The Zodiac (Closed)

[Daisymell]

Kissa was sad and aggravated. Her explosives expert Donovan had been too badly injured in the last assignment to ever work again. She watched the sceanery fly by from the back of the limo she owned. He would have to be replaced and it would take time to do the research. Time was precious and she had little of it. The team wouldn't be pleased either.

When the car came to a stop outside of one of many warehouses owned by her company Zodiac Industries, she waited for the chauffeur to open the door before exiting. She stood to full height in a skirt suit in black with a red silk blouse and red heels. Her suitcase dangled from her fingers. She walked determindly towards the doors of the warehouse.

Once inside the empty inventory room, Kissa walked straight back to a key locked door. She used her key and was immediately locked into a small room. She laid her hand down on a print reader which scanned it quickly. She leaned forward to scan her eye and immediately said, "Kissa Leonard." The door in front of her immediately opened revealing a elevator.

Kissa got in and pressed the foyer level of the mansion. When the doors closed, she immediately sighed unbuttoning her jacket. The elevator indicated its arrival at the foyer, and she walked through it passing a dining room, study, library on the right, and a kitchen, living room area, and a war room which was room behind a panel in the wall to the left. All the way to the back was a long hall way that led to three living areas. The one way to the back was Kissa's, the one to the right was the men's wing splitting off into different bedrooms, and to the left was the women's wing.

Kissa ignored everything until she got into her room and immediately turned on her favorite band 30 Seconds to Mars and felt ten times better from the stressful day. They had a new assignment already and she hated researching new personnel. Kissa changed into her usual at home wear black yoga pants and a black tank top. She took down her long black hair that went passed her buttocks from its bun that she wore to work. She at that moment wondered which of the Zodiac team would come to knock on her door first.

 

[Leopald]

David paused at the door in front of him, studying the texture of the frame encircling it. He felt rather confused at the moment, knowing on the one hand that someone needed to talk to her, but on the other that he was probably the last one to be able to right now.

It was a reality they all faced, and he reminded himself of it every day. He hadn't seen much of her lately, but she seemed to be difficult to read since...

You let them down, and now look what she's going through.

He shook his head slowly, frowning. His self-critical nature was winning once more. Playing the memory out in his head like a worn out tape hadn't shown him any alternatives, but he couldn't help it.

His hand ran across his stubble and he considered shaving. Anything now would be a welcome distraction. Maybe he should just head back to his room, light up a smoke, and wait for the next assignment.

Turning, he paused again.

You have to talk to her!

He sighed and faced the door once more, as the music faded. He knocked.

 

[Daisymell]

"Come in," I closed my eyes as I heard the door open. I knew immediately who it was when I breathed in. "Russo," I sighed. I opened my eyes and looked into his. "Close the door," I walked over to a pair of chairs in front of an aquarium. "You might as well get comfortable while I tell you about Donovan."

 

[Daisymell]

OOC oops

 

[Leopald]

David sighed and crossed the room after closing the door. He sat and tried to look relaxed as his hands found the spots on his trouser thighs where his babies usually hung.

He didn't carry his .45s inside the mansion, but sometimes he wished he did. He wouldn't classify himself as trigger happy by anty stretch, but it always comforted him when his classic 1911s were holstered to his legs. He just felt naked without them.

He stayed silent and his face calm and steady as he awaited the news.

 

[Daisymell]

"Donovan is out. He has third degree burns head to waist. I don't even know if he heard me talking to him," tears gathered in Kissa's eyes but they didn't run down her cheeks. "They stay he is still in critical condition. We have an assignment for next week and I have to search for a replacement. A permanent replacement. God, Russo. I hate that I failed him. I hate myself."

 

[Leopald]

David shifted uncomfortably.

"I've been down the road of self doubt, and it isn't pretty. Trust me when I say this," he leaned forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. "If you head down that path, it will consume you."

He hated seeing her like this. He knew his words probably had little affect, but it was all he had to offer. His hand came off her shoulder and his eyes searched hers.

"They still trust you, and are still ready and willing to work."

A good man, would be hard to replace, but it wasn't the time to remind her of what she knew.

