Contact raises his eyebrow again, "You assume to much, miss," he says, pushing his glasses up over his eyes, "FAR to much."
"As for your name, it matters very much. While enigmatic heroes are all the rage in the paper, it makes it difficult to fill out a paycheck... not to mention to have a decent conversation, if you don't know what to call the other party. I've extended you the courtesy of my name, and I'd appreciate if you did the same."
Contact half smiled, a cross between being smug and outright amusement, "I'm sure there won't be any 'misunderstandings' since I'm very much `taken.' Now, if the posturing and threats are done, I -might- have a freelance assignment we can find for you," he pushed a hand through his blond hair and waited, judging her reaction and giving a sideways glance at Sly.
Sly didn't even need the glance, he was already stepping in front of Contact and offering his hand.
"And what do we owe for the pleasure of THIS charming lady?" Sly doffed his hat to the blue-haired beauty.
"Shame on you, Contact," He playfully chided the CEO, "demanding her name when she has not offered it. You should know a rose by ANY other name would smell just as sweet!"
Sly grinned his mischievous "kiss me or slap me" grin...
Sullen stood on one of the outcroppings set into the corners of the First Strike HQ, watching RedStarr make his exit. "Ok boys, stand down." he spoke into the comm. The FS response teams, on the ground and on the roof behind him, nodded and returned to they're normal duties. Sullen had no doubt that Contact could handle RedStarr, but then, the city seemed to be inundated with so-called Heros these days.
As RedStarr faded off in the distance, Sullen pulled out a small PDA-like device and checked his duty roster for the day. Selecting the first on the list, he quickly read the case file and prelim investigating teams assessment. Summoning his innate energies, Sullen lifted off from the building, streaking into the sky.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sullen - Boardmember, First Strike Security
The woman looks at Sly, then places two fingers on his lips. Her own form a smile, as Sly's lips become blue and the water in his mouth freezes to ice. "Now, try to act less like someone publishing the playboy magazine, will you? As for my name...." She turns toward contact "You can call me Heart of Frost, or Miss Frost if you prefer. You won't be needing my true name, I doubt my bank in Switzerland really care.
Now, I believe you were saying something about freelance missions, correct?"
"Miss Frost it is then," Contact gave Sly a pat on the back and turned, leaving him to thaw out his mouth. More a comical annoyance then anything dangerous, he felt Sly sometimes needed these little humility reminders... lord knows he got them himself every day.
Crossing the room he leaned over the secretaries desk and retrieved a clip board, flipped through a few pages and stood, leaning against the desk reading for a moment.
"This is an in-house contract rather then an outside assignment," Contact said while reading, "But should be better suited to your security level." The comment sounded factual, and not at all like an insult.
"Track this down and give me a report on what you find," he removed a photo copy of an ad torn from the Paragon City Mirror and handed it to her.
"Hero's Wanted! Good pay, choose your own hours! Retrieval work in Kings Row: LOW RISK! Repeat contracts = BENEFITS!! Work with a team! 1 800 555 3862 ask for Karen! Limited Availability!"
"Having another unnamed outfit in King's Row has given me some cause for concern," he said, pushing his hand through his hair again. "I know we don't hire out mercenaries, but they might not be as reputable, which is obviously a problem. Give them a call and report back to me what you find. Don't tell them you are from First Strike, obviously. There may be other Operatives involved, but that's "need to know" and its not critical you do."
He crossed his arms and leaned back against the secretary's desk with the same half smile, "Think you can handle that?"
"That's it? It's almost beneath me, but... I could use the money. I'll give them a ring. As for my security level...don't judge the cat by the way it walks" Frost got out of the chair and started to walk towards the exit. "I'll be back before you know it. If you ever need additional frosting on the cake.....you better call a baker" As she left the bulding she took a small cellphone out of an equally small pocket and pushed the phone number. "This is Icesoul, could you give me Karen please?"
