Zodiac Assassins

2 ~ Ophiuchus

Sagittarius ↑

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The 12 assassins were seated around a long table. Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo and Virgo were sitting on one side of it, and Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces on the other side.

'Do you think he's going to come?' Pisces whispered to Aquarius.

'I dunno, but he's taking his time,' Aquarius whispered back.

Aries started tapping his fingers on the table.

'Can you like, not?' Scorpio glared at him, and he glared back, but he continued tapping on the table anyway.

Scorpio pursed her lips and took a deep breath in. Boi, she was so close to getting out of her seat and smacking him on the head.

'What time was he meant to meet with us?' Taurus asked.

'He was meant to meet with us nearly half an hour ago,' Virgo said, bored and a little impatient.

'Sorry zodiacs, but I was held up - by people,' a man in his 50's burst through the door. Sagittarius tutted as though he didn't believe him but the man didn't notice.

'You may have already guessed, but my name is Ophiuchus. I have a real name, but I rarely use it and I usually just use my fake ID. You've all been trained since the age of 5, until you were 15 and have all been on solo missions. Now, you're all 18, turning 19, except for the few exceptions, Capricorn and Aquarius. You are now apart of an elite group of assassins, called the Zodiacs, and I'm the head of this group, which is why I'm called Ophiuchus, after the so called 13th zodiac.' Ophiuchus said, 'So far so good? Any questions?'

'Um just a little unrelated, but obviously we can't use our code names out in public because you don't really meet any people named after zodiacs. Do we have fake names?' Leo asked.

'Good question. I actually have your passports and other identity related items in suitcase right here.' Ophiuchus said, 'anymore questions?'

No one said anything so he continued.

'I've been in the business for a good thirty years. It is best advised you listen to my instructions, because if you don't, you'll probably be harmed or killed.'

Cancer gulped audibly, and everyone turned to look at her.

'I assign all your missions, think of me like M from James Bond.' Ophiuchus said, and some of the zodiacs nodded.

'Uh.. random question, but where do we stay between missions? Like does the agency just accommodate us in hotels or rent a house or something?' Gemini asked.

Ophiuchus thought about it for a moment.

'We haven't decided that yet. The agency might buy a mansion or something for all 12 of you to stay in, you might all get your own places in your home country, it depends. One time when all 12 stayed in a mansion together, it was complete chaos. Some of the zodiacs clashed and it affected mission performances. Another time when they all had their own place, some didn't get to know some, so on missions, they didn't perform well with certain people.' Ophiuchus explained.

'Another question, but there have clearly been generations before us. When do we stop being assassins? When we turn a certain age? Missions performed?' Sagittarius asked.

'Another very good question. You retire once exactly four of you have been killed or died. 

For example, my last group, the remaining eight were discharged when Taurus, Gemini, Libra and Aquarius had died when they were 27, 9 years after they became the Zodiac Assassins. 

Taurus in an explosion, Gemini from poisoning, Aquarius shot in the head and Libra mysteriously disappeared, so we assume he's dead.' Ophiuchus said, 'on the other hand one group only lasted two years because three drowned when they became trapped in a sinking ship, and another was murdered when he was captured.'

Everyone looked at each other nervously. They knew the risks, but just how dangerous were the missions?

'Ready to go on?' Ophiuchus looked around.

'Okay, continuing. Today I'm already assigning two separate missions. 

Virgo, Gemini, Aries, Capricorn, Scorpio and Libra are going to be in London. 

Taurus, Leo, Pisces, Aquarius, Cancer and Sagittarius are going to be in Mexico City. 

For the London mission, The 6 need to photocopy documents to prove whether the head of Chimera, Kyle Maxwell, is signing a contract with a major criminal gang, called Heaven's Demons. It is not known what the contract is for or about, but anything to do with Heaven's Demons is shady business. In exactly two weeks a masquerade ball is being thrown at Kyle Maxwell's mansion in London. This will give you six a chance to look in his office for anything to do with this contract.

For the Mexico City mission, a famous drug lord, El Caponino, is believed to have stolen a famous necklace which is encrusted with diamonds and a jeremejevite. It's mostly been rumours, but a double agent that's been working under El Caponino claims the rumours are true. You six will have to try and find it in his mansion, which is also where the double agent claims El Caponino keeps his necklace. There will be a ball at his mansion in 5 days.' Ophiuchus had a lengthy explanation, and some of the zodiacs had already nearly fallen asleep.

'Any questions?' Ophiuchus looked at the zodiacs, but there were only blank faces staring back.

'Okay well anyway I'll give you all your passports, driver's licenses, and proof of age cards. Aries your fake name is Aaron Dimitrov, Taurus is Tori Sun, Gemini is Gareth Butler, Cancer is Cassandra Reed, Leo is Leo Sprouse, Virgo is Valerie Kravitz, Libra is Logan Boseman, Scorpio is Samantha Hadid, Sagittarius is Scott Elgort, Capricorn is Carla Delevingne, Aquarius is Alex Malhotra, and finally Pisces is Penelope Prinsloo.' Ophiuchus said as he handed out the passports.

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