"These jobs are too easy," Reiko said, downing a cup of soda he found in the fridge. "Or we're too good."

"I agree," Zeph said. "I admit, I was worried that this would be dangerous, or more dangerous at least, but nothing bad is happening. I think it's safe to say we can take it pretty easy."

"I wouldn't," Cecily said, sitting alone on the second couch.

Reiko had noticed that she was starting to give off more of a relaxed feeling. It was...weird. She still didn't talk much, and he didn't know if that was a plus or a minus, but her being comfortable made him a bit more comfortable. Kind of a feeling of 'she's probably not going to kill us all now, so we're good.'

As much as he hated to admit it, he also felt a bit bad about the whole electrocuting thing. Okay, really bad. Not that he'd ever tell her that. Or anyone for that matter.

"What are you talking about?" Reiko asked her. "You're more relaxed than anyone on missions."

"Because I know I can win in a fight." Almost as a second thought, she added, "Unless someone feels like electrocuting me."

Oh, that was it. "Hey, I thought you were going to kill him, okay? You were basically on his neck!"

"I wasn't going to."

"She wasn't going to kill me," Orion chimed in.

"No one asked you!"

"Alright!" Zeph yelled. "That's enough of the arguing. Rei messed up and Cecily's terrifying. We get it."

As if she didn't hear what he said about her, she happily took another sip of tea. She had an addiction to the stuff. Better than drugs, Rei supposed.

"Continuing on with our jobs," the prince said, pulling up something on his tablet before handing it over to Cecily who took it happily, "Sei Wong is the next target. Possible slave trader and definitely working with pirates."

"Pirates?" Alma squeaked.

Rei nodded. "Mostly trading, which isn't too bad. It's the products that he's trading that got him on the list. Drugs, humans, and illegal weapons."

"Unfortunately," Zeph continued, snatching the tablet back from Cecily, "he doesn't really have a routine or a sound home, so it'll be hard to attack based of a schedule."

"Doesn't have a sound home?" Orion echoed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means he lives in a small house on a beach towards the west, but often goes out for week long boating trips. The man is something like a bird. He does what he wants when he wants. I've been prolonging this one for so long because his week of being on land ends in about two days. But that's the most we have one him."

"So we don't know where he'll be or where he'll go?" Rei asked.

"And he knows he's on the list."

All eyes went to the price, even Cecily's dark iris' held a small level of shock.

"It was reported a few days ago that there was a break in on the palace, after we left. Someone managed to get a full copy of the list."

"How do you know it was him?"

"Traces of volcanic sand, only found on the beach where he and he alone lives, were found there. There's a small chance that it wasn't him but..."

"We need to be careful when we approach him," Orion said.

"Exactly."

"Well, careful enough," Reiko half laughed, leaning back on the couch. "In case you've forgotten, it's been pretty easy up until now."

Zeph gave a half smile. "Well, just don't get yourself killed. It's not like it's completely unheard of for our side of things to end up dead."

---

Cecily was mad, to say the least.

Reiko and Zephyr had so brilliantly devised the plan this time. She was left standing guard of the outside of the small mansion, nearly a large house. Orion had gone in, alongside Reiko. Zeypher and Alma were about half a mile away, thought still connected through a com device.

"Okay," Zephyer said to both Reiko and Orion, though Cecily had no choice but to listen in on it. "You should be coming up on a-"

There was a rustle in the bushes to the convicts right.

She looked over, not moving.

The mansion itself was placed on the very edge of a forest that changed into a beach. While to entrance was facing out towards the ocean, where there were no trees or coverage, the sides and back were perfectly covered by trees and bushes. That meant perfect cover for whatever was there.

And it was a matter of whatever. Having spent plenty of time in the forest, she could easily tell the difference between something living and a breeze. But this was different. It was more than a rabbit or some rodent. But it wasn't something huge either. Perfectly in between for a human.

"Cecily?" Zephyer's voice said in her ear. "You still there?"

"Got movement," she replied. "I'm looking into it."

"Be careful."

Her hand gripped the hilt of the blade that was above her shoulder. The longsword was the most simple of the weapons she'd taken with her, right next to the daggers, so she usually liked to stick with that for a simple fight. Most fights were simple fights.

Her steps were slow, precise, and planned. Each one landed gently on the ground, almost as though her feet didn't touch the ground itself.

"I know you're there," she said.

She watched as not one, but three people stepped out of the underbrush. They were good, she thought. Well acquainted with the forest if they could move like that.

But not as good as her.

"I'm assuming you're with the prince," the first one said, his voice a bit lower that she would've guessed.

The three of them were all men. All generally average in size and muscle, but that didn't give her the opportunity to relax. After all, she herself looked small and frail.

The first one, short cut blond hair and a small layer of stubble. He was, out of the three, the biggest, but he looked to be about six feet tall.

