Fernando put the Porsche at the end of the garage, and they sat in the car for a minute, preparing themselves before they stepped out of the car. Fernando gets out first and walks behind the car, slipping on the RDIF Watch for the gun in his rear pocket so she does not see it. Soon he was there to help Tammy out of the car.
 
He holds her hand as he helps her up out of the car. He does not let it go as she steps out and he closes the door. She tries to  walk away but stops as the resistance in their arms builds up. She turns to face him.
 
Tammy: Something wrong?
 
Fernando: You.
 
Tammy: What do you mean?
 
Fernando: When we get to Jao Lynn’s room, I need you to be quiet, not say a word even if she asks or says something to you. She is trained in making people squirm with just a word, and you need not to bend at her wind. The less you say, the better. Say nothing would be the best thing to do
 
Tammy: You trying to control me or something?
 
Fernando: Look Tammy. I don’t need to control you, but if you do not behave yourself, you are going to regret that we have a marriage.
 
Tammy: Is that a threat?
 
Fernando: It’s a promise. So behave or else I will leave you to what devices Jao Lynn has. Believe me, it would not be the first time I had somebody wake up homeless, not remembering who they are or how they got there. Now remember, we share more than just a bed, we share a life. And that life at certain time is going to need a leader. Right now I am that leader. What problem you may have, lets deal with them now or we don’t at all. Understand where I’m coming from?
 
Tammy just stands there for a moment without answering.
 
Tammy: There is no problem… with me.
 
Fernando: This is about seeing a so-called ex-girlfriend?
 
Tammy: Yes.
 
Fernando: I married you, not her. Remember that. And remember that we are going to  go through some hard times in this Spy Game we are in. I don’t care what they taught you in the SWA, it is not what I call infiltration, espionage or law enforcement. But I promised that I would do my best not to hurt you in what may happen. Tammy, I need that chance to do what I think is right for you or else face  Anne alone.
 
Tammy: Is that a threat?
 
Fernando: No.
 
Tammy: Sounds like one.
 
Fernando: You ran off on me once and if it were not for me, Anne would have put a bullet into your head. Run off on my again, I wont chase after you. That is all I am saying.
 
Tammy: You wont run after me?
 
Fernando: Why should I? You’re an adult. You’re capable of making your own decision. Even if those decisions burn you. You don’t want my protection, then so be it. You can wait in the car as far as I care.
 
He starts to walk to the elevator door. Tammy stands by the car, watching him walk away to the other side of the garage where an elevator door was. She continues to think as she watches him approach it and reach for the button on the call panel. The lights above the elevator door counts down. The door opens and Fernando steps in. Tammy runs as fast as she could to  get to him before the elevator closes. She covers the distance in just a few seconds, entering the elevator as the doors started to close.
 
Fernando (twisting his master key on the elevator control panel): Decided on Love, Honor and Obey?
 
Tammy: I don’t know why I married you, you are so horrible at times.
 
Fernando: Consider me as a mirror. What you bring to the mirror will be reflected on you. Now, I need you to  not give Jao Lynn a reply or reaction or she will play with your emotions. If you don’t think you can do that, then you can wait outside.
 
Tammy: I want to be there when you are with her.
 
Fernando: Don’t trust me?
 
Tammy: I don’t trust her.
 
Fernando: Neither to I, but I know the limits of that  relationship. You don’t. And really, I need you to not to react to what she says. She will taunt you like a school bully on flowered panty wedgie day.
 
Tammy does not answer for the moment.
 
Fernando (pulling the key out of the elevator control panel as the door opens): Here we are.
 
Holding the sensor bar or the elevator door, He lets Tammy walk out onto the floor before stepping out and taking the lead. He walks down the hall to a door that seems to be further apart from the other doors. He opens the door and walks in, Tammy follows right behind him.
 
Jao Lynn was on the bed in a dark blue see-through negligee, camisole an matching hi-cut panties, lying on her side looking over a loose leaf binder of mission directives,  assorted pornography magazines and her OQO and Toshiba Libretto mini laptops. She sits up looks at them as they stood by the door, show off what little she had on.
 
Jao Lynn: I was only expecting you, but if you want to make it a three-some…
 
Fernando: I’m not here for you or your personal needs. What is this mission you want me in?
 
Jao Lynn: Actually, its your mission.
 
Fernando: My mission?
 
Jao Lynn: Its in the grapevine that you accepted  a mission from the Japanese Emperor about a Yacusa and Triad issue.
 
Fernando: I told him that I would think about it.
 
Jao Lynn: If you say yes, I want in on it.
 
Fernando: Why should I accept you as a team partner? The last few times you tried to trap me and take the reward for yourself.
 
Jao Lynn: Funny. Consider that it was you who left me in all those traps, and getting me arrested on some of them.
 
Fernando: I like the good old days too. Now seriously. You want part of that mission, I need intel and some help in this current mission.
 
Jao Lynn: Help? Hmmm.. Its going to cost you.
 
Fernando: If you accept, then I will allow you in the next mission, if I decide on taking it.
 
Jao Lynn: I could take that mission for myself.  
 
Fernando: Without seducing the Emperor.
 
Jao Lynn: I’ll send him my resume.
 
Fernando: He’ll put it with mine… in the trash.
 
Jao Lynn: I’ve worked for the Imperial House of Japan before.
 
Fernando: So have I. But that does not mean that they will turn to you for help. Least to say, the Sino/Nippon war of the 1930’s and 1940’s left some lasting scars.
 
Jao Lynn: And what do you know of Chinese history?
 
Fernando: Enough to eat with chopsticks and get into those panties of yours.
 
Jao Lynn: Hmph.
 
Fernando: Don’t you want to know what my current mission entails?
 
Jao Lynn: If you are going to continue to humiliate me, why should I listen to what you have to say?
 
Fernando: It involves cybernetic technologies and  a new brain-washing drug.
 
Jao Lynn: Keep explaining.
 
Fernando: I’ll tell you the rest tomarrow at my place. Morning at 10 o’clock. Be prepared for battle.
 
Jao Lynn: Why not now?
 
Fernando: Now is not the time. Besides, any intel sharing on this mission will be done on my terms. I do promise that you do as asked, you wont get hurt.
 
Jao Lynn (as she slid across the bed on her rear end): But Why Not Now?!!
 
Fernando: I got intel to gather, things to do with my wife and buy food for dinner.
 
Jao Lynn: Aren’t I your wife?
 
Fernando: You are a mission wife according to those papers. Tammy is my wife, I hope for life. I am not going to  consummate  any government sanctioned relationship unless I have too. Until then, report to my place at 10AM tomarrow morning with what resources you have or can otherwise get.
 
Jao Lynn: Hmph…
 
Fernando: Its to your advantage that you do as I ask. If not, nice seeing you, wifey.
 
Fernando starts to push Tammy to the door.
 
Jao Lynn: Hey!
 
Fernando: Tomarrow. My Place With What You Got. 10AM, as In The Morning. Not At Night.
 
He walks out the door and slams it, leaving Jao Lynn behind. In a couple of minutes they were back in the garage by the Porsche. He opens the door for Tammy but she does not go in. She just stands between the doorway and the open door.
 
Fernando: Something wrong?
 
Tammy: You meant what you said there?
 
Fernando: What did I say?
 
Tammy: That you were not going to  consummate  any government sanctioned relationship unless you have too.
 
Fernando: Would you want me too?
 
Tammy: No.
 
Fernando: Well, if I am forced into such a situation, I wont, unless its with you.
 
Tammy: Hmph…
 
Fernando: What?
 
Tammy: Since you returned, you been having a wanting and willing lover in your bed with you and you have yet to do anything with me.
 
Fernando: Maybe its because there is somebody out there that did me in and is going to do the same to you. Our relationship is nothing if Anne puts a bullet through your head. You need to understand that. I cant be your hero and your lover at the same time.
 
