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"My parents will be there, Jim and his wife Carrel. All of whom are your age or a little older." Alice said.

"Sounds like it will be a very good time. So how long have you been able to play?" Amber asked.

"A rather long time." Nodrog said.

"You can drop the charades, she already knows." Sherman and Amber laughed.

"I guess that does make life a little easier. I have probably been playing the better part of eight hundred years." Nodrog said.

"I don't suppose you know anything about his father do you?" Amber asked.

"I'm afraid not. We did not have high opinions of the other and spoke rarely." Nodrog said as they walked.

"He, and a great many others dislike any creature, such as myself to be born of unnatural causes... I did not know he had any children. The only son he had, that might follow in his steps..." Nodrog said and Alice finished his thought.

"Stood in defense of the thing he hated most, the Iron Dragon. You didn't even get a chance to say anything even. Just being with Jenny and I was enough." Alice said, and realized she might have gotten the brunt of the man's wrath if she wasn't out driving. That's the second time her driving has saved her ass.

"I never knew he was so full of anger and hate. Its hard to believe he is the same man..." Amber said and sat down on a bench.

"Some people are just good at pretending to be someone else. I know, I fell in love with a person who was not really who I thought he was." Alice said and sat down next to her. "We never married, but I had to get a restraining order against him."

"That is pretty bad. Still at least two good things came from mine." Amber said.

"He is a good guy, for a wolf." Alice said and smiled.

"Says the holy little terror on wheels." Sherman said and laughed.

"I think I have seen you laugh more in two days then I have in years." Amber said.

"I have done a lot of it since meeting Alice and Jenny. Wait till tomorrow, your sides will probably hurt from laughing so much." Sherman said.

"I'm glad you find us entertaining." Alice grumbled.

"Jim and his wife are pretty amusing too." Nodrog said.

Across town Jenny was actually getting a fair amount of work done. She had her hands above her head as she bebopped around the lab and just generally shaking her ass as she worked. The tunes thumping out of the boom box she and Alice had. She froze mid moonwalk as someone killed her jams.

Jenny was going to yell at the person until she realized it was in fact Jade who had killed the music and was accompanied by Mr. October. Her hands and arms quickly fell to her sides and a little embarrassed smile slowly formed as she giggled. "Hello."

"How do you get any work done with that noise?" Jade asked as she released the power button on the boom box.

"As long as she is getting work done, her music taste does not matter." Mr. October chuckled.

"Just about finished actually. Can I help you two with something?" Jenny asked.

"I need a word with you and Kathrin about a possible assignment." Mr. October said.

"Of course. I can leave everything running." Jenny pulled her pants up a little higher on her waist. At least the lab coat covered up her ass since her pants were a little loose on purpose.

"Then lets go." Jade said and motioned for Jenny to follow them.

She quickly covered the ground between them. It was embarrassing to be caught dancing around when she was working. At least he found the situation amusing to an extent. Jade, was a women Jenny both respected and was a little shy around. It didn't help that the slightly older woman was the only person she found more attractive then Alice.

Jenny was glad for the small talk her two bosses made as they went up to Jade's office where Kathrin was all ready nervously waiting, from what Jenny could tell. Only Nodrog and Sherman seemed to not get nervous around the bear of a man that over saw everything 'his' company did.

"Please be seated." Mr. October said.

Jenny and Kathrin sat in the two chairs in front of the desk and Jade took her seat behind it. Mr. October walked over to the window and glanced out before turning back to them.

"I have need of one or both of your impressive skills pertaining to verifying the authenticity of artifacts. I hold you both in the same class as Alice and Frank when it comes to such things. However that is where my dilemma comes in." Mr. October said and walked over to a large and old map of the world.

"I have heard through a very reliable source and colleague that some documents are coming up for sale on the black market. If the claims are true, then one of them is the actual journal written by Jesus himself." Mr. October said.

"How did those end up on the black market?" Kathrin asked.

"Someone found them, kept them hidden and probably forgot about them. Then they were found again." Jade said.

"That really would be Frank's area of expertise." Jenny said.

