Address criticisms to [xazqrten@cox.net]

******************************

At the Ashley Company, Inc. in a classroom, Monday morning:

   Susan had showed up at the front door of the accounting company early. She 
was dressed in street clothes. Her rank and position had not been provided to 
the company. The company personnel only knew that she was going to be one of 
ten people attending a course designed to familiarize supply and accounting 
personnel with contracting procedures and basic contract law including typical 
EA contracts with various alien governments and companies. She had been shown 
to the classroom and coffee mess. As it turned out, she was by herself in the 
room nursing a cup of coffee and a bagel for almost a half hour before anyone 
else arrived.                 

   A young woman of about thirty, and a man a few years older came into the
room. "Good morning. My name is Linda," said the young woman.

   "My name's Warren. You are?" he asked.

   "I'm Susan Wayne. I suppose we're classmates for the next few weeks,"
replied Susan.

   "They didn't show us the coffee mess," said Linda.

   "Come on. I'll show you. I need a refill, anyway," said Susan, getting to
her feet.

   The three of them returned to the classroom ten minutes later to find four
more people staking out seats in the room. "Do any of you know where the
coffee mess is?" asked Susan. All of them shook their heads ‘no’.

   "I'll show 'em," volunteered Linda.

   It was 0830 before the instructor arrived. In that time Susan and her
classmates had introduced themselves and were talking about their jobs and
social lives, that is all except Susan. She had intimated vaguely that she
worked for the EA, and she had admitted that she was pregnant. However, she had 
said nothing about being in the military, and no one had asked. Everyone 
assumed that she was a low to mid-level bureaucrat, and she said nothing to 
cause them to think otherwise.

   Walking into the room, a man, about forty years of age, average height and
slightly overweight with hair just starting to turn gray at the edges, said,
"Good morning. I'm Walter Shells, and I'm your instructor for this course.
Before we get started, I need to ask if any of you are new to the contracting
business." Susan raised her hand. "This is an advanced course, and I can't be
hamstrung hand-feeding beginners. You'll have to leave."

   "I don't think so, Mister Shells. If you check, you will learn that I'm why
this class is being conducted. If I leave, this class ceases to exist."

   "And who might you be?"

   "Susan Wayne."

   "Well, Susan Wayne, we'll just see about that. I'll be back in a few
minutes."

   Ten minutes later, Shells returned, looking miffed. "It seems that you are
correct, Miss Wayne."

   Susan held up her left hand showing her wedding ring. "That's mistress, not 
miss, Mister Shells." Susan had already decided that she did not like this
man. From her point of view, he was a certified jerk. It wouldn't be too long
before her first impression of him was borne out.

   During her lunch period, Susan got permission to come in at 0400 and use
the company gym until 0600 or whenever other company personnel showed up and 
wanted to use it. She made a call to the Minbari embassy and arranged for Shei' 
et stel Macel to meet her at the front door of the main building at 0345 the 
next morning. Charles was working on a project concerning the Drakh she had 
captured during the attack on the Drakh space station. He would be gone for a 
month, at least, if what he had told her was true. She hadn't asked about the 
job because she didn't want to know. Whatever, General Sanchez and his 'Black 
Ops' boys were up to was none of her business.

******************************

O400 next day at the entrance of the company gym:

   Susan and Macel were about to enter the gym when they were approached by one 
of the company's roving security guards. "May I help you?" queried the guard.

   Keying in the code to open the gym door, Susan replied, "The guard at the
front desk gave me the code for the door. We have permission to use the gym 
from 0400 until 0600 every morning as long as we don't interfere with company 
personnel wishing to use the facilities."

   The guard spoke into his two-way radio and got an immediate answer. "I'm
sorry for troubling you. They forgot to put it in the pass down log. Enjoy
your workout." He then continued on his rounds.

   "How do you want to start, Shei' et stel?"

   "We warm up first. We do not need injured muscles."

   For the rest of the time, Susan and Macel worked out every morning Monday 
through Friday from 0400 to 0600. There were never any other company people 
around when they did their workouts. On Saturdays and Sundays, they worked out 
from 0400 until 1000. Susan learned to appreciate the grace and symmetry of the 
Minbari style of fighting with the denn'bok. Macel learned quite a bit about 
Susan's unorthodox fighting methods and how they came about. Both decided that 
their relationship was worth continuing.

****************************** 

0730 hours, third day in classroom:

   "Mister Shells. This class is supposed to be giving us information that can
be used in our present and future assignments."

   "What's your point, Mrs. Wayne?"

   "I've taken the time to research the materials we received on our first day.
More than half of it is badly out of date. Just how is that going to be of any
help in our understanding present contracting procedures?"

   "This course was set up and accepted by the company. It has been taught to
classes for the last five years. Yours is the first complaint about what is
offered. I'm not going to rewrite the course just for you. I have a contract
and I adhere to it. If you have any more complaints, I suggest you tell
someone who cares."

