I cursed in annoyance as I looked out over the top of the human building. As the last of the feathers from my owl morph disappeared, I took a moment to examine my surroundings with the creature's incredible eyes. I was starting to appreciate some of the creatures on this planet.

A winding road and a thick, dense forest carried on for miles in the distance. Apparently, these humans ran a wildlife preserve, more to protect themselves than the actual animals, I assumed. I had to admit, it was an intelligent tactic too, if you wanted to avoid notice. Luckily, traversing the forest hadn't proved too bothersome, as I had flown in.

I had left my eyes for last during the morphing process. Owl eyes were incredibly useful on nights like these. As my Andalite vision returned I could see it was frightfully dark, but the human mansion was still illuminated by a blanket of bright twinkling stars and their single moon, full in its rotation.

I abhorred the human constructs, but at least this one was far enough away from the massive cities that it avoided the light pollution of the human nightlife. As I stepped forward carefully, I heard a gentle hum and a ticking sound. My stalk eyes snapped in the direction of the sound. Glinting in the moonlight lay circular metal contraptions with timers ticking down from ten. The small explosives must have been motion detecting. There was no time to climb down the mansion, I would have to jump.

I sprinted towards the edge of the roof and I leapt over the side, launching myself into the air. I could still hear the ticking of the timers. As I tumbled into the sky, there was an earth-shattering explosion and I could feel ferocious heat on my back, but the fire was the least of my worries. The ground was approaching me quickly, and I couldn't afford the inconvenience of a broken leg right now.

With some effort, I grabbed a tree branch not ten feet off the ground with both hands, the skin on my palms tearing from the effort. I was only able to hold myself for a few seconds before releasing, and landing on the grass with much more gracefulness than expected. My palms stung from the effort, but it was much better than a broken limb.

Blazing pieces of the building fell around me, some of it almost landing directly on me as I jumped aside. Thick black smoke rose upward and into the sky, partially eclipsing a silvery moon. The scene would have been quite breathtaking, had I bothered to enjoy the night sky and the twisting of flame and smoke, as it mutilated the once peaceful view.

But I was too frustrated and angry to enjoy it. Anger clouded my mind, and the fiery display only served to fuel that anger. I could do nothing now, just sit by as the mansion was engulfed in torrents of flame. Clearly, the targets had not been home, and probably hadn't been for a while. I was suddenly annoyed at the waste of my time, but more so at my companion.

((Denen!)) I hissed through my communications implant, which was imbedded directly above my right ear. ((It appears they were expecting us. The entire place is rigged. Surveillance was your job Denen. You told me you had scoped the place out.))

I was reasonably angry, but I tried not to make my tone sound to accusatory. After all, Denen was a great partner, and I usually checked out his intel beforehand. I was tired though, from the journey, and I had been lax and skipped over it this time. It had almost been a fatal mistake.

((Ajaht, I swear. My sources said they would be home tonight. Unless…))

((Unless?)) I prompted. ((Unless what?))

((Unless my last correspondence got intercepted.)) There was guilt coloring his tone as he spoke quickly, and I could almost picture him wincing, clearly knowing I would scold him. ((The line wasn't entirely secure. I was sure no one was listening in, and I didn't think…))

((Didn't think you had to follow protocol?)) I interrupted him, cursing. ((I was almost blown to pieces, Denen. Did your gut instincts tell you that? Your brilliant, fail safe instincts?)) I made sure to pour all the malice and condescension I could into my tone.

I had agreed to help Denen with this mark, and I was beginning to regret it. I had accepted the target, and once a target has been assigned, there is no backing out. I cursed again as I made my way around the side of the mansion. This was going to get messy. And I did not enjoy chasing down targets. A good kill, was quiet and clean. It was an art.

((I can't believe you dragged me out here with bad intel. The difference between a killer and a highly-trained assassin is a clear collected and calm mind.)) I echoed the words from Master Vohran's last session with me.

((I swear I didn't…)) Denen insisted. His thoughts cut off for a moment, then returned, urgently hissing through his communicator. ((Ajaht. Target is on the move. Guess he wanted to stay around and watch.))

((What?)) I sprinted around the side of the building. I could see a portion of the house lift, and I pressed myself into the shadows of the construct. A sleek black automobile emerged and turned, speeding off down the road.

((I'm on it.)) My tone betrayed the excitement in my thoughts, but I didn't care. It surprised me that I was looking forward to the chase. I had hidden my ground runner in the bushes up the road out of sight, and I raced for it.

((Target is on the move, eastbound and moving fast.))

((Cut them off a mile ahead, I'll come in from behind. If it is the target, I need confirmation.)) I ordered.

((Already on my way.))

I leapt into the runner, pulling my bandolier over my shoulder as I pulled out, speeding away from the burning remains of the mansion. The wind whipped at my face, but still I increased speed. It didn't take long for the black vehicle to come into view. The automobile was bulky, not nearly as aerodynamic as my runner, and I was catching it quickly.

