The Center: Smells Chapter 6 by Jennifer Sue Copyright  © 2010 Jennifer Sue All Rights Reserved.   “Children should be seen and not heard,” was the too often used phrase that was physically hammered into his budding consciousness before he even realized he could think. It became the toddler’s mantra.

Chapter 6

Kris and Brose were the last students to enter the cafeteria. All conversation ended. Kris just smiled and joined Brose going through the serving line as a tremendous buzz swept the students at Kris' unexpected appearance. At the table, Liz stopped eating long enough to stand and give her mom a hug. Kris put her tray on the table and turned to the waiting audience.

"I'm sure all of you are aware we had an accident today on the ballistic target range," She announced. "Thanks to Liz no one died. Everyone will make a full recovery. As you probably suspect, Brose was trying out her talents. Once will fill in the crater, we'll build a new two story concrete block training building. We'll leave the five hundred yard debris field in place as it simulates a devastated landscape. Like everyone there, Brose has a concussion. She's here because she's in better shape than those we're keeping in the clinic. It was Brose who called in for the med team. Her rapid response saved lives, allowing Liz to get there in time." Kris paused and looked at Liz who stood.

"The First Responder Team would like to thank Brose for the disaster," Liz said. "Since it was a real incident, we learned several weaknesses in our response training and execution. We're already incorporating what we've learned and are updating the base monitoring so we can instantly pinpoint the site of any type of impact. Thank you."

"Brose filled one room of the concrete house with a mixture of 80% methane and 20% oxygen, then inserted a spark," Kris explained after Liz sat down. "All the injured were within the debris field and knocked flat by the blast's concussive wave. If you're interested in seeing the results, we won't start filling in the crater until next week. Dr. Lynchburg wants Brose to take it easy tonight and Liz needs to recover from saving two lives and rebuilding eighteen sets of shattered eardrums. Give them some space tonight. Thanks for your attention."

The buzz started before Kris sat down. Those around the table had known Kris since she'd emerged. While respecting her authority, they also knew her as a kind and caring person. The pleasant meal was spent catching Kris up on the latest gossip. Brose listened intently, even occasionally joining in. Brose timed her eating to that of Liz so they could go through the serving line together when they were ready for refills. Both had used up a tremendous amount of energy that day.

When the meal ended, Kris told Brose she had the next day off to recover, then said her goodbyes and headed back to her office suite. Brose and Liz headed to the bathroom to enjoy a relaxing soak in the tubs. Although nothing was said, Brose knew Liz was joining her as much for her own relaxation as to keep a watchful eye on Brose to make sure she suffered no ill effects from her concussion.

Both were wakened by the tub’s built in warning alarm. Clean and relaxed, both were feeling the tiring effects of their hectic day. After toweling off and donning clean robes, they headed for their respective rooms and climbed into bed for a solid night's sleep. Brose noted the blue LED lights of the passive monitoring system at the head of her bed. It had an infrared thermal scanner that would periodically locate the person's forehead to check the person's temperature. Another device was an acoustic tool to monitor breathing. Liz had explained it was a safety precaution that was only activated on written doctor's orders in cases like her mild concussion. Whenever the system was activated, blue LED lights lit to let the bed's occupant know it was in use. Brose found the passive system comforting.

Brose slept through breakfast and awoke just before lunch. As she pulled herself from bed she felt aches and pains in places she didn't know existed. Realizing they’d allowed her to sleep in made her smile. It was just another manifestation that The Center cared for their students.

Heading to the showers, Brose took a quick hot shower to ease the myriad aches and pains. Returning to her room she donned a snug sports bra, track suit and trainers, deciding she'd go for a run and work out in the weight room, something she hadn't done recently. She also packed a skirt and blouse to change into after she used the gym showers. After a light brunch, she headed for the gym area. Everyone she passed warmly greeted her which made her feel welcome. At the track she met Mr. Weiss, the phys-ed instructor.

