Coping...

[Jacob]

*Setting: Rolling back her shoulders, Ella stepped out of the lift and into the brightly lit corridor of the Agency. She looked around, noting how few Agents were working. Steadily she headed towards her room, wiping a lone tear from her cheek with the back of her right hand.*

Voice: "How was it?"

She stopped, instantly recognising the voice. It was Quade. Turning she looked up at him, his waist was wrapped with a white towel and his toned, green physique dripped with water. He was stood in the doorway to the showers. She nodded gently.

Ella: "It was...okay. Went more smoothly than before."

She sniffled, remembering the assassination she had so royally screwed up. Not only shooting the wrong person, but also harming three innocent bystanders.

Quade: "Any complications?"

He ran his left hand over his moist head, looking at her sympathetically so she knew he wasn't judging her.

Ella: "No. He was alone. I changed into his wife, anyway. He didn't stand a chance. But..."

She stopped, hanging her head down softly as she whimpered.

Ella: "The...the thought of his wife. Making his wife feel the way i do. It's..."

Quade: "I know. I know."

He stepped out of the doorway and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly. She began to cry. Since she had joined the Agency Quade had never seen Ella cry. He had seen her mad. Seen her hit other Assassins and curse her superiors, but never cry. But that's all she seemed to be doing for the past couple of months. As Quade stroked her shoulder length black hair, he sighed. Knowing how upset she was.

Ella: "I-I keep on seeing her face. Her f*cking face smiling back at me...*Sobs*...she got away Quade! She got the f*ck away!!"

She cried histerically. Imagining what Lilias was doing now. Wondering if she was bragging about killing Kei and nearly killing her. Stepping back from Quade, Ella looked down at her right hand, a small, slit-like scar graced the back and palm of it. Quade raised his left hand, on the palm was a vicious burn, he smiled softly.

Quade: "Every scar is a victory."

He then cast his hand down to Ella's left hand, which, he remembered, took alot longer to repair.

Quade: "How's that one?"

Ella raised it slowly and flexed her fingers.

Ella: "Hurts on occassion. But it's okay most of the time."

Looking up at Quade again, she felt strangely special. Since she had joined the Agency, Quade had never really spoken more than five words to her on one occassion. He came off as a loner, who only really wanted to do his job and get paid. But now, now he seemed to be more than just an Assassin. Now he seemed to care.

Ella: "How's Kai?"

Quade: "He's better. Foulds said he'll need another blood transfusion, so i'm going down in half an hour to give some more blood."

The Changling smiled softly, knowing it was pure luck that Quade was the same rare blood type that Kai was.

Quade: "Anyway, i gotta get changed. If you need anything, just shout, okay?"

He smiled gently at her, slowly walking back into the showers to get changed. Ella turned away from the showers, rubbing her chest as her Heart beat even quicker. Tears were still welling up in her eyes, but she strangely felt vaguely warm inside. Turning to look back, she then quickened her pace and walked to her room.

***

*Setting: The dark, shabby shed of a room seemed to groan as the two Shadowcrawlers hung, swaying from the ceiling. Mancles latched onto their wrists as the chains creeked softly, attached to strong wooden beams overhead. Lilias snarled, for months she had to listen to her brother go on and on about his revenge. About how he was going to be successful where she so foully failed. It sickened her. She was always the favourite in the family, and the fact that he was, seemingly, getting off on having the upperhand made her want to vomit. She glanced over at her elderly uncle, he too was hanging from the beams but seemingly higher, as he had lost his legs in an accident caused by Lilias' brother. Tables lined the walls of the small room, strewn across the tops were a whole manner of metallic devices. Some used by Surgeons, others used by Butchers. All, Lilias knew, were going to be used by Alandos.*

Lilias: "Uncle? Uncle?"

She called him in a hushed whisper, trying to rouse him from his uncomfortable slumber.

Voice: "Heh, hee vill not avake..."

Alandos stepped out from the open doorway, closing the door as quietly as he had opened it. In his hands he clutched a large, black box, which he carefully moved over to the nearest table and set down.

