FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"We should have gotten them to wager something besides a case." Alice said.

"Like your little wager?" Jenny asked and kept her hands in her pockets.

"Maybe not that extreme. I should give him that, then you can't make me wear it." Alice said.

"I think you gave me enough." Stacy said as he changed.

"Now you made me think of both of you in sexy maid costumes... I don't need you to lead me to temptation." Jenny said.

"True, you seem to have no problem finding it on your own." Alice said.

"I already have one. That's what they made me wear to a Halloween party." Stacy said as he came out of the changing room.

"Quiet teasing me, we are supposed to be teasing them." Jenny pouted as Alice and Stacy laughed at her.

Jim was the only one who was not laughing at the fact Stacy did not only sign her name on the pipe, she welded up a little smiley face.

"The smiley face might be a tad over the top." Alice said as they walked over to Jim and the others.

"I thought it more tasteful than a heart." Stacy giggled.

"I like her style." Carrel said and nudged Jim with her elbow.

"I just want to know if I need to call HR." Frank said as Jim ran the test probe over the welds.

"Might want to call HR. Guess I better go on a beer run." Jim said. The defeat would not have been so bad except for the stupid smiley face.

"I would have thought you knew better." Alice said.

"You would think so. Any word on the Viper?" Jim asked.

"We can go get it any time." Alice said.

"I figured you would have all ready." Sherman said.

"Jenny called after Joe. And my kitty comes first." Alice said and put her arms around Jenny.

"I thought you had a Lotus?" Stacy asked.

"I still have that, but I have a Viper too." Alice said.

"We all know what comes next so just take Stacy and go get your car." Jenny said.

"You're the best." Alice and Stacy said. And for a little payback they both kissed her. Getting kissed by Stacy was an unexpected shock and Jenny stood a little stunned as the two ran off.

"Are you alright?" Sherman asked as Nodrog put his hand over his eye.

Nodrog clenched his teeth as the last piece of skull closed up and his inner ear 'popped' now that he didn't have extra holes. "Yeah, much better."

"Sometime today, Jenny, would you pick up the forms she needs to fill out for being hired." Frank said as he hung up the phone.

"That was fast." Nodrog said.

"It is a position we are going to need filled before we go out in the spring. We can get her through orientation and some other training before then." Frank said as they walked down the hall.

"We never did that with him." Sherman said and pointed to Nodrog

"Mr. October said we could skip it, since he doesn't need the health, or insurance stuff the rest of us need." Frank said.

"I did a number of things with Jade that you don't know about while you were all busy." Nodrog said.

"Actually she took care of a number of the small problems that arose from your age and background. I admit, Kathrin and I were not much help." Frank said.

Alice and Stacy were waiting for a bus. After a quick stop at the apartment so they could put on pants. Since the car sat so low and with the lower roll cage bar, it was not very skirt friendly.

"Where are we going?" Stacy asked as the hopped on a bus.

"The only shop I let work on my cars. Joe and Katie are good friends of mine." Alice said.

After the short bus ride they got off and crossed the street. "I figured you would have been over before I hung up the phone." Katie said.

"Jenny called after you and Joe did. I picked the girl over the car. This is Stacy." Alice said.

"You really have a thing for cats, Alice. I'm Katie." Katie said.

"Pleased to meet you." Stacy said and felt rather small in front of the Amazon leopard.

"For a mouse, you know a lot of carnivores." Big Joe chuckled as he came from out back.

"I won't tell you Jenny's theory behind it." Alice said. Jenny said it was because Alice liked to be eaten.

"I'm sure it is an interesting theory if Jenny came up with it." Joe said.

"It's been fueled up already, so you are good to motor." Katie said as they walked to the back.

"What was the problem?" Alice asked.

"The turbine wheel on the right side lost a couple small pieces out of some veins. Manufacturing defect, we sent the turbo and they checked it out. They had a new one on its way the same day they got the bad one. It caused an odd exhaust flow, which caused the boost problem Little Joe noticed." Joe said.

"Hey that's Wes' Austin." Stacy said and ran over to it.

"I am guessing you caught the race?" Joe asked.

"I had my TV record all of it." Stacy said.

