Hidden Talents
~Ace~
*she sent off a message to Tosha, it was time she talked to her
again... she didn`t want to lose touch with her, at least there
was *someone* in this godforsaken country who actually knew her
and who *wasn`t* part of the damned unnatural game.. it felt go
od, that she could have /normal/ conversations with someone,
without worrying about `are they on our side?` or the like...
this was a more private place, she was asking her over to one of
the houses she still kept for appearances sake, she had enough
money th at she had a flat here and there that had *no* relation
to Shadow whatsoever, and that was good... where she met people
not to do with the unnatural game, and contacts she wasn`t sure
of yet... and now Tosha.. it was actually a bit more than just a
flat, it just wasn`t quite as fancy as Shadow`s place was all...
she settled down, and waited... it was still highly secure,
mostly because of what she`d set up herself..*
~Slip~
*she had gotten the message and sent off her reply..and
considering how many relays both used some would consider it a
miracle that it had been arranged in less than a few hours...she
flew into LAX the night before...a non descript oriental
woman...and a slightly greying native woman had rented a hotel
room not far away later that night...a you ng black woman with
garishly dyed purple hair steps off a bus a few blocks from their
meeting place...she stops and looks up at the street sign then
turns and crosses the street towards the gas station, a thick
southern accent asking for the bathoom key a s she hoist her huge
purse over her shoulder....... a few minutes laters a tall blonde
steps out of the bathroom...she casually drops a large bag and
some cloth into a trash bin as she passes then continues down the
street.....she pauses in front of the g iven address and looks
around briefly before continuing up the stairs and ringing the
bell..a lot of work to meet an old friend, but in their line of
business it was required*
~Ace~
*and shortly afterwards the door opened, it might not *seem* a
very secure arrangement, not like some of the other places they`d
met in over the years... but she`d know that with Ace, it was
always more secure than it seemed... she was very good with tech
as well as disguises, so it would be expected both that she
didn`t let things appear as they actually were, and also that she
would have installed various things herself..* Hello Tosha.. *of
course if it had been someone else.... well, it wasn`t and so it
was all fine... then the door shut the moment Tosha stepped in*
Welcome to my humble abode.. *a slight smirk*
~Slip~
*she looks around the place as she steps in, a slight smirk on
her lips....she knew that it wasn`t Ace`s primary base of
operations....rarely did they let anyone else actually see
that..it might be a sub base, or even a place rented or purchased
for just this purpose...even friends had to be cautious...one
never knew when a contract had been taken on them,
everyone...even old friends had a price....it just had to be
found....* good to see you again...*she takes off her tailored
jacket and hangs it on a hook....then with a slight grin she
reaches behind her and pulls out a pistol which she places in the
jacket pocket, out of her reach....a show of trust.....her
primary weapon, of course she had others, and no doubt Ace knew
it and expected it...but those she would leave...hidden as they
were* Nice place you got
~Ace~
Yeah it is. *she noted the pistol placed out of the reach of
Tosha, and nodded, understanding what she was doing... also
knowing that she was /far/ from unarmed but even so...* Just a
little place I come to from time to time. It`s a handy base of
operations... *well sub base anyway, basically where she met her
contacts and the like...* Settled into the cesspool yet? *a light
chuckle, and she gestured* Have a seat. Wanna drink? Sorry, no
tea, I don`t bother buying it when I`m not at home.. *by home of
course, she meant England, and the smirk on her lips let Tosha
know that Ace was still in to ripping into American culture at
times..*
~Slip~
I`m getting there slowly....had a few problems which led to a
slow start, but I`m setting up *she follows into the living room
and settles into what looks to be a comfortable chair* thanks
....*Sure *she wrinkles her nose slightly at the mention of no
tea * anything except coffee....I can`t stand the stuff they have
here *she leans back and stretches slightly* now Italy..they know
how to make coffee
~Ace~
Well what would it be like if we didn`t have problems? Then you`d
be suspicious anyway.... *she chuckled* I could get in a special
supply of tea for next time. *she snickered, and tossed her a
beer* About the only thing that I really keep in the place,
besides some soft drink and cold water. *she snickered* Aah yes.
Italy really does. About the only good thing about the states is
that at least there`s plenty of work. Speaking of which, had any
interesting job offers lately?
~Slip~
suspiscion has kept me alive this long *she catches the beer and
cracks it open* Least you keep that much...lot of my old places
were lucky to have more than the basic furniture *she chuckles
and takes a long sip from the bottle* Yes they do...seems all
these Yanks want to do is kill each other off.....*she shakes her
head and looks at the beer label* no, not much really...a few in
South America...mostly easy money....*she nods over in your
direction* what about you? whats new?
