Genomorph Part 5 free porn video

Synopsis: Brandi's enemies have fired the first shots, but are they ready for her kind of war? Inside the lab where she was created, she uncovers the startling truth about a tragedy in her past that threatens to unleash her destructive nature. Will she cross that line and become the thing she fears most? Part 5 of 5 Warning: Contains no graphic sexual content but does include adult language, situations and violent action scenes. Genomorph Part 5 of 5 By Scott Ramsey Edited by Carla Nolan and Amelia R. CHAPTER 49 All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him. Sun Tzu - The Art of War FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28 2005 1800 EST "We're going to let them take Melissa," Brandi repeated, "and then when they demand it, I am going to surrender." Brandi wondered if Sun Tzu would be impressed or just laugh. There was certainly plenty of disorder; the problem was it was not feigned. Everyone stared at her for about five seconds to see if she was serious, and then they all started talking at once. Only Melissa remained silent, and Brandi could see that she was trying very hard not to burst into giggles. The fact that she knew Melissa was terrified by what she was proposing and still found the situation funny, made her love the girl even more. Brandi stood there and listened impassively for a few seconds; she had no problem at all following what everyone was saying. She was being reckless; it was too great a risk to Melissa; there was too much at stake for her to go it alone. Finally, she decided it was time to put a stop to it. "Enough!" she bellowed loudly enough to cut through the cacophony and silence them all. "I appreciate your concerns, I really do," she continued once everyone had settled down. "If you will do me the courtesy of listening to the whole plan, I'll continue." Brandi paused just long enough to make sure they were going to listen, and then pressed forward. "The only way to be sure we get the information we need and stop them from sending the signal to activate their plan is from the inside. The lab complex is a hardened bunker a hundred feet underground. There are only three ways in; the main elevator, the freight elevator and the escape shaft. Of the three, only the escape shaft is even close to viable; the elevators would be suicide." Brandi paused again to let her words sink in. It was not like she was telling them anything they did not already know, but they needed to understand that she had considered all the possibilities. "If I was just trying to go it alone, I could; I could get in there on my own," she continued. "I could slip into the escape shaft and make it down without them even knowing I was there." "Brandi, it's true you could disrupt the cameras in the shaft," Susan said, "but surely they would notice when they begin malfunctioning one by one." "I, um, have sorta learned to do a bit more than that," Brandi said. "I've been practicing. I can make the video signal loop for a few seconds as I pass by." "Where did you practice this?" Susan asked, noticing Brandi was very uncomfortable about the subject. "At the mall," Melissa said, grinning mischievously. "Oh Brandi, you didn't," Susan said. "Aww, Mom!" Brandi whined. "Everybody does it. Besides I took it all back." Melissa raised her eyebrows and Brandi amended her statement, "Well, most of it anyway. Anything I kept I paid for." "How did you pay for clothing you shoplifted?" "She broke in after the mall was closed and left the receipts and the cash at each of the stores," Melissa said. She was trying very hard not to laugh at Brandi's discomfort. "Broke in is kinda harsh," Brandi said. "I didn't damage anything, and I left a really nice tip at each of the stores. I don't see what the big deal is; it's not like I robbed a bank." "Just a gun store," Melissa said. "Brandi!" Susan gasped. "Perhaps we could get back to the matter at hand?" Admiral Hammerstein said, amusement evident in his eyes despite his stony expression. "Yeah, that's a good idea," Brandi said, turning to stick her tongue out at Melissa. "We will talk about this later, young lady," Susan said. "Yes ma'am," Brandi said meekly. She turned and winked at Melissa, thankful for the tension breaker, and then continued explaining her plan. "The point is that even though I could get into the lab, there's a very good chance I would be spotted. If I had to neutralize any guards, they would be missed quickly. If I was spotted, it would all be over; they would lock down the control complex and send the signal. For the same reason, using the boys to create a diversion won't work; once the shooting started, they would send the signal. The only certain way to get me inside where I can do what has to be done is for them to take me inside as their prisoner." "And the only way they will do that is if they have me to keep Brandi under control," Melissa said. "Melissa you know what that means," Amanda said. Melissa nodded, "Don't let my calm exterior fool you; this scares the hell out of me. They will probably use one of those programmer things on me...or worse. I have faith in Brandi though; I know she'll bring me back." "All right, so maybe this is the only way," Matt said reluctantly. "But just how do you plan on arranging things so they can get to Melissa?" "Brandi doesn't have to arrange anything," Susan said. "They will use me." ***** "We should go immediately," Evan Mitchell urged. They sat in the Man's office, now transferred to the lab in Nevada. The entire site was locked down, and a security force of fifty men was in fortified positions on the surface. The men were little more than mercenaries, brought in to augment the regular security detachment, which had been withdrawn into the massive underground complex. If the girl attempted to breach the perimeter, the elevators and stairwell could be locked down, making the lab virtually impregnable. "I agree, sir. We should activate the sleepers we have in place and go from there," Reginald Mercer said. "I think that would be foolish," Barbara Currant said. "So much has been invested already. The rest of the sleeper programming will be in place by Monday. It will take a day to upload the latest program changes to the satellites after that. If we go on Wednesday night, everything will be in place." "That's five days away," Mercer said. "The girl is still out there." "We are locked down, with no one entering or leaving the complex," Currant said. The statement was not entirely accurate, as the facility was receiving supply shipments three times a week. "Even if she tried to force her way in here, we would have plenty of time to send the signal," Currant continued. "If you're that concerned, we could always have the Pentagon assign regular troops here to augment the security personnel." "What do we tell them?" Evans asked. "A platoon of Navy SEALs and a psychotic Playboy Playmate are going to attack us? The whole reason we have an independent security force is so we don't have the military looking too closely at this place. My men know the score." "If you would use that machine on me and my men," Mitchell said, "we would be more than a match for her. With those nano things in us we...." "Do you choose not to listen, or are you just deaf?" Currant cut in. "The nano-cyborgs are created and introduced by the components on the GMU that create a Genomorph. Those components were damaged when Dr. Covington attempted to reverse the process and restore Brandon Anderson. The best we could do is genetically optimize your bodies." "And what does that mean?" Mitchell asked. "It means you would be a perfect male specimen," Currant said, holding up her hand to forestall the next question. "It would not make your men faster or stronger; it would make them capable of becoming faster and stronger. Perhaps, after six months to a year of