Helsing put his headfones back into his pocket. "Well now thats settled, lets get a contract," Helsing said to himself. He walked to the edge of building and leaped off. He landed right in front off the door, scaring guards. One of the guards' guns discharged a slug in Helsing's shoulder. The wound sethed with blue flames as it closed up. "Man that stings! You gotta be more careful," Helsing exclaimed. He took the guard's gun and broke it in half. "Now stick to a handgun and that won't happen again," he told the guard. Noticing the guards were left with faulty weapons, he strolled into the lobby. "Hey, din't think you could get ridda me that easy. So is this where I get one of those contracts?" Helsing asked.
The street was quiet for a moment when Kyle walked inside. The guard replaced his obviously fragile and faulty weapon with a new one from the weapons locker.
Suddenly, a figure burst through the doors and skidded on his rump to a stop on the pavement in front of First Strike headquarters. Kyle sat in the road for a moment, his pants scuffed from road rash and his chest feeling as though he'd just been hit by a steel bat. He wasn't injured, other then his pride, and a possible welt on his chest that may appear tomorrow.
Contact stepped out the front of the door and crossed his arms, standing in front of it. He hadn't wanted to hurt Kyle, but he was tired of trying to be polite, so he gave him a little Telekinetic push. Kyle was told not to enter and he insisted, obviously NOT GETTING THE POINT. It was rude, but he should have expected that. People like Kyle only understood one thing.
"That's IT! I've had it with you," he growled, holding his place in front of the door. "I took your application and gave it to impartial operatives for an evaluation. They found you to be selfish, short sighted and lacking ANY sense of team work or team building skills. You can't even follow simple directions like 'stay out or else." Well, boy, you want to push me? You just got pushed back."
"It ends here, either you get the point and keep away from me and my people, or we have it out right here. I have a feeling that's the only thing your kind will understand," Contact was fuming, those assembled in the front office had rarely ever seen him upset, and never so upset he lashed out physicly at someone who wasn't directly threatening his life.
"And I'm billing you for the gun," he added as an afterthought.
Cautiously, Contact reached out for the surface of Kyle's mind with his own. He had no interest in being invasive, as he doubted very much he'd find anything of remote interest, but he wanted to better anticipate Kyle's next move. For the moment, he only waited...
OOC
You HAVE to stop assuming actions like your previous post.... It's really no fun. RP like this has to be give and take, not take and take and take...
"Gah, MMmghh..." was all Sly could say as he smacked his lips and tried to thaw out his frozen mouth.
He walked up behind the fuming Contact and said, "Hey Roger... ack, you got any coffee? Preferably 'lawsuit' hot?"
The Sly noticed who Contact was confronting. Oh no... not Mr. "I kill you if you get in my way..."
Sly could only hope that this little confrontation wouldn't come to any sort of head... he had JUST had his suit dry-cleaned...
A sudden burst of gold and red light followed by the crack of a moving object making hard impact on a standing one sent Kyle Helsing once again skidding across the street in tumbles. A burnt line and a trail of smoke starting at Kyle and ending with the famous golden figure of Galactic Jack left little to the imagination for what had conspired yet again.
"JeeeezzzzUUUUsssss! Who in gods name keep sputting these things in front of First Strike Security? Like you own the whole damn street!" Jack griped loudly, pulling himself off the ground. "Listen Contact, we're going to have to ammend my contract for this kind of stuff, you gotta keep your place clean ya know?"
Galactic Jack, the only Hero in the entire city who had contracted FSS not for a job but for their services. With the click of a button FSS operatives were on scene to back up Jack and any problems he might inflict on himself, when the cameras showed up, the operatives were nowhere to be seen. It might have hurt business to let Jack take all the credit for high profile assignments in which he got more then fair help from FSS, but he always paid, paid very well and paid in cash.
"If you'll excuse me, I've got some work to do." The word 'work' coming from Jack's lips often made heroes smile: Jack had more endorsements then a nascar. "New outfit in town needs to bust up some clocks."
With that Jack became a blur and sped away, a slow breeze followed in his wake rolling a single styrofoam cup down the street.