"I was wondering when you'd be down," Mr. Weiss smiled as he greeted Brose. "Your dossier indicated you liked to run."

"It was the only thing I could do at recess," Brose replied. "It sort of grew on me. When I run I zone out the rest of the world and just get a pleasant buzz."

"Runner's euphoria," Mr. Weiss smiled. "Just remember, you're not the tall powerful young man you were before transitioning. Your body will move differently and you now have certain assets that may be disconcerting as you move. Just take it easy until you develop your new rhythm and don't push your stamina."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," Brose replied as she began to do some stretching exercises. She immediately knew her body was quite different as she was much more limber. Soon she began jogging around the track at a slow but steady pace. The first five minutes she did three laps around the quarter mile track. As she jogged she kept altering her style tweaking this or that until she fell into a comfortable rhythm. Then she stepped up her pace to just below a full run.

Mr. Weiss kept an eye on Brose, smiling at how she rapidly adapted her style. He raised his eyebrows when she sped up, but as she ran past him he recognized the glazed eyes of a runner in full sync with their effort.

Brose easily dropped into her running zone. The pounding of her feet on the track, the seeing yet unseeing eyes, the tempo of her breathing, all melding into a blissful runners euphoria that few can understand unless they've experienced it.

Mr Weiss was impressed by the stamina Brose was showing so ten minutes after she fell into a steady pace, he activated the lap timer/counter. Twenty minutes later he stepped onto the track to flag her down.

"Time to re-hydrate," Mr Weiss told her as she slowed to a walk. "Take a breather then see me."

Brose nodded her head and walked over to a Gator aid cooler.

Mr Weiss was stunned when he checked her times. "Brose, you are amazing," he enthused when she joined him. "You were running for thirty five minutes. For the last twenty minutes I activated the lap timer. You ran a steady pace of a mile just under every five minutes. You were running at that pace ten minutes before I began the timer. Young lady, you ran six miles at twelve miles an hour and you're barely winded. If you can keep up that pace for a marathon, you'd run it in two hours and ten minutes. That would top the women’s world record and is just six minutes off the world record of two hours three minutes and fifty nine seconds."

"I was taking it easy because of yesterday," Brose replied without bragging. "I can run faster and longer."

Mr Weiss shook his head in wonderment not doubting she was telling the truth. "Brose, I know you have the day off, but I've been dying to check your physical prowess. Your records show you could bench press four hundred pounds, just over twice your weight. It also shows you carried two one hundred pound bags of feed at a time on your shoulders. That was amazing even for a strapping young man. Now you’re five feet seven inches tall and weigh one hundred thirty pounds. You're smaller and weaker since your transition but apparently your muscle memory is still intact. Dr. Lynchburg weighs one hundred eighty five pounds, yet you dragged him out of the exam room, down a fifty foot hall, through the reception room and out into the main hall. It took Jane and Linda working together to drag Judy that distance and she only weighs one hundred fifteen pounds. Not only that, you were issuing orders and encouraging them as you led the way. Jane and Linda were exhausted by the time they got Judy out, yet you promptly began CPR on Dr. Lynchburg. Someone your size should not have been able to do that. On top of that, after yesterday's explosion, you were the first to recover and called for help. It seems obvious you retain the stamina and strength you had as a guy, just reapportioned to your new size."

"I was thinking of working out in the weight room," Brose smiled. "I wouldn't mind if you'd be my spotter."

Mr. Weiss smiled knowing Brose was willing to let him check her out without violating the day off restrictions. He felt he was really going to like this girl.

Brose was a bit disappointed that she only managed to bench press two hundred seventy five pounds until Mr. Weiss said she outdid all the girls and 95% of the boys not to mention it was over twice her body weight. As she flexed her muscles it was evident the hard bulked muscle she'd had as Dave had proportionally transferred over to Brose. The beef cake bulges Dave had were now masked by softer, graceful girlish curves that belied the hidden power.