"Frank and Alice are too well known and too publicly recognized. While the two of you... prefer not to be in the spot light." Mr. October said.

"I guess I am not following you sir." Kathrin said.

"The bidding is open to a very select few, I was not invited. However my afore mentioned colleague was, but he lacks the finances available to purchase them. One or both of you will be accompanied by Nodrog and Sherman to act as his hired experts and guards." Mr. October said.

"So you need us to check and confirm they are real?" Kathrin asked.

"Then out bid other people to purchase them. Because of the nature of the other people there or who will want them, it will be risky. So I will ask you to volunteer, I will compensate you quite well. But I will not force either of you to go." Mr. October said.

Jenny sat quietly as the other three talked it over more. Kathrin's outburst at the possibility of violence was rather predictable after other incidents involving Nodrog and Sherman. "I'll go." Jenny said and they almost didn't hear her.

"What did you say Jenny?" Jade asked.

"I said, I will go. My father forced me to attend enough meetings and crap, I know how to make a deal. I will need a direct line to contact you through your colleague and a rather large amount of cash on hand." Jenny said.

Kathrin was shocked how calmly Jenny agreed to going. For that matter so was Jade. Mr. October was impressed with how to the point she had been.

"I will make those arrangements, along with anything else you might need." Mr. October said.

"I think those two will be all. Sherman and Nodrog will take care of the rest." Jenny paused. "Actually, if I may make another request."

"Of course." Mr. October said.

"I would like a weapon and some kind body armor. Nodrog is metal, and if there was any shooting, there would be a considerable amount of ricochets." Jenny said.

"Tomorrow I will have them take you to the defense department and find you something suitable." Mr. October said.

"Thank you sir. If you will excuse me, my tests should be done." Jenny said. This would normally be rather out of character for her to agree to anything this dangerous. But given what he wanted her to go after, she had to know. Not because she was religious or even wanted to prove anyone wrong. Her curiosity got the better of her, plain and simple. She got out of the chair she was sitting in and headed to the office door.

"It is still a few weeks off, so if you change your mind we will understand." Jade said.

"I won't." Jenny said. She opened the door and left. Once back in their lab, she pushed the power button on the boom box and got back to work.

Nodrog and Alice had been asked to come with Sherman by Amber. She wanted to know more about the things she had heard in whispers. They did keep her from suspecting Sherman was or had become a monster. Alice had a hard time not turning red when asked why she didn't want a big strong guy like Sherman or Nodrog for a husband.

When they were asked to join them for dinner, they declined. Sighting they had other plans and would see her again the following night. Sherman, dropped them off at one of the company shuttle stops and he headed back for Winston's apartment.

"They really are nice people. I'm glad you finally have friends you do things with again. Pity Alice is engaged, I think a girl like her would do you good." Amber said.

"I am seeing someone. And Alice is not my type, she is a little short, and a vegetarian." Sherman said with a smile. Part of it was a lie, but those were details he would rather not discuss, at least with his mom.

"Are you treating us to dinner again or am I cooking?" Amber asked.

"I don't know. I thought Jennifer was going to fix something if she didn't have to work a double. If we have to go out, that will be fine too." Sherman said and pulled into the parking garage.

Jennifer had all ready gotten started on the lasagna she was making when they got up to the apartment. The three sat around talking until Winston got off and they ate dinner. Sherman helped his brother clean up and wished them a good night since they went to bed early again.

Sherman checked in with the motor pool to see if he could hang on to the jeep for the rest of the week. Which it was perfectly fine since they had plenty of vehicles on hand. He was thankful the gym was empty this evening as he hung a towel on the back of a chair. He set a water bottle on the chair and did a few stretches before he started hitting the heaviest bag in the gym. It was secured to the ceiling and the floor with ¾ inch heavy grade chain. Granted he could bust either the bag or the chain, he held his punches. The point was to get some of a work out, not break things and get an ass chewing again.

