<span style="font-style: italic">Everything around was rendered non-existent. Sleep did that to you. Once you're captive to the flowing sands of rest, caught up in the waves that dreams sailed upon, the world in which you'd shut yourself off to might as well not even be there. You knew not what happened around you, nor saw things take place. Others might even be undergoing great trials and endeavors, but all this was completely, and utterly void, to the sleeping mind. Everything might be crashing down and the world coming to and end, and somehow you sleep on. Did it matter? No...<br/><br/>At least...that was how it was for one certain individual, curled up in an old crate, fast asleep. Comfortable? Why yes, of course. It was warm in that crate, and from where they had first been located, a small bit of humid as well, making it the perfect hideaway to get the snooze he so desired. For himself, and the unexpected form of a large snake, who had made it's way to be wrapped around the male's body. The snake was enormous, with pure white scales and a gray diamond patter along its body, while the male wore black, boots, pants, and top, a hood pulled up over the head and zipped completely, hiding his face. Both were deep asleep, unaware that their sleeping spot was about to get disturbed.<br/><br/>They hadn't even felt as someone moved the box, oblivious to the sounds of people talking, the noises of machinery, engines revving and wheels turning, crunching gravel as they drove off from the spot they'd found the boxes and barrels, to arrive somewhere else. A pick up and drop off. The box in which they were asleep stayed in the truck they'd been put in, while different barrels were loaded inside.<br/><br/>Neither the male nor the snake moved an inch when the truck was hijacked in a way, stolen by two people, one male, one female. Nor when the specified truck drove away, driving off into the night, rain pounding the truck, rattling in an almost comforting way. Whatever was said between the ones who had taken the truck fell to deaf ears, and it was almost like they weren't even there at all. Was this the perfect way to sleep...? Yes...it had to be. Completely dead to the world. It was, indeed...</span><br/><br/>Back at the Rebellion headquarters, Vadim Nikolay Vasiliev paced continuously in his designated office, also running as his living quarters. The sound of his boots clicking the cement floor echoed in his head, rhythmic, constant. Like a metronome, it was almost hypnotic. He walked with his hands behind his back, head tilted forward a little with a look of concern on his face, and mixed in was anxiety. He was worried...thinking that maybe a mission like that had not been the wisest choice for a partnership having just been formed. And yet, he had let them go.<br/><br/>Out of the corner of his eye he could see his 'secretary' of sorts watching him, her eyes following his every movement. She was worried that he was pushing himself too hard. She was confident that Donta and Jessica would be just fine, and had even told him this, but to her dismay he shoved any consoling words to the side without any sign of regards to what was being said. So, instead of trying to comfort him, she had settled to keeping an eye on him, standing to the side, and making sure he would be okay. It touched her, and so many others, that he worried so much for each member of the Rebellion, taking care to memorize names, get to know each person, to show that he was their friend. And he would do anything to help them. Unlike the Government, he wasn't there to rule, to dictate what happened. No, he was there to guide. To help show the way, and to allow them to chose their own paths. And if they chose the path that he had shown to them, that was for them to decide.<br/><br/>"How long have they been gone?" He asks, not pausing as he asks this question, crossing his arms over his chest, his voice accented as he spoke. Even though Mallo (the name of the secretary) was in there with him, she felt he was not directly asking this question to her, but to the room itself. Even so, she spoke in response. "About six hours. Remember sir, they had to sneak into where the stocks are being held. That is no easy feat, especially when it comes to Government security." She gives him a look, her eyes showing to just trust them. They would be okay.<br/><br/>"Yes, well..." He was about to say something when a knock a the door sounded, and Mallo opens it. A young man stood there, waiting. "Yes?" Vadim asks, looking to him kindly, but strictly. "Uh, oh, the supplies have reached the safe house safely sir. We just got word that the truck has arrived, and so far everything is in check." A look of relief makes it's way onto Vadim's face, and he sighs, finally coming to stop in his pacing. "Thank you for letting me know." He leans his head back to stare at the ceiling, sighing low, and closes his eyes for a moment, before looking up again. The man leaves, so it was just Mallo and himself once again. A smile played on Mallo's lips, and after a moment she speaks up. "See? I told you they would be alright."<br/><br/>Vadim looks to her, and nods. A faint smile was on his own face too. "I know...but even so...I can't help but worry." Even after all this time, after being appointed the 'leader' of the Rebellion, he still worried. He knew the ins and outs of the Government, and knew the way they worked, but that didn't mean...He shakes his head, and sits down at his desk, leaning back and closing his eyes. He was exhausted, but he knew he would not be able to sleep. Sleep always evaded him, just like the answer as to why...why they stopped loving him.<br/><br/>"Mallo?"<br/><br/>Mallo turns to look at him, pausing as she was just about to leave the office, to at least allow Vadim to try and get some rest. She knew that he was probably going to ask her to do something, make her a request so he could work even more, and push himself further, but she just takes a deep breath, and sighs, before answering him.<br/><br/>"Yes?"<br/><br/>And just as she had predicted, that was exactly what happened. "Go message the safe house. Make sure that everything is still okay. And let them know I might be making a visit to them. I'll need to be told of any changes to the security that the Government are using, understand?" He had opened one eye to look at her as he said this, and though he could see the reluctance to do so on Mallo's face, he did not cave, until she nods her head. "Yes, of course." She leaves, and he closes his eyes again.<br/><br/>Elsewhere, walking down the corridor of the main Government office, located in the Capital, a young man wearing uniform made his way down the hall, holding his hat under his arm. Messy white blonde hair, golden eyes, and darkly tanned skin made him stand out from the rest, but what really set him apart was the tail that swayed behind him with every step that he took. His uniform was of a higher rank, impressive, but still much lower than he wanted to be. Or what his father wanted him to be.<br/><br/>Shajjae Al'asad. Also known as Shajjae Jarsdel, last named adopted. He was the son of Heather and Weston Jarsdel, two very important Military Government officials. And the only reason why he, Shajjae, even had a chance at the life he lived now. If it hadn't been for them adopting him, no doubt he would be living on the streets. He sure as hell wouldn't have joined the Rebels. Not after what they did to his birth parents. For that, they would pay. And he was grateful to his adoptive family that they had given him a chance to get revenge.<br/><br/>He reached the council room in which the higher ups were having a meeting, the door shut. But that meant nothing to Shajjae, as he lifted the badge he held in his hand to the scanner by the door, and it clicks, allowing him to step inside. He looks to the table, which was filled to the max, eyes scanning for a certain individual as he stepped to the side of the door, his back to the wall, hiding in the shadows and standing at attention. It didn't take long for his eyes to spot his target, Sir Rin Kimura. His superior.<br/><br/>Shajjae was patient as he waited for the meeting to come to near an end, and only when it had did he step away from the wall. Though they were all still talking, it was about less important things. Silently as a shadow even in the middle of the day, he makes his way toward where Rin was sitting. Coming to a stop not directly behind but slightly to the side, he gives Kimura a salute. "Sir, I'm here about the mission. Awaiting further orders..." He had been told he was to be infiltrating the Rebels as one of their own, and it worked completely as of what he was. They would have no suspicions of him whatsoever. Lowering his hand, he holds it to the side as he waits for a reaction, a reply of any sort from Rin, ignoring the looks he was given by the other members at the table.