The Orb And The Onslaught {COMPLETE}

Respect Your Elders

    Florence couldn't believe her eyes, just what was going on? A moment ago she'd been told Agnes had passed away, yet here she was alive and apparently well. She was staring at Florence with a measured gaze, pursing her wrinkled lips as though she was thinking about what to say to her. 

   The boss man tried to speak again, it sounded like an apology but Agnes held a hand up to him. 

"I'll deal with you two later." 

She didn't even look at the man but his face dropped with her words and he stepped back to stand with the bald man. 

    Florence took this moment to gauge the room and everyone in it. The figures standing just behind, but either side of Agnes were two young, beautiful women wearing the same dark suits the men wore. They had straight, black hair and dark brown eyes, accented by the slightest hint of makeup. They were both stood to attention like soldiers on duty, neither moving even to look around the room at what must have been a strange sight. 

   The second Agnes moved however, they moved with her, accompanying her to the cushions near Quentin. Agnes stared at him for several seconds and turned to the two men still standing in front of Florence. 

"Kori, I want the men responsible for this, taken care of this very instant. This is not how we do business, they were ordered to detain not beat to a bloody pulp." 

    Her voice was level but the authority she commanded made both men bow to her.

"Yes, Ga, of course. We'll see to it right away."

The two men rushed from the room as fast as they could manage. The bald one clutched at his injured side but he looked more relieved to be out of there than bothered about his pain.

    Florence rubbed her forehead, "I don't understand what's going on."

The cats rubbed themselves against her legs to comfort her but they kept their eyes on Agnes and her mysterious entourage. 

    "Ah Flo, ever the pursuer of knowledge." 

Agnes finally spoke to her and surprisingly her tone was lighter than it had been. Florence turned to see her smiling a sad smile. 

"So it is really you?" Florence asked, despite all the evidence, she still couldn't quite believe it.

   "Of course it's me, I'm sorry if Kori told you the story of my passing. It's a deterrent for any enemies that come my way, they can't harass a dead woman." 

Agnes seemed to find that highly amusing, but Florence raised a brow questioningly. 

"Enemies?" 

   "Yes, I suppose a lot has changed since the last time we saw each other. Shall we have some tea and catch up?" 

Florence was more than surprised; Agnes had enemies and was involved in some kind of crime organisation, how did that even work? 

"I think I might need something stronger than tea." 

    Agnes smiled and reached down the long, flowing sleeve of the bright blue blouse she wore. Producing a gadget unfamiliar to Florence, she pressed a few buttons and then hid the gadget away again. 

"We need something more comfortable to sit on." Agnes stated and without saying a word, one of the young women walked to the door at the other end of the room. 

    It took her barely a minute to unlock it, retrieve two comfortable, high-back chairs and return to place them beside Florence and Agnes. She then stood behind Agnes again, she wasn't even a little out of breath after carrying the chairs over the floor cushions. Not a single hair was out of place.