[Nexus] MURDER I: Causing Fear Since About Five Minutes Ago.

[Devixer]

[The Operative's Office]

"Firstly, I have two requests. One: Your name. Two: How far your psychic messages travel. Secondly, I want you to speak to me, not your modulator." The Operative's voice is a monotone, but even over the phone, it manages to sound scary. Of course, he wants the person's voice for a practical reason.

[Murkus]

The Operative's Office

"I'm afraid I cannot comply." The voice doesn't specify which. Perhaps all of them. "State your business or the line will be terminated." Perhaps his reasons for making such requests.

[Devixer]

[The Operative's Office]

Seemed this guy was uncooperative. That was one of the fastest ways to lose points with the masked specter. His voice somehow grows darker as he replies. "My business is rooting out competition."

[Murkus]

The Operative's Office

There's a too-long pause.

Then someone presses a speaker-button, and a smooth, deep, if equally monotonic voice comes through the line.

"My psychic field extends over this entire continent." Teq clarifies politely, holding the mic close to his mouth. "It, too, is for rent."

[Devixer]

[The Operative's Office]

At first, the Operative's only response is "Better." Still no name, but he could work with a voice. "Tell me your feelings on a more permanent cooperation." Those feelings better be positive, because Teq's other option is being removed.

[Murkus]

The Operative's Office

There's the sound of someone leaning back in a rather squeaky chair. As a result, Teq's voice is slightly quieter. Still the same smooth use of anonymity, however. "I feel interested." He sighs. "But I don't now if I can trust you."

[Devixer]

[The Operative's Office]

The Operative feels a slight satisfaction. "Your uncertainty is justified, of course. But I do insist you believe me when I say that this is one of your better options."

[Murkus]

The Operative's Office

"Don't threaten me." Comes that same voice, clear as day. There's a cautionary edge to Teq's tone, but it's very slight. The creature's good at controlling his emotions, as a such a criminal ought to be. "What would a partership entail?"

[Devixer]

[The Operative's Office]

"'Threat' is not the term I would use." The Operative waits for a few moments, letting that sink in. "Simple, really. You work for me, and you get a cut of all payments, same as my other members."

[Murkus]

The Operative's Office

There's another pause, another sigh. It sounds like Teq just lit a match, and he breathes out heavily. "I set my own rates. And you get a cut. Which we can agree on later." A click. "A partnership."

[Devixer]

[The Operative's Office]

"Oh, you're going to have to do much better than that. See, I said cooperation. I did not say partnership." Oh dear, it would seem that the Operative is not budging.

[Murkus]

The Operative's Office

"I can donate certain items to your organization, if a partnership could be arranged." A pause. "Such as the Psychic Transmission Device."

[Ashen Lilies]

[The Operative's Office - Kal]

Normally, the Operative would be able to see through any lie, no matter how well it was told. But, because of the interesting results of his last attempt, the spectre has decided not to read Kal's mind. Still, he's not exactly a trusting person.

"Fair enough. Now we get to the important question. What exactly can you contribute to our assets? What are your skills?"

The Operative's Office - Kal]

After what seems almost like a week (), but can only have been seconds, Kal answers.
"Well, I can kill things. I guess that's what you want to hear most, isn't it? Up close and silently is what I'm used to, but I'm familiar with everything - guns, explosives, poisons, you name it. As for what sets me apart from 80% of my graduating class?" It's only 80% because his graduating class was like, 5 people.
"I can talk. I can negotiate, tempt, tease, bluff, counter-bluff, sense motives, deal, bargain, infiltrate, seduce and gather information. Now, I'm not sure about your other members, maybe they're all the smoothest rakes in all of Rakesville, but I think it's safe to say that if you ever have a job that requires an assassin or a spy of the more personable sort, your options are going to be somewhat limited."
I mean, can you imagine a brusque, militant psychopath like Warsh trying to put the charm on someone?
And I imagine Fade has already proven his track record with making friends with WATCHTOWER...
...
"Also, do you have a torture room?"

[Devixer]

[The Operative's Office]

"I have little interest in a transmission device," the Operative says. This was mostly because he was already a psion, so he had little need for it as well. "But why don't you give me a partial list of the other items you can donate?"

[The Operative's Office - Kal]

((Ninjas!))

The Operative considers the information given to him by Kal. "I will admit that we're rather low on people who can actually have a charming personality. I could use myself as an example for that." The guy is a ghost whose face is a gas mask. He's not exactly sociable. So, having someone who could take his way out of things just as easily as killing his way out of things could be quite useful.

The question of a torture room is answered quickly. "Four, actually. Torture is something of a specialty of mine, and I know it can be very lengthy. As such, a room might be occupied when another is needed."

[Murkus]

The Operative's Office

"Weapons that can kill gods."

Teq says very simply. He thinks that alone should be enough to pique some interest.

[Ashen Lilies]

[The Operative's Office - Kal]

The Operative considers the information given to him by Kal. "I will admit that we're rather low on people who can actually have a charming personality. I could use myself as an example for that." The guy is a ghost whose face is a gas mask. He's not exactly sociable. So, having someone who could take his way out of things just as easily as killing his way out of things could be quite useful.

