"And that was the last customer for the day. Good job everyone! Props, Kalifa! You didn't kick out a single customer today", Borya said.
"Well I suppose it's as you said, it's bad for business" she replied.
Another employee leaned over and whispered to Borya "That only because she's been thinking about something. She seemed sort of distracted today."
"I heard that", Kalifa said, which caused the employee to flinch in surprise.
"We'll she's not wrong. You've had something on your mind haven't you", Borya asked.
Of course, she was still thinking about the possible "impending danger" lingering over her and her colleague's heads. What makes it worst is that she had no idea of who it could be, and they were rumored to be strong. PROBABLY strong enough to take her out before she could even react in time. Then again it was not likely they would strike in such an open place. "Well, I've had some thoughts going on up there yes, but nothing too important."
"Ah, well I won't pry. Anyway, lets close up shop for the night. I simply have to stop by the store before that midnight rush."
"Actually, now that you mention it, I think I'll need a few things, so if it's alright, I'll come with", an employee said. His nametag read "Heaton".
"I'll join as well too", Kalifa added. She remembered that she would maybe be better of getting a few things for her room, outside of her dinner she gets from work. Plus, the nice cool air tonight would be perfect for strolling.
"By all means. Its pretty shifty out, but Heaton would be safer with us."
"Hey, why aren't you worried about Kalifa", Heaton asked. It would seem he was taking offense.
"The same lady who's capable of sending people 4 times her size flying", Borya replied.
"Point taken, I guess. Lets get on with it then", Heaton said as he shook his head in disappointment. This made Borya and Kailfa chuckle.
"What is it with women and their sweets!? More importantly how do they keep their figures", Heaton asked. Kalifa stood in the line of customers holding an extensive amount of sweets from cookies to cakes.
"Your guess is as good as mine. Where do they put it all", Borya asked?
"That question is Harassment", Kalifa replied.
"You know, she may not be too of course this time", Borya said.
They were only two people away from the front of the line. With them having all they needed to return to their respective housing", the line felt much longer than they wanted to believe. The poor cashier was probably the one more fidgety, considering it was the "last minute shopping" rush. That annoying moment where people try to come in and get large amounts of groceries right before closing time. Sadly, they contributed to this tonight. "I didn't expect the line to be this long. That's the horrible thing about being a last-minute shopper."
"Try getting a last-minute job request. It's even worst", a voice from behind said. The three shoppers turned around to see a somewhat shorter man said. His hair was short, and he was wearing a blue jumpsuit with yellow lines stretching across. He looked pretty muscular, and he looked to be in his 30's. A Long curly mustache stretched across his face.
"Oh, that would be worst! Messes us your whole day right", Borya said?
"I happened to me while I was on vacation even...needless to say I wasn't a happy camper. Speaking of camper, they have many wonderful campsites around here. When I got here, I was half expecting there to be none."
"Oh you like camping? My father took me camping a few times before, when I was a kid. It was the only natural part of my childhood", Kalifa said.
"Aha! I knew she was hiding something. I bet she's some kind of government agent sent here to spy on us", Heaton said, jokingly. Well, he was half right in a sense...though she's not spying on anyone.
"Quite the imagination on that one huh", Kalifa said.
"Well you never know. I heard that spies do exist. For all you know you could pass one even on the way to work or something.
"Your talking about that Enies lobby thing right? The thing in the newspaper. I heard there were some government agents or something, but they never said who they were. Something about pirates invading or something. I don't really know", Borya replied.
More talk Kalifa didn't want to hear. Somehow It had become a painful memory for her. Especially reliving that battle with Nami. Kalifa was the weakest of the members if you didn't count Spandam, but even so should have easily been able to defeat someone like Nami. Of course, she underestimated just how dangerous a straw hat can become in a hopeless situation. Even so, that STILL didn't hurt as much as literally being chased out of your own home... the she began to wonder what remained of Enies lobby. Though the tower was destroyed mostly thanks to Kaku, she along with the pirates had a hand in it. "I feel bad for whoever was there at the time. I heard the place got bombarded."
"What a shame. Oh it's your turn", the man said as he pointed to the now empty register. He appeared to be waiting for them to speed along the isle.
"My apologies", Kalifa said to the cashier. She hurried her bundle of sweets over and paid for them without further delay. After everyone bought all their requested items, they split for the night and returned to their housings. Just another average day for her at this point...or so she thought.
