Christian folded his arms across his chest as Kirk stepped forward and knocked on the door to Zac's house.
"Are you sure this is the right place?" his eyebrows rose.
Kirk gave him a condescending look and stepped back.
Isaac and Zac
Isaac opened the door.
"Hi guys," he said, cautiously. "Long time no see."
He let them in, knowing it would be best if they weren't talking out on the street.
"Hey Ike," Zac said, thumping down the stairs. "Who's at the - oh hey."
Christian & Kirk
Christian dipped a fake hat in Zac's direction.
"Long time no see yourself. Where's Tay?"
Kirk cleared his throat and Christian glared at him.
"We got a call from Taylor last night asking if we'd come this morning. I guess he didn't tell you," Kirk explained.
Isaac and Zac
"He was in his room last I checked," Isaac said. "And no, he didn't tell us."
"I'll go grab him," Zac said.
He turned and ran back up the stairs.
"Wanna drink while we wait?" Isaac asked.
Christian & Kirk
"Oh that'd be great," Kirk sighed, "water? Thanks."
"Not for me," Christian shook his head, taking his coat off.
Isaac and Zac
While Isaac was getting Kirk some water, Zac was knocking on Taylor's door.
"Hey, Tay," he called. "Steel and Christian are here. 'Parently you invited them?"
Christian, Kirk & Taylor
Taylor hesitated a moment from where he'd been writing at his desk before he realised what Zac was talking about.
"Oh yeah..."
He quickly packed up and grabbed a jacket before going to the door and opening it.
"Thanks," he glanced at Zac, before quickly making his way downstairs.
A smile crossed Christian's face as he saw him.
"Hey Tay..."
"What have you done with Sheldon?" Taylor immediately demanded, giving them both a stern look as he stood in front of them.
Kirk raised his hands in surrender.
"We're just protecting him," he insisted.
"You don't know who he is?" Christian frowned.
"I know he's one of my best friends, and I think I have a right to know. What are you protecting him from?"
"We're protecting him from Guffery," Kirk dropped his hands.
"I don't follow..." Taylor frowned, looking confused.
Christian stared at him for a moment, before clearing his throat and going to sit in the livingroom.
"It's not something I can communicate to you out of earshot of possibly the wrong people," Kirk insisted softly, before indicating for Taylor to join Christian.
Taylor frowned again, but obliged.
Isaac and Zac
"Uhh, is this something you would like us out of the room for?" Isaac asked.
Zac snickered.
"Yeah, what we don't know can't get us into any more trouble... but then maybe it will."
Kirk, Christian & Taylor
"No, no, don't worry. We're not telling him yet," Kirk insisted as Taylor scowled.
He indicated for Zac and Isaac to join them in the livingroom as well.
Isaac and Zac
Isaac and Zac made themselves at home. This was particularily easy for Zac as this was his home.
"Probably this isn't the most secure place on the planet," Isaac observed. "Y'know, from the perspective that there are a lot of people living here."
"Yeah, and who knows how many obsessed fans have bugged the place," Zac joked.
Kirk, Christian & Taylor
Kirk waved his hand dismissingly.
"Any chance of you guys distracting Tad for a while so we can steal Taylor for a bit?" Christian asked nonchalantly.
Taylor looked up in surprise.
"What do you need me for?" he frowned.
"In case something goes wrong."
"In what capactiy?" Taylor frowned, "I mean, what could I do?"
"Think about what you did for Guffery," Christian shrugged.
Taylor hesitated.
"This is Blakesley we're talking about," he insisted softly.
"Yes... it is," Kirk agreed, "but how do you weigh your fear against him and Guffery? It must have taken a lot of guts to go after Chris in the first place."
Christian's eyebrows rose expectantly.
Isaac and Zac
Isaac and Zac looked at each other.
"Oh," Zac said maliciously, "I think we can manage that."
"Zac, you know I just don't trust you when you get that look in your eye," Isaac observed.
Zac chuckled evilly.
"And how long will you need him distracted for?"
Christian, Kirk & Taylor
"Long enough for us to leave," Christian replied.
"I don;t doubt that as soon as he realises someone's here he'll come looking anyway," Kirk shrugged, tapping his nose and indicating the doorway.
Taylor hugged himself, as if suddenly realising what he was getting into.
"What are you going to do?" he asked suddenly, "I mean after..."
"I'm going to call Tanya and tell her to have agents at the ready at a certain place and time. I plan to drop the body - either unconscious or no longer living - at that place before they get there," Christian smiled slightly, "the YIRAAS can deal with him as they see fit if he makes it through."
