Dr. Etaine MacCul, PhD. in anthropology with a focus on mythology
shut down her office computer with a grateful sigh. She had a stack of
quizzes to grade, her cat was probably hungry, and Etaine was getting a
headache. She picked up her bag, only to hear her computer turn itself on
again.
"Oh no," she groaned and looked at the screen reluctantly, tossing a mess of auburn curls out of her pale blue eyes. Across it scrolled the last thing she wanted to see: "Tribunal tonight, Wayside".
"Why tonight?" she asked the air.
"Because we've got a mission," replied the man in her doorway. Etaine glanced at him and rolled her eyes. He had bright cherry red hair that stuck straight up, and for once looked as if he was trying to look like he fit in. Instead of his normal day-glo pants and t-shirt, he was dressed in bright red leather pants and a jacket.
"Katrina dress you again, DropOff?" Etaine asked, looking at his clothes. DropOff grinned slightly. Katrina, a Verbena dancer at the Wayside Cathedral, was his on again, off again girlfriend. Apparently they had gotten back together for a brief time before she danced too close to someone again, or he decided to hide in the Void again.
"Would you like to undo it?"
"Not really. Are you here to make sure I show up to this one?" Etaine, naturally a shy woman, was known to avoid the rest of Mage society unless pulled there by the hair. Unknown to Etaine, many Mages thought it was a shame she was so likely to hide, not only because she was a skilled Hermetic, but because she was also beautiful.
"Something like that."
"I already have a car, DropOff."
"I know Etaine; I'm here for another reason. This mission is my own idea, but I'll need some help."
"Oh really?" Etaine sat at her desk again, turning off her monitor to ignore the scrolling message.
"Honestly, there are a million other candidates I could have asked, but since I find you so incredibly fascinating, and I've heard good things from my close colleagues, I decided to pick you. Do you remember a place called BioForge?" he asked removing his cherry red glasses. His steel blue eyes were intense, and for a moment Etaine found it a pity that the Virtual Adepts were so cocky. Particularly DropOff, if he wasn't so damnably arrogant all the time he might be a very likable person.
"Vaguely. It's head office is in Germany and they're only recently coming into America. Their stock is amazing and anyone who owns some in it is a millionaire over night. That's the view of most people. As for how We view it, well it's probably Tech run, most likely used for cloning. It's almost something that you would rather sic Garou on then do yourself. Tell them it's in association with Pentex." DropOff grinned to himself.
"On top of things, just like Teke and Belle said you would be. They recommended you to me because you spent eight years in Europe. I assume you speak German?"
"Fluently, as with French and Irish, why?" Like most of the Order of Hermes, Etaine was a bit of a snob, considering most of the other Traditions too weak or too self-righteous to be of much use. She had relaxed that policy after a slip of a Hermetic overran Springfield with zombies not more than a few months ago, but many of those thoughts still remained with her.
"I assume you have contacts there?"
"Not really in Germany, but yes, I have some contacts."
"Then I'd like you to come with us. Belle seems to think you'd be good for this type of thing, and on missions like this, I trust Belle."
"What exactly am I doing?"
"You? Well your individual part in this isn't completely worked out. I'm certain that given enough 'private time' I could go through my briefs and come up with something. However, that would take way too long, and since we don't have all night I'll give you the mini version of what WE will be doing. We are going to make it a smoldering pile of leftover techie fortress with a little bit of retribution on the side." She blankly stared at him, like one who wonders what language the other is speaking. "We're going to destroy it." He said calmly "Guess I'll see you there." Without saying anything else he left and Etaine's computer shut off
"Goodbye!" it said.
"Adepts," she grumbled, grabbing her things and leaving after locking her office. She made her way to her black Cavalier and got in, removing the silk glove on her right hand. She flexed the fingers, which looked as if they were made of chrome--just like the rest of her right arm to the elbow. A spell had worked too well during the zombie incident and Reality had punished Etaine by giving her a chrome arm. She could still use it as if it was still flesh, but she always wore a glove on it in public. Most students thought she was just eccentric.
