Salem slowly climbed the staircase to the roof of the Trident Security Chicago branch's headquarters, ready for his mission briefing with the Director. It had been nearly two years since he had been recruited by the company, and he had to admit; Life was good. They had given him a luxury apartment, an Exotic sports car of his choosing, and a kick-ass job with substantial pay. As he climbed the staircase to the building's roof, he observed his reflection in a window to his right, overlooking a laboratory. He was wearing a black leather jacket, faded blue jeans, and Expensive-looking black sun-glasses. He hadn't shaved in a while, so the black stubble on his jawline and chin was beginning to become more prominent. He ran his hand through his black hair, and continued up the staircase and opened the door, feeling the cool night air.

"Director Clarke." He said as he approached a man in a stylish white suit, and dyed black hair, obviously trying to conceal the grey hair that had started coming in.

"Mr. Cross." He Greeted. "I've been expecting you."

"Well, I figured as much sir, you are standing on a rooftop near a heli-pad." Salem said.

"Yes, I suppose I am. But anyway, we need to talk about the current situation Salem. What have you been told?"

"I heard there was a break in at ascension, and they're holding hostages."

"Yes, well that's part of it, but not the whole story. It's Purity fist." Salem scoffed and the mentioning of the groups name. "They are holding Blisther captive."

"Motives?" Salem questioned

"Well, money is usually a big motivator, but we think the hostage thing is a front, so they can get some info from Blisther."

"Then why not just kidnap him? Why hold up the lab?" Salem asked.

"That is why we called you in." The director replied. "Go there, and take them out. Minimize civilian casualties, Rescue Blithser, Find out their motive."

"Got it." Salem said. The whirring of propellers was heard, and a black helicopter emblazoned with a gold trident landed on the heli-pad.

"I put together a team of specialists, our most promising ops, together for you, so please, try not to get them killed." He said, handing their dossiers over to Salem.

"Antony Grask, Jessie Johan, Madison Shaw, Victor Morrison, and Talon night." He spoke, reading the names out loud. "This Morrison guy, Ive heard of him. Expert hacker. The Cyber division won't shut up about him. Johan too, expert sniper, and Shaw, well, who hasn't heard about her?

But this Grask guy, says here he's from Sarif Industries. That's...A bit odd."

"He's from the Outreach program. I've been told he is very good at what he does." the Director said.

"Good, I don't want any dead weight. But this Talon night kid...Never heard of him."

"He's...Very... Unpredictable."

"He better listen to orders."

"We also have an Inside operative, that will meet with you."

"Understood."

"Well Salem, you'll find you equipment is in the helicopter. When the team arrives, it will take you to ascension. Good luck." Said the director, heading back into the building.

Salem approached the edge of the building, taking in the amazing view of the city, waiting for the team to arrive.

It had been a wonderfully lazy day for the young sniper as had left the comfort of her apartment. Opting to leave her brand new car at home and walk she enjoyed the night air in Chicago. Most of her substantial pay was going to keep her mother in the hospital and to pay off her student loans. Gas was a luxury she decided she didn’t really need. Reaching the building she looked up at the roof just in time to see the helicopter land on the roof.

Jessie yawned a bit as she walked up the stairs her bright blue high tops squeaking on the polished stair case. She stretched up and put her hands behind her head as she climbed the last few steps to the door. She reached out to grab the door knob with her sweatshirt covered hand. Her comfy oversize black sweatshirt covered most of her hanging down to her knees over well fitted dark denim jeans. Her long hair was pulled back in a pony tail. As she opened the door she saw the helicopter and smiled a bit. One of her personal favorite changes was shooting things from unstable ground. She smiled a bit and shoved her hand into her large front pocket. A sound of crinkling reached her ears and she smiled pulling out a small pack of Oreos. She began walking over noticing Salem.