"The question is who were you rooting for?" Wes asked as he and Tim walked over.

"From the stunned silence I would guess she was watching you." Alice said.

"Well, the silence is a nice change from the screaming." Wes said and laughed when Alice slugged him in the arm.

"What did you say her name was?" TJ asked as her and DJ walked over.

"Stacy Thompson." Alice said.

"I thought he looked familiar." DJ said.

"He?" Katie asked and with the exception of Alice they all starred at him.

Stacy sighed. "Yes that Thompson." No sooner did he say it then Wes' sucker punched him in the stomach and he dropped to the ground coughing.

"What the hell did you do that for?" Alice yelled and tried to help Stacy up but he held is hand up to stop her.

"It's okay Alice. I get that a lot." Stacy said.

"His dad was the untouchable mob boss Kingpin Thompson. Wes's little sister and our older brother were caught in a shoot out between his guys and another mob." TJ said.

"The only reason he isn't a mob boss any more is because my dad shot him." Wes said his fists still clenched in anger.

" I didn't know Al was your father... When I got out of the hospital they wouldn't let me talk to your dad. I wanted to thank him." Stacy said as he cried.

"You little shit why would you want to thank my dad?" Wes yelled as he picked Stacy up and slammed him into a wall.

"Because your dad saved me." Stacy said softly.

Wes was so shocked he dropped Stacy. "He what?"

"The day your dad killed mine; was the same day he beat me into a coma, breaking four of my ribs, my left arm and my right leg." Stacy said as the tears ran down his cheeks. "If your dad hadn't shown up when he did, I would have died."

"They never said that." DJ crossed her arms feeling bad about them bringing it up.

"There is a whole lot they didn't say and will never say. That's how I ended up going to school with Sherman's brother Winston. They sent me to live with my Aunt." Stacy said.

"Well now I feel like scum..." Wes said and helped Stacy up off the floor.

"You should you big ass." Alice said and punched him again.

"So why are you dressed as a girl?" Joe asked after an awkward silence.

"It's a rather long story. I'm not really a boy or a girl right now..." Stacy said.

"It's a genetic thing. If you want I can explain it in very lengthy detail." Alice said, part way to the chalk board they had to keep track of work.

They all said something along the lines of "that's okay" or "anything but that". Alice smiled, she knew that would keep them from asking any more questions.

"Hey Stacy... I'm sorry for hitting you." Wes said.

"Don't be, you didn't know. To those of us who suffered under him day in and day out, your dad is a hero no matter what anyone says." Stacy said with a smile.

"How many?" Wes asked.

"How many what?" Stacy asked as he brushed himself off.

"How many people were like you?" Wes asked.

"There were over a hundred people waiting to be sold in the basement. A dozen or more that were forced into prostitution... I don't really know." Stacy said.

"God damn it, why didn't they report that?" Wes said and this time punched a locker.

"But how did all of the other guys get taken down?" Katie asked.

"My boss and some other high rollers threatened to put Jenny's dad on the investigation committee. Or start supplementing the police with their private forces. For some reason a lot of people in office and the police decided to resign or take early retirement." Alice said.

"I guess that bastard was good for something." Katie said. Probably the only good thing he has done.

"Did force a few of us to change our career choice." Wes said.

"Yeah and you are damn lucky there isn't a person in this town who can keep up with Alice." DJ said.

"What happened?" Stacy asked.

"Alice saved my life. Pops and I used to be wheel men for people like your dad." Wes said.

"Did Jim ever forgive you for smashing up his truck?" Joe asked.

"No." Alice grumbled.

Five years ago.

"Wes, what the fuck happened?" Al asked.

"I got hosed. Car is toast and I took a bullet in the arm." Wes said

"What are you going to do? I am at Thompson's place." Al said.

"Phone a friend and hope for the best." Wes said.

"If you end up dead I will kick your ass." Al said.

"Love you too pops." Wes said and hung up. He had managed to hole up in an abandoned warehouse. The 'package' was fake and the people that hired him left him high and dry.

"Hope you aren't busy little mouse." Wes said to himself as he hit the call button on his phone to call Alice.

"This is Alice." Alice said as she leaned against Jim's personal truck. She had borrowed it to run down to the shop and pick up some parts. Right now she was at a gas station getting a coke.