It was nearly eleven PM when Sherman noticed someone else was in the gym with him. He had been so preoccupied with his thoughts he never noticed. He had stopped to take a short break before getting on the tread mill to run. Mr. October had come in and had his back to Sherman. The large man was sitting on the bench press machine, and now not in a suit, Sherman realized the large man was not a fat man in a suit. What had caught his attention was a rather large scar running across the back of his left arm and left shoulder blade.

"I got it in South Africa. I was an intern at the time with a very young Frank, we had a rather bad run in with some locals." Mr. October said, and motioned for Sherman to come over. "I bet you thought I was just a big man in a suit."

"I can clearly see that is not the case." Sherman said.

"This company has been family owned for four generations now. I had figured my older brother would be put in charge. So I did what I wanted, played football, chased after girls, and managed to pull decent grades. Frank got me interested in the history of the world. I was working on my medical degree." Mr. October said.

"He has a knack for making it interesting. I never would have thought you the doctor type either." Sherman said.

"My father was not thrilled with my choice, since I had wanted to become an ER doctor. He thought I should pursue something specialized and make more money." Mr. October said.

"Seems we have something in common, since I never made my father happy." Sherman said.

"I spoke with Kathrin and Jenny this afternoon. Jenny will be going with you and Nodrog. Tomorrow you will take her down, at her own request, to the defense department and find somebody armor and a side arm." Mr. October said.

"The body armor I will agree with, but I don't think she needs a weapon." Sherman said.

"You are on your own with that argument. She requested a direct line to myself through the person you three will be working for, for your cover. Along with a large amount of cash. I was pleased with how calm she made her requests. I know she can be a bit, emotional." Mr. October said with a chuckle

"Alice swears she can be focused and is remarkable smart. I forget her father is a lawyer, so she probably picked up a few things. Even if she didn't want to learn them." Sherman said.

"It would seem so. I wonder what you got from your father? I know the wolf that started the fight is your father. From the little video there was and going over your file, and this is speculation of course. But, the only reason the super soldier program worked on you at all is because, you are a little different." Mr. October watched Sherman carefully.

"He was my father and I do not know all of the details, but he was not a monster like Nodrog. And being dead, he was not a true immortal either, so I am not sure. Nodrog and the elf that is a close friend of Nodrog's thinks that the program awoke things inside of me that have always been there. They have arranged for us to speak with someone more knowledgeable then the two of them." Sherman said.

"One should never stop learning about oneself or the world they live in. Have you considered what you would do, if given the chance to do anything?" Mr. October asked.

"Not really, I feel a little like some secret agent. You have provided me with a rather interesting position, with considerable amounts of travel. I cannot think of something more intriguing then chasing after a supposed holy grail with a living metal dragon and a good looking, brainy archaeologist." Sherman said.

Mr. October laughed. "I had not thought of it that way. I suppose that means you do not have a problem with Jenny going with you."

"After a little more thought, she is my preferred choice. Having someone trust you as much as she does, goes a long way in making our job easier. And given the rather uncomfortable, or dangerous situations we have found ourselves in, I know she can keep calm and level headed when she absolutely has too." Sherman said.

"So what are you hesitant about?" Mr. October asked.

"Myself, I am worried about what I maybe, becoming. I also find it odd no one else has come in." Sherman said.

"I generally prefer to work out by myself. However I did want to speak with you, so I left you alone, until you finished. I know it is a bad idea to interrupt someone when they are that focused." Mr. October said and laid back down to finish his reps.

"A college friend of mine was a middle weight boxer. We thought it would be funny to try and scare him during one of his workouts... I lucked out and only got hit once." Mr. October said.

Sherman did a quick count and was impressed with the older man's ability. He had nearly seven hundred pounds on the bar. Given the man's large size it made sense, but for someone who was the CEO of a major company, it was unusual. Mr. October could have mauled the pudgy man in the bone forest without working up a sweat. Actually, many of the things he did were rather odd for a man in his position.

"So what happens to the documents if we do manage to get them?" Sherman asked.

Mr. October finished and put the bar back on the rests and sat up again. "I will have Frank and Alice go over them once more. After that, they will be translated and preserved. I will most likely place them in the care of a museum." Mr. October said.