~Ace~
*she chuckled quietly* So very true. *she shrugged* Jackie comes
here from time to time. Hasn`t been here lately so I`m fully
stocked. *she grinned quietly* *shrugged* Well as you can guess,
I`ve managed to get a fair bit of money. But nothing
/interesting/. It`s just.. *she shrugged* Assassinate a gang
member here or there... nothing like my missions for UNIT were.
Hunting down people that normal people couldn`t... now that was
interesting. *she shrugged*
~Slip~
thats good to hear *the bottle tips back as she takes a sip* You
know, its nice to not have to listen to that bloody american
accent again....its nice to hear someone speak properly *She
nods* Unit would have been a nice one to get into, but with my
history there was no way I was getting near anything legal *she
leans forward, the beer held casually in her hands* so come up
with anything strange around here?
~Ace~
*she chuckled quietly* Isn`t it though? *she snickered quietly* I
only got in because of a contact I knew. *she paused and
pondered* No more than usual for me. You? *of course, she assumed
that Tosha would have told her of anything that would catch her
eye... but maybe not... and if Tosha knew how to read between the
lines, she`d realise that `no more than usual for me`, most
likely meant she /had/*
~Slip~
*she chuckles lightly..she knew the basics of UNIT ..or what she
was allowed to know, even by Merc standards they tended to keep
themselves pretty well sewn up* Had some wierd run ins down in
Dallas *she shakes her head* Still haven`t quite figured it
out...
~Ace~
*she blinked* Wierd run ins in Dallas? How wierd? *she was on the
alert quick as a flash* I could take a quick investigation if you
wanted.. *she wanted to, but if Tosha didn`t want Ace anywhere
near there..*
~Slip~
*she shrugs* yeah some kid...with some cool tricks up her sleeve
but hopeless in a fight....still haven`t figured out if she was
hired by someone, out on her own, or just overly paranoid *She
had caught your sudden burst of interest* Why? got something
going there?
~Ace~
*she shrugged* I have things going on everywhere. However, that
sounds exactly like what I`m meant to be doing for unit still..
*she paused* What kind of tricks?*then she blinked, as it sunk
in... /Dallas/... the chances...* I don`t suppose this kid gave a
name did they?
~Slip~
*she shrugs* yeah, I think she did....uhmm Tora something like
that * she remembered the name, but Aces sudden interest suddenly
put her on the defensive......it was an automatic reaction....and
she wanted to see what Ace came up with in response* the kid
would be pretty good for sneak attacks, if you could teach her
something
~Ace~
*Ace paused quietly, Tora, the name was so similiar... and she
was in Dallas, what were the chances?, she sighed* I`ll poke
around Dallas. Hang on, I gotta make a phone call with one of my
contacts if you don`t mind. I`ll see what I can dig up, maybe
take her under my wing if I can find it. If you wouldn`t mind..
*taking out a cellphone, she prepared to go into the next room to
make a call..*
~Slip~
*she shrugs* Ya sure, go ahead..if its a hire, it was sure
sloppy*a slight smile curls up her lips as she watches Ace reach
for the phone....obviously she had hit something that Ace
knew...or the reaction wouldn't have been quite so
quick...there's more than curiosity there* I'll let you go only
if you promise to tell me what you know when you get back
~Ace~
I`ll tell you what I can Tosha. You know I can`t tell you things
I`ve been sworn to secrecy on. *and slipping into the next room
she quickly dialed the number to Zora`s cellphone* I hope you`re
answering Shad... *muttered under her breath*
~Shadow~
*She had been with a customer when the phone rang.. Normally she
would have let it go to the voice mail, but something had her
excusing herself to answer it.* Hello...
~Slip~
*she shrugs as Ace turns away* Then just tell me what you can and
give generalities on the rest...if someones out for my head...I
want to know
~Ace~
*whispered* Shad. It`s me Ace. We need to talk. *even as Tosha
watched, she saw the transformation of Ace, her friend, to Ace,
bounty hunter* Can you get over to my house in LA asap?*she
nodded towards Tosha, she`d certainly tell if someone was out to
kill her... but she didn`t think so, if she was right... she did
wonder though, Tosha had witnessed the freaky happenings
though... hmmm....*
~Shadow~
*Surprised she moves in to her office.* LA? Hold on.. *She hoped
that she had this right.. Could she use the bracelet to home in
on Ace`s place?* I may be able to if I can get the coordinates
right.... What`s going on?