Tammy: Can’t walk and chew gum at the same time?
 
Fernando: I’m serious, Tammy. I’m too focused on getting this mission done as soon as possible. There is nothing neither one of us can do to make it go faster. We just have to wait.
 
Tammy: Sounds like an excuse to me.
 
Fernando: Think what you want. You want me as a hero, a hero aint nothing but a sandwich. But if you want me to protect you from psycho bitches and what evils lurk about the world that wants to see you hurt, dead or worse, then let me do my job. As for sex, again, after this mission. As for love, you got that unconditionally, why would you think I’d be out here chasing bad guys who want to do you harm? Get with the program, will ya?!!
 
Tammy: Now you’re being mean again.
 
Fernando: If I were being mean, I would be pulling your tail, throw you over the hood of the car and do you in front of the security cameras.
 
Tammy: You wouldn’t dare.
 
Fernando takes a couple of steps, closing the distance between them. He then takes her right hand with his left and with his right behind her back, pushing her towards him until they were pressed together.  
 
Fernando: Don’t ever dare me, because changes are I will take that dare.
 
He takes his right hand and slowly slides her back side to her thigh and immediately up her skirt, taking a handful of her firm round rear-end, covered by her smooth cotton bikini panty under her skirt. She tenses up for a second, refraining from giving a verbal reaction of any kind for the moment. But after a second’s  worth of eternity, she pushed him away slightly and slapped him with her left hand.
 
They stare at each other for the moment.
 
Fernando: Sex  is easy, Love is not.
 
Tammy: Then stop being so mean to me.
 
Fernando: You tell me- do you still love me?
 
Tammy: You make it difficult to do so.
 
He turns around and takes a step away from her.
 
Fernando: Close the door and lets go.
 
Tammy: Go, where?
 
Fernando: For a time out in one of the rooms upstairs. Then lunch afterwards, if you’re up to it.
 
Tammy: Maybe I don’t want to go where you want to.
 
Fernando: Have it your way, then. Remember, I have the Porsche’s keys.
 
He starts to walk away from the car and back to the elevator. Like before, Tammy stand there thinking, and not wanting to follow him but something tells her that she must. She closes the car door and starts following him, he having a 1/2 of a garage lead.
 
She manages to catch up with him before the elevator arrives. They enter it together, Fernando shoving his master key into the control panel and presses the button of a higher floor. Within a minute the elevator stops and Fernando pulls out his control key as the doors open. She follows him down the hall, passing by bright white painted doors. He stops at the one at the end of the hall, putting another key into its lock and opens the door.
 
She stops right behind him and looks inside. Fernando turns to her and quickly pick her up in his arms and carries her inside despite her protests. He carries her inside the room to the bed at the center end of the room and puts her on it. He then quickly goes to the door, closing and locking it. Tammy was on her hands and knees on the bed looking at what he was doing. She asks him a question as he returns to the bed.
 
Tammy: What is this place?
 
Fernando (as he stands by the bed next to her): Its one of the private rooms the agency has for our agents to use. There is no one slated to be here for the next several weeks.
 
Tammy: How do you know?
 
Fernando: I check the agency’s mission logs, there are no agents coming here anytime soon.
 
Tammy: Why did you bring me here?
 
Fernando shakes his head as he sits down before letting out a sigh.
 
Fernando: You tell me that you want to have sex, yet when I try to make a move, even in jest, you shoot me down. Seriously. I don’t know what is going on in your head, but things can not be done by your own terms. Nor can it in mine. We must work together to make this marriage work.
 
Tammy: You’re the one who is acting negatively in this relationship.
 
Fernando: I remember saying ‘I do.’ to  ‘Do you take Tammy Squirrel to be your lawfully wedded  wife, love, honor and cherish her, keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others and keep faithful only unto her so long as you both shall live?’ And though I’m not pushing it with you, you did agreed to ‘…love, honor and obey.’ Things have been fine until recently, when you have been only giving me discord, dishonor and disobedience. If this is what yo call Love, Tammy, then why did we get married in the first place?
 
Tammy: Why did we get married in the first place? If you don’t remember, then maybe we should annul this marriage and be on our separate ways.
 
Fernando (as he starts to undress): At this point, do what you want, I don’t care. But also remember, walk out that door and you walk alone. I’m going to try to find some rest here.
 
In less than a minute he had taken everything off but his briefs. Having loosely folded his clothes, he takes them to a table on the far end of the room and places everything on it except for his service weapon. Going back to the bed, he places the gun under the pillow before crawling under the covers. He takes his glasses off and puts them on the night stand.
 
Tammy continues to stay on the bed, looking at the lump of blanket made by Fernando being under it. She takes a long time to decide into taking any form of action but eventually does. She gets off the bed and walks to the door, but instead of opening it, she checks if the door was locked. She then goes about the room as if checking it for something she was not sure of looking for. Going to the windows, she closes the curtains to darken the room as possible. Her final set of actions is to stand by the bed and starts taking her clothes off, folding them neatly on the bed for a moment until she was just in her white bikini cut cotton panties. She puts her clothes by his on the table before crawling under the blankets with Fernando.
 
Though he was trying to sleep, he was not sleeping as he laid on curled up on his side. He inches up behind him until she could rest her chin on his shoulder. She lets out a sigh.
 
Tammy: I sorry.
 
He does not want to answer but verbal reflexes force him to.
 
Fernando: Sorry about what?
 
Tammy: About a lot of things.
 
Fernando: Like?
 
Tammy: Being selfish and demanding.
 
Fernando: That’s a start.
 
Tammy: Fernando!
 
He turns over to face her.
 
Fernando: Unloving.
 
Tammy: Unloving? We’ve went as far as we could without sex!
 
Fernando: Yes, unloving. When we get intimate, it seems to me that you are just there to satisfy yourself through me. It is not how it goes, as you are to give of yourself to me as I do to you.
 
Tammy: Don’t it goes both ways?
 
Fernando: You’re the one trying to force things to go faster.
 
Tammy: When I was with Chip, we always rushed because Gadget could drop by unannounced on us.
 
Fernando: You said you were a virgin.
 
Tammy: I still am. We never gone further than you and I.
 
Fernando: Look, the less I know, the better.  But I better not find out that you lied. That is all I’m saying.
 
Tammy: You don’t believe me?
 
Fernando: Oh, I believe you. The problem is when I get that stupid ‘munk drunk and his stupid mouth spews out a story that he did you lovely on a regular basis. Then I’m going to shove his buckteeth into the Visual Cortex of his brain so he can brush them at the back of his head. Then you and I are going to sit down and I confront you with the recording of his verbal diarrhea.
 
Tammy closes her eyes and puts her forehead against his chest.
 
Tammy: I would never lie to you. Never.
 
He gives her a kiss on the forehead. She looks up at him.
 
Fernando: I should not worry about you lying to me. I do about others. Like I told you about Jao Lynn and other woman out there. They are the one who are lying when I tell you the truth. OK?
 
Tammy: I think I see what you mean.
 
Fernando: Lets take this marriage slow and enjoy the time we have. OK?
 
Tammy (softly as she nods): OK.
 
Fernando goes to kiss her on the forehead one more time but Tammy tilts her head upwards, making him land on her lips. She moves with him as he tries to pull away, maintaining lip contact . She slowly puts her arm around his neck, and slowly continue with their kiss.

Some three hours of intimacy and fulfillment of their marriage vows, Tammy lightly naps on his arms. She dreams of what had happened between them. Despite the arguing and the fighting and the mixed messages , they had managed to love each other as man and wife should. Fernando remains awake though his eyes were closed. He keeps her in his arm protecting her.
 
Perhaps it was his Paranoia setting in or this spider sense tingling, but he did not feel right being there.
 
