From his vantage point, Fernando sees Hondo and Valentine walking to leave the house before the others do when they walk out the door. He just nods at their general direction. Hondo nods back in acknowledgment. He signals with his finger, pointing to Marco and Hillshire as they walked out the door. Fernando just nods back. Once at the rear of the Porsche, Fernando hands them the items they will need: radios, ear pieces, IR Masks, silenced guns and extra magazines. Trench coats were given but not put on. He left the RPG inside the trunk for now. In their non-verbal communications, they understood that what they need to say will be said in the car on the way to the mission.
 
Fernando looks at this watch. Jeanie and her team leave in their limo.
 
Fernando: Its time to go. Ladies, take the rear seats. Hondo, you're in front with me.
 
Hondo nods as he lowers the back of the seat to let the girls in. Tammy goes in first to be behind her husband, Valentine follows after her. Hondo and Fernando remain standing as they watch Marco and Hillshire put their girls into their car.
 
Marco: We'll follow you.
Fernando: Fine.
 
They all get into their cars. Engines start and roar to life. Fernando recognizes the growl of the Ferrari V8 under the hood of the Fiat, and bet the rest of the car was mostly done in Ferrari specs with a 4 passenger Fiat body. Back in 1988, the Porsche 928 was the fastest production four passenger car in the market. And though Fernando has kept the Porsche at better then Peek Performance, its been a long time since Porsche had held that title. As engines warmed up, everyone put on their seat belts. Spinning the steering wheel with one hand, Fernando puts the car into gear and slowly pulls into the drive way. Marco follows in the Fiat. For a moment they stayed at the speed limit, Fernando making sure Marco was right behind him but then pulls along side of him. The windows roll down.
 
Marco (yelling from behind Hillshire): There is no reason to be driving so slow!
 
Fernando just nods before rolling up the window again. He then revs the engine, pushing the speedometer a bit more. Marco tries to pass him but suddenly the Porsche's engine just roars loudly as Fernando floors the accelerator and passes him in proper fashion. Hillshire nods at Marco and the Fiat lurches back as 450 horses shove rubber to pavement and the dash board metered indicators shift to the right. He catches up to Fernando as they reach the 145mph zone. Though in the last gear, Fernando presses his thumb against the ball of the stick shift, revealing a button underneath. A metal label around the button says, 'Go Baby Go!' The button is pressed and the Porsche roars like a dragon who's tail was stepped on. It quickly disappears into the darkness of the highway, his rear taillights shrink into the distance as Nitrous Oxide is pumped into the combustion chambers.
 
Hillshire: How fast is he going?
Marco (pointing at the radar gun on his dash): It says he's going over 212 to our 147.
Hillshire: Does he knows that if he cracks up now that no one in that car will survive?
Marco: You actually thinks that he cares?
 
Back in the Porsche, Hondo glances over to the dashboard, seeing all needles on the dials midway into the red zone. He just sighs as something about this car's set up does not show any signs of tearing itself apart from the stress. Instead he was more interested on why Hillshire and Marco were there. Since getting rid of them, Fernando relaxes on the throttle lets the car to slow down from its high speed.
 
Hondo: Yo Boss?
 
Fernando: They said that they had to put up a convincing act for their chief and director but they are more than interested in this mission and have set up their own people at strategic places to observe them and us at the same time. How you want to take that is on you. Right now they are part of this mission whether we like it or not. Might as well use the girls to our advantage.
 
Valentine: Use the girls? Is there something I should know?
 
Fernando glances over to Hondo who nods slightly.
 
Fernando: Long story short, Valentine, those are not little girls as you may think they are. Some would say that they are not even alive. They are cyborgs. Cybernetic organisms created and built by the Italian Government to deal with their internal and domestic disputes with home-grown terrorism. They might look like little girls, but they can rip your arm off and crack your skull with the bloody stump. They are weapons systems for those who train them. The rabbit is Triela. The mouse is Angie. They were little girls once until they were literally brought back from the dead as cyborgs. The men- Marco and Hillshire are their handlers, two of several and they must take care of their girls and make sure that they fit into the public world as they do in their mission roles and weapons training. If they were to target you for a termination mission, consider yourself dead because they are that good.
 
Valentine: Is that even possible?
 
Fernando reaches behind his pants pocket and pulls out his wallet before tossing it onto Valentine's lap, opened to his USA Agency ID card.
 
Fernando: There are many things that governments- here in Italy, back home in the states, or any place around the world that holds secrets that they use to their so-called justified means. If anyone in the public finds out about such secrets, consider yourself dead because they may or may not kill you but they will make you disappear. Being missing is worse than being dead because people will hold hope that one day you would return but never will. So they are torturing you and them at the same time.
 
Valentine looks at his ID in the wallet and was about to pick it up but Tammy beats her to it, showing off hers for the SWA. Hondo notices the actions in the rearview mirror and speaks for Tammy.
 
Hondo: I told you that they wuz professionals.
 
Valentine: What about you?
 
Fernando speaks before Hondo could.
 
Fernando: Hondo was drafted into this monkey suit business with my recommendation that he works under me.
 
Valentine: So is he a government agent like you two?
 
Fernando: Yes and No.
 
Valentine: Yes and No?
 
Fernando: He's hired as a consultant for me. If he want to join the agency after this mission is over, he has my recommendation. Until then, he's unofficially an agent. He does not have the rights and freedoms that I have but they are extended to him though me as they are extended to you.
 
Valentine: Me? What do you mean?
 
Fernando: That shoot out at the bar? The police are still looking for you and Hondo to lock up first and ask questions later. And over here there are no speedy trails or police brutality issues to cover for you. But through me, you two do have diplomatic immunity, as long as you behave and do as you been asked to do. I'm not asking anything more than that.
 
Valentine sighs and sinks into her seat.
 
Tammy: And if you get into trouble, if its not too much, I could get you out with some agency pull that I have.
 
Valentine: But... Uhm... you don't look or sound Italian.
 
Tammy: I'm American.
 
Valentine: Then how did you get here into this mess?
 
Tammy: Long story short, those same people we are going after, killed my mother and when the government found my near dead little sister, they made her into one of those cyborgs. It took me almost 1/2 a year to find her and another month to get her back. I been with the agency ever since.
 
Valentine: Oh...
 
Tammy: Look, don't get me wrong. If this never had happened, I would be back in the USA studying medicine. I don't like to kill but know that it is something necessary in order to stop evil people from what they do- hurting other people.
 
Valentine: Can I ask then, how you and your husband met?
 
Tammy: Who do you think found my little sister and got her back for me? But the price I have to pay is that I stay here so that she can get the medical care she needs as a cyborg.
 
Fernando: Under all that computerized synthetic constructions, they are still little girls under all that Robotic systems.
 
Valentine: So you owe so much that you married him?
 
Fernando (before Tammy could): No.
 
Tammy: Uhm... It's a long story. This has been going on for almost a year under several missions you could say. I fell in love with him in the first mission but he had to go away. In the last mission he made a promise to me and in that promise we got married. We been together ever since though it has been just a few months.
 
Valentine: You two been happy in marriage?
 
The inside of the car remained silent for second or two.
 
Tammy: Yes, but its not been easy. Every relationship takes time and work to keep it together.  
 
Fernando takes a different route than they are used too to get into Rome, skipping the first couple of exists and continuing to the third.
 
Fernando (as he slows down for city traffic): It is not because she owes me or I owe her. We owe each other nothing but a promise to live life together and not to make things hard for one another. Until then there has to be a lot of trust in each other and not one more for another, it has to be equal if things are to work.
 
Hondo sighs at hearing this, thinking how Valentine is going to take it.
 
Valentine: I... see.
 
Fernando: Don't care if you or you don't. Right now your mind should be how you are going to make things work for this mission because we are here.
 
Valentine: Huh?
 
Fernando: We are here. Hondo make sure she's ready.
 
Fernando opens the door and steps out, lowering his seat and helps Tammy from her seat. Closing the door, they head to the rear and opens the hatchback trunk of the car. Fernando gives Tammy an Trench coat but she does not put it on at the moment. Hondo steps out of the car and helps Valentine to get out of the Porsche. They walk to the rear where Fernando was going through the box and hands them a couple of items, including the trench coats. The mini-cam pens were the last thing given out.
 
Fernando: Turn in the radios and make sure they work.
 
Pressing a few buttons the radios in the watches were turned on and the volumes set.
 
Fernando: Radio check.
 
Jeanie: Radio check fine and we're at our position.
 
Fernando: Good. Hondo, Valentine, Tammy?
 
Hondo: Radio check?
 
Fernando: I can hear you. Can you hear me?
 
Hondo: Yes.
 
Fernando: Valentine?
 
Valentine: I can hear you.
 
Fernando: Good, and I can hear you too. Tammy?
 
Tammy: Radio check is OK.
 
Fernando: Same with yours. Alright people, check your weapons and take the safeties off.
 
As everyone checks their weapons, Fernando reaches into the trunk of the Porsche and pulls out a pair of crowbar while pocketing a small round object. One of the two crowbars is given to Hondo. The last thing to be taken out is given to Tammy, the cellphone signal jammer. The trunk closes. A yellow Fiat pulls up behind them and their passengers empty out. Everyone turns to face them as Marco gets out of the car last.
 
Fernando: What kept you?
 
Marco: You're the one with the fancy driving.
 
Fernando: You're the one with the Ferrari engine in a Fiat.
 
Macro nods.
 
Marco: You guys ready?
 
Fernando (signaling to the others and starts to walk): Yeah. Where's your crew?
 
Marco (as they turn the corner and walk down the block): They're... around.
 
Fernando: I see.
 
They continue to walk until they stop at the corner, two blocks away from their target at the end of a 'T' shaped intersection.
 
Fernando: There it is. Hondo- you go that way for a block and turn down to a parallel street and take them from the left. I will do the same from the right, but first, follow me.
 
The group follows him around the corner and down the street for a few steps, stopping by a manhole. Fernando shoves his crowbar into one of the drainage holes and arcs the crowbar, lifting the manhole cover at the far end. Hondo takes the lip of the manhole cover and slides it to the side away from the hole. Dropping the crowbar next to the manhole cover, Fernando reaches into his pocket and pulls out a hand grenade. He put the pin to his teeth, but Marco signals him to hold it, then crouches down to the manhole.
 
