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Jacob gained a shred of respect for him… he at least wasn’t so cowardly to plead for his life or commit any lies to try to get out of his situation. He knew what had happened, and what was coming for him, and he had made peace with that in a very short amount of time. He was deserving of the quick death he was about to receive, and whatever the afterlife was, if there was one, they would judge his fate from here. He waited patiently, holding his hands tightly still, and waiting for the exchange between the two to come to a conclusion. Once she had given the word, he reached around his head, grabbing the jaw with the inner side of his elbow, and twisted rapidly, a sickening crunch coming from him as his neck broke cleanly. To ensure it was done, he released him, and put a hand near his mouth, and felt for his breathing… seeing that there was none, he stood up, and moved to his black bag.

He finally looked to Tses. “Now your Free.” Without another word, he quickly picked up the trash bags he had stowed in the black bag with all his equipment, and put the limp body into it, one part at each end, and sealed the two bags together with masking tape. “I need to take care of this. I’ll come check on you tomorrow, around noon, here. Please be here.” He didn’t want to go into the specifics of what he was going to have to do to ensure no one ever found his body, but he also had to take care of Jack… which he had an interesting idea for. Jack was no good, that much was true, but perhaps he could be of use… after all, if he had to guess, all the guy wanted in life was money and the ability to knock some heads together… both of which Jacob could provide… but instead of trying to harm Tses, perhaps a more constructive outlet.

Regardless, Jacob heaved the man, completely concealed, onto his shoulder and gave Tses one final look. “Talk to you soon, kiddo.” And he turned to leave, the doors opening of their own accord and his footfalls silent as to not wake the neighbors. The body would be cremated, and his ashes washed away, before dawn broke, in the endless forests near his shop. No one would be the wiser.

(Do what you want to, and we can forward to re-meeting, or end it there)

Jacob almost immediately retrieved his jacket, and put the familiar leather on. His side-arm was back with him, and he didn’t really make too many other sudden movements. Once he settled into the couch, his eyes focused on the screen, and seemed to go blank at the same time. It was a state of Zen that he had mastered, that allowed his senses to take control of his mind, giving him little to think about and still allowed him to be alert for long periods of time. It was quickly broken as she thanked him, and his heart warmed a little. “I will always help my friends.” And that was about as much affection as he could muster at the moment… he was trying not to open his heart at the moment, because he was going to have to do something soon that if his heart was exposed, it would hurt him more than he cared to admit.

As she drifted off to sleep, he resumed his state of Zen, carefully watching the monitor. He no longer tracked how much time had passed, but instead listened to the wind rapping outside the window. The window had been left unlocked… and it was ever so slightly cracked, leaving little to chance. There was a solid wall that would provide the cover he needed to get the drop on his adversary, and he settled in for the night. Before he was alerted to anything amiss, hours had passed… but there was movement, illuminated by the street light he had repaired.

Movement… someone was moving towards the front door, but then suddenly diverged from that path, and moved towards the fire escape. He watched for a moment more, but the moment that the man grabbed the bottom rung and began to pull himself up, he was a blur of motion. He moved towards Tses, shaking her shoulder quickly, adrenaline coursing through his veins… “he’s here. Get your mask on and put on your hood.” Simple, concise orders. He then shut the monitor down, closing the lid, and covered it with the blanket, rumpling it to look like a pile of clothes. He then moved quickly to the wall, flattening himself against it, and prepared to do what he had to. He listened as he heard him reach their level on the fire escape, and waited.

His heart thundered in his chest, but that was the only sound he could hear, and dawned his mask, getting it completely assembled and sealed in less than 10 seconds. Holding his breath as he saw fingers curling under the seal of the window, he waited until he began to pull the window up, and he heard the pin of the canister being pulled out.

In a flash of movement, Jacob reached out, snatching his hand that was holding the window, and forcefully yanking him down, smashing his forehead into the frame of the window with a loud thunk as his skull contacted the thick wood. Not hesitating, his other hand lashed out as he pivoted forwards, grabbing the canister if he was still holding it, and tossing it into the street. He then yanked the man in through the window forcefully, flattening him against the ground with his mass, and grabbing both his arms. With his knee in the man’s back, he raised up and grabbed both his arms, folding them painfully behind his back, now able to hold him in place with one hand, and he looked to see if Tses was watching. “Do you have anyone you need me to pay your last respects to, or any final words?” His voice, slightly distorted from the mask, was steady and cold.

(LET ME KNOW IF EDITS ARE NEEDED)

Jacob moved quickly, using the arrow keys after selecting the camera, and angling it so the fire escape was center mass. Pulling up another small window in the corner, he typed in an IP address and password, and a picture of Jack, back in his shop, came to life from the security feed that he had the password to. Had to make sure he didn’t get some funny idea or try to do anything stupid, and this way he could keep tabs on him. He then ran a power cable from the workstation to the outlet, so that the battery didn’t drain. The camera outside would be able to transmit for up to 24 hours before needing to be switched out, and he had three cameras with him, providing 72 hours of coverage… more than enough.

