The quad-engine VTOL transport hummed with vibrant, powerful energy. It was at full tilt, flying at maximum speed with stealth systems enabled, hovering over the trees of the rebuilt surface, hunting like a hawk for its prey. Of course, its prey wasn't a mouse- rather, it was the remnants of another kill team that had just tried to kill. They had been running undercover for some time, now, trying to get close to Zmeis, and succeeded. And, of course, Zmeis had been blocking their communications, so that even if they did send a message- nobody would hear it. Except, like almost every encounter a kill team has had with an Immortal, Zmeis was ready for them, and took down half their squad the moment they started to make their move. 

But one had escaped from the fight. She had ran, in a panic, abandoning her squad once she saw that she was the only one left in it. She was support, of course- all the point men were done in the first minute. Zmeis knew that she had weaponry, just not what type. She could shoot him out of the sky, or deactivate the entire vehicle, or even cook him inside if she had one of the microwave emitters.

He was sitting in the cockpit, now, dressed lightly in a synth suit. It complimented by a full tactical set and extra powerpacks. A reinforced module, containing a really, really expensive [and rare, for lack of specific resources] data core and processing unit, was home to a class-4 AI named [i]Monsoon.[/i] It was Monsoon who was now speaking.

[color=burlywood]"Zmeis, Sigil is requesting that all unoccupied Immortals meet her at Olympus. I have routed the coordinates and location to your HUD."[/color]

[color=salmon]"Monsoon, must you really interrupt me-"[/color][color=burlywood] "Yes."[/color][color=salmon] "-and interject my mission with this? Come now, I'm occupied-"[/color] [color=burlywood]"Correction, Zmeis. You are playing with your prey."[/color]

Zmeis paused, and gave that [i]really?[/i] stare at the holographic display, where Monsoon's avatar was standing- which was currently a swirling whirlwind of water, wind, and debris. Then he replied, [color=salmon]"Fine, Monny, you win."[/color]

He turned back to the airship's controls, flipping on infrared and scanning the area below. Finding nothing, he flipped on the EM scanner, and immediately picked up a faint signature. Taking a brief moment to concentrate, he visualized the area, and dropped through the floor of the airship-

And landed three hundred meters away, ten meters in front of a running Kill Team member. She skidded to a halt, her pretty face paling even more. In doing so, she tripped over a root, and fell to the ground, flailing as she tried to push herself away. Zmeis started walking towards her, slowly. It would appear that he was trying to be dramatic, but he was actually summoning all his energy to form a kinetic redirection barrier in front of him. As the Kill Team member hit a tree, and found herself faced with one of the most dangerous men in the world, she whipped out a pistol and started firing.

The first round cut through the branch above her. The second round [i]zhiiing[/i]'ed! into the foliage. The third cut through a bush. The fourth smacked into her tactical suit and bounced off. The fifth actually burst apart against the shield, small fragments of the tungsten-core titanium slug scattering across the ground.

She dropped her gun, and Zmeis knelt in front of her, gazing sympathetically at the KT member. [color=salmon]"Blessed be those who fight against us, for their purposes are pure, even as ours is pure, for mere mortals could not imagine the danger that they are in, and that for every one that falls to keep humanity grounded, is a million saved. Thank you, Ashley-"[/color] The woman flinched at the use of her name, [color=salmon]"For being one of those who fights against the great injustice we bring. Sempra-Tor welcomes you to his realm."[/color]

And then he drew a knife from his belt, and slowly cupped her cheek in his hand. Her breathing was panicked; she was facing a monster that she could not beat, and they both knew it. She had done wrong; she was destroyed by those that the government hoped she would be destroyed by. 