   Susan got up and walked over and stood in front of Shells. She stood nose to 
nose and said, "I intend to do just that. You aren't going to like the 
results." Then she walked out of the classroom.

   Fifteen minutes later she returned and told Shells. "You're wanted in Fred
Raines office, now." She returned to her seat.

   "What did you do, Susan?" Asked Mary Locks, one of her older classmates.

   "I told someone who cares. We might as well take a long coffee break. I
think Shells will be gone for a while."

   As they entered the coffee mess room, Mary asked again, "What did you do, 
really."

   "Last night I reviewed the contract under which this class is being funded.
It has some very fine print, as my lawyer would say, and that fine print is
what defines the class subjects, materials to be used and a number of other
interesting things."

   "You seem to know more than just a bit about contracting," said Ken Sothy.

   "I told all of you that I served on Babylon 5 for almost five years, and
during that time, I not only dealt with Earthforce, but also the League of
Non-aligned worlds, and a whole bunch of other interesting parties. So, I'm
not a 'babe-in-the-woods'."

   "No, you are just a babe, so to speak," commented John Hunter, the youngest 
male in the class.

   "Don't let my husband hear you talk like that, John. He'll agree with you."
That got a laugh out of all her classmates.

******************************

0800 hours in Fred Raines' office:

   Shells walked into Raines' office and started to say something, but he was
cut off immediately. "Sit down, Walter! What in hell are you trying to do? Get 
all of our asses in the sling?"

   "I don't understand, Fred."

   "That much is evident. I just had a visit from one of your students. She is
complaining about the course and materials being obsolete. What about that?"

   "I'm using the same materials I've always used. It meets contract specs."

   "Actually, it doesn't, Walter, and since we have let it slide in the past,
an investigation into our practices would be very embarrassing. If they
investigate one problem, you can bet your ass, they will do a complete audit
on every outstanding contract we have. While all the big ones are, for the
most part, just what they seem, there are things that won't stand up to close
scrutiny. It could cost a lot of people their jobs. The old man is totally
ignorant, and if he finds out, he will clean the whole house. Now, we don't
want that, Walter. So, give this woman anything she wants, and keep your hands 
to yourself this time. Do I make myself clear?"

   "Yes you do, Fred. I'll get busy reworking the materials as soon as I shove
the class off for the rest of the morning. I should be able to get the new
stuff worked up by the end of lunch." 
  
   Raines watched Shells leave, and wondered if his job would still be there
when it was all over. He didn't believe for a minute that the Wayne woman
wouldn't somehow call a full scale IG investigation down upon the company at 
the first opportunity. He looked over her class data sheet one more time. She 
was an EA employee in transit between assignments. Something about the way that 
was worded bothered him, but worried that if he started prying, he might make 
things much worse than they presently appeared to be, he let the matter drop. 
Later he would regret being so reluctant.

******************************

   Everyone had gotten coffee and a snack and were sitting in their seats
awaiting Shells return. Surely enough, about half an hour after he had left
the room, he returned, and he wasn't happy. "Okay Mistress Wise-ass, the
materials are being redone. It will take a few hours. The class is dismissed
until 1300 hours."

   On her way out, Susan leaned into Shells' face and whispered, "If you ever
call me anything other than my given name again, and I'll send you to the
hospital emergency room in pieces. If you doubt me, I'll meet you in the gym, 
anytime."

   Shells, didn't reply. He hated this woman, and he would get his revenge
after she left for her next assignment. If he had his way, she would never see
that assignment, or any other. He had friends in high places. This ploy had
worked in the past. It would work again, or so he believed. Unfortunately, he
did not know with whom he was dealing.

   Susan found several of her classmates waiting for her. "Would you like to do 
a bit of shopping, Susan? We have about four hours to ourselves. You're going 
to need some new clothes very shortly, anyway. We won't be buying anything." 
Susan found herself following her classmates out of the building and toward the 
public transportation facility. She had not been shopping like this in a very 
long time. She hadn't seen anything that remotely resembled a shopping mall in 
almost twenty years, unless one counted the Zocalo on Babylon 5. It would be a 
new learning experience.

******************************

   It was just a week into the course when Susan's female classmates, all of
whom had children of their own started spending most of their lunch hours
explaining when she could expect the pregnancy to start showing, what kinds of 
clothing would work best for her figure, and everything she had ever thought 
about concerning motherhood, and a number of things she hadn't thought of. The 
women were all drawing from their personal experiences and those of their very 
close friends and relatives. The men even sat with them, quietly listening to 
the banter. Once in a while, one would offer a male viewpoint. There was much 
jesting through out the lunch periods. Susan felt good and wondered what she 
might have missed during the long years she had been away from Earth and a 
normal life. God only knew that a military life on space ships and stations 
left much to be desired. Maybe, she thought, it was just a case of the grass 
looking greener on the other side of the fence. At any rate, motherhood was 
fast approaching and her space faring days were behind her, except, possibly, 
for a quick trip to Mars on business occasionally.