Even with the discount he had gotten, the equipment was not cheap, but it’s quality was unmatched. He then worked carefully to conceal the power cord, and grabbed a small blanket that he could cover the workstation with so that Kystler couldn’t peer in the window and wonder get a whiff that he was walking into his trap. Before setting it next to the workstation, he held it up and looked to Tses. “Is it alright if I use this?” If not, he would simply ask what it was that he could use to conceal the workstation. “Also, you may want to grab some kind of sweatshirt that has a hood… to keep the mask’s straps from showing when he looks into the window.” He wanted his jacket back eventually, but would wait until she decided to give it back. He also had to make sure of one thing… “so no more questions on what to do? Now is the time to ask, because we can practice.”

After everything was said and done, he sat on the couch, the monitor’s image reflecting in his eyes. He went through a mental checklist in his mind, and then looked towards Tses. “I would get some sleep if I were you. You have a stressful day ahead of you. I will stay up and keep watch here.” It was more than a suggestion, there was some heart that played in his voice for the first time in a while. He did not envy the fact that she was going to watch a man die tomorrow, and the fact that he was committing the sin wasn’t something that was light on his heart. He wanted to make sure that she wasn’t overwhelmed with stress, and getting some good sleep was the first part of ensuring that wouldn’t occur.

Jacob watched as she fitted the mask… it had been made by the Army, and as such, made to where even an idiot could figure out how to put it on, so the rather intelligent blonde in front of him had no difficulties. Reaching over, he synched down the straps that were a little harder to see or feel, until it had a good fit. “Alright, hold still.” He muttered, grabbing the back of the mask, the square piece of leather that held all the straps in place, and carefully stretched it over the top of the mask, delicately placing it in front of the mask, so the straps would stay taunt, and she wouldn’t have to wear it the entire time.

“You only have to wear it long enough for me to check and make sure that the air is clear. Your job, once I have a hold of Kystler, is to throw the canister back out of the window. As soon as you hear the canister hit the floor, that’s going to be your cue to move to it and try to get it out of there before it starts spraying. The masks are just in case you can’t get to it in time.” That was her only job, besides being bait… of course. He then took out his own mask, took a deep breath, and placed it on his face. “Alright… you need to know this to make sure the mask has a seal… You will probably have 30 seconds from when I tell you to get the mask on, he started, placing a hand on the mask’s air outlet, on the opposite side of the canister, and blowing out, forcing the air to rupture the seal all the way around the mask. Then he quickly moved his hand to the other side, sealing the hole of the filter canister, and sucked in, and the mask’s edges visibly adhered to his face, creating an air-tight seal.

He had done all this while blind, as the straps were in front of his eyes on the mask, so if he could do it blind, she should be able to do it without any problem. He let go of the mask, and it stayed on his face, the suction allowing it to stay in place, and then he ruptured the seal with his hand, and pulled the mask off. “It’s real simple. For you, though, I want you to practice putting it on all the way, with the straps. It’s fitted to you, so it shouldn’t be hard… just don’t let your hair get in the way. All you have to do is take a deep breath, put it on your face, pull the straps over your head to the back to keep the mask there, blow out covering the exhale hole, and then breath in covering the inhale hole, just like I did. Practice it a few times… and you will feel when you get it right. I have to go handle Jack.”

Turning, and allowing her to practice, he walked back around to the front of the store. Once he entered, he didn’t turn to the man at first, but instead went behind the counter, and fished out a MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) that should provide enough food to sustain him the night. He then approached him, pulled out his knife, and reached down…

And cut his restraints for his legs, allowing the man to walk. “Tuck your hands under your legs so they are in front of you,” he said simply. He threw the MRE on the couch next to him and waited for him to sit up. “Public bathroom is right there,” he said, pointing to a ‘male’ sign on the door, “but if you try to go anywhere else, to include leaving the shop, you will get electrocuted. I can control which tiles, door, and windows are electricly charged, and I have wires running through all the windows. Don’t go anywhere, and don’t make me come back here to handle you, and I will gladly take you back to your car, and you will never have to deal with me again… unless you try to mess with Tses or Ty. They are under my protection, and if I so much as get a hint that you are messing with them again, I personally guarantee that you will wish for the mercy of Death before I get through with you… so make sure to tell your goons to leave them alone, and any other lowlife that might be a problem. Am I Understood?” His tone was even, cold, and as true as Death himself. Without another word, once he got a signal that the man understood him, he moved out of the store, and closed the doors. The locks engaged, and there was a barely audible hum as the electricity coursed through the floor, windows and doors.

He then moved back behind the shop to see how Tses was fairing with her practice on getting the mask on.

Jacob nodded soundly at her decision… she wasn’t a coward, and that was good. She was ready to look at this man in his eyes as he died, and show him that he had truly lost. She had become a good friend, like a little sister to Jacob, in a very short amount of time, and if there was one thing about the mechanic that should have been a warning label, you NEVER messed with his friends or family. That being said, Jacob started in on the plan.

“Alright, so it’s going down tomorrow night… you are going to be the bait. He’s going to throw the canisters into the window, and we are going to put on a pair of Gas Masks that I got from my time in the Army. When he comes in, you will be lying on the floor, facing away from him, and I will wait until he is near you to make my move. Once I do, I give him his last right, and it’s over.” It was that simple. He would wait a moment now, allowing her a chance to ask any questions she had.

