Top Assassin
The next morning Fox, Bakuryu, Greg, Alica, and #318 all sat in their usual spots, waiting for Van again. Fox admired himself in the mirror, flipping his bangs untill they looked absolutely perfect. Bakuryu leaned on the arm rest of his couch near the door, looking as if he'd fall into a deep sleep just about any minute. Greg fidgeted nervoulsy on his side of the other couch, and Alica sat as close to the arm rest on her side as possible to keep away from him. Singh Long sat in the recliner again.
"What are you fidgeting for?" Fox demanded of Greg. "Stop that at once! Do you have any idea how annoying it is?"
"I... failed to complete my mission." he whined. "Van's gonna kill me!"
"Oh for God's sake!" Alica complained. "He's not going to kill you! Although I admit he certainly won't be pleased."
"My mission was executed perfectly!" Bakuryu bragged. "I..."
"I don't think so!" Fox interrupted, throwing his brush at the old man's head before he could continue. Bakuryu growled as it hit his head, and then grabbed it before it fell to the floor.
"You really shouldn't throw things you don't want to lose." Long commented cooly. Fox got up from his seat at the vanity and walked over to Bakuryu.
"He needs to shut up!"
"You need to learn some manners!" the old one hissed.
"Come on you guys!" Greg complained. "What if Van walks in here and sees this?"
"Oh Van!" Fox exclaimed, snatching the brush out of the startled assassin's hands and running back to his vanity.
"Yes, wouldn't want to displease him, would you?" Alica reminded.
"My merciless leader? Of course not!"
"You're not the only one who wants a piece of my brother. You'll have to wait your turn in line, right behind Vark."
"You think she has a better chance with him than I do?"
"I don't think anyone has much of a chance with him, but you least of all."
"Guess you're stuck with Busuzima." Greg added.
"Ah, Busu-kun! I do apperciate him, but honestly he is so ugly... if only I could find a sexy bishounen man!" Alica groaned in disgust and Greg shook his head at it. Bakuryu nodded off on the couch, and began snoring. Singh Long simply ignored them all, laid back on the recliner to relax, and put the foot-rest up.
"That's not a very good idea." Alica warned him.
"Don't you remember what happened the last time you did that?" Greg asked.
"I have a feeling that today will be different." #318 replied smugly.
"You are such a fool..." Fox insulted absently, looking at his reflection in the mirror. "A beauty, but a fool nonetheless."
"Psycho bitch." #318 replied.
"Cold-blooded killer."
"I am the best assassin!" Bakuryu insisted, waking with a start.
"Psycho bitch." #318 continued.
"Loner." Fox retorted.
"Hans."
"Stop calling me that!" he cried, throwing his brush at the assassin again. He caught it just as easlilly as he had the day before.
"Tsk, tsk, when will you learn Hans?"
"I hate it when you call me that!" Alica giggled, enjoying Fox's torment.
"Aw... too bad Hansey." Long taunted.
"Do be a dear and give it back." Fox cooed.
"Ugh..." #318 groaned in disgust and beaned him on the head with it.
"Lovely." Fox replied, picking it up off the floor. "Are you sure you're straight? The way you said that sounded so nice."
"To tell you the truth I never considered my sexual orientation before." Long admitted. "But since you brought it up in such a way, I believe I'm definately going to be heterosexual."
"It's really too bad, you could look so bishounen in a lacy little pink dress. Of course you would definately need a little more make-up, especially some lipstick... Ooooo, and you would look sooo cute with your hair down!"
"Grrr..." Singh growled, climbing out of his seat.
"Fox, you're starting to piss him off." Greg warned. "That's probably not a good idea."
"You gonna do something about it my wittle sugar plum?" Hans taunted, walking up to him.
"Hans..."Alica cautioned.
"One more step towards me and I swear I'll cut off you head." Long threatened.
"Oooo, I'm so scared." Fox mocked, taking a few more steps towards him. "Which one I wonder?"
"Whichever one gets in my way first, Hans."
"Let's get it on deary!" Fox challenged, striking his fighting pose. "If you win you can beat me up, boo-hoo! But if I win I get to make you my bitch!" #318 shot one hand out and grabbed Fox's dainty little neck, choking him. It was at this exact moment that Van decided to make his appearance. He waltzed into the room smiling gailly and humming to himself, an activity he seldom indulged in. As soon as he saw what was going on his smile drooped a bit and he stopped humming, a puzzled look covering his face.
"What is going on in here?" he demand in his usual angry tone of voice.
"With all due respect I request your permission to put an end to this annoyance." #318 asked. Van laughed deeply upon hearing the statement, and at the other's predicament.
"Oh, great and glorious govnah..." Fox pleaded. "HELP!" Singh Long tightened his grip on the other's neck so that he couldn't talk anymore and struggled to breathe.
"As much as I would love to allow it, he is usefull to me." Van replied. "Put him down." Long threw him straight into his own vanity, the mirror breaking under his weight with a resounding crash before he toppled to the floor. Then he sat back down in his recliner, propping the foot-rest up and watching as Fox picked himself up from the floor.
