Colombia was hot. Too hot. She wiped away a drop of sweat from her forehead and felt the moisture forming behind her neck too. Maybe she should have pulled her hair up... But then again, the coat she was wearing was already covering up her already heated skin. The heavy make up felt like a mask on her face. She actually had a shock when she looked at herself in the mirror of the beauty shop she went to. She wiped out another sweat drop, careful not to damage her mask-err, make up. She sighed; she was so not feeling herself in this situation. But then again, she needed all these for the mission.

Alexandra glanced at her watch. 10:05 pm. Her partner in crime was 5 minutes late. She looked around, trying to find any sign of him showing up. Of someone showing up because she didn't know who was she meeting with. - None. The street was quiet and dark on the side she was standing. On the other side, however, a tall building was brightly illuminated. She eyed the two armed guards in front of the door and the corner of her lips rose to form a small grin. Hmmmm… She glanced at her watch again. 10:06pm. Her partner in crime was 6 minutes late.

The sound of a broken bottle startled her a bit as she turned around, her eyes searching the dark alley behind her. And made her roll her eyes and turn around to her previous position as soon as she sighted the two drunken teens. Well, she hoped, for their own good that they won’t pick on her. “Ay, mamita!(Hey, mammy!)” Eye roll. “ Cuanto pidas por una noche? (How much do you ask per night?)” Blink. And then… Then she felt her rear being grabbed and her body being propelled forward from the force of the smack. She almost tripped, considering the fact that she had not expected that and that she was having really high heels on. Something she didn’t wear on daily basis. Alexandra sighed, as she managed to regain her balance and stay on her feet. She turned around, slowly. She was furious. But her face was a sheer mask of calm. Her powers activated during her spin around but none of the boys would see the slight change in her eye color.

“Vete.(Leave.)” Alexandra said with a growl in perfect Spanish. She was glad now that she had always liked learning new languages. You never knew when it was handy to know foreign languages. The boys laughed looking at each other. The one that had just smacked her behind highfived the other then looked back at her. The first leaped out at her, quickly grabbing her arms and forcing them behind her back. His lips glued to her neck as he inhaled her scent deeply. Gross. The other, stepped in front of her and retrieved a pocket knife from one of his pockets. As he unfolded it, he took a step closer, his head closing up on her. She felt the sharp, ice cold, against the heated skin of her cheek as he opened his mouth in a wide, mocking grin.”Tengo que rehusarte, mamita.(I think I don’t agree with that.)” said the first one. It sounded loud in her ears. Her blood was boiling on the inside but her face didn’t show any sign of fear. She actually looked like she was bored. “Además, tu crees que puedes hacer algo en contra nosotros? (Resides, what do you think you can do against us?)”

Alexandra snorted at that simple sentence and her lips curved into almost invisible smile. He’d be surprised if he found out what she could do to them. “Ultima oportunidad.(Last chance.)” she said, her voice cool and detached, like this wasn’t happening to her. She was surprised with herself as of lately, surprised with the amount of control she possessed in certain situations or how quickly her control snapped in others. She was really beginning to worry that she was developing some multiple personality disorder. The man moved the blade across her face, in response, as he grinned even more. Oh yeah, it was very exciting to caress a woman with a blade. His face went straight, the thoughts inside his mind clearly shown in the look he threw at her as his hand grabbed her thigh, tightly. She felt the pain, but it was pushed in the back of her mind really quick. Her head tilted to one side, her glance shifting from the man to the knife. She was aware of the molecular composition ever since she saw the item, and she was focused on the molecules long time before it could even reach her skin.

The metal turned from his solid state to a liquid one that floated several centimeters away from Alexandra’s face. Her eyes turned now to the man, enjoying the horrified look in his eyes. Hmmm. Yes, chose a mutant to pick on. A mutant that was on a secret mission. Really smart. “Puedo hacer eso.(I can do that.)” she said, a mocking smile on her face. “Y mucho mas.(And much more.)” she added. She counted to three. 1. The man in front of her let go of her thigh, and ran away at top speed. 2. The other one followed close behind. 3. She was standing alone again. Alexandra watched the floating metal as she straightened herself up and waved it to the nearest trashcan. There, she solidified it back and let it drop. Her eyes returned to the bright blue of her contacts as she cracked her knuckles then brushed off her coat. A quick glance at her watch revealed her that it was 10:10pm. Her partner was 10 minutes late.

It seemed to Roland that the urban parts of Colombia were not so different from the jungle. As he passed through the streets, the looks and sneers that he received were not so different from those of hungry animals. these predators simply walked upright. A lovely pair of low light digital binoculars with rangefinder hung from his neck as he walked. He wore a white short sleeved button down cotton shirt and airy silk khakis. The humdity clung to him much as the eyes of those who wished to have his toy did as it slung back and forth on his chest.

