The night was cold, with a strong wind. It whipped across her face, narrowed her eyes, made her long hair fly wildly behind her.

"It will interest you. I suggest we meet."

The night was quiet, but there were still sounds to be heard; the flapping of the tails of her overcoat, the low purr of her motorcycle engine, the little tune she hummed under her breath as she waited.

"My jet arrives at 2300 hours. Chongqing."

The night was about to be interrupted.

"You know where."

Headlights approached and a sedan came into view. Gravel crunched beneath its tires as the vehicle pulled into the small turnaround where she waited, and soon it parked, a door opening to release its driver. It was a man, a tall man, dressed in dark clothes, and his smile was a flash of white in the dark as he stepped toward where she stood leaning against her motorcycle.

"Ah, Noir, so you came. I wasn't certain you'd show up. I know how busy things have been for you as of late."

Riya remained silent.

"Is everything well? It has been quite some time since I've spoken to you last. You've been in communicado."

This time she spoke. "You have information."

"Indeed I do, bu--"

"You will tell me what it is."

Another person might have been bothered by the interruption. Thoth would have grown irritated. Ejan would have found her rude. The man, however, knew better, and he smiled again.

"I forgot your dislike for conversation." He reached into his pocket, fumbled around a bit with a pack and a lighter, and a tiny blue flame flickered as he lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply. "Let us cut to the chase. I have surveillance. It, ah, fell into my lap, so to speak, but I thought you would find it useful."

"What is it."

He cocked an eyebrow, a little serious, a little teasing. "Did you know that Simon Reiner is the father of Hunter Gabriel?"

"...he is."

"Oh, indeed. And that isn't even the most interesting part. Did you know that the reason your pair is tracking him is because he murdered Solenis' father?" He crossed his arms over his chest and flicked his cigarette for emphasis. "Isn't that fascinating?"

"Give it to me."

"Fine, fine." From his breast pocket he retrieved a slim black diskette case. "Standard encryption. The red disc is line data, the blue is photo surveillance." Riya held out her hand and he placed the case in her palm. "Enjoy."

She examined the discs briefly before tucking the case into her own pocket, and then returned her attention to his face. "Is there more."

"Such as...?"

"Current whereabouts."

"Unknown." He shook his head. "You know how difficult it is to track Agents of Legion."

"What of the other surveillance. The surveillance I specifically asked you to conduct."

"Now, that is something else." She waited for him to elaborate, but he seemed intent on avoiding her gaze, and eventually she lost patience. "Hyaku."

He had the good sense to apologize. "Sorry, sorry. We have much to discuss regarding that."

"Explain."

"Your surveillance is on those discs, but we were not the only ones seeking information. He's looking for you, you know. Quite determinedly, in fact."

Her dismissal was confident, full of surety. "He will not find me."

"I wouldn't be so certain, Noir. There are resources available to him that are not available to you."

"That is a lie. I am as wealthy."

"Perhaps, but you're also hunted. He has legitimate resources, is what I meant."

"I do not care."

"Fine." He paused again, looked at her closer, as if he wanted to speak but wasn't sure whether or not he should. When she nodded at him, he attempted to ask. "They say you were hired to kill him."

"That is true."

"And that you refused."

"I did not refuse."

"Yet he's alive."

Riya ignored him and turned away, climbing onto her motorcycle and settling herself in the seat. The man stepped up beside her, dropped the butt of his cigarette to the ground and crushed it beneath his heel, and they both watched the embers die out before one of them spoke. "Well?"

"I was not in the mood."

"I'll drop it."

"That is a wise decision." She revved the engine and knocked back the kickstand. "If you find more, I want it."

Then she was gone.

But then she had met with a new contact, a Liam guy who gave them a new contract. A great new contract. She returned one night after the meeting.

"We have a new job that will prove valuable in more ways then one."

"Who is it? A politician? Secluded billionaire?"

"No, much better."

"Who?"

"Gabriel and Solenis."

"...your kidding me..."

Riya just stared at her with those deep blue eyes. A flicker of sure joy was behind them. If Minerva didn't know any better, she would have thought she was about to jump for joy.

"WHEN DO WE START!?"