"My beautiful mirror." the transvestite sniffled, sheding a tear as he picked a few shards of glass out of his legs. Van and #318 laughed wickedly, which Alica found disturbing even though she couldn't completely suppress a giggle herself.
"Ooooo, evil laughter in stereo. Creepy!" Greg complained, at which #318 laughed even louder and Van stopped. He glanced over the room, starting with Bakuryu and going counter-clockwise untill his gaze reached Fox, checking to make sure everyone of his assassins was paying attention. #318 stopped laughing, but still had the foot-rest up. Van gazed back at him and nodded his acceptance of it.
"Van? Are you feeling alright?" Alica wondered. He ignored her.
"Excellent work." he smiled at #318 in a way that made Alica shrudder and then he glanced around the room again. "Has anyone watched the news lately?"
"The news is almost as depressing as my life." Hans whined, finally picking himself off the floor and sitting back on the stool in front of his broken mirror.
"I don't usually watch it either." Greg contributed.
"I've been too busy with my work." was Alica's excuse.
"As have I." Singh Long agreed. Van darted into his office and came back with a newspaper and another evil grin on his face. He un-folded it and smiled even wider at the headline on the front page. This can't be good, Alica thought.
"The AMA murders." Van read proudly. "Does everyone here know what the AMA is?"
"Uh... no." Greg admitted.
"The American Medical Association!" Alica exclaimed. "Many of their members have been protesting Tylon, and trying to get our experiments banned. You had someone kill some of them Van?" he smiled evilly and continued.
"'Five people were found dead this morning, three men and two women mercilessly slaughtered within the confines of their own homes. Mauled beyond recognition, their identities were ascertained using dental impressions. There are no witnesses at all to the heinous crimes and not a sound was heard during the night they perished. Two of the victims were dispatched so quietly that their spouses, lying on the other side of the bed, were not even awakened by it.'"
"Oooo, that is scary!" Greg whined, shaking in fear. "Can you imagine turning towards your loved one in the morning only to find..."
"That is impossible!" Alica complained. "How could you maul someone beyond recognition without waking someone sleeping in the same bed?"
"Silence is deadly." Bakuryu reminded them. "I truly honor whoever did this."
"You mean it wasn't you?" Fox asked.
"That much is obvious." Alica interjected, eyeing the new assassin curiously. Could it have been him? Van coughed to get their attention and then proceeded with his reading.
"'All five were wealthy homeowners, and had security systems installed in their homes. Authorities are baffled as to how something like this could occur without setting them off. The only thing these unfortunate five people had in common is that they were all members of the American Medical Assiciation who protested the newest experimentiations done by Tylon Corporation.
"'We interviewed Van Tylon, the CEO of the company this morning, and he had this to say:' And I quote," Van added proudly. Quoting his own words, which had been quoted by the paper inflated his ego all the more, Alica was sickened by it. "'This is a terrible, and apalling crime. I had no knowledge whatsoever of this incident untill this morning...' Ah! They cut out some of my words! Anyway... 'However, despite our past disagreements with the AMA, my heart goes out to the poor souls of the hapless victims of the crime, and to all the loved ones dealing with the pain of their loss."
"You are truly the scum of the earth." Alica muttered angrilly.
"Did you say something my dear half-sister?"
"Excellent cover-up work, my dear half-brother."
"That is all I'm going to share with you for now." Van stated, folding up the paper and setting it on Fox's vanity. "I think I'm going to get a television in here so you can watch the news while you're waiting. It is so lovely how they go into all the details about these killings. Once again #318, excellent work. Couldn't have done it better myself."
"He did it!?!?!" Greg exclaimed.
"Do you really think any of you other incompotent fools could have done this job?" Van demanded.
"How could you?" Alica demanded of Singh Long, jumping out of her seat. The room fell into an uncomfortable silence as they all stared curiously at her. She was embarassed by the attention and sat back down.
"You must forgive Alica, #318." Van requested. "She is somewhat new to the business." Long nodded in agreement as Van continued. "#318 is a better assassin than all of you put together could ever hope to be! He not only completed his assignment precisely as I had intended, but also left no evidence of any sort! Finally I have found someone who will get my jobs right and I won't have to settle for the rest of your screw-ups! I couldn't be happier. He is my top assassin now, the top assassin of Tylon, and perhaps all the world! You will treat him with the utmost respect, and if he ever needs your cooperation for an assignment you will obey him as you would me, understood?" All the assassins except for Long nodded their heads.
"Good." he smiled again. "As always you will await your assignments here and be called into my office to receive them momentarrily." That said he darted back through the door, closing it behind him and leaving the room in silence.
"How could you do that?" Alica demanded of Long again.
"It was my job." he replied cooly.
"I... envy... you..." Bakuryu grumbled, his voice shaking with jealousy.
"Charmed." #318 commented sarcastically.
"I don't understand." Alica muttered to herself.
"It is quite simple." Singh Long answered, having overheard her. "I do my job. I do it precisely as I am ordered to do it. No exceptions."
"Van ordered you to maul them beyond recognition?"
"Well, no... I suppose I could have simply snuck a bit of poison into their evening meals, but it is so much less fun that way."
"Why so appalled chicky?" Fox asked Alica. "You did much the same thing yourself once... to your own father that is. Good thing Van's here to save your tail, ne?"