intense training, they could realize that potential." "The girl was stronger and faster as soon as she awoke," Mercer pointed out. Currant sighed. "Yes, that is because the GMU altered her more radically through the Genomorph components. Also, she has the nano-cyborgs, which constantly repair and tune her body. It may be possible to construct a program that would result in, perhaps, a twenty to thirty percent increase in a subject's agility and strength immediately upon completion, but I will not make any promises." "That is something I would like you to look into, Dr. Currant," The Man said. "Now, however, we must determine a course of action for dealing with the Genomorph." "Use Susan Covington," Currant said. "We know where they are; her girlfriend too. If we activate Covington, she can grab the girlfriend and bring her to our people. The Genomorph will have to do as we say." "Covington wouldn't stand a chance against her." Mercer laughed. "Do you honestly believe she would hurt her 'mother'?" Currant countered. "She'll acquiesce, thinking it will buy her time and put her in a position to reverse the programming." "Dr. Currant is right," The Man said. "We will proceed as planned. Have Dr. Covington activated locally. When she makes contact, we'll give her instructions to secure the Barlowe girl." "We have to get a transmitter to Virginia," Mercer said "See to it," The Man said. "I want the Genomorph in this facility by Tuesday night." The Man turned his attention to a stack of papers on his desk, and the others left the office. As Mercer was almost out the door, he was stopped by his superior's voice. "Don't fail me again, Agent Mercer." ***** "Who was that babe?" Cyndi Fallon set the cordless phone back in its charging stand and looked up at her girlfriend, Renee, her face drawn. "It was Melissa; they're all right," she said. "Thank God," Renee sighed. "It took her long enough to call." "Pack a bag," Cyndi said. "Pack enough for a week, and call Amber and tell her to do the same. Melissa and Brandi want us to get out of here, go upstate and find a hotel and lay low until they contact us again... just in case." Cyndi walked quickly to the kitchen counter and grabbed a set of keys. As she headed for the door, Renee called out to her. "Where are you going?" "Melissa said there's an envelope in her gig bag in the van," Cyndi said. "She said to take what's in there and get out." Renee rushed from the living room to their bedroom and began grabbing clothes for both of them and stuffing them into a pair of suitcases. She had hardly started when Cyndi returned from the garage, a thick manila envelope in her hand. "What is it?" Renee asked. Cyndi reached into the envelope and pulled out a bundle of hundred dollar bills. "Five thousand dollars in cash," she said. They finished packing and loaded their luggage into Renee's car; the van was full of the band's equipment and was too conspicuous anyway. They drove in silence towards Amber's apartment. Renee knew that Cyndi was struggling with her feelings, and finally broke the silence. "Are you OK, babe?" "I don't know," Cyndi said. "Do you think Brandi knows I wasn't really angry with her?" "She knows," Renee said. "Melissa and Karen know too." "I should have told them a long time ago about that night," Cyndi said. "I jumped on them about not trusting us, and here I've been hiding from the truth for years." "Cyndi, you went through hell... we both did," Renee said. "We're still dealing with it even now." "I know," Cyndi said. "When this is all over, I want to tell them everything." Renee reached over and squeezed Cyndi's hand. "I'll be right there by your side when you do." ***** Dear Mom, I'm delaying this email for reasons which will be obvious by the time you get it. Sometimes I really hate who I am. I'm not talking about the transformation, I'm talking about the person I was born, and I know now beyond a doubt, I still am at the core. Brandon was a very lonely person. I can say that now because I can look back at his life through new eyes. He had friends; he had romances, but he always held a large part of himself back. He never really opened up to anyone; that's probably why none of those romances ever worked out. We girls like it when the person we love opens up to us; more than that, we need it. What made him that way is still in me; it's why I am who and what I am. It's that ability to do what has to be done, regardless of the cost to myself, or to those I love. To quote Mr. Spock, 'The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one'. That is the very epitome of self- sacrifice that is at the very heart of those who serve in the military. It really sucks. Please don't get me wrong, I am proud of what I did as Brandon. I am proud of every man and woman who makes the decision that the well-being and security of society is their personal responsibility. What sucks is that we have to do it at all. It's hard being the one who looks at an injustice and has to do something about it. It's hard to be the one who weighs a situation and says, 'This is an acceptable sacrifice if it gets the job done'. And now I have to do it again. I know what has to be done, and I know how to do it. I have to put two people I love so much at terrible risk, and I have to deceive the people I respect the most. I pray when this is all over that they, and you most of all, will be able to forgive me. Brandi After the meeting in the parlor, which Brandi had taken to calling the Boudoir of War, everyone had scattered. Matt and the Chief were back in the guest house with the rest of the SEALs. Ryan was busy at his computer, although Brandi had noted that Gretchen was not anywhere to be seen, so maybe Ryan was busy with something else. She smiled at the thought and hoped the two were enjoying each other's company. The Admiral and Amanda had informed them that they would be leaving for Washington early Monday morning to try to get some kind of action. They had to be cautious, because anything that alerted the organization could provoke them into sending the signal to activate the sleepers. Melissa was waiting for her upstairs in the bedroom, but Brandi had something she had to do before she joined her. She found Susan in the office Amanda had provided for her, assembling some documents for Amanda and the Admiral to take with them. "Mom, are you busy?" Susan swiveled her chair around and smiled at Brandi. She would never get tired of hearing this beautiful girl call her Mom. "I'm never too busy for you, sweetheart," Susan said. "What's on your mind?" Brandi opened her mouth to speak, and then closed it. She looked very vulnerable and uncertain, and Susan needed no special insight to understand that she wanted to talk about something serious. Rising from the desk chair, she walked over to the sofa in the office and sat down. "Come here, and tell me about it." Brandi sat next to Susan, and they held hands as Susan waited for Brandi to speak. "A lot is going to happen in the next few days, and when it starts, it will all happen very fast," Brandi said. "So I wanted to say this to you, because I owe it to you, and I owe it...to Brandon." Susan could see that Brandi was struggling to hold back tears, and began to suspect she knew what Brandi wanted to say...what she needed to say. "Brandon...Brandon loved you," she said as the floodgates opened and her tears flowed. "He loved you, and he... I was just too wrapped up in my own problems to say it. I am so sorry, Susan... I wasted the time we could have had." "Shhh," Susan soothed, pulling Brandi's head to her breast and rocking her as she sobbed. "It's all right, honey, I knew how you felt. I felt the same way and didn't say anything either; I'm as much to blame as either of us for what might have been." Brandi pulled back, shaking her head. "No you're not. I would have just shut you out. I was such