Síofra's attention was divided between listening to Mr. Wu's words and observing intently Jack. She knew Andi and Serge well enough to trust their behavior during a meeting. Jack, however was a whole different story. The ex soldier knew her type well enough and even though the assassin was behaving herself so far no one knew when she might explode into a flurry of undesired actions. The tech might have been able to interfere with Jack going for her knife had it not been for Mr. Wu's explanation about the specifics of the job. The way he was explaining about the asset and how it should not be harmed under any circumstances struck a cord with Síofra.

	Lilly's face flashed inside her mind's eye. TVP used to call the children they were collecting [i]assets[/i]. The girls especially were to be collected with the utmost care for their health, while the boys could stand to sustain a ding here and there. The moment the thought of Lilly crossed the ex soldier's mind Jack made her move and Síofra was a few moments late to grab her wrist surreptitiously and stop her. With the opportunity missed the tech clenched her hands in fists and growled low in her throat allowing the situation to play itself out, but she stomped her army boot on Jack's toes to make her point. [i]Behave, damn it![/i] She didn't trust herself to say anything out loud, because next to Jack she would be considered the second hottest hothead in the group. And she was right to delay as Andi intervened fluidly making Síofra a teeny tiny bit jealous she wasn't the one being scolded.

	And thank heavens for Andi's quick reaction, because as soon as Jack made her move so did all of Wu's goons hidden among the patrons of the establishment. But with the situation resolved, things quickly calmed down and talks proceeded. Only this time, thanks to Jack's interference, with Mr. Wu having the upper hand completely. And Síofra wasn't too keen on taking on a job like that with such vague info to go on. Also, she wasn't too sure she could guarantee she'd allow this [i]asset[/i] to reach Wu's hands upon completion of the job. But it was no use crying over spilled milk so she would commit to the deal and adjust accordingly in stride.

	After Serge assured Mr. Wu they would take care of the job she nodded somberly and removed her boot from Jack's toes.

>Síofra also stakes [colour=palegoldenrod]2 cred[/colour] on this mission.

[hr]
	After Serge and Mr. Wu had hammered down all the arrangements for the job, their new employer left the dingy food joint, his cohorts slithering behind him like ominous shadow creatures. With all libations and food consumed and the table cleared by the young nervous waiter, the hodge-podge of free agents sat there in quiet reflection.

	Síofra was debating an issue with herself. The team would need a base of operations of sorts. Her place was quite secure. It needed to be because of Lilly. And had she been on her own she wouldn't hesitate to offer it to the team. But with Lilly to think of... She just wasn't sure if she could afford to let her new team mates into her home. On her own she could easily find new digs if their safety became compromised, but with her high-profile sister in tow it was a different story. The ex-soldier scanned the others at the table one by one. [i]Doc's not gonna be happy about this.[/i] Síofra sighed, deciding to go with her gut.

	"My place is secure enough to serve as our HQ for this job." The tech spoke in her usual quiet unassuming tone. "But I, uh..." The constant assuredness with which she spoke waivered for a moment. "I live with someone and your presence in my house [b]cannot under any circumstances threaten their existence[/b]!" The threat in her words was crystal clear to anyone listening. "If I let you inside my home and any harm comes to her due to something you did..." Síofra removed her tech goggles, paused for effect, squaring all three with her deep blue eyes. "You will be erased from existence, no questions asked!"

	The ex-soldier got up, uninterested in the reactions of her new team mates to her words. "Let's go." She urged, putting her goggles back on. She took the usual precautions leading the group to her house. Only this time she executed everything twice to be extra sure no one, or thing, had followed them. Once that was done the team found themselves in an old subway tunnel system that appeared derelict. They stopped a few times while inside the tunnel while Síofra fiddled with some old access panels, until they finally reached a door most people would overlook. As soon as the tech approached it a beam was emitted by a device above it. The soft blue glow scanned the slight, fit figure of the ex-soldier and a panel appeared from inside the wall to the left of the door. Síofra entered a long sequence of letters, numbers and symbols and the door hissed open.

	"Lilly wait!" A concerned female voice warned at the same time as a teen girl yelled excitedly: "You're back! Finally!" Síofra, used to the excited welcome home from the girl, received the flying hug with ease, but also with some amount of awkwardness considering the presence of her guests in toe.

	"Um, Lil, hi... we... um... have guests." The amount of stammering was mortifying and the ex-soldier pried Lilly's body away from hers and looked to the owner of the concerned female voice for some help. "Hi, Doc." She muttered sheepishly. The tech could tell Lilly's shrink and babysitter was not pleased one iota by this development. But since what was done was done she placed a hand on Lilly's shoulder.

	"Lilly, let your sister and her [i]friends[/i] inside." The thirty something Latina looking woman urged, shooting daggers at Síofra.

	As the group shuffled in and the security measures put up once again Doc sidled close to the tech and whispered in her ear: "Once they're settled, we'll talk!" The command in her voice unequivocal. All the while Lilly was busy ushering the guests inside, playing the hostess. [i]Well, at least I'm doing something right.[/i] Síofra thought watching the teen girl act all polite and well-mannered.