((Continued from Falling Bricks))

Her thumb hopped from digit to digit as Lenna dialed Meld's number on her phone. It was good she'd thought ahead, and purchased a disposable cell with allocated 'anywhere' minutes. The price of the across-the-world call would likely have been horrendous. The blond Kabal member had to tap her head and think for a second, before the last digit came to her. She hadn't spoken to Meld in a long while.

A long while, preceded by a longer wait... Lenna sat down on the chair, cell at her ear.

Dial tone. Operator. Connecting. Rerouting. Beep.

Ten minutes later, the clock said 10:43.

3:43 in the AM, overseas.

Would Meld pick up?

The call finally went through. She'd find out in a second.

Click.

Meld really should have been asleep, but she wasn't. Nothing unsual there really, she rarely went to sleep before the sun came up in the morning. What was unusual tonight, however, was the fact that she was in the Mansion in her room not doing much of anything. Usually she was out stalking the streets of New York but not tonight, tonight was her night off and a time to consider what her next flesh meld might be. She wasn't having much luck.

Ring. Not a sound she expected to hear at this time of night. Ring. A slightly frantic search through her room to discover where she had hidden the small device when she caught it on the 4th ring, just before it went to voicemail.

"Hello?" Curiosity gripped her. Who could possibly be calling at this time of night?

"Greetings, miss Meld. It's me, Lenna. The adapted from before." She paused a moment, to let Meld take it in, then continued. "When last we spoke, you agreed to work for me. The first mission has come up. It's in Romania. Are you still willing to work?"

Lenna waited for her answer.

"Greetings, miss Meld. It's me, Lenna. The adapted from before. When last we spoke, you agreed to work for me. The first mission has come up. It's in Romania. Are you still willing to work?"

This was the call that Meld had been waiting for for months and now it was finally here. A thrill of anticipation ran through her. Finally she would be doing something and, almost as importantly, getting paid for doing something. It seemed like such a long time ago that she had last possed anything resembling money.

"Good to hear from you Lenna. If you can get me to Romania I'm willing to work."

Meld hadn't expected her first task to be so far away but it didn't really matter. And, so long as the task didn't involve any unjustified violence against mutants, the task didn't really matter either. She was up for just about anything. The benefits of having few moral compunctions.

"Excellent," Lenna replied. "I have a friend in New York who could arrange something. I must warn you, though. Romania's currently a dangerous place for mutants. We won't be able to simply fly you in... unless we boxed you in a crate, and sent you with the cargo..." Haha... that was a joke, wasn't it? Her tone hadn't made the joking or seriousness of the message certain. "Right now, my friend is sending me a package via water routes. The route is..." Lenna went over the mental details he'd given her. What was it again? Oh yeah. "The package is being sent on a cargo ship internationally, from New York's harbor, all the way to the harbor in Constanta city. Bucharest is connected to Constanta city through the A2 Highway." That was better than the national roads through which the other cities were connected. It'd likely be the safest route. "That highway should bring you into the city. I've already gotten the drop point arranged with my contact. You'd be able to travel with the delivery. It should be more secure than a flight."

"How does that sound?" Lenna shifted the cell phone, and pinned it up against her shoulder as she strolled over to the piece of paper she'd jotted notes down on. Had she just asked Meld to be cargo?

Haha. Why yes, she had.

Meld listened as Lenna spoke her directions, saying no more than utterances of ascent. There was, after all, no need to say much of anything. She had been waiting for this call, this message, and even though she hadn't been expected to travel so far or at such short notice, it really didn't make much of a difference. She was committed to this mission and she would do whatever was necessary. The half serious comment about travelling with the cargo was just a little distressing, but even that she was willing to do should it prove necessary.

"I'll do what's necessary," Meld agreed, without hesitation. This was her chance to prove herself and hopefully secure a potentially long term beneficial relationship between herself and the Kabal. Should things go well she would, perhaps, have the opportunity to meet with the leader of the organization itself. "When do you want me to leave?"

>>"I'll do what's necessary."

"Good."

>>"When do you want me to leave?"

"Tomorrow."

'As soon as possible' was the best answer here. Lenna already had the means and method to transport the weapon. One phone call was all she'd needed. One day would hopefully give Meld the time required to gather her things, and prepare. "It's currently Winter in Romania. Bring warm clothes. Not just the type to keep you happy and healthy. Think something big enough to cover your extremities, and mask your identity. Bring anything you need. My contact will be leaving at noon tomorrow, from the docks at," she gave the numbered location at New York Harbor. "Come alone, at least a half hour before the ship leaves. I'd suggest coming dressed for the occasion. Ask for a man named Ivan. He's Russian, with blond hair and blue eyes. You can't miss him. Tell him 'Rebecca' sent you."

Lenna walked over to the bed, and sat down for a moment. She glanced at her nails. "Do you have any other questions?"

"I can leave tomorrow. My identity, however, might be a little hard to mask, or at least my mutation." Warm clothes she could do, though it might involve a little creative acquisiion of money. I.e. she would have to rob somoene blind, or perhaps target a convenience store. Actually, she had her eye on a particular one whose owner had prominet anti-mutant sentiments, thus saving her from any potential moral qualms. In fact, that's what she would do tonight as soon as she was off the phone.

"I presume we will get in contact as soon as I am on Romanian soil? Other than that, I have no questions." This was going to be interesting. Meld didn't think it was going to be fun, exactly, but it was certainly going to be interesting and interesting had its merits.

>>"I can leave tomorrow. My identity, however, might be a little hard to mask, or at least my mutation."

"That's fine," Lenna replied coolly. She highly suspected that, come delivery, hiding Meld would be a bit of a non-issue. Or, at least, she could make it one. Guns usually helped in the 'agrees with you' department. Thank you, bluffing. Bribing the cab driver also didn't hurt. Or handling her own means of transport.

New thought: She'd get a truck.

>>"I presume we will get in contact as soon as I am on Romanian soil? Other than that, I have no questions."

Following up on that thought, Lenna answered Meld's question with a faint smile. "That's correct. I'll meet you there. I'm handling the ride to Bucharest." That said, it sounded like there was nothing further to address. Should Meld arrive safely in Romania, they'd take things from there. "Oh, and remember to pack snacks for the trip. Ivan doesn't usually share. Aside from that, I've nothing further to add. I hope to see you within a few days. Good bye, Miss Meld."

Lenna ended the call.