The sun was jellifying my eyes. It was coming through my eastern window, and hitting my comfy bed, and slamming me right
in the eyes. With a groan, I got up and dealt with the call of nature that suddenly came from nowhere.

With clean hands and eyes still filled with spots, I was halfway through my living room when I realized Karen was still here, sacked out on my couch. The coffee pot had already brewed it's morning ambrosia and read 7:22.

Oh shit. I was late. I was so late! What happened to my alarm clock?!?

"Karen wake up! We're late!"

I snagged my travel mug of coffee and returned to the shower. When late, multitasking is essential. Soaping with one hand and drinking with the other, I was surprised when Karen just walked in like she owned the place.

I was glad I'd pulled the curtain, though the sound and mental image of her peeing just beyond it did wonders for my wakefulness.

"We need to be out of here in 15 minutes, and you'll need to speed to be on time."

"I know, what happened to my alarm? I'm sure it was set."

"Um, I'm afraid I heard it and turned it off. If you're late, blame me and I'll back you. See you later, going to my apartment to get ready."

Was a good thing she left, I wasn't about to get out with her here. Now that she had though, I raced through my apartment to my bedroom, since I'd forgotten my clothes. At least the fatigues were easy to match. I grabbed my coffee cup again while brushing my hair. A quick refill and a package of pop tarts later and I was out the door with a few minutes to spare, shrugging my robe on.

I think I made it to my car before 7:40, and no horsepower will be spared. traffic wasn't all that light, but the good news was the cop shop stickers left on the car prevented me from getting stopped by the black and white that observed me going a good 15 over the limit, weaving in and out of traffic.

He probably thinks I'm my dad; the car is pretty distinctive.

I pulled up to the gate right at 8am, to find it open and Pearce waiting. I rolled down my window as I passed.

"Sorry sir, I overslept a bit."

"No problem, you're right on time. Now in another minute you'd be running laps before we start."

I parked quickly.

"Keys."

"What? why?"

"Can't park that classic here. It'll be going outside with the vans, don't want it taking a stray shot. I'll play the valet, you can't keep your team waiting. Building 3."

"Yes, sir."

I held onto the keys for a moment despite his tugs, till he looked me in the eye.

"Not a scratch sir."

"Not a single one."

I went to the building as ordered, fighting the urge to watch as he drove out in the precious. I found Sarah, Culling and Roddy waiting on me.

"For today we have Judge on overwatch; today we work on entry and pacification with your demon."

"Alright, Grex, veni huc!"

This time I spotted him immediately as he materialized behind Sarah, arms spread wide.

"Don't you even buster, that's a good way to get filled with lead."

He stopped reaching for her and bowed low as the rest of the team turned.

"but my master, I merely wish to greet your co-workers properly."

"Lead, Grex, I can see it in your future."

"So to what do I owe the pleasure of your company master? More boxes to move?"

Sarah looked lost.

"Boxes?"

"Oh he's still sulking about the time I made him move my stuff from the base to my apartment a few days ago. No Grex, today is team training day. You get to play cops and demons with us. Only this time, you're the cop."

"Oh drat, I do so love playing the other side. Oh well, I've done this before. So what has changed in the last ten years?"

Roddy spoke up.

"Procedurally more than a few things; mainly in how we enter. We use explosive strips, special shotgun rounds, and rams now, rather than demonic magic. Takes less time and isn't as easy to sense or spot."

"Sounds positively boring."

"Then prepare to be bored right along with the rest of us. You let any paint touch me today and you will be...punished."

Culling's loud whisper of "that's hot." brought the heat to my face. I had to remember to watch what I said around cops, or SWAT types at least. At least Grex took the threat seriously.

"As you will, my master."

Pearce strode in, having obviously heard the last words.

"Right, so you are team 2, you'll be against aims west Dolph, and me. And of course, the mystery guest. Basics are same as
yesterday, team 1 are the bad guys. We win, demons eat the world, got it? Don't screw it up new girl, loser buys lunch for the winner."

