At Knightsbridge everyone was in a conference room where David Three Feathers was presenting his report, "Airwolf performed better than expected with the new systems were installed. Thanks to Mr. Rivers and Miss Hawke's efforts we were able to track Direwolf to a warehouse district in the Los Angeles area. For someone not up to date on the upgrades Airwolf received Mr. Rivers performance was much better than expected. Due to the extreme range and ground clutter we were unable to determine it's exact destination, but we have three likely candidates. We have put agents on all locations within two hundred miles with parts or machinery capable of manufacturing components we believe Direwolf needs. So far nothing even remotely suspicious has turned up. Two Bell 206s are getting custom upgraded tail rotors, and Eckerite Aviation Services has purchased an extremely elaborate custom camera rig but those were the closest things our agents found to what we think they need. Additionally the old tail rotors for the Bell 206s were taken to be recycled where our people are now watching them as well." Allen asked "What about potential locations for Direwolf?" David replied "We have three likely locations. The first is a warehouse with a retractable roof, it's barely big enough for Direwolf. The second is the ideal location in my opinion. It has been rented through a series of shell companies, and was originally a hanger. The third location is the computer's favorite. It has three exits capable of supporting a helicopter the size of Direwolf. The reason I do not like it is because it happens to be in an area that is popular with the homeless. People would notice the helicopter coming and going." Marella asked "What do you think Mr. Hawke?" Allen said "I think we need Uncle St. John and David provide overwatch in Airwolf while Addie and I go in on the ground to check out each facility. If we find Direwolf and it's flight capable then we take it, if it's not flight capable we send in ground forces to secure it for us. If we encounter something we haven't planned for then we play it by ear." David said "I would prefer to go in on the ground with Allen to evaluate Direwolf." Allen shook his head and said "You and St. John are the most experienced crew we have for Airwolf so we need you two in Airwolf in case we fail and Direwolf gets airborne." Marella said "I agree. Also from what I have read in her file Miss Hawke is better on the ground than an entire Zebra Squad fireteam, so she is ideal for the ground team." St. John then added "I agree, if you have any doubts then you should see that knife of hers. Whats next?" Marella said "I suggest the ground team check the sites in the order David mentioned them. I also want you to wait until we have two full Zebra Squads on standby. They will wait just outside the target area while Allen and Addie check each site out. If they are needed they can be in the fight in two minutes or less, if they are not needed they can ex-filtrate quickly to avoid getting caught up in any kind of aftermath." Allen said "I like it."
After the meeting Addie found the closest thing the company had to a gym, which had all the facilities of any gym you imagined along with a number of facilities that were useful for training special forces operatives. As Addie made her way to the punching bags and picked up a pair of gloves, she didn't go unnoticed, two of the guys from Zebra squad approached her while the only other woman in the room watched. Addie was starting to put the gloves on when one of the men started to touch her shoulder, she warned "If you want to keep your hand, keep it to yourself." The man who had started to touch her retorted "You realize that only authorized personal can use these facilities?" Addie simply said "I was told to make myself at home, so I am. I need to let some steam off so I found a punching bag." "I'm Julius Fehr. everyone calls me Colonel. I'm in charge of Zebra Squad and these are our facilities. You have to go through me to use them." Addie smiled and said "May I please make use of your facilities, specifically one of the punching bags?" Fehr simply said "We have a rule, you have to fight your way in and win." Addie smiled and said "Whose ass do I kick?" Fehr told her "I'll be your opponent, get in the ring." Addie asked "Bare knuckles?" Fehr said "Bare knuckles works for me, but I have to warn you the only other rule is no one pulls their punches." Addie grinned and said "I didn't plan to anyway." Fehr smirked as Addie climbed into the ring and said "I think this is going end differently than you do." Addie simply noticed David Three Feathers was standing in the doorway watching as she replied "Not to late for you to get a couple of your guys to help you." Fehr just shook his head and said "I'll let you go first." Addie just shook her head and told him "Oh no. It's your house, you get the first move."
Julius Fehr threw a right jab, Addie dodge it as she landed a punch of her own on his ribs as she said "Try again, and do better." Fehr feinted a jab at Addie, and swing a right hook. As Addie dodged those, he tried to sweep her legs out from under her. Addie smiled as she dodged the attack, then she went on the offensive again. Addie slid in close, grabbed Fehr by the back of his neck, and pulled him toward her as she brought her knee up into his gut. Addie was impressed how quickly he recovered and moved to get some distance between them. Addie didn't give him time to recover as she swept his feet out from under him and was pleased when he swept her own legs out from under her and manged to bring her into a position to grapple with her. Addie had hoped for any kind of challenge and Fehr's move catching her by surprise showed her he was not to be underestimated. Now she needed to re-enforce that neither was she. Addie, without thinking pulled him into a modified Kimura until he tapped out. She then goaded him into another fight. Ten minutes later after her fifth victory Fehr, who was struggling to stand, told her "You earned your spot in here." Addie asked "Wanna go again?" Fehr replied "No, but if anyone else wants to try taking you on, they cab be my guest." Addie looked around and found no takers, but did note David was just leaving. Seeing everyone avoid the ring like it was a den of rattle snakes Addie made her way to the punching bag.
The female zebra squad member approached Addie, braced the punching bag, and said "My name is Naomi, what's yours?" Addie replied "My friends call me Addie, others call me Hawke." Naomi said "Where did you learn to fight like that? Colonel Fehr is our C.O. and our hand to hand instructor." Addie, now beating the punching bag into submission, said "I've been training in martial arts since I was eight years old. My mother thought it would help me control my temper. Turns out fighting and languages are my superpower as my Cousin Le would say." Naomi told her "So what were you recruited for?" Addie replied "I wasn't recruited, I inserted myself into an op and I'm seeing it though." Naomi asked "You have a military background?" Addie replied "No, that would be my brother and one of my cousins. I have done work as an intelligence contractor for a few agencies that would be most unhappy if I discussed them or the job. I was loaned out to the British for a job, and I've worked as a peace officer in addition to my law practice." Naomi asked "What's with Three Feather's interest in you? I saw him watching you teach Colonel Fehr there was someone better than him," Addie laughed and said "He's involved in the same op." Naomi replied "There's more to it than that. Nearly all the women around here think he's gay, I've got it from good authority he's just picky. So what is his interest in you?" Addie replied "Don't know, can't comment on why we know each other. So what's your story?" Naomi "I was in the Marine Corps, we got into a firefight and I was separated from my unit. I was fighting my way back to one of our observation posts when I came upon a friendly unit under heavy fire. I managed to take out their attackers, and soon found myself adopted by them. Turns out they were made up of special forces on loan to the C.I.A. and after we got back to civilization I was officially added to their roster. When my tour was supposed to be over, Colonel Fehr recruited me for Zebra Squad."
Author's Note: I decided that we needed to explore Addie's background a bit more in this chapter and later in the story. We'll get to why where her name comes from, probably in the last chapter. As for Addie I want to mix in part of both String and Cait's personality in with her own while adding in the curse of an eidetic memory. With Allen I don't feel that exploring his past plays well with his character. I plan to have a sequel story, with Addie bringing Le Van into that story's "B arc" and possibly explaining why we didn't see him at the lair.