The ex-CIA operative sighed with pleasure, closing his eyes.  “I could stay here forever.” 

“You wouldn’t say that if we were doing this Brazilian style,” Cain said.

“What’s the difference?” Kimmi asked.

“Two things,” Cain murmured.  “We use piranha-filled rivers and lots and lots of beer.”

“You’re joking?” Kwango said.  “If that were true , you’d have been fish food in a minute flat.”

Cain shook his head.  “It’s a misconception that piranha are always in a feeding frenzy.  I thought the same way until my father showed me different.

“Tell us about it,” Kwango grinned.  “I love a good story.”

Everyone insisted, so Cain let his mind roam back across the years.  “Well, I was thirteen and drunk off my ass.  The jungle was glazed by moonlight, and my father and his friends were at the campfire when I went swimming.  Of course, I didn’t know they’d set up camp next to a piranha-filled stream.  I found that out when my dad staggered over, laughing his fool-head off.  I wanted to know what was so funny--until he told me--then I just wanted to get the hell out of the water, especially when a few of the fish began brushing past my legs.” 

He paused for dramatic effect.  Kimmi slapped the back of his head.  “Go on,” she demanded.  “What did you do?”  
     He looked around the pool.  Everyone’s eyes were on him, curious, waiting.  He shrugged.  “Well, first I cupped the family jewels.  If those had been nibbled away, I’d have had no reason to live.” 

The guys nodded in sympathy.  Dane paled, wincing at the thought of becoming a eunuch.  Brooks stared at Cain’s private parts through the distortion of the water.  “Well, you seem to have come through the incident unscathed,” she said.  “How did you do it?”

“Well, my dad warned me not to move and draw attention to myself, so I stood there as the night deepened.  Hours passed.  By morning, I was blue with cold, on the verge of hypothermia.  With the dawn, I could see into the water.  That’s when I noticed that the fish were some ways off.  I forced myself to run on legs I couldn’t feel.  Splashing ashore, cursing past chattering teeth, I returned to the campfire.  My dad laughed as he threw me a blanket.  I’d have beaten him silly if I weren’t nearly dead and he weren’t three times my size.  He gave me some whisky for medicinal purposes.  You’d be surprised how many things can be fixed with a stiff drink.”
     “You mean to tell us,” Brooks asked, “that you just got lucky?”
     He studied her bobbing breasts.  That remains to be seen.  Answering her question, he shook his head no.  “Luck had nothing to do with it.  My father had played a joke on me.  You see piranhas aren’t always bloodthirsty.  They’re actually very well behaved unless there’s blood in the water.  Not having any cuts is what saved me.  My dad knew I wasn’t in any real danger.  I could have simply walked out of the water at any time, if only I’d known.   
     Kimmi purred into his ear.  “Sounds like your father was a real son of a—“
     “Don’t say it,” he warned.  “I love my father despite his many flaws.  And I did learn a valuable lesson from all that.”
     Yin nodded.  Yang spoke.  “And the moral of the story?”
     “Oh, yeah.”  Cain rolled his shoulders to loosen the muscles.  “I learned that fear is the greatest enemy, paralyzing you with indecision.  To really live you gotta embrace death and make it irrelevant.  Then, there isn’t anything you can’t do.  Of course that don’t mean you have to take stupid chances either.”
      “Cain?”  Donner hesitated.
      “What’s on your mind?”
      “The final tomorrow…when were you going to brief us on it?”
      “Now’s as good a time as any.  Here’s how we’re going to work this; Kimmi here will be the target.  Tonight, I’m going to stash her somewhere on the property.  Come first light, the rest of you will be in a search-and-destroy mode.  While you hunt her, I’ll be hunting you.  You can work individually or in teams.  If anyone offs her, the entire class passes.  You’ve all had a taste of my paint gun on sentry duty.  I’ve arranged for each of you to get one just like it.  Does that suit everyone?”
      “Down to the ground,” Brooks said.
      “Yeah,” Dane agreed.  “And paybacks are going to be a bitch.”
      Cain grinned.  “That’s the spirit.”

