Chapter One: Enter the Shadows

Shadows. They were shadows. Silently, they slipped in and out of the darkness, leaving no trace that they had ever been there. Silently, beneath the moon, they watched, waited, lurked, anticipating the moment . . .
That moment came. Splitting up, they went forth, their paths already chosen. The mission had begun.

It was a simple enough mission- infiltrate a laboratory that had been developing chemicals that caused bizarre mutations in humans, download all the information from the computer database, then leave as quick as possible. The data, of course, would then be used to determine their next move. So simple... so -routine-. They had done so many things like it before.... Tonight's mission would be over in the blink of an eye.
He stood in the doorway, watching, waiting while the child got to work with his computer. His emerald eyes watched coolly as the child 'typed', invisible hands flying across the keys. "Be quick about it, Angora," he murmured, voice soft as silk. " . . . But don't screw up. It's routine... But we can't afford to screw up."
The boy nodded, biting his lip as he typed a bit faster... then faster still. Soon, it was at a speed that would have been nearly impossible to achieve by anyone else... Any normal person. That was the advantage he had over the others.... And he never made a mistake. "Acknowledged," he replied, his eyes never leaving the screen. "Just as long as -you- don't screw up either." In this dark, in such a serious situation, his voice was nearly monotone, holding little of the joy it normally had. Now was not a time for smiles and laughter. Now was a time for seriousness.
Wordlessly, his carnelian-haired partner nodded, closing his eyes. Silently, he cast his mind about, feeling... reading... watching... listening. Anything, anything at all.... he would see it. Any intruder, be they little more than a mouse.... he would notice it.
//All clear? Nothing coming up, is there?// He murmured, casting the thought to the other side of the building, where the other two were. He could see them clear as day in his mind... Korat watching, waiting, while Snowshoe typed away at a computer, retrieving the other half of the data.
//..I'm not quite sure, Skogkatt... I don't See anything, but... just keep watching,// came the reply. There was a hint of uncertainty about it...
The German frowned, brushing a strand of hair out of his face. He didn't like the sound of that... he didn't like it at all.