((Just, emm...curious
. That assignment of mine. Are anyone RP'ing Karen 'n' crew, or do we just make it up as we go?
OOC Sailor should have it... I think? If not Im sure Ill get a private message yelling at me to do it 
"Hey man, no problem. I got it clear, no more bugging you guys. If you didn't want me around, its cool, could've just said so, but if it takes brute force to make me go, I'll leave. See ya'll later," Helsing said after watching Contacts emotional explosion. He got up and took out his gun. He threw it to Contact, "Hope that makes up fer that one," he said, pointing at the broken gun. He then walked away into the horizon. Man, that was a waste, but it was pretty damn funny, he though as he walked into a bar across town.
occ: its cool man, I'm still learning this rpin stuff, but I'll just observe from now unless I'm needed later in the thread.
Lady Frost's mobile phone went through its chirps while it rang the phonenumber in the photocopied ad. At the third ring a click and the sound of someone lifting the reciever was promptly followed by, "Hello, this is Karen. If this is abou the ad in the paper I'm afraid we have it covered, well, more or less." It sounded like the person on the other end was shuffling through papers and opening drawers and file cabinets. "Oh wait wait, don't hang up. Hello? He left an application so if you want the job you can join Mr. Jack but... let me see... yes, so if you're female I can fill out this application; I'll need your age, weight, measurements and... phone number and... marital status. Oh dear." The frantic voice stopped as if waiting for an answer.
The guards outside the door were still trying to get over the commontion that had been there morning so far. Suddenly a blur stopped in front of the door. A red and blue camoflaged, armored figure was standing there. Looking at the guards, he spoke.
Icegun: "I am Icegun. I am seeking either Contact, or the one know as Sly Fox. Am I in the right place?"
The guards looked at one another. Finally one spoke up. "Well I dont know this Sly Fox you speak of, but Contact is here. What business do you have with him?"
Icegun: "I have come seeking employment. I also must warn Contact of some, how shall I put this, habits of one in his employ. Do I need an appointment to speak to him?"
The guards looked at one another. This was one of the easiest heroes they have had to work with in awhile. "Let me check for you Icegun." said Steve as he called it in.
Frost raised an eyebrow "You're sure I've got the right number? You know, heroes needed. From your questions it sounds like I'm applying to become playmate of the month" Frost sighed, this assignment was already starting to take a turn she didn't like at all. But she had choosen to do this and she had no intention to back out. "Well, the answers to your questions would be: 25, none of your buisness, 35C - 25 - 38, 176cm or 5 foot and 9 inches if you prefer, 201-242-9340, and single.
Ohh, and if this Jack is even half the jerk he sounds like, the pay better be very very good indeed.
When do I start?"
Contact had just returned inside the lobby after his confrontation. He loathed losing his temped, especially in front of perspective employee's and buisness partners, but that kid really knew how to push his buttons.
He had just reached his office when his Com chirped again.
"Mr. Icegun here to see you, sir," the guard's voice echoed across the com.
"Send him in, I've got a few before my meeting," Contact said into the com, waiting in the front lobby.
Sly almost sprayed his recently acquired coffee all over the secretary as she uttered "Mr. Icegun here to see you, sir." What's worse, Contact was actually going to SEE the guy.
Right away Fox knew his boss was on to his nervousness. If not the fact that the CEO was a mind reader, then for the simple reason that Sly was gritting his teeth and Contact was looking over at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Now look, boss. I've had a series of serious misunderstanding's with Mr. Icegun. Nobody's fault now, but well, with MY reputation it's not always the case that people completely trust me, right? Just... don't take much of what he says worth a grain of salt, kay boss?"
With that, he put on his aloof face and leaned against the receptionist's counter. He sipped his coffee and tried to strike up small talk with the woman, but Contact seemed to have had her trained since yesterday because he was getting no response... her blouse was even buttoned all the way to her chin...
