All Things Considered

“All things considered though, I don’t think it is a good idea.” Raven said looking around.
“That’s because no one gets killed, buildings aren’t blown up, and there isn’t any shooting going on. All in all it is too safe of an idea for you!” Red said. Raven was quiet, she flicked out her blade a few times, cleaned her nails, watched the scenery go by. “Alright, so I can’t kill anyone?” Raven asked imploringly.
“No.” Red replied.
“Maim?”
“No.”
“Scratch a little?” Raven whined her voice getting higher.
Red sighed, “No. Rav, we are only going out to eat and then back to the house. Why does someone have to die or get hurt every time we leave the damn compound?”
“Damn.” Raven looked out the car window as they zoomed past traffic. “Fine but I get to pick the place to eat.”
“Deal.” Red said.

As they settled into a booth at a steak house Raven looked around and groaned.
“What?” asked Red, she did not look up, but continued to browse the menu.
“He is still here.” Raven said and made to stand. Quick as a cat, Red smoothly reached over and grabbed Raven’s wrist.
“Leave him.” She said, then turned Raven’s wrist and checked the time.
“But Boss!” Raven said.
“One we are in a public place, two we don’t know if he really is following us and three I am hungry.” Red said looking back down at her menu. “So, sit down, order food, and contact Dane, get him to get a fix on the guy and find out all about him.” Red ordered, green eyes glittering as she looked up at her companion. Raven kept silent, the waitress came over and they ordered. While they were waiting Red stood up, “I am going to the restroom, call Dane.” She walked away.
Raven grumbled, “I hate it when she does that.”

Red walked through the restaurant well aware of the appreciating glances and the smoldering glares. She reached the bathroom, fixed her red braided hair, checked her lipstick and stepped back from the mirror, turning she appraised the outfit she was wearing, long black wide legged trousers, a gray buttoned silk blouse, black suspenders, and black high heeled boots. She stuck her hands in her pockets and grinned. She walked back to the table looking at everyone and no one. Sitting she looked at Raven who looked like a cat who just had her fill of the cream.
“Here.” Raven said shortly handing Red the PDA where Dane had uploaded the information to them. She then got up and headed to the bathroom. She smiled dangerously into the mirror and checked her weapons, making sure that her armory was in place and in reach; she twitched her black leather coat over her black shirt and black pants. She bent down and checked her boot laces. She straightens back up swinging her braided black hair over her shoulder and left the bathroom.
“Well?” Raven asked as she sat down at the table.
“Eat.” Red replied as the food came.

Red’s cell phone rang, and startled Raven who began reaching for a weapon. “Relax it is just the office calling.” Red shook her head smiling a little.
“Yeah?” Red asked into the phone. “No shit?”
“Damn,” Red patted her pockets, found her cigarettes and lit one. “Shit.” Red took a drag from her cigarette and looked at Raven, who was watching her. Red handed her a wallet and motioned for her to pay. Raven nodded and left.
“Alright, we are on our way, we’ll be there in an hour. Or less.” Red paused. “Of course I won’t speed.” Red closed the phone and stood up stretching her six foot long frame and straightened her jacket. Raven walked over to her.
“Ready?” Raven asked. Red threw a tip down on the table.
“Yeah.” They walked out of the restaurant together. Walking to a sleek black corvette Red began opening her door when Raven hissed. Red looked up and saw the young man who was in the restaurant walk out into the parking lot. Raven looked imploringly at Red.
“Well, Dane did send his stats. Apparently he was sent to spy and possibly assassinate me.” Red said digging in her pocket for a lighter.
“And?” Raven asked never taking her eyes off of the man across the parking lot.
“You have five minutes, no more! No noise, no evidence, find out who sent him.” Red said lighting another cigarette.
Raven disappeared in the lot and Red stood there, she blatantly watched the man as he tried to unobtrusively watch her. Red smiled wickedly as she puffed on her cigarette. The man blinked and then was gone.
“Damn she gets faster every time!” Red muttered to herself, she opened the car door again and got in, she had just started the engine when Raven got in the passenger seat.
“Feel better?” Red asked as she pulled out of the lot on to the expressway.
“Yes, much better. He worked for Jack Leston.” She informed her boss.
“No shit.” Red raised her eyebrow, “interesting.”
“I say we go after Mr. Leston, I need some more fun.” Raven suggested.
“Russell just sent some information, it is in the glove box, and some idiot in the city has decided that he can rule better than I, so he took over.” Red looked over at Raven, “he works for Leston as well.” Raven pulled out the info packet, she read through it quickly.
“I would never have thought that of Christopher.” Raven said after she was done reading.
“Russell, Carlo, Tina and Dagger are meeting us at the house. They will fill us in when we get there.” Red told her.
“Good.”

