[h1][color=lightblue]Skye Rosalind Lyons[/color][/h1]
[h2]Last Tango at 1600 Hours (Prior to Haneda)[/h2]

Skye nodded, looking back across to Ebrima, the white-skinned Cameroonian making sense, yet beneath it, knowing he spoke from a place of wisdom. Weirdly, speaking to someone with white skin from a black background felt a little not unlike her conundrum, except, well, Ebrima’s circumstances cast him out significantly worse. Not something she cared for, in a positive way. Ability trumped any view, and he was effective, proving so today.

"Feels significantly less Scots. Though I'll make it so in time. Not my first rodeo, lad." Skye replied to Boaro, chuckling on his response, knowing it was a serious thing, yet at this point, he was right. This was pretty unprecedented.  

“Aye, that is a point. My double will think that way, so it means I need to tap into something else, throw some issues their way. I suppose you're right too, means I have the way into her as well. Alright. I think I might write that handbook then, I might have a method. Just whatever comes, I hope you trust me. You seem a good operative to work with.” Skye nodded back to Ebrima, letting him chat to Tahlia, as the two engaged over the water bottle.

Tahlia replied to Boaro as Chuck made his way over, the spoon wave absolutely fair.
“It’s Maori, and one of the tribes of New Zealand. Sorry, I sometimes get a little too ahead of myself. It’s something that explains all the weird names you’ve seen, homely and all. It’s a lot, but don’t worry, I’m happy to explain. How about you? I won't ask the obvious. It's...well, something I can't say I know but something I can relate to.” Tahlia mused, knowing she was probably a bit cranky from being awake so long, nodding as she saw him reflect on it, and the other bits. What would she do about it? Well…..

“I guess there’s opportunities in Finland. I’ll miss Aotearoa, but whatever we go towards, I’ll adapt to that. See if I can get my legs sorted. Maybe even join you lot in the field. No fun out there but when the stakes are the way they are, I suppose we have little choice. I just hope they have good woodworking facilities. Or at least, somewhere to keep the rest of the minatures. You'd be happy to know there's still a lot of your stuff sitting in a shipping container in Wellington we need to relocate. So, that may not be the end of the world. I'll concern myself with that, perhaps.” Tahlia replied, pulling the prosthetics off as she sat, heaping them next to her and relieving the strain a little, Chuck towering over and then taking the chat onwards.

------------------------

[h2]Shibuya, Tokyo[/h2]
[h2]Making an Entrance, 1800 Hours[/h2]

Skye sat under the grey canopy above the darkening sky of Shibuya, the night advertising and neon pounding, the massive crowd at the Shibuya Scramble Crossing being obedient in line with traffic regulations, and yet....Skye was not going to be. The canopy fluttering, the adrenaline pumping hard and her blood cold in her exposed skin, Skye had little time to really think about the view, and more time to try and focus on landing. Pulling the toggle, she swooped around a tower, and headed on finals. She was hoping for a park really, but then again, when you were in a situation like this, in as dense an urban area as this, choices were limited. It was here and now, and right into the crossing she went, knowing it was as good of a chance as she had to not clatter a lamp-post or a traffic signal. 

Rolling her feet across the tarmac as she flared, Skye barely missed a couple of cars, pulling hard on the risers and toggles to pull the parachute and herself over a cab, rolling off the roof as it honked and clattering into the floor past it on the other side, hard but enough to percuss the fall. Detatching the rig through a simple pull of a her straps and letting the container fall away, Skye broke into a run, and with it, to an absolute blaze of horns. She had to keep moving. The crowds could see her parachute drop behind, and she dived down, nearby police trying to go after, albeit probably beyond any shock to what the fuck just happened. Skye ran faster. She wouldn't stop. Like the animal inside had taken over, all the parts of her pulling in one way to keep going. She wasn't gonna give in. And in the crowds of people she ran towards, while they parted, they weren't exactly easy moving. Like treacle, she found a way in to the shopping street, and at this time of evening, found it heaving- the Shibuya Sakura complex glowing with purple and vivid light, clean and almost a spotless virage yet giving Skye the ability to break from crowds and out from the police that would likely be onto her.