Lilias: "What the f*ck did you do to him, Alandos?"

The creature ignored her, opening the box and rumaging around inside of it as he hummed softly. Seconds passed and slowly he pulled out a large, black book.

Alandos: "Ahh, theh virst voluume."

Carefully he set it down on the old, wooden table, reaching for the cord of the light above the table, he pulled it and a small bulb flickered on. Dimly lit but enough for Alandos to read.

Alandos: "Abino: Theh Varior."

Though his heavy Russian accent made certain words he said incomprehensible, it was clear to Lilias what he had just stated. And what the book, actually, was.

Lilias: "Why do you want a book on Abinoé, Alandos? What idiotic scheme is your Brain-damaged mind coming up with now?"

Turning to her, her brother smirked. Running his right hand over the part of his head which had been blown to smitherines - by his own flesh and blood. Fortunatly for Alandos, however, it had grown back, and he wore the scar with pride.

Lilias: "Mudokon myth, Alandos. If you think the Pendant of Sarisn is still attainable, you're even stupider than you look."

But her brother ignored her, flipping through the pages as the drone of his sisters voice mocked and ridiculed him. He knew though, he knew he would have the last laugh...

Useful links;
Assassins...
Deceit and Trickery...
Conflicting plans...
Marked...

[Jacob]

*Setting: Ella's head hung low as she tried to muffle her cries. Standing up Kowloon ran his hand through his purple, feathery plummage, trying to hide his anger and frustration. Looking down at his desk, he stared at the small, white envelope. Snarling.*

Kowloon: "How...How could you!? How could you forget!? It was the main part of the operation, Ella. Objective number two OF TWO!!"

He slammed his flattened hand down on the desk, screaming now as he realised what this meant for the Agency.

Kowloon: "Do you know who Abraham Conrad is!? Hm? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA!?"

Her response was merely a sob, she wiped the tears from her eyes with her hands, looking at Kowloon in shame.

Kowloon: "No, no of course you don't. He was before your time. But let me give you a history lesson, Ella. Abraham Conrad is one of the most f*cked up pieces of Orkhid trash this world has ever seen. He's manipulative...caniving. Vicious. To all intents and purposes he shouldn't even be alive. Even the Orkhid Council are afraid of him!! That's how dangerous he is!! And that's why he's still alive..."

He slumped back down in his chair, pondering what was to happen next. Thinking of how he was going to sort everything out. Ella's last assignment was easy compared to most, kill Councillor Gianni Vakesh and leave a small, enveloped letter somewhere discreet in the room. The contents of the envelope was a mere letter, however, this letter was a forged document dictating that General Abraham Conrad be promoted to Head Councillor in the event of Gianni's own death. The forgery was immaculate and Abraham had even gone to the extent of getting the help of majickal beings to enchant the letter so that if the Council did decide to get a psychic to check it out, any traces of a forgery would not make themselves apparent. Unfortunatly, Ella had left the envelope in her locker, completely forgetting about it.

Kowloon: "F*cking Hell, Ella. Why didn't you say something if you weren't ready...why didn't yo..."

Ella: "I thought i was ready, i AM ready. It was a mistake. I mislaid the letter. I'm sure Abraham will..."

Kowloon: "Understand?"

He finished off her sentence.

Kowloon: "His nephew, when alive, committed foul atrocities against different races, specie and cultures. He even wiped out three races for the pure fun of it. Genocide, Ella, he commited f*cking genocide without so much as an army backing him up!! His whole family, bar Abraham, have been executed on the Councils orders. But they know if they so much as think about killing Abe that they'll each end up dead as well. Ella, it's not just our reputation at stake, it's our lives..."

He stopped lecturing her, seeing that she couldn't be anymore sorry than what she already was. Leaning forward he gently took her right hand in his, rubbing it gently with his thumb. Forcing himself to calm down, forcing himself to realise that, no matter how long it had been since her lovers death, she was still grieving.

Kowloon: "You've got to stop this, Ella. Would Kei really want you to carry on this way?"

