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Chapter 18 Wade has fun

Wade had just finished talking to Sagara and he wanted to get started. He left his unfinished labs and went upstairs to the garage. He saw Eleanor sitting in one of the parking slots besides the B.K.'s. He approached the A.I. equipped machines and looked from the car to the mini-Arm Slaves. He stopped in front of the eight-and-a-half-foot tall yellow amusement park mascot and paused.

From the time Wade had entered the garage, he was being passively observed by no less then five Artificial Intelligences and two near A.I.'s. Eleanor, the BK's and the two separate sensor and defense grids. Eleanor and the BK's were on a low level standby, but the grids were fully active. Since none of them had orders to the contrary and Wade was entered in the databases as authorized, none of them said or did anything. Until he addressed BK 01. He said, "Bonta-kun unit 1, Wade Load access code zero, zero, zero, five Whiskey Lima."

Start up from Standby

Full activation in

5

4

3

2

1

"FUMO!"

'Fumo?' Wade was puzzled. "Bonta-kun one acknowledge."

"FUMOFFU!"

'Fumoffu?' Maybe it was some weird Japanese programming. "Bonta-kun unit one, access English database."

Suddenly the machine died. The glow in the eyes faded and the machine slumped. "What?" Wade was at a loss. He scratched the side of his head and said, "Bonta-kun unit one, cancel access to English database."

"FUMO!"

"……OK, you got a glitch." He looked at the car. "Eleanor, Wade Load, access code zero, zero, zero, five Whiskey Lima."

"User acknowledged. Dr. Wade Load voice print confirmed. Programming Access will be granted after new user biometrics identified and password created. Beginning password creation procedures. Dr Load, please step forward."

He heard a click as the door was unlocked. When he opened the door there was another click and the glove box opened. Inside was a small monitor, keyboard and palm scanner. "Dr. Load, please place your palm on the scanner, be aware there will be a blood sample taken."

When Wade complied he felt a prick in his middle finger and the A.I. took a blood sample for DNA match. "DNA matching confirmed, please use the keyboard and create a new password."

Being the computer genius he was, Wade typed out a 20 digit string in about a second, then typed it again to confirm. "Password confirmed, Programming Access granted." The melodious feminine voice suddenly went sly, "Be aware Dr. Load, your access prohibits you from operating this vehicle in accordance with local and state laws. This is not a software function, but is hardcoded into the mainframe of the chassis."

"Rats!" The car was cool and Wade could just see himself behind the wheel.

"How can I help you Dr. Load?"

"I don't know, I was hoping you knew what was happening with the Bonta-kuns."

"Sergeant Sagara has been having problems with the vocal functions of the units since their creation. Anytime they are taken out of the default language, they go into stand-by. When the language overlay is removed, they are functional again."

"Alright, stand by, Eleanor. Let's see if I can figure out what's wrong."

He pulled out his highly modified Kimmunicator. "Hmmm, let's try simple binary. Bonta-kun unit one, acknowledge."

"FUMOFFU!"

"I'll never get used to that. Bonta-kun unit one, raise right arm." The right arm went up. "OK, Bonta-kun unit one, lower right arm and raise left arm." The unit complied. "Alright! We have communication. Bonta-kun unit one, for the near future, you will raise your right arm for yes, left arm for no, acknowledge." Right arm went up. "Not bad! Bonta-kun unit one, from now on, I will address you as BK1, acknowledge." Right arm. "OK, BK1, do you acknowledge programming access." The unit stood mute. "BK1, I gave the correct codes didn't I?" Right arm. "Oh, password creation! BK1, can you accept a biometric and password cross-load from Eleanor?" Right arm. "Do so. Eleanor?"

"Sending biometrics and codes now. Transmission complete"

"Thank you. BK1, are your visual scanners online?" Right arm. Wade held up the Kimmunicator. "Can you interface with this device I'm holding?" Pause and right arm. "Please send text based messages to it when answering questions, Acknowledge." There was a beep from the Kimmunicator and a line of text and said 'Order Acknowledged.'

"OK, now transmit your language and vocal databases and codes to it. Maybe I can find the glitch and get you talking."

Beep 'That would be most acceptable, Dr. Load.'

**********

Over the next two days, Wade was more than busy. Between setting up his new labs, coordinating with G.J. to have a transport tube placed in the basement foyer, trying to find the glitches in the BK programming. He even took the time to start setting up the hodge-podge of a monstrosity called Frankenstein. He also had to set up his sleeping quarters. He had already decided that he would make a small room in the basement inside the labs.