Shaking off her sudden moodiness, she started her car and drove to the Wayside Cathedral. In southern Springfield, many of the buildings were abandoned or undergoing renovation. To Etaine, it still seemed so desolate. The Wayside was another abandoned building, but on the outside it seemed as if someone was taking care of it since the roof was intact, at first glance, and the stained glass windows were not all broken. Of course, the top of the cathedral sported two crosses, one on the right, one in the middle, and a stump of a third. An abandoned cathedral by day, a Magus nightclub when the sun went down.
As she had expected, there were already people gathering for the tribunal. She recognized a few cars and parked, leaving her bag and glove in the car. She paused only to leave her black blazer in the car as well. Dressed in her black mini and a forest green silk shirt, no one would mistake her for a Tech, which had happened the first time she had met a few Mages. It was not her fault business dress matched the New World Order's dress code.
The Hermetic entered the abandoned cathedral which hosted the Wayside and was immediately greeted by a ravishing woman with long black hair.
"Etaine!" Belle Flower greeted her. "DropOff just told me. Good for you to get out once and a while. Come on, we've saved you a seat." Before Etaine could say anything, Belle was half dragging her up to the front. Waiting with DropOff was what should could only guess would be the rest of the team. She recognized Teke by his constantly blue hair. Like her chrome fore arm, Teke would always have blue hair. Next to him was Ebon Phoenix, owner of the Wayside Cathedral and a man who loved black, as evidenced by his clothing and long black trenchcoat. The remaining member of the party was also dressed in black, but was female. Etaine did not recognize her, but the woman approached and held out her hand.
"Novice Kharma bani Euthanatos," she said formally.
"Apprentice Etaine MacCul bani Order of Hermes," Etaine replied. She was beginning to wonder what good she could do to this Bio Forge attack, they had two assassin Mages already, and the Virtual Adepts could get into anywhere what good could she do?
"Oh," Kharma said, as if recognizing her name as the same of a poisonous serpent. "I've heard of you. The zombie killer."
"I guess that's one thing to call me, I prefer Etaine, or Tana if that's easier for you." Belle stepped in.
"Let's just sit down, all right?" Obediently, Etaine sat down, not looking at Kharma. The two women were probably the same age, but there would be no partnership, Etaine could already tell.
Unlike many of the mages sitting around her, Etaine was the only one unaware of her reputation. Most mages had, at first, shrugged her off as another stuck-up Hermetic, but after the zombie raid on Springfield, some had begun to look at her a little differently. Some feared her, particularly since the Hermetic Order confirmed she spent more time studying Garou and Leeches then divination and spells. Others revered her in a small way; she very nearly shunned the Order and yet had proven herself time and again to be a cool headed woman in a fire fight. Not to mention fire was her favorite toy and she was good at manipulating it. A small group, mostly of her own Tradition, hated her. These few Etaine was not unaware of, since they were normally the ones that bothered her more often. Finally, there were those Mages in Springfield she dared to call "friends". These few knew that Etaine was a broken hearted woman who was still bitter that her Tradition could be so negligent as to ignore dangerous spells. They knew she had a sweet side, but the critic in her made her cold. It did not help she had an unrequited love.
The tribune began with the standard greeting to all new mages of Springfield, followed by a report on the actions of P.R.I.S.M, the Technocrat stronghold, and then Master Stone bani Order of Hermes, leader of the tribunal (and Etaine's Tradtion) made an announcement.
"Adept DropOff bani Virtual Adepts has announced that his cabal is ready and will be leaving within the week to Germany to launch an attack on BioForge. BioForge, as many of you know, is suspected to be held by Progenitors. DropOff and his Cabal are off to destroy it. We wish you luck, DropOff, Teke, Belle, Ebon Phoenix, Kharma, and Etaine." There was a minuscule round of applause before the Tribunal was called to an end. Etaine made to leave, but was cut off as a spunky brunette bounced past her to DropOff. The Hermetic rolled her eyes as DropOff's newest toy came into focus; Katrina could exhaust a cheerleader on speed.
"Are you really going?" Katrina pouted to DropOff.
"Yes, I told you I was weeks ago. You'll be fine."
