A note from the author: We're back to a little more action/adventure now.  This is where the plot finally starts to get going.  The previous chapters have really just been introductions.  (No, I'm really not lying when I say I can probably tell a good hundred chapters worth of story.)  Don't know if I'll go that far but I will if I keep getting messages!

Mail me comments/suggestions at (invidwriter@hotmail.com)

Also, I have a special treat for those who send me feedback (positive OR negative - say what ever you want.  But the more constructive criticism the better)!  I've got 25 or so pages of story I wrote for this chapter that never made it into the final cut because they didn't fit right with the characters.  Anyone who wants to read it, just tell me what you thought of this or any other chapter and leave a note saying you'd like to read it.  I'll pass it your way.  (Warning: It's really just 25 pages of gang bang / minor BDSM sex but it's got a little plot thrown in and also contains a character who will likely play a more major roll later on but because of the rewrite has yet to be introduced.  I'm not going to say whom though!)

And finally a note about the story.   The abbreviation "EP" which will come up now and then with the Coalition is simply short for "Energy Pistol."  Likewise, "ER" is "Energy Rifle"

For the disclaimer, check out the Authors note from chapter 1.


Invid Invasion

Chapter 6

"Rising Powers"

	"It was sunrise.  The rest of Andrea's group had yet to awake, minus her and Thunder.  She had been outside, starting a fire when he came up behind her.  "You want to go for a ride?" His voice was throaty, excited at sharing something he found to be amazing.  Andrea eagerly responded and gave up on the fire.  The wood was too wet anyway.
	The next thing she knew she was on top of Thunder's horse, Jasper.  She had never rode one before but her good sense of balance made it relatively simple.  Thunder walked along beside her with a hand on the horse's muscular side.  Her pet coyote walked on the other side and looked up at her.  Although she loved riding, she was starting to get bored with the slow pace.  "Can I run with him?" She asked.
	"Are you sure?"  Andrea was amazed that his question didn't sound at all questioning of her riding ability or judgement.  She nodded and stroked the horse's mane.
	Thunder went over and spoke in the horse's ear gently.  "Be careful, Jasper.  She's one of the good ones."  The horse snorted, not understanding what was said but it got the message that it was riding with her for a short time.  Thunder took a step back and spoke to Andrea once more.  "He's all yours."
	Andrea gently kicked the horse and it sped up.  The three-legged coyote tried to keep speed beside her and did surprisingly well.  Thunder used no reigns so she had to guide its direction by pressing lightly on one side of its neck.  It made it slightly more difficult to hang on to the animal but she was having fun.  She kicked the horse gently again, sending it into a full-fledged run and her coyote started to fall behind.  She let Jasper go his own direction as she clung on for what seemed like dear life.  After about thirty seconds of galloping she saw Jasper was headed towards a small ravine caused by a stream.  It was nearly five feet across and the horse was not slowing down.  Andrea looked at it nervously then to the horse.  "Whoa, whoa... no jumping..." The horse only sped up.  "What did I just say?  No jumping."  It launched itself over the cleft in the land and came down fairly softly on the other side.  Andrea bounced up and down heavily in her saddle.  Jasper turned in a long arc as Andrea recovered herself.  Jasper simply headed back to the ravine, once again at full speed.  "No, no, no, no, no" It jumped over it again and Andrea felt her balance start to waver.  She tried to cling on to the horse's thin hair but couldn't get a grip.  She felt herself slipping.
	"Ahhhhhhhh," she screamed as she fell off the animal.  She landed hard on the ground but rolled with the fall.  Fortunately, the horse was careful not to trample her.  Thunder ran over quickly, concerned as it looked like she was crying.  The coyote was already there and had its nuzzle pressing against her cheek.  A short sprint found Thunder at her side and his concern eased as he realized that in fact she was laughing.  She rolled over and stood up.  Pieces of torn grass stuck to her shirt and pants.  "That was great," she said, still laughing.
	Thunder sighed.  "You worried me."
	"Well, I may have a bit of a bruise or two but I'll be fine.  Can I go again?"
	"Um...  Of course.  But steer away from jumps."
	"Ha.  I tried."
	With Thunder's help she got back on the animal and took off at high speeds once more.  Thunder stood still and watched her.  His heart stopped as he saw her frame silhouetted by the early morning sun. 

* * * *

	It was a few days later.  Andrea's party was driving at the horses pace along a paved road.  They were nearly at the Southern end of Mexico now and the sun was getting hotter.  Andrea was riding Jasper again.  The horse had taken a liking to her and behaved well in her presence.  Thunder on the other hand was riding in the passenger side of the jeep, currently being driven by Bob.  The coyote was in his lap watching Andrea carefully.  
	Kitty and Irene were in the back of the jeep watching as well while Jewel and Ed drove on his bike.  Kitty looked at Andrea's body and felt her breath catch.  She hadn't had sex or even been naked with Andrea since that night about two weeks ago.  She was beginning to think she had scared her off.
	Irene also looked to Andrea lustfully.  Bob had noticed everyone's attention on her and began to think of what it was that made her so easy to become attracted to.  It was obviously more than her looks.  People didn't even lust after Irene like that.  And the strangest part was that Andrea seemed to be oblivious to it all.  She didn't even notice the other's advances on her.  His attention was taken away from his thoughts as he rounded a corner and saw what appeared to be a military checkpoint up ahead.
	Two guards in power armor stood with energy rifles pointed upwards.  Andrea grew concerned.  She dismounted the horse and told Bob to wait where he was.  She walked alone up to the two guards.  They did not look inviting at all.  They wore black armor with masks that looked like they had their own air supply during emergencies.  The masks had a stylized design of a skull on the front of them but still looked particularly threatening.  Another skull logo stood prominently on their chest.
	"Citizen papers please." One of the guards said.
	"Citizen papers?  Why have you blocked the road?"
	"This is a main entranceway that leads to Trump Towers.  Only citizens and registered civilians are allowed inside."
	"Well where is Trump Towers?"
	The guards looked at each other through their masks.  "About 700 miles East."
"	700 miles?" She said astounded.  "You're a little far from the city aren't you?"
	"We're expanding.  Now if you would please show your citizen papers..."
	"I'm not a citizen."
	"Well in that case you and your companions will have to accompany me to processing.  We scan for medical conditions, parasites, alien diseases and the like.  Then you will be given a physical and issued temporary transportation papers allowing you to stay in our territory for a maximum of three months."
	"What organization do you belong to?"
	"The Coalition, Ma'am."
	"Coalition?  I haven't heard of you."
	"No, Ma'am.  Our organization only arrived four months ago.  Now if you would like to continue travel along this road you have to come with us."
	"What about the rest of them?"
	"If they are continuing to travel with you they must be scanned as well."
	"Can they bypass it if they stay with me?"
	"Yes, but you are the one who will be responsible and if necessary tried for their actions."
	"I see."  Andrea looked back to her group.  She could trust most of them but she wasn't sure about Jewel or Ed.  She gestured them over.  "The three of us will get scanned.  I'll take responsibility for the others."
	"Very well."  The three of you can come with me.  He turned and began walking through the checkpoint.  Ed and Jewel caught up and began travelling with her.
	"What's going on?" Jewel asked.
	"We have to get a physical and some medical tests to keep travelling."
	"But what about the others?" Ed said.
	Andrea stumbled.  "They picked just us three randomly.  They didn't have to scan the rest."
	The guard noticed her obvious lie but said nothing.  He continued to walk towards a large white building.  It appeared to be reasonably well kept.  It had the same skull logo painted over the front wall of the structure.
	"Inside," the guard said and shoved them through the door with the butt of his gun.
	"You wave that thing around as if it were harmless," Andrea said, referring to the weapon he had in his hand.
	"I'm a trained professional, Ma'am.  Nothing to worry about."
	Andrea's wits sharpened.  "Your military has only been around four months.  If you're this far out you joined what, maybe a month ago?  It took me a lot longer than that to learn how to properly fire a gun."
	"You have experience with firearms?"  Andrea, Ed and Jewel were being led down a long corridor.  The lighting inside was dim and security cameras watched every corner.  He stopped at a room and gestured for them to go inside.
	"I do," Andrea responded.
	"What types?"
	"Automatic pistols, rifles, energy pistols, energy rifles, heavy weapons...  Pretty much everything."
	"I see," the guard said impressed.  "Have you ever considered a military career?"
	Andrea shook her head negatively but it was a lie.  She was currently a member of an underground resistance dedicated to getting rid of the Invid.  She had been a field member for years.  Reporting in and exchanging information now and then.  She even had the rank of Lieutenant.  Not that that mattered much in a military that did everything it could to keep itself secret.
	"That's too bad," the guard continued.  "The Coalition is always looking for people of your talents."
	"I'm sure they are," Andrea said simply.  The four of them were now in the room.  It was empty but had open ceiling ports.  It looked like the floor was a sort of drain as well.
	"This is a decontamination chamber," the guard said.  "I'll have to take your clothing and possessions at this point.  They will all be returned to you when your papers are issued."
	"Uh huh," Andrea said skeptically.  There were many times in the past where she had left her weapons with the people at the front and never seen them again.  Nevertheless she complied.  She handed over her gun belt first and began to strip.  The others did the same.
	A few seconds later saw the three companions butt naked.  The guard left with an armful of clothing and slammed the door loudly behind him.  Andrea heard what sounded like sprinklers above her and resisted the urge to look up.  If it was about to spray chemicals all over her she didn't want any in her eyes.
	Sure enough, the roof quickly opened up with a strong spray of liquid.  It was so strong that it nearly knocked her off her feet.  Her long curls of hair were instantly soaked and dripping.  Her bangs stuck to her forehead and she extended her arms from her body as if that would somehow ease the force of the sulfur smelling liquid.  Eventually, the chemical bath stopped and Andrea relaxed slightly.  The floor had drained the liquid and the smell was already retreating into the floor.
	She turned and opened her eyes to look at Jewel and Ed when she was hit with another stream of liquid.  This time it was simply hot water, but it was extremely hot.  She cringed her teeth and sucked it up.  Jewel didn't fair as well and let out a startled yelp.  "It's too hot," she said loudly.
	"Tell me about it," replied Ed.  "What the hell are they trying to do anyway?  Burn our skin off?"
	Andrea simply remained silent.
	Eventually, the hot water passed through the floor as well and left only steam in its wake.  The door opposite of the one they entered through opened.  On the other side stood an attractive, pleasant looking young woman.  "Through here please," she said diplomatically.
	The three travelers did as instructed and left the decontamination room.  Andrea's hair felt heavy with the weight of the water and hung straight down her back.  Droplets of water glistened over her smooth skin and rolled gently down her body.
	On the other side of the door hung three towels.  The women handed one to each of them.  "Here you go," she said.  "You can wear them if you like."
	Jewel seamed pleased and didn't even dry herself off.  She just wrapped the towel around her breasts and let it hang down to cover her waist as well.  Meanwhile Ed and Andrea finished drying off.  Ed wrapped his around his waist and Andrea followed his example.  She always wore towels like that.  It seemed simpler somehow.
	Over the next hour or so, the doctor did everything from pulse and blood pressure to the rubber glove.  Eventually, she brought out some equipment Andrea had never seen before.  It was explained that these were for detecting the aforementioned Alien diseases and the like.
	Andrea waited patiently as the doctor used the first one, then the second.  She was starting to become rather annoyed that she even had to be tested for something like this.  It was when the doctor used the third and final device that she spoke.  "Well that's interesting."
	"Oh?"  Andrea furrowed her brow with the question.
	"I'm going to have to do some more tests on you.  I've got an unusual reading here."  Andrea shifted in her seat.  "Oh not to worry.  I'm sure it's nothing big."  She went over to Ed and Jewel and finished her work there.  "Your two can go.  I'll need her another hour or two."
	Andrea went wide-eyed.  "Two hours?"  The Doctor only nodded and Andrea stood with a sigh.  The Coalition was already turning out to be more trouble than they were worth.
	"You want us to stay?" Ed asked in an uncharacteristic tone of good intentions.  Andrea shook her head.
	"No.  You two go back.  Tell the others I'll be there soon."  She paused a bit and then spoke as if in afterthought.  "I hope."
	"Okay then, if you're sure."  Ed wrapped a hand around Jewel's waist and headed out to the door.  A guard to escort him out quickly approached him.
	Meanwhile, the doctor led Andrea into a bright and completely bare room.  The other women left and Andrea sat down alone.  She sat for far too long.  The floor was uncomfortable and the cold was beginning to seep through the towel.  A small draft of cool air tugged lazily at her hair.
	More time passed and Andrea's boredom increased.  She paced back and forth around the room until eventually she wore herself out of that as well.  She sat back down on the cold floor, her hand accidentally brushing her leg.  She marveled at how smooth the skin still was.
	She moved her hand back and began meticulously looking for stubble in the way that only those with no other forms of entertainment can do.
	The sound of a lock clicking and a stream of light coming through the doorway interrupted her search.  A Coalition Captain stood still at the door before cautiously entering the room.  Andrea stood up to greet him, far to conscious of the contrast between her toplessness and his military uniform.
	"I'm Captain Trent Wallace," he said plainly.  He was a handsome looking man, only a few years older than Andrea.  He was careful to keep his gaze above her neck and Andrea appreciated the gesture.
	"Andrea Robertson."  She stuck out a hand to meet his.
	"I wanted to let you know that you have been approved but there is a minor complication.  You've been red flagged."
	"Red flagged?"
	"It's nothing more than a caution on your file really."  He looked directly into her eyes with a piercing gaze.  "Have you ever had any psychic or telepathic experiences?"
	"No," Andrea said surprised at the question.  After her response she remembered the communication with the Invid and mutants.  She hoped he would not catch on to her lie.
	"Our scans show some psychic potential.  As such, you have to stop at all checkpoints for a brief exam."
	"What?  Why?"  Andrea had no idea what this guy was getting at.
	"We don't allow people with developed psychic abilities into our territory.  If you were to read our mission statement, you would understand our polices towards such persons."
	"I see."  
	"Regardless, here are you travel documents."  He handed her some papers.  "Be careful not to lose them."  He looked down at her body for the first time but his expression didn't change.  "Your clothing is in the other room.  I'll take you there."  Andrea nodded and followed him outside the room.  A short while later she found herself fully dressed, shoved out the door and back with her friends at camp.
	"How did it go?" Asked Thunder when she finally got back.  He was on his horse, sitting casually.
	"Long...  And boring."
	"Ah.  Care to ride with me awhile?  I'm told the town should only be an hour or two up ahead and you could tell me about your adventure."  Andrea smiled, about to accept when Jewel interrupted.
	"Any chance I can get a ride?"
	Thunder hesitated but his courteous side quickly took over.  "Of course.  Perhaps once we arrive in the city."
	"Oh, I have plans in the city," Jewel said mischievously.  Andrea's heart sunk into her stomach as the words were spoken.  She had forgotten about the lost bet.  Jewel smiled at Andrea's reaction but continued speaking.  "But we'll do it after."
	"After it is then," Thunder smiled genuinely.  He was oblivious to Andrea's thoughts and waited for her to climb aboard.  After she had got her seat he kicked the horse into a trot and the others followed in the two vehicles.
	Andrea pressed her chest into Thunder's back as the horse increased pace.  Thunder was too tall to look over so she had to be content watching the terrain go by on either side of him.
	She could feel the warmth and security of his back through the tank top.  The temperature outside was even warmer however and distracted from the sensation.  The air temperature must have been nearing 40 degrees C and the humidity was just as extreme.  The whole party was sweating more than their share.  Except Irene of course.
	"How do you stay so cool?" Kitty asked Irene from the back seat as she dabbed her forehead with a cloth.  Irene was riding shotgun.
	"I don't know.  Is it very hot?"
	"Don't tell me you think it's cool out here."
	"I guess not.  But I don't sweat much normally."  She smiled knowingly to Kitty.  "Only when I'm doing something physical."
	Further in the lead, Andrea had just finished explaining her hours spent in solitude, waiting when Thunder stopped the horse.  Andrea leant sideways to look ahead.  The town was close.
	The city itself was small, maybe 1000 people at most.  Big enough for a few hotels and a few bars.  Nothing else of interest.  "Well, what are we waiting for?" Andrea asked.  "Let's head in." 

