The Zodiac (Closed)

[Daisymell]

Kissa heard Russo tell them of Donovan as she stood outside the meeting room's open doorway. It heard to hear about it again, but seeing him had been worst. She had changed into tight jeans, sandals, and a soft sweater. All comforting. Kissa moved into the room and went directly to her chair in front of a wall covered in tvs and electronic equipment Willow had set up when she had arrived.

"As Russo has said. Donovan will not be in shape for probably years to come back. I made him aware that any hospital and surgery will be paid and he will be taken care of. I will need to be researching a new explosive expert. So, I will probably be less visible for the next couple of days. If anyone needs me, just knock on my door. Beyond that, we have a new client."

Kissa pressed a button and the tvs booted up. She also passed out copies of the file she had been secretly passed on. Inside detailed that something had been stolen from a private collector of art. The art was worth millions and since the client was a friend of a client, they were obligated to get it.

"I know this is not as exciting as the norm, but we are being asked by our best client to do this. Plus, I have been told that the one who stole the art is heavily guarded and murdered several of his operatives. We must, as always, be on our guard and come back. Read the file. On the screens is the building we are infiltrating. Its known as the Markham Building. The lower levels is all business while the top five floors is residence. What are your thoughts?"

 

[Niriate]

Lissy's fingers trailed over the document that had been specially prepared for her. Though she was no expert in Braille, she knew enough to make out what was written down.

Putting the document aside for a bit, her left hand slipped into a glove that had been fitted to the chair. The specific touch of her skin against the materials of the glove activated it, sending the electronic data from the TVs to her brain. It effectively let her be able to see anything that was displayed on the TVs.

"Markham hmmm?" She said to nobody in particular. "Anything special that you know of we should watch out for? Aside from guards that is." That sentence was more aimed to Kissa then anyone else.

 

[cats]

Wilson

IC: Looking at the TV I saw the lay out of the building, it looked simple enough. Most places of both business and residence were less secure then a simple business, at least on paper. The truth is they were more secure because people are there to see crime all the time. One could not simply sneak in, get the painting and leave. There was to much risk of being spotted.

"Is the painting in the residence or in the business?"

Armed guards were mentioned and I began to thumb threw the file to study that section. I wanted to know how many and what equipment they were likely to use. Such information was usually kept secret, but I know Kissa had already acquired it. I also knew the information may be out of date or less reliable then we would like.

 

[Vampire_Neliel]

Willow

Willow watched as Kissa approached the rooms door, about to look up when David mentioned the loss of Donovan. She flinched, knowing she couldn't enjoy his little challenges for some new remote detonator anymore. She knew Kissa would take it hard since the two had been really close, but it still bothered her that a team member could get so hurt under her nose like that.

Willow didn't even glance up as Kissa walked into the room, too busy with memories of the past flooding her mind. Instead she just scanned the barcode on the folder and loaded the files into her tablet, able to read them at a better size, and faster. The floor plan of the Markham building wasn't anything exciting, and the idea of stealing a painting from a previous thief reminded her of "Leverage".

"Why not just land on the roof and come in that way, won't have to pass through all the resident security and a roof entrance isn't common-place." Willow mentioned. "Despite this being far from the norm, are you sure it's a good idea for us, especially with the thoughts of Donovan on our minds now, to be partaking in any mission so soon?"

She wasn't sure if Kissa had given them an easier one than normal due to that fact, or was hoping that she could give them some distractions while she hired some newbie to the group.

"Also, who is breaking in the new guy? I vote Tara personally, least personality quirks of our group, yah?" She would have winked at Lissy, but the fact she couldn't see made it pointless.

Willow looked back at the tablet and tried to draw out a bunch of paths of potential entrance, hoping from what was on here to find a path of least resistance.

 

[Daisymell]

"I will keep this brief for now. Read the information and formulate some thoughts. I am going to find a replacement in the next two days for the explosives expert since we might need one to get into the building. We are taking this job so that we can continue to get better jobs. I will be researching pretty much round the clock, so do not interupt me unless it is important. I will break in the new person since I was closest to Donovan. That is all for now. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day, I know I won't," Kissa grumbled as she stalked out of the room.

Kissa moved down the hall and slammed her door behind her. Why did loss hurt so much? She allowed herself to cry for ten minutes and then picked herself up off the floor. The research helped. Also, one name kept popping up no matter what she read or who she called. Lector Johnson or L.J. And to make it even more perfect, Kissa thought, he was in a hospital not far from here.

Kissa finally crawled out of the hole she was in, showered, and dressed as she did for all meetings in a skirt suit and white blouse. She walked passed anyone in her way out of the warehouse and mansion without talking to them. Her chauffeur was ready and opened her door. When she arrived at the hospital, she checked in with a receptionist and found out that Lector Johnson was being held in the psych ward. Interesting that they even had a psych ward at a hospital. She got his room number playing like she was an insurance agent, and went to the fourth floor.