Brose thrived in the physical exertion. With a tiny bit of concentration she modified the odor of her glistening perspiration to mimic blooming clover. Mr Weiss knew what she'd done and was pleased with the sweet scent. It was a pleasant respite form the normal BO that filled the gym.

By the time Brose headed to the shower, she was beaming. The endorphin high really picked up her spirits. Changing into the skirt and blouse she'd brought, she headed to the cafeteria for dinner.

Everyone noted her rosy face and bubbly attitude. She didn't hesitate to join in the conversation around the table or to greet others she'd met. As they left the cafeteria Heather waved a boy over to join them.

“Brose, this Barry Morrison,” Heather introduced. “He’s a technopath. Barry, this is Brose Shamrock.. She’s an oudorkenetic.”

“So I’ve noticed,” Barry smiled as he extended his hand. “I understand you’re techno-deficient due to lack of exposure.”

“That’s me, Brose replied as they shook hands. “Never even touched a cell phone until they gave me one here.”

“Oh, a techno-virgin,” Barry chuckled. “Let’s see how fast you learn.”

By then they were in the student lounge where they headed over to an alcove for a bit of privacy.
Barry began teaching Brose the intricacies of her I-phone. Brose proved to be a fast learner and quickly learned the basics of most functions and apps. As they were finishing up a girl wearing a sunglasses and a long sleeved hoodie joined them.

“Brose, this is my girlfriend, Becca Howe,” Barry introduced. “Becca, this is Brose. She WAS a techno-virgin.”

Becca managed a nod and tight smile as she joined them. Brose sensed she was a bit uptight about having her boyfriend spending time with another girl.

“I’m still a techno-novice,” Brose smiled. “I still need a tutorial on my desktop. I did a bit of word processing on the computers in my school but that was limited. I was just going to ask Barry if he could come to my room one evening and show me how to use my system. It would be cool if you could join us. You could translate his techno-speak into people speak.”

Becca smiled and nodded. “I heard you’ve been developing your people skills. I know how tough it is to be isolated and I’m still having issues opening up to people.”

“I NEVER had anyone to talk to,” Brose sighed. “It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, I was just totally ostracized because I smelled like the hog farm I grew up on.” With that Brose popped a minuscule pig manure air fart.

Barry and Becca both recoiled and wrinkled their noses by which time Brose had flushed the area with her by then trade mark clover scent.

“I understand why you were ostracized,” Barry declared as Becca nodded. “How does tomorrow evening sound for a desk top tutorial?”

‘Sounds great to me,” Brose enthused. “I’ll meet you both after dinner and bring you back to my room.”

The next two weeks flew by as Brose dug into the chemistry and physics lessons. She amazed Mr Walton, the teacher, with her knowledge and aptitude for science and math. From reading her dossier he was amazed at what she'd accomplished on the hog farm in regards to the methane recycling and dried manure fertilizer. Happily he knew he had an adept star pupil on his hands who never moaned or complained about the difficulty of the assignments.

Brose sat in on every class, not only paying attention to what her fellow students were being taught, but simultaneously doing independent study. Brose eagerly learned of chemical volatility and how mixing certain gases had dire consequences. Everyone was amazed at how she could duplicate different gases gaseous mixtures with ease after an initial exposure.

It took people a while to figure out why their Bunsen burners would suddenly snuff out for no reason and then suddenly reignite. Mr. Walton happened to be looking at Brose and noticed she was looking at the burner of another student when she did a brief head nod. Instantly the burner went out. Once the student noticed the missing flame, Brose did another quick head nod and it re-lit.

“Brose, please join me in the hall for a moment,” Mr. Walton said.

Caught off guard, Brose feared she’d been caught in her mischief but obediently followed the teacher out of the classroom.

“That’s a pretty nifty trick you’re doing with the Bunsen burners,” Mr Walton smiled to let Brose she was not in trouble. “What are you using to snuff out the flame?”

“Carbon dioxide,” Brose timidly smiled. “Then I add a spark to re-ignite it.”