* * * *
	
	Spirits were relatively high in the group, despite the rather unusual meeting with The Coalition.  But as the party moved closer to the town, moods began to fall.  Talking fell to a low mumbling and eventually stopped.  There were tents around the edge of the town but not of the military variety.  People walked the streets but seemed to do so with hesitation.  Andrea spotted a number of Coalition propaganda signs before they even arrived in city limits.  It seemed The Coalition was doing some serious recruiting and pulling out every trick in the book while they were at it.
	The city itself seemed to be well kept.  The streets were clean and the buildings had minimal amounts of wear on them.  They looked like they had all been recently touched up.  Andrea decided to attend to the most important business first after entering the town.
	"Let's find a restaurant and a bathroom."
	"I'm with you on that one," Thunder responded.  He tilted his head in a gesture.  "That looks like one over there.  Want to check it out?"
	"Sure." She turned her neck around.  "Hey Bob.  We're headed to uh..." She looked forward again to check the name of the restaurant.  There was none so she turned back around to Bob.  "That place over there."
	"V... Very well."
	Bob proceeded directly to the restaurant, but Thunder and Andrea were forced to hunt around for a suitable place to leave Jasper and the coyote.  They eventually settled on a small tree set up in an alley behind the building.  "Stay here, Jasper." Thunder said and the horse snorted in acknowledgement.  It bent its head to the grass and began working on a snack of its own.  
Andrea spoke to her coyote.  "You too.  You better be here when I get back."  It whimpered agreeably and sat down.  It had caught on to the meaning of her tones very quickly.  Satisfied, Andrea and Thunder headed around to the front of the building.
	"I can't believe you actually got a horse to do as it's told," Andrea said.  "It's like ordering a cat around."
	"Hah.  It was not simple, that's for sure." He paused to open the door for Andrea.  "But he's come around well.  He still wanders off now and then but I don't tie him as a sign of trust."
	It was Andrea's turn to laugh.
	"What's so funny?" He asked sincerely.
	"Nothing.  It's just nice that you want to trust animals.  Most people don't care or don't think they're smart enough to deserve it."
	"Well I can assure you, I'm not one of them.  Besides, your coyote seems quite intelligent."  He caught sight of Bob and headed to a large table that the servers had set up.  "How are you, Bob?"
	Bob glanced nervously to a recruitment poster on the wall.  "A little...  h... hesitant.  I'm not s... sure I like this city."
	"It does seem rather -- political," Thunder added as he sat down.  Andrea sat down beside Thunder and listened to them talk.  Jewel and Ed sat at a separate table, talking amongst themselves.
	"D... Do you think it's a good idea for us to s... stay in town long?"
	"Bob, I never think it's a good idea to stay in town long."  Thunder wasn't watching Andrea as she jumped slightly at a strange feeling.  Something was rubbing against her crotch.  Her eyes darted across the table to see Irene sitting across from her smiling seductively.  Apparently it was her playing footsies.  Thunder continued, oblivious.  "What do you think Andrea?"
	"Oh, um..." She was a little distracted and squirmed in her chair.  It didn't escape Irene however and she continued to rub her toe against Andrea's pants, now trailing down her thighs.  "I like the break from the road but I could never live anywhere for long."
	"Ah, a born traveler, hmm?"
	Irene's foot made it way back up to her crotch to press through her light pants and into the lips of her pussy.  She was starting to get aroused.  "I wouldn't say that."  She was still distracted.  "I didn't hit the road (nor want to), 'till I was 16.  But I guess I haven't looked back since."
	"I have been travelling since I was born.  My tribe believed in changing locations on a regular basis so as not to damage the animal population.  What about you, Bob?"  Irene's touching was starting to get to her and she was becoming bolder.  Andrea tried to cross her legs but couldn't do so with Irene's foot in the way.
	"Oh, uh... T... This is my first time more than 200 miles from home."  
Andrea felt a sudden push from Irene's foot and jumped. "Ahh."
Thunder looked over to her immediately.  "Is something wrong?"
	"No, of course not," Andrea tried to recover.  "I'm going to go to the bathroom."
	"Of course," Thunder said, not entirely believing her.
	"I'll go with," Irene piped in.
	'Damn,' Andrea thought to herself.  So much for that escape route.  She stood up and walked over to the ladies room with Irene in tow.  Andrea entered and Irene followed, closing and locking the door behind them.  The bathroom was really just a one person.  The toilet was blocked off with a stall but there was just the one.  There was a sink and mirror that both seemed in surprisingly good shape.  Although the water probably only came out cold.  Andrea turned around to confront Irene but found herself practically tackled.  Before she knew what was happening her lips were locked tightly with the other woman and her butt was pressed tightly up against the counter that the sink rested in.  Irene kept pushing forward arching Andrea's back until her shoulders finally hit the mirror.  It was an awkward position and certainly not the most comfortable.  But she was more concerned about the lip service she was receiving.
	Her head was against the mirror so she couldn't back away from the kiss.  She got her arms between them and pushed hard on Irene's shoulders.  She didn't take the hint.  After nearly another minute of the passionate kissing Andrea found she was getting into it a little more than she would have liked to admit.  Irene finally parted their lips and pulled Andrea's shirt off quickly, before the other woman could hang onto it, leaving her topless.  The mirror felt cold against her back.  "Irene, stop."  She spoke hastily before Irene started kissing again.
	"Why?  I still haven't had sex with you yet."  She paused, thinking.  	"Well, there was that one night, but Kitty was there too.  I want just you and me."
	"I'm not sure it's a good idea though."  She was panting heavily, still recovering from the rather serious kiss.  Irene was obviously disappointed.  Andrea stood herself up straight so her back was no longer painfully arched.  	"Can I have my shirt back?"
	"Aww, come on.  It'll be fun.  I can call Kitty in if you want."
	Andrea laughed to herself.  "No, that'll be okay."
Irene held the shirt behind her and stepped closer, placing their breasts and lips only centimeters apart.  Andrea could smell Irene's oddly pleasant breath.
	"I'm really horny.  No one has had sex with me since you did last."
	"Well I'm sorry to hear it, but I'm sure you'll find someone."
	"I want you."  She pouted and Andrea sighed, putting out her hand for the shirt.  Irene reluctantly handed it over.
	"Thank-you," Andrea said, putting it back on.  "You ready to head back out?"
	"Um..." She thought about it.  "I'm going to stay in here for a bit."
	"In here?  Why?"
	She adeptly put a hand down the front of Andrea's pants.  "I'll show you if you want."
	"No, that's okay.  Um..." She was at a loss for words.  "Have fun.  I'm going back to the table."
	"I'll think about you, okay?"
	Andrea forced out a half smile.  "Sure, um... sure."  She exited the bathroom closing the door behind her.  As she leaned against the door to recover herself she heard it lock once more and breathed a sigh of relief.  Then she remembered Irene's last words and quickly headed back to the table.  "Hey guys," she said as she sat down between Thunder and Kitty.
	"Hi, yourself," Kitty said placing a hand on Andrea's thigh.  It was well concealed under the table and quickly made its way to her crotch.  Andrea grimaced inside.
	"Okay, look, I just finished telling Irene that..." A loud crash came from her left and Andrea jumped to her feet.  Someone had just thrown a brick through the restaurant window.  A voice came from outside.
	"How do ya like that ya damn Coalition?"
	Thunder quickly stood up as well and placed Andrea behind him.  "Stay behind me."
	Andrea suddenly got angry.  "I can fend for myself you know.  I don't need everyone protecting me or hitting on me or something."
	Thunder turned around looking worried that he just insulted her.  "I wasn't hitting on..."
	"I wasn't trying to protect you either," Kitty chimed in.
	Irene rushed out of the bathroom, having heard the crash.  She was still putting her jump suit around her chest.  "Do you need help?" She asked
	Andrea said nothing as she worked her way around Thunder to the door.
	"Where are you going?" He said a little concerned.
	"Outside.  Where does it look like?"
	"Perhaps it would be wiser if..." The door closed behind her.
	"What crawled up her ass?" Kitty asked rhetorically.
	Outside, the situation was much worse.  Three angry looking and rather large men were standing in a small huddle yelling into the restaurant.  "You can't just let them walk over you like that!  Stand up for yourself.  Show a little backbone!"
	Another one added his piece.  "Those bastards can't touch us if we stick together."
	"What do you three think you're doing?" Andrea asked, stepping into the group of them.
	"Mind your business," the first one said.
	"It is my business.   You threw a brick through the window."
	"We're protesting, get lost."  The man who spoke now was a little more reasonable.
	"And what the hell is throwing a brick through a window going to accomplish?"
	He got up in her face.  Maybe he wasn't as calm as Andrea had anticipated.  "I..." he began to speak but his friend bumped him on the shoulder, interrupting.
	"Shit, man.  The Coalition's coming.  Let's get out of here."
	Andrea saw the man's eyes open wide and the three of them made a break for it.  A Coalition guard yelled from the distance.  "Hey, you four.  Stay right where you are."  He was obviously talking to the three of them and presumably Andrea as well.  Andrea did as told.  The others did not, continuing to get further away from the restaurant.  "Hands in the air."  Andrea did as told, noticing another few guards making their way towards her as quickly as possible.  
	They were all wearing the standard Coalition armor, along with their helmets.  These helmets were the same as the ones on the two she had seen earlier.  They covered the entire face and resembled a skull.  Two of the four guards stayed with her.  The rest gave chase but seemed to be falling behind thanks to their heavy armor.  While one continued running the other stopped and raised his energy pistol.  "Freeze where you are.  This is your last warning."
	The three protesters ignored the man, not noticing his drawn weapon.  The officer had had enough.  He fired.   A short, silver burst of light exited out the mouth of his firearm and struck the man in the rear.  He let out a desperate scream and fell over.  The shot had hit him directly in the back and had obviously killed him, judging by the hole in his rib cage.  Andrea felt disgusted.
	The man who had done the most talking of the three fell over with his fallen comrade.  He appeared to be fine and as he noticed the hole in his friends back, immediately stopped all attempts at escape.  He was more concerned with his comrade.  "Oh my God," he said panicked as he kneeled beside the dead man.  Meanwhile, the third criminal ducked around the corner, still being followed by the officer.
	The person whom had fired ran over to the man kneeling beside his friend and lifted him up roughly to cuff his hands.  The soldier still giving chase disappeared around the corner.
	"Hands behind your back," one of the officers watching her said.  She saw his rank was Private First Class.
	"What?"  Andrea was trying to understand.  "I didn't do anything.  I was trying to stop them."
	"Sure you were."
	"There's a dozen people in there that can verify that."
	"We'll see about that.  For now, put your hands behind your back."
	Andrea frowned and did as told.  They cuffed her hands immediately and the private roughly grabbed her arm at the elbow.  "Get going."  Andrea looked to the other man in hopes that he would be more understanding.  All that stared back was the black metal skull.  As she was being led off she caught Thunders eye.  He had exited the restaurant to witness the proceedings.  He was silently asking if she needed help.  Andrea gave him a quick negative shake of the head and went with the soldiers.  
	As they were walking one of them reached to her gun belt.  "And what might this be?" He said, already knowing the answer.
	"A .44 Magnum." Andrea said plainly with a hint of distaste in her mouth.
	"And this?" He said pointing to the knife.
	"What do you think it is?" She said refusing to play along.  The soldier was unimpressed.  He clenched his hand into a fist and struck her hard in the lower back.  She toppled forward slightly from the blow but managed to keep her feet.
	"Don't talk down to me, bitch."  He grabbed the sheath and knife aggressively.  The other soldier was still silent, walking slightly ahead of Andrea.
	"Whatever," she said under her breath.  She had never had patience for bullies.
	The officer ignored her remark and continued walking slightly behind her.  Andrea felt the pain in her lower back begin to fade.  She would have a bruise there. 