Marco: Nahil, Georgio! You guys down there?
 
A voice responds back to him.
 
Voice in manhole: We're here, and the land lines have been taken cared of.
 
Marco: Good. You guys staying in there as back up?
 
Voice in manhole: Yeah. You can close this hole. We got another one opened by the pizza van!
 
Marco: Good.
 
He slowly gets up and signals the girls to cover the hole. They pick it up with relative ease and covers the hole with it. Fernando secures the hand grenade and puts it away.
 
Fernando: They're lucky you were here.
 
Marco: You were more luckier.
 
Fernando: How so?
 
Marco: Killing of Italy's law enforcement agents carry the death sentence.
 
Fernando (picking up his crowbar): Like I said. They're lucky you were here.
 
Marco: Hmph.
 
Fernando: Alright Hondo. Take your partner down the block and make the turn so you can end up heading their way. Check in at every corner and wait so we end up at the target area at the same time. Put on the IR Masks when you get to the corner and check for guards and possible snipers in the area.
 
Hondo: Will do, Boss.
 
Fernando: Good, now lets go.
 
They separate to their opposite directions. Marco and Angie follows Fernando and Tammy, Hillshire and Triela follows Hondo and Valentine. In a few minutes, the first of several of radio calls are made.
 
Hondo: We're at the corner.
 
Fernando: Good, so are we. Make the turn and go down to the next corner and check in when you're there.
 
Hondo: Alright.
 
They continue to the next block after making the turn. Hondo, Valentine and Tammy puts on the trench coats and the IR Masks. Fernando takes the Cellphone Signal Jammer and turns it on as they continued own the block. Hondo's group spots a group of working girls.
 
Hondo: Jefe. We got a group of working girls here.
 
Fernando: Find the one who looks like she's in charge, tell her for them to leave and give her the money.
 
Hondo: What money?
 
Marco: Is there a problem?
 
Fernando: Working girls as witnesses on Hondo's end. Hondo- check the pockets in the trench. Don't ask where its coming from, just pay her off and tell her to take her girls away from the area.
 
Valentine: There are a couple of guys in the area with the girls.
 
Marco: Cancel that.
 
Marco takes out his radio and calls on it.
 
Marco: Hillshire, take them back 1/2 block and stay out of sight. Ferro, we need a clean up crew to take care of the filth on streets.
 
Female voice on Marco's radio: Will do. Team B and C, put on your police uniforms and perform a raid. Make them run away from the area.
 
Male voice on Marco's radio: Got that.
 
The sounds of a police siren can be heard on the radio for a second before the radio goes silent.
 
Female voice on Marco's radio: Hillshire, can you move in on the tail end of the commotion and sneak in?
 
Hillshire (on Marco's radio): We can do that.
 
The street in front of Hondo's team fills up with flashing lights, loud voices on bullhorns and assorted street life running away from the scene of the raid. Hillshire sends Triela ahead of them and watch her making it to the opposite corner. They soon follow one by one, Valentine, Hillshire and Hondo scurry across the area of commotion. The area quiets down when they continue down the block in silence for a moment. It was not long before Valentine screams, tripping over a dead body hidden in the darkness.
 
Fernando: What's going on?!!
 
Hillshire (on Marco's radio): We got a dead body here. Looks like a junkie OD'd on dope. Still has a needle in his arm.
 
Marco: We'll deal with that later.
 
Female voice on Marco's radio: Good. Just take note where you found it and we'll call the morgue to pick it up after we leave.
 
Hillshire (on Marco's radio): He looks like he's been dead for a while, there is no heat signature on him.
 
Fernando: How far are you from the last corner?
 
Hondo: About 30 yards.
 
Fernando: Good. Collect yourselves and go to the building next to the target and call us when you get there.
 
Hondo: Will do, Jefe.
 
Fernando: Stay on your toes. Looks like the raid got a couple of guards' attention.
 
Hondo: I hear ya.
 
Fernando does not say a word but signals to his team to stop by the last corner and hide in the darkness to survey the scene. Looking up they could see the IR signature of a couple of guards on the roof. A fire escape can be seen on the buildings along the street, including on the target building. Unfortunately all their final egress to the ground floor were folded in place in storage. Setting them up would noisy. Fernando figures that they could climb up to the low hanging supports with a little cooperation from each other. Hondo comes the same conclusion when his team arrives to their building.
 
Hondo: We're here.
 
Fernando: So are we.
 
Hondo: You ladder in the up position?
 
Fernando: It is. Yours?
 
Hondo: Yep. We're give Val a boost to climb up first, then we'll figure out who's next.
 
Fernando: Same here. Don't know about you, but I seen 2 or so guards by the ledge before they left. No doubt there's more.
 
Hondo: Gotcha Boss.
 
Fernando sighs.
 
Fernando: Alright- get yourselves up there and remain silent until I say we move.
 
Hondo: I hear yea. Lets go.
 
Fernando's team had an easy time of getting up on to the fire escape. Both Marco and Fernando boosted Tammy up to the fire escape, followed by Marco getting boosted up by Fernando and Angie. Angie jumped up to the second level of the fire escape, followed by Fernando who jumped up to the ladder between the levels. Fernando takes the lead by passing Angie and quietly climbs the metal stairs almost to the roof. He leaves the cellphone signal jammer by the stairs. The final flight to the roof was a ladder that hooks over the ledge. Fernando stops just enough to have his nose over the edge and look around the roof.
 
Hondo's team had some difficulty on getting onto the fire escape. Once Valentine was up, Hillshire was next. Hondo was next with a boost from Triela. Triela jumped up to the staircase between the first and second levels. Hondo takes the lead and climbs up the stairs to the top floor and then to the ladder that leads to the roof. There he looks around.
 
They spot the guards on the roofs of the buildings, mostly clustered at the target buildings but a few on the adjacent buildings.
 
Fernando (on the radio): How many on your end?
 
Hondo: Looks like 4, maybe 5.
 
Fernando: No maybes- count and be sure.
 
Hondo: 4 the other one is with the main group.
 
Fernando: there's a sky light on your building?
 
Hondo: Yes.
 
Fernando: So do we. Use it to your advantage.
 
Hondo: Alright.
 
Fernando: How many on your side at the target building?
 
Hondo: I count 8 though there could be more and some of them are moving about the roof.
 
Fernando: I count about 8 too on my side, figure 16. plus 5 on each side... 21 total. Lets do this- head shots only. Take out the one furthest away just in case it draws their attention and then work on the ones closest to you before getting on the roof.
 
Hondo: Will do.
 
Fernando: Go!
 
Almost at the same time a barely audible 'Click' from their guns could be heard but at almost 20 yards away from their positions a couple of goons barely felt any pain as the hollow point bullets entered and expanded inside their brains. The ones closest to them were next to follow, as were the one by the skylights.
 
Fernando scurries over the ledge of the roof, remaining low as he heads to the sky light. Angie follows, as similarly happens on Hondo's end with him and Triela. They realize that the area of the target building was tight, so dropping one goon meant most would witness it and react accordingly.
 
Fernando (to himself though its picked up by the radios and transmitted to all): Shit. Wish this was my gun.
 
Hondo: Make do with what you got.
 
Fernando: That comment was not meant for you guys.
 
Hondo: Consider it the voice of reason telling ya.
 
Fernando: Hmph... Take out the ones in the front. I'll take the ones in the rear and we'll meet in the middle.
 
Hondo: Sure thing, Boss.
 
Fernando: Ready?
 
Hondo: Of course.
 
Fernando: Go...
 
Both Hondo and Fernando get up from behind the sky lights and begin shooting. The guard are caught unaware, what panic they would ensue would not last a second as bodies fell on the roof. They look around and at each other.
 
Hondo: No signs of life.
 
Fernando: So it would seem. Pickup your casings and meet me by the skylight. That means everybody.
 
Fernando and Hondo clean up at their area, picking up the casings left behind before heading to the skylight. The others follow them from the fire escape. Tammy picks up the cellphone jammer and the couple of casings she finds by the roof ladder. Valentine picks up the casings she finds. Both Angie and Triela stand guard as their handlers take note of the carnage.
 
Marco: They don't look Latin American.
 
Fernando: Most Colombians, Ecuadorians and Brazilians don't. They tend to look like European from their Spanish Heritage because they had not mixed with the local Indian population. Central Americans did. But the sign of a good drug Central or South American cartel- Paramilitary clothing, AK-47s and other Russian made arms, cheap 2-way radios from big electronic companies, well fed bodies, and rankings like an army. Looks like we are dealing with somebody who knows this all too well.
 
Fernando reaches down and wipes down a window. He looks like around through the pane and nods. He removes a few items from his pocket: a suction cup and an iPod Touch. A with a few taps of the iPod's screen, he puts it into record memo mode, recording everything inside the warehouse. Attaching his headset to the iPod and shoves the mic into the suction cup. It picks up the conversation of the meeting with every detail, which is recorded and listened to by everyone there.
 
Anne: I need more men.
 
Unknown male voice: Your friends not giving you any more?
 
Anne: I need real men. Not stupid idiots who think about getting paid first before doing their jobs.
 
Unknown male voice (sounding more clearer): That is not my problem. My problem is getting rid of this horse and grass and make a profit for it. So where's my money.
 
Valentine: That's El Jefe Grande!
 
Others: Shhhh...
 
They continue to listen.
 
Anne: I already gave you the money. Its in the case, you idiot.
 
Unknown male voice: How do I know its not a bomb? You open it.
 
Anne walks to the table in the middle of the room where a table was. On the table, an aluminum brief case. She walks over to it and thumbs through the combination and opens it, showing the money inside.
 
Anne: There- 100-thousand euros, 50 percent like you ask for these two trucks with the goods.
 
Unknown male voice: And the other 50 percent?
 
Anne: Same place, same time, here, 2 nights from now.
 
Unknown male voice: And what of your cheating boyfriend?
 
Anne: He's not my boyfriend.
 
