Perfect School

Jonah:

“It matters.” I answered, scrutinizing her. I was well aware of the cameras. I made a point to always be aware of who was watching me, be it in person or over a screen. When they had taught us how to find bugs and cameras, and the best places to hide w own, I had payed special attention. I had come to accept that there were always going to be eyes on me, especially now that I was under Marie, but I had to know when, where, and from whom they were coming.

“You're my quickest source of information. If you won't do this then I will still find out. It's not a problem, simply inconvenient.” I fixed her with a cool gaze.

I watched him for a long time, not saying or showing anything before I shrugged. "Fine. I'll see what I can do Jonah. It would better to ignore it but I'll do what I can." I pushed off the tree then looked to him again. "Was there anything else you wanted?"

Jonah:

I looked her over. “That's all.” I said with a little shrug. I wondered if I had disconnected from her too much. Maybe now she only saw me as the leader of the group who put a lot of extra weight on her shoulders. Perhaps she preferred the company of Kyra to myself.

My face was impassive as I pondered. Marie wished me to cast aside my ambition and my obsession with Kira. I had to be able to show results.

I nodded, "Then I will go look into it." Without another word or glance at home started my way back towards the house. I didn't care who had set the camera's or why. But my curiosity was piqued just a little.

Joanh:

I gave her a few minutes to clear the woods before I found my own way out. I took a deep breath of the cold air as I left the woods.

Kyra:

After putting away my things in the room next to my brother's I had come down to the kitchen to find Paublo cooking. It felt natural to me to fall into the patterns of home life. I rooted around in the cabinets to find all the dished I needed to set the table for five. This would be my family for the foreseeable future, weather I liked all of the members or not, I would do my part to make everyone comfortable.

Paublo:

"Oh you don't have to do that. I could have done it." I said with a sheepish look over her body. It was something I couldn't help. I was going to live with my crush. A feat that I'm sure many of the guys at the school would kill to have been able to do. But it only made me more nervous. I opened my mouth to say something more, a compliment of some sort but it died in my throat and I looked away.

Kyra:

“Well I have to do something, and I hate doing dishes, so..” I lifted up the plates to prove a point. “We're a team, that means we work together, even when we aren't on missions.” I smiled kindly and went about setting the plates on placements.

I murmured some slang under my breath in my native tongue while watching her. It was to the effect of, "She's an amazing woman." With more cursing and harsh language I'd never want to use around her...at least in her hearing. But after watching for a few seconds longer I turned my attention back to making the meal.

Jonah:

I came inside shortly after Kira and was surprised but deeply pleased to see Paublo and Kyra getting things ready for dinner. “Smells great.” I commented, leaning against the counter as I watched him work.

"I only wish I had more time to let things marinate and simmer. Still. Ready in thirty minutes or so." I flashed him a quick grin then resumed working on the fish stew.

Jonah:

Dinner was rather good, if a bit outside my usual taste. Kyra especially seemed to enjoy it, even going so far as to say it could have been spicier. After dinner Andrew washed the dishes and I went about preparing desserts for us; yogurt parfaits. We congregated in the living room to eat the treat.

Paublo:

I drank in the compliments on the meal especially the one from Kyra. Even Kira gave a nod of approval at my work. I could only grin in one of the recliners in the living room, sitting to Kyra's left while she shared the love seat with Kira. Kira was sitting sideways, her feet up on the couch towards Kyra but not touching her. She seemed especially satisfied with the dessert, a barely noticeable smile on her lips.

Jonah:

After handing out the cups I sprawled out on the full length couch. Taking a glance at the others I noticed Kira particularly enjoying her dessert and smiled inwardly. Andrew joined us shortly after, and rather than taking a seat in the other armchair he sat on the floor leaning against the loveseat with the girls. It was a nice evening, dinner had gone well and there had been nothing but pleasant banter. I reached out to grab the remote to turn on music through the TV.

Kira:

The screen flickered on as he turned it on and soon my eyes shut as I listened to the music again. It didn't last long before I was back to eating my parfait. But my head cocked as I noticed the music beginning to dim until it was off completely. I glanced towards Jonah for a moment then at the screen which had gone all black though clearly was still on.

Jonah:

My eyes met Kira's for a second then did a sweep around the room for anything unusual. The curtains were drawn and nothing in the room was aims except for the TV malfunction. My guess was it had something to do with all the spy cameras.