~Ace~
It appears that one of your... friends, has revealed their
presence to one of mine. And interestingly enough Shad, it was in
Dallas.
~Shadow~
*Frowning she didn`t like the sounds of that.. It hadn`t been
that long since her own encounter..* I see.. Hold on I`ll be
right there.. *Mumbling she hangs up the phone.* I hope....
*Letting her staff know she was going out she slips outside..
Moving into the alley she plays with the settings on her bracelet
crossing her fingers she presses the button.. Hopefully she will
arrive standing close to Ace.. Hopefully that wouldn`t be in the
middle of a crowded room..*
~Ace~
*Ace and Tosha were the only ones in the room, and then she hung
up, and rejoined Tosha* My contact should be here soon. Then we
can get to the bottom of this. *then her eyes swivelled as Zora
appeared next to them* `Allo Shad. Welcome to my humble abode.
~Slip~
*she watches the transformation overcome Ace as she steps into
the other room, the same basic change coming over her...something
wasn't right and that instantly put her on guard....she can only
faintly hear Aces voice through the thin wall, not enough
carrying though to actually hear...her eyes briefly wander to the
door, wondering if she should just play it safe and leave...after
all, its always better to be safe than sorry...her gaze wanders
back to the doorway just as Ace emerges* your cont... *words are
abrubtly cut off and she is instantly behind the chair, a gun
drawn as Shadow emerges from nowhere* Whats going on? *she looks
almost warily at Ace then back to Shadow....instantly recognizing
her*
~Shadow~
s***!! *Seeing Tosha she ducks into the shadows.. This really
didn`t look good.. She would wait until Ace had a chance to
figure things out.. It was only after she ducked into the shadows
that she recognized Tosha as the woman from the alley.. She had
ducked because of the gun at first..*
~Ace~
Put the gun away Tosha.. *she sighed softly* What`s going on?
That`s what I`d like to know. What the f*** is going on Shad? She
saw what you`re capable of? Here I thought I was an exception to
the rule.... unless... *she paused, and glanced at Tosha* Oh
no.... oh Tosha...
~Slip~
*she looks at Ace then over at the mass of shadows as she stands
up...she knew what the girl was capable of....and she also knew
that she wasn't much challenge..she nods briefly at Ace and once
more stows the small gun back in her boot*This is the kid
alright...*she looks back at Ace* you obviously know
something....give it up? *she looks at the mass of shadows and
sighs* Give it up kid, less you want some more magnesium
~Shadow~
*She would have left immediately after seeing Tosha if it hadn`t
been for Ace.. She trusted the girl though.. Chuckling she slips
from the shadows behind Tosha.* I don`t think so.. All you would
have done was destroyed the wall.. *She didn`t use Ace`s name not
until she knew what was going on.*
~Ace~
*Ace was /not/ happy* What`s she know Shad? *she sighed* That`s
what I thought. Bloody hell Shad, how`d you walk away from her
alive? Or more precisely, how come you`re /both/ alive, and she
hasn`t been mindwiped? I /know/ the way you people work, it`s a
part of what you are, you have no choice. So the question is,
what`s going on? She on our side? She escape? She take you
hostage and you /had/ to let her go? What is going on? *she
glanced at Tosha* Is one of you going to tell me what the deal
is?
~Slip~
*her only reaction as shadow steps from behind her is to casually
put some space between them...normally she would have grabbed
shadow and pinned her on the ground..but seeing as she knew Ace,
she was taking it easy..she shrugs as she looks over at Ace* one
of my contacts said she was clean, said he owed her a favour and
I owed him..*She looks menacingly at shadow* so now all debts are
paid..*..she's not quite sure about this mindwipe stuff but she's
got suspicions...and obviously Ace knew about this unnaturals
stuff....but she'd be dammed if she was going to let on that she
was one of them...only one knew and he was sworn to secrecy*
~Shadow~
The friend she speaks of wouldn`t have let her live if he didn`t
trust her like I do you Ace.. It`s the only reason I didn`t make
a few calls to get things taken care of.. *She knew how bad her
own fighting skills were.. She would have left it up to those
that knew how to fight to take care of Tosha.*
~Ace~
Right. Things still don`t add up people. Okay, you both know this
friend, not entirely unlikely. *she glanced to Tosha* You owed
him, thus spared her. *glances to Shadow* And you trusted him.