“I will have to make sure the mask is sized for your face… and show you how to seal it so you don’t suck in any of the gas.” Without further ado, he moved around the side of his shop to the back, and moved to a large vault-looking door. Without touching it, mechanical latches and such began to clank in it, and there was no visible handle or unlocking mechanism. The heavy door swung open, and he entered the garage-sized vault that he had all his valuable stuff in. Rifles, handguns, and an assortment of Army and civilian gear littered the walls in a very organized fashion.

Moving inside, he grabbed two medium sized green bags that had the masks, as well as a medium sized black bag. He also grabbed a teal colored skull cap, and placed it on his head, covering the exposed skin from the elements, and a large knife that looked like it could have been home in a Hollywood Thriller, and its sheath. He didn’t plan on spilling any blood, but it was there, just in case. Moving back out of it, he grabbed two large black trash bags from the wall, rated to carry 200 lbs. Should be enough for the body. Without another word, he moved back out of the vault, and shut the door, the locks re-engaging and the door cleverly hidden yet again. He then looked to Tses, and handed her one of the green bags. “See if that mask forms a seal around your face… it should fit.” It was a guess, but considering her size, that medium mask should fit fine once the straps were tightened.

Jacob nodded thoughtfully at the comment that Maruisz made, but then he decided to inspect his specimens a bit more thoroughly. Picking up one of the glass jars that were sitting behind him, he looked carefully at the yellow ‘Banana’ spider, known to the people who knew spiders as the Brazilian Wandering Spider. The thing skittered away from him, and he marveled at the little creature. Such a small thing capable of rendering someone completely and utterly helpless in five mere minutes. Insane how Mother Nature worked, and in this case, could provide the answer to his problem. He had already worked out the delivery system of getting his chemical cocktail to the target, he just needed a safe nervous system paralyzing liquid, or even a gas. Maybe both.

As the wheels in his mind continued to turn, he heard what the woman said. “To be fair, I didn’t know the system… my ability allows me to manipulate and detect mechanical objects. Your’s apparently, deals with your glasses, or something relative, as that is the second time they have changed while I have been in your presence.” His attention to detail was top notch, and as he made his proclamation, he stopped looking at the spider for a moment, and looked directly into her eyes. He knew when someone was lying, instinctively, but he also stated it with such a nonchalant nature that it was as if it was a predetermined fact. He knew he was right… he just didn’t know the details of what he was right about.

Turning his gaze back on the spider, he then proceeded to chat with Mariusz as though nothing had happened. “Regan is certainly fun to be around,” he agreed. He made a mental note to check out the library, but thought perhaps a guide would be good for the gear-head. “You will have to show me the library sometime Mariusz, I would enjoy a new book. The last one I read was very interesting; The Dark Tower series.” With that, he set the spider back down behind him and returned his focus on the pair in the room.

Jacob listened intently again, everything being absorbed and his battle plan coming together with razor precision. They were coming up on his shop in a short while, and he would have to pull over and use a hat he had stashed under his seat to cover Jack’s eyes. No need in the man knowing where they were going exactly… and he could talk while blind. Slowly coming to a stop, he fished the hat out after everything had been said. He only needed one more piece of information. “Is he bringing anyone with him to this meeting? Or is he going to do the dirty work himself?” It wouldn’t fit his profile to do the meeting alone unless he had a good reason to keep it a secret, but anything was possible. Once Jacob had gotten his answer, he shoved the hat over the man’s head, a skull cap of sorts, so it was covering his eyes. “Roll yourself over so you are facing the crevice of the seat, and stay quiet.” Once he complied, he would resume driving, if he didn’t, he would get a swift punch to the gut, and Jacob forcibly rolling him over. Either way, he would be blind.

He looked over at Tses, giving her a look, and then looking at Jack for a moment. He then tapped once on his ear, and made a slash across his neck. He didn’t want Jack hearing the plan, but the plan was formed. After a few more minutes of driving, he pulled into his shop’s parking lot, which was empty at the moment. No customers, no employees… good. As he pulled into his spot, the junked cars neatly to the right of the shop, he parked, and keyed the engine off. Both car doors swung open, and Jacob stepped out, moving quickly to the back seat and grabbing Jack with deft ease, hoisting him up and onto his shoulders, and then moving towards the shop, which the front door opened automatically. Setting him onto the couch in the waiting room, he removed the blindfold, and looked him in the eye. “You will be spending the night here. Are you supposed to check in with Kystler at any point?” The question was simple, but needed answered.

Once that was addressed, he would return outside where Tses would likely be just getting out of the car, if at all. Looking at her dead in the eyes, he made the question that would shape her very direct future quick and to the point. “You have a choice… you can either be conscious or unconscious when I kill this coward, but I need to know which it is going to be.” The decision was up to her… it was her life, and if she wanted nothing to do with this murder, she could be unconscious the entire time and it would be over when she woke up. Inversely, if she wanted either the satisfaction, or the assurance, of his demise, she could stay awake, but the choice was up to her.