"Hey Alice it's Wes." Wes said and checked over his shoulder. They hadn't followed him yet.

"What's up?" Alice asked.

"I'm in a bind, I hate to ask, but you are the only one I can trust. Can you help me out?" Wes asked.

"Where are you?" Alice asked as she got in the truck.

"That old warehouse on 105th ave. We had that drift out here two weeks ago." Wes said and watched lights slowly pass by.

"On my way." Alice said.

"You're an angel. I think they might have figured out where I am. I need to go." Wes said. He pulled the clip out of his .45 to see how many rounds he had left. Three most likely wasn't going to cut it. "Well Wes, you might really be fucked."

Wes kept low as he heard car doors slam closed and people yelling. It seemed like they had all gotten out on one side of the building. So he crept to the other side, hoping Alice was close and they didn't have guys running around to the back.

There wasn't much for cover or places to hide. They were searching the building rather carefully. So they still thought it was the real deal.

"Give it up kid!" Someone with an Uzi yelled.

"I hate to break it to you, but they gave me a fake. Check it yourself!" Wes yelled back and hurled the brief case over a stack of creates and ran further into the building.

"Got ya punk." Another machine gun totting suit said.

"Shit." Wes said and held up his hands.

"Man it ain't your night kid." Shotgun totting suit said.

"I've had better." Wes said.

The large glass windows behind him suddenly turned to day and they heard the roar of whatever was coming straight at them.

Wes dove out of the way as Alice smashed into the building with Jim's truck. With nearly three thousand watts worth of off road lights on it did a fair job of blinding the bad guys. "Get in!" Alice yelled.

Wes jumped in the passenger seat of the lifted big block powered truck. "Have I told you I love you?"

"Not today." Alice said and hammered the throttle. The four hundred and forty cubic inch engine roared as she spun the tires and took off for the loading dock.

"Where are we going?" Wes asked.

"Are you buckled?" Alice asked and pitched the truck sideways.

"Yeah." Wes said as they roared straight for a loading dock door.

"Good." Alice said.

The few guys left outside scattered as the big dodge smashed through a loading dock door and traveled through the air as gracefully as a seven thousand pound brick could. The truck landed on all four wheels but bounced hard back into the air a little more than a foot.

Once the truck settled Alice got back into the throttle. The cars of course now giving chase. They did have a small advantage since they had way more light to drive by. With thirty seven inch tall tires and a flexible suspension the uneven and broken tarmac did little to slow them down.

Alice just keep them flying across the yard bouncing and hopping over obstacles the cars had to avoid.

"Isn't there a dry river bed out here?" Wes asked. Grateful the mouse had came and saved his ass. He always thought she had a hot little body... with a messy pony tail and her glasses on, he was in heaven.

"That's where we are going." Alice said with a sly little smile. She reached down and pulled the transfer case lever to four high and they caught air once more.

The ground gave way rather quickly as it went down to the river bed. Alice pitched the truck sideways in the silt to follow the river out. The silt bed having provided a softer landing than the concrete had.

Wes turned and watched two cars fly off like they had with less desirable results as both cars flipped when the front ends plowed into the ground. He chuckled as they hauled ass across the river bed kicking up a dust cloud. Still ever thankful Alice had rescued him, and could drive anything like a pro.

Alice flipped off the auxiliary lights as she pulled up to a two lane high way. They didn't talk the hour it took to get to Alice's place. They figured Wes' place might not be a good idea.

"I thought you were getting out of this work?" Alice asked as she managed to pull the bullet out of his arm. She never knew why Jim kept such well stocked first aid kit. A couple more items and she could have performed open heart surgery... Okay maybe that was a stretch.

"I know I keep saying that. I'm sorry." Wes said.

"Well stop saying and just do it." Alice said and packed the hole with a wound powder. It would leave a scar if he didn't get it properly looked at.

"Hey not so rough." Wes teased as Alice tied a bandanna around his arm.

"I'll show you rough." Alice said and hit him in the other arm. They were at the little condo her and Jenny shared. She was a little surprised Jenny was out.

Alice squeaked as Wes grabbed her ass and pulled her down on his lap. "How about you be quiet and I'll do my very best to thank you."

