The meeting room was about as boring as watching paint dry as far as looking at it was concerned. But the technology inside it was probably amoung the foremost of modern technology. The entire team was assembled. Hack, Slash, Xavier, Overhaul. They all waited patiently. General Lassiter too was waiting, however his patients was nowhere near as trying as any of the team-members. Duane walked in with a large folder. Deciding how he'd do it over most of the night. The fatigue and sheer lack of sleep showed with the large bags under his eyes. Handing a small few page booklet around to each person sitting at the table before he turned the holographic map screne to show a small section of the United States. Florida, to be exact.

"This is florida." Duane spoke rather sarcastically. Someone looked like they were about to make a comment he raised his finger to his mouth, before going on. "Now, the small vampire problem is in a small town here just outside Jacksonville." He looked at the map as it zoomed in more, focusing on 3 specific cities. "The big dot is Jacksonville. This little dot here, west of Jacksonville is Bryceville Florida, This is where our little vampire problem is currently trying to keep their rampant feeding under wraps. Failing misserably I might add." He pointed to a dot a bit further north of that. "This is Callahan, this is where we will initially house our operation."

He sat down. "Everyone with me so far?" The rest of the team nodded their compliances and Xavier just sat as if he fully resented everything in the room. Duane went on. "Now... I've crunched the numbers and if they've taken over the whole village or atleast established themselves, they've probably if not fed on the whole town at least taken it over. It's like a 4 street town for christs sakes."

Xavier spoke "Well.. what do you expect their numbers are."

Duane shook his head. "Even with these files you cannot be sure. The report stated, as I handed you that two clans of vampires from the Jacksonville area fled town and established themselves in this remote location. Im assuming to escape the restraints of the strict vampiric society that is usually set up in such a large area."

General Lassiter cleared his throat, a clear indication that he was next to speak. "What exactally do you plan to do, to eliminate this problem."

Duane nodded. "Well, see, this is a church town sir. We find the church, go off some angle of that like. Most likely FBI, Military related. Its likely someone will leak information. And they will be scared. We will have a house and vehicle, i cant see it being that large a drive. If it's neccecery, get a man inside and maybe start some inside corruption. But if this is a rebel defect. I doubt their intelligence will be very high."

"Do you really expect us to follow your brash underestimation of these Vampires Mr. Bannts?" Xavier spoke again with strict indignation.

The next to speak up was Overhaul. "Yeah Bannts, im not too fond of your stance with Vampires."

Duane shook his head. "Do you really think I became as feared as I am just because I knocked off a few high end officials in my day? Fuck no! Vampires are bullshit. They're like the bully in highschool. All bark, but no bite. If these vampires fled the safety and protection of their fellow kindred. Im highly questioning their intelligence. But by no way should we expect this to be a cake walk. But if we plan it correctly and perform it effeciently, we should be able to make a strong statement and have a successful mission."

General Lassiter looked. "Well... the initial plans are set all fine and well Duane. But I will need you to come up with a list of equipment that you will need supplied. And means of transportation."

Duane nodded. "Well, here, this is a list of all the things required for this to go off as i've invisioned. And I will need hopefully a house to stay in, and a vehicle. Hopefully a mini-van or SUV or something. Im not picky, just something that can hold all of us and our gear for when we make the drive."

The head hancho just groaned but kept his rather stone faced initiative. He started to walk off but Duanes voice cut him off once more. "And... I was hoping for some sort of air incertion, or is that too much to ask."

"Duane, we will get you the standard issue humpvee to gain access to Callahan, the house will be availiable. I need to get this arranged. Please just go furtherly breif your team. Or make any final preparations that you need to make."

Duane stood there, rubbing his head slightly. He didnt like this. Vampires were not naturally his favourite people to converse with. And when he intended on sending someone inside. It was fully him. Or maybe Xavier, he didnt understand why. But he really seemed resentful or something, Duane couldnt peice it together. Not that he couldn't sit down and ponder it. He just didnt give two shits about that guy enough to fathom why he would show such dislike.

He walked back into the meeting room, they were still all seated. Xavier got up and walked out of the room without a word or a glanse for that matter. Duane just raised an eyebrow but just sat down, looking at Overhaul. He looked. "He always so cheery in the morning?"

"Heh, If by cheery you mean absolutely pissy. Then sure, whatever floats your boat. He's never really said much the entire time i've been apart of this." Overhaul's deep voice echoed throughout the entire room. Hack and Slash simply glansed at eachother and they both faded from the room. Duane shrugged.

"What's your story then?"

Sighing lightly, the large chocolate colored man rubbed his bald head and shrugged a bit. "Well... lets just say, an accident that I had inadvertantly caused, killed my family, and." His pause was lengthy he couldnt really figure out how to word it. "Well, a large sum of other people. This is keeping my ass out of jail and keeping me alive. Im thankful for it. What about you."

Duane Bannts probably understood more than anyone about not really knowing how to describe prior indescretions. He sighed breifly. "Well... in my earlier days as a merc. I was cocky, I felt invincible. I took on a big paying job. They were all big paying. Its like, once you get your name out. Every low life shithead wants you on the job. And they'll pay the most unreal sums of money to take out anyone that's even implimenting of getting in their way. I'd make more money in one job than most hard working people would make in two or three years."

Overhaul nodded, seeming strangely intrigued by Duane. But utterly disgusted in the same hand. "You were a hitman?"

"Bounty Hunter, Hitman, Merc, Contract Killer, there are many names for it. Anyway, I got this one assignemnt. John Apalain. Practically the presidents number one informer. Got so much dirt on this one mob boss that he forked me over 10 million bucks, to take him and his family out. It was gonna be such a hard job to do. But I had it all set up. It took alot of work."