   During the second week, Susan became aware that all was not right. The
'girls' had started complaining, during their noontime conversations, about
unwanted advances being made by the instructor. Susan asked why they didn't 
simply file formal complaints. She wasn't surprised when the women explained 
that Shells never did anything when there was more than one person present, 
making it each woman's word against his. In spite of the circumstantial 
evidence, in the past nothing had ever been done to Shells. That was about to 
change. Susan commented that he had not made any moves on her and wondered why. 
Her classmates assumed it was because she had been in his face about the class 
course materials being out of date. 

******************************    

0500 in the company gym:

   Susan and Macel were sitting in the middle of the floor deep into
meditation. Combat tactics weren't all that Susan and the old Minbari were
doing during her morning 'workouts'. Mary Locks entered the gym noiselessly and 
stood watching the two people sitting on the floor apparently deep in 
concentration. Although she had made no noise opening and closing the gym door, 
Susan's psi abilities immediately made her aware of the woman's presence. A few 
moments later, Macel opened his eyes and saw Mary standing watching them. Susan 
sensed his change in attitude and opened her eyes. "We have an observer," said 
Macel, quietly.

   "I know. I felt her essence when she entered the room," replied Susan,
equally quietly.

   "How?" he asked.

   Susan tapped her right temple. "Good morning, Mary. You're in early this
morning," said Susan.

   "I couldn't sleep," replied Mary. "This business with Shells has me
worried."

   "I'll be happy to discuss it, as soon as we are finished here. You can
watch, if you remain quiet."

   "No problem, Susan."

   Looking at Macel, Susan asked, "I could do with a good workout to finish
up. Are you up to it?"

   Macel smiled, arose, and fished his denn'bok out of his clothing. "I take
that as a yes," said Susan.

   Walking to her gym bag, she got out her weapon and rejoined Macel in the
middle of the floor.

   Mary found a spot on the mats along the side of the room and sat down to
watch. Her wait was a short one. Susan and Macel opened their denn'boks and 
proceeded to go through a number of warm-up moves. Mary was shocked at how fast 
they moved. The weapons reminded her of quarter-staves, except that they were 
made entirely of metal and somewhat shorter than a classical quarterstaff, and 
they were evidently collapsible. 

   Susan and Macel went at one another for almost an hour, first one then the
other gaining advantage. Mary was amazed at the exhibition. By the time Susan 
and Macel had finished, Mary was convinced Susan was much more than she had 
appeared to be up to now, but she wouldn't venture a guess about what that 
might be.

   Susan bid good day to Macel then went over to Mary. "You want to talk about 
something that’s bothering you?"

   Mary followed Susan out of the gym to the shower/dressing room. "It
concerns the problems we’re having with Shells. I tried to think of someway
to deal with the jerk, but I'm not very imaginative."

   Susan stripped down to take a shower and Mary drew in a sharp breath at the 
site of the numerous bruises covering Susan's body. "My God. What happened to 
you?"

   "I zigged when I should've zagged at the wrong time. It's not as bad as it
looks."

   "Just how bad was it?"

   "I thought we were going to discuss your problems and fears, Mary," said
Susan, as she entered the shower.

   "He has been hitting on the rest of us female types. He’s getting very
intense about it. I get the feeling that he can cause us trouble after we
leave here. My problem is that there is nothing concrete that I can use to get
him to quit. I'm fifty years old, have two children, one in college and the
other a senior in high school, and I can't afford to have what career I have
trashed. My husband made himself scarce about eight years ago, and I've been 
making it on my own ever since. I'm making it okay so far, but the last thing I 
need is this asshole ruining me."

   Susan exited the shower and toweled herself off. "I'll see if I can
discourage him. However, I'd appreciate it if you girls would write up formal
complaints and give them to me. I'll see that something is done about them
when I get to my new assignment. I promise that no one will take retribution
against any of you."

   "Are you telling me you actually have influence in matters like these?"

   "My new assignment has me working in the Department of Design and
Procurement. I'll be in the commanding officer's office. I do believe I'll
have some influence. After all, I have a reputation to maintain."

   "Are you going to eat breakfast?"

   "Yes. Let's go to the cafeteria. They have fairly good food there."

   Susan and Mary had enjoyed a substantial breakfast, and were on their third 
cup of coffee when Mary commented, "You must work out a lot to be able to eat 
like that and still keep your figure."

   "I've liked exercising for as long as I can remember. I got into the habit
just after I went to work for Earthforce."

   "Not to be nosy, but you have a hell of a lot of bruises all over your
arms, legs, and rib cage. I watched you and the Minbari. You are very damned 
fast. I've never seen another woman move that fast, so I don't buy you as a 
paper-pusher for a minute. And...How can you be so sure that you're going to 
have any influence in your new position, if you've never worked there before? 
I've seen your student information sheet. You're between assignments. That's a 
damned odd way of describing someone's job."