It sounded as if the person on the other end of the phone was rifling through some papers for a moment before she spoke up. "Okay, um, oh wow he has a chart... Miss... I need your name as well... oh nevermind do it later. Mr. Jack is in a warehouse near the King Garment Works so you can join him now if you want. He's tracking down some... er... clockwork power units." The mad shuffling of papers continued for a moment. "The pay is good, we're promissing top prices for good parts. Mr. Jack has it in his contract, though, that he recieve funds for distribution to his team, should one join him. It's not every day a small research outfit like us gets a chance to be represented by the famous Gaactic Jack you know..." the voice trailed off and then the phone was hung up.
Somewhere in a warehouse near King Garment Works Galactic Jack's beeper began to chirp.
Helsing was sitting in the bar knocking back shots. "Hey buddy, thats yer 25th shot, shouldn't you be, you know, uncounsious?" the bar asked. "O, not at all! I can get inebreated, immunity stuff, long story," he responded. He then noticed the newspaper clipping he put in his pocket. He looked at it and pulled out his cell phone. "Hola, is this Karen? Ok then I'm looking for a job, is there any prerequisests?"
Frost closed her cellphone. "Better get it over with, let's go see this 'Jack'. Better look my best, he sounds like he thinks more with his lower head than with his upper" She ran her fingers over her lips, giving them a coldblue look, then added some frost on her cheeks and finally filled her hair with ice crystals.
20 minutes later she was standing outside the garment works. "Jack?"
*ON HELLSING'S PHONE*
A confused and somewhat eccentric female voice came over, "Yes hello? This is Karen... well, yes there are... but... well we have a duo in the King Garment Works. The contract is locked, though, so you'll have to negotiate with Mr. Jack."
*KING GARMENT WORKS or at least in the area*
Frost stood for a moment in silver screen silence, trash blew by her feet and the only sounds were those made by the many nearby factories and a slow methodical clicking.
"Watch it!" came a loud call from the top of the nearest warehouse as three Cogs lept from the roof, away from Galactic Jack's impressive stance oddly perched perfectly center to the setting sun's gold and red rays creeping over the warehouse. The Cogs made quick flight twords frost but continued right past her with purpose. Before she could react, Jack had become a blur of motion, appearing behind her, in front of the fleeing clockwork.
With a drammatic outward motion from both hands, a brilliant burst of white light flashed from his eyes, filling the area with an instant of blinding light. The Cogs all halted holding their 'eyes', unable to see they froze in confusion.
"Well hello there doll," Jack extended a hand as a picture perfect smile graced his face, eyes hidden behind his trademark pair of Combat Grade Eye Shieldings (a product of Bolle), "so, you must be my partner for this one. Welcome aboard!"
The three Cogs were beginning to come back from their temporary blinding.
Icegun strode confidentally into the offices. Looking around, he was impressed by the setup of security and professionalism. The average person would not recognize a lot of the systems in place. He approached the reception desk and said"Excuse me miss, I am Icegun and was told that I could see a Mr. Contact. Could you please let him know I am here." Out of the corner of his eye, Icegun thought he saw a familiar looking costume but it suddenly ducked into another room. "I could have sworn that looked like the Sly Fox? Oh well my eyes might be playing tricks on me." he thought. Icegun then went and sat in one of the chairs waiting for his appointment.
Contact was still standing by the secretary's desk when Icegun approached. He looked the man over once then extended his hand.
"I'm Contact," he said, shaking his hand firmly, "And I've seen you before... outside of a tram station I believe."
Contact crosses his arms and leaned back against the desk, "So, what can I do for you, Mr. Icegun? If this is private we can step into my office."
The woman looks up at Contact, thne looks at the hand for a moment before she takes it. Her own hands are cold as ice and makes you wonder if she is infact alive. "Have you no sense of a dramatic entrance? No? Should have figured. My name is...well..that doesn't really matter, now does it? I'm looking for work, and if you misunderstand that comment, I will turn a certain part of you to icecubes" She looks up at Contact, smiling with everything kept her eyes. "I'm sure you have something suitable for me to do"