Overhaul blinked now. "What was your plan?"

Duane nodded. "Well see... I did a fair bit of resurch on this assignment. He had a best friend who as another FBI agent, Owen Parsons. He was going to be my fall boy. It was supposed to be perfect, he would take the fall and There would be a family of 5 dead, a innocent FBI agent in jail and I would be 8 figures richer."

"So... you had a brilliant plan, framework planned and everything. Where did it go wrong?" Overhaul commented.

Duane nodded. "Well... I got pretty into it. Even kidnapped Owen Parsons, stole his gun and killed John. I had Owen on so many drugs im surprised he got out of it remembering his first name. At the time of the hit it especially made sense. Because they had a sort of animosity towards eachother. Thanks to me. Really amusing. I made it seem like his friend was sleeping with his wife. But when it came down to killing the rest of the family. I couldnt do it... The innocent man still went to jail. But I just ran and hid out."

"So in your moment of brilliance, so to speak. You just grew a concience and quit?" It was so confusing for him to grasp. Overhaul was a security officer. He never really imagined that people could contract kill like this. He couldnt believe that people like him existed.

"Well... yeah, and then I sank into a trend of vigilantism It made me feel beter for what I did. Hell... Even got with a group of friends. Helped them save the world. Remember when Team Mutant: X went AWOL, and there was that group of nobodies who saved the world from that evil sourceror. Well... I was one of the two of them who 'died'. Shame to hear about James though... Always happens to the best guys." Duane regretted all the thigns he did in the past.

Overhaul rubbed his chin breifly. "So... when was this kill?"

Duane nodded. "Heh, 9 years ago. Amazing I hid out that long... But the past catches upto you eventually, no matter who you are."

"No kidding man." Overhaul nodded. "Guess we all have our reasons. I dont like it here. But it beats arrogant fucks trying to make me their toy in jail."

Duane laughed a bit "I'd love to see someone try to make you their toy."

The grin that developed on Overhauls face was slightly scary. Not psychotic but definately as if he'd like it too. "Yeah, I'd pity that poor fuck."

Duane saw Overhaul and definately knew that he was tough. Duane knew he was tough but he could never imagine wanting to fight a guy the size of Overhaul. "So are you a mutant, Overhaul?"

Overhaul shook his head. "Nah, Just a gunman. How bout you?"

Duane nodded. "Yeah, even though its not as obvious as some." He looked. "I can see in slow motion. But I can react as if it wasn't slow motion. If that makes any sense. Like, remember that horrible trilogy of movies back near the beginning of the millenium, and there was all that bullet time bullshit. Yeah, its kind of like that."

Overhaul nodded. "Wow, thats impressive. But i've seen you in the gym, you could probably lift a good ammount of weight."

Duane nodded. "Im the maximum of human potential, courtesy of some freak accident. I can outsprint the fastest man, Out lift the strongest man. Jump the longest, Leap the highest. That kind of thing."

"So you're kind of like some, subtle superhuman? Or something." Overhaul questioned curiously.

Shaking his head he smirked slightly. "Trust me, im not superhuman at anything. Except maybe looks." He said confidently.

Overhaul looked "Heh, I see this endeavor hasnt checked your ego, unfortunately. Your 'looks' wont be tested very much. I've yet to see one female that hasnt been a target since I joined this operation."

Duane smirked but shrugged. "That's too bad." He leaned back in his chair and looked. "What about hack and slash, do you know much about them. They're not really much for talking."

Overhaul shook his head. "Nah, they just kinda keep to themselves. Apparently their brothers. They dress all masked up and shit, its quite hard to tell. And since i've never really seen them outside of missions. I couldn't tell you."

"Well, as the leader of this operation, maybe its required i aquaint myself with my teammates?" Duane mentioned rather humorously.

Sitting upright, Overhaul just shook his head. "I apreciate your motivation. But im sure Xaviers about as easy to get to know as a foreign person. And Hack and Slash arent quite the talkative type. But you know, do whatever you have to."

Duane just sat there for a few moments, grabbing a file folder he read it over. "Looking forward to the mission?"

Overhaul sighed. "Just the thought of vampires makes my skin grow goosebumps. I mean, they're pretty dangerous little bastards. The teeth and the whole, being alive but dead, like zombies but in a totally different mannor, its just really weird."

Smirking, he supressed a laugh as he nodded. "They're not exactally normal, thats for sure." Duane agreed with Overhaul. "But they're nothing to be scared of. I mean, Im a mutant so I guess going toe to toe with a Vampire isn't that strange. But either way, they're just pathetic beings with bloodlust. Trust me, I've seen you with that gun. Shoot them enough times in the head, they wont get back up."

The mammoth black man nodded. "I'll take your word for it." he continued. "Hey, Duane... This mission, I mean, I know it doesnt really matter. Because if we die we'll just be replaced. But, you're not leading us into something we cant beat."

Shaking his head slightly, Duane feared this was coming. "Listen, I mean. I know solo missions of cold blooded slaying, and group missions of... well cold blooded killing are a little different. But trust me man, I wouldnt lead us into some kind of death trap. I value my life a little bit too much for that. I dont know about you." He leaned in close. "But I plan on getting out of this place."

"That is dangerous thinking man." Overhaul replied breifly. "Noone's ever tried to escape and live to tell about it. Its suicide!"

Duane stood up with a confident smirk and walked towards the door. "Best get some sleep Overhaul. Tomorrow is going to be the start of one of many long days."