As if on cue, the door to the hotel room opens and several white mice in dark glasses and black suits enter the room with weapons drawn except for one. With a few outside the windows, tethered to repelling ropes, and several more outside in the halls, Fernando reaches for his gun and aims it the only smart looking one of the group. Tammy wakes up from the noise and huddles against Fernando, the bed’s blanket covering up of her as possible up to her chin. He puts an arm around her to try to reassure her.
 
Fernando (pulling the hammer on his gun with his thumb): What is the meaning of this intrusion, Agent Maus?
 
Mouse Agent:  Very funny. I bet you think we all look a like.
 
Fernando: I don’t know who you mice do it. You all look like you came out of some cloning facility. Now what do you want, Ya?
 
Mouse Agent: Ya?
 
Fernando: You know. Ya… Ya Vole!
 
No one laughed at that. The sounds of gun hammers being pulled back could heard.
 
Mouse Agent:  Enough with the jokes. Now aren’t you supposed to be dead?
 
Fernando: Have you gotten the memo?
 
Mouse Agent: What memo.
 
Fernando: Go check your cell phone text messages, about 3 months ago, shortly after the UN Party. Message ID 0121131653JG. You can check now if you want. No, In fact, check now.
 
Mouse Agent: Like what will that do?
 
Fernando: Just humor me.
 
As the mouse agent goes through his messages, Fernando points to another.
 
Fernando: Hey you…Hand me your cell phone.
 
Other Mouse Agent:  What for?
 
The first mouse agent nudges at the second and nods. The second tosses his cell phone to Fernando, who catches, flips it open and dial an undisclosed number. It rings three times before being answered.
 
Voice on the other end: Identification code.
 
Fernando: I don’t give identification codes. Now put Supervisor John G. on the landline before I send 10,000 volts through it
 
A few seconds of silence and the voice on the phone changes to a different individual.
 
Second voice on other end: Prove to me who you are or I’ll hang up.
 
Fernando: I don’t need to prove nothing to you. But you should keep the rot gut from out of your desk, and  stop chasing the poor secretaries. You’re lucky that the CIA cant get sued for sexual harassment. Now stop sitting on that stupid looking mole on your left butt cheek you call a beauty mark and address me accordingly.
 
Second voice on the phone: Alright Agent Fernando, what brings you back from the dead?
 
Fernando: Looks like you did not get the memo either.
 
Second voice on the phone: I got the memo alright. I just don’t believe it. Either you were killed or managed to fake it.
 
Fernando: You know better than anyone that it was faked, John. Now I need you to call off a contingency of agents who all have their guns pointed at me at an agency room in the Roma Hilton and send them on their way. How many? I guess 34 in and around the room, with a few playing spider man outside the windows. I cant be sure how many are outside on the roof or in the lobby. Look like? They’re all white mice wearing dark glasses and black suits. No, I think you should call them, who ever their leader is while he’s looking for a lost text message. You should have their number. What do you mean you don’t have his number? Then do a mass call to all of them. You’re testing the limits of my patience…
 
He closes the phone and tosses it back to the agent who threw it at him. Upon catching it, his supervisor’s phone ring as he still looked for the text message.
 
Mouse Agent: Identification code. Oh, Supervisor John G. Alright. Yeah.
 
He closes his phone, ending the call. He them looks at everyone about him, taking a small portable radio from his pocket.
 
Mouse Agent (talking on the radio): Alright everybody. This is a sanctioned  mission. Everybody pull out!
 
Upon command, all the mouse agents in and about the room start to walk away, the ones outside the room on ropes are pulled back up. Seeing this happen, Fernando puts down his gun. The mouse agent remains behind as the area clears.
 
Mouse Agent: The Agent rooms are not for bringing your date too to practice making puppies.
 
Fernando: You definitely did not get the memo. You don’t know who this is?
 
Mouse Agent: Like you say about us, I say its just another squirrel. Now who is she?
 
Fernando: My wife. Tammy G.
 
The Mouse Agent takes a closer look, then looks over his cell phone’s database and find her dossier inside it. He compares the picture on the phone to her.
 
Mouse Agent: So it is her. Still no excuse to bring her over and use the facilities like a cheap whore house.
 
Fernando: This is my wife you’re talking about.
 
Mouse Agent: Wasn’t the Safe house given to her? Both of you should be using that place to be making puppies there instead.
 
Fernando: This place is safer. We needed a time out.
 
Mouse Agent: Yeah right. Besides, we know your other wife is here. Planning to make a ménage à trios?
 
Fernando: If I were, you would be the first I call.
 
Mouse Agent: Hmph…
 
Fernando: Besides. What is it to you anyway?
 
Mouse Agent: Consider it a warning- You are to stay away from her at all costs.
 
Fernando: That is not possible. She is looking for me, and she is part of my mission. Now go chase jay walkers or something. I got a real job to do and you are interfering with it.
 
Mouse Agent: I am, huh?
 
Fernando: Yes you are.
 
Mouse Agent: Let e tell you something, Agent Fernando. The Agency don’t like lose cannons, and you are a lose cannon. Mingling with foreign agents will get you kill, even if she is your wife. Don’t come running to me when you need help.
 
Fernando: I don’t intend too. Now how about leaving and let me to my mission.
 
Mouse Agent: You got 24 hours to vacate the premises.
 
Fernando: And if I don’t?
 
Mouse Agent: Don’t push your luck around me.
 
Fernando: Don’t you around me. Now leave before I forget who I am and throw you out of the room.
 
Mouse Agent (turning around and walks to the door, giving Fernando The Finger): I like to see you try.
 
The door slams behind him.
 
Fernando: Stupid Idiot.
 
Tammy: I thought you said no agents were in Italy.
 
Fernando: I said there was no agents in Rome. They must have came in from the other Safe House.  
 
He looks at his watch.
 
Fernando (to himself): Hmmm… Past 2:30. (then to Tammy): Tammy, you hungry?
 
Tammy: Yeah, sorta.
 
He notices the concern on her face.
 
Fernando: You OK?
 
Tammy: I am (then to herself but he hears it) Mom said that it would hurt the first time, but nothing about being sore.
 
Fernando: You’ll be fine.
 
Tammy: How would you know? You’re not a girl.
 
Fernando: Take my word for it. You’ll be fine. Now if you still hurting tomarrow, I’ll take you to a specialist.
 
Tammy: I already have a Gynecologist.
 
Fernando: Alright, then we’ll see him in the morning if you still are in pain.
 
Tammy: It’s a her!
 
Fernando just shakes his head for the moment.
 
Fernando: Alright, you win.
 
Tammy looks at him for a moment before leaning up against him, putting an arm around him.
 
Tammy: I’ll be alright. Billions of females before me went through this before and they came out fine, so should I.
 
Fernando (putting an arm around her): I’m sorry if I hurt you. I didn’t mean too.
 
Tammy (turning up to face him, interrupting him): Look. As much as it may have hurt, at times it felt like you were splitting me in half but it was ten times more enjoyable. It was a lot more than I would have expected it to be and I would do it again with you anytime we have the time and opportunity to do so. Now just shut up and hold me for a while.
 
He holds her for a moment. He tries to break up the moment to go on with the rest of the day.
 
Fernando: Tammy?
 
Tammy: Yes, dear?
 
Fernando: We nned to get dressed and go on with the rest of the day.
 
Tammy: I know. I just don’t want to end what we have here.
 
Fernando: We can have that time when we get home. Now we got a mission to deal with.
 
Tammy nods.  In a couple of minutes they separate and begin to get dressed.
 
He waits for her at the door. She takes a few seconds longer to get dressed, and meets him at the doorway, He hooks his arm around hers and spins her towards him until their bodies met. He puts his free arm between her back and tail and holds her against her. She does not resist.
 
Fernando: If we did not fight and argue all the time, we could be the most happiest couple in the world.
 
Tammy: I know. But I treasure my independence even more…
 
Fernando (unknowingly interrupting her): That will cost your life if you continue in that direction.
 