"Why can't I go with you?" She whined. Etaine had heard enough. She turned to leave before someone grabbed her by the arm.
"I can't believe you're going!" the voice was a familiar one and Etaine relaxed. Annie, a Cultist of Ecstasy, was one of the few Etaine called a friend. Annie was normally the only on that would convince Etaine to go to the Wayside to be social, and was probably the only one who cared enough to invite her along. The scholar turned to face the plain looking Annie.
"Well I never actually agreed, but you know Belle and DropOff. What are you up to?"
"Oh, I was just waiting for the party to get started. You look really cute like that, with the mini skirt and the knee high boots. If only that agent could see you now!" Annie laughed and Etaine blushed.
"Let's not talk about him, all right. You were right, he got killed that night and he probably wouldn't have if I'd waited."
"You know for sure?" Annie asked, beginning to steer Etaine towards the bar.
"No, but I would have thought by now he would have contacted me so he's either dead, or didn't care about me like you all thought. Can we talk about something else?"
"Of course, honey," Annie said in her rather charming way. "Let me get you a drink and we'll catch up a bit, huh?" Glancing back at the others, most were getting ready to enjoy the night club. DropOff was explaining to Katrina why she would not be coming along, and Katrina was pouting too much to really listen.
"To the bar," Etaine said.
"It's simple really, I'd prefer for you to keep your stamina ready for when I get back." DropOff's demeanor remained unchanged by the pouty look that he was receiving. He had seen better then the Verbana's quivering lip.
"But, you know that I'd be a great person to have along," Katrina said, stepping in a little too close "if you ever have to dive for cover." Her pout still fixed on her face but the sound of her voice being as seductive as it could be. Her fingers trailed up his arm to his shoulders.
"Personally Kat," DropOff said turning his attentions toward the auburn haired Etaine whom was walking toward the bar. He took in her mini skirt, the fitting form of her shirt, and of course the auburn hair. DropOff remembered a rumor or two about redheads. "I believe in surviving to screw the prom queen after the game. not getting killed in the process." His gaze turned back to her, as if remembering suddenly he was not speaking to the woman he was looking at. He was just in time to see her eyebrows furrow downward in what seemed more confusion then anger. Her entire demeanor had changed, obviously because of his half unconscious head movements. She stood there looking at him, as ferocious as a twitching bunny. "What?!" he asked, holding out his hands and gesturing wide in feigned confusion.
"How did you know I was the prom queen?" Katrina asked.
Etaine sighed as she got back to her apartment, greeted immediately by a rather angry meow. A white cat approached her, his tail twitching.
"Oh, Setanta, sorry." Etaine said, heading to the kitchen to pour her cat a bowl of Cat Chow. Unlike some mages, Etaine did not keep a familiar. Setanta was simply a cat, albeit one that was too smart for his own good. Thrice he had interrupted an experiment of Etaine's by destroying something in the apartment. Still, Setanta was a friendly cat, which was more than Etaine wanted out of a pet. She went to change into a silk night shirt. There were three messages from Marcus, a fellow teacher, and the head of the department, at the college that seemed to think Etaine returned his crush. She would go out to eat with Marcus at times, but she was not serious about him. The phone rang as she returned to the entry.
"Hello?" Etaine said. Only a fellow Mage would call her this late at night. There was silence on the other end. "Hello?" when only silence responded, she hung up. Almost immediately the phone rang. She grabbed the receiver. "I gave you two chances!" she snapped.
"What are you talking about, Etaine?" DropOff responded.
"Sorry DropOff, I just got prank called or something. Wait, you know how to use something as primary as a phone?"
"Ha.Ha," he responded. "Let me in, I want to talk to you." Etaine hung up and opened that door, not surprised to find him there.
"I already agreed to go, DropOff." Etaine sat on her tawny suede couch. DropOff sat across from her, pausing only when Setanta hissed at him.
"Nice cat," he said sarcastically. "Look, I wanted to thank you for agreeing to come with me. And I'm sure you're wondering why I asked you in the first place."
"He is observant isn't he, Setanta?" Etaine asked as the cat jumped up next to her.
"To be honest, I wouldn't have asked you, but-"
"I know, Teke and Belle insisted."
