American_Valor

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He snarled at him. The blow knocked Sam clear across the room, causing his body to punch a hole through the drywall and carry him through to where he was laid out on the farside of the next room. Jonahs stood there looking at both of them like he was waiting for something. April sat absolutely still, unmoving, Jonahs was a madman. She’d see this type of thing before, he was becoming unhinged and she wanted no part of him.

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She stilled her breathing until at last he turned and walked out of the room. It took several more moments before she realized that Jonahs was gone.

April looked about the room. In seconds the man monster had trashed it with one blow. Morbid curiosity got the better of her and she went to check Sam. He took a full casual blow and he was still breathing, She remembered what he said.
* You can have her back, Jonahs I want a turn. *

That’s why he was lying on the floor. Served him right she thought and kicked him hard in the groin.

There was a muffled groan that escaped Sam Burke lips from the impact, but it wasn’t enough to rouse him from the knockout blow he received from Jonahs. April kicked him again just for good measure then dialed her phone. As it rang on the other end she thought about Jonahs. He was too dangerous to live, and she only knew of one man who would be able to help her.

The information He had gotten was incredible. He had stacks of it thanks to his mentor. Yes he traded favors and ordered two operations to get underway. The first was surveillance, the second was going to be more direct. Yes information in this world was sometimes priceless and at this moment, this was golden.

The light was dim as he reviewed the files in his hands, casting erie shadows about the walls. He was highly annoyed when his phone rang. He almost didn’t answer it until he saw the name. A dark sinister smile creeped on his face, He cleared his voice slightly before answering.

“Hello, Specialist Bellante, Yes this is Sgt Holman, I was just thinking about you." A small chill ran down Aprils spine as he continued. "What can I do for you, ... April?”

April held her breath for a second this was more like it, Yes Sgt Holman was a creep but he was Council and that she could handel. " I have intel you need vital to bringing down Lt Jonahs ..."

Earl eyes sparkled under the light in the dark shadows of his office as he listened to Specialist Bellante.

Meanwhile down the hall...

April noticed the change in Jonahs and shifted in her seat. One minute he was all about Prissy, the next he seemed like he didn’t care. He’d sent her away to bed Santos, but better still was her reaction. It had changed. If April hadn’t been paying attention she might have missed it. Still, she wasn’t sure, but maybe.... April began to think

Sam watched the exchange as well. Prissy was hot, to put it mildly, and if Jonahs was giving turns he wanted his as well. He deserved it! Sam was more than slightly annoyed with Jonahs. Why should Santos who just shot Jonahs get to go first? He noticed April's eyes fall on Jonahs and smiled as an idea formed in his head.

Ishmael’s left hand rubbed at his temple. The pain was incredible, but his face didn't betray anything as he droned on in monotone about his expectations of the two of them. All the while his thoughts battled over Prissy and Santos. Ishmael continued to pace back and forth as he spoke.

Finally Sam stood up, interrupting him. "Jonahs. What the <bleep> Sir? You should have killed Javier! He directly challenged your command.” He looked incredulously at his commander. “Instead you gave him… her! What about me? Hell, you can have April and let me have a crack at your Who...”

April looked astonished at Burke's words, she didn't even have time to react to Jonahs movements, and neither did Sam. April froze once again she didn't dare move.

The vein in Ishmael’s left temple throbbed; his mind was at war with itself. He’d told Prissy to get to know Santos as a test of loyalty. She hadn’t wanted to, but she followed orders. Santos had looked at him with hate, but he had also been watching Prissy. If he betrayed his wife, then he couldn’t be controlled. And if Mr. Goody Two Shoes couldn’t be controlled, then he was dead. If Prissy betrayed him with Santos, then she was as good as dead. It didn’t cross his mind that he was being illogical... he told Prissy just that, yet if she did it he would kill her... and if she didn’t he would have killed her anyway…

Jonahs snapped back into reality as Burke was in his face, telling him what to do, and giving April back to him. He didn’t even finish letting him speak, but backhanded Burke hard and fast.

“SHUT...

‘KA-BAM!’

...UP!"

He snarled at him. The blow knocked Sam clear across the room, causing his body to punch a hole through the drywall and carry him through to where he was laid out on the farside of the next room. Jonahs stood there looking at both of them like he was waiting for something. April sat absolutely still, unmoving, Jonahs was a madman. She’d see this type of thing before, he was becoming unhinged and she wanted no part of him.

***

Moments later, the door slid open.

Ishmael began to laugh as he saw Javier standing across the room with his pistol drawn and Prissy across from him holding her arm while sitting on the couch. Ishmael’s dower mood vanished as if it had never been. Javier holding Prissy off with a gun... he had never even considered that!

The booming from down the hall had presaged Jonahs’ arrival to them. There had been no time to run. One last burst of neon green energy and her arm was healed. If reason, persuasion, and diversion didn’t work she was going to be in for the fight of her life... and probably death. She couldn’t bring herself to believe it, even as she thought it and prepared for it.

Then the door opened and he’d laughed, and as if on cue she picked up on the scene. “I don’t know, Jonahs.... this one isn’t too bright. What kind of man would rather shoot me than <beep> me?” Her voice was stricken, “Not that I think I’m missing anything... he and the little woman probably only do it under the covers with their eyes closed... in missionary.” Her eyes moved to him, “No one is like you.”

Ishmael stopped laughing. He was now looking at Javier slightly differently. Truly a devoted husband and father, something he could control. “You’re lucky, Javier.” Jonahs moved to sit next to Prissy. “She’s too good for you anyway. Burke is scum, then again, you all are. You make sure you do as you’re told, when we tell you, and your family will be safe. You cross me or Prissy and I’ll have your family working the streets for me. You understand?”

Javier nodded, hate in his eyes directed at Jonahs.

Jonahs smiled at him while draping his arm possessively over Prissy’s shoulder. “Say you understand, Javier.” Prissy smiles at him while slipping her hand about Jonahs waist in response to his touch.

“I understand,” he said looking just past Ishmael at her. The unasked question in his eyes was did she?

Not really. “Oh, get lost family man. You’re making me nauseous with your pathetic righteousness.”

Santos put his pistol away and was about to leave, When Jonahs stopped him.

“Hey Javier, You have a new special job. You protect my Prissy with your life. That’s how you keep your family safe.” He smiled, yes Santos he could trust.
“I also want you to go down stairs and talk to Lil Tino, tell him I’ll meet with him in an hour about that business I mentioned to him earlier. Then come back and stand guard at the door.”

He continued to smile his hand absently rubbing his left temple, yes Santos he could trust, but the others, well there time was coming…

"Listen to me and make no mistake, Chica. I might not be able to kill Ishmael yet, but I don't think you're bulletproof. I've got a job to do to make them proud, and if you think I'm going to let you mess that up you have another thing coming. Who are you?"


The words burst from her before she could control the emotion. Rage and fear and shame. "PROUD? You expect your family to be proud of this? All the blood money in the world won't wash the stain from your hands if you pull that trigger, Santos. No, I'm not bulletproof," her voice was bitter, "I break and bleed just fine, but if the Council wants to know who I am they can bloody well torture it out of me the old fashioned way. They make you look inept at it anyway, maybe you should turn it over to a pro!" her voice was bitter and her anger continued to rise. "I may be a "traitor" to the Council, but at least my family won't be ashamed of my death...."


Javier looked at her with some concern, he'd hurt her and that really wasn't his intention, but he needed information. He had lowered the pistol, he was wrong about her and now maybe they both were going to die, but the look Prissy exchanged with Ishmael.... Prissy looked at Ishmael the way Maria used to look at him. He was about to move to her, almost dropping his guard, then her eyes flashed....


Javier brought the pistol up to ready position. "Don't make me shoot you, Chica. I know what I saw, Agent Seer. Somehow he made you fall in love with him. I understand that, I just want my family back. As long as I can walk from this I don't care about you, Jonahs, or anything else. Just tell me where they are and what I need to do for you, so he leaves us alone."


Surprise showed in her eyes... not that he was the decent man that she had originally thought him to be, but instead who he thought her to be. Agent Seer? Now Javier's suspicion and feelings of betrayal made sense. Enough time had passed to be sure that the room wasn't bugged... probably... but Jonahs might be along any minute. She was thinking of him in terms of Jonahs now, not just as her partner. The glow in her eyes and the power that had been building within her began to subside.


She began again, "I’m not Agent Seer. You've met my sister. I know... you probably don't believe me," she tugged firmly on a lock of hair, demonstrating that it was solidly rooted in her scalp. "This isn't a wig... Cassie's hair is short, mine is long. I'm Pandora. I really don't know where your family is, but I can help you find them. I’m going to move. Don't shoot."


Deliberately and slowly, so as not to startle the man, she dumped her purse onto the couch. Brush, money, perfume, lipstick, ammo, surveillance recording, and two cellphones; one silver, one black. She picked up the silver one and handed it to him, "Take this, head for the nearest police drone. Once you're near it, but not close enough to get zapped, speed dial 1, then once the person on the other end picks up enter code 911 and tell the man on the other end who you are and that Pandora said to evac you out. Once he has a fix, he can use the drone to teleport you out. Tell him everything, he's FBSA and can help you find your family and get all of you out of this. And," She took a deep breath, "Tell him I think something has gone wrong. I believe my partner thinks he really is Jonahs and I don't know how much control or influence I have over him any more."


