Mission: Impossible

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Sunday, May 26, 1622

<sub>Andy's ship had been back and forth between the other countries, however this time they had to stop in Dula to take care of a few things. At that time Andromeda had checked out the wanted list to see if they could get any free cash, and the young Nerys noticed something of important during that time when Andy had brought back the papers.

Wanted Dead or Alive: Vladimir Henye. Extortion and Tax Evasion. 550 shillings. Bring his body to the Spencer Headquarters located on Basil Street.

Andy had told her not to sneak off and deal with the crime lord herself, but she decided against taking his advice this time. It was personal this time, he should know this. The man tried to sell her, after all, and nearly got her killed. Nerys snuck out at around moonrise (new moon, which would be around 3-4 AM), collecting a dagger from one of the cupboards, hiding it in her dress for later.

Nerys climbed down the ship. She would check Vladimir's old home first that Sine so foolishly showed her. After all, Dad never paid attention to Nerys herself. It was all Sine's work taking care of her.

"Tsch. Sweet Irony. I'll get the money offing him instead of the other way." She mumbled to herself as she hopped the last two feet down, catching herself with her hands as she hit the ground. Nerys turned around to head to the houses of the Central Galleria District of Dula.</sub>

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Being a night owl by nature, Cepheid had donned his garbs as The Star Man and positioned himself on a watchtower with his telescope. He noticed movement out the corner of his eye and realized it was Nerys. It was obvious where she was going. Andy told her not too, so it made sense that she'd do quite the opposite. She had let slip that she wasn't fond of her old man; making the educated guess that she planned on ending his life much like he did his own parents, he picked up his battle scope(He had already repaired the dents and polished it up) and began following the woman.

He managed to stay right on her tail, staying far enough back to avoid being spotted. Again, his experience in ducking fangirls came into play as he moved along silently in her wake. He wasn't sure what he was going to do. Watch and aid if needed? Stop her? Help her right off the bat? He wasn't sure.

At this point, he was just going to follow her until she came to a stop to catch her breath, he'd then walk up behind her and, quietly, speak. "So, looking for a little bounty hunting, m'lady?" He asked.

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<sub>Nerys was unaware of Cepheid for quite some time. Mainly because he was just as good at being silent as she is, and that Nerys was much for focused on her bloodshed. Se had dodges major streets and blended in with the darkness as well as she could, however she did stop to catch her breath under a beam of moonlight like the lights on a stage.

"....?!" She whipped around, hiking up her dress to grab the knife tucked in her long boots, however she found it was Cepheid. She stared at him in shock as it hit her he was sneaking up on her. She then smacked his arm, snapping at him but keeping her voice low and quiet enough to not cause notice nearby. "Don't follow me like that!"

She then calmed down, looking up at him with a pained and upset expression on her face. He had overheard Andy telling Nerys herself not to do this, she was half expecting him to try and knock her out and bring her back forcibly.

"You can't stop me. You just can't..." She challenged him, before shipping around and walking towards the direction of where the house would be.</sub>

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"I apologize, Nerys. However we both know that Andromeda forbade you from doing this." He said calmly, not even flinching as he was struck. "I was simply looking out for you. The streets of Dula are dangerous for everyone, no matter how well armed."

He met her gaze through his mask as she told him that he couldn't stop her, then whipped around to leave. Quickly, he stuck out his scope to trip her up, grabbed her shoulder, and spun her around so she was in his arms. If that worked out, he'd address her again, calmly. "You were told not to do this, however I know all to well the fury you are feeling. It's a dark and terrible thing, and I fully understand how frustrated you may feel at being denied vengeance for whatever crime he committed against you." He'd loosen his grip and hold her at arms length. "I will not try to stop you, however I must warn you. Any closure you think this will bring you...It will not."

He paused. "If you still insist on going, at least allow me to accompany you, just in case."

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<sub>Nerys went silent, stopping as he spoke up about how Andromeda... well duh! He didn't want her being on the wanted list for this, but who cares? She's with a wanted criminal with three other girls and now his twin brother is involved!

"I'm more than aware of what the streets of Dula can be. I've lived here during my childhood." She spoke tersely. "... I appreciate you looking out for me, but I can take care of myself."

He whipped around and she assumed he was going to leave, so she was going to do the same, but being that she was facing off against someone just as fast, she found herself tripped up and then grabbed.