Unknown male voice: You had how many times to kill him and yet he lives. I think you have the hots for him. I believe that you créme your panties everytime you think about him. You want him so bad that that you shove a dildo in your cunt and dream that he's doing you lovely. He is a boyfriend you don't want to kill. If you fail in killing him and his wifey-friend, it just proves what I say.
 
Anne: And what about you? You cant get rid of a couple of American cow-folks? If they weren't so modernized, they would be riding into Rome on horses! Rome has not seen a horse since the turn of the century!
 
Unknown male voice (reaching out a pulling a woman next to him and shows off a hypodermic syringe): What's it to you? I already got his hoe of a wife and have her as mine. And I killed the bitch's family a long time ago. They are next. No. I don't have a problem. You got the problem here. Since you cant take care of your problems, I'm upping the price. The rest of the 50 percent and the dead body of your boyfriend and his woman alive so I can turn her into one of my slaves... This drug makes it so easy and there is no cure to its addiction other than death.
 
He shoves the needle into the woman's arm and pumps the drug into her bloodstream. After pulling the needle out, she sighs and holds onto him tighter and kisses him passionately.
 
Unknown male voice: You see, this drug makes any woman its injected too as your slave. They will do anything you tell them to do. I bet it will turn your cold ass into a hot sex slave.
 
Anne: I'll kill you if you try that shit on me.
 
Unknown male voice: Under this drug, you cant, you wont. Besides, I want that cowboy's bitch. I killed her family, Marie-Valentine is next.
 
Hondo: Why that mutha-pucker...
 
Fernando: Hondo. Be quiet.
 
Hondo: But that's Laurie he's injecting that shit into!
 
Fernando (walking up to Hondo and pushes him away from the skylight): That's no longer the woman you know if he's been injecting that crap into her all these years. And if there is not cure for it as he says except for death, then there is only one favor you can do for her.
 
Hondo gives him the meanest stare he could given anyone.
 
Fernando: You heard him. Tammy and Valentine are next on that sicko bastard's list. Unless you want him to win, I would advise you to calm down and we will deal with him in a few days. Preferably with an few chosen injections of hot lead.
 
Hondo: How about we take care of them right now.
 
Marco (walking up them and hands Fernando the iPod Touch and the wires with the microphone from his harness): They seem to be arguing details. I suggest we go before they start calling in the guards and find us with their dead bodies.
 
Fernando: Good idea. Take the group to the cars. And meet up with Jeanie. I'll be there a couple of minutes later.
 
Hondo: Why are you staying behind?
 
Fernando: I need to clean up and I can fly out of this area faster than you guys can run. Now go. Take the girls with you.
 
Hondo gives him a cold hard stare.
 
Fernando (giving Hondo the keys to the Porsche): Its an order, Hondo. Run'and meet up with Jeanie. I'll be there in a couple of minutes later.
 
Not happy about the situation, Hondo gathers the others and leads them away. Fernando watches them leave and follow them up the street with his eyes. Once they had passed 2 blocks away Fernando walks back to the skylight. He takes the crowbar with one hand and a dead body with the other. Smashing the skylight window with the crowbar, he shoves the dead body through it and sends it to the floor of the warehouse below. The place becomes like an angered hornets' nest, men scurrying about with gun drawn and orders being yelled at by those in charge. Fernando picks up a couple radios from another dead bodies he puts in his pockets and the cellphone signal jammer before running off the ledge of the roof and flies off it. Men run out of the warehouse looking about with guns drawn but Fernando was long since gone.
 
Meeting with the others at Jeanie's car, Fernando signals Jeanie to go ahead as they deal with lose ends. Hondo, Marco and Hillshire get out of their cars and walk over to him.
 
Hondo (in an annoyed tone): What deal you made with them this time...
 
Fernando pulls out the radios from his pocket and hands them to the men.
 
Fernando (turning one of the radios on): Like I said, I was cleaning up.
 
The voices of men could be heard discussing and arguing about orders and finding the dead guards on the roof. Marco nods as he listens then speaks.
 
Marco: I assume that these are ours to keep?
 
Fernando: How else will you get such intel for the termination mission?
 
Marco: Good.
 
Hillshire: These look like Motorola Saber units.
 
Fernando: Probably made in China or Hong Kong and sold cheaply in survivalist and spy-tech stores everywhere.
 
Marco: Alright. We'll be by in the morning for a debriefing.
 
Fernando: Yeah, what ever.
 
Marco and Hillshire get into the Fiat and drive away. Fernando goes into the driver's section and pulls on the lever to release the rear hatch. Hondo already put their things into the box before. Fernando dumps his gun, empty magazines and the cellphone signal jammer into the box.
 
Hondo: What you did back there?
 
Fernando (closing the trunk closed): I left a calling card.
 
Hondo: Why you did that!
 
Fernando: They are going to know who killed all their guards. Its no secret between us that we and them are at war. But they'll be stupid to try to attack us in the next couple of days with reduced numbers and zero guards. Its just the 4 of us, let them think there are more of us.
 
Hondo: You better hope that they don't.
 
Fernando: Get in the passenger seat. I need to hit the bed and get some sleep. I think you do too.
 
Hondo: That's one of the few things you said all day that I can agree on.
 
They both get into the car and drive away. The ride home was a it longer than getting there because of the slower drive but they managed to get there within 20 minutes.
 
Though there was food for a final night time meal before bed, they forgo it and head straight to their rooms. Fernando brings the box in the trunk to the house and left it by the small table where the house's only phone was at.
 
In Fernando's room, Fernando prepares himself to sleep. Tammy has little choice in the matter and joins him under the covers.

Nothing worse than not being able to sleep while in bed in a dark room. For Tammy this infuriating in one sense but comforting in the other. She figured out not too long ago why men stare at the ceiling while in bed and has found herself doing it on some occasions , but this? This is something new. She cant sleep though her husband was, or so she thought he was.
 
She pushes herself up on her arms and looks straight down at him. “How do you do it?”, she says to herself.
 
“Do what?”, Fernando asks, his light sensitive eyes being able to see her where she has trouble seeing him.
 
“Did I wake you?”, she asks.
 
“I was already awake.”, he answers.
 
“Couldn’t sleep?”, she asks.
 
“Couldn’t sleep because my wife is awake.”, he answers.
 
“Huh? Oh. I’m sorry.”, Tammy tells him.
 
“Don’t be, I’m too tired to sleep.”, Fernando tells her.
 
“From the mission?”, she asks.
 
“Look… even before I became a Time Traveler, I am not able to keep the energy level up for too long of a time. No one can really, but with me, as soon as I lay down, I cant get up until I get some rest. Not sleep, but rest.”, he answers.
 
“But, Fernando. Everybody’s like that.”, Tammy starts to say. “Its just seems to me that you could keep going on forever.”
 
“I wish…”, Fernando says.
 
“Seriously, you keep going when most gave up. You would prefer to keep on fighting instead of giving up. And without that, we would not be here today- me having Bink back and married to you.”, she explains.
 
“I don’t care about others, Tammy. All I care bout is you. And one day when its made, I will give Bink a bio-energy pill that will restore her back to the little girl she once was. But I have to say this- as her body rejects the cybernetic implants and grows back a new body her, she is going to be in a lot of pain. Whether she is strong enough to endure it remains to be seen. But if she lives through the process, you will have Bink back and not some robotic little girl that share in part of her body.”, he tells her.
 
“You want her immortal too?”, Tammy asks.
 
“No. The bio-energy pill only restores one’s body from injury. It was what my daughter, Dr.  Aiesha used on me at the hospital for a rapid heal. The pill will bring Bink back and reject her cybernetics but it will be painful for her to undergo through that procedure.”, Fernando answers.
 
“When can we do this?”, Tammy asks.
 
“Not now, that’s what you want to know. Not until this and any other mission is over. Things have to be prepared for her, as its going to take years. Like I said of the immortality pill, the more injury to the body, the longer it will take to heal. Much of her body has been replaced with man-made things and that is going to take long time to replace. But in the end, Bink will be a girl again.”, he answers.
 
She just looks at him, wondering about the delay. This mission is one thing, but others? According to her this should be it, the end of it all. Fernando reaches up to her and gives her a kiss on the nose.
 
“Goodnight little one…”, he says to her before a yawn as he laid back down on the bed.
 
“I’m not little…”, Tammy quietly argues.
 
“To me you are. But that’s besides the point. Goodnight…”, he says before closing his eyes. In a matter of minutes, he goes to sleep. Tammy lays there with him for a while, thinking. Eventually thinking turns into sleeping.

The sun rose long before anyone in Fernando’s room dared to move. It was 6:55AM when Tammy woke up and tries to go back to sleep without any success. The smell of bacon and coffee in the air says that breakfast was ready. Though she was not a fan of bacon or coffee, she was getting used to it in small quantities. Without waking Fernando, she quickly gets dressed and fixes herself up, though she wore yesterday’s clothes.
 
She walks down stairs, noticing it being very quiet except for knives and forks hitting a plate and cooking sounds in the kitchen. Entering the living room and dining area, she sees Hondo and Valentine sitting down at the table, eating breakfast.  She walks around to the service island area, where Jeanie calls for her attention.
 
Jeanie (as she slides a plate of food on the service island): Tammy…
 
Tammy looks towards Jeanie and the food she had put in front of her.
 
Jeanie: Eat. You need your energy to recover from last night. Besides, aren’t the SWA coming over this morning.
 
Tammy (taking the food and placing it on the table): They should be getting here before noon.
 
Jeanie: I see. Anything I should prepare for them?
 
Tammy: No. Don’t trouble yourself for them.
 
Jeanie: You sure? I can make some lunch for them.
 
Tammy: No! Don’t… I mean, you’re a guest in this house, not a servant.
 
Jeanie: Even a guest has to return some of the hospitality given to them…
 
Tammy (interrupting her from finishing her idea): Don’t worry about it.
 
Jeanie (cleaning her hands on a nearby dishtowel): Alright. I’ll make something for Fernando when he wakes up.
 
Tammy (watching Jeanie leave the kitchen area): You don’t have too.
 
Jeanie stops at the table by where Tammy was having her breakfast.
 
Jeanie: What I do for Fernando I do for him because I want too. It also frees you to be more of a wife for him now because when I am gone, you will be taking these  responsibilities yourself.
 