"What if it proves contrary to what people believe?" Sherman asked.

"Those who believe will do so no matter what evidence you place before them says. Would you have believed in a living person made out of metal until you met him? You are more wolf then human, and Jenny is more human than cat... Yet in this world there are still all three as separate creatures." Mr. October said.

"I suppose, there will always be fanatics and skeptics alike." Sherman said.

Chapter

"That is a fact." Mr. October said and took a drink from his water bottle.

"There is something else I had wanted to ask you." Sherman said.

"Ask away." Mr. October said.

"You edited the footage from the attack, so I know you have seen the shadow creature and the elf. Both have appeared here a few times before. You know what I and Nodrog really are... So why have you not locked us in a lab to figure out how and why?" Sherman asked.

"Because I have no need for such knowledge. A large part of humanities problems stemmed from there simply being too many people for the world to sustain. Figuring out how you and him can regenerate tissue or ward off illness so quickly would do more harm than good in the long run." Mr. October said.

"Over population being the driving force behind many problems." Sherman said.

"Exactly, the demand for everything sky rockets. Food, water, energy, all are limited in how much we can produce. Sometimes it is better to let nature run its own course." Mr. October said.

"That doesn't sound like something a Doctor would say." Sherman said.

"I suppose not. Are you religious Sherman?" Mr. October asked.

"Somewhat, I have not gone to church or picked up a bible in a rather long time. Why do you ask?" Sherman said.

"I am, but I will not bore you with details. How do you feel about pulling the plug on someone who is only alive because of life support?" Mr. October asked.

"I'm not sure. Is that not a doctor's job to use every resource available to save a person's life?" Sherman said.

"It is, but does that not defy god? Be it illness, accident or any other reason, is that not god calling that person to his side? It might be possible to save a person, but is it my right to do so if they will not be able to live a fulfilling life afterward?" Mr. October said.

"I never thought of it that way. You did not seem to have any problem ordering us to kill all of those people, does that not go against god?" Sherman asked.

"It does. Life is not always fair and forces us to make difficult decisions. All of the people who work for me, trust me to keep them safe and provide anything they need to do their jobs safely and as effectively as they can. Their success is my success. When they get injured or killed working for me, I have failed them." Mr. October said.

"Then that is why you have the defense division. To have the means necessary to protect the other two divisions when they are out doing their jobs. Which is why Nodrog and I only answer to you..." Sherman said.

"No, the reason why the two of you answer to me, is because I trust you. And not because you both follow my orders without question. I respect the skills and the insight you have in matters that I myself, do not. Just like Alice and Frank in archaeology or Dr. Phillips and Dr. Herman in medical. All three, pairs without equal in their respected fields." Mr. October said.

"Then why are we not in similar positions as the other four?" Sherman asked.

"You can do your job more freely if you are not on the front page of news papers or magazines." Mr. October said.

"I can see why you are in charge of everything. It appears I underestimated you in a number of areas. If you are religious then why are you so interested in something that might prove your beliefs wrong?" Sherman asked.

"It has an equal chance of proving them right." Mr. October said. With that he got up to leave.

Sherman had sat down on a machine next to him and also stood up. It was now close to midnight. "Good evening sir."

"It has been. Good night." Mr. October said and picked up his water bottle on the way out of the gym.

He didn't get a run in, but that didn't matter. What Sherman did have was more questions than answers. Jennifer had Wednesday and Thursday off, that was her weekend. She knew some places they could go for something to do other then sit at home. Except he would need to do a little work since they needed to find the things Jenny had wanted.

Sherman still got up before his alarm even with the late night. Once again Nodrog met him down at the cafeteria, with Jenny in tow. "You are up early."

"They wouldn't let me sleep in. But they did wake me up in a very pleasant way." Jenny said with a smile.

"Have you eaten yet?" Sherman asked.

"No, really in the mood for some meat. Like bacon and sausage." Jenny said and snickered after sausage.

"Not going to touch that one." Sherman said and let out a sigh. "I do hope you will be on better behavior tonight."

