The PRIMUS agents filed out of the conference room silently. During the meeting MacGowan’s easy wit had given way to grim resolution, and the other agents followed his lead as the Golden Avenger and David Armitage had outlined the extent of the conspiracy Rubicon was a part of. Only Canfield hadn’t seemed particularly shaken by the revelations, Tirzah noted.

Of AI Inc.’s investigative staff, however, only Tirzah and Martin were a part of the meeting, though there were five PRIMUS agents and Avenger Johnson – David had been deliberately protecting the rest of the staff. Tran had left a safe forty-five minutes before the other PRIMUS agents had arrived, though David had mentioned she would be working with them when they infiltrated Rubicon.

"Do you have a moment?" David turned to Martin. The energy he’d shown during the meeting had left him – even his perfect posture seemed to be unusually relaxed and his eyes were slightly bloodshot. "You, too?" he asked Tirzah. "I’d like to talk to both of you about something – actually, we both would," he glanced at Johnson, who nodded once and closed the conference room door.

"Sure," Martin replied, gathering back up the papers he'd handed out during the briefing, counting them as he went. "Just let me run this through the shredder before I forget and they wind up in the trash intact." He stepped over to the aforementioned device and stacked the briefings in the feed tray, checking the settings to make sure they were at maximum before he hit the 'Start' button. As the low hum of the machine powering up sounded in the corner, he turned back to the two men and nodded to them.

Tirzah merely nodded and shut down her laptop, saving the files to disk, which she then handed to David.

It was Johnson who broke the silence. "You'll have to forgive me if I don't pull any punches here," he began bluntly. "We don't have a heck of a lot of time, I need to make sure that you both understand the risks. We have reason to believe that you are both in a significant amount of danger here. My agents I can protect -- they're ostensibly assisting with one of Avenger Chow's investigations into something more innocuous. But your activities in the Midwest, Martin," he put his hands on the desk and leaned forward, "have brought you more attention than I consider to be safe. I would under any circumstances recommend what I'm about to propose in a few minutes. But Tirzah," he stopped and glanced at David.

Armitage took the opening. "Your involvement now is not damning," he said gently. "There is little to point to you, except that you work here. But while Martin has gained a particular kind of notoriety with his activities in Nevada and more recently, as far as they're concerned, you don't exist. At this point, you can walk away from this and you will be OK -- I can protect you. But if you go through with this mission, you will likely have to undergo some drastic measures to protect yourself -- the same measures we're about to recommend to Martin."

Martin picked up his mug of tea and silently studied the insides of it, as if reading his future in the scattering of leaves in the bottom.

Tirzah thought for a long moment, then rose and walked over to look out the window. "Drastic measures, you say. Like, walking away from everything I have, everyone I know? Rarely, if ever seeing my family? Changing my name, my identity? Being -- what's the movie with Schwartzenegger -- being 'erased'?" She paused and, turning back to look at Armitage and Johnson, chuckled dryly. "Again? David, I barely exist now." She shook her head. "Martin's got a lot more to lose than I do. From what I've seen, *someone* has to put a stop to this, and if I can...." She shrugged. "Then let's do it."

The Golden Avenger laughed softly, with obvious relief. "Thank you," he said with genuine warmth. "I don't think we'll be able to pull this off without you."

"But this *is* a drastic proposal for Martin," David interjected. "What we're proposing -- to literally bring Rubicon down and make sure their research can't be used again -- is going to lead people to our doorstep. That they have Mira would be enough reason for Martin to want to get her out...and possibly do more," David said carefully, turning to Martin. "Your history is easily enough obtained -- your motives would be clear. We could arrange things to seem as though you were acting alone -- without the benefit of the agency." David's eyes seemed to bore into Martin's. "You have our support -- and you will continue to, always. But if we as a company are to survive, the conspiracy needs to think that you are alone."

"This does not mean that you *will* be alone," Johnson quickly stated. "In fact, I think we can protect you -- and your daughter -- quite well. But it might mean...will mean...leaving this life for good."