"No, they suggested you. I needed someone who can take the lead when I can't. I know you've got a cold exterior, but I also know that you can lead. Hell, I know that you're the one that figured out the zombie thing."
"So I'm the second in command, basically?"
"To put it bluntly, yes. You're all right with that?"
"I have to be, don't I?" DropOff sighed, as if he knew she would be difficult.
"No, you don't have to be, but I just came to say thank you."
"You're welcome. It will give me an excuse to see Europe again."
"So it's true that you spent eight years in Ireland?"
"I got my PhD there. I was sent here because I was born in California so my mentor thought it would be a good idea for me to return to the states. I meant to go back, but I've stayed for some reason." Because I'm looking for someone, she thought as she completed her statement. DropOff paused.
"Can I ask a personal question?"
"Go ahead."
"I heard from Belle and Teke that you guys teamed up with an agent. Do you remember who it was?" Etaine stopped petting Setanta for a moment.
"Who can tell the difference between those hive minded bastards?" she replied stoically. DropOff looked like he flinched slightly, as if she had hit a nerve.
"It might be important. Please?"
"He called himself Jynx. But he's dead."
"Dead?" DropOff sounded pleased and a smile crossed his face.
"Yes. See, after I realized what we needed to do, and that the Technocracy wasn't involved, I told Jynx he could leave. Instead of waiting for him, I left him among zombies."
"So why would you assume he's dead?"
"You're entering into really personal territory, DropOff."
"I warned you it was a personal question." Etaine sighed and looked at the oriental carpet.
"Because I was beginning to really like him and I've never been very good with the dating scene, so I was hoping to hold on to him. I thought he liked me too, I mean he didn't give me any reason to think he didn't. I thought that if he had lived, he would have let me know somehow. He didn't, or hasn't, so I've just assumed he's dead." Etaine glanced at him. "You can laugh at me for having a crush on a Man in Black."
"No. It happens." DropOff replied softly. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone else."
"I appreciate that," Etaine yawned.
"I'll let you sleep. Remember, one week until destruction." His voice seemed to place a particular enthusiasm on the word, as if it was perhaps the most delightful thing he could ever think of. For him to be so excited about a simple smash job was odd, as DropOff did them all the time. Etaine nodded, standing to show him out. Once he was gone, she locked the door and headed to her bedroom, slipping under the sheets with a sigh.
"You best keep mum about that too, Setanta." Etaine commented before drifting to sleep.
"And so, ladies and gentlemen," Etaine said to her class. "The mythology of the Greeks reflected their civilization." She glanced at the time on the computer. "And that's all for now. I know this will upset many of you, but I have been called to help with a study in Germany so class will not be in session for at least the next two weeks. E-mail your reports on Zeus and his many lovers to me; I will be able to get them. Thank you." As her students left, Etaine began gathering her disks and the book she used.
"Professor," a voice purred. Etaine glanced up to see Kharma standing in front of her.
"May I help you?" The Euthanatos handed her an envelope.
"DropOff said to have this sent to you." Etaine took it and opened it and found two plane tickets.
"So we're taking a plane?"
"DropOff isn't powerful enough to transport us all, Professor. Just meet us at the gate." With that, Kharma turned and left the room.
"Well, good to know I've made a friend." Etaine purred venomously to herself. For a moment Etaine wished she had the nerve to go to speak to DropOff, talk to him a little bit more than she had last night. That ridiculous, of course, DropOff barely knew her and was probably busy with Katrina, or hacking Reality, or any number of things. Still, there was something eerily familiar about him. She had met him only a few days after the zombie incident and she had felt it ever since. There was something about DropOff she felt close to. It was especially strong when he took off his glasses, and she got the chance to look into his eyes. Something struck her every time. It felt like a crush, but it was different, somehow.
Etaine shrugged the thoughts off and went to her office to finish her work and wait for students to come and ask her questions. She wasn't expecting anyone. Mythology, after all, was a rather straight forward science and it did not take much to understand the myths and the effects on society. She glanced at a branch of candles that she kept on her desk. Strictly speaking, she was not supposed to have those in here, but then again when the head of the department had taken an interest in her. She smiled to herself and pointed a finger at the candles on the branch, her lips moving.
