Rebirth

Now that the war is through with me
I'm waking up, I cannot see
That there is not much left of me
Nothing is real but pain now

Metallica "One"

His hand hovered above the doorknob. It was barely shaking. It was time for another hit and reaching his other hand into his pocket he felt relief sink into him as he felt the capsule there. He walked into the building, feeling the warm air rush into him.

He ordered a cup of coffee from the bar before heading to his usual table in the reserved section. Comte Corzano was known for its good food and specialty made drinks. His coffee would be no exception; even a regular cup served black was made with only the finest grounds from the finest beans and flavors. His cup arrived shortly after he had placed his order and he nodded to the bartender who unobtrusively slipped away back to his post leaving him alone, just how he liked it.

He dry swallowed his capsule; he always did, before picking up the warm cup of coffee in his hands and taking a long swallow. It warmed him up every time after he had a hit, he needed a hit every other day so that was when he took his coffee. He did not even glance up when his boss slid into the booth across from him. This was also common occurrence just as the capsule was.

"Did you get what I asked for?" He asked setting his coffee cup down and looking his boss in the eye.

"I did," Corzano slid a thick packet across the table to him. "We need a name for you. You can't just be called kid or something equally redundant."

"Call me Odin then," Heero said after a moment's hesitation over choosing the name of the assassin who had helped raise him.

"Odin it is then," Corzano smiled. "Let me know if you need anything else. I want Franco out of prison though."

"Mission accepted," The newly named Odin intoned the words.

Corzano seemed satisfied and he slid out from the booth, straightening his jacket before leaving his restaurant. Odin watched him go, he sat watching people come in over the next hour before slipping out the back. He kept the packet tucked carefully into his jacket. He would look at it later; there was plenty of time to plan out everything he would need for his mission.

The townhouse he had use of was sparsely furnished just the way Odin liked it. He had added very little in the way of personal effects except for his computer. He knew that Corzano's men had tried to hack him and he smiled with bitter amusement at what he would undoubtedly find when he would check his safety precautions. It was becoming an annoyance and he had plans to spike their systems and leave them with mildly debilitating viruses should the intrusions on his privacy continue for much longer. Corzano knew that he liked his privacy and that his past was something not open for discussion. Perhaps after he broke the man's nephew out of prison he would be more willing to accept Odin's services without the need to intrude upon his past and who he had been.

He placed the folder on the eating table. He began flipping through its contents, reading the specs on guard detail and other security precautions that were in place at the prison. Odin was mildly disgusted with the meager security and it took him only half an hour to memorize the entire layout of the prison.

Carefully he wrote out a list of supplies he would need to manufacture his own timed explosives. He had his armored body suit and other guns at the townhouse but he added ammunition for some of them just to be sure that he had everything covered. He had never failed in a job yet and he was not going to have his record marred by lack of supplies going into a mission. That would be unacceptable and unforgivable should he make such a tyro mistake.

He picked up his cordless phone and dialed Marco's number.

"Hello," Marco's annoyed tone came through loud and clear at Odin's end.

"I need some shopping done," Odin said.

"I'll be by in twenty," Marco replied disconnecting the call before Odin could say anything else.

Odin did not mind the rudeness. Marco was reliable when he needed to get supplies for jobs and he was always on time. Odin could forgive rudeness but not lateness or someone who was unreliable.

He opened the door for Marco and let the man inside when the doorbell rang. He handed over his list and watched impassively as the large Italian man scanned it with careful eyes.

"So you're actually going to do it," Marco shook his head in disbelief. "You're not going to be able to get out. This is impossible for one person to do on their own. I don't know what you're thinking."

Odin said nothing. He had already calculated that his chances of success were high.

"You think otherwise kid?" Marco shook his head, pitying Odin because he thought the young man was too confident. "I'll have this stuff ready for you in four days."

"Where?" Odin asked tucking a hand into his pocket to feel the handle of his switch blade for reassurance.

"The boss's club," Marco said after a brief moment of consideration. "The boss is considering taking you with him when the families meet in two months. Don't screw this one up Odin."

