My apologies for the fact that this chapter contains only OCs, as it's not the best way to start off a story. However, this is the only OC only chapter. The plot simply does not make as much sense as it should without this introduction. Happy reading!
The bell above the door jingled lightly as the two men entered the café. The server looked them over. The first was short with unkempt black hair. He wore a black coat and slacks, and large sunglasses covered his eyes. He kept his hands in his pockets, apparently having pushed the door open with his shoulder. The second man was quite tall and young, looking like a college student, albeit a well-kempt one. He had wide eyes and a white polo, with wraparound sunglasses on his neck. He was quite bald, though the server figured he'd lost a bet of some kind. She approached the two and opened her mouth to greet them, but the first man stopped her.
"The private room, please? I believe Club des Normes et des Pratiques has it reserved for this afternoon."
The server nodded. "Ah, yes, it is reserved for you. Please go on in. If you'd like any help, please come back to the counter."
"Thank you."
The two men each purchased coffee and walked into the room. Ten others were waiting for them. The two took a seat as a very tall and gaunt man closed the door behind them.
"We're all here, then?" Said the first man.
"You're the last, Jacques. But to be sure, I'll take attendance. Belmont, Chacal, Ferris, Jacques, Keppler, Lebel, Mason, Roger, Rodin, Sarah, Vivian, and I'm Valmy. We're all here."
Belmont was a blonde woman with long hair and much make up. She wore a somewhat casual black dress and white jacket. Chacal was a large, muscular man with moppish blonde hair, wearing a blue sweater and black sweat pants. Ferris was the second man, Jacques the first. Keppler was thin and short, with a navy blue suit and fedora and very red cheeks. Lebel was short, stocky, and pudgy, with graying hair and a mustache. He wore a simple tan coat and brown sweater and pants. Mason was of average build, wearing a black suit. Roger was the tall and gaunt man, with unkempt black hair and eerily wide eyes that never seemed to blink. He wore a black hooded shirt, though the hood was down. Rodin was an imposing figure, with a brutal face and brown hair. He had a long felt coat and gloves. Sarah was of average figure, wearing a blue cap over her brown ponytail, with a jacket to match. Vivian was undeniably fat, with trimmed black hair and horn-rimmed glasses. And Valmy was of average build, wearing a gray business suit. All of them had sunglasses, but only Jacques and Mason were wearing them.
"To business then." Said Chacal, chuckling slightly as he sipped some coffee. "Or are we going to get another speech about the importance of the plan?"
"To business." Valmy said, giving Chacal a sideways glance. "This may be the last time the Cabal meets like this, or even at all. If the plan succeeds or fails, either way the Cabal will be disbanded. You are all aware of how dangerous this plan is, and what will happen if we fail."
"We ought to know, we designed it after all." Vivian remarked offhandedly. "Look, we all know how hard this is going to be, but we can pull it off. We're the Cabal, after all."
Jacques smirked. "Yes, Valmy, get to the point. We know all this already."
"Very well." Valmy said, gesturing to Rodin. "Rodin, have all the arrangements been made?"
"They have." Rodin answered. "All of the transportation for us and Rainforest has been set up or reserved. False passports and identities have been prepared, and enough money to continue the operation for quite some time has been produced."
He pointed to a car out the window. "In the trunk are twelve suitcases containing one-hundred thousand pounds worth of money. Most are in dollars or Euro, however, as so many people moving about with that much money in pounds would become suspicious.
"The letters have been written up and the postage paid for, along with the necessary utilities for each job. We all know the plan, though hopefully only Phase 1 will be necessary if Rainforest pulls through. Those are the arrangements."
All nodded in approval. Lebel stood up. "We will all divide into teams of two, with our usual partners. Chacal and Roger will go to Ottawa and wait for our message until further notice. Valmy and Vivian will go to Norbusk to confirm the transportation, if need be. Rodin and Mason will go to Jump City to contact the Titans West if necessary. Keppler and Sarah will go to Steel City for Titans East, Jacques and Ferris will go to the Anchorage to find the unofficial Titans North, and Belmont and I will wait here until further notice, until Rainforest is found, at which time we will depart to collect him. Understood?"
Everyone nodded again, Chacal chuckling over a private thought. Lebel passed out envelopes to each team. "Each envelope contains the location of the necessary equipment for your posts, though if the job goes well most of you won't be needed. I have nothing further to say. Would anyone else like to speak?"
Nobody answered. Valmy stood back up. "Well then, the final official meeting of the Cabal comes to a close. Good luck, my friends, for if we succeed then we'll finally have what we've dreamed of for all these years."
Chacal looked over the contents of his envelope later as he and Roger drove back to their hotel. He chuckled once more. "Our plan can't possibly fail, Roger. The Teen Titans are just kids, they'll never figure it all out!"
Roger did not reply.