"I won't make any promises about that. Mmmm bacon." Jenny said as they made their way through the line. Her tail flicking back and forth with excitement.

The kitten filled her plate with twice as much as Sherman would have thought a girl her size would eat. Maybe all the sex she wanted did keep her in good shape, or she had a incredibly fast metabolism. Either case the girl could eat. Which was funny compared to the rather light meal Nodrog had. "So what made you decide to volunteer?" Sherman asked.

"I have to admit it really comes down to my curiosity. Between the two of you, I don't have to worry about anything bad happening to me." Jenny said.

"The why ask for those two things?" Sherman asked.

Jenny tapped a glass bottle on Nodrog's arm. "In case they shoot him. And in the unlikely event I need to defend myself. I hope you don't think I am completely helpless."

"A bug scared you." Nodrog said and he and Sherman both laughed.

"People are not bugs." Jenny grumbled with her ears laid back flat.

"I guess you have a point there. I will wait and decide on letting you have a gun until I see you fire one on the range." Sherman said.

"I can accept that." Jenny smiled and kept the laughter to herself. They talked more about this evening then the actual mission they had a few weeks out. After breakfast the three headed down to the armory and gun range in one of the other buildings on base.

"What can I do for you Sherman?" A horse anthro asked.

"I need to find her a side arm for something we have coming up later in the month. So probably a nine mm." Sherman said.

Jenny jabbed him in the ribs with two fingers. "Excuse me, but I think I know what I would like."

Sherman rubbed his side, that kind of hurt. He glanced at the guy behind the counter who laughed. "All right then tell him what you would like."

"So what would you prefer, little lady?" The man asked.

"A Springfield Arms or Colt .45 acp model A1 1911 with a five inch barrel. Along with an under arm side draw holster." Jenny said and crossed her arms. Stupid boys thinking she wanted a girl gun.

The man looked at Sherman, he just shrugged and nodded in agreement. "All right." He rounded up the pistol in question along with four boxes of ammunition and a holster. He gave the three of them hearing protection and a few targets. Checked the range and had Sherman sign the three in for use of number four pistol range.

Sherman hung one of the human silhouette targets and ran it out to ten yards. "Okay, show us what you can do."

Jenny had all ready loaded two clips with seven rounds each. She had the gun locked open and both mags laying on the bench in front of her. She put her ear plugs in her ears and picked up both the pistol and a mag.

With rather quick speed Jenny slapped the mag into the pistol, thumbed the lever to close the slide. In one smooth motion she gripped the pistol with both hands, aimed and let four quick rounds fly down range. A very brief pause and the last three rounds also went off in quick succession.

Jenny pulled the spent mag out and set both down on the bench. She reached over and hit the button to bring the target back to them. Sherman and Nodrog were both speechless. "Guess I am a little rusty." Jenny was a bit disappointed.

The target had four rounds dead center in the chest. Three of them within an inch circle with the fourth just a little high. The last three were in a tight group dead center of the head. Sherman was at a loss for words.

"Junior high, high school and college pistol marksman national champ six consecutive years. This is the type pistol my grandfather carried when he was a soldier, police man and later as a detective. He taught me how to competition shoot when I was twelve." Jenny said. She turned back to the target and circled those shots with a marker and noted the distance. She ran the same target out to fifty yards.

"Now you are just being a little punk. Even I don't practice farther than twenty five yards." Sherman said.

"Watch and learn puppy. This pistol is a half inch high and a little left at ten yards." Jenny said and loaded the second mag into the pistol. She didn't crack off the rounds as fast this time but still got them all down range quickly.

"This I have to see." Sherman said and brought the target in to inspect it.

"Maybe you should be taking lessons from the kitty." Nodrog said. Jenny had put all seven rounds nearly on top of the four she had all ready shot.

"Since when can you shoot like that Jenny?" Samantha asked as she, Cindy and another woman walked over to them.

"I have never tried to fire a pistol at more than twenty yards." Cindy said.

"Put a fresh target up and do it again." The third woman said. Jenny couldn't remember her name.