      He dressed, fastened his armor and sword in place.  The armor was strong but lightweight, designed to protect without slowing him down.  Next, he hung his Spyder E99 paint gun around his neck as well as a bag that held spare cartridges of compressed air as well as color-coded clips filled with paintballs.  The regular ammo was dark blue.  The yellow balls held a dense quick-hardening compound.  They were designed to bruise.  The red clips were for emergency use, containing radio-activated explosive charges.  
     He had little reason to believe over-kill would be necessary today, but caution was an ally.  After all, life was a perverse bitch.  You might love her, but you couldn’t turn your back on her. 

A soft knock came from the door.  Munching a breakfast bar, Kimmi entered, wearing jeans, black sweater, and a camouflage vest mixing olive, jade, and hunter green.  She wore a headband with a bull’s eye painted on it.  Cain laughed.  “Getting into the role I see.”

She seized his arm.  The tone of terror in her voice was contradicted by the grin plastered on her face.  “Oh, I’m so scared!  You must protect me, my valiant hero.”

“That is my intention.  Did anyone see you come in here?”

“Of course.  They’re all up, spying on my movements.  They know that intelligence is the most important factor in planning a clean sweep.  They intend to see where you put me, wait until you leave, then finish me off, the dirty cheaters!” 

“All is fair in murder and mayhem,” Cain said.  “Actually, it’s what I would have done.”

     “Langley was quite blatant about it.  I found him in plain sight, making hot coffee in the kitchen.  He insisted on kissing me for luck.”

     “Really!  That’s not a bad idea.”  Cain pulled her against him.”

“Do we have time for this?”  Kimmi asked.  “Not that I’m complaining.”

Cain silenced her with a kiss, checking under the back edge of her vest.  His fingers located a small object clinging to her sweater.  He pulled it loose, drawing away, and held it up for Kimmi to see.   He saw recognition in her eyes.  She knew as well as he did that it was a short-range tracker with an audio pickup.

“Thanks,” Cain said I needed that.”  Well, it will be light in half an hour.  We should get started.”

“Fine by me.  Where are we going?” she asked.

Cain held the device before his face, speaking for Virgil’s benefit.  “We’ll go tramping around the woods, draw everyone after us, then circle ‘round and stash ourselves in the hanger with the Cesna.”

“Oh, wonderful.”  Kimmi clapped her hands briefly, eyeing the transmitter.  “They’ll never think to look for us there.”

     He opened the door to his room quickly and burst out, catching a shift of shadows just outside the windows.  And so, the game begins.  And so much for the head start we’re supposed to get.   The staircase to the carport got them out.  Cain strolled into the open with Kimmi.  They didn’t hurry.  Setting a course for the woods, Cain whistled a jaunty tune that meandered through several keys on the way to nowhere.  He didn’t need to look back to know they were being trailed.  That was all right.  He’d take care of their pursuers rather soon.

     A few minutes down a narrow winding trail, they cut into the woods.  Cain let his hearing guide him to a small stream.  Recent rains had fed it, adding swiftness to the currents.  He saw an old soda can on the bank.  He made sure it was empty, placed the transmitter inside, and set dropped the can into the water.  The can was whisked briskly away. 
      “Kimmi, come this way.  Step on the rocks until were back in the woods.  There’s a dense bed of ferns near here that we can hide in until the hunt shoots past us.”

     He had them tucked away just in time.  Yin and Yang slunk by clad in darkness, flitting from shadow to shadow.  A full minute later, Vigil and Kwango arrived.  The ex-CIA operative consulted a handheld device.  Kwango stared at it over his shoulder.  “They’ve taken to the stream.  That’s smart.”

     “No,” Langley said.  “The signals moving too fast, and the mic hasn’t picked up any talking for a long time now, just water sounds.  He’s pulling a fast one.”

     “So what do we do?” Kwango asked.

     "Out fox the fox,” Langley said.  “We need to go back and wait for him at the buildings.  My bet is he’ll double-back and hole up where we least expect him.  He told us Kimmi would be stashed in town.  Coming out here first ensures he can hide her in peace.”

      “Someone’s coming,” Kwango said.

      “That will be Dane, and Donner.”  Langley said.  “Let’s leave this snipe hunt to them and go back.  I think Brooks had the right idea all along.”