"Grrr..." Alica jumped from her seat and growled at the hated assassin, clenching her fists and glaring at him threateningly. She wanted so badly to deny that she had done it, but the truth was that she couldn't remember. If she couldn't even convince herself that she hadn't done it, there was no way she could ever convince anyone else. But she completely despised the fact that Van had been the one to save her.
"Leave her alone Hans." #318 ordered. "Pick on someone your own size."
"Like you?"
"You're welcome to try, I certainly wouldn't mind wringing your neck again." Fox rubbed his sore neck and shut up.
"I don't need your protection, #318." Alica complained, returning to her seat. "I can take care of myself."
"I was not protecting you." he denied. "I simply happen to enjoy tormenting transvestites."
"So I'm singled out for my looks am I?" Fox pouted. "At least I don't have a crush on a half-Tylon, Van is full-blood."
"I grow tired of your annoying insinuations." Singh Long growled. "In any case, as much work as I do, I have little time for any relationships."
"That's too bad, you might even have a chance at Van now that you're his little pet. Oh, what I wouldn't give to be you right now!"
"I don't think my brother swings that way." Alica reminded, disgusted by the thought.
"I certainly hope you are right." #318 agreed.
"Can we talk about something else?" Greg pleaded. "All this talk about male/male relationships disgusts me."
"How about incest?" Fox suggested. "What if Van wanted Alica? He does always seem to be keeping an eye on her..."
"Ugh, YOU ARE SICK!!!" Alica screamed, wishing she had something to throw at the girly man and shut him up.
"I'm only stating the truth darling," Hans defended. "it is completely obvious, even Vark is jealous of the attention you get." Alica shrieked and sat back down on the couch, unable to do anything about her anger.
"Makes you really wonder how low Van could get." Singh Long muttered.
"As if you are any higher." Alica muttered.
"No offense intended wu qin xiao jie." Long assured her. "I am simply questioning Van's morale, not yours."
"None of us are spotless in here deary." Fox reminded.
"What did he just call me, Fox?" Alica asked as politely as she could.
"Wu qin xiao jie is the same as 'my dear young lady'." Hans answered. "Oooo, I knew he had a crush on you!"
"It was simply a polite term of expression." #318 grumbled, unnerved by Fox's constant accusations.
"Anyway, as far as I'm concerned he is just as evil as my brother." Alica informed them, crossing her arms in determination.
"If this life were a war then I would be a simple soldier, wo de qin." Long objected. "Your brother is the general, and you know that well enough so don't deny it."
"And he just called you 'my dear' in Chinese again." Fox informed.
"If you don't shut up, Hans Tauberman, I'm going to make it so you can't talk again for a very long time." #318 threatened. Fox sighed, picked up his brush, and stared sadly at his broken reflection in the mirror. Then Vark came into the room carrying a small television set, put it on the ground next to Fox's vanity, and turned it on to a news channel.
"He is ready for you #318." she said once she was done. So he left his seat and she escorted him back into Van's office.
"I guess I was a bit hypocritial." Alica admitted to herself once they were gone.
"Why doesn't he like me?" Fox sniffled.
"Are you talking about #318 or Van?" Greg asked.
"Either... or both!" Fox cried. "Oooo, I feel so sad! I miss my Busu-kun!"
"I think either way it would be the same answer." Alica mumbled. "Few people are actually attracted to you, Hans."
#318 sat down in front of Van's desk and watched him while he checked the information in the folder. Once he was done he looked back up at the new assassin.
"As I said earlier, you are my head assassin now." he began. "I'm going to keep you here for quite a while, I have plenty of jobs for you to fill. So, make whatever arrangements are necessary..."
"Would I be correct in assuming that I ought to find a more permanent residence than my current hotel room?" Singh Long asked.
"Yes, and if you are in need of something we happen to have a few dorm rooms available in this very building." Van offered. "In fact would appreciate it if you would consider taking one of them, no need to commute to work that way."
"If it pleases you." #318 agreed.
"Vark, assign him a good room and bring the keys here once you're done." Van ordered. Vark nodded and went out the door and straight to her work. Van slipped the folder under his fingers across the desk to him. "As before I am certain you will find this to be a difficult assignment. If you require any additional help the rest of my assassins are at your disposal."
Singh Long opened the folder and surveyed the contents carefully, noting what problems he would have doing the job by himself and considering his options. By the time he was done he had made his decision. Vark came back in and set a ket next to him on the desk.
"Room 16." she announced, walking back to her little spot in the corner. #318 pocketed the key and looked back up at Van expectantly. He returned the gaze, nodding his permission to continue.
"I suppose as head assassin that my assignents preceede those of the other assassins."
"Yes, and as such you may request their assiasstance on your assignments at any time, simply inform me of the matter so I can straighten out my schedule."
"Certainly." #318 nodded. "Suppose I require a bit of assisstance with this current mission. I would be gratefull for a little information on each of them so I may choose the correct person for the job."
"You think before you act, I like your style." Van smiled. "First off is my dearest sister, she is second only to you in her skill. Doesn't seem the type does she? But she can be very deadly when she puts her mind to it."
