“Our site has been preserved with the strictest of confidence. We trust that Professional Tactical Solutions can keep faith that effort.” The client said with his smooth chin lowered and his eyes peered intently at Rooker, seeming both curious and a little intimidated.

“Mr. Chee,” Rooker paused and glanced as in the hope he pronounced it right, then continued. “Should I call you Notah, or Chee?

“Just call me Manny. I was given my name by my tribe when I was a child, but I grew up in a mostly Hispanic city, and they called me Manuel, or Manny so it’s what I’m used to. My associate is Ming Yu, our security coordinator.” The young man said in a rush.

The woman with him was a slight girl, with a pointed chin, and the classic S shaped figure the Koreans love so well. She nodded lightly, her eyes flashing as she assessed me, and something told me she found me lacking. For a moment it seemed her nose wrinkled, then once more she was impassive and quiet.

Rooker’s eyes lingered on her. I could tell he was appraising her threat level, among other things. The way her shoulders were stronger than you might normally see on a woman didn’t diminish her physical allure, if anything it added to it. She was Rooker’s type, smoke and silk and murder, for some reason I just knew he was getting stirred up.

“Manny, we have a reputation for discretion," Rooker said with a country boy's charming smile.

"Anything you tell us will never leave this room unless required for the operation. ” I assured him.

“Yes, we have heard of you, Miss Emerson," The woman at it side said with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"You have a significant mission accomplishment record as part of Kane’s team. But Kane isn’t around anymore, and you don’t look like you are much up for direct action missions anymore,” the woman added coolly.

I ignored the taunt and looked back at Manny.

Rooker had talked me into a meeting with this man, and we had met with many like him over the years. Still, this one threw me. Clearly, he had native heritage, but he wasn’t dressed like any contract we’d seen before. Most of the ones we contracted with in the past were from the Casinos, and wore suits, with perhaps a hint of traditional jewelry.

In loose-fitting garments, he immediately made me think of smoke and old gods. Unlike his kin, he didn’t appear manicured and a sculpted appearance, so not part of some Corporate Tribe. Still, his manner of speaking was educated, and his funds were verified.

I was guessing he’d been some child prodigy like Zita, or at least wealthy enough to be exceptionally well educated. He spoke like a Yale man, but looked like a Connecticut hobo. Not that I was any better, a dive bar princess talking like a professional contractor.

Rooker nodded his agreement, and Manny looked between us for a moment. I guess he was really taking me in for a moment before continuing.

“As you know more and more people are fleeing to the cities. Those who remain outside the cities are normally living a scavenger’s life, Outsiders, picking through the remains of the old towns or stealing from anyone they can," Rooker said.

"Our group, however, is doing its best to become food sovereign. We have some greenhouses, and we produce some of our own meat, but there are many supplies we still need to be sustainable.” Manny explained.

Manny’s gaze rested on Rooker, who followed along, listening carefully.

Rooker was the perfect example of a Private Military Company leader. Grey cargo pants, grey leather urban combat boots, and fashionable shirt based on an old French military style. He spoke fast and smooth, though his eyes were keen as a Hawks.

My old army jacket has more burns, tears and stains that than a neon hooker’s sheets. My hair was black stubble on one side, and raven’s wing blue on the other, though it looked more like a raven’s nest. My pants were dirty, my shoes were old sneakers, and by the distance Rooker was keeping I wasn’t smelling so fresh either.

I was starting to see Ms. Ming's point of view, I needed to show them both more.

“Living off the grid is something a lot of people have tried, but from what I’ve experience, they normally get broken up or burned out. The big guys don’t like the idea of people losing their dependence on them,” I quipped sourly, but If the dude noticed, he said nothing, but the woman clearly had. She looked like she smelled something vile, but interesting. I didn’t like her.

“Our settlement is small. We have only 78 people total, but our goals are large. Over the past several months we discovered a,” He paused again, his shifting down to the desk as though the words he wanted would be there.

“A site, which means a lot to our community.” Abruptly he looked up at us both, as if his next words were of the utmost importance.

“You must understand, we are a very isolated community. We are practical, and with moderation we manage our needs. But we never counted on the Outsiders becoming so aggressive. Now, we are trying to protect the site, and our home, which is difficult, but we need some supplies and security if we are going to protect both,” he implored.

“Are they attacking your settlement, or just the convoys,” I asked. My words earned a glance from Manny, and raised Ming's brow.