Slowly she shook her head, wiping the tears from both her cheeks with the back of her left hand.

Ella: "I-I just feel it was somehow my fault, if i could've just got up quicker. Or, or let her go when she tried to escape. Kei would've still been here. Still...been with me."

Kowloon: "But it wasn't, Ella. It wasn't your fault. And trust me, we'll capture the bitch, and when we do, you can be the first to interrogate her."

He looked her in the eyes, his big, yellow eyes which now, instead of anger and frustration, showed empathy and sympathy.

Kowloon: "You go get some rest, i'll call Abraham and give him the news. Don't worry, i'll smooth it out."

He leant back and sighed, watching Ella as she climbed to her feet and wearily walked to the door. All the while thinking what would be best, to give her even more space and time to mourn, or to start thinking of a replacement...

***

*Setting: Slowly opening her eyes, Lilias awakened, disappointed to realise that her hopes of her imprisonment being a dream were nothing more than hopes. She sighed and glanced over at her uncle, he seemed older. More fragile. Although, it was no surprise why, for months now he had been hanging in the same position, in the same place. It was enough to make anybody go, slightly at least, insane. She growled gently, looking around their small, stale smelling prison. Alandos hadn't tortured either of them for a while, probably because he was so bogged down in his "plan that would change the world". It was sickening to hear him speak of it, Lilias didn't know how her uncle felt about it, but she felt ashamed to share the same blood as him. Everytime he mentioned his scheme she felt ashamed, as if somehow his insane plots were reflecting badly on her, which there was a good chance of happening, if he ever told anybody else. Everytime he entered the room, Lilias silently vowed to make sure she killed him properly the next chance she got. But then again, she thought she had. Believing that a bullet to the head and a violent explosion was enough to kill her, lowly, brother...she was shocked to realise it wasn't. And hated herself for not being able to kill him off properly. But she vowed, she vowed she would. Infact, as she listened to her brothers plan, she planned something herself...something that was to set her, and her uncle free...*

(OOC: Crapness, sorry, any questions?)

[Jacob]

*Setting: Lilias watched, helpless, as her brother tortured and tormented her uncle, laughing as he did so. His foul, Russian accent wrapping around his words of mockery and hatred as he slid the end of the knifes blade down his uncles back and across his shoulders, making fine slices into his skin. She squirmed, attempting to free herself, attempting to break free from her hanging capture and break the neck of her lowlife brother once and for all, to rid her family of the shame he had brought down on them. But she failed. The manacles were beginning to get rusty now, and although this gave a slight bit of hope to Lilias' plan, it also made them more uncomfortable. Her uncle whimpered in pain, trying to stop himself from calling out in agony, calling out 'mercy' and having his nephew mock him for as long as he was in his capture. Alandos knew this, and thus took great pleasure in slicing deeper and deeper into his uncles skin and muscle, tempting him to rid himself of any dignity and pride he had left. Tempting him to beg for mercy. For death itself, maybe.*

Lilias: "You f*cking coward, Alandos. You're like a Rat, taking advantage of the creatures who can't fight back...and i swear, you'll regret capturing us. You should have left Mudos whilst you had the chance..."

The Shadowcrawler turned to her, smiling softly as he span his uncle around on his chains slowly, trying to make him nauseas. He then slowly stepped upto his sister, cocking his head to one side slightly as he ran the knife blade up her outter thigh, slicing a piece of skin off. She looked deep into his eyes, biting her tongue, trying to stop herself from showing any pain. Trying to show her torturer that he had no power over her, trying to show him that no matter what happened, he would never be able to break her.

Lilias: "Try your hardest, you bastard. But i promise you, as soon as these shackles drop from my wrists, you'll be the one trying to hold back the screams."

A smile crossed Alandos' face, and then with a sudden movement he had jabbed the knife deep into Lilias' stomach, twisting it around viciously as he stared at her face, taking amusement out of her as she tried to stop herself from calling out in agony.

Alandos: "Ve'll see, sissta. Ve'll see."

