WD Spy rule two eighty four is entitled 'All right, you guys don't have to go home, but you can't stay here. (As much as we'd like you to.)

Previous rule two eighty three: There's no group of people who get along worse than the person you are, the person you want to be, and the person you once were.

Next rule: At least the fall after having the rug pulled from under you is mercifully short.

Summary page

-Short summary-

Sector seven's last day comes to pass, and the team bids farewell to each other.

-Long summary-

Izaac and his little sister Jitka walk down a dark alley, the two snipers taking care to not leave any openings in the way they walk or check their surroundings. Izaac is normally bereft of any sense of apprehension or general wariness, and before one gets the wrong idea it has nothing to do with their surroundings or the fact that he is traveling with his thirteen year old sister at night. If anything strong, silent Jitka could take care of herself, since out of the 'family' she is without contest the best shot. Not to mention since for one reason or another she had given up talking, she could literally remain motionless and wordless for hours waiting for that perfect shot. No one is quite sure when and why Jitka had decided to stop talking, but she still communicates with them well enough, so no one bothers asking. No, it really has nothing to do with where he is or who he's with, it's more to do with who he's going to meet.

The two arrive at what seems to be an abandoned airport, dark save for a few flickering runway lights. Izaac mutters that the 'client' couldn't have chosen a scarier place to meet? He's not superstitious or anything, but his internal panic sensor was blaring away. Too many open spaces, too much darkness, and most of all too little information on who had hired them. Salvo had assured him that all he'd have to do is pick up and nothing more, but the atmosphere of the evening is creeping the hell out of him, seriously. Jitka on the other hand seems less than bothered, her blue eyes darting around their surroundings. Her mouth is always upturned in what would be perceived as a cute pouty expression, but he and the 'family' know she could and has put someone's eye out with a bullet. Izaac would never admit it, but he feels a bit safer having her here than Ruzena since she would simply shoot anything that is out of place.

The wind suddenly picks up, and the lights around the airport suddenly flare on. Izaac covers his eyes, blinded temporarily, while Jitka simply flips on a pair of sun glass lenses that were perched on her head. The older sniper face faults, asking if his little sister is purposely trying to make him look bad, but he gets no response as Jitka huffs and readies her rifle. Izaac glances in the direction her gun is pointed in and sees someone coming towards them. He makes a motion with his hand for Jitka to lower the gun, and begrudgingly the teenage sniper does.

The person coming towards them is none other than Matilde Ngai, wearing a white dress that  billows in the breeze. She appears to have a rotweiler on a leash, and walks towards them with a big smile and an earnest wave. Izaac sizes her up and says 'yo' to her, while Jitka stares and remains motionless, all except for her finger creeping up on the trigger. Izaac glares at her, but makes no effort to stop her itchy trigger finger. Matilde finally stands before the two snipers, and with her hand raised bellows a friendly 'hello'. Izaac nods and monosyllabically adds 'yeah'. He'd be more of a wiseass if the whole situation didn't make him uncomfortable to be honest. Matilde picks up on his apprehension and with a sing song tone asks if he's scared, to which he replies that anyone who would come here fearless is either Jitka or stupid. The teenage sniper huffs again and points the gun at him, and Izaac waves his hands defensively claiming it was a compliment. Matilde laughs and asks if Jitka would like to pet her doggie, and she shakes her head no. Matilde looks hurt, and says in a sad voice that she held up that pet store and killed the elderly owners for nothing then.....Izaac balks and realizes that she already knew he'd be bringing backup....and apparently that it would be specifically Jitka! How? If he were only wary of Matilde before, he is now in full panic mode. Matilde smiles and releases the dog which takes one look at her and smartly runs into the bushes nearby. Izaac thinks to himself that the dog has the right idea, but he knows Salvo won't appreciate him coming back empty handed, so he decides to get this over with. He asks Matilde if she has it, and she nods quickly before skipping back to where she came and coming back over with a shopping bag full of crisp 100 dollar bills. Izaac motions for her to drop it where she's standing, and after she does he walks over and counts the money himself. One thing you do as a sniper is to learn how to count money quickly, since one doesn't always have the luxury of being paid in their home like now.