“Mr. Cross right?” She asked as she got close to him. She kept a respectable distance and smiled sweetly at him. She learned it’s better to make a good impression and let them underestimate her. She held an Oreo in her now visible hands twisting it back and forth till it popped off perfectly with the cream on one side. She popped the cookie in her mouth leaving the cream side still in her hand. She scanned the man in front of her a bit and concluded that he was professional but not overly so hopefully he didn’t have a stick up his ass like one of her previous bosses had. She liked the way she did things and as long as the job got done who cared how she dressed. “Name’s Jessie believe I’ll be working with you.” She said as soon as she didn’t have the cookie in her mouth. She stuck out her unoccupied hand to shake his.

Salem noticed the girl that had made her way up to the roof. As he turned to greet her, he shook her hand. "Please, call me Salem." He said. "You must be Jessie Johan. I've heard good things about you, It's good to have you on the team. I'll give you a short briefing once the rest of the team gets here."

Antony

The night had been creeping along so slowly for Antony.
He laid inside his container and slept his time away from day to day, But now the time was upon him again. To fulfill his contract and get to work once more. The compressed chambers of his bed began to hiss as the air was relieved and the lid of his chamber began to slid back.
He opens his eyes to greet the sterile white walls of his own room and raises from his bed.
For some time now he has been content with with the way his life was set up. He had another room to live in now and it was far better when compared to the companies facilities. Hell it was even higher up in the penthouses with a city view and they threw in a new car for him to boot. Despite the fact that he hadn't driven in over six years, But he was willing to take them up on that offer at the time.

Antony sets to putting his pants and tank top on in quick fashion, The strange coldness of the air had ceased to bother him long ago as well and he looked himself over in the mirror. Making sure that all things where in there place as was his personal custom.

[Antony?.. good your up. Its time to meet your new squad leader and get acquainted with your duties] Was all he heard over the rooms comm.

"Good evening to you too sis. You could at least give me some type of heads up on something." He replies back as he looks over his augmented right arm, With visions of the chaotic memories dancing behind his eyes.

[No can do Tony'.. the higher ups want me to be tight lipped on this for now..(sigh) and unfortunately. This is the last time we will be talking for a while, I'm sorry.. Good luck.] He slowly turns his towards the speaker imbedded in the wall and stares silently, Until he finally feels its right to answer.. "I know sis.. Good night."

He laces his boots up and slides his jacket on before heading out of his quarter to the elevator at the end of the service corridor. Passing several of the technicians on the way who give his very nervous stares as he moves by. He merely enters the elevator and closes the door, Hit the panel button for the roof. His ride is quick and smooth, Passing what little time in the box he can by staring into his reflection and critics himself as he goes up.

As the door opens, Antony can see a his new squad leader near the roofs helipad. He had read up on the man he knew as Salem, Silently running over some of his past exploits as he walked out to the others. He looks every one over, From Salem to the girl and the Director. Antony stops several feet away from Salem and stands adjacent from Jessie, Slowly taking a clove from his pack and lights it even slower. As if he was banking on the amount of suspense to build towards the moment and draw out like the old days. He starts by looking towards Salem.."Sir.. He says with a slight nod as he takes a drag."Antony Grask, reporting."

He looks at Director Clarke and cracks a small smirk.."Clarke.. So they got you pushing pencils now. I hope that desk is snug in your ivory tower."
[Not as snug as your coffin Tony..] He replies with and equally feigned smile, Which they both for several seconds before Jessie's presents catches Antony's eye.
He looks at her in a very uncomfortable fashion, His milky white eyes and pinpoint pupils edging over her body and cloths.

"Miss.." Is all he says to her before he turns his attention back to Salem.

Jessie looked at him and smiled again. “Sure thing Salem.” She said casually. As she began licking the cream off her small cookie she turned to the new comer just in time to see his look of disapproval. She smiled at him. “Johan Jessica Johan please call me Jessie though not really one for formalities.” She held out her hand with the cookie in it for him to shake and quickly pulled it back popping it in her mouth before putting her hand out again for him to shake.

She turned back around after shaking hands with them and looked to the boss. “So boss clue us in what’s the mission?” She asked looking at him and stretched a bit. She looked out over the city it was a really nice view much different from where she was just a few years ago in college. She really like being in the big city things moved so much faster here and she thrived on it.