"Oh really?" Alice asked.

"Yeah." Wes said quietly and ran his hands up under her shirt as he kissed her. He pulled off her shirt and she moaned softly as he nibbled on her nipples through her bra. They did not agree on many things past racing, but they both liked the way the other one was in bed, the shower, the back seat of a car or even the garage. Wes was a hunk and he was one of the only guys that really knew how to go down on a woman.

Alice had pulled on a t-shirt as she walked out to the living room. Wes just had his blue jeans on. They both knew a relationship would never work, aside from driving the only thing they had in common was wanting to see the other naked. Great sex wasn't enough for more than just friends with really good benefits. Tonight was no exception since Wes had done a very good job thanking her, she was still feeling an afterglow.

"What's going on?" Alice asked as Wes hung up his phone.

"Pops filled Kingpin Thompson full of lead. He is going to jail when they should be giving him a fucking parade." Wes pulled his shirt back on.

"Does this mean you can quit and just race?" Alice asked.

"I don't know." Wes said. He kissed her and headed out the door to walk home and think. His dad was the only family he had, and now he was going to lose him.

Everyone kind of looked at Alice and Wes in shock. They didn't know they were that close at times.

"I know the twins are a little slow, but how did the two of you not figure it out?" Wes asked and pointed to Joe and Katie.

"It might be because the two of you fight like you are brother and sister all the time." Katie said.

"I think I'm jealous." Stacy said.

"You're not the only one." TJ and DJ said.

Wes was a little lost for words as Alice, Joe, Katie and Tim all laughed.

Chapter.

Alice and Stacy took the Viper out for another shake down run. Now he not only wished he had a figure like hers, but to be able to drive like her too. Aside from flying, he had never gone faster than seventy five mph. Alice was more than happy to take him all the way to two twenty mph. They met Jenny, Nodrog, Sherman and Samantha down at the pier for a little fun.

"It's melting to fast..." Stacy said as the popsicle he had kept dripping on his hand.

"I hate you two." Sherman said with flattened ears as Alice and Jenny both leaned over and licked Stacy's popsicle.

"Aw, do you want help with your popsicle too?" Samantha asked overly sweetly and took a slow lick of the one in his hand.

"I told you if you react they will just try harder." Nodrog said with a smile. Samantha and Stacy about dropped their popsicles when he dug the last of his ice cream out of the waffle cone with his rather long tongue. Alice and Jenny just laughed.

"So what do you think of Alice's toys?" Samantha asked.

"I want one... Did you do that on purpose?" Stacy asked. Samantha's ice cream looked a great deal like the head of a penis.

"Yeah, teasing him is too much fun." Samantha said and ran her tongue along the bottom of the penis shaped ice cream. Making sure to hold eye contact with Sherman.

"We have some other toys we could show you both." Jenny and Alice both had a secret fantasy of using a strap on, on a guy and they both figured Stacy wouldn't mind. She really doubted Nodrog or Sherman would agree to it. Which caused a thought to pop in her head that made her turn fire engine red.

"That might be fun." Samantha said.

At least Sherman could laugh at Alice and Jenny's shock since they didn't expect that answer.

"I really didn't know Wes and his dad worked for mine. That really sucks." Stacy said.

"Your dad wasn't the only one they worked for. Even DJ and TJ did a few errands." Alice said.

"The twins worked for a mob boss?" Jenny asked.

"Yeah. TJ had another trailer she pulled, a twenty six foot enclosed cargo trailer. No questions asked and only took cash." Alice said.

"Don't tell me you did anything like that." Samantha said.

"Only illegal stuff I did was race. Though one of Kingpin's rivals offered me a lot of money to drive for him. Al and Wes were both trying to get out because things were heating up. I sweet talked a few of my dad's friends into looking into hiring them as drivers. Al killed Kingpin before they worked anything out." Alice said.

"I don't think you would have the personality for being a driver in that sense." Sherman said. He was thankful they had finished their frozen treats.

"I don't. I'm too soft." Alice said.

"Soft? You drove Jim's truck through a warehouse to save Wes and you drove us all over town out running gun carrying nut jobs." Jenny said.

