by David Archer
“Hear, hear,” Neil said. “That looked pretty damn physical to me!”
Allison tipped back her beer bottle and took a long pull. “Whatever it was, it seems to have solved a major problem, so you get a pat on the back, this time.” Another drink finished off the bottle, and she tossed it into the trashcan behind her, then got to her feet. “Okay, children, it's getting late and I got a busy day tomorrow. I'm going home, but I'm going to put the word out tomorrow morning that you've all got the next two days off. I strongly suggest you use it to make sure that any other differences between you are worked out as effectively as this one has been. As I said earlier, I decided on your first mission, and you're going to need each other.” She turned without another word, and walked off toward her car. The rest of them waved and called their goodbyes, but all they got in response was a wave of her fingers over her shoulder. Her car started a moment later, and she was gone.
It was Sarah who broke the silence. “Okay, all BS aside, would you really have let Moose go if he had kicked your butt?”
Noah nodded solemnly. “You all heard me, that was the deal I offered.” He looked at Moose. “Don't misunderstand me—it wasn't that I wanted to get rid of you, because I didn't. One thing I've already figured out about the Dragon Lady is that she's pretty sharp, so if she decided you're the best man for my team, then I've got to figure she's right. This whole thing tonight wasn't about trying to get you off my team, it was about trying to make you want to be a part of it.”
Moose stared at him for a good thirty seconds before he said a word. “Couple of things happened here tonight,” he said. “First off, Neil kind of got to me when he said he found proof that you told the same story all the way through, about what happened back in Iraq. From the articles that I read, it sounded like you only came up with that story after you were court-martialed, so that made me feel a little better about you.” He took a drink out of his bottle of beer. “Then, you made me your offer. If you had made that offer before I heard what Neil had to say, I probably would've tried even harder to whip your ass, but after that, I wouldn't have quit the team even if I had won the fight. Just the fact that you gave me that chance, that said a whole lot about you. I'm with you, now.”
Neil waved a hand in the air. “Hey, just to make sure nobody has the wrong idea, I have been on your side the whole time, Noah. You don't need to beat the snot out of me, we good on that?”
All three of the others laughed. “We're good,” Noah said. “No problem.”
“If we're going to have a little confession time, here,” Sarah said, “I should probably get in on it, too. I've been a little less than enthusiastic about having you for a team leader, Noah, because like everyone else, I heard about your—emotional issues?” She shrugged her shoulders. “I don't think it was the same kind of thing, but I grew up with a father who had absolutely no idea how to show emotion. It was like being raised by a machine, and that can really mess with a girl's self-esteem. I had some issues, especially back in my early teens, but I loved the old sonofabitch. When I heard about your problems, I was scared to death that it was going to be like going back home, again.”
Noah smiled. “I think there's a big difference between not feeling any emotion, and just not being able to show it. You see me smiling, joking, laughing—sometimes you see me acting sad—what you all need to understand, if this is going to work and we're going to become a real team, is that all of that is an act. There is no emotion behind it, there's no feeling of any kind.” He let the smile slide away. “I don't think like one of you. Here's how my thought processes go on our team. I'm looking at three people sitting here with me, and I know that each of you brings talents and abilities to the team that will make it far more likely that we can succeed in whatever mission we're sent out on. That makes each and every one of you extremely important to me, and in a normal setting that would mean that I considered you each to be my close friends. For me, what that means is that keeping you safe is the most important thing on my mind, second only to completing the mission. When it comes to the mission, we are soldiers, just like the ones I served with in Iraq, just like the ones Moose served with in the Navy, and the sad fact is that soldiers are sometimes expendable. I will always, and I mean always, do everything I can think of to keep each and every one of you safe and healthy, so that we all come home from the missions. That I can promise you.”
The three of them sat there at the table and looked at him for a moment, and then Moose raised his bottle into the air. “To the team,” he said. “Let's make it the best one there is.”
Sarah clinked his bottle with her own. “To the team,” she said.
Neil let out a long sigh, then sat forward and clinked as well. “To the team.”
Noah raised his own bottle and they all toasted again. “To the team,” he said. “We've all got to have each other's backs, every minute when we're out there. Are we all on the same page?”
All three agreed that they were, and they drank to their new union. When the bottles were back on the table, Sarah looked at Noah.
“So, I'm just curious, but if you don't have emotions, have you ever had a girlfriend?”
Noah nodded. “Yes, a couple. I dated some in my teens, and I had a couple of girlfriends even since I joined the Army. I'm good enough that my human act keeps them happy for a while, but I don't ever let anyone get too close. Wouldn't be fair to them.”
Neil winked at Noah. “Sounds like Sarah might want to apply for the job,” he said, and a moment later Sarah pushed him out of his chair on to the ground.
“No, I don't! God, Neil, why do you have to be such an ass?”
Neil laughed as he got back up to his chair. “Excuse me, but have you seen me? I'm a stretched-out beanpole with zits! Being a smart ass, and you can take that any way you want, is all I've got going for me.”
They sat and talked for another hour, and by that time, each of them had consumed enough alcohol that Noah wasn't happy about them driving. With Moose backing him up, he managed to convince them all to simply go upstairs in his house and choose a guestroom for the night.
