11. Cygnet

Saturday, June 22nd, 3:38 AM, Eastgate time
Saturday, June 22nd, 11:38 AM, Cairo time
-22 Days
Kimi had collected the disks from the table and the floor, carefully stacking them in the compartment of the MD player and closing it, then retrieved her backpack from the luggage still piled near the door and placed it inside. She also retrieved her suitcase, placing both on a chair near the door. She thought for a moment of anything she might need that wasn't already packed into her luggage.

"If you have any special uniforms or clothes you prefer to spar or exercise in, bring them along."

She quickly ran to her room and dug into her dresser, pulling out four pair of sweatpants and three t-shirts. She slung them over her shoulder and opened the lowest drawer, retrieving her pair of leather "Tiger Claw" practice shoes. She brought everything into the living room, tossing them to the couch and bringing her suitcase over to the cushions, opening it and folding the added clothes inside.

3:52 AM.
"If there's anyone that might ask, tell them that you're spending some time with a relative out of town. That's so they won't worry about you disappearing suddenly"

Kimi decided to leave Marcy a hand-written note, as she might become concerned about the early time an email was sent. She went to the counter by the phone, taking a notepad and pen, and sat at the kitchen table to write:

-Aunt Marcy,

I don't mean to worry you or come across as, like, flighty or anything, but I've decided to spend some time with one of Dad's aunts in Philidelphia. I just need a little time to clear my head so I can think straight. Just a couple of weeks. Please don't be mad. I know we had a dinner planned for Saturday night, but I promise, I'll eat twice as much when I get back, so keep the oven hot and full of those diamond burritos.

All About Love Ya,

Ki-

Kimi went to William's desk for an envelope and folded the letter inside, writing "Aunt Marcy" across the front, and placing it on the end table on the side of the couch nearest the front door, leaning it against the lamp so it would be spotted easily. She then plopped onto the couch and slowly looked around the living room, going through a quick list of everything she had in her suitcase and backpack, and deciding that she had everything she would need for her trip to the Air base.

Kimi leaned to the other end of the couch, reaching for the remotes on the cushion, and turning on the TV, which came on to a local station, and a replay of the previous night's news. She learned of a small fire at an electronics chip factory on the north side of town, and listened to a short segment about a motion by the state government to apply licensing fees to "cybernetic" dogs and cats. "All about not real," she scoffed at the screen. "It's like they want people to register their toys!"

Kimi remembered that she still had the disks with her mother's episodes in the recorder, and turned it on, pressing the "random" button. The news went away, replaced by the beginning of "Bueno Nacho." Kimi came to the scene in which Kim and Ron are searching for signs of the recently-escaped Doctor Drakken near the site of a giant "laser drill" in a hilly snow-covered area. After Shego appeared on a snowmobile, Kim gave chase on a snowboard as Shego produced a small explosive device:

:::It's gonna blow the pipeline, Kimmie, and your skin definitely doesn't need more oil:::

Kimi wrapped her arms around herself, swearing she could feel her skin crawl as Shego's shrill laughter recalled images of the dream from two nights before.

Shego then prepared to abandon the snowmobile after mounting the explosive on the hood ot the machine. She jumped to grab onto the drill, now having been stolen by Drakken and carried into the air by several helicopters. Kim continued after the now-unmanned snowmobile as it raced toward the oil pipeline with explosives aboard. As she attempted to overtake the craft, Drakken cursed her from above:

:::Pity on YOU, Kim Possible! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!:::

Kimi lowered her brow and stabbed the "forward scan" button on the remote. The screen melted into a series of blurs until she lifted her finger. The scene changed to Drakken's lair inside the "cheese wheel" building in Wisconsin, where he was carrying out his plan to extract the Earth's magma to melt the entire state. Kim was struggling, bound tight by steel shackles as Drakken was emerging out ot a panel in the floor to confront her:

:::Well, well...Kim Possible...how nice to see you again...especially now, that you're helpless to stop me! Hahahaha!:::

Kimi made a sour face, and jabbed the "random" button again. The disk switched to the episode "Golden Years," and a scene toward the end of the episode, in which Kim had again been captured by Drakken and held in his lair hidden deep in the Florida swampland. The screen showed Kim cuffed to a hook, hanging over a pit of hungry alligators:

:::You really should get your grandmother's recipe for those lemon squares...they're to die for...:::

"Ugh," Kimi growled as she punched the "off" button and flipped the remote onto the couch. "It's all about I don't need bad reminders."

4:18 AM, Eastgate time
12:18 PM, Cairo time
8:18 AM, Somewhere over The Atlantic Ocean
-22 Days
Mark and Craig had met on the tarmac within minutes of Mark getitng Kimi's call, and the Scramjet was in the air within moments after that, screaming its way to the Air Guard base in Pennsylvania. Other than a couple of officers making a flight to The States, Mark and Craig had the cabin to themselves.

