Like Kids in a Military Surplus Store (Aura)

Vicente did not have to wait long for his contact to appear. But that did not mean he was not surprised by her. The passenger door opened and in climbed a young teenage girl that looked about as savage as a white mouse inside of a child’s cage. She didn’t look at all like the type of person that he was going to need for his mission and yet here she was, entrusted with this job. A cursory glance at her and to Vicente she really, REALLY did not look like much. As a matter of fact she could have easily been confused for just some kid looking to hitch a ride.

He would have actually assumed as much about her if it were not for the words that fell from her mouth as she spoke…

>> "At last a mission with some fun, I am Aura as you know, Lori sent me…I must confess however she left out what your power was, forgive the rudeness, but i like knowing what those who I’m trusting my back to can do"[/color]

Vicente watched her as she climbed into the back. A flash of silver in the moonlight and the assassin immediately spied that she was uncovering a sword that she had been carrying this whole time. She slid it into a sheath strapped to her back and it disappeared under the dark length of her hair. Once she was done with that she had climbed into the passenger seat and flashed him a trusting smile. Still Vicente had said nothing.

Then his voice left him as he watched a demonstration of the young girl’s powers. He saw that flash of pink in her eyes, followed by an aura of it that formed around her hand and extended out into a deadly looking blade. Then, just as quickly as it had appeared, it disappeared.

>> "My aura is shield and weapon"

“I can see,” Vicente said in a slightly impressed manner. Maybe she would prove to be useful after all.

>> "Been awhile since i was within one of these" [/color]

So she wanted a demonstration of powers? Well, that was not difficult to understand. After all, she worked for someone like Lori, they needed to be able to trust one another. Mutants trusting mutants was apparently a big plus for whatever organization Lori’s boss ran. And judging by Aura’s demonstration she was not someone to mess with. He was going to require her trust if they were going to pull this job off.

Grinding his teeth, Vicente focused on his right arm (which was closest to her so she could get a good view) and began to shift. The van was filled with the sounds of bones cracking, breaking, and reforming themselves into a longer shape. His human flesh began to turn jet black and fur sprouted up as it elongated and grew far more muscular before the girl’s eyes. Within moments his right arm had changed completely from the normal arm that had been there mere moments ago. Now, instead, his arm was that of a very powerful, mountain gorilla’s. He clenched and unclenched his fist in front of Aura as he smirked.

“Let’s just say, my power, keeps me in touch with my wild side,” he muttered. Reaching down, he ignited the engine and drove into the street. “Let’s get this show on the road…” he said with a wicked smirk…

Vicente growled as the pain subsided from the shifting. His gorilla arm was massive and muscular and just exuded power. Despite the length, he still managed to get a firm grip on the steering. He had driven a time or two with his arm like this so he was quite used to it. He turned off into the street and made his way towards the military surplus store that he had picked out for this particular endeavor. It was secluded enough so that it would bring down the entire weight of the New York’s finest upon his head, but still large enough to really draw some attention, especially by passer-bys eager to upload videos to their ViewTube accounts.

Oh yes, Sebastian was not going to like what this little conquest would do to his name. If anything he would be lucky if the National Guard was not called in to trample him underneath a tank. The blonde ought to be pleased with that…

>> "Beautiful, I never tire of seeing the wondrous gifts our people have. Rarely do i see to that are even close to one another…I am eager to begin as well, Do you have a plan?"[/color]

He had to admire her awe over his mutation. He always figured that mutants were simply humans gifted with the powers granted to them by the gods. Vicente himself believed, sincerely, that that was how the world was now. The gods chose him for the specific purpose of bringing their word and actions to the rest of the world. To bring down the Authority that held a stranglehold over the mainstream religions.

But such was not his purpose this night. Yet, he appreciated the girl and her wondrous reaction to his powers. Her’s were definitely just as impressive.

“We’re working on destroying someone’s name,” he said in reference to her question for a plan. “We break in, start loading up, let a couple humans film, take out any guards that get in our way, then we exit. Simple as that.”