It was early evening. The sun had slid away behind the mountains and the stars were finding their places in the sky above. Roland watched the grand stellar dance from the rooftop he had found. It was the top of a flophouse which sat a few buildings down from the location he was given . He had heard the name Circe before , of course, in myth and history, but sparingly in the confines of his work environment. Her abilities were unknown to him, though her codename could give subtle hints. No more giant naked men and slate faced bosses to look at suited him fine. The cool breezes and the sunwarmed asphalt beneath him was soothing enough to let him sleep lightly for a few hours.

His watch beeped to awaken him fully. He was supposed to meet Circe across the street at 10 pm. Looking at the watch, he had little time left. Standing and stretching, he turned the binoculars on, their lenses glowing a dim green and the digfital rangefinder humming to life. As he tested it against various surfaces, the infinity shape of the vision panned down to the rendezvous location. There he found himself stopping and zooming in on the young lady standing there. The binoculars certainly violated every inch of flesh there was to peruse.

The serenity of the voyeurism was abruptly interrupted by two young men who also had a taste for the sultry, yet their manners were lacking, to say the least. The look on the girl's face was one of boredom. He expected fear or defiance and yet, they simply did not exist. As Roland was never a fan of forced sexual activity, he zoomed in on the knife that the boys used for leverage, intending to make it disappear, perhaps spooking them and saving the girl. For the moment anyway. The way she was dressed and due to her location, odds were that violation was still on the menu.

All of a sudden, the most peculiar thing occurred in Roland's view. The knife melted and then floated into liquid blobs of its previously hard and sharp surface. Naturally, the men were no longer interested in fun. Fun could melt their weapons, so other weapons might be in danger as well. They did what most would do in such a situation and beat feet until they were out of earshot. Roland didn't see where they went as his eyes never left the woman. Grinning and ignoring her attack, she seemed to check her watch and pace a bit. These actions and the display previously cemented the idea that this was to be his partner. Roland placed the binoculars on the ledge before him, their strap hanging loose over the edge for easy retrieval after the fact.

Climbing down the fire escape, he made his way through the alley and stood at the corner of the building, eyeing the attractive woman. Lifting the ring near his lips, he activated it and spoke softly. " Expecting someone? Check your ten o'clock position." He then raised the blue stone in a way that its blue glow of activation could be easily seen from the luscious young woman. Upon her recognition, he jerked his head back toward the alley and disappeared into it, waiting.

Hands slipped inside the pockets of her coat, her fingers tapping the slim metal box inside one of them. In it, there were resting shots with a powerful sleeping substance. As Slate had said in the briefing of the mission, the less casualties, if possible none, the better. Alexandra had felt the urge to snort at this. She did not resist it. Damn. No fun tonight, it seemed.

"Every death will be deducted out of your paycheck." he said. Again the urge. She might lose some money tonight. Her new boss had some strong beliefs.

Her mission, and her partner, Roland by his name, was to bring a druglord named Jose Paco and as many of his lackeys to Slate. Hence, the sleeping substance in her pocket. Injuries instead, were greatly encouraged. Well, that was better. She was beginning to wonder if he didn't want them to lure the drug lord and his lackeys with chocolate chips cookies.

Alexandra removed her hand from her pocket as she glanced at her watch again. 10:12. Twelve minutes late. Maybe Slate should do something about punctuality too? Taking a deep breath she eyed the guards again.

" Expecting someone? Check your ten o'clock position."

The sound of the male voice took Alexandra by surprise. But only a moment later she realized she has been wearing her watch as a communicator and not for the sole purpose of timing. Blame a secret organization member for not wearing it sooner. Turning around, a blue light appeared in the alley behind her then disappeared in the darkness. Hmm. She wondered what was wrong with the place she was in but shrugged it off. Eyeing the guards again for the last time, she turned around and followed the light. Her frame moved silently across the distance (but cursing her high heels all along) and stopped in front of her partner. Her lips rose in a half smile as she spoke. "Ronald, I presume?"

Circe seemed genuinely surprised that her watch was talking. Roland was thankful to have the new version of the communicator, as the watches of the first generation were too clunky to serve him. He had sterilized the ring multiple times after its removal. The lacerations were no worse than a hemorrhoid. The discomfort was miles away at the sight of the young woman before him. How had he missed this one at Mondragon? It was a large place and most of the mercenaries lived their lives away from it, he supposed.