Taylor nodded.
Isaac and Zac
"Sounds like a plan," Zac said eagerly.
"Unless there was more you wanted to say," Isaac said, standing up. "I think Zac and I so=hould go find Tad before Zac gets any ideas to go with you."
"Aww. Spoil sport."
"Some things are better left to the experts."
Kirk, Christian & Taylor
Christian chuckled a little as Taylor stared at him curiously for a moment.
"What?" he asked when he noticed.
"The brown speck in your eye is gone," Taylor frowned.
"Had a light manipulator adjust my eyes, along with other... things... which I won't tell you about within earshot of anyone else in case I need to pull you off under another circumstance," Christian raised an eyebrow.
Taylor hesitated, but nodded.
"We don't know how long this will take," Kirk said to Isaac and Zac as he also stood.
"It could take minutes, it could take hours. Only get worried if it turns into days."
Taylor gulped a little, feeling as though he really wasn't ready for this.
Isaac and Zac
"Fair enough - " Isaac began.
"And if it does turn into days," Zac asked, "and we do get worried as you so recommend, what do you suggest we do about it? I doubt that Ike and I are just going to sit around for your days, let alone weeks hoping you'll come back."
Isaac nodded his head in agreement, although inside he was terrified by the idea of having to go after anyone again while his power was still in emotional control.
Christian & Kirk
Kirk hesitated for a moment.
"If you have your cell, I'll give you Chloe's number to put in it. Contact her and she'll handle it," he said finally as Christian also got up.
"Let it be known that you're welcome to come with us," he raised his eyebrows at Zac.
Kirk hit him in the arm, knowing Isaac didn't want him to go. Then he pulled out his cell to message Chloe for a teleporter.
Isaac and Zac
"I'd love to come with you guys -" Zac began.
"But he has kids to look after. Not to mention a pregnant girlfriend," Isaac gave Zac a pointed look.
"She's not my girlfriend," he muttered.
"Close enough."
Zac scowled and snatched up his phone off the coffee table where he had left it, pressed a few buttons and then handed it to Steel so he could put the phone number in.
"I solomnly swear I will only call if we have reason to," he said.
Christian, Kirk & Taylor
Kirk put the number in and gave it back.
"Good."
"So are we going?" Christian asked him, clasping his hands together expectantly.
"Yeah, we just have to wait for the teleporter."
"Coming Tay?" Christian looked back at him.
Taylor hesitated, before looking up and nodding.
"Yeah..."
"Don't worry, ok?" Christian insisted, "just think about what we're going to do. We're finally bringing him down. You won't have to worry about him anymore."
Taylor gave a pained look before turning away and twiddling his thumbs nervously.
Isaac, Zac and Tad
"Okay," said Zac, "I guess we're off to distract Tad."
"See you guys later," Isaac said. "Good luck."
"Yeah. Good luck."
They left the room to go seeking Tad.
"Zac! There you are!" Tad bellowed.
They didn't need to go far.
"Ahh, yes?" Zac asked.
Tad pointed an accusing finger at Saku, who was giving Zac his "I'm just an innocent little kitty-cat" look.
"Your son keeps clawing me," he growled.
"Saku?" Zac blinked. "Saku you're not really doing that are you?"
Saku started rubbing his flank against Tad's legs.
"Aww, see he likes you," Isaac said.
"Likes me?" Tad exploded. "Does the blood suggest he likes me too?"
"Oh, did you cut yourself?" Isaac asked.
"I just freaking told you. That cat clawed me."
"Well, is it any wonder," Zac frowned, genuninely annoyed. "His name is Saku, not 'that cat'."
Saku, deciding that his father was on his side, stopped being affectionate towards Tad, and hissed loudly at him. His fur bristled.
"I don't care if his name is 'goat dung'," Tad snarled. "You'll keep your little brat away from me!"
"Now he's a brat," Zac glared. "Would you like it if I called your kids brats? Assuming you've even got any. Assuming you can even find a woman to sleep with you."
"Uhh, Zac?" Isaac said.
"What?"
"I believe he's married."
"Oh really? Will wonders never cease?"
Christian, Kirk & Taylor
The teleporter appeared and Christian grabbed Taylor by the arm to pull him from the couch.
"Ok?" he asked him.
Taylor hesitated, then shook his head.
"Well while that adrenaline's pumping, let's go."
Kirk grinned as Taylor looked startled before directing the teleporter and they were soon teleported out.