He went to his own room, took a quick shower and dried himself off, then walked naked out of his bathroom. He stopped just past the doorway, when he realized that Sarah was sitting at the foot of his bed.
“Sarah? Did you need something?”
She didn't answer, but simply stood up and looked at him. She hooked her thumbs into the waistband of her shirt and pulled it off over her head, dropping it onto the floor. The rest of her clothes quickly followed, and she walked over and put her arms up and around his neck. She pulled gently, and he leaned his head down so that their lips met.
When the kiss ended, Noah pulled back and looked into her eyes. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Sarah looked into his eyes for a moment, then said, “I do. You know we're not allowed to have any real relationships, right? I figure we need to find ways to help each other out. Sometimes, I just need a little intimacy, just to be close to someone, but the last thing in the world I want right now is to have any real romantic feelings involved. That makes you the safest game in town. As long as you don't mind being used that way, we can have a little fun, now and then.”
Noah put on a friendly grin. “Sounds like you thought that out logically,” he said. “My only concern might be that the other guys would get jealous. Should we keep this quiet, just between us?”
She shook her head, then kissed him again. “Moose is into big women, and he's just not my type, anyway. I prefer a man with a brain, but Neil is just a kid. You might not consider yourself human, but at least you are intelligent, and a man.”
Noah lowered his eyebrows, squinting at her. “According to the dossiers they gave me on each of you, you're only two years older than Neil. There's a bigger age difference between us than that.”
Sarah giggled. “I wasn't referring to his age, I'm talking about his whole attitude, the way he acts. He reminds me of a twelve-year-old b
oy who lived next door to us a couple years ago. He's just too much of a kid for me, but the whole point of that was that I don't think we need to keep any secrets.”
Noah shrugged, and kissed her once more, then took her by the hand and led her to the bed. He tossed back the covers and pushed her gently onto the mattress, then slid in beside her.
Like always, Noah woke at five thirty, this time to find himself tangled around the blonde girl in his bed. He managed to extricate himself without waking her, then quietly got out clean clothes and went to take another shower. When he came out of the bathroom fifteen minutes later, Sarah was still sleeping, so he woke her gently.
“Hey, it's morning,” he said when her eyes were opened and focused on him. “I'm going down to the kitchen to make breakfast, but I wanted to wake you up before I start yelling up the stairs at the guys.”
She yawned, stretched and then smiled at him. “Sounds good,” she said. “Can I use your shower?”
Noah pointed toward the bathroom. “Right in there, help yourself. I'm gonna go make some coffee.”
He went down the hall to the kitchen, and started a pot of coffee, then went to the base of the stairs. “Hey, in case you haven't noticed, it's morning time,” he shouted. “Breakfast will be ready in thirty minutes. Anybody who isn't here then doesn't get to eat!”
He went back to the kitchen, opened his refrigerator and took out a dozen eggs and a package of sausage links, and set about making breakfast for his guests.
Neil and Moose found their way to the kitchen ten minutes later, and Sarah joined them ten minutes after that. Neil's eyebrows shot up when he saw Sarah, because she was wearing one of Noah's polo shirts, and possibly nothing else.
“But you're not the least bit interested in being Noah's girlfriend, right? I mean, that's why I got tossed on the ground last night, isn't it?”
Sarah smiled sweetly at him, then pointed at the tile floor under the stool he was sitting on. “That would hurt worse than the ground did,” she said. “We all know we can't ever have a real relationship, so don't give me any shit about this.”
Neil glanced down at the floor, then smiled at Sarah. “Point taken,” he said, then turned back to the cup of coffee sitting in front of him.
Noah's kitchen featured a bar that was big enough for several people, and had six stools. Since it was close to the coffee maker, everyone had gravitated to it. Noah set a cup of coffee in front of the stool Sarah had taken, then poured a second cup for himself as he cooked. His range had a large griddle right in the center, which made frying a dozen eggs at once pretty easy, while the sausage was sizzling in a skillet.
“Anything I can do to help?” Sarah asked.
Noah looked up at her and grinned. “Plates are up in that cabinet,” he said, pointing, “if you wouldn't mind getting them down. This is almost ready.” The toaster popped as he was speaking, and he quickly buttered four more slices of bread.
Sarah got the plates and set one in front of each of their stools, then got lucky and opened the silverware drawer on the first try. She got out forks and knives for each of them, and set them near the plates. “Nice kitchen,” she said.
“Yeah, all this was here when I moved in,” Noah said. “Looked like it was all brand new, too.”
She nodded. “Yeah, they gave me an apartment in Kirtland, and it was the same way, looked like it was all set up just for me. Even the colors and furniture were the kind I like.”
“Me, too,” Moose said. “I got a house in Kirtland, and it's all set up the way I'd want it, as if I had chosen it myself. They do seem to know a lot about us, don't they?”
“It's called quantitative psychology,” Neil said. “It allows them to create mathematical models of human attitudes and psychology, even down to preferences and emotional behaviors.” He looked at Noah. “I bet you're driving them crazy. Somehow, I can't see them being able to predict you all that well.”