After he's done and the amount is satisfactory, he raises and eyebrow and asks what Matilde's game is. Matilde giggles and asks why it bothers him so much? Izaac retorts that he's never been paid to take money before, and Matilde replies with a smile that they did earn it, since after all her 'job' for them was to take Lukas's money, do his job and then take her money to protect him and his team. Sure they had lost their 'immunity', but she has plans to bring back the team eventually so they may very well get it back. So it's win-win for everyone! Izaac glares at her, and motions at Jitka to walk past without doing anything, specifying the 'without doing anything' part. Jitka keeps her gun trained on Matilde's head, but walks by without firing it. Before they are out of earshot, Matilde asks them to look out for the team for her, to which Izaac raises a middle finger. Her smile not fading, Matilde leaves int he opposite direction from the snipers.

Izaac turns to Jitka who genuinely seems to be pouting that she didn't' get to give Matilde a bullet to the brain. He tells her to knock that off, that Matilde is more than she appears. She came alone knowing that there would be two of them without any weapons of her own after all. A person who can wantonly throw away their life like that isn't headed anywhere good and fast, which will mean that one day their family would be called to end her. Izaac glances back at the direction Matilde is walking in and decides very quickly that he will call in that day.

Meanwhile Matilde muses that she has snipers, the mafia and herself to keep watch over Sector seven, and that should be more than enough. Now she'd just have to wait for Lukas to stew in his own self induced despair, unable to contact his friends, unable to go on adventures, unable to do anything but live a mundane life until she deems it worthy for him to be reinstated. The very thought causes her heart to race, and she continues to dwell these thoughts until a very warm and very wet sensation travels down her leg. She glances down and taking two fingers licks a bit quietly admonishing herself for wearing panties instead of boxers again. Her cell buzzes to life and she lifts it from between her breasts and answers it; Wargle being the one on the line. He calmly states that the Mafia would like a timeline on their little deal, and after a moment of thinking Matilde arbitrarily decides on three years. Three years and they could rescind their efforts to protect Lukas; and she would swoop in and gather whats left of his poor psyche. Three years and he would be hers...all hers. She smiles happily barely unable to wait for the day to come.

The next morning is the dawn of Sector seven's final day. Although they technically have the whole day to finish packing, the team decides to have their stuff out by noon so not to be shooed out by the staff.  Each member has packed their things out of the office, and whatever is unclaimed goes into storage. Karoline is there with Paola and Ricky, as well is Freddy, Jia, Coro, Yelena and Chiaki. With their combined efforts, they finish packing and walk down the halls of the building with their stuff in hand. Although the other sectors should be working, they still stop and cheer quietly at the backs of the leaving Sector seven. These are cheers of triumph that despite upper management scorning them and ignoring them they managed to do some genuinely good things. The team stops and waves occasionally, and once they are at the end of the hall they give a group thumbs up, indicating that they may be out, but they are not down. Not now, not ever.

Once they are outside,  Carlo pulls up on a motorcycle, and asks if everything is going well. Everyone replies affirmatively, and he then asks if he can tag along to the airport with them? He's got his own ride of course, and will follow their lead. Heike replies that this is fine, and once everyone has piled their things and themselves into a government van driven by Tyrell, they are off. Lukas and Meifa look back at the building they had spent the better part of a year in, and remember how they had all met each other, the missions they had undertaken, the good, the bad, and the ugly. All in all it had been on average a positive experience, if they did say so themselves. Before they know it, the whole team is looking back at the building, specifically the window where their office had been. As the van speeds towards the airport and the building receeds into the distance, it is only then that everyone's minds bodies and souls become heavy with memories.

The airport would be the final destination in more than one sense, as Meifa would be going with Coro and her mother Freddy to France, Ricca would be going to Italy to spend time with family, Nolan and Chiaki would be going to Ireland, Jia is going to China, and Yelena back to Russia. While Karoline Paola and Ricky would be going off to a mercenary job after the farewells, Lukas, Tyrell, Mo, Heike and Carlo would remain in the states.

Mo's still in good with her intelligence agency, and apparently had been able to arrange some paperwork for Heike so he'd be able to work while in the states. Carlo is going to take Lukas's advice and travel around a bit to find out what it is he's going to do with himself, and Tyrell still has a clearance to work with the govt and already has a few offers lined up. Lukas on the other hand still...