Mark had taken the seat closest to the wall of the fuselage, with Craig taking the aisle seat. Craig had gone to the back of the ship to get coffee for the two, while Mark was tapping at a laptop, positioned on a tray table in front of him.

Craig returned down the aisle with two cups, motioning one to Mark as he sat. Mark took a small sip. "Man," he exhaled slowly as Craig took a sip of his coffee and set it into a cupholder on the back of the seat ahead, "after the mud they serve on the base, even airline coffee tastes good."

Craig chuckled as Mark took a longer sip; then leaned to look at the laptop screen as Mark set down his coffee and hit the backspace key a few times. "You've been working on that since we hit cruising altitude...what is it?"

"I'm working up a training schedule," Mark said. "We only have a short time to give Kimi the tools she needs. I want to take the weekend to let her get a bit used to her surroundings. If we do anything, it will mostly be assessment of her current skills and how we can mold the training around that so she's as comfortable as possible with the learning curve. Then we'll begin training on Monday."

"Think she'll catch on quick?"

"You tell me," Mark smirked, sliding a document from a folder sitting on the tray table next to the laptop and handing it to Craig.

Craig took the document. "Oh, this is her skillsheet from her dojo," he said, reading. "Went through her first three belts in her first year??" he said incredulously. "Wait - a teen/adult green belt at the age of nine?? Are you kidding me??" He continued to read - then let out a low whistle. "Trained in knife, staff, club and chain defense?...brown-belt level in Escrima? I'm glad she's on our side...and most of this was taught to her by her mother?"

Mark had to laugh at this. "Yep...she's a fourth-degree black belt. Took her instructor tests just to train Kimi. Have you watched any of the disks I gave you with episodes of Kim's show yet?"

"No," said Craig, "but a staged performance can't be an accurate indication of her skills. The fight scenes on shows are all choreographed down to the last move and rehearsed dozens of times."

"Yes," Mark said, "but if you watch the way Kim moves...you can tell that they're not just moves taught by some tech advisor just for the show. She earned that skill from many years of work. And Kimi moves much the same way...you didn't see her take out the wall panel at the restaurant...a double-foot side kick...she has such body control and balance."

Craig read further down the page. "Weaknesses...acting before assessing threat level--"

"That's what she said," Mark replied. "'Emotion before action.' She moves before she sees if she's really in danger. I'll work on that. The only other intangible is working with firearms." He then exhaled a sigh. "We'll just have to cross that bridge when we get to it."

"If this is any indication," said Craig, waving the sheet slightly, "she'll hit the ground running."

A voice came over the intercom speaker on the headrest of Mark's seat. :::One hour to Stateside, Captain:::

Mark glanced at his watch. "Looks like we'll have to hit the ground running, too," he said as Craig passed the paper back to him. "If they pick her up around 5 local, we'll touch down at the base just shortly before she does. I want to be on the tarmac when she steps off the '60...and so much for much extra time to get settled in."

4:36 AM.
Kimi had gone into the kitchen for a toasted English muffin and a glass of apple juice. She returned to the couch and began to think about what was ahead for the next three weeks...days filled with exercises, she thought. Mark would more than likely have to introduce her to something she had yet to be exposed to - matches against actual opponents, with at least light contact, if not full contact. Up to this point, Kimi had only had interaction through sparring sessions, and had yet to enter her first tournament. She thought about how, for the first time without her mother's guidance and advice, her performance and concentration might or even would change.

Kimi bit into the second half of the muffin, a drop of butter sneaking from the corner of her mouth, which she caught with a napkin. She then had an idea, and reached for the remote on the couch beside her, once again turning on the disk recorder. She thought that even though the scenes between Kim and Shego were not actual fights, watching them might give some insight into Shego's style of movement, should that encounter come about. She searched through the disk, replaying scenes from "Tick-Tick-Tick," "Bueno Nacho," "Naked Genius," "Golden Years" - any episode in which the two tangled, including what Kim had regarded as their most intense - an episode from the fourth season, "Lockdown," in which Kim and Ron had pursued Drakken and Shego to the abandoned island prison Alcatraz just off the coast of California, after Drakken had taken it as his "latest lair," planning to build an army from the DNA of prisoners long past.

Kimi watched the fight as it evolved, studying the green-skinned villain. "Two swings, then a kick," she said quietly to herself, rewinding a scene of Kim and Shego bounding along a railing on the second level of the correctional facility. "Kick...kick...block...kick...all about GET'er, Mom! YEAH!" she yelled at the screen as Kim had been thrown over the railing by Shego. Kim grabbed onto a support pole on the other side of the hall, swinging 180 degrees, shooting back the way she had come, and landing against her green-skinned foe with both feet, sending her skidding into a cell, which Kim quickly slammed shut.

Kimi made mental note that Shego used her feet nearly more than her hands. She also noted that Shego was quick to think and kept high awareness of her surroundings, using things around her to steady or catch herself.

