_ ᔕTᖇᗩᑎGE ᗪIᗩᖇY _

[Archaeopteryx.]

WHO SHIPS IT?!

WILDCATS

COOLPAW SHIPS ITTT

Kiana ships it too.

[oraoblivionis]

WHO SHIPS IT?!

WILDCATS

COOLPAW SHIPS ITTT

Kiana ships it too.

Mari as well.

[CookieCat000]

So does Dakota.
WAIT DAKOTA, WOULDN'T SHE BE CHEATING ON JAKE?!?

Dakota: Face it, Zack and Xura are meant to be <3

Okay, COOKIE SHIPS IT TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[catcher.]

She has a boyfriend people ._.


Who am I kidding? I totally ship it :3

[Xura]

Looks like I might have made Zack a little too perfect

[Apyrisol]

SHIPZIEZ

[KatLove]

I forgot to join the shipping party!
*Joins*
Ok... all better

Looks like I might have made Zack a little too perfect

Ya you kinda did....

[Baylin]

I would rather Xura stop dating Jake and maybe try things out with Zack. Xura can't tell Jake anything and im pretty sure that bothers her but with Zack he already knows cause y'know he is like a stalker or something. .3.

[oraoblivionis]

Zack is Jake in disguise.

[Xura]

Being at this place was very... Shady. It was like those black market men in trench coats, that pull you off the streets to sell you stuff, were everywhere. Even being in the garden with Zack was uncomfortable.
Zack: So over here we have white orchids-
Stranger: Hey! I'll sell you this for cheap
Me: Uh... That's nice and no thanks
Stranger: *shrugs* your loss
Me: Uh-huh.
Zack: Are you following, or am I boring you?
Me: I think I'm following...
Stranger #2: Ive got Strange anime tickets! You wanna buy some?
Anyway, it was like that the whole time. It's only 2:00 and I'm super boredddd. I decided that I would wander the halls a bit to pass the time. I opened and closed many guest room doors, apparently they cater many people here. In my head, I had decided that this place would be the perfect spot to play hide-and-seek. Thinking about that made me wonder whether or not Zack had any friends. I'm sure that Angie girl was around to keep him company, right? I then decided that I would go see what he was up to, so I walked to his door but paused when I heard voices coming from the room next to his.
Muffled voice: Zack doesn't deserve to be the next heir! I'm going to make sure that the line changes in my favor
Woman's voice: But he's your brother. Born before you, and clearly favored by your father.
Muffled voice: Don't call that filth my brother. I do all the hard work around here. The chores, keeping the peace with the other triads, and doing deals with American organizations.
Woman's voice: Koda, calm down. It takes a lot to overthrow a future heir.
Koda: That's why you're going to help me. Together, we can make sure he doesn't become the triad leader.
Woman's voice: I don't know. It sounds risky. I love you but I don't think you should do it.
Koda: Angie, this is important to me.
Angie: No Koda. Fate is set how it is. Plus, don't you want to go through with our plans? I want to run away with you.
Koda: Of course Angie, but-
Angie: I said no. If you do anything to Zack, we're over, and I mean it.
There was a silence.
Koda: Why are you protecting him?
Angie: I'm not protecting him, I'm protecting you
Koda: Protecting me from what? My destiny?! My dreams?! I don't need any protection-
Angie: I'm protecting you from your father!
Another pause.
Angie: you get Zack out of the way, and you think your father is going to believe you? He knows that you envy your brother as well as I. I love you, Koda. Please don't do this.
There was a deep intense moment.
I was thinking for how expensive this place was, their doors are very thin. I mean, I could hear every single word clearly. But then suddenly, Zack's door opened. He looked puzzled.
Zack: Xura? What are you doing out here?
My heart raced. Everyone was silent, I knew that Koda and Angie must have heard that because they were no longer speaking.
Me: I-I... uh.. Just got here and was about to knock. You surprised me.
Zack: Oh, sorry. I was wondering if you'd want to go out and maybe get some food.
I decided to roll with it.
Me: Do we need to go out? I was thinking that maybe we could make food again, after all you're the best cook I've ever seen.
He blushed and his ears turned a hot pink. Weird, he must be coming down with something.
Zack: Uh-uh-Uhm.. Yeah! Er... Uh... That sounds great.
Me: Are you alright? It looks like you might have a fever. You're face is, like, super red.
He diverted his eyes from mine, bit his lip and stared down at the ground.
Zack: I'm fine. We uh.. Should go.
We left the hallway and I let out a relieved sigh.
Zack: You okay?
Me: What? Oh..
I considered whether or not I should tell him.
Me: I'm fine.
Nah. Angie told Koda that she would break up with him if he did anything. AND LOVE IS EVERYTHING That's enough, no need to get people in trouble for no reason.
Me: Do you have any friends?
Zack: What do you mean?
Me: You know, friends. A friend is a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection-
Zack: I know what friends are.