"Go now! Before Jonahs gets back!" She was frantic to get him out of the room.

Javier looked at Pandora, he was trying to understand everything she was telling him. He placed the cell in his pocket. "I'm sorry I gave my word, and now I have endangered you and probably your mission as well. I can't just leave, but I can try to help you. Ever since we received our awards Ishmael has been acting worse. Then, when he fought the Harrier, I knew he was wrong in the head. He had us draw down on the unit commanders. It paid off, but he's different… evil.” Javier wasn’t sure she understood what he was trying to say. “I can't just leave you to him alone. He'd probably kill you for sure if aren’t standing over my body. I’ve seen the devil in him.” His shoulders slumped forward some and the pistol hung loosely in his hand.

Time was passing... Pandora's anxiety grew with each passing second.

"Not an option," she snapped. "Please, go. You'll be doing me a favor by reporting in for me. I don't think Jonahs will leave me alone long enough, and I don't trust using the phone here... Bellante's a surveillance specialist. That's how she got in trouble with him, she tried to blackmail him." As she spoke she held her right hand over her left arm, using the power she'd built to gradually suppress the swelling, ease the mottled bruising, and mend the bones enough to be able to use the arm. It would leave a trace radioactive signature, something she hadn't dared risk before, but she would have to risk it now. And hope no one came along with a geiger counter.

Javier nodded, and listened. This Agent wasn’t so good, maybe she didn’t understand what he was telling her. He’d been there. He knew exactly how Specialist Bellante wound up in as deep as she was.

She continued to speak. "I don't know what you promised, but I am not your problem. Don't stay on my account. If you're really concerned, then do this for me... tip off my Lieutenant. If I can't reach him, people are going to die. Even if it is that scumbag Tino and his band of Family thugs I don't want that."

Before Santos could respond there was a loud crash and the sound of thunder…

Ishmael continued to gaze into Pandora’s eyes with open wantonness.

The look in her partner's eyes jolted Pandora. Raw lust, possession, something more.... something very much not him. He had never, ever looked at her like that before. Attraction, passion, need... yes. Like raw meat for the chewing, no.

Prissy abruptly pulled away from Jonahs, removing her hands from his skin and beginning to move towards the sink, shaken. Her fingers tingled with the psychosomatic sensation of having stuck them in a light socket, she'd been flirting with danger and hadn't realized it. Even yet, she didn't know why, it was just instinct. Danger? Danger indeed.

"Well, let me grab a washcloth," it was an excuse to move, and even a good one with the powder flash upon his bared chest, "...and we can get back to dinner and business."

Like the business of why you're compromising FBSA security measures. Like just what is going on here....

Confusion and hunger warred, and nerves trumped them both. As confused as she was, as hungry as she was having not eaten in the last 24 hours, more than anything she could feel his eyes on her back as she moved. The skin between her shoulder blades seemed to crawl.

Jonahs wasn't the only one with his eyes on her. Santos followed Prissy with his eyes as well. She knew where his family was and she was going to tell him.

Jonahs' smile vanished. Out of the corner of his eye he caught both looks. That Santos recognized her, and Prissy's reactions. Devoted Prissy hadn't killed him, and her movements betrayed her to his predator's instincts. His eyes narrowed and his facial _expression hardened to stone. Santos had one chance. For that matter they both did.
He looked at April with a sidelong glance, thinking that he did have a spare....

"Prissy, take Santos back to our room and get to know each other better. I'll be there... later." He said coldly.

There was an almost imperceptible hitch in her stride, and she stopped with the next step, reaching the sink. Just what did he mean? He couldn't....

Could he? His voice was so remote.... "Whatever you say, Jonahs." As she finally turned back to face the room, she'd set her shoulders and held the damp cloth tightly in her hands. That way they wouldn't shake. Agent Connors words came back to her in a troubled echo, "Are you sure you can do this? Would you do anything, anything you had to, to get back alive?"

She wasn't sure.

Javier didn't say a word. He looked at Jonahs with disgust, and just turned and walked out of the room. Whether Jonahs knew it or not, he had just done him a huge favor. Santos exited the room with a quick stride, thinking furiously. Prissy was following closely behind him, still clutching the washcloth.

Once in the hallway she passed Santos with a faster, driven stride reaching the room first. She opened the door entering, with Javier right behind her. Stalling for time as she tried to reason out what to do, she turned toward the bathroom as the room door slid shut.

Javier had purposely had a quick step. It had worked. Prissy had hurried to move to be in front of him. As the door slid shut, Javier sprang into motion. Still moving at the quick pace, He lunged at Prissy catching her off guard and driving her towards the wall with a hard slam into it. Drawing his pistol he placed the barrel against her head.

"DONDE ESTA MI FAMILIA!?! <CENSORED!> WHERE MY FAMILY?!?"

The semi-muffled smack of bodies hitting the wall was overwhelmed by the furor in his voice. The wet, popping sound as the half healed bones in her arm snapped was just audible over it, as was her strangled cry of pain as she tried to choke it back.

She hadn't expected this, twice she'd underestimated him. She couldn't afford a third, it could mean a bullet in her brain. Inches away from death. And more... even if he didn't fire... If Bellante was spying on Jonahs again... Santos would be dead within moments.

So might she.

"Don't shoot!" She froze, pain causing her eyes to tear as the bones and tissues of her arm throbbed, already growing hot to the touch. Then she dropped her voice to the barest whisper, losing the harsh twang of Prissy's accent and added as quietly as she could. "I don't know where your family is... neither does Jonahs. Please, put away the gun before he sees you and kills you."

"Don't lie to me Chica! What, you think I'm a fool. I've seen the way you look at each other, Traitor. I'm already dead, you've seen to that. But you won't be luring any more agents to their deaths." Javier forcefully throwing Prissy down onto the couch, then cocking the hammer back pointing the pistol at her heart.

Traitor? What...

The unexpected and brutal wrench and throw pulled a cry of fear and pain from Pandora. She'd been here, before, and for a brief moment Vengent's face and violet hazed eyes flashed through her mind. But it wasn't her dead once-upon-a-time lover trying to kill her again in a fit of lost control, instead it was this desperate dockworker, no less dangerous to her for having a simple gun than the platinum-class hero and Warrior of the Shidao had been that fateful, hungover morning.

She hit the couch on her back and he stood over her. She clutched her good arm around the bad, holding it immobile. And swallowed back gorge that threatened to rise as her stomach roiled with the pain, nausea, and too much coffee and no food. The barrel still smelled of the burnt powder from its earlier firing.

"Uno mas <censored>, Mi Familia, My Family, Donde!"

Pandora's eyes flitted between Santos and the door, glowing a vivid neon green. "I don't know! Your wife went to Longbow, your family is probably in one of their safehouses, if they're even still in the city. I'm trying to get you out of this alive, but we don't have much time! For pity's sake, stop!"

Why do you hate me so much? And just who was she supposed to be a traitor to? Unless she had been wrong about him, about how she'd read him and his background. But which part?

He was speaking again. The moments were flying like sparrows. No Jonahs, Burke, and Bellante.... so, no bug?

"Listen to me and make no mistake, Chica. I might not be able to kill Ishmael yet, but I don't think you're bulletproof. I've got a job to do, to make them proud. If you think I'm going to let you mess that up you have another thing coming." Javier paused and stared at her intently.

"Who are you?"

The silence that followed was deafening.

All that could be heard in the aftermath was heavy breathing. The smell of powder and burnt cloth permeated the air. Javier stared in disbelief. He had shot Ishmael point-blank in the heart and there wasn't so much as a drop of blood. Even though he still held the pistol leveled at Ishmael's bullet ridden chest all the starch had left Javier. The only threat had been to Ishmael's wardrobe.

Now, with a sinking feeling, he realized that Ishmael truly was evil incarnate, undying, and worse, that he and his family would now pay for his mistake....

Pandora knew, absolutely knew, that bullets wouldn't hurt him. Yet she still flinched and her heart still leapt in her chest and fluttered there like a hummingbird's wings as the sounds of gunfire reverberated in the room. Despite her status in Metaforces and as its liaison to FBSA, even though she'd fought and won at her partner's side, she was still afraid of guns.

Not much of a hero.

And if she didn't pull herself together and wipe the momentary fear from her face before Santos, the only one facing to see it, noticed she wouldn't present a very convincing villain for very much longer.

Her spirits sunk again as the moment lengthened and she realized that if she didn't act that her partner would have to, and that would by necessity be bad. Very bad.
As ruthless as Prissy was supposed to be, Jonahs was far worse. Visions of Lil Tino's bloodied face, superimposed over Santos' crossed her mind. Tino was scum, but Santos was a good man.

She didn't want to hurt him.

And she knew her partner didn't want to kill him. If she didn't break the deadlock....