Kalifa was not at all upset with waiting customers at the counter. It was pretty chill, and she didn't much have to do anything on the grill... which to her was the best thing. She didn't know how to cook. In fact, most cipher pole agents didn't know how to cook, unless it was part of their undercover job. It was actually quite amazing that they dedicated most of their free time to learning a specific career skill just to keep the charade going. Kalifa could overhear two employees in the kitchen going back and forth over something trivial...but then she heard what sounded like someone being sprayed with ketchup, followed by a yell of surprise. "Hmhm, a lively bunch that's for sure", she thought to herself. It made her miss her own comrades. In fact sometimes she could still hear Jabra and Kaku arguing, Fukurou blabbing about something irrelevant...Lucci just being...well, Lucci. She snapped to once she had realized she had a guest. "Oh! Welcome to...", she stopped after realizing who it was.
"So we meet again! This island is smaller than I realized", the man said. It was the same man from the store last night. The one with the blue jumpsuit and long curly mustache!
"Oh. What a surprise! Have you been here before", she asked?
"Nope. Just thought I'd pass through here. This café is talked about a lot on the island."
"Oh, I see. So what can I get you?"
"Just an omelet and a coffee please", he replied. His face kept a constant plain feel to it. It was hard to tell if he was bored, or if he was just suddenly a serious person. When they met him last night, he looked to be a bit heartier.
"Very well then. Heaton! One bird nest, and cup of Earth Water", Kalifa called out to which Heaton replied with a smile and thumb up.
"Hm? Café lingo? I'm impressed."
"You pick up on these sorts of things with time."
"Well you picked up on it pretty quick. Much faster than you did with your secretary job."
"Well that...", Kalifa froze up. It's as if all time had stopped at that moment. "H-how did you know I was a secretary?"
"We know a lot of things, Kalifa. We know about Jabra...we know about Blueno, Kumadori, and Fukurou, and even Lucci and Kaku. We know your all here on this island...hiding from the inevitable", he said as he sipped at the coffee that Heaton brought him.
"What do you want", she asked. Her face was twisted into a grimace.
"Its not so much what we want. It's what we're assigned to do. Thank you", he said as Heaton then brought the omelet out to him.
"Your one of them, aren't you? The silencers? I didn't actually think you'd come after us."
"I don't know what you're talking about", he replied. The second he did, he stared Kalifa right in the eyes. Sure enough, he had that look. The "assassin eyes", they were trained to recognize.
Kalifa backed up into Borya whom had his back turned at the time. "Oops! Kalifa, you ok?"
She turned to Borya, and then turned back towards the counter...but the man was gone. The only thing that remained in the area was an empty coffee mug, a few pieces of the omelet...and even money to cover the breakfast. "Well, he's considerate I'll give him that. It must have been true then! What Serenity told Fukurou was true! He even showed himself to me. Why would he do that", she thought to herself. Its possible he was playing mind games. Noone said they weren't sadistic...so it wasn't out of the question.
"Yo Kailifa! Earth to Ka-Li-Fa!" Are you ok", Heaton reinforced?
"Um...yes! Yes everything is fine. I just stumbled is all. "She went over to the plate of mostly eaten food, and safely concluded that she was not imagining things. "This isn't good in the slightest! We've been compromised...but then she began to wonder if these "silencers" were as strong as she was told. The chances of Serenity lying or exaggerating were slim to nothing, considering she's been around a lot longer...and has actually SEEN them strike someone down before. Too many rumors, and nothing to go on, but the go to phrase for the ex-agents right now, was "better safe than sorry." She would have to report this to the others...and leave her home again. The more she thought about it, the more upset she became. Not like she had much choice though. If he revealed himself to her, then it was possible that they were going to strike soon, so they had to do something and quick. She remembered that if she found out ANYTHING about these silencers, she would meet with them and tell them what happened...but first, she had to burn the bridge...lest she wanted to get even more people involved. "Borya, may I speak with you please", she asked.
"What is it Kalifa?"
"I'm afraid a crisis has come up, and I must resign immediately", Kalifa said quickly, much to Borya's surprise.
"Just outside the café...the long Mustached man leaned against the wall. He spoke into the snail transponder. "Chief. This is Montague. Target Kalifa has been found.