an asshole. I let myself wallow in self pity and blinded myself to what was right there all the time." "You had been through a terrible ordeal," Susan said. "You were still going through it; I understood that. You always downplayed the damage to your...genitals, but I knew better. You couldn't see yourself as a man anymore. "Then I came along with the promise of a miracle, and all I succeeded in doing was taking it all away completely." "No!" Brandi protested. "Don't you see you gave me life? Brandon was dead; he died that night in Iraq. Even if I could go back to being a man, I wouldn't do it now. I wouldn't trade the life I have to be Brandon again. My only regret is you...I don't want you to be alone like he was." "I'm not alone," Susan said. "I have so many wonderful people in my life, you most of all. I was not all that different from Brandon, you know; I shut people out of my heart because I was so driven by my work. "When you came into my life, I saw what I had been missing. The moment you opened your beautiful violet eyes after the transformation, I knew that I would do whatever was necessary to help you adapt to what had been done, no matter what the cost." "When this is all over, what do you plan on doing?" Brandi asked. "I'll continue to work on whatever the Forerunner project becomes," Susan said. "I have more reason now than ever to unlock their secrets. But no matter what, I will always be here for you." "I know," Brandi whispered, laying her head on Susan's shoulder. ~That's what makes this so hard~ ***** Upstairs in the bedroom, Melissa sat at the vanity brushing out her hair. She stopped and regarded the reddish highlights in her once jet black hair, and the next thing she knew she was sobbing. The events of the last week came rushing in on her, and she felt as though she could not breathe. Her body was wracked by her sobs, and she began shaking uncontrollably. She did not even hear Brandi enter the room, but she did feel it as she was gently lifted from the chair and carried to the bed. Brandi did not say a word; she just held her and rocked her while she let it all out. At last she could cry no more, and she sagged against Brandi. "It's OK, love, I've been expecting this," Brandi told her. "I don't know what happened," Melissa said, her body still shaking. "I just started, and I couldn't stop." "It's called post traumatic shock, sweetie," Brandi said. "You were almost killed a few days ago, and it's catching up to you. You're also facing a challenge that you never expected to face... I'm amazed at how strong you have been." "How do you do it?" Melissa asked. "Melissa, I have eighteen years of training and experience behind me," Brandi said. "I was twenty-six and had been a SEAL four years before I came under fire for the first time, back in Desert Storm. After the mission, I had the shakes so bad... I even threw up." "Was that the first time...?" "The first time I took a life," Brandi nodded. "Yes, it was." Melissa started shaking anew, and Brandi pulled her close again. "Brandi, I killed that agent," she cried. "I tried to make him drop his gun, but he wouldn't. I didn't want to do it...." "He made the choice," Brandi said. "He said I wouldn't do it... he said I wasn't the killer you are." Brandi tried not to, but she felt herself stiffen, and Melissa felt it too. She pulled back, pain and sorrow etched in her face. "I don't believe what he said," Melissa told her. "You are not a killer." "You aren't either," Brandi said. "You did what you had to." "Does it get easier?" Melissa asked. "I hope you never find out, sweetie," Brandi said. "I hope you never have to do anything like that again." "There's a good chance I will though," Melissa said. "Especially considering your plan; the real plan." Brandi gave her a crooked grin. "I guess this being bonded thing is gonna make it hard to keep secrets." "Well, it's not like I can read your mind," Melissa said. "I could tell that you were holding things back when you told everyone the plan earlier this evening, and I know you're very frightened for me. It didn't take much effort to piece together what you're planning, based on what Susan told us earlier." "Are you sure about this, love?" Brandi asked. "Because I really am not. I mean, I think it's the only way, but I am so afraid for you. I'm not even sure this will work." "It will work," Melissa said. "Don't ask me how I know that; I just do." Brandi nodded in understanding; she too had that same feeling, despite her misgivings. It had happened many times since her transformation; she would find that some bit of knowledge had opened up within her mind, triggered by some event. She wondered if the nano-cyborgs had carried that information with them to Melissa. "If this works, Melissa, if we pull this off, there may be no going back." "I understand that," Melissa said. "I won't lie and say it doesn't frighten me, but I think it's the only way too." "We'd better get started then," Brandi said. "Well, what do we do?" Melissa asked. Brandi grinned coyly, "Nothing we don't do almost every night, love." ***** Karen was awakened by a loud knocking, and for a moment she looked around the room in confusion. Then she remembered where she was; CTAG headquarters in the basement of the State Department. The tiny room had been her home for the last four days; since the attempt to abduct Brandi and Melissa in Los Angeles. It wasn't much; a bed, closet, dresser and a tiny bathroom, but at least it gave her a place to sleep. There was a second bed in the room that was being used by Mira Gallo, but she was not in it at the moment. Karen looked at the clock next to her bed and saw that it was only a little after eight PM; she had been asleep for less than an hour, and had only reluctantly agreed to get some rest when Kyle told her she looked like hell. She got out of the bed and walked to the door, still dressed in the clothes she had been wearing for the past thirty hours. She had been too tired to even think about undressing and had just crashed onto the bed and fallen immediately asleep. She opened the door to find Mira standing there. "Why didn't you just come in?" Karen asked. "Sorry, wasn't sure if you were decent," Mira said. "I have something you need to see." "What is it?" "I found the location of the organization's computers," Mira said rapidly. She tended to talk very fast when she was excited. "I'd bet anything their hard copy files are there too." "Nevada? We already knew that." "No they're right here; well, just over in Arlington actually. I ran a trace to verify the location. At first it did show the location as Nevada, but there was something funny about it, so I did some more digging. I had to write a whole new program to get through all the layers they had established. The security is pretty sophisticated and uses...." Karen held up her hand, "Mira, I do well to find the power button; spare me the technical details. Give me a few minutes for a quick shower and to throw on some fresh clothes. I'll meet you in the computer room." As Karen showered and then dressed, her mind was working furiously. She had talked to Brandi and Melissa at length earlier in the evening over a secure line and knew what the plan was. If the evidence they needed was indeed in Arlington and not Nevada, then the whole thing could be ruined. Undoubtedly, once the personnel remaining learned of the assault on the lab, they would destroy all the evidence. Fifteen minutes later, she was walking into the server room dressed in a pair of navy blue slacks and a white silk top, her hair still wet and dripping. She had not even bothered with makeup, and she knew she looked like she had hardly slept in two days, which of course was true. Mira showed her what she had found, and Karen took a printout of the address and went immediately to Kyle's office. "I'd say it looks like your nap did