Kissa entered an odd looking ward, prestinely clean and devoid of color or items. She was allowed into Lector Johnson's room through the nurse station and a series of codes that had to be plugged in to open the door. Once inside, she watched as the door closed behind her and prayed a little that she wouldn't have to stay long.

 

[Jedi_Khan]

L. J.: The First Impression

The hospital room looked more like an apartment than it did a place where the insane was kept; there was a full sized bed, a dresser and mirror, bookshelf, a writing desk, table and chairs, and in one corner sat an old Starfighter/Pacman combo arcade game. The walls were just as white as the corridor outside, but apparently the occupant had been allowed to put up some movie posters that featured really big explosions in them. At the other end of the room opposite the door was a decently sized window with bars on the outside. On one side of the room were two doors, both open; one lead into a small bathroom and the other into a closet.

There was a sound of someone rummaging through stuff, and sure enough, sticking out of the open closet was the back half of a man on his hands and knees. Every so often a hand would appear from the closet to toss a shoe or an empty box onto the white linoleum floor behind him. It soon became apparent the man was talking to himself, albeit rather quietly.

“Come on, where are you? Why are you hiding from me...Ah! There you are!” A thud came out of the closet followed by: “Ow! Alvin!”

The man quickly flipped over to his backside, turned, and then, apparently chasing after something that wasn’t there, launched himself towards his bed that was sitting parallel against the opposite wall. He stopped just short of whacking his head against the bottom rail of the bed, and then jammed his arm under it searching for something. It was then that the man saw that he wasn’t alone.

“Oh, hello. You’re not Sally,” said the man, and then looked at the wrist of the arm not under the bed as if there was a watch there. “Do you know where Sally might be? She was due back five minutes ago.”

He continued to search blindly under the bed, occasionally ducking to look at what he was doing, while he listened to the woman in the suit respond.

“Come on, Alvin. Don’t be like this. We have company,” said the man, more to whatever it was he was looking for than to himself or the woman.

 

[cats]

Samuel Webster

IC: I walked quietly down the street. I didn't have time constraints today so I could take my time. The path was good exercise and that help dull the boredom. I had some small emotions about what I was doing, they also provided some relief.

Up ahead was a street vendor. He was here most days selling flowers. I was drove by him most days, but today wasn't most days. I stopped and took in a deep breath of lavender, rose, and lilac. He had most flowers one would expect. Naturally he had more roses then other flowers, he carried what sold well.

I took my time searching for the right one. I had to consider the appropriateness of type and color. Once I had done that I had to find the right individual flower. After looking at each I settled on a white tulip. I purchased it and continued on my way.

 

[Daisymell]

Kissa's mouth dropped. This was a bomb expert? The man seemed to be two fries short a happy meal, although he didn't seem dark and disturbed like some of the insane.

"I am looking for Lector Johnson?"

She looked at the man determining age of late twenties or early thirties, taller than her, and most likely weighing slightly more than her. His short brown hair was slightly receding for someone in that age range.

"Can you tell me if that is you? And might I ask who Alvin is?"

Kissa looked completely puzzled and a little flabergasted at the man still fishing for something under the bed. She was about ready to leave and think the man was a lost cause or she had looked up the wrong man.

"Are you the famous explosives and heavy artillery expert?"

 

[Jedi_Khan]

"I am looking for Lector Johnson? Can you tell me if that is you? And might I ask who Alvin is? Are you the famous explosives and heavy artillery expert?"

Lector Johnson waited a few seconds before responding, all the while still searching under the bed.

“Just call me L.J. – lot shorter,” he said. “And I wouldn’t exactly call myself famous or an expert; I just do the work that the real expert can’t do.”

“Ah-ha! Gotcha! Come ‘re you!” said L.J., as he pulled his arm out from under the bed and assumed a sitting position on the floor, one hand appearing to grasp something tangible, yet there was nothing there, the other supporting the nothingness that had been caught. “This is Alvin.”

“He’s my pet chipmunk,” said L.J., after partially misinterpreting the woman’s quizzical look. “Great singing voice, if a little high pitched. And let me clarify what I said earlier about me doing the work that the real expert can’t do. My friend Sally, who is running late for some reason, is the real explosives expert, but a severe case of arthritis has left her hands pretty much useless, so I do the work for her. I have learned quite a bit about explosives from her, but like I said, I wouldn’t call myself an expert. Ah, that must be her now.”

At that moment, the locks on the door cycled and the door was opened by a hospital orderly who didn’t walk in or say a word, except to roll his eyes as if saying “Why me?” and then closed the door again, locking it behind him.

“There’s the woman of the hour!” said L.J., reaching up a hand in greeting, his head following a spot of air as it moved towards him.

“This is my friend Sally,” said L.J., redirecting his attention at the woman, his hand still up in the air as if against someone’s side. “Sally, say hello to…um, who are you anyways?”