* * * *
	
	After a short walk, Andrea found herself sitting alone in a cell.  She was unimpressed to say the least.  Half an hour was spent pacing frustratingly.  The next half hour she decided she might as well exercise.  And then it was back to pacing.  Her impatience grew with each minute until after about another hour the door to the cellblock opened.
	The 'protester' she had talked to, whom had stopped to take care of his friend came in with a corporal.  The soldier dropped him off in the cell next to her and left.  He seemed a little beat up, as if he had just gone through an interrogation.  He sat in silence for a short while before finally speaking.  "Sorry you're involved in all this."  Andrea was silent.  She still didn't much like the man.  He continued speaking after another pause.  "Have they done anything to you?"
	"Not yet.  Just wasted my time."  There was silence again.  "They will realize I had nothing to do with this right?"
The man was clearly hesitant.  "Well...  I don't know.  Maybe.  If they do an investigation, sure.  But they don't always spend the time when they have suspects in hand."
	"Great," she said sarcastically.  Once again, silence reigned.  Andrea spoke up after a few minutes.  "Sorry about your friend."
	"Not as sorry as me," he said.  Tears were beginning to well up in his eyes and Andrea thought she had best change the subject.
	"Why protest?"
	"Why protest?" The man repeated, honestly shocked at the question.  "Have you seen what they've done?"
	"I just got into town.  I met them at their checkpoint before, but that's it."
	"You travel a lot?"  He seemed to be changing the subject but Andrea humored him.
	"Yes."
	"Then you know how every town has their own little thing.  Their own little piece of pride."  Andrea stared back at him, urging him to continue with her gaze.  "Ours was the courthouse.  It survived the bombings and the looting and the raiders.  Somehow it survived.  We built the whole town around it."  He paused, looking to see if Andrea was still listening.  She was.  "The first thing The Coalition did when they got here two weeks ago was tear it down and set up their 'temporary command center.'  They just walked in here and took over like they owned the place.  Said it was in our own best interests."
	"Maybe it is," Andrea tried to reason.  "We could use a strong military presence against the Invid."
	He scoffed at her.  "Bah.  I haven't seen any Invid in over a year."  Andrea thought about the stage five's - The human looking ones.  Maybe he had seen one and didn't know it.  He continued regardless.  "Besides.  After they took over the courthouse's spot they started to 'confiscate' other people homes for their officers.  Half the town is out of home living in a giant flee infested tent they set up.  Hardly the type of people I'd have in exchange for the Invid.  Not to mention the casual raping, death and destruction."
	Andrea was intrigued now.  If the Coalition was this merciless, how did they have any support?  How did they expand so quickly?  She decided to get as much information as she could.  "What's their support like in town?"
	"Poor at best," he replied.  "But a lot of people join them out of fear.  Those skulls they have all over the place scare the shit out of everyone.  I imagine it's the same everywhere."
	Andrea opened her mouth to ask another question but stopped when the cellblock door opened once more.  She watched the guard as he walked purposefully towards her cell and used his key to open the door.  "Hands behind your back," he said plainly.  She did so and he cuffed her once more.  Then, with a shove to the back led her back out the way he came.
	"Where are we going?" Andrea asked as she walked slightly ahead of the guard.
	"Interrogation room."
	"Interrogation room?  Don't like the sounds of that."
	"It's not for you," he said coldly.
	"Oh?"
	"You'll see.  Take a right."  She did so.
	A few minutes of walking through the corridors and she arrived at a door.  Looking at it for a moment the guard told her to enter and she did.  She was instantly surprised to see that it wasn't the interrogation room, but the viewing room.  A large piece of glass that she presumed was a mirror on the other side allowed her to see what was going on in the other room.  For the moment, it was empty, minus two chairs and a circular table.  "What's going on?" She asked, confused.
	"You're not up for a little peep show?  The guys thought it would be fun to make you watch."  Andrea turned to the soldier, now suspicious that she wasn't going to like whatever was coming up.
	"What?"
	"Let's just say one of your friends offered to 'buy' your freedom."
	"Buy?"  Andrea imagined the guard was smiling under his mask and was suddenly frustrated that she would never know.  A military that hides behind masks was not one she'd liked to associate with.  The soldier offered her a seat and reluctantly she took it.  He sat down beside her with his weapon out in his lap.  He was obviously ready in case she tried something.
	Andrea sat for a few minutes, noticing a few scratches in the glass.  She found herself wondering if they showed up from the other side when the door was opened for the actual interrogation room.  In walked Irene and two fairly muscular looking men.  Or so she presumed.  It was hard to tell in the armor.  She turned to speak to her guard but he put a finger to his mouth in a 'shush' motion.  Maybe they could hear her.  She knew she could hear them from the sound of Irene's voice.
	"So um...  In here?"  One of the guards nodded.  At this point Andrea had a pretty solid idea where this was headed and wasn't sure she liked it.  She turned to speak once more and he leaned over and whispered.
	"Don't make me tape your mouth shut."
	"Are any other people seeing this?" Andrea whispered back.
	Again, she imagined he smiled beneath his mask.  "Whoever wants to.  It's being recorded."
	Andrea felt a shudder of anger but held it back.  There was nothing she could do now.  Perhaps when the soldier gets caught up in the view she can make a move.
	Meanwhile, Andrea simply watched as Irene undressed herself.  The guards did the same to their armor but chose to be anonymous.  They left the helmets on.  In a few moments everyone was naked from the neck down.  Irene strutted over to the first man, a Spaniard by the looks of his skin tone, and knelt down to her knees.  She seemed willing enough, Andrea noticed.
	Irene practically leapt on his soft cock.  She took his entire soft member into her mouth and began to suck, allowing it to slowly grow.  As it did so, she took it out of her mouth and looked up at him seductively.  Slowly, she ran her tongue across the head and down the length of him, reaching his balls.  Still appearing rather eager, she took one into her mouth and spat it out shortly with a large pop.  She then did the same to his other ball.  All the while, his saliva slick semi-hard cock rubbed against her cheek.  She seemed all to conscious of this and moved her cheek up and down slightly while working over his nuts.
	Then, deciding he'd had enough of a warm up, she dragged her tongue back to the head of his cock.  She peeled the foreskin back and looked at it briefly before attacking it with her mouth once more.  "Oh man, she's good," he said.
	"Let me have a try," the other white man said as he gently rubbed his own member along Irene's cheek.  Irene noticed it and turned, taking the other man into her mouth.  He immediately arched his neck and moaned.  "Wow, you weren't kidding."  She pulled away briefly with a sexy smile.
	"I'm the best."
	"You sure are, babe," the Spaniard said, lifting her to her feet.  He simply admired her body.  Her large, impossibly firm breasts curved down to a defined ribcage and stomach.  Her arms were skinny and legs long.  Her long blond hair rested on her shoulders as she stared back with pure blue eyes.  The other officer was walking around her in a circle, admiring her taut butt and defined back.  Her legs were slightly askew, allowing him to see just a hint of her pussy, surrounded by thin blond curls.
	Irene spoke once more.  Her voice was lower, Andrea noticed and much more seductive then usual.  "So who's ready for the next step?  I know I am."
	"Mmm, I want to taste you first," the white guy said as he placed his hands under her armpits.  With a show of strength he lifted her, turned around and placed her rear on the edge of the table.  Irene immediately caught on and lifted one of her legs so the heel of her foot rested beside her on the table.  Her other leg, laid casual out in front of her, the foot not quite touching the ground.  This had the effect of leaving her pussy completely exposed.  Andrea could see a small white glob of arousal at the entrance to her splayed legs.
	"Do you like what you see?"
	"God yes," the guard said as he knelt down in front of her.  His tongue went straight to her hole and he smiled, as he tasted his first drop.  "Delicious," he said more muffled than anything.  Irene giggled, causing her breasts to giggle slightly.  The Spaniard saw it and couldn't resist himself.  Careful to avoid his friend, he took on into his mouth and sucked lightly at the nipple.
	Irene squealed as she felt the two tongues on her body.   Her nipples were as hard as Andrea had seen them.  With her free hand she grabbed her unused breast and massaged it roughly.  Her other arm went around the neck of the soldier sucking on her nipple.  Her pale skin glistened as she started to sweat.  	"More," she said breathily.  "I haven't cum in two days.
	"Oh, two days is it?" The Spaniard said, moving away from her breast.
	"Mm hmm," she said dreary eyed.  She was broken out of her trance as the man eating out her pussy got up as well.  "It's been weeks since I've done it with anyone other than myself.  Please.  Make me cum."  Both her hands went to her breasts now and massaged frantically.  She was obviously very aroused.
	"Stand up," the white guy said and she instantly obeyed.  She was facing the mirror now and only a few feet away.  The soldier brought her a few steps away from the table and moved behind her, pushing her roughly up against the wall and mirror as he kissed her neck.
	Andrea saw her breasts flatten against the glass.  She was only a foot or two away but seemed so distant thanks to the barricade.  Her stomach pressed up against the glass too and her cheek looked flushed as she rested it up against the mirror, smearing it with sweat.  The guard put a hand on either hip.  "You ready now slut?"
	"Yes, now," Irene said lustfully.  The man took his cue and pressed his average sized cock to the entrance of her pussy.  Irene put the palms of her hands flat against the glass to brace herself as he pushed in relentlessly.  As he shoved, her breasts and stomach mashed tighter up against the mirror, leaving Andrea with a very unique view.  Her hips finally bumped the bottom of the two-way mirror as the soldier buried himself to the hilt inside her.  "Ohhhhhh," Irene moaned.  "More.  Faster. Harder."  She was obviously caught up in the sex.
	Andrea saw Irene's clit bash lightly against the glass with every thrust in and out that the guard made.  Each time, she'd smear the glass with a little bit more of her pre-cum.  Her moaning was growing louder and higher pitched as the man moved in and out of her harder.  Andrea could tell that Irene was near orgasm when the man pulled out, his cock now slick with juices.  Irene moaned in disappointment but was still pinned against the glass.  "What are you doing?"
	"If you'll believe it," he said.  "I've never done a girl in the ass before" He pressed the head of his cock gently to her puckered hole.  The skin around the edge wasn't darker like with most people.  It was the same color as any other part of her body and the soldier seemed to only find that more attractive.  "Nice and clean," he said as he pushed.
	"No," Irene pleaded.  "I can't cum from there.  Go back into my pussy."
	"Who said we cared if you came or not?  That's not our problem."
	He pushed the head of his cock into her ass gently and Irene moved her head from the glass to stretch her neck back.  She let out another loud moan.  "Slow," she said, her hands still braced her against the mirror.
	Andrea saw her body flatten even more against the glass.  He was obviously applying a lot of pressure to get into her tightest recess.  Her body was sweating a great deal now and Andrea saw the sweat collect in her cleavage.  It rolled down her body, squished between her and the glass.  "Mmmmph," she grunted.  Her light brown nipples pressed into the mirror, trying to extend further.
	With a final grunt, the man made it inside her completely.  Andrea could still see her thick pre-cum rolling thickly out of her pussy.  She stiffly lifted a smooth long leg up and pressed it against the mirror as well in an attempt to create more friction between her pussy and the mirror.  Andrea suddenly remembered the warmness of Irene's body and wished briefly despite herself that she could experience it right then.
	The white man started moving in and out quickly.  As quickly as he had done so with her pussy.  Irene moaned and grunted with each thrust but other then that stayed surprisingly still.  Finally, after a few more minutes, the man inside her let out a moan of his own.  His brow was thick with sweat and he buried his face in her shoulder as he came, pumping his ass into hers as he did so.  Irene let out a quiet squeak in tandem with each spurt of his seed as if the hot semen itself was an attack on her rear.  He pulled out of her, taking only a small amount of his cum with him.  The rest was still buried deep inside her.  She desperately needed to cum.
	"You're turn man," he said to the Spaniard who had been sitting down to watch the show.  The Spaniard was bigger then the first man by a fair amount and unlike his companion went straight for Irene's ass.
	"No, I want to cum," Irene emphasized again when she felt the head of his dick against her ass.  She clenched tightly, trying to discourage him from entering but he only seemed to take it as a challenge.  He blindly thrust himself into her, yelling in pain as he did so.  Irene did the same.  It was too dry for either of them and with Irene clenching, impossibly tight around him it only served to hurt both participants.  The Spaniard stayed inside her however, trying to grow accustomed to the tightness.