you good, but it would be a lie," Kyle said. "What do you have?" Karen handed him the printout and explained what Mira had told her. "It makes sense," Kyle said. "They set up the data equivalent of a safe house, someplace that couldn't easily be traced to the organization and would be missed if they were ever raided." "We have to get those files," Karen said. "That presents us with several problems," Kyle said. "For one, we have no field personnel. Even if we did, we have the same legal restrictions on conducting operations within the country as the CIA and other intelligence services." "So we bring in the feds," Karen said. "There has to be an agency we can trust." "There may be," Kyle said. "I need to make some phone calls first and call in a few favors." Kyle reached for his phone and then paused, leaning back in his chair. "You know, Karen, with their ability to program these sleepers, there may be no hard evidence of the plot." Karen shook her head vigorously. "No, it's there; I can feel it. We know from the circumstantial evidence we have uncovered that the plot goes back at least twenty-five years. But Brandi told me that they have only recently been able to actually make use of some of the really hi-tech artifacts - only since our computer technology reached a level where it could interface with the alien tech, even on a limited scale. "The crystal we got from those agents is obviously Forerunner, but Mira said the circuitry in the mounting is all off the shelf. Before they had the advantage of the alien devices, they had to do it the old fashioned way. That means blackmail and coercion, and there will be records of that." "You're right," Kyle said, reaching for the phone again. "An old navy buddy of mine is a senior agent with NCIS. I'll give him a call and see what we can put together." "We need to check out the location too," Karen said. "And you want to do it," Kyle said, and then surprised Karen with his next words. "All right, but I'm going to get you some experienced help. Go get yourself presentable, and I'll get the wheels rolling." CHAPTER 50 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2005 0600 EST Brandi rose early Saturday morning and dressed quickly. She gave the still sleeping Melissa a gentle kiss and then slipped out of the bedroom, making sure to lock the door behind her. She doubted anyone would walk in unannounced, but it was best to be safe. The house was still and quiet, but as she made her way downstairs, she could hear activity in the kitchen and knew that Gretchen was already busily preparing breakfast for the household. Her stomach reminded her that the night's activity had burned much of her energy reserves, but first she had to go speak to Matt and the SEALs. They had put together a plan to assault the lab, and she was supposed to review it and offer any suggestions. The guest house on the Amanda's estate was larger than Melissa's house in Venice. Still it was crowded; it was not intended to house a SEAL platoon and their equipment. Despite that, the boys kept the house neat and orderly, though an unsuspecting visitor or intruder would wonder what they had stumbled into when they saw the racks of automatic weapons and stacks of crates with military labeling. As Brandi entered the guest house, she felt her senses assailed by input that threatened to overwhelm her. The whole house simply reeked of maleness. It was not anything anyone else would have noticed, but her hyper-attuned senses could not miss it, and she paused for a moment just inside the door to gather her wits. ~Keep it together, girl. You can't afford to go bimbo now. ~ Once she was certain she could control herself, she made her way through the living room and into the dining room, where the SEALs were waiting. They were gathered around a big maple dining table, studying the layout of the compound for probably the hundredth time, but as Brandi entered the room fell silent. Fifteen pairs of very manly eyes immediately zeroed in on Brandi, and she was once more blasted with sensory input. There was of course curiosity, which was perfectly natural. She also sensed a good deal of uncertainty; she was no longer one of them, and she knew that she would have to prove herself in their eyes all over again. The reaction did not cause her any distress; she knew Brandon would have felt the same. It was their other purely natural reactions that caused her the most difficulty, even though she had prepared herself for it. They saw before them a stunningly beautiful young woman, one none of them would have hesitated to make a play for had they seen her in a bar, except Chief Wright, who was very happily married and had a daughter who was actually older than Brandi. She gathered herself once more and forced down the feelings of arousal that were rising within. "So, like, you think you have enough gear, Matt?" Brandi asked as she looked around at the stacks of equipment. It was meant as a joke, but Matt seemed to be a bit ill at ease and didn't get it. ~Can't blame the poor guy. I'd be freaked if our roles were reversed.~ "We're set," Matt replied. "We restocked from Little Creek after we got out here. We even managed to scrounge up some of those dinky little rounds for your MP-7s and some .357 Sig for your pistols." "Hey, my hands are smaller now, what can I say?" Brandi grinned. She was pleased that they'd been able to recover the MP-7 that had been torn away when she was thrown from the Hummer, and that it was still functional. She vowed that when this was all over, she would see that Gary got a new pair to replace them; they were both a bit scuffed up now. Brandi took a deep breath and decided to attack the situation up front. There was no sense beating around the bush. "I know this is hard for you guys," she said. "It's hard for me too; harder than you can possibly imagine. I will probably do and say things that make you uncomfortable, but please understand that I'm not trying to; it's just part of who I am now. I'll try not to flirt too outrageously, but I'm not making any promises." The SEALs laughed nervously, not sure if she was kidding or not. At least she had dressed conservatively; a long tiered denim peasant skirt, lavender sweater and leather calf boots with a modest two inch heel. Even with the added height, she was the shortest person in the room. There was something else she sensed as well, something different that she could not quite identify. It was a very strong feeling, and she got it from every one of the SEALs. It was not directed at her; in fact, it was not as though it were a physical reaction from them, but more of a feeling about them, a familiar and comforting feeling. After a moment, she realized what it was; she sensed a kinship with these men. She sensed their warrior genes. She got the strongest sensation of all from Matt Branch, and she knew without a doubt that he not only had some of the warrior genes, he had the Mother gene, the one gene that had to be present in a Genomorph. ~So, how do I tell him? 'Oh hey, Matt, I just thought you should know you've got girl genes in you'?