"The mission is over. You did a good job. Head back."<br/><br/>Vindico watched the getaway car getaway from half a mile away, when it veered out of sight she still hung from the derelict building by three appendages as she scanned the warehouse for any signs of pursuit. There were none. The place was dead, as if no one had even been there and guards were all but oblivious that uninvited people had even entered the premises. Sooner or later though, they might realise a car was missing, but by that time it would be far to late to anything worthwhile about it.<br/><br/>Tapping her earpiece to switch off her communications, the assassin crept down the side of the building to return to base.<br/><br/>*       *       *<br/><br/>Her apartment was practically bare, but still, somehow managed to be an absolute mess. No carpets, badly removed wallpaper, damp marks and mold in every corner. Not even a single shade for the lights, some of which flickered badly. Just the way she liked it. Her bedroom exemplified all of the neglect, plus the luxury of a well-worn mattress, which stank, had several springs sticking from it and was boldly decorated with an abundance of unidentifiable stains; and a single pathetic, crumpled pillow.<br/><br/>But the secret room, well, that was another matter entirely. It was immaculate, not even a single spec of dust marred its pristine metallic sheen. A very sophisticated computer sat against the far wall, custom built by herself, of course, which had the latest of everything - scavenged or stolen. The cramp room also housed a medical array or syringes and pouches all neatly arranged to provide Vindico will the nutrients she needed on a daily basis, she simply had to plug herself in. Lastly, a shower was built into the corner.<br/><br/>Presently, Vindico had just hacked her way into her parents security system, her father was mowing the lawn and her mother was making brunch (they never ate breakfast or lunch). Today was always the day her father did the household chores in preparation for his wife's afternoon book club. Despite the fact they had all but given up on their estranged daughter, Vindico was grateful that they had, at least, tried to be 'proper' parents to her and were heart-broken when she had abandoned them. Still, she wanted them to be safe, and checked up on them on a daily basis to ensure that they were. She would never abandon them completely.<br/><br/>She watched her mothers sad face concentrating on the blender when a blue flash pinged from the corner of her desktop. It was H.E.A.R.T, tapping her earpiece, she listened to the message. She sat, quietly contemplating, they had not messaged her for an entire week and she was beginning to suspect they had forgotten about her. The message pleased and irritated her. Hesitantly, the muscular woman stood and looked around for her stuff. She was essentially dressed but threw her feet into a pair of 'dead mans boots' and chucked a well-worn biker jacket over her hunched shoulders.<br/><br/>Normally she wouldn't braid her hair (currently a bright crimson) if she was venturing out as a civilian, but it was windy outside, and she absolutely hated her hair blowing every which way but where. Looking in the mirror, she traced the outline of the dragon tattooed to the side of her skull with a chipped, black-varnished fingernail, her face betraying the very fist hint of emotion that day; a sort of timid half-smile that quickly vanished.<br/><br/>Some time later Vindico - Deborah, since she was a civilian now - parked her silent-motor bike behind the H.E.A.R.T head office and strolled sedately to the appointed meeting room. As she entered the building, several staff looked quizzically at her, one even side-stepping out of her way with exaggerated deliberateness as they passed in the corridor, as if making a point that she was somehow hostile or unfriendly, both of which may or may not have been accurate summations. Deborah didn't even bother rolling her eyes at the pathetic man.<br/><br/>Finding the room, she slipped silently in but did not sit in any of the chairs, instead she headed straight for the corner farthest away from the people in the room like a misbehaved school-child, put her back to the wall, crossed her arms and closed her eyes. Of course, she had picked up every detail of the room, even the tiniest of nuances did not escape her split-second attention.<br/><br/>"... I can tell you're all very thrilled and excited about it." This almost - almost - made Deborah smile. Soon enough, the lady with glasses exited the room, leaving H.E.A.R.T's newest recruit somewhat perplexed. This was their mission? To become friends? What need had she for friends? She briefly contemplated leaving, that was what her head told her to do. However, her heart was with H.E.A.R.T, she had sought them out, signed up to be an operative and she would be damned if she would back out now.<br/><br/>Mentally sighing, Deborah opened her eyes.