Odin nodded. He understood this world and how things operated in it. It was so easy. Marco folded up his list and tucked it into his breast pocket. The Italian looked as though he was going to say something more but then he gave up and left. Odin did not care. He had no friends here, only allies who would let him go and take the fall on his own if he screwed up. He still had to prove himself but once he did he would be golden and nothing else would matter.

Two weeks later he was setting explosives around the main prison building. Finding Franco was simple; he was still sleeping like a baby in his cell. Franco's cellmate almost woke up before Odin had a chance to slit the man's throat. He woke Franco with a hand placed over the young man's mouth to prevent him from crying out.

"My name is Odin," Odin said softly to the young Italian. "Corzano sent me to get you out. Stay close to me."

He removed his hand and Franco quietly slithered out of the top bunk and onto the floor. Odin waited, checking the hallway while Franco put on some shoes. The only guards he had taken out so far were the gate guards and someone was sure to notice in a few more minutes. Odin drew out a silenced pistol keeping it in his hand so he was ready to aim and shoot it at a moments notice should their presence be detected.

He spared a glance in Franco's direction. The young man was ready to leave and Odin led the way. The security cameras were disabled as of three hours ago. A simple virus had taken care of that obstacle for him, the security system was truly laughable. He already knew that the warden had called in a specialist to deal with the problem in the morning, by then it would be too late or so he hoped. The other cells they passed by held more sleeping inmates to which Odin only spared the briefest of glances to make sure they really were asleep. Franco followed close behind.

Finally they were standing just outside the prison building. Odin looked at Franco's off white prison uniform. It would be too easily visible should they try to cross the grounds to the gate. He pulled a black cloak out of his pack. When he had asked Marco to buy one the man had laughed until he had explained its use. Odin wordlessly shoved it in Franco's direction.

"Put that on," He hissed. "You're prison uniform is too visible to cross the grounds."

Franco did as he was told. He was smart enough to realize that just because he was out of his cell without anyone knowing he was not home free yet.

"We're going to run for the gate," Odin calmly and quietly explained. "When we're close I'm going to press a detonator and a few bombs will go off and start some fires in different parts of the prison to distract the guards so we can make a quick getaway. Keep running and don't look behind you."

Franco nodded. Odin listened carefully to make sure there was not a nearby guard walking outside. Not even the wind rustled the grass blades. It was silent as the grave. Without warning he reached out and grabbed Franco, dragging him forward and into a run. Odin made sure Franco stayed in front of him and when he was able to see the drugged guard slumped in the gate booth he pressed the detonation switch. He could hear the low rumble that went off from the three bombs he had placed but he did not look behind himself as he continued to move forward.

Odin shoved Franco into his car and drove off in a squeal of tires. He drove all the way to the wharf before parking the car. He had Franco get out and then he wiped the car down by setting fire to the insides of it. Odin did not care as he watched it burn, it was not his car.

Odin and Franco walked through several warehouse blocks and alleyways. Finally Odin opened a door to one of the warehouses and removed the tarp from his motorcycle and pulled out the stashed helmets. He handed one to Franco and put the other on.

"You're really good," Franco said as Odin was climbing on the motorcycle.

Odin merely grunted and waited for Franco to climb on behind him. When he felt the young man's weight balance out he started the motorcycle and took off being sure to obey all the traffic laws until they reached his townhouse.

"You're staying with me for a while," Odin said putting the motorcycle away in the garage. "Your uncle is arranging to get you to Italy."

"Thanks man," Franco said as Odin showed him to the extra bedroom where a set of pajamas lay on the bed with other clothing hanging in the closet.

"There are a few rules you need to follow," Odin said before Franco could sink onto the bed for some real sleep. "You will call me Odin; there will be no questions about who I am or what I've done. You will make no phone calls, talk on the phone, write or send any notes, or leave the house. You will not stand in front of any open windows that face the street. You will be like a ghost that no one outside of this house is to ever know about."

"I understand," Franco said holding up his hands in surrender. "Man, there's no need to get all crabby about it."

Odin merely aimed a glare in the young man's direction. He did not like having his space invaded but there was no other choice for him. With a resigned look on his face he walked out of the room and into his own bedroom for a little solace.