 

[Daisymell]

Kissa felt like she belonged in here with him and wanted to bang her head against the wall. Why did you she seem to find the most unique of people to work for Zodiac. She once had found a woman who was three feet tall and insisted that everyone crawl on the floor so she could be the tallest one there. She had been an excellent driver though so we had mostly ignored her until a villian had inadvertantly stole the woman's car and ran her over. Life was a madhouse.

"My name is Kissa Leonard. I own a manufacturing company known as Zodiac. I also head a group under the same name as a contract for hire group to avenge evil. I recently lost my explosives expert. If you are interested, I have heard you are one of the best to take his place. Although, I have one question. If you agree, I am hoping you will be willing to pack all this up and stay within the confines of the Mansion. Its my home. Its also completely underground. I have some items you can look at to give you an idea of what we do. If you say no, at least they will just think you are rambling and I won't have to kill you," Kissa's cat eyes pierced out at him trying to make sure he knew this was 100% serious. Alvin and Sally could just come along and stay packed inside his brain. She could ignore the crazies.

 

[cats]

Samuel Webster

IC: I walked into the building wiping a small amount of sweat from my brow. I carried a hanker chef for just such an occasion. It was a simple but effective tool, and I didn't want to look unpresentable when I made this delivery. After all it was likely the last gift this man would recieve.

I walked over to the front desk. "Hello." I smiled genuinely enough at the other side of the desk.

'Good afternoon. How may I help you.'

"Yes, I am Mr. Deegan, I used to work with some one here. I was told he was hurt. His name is Donovan. Could you point me to his room please."

'I am afraid it isn't currently visiting hours and he needs his rest.'

"Oh, I am sorry to here that. Well could you please give him this for me." I handed the tulip over to the nurse.

'I'll make sure he receives it. What was the name again.'

"Deegan. Tell him to get some rest, I'll meet up with him when he is out."

I smiled and left. Donovan, what a pity to loose you. Explosives always were entertaining, a tad flashy, but definitely entertaining. I had arranged for a temp to be placed at this hospital. They would poison him in a way as to cause cardiac arrest, an overdose of medicine. To treat a still heart they would inject him with more of the very medicine I had picked out, pushing his overdose even further.

Donovan would be dead by tomorrow.

 

[Jedi_Khan]

"My name is Kissa Leonard. I own a manufacturing company known as Zodiac. I also head a group under the same name as a contract for hire group to avenge evil. I recently lost my explosives expert. If you are interested, I have heard you are one of the best to take his place. Although, I have one question. If you agree, I am hoping you will be willing to pack all this up and stay within the confines of the Mansion. It’s my home. It’s also completely underground. I have some items you can look at to give you an idea of what we do. If you say no, at least they will just think you are rambling and I won't have to kill you,"

“Oh! Oh! A story! I love stories! Is this the one with Rumpelstiltskin? I love that story!” said L.J, clapping his hands rapidly. The expression on his face could only be described as childlike wonder and glee pasted onto a face that was anything but childlike. L.J. stared at Kissa for a few seconds as if waiting for her to continue with her story, then it seemed that he heard a little bit more of what she had said.

“Wait…you’re offering me a job? One that requires me to leave here?” asked L.J., a questioning look upon his face. Then he pointed towards the door. “In case you didn’t notice Ms. Leonard, that door is locked and I don’t have a key. It’s not like I have a choice on whether or not to stay here. Although, free room and board, plus food, medical, and just about anything else I ask for, all courtesy of state, isn’t what I would call a bad deal. The only down side is that Sally has no one else to do her work for her and I’m not allowed to practice here.”

“However, if you can come up with a deal that gives me everything I have here plus a little extra, then by all means, arrange for my release,” said L.J. “But be forewarned, the docs around here have the most say in keeping me here, but they’re stubborn in a dull, unentertaining way and will be quite reluctant to let me go without a fight. However, they don’t have the final say; the one who controls the money does, and tax season is coming up fast, and I’m an expensive expense that can be removed from their books.”

With that, L.J. bounced up onto his bed, laid down and seemed to go to sleep. Even if he wasn’t asleep, it seemed the meeting had come to an abrupt end. It appeared to have never registered with L.J. that Kissa Leonard had used the old “If you refuse, I’ll have to kill you” line, albeit a little revised.

 

[Daisymell]

"You would be surprised what I have come up against. It may take some time but I will have you moved to the mansion as soon as possible. In the meantime, I will have someone help you with this folder. It contains an assignment coming up. I want your perspective on what is the best way to distract the guards and enter the building. And if you don't know, ask the expert that is teaching you. If you need me or have questions, call the number on the first paper in the folder. Do you need anything within the mansion in your room that I can provide and have ready for when you move?"

Kissa knew it would only be a matter of money when it came to getting him out of the hospital and moved to where she needed him. She wasn't afraid of paying off some people to save people and do her job.