	The previous mans sperm was coating the insides of her thanks to her clenched muscles spreading it around and it made it slightly easier to move.  He shoved more of himself inside her and they both moaned in pain once more.  "Oh, man.  Loosen up will you?"
	"No!"  She was obviously in a stubborn mood.  "Fuck me in the cunt, you cunt."
	Andrea nearly laughed at the rushed insult but managed to keep herself under control.  Unfortunately for both of them, the man was just as stubborn as Irene was.  He pushed in again, burying another few inches.  He was now in as far as the previous guy had been and still had another three inches to go.  He gritted his teeth and pushed one final time, sending it all the way home.
	Irene was forced up against the mirror about as hard as possible and her stomach heaved against it as she breathed in and out heavily.  Andrea found it incredibly sexy, and apparently, so did her guard.  He got up and walked towards the glass.  He pressed his hand up against it where Irene's left breast was flattened into it.  It appeared larger than normal, thanks to the amount of pressure holding her there.  Andrea realized this was her chance, but she'd have to act quickly.  From her sitting position she lifted her legs up and easily moved her cuffed hands underneath them, so her arms were in the front of her body.
	Meanwhile, the Spaniard was pounding into her at an increasing rate.  He was enjoying the feeling more than anything but decided it was time for a change of pace.  He pulled out of her and yanked her away from the glass.  In one motion, he laid her down on the table and straddled her chest, sticking his cock between her breasts.  
	Upon being moved form the mirror, the guard turned back around to find his seat.  Instead, he found Andrea taking a double fisted swing at him.  He didn't have time to avoid it and was quickly unconscious on the floor.  Andrea grabbed his keys and un-cuffed herself.
	The soldier with Irene was pressing her breasts together and moving his hips back and forth frantically, obviously close to orgasm.  His palms pressed into her nipples as Irene humped her hips in the air wildly trying to get some kind of friction to finish her off.  Her efforts were to no avail.  While she continued to buck her hips, the man arched his neck back and moaned.  His orgasm had arrived.  He pulled his hands away from her breasts and spurted a large amount of cum over her face.  The next spurt of the ropey liquid crossed her mouth and chin.  A few more landed on her breasts and she stopped her humping, realizing that she wasn't going to get off for a little while yet.
	As the man's cock was draining its last amount of the gooey white stuff into her cleavage, a loud crashing sound came from behind him.  Irene was ecstatic "Andrea!" Andrea had thrown the chair she was sitting on through the glass, shattering it instantly.  The white guard charged at Andrea instantly but he was still weakened from the orgasm.  It was an easy matter to use his rush of speed against him.  Andrea simply dodged out of the way and grabbed his arms, swinging him headfirst into the wall.  Even his helmet couldn't protect him from that.  He was knocked unconscious.
	The Spaniard had since gotten off Irene and it was his turn to charge Andrea.  She adeptly dodged around him, grabbing his arms like with the previous man.  She expertly maneuvered him into an arm lock and held him with one hand as she removed the helmet with the other.  Then, skillfully, she lifted his helmet in the air and crashed it back down over his skull.  He too, collapsed into unconsciousness.
	Irene was sitting up at this point and looking happily to her friend.  Cum dripped down her face and chest.  "Are you okay?"
	"I was going to ask you the same question," Andrea responded with a smile.
	"Yeah, I'm fine.  They didn't let me cum though.  I need to cum so bad."  She got a pleading look on her face.  "Please?"
	"Not now we have to go," Andrea said, avoiding her gaze.  "This thing is being taped, so you have to get dressed and we'll go."
	"No," Irene said stubbornly.  "Not until you do something sexy."
	Andrea reached for one of the guards' guns and picked it up.  "We don't have time for this Irene.  We'll figure it out later."
	She sighed.  "I still want you to do something sexy first."
	Andrea was starting to get panicked now.  "Irene..."
	She held out one of her cum coated breasts.  "Lick it and kiss me."
	"What?  Ewww."  Andrea said, thinking it truly was disgusting.
	"Fine, then I guess we're not leaving," Irene said, still being stubborn.  "If I don't have time to cum, then I at least have time for that."
	Andrea looked into her eyes, seeing there was no other way.  Quickly, she went over and licked the length of her breast.  Her tongue moved away from Irene's chest covered in white slime but Irene wasted no time in leaning forward and kissing Andrea intensely.  Irene licked the cum off Andrea's tongue and Andrea parted after only about ten seconds.  "Now get dressed, we're going."
	"Fine," Irene said satisfied enough.  "I don't know why you had to knock them out though.  They were going to let you go afterwards."
	"Ha, I doubt that," Andrea responded while Irene quickly got dressed.  "Not from what I've heard."
	"Oh?  What have you heard?"
I	rene was dressed now.  "We'll talk about it later.  Come on."
	Andrea opened the door and seeing that the hall was still empty starting running.  Irene followed along directly behind her.
	It wasn't the first time Andrea had been in a prison and certainly wouldn't be the last.  She had gotten in the habit of remembering the details.  The closest way out, the positions of heaviest and lightest security.  Things of that nature.  In this case, she was lucky.  The prison was obviously still new and they didn't have the manpower to defend all areas of the building.  If she acted quickly enough it should be a simple process to make it out of the area.  After all, no one was ever meant to get this far to begin with.
	She made a left at a T in the hall, heading for a door marked delivery.  She didn't slow down for the door however, knowing it must be locked.  With a well-placed shoulder strike the door broke open and bright light from outside filtered through into the hall.  She heard voices and glanced behind her in time to see a few officers, still in power armor coming around the corner.  With a shove, she forced Irene through the door to the outside and in one fluent motion raised her 'borrowed' energy pistol to point down the hall.
	A flick of the thumb on a rotating dial put it at its highest setting and it whined slightly as it warmed up.  The guards heard the noise and attempted to duck back around the corner, knowing that the high-powered blast would at the very least force them to the ground, even through their armor.  The gun stopped whining and she fired.  
	A line of silver light lit up the hall and struck one of the three men ducking out of the way directly in the shoulder.  The hit spun him around a full 360 degrees before he hit the ground hard.  He would be dazed but otherwise fine.  Hoping the guards would think twice before following, Andrea ducked through the door after Irene.
	The two women headed for the first alley they came across and ducked into it before the officers made it outside the building.  Andrea was never particularly fast and hated that at times like these.  She would have to out maneuver instead of out run.  "Can you climb?" She asked Irene.
	Irene nodded.  "I think so.  But climb what?"  Andrea looked over to the brick building beside her.  It was two stories tall and would be difficult to get up, but there was a pole going down the side of the building designed for water from the gutters.
	"This," she started climbing as quickly as possible, her arms doing much of the work.  Irene followed directly behind.  Both women were exceptionally strong and climbed the wall with surprising ease.  After a mere twenty seconds, Andrea hefted herself onto the roof and out of sight.  Irene was right behind her and with a final burst of strength pushed herself up over the ledge of the building roof and landed on top of Andrea's laying down form.  The two women were face to face and Andrea found herself staring at Irene's cum matted cheek.  Not to mention her lips and chin.
	There was no time to move however, thanks to the sound of voices in the alley beneath them.  "You're sure you saw her go this way?"
Another man spoke up.  "She went this way.  Keep moving."  The sound of feet continued down the alley and around the corner.  Irene looked down at Andrea smiling.  "Looks like they're gone."
	"Good."  Andrea grabbed Irene by the hips and moved her off.  "You should wipe your face off.  That will get you a lot of attention if we're anywhere public."
	"Yeah, I guess so."  She used the back of her hand to wipe her face mostly clean.  It was still a little more shiny than usual.  She then wiped her hand on the black one piece she wore and looked back to Andrea.  "Good?"
	"Yeah.  Good.  Do you think it's safe to go yet?"
	"No.  They're coming back.  We should wait her a while."  
	Andrea listened patiently but spoke quietly.  "I don't hear them."
	"Well we have really good hearing.  See?"  Andrea listened once more and she began to hear voices once more.  Apparently Irene wasn't kidding around when she said she had good hearing.  But the more she thought about it the more it made sense.  The only reason the Invid would make human looking ones was for spying.  And good hearing definitely helped that.
	The soldiers were around for another 15 minutes off and on, but the two women waited patiently.  Eventually, Irene spoke.  "I haven't heard them in a while.  It's probably clear."
	"Okay, good.  You ready to go back down?"
	"Um..." She hesitated.  "Can we stay up here and have sex instead?"
	Andrea groaned.  She was getting tired of hearing this over and over.  "Look, Irene.  I'm not sure what we did before was all that smart."
	"Why?"
	"I don't know.  It's awkward to explain.  I've never been into women really."
	"Well you were that day," Irene said with a grin.
	"Yeah, I was that day.  But I haven't done it with Kitty since then either."
	"Oh.  But you enjoyed it right?"
	"Of course I enjoyed it."
	"Then why not do it again?"
	"I...  I don't know.  It just feels weird."  Andrea shifted positions.  It seemed this would be a large conversation and she may as well have it now.  It would decrease the chance of her being discovered as they climbed down.  "It's fun, but it feels weird."
	Irene paused thinking about what Andrea said.  Apparently she was trying to make a real argument instead of her usual 'let's fuck' attitude.  "When I first learn to do something it feels kind of weird with me too.  But if I do it more than I get used to it and it stops feeling weird.  Maybe it would be the same with you?  If we do it a few more times, then you could enjoy it more."
	"Maybe."
	There was a paused and Irene recognized something in Andrea's eyes.  "There's another reason though isn't there?  Is it me?"
	Andrea smiled.  "No, actually it's not you.  But yeah.  There's another reason."  Irene waited patiently for Andrea to specify.  Eventually she worked up the courage and did so.  "Whenever I've done it with you or Kitty, or even Keri before, I've lost control of myself.  I don't like losing control."
	"Oh.  Um..." She thought for a while longer.  "Maybe we could do it slower.  Keep it simple and you wouldn't lose control like that?  That could work right?"
	Andrea was sounding a little depressed.  "Maybe.  I don't know."
	"Is there anything I can do to help?"
	Andrea smiled.  "You could stop asking me for sex for a while."
Irene frowned but nodded.  "Okay.  I'm sorry but I get carried away too sometimes.  Anything else?"
	Andrea looked up at her, realizing this was a chance to get some information from the woman.  "Yeah.  Tell me about you."
	"About me?"  Andrea nodded and Irene nodded in response.  "I'm not very interesting.  I wouldn't know what to say."
	"Try and tell me anyway."  She leaned forward, encouraged.  "Let's start with the basics.  Where are you from?  How old are you?"
	"Um... I lived in that house most of my life.  I was born on a space ship on the way to Earth.  I'm four."
	"You're only four?"  Andrea was astonished.  That didn't make sense at all.
	"Yeah.  How old are you?"
	"19."
	"You're 19?  I've never met anyone that old before!"
	Andrea laughed.  "Pretty much everyone you've seen is that old or older."
	"Oh.  I guess I have a lot to learn."
	"Well if you're four I guess that's understandable.  Did you start off as an adult though?  I mean... Did you start off looking like you do now?"
	"Of course."  She raised an eyebrow at Andrea.  "Didn't you?"
	Once again, Andrea stared back with mouth open.  "I started off about this big."  She motioned with her hands. "I only stopped growing a couple years ago."
	Irene leaned forward, interested.  "Really?  So is that what all the little people are?"
	"You mean children?"
	"Yeah."
	"Then yes.  Children are humans that are still growing."
	"Wow.  That's really neat."  She seemed genuinely engaged in the conversation.  "I thought children were just like... you know.  Another name for midgets or something."
	"Ha.  Okay, well they're not."
	"Wow."  Irene sat still and processed the information.  "I'm really weird aren't I?"
	Andrea was quick to respond.  "No, not weird.  Just different.  It's nothing to be worried about."
	"You still like me then?"  She was nervous now.  Awaiting the answer.
	"Of course I do.  You're a good person.  At least now that you've stopped hurting others."
	"Thanks.  I'm glad we're friends."  She leaned forward and gave Andrea a friendly hug.  "I'll try to stop bugging you about sex all the time."
	Andrea smiled encouragingly.  "All right."  She turned around.  "Let's get going then."
	Irene nodded and stood up.  The two women walked to the edge and climbed down carefully. They walked quickly away from the building and found themselves in a marketplace.  An ideal spot to figure out a plan.  "So what do we do now?" Irene asked.
	Andrea looked mad.  "I'm going to have a little talk with whoever's in charge.  Here.  Take this."  She discretely handed Irene the energy pistol she had stolen from the soldier.  "Head back to camp and wait for me there.  I shouldn't be long."
	Irene nodded.  "Okay.  Be careful."
	"Always." 