~ Brandi could not help herself; she started giggling as she imagined how Matt would take that news - how Brandon would have taken it. The SEALs all looked at her, wondering what was so funny. "Um, sorry guys...I do that sometimes," she told them. "It's a girl thing... you wouldn't understand. So, show me what you have." "This place is a tough nut to crack," Matt said as they turned their attention to the table. Brandi nodded in agreement. The SEALs' part of the plan was to launch an assault on the surface of the compound. The enemy would expect them to make some kind of move to get her back, and the attack would hopefully draw out some of the mercenaries within the lab, making Brandi's job easier. It would not be simple though. The surface portion of the lab was about the size of a football field, with a scattering of buildings within a high fenced-in perimeter. To the north was a hangar for the helicopters that ferried people to and from Nellis Air Force base. In the center was the main building which housed the entrance to the underground lab. Brandi noted several structures that looked like prefabricated buildings and a number of fortified positions around the perimeter. "That's all new," she said. Matt nodded, "The buildings are being used as housing for their security force. Apparently, they don't want the mercenary riff-raff in the big house. The internal security is being handled by their regular troops; they're still basically mercenaries, but they are likely better disciplined. The trenches and emplacements are pretty obvious, of course. I'd say they're expecting you." Brandi looked at Matt, and he saw something in her eyes, something disturbing. He got the distinct impression that she was thinking this mission would be far easier without the SEALs along. If stealth and subterfuge were not paramount, he knew she would be perfectly happy to batter her way into that lab on her own. It was something Brandon would have never even considered, and he knew then, without a doubt, that she was no longer one of them, but rather something far more dangerous. As quickly as it came, the look passed, and the girl before him looked like the most harmless creature on earth. ~Those idiots are lucky she needs us.~ "There's no doubt they will detect our approach," he continued. "The terrain offers some opportunities for concealment, but not a lot, and there is a hundred meters of flat ground around the perimeter." Brandi nodded and looked back at the photo, taking note of numerous emplacements that likely housed machine guns and would provide overlapping fields of fire. "The uplink is housed in a steel reinforced concrete bunker here," Branch said, pointing to a structure between the main building and the hanger. "The ceiling has two large armored steel doors that can be opened to transmit. The only way to access the interior of the structure is from inside the lab. The plan is to hit them from two sides from the edge of the open area. Lewis and Darrow will kick things off by neutralizing the guard towers and disabling every exposed vehicle with their fifty calibers. The rest of the platoon will lay down fire, and that should be enough to prompt them to react. When they open the doors on top of the bunker to use the uplink, we're going to hit it with a Javelin missile. That will be more than enough to destroy the dish and prevent them from sending their signal." "How are you inserting?" "HAHO," Branch said. "We have to jump from outside the airspace around the test range, or we'll set off all manner of alerts. We'll land about ten miles out and hoof it into position." "OK," Brandi said. She studied the map for a few seconds and then looked up at the SEALs. "Guys, I need to speak with the Lieutenant in private," she told them, and then turned to Matt. "Is there someplace we can go to talk?" Matt nodded and motioned her towards the living room. There was a small study just adjacent to it, and once they were inside, Brandi closed the door. The study was furnished as would be expected, and there was also a love seat, which Brandi had a seat on. She indicated that Matt should join her, but he hesitated. "Oh, relax, Matt," she said. "It's not like I want to tear your clothes off and have sex with you right here." Matt laughed nervously and had a seat beside her. "OK, that was actually a lie," Brandi said. "I very much do want to tear your clothes off and have sex with you right here; the point is I'm not going to." "I'm not sure how to take that," Matt said. Brandi laughed at his discomfort, knowing he would be even more uncomfortable if he knew she meant every word of it. "I'm not a wild animal, Matt," she said. "I know you're uncomfortable with me, and I also know you're attracted to me, which just makes it worse. If the two of us were just sitting here on a normal day, then we would already be doing it by now, because frankly I don't think you could resist if I really poured it on. "I won't do that because I have a job to do; I have a mission. That supersedes everything." "All right," Matt said. "Is that all you wanted to tell me?" Brandi shook her head, "No, there's more. Your plan is good, but I'm afraid it won't work, because it's based on the overall plan I laid out last night. Now I need to tell you the real plan." While Brandi laid out her plan to a rather annoyed Matt Branch, the SEALs in the dining room were left to wonder what was going on behind closed doors. "You don't think they're... you know...?" Vasquez wondered aloud. "I mean, I know she is the Commander, but man, there is no denying she is hot." "Vasquez, I suggest you keep your zipper locked," Chief Wright said. "You even cast a come hither look her way, and I will cut something off you don't want to lose." Vasquez gave Wright a stricken look. Wright was not really worried; he knew that none of them could really understand what Brandi had experienced, but they could all imagine themselves in her situation. They had too much respect for their former Commander and would gently rebuff her should she get too out of hand. ~At least they'd try,~ the Chief thought. If Brandi truly set her mind to seduce one of the SEALs, he seriously doubted any of them would be able to resist long, himself included. A short time later, Brandi and Matt returned. She would leave it to him to explain the change in the plan to the team; after all, they were his men now. "Well, I think you guys have a handle on everything," Brandi said. She noticed her voice adopting a coy playfulness, but rather than fight it, she ran with it. It was better that they learn to deal with her here and now. "I'm gonna go wake Melissa up and grab some breakfast. Afterwards, I was thinkin' about a dip in the pool." Brandi could feel their eyes on her as she headed towards the door. She paused as she stood in the doorway and turned back, flashing a mischievous grin at the SEALs. "I've got a great new bikini I haven't worn out in public yet. Maybe somebody would like to give me an objective opinion on how it looks. Oh, and Enrique, thanks for the compliment, sweetie. I think you're a hottie yourself." Vasquez's face darkened as he blushed, and the rest of the team laughed heartily. He had been so focused on Brandi's physical changes, he had forgotten the less obvious ones, like her hyper-sensitive ears. ~I am so bad,~ she thought as she walked back towards the main house, not feeling the least bit ashamed. There was a refreshing sense of freedom, knowing she could flirt to her heart's content with these men, and none of them would even think of taking liberties because of it. "Well, maybe they'll think about it," she giggled. She was still giggling when she entered the house. CHAPTER 51 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2005 1000 EST "Isn't this illegal?" Karen asked as Maxine Andrews picked the lock on the back of a house in Arlington, Virginia, after disabling the security system. The house was vacant with a 'for sale' sign out front and was conveniently just down the street from the target. The lock clicked open, and Max swung the door wide and entered with Karen close behind. "Well, technically our conducting a surveillance operation in the United States is illegal," Max told her. "What's a little breaking and entering compared to that?" Karen grinned. "You remind me of someone I know." "I hope that's a good thing," Max said as they made their way through the house. "Oh, it is," Karen said. "She's not one to let the rules stop her from doing what's right either." "Sounds like my kind of girl," Max said. "Sorry, Max, she has a girlfriend," Karen giggled, causing Max to give her a sharp look. "How