Jen and Sam were walking towards a blacksmith’s shop where they were hoping to get a few small good-quality knives for defense, when Jen’s psych sense felt an evil, intense hate. This caused her to look over just in time to see a man about to thrust a knife into a small well-dressed woman’s back. Somehow, Jen also took notice of the woman’s really cute ass. Jen’s agility allowed her to move the five feet almost instantly, and she slammed the man to the side causing him to miss his knife strike.

The small woman moved fast, maybe not as fast as Sam and Jen could move, but fast enough. She turned and with one hand slapped the man to the ground with such strength you could hear the bones in his face and body snap with finality. Simultaneously the woman used her other hand and grabbed Jen’s wrist.

Jen was powering up her forgetme charm with every bit of mana she had, hoping the woman would let her go. The woman kept her focus on Jen’s wrist, the one she had grabbed, and said, “I can feel something pushing at my mind, but until that pressure goes away, I am not letting go of this wrist.”

Sam messaged Jen. “Talk to her. I’ll stay out of sight and out of mind, and back you up if necessary.”

When Jen quit powering the charm, the woman lightened her grip on her wrist, but didn’t let go. She looked into Jen’s eyes focusing on her intently. Jen could tell that the woman had enough strength to snap her arm like a toothpick.

After the briefest of pauses, the woman released Jen’s arm and said, “Please call me Tamako. I wanted to thank you for your assistance before you ran off. There are not many in the Decks who go out of their way to help a stranger.”

Jen had the feeling that, even with her speed, this woman had the ability to stop her again if she wanted. Jen kind of liked the idea of being “caught” by the small sexy woman again, but couldn’t help giving her a wicked smile before saying, “Look, Tamako, I was happy to help and all, but I am really busy and don’t want to be caught up in any investigation by the city guard, or anyone else, so if you don’t mind, I’ll just take my leave.”

Tamako raised an eyebrow at Jen and smiled just as several of the city guards came rushing from around the corner.

Tamako stepped in front of Jen, partially blocking the guards’ view of her, and ordered the guards, “Drag this filth away immediately and leave me so I can get back to my day off.”

The guards grabbed the man and were gone without a word in a matter of seconds. Tamako turned back around to Jen and said, “I have the impression you wish to stay out of the spotlight, and in appreciation for your help, I will make sure your involvement stays anonymous. However, that does not make my debt to you paid. Please let me give you the contact information for my personal sound wave.” Tamako then pulled from a ring a card with her contact information and pointed to the device in her ear. Then she gave Jen a wicked smile of her own, and said, “Or you can simply ask any of the city guard for Captain Tamako Blackjack.”

Jen tried to keep a straight face, but her surprise did escape to the corner of her eyes.

Tamako smiled again and waved goodbye to Jen as she turned to continue shopping, but called over her shoulder to say again, “Please contact me if you need anything.”

Jen and Sam met at the blacksmith’s shop after each of them made sure they were not followed. Jen looked like she was going to be sick when she spoke to Sam. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking, I should have stayed out of it. Do you think we need to find another city to set up in?”

Sam leaned his head back and placed both his hands over his face and made either a crying or laughing sound; Jen couldn’t tell.

This made Jen feel even worse. “Sam, I know we’ve been doing undercover work for years; it’s just….” before Jen could finish her sentence, Sam dropped his hands down showing the biggest smirk on his face and put a brotherly arm around Jen and pulled her in close, and laughingly said, “Boss, for such a smart lady, when you run into someone you like, your dumb as shit.”

Jen had a shocked expression, as she looked over at Sam with a question in her eyes.

“Jen, how can I put this in Millennial speak so that you will understand it? You thought she was super hot! Tamako could tell that you thought she was super hotttt! Tamako thought you were super hottt toooo. Sooo Tamako gave you her digits! WE don’t have to go anywhere, YOU have to go get her.” Sam just laughed, and Jen blushed knowing that Sam was going to tease her like a 10-year old little brother.

“You’re a jackass Sam!” Jen said, trying to cover up her embarrassment as she turned and headed into the blacksmith’s shop to look at weapons, but all she could think about was what the heck a “soundwave” was, and how it worked.