* * * *
	
	Andrea spent about 15 minutes walking across town to the courthouse, getting madder and madder along the way.  The Coalition was destroying these people's lives, not helping them.  It was time to stick up for the little guys.  The Coalition may be too big to do much about herself.  But this part of them was another story.  They were still setting up shop in this town and therefore weak.  Andrea was going to take advantage of it.
	Earlier, she had watched the two guards take off their armor intensely.  She knew where the seams were.  She knew how they functioned.  The bigger, power armor suits that they wore in more dangerous situations were likely a similar design.  The power cell for them was exposed when looking from the ground up to their back.  If she could angle it right she could disable them with one shot.  Unfortunately she gave her gun to Irene.  She would have to get one first.  A plan began to form in her mind as she approached where the courthouse used to be.  In its place, on top of a series of steps was a hastily constructed one-story building.
	As anticipated, two Coalition guards in their stronger power armor stood on either side of the entranceway to the building.  They each had 'Gallant' energy rifles draped over their shoulder with a strap.  Not to mention an energy cannon built into their right forearms.  If she didn't know what she was doing it would be suicide to go up against two people in power armor without even a bulletproof jacket to help her.  Fortunately, she knew what she was doing.  Or so she hoped.
	The area around the door was clear.  No civilians.  That was a good thing.  Without hesitation or slowing her steps she climbed up the stairs towards them.  The guards looked at each other, their sub consciousness telling them something was wrong.  By the time they realized what it was, it was too late.
	Reaching for her boot, Andrea pulled out a hidden knife.  She always kept it there for emergencies.  With a force that surprised her victim, she slid it into a seam in the armor right along his waste.  Of course, it wasn't enough to reach his skin, it was merely in a crack in-between metal plates.  But it did severely limit his movement.
	She swung around the man, grabbing onto his rifle as she did so.  She easily slipped it off his shoulder and ducked down to avoid a shot from the other guards arm cannon.  He spoke up as he fired.  "You.  Stop immediately.  You're committing assault against Coalition forces."
	Andrea didn't listen.  She quickly maneuvered herself behind the first soldier and pointed her weapon upwards from the ground.  As she fired, sparks reigned down from the rear of his suit.  She had struck the power cell as anticipated and the officer was completely motionless.  Without power to move the suits servos he wouldn't be able to do so much as take a step until he was freed with the manual release.  She only had the other one to worry about but he was a serious threat.
	He pointed his gun at her once more and Andrea leapt at him hoping to throw him off guard.  It didn't work and he fired.  Fortunately, she twisted out of the way to avoid the blast, but it was a close one.  She could feel the heat from the released energy as she hit the ground beside the second soldier.  The front of her tank top was even singed slightly form the blast.
	She crouched in front of him guessing at his next move.  He was too close to use his rifle now; he would have to resort to a more physical approach.  She was proven right as his heavy, metal fist struck downwards.  Andrea maneuvered out of the way and as his fist struck into the steps she positioned herself behind him.  He was bent forward, which made her target easy to hit.
	Another shower of sparks signaled his immobility.  He was still hunched over and would most likely be stuck that way for some time.
	Only a few meters away, a crowd of people had moved to watch the fight.  They seemed incredibly astonished that she was still alive.  But with only a brief glance their way, Andrea yanked her knife back out of the seam in the first ones armor and walked casually inside the building.  "Bastards," she muttered to herself.
	Once inside, it didn't take her long to find the spot she wanted.  The halls were mostly empty but those who saw her quickly got out of their way.  No one inside was armored.  After a short walk straight ahead she arrived at an office with the words 'Captain John Hammond.'  Andrea opened the door and walked right in.
	Captain Hammond was only a few years older than Andrea.  He was an attractive man with a bit of a 5 o'clock shadow.  Upon seeing her he jumped up to his feet nervously.  "How did you get in here?"
	"I used the door.  Thought I'd come right in."
	"How did you get past the guards?"  He pressed a button on his desk.  "Sergeant?  Sergeant, are you there?"
	"Oh, he can't hear you."
	"What did you do to him?"
	Andrea smiled.  "He's fine.  His armor just ran out of power, that's all.  But that's not important.  We need to have a chat."  She sat down in a chair opposite him with the soldier's gun on her lap.  "Sit."
	He did so, watching her carefully.  "What do you want?"
	"I want the Coalition to leave town.  Immediately."
	The Captain laughed.  "Leave?  Immediately?  Why would we do that?"
	"Why?"  She was breathless.  "Why?  How about, because in the one day I've been here I've seen a protestor shot to death for running away, I've seen guards taking sexual bribes, I've heard stories of your military destroying city landmarks, taking over civilian houses, raping women, senseless violence..."
	"What?"  He seemed genuinely surprised.  "Do you have proof of this?"
	Andrea was still fuming.  "I think a better question would be how can you not have proof of this?"
	"I only arrived yesterday.  It takes a few weeks before we bring in someone of command authority to new cities."
	"Are you serious?"
	"Of course I'm serious.  Are you?"  Andrea only stared back at him.  He answered his own question.  "Of course you are."  He pressed a button on his desk beside the one he used earlier.  "Commander Harper.  I need to see you in my office immediately."  He released the button and looked up to Andrea.  "You'd best put your weapon out of site.  The commander won't take kindly to it."
	Andrea looked at him suspiciously but put it underneath her, out of sight.  A short time later, the door opened and in walked a woman in her mid-thirties.  Her hair was short and a cruel look seemed permanently plastered on her face.  "This is commander Harper.  She's been in charge of things the last few weeks."  He turned to face the commander. "I've heard some disturbing rumors commander.  Violence, killings, rapes.  Anything you'd care to say?"
	She looked angrily to Andrea.  "My men haven't acted inappropriately at any point.  Everything has been within regulations."  The Captain only stared at her as she spoke.  For nearly a minute afterwards he was silent, simply looking in her eyes.  He spoke again.
	"I don't believe you.  You're relieved of duty and you can expect a court martial once I've gathered some evidence."
	She dropped her jaw.  "What?  Sir, I..."
	"Dismissed, Commander."
	She glared at Andrea one more time and left the room.  Andrea pulled her gun out again and placed it on her lap once more.  She wasn't nearly convinced that this Captain was such a hero.  He turned to her after the door closed.  "Satisfied?" He asked.
	"Of course not.  You're still here."
	"But she's not."
	"I've talked to the people in this city.  They don't want the Coalition here.  They're just too scared to say much about it.  You'll never have a productive relationship with this town so you may as well move on."
	He stood up and pressed a third button.  This time he said nothing over the line.  It will take some time to investigate the matter.  If you'd like to wait I can have someone escort you outside the building and wait with you there."  He put out his hand in an obvious request for the rifle.
	"You better not be jerking me around."
	He smiled pleasantly.  "I would never 'jerk someone around' that can best two power armored soldiers with her bare hands."
	She was inclined to believe him and couldn't suppress her own smile.  She handed him the rifle after taking out the protoculture cell.  "I had a knife."
	"Ah.  I stand corrected."  The door opened and a uniformed private entered.  She was young and seemed fairly friendly.  "Private White transferred here with me yesterday.  She'll accompany you for the time being."
	Andrea nodded and headed for the rooms exit.
	Private White led her down the hallway and back outside onto the steps.  A technician was there reaching inside one of the suits for the emergency release.  Andrea sat down on a ledge and watched with a smile on her face.  Private white stood beside her.  "Did you really beat them with just a knife?"  Andrea looked at her questioningly.  The private answered her unasked question.  "I heard through the door.  So did you?"
	Andrea looked to the private.  "Yes."
	"Wow.  You want to teach me?"
	"No time.  I'll be leaving town in a couple days at most."
	"Hmm... Too bad.  I can't wait to watch the security tape to see how you did it."
	"It was simple really."  She paused and decided to clarify.  "Risky, but simple."
	"I see."
	The next few hours were spent in anticipating silence.  She got a hell of a glare from the two armored soldiers she had defeated once they finally got out of the trapped armor.  They were obviously pissed off with her.  Eventually, Captain Hammond exited the building.  He walked over to her.  "I did some looking.  You were right.  There was a hell of a lot of bad stuff going on here."
	"I imagine it's not only here."
	"Well that's not the point now.  The point is you were right.  No one here likes us or trusts us now.  It's a waste of resources to stay.  I've already confirmed it with the council; we'll be heading out immediately.  As per your request."
	Andrea's eyes went wide.  She hadn't expected her bravado to make that much of a difference.  "I'm sure the people here would thank-you."
	"I'm sure they'll thank-you," he said referring to the crowd that was still gathered around the steps talking in a constant buzz.  "I'm sure a few of them have put two and two together."  He put out his hand to shake.  "I'm one of the good guys.  Remember that if you run into trouble with us again."
	Andrea smiled and met his hand with her own.  "Glad to meet someone with an open mind."  She took her hand back.  "I'd better get going."
	"Of course."  He smiled.  "And I have a security tape of the front steps to watch."
	Andrea turned and walked down the steps towards the crowd.  There were probably 20 people gathered.  One of them shouted at her.  "What was all that about?"
	Andrea looked to him. "Let's just say The Coalition is leaving town and leave it at that, okay?"  The crowd was stunned.  It was completely silent as Andrea made her way through them and started walking down the road towards her camp. 