From here, Skye was into her element. Urban survival required doing exceptionally immoral things, fast, and in a method unpredictable. Even with Japan's heightened culture of security, control and policing, polite to the hilt, Skye could survive. Get distance far enough away and clothing enough to make her into someone else. If you followed, maybe you could see the trail, but bit by bit, it would go colder until no logical tracks were left. Skye would go from the redhead that had dropped into Shibuya, into having a different garb altogether. A little money too. You did bad things for good, but sometimes, well, it was better than killing people. It sent a message clear as day to anyone where she was, without saying exactly what spot she sat in next.

------------------------------------------------------

Collab with [@BigPapaBelial]

[h1][color=lightblue]Skye Rosalind Lyons[/color][/h1]
[h1]Ban Kingo[/h1]
[h2]Amagi District, Kiyose City, Tokyo[/h2]
[h2]Kitsune’s Tails, 2000 Hours[/h2]

Kiyose was bathed in a pool of neon and puddles from rain much much earlier in the day, the tight city streets further out of Tokyo proper bathed in shops open late, close in power cables and medium-density buildings, impeccably clean yet only like one place on planet earth. Japan was unique, and for a foreigner who had dropped by, took some time to adjust. Skye had been here once, but well, she knew roughly the instruction, roughly the address and how to work it out. She had a good memory like that, and well, never forgot any promises she had made to her.

The gambling den was quite the spot, and plenty filthier than Skye remembered him describing it- it was Yakuza run after all and beyond the pachinko, had its grime, even if the streets were litter-less. In a baseball cap with a stolen hoodie, the night was coming in fast and thin, cold too. Skye’s hair had been tucked into a bun she’d made from an elastic band, the prescription sunglasses she’d shoplifted from a small store coming in handy, and the other part of her being able to run also coming into it. No transit, no dramas since the most loud, spectacular crash into Shibuya had happened of her arrival, and now, it was her alone. With just her pistol, knife, and her wits. There’s something so dark about it, but in a black hoodie, Skye was no longer the Queen of her own destiny, but instead, the Kitsune, changing the shape of her tail as she walked in. A red fox that was the lady of the night, but rather than scraping through garbage, was actually going for a gem in the rough. 

And here she would be. To meet Ban Kingo, of all people. She had a favour to call in, a serious one. She hated to do these things, she wanted to let him live in peace, but well, extraordinary measures meant that had to be done. Past the pachinko machines, the horse racing, and the civilian bit. No, she was here for the other side of this parlour. And a pair of them stood right where she could guess the Japanese writing said she needed to go. The guard huffed at Skye at the front, yet her tall presence and confidence looked back. She spoke no Japanese, yet with a convincing look, Skye looked across to them, knowing they would see her as any other white tourist dweeb in the wrong city, wrong part of town. Skye spoke with an air of authority, and in crystal English.
“I am here to see a friend. Kingo-san. Tell him the Queen is here.” Skye said, with a certain level of confidence, hoped he was here tonight. Her clothing concealed any look of her being any threat, instead, making her seem rather innocent. A good disguise had to hold- they could call the police for being that redhead that fell out of the sky this evening after all, and while she’d kept a low profile, part of disguise meant changing everything. Becoming someone else. Not the special forces t-shirt wearing lioness she was, but instead, a tourist in the wrong place.

The bigger of the pair of young-ish Yakuza at the door looked the woman over. His eyes narrowed, his purple nylon jacket covering his upper body. He leaned on the wall on Skye’s left, giving her the stink eye the whole time. He grunts and motions his head to the smaller, but clearly in charge of the pair. The man is short, slicked back hair, mirrored sunglasses with golden rims. He steps forth and looks her over, giving her the classic Yakuza go over, even leaning into her personal space. He sniffs and snorts, “Nan darou?” Clear Japanese, “And what’s this?” basically. The man snorts then in passable English, “And who do you think there’s anyone like that here huh chicky? This is just a storage closet that the boss told us to watch over. Why don’t you turn around and play some games huh? Mind your own business.” He makes a shooing gesture to Skye as he leans back and away.

At the same time the other fella reaches back behind a nearby pachinko cabinet and almost casually pulls an iron kanabo from its hiding place, setting it with a clink on the floor. The pair turned to just staring at Skye.