He had also been in contact with Drew Lipsky in going through the Senior data. The more he looked at it, the more he saw a mole. He just didn't know who. Yet! But Wade had two things working against him. The mole was good, very good. And they were also careful. They really didn't want to be found.

The Sloth had returned yesterday and James Possible had brought Jim and Tim over to help out with some things. They freaked when they saw Eleanor. And they had thought the Sloth was cool. Wade almost had to unleash the Bonta-kun in Combat mode to keep them off of her. Seeing the mini-AS though nearly sent them into frenzy. James had his hands more then full with the two of them by the time they went home.

Something else Wade had done was contact Roger and arrange for the Galaxie to be delivered. When the man had come over with Ron to help him move in and get settled, he had been more then impressed by the setup in the garage. With Roger leading and James, Jim and Tim helping they had gotten the frame moved in and the rest of the parts and body scattered over the two spaces beside the lift. Roger had also brought a long workbench for working on.

Using the credit card Senior had given Ron, Wade also purchased a large inventory of tools to work on most anything in the garage at the time, including the BK's. Jim and Tim were all but drooling. The two of them were about to dive into the Galaxie, all those parts were driving them nuts. Wade told them if they did, they were likely to see more of a Mystical Monkey Master than they wanted. The car was Ron's project. Period.

Yes over the last few days, Wade Load might have been more than busy. But even with arranging transport for the Galaxie, making the purchases needed to start up a new lab, moving into it, trying to keep two ultra hyper-active teens from pulling the place down around his ears, he was having fun. More fun then he had ever had back in his room at his parents place. And he couldn't wait until his friends returned.

**********

When 'Top Agent' Du entered Dr. Directors office that morning, he moved like it was the last safe refuge he could find in a hostile land. He had been ducking angry hangar techs since his return late last night. What he didn't know, was that her office was anything but. As he came in and tried to take his customary chair to the right front of the Director's desk, she snapped, "What the hell do you think you're doing? You will stand front and center of my desk at 'Attention'! MOVE!"

He was so shocked that he complied before he thought about it. She let him stand there, looking at a spot 12 inches above her head for a few minutes before she spoke. "Agent Du, because you've been one of our better agents for a long time, I have let your arrogance and snobbery slide. That ends. Now! The people you've been deriding as 'Amateurs' have on more then one occasion, been instrumental in doing OUR job. And more often than not, they did it better then we could. Simply because they haven't been drawing a G.J. paycheck does NOT make them 'Amateurs'."

"Now the reason I'm about fed up with you, is only a byproduct of your arrogance. I'm about to lay some facts out. About thirty-six hours ago, a phone call came in. It was directed to you. And before you try to deny it or play it off," She tapped a short stack of papers to her right, "I have the call logs. You received a call from Special Agent Sagara, informing you that he was inbound with the remains of Lieutenant Grace Wiseman. And because of your petty belief that only quote, professionals end quote, know what they're doing or how to do things right, you blew it off. "

Betty was almost snarling now "I gave my word that she would be treated with all the dignity and respect due a Servicemember Killed in Action. You embarrassed yourself, which I could care less about. You embarrassed the hangar crew. They've already let their displeasure be known and I've already passed out punishments there. Ranging from extra duty to one week suspensions. You embarrassed this organization, and you embarrassed ME! You are hereby suspended for two weeks and docked two weeks pay. You're also grounded for the next ninety days. No flights. You're not allowed at the controls anything other then a car."

"Ma'am…

She didn't even bother with the term 'Agent' when she interrupted him, "SHUT UP, Du! The way I see it, you've got three choices. One, I can drop you back in the middle of the hangar, right now, and let them handle you. Are you feeling lucky?" From the way Du paled, she figured he didn't like that option.

"I guess not. Number two, we can go with the Chief's suggestion and convene a formal Court's Martial and have you brought up on charges of 'Dereliction of Duty'. Even if you beat the charges, your record will forever show that the Court's Martial was called. Your career will effectively be over."

Will gulped at that one.

"Or you can take my option, non-judicial punishment, it gets handled here, now and forever. Which is it gonna be?"