The silence stretched on as Ishmael stared Javier in the eyes. Like a wolf staring at his next meal, barring his white teeth his predatory smile returned. He sensed movement behind him, but kept his eyes locked upon Javier’s.

Two long-legged strides had Prissy across the floor before she even realized she was moving, impelled to action by the unspoken animosity in the men's locked gaze. She placed one hand at the small of Jonahs' back as she approached, letting the clacking of her heels signal her movement to him. No one snuck up on Jonahs with impunity, not even his women.

As she drew close she sneered at the dispirited man, plucked the firearm from his hand, fingered the safety, and deftly slid it back into its holster for him. "Don't forget to clean your weapon, soldier."

There was no resistance from Javier as she took the pistol from him. His gaze remained locked on Ishmael's. If he was going to die it would be looking into the eyes of the man who would kill him.

There was something there but…

With a smirk Prissy sidestepped and gently guided Jonahs to do the same with gentle pressure to the small of his back. Ishmael broke eye contact, turning as guided, gaze wrenched from Javier by just the impetus of her touch. His left temple throbbed as her presence reached him. Jonahs looked at the others in the room. Santos was on the left, Burke and Bellante on the right. And now it was Showtime.

Ishmael Jonahs had been about to kill Javier, tuning out and disregarding the voice in his head. He was growing to hate that voice. It made his head hurt. Then he felt the soft touch on his back, and like a switch being turned off, her touch soothed the beast inside of him. She turned him to face the others breaking the eye lock with Javier, and like that the rage had subsided.

Sam Burke's hand had gone for his own pistol at the first shot, but as he saw what was happening he paused and smiled. So Jonahs was a brute that explained everything clearly. He almost felt sorry for Javier. Almost. Instead of shooting he instead placed a hand on April's arm, preventing her from moving.

Prissy moved with languid, sensual movements to unzip Ishmael’s jumpsuit, peeling the now tattered, smoky fabric from his broad chest to reveal...

...bullets, flattened against his sternum, directly over his heart.

Drawing her scarlet fingernails across the skin she collected the bullets, scraping them from where they'd impacted against muscle and bone and molded to his skin, to reveal nothing more than welts, already fading. With a harsh bark of a laugh she threw them into Santo's stunned face. "Better luck next time. But there had better not be a next time, because he won't have to kill you....."

Ishmael smiled, threw his head back and laughed, "MUA-HA-HA-!!" He was a god among men! He continued laughing like a madman before finally stopping, to grin and look down upon Prissy with open wantonness.

She looked up at him in the same way, hands still warm along the sides of his ribcage.

"He's got guts, partner. And he's a Family Man...." She cast her voice over her shoulder, though her gaze shifted not at all. "Aren't you, Santos? You'd do anything to protect the little rugrats and your chubby wife.... wouldn't you?" If anything her smirk widened, making mockery of his virtues as devoted husband and father, implying who knew what against his family. "Controllable. Our abject slave."

What the woman had said above all else, caught Javier’s attention. It was her, the woman from earlier, from his house. It was clear that she'd made an obvious effort to disguise herself. Her hair, makeup and clothing were very different, but those eyes, a dark sapphire blue but with an Asian cast, her figure, and the blushed golden tone of her skin were unmistakable. It was the same woman. She was some type of double agent and the way she looked at Ishmael and held him it was Longbow she was stringing along. Jonahs knew, that’s why the display just now. This woman was devoted to Jonahs and that meant he was doomed to die. She'd sent him back here to die, to protect Jonahs. It was only a matter of time before he disappeared like all the others Agent Mythos had warned him about. If somehow he could maybe alert them that she was a double agent he might at least save someone else. He knew Jonahs suffered betrayal from no one. That had been established. His doom was now a matter of punishment. Inevitable as the turn of the tide.

At the table, April had wanted to move to help that idiot Santos. If for no other reason than because…

She didn't know why, or what he wanted, but twice he'd acted in her defense. Then she felt the pressure from Sam’s hand on her arm and when she looked at him she stopped moving. Sam was scowling at her. And he, not Santos, was the one in the best position to shield her from Jonahs. So she sat back and watched the display with a distasteful _expression. Prissy was making it clear in no uncertain terms that Jonahs was hers, and the look in his eyes said the same.

Liberty, did I say Liberty. Looks around the server and smiles. Yes Liberty. Oh and the one those other guys mentioned, btw did I mention Liberty. nudge nudge say no more say no more a nods as good as a wink, know what I mean.

Oh and did I mention Lib..... as a giant claw reaches out and drags him away kicking and screaming.... ber....ttttyyyy......

Javier Santos sat in the cab thinking.

"Yo Mac, I don't have all night. Forty-seven even," the cabbie stated with a slightly worried look. It was dark and he didn't want to be in this area any longer then he had to.

Javier noticed his worry and smiled kindly at him and handed him a hundred. "Keep it, and drive home and tell your wife you love her," Javier said while getting out of the cab.

"Thanks." Then the cabbie looked at him wondering how he knew he was married, forgetting about his ring and the picture by his speedometer. Suddenly he realized he was speaking to a Council Junior Officer. Before Javier had made it into the building the cabbie had sped away.

Club Dokken had been the slimiest place Javier had ever been in. It had been several hours since he had left this wicked place. He assumed the worst and when he entered found that he was right. Illicit activity was all around, and at its heart were the men of the Devil's Own.

Javier looked around for Ishmael or Burke. Not seeing them he headed upstairs. He hoped that Bellante had had the sense to leave and was glad not to see her in the group of men downstairs as he made his way towards the rooms he had gotten for them earlier.

At the door he heard...

[ QUOTE ]


"She has value Jonahs, I think you should give her a break and see what she can do?" Burke's voice....


"Okay, arm or leg April?" And Jonahs' as well.


[/ QUOTE ]


The tone was deathly serious.

Javier forced open the door and drew his pistol, cocking the hammer back and pointing it directly at Jonahs. Beyond his commander, he saw the terrified look in April's eyes as she sat paralyzed at the table with Jonahs, Burke, and another woman....

"Leave her alone Ishmael." Javier stared at the quartet. He'd seen that woman before. Earlier that night. Impossible! It couldn't be her. He focused his attention back on Jonahs.

Sam Burke sat in his seat and watched what was going on. Javier had pulled a gun on his commander, on Jonahs. It was a challenge, clear and simple. Sam smirked as he reached for the dagger Jonahs had assigned him to carry just for this purpose and slid it across the table towards Javier.
Jonahs' back was to the door when it opened. He heard the hammer click back and the tension in Javier’s voice as he made his demand.

Ishmael's eyes were on April, mouth in a full, predatory smile as he spoke over his shoulder. "Oh, look! As if timed, your knight in shining armor is here to protect your virtue once again." He laughed mockingly as he turned his body, the battered chair groaning and creaking from his weight, and looked Javier in the eyes. Then down to the dagger on the table.

"Either shoot me or put it away. You know the rules. Pick up the dagger, if you want to live, Javier." Jonahs said coldly.

Oh crap!

Pandora, gaudy in her guise as Prissy, froze for a second as the door swung open, gun leading the way for a man in a Council officer's uniform. Pointed in a dead aim for her lover's heart. Her heart was racing as the two men spoke, and again she felt as if she'd come in on the middle of Act Three without memorizing her lines.

He walked into it again. Javier knew there was no way he could beat Ishmael. He wasn't a killer, and he knew Ishmael was. He never took his eyes off the bigger man, but, he also didn't lower the pistol, holding it trained center mass at Jonahs' chest.

"I'm not challenging your command. I don't want your command," Javier said. "Just leave her be."

All pretense of humor disappeared from Ishmael Jonahs face. It was stone cold and hard. "I was just kidding with April. As a matter of fact, we had been discussing ‘value’." He let the inflection of the word linger, as he started to walk towards Javier until the barrel of the gun was pressed against his chest.

The only other person moving in the room was Pandora, whose eyes flicked from one person to the other as she rose to her feet, following her partner's lead. Neither Burke nor Bellante were moving to break the deadlock. No one crossed Jonahs. But Javier Santos was a good man. She'd researched him, read his file... he wouldn't shoot.

Javier held the pistol steady unflinching and now he was inches away from Ishmael, face to face.

Javier looked into the heart of evil staring into the eyes of Ishmael. They were cold, dead and unfeeling. He prayed a silent prayer for deliverance while waiting to die.

"Shoot me, you can't miss I've made it easy. SHOOT ME." Ishmael stared into Javier's eyes, his own narrowing to little beads as he whispered softly. "Shoot me, or I'll do unspeakable things to your family."

Dios pardona. Javier thought as he squeezed the trigger several times.

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!

Then the room was quiet.

"Well now thats not a name I've heard, in a very long time."

Glad to see you Heroes, and some one sneaked some Villains in here as well are keeping the music list active.

Lt Drake, Blaster theme is: I love Rock and Roll by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Or God Of Thunder By K.I.S.S.

The trip back for Javier Santos was a lot quicker. No wires, transmitters, or recording devices, just a simple memorized phone number. A single ring then hang up was what he was told. That would alert the standby team and they would grab thier man.

