10400/Armed with Weapon Plus

Armed with Weapon Plus
Date of Scene:	11 December 2019
Location:	A strip mall outside Jackson, MS
Synopsis:	Fantomex is offered, and accepts, an opportunity to work with the Suicide Squad in return for /something/ from Amanda Waller, although the details remain a mystery to anyone other than the two of them.
Cast of Characters:	Rick Flag, Fantomex

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Rick Flag has posed:
Word on the street was that Weapon Plus had set up shop in a completely unassuming law firm in a strip mall on the outskirts of of Jackson, MS.

Word also trickled out that some of the masterminds behind the Plus program would be at said facility this evening.

Late at night, the strip mall is poorly lit, and most of the businesses' lights are completely out or only seem to offer some basic front-of-shop illumination. It's the same for the firm--no one appears to be inside, and the fluorescent lights within are dimmed.

Still, there's movement inside, the figure(s) shrouded in the darkness.

Fantomex has posed:
The Dark Net is Fantomex playground. Well, not actually Fantomex', but the part of Fantomex that calls 'herself' E.V.A. A technorganic, alien creature, E.V.A. finds much easier to deal with the world through the masks that offers the networks. And so she has become very good at finding information on them.

It is one of Fantomex great secrets, but it is not a secret for Weapon Plus.

So he heard. And he knows it has to be a trap. And yet he can't resist checking it out. Because if he didn't he wouldn't be Fantomex. And that is a worse alternative.

Besides, if there is a 1% chance to find Father or Brother outside the World, he has to risk it.

The downside? Well, one of the downsides, there is absolutely nothing in the strip mall he wants to steal. Nothing. This place is crushing his soul. Assuming he has one. Probably not. He still peers into the 'law firm'.

Rick Flag has posed:
Seated at a conference table near the back of the open office layout used by the strip-mall firm, a man has his arms stretched out before him on the table surface, an array of papers and manila folders spread between the arms.

"...sure about this?" he can be heard saying quietly to no one in particular.

"I see," he replies shortly afterwards, and he sits back, crossing his arms across his chest.

No one else appears to be in the space, but the man at the table definitely has at least one firearm; the silhouette of his shoulder holster is visible even in the poor lighting.

Fantomex has posed:
Fantomex has an excellent hearing, and he can't hear the responses. Nice trick, which hints some degree of high tech. Not as much as it should be if the man was Weapon Plus. But he might be an assassin nevertheless. His head carries a high price in certain circles.

Doing what he did might have drawn the wrong kind of attention, too. If it was not a trap, it might be a trap now, some wariness is warranted even from France's most daring thief. So... ah, thank you E.V.A. for your facial recognition systems.

An US army colonel. Of all things this was something Fantomex didn't expect. And he does love surprises. He might have expected a SHIELD agent, but a regular human army officer? "Bonjour monsieur," he greets to Colonel Flag, somehow materializing in front of him as if stepping out from the shadows, a white handgun in his left hand, pointing to Flag. "Quite the elaborated trick you set up," he comments. "It might have drawn all kinds of unpleasant attention towards you."

Rick Flag has posed:
While the seated man doesn't move much--he's not entirely unresponsive. His fingers and eyes twitch just enough to betray the fact that he definitely wasn't prepared for Fantomex's materialization.

He takes a slow breath and nods. "True," Flag says. "That's certainly a risk that we anticipated. But it was also anticipated that you would be among the respondents."

The man very slowly stands, keeping his hands on the table. "I am told that you are an /incredibly/ dangerous individual. As someone who understands himself to be dangerous, I appreciate this warning." He nods to his hands. "Please understand that I in no way want to suggest that I'm a threat here."

He chuckles, very quietly. "Believe it or not, I'm just a messenger. A walking Indeed posting."

Fantomex has posed:
"I am just a thief, monsieur, albeit a great one," replies Fantomex, gauging Flag reaction to his words. Not many would say Fantomex is very dangerous, despite being publicly know (in Europe) as someone able to steal some things believed impossible to be stolen. Violence is not his hallmark.

Not a threat here. And Flag 'reads' sincere. Which leads Fantomex to holster his handgun slowly. "You left a trail I could follow. But so could others. So it is best assume we are going to have little time alone. I do hope you have a good... ah, exit strategy. Your message?"

Rick Flag has posed:
Nodding again to the table, this time to the spread of papers in front of him, Flag says, "I do. As I'm sure you're aware, it's always good to have at least two exit strategies. As to the message..."

He slides one hand to an envelope, picks it up, and holds it toward Fantomex. "I don't actually know its content. Just that it involves an offer that might interest you. I'm part of a squad that takes on some ... difficult missions. Your expertise might be valuable to its success. My employer decided this would be the most effective means of gaining your attention."

Fantomex has posed:
Fantomex picks up the folder and tilts his head in amused disbelief. "Your boss is a fool, I am not a joiner and although my services are occasionally for hire, it would only be for some very intriguing tasks," nevertheless, he slices the folder open. Flag can see some pictures and a few documents that seem copies of old printing paper.

Fantomex scans over them in a few seconds.

"Sacre Bleu," he chuckles. "She does spin a good yarn." He looks up at Flag, then tosses the documents into the air. They all catch fire and burn to cinders before hitting the ground. "I can't resist visiting a place called 'Bele Reve' you understand. Very good, tell her I will be the Thirteen to her Seven."

Rick Flag has posed:
"I'm sure she'll know what you mean," Flag replies, eyes narrowed but body language definitely suggested a bit of relief and relaxation in response to Fantomex's comments.

"Is that the only message I need to give her for you?" He clears his throat. "Most of my colleagues, ah, have very strong opinions about her that they're more comfortable telling me about than they would her."

Fantomex has posed:
"You can tell her she has succeeded to intrigue me," comments Fantomex, sounding weirdly cheerful. "No mean feat, for I am easily bored. Of course it might be she will come to regret it. I find nothing as tempting as secrets... for stealing."

If it was blackmail, as would be usual for Waller modus operandi, Fantomex is very good at disguising his anger.

"Did you mention a good exist strategy?" He asks. "My partner just told me a trio of stealth flying transports has landed around the mall. They don't look like anything Americans have right now."

Rick Flag has posed:
"I do indeed," Flag replies. "But I think your intel was a little faster than mine on identifying any bogeys. I appreciate the tip."

Flag stands, scooping up the remaining papers, and then he steps to the light switch, killing visibility in the firm. "I look forward to working with you."

Unseen to the naked eye, but perhaps noticeable to other senses, a portal opens in the darkness, and a woman's hand reaches out to grasp Flag by the arm. He steps backward into the portal, which remains open for just a beat afterwards--enough time for Fantomex to choose to follow or not.

Fantomex has posed:
Lets see. Stays and face Weapon Plus assassins (again) or jump into the total unknown through a portal made of darkness. Of course he jumps in. For Fantomex it is always better the devil he doesn't know.

Somewhere outside technorganic E.V.A. rolls her optic sensors. The quietly flies southwards, sneaking past both enemy and friendly sensors.