5:03 AM.
Kimi froze for a second when she heard a knock at the door. She stopped the recorder and rose to walk to the door, looking through the viewer. Two men in military uniforms were standing on the porch, and one of them reached to knock again. Kimi opened the door before he could. "Miss Hodge?" he said.

"...yes?" she said a bit timidly, studying the uniforms before releasing the lock on the outside door.

The man who had knocked produced a small wallet from his shirt pocket, opening it to show an identification shield. "I'm Master Sergeant Wilson, and this is Tech Sergeant Morantz. We're here to take you to Eastgate airport for transport to Willow Grove, Ma'am."

Kimi relaxed slightly with a bit of a smile and unlocked the outside door. "Come in," she said, turning toward the living room, followed by the two men. She glanced at the small clock on the opposite wall. "Cap'n Mark said you'd be here in a little less than two hours. You military guys are all about timing."

"Yeah, pretty much," Sergeant Wilson chuckled. "We're on the overnight shift, so we were already awake when the call came in from Captain Broderson." He then looked toward the door, noting the pile of luggage. "Ummm...is...is all this what you're taking with you, Miss Hodge?"

"Oh no," Kimi replied, motioning to the chair on the other side of the foyer. "I just have one suitcase, and a backpack."

Sergeant Morantz reached for the backpack, holding it out to Kimi. "I can take your suitcase for you...I imagine you'll want to hang on to this."

"Thanks," Kimi said, slinging the backpack over one shoulder.

Sergeant Wilson motioned to the light on the end table. "Do you have to go turn off any other lights, or is this it?"

"That's the only one I have on."

Sergeant Wilson took another look around the living room as Sergeant Morantz hefted the suitcase from the chair. "If you have everything you want to take with you, we need be on our way. Captain Broderson will be at Willow Grove in about 15 minutes."

"I have everything I need," Kimi said. Sergeant Morantz started for the door with the suitcase, and Sergeant Wilson motioned his hand toward the door. Kimi took a couple of steps to the end table to turn off the light, then stopped. "Wait - there is something else," she said. She quickly went to her bedroom and came out with the small picture of her and her parents; then went to the disk recorder over the TV, opening it and retrieving the disks inside, then turning it off. She returned to the end table, checked her pocket for her house key, and turned off the light. She turned the lock on the inside door, then showed the picture and disks to Sergeant Wilson. "It's all about a reminder...and research," she smiled, slipping them into a side compartment on her backpack and zipping it up before the three of them walked out onto the porch. Kimi looked back into the darkened living room as she slowly pulled the door closed, and she tried not to think of it as saying "goodbye" to the house.

Kimi walked with the men to the sedan they had arrived in - a sleek black fuel-cell powered Pontiac Hydroja, the paint seeming to be alive from the reflection of the first creeping light of dawn. Sergeant Wilson tapped the remote on the key ring to unlock the doors while Sergeant Morantz went to the trunk, placing Kimi's suitcase inside. Sergeant Wilson got behind the wheel while Kimi took the front passenger seat, with Sergeant Morantz getting into the back. Sergeant Wilson started the car, then pressed a button on the radio between the front seats as he backed from the driveway. "Wilson to Egg One," he said, "We're mobile. ETA ten minutes. Relay to Broderson in ten that the Cygnet is in the Egg."

A voice came over the speaker in response. "Roger that. Cygnet in the Egg in ten."

Kimi looked to Sergeant Wilson as the car sped swiftly to the corner, and he turned it to the left, heading toward the freeway. "...Cygnet?....Egg..?"

Sergeant Wilson smiled. "It's part of the terminology Captain Broderson formulated as code," he said. "The 'Egg' is the helicopter waiting at Eastgate..."

"...and I'm the...Cygnet?" Kimi said a bit incredulously as they went up the onramp onto the freeway, the car picking up speed on the nearly-abandoned pre-dawn road. "...isn't a cygnet a....baby swan?"

"Yep," Sergeant Wilson replied. "I haven't heard anything from the Captain explaining it...but since using the words 'Cygnet' and 'Egg,' the rumor among the helo crew on the way over here was that the 'pet name' for this mission to save your mother has something to do with a swan. I've known Captain Broderson for almost five years now...ever since he transferred to Cairo after his wife was murdered--"

"Whoa," Kimi interrupted, her brow furrowed. "...murdered...?"

"Yeah. They were in Cairo for a vacation...she was killed in a terrorist bombing on the outskirts of Cairo...she wasn't the target, but she was in the store where the bomb went off. I worked with him on that case...and he went after the terrorist gang behind it day and night until they were all captured or killed. I worked with him on a few more cases before I transferred back here a little over a year ago. The 'pet name' thing is usually part of the Captain's SOP. The official name is 'KH One-Five Alpha-Diamond." Sergeant Wilson then drifted a lane to the left to go around a newspaper truck.

"Heh," Kimi smirked as she remembered using the term the night she met the large blonde man. "Diamond."