These things kept running through Javier's mind. He wasn't a coward, and the Freedom Corps Longbow Agent had made sure he understood just what was at stake. They offered him several chances to simply go to jail. If Ishmael Jonahs was who they believed he was, then there was no doubt that if discovered Javier would never be seen again. They would probably never even find his corpse. Jonahs was known to have ways of dealing with that kind of incriminating evidence.

Agent Mythos had been very clear on that point, but Javier wanted his wife to be proud of him and his girls deserved a hero. This was a way for him to be one, if only for just this one time then it would be enough. Even if he died doing it, for without this he was dead to them already.

He continued thinking until the Cab arrived.

***

Prissy followed Jonahs as he walked into Burke's room without knocking. Burke and April were sitting at the table, actually laughing. Her eyes were on the other woman, lips tightly closed over words she didn't dare say, not as Prissy. The urge to claw the other woman's eyes out was strong. To do something.

Jonas moved in as though he owned the place, smirking. "Glad your ready to work. Okay, Burke. About 1/2 mile northwest of here is an old abandoned 5th Column base. I plan on getting that base up and running in the next 12 hours." Burke nodded. "In 18 hours I plan on having the weapons and munitions arsenal in that base fully stocked."

Jonahs looked over his shoulder at Burke and April while opening the room's refridgerator. "I'm gonna broker a deal with that Family scum, Tino. Your job is to secure the weapons. Any trouble you kill him."

"Understood, Sir." Burke said coolly.

Jonahs took out the sandwich platter and a six pack of Blue Ribbon. "If the meet goes smooth, then Charlie and Delta will move in. While you transport the cargo back to the base, they will eliminate the Family soliders and bring Tino to me. Whether they give you trouble or not, the end is going to be the same." Jonahs finished, his earlier smirk had become something more fearsome.

"Yes, Sir." Burke said, grabbing a sandwich and a beer.

What? Pandora couldn't believe what she was hearing. She sat stunned as Jonahs handed her a Hero sandwich while biting into his own. "Could use more mustard," he muttered.

She relaxed hearing that. Lx always added extra mustard to his sandwich. She almost smiled at it, at his way of reassuring her that he knew what he was doing. He turned towards her and spoke, "You and April will be responsible for getting me
mobile equipment. I don't want anything that can't be packed in a moment's notice. This is stage one, people. Any questions?" Jonahs continued eating while watching
the three of them.

April looked Prissy over attempting to size her up, then smiled at her with a smugged look, before turning to Jonahs. "Yes Sir, I'll get the proper supplies from surplus, it might take a day or so."

"Surplus? Is that the best you can do?" Pandora countered, "Well... I suppose that will have to do, for the basics. But for the really special stuff, partner, just give me a list. I'll check it twice, and I guarantee you I won't be nice." She said the last with a piercing glare at the other woman.

Jonahs frowned at both of them. Didn't he just say 12 hours operational, 18 hours ready for staging? He spit out this bite of his sandwich onto the floor. "Okay, maybe it's me," he said with a sharp, sarcastic tone, "But I think I said operational in 12 hours. So April, if thats the best you can do, surplus in a day or so, then I hope Burke really likes you," he stared at her coldly. "Cause your value to this command just dropped. I DON'T WANT SURPLUS CRAP. The base will be full of it, understood?" He stared at them both and took another bite of his sandwich waiting.

April now realized that Jonahs hadn't meant he was restoring a Council base. Instead he was making his own. Using Council personnel, equipment, and money He was brazen, and she couldn't help but smirk.

"I didn't understand, Sir. I can have the basic operational equipment within the allotted time frame. I would like to think that my abilities to supply the equipment would determine my value, Sir."

The smirk had beed a mistake, Jonahs eyes narrowed slightly.
Burke chuckled and then smiled at Jonahs previous statement. "Sir, permission to speak freely." Jonahs nodded while chewing his sandwich and Burke continued. "She has value Jonahs, I think you should give her a break and see what she can do?"

Jonahs grined then fixed April with a steele gaze. "Okay, arm or leg April?"

Pandora watched the exchange. Burke seemed familiar where as April a bit too easy. That now seemed to change with the time it took for Jonahs' words to penetrate. That easygoing manner she had was now replaced by fear, Pandora could see it in her eyes she was truly afraid of of Jonahs.

Burke watched with his own smirk waiting to see which way the hammer would fall.

Pandora knew Lx would never carry through with the threat. Apparently they didn't.

[ QUOTE ]
I have been on now for the better part of a year now and I have to admit that the people (99%) are fantastic, so I'm hopeing to get a little help here. I am looking to join a heavy RP super group. I have been in a group or two that dabble, but I want a hard core (geek factor 11) RP group! Who wants to be a super hero if you know you are playing with a truck driver and a plumber?

Thanks Folks!
Archbishop

[/ QUOTE ]


Awe man, I am a SuperPlumber, who alt idenity is a truck driver. dang I knew I should have taken that school bus driver job for Sky High.

REALLY, We aren't hard core anything, except maybe Heroes, But if you find yourself on Liberty look us up. We will be happy to play, unless we have been killed and are grumpy then we will be happy to play and grump about being killed. LOL. We are the Sentinel of Liberty SG.

[ QUOTE ]
You know, I really always thought of Liberty as being the Anti-RP server. I meet nearly no one on there who RP's, and those who do I know from the boards.

I once tried RPing with someone, and about 4 people came up telling us to shut up and go to Virtue. Needless to say, we ignored them and continued.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow that suprises me. I basicly rp whenever I'm on. Liberty is one the friendliest servers in coh. I'm sorry to hear that. I created the SG Sentinel Of Liberty, and we are easy going, and friendly. We rp and we play heroes. I try to meet everyone and am on at least once a day to assist team mates and heroes in general, Lately I have been hunting Fake Nemesis, so been turning down teaming outside of the sg. I'm normally on in the evening after 9pm est. Look us up we will be happy to RP, team or just mission crunch. Its all about fun Been playing since Beta and still proudly no LVL 50's.
(sheese, but it's getting close)
Remember to be a hero!

American_Valor

They spent the next several hours working. Jonahs didn't miss a single detail. From memory he drew detailed maps of a hidden and secure safehouse, wrote down passcodes and access numbers like they meant nothing. Pandora recongized some of the codes, having seen Lx use them to access protected records and files, but what bothered her more was the highly detailed hi-tech security protocol he seemed completely flippant about, ending with the vaults biometric retinal lock. Written in bold print on this map were simple red letters H and A next to it. What that meant she didn't know. But the safehouse, the vault, those were the safehouse where the industrial diamonds impounded from Crey were being stored.

Again, she didn't know what was going on, but she was growing increasingly nervous. A longtailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs couldn't have been more jittery. And then there was Lx himself....

In addition to the hand-drawn plans and notes on the safehouse he had also briefed her on the high points of the last several days. His men. His transfer to Burkholder's command. His acquisition of Holman and his men. Bellante, the brunette in the red lingere. And the one-on-one combat with Dark Harrier.

It chilled her blood, especially the last two.

Of his men she'd researched Javier Santos as he'd requested. Santos was nothing more than an out-of-work dockhand, one of many laid low by the feuding over control of the docks. A brief followup on the paperwork had found his family not home, probably taken the money and gone to ground. For their sake she hoped so... and that Santos was bright enough to go with them.

Burkholder, at least, made sense from an operational standpoint. Investigating and infiltrating his operations was a plus.

Holman was another one she'd researched for him and was a real piece of work. Long-time Council. Content at his rank and duties he had turned down promotions and more choice assignments to land where he was now. And superficially, his and Helsinger's assignments in Sub-Saharan Africa had coincided....

Bellante was a name she hadn't known before. The only woman in Jonahs' command... The tale of how she'd gotten there, the surveillance, the blackmail, the tape, and Jonahs' cavalier jokes about mass producing and selling it...

And then Harrier.... She'd seen both men fight. Her imagination played it out as Jonahs bragged, blow for blow she could see it and had to stifle the horror that she felt. Harrier was a friend, but her money for any extended fight was on her partner. Valor would simply outlast and eventually beat down Harrier... if he'd only be brutal enough to do so. And so he had, something she would never have thought him capable of. Not that he couldn't do it, but that he wouldn't. She'd been wrong.

Stolen kisses and denied passion were making Jonahs annoyed. As much as he wanted her he kept hearing the voice in his head, *job first, base of operations first, kill Tino first.* Each one always bringing him back to work and the denial of his woman. All of those were more important at this time, so he handed her a generic jumpsuit to match his own and enjoyed watching her get changed. Yes later, right now it was time to eat and discuss the next move.

Much like food, his eyes and mouth consumed her. His hands held her with a strength they never had before today. Not with pain this time, not like earlier when he'd wrenched her wrist and aggravated the half-healed bones of her arm, but without compassion that was the partner to his normal passion. There was no gentleness in him, in his role, as he mauled and pawed at her. If his jokes about Bellante and the surveillance tape hadn't made her feel cheap this would have.

