"Sabrina's choice is here"[/color]

'Ah so that was her name' Simon allowed a small grin to form as he filed away the womens name and linked it with the voice he had heard; it never hurt to know people's names, especially if they didn't expect you to know them. At one point during his stay in Europe Simon had managed to start a rumour that he was a telepath simply by listening in on random conversation he happened to encounter. It had amused him for a time but the rumour had quickly died when he became more well known. 'Anonymity is such a blessing' he thought wistfully just before a half dozen armed men surrounded him.

“You’re to come with us sir.”[/color]

"Is that so?..." Simon left the question hanging dangerously in the air allowing the tension to mount. 'It would seem my new employer is most cautious' he noted as he observed the guards clutch their rifles more securely and spread their stance in preparation for a fight. Glancing up towards the security cameras the elemental noted how they had fixed on his form, 'most cautious indeed' giving the cameras a dry look he returned his gaze to the man who had spoken. "Well let's not keep him waiting, lead the way"

The men lead Zephyr into the lab and down to the infirmary. “Mr Antonescu will be here shortly.”

*****

Hunter opened the cage door to let the lizardman out. “Come and meet the rest of the team.” Turning on his heel he strode towards the infirmary, telling a worker he passed to clean up the bodies.

On reach the infirmary he stopped to look around at those assembled there. “Calley, you look fixed up, good to see. Dakota, it’s been nearly twenty years since I last saw you you’ve grown.”

Picking up a pair of leather gloves that he been deliberately placed he tossed them to Dakota. “I heard about your little stunt with the guard. Put those on so you’re not tempted to do it to anyone else.” He turned to Zephyr. “And you must be the mercenary that Sabrina found. Your reputation is most impressive, but I’ve always been one to believe in facts.”

Stepping aside he indicates the lizardman behind him. “This is the final member of the group. For those of you who are unaware I am Hunter Antonescu. You have been gathered here as I require a team of uniquely talented individuals who can perform vital tasks for me.”

“Calley has been brought in for his stealth and intelligence gathering abilities. The lizardman is here because of his combat capabilities. Dakota, I requested you so that not only could your father pay his debt, but your energy manipulation is most versatile. Finaly Zephyr, you are called in as if the rumours are true you’ll bring experience and subtly.”

“The team is code named the Kabal. Its members will not only be financially very well off, but be put up in luxury accommodation and have the freedom to pursue their own interests, so long as it does not affect my own affairs.”

He paused to let them digest this information. As he did so a short balding man entered. “Sir, there’s something you need to know.”

“What?” demanded Hunter irritably.

“Someone attempted to breach our network. While they were unsuccessful I managed to trace them without letting them know I have. They’re located at the Xavier Institute, I can detail the exact room.”

“Good work Chris, get a map with the location on immediately.” Hunter turned back to the group, “It seems you have your first mission. Calley, this one is for you only. I want you to sneak into the Xavier institute, determine the occupant of this room and assess the place’s defences. Go with Dr Ingram and he’ll supply you with your equipment.”

Once Calley had left he turned to those remaining. “Time now for a test gentlemen. If you wish to become a part of this group you will follow me. If not my guards will escort you from the premises.” With that Hunter turned and set off towards the area had had made especially for the tests.

*****

Dr Ingram opened up the box in his lab and pulled out what looked like a large cat collar with a bell and name tag. “This is your equipment. The collar will automatically adjust to your neck size, so will neither fall off nor strangle you if you shift. The name tag it a skeleton key for both conventional and key card locks, only the most sophisticated lock will stop it. The key is on an extendable thread to allow ease of use.” He pulled the name tag to show it extended.

“Finally the bell is several things. First it is a communication devise with audio and visual receivers, so we can see and hear you surroundings. There is also a small speaker should we need to contact you. It also monitors your vital signs, so we can assess whether or not you are physically capable of continuing your mission.”