Me: Oh, well I didn't know for sure that you did. After all, I made friends with a girl who didn't know what friends were.
Zack: What? Where did you meet someone like that?
Me: In my organization. Her name is-
As we turned a corner, I bumped into the Icey-blue hair girl I saw earlier at breakfast. She was carrying papers, and they had just scattered all over the ground. She looked up and I recognized her instantly.
Me: Amy?
Amy: Xura? What are you doing in Japan?
Me: Uh...
Zack: Amy? I thought you said your name was Katie.
Amy: Heh, Heh.. Yeah. Well... It's not.
Awkward silence.
Zack: What are you doing here?
Amy: *sighs* We didn't want to cause a fuss, but... I'm here about Xaiviar.
Me: Who's that?
Zack: *shakes head* We told all of you that we'd deal with him ourselves, he's the triad's problem.
Me: Whoooooo??????!!! TELL MEHHHH
Amy: Yeah? Well, he's also in big trouble with us too. Not only did he double-cross us, cause two gangs to turn on us, and buy out our agents, but he took... It.
Me: Who? And what's it? AGH! Why won't any of you tell me anything?!
Zack: Which "it" are we talking about?
Amy: Formula #9
I stiffened. I've heard about that before. Maybe in a song. Like Love Potion Number 9 or something... I know I have... Somewhere. Then it hit me.
Me: Cinna stole that.
This time, they heard me.
Amy: What do you mean?
Me: I've been through several restricted documents on Cinna. I know her "last" message to headquarters, her skills, her work. In fact, I have everything I found written in my diary. In her last message she said that she wanted to pass with whatever she stole, and in secret information it said that she had stolen formula #9
Amy: Can I see these documents?
I pulled off my boot and lifted up the sole. It was my secret hiding place for the USB, I had never stopped working on it for Matthew. I just haven't found the time to.
Me: Every time I get on, there's a timer. It sets for five minutes unless I'm able to decode it faster, and it'll lock us out again for another three and half months.
Zack: You hack?
Me: Do you?
Zack: Not my area of expertise. But I think that hacking is very attracti- uh....
He cleared his throat and blushed deeply.
Zack: Attractable. For attention. From other hackers and businesses.
Me: Attractable? I'm pretty sure that's not a word.
Amy: Smooth, real smooth.
Zack: You snuck into my home without permission, you don't get a say.
She shrugged and finished picking up her papers.
Amy: Why is Thunder's agent in your home without my permission?
Me: I need a babysitter?
Zack: That's on her.
Me: Now wait a second. Technically, I was escaping someone who wanted to probably torture me. I just happened to jump on your float, and it's not like I had a choice to go anywhere else
Amy: Someone was chasing you?
Me: It's a long story
Amy: This is Mumbai all over again
Zack: You and I remember Mumbai very differently.
Me: These are the avengers quotes all over again *shakes head* what happened in Budapest anyway?
Amy: Believe it or not, I know that answer to that.
Zack: Are we going to look at the file or what?
Me: Right. The file. You wouldn't happen to have a laptop that is useless, right?
Zack: Yeah, I have one, why?
Me: Well, there's a slight chance it may burst into flames.
Zack: Oh... Well, that's lovely.
Me: I know, it just burns me up inside.
He left the hallway and entered a room to go get a laptop.
Amy: -_- Your jokes get more unbearable every time I see you
Me: Oh thanks Amy, I try. Want to hear another joke?
Amy: No.
Me: Okay, so what's a rock band that doesn't sing?
Amy: ...
Me: Mount Rushmore!
Amy: .... We are the same age, right?
Zack came back with a laptop in hand. He handed it to me but nearly dropped it when our hands briefly touched.
Me: uh... You okay?
Zack: yeah I'm fine, I'm just uh.. Not used to being touched and stuff.
Me: Oh
Amy: Uh huh *smiles and winks for some reason*
I'll never understand Amy. Just weird. Zack scowled at her and led us into a private room. We sat down and I plugged in the USB.
The screen went black. It was a full minute before any words appeared on the screen.

Stryker Source Data Base
Files of access:
- Blackmail
- Agents Lost
- Item inquiry
- Current Agents
- Sales detail
- Missions log

Me: We have 4 minutes and twenty seconds left, anything you specific you're interested in?
Zack: I'd want to see blackmail
Amy: Don't you have enough?
Zack: You can never have enough
Amy: You're the triad you have tons of hidden secrets, clearly the missions log is more important!
Zack: Yeah, right. You just want to see that to help your organization take down the others.
They continued to argue so I clicked on sales detail. What I found horrified me.

Xura- $100,000- Vietnam
Xura- $1,000,000- Triad
Xura- Favor- Unlisted
Xura- $290,000- Quinghai
Xura- $3,000,000- Russia
Xura- $5,000,000- France
Xura- $50,000- Marcus
Xura- $80,000,000- Unlisted
Mona Lisa- $3,000,000- Hans
.... (List goes on)

I sighed. So it was true. My mother and father were selling me off discreetly. I bit my lip, there was only three minutes left. I clicked out and clicked on Item inquiry.