He flourished slightly with his hand." You presume correctly. That makes you Circe, I gather. Pardon my antics, but I assumed you were going to approach the target by yourself to gain entry. They don't need to see me until it is too late." He knew that this was one of these "no kill" missions that Slate seemed to be fond of in Colombia. Roland was unsure of the point of all of this, as he had noticed the company's presence was large and growing in this beleaguered country. It was all really irrelevant. The relevant part came with the notification that deductions would be made for each kill.

Leaning against the cool brick of the building, Roland eyed the girl. He was certain she was used to it. "I admit, if you came to kill me, I might let you try it. The struggle could be fun. Nonetheless, we can chat over drinks later. How do you wish to do this thing? I am going in unarmed. I don't know if you were briefed on my...abilities, but an example seems fitting. I saw your example with the failed suitors a moment ago." Roland didn't care for the idea of mutation. To him, his gift was a natural extension of his own talents. One could not exist without the other. Roland bent down and picked up a small piece of discarded metal, displaying much as a magician might with a playing card. He then laid it flat in his hand. Looking over at his other hand, the metal found its way there via teleportation. Dropping it and removing a handkerchief, he wiped his hands and flashed them in the same stage illusionist fashion.

So that’s why he was late. Alexandra considered telling Slate to work better on the details. Because she has been told to meet him. Was it wrong from her side to assume that she was supposed to meet him outside? Before the mission could actually start. She nodded at Roland, letting him know that she acknowledged what he had said. The ‘they don’t need to see me until it is too late’ part had her amused for a second there. She had this slight impression that this man wasn’t a fan of modesty. Certainly, she wasn’t a fan of modesty either, in certain areas and in a different way. She mentally chuckled as she was beginning to think of a mantra she would say in front of the mirror every day. ‘Baby, you’re the super spy. You totally rock! Go Circe!’

Concerning about the fact that she actually did think that and that she was talking about herself in third person, Alexandra shifted her weight from a leg to another as the heels were killing her. Oh yeah, send the super hot spy chick to fight in high heels. Hell, she’s the super spy, she can do anything. She decided to smile at his last comment. Well, let the man think what he wanted about himself. She wasn’t much of a person that actually cared about others had to say either. Excepting the ‘girl that snoo snoo-ed Steel in the pool’, that is. That was constantly getting on her nerves but with this mission in Colombia and her not being around the mansion, she actually hoped that that part will fade away.

And then the moment of truth. His joke, she hoped, about letting her kill him and the joy of the struggle, made her close her eyes for a second. She was now under the belief that she had ‘shameless’ tag on her forehead, one that she wasn’t aware of. What was happening to men lately? From having her ‘booty’ smacked by a sixteen year old teenager, hormones, she told herself, she was going now to having an older man telling that he’d let her kill him? Okay, she was dressed in a swim suit then, for she was at the pool, and had the hooker-look now, but seriously, WTF? Heh. Men are the hormone driven part of the species.

But she let it go. Mission, she reminded herself. Instead she watched the man showing his powers. And actually smiled at his tricks. All mutant men she had met until now were show-offs when it came to demonstrating their powers. The image of a peacock suddenly appeared into her mind. You’re starting to have some wild imagination, she told herself as she snickered.

“Very nice. You’d do great at a birthday party.” She said with a joking smile. No she couldn’t stop herself from doing it. “You teleport them?” she added on a more serious tone. “I’m able to do so myself, unfortunately harder and not with every object since I’m not specialized on that. I’m a molecule manipulator.” she informed him. She wondered if he should be informed about her weaknesses. That was one thing she hated doing. Admitting she actually had weaknesses. However, she had been scanning the area while waiting for him. There weren’t too many objects she couldn’t manipulate. That was the part that she loved more about her powers. She could work with anything that was given. And she was going against humans. What could go wrong?

The young lady seemed amused at his comments about not being seen. Roland generally didn't like to give an opponent the opportunity to act, much less react. Quick and clean. With the no kill clause hovering over him, the element of surprise was even more important. Roland also noticed the moment of quiet dismissal at his innuendo. She may have been a professional and just didn't like to be spoken to like that. Or maybe he was equipped with the wrong tools for the job. Who could say?

The magician style display had been a bit of sarcasm on Roland's part. The whole idea of giving his trade secrets away to each new employee he met was just barely worth the paychecks that the Kabal sent. What if one of these mercenaries decided to go rogue? Then they had leverage on Roland. Unnecessary and wasteful leverage at that. So, a wry grin of feigned interest and a brief smile was the only comment returned to the idea of his working as a birthday entertainer.

" Ahh, a molecular manipulator. I wondered what caused the knife to melt. That is quite the ability. Perhaps our abilities can work in tandem. Nonetheless, I believe it is time we got this show on the road. I believe you are going first, so do your own magic and let me know when and how you would like me to follow."