"Unhand me! She twisted her arms, however her frail nature meant she wouldn't be able to get herself out right now. She was reduced to staring him straight in the eyes when he started... her eyes widened. "How could you even...! How would you even know! Do you even...!" She couldn't even finish her sentence. Once he loosened his grip on her she easily twisted out of his grip and stood back, rubbing her arms where he grabbed her.

"I'm still going, but you can't do this! Not in your costume! How would the others think if you wound up on the wanted list unless we wiped everyone out in the household, guards included?"</sub>

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"There is no shame in having people looking out for you, Nerys." Cepheid spoke simply, his tone unwavering despite the hostility she was showing. "No matter how good you are, things still happen, and...." He faltered slightly. "I really don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you." Nerys, Andromeda, and the girls were constants in Cepheid's up-until-now empty life. No, actually, Ceph's just totally in love with you.

Once he managed to get the female in his arms, he held a firm, albeit gentle, grip on her. He met her gaze as she sputtered at him, seemingly insulted that he tried to empathize with her. He let her go and looked at her calmly. He then glanced to his garbs. "An easy fix." He said, before whipping off the mask and hat, removing the cape and over jacket, leaving only his slightly star themed pants on, hardly something anyone would notice. In those few alterations, he very quickly transformed from The Star Man to a very well dressed looking Andromeda. "Then tonight, I shall play a different role." He said, carefully stashing the items somewhere nearby and secure. Doing that, he returned to her side, hands in his pockets. "Well, shall we proceed?"

He hadn't gone any farther on just how much he knew about wanting to kill your own parents. He probably wouldn't bring it up unless asked, or he deemed it necessary.

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<sub>Nerys just looked at him, her expression unreadable. Did she really matter that much to him? She was just the girl who liked to cling to his scarf and joke with involving Andy. Or just like any other fangirl. The other girls should be more worth it, especially since their lives weren't as screwed up... well, with the exception of Godwine. Damnit Nerys you're Quinting.

"... I see." Her voice softened a bit. Of course, then she raised her brow as he went to change out of his guise. Now that they were stashed, Nerys could get on with her job. ".... Um..." She shuffled again. Uh oh, shy Nerys again. "... Thanks. For not... dragging me back to the ship. This..."

She shook her head. She didn't want to say anything else, for now, they should get a move on. Making sure that Ceph was within her eyesight, she would slip through the shadows until she came on what happened to be a seemingly abandoned building in the city.

"... Maybe he's not here. It's been eight years or so since I've heard about him."</sub>

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You were more than just that, Nerys. While the other three females never got much farther past than pure fangirlism, you weren't afraid to risk his bad graces; a perfect example being the first night they met.

He was relieved when she relented, and after stashing the more identifying parts of his costume, moved up to the woman's side. "Trust me, Nerys. I want nothing more than to bring back where I know you're safe, but I also know you well enough to be aware that such an action would only delay and irritate you. I'm sure Andy knows it too. Lets just get this done."

Once she got a move on, Ceph followed closely behind her, tailing her shadow rather easily. Once they reached the abandoned house, he looked at her and listened. "You wait here. I'm going to stick my head in and take a look around." He said, and then raised a hand before she could even think about objecting. "Between the two of us, I think I'm a bit more likely to get out of it with my dignity intact, if you know what I mean." He did not trust her father or anyone he might associate with. "I'm just going to look, don't worry."

Assuring her he wasn't going to cause a scene, Ceph climbed up on some crates and hoisted himself up so he could look through a window. If no one was there, he'd climb through and look around the immediate area, scoping hiding places and exits.RPer giggles at the mental image of Ceph having to dolphin dive out of the window.

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<sub>Nerys looked over when he spoke up. Well, she would be very flattered if she knew how you felt. But for now she had to focus on her mission. She nodded when he told her what would really happen. Nerys would just return here the next day to try again, and Andy probably knew it. The young woman spoke up quietly as she put her back against the wall.

"I do appreciate your help, Cepheid. I know what you mean though." She smiled at him as he went to look around. The place looked eerily empty with the exception of a sleeping guard at a couch near a fireplace. Clearly he didn't care about Vladimir's safety. That is, before she hoisted herself up and peered over the windowsill curiously, forgetting she had to wait for him.