Tammy: When you leave I will gladly do what I can for my man. Now go take care of what you do, I got a house to run and you have to be a good guest or leave.
 
Jeanie decides not to have the last word for it was not worth getting into a fight over. Thus she goes upstairs to her room. As Tammy glances over to the stairs, Valentine and Hondo glance over to her, then suddenly goes to their meals as she turns back. Tammy does not notice. After a few minutes, Hondo cleans up his area, and takes his cup and plate to the kitchen to put into the dishwasher. Valentine soon joins him in the kitchen to do the same.
 
Hondo leaves the kitchen area, leaving Valentine behind in the kitchen. He walks past the table when Tammy calls for his attention.
 
Tammy: Hondo?
 
Hondo immediately stops and turns to face her.
 
Hondo: Yes?
 
Tammy: Is there another mission yo and Fernando going to do after this?
 
Hondo thinks, not wanting to tell the truth, even though it was unsure it was going to happen.
 
Hondo: Nothing that I know of. Issin’ there going to be another mission after this?
 
Tammy: No. Just asking.
 
Hondo: Well, I was hopin’ we get to the café soon enough, I got unfinished business to take care off.
 
Tammy: Unfinished business?
 
Hondo (lying as best as he could): I got bills to pay and take the rest of my stuff out of storage. No doubt Fernando has unfinished business to do now that he’s back.
 
Tammy: Yeah. I guess you’re on that.  
 
Hondo: Anything else?
 
Tammy: No, that’s it.
 
Hondo: Alright.
 
Hondo signals to Valentine to leave with him out the back door for the moment. She complies and leaves the place right behind him. Tammy continues with her breakfast until she finishes. Like the others before her, she takes the plate and cup to the kitchen and puts them into the dish washer.
 
The few moments she has to herself, Tammy goes back to the room and get her ready for a shower and a fresh change of clothes. She walks to the bathroom in a robe with her things spends about 20 minutes showering and taking care of other personal hygiene requirements. Back in the room she puts on a dark blue dress suit with a white shirt, but not the suit’s jacket. She finds her service weapon in a clip-on holster and takes it, putting to the inside of her skirt on the right side.
 
She takes a look at the clothes hamper in the room and thinks about doing the laundry, though it would not be a full load. For now she thinks not to do it though it will need to be done soon enough. Tammy goes back to the bed and sits on it, leaning over Fernando and wonders how he does it, sleep almost motionless for a seemingly long time. Though he had explained it to her in the past, she does not remember it at all.
 
Tammy (to herself): I hope you wake up soon. The SWA will be here later today and they are going to want answers.
 
A kiss on his forehead, and she slowly gets off the bed as to not disturb him. With almost little to do, she goes downstairs and sits on the sofa.  Taking the TV remote she channel surfs the 1055 stations the cable and satellite provider has to offer and finds nothing to see.  She settles for Myth Smashers, a rip-off of both Myth Busters and Smash Lab in the United States done in Italy. Red Zone follows, a rip-off of Top Gear, made by Ferrari and Lamborghini because Top Gear berated their cars as “Fast Looking but Not Fast Going.”
 
As she watches the TV, she does not hear a car roll up onto the drive way and towards the rear parking lot. Hondo identifies it as Hillshire’s Mercedes 500Sel station wagon, and thus makes no fuss about it as he and Valentine worked on her motorcycle. Hillshire steps out of the car along with Marco, both opening the rear doors to let Triela, Angie and Ferro out. Hondo watches them as they gather at the rear of the station wagon, Hillshire opening the rear of the station wagon and handing out bags for the girls to carry. Marco turns to face Hondo and points to the rear door of the house. Hondo nods at him, with Marco returning the nod as they start to walk in.
 
Valentine: Should we be going in?
 
Hondo (looking at his watch): We haven’t been called in and its too early for the meeting. Chances are this is personal stuff before the meeting.
 
Valentine: Oh…
 
They go back to  working on the motorcycle.
 
Marco takes the lead once inside the house and takes the group to the living room area. Tammy was too busy look at the TV to notice.
 
Marco: Ferrari was building supercars much longer than Lamborghini.
 
Tammy: But Lamborghinis look better.
 
Marco: Its just a matter of tastes.
 
Tammy just freezes in place before making a statement.
 
Tammy: Marco?
 
Marco: I can understand this being your home but this Laxi-Daisy attitude would have gotten you kill if Hondo wasn’t outside working in the yard. I hope he was armed, if not he and his friend would be dead too.
 
Tammy: Though we were expecting you, you are early. What’s going on.
 
Ferro: I already hear Marco’s and Hillshire’s input on last night’s mission. Now what about yours? You fired any rounds, killed anyone?
 
Tammy: No. Now what’s going on?
 
Ferro: According to Marco and Hillshire, some twenty something guards were killed.
 
Tammy: That sounds about right.
 
Ferro: Can you explain how 21 bodies were found floating in the harbor this morning?
 
Tammy: That was not us.
 
Ferro: Then who was it?
 
Tammy: I don’t know, it had to be them.
 
Ferro: What proof do you have?
 
A voice could be heard from upstairs.
 
Voice from upstairs (coming down the stairs): Because they were here before I got here No way they could dumped the bodies in the time it takes them to drive here.
 
Jeanie makes herself known as she steps into the living with her crew behind her. Tammy puts her head down and shakes it.
 
Ferro: Alright. I know you are here as their guests, but who are you to be backing them up?
 
Jeanie (handing out a business card, though written in Mandarin): Me? The name’s Jeanie Chin. I own a conglomerate of news and other assorted  print media in Oriental Asia, with a reading audience of 1.7 billion. And I’m here for a story. Their story.
 
Ferro: I know who you are. They already explained it to me that infamous J-Chin is here. How do I know you were not helping them dispose of the bodies?
 
Jeanie: I nor my crew here get our hands dirty in such work. I am only here to observe and report the story I see. And like I said, they were home when we got here.
 
Ferro: Then explain your delay.
 
Jeanie: A 1950’s Rolls Royce Silver Wraith stretch limousine can not run as fast  as a Porsche 928 with racing gear. At best my ride could do 90 miles per hour if pushed to that extreme, not 210 like the Porsche. Nor can I take turns at high speed. Now if you don’t believe me, I can arrange for a test drive, right now if you like.
 
Ferro: Hmph. You know this is a media controlled nation. I want to see this story before you send it to your news agency.
 
Jeanie: You do? Well, like I told the Chinese New Media Council, you don’t need to see what I print until it is printed and sold. My news agency cover the 5 little dragons and the 3 big dragons along with many other nations. If you know your Asian nations, you know who the dragons are. Now, I’m not here to put your nation in a bad light. But there is this world wide issue of drug trafficking, which your nation seems to be port of call even though measures are being taken to take care of the problem. My story is of how US Agents in Italy are trying to stop this known problem. Seems to me, you have a major world known drug lord on your shores and yet you have not picked him up for questioning and his property searched. Why not?
 
Jeanie puts a portable recorder to Ferro’s face, the tape inside spinning as it records. Ferro pushes the recorder to the side.
 
Ferro: We are working with the US Agents and planning a drug bust with their cooperation.  That is all I can say.
 
Jeanie: So I assume this is a ‘No Comment’ and a denial of what needs to be done?
 
Ferro: How about you leave and you wont be arrested.
 
Jeanie: I would like to see that. If I dont make a constant update to my servers, everything I have here- about you, your agency, your government will be core dumped into my press office computers and somebody will be coming and making house calls.
 
Ferro: We’ll see about that…
 
Tammy: Ferro, Don’t!
 
Everyone turns to face Tammy.
 
Tammy: Look. I don’t care what bodies were found in what river. We did not do it, we did not put them in the river. Now you should get Priscilla go over those bodies and find what she can. I can assure you that they are not Italian.
 
Ferro: And how would you know?
 
Tammy: Ask Hillshire and Marco. They were with us until the end when we separated and they went back to the agency compound.
 
Ferro: And where is your husband?
 
Tammy: Upstairs. Sleeping.
 
Ferro: Wake him up.
 
Tammy: No. He needs his rest.
 
Ferro: Then I’ll wake him up.
 
Tammy: Do so at the risk of your own life.
 
Ferro: And like what are you going to do?
 
Tammy: Me? Nothing. Him? Pull his gun from under his pillow he sleeps with and put a couple of rounds into you. So go ahead. I’ll have your suit fixed for your funeral.
 
Ferro does not answer and wonders about the validity of her comment. The problem here is Tammy has yet to lie to her superiors and supervisors in the agency, and to see if she is lying or not is to take a chance against the truth.
 
Tammy: Well? You going to get shot up trying to wake him up, or you going to leave him alone.
 
Ferro: Has he tried this on you?
 
Tammy: Tried? No. Done? Before we got married, yes. But not since after.
 
Ferro does not answer or tries to say a word.
 
The sound of a car’s engine arriving at the gate and driving at the driveway just up to the door catches everyone’ attention. The sound of the engine was something that would belong on a super car like a Lamborghini Contach, Ferrari Testarosa or a Masseratti Muri; reving high for a second before dying off followed by the ‘thud’ of a closing car door. Light foot steps can be hear walking to the house door. The doorbell expectantly rings.
 
Everybody look at the door and then to each other before it rings again.
 
Tammy: You people bringing in more guests?
 
Hillshire: It was just us.
 
Tammy: Then send one of the girls to open the door.
 
Hillshire nods before signaling to Triela to open the door. She returns a scowl before heading to the door. It rings one more time when Triela opens it, her free hand behind her back on her rear holster, ready to pull out cold steel of death if needed too.
 
An Asian White Mouse stands in the doorway, dressed in a black silk Qipao that stops at her knees but with side cuts midway up. She clutches a small black purse in her arms, the Prada badge just visible over her arm. She looks at the dark skinned blonde hair girl and at the people behind her.
 
Asian White Mouse: I’m sorry, I might have the wrong house.
 
Ferro (stepping up behind Triela): Who are you looking for?
 
Asian White Mouse: Hmmm…You may not known him but I’m looking for a tall squirrel, this used to be his house as I remember.
 
