Having left the car at a car park where Mara seemed to be a regular with even an annual pass. Well the guard recognised her.
From the outside, it was just an abandoned factory. I was shocked when I saw a fully functional elevator in such a building and truthfully, I was blown away the moment we arrived downstairs, in the base. The only thing she said was that my time at the Hub, that's whats they called their base, would be an inside stay. As soon as we entered the Hub, the other guys stood looking at us.
Mara quickly interjected, "Hello guys, now with me here is Adrian. Say hi Adrian."
Noone said anything, they just looked coldly at me except one guy and I marked him as the first guy I would try to befriend only to be told it was a bad move.
"Now the one in the suit, is Tiger. He dresses formally and never casually and nomatter what keep everything formal with him. He keeps no casual wear and that's the same with friends, none. Don't try to be the first." Well like I said, bad move. I guess I'm bad at judging people.
"Then we've got Amad, see, that overcoat of his," she paused and looked at me. I nodded then she continued, "that's his signature wear. He is our arms master, he is proficient in every way to hurt man. From guns to torture, he is a hitman and sometimes an assassin. He knows nearly all fighting and killing techniques in the world. Yep, he's been trying to be friends with Tiger with no avail, with you here I'm sure you'll get on well." She saw a frown on my face and whispered in my ear, "Chill out he's not gay, just jovial for someone who's skill is killing."
Seeing I had made a bad impression by frowning I quickly tried to bring in a joke, " Damn all you guys have dress codes. Damn Amad I wanted the overcoats like those Blade overcoats, you won't mind me sharing right." I extended my hand for a handshake and hw took it. His handshake was rough.
Amad turned to Tiger and Mara and said, "I already like this kid. We are definitely sharing a room not that you were going to share with him of course, you both suck."
Seeing a successful friendship forged, I looked at Mara, " Now, what are you proficient in?" I asked.
Mara smild and replied, "Oh I thought you'd never ask, I'm the strategist and public relations person. Let's just say my skills of persuasion are good."
"I know that first hand of course. I felt my home to follow a stranger"
Amad quickly poked my ribs and said, "How are her seduction skills. Most people fall for that, I guess you also."
"Actually, I followed her because Zeus told me to." I looked at Tiger and said, "So Tiger, you don't mind her going around seducing people."
Tiger looked shocked and he quickly regained composure. He said, "Why would I care?" I looked at him with a 'I am not a fool look' for about a minute then he looked at Mara and asked, "When did you tell him?"
"Apparently not from me, Dude may have pierced it together alone." replied Mara.
Tiger turned back to me and said, "This is the part you tell us how you found out we are dating."
"For starters, you are not doing a good job of hiding it. The moment we came in here her eyes looked at you firstly before everyone, it was just a split second but…. Then she started talking about you, there was a subtle hint of someone trying to hide something in her voice yet trying to sound natural. Then why would Amas try to repeatedly befriend a cold Tiger if there is Mara unless Mara is hot property. Then you don't shit talk your boss, I paused and said, "Also every lady wants to date the powerful boss."
With that last remark, Tiger shot me a cold look but it was overshadowed when Amad said, "I get it, you're going to be a sniper. Now," he paused and looked at Tiger and Amara and said, "Will you two lovebirds excuse is I'm about to give the boy a tour."
As we were leaving, Mara shouted ,"Beware of finding the overcoats gone!" He shouted back and said, "Snipers don't wear overcoats!"
With that we finally left the doorway. We had entered into the sitting room which also saved for meeting. Just sofas inthis room and a table. Amad showed me the storeroom and hinted that everyone kept their weapons to themselves. He showed me our room with its own bathroom and just pointed out Tiger and Mara's room.
Our room had beds on each side, classic boarding school set-up but bigger. There was a very large wardrobe and a quarter of which was mine and quarter belonged to Amad. The other half was the weaponry. There were swords, guns, bows, arrows, knives, darts, grenades and other things I didn't even know. What caught my attention were boxes with missiles.
"Do you use all this stuff." I asked.
"Most of it yeah, but with you here I can teach you a thing or two. Now they'll do real work."
"Hope you aren't thinking of killing me, what's this about real work."
He said, "Nothing just that training with a partner or a student is fun. Let's go." He beckoned for me to follow him.
He showed me the kitchen and said everyone cooks their own food. He said we would be a pair of course. He showed me the gym were he said we would spar. It was a full underground house.
"So do you get any visitors, or just the chance to see the sun." I asked him
He said, "Well when someone has to be taken out I go but I'm mostly a defensive guy here, my duty is to guard this place, these guys, you. We try not to attract a lot of attention to ourselves because if we battle it out, we lose. Our supplies are low. I get out once every two days or three to scout the area and see if there is no trouble or anyone spying on this place."
"So what really do you guys do."
Amad stood up said, "Now I think, is the time for you to go to Tiger's office. The only door I didn't point out for you, besides you can see it , it has a view of the sitting room. With that, he pointed me out of the gym."