A year, Agent Connors had told her... a year he'd been undercover last time, so immersed that they had gone in after him to retrieve him. Was this the hinted at meaning... that Lx once immersed had started to become the cover? Was it happening again, so quickly? Was this why he'd been so worried?

Now she was too. She shivered as she changed clothing, peeling off the white merry widow getup for the more concealing jumpsuit. In a way it was even more vulgar, because she had nothing to wear beneath it. As she strapped on the gun she again met his eyes, steeling her resolve. To play her role. To back up his role. "So... what's the plan, partner?"

Jonahs's hand absently sat on his left temple as he watched her. He was getting ready to move to her when she spoke, bringing him back. *Plan.* Jonahs smiled sitting back. "Right. The plan, you mean right now." He rubbed his temple. Again.

"Well, first we are going to talk to Burke and April while we eat. Then I'm going to explain to the men where you both fall in the pecking order. I'm sure they won't like it, I don't care and the first one who balks I'll kill." He smiled "Unless of course you just want to kill April yourself. I think Santos likes her. We'll find out later once he hears I gave her to Burke."

He looked over at the files throwing Bellante's on table. "She could become dangerous, plus she's competition." He removed the two disks and crushed one in his hand, then he smiled at Prissy while holding up the other. "Maybe later we can watch this together, it's good." He grinned. He placed the disk in her laptop bag and turned the remains of the other into a fine powder, as he stood up. "Ok, lets barge in on the newlyweds and get to eating real food." He smilled as he produced a passkey.

As she followed she noted that in spite of the performance he'd given the tape, the only tape, now was in her control, her posession.

It was just a performance. Right.

Shameless bump.

Ok we got New Heroes Daily, they have to have some type of theme song

Musical Score A hero rises, Star Wars Musical Journey For MicroBeam

Oh Yea the big server drops. Ugh It always happens right in the middle of those really hard missions when your sk'ing some one. Well I decided that our Emergency Medical Transport Devices have been damaged and sometimes you get grabbed and then the unit reactivates dropping you at the door. But oh what a pain.

(ooc note appearing every 10 post: Tales from the Council is a rp story involving a hero with guest starring heroes and setting up villains to be introduced into other storylines at a later date. It's not normally thought of but even villains have mothers, wives or other family members these tales have include them at times. Something to think about: Who makes the best Arch-Villain, A truly evil person, or a fallen hero/sidekick? Feel free to PM.)



Ssgt Earl Holman exited Club Dokken sometime later with a general idea of what Lil Tino had planned. He made his way back to Striga, but not to the main base. Instead he headed to one of the upper volcano bases. As much as he dreaded it, there was some one he had to see. He naviagated quietly through the tomb-like area to the facility he was seeking.

The Archon in charge hissed at him. "What do you want, Sgt Holman?"

Sgt Holman kept a professional look on his face, speaking clearly and concisely. " I'm here to see Archon Helsinger." Then he glared at the Archon, "Tell Marx that Earl is here to see him, student to mentor, I need his help."

Archon Marx Helsinger was formerly a Captain and Senior Human Intelligence Officer and Interrogator for the Fifth Column. Now he was one of the Council's newest Elite Vampyri Corps and in line for his own base command once the change was fully complete. That command depended upon two things....

First, that the change be fully successful. Thus far, it was everything the researchers had hoped for. He'd gained the powers of the Vampyri and lost none of his intellect, ambition, or self-control and his appearance, while startling, was not monstrous.

The second thing his command depended upon was the successful completion of an outstanding plot from his Fifth Column days. The plot, to gain a valuable alloy known as jadenium for Burkholder's project, had been stymied by the actions of heroes, including the one who had created it. Steele Magnolia. He'd had her and her alloy in his possession. Once. Both had been taken from him, and very nearly his life as well.

As much as the command he wanted revenge.

So now his old student was here to see him? Helsinger found this fortuitous. He could put Earl's brutal talents and weasel-like mind to use, one favor for another. He almost felt a wave of nostalgia for those days. Sub-Saharan Africa, civil war, weapons, drugs, and human smuggling, slavery, covert deals with pseudo-governments here one year and gone the next. One step ahead of UN and its precious, ineffectual, and often corrupt peacekeeping forces.

Yes, those were the days. Perhaps they could share a drink and reminisce about the old times. And then get down to business with the new.

Helsinger buzzed him into the small, dark alcove that served as his temporary office and haven, brightened the lights slightly so that Holman would be able to see, and removed an eighteen year old bottle of brandy and two snifters from the armoire.

"Join me for a drink, Earl. And tell me what's one your mind." Feral eyes winked red in the light, and his smile revealed the glint of pointed canines.

Sgt Holman hid his suprise well. It was easy because Marx changes weren't as bad as he thought they would be.

"It's been a long time, some of the rumors were unkind to say the least. A drink and then, I'll explain why I'm here."

All his earlier thoughts had vanished in the presence of his mentor. This man had taken the time to help guide him earlier in his career with the Column. Marx had a greater ambition then he did really, but he loved working and learning and like a sponge soaked up everything that Marx ever taught him.

[ QUOTE ]
like Whitmore Apartments, how did it become so good

[/ QUOTE ]

The answer is time.

Short and sweet. We all have had some rough starts as well, AND we all have offended each other at least at one point or another weather intentional or not. As yet another writer, I also am story telling outside of the Whitmoore in Tales of the Council involving heroes and basicly telling a crossover type story. Hardwork all the way around. I hope this helps in some fashion. But the answer is Time. IMHO. Have fun keep writing and most of all have fun, it bares mentioning twice.

Peace out, and remember be a hero.
Or as my youngest says
"Heroes Rule, villains drool, and go to the Zigg."

American Valor,
Currently Hero at large in Eden

[ QUOTE ]
Dont' Look him up, He will try to pervert you to the idealsss of SSsel-ssacrificsse and perssonal Mortification to sssome freedom-desstroying code. The sso-called 'heroesss' all try to fill thisss Ideal of dessstruction of ssself and the artificssially imposssed sstricturesss of the Rule of othersss...

Chaosss, ssurvival of the fittessst, domination of the ssstrong over the weak...thessse are the only valuess that are worthy of being called 'universsal lawsss'.

Champion sserver....Virtue sserver... thessse are all the sssame , jussst remember to sserve the Masster that YOU choossse... whether the weak-kneed pansssy they call ssstatessman that allowsss all of hisss life to be dominated by the crying and whining of lessser beingsss, or the powerful lord reclussse who givesss promotion and advancssement to thossse who prove themessselvesss worthy.

-Serpent Queen, Champion server.

[/ QUOTE ]

Disreguard that last bit from those vile villains, Lord Recluse's goons are nothing but sham two bit hood villains like all the rest. We sense your powers for good and they are great. I am American Valor should you need a mentor, and find yourself on the Liberty shard, Dial L for Liberty Centre, the Home of the Sentinel of Liberty SG. Or leave a message for one of us at the Whitmoore Apt Complex. Remember To be a Hero!

(OOC: Look for the Whitmoore in the RP section of the Forum boards Our Tenants spand all the shards. Have fun and welcome aboard. See you on the otherside Hero.)

Downstairs...

Ssgt Earl Holman spoke quietly to Lil Tino. The boys had gone back their assorted vices. It had taken several drinks and a few promises before Tino became manageable.

"So you're tell'n me that this guy is just all hype, that none of the stories 'bout him is true, 'cause you was there?" Tino raised an eyebrow. He'd looked into Jonahs eyes and felt his grip. Even if the stories were lies, Tino wasn't stupid. Lies are generally based on some facts. He stared hard at Earl.

"Look, like I was saying our Commander doesn't have a clue what to do with him, so they are giving him all the rope he needs to hang himself. You let me know once the deal is set, and I'll make sure you are fully compensated for your trouble." Earl smiled at Tino. Trust me. Right.

"Now you said the girls aren't part of the group so I can have them both to do what pleases me." He watched Earl's eyes as he spoke. "I don't think they will be of much use to anyone when we're done with them." Tino leared with open malice, hand touching the spot where Prissy's boot had busted his face open. His jaw ached even through the alcohol and he was sure she'd damaged his bridgework.

Earl smiled sinisterly back at him. "As long as we get them back still conscious and breathing is all that matters to me."

Earl though how he would enjoy watching Jonahs squirm as his girl was put through the paces and finally thrown into The Pit. It would be pure satisfaction to watch Jonahs leap in after her, and if he didn't, well, it would be even better to watch his face as the warwolves tore her throat out, whether before or after they ravished her. He hoped after.

Tino grinned. When he was finished carving her up she'd need a roadmap to look in the mirror. Unlike what this Council dog was saying, he wasn't worried about Jonahs because the man was gonna be swimming with the fishes.

They both smiled while they finished their drinks, each hatching his own twisted schemes and planning on leaving the other holding the bag.....

[ QUOTE ]
He grinned, "We have work to do, plans to make, and people to kill, betray or both." Jonahs smiled at Prissy and closed the door....

[/ QUOTE ]

Prissy dropped the papers to the bed and stretched languidly, posing for effect. "You've been busy, lover." As she spoke, she rolled onto her back amongst the bundles of cash, long blonde hair pooling around her. "Just who did you have in mind for Prissy to help you betray and kill?"