"Non-judicial punishment, Ma'am"

"That's what I thought you'd say. For future reference, I'm gonna suggest a few things to you. First, I'd dial that arrogance of yours back a bit. I've seen some of the recordings and combat records of Special Agent Sagara. There's a reason he's being brought in as our new A.S. trainer. He has more time in Combat then any ten of our agents. I don't mean take downs, I mean Com-Bat. And there's evidence that his girlfriend has more Combat time then you. Team Possible has a better track record of take downs than you. That means they're professionals. If I ever hear the word 'Amateurs' come out of your mouth again, I will send you to the most remote, barren, isolated, miserable post I can find and have you stationed there until you either quit or retire. Are we clear?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"Second, if I were you, I'd stay away from Sagara, Chidori and Team Possible. It was only the fact that the hangar chief requested the 'pleasure of kicking your ass' that prevented Sagara from climbing in that machine of his and tearing this base apart looking for you. Here's a little factoid for you. LT Wiseman was a friend of his and he was there when she was killed. Your actions insulted her Honor and her memory."

"And the only reason Stoppable didn't rip you apart is he was on duty guarding LT Wiseman. Think about it, Du, that young man defeated two creatures, each weighing more than three hundred pounds apiece, in hand-to-hand Combat. Possible can take you down hand-to-hand and one of them beat her. How well do you think you'd do against him alone. And Chidori is already pissed at you. Like I said, stay away from them."

"Third, since you're grounded for the next ninety days anyway, I suggest you avoid the hangar except for official duties. Understood!"

"Yes Ma'am."

"Since your on suspension, you will place all issue equipment on my desk, including your ID! And don't forget the watch!"

When he had complied, Betty said, "You don't need an escort out, but in two weeks, you will be met at the main entrance at oh-eight-hundred hours and brought before me again. I will return these to you then. Understood?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"Now GET OUT!"

When the door shut, Betty blew out trying to release the last of the frustration Du had caused. She was rather proud of herself though. It takes talent and experience to rip a bloody strip off of someone and not use more than a very minimal amount of invective!

On the other side of the door, it was a different story. It was a seething Will Du that left Betty's office. And he blamed the 'Amateurs' for his position.

**********

Before they left, Sousuke and Ron, with Kim and Kaname as outriders, pushed LT Wiseman to the viewing room. They were surprised that the room was already filled with flowers and had programs sitting on the pews, waiting for the service tomorrow. Faith told them that someone named Richard Mardukus had called a couple of days ago and told them that the detail escorting LT Wiseman was on the way.

Once they had her placed, Sousuke took a step back and looked. She looked lonely sitting there in the empty room. He was about to decline the Chamber's invitation when a couple of older men in their late forties wearing different uniforms entered. One was dressed in Marine Dress Greens and the other wore Navy Summer Whites.

Carl Chambers introduced them as former Gunnery Sergeant Aaron Michaels and former Chief Petty Officer Jacob Hanson. They were both retired E-7's he knew from the local VFW/AM VETS post. The group shook hands first with Chief Hanson, then Gunny Michaels.

Michaels said, "Son, I know what you're thinking, you don't wanna leave her alone. Ya feel responsible for her. Now when Marcus called the Post and put the word out, well me and Jake here knew what ya needed. I'll just bet the four o' you been pulling shifts since y'all started bringing her home. And, Sergeant, I'd put real good money down, you done most of it. Ain't that right, Corporal?" He looked at Kim who was wearing a wry grin when she said. "Yes, Sergeant."

"Call me Gunny." He looked back at Sousuke. "Well, we're here ta relieve ya. Bout four hours from now couple more of our people gonna show up and spell us. We got more then fifty people ready to jump in at anytime. I give ya my word, she won't be alone for an instant. Now y'all just head on out an get some grub and good night's sleep. You won't offend us if ya wanna show up and check the guard from time to time, cause most of us been where you are. So we know how ya feel. But the Chamber's have been living around here for more'n a hundred an fifty years and we take care of our own. Now y'all head on out and we'll see ya tomorrow."

Sousuke really wasn't sure, but the looks on the faces of these hard-eyed men told him what he needed to know. She was in good hands. "Thank you, Gunnery Sergeant."

They each took one last look back to see the two retired NCO's talking in low tones. For Sousuke and Kaname, these men weren't really a surprise. Sousuke had almost been raised by people like them and Kaname had seen how far Melissa, Kurz, Tessa, Kalinin and even Mardukus would go for the people in their charge. The length's Service Members would go to support each other in a time of need was almost taken for granted.