"The Witness Protection Program?" Martin asked skeptically. "No thanks – I know too much about how they're set up."

"No, of course not," Johnson replied. "So do I. I'm thinking of something less...official. But with a better payoff in the end."

"All right," Martin said, leaning back in his chair. "Sell me on it." Like I'm going to let Mira rot in there no matter what he says, he added to himself. I'm not doing another partner's funeral.

"What we’re thinking about doing," David started, "Is setting up new identities for you both – what you were working on this morning with Tran," he added to Tirzah. "But not just setting up a life for you somewhere else –"

"It’s always been my belief that the best hiding place is in plain sight," Johnson added, running a hand over his short blond hair. "Really plain sight in this case – like in PRIMUS."

"As a member of the organization?" Martin asked, standing up and moving to the window. Interesting idea, he admitted to himself. I hadn't thought of that.

"Excuse me?" Tirzah asked. "I thought PRIMUS...." Don't put your foot in it here, kid, he's the boss of the bunch. "I thought certain members of PRIMUS were... among the people who'd be out to get us."

Johnson shrugged. "Most aren’t – and who would think of looking for you there?"

"You have a point there." God knows Gene won't, she thought with relief.

Martin turned back to face the two men. "It's actually a very good idea. There's only one problem -- I can't pass the physical."

Hmmm.... Tirzah mused. I wonder if I can. Wait a minute. Why can't he? I'm the one who's let herself get out of shape.

"Why not?" Johnson asked, squinting slightly.

Martin looked at the two men for a moment. Well, I guess it's moment of truth time, he sighed to himself. Stepping over to the table, he calmly withdrew his small pocket knife and unfolded the blade. Glad Dad always taught me to keep this sharp.

Making sure that the Avenger could see the hand, Martin made a single, quick cut across his finger, wincing slightly. Damn, you'd think I could've been immune to pain too - at least that might have been useful.

As the blood welled up, he took a breath, and then wiped it away with a Kleenex - exposing the fact that the skin was healed over and blemish-free under the line of blood. "Like I said," he sighed. "I can't pass the physical - any physical."

"Well, damn," Tirzah murmured in surprise.

The Golden Avenger had watched the demonstration dispassionately. "That’s a nice pocket knife. But the physical is probably less of a problem than you think," Johnson murmured, as though he were considering something. "We’re going to have to make…special… arrangements regardless. Usually there’s a very thorough background check and psych eval done on all the candidates who make it past the initial screening. That takes months – we’re already getting one of our people to fake those documents now. Faking medical records is a little trickier, but not much." He paused. "Is that your only objection?" he asked incredulously.

"No, just the first one," Martin replied, cleaning the knife and slipping it back in his pocket. "Are we talking plastic surgery to alter our appearances too?" Martin asked. Somehow I feel let down that he didn't even blink. Maybe he gets stranger things than me in his government-issue breakfast cereal or something. "If so, then that won't work for me - at least not as I understand how this," he nodded at his hand, "works. I think my cells would just replace everything back the way it was before in a day or two - a week tops."

Johnson nodded. "I can see how that might be a problem. But there are other ways of altering your appearance. Behavior is everything – I have a friend who is a paranormal hero. Flamboyant, outrageous, wild. In ‘real’ life," he shook his head, "A mouse. No one would ever expect them to be the same people."

"All right," Martin agreed slowly, "for argument's sake let's assume I can pass the physicals and alter my behavior enough to not be instantly recognizable. What about Dorothy?" I can't believe I'm really having this discussion, he thought. Me, a PRIMUS agent? Yeah, right. Lends a whole new meaning to 'sleeping with the enemy.'

Tirzah shrugs. "We built an identity for Dorothy, too. Only... you're going to have to explain it to her." She turned back to Avenger Johnson. "Although, when you're through with Martin, I do have couple more questions. Small stuff, mostly."

"Through with Martin?" David grinned. "As for Dorothy -- what issues are you concerned about?"

