Black, Brady Black

Chapter Two: Boys and Toys

Brady left his father's office and headed down the hall toward "The Lab." He opened a heavy metal door and entered a cavernous white room filled with everything from computers to guns to cars. People in lab coats walked around studying the various equipment. Brady's jaunty footsteps rang off the metal stairs that led to the floor below.

He spotted a young, good-looking man sporting glasses and a long white coat. The man appeared to be running a series of tests on what looked to be a watch. He pressed various buttons and jotted down notes, murmuring, 'Trigger mechanism okay.touch too slow on the timing though.excellent design - note to self: send Belle my compliments."

"Hey, Kevin," Brady called as he came up behind the scientist.

The man jumped and turned around. He wore a badge that read, 'Kevin Lambert, Equipment Specialist.' He pushed his glasses back up his nose. "I told you," he said in a low voice, "call me K. It makes me seem cool."

"I hate to break it to you, K, but it's going to take more than a letter to make you cool. You're gonna need the whole alphabet," Brady teased.

"Ha ha. So, Brady, blow up any castles lately?" Kevin asked with a broad grin.

"Very funny. Let's just get started, okay? Whatcha got for me?"

Kevin led him over to a long table. "Well, we've got the usual.a watch with standard 2-way radio/tracking." He held up a small pen. "Looks like an ordinary ink pen, but is actually a needle filled with one dose of sleeping agent. You stick someone with this, and they'll be out for hours."

They made their way down the table. "These are ninja stars equipped with a touch of C-4 in the center. Just press the button and throw and three seconds later." Kevin threw one of the metallic stars at a wooden dummy to demonstrate. There was a small explosion and bits and splinters of wood flew everywhere. "Well, you get the idea."

Brady resembled a kid in a candy store. This was easily one of his favorite parts. His fingers roamed over the assorted goodies laid out on the table. He picked up a slender metallic object.

"Oooh, cool! Laser pointer!"

"Put that down!" Kevin snatched the laser out of Brady's hands. "You're gonna put someone's eye out with that thing. This laser will burn through foot-thick brick walls. Very handy."

Many minutes later they had gone through a wide range of items from weapons to surveillance equipment and Kevin was still talking. "Oh, we also made a few improvements on your car.oh, here's something." He picked up a pair of dark sunglasses.

"Raybans? Isn't that more Belle's department?" Brady asked skeptically.

Kevin ignored him. "These lenses are specially designed to pick up infrared light; you'll be able to see laser beams."

"Cool. So I guess we're done here?"

"We are. But I think Belle has some things for you. Oh, and take it easy on the landmarks, will you? You have a license to kill - not blow up ancient castles."

Minutes later, Brady was walking down another pristine hallway. He stopped in front of a closed door that read, "Belle Black Designs." He gave a quick rap on the door with his knuckles and slowly opened the door. He found himself inside a spacious designing studio where a dozen half naked mannequins were crammed into a corner. He turned to another corner, which held a cluttered desk and where a very pregnant woman was talking on the phone.

"Listen, I am looking at the designs right now and I'm telling you that this isn't what you sent at all! This.monstrosity you sent me has ruffles. RUFFLES! There are no ruffles on my design. Yes. Do that please. Thank you."

Belle dropped the phone onto its receiver with an annoyed sigh. "Honestly, do these people not understand that I am eight months pregnant? I do not play games - I will hurt them!"

Her face softened as she took notice of her big brother. "Sorry about that. Just one more fire I've had to put out today. You know, I just want someone to do their job and do it right. Is that so much to ask?" Her big blue eyes filled with tears and before Brady could understand what had happened, she was crying. He placed an awkward arm around her and patted her shoulder.

"There, there," he said, not quite knowing what to do or say.

"I'm sorry!" she bawled, giant tears running down her cheeks. "I don't know what came over me!"

"It's okay. So.how are the mood swings?" he asked pointedly.

Belle brightened and pulled out of his arms. "You know, I haven't really had any."

She walked over to a male mannequin that was wearing a sleek black tuxedo. "Here, let me show you the latest designs. This tux is made from a brand new material. You can't see it but there are fine metal strands woven into the fabric. This fabric will stop a bullet."

"Like a bullet-proof vest."

"Right, only waaay more stylish. However, it won't stop a bullet that's been coated - we're still working on that. Also the fabric can be cut, which means you can be stabbed, so avoid men with knives. Also this tux won't help you if you get shot in the head, so.duck."

She pointed to a small pin on the tuxedo's lapel. "This is another tracking device. It uses GPS (global positioning system) technology to pinpoint your exact location, which shows up then on this." She reached into the tux's inside pocket and pulled out a small LCD display the size of a business card. "See? It's showing an exact map of where you are right now. So you can use it incase you get lost and don't want to ask for direction because you're too busy being a stupid macho guy and so help me, if I'm in labor and Shawn gets lost on the way to the hospital - we're stopping for directions!"

She took a deep calming breath. "You can also use this to track someone else's location. Just pin the pin on them." She smiled at her little joke and then picked up two leather shoes from the floor. "The heels are hollow and hold the basics: knife, radio, plastique explosive, garrote wire, etc."

By the time she was finished, Brady had been weighted down with the tux, the shoes, and about three different suits made of the same bulletproof fabric. "Ooof. Thanks Belle, I knew I could count on you."

Belle smiled and gave her big brother a quick hug. "Just don't get killed, okay?"