1
It was official. Escorts were now partnering up The Temp's Commission's top assassins. Escorts were a select few of women and sometimes men who are basically a team's receptionist in charge of securing a place for all to stay, weapons and fulfilling all other needs for when these time traveling killers were in a certain period of time. It supposedly to help ensure the agents had all the best resources at their disposal so they wouldn't fail their missions. Escorts, like briefcases are to be protected at all costs. It's sort of a way to test the agents to ensure they are capable of keeping up with a human in case they are hired on the rare protective detailing. An assassin… playing baby sitter that would be the day.
Now the special part about us is that the Board of Directors only assigned us to top agents, because we were the briefcases. Technology, the best thing is you can expand it to its greatest capabilities. Each Escort has a tattoo with ink that can emit the same teleporting advantages of a briefcase. It used to be a work in progress, but once it was perfected, the Handler quickly made sure we were all marked. Don't ask me how our top scientists got that to work. It's also a way for our agents to find us if we happen to be separated. There are very few of us, but then again there are very few elite assassins which is why we are only paired with them.
I remember my bare chest was pressed into the chair while the needle buzzed against my skin.
"We'll let you pick the design and color." The Handler said. I wanted a butterfly on the right side of my upper back. Blue. My skin isn't too dark, so the color was very noticeable.
"Are you sure you want to do this? The daughter of a board member will get no special treatment with this classification. An Escort will do as she or he is told." The Handler once said.
"I've already completed all my training. No point going back now." I replied. The woman smiled maliciously, yet pride was in her eyes too.
"I'll admit, I was a little stunned you applied for a spot. I thought you would fail being the spoiled child of a director. But you have proven me wrong." she replied handing me a small white letter. "Your agents."
I hid the fact that I was not happy with the agents I was paired with. I had six months with them, meaning whatever time period they went to, I went to. I knew the Handler was testing me, a black woman, paired with three Swedish brothers. They could pass through any point in time, I could not. Why not stick a white Escort with them? Better yet, the agents had the small authority to approve an Escort after seeing their file and picture. Why did these three brothers agree to me?
The year is 2020 and I was sitting on my seafoam green couch waiting honestly. The Swedes, as they are called by everyone, sent a communication that they would be meeting me at the home I had when in this timeline. I didn't like that, because they had basically stepped into my world.
As an Escort, we stayed in one location of our choosing for whenever we needed to regroup or to rest. I chose New York. My home was a townhouse, three bedrooms, three bathrooms. I actually had fun furnishing the place… and now three men were going to be going in and out of it. Since they were coming here, I felt no reason to get too dressed up. I had on a white off the shoulder sweater and black leggings.
I had recently cut my hair short and I was enjoying watching my corkscrew curls grow. I was sipping some Moscato waiting silently. There was a sudden bang on the door. I inhaled quietly knowing who was there. I got up and sat my glass down on a coater on my coffee table and moved over to the front door. I opened it slowly now and immediately platinum white caught my attention as three pairs of riveting blue eyes stared at me blankly. I looked at each and everyone already knowing who was who by the file I was given on them.
Axel, the oldest on the far right. The leader of course. Middle child Otto on the left standing taller than his brother. A scar beneath his right eye made me wonder who got close enough to leave it. Last is Oscar, the youngest and shortest of the three. He has somewhat of a baby face, but I knew he was not to be underestimated. All wearing long jackets and dark clothes that makes you think "did they just immigrate from another country?" In almost perfect unison, the three looked me down and up and I did the same. Without saying a word, I opened the door wider and stepped aside to let them in. They walked in immediately eyeing the place.
I just stood there crossing my arms and watching, waiting for them to finish their look around my entire home, my rooms and everything else. Oscar moved into my kitchen opening my cabinets and my fridge after setting a large bag next to my bar. Otto moved into my living room admiring my 40-inch tv. I looked around for Axel to see him coming out of my bedroom. I visibly frowned and he caught his looking me over.
"What?" he asked in Old Swedish. I just shook my head and looked at all of them.
"It is nice to meet you all. I am Anastasia Monroe, people around here know me as Anja. Since this will be your place of residence as well, I am going to be blunt and honest with you all," I replied. They looked at each other almost impressed before looking at me. I motioned my head toward the front door. "Out there you command me, but in this home, my home, you don't command a thing."
They didn't look angry at my words, more so annoyed I was probably talking so much. Otto and Oscar looked at Axel who just watched me, hand collectively behind his back.
"Clean up after yourself and bring no violence into this place. I lived alone before being assigned to you, so that means I did many things naked around here. I encourage you all to dress how you'd like. Knock before entering a room, and I will do the same for you. You already know where my bedroom is. The other two are yours. If my fridge does not have what you'd like, feel free to fill it with what you'd like." I replied looking up at Axel who just stared as blankly as the other two.
A quick swishing noise from my coat closet behind the front door caught all our attention. Axel just walked over and opened my door and pulled the tube casing out before closing the door… like he owned the place. His brothers moved to stand on either side of him and watched as he removed the note and handed the tube to Oscar to put back in the closet. Once they looked the note over, Axel handed me the paper for me to look over as well. It was a picture of a couple of men in black coats and hats and looked very serious.
"I know these men." I said lowly handing the paper back to Axel. All three brothers looked at me quizzically. "What used to be a small Italian street gang has rose through the ranks and turned into a major crime syndicate. Seems they may kill the wrong person and alter time I'm sure of it. I can get you a location to their warehouse where their leaders meet to do their business."
Axel looked the paper over some more before looking at me and nodding. I nodded back.
"Good." I merely replied before turning and walking down the hall leaving the three to their own desires. I took a big exhale hoping this first meeting was considered successful.