Tammy: You did not let me finished. I treasure my independence until today.  Now I know how much you are a part of me.
 
Fernando: I don’t mean to be crass, but I think that’s the sex talking.
 
Tammy: Maybe it is, but as your wife, I now know what it all means now.
 
Fernando: Tammy.
 
Tammy: Yes?
 
Fernando: Now is not the time to be distracted. I need you sharp and aware as possible. We can be distracted  at home in the privacy of our room. OK?
 
Tammy nods. He gives her a kiss as he takes his hand from her back and opens the door with it.
 
Fernando: Lets go.

Sex does not equates to Love nor does Love equates to Sex. One can function without the other but yet many confuse the two for one another. Thus now the equation has gotten  a bit more complex for Tammy to handle but she realizes its complexity and thinks she can deal with it. In fact, she believes that this is how it should be.
 
Fernando has been through this track many times before. His long line of ex-girl friends, one dead wife, an unclosed affair with her twin sister despite the years that has past between them and who knows how many relationships formed under the guise of working for the government. Having such a track record with so many women, he is lucky not to have contracted a social disease and only have one child that he knows of. But he made a promise to this red haired squirrel, and he intends to keep it for as long as eternity allows.
 
Though she is distracted in what had happened between them, wanting to take him back to the room and continue with more in what they had shared, he was distracted with what will happen next. He knows how much sex can be distracting, focusing one’s attention to their partner more than what they have to deal with in life. If not careful, this distraction between them would bring their down fall.
 
The drive from the Roma Hilton to the Piazza di Spanga was a short one for them though they had traversed over a half a mile. They take a familiar set of seats at a familiar table at a familiar café that they had sat in many times during their short time together. A waiter comes by and puts down an order of coffee and pastries. They just hold hands and stare into each other’s eyes.
 
Tammy: This place again?
 
Fernando: Don’t like it?
 
Tammy: No. Its not that. Its… the only place where you say “I love you” without saying the words.
 
Fernando: Love is more than just saying those words, or having sex to show it. It is doing what you can for the other.
 
Tammy: I know…
 
She thinks for a moment.
 
Tammy: Aren’t you afraid of them attacking us here?
 
Fernando: No. Look… If you show fear then they will try to attack you. If you show indifference or lack of fear, then they will stay away from you.
 
A young voice joins in their conversation in Italian: Giornale, signore? (Newspaper mister?)
 
Fernando (taking a newspaper and handing the newspaper boy a 5 euro bill): Grazie. Mantenga il cambiamento. (Thanks. And keep the change.)
 
The newspaper boy runs off with a smile, saying "Il dio li benedice! (god bless you)" before he leaves.
 
Tammy: You made that little mousette  her day.
 
Fernando: How you know the newspaper boy is a girl?
 
Tammy: She’s trying to look like a boy because its usually a boy’s job to sell newspapers, but I doubt boys in Italy wears pink trimmed Nike sneakers.
 
Fernando: Next time I’ll give her 50 Euros and tell her to buy black ones.
 
Tammy: Next time.
 
Fernando: Yeah.
 
For the moment they say nothing. Fernando puts the newspaper down, its headlines only showing a political scandal of a Parliament member being caught with Padania extremists. He pays no attention to it.
 
A new generation Volkswagen Beetle drives by the café, making the turn at the next available corner. Though the Piaza di Spagna is a pedestrian mall, cars do occasionally drive through if they abide by stricter rules of the area and are allowed entrance by the police who guard the area.
 
A tall, muscular built male mouse wearing a suit, glasses and shoes, walk in the same direction as did the vehicle a couple of minutes before. With him, a female mouse about 10 years of age, carrying a violin case. They stop next to Fernando, on the other side of the café’s partition. They know them as Marco and Angelica. He leans against the waist high partition, turning to face the both of them.
 
Marco: What are you two doing here?
 
Fernando: What does it look?
 
Tammy: We’re on a date.
 
Marco: I can see the dating part. But why here? You two are wanted by every buffoon and goon in this city is willing to collect the reward on your sorry asses. Or don’t you remember?
 
Fernando: I dont remember such a threat against us, but I’ll tell you this. No one or no thing is going to stop me from enjoying some alone time with my wife. Now, where did you get this info?
 
Marco: Lets just say that since your introduction here in Rome, you have been a wanted squirrel by many factions. Including ours.
 
Fernando: I don’t know where you getting at, but I do what I have to do in order to be able to sleep at night.
 
Marco: Consider it a warning. Don’t be unnecessarily exposing yourselves needlessly.
 
Fernando: Thanks for the advice, but frankly, I got a date with the wife. So if you don’t mind- leave.
 
Marco: Have it your way. Just to tell you, there will be some of us watching for your safety.
 
Fernando: Fine. Do what you want. You better not post the video on YouTube or any other video file sharing system.
 
Marco (as he starts to walk away): It would not make the agency any money… It might end up as DVD in some sex shop.
 
Fernando and Tammy watch him walk away. He lets go of her hand and takes a sip from his coffee.  Tammy takes his hand as he puts down the cup.
 
Tammy: You should not let him upset you.
 
Fernando: I’m not.
 
Tammy: Then why the frustration?
 
Fernando: I’m tired of people trying to impose on our lives.
 
Tammy: Well… when this is all over, we don’t have to worry about all anyone getting on us anymore.
 
 
Fernando: There will always be somebody out there waiting to get us.
 
Tammy: Don’t be so negative.
 
Fernando points to passed her to the corner. Tammy turns around to see a red haired mouse heading to their direction though her mind was thousands of miles away. She does not notice them as she approaches their table. Fernando reaches and takes her by the arm, putting his gun under her chin.
 
Fernando: Don’t make a stupid move, Annie. Not only am I could shoot you here and now, there are 4 trained snipers aimed at you right now.
 
Anne: Alright, you win. What do you want?
 
Fernando: You and your friends are to leave us alone until our date. If you don’t, you and them will have your heads ventilated.
 
Anne: Alright. I get what you are saying.
 
Fernando pushes her to stand  up while taking his gun from under her chin but still aiming it at her.
 
Fernando: Now leave before I forget that we have a deal.
 
Anne starts to walk away. Fernando turns his head to visually follow her.
 
Fernando (yelling at her): Tell the Grande Jefe to leave Italy or be buried here.
 
Anne freezes in place before slowly turning around. Fernando gets up to stand, having Tammy behind him.
 
Anne: What was that you just said?
 
Fernando: I don’t repeat myself. Now tell that jerk of a South American drug cartel to leave Italy and take his stinking drugs with him before I send a CIA goon squad to kill off his men, his family and burn his land to ashes. Got that?
 
Anne: Yes I got that. Now you got this.
 
She reaches for her gun, only to have it blown out of her hand by Fernando. She stares at him with a mean look.
 
Anne: If I didn’t know better, I would say you’re the cyborg here.
 
Fernando: Well I’m not. Now pick up your defective shitty piece and leave.
 
Anne: Why don’t you kill be now?
 
Fernando: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to live, and a time to kill. A time of war, and a time of peace; a time to love, and a time to hate. This is a time to leave things alone and for you to walk away.
 
Anne: Heh, King Solomon… Getting biblical on me?
 
Fernando: I’ll get biblical on you when I piss on your grave.
 
Anne goes and picks up her gun, finding it damaged. She puts it away in her purse.
 
Anne: Tomorrow.
 
Fernando: Don’t bring your friends. It would be hard for them to collect a pay check from you if you are all dead.
 
Anne: We’ll see whose going to die tomorrow.
 
She starts to walk away again, this time not turning back for anything. Fernando puts 2 100 euro bills under his cup and takes Tammy by her wrist. She follows him inside the café where they hide behind a window. She does not protest his actions, They wait for a minute, then observe a large black car slowly roll by the café. Its windows roll down and a pair of double barrel shot guns can be seen sticking out the window. The car stops in front of the café where Tammy and Fernando were sitting, the shot guns go back in the car and the dark tinted windows roll up. It slowly drives away.
 