"Agreed, do it again." Sherman said and crossed his arms.

Jenny hung a new target and sent it out to fifty yards again as she loaded up both mags. Knowing where to aim at this distance Jenny sent an entire magazine down range, ejected the spent clip and loaded the second. She had all ready pulled the trigger before the empty hit the ground.

"Jesus Christ..." Cindy said as the target came back with a fourteen round grouping tighter than four inches.

"That's better then what they expect for qualifying at twelve yards." The third woman said.

"I stand corrected, you really can shoot." Sherman said.

"How far can a target be placed on this range?" Nodrog asked. They had a small crowd behind them now.

"Seventy yards is the max." The man that had checked out the weapon to them said.

Samantha had pushed Sherman out of the way and hung a new target up. She sent it out as far as the range would go. "Do it."

Now Jenny was a bit nervous with this many people behind her. She loaded a fresh clip and thumbed the slide closed. This time she took a competition shooters stance and held the pistol out in one hand with her other hand behind her back. Jenny took a slow breath and squeezed the trigger.

Sherman stood and watched as she fired at a much slower pace. He could tell she was nervous, but not uncomfortable. He wondered what the maximum range she could hit a target with a pistol was. Granted a functional side arm and a target pistol were two different weapons.

Jenny smiled as the target made the slow march back to them. She knew she had hit it with every round. And after it got closer than ten yards she knew all seven were in an eight inch group. Which was not as tight as she could hit with her target pistol, but for the heavy and short barreled gun she was happy with it.

"Alice isn't the only girl who can kick boys ass at one of their sports." Samantha said and elbowed Sherman in the side.

"That is no doubt. I might have to have you teach me how to shoot better." Cindy said.

"I am satisfied in her ability. What do you think?" Nodrog asked.

"One hundred percent agreement with you on that." Sherman said.

"Wait why do you even need to know how well she can shoot?" Samantha asked.

"We can't tell you." Sherman said.

"The we will ask her." Cindy said.

Jenny had reloaded both mags, stuck one in the pistol before she put it in the holster and tucked the extra mag in its own place. "We can't tell you."

"Don't tell me you are dragging her into that nightmare cavalry shit. God damn it that's why we couldn't be together!" Cindy yelled.

Sherman was surprised when Jenny stepped between him and Cindy. "What makes you think they are dragging me into anything? I am going on my own free will."

"Is that what this is for?" Samantha asked.

"No, it is unrelated to that. I can tell you after we are done, but until then we are not allowed to say anything." Sherman said.

"If that's the case then that is what its for." Cindy said.

"Are you mad cause the fraidy cat little dyke has more guts than you?" Jenny asked, she was pissed off. Sherman did deserve better the Cindy.

"You little shit." Cindy said clinching her fist.

The crowd took a step back as Cindy went to hit Jenny. Except the hit never landed and in an eye blink Jenny had dropped Cindy to the ground and had a knee on Cindy's chest.

"Who are you?" Cindy asked. This wasn't the Jenny she knew.

"Still me, just grown up and pissed off. You left him, so don't complain when other girls do stuff with him." Jenny said and stood up.

"But what about you and Alice?" Samantha asked.

"She is still the one I love. You don't have to worry about me taking him from you. Boys are still gross." Jenny said with a smile.

"We still need to see about one other thing. Then you can take off to spend time with your mom." Nodrog said.

"Almost forgot about it." Sherman said as the crowd started clearing out. He put his hand on Samantha's shoulder. "Got a minuet?"

"Yeah, you two run on ahead without me. I will catch up." Samantha said.

While they waited for everyone to leave. Jenny signed the seventy yard target and dated it so Jeff, the horse who signed out the weapon could hang it up behind the counter. She scratched her head, she still couldn't remember the other gal's name.

"So hurry up and ask her so we can get done and you both can leave." Jenny said. It was Sherman's turn to poke her in the ribs.

"I was getting to that, settle down." Sherman said and turned to Samantha. "I was wondering if you wanted to go out with mom, a friend and I this afternoon to do some things before the show tonight."

