Hunter entered the infirmary. Jebidiah had done well, as while unconscious, Kitra looked largely unharmed. Before waking her Hunter took a syringe and extracted a blood sample. He sent it off to Dr Ingram for analysis.

Then he waited for Kitra to wake up. “Hello,” he said pleasantly when she finally did, “I’m sorry about how you were brought here, but it was for the best. You see, your parents have placed a contract out on you for bounty hunters to bring you in alive, but as it doesn’t specify your physical condition otherwise you could have been seriously hurt.”

“As an old friend of your parents I decided to take the contract as my people would take more care than most. I’m sorry, how rude of me, I have yet to introduce myself. I am Hunter Antonescu,” he said with a bow.

Upon waking up Kitra was surprised to see a business partner of her parents looking at her.

"Hello. I’m sorry about how you were brought here, but it was for the best. You see, your parents have placed a contract out on you for bounty hunters to bring you in alive, but as it doesn’t specify your physical condition otherwise you could have been seriously hurt.”

“As an old friend of your parents I decided to take the contract as my people would take more care than most. I’m sorry, how rude of me, I have yet to introduce myself. I am Hunter Antonescu."

"Mr. Antonescu, there is no need for you to introduce yourself. I remember barging in upon you and my parents when I was younger. And it is quite alright if what you say about the bounty hunters are true...Which, knowing my parents, it does not surprise me.

<Kitra sat up and pondered. "Were my parents worried about me, or did they hear of what I've become? Hmmm...>

"Mr. Antonescu, while I do believe that my parents would send bounty hunters after me... I'm sure that there are other reasons that I was brought here. This does not seem to be a meer concidence. And my sincere apologies if I happen to be rude and abrupt at the moment. I still feel a tad groggy. This was the first time I've slept in the past few days."


<He is rather intimidaiting. I had better tread carefully with him. Though, I suppose what I just said was anything but pleasent.>

“You have a good memory,” Hunter complimented, “that was quite a while ago. And you are right Kitra, I brought you here for reasons not entirely to do with your parents. I am going to give you a choice.”

“You may either return to your parents or stay here and work for me. I am well aware of your gift, and would like to put it to use. If you chose to remain I will provide you with a luxury apartment and a large salary. Which will it be?”

"You may either return to your parents or stay here and work for me. I am well aware of your gift, and would like to put it to use. If you chose to remain I will provide you with a luxury apartment and a large salary. Which will it be?”

<He knows about me? He's well informed than. But, how did he find out? Hmm....>


"So, my first question is how do you know about my 'gift'? Second, how big is this salary? Third, how big was the reward for the bounty hunter that brought me in?"


<I wonder how big this place is...>

“I know lots of things that people would like to have otherwise kept secret,” he said with a cryptic smile, “You’re not subtle enough with your powers to escape my notice.”

“As for salary size, how does $500,000 sound? Your final question is an interesting one. Jebidiah does not know of the contract out on you. As far as he knows he was simply doing a job for me.”

“I’ll get the contract rescinded, but if people knew that there was a contract out on you they might be tempted to try again.” Giving her a charming smile he said,” “With your questions answered you have yet to answer mine. Which will it be? Back to your parents or do you accept the job offer?”

Kitra smirked, "Well, I would think the answer would be obvious. There is no love loss between my parents and I. And, you said his name was Jeb? He was rather polite. Now I'm sure that him being nervous and all that was an act."

As for the actual question, I will gladly work for you. So long as I agree with whatever you may have me do. I do not work well with humans. They were never truly kind to me."

"My question for you however, when is my first paycheck?"

Hunter smiled, Kitra was showing admirable perception. “Accounts will be dealt with, and when you next look at your bank balance you’ll find yourself much better off,” he assured her.

“As for working with humans, the only ones that you are likely to be working alongside have no animosity towards mutants and are completely professional. Now, just so I know, what are you not willing to do?”

“What I am asking,” he said with a conspiratorial smile, as if letting Kitra in on a secret, “is how much are you willing to bend the rules? How far are you willing to go to earn your pay and possible bonuses?”

Kitra grinned, "Well, I'd prefer not to kill, but if I am put in a sitation that I must, I will."

<Dang, I'm being rather bold lately.>

"Otherwise, I think I'm good on most other things...Um, question does it matter what we do with our personal life?" She was fidgeting now, "I was just curious is all. I wouldn't want anything to work against me in my employment with you."

Kitra stood and held out her hand. "By the way, do you have any art supplies?"

Hunter took the offered hand and shook it warmly saying, “You are free to do as you wish with your personal life, but there are rules. Firstly, you do not mention you’re new job.”

