As before C+C is welcomed by all.
*************************************************************

BGC- BEAT OF DEFIANCE II

Chapter 4:  Welcome Aboard

"The principle and the child are out right now. They are secure for the
time being. I thought it would be wise to the time to meet with the
head of security, so you can work out any details."

"You haven't made all the arrangements yourself?" Mr. Ski asked,
head tilted.

"The important details are best left to the experts," was the woman's
reply.

-- later--

"Mr. Ski, you may call me Nimrod"

"The mighty hunter?"

"And warrior, yes. And I can see you are also one as well."

"Is there going to be any problems between us warriors?"

"Between the two of us? No. In fact I was the one who suggested
that someone like you be hired. I'm good, my people are good, but
against the type of threat we may be facing, we would need your
help. However..."

"Most of the troops feel insulted or want to make sure I'm worthy."

"Yes, the latter. Every time a new person has joined, there has been
an ... initiation."

"I see, and the reason you are telling me this?"

"I allow the tradition because it builds comradery and lets me find
out just how well the person handles a stress situation. My troops
never have seriously harmed a newcomer, even with weapons.
Normally I don't even mention the initiation, you however are the
second person I have given advance warning too. And for the same
reason."

"Which is?

"So you know it is only a test, so _You_ don't seriously harm my
people."

"Ah I see. Well now that I know, I think I can promise that.'

----------------------------------------------------

"Alright Nene, welcome the Palatial abode of LA Tina." Tina
announced grandly as the Mouse puttered into the garage area.

"Tina, I'm glad to learn where you live but..."

"Nonsense, you are going to have a good time here, and learn a few
things."

"But I ...."

"Don't want to go through a boot camp right? That is what you are
expecting because Linna has made similar offers before, or made
them as threats right?"

Nene nodded.

"Well, I can see how you might think that, Linna is an aerobics
instructor after all.   But I have something else in mind. You will
have to get physical, but not like that."

Tina took the scooter out of the back.

"What I'm going to do is introduce you to the basics of Capuara and
Unarmed Combat." Tina looked right into Nene's eyes, holding them
in her own gaze. "I am not going to try and turn you into a Combat
Monster Nene. For several reasons, the main one is I'm not that
good of an instructor. Also there is the time factor. Linna has trained
in a concentrated matter for a long time. Priss grew up brawling.   Sylia
and I have both started our training at an early age. You however,
have grown up playing with computers and electronics."

"But you have too!!"

"Not to the degree you have. Who kicked who all over the net a few
days ago?"

"I said I was sorry Tina."

"Don't be. Oh the dump shock was unexpected, but you expected to
win, didn't you?"

Nene couldn't hide a small grin.   "Yes"

"So you were just showing your expertise.   If I wanted to make you
a combat monster I would have to spend a couple of years doing it. I
would have no time to dance, you would have to give up your job at
ADP, and Sylia would be without two of her Sabers. I don't think the
Boomers or Genom could wait. Or I could send you to one set of my
Special Aunts and Uncles, but that would still take at least a year.
And all that assumes you would WANT to.   But give me a few
months, maybe a year if we get real busy, of part time instruction
like we are starting today, and Priss will no longer be teasing you so
much about your hand to hand abilities. She will still tease though,
you know Priss."

Nene felt a little better after Tina's speech.

But the newest Saber was not yet finished. "I would also like to learn
some of your hacks as well. So let's get to the practice room, do a
little stretching, and then see where your strengths lie."

After they had limbered up, Tina had Nene take a stance.

"Go ahead and try and hit me. Take as much time as you want and
as many swings as you want. If   I call 'Break' then stop. If you ever
feel like you are going to get truly hurt, call Break as well."

"OK Tina, if you insist." Nene did take a few swings, Tina just
dodged at first, observing.   The red-haired saber made her first
move.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------
Mr Ski spun and kicked his current attacker. The man went down
making strange sounds as he fought for air.  One of the women
guards rose up from where he had  thrown  her a moment before
and tried a combination on him.  * Not bad * he thought as he
countered, * They almost don't need me."  He broke through her
guard and hit a nerve cluster.  The female warrior dropped
unconscious.  Mr Ski turned to the only  other person in a combat
effective position.  He was surprised when this one started
applauding.

"The purpose of this little get-together was to see if you were good
enough for our little group.  I think you have proven that well
enough.  Although when Soku came at you with his sword I was
hoping you would disarm him  with yours.  I do enjoy seeing two
experts dueling."  As she walked toward him her hands were moving
in an apparently aimless manner.  However Mr. Ski recognized the
motions for what they were.  The motion  sent a very clear message
to those who could read them.  (Hello Clan-brother).