She looks at the doorway and finds the house number on the door.
 
Asian White Mouse: Yes, this is the place. Does he still live here?
 
Ferro (As Jeanie walks up behind her to see who it was): Who is he? Got a name?
 
Asian White Mouse (smiling): He went by many names… But…
 
Jeanie: You!… What are you doing here?!!
 
Asian White Mouse: J-Chin, well, if you are here, then you can tell me what happened to your savior. Is he dead like the internets states?
 
Jeanie: How you know of this place you man-stealing wench! And who let you out of your cage anyways!
 
Asian White Mouse: How I know of this place is because Fernando use to take me here all the time so we can practice making puppies like husband and wife after doing business when in Rome. As for being let out of my cage, Diplomatic Immunity is  key that opens many cages.
 
She takes an unchallenged step into the house and look at everyone.
 
Ferro: Ms. Jeanie, who is she?
 
The Asian White Mouse stops at Jeanie, and looks over to Ferro, pulling out a wallet from inside her Prada, opening it and showing off a metal shield and an ID Card written in Mandarin.
 
Asian White Mouse: The names Jao Lynn. I’m an Intelligence Agent for the People’s Republic of China. Now I have 1 question to ask and I want an answer. Where is Fernando G., and is he dead or alive?
 
Ferro: Ms Lynn…
 
Jao Lynn (interrupting her): That’s Agent Jao. In many Asian nations, the last name is first and the given birth name is last.
 
Ferro: Alright Ms Jao. What’s your business with him in the first place?
 
Jao Lynn searches in her purse and pulls out a Jewel case box and an envelop. She opens the case and shows Ferro a very elaborate medal inside.
 
Jao Lynn (putting away the jewel case): The People’s Star only goes to those who have selfishly given themselves to others.
 
Ferro: Were you at the UN Celebrations over a month ago? You could have given it to his family then.
 
Jao Lynn: Though I was at the UN Celebration, we were not directly involved or affected in your conflict he took care off. He has stemmed off the flow of Russian and Asian arms to criminals in this area. Now, I need to know if he is dead or alive.
 
Ferro: If you were at the celebration, then you should know that he is dead.
 
Jao Lynn: So you would think. I seen him pull Dead Man act before, usually leaving a widow and children behind, yet access to the moneys and rewards he had gained.
 
Tammy (getting up out of her chair angrily): THAT IS NOT TRUE!!!
 
Marco acts fast and runs to her, shoving a handkerchief into her mouth, pinning her arms and dragging her back towards behind the kitchen. The door of one of the rear rooms slams shut.
 
Jao Lynn: I see. I’ll assume that this ploy of disinformation is to protect him as he is upstairs sleeping… last room on the right by the storage room.
 
Jeanie: Whether he is here or not remains to be seen.
 
Jao Lynn (interrupting her): Then I’ll wait for him.
 
Jeanie: How about you leave.
 
Jao Lynn (showing off the envelope): I have something for his eyes only.
 
Jeanie tries to snatch the envelope but fails, Jao Lynn takes it and puts is back in her purse before walking around them and takes a single seat in the living room.
 
Jao Lynn: Where ever he is, tell him I’m here for him only.
 
In a guest room behind the kitchen area, Marco holds Tammy tightly as she struggles against him and her mouth covered with his handkerchief wadded up into her lips.
 
Marco (keeping from yelling in her ear): Calm yourself, you crazy squirrel!
 
Tammy is not in the least bit calm, nor did she liked being man-handled as she was. To try to end the struggle, Marco throws her front first onto the guest room’s bed and pins her against it from behind.
 
Marco: Calm Down And I’ll Let You Go!
 
Tammy struggles some more before calming down. Marco slowly lets her go and gets up off her and the bed.
 
Marco (almost yelling as Tammy turns around and sits up): Don’t Go Half Cocked Into Challenging Someone You Don’t Know! If She Is A Chinese Agent As Her ID Says, Then She Is Probably Armed And Has Friends Waiting Nearby! Want To Find Out What Its Like To Have A Bullet To The Chest? Get Up In Her Face Again, And You Just Might Find Out!
 
Tammy takes the handkerchief out of her mouth and slowly get up.
 
Tammy (as she got up): You’re probably right… But Marco…
 
Tammy slaps him hard across the face.
 
Tammy: Don’t You Ever Manhandle Me Like That Again! I’m Not Your Wife! I’m Not Your Daughter! Fernando Does Not Even Touch Me Like That!
 
Tammy begins to leave the room but Marco grabs her by the arm, leaving her no option but to turn around quickly and knee Marco in the groin. He lets go of her and crumples to the ground. Tammy storms out the room and walks to the living room fuming. She stops  in front of Jao Lynn.
 
Tammy: What ever is it you have for my husband, you give it to me and then leave.
 
Jao Lynn: Husband?
 
Tammy: Yes, Husband! What Part of ‘I’m Married To Fernando’ You Do Not Understand?!!
 
Jao Lynn (showing off the wedding and engagement rings on her finger): You and 47 other women out there have that claim to him. No, I’ll wait for him here.
 
Tammy: Get Out My House.
 
Jao Lynn: I’m waiting for Fernando. I will wait here the whole day if I must.
 
Tammy reaches into her side and pulls out her service weapon, only to have one pointed back at her. Both weapons are immediately shot out of their hands by Angie and Triela as they stand from opposite sides of the room in combat stances, smoke pouring out of their guns.
 
Hondo and Val run into the house, he has his guns drawn.
 
Hondo (slowly walking past the stairs, surveying the scene): NOBODY MOVE!
 
Hillshire: Triela! Angie! Stand Down!
 
Triela: But…
 
Hillshire: I Said Stand Down!!!
 
Both the girls put their weapons down, as does Hondo when all weapons have been put away.
 
Hondo: What Happened Here!
 
Looking around he finds somebody who he did not see go in from before.
 
Hondo: Who are you?!!
 
Hillshire: We were dealing with that when Tammy flew off the handle.
 
Hondo: That’s the truth?
 
Most everyone nods and yes something in agreement, except for Tammy as the unknown guests.
 
Hondo: Tammy- laundry time. Now. Mr. Hillshire, I’ll trust you in finding out who she is and clean up the mess before Fernando wakes up.
 
Hillshire: I will.
 
Hondo: Where’s Marco?
 
Ferro: We’ll find him.
 
Hondo: Good. Now do it quietly. Tammy- Laundry- Now!
 
Valentine: Want me to join you?
 
Hondo (handing one of his revolvers to her): No. You can supervise clean-up up here or try to figure out that syncro thing.
 
Valentine: Alright. I’ll keep an eye on things here.
 
Hondo nods at Valentine and then points to Tammy and then at the stairs. Tammy walks through the living room and to the back stairs to the basement. Hondo looks at the others.
 
Hondo: If Fernando asks, tell’im I’m downstairs with Tammy, sorting things out.
 
He follows Tammy down the stairs, closing the doors behind him. He points to one of the couple of chairs for Tammy to sit down on. She sits on it reluctantly.
 
Hondo (in a very angered tone): I’m Not Even Goin’ To Ask, So You Better Start Explainin’!
 
Tammy’s mind starts racing for an answer, only able to come up with the most stupidest one possible.
 
Tammy: She started it!!!
 
Hondo (trying not to tell): Not Good Enough! Who Is She, First Of All! Why Is She Here?!! And Why Would You Dare Pull A Weapon On Her!… Knowing That The Cyborgs Will Take Action Against Any One Who Would Draw Their Weapons!
 
Tammy does not answer.
 
Hondo: Who Is She?!!
 
Tammy (yells back): I Don’t Know!
 
Hondo: Of All The Asinine Things To Do! You Stupid Or Sumthin’?!! You Even Know Why She Is Here?!!
 
Tammy (yelling): She’s Claims To Be His Wife!!!
 
Somebody knocks on the door and opens it. Jeanie walks in though one of her crew stands outside the door.
 
Hondo (miffed about the intrusion): What do you want, Jeanie…
 
She walks over to Tammy and hands over her gun to her. Tammy checks her weapon. Though slightly damaged with a dent on the slider, it was still operable.
 
Jeanie: Look Tammy. Jao Lynn is a government whore. She’ll do anything and everything to get what her government wants her to get. That means lying to you about being married to your husband. They all lie in this spy game, you should remember that. They all will do things that you or I would not normally do under normal circumstances. If Fernando had sex with her, I hope be rocked her little world because she makes herself out to be a man eater. But if Fernando had sex with her, its because of this spy game he is in. I can assure you that there was no love in that mating, it was all business. Sex is a tool like everything else for them. And it all happened long before you two set eyes on each other, so it does not matter what she says- you have to keep your mind at ease with that.
 
Hondo: Is that all?
 
Jeanie (turning to Hondo): Jao Lynn is a very dangerous person if you let her get to you. She has ways to get into your mind and worm her way into your heart without you suspecting a thing because she is trained to do so.
 
Hondo: Then I’ll send her on her way.
 
Jeanie: Don’t.
 
Hondo: Why not?
 
Jeanie: She is here for Fernando. Let her see him when he’s awake and have him deal with her.
 
Hondo: Hmmm…
 
Jeanie: I have my men blocking the upstairs stairway so she wont bother him. As for you, Tammy, you better stop flying of the handle like you did because she will take that to her advantage.
 
Hondo: You done?
 
Jeanie: I’ll go make Fernando some breakfast so it will be ready when he wakes up.
 
Tammy: No…
 
Hondo: Tammy. Calm Yourself Down. Jeanie, go ahead. I’ll send Tammy upstairs later.
 
Jeanie: Thank you.
 
Jeanie leaves the room, closing the door behind her.
 
Hondo: You heard her. Ifin’ she’s claimin’ to be his wife, its all a lie and you better realize that she is lyin’ to you to get to your husband. How much access you give her to Fernando depends on how much trust you have for him.
 
Tammy: What if its all true?
 
Hondo: You know better. Rings can be bought. Papers can be faked. But one thing you have that she don’t is his love for you. That says a lot more than what papers and rings can say because that can not be faked.
 
Tammy does not say  word in reply, just sighs in defeat.
 