Fernando walks out of the café and watches the car take the nearest corner and disappears behind the building. Tammy walks up to him, taking his hand.
 
Tammy: Tell me why you are not willing to kill her until tomorrow.
 
Fernando: Like I told her, there is a time for everything, and the time for her to die is not now but then.
 
Tammy: It has something to do with Time Travel?
 
Fernando: You could say that. But it is no excuse for us not to be ready then.
 
Tammy: I see.
 
Fernando: Perhaps you do.  
 
He takes her by the hand.
 
Fernando: Lets go.
 
Tammy: Where to?
 
Fernando: A movie perhaps. Anywhere but here.
 
Tammy: I see.
 
They both leave for the next part of their date.
 
At the end of the movie, Fernando takes Tammy to the Trattoria Restaurant, a very expensive restaurant. It just happens to be where Fernando and Hondo had killed John Doe months before. Fernando shakes the hand of the maître d' , leaving a more than generous tip in his palm, insuring a speedy service and no questions of reservations to be had. Fernando requests a quiet corner for them
 
They were called immediately to their table, in a secluded area of the restaurant, usually reserved for special guests. It did not mattered to him as long as he and his wife has some uninterrupted alone time together.
 
Though they take their time, they finish their meal in about an hour. Leaving a generous tip, Fernando takes Tammy by the hand and escorts her out the dining area. In the waiting room, a white haired old mouse argues with the maître d' about his usual table and why its taking so long to be served. He notices Fernando and Tammy walk out of the dining area, and follows them out the door with his eyes. He quickly leaves the maître d' alone, heading out the door. He shouts out Tammy’s name.
 
White haired old mouse: Tammy! Tammy Squirrel!
 
Fernando and Tammy freezes  before crossing the street, he gently positions Tammy behind him as they turn to face the old mouse. The white haired old mouse walks up to them until he reaches about 2 meters from them. For a moment they stare at each other.
 
Fernando: Who are you and what you do you want of my wife?
 
White haired old mouse: I know her.
 
Fernando: That does not answer my question.
 
White haired old mouse: Excuse me for my manners. My name is Savonarola, Mister Savonarola.
 
Fernando: Christiano Savonarola…
 
Fernando slowly unbuttons his suit jacket, not letting his eyes off Mr. Christiano for a moment.
 
Fernando: I know you. You are Anne Rossellini’s uncle.
 
Christiano: You must be Fernando. Anne told me so much about you.
 
Tammy searches inside her purse and takes out her gun, standing behind Fernando nervously.
 
Fernando: You’re supposed to be dead.
 
Christiano: Lets say I got better through science. Aren’t you supposed to be dead too?
 
Fernando: Lets say Anne missed.
 
Christiano: I see. Well, I suppose you cant send a woman out to do a man’s job. But now, if you don’t mind, I would like to talk to your wife.
 
Fernando: Give me a good reason why I should not kill you right here and right now. You had my wife’s mother and her newly married family killed off. Her little sister was hospitalized with severe physical and mental trauma. All the evidence shows that you were involved, in fact I have the security video tape placing you there while John Doe and Pinocchio cleaned up the mess and then run way when the sirens were heard. Tell me why, because if I walk away from here, tomarrow Annie dies. Tomarrow night I will be pulling my gun barrel from your mouth and admiring your brain splatter on the wall behind you.
 
Christiano: A good reason? How 50 security guards to start?
 
As Christiano nods, several male mice in suits get up and surround them, drawing their guns. Fernando draws his gun and puts it to Christiano’s eye. Tammy stands from behind him, also aiming at Christiano.
 
Fernando (pulling the hammer back on his gun): Them I don’t care about. But I would like to see them collect a paycheck from their dead employer. Now, I’m going to tell you once- tell your men to back down. I don’t care about dying for one, as you see I can return from the grave, but secondly, The SWA have been following us all day. There are snipers aimed at your men through every window and several agents willing to join in from the restaurant dining area. I might be dead when all this is over, but so will you be, and so will most of you men as well. This restaurant will be a damned hell of a bloody mess in tomarrow’s news paper headlines. Now, where are you going to take this?
 
They stare at each other for the moment. Christiano waves his hands, his men put away their guns and most leave. Some remain but their weapons put away. Fernando puts his hand on Tammy’s pistol and gently pushes it downward. Putting his arm around her, they carefully walk backwards for several steps, Fernando still have his gun aimed at Christiano. Together they walk, Tammy turning about to find the way and leading Fernando out as he walked backwards. Together they take a few steps to the side of the restaurant, ducking into its garbage alley and behind a dumpster. Fernando leans against the wall, taking Tammy in his arm and holds her against him, their guns still drawn in their hands. He puts his hand to her mouth as several mice run out of the restaurant in various directions, looking for them.
 
Christiano shouts out by the restaurant.
 
Christiano: I WANT THEM ALIVE AND I WANT THAT VIDEO TAPE!
 
Listening to the patter of feet going to all but their directions, Fernando makes them wait until it quieted down before leading Tammy out of the alley and quickly down the street. They turn the corner on the following block and make their way to his Porsche. They put their weapons away when they exited the alleyway.
 
Once in the car, Fernando puts the key in the ignition but does not turn on the engine. Instead he sits back on his seat and looks out of the windshield. He thinks, and as he thinks he speaks to himself.
 
Fernando: Another cyborg…
 
Tammy: Huh?
 
He turns to face her.
 
Fernando: Another cyborg. That’s what I said.
 
Tammy: Explain what you mean.
 
Fernando: Months ago, you and the other handlers were in a mission to terminate Christiano. I remember that because it was a hard 4 days not having you there with me in the hideaway.
 
Tammy: Yeah…
 
Fernando: Don’t tell anyone, but I got the report from that mission. And according to that report, Rico shot Christiano in the chest. Angie and Claes also shot up the car that he escaped in before it drove off the road.
 
Tammy: Yeah. We did not find any bodies in the wreckage.
 
Fernando: Survival was unlikely, but he did. Plus he’s walking around now, no way anyone could heal from such extensive injuries so fast. He had to have been cyborized. Question is, by whom? It better not be Dr. Bianchi. He’s already on my shit list for reviving Annie and turning her into a cyborg so she could live.
 
Tammy: And if it is? The SWA is not going to let you have your way with one of their top medical staff.
 
Fernando: He’s the one who put the hit on your family.
 
Tammy: I know.
 
Fernando: John Doe killed your mother and step father, and raped and maliciously harm on Bink to the extent to kill her as well.
 
Tammy: I know all this. Why are you saying this…
 
Fernando: Because… I was there.
 
Tammy: YOU WERE THERE!!!
 
Fernando nods.
 
Fernando: Despite my warnings, Gadget, Jeanette and I tried to save Bink and your mother. I was shot in the arm and if it weren’t for my bullet proof vest, I would have been killed as the bullet went through my arm and into the side of my chest. John Doe was the one who shot me as I was too busy with telling Gadget on the radio to stay put.
 
Tammy: Which arm?
 
Fernando points to  the biceps on his right arm, drawing an imaginary line from there to the side of his chest.
 
Tammy: Why you telling me?
 
Fernando: One day you would find out. But honestly, it just came out because you asked.
 
Tammy: Is there really a video tape of what happened?
 
Fernando: There are several- the house security system which I removed afterwards; then there was a vivi-cam each one of us had recording our activities. Gadget, I swear…
 
Tammy: What about her?
 
Fernando: She tried to take over my Time Travel Systems to go back and succeed in the rescue. What she did was permanently seal the Place/Time Coordinates so no one could rescue them. She did not mean too, but she tried to break Einstein’s law of ‘No one thing can exist in two different places at the same time.’
 