To most a pair of Yakuza staring them down would probably be intimidating.

Skye shook her head, exhaling out, letting him come close. She could feel his breath, and it smelled of cigarettes and rice wine, a distinctive combo.
“I know he’s here. And I know he would be very upset with you both if he couldn’t talk to Queen. So please, let’s be reasonable before something happens. Just let him know I’m down here. And while I wait, I might go play on one of those machines. How about that?” Skye reasoned, knowing the thug wouldn’t exactly process the Scot’s wit, given her accent was trying to be neutered as much as possible- yet she wasn’t exactly ailing it down. It would be firm though, and enough of a point.

The bigger of the two narrows his eyes and seems to sense some kind of…thing…yeah lets go with thing. He looks over at the slimmer smaller man and motions with his head. The smaller man looks at the bigger fella, and it’s like an unspoken conversation passes between them at high speeds. After abit though the smaller what mutters, “Nanda? Ahhhh.” Pushing off the wall, reaching over and pulling open one of the pair of doors and disappearing into whatever is beyond them.

Meanwhile the bigger of the pair looks at Skye and looks to be about to say something before he pushes off the wall and bows, “Ah! Elder!”

A soft older voice, a voice very similar to the man Skye is hoping to see whispers, “Ah Kintaro-kun. Doing your job I’m glad to see. Where is Jin-tan?” Kintaro the big guard straightens up, “He went into the back to see if he can get Aniki sir. This lady, says her name is Queen-san, wants to see Aniki.” The older gentleman blinks then smiles, stepping forward and bowing, “Yosh! Ahhh the great Queen-san! Skye Lyons!” He grins and offers his hand to her, “I am Hataro Kingo, one of the wakagashira of the Amagi Clan. Come come. Please.” The elder Kingo gently guiding Skye into the back hall past the guarded doors. All while Kintaro the big guard starts to babble and try to stop them, failing miserably.

Hataro walking with Skye at his side smiles, into the back hall, well appointed, and decorated, statues and paintings, wooden paneling, all the culture and finery of Japanese style on display here. Hataro smiles, “You know, my son has said many things about his time in Raven. Many things. The good, and the bad. His teammates, his experiences. They brought great honor on the Kingo name, and the Amagi Clan.” He guided the woman along the hall, and into a large open area, where people gambled heartily. Down the middle aisle past cho-han and dice games, past a rowdy horse racing kiosk where several people watched a Spanish horse race, cheering on their chosen bet.

The older man guided her forth into the back reaches of the gambling den, “My son, has had nothing but good things to say about you, though young Lyons. He said that out of everything his exile brought him, your friendship and determination helped him the most.” 

Skye felt a little in shock at Hataro’s presence, but of course, masked it as best as she could. Loud, but well, bringing her in. the gambling, the rice games, the horse racing, and the wooden paneling, the ornate nature of this place rather beautiful. 
“I am glad he did well. He served with distinction. I never forget the people that serve, I serve them the same, Hataro-san.” Skye replied, her tone of voice neutral, perhaps almost to live up to expectations, albeit, knowing it was an event that had gotten him out that she had pulled many a finger to make happen. But it had happened. She’d held her end of the deal. Now she was here, and no doubt, Hataro respected Skye’s decisions in that moment to do right.

[hider=Culturally Appropriate perhaps]
[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOkf-wYnHOw&ab_channel=LunarTunez[/url]
[/hider]

As the pair near a double pair of large wooden doors, with dragon, tiger and kirin carvings and reliefs the door booms open, and Ban comes out, growling over his shoulder at the slim man, having been named as Jin earlier. Ban, holding his sword in his right hand, snarls, “You didn’t think to tell me sooner that…” He turns around to watch where he’s going and almost runs into Skye, “Ah…” He takes a step back then with a shake in his tone whispers, “Qu…Queen-san…” He gulps then coughs a laugh, “Skye-san.” He bows, a low deep bow, a bow meant for old and good friends. And he holds that bow for a good few moments before straightening up.