Jeanie and her driver/chef walks into the kitchen to make Fernando his breakfast. During this time Fernando wakes up and makes his way to the bathroom to shower up and later get dressed in his room. Jeanie walks upstairs, carrying a serving tray with a breakfast meal for him. Her driver/chef follows her and opens the door to his room for her to enter. Closing the door, he stands outside and waits for her.
 
She puts the service tray on the room’s table as Fernando was putting on his shoes.
 
Fernando: Where’s Tammy?
 
Jeanie: She is in the basement with Hondo.
 
Fernando (sitting up after finishing his shoes): Can I ask why?
 
Jeanie (sliding his coffee cup at him): Eat first.
 
Fernando takes the coffee cup and looks at it. Jeanie puts a plate of food in front of him, along with silverware.
 
Fernando: Explain why I’m eating up here and not downstairs.
 
Jeanie: Too many people downstairs.
 
Fernando looks at his watch.
 
Fernando: Too early for the SWA to be here.
 
Jeanie: Some of them are here. Better for you to eat here in peace than to deal with them downstairs.
 
Fernando: Why is Tammy in the basement with Hondo?
 
Jeanie (Fernando begins with his breakfast): There is also an unannounced guest downstairs. She wants to talk to you.
 
Fernando: Again. Why is Tammy in the basement with Hondo?
 
Jeanie: The unannounced guest… she claims to be your wife. It upset Tammy greatly. That’s why she is in the basement with Hondo.
 
Fernando: Did she gave a name?
 
Jeanie: Its your old friend, Jao Lynn.
 
Fernando: She made any other statements?
 
Jeanie: She says she want to talk to you alone. She also showed off The People’s Republic Star of China medal, saying that it belongs to you for your work here. Honestly, I don’t believe. China does not give away one of their highest orders to foreigners. She also has a letter for you in a sealed envelope. All I seen was your name on it written in Mandarin.
 
Fernando: Probably more of her trickery.
 
Jeanie: I know that you mated with her many times in order to get the job done for the agency.
 
Fernando: Lets not go there with that.
 
Jeanie: If I was your wife, I would know what you did was for the job and your life so I would not fault you for what happened even if you derived pleasure from her. I hope you left her begging for more when you left.
 
Fernando: Jeanie…
 
Jeanie: I know. But she is here and she is up to something and her comments have upset Tammy so. She wants some personal business with you. I would not slight you if anything were to happen, but Tammy needs to know that.
 
Fernando: Tammy already knows, and she should not allow it to bother her.
 
Jeanie: But it is.
 
Fernando: Then send her up here so I can talk with her.
 
Jeanie: Jao Lynn?
 
Fernando: Tammy.
 
Jeanie: Oh… I’ll be back.
 
Fernando: No. Alone.
 
Jeanie: And Jao Lynn?
 
Fernando: She wants to see me, she can wait.
 
Jeanie: Alright.
 
She leaves the room, leaving Fernando alone with his breakfast. In less than half a minute she was at the basement, knocking on the door first before opening it and letter herself in.
 
Jeanie: Sorry to interrupt, but Fernando wants Tammy in his room.
 
Hondo look at Tammy and nods. She gets up out of the chair and follows Jeanie to their room. Hondo was just a few steps behind. On the stairway from first floor to the second floor, Jao Lynn trots over to them from the living room but is stopped  by Jeanie’s guards.
 
Jao Lynn (almost yelling at them between the guards): When I will see Fernando?
 
Jeanie: When he calls for you. Until then, sit down and shut up.
 
Jao Lynn can only stand there for a moment, plotting away.
 
Hondo: You heard her. Git to a seat and wait.
 
Jao Lynn turns to face Hondo, before walking back to the living room and taking her seat again.
 
Jeanie opens the door for Tammy and lets her in. Fernando see this happening and tells Jeanie to join them.
 
Fernando: Have a seat Jeanie. You too Tammy.
 
They sit in the chairs around the table in the room.
 
Fernando: Jeanie tells me that you got upset downstairs at somebody and tried to shoot them?
 
Jeanie (interrupting Tammy from answering): I did not say that!
 
Fernando: I reviewed the security logs while you were getting Tammy for me, so I added to what you said. Now Tammy… explain yourself.
 
Tammy: She said she was your wife!
 
Fernando: So?
 
Tammy: Is she?
 
Fernando: Depends on your point of view.
 
Tammy: Depends on my point of view?!!
 
Fernando: It does not matter any more, but in my last mission about 5 years ago, I was in a fake marriage with her to pose as husband and wife around Western China and Eastern Afghanistan, where Muslim rule over everyone decreed that anyone living in sin were to be stoned to death. To have her as an equal to me according to those laws and to have her function as an independent as possible to be agent in a place where women are not to allowed to function alone, we were given papers stating that we were married and she given engagement and wedding rings. But it was a fake marriage which ended at the end of the mission.
 
Tammy: Did you have sex with her?
 
Fernando: Does it matter? Remember our talk about the job forcing us to do things that we would otherwise not do. But I’ll admit that I did have sex with her because the job required it. Our hotel room was bugged to see if we were actually man and wife or playing the part. So we did everything we had to do to make the act as convincing as possible. She was also given birth control to not get pregnant, as Muslim rule in that area made condoms illegal. But like I said, this was over 5 years ago, before I moved to the café and before I met you as a teenager back then.
 
Tammy: I’m sorry.
 
Fernando: Look. I never thought that my past would come back to haunt me and hurt you. But it may mean that I go out on a mission with her again, and if I do, I might have to do things with her that I should be with you because the job demands it. I am sorry if I do.
 
Tammy: Its OK. I understand its for the job and will forgive you for it.
 
Fernando: Jeanie. Bring her up here.
 
Jeanie gets up and walks out the room, going half way down the stairs and calls for Jao Lynn. Jao Lynn arrives at the stairs. Jeanie tells her guards to allow her to go by. In a few seconds they were entering Fernando’s room. Jeanie takes her seat. Jao Lynn stands as she looks around the room.
 
Fernando: Take the computer desk chair and bring it here to sit on.
 
Jao Lynn does as she was told, taking the computer chair and setting it next to him. She sits on it, opening her legs for a moment before crossing her legs above the knee, showing Fernando what she had underneath.
 
Fernando: State your business and then you are to leave.
 
Jao Lynn: Why so harsh? I missed you all these years, you know.
 
Fernando: Our mission ended over 5 years ago. You got a life as do I. Now what gives?
 
Jao Lynn: The Chinese government was going to give you a medal for what you did here and in the past with them. But rumors of your death needed to be verified. Nor was the Chinese government was going to admit that it was our weapons sold in the black market that ended up here. With that explained, I give you The People Republic of China’s Star.
 
She takes the jewel box out of her purse and opens it, revealing the medal inside. Before she could take it out and pin it on him, Fernando takes the jewel box and closes it, putting it away in his pocket. Jao Lynn complains.
 
Jao Lynn: Hey! I was to pin it on you!
 
Fernando: So? It does not matter . Now what else you have to say.
 
Jao Lynn (going through her purse and pulling out an envelope): I have this letter for you from the People’s Communist Party Ruling Council.
 
Fernando snatches the envelope from her hand.
 
Jao Lynn: Hey!
 
Fernando: Hey nothing. Its mine, right?
 
Jao Lynn: Yes, but…
 
Fernando (tossing it to Jeanie): But- nothing. Jeanie, read it. You know my Chinese is not up to the task.
 
Jeanie opens the envelope and starts to read the letter that was inside. First she reads it to herself to get the translation correct.
 
Jeanie: It says that ‘in interest of China, that your marriage to Jao Lynn has been extended  for future missions and should be treated as a real marriage. There is also orders to have you recalled for a mission but details are withheld.
 
Jao Lynn: Order are at the Embassy, waiting for you to pick them up.
 
Fernando: I have not received any orders from any American Agency recalling me into any action, especially with you.
 
Jao Lynn: Aww… What’s the matter?
 
Fernando (pointing to Tammy): I’m not married to you, Jao Lynn. I’m married to her.
 
Jao Lynn: I forgive you.
 
Fernando: Jao Lynn. Leave. I’ll deal with you after I am finished here.
 
Jao Lynn: How long will that take?
 
Fernando: Another month, maybe two. Now leave peacefully before I throw you out.
 
Jao Lynn: Alright. Have it your way. But I’ll be in touch.
 
Jao Lynn gets up and slowly walks out of the room. A few seconds later Tammy runs out the room after her, catching her by the stairs. Jeanie goes after her as Tammy grabs Jao by her arm.
 
Tammy: If you know my husband intimately, then tell me something that only I as his wife would know.
 
Jao Lynn: Well, How about I show you instead. Its about this big…
 
Jao Lynn makes the letter ‘C’ with her tiny hand and then takes her index fingers and measures off a space almost across her chest between them.
 
Jao Lynn: You should know what I’m talking about.
 
Tammy nods and then bows her head as Jao Lynn starts to walk away.
 
Jeanie: It does not matter. I know those measurements too.
 
Tammy looks at her before storming off into her room.
 
A few seconds later a powerful and large car engine can be heard being turned on, and the car it is in driving away.
 
Fernando walks out of the room and walks downstairs to the living room. He carries a report folder with him. There he deals with the SWA members that was there. Giving the report folder to Ferro, he then returns to his room.
 
Satisfied with the report, Ferro tells the others to take her back to the compound. Calling the chief, they cancel the day’s meeting with Tammy and Fernando as they got what they came for.
 
Fernando finds Tammy on the bed crying.

Fernando walks over to the bed and sits on the edge. He gently pats her on her back.
 
Fernando: What’s wrong?
 
Tammy stops crying for a moment and faces him momentarily.
 
Tammy: What’s wrong? How many women you had sex with?
 
Fernando: Actually, that is none of your business.
 
Tammy: Yes It Is!
 
Fernando: How so?
 
Tammy: In Communicable Diseases class, they said that because of MIV-MAIDS* what sexual history one may have is shared with their current partner!
 
Fernando: That is only if you are infected with MIV or have MAIDS or have something else like Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, or the Papalona Virus and infect you with cervical cancer.  I’m clean and would never infect you with something that would harm you or make you sick.
 