"That sounds like fun. Give me a call when you are ready to go." Samantha said with a smile.

"I will." Sherman said and the three watched her jog off to catch up with the other women.

"You and I have similar taste in women. God she has a great figure." Jenny said. This time she dodged his attempt to hit her.

"You really are a little pervert. Lets go get the other thing you wanted." Sherman said.

The trio headed off to the defensive part of the weapons building. Jenny was a little surprised at how much they had for undercover work. "Damn you would think we run all kinds of spies out of here."

"The majority of this stuff is sold for both government and private security forces. Case in point is this jacket, any material you would like it in. I have sold a number to private investigators and detectives." Jo, a tiger girl like Jenny said.

"I don't think gramps wore a jean jacket when he was a detective though." Jenny said.

"Maybe for undercover work. I am guessing we wear the same size so this should fit you." Jo said as she took off the coat she was wearing.

Jenny took it from her and put it on, it was a little heaver then a normal jacket. But not enough to really notice to look at it. It was all ready a little faded and didn't look brand new.

"So what do they like about it?" Nodrog asked.

"Its light weight in terms of the weather you would wear it in and has better then exceptional sharps protection with moderate ballistic protection. I think it looks good on you." Jo said with a wink.

"I can see you don't follow her technical description." Sherman said and chuckled.

"You're right I don't" Nodrog said.

"Oh, sorry about that. Sharps is a term used for anything well, sharp. Knives, needles, nails, basically anything a person would use or throw that has an edge or point to it. It will even take shrapnel from a small blast or if you are at distance, from a large one. Ballistic is basically gun fire." Jo said.

"So what will moderate cover?" Sherman asked.

"Any hand gun, or shot gun shot. It is also all right for sub machine guns, but too many hits in the same area will deteriorate the protection quickly. It will not stop a shot gun slug or any high powered rifle. I can get you the same protection in blue jeans or other work style pant." Jo said.

"I think that is a good idea, if you think this will provide the protection I was looking for, Sherman." Jenny said.

"I think it will. Being that we will be inside a building, sub machine guns are likely the weapon of choice." Sherman said.

"Mr. October gave me a very brief over view of your mission, so I would recommend our contractor boots." Jo said and put her own foot up so they could see. "It is the next step up from what you would all ready have for field work Jenny. Better ankle support and protection along with better overall protection. You could fire a nail gun at my foot and it won't go through. Not sure on its bullet protection, but if it will stop nails or keep your toes from being crushed it probably will take a few shots."

"I love not having to pay for cool stuff like this. Be a little doll and get me a pair of boots and two pair of blue jeans, please." Jenny said and gave her a wink.

"Sure thing cutie." Jo said and headed back to get the other items.

"With that taken care of I will see the two of you later this evening. You might want to check with Jim and Kenny." Sherman said.

"Why is that?" Nodrog asked and ignored the girls flirting.

"Apparently they are fixing us up with some ground transportation." Sherman said.

"So we are getting all kinds of toys." Jenny said.

"It looks that way. And since Alice has been teaching you to drive, it might be a good idea to see what it is before we get were ever we are going." Sherman said.

Sherman called Samantha as he headed over to pick up her and the jeep to head out. After he called her, Sherman called Winston's apartment and let them know he would be on his way shortly.

Jenny left the coat on to conceal the gun under her left arm as they waited for the on base shuttle to pick them up for a quick ride over to Jim and Kenny's shop. "I think that girl had a little thing for you." Nodrog said.

"Jo is a little cutie. But my heart is all ready taken." Jenny said.

"Does Alice know you flirt with every girl you see?" Nodrog teased.

"Are you kidding, after the way I teased Sherman, Alice knows I will flirt with anyone sexy. Heck the ride to the airport the day we found you I had made the comment I would go straight to screw you." Jenny said.

"At the time I wouldn't think that went over well." Nodrog said.

"At that time, no it did not go over very well. It went over like cutting my arm open for you. I really am such a dumb ass some times." Jenny said. That was also part of the reason she wanted a little extra protection, in case she did something stupid.

