabilities I may or may not have, I am not a fighter."Her pink lips curled with interest, "
Allow me to show you."
Breezing past him into the kitchen she rumaged through the drawers looking for a knife. Her eyes flicked up to the counter to see a knifeblock she pulled out the largest one she could find. Returning to the living room she laid the knife down by the endtable then went searching in her purse the array of strange noises emitted from her purse was enough to give anyone pause for what else could a clutch of that size possibly hold beyond a small wallet and a tube of lipstick?
Pulling out a small clear container no bigger than an inch in diameter, holding what appeared to be sparkling transparent salve. Whispering another spell she placed the container to the side her hands glowing a faint blue.
"
You seem to be a man interested in self preservation, much like any criminal smart enough not to cross powers that be." Her smile was mysterious picking up the knife again locking eyes with him. Dragging the edge of the knife across her palm without flinching blood bubbled dripping down the blade and sizzling on contact with the floor.
Flicking the blade clean of blood sizzling into the carpet with a hiss. Her hand bled on with little show to slow down. Unscrewing the cap on the clear container she took a penny sized dollop of the salve with a single swipe wiped it over the open wound. It closed in real time leaving not even a scar.
"
The salve will be yours if we succeed. You will not only gain a little trinket but my friendship. Both being incredibly useful." She said oozing her confidence with every word.
The Pole's eyes widened as the lady showed off more of her magic, her response was far from what he was expecting to say the least. He was used to money or favours being offered for services rendered, not magical artifacts. That being said, what mortal man would shrug at an elixir that could literally work magic? It was in essence the perfect incentive for a man who seemed afraid to step into harm’s way.
"You make a convincing sales pitch." Lekh smiled finally, tearing his eyes away from the healed wound.
"I will do my utmost to ensure our success then, even if it should involve a degree of violence. Though I have no intention of revealing my secrets, and would not ask you to do the same, I will offer this warning. If we are threatened in the act of conducting our business, maintain distance from my person, it is in your best interest." For a moment the mask slipped, and the subtle menace beneath the man's outside demeanour surfaced.
She smiled brightly to reply, "
Excellent. We shall give each other plenty of room to work in the case of a fight. Assuming if it does come to that."
"So, to business. I will be driving the vehicle, unless you have a more appropriate exchange point I believe that the north bridge heading out of town would be suitable. The road is called Tyburn Avenue, I will stop the transport under the underpass where we should find cover from prying eyes. Though with this Pax hoax keeping everyone indoors at the moment we should have little to fear from chance bystanders. I believe anyone who does appear will be there with intent, so be highly suspect of any tail I may pick up enroute. It will not be obvious that the transport has left its pre-determined route until I am half a mile from the drop off point, which is in our favour."Pulling up her phone and the map app she tapped away the location looking at the digital map observing the general area. "
Suitable. I can prepare the area prior to your arrival to deter any human or metahuman." She glanced up at Lekh then back down to the map, "
You did well to warn me of possible interference so I will warn you not to underestimate Racheli. I do not know what she is capable of but she strikes me as a survivor. It is a feeling I had when I first saw her photo." Gesturing vaguley to her own face, "
You can read a lot of character from one single look."
"I understand. I agree with you. You can expect my arrival perhaps three quarters of an hour after the transport's departure, provided nothing is amiss. The personnel in the back of the vehicle will have to be incapacitated upon arrival. Is there anything else you wish to clarify about our mission now?" She nodded taking a few notes on her phone for reference, "
I can take care of who will be in the back. Everything seems to be clear can I get your phone number?"
"Of course, though I am only contactable through text, unfortunately." He relayed the number to her, having already memorised it prior.She tapped away into her contacts labling it Silence. "
Merci. I look forward to working with you, Lekh. I will see to it we are successful."
"Indeed, I am more confident in our success now that I am aware you will be present."Lekh figured buttering up the strange magic lady was in his best interests, at that point.
"Will that be all, then?"Giving him a reserved giggle in response, "
Flattery is a good place to start. Text me when you are leaving, I will be at the drop point hours before preparing the area and resting."
"I will do just that." Lekh promised, part relieved that the conversation was coming to a close and he could soon get some rest, part pensive at what had transpired. He turned around and walked to his front door, amicably holding it open for his 'guest.'
"Until tomorrow then, I bid you adieu."Present Day
Natural Selection - Transport InterruptedIt was late in the day and most of the personnel had gone home, finished with another gruelling day of research at the Lost Haven CDC. Not that the evening offered any respite for the security, and John Smith was no exception. With deep bags under his eyes and a weary smile on his face the American temp-staff member had offered to accompany his friend, Bobby, in the transport job planned that evening. They were sitting in the cab of the transport vehicle, a special form of ambulance, chatting about the Pax event, or hoax, depending on one’s opinion.