"She looks pathetic," the second one, who looked to be the youngest with decent lengthed brown hair and a smooth face. "I could take her on myself."

"Where's the fun in that?" The third, who looked like an older version of the second asked. "Let me take her on."

"Permission to kill," Cecily spoke.

"What?" The voice in her ear echoed with the voices in front of her.

"Three people with weapons are standing in front of me. Permission to kill?"

"You arrogant little-" The second started, but she didn't really care what she had to say.

"Try to knock them out first. If you truly feel like you can't, then...fine. But I swear to the gods, if you don't break a sweat trying to knock them out I'll... I'll sick Rei on you again."

"You know what?" Reiko yelled in both of their ears. "Just screw off."

"Shut up, you idiot," Zepher yelled. "You're in the middle of a mission."

"Are you even listening to me!" The second one yelled. Apparently, he'd been talking. "You little bi-"

"So, did your master give you permission to kill us?" The first asked.

"Only if you give me a hard time."

If the second wasn't throwing a fit already, that sure sent him into one. He was yelling, flailing a long sword pointed in her direction.

The first continued to talk. "What a good dog. You have the collar and everything, huh? You're the convict aren't you? Mr. Wong found more than just the list in the palace, you know. He found the five of you."

"If you don't mind," Cecily said, "I'm not big on talking."

The second one, now completely done with her attitude, was already lunging, blade swinging down on her.

She stepped to the side, avoiding the messy swing with graceful ease. Maybe she wouldn't even have to draw.

She rested her mechanic right hand on the back of Number Two's neck before tightly gripping, but not enough to break his neck. Bringing her knee up, she landed hit to his stomach. Not only could the sound of breaking ribs be heard, she could feel it in her knee.

The second fell with a nice thud. He let out a deafening wail as his body curled around itself like a struggling worm.

Number One let out a low whistle, drawing the attention of her obsidian eyes. "Would you look at that? The pup's got some fight in her. This ought to be fun."

He smirked, revealing oddly sharp teeth under his thin lips.

It took her less than a second to size him up. It took even less time for Number Three to be at her side, fat arms ready to knock her off her feet.

Her mechanic arm drew the weapon, only so fast that she could pull it up.

The thought of blocking for defense automatically turned to offense. The blade turned in her hand as it was being drawn.

She stood her ground, grunting as her small arms took on the massive weight being pushed onto her. Blood splattered from the blade, which was a mere four or so inches from her cheek, onto her face.

Number Three let out a blood curdling scream.

With her blade lodged in between the bone and muscle of his knuckles, she had no choice but to duck when the blow from his free hand went at her.

Unfortunately for Number Three, he had greatly misjudged her ability to adjust. Now, low to the ground, both hands of her opponent either brutally maimed or mid swing, she had a great view of his neck.

With one hand unwilling to let go of the blade and her arm span much to short to reach from there, she kicked. The blow landed on its mark, hitting him right in his Adam's apple. With a choking sound, he stumbled back. He would've taken her blade with him too, if it wasn't her mechanical hand that was gripping on so tight.

With the sword dislodged from his fist, there was nothing keeping the blood from spraying.

Right into her eyes.

In fear of being blinded, she closed them quickly. But not before catching sight of the first man charging her, a smile on his face.

With only a slight idea of what was going on, she swung the blade as hard as her mechanical hand would allow.

"Woah there, little pup," Number One's voice said. "You didn't think I'd attack you when you were blinded, did you?"

Though she tried to keep her face steeled, she could feel a scowl forming.

"Go ahead," the man continued. "There's no fun in attacking a blinded opponent."

It wasn't him that she trusted, but her ability to hear his footsteps and land a nasty blow with a blade.

Taking her left sleeve, she smeared the blood so it wouldn't drip into her eyes.

When she opened them again, she found the man standing back a few feet, her com device in his hand.

Her hand flew to her ear...to find the small device missing.

"Well," the man said, "I did only say I wouldn't attack. And I didn't either."

Now her face was full scowl. She could even feel a growl in the back of her throat.

"Ooh, scary." He tossed her back the com device. "Thank the gods for me, I don't actually have to fight you. I'd be dead within seconds. Well, actually, I'd probably be down since your master said no killing if you can." He must've seen the look on his face. "Oh, you still don't get it, do you? We were the distraction, Pup."

She quickly slid the com back in her ear.

"Zephyr?" She called.

No response.

"Alma?"

Nothing.

"Orion? Reiko?"

The time, there was a reply. But not from any voice she knew.

"It's about time you picked up, Cecily Earnheart. I hear you're the most dangerous of them all. Your friends and I are all waiting for you here, so you'd better hurry up and get over here. I've been dying to fight you."

One look sent Number One running away.

She was pissed.