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By the time Mark texted him, Gale had been ready for a good several hours and had been having a very unproductive conversation with Jinhai.

<< Don't be nervous. >>

I'm not nervous.

<< Liar. >>

Shut up.

It was true - he was not nervous, but a small amount of apprehension had seeped into his veins. It had been a while since he had last run a mission - and the last time it had not even been anything huge. This was not huge, Gale determined, but it was important nonetheless and he was in charge.

He typed out a quick message:



As he made his way down to the office, the phone still in his hand, Gale scrolled down the list of names in his contacts list, pausing every few moments to select one, add it to the message. His footsteps slowed, coming to a stop in the middle of the hallway, his eyes retracing the lines of each name.

Here goes nothing, thought Gale, and pressing his lips together, he hit send.






The list was small. Finished, Gale tucked the phone into his pocket, straightened his shoulders, and made his way down the hallway towards the office. When he arrived, he peered through the open doorway, rapping his fist against the wood.

"I'm here, sir."

Gale would be intruding on the Death Division leader and impromptu assistant mulling over a computer. It looked like a simple enough laptop, sleek, grey, design stolen probably from some catalog online, though it hummed and glowed a familiar runic blue at odd intervals.

Click. "The simulation still doesn't work." Click. Caelius looked more or less like how he always looked in expression as he navigated the screen with an equally sleek in design mouse. Click.

Mark, however, seemed about ready to strangle someone that was not his 'boss', his hair already in odd clusters. "Did you - wait - stop - look. Just click the mouse button. Twice."

"Why would you click it twice when you tap the screen once."

"Because, just, ARGGGG, here-" Mark made a grab for the mouse, stopped from the mid-glare he was receiving, and continued to watch as Caelius pretty much moved a mouse up and down the screen. Click. Click. After much more self-hair wrangling, the Hunter finally remotely connected his cell phone, something he really should have done ages ago, as the screen moved around and actually opened files. "Okay, so this simulation here, shows that-"

- The runic laptop suddenly began to blare sexy music, and the distinct sound of well -

"..." To his credit, the Death Division leader's expression did not change.

"I- I can explain!" Mark however, looked like he was just about ready to burst into flames as he quickly closed down the window - that continued to pop up, again and again and- "I uh," he licked his lips, "I totally forgot that I viral video'ed 'Two Girls one Runic Dagger' a few days ago you know, as a joke, haha, a joke..... yeah I'm just.... let's just forget that ever happened."

Awkward silence.

"So um, Gale!" Mark finally noticed the trainee as he tried his very hardest not to end his own life prematurely right then and there. "You have a team ready? I'm just about to bring up the chart I compiled last night, hopefully it'll be useful you know, like a guided map." He paused. "You didn't happen to get my video last night too did you?"

...why did he feel like he was intruding.

Standing in the doorway to Caelius' office, Gale folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the doorframe, watching the scene from a reasonably safe distance. Caelius was leaning over what appeared to be a laptop, mad-haired Mark standing beside him and looking as though he might be losing said hair , and they were both arguing.

Gale thought it best to stay far away until they were finished.

There was lots of clicking - some swearing - a bit of teeth grinding (who knew Caelius was so...technologically stagnant), a few more clicks, and then finally -

What on earth.

Whatever the case might have been, Gale had the distinct impression that the sounds coming from the laptop had nothing to do with the mission.

...at least he hoped not.

...he really, really hoped not.

Dammit, Mark, he was not Dakota.

Thankfully a distraction came in the form of footsteps and one familiar redheaded girl that appeared around the corner, and Gale gave Molly a relieved smile, trying to ignore the fact that his face was now bright, bright red.

"Hey," he said, and attempted a smile at her - which wasn't really a smile, more of a small quirk of his lips in a halfhearted try. He turned back to Mark, grateful for the sudden silence, and said "Yeah, I've got a team ready. Molly's here already, and - "

More footsteps. Gale did not have to turn around to recognize the voice.

" - Fini is, too. Bix and Eva should be on their way as well..."

He trailed off, eyeing Mark, and then sighed, shaking his head.

"...nope."

She was going to attempt to erase the last two minutes from her mind. If it was at all possible. Which of course wouldn't happen since Vashi was too amused by it and started to hum the song that had played - how the hell he even KNEW it was a mystery.

