Crossover Escape: Gotta be more than Lucky to survive

1.9 Suspicious death

Luca settled onto the private plane with suspicion. He’d already checked the parachute under his seat it had just been that sort of day. Ghost immediately sat beside Luca while Holly, Tails and Rӓv settled in across from then. They no longer cared if anyone figured they’d made prior arrangements it was safer circumstances when they were in a position to watch each other’s back. Not to mention there group together would have a certain deterrence effect.

Luca scanned the plane as he established who else was on board. A group of suits including Mr very Important suit. One of the teams that had been guarding the plane. They’d been introduced as security not participants. Like that wasn’t suspicious in and off itself. While the participants not counting Luca’s group included Zeno and his regular partner Morgana the ‘sorceress’. Desmond the ‘Sun’ who Luca hopped stayed on the other side of the plane as he was an arrogant show off that grated on Luca’s nerves.

William the ‘Dime’ reserved enough guy but deadly serious in competition. He was treating a scratch on the back of his hand. Luca had caught a look at it when they boarded. It looked more ragged than a knife wound so Luca assumed William had caught it on something during the fight. Finally Caihong the ‘Micro’ from the way he and Holly had stared at each other he could be trouble unrelated to the rest of the puzzles they were dealing with.

“Kristina, hanging out with the bigshots, are you? Hoping you’ll get lucky?” as we levelled out Morgana leant over from the opposite side of the isle to ‘speak’ with Rӓv. The reaction was not all that unexpected the five of them were well-known freelancers that rarely lost a match and yet they’d never actually been on any teams together. A matter of design by the underworld bosses but the rest of the world didn’t know that.

“I’m sorry did you come here to lose? Isn’t it obvious to form a team with the best?” Holly cut in. He flicked a hand at Morgana in a shooing motion. Morgana’s expression darkened and she started to get out of her seat.

“What now that you’re standing with the big dogs you have some guts Akira?” Caihong appeared in the isle as he spoke so that he loomed over Holly. Tails and Ghost both focused their eyes on him. As he had stepped into attack range and acted threatening. Proving he had good instincts Caihong flicked a look at the two before he straightened and held his arms out palms up in a placating gesture.

“Not getting into the discussion. You normally have an opinion Luca” Zeno asked as he remained relaxed in his seat. Luca finally looked up from the tablet he had gotten out so he could go over the data package they’d received again as well as all the information Rӓv had found. He felt like he was missing a point and he didn’t like that feeling at all. Zeno’s casual enquiry while the others postured grabbed Luca’s attention.

“I feel like the better question is why your so relaxed after that attack? I don’t know about you but that’s the fifth one I’ve had from those Faceless Masks since the invite to WIC’s game. Unless you know something, I don’t?” Luca fixed his attention on Zeno watching all his micro expressions while he waited for a response.

“Oh? I didn’t think you’d be one to dwell?” Zeno remarked with an easy smile.

[Rӓv: Is he deflecting?]

[Tails: Seems like it.]

“I don’t like surprises. I like surprises that try to kill me even less.” Luca returned flatly. He wanted to know what Zeno was aiming for. He clearly wasn’t trying to get competition planning information out of Luca.

“Heh, seems like he must not like you at all Grigori isn’t that your speciality?” Zeno retorted with a side look to Ghost. Ghost had been watching Caihong alertly but turned to Zeno with the sudden comment.

“Is speciality to surprise others not to be surprised. People who like to be surprised lose.” Ghost’s accent faded a little at the end as his tone got very serious before he gave a cheeky smile. “Is handsome to surprise people. Chicken to be surprised.”

[Rӓv: Is he trying what I think he’s trying?]

[Tails: We’ve been pretty obvious surly not.]

“The mark of a great commander is to be adaptive, though it is very useful in a player as well isn’t that your speciality Akira?” Zeno shrugged and then continued charming smile still firmly in place.

[Rӓv: He is. So biased as well. Allows others to talk down at me and Holly and belittles you to try and snag the stealthies. Unbelievable]

[Lucky: I’m more curious about the reason. I don’t think its to win the match.]

[Tails: Not just because he doesn’t want us teaming with you?]

[Lucky: He’s always been a bit conceited not really finding me a threat even though he only wins one in four matches against me.]

[Rӓv: Yeah, but that’s when you’re playing with rando’s if nothing else we’re top tier.]

[Holly: I’m with Lucky something just feels off about the whole approach.]

While Luca messaged with the others Zeno kept trying to charm Tails and Ghost. Tails gave abrupt and dismissive responses and Ghost… He really likes to fish… though the more concerning bit is how the other hasn’t noticed yet.

A cough from the back area snagged Luca’s attention and he turned in his seat to look for the source. William looked deathly pale with a grey cast to his skin. Luca stood and walked over as the coughing got worse.

When Luca reached out to touch William’s shoulder, he slapped Luca’s hand away. William then jerked to his feat his bandaged hand raised as it swelled rapidly. When Luca met Williams eyes he watched them shift to complete black the whites vanishing completely. The coughs changed to a fierce growl before they abruptly stopped and Williams dropped to the ground. Luca leapt forward and checked for a pulse. Nothing.

Luca turned back to face the rest of the plane and shook his head. “Dead.” Luca met Rӓv’s eyes for a moment and got her imperceptible nod. Whatever results WIC found when they landed Rӓv would get.

“What the hell was that?” Desmond asked with disbelief. Similar expressions of surprise and confusion were visible on everyone’s faces.

“Not a damn clue. Luca glanced back down and narrowed his eyes slightly at the bandaged hands. The bandages where now loose and the hand had returned to its normal size. Luca stood up and backed away not wanting to be accused of touching the body and affecting any investigation but in a last scan of the body he noticed a wire thin needle lodged in William’s throat just below his chin. He wouldn’t have seen it save for the light catching it when he stood. He might have said something but since he was the person that had been closest to William and was known to be good with throwing knifes people might think the needle was his. In which case it would be better for him if the needle vanished. As he backed away, he twitched a finger and as expected Ghost stepped further out as if to get a better look causing Luca to ‘accidentally’ bump into him.

“Wow. Grigori could you not stand in the way?”

“Da. But that boring.” Luca rolled his eyes at the response before he shifted to the side and moved past Ghost to return to his seat. Three WIC medical staff appeared and come forward to look at Williams body. Ghost moved forward past William to get out of the way. When one of the staff reached William’s side he suddenly tripped and was saved from face planting by Ghost leaning forward to catch him. “I’m handsome but no need to throw yourself at me” Ghost said with a chuckle. Luca glanced down and he wasn’t sure how Ghost had done it but the needle was gone.

The medical staff appeared stumped trying to decide how to respond to the comment but was saved by Rӓv. “For god’s sake stop harassing people can you be serious.”

“Nyet.” Despite Ghosts response he still leapt lightly over the group of then crouched medics and retook his seat. Thankfully due to the sudden interruption Zeno stopped with his attempted pulls and the rest of the flight was made in silence.