"Well hello there." Kenny said as Nodrog and Jenny walked into the shop through one of the big garage doors.

"Hey. I forget how big this shop is when that damn winch truck isn't in here." Jenny said.

"I don't suppose you can tell us why we are preparing a SUV for you three to use with no company markings." Jim said. He was a little upset to say the least.

"Sorry Jim, but we can't right now." Jenny said. She knew he wasn't happy she was going.

"At least with the two of them you should be safe." Kenny said.

"So this is what you are getting." Jim said and pointed to a flat green four door truck. "It is based off of the 20thcentury HUMVEE. Same concept, high mobility turbo diesel powered utility vehicle. Like Alice's Lotus this is a new one with newer alloys and better components."

"Also like the Lotus, we fabricated a full roll cage and engine cage. Under the sloped back is a lockable storage box system. It still has the central tire inflation system and selectable locking differentials in both axles and the transfer case." Kenny said.

"We kept the changes simple. We still got it cranking out some power and we changed the heavy duty springs out for some longer travel springs. It won't out run cars, but at nearly thirteen thousand pounds, you are not likely to be pushed off the road buy something faster." Jim said.

"Looks like an expedition vehicle, with the roof rack and the tools." Jenny said.

"Helps it blend in a little, and make it less military and more civilian." Jim said.

"Think they will let me keep it when we get back?" Jenny asked. Jim and Kenny both laughed.

"Seems a little big for the little amount of use we are going to have for it." Nodrog said.

"That may be true, but since you weigh so much. You couldn't very well ride around in a little ass jeep. Depending on where you go, you will probably see more like it." Kenny said.

Samantha was waiting for Sherman down by the parking garage. "You have a little explaining to do mister."

"I guess Cindy was not very happy about Jenny dropping her ass on the ground in front of people?" Sherman asked.

"More embarrassed then mad. I was referring to what she said." Samantha said and followed Sherman to the jeep he had checked out.

"Oh, about other girls doing stuff with me?" Sherman asked. It was his turn to be a little embarrassed.

"That would be it. I thought you didn't own a car." Samantha said.

"I don't, this is from the motor pool. If I were you, I wouldn't worry about Jenny's comment. Because she isn't interested in guys. And I would say her comment was more about her working with me, and you and I being in a relationship." Sherman said and they both got in the jeep.

"I didn't think you were the jealous type. You are a lot more womanly then the little cat." Sherman said and gave her a wink.

"Flattery won't get you very far. So you admit you have thought about it." Samantha teased.

"I haven't had to think about it. Jenny has a bad habit of walking around her apartment naked. Trust me, you spend enough time around her and you are going to see everything too." Sherman said and pointed the jeep down the road.

"So what do you think?" Samantha asked.

"Are you trying to get me in trouble?" Sherman asked with a laugh. "I will admit it, she is cute and spunky. You are beautiful, sexy, much calmer and more of my type."

"All right, maybe flattery will get you somewhere. I'll quit bugging you about her. But can you at least tell me why she is working with you and Nodrog. Bugs scare her, and you got her a side arm." Samantha said.

"Without giving too many details, we are actually escorting her to see about some items for sale on the black market. She wanted it in case we get separated and she needed to protect herself. I highly doubt we will even so much as draw a weapon." Sherman said.

"Then I don't have to worry about it." Samantha said.

"No worries at all. Not sure how long we will be gone, probably a week at least." Sherman said.

"Do you even know where you are going yet?" Samantha asked as they pulled into the apartment complex garage.

"Nope." Sherman said and chuckled. They took the elevator up to the floor his brother lived on. Jennifer answered the door when he rang the bell.

"Oh my gosh, I haven't seen you in forever!" Jennifer said enthusiastically.

"Small world. You look really good." Samantha said and gave the short girl a hug.

"What's all the commotion about?" Amber asked.

"Apparently, Samantha and Jennifer all ready know each other." Sherman said.

"I don't remember her being so tall." Amber said.

"Hello, long time no see." Samantha said.

"Good to see you again." Amber said.

"So where are we going first?" Sherman asked as they left the apartment.