It was of nobody's surprise that this impromptu change of plan was met with quite a lot of fuss and argument. Seeing as Dorian was one of their older assassins, trained and effecient. From a broad stance, one of their best had gone soft and decided he wanted to save a child who was one kernel away from being a useless vegatble. That was until someone entered the meeting room expressed that they had cleaned the child and she had not even a single wound on her. Meaning all the blood she was drenched in was not her own, nor had Dorian seen any corpses in the dumpster she had been held in. Completely unharmed, no less. Firstly, there was quite a lot wrong with this. One, the location specified for the task was crawling with activity of a fantastical sort. Beasts, creatures, enhanced humans, all of it present. Secondly, before Dorian had emerged to execute his objective, all of the beasts that had converged on him poured from all sides. They would've been crawling all over that alleyway... Even if the child was hiden there, one shift of her weight and they would've pulled that large can apart to reach her. Last, but most certainly not least... What had she seen? The state to which he found her dictated that perhaps she was in some state of shock. Could one of them have..? No, that isn't possible. Right? Dorian, with the approval of the employers, insisted the girl be checked thoroughly for any signs of physical trauma. That meeting was one of the longest meetings Dorian could ever recall.
After the hours spent discussing the matter, they decided to keep her. It was not for the right reasons, but it was better than having the child put down. For the first month, this nameless child with no history or name, was unresponsive. Existing in this trance-like state. For whatever reason, no one knowing the catalyst, she finally exited that trance of hers. Much to the dismay of everyone however, she had not a single memory with which to indentify herself with. Other than her birthday.
Having nothing more to go off of besides that, and unsure of how to handle a child. The general concensus was that it would be best just to call her "Kiddo" until they could figure something out for her. It was the surprise of no one that none of the persons on hand had the proper skill set or moral compass to raise a child in a proper healthy enviorment. After all, they didn't raise kids, they made killers... As unforunate as the situation seemed, the child had an obious willingness to become educated and make herself useful. With this in mind, who were they to no deny themselves the proper opportunity to give this girl a chance to prove her merit. This desire was the catalyst to her beginning her education. The ethusiasm to which she approached this situation was more than welcome, but what seemed to grant faith and favor was her comprehension and skill. "Home" schooling had been the only viable option for the Kiddo, and whenever she was not engulfed in that she existed in this psuedo-family unit. It was at the age of thirteen that she was given a name: Hyde. Everyone had agreed upon it after the girl seemed to develope a fondness of it during an educational reading for her studies. It took some adjusting to, the idea of having a name. But, it was without question that she eventually took to it like a bird to the sky. Hyde? What a name.
Hyde showed promise. With time and care she had gone from scrawny and odd, to a lovely and blooming young lady. Lovely despite her natural albeit odd hair coloration, and strange pupils. By the age of fifteen, she had the comprehension skills and understanding of a student in university. These leaps and bounds made gave the organziation the proper view of her potential, and thus with this ample time. They began her proper indoctrination, alongside Dorian and the rest of his coworkers. Hyde began her studies once more, but with a far more sinister intention. Hand to hand combat, surivial skills, the anatomy off man and monster alike. How to discern spirits from spectres, demons and familiars, biomechicanical and not. Even weapons training... There was so much to teach her and yet it felt as if they had so little time. As of this moment, Hyde had only been seen as the intelligent and clever girl who kept the company of paid murderers and beast hunters. But, when she was given the skills and tasks, there was something about her that seemed to shine brightest when entangled in the throws of combat. Within a year and half's time, eating, sleeping and breathing the art of death and murder. Hyde had met the requirements to take the field test, and prove that she was a capable killer. Just like the others. Like everyone else.
All the while, there was apart of Dorian conflicted. As the years went on, and he aged, watching this tot grow and learn. From a vacant shell to a flower amongst the blood and gore. There was something in him that he had not expected when he gazed upon her. A feeling he thought he had long since forgotten... Regret. What was the point of saving a child just to have them be stuck on the road of deah and destruction? Though, who knows what would have happended if he left her? Dorian knew all too well at that point in time, he would not have been able to kill her. But, this was nothing he desired...
At the age of sixteen, and a hand full of months. Hyde was given the go to procure a weapon. In this, she decided upon a cursed pair of weapons, made from the bones and metal of a cybernetic abomination. Made to hold speciality explosive rounds, and capable of holding rounds of all sorts. Though, a set of weapons without a name was no fun. Henceforth, they became known as "Sting", and "Styx". The day of her field mission test was the first day she met the man everyone referred to as the "Boss", or rather the "Employer". As it had been explained to her, he was only one face of six. The Broad was only the tip of the organization's iceberg... Mr. Misery is what he went by, who knew if such was his surname by birth or made from his conquests. This test was simple, as he stated it. Hyde's objective was simple to accomplish in concept: Search and destroy. All she had to do was execute the objective, and return alive. Only able to come back if the job was done. If this was done properly, she would get her certification and be a certified killer. Given a celluar device, and Dorian instructed to give her transport to the outskirts of the location. The test had begun.
