Being an operative as long as Hades has meant having a good information gathering network. Now that he was part of Ranarok and had access to additional resources in was unparalleled. Further more, what with the attack in Texas, even more resources had been poured into gathering information on possible mutant attacks in general, and Jagger Worldwide, aka Ragnarok, was no exception. As a result there were reams and reams of data literally pouring in. Hades had been recruited to Rangarok to "lead the army" but as of yet there was not much army to speak of he had poured his efforts and time into the intelligence side of things. What better way to keep informed so as to best deploy the forces currently at his disposal.

In a recent mission with Panu, Hades had acquired the account numbers and pass codes of three large international corporations (Atlas Investments, Stergon Incorporated and Piper Worldwide). These companies had a few things in common. Firstly they were all rivals in various ways to Jagger worldwide, secondly they had a strong partnership with Fuast pharmaceuticals, also a competitor with Jagger Worldwide. Thirdly they were all big corporations, they had branches in over ten countries and had large bottom lines to throw around, Fourthly they were human-centric, in other words they hated mutants, perhaps not openly, but no mutants were in their employ and very few if any mutant sympathizers. Finally, they liked playing the long game. They would bribe senators to get legislation that would subtly favor humans and reduce Mutant rights, then stir up trouble and blame it on mutants. They were very good at it. They were also not above hiring hit squads to do their dirty work. Become a big enough obstacle in their way and would more than happily pay to make you disappear.

The three were up to something, Hades knew it, he could feel it. When he and Panu had conducted missions on the local branches of the three, ostensibly to plant false evidence and incite infighting, there were key members of staff missing. In warehouses, judging by the dust on the floor and smell in the air, large quantities of goods had recently been moved, lethal goods.

Hades was given charge of a sizable research team, but he needed eyes on the ground. Experienced operatives, soldiers he had plenty of, Jagger worldwide had a very well trained security force, but they were like a hammer, Hades needed a scalpel, scalpels.

Using his secure phone he pinged all available contacts. Most of them came back as too far away to be of use. If his hunch was correct, whatever they were planning would happen withing a day, at most two. He needed help and he needed it now. one phone pinged back as in the area. Noel, of all the people...

Noel. What exactly had happened last time? Why did she leave? Was she mad at him? Regardless everyone who had their phones received a call to meet down town. Perhaps she would ignore the call, perhaps she would come. Hades honestly did not know how he would react if she walked through those doors.

While he waited Hades pulled out a small laptop and continued trying to make head or tails of the vast amount of information that was pouring in.

A job. That's all this was. Noel was becoming quite the mercenary despite never meaning to. But, if she thought like a mercenary, it made things less awkward once she'd been in someone's head.

Like now. It might have gotten weird if she'd let herself think about the personal side of things. She still had dreams about the death of a wife she never had. Children she never raised. Powers she never manifested. She now took for granted the training to kill and her willingness to use that training because she had the experience of a hundred kills and revenge fulfilled.

That wasn't even counting the bungalow he gave her as a fully stocked bolt-hole.

It didn't matter that he could afford it. It didn't matter that the place was cool or useful. It mattered that it was weird to be gifted a house, a home. Who was supposed to pay taxes? Was he paying for the cable tv that was still turned on? And the utilities? Did he still have a key? She'd left before she'd even thought to ask about any of that. Not to mention that it was wired from top to bottom with surveillance. But he knew that. And he knew that she would know that after spending time in his head.

So she tried not to hang out at her safehouse. And tried to be her own person instead of Hades' shadow. Or Sebastian's shadow. She was Noel. Just Noel. Friend of Panu. And mercenary.

So, it was a job. And she would just treat him like any other employer. She'd bring weapons and a couple extra memories to burn. Just in case. She didn't dress up, she didn't dress down. She dressed functionally for potential wet work.

Hades was where he'd promised to be, typing away at a comically small laptop. "What's up?" She called out before she got too close. It would not do to surprise a dangerous man.