"Well that's different." Alice said.

"And neither can kill a bug..." Sherman chuckled.

"While I am glad it never worked out between you and Wes for admittedly selfish reasons. Why did it never work out?" Jenny asked.

"We were only interested in the others body. Aside from driving fast, we had nothing in common." Alice said.

"Isn't Jenny only interested in your body?" Samantha asked.

"While it certainly is a hot little body. No, I am not only in love with her figure. Actually I can't think of anything about her I don't love." Jenny said.

"She even thinks the way I snore is cute." Alice smiled as Jenny put an arm around her.

"That's cause it is cute." Jenny said.

"The only thing I have seen that they really disagree over is what to eat. Since Alice only eats plants and Jenny likes meat." Nodrog said.

"What do you like about Sherman?" Alice asked.

"Lots of things. It's easy to be myself around him." Samantha said, she figured they would put her on the spot since she did the same.

"That's the two of us, we can be ourselves around each other. The silly and the serious. Jenny has always been there for me, how she stayed so faithful even when I didn't acknowledge her feelings I never will understand. My only regret is not seeing it sooner." Alice said.

"And my only regret was waiting so long to tell you." Jenny said.

"I know that feeling all too well." Sherman said and put his arm around Samantha.

"I guess I have never really been in love before. Not that I had much of a chance." Stacy said as they walked along the pier.

"I'm sure you will find someone." Nodrog and Sherman stopped in front of a carnival game. The four girls kept walking.

"I'm game." Sherman said.

"You two are some lucky guys." The guy said sitting on a stool. The game was to knock over the bottles.

"Give me two tries." Nodrog said.

"Same." Sherman said.

The two threw almost at the same time. Both threw the balls a little too hard and ended up shattering the thick mason bottles. The guy sitting at the game dropped his cigar. "Wait, wait! Once is good."

"Where the heck did they go?" Samantha asked. The four looked around, they spotted the two of them a good forty feet behind them.

"One for each of you." Nodrog and Sherman walked over with a pair of large stuffed animals each.

Sherman gave one to Stacy. "We didn't want you to feel left out."

"For a couple of monsters the two of you sure are sweet." Alice said as Stacy blushed.

"I don't think he was very happy since we broke the bottles." Nodrog said.

"Yeah, guess we won't get to play that game again." Sherman said as they all laughed.

"Hey I want to try this one." Jenny said and they followed her over to a shooting gallery.

"Think you can do better than her?" Samantha asked and nudged Sherman.

"I doubt it." Sherman said.

"I want a go." Jenny said and handed the guy a couple bucks.

"You need to hit ten to win the biggest prize." The guy said as he loaded the pellet gun then handed it to Jenny.

Jenny just smiled as she heard a few snide comments.

"Aren't the guys supposed to..." A guy with baggy pants and his hat on stupid began to say. The quick metal on metal ping of ten little targets falling in rapid succession shut him up.

"Which one do you want?" Jenny asked.

"Me?" Stacy asked.

"Yes you." Jenny said.

"May I have the panda." Stacy said.

"Sure thing." The guy said and reached up to pull the giant toy off the shelf.

"That bear is bigger than you." Alice giggled as they walked further down. By the time they had started back two of them were sound asleep.

"That was fun." Samantha said as they headed back. Stacy and Jenny both crashed after their sugar rush. Sherman was carrying Stacy and Nodrog, Jenny. Her and Alice had to carry the prizes they had won.

"To bad they won't let us play anymore." Nodrog chuckled.

"I would have liked to see the look on the guys face when you smashed the bottles. Did either of you think throwing as hard as you could might be a bad idea?" Alice asked.

"That's what makes it so much funnier. We did not throw as hard as we could." Sherman said.

"I guess we can buckle the panda in the front seat. And put the others in the trunk." Alice said as she reached for her keys.

"We can get them in the morning." Samantha said.

"See you back at the apartment." Nodrog said.

Alice waited till they had walked most of the way to the bus stop before starting the Viper. No sense waking Jenny and Stacy up.

Sherman put Stacy down on Nodrog's bed and Samantha and him went up to his apartment. Alice managed to undress both Jenny and Stacy without waking either. Nodrog changed into his shorts and was sitting out on the couch while Alice got ready for bed.