“Okay, I don’t mind a bit of fun in class, but please don’t let it get out of control,” Mr Walton smiled. “One other thing, when you snuffed or ignited, you nodded your head just a tiny bit. That’s how I figured out what you were doing. I would suspect that in some situations it would be beneficial if you made no movements.”

“I’ll work on that, thanks,” Brose smiled as they returned to class.

Barry and Becca spent several evenings in her room teaching her how to use her computer and telling her of their experiences with The Syndicate. They agreed with Brose that the people she’d encountered at the farm sounded as if they came from The Syndicate. This cemented Brose’s decision to actively participate in the mission of The Center. Barry lost himself in tweaking the computer for optimal performance as Brose and Becca compared notes on where their talents crossed, their heightened sense of smell.

Her training with Mr. Lions continued too. Under his tutelage she learned how to project gases into ever more minute containers with absolute accuracy up to two hundred meters. Between two hundred and three hundred meters the accuracy steadily declined and was virtually non existent beyond three hundred meters. What really delighted Brose was that she learned to shut down a summoned gas before it materialized. The speed of materialization also increased and took less mental concentration. She could zap a room full of gas at two hundred meters within five seconds of deciding to do so.

Based on the report from Mr. Walton, Mr. Lions also filmed Brose during the sessions. Together they worked on eliminating any physical evidence of Brose using her powers.

Another thing they practiced was multiple manifestations. This proved extremely difficult. The best she was able to do was pinpoint five tiny flames at fifty meters.

As for her sniffing ability, her skill improved dramatically. She could identify every student and staff member by their individual scent, even when dozens were in a room. She also honed her ability to identify the slight alterations in a person’s scent that indicated their emotional state. Everyone’s scent changed in the same manner for each emotional state and even combinations of states. She became an infallible lie detector. Her scent sensitivity was an ability she often wished she didn’t possess as she could tell whenever anyone had a sexual experience and, even after a shower, who had been the partner.

Mr. Weiss set Brose up on an exercise and weight training program that challenged her without overwhelming her. Each day she spent an hour working out in the weight room and at least an hour running on the track. Brose was easily the strongest girl at The Center. In truth there were only five boys who could best her strength. No one came close to matching her stamina or rate of recovery.

As Brose regained her physical prowess, her self confidence grew. She never bragged about her strength or physical prowess, but she regained the tough skinned persona she'd developed as Dave. The difference was that now she felt comfortable with normal teenage banter and with her sharp wit gave as good as she got. She also willing helped anyone when she saw a need and never turned down a reasonable request for assistance. Max found it incumbent to set up an 'aroma therapy' request page on the school calendar so the students could vote on what scent they wanted at which meals. This led to her being widely accepted by the students and faculty, a new experience for her. As Dave she'd been a pariah, now she was popular. It felt good.

Even though they had been girls, a few of the testosterone laden guys had become swaggering macho jocks and thus were intimidated by the athleticism Brose demonstrated. This led to a lot of back and forth jousting that culminated at a mid-week dinner where one of the guys challenged Brose to a race on the twelve and a half mile cross country foot/bike course laid out on the grounds of the complex.

Everyone knew of the rivalry the guys had with Brose, so the entire cafeteria fell silent waiting for her response. They knew she wouldn't let the challenge pass and they wondered how she'd try to intimidate them. They were not disappointed.

Not one to back down Brose decided to up the stakes. Standing up she looked around the cafeteria with an almost predatory gleam in her sparkling emerald eyes. "I'll go you one better. Let's do an Iron Man Race. First we do bikes starting with two laps on the track then two laps on the cross country course ending with three laps on the track. Then we run to the pool and swim two miles. We end by a running two laps on the track, two laps around the cross country course ending with three laps on the track. That'll be twenty six and a quarter miles bicycling, two miles swimming, and twenty six and a quarter miles running. The Olympic Marathon is twenty six and a quarter miles so we'll be doing it twice. Since I know only a few of us are up to the challenge I'd like to open the Iron Man Competition to everyone. You can enter as individuals or six person relay teams. Relay teams will have two cyclists, two swimmers, and two runners that switch at the half way mark of each leg. I think it will be a fun event for everyone, either participating or cheering. I think we should even open it to the staff and soldiers. It'll be fun to beat them."