“Finally,” he said as he placed the collar around Calley’s neck, “it is also a powerful explosive device. If you are killed there will be no trace of your body. It can be remotely detonated and will automatically go off if the collar is removed by anyone who isn’t me.”

He went over to get the map Chris had made and handed it to Calley. “Here’s the map of the place, along with the room whose occupant you need to identify. Head up to the entrance and you’ll be transported close to the target. You’ll be monitored at all times and can call for assistance if needed.”

With the briefing delivered Dr Ingram went back to tinkering with something he was working on.

“Calley, you look fixed up, good to see.”

Calley woke up with a start at Hunter’s words, sitting up on the infirmary bed with alarm. The alarm quickly faded, since he was obviously still dreaming. There was a mafia wanna-be man, a kid his age who was playing at being stoic, his scary new employer, and—his personal favorite—a lizardman. Calley swallowed a laugh. He was pretty sure the scary man would break his fingers for laughing, even in a dream.

As Hunter kept talking, Calley got this sinking feeling in his stomach that he wasn’t dreaming at all. The mafia wanna-be man was Dakota, who needed to wear gloves for some reason. A mutation-related reason, no doubt. The stoic kid was apparently a hotshot mercenary named Zephyr. The lizardman, he was glad to hear, was apparently just a lizardman. Calley was afraid he was an expert sniper, or something. He was also glad to hear his own introduction. It made him sound rather cool, he thought, especially the part where Hunter forgot to mention how he knew Calley had those abilities. He appreciated that tasteful glazing over of recent events.

And he very much appreciated the parts that sounds like “financially very well off”, “luxury accommodations”, and “freedom”. He was even hopeful that they’d apply to him, though he was half-way expecting Hunter to pull him aside at the end and tell him—in traditional scary man style—that his life was his payment.

When Mister Chris came in with his announcement, Calley stopped worrying about much of anything. His bad feeling got washed out by a very good feeling that what Chris was talking about was exactly what a spy was around for.

“It seems you have your first mission. Calley, this one is for you only. I want you to sneak into the Xavier institute, determine the occupant of this room and assess the place’s defences. Go with Dr Ingram and he’ll supply you with your equipment.”

Calley slid off the bed, and couldn’t resist throwing a smart salute at his new employer. “Sir, yes Sir!” This was going to be fun. Even the thought of being alone with Jamesy again couldn’t deflate him. He started following the kind doctor out of the room. At the last minute he had a thought. He turned back, and addressed the lizardman: “Hey! Do you have a name?” Seemed awfully inconsiderate of Hunter not to have properly introduced the guy. He liked the lizardman on sight: the guy’s obvious mutations (and that awesome tail) were making him think of Abyss back at the Sanctuary. Abyss looked tough, but he had a soft spot for cats a mile wide. He was one of Calley’s favorite people (next to Isabel, of course. And Amp).

He trailed after the doctor, and found himself in a lab staring down at a cat collar with a bell. He hated collars. And he hated bells.

But he rather liked the perks of this particular item. Wouldn’t strangle him, eh? Always nice. The audio and video were good—maybe Hunter could go over the videos with him, and show him just what he was supposed to be looking for in those ‘offensive and defensive capabilities’ categories he’d mentioned. The key, in particular, was a nice touch—though it would be tricky to use it, and would probably involve much momentary nudity on his part. Overall, he liked it enough that he even submitted to letting the compassionate doctor put it around his neck without a fuss.

“Finally,” the man continued as Calley listened enthusiastically, “it is also a powerful explosive device. If you are killed there will be no trace of your body. It can be remotely detonated and will automatically go off if the collar is removed by anyone who isn’t me.”

Enthusiasm dead. “What?” Calley asked. And then he repeated, because it felt like it needed to be repeated: “What?” His hands automatically went scrambling for the catch on the thing. The compassionate doctor just looked at him, a Do you listen when other people speak to you? look. Calley stopped trying to self-detonate himself inadvertently. It was one of the wiser decisions he’d made that day.