5:16 AM.
The sedan sped along the long boulevard to Eastgate Airport, turning at the entrance and stopping at the gate to runway access. A large black guard stepped from the small enclosure, approaching the vehicle. Sergeant Wilson lowered the window and stuck a badge out of it. "US Special Forces with a Priority One Transport," he said. "We've got a chopper waiting at Terminal Six."

I just went on at five," the guard said, opening an electronic clipboard. "Name?"

"Sergeants Wilson and Morantz, 111th Fighter Wing out of Willow Grove."

The guard looked in the window at Kimi. "And her?"

Sergeant Wilson steeled his eyes at the guard. "She's the reason you'll be unemployed by the end of the day if you obstruct us any longer," he said in a stern voice, adding, "if not in federal prison."

The guard slowly backed away from the car, pressing a communications badge on his uniform. "I've got a vehicle wanting access to the tarmac at Terminal Six...two men in military uniform, and a young girl...they claim to be with the government."

a voice came back through the small speaker on his shoulder clip - :::That's affirmative...a black Hydroja...they have level four clearance to the tarmac via direct orders from General Franklin R. Bitterman at the 111th...give them immediate entrance - do not detain:::

The guard turned back to the guardhouse and tapped the switch to interrupt the laser across the entrance, still eyeing the sedan as it sped onto the frontage road leading to the tarmac.

5:17 AM.
The sedan rounded a building and headed toward the large midnight-blue VH-60 sitting near the terminal about a hundred yards away, its clearance lights flashing against the retreating darkness of dawn, its rotors already spinning as the engines warmed for their flight. Kimi made note of the egress tunnel which was folded against the wall of the terminal, and how it reminded her a bit of a flamingo and how it tucks one leg up under its body, standing on the other. As they neared the craft the whine of its turbines grew louder, seeping into the cabin of the sedan.

"Sergeant Morantz will get your suitcase," Sergeant Wilson said to Kimi as he brought the car to a stop some 25 feet from the helicopter, shutting it off and reaching for the inside door handle. "You and I will go straight to the helicopter...we're in a little hurry." With that, he pushed the door open, the wind and noise from the helicopter bursting into the car. "Let's go!" he shouted.

Kimi checked the zippers on her backpack, making sure everything was tightly closed, then opened her door, having to push against the increasing wind from the helicopter's rotors which had picked up upon the approach of the sedan, the pilot anticipating an immediate takeoff. She stood, her hair wildly blown back. Sergeant Wilson gave a motion with his hand, and then placed that hand against Kimi's back as they ran the short distance to the helicopter with Sergeant Morantz close behind. A uniformed officer greeted the Sergeants with a salute as the three of them went up the few steps into the cabin of the helicopter, then followed them in, pulling the door closed behind him.

Kimi took a seat in the front row to the right of the aisle, placing her backpack on the seat beside her. Sergeant Wilson sat on the other side of the aisle, and Sergeant Morantz took the seat directly behind Kimi. The officer who greeted them watched as they fastened and tightened their seat belts. "About 40 minutes to Willow Grove, Sergeant," he said to Sergeant Wilson, who nodded as the officer stepped through the doorway to take a seat in the right half of fhe cockpit.

Sergeant Wilson glanced at his watch. "The Captain should be near US airspace," he said.

Kimi could feel the engines increase in intensity, the body of the helicopter shuddering a bit as its suspension thudded against the lower end of its travel. The solid feel of the cabin became slightly buoyant as the helicopter rose from the tarmac. She heard the pilot speak into a microphone: "Scram two-eight-one, Egg One...the Cygnet is in the Egg and on the wing...repeat, the Cygnet is in the Egg."

Kimi looked out a side window as the craft ascended, watching the lights of Eastgate present themselves to her.

5:17 AM.
Just off The Eastern Seaboard Coastline - 49,000 feet
The speaker on Mark's headrest came to life: :::We're going subsonic and starting our descent, Captain...two minutes to US airspace...we'll be on the ground in about 20...we just got a comm from Egg One saying the Cygnet is on the wing:::

Mark saved the document he was working on and closed his laptop, slipping it into his attache along with the folder, and closed it. He finished his coffee, sliding the cup into a trash pouch on the seat in front ot him, and turned to Craig. "When we land, have a ground crew load our luggage onto a jeep and take them to our quarters. I'm going directly to the helo pad, if you want to meet us there."

"I'd like to," Craig said, "but by the time we get stuff inside and out of the way, they'll already have landed. I'll see if I can catch up to you when you show her the gym."

"I hope she's in a little better spirits," said Mark. "She seemed a bit...upset when she called with the green light. I tried to explain to her gently when I called her with the idea of this...I hope she wasn't scared into making a decision based on anything I said."

"I can't speak for her," said Craig as he took the last sips of his coffee, "but if it were me...if I knew what she does in karate...and knew that my mother was about to face death at the hands of terrorists...I'd be too mad to be scared."

Mark laughed softly. "Maybe that's it...either way, I'd like to know what was the straw that made her make the call. Maybe I can work that to her advantage during training."