Noah shrugged. “I'm not real picky about most things,” he said, “but they did manage to get me the kind of clothes I like to wear, and they knew what kind of razors and shampoo and such I like. As for the house, I think it's probably beautiful, but I can't really say that it appeals to me aesthetically. As long as it's functional, I'm content.”
“Content?” Neil asked. “Wouldn't that be an emotional response?”
Noah shook his head. “No. Contentedness comes from an awareness of security. As long as you're not in danger, and there's no immediate situation that threatens your security or causes you discomfort, then you should be content. And speaking of content, breakfast is ready.”
Sarah got up and handed him each of their plates, so that he could load them down with eggs and sausage and toast, and then she passed them back. She gave Moose his plate first, then Neil, then took her own and sat down. Noah joined them at the bar a few seconds later.
“Man,” Moose said around a mouthful of egg and sausage, “this is really good. Thanks.”
“Yeah, thanks,” Neil said, the same way.
“Hey, no problem,” Noah said. “Gotta keep my team healthy and fed.”
“This is a good start,” Sarah said. “These really are good.”
They finished breakfast, and Noah made a second pot of coffee so that they could sit and talk for a bit.
“So,” he said. “The dragon lady says we're looking at a mission in the not-too-distant future. Does anybody know anything about how they train for a specific mission, here?”
Moves nodded. “I got some friends who have been out already,” he said. “Somewhere on this huge compound, they got a place they call Hollywood. They set up whole neighborhoods or mockups of specific buildings, so that we can literally practice whatever plan you come up with.”
“I guess that's what she meant when she mentioned simulations,” Noah said.
“Yeah, that would be it. They actually run through missions with people playing the parts of the bad guys, using special paintball guns that look and feel real, but shoot those little pellets that go splat.”
“I heard a rumor a couple of days ago,” Sarah said, “that they were building a set, you know, like a movie set. Something about Mexico, but that's all I've heard.”
Noah pursed his lips in thought. “If it's Mexico, then we're probably talking about something to do with a drug cartel.”
Neil was shaking his head. “Bet not,” he said. “Maybe you guys don't pay enough attention to the news, but Mexico has been known for a while now as the conduit of choice for terror organizations to get their people and materials into the US. They use the same coyotes that the Mexican nationals use to sneak into the country, so I guess those guys don't care whose money they take. My guess is they got a line on somebody who's facilitating, and want you to take him out.”
“Either way,” Noah said with a shrug, “it's not a mission I'd have a problem with. Once we get our briefing, I'll probably want to sit down and get some input from you guys before I decide on the plan.”
Neil made a face. “Oh, and here, I thought you were going to be the decisive leader, the dictator who tells us what to do and expects us to do or die. You're actually going to ask our opinions? That could be a little bit on the frightening side, just so you know.”
Noah looked at him, his face blank. “One of the things I learned in the Army is that everyone sees things from a different perspective. If I get your opinions on this mission, it may give me another way of looking at something that could make the mission more successful, or at least help save our lives in the process. Trust me, I'm quite capable of making the decisions, and when I give an order I will expect it to be followed completely and without hesitation. Is that understood?”
Neil's eyes were wide. “Perfectly,” he said. “You don't even need to tell me what the penalty is for hesitation.”
Moose laughed. “One of the things about our fearless leader that I like is the fact that if one of us goes rogue, or puts the rest in danger, he isn't going to hesitate to take that one out.” He
looked pointedly at Sarah. “Even if he's sleeping with her.”
Sarah glared at him. “Jealous much? For the record, where I sleep, or who with, is none of your business. And trust me, that part of him that you like is the very reason I'm dressed this way this morning. Great sex and no entanglements.”
Moose laughed again, but this time he softened it with a genuine smile. “I wasn't being jealous, Sarah,” he said. “You're sweet, but you're not my type. I was actually being a bit protective, because I've come to look at you like a little sister. I just didn't want to see you getting hurt, or getting so complacent about being close to the boss that you might make a mistake. Mistakes get people killed, and I don't want see you in a body bag.”
Noah nodded. “Moose, you've made a good point. You're right, and if I ever feel that one of you is a danger to the team or to the mission, I wouldn't hesitate. That's just the way I am, and you all need to understand that. It would never be anything personal.”
“And you'd never feel even a moment's regret, would you?” Neil asked.
“No, I wouldn't. Once again, that's just the way I’m built. It's not something I chose, and it's nothing I can change. On the other hand, it's the same ability that will allow me to act without hesitation to protect one of you. I won't have to stop and think about whether I should shoot the bastard who's pointing a gun at you, because it will be obvious to me. I'll shoot.”
“Well, that's at least a little comforting,” Sarah said.
SEVENTEEN
The team spent the rest of the day at Noah's place, and he took them on a tour, showing them the barn and other buildings. Sarah loved the mechanical shop, where Noah had already removed the non-running engine from the old truck and was preparing to rebuild it.
“Not bad,” she said, looking over the tools that were there. “Been a while since I've seen a private shop that was so well equipped. You know what you're doing?”