"Wherever we locate, there's going to need to be a reputable school for the deaf," Martin explained. "A fairly identifiable trait if they start looking for me. And before the issue comes up, no - I'm not going to have her grow up somewhere besides with me. It's only been a year since Lorraine walked out on us, I'm not going to abandon her too." how odd, he thought, I didn't feel anything when I said her name that time.

"My thought is actually Hudson City," Johnson said. "The Silver Avenger there is aware of and fights the conspiracy himself -- and it's cosmopolitan enough to have all the services you might need."

Great, Tirzah thought. Somewhere else cold.

I think I got some literature from a school there when I was shopping for Dorothy's current school, Martin recalled. That might work out. "All right...," he agreed slowly. "I'll have to do the PRIMUS Academy, right? If so, I'll need some place for Dorothy to stay while I'm there for the what, six months, it runs?"

"She could stay with me," David offered, "But it's such an obvious place to start looking that I wouldn't feel safe. Your mother?" He turned to Johnson.

He shook his head. "She and Dad are going to Europe so she can teach in Munich over the summer. I can talk to Irene, though. Let me get back to you," he said to Martin. "If not my sister, I can talk to Stephen and Chris and see what I can come up with. Maybe Albert?" he mused. "Hudson's daughter will be home from Stanford and could help out, too. He's got the resources and he owes me a favor."

Albert Hudson, the gazillionaire? Must be nice to have friends who could pay off the national debt in a pinch. "If you can make safe arrangements for Dorothy, then I'll consider that problem solved," Martin agreed. He thought for a moment, then added, "I'll want to make arrangements to keep the house safe." he turned to David, "What do you think, transferring it into my Mother's name - or something else?"

More and more, Tirzah thought as she listened to Martin make plans to rearrange his life, I am so glad Gene and I didn't have children. I only have to tell my roommates I'm moving out.

"Your mother should be OK -- just make sure it's someone you can trust."

"Fair enough." He sighed, "I guess this means the car needs to go into storage too."

"Yes -- absolutely." Johnson's tone was vehement. "In storage. I can't tell you how much trouble it was when Marjorie Dellinger put 'VPRBSTR' plates on the Porsche she'd stolen from the VIPER Nest here in San Francisco. When they finally blew it up -- with her in it -- I think everyone was relieved. She's fine by the way," he added in an odd tone.

I don't want to know, I don't want to know, Martin repeated silently to himself like a mantra. "It was too distinctive anyway," he sighed. "I guess Dad would understand."

"What kind of car do you have?" Johnson asked curiously.

"My father's 1965 Corvette Black Rat Street Machine," Martin answered, a hint of pride creeping into his voice. "Full option package, including the limited edition 427 six-cylinder. Mint condition."

"You can't put that in storage," Johnson sympathized. "I mean -- you'd be trading that in for driving a Dodge Avenger. It's just not worth it. Keep the car -- you could always have it painted."

"If I can get some help switching the registration and VIN around," Martin mused aloud, "I think I can manage the color." Looks like we can still have our talks after all Dad. He looked up," Could your people help out there?"

"Tirzah?" David asked. "It’s a noble cause."

She thought a moment. "How many of them did they make, Martin? Is it one of those cars that someone knows where every one of them is?

"No. A good many standard models were converted over to look like it in later years. I think it you just tweak the VIN so it reads with a different number in the series and then reinsert this one to be from where ever it is I'm from supposed to be from now, it'll be okay. Dad bought it new in '65, so it hasn't been circulating through a whole lot of hands to create a paper trail," Martin replied.

"Shouldn't be a problem. Although," she raised an eyebrow, "somebody may wonder where an Iowa farmboy got that much money together." A smile twitched at the corners of her mouth.

Iowa? Well, I guess there are worse places. Detroit, maybe. "Growing corn," Martin deadpanned.

"Right," David said. "Is that where you picked? At any rate – I guess I expected to spend hours convincing you both. Are you positive this is an acceptable plan? Do you have any other questions we could answer?"

