As the World Burns

Nabijah smiled at hearing it would just be them two. "Fine by me." She said, content on leaving Cass behind so she could focus only on the White Death.

But Nabijah was a cautious snake. "Oh no... I'm not leading. You are. We're heading north east and I will guide you but you're the one leading us." She said with a smirk before stepping out of the way to allow Val to begin leading.

"Just a cautionary procedure. I'm sure you understand."

"Tch." Valkoinen grunted and looked at Najibah. "We are with the going together. Shoulder to shoulder. I am with the being cautious too." She spat. "So, pleased to be joining me.' She said and took a few steps forward, expecting Najibah to join her while she kept her cold, red eyes focused on the Major.

"Your English is atrocious." Muttered Nabijah with her own accented English. Her's was messy, having spent time in Afghanistan, Angola and South Africa. But it was thanks to her American father that she could speak so well.

With that said, Nabijah would join Val, shoulder to shoulder, starting their trek towards a large mountain in the distance where her team would be waiting to extract Val.

"The journey shouldn't be too long for you. I don't recall you being wounded in combat."

<I can speak in Russian if you prefer.> Valkoinen said, annoyed by Najibah's words. She only spared a glance backwards and when the two of them were both truly alone, Valkoinen glanced at Najibah.

<Who sent you?> She asked. <The Russians took down their standing bounty a long time ago. I have not been active for some time.> She paused, eyeing Najibah. <And today's job was a favor. It was inconsequential to anyone not involved in internal Brazilian politics.>

<"Russian is acceptable."> Nabijah replied as they began to leave the favela and march down the dirt covered road toward the mountain.

Being asked who her employer was made Nabijah genuinely smile. <"A private client with very important ties in Russia. She's been around many years and was very interested in meeting you. I'm not allowed to say too much. It's not very professional to ask who wanted you alive. Granted I was told if we couldn't bring you alive, that killing you was plausible. But..."> Nabjiah stopped in her tracks and looked at Val.

<"You are too much of a relic to kill. You have talents that are being wasted. In this age of Proxy Warfare, digital espionage, drones and private mercenary companies, are the key ingredients for any first world superpower and you are here doing menial jobs in the slums of brazil? This is shameful."> Nabijah shook her head and draw a cigarette from her breast pocket, quickly lighting it.

<"You would be a great asset to Scary Monsters. Right now you are like Pele trying to play basketball. It doesn't suit you. You were born to play futbol. > Muttered Nabijah before offering a cigarette to  Val.

<"Cigarette?">

Valkoinen listened to Najibah and held up her hand when she was offered a cigarette. "Nyet." She said and shook her head vigorously.

<My body is a temple, I would not soil it. If I smoked, then I would just be a dead soldier, not the White Death.> Valkoinen said.

She continued to keep an eye on Najibah. There were so many times she could end the woman's life. She was surprised she hadn't already with the throat slash. <I am playing no game. I am retired. I only take these missions to keep from getting rusty. They are of little consequence. Russia and whoever is paying you should be happy that I've taken myself off the market. More of you can keep living.>

Nabijah rolled her eyes at Val. "Kay." She said while hearing this chick shoot down flavorful cigarettes while talking along side her.

<"There is no middle ground, Simo. You're either in or out."> She said simply as she kept her lone eye locked on Val, all while thinking carefully on the words of her employer.

<"She would prefer if you simply returned to the army and joined her faction.>" Muttered Nabijah before she stopped walking. <"Or perhaps... I could neglect my contract and instead ask that you join me and the Scary Monsters PMC.">

Valkoinen stopped and looked at Najibah as she spoke, offering up a deal of sorts. Val looked over the woman and then tilted her head and smiled bright, childishly and squeaked in her cute, broken English. "Maybe you would be with the wanting middle ground, ja?" She began. "Because if I was the bing in, then I would be with the killing you here, finding your comrades, killing all but one until I was with the finding your employer. Then I would be with the finding employer and being with the killing of her. Her family and one tenth of her faction, just to be with the sending message."

Valkoinen's face settled back into a familiar scowl and she kept walking. <I'm no longer an assassin but it's impossible to completely quit the life. One day someone like you will get lucky and kill me but for now, I am living with that woman you injured. She is my lover and we are happy. As happy as two killers can be. I am still trying to figure out how to live without only killing and you have come to try and pull me back into this world? If you really want to make this world a safer place, you should have never have taken this mission.>