“I’ll tell you when to come in over the communicator.” she said. Her hand slipped into her pocket as she retrieved the metal box inside. Opening it, she removed three of the shots then handed the now closed box to Roland. “Keep this at hand.” she said. Taking a deep breath, she began to take off the coat she’s been wearing, part of her happy that she wasn’t overdressed, the other feeling that she was being way too naked for her own comfort. The dress didn’t do much to cover her body, but then again, it was a part of the mission. “I know how it looks.” she said glancing back at Roland. Looking like a hooker wasn’t that funny and she was worried how she would fight dressed and with shoes like those she was wearing. “Hold this.” she added, tossing her coat at her partner as she proceeded to hide the three shots she retrieved inside her bra.

Taking another deep breath, she tried to get herself in character. Alexandra was a good actress, that was quite right, but until coming to America she wasn’t aware that she could be considered attractive. Back in Romania she was more the geek type, even wearing glasses. Her interest for books and the self imposed solitude had her catalogued as unpopular. The run from the Registration Act had requested from her part a major change of looks. She remembered the surprise she felt when Seth told her she was pretty. And now she was considered attractive by boys and men alike. She certainly wasn’t used to this thing but none the less she was using her newly discovered beauty to lie and deceive people. Good.

“Well, off I go. Wait for my signal.” she said. As she turned around and began to walk she tried to remember every movie she had seen that might have brought inspiration for this role. As she began to sway her hips from side to side, her hand found a lock of hair and began playing with it. Her eyes narrowed a bit while she tried to get that ‘dirty look’ and the corner of her lips rose into a ‘not-so-innocent’ smile. From her point of view, the walk to the building she was infiltrating took forever. The damn heels were killing her but she had to keep her smile and the playful attitude on.

She considered she was doing it right because as soon as she got into the light and the two guards laid their eyes on her, they didn’t stop looking. Here we go, she told herself as she stopped in front of them. “Ola! (Hello.)” she said to the two guards that were smiling like idiots at her and mumbling a reply to her greeting. “Vengo a ver el señor Paco. (I’m here to see mr. Paco.)” she added as she continued to twist her hair around her finger. Both men checked her out, looking at her from bottom to top with shameless glances. That’s where she would normally hit someone. Instead she bit her lower lip as she also looked them from bottom to top. Gross, she told herself but continued to scan the men for any visible weapons besides their guns. They certainly didn’t know she was analyzing them for any useful information if she actually had to fight them. “Claro que si, señorita. (Of course, miss.)” one of the guards said with a wink as he stepped aside and opened the door for her. Alexandra couldn’t wait until she could actually hurt them. Throwing another smile, she got inside, hips swaying again as she moved. “Suertudo hijo de perra!(Lucky son of a bitch.)” she heard one of the guards saying as the door was closing. Alexandra smiled at the idea. She wasn’t so sure that he should be considered lucky after she and Roland were done with him.

The lobby wasn’t such a big room. She glanced around carefully, acknowledging the materials inside while she made her way to the receptionist. He was inside another small room, half of the frontal wall of it being glass. His eyes were checking the multiple security monitors on another wall. Or at least he should have, for he was reading a newspaper. Alexandra coughed lightly to get his attention as she leaned on the small border and spoke in the microphone there. “Ola! Vengo a ver el señor Paco.” she repeated to the receptionist. His head turned around slowly, a look of boredom and slight annoyance on his face because he was being disturbed from his reading. Well, that was before his eyes popped out from their sockets for he was now starring at her breasts. “Ssss-seguro, senorita.(Sure, miss.)” he said as he coughed, his eyes moving to her face. Alexandra smiled. “Tengo que avisarlo que usted estas aquí.(I have to tell him you are here.)” he added.

Now, that won’t do. Alexandra nodded and turned around pretending she was checking out the room. But as she turned, she faked her tripping and soon found herself on the floor, holding her ankle. “Caramba!” she said, louder than usual. She heard the man dropping the phone he had probably picked up while she was falling. Soon the man was rushing to her side. “Usted esta bien? (Are you okay?)” he asked as he began to check her leg. Well, touching a bit more than necessary, that is. Her eyes changed again colors as her power focused on the area his head was in. “Me duele. (It hurts.)” she replied. It didn’t take long until the man began to feel the effects of the oxygen lack. He fell to his knees, as he brought his hand to his neck, desperately grasping for air. “Hmm.”