did you know?" Max asked. "Hey, I'm an intelligence analyst remember?" Karen said. "Actually, my best friend and roommate for the last six years is a lesbian. I have two other friends who have been in a relationship for several years. I guess I just developed a sense for it. Plus, you and Kyle have known each other for years, and you've never dated." "Well, he did try when we first met, several times," Max told her as they headed upstairs. They set up their equipment at a front window that afforded a good view of the house down the street. The house was a large two-story colonial with a perfectly manicured lawn. It blended perfectly with the other houses in the neighborhood; the picture of suburban bliss. "Are you sure your people got the address right?" Max asked. "The house is owned by Arthur and Marion Rothberg," Karen said. "He is apparently a quite successful computer consultant who operates his business out of his home. The only problem is, he doesn't seem to have any clients. The business records show income from several corporations, but when we dug deeper, they all turned out to be dummies." "Of course, none of it ties back to the organization," Max said. "I guess it's hard to connect anything to something that doesn't officially exist." "There is a trail, but it's very hard to spot," Karen said. "His credentials are real enough, and we have their marriage records." "Oh, I'm sure it's all real," Max said. "He's the tech maintaining the computers, and his wife is the security. I'll bet they sleep in separate bedrooms." "So, what do you think?" Max studied the house through the telephoto lens of the camera before speaking. "It's a cinch they have a state of the art security system," she said. "If we show up with a truckload of feds, they will destroy everything. I would guess they have it set up on some kind of 'dead man switch'; they probably have to enter a code at regular intervals to prevent the system from wiping itself. They probably never leave the house together either; one of them stays with the equipment. Getting inside without tipping them off is going to be tough." ~Brandi could get in there with no problem,~ Karen thought, but that was not a viable alternative. The morning progressed as they maintained surveillance, one of them watching the house while the other watched the driveway to make sure an enterprising realtor did not decide to show the house. Around ten, a man came out of the house, and Max snapped several pictures of him as he retrieved the morning paper. "So what's she like?" Max asked after the man had returned to the house. "My friend Melissa?" Karen asked. "Well she's...." "No, I meant Brandi." Karen turned from the window where she was watching the driveway and stared at Max. She knew Kyle had not told her anything about Brandi. "Hey, I'm a spook," Max said. "Just because we're not supposed to operate here doesn't mean we don't. Besides, we got a bulletin about her through channels. They tried to make it sound innocent enough, but it set off warning bells." Max waited, but Karen said nothing, just stared at her. Max was CTAG's liaison with the CIA, and Karen felt she could be trusted, but it was not her place to divulge any information about Brandi. The thought that the CIA knew about her friend was disturbing, however, and Karen wondered just how much they did know. "We thought it was odd that they were so interested in finding her. After the incident at UCLA, it became clearer why they want her, but I think there is still more to it." Karen almost sighed with relief; Max was fishing. The CIA knew about Brandi, but they did not know much. It made sense that the organization would try to get the Agency to work to help them, but they would never let them know why Brandi was so valuable. "Max, I know we only just met, but I'd like to think we're friends," Karen said slowly. "I gather from your reaction earlier that it's not widely known that you're a lesbian. I want you to know that your secret is safe with me." Max smiled, "I appreciate that, Karen, but my sexual preference is not a matter of national security." "Neither is Brandi," Karen said. "She is a victim of these people; the same people who have agents planted in the CIA. You saw the evidence; what do you think of these people?" "They're worse than scum," Max said. "Karen, I joined the CIA because I want to defend this country. What they're trying to do sickens me." "Then I'll tell you this; they've done worse," Karen said. "What they did to my friend... Max it would horrify you, and afterwards they tried to lock her away and make her a tool. After they are dealt with, she will have the freedom to choose what path she wants to take. I'm not being overly dramatic when I say I would die to protect her, because I know she would do the same for me without hesitation." "You know, I think we are going to be good friends," Max said as she turned back to the camera. She found Karen's loyalty to her friend admirable, and it made her more curious than ever to know the person who could inspire it. The house was still quiet, and Max turned back to Karen one more time. "In this business, it's very easy to lose yourself," she said. "The black and white starts to become gray. Don't ever let go of your convictions, Karen. Don't ever lose that sense of right and wrong. Our job is to ensure the security and safety of the nation, but if we forget that the people are the nation, it's all for nothing." Around noon the garage door of the house opened, and a Mercedes 350 SLK began backing out. Max snapped pictures until it was out of sight. "That was the woman," Max said. "Hopefully, I can get a better shot of her when she comes back." A little over an hour later, the Mercedes returned. The woman left the garage door open as she removed shopping bags from the trunk, and Max was able to get several shots of her. Once the garage door had closed, Max began reviewing the pictures on the LCD screen of the camera. The woman calling herself Marion Rothberg was about five feet eight inches tall and had auburn hair that hung just past her shoulders. She has a nice figure, voluptuous but not overly so. In fact, from a distance, or in a fleeting glance at a closed circuit monitor, she could easily have been mistaken for Karen... or vice versa. "I have a wild idea," Max said. "Kyle is definitely not going to like it though." ***** The GMU chamber was filled with a loud hum as the machine powered up. The subject on the table, one of the mercenaries hired to protect the facility, was in a total state of relaxation. The scanning beam swept over his nude body, and after the scan was complete Barbara pressed the glowing touch pad to initiate a transformation sequence. The hum increased slightly and then an alarm began sounding. Critical Error....Genomorph Transformation module is damaged....transformation sequence terminated... The words flashed mockingly on the display as the GMU powered down. The subject was oblivious to what was happening and would remain that way for several hours. "What is the problem this time?" Barbara turned and looked at The Man, but unlike most of his subordinates, there was no hint of fear in her eyes. It was one of the things he liked about the young woman. "The same problem as the last time," she said. "This GMU is identical to the other, but has added components to create Genomorphs, and those components are damaged beyond our ability to repair." "I don't like excuses, Dr. Currant." "It's not an excuse, it's a fact," Barbara snapped, refusing to be cowed. "If you want to create more Genomorphs, you're going to have to reverse engineer the device and construct a new one. That process will take years... decades probably." "Then we will have to bend the existing Genomorph to our will." "Yes, that worked so well the first time you tried it," Barbara said acerbically. "Can't you understand that one of those warrior genes is what defeated the original attempt to program her? Now that she is a Genomorph, that genetic resistance to outside control is ten times stronger." "There are many ways to control another," The Man said. "Once we have her girlfriend and Dr. Covington here, we will have all the leverage we need." "Of course," Barbara said as the Man left the control room. ~The blind fool. Even if he succeeds, Brandi will just wait for the perfect opportunity to destroy him.