I attempted to project more confidence than I felt; I mean sure I had some quickly learned tricks, but these people were combat vets.

"Yes sir."

"We start in 5, then the sweep begins."

"Roger that sir."

Sarah waited till he left and keyed her headset.

"Judge you there?"

"Yep, all set and in position."

"Good we go hostile in 5, anyone not wearing a red armband is kos, got it?"

"Got it. Judge out."

I put on the armband Sarah handed me. She appeared to think a bit, then handed one to grex as well. He followed my example
without comment.

"So um, how good is Judge?"

"He's one of the best, but so is Aims. Most likely they will end up sniping at each other all day rather than giving us any
meaningful help."

Culling clapped me on the shoulder.

"Keep your eyes peeled rookie, it'll be very confusing out there very soon. Keep your head."

I swallowed, nodding.

"Calmly my master, I won't let anything happen to you."

I had another concern though.

"Grex, nothing lethal and no massive damage... to buildings or people; this is just an exercise."

"Time, let's go. Roddy, you're point with me, standard two two formation, with Culling and Snow in the rear."

They left, Sarah breaking left along our building and Roddy breaking right to the one across the street. They both had their weapons, paintball guns looking much like sub machine guns out and pointed slightly down. their heads seemed to swivel at high speeds at they took the street in.

following Culling's lead, I took my place to the right side of the door, ready to follow Roddy's path as they neared the entrances of the next street over.

"Go."

The whispered order came just as team 1 reached the entrances in question, swinging their weapons to cover those streets.
Having no gun, I felt distinctly under dressed. But Grex was my weapon, and the idea was to learn to use him. As soon as I reached Roddy's back I tapped it, letting him know I was in position just in case my almost stealthy footsteps hadn't clued him in.

He nodded to Sarah, who had Culling behind her and the dance started again.

As I settled back to watch paint splattered next to my head...onto Grex, who stepped in and blocked the shot. Since demons don't die to bullets, this was perfectly legal and didn't tag him out. I did expect a little more reaction, but he didn't even cry out.

I on the other hand, scrambled for cover, needing to take it at the far wall. My team didn't even know I'd been attacked, they were still moving. I hadn't been graced with a headset, so I settled for the next best thing...two sharp claps. Sure it gave away our position, but our position was known anyway.

Sarah was waving at me to come up, Culling was already halfway to the other side. Gathering myself I moved running very low with Grex beside me. We formed up into a diamond as soon as I arrived, and I turned to watch my given direction.

"Aim is pinned down at bell tower one, which means they have to be a street over, and are likely digging in. So, I say we need to go before they manage to. Roddy and I will be point; Snow, can you provide some cover?"

I turned to my trusty weapon.

"Grex can you provide cover?"

"Certainly my master."

A dense yellow glowing fog rolled through the streets in an instant, almost prompting me to give away our position. what was odd was I could sort of see through it.

"Too much!"

Sarah whispered, holding the classic blind pose, an arm in front of her. The others looked nervous too.

"we're good, they aren't moving. I can see through it. Grex can too I'm sure."

She paused.

"Can you lead us through it into the grocery?"

I looked, there was in fact a building not to far from us with a sign crudely spray painted "grocery store."

"Sure, Grex take the rear, Sarah hold on to me."

I led them in single file and we managed to make it under cover in between the old shelves before the fog blew away, almost
as quickly as it came. My silent inquiry was met with a whisper:

"there is another demon present, my master. Not as strong as I, but skilled."

"you earn your keep today; same rules apply however, nothing permanent."

He had the good grace to look insulted.

"Of course not. Besides, it's a friend of ours."

"Oh, who?"

Sarah broke in.

"Nevermind that, we need to make it to the back door before they rotate their box. Let's go."

She broke for the next building over, a garage, with Roddy following, both looking in their predetermined directions. As we got ready to follow, lightning flashed through the door, routing itself past us and into the metal shelving.