"Changing my name is better than being dead, David," Martin sighed. "I don't have any illusions about how it would turn out otherwise." It really is an easy choice. "This way I get to see Dorothy grow up - why wouldn't I jump at it?"

David nodded. "I understand. Tirzah?"

"A few," Tirzah responded. "Mostly about... practicalities, I guess. Like... am I going to have to cut all my ties with the guys I only know through the Net?"

David shrugged. "How do they know you?" he asked. "As yourself, or some online personality?"

She shook her head. "Only on line, and only as a name -- and not mine."

"That should be fine, then," he answered.

She gnawed at her lower lip a moment, then picked up a piece of notepaper from table and begin to shred it -- a nervous habit David hadn't seen in some time. "I... do some... contract work for the Air Force sometimes. Am I going to have to stop that?"

"Yes," Johnson responded simply. "Most people weigh a career in PRIMUS pretty seriously," the Golden Avenger added. "Do you have any questions about what that’s like?"

"If I understood all of the literature I saw while I was on the Force," Martin said slowly. "I can't qualify for the Assault Agent program. Given what I did for eighteen years, I think the Iron Guard is a bad call too - that leaves me doing what amounts to the same job I did for most of those eighteen years. Is it really that different than being a detective here? Besides," he added hastily, "the fact that I get to chase guys who can bench-press locomotives?"

"No, that’s just an added perk," Johnson replied dryly. "But I doubt you’ll be doing much breaking into clandestine research facilities in Nevada, either."

Thank God. "Somehow," Martin added equally dryly, "I think I'll manage to survive the disappointment."

"And all I know is computers. If you've read my file -- I'm going to assume you have, Avenger Johnson, and I know David has -- you know that was my MOS in the service, all I've done since then. Is PRIMUS going to ask *me* to chase guys who can bench-press locomotives, or just ruin their credit ratings?"

"This actually brings up something I feel that we need to get straight before we move ahead," Johnson responded, his tone harsher than it had been earlier. "What we’re proposing will save your lives and let us stop the bad guys for good – but there’s more than just the price tag of your identities. You may not have selected PRIMUS as what you wanted to be when you grew up – but I do expect that you’ll both toe the line and act like it’s all you’ve wanted to do since college, oath and all.

Not unreasonable, Martin thought. Probably not that difficult either – I didn't agree with everything I saw on the Force, but that didn't stop me from doing the best job I could then.

"Just because it’s a glorified witness protection program doesn’t mean that you don’t have to uphold the laws you’ll be sworn to. I know you’ll keep your word if you give it from what I’ve seen of you," he said to Martin, "And David is vouching for you," he added to Tirzah. "Which is good enough for me. But if you use PRIMUS equipment to ruin someone’s credit rating or do anything illegal with a computer, you can expect to see your ass hauled before a review board faster than you can ‘save as.’ And I won’t try to stop it. If that’s going to be a problem, it would be a good idea to bring it up now."

Tirzah Elvira McMurtry, do *not* start your reply with 'listen up, asshole'! "Avenger Johnson," she replied mildly, "I'm going to assume that, before trotting out your little plan here, you have read my file. And if you have, then you know that I held the highest security clearance the USAF will give enlisted personnel." Tirzah's voice grew colder, and she stood straighter. "And I still hold it. I have had better security checks than PRIMUS ever dreamed of run on me, and I passed them all." She moved over toward him, staring straight into his face. "I swore the same oaths to this country that you did, and I meant them." Which is evidently more than you can say for several of your PRIMUS jerks! Her hands fisted at her side in an attempt to keep from shaking her finger in his face. "If I decide to go to work for PRIMUS, and bear in mind that I say *if*, then I will be the best damn investigator that ever touched a PRIMUS keyboard. But don't you ever, *ever*, dare to impugn my honesty, because I will not stand for it. Got that? This may be only a 'glorified witness protection program' to you, but it's *my life*. If I'm going to be a PRIMUS agent, then I expect to be treated like any other PRIMUS agent, not mollycoddled or relegated to some glorified secretary's job. I want real assignments, real jobs, and by God I demand some real respect." She flung his own words back in his face. "And if that's going to be a problem, it would be a good idea to bring it up now."