Skye returned the gesture, bowing back, seeing the sword in his hands. With a smile, Skye walked up and hugged him, wrapping her cold arms around him, not reaching up due to her height, avoiding getting shanked by accident.
“You have put on a few pounds since we’ve been in work. But, you’re still keeping well. And those pieces of you, those are new.” Skye replied, whispering into his ear on the last with regards to the implants, looking back, and around at the two, son and father.
“I suppose I owe you a bit of an explanation. Safe to say, I am grateful beyond return for the work that Ban has done with Raven. But I am now in my hour of need. An hour of grave personal need. And I am afraid to say this, but I have nowhere else to turn, and the stakes could not be higher.” Skye added, knowing it would likely be sinking into Ban that indeed, if she was here alone, looking like this, then something had to be up. Skye took off her hat, revealing the various cuts and marks from the fighting, and her tired eyes, from being up, out of a plane, shoplifting and generally shenanigans through western Tokyo and now here, in this gambling den of an old comrade.

Ban smiled, then wrapped his free arm around her, squeezing her in the hug briefly, “Yosh, ah it doesn’t show too much does it?” He chuckles, letting her go, and looking down at himself, “I have tried to keep fit, but running things isn’t as physically demanding as running into high amounts of bullets. And my own cooking is still very good.” He looks around as if to remember where they are. Then looks at Jin, “Get back up to the front, watch the door with Kintaro-kun.” He looks to his father, “Otosan, if you would come with us?” He then gestures at the well carved and decorated doors, “Come, this is no place to be discussing important things. Too many ears and eyes.” Hataro Kingo nods, and leads the way into the back. Ban gently guiding Skye through the doors, closing them behind the trio, all while Jin runs back up to the front.

Soon the three are in an office, just big enough to fit the low steel desk with a marble top, the walls decorated by several layers of  weapons and samurai armor sets. Hataro goes to mix up a few drinks from a drink stand by the desk, while Ban sits on the top of the desk, motioning for Skye to join him beside him, “So what’s this about grave personal need? The stakes as you say must be higher than the sky, even the stars themselves if you’re being this dour Skye-chan.”

Hataro coughing into the glass of sake he just poured himself hearing that cute familiar style of talk.

And Skye sat down beside, nodding with a certain kind of remorse, it all sinking in she was going to have to explain this utter insanity.
“I’ll try and start like this. The Artemis you put some dents into, we did some work against. They were nearly defeated, until, it turns out, they were being undercut by my doppelganger. Who used me to turn them inside out for her. They betrayed us, and destroyed Kaitiaki, and nearly all of us in the process..” Skye started, knowing the conversation went from zero, to a hundred, instantly. 

“That is by my literal clone. A woman by the name of Rosalind, who as it turns out, can jump from body to body, dying and awaking in another. She has a small biomechanical node wired into the spinal column of each one of her bodies that she has, and I could go on for hours about how it occurred, why, and what. I don’t understand all of it, but as such, I am compromised. I left the team over Tokyo, and they’re en route to another facility, to continue working. I am her, yet she is many, and with it, we are deeply in the shit because it means there’s no way to ensure I have any operational security in charge of a team. Don’t worry, check my spine and you’ll see there’s nothing there. It’s the only difference between us.” Skye added, pausing for breath, knowing they would want to cut to the chase.

“But what this means is, she has stolen all Raven data, recovered a critical HVT from us that we captured on a mission, and worse, she has access to a partially compromised satellite network and a drug that I think could be potentially lethal in her hands. Ban, she’s fucking genocidal.” She took a breather, taking the glass of sake on the table poured, and giving it a sip, knowing she had the attention fully on her right here, right now.

“And she doesn’t want to just nuke a few countries, she wants to fucking eradicate people, systematically, from the top to the bottom. And there is no way to kill her. In fact, she’s using it to get better, and better. She wants me off the table so she can be the only version of what I am. Where I am. And with it….means the choice of putting a stop to it in a way that even Rose can’t imagine I would do.” Skye said, exhaling a hard breath, knowing that one would stick.