Dorian knew this was done on purpose. Could they see the regret in his eyes when he gazed upon her? It didn't matter now... Had she not willingly made this choice? To be like tthe rest of them? The ride was silent, and had it not been for the destination and purpose of the drive Dorian might have had time to enjoy it. When at the outskirts of the objective point, Hyde looked to Dorian with a soft smile. A smile that made her soft dimples press and reveal themselves further, a simple smile he was familiar with. It seemed she gave him that smile all too often these days, as if trying to make him feel better. "I'll be back." She spoke to him, and that seemed to stun him. To remind him that she was to go face beasts in the darkness. When he opened his mouth to reply, the she had opened the door and stepped out. "Go." Closing the door promptly, he sat dumbfounded. But, reluctantly pulled off. Watching the silouette of her shrink and eventually vanish in from the sights of his vechile's mirror. The feeling of regret was a sickening thing, so bitter that even he wished to forget it as soon as possible. If she lived or died, which would he regret more?
Nobody seemed to worry or bat an eyelash. Existing, working and spending those hours after Dorian's return minding their own. After all, the name of the game was death.
Soon the cacophony of usual noise was cut through by the sound of a phone ringing. The Boss' phone more specifically. The silence that fell upon them was instant, and when Mr. Misery brought the phone to his ear. He was greeted the words that meant they were gettign paid quicker than usual. "The job is done. Returning now." While battered and wounded, she had done it successfully and undiscovered by prying eyes. With this, she was given her certification. As a show of good faith from Dorian, proud for better or worse, the name she inherited as a surname was Beaumonte. They now shared a last name. With this certification came many things, a proper payroll and indentification. All she needed was a cover, as most of them had when they weren't doing this. Hyde, while appearing fine outside, was never quite the same after that. Such things could be brushed off by trauma, by expierencing a life or death situation. Though, it never sat right with Dorian. Between that day and the age of eighteen she worked alongside the rest of them. A dance of death, missions alone and amongst comrades. A job, was a job after all.
At eighteen, she attended a university, to which she took up Mortuary Sciences. Which was the running joke at the offices when they found out that's what she did during the daylight hours. Though it all worked out, as many of those on The Broad owned many companies and guises to help yield to the illusion that they did not exist. Eventually, she bought out a condo with a view for herself, and lived there. Bouncing between work and school, until her graduation. Balancing the weight of a killer and the amusements of a beautiful woman. It was different. Not every discussion was a tango, not every bump in the hallway meant conflict. All things she had to learn, so use to keeping toe to toe with assassins. It was odd seeing people live as if there was no threat looming over them, as if they could live without even the littlest worry. Their reality was far from her own, and such a thing was oddly bothersome to her. Though, no one would ever know this.
Twenty, was the age Hyde was when Dorian retired. As Dorian was...fifty? Something? Though, he had never seemed that old to her. It was a whole party at the office, he was given kind words and drink. Even Hyde attended, and though he smiled. Everyone understood. Retirement. That party went on well into the night, and they all ate and conversed. As if they were all average coworkers at some little going away, as if the next day would be just the same as the usual days were. When Hyde felt ready to leave, she found Dorian. Expressing her gradtitude and care, that he saved her and cared for her. He had that look on his face thay was so clear to her, the same look he had in the car. Just as before she smiled. "Thank you for everything, Dorian. Please enjoy the rest of your birthday." Dorian embraced the kid, a gesture that caught Hyde by surprise. It was a long embrace, and before they released and she departed he said to her: "Never live with regrets, kid. Thank you. You carry the name, so don't disapoint me."
The day after, it was as if Dorian no longer existed. The wheels kept turning and the jobs kept coming in, and even if they all knew the truth. It wouldn't chance anything.
Twenty three was when she got all the necessary requirements met and time to become certified as a mortician. Once the qualifications were upon her, Mr. Misery made a few calls, and she acquired a day job as if it were nothing but a whisper away. Though, it always was. From then on she's spent her life as a mortician by day, and killer by night. A licensed killer was no different than a lawyer, or doctor. Sending people to death within their capabilities too, after all. The only differene between her and them? Hyde had a set ofbitchin' guns.