Johnson raised an eyebrow at her outburst. "Ms. McMurtry," he began cooly, "I haven't questioned your patriotism or ability. I am pointing out that you have been involved in illegal activities online by your own admission, and that if PRIMUS discovers you doing that on their time, there isn't anything I could do to save you -- or, to be honest -- that I would do to save you. I assure you that our computer system is more sophisticated than you think -- and there are other watchdogs I'm sure you'd discover in time. And in saying so, I am also pointing out that my umbrella of protection can only extend so far -- I'll get you into the Academy and help you out as I can, but other than that, you'll be on your own. What you do on your own time is presumably your own business."

Well, Martin thought cocking his head to one side as he observed the two. I guess that settles he question of whether or not she's got what it takes to do the job. I think Avenger Johnson would be drawing back a bloody hand if she were a cat.

"Avenger Johnson," she replied, equally cooly, "the only 'illegal activities online' to which I have admitted have been done at the request and with the full knowledge of PRIMUS -- an agency with Federal police powers -- or so I was led to believe by highly placed PRIMUS personnel. And should PRIMUS attempt to maintain any charges against me because of such 'illegal activities', I believe that an entrapment defense would be fully adequate."

"Your activities this week, you mean?" Johnson responded. "Please don't make the assumption that I don't know of your previous online work. One doesn't learn to hack after purely theoretical training, do they?"

"No sir," she replied sweetly, "I received excellent training in hacking by a previous employer -- the United States Government. And if you'll remember, we were only discussing my "admitted" activities."

The corners of Johnson's mouth turned up into the ghost of a smile. "As you will, then."

"I have never engaged in any personal affairs during business hours – and certainly never any petty personal retribution -- and I don't intend to start now. And as far as your 'umbrella of protection', well.... You got me into this mess, you get me out. After that, if I can't make it on my own, I don't want it."

"You're not in any mess currently," Johnson corrected gently. "You're welcome to back out now, without damage. At this point, the conspiracy doesn't know anything about you. If the terms of the agreement are too steep, or if you feel I've insulted you, I assure you I won't be offended if you decide to stay here in San Francisco. I have some...other resources at my disposal."

"Which, by your own admission, are not as good as I am," she answered. "Do you honestly think I'd walk away and leave Martin and Mira hanging out to dry? You've already invited me in; you're not throwing me out now."

"Actually," Johnson clarified, leaning back in his chair, "That wasn't quite what I said... but you make the decision for yourself if you'd like to be in on this mission or not, or if you really think PRIMUS is a good idea for you or not. I'm not talking about a matter of workload, or patriotism, or morality. You do realize that your work, and patriotism, and morality will all be challenged in the coming months both in the Academy and out of it? If you're overly sensitive --" he shrugged. "Sometimes the best way of handling that is to not react -- people might wonder what you're hiding if you protest too much."

"Avenger Johnson...." She smiled and leaned easily against the table. "Appearances notwithstanding, I'm a big girl. I've held my own against everything the military had to throw at me. PRIMUS doesn't scare me, and neither do you. And," she held up a hand to forestall any comment, "before you say anything, yes, I do know what I'm getting into. I was looking seriously into applying for the PRIMUS Academy myself a year or so back. I even had the paperwork filled out. Then...well," she shot a glance at David, "things changed."

"Well, then," Johnson responded, standing and stretching. "That's all we need to know. By the way, expect someone to get in contact with you tonight," he added to Tirzah. "We'll still need to formulate some other plans, I should think -- I expect that Friday will be d-day."

"Leaving?" Armitage asked.

"I need to take a nap," he yawned. "Excuse me. Yes, I'm supposed to inspect the San Francisco base while I'm here. They've got the new building mostly done."

Well, that explains that, Tirzah thought. All children get cranky when they need a nap. "Contact me concerning...? And how will I know you sent them?" Will they be an ass, too?

