Recruitment: Marie the Specialist (Part 1)
The day was young in the quaint commune of Albi. The bell
from the cathedral signalled to all that midday had arrived. Marie strolled
through the bustling streets with mild glee. She waved to the locals as she
passed. Albi was a tight knit community and she's the only Grey Clouded Leopard
living amongst them.
A warm spring day was very welcoming so she had decided to
wear a beautiful cream summer frock she had stored away all winter. Her waist
length auburn hair had been tied up in a ponytail showing off her slender
athletic figure. It certainly got attention from some of the local boys that
gazed at her with heated eyes.
As per her routine she's on her way back home after a
comforting service at the cathedral. She approached the door of her home nested
away in a small stone court. She takes out the key she had kept between her
bosoms and just before she sticks it in the lock she froze. Her glee was
quickly replaced with a grim look. Her eyes fixed on the doorstep where two
tiny thin pieces of lead rested. It was the lead she had left in the door that
morning before she left. If the door had been opened while she was gone the
lead would snap and fall... which it had.
Without further delay she opened the door and took a few
carful steps inside. She closes the door behind her and turns to a painting hanging
next to the entrance. It was a portrait of Albi painted by an ambitious local
artist. As beautiful as it was it now had to be ruined. She threw her paw right
through the painting and pulled out a hidden pistol on the other side. She
quickly checks the clip then loads the first round in the chamber.
Her sea green eyes scanned her surroundings carefully to see
if anything else in her house had been disturbed. She noticed a strange scent
in the air that wasn't her own, the scent of a male. Her sharp ears pick up the
sound of boiling water. Her intruder was in the kitchen. Is he making himself something to eat?
Puzzled by the situation she continues through the foyer and
presses her back against the wall. She peeks around the corner looking through
the archway into the kitchen.
She sees a large white mammal standing at her stove with his
back to her wearing a black t shirt and blue jeans. He seemed unusually calm
for a trespasser.
"You can come out now. I mean you no harm," the intruder
speaks with a clear English accent, not even peeking over his shoulder.
Marie doesn't reply she keeps her hands held firmly around
her weapon ready to shoot in a heartbeat.
"I put the kettle on. I thought you might want a nice cup of
tea while we talk. If it makes you any more comfortable you can bring the gun."
She is hit with a glimpse of surprise. If he knows about the gun why didn't he remove it before I came?
She is reluctant to greet her intruder with any civility but
curiosity had taken hold so after a taking a deep breath to get her nerves
under control she steps out and points the gun carefully at the back of his
neck, "Who are you?"
"A simple visitor, mademoiselle Beaumont. Just here to ask
you a few questions and perhaps a few more after that," he says as he turns to
face her.
She identifies him as a Polar Bear. The dangerous mammal
before her forces her to take her guard up another notch. She takes stance and
raises the gun slightly, pointing it directly between his deep blue eyes.
He was well built, pure muscle from head to toe. His snow
white fur is only hindered by a small black patch of fur on the right of his
nose. As intimidating as the giant mammal was she keeps composure, not breaking
eye contact for a single moment.
"Nice dress," he says as looks upon her with liking.
"How do you know my name and why did you break into my
house?"
"All questions will be answered over a nice cuppa tea.
Please sit."
"GET OUT! I am not interested in what you have to say!" she
demanded.
Her intruder was not swayed; he simply turns back to the
stove and picks up the boiling kettle just as it starts to whistle, "I have
already told you I am not here with any ill intention. At the very least you
should hear me out. Then if you are still not interested we will part ways and
you will never see me again."
He pours the boiling water into two ready mugs calmly. As he
does she contemplates just putting him down. Many thoughts raced through her
head on how to deal with this predicament. It seems that for the moment the
best thing to do would be to play along. She slides into a chair at the far end
of the table, keeping her aim still and true.
He picks up the two mugs and approaches her, "That's close
enough bear," she directs, pulling the hammer back on her gun. He nods with
consideration and leaves her mug within reach then takes a seat at the opposite
end.
"You take milk and sugar?"