>> "Humans so rarely give a decent fight though…But they’re like rat's, there’s an endless supply of the vermin" [/color]

He grinned as he continued to look ahead, surveying the road in front of him. Her opinion was one that he greatly agreed with. Though he believed that everyday people had their uses, after all how else was he to be expected to get paid, he knew that they did little more than get in the way. They were expendable. But mutants, well, sometimes they deserved a chance to prove that their pathetic lives were worthwhile.

“Simple plan, really,” he said with a smirk.

Turning another corner he watched the street signs slip by until finally he saw the one street that he was looking for. At the end of the lane he could see the faded neon words that flickered out the store name “Uncle Sam’s Military Surplus”. He smirked to himself as he made a beeline for the store, under the dead of night…

>> "I see, Lori chose for skill and reputation then"[/color]

“I can only assume,” he replied.

Vicente smirked along with his words. He did not speak to Lori for too long but he was beginning to respect the little tarts choice in partners in crimes. So far this Aura was proving to be rather enjoyable to be around. She was ready to get to work and she had absolutely no qualms about doing any of it. As a matter fact, where most people would see the ruining of another’s name as unsavory, she was taking great pride in the notion. He most definitely had to respect her for that. Maybe this little partnership was going to work out far better than he had hoped.

He eyed the surplus store up ahead. From the looks of it, and the neighborhood, everything looked rather quiet. Though he was sure that the store must have had at least a couple of guards. After all, you don’t just leave a military surplus store unguarded, in the middle of an urban setting. That would have just been stupid.

>> "Take out the guards and loot the place. Simple enough of a plan, I’m guessing we are allowed to kill, as were ruining a man's reputation"[/color]

“So long as we leave at least one or two alive to tell the tale,” he grinned.

It was quite surprising how entertaining Vicente was becoming with this job. Normally he didn’t care and he did it only for the money. Anything to keep his coffers filled up and to appease his gods and goddesses. But the simple fact that he could actually see the misery he was going to cause this man, whom he did not know in the least, only made the assassin grin all the deeper. He didn’t know who Sebastian was, or even if the man deserved this ruin to his good name.

Vicente surely was enjoying it though.

>> "Are you good with those swords?" [/color]

“I can hold my own with them,” he confirmed with a nod.

Ever since he first found out about this job, Vicente had been training nonstop until he was at least decent with the katana blades. Though he was more used to his throwing knives, he was not afraid to learn a new trade or two. Sebastian was known for carrying swords, or at least that is what he had been told. That was why Vicente decided to use a pair of katanas. They may have not been exactly the same but a sword is a sword to terrified people.

Pulling the vehicle temporarily to a stop, Vicente sighed as he eyed the surplus store. Few guards, a couple of residences around, this event was definitely going to be making it onto the news tonight. Cracking his neck to the side to loosen up, he glanced at Aura again.

“Excuse me while I slip into the disguise…” he explained.

Vicente growled as he willed the shift to happen. Painfully the bones underneath the skin of his face shifted and cracked. Much in the same manner that his arm had done when he first displayed his powers, instead it was localized to only his head. His black hair shifted white and grew long as his face elongated and the eyes began to shift positions. Before long, Vicente let out a gasp as he finished the transformation.

His haggard, diabolical looking human features had been completely replaced with that of a startling, and shockingly beautiful, white pony. He sneered as he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the custom-made “unicorn” horn and strapped it securely to his forehead. Once he was sure that it was immovable, he nodded to Aura.

“Time to get to work. Make sure your seatbelt is on,” he cautioned.

Slowly Vicente moved the car down the road before stopping in the middle of the street, directly facing the surplus store. He then maneuvered the vehicle so that the back of the van faced the store front, almost as if he was going to change his mind and drive away. But that would not come to pass. Once he was sure he was aligned with the store, Vicente grinned wickedly as he peered over his shoulder, tightened his seat belt, slipped the vehicle into Reverse and quickly slammed down onto the gas

SCREEEEEEEEEEEECCCCHHHH!!![/b]

The screaming tires tore through the night as the van suddenly lurched backwards, through the street, and plowed through the front glass and chain-like cover of the store’s window. Glass shattered easily and allowed the back of the van entrance into the building.