A map and instructions followed. Calley listened half-heartedly. If I’m ever feeling suicidal, he thought, I’m going to break back into the Scary Boss Man’s apartment and explode all over his bedroom. The visual cheered him up considerably.

“Thanks, Doc Jimmy.” Calley heartedly told the man, slapping him on the back as the guy tried to tinker with something very fragile-looking. “See you later, ol’ buddy, ol’ pal!” Slap, slap. The doctor carefully set the fragile-looking thingie down, and watched Calley levelly until he’d exited the room.

Calley headed to the entrance, noting the profusion of security in the building as he did. Good thing he wasn’t thinking of running anymore; some of those guards didn’t look pet-friendly. Thankfully, his new collar officially ended that train of thought any time it tried to start.

Explosive collars: inspiring loyalty where loyalty had never existed before.

He reached the entrance, and waited where a guard told him to wait for his ride, trying to look on the bright side of things: the scary man hadn’t just throttled him on the spot two hours ago. Yeah... that thought was a real pick-me-up. Calley sat down against a wall, and casually studied his map.

((ooc: Continued in "First Missions and Explode-a-Kitty collars"))

Dakota caught the leather gloves. "Not really my style Hunter." he said as he threw them into the trash. How about I just don't touch anybody...unless a guard wants a hand-shake." Dakota said the last part with a smirk on his face.

"Hmmmm...training eh?" Dakota commented. "Let's get this started." with that, Dakota opened the door and stepped out into the empty hallway. "CODE EPSILON!" he yelled. Out came a bunch of men from their hiding places. "Oops. False alarm he said while smiling. He was actually making a mental note of where the men were, just incase they turned on him...

Hunter whirled on Dakota, restraining himself from attacking the boy. “Let me make this abundantly clear,” he said, keeping his rage in check, “This is my house, you play by my rules.”

Turning to one of the armed men he said “Code change, shift to the dawn set. Initiate code midnight.” Turning back to Dakota he explained “That little stunt just cost you the life of one of your bodyguards, he’s being executed as we speak. Now, you will put on these gloves,” he pulled a pair off one of the soldiers, “And you will show me due respect or not only will you suffer, but I’ll make life uncomfortable for your father as well. I helped build his empire and I can help collapse it as well. Is that understood?”

Dakota laughed. "Those body-guards are clones. They are disposable. A friend made them for me." Dakota felt as if Hunter might strangle him. What a joke. "Also, I refuse to wear your gloves. If you insist on me not allowing my hands to contact anyone then fine but you will not force me to do something. Also, let me tell you something. You are not my boss. You are my equal. And I don't give a $h!t if you are 400 years old or not. We are equals." Dakota then motioned for Hunter to lead the way to the training area.

“Wrong boy, here I am your boss. You start showing me that you can behave like an adult then I’ll start treating you like one. You have a problem with that then feel free to leave, and then we’ll see how you like being the son of a man whose criminal empire is collapsing around his ears. If you are ready to grow up then follow me.”

Hunter led them to a large open space. “Welcome to my testing ground. I’ve got a specific test for each of you. Dakota, you’re up first. I want to see how refined a control you have. See those people over there?” he pointed to a dozen people who were standing in a semicircle, “Your test is to shot down twelve clay pigeons that will be fired at you using the energy from those people without knocking any of them unconscious.”

This should test the boys self control, plus see how accurate he was.

Dakota smirks. He had shot pidgeons a lot as a child. He put out his hands and directed them to the group of people. He didn't need much. He took a little from each person. They felt like they had just run 2 football field laps. He then saw a few pidgeons coming at him. He charged energy into each finger and shot down 10 pidgeons. He then clapped his hands to manipulate the Gravatonic Energy around the other two pidgeons and they fell down(They were actually being pulled down). "There." Dakota said.