* * * *
	
	By the time Andrea got back to the restaurant where she had intended to eat, there were already transports of Coalition troops leaving the town.  The restaurant was full and the mood was very festive.  She went around back in hopes of finding Jasper and thus, the rest of the party.  She wasn't disappointed.  Jasper was gone, but Thunder was sitting under a tree patiently.  His tanned back rested up against the trunk.  "Welcome back," he said with a smile.  He stood up to meet her.
	"Thanks."
	"Irene told me the details..." He looked to the side and added as an afterthought, "far too many details in fact."  He turned back to face her.  "I was worried about you."
	"I'm fine.  See?"  She did a spin to demonstrate she was in fact fine.  Unfortunately she had forgotten about the singed section of her shirt.  "Not so much as a scratch."
	"Then what's that?"  He pointed to the brownish / yellow streak where her shirt had changed colors along her stomach.
	"Oh, that.  Just a missed shot."
	"Ah I see."  Thunder was obviously smart enough not to pursue the matter.  "Well next time take me with you.  Deal?"
	"Deal." She moved closer to him and smiled.  "If the circumstances are right."
	Thunder sighed knowing he wouldn't win the battle.  "The others have set up camp a few kilometers away from here.  We can walk if you like."
	"All right.  Let's go."
	The two walked in silence and Andrea's gaze wandered, first to passing trees, then the occasional rodent and finally on to Thunder himself.  She hadn't let herself simply look at him in some time and she found he was more attractive than she remembered.  He noticed her looking.  "Is there a problem?"
	Andrea flushed slightly.  "No, of course not.  Sorry."
	"No problem."  He smiled.  "I've taken my share of discreet looks."
	Andrea was surprised.  "You have?"
	Thunders eyes suddenly went wide.  He obviously hadn't thought he was successful at keeping it low key and started to backtrack. "Well, um...  You know how it is.  I've been on the road for some time.  I haven't had a chance to simply look at a beautiful woman in far too long."
	"Uh huh."  The two walked in uneasy silence for a few minutes.  "Did you like what you saw?"
	Thunder looked directly in her eyes.  Andrea didn't know how he could ever be accused of lying with a gaze like that.  "Absolutely."  He tore his eyes away and began paying attention to the underbrush as Andrea had done earlier.  "But you're obviously involved with Kitty."
	Andrea smiled to herself.  "Not exactly.  That was more of a one-day fling than anything else.  I'm not sure it was a very wise idea."
	Thunder kept his emotions in check.  "I see."  He looked back into her eyes once more.  Andrea saw a hint of nervousness but it quickly vanished.  "Well in that case, would you care to go to dinner tonight?"
	"I'd love to.  We can head out right after I let everyone know I'm okay."
	"Great."  He was still all smiles when they arrived at camp.  The usual three tents had been set up (minus Thunders) and a fire started.  It was starting to get dark, so the fire was a welcome light source.  Jewel, Bob and Irene were sitting around the fire.
	"Hey guys.  I'm still alive."
	Irene jumped up.  "Hey!"  She hurried over and gave Andrea a back crushing hug.  "I was worried about you."
	"I can take care of myself."
	"I know.  I was still worried.  What happened to your shirt?" She said after a brief look at Andrea's breasts.
	"Just a near miss.  Like I told Thunder.  Nothing to worry about."
	"Oh.  Okay then."  Irene locked elbows with Andrea and started walking back to the fire.  "Do you want something to eat?  Bob's cooking deer."
	"Uh... I... It's cow," he corrected her.
	"Whatever."
	Andrea smiled, hesitantly.  "Actually I'm going into town for dinner."
	"Oh?  Who's the lucky guy?" Jewel asked.  Andrea looked to Thunder not sure whether or not she should answer the question.  Her look solved the dilemma for her.  "Ah, I see.  Well don't forget our bet.  Be here at 9 sharp."
	Thunder turned to Andrea.  "Bet?"
	"Oh, it's nothing," Andrea responded quickly.  "Let's go into town."
	"Can I come?" Irene asked politely.
	"Not this time."
	"Kay."  She looked disappointed but hid it fairly well.
	"See you later."
	"Yeah, you bet!" Irene said.
	"S... See you.  I... In a bit."
	"At 9," Jewel said with a grin.
	Andrea stepped away from the fire and started moving to her cyclone.  Thunder was close behind.  He was sounding playful.  "No hints about the bet hmm?"  The two mounted the bike and Thunder awkwardly grabbed hold.
	Andrea roared the engine and took off.  "It's nothing.  I'm not going through with it anyway."
	"Oh yeah?"
	"Yeah."  She didn't speak for a while then figured she'd better ask the question. "Where are we going?"
	"I don't know.  Some place nice."
	"Well I doubt they'll let you in like that," she said looking behind her.  She was talking about his nearly naked state, minus the loincloth of course.
	"Hah.  I doubt they'd let you in like that either," Thunder responded gesturing to her dirty and scorched tank top.  "Guess we'll have to visit a clothing place first."
	Andrea nodded and drove for only a few more minutes before arriving in town.  The Coalition was still filtering out slowly.  Every once in a while one of their vehicles would leave.  Following it would be the sound of cheering from those in the city.
	She found a clothing store and pulled over.  Thunder and her got off the bike and opened the door.  Bells chimed form above her and she made her way to the counter.  There was a fairly large selection here so they would most likely have anything they wanted.
	"Can I help you?" A young man at the counter said.  He was in his mid twenties and looked at her as if he recognized the face but couldn't quite place it.
	"We're going out to dinner and need some appropriate garments," Thunder explained.
	"Of course.  How..." He paused in mid sentence, finally recognizing her.  "Are you Andrea?"
	"How do you know my name?"
	"You are aren't you?"  He was astonished.  His eyes bulged slightly and his mouth curved into a large grin.  "I was at the old courthouse today.  When you beat the two guards in power armor."
	Thunders eyes went wide.  "You picked a fight with two men in power armor?"
	Andrea brushed Thunders comment off.  "Um...  But how do you know my name?"
	"Hell, the whole town knows your name.  Apparently someone overheard who you were at some restaurant earlier today and recognized you at the courthouse as well.  I don't know the details."  He stuck out his hand.  "It's an honor to meet you."
	"Um... Okay."  She met his hand with her own.
	Thunder piped up again.  "You picked a fight with two men in power armor?"
	"They weren't all that good, okay?  Can we just drop it?"
	"No, we can't just drop it.  Do you have any idea how dangerous...?"
	The clerk interrupted.  "Anything in the store is yours.  Whatever you want."
	"What?  Are you serious?"  Andrea couldn't believe it.  No one had ever given her anything free before.
	Thunder tried to regain his place in the conversation.  "That is one of the most..."
	He was interrupted again.  "Of course I'm serious.  Anything you like.  And for your friend too."
	"Wow.  Listen to that, eh Thunder?"
	He could only frown.  "Indeed."
	"If I may ask, where do you two intend to eat?"
	"Well," Thunder said.  "We're not entirely sure.  We don't know the town very well."
	"I see.  Then if I may suggest a place."  He paused to make sure they were interested.  They were.  "An acquaintance of mine owns the nicest place in town and he hated the Coalition as much as the next guy.  It's just down the street.  I'll walk there with you when you're ready and get you a free meal.  How does that sound?"
	"That sounds...  Great."  Andrea smiled.
	"In fact, I'll go ahead now and get everything set up.  Just drop by whenever you're ready."
	"Umm... Are you sure you don't mind us in your store alone?" Thunder asked.
	"Of course not.  The door will lock on your way out.  Try on whatever you like."
	He hurriedly exited the building, barely stopping to set the lock on the door.  The rest of the place was empty so Andrea took a stroll around, seeing what was available.  "I'm not sure we should be doing this," Thunder said looking around nervously.
	"Doing what?  Do you think this guy would take no for an answer?"
	"No, I suppose not.  But still..."
	"It's fine.  Just find something you like and try it on."
	"I doubt they will have anything in my size."
	"Try," she insisted.
	"Very well."  Thunder began to look around the store with Andrea, searching for anything in his size.  "How about this?"  Andrea figured he had just pulled up the first thing he found that may fit, but surprisingly enough it looked like it may work.  It was a black and white suit.  
	"Try it on."
	He easily slipped his arms though and started to button it up.  Andrea smiled, when she realized he had no intent of using the dressing room.  She smiled again when she realized that wearing only a loincloth he had no need to.  She continued looking for an appropriate dress.  She hadn't had the opportunity to dress up in nearly three years now and planned to use it.
	She had gathered up a few possibilities when she noticed that Thunder was finished 'changing.'  "How do I look?" He was acting self-conscious but looked amazing.  He tied his hair back with 'something' and was very striking.  Andrea went over to him for a closer look with a slew of dresses draped over her arm.  She fixed the jacket so it was straight and took a step back.
	"I wish I could find something that fast.  You look great."
	"Thanks.  Well, I guess I'm done.  Are you sure we shouldn't pay him?"
	"With what?  All I have is a protoculture cell.  And I'd need a hell of a lot of change from that."
	"I suppose.  Well you had best get changed.  We don't want to keep him waiting."
	Andrea smiled and nodded.  "Go ahead to the restaurant.  I'll meet you there in a few minutes."
	It was Thunder's turn to nod.  He turned, jacket swinging slightly behind him and ducked down to exit out the door.  Andrea didn't stop staring until he was out of sight.  She then made her way to the changing room with about six possible choices. 

* * * *
	
	An hour later, Thunder was sitting patiently in a private booth in the best restaurant in town.  The server had been by several times but he still just had a glass of water in front of him.  Finally, he heard the door open and looked over.  Andrea entered wearing a blue reflective looking dress.  It was long, low cut and had a circular section cut out of it to show off her belly button and stomach.  Apparently she had also found some high heels and a sink to do her hair up.  A few curls hung down over her forehead beside her eyes.  The rest was done up with pins.  She looked gorgeous but if she could have found some make up she would be stunning.  Somewhere she had found some high heels that helped her stand an inch or so higher to reach about 5'10".  Thunder thought she could easily give Irene a run for her money.  He also noticed that his head wasn't the only one that had turned to witness her entrance.  He immediately forgot he had been waiting for an hour.  "Hey."
	"Hey," Andrea smiled nervously.  "Does it look okay?"
	If Thunder had been drinking he would have chocked.  "I've never seen anyone more beautiful."
	Andrea smiled and sat down.  The waiter was over immediately.  "Ms...?"
	"Robertson," she smiled.
	"Ah, Ms. Robertson.  It's a pleasure to meet you."  He paused a moment.  "	May I shake your hand?"  Andrea glanced at Thunder then back at the waiter.  She extended her hand and it was received warmly.  "So, what can I get for you two this evening?"
	Andrea looked to Thunder again.  "I don't know."
	Thunder spoke up.  "What do you recommend?"
	"This month we have imported lobster.  It just arrived three days ago.  Very fresh, very good."
	"Sounds good."
	"Yeah, lobster it is," Andrea confirmed.
	"Very good.  I'll bring you two some wine."  He turned and left quickly.  
	"Wine?  Lobster?  This dinner must cost a fortune," Andrea said astonished.
	"Probably no more than your dress," he said with a smile.  "Besides, the owner offered to pay for it once he heard who you were."
	"Great...  I'm famous."  She obviously didn't think it was great.  "I hate being in the spotlight."
	"You'll have to get used to it if you stay here."
	"That's okay.  We'll leave in the morning."  Thunder nodded.  "So where are you from?"
	"I grew up in Montana... More or less.  You?"
	"Alberta."
	"Ah.  I've heard there's an Invid hive in there now.  Where was it..." He tried to remember.
	"Calgary."
	"Yes, Calgary.  Is that where you're from?"
	"Naturally.  The whole city's gone now.  It's just one big hive.  Most people didn't survive when they showed up.  I was already on the road at the time."
	"Ah.  Did you have any family there?"
	Andrea nodded solemnly.  Her curled bangs only seemed to add to the effect.  "My mother and father died when the Invid set up there."
	Thunder seemed genuinely upset.  "I'm sorry to hear that.  My parents were also killed when the Invid arrived."
	"A lot of people were."
	"Indeed."  The two sat in silence a short while.  "Let's talk of something happier."
	"What would you suggest?"
	"Well what's the story with Kitty?"
	Andrea smiled.  "That may be happier, but not easier."
	"Oh.  I'm sorry."
	The waiter arrived with the wine and placed it on the table with two glasses.  He opened it and poured a small amount for Thunder to taste.  "It's tradition," he clarified.  Thunder tried some.
	"It's very good."
	"Excellent."  The waiter filled Andrea's glass then topped up Thunders.  He left without saying anything further.
	"Kitty and I...  I don't know what's going on really.  I guess I was just particularly horny."  She blushed.
	Thunder laughed nervously.  "I see.  But there's no standing relationship?"
	"No.  No.  I think she wants there to be though."
	"Ah, I see.  And you're unsure."
	Andrea smiled nervously again.  Her blush was growing slightly.  "Unsure is putting it mildly."
	"Then wait it out, see what happens."
	Andrea lifted her head to make eye contact.  For some reason she had never considered waiting it out.  He said it with such assurance she would sure it would work.  "Thanks."
	"No problem."  He coughed slightly.  "I should apologize for watching you two.  So, I'm sorry.  It was impolite."
	"Yes it was," Andrea confirmed.  "Apology accepted."
	Thunder smiled easily and had another sip of wine.  A short while later the lobster arrived and the two made small talk through the meal.  Andrea had been consuming most of the wine and was a little tipsy by the time they were ready to leave.  Thunder's metabolism seemed to have handled his share fine.  Carefully, Andrea wiped her mouth with a napkin and stood up.  She wasn't very good at wearing heels and combined with the alcohol it made it difficult.  Fortunately her natural agility made up for it and she at least appeared fully competent.
	Thunder hooked her elbow gentlemanly and the two exited the restaurant with a thanks to the waiter.  He smiled back genuinely and Thunder opened the door to outside.  Andrea went through first and was immediately bombarded by applause.  It took her a moment to gain her bearings and that was all the crowd needed.  They whistled, applause and cheered.  The group completely filled the street for a block in every direction.  It looked as if the whole town had turned up.
	Gradually, as Andrea stood there in shock, the crowd started chanting.  "Speech, speech, speech, speech."  Andrea looked to Thunder and back to the crowd.  They stopped making noise so she could speak.  As they did, she felt obligated to say something at least.
	"Uh...  I'm not real good in public like this."  She looked back to Thunder for support.  He was encouraging her with his eyes.  "I uh...  I just saw that you guys needed some help, and I tried to make a difference.  I got lucky.  But thanks for your support."
	She walked onto the sidewalk and began making her way through the crowd.  The barely made room for her and Thunder to pass.  They had started to clap again. 

