Bob and the girls enter Jerry's office. To Sam and Clover it's the first time they weren't Whooped to Jerry's office. "Girls, Bob, how nice to see you all."
"Hello Jerry." They almost cheer it. "Miss Delaroyale, I'm afraid you will have to learn how to use the gadgets we've provided. You are aware that all this falls under the official secrecy act?"
"Yes Jerry, I know all that. But, could you please call me Mandy. I'm trying to live a somewhat normal life."
"Welcome to the club," thinks Clover, "we've tried that since we were first Whooped."
"That's fine with me, Mandy. Right girls off to training." Saying this he pushes a button.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHH," they cry in unison as they fall down a tube and end up in the armoury.
"Ah my preferred agents," chirps the armourer, "why are you dropping in on me."
"Watch out for him, Mandy," says Sam, "his humour is worse than Jerry's."
"Is that possible?" asks Mandy. She looks at a short feminine man, with a high-pitched voice.
"Oh, somebody is waiting for you three." The armourer announces as he points the girls in the direction of the firing range. They slowly walk away in that direction.
A girl is firing away with a funny looking machinegun. She has ear- and eye-protection on.
"Britney, it's Britney Sam." Clover and Sam run up to the Asian girl and start hugging her. Mandy follows a bit slower as she doesn't know Britney yet. "Britney Chan, meet Mandy Delaroyale, Mandy Britney." The two girls formally give a hand. But Clover and Sam take them in a group hug. They all start to giggle.
"What did you think of this weapon, miss Chan?" Asks the armourer.
"It's small, has light recoil, is accurate and the firepower is awesome. The ammunition is also incredible. The penetration rate is deadly."
"Yes, at 220 yards it still penetrates common fragmentation vests. With 50 rounds at 900 rpm in automatic mode it's a very dangerous weapon."
"And several of these P90 guns have been coming up in the hands of thugs, you told me."
"Unfortunately, yes."
Clover, Sam and Mandy are looking at the gun Britney was using. An ugly looking short automatic weapon.
"So ladies, ready for your training?" The three girls turn towards the armourer. As ever when they work closely with a Whoop executive, Alex came with a nickname.
"Yes Q" Sam and Clover chime. The armourer can't help but smiling. His liking for the writer Ian Fleming is known throughout Whoop.
"We have prepared the hostages walk. You three will walk Mandy safely to her destination."
"Does that mean I got nothing to do but to die?" Asks Mandy.
"Basically, yes" answers Q.
"Then why am I fitted whit a gun if I can't use it?" Q is a bit thrown off balance.
"OK, you four will walk Teddy safely to his destination." Q powers up a robot and the girls start their training. Mandy soon gets into it, the others know what to expect. Robots are popping up everywhere. Some are bystanders, but some carry weapons and need to be destroyed. On their first trip, they loose Teddy, he gets shot from a passing car. They know that every time they'll walk this training the scenery will be totally different.
The four girls are sitting together in a cafeteria near the training area.
"Is this always so tedious?" Asks Mandy.
"This part is. The fun part is for the afternoon." Says Clover, taking a sip from her cup.
"Yes, we get to use and learn the gadgets." Sam joins in.
"Remember when Alex got stuck with the Catfight Claws?" Clover asks
"And Q had to get up a ladder to free her." Laughs Sam.
The girls are chitchatting, Mandy how her training went at the Secret Service and the others over their time at Whoop. The lunch hour is over before they know it and it's back to weapons training.
After the training the girls take a shower and they all get dressed in fresh clothes. They file towards Jerry's office.
"Britney it was fun to see you once more." Sam says dreary.
"Why are you so sad Sam?" Answers Britney.
"When we get to Jerry, he'll whoop you away once more and God knows when we meet again." Britney just smiles, but keeps her mouth shut. They enter Jerry's office.
"Hello girls, how was training?"
"Hi Jerry, it went fine." They answer in unison.
"Those gadgets are awesome Jerry." Mandy says impressed.
"I've heard you did very well too Mandy."
Mandy smiles a shy smile, "Thank you Jerry."
"OK girls, once you four step out this building, it's you against real killers."
"Four," scream Clover, Sam and Mandy, "is Britney coming too?"
"Yes," answers Britney, "I temporarily replace Alex."
"Jerry, when Alex comes home, can Britney stay for a while?" demands Sam, "Alex really would like that."
"I can't give an answer to this question Sam. But if it's possible then it's all right."
"Thanks Jerry, you're a doll." Chirps Clover.
"Tada girls." The four girls grab one another, but nothing happens. They look at Jerry in astonishment, but he is busy on his computer. Slowly they walk out off the office.
"That's not like Jerry, is it?" Clover says still astonished. They pass by sickbay, but Alex and Grzegorz can't be visited yet. Britney stands at the window looking in at the two figures in hospital beds. A sad grin creeps up her face, although she wouldn't know why. They take the elevator to the garage. Britney walks towards Alex's Harley and starts it.
"Hey Mandy wanna drive my car?" Clover asks.
Was she just asked to drive Clover's red sports car? Mandy turned crimson. "May I really drive your car Clover?"
"Sure, it's the fastest transport we have. If you got to flee, you must know how to control it." Mandy slowly walks up to the sports car. She takes the key, which Clover hands her. She settles in de drivers seat, adjust it as she is a little bit shorter than Clover and starts the engine. A low rumbling noise fills the garage. Britney drives out first, Mandy and Clover follow and Sam closes the small convoy.