The question of a torture room is answered quickly. "Four, actually. Torture is something of a specialty of mine, and I know it can be very lengthy. As such, a room might be occupied when another is needed."

[The Operative's Office - Kal]

"Well, I'm not much of an expert, admittedly, but, y'know, devil. Even the least of us knows a few tricks." Says Kal.

[Devixer]

[The Operative's Office - Teq]

You'd think that, but no, not really. But the Operative does have other members to consider, and they'd probably be rather cross if he skipped out on god-killing weapons. So, he decides to fake interest with a simple pause.

"Perhaps we should discuss this further in person."

[The Operative's Office - Kal]

The Operative considers this for a while. "You said you were familiar with multiple weapons and poisons. Would you mind showing me that familiarity?"

[Murkus]

The Operative's Office - Teq

Teq pauses again. How odd.

"Where?" He breathes out, trying not to get in the habit of sighing.

[Devixer]

[The Operative's Office - Teq]

Oh, the Operative's been noting every pause. He Hopes he'll soon be able to afford some proper surveillance gear. The specter gives Teq directions to the facility that I can't be bothered to elaborate. "Oh, and I'd request you come alone."

[Murkus]

The Operative's Office - Teq

There's a click as Teq hangs up.

Minutes later, about a hundred feet outside the base, a humanoid silhouette made of static flickers into existence. It slowly starts to grow more solid, becoming a creature over eight feet in height. Teq is dressed in an ancient coat and broad-brimmed hat, torn and ragged around the edges. Holes are plentiful, as are pockets. A simple, especially broad belt holds up a pair of faded jeans. The creature's skin is a sun-scorched dark red. His gangly limbs certainly help add to his height, and the creature's wiry arms reach a little past his knees. Teq's mouth is a system of toothy mandibles, currently folded and capable of complex expression His eyes are a shade of amber. The strange thing about those eyes is the fact that they seem to have multiple pupils. Four per eye, all collectively surrounded by the same shifting iris, all pressing against one another in continuously stranger patterns. Jewels seem to be molded into the skin at his elbows, one a deep purple and the other a bright greenish-blue.

Teq Vraal makes his way forward, pushing into the bar and looking at the bartender quietly. "I'm here to talk about a job."

[Devixer]

[The Front]

John Doe sighs. It seemed that nobody wanted to do things the normal way. If it weren't for the Operative, Teq would probably have been sent off. As it is, though, the bartender will be allowing him into the base proper. "Head in the elevator in the back room."

Meanwhile, the Operative is back in his office, trying to probe this new mental presence. He can only get a name, of course.

[Murkus]

The Front --> Operative's Office

The Operative comes up against a blockage. Low-level psychic training, no-doubt.

"Thank you." Teq says. He gives a curt nod and steps into the elevator.

Moments later, there's a knock on the Operative's office. Unless the spectre objects, Teq will likely stoop and slip inside.

"Good setup." He comments, turning his head to scan the room.

[Devixer]

[The Operative's Office - Teq]

The spectre doesn't object. Though he does make attempts to pass that blockage. He doesn't have training, but his psionics have been developing somewhat. He might be making eye contact with Teq, though it's hard to tell.

"Yes, I thought so when I had it built. Would you sit down?"

[Murkus]

The Operative's Office - Teq

He manages to get the first name - Teq - before likely being cut off again.

The giant shakes his head. "I'll stand." The chairs probably couldn't fit him. "You're interested in weapons?"

[Devixer]

[The Operative's Office - Teq]

The Operative decides that a first name good enough - for now. He just didn't have the skill yet to effectively deal with others that had psychic training.

He doesn't press any further to get Teq to sit. "Partially. Mostly, I'm interested in getting you to cooperate with this organization." Not quite a full membership - some people were just too stubborn to be worn down to that from one meeting - but the spectre thinks that he can get something out of this.

[Murkus]

The Operative's Office - Teq

The Vraal nods, removing his hat and setting it on the desk quietly. The top of his head is covered in short, thick spikes. Arranged almost like a modest haircut.

"I can cooperate. But I won't share my profits or my weapons unless there's a good reason."

[Devixer]

[The Operative's Office]

The Operative could go with threats, but he decides not to. The simple knowledge that Teq could be making an enemy might be enough.

"Simple: You need both allies, and a base of operations. The latter, you may have. But forgive me if I presume that you work alone. That's fine, at first, but you might occasionally run into gaps that your abilities alone can't fill."

[Murkus]

The Operative's Office

"I've done fine." Teq says promptly, shrugging off his coat and hanging it on a nearby hook. Well, presuming the office has coathooks.

His gaze, cold and flat, remains on the Operative. "And I still don't see a reason to share what's mine."

[Devixer]

[The Operative's Office]

It doesn't have any coat hooks. One oversight that the Operative had, partially because he's - well, you know.

The spectre's mask remains just as unreadable as always. "Well, if you want to take on the Nexus alone, then be my guest, but I assure you, that is something you will most likely fail."

[Murkus]

The Operative's Office

Makes sense. So the hitman merely throws his coat over the nearest chair, likely covering the furniture entirely.

Teq sighs. "I suppose some help wouldn't be a bad thing."