And then she burst out, [color=cyan]"Wait! I can help you! Please don't kill me! Look, I just screwed up, they want me dead, please! Lo-look, I have access to information, I can get you in places, just please!"[/color]

Zmeis halted his almost religious execution, and stared openly at her. There was already so little that the Illuminati didn't know, but having an active contact within the Kill Team groups would be useful. Even if they know a great deal, she could be useful in the future. And after a moment, he nodded. [color=salmon]"I may be a monster, but I am not unreasonable. I would, however, ask a price of you."[/color] And just as suddenly as he had dropped into the forest in front of her, he grabbed her outstretched head, which had been attempting to keep him away, and pulled her to her feet. As she regained her feet, he brought up his knife and slashed her hand. From between her thumb and index finger to the opposite-most base of her left hand, he cut through the tactical suit with the ease that comes from a special knife, and a magically-enhanced blade. And then he did likewise, as she cried out in pain; before she could cradle it, he took her hand in his, shaking it.

[color=salmon]"A blood pact with one of the demons hisself. I hope you are a good liar, Killer. You're going to need to make up a story. If you need assistance in the most dire of situations, call out for Monsoon's wrath. I will hear. Call me without an emergency, and I will send you to Sempra-Tor earlier than you'd like."[/color] He smiled at the terror on the woman's face, and continued, [color=salmon]"Aye, you're safe from me, now. Just don't waste my time with nothing. I'll be in touch."[/color]

He sprayed medigel from a titanium canister, after taking off her tac-glove, onto her hand, and then wrapped it with gauze. [color=salmon]"We got a blood pact. Barbaric, no doubt, but you'd best keep to it. A pleasure meeting you, miss. If you meet another Immortal, and your team is already failing, let them know you work for Sharkovosky."[/color]

He smiled, shook her limp, bandaged hand with his still-bleeding one, and then dropped out, into a portal and back into his airship.

[color=burlywood]"You have a thing for her, Zmeis. I see it now- [i]Illuminati Communist Dragon, brought down by Romance![/i]"[/color] Zmeis just snorted, and replied, [color=salmon]"I was just about to stick a knife in her, Monsoon. Do you honestly think I would've spared her if I thought her idea other than satisfactory for me? Yes, I did not have to, but she could be useful in the future."[/color] [color=burlywood]"And someone's usefulness is the height of your consideration of them? Oh deary me. I might not last long, then, if you tire of me."[/color] [color=salmon]"You know, for an advanced AI, you're not that unique, you know."[/color] [color=burlywood]"If I had a heart, it'd be broken right now."[/color]

Zmeis snorted again, ordered Monsoon to deposit the VTOL airship to a safe location near Olympus, so he could use it later, and dropped through the floor again.

[center]~-+-~[/center]

Olympus wasn't an uncommon place to find Immortals, actually. For whatever reason, it was often the site of multiple Illuminati gatherings and groups, whenever a meeting place outside of a secure base was required. That being said, most Immortals didn't entirely trust the place because it was known, in some lower criminal circles, that they did so. And so many of them, most of those doing so being captured and held in permanent stasis, had small nooks overlooking the bar's entrance. His was particularly high, too high for a sniper to realistically like, but was safe enough and gave an excellent view. Nothing more than a bunch of blankets pushed into a corner like a nest, and a couple small crates of supplies gave away its use as a lookout or hideout.

After checking to make sure that there were no enforcers around, Zmeis took the long way to the ground, exiting his little nook between two buildings, climbing up to the roof, and then using the stairs to reach the bottom and walk across the relatively dark, empty street to Olympus. He walked in, took note of the other residents, some immortal, some not, and walked straight to the bar on the opposite wall, giving one of those special gestures one learns from sticking around for a while.

A minute later saw his closed mouth and tight jaw loosened a bit more, and he swiveled on his little seat, and surveyed the room in more detail.

Then another Immortal just walked in, and said placidly, "[color=green]Hello.[/color]"

Zmeis replied, "[color=salmon]Hiya. C'mon and sit down, I'll getcha a drink.[/color]" To his word, he signalled the silent barkeep again, who immediately brought another glass of Zmeis's relatively clear alocholic beverage.