      They retreated, and Dane arrived with Donner a few steps behind.  The two men went to the edge of the water.  Cain continued to follow the conversations, remaining perfectly still.  The ground was cold and damp, but Cain was warmed.  Kimmi’s body pressed up behind him, her arms around his ribs. 

“So,” Donner asked, “which way did they go?”

“I don’t see any sign of anyone crossing to the far bank.  That leaves right or left.  The water would be muddy if anyone waded upstream.  That leaves down.”

“Great, let’s go find them.  I knew that sneaky bastard wasn’t going to hang around town.  That would make things too easy.”

      The two men continued on.  Cain held his position a good five minutes before carefully emerging.  He gave Kimmi a hand up, and started back to the old town by a round about route, avoiding the paths as often as possible.  The sun was up, but hidden by overcast.  If they were found now, a kill could be made, according to the rules he’d set up.  

      They skirted the landing field, staying under cover.  Cain scanned the hanger and the guest cabins.  There was no sign of life, but he knew better.  Brooks was still here, somewhere, watching from a hidden vantage point.  And Donner and Dane were close by as well.  He’d go after them once he got Kimmi to the old roadhouse. 

It came in sight, a large two-story building surrounded on three sides by a gravel parking lot.  The windows were boarded up, and a lock and chain secured the front door.  That was all right.  He had a key for the back, where the approach was unexposed.      

     He got Kimmi inside.  She sat on the bar, surveying dusty tables that supported upended chairs while Cain swept the building to make sure they had it to themselves.  Once satisfied, he warned her not to draw attention to herself.  Slipping out the back, he locked the door behind him. 

Circling through the trees again, he went on until he found a cache of supplies he’d hidden days earlier.  Opening the weatherproofing, he withdrew a bandolier strung with smoke canisters and stun grenades, just what he needed to cover his movements into the open while drawing out the opposition.  

     Cain found a point upwind from the main structures and began tossing the smoke canisters.  He moved with the white billows.  At the Old Man’s place, he rolled a stun grenade into the carport, and immediately pitched another toward the kwoon.  A few more were lobbed out toward the runway.  He knew the sound of the stun grenades would bring even those in the woods.  Chances were, this whole thing would be wrapped up in time for brunch. 

He then closed his eyes and listened carefully for movement, holding his paint gun in an extended, two-handed grip.  He crouched low, staying on the balls of his feet.  Cain knew he’d have to move after each shot to escape returning fire.  He heard energetic footsteps from two directions.  He leaped between the two sound sources, paused a heartbeat to fire into the air, and rolled to a new position. 

The two students unloaded their weapons at each other.  From the curses that followed, Cain knew they’d killed themselves.  He recognized Virgil and Kwango from their voices.  You guys should know better than to shoot wild.  That’s a good way to kill a lot of innocent bystanders.  Cain shook his head in mock-regret.  It’s counter-productive.  Get a reputation for sloppy work, and contracts dry up.  He froze, hearing the sliding doors of the kwoon opening.  A voice called from its outer deck.  "Why not put the toys away, O Scorpion, and finish this with a true warrior's weapon?"  It was Yin, or maybe Yang.  It didn't matter which.  While one held his attention, the other would be creeping up on him from behind.  Ninjas were sneaky, unbound by troublesome codes of honor.  It was why he liked them so much.  The voice came again, trying to get him to speak.  "Don't you want to test my steel?  Afraid?  I could tie one hand behind my back if you like."
     Yeah, you’d really do that.
     There was a soft whirring in the smoke.  It tipped him off to the next attack.  Familiar with the tools of the Ninja, he identified the sound.  Fine.  Reel me in.  Show me where you are.
    A length of chain with a weighted end, appeared, wrapping around his gun.  A fierce tug followed.  Cain offered no resistance, but leaped along the steel links toward a man-shaped shadow.  He released his paint gun mid-air, drawing his sword before landing. 
     His over-hand strike missed as the ninja dodged, but he pivoted to follow, rolling with sword in hand, coming back to his feet swinging.  Cain stopped his blade a hair’s breadth from the man’s neck.  The ninja held perfectly still.  “Give up?” Cain asked.
     “Yes.”
     Cain collapsed.  It was the fastest way to get clear.  The second ninja passed over him, leg extended in a flying dragon kick.  Yin