Item deposit records
Search _________

I typed formula #9 into the box. This popped up:

Formula #9
History: An accidental chemical mixture forged from one of the science labs in Germany. It is impossible to recreate, the scientists have repeated their steps several times, however, it appears that there may have been a third party that lead to formula #9's creation. The supposed third party remains unidentified. The uses of this chemical are of high priority and confidential to anyone not pertaining the needed clearance to access.
Uses: There isn't a specific use for formula #9. It is described not even as a chemical, but as an allusion to fantasy, a potion. Used by itself, it can cause a hypnotic state, swaying its victim into doing whatever the user wills them to. Used with sugar, it can make someone fall in love with whomever they see first. With nitrogen, one is given the ability of invisibility. Adding Mercury can cause an explosion. Heating the "potion" and locking in hydrogen bubbles will form a liquid substance used to remove memories- Medically described as Amnesia (the chance of memory recovery is slim). However, there is also the alternative of freezing the heated formula which can restore memories. These are only few uses, many others are still being discovered.
Additional information: Luckily, the chemical bottle the scientists used was unusually larger than the others. However, there are very limited resources and several organizations and gangs are literally gunning for this opportunity of a lifetime

I finished reading just as the screen went black again. To my surprise, Amy and Zack were still arguing.
Me: Uh.. Guys?
Amy: Thunder has done more for you than the triad's ever done!
Zack: Oh yeah, right. Because sneaking into my home was a favor
Amy: There you go! Bringing that up again. You just never stop, do you?
Zack: You snuck into my house
Amy: So?! That's not uncommon in our line of work
Zack: I thought we were supposed to be allies
Amy: So now you're resigning from our peace agreement?
Zack: What if I do?
Me: Guys!
They turned just as smoke began to flow up from the laptop.
Zack: The five minutes are over?
I shrugged.
Me: What can I say? You two wasted your time arguing.
They groaned.
Zack: Well, that's disappointing. Did you get any information?
Me: Everything I needed to know. Especially about formula #9. You going to let me in now?
Amy: That's above your paygrade
Me: I don't have one
Amy: touché. You make a good point. I'll tell you on the way home...
Me: Home?
Amy: Yes, I assume that you'd like to go home now.
Zack: She's not allowed to leave
Amy: Why not?
Zack: She and I made a deal, she's staying for three days.
Amy: That's just like you, isn't it? Running a con on her. I assume you didn't give her many options, or at least ones that she couldn't pick.
He shrugged and she scoffed at him.
Amy: I'm taking her anyway, she's property of the American organizations
Me: I'm not going
Amy: Yes, you are.
Me: I'm not. I'm a woman of my word.
Amy: Yeah, that's sweet. Let's go!
Me: Amy. I can't go.
Amy: I don't understand
Me: That's because you're used to your job. I'm not, and I'm sticking around.
She stood before me, truly puzzled.
Amy: You really won't go with me, will you?
I shook my head and half-shrugged.
Amy: Oh well! Looks like I'm staying too.
Zack: uh... I don't think so
Amy: Not up to you. Keep the peace, right?
She smiled and he gave her an uncomfortable glare.
Amy: Boy, I'm hungry. Sure would be nice to get some lunch. Come on Xura, I know a great place around here.
She took my hand and pulled me towards a window.
Me: Uh, Amy, there's a door like right over there. We really don't have to keep doing this.
She looked at me.
Amy: You also...date...but you're going...do it anyway! I ship it!
She said the words to quickly for me to understand her, but it seems like Zack heard her because he looked angry and reached out to grab her. She pulled me onto the windowsill and jumped out.
Wish me luck!

Meanwhile....

Brown hair, Chestnut eyes and a structured face with high cheekbones stood before a man with equally stunning features. The man was sleek and well-trimmed. His hair had been gelled back, his teeth were white enough to blind a commoners eye, and he had the charming, handsome, persuasive face that every man envied. His hands were at a casual depth in his pockets and he had been given the glint of adventure in his eyes.
"So," the the brown-haired man said. "Why am I here, Mr...?"
The man with black hair had a deceptive smile. "Koda. Koda, Himorji."
The brown haired man just slightly grinned. "I know firsthand the Himorji line pays well. What job do you have in mind?"
Koda paced and ran his hand through his hair. The unnamed man's Chestnut eyes noted his movements carefully, and having dealt with Koda's brother in the past, he made a quiet reservation that their physically noticeable thought process was hereditary.
"I want my brother... Out of my way. I'd like to be the next heir, if you know what I mean." Koda bit his lip, he seemed to be struggling with his thoughts.
"You know I don't do these kinds of jobs. I steal things for a living, that's it." The Chestnut eyes had narrowed and all previous softness was replaced with a cold hard stare.
Koda sighed. "Well, that's disappointing to hear. It seems that you've really changed after all. Regardless, I still have a job for you."
The man's eyebrows tilted upward. "I'm all ears," he said with a smugness that forced a smile from Koda.
"Shawn Xaiviar, I want you to break out a prisoner for me."
Shawn leaned back, the sunlight of the office windows outlining his handsome features.
"That," he paused and grinned fully, "I can do."