Tammy sits there, soaking all this information in. She then lets out a sigh.
 
Tammy: There is no way to go back save them?
 
Fernando: Not for me or anyone else.
 
Tammy: How if I go?
 
Fernando: I doubt you could. The Place/Time Coordinates are sealed up good. Besides, one mission at a time.
 
Tammy (nodding): Alright.
 
Fernando: First Anne, then Christiano.
 
She looks at him, unsure how to reply to that.
 
Tammy: Christiano?
 
Fernando: We are here because of me and my mission to terminate Anne. That is not right, if I, we, kill her and Christiano brings her back, it would be useless to even try again. Plus Christiano killed your mom. You know that with his billions if he were to be arrested that he would bribe the judges and jury to declare him not guilty. No. He must pay the ultimate price for what he did to you and your family.
 
Tammy just sits there, staring at the floor for a moment. Then she nods.
 
Tammy: Yeah.
 
Fernando starts his car and lets it warm up in idle. He notices Tammy still looking at the floor, her hands folded on her lap. He slowly slid his hand across the center console and puts it on hers.
 
Fernando: You OK?
 
Tammy: Yeah, I am.
 
Fernando: Look, I’m not forcing you into anything you do not want to do. From sex  to killing people that rightfully deserve it.
 
Tammy: No, its not that.
 
Fernando: Then what is it?
 
Tammy: I’m just tired. Tired of everything. You know? Just too much excitement for one girl to handle.
 
Fernando: I can understand that.  
 
She turns to look at him for a moment. After a while, Fernando takes his hand off hers and onto the gear shift knob. Soon they were on their way home.

Fernando takes the long way, circling around Rome at least once and making a stop by the docks.
 
Tammy: Why are we stopping here?
 
Fernando (as he reaches to the radio, turning it on): Just listen.
 
Male Voice on Radio: I want 10 men on the roof at all times, 8 by the truck doorway, and 2 at every corner! The Big Boss Will Be Over Tonight To Check On You Scallywags And You All Better Prepared For Anything!
 
Tammy: Is that?
 
Fernando: Shhh….
 
Male Voice on Radio: Jose will be giving you a handgun and Rafael will be giving AK-47s soon after! You Are All Responsible For Your Weapons While On Patrol And You Turn Them In When You’re Done With The Your Shift!
 
Fernando reaches over to the radio and shuts it off.
 
Tammy: How…
 
Fernando (interrupting her and turning the ignition): I placed a bug on one of the security cameras when I told you all to leave. Now… 10,8… 36 men plus the big boss and his personnel men. No way Hondo is going to get through that alone.
 
Tammy (as the car slowly drives): What?
 
Fernando: You and I take on Anne and her crew tomarrow after noon. Then Hondo takes on the big boss later that night. Thing is, we will be too tired from dealing with Anne to help Hondo. But this is where planning comes in.
 
Tammy refuses to answer on the basis that it might anger Fernando or question her intelligence. Either way, Fernando continued to drive away.
 
Fernando: You think you can take on Annie on your own?
 
Tammy: No. I cant.
 
Fernando: Well then. If it were not for me, you would be between a rock and a hard place.
 
Tammy: Don’t you think I know that?
 
Fernando: I’m not telling what you are up against because you do not know what you’re up against.
 
Tammy: I know she’s a cyborg but at what level is unknown.
 
Fernando: If you know that much then you need to assess your skills in whether you can kill a cyborg with the only shot that can kill it. Can you do it?
 
Tammy: No. I cant.
 
Fernando opens the console between the seats and pulls out a 1911, dropping it on her lap. She slowly picks it up.
 
Tammy: This is not going to stop her.
 
Fernando: That is only 1/2 the equation. The other half is at home.
 
Tammy: What do you mean?
 
Fernando: Depleted Uranium Bullets. Upon impact they liquefy to 2,500 degrees, melting and reacting with anything in its way. Mainly used as anti-tank and amour piercing rounds for high powered rifles and machine guns, a friend of mine shrinks them down to .45CP format for me to use… just in case. It will crack a cyborg’s reinforced skull wide open like a properly sharpened machete opening a coconut.
 
Tammy lost stares at him at the prospect of such actions. Fernando shifts his eyes over to her while appearing to stare down at the road ahead.
 
Fernando: I do not intend to let you fight this one alone. Nor do I intend to leave you powerless in options. I intend for us to win, because loosing is too far a price to pay.
 
Tammy wonders what to say next but has a hard time trying to find the right words.
 
Fernando: And wear the trench coat. Its for your own good.
 
Tammy just nods as she continues to stare at him. They remain silence even when Fernando pulls into the driveway a couple of minutes later. The gate automatically closes as he drives his Porsche to the rear parking area. They stay in the car for a while even after the ignition was turned off. She gives back the 1911 pistol back to Fernando as she had no room for her purse to put it in. He puts it in his suit pocket.
 
Fernando electronically unlocks the doors, opening his driver side for him to step out of. Tammy sits reluctantly for the moment, opening her door as soon as Fernando puts his hand on the outside door lever. They both seem to open the door together at the same time. With the door opened, he reached inside and takes her hand to help her out of the car. She stands next to him as he closes the door.
 
Fernando (as he turns to the direction of the house): Don’t expect me to do that for you all the time.
 
Tammy (as they start to walk to the house): Do what for me?
 
Fernando: Help you…all the time.
 
Tammy (bowing her head down): I know that.
 
Fernando: Then you need to be prepared, for my absence.
 
Tammy trots a few steps ahead of him and then stops in front of him, just a few steps from the door.
 
Tammy: Don’t you think I know that already? Please, lets not take it there!
 
Fernando: Knowing and doing are two different things. You are still a little gun shy and that is making your slow in your response. You are not going to have a second chance, immortal or not, if a bullet finds your brain.
 
Tammy: I know that already!
 
Fernando: You cant let them give you the mad speech. It needs to be put to an end when they start, but you need to give then a reason to start to distract them for a moment. Look… I’m not telling you to outright murder somebody. But you are going to need to defend yourself with deadly force when needed.
 
Tammy: Can we end this? I do not want to talk about it.
 
Fernando: Go in the house and get dinner ready for us. We’ll discuss it before bed time.
 
Tammy just sighs before turning around and heading into the house first. Fernando was just a couple of steps behind her. He stops when he enters the house as Tammy heads to the dining area and living room space. He takes off his jacket, taking it to the computer desk by the stairs where the main phone line was at. He puts his jacket on the banister of the stairs to retrieve later when he goes up the stairs.
 
Walking around the staircase, he walks to the dining table, taking his seat at the head of the table. Hondo, Valentine and Jeanie look at him for  moment. Tammy gets in between the Jeanie and the stove, looking over the meal.
 
Hondo: Had a fine day?
 
Fernando: No.
 
Hondo: No? Meeting with Ms Asian Mouse went bad?
 
Fernando: It didn’t. I told her to be here at 10. Chances are she will be here at 7 in the morning. Let her in and do not allow her to disturb my rest. Only Tammy will do that to inform me that she is here.
 
Hondo: 7, Eh?
 
Fernando: Yes. Now be prepared.
 
Hondo: Prepared for what?
 
Fernando: Prepare for war. Around noon, it will be Tammy, Jao and I taking on Annie and her crew. You, Valentine and the SWA will be dealing with El Jefe Grande in the evening. Extermination orders have been ordered for him and his crew, so be there to collect the kopi-doll prizes. Furthermore, wear the bullet proof trench coats I handed out. I don’t want any casualties  on my side.
 
Hondo (nodding): I have my own.
 
Fernando: Add to the layers.
 
Tammy arrives to his side, putting a plate of steak, macaroni & cheese, and steamed vegetables. Putting the eating utensils by the side of his plate, she sits down next to him with hers.
 