“So politely, I need help to get back to things…and it’s why I am here. Because the only way I think I can turn the tables, is to go against Artemis as me, throwing a spanner in the works by making sure two of us are always on the table. They think Skye Lyons is rogue, soon to be arrested. I will be hunted, pursued in the next eight hours by teams wanting to know maybe where I went. Yet by being alive, I make Rose unable to act, or at least, unsure. There are people on the inside who can help, but Raven proper will not want me around on the streets. Not unless I bring something valuable back to the table to deliver. I know this is a lot, Ban. I know you left this behind. And I know you would struggle to want to go back. But you are all I have. And the best man I know can help.” Skye added, sipping more back, looking dead into his eyes, knowing full well the weight and depth of what she was saying would take him aback- and probably be a lot to carry on.
“I suppose in your folklore, that would make me the Kitsune. And she is one of those tails, many, many tails, over and over.” 

Ban and Hataro Kingo are silent through the whole explanation. Making quiet sounds of understanding and wonder as the story goes. Hataro having sat in the large leather chair behind the bar part way through the story. Hataro smiling as it goes realizing the mythological points. Ban leaning his head back as things go, crossing his arms across his chest, and tapping the Tsuka of his sword on his chin, “Emmm this is worrying indeed. I swear we had cut down Artemis in cold blood back during my time of service didn’t we? I know I had cut one of their captains down myself. How does a weed survive having it’s roots cut clean?”

The younger Yakuza grumbles. Then the elder Kingo asks, “Kitsune, I like that.” He chuckles sipping his drink, “Then while my son mulls this over, tell this old man, Kitsune-chan, what can we do to help? The Kingo Family I think would put everything we have behind you, but to truly do anything, you would need to go before the Amagi Oyabun. And bring your case to him. Takashiro-san would hear you out. You can be sure that though Yakuza are gangsters, we are against the spilling of needless blood, and this Rosalind sounds like an Oni of the worst kind.”

Ban hraumphs, and nods, “Let Shimura walk again. I’ll cut out her heart for you Kitsune-chan. Tell me what I can help you with. And if we’re lucky the Oyabun will offer the Amagi’s help as well. Yes, we should go see him immediately.”

Skye nodded in return, a smile forming on her face. Well, it was a replacement. The Queen may be dead, but perhaps, in a cosmic way, the Kitsune was alive. Fitting, all things considered.
“That sounds like a plan. There is a lot to explain, a lot of ground to cover and I will tell you all I can. But we need to be careful. As few people as possible need to know who, what, and where this is going. I think there may be one method to get back at her, at least, stall things outside of any control or command. It may even be a way back in to Raven itself, to clear things completely. But I cannot do this alone. And it is why I am here, Ban. You’re the only operative I know that can hold their own that I trust.” Skye replied, looking across to him, upon his question of what to help with.
“And when the time is right, we shall part her gaze. And put this to an end.” Skye added, nodding, sipping more sake down. This felt surreal. None of it did. But then, rolling with the punches was part of the game.

There was much not yet said about why Skye specifically had picked Ban to go to here- the opportunism sure, but there was another aspect. Skye had let him go from Raven upon short notice- a John Wick-esque task almost, considering she had to pull an almighty effort to get him released. But it wasn’t a task force requirement, releasing from the roster prior to the end- it was a personal commitment she had made happen. A promise to do right by him, and in exchange, she’d memorized, kept it in detail where he was, what was going on and what it meant. And one day to perhaps call a favor like that in, albeit, in a way she knew she wouldn’t take the piss with. Skye had caught her own crap, but well, Ban had disappeared and into the Yakuza again, allowed his growth, allowed his honour, allowed his strength to carve his own. Spies always needed an out, after all. Much like Sam had her own, and Boaro had made his own as a merc, Freya the family and the other operatives had carved niches, Skye had to keep her own reserve. 

Hataro watches, looking at his son and the woman beside him. His eyes widening. As he can see the difference between his son the Yakuza soldier, a man prepared to defend his family and friends from those who would do them wrong. And another side, a side he had only heard stories of. 

Ban had called himself Shimura, after a Great Clan from the Sengoku era. The Shimura had been a hard riding, hard hitting southern island clan. And there, swapping back and forth between his son Ban and Shimura he watches it, and can only smile.