   Susan just studied Mary for at least two minutes. She was obviously making a 
decision. Mary wondered what was so mysterious.

   "I'm going to tell you something, Mary. I'll know if you repeat it to
anyone, and you won't like the results if you run your mouth. If this bothers
you, don't ask me these questions again."

   Mary had not expected this response and was taken aback. After a minute, 
she said, "I accept your terms."

   "I got the bruises fighting a young Minbari warrior Thursday afternoon two
weeks ago. He was trying to kill me. He broke three of my ribs and fractured
four more and my upper left arm. He paid dearly for the attempt with his life.
Minbari doctors treated my injuries, or I'd still be in the hospital or at
least in a body cast. As for being between assignments, I'm an Earthforce
officer. If you watched the news broadcasts about two weeks ago, I was shown 
receiving some awards at the president's state dinner."

   "I never saw the broadcasts. What is your rank, and what will you be doing
at the Department of Design and Procurement?"

   Susan slid her military ID across the table. Mary read it carefully.
"You're going to be Zaleski's relief, aren't you?"

   "Yes. I get my second star as a temporary appointment when I relieve him.
Now do you understand why I don't want you telling anyone about me?"

   "My God yes. Boy... is Shells going to crap when he finally learns who he
screwed with or what?"

   "I'd like to think 'or what'."

   "I'll get you those written complaints one way or the other. I'm competing
for an open slot in Zaleski's office. With this training, I should be a shoo-in 
for it."
   
   "Well, you know who your new boss will be. Is it still that attractive?
Keep in mind that I'm a combat officer, not a 'pork chop'."

   "It couldn't be any screwier than it already is. You’re going to cause
people to crap all over themselves when they find out about you. They're
expecting someone they can 'snow' like the present office holder."

   "Explain that."

   "Zaleski is holding on to retire with his present rank. In the last five
years since he took over, the place has been going to hell. Everyone and his
brother and sister have been building fiefdoms to the extent that fleet
support has been badly compromised. Remember that this is just my opinion."

   "It might surprise you to learn that you aren't alone in holding that view.
We'll just have to wait and see what falls out after I take over."

   Susan noticed that Mary's whole demeanor had changed during their
conversation. Susan asked for another coffee and the check. "It's on me, Mary. 
Now you're in hock to your future boss."

   "I've met a number of generals before. You just don't fit my image of a
general, and you're pregnant."

   "Guilty as charged. Let's go review what we are going to be studying today. 
Would you mind if we get another instructor, Mary? Shells doesn't impress me."

   "You can do that?"

   Susan looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

   "Of course you can."

******************************

0820 in the coffee mess:

   Shells was fixing a cup of coffee when Susan walked up and stood beside
him. He looked at her out of the corner of his right eye, but said nothing. He
didn't like the look on her face. He just knew trouble was brewing, and it
wasn't long in coming.

   "I've been talking to my classmates and I understand you think you are a
real ladies man.' Susan held her hand up. "I'm less than impressed with your
efforts as an instructor. I intend to have you replaced. One way or another,
you will be out of this classroom by 1100."

   Shells turned and looked her in the eyes. "You think so? I've had about all
I'm going to take from you. I don't care who you think you are. As for the
other women, what I say and do is none of your damned business.'

   As he finished the sentence, Susan turned and threw a side kick that almost
brushed his right ear and tore a hole in the coffee mess wall. Giving him a
look that said she would as soon kill him as look at him she said, "That can
be your head."

   "Are you trying to intimidate me?"

   "No," she answered coldly, giving him her best, I'd-rather-kill-you-than-
look-at-you, stare.

   Shells hadn't even seen her throw the kick. It had been a blur. In fact, her
foot had already impacted the wall before the blur even registered on his
vision. He turned and looked at the wall. Looking at her, he finished fixing
his coffee, and walked out and in the direction of Fred Raines' office. 
   
******************************

In Fred Raines' Office:

   "I'm telling you Fred this Wayne bitch is dangerous. She as much as said
that if I don't get out of the classroom, she would do me in. I believe she
means it."

   "What've you done, Walter. People don't just threaten you for no good
reason. You've let it be known what you thought of her ever since she made you 
redo the course material. You do know that if I have to have our people teach 
this class you may lose your contract?"

   "Better lose the contract than my damned head. I'll get this bitch, but
I'll do it my way. I know a lot of people."

   "Why do I get the feeling you have been messing with the women in this
class? Show me the wall. I thought you had black belts in karate and tae kwon do."

   "I do, but the way she threw that kick tells me I'm totally outclassed. She
just turned slightly and her damned foot was alongside my head."

   A few minutes later, Shells showed Raines the hole in the wall. "Jesus
Christ, Walter, I'd need a sledge hammer to do that much damage."

   "Yeah, well, she only needed her right foot."