Fernando: Thank you, Tammy. (Then turns to Jeanie at the kitchen) Thank you too, Jeanie.
 
They both nod from their respective positions. He turns to Hondo as Valentine went to the kitchen to get their meal.
 
Fernando: No argument with the SWA. The building will be surrounded, you and Valentine will take the main entrance with whom ever the SWA decides. They will make light work of the guards. You need to make your way to El Jefe Grande and put a few bullets into his brain, then Laurie. Valentine, don’t hog up the action and put yourself in a situation where you are gong to get shot, hurt, killed or worse. If Hondo has the shot to take down El Jefe Grande, let him have it. Same with any of the SWA members. But if you can take it when nobody else has and you can do so without getting shot at yourself, then do it. This is a team effort, and as a team, anyone killing him gives you a shared credit for the deed. Understand at what I getting at?
 
Valentine (nodding): Yes sir.
 
Fernando: Hondo. She’s to back you up and you back her up. Nothing stupid is to be accepted. Don’t endanger her or yourself in this mission.
 
Hondo: I already know that.
 
Fernando: Then so be it. Lets finish this meal and go to bed. Jeanie, any dessert?
 
Jeanie: Of course.

Fernando listens to Valentine going up the stairs and for a door to close, recognizing it to be the bathroom door.
 
Fernando (to himself but loud enough to be heard): Trust is earned, but respect is given.
 
Tammy: That’s not nice to say behind someone’s back.
 
Jeanie: He is right though.
 
Tammy: That was something that should have been said to her.
 
Fernando: No. It was a mental comment stated verbally, and not meant for others to hear, let alone comment. Now lets leave it alone. We have to rest up and prepare for a meeting and 2 missions to prepare for. Jeanie, you think you can provide Hondo Emergency Support like you did the lat time?
 
Jeanie: I can. But will he accept it?
 
Fernando: He will have no choice but to accept it. Just in case the SWA tries to back stab him, he’s going to need your help if they do. You have Journalistic Diplomatic Immunity through your nation?
 
Jeanie: I have it for several nations.
 
Fernando: Good. If it turns out bad, you may need to use it.
 
Jeanie: Expecting trouble?
 
Fernando: Better to expect trouble and it does not happen then to expect nothing and get into trouble.
 
Jeanie: I see your point.
 
Fernando: Most of the stuff I already have here, so all we need is a good  night’s rest. You should go, Jeanie. Prep your team for an early rise and prepare for the meetings for one.
 
Jeanie: And the second?
 
Fernando: I need some time alone with Tammy.
 
Jeanie: Alright. Clean up while you two are down here.
 
She leaves the kitchen area after putting her plate and utensils in the dishwasher. Tammy turns to watch her go up the stairs and then to Fernando when Jeanie was out of hearing range. Fernando was just pushing stuff around on his dessert plate.
 
Fernando: Its not her best.  
 
Tammy: It wasn’t?
 
Fernando: She experimented on it. Personally, I would have preferred  simple egg custard with caramel syrup.
 
Tammy: Oh?
 
Fernando: But that’s besides the point. Wake me up tomarrow when you do. We have a long day soon after the sun rises.
 
He gets up and takes his plate to the kitchen, even though Tammy tried to intercept them from him. Brushing her off him, he cleans the plate at the sink and puts it in the dishwasher. Pressing the button turns the dishwasher to clean its contents during the night.
 
Walking out of the kitchen, he walks over to the living room and sits on the couch for a moment. Tammy walks up from behind and puts her arms around him, he concentrates hard as to not let his fight reflex from kicking in. Letting out a sigh confirms him coming down to a more relaxed state.
 
Tammy: You OK?
 
Fernando: I’m as expected.
 
Tammy: Thinking about tomorrow?
 
Fernando: Preparing for tomarrow.
 
Tammy: Preparing?
 
Fernando: Going through every possible scenero, every possibility, every action and its reaction.
 
Tammy: And?
 
Fernando: And what?
 
Tammy: And… what have you figured out?
 
Fernando: That’s for me to know and you to follow orders when the times comes.
 
Tammy: You are not going to let me know?
 
Fernando: Time Traveler Ethics: Never disclose any information unless it is the time to disclose it.
 
Tammy: That is so unfair!
 
Fernando: You have a lot to learn and an eternity to learn it. Until then, when your life depends on it, you listen to me, and tomarrow is a day your life if going to depend on it.
 
Tammy could only nod at what he said though not wanting to agree with it.
 
Fernando: Go upstairs and get ready to sleep. I have a few things to do before I go up, but I will there before an hour’s passing.
 
Tammy sighs before replying.
 
Tammy: Alright. I’ll see you in a bit then.
 
Then she kisses him in the cheek before letting him go, walking away and up the stairs. Fernando continues to sit there, listening to her footsteps as she goes to their room. Once he hears the door closes, he slowly gets up out of his chair and walks to the basement.
 
He looks about before looking at his watch. Then he reaches over the work bench and pushes then hooks his fingernails underneath the lower ledge and pulls out a hidden drawer. Grabbing the slightly extended  drawer from the top, he pulls it out of workbench’s shelf and puts it on the work bench. Ammunition boxes are pulled out, and dusted  off before being set down to be opened.
 
Each box is plain brown with no labeling on them, even under the heavy paper tape that is wrapped around, sealing them. His fingernail scores against the tape where it closes a gap, going across a couple of times before it rips. Opening it on the workbench reveals a clear plastic ammunition box. Five by twenty rows if bright yellow bullets in .45ACP casings, all hollow points in design. Fernando nods.  Pulling the magazines from the package from the embassy, filling them all with the yellow bullets, seven bullets a piece, 20 magazines plus 4 of his own which hold 16. A total of 212 bullets, 8 1911s checked, oiled and loaded with a magazine, and 1 extra in the chamber. He looks over at his handy work, 7 guns from the embassy package, and his own.
 
Taking a nearby duffle bag, he puts everything but his own equipment into the bag then zippers it close. His own equipment he puts on his person in the holster and various pockets. He takes the duffle bag upstairs and puts into one of the unused rooms behind the kitchen area.
 
He looks at his watch and sees that it was relative early before the morning hours. Walking to the stairs, passing the computer area once controlled by a robotic bat several months before, the phone on the desk begins to ring. Fernando eyes it before picking the handset off the hook, putting it to his ear.
 
Fernando: Who dares call this private number.
 
An old man’s voice on the other end responds. He recognizes it as belonging to the man who dinner date he and Tammy ruined, Christiano Savonarola.
 
Christiano: Who dare is right. You dare make a mockery of me in front of my own men? But never let it be known that Christiano Savonarola is an unfair man. We are right outside your gates. Come outside for us to discuss it further.
 
Fernando takes his gun out and looks it over, thinking to himself before answering.
 
Fernando: How about you stand by the gates alone and tell your men to leave for 10 minutes.
 
Christiano: How can I trust you that no harm will come to me.
 
Fernando: I am a man of my word. No harm will befall you unless you draw a weapon first. Then the SWA agents who are about the area will pounce on you like hyenas on a wounded gazelle and tear you and your men to pieces. You want to talk, you be there alone.
 
Silence on Christiano’s end for a moment fills the telephone, followed by the sound of an automobile driving away.
 
Christiano: I’m alone.
 
Fernando (as he walks to the front door): Enter the gate when it opens. You and only you are to go through it and to the front door of the house. Anyone following you will be met with deadly force. Don’t tempt me as I can see you on the surveillance cameras around the area.
 
He presses a button on the panel by the door. On Christiano’s end, the gate starts to slowly open. Looking through the peep hole on the door, Fernando sees Christiano walk through the partially opened gate, then presses the button on the panel again to close the gate behind him. Christiano walks to the door, where it opens and he is met with a large bore gun at his face. Fernando slowly steps from behind the door.
 
Fernando: What do you want?
 