"Yes..." Singh Long replied, toying with the idea of getting a little more information out of Van. "as a matter of fact I have heard about just how deadly she can be..." It was risky, but he was certain he could pull it off. "even when concerning her own relatives."
"Everyone has heard about the unfortunate indcident." Van replied. "Poor little Alica, it did seem she had gone into some kind of zoanthrope rage and murdered our father."
"It must have been a terrible loss for you..." he pretended to commiserate. "So, why do you keep her around then? Aren't you angry?"
"Angry... and sad... But she is still my half-sister, I could never cast her aside." Van's melancholy voice answered. "Besides, I really don't believe she did it. She keeps wondering if she could have been framed, and perhaps so."
"What makes you think so?" #318 wonderd. "You just admitted how deadly she can be."
"I really don't think she is a zoanthrope." Van honestly answered. "Wouldn't want to test her out myself of course."
"Who do you think did it then?"
"Who knows?" he shrugged. "The old man had so very many enemies... almost anyone could have done it."
"But Alica had the most to gain, since she was set to inherit Tylon."
"Yes. And if she did do it then it seems to have backfired on her, doesn't it? Anyhow I believe we have drifted off subject."
"Oh..." he acted surprised. "Yes, of course. I will need to know about the other assassins as well."
"Hans is very good, although he goes slightly psychotic at the sight of blood. The old man has not lost too much of his touch, and he is fast. However, I would not recommend Greg. He botches so many jobs..."
"A fine assessment." #318 complimented. "In which case I shall require Alica and Hans for my mission."
"I had anticipated you would. And may I say, excellent choice."
"I am honored." Long replied, nodding his respect.
The room fell into silence once the two were gone, save for the low mumble of the news reporter coming from the Television screen. At first everyone completely ignored the meaningless local reports, untill a news flash caught their attention.
"This just in!" the reported announced. "The autopsy reports have just come back from the morgue. After analyzing the bodies the morticians say that the terrible rending marks covering the victim's bodies were not actually made by any kind of knife or blade as expected earlier. They are in fact claw marks..."
"Claw marks?" Greg asked in surprise.
"That means he's a zoanthrope too, doesn't it?" Alica wondered.
"Of course deary." Fox replied. "Afterall who in here isn't?"
"...these marks were obviously too large to have been made by any wild cats indigenous to the area." the reporter continued. "This is a great puzzlement to the mortician who is with us here today." The reported handed the microphone to a small pale looking man. "Eh... well, to tell you the truth I haven't seen something like this since I treated a lion tamer for his wounds."
"So he's some kind of big cat." Alica surmised.
"Not just any cat, a tiger chicky." Fox corrected. "The god of all cats! The largest, meanest thing alive... and as I've said he has an ego to match, such a shame! He could be such a lovely Bishie."
"Good thing he's not here to hear that Fox." Greg warned.
"I still don't understand how he could kill someone so quitely that the other person in the same bed wouldn't even wake up." Alica complained.
"Perhaps he drugged them." Bakuryu suggested. "Maybe he slipped a little extra sleeping powder into their evening drinks so they wouldn't wake up for his midnight visit."
"Sounds like something he would do." Fox agreed.
"How well do you know him, Fox?" Alica questioned.
"Not terribly well." he admitted. "I have had the occasion to work with him previously, but in a few more days I'm sure all of you will know him just as well as I do."
"Or better." Alica muttered to herself.
"Did you say something little half-blood?"
"Not to you, Hans." Alica growled. Once again the room fell into silence. The report on the murders was over, but since there was nothing better to do Alica stared blankly at the flashing screen while thinking to herself. At first she had thought that #318 might have been someone she could relate to, and perhaps even befriend. After this incident she wasn't entirely sure. Then on the other hand she herself had killed, if for no better reason than to keep herself alive. At least he had a fairly honorable cause, protecting the lives of others. But why did he always have to act so cold, detatched and proud? Was it just his personality, or was it simply a way of distancing himself from who he was and what he was doing? Was it a way of ignoring the pain?
The door swung open and #318 re-entered the room. He walked up to the television set and turned it off, glancing about the room and demanding their attention. He acts so much like Van sometimes that it scares me, Alica thought. The last thing we need around here is another self-centered commander. Vark called Greg into Van's office and they all watched as he fearfully left the room. Singh Long cleared his throat to get their attention once more and then nodded graciously. Well, at least he has more class than Van, Alica consoled herself.
"I am assuming that everyone is fully aware of the implications concerning my new title." he stated.
"More aware then we'd like to be." Bakuryu hissed.
"Yes, of course." Fox agreed. "Are you going to order us around now too? I think I liked Van better, at least he never chocked me."
"I bet you never came on to him like that either." #318 reminded.
"Not in quite that manner." he admitted.
"I really don't understand what it is about me that entices such behavior."
"You're soooo cute when you're mad!" Long glared at him and he jumped back in his seat.
"Unfortunately I require your assisstance for my next mission."
"My assisstance?" Hans repeated. "The assisstance of beautiful moi? Well, of course."
"And you as well Alica."
"Just don't get cocky with me." she warned.
"So, where do we meet to discuss the plans, oh gracious one?" Fox asked.