5:54 AM.
111th Fighter Wing, just outside Willow Grove, PA
Kimi felt the seat under her seem to drop away as the helicopter began to a lower altitude. Sergeant Wilson leaned to her. "We're at the base," he said. "We're beginning our approach."

Kimi gave the Sergeant an uneasy smile, and tugged her seat belt tighter as the craft descended further. The clearance lights of the helicopter flashed off of the chain-link fence surrounding the helipad as it neared a touchdown on the tarmac. Kimi turned to look out of the right-side windows as the helicopter thudded slightly from the suspension taking up the weight of the craft. Sergeant Wilson tapped Kimi on the arm, motioning to the windows on the left side as Kimi twisted to look.

Mark was standing next to an open gate on the fence perimeter, his hands in his pockets, his uniform whipping around from the wind of the now-slowing rotor blades.

"Cap'n Mark came to meet the helicopter!" Kimi perked. "I thought he'd be busy in an office or something. Way diamond, Cap'n Mark."

The two men looked at each other at Kimi's statement. "...'Cap'n Mark'?" said Sergeant Wilson, trying to hold back a snicker.

The officer who had seen them aboard came from the cockpit and unlocked the door. "Good flight?" he asked Kimi, smiling.

"All except going down," said Kimi, putting her hand over her collarbone. "It's all about I think my stomach is still up here somewhere. The landing was pretty smooth, though."

The officer chuckled at this. "What goes up, must come down," he said, "including helicopters." He then pushed the door open and lowered the stairs to the tarmac and turned back to Kimi as she unbuckled her belt. "Jump off the bottom step when you get out," he smiled. "That should put your stomach back where it belongs."

Kimi smiled and rolled her eyes at the officer, then at Sergeants Wilson and Morantz as they broke into soft laughter. The three of them then stood and went to the door; Kimi in the lead, her backpack over one shoulder; the Sergeants following, each with an attache.

Kimi stepped off the stair, looking up as the rotor slowly moved overhead. She walked quickly to Mark, followed by the Sergeants. "Hi, Cap'n Mark," she said with a bit of quiet relief, standing in front of him for a moment, then giving him a hug.

"Hi there, Ki," Mark said, returning the embrace. "I'm really glad you decided to come." They parted as Mark thrust his hand firmly into Sergeant Wilson's after a short quick salute. "How are you, Johnny...good to see you again...looks like being Stateside has been good for you."

"It's good here," Johnny returned, "but there's no shortage of bad guys in the States. They're just not quite as...bold...as their Middle East counterparts." His face then slipped into a small smile. "Have a good flight over...'Cap'n Mark'...?"

Mark smiled and feigned a punch to Johnny's midsection, which caused him to jump back a bit. "Don't tell me you're tired of hearing pet names around me by now,"

Johnny laughed at this. "No, not around you, Captain," he said. "I just wasn't prepared for you to have one."

"I got that the night we started the investigaion into Ki's mother's disappearance," Mark said. He then turned to Kimi, smirking. "I trust these two behaved on the way over, and were gracious representative of The US Special Forces."

"Yeah, I guess," replied Kimi. "They weren't that talkative...but they were all about their job...in a polite way. Sergeant Wilson said that you and he worked together in Cairo."

"Yep. Remember Matt, in Cairo? He took over Johnny's position when he transferred back here."

"Matt found the bottle of alcohol," Kimi remembered.

"Yeah. I've always had good people on my team," said Mark as he motioned Kimi and the men to a nearby Jeep. Sergeant Morantz had retrieved Kimi's suitcase from the helicopter while they were talking, and now placed it into the back of the Jeep. Kimi set her backpack beside it and, placing a hand on the windshield, climbed into the front passenger seat. Mark took his place behind the wheel, turning to the two men. "I was planning to show Ki around the gym a bit, and then let her settle into her quarters. You guys need a lift anywhere?"

"No," Sergeant Wilson said. "We've got a little post-flight paperwork to do, and then we were going to the BX to grab some breakfast. I wouldn't mind sitting in later if you have any sessions planned, though."

"We're not really going to get rolling until Monday," said Mark. "Mostly assessments over the weekend. If you don't have anything else going later, you're more than welcome."

"Roger that," Sergeant Wilson said. "Good to see you again, Cap'n -- er, Captain."

Mark shook his head slightly, smiling. "Same old 't imagine you any other way." He then turned to Kimi. "Ready?" Kimi gave a nod, and Mark nudged the Jeep into gear, pulling away from the helipad, waving to the two Sergeants.

Saturday, June 22nd, 6:11 AM, Eastgate time
Saturday, June 22nd, 2:11 PM, Cairo time
-22 Days
The Jeep slowly rounded a curve, passing a series of low buildings. "There's the commissary," Mark said, pointing out a building on the left, "and inside, there is a pizza joint, and a fast-food place, for when you're tired of BX food. I don't know if you brought any money with you, but I can get you set up with an expense card, for when you want to eat out, or go to the BX and shop."

"...BX?" quizzed Kimi.