"I am not thirsty."
"Taste it. It's my favourite brew. Brought it over
especially for you."
"I don't care."
"Suit yourself," he takes a sip and hums a little in bliss,
he sets the tea down in front of him slowly and begins to speak, "my name is
Robert Stirling. I already know yours so now that introductions are aside I
feel it would be best to cut to the chase."
"My thoughts exactly," she answers with a slight scorn.
"I know you have a fair few questions for me however I would
like to ask mine first as I only have one. Is that okay?"
She pauses with a glare, "Be my guest."
"You were part of a raid not too long ago in Switzerland
near Gstaad. You were working with half a dozen other mercenaries for a radical
liberalist group. I am not familiar with the details of the raid's intention
all I know is that you were the only one to walk out of there alive. Now I have
gathered up all the evidence from police and Swiss intelligence on what went on
in that building. Something went wrong, bullets flew and the walls were painted
red. You and the men you were with were driven into a tight corner, the deck
was stacked against you and yet only you escaped from certain death. Forensic
reports detail that sixteen men were killed with clean shots through the head
from the same gun. Yours. I assume."
"I am a damn good marksman."
"I should think so. I am a good marksman too but the shots
you made in that raid were not just good... they were impossible."
He lets the room go silent to study her reaction. He spots a
small squint in her eyes and a minor treble but her attention does not falter,
"You said you had one question. Ask it," she demands.
"Okay. How are you able to shoot people through the head with
no direct line of sight or even the slightest hint of a clean shot?"
Marie stayed quiet. This man was no idiot, he did his
homework. He probably knew the answer to that question already and just wanted
to hear it from her lips, "Leave," she says bluntly.
"No."
"Do you want to get shot?"
"You won't shoot me."
"You don't seem to know me as well as you think."
"I am sure you have considered the fact you are living in a
quiet calm community. A gunshot tends to catch attention and that is the last
thing a feline in hiding wants."
She grits her sharp teeth behind a closed mouth with eyes
widened in anger. She immediate disassembles her guns ensuring it is out of use
for what is to come. "Fine, Bear. You called my bluff. So I will just have to
throw you out."
"You can try."
Marie bolts up to her feet and tosses the table to one side
with a crash. Rob stands in turn and calmly prepares to defend against his opponent.
She quickly darts forwards throwing the first punch towards his jaw. With
immense swiftness the bear catches Marie's wrist and pulls her arm around her
back. She is shocked but doesn't lose momentum and cartwheels out of his hold
then throws a high kick to his jaw. He blocks with his forearm and retreats one
step.
Marie continues her assault, jabbing her paws at his chest
but each jab tasted only air for he had glided out of the path of each strike
with ease. As bulky as the bear was she was surprised at how serene he could
move. After the seventh strike she is suddenly caught off balance and Rob takes
full advantage. He once again catches her by the wrist, this time pulling her
in. His strength proved impossible to pull herself away from. She prepares
herself for a counter attack but instead he had pulled her into a strong
embrace. His tight muscular arms clamped around her body. She had no way to
raise her arms and her feet were inches from the floor. She struggles hard to
break free but there was no way to budge. She couldn't fall out of the hold nor
counter the grapple.
She decides to use her sharp teeth and bites hard through
his shirt and into his shoulder blade. His fur was thick but she had penetrated
the skin, she could taste blood. He clenches his teeth in pain but endures it.
Her anger drove her to try her hardest to pull a chunk of
flesh off of him, but the polar bear's thick hide made it difficult for her
small feline teeth to put any serious damage in. She was determined to try to
put him in enough pain to yield. His muscles didn't relax nor did they clench,
he kept as calm as possible. After enough time had passed a certain realization
started to seep into Marie. The bear had not squeezed any harder, in fact he
was simply letting her tear into him. With his strength he could snap her like
a toothpick or at least squeezed until she passed out. He did neither.
Her green eyes widened as her frustration began to fade. She
relaxed her jaw and pulls away from the bite slowly.
The bear showed relief that she had stopped, he looks to
her, "Are you finished?"