Getting up, Alexandra straightened her dress as she took one of the shots from their place. Removing the protection from it, she glanced at the needle with a deep sigh. She really wasn’t a fan of needles. But it was a part of the job. Rolling up the sleeve of the now unconscious guard, she injected the sleeping substance into his veins. The substance would take effect before he woke up from the unconsciousness caused by the oxygen lack. She placed the empty shot into one of his pockets then rolled back his sleeve and got up “Sleep tight.” she wished him as she patted his forehead and proceeded to the second part of the mission.

Taking yet another deep breath, adding it to the list of long deep breaths she has taken trough life, Alexandra’s face became a mask of worry as she rushed back out to the guards outside. “Por favor, ayúdame! Algo le paso a el guardo de adentro!(Please, help me! Something happened to the guard inside.)” The two men looked confused at her, as Alexandra gestured toward the door she was keeping opened. Both rushed inside to see what was wrong. Smiling, Alexandra didn’t run. If the guards would have looked better, they would have seen that the young girl’s eyes didn’t have the same color. But, like she had previously thought, humans were stupid and completely unaware of how this stupidity would get them in trouble.

The young molecule manipulator walked slowly toward the three men. The guards that only seconds before were outside, were checking his pulse. Too bad they’ll soon find themselves in the same situation. Her heels clicked against the cold marble as she was now manipulating the oxygen out of their area. “Que paso?(What happened?)” one of them asked turning around to her. Alexandra raised her shoulders in a non-caring manner as she smiled, no longer in the flirty way. A mean smile, one that should warn the human in front of her that she was up to no good. The man looked confused at her, but Alexandra glanced to the other as he was already chocking. Her eyebrow rose and she glanced back at the man who had spoken to her. “Que---que estas haciendo?(What, what are you doing?” he asked in fear. His voice was small now as he, too, was beginning to feel the oxygen deprivation. Oh, Alexandra enjoyed foolish little humans being afraid. She wasn’t forgetting anything, she wasn’t forgiving anything either. The camps during the registration act were very well known for the ‘nice’ treatment applied to mutants. Luckily, she didn’t get to experiment that, nor she wished to but she didn’t hate her kind. She just hated humans and every little thing she did against them would only mean payback.

The guard reached for his gun and almost managed to get it out. A resistant human. Too bad it wasn’t enough to help him. Well, too bad for him anyway. Finally, he went down. Alexandra shook her head slightly. She liked ‘her men’ weak and non-resistant but a struggle was fun none the less. It was quite enjoyable to see them trying to escape. That made her think that she actually liked Hunter for the part where he was letting her to kill her targets rather than delivering them safe and sound. She sighed. Well, she was loyal to whoever paid her for the moment. Good thing she was easy to adapt. Taking the two remaining shots, she repeated the procedure, choosing the resistant one first. Maybe if he was that resistant to lack of oxygen, well, kind of, he’ll come around faster than the other. “Well, you go first, honey. Since you like me so much.” she said with a chuckle. As soon as she was finished with both, she got up and pushed a button on her watch. “Roland, you can come in.” she spoke then looked at the time. Counting, she smiled satisfied. Job done in only 7 minutes, including the trip from the alley to the building.

Once the ball got rolling with this mutant femme fatale, Roland could see that she was just wearing a costume for a part. It was no different than his reporter at the Sanctuary or his prospective student's parent at the Mansion. What was decidedly different was the hormonal reaction that steamed through his veins at the sight of Circe's particular disguise. Once the greetings were over, she passed him a small box of what appeared to be syringes. He assumed this was Slate's answer for the no kill clause of the operation. Whatever made the young despot happy. Did anything?

The coat slid from her shoulders and Roland could not claim chivalry. "I know how it looks." Roland nodded, his eyes straining to remain on her own. " I am sure you do. If it has half the effect on the men inside, it should work wonders." Taking the coat from her, he watched as she sauntered from the alley and moved her hips down the sidewalk. The coat was just large enough that Roland could put it on himself. It looked a little odd, but the chivalry he lacked at the sight of her, he tried to replace by not putting the coat down in the general filth of the street. Her scent was all over it. It wasn't just perfume either.

He leaned into the darkness, the scent pervading his thoughts. He shook his head as he attempted to release the carnal fantasies in his mind, keeping his thoughts on the matter at hand. He emptied the box and took the small syringes out, uncapping them and placing them point up in his pocket for easy delivery. The ambrosia of her was pervasive. The thoughts of the job swayed back and forth into sweaty daydreams. Roland was beginning to suspect that Nehanda's visit was becoming too distant in his memory. Once he could remove himself to his home again, he would have to find someone new to play with. Who would it b---" Roland, you can come in now." The instant audio message came from his small phone. Time to get to work.