"Meet me in dorm room #16 at 6p.m. sharp, got that?"
"Oh, I shall have to put on my evening gown!" Hans cried.
"As long as it covers more than what you're currently wearing." #318 complained, groaning in annoyance.
"I will be there." Alica stated.
"What are you fidgeting for?" Fox demanded of Greg. "Stop that at once! Do you have any idea how annoying it is?"
"I... failed to complete my mission." he whined. "Van's gonna kill me!"
"Oh for God's sake!" Alica complained. "He's not going to kill you! Although I admit he certainly won't be pleased."
"My mission was executed perfectly!" Bakuryu bragged. "I..."
"I don't think so!" Fox interrupted, throwing his brush at the old man's head before he could continue. Bakuryu growled as it hit his head, and then grabbed it before it fell to the floor.
"You really shouldn't throw things you don't want to lose." Long commented cooly. Fox got up from his seat at the vanity and walked over to Bakuryu.
"He needs to shut up!"
"You need to learn some manners!" the old one hissed.
"Come on you guys!" Greg complained. "What if Van walks in here and sees this?"
"Oh Van!" Fox exclaimed, snatching the brush out of the startled assassin's hands and running back to his vanity.
"Yes, wouldn't want to displease him, would you?" Alica reminded.
"My merciless leader? Of course not!"
"You're not the only one who wants a piece of my brother. You'll have to wait your turn in line, right behind Vark."
"You think she has a better chance with him than I do?"
"I don't think anyone has much of a chance with him, but you least of all."
"Guess you're stuck with Busuzima." Greg added.
"Ah, Busu-kun! I do apperciate him, but honestly he is so ugly... if only I could find a sexy bishounen man!" Alica groaned in disgust and Greg shook his head at it. Bakuryu nodded off on the couch, and began snoring. Singh Long simply ignored them all, laid back on the recliner to relax, and put the foot-rest up.
"That's not a very good idea." Alica warned him.
"Don't you remember what happened the last time you did that?" Greg asked.
"I have a feeling that today will be different." #318 replied smugly.
"You are such a fool..." Fox insulted absently, looking at his reflection in the mirror. "A beauty, but a fool nonetheless."
"Psycho bitch." #318 replied.
"Cold-blooded killer."
"I am the best assassin!" Bakuryu insisted, waking with a start.
"Psycho bitch." #318 continued.
"Loner." Fox retorted.
"Hans."
"Stop calling me that!" he cried, throwing his brush at the assassin again. He caught it just as easlilly as he had the day before.
"Tsk, tsk, when will you learn Hans?"
"I hate it when you call me that!" Alica giggled, enjoying Fox's torment.
"Aw... too bad Hansey." Long taunted.
"Do be a dear and give it back." Fox cooed.
"Ugh..." #318 groaned in disgust and beaned him on the head with it.
"Lovely." Fox replied, picking it up off the floor. "Are you sure you're straight? The way you said that sounded so nice."
"To tell you the truth I never considered my sexual orientation before." Long admitted. "But since you brought it up in such a way, I believe I'm definately going to be heterosexual."
"It's really too bad, you could look so bishounen in a lacy little pink dress. Of course you would definately need a little more make-up, especially some lipstick... Ooooo, and you would look sooo cute with your hair down!"
"Grrr..." Singh growled, climbing out of his seat.
"Fox, you're starting to piss him off." Greg warned. "That's probably not a good idea."
"You gonna do something about it my wittle sugar plum?" Hans taunted, walking up to him.
"Hans..."Alica cautioned.
"One more step towards me and I swear I'll cut off you head." Long threatened.
"Oooo, I'm so scared." Fox mocked, taking a few more steps towards him. "Which one I wonder?"
"Whichever one gets in my way first, Hans."
"Let's get it on deary!" Fox challenged, striking his fighting pose. "If you win you can beat me up, boo-hoo! But if I win I get to make you my bitch!" #318 shot one hand out and grabbed Fox's dainty little neck, choking him. It was at this exact moment that Van decided to make his appearance. He waltzed into the room smiling gailly and humming to himself, an activity he seldom indulged in. As soon as he saw what was going on his smile drooped a bit and he stopped humming, a puzzled look covering his face.
"What is going on in here?" he demand in his usual angry tone of voice.
"With all due respect I request your permission to put an end to this annoyance." #318 asked. Van laughed deeply upon hearing the statement, and at the other's predicament.
"Oh, great and glorious govnah..." Fox pleaded. "HELP!" Singh Long tightened his grip on the other's neck so that he couldn't talk anymore and struggled to breathe.
"As much as I would love to allow it, he is usefull to me." Van replied. "Put him down." Long threw him straight into his own vanity, the mirror breaking under his weight with a resounding crash before he toppled to the floor. Then he sat back down in his recliner, propping the foot-rest up and watching as Fox picked himself up from the floor.
"My beautiful mirror." the transvestite sniffled, sheding a tear as he picked a few shards of glass out of his legs. Van and #318 laughed wickedly, which Alica found disturbing even though she couldn't completely suppress a giggle herself.