"Karen, huh?"

Grex grinned, pointing upwards to a small robed form as it flew past a good 20 feet up.

"Well you can fly, go neutralize her, I'll keep an eye out for Thor."

I ran after Culling, who had wasted no time.

I prepped my first trick.

I was almost to the dubious safety of the far wall when Thor flew by, lightning spurting from his hands. Easy enough to
dodge when you could weaken time's hold around yourself. Thor was little more than a fly suspended in amber as I took aim for my next trick, flicking a series of paint balls at him while moving to the side.

Time's flow was quickly restored and he jetted past at a reasonable speed, a dismissal glyph painted on his side as his own attack missed me in my new position next to the wall by a relative mile. My gaped like landed fish, especially when Grex landed with a struggling Karen.

"Um, don't we need to get to cover? Like now, before we're all shot?"

I suited action to words, going into the garage first as Grex followed while tying Karen up. where he got the cords from I
don't know, nor want to know.

"Karen?"

"grawwwwwrrrr, FEAR ME MORTAL, YOU FACE JARAXXUS, EREDAR LORD OF THE BURNING LEGION!"

Oh by all that's holy, shes a WoW player. I tapped her on the nose.

"You're caught, be quiet like a good bad guy."

"OK! So, when do I get my phone call?"

"When I mirandize you. Sarah any ideas?"

"Well they know we're here, but we basically win from here; Thor is 'banished' If I saw what I think I saw, Karen is here, which means Grex can simply walk up and paint them. I doubt they can smoke us out before then, so it's looking like our win."

**************************************************************************************************

That's how the day went, we had lunch on site, and kept facing each other in the mock up town. Without the element of
surprise, and with Karen no longer taking me lightly, we only managed to break even at three apiece. the second match all was going well until I stepped on a circle buried under the dirt street that stopped all movement from both myself and Grex, and I won the third by helping take control in the firefight that broke out.

After that it was all a blur of play, counter play, and gunfire.

Karen had more paint on her than I did though...a definite plus. We were wrapping up, packing things away to carry out to the vans when she finally asked the questions I was dreading.

"So how do you do that dodging thing, and the paintball thing with no gun?"

"Well like your powers mimicking Thor's, mine mimic Grex's. you remember the explanations for what he does right? He's been
tutoring me in how he does it."

Vague shock radiated from Karen, though her face betrayed none of it.

"You mean you can manipulate time and space too?"

"Not much, but a bit. what I was doing was I was dilating time around me, speeding myself up. then I was flicking paint balls at that increased speed, which meant that when they left my area of influence, they kept the inertia and speed, making them like bullets."

She whistled.

"Neat trick."

"Well the best part is I'm working on being able to pair it with runes; if I get it right any demon I hit will be banished in one shot. Like this morning I really wouldn't have been able to be banish Thor, I can't hold the dilation field long enough."

"You might be able to later; I mean you literally just became a summoner last week. your skill set is impressive, I don't
think we will need to bother holding your hand much."

"I think you just underestimated me."

Finally making it past the gate I stopped, noticing something very different.

My car.

My car had been a restored powder blue 1966 Chrysler Newport, and only barely resembled the car in front of me now. This
car was a glossy white, with purple accents and black trim. Everything that could be was chromed, the exhaust was under the
doors, and there was a hole in the hood where I could just see my engine peeking out.

The entire thing was painted with scenes from Disney's Snow White. Even the cut out for the engine was the doorway to the dwarves' home.

The team had stopped, watching me. I could hear a few snickers throughout the small crowd.

"Pearce."

"Yes Snow?"

"I think I'll murder you. Slowly."

He took a step back, paling.

"Hey hey hey, there are no scratches on it! It's perfect."

And just like that my rage ceased, cut off as if it had never been. I put my face in my hands to hide the smile.

"Just...why? Why would you butcher my car? And how? How could you manage this in 8 hours? The paint even looks dry!"