“They attack our convoys. Our settlement is not an easy fruit to pluck. The site is more vulnerable, but well hidden. It’s the convoys that are in danger, which, despite my protests is why we’ve come to you, ,” Ming Yu said with distaste in her voice.

“Ming, please. We’ve been over this and the decision has been made, I won’t have you being contrary to the elder’s wishes,” Manny said sharply.

“So, you have an Outsider problem, and you need us to reduce the threat?” Rooker smiled wide.

Manny looked aghast. “We are not afraid to defend ourselves, Mr. Rooker. But we are a communal people, and peaceful people. We don’t seek to reduce them.”

“Your community, it farms and ranches? Sheep, Goats?” I cut in, trying to bring Manny back to a calm place.

Manny’s light brown eyes shifted from Rooker’s to mine. “Yes, we have chickens, sheep. We raise them for wool, meat and eggs.”

“That can be a hard life. Before we were burned out, I had goats and chickens at my parents’ place up north. They can be a challenge.” I chuckled a little, and the more comfortable conversation brought a smile to the man’s thin lips.

“I had one old girl who hurt her knee when she was young, and normally that would have meant putting her down. I begged and cried, promised to clean up after her, feed her, everything. Eventually we kept her, and she ended up being one of our best milkers.”

“Yes, they are always more work than you first expect. Hoof issues, bugs, and they get into everything, but we reap the rewards,” Manny said with a note of pride in his voice, but when he swallowed his Adam’s apple jumped up in his throat, like he was trying to keep something down.

“The thing is, that even with all the milk and cheese we made, it never really made up for the cost of her medical needs,” I blushed a bit in memory.

“I’d say your father thought it was worth making you happy, and it taught you many lessons as well I am sure,” Manny said.

“Whatever brought you here today must be something substantial to want our help. You don’t learn to raise animals in the wild without being capable.” I said, showing a touch of respect for his people’s accomplishments.

Manny glanced down once more at Ming Yu, and I realized she was the young man’s bodyguard. For a moment that seemed absurd, but as I realized she’d melted into the background of my attention, it became clear. It was always when Manny was about to say something he was unsure of he glanced to her. She gave him confidence.

I gave her a secondary appraisal, and the things I hadn’t seen before became more obvious. Her nails were some sort of polymer, likely fused right to the bone, and as share as razors. On both of her forearms, a slightly darker tint just under the skin told me she had re-enforced bones. The small white lines spoke of many small cuts, so the woman was trained in knife fighting, but someone had enough money for the best kind of medical attention.

“We can protect ourselves. Our work. Each of us knows how to fight, and we have weapons, such as they are. It’s the Scavengers these days that have troubled our supply routes. If we send out enough people to protect the supply routes, they attack the site. If we protect the site, they attack the routes. We just don’t have enough to do both.”

“So, whatever your project is,” I raised my hands and tilted my head in acknowledgement, that whatever it was, it wasn’t our business. “It must be worth a great deal to your people if you will pay Rooker’s fees. But he will need to know some details about what he is facing.”

Rooker caught on that I was distancing myself from it and shot me a look. I ignored it by pulling out a pocketknife and cleaning my nails.

Ming Yu suddenly glanced up for a moment, then lowered her eyes once more and spoke in tempered tones. “These are not everyday Outsiders, not like us. They are well armed and trained. They follow a organized command structure, and they use intelligence gathering operations to know where we are.”

“You think they’re organized?” Rooker said as he shot me a glance.

“Very much so, Mr. Rooker. I would not take them as lightly as we did the first time they raided us.” Ming Yu warned.

“We are looking for a unit to provide supply escort. If you can get us the supplies here need, we can pay you your fees, plus ten percent.”

“That is generous, Manny,” Rooker started to say, then clammed up as I closed my knife and shoved it back into my pocket.

“I think I’d better have a word with my associate, Ms. Emerson,” Rooker laughed. Then, with a self-deprecating grin added, “we will discuss it and get back with you in the morning. If that is acceptable.”

“Of course, Mr. Rooker, Ms. Emerson. I will look forward to hearing from you,” Manny said.

Both stood, but the girl paused beside me, her dark eyes lifting as she peered at my rugged appearance and scared head. “These are good people. The world needs more people them, and perhaps less like us, don’t make me regret trusting you.”