"Oh no," she groaned and looked at the screen reluctantly, tossing a mess of auburn curls out of her pale blue eyes. Across it scrolled the last thing she wanted to see: "Tribunal tonight, Wayside".
"Why tonight?" she asked the air.
"Because we've got a mission," replied the man in her doorway. Etaine glanced at him and rolled her eyes. He had bright cherry red hair that stuck straight up, and for once looked as if he was trying to look like he fit in. Instead of his normal day-glo pants and t-shirt, he was dressed in bright red leather pants and a jacket.
"Katrina dress you again, DropOff?" Etaine asked, looking at his clothes. DropOff grinned slightly. Katrina, a Verbena dancer at the Wayside Cathedral, was his on again, off again girlfriend. Apparently they had gotten back together for a brief time before she danced too close to someone again, or he decided to hide in the Void again.
"Would you like to undo it?"
"Not really. Are you here to make sure I show up to this one?" Etaine, naturally a shy woman, was known to avoid the rest of Mage society unless pulled there by the hair. Unknown to Etaine, many Mages thought it was a shame she was so likely to hide, not only because she was a skilled Hermetic, but because she was also beautiful.
"Something like that."
"I already have a car, DropOff."
"I know Etaine; I'm here for another reason. This mission is my own idea, but I'll need some help."
"Oh really?" Etaine sat at her desk again, turning off her monitor to ignore the scrolling message.
"Honestly, there are a million other candidates I could have asked, but since I find you so incredibly fascinating, and I've heard good things from my close colleagues, I decided to pick you. Do you remember a place called BioForge?" he asked removing his cherry red glasses. His steel blue eyes were intense, and for a moment Etaine found it a pity that the Virtual Adepts were so cocky. Particularly DropOff, if he wasn't so damnably arrogant all the time he might be a very likable person.
"Vaguely. It's head office is in Germany and they're only recently coming into America. Their stock is amazing and anyone who owns some in it is a millionaire over night. That's the view of most people. As for how We view it, well it's probably Tech run, most likely used for cloning. It's almost something that you would rather sic Garou on then do yourself. Tell them it's in association with Pentex." DropOff grinned to himself.
"On top of things, just like Teke and Belle said you would be. They recommended you to me because you spent eight years in Europe. I assume you speak German?"
"Fluently, as with French and Irish, why?" Like most of the Order of Hermes, Etaine was a bit of a snob, considering most of the other Traditions too weak or too self-righteous to be of much use. She had relaxed that policy after a slip of a Hermetic overran Springfield with zombies not more than a few months ago, but many of those thoughts still remained with her.
"I assume you have contacts there?"
"Not really in Germany, but yes, I have some contacts."
"Then I'd like you to come with us. Belle seems to think you'd be good for this type of thing, and on missions like this, I trust Belle."
"What exactly am I doing?"
"You? Well your individual part in this isn't completely worked out. I'm certain that given enough 'private time' I could go through my briefs and come up with something. However, that would take way too long, and since we don't have all night I'll give you the mini version of what WE will be doing. We are going to make it a smoldering pile of leftover techie fortress with a little bit of retribution on the side." She blankly stared at him, like one who wonders what language the other is speaking. "We're going to destroy it." He said calmly "Guess I'll see you there." Without saying anything else he left and Etaine's computer shut off
"Goodbye!" it said.
"Adepts," she grumbled, grabbing her things and leaving after locking her office. She made her way to her black Cavalier and got in, removing the silk glove on her right hand. She flexed the fingers, which looked as if they were made of chrome--just like the rest of her right arm to the elbow. A spell had worked too well during the zombie incident and Reality had punished Etaine by giving her a chrome arm. She could still use it as if it was still flesh, but she always wore a glove on it in public. Most students thought she was just eccentric.