Of course the majority of the students cheered the idea Brose had put forth. Dani relayed the challenge to Max with a copy to Kris as several groups immediately began setting up teams. The jocks who had started the whole thing were stunned. All felt capable of competing in any one of the events, but to do all three seemed way too extreme. Unfortunately they couldn't back down so they sucked down their apprehension and used their bravado to accept.

Brose smiled as if she had already won. She could smell the fear on the three guys.

By the next day the Iron Man challenge was officially scheduled to start mid-morning on Saturday. On line sign up pages were established for individuals and teams. Brose was the first to sign up for the individual section. By the end of the day four boys and two soldiers had signed on. All would be tough competitors but Brose felt they lacked the stamina to place at the top. Three student, one staff, and one army relay teams were also signed up. That meant there would be twelve competitors on the course. Those that were not participating volunteered to man re-hydration stations spotted about the course. Medic teams with ATVs were also set up around the course. Judges were selected to ensure the swimmers touched the walls of the pool at the end of each lap. Other judges were positioned at each relay point to ensure physical contact was made at the exchanges.

High quality twelve speed and mountain bicycles were available to all students and staff to use in a bike pool adjoining the motor pool. Those students who were really into biking were assigned their own bike they could modify to their own desires. The three macho guys and two teams had personalized bikes. Everyone else would select one from the bike pool.

With the assistance of the staff technicians, Barry had developed a new piece of equipment for use on missions would also be supplied to each participant as a trial. The staff decided the race would be the perfect test for the latest piece of equipment they had helped designed. The device worked under normal daily activities but had yet to be tested under harsh conditions that might be expected during missions. The device was a combination vital signs monitor, GPS locator, and communicator. About the size of two quarters stacked together it was attached behind an ear using a special waterproof adhesive. It could monitor heart rate, respiration and stress (by reading skin galvanic activity) in real time and send it back to a monitoring station. The GPS allowed the wearer to be tracked, with each person having a specific code. The communicator worked through bone conductivity. It made no sound when receiving a message as it silently relayed it's signals directly to the inner ear. In the same way the wearer could send outbound communications by softly whispering as the inner ear easily picked up the sound as did the device.

The device could be worn for a week before the adhesive weakened. The unit was continually powered by a specially shaped magnet that spun a piezoelectric motor/generator inside the device. The range varied by function. The GPS locator was satellite based and could serve as an auditory navigator. The vital signs monitoring was limited to five miles as it consumed the most power. The communication mode limit was also five miles, but small independent relay stations could dropped off to be used to extend the range. Of course, being inside buildings, underground or rough topography effected the range.

The day of the race was bright and sunny but the temperature promised to stay in the mid seventies. A steady breeze was also forecast. Everyone not on duty surrounded the track as the twelve starters did their warm-up stretches. With little fanfare Colonel Harris fired the starting pistol.

The three jocks with their own tricked out twelve speeds jumped into the lead. Brose on her bike pool cycle was in the middle of the pack. By the end of the two laps around the track, Brose was the third of the singles and three teams were ahead of her. The onlookers vociferously cheered.

By the end of the first circuit of the cross country course one single boy was in the top half with the two soldiers. That boy was in third right behind Brose and perfectly matching her pace. Brose recognized him as Ray Lomax. His talent was having photographic reflexes and it was clear he was mimicking Brose. Ray was also Kristyn’s boyfriend. By the time they entered the track for the last three laps, Brose was in fourth place behind team competitors with Ray still right behind her. Only forty feet separated the top five. By the time they finished the bike portion, Brose was in second place by a wheel while Ray was in third. The average speed for the twenty six and a quarter mile bike portion was a phenomenal twenty five MPH completed in one hour and three minutes. The two single soldiers rounded out the top six.