"The night suits me" Talon thinks out loud as he absorbs the night air, slowly coming into view of the building. "Now how to approach a introduction" he mumbles to himself. Shadows flickering across his face as a satanical smile grows ever larger, pushing his glasses up a slightly sarcastic sounding chuckle escapes him.

Arriving at the roof Talon takes care not to be noticed, slipping a small arrow into his hand he cuts the top of it off releasing a smoke cloud on a small part of the roof then using his holographic projector, and sound manipulation device, he creates lasers and a apparent death squad with clanking armour and guns on one side of the building with smoke. Then quietly from the other half of the building he slips behind the girl and swipes an Oreo then goes steps back and says "good evening folks" as he drops the holograms and sound.

"Been a while director to what do I owe this not so pleasant surprise" He says twiddling the Oreo on his fingers with a smile.

Antony

Antony looks back at the Jessie and gives her a slight nod in response to her answer to him.

"No real reason to ask what the mission is, It will most likely have the same outcome as all the others." He was making an obvious grim analogy to the type of work that Clark was used to giving out. Taking a long drag of his smoke, Antony flicks the spent filter off the edge of the building.
However everyone's attention is grabbed when it seems that a rifle squad appears out of no where on the other side of the roof. But not much of a response is given, Antony could tell something was up from the start. Seeing as they weren't dropped off or came from any kind of service entrance. Besides at this range they would normally be opening fire instead of charging.

His train of thought of broken however when a younger man appears behind Jessica and walks around her. 'God evening folks.' the man says out too the group.
Antony can already tell he will have some trouble dealing with this one, Apparently he is having far too much fun with his abilities when he should be conserving them. Looking down he see's the man is twirling one of Jessie's cookies in his hand and he is taking back as how trouble that fact can be since he is just introducing himself.

Antony quickly reaches out with his left hand and snatches the mans offending arms wrist holding firm.."Its not nice to take things that don't belong to you..." however despite Antony's grip the man easily slips his hand out and away while still maintaining his smile and bravado.
Antony holds up his hand which opens as he raises it, Revealing one side of the cookie and it has the cream entirely intact.."Your fast, I'll give you that.. But not that fast."

"Relax man sometimes you just got to go with the flow, names Talon night" Talon says slipping out of the grasp of the man who grabbed him. A slight chuckle to himself as he sits down for no good reason. "Your fast, I'll give you that.. But not that fast." the man says. Using the sound creator Talon says exactly like the man did "Its not nice to take things that don't belong to you..."

Winking at the group Talon takes the time to take note of those here the legendary sniper Jessie, the unknown man who grabbed him, the director and finally, the man only known through rumor Salem Cross. "Quite a team we got here so I guess this means we are going to do something pretty big" with a sarcastic smirk he nods his head waiting for anymore reactions to his "unique" personality and attitude.

Jessie noticed her Oreo gone the second the guy took it and soon had her gun out and aimed at him. Where the gun came from was anyone guesses it was a descent size but then again so was her sweatshirt. Once she realized he was just a thief on the team she put her gun back and sent a hurt glare at him. “You know men have lost valuable things taking my cookies…” She said as she crossed her arms pouting a bit. She preferred to act more like a child when she wasn’t on duty kept her human. She reached into her larger pocket again and pulled out a second Oreo minding the fast thief that now joined the party. She popped it in half quicker than before and ate the non cream side. She looked at the other man that was there Antony and rolled her eyes. “I prefer to know who I’m shooting before I shoot them.” She looked back at Salem and began licking the cream side of her Oreo hoping that once she licked it the thief wouldn’t touch it.

“No! Let me go!” the young intern screamed as two of the terrorists grabbed her from the group. They were wearing black masks and fatigues, a good sign, the fact that they hadn’t shown their faces meant they may intend to let most of the hostages go, then again… The other hostages were lined against the back wall, ensuring any attempt to breach that way would put them in the line of fire. Many secretaries and assistants were there, woman of all ages in different business suits and a few men. One of them was tied to a large chair behind an opulent desk, the CEO. Another was a younger looking man with black hair in a white three piece suit. There were two bodyguard and a third man bleeding in one corner, all of them had been shot, and possibly dead. “Stop! Noooo!” the young girl yelled as the men laughed pulling at her suit.