Mr Ski bowed.  "It  would be a pleasure when our duties permit."
(Hello Clan-Sister, have we  met before?)

"We must find time.  Soku still has trouble dealing with female
opposition so we never have a real good match.  I hope you don't
suffer the same problem?" (No, but I have heard of you.)

As the moaning people rose from where they had fallen (or been
thrown)  they never realized that there was a second conversation
going on.  Or that they had two Ninjas in their group.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

"OK Nene, your reflexes are better than what Priss and Linna give
you credit  for.  For your frame you are at a decent level of strength.
You do need to work out more often though.  And you do need to cut
back on some of the sweets"

"Not you too!"  Nene pouted.

"I said cut back.  I know how hard it is to give them up completely.
Ask Louis and Angel about me and Chocolate.  If I didn't dance so
much, well  lets say it wouldn't be pretty."

"Now we have to deal with some of your problems in hand to hand.
One is that you tend to overextend your self,  get off balance.  We
will deal with that.   You also let size intimidate you."

"Wha..."

"True and understandable.  You are the smallest  of us.  Training
with me will help you deal  with that.  Just remember while size does
have meaning in a fight, it is not the only factor.  You've heard me
mention my 'special Aunts and Uncles' right?  Well one of them  is
only a little taller than you and I wouldn't want to tangle with her
even now.  She's gotten a little slower, but a lot sneaker."  Tina
shifted her position  on the mat.  "In fact many of my extended
family are shorter than me.  And many of them would beat me in a
pure hand to hand fight.  Now let us start by showing you how you
could throw someone my size around."  Nene's eyes held mixed
hope and fear.  "And I will teach you  how to fall when someone
throws you around."

-----------------------------------------------------------

"Did it go well?" inquired Nimrod as they rode the elevator toward
the hotels penthouse.

"Yes but there were a few surprises.  Your troops almost don't need
my help."

"As a team yes,  but  I'm worried about a pinpoint attack on the girl.
We might not be able to react in time.  In the worst case you could
delay any attackers until we could respond and at best escape  with
the girl."

"You all love both of them don't you?"

"Yes, both Diamond-san and Mariko have the ability to inspire that
in others.   Part of it comes through in Diamond-san's music."

Shortly after they left the elevator Mr Ski was finally introduced to his
employer and his charge. "Ms. Diamond," he said as he bowed
formally.

"Just Diamond please, and this is my Daughter Mariko."

Mr. Ski knelt down to the seven year olds level. "You know we will
be spending a lot of time together?"

"Yes, Moma says some bad men might try to take me from her and
Aunt Opaaru. But why I don't know."

Diamond looked at her sister. "What have you told him?"

"That 'special talents' might be involved. But not whose and for what
reason."

"I can save you some trouble ladies. Your singing talents are very
valuable Diamond, and your current contract is about to expire. Your
current label, and several others want you and have all made good
offers. They very well might try to kidnap your daughter to force your
hand. However, if that was the only reason, you would have simply
increased your normal security force. But Genom, the USSD and
several others would want you  or your daughter for your less public
talents. I've known that both of you were mutants from the moment I
left the elevator to this floor. You were right to hire me, and I will do
everything in my power to keep your daughter safe."

The two older women looked at Mr Ski in shock. Nimrod had gone
into what Mr. Ski recognized as a threat assesment mode.  Mariko
simply looked on with the innocence of the child.

"How do you know?" Opaaru hissed.

"For a very long time I've had the ability to literally 'sniff out'
mutants.  Or at least smell is the closest sense to describe what it is
like.  The power is still developing however.  In time I will most likely
be able to tell what your powers are by the 'sent'.  However at this
time all I can tell is who is and is not a mutant and if they are a
mutant,  their location.

"What do we smell like?"  Mariko asked.

"You both remind me of a field of heather in bloom."  he said in all
honesty.   "But from the way your security guards and servants
respect you I can see you are 'good people', so I would help protect
you even if you smelled like toxic waste.   There are few enough
good people in the world today.   I don't want to reduce their
numbers."
====================================================================
Ben L. Harrison - HM1(FMF)/USN/RET
Harriso3@ix.netcom.com
====================================================================
Anime Excuse #212: Went  on a  mission with the  Lovely Angels
Anime Excuse #213: Tried to help Linna start her car