Alice came out and sat on his lap. "You know we love you just as much as we love each other."

"I know." Nodrog said as she put her hands on his head just below his ears.

"I didn't want you to feel left out." Alice said and kissed him.

Nodrog pulled her closer. "Trust me, I have never felt left out."

"That's good to hear. Because if this treatment doesn't work..." Alice started to say but he kissed her before she could say more.

"It's going to work. Don't think anything else." Nodrog said.

Alice just smiled. "You're right. Have a good night."

Nodrog spent most of the night doing his usual reading or watching TV until about three in the morning. Stacy was up, he came over and sat on the couch.

"Can't sleep or is something on your mind?" Nodrog asked.

"Little of both. Little curious as well." Stacy said and tried to keep his eyes above Nodrog's waist.

"I have all the time in the world." Nodrog said and turned the TV off.

"So you really can't die?" Stacy asked.

"After what you saw, you still have trouble believing? I cannot think of another single instance that proved that point to a tee." Nodrog said.

"Then the other things are true... You really drink blood and eat metal?" Stacy said.

"I do, that's what the little fridge in my room is for. Granted it is empty right now." Nodrog said.

"But I have seen you eat other things." Stacy said.

"I only do that for appearance. It is only mildly annoying at this point." Nodrog said.

"How did you know what to say to me that night?" Stacy asked.

"I read your thoughts. I only had Jenny give you the note to get you to focus on something. In focusing on me it calmed you down enough I could talk to you." Nodrog said.

"So you made me faint and run a fever..." Stacy said.

"Simplest solution to the problem. It got you away from them without requiring us to get directly involved. No matter what you told the medic, they would either hand you over to us or take you back to the hotel. I had hoped they would have just given you a ride back to the hotel." Nodrog said.

"Why is that?" Stacy asked.

"Because you would not have seen the monster I really am." Nodrog said quietly.

"Why aren't you like that all the time? Why do you hide?" Stacy asked.

"The same reason all monsters hide. The world is inhospitable to us. Humans have an insatiable desire to know everything, and sometimes you don't care who you hurt or what you do to find out. Alice and Jenny both knew that. Alice risked her career to make her report say I was too harmful to cut up and see how I tick." Nodrog said.

"They had mentioned that. If you are all so powerful why aren't you in charge? Isn't that how the world works, the strongest lead the weak." Stacy said.

"That's how people think it works. By your father's ideals I could very well be in charge. It's not like anyone could stop me if I wanted to." Nodrog said.

Stacy shivered at the thought. If his dad could beat people to take over, Nodrog could easily walk over anyone he wanted to take charge. "Does that mean you are content?"

"I am, for a change. Like most dragons, I have little want or need." Nodrog said.

"What about love?" Stacy asked.

"This is the first time I have known it." Nodrog said.

"I haven't. I certainly did not get any from my family." Stacy said.

"You're not the only one. Jenny never got any from her family." Nodrog said.

"What about your family?" Stacy asked.

"I never met mine. Taken from them before I even hatched. Almost twenty years after hatching mutilated beyond recognition to the shape you see now." Nodrog said.

"I wouldn't say mutilated... rather well sculpted." Stacy said quietly as he eyed Nodrog.

"Wouldn't you say the same about Sherman?" Nodrog asked and chuckled as Stacy blushed.

"Well yeah... I think Alice and Jenny are really pretty. I wish I looked like them." Stacy said.

"Why would you want to look like us?" Jenny asked as she walked over.

"Did we wake you?" Nodrog asked.

"No, I got up to use the bathroom and heard you both talking." Jenny said and sat down on the arm of the couch behind Stacy. "I think you are pretty."

"You're just saying that." Stacy said.

"Did you forget I had to feel you up to make sure? I think you are being hard on yourself." Jenny said.

"You had me convinced at first." Nodrog said.

"It's a little early, why don't we go back to bed." Jenny said and gently pulled Stacy along with her.

"But..." Stacy said.

"I'll be here when you get up. Jenny and Alice have to work tomorrow so it will be just us." Nodrog said and reached for his book.