Ban gets to his feet and steps to the door, shouting down a side hall outside, “Wataro! Go and bring the car around! We need a ride to the Amagi compound. And send Yotsuyu-tan ahead to ask the Oyabun’s secretary for an emergency meeting, tell him it’s me and my father asking. That should get him moving.” There’s a bunch of cries of, “Yes sir!” And “You got it boss!” And people are running. Ban turns from the door, “I swear here and now Skye-chan, I’ll turn over heaven and hell to help you.” He steps forward and holds out the well decorated Katana in isn’t saya towards her, “I offer my sword, until such time as you release me from this service. You got me out, and now I will return that favor. Let us cut down these foes together.”

Skye stood up, a wry smile returning, an old friend helping out. It was good to have, and well, a favor repaid. It felt bad to call such a thing in, but with old friends, it was never such a thing. Honour was an exceptionally highly placed thing in Japanese society, and Skye knew she’d ruffled a few feathers with what she had returned to him to make such a movement. Perhaps it had gone even further, given she only expected Ban, and nobody else.
“That we will. Let’s get to work, Shimura.” The Scottish accented redhead replied back, standing right by Ban’s side, her stern and stoic look turning to one of trust, belief and for a brief second, a willingness to get to finishing this stupid shit off. End of days? Rose may have had her control, but Skye had her friends, and well, right here and now, she could be grateful for such a thing. 

—----------------

[h1][color=Goldenrod]Athena Anna Kanataario[/color][/h1]
[h1][color=RosyBrown]Adam Stanislaw Kajtanowicz[/color][/h1]
[h1][color=Chocolate]Purna Chai Gurung[/color][/h1]

[h2]Somewhere above the Gulf of Bothnia, Finland, Headed North[/h2]
[h2]Aurora's Glimmer / Chaos Theory[/h2]

The vivid colour of the hazy yellow and red echoed outside the window, the night sky of the aurora kicking in with a flickering brilliance, at altitude and this close where they were headed. The three occupants on fast track were not exactly brimming with confidence, considering the news had trickled out. It had to, because the news of a redhead in Shibuya Square falling out of the fucking sky was something. There would have been a delay, enough to let Skye do her own thing, but it would be found out by the time they were over the Arctic Ocean, and on the other side. Her in the middle of Shibuya narrowed it down to a single city, but that city around it had 18 million people, and in that city, it was a maze, a place you would struggle to find someone making effort to lay low and vanish. The authorities could be contacted, but what was the reason for their manhunt? It felt like Skye had called Oracle's bluff. The occupants knew that, the private Gulfstream 400 a relatively lavish space for a small team to move north on fast notice.

"So why and how did she end up bailing out, into Shibuya....and what does she think she's avoiding? What, does she think Oracle's going to kill her?" Purna enquired, looking across from the seat he sat in, bemused yet in an old-school parka and cargo pants, casual for the time being. The private jet was a bit of a different arrangement, but then again, fast movement meant executive transport. For Purna and Adam, it felt odd- strange even, being flown on something like this. They were being taken to Enontekiö Airport, a civilian airport to the south-west of the remote base in the Poysjarvi National Park, close to the Norwegian border. There was a small airstrip physically on site, but bringing unneeded attention to that specific point wasn't on anyone's radar.

"We have no idea. She's capable of being a ghost, Purna. The stories are all true. If she's as good as I think she is, she will go to ground and disappear. Even if she doesn't speak the language, she'll learn it, and she'll move faster than we can. Maybe have contacts. Fuck, she might have just been playing us all along. Maybe if the report is correct, then she listened to her copy, and has gone off grid for that reason. Kurwa. I don't understand it. There will be two of her....fucking idiot." Adam replied, shaking his head, it fully in his hands, trying to finish his sentence. The bearded man was wearing his woolen jumper still, and similar to Purna, a set of older cargo trousers, perhaps the one unifying thing between old heads and Gurkhas in the game. Adam's Polish accent may have dragged, but it was no less cutting when he swore.
"Oracle is livid. And...." Adam replied, but couldn't completely say it due to the floor itself feeling like it felt presence from the other occupant. 

Walking out from the front, Athena had to duck, as she leaned out, into the chair opposite, enlarged for her size. Not the first time she'd travelled with this particular executive manner, her legs long, in thermal tights and her top now more in modesty with a grey t-shirt and bra combo that barely contained the cleavage of her bust, a large puffy jacket that must have taken a dozen ducks to make on her shoulder, the Pata-gucci look in full swing. She had no makeup on, yet even without it, still seemed to have that blonde golden look going.