"I’m sure you’ll figure it out," he responded cryptically.

Martin stood up and offered the Avenger a hand. "I don't think Mira could get the words out of her mouth without turning inside out.... so I'll say them for her. Thanks for the help - no matter how it all turns out."

Johnson took it and grinned boyishly. "She's not the only one, apparently. Take care and see you in a day or two." He clapped Martin on the back and stepped out the door.

After a second, Martin turned to David, "Do you have a lawyer handy I can arrange the house problem with? I figure it'd be better to get it done as soon as possible."

"Let me get you his card," David stood. "It's in my office."

"While you're at it," Martin added conversationally, "I think I could use a really good professional therapist."

"I think PRIMUS offers several EAP counselor visits a year," David responded as he stepped out of the room. "But Tran might know."

"Oh, no, it's not for me," Martin said, holding up a hand. "It's for my mother. I'll need an ambulance after explaining this to her. Well," he added, "Maybe not an ambulance. A couple of Band-Aids, anyway."

"Martin," Tirzah said quietly. "When you have a minute...?"

"Sure," Martin said, looking over at her. "Can it wait until after I call the lawyer?"

"Of course," she replied. "I'll be in my office, okay?"

"See you as soon as I get done making sure that the house stays in the family," he assured her.

"Thanks." Tirzah rose and walked down the hallway to her office, closing the door behind her. A moment later, the high-pitched strains of her psaltery crept out from behind the door.

"Tirzah?" Martin asked, knocking at the edge of her door. "Got time for me right now?"

"Sure." She smiled up at him and laid the musical instrument back on its stand. "I.... Would you like some tea, or something?"

"No thanks," he grinned. "Any more and I'm going to be floating down the hall."

"I know, I'm stalling." She picked up a piece of paper and began to idly shred it. "I... I wanted to know if you think I screwed up bad with Avenger Johnson."

"No," Martin replied simply. "I'd say you passed his test quite readily."

She nodded. "So you thought it was a test, too? After my first impulse -- to deck him, which I decided was a Bad Idea...." She chuckled, "I couldn't believe he thought I was that... stupid? To try something like... ruining someone's credit rating -- incidentally, that's a running joke between me and a friend -- something that petty.... And on company time? On company equipment? Then I realized he was testing me. Which I think I resented even more. So," she shrugged. "I tried to give him back what I thought he wanted. And more." Tirzah shook her head and shredded more paper. "I'm just afraid I was reading him wrong."

"Something to remember Tirzah," Martin offered, "is that PRIMUS is Avenger Johnson's life. He loves and believes in it with all of the emotion that most people reserve for their wives and

children." He smiles sadly, "If every one of the people at PRIMUS' upper echelon was as devoted to the organization as he is, then they'd be the organization they were always intended to be."

Then Avenger Johnson is seriously in need of a life. I thought *I* was out of it, she thought. "Then maybe PRIMUS needs to do some serious housecleaning," she replied. "Or... is that what *we're* about to do?"

Martin shook his head. "No, I don't think so. I think we're going to wind up doing exactly what he made it sound like - being PRIMUS agents. With all of the thrills, excitement, boredom, and tedium that go with the job."

She smiled. "Actually, I meant at Rubicon."

"What we're doing at Rubicon is another matter entirely," he agreed. "Even if they didn't have Mira stuck in a freezer I think I'd volunteer to help take them out. The results of their little experimental campaign on the unwilling test subjects were just too horrid for words."

Tirzah nodded, her eyes growing shadowed. "I was posted to a base in Germany for a while. One weekend, some friends and I decided to do a little touring.... I made the mistake of letting them talk me into Dachau." She looked over at him and smiled ruefully. "They had to hospitalize me; I couldn't stop throwing up."

"Don't blame you," Martin nodded sympathetically. "I get sick thinking about things like that sometimes. Only assignment I request transferal from was the Child-Crimes Unit on the Force. I couldn't trust myself around the suspects anymore."