"...Gale." The way she said his name was almost equivalent to pinning him against the wall and threatening to steal his lunch money. Fini wanted to know what the hell was going on. And why he'd texted her to come and help.

Thankfully for him, she was distracted with looking at the other female. And offering her a small smile. "Hi there, Molly! I'm Infinity. Nice to meet you too." Hopefully. She leaned her back against the wall across from the office door, waiting to be given a little more information on this so called 'mission'.

Bix wasn't long. The albino hunter had been mostly back to his old self lately. Despite some discouraging news, other good things had happened at it was enough to keep his mood at an even keel... It also helped that he'd started shaving again (but was that a tiny triangle of white hair under his lip? was he attempting a soul patch?).

"Hey Fini." Bix hadn't seen the other hunter in a while and gave her a grin and a wave. Mentally he congratulated Gale on snagging a lady into the mission. He then saw the familiar flared coat, the strawberry blond curls bouncing in the doorway of the office. For some reason he didn't think about who was there inside and possibly looking. He had noticed a bit more elaborate markings on the coat and gave Fini the 'SHHHHH' finger as he snuck up behind Molly like a creeper.

Creep. Creep.

"AHMAHGAD MOLLY!" He grabbed her sides suddenly, shaking her a bit. He knew she was going to scream. She'd probably be so mad.. but he couldn't let the opportunity slide. "Why didn't you tell me you got promoted!?" He followed with a laugh, lifting her off the ground in a quick hug (so she couldn't run or hit him) and deposited her back on the ground. He stepped back quickly though feeling suddenly unsure about where they were with affection levels.

As the audacity of what he'd done sunk in, his face turned red. He saw Gale... then turned slowly and his red face darkened. Oh there was .... other people.. Caelius. The hunter was beet red by the time he deadpanned at the room. "Uhh.. umm.. hi guys?" At least it wasn't H.

Molly just beamed wider at Fini, and at the arrival of Eva, another beam went her way, and she returned the one armed hug, and she was about to greet Bix after hearing his voice until—

The Intermediate inhaled sharply, about to squeal, and then immediately clamped her hands over her mouth. Oh goodness, oh goodness, oh goodness…not in front of a division lead! Molly did shuffle quite a distance away from the albino after he hugged her, her gaze briefly saying Why Bix, why? How could you do this to me? Betrayal. Luckily she managed to get herself under control, and smoothed out her new coat and turned to Mark as he started to brief them.

Molly’s eyes widened. The Sahara…that’s where they were going? Her brows furrowed as she listened further. Oh dear…

Did she have any questions…? Well…yeah…but none she wanted to ask in fear they sounded stupid… She glanced at her other team mates, to see how they were feeling or if they had anything to ask.

Fini grinned at the newest arrival, nodding her head in greeting. Yet another person she was not familiar with, but really, that wasn't too much of a surprise. Since she didn't exactly go out of her way to make friends and the like. Though she was making more of an effort to at least learn who all was in her division.

...sort of.

She didn't mind that the other girl had apple shoved in her mouth as she spoke. It wasn't like Fini expected special treatment since she didn't know the girl! A small snicker escaped and she waved a hand. "S'all good! Don't think we have. I'm Infinity. Nice to meet ya, Eva." Then a real laugh bubbled up briefly.

Followed by some grunts and grumbles in her own mind.

"Pleasure to you too, Chara. This," she flicked one of the earrings dangling from her ears, "is my partner, Vashi."

The sight of another familiar face did wonders to relax the inner nerves Fini felt. A bright grin met Bix's greeting, accompanied by a twinkle in her eyes as she nodded slightly and kept quiet. Then tried not to laugh (too much) at Molly. Or at Bix's flushed expression afterwards.

Sadly, the light banter died quickly and her expression became neutral as she listened to their briefing. And then her expression devolved into a frown. Why did she have a bad feeling about this? And not just because of where...and what they were going to check out. There just seemed to be, well Fini couldn't put her finger on it. But it seemed to always crop up when mission briefings were given. Right before a crazy a** mission.

She glanced between the others, wondering if they all felt the same. Then shot a look at the one who'd texted them in the first place. She was so getting him back later! If she survived. And all that.