After the terrible heat of Laos, Weiss was more than happy to be back on her company jet flying to, well just flying at the moment, in a 20 mile circle until she knew where to head. some might think it was a waste of fuel, but the jet did not run on fuel, instead relying on fusion cells. Sure if the cells ever got damaged the entire jet would go up in a fireball similar thermonuclear detonation, but the risk was worth being able to go places fast. In front of her on the small table was the paper and her private company line, the most secure line she had. She still hesitated. If Blake agreed to join, then she'd have to face...her...next. She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, before picking up the phone, dialing in the number.
*ring*
*ring*
*ring*
As the call went through, Weiss noticed that there was something written on the back, she could see it through the paper. She flipped it over right as, on the fifth ring, someone picked up. "Hello, BB's electronics repair and resale shop how may I help you?" The voice was bright, chipper and lighthearted, clearly not Blake. Blake always spoke evenly, serious and to the point. She looked at the paper again. "I, uhh...need a special deal on passwords?" There was a pause, before the line went dead. Great. Another prank by Yang to make me look foolish. But then her phone buzzed, scaring her and making her almost drop it. The number showed up as "Unknown". Shaking a bit she answered, this time greeted by a familiar voice. "How did you get this number?" straight to the point as always. "Is this line secure?" Weiss could practically hear her rolling her eyes. "What do you think genius, when have I ever used an unsecured line?"
"I needed to make sure. And I am sure you already know how and why I am contacting you." a small pause, and Weiss could distantly hear clicking and beeping. "You have some crazy new scheme and need me to hold your hand through it, according to Yang. And you also have something to say to me?" Weiss sighed. Blake was the best in her field. "Blake….without you...we….I wouldn't have been able to become who I am today ok? Secured line or not I need to meet you someplace safe to talk this out face to face. Can you just humor me this once?"
Agan there was clicking, though closer this time, and it went on for almost a minute before Blake spoke again. "The location was just programmed into your jet. A car will be waiting when you arrive." then another dial tone. Weiss sighed, before gasping as the jet made a very sudden and steep turn. Damn it Blake.
It wasn't until hours later that she finally landed, Weiss suspected Blake had programmed in an extra circuitous route on purpose just to waste time. However as promised a car was waiting, the driver, a young man with wavy brown hair and beard standing outside it holding up a sign with her code name, Snowfall, on it, a sure sign it was from Blake, who exclusively used their code names outside of conversation and sometimes during it too. She climbed in almost completely ignoring the polite "Good Evening" from the quiet and soft spoken man. She had learned from a young age that talking with the serving class would only lead to thinly veiled insults and personal slights. As they drove out of the airport she caught sight of the name of the Airfield. Roseway Airfield. Maybe it was a coincidence, but Wiss highly doubted it. It would be just the kind of move Blake would do, making sure their meeting place was in….her territory.
After about 15 minutes the pulled up beside a plain looking 5 story building, old looking, but well preserved. Then the driver spoke up looking right at Weiss from the front seat with startling blue eyes. "Miss B will meet you on the fifth floor, just tell the lady inside that the boss sent you" Weiss nodded, climbing out, as the car drove off going around the back of the building. Inside the foyer was simple, clean and mostly decorated with various floral designs. Weiss recognized Lavender, Nightshade, Poppy, Carnation and….she froze a bit. In the center of the room on a small coffee table, a vase of roses. Weiss shook her head going over to the reception desk, empty and abandoned, with a small bell. A door behind the desk was slightly ajar. Weiss politely rang the bell once, waiting with her hands behind her back. About 30 seconds later just as she was ringing the bell again a thin woman in a blue skirt and white blouse scurried out of the back room, wiry black hair sticking out despite her messy bun's best effort, a pair of round spectacles askew on her face.
"Oh-oh dear excuse me I'm new here and I was way in the back I almost didn't hear your ring" she said in a nervous rush. She sounded young with the accent of someone who grew up in the south but hadn't been there in a long time. She was pretty, in a cute, receptionist-y way. Her name tag, also askew, read "Ashley" with a cute smiley sticker after.
"Well Ashely, the uhh.. boss sent me" the woman, Ashley nodded fervently "Oh yes she said I should expect you, yes she said to me...lets see...ah yes...take the last elevator on the right, it will take you right to her office mhm" Weiss nodded her thanks, moving to the short hallway lined on both sides with elevators, three to a side. According to the display, the elevator was currently on the fifth floor. Great. She pressed the call button and waited. Looking back she saw the receptionist had already disappeared again. Definitely new to her job. Finally the elevator arrived with a pleasant ding. She entered, and only seeing two buttons, one labeled up the other down, she pressed the "Up" one. The elevator, annoyingly, was playing an old Bon Jovi song; Bed of Roses. Blake was really trying her best to mess with her.
Once at the top the elevator opened to a corridor, at the end of which stood a single door with an armed guard in front. And he was seriously armed, or she at least assumed it was a he. Their physique suggested male, however they wore full body armor including a riot mask and dark goggles, and carried an M4 Carbine with scope and attached flashlight. On each hip was a holstered pistol. She cautiously approached but the rifle remained in a relaxed holding position. Once she was almost right in front of the guard she stopped.
"Any weapons you have I would relinquish now" the mask muffled and distorted the voice but he did sound distinctly male so that solved that for her. "I don't have any weapons. I'm wearing a dress where would I put one." the guard said nothing, instead turning partially and opening the door. It opened outward into the hall, something she noticed and knew for a fact was to hinder any attackers. Inside sitting at a desk, surrounded by monitors and keyboards was Blake. In front of the desk was a single chair. As she sat she noticed the guard standing by the wall just barely in her peripheral vision.
"You really want to rob the Adel family?" the question came out of nowhere, as Bake hadn't stopped working. "Yes, this could be our only chance to do so, take out a huge player and get richer from it as well." Blake raised her head a fraction her gaze seeming to bore right into Weiss before she sank back down into her computer nirvana. "I want a 35% cut or no deal. That extra 10% coming from your cut, of course" Weiss had expected this. Blake had never really been ok with their four way 25% split of the profits, insisting that the cuts should be based on how much a person did for the heist. But the money had always been enough to keep her quiet. Still 7 years without being silenced had probably only strengthen that conviction. But Weiss was willing anyway, she was already a multi-billionaire. "Ok. I'll do one step further. I'll increase your cut. ALL of your cuts actually. You, Yang and...her, will all get 30% cut."
That made Blake not only looked up, she stood up, looking at Weiss carefully. "You're only going to give yourself a 10%? You?" Weiss nodded "this is less about the money for me. This is a business strike" Blake sat down, looking not at Weiss, but the guard.
"You in too?"
Weiss looked over in confusion. The "guard" took off his helmet, then his vest. Underneath was a messy white blouse, the hint of a blue skirt peeking through, as she looked at Blake then Weiss with startling blue eyes. The next words out of her mouth sent shivers down Weiss's spine. It was a voice she hadn't heard since the incident, one that reminded her of warm nights under the stars and the scent of strawberries.
"I'm in, if you are Blake" replied Ruby.