"Well... that really is useful, isn't it?" CRAKAKOW~~~ The clap of thunder off in the distance interrupted a very interesting conversation about his associates powers... Of course, Gregory already knew them; he'd been spying on the man for some time, gauging his talents in order to find how they would be used in the most productive manner.

He'd been doing a lot of spying lately, actually. Having created another two intelligent roaches to his repertoire, he'd been using them to keep an eye out on the Order as a whole, at Lenna's bequest, of course. He'd found himself most drawn to the type of person who stuck to the shadows; needless to say, Mr. Ashen had piqued his interest. An antennae laden head looked up to the cloud cover they'd been graced with. It would be a dark night, a stormy night. He'd hoped the weather forecast would be on the dot for once, and wouldn't you know, they were. He made a mental note not to kill the weather man... on purpose.

"As I explained briefly before, we are headed to the residence of one Micky Pakore. He runs that disgusting string of strip aerobics and pole dance fitness shops. He's been refusing to make his protection payments, ever since he built himself a veritable fortress on the hill, here. What I didn't explain, is that he's a tad paranoid... My initial scouting missions have shown that the place has been given the works... He even has a panic room, reinforced walls and doors, and redundant in-house generators. Indeed, the place is impossible to break into... Which is why I picked you. Are you ready to do the impossible?"

Now, the man in the house they were approaching? No promises there. "They have video surveillance... We're best off stopping here... My little friends can fix that problem."

He already had Franky at the scene. A quick chittering call out let the small bug know it was time to put their plan into action. Within seconds, all of the outside security cameras were cut. Roach then waved Grim forward, approaching the door quickly, even as the first drops of rain started to fall around them. He stopped at a thick, reinforced plexiglass window, and pointed to a corner of the brightly lit house.

"I'll be assuring the power is cut momentarily... The back up generator will kick on in thirty seconds... In that time, I need you to appear in that corner, and make your way to a window in the back. Open that to let me in. I warn you, there are battery operated laser trip wires; do try to avoid them." With that, the giant cockroach disappeared into the night.

Moments later, the lights flickered, and went out. It was time to begin...

KRAKOW!

The storm roared as if to heartily agree.

A giant cockroach was not what Shade had expecting when he was informed that he was going to be working with another Order member on a mission. He might have expected someone giant, furry, and red, but never a cockroach. And the fact that is talked just creeped the shadow mutant out even more. It made his crawl just being around it, like tiny bugs were skittering all over him. Shade was unconscious of the fact that he was itching himself more than usual, not that it was helping. It was a good thing that it was dark out. That way Shade only appeared walking next to the huge insect only when the passed underneath a lamppost. It was good just to get this mission over with and remove himself from the unsightly mutant.

CRAKAKOW! The surrounding landscape was illuminated for a brief moment by the flash of lightning. The cockroach was going over the details of the mission, but Shade was only listened to about half of it. Mostly, it was the same thing as before: sneak inside, slit someone's throat, sneak out, leave no evidence. Only difference was a little more security. Security was for the scared. To make them feel safe. And this guy thought he was impenetrable. Oh, how he was wrong.

"Impossible? This is almost too easy." Shade replied with a grin. The feelings of creepy crawlers died away as Shade's mind began to focus on the mission. It seemed pretty simple so far. 'Port in, open a window, kill a greedy bastard, 'port out.

He followed his partner forward until they were placed against the glass of the front door. Light was everywhere. Shade hated light. Luckily, his partner knew this and had planned ahead. Maybe, the giant cockroach was not so creepy after all. Disgusting still, yes. But not as creepy. Shade watched as the huge insect disappeared into the night as it started as the rain began to pelt the house. Well, that would cover up any noise.

The electricity was cut, and the house descended into darkness. It took Shade half a second to 'jump' inside the house. His landing was a little louder than he had hoped as his boots smacked! against the expensive tile used to cover the first floor. However, Shade did not let that phase him as he quickly made his way, invisibly across the room. He thought he heard something rustling upstairs. Was that a gun being loaded?

Shade shook off the feeling. His head was just playing games with him. Making it to the window, he pulled the latch back on the heavy window and slid it open, causing a gust of wind to blow the curtains around wildly as the rain followed, pelting the floor in front of the window.

Roach's haunting silhouette appeared at the window moments before the invisible darkmancer made his way to it to unlatch it. As he waited for the window to open, he saw a small, dull light blinking on the wall behind him, a sign that one of the lasers had been tripped. A palm was pressed against his forehead as he climbed into the house, greatly assisted by the blowing wind.

"They know we are here... I'll need you to-"clack! All of the lights snapped on at once... It was the back up generator... "No matter... This job will just be more sloppy than I first thought. We'll have to head up to his room right away, before he makes it to the panic room." A loud metallic click echoing from upstairs made his antennae perk up. There were quite few things that could be... "Perhaps he plans to stand and fight, then? Hope he doesn't mind fighting in the dark." With that, the lights went out again; As always, Franky had impeccable timing. He would have to give the little bug a promotion soon.

He started moving quickly; they had another 30 seconds to get the man and get him to reveal the safe's code. After that, they could take their share and be on their way. Gregory climbed right over the banister of the stairs, and toward the top... He received the rather nasty surprise of a flashlight popping on in his face, and a revolver's hammer being pulled back with a click. His buggy instincts made him freeze in place. "Freeze right were you are, freak... The boss said you would be comin tonight... He's already safe an' sound in his panic room... You, on the other hand... I dunno how you got the window open, but you're dead."

"Ah... Well... About that... I'm sure my associate behind you may have something to say about that..." At least Roach certainly hoped he did.

"Yeah, like I'm falling for that... You must think I'm the stupidest person in the-"

Shade thought the mission was off to a rather successful start. He had managed to infiltrate the house and rpovide an interest for this bug partner before- Clank! The lights returned and Shade's figure was now visible. Luckily, it did not last long as the back up generator was cut, plunging the house into darkness again. The shadow mutant had to admit that the roach had been well informed about the workings of the house before they had started their mission tonight.

The invisible Shade allowed his insect partner to take the lead as they began to move towards the second floor of the house. The shadow mutant felt something move in the darkness before the intruder frozen the massive cockroach in its tracks. It was a good thing Shade was behind the glossy exoskeleton of the bug as it protected him from the dreadful light. The moment after the flashlight was ignited Shade had already 'ported behind the guard. It was pathetic watching as the roach tried to save the man's life, pathetic and futile.

Shade jammed his blade into the spinal cord of the gunman as he wrenched him downwards. The beam of the flashlight followed the barrel of the gun towards the roof as the surprised guard fired a shot from the revolver into the plastered ceiling causing it to snow tiny white pieces of drywall. Shade knelt as he laid the dying man down on the landing of the second floor, before rising to ensure the man-sized bug was alright.

"You good?" Shade asked hoarsely, his ears were still ringing slightly from the gun blast