* * * *
	
	Andrea and Thunder finally managed to evade the crowd.  She figured she had a little too much to drink to handle a cyclone with an extra person so decided to walk back.  "You do look good in a suit."
	"Thanks.  You look good in a dress." Andrea smiled.  They were at the edge of town now and moving into forest roads.  The roads were always abandoned at night and she realized thanks to the alcohol, she was going to end up taking advantage of that.  Getting on her toes, she reached up and kissed him, gently on the mouth.  He returned the kiss hesitantly, then put his arms around her waist and picked her up, lifting her feet off the ground.  She wrapped her legs around him.  The kiss slowly turned more aggressive, more wanting.  Andrea could taste the alcohol on his breath and she was sure he could taste it on hers.  Her nipples hardened and began to show through the dress.  Briefly, he pulled away.
	"Andrea, are you sure you want to do this?"  She responded with another kiss, slipping her tongue into his mouth delicately.  Her hair was already becoming undone and hung in a few small strands around her eyes.  Thunder put her down back onto the road and Andrea reached for her upper back to pull the zipper down.  It was easy to move and was soon down at the small of her back.  She slipped off the shoulder straps and allowed the top of the dress to fall down to her waist.  
	"I've wanted this since I met you."  He was admiring her smooth breasts as she spoke.  He watched the way they moved up and down lightly as she breathed.  The way her nipples grew hard against the night air.  The way her skin broke out in goose bumps.
	She reached for his jacket and pulled it off him.  She then moved her hands to his neck and began to undo the buttons of his shirt.  When finished she hung them both on a conveniently placed tree branch so as not to get them covered in dirt.  It had rained recently and the ground was still damp.
	With both of them naked from the waist up, she pressed herself against him again, melting in the warmth of his skin.  She stood on toes once more and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him lustfully.  Their tongues entwined in a dance that Thunder wouldn't be able to escape from if he had wanted to.  She moaned gently into him as her nipples pressed against his muscular chest and she lowered her hands to undo his pants and lower them.  She hastily placed them on the tree branch as well.  He was left in just his loincloth since he had kicked off his shoes some time ago.  "Wait."  He said.  "I want to see you.
	She smiled and took a step back, displaying her naked torso to him.  Her body glistened in the moonlight.  It made her skin appear almost mystical.  He could barely make out the darker color that signaled where her small nipples began.  Her breasts continued to move up and down with her breathing and Thunder found himself mesmerized.  He had never been with someone so beautiful before.  Without a cue from him, she turned around, displaying her toned back as she slipped the rest of the dress off her.  As usual, she wore no underwear and Thunder's gaze immediately followed down her spine to the soft globes of her ass.  He followed her movements downwards as she stepped out of the dress, admiring her thighs and the way the one-inch heels made the muscles in her legs taut.
	She placed the dress on the tree next to his clothing and kicked off her shoes.  She turned back around to face him and Thunder's gaze was drawn to the indents her hips made in her skin.  Her pubic hair was trimmed in a rectangle and Thunder found it incredibly sexy.  The area around her lower lips was bare.  He whispered something to himself that she didn't understand and approached.  He bent down to kiss her again and her hands went immediately to his last remaining garment.  Tugging at the knot, she pulled it off and let it drop to the ground, no longer caring what happened to it.
	She broke the kiss and looked down.  Thunder was huge.  He was the biggest she had seen at any rate.  It certainly fit with his height.  She smiled and looked up at him again.  "You look like you're ready," she said referring to his massive erection.
	"How could I not be," he chuckled.
	Andrea simply continued her smile and kissed at his lightly haired chest, tasting the skin.  He tasted quite a bit different from the women she had been getting used to.  She certainly liked the taste as much and it showed as she lowered herself slowly down his body.  She focused on his belly button for a few seconds before continuing on towards her destination.  She found his cock with her chin and lowered her mouth to kiss near the base of it.  It was nearly a foot long and she kissed along the top of it, avoiding the head, then back down the underside.  It jerked slightly each time her lips touched it and she was glad she had such an effect on him.
	Deciding she had warmed him up enough, she dragged her lips along the side of his organ and kissed the tip of his cock gently.  She stuck her tongue out slightly as she did so, tasting the pre-cum on him.  She had to admit it didn't taste nearly as nice as Kitty.  But it was nice in its own right.  She continued massaging the tip with her tongue as she took more of it into her mouth, burying the first couple inches.  Thunder moaned and tilted his head back but kept himself firmly upright.  His hands went to her hair instinctively and massaged the back of her head as she continued her attentions.  She pulled his member out of her mouth with a quiet pop and focused now on licking up and down the sides, effectively covering the whole thing in saliva.  "Lie down" she said.
	They moved off the road into the soft grass and mud beside it and he did just that.  He was on his back and Andrea straddled his stomach to plant another kiss on him.  She then moved her body down his, until she felt a stiff piece of flesh that could only be what she was looking for rub against the inside of her leg.  She sat up and her breasts giggled from the motion.  Carefully, she lifted herself up on her knees and placed his cock at the entrance to her pussy.  "Ready?" She asked.
	He nodded.  "Just so you know, I can hold off a long time.  Or at least, with normal women I can."  Andrea smiled.  It was certainly good news if he could hold off long enough for her to have an orgasm.  She desperately wanted it.
	"Just so you know," she copied him.  "I've never met a man I couldn't get all the way inside me."  She plunged her hips down slowly, easily sinking the first half of him into her.  They both moaned at the feeling.  He wasn't just long, he was thick and it felt like he filled her completely already.  The soft muscles of her insides pressed against his cock, milking up and down ever so slightly.  After only taking a brief moment to adjust to the feeling, she lifted herself back up, so only the head remained inside her and let her hips fall back down, sinking even more of him into her.
	She repeated this process a few more times before feeling the head of his cock press up against her cervix.  She moaned in pleasure at the feeling and her body shuddered.  She was already close to orgasm.  Her abs were tense and her breasts stood up firmly as she flexed most of the muscles in her body.  Thunder watched with amazement.
	Thunder still wasn't all the way inside her.  "Is that as far as we're going?" He said, referring non-judgmentally to the two inches of his member still outside of her body,
	Andrea smiled.  "Of course not.  But it is as far as I've ever taken anything before."  There was a good nine inches inside her and her body felt stiff.  She started rotating her hips around slowly as she continued to apply downward pressure, trying to get the head of his cock through her cervix into her womb.  She wouldn't be happy until he was all the way inside.
	Thunder watched her blissfully as she gyrated around on his large member.  Her stomach moved in and out with her breathing and her hip bones bulged occasionally against the skin that contained them.  Finally her efforts paid off and she felt herself relax and open ever so slightly for the head of his cock.  She pressed down hard.  "Ahh."  She moaned in pain briefly as he penetrated into her deepest recesses.  Her pussy lips and clit pressed hard into his pubic hair and he was inside her completely.  Andrea kept her back straight, feeling like it would be impossible to bend to any degree.
	Her chest heaved as she fought to control her breathing.  She easily won the battle and moved upwards ever so slightly, still keeping the tip of his member just barely past her cervix.  She then lowered her weight back down again, getting used to the feeling of him.  As she slowly grew accustomed to it, she lifted herself up higher, until nearly all of his cock was outside her body.  She then crashed back down again with an "Umph," as he entered her fully for the second time.  She repeated the process; growing more aroused each time she lifted her hips.  Small moans escaped her lips as Thunders hands found her breasts and massaged them gently, yet firmly.
	Each time she impaled herself a new burst of pleasure crashed through her body.  Her moans grew louder as she neared orgasm and she learned she could bend forward slightly without pain.  In fact, the movement caused the tip of his cock to run across the rear wall of her insides and it felt extremely good.  Thunder moved his hands down to her butt cheeks and squeezed.
	That was all she needed.  Her mouth opened and she lost all strength to hold herself up.  One of the fiercest orgasms she'd ever had flowed through her body like a storm.  He was imbedded in her completely when her arms became too shaky to hold her up.  She collapsed forward, her chest crashing into his ribcage and the cock inside her was forced to plow against the wall of her womb, thanks to the new position.  She shuddered and curled her toes as the feeling refused to fade.  She kept shaking so long that Thunder began to get worried.
	"Are... Are you okay?"
	"Oooooh," was all she could get out.  Her eyes rolled up and her cum oozed around Thunder's cock.  She went limp and even a small amount of drool escaped her lips but she was still fully conscious.
	"Do you need to rest?" He asked cautiously.
	"No."  She moaned into his chest.  "Keep going."
	Thunder smiled at her willingness to continue and rolled her over gently, remaining inside her.  Andrea felt her back imprint into the mud as he let his weight fall on top of her.  Slowly he started to pump his hips.  Her whole body rocked with each thrust, sticking to the mud beneath her as it happened.  Her orgasm finally slowed down and she felt the muscles inside her slowly ease the pressure off of Thunders member.  At least for the time being.  She was already approaching a second orgasm.
	She opened her eyes to see Thunders neck directly above her.  He had an arm on either side of her to support himself and was increasing the speed of his pumping.  Andrea's breasts rocked back and forth each time he thrust in and out of her.  She couldn't hold back her moans to any degree now.  They transformed into a guttural sound.  "Mooore." Was all she could get out.  He thrust hard into her one more time.  "Mooor -- ooooooooooaaaaah."  Another orgasm wracked her bones.  She tensed up completely and her pussy locked around him so hard he couldn't move inside of her.
	Her eyes rolled back again and Thunder looked down at her face.  It was covered in a thick layer of sweat, along with the rest of her body.  Her fingernails dug into his back before she lost the strength in her arms once more and they simply fell limp to her sides.  Her orgasm finally slowed and she managed to speak.  "Don't... stop."
	Thunder obliged, continuing at his previous pace for the next twenty minutes or so.  Andrea had an additional two orgasms and by this point her mouth just hung slack.  She couldn't even return the thrusts he was making but she refused to let him stop.  He realized however that he had best end it soon, so he allowed himself to finally build to his own orgasm.  He moved in and out a few more times before feeling his cock start to twitch.  He pushed himself all the way inside her and finally came.
	Andrea felt the first spurt of warm liquid pulse against the walls of her womb and she screamed in pleasure, cumming yet again.  Her latest orgasm was the most intense and her body bucked with the feeling of each spurt inside her.  He came for nearly 30 seconds, filling her womb with what felt like a gallon of the sticky substance before collapsing on top of her.  He was still embedded deep inside.
	"Don't you... dare..." She tried to catch her breath.  "Don't you dare take that... thing out of me." She breathed heavily for a few moments.  	"Understand?"
	He nodded but she couldn't see it.  She had already slipped into unconsciousness. 