 

[Daisymell]

"I know. We should just keep moving on. If you would be good enough to let everyone know of the change, I would appreciate it. Right now I need to do some yoga, meditation, and play with sharp objects. If anyone needs me I will be one level down in the workout center."

I got up, "Oh, and Russo, thanks for listening. You are always a great help," I kissed his unshaven cheek and walked out of my room towards the elevator.

 

[Leopald]

He smiled sullenly as she left the room. After a few moments, he stood and followed, closing her now empty room before heading to his own.

He walked in and came to a box at the foot of the bed. He pressed a button on the side, and a keypad slid out. Entering the code cause the lid to pop with a hiss, and he reached inside.

Two smaller cases were lifted up and out, and he carried them out to the common area. He set them on the table and snapped them open. Inside the first was a carbine rifle, a small variation of an M-4. It was in pieces, and he laid it out as such. The other case revealed his babies. A very old pair of 1911s, which he ensured were not loaded out of habit before gingerly laying them out.

He sighed as he sat. Then he pulled out a brush, a rag, and a bottle of solvent and started cleaning.

He didn't feel like shaving right now.

 

[Niriate]

The first pair of doors slid open without much of a sound as 3 pairs of legs walked into the inventory room. Lissy sighed softly as she took her sunglasses off with her free right hand, while her left one was holding the harnass that was attatched to her guide, Tara.

Putting her hand on the scanner, she almost had to force her eyes open before the lids responded. Not that it made much of a difference for her, she could barely see a thing anyway. As the scanner went over her eyes, she let out another sigh and said "Lissy Hartfield and Tara." Which the dog answered it her trained bark.

Confirmed Came a soft female voice before the doors to the elevator slipped open. Neither of the two were wearing any weaponry today, Lissy was dressed in a simple dark green shirt that hung over a pair of worn out jeans.

'Come as soon as you can, our work is in danger' is what the note had read. Although there had been no sender listed, Lissy didn't have to guess from who it came.

She pressed the button for the bedroomfloor and leant back as the elevator started to move.

 

[Vampire_Neliel]

Willow pulled up to the warehouse on her motor bike, having sped over at the urgent sound of the note she'd found tucked under her back door mat. The outside of the warehouse appeared as it always did, misleading. She'd always felt the building held more and she'd been right when first brought here a while back. Yanking out the bikes battery and starter pin and tucking them into her small backpack, she headed towards the building, spinning her keys on her right index finger.

Once inside she proceeded down the long route, not even bothering to take her sunglasses off. Reaching the outer door of the small security suite that hid the secret mansion, she stopped spinning her keys and opened the door. Inside, and she'd always hated this part, she complied with the battery of tests, sighing with how much simpler such a system could be if people would stop being afraid of a little x-ray radiation.

Seriously, she thought, not like anyone can fake their skeletal structure.

The other side of the door opened to the large foyer, always a bit too bright for her liking. Finally dropping her keys into her pack, she proceeded to her room away from home. Tossing the pack onto the bed, she entered the closet and came out looking completely different. Her hair was dropped from the tight bun to a simple pony-tail. She left her boots behind as being indoors was always done better bare-foot. Her tiny bike jacket and tee was exchanged for her leather halter-top, accentuating her chest to drive the males insane and keep them on their toes when trying to talk to her.

Leaving her room she headed towards Kissa's room and made her usual seven-hit knock but got no reply. Mumbling something about urgency being unanswered under her breath, she headed back to her room to grab her tablet and use it to interface with the buildings security cameras to locate her esteemed leader. After a couple minutes she located her traveling on the elevator and jogged to the stairs, beating the elevator by only a few seconds and standing facing the doors as they slid open.

 

[cats]

Wilson

IC: Having received the message I had come to the shelter, as I called it. It was a sort of home away from home. I would happily live her full time save for two things: first Willow did not, second a team our size coming and going day to day would draw to much attention. As is each member of our squad had a fake occupation in Zodiac that gave us an excuse to come here unannounced.

When I got here only David was here. The author of the note was absent and my sister wasn't here yet, nor the rest of the team. So as I often do I came to my chambers and pulled out Stanfield, my pebble. I laid him in front of me on a small wood frame and then sat in position. Then the two of us would compete to see who had fewer thoughts. Being an inanimate object Stanfield usually won.