~ The technicians began wheeling the comatose subject out of the chamber on a gurney. He would awaken in a few hours and be returned to duty, and never know how close he had come to a much ruder awakening. ~Even if the module wasn't damaged, it would have never worked,~ Barbara thought as she studied the scan data. ~The subject didn't have the warrior genes or any of the Forerunner genetic traits Brandon possessed.~ As the technicians exited the chamber, Martina Todd, formerly the organization's chief analyst, Todd Martin, entered nervously. Martina was little more than a sex toy with excellent office skills, and there was very little of Todd left. Barbara had watched as Reginald Mercer personally deleted the data matrix that could one day have restored Todd, and he had obviously enjoyed the power of utterly destroying another human being with the touch of a button. Still, there was enough left that Martina knew to fear the GMU chamber. "It's all right, Tina," Barbara said as she stepped out of the control room. "Nothing is going to hurt you. I just want to run a quick test to make sure you're healthy." "I really feel fine, Dr. Currant," the young woman said. "I'm sure you do," Barbara said. Like all subjects who were processed by the GMU, Martina had a body that bordered on perfection. It was not like Brandi's, but she would rarely, if ever, get sick and would likely have a very long lifespan. The optimization of a subject was another built-in default of the machine. Any procedure other than a simple scan would result in the process being carried out. "Please, Dr. Currant, I don't wanna wake up somebody else!" Tina cried. As Barbara looked at Tina sharply, the young woman thought she actually saw tears in the scientist's eyes. Barbara put her hand gently on Tina's arm and squeezed softly. "You won't even go to sleep, I promise," Barbara said. Tina nodded her head and allowed Barbara to steer her towards the crystal chamber. Tina started to remove her clothes, but Barbara stopped her. "That's not necessary, Tina," she said. "This will only take about five minutes, and then you can get back to work." Tina looked at her, and Barbara could see conflicting emotions warring in her eyes. Desire and disgust battled for control. "I could stretch it into an hour if you want," Barbara said with a gentle smile that was very uncharacteristic for her. Relief washed over Tina's face, but was quickly replaced by concern. "What if Reggie gets mad?" she asked. "He's my boss, you know, and I'm supposed to take care of him." "Agent Mercer is on his way to Virginia, remember?" Barbara said. "Oh, yeah," Tina said, her voice dejected. "I sure hope he gets back soon." Tina settled onto the couch in the chamber, and Barbara turned back towards the control room. "I'm very sorry," she whispered. Despite the softness of her comments, Tina heard the words. "It's all right," Tina said. "I know you didn't want to." ***** "Have you lost your mind, Max?" Kyle asked after Max had told him her plan for getting into the house in Arlington. "Kyle, we have very limited resources," she explained calmly. "If we are going to get the information secured, we need someone inside to slow down any reaction to the troops when they move in. Karen is the same height and build as the woman calling herself Marion Rothberg." Over a very short period of surveillance, they had determined that the woman frequently left the house on errands. The plan was to take her into custody on one of these trips and have Karen switch places with her. Karen would then return to the house and deal with any security monitors and the man inside, until the NCIS agents moved in to take over. "The only other option is to kill the power for the entire neighborhood," NCIS Special Agent Tony Capriatti said. "If they have backup power, which they almost certainly do, they would still be able to destroy the files." "You could send a pair of your people to the door disguised as delivery men or salesmen while the woman was out," Kyle suggested. "I did just that," Max said. "I went up with a fake survey and rang the bell. He never answered. I suspect he was watching the security monitors the whole time, but he won't come to the door when she is not there." "If we used that ploy while she is there, we'd get her, but he could still destroy the evidence," Capriatti said. "There is no way we can get a full team anywhere near the house without tipping them off. The ground is covered by motion detectors, and there are video cameras everywhere." "We can use the crystal," Kyle said. "Zap the woman at the door, and have her call him down." "What if he sees us use it?" Max said. "He will almost certainly be watching the monitors anytime she goes to the door." Karen listened to the exchange in silence. She was not thrilled about the idea of going into the house and facing a man who would likely not hesitate to kill her if he had the chance. But her best friends were getting ready to enter the enemy's base of operations, where they would be facing far more certain risk. Could she do any less? "What would I have to do?" All eyes turned to Karen when she spoke, and they saw the hesitation and fear in her eyes. "Kyle, I'm not happy about this either," Karen said. "In fact, I'm scared half to death. I'm not a big thrill seeker, I don't even like driving on the freeway, but there is a lot at stake here, and I have a personal stake in this." "All you have to do is get in and get him away from the computers," Max said. "We have the layout of the house, and from thermal scans we know where the computers are, in an upstairs bedroom. The security monitors may be there, but most likely there are monitor stations in several rooms. Get him away from the computers, use the crystal on him, and send the NCIS guys the signal; they will be in the house in less than ten seconds." "All right, when do we do it?" Karen asked. Max smiled. Kyle was right about this girl; she had what it took to get the job done. She remembered her first field assignment and how nervous and frightened she had been, even with the benefit of extensive training. Karen had to be terrified, but she was hiding it well. "As soon as we get word that they have taken your friends, we'll take up positions in the neighborhood," Capriatti said. "The next time the woman leaves, we'll arrest her and make the switch." "What if she doesn't leave the house before the SEALs go in?" Kyle said. "We'll have a very tight window." "We'll go with Plan B, a felony raid, and hope for the best," Capriatti said. "We'll kill the neighborhood power and hit the house as fast as we can. Hopefully, we can at least secure any hard copy files." "All right, I still don't like it, but I'll authorize this," Kyle said. "I want Karen in a vest though." "That shouldn't be a problem," Max said. "It's going to get cold tonight and should be raining over the next two or three days. Marion will be dressed for the weather, and once Karen has switched to her clothes, the vest should be well covered." "I want you rested," Kyle said to Karen. "There's nothing more you can do for now. If anything comes up, I'll send someone for you." Karen nodded and rose from her chair, walking over to the door. As she was about to leave, Kyle spoke again. "You don't take any unnecessary risks, Karen. I want you back." After Karen had left, Kyle turned and looked hard