“L-Leave her alone!” the man in the white suit said with an attempt to sound stern, but his face was one of instant regret as the men turned on him. His face was not that of a bodyguard, that’s why he wasn’t shot like the two men in black and the man he was told was from Tri-Sec.

“What’d you say punk?” one of the men asked as he stormed over toward him, grabbing him and pulling him to his feet. His hands were cuffed behind him and his feet bound with tape. This other man was massive; he had been one of the guys who had taken down the Bodyguards who were cyborgs. If he ventured a guess the assistant would assume they were enhanced with drugs. The Purists wouldn’t use mechanical augmentation but drugs and other natural stimulants weren’t out of the question.

“I-I said l-let her go, she’s done nothing to you…” he said adverting his eyes away like a coward. His eyes were those of a coward. That man from Tri-Sec lying on the ground hadn’t been a coward, he had fought but had been defeated in an instant.

“You think you can order me?” the man asked with a grin of maniacal intent. The man opened his mouth to answer but was just flung to the ground by a fist to his jaw, a sharp crack heard as he hit the ground. His shoulder was strangely twisted to one side.

The man whimpered but didn’t outright cry, he was tough for an assistant. “Just-just let her go, she’s not part of this… please,” he coughed and spat out a tooth and blood, “She’s just an intern, she’s a college student for God’s sake!” he sat up yelling at the man and received a swift kick to the side of his head for his trouble. His glasses broke and shattered as he hit the ground again, this time shaking and coughing up more blood.

“Shut up! You can’t talk to us like that!” the man yelled pointing his Russian assault rifle at the man and taking aim for his head. “I’ll teach you not to talk so tough! You bas-”

“Borris!” came a sharp and higher pitched voice, the man stopped in his tracks and turned to the door, where a woman in a black mask stood. “What did I say about injuring the hostages?”

“But boss, he was getting all uppity with us and-” boss, was she the leader? Maybe, but then again she may just be the leader of the mercenaries or guard or whoever these big bastards were. All they knew was that these guys were purists

“I don’t care, now put the girl down and go patrol the halls… and you!” she pointed her pistol at the man who had spoken out, fear covering his face as he looked at her with wide eyes, “I trust you won’t misunderstand me, I just don’t want to have to kill someone without augmentations… but if you misbehave again.” A shot landed just next to his face and he cringed moving into a fetal position, “You’ll end up just like them.” She gestured to the piled bodies of the bodyguards and the Tri-Sec man.

“Understand?” He didn’t speak until she repeated herself. Swallowing hard he tried to answer but couldn’t make a sound and instead just nodded. “Good boy… you two, get out.” He said to the large men who grumbled as they left, dropping the poor girl to the ground half naked and sobbing. Looking at the man who had tried to stand up but fallen back to whimpering so quickly she scoffed and turned, mumbling “Coward,” under her breath as she closed the door hard, leaving the hostages alone for the moment.

In that instant the man’s personality changed. The moment they were gone he sat up and looked at the door, the cowardice was gone from his eyes and instead a blank stare replaced it. He breathed out in a sigh and then shrugged his dislocated shoulder, a pop could be heard as the joint went back into place, but he only made a grunt at the extreme pain before spitting out a clot of blood once more toward the door were their captures had just left, “God, I want to kill them…” he mumbled before looking over toward the woman who they had assaulted, “Are you alright miss? They didn’t hurt you did they?”

She couldn’t speak but one of the other secretaries had managed to crawl over to her and was comforting her as she shook her head no. the woman hurting her looked at the assistant and asked him quietly, “What do you think is going to happen to us?” she asked.