*Talk to me... tell me what is going on, Lx... I'm missing something.* She reached up to brush her fingers gently along his cheek, looking for her partner below the now-brown eyes, black hair, and changed planes of his face. Their words and actions maintained their covers, but touch was communication, seemingly crass as Prissy, but tender and gentle as Pandora. Unspoken love.

He had smiled as she rolled around on the bed. The animal in him wanted her, but later, he told himself. Not now. His smiled dropped like a stone as she carressed his face. With incredible speed he snatched her hand away.

"Not now. Later. I have been busy and I will not be pleased if I was the only one."

"Agh!" The unexpectedness of the move was less of a shock than the roughness of it or the sharp stab of pain that accompanied it, flaring like a red hot railroad spike in the half-fused bone of her right arm. He let her hand go leaving visible marks on her wrist, a dark bloom of bruises. She bit back the cry of pain, looking up in confusion as she cradled her wrist to her chest. What...?

He was speaking, seemingly uncaring. "I have lots of questions for you. The first is how long have you known I was a mutant? And how come I didn't realize it until I fought Harrier?" Both his voice and manner were agitated, demanding. Hard and cold.

Harrier? He'd fought Dark Harrier? The pieces clicked in her mind.... Harrier had just recovered the stolen Rikti technology and was at the hospital when she'd received Lx's call, the Lieutenant had been on his way to debrief him and retrieve the tech. Now it was clear to her what must have happened, that Harrier must have had Lx's help. Panda's mind continued, analyzing. Mutant powers... he'd had to reveal them, a mock fight, his position exposed and was covering his bases now?

She trusted him, she had to. Beyond her feelings, she wasn't the experienced undercover operative or actor that Lx was, that Harrier was. She was the novice, the one screwing up. Out of her depth again, not responding fast enough, not cuing into his hints. A bruised wrist was nothing compared to what might happen to them, and it wasn't as if he could have known she was injured when there was no outward sign. He was doing his job. That was all.

*Think fast. Pull it together. You're Prissy, not Pandora. He's Ishmael, not Lx. What would Prissy do?*

Prissy sulked.

He turned and paced across the room. "I'm getting sloppy. Why did you tell me not to kill that worthless piece of trash downstairs? I don't mind working my business deal and then killing him, but it makes me seem weak. My enemies are watching and waiting and scheming." He paused briefly while pacing and rubbing his left temple. "Today's list is short. Kill Lil Tino, his men and Ssgt Holman. Steal diamonds for Burkholder. Find out what he is working on and take it. If I can't take it, then take his job, by making him look expendable to his commander. And finally get to Requiem and the Center. I will rebuild my powerbase right here with you at my side."

Inwardly, Pandora winced as Ishmael chastised Prissy. Lx was still trying to cover her screwups, still trying to pass her information. Aside from posing in slutty outfits, was she doing anything at all right?

He turned and faced her with a smug matter of fact smile. "I'm sorry I get ahead of myself, first we need a headquarters to work from, and I know just the place. We'll check it out in a little bit. I want to tell you about competition."

Right. Ishmael would never apologize for hurting anyone, even a lover. He was a megalomaniac, a full-blown sociopath according to his psychological profile. It was all about his goals. The man had been no slouch in the ambition or effort department. He wouldn't tolerate anyone he couldn't use, anyone who didn't serve his purposes. Even Prissy.

"I've been working, Jonahs!" She gestured towards the computer with her good left arm. The right ached, fingers tingling. "I've got the profiles you wanted... Holman, Santos, Burkholder. I brought my hacking gear.... got a few new tricks up my sleeve. And I did a scan of the room, didn't find any bugs." But obviously Lx thought there was one... he was utterly meticulous about maintaining the Ishmael identity, even moreso than last week, and so good that her stomach was still clenched in instinctive flight or fight fear response. He would never have hurt her, even in such a small way as a few bruises, otherwise.

"You know I've got your back, and have since I patched you up in Mexico." She was going out on a limb, but the lines about his mutation, his plots, and his need for Prissy demanded a response for the surveillance. And Lx needed to know that she'd follow him to the wall if need be. She was making it up as she went along, and hoping she guessed right. "You almost died, you must have triggered as a latent then... you're just one tough SOB, the biggest, baddest [censored] around, and always have been. That's no surprise! And if there's a profit, and there sure looks like there is," she grinned and snatched a pile of bills, the dropped it, "You know I'm in."

She needed the information he was trying to impart, to brief Agent Connors and the Lieutenant. She was the drop, the sole information relay between the FBSA and it's deep cover agent. The good thing was that with the retrieval of the stolen Rikti device, one of the mission's objectives was accomplished, but there was more yet to do before Lx could be extracted. From his hints, something else was going on.

Burkholder, right. That operation had always been a mission goal if the opportunity arose. But the Center and Requiem? Just what had changed? What was the Council now up to that the mission goal had shifted like this? Was it even achievable, or was this another situation like the deep cover operation in Mexico, as Agent Connors had hinted but not elaborated, where the stakes were so high that the risks were irrelevant.

In for a penny, in for a pound.

"So... tell me about this competition, sugar. I'm all ears." She held her arm in her lap and ignored the pain.

Ishmael smiled at Prissy, half grimace, half leer. His left temple hurt even more now. Okay, since Mexcio he had been working on getting a surplus warhead. Something had gone wrong and apparently Prissy was the one who saved him. He remembered her now, she helped him alot. He saw she was holding her arm where he grabbed her and frowned slightly.

"It's okay, baby. I believe you. We're going to be rich, you know, and Paragon City will never be the same. Atlas Park will become the new Sirens Call." He smiled wickedly. That would cheer her up, he thought. Destruction always cheered him up.

"And we'll be on top. Right, sugar?" Sirens Call? That place was a veritable war zone right now, a contested area only recently safe for people to once again venture into. The place was radioactive, supposedly after an unfortunate hero, one gifted with abilities very much like her own, had gone into "meltdown" there. Supposedly. That too was a matter of dispute. And it was infested with rogue mercenary groups and criminal elements looking for a foothold. She really didn't know much at all about the reality of the situation. Sirens Call hadn't been in her "need to know", either with the military or with FBSA. For that matter, neither was the Mexico Op.

She really was running blind. Just what was Lx hinting at?

"You can count on me, sugar. You never let your Prissy down, and I ain't going to let you down, either."

Once again, she was struck by just how good Lx was at undercover work. If she hadn't known, absolutely known without a doubt, that this was Lx, she would believe she was sitting here with Ishmael Jonahs.

Javier looked up, defeated, at the Longbow agents in the room.

In a different timeline from this one, he would reach for his weapon and be unaviodablely killed. In yet another he would kill all the Longbow agents present. In this one....

Longbow Agent Cassandra Seer leaned heavily against the doorframe for balance, staying back behind the other two agents, watching. She was covered in concrete dust and her normally golden skin tone was nearly as pale as the dust, and cold sweat was clammy on her forehead, turning the dust to lines of grey grime. Even now she was still a very attractive woman, with an asiatic cast to her features in contrast with tangled blonde hair and vivid, dark blue eyes. The customization of her Longbow uniform with lightning bolts on the shoulders marked her as a senior agent, but this was not her investigation. She was here in an advisory capacity only. She watched and listened, peering into the depths of the man's soul.....

The distraught Council soldier was pleading with the other two agents, "I'm not the badguy! I haven't done anything wrong! I needed a job, my family was starving. Tell me, what you have done with them?" His voice nearly cracked on the last.

Agent Mythos smiled at him. It wasn't a happy smile, neither was it cruel. It was knowing, uncompromising, the smile of one who was in control and knew it. "You are a member of the Council. A Corporal in a elite unit recently formed called the Devil's Own... and you expect us to believe you? Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just lock you away for the rest of your life."

Javier mouth's was dry. Hope was a distant thing, as distant now as the wife and children he loved. He wanted to see his family again and paused as he thought of Jonahs. That thought turned his stomach. He was already dead just for talking to these guys, it wouldn't matter to Jonahs, even if he killed the agents. He knew it. And that scared him. Even if Longbow showed mercy, turned him a deal... even if he could have his freedom and his family again, Jonahs was a blight on their future and a threat to their very existence.

He stuttered when he spoke, so quietly they could barely hear him. "I want to make a deal.... I'll give you the most dangerous person I know, the leader of the Devil's Own. A hero killer. Lieutenant Ishmael Jonahs... and he will lead you to Archon Commander Burkholder and his secret project." He looked pleadingly at Agent Mythos. "All I want is my old life back before all this."

From the back of the assembly, the dirty and exhausted blonde agent stepped forward. To advise. In this timeline....

"You can trust him." The agent's eyes were soft with pity on him.

Agent Mythos nodded. "Okay, Santos here's the deal....."

The scene played out as rehearsed throughout time. In some, the forces of evil smiled. In others they howled. In this one, a small tremor was felt as powerbases shifted yet again... More than one piece was in play.

Even Cassandra could not see the end of it.