An older human had leaned out of the window of the vehicle now, and he had a projectile gun aimed in my direction. It didn't frighten me, on the contrary, I knew my target was within reach. This was my marks personal bodyguard. I smirked triumphantly at him, pleased at the change of events. I unholstered my shredder.

Perhaps the night would not be a total waste after all, I thought, as I swerved craftily across the road, making it impossible to properly hit me and steer a vehicle at the same time.

Assassins of my skill, especially those of Andalite origin, didn't usually work in pairs, so the man was completely unprepared when a second Andalite on a runner moved in front of him and shot out the front tires of the vehicle. As a result, the black car fishtailed until it connected with a large oak, screeching to a halt and leaving an ugly skid mark in its wake.

Not a moment later, the bodyguard had somersaulted onto the street and started firing at Denen, but his first few shots were haphazard and missed their mark. It was a deadly mistake, and would cost the body guard his life. For before he was able to get a clean shot, I executed him, leaving a gaping wound in the man's skull. With a subdued thud, the body guard fell to the concrete, blood pouring from his mutilated head. And his employer was left all alone, defenseless and afraid.

Very carefully, the target slid out of his car, moving with all the grace of a wounded animal. It was more comical than evasive really, watching him crawl along the asphalt for the tree line. The man was very fat and dressed in bright artificial skin, making him stand out against the black of the road. The human was sweating profusely, with a look of terror on his face.

Denen stepped forward, shooting once into the sky, then twice in front of the male. He didn't kill the target, as he belonged to me. I had offered to help Denen, and I only needed one more kill to reach elite status within the guild.

((Not so fast, human.)) Denen said, clopping towards the trembling human at an unhurried pace. ((We have you. Your time would be better spent praying to whatever gods you worship, or saying your last goodbyes.))

Denen was about my size, but his fur was much darker, which I envied. My fur was a deep teal, much easier to see in the darkness. The muscles in his arms were just as strong as mine, as we had decided to strengthen them using the methods the males of this planet used.

"Please." The man was on his hands and knees, begging as they always did. It was a disgusting display. As I watched the trembling target start to blubber, tears making his face obscene and ugly. I promised myself then, that if I were ever to be assassinated or executed, I would neither beg nor cry. I would die beautifully and dignified, not some trembling wreck.

"Please, I have a wife," the mark continued, as I approached, a shredder in one hand. "I have children. They need me, my good sir. Please, have mercy. I am begging you."

((I can see that.)) I sneered, still feeling disgusted. ((But you aren't doing a very good job of it.)) The man began crawling towards me, redoubling his efforts. But I wanted no part of him to touch me, and I roughly kicked the target away, so that he lay on the ground, clutching his side. ((As for your wife and children, you have maintained a great amount of wealth.)) I began absentmindedly checking over my shredder, adjusting the settings. ((I assure you, they won't starve.))

((Now, why don't you face me like a proper male and accept your death in a dignified manner.)) I offered.

"Please! I have money! I am a millionaire! Wouldn't you like all your needs taken care of for the rest of your life?" He scrambled forward again, bowing his head forward, and I could see the human chose to remove part of his hair. Curious. "What about women? All the women you could want."

((Oh, look. We've caught ourselves a Mokham Ajaht. What shall we wish for?)) Denen's tone was mocking and he laughed at the poor creature. ((Can I ask for more wishes? Or is that against the rules?))

((Don't tease the target.)) I snapped, turning my attention back towards the male. ((What would I want with human money?)) I pressed the shredder to the man's forehead, switching the mode to short range. ((Any last words? This pause is for your benefit, not ours.))

((You're still doing that? Put the poor man out of his misery already.)) Denen said in exasperation. He laughed knowingly, a laughter that could only be shared among close friends, cruel but kind all at once. ((You're quite the sentimental bastard, aren't you?))

I ignored him. ((What do you think? Are you going to waste the time I've given you?)) I pressed the shredder harder against the man's forehead, so it dug in.

"Please sir." The man's voice and demeanor was even more disgusting now, as he was a blubbering mess. "Please! For the love of god, have mercy."

((See. You're just torturing the poor guy, anyway. Put him down already. Besides, do you really think Master Vohran would approve of you getting all intimate with your targets?))

((Are you going to tell on me?)) I asked warily.

((No! Of course not!))

I looked down dejectedly at the poor man and realized, that Denen was right. That letting the poor man live a little longer with a shredder pressed against his skull was only serving to torture the creature.

The man continued to scream and plead over our conversation. His face was a mess of snot and tears and I cringed away in disgust. With a disgruntled sigh, I pulled the trigger, stepping back as a hole appeared in the man's skull. The target fell forward, with a grace unlike anything he had ever held in life, very much befitting of the dead, however.

((Call the cleanup crew, I'll meet you at the ship. I want off this horrid planet.)) I holstered my shredder and headed towards my runner. Denen looked as if he was about to object, but I hopped into the vehicle anyway. ((I did all the work. You can wait for the crew.))