Jenny and Alice were a little sluggish getting around. Stacy was up and dressed before either of them. After they ate breakfast the two of them got dressed and headed down to the lab. "Don't forget all the animals are in the car." Alice said as they left.

"I guess first thing would be to fill out the forms Jenny brought. Then we can go round up the prizes." Nodrog went into his room to shower and get dressed while Stacy filled out the forms.

They stopped at HR on the way down to the shop so Stacy could drop off the paper work he needed to.

"What brings you down today?" Kenny asked as Nodrog and Stacy came in.

"We had a fair amount of luck on the pier. The prizes are in Alice's car." Nodrog said.

"That would explain why there is a giant panda in the front seat." Jim said.

"Jenny won him for me." Stacy said as he pulled the big bear out of the car.

"How many games did you play?" Kenny asked.

"Sherman and I only played one. But smashed the bottles instead of just knocking them over so he let us take two." Nodrog said. Jim closed the trunk for him.

"That would have been funny. So how did Jenny get the panda?" Jim asked.

"She shot ten targets at a shooting game." Stacy said.

"I guess they won't let her play again either." Kenny said.

"None of us get to play anymore. Doesn't seem fair." Nodrog chuckled.

"I'm Kenny by the way. You must be the little girl that can out weld the old man." Kenny said and extended a hand.

"I'm Stacy. I should apologize for being a little ass and signing my name." Stacy said with a smile.

"Na, he deserves it. It just means you should fit in fine with the rather eclectic group we have." Kenny said.

"A truer statement has never been made. Just promise us we won't have to kill bugs for you." Jim said with a laugh.

"No, I can handle bugs on my own." Stacy said.

"That's good to hear. That little apartment must be getting kind of crowded with four of you in it." Jim said.

"After HR does their thing, they will see about getting her an apartment, or maybe bunking with some other girls." Nodrog said.

"Frank fired a few guys, plus with the few we lost. I'm sure there are rooms." Jim said.

"Speaking of that, are you going to get your own place?" Kenny asked.

"Hadn't thought of it. With the exception of Sherman, I doubt anyone could handle some of my stranger quirks." Nodrog said.

"Good point. Add in Nightrunner spontaneously showing up and that could be trouble." Jim said.

"Of course he and Samantha might be sharing a place if things keep going like they are. Honestly, I might be bored if I had my own place." Nodrog said.

"Hey guys." Samantha said as she came into the shop.

"Here you are." Nodrog said and handed her, the giraffe they got her.

"Thanks, I was hoping someone would be down." Samantha said.

"Hey, I need you and Jeff to come down sometime to recertify on your heavy equipment driving. He also needs to get his physical for diving done too." Jim said.

"Okay, I should see him later today for a security personal meeting. Of which two lucky bastards get out of..." Samantha said eyeing Nodrog on the last part.

"That's because we have to go for advanced training later in the month." Nodrog said with a smile.

"Training in what? I would think you both could kick ass with little effort." Kenny said.

"Apparently there a rules you have to follow now in warfare. Like not putting dead horses in the enemies' well to spread plague and stuff. This civilized war is silly." Nodrog said.

"I never thought war was civilized." Stacy said.

"Compared to what we used to do, it is. Leaving the impaled remains out in plain sight did wonders for keeping intruders away." Nodrog said with a wicked laugh.

"I could have done without knowing that." Stacy said.

"There are a lot of rules we have to follow. Especially when we are out with medical teams." Samantha said.

"Yeah the cruel and inhuman part really confuse me." Nodrog said.

"Seeing as you are not human, I can understand where you are coming from." Kenny said.

"Speaking of meetings, we need to meet with the three bosses here in a little bit." Jim said as he looked at his watch.

"What for?" Samantha asked.

"Staffing for the dig next spring. A lot of personnel to get certified or checked out for physicals and things. Equipment requirements, flight plans. It is quite involved to move and organize a little over a hundred people and a million pounds of equipment." Kenny said.

"A million pounds?" Stacy asked.

"Yeah. You are looking at 160,000 pounds just for our tool truck and the mobile lab Alice and Jenny run. The RVs we sleep in average about 40,000 pounds each." Jim said.

"It's quite the set up." Samantha said.

"Sounds like it." Stacy said.