Karoline embraces her mother and manages to swallow her bile towards her sister long enough to give her a hug too. Meifa tries her best to look thoroughly disgusted by the motion, but it's clear she will miss her older twin sister. She reminds Karol to come and visit or she will come looking for her. Karol waves this off, and replies to her mother that she will see her as soon as possible. Meifa goads her on for a fight, and it looks like one is eminent when Lukas's cellphone rings. He notices that it is Jax and picks it up, surprised he'd call them now.

Jax appears on the skype app and with a broad smile announces that this is the end of the line. He thanks everyone for being a member of Sector seven and wishes them all the best in their future endeavors. Lukas raises an eyebrow and asks if that's really all he wanted to say? Jax looks shocked and asks if there's anything else he should add? Lukas asks him to stop following his lead and ending everything with an upward inflection, like it's a question?

Jax smiles and admits Lukas as got him. He looks into the camera and with a resolute voice asks his team if they enjoyed being together? When the answer is mumbled, Jax summons his inner drill sergeant and asks loudly for them to repeat their answer and by jerk reaction they answer loudly that they do, despite onlookers giving them funny looks. Jax nods and orders them to keep such a feeling going even if they are all sight unseen. Being a good team extends past an office building and orders, it's connecting with your teammates on a personal level, developing a bond that isn't severed by distance or time. As long as they do that, they will always be Sector seven.

Everyone is silent until Lukas snickers, and is followed by Meifa, who is joined by  Heike until everyone is roaring with laughter. Jax asks what's the matter, and Lukas replies through fits of laughter that Jax is too scrawny and nice to be a drill sergeant. Although he was pretty inspirational, it doesn't change the fact that he's still scrawny and nice Jax.

Jax is less than amused, but can't help but laugh himself.  He tells everyone to take care, and that they'll be in his thoughts and prayers, and hangs up for the last time. Lukas looks up at everyone and thanks them for following his sometimes selfish and misguided directions. Meifa says they are always selfish and misguided, but that's just how people are. Freddy turns to her daughter and announces their flight will be leaving soon, and with a nod Meifa faces everyone and tells them she really actually disliked them all at first, but now they're sorta okay she guesses. They'd better take care of themselves or she'll get pissed and beat the shit out of...dipshit. Lukas asks why it's just him, but Meifa is already pulling her mom and telling everyone to take care. Ricca checks the time and with a smile waves with her good arm telling her friends to take care of themselves. She'll miss them lots, and had a lot of fun. Lukas thanks Ricca for being a part of the team, and assures her that there will always be a place for her, no for all of them. Ricca gives Lukas a one armed hug, and then with a happy bounce heads down the gate to Italy. Nolan and Chiaki both bow out, Nolan saying that it was a great time to be with them from the beginning to clean up. He wishes Lukas and everyone else well, and promises to remember them all. Lukas gives him a handshake and waves goodbye as he and Chiaki walk down their gate. Everyone's cellphone buzzes to life and when the gang checks the text message, its simply 'hearts and kisses -Chiaki'. Jia pats his brother on the shoulder, and asks him if he still wants to come to China with him, to which Lukas shakes his head and says he'll stay here for now. Jia nods and waves at all of them, thanking them for taking care of his selfish and jaded brat of a little brother. Lukas yells at him to leave, and with a laugh he walks down the hallway. The sector seven leader smiles and waves at his older brother who turns and gives him a thumbs up before going down the hallway. Karoline smirks at Lukas and loudly says that he should take special care to say farewell to his very patient girlfriend. He's been around all sorts of women after all, and she gives him a big hug and with a slashers smile gestures to her henchmen that it's time to go. Lukas turns to Yelena to protest his innocence, but she waves Karoline off. She does add that 'everyone gets one freebie, and after that they have to pay', to which the mercenary stops for a moment glances at Yelena who has a big smile on her face, and with a short laugh walks down the hallway out of the airport. Heike smacks Lukas on the back and tells him to take care of himself, that if any govt jobs look interesting he'll keep him in mind. Lukas thanks him and the two brofist, before Mo sighs and drags Heike away. Mo turns back and gives Lukas a half wave, advising him to learn how to live easy or die fast. Lukas nods and replies he'll take that into advisement. Mo smiles and she and Heike exit. Carlo tosses the keys to his motorcycle in the air, and then catches them in a moment of bravado, commenting that it was short, but he's really impressed by Sector seven. He hopes that they'll take up a gig again sometime, and if they do that they should let him know. With that he heads out of the airport, and onto his motorcycle, out of sight only a mere few minutes later. Tyrell hits Lukas up for a high five, and tells his little 'bro' to take care, and that he'll be looking out for him. Lukas nods and tells him to take care of himself too, and to try and forgive Jax. Tyrell makes  face and promises the first one, while only saying he'll try to do the second. He hops in the van and drives away, an arm out of the window waving at Yelena and Lukas until he is out of sight.

