James lay in bed in the room Xavier had given him. Although he felt uncomfortable in such a place, he knew it was better than being out on the streets. Holding a small rubber ball, he fiddled with it, throwing it up and down, wondering about Xavier's proposal. Although it interested him to be able to get closer to the truth, he also knew that it was Xavier using him to push away all the heat that would come from stealing the key.
It was a poisoned chalice, but one that was extremely appealing. Throwing the ball up and down, he ran it through his mind before sighing and getting up. At the end of the day, his survival and the comfort he could still live in required Xavier to find him useful. He had already turned down the proposal to leave, knowing this is what it would cost.
Getting up, he made his way to the living room. Xvaier sat with the television on, quietly reading a book. Seeing James walk in, he smiled and offered the seat opposite him, closing the book and putting it to the side.
"You made a choice." James nodded, making Xavier smile.
"I'll do it."
"Wonderful." Xavier stood up and walked over to the tv. Picking up an envelope, he threw it over to James. "The ISD sent this. Sign it." James took the letter and quickly read through the contract inside. Activating his eyes, he saw the same glow as Agent S aura, and agreeing he pressed his finger on the bottom. Watching, he saw the contract sucked out a piece of his aura and inject part of its own in him. It was a magical thing, but remembering what little he could of Agent S' power, it made sense that the contract could work, afterall, it still was connected to the power he had.
"So what?" James said, putting the contract to the side, "You're an agent of the ISD? How long?" Xavier smiled and shook his head.
"They wanted me for a while, but I never agreed, as it wasn't in my best interests. But with the vial they finally bought me." Xavier explained his associate status to James and the deal he had created. James listened for a while, slowly nodding along. It made sense to him that they would want someone like Xavier to work with them. Although Xavier clearly had his own interests, they couldn't be considered a threat to the state. For the ISD, he knew, it was enough for them, in return for his power, which could greatly help their efforts.
"They won't let you act so freely anymore."
"I know, we have another guest because of it." Xavier looked to the other room, "He is here under the basis of being a middleman for me and the ISD, but I know he is really here to watch me." James sighed and followed Xavier's gaze to the other bedroom.
"He won't care about me then?"
"Of course not, you pose no greater threat to the state. The ISD have always been strange like that. Personally, I feel they should have you under arrest, but I'm not complaining." Xavier stretched and yawned. "We leave tomorrow, although a bit early; we don't have any reason to stay around. The problem is your looks. If you go to the airport like that, then they will arrest you and, by extension, me. In the bathroom, there is some hair dye and contact lenses. I left a choice for you, so decide what you look like. Take a picture of yourself and send it to me. As you know, New Horizon is quite good at making fake identification."
"What's my disguise then. Bodyguard, priest?"
"A guard. You don't have the temperament of a priest, unfortunately, although I would love to see you dressed as one." James nodded and got up. Going to the bathroom, he saw a large amount of hair dye and a few boxes of lenses. Looking through them, he chose the brown dye and quickly applied it. Next, he moved to the lenses. Taking the brown one, he put it in and frowned, still seeing the gold in his eyes poking through, knowing it wouldn't work.
Clicking his tounge he took it out and put in a blue one. The brightness of the lense supressed the gold in his eyes. Although it was still unnatural, it wasn't as clear as his previous colour. Staring at himself, he sighed. He still looked the same, but on a passing glance, he would be able to get through security. The only problem was his fingers. He was sure his fingerprints would be in the system.
Staring at them, he sighed and made his way back to the dining room. Turning the electric stove on, he took a deep breath and let it heat up before putting his fingers on. Letting out a groan, he held it on for less than a minute and quickly ran it under the tap afterwards. Although they would heal, for the time being, it would be enough to get around a test.
He couldn't be sure if they would do a fingerprint test at the airport, considering he was likely flying on Xavier's private plane, but he had to be sure. The pain, however, was too much, and going back to the bathroom, James looked for something to help. Finding some cream for burns, he applied it and went back to the living room. Xavier looked him up and down and smiled.
"It will do. Get some rest." Getting up, he walked to his own bedroom. James did the same and quickly fell asleep.
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Getting up the next day, James sat in Xavier's car, dressed in a black suit. Opposite him, another of his guards. Although Xavier wasn't a politician, James was thoroughly impressed with the amount of protection he had, sitting in the middle of a five-car convoy, each one filled with guards and priests. Every time he thought he saw the depth of his power, he was surprised once more. It then made him wonder how much the Gentleman had himself that Xavier would be hesitant to enter open war with him.
Looking to the front seat, he saw the Agent the ISD had sent. It was a well-groomed man dressed in a suit not too dissimilar to his own, with blond hair and blue eyes. James had taken a peek at his aura when he first met him and couldn't understand what his ability was, as it had a diamond inside his body. There was no thick glow or anything to it, matching no real element, then most tend to follow.
The trip to Newport International Airport was quick, and getting out, James took a glance at the fake passport made for him, his new name, Felix Ball. Marching through the airport, many passengers shot the party a strange look, wondering why there were so many New Horizon officals out in public at once.
James ignored the prying eyes, keeping his head down, not wishing to be caught. Following Xavier, they quickly made their way through the airport, bypassing many of the cues and security checks normal passengers had to follow. Only when they got to the final checks did he freeze.
'They still check fingerprints.' James noticed and was glad he had prepared. Given the existence of abilities and some people's ability to change their appearance, fingerprints became a way to ensure identity matches. Due to the difficulty of changing something so small and intricate for many shapeshifters, it was a cheap and easy way to keep track of them, albeit one that was easy to get around if someone truly wished to.
James walked over and handed his passport to the clerk, smiling as best as he could. The woman looked at him for a moment before holding out a small device. James placed his finger on it and took a deep breath. Seconds felt like hours, and seeing the no match screen come up exhaled in relief.
Being waved across, he took a final glance back, knowing this would be the first time he left Newport for an extended period of time in his life.