   Raines was still shaking his head when Susan walked into the room, coffee
cup in hand. "How do you explain this, Mrs. Wayne?"

   Susan looked at the hole in the wall, looked back at Raines and replied
curtly, "Martial arts demonstration. Send me the bill." Then she fixed herself
a cup of coffee and left.

   "I'll get Frank Goldstein to have his people finish teaching this class,"
said Raines, knowing the crap was going to hit the fan. 

******************************    

In the classroom:

   Susan walked back into the classroom sipping at her coffee. Looking around 
the room, she said, "I think we’re getting a new instructor."

   "How do you know?" asked Mary.

   "I arranged for it," replied Susan.

   "Whoever it is, they'll have to be an improvement. They couldn't be any
worse," commented John Hunter.

   It was twenty minutes later when a man, looking to be in his late fifties,
came into the room. He looked over the class and said, "I'm Frank Goldstein.
I'm the department head for our contracts interpretation section. I've been
tasked with teaching the remainder of this course. It's going to take me a few
minutes to assess where you are, and what we need to do to get you back on
track. I'll see you back here after lunch. Hopefully, we can get down to
serious business then."

   "Mister Goldstein, we've lost almost a whole day already," commented Susan.

   "I'm painfully aware of that, Mrs...."

   "Wayne, Susan Wayne."

   "As I said, I'm painfully aware of the situation. However, I think we can
recover. I have some very good people working for me, and I intend to use them 
to teach this class the way it should have been taught to begin with."

   For some reason Susan liked this man. Finally, she realized it was her psi
ability letting her feel his surface thoughts. He meant what he said. She
picked up on his disdain for Shells at the same time. His thoughts about him
ran in the 'arrogant, incompetent bastard' vein. 

   As Susan walked out of the room, Goldstein watched her go, and then he
followed to the door and watched her walk down the hallway. Something about her 
bearing puzzled him, but he couldn't put his finger on it, so, he walked back 
to the desk and continued reviewing the material on the data crystal. An hour 
later, Goldstein called his secretary and set up a meeting with people he had 
decided would be most useful in conducting the class. He was on his way to the 
meeting and walked past a visiting Earthforce officer when he realized what it 
had been about the Wayne woman's bearing that had caught his attention. She had 
the bearing of a military officer, and she exuded the confidence of a member of 
that corps. Her very youthful appearance confused him as to what her rank might 
be, if she was in fact an Earthforce officer. In ordinary circumstances, she 
could at the least expect to be a lieutenant, at the best, she might be a 
lieutenant commander, if she had been fast-tracked. Not knowing her age caused 
him to grossly underestimate her position, since she looked at least ten years 
younger than she actually was. He had no way of knowing that her years in space 
had prevented her skin from suffering the sun damage that a normal planet bound 
person would experience.

******************************

1000 in the local shopping mall:

   Susan and her classmates had spent a half an hour discussing how they would 
like to have the class conducted for the remainder of the course. The men and 
several of the women had gone their separate ways after the discussion 
concluded. Susan was elected spokesperson for the group. Two coffees and three 
sandwiches later, Susan and Mary decided to head back to the classroom. As they 
made their way toward the end of the Mall, Susan noted that she needed to use 
the restroom. Finding the passageway that lead to the Mall office facilities 
and restrooms proved to be no problem. The women were busy conversing as they 
walked and were unaware that they had been followed.

   Susan was just zipping up her trousers when she heard the restroom door
open and heard a sound of someone being hit and falling to the floor with a
short grunt of pain. As she stepped out of the stall, she found herself
looking down the muzzle of a machine pistol. She moved her eyes and took in the 
situation in less than a second. She had already made a decision on action as 
she finished evaluating the situation.

   "Freeze," said the man holding the gun as he shoved the muzzle into Susan's 
face. "If you wanta live, gim'me your money." 

   "I don't carry any money," replied Susan. "I only have a bank card. It's in
my left blouse pocket."

   "Real careful, hand it to me."

   Susan slowly moved her hand toward her left blouse pocket. Without warning, 
she used her left had to knock the muzzle of the gun aside, and at the same 
time she hit the robber in the nose with the heel of her right hand, driving 
the broken bone and cartilage back into his brain. He was dead before he could 
fall to the floor. However, reflex spasm of muscles caused him to squeeze the 
pistol trigger for a full second before they relaxed, sending twenty bullets 
into the restroom overhead. Susan had sensed that there was a second robber 
outside the restroom door and 'read' his decision to see what the hell was 
wrong with his partner.

   Susan quickly moved over near the door, and was prepared when the man
pushed the door open and stuck his gun hand and head into the restroom. She
grabbed his wrist and jerked him on into the restroom. As she pulled him
through the doorway, she stepped closer and reached around his head grasping 
his chin with her left hand. Quickly releasing his right wrist, she placed her 
right hand on the back of the man's head and gave a quick twist, breaking his 
neck. He was dying on the floor before it registered in his mind what had 
happened to him.