"I was kind of lucky in that I got sent TDY real quick after that. Got me out of Germany for a while; I could... cool off?" She glanced down at her desk and, realizing she'd shredded an entire sheet of note paper, swept the debris off into her wastebasket. "Sorry; nervous habit. Do you think they'll want me -- us -- to actually go into Rubicon? I guess we'll have to, to get Mira out. It's not going to be a guns-blazing John-Wayne Cavalry-to-the-rescue kind of thing, is it? I haven't fired a gun outside of the range in... ever?"

Martin grimaced. "Acutally... I'm very much afraid it *is* going to turn into something very much like that. We *will* have to physically penetrate the complex -- they have Mira, Phantom, and others held there against their wills. Additionally, they have their secured computer files and hard copies there...." He shook his head, "I don't see any other way out of it."

She echoed his grimace. "Mrs. Peel, we're needed?" She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes briefly. I have to tell him, just in case. "Then... I guess there's something I need to... to tell you, if I'm actually going to have to go into the facility." A long pause, then, at Martin's encouraging look, she continued. "Sometimes... when I touch things, I... see things."

"Is that before, or after, the tequila?" Martin asked easily. Doesn't anyone *normal* work here? he asked himself. Like I have room to talk.

Tirzah stared at him a moment in surprise, then laughed. "I don't drink, Martin."

"*Nobody* should drink tequila," he answered her. "You're not missing anything."

She chuckled again. "All right, Martin. But remember.... Considering what's been going on in there, if I freeze up, you have been warned."

"Everybody freezes sometime," he pointed out. "Just try not to do it while you're diving a car or something - those are hard to recover from."

"And hope I don't throw up on the keyboard?" she replied. "But seriously, Martin.... What kind of things do I need to be prepared for? What do I need to take with me?" Have gun, will travel? Have computer, will hack?

"Computer, yes," he agreed. "Gun? That's your call. I will point out that I expect that Rubicon's security will likely be under 'shoot first and obliterate the evidence' orders though."

"Then.... I think I'd rather have body armor than a gun," she said decisively, then continued, "And my very own body guard. *He* can have the gun."

"I'll see what I can do," Martin chuckled. "I think we'll have enough help that we'll be able to watchdog you."

"I just don't want to... screw up anything because I don't know what I'm doing." She toyed with another piece of paper, then picked up her stress ball instead. "Can you give me any... pointers? Have you ever done anything like this.... That's a silly question; there was that place in... Nevada was it?"

"Nevada was nothing like this. We had no backup, no information on what we were getting into, and no plan whatsoever. This... this is a whole other ballgame," Martin replied. "We'll probably have more help than we can use until it goes bad. You never have enough after that."

"So... is there anything I need to do before we go, other than get my hacking stuff together?" she asked hesitantly.

"Probably lots of things," Martin said with a smile. "None of which you need to worry about right now. Relax - it really isn't as bad as it sounds most of the time."

"Yeah, right," she replied doubtfully. "So... I guess I just wait for Avenger Johnson's mysterious person to contact me."

"None of this will work without you Tirzah," he added seriously. "You're the linchpin that holds the whole plan together. Relax, put your feet up - do whatever feels right until then. No sense starting out stressed out."

"Oh yeah," she countered, more than a bit sarcastically. "Just what I needed to hear to make my day complete."

"We wouldn't ask you to do it if we didn't think you were capable of the job Tirzah," Martin said simply. "You're the best any of us have ever seen - certainly the best I have. I believe you can do it."

"I suppose so."

"You just need to believe it too," Martin advised gently. "You're damn good at your job aren't you? David only hires the best."

Tirzah nodded without replying.

"Then trust yourself," he continued, smiling. "If anything, I'm worried that I can't live up to your example." Standing up, he nodded towards the computer on her desk, "Virtually no one else in the world can make one of those things dance like you can Tirzah... Just do your best - no one can ask, or expect, more than that from anyone."

He paused in the doorway and said, "I believe you can do it," then was gone.