Colin's posts

The man shook his head in response.

"I'm sorry, I didn't." he responded. The two men saw her expression change... the hope leave her eyes, and she almost drooped back into her seat. "B-but! But I think I can still help!" he quickly added.

"Oh?" the black-haired man asked. "How do you mean?" he asked further.

"Do you mind if I intrude upon your tablespace slightly for this?" the newcomer asked in response.

"We haven't even had our drink orders yet, so sure." the woman's date told him, still on guard a little, as he wasn't sure what was going to happen next. The second man then placed the plastic bag on the table, and sifted through some of the boxes, pulling a few out and setting them off to the side. They looked to be somewhat generic boxes, taped closed securely. However, the man then pulled out a larger box. One that was VERY clearly labeled and designed.

It was the box to a Sonitronic brand camera. And not just ANY Sonitronic camera, but their Delta-EON model as well. It had come out late last year, and was easily worth just under $3000 new, at full price. The box had been opened, clearly, as there were minor scuff-marks around where it DID open, and the tape that had been there previously was gone.

The man then put the other boxes back in his bag, and pushed the camera towards the young lady.

"Take a look." he told her, removing the bag from the table. "Will that work for you, miss?" he asked.

The man held in his own sigh as she said what she did, and shook his head.

He knew she needed a new camera. And she needed a quality camera, too. The one she'd had previously had been good... but it had been a bit outdated. And then it just... gave up the ghost. It ceased functioning properly, and to get it fixed was far too expensive, relevant to how out-of-date it had been. Sure, it would have been cheaper than getting a newer camera, but it would have ultimately been a waste of money. A decent sum of money. So now, here she was, lacking a proper camera, and no way to GET one. Yes, she had stated that HE could have paid for it... he still could. He worked as a therapist/psychiatrist at The Unit in San Diego, he made more than decent pay. And he was willing to get her said camera... they were boyfriend and girlfriend, they loved each other, and he had no issues with a nice gesture or present every so often... more expensive ones, anyway. But he could understand that she didn't want this to essentially be a charity thing. She had saved up the money beforehand for her previous camera, and it had served her well, so it was a point of pride for her that she had bought it herself. There was a very good chance that perhaps it would be a blow to her pride if she got one from HIM, just because HE could afford it, and she couldn't. He didn't like it, because that meant she was feeling down on herself now, but he understood it.

He was about to say something to her in response, when a third voice spoke up.

"Excuse me." the male voice interjected lightly. When the two of them looked over towards where it had originated from, they saw a man standing there. He had been walking down the sidewalk, and was obviously close enough to speak with them in a normal tone of voice. The two WERE sitting rather close to the fence after all, so it wasn't too surprising. The man had dark brown hair, which was short and looked a little disheveled. He had stubble on his face that looked to be a couple of days old, and had tired bags under his eyes. He was wearing a faded grey shirt and dark blue jeans, as well as sneakers that looked like they were coming up on their retirement. He also seemed to be carrying a plastic grocery bag with some boxes in it, but the contents could not be discerned properly.

'Must be looking for some money...' the black-haired man thought, as he started to go for his wallet to give the man a $20 bill. It didn't matter if it was for something legit, like food or drink, or if it was for drugs or alcohol, he just wanted them to be left alone, and not pestered. He figured paying him 20 to go away was the best option. But he barely had time to make a move for it, when the man spoke again.

"Did I hear you say you were looking for a new camera?" the slightly-haggard man asked the young woman.

It was a gorgeous spring day, with the sun shining down from high up in the sky. It was a little after 12:00 noon, and many people had the idea that it was time for lunch. Which included the couple that were sitting out in a patio of a small restaurant. They were off to the side, near the metal fence that acted as a boundary between the restaurant's property and the sidewalk, both shielded from the sun by a large umbrella in the middle of their table. Coupled with the cool breeze that whipped up every so often, it made for an absolutely gorgeous day.

The two had just been seated and had been given menus, while being told their server would be by soon with glasses of ice water for them. When the person then left to tend to other patrons, the male just smiled, and moved some of his jet-black hair out of his eyes. To look at him, one would make an assumption that he was some sort of up and coming movie star... or musical idol... or influencer... or anything that involved him selling his looks and charm, because he gave off the aura of a heartthrob. Which wasn't technically wrong, but he was nowhere NEAR anything to those career choices. He was a therapist, and the reason he was such a compelling individual was... he was the son of a very compelling demon. His mother was a Lilim, one of the daughters of THE Lilith. So while he was not a succubus, nor was he technically an incubus... he had natural charms that were VERY hard to resist.

He looked around slightly, before looking at the young woman that he had come here with.

"Perfect weather for an outside lunch." he told her, his voice the audio equivalent to velvet. "Looks like it's one of those places that are new, but are soon to be local favourite." he reasoned, looking at the menu. "And while the variety is a little lacking, I'd say that's in its favour." he then commented. "Means that the chances are good that they really know how to do these dishes, and they know how to do them WELL." he said further.

"Stroke of brilliance to come here." he finished. They had both decided that some lunch would be wonderful, and she had noticed this place, suggesting they try it, rather than one of their more common haunts. And he wasn't one to shy away from new things, so he readily agreed. Already it seemed like it was paying off, but the real proof would come later.

Hal nodded in response.

"Excellent." he replied.

"I will draw up the paperwork, and we'll go through it and sign it in due time." he told her. "For now, concentrate on getting better and recuperating. We need you healthy and back in tip-top shape, after all." he chuckled.

"Yeah." Sabrina replied with a small laugh.

With that, Hal took his leave, and Sabrina was alone with her thoughts. But they weren't her usual thoughts.

These were thoughts that looked forward to the future. Her new life. And for the first time in a while... she saw happiness in it.

