[u][url=https://images.app.goo.gl/dzzHEAbCYikde8cc7]Ace Chemicals[/url][/u]
[i]Loop, Tenebrae[/i]
[@Shu]

He caught sight of a smile as Scarlet Shadow opened the briefcase, and a small weight left his chest. After all the efforts she made pursuing Chronos' tip, it was the least the King could do to reward her. She passed the test, after all, and widely displayed her tact, her combative skills, and above all, her stealth. In a world of barren dust, he could tell she was the budding tree. However, what she said next caused his metaphor to flower.

[I]“Tell your boss to contact me. As you’ve said I’ve had a rough night and all I want now is some pad Thai and shuteye. At his leisure of course as I have no current work anyway. Which he should be grateful of.”[/i]

The smile grew soft on his face as he inclined his head. "Until next time, Scarlet Shadow."

He watched her leave, then turned to the elevator, putting a phone to his ear. After a short tone, the line connected. 

[code]"I have my hands a little full. How did the meeting go?"[/code]

"As expected. Scarlet Shadow wanted to see you, and not all for the right reasons."

[code]"Oh? Not a fan of explosions, I see. When will you be back?"[/code]

"After some time. How is she?"

[code]"In hysterics. She keeps asking for 'Mr. Kaj'... and for the doctor."[/code]

His lips twisted. "Well, at least that hasn't changed." He stepped into the elevator, the two suited men following behind him. 

[code]"What is changing are her vitals. It might be best if we switch places again."[/code]

The door opened to the lower levels of ACE Chemicals, cold, dimly lit, with concrete and glass. The scientist took away down one of the halls, ignoring the technicians as they busied themselves with clipboards and biohazard scanners.

"I'm finishing up treatments for the night," he said, pushing past the steel doors to the medical bay. "Keep me informed on her condition, I will call you again soon."

[code]"Of course."[/code]

He pocketed the phone and surveyed the lab. Out of the six gurneys, two were filled, and not another soul in sight. Not that they could afford the other employees to stop their work to patch up some loose cannons. He paced around the gurneys, inspecting the bandages, bio scanners and IV tubes, ensuring it remained undisturbed since his meeting with Scarlet Shadow. And his two patients, one bandaged over most of his body, the other suffering from blood loss at the nose and erratic heart palpitations, lay unconscious.

Fresh blue gloves were pulled over his hands as he sat in a swivel chair between them. Tension filled the corners of his eyes. "It's the fourth time I've been called to look after you this week. What am I going to do with you both...?"

[hr]

[u]North Side Apartments[/u][sup]™[/sup]
[i]Near North Side, Tenebrae[/i]
[@Blizz]
[u][h3]Dream[/h3][/u]

[I]"Takeda. Who's this?"[/i]

Akihiro flushed a little, "You'll have to forgive her, uh, antics?"

[I]"Uh, who're you?"[/i]

"Just some delivery lady," Dream said, hefting the red bag. "At least, that's what I'd like to say, but then I wouldn't be here about to discuss the fate of the world with you and the doc."

After she took off her shoes, her hand extended out to Ellie. "I'm Dream. I've seen some of the work you do and I'm impressed, though I would have preferred to meet over coffee during daylight hours. From what I recall, you don't have a codename. What should I call you?"

As Dream set the delivery bag on Ellie's table, they seated themselves around. She pulled out the packages, two were Japanese bento boxes, and the third was a sealed package she offered to Ellie.

"What did the doc order for you?" She asked.

Popping open her own bento, she sampled one of the rice balls with chopsticks, then moved it to the side and opted for her cold cup of coffee.

The doctor tilted his head curiously. "You're not hungry?"

"I don't eat when I'm focused, Doctor Takeda." She said.

The doctor nodded. "A-ah, I suppose that's fair. Then we'll get back on topic. As I was saying, Ellie, the reason I've uh, chosen to discuss this with you and not with the police, is uh, w-well..."

He bided his time with a sushi roll before swallowing, pressing his face with a hand. "They'd, uh, probably incarcerate me on the spot," he blushed, "F-for a number of reasons."

He frantically waved his hands, "B-but of course, the number one reason, is that they're already busy protecting citizens, and they're family people at heart, not keen on taking the r-risks. We need people who are intelligent, reckless, and powerful enough to stand alone against a number of enemies. All of these missions are covert, and a tactical police squad just wouldn't be able to keep up with two experienced and talented metas."

He picked up another ball of sushi, eyes glancing at Ellie. "Does that answer your question?"

Dream stared over her cup of coffee, eyeing the doctor. "What about the weapon?"

The doctor nodded. "Ah, that. I'll break it down as easily as I can for you. The device itself isn't evil, it's merely an automated storage system. Stolen meta abilities are transferred into it, and on command, it can activate the abilities similar to what the previous user would do. Unlike a human, though, the device isn't limited to space and can magnify any ability it's given. If I were to give an example of the device, uh, maybe I steal and input the ability for geokinesis. I can activate the device to either till 100 acres of fields for crops or collapse all the building in a 10-mile radius.

"However, as I mentioned previously, they are missing many components to get the device to that level." He said, glancing at Dream. "Uh, c-can I borrow the folder you brought?"

Dream gestured to the 'top secret' file sitting beside the rice balls. "Please."

He opened it, fishing out a paper with renderings of a computer chip, placing it on the center of the table. "There are three components needed for the weapon to be operational. The first component is called the Heart, located in an underwater laboratory in Lake Tenebrae with some of the best-known defences in the world. That is where our first mission will take place. They'll want the Heart as soon as possible, and I have a feeling they'll make their move any day now. So we must steal the Heart before they do, and sabotage their plan."

Dream took a long sip of her coffee, placing the empty mug on the table.

"So, Doc," she leaned forward, hands stippled together. "You're asking us to break into a state-of-the-art lab 62 feet below the lake level, navigate past an unknown number of guards, traps, and security, and steal a Heart that a criminal group may or may not have already stolen?"

The doctor rubbed the back of his head shyly, cheeks red. "W-well, when you p-p-put it like that, uh, well, yes. That is what I-I-I'm asking."

Dream stared at the doctor, then at Ellie, lips pressing into a firm line. "...I'm gonna need more coffee."