He stepped from the darkness in to the light, his footsteps following those left by his partner. The front door of the place was vacant and the door remained open. She was effective and sexy. Dangerous. The outside cameras were still intact, so he used his mutation to pull the camera far enough from its mount that the wires were pulled free. He then entered and closed the door behind him, locking them in securely. He found the guards asleep, some with a look of surprise on their faces, most with just that drugged unconsciousness.

Stepping around a corner next to the surveillance room, Roland pushed the door open with his foot. He slipped his own pair of gloves on after, using the controls on the surveillance board to loop the rest of the cameras in the building and delete what glimpses of their presence remained. He could see Circe's curves moving through the building, a sly grin on his face as he finished the editing. He slipped his hand into the pocket of his pants and pulled a small cylinder of iron out. It was about the size of a roll of quarters. Generally, people used these balled in a fist to harden a punch. Roland kept it handy and palmed securely, should any visitors appear.

Soon after calling Roland, Alexandra returned to the body of the first security guard she had taken down. Searching his pocket, she retrieved the syringe she previously tucked there for hiding. Getting up, she began to play with the three empty shots and started to walk around the three bodies.

The soft clicking of Alexandra’s heels on the marble floor was soon accompanied by her humming. Her glance shifted from one unconscious body to another as she waited for Roland to come inside. She was glad that this part of the job was done; the role of seductress although she played it well, was not a comfortable one. As Roland came in, securing the doors and started doing his job in the security’s guard room, Alexandra continued humming Madonna’s ‘Die another Day’. With a frown, the young female made her way to what it looked to be a very comfortable couch. Upon seating on it, she admitted that not only it looked comfortable but it also was.

She threw the empty syringes on her side and putting her left leg over the right one, Alexandra took off the heel letting out a relieved sigh. She repeated the process with her other leg and as soon as the instruments of torture that some women liked to call shoes were off she let herself smile while carefully rubbing her aching feet. Placing the pair on the couch next to her she let herself to lean on it and glanced at the wall while letting the pain to be washed away. Well, she won’t need those, now that the fighting part came. Pulling her head up, she looked over to Roland.

She got up, even if the comfort of the couch was still very appealing. Alexandra convinced herself that after this mission was finished she would have plenty of time to rest. A comforting hot tub image appeared into her mind and even the throbbing ache in her feet began to fade away. Her finger traced one side of her dress, and where her finger had passed a slit began to form. It wasn’t a long one, just enough to let her move because the dress was too damn tight to let her fight. And being hurt because of a dress… no, that’s just not gonna happen. Hopefully, the dress tearing apart because of her doing won’t happen either.

As her feet began to feel better, Alexandra made her way to the room Roland was in. Her eyes scanned the reinforced glass door and moments later their color changed. The glass parted away, letting the mutant in. Well, handy gloves like Roland’s didn’t fit inside the dress and she wasn’t about to scratch the door with her nails so Roland would come and let her in without any traces being left. Each person had its ways, she thought with a smile. Her eyes looked to the monitors, carefully scanning each one of them while Roland was still doing his job.

“There are 10 more persons in the building. 11 with our main target.” she said looking at Roland then back at the monitors. “Two of them don’t seem dangerous. Cleaning woman and secretary.” she said pointing to one of the screen then to the other. On the first monitor was shown one of the hallways, and some fat, short woman mopping the floor. The second showed the entrance to Paco’s office, and a middle aged brunette woman chatting with one of the two guards outside of it. “Those two would cause trouble.” Her finger moved to another monitor that showed the outside of the secretary’s office and the two guards at the doors. “Those two as well.” Sighing, she took a seat on the desk and continued to look at the monitors. “These are on the top floor where Paco is. I can’t see his office on the monitors so I suppose the man likes having his privacy.” Alexandra let out a small laugh as she began to imagine why the drug lord wouldn’t want a camera on his office. Shaking her head slightly she looked at the last monitor. “The last four are guarding the vault on another level. We’ll deal with them later.”

Her body turned around as her attention was now completely focused on Roland. “You’ll do most of the harming Roland. Remember, Slate said something about giving as much injuries as we can.” Letting out a small laugh she looked at the three bodies laying on the polished marble floor of the lobby. “I think I’ll have to take a knife and make sure those three are as injured as possible.” Not that she liked that messy business. Alexandra preferred suffocation as a killing method. Clean and very efficient when it came to humans. And most of the mutants, too. “Well, I’m ready whenever you are.” she said with a theatrical breath as her feet dangled in the air.

The surveillance monitors remained active for the rooms that they had not encountered yet. To wipe them prior to seeing them would be an amateur mistake. Roland surveyed those left in the building, thankful that their initial entrance had been smooth and uneventful. A professional was something he could appreciate. Her sultry beauty merely gilded the rose. He heard a strange sucking sound as the glass unmade itself. Glancing to his left, he saw her long legs, more free as the dress she was wearing had opened itself more. The track of his eyes along the long, lean flesh stopped in irritation at the sight of bare feet.