"Everything is acronyms in the military," Mark chuckled. "'BX' is short for 'Base Exchange'. You can get just about anything there."

"Sooo...what's the...'commissary'?" she asked, expecting a mile-long acronym.

"Heh," Mark replied. "One of the few military terms that's not an acronym. It's basically a supermarket for military personnel and their families...beats having to go off-base when you don't have much time."

Kimi then spied a familiar logo on one of the commissary windows. "Cap'n Mark...is there a Knick Knack Chick Shack in the commissary?"

"Yeah, that's the fast-food place."

"BOO-ya!" Kimi burst out. "Shizz-nekkin'! That's our favorite fast-food place! Especially the Chick'n Bitz and potato wedges!"

Mark laughed. "O-kaayy...guess I know where you'll be dining at least once a week. Speaking of food...have you had breakfast yet?"

"I had a muffin and juice at home just before the guys came," said Kimi. "I'm...still a little--" she placed her hand over her stomach "--all about a little ick..."

Mark looked at Kimi with a bit of concern. "Are you okay? Do you want to see a doctor? We have a base hospital--"

"No, no...it's nothing," Kimi interrupted. "It was the helicopter ride...the approach...I'm just not used to going down like that. It's all about different in a plane...not just like...fall away like that."

"I understand," Mark smiled. "I still remember being a little queasy the first time I rode in a chopper...they do move differently than a plane." Mark stopped and turned to the right at an intersection. "The fresh air always helps me when I'm...a little ick..."

"Yeah, it's helping," Kimi said. "I'm already feeling a bit better." They passed a large hangar where several previous-generation fixed-wing trainers were stored. "Umm, Cap'n Mark?" she asked. "You told Sergeant Wilson that we won't start until Monday...that this weekend would be 'mostly assessments.' Does this mean fighting...? Exercises...what?"

"I've got a schedule I'm working on for during the week," said Mark, "but that's going to be changed and shaped, depending on what you know now. I got a skillsheet from your dojo...you're advanced in a couple of areas already...like speed striking, and Escrima sticks at a brown-belt level. Did your mother teach you those?"

Kimi couldn't help but let out a snicker. "She didn't teach me the speed striking," she said, "but she sure found out about it. I caught her off guard during a sparring session. All about knocked the wind out of her." Mark gave a hearty laugh at this. "And a weapons expert at the dojo gave me my Escrima training, but Mom supervised...she's my official instructor at the dojo."

"A live-in instructor," Mark smirked. "That can't hurt when you want to brush up on something during off-hours."

"Yeah," Kimi replied. "For about the first two years, I wouldn't leave Mom alone...anytime she had like, two seconds without something to do, I was all about 'show me this move again' or 'teach me how to do this faster'. I don't know why she didn't get, like, all about tired of me after her all the time...but she's stuck by me every step of the way."

"And for the next three weeks," said Mark, "that's exactly what I'll be doing."

Mark then pulled the Jeep into a parking slot in front of a large two-story building with a short flight of stairs leading from the sidewalk. He got out of the Jeep, and motioned Kimi to join him. "Umm," Kimi brought a hand up, pointing back to the Jeep, "...my bags?"

Mark smiled and walked toward Kimi, offering an arm to her. "We'll only be in here a few minutes...do you mean to tell me you're on a military installation, and you're worried about security??" He then laughed when Kimi's response was to let her arm fall to her side and hang her head in a "duh" gesture. "Besides," he added, "your quarters aren't in this building. This is the gym."

A horn from a bit up the street caused them both to turn to watch another Jeep come down the street, a man waving as he pulled into the slot next to their vehicle. "There's Craig," Mark said. "I had him put our bags in our quarters after we landed."

"Ohhhh," Kimi smirked. "All about your luggage is noted," Mark smiled at the girl, starting back toward their Jeep. "Craig," Mark said as the Lieutenant approached, "you've got a secure compartment in your Jeep? Let's put her luggage in there, so she doesn't have to worry about it being in the open while we're in the gym." He passed Kimi's backpack to Craig, and took her suitcase. Kimi waited on the steps as Craig opened a large metal container in the back of his Jeep, and the two men placed her bags into it. Craig closed it, and twisted a key in the lock on the handle. They then walked back to join Kimi. "Better? Mark grinned. Kimi responded with a wrinkled-nose smile of approval. The three then started up the stairs to the gym entrance.

Mark held the glass door open while Kimi and Craig entered, then joined them just inside, standing to the left of Kimi. "What do you think?" he asked - then moved a finger to Kimi's chin, nudging it upward to close her mouth.

Stationary cycles; Stairstep machines; treadmills; incline leg press machines; Bowflex crosstrainers - if there was a piece of exercise and weight-training equipment that was not at this facility, Kimi did not see it. The first floor was an expanse of weight trainers and toning equipment, with a large matted area at the far end, twenty yards square, for floor classes. The second story consisted of yet more bodybuilding equipment. A running track circled each level.