"Ooooo, evil laughter in stereo. Creepy!" Greg complained, at which #318 laughed even louder and Van stopped. He glanced over the room, starting with Bakuryu and going counter-clockwise untill his gaze reached Fox, checking to make sure everyone of his assassins was paying attention. #318 stopped laughing, but still had the foot-rest up. Van gazed back at him and nodded his acceptance of it.
"Van? Are you feeling alright?" Alica wondered. He ignored her.
"Excellent work." he smiled at #318 in a way that made Alica shrudder and then he glanced around the room again. "Has anyone watched the news lately?"
"The news is almost as depressing as my life." Hans whined, finally picking himself off the floor and sitting back on the stool in front of his broken mirror.
"I don't usually watch it either." Greg contributed.
"I've been too busy with my work." was Alica's excuse.
"As have I." Singh Long agreed. Van darted into his office and came back with a newspaper and another evil grin on his face. He un-folded it and smiled even wider at the headline on the front page. This can't be good, Alica thought.
"The AMA murders." Van read proudly. "Does everyone here know what the AMA is?"
"Uh... no." Greg admitted.
"The American Medical Association!" Alica exclaimed. "Many of their members have been protesting Tylon, and trying to get our experiments banned. You had someone kill some of them Van?" he smiled evilly and continued.
"'Five people were found dead this morning, three men and two women mercilessly slaughtered within the confines of their own homes. Mauled beyond recognition, their identities were ascertained using dental impressions. There are no witnesses at all to the heinous crimes and not a sound was heard during the night they perished. Two of the victims were dispatched so quietly that their spouses, lying on the other side of the bed, were not even awakened by it.'"
"Oooo, that is scary!" Greg whined, shaking in fear. "Can you imagine turning towards your loved one in the morning only to find..."
"That is impossible!" Alica complained. "How could you maul someone beyond recognition without waking someone sleeping in the same bed?"
"Silence is deadly." Bakuryu reminded them. "I truly honor whoever did this."
"You mean it wasn't you?" Fox asked.
"That much is obvious." Alica interjected, eyeing the new assassin curiously. Could it have been him? Van coughed to get their attention and then proceeded with his reading.
"'All five were wealthy homeowners, and had security systems installed in their homes. Authorities are baffled as to how something like this could occur without setting them off. The only thing these unfortunate five people had in common is that they were all members of the American Medical Assiciation who protested the newest experimentiations done by Tylon Corporation.
"'We interviewed Van Tylon, the CEO of the company this morning, and he had this to say:' And I quote," Van added proudly. Quoting his own words, which had been quoted by the paper inflated his ego all the more, Alica was sickened by it. "'This is a terrible, and apalling crime. I had no knowledge whatsoever of this incident untill this morning...' Ah! They cut out some of my words! Anyway... 'However, despite our past disagreements with the AMA, my heart goes out to the poor souls of the hapless victims of the crime, and to all the loved ones dealing with the pain of their loss."
"You are truly the scum of the earth." Alica muttered angrilly.
"Did you say something my dear half-sister?"
"Excellent cover-up work, my dear half-brother."
"That is all I'm going to share with you for now." Van stated, folding up the paper and setting it on Fox's vanity. "I think I'm going to get a television in here so you can watch the news while you're waiting. It is so lovely how they go into all the details about these killings. Once again #318, excellent work. Couldn't have done it better myself."
"He did it!?!?!" Greg exclaimed.
"Do you really think any of you other incompotent fools could have done this job?" Van demanded.
"How could you?" Alica demanded of Singh Long, jumping out of her seat. The room fell into an uncomfortable silence as they all stared curiously at her. She was embarassed by the attention and sat back down.
"You must forgive Alica, #318." Van requested. "She is somewhat new to the business." Long nodded in agreement as Van continued. "#318 is a better assassin than all of you put together could ever hope to be! He not only completed his assignment precisely as I had intended, but also left no evidence of any sort! Finally I have found someone who will get my jobs right and I won't have to settle for the rest of your screw-ups! I couldn't be happier. He is my top assassin now, the top assassin of Tylon, and perhaps all the world! You will treat him with the utmost respect, and if he ever needs your cooperation for an assignment you will obey him as you would me, understood?" All the assassins except for Long nodded their heads.
"Good." he smiled again. "As always you will await your assignments here and be called into my office to receive them momentarrily." That said he darted back through the door, closing it behind him and leaving the room in silence.
"How could you do that?" Alica demanded of Long again.
"It was my job." he replied cooly.
"I... envy... you..." Bakuryu grumbled, his voice shaking with jealousy.
"Charmed." #318 commented sarcastically.
"I don't understand." Alica muttered to herself.
"It is quite simple." Singh Long answered, having overheard her. "I do my job. I do it precisely as I am ordered to do it. No exceptions."
"Van ordered you to maul them beyond recognition?"
"Well, no... I suppose I could have simply snuck a bit of poison into their evening meals, but it is so much less fun that way."
"Why so appalled chicky?" Fox asked Alica. "You did much the same thing yourself once... to your own father that is. Good thing Van's here to save your tail, ne?"
"Grrr..." Alica jumped from her seat and growled at the hated assassin, clenching her fists and glaring at him threateningly. She wanted so badly to deny that she had done it, but the truth was that she couldn't remember. If she couldn't even convince herself that she hadn't done it, there was no way she could ever convince anyone else. But she completely despised the fact that Van had been the one to save her.