***

*Setting: Smoke drifted softly into the air as the envelope and its contents were slowly reduced to ash. Holding it away from his suit, Kowloon slowly moved the burning paper to the metallic trashcan, dropping it inside and watching as it shrivelled to black nothingness. As his eyes steadily watched the flames, dancing as their "food" was slowly devoured, he thought. Ella had not been performing to her usual high standard for a good 4 weeks now. News had gotten back to him that the Gianni Vakesh assassination was an unprofessional, sub-par attempt. With multiple stab wounds to the body, as if the attacker had just viciously lashed out. Not only that, but the fact that she had forgotten to take the forged letter to the murder scene and place it somewhere discreet - so it could only be found when a search commenced, made this mission an utter failure, even though their client was quite satisfied with the results. Slowly Kowloon opened his desk drawer, pulling out an A4 size sheet of paper with a photo of Ella and her stats. He slowly read it, remembering the time when she had first joined the Agency. Now though, now he had no choice. The head of the D-fences would soon find out about Ella's mistakes, and by no means would they suffer her gladly. Infact, they'd probably want her dead. Besides, it would probably be best for Ella if she had some time off, give her more time to grieve. As he thought this he slowly reached for a red pen that was lying on the table, picked it up and, taking off the lid, steadily wrote 'Suspended: Pending evaluation'. He then placed the pen down and rested back on his seat, a mixture of emotions rushing around his head.*

[Jacob]

*Setting: Things were changing. The world around shifting effortlessly as images blurred into each other and Souls screamed out in agony-like fury. The shining yellow eyes of Shadowcrawlers lurking in the shadows peered out at her as the room began to spin. She could feel a changing taking place within her, a painful, electrical-like changing. She became more deadly. But now she followed somebody else. Some...being of immense power. And then...she awoke. Her scaley body was dripping with sweat. She sighed, heavily. Gulping as she looked around at the same four walls she had been seeing for months. Her uncle hung a couple of metres to the side of her, his breathing steady as he hung in an uncomfortable sleep. Lilias didn't know what the dream had been about, but the more she tried to piece it together, the quicker it evaporated into nothing more than a smudge on the Brain. Now not only was she seeping with sweat, but revelling in added frustration. She wiggled around in her manacles, hoping to get lucky and break free, even though she knew this would be an impossibility...*

***

*Setting: The punchbag seemed to spit out small particles of dust everytime Ella's clenched fists made contact with it. Her face scrunched up in a ball of fury as she heard the voice of Kowloon telling her she was suspended. Her eyes welling up with tears as she saw the dark-blue face of the bitch who murdered her lover. Stepping back Ella then began to kick at the bag, making it swing wildly as her combat ability was demonstrated with shocking expertise. In under 8 seconds she had pulled off over six kicks at the bag, and this showed as it was now beginning leak stuffing from the seams.*

Voice: "Practicing against a non-fighting opponant won't make you a good fighter, you know."

Ella turned, wiping her brow with the back of her hand. It was Marl who had spoken, and he now stood smiling at her in a strange, sick way. Ella always got a funny feeling around Marl, and she was not quite sure what it was, but he made her queasy and she never liked to spend too much time around him.

Ella: "Fine. Wanna spar?"

She got in a fight stance, Marl merely smirked and shook his head.

Marl: "I don't fight possible psychotics."

He chuckled, mocking the fact she had to have a psychiatric evaluation. But she ignored him, and as he went to walk away, she stepped in his path.

Ella: "Nor do i, but i'll make an exception."

He raised his right brow and nodded softly. Taking a couple of steps back and then looking down at the cold, hard floor. Ella shook her head as he looked from her to a pile of safety mats in the corner of the room.

Ella: "No mats."

Marl: "Fine. Well, when you're ready."

He had barely finished his sentence when Ella rushed towards him, stopping mid-step as Marl held up his hand and psychically held her in place. He then pushed her back a couple of steps and smiled.

Ella: "No powers!"