As each person finished the biking portion, they leapt off their bikes and passed them off to waiting students as they ran to the nearby Olympic sized pool. Brose could swim and had great stamina but since her swimming had been limited to pond on the farm she never developed proper style for speed. During the two days before the race she did get a bit of training and practice but still couldn’t meet the pace of the others. This certainly didn’t mean she was a slouch. The fastest team and Ray averaged a swimming speed of four MPH and finished the two mile swim in thirty minutes. Brose averaged three MPH and finished in forty minutes but had fallen back to fifth place.

Brose emerged from the pool and shrugged off the proffered towel as she calmly put on her trainers. With a grim determination she determinedly walked back to the track, being passed by two more competitors. Those who saw her stoic countenance were a bit unnerved. As soon as she set foot on the track she broke into a distance eating run. By the end of the initial two laps she was back in fifth place. Her stride was long yet fluidly graceful and deceptively effortless.

By the end of the first lap on the cross country course she was in third place with Ray once more closely following. They were ahead of the other individual competitors. Two of the last leg team runners surged past her shortly after they started but by the time they completed the second cross country lap she was back in third place with Ray in fourth. Brose and Ray entered the track behind the runners of the two teams who had just completed one lap. It was clear they were quite winded. Brose and Ray never kicked up their pace. Within half a lap they had passed the flagging duo. With a half lap to go Brose and Ray slipped past the nearly staggering duo to cross the finish line ten feet apart. The onlookers cheered and yelled over Brose’s stunning win as she continued running laps at her unflagging pace. As they crossed the finish line Ray and the two runners they’d passed stumbled into the waiting arms of the medics and collapsed.

When he’d regained his strength Ray acknowledged there was no way he could have even tried to pass Brose. It was only due to his ability to copy her movements that he even completed the race.

Brose continued to run until the last competitor still moving crossed the finish line. She’d run an additional twenty three laps. Of the three jocks, two collapsed before the end. The other was the last to finish. The monitoring devices being field tested worked perfectly. The rescue teams were able to promptly respond when the two jocks collapsed.

The women’s world record for the Marathon was 2:23:14. Brose had run the twenty six and a quarter miles in two hours and 38 minutes. Then she’d run another five and three quarters miles at the same pace. When she finally stopped she was mobbed by the onlookers. No one could understand why she wasn’t winded.

Monday after the Iron Man Race, Mr Weiss, who was also the small arms instructor, tested Brose's shooting skills. At their first session he asked, "Do you have any experience with weapons?"

"Yes," Brose smiled. "I'm a good shot with a .22 revolver, a .22 rifle, a Winchester .30-.30 lever action rifle, and a double barreled shotgun. One of my jobs on the farm was to kill rats. We also hunted small game and deer. My uncle thought knowing how to use firearms was part of our heritage."

Going to the armory, Mr. Weiss signed out the four weapons and ammunition. Brose was surprised by the security of the weapons locker until she saw what was inside. The firepower inside was quite intimidating. In moments they were out at the firing range.

"All right, Brose, show me what you know," Mr Weiss said as he laid the weapons and ammunition on a table.

Brose picked up the revolver and snapped open the cylinder to make sure there were no rounds inside, then peered down the barrel. Closing the cylinder, she spun it and checked the hammer. Next she sighted the gun down the range and pulled the trigger. After checking the revolver she placed it on the table. There was a bowl built into the table so she opened the box of .22 caliber bullets and dumped them into it.

Mr Weiss watched silently as Brose checked out the weapon. He raised his eyebrows as she snapped open the cylinder with one hand and deftly loaded the bullets, snapping it closed in about five seconds. His mouthed formed an impressed 'O' as she proceeded to empty the six rounds into the bull’s-eye of a target twenty five meters away in less than four seconds. Without even looking at the fresh bullets, she snapped open the cylinder, dumped the spent rounds and reloaded in five seconds. Snapping the cylinder in place she fired another six shots into the bull’s-eye of a target fifty meters away in five seconds.

