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Oh, this one was much easier -- I'm not grumpy about it all! **** They rode in silence, each lost to their own thoughts as to what happened and what they would soon be doing.  By mid-morning, buildings rose up on the horizon, spiking the sky with the points of their cell antennas and lightening rods, each tipped with a slow, blinking red light to warn low-flying aircraft that they were there. "It'll take us about four or five hours to drive back," Red Impulse as they neared the outskirts of the city, "so don't think we need to rush through this.  Find what you need and get exactly what you want.  I'm not eager to get back to the inn or that village any time soon and I think the fewer people we see there, the better off we'll be at the moment." Jun nodded her head; so far, she was in total agreement with him.  She had little desire to go back and see who might still be waiting for them and Jun had the unshakeable feeling that whoever they were, they would try something else when they realized that the previous night's bomb and attack were unsuccessful. Her only regret, really, was that her bike was still there.  Granted, she had parked it off to the side of the building, in a small spot that no one would think to look unless they were really looking for it, but still, she worried that they might have tampered with it. Don't be silly, she chided herself.  Nambu himself had made sure that that bike, for all it looked like just a regular motorcycle, was anything but.  Like the rest of their vehicles, it needed more than just a key to get started -- it required a fingerprint.  More precisely, one fingerprint from one of the team.  No one else could start them, even in civilian mode. Oh, there were ways to disable the system and make them so that others could use them, but Nambu had given them all dire warnings against doing that.  And the bike was not without its own defenses, even without her there.  With the security alarm turned on, if anyone even tried to touch it, they would receive a mild electric shock.  Not a lot, no more than if someone scuffled their feet across a carpet and touched metal, but just enough to make them step back and think twice about trying it again. If they insisted on getting closer, well, the shock would steadily increase until they ultimately either gave up or passed out, whichever came first.  It wasn't something that Jun ever felt the need to test, and she had no idea if it had ever been activated before, but just knowing it was there gave her peace of mind. She turned to look out the side window as she turned her thoughts back to the task at hand.  Store fronts rolled by, the city now in full swing of the day, the sidewalks changing over from the hurrying, coffee-cup-carrying, grumpy-looking office workers to dog walkers and nannies pushing strollers. To Jun's surprise, instead of simply parking the car, Red Impulse turned into a parking lot for a rental car company.  Within minutes, the car they had been driving was exchanged for another and when they left, Red Impulse exited onto a different street. He thinks we're being followed, Jun thought, analyzing the situation as well as scanning the building fronts that surrounded them.  She didn't see anything suspicious; just a lot of normal people, busy in their own lives, hurrying to the next part of their day. She looked up again at the blank windows in the buildings and felt a shiver ripple through her.  There could be anybody watching from one of those windows, she thought, and they would never know it.  Being a spy seemed a lot easier in theory than in practice.  She looked at Red Impulse and studied his profile a moment.  He had been a spy for quite some time, of that she was sure, so just how paranoid did always thinking that someone was watching and following make him? He rarely-to-never let his guard down and he certainly never seemed to sleep for very long.  All of that had to get to a person, Jun thought.  Then another thought came to her as she remembered the island.  That was probably the one place he could relax.  If she were him, Jun began to doubt that she would ever leave that island.  It was too tiring to constantly be trying to think about someone following, watching, waiting. But they were, she reminded herself.  That little 'gift' proved it and it would probably serve her well to be a bit more paranoid too. Red Impulse parked the car in a public lot and got out.  Jun followed, relishing the time to stretch out her legs and unfold from sitting so long.  They walked out of the parking lot and took their time as they strolled down the sidewalk.  Jun had no idea where they were headed, but Red Impulse seemed to have a destination in mind.

RI better hope Jun's not annoyed with him, or she could make this a living hell.

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EW: Aw, poor Keyop! Sounds like his troubles aren't over yet!

RIgirl -- I hope Jun's question about how paranoid RI can get is purely rhetorical and she doesn't want to find out! EW -- They should try sticking him in the freezer for a few seconds, I heard it works!

Originally posted by RIgirl"It'll take us about four or five hours to drive back,"

I pity Jun for being stuck with him an a car for that length of time! She is indeed a brave woman! LOL EW: You would think with all the technology at CN, that they would be able to get that stuff out of his hair with no problem! I'm surprised Zark didn't have an idea......(Oh no...I really went there didn't I?)

Originally posted by Redbird EW: You would think with all the technology at CN, that they would be able to get that stuff out of his hair with no problem! I'm surprised Zark didn't have an idea......(Oh no...I really went there didn't I?)

Yeah, but I figured there are bound to be some problems technology can't easily solve (gum -- especially alien gum -- in the hair, the common cold, socks disappearing in the laundry...) And I could've put Zark in, but that would've only made my response at least 7 times longer!

Clearly this Spectran gum is an infection that will grow to cover the planet!

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KT: Uh oh!

Originally posted by ChrisW KT: Uh oh!

But, when you think about it, it's not all that surprising, is it?

Not surprising at all, Chris & EW, more like inevitable!

EW: Yep, we've all been there with the bad hair days! Of course, Keyop can always just wear the wig he had on for the Dirty Named Five concert until it grows back in! LOL Redbird: Oh, I don't know. Considering what's coming up, you might want to pity him instead. hehehe KT: Poor Nambu -- his carefully structured world is no longer in his control, is it?

RI-Lord help someone if they mess with Jun's bike. EW- Poor Keyop! Its starting to sound like The Blob. KT- I think I've got some catching up to do on this one.

I can see why this is causing tension. Hopefully Ken will be able to calm things down! I don't put much stock in Nambu...