“Hey, Boss!” Russell said as he greeted Red. “Does this mean the Rav and Dagger get to have some fun?”
“Hello Russell, actually I need some scouts. Tina, you and Dane find out what is happening behind the scenes with Leston and Christopher. I want to know who, what when, where and why. Everything, every little itty bitty thing, and I want it within the next 24-hours.” Red said as she took off her jacket and sat down in her study. The study walls were filled with books, and where there were no shelves there were pictures and maps of people and places. One wall was entirely TV monitors that were showing the compound’s grounds and outer fences. There was a large work table in the middle of the room, on it was spread the latest news, pictures, and tapes of the city. Chairs and couches were spread around the large room, the room was in organized disarray. Red walked over to the table and sat down on a stool she looked through some of the paper work on the table.
“Russell, you are with me. Raven and Dagger get your teams together. What parts of my city do they have?” Red asked. Raven and Dagger quickly followed Tina out of the room. Russell walked over to the table, he shook his head.
“You are not going to like it.” He told her.
“Tell me, then we will formulate a plan and take back what is mine.” She said.
“Alright,” Russell walked over to one of the maps on the wall. It was a city map, with colored regions. “Leston has got the lower districts, District 2 and 4, we think he is working on getting six and seven as well. The only ones he has not tried or succeeded in is one, three, five, eight, ten, and the Upper district, we also think that he doesn’t know that you control the Underground as well. So he may not try that.”
“Shit,” Red rubbed her face and ran her hands through her hair. “Get all the district leaders here, now.” Red said.
“They are already on their way; they all should be here in about ten minutes. This even has the Underground leader coming up. And if you remember she is as powerful as you.” Russell said.
“Yes, I remember.” Red said shooting a glance at the wall clock. She walked over to the door, “Alright lets meet them downstairs then we will bring everyone up to date and go from there.”
“Do you want to give them all of the information that we have?” Russell asked.
“All of the necessary information should be appropriate.” Red answered. She opened the door and stepped into the hallway with Russell behind her.
“We will let them know who, when, what we think they are planning next and any evidence that we have.” Red told him as they walked downstairs and into the front room. This room had couches and chairs with art work on the wall; it was an open room with windows facing the side lawn and gardens.
“Should I call in our people?” Russell asked.
“Who do we have in the field?” Red inquired.
“Dane is doing base work; Vikki, Tom, San, and Leigh are all clear in the field at present we have a few more people working undercover in other parts of the city.” Russell said.
“Bring in the ones who are clear, we need people on the inside and fast.” Red said as she sat down in one of the armchairs in the middle of the room. The doorbell rang. “Let Beth get that, call in our people, then come join us.” Red said as she sat back and rested her chin on her steepled fingers.

“Well, what are you doing about this problem?” the Upper District Leader asked.
“Grant, as you well know, I am doing everything within my power to work on it.” Red told the newcomer. Grant Watkins, shorter man with graying hair, light blue eyes that shone behind frameless round glasses, he wore a blue tweed suit and carried a briefcase.
“I will fill you in when everyone gets here, in the meantime please have a seat, and can I get you anything?” Red asked.
“You haven’t changed in all the years that you have been running this place, still as closed lipped as usual. Yes, please some tea would be lovely.” Grant said as he took a seat. “Have you met the new Underground Leader?” Grant said with a twinkle in his eye. Red raised an eyebrow, “When did that happen?”
“This morning actually,” Grant informed her, “Apparently Gina was trying to get her hand in on this whole takeover thing that Leston is doing, she got sloppy and one of her seconds took over.”
“So Gina is dead?” Red asked.
“I believe so, but you can ask the new Leader for certain.” Grant said. “I do not know who the new person is.” He shrugged. Red nodded and then stood and walked to one of the windows facing the lawn. She stood looking out when Beth came in with two more Leaders.
“Beth would you please bring in some refreshments for our guests?” Red asked without turning into the room.
“Yes ma’am.” Beth replied and then left.
“What the hell is going on here?” demanded a tall dark skinned man from the middle of the room. “I demand an explanation.”
“Daniel, that is a little harsh, let everyone get together before anyone asks any questions.” Admonished a small woman from behind the man standing, she wore a simple grey suit and carried a small leather satchel. Daniel turned toward the woman and sighed.
“But I want to know what the hell is going on in this city and why that woman has lost control!” he said.
“You will find out in good time, now sit down and be quiet, there are other people who are waiting as well.” The woman herself took a seat.
“Alright Rebecca, I suppose I can wait a few more moments. But only a few more.” Daniel said before taking a seat opposite of Grant.
“Hello Daniel, how is business?” Grant asked.
“Fine, we just opened up a new line actually that seems to be going quite well.” Daniel replied. The two men started making small talk, Beth brought in refreshments and Rebecca began fixing herself a cup of tea. Beth came back in with three more Leaders. Red turned to the room then. She glanced around; Russell came into the room with one more man who was exceptionally tall. Red took in his completely black suit, black hair and silver eyes before giving an almost unperceivable nod to the man who in turn nodded back. Russell walked over to stand behind Red.
“Please take a seat and help yourself to the refreshments at hand.” Red said. Everyone served themselves and sat down, when everyone was looking at Red she walked up to the chair that she was sitting in and leaned against its back. She folded her hands and leaned forward, “We have a small problem.” She began.
“I’ll say.” Daniel put in.
“And in order to fix this small problem, I am going to need your cooperation and your support.” Red continued ignoring Daniel’s jibe. “Jack Leston apparently has plans to take this city out of my control, I am not ready for that type of retirement plan quite yet, so needless to say, he is beginning to make me upset.” Red said looking at each Leader in turn. “Leston has taken over Districts 2 and 4, and the lower districts. He either has done so by contract or outright force. I have never had to use violence to get the cooperation and support of the Districts and their Leaders, so I am assuming that those he has taken over by force would be willing to join us if given the chance. Those Districts that went peacefully or were paid, I will deal with when that time comes.” Red said, she stood up and walked around the chair. “My people are working on information, surveillance and getting inside. In 24-hours I will have more information to tell you. The only thing that I can tell you at this time is that I am doing everything within my power to stop this man from turning this city into chaos. I will not let that happen. Please inform my Second Russell of any information that you think is relevant and irrelevant to this problem, you are all invited to stay here until this is taken care of, ask Beth for anything that you may need and she will show you to your suites if you decide to stay. If you decide to go please inform Russell he will give you a PCL, a personal computer link, which will allow you to communicate here in split seconds. Does anyone have any questions?” Red asked. The room’s occupants looked at her in silence. Red gave one nod, “Then please talk to my second, and if you can stay for dinner if you are planning on leaving this evening.”  She gave one short bow and left the room. Russell stepped up.
“Alright then everyone, if I can have the Upper District Leader first and then everyone else in succession.” Russell started.
Red walked down the hall and stepped into a room on the left. She sat down in one of the chairs and closed her eyes. Leaning back and stretching out her legs she began thinking of the past.

