File Number 867-9965
Name: Libby Heart (LB)
Age: ---
Rank: ARMY, Special Forces, Ranger
Location: Texas Base
Status: Served 1 month as Cadet Leader, On Call, Residing on Base
Current Occupation: ARMY
Team Members: Brown(867-0032), Santos(867-4432), Dart(867-5643), Tank (867-1543), Mañoso(867-0132), Das (867-9376)
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When Steph walked back onto the fourth floor the next day she found the girl, dressed the same as yesterday, typing away on a laptop in an cubicle close to the communications room. Step passed her by and kept looking for Ranger. Instead what she got was her being called back. "Hey Steph. Come in here a second would ya?"
She sighed, backtracked and joined her in the small room. "Yes?" The girl finished typing something and stood up, pushing her computer to the side.
"I just wanted to make introductions. My name's LB. The boys call me B." She shook Steph's hand and sat back down, but didn't return to her computer. "I know it may seem a bit odd that Das and I are here and I wanted to make sure we're cool. I know what it looks like to find my boyfriend has a good girl friend but never tells you about it."
Steph was taken aback. "Uh, thanks. You're right it was kind of a shock to see you interact with everyone in such a…casual manner when everyone is do formal around me." LB nodded her head in agreement.
"Yeah the boys are like that. Like to be tough. I don't think they ever got over the thrill of being in charge through intimidation." She smiled but studied Steph's face openly. "But you're kind of a surprise too. When I heard he used a distraction to catch the guy I knew a woman was involved but you're nothing like I would have expected Ranger to trust as a distraction."
Steph blushed. She didn't know why but it sounded like a compliment. "Ranger and I have an odd sort of…" She searched for a word. Helpfully LB supplied, "relationship."
Steph shrugged. "It's not really a relationship. Ranger was my mentor when I started bounty hunting a few years ago and ever since then he offers his protection and help when I need it."
LB nodded again. "Yeah, some guys just can't help but help those who need it. That's one of the reasons we're so close." Steph nodded and looked around the room as an uncomfortable silence fell. While the two women were sitting together in silence LB's laptop beeped and she turned her attention towards it.
After a few moments of watching her navigate a code that she couldn't understand Steph finally asked. "Have you seen Ranger lately?"
LB shook her head. "Nah, they handed me some files and set me loose. Have you checked the gym?" Steph gave her thanks and went off again.
When the elevator opened into the gym she knew that the guys were here. Clue number one was the large crowd in a circle around the mats. Clue number two were the voices emanating from the center of the ring.
Steph made her way to the inside of the ring and was taken aback at the sight of the boys sparring with each other. Not that she hadn't seen the RangeMan team spar before it was just that the boys were so perfectly timed and worked so well together it looked like a dance.
Steph didn't know how long she stood there but soon enough She felt someone push in next to her and she came eye to eye with LB. "Oh, hey there Steph. I…" She caught sight of the commotion. "Oh for crying out load."
The guys in the middle stopped simultaneously and looked at her. When they saw who it was a wicked smile spread on Bobby's face. "Hey B. Wondered when you would join us." He rushed her and she attempted to jump back but the crowd of people was too thick. Bobby grabbed her by the waist and half carried her into the center.
"It is on the to do list Bobby. I just came up to tell you that I found out how they got to us." While she was talking Bobby had set her down and stood in a defensive position. When LB realized she wasn't going to get through to him with out a fight, literally, she sighed and kicked out at him. In a matter of seconds of exchange she had Bobby pinned to the mat. The onlookers laughed and applauded.
LB stood and smiled. "Now, as I was saying. I know how the guy got to us." Ranger, who had been watching the spectacle casually from the sidelines, strode up to her. " And how is that?"
"I put all of the pieces of the puzzle together. The pictures of Das and Dart were saved on computers, the picture of me was saved on computers, and our files are both digital as well as on paper. He set up a cookie." Ranger lifted an eyebrow. "He waited for the files to be updated or e-mailed for the cookie to be useful. But the main reason we haven't come to that conclusion before is because his cookie works backwards. Normally they would send the visitor an e-mail or a pop up once they visit a site on the Internet. Instead once someone opens a certain file including certain key words he would get a copy of the file."
She finished and Ranger nodded understanding. The others were less convinced. Bobby, who was busy getting off the floor, put a hand on her shoulder for support and she flipped him back onto the mat. "But there is a problem. There is no way I can go about locating the cookie without him knowing that I'm coming."
"That sucks." Lester said as he helped Bobby off the mat. "So we have the get the guys attention and get him while you go after the cookie. Two take downs at once." Ranger nodded.
"But I also came to the conclusion that he is watching us. He'll expect a set up but not a K cubed kind." She turned to Steph. "I know this sounds odd Steph but would you like to go out dancing tonight?"