"Whoooaa," Kimi drew out under her breath. "It's all a-bout 'nekka. The only thing it doesn't have is a pool!"

"Oh, that's through the doors at the far end, past the exercise floor," Mark said, "along with the locker rooms and showers." He then bent slightly, looking at Kimi with a smirk. "Will...this do for you?"

"Will this do? DO!?" Kimi perked. "All about I want to put our house on the roof and call this my basement!" Both Mark and Craig burst into laughter at this.

A tall, rather well-built blonde on the running track went by them. She stopped and turned, heading back to the trio. "Mark? Mark Broderson, Hi!" she said, a bit winded with a wide smile and a handshake for the Captain. "It's been far too long."

"Hi Carole!" Mark replied, returning the handshake. "I didn't expect to see you here, but it sure is good to see you. I had thought you were still back in Ft. Worth at the 136th."

"I was," said Carole, "but they had a bunch of trainees coming in for TDY...things got a little...crowded, so I put in to come back here. I flew in about two weeks ago."

Mark finished the handshake, glancing back to Kimi. "Oh, I'm sorry," he said, turning. Carole, you know Craig Ettinger--" he then placed a hand on Kimi's shoulder, smiling a little wider "--and this is Miss Kimi Hodge....Kimi, meet Second Lieutenant Carole Coleman."

"Pleased to meet you," Kimi said, extending her hand.

"Hi there, Kimi," Carole replied, noting the confidence in the girl's hand as she shook it. "Good grip...you must work out a lot."

Kimi smiled and blushed slightly. "Not as much as I'd like to...most of my tone comes from karate."

"Ki," said Mark, "Carole is a red belt, too...Kempo, just like you and your mother."

The smiles on both women widened as their hands clasped together again with a loud slap. "Kiai, Kimi!" exclaimed Carole as they moved together for a quick hug. "Karate is one of the best forms of exercise, both physically and mentally." She then turned to Mark. "What brings you back to the States, Mark?"

Mark motioned to Kimi. "I'll be here for the next three weeks, fine-tuning some of Kimi's karate skills. Most of the sessions during the week will be in the mornings. If you'd like to stop by, you're more than welcome."

"I'd like that," said Carole. "Right now, I have to finish my routine...I've got a 10 AM shift. Nice meeting you, Kimi." With that, Carole started off on a long-strided trot onto the track.

Kimi turned to Mark as Carole left. "She's neat, Cap'n Mark."

"Yeah," said Mark. "She's in encryption now...but when I met her, she was a network administrator's assistant here at the 111th. She was one of the alternate bridesmaids at my wedding." Kimi's expresion fell a bit at this, remembering what Sergeant Wilson had told her about the fate of Mark's wife. It was broken by Mark's large hand on her shoulder. "I'll bet you'll want to see your quarters. You called pretty much in the middle of the night...and you probably wouldn't mind a little use a small nap," said Kimi.

"Let's go, then," returned the large blonde man as the three started toward the door. "You can relax until about noon...then we'll get some lunch, and get you processed...picture ID and your expense card. I'd like to run some of the assessments this afternoon, if that's okay." Kimi nodded her response as the three went to the Jeeps.

Mark drove to a four-story building about a block from the gym, with Craig following. Craig opened the metal container and took out the suitcase, passing Kimi her backpack. The three of them went up a short walkway from the street to the door of the building.

"This is the temporary quarters for commissioned officers," Mark said, holding the door open for Kimi and Craig. "It's a little like a college dorm...except not as much partying." Kimi giggled at this. They went into the entry hall, where a woman in fatigues seated at a desk stood and saluted Mark and Craig, who returned the salute.

"Kimi is upstairs in 2-G," Craig said to Mark, handing him a couple of plastic cards. "You're in 1-D and I'm in 1-E."

"And they're set up like I spelled out to Dan?"

"Yes Sir."

"Okay," Mark said as Craig handed him the suitcase. "I'll see Kimi to her quarters. I'll give you a call about 11."

"Yes Sir," said Craig. "See you later, Kimi," he said with a wave, and started down the hallway.

Mark led Kimi to the stairway, and she slung it over one shoulder as they started up the flight. "I'll call you about that time, too...give you a bit of time to wake up, shower, whatever."

"Thanks, Cap'n Mark," Kimi replied as they reached the mezzanine, turning onto the second half-flight of stairs. "I'm not, like, high maintenance...I don't need a lot of time to get ready for something."

Mark smiled as they reached the top of the stairs and went through the door to the second floor, turning to start down the hall. "You'll have to work on that before your first date, or your senior prom." Kimi gave him a quizzical look. "It's almost tradition for the woman to make the man wait," he smirked, then laughed a bit as Kimi gave his arm a light slap. They continued down the hall toward Kimi's room.

6:43 AM.
A man appeared from behind a partially-opened linen closet door as they passed it, harshly grabbing onto the strap on Kimi's backpack. His other hand held a rather large lock-blade knife. "Gimme that bag," he growled in a rough voice.