But for Kim and Ron it was shocking. The dedication to each other was something they had never experienced outside of watching each others backs. But they had known each other since they were four and looking out for each other was second nature to them. But all these people knew was that LT Wiseman was the sister to a woman that had married into their community and she had been in the Service and they were crawling out of the woodwork trying to help. It was a humbling experience.

Carl asked them where they were staying and they got back in the Crown Vic and followed the Chamber's in their beat-up full sized Ford Bronco towards the little motel on the outskirts of the small town. They signed in and took the bags inside and changed out of the Class A's and into civvies for the first time in three days. Before they left, Sousuke told them that if they wanted to attend the service tomorrow, they should hang up the Dress Blues so they would have a chance dewrinkle. Once they had done so, they piled back into the large Ford and followed the Chamber's out of town.

Along the way they saw more of the same flags and ribbons they had seen on the way in. They passed along country roads that were more field then anything else. Combines moved through fields of grain, pulling in the harvest and plows followed them trying to get the fields ready for one more planting before winter. Silos and barns dotted the landscape, with herds of cattle meandering through the cut fields. Well off to the West they saw the purple haze of the Rocky Mountains on the horizon. They were led to a working ranch that reminded Kim and Ron of Slim's Lazy C.

Parking the car they were greeted by several younger people who were introduced as the other sons and daughters of the elder Chamber's couple and a couple of preteens that were the son and daughter of Carl and Faith. After they were led to the huge veranda, they had already placed a feast that even had Ron's eyes popping. After stuffing themselves, Carl and Faith led them to a office/den that was obviously the center of the ranch's financial affairs.

Once the door was shut and everyone had taken a seat, Faith turned on Kim. "You're her aren't you? Kim Possible?" She looked at Ron. "And you're her sidekick?"

Kim interjected, "Partner!"

"Well, care to explain?"

Sousuke immediately took charge. "Ma'am, as I stated before, I was the only survivor from LT Wiseman's last mission. These people are a part of my new team. When I was informed of my duty to her, they volunteered to accompany me on this mission."

Carl looked a bit skeptical, "Their ranks I can believe, but you being a E-6 is a little hard to swallow. I was Captain in the Army before I resigned. I served in Bosnia, that's where I met Faith. And a Staff Sergeant generally had to be a little bit older than, what 19, maybe 20?"

Sousuke looked the former Army Officer in the eyes, "Combat is one of the fastest ways to make rank, Sir. How much did you know about LT Wiseman's service?"

The Chamber's looked at each other for one of those instances of communication that married couples seem to share and Carl answered, "I probably know generally more than Faith, she probably knows more specifics. We both know she was working with some seriously undercover bunch that really didn't like publicity and she was based somewhere in the Indian Ocean."

Faith pleaded "You said you were there, how did it happen, please!"

Sousuke looked at the distraught woman for a long moment, then pulled out his cell phone and opened it when Carl said, "I doubt if you'll get a signal."

Sousuke ignored him and hit a speed dial. The Chambers were surprised after a few seconds when Sousuke spoke, "Sergeant Sagara, Ma'am. Questions are being asked about LT Wiseman's service, specifically her final mission…Her sister and brother-in-law…No Ma'am, just them…They seem to have base knowledge…Yes Ma'am…Understood, my discretion, Ma'am…Yes Ma'am, Sagara out."

He folded the cell and put it away. "Ma'am, Your sister was employed by an international organization that is dedicated to the prevention of terrorism throughout the world. Their mandate recognizes no country's claims of neutrality, borders or hostile status. If they harbor terrorists they're fair game." He looked at Carl, "Sir, you served in the Military, you're aware of the need for operational security."

"Yes."

"Then you'll understand that there are things I can't tell you?"

"Yes."

Then he looked back at Faith and said, "Ma'am, can you accept that I can only tell you certain things. If an enemy finds out too much, the lives of my comrades would be at risk. Ask your husband if you doubt me."

"Carl?"

"He's right. There's a lot more at risk here then what we'd like to know. Lack of operational security was one of the things that gave us nightmares in Bosnia."

"OK, what can you tell us?"

"That she served honorably and gave her life protecting others. The nuclear weapon wasn't really our first objective. The objective was a certain person. I had been attached to the squad because I had intimate knowledge of both the terrain and the target. He was one of the most dangerous men in the world. Utterly ruthless, he was willing to kill anyone that even looked like they stood in his way. We were to find and eliminate him. But when we caught up to him, we found he was leading a group in transporting the nuclear weapon. That changed the mission. The weather had long range communications blacked out. We couldn't get in touch with higher command for further orders."

