The Mercenary Grind

[weapons_mistress]

"Adri, I have a new list of prospective jobs," Millicent called to her best friend, who was currently in the kitchen. "Do you want me to read through them?"

Comments

[weapons_mistress]

Millicent nods at Adrienne's observations, the two did very much think alike when you got past their personality differences. She took another once over on the fourth job, reconfirming what she had read earlier.

"Says he was part of a investigation into a rather sizable Triad heroin smuggling operation, but it was discovered he'd actually been paid off by the group for some time," Millicent paraphrased. Apparently after he was discovered, he went to his employers and is currently being sheltered."

[ze_leaper]

Adrienne came out of the kitchen, a pair of plates and silverware in hand, giving one to Millicent.

"A traitor then," Adrienne said. "Always a fun chase. Though the Triads always complicate things."

[weapons_mistress]

"Indeed, especially since one Triad can be radically different from another in methodology and tactics. Plus I am unfamiliar with this specific group, the Onyx Owl Triad," Millicent conceded.

[ze_leaper]

She shook her head. "Not one I am familiar with either. I have little desire to be on the run for the rest of my life."

[weapons_mistress]

"Agreed. No one quite knows how to pursue a feud quite like the Triads. We would have to be on our A-game, not to mention research this thoroughly if we go with it," Millicent explained.

[ze_leaper]

"Still a potentially promising job."

Though a posted bounty was less negotiable than some of the other options.

"What do we know about the Czech crime boss?"

[weapons_mistress]

"Vševidoucí Oko," Millicent said in near-perfect Czech. "Means "All Seeing Eye", though most just call him Oko. Rumored to be a fairly powerful precognitive, which has kept him ahead of local law enforcement as well as Interpol. He's even given Shield the slip a time or two. Building himself a sizable powerbase in central Europe and he's making both the Russians and the Italians nervous as to where he plans to expand to next."

[ze_leaper]

That got an eyeroll and a sigh of disgust. "I hate fighting precogs. Remember that one in Berlin?"

[weapons_mistress]

"Ugh, cocky bastard went on and on about how he knew our every move before we'd even make it." Millicent thought a moment. "Didn't you end up hitting him with a shoe?"

[ze_leaper]

That got a laugh out of her. "Didn't see that one coming, did he!"

[weapons_mistress]

"Heh, quite." She goes back to the list before giving a snort. "There's one here that wants you to teach him savate!"

[ze_leaper]

That got another eyeroll.

"Oh, yes. And I am sure that is all he wants."

[weapons_mistress]

That got another chuckle out of Millicent. She narrowed her eyes upon reading the next one.

"This is an odd one. German expedition found, and I'm quoting, a man in a Prussian military uniform "frozen in ice". This one's direct from the German government. Man's still in ice, they want us to act as added security while they take it to a military installation."

[ze_leaper]

That got a head tilt out of her.

"Intriguing," she said after a moment. "A lot of variables, but potentially a lot of pay for not very much work."

[weapons_mistress]

"Indeed, and I admit I'm interested in just who this frozen Prussian is. Another tidbit, according to this report, this is being kept confidential. No word to the press. Very hush hush," she explained.

[ze_leaper]

She nodded. "Secrets? Ohh la la."

Another nod. "That one, then?"

[weapons_mistress]

"I am if you are. We'd have to contact them promptly. They've offered to pay for the plane ride."

[ze_leaper]

"Let us take that one then. It has aroused my curiosity."

[weapons_mistress]

Getting everything set up hadn't taken long. Millicent and Adrienne had been flown by private plane to a relatively unsettled area of the German countryside. When they landed they were greeted by German government officials.

"This way, please," the official asked in German, indicating what appeared to be a barn.

[ze_leaper]

Adrienne tugged her mask into place. It wasn't needed for disguise, but it was part of the look. And she would need to remember the accent.

Millicent's spoken German was better than her own, though she could understand it well enough. So she would let her take the lead.

[weapons_mistress]

"Very well," Millicent responded back in German. "Will we then be filled in on the particulars?"

"Yes. Our boss will explain what is to be expected inside," the agent replied as they made their way into the barn.

The "barn" was actually a makeshift research facility. While not the most advanced facility Millicent had ever seen, it certainly was impressive. An older woman in sunglasses noticed them enter and came over.

"I'll take it from here," she spoke in German to the agents. When they left she spoke in English. "Ms. Zaran, Ms. Batroc, I suspect you have questions."

[ze_leaper]

Adrienne nodded. "Zis seems like an awful lot. What kind of trouble are you expecting, exactly?"

[weapons_mistress]

"Considerable trouble," she replied plainly. "The two of you were hired because you both have strong reputations for discretion. Am I correct?"

"You have heard right," Millicent answered. "So what are we guarding, what are the particulars, and just who are we working for?"

"I am Agent Rossel of the Übermenschlicher Verteidigungsdienst, though Superhuman Defense Force, SDF, will do."

"I've never heard of it," Millicent said, curious.

"Then we're doing our job. Our organization was created as a means of defense against the number of supervillains with deep ties to the dark days of the Third Reich. I'm certain you're aware of the experiments along with the rise of the old Thule Society, ya?"

[ze_leaper]

She nodded again. Everyone in their circle new the stories. There was always some old Nazi or Thule Society weapon or artifact someone was willing to pay for. Often, the buyers were Nazis themselves or Neo-Nazis or worse.

"Zey left much out zere that should never see ze light of day again."

[weapons_mistress]

"Indeed. What very few people know is that before they came into widespread practice among the Nazi elite, they existed as very small fringe elements within the old German Empire of World War 1. One of the Kaiser's advisers had contacts among certain secret societies that believed they could grant a man special powers. von Hindenburg and Ludendorff dismissed it as nonsense. The Kaiser on one of his moments of..whimsy had his adviser discreetly give one of these groups his discrete permission to pursue the creation of an "ubermensch"," Rossel explained as she led the other women deeper inside. They saw a pair of pulleys carefully raising a block of ice. Inside the ice was a mustached-man wearing a Prussian military uniform. "We've been tentative on trying to to extract any DNA until proper security protocols are in place."

Millicent observed the man, not really able to determine how old he was, though he looked middle-age.