The city was in chaos, war had turned the city into one giant war zone, and people were living and dying on the streets. Finally the mafia decided to take over the city. All of the major Families met down town, there they decided to split the city into districts, Upper Districts would be run by the Candelas, the Lower Districts would be run by the Santanias, the middle districts one through eight would each be run by one of each of the smaller Families, the Griffims would control one, Thompson would get two, Jameson three, four would be controlled by the Yomojuos, five went to the Grams, six to the Lovetts, seven went to Williamson, and eight went to the Kasson Family. The Underground District was controlled by O’Hanlon Family. The District Leaders were each chosen by the Families and they had absolute rule over their district. It was decided that one person would rule the entire city with the District Leaders as the Consul. But the Families could not decide who to put into the position of so much power. So Red made that decision for them. She came from none of the Families, she was an assassin by trade, taught to hunt and kill. She also was trained in the arts of politics, law and business, all in all she was the perfect candidate, ruthless, smart, cunning, and willing to do anything to get what she wanted, which is what she did when she took over as the City Leader. She brought in her team to the Family meeting and told them exactly how things were going to go, needless to say, not all of the Families agreed, but most did, and so it was decided that Red would rule. Now almost three years later, a kind of peace was in the city, people were getting jobs back, trade and commerce were on the rise, the city was almost completely clean and of course someone decides that they are going to takeover. Red had moved into one of the larger houses in the middle of the City, there she ran base operations, she kept tabs on all the Leaders and their families, she knew who was going into power and who was coming out. And now some upstart has decided that he is better at her job. Red sighed heavily and ran a hand through her hair. She stood up and walked to one of the windows, this one faced the southern lawns, she watched as a gardener pruned one of the many flowering bushes that lined the walkways.
“So what are you keeping from them?” a deep voice asked.
“Actually, not much.” Red replied as she turned and faced the Underground Leader. “As I said before, my teams are currently hustling to get me information.” She took a step into the room toward the Leader. “Red.” She said, she stuck her hand out.
“Robert.” He said and then took her hand and shook it. “I have grown up hearing about you. When I was asked to be Gina’s second my main orders were to learn anything I could about you.” He sat down in one of the leather arm chairs. “Do you realize how hard it is to find something about someone who doesn’t exist?” he asked. Red smiled and cocked an eyebrow. “But I love challenges. In the three years that I was Gina’s second I only knew what you had done, I couldn’t figure out your patterns, your techniques, and believe me I tried, there is a whole room devoted entirely to your movements in the Underground House.” Robert told her, carefully watching her reaction. Red looked at him.
“Interesting. Maybe one day you will show me this room of yours, I would be interested in seeing just how much stuff there actually is about me.” Red told him, she made to walk out of the room.
“I also find it interesting that anyone who may know anything about you is either dead or works for you. And the fact that no one seems to know where you are from and how you came to be what you are. Why is that Red?” Robert asked standing and stepping around the chair. “What is it that you have to hide?” he asked. Red stopped at the door, she slowly turned and walked back to Robert, she stood very close to him and leaned in.
“That information is on a need to know basis, and I suggest that you stop asking questions and stop trying to find things out about me, otherwise something very bad may happen.” She told him in a low tight voice.
“What are you going to do, kill me?” he jibbed.
“Oh no, I would not kill you at this moment, you are standing on an atique rug, do you know how long it would take me to get blood out of that?” Red asked gesturing at the rug beneath their feet. She shook her head, “besides killing people to get what I want is not the way I do things, I have other ways, you should know you have done the research.” Red told him.