Tammy: That’s Not The Point! What Is Your Sexual History! Because I Don’t Have One!
 
Fernando: Want to know my sexual history?
 
Tammy: YES!
 
Fernando: Alright. Since I was 13 I have been having sex with every girl I was with. Until I got married, I had about 11 girlfriends who were my sex partners at one time or another. But I never had 2 girlfriends at once until high school. Then not because of not of my fault, I ended up with about 6 girlfriends, all who wanted to be my sex partner and yes, I got into situations where I had to have sex to get out of it. But they all knew the situation and they all allowed it. In short, it was a very confusing time for me. But in the end I went out with one girlfriend who was my sex partner for a while and then we broke up. After that, I found my first high school girlfriend and we got married. Her sexual record is that she was raped several times and thought very little of herself in the sexual sense. In fact she had a very loose connection between love and sex until we met up. Thus she had several ‘lovers’ before I met her. But between her and I it was just us. After she was killed, I would up with the girlfriend I went out before but we would always argued and fought. She became Aiesha’s mother and my Ex-From-Hell. Eventually we broke up, and I went deep into my undercover work. There were missions where I had to infiltrate an organization and sex with the females was used. Then there were other missions where I had to pretend to be married to a female agent and in the course of the mission had sex with her. In all, there was at least 15 or so women had sex for the agency. But for anything recent? Nothing in these past 5 or so years. And in all cases, with the exception of my wife and Aiesha’s mother, I never got anyone pregnant or infected despite the lack of protection I or we used. In fact, Aiesha’s mother was on the pill and she still got pregnant. They also never infected me with anything, as I kept getting myself checked every six months to make sure that I did not. Sexually speaking, I am very responsible, though lucky that I was, if anything would have came up, I would have taken action to fix the problem. With the exception of sex for the mission, all relationships I have had was out of love or what I thought was love. With the exception of Aiesha’s mother, the girls I was with thought and said the same thing. Now here I am with you, not caring about my past because history is over and its time to do something in the present make something of the future. If you don’t ever want to have sex with while we are married because the thought of I having some 40 plus lovers in my past repulses you, then so be it Tammy. But understand that I could have not returned when I did, and I did it because I do love you and I do care about you. But if you think that is not enough then we can work it that so this is a marriage of convenience.  
 
Tammy looks at him, unsure what to say to what he stated.
 
Fernando: Though you tell me that you are a virgin, that is not the issue here. The issue is whatever you tell me, I trust you in that it is the truth. If you tell me that you are a virgin and you are not, then you have betrayed that trust. If you had a sexual history, that is fine by me but you do not have to lie about it. But at the same time you could have said nothing and left it at that and it would have been the same. I kept my sexual past a secret because it does not involve you, but now you know it. I don’t know nor care about your sexual past, but if you profess that you are a virgin, then you better be.
 
Tammy: But I Am!
 
Fernando: You just missed the point.
 
Tammy: And What Point Is That?
 
Fernando: Trust.
 
Tammy: Trust?
 
Fernando: Yes. Trust. Trust in not lying to each other. Trust in not putting the other in harm’s way. Trust in not giving each other an illness or disease from our exposure to what we done outside of our relationship. Tammy, we been through this before. It is what our marriage vows tell us to do. I trust you to the point where I don’t care about the past because all that we have now is all that we got. And I am trying my best to make sure that we do not lose what little we have to share because if we lose it all, we will have nothing. As my wife, you have a place in this relationship. You have a say in what happens in this relationship.  You have the right to do as you please. But I have to agree with it for one, just like you have to agree with what I do, where and when. Except for that, you have free reign in what you think you have to do is right for you first and for us second, as I exercise the same right as well. Now if you think this marriage should not go on, if you are repulsed by my past, if you no longer cant stand me as the man I am, you can walk out and leave. I got a life to live whether you are a part of it or not.
 
Tammy: No!…
 
Fernando: No, what.
 
Tammy: No, I don’t want you to leave.
 
Fernando: Because…
 
Tammy: Because… I’m scared without you.
 
Fernando: You need to grow a pair of balls.
 
Tammy: This is a scary world, Fernando. People want me dead, some want to take you away and give you what I had not, they don’t care about a fraidy-cat squirrel girl that I am. Without you, I just want to hide and hope things go away.
 
Fernando: Welcome to the real world. Just wait when I have you time-jumping and land you on some sand pit of a society where you will be sold for a sack of gold coins with teeth marks for proof of ownership.
 
Tammy: You would not dare.
 
Fernando: It’s a matter of trust.
 
Tammy: I trust you to take me out of that danger.
 
Fernando: You need to figure out how to deal with it yourself before I can find you and give you any form of help. Remember a couple of days ago when you tried to take Annie on your own, if I was not there to intervene, you would have been dead despite you thinking that you could have dealt with the problem.
 
Tammy: I know. I’m sorry.
 
Fernando: But Tammy…It’s a first step in confronting your fears.
 
Tammy did not wanted to respond to that in any way or form.
 
Fernando: Look… you have a long way to go but making  start of it is a good . I need to go check up on everybody.
 
As he starts to get up, Tammy grabs his wrists.
 
Tammy: Don’t go.
 
Fernando looks at her for a moment.
 
Fernando: You need to take that little girl inside you and drag her out and shoot her.
 
Tammy thinks for a moment.
 
Tammy: I am not me without that little girl.
 
Fernando turns to her.
 
Fernando: One day all that innocence you have will be gone. Little by little, it has been chipped away but it still exists for now, a remnant of what it was.
 
Tammy: Until then I will continue to acknowledge that little girl within me.
 
Fernando: She will have to be gone when you become a mother.
 
Tammy: She will… wait. What do you mean by that?
 
Fernando: A little girl can not take care of a baby for one. And for you to survive that long, you need to get past our mission 2 days from now. There is no room for you to be scared. No room to run away. The demons are out there and they want to take that little girl, and do awful things to her before they kill her.
 
Tammy: That’s why you are there, to rescue me from all of the evil that is out there that intends to inflict harm on me.
 
Fernando: I cant be there all the time for you, husband or not, father of our children or not. You will need to do things on by yourself and your own, pass or fail.
 
Tammy thinks for a moment, leaving the room in silence during this time. Fernando breaks the silence.
 
Fernando: Look. I gave Ferro my report, so chances are they wont be coming today or maybe not tomarrow. So, we have the day to ourselves and then some.
 
She just looks at him.
 
Tammy: So you’re saying?
 
Fernando: It does not matter what I said, it does on how you took it.
 
Tammy: So you would want for us to strip down to nakedness and fool around under the covers to fool around?
 
Fernando: Is that how you took it?
 
Tammy: Is that what you want?
 
Fernando: Maybe I should leave.
 
Tammy: No!
 
Fernando: Stop flip flopping on me, what do you want?!
 
Tammy: Don’t… leave me… please.
 
Fernando: Why?
 
Tammy: Because… I don’t want you to… be with another woman out there.
 
Fernando thinks about it for a while.
 
Fernando: Talking about Jao Lynn? Don’t worry about her. Eventually I will have to see her before she makes herself a bigger problem than you think Jeanie is.
 
Tammy: But… I Don’t Want You Near Her!
 
Fernando starts to take off his jacket and tosses it to the table.
 
Fernando: I’m giving you 3 hours of under-the-cover alone time with you. And if I fall asleep during this, don’t wake me up.
 
He kicks off his shoes, followed by the rest of his other clothes and t-shirt before going under the covers in his briefs. Tammy thought about taking off her layers but she shifts over to  him and holds him through the layers and softly cries. For now he holds her, taking an arm out the blanket and putting it against her back under her tail.
-----------
Note:
*MIV-MAIDS – Mammalian Immunodeficiency Virus – Mammalian Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

Tammy does not stop crying for another ten minutes, nine minutes longer than it should have. Not amused at the whole spectacle, he looks back at her.
 
Fernando: Done through crying?
 
Tammy (sniffling): Why are you being so mean?  
 
Fernando: Why are you being a little girl? Seriously, Tammy. You need to grow up. Time and time again, this world has shown how mean and vicious it can be towards you. And you worry about 1 woman on a planet of several billion and of me having sex with her? You should be worried about getting caught, getting killed, and how to prevent that if I am not there for you. You understand where I am coming from?
 
She just nods, though reluctantly.  
 
Fernando: Now, the choice is yours: we can spend the next couple of hours here or we can make something of this day?
 
Tammy (nervously): What would you want to do?
 
Fernando: I have things to do but they can be put off for you for the meantime.
 
Tammy: No… if you have things to do then get them done, don’t hold things off on the account of me.
 
Fernando: Then change your clothes and redo your make up.
 
Tammy: Why?
 
Fernando: You’re going with me.
 
Tammy: But…
 
Fernando (interrupting her): The only butt I want to see is yours, fixing yourself up and getting dressed.
 
Tammy: But… let me say something.
 
Fernando: No. Now you listen to me. Trust starts here and now. Just like you need me to be there to rescue you, I need you to be at my side at all times when needed. And I need you now. So go.
 
 
Tammy was beside herself, wanting to say something within her god given rights and doing what he is demanding her to do. She takes more time than necessary to take action- sit up on the bed and start taking off her clothes. Folding them neatly onto the foot of the bed, she just sits there and lets out a sigh.
 
Tammy (to herself): You don’t love me.
 
Fernando heard what she said, getting a bit more than annoyed, he has to  keep in control of his emotions and not let his anger show.
 
Fernando: What do you mean that I don’t love you?
 
Tammy: You don’t show it. You show more attention to Jeanie and now Jao than you ever have to me. Am I am trophy wife or something to show off to others? My wife is Tammy Squirrel! Grab my crotch and say, ‘This is where my babies come from?’ Do I really mean that little to you?
 
Fernando: If you meant little to me, I would have done things to you, used you, and make you think you owe me such things. If you want to know when, we could start with my rescue of you from the RF agents who were collecting the reward on your tail for one. The price you would have to have paid, sex with me. Same with reuniting you with Bink a couple of days later. Then keeping you off the plane that blew up, everyday you live is a day you owe me. Now if we continue with you joining the SWA, giving you the drug that cured you from the LSD poisoning, more sex, everyday for it is a day that you owe me, now doubled. The list goes on, Tammy. I have taken bullets for you, I even had died for you, and you dare say that I don’t love you? So what we have not had sex yet. What we have is more than just sex. It is love, and you need to rethink all that. Now go before I pick you up and take you there myself.
 