Shaking off her sudden moodiness, she started her car and drove to the Wayside Cathedral. In southern Springfield, many of the buildings were abandoned or undergoing renovation. To Etaine, it still seemed so desolate. The Wayside was another abandoned building, but on the outside it seemed as if someone was taking care of it since the roof was intact, at first glance, and the stained glass windows were not all broken. Of course, the top of the cathedral sported two crosses, one on the right, one in the middle, and a stump of a third. An abandoned cathedral by day, a Magus nightclub when the sun went down.
As she had expected, there were already people gathering for the tribunal. She recognized a few cars and parked, leaving her bag and glove in the car. She paused only to leave her black blazer in the car as well. Dressed in her black mini and a forest green silk shirt, no one would mistake her for a Tech, which had happened the first time she had met a few Mages. It was not her fault business dress matched the New World Order's dress code.
The Hermetic entered the abandoned cathedral which hosted the Wayside and was immediately greeted by a ravishing woman with long black hair.
"Etaine!" Belle Flower greeted her. "DropOff just told me. Good for you to get out once and a while. Come on, we've saved you a seat." Before Etaine could say anything, Belle was half dragging her up to the front. Waiting with DropOff was what should could only guess would be the rest of the team. She recognized Teke by his constantly blue hair. Like her chrome fore arm, Teke would always have blue hair. Next to him was Ebon Phoenix, owner of the Wayside Cathedral and a man who loved black, as evidenced by his clothing and long black trenchcoat. The remaining member of the party was also dressed in black, but was female. Etaine did not recognize her, but the woman approached and held out her hand.
"Novice Kharma bani Euthanatos," she said formally.
"Apprentice Etaine MacCul bani Order of Hermes," Etaine replied. She was beginning to wonder what good she could do to this Bio Forge attack, they had two assassin Mages already, and the Virtual Adepts could get into anywhere what good could she do?
"Oh," Kharma said, as if recognizing her name as the same of a poisonous serpent. "I've heard of you. The zombie killer."
"I guess that's one thing to call me, I prefer Etaine, or Tana if that's easier for you." Belle stepped in.
"Let's just sit down, all right?" Obediently, Etaine sat down, not looking at Kharma. The two women were probably the same age, but there would be no partnership, Etaine could already tell.
Unlike many of the mages sitting around her, Etaine was the only one unaware of her reputation. Most mages had, at first, shrugged her off as another stuck-up Hermetic, but after the zombie raid on Springfield, some had begun to look at her a little differently. Some feared her, particularly since the Hermetic Order confirmed she spent more time studying Garou and Leeches then divination and spells. Others revered her in a small way; she very nearly shunned the Order and yet had proven herself time and again to be a cool headed woman in a fire fight. Not to mention fire was her favorite toy and she was good at manipulating it. A small group, mostly of her own Tradition, hated her. These few Etaine was not unaware of, since they were normally the ones that bothered her more often. Finally, there were those Mages in Springfield she dared to call "friends". These few knew that Etaine was a broken hearted woman who was still bitter that her Tradition could be so negligent as to ignore dangerous spells. They knew she had a sweet side, but the critic in her made her cold. It did not help she had an unrequited love.
The tribune began with the standard greeting to all new mages of Springfield, followed by a report on the actions of P.R.I.S.M, the Technocrat stronghold, and then Master Stone bani Order of Hermes, leader of the tribunal (and Etaine's Tradtion) made an announcement.
"Adept DropOff bani Virtual Adepts has announced that his cabal is ready and will be leaving within the week to Germany to launch an attack on BioForge. BioForge, as many of you know, is suspected to be held by Progenitors. DropOff and his Cabal are off to destroy it. We wish you luck, DropOff, Teke, Belle, Ebon Phoenix, Kharma, and Etaine." There was a minuscule round of applause before the Tribunal was called to an end. Etaine made to leave, but was cut off as a spunky brunette bounced past her to DropOff. The Hermetic rolled her eyes as DropOff's newest toy came into focus; Katrina could exhaust a cheerleader on speed.
"Are you really going?" Katrina pouted to DropOff.
"Yes, I told you I was weeks ago. You'll be fine."
"Why can't I go with you?" She whined. Etaine had heard enough. She turned to leave before someone grabbed her by the arm.