But this is trusting him, an awful lot. Secrets to hide and yet
.. *she paused* She knows, and yet, not only is she not
mind-wiped, she`s let go her own way. And yet I`m watched very
carefully *true, she had left, but that didn`t mean she wasn`t
watched... she was no fool* Either way, she`s stumbled into
something big. *for what had not been directly stated, but that
was obvious, is that if Shadow was trusting this friend of hers
as far as Tosha was concerned, the friend must also be
unnatural... otherwise she wouldn`t trust him in regards to such
a secret...*
~Slip~
*She glances from Shadow to Ace, vague amusement on her face* so
what is it that I supposedly know? *..she wasn't giving away
anything, neve mind that Alan had given her 'the talk' and filled
her in on what seemed to be the total details of what they
were...she just wasn't about to drop her advantage and let them
know she was one of them....*she looks curiously at Ace...was she
perhaps one as well?*
~Shadow~
*Smiling she moves over towards Ace..* I don`t know.. What do you
know? *Stand off.. Without knowing what Tosha knew she wasn`t
about to spill it all. . She had just been told that Tosha was
ok.. That didn`t mean she knew everything.. * Besides the fact
that shadows can be fun...
~Ace~
*shrug* Fine. *she suddenly didn`t give a damn* She knows that
shadows can be fun. *she knows so much more, and so does Tosha...
but they could have their game, and she shook her head* In any
event, don`t make me hurt you because you`re beating up on each
other. *Tosha might be her equal in a fight, but Shadow sure as
hell wasn`t... and Tosha also knew Ace well enough that she could
be incredibly dangerous* I`m sure we all have work to do now.
*she took out a coin and spun it briefly* Come on, we`ve had our
fun. Now back to work.
~Slip~
*she shrugs and glances over at Shadow* I know your a freak *a
heavy sigh leaving her as she flings herself heavily into a
chair..she didn't feel like playing games, she had thought to
actually relax a little today, and this sure wasn't conducive to
it... she had come to meet an old friend, not trouble* as for
your little shadows...* a cold feral sound enters her voice*
you've learnt just how useles they are *her tone instantly
changes as she glances at Ace* agreed, this wasn't how I had
planned to spend my day
~Shadow~
*Laughing she shakes her head moving over to sit down.. * Don`t
bet on it.. You haven`t seen half of what I can do... But.. Ace
is my friend so I wont cause any trouble.. I came because she
asked me too.. I have better things I can be doing with my time..
~Ace~
AGreed then. *a quick glance at Tosha* We`ll talk later. *and
Shadow would know, if Tosha didn`t, that that same applied for
her as well* Later. *she flipped out and got on her bike.. and
she zipped off into the portal*
~Slip~
*She chuckles at Ace as she seems to almost give an order, and
nods* maybe *of course they'd meet sometime later..and perhaps
talk about this...it didnt' really matter to her, the matter was
closed....for now..she watches Ace head out the door and turns to
look over at Shadow* some host eh?
~Shadow~
*Blinking she watches as Ace leaves.. Ok... Laughing she turns to
look at Tosha.* I do believe she is very ticked at us.. *Grinning
she settles back in the chair.* I have a feeling we are both
going to hear about this later..
~Slip~
Well *legs slowly swing over feet planting on the ground as she
stands up* I think I shall be off as well, as I said, this was
not how I planned to spend the day * she moves towards the
entranceway, one hand reaching for the jacket* the other pulling
a gun from its pocket and casually storing it behind her back as
she turns back to shadow* nothing personal but I hope I dont see
you again *and in her line of business she did..after all if she
encountered her again it would either be as a fellow merc, or a
hit...and shadow was obviously not merc quality*
~Shadow~
*Grinning she didn`t move..* Oh I`m sure we will.. I`m like a bad
penny.. I show up when you least expect it and we obviously have
friends in common.. *She didn`t even blink as Tosha slipped the
gun behind her back.. She was sure the woman had a code of
honor.. She wouldn`t shoot her in a friends house.. Or at least
she hoped she wouldn`t..*
~Slip~
*she shakes her head as she heads out the door* I wish you luck
then *words thrown over her shoulder as the door closes.....Tosha
pauses briefly at the base fo the stairs and looks down the
street before turning down it, then taking the next and the next
...she then crosses the street, passing through shadows..a black
woman emerging *
~Shadow~
*Curious about the woman she barely waits until she has closed
the door before she slips into the shadows to follow her.. Her
senses reaching out to the shadows to keep track of her.. Her
eyes widen in shock and surprise when she sees Tosha change..*
Interesting.. *She whispers softly before heading back to Ace`s
apartment then back to Dallas.*