Kaname had slid closer and put her hand on his. "So the mission commander decided that we had to stop the transport. Just before we engaged, we couldn't see our primary target and that worried me. I tried to convince them to wait until we knew where he was. But they didn't listen."

"When we sprung the ambush, we captured the nuclear weapon from the group that was transporting it. That was when he showed up. He single-handedly turned our ambush around on us. We were able to make a fighting withdrawal, but now we had two causalities, one killed, one wounded. The commander was the one killed."

"Taking the weapon and the wounded, we were able to slip away into the mountains. They followed us until nightfall. I was able to lead the team to a haven I remembered from when I had lived there before. We secured first aid for our wounded and settled in for the night."

"We knew the enemy was coming for us, so we settled on a plan. Since I had the most capable equipment and experience with the terrain, I took a forward observer/sniper position to ambush them as they approached."

"What we didn't know was that a former…" Sousuke paused trying to figure out how to tell them about his near brother, that in the end, had tried to kill him. "Associate of mine was working for the enemy."

Carl caught the pause as did Kim and Ron. Kaname already knew about Zaid, the childhood friend of Sousuke's who helped him survive his first few years in the mountains. Carl asked, "This associate, he was your friend wasn't he?" The look on Sousuke's face was all the answer anyone needed.

"LT Wiseman and the rest of the team had stayed behind in a position to guard the weapon. Most of the enemy fell into the ambush, but our main target didn't. He sent most of his troops into the ambush to draw our fire. Then he slipped around and got into position to take out the rest of the squad."

Sousuke was looking at his hands clasped in front of him "I had been tricked into a counter-ambush. I don't remember how long I was fighting. All I remember was my ammunition levels were falling and the enemy just kept coming. I heard the squad screaming over the radio, calling for help while I was fighting. But I couldn't break free. There were too many of them. By the time I got back, they were all dead. When I arrived, he taunted me. He was gloating. In the end, that was what allowed me to defeat him. At the time, I didn't have much choice. As best I could, I gathered the squad and buried them in hidden graves. I marked the location in the GPS, secured the weapon and walked out alone leaving them behind, leaving her behind."

Carl knew how hard this young man was taking it. 'Leave no one behind' was almost an article of faith to American Service members. It was this that caused a company of 150 men to charge into fire taking horrendous losses to rescue one man. To spend millions of dollars in munitions, fuel and equipment and risk the lives of other pilots and SAR personnel to cover a single downed aviator as he tried to escape from behind enemy lines. And even if you didn't come home alive, every service member knew that the rest would NEVER stop trying to bring you home, one way or another.

Sousuke looked up at Faith with haunted eyes, "When I was called to escort LT Wiseman home, I was offered the chance to refuse. I had failed once before. I would NOT fail her again."

Somehow, instinctively, Faith knew he was asking for something. Something that no one, not Tessa or Kalinin or Mao, not even Kaname could give. Only she could give him what he unconsciously wanted. Forgiveness for his perceived failure. She took a seat opposite Kaname and drew the young Soldier into a hug. He just kept repeating 'I'm sorry.'

It was there, half a world and nearly two years from where it happened, that a ghost was laid to rest.

**********

Deep in the German Heartland, in an underground bunker a short man was browsing through yet another listing. These mystical artifacts drove him nearly insane, not that he was far off in the first place. But he kept doggedly plowing through them trying to find what he wanted. Never let it be said that persistence doesn't pay off.

He read through the scroll telling him what he wanted. "AT LAST, I have it. Ve just have to replace that idiotin Englishman vith somevone else on Ze Yono's Path. Und ve don't fight ze Yono. Ve defeat ze vone who raises him." As he read further he found something he didn't want to know. "VE HAVE TO VAIT TIL THE ZOLSTICE?! AGGGGGHH" Mien revenge is delayed again!"

"No matter, ve still have to get him back from Frau Zeppelin. Zhe has been dragging him around for months."

"HENCHMEN!!!"

"Sir."

"Everyzhing else can vait. You are get zhe statue of Fiske away from der Blimp dat has him. Ve only have until the zolstice. No delays! Find HER! SCHNELL!"

When the Henchmen had scattered to carry out the madman's orders, he sat and pondered, "Maybe in zhe meantime, ve might want to get zhe attention if zhe Untermensch."

**********