   Susan knelt down beside her classmate and checked her pulse and breathing. 
Feeling her mind, she determined that Mary was merely unconscious.

   By this time people from the Mall operator's offices were gathering outside
the restroom door, drawn there by the sound of the gunfire. Susan stepped
through the doorway and told a woman standing near the door, "Call the police 
and an ambulance!" The woman hesitated. "NOW!" said Susan very strongly.

   "Shouldn't we call mall security?" asked another woman.

   Susan looked through the speaker and growled, "Lady, I don't care who else 
you call, but there are two dead bodies in there. So you call the damned
police and an ambulance for my injured friend." 

   The mall security guard arrived in less than five minutes, but Susan
wouldn't allow him to enter the restroom, in spite of his bluff and bluster.
Within ten minutes, the first police officer arrived. Susan surrendered the
incident site to the officer and gave him a preliminary statement. The
paramedics arrived less than five minutes after the police officer and removed 
Mary, who was still unconscious, to a local hospital.

   It had been just over twenty-five minutes since the incident when the
police detective lieutenant arrived on the scene. He read the statement that
Susan had given the first officer on scene, then he approached her.

   "Let me get this straight. You took out two men armed with machine guns. Is 
that about it?"

   "More or less. It was a robbery attempt."

   "I believe you. We just hauled these two into court less than two weeks ago
on armed robbery charges, and they were back on the streets before the ink
dried on the paperwork. The thing that gives me question is that he had the
drop on you, and you still took him out. How did you manage that?"

   Susan gave the detective a blow-by-blow account of the incident. "I know
how to use basic self-defense, Detective..."

   "I'm sorry, Mrs. Wayne, my name is Kevin Jensen."

   "As I said, Detective Jensen, I know something about basic self-defense."

   Another detective walked up to Susan and Jensen. "Is this the lady that
took those two pieces of crap out?"

   "Yeah," answered Jensen.

   "You just made a bunch of new friends, lady. These clowns have been hitting 
people in the malls for quite a while now, but it seems that they’re released 
on bail before we can even complete the arrest paperwork. These are two we can 
close a bunch of cases on... Took 'em out barehanded, eh?"

   "Yes, I did. I have a question of my own."

   "Ask away, Mrs. Wayne," replied Jensen.

   "I'm in class over at the Ashley Company. If you are done with me, I'd like
to check on my injured friend and get back to class."

   "Before you go, Mrs. Wayne, would you show my friend how you took those two 
out?" requested Jensen.

   "Draw your weapon, drop the clip and clear the chamber," requested Susan.

   The detective did as she asked. "Now point it at my head as if you were
going to threaten me during a robbery. The hammer will click when you pull the 
trigger. I'm going to gently slap your face instead of hitting you in the nose 
to illustrate a point."

   The detective pointed his weapon at her head as she stood with her hands
raised, and said, "Stick 'em up!" He felt the gentle slap on his face and his
weapon being brushed aside, before he even realized she had moved. "Jesus
Christ, you're fast!" 

   Detective Jensen had watched and had only seen a blur when Susan had 
moved. "Remind me to never pull a gun on you, Mrs. Wayne."

   "Do you still want me to show you how I took out his partner?"

   "No, Mrs. Wayne. That won't be necessary," replied Jensen. "You may go."

   "Detective Jensen, I'd appreciate it if this didn't make the local news."

   "It won't. Two thugs got wasted in a robbery gone wrong. No one will care."

   "Thank you, Detective Jensen." Looking at his partner, she said, "Sorry
about the slap."

   Jensen's partner waved his hand in a gesture of dismissal. "It was a
pleasure, Mrs. Wayne."

   Susan walked away leaving the two detectives watching her go. After she was 
out of earshot, Jensen's partner said, "Basic self-defense my ass. She's a
freaking expert in at least one, maybe more styles of martial arts."

   "Sam, it's not against the law to know how to protect yourself," commented 
Jensen. "Let's see what the medical examiner has to say."

   "The first one was killed by a perfectly delivered blow to the nose, which
drove cartilage and bone fragments into his brain. He probably never knew what 
hit him. The other one has a snapped neck. It was done by an expert. Who ever 
did this was an expert in hand-to-hand combat killing techniques. It wasn't 
your every day martial arts expert," explained the M.E.

   "Did you see the brunette we were talking to? She took both of them out."

   The M.E. nodded affirmative. "She was a real looker, boys. Apparently, she 
is extremely dangerous too."

   Later that day Detective Jensen explained the situation to the assistant
district attorney. "How do you want to handle it?"

   "The deceased had powder residue on his hand and there were bullet holes in 
the ceiling that support this Wayne woman's version. Her injured friend was 
taken to the hospital and the doctor says her injuries were consistent with 
being hit on the head with a gun. Unless the coroner finds something that 
doesn't track, I'll call it self-defense and close the file. I see no reason
to hassle the Wayne woman or her friend."