"You weren't kidding when you said you were experienced and a good shot," Mr. Weiss praised. "Show me the others."

Brose smiled and proceeded to repeat the process with each weapon. Mr. Weiss had only seen one person her age so accurate over a diverse range of weapons, that was Ray Lomax.

By the end of the second day Brose qualified on 9mm and .45 semi-automatic clip fed pistols, the MP5 machine pistol, the M16 and AK47 assault rifles, and the M40 Sniper rifle. She easily picked up the quirks of each weapon and was able to disassemble and reassemble them as well as clean and oil them. By the end of two weeks of weapons training, she had qualified as expert marksman on all of them plus what became her favorite and weapon of choice, the semi-automatic Mark XIX Desert Eagle.

Brose was delighted when Mr. Weiss received authorization to provide Brose with a personalized Desert Eagle Mark XIX component system. This set-up gave the weapon the versatility to switch between three calibers (.50AE/.44 Magnum/.357 Magnum) with six-inch and ten-inch barrel lengths for each caliber. Brose had no trouble at all switching the pistol from one caliber and or barrel to another. She scored ratings of expert marksman with all three calibers at each barrel length.

Of the six options, Brose liked the .50 caliber with a ten inch barrel best. The hefty just under five pound weapon measured fourteen and three quarters inches long. The gas-operated action soaked up the magnum recoil with remarkable efficiency which allowed Brose to easily handle it. With the ten inch barrel, the Desert Eagle's big .50 Action Express cartridge propelled a three hundred grain bullet at 1,700 fps. That translates into 1,700 ft./lbs. of muzzle energy, or 40-50% more oomph than normal for a .44 Magnum.

The .50 caliber magazine held seven rounds. In a braced or two handed firing position Brose was deadly accurate out to two hundred meters, able to cluster all seven rounds into the bull’s-eye. She added an detachable laser sight, a detachable scope, and a detachable night vision scope for accuracy out to three hundred yards. Fully loaded and outfitted, Brose had no difficulty handling the big gun. With her strength she was able to fire it one handed with accuracy to fifty yards. With practice, she could accurately fire off a magazine in ten seconds, eject the empty magazine, retrieve a full magazine from her waist belt storage and insert it in seven seconds and begin firing back on target.

When asked why she liked the behemoth pistol she just smiled. "I know I'll be going out on missions. The way I look at it, my primary function will be to use my talent. If I wind up in a fire-fight, I want something with range, accuracy and stopping power that I can wear comfortably without over-encumbering me."

With her input the staff made her a custom bullet proof Kevlar vest with multiple pockets and attachment rings to carry the Desert Eagle components so she could modify the weapon in the field. The armory was even able to manufacture silencers for each caliber. The silencers didn't eliminate the report but cut it about thirty db and suppressed the muzzle flash without effecting accuracy. Spare ammo magazine pouches were also scattered across the vest.

Brose’s back up weapon of choice also fastened on the vest. The M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System weighed three and a third pounds, was thirteen and three quarter inches long with stock folded and nineteen and three quarter inches long when unfolded with a barrel length of seven and three quarters inches. The 12 gauge pistol grip bolt action shotgun had a five round detachable box magazine, of which she carried spares.

On the farm she had become quite mechanically adept in repairing equipment, so at Brose's request a special mini tool kit was also developed that attached to the vest so she had the ability to do minor repairs or dismantles in the field.

The week after the Iron Man Race, with her weapons schooling completed, Brose began combat training exercises with fellow students and the soldiers attached to The Center. Brose proved adept at stealthy movement as well as tactical assaults and withdrawals. With her Desert Eagle she could lay down a withering covering fire that accurately took out targets. The shotgun opened doors and cleared hallways.

To further test her they kept giving her tougher and nastier tasks. Brose proved she could go nearly anywhere under the worst conditions and accomplish the tasks assigned. Her grim determination and drive made everyone glad she would be on their team.

~
*
> pew!
o