Paublo:

Everyone else was glancing about as well or returning to their food and conversation. But my eyes remained on the television and as a word winked into existence on the screen I blinked in surprise. "Zero?" I asked out loud as I gazed at the Z3ro that sat on the screen in a dark red.

"Hello everyone. My name is Zero. I am going to be your oracle from now on. It's a pleasure to meet all of you."

The voice that came from the speakers was robotic but sounded like a female voice as green bars moved in time to the voice up from the bottom of the screen like one would see on a stereo system.

Andrew:

I watched the screen with interest when the music faded. I didn't know exactly what to expect, but I was eager. My heart jumped with excitement when the word appeared on screen and I subconsciously sat forward. This was what I had been promised.

Kyra:

My eyebrows raised, not at the TV screen but Andrew's reaction to it. It was unlike him to show much surprise, or whatever his emotion was.

“What is an oracle?” I asked, leaning toward Paublo so I could get a better look at my twins face. He was happy. How curious.

Paublo:

"I don't kn-" I began only to be cut off as Kira chimed in.

"An Oracle is our ha-," She was cut off this time by the sound of a throat being cleared from the screen. "Ah. Perhaps Zero should explain."

"Right. I should. I am your Oracle. An Oracle is your handler, your supplier, your asset, your controller, and the one who hands you missions. Any problems you have, any supplies you need from ammo to meds, transportation, living accomidations, training grounds, passports. Everything. I am here to help." Zero chimed in.

Jonah:

I stayed relaxed laying on the couch as I listened. Kira had told me of this before, but I had never looked into it further. Thinking back, I should have done some research. After this conversation I would find everything I could not just on Zero, but on the function of an oracle.

“Who assigned you to us?” I asked after the spiel.

Jonah:

I stayed relaxed laying on the couch as I listened. Kira had told me of this before, but I had never looked into it further. Thinking back, I should have done some research. After this conversation I would find everything I could not just on Zero, but on the function of an oracle.

“Who assigned you to us?” I asked after the spiel.

Zero:

"I did. New groups of Assassin's like yourselves are put up in a lotto. You have to earn a spot. Of course this leads those in power to being able to rig it so they get better recruits for themselves. I out maneuvered everyone and took all of you. I find all of you fun and I've enjoyed finding out everything I can." I grinned as I bounced in my seat. My eyes flitted over the wall of screens, each showing a different picture from a hidden or not hidden camera.

Jonah:

“Who do you report to?” I asked another question, storing her answer in the back of my head. I swung my feet off of the couch and sat up straight.

Kira:

"Me. I'm not required to report to anyone. You all are my responsibility now. I'm the next step in the process. Technically you all are now full fledged assassins. Untried, untested, green as they come. Well. Two of you have more red tallies than the other. But still! It is my job to get your name out there in our world. Clients, missions, jobs. I have created accounts for you all to use at your discretion. If one of you would be so kind as to grab that box next to the fire place. Normally wood is supposed to go there. I used it for something else instead. A phone for all of you, one of my own creations. Along with a credit card that will charge your individual account. All your information is stored on that phone and only you can open it. I made sure of that." Zero chattered away in evident excitement while my eyes dipped towards the box in question. I was the one who got up, going to the box the second it was mentioned. I grabbed the five plastic baggies and tossed them to each person based upon the name labeled on the bag.

Jonah:

I pulled my things out and inspected each, going through the phone quickly to see what it contained.  The others were doing similarly.  

Andrew:

I looked through the information on the phone and immediately found the contact for Zero.  

“Do we get to see you?”  I sent the text and was surprised by the whoosh sound it made as it sent.  “What did you do?”  Kyra asked leaning forward to see what I had done.  I breasted the phone.  “Just looking.

Zero:

I watched with glee as everyone played with their phones. Kira didn't she simply looked through the clear bag before setting it in her lap. A small chime made me glance down at my phone and I hummed thoughtfully while tapping the mute button on my mic. Rocking back in my chair with the phone in my hands I typed out a quick response, "Maaaaaybe. You could always just look through the phones pictures you know. Yours was the test model and I tested the camera. Not aaaaallll of me. But still."

The picture in question was a close up quarter of her face.