She began to prattle off the information concerning the images before them. As Roland continued his editing work, the agitation was growing in the back of his mind. He nodded and cataloged the information for their ascent into the building." Why aren't you wearing shoes? You are going to leave traces of yourself. If you wish to be caught, that is your business. Just don't say my name should you begin singing in the box." As beautiful as his partner may have been, her shelf life dwindled with each thread she left connecting herself to him.

Now she was sitting on the edge of the desk, her legs closer. The split of the dress made not looking almost impossible for Roland. It would be time to get active and get out of this humid environment with such a temptation. She actually turned to face him from her seated position, making his view from eye level, even with legs crossed, unsettling. She began to speak of his role as a thug. That is what Slate equated him to. It was preposterous to him that the simple lack of respect for human life somehow made him a soldier of death. He didn't go out of his way to murder people. It was only when they ceased to be a bystander and were an obstacle that things occurred. Roland cleared obstacles. It was really quite simple.

Standing to remove the obstacle of lust, Roland removed the coat and handed back to his partner, the sweet smell of her leaving with it and clearing his mind somewhat. " I am not sure what you need me here for, but if you would like me to harm people, so be it. I would like to know how we are going to transport a bunch of unconscious cartel employees unseen. Something to think about. I would also like you to put your shoes back on or bring them with you. And where are the syringes? You don't have pockets." His brow furrowed as he stepped through the place where glass used to be. He tossed the small lead cylinder in his hand a few times, gauging its weight

Alexandra sighed. And then rolled her eyes at the older man in front of her. She was so tempted to mouth ‘blah blah’ as he talked but decided against it. Instead her head tilted to her left side, her eyes on Roland. She was amused, and that was clearly shown by the half smile on her face. Men. She waited for him to finish everything that was inside his head then bit her lower lip and took a deep breath.

“Well. You can go and face armed guards in those shoes if you wish to. As far as I am concerned, they are staying there” her hand moved up and showed the couch behind the thick glass “along with the syringes and are going to be retrieved when we finish up the mission. I highly doubt that someone would be able to come inside and take them since the guards are laying unconscious and the doors are closed. By you.” Alexandra rotated her shoulders slightly letting out a deep sigh. “And don’t worry about tracks. I am young but I’m not that reckless. I can perfectly wipe out any trace of me being here.”

Of course she was being underestimated. Her control was quite admirable in her own opinion. If not on Kabal mission she would have probably shouted everything at this point instead of her calm statements. She let out the part where the man said not to mention his name if she got caught. She didn’t consider she had the necessary control to speak about her loyalty, not to him, but to her employee and her money.

“And as we speak, a van should drive to the back of this building with a teleporter as a driver. I think that should solve our unseen unconscious cartel employees problem. I shall summon him when everything is ready.”

As the man went trough the hole she had created, Alexandra got down from her seat on the desk and followed him. A medium to large sized blob of what it looked like melted glass was floating outside, waiting for the molecule manipulator to decide what to do with it. With a slight wave of hand Alexandra dismissed the floating matter to its original place, solidifying it as soon as the molecules were back into the window shape. She glanced at the elevator doors then to Roland.

Kids and their attitudes. The idea of this one being a professional went out the window once she started speaking again. Apparently there were even more details to this mission that had not been told to him. What kind of organization was this anyway? Patchy orders for questionable missions with no intel. The kid running the show was barely legal enough to drive a car and couldn't drink legally. Yet here was Roland, taking orders. Now this sparkly little molecular fairy was going to tell him what's what? Not in this lifetime.

Roland looked at the elevator doors along with the vixen. " I've had just about enough of this. Not killing druglords in the name of peace and goodwill is just beyond my rationale. Your knowledge of elements of this mission that I was not privy to smells like a setup. Maybe there are even more details waiting for me upstairs...or even alone in the elevator with you. Either way, I think I am done here." His eyes scanned over the guards. A small submachine gun came to him, strap fitted nicely over the shoulder. Whatever she had done to these guards, she could do to Roland. The glass trick meant that anything around him could be a weapon. Funny thing was the same was true for the mercenary himself.

Stepping back a few paces toward the door, Roland watched Circe closely. His phone appeared on the floor between them. A single round ended its usefulness to either of them."I am leaving now. You are going to let me. If I see so much as a sparkle, you had better be the fastest molecular manipulator alive."