"His room is upstairs. Anybody in there?" She barely whispered.</sub>

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With a smile and slight salute, Ceph hoisted himself carefully through the window and into the room, stepping onto the carpet and quietly treading around, keeping a wary eye on the guard.

He damn near felt his heart stop when he heard Nerys's voice at the window, and moved as fast as he quietly could until he was almost nose to nose with her. "Didn't I tell you to stay there?!" He said in a strained whisper. "There's a sleeping guard on the couch. Stay here, I'll take a peek upstairs and come back for you. I mean it, Nerys. Stay here until I get back or I'm dragging you back to the Star Crash."

Cepheid, even though you look like your brother, you're not that intimidating. After what he hoped was Nerys getting the point, he then crept from the window and too the door, carefully opening it as not to create a squeak. Stepping past the door, he moved warily through the hall, keeping a sharp eye and ear for other people, and looked for and then scaled the steps, if it was clear.

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<sub>Oh crap, she almost got in trouble with Cepheid, but it is true that Ceph looked way less intimidating than his Twin Brother. She was more concerned with how close he got to her, their noses nearly touching. Her eyes widened and she leaned her head back to keep more of a distance from him. Okay she got the point now! Nerys blinked and then whispered back to him.

"Okay..." She then lowered herself and looked around the streets through the overgrown bushes. Cepheid himself would find that there were two guards stationed at the door where Vladimir was kept. They looked Italian because stereotypical Brooklyn Gangsters didn't exist yet in that standard and held guns in each hand. They seemed to be idly throwing quiet conversation around, but one did say that Vladimir was here and he would be moving out of the country the next day.</sub>

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Satisfied the message got across, Ceph was a little too irritated to pay much mind to just how close he got to her. Leaving her at the window, he skulked around the building until he stopped around the corner to where the door and the guards were. Guns... Damn it all, he didn't own a flintlock, none-the-less had one.

He listened, and raised his eyebrows. He was...leaving tomorrow.

It was tempting to return to Nerys and tell her that he wasn't here right now. That those guards were just some random people who claimed the empty building... Sure, she'd sneak out the next night to check for herself, but the man would be gone by then, and all of his guard, he was sure...

Cepheid stood, crouched, as he went over his options. If he was good at anything, it was lying. After all, he lived under a mask. It would be just so easy to tell her he wasn't there, and escort her back to the Star Crash where she'd be safe. So tempting, and so easy.

He got up and carefully returned to the window, making sure that the man was still asleep before climbing out of the window and standing on the crate with Nerys.

"He's here. Two guards are outside his door, though. Armed with guns." He said. "Is there anything I can do to talk you out of this?"

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<sub>Nerys was unaware of the self conflict that Cepheid was having. She was just standing there, alert and wide eyed at her situation. She would have the chance to kill her father, that's what mattered. Except she still was worried over Cepheid's safety. Why was he doing this for her? She had no idea and wanted to know.

She jumped when he came back to tell her he was here. Perfect! Her intuition didn't sway her at all. She then nodded before she climbed up with him on the crate. She then took a long look at him before speaking up.

"I said I made up my mind. Let's go to his window." She then slipped over to the window. Hm, there seemed to be a guard there. Nerys hid herself from view of him...</sub>

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Cepheid was immensely unsure of how to convince Nerys that offing her parent wouldn't bring her the closure she thought it would, as he was hesitant to admit to anyone that he was the one who killed his and Andy's parents. As to why he was doing this? He wasn't too sure himself, he just knew that he wouldn't be able to bear just standing by while she went off alone.

With a disappointed sigh, he nodded and followed after Nerys through the window, taking point and leading her to where the two guards were. How did she plan on doing this? As far as he could see, there was no taking them both out without raising the alarm. Even if they had guns, the noise they'd make would alert everyone within two blocks!

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<sub>Nerys didn't want to give up at all, but it was looking that way now for her. The guards had guns, after all. She took a deep breath and then glanced over to Cepheid. He seemed to not want her to do this. But... Did this make her any different from her father? He tried to kill her, just like how she is right now.

She grabbed Cephied's hand, clutching it tightly in the darkness as she struggled to make up her mind... those guns looked dangerous, and there was no way she would let him get shot over her own feud with her father..

"It's not worth it." She whispered, closing her eyes tightly. "I don't want to see you hurt over this." She hung her head, feeling ashamed.</sub>