CRRRRRAAAAASSSH!!![/b]

Glass shards sparkled into the air like tiny diamonds dotting the very space around the van and glittered over everything within.

The glass shattered and Vicente was quickly to open the driver’s side door and hop out of the van. Vicente had taken the time to shift his gorilla arm back to his human flesh and bone and decided to simply keep on the unicorn disguise. After all, Sebastian was never seen sporting any extra animal parts so he needed to keep up the illusion.

As soon as he had exited the vehicle he stormed into the surplus store behind Aura. Reaching back, he pulled the pair of katana blades from their sheathes and narrowed his eyes as he watched the first guard already go down thanks to Aura. His heavy boots crunched the glass underneath as he walked into the store, the swords in his hands gleaming in the dull light from the street. He eyed the corners, looking for more security guards. A surplus store in this neighborhood was sure to have more.

And of course he was right.

Another trio of guards emerged from a back room. One ran to the aid of the one which had fallen thanks for Aura, and the other pair ran down the aisle to face himself. A grin appeared on his horse head as he eyed the pair which quickly began to procure a pair of guns from their waists.

“Get down on the ground Freak!!” one screamed out as he hefted his gun up and pointed it directly at Vicente.

The other trembled as he held up his own pistol, his eyes training down Vicente’s features. “I-Is that…the unicorn? T-The one that opened fire at that college?”

Vicente smirked and held up his hands which still gripped the swords. Though it was obvious that his move was not relaxing the security guards in the least, the assassin was thankful for that. It was not supposed to make them calm.

“Drop the swords! NOW!” the less nervous one screamed.

“Of course,” Vicente muttered as he raised his arms in a motion to drop the blades. But before he could he suddenly lashed out with one hand and set the sword flying through the air like a missile.

The older man didn’t have a chance. Even as he tried to turn away to dodge, it was too late since the blade found its target within his chest. He screamed out, setting off a gunshot off the side while his partner squeaked and watched him fall. A gasp fell from his throat as he turned back and raised his own gun back to the unicorn but he took far too long before deciding his action.

Vicente charged the second the first man began to fall with a sword protruding from his chest. His remaining sword in hand, Vicente spun fast before bringing the blade down with all his strength down onto the remaining hand which held the gun out.

The bloody screams that filled the air were done in such horror and pain that anyone passing would have trembled in terror. Vicente did not so much as shutter though. His opponent now so thoroughly…disarmed…proved to be of little danger now. Vicente merely narrowed his large eyes as he stared down at the panicked, pain riddled man. Once he caught his eye Vicente suddenly threw his head down and bashed into the guard’s forehead, effectively knocking him unconscious. He would do well for a survivor.

Returning to the other man, Vicente retrieved his blade and looked up to see what trouble Aura was getting herself into…

Aura was just as bloody and ruthless as he was, if not more so. But there was an obvious difference. While he exuded strength and brutality, Aura had this sleek seductiveness with her rampaging. It was cold, effective, and yet there was a sensuality there that he was not entire sure that she was aware of. It was funny because he imagined that if he had ever had a daughter that followed in his footsteps, she would probably be a lot like Aura. But the thoughts escaped him as he turned his attention back to the front of the store at the same time that Aura did.

More guards and employees; why was he not surprised? After all this was a military surplus store. He sneered with his horse face but stopped when he saw Aura suddenly charge into the fray. No words left his mouth as he watched her get down to work.

The flashes of pink and steel, the swift movements, the flying of crimson, the gasps of pain, it was just all too magical for him to ignore. He was definitely more and more impressed with the young woman. But before he had too long to admire, he suddenly watched as two of the guards that were left skirted around her and locked onto him as their target.

Picking on an old man? Now how was that fair?

He lips sneered as he stepped forward, both blades in hands as he peered at the pair of men. One of them had produced a handgun while the other one fumbled with a black nightstick. Both guards glanced at one another, whispering about “the Unicorn” they had all read about in the newspapers. They knew that they were dealing with an extremely dangerous individual but they knew that there was no way that they would be able to get to a phone and call the police.