“So you can show self-restraint. Here,” Hunter threw a packet of what looked like a green gel to Dakota, “Try that. It’s a gel that contains a concentrated form of the biochemical energy found in plants and animals. Try drawing the energy from it and punching a hole through this.”

A large grey wall was wheeled out. “That is a six inch thick wall of the latest in composite tank armour, easily capable of resisting an anti-tank shell. Lets find out how much juice that packet gives you.”

(OOC: The packet is about the size of your hand and will turn grey once the energy is used)

Xiin watched the boy's antics, with little to no emotion shown on his face. He folded his arms across his chest and waited for the show to stop. He flicked his tongue before he spoke.

"Sssooo... The boy'sss ssstrength will increassse due to sssslime?"

And with those few words he stepped forward, coming to the side of Atonescu. He squinted his amber eyes as he cast an analyzing glare upon Dakota. Xiin had grown weary of all his human 'team' mates already. He longed for the sound of exotic birds and the taste of the jungle mist upon his tongue. He didn't know where he was, who these people were, let alone understand human reasoning. He hissed quietly as he waited for his test.

“It should do.” The lizard seemed to struggle to fully grasp human reasoning, so Hunter doubted that he’d understand the advanced science behind the gel. “Dakota take his power from living things, taking their strength and using it as his own. The slime is a sort of puddle of strength that he can draw energy from.” Or at least that’s how it should work.

James had done a scan of the lizard and was finishing up the equipment that Hunter had asked to be made. He doubted that the lizard would want a monetary reward, and so would find what else it was interested in and offer that instead.

“Tell me,” he asked, “What should I call you?”

Xiin raised a brow at the man's comment. He hesitated for a moment as he searched for an answer. A name... I haven't had a name for years... His eyes brightened slightly as he thought about having a title again. He then hissed his name with anxiety, afraid of what these humans might think.

"I go by... Xiin... sssss..."

After letting his name leave his lips, he noticed that his entire body had grown tense. His tail hovered several feet above the ground, ready to strike anyone that approached him.

“Xiin,” said Hunter, half to himself, “Well I suppose you can start your test now while Dakota gets a feel for the gel. See those three men over their?” He indicated a trio of six foot plus burly looking men. “Do you think you can defeat them all without killing them?”

While in combat Hunter would be unlikely to give an order not to kill, but those men were valuable to him and he wanted them alive. They were all masters of different martial arts, karate, judo and aikido. While they had skill and numbers, Xiin had his enhanced physiology, which should even the playing field.

The lizard frowned slightly before nodding. He didn't prefer to just attack an individual, especially 3 that were waiting for him. Xiin liked to hunt in the darkness. That's why he loved the forest so much; the thrill of the chase made his blood boil with excitement. He unfolded his arms and stretched his hands apart, the light catching his claws as spoke.

"Yesss... if I mussst."

Xiin slowly stepped towards the men, watching each of their smug faces closely. He hunched over and brought his arms to his side. He stood there for a few moments and hissed quietly, trying to unnerve the men. Then suddenly, he shrieked loudly and pounced on the largest man. He slashed violently at the man's chest, causing severe wounds. As the other two moved to grab the lizard, Xiin jumped backwards and hit one in the head with a quick swipe of his powerful tail. The man stumbled forward on his way to the floor, taking the remaining man with him. Xiin quickly lunged forward and placed his hand around the last man's throat. Xiin hissed and let his tongue slip out of his mouth to lick the tip of the man's nose.

Dakota recieved the Gel Pack. "Hmmm....it's energy is very similar to an elephants." he said. He then squeezed the GelPack and it started to turn gray. He was absorbing the energy. He then looked at the lizard. He seemed to have a lot of energy from what Dakota could tell. "Hello Xiin," Dakota said. "I am Dakota Crane."

Dakota then turned his focus back to the wall. He gathered all the energy from that gel pack and put it in his fist. He then launched himself at the wall and punched right through it. He was happy, but he showed no emotion. "I like it." he simply said. The he watched Xiin.