She just looks at him, hold back what anger she could. But she does not hold it all.
 
Tammy: You would not dare. Who or what do you think I am!
 
Fernando: My wife.
 
Tammy gets up but Fernando grabs her tail before she got too far. She sits back on the bed and yanks her tail from his grasp. He reaches over to her, pulling her to him and holds her against him. She fights back to let him go but it was a futile attempt to do so.  
 
Fernando: I said that you are my wife, to love and hold and treasure for the rest of my infinite days. You need to stop being stupidly hysterical over nothing. I did not marry you because you are a virgin. I did not fall in love with you because it was easy to do so. I fell in love with you for some unknown reason, and I would reciprocate what you give me. But in this spy game, you females put us males into a situation where only sex is the only means of escape. You females also use sex for entrapment. Understand that I told you that I have a mission to after we are done here. Understand that this mission has just reared its ugly head, and I am mission married to Jao. But that does not mean that I am cheating against you, or that I am practicing polygamy between you and her. Mission marriage is just a front, a disguise for a couple of spies to play a role in a mission, and not the government of China has made such act between her and I permanent. She is my spy partner, but you are my life partner. Understand that difference, and understand that you have nothing to fear.
 
He slowly lets her go. She sits up as he did, not saying a word. She remains silent as she walks to the dresser and gathers a fresh change of clothes. Fernando crawls out from under the blankets and takes his clothes at the foot of the bed and puts them on. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he gets his sox and shoes, putting them on one at a time. Tammy does the same next to him.
 
Tammy: Fernando?
 
Fernando: I don’t want to hear it, Tammy. Be mad all you want with me, but I have a right to live out my life as I see fit. If it meant in I having all those females as sexual partners, then so be it. You had just an equal opportunity in sex as I. And now it means that it might be used as part of my job, I will do what I can when I can if it is necessary. Not because I would want too and take any available opportunity that is there.
 
Tammy: You are my husband! You are to be loyal and faithful to me and only me!
 
Fernando: There is a difference between being faithful and doing it on the call of duty. The SWA may not have put you into that situation but I have because of the agency I am with. And believe me, Jao Lynn is not the only one I have done it with. All I can say is that I would never do anything that would disrespect this marriage.
 
He reaches under the pillow and pulls out his gun. He checks it before taking to his shoulder holster and puts them on. The jacket covers everything as needed. Walking over to his computer desk, he logs into his laptop and goes through various screens and maps before shutting it down. He turns to face Tammy.
 
Fernando: Lets see your gun.
 
Tammy: Huh?
 
Fernando: I said, Lets see your gun.
 
Tammy: Why?
 
Fernando: Don’t play that game with me. The video shows the Angie shooting your gun from out your hand. If it is damaged, even in the slightest bit, it will malfunction in action. You do not want your gun to fail when facing Anne, her friends or anyone else who deems you worthless or collecting a reward.
 
Tammy reluctantly hands over her weapon, letting him to inspect it with a discerning eye. After ejecting a few rounds, he takes the weapon and tosses it in the trash can.
 
Tammy: Why you did that?!!
 
Fernando: Because its trash.
 
Tammy: But Why!
 
Fernando: The slider and ejection mechanisms were stiff and though movable, has resistance to it. That means that it would jam on you in a fire fight. Last thing you need is for your weapon to jam on you, which it will do.
 
Tammy: But…
 
Fernando: But Nothing Tammy! This weapon is no good. Period. Now…
 
Fernando gets up and starts walking to the door.
 
Tammy: I’m to leave without a weapon?
 
Fernando: Deal with it. Now lets go.
 
Fernando gets up and heads to the room’s closet where he pulls out an aluminum brief case. He puts it on the bed as he thumbs through the combination locks on it, opening it. Inside was a bunch of North American Arms pistols that he used in the original rescue attempt. He looks over the weapons and ammunitions, a gun at a time until he finds a particular pair: the .32NAA Guardians. Around the handles, a RFID Watch for it.
 
A final check of them, he puts one into his rear pocket and a couple of loaded magazines in the front suit pocket. The other one he puts on the bed with a couple of loaded magazines with it, along with a box of ammunition. The brief case gets closed and put back into the closet. Fernando gathers the gun, magazines and ammunition box from the bed, taking them to Tammy. He hands her the items.
 
Fernando: You should know how to use this thing.
 
Tammy looks at the items handed to her, then at Fernando.
 
Tammy: Isn’t this..?
 
Fernando (interrupting her): It is. Now, lets go.
 
It takes a while for Tammy to put the things in her purse after putting on the RFID, finding that the ammunition box would not fit in it at all. Fernando takes the box and carries it with him.
 
Together they get to the stairs. Fernando pauses a the top step for a moment.
 
Fernando (yelling): Jeanie! I’m seeing Jao Lynn and taking Tammy with me!
 
Jeanie (yelling back from behind her closed door): Alright! What you want for dinner?
 
Fernando (yelling): Surprise me!
 
Jeanie (yelling back from behind her closed door): OK!
 
He takes Tammy by the arm and starts walking down the stairs. With the first floor empty, Fernando leads Tammy to the rear of house to the back doorway. In the parking area, Hondo and Valentine were finishing up on her motorcycle. The men eye each other as Fernando walks to the Porsche with Tammy in tow. Hondo approaches them.
 
Hondo: Where yous two headin’?
 
Fernando: Just out for a while.
 
Hondo: Mind a shotgun?
 
Fernando: No, but I’ll pass. Its just the two of us. For now.
 
Hondo: Hmmm. I see.
 
Fernando nods before opening the door to the Porsche. Tammy gets inside of the vehicle.
 
Fernando (closing the door): Dont wait up for us.
 
Hondo: Ifin’ there is any trouble.
 
Fernando: I know. Call.
 
They both nod at each other before Fernando steps around to the other side and lets himself into his car. Once inside, the engine starts and idles for a minute. Then the car revs high for a second before going down to a lower idle. The wheels turns to its fullest point before the Porsche jumps out of its parking spot, spinning about with the front wheels as the center point of its pivot. It shoots out the drive way before making a near 90 degree turn onto the highway.
 
Hondo adjusts his hat as he sees the  tail lights disappear around the turn. Then he shakes his head. Valentine has rode her motorcycle up to as the Porsche made its exit, trying to hide within the noise of the car.
 
Valentine: Suspecting something?
 
Hondo: No…
 
Valentine: Then, what is it?
 
Hondo: I don’t want to give any man what he is going through.
 
Valentine: You mean, their relationship? Aren’t they married?
 
Hondo: Lets just say they have a few marital problems.
 
Valentine: Well, maybe, they can work it out.
 
Fernando drives the Porsche hard, but not as fast as he could. Doing 90 miles per hour in third gear creates a lot of engine noise. More so than necessary, having Tammy almost yell at him.
 
Tammy: FERNANDO!
 
He puts the car into fifth gear from third, letting the revs go low while sustaining his speed. He does not turn around to look at her.
 
Fernando: What do you want?
 
Tammy: Why must you drive like a mad man all the time?
 
Fernando: Its something I like to do, and do it whenever the situation allows.
 
Tammy: But…
 
Fernando slows down the car to a respectable 75, downshifting into fourth gear.
 
Fernando: But what?
 
Tammy: But… you shouldn’t drive like that, at least not all the time.
 
Fernando: Why are you nitpicking?
 
Tammy: I’m just saying. I don’t want to get into an accident.
 
Fernando: I have close to 25 million miles of driving under my belt, and never have I had an accident. I may have smashed a few cars in my time, but those were deliberate actions in my part of doing my job. I am highly trained and highly focused when behind the wheel. So don’t complain about how I do in what I do.
 
Tammy: So…
 
Fernando: Look Tammy. Like it or not, I’m focused more than ever because of last night. Me being dead I can deal with. You being shot up and injected with that slave drug I can not. So I need you to shut up and put up when I tell you too.
 
Tammy: Is that what this is about?
 
Fernando: What do you think it is?
 
Tammy: I don’t know.
 
Fernando: So stop being stupid and start using that mind you have in your brain.
 
Tammy: Stop being so mean to me!
 
Fernando: Stop being so Mary Poppins. The world is a hurtful place. There are people that want to see you dead or worse. Being under the influence of a slave drug like that is worse than being dead.
 
Tammy: What if you get hit with the drug?
 
Fernando: I’m immune to most drugs out there except for the strongest like Curare, even then the stuff only slows me down. You don’t have the protection that I have, and I can bet that Blowfish powder is part of the drug’s mixture.
 
Tammy: Blowfish powder?
 
Fernando: I need you to think. To acquire an encyclopedic mind of facts. The flesh and organs of a Blowfish or Puffer Fish, as it is known, has a powerful Neurotoxin in it, strong enough to kill anything and anyone that would dare eat it. In Haiti it is used by witch doctors in the making of Zombie Dust. Zombie dust when blown into the face of a person, the Neurotoxins starts eating away the frontal cortex, eliminating free will and free thought of a person, thus making them a mental slave willing to do any order to tell them to do. They act and think robotically, without emotions, and will do a task even if they are hurt from it, will continue to do it until they finish, you tell them to stop or are killed in the process. The only antidote to Zombie Dust is taking the zombie out of the area and hope the brain will heal from the damage, a process that takes years, if not decades, if at all. It is the only thing I know that could make such a drug that potent. But the drug he has, has more ingredients in it. What I don’t know. Nor do I want any of that crap in you. I’m not saying that you would volunteer to take it, but to have it put in you, forcibly, is what I don’t want. So understand me being more vindictive and less loving kind of a husband. I already lost one wife due to her independence, I am not going to lose you.
 
Tammy looks down at her knees, unsure to what to say. Eventually, she gathers some courage to say something.
 
Tammy: Why are we seeing Jao Lynn?
 
Fernando: She wants me to do her a favor, I and going to demand for one myself.
 
Within a minute of saying so, Fernando drives into the garage of the Roma Hilton.