“I don’t know…” he lied. She had called the goon by a name; they were wearing the masks to keep up the persona that they were going to let them go. Most people knew that if a kidnapper let you see their face you were going to die, but lesser known was that if they used names and not numbers the same was most likely. He knew all too well that those men were probably going to kill them all when they were finished with whatever they wanted. But he couldn’t let them know that. The Tri-Sec man who had introduced himself as Jacob was dead, and things were getting worse.

“Will-will they save us?” another choked out looking at the corpses.

“I don’t know…”

Salem smiled as he shook Madison's hand. "That was quite an entrance. You to, Talon." He said gesturing to the black-haired man. "Those Holograms should come in handy."

"Now that most of you are here, I suppose I should give you some info. There has been a break in at the ascension Pharmaceutical augmentation company, and It's our job to get into the building, rescue the hostages, and find out why they did this. My name is Salem Cross, and you'll be serving under me. My only request, is that you follow my orders. I'm sure you can all handle yourselves in combat, but this is a fragile situation. These are supposed human purists, and they have been a thorn in our side for a while. Also, they are Russian. Russians don't fuck around. The equipment is in the copter, get yourselves suited up while we wait for Victor Morrison."

Jessie crossed her arms a bit as she listened she hated the idea of hostages. Looking at the helicopter she smirked a bit. “You have all our gear wonderful.” She turned to the helicopter and began walking over to it. “So I take it we are going to fly over and take care of the situation quickly and carefully with the least amount of damages. I also assume you want the purist taken alive for questioning right?” She said as she leaned against the helicopter. “Get me in range and I’ll bring the leader down.” She smiled pulling out her last Oreo in the pack and began tossing it about in her hand before twisting it apart. She smirked a bit. “I would like to know why they are so uppity all the time.” She looked over at Salem waiting for his orders.

Antony

Antony drops the half of the cookie then walks past Salem and Clarke.."I see, They couldn't keep there shit in place. When I was inside they hadn't spared any expense to keep everything inside and this occurred because they couldn't keep anyone out... Typical."

Moving up into the helicopter, Antony finds his things in order and begins suiting up for the mission.

Talon shrugging at the gun pointed at him, doesn't care enough to move or react anymore to it. Quickly recharging his holo-generator in a mall energizer station, Talon grabs a bunch of arrows which he makes vanish into his clothes. Plain black slightly airy drapy clothes meant to make him look like any other person.

"Hey can i get a 3-d blue-print of the building downloaded into my holo-gen and vis-tech glasses." Talon asks Salem and the director."

She let her hand drop back down to her side as she listened to what Cross had to say and it turned out that tonight might be enjoyable after all. So it was a hostage situation and an interrogation of the terrorists, and they were from Purity Fist. She grinned as Cross said that their gear was already in the chopper behind him, and Madison watched as the one who’d was named Jessie walk over to the vehicle to get her gear.
“Do we have a possible number of hostiles or is that a guess too?” she said to Cross as she made her way to the chopper to retrieve her trusted twin-pair of Zenith pistols and her normal combat gear, “So Jessie, you’ll be watching my rear?” she winked at the younger woman playfully.

Antony

Antony locked most of his armor down and placed his jacket in the locker, It was quite advantages that they gave them the gear they preferred. His outfit was suited to being under his armor and the only thing he had to replace was his belt in actuality. Digging through the locker there was also a silencer for his P90 along with an extra blade for his knife, So he went to placing them in the appropriate pouches on his vest and loaded two extra tray magazines into the equipment straps on his thighs.
He grabs a Desert Eagle from the rack and gives the gun a quick spin, Afterwards he loads a Mag into the weapon and pulls the slide back loading the first round. He stares at the gun for a moment almost admiring its shine and gleam as he slowly turns and shifts it in his view. Sliding the DE into his holster under his right arm, Antony finally sits and places his helmet on his knee while he waits for the others.