Some time latter I heard seven bangs down the hall, but I wasn't ready to stop the match just yet and continued my meditation.

 

[cats]

Samuel Webstar

IC: I hung up the phone. I then moved to the window considering what to do next. I would be receiving a list of people who met the description soon enough. Once I had the list I would choose the most likely members and send out a small group to scout the likely canidits. I owned a temp company exactly for these situations.

I would find the individual, that was an absolute. Once I found him, what would I do next.

I sighed and sat at my desk. I opened the top right drawer. There sat a revolver, just in case. I let out another sigh.

"An unloaded gun serves no purpose. I suppose I should get rid of it."

 

[Daisymell]

The second the elevator doors opened going back to the foyer from the gym, I saw Willow standing practically face to face with me. I didn't flinch.

"Willow, I am glad to see you responded to the note. Please, is everyone here yet?"

I walked passed her and saw Russo cleaning his guns. I could tell he was doing it out of necessity instead of want. I was hoping everyone would be here by now.

 

[Leopald]

David looked up to see Kissa aproaching from down the hall. His pistols were cleaned and holstered, and he was putting the carbine together with a few snaps. He laid the weapon on the table and pulled out a cigarette. It was lit a few moments later.

After a deep inhale, he stood and took a few steps to a keypad on the wall. He only hit one button, the one that sent a single message to everyone's phones; Meeting.

Then he sat back down with a sigh and watched the woman approach with Willow not far behind.

 

[Daisymell]

Kissa eyed Russo as he smoked. God she hated when he did that but considering the situation didn't say anything. She turned suddenly to look at Willow.

"Russo when everyone arrives seat them in the war room. I need to change."

She walked away knowing Russo would do as she told and everyone would be ready in the war room by the time she arrived.

 

[cats]

Wilson

IC: I placed Stanfield in his box and let out a loud sigh. My phone was ringing. I didn't need to glance to realize every one was here. I knew Willow had arived some time earlier.

I placed the box under the large bed, I stood and walked to the elevator passing Kissa on the way. She would have looked apealing today, but she was clearly troubled by the foul up from before. I was here to make sure a similar fate didn't befall my sister.

I stepped into the elevator enjoying the soft music as I waited. The doors slowly parted and a moved into the meeting room. I took a quick look at Willows top, ample amounts of cleavage was visible. I made my usual comment. The entire exercise was pointless, she never listened to my advice, which at one point consisted of roughly a half dozen arguments to show less skin, but over several attempts had shrunken to "Will."

That simple nickname and my tone of voice told her exactly what I was thinking. She would no doubt here it and not change her clothing. Often enough I felt she was trying to annoy me.

 

[Vampire_Neliel]

"Willow, I am glad to see you responded to the note. Please, is everyone here yet?" said the girl from the elevator towards her, sadly not the least bit spooked from Willow standing there suddenly. Willow glanced at her tablet and made a quick nod of her head before following her leader to the main room.

"Russo when everyone arrives seat them in the war room. I need to change."

She smirked a bit, making Kissa feel under-dressed was always fun. However, when her annoying overly tall brother stepped in and went on about her poor taste in clothing she just glared at him. She liked making the men uncomfortable, it kept them honest.

She checked down at her tablet to locate Tara and Lissy, figuring the puppy would be getting fed before the meeting. She glanced annoyingly at David and his bad smoking habit, refraining from pulling out her tiny air filter as the last time she'd used that as a joke it hadn't gone over very well.

While she continued to wait for the last couple to arrive, she split the tablet view down the middle, half to watch Kissa and half for Lissy.

 

[Niriate]

Feeling her phone go off, she held the device to her ear to listen to the message. " Meeting " is all that came out.
Sighing to herself, she undid the harnass of the dog and stroked Tara over her fur. " I'll be back in a while, my dear. Don't worry, I can find the way on my own " Lissy whispered to her pet. The dog whined a little, it hated being left alone, not being able to care for it's mistress.

Giving the black labrador a loving cuddle, Lissy took the cane that she had brought with her when she first arrived at the Zodiac. Normally she didn't have much use for it, because of Tara, but there were times when even the dog had earned a rest.