"Leave her alone Hans." #318 ordered. "Pick on someone your own size."
"Like you?"
"You're welcome to try, I certainly wouldn't mind wringing your neck again." Fox rubbed his sore neck and shut up.
"I don't need your protection, #318." Alica complained, returning to her seat. "I can take care of myself."
"I was not protecting you." he denied. "I simply happen to enjoy tormenting transvestites."
"So I'm singled out for my looks am I?" Fox pouted. "At least I don't have a crush on a half-Tylon, Van is full-blood."
"I grow tired of your annoying insinuations." Singh Long growled. "In any case, as much work as I do, I have little time for any relationships."
"That's too bad, you might even have a chance at Van now that you're his little pet. Oh, what I wouldn't give to be you right now!"
"I don't think my brother swings that way." Alica reminded, disgusted by the thought.
"I certainly hope you are right." #318 agreed.
"Can we talk about something else?" Greg pleaded. "All this talk about male/male relationships disgusts me."
"How about incest?" Fox suggested. "What if Van wanted Alica? He does always seem to be keeping an eye on her..."
"Ugh, YOU ARE SICK!!!" Alica screamed, wishing she had something to throw at the girly man and shut him up.
"I'm only stating the truth darling," Hans defended. "it is completely obvious, even Vark is jealous of the attention you get." Alica shrieked and sat back down on the couch, unable to do anything about her anger.
"Makes you really wonder how low Van could get." Singh Long muttered.
"As if you are any higher." Alica muttered.
"No offense intended wu qin xiao jie." Long assured her. "I am simply questioning Van's morale, not yours."
"None of us are spotless in here deary." Fox reminded.
"What did he just call me, Fox?" Alica asked as politely as she could.
"Wu qin xiao jie is the same as 'my dear young lady'." Hans answered. "Oooo, I knew he had a crush on you!"
"It was simply a polite term of expression." #318 grumbled, unnerved by Fox's constant accusations.
"Anyway, as far as I'm concerned he is just as evil as my brother." Alica informed them, crossing her arms in determination.
"If this life were a war then I would be a simple soldier, wo de qin." Long objected. "Your brother is the general, and you know that well enough so don't deny it."
"And he just called you 'my dear' in Chinese again." Fox informed.
"If you don't shut up, Hans Tauberman, I'm going to make it so you can't talk again for a very long time." #318 threatened. Fox sighed, picked up his brush, and stared sadly at his broken reflection in the mirror. Then Vark came into the room carrying a small television set, put it on the ground next to Fox's vanity, and turned it on to a news channel.
"He is ready for you #318." she said once she was done. So he left his seat and she escorted him back into Van's office.
"I guess I was a bit hypocritial." Alica admitted to herself once they were gone.
"Why doesn't he like me?" Fox sniffled.
"Are you talking about #318 or Van?" Greg asked.
"Either... or both!" Fox cried. "Oooo, I feel so sad! I miss my Busu-kun!"
"I think either way it would be the same answer." Alica mumbled. "Few people are actually attracted to you, Hans."
#318 sat down in front of Van's desk and watched him while he checked the information in the folder. Once he was done he looked back up at the new assassin.
"As I said earlier, you are my head assassin now." he began. "I'm going to keep you here for quite a while, I have plenty of jobs for you to fill. So, make whatever arrangements are necessary..."
"Would I be correct in assuming that I ought to find a more permanent residence than my current hotel room?" Singh Long asked.
"Yes, and if you are in need of something we happen to have a few dorm rooms available in this very building." Van offered. "In fact would appreciate it if you would consider taking one of them, no need to commute to work that way."
"If it pleases you." #318 agreed.
"Vark, assign him a good room and bring the keys here once you're done." Van ordered. Vark nodded and went out the door and straight to her work. Van slipped the folder under his fingers across the desk to him. "As before I am certain you will find this to be a difficult assignment. If you require any additional help the rest of my assassins are at your disposal."
Singh Long opened the folder and surveyed the contents carefully, noting what problems he would have doing the job by himself and considering his options. By the time he was done he had made his decision. Vark came back in and set a ket next to him on the desk.
"Room 16." she announced, walking back to her little spot in the corner. #318 pocketed the key and looked back up at Van expectantly. He returned the gaze, nodding his permission to continue.
"I suppose as head assassin that my assignents preceede those of the other assassins."
"Yes, and as such you may request their assiasstance on your assignments at any time, simply inform me of the matter so I can straighten out my schedule."
"Certainly." #318 nodded. "Suppose I require a bit of assisstance with this current mission. I would be gratefull for a little information on each of them so I may choose the correct person for the job."
"You think before you act, I like your style." Van smiled. "First off is my dearest sister, she is second only to you in her skill. Doesn't seem the type does she? But she can be very deadly when she puts her mind to it."
"Yes..." Singh Long replied, toying with the idea of getting a little more information out of Van. "as a matter of fact I have heard about just how deadly she can be..." It was risky, but he was certain he could pull it off. "even when concerning her own relatives."