Kimi stared at the knife for a second - then slackened her hold on the backpack, taking a half-step back, but keeping her arm nearly straight with her body. She looked away from the weapon and into the man's eyes as she felt him tug the strap free from her shoulder, catching slightly at her elbow, then down her forearm--

--to her wrist.

Kimi brought her right hand up quickly, locking onto the man's forearm. Almost simultaneously, she brought her left foot up to strike the hand holding the knife, which flew from his hand, clattering to the floor about ten feet away. The instant the knife left the man's clutch, Kimi moved toward him, grabbing his left arm with her left hand, drawing it in front of her while her right hand came up in a fist, striking the man's throat, then grabbed the side of his neck. She swung her left leg, taking his legs from under him, and they both went to the floor. The man coughed from the strike to his throat, landing with an "oof" as his face slapped against the floor with Kimi straddling him - her right hand still clutching his neck, his left arm pinned against the floor at a rather painful angle by her left knee behind his elbow.

Mark let out a long breath through slightly pursed lips, mixed with a small chuckle. Kimi looked up at him, puzzled, her eyes still wide from the incident. "...you're...laughing?" she said with a bit of disbelief.

"Welcome to Assessment, Ki," Mark said as he stepped to her, offering her a hand from the floor. She loosened her hold on the man - reluctantly at first - and then stood, still with the look of disbelief. Mark then crouched to assist the man, who coughed again. "You okay, Chet?"

Chet rolled to his side, clearing his throat, then again as he stood. "I think so." He then curled and uncurled his arm a couple of times. "Nothing broken," he said, slowly running his right hand over his neck.

"I'm...I'm sorry...Chet," Kimi said, walking over to the men. Her expression had changed to one of embarrassment as she offered her hand to the man she had just disarmed. "I hope you're alright..."

Chet began to smile as he returned Kimi's handshake. "It's fine," he said. "You didn't do anything wrong." He then shook Mark's hand. "See you in the gym, Captain," he said, starting for the stairs.

"Thanks, Chet," Mark said as he picked up the suitcase. "Stop by the doctor before you report to the gym."

Kimi retrieved her backpack, looking it over and brushing it off a little. She then looked at Mark with her brow lowered slightly. "A test, huh," she huffed. "All about sneaky, Cap'n Mark."

"Yes, sneaky," Mark said, "but necessary. When you go to Cairo, those guys aren't going to bow and ask politely for a fight. But hey - I notice you didn't overreact and just start wailing on him."

"That's....that's the first time I ever...used what I know," Kimi said. "With sparring, it's like...all about you know something is coming, so you prepare."

"Well, for your first real-world test," said Mark as they stopped in front of a door with "2-G" on a plaque, "you did fantastic...and until I see some of it, I'm going to wonder about the validity of that note in your skillsheet about 'acting before assessing threat level'."

Kimi gave a small grin as Mark handed her one of the plastic cards. "This is the pass key to your quarters," he said. "Just slide it into the slot next to the door there and pull it out quickly." Kimi did as Mark instructed, and the lock on the door released. Mark pushed the door open, but Kimi just stood. "What's wrong?" Mark asked. "We're not going in?"

"I'm waiting for a ninja to jump out or something," Kimi said, a bit exaspirated.

"Not here," smiled Mark, entering the room and setting Kimi's suitcase down next to an overstuffed chair. "This is your own space...it's your sanctuary away from a busy day of training. No surprise attacks in here."

Kimi's expression lightened into a smile, and she entered the room, looking around. "Bed...chair...TV, stereo, computer...nice sanctuary."

Mark laughed. "The only thing is, no e- or v-mail." He then walked to a door next to the bed. "This is the restroom...which I'm going to use...excuse me." He closed the door with a smile. "Get settled in," he said from the other side of the closed door.

Kimi slipped her backpack off of her shoulder, placing it into the chair. She pushed a hand against the mattress, testing its firmness, which she nodded to in approval. She sat on the bed, removing her shoes and curling her toes against the carpet. She scooted further onto the bed, noting that the covers were of a smooth material. She tested the pillow with her hand in the same manner as with the mattress.

"You probably brought your own," said Mark from the restroom, "but there is a full compliment of toiletries in here...hairbrush and dryer...toothpaste and brush...heh, even nail clippers. I'm going down to my quarters," he said as he opened the door. "I have just a little bit of paperwork to sort--"

Kimi had already fallen asleep, curled onto her side, one hand under her head, her knees drawn up slightly.

"--out." Mark finished, smiling. "Right out like a light," he said quietly. He walked softly to the door, stopping and turning back to take another look at the girl he thought of for a moment as somewhat of a prodigy, after the display of her handling of a knife threat.

Mark put his hand on the doorknob as he moved through the doorway. "Don't need a lot of time to get ready for something," he smiled, remembering Kimi's statement. "Okay, Ki...we'll make that wake-up call for 11:30, then," he said, slowly pulling the door closed behind him.

to be continued.....