"I can't believe you're going!" the voice was a familiar one and Etaine relaxed. Annie, a Cultist of Ecstasy, was one of the few Etaine called a friend. Annie was normally the only on that would convince Etaine to go to the Wayside to be social, and was probably the only one who cared enough to invite her along. The scholar turned to face the plain looking Annie.
"Well I never actually agreed, but you know Belle and DropOff. What are you up to?"
"Oh, I was just waiting for the party to get started. You look really cute like that, with the mini skirt and the knee high boots. If only that agent could see you now!" Annie laughed and Etaine blushed.
"Let's not talk about him, all right. You were right, he got killed that night and he probably wouldn't have if I'd waited."
"You know for sure?" Annie asked, beginning to steer Etaine towards the bar.
"No, but I would have thought by now he would have contacted me so he's either dead, or didn't care about me like you all thought. Can we talk about something else?"
"Of course, honey," Annie said in her rather charming way. "Let me get you a drink and we'll catch up a bit, huh?" Glancing back at the others, most were getting ready to enjoy the night club. DropOff was explaining to Katrina why she would not be coming along, and Katrina was pouting too much to really listen.
"To the bar," Etaine said.
"It's simple really, I'd prefer for you to keep your stamina ready for when I get back." DropOff's demeanor remained unchanged by the pouty look that he was receiving. He had seen better then the Verbana's quivering lip.
"But, you know that I'd be a great person to have along," Katrina said, stepping in a little too close "if you ever have to dive for cover." Her pout still fixed on her face but the sound of her voice being as seductive as it could be. Her fingers trailed up his arm to his shoulders.
"Personally Kat," DropOff said turning his attentions toward the auburn haired Etaine whom was walking toward the bar. He took in her mini skirt, the fitting form of her shirt, and of course the auburn hair. DropOff remembered a rumor or two about redheads. "I believe in surviving to screw the prom queen after the game. not getting killed in the process." His gaze turned back to her, as if remembering suddenly he was not speaking to the woman he was looking at. He was just in time to see her eyebrows furrow downward in what seemed more confusion then anger. Her entire demeanor had changed, obviously because of his half unconscious head movements. She stood there looking at him, as ferocious as a twitching bunny. "What?!" he asked, holding out his hands and gesturing wide in feigned confusion.
"How did you know I was the prom queen?" Katrina asked.
Etaine sighed as she got back to her apartment, greeted immediately by a rather angry meow. A white cat approached her, his tail twitching.
"Oh, Setanta, sorry." Etaine said, heading to the kitchen to pour her cat a bowl of Cat Chow. Unlike some mages, Etaine did not keep a familiar. Setanta was simply a cat, albeit one that was too smart for his own good. Thrice he had interrupted an experiment of Etaine's by destroying something in the apartment. Still, Setanta was a friendly cat, which was more than Etaine wanted out of a pet. She went to change into a silk night shirt. There were three messages from Marcus, a fellow teacher, and the head of the department, at the college that seemed to think Etaine returned his crush. She would go out to eat with Marcus at times, but she was not serious about him. The phone rang as she returned to the entry.
"Hello?" Etaine said. Only a fellow Mage would call her this late at night. There was silence on the other end. "Hello?" when only silence responded, she hung up. Almost immediately the phone rang. She grabbed the receiver. "I gave you two chances!" she snapped.
"What are you talking about, Etaine?" DropOff responded.
"Sorry DropOff, I just got prank called or something. Wait, you know how to use something as primary as a phone?"
"Ha.Ha," he responded. "Let me in, I want to talk to you." Etaine hung up and opened that door, not surprised to find him there.
"I already agreed to go, DropOff." Etaine sat on her tawny suede couch. DropOff sat across from her, pausing only when Setanta hissed at him.
"Nice cat," he said sarcastically. "Look, I wanted to thank you for agreeing to come with me. And I'm sure you're wondering why I asked you in the first place."
"He is observant isn't he, Setanta?" Etaine asked as the cat jumped up next to her.
"To be honest, I wouldn't have asked you, but-"
"I know, Teke and Belle insisted."
"No, they suggested you. I needed someone who can take the lead when I can't. I know you've got a cold exterior, but I also know that you can lead. Hell, I know that you're the one that figured out the zombie thing."