"Well as for the why, when you drive your own vehicle as one of us, it needs work done to it. There are no summoners allowed to drive standard cars. So you take a vehicle like this and you convert it; armor in the side panels, bulletproof glass, a few wards woven in...you make it a tank. With this thing, we didn't need to do much. As for how, well I know a guy, who knows a guy."

I couldn't help myself; during his explanation I had crossed the distance and ran my hand along the tank in question. The paint was dry, and had been done by a real artist; Snow white and her dwarves looked to be pulled right from the movie. The wicked witch on the trunk, apple out and offered to any tailgater, was a nice touch.

The seats were white, and real leather. Even the dashboard had been changed; it was chromed everywhere and a tachometer was added. The wheels were wider than standard and sported non standard rims. There was a retro bubble light on the dash from the 50's, and a new police radio and mini computer bolted in.

"But why the paint job?"

"Why not the paint job? By the way, no refunds."

He handed me the keys and the official police work order. I ignored the laughter as I scanned it...it was legitimate, signed by the captain. The receipt detailing the work was from a well known hot rod garage at the other end of town.

"You do realize I'm still going to get you all for this, right?"

The laughter stopped, but the smiles remained, matching my own. Good one, you assholes, I'll remember.

"Allow me, my master."

The smiles began to drop.

"I got it, Grex. I'll get this cop humor thing yet."

The car started right up, and purred...before it was a nice tame purr, now it was the contented sound of a big cat, wild and dangerous. Grex was next to me, not bothering to use the door. I peeled out, spraying mud on those few near me.

"By the way, I'm Snow White, doesn't that make you all the seven dwarves?"

The looks of dismay in the rear view mirror were priceless.

"So Grex, what was actually used on this thing?"

He knew exactly what I meant.

"Well, wards to make it more resilient to damage, to resist spells of all kinds, and tracking wards. Seems to be fairly
standard."

"Any holes? Anything we can improve?"

"Of course, with a little training and effort, we can improve this machine of yours."

So in other words, an experienced summoner did this. One other than Karen who knew a fair amount.

"So where are they? I can't see them. I can sort of feel them, but it's fuzzy."

"There are 4 engraved on the floor, under the carpeting...there are more in each door, one under the hood, one under the trunk hatch, and one directly over us hidden by the cloth here."

"Pretty thorough indeed."

"Always room for improvement my master...I'd suggest demonic repulsion as a start."

"Demonic...repulsion? never heard of that, what's it do?"

"Repels demons of course...none would be able to approach your transport save myself. It's rather costly in terms of power, so I'm not surprised it wasn't done."

"Really? Interesting."

I waited until the silence became uncomfortable.

"I'm wondering if I should have revealed my new tricks this early; might have been a better idea just to accept my pasting."

"Nonsense master, they would only attempt to 'train you' until you achieved parity."

Easy now, act nonchalant.

"It seems a bit fast to me."

"Master?"

"It seems like I'm improving much faster than I should. Doing these things, dodging spells, casting my own, working with armed people...just seems like I'm picking it up far too quickly."

"You are, you have only our pact to blame. However, you always had the ability to learn this quickly, I merely brought it out. It seems that Maeve Numens is a genius in all things summoner related."

Nothing I could really say to that. The rest of the trip was in relative silence.

I pulled into the police lot and shut my car off, shaking my head again as I got out and closed the door. No way was I going to be able to hide on the road now. The vans pulled in next to me and Pearce jumped out.

"Hey, forgot to tell you, tomorrow is your day off. Enjoy. If you want, I can clock you out a bit early."

"Um, sure, OK. Thanks."

I got back in, Grex following suit (and using the door this time, I noted).

"Well that was weird. Screw it, I want fries again."

"Might I try some master?"

My gimlet stare could detect no deception, only honest joy at the prospect of eating greasy food.

"Sure, I'll get you some too."

(tbc)