She rushed forwards once more, but once again Marl held up his hand, stopping her mid-step. He then turned his hand so the palm was facing upwards and gently lifted Ella off the ground, smirking as he looked deep into her eyes, watching her struggle in vain. He then let her drop, landing on her feet, she took this opportunity to rush Marl, kicking out at his head, but he manouvered his head out of the way, blocked her attack with his right hand and then back handed her with his left. She hit the ground, hard. Pushing herself back onto her feet, she dabbed her mouth with her fingers, feeling the trickle of blood run down her lip. She then launched another attack, a mass of punches from Ella and blocks from Marl erupted, as the pair of them sparred in a way that was truely unique. Attacks that should have hit Marl, didn't, and vice versa. They both seemed to match each other in fighting capabilities. But as Ella landed her first proper blow to Marls chest, he lashed out with his oversized right hand and grasped the crown of Ella's head. It suddenly felt as if a mass of hot liquid had been poured into her Skull cavity, her eyes burned and blurred out and her limbs immediatly felt weak. She screamed out, swinging her left foot upwards and gripping Marls wrist with both hands. A winded 'Oof' was what followed the contact she had made with her sparring partner, and the pain immediatly subsided. Staggering backwards she looked at the Mudokon, who was now on his knees, couging and gripping his groin. His face redened and his eyes teary. Wiping her tears from her eyes, Ella stepped away, looking at the Mudokon triumphantly and smiling tiresomely. But his eyes burned with fury, and upon pulling his right hand away from his groin, he held it out to his right. The light around his hand seemed to retract and a vaguely visible ball formed around his hand [like the 'Psi-ball' in 'Second Sight']. Then, with a rage filled yowl, he hurled the ball of energy at Ella, she tried to dodge the ball by moving to the left, but instead, for some reason, moved to the right. Instantly it made contact with her right shoulder area, sending her spinning backwards in an intense and mind blowing pain. This pain was amplified when she hit the ground, blood spurting from her mouth as she lay, motionless, yet conscious, on the cold floor. Thinking about what had just happened...

***

*Setting: The small white room beeped steadily as Kai lay in his hospital bed, watching TV. Every so often he would get an itch somewhere, and have an urge to scratch it, but every time he made an attempt to, the vicious bite of pain would gourge itself around his wounds. White bandages had been wrapped around his stomach and coller bone area, helping to fend off any infection that the stitches may attract. Coughing softly he turned to his right and reached for a glass of water, the door to his room opened as he did so and Quade stepped in, smiling.*

Quade: "Hey. I'll get that."

Noticing that Kai was putting himself out to get a small glass of water, Quade quickly stepped over to his bedside cabinet and picked the glass up. Handing it slowly to him and helping him take a sip.

Quade: "So, how are you?"

Kai: "I've been better. I'd rather be out doing something other than stuck here for another couple of months, that's for sure."

He smiled and handed the glass back to Quade, who then placed it back on the cabinet.

Quade: "Kowloon said you should be well enough to train some of the trainee's soon. You know, the one's that have passed the initial training."

The bed bound Saurian nodded thoughtfully, remembering his first day after he had passed.

Kai: "So, have they already...you know?"

Quade shook his head.

Quade: "No, they're to be dealt with tonight. Marl apparently wants to do it, but i doubt Kowloon will let him, you know what Marls like."

He nodded thoughtfully before asking another question. The same question he asked every time a few new trainee's failed.

Kai: "So, Kowloon still thinks it's too risky to let them go?"

Quade: "You know him, he believes even though the failures have failed, they've learnt too much to be let back out in society. Besides, i can see his point, and so long as it's painless..."

Kai shook his head, seemingly frustrated as his fists clenched.

Kai: "But they're just kids!"

Quade: "Yeh, but it's just a job. We have to do what we are told. No 'ifs' or 'buts'. It's the way the world works, the way we work. Everybody knows that, and so should you Kai. So should you."

And with that, the subject was changed to something more light hearted, even though Kai still had the deaths of the failed trainee's dwelling on his mind for the rest of that day.

(OOC: Craptivity!!)