“Second, the hours are quiet flexible, so if I call upon you you will need to drop what ever you are doing and do whatever I am asking you to. I will keep in contact by means of this,” he pulled an expensive looking watch out of his pocket.

“When it vibrates find somewhere private and push the button. I will either have left a message which will be played, or it will have opened an encrypted channel on which we may speak freely.” He handed the watch to Kitra.

“While there are no art supplies on site I will ensure there are next time you visit. Also your new apartment is already stocked with numerous art supplies and has its own small studio for you to work in.”

“If you have no further questions I’ll show you to the vehicle bay where we assign you a car and a driver, though you may choose to drive the vehicle yourself. If you decline a driver the vehicles satellite navigation will have your apartment pre-programmed into it.”

Chuckling Kitra shook his hand, "Well sir I like you already if you have art supplies for me. Flexible hours is just fine and I won't mention my 'job' to anyone."

"I do have one more question, When do I get to meet the rest of my fellow employes? I'm sure someone as prestigious as you must have many 'gifted' employes."

Hunter lead Kitra towards the vehicle bay through the labyrinth of corridors which made up Mondragon labs. He had to take a slight detour due to construction work that was taking place in a section of the lab for a special project he had in mind.

“You should get to meet them soon enough, as I have to gather the Kabal for a meeting. The Kabal is the code name used for the team of gifted employees that work for me which you are a member of. I have something planned that will require most if not all of you.”

They arrived at the vehicle bay and he gestured out to the vast array of vehicles before them. “Feel free to pick any one you like, apart from the helicopters and armoured personnel carriers. Derrick here is your driver,” he gestured to a larger muscular man in a smart suit.

Derrick gave Kitra a respectful bow, “He is also a skilled bodyguard, just in case any bounty hunter wishes to try anything. Between his skills and your gift I thin you can handle anything thrown your way.”

“If there’s nothing else I wish you fare well, until we next meet.” Hunter treated her to another of his most charming smiles. With Kitra’s exceptionally versatile ability he was sure he could find many situations where it could be put to use.

"I look forward to meeting the rest of the Kabal."

Kitra turned to Derrick, "And Derrick, I am pleased to have you as my driver and bodyguard. Shall we go, I'd like to make a few stops before we get to my apartment though."


Looking back at her new employer she put on the cummunications watch than spoke, "I shall see you soon I expect. Thank you sir."

Kitra spoke to Derrick once more, "I think that the dark green SUV over there will do. Let's go Derrick."

Getting into the back of the vehicle and buckling herself in , her mind was in a complete scramble. <How in the heck did I stay so calm? Perhaps because of how he treated me when I was younger?>

Flashback:

Kitra had just gotten to her house after finishing 1st place her Archery Competetion and had ran up to her parent's study....

She burst in, "Mother, Father, I got first place in my compet...." She stopped short realizing that she had inturrepted an important business meeting.

"I'm sorry Mother, Father and to you as well Sir." She courtsyed. "I should not have barged in here. I should have knocked first. Kitra hung her head in wait for what would surely be a severe scolding. Instead she heard the stranger speak...

"My my, what a little spitfire you are. I am Mr. Antonescu, a business partner with your parents. What competetion did you earn first place in young one.?"

Kitra looked up rather shocked. Bewildered Kitra answered, "Well Sir, I placed first in my Archery Competetion. And my name is Kitra, not 'young one', Mr. Antonescu."

<Why is he being so nice? my parents are not nice at all. Perhaps adults are not such horrible people after all.>

"Well done Kitra. That is a great accomplishment for one so young."

"Sir, I am seven years old. I don't think I am that young."

Her mother spoke,"Kitra, darling." Her mother's eyes were ice cold and threatening, "It's time for you to go. We have business to conclude."

Courtsying once again, "My aplogies Mother, I shall go now."

Pausing at the door, Kitra turned towards Mr. Antonescu's direction. "It was a pleasure to met you Sir." She then fled to her room...

End of Flashback


"Miss, where would you like to go?"

"Ah, my apologies Derrick. I would like to go to the Wells Fargo bank please. Then an electronics store. We shall go from there I believe.


Derrick had driven them outside. It was then that she realized that it was morning. <Well, now I have the whole day ahead of me.>


OOC:Exit to [Kitra's Apartment]

Hunter watched Kitra drive off with a small smile. Yet another member for the Kabal. He now had such an array of abilities that he could pick and choose those best suited to a task.

Turning he headed back into the lab. He needed to check on a few things before he could retrieve Paragon. Once everything was in place he would contact Jazz and Zephyr, bring them in to brief them on the mission.

Once Paragon was secure he would gather all members of the Kabal and tell them of what was to happen during Paragon’s stay. The deception would need to be perfect for everything to go as he planned.