“Dunno why you’d wanna stick around for this shit Johnny boy, can’t say I’m lookin’ forward to goin’ out tonight with those domes en’all.”
“Hah, I reckon it’ll work itself out Bobby, no point worryin’ about what you can’t do nuttin about.”
“That’s the truth, least the roads’ll be quiet.”
“Silver linings bud.”
“Silver linings.”
Meanwhile, within the CDC, Racheli was succumbing slowly to the effect of the sedatives injected into her bloodstream. It should have taken no more than ten seconds for someone of her weight to drop, but she was resisting. Still, succumb she did, and the staff wheeled her out to the loading bay in the rear of the complex through cordoned off tubing. The two guards heard the back doors open and muffled voices, followed by the clanking of metal and finally the slam of the doors shutting again. Shortly after, there was a sharp knock at the driver side window, and Bobby reeled down the glass.
“You’re all set to head-off, the patient is loaded and our personnel are strapped in, so to speak.” The doctor at the door told them, nodding sharply so that the glasses on the bridge of his nose threatened to fly into the cab. Bobby’s face crooked into a grin at the man’s enthusiasm, not really understanding its source.
“Righty-oh, Doc, we’ll be off then.” Bobby said, reeling the window back up. He turned to grin at John, who was texting someone on his phone.
“Guess they’re glad to be rid of her.”
“Guess they are.”
The ambulance pulled out of the bay and cleared the CDC perimeter. The roads were clear, as they expected, despite it being around the tail-end of rush hour, about ten past six to be exact. It was a little eerie seeing streets that usually bustled with activity deserted by the residents of Lost Haven. But the city was on its last legs by all accounts, the things that it had endured in just two months bordered on the insane, something had to give. People rushed inside, they stayed there, those unlucky few who had to work through potential terrorism at any rate. It was still a little unclear what was going on, apparently some of the so-called Superheroes were dealing with the threat of the evil Doctor, and it was all very theatrical. But people’s lives were at stake, and there was very real fear.
“You don’t look so good there, Bobby.” John observed worriedly, looking over at his pale friend. The man was tanned usually, but his pallor had taken an unhealthy colour.
“Where’d you say you got those…” Bobby paused as his stomach gurgled. “Burritos.”
“I went to that place you told me about, Joes or sommat?”
“Argh, my stomach is killing me.”
“Look man, I’ll drive if you want, you can just tell me where to go and that.”
“Alright, alright, goddamn.” Bobby pulled over and jumped out the cab, hands on his knees. “My head is killin’ me man.”
“Sounds like you’re coming down with sommat.” John told him, having shuffled into the driver seat. “Gettin then.”
They kept going, every so often John asked for directions from his ailing co-pilot, but for the most part they drove in silence. He tapped the wheel as he looked around, watching the roads go by, recalling the map he’d been looking at intensely as of late. He wasn’t that familiar with Lost Haven, really, but the road system in America was fairly simple and intuitive. That being said, the roads did tend to blur into one, so he did need the input from Bobby, who was having trouble concentrating on the road and had somehow grown ever paler. John looked at him with worry.
“You really look ill man.”
“You don’t say.” He grunted in pain. “Keep straight up here.”
“Got it.” John turned left at the intersection, and Bobby shook himself.
“I said keep straight John.”
“I am sorry.”The sharp pain in Bobby’s neck almost shook him from the strange oppressive feeling pressing down on his mind. Not quite though, by the time he realised what was happening it was already too late, the syringe in his neck was pressed down and his vision dimmed, he slumped against the window and the ambulance trundled on. With his co-pilot out for the count, Silence had effectively taken control of the transport and instigated the kidnapping of Racheli Desdemona.
Lekh had already sent a message ahead to his ally, The Ambassador, as he had left the CDC. He hoped she was ready for him, as he checked his wing-mirrors with his usual amount of caution. Unfortunately, for obvious reasons, his vehicle did not have a rear-view mirror, so it was not easy to check for tails, though if he had picked one up and they were less than experienced at avoiding detection, Lekh was certain to make them on the deserted roads. Unbeknownst to the people in the back, the ambulance sped off course to the predetermined drop off point where the exchange would be made. The perfect way to ensure someone disappears without a trace, especially someone like the woman in back. Lekh spared her a moment of pity as he drove, he did not know what lay in store for her in the future, but he suspected from what he knew of the Syndicate it would be less than savoury.
The ambulance arrived on Tyburn Avenue in perfect time, moving neither too fast nor too slow until it ground to a halt beneath the North Bridge underpass. It was shady and quiet, with no passer-by in sight and the likelihood of drawing a casual eye unlikely in the extreme. Silence slid out of his seat and opened the door in one movement, his boots hitting asphalt with a crunch as he walked around the front of the vehicle to where he expected to find his companion.
“Ms Ambassador? We have arrived.” 
Member
LeeRoy
Nytefall