at Max. "And you keep your hands off her," he said. "She's mine, and I'm not going to let you steal her for the Agency." "Now, Kyle, you know me better than that," Max laughed, but she never promised not to try. "All right, now what about the legalities?" Kyle asked. "Are you going to need a warrant, Tony? I'd rather not risk going to the courts if we don't have to." "We can prove the house is owned by a federal agency," Capriatti said. "We can also prove that the occupants are employed by that agency. That, plus the rudimentary evidence we have of the plot, gives us sufficient exigent circumstance to enter without a warrant. The risk of them destroying the evidence we need is too great." "It's not like this will ever see the inside of a courtroom," Max said. "True, but we need to be clean," Kyle said. "We can't let these bastards wriggle off the hook. At the very least some of the lesser players will be charged and take the fall." CHAPTER 52 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29 1030 EST Brandi's giggling and squealing echoed within the pool enclosure as Susan crossed the granite deck. Brandi was in the pool with several of the SEALs, playing a very animated game of water polo. There did not seem to be any real rules or score keeping, and the main goal of the game appeared to be to get the ball to Brandi as often as possible so they could then attempt to take it away. "I bet you never knew water polo was a contact sport," Melissa said as Susan sat down next to her on a chaise lounge. "Not that kind of contact," Susan said as she watched one of the SEALs, Kevin Darrow, grab Brandi about the waist and plunge her under the water as she squealed. "If she's not careful, she's going to lose that top," Susan said. "I think you may have discovered the true objective of the game." Melissa giggled. "Not that it hides much." Susan watched the game for a moment before turning back to Melissa. "Isn't she being a little...." "Flirty? Actually, she's being outrageously flirty," Melissa said. "Don't worry, Susan, it's only because she feels safe. She doesn't have to fight it with them. She flirts, they flirt back, and every one of them knows it will never go beyond that. She trusts them." "So why aren't you part of the game?" Susan asked. "Well, Brandi's bathing suits are still too big, and mine are too small," Melissa said, looking down at her chest. She was not wearing a bra under her t-shirt because hers were too tight, since her breasts were a full cup larger. "We'll get it fixed, Melissa." "I know," Melissa said. "But even if we don't, it will be all right. It'll be a little weird having a girlfriend who is my identical twin, but weird seems to be kind of normal these days." "I really don't mean to pry, but I am scientifically curious about this," Susan said. "Can you feel yourself changing?" "I feel really drained," Melissa said a bit hesitantly. "I think most of the changes are happening when I sleep, but I want to sleep a lot. I have to make an effort to stay awake." "That would make sense," Susan said, sensing that the topic was making Melissa uncomfortable. "It looks like the game is breaking up," she said to change the subject. Brandi climbed out of the pool and walked over to join them. With a big grin, she sat on Melissa's lounge by her legs. "Brandi, you're dripping all over me," Melissa complained. "You're lucky, I was gonna give you a big hug," she said as she picked up a towel and began drying herself off. When she had finished, she hopped up and grabbed a big t-shirt and put it on. It immediately clung to her still damp body. "Come on, lazy, we're gonna go for a walk," she said. "If you stay here, you're gonna fall asleep, and we won't be able to wake you up for hours." Brandi practically dragged a protesting Melissa up from the lounge and began pulling her towards the door. "Wanna join us, Mom?" "You two have fun," Susan said. "I have some work I need to get done." Once they were out of earshot, Brandi leaned over and kissed Melissa on the cheek. "Do you think she suspects anything?" she whispered. Melissa shook her head. "She's curious and worried, but that's it. You sure looked like you were having a good time with the boys." Brandi giggled. "Yeah, I was. I didn't even mind when they copped a feel every now and then. I bet you never thought you'd hear me say that." "Tramp," Melissa said. "What am I going to do with you?" "Well, if you can't think of anything, I've got a few ideas," Brandi said as she took Melissa's hand. Her expression became serious as she said, "How are you doing, love?" "I'm tired," Melissa said. "I really could use a nap. It's not as bad as I thought it might be, but I don't want to push things too far." "No, that would be bad," Brandi agreed. ***** Two hundred miles overhead, a KH-14 surveillance satellite trained its high resolution camera towards the Virginia countryside. It was the most secret surveillance tool in the US arsenal, and thanks to the addition of Forerunner technology, this particular satellite exceeded the five- inch resolution of the others in the series. It still was not able to read a license plate from orbit, although that was due more to a problem with angles rather than resolution. It was capable of identifying something as small as a pack of cigarettes on the ground, or the very distinctive figure of a certain blonde haired young woman. "There they are," Evans said, gesturing towards a monitor screen in the back of the black surveillance van. They were parked five miles away from the estate to ensure their quarry would not detect them. The two young women were plainly visible as they walked about the grounds of the estate. It was even obvious when the Genomorph stopped and lit a cigarette. "Look at that, they're walking right along the edge of the estate like they don't have a care in the world," Evans said. "If we had the TAC team in place, we could grab them both now." "Yes, that worked so well in Los Angeles," Mercer responded. "We had two teams there, and still they got away." "They won't get away this time," Evans said. "When can we activate Covington?" "When everything is in place," Mercer said. "We have to be within two miles of her to do it, and we need to arrange a diversion to draw the Genomorph and the SEALs away." "Sir, the satellite is moving away," the technician monitoring the feed said. "We'll lose the image in one minute." "We've seen enough," Mercer said. "We know she's there." ***** Melissa stopped walking and looked skyward for a moment. "What's wrong love?" Brandi asked. "Nothing," Melissa said. "I just had this creepy feeling that we were being watched." "Well, we'd better get back inside if we're gonna make that phone call," Brandi said. "After that, you probably should take a nap. Otherwise you'll be too tired to be any fun when we go to bed." Melissa groaned and said, "I think I've created a monster." ***** Arnie Belcher was looking forward to a few weeks with no driving to do. He had dropped his load in the early morning hours and then stopped for some sleep at a truck stop off Interstate 10 just outside Pensacola, Florida. He had not told his fianc?e, Jenny, that he was heading back to Birmingham today; he wanted to surprise her. The wedding was scheduled for January, and after that Arnie was going to give up long haul trucking. He sat on the bed in his truck's sleeper compartment and opened his laptop to check his email. There was one from Jenny, and he smiled as he read it; he couldn't wait to see the surprise on her face when he showed up two weeks early. He sent her a quick reply since he wanted to get on the road as soon as possible and give her the rest of the message in person. As he closed his laptop, his cell phone began ringing. He checked the display for the caller ID before answering, certain it was Jenny, and was surprised when he saw who the caller w