Pandora sat on the room's bed and goggled at the open bag, a stack of bills loose in one hand, a sheaf of paper printouts in the other. For the moment she'd forgotten her promise to herself not to allow her skin to touch anything in this room out of fear of catching hepatitis... heck, she was afraid to even breathe in this club for worry of just what passed through and lingered in this place. Now she had other things on her mind, as her computer hummed to life on the coffee table.

The room was clean and secure her extra scan confirmed that the room was bugfree. While the computer systems booted and connected to the satillite system network, She was flabbergasted.

What she'd found looking through the room, for starters. She sat aside the electronic bug sensing equipment and just goggled.

Intelligence. Files on a Specialist Bellante (the woman in the red lingere), Archon Burkholder, and a list of men and tags identifying belonging to a Lietuenant Jonahs' command.

Lieutenant? His own command? In a week?

Cash. At least a million dollars worth.

And uniforms. One of them smeared in dried blood.

Just what was going on?

Meanwhile...

From his position on the stairs overlooking the club, Lt Jonahs watched Ssgt Holman getting drinks for Lil Tino and his crew, schmoozing them. Finally he turned his back to them, and the fake smile dropped.

He was going to have to kill those men and Holman, very soon or they were going to muck up his plans. He'd have Burnett take Charlie and Delta squads to the weapons meet once it was set up. When they finished it, they would take out that mob trash and he would find out what Ssgt Holman had told Lil Tino. He planned to kill Holman as well, but first he was going to have to vist the local zoo, he missed his cats, he mused as he finished climbing the stairs.

As Jonahs passed by the first room he laughed, it sounded like a good time was being had inside. He continued down the hall to his room and activated the door, it slid open quietly with the faintest of swooshing noises. The room's hinges and security were well maintained, even if its furnishings weren't.

From the door he watched Prissy. She had set up her gear and checked the room over, and was now waiting on the bed, reading files with money scattered all around and over her and the bed. The sight made him smirk, then grin.

The writeup was engrossing, she hadn't heard him enter she was concentrating so intently. Much of the information contained in Jonahs's research she already knew, some of it was new. The dossiers she had obtained, waiting on the now-booted computer for Jonahs's review, held a surprise or two, but not many. Jonah's sources were as good, and in some cases better than FBSA's.

It was her "own" file that she was intensely reading now... to better be Prissy, because by tomorrow others would have researched her and be watching for weakness. The mobster Tino, at minimum.

She felt his eyes on her, like a spider scuttling across her skin and shuddered. "Oh! There you are, lover!"

He grinned, "We have work to do, plans to make, and people to kill, betray or both." Jonahs smiled at Prissy and closed the door....

Javier made his way across Independence Port. He stopped in the local shelter and several of the ladies working there gave him a look. "I just need some clothes, please." He told them.

The mission ladies gave him some and asked if he would like to eat something. Javier smiled at the offered kindness, changed, and ate a bowl of soup while listening to several people talking about the rampant crime running through the area. He was part of that now.

They had enough money now. He had bet his entire bonus on Jonahs and was bringing it all home. He would talk to Maria and she would understand that he hadn't done anything wrong. The money was good, and half a million dollars would set them up nicely. They could move go anywhere she wanted, even travel. The girls would have what ever they needed. She would understand.

He left a sizeable donation in the shelters coffer's. They could have called the police or even heroes on him and they didn't. They had been kind and even given him food, and he repaid that kindness with something they could use to help others. Maria would be proud.

The walk to the ferry was long but getting a taxi was next to impossible in this area. It took him two hours but he was finally at home.

Javier noticed immediately that the house was empty. Where were Maria and the girls? Probably at a movie or something. Good, she wasn't that stubborn after all. He opened the door and looked inside and stopped, staring at the money bag sitting out where he had left it, with a note. Javier's heart pounded as he raced over to it and picked it up.

<translated from Spanish>

Dear Javier,
I refuse to be married to a criminal. I am taking the kids and leaving. I took all the money you left and burned it. We will have nothing to do with your blood money. I called the police and Freedom Corp. If you try to find me they will lock you up. I told the girls you died in the accident on the docks, as a hero, saving people. Thats how I want them to remember their father. As a good, decent, and honest man.

Goodbye Javier,
Maria

He couldn't believe it. It was a trick! A bad joke!

He raced through the small house checking the rooms, the closets. All empty.

He staggered out into the living room and collasped, short of breath. His chest so tight the air barely entered his lungs and did not satisfy, panting. His heart was pounding so hard that he couldn't even hear as the tears streamed down his face.

Javier Santos, husband and father... his world fell apart at that moment as he sobbed openly, alone in what once had been his family's living room, clutching the note tightly in his hand.....


A short while later Santos felt a hand touch his shoulder, and looked up expectantly with hope. "

Maria!"

Then sighed totally crushed, looking at the three Freedom Corp Longbow Agents standing in the room.

Ishmael stared longingly at Prissy. Value - she had it. A smirk formed on his face. Value - April wanted it. He saw the pistol. Prissy could shoot her, but then April wouldn’t be good for anything to anybody, and that just wouldn’t do. He smiled, unblinking, at Prissy, “Undress later, get over here.” Then he briefly looked at April, “Back off or she might just kill you.” He laughed. “She might kill you anyway when she finds out what you’ve been up to.”

April saw the look in Prissy’s face, one of possessive rage, and had followed the hand movement to the hip. She stepped gingerly away from Ishmael, wishing she had her own pistol, but unlike Prissy's outfit which had the belt and holster in matching leather threaded through the straps, hers of flimsy lace was not equipped for carry.

Ishmael was still laughing when he barked, “Burke, front and center!” He continued to watch Prissy's every movement, from her deliberate motion in picking up her coat and bag to her languid, sexy saunter across the floor of the nightclub.

Ishmael's eyes weren't the only ones on her. At the bar, Holman observed all with keen interest, taking close note of the first crack in Jonahs' armor. And what a crack it was! The man's eyes never left her, his carnal gaze beyond simple hunger and bordering on obsession. Very interesting.

Burke had been checking out several other prospects among the working girls of the club staff, with an eye towards the rooms upstairs, when he heard his name and moved over to Jonahs. “Yes Sir?” He stood at attention.

Ishmael's arm shot out to his side and grabbed Bellante’s in a swift movement, like a striking snake. “April, I hope you remember what I said yesterday. I never asked your choice. This is Burke. You now answer directly to him and to me. If at anytime you believe you’ve made a bad choice just tell me... and I’ll let you choose from the remaining two choices.” His lips twisted in a smirk, though even still his eyes never left the blonde now approaching on clicking heels.

April looked at the animal den they were in. She wasn’t stupid, it could have been the hulking brute Burnett, so this was in a way a small kindness, Burke was handsome and actually played well for her. Her mind continued... Burke was Ishmael's second as well, so she smiled at Ishmael and then at Burke and replied, “Yes Sir. I understand.”

Ishmael let go of April’s arm, turning partially towards Burke. “Burke, this is April. She has some ‘Value’.” The edge in his voice stressed the word. “Burke, I like having 'married' men in my command. Santos had to leave to see his wife who isn’t here,” he grinned, a gleam in his eye. “Please take your 'wife' to 'your' room, and make her happy. Later we will gather to eat. When I’m unavailable you're in charge. Keep the men happy, and together."

Pandora couldn't believe what she was hearing... and was that a dead body in the far corner behind the trash can? Dear God, what was going on? There was a slight hitch in her step as those last words sunk in.

Her instincts were screaming "Flight or Fight" and "Fight" wasn't the option they were begging for anymore. Jonahs's eyes, still on her in spite of the body language reflecting his talk with the others, felt like a spider upon her skin. She had to be missing part of the picture, something... because despite knowing that Lx would kill in defense, she couldn't believe he could be party to what she was seeing unfold before her.... could he? And what other "choices" had he given that woman that being handed off like a piece of meat was preferable? Was this Lx? Or was Jonahs not really dead?

No. There had to be an explanation! Lx was good at undercover work, while she was a novice. Whatever was necessary. Right. She had to trust in him. She needed answers, but wasn't sure she even knew the questions anymore.

For a moment, her uncertainty and hesitancy had translated visibly into her steps, distracted momentarily, and an intoxicated Family man in an off-the-rack purple suit took it as an invitation.

Antino di Gallo had been active with the Family for years. He was a regular in Club Dokken and took liberties as he chose. Currently the Council and the Family were working together running weapons, not in active hostilities against one another.

Lil Tino noticed the new morsel as he straightened up from a new line of snow on the bar, dusting the trace of powder from his nostrils. She looked good enough to eat, for this he would forgo dinner. He got up and moved towards her. Regulars moved out of his way as he approached her. Maybe she didn’t want to go to that loud and boarish Council upstart. That was fine with him. He would sample her wares, then the Councilman could have her back.

Maybe.

Pandora had been scanning the club, her eyes lighting briefly on Holman, who she recognized from the dossiers she now carried, the only one of the three men present. Neither Burkholder nor Santos were here. So it was that there was no way she could miss Tino's move, rising from two stools down from Holman.