Looking back to Clark and the others as they trade there pleasantries, He stare at Jessie for a moment. In his mind he entertained the idea of her actually being an asset on the mission.
Over the past few years he had seen less and less women come into the testing labs, The only time he ever met one was when they used him in demonstrations for the higher ups. But ever since his sister became his liaison for off grid activities, He has only heard from her and her alone. Only to speak with Director Clarke when they tossed around the notion of using him in the field openly.
But to him, This Talon Night character he didn't quite trust. Anyone who would openly use such an Augment on there own team, In harm or in fun had something untrustworthy about them. Antony was making up his mind weather or not to put the screws to him, Should he over step his place or in danger the mission at any time.

He just leaned back and sighed with all the trouble they where about to get into, Despite the fact the team was chosen for specific reasons. Getting into a brawl with Purist in such tight places was not going to be pretty, He could take solace that he at least knew the building well enough to get around on his own.
In preparation for the fight he decides to test fire his arm actuators, So he holds his arm up and points it out into the open air. He goes through cycling motions for his arms start ups, Causing the pistons to fire slowly in succession [Tiss'k.. Tiss'k.. Tiss'k] Rings out just above the night air. His arm is showing perfect operation and his Heart has just had a work up in the last 24 hours so he knew that was fine.

Antony props his head back and lays the P90 across his lap, Lightly humming to himself as he waits.

Jessie moved over and grabbed a large container out of the locker she was assigned and smiled as she looked at the box that on its side was standing almost as tall as her. “I wonder if they got the order completely right this time.” She moved away from them not taking anything else out of the locker and put it down opening the case up reviling her gun. She looked it over and ran her fingers over it slowly smiling. “Hello beautiful.” She said to it as she closed the lid. “Well I need a map of the area Salem and height of the building and those around it so I have the best vantage point.” She smiled a bit as she pulled off her sweatshirt reviling a tight fitted black tank top and the location of her gun holstered on her hip. She looked around again at the crew assembled. “I’ll provide back up if things get hairy I’ll take my shot.” She said simply as she smiled at them all again.

Vic

"...The maps will be online, and area recon files uploaded to the Squad-server...as soon as I find my shoe." came a disembodied voice, as a strange man blurrs into view. Sure enough...his left shoe was missing. Short brown hair was kinda messed up, from sleep..by the look of his eyes. "..I am not used to this morining crap." he mutters, even though it was far from early. Discovering his shoe he grins, slipping it on.

A tone would sound, a section of his augmented hand sliding open to reveal a small screen. "The needed details are now ready to download. I took liberty of pin-pointing the highest elevations, with regards to targeting. A detailed sewer layout and venting schematic are also available..." Victor was detailed in his work. "These maps are military in origin, so they should be good. Or bad, you never can tell with them.." he shrugs and rests his head against a nearby wall. "Oh, Im Victor.."

As Darkshere charges up again, the cloaking system hummed softly "Who do I need to bribe to get something with sugar in it.." he grumbles, letting his augmented eye scan the others, painting them as FRIENDLY targets. Because lets face it...friendly fire just wasn't. "...Why was I called away from tracking down illegaly downloaded music, or whatever it is Im paid to do?"

Jessie looked over at him as he spoke about the vantage point and heights. She pulled out a small phone from her pocket and began clicking though a few different things till she found the file and began the downloading. She smirked as across her eyes the calculations and vantage points streamed. “Looks good for me and you need sugar huh I think I have one more cookie left and with this information should make my job rather simple thanks Victor.” She said as she pulled out the pack of Oreos and held it out for him.

She looked around again her eyes falling back on her case that was roughly her size and smiled. Running her hand though her hair she began pulling it up and into a pony tail. After doing that she stretched a bit her arms were augmented though looked normal not having the taste to make them look different. The augments on her arms only were there to insure she didn’t fracture her shoulder with every shot. She put the case down and sat on it ready for the commanding officer to give to go ahead to start the mission.

Antony

The night wind blows even colder since they joined up on the roof, Antony's cigaret had almost burned down to the filter. So he takes it from his lips and flicks it out over the buildings edge and watches it spin as it falls down to the streets below. Only to stop looking when he pulls another from the pack.

He lights the last clove of the night and turns his attention to Victor when he speaks his piece.. "Because we can't kill software pirates... At least not yet anyway, But I am crossing my fingers."