"I told you. First my sister, now this. Perhaps she knew what she would be in for if she met me. Her team are on all in on it, too." Athena retorted with a blunt brutality, clicking her large neck, rolling her head, as she leaned in.

"You keep forgetting what she's capable of, Athena. She's killed a giant before. And don't blame the team. Skye is too stubborn to let them tell her what to do. They aren't going say no to her." Adam replied, the Pole and the giantess not seeing eye to eye, but well, business had to be beaten past for this sort of work.

"Yeah, but has she met me?" Athena chuckled, Adam shrugging his shoulders. God, she was a bitch. But, he had to eat his words, Purna giving that glare as if to say, "Don't fuck this up", at least, to say something more productive.

"What doesn't add up is that Skye doesn't break protocol. Not at least, any to Oracle or Raven. She may be fluid but not disobedient. Her team helped her, and I know they're all sound enough of mind to not go completely mad. So....the only alternative is, she's doing this to confuse everyone. Including Rose. Skye can work alone, she's trained to do so....but why? If she wants to help her, she would have killed everyone on that plane. That I don't understand." Adam asked, as Purna leaned in, the Nepali not an expert on strategy such as this, but smart enough from working as a mercenary to get it.

"She's probably not willing to deal with security from Oracle when they get back. Probably figured out that Athena there, or Oracle are going to lock her up. And, if she has her contacts, maybe she knows something even we don't. Rose is a threat, but what Adam said is right, it's confusing. If Rose knows Skye's on the loose, she can't exactly go after both her and us at the same time. After all, Skye said that it seemed like Rose was using Artemis for her own ends. It's chaos theory. We have no idea. Rose doesn't either. And we're now picking up pieces. Nothing we can do, except our jobs. And perhaps hope she is on the right track." The Nepali replied, the look of the shorter infiltrator contrasting against Athena's. It was strange, the three almost as opposite as you could make people in three different directions, and three different ways.

"Well, now every Skye we end up seeing is a kill-threat. How's that for clarity." Athena interrupted both, the giantess speaking with a certain authority, in spite of the other two's. Adam and Purna nodded, the conversation breaking from that for a second as Adam poured a Coke, sipping it down whilst Purna leaned in, looking across to Adam.

"What's our operational remit?" Purna asked, his many questions continuing, given he had little else to add in small talk. He sipped down a cup of tea, Chai, ironically.

"The rest of the team joins me and Purna. Athena, how about you? You with us?" Adam replied, with the giantess leaning forward in her chair, that resting bitch face just holding true, just more than anything, frustrated that Raven couldn't hold itself together.

"I'm eye candy to you, apparently. I'll twerk my way out of problems. And run Blue Sword's operation behind what you're doing. My parents and my brother are on the way, but Victor and Natalie will likely have other matters to attend to whilst I run this show behind the scene. Just for your stubborn fucking ass, Jamie is rolling with you, Adam. But I will be managing Blue Sword support teams on the ground, personally. From this point onwards, we cannot afford any fuck ups. I have spoken with Oracle already about this at length. We put resource behind this and get the job done, with as few heads in the game as possible. We have some recovered intel, and enough to go on so we can figure out what this Rose is doing and the remains of Artemis with her, but from here, every second counts. Where Raven fails, the world collapses." Athena's voice carried, knowing she had to make that point clear, that well, she had her weight to throw around and her husky yet sauced international accent had that levity. Which didn't so much stick on Adam.

"They don't get to buy calendars of you then." Adam replied, no fucks given. Screw it. If she caved his head in now, well, he had a witness at least.

"Shut the fuck up." Athena's response was initially cold, before the three chuckled, the rare break in the ice. As much as Adam didn't like her, shit, she had a response worth enough. Athena felt the same, her extraverted self buoyed against someone like Adam, whose strict and structured nature irritated the shit out of her, but his dark humour still bounded back. Perhaps they shared that, at least, they had something in common there. They would be on the ground soon, and meeting what was left of Raven's New Zealand operation, and more importantly, trying to get some answers.