What to do? It was practically happening in slow motion, and all the club watched to see where the chips would fall when Lil Tino reached out to grab her….

Jonahs saw Lil Tino moving. His smile dropped. That stinking mobster wasn’t stupid enough to try that, was he? He had killed Harrier just for saying it!

…. Lil Tino reached out to grab her ….

There was a slight breeze and a blur of motion, almost as if a camouflage ghost appeared to move. In an instant the spot where Jonahs had been sitting was empty. Now standing in the middle of the dance floor, holding Lil Tino in the air by his neck and slowly crushing his windpipe, stood Jonahs. The Capo's hands flailed in vain against the crushing grip as the men stared into the others eyes, Tino’s eyes full of fear where Jonahs' were cold and dead. Jonahs was like a, statue his face immobile, blank of any emotion as he was choking the life slowly from Tino’s body. The greasy, black-haired head didn't so much as move in Jonahs' grip, fixed in place by the strength of those big hands.

Pandora's heart pounded like a drum, and she turned so her face wasn't visible to the others in the club. "Stop!" She hissed quietly, audible only to her partner, "You're killing him!"

No response. Not even a twitch. And, she realized, unless she acted, Lx had no choice but to kill the man. Jonahs would never back down.

In character, right. This was all her fault for lapsing, however brief and minor, this was the consequence. Lx was waiting on her to act, to retrieve this mess of her own making.... He had to be... and at the same time she had to do it convincingly enough to back down all other potential trespassers and challengers, or this would only be the first such incident. This was one of the things Mike had warned her about.

She drew herself to her full height, huffing her considerable chest for effect. "Let me, sugar! I want a piece of him, nobody lays hands on Prissy without payin' the price!"

Jonahs averted his gaze from Tino to Prissy. A smirk formed on his face. "You're brought and paid for. No one touches you unless I want them to. Please explain the error of his ways to him." There was an audible gasp of breath as Jonahs released Tino's throat, dropping him to the floor.

As soon as Jonahs released him, the Don's son sagged, slouching and gasping for breath, his gold chains hanging from around his neck like miniature child's swingsets. Jonahs had only barely shifted out of the way when Prissy dropped into a ready stance, pivoting with a snap and connecting with the arch of her booted foot in a wide and high roundhouse kick to the man's face.

The sound of the steel-reinforced arch and toe splitting flesh and cracking bone, sending the man to the floor with a spray of blood and teeth, carried across the club floor.

"Now, sugar. Where were we, and what'dya have in mind for your Prissy?" She purred, running a had over his chest while keeping half an eye out on the club floor. Inside she wanted to vomit at what she had just done, and wondered what the consequences would be.

Several Capos stood up, no way Don di Gallo would put up with this. Anthony, Vinny and Tony Jr moved over to Lil Tino. Vinny slipped his hand into his jacket. Before he could clear leather, Hurlocker and Corchado had drawn down on them with their rifles.

Ishmael actually smiled at Prissy, she'd done good! He smacked her backside while whispering to her, "On table, roomkey. Set up your gear." He finished turning his back to the mobsters to watch her walk to the table.

It was a nice walk, after all.

With a sashay of full hips on tall, skinny heels, she made her way to the table with her duffle and coat, and took the key, bringing it to her pursed lips and then tucking it deep into her cleavage. "I'll be waitin', sugar."

And then she was on her way, heading up the stairs and looking for the number on the room key and hoping noone shot her in the back before she got there. What the hell was going on?

Ishmael spoke to Tino and his men, though he still didn't turn away from watching Prissy on her way up the stairs. "We will have business later. I hope this little incident won't affect it. It would be a shame for your family to have to bury you if a gun comes out of that jacket."

Lil Tino was holding his throat and breathing raspily. He pushed Tony Jr. away, hand going into his jacket. He was furious, he was gonna kill the Council soldier. Earl watched, then moved. Duke spotted him and nodded at Jonahs. Ssgt Holman stepped up behind Lil Tino. "Put it away son. There's been enough killin' today, and Lt Jonahs is good for his word. Let me get you all a drink."

That simple statement caught Jonahs' attention and he turned to face Holman who was standing between Tino and himself, gathering Tino and his boys together. "Very good Sgt, you just earned a bonus." Jonahs then walked back over to the table and grabbed a bottle. "As you were men, and have a good time. I sure intend to."

He headed up the stairs....

Across the Port the winter wind blew in off the water. The decrepit old warehouse had been converted into a well-used nightclub of illicit activity. The club was full people, whether Council or not was unknown, but no one cared. There was a dead body lying in the corner, someone would clean it up later, they always did at some point.

Into this den of iniquity wandered the Devils Own. The unit had spread out, laid claim to, and secured an area they planned to call their own while here.

Corporal Santos secured two rooms for Jonahs and then took a moment to find Ishmael who was sitting off in the middle of the area looking like he was getting ready to hold court.

"Jonahs, I got the rooms set up. I'm gonna head home to see the wife, I'll be back later." Javier said.

Ishmael looked at Javier. He was a good man, too good. He might get in the way. "Good idea, Santos, give your wife a hug and a kiss from all of us too.", he said coldly, then added, "Call if you're not going to be here before tomorrow morning. Dismissed."

"Yes Sir," Javier said and turned to leave, trying not to think just how creepy Jonahs was.

Jonahs turned back to April who had brought over a few bottles of Abslout with two shot glasses and had smiled at the departing Santos. "What are you looking at, Bellante? Get changed." He tossed her a roomkey. "Then come back." He said this with a leer. The woman was gonna have to learn her place the hard way, he thought.

He took off his jacket and threw it over the chair against the wall and sat down facing the door of the club, waiting....

***

For Prissy, it had been a long, cold walk across the port from the train station, made bearable only by the full length fox fur coat she wore over her attire. Fortunately, the weight of her duffle wasn't a significant hindrance, though the 3" stiletto heels of the black leather, multi-buckled boots made navigating the cracked and desolate sidewalk interesting.

The bag held her gear.... the tools of her trade, over $20,000 worth of specialized techno toys and software for the hard-charging cybercriminal. While her exterior screamed 'Good Time Girl, there was a sharp mind that went along with the Fredrick's of Hollywood gear and Marilyn Monroe curves. Even the curves disguised another layer of threat... genuine muscle, the kind earned pumping iron.

Close in to the train, the only eyes she drew were watchful, curious, and the cynical ones of beat cops. The deeper into the port and its underworld she went, she drew others. Her response to those eyes, and the men that came with them, varied from, "You can't afford me, sugar," to "Touch me and you're dead meat, Jonahs will make sure of it."

She arrived at the club unmolested. When the gun she wore under the coat hadn't done the trick of driving off the would-be predators, her lover's name surely had. And when she entered, it was with the hard-clacking of her signature stiletto heels and the swish of fur and satin as she dropped the coat in a puddle to pose in the doorway.

Inside the club, a large converted warehouse with sections for bar, dance floor, restaurant, and even upstairs rooms to rent, April had returned from changing wearing a red Victorian teddy with mesh stockings and heels. She was in the middle of massaging Ishmael's neck muscles when the door opened, showcasing the call girl. She glanced down at Jonahs who smirked up at her and then at Prissy.

Council weren't the only patrons in evidence, there were a sprinkling of others there to dance, dine, drink, dope, or sample the delights of the staff. Many eyes turned to watch the scene with interest, but no real concern. It was Club Dokken.... it would take more than cleavage and leg and the prospect of a catfight to raise eyebrows here.

"Am I going to have to kick her @$$ to get a piece of yours, lover?" Because Prissy was more than willing, and her voice and glare were hard, even though buried under the face paint of her undercover identity Pandora wanted to cry. Seeing him with another woman's hands on him was like a crossbow bolt to the heart. She knew he would do whatever was necessary, Mike had warned her, after all. The days that had passed were like an open sore.... just what had he done? It was petty of her to angst over it, but she couldn't help it.

She cocked a fist on her hip, the other hand releasing her duffle to slide slowly to the floor. Ready to kick some brunette butt. In this, Pandora and Prissy were in complete agreement.

Ssgt Earl Holman marched his recruits to a old unused door. The recruits entered and he had them wait in the old little used breakroom waiting. He walked to the far end to the command center. "Her Doktor the rest of your men are waiting for you in Breakroom 17."

The wizen old man looked up with a pointed smile "Ah so sorry to hear about your loss Sgt, but think of it this way I've gained so much from our little venture, I've advance the Center timeline on Project Ubermench, with all the men you have assisted in supplying and raked in a killing on betting aganist your man I'm glad I didn't know you planted a hero Earl or I would have lost money and I hate doing that." He waved his hand dismissing any kind of rebuke Sgt Holman had about it and continued. " Now don't worry about the Devils Own the training will soon kick in on the few exposed men I did give you. Well it will simply be an unfortunate accident for your Lt. Jonahs and Commander Burkholder will soon understand flesh is stronger then metal." He turned his back on Sgt Holman and began to laugh.

Sgt Holman exited and headed to the NCO club he would get his new trainiees tomorrow, and it would be to soon before he got another Jonahs he would let slide out of directly going to 'the Pit'.