   "I couldn't find anything much on her in the regular data banks, so I ran
her civilian identification through the military computers and guess what?
She's an Earthforce officer, and according to her public record, at least the
part that I could access, this is the first time she's been on Earth in almost
twenty years. She comes home and immediately some piece of crap sticks a gun in 
her face and tries to rip her off."

   "What kind of officer is she?"

   "According to her record, she was recently promoted to Brigadier General.
It's hard to believe, because at first look she appears to be in her middle to
late twenties," said Jensen.

   "That's until you look into her eyes. She has eyes that make you think
she's seen a hundred years of hell," chimed in his partner.

   "Maybe she has," commented the assistant district attorney. "It would seem
to explain her expertise in killing. Anyway, like I already said, I see no
reason to bother her any further."

   Sam looked at Jensen and said, "She's a general? Christ, if you don't count
the eyes, she looks young enough to be my kid sister."

******************************

1300 in the classroom:

   Susan and her classmates, except Mary, had just finished seating
themselves. Susan looked thoughtfully at Goldstein and said, "Mary was injured 
in a robbery attempt. I called the hospital and checked on her. She has a mild 
concussion and will be released later this afternoon. Before that, my fellow 
classmates and I discussed the situation we have here. We have a suggestion for 
making things work out right, if it is acceptable."

   [Here it comes,] thought Goldstein to himself. Outwardly he didn't change
his facial expression. "What is your suggestion?"

   "None of us has any of our family with us, so we consider all the time we
are not in class to be for the most part wasted. We are way behind the 'power
curve', so we wondered if it could be arranged to change our class hours from 
what they are now to start at 0700 and end at 1800-1900 with a forty-five 
minute lunch period and breaks as they become necessary."

   "Are you the class spokesperson?"

   "Not really. They asked me to present the proposal."

   "I think we can work something out. We’ll discuss it, after I check with 
my boss. Now, I want to introduce Mrs. Ellen Hawks. She’s our resident expert 
on Drazi treaties and contracts. She’s going to start with the first 
assignment you had last week and begin by discussing the basics of the treaty 
with you. Mrs. Hawks, they're all yours."

   The woman who had been introduced looked around the classroom and said, "You 
all have me at a disadvantage. If you will write your name on this sheet of 
paper, I'll try to address each of you by your proper name."

   Goldstein left the room and began to head toward his partner's office.
   
******************************
        
In Wallace Ashley's office:

   "That's about it Wally. These people are here to learn, not screw off. I
intend to see that they get everything they deserve."

   "You say the Wayne woman seems to be their leader. What makes you think that."

   "I'm retired military, Wally. This woman is a natural leader. Unless I miss
my guess, she is an Earthforce officer. She behaves like someone who is
accustomed to giving orders and having them obeyed without question. I haven't 
done any data search yet, but I think it might be a good idea to do so."

   "Hell, we can do it from my console. It shouldn't take but a minute or
two."
                         
   A minute later Wally and Frank were looking at Susan's civilian file. The
picture was the same one used on her civilian identity card. The data gave
birthplace and date and the fact that she was married to Charles Wayne. There 
was no data on his being a telepath or anything to point to her military
status.

   "Not much on her, Frank."

   "Too damned little, if you ask me. Do a search of available military
records."

   A minute later, there was a new file displayed on the console screen. This
time the photograph was a head shot of Susan in uniform. It didn't look much
like her civilian ID photograph. However, the file made for much more
interesting reading.

   "Looks like you are right, Frank. She is an Earthforce officer. She looks
familiar for some reason. I think I've met her before." Reading down a bit
farther, he said, I'll be damned. I do know her, or at least I used to. I met
her when she was a fighter pilot in training many moons ago and served with
her for a while."

   Frank read down the file and whistled. "Damned, she wears some heavy
hardware. She must be the youngest flag officer in Earthforce. Hell, she may
be the youngest ever. No wonder she seems so 'take charge'."

   "She comes into the company gym every morning at 0400 and works out with an 
old Minbari. Want to bet it isn't to keep slimmed down?"

   "You haven't seen the hole she put in the coffee mess wall, have you?"

   "No. Who's going to pay for it?"

   "She told Raines to have it fixed and send her the bill."

   "Let's not let her know that we know who she is for a while. I want to see
how she behaves in class. I'm interested in seeing how she treats people who
don't know what she is."

   "Not a problem, Frank. Keep in mind that I want to invite her to dinner to
meet my wife and kids. She was my wingman until they had to take me out of 
fighters. She was the best new pilot I ever knew, and she saved my ass on
several occasions. In a manner of speaking, all I am I owe to her. One other
thing, Frank. I'll pay for the damage to the wall."

   As he left Wally's office, Frank was more intrigued with Susan
Ivanova-Wayne than ever. [Very interesting woman,] he thought to himself.