Hal smiled.

"You'd be surprised how many of my field agents don't have any post-secondary." he told her. "I'm not one that puts all my eggs in the basket of having a paper that shows education." he went on.

"Hell, some of the people that work here in my medical wing didn't have degrees when they started working here. And in this wing." he revealed. "Now, granted, because this is medical work, they had to have been working TOWARDS it, but I digress." he then mumbled.

"Your shifting abilities could prove invaluable to reconnaissance missions, and info-gathering." he continued. "And you don't need college or university for THAT." he chuckled.

"If you want to have your secondary school, we can help you get that, of course, but you've already proven yourself to be more than capable."

Hal sighed as he made his way closer towards her, and thought for a moment.

"I can see you're having a tough time talking." he said. "So I won't force you to strain your voice or anything like that. I'm merely here to say a few things, and ask you something." he told her.

"Firstly, that entire sting was a complete success, thanks to you." he commented. "Because of your infiltration, and working from the inside, while the teams worked from the outside, we captured and/or stopped at least 95% of them, we estimate." he revealed.

"The remaining ones will be hunted down like the mangy rabid creatures they are." he then snarled.

"And this brings me to my question." he went on.

"...would you like to work for The Unit... for me... in an official and full capacity?" he asked.

Just as Nate finished his checkup on her, and was about to leave, there was a knock on the open door, and the two of them looked over to see Hal standing there, looking a little concerned.

"How's she doing?" he asked.

"On the road to a full recovery." Nate responded confidently. This caused Hal's concerned expression to change to relief.

"Good." he replied.

"I know visitors are probably frowned upon right now for her, but may I have just a quick few minutes of her time?" he asked. "Assume SHE is all right with that too, of course." he added.

"If she's okay with it, Dr. Edwards should be as well." Nate replied, looking to Sabrina, indicating for her to respond.

"Dr. Rene Calder will bring you back to where you think you should be brought back to." Hal told her.

"We've concocted a story together if you need one." he continued, handing her a sheet of paper.

"And when you're taken back in... well... we wing it from there." he told her.

"Which is not to say we don't have a plan." Ty then said. "When the sting begins, we have a plan for that." he assured her.

"Indeed." Hal agreed.

"However, when that happens is entirely up to YOU." he said to Sabrina.

Sharp leaned forward a little, and narrowed his eyes.

"We have a plan." he told her.

"We'll put a glamour on you to make it look like you still have that branding." he said. "When you are taken back in, do what you need to do to try and weaken then." he continued.

"You'll be outfitted with a hidden wire so that we'll be able to hear everything, and if it gets too hairy, we're going in." he went on.

"Or if you feel it's time, you'll say a special code phrase." he then said further.

"That phrase being 'Damn it, it's hot in here'..." he finished.

"Appreciate it." Ty responded.

"Anyway." Sharp then said, getting their attention. "Agent King will be accompanying you, as he can take as much damage as needed in order to keep you or others from being unnecessarily injured." he told her.

"Which is another way of saying that, if you start losing yourself to your emotions, and I need to try and help calm you down, I can take a heat-of-the-moment attack, even if it's fatal." Ty translated.

"I go on a lot of missions where the chances of fatal injury are high." he continued.

"Some agents are indispensable. Some are disposable. I'm both. Simultaneously." he smirked.

"Ahhh, I see, I see." Ty responded.

"Well, seeing as I now know what YOU are, and you know... somewhat about me, I may as well complete that information." he reasoned with a small laugh, as the two sat down in their chairs.

"I am a Regenerator." he revealed.

"And I have been around for... a VERY long time..." he admitted.

"But that should help put what you got a read on into some semblance of making sense."

Ty looked just as surprised, and then smirked.

"Well, well." he said. "You are amazingly perceptive." he commented.

"I agree." Hal interjected, raising an eyebrow.

"You are correct, I am human. No mana, nothing." Ty then confirmed. "And... well, your statement of my not being able to die is correct, but at the same time, can technically say is INcorrect." he continued.

"I've met the reaper many a time." he said. "Buuuuut it never sticks." he laughed.

"How did you determine that, anyway?" he asked her.

"That works." Sharp responded. "See you when you get here." he finished.

With that, they said goodbye and ended the call. She hung up, stood up, stretched out slightly, and then proceeded to leave her dorm, locking the door as she did so, and then navigated her way up to Sharp's office. Once there, the receptionist, Arryn, notified sharp that she was there, and when she was given the go-ahead, she gestured for Sabrina to enter the office.

Which she did. She opened the door and stepped into said office, closing the door behind her, and saw Sharp's familiar face behind the desk, as well as a new face, belonging to another man, sitting in the area in front of the desk. He looked to be in his 30's, and had a bit of a haggard appearance. Not extreme or anything, but he definitely had the look and aura of a man that seemed like he had had experiences far greater and numerous than any other man in his 30's.

"Sabrina, this is agent Tyson King." Sharp introduced her.

"Agent King, Sabrina." he then said to Tyson.

"Ty." Tyson told her, standing up and extending his hand.

"Later!" Ilias called to her.

Over the following hours, Sabrina spent her time exploring the Unit, but it was mostly familiarising herself with the place. She explored around, committed certain areas to memory, and had a bit of a late lunch. She made her way back to her dorm, where she sat down, and her phone started to ring.

"...timing." she commented to herself, as he picked it up.

"Hello?" she answered it.

"Sabrina, this is Agent Sharp." Hal responded. "I would like you to meet the agent that will be accompanying you on the sting." he told her. "And I would like you to come to my office ASAP, please." he continued.

"Do you need someone to help you get there, or do you think you can navigate here yourself?" he asked.