* * * *
	
	She awoke to a drop of water on her forehead.  She opened her eyes when another one hit.  Thunder was still lying on top of her, with his head beside her.  His shoulder went up to her nose.  Another few drops hit her forehead and she realized it was raining.  A few seconds later the clouds opened up and began to pour, instantly soaking the couple.  Thunder moved and looked down at her to see if she was awake.
	"Welcome back," he said gently.  
	"Thanks."  She could feel he was still inside her as instructed.  Even if he had softened.  She smiled. "You can get up now."
	"You're sure," he said joking.
	"Ah, cut me some slack.  I was caught up in the moment."
	"Oh, I see."
	She laughed and shoved him away, still being playful.  "Get off of me."
	"Yes ma'am," he said sarcastically as he stood up.  He offered a hand to Andrea and she took it.  The ground beneath her made a squishing sound as she stood.  Her back was covered in mud but the pouring rain was already taking care of that.  Her pussy still felt on fire, but not in a painful way.  She was still horny as hell.  Maybe even more so than when she had started.
	"Wow, I can't believe what you did to me," Andrea said, pressing herself up against him.
	"What I did to you?  How about what you did to me?"
	She smiled at the compliment and her mouth asked the question before her brain realized why.  "What time is it?"
	"Nearly midnight."
	"What?  Holy, shit!  I forgot about Kitty."
	"The bet?  I thought you weren't going through with it."
	"I'm not, but...  You don't understand.  I've got to go.  I'll meet you back at camp.  Where's the cyclone?"
	"Right where you left it, at the edge of town.  About a kilometer that way," he pointed.
	"Okay.  See you later," she kissed him quickly, headed to the road and broke into a run.
	"Andrea, your dress."
	She turned but didn't stop running.  "Bring it back.  My normal clothes are with the bike."
	"If you say so."
	It was only a few minutes of running until she got to her bike.  She got dressed quickly and hopped onto it.  With a rev of the engine she took off.  Her white shirt was instantly soaked through, displaying her breasts but she had more important things to worry about.  Hopefully Kitty hadn't been dumb enough to go through the whole thing by herself.
	The first hotel she was at had a full bar, so she moved on, reaching the next one and then the next until she found one that only had a few people in it.  She jumped off the cyclone while it was still moving and let it crash to the ground near the door.  She ran inside and talked to the first person she saw.  "What room did everyone go to?"
	"Um...  205 I think but I doubt you'd want to join them dressed like tha..."
	"Thanks," she ran towards the stairs and climbed the first flight.  205 was the first door on the left and she entered it without knocking.
	There were about thirty men inside, all naked from at least the waste down.  One of them spoke to her.  "Who are you?"
	"It doesn't matter.  This party's over.  Everyone out."  She couldn't even see Kitty at this point but knew this had been going on for about three hours.
	"You can't just tell us to leave..." Andrea ignored them, starting to filter through the crowd to the bed.
	"Wait a minute, I know you," a different man said.  "Listen, Jed, we better do what she says."
	Jed spoke up again.  "What?  Why?"  His friend leaned over and said something in his ear.  "Alright, everyone out.  Sorry, Ms. Robertson."  Andrea looked at him briefly at the mention of her name but decided to ignore him.  
	The people seemed to listen to Jed better than her and the group got dressed and began to filter out.  She finally made her way to Kitty who was lying on a plastic bed sheet completely covered in sperm.  It was dripping out of all three holes, it plugged her nose and ears while it matted her hair to her face or back.  Her legs were spread slightly and her entire body appeared bumpy in the light thanks to the uneven distribution of the fluid covering her.  Here eyes were slightly reddened and even her eyelids were matted with the stuff.  "Why did you do that?" She asked lazily as she sat up.
	"Why did you go through with this?"  The door closed behind the last man.
	"I thought you were going to meet me here," Kitty said.  She put a gooey hand to her pussy and pulled it away with even more cum dripping from it.  "Wow, I've never been this grossed out before."
	Andrea couldn't help but laugh.  She quickly stifled it however.  "Are you alright?"
	"Yeah, I guess so.  I'll probably be sore for a while though.  What happened to you?"
	"I uh... I got distracted.  Sorry."
	"It's okay.  Would have been easier if I didn't have to do everyone by myself though."
	"Sorry, I decided not to go through with it."
	"Nice of you to let me know."  She stood up and Andrea got a glimpse of her back.  It was just as soaked as the rest of her body but was also lined with red strips of small welts.  The kind that would be left from a whip.
	"Did they do this to you?" She asked quickly reaching out to trace a line with her finger down the length of one.  
	"What?  No.  Jewel and Ed did this to me once they realized I liked you more than him."
	"Why didn't you tell me?"
	Kitty turned around to face Andrea.  "It wasn't your fault.  Besides, I can handle myself."
	Andrea still couldn't believe the two of them would do this to her.  "No, I can't believe they did this."
	Kitty was already resigned to the fact.  "Believe it."
	"I'm going to leave them behind.  They can fend for themselves from now on."
	"What?  No.  I need her."
	"What for hmm?"
	"Money, security, friendship, to name a few."
	"Well...   Fine, I'll give you money then you'll have all three from me?  Deal?"
	"But..."
	"Come on Kitty, you know better than to go back to that."
	"Yeah, I guess.  It's just I've known her a long time.  It's hard to just up and leave."
	"You'll be better for it," Andrea continued, trying to convince her.
	"Maybe."  She looked to Andrea.  "But I don't want to miss having someone to have sex with all the time.  I mean... she's hornier than me."
	"What about me or Irene?"
	"I don't know about Irene.  I feel kind of weird about her.  And you... you don't know if you're coming or going when it comes to women."
	"Coming, definitely," Andrea said, trying to make a joke.
	"Seriously."
	"I guess you're right.  But if that's what you need to keep your distance from those two, then that's what you'll get.  How often?"
	"I dunno... At least twice a week."
	"Fine, deal.  But we leave Jewel and Ed here."
	"Fine."
	Kitty paused for a moment thinking.  "Prove it."
	"Prove what?"
	"That you'll have sex with me.  Prove it."
	"What, now?"
	"What better time?"
	Andrea looked down at her body, recognizing the features.  Her small, but firm, upturned breasts, her skinny waist and hips, her thin red pubic hairs.  All of it looked different with her covered in so much cum.  Andrea wasn't sure if it was Kitty's argument, or her recent sex with Thunder but she realized right then that she wanted her.  
	With only a brief hesitation, Andrea leaned forward and gently kissed Kitty on the lips.  She could taste the cum on her as she stuck her tongue out to entwine it with the other woman's.  Kitty's mouth was much more slippery than usual and somehow it made her less willing to pull away from the kiss.  Eventually she did so however and reached to the base of her tank top. In one motion she pulled it over her head and discarded it.  She disposed of her pants and boots as well and went back to kissing.
	Kitty no longer held back and she pressed her messy body up to Andrea's tightly.  Kitty was right; it was the grossest thing she had experienced in a long time.  It was also a surprisingly sexy feeling to have Kitty's lithe body slip so easily against her own.  She reached down to fondle Kitty's ass and found her hands had trouble getting a grip.
	Meanwhile, the kiss continued and the two women mashed their breasts together as hard as they could.  Kitty guided Andrea down onto the cum soaked bed, instantly covering Andrea's back in the stuff.  Andrea could feel her hair weighed down as it got soaked in sperm.  Kitty used a sticky hand to smooth it back behind her ears before leaning down and kissing her once more.
	The intense tongue play went on for a few more minutes as their bodies melted into each other.  Kitty placed her pussy against Andrea's thigh and began to hump, getting herself off on the smooth flesh.  Sticky sounds surrounded their every movement against each other but by this point, Andrea was getting used to the feeling of the cum plastered all over her body.
	It didn't take long for Kitty to approach orgasm and she did so with a loud moan.  Andrea could feel the warmness of her cum press against her thigh and smear as Kitty rocked back and forth.  She caught her breath and spoke.  "You're turn," Kitty said as she slid her pussy down the length of Andrea's leg until it rested on her ankle.  She humped slightly as she moved her tongue around the edges of Andrea's pussy, teasing the other woman.  Andrea instinctively wrapped her legs tightly around Kitty's head and pressed her in tighter relishing in the feeling of her tongue over her crotch.  Kitty was an expert at giving head.
	Andrea's stomach clenched as the orgasm quickly found her.  It was unusually strong due to her play with Thunder and shook her body violently.  Andrea looked down to see Kitty smiling at her with her lips still pressed against Andrea's cunt.  She stayed there only a moment and regretfully pulled herself up Andrea's body, dragging her tongue along the center of Andrea's torso as she did so.  She traveled past her belly button and through her cleavage before arriving at her collarbone and lifting her mouth up.  It was completely full of the white stuff and she wasted no time kissing Andrea with force.
	Andrea's eyes went wide at the taste and feel of a mouthful of cum but she had no choice except to kiss back.  After sloshing the load around in between their tongue dance, Andrea finally realized Kitty wasn't letting her go until she swallowed.  It took two gulps to get the load down but she didn't mind it all that much.  At least it let her focus on Kitty directly once more.  She concentrated on the feel of Kitty's stiff nipples pressing into her breasts and it nearly made her cum again.  
	The two women stayed like that and simply kissed for a good half hour.  Kitty decided she was too tired for another orgasm and simply broke the kiss and nuzzles into Andrea's shoulder.  She let herself drift off to sleep and Andrea eventually joined her. 

* * * *
	
	The morning came too quickly as far as Andrea was concerned.  The sun was shining through the window and forced her awake.  She hadn't been asleep for too long, but she only needed six hours or so a night so it wasn't a big problem.  Kitty on the other hand was still completely out of it.
	Andrea looked at her and pondered the agreement she had made last night.  Sex twice a week, although fun, felt more like a demand then an exchange of feelings.  Oh well, maybe she could talk Kitty down later.  In the mean time, she was willing to reach her quota.  Perhaps Thunder was right and all she had to do was do things slowly.  She couldn't deny that she loved the feel of Kitty's body against her own.  Maybe she could start from that feeling and go from there.  She wrapped her arms tightly around the other woman and waited for her to wake up.
	After about two hours, Kitty slowly opened her eyes and lifted her head to look directly into Andrea's eyes.  "My ass hurts like hell."
	Andrea smiled.  "Maybe you let a few too many people use it last night."
	Kitty grimaced, "try a few dozen too many people.  Ouch.  On the plus side, you look particularly striking this morning."
	"Hah, I'll bet."  Andrea looked at the dried cum on Kitty's skin.  It was flaking off slightly and looked like some kind of horrible skin disease.  "You're quite striking yourself."
	"Thank-you," she said with a smile and leaned down to kiss the other woman.  The kiss was slow and more loving than Kitty's had been previously.  She pulled away gently, taking Andrea's lip with her own for a short time.  "Care to join me for a shower?"
	"Absolutely," Andrea said.  Kitty smiled and with a squeeze of Andrea's breast, stood up and walked over to the shower.  She walked as if she had a stick up her ass and Andrea couldn't help but be amused.  Kitty heard the laugh and turned around.
	"Hey, don't laugh.  It hurts."
	"I don't doubt it," Andrea continued to chuckle.  "You should have made it out of bounds."
	"Yeah, probably."  She reached the bathroom door.  "Are you coming or what?"
	Andrea smiled and stood up.  Her body still felt sticky as she walked over to the bathroom door.  Kitty had already started the water and knowing that it would only be luke warm at best, the two women just climbed in.   "Phew," Kitty said in the center of the stream.  Her nipples were immediately hard from the cold and when Andrea pressed her body up against her back, she felt them grow even further.  Kitty spun to face her and let the water beat down on her back.  "You still mean what you said last night, right?"
	"Of course," Andrea reassured.
	"Good."  Kitty kissed her again.  "I love you, you know."
	"No you don't."
	Kitty kissed her again, as if the action could convince her she was serious.  It succeeded.  Andrea had never been on the receiving end of such a tender (and long) kiss.  Her pussy had gotten wet from the kiss alone.  "Yes, I do."
	"Oh."
	"Ha.  You look like a deer caught in headlights.  It's okay.  I know you're nervous about it.  I just thought you should know."
	"Oh."  Andrea recovered herself a bit.  "Well thanks."
	"That's the reason for our agreement.  Even if you never end up caring about me, I at least want to give you the chance."
	Andrea nodded and smiled.  "Twice a week will be no problem.  But I do want to keep things slow."
	"Of course."  She kissed her one final time and the two women finished their shower together.  After drying off they got dressed and left the building.  Andrea had forgotten about her bike and it was still lying casually on its side next to the door.  Someone had moved it out of the way, but that was it.  She propped it up and climbed on board.  Kitty hopped on as well and they headed to camp.
	The group had the same fire going from the previous night and everyone was gathered around, minus Jewel.  Ed looked as if he was fuming and he stood up to approach the two as soon as he saw them.  Her coyote was just as eager to see them except the animal was perhaps a little happier.  It ran over and licked at her hand.
	"Where the hell have you two been?  Jewel's been waiting all night."
	"Too bad for her," Andrea said getting off the bike.  She turned to Bob.  "Has everyone eaten?"
	"Y... yes."
	"Good, we're heading off."
	Ed spoke up from behind her.  He put a hand on her shoulder to get her attention.  "What about Jewel?"
	Andrea grabbed his hand and pulled it off.  "She's not coming."  His mouth opened wide and he stared at her not believing it.  "And neither are you."  His jaw hit the floor.  "Come on guys, let's get going."
	"Are you sure?" Thunder asked.
	"Yes.  I'll explain later.  Everyone in the truck."  Bob, Kitty, Irene and the coyote did as they were told and Andrea loaded her cyclone up into the back of the vehicle.  Meanwhile, Thunder mounted his horse, also ready to go.
	Ed went to his bike, still not quite believing her.  "Fine, whatever.  I'll catch up with you guys when I pick her up."
	Andrea drew her gun and spun around.  Ed saw it and simply froze in his position.  He flinched as she fired heard the pop of his rear tire blowing out.  "Once you learn to treat people with respect again, look me up.  Not before."
	She jumped over the door of the jeep and landed in the drivers seat.  She turned the key and hit the accelerator casually.  The vehicle came to life and traveled slowly beside Thunders horse.  Ed stood with the fire behind him and watched them disappear out of sight.

End, part 6"

Next: Irene convinces Andrea to eat some 'Invid flower' and it turns out to be horribly addictive.  And as a bonus, Andrea and co. meet a full sized (that's right, 50 feet tall) Zentradi.  Meanwhile, sparks fly within the group.