A few minutes later, the soft tapping of the girl's cane sounded through the meeting room. Still wearing the same pair of slightly baggy jeans and dark green shirt that she had worn when entering, Lissy smiled to the other people she could hear being present.

" I'm sorry I'm a little late. Sadly can't be as fast as the rest of you."

 

[Leopald]

David finished his cigarette just as Lissy was walking in. Leaning up against the wall next to the door meant he was in arm's reach of her, so he placed a hand on her shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze in greeting. He figured she would know who it was even before he said anything, so he kept his mouth shut.

He had always been slightly protective of Lissy, even though he knew she hardly needed it. It was just his nature. He'd been brought up to be protective of women in general, and Lissy's lack of sight tugged on those urges even more. Unfortunately, he knew protecting her or anyone else wasn't always possible, as demonstrated very recently. But he had to try.

Of course, he didn't share this fact with anyone. Last thing he wanted was to get into a discussion about why women don't need protecting any more than men, and how its chauvinistic and old-fashioned to believe otherwise. But to him, it had nothing to do with weakness or strength. Just value. He valued his friends' lives as greater than his own in general, and maybe the girls' slightly more so.

He sighed and cleared his mind of all that, and waited patiently for things to get started.

 

[Niriate]

The blind girl turned her head and smiled towards David. "Hey David." The only person that knew that she had, albeit very limited, eyesight left was Kissa. But she was content to leave it that way, it didn't make much difference in the long run whether she was sightless or nearly sightless.

Patting him softly on the hand that had been resting on her shoulder, Lissy made her way to her own personal chair. It was a very strange chair in that Miss Leonard had built a mind-link into it, specially for Lissy herself.
There were times that it was needed for everyone to see either a location, an escape route or something else. And as clever as Tara was, she was still only a dog (though it had happened that even Lissy had doubts about that).

"We know anything about when the others come?" She asked the room, not knowing who else was there other then David.

 

[Vampire_Neliel]

Willow watched Lissy walk into the room from her tablet and closed out that set of cameras, all that was left was Kissa. Too bad she doesn't have cameras in her room, then I could watch her change she thought to herself.

"We know anything about when the others come?"

"I do believe everyone is here except Tara and Kissa, whom is off changing in her room. My pesky overly tall brother, David you got touched by and had to have smelled coming in, and me of course."

Willow decided to follow Lissy's lead and took her usual seat, reclining it back as far as she could and putting her bare feet on the edge of the chair. Nearly resting her chest on her knees, she gave another grin towards her brother, knowing he'd be all the more bothered by it.

"Kissa left stinky over there in charge though, so maybe we can get some information out of him before she returns?" Willow mentioned with a questioning tone in his direction. She knew he'd probably snap back at that comment, but she was in good spirits after the long ride out here from her home.

 

[Leopald]

David ignored Willow's jab. He wasn't in the mood for banter right now. He simply closed his eyes and sighed, trying to decide exactly what to say.

"Donovan is out. Permanently. He's still in critical condition, but even if he pulls through..." He paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts before continuing, "Kissa is taking it hard, and she needs our support."

He omitted the fact that she wasn't the only one taking it hard. Donovan hadn't really been close, but it was always tough losing a team member. But this was about their leader right now, and getting her through this as a team.

He fell silent. Unless they had any questions, there simply was nothing left to say.

 

[Niriate]

Lissy gasped and put her hand infront of her mouth to keep the whimpers from coming. "But... how?.. what happened?"

She had known the explosives expert to be a man of almost infuriating caution, which made his things the safest to handle but also very, very tedious to set up. While he had never been very close to one of the others, Lissy knew that everyone respected him for what he did for them.

"I can understand Kissa completely, to be honest. But.. what are we to do now? I mean.. he maybe left some things in the storagerooms, but is there anyone alive that is nearly as good as him?"

 

[cats]

Wilson

The only tempting comment for me was on my sisters behavior, again. But she was doing to annoy me. She knew it annoyed me, and I know she knows what she is doing. So I kept my mouth shut. Besides many of our comrades had long sense grown tired of my protests.

So I stood in the corner and didn't speak there was no need for it. I was not pleased with the situation, none of us were. We all understood that, we all would deal with it in our own way. For some talking was good, for me silence was just as good.