******************************

In Frank Goldstein's office just after 1600 hours:

   Frank had earlier called Ellen Hawks during a break to let her know that
the students' suggested schedule change was acceptable and would begin the
next day. 

   Walking into Goldstein's office, Ellen Hawks remarked, "Those are the best 
students I've seen in a very long time, Frank. They’re all business and the 
Wayne woman is very sharp. It seems that she has had a great deal of practical 
experience dealing with alien cultures. I learned quite a bit about the Drazi 
that I never knew about before."

   "Aren't you supposed to be teaching them?"

   "Of course. I was just commenting that these people are fun to teach. They
want to learn. It's not like most of the classes we teach here. So many of
them have people in them that are just marking time."

   "And the Wayne woman isn't just marking time."

   "No she isn't, and she is the class leader whether she admits it or not."

   "I'm not at all surprised, Ellen. She has that quality about her."

   "There is something about her you aren't telling me, isn't there?"

   "I'll tell you when the course is finished."

   "I'll need about two hours tomorrow morning to finish my portion of the
course."

   "Have a good evening, Ellen."

******************************

In Susan's apartment:

   Susan opened the door to her apartment and was immediately aware that there 
was someone else there. "I can feel you, Charley."

   Her husband came into the front room wearing just a towel around his 
waist. "We hit a point where I have a few days free. I decided to come see you."

   Quickly wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing herself against him, 
she proceeded to try and choke him with her tongue. After kissing him very 
deeply, she stepped back and his towel dropped to the floor. Susan made a face 
and said, "I have someone coming over at 1800. I’m going to help her catch up 
what she missed this afternoon."

   Charley looked at her for a few moments. "In that case, I should put on
some clothes."

   "Not yet. I'm going to change into something more comfortable. You can help 
me."

   An hour later, Susan and Charley were eating supper when her doorbell rang. 
It was Mary Locks. Mary entered the apartment and Susan introduced her to her 
husband. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

   "No. We're just eating some supper. Have you eaten?"

   "Not really. I still have a headache from this morning."

   "What happened this morning?" asked Charley.

   Susan explained, leaving out her part in the situation. "Since I have such
a good memory, I volunteered to help her catch up. I'd have done it even if I
had known you were here. It looks like she’ll be working for me after I
relieve Zaleski." 

   They had just returned to eating when there came the sound of the doorbell
for a second time. This time it was the two police detectives Susan had met
that morning. "What can I do for your Detective Jensen?"

   "We came into possession of some interesting video about the incident this
morning Mrs. Wayne. I think you will find it interesting. It causes me to ask
a question that never occurred to me this morning."

   "You think I was lying to you?"

   "Not at all. If anything, this video actually proves that you were extremely 
accurate in your version of the events. That's why we have another question. We 
discussed this with the district attorney's office and it changes nothing about 
his decision that you acted in self-defense. As I said, it proves that you did 
exactly that."

   "What is he talking about, Susan?" asked Charley, emphatically.

   "Mary and I were involved in a robbery attempt this morning. It’s how Mary 
was injured. It didn't amount to anything," responded Susan. "Detective Jensen, 
meet my Husband Charles Wayne. Charley, this is Detective Kevin Jensen. He was 
in charge of investigating the robbery."

   "Mr. Wayne, my partner, Sam Evans, and I work for the homicide division. We 
were called in because the wood-be robbers were killed in the robbery attempt. 
Your wife killed the two perpetrators. I'm going to show all of you the video 
and then I have one more question for your wife."

   Charley went and got his brief case. Out of it, he pulled a data crystal
reader/projector. "It's something I've found useful over the years. It was a
gift for a job I did for Earthforce a number of years ago."

   Charley fitted the crystal provided by Detective Jensen into the unit and
turned it on. It projected the video on the far wall. After it finished,
Jensen asked, "How did you know he was going to rush through that door?"

   Susan looked at Charley and then answered, "Detective Jensen, I'm a
telepath - as is my husband."

   Mary drew a sharp breath when Susan made her admission. Detective Jenson, 
without hesitation, said, "That answers our question, Mrs. Wayne. We are sorry 
to have bothered you."

   "Could I get a copy of that crystal, Detective Jensen?" asked Susan.

   "Will your reader/projector make copies, Mr. Wayne?"

   Charley dug a crystal and another small piece of equipment out of the
briefcase. "It will as soon as I plug this into it."

   Ten minutes later after the detectives had made their exit, Charley looked
at Susan and said, "You weren't going to tell me about that. Were you?"

   "There was nothing to tell, Charley."

   "I didn't know you were the one who killed them, Susan, but after watching 
you in the gym, I'm not surprised. I didn't know you're a telepath."

   "Charley is a former psi-cop and I'm a late blooming telepath. Sometimes it 
comes in handy. Like this morning, it saved our lives."

   "Can we get started on the class work. I know you have better things to do
than tutor me."

   "Don't bet on it," Susan said, giving Charley a smug look.

****************************** 

END PART 16

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