Damian's Assassin

"Are you sure Europe is worse than here?" Toni asked, shaking his head. "I don't see how."

"I'm beginning to wonder myself," Dusty admitted. "How did the planning go?"

"Sasha thought of everything before he left. He had a plan A, B, and C all ready. The barracks at HQ are full from the incoming Guardians, and I have an emergency order for more weapons in. I started staging Guardians in our stash houses in Orlando."

"You still want to be XO?" he asked.

"Yeah, it's groovy. I'm learning a lot. I didn't know how hard it was. I'm taking calls and dealing with issues almost 24/7. We seem to be the emergency points of contact for anything that goes wrong anywhere in the western hemisphere. There's a lot of shit that goes on. I didn't know about ikira, either. We all thought she was your sister, not Damian's wife, and I had no idea she was an Oracle until this morning, when she told me to evac the motor pool. Darian accidentally blew up a car an hour later and blew the roof off the garage." Toni shook his head. "Talk about fucking chaos. I don't know how you do it, boss."

"It's just how it is," Dusty said, amused. "You've taken a great deal off my shoulders, and I appreciate it."

"Happy to help," Toni said with a wide smile. "I'm having a great time. You gonna make the intel briefing this morning in an hour?"

"I plan on it."

"Jenn's been puttin' the hurt on her sources for info on Talon's plans. I'm not sure she's hearing anything, though," Toni said.

"Talon's an idiot, but he's getting help from someone else. No way he can create vamp-pigs on his own. Whoever's helping him might've gotten rid of any leaks. What about the kid you picked up at the last flash-n-burn? Anything there?" Dusty asked.

"Not yet, no. Think we scared him. He's been in northern Florida since we cut him loose."

Dusty's thoughts went to Jonny again then to the Watchers. He glanced at his watch. Talon had help, and the Black God was weakening. The Watcher had called those helping Talon the Others. Dusty knew nothing of the immortal divisions, but since an Other was the evil equivalent of a Watcher, they were in some serious trouble.

"Iggy, move your ass!" he shouted. "I need to drop you off in Ohio now. I got shit to do!"

"Dusty, I'm not ready!" she replied, panicked. "I can't leave all my equipment!"

Toni laughed, and Dusty strode to the small residence in the back of the lab. Iggy was frantically filling a huge, blocky suitcase with books.