She doesn't answer but he took her calm surprise as an
acknowledgement and sets her down. He looks and his bleeding wound and sighs,
"Have you got a first aid kit?" he asks.
"Why?"
"Well if you hadn't noticed you had quite the feast on me."
"Not that. I mean to say... why didn't you fight back?"
"What would that accomplish? I told you that I mean you no
harm."
"I was biting you. I could have killed you."
"Yes... you could have. First aid?"
She nods and pulls a small wooden box out from underneath
her kitchen sink. The bear returns to his chair after setting the table back
upright for her. She pulls another chair alongside him and opens up the box and
starts emptying out the medical supplies.
Rob pulls his shirt of carefully, wincing in pain. Marie
picks up some disinfectant and takes a good look at the wound however she could
not help but glance at the bear's distractingly strong looking upper body.
There more than a pint of blood painting the fur around his
bite wound. The damage he took surprised her even more. Marie grabs a cloth and
pours a dab of disinfectant on it then stars to paw gently at the wound, "you
are stubborn, bear."
"Tell me something I don't know," he replies hissing as the
dabs of liquid sting him.
Marie pauses and stares blankly as she continues her
treatment, "You want to know how I was able to kill those men... it is difficult
to explain... In a way I can see a path that is laid before me."
"You can sense the future?"
"Not like that. It's like... as I fire a gun I can influence
the path it travels. All I have to do is see where I want the bullet to travel
and it follows the path to my will."
"So you're telekinetic?"
"That is the closest explanation I have to it," she puts
down the disinfectant and takes a roll of bandages out of the box.
"Are you also able to move other objects with your mind?"
"Not really. Only small objects and only when they are
already in motion. I have taken bullets aimed for my heart out of their
destined path. I should have died many times but I have changed my destiny with
my gift," she stands and starts to wrap up Rob's shoulder nice and tight to
avoid further bleeding.
"Have you told this to anyone else?" he asks with concern.
"No. I have kept it secret. You are the first to ask about
it," she finishes her treatment and returns to her seat, "That is the best I
can do for you. The wound will need stitches but you should be fine for the
moment."
"Well a bite makes a nice change... I mostly get shot," he
says admiring her talent with first aid.
She raises a brow to him, "Why are you not surprised to hear
of my gift? I was afraid if I shared it with anyone they would think me crazy."
He sighs and leans forward with his paws together, "Marie.
You are not the first I have come across with these kinds of abilities. They
are extremely rare but they exist. I came here today because I had already
suspected you had such a gift."
"There are others? You have met them?" she asks eagerly. He
replies with a simple nod however he does not reflect back the same eagerness.
"Listen to me very carefully now because this may be the
most important day in your life. I want to give you an opportunity neigh a
choice. You have two paths in front of you right now. I am asking you now if
you would like to come with me and join my organisation in the hopes that your
abilities can help make this world a better place for everyone."
Marie doesn't speak for a moment, her eyes dart from side to
side as she listens and thinks.
"Now your other option is to stay here. But if I leave you I
want you to come to terms with the reality of your situation. People with your
gifts never escape notice of those who fear your power. I don't want to sound
like I am giving you little alternative but... one day another will come knocking
on your door that is not me. They won't offer you what I have offered. They
will kill you."
Marie looks up and meets Rob's gaze, she does not know how
to respond to what he just told her. No words found their way out. She rests
her head on her paw as she leans on the table, "So that is what I am facing. I
either go with you or I die?"
"You can try to run but they won't give up their pursuit.
They never will. I know this all too well. But if you decide to run..." he
reaches out and takes her paw into his claw gently, "...you won't be running
alone."
Her choice is now. Her paths laid at her feet. She didn't
want to make a life changing decision so suddenly. She prayed this to be a
dream or a mistake. So many times she has asked god why he made her different.
Why he shared a fraction of his power with her. Hoping one day an answer would
come. Maybe this man is my answer to my
prayer... maybe Rob could lead me to my own salvation.
"Okay... let's run."