"So I'm the second in command, basically?"
"To put it bluntly, yes. You're all right with that?"
"I have to be, don't I?" DropOff sighed, as if he knew she would be difficult.
"No, you don't have to be, but I just came to say thank you."
"You're welcome. It will give me an excuse to see Europe again."
"So it's true that you spent eight years in Ireland?"
"I got my PhD there. I was sent here because I was born in California so my mentor thought it would be a good idea for me to return to the states. I meant to go back, but I've stayed for some reason." Because I'm looking for someone, she thought as she completed her statement. DropOff paused.
"Can I ask a personal question?"
"Go ahead."
"I heard from Belle and Teke that you guys teamed up with an agent. Do you remember who it was?" Etaine stopped petting Setanta for a moment.
"Who can tell the difference between those hive minded bastards?" she replied stoically. DropOff looked like he flinched slightly, as if she had hit a nerve.
"It might be important. Please?"
"He called himself Jynx. But he's dead."
"Dead?" DropOff sounded pleased and a smile crossed his face.
"Yes. See, after I realized what we needed to do, and that the Technocracy wasn't involved, I told Jynx he could leave. Instead of waiting for him, I left him among zombies."
"So why would you assume he's dead?"
"You're entering into really personal territory, DropOff."
"I warned you it was a personal question." Etaine sighed and looked at the oriental carpet.
"Because I was beginning to really like him and I've never been very good with the dating scene, so I was hoping to hold on to him. I thought he liked me too, I mean he didn't give me any reason to think he didn't. I thought that if he had lived, he would have let me know somehow. He didn't, or hasn't, so I've just assumed he's dead." Etaine glanced at him. "You can laugh at me for having a crush on a Man in Black."
"No. It happens." DropOff replied softly. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone else."
"I appreciate that," Etaine yawned.
"I'll let you sleep. Remember, one week until destruction." His voice seemed to place a particular enthusiasm on the word, as if it was perhaps the most delightful thing he could ever think of. For him to be so excited about a simple smash job was odd, as DropOff did them all the time. Etaine nodded, standing to show him out. Once he was gone, she locked the door and headed to her bedroom, slipping under the sheets with a sigh.
"You best keep mum about that too, Setanta." Etaine commented before drifting to sleep.
"And so, ladies and gentlemen," Etaine said to her class. "The mythology of the Greeks reflected their civilization." She glanced at the time on the computer. "And that's all for now. I know this will upset many of you, but I have been called to help with a study in Germany so class will not be in session for at least the next two weeks. E-mail your reports on Zeus and his many lovers to me; I will be able to get them. Thank you." As her students left, Etaine began gathering her disks and the book she used.
"Professor," a voice purred. Etaine glanced up to see Kharma standing in front of her.
"May I help you?" The Euthanatos handed her an envelope.
"DropOff said to have this sent to you." Etaine took it and opened it and found two plane tickets.
"So we're taking a plane?"
"DropOff isn't powerful enough to transport us all, Professor. Just meet us at the gate." With that, Kharma turned and left the room.
"Well, good to know I've made a friend." Etaine purred venomously to herself. For a moment Etaine wished she had the nerve to go to speak to DropOff, talk to him a little bit more than she had last night. That ridiculous, of course, DropOff barely knew her and was probably busy with Katrina, or hacking Reality, or any number of things. Still, there was something eerily familiar about him. She had met him only a few days after the zombie incident and she had felt it ever since. There was something about DropOff she felt close to. It was especially strong when he took off his glasses, and she got the chance to look into his eyes. Something struck her every time. It felt like a crush, but it was different, somehow.
Etaine shrugged the thoughts off and went to her office to finish her work and wait for students to come and ask her questions. She wasn't expecting anyone. Mythology, after all, was a rather straight forward science and it did not take much to understand the myths and the effects on society. She glanced at a branch of candles that she kept on her desk. Strictly speaking, she was not supposed to have those in here, but then again when the head of the department had taken an interest in her. She smiled to herself and pointed a finger at the candles on the branch, her lips moving.
