Talking Before The Slaying

JP with Trustno1 and Cindy

Alyssa had risen pretty much with the sun, early that morning. She had run a check of the systems in her van, before going inside to get breakfast.

After which she managed to secure an outside area to practice with the stake, a little, just in case. More so, though to test out the knife. While she could certainly feel power running through it, and it seemed to do more damage than an average knife, on her non-living, makeshift wooden target. Alyssa quickly got the feeling the real test of what the knife was capable of would be when she was in the midst of combat. The hacker really didn't like that but there wasn't much to do about it.

Then came lunch, then a shower and getting ready. She made sure there was enough room for everyone in the van, as using only one getaway vehicle was best.

Then she came back into the living room with a box of electronic items, and drank a Coke as she awaited for the others to gather in the living room before heading out.

Sartre awoke, showered, got dressed, and joined the hacker in the living room. He simply grabbed a soda and was not hungry. "Good afternoon my hacker." In the chip; “Before I got up this morning I could've sworn I heard you outside, you sounded a little bit like when we went upstairs last night." He smiled. “Were you practicing martial arts?"

"Not martial arts. I was practicing with the stake, just in case. Then I tested out the knife. I was trying to see what it could do." Alyssa responded, back into the chip.

"Do you think it will take a lot of time for you to get proficient with it? Are you planning on using it today? It looks like a regular knife, but do you feel anything different when you hold it or use it? Are you going in with us to get Louis Pasteur, Alyssa?" asked Sartre. "Oh I remember, you wanted to survey in the van." he said.

"I did the van before the practice." Alyssa answered his last question first. "I don't think it's an ordinary knife, at all, I can definitely feel power in it. I tried to tap into some of it, and it definitely did more damage than a normal knife would. And, no, I've already said I'm not going in with you, I'll be waiting in a van. Keeping an eye on the proceedings, hopefully. So, I can jump in, if needed." She pointed to the box full of electronic gear. "That's what this stuff is for."

"It will be good to keep in contact with you Alyssa, Are the others almost ready to go?"

Alyssa shrugged, "Not sure. We have time though. I'm guessing they'll be here soon."

"Did you dream last night?" asked Sartre.

"Don't remember, actually." Alyssa responded. "I guess then, if I did, it wasn't anything bad." A nice change of pace.

"I'm glad you have not had any bad dreams lately." Peter commented. "After we finish with this mission, we can petition the Council of Venice to allow us to become an official team. This will grant us access to special items that can be purchased with either Pax gold or street cash. These can include weapons, different types of bases as well as staff that we can hire. However; we must be very careful when purchasing these things." "I'm sure you would like a different base than just this rental." Again; we will have to clear it with Yukko at the Council of Venice."

"That would be a good idea. I was actually contemplating buying this place, but having different bases would be better." Alyssa responded. "And the more stuff to help the team the better."

“We're currently in what's listed as a ‘private residence,’ and I don't think we would want to waste all our pax on just a base right now. These things can be purchased in cash as well but that leaves a paper trail........" Peter said, then added. “I'll send a list to your phone.” He then asked; "Don't you have an estate Alyssa? It wouldn't cost anything."

"No, my parents have an estate. I don't own it." Alyssa explained. "At this point, it's really my mom's house, and she'd never give it to me."

"Looking over that menu, what do you think we should invest in after we slay The Vampire?" Peter asked.

"I think that's a team decision and one that requires more thought." Alyssa responded.

"Why would your mom never give you her house?" Sartre thought back to what he saw in Alyssa's mind.

"Because, it's her house, as she's told me, repeatedly. If it's even willed to me, it's because of my father. She lives there, and she doesn't like me. I'm surprised she lets me stay there at all." Alyssa's tone wasn't upset, more, it was the way things were.

"She shouldn't make it that way Alyssa." He reached to take her hand.

She accepted his hand. "Thanks for that. I doubt anything will change her mind about me. I suspect, at some point, she'll cut me out of her life or I'll get fed up enough to cut her out of mine completely." It wasn't that much of a push as her relationship with her mother was barely hanging on by a thread, at this point.

“Know that I'm here for you, no matter what Alyssa." he said.

She gave him a small smile, "I know but thanks for that."

"Will you be wearing your hoodie and shades when you do surveillance?" Peter changed the subject.

I usually don't wear my shades when doing that.. My hoodie, I'll wear, if I feel like it. It might be too warm for it." Alyssa responded.

"Either way, you look like a cool hacker."

Alyssa smiled at him. "Can you help sort out the stuff in this box?" Pointing to the box of electronic equipment

"Absolutely." As he sorted he heard Alyssa's phone ring.