"Everyone has heard about the unfortunate indcident." Van replied. "Poor little Alica, it did seem she had gone into some kind of zoanthrope rage and murdered our father."
"It must have been a terrible loss for you..." he pretended to commiserate. "So, why do you keep her around then? Aren't you angry?"
"Angry... and sad... But she is still my half-sister, I could never cast her aside." Van's melancholy voice answered. "Besides, I really don't believe she did it. She keeps wondering if she could have been framed, and perhaps so."
"What makes you think so?" #318 wonderd. "You just admitted how deadly she can be."
"I really don't think she is a zoanthrope." Van honestly answered. "Wouldn't want to test her out myself of course."
"Who do you think did it then?"
"Who knows?" he shrugged. "The old man had so very many enemies... almost anyone could have done it."
"But Alica had the most to gain, since she was set to inherit Tylon."
"Yes. And if she did do it then it seems to have backfired on her, doesn't it? Anyhow I believe we have drifted off subject."
"Oh..." he acted surprised. "Yes, of course. I will need to know about the other assassins as well."
"Hans is very good, although he goes slightly psychotic at the sight of blood. The old man has not lost too much of his touch, and he is fast. However, I would not recommend Greg. He botches so many jobs..."
"A fine assessment." #318 complimented. "In which case I shall require Alica and Hans for my mission."
"I had anticipated you would. And may I say, excellent choice."
"I am honored." Long replied, nodding his respect.
The room fell into silence once the two were gone, save for the low mumble of the news reporter coming from the Television screen. At first everyone completely ignored the meaningless local reports, untill a news flash caught their attention.
"This just in!" the reported announced. "The autopsy reports have just come back from the morgue. After analyzing the bodies the morticians say that the terrible rending marks covering the victim's bodies were not actually made by any kind of knife or blade as expected earlier. They are in fact claw marks..."
"Claw marks?" Greg asked in surprise.
"That means he's a zoanthrope too, doesn't it?" Alica wondered.
"Of course deary." Fox replied. "Afterall who in here isn't?"
"...these marks were obviously too large to have been made by any wild cats indigenous to the area." the reporter continued. "This is a great puzzlement to the mortician who is with us here today." The reported handed the microphone to a small pale looking man. "Eh... well, to tell you the truth I haven't seen something like this since I treated a lion tamer for his wounds."
"So he's some kind of big cat." Alica surmised.
"Not just any cat, a tiger chicky." Fox corrected. "The god of all cats! The largest, meanest thing alive... and as I've said he has an ego to match, such a shame! He could be such a lovely Bishie."
"Good thing he's not here to hear that Fox." Greg warned.
"I still don't understand how he could kill someone so quitely that the other person in the same bed wouldn't even wake up." Alica complained.
"Perhaps he drugged them." Bakuryu suggested. "Maybe he slipped a little extra sleeping powder into their evening drinks so they wouldn't wake up for his midnight visit."
"Sounds like something he would do." Fox agreed.
"How well do you know him, Fox?" Alica questioned.
"Not terribly well." he admitted. "I have had the occasion to work with him previously, but in a few more days I'm sure all of you will know him just as well as I do."
"Or better." Alica muttered to herself.
"Did you say something little half-blood?"
"Not to you, Hans." Alica growled. Once again the room fell into silence. The report on the murders was over, but since there was nothing better to do Alica stared blankly at the flashing screen while thinking to herself. At first she had thought that #318 might have been someone she could relate to, and perhaps even befriend. After this incident she wasn't entirely sure. Then on the other hand she herself had killed, if for no better reason than to keep herself alive. At least he had a fairly honorable cause, protecting the lives of others. But why did he always have to act so cold, detatched and proud? Was it just his personality, or was it simply a way of distancing himself from who he was and what he was doing? Was it a way of ignoring the pain?
The door swung open and #318 re-entered the room. He walked up to the television set and turned it off, glancing about the room and demanding their attention. He acts so much like Van sometimes that it scares me, Alica thought. The last thing we need around here is another self-centered commander. Vark called Greg into Van's office and they all watched as he fearfully left the room. Singh Long cleared his throat to get their attention once more and then nodded graciously. Well, at least he has more class than Van, Alica consoled herself.
"I am assuming that everyone is fully aware of the implications concerning my new title." he stated.
"More aware then we'd like to be." Bakuryu hissed.
"Yes, of course." Fox agreed. "Are you going to order us around now too? I think I liked Van better, at least he never chocked me."
"I bet you never came on to him like that either." #318 reminded.
"Not in quite that manner." he admitted.
"I really don't understand what it is about me that entices such behavior."
"You're soooo cute when you're mad!" Long glared at him and he jumped back in his seat.
"Unfortunately I require your assisstance for my next mission."
"My assisstance?" Hans repeated. "The assisstance of beautiful moi? Well, of course."
"And you as well Alica."
"Just don't get cocky with me." she warned.
"So, where do we meet to discuss the plans, oh gracious one?" Fox asked.
"Meet me in dorm room #16 at 6p.m. sharp, got that?"
"Oh, I shall have to put on my evening gown!" Hans cried.
"As long as it covers more than what you're currently wearing." #318 complained, groaning in annoyance.
"I will be there." Alica stated.