Worst of all was that, to them, all they saw was a bloody unicorn teaming with another of the city’s most wanted…Aura. Panic was clear on their faces but they were stupid enough to want to continue to do their job.

The man carrying the nightstick was the first to run into battle while the other stayed back to cover him with the handgun. The “unicorn” assassin could only smirk at their foolishness. As the man ran up, holding the nightstick on high, Vicente charged forward as well. But inside of diving off to the side or some other slick maneuver, the killer simply braced himself and took the blunt force of the nightstick against his shoulder. He growled as he suddenly dropped his sword and grabbed the man by his throat.

It was at this point that the guard’s fellow gun-handler decided to shout out a threat or two that he would fire unless his friend was let go. Vicente let these threats fall on deaf ears as he grinned and waited, closing his fist on the man’s throat. As he choked and sputtered, the other guard shouted out his final warning and raised the gun to open fire.

At the sound of the first click, Vicente turned and held out his hostage and watched as bullet and bullet was pumped into him. The body became lifeless and Vicente let him fall to the ground in a heap. The gun-holder stared in shock and that was all the time that Vicente needed. He dashed forward, quicker than seemed possible for his bulk, and suddenly ducked his head down, driving the make-shirt unicorn horn directly into the man’s chest.

Two more rounds were fired, but these disappeared into the ceiling of the establishment. The assassin neighed briefly before he suddenly pulled back and removed his now bloody horn from the man’s body, letting him fall.

Standing upright, crimson droplets started to form lines down the thin white hair of his horse head, following the contours of his eyes before falling down onto the ground or flowing down his muzzle. He sighed as he stood over the last guard and turned to make sure that Aura was alright as well. It was time they started to load the van…

Vicente had dispatched the last of his opponents and glanced up to see that Aura had done the same. The little pink fireball had managed to do quite a bit of damage to the guards that had been present. He was sure that anyone that had faced her was now meeting their maker. He really wanted to work with this young lady more. Never had he really met any with a ferocity that matched his. The last woman that did was Reaper and that was, oh, twenty-five or more years ago.

How interesting that he would run into another young woman like her. He doubted it was possible.

But sending such thoughts away, Vicente began to visibly relax now that their opposition was ground to a halt. With Phase One of the plan completed, all Vicente needed to do now was to gather as much weaponry as possible to make it really feel as if an army were being started. That ought to move some people against Sebastian and truly throw his name through the mud.

Calmly he replaced his swords into their sheaths as he turned to face the multitude of racks of weapons, ammunition, and supplies. It was like being a kid in a candy store. He smirked as he grabbed few duffle bags that were for sale and began to load them up with several different types of ammunition boxes. As many as the shelves had.

>> "I don't know much on value of this stuff"[/color]

He smirked.

“Just grab whatever you can or what looks most deadly,” he explained through his horse-like features. “We just need to incriminate this guy, the Unicorn, as much as possible. If the public thinks he has an army on the rise, that should be a sizeable nail in his coffin.”

There was obviously no bad blood between himself and whoever this Sebastian person was. He had never met him before so this was only business. In end, he really hoped that this man did not hold any ill will against him. But then again, if he did, Vicente simply didn’t give a ----! A job was a job and Sebastian should have known not to cross the blonde’s boss.

He shrugged as he filled the first duffle bag up with ammunition, hefted it up, and hurled it into the back of the van. With the next duffle bag in hand, Vicente began to head to the back room where the actual firearms were held.

“I’ll be right back,” he said to Aura. “Load up what you can here, and then meet me in the back room. We have…maybe seven or eight minutes before the police actually respond and I want to get as much weaponry as we can into the van before we meet up with them.”

Once in the back room, Vicente grinned as he looked over the various firearms that were locked away in cages or in cases. Walking up to the first cage, he easily broke the lock with the handle of his sword, strolled in, and started to gather rifles and shotguns. It was like Christmas and his Birthday had come early!