The couple stand hand in hand for a moment before Yelena turns to say something to Lukas who takes the lead and sweeps her into his arms, locking lips with her for a long moment. After this moment has ended, Yelena blinks her eyes surprised, and asks what that was for? Lukas replies that she deserves it, and she can think of it as a memento. Yelena laughs and asks who would want such a cheap memento? The sector seven operative looks crestfallen, but Yelena laughs and says she was just kidding. She tells Lukas to take care of himself, and that she will be back once her program in Russia is over....and this time it will be for good. Lukas says he can't wait, and after one more peck on the cheek the two separate, their hands finding it hard to find themselves back at their sides. Lukas waves at his girlfriend as she heads down the hallway, continuing to do so until she is completely out of sight.

Lukas turns and walks out of the airport, and hops on a bus back to his house. The thought of going back to his place depresses him for some reason though it wasn't like he had been living at HQ or anything. Oh right, Meifa wouldn't be there anymore, and without stopping himself he verbalizes the thought, 'I think I'm gonna miss her'. With that he stares out of the window aimlessly and recalls that today is Thursday. He decides then and there that he won't be going to school Friday, and with his mood being what it is, Monday isn't looking to good either. What will he do for now on? Considering how much money he has from both his dad and his own earnings, he could throw the party to end all parties, but for some reason being alone sounds more appealing. What to do now? Where to go now? How to proceed now? Up until this very moment, everything had been for Sector seven...he had put all of his brain to thinking of how to run things in the group, and not one moment on how to run his own life as pathetic as it sounds.

Lukas suddenly notices something outside of his window, and tugs on the overhead line to stop the bus. After getting off he jogs back and perks up upon seeing a...trash can? He examines it for a moment, and smiles upon finding what he's looking for. He runs his hand over what seems to be a footprint imbedded into the side of the can, and with a laugh recalls how Meifa had kicked this very same can into a window to dispatch a sniper when he had first met her. He also recalls how despondent and bored he felt back then, like life was growing up, getting a job and dying. .....Sorta like how he feels now.

At fifteen years old, his life is really just starting isn't it? No. It started fifteen years ago, and he hates old codgers that talk like that. Right now, the way he sees things he has two options. Hit the reset button on his life and pick up where he left off, or play things out from here. Sector seven isn't a launch pad since it's not like he died and was resurrected or anything, but he can't just ignore that those were some of the best, scariest, funnest, sexiest, and annoying times of his life. He could still hold his head high and say he did something right, and that for real, is better than the alternative.

Looking up at the sky, Lukas starts walking and then facing forward he begins to jog. Before long he's flat out running, and with a cocky grin decorating his face. Why is he so assured? To be honest he has no idea of where he's going. Though here's the thing, does anyone? Does anyone know where they're headed all of the time? Hell, most of the time? Not knowing what the hell he's doing means that he's doing life the right way right? All he can do is keep walking, keep looking up at the sky, and most of all cherish the memories that others give him, and the ones he creates himself.

The city seems to disappear around him, as if to allow the former operative to fill in the blanks of his own life tapestry himself. As the white and blue colors seemingly bleach the scenery white; Lukas doesn't stop running. Somewhere out there is his destination, and he won't reach it by standing still. That he IS sure of.

Without hesitation, without stopping, and without regrets; Lukas Diethel disappears into that searing white.