"And here we have the studio, this is where your interview will be taking place, once things are smoothed out with your parents..."
"They're fine with it." Yuuki cut the intern off, idly twirling her butterfly knife in her fingers. Behind her, two security guards were watching warily, none too pleased by the openly carried weapons of the twin sisters. "So if you don't mind, coffee boy, we're here to speak with Gizelle and Francois."
"I'm sorry, but you arrived earlier than expected, they're both still in a meeting..." The intern didn't like being called a coffee boy, but he remained professional. As much as he could, of course.
"So you were buying time." Rachael spoke up with a smirk. "A simple, 'wait here,' would've worked just fine. No need to lead us by the nose."
"Actually, my dears, all of the candidates received the same treatment. You two are no exception. It's a part of our screening process." Gizelle's voice came from behind them, so they both spared her a glance over their shoulders to see the woman approaching without Francois by her side.
"So, you got our call. Today's the interview, right?" Yuuki asked, still playing with her knife in the usual intimidating clicks and fast movements.
"That's right. Into the studio, please. James, two black coffee's for the girls. Nothing added." Gizelle spoke to the intern, who nodded and quickly left as the three women entered the studio doors to see the rest of the teen celebrities that accepted for the magazine interview.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, this is everyone that accepted our request for interviews in next month's special edition issue of the magazine. Your influence on teens worldwide is astounding, and your reasons, methods and ambitions as celebrities vary in unique ways. So, we at Teen Vogue have decided to share that the world over." Gizelle called out loud over the low buzz of chatting as the twins entered behind her, with Yuuki still playing with her knife.
"So, like, what's gonna happen? We can't all be interviewed at once." One blonde girl asked while chewing some gum.
"We've arranged for that, Miss Kallum." Gizelle smiled. "But, first, as we've agreed with everyone on an individual basis, each of you have provided us with a short trailer or montage of what makes you, dare I say, special. Now, sadly, our editing team didn't organize them in any discernible order, so if you could all take a seat, we'll share everyone's video to each other."
"Before we begin, are we permitted to record for our respective mediums?" A boy near the back of the group suddenly spoke up, holding his hand up to show where he was.
"Absolutely, but all we ask is that all are in agreement with this." Gizelle, who hadn't moved to the podium by the screen yet, stared at everyone to garner consent. Everyone gave nods or were already producing their phones or cameras to record the event. "Very well, go ahead and prepare your cameras, we shall begin momentarily."
Yuuki and Rachael turned to each other with a smirk, then reached into their biker jacket pockets to retrieve a recent purchase of theirs, a pair of flying camera drones. Within a minute, the two drones were hovering overhead, the camera on Yuuki's aimed to the screen while Rachael's was aimed at themselves for a facecam. Each was linked with their phones, so all they had to do was tap a command in the app to control the drone.
As Gizelle stated, the video's were in a completely random order, each particular group or individual had their same screentime, and last of them all was the twins. Their video - a collection of particular moments, images or quotes from their website and livestreams - was expertly arranged by Motoko and themselves, so by no stretch of the word, everyone was impressed by their montage, which ended with a peel of Yuuki and Rachael's giggling from the seats at the back.
"So, now that everyone's gotten a taste of each other's particulars, we'll begin the interviewing process, as arranged in our original phone calls to each of you. You are free to leave immediately afterwards."
"Now for the fun part." Rachael commented to her twin in Japanese as the collected their drones and shut them down.
"This is nothing, we sit there, answer their questions, look sexy. Just like school, but not boring as fuck." Yuuki chuckled as she replied in Russian.
"Good point." Rachael agreed.
"Think you got things figured out?" Valentine asked, watching Sheva's progress carefully.
"Controls are good, I think I've got it all figured out." Sheva replied. "How's the rest coming along?"
"With this... or the ship?" Valentine asked.
"Ship." Sheva replied.
"Magno-Core's still not in yet, but everything else is done. Once I authorize the core's installation, the ship will be prepared for live weaponry and a test flight with my selected crew." Valentine tapped at his data tablet a few times, running some numbers.
"Test flight? I thought everything was set for the six month timeline?" Sheva was confused by the revelation.
"The railguns put us ahead of schedule by three weeks. We're ready for the test flight within 72 hours." Valentine smirked suddenly, but continued by ending his math work and looking up at Sheva. "Things are looking good, I might need to visit the monkeys again, give them an update."
"Monkeys?" Sheva was unfamiliar with the name.
"The government. A congress is a group of baboons, like how a group of crows are called a murder. Hence they're nicknamed the monkeys." Valentine explained. "It's Dad's nickname for them."
"Suddenly everything makes much more sense..." Sheva finally understood some of Tobias' unusual comments she'd overheard a few times.
"Are you sure about this?" Tobias stared at the documents he'd been given.
"Absolutely." Seras Victoria, the busty blonde Englishwoman was completely confident in the information she'd just presented to him. "They're at least three weeks behind you, maybe a month. If all goes well for them, or they get more manpower, I can easily see them catching up to your son."
"And what has Sir Integra managed to find?" Tobias asked, sighing in thought.
"She delegated that to my Master. He hasn't returned yet, which worries me." Seras averted her gaze slightly.
"If he's as good as you've told me, then you have nothing to fear." Tobias reassured her. "Now, have you got time for a drink or are you needed back in London?"
"Sadly, yes. I must go. Perhaps another time?" Seras looked apologetic as her left arm turned a sinister red and black, reaching towards the nearby wall.
"I'll see you then." Tobias smiled and nodded as she opened a shadowy mass and stepped through, vanishing with a cheery smile and a wave of her right hand. "Now to call Wick..." Tobias commented to himself as he pulled out his phone and called the middleman between himself and John.
"Hello, Continental concierge, how may I help you?"
"I'd like to speak to the owner, if he's available." Tobias replied, reaching into his suit's inner pocket and produced a few very special golden coins.
"One moment please... Reaper."