Christiano: Trying to put an end to this fight you and my niece have.
 
Fernando: I’m only defending what it mine. Your niece seems to be a greedy terrorist whore hell bent on taking all that does not belong to her.
 
Christiano: Pray tell in what?
 
Fernando: Where shall I start? Kidnapping of my wife’s little sister for one. Death of me and my crew during the bombing of my plane over the Mediterranean Sea. There is the attempted kidnapping of my wife while we were looking for her sister, and the constant hunting of her and those she hires of me and my wife. And that is just the icing on the cake.
 
Christiano: I see.  Now to my understanding, aren’t you supposed to be… dead?
 
Fernando: Are you supposed to be dead as well? I doubt anyone could survive an 80 foot fall off a cliff while going over 100 miles per hour. Somehow you did.
 
Christiano: And a bullet to the chest at point for you. Lets say I got better.
 
Fernando: She missed. As for you, with stolen cybernetics no doubt.
 
Christiano: What medical technologies I received was paid with my own money since the Italian Health Care System is something least to be desired.
 
Fernando adjusts his aim to Christiano’s right eye, puling back on the hammer. An echo  of the hammer pull could be heard where it shouldn’t. A glimmer of sliver steel can be seen in the darkness though Fernando’s eyes could pick up details in the dark better than any owl. Christiano slowly turns around to meet the one behind him.
 
Fernando: Say ‘good evening’ to our guest, Hondo. Though I was expecting you much sooner.
 
Hondo: Had to sneak out the room without alarmin’ the little lady.
 
Fernando: That would explain the bare feet, jeans and t-shirt.
 
Hondo (nodding): I got no issues shootin’ someone bare footed. Now, what do you want to do with the trash?
 
Fernando: Eventually I’ll send him back out. He’s barely legal as it is. First, some questions…
 
Hondo: You seem to like sendin’ trash back to their home.
 
Fernando: As much as I would like to ventilate his skull, I have no qualms with this one. Its his overrated niece that I’ll shoot onsite. Now Mr. Christiano, just one question- where did you and Anne received your cybernetics and to what extent? And speak loudly enough for the microphones to pick up and record your voice.
 
Christiano: I don’t need to tell you where I get my medical supplies from.
 
Fernando: No you don’t, I already know Dr. Fernando Bianchi has a hand in it for he left a messy paper trail covering stolen medical and cybernetic technologies for Anne’s hospital stay, most with your signatures on it. Now that may not be a crime within itself to some, paying for and receiving stolen goods is. But that’s an issue for the Italy’s law enforcement agencies to deal with.
 
Christiano: And why are you telling me this if you already know?
 
Fernando: Just letting you know, just like I’m letting you know, prepare for a funeral for Anne’s going to die. This little personal war between us ends when one of us dies, and it will end tomarrow. And I will guarantee that  nothing within your power will be able to stop our date with death.  Furthermore, you can kill me afterwards, but not before than and if you do, I will return to haunt you to your end of days like I am now with Anne. Understand what I’m telling you?
 
Christiano: I understand. This war between us was never meant to be.
 
Fernando: You killed Tammy’s family, permanently injured her little sister. Nothing in my book justifies that. If Tammy was in Italy at the time of this massacre you ordered, my wife would be dead as well. Now give me a reason why I don’t shoot you now.
 
Christiano: I would like to believe that someone like you are of the business acumen. I got something for you, you got something for me. I think we can barter a deal through negotiations.
 
Fernando: What deal do you want to negotiate?  I can tell you now I’m not interested.
 
Christiano: I’m sure we can come to an agreement. First I get Anne to stop hunting you and your friends and family.
 
Fernando: You have no control over her.
 
Christiano: She will listen to me.
 
 Fernando: I highly doubt that. What else?
 
Christiano: I’m just a man trying to make sure no harm comes to my family.
 
Fernando: When your family comes charging at mine with guns drawn, they have just signed their own death certificates with me as their cause of death. Now out with it.  Know this cant be just about Anne, since you’re such a business man, everything has to be to your benefit and profit. What is the rest of this deal?
 
Christiano: I see. I’m sure that there are reasons to this, as you are one willing to use self-defense as an excuse. I’m sure Anne has a reason to…
 
Fernando (interrupting him): Anne and I had a relationship, she build the bombs and get it placed by a third person. If she believes that bomb is going to injure innocents, she calls me if I’m in Italy and I defuse it. Some 270-some bombs later, she reneges on our deal and puts on a bomb on my plane. I know it was her bomb, her design, she built it. It does not matter that the SWA was on my plane, innocents were to be on that plane, she even admitted it was her bomb. Since then, its been war between us. She struck first at me, my friends, and my family. But #$@! that. What the #$@! you want? I can bet its those video tapes of you offing my wife’s family.
 
Christiano: Spoke like a true business man. Name your price.
 
Fernando: 1.275 Billion Euros, but then again, the tapes are not here. They are on the other end of the Atlantic, on a Web Server, ready to download the files to anyone who requests it with the proper web address. Kill me, and I don’t contact that web server to keep it from dumping its content onto YouTube.  
 
Christiano gulps as the beads of sweat grow on his forehead.
 
Fernando: I want you to walk out of here and I promise you will be left alone. But come back, bother me, my wife, or my family and I wont guarantee your safety. Now leave before I renege on this deal.
 
Christiano: But…
 
Hondo: If I were you, I would start a steppin’ now. I have no qualms about putting a bullet in scum like you.
 
Chiristiano: So this is how its going to be?
 
Fernando: That’s how it is and you got Anne and your Padania asshole friends to thank. Now start walking.
 
Hondo (giving Christiano a push): You heard the man. Start a steppin’.
 
Looking a then both, Christiano hesitates on taking his first steps, but a shove from Hondo sends on him on his way towards the gate. He stops at the gate momentarily before it opens and he walks out.
 
Hondo (as he and Fernando put away their weapons): What is it with you releasin’ scum out like that?
 
Fernando: His friends are not far away from the gate for one and I don’t want attention brought to this house for two. Bad enough everyone knows of this place.  
 
Hondo: If you would have killed him, he would not be returnin’ to tell everyone.
 
Fernando: Its not just him. Remember, Anne came here, and to my knowledge she was never here before.  
 
Hondo (walking onto the house): Hmph…  
 
He stops midway in the living room and the stairs, turning around to see Fernando lock the door. Fernando walks towards him and stop just a couple of feet away from him.
 
Hondo: You done with preparations?
 
Fernando: Huh?
 
Hondo: You done with getting the weapons ready?
 
Fernando: Why do you ask?
 
Hondo: Only reason I see you would be down here and smelling like gun oil.
 
Fernando nods.
 
Fernando: Only the 1911 hand guns and spare magazines.  I loaded them depleted uranium rounds.
 
Hondo: You what?
 
Fernando: We’re dealing with people running on drugs and cybernetic technologies. Unlike those guards we took down, they are not going to feel getting shot even with a large .45 round. But when a depleted uranium round hits, it penetrates and explodes like a miniature RPG.
 
Hondo: I know what they do.
 
Fernando: Well, lets just say that I want to hurt a lot more than just their feelings.
 
Hondo takes a couple of steps towards the stairs, then pauses for a second.
 
Hondo: Speaking of hurt feelings, shower up. You don’t want to be smelling like gun oil and share the bed with Tammy.  
 
Fernando: Alright. I’ll wash my hands before going to bed.
 
Hondo: Take a shower. Its not just on your hands.
 
Fernando: Hmph…
 
Hondo (as he walks to the stairs): I’ll see you in the morning breakfast meeting. And don’t forget to shower up unless you want to hurt more than just Tammy’s feelings.
 
Fernando stands there, watching Hondo go up the stairs. Hearing the bedroom door close, he sniffs his hands and arms, grimacing at the smell of gun oil and gunpowder. He goes up stairs to the showers before going to bed with his wife.