Prologues

In the darkened room, there were two noises. The constant hum of the projector and the steady swishing of a tail, drawing back and forth across the plastic-topped table.

The owner of the table – a grey-black cat of uncertain age and a suave demeanour – stared daggers at the man standing at the front of the room.

“I have to wonder, Davenport. I have to wonder,” said the cat slowly and without inflection.

“What’s that?”

“Whether you chose this team as some general reflection of your disdain for myself…or if you hold all of us in equal disregard.” There was a hint of irony in the voice, but not a forgiving one. Davenport was not a man to be easily insulted, however. With a flourish of his wrist, the first slide appeared – a cracked, grey-white photo of a man in a suit from a century ago. At his hips was a gun belt and two shining revolvers. The man’s arms were crossed, a bullet hole the size of a golf-ball in his forehead.

“I don’t know what you mean. For weapons, you’ve got one of the best shots we’ve ever had. Word is he could put Wild Bill to shame, in his time. And he’s only gotten better - and he doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. Or being slowed down by anything..”

Another slide. A badly-lit security camera shot of a girl in her early twenties. The slide looked like a double exposure, as the girl’s body blurred into nothing but grey light, and her arm appeared to be inside the terminal in front of her.

“Infiltration – well, do I even have to explain? Every intelligence agency in this country – in the world – wants this girl working for them. Do you know how many favours I called in to get her? Do you have any idea who – “

Davenport met the cat’s unmoving yellow eyes, and clicked the mouse. This time a blueprint appeared. A giant human figure filled it, simple in form and design, although the field behind was covered in blue-inked footnotes and speculations. In the corner, a Star of David glowed silver.

“Hand to hand, a walking tank. Can shake off almost anything, too. And he does exactly what he’s told. There literally is nobody more reliable in existence.”

Davenport was angry now. “This isn’t a joke, Grey. This is the real damn deal. You’re in charge of some of the most talented assets we have. You need to understand that, because top brass are expecting results.”

Without a word, the cat stood and glided across the table. With his paw, he tapped the mouse, skipping back through the images. “Let me tell you what I see.”

“I see a man who should be dead. I see a girl who was never alive to begin with. And I see a man who is only alive when he has prayers in his head.”

“I see people beyond classification. People that you – that nobody knows what to do with. That nobody wants to have anything to do with. Too powerful to be killed, too terrifying to be allowed free.”

“I see your rubbish, Davenport. And I have to wonder, am I the recycler….or the incinerator?”

“Dismissed, Agent. Your team is in the next room.” Davenport switched off the computer and left with a rapid stride.

In the darkness, the hum stopped. The swishing went on for some time.