--------

The next few days were a whirlwind of preperation. Minerva was briefed about the assigment. By far, it was the longest they would have. Taking perhaps many months instead of the normal few weeks. Riya put in a order of fresh supplies. New guns, knives, security devices, and even a new car and apartment. But she never once worried about her funds. Why should she when they lived in sheer luxury?

Though Riya never mentioned it, she knew she looked forward to the day she could shoot Gabe in the head. Minerva, on the other hand, made it quite known around their apartment how exactly she would kill the Sol when she saw her again. Minerva would ramble on about how they were probably working so hard for no money to achieve "The Better Good" and boring shit like that. She even had a dream once where Gabe had to watch Sol die, only to revive again just in time for Sol to see Gabe die. Riya had told her the next morning that she had been giggling in her sleep.

--------

They started following Simon around different cities. Paris, Edinburgh, etc. All they had to do was watch him, make sure Gabe and Sol didn't sweep in and find him. It was the easiest job so far: Don't kill anyone. Riya and Minerva had to find other ways to amuse themselves. When they were in England, Minerva had turned on the TV to find that crazy show she had seen in Japan. "Sailor Moon" was now her most favorite show of all time. Finally she could see it in English, and though Riya voiced the stupidity of the show, she often came and watched it. At one point, Minerva dragged in the survelliance cameras to keep track of everything while watching a "Sailor Moon" marathon. Pretty soon she was running around the house spouting "I am Minerva Thoth! Champion of justice! I will right wrongs and triumph over Gabe and Sol. And that means you!" Riya was not amused.

As usual, they cleaned their guns, polished their knives, and talked strategy. They were happy, rich, stalking, and well armed.

Even worse was Sailor Minerva, which was what Thoth took to calling herself after hours upon mind-numbing hours of that childish cartoon. Riya couldn't understand her partner's fascination with the television, let alone that particular show, and whenever possible would hide the remote. Once she attempted to disassemble the power switch in the tv, but Thoth caught her at it and in retaliation sang the Sailor Moon theme song for two hours straight.

Irritating as it was, it filled the time, and time was one thing they had in excess these days. Surveillance of Simon Reiner was the least strenuous mission they had ever undertaken. It was far below their combined talents, this tedious job of following one, insignificant man, but... but there was a prize to be had. Gabriel and Solenis were worth any amount of boredom, as far as Riya was concerned.

And, in spite of little to do and nothing to kill, Riya was having a wonderful time.

Perhaps it wasn't quite as exciting as some of their previous hits had been, but they had time to prepare for this properly. Riya took pleasure in providing them with all the equipment they would need... and some they wouldn't. Thoth acted like the proverbial kid in the candystore when Riya gave her a catalogue file of all her contact's merchandise, and they were now possessing of more guns, knives, cars, and electronics than they could possibly know what to do with. They even bought a helicopter, which Riya took upon herself to teach Thoth to fly.

The wait somehow made it sweeter, anticipation brightening their days and making for delicious dreams during their nights. It was a good time. And in this fashion days passed, weeks, months, and from city to city they floated, always stalking, always following, and always enjoying themselves.

"THOTH!"

--------

Minerva had a new favorite toy and it was called a Bell 212 Helicopter. It had 1800 Shaft Horsepower, could hold up to 16 people, could fly at 120 knots, and could fly 375 miles on a full tank of fuel. She wondered if it was possible to lawfully marry a machine. Riya was teaching her how to fly it so they could begin utilizing it in missions. Minerva had visions of blowing up whole compounds with it while she sat smirking in the pilot's seat, just like she'd seen in vids.

Simon apparently had no idea that he was being followed. Which made their job a little easier. Very few took notice of a small Japanese girl with a redhead shopping for handbags in the market. They were able to sit only a table away from him in a restaurant without him noticing.

There had been no spottings of Gabe or Sol. Though the four of them had undergone the same training, Minerva and Riya found it likely they would know about them before Gabe and Sol knew about Minerva and Riya. And they both knew who would win in a fight.

The hardest part was turning down other assignments being sent to them. The looks of the price tags for a quick 3 week job made it painful to have to sit there for many more months just to watch one man. Minerva would occasionally complain.

"Just let me go take one contract and we can make some more money! And it'll keep us busy."

"We cannot take on another contract at this point. We must wait until this one is over."

"But how long can we keep from getting bored?"

"You will not be bored once Solenis and Gabriel show up."