"This is insane." Argent said. "We haven't even moved in and already we've got some evil secret society attacking us."
"How did they even know about us? We haven't even started yet!" Kole exclaimed. Jericho signed It was on the news, but nobody saw him.
"So what do we do?" Kole asked the others. Argent shrugged, Jericho began pacing thoughtfully, Bushido leaned against the wall, and Gnarck was unhelpful. "Do we give in to the Cabal's demands, or what?"
"We'll first analyze the demands and the situation." Bushido calmly stated. "We'll see if we can figure out the plan, and then we'll find a way to thwart it. They probably have a way of monitoring the bombs, so diffusing them is out of the question." He took the letter from Kole.
"The first demand seems irrelevant, so we'll ignore it for now. But, because it is so… peculiar, it may in fact be the most important. The second demand is probably the most dangerous if the numbers turn out to be, say, launch codes or something. The third and fourth demands seem obviously related, so we'll definitely look into those two. And the last one could be the worst of all if this Rainforest turns out to be powerful. But how do they expect us to find him with just a number for… something."
"What does ISP stand for?" Kole muttered.
"Internet Service Provider." Argent explained. She smirked. "You guys aren't that big on electronics, are you? I'll bet Rainforest is a computer hacker." Bushido, Kole, and Gnarck looked blankly at her. "He steals stuff from computers. Using the Internet. Ya know…"
"So we ought to go out and find these things." Kole said. "Unless…. what if the Cabal is just trying to make us leave? Is there something here that they want but can't get because we're here?"
"That's very likely." Bushido said. "But it's also too risky to not prepare the demands. I think you, Kole, and Gnarck should stay here on the lookout for suspicious activity. You two are the best adapted for the cold anyway. So Argent, Jericho and I will try and get most of the demands."
Jericho walked in front of them. I can probably get the numbers from Fiers. Luceme is in Switzerland, I think. I'll just possess him. While I'm there I might be able to get Rainforest.
"No, Argent ought to go get Rainforest." Kole said. "She knows about computers, so she'll be the best. Bushido can you go down to Ottawa?"
Bushido answered gruffly over Argent's protest ("I don't knowthat much about computers…"), speaking through slightly gritted teeth. "Yes, provided the FAA does not take my sword. Again."
Perhaps I'll get the cow.
"Then it's a plan!" Kole said. "Titans North's first mission!"
"Gnarck!"
"Do you think they'll figure us out?" Ferris asked Jacques in the diner as they waited for their order.
Jacques sipped his coffee. "Possibly. These are the most obvious of the demands, after all. But that's why they're up front like this. If they don't figure them out here and Rainforest works out, then success is a given. We have the fewest opportunities to fail this way."
"If they do figure it out?" Ferris asked.
"Well, that's why the Cabal isn't doing it in person. They'll just get the thugs we've hired, and they know us as Michael Ross and Tim Schuelbach." Jacques motioned with his head to the bag in the car that contained the disguises. "And even that's just if Rainforest doesn't work."
The waitress served their order, refilled their coffee and tea, and moved off. Ferris shook his head. "This is the absolute worst toast I've ever had."
"So stop ordering it then."
Titans North quietly moved into the tower ahead of schedule but didn't even bother unpacking. Argent went to purchase the tickets while everyone else simply waited.
"Hey, Jericho…" Kole began, walking up to him. "How did you know where Luceme was off the top of your head?"
Jericho sighed silently. My father made sure my brother and I knew everything about Switzerland. It's a useful place, he said.
"What was so bad about your father?"
My father was… is not a very nice person. We have little in common.
And they left it at that.