Her first reaction was confusion. Then her eyebrow rose skeptically as she folded her arms. The slight impression that Slate should really check better his employees was lingering on the youth’s mind. And there she was, thinking that she works with professionals but the man in front of him seemed less professional than everyone she met and worked with. Even in her Underground days, although they didn’t have the money and clearly not the same purposes as the Kabal, members were more organized than this.

Alexandra rolled her eyes again at the mutant in front of her. “Geez, are you having PMS or something?” she asked half amused, half annoyed, with the slight tendency of annoyance to take over. “What other details can wait you upstairs … or in the elevator? With me?” she snorted.

“Look…” the molecule manipulator rubbed her temples for a second, as a headache started to appear. “You can do as you wish. I am not stopping you. I am not paid to persuade you in completing this mission. I am paid to complete the mission. So I don’t care. I still don’t understand why are you acting like a 5 year old boy. You have your mission, I have mine. Things like how all these people are going to be taken to Slate is not your problem. Your problem is to get them unconscious and that would be everything you should care about.”

Alexandra looked over Roland’s shoulder and to the couch behind him. She glanced again at Roland, clearly not a nice look, more of an annoyed and disappointed one. Her small frame moved without even looking back and she took her seat in the couch again. Folding her legs she her eyes turned to Roland, in a cold and uncaring manner. “Your call Roland.”

Roland was pleased that the girl before him was civil and had no intention of stopping him. The gun was lowered but not removed. Her bubblegum snapping comments were amusing as she tried to explain to him what a jbo was about. He pondered taking her to Europe with him sometime to see if she still believed the same things that were coming from her mouth at the moment.So, while he was pleased that they were going to be able to speak, he was also feeling smarmy enough to correct her on a few points.

" Obviously your work history is short. I am not placing judgment on you. However, you seem to be acting only as a pawn. I thought you were smarter than that. If you and I were freelance, this job would be over by now. However, that is simply not the case. We are , at the moment, in the employee of little Slate. Neither your or I have any idea why he wants these druglords. He is keeping himself quite busy down here and we are his little soldiers while he sits in some air conditioned office. So, before you start throwing around insults and pouting, I suggest you really think about what is going on."

He only wished to wake her up. It was a bitter pill to swallow. Mercenaries were always expendable to the one writing the checks. If the mission was complete, less soldiers meant less paychecks and more profit. Roland needed his head examined for signing up with this wild bunch of misfits in the first place. While he was in the process of alleviating himself of the burden, he at least wanted to pass a little wisdom on to the girl before him.

" I don't wish to have harsh feelings here. You seem like a capable and intelligent person. However, you really need to think outside of the box. My specific problem here is not knowing the details. Here is a small hypothetical example. Let's say that Slate no longer wished to have us around, viewing us as troublemakers. What if there were explosives or many other men upstairs? What if this supposed driver doesn't show and the police do instead? Do you think he would bail us out? No, he would write us off. I know about Slate and other little Slates just like him. They will always save themselves. They will always sell us out. So, if you could wrap your mind around this concept, we may be able to continue. This 'just because' scenario is bullshit." He stood with his arms crossed over the gun., returning the 'so what' stare back to his accuser.

Alexandra Leigh did her best to laugh and be amused at Roland's harsh words instead of being infuriated. Getting hurt in this mission was the last thing that she needed. How on earth she could explain to the X-Men she was 'baby sitting' here at the conference if she returned injured that all she did was a shopping trip. And she didn�t doubt that Roland was an exceptional fighter, and, just like herself he could use all that surrounded him as a weapon. Too bad he was paranoid. Well, crazy, if you asked her.

Pawn? Smarter? Pouting? Capable and intelligent? Think out of the box? Slate trying to get rid of them? Surely, it was hard not to have harsh feelings when the men said what he said but his conception of Slate being after them actually made her laugh. Shaking her head, she kept a smile on her face.

"Ronnie." she said letting her head rest on her hand. "You are afraid that Slate is after us? Cause really, you can call me stupid for disagreeing with you. I don't recall doing anything that bad. And I don't really know why he would kill us when he brags around about no killing policy in missions." Alexandra rolled her eyes again. "And if you think I'm here to kill you." she let out a snort "As inexperienced as I am, and I still wouldn't sit here chatting. You'd be dead by now."

Her powers, that had not been turned off ever since she had manipulated the glass door, focused on the doors of the elevator. It was stupid of Roland to assume that she was there helpless while he was playing with his weapon, thinking she wasn't aware of it. It only took a second for half of the door to simply disappear only to reform in the shape of a pointy spear millimeters away from Roland's face. The other just stood there near her body, dissipated into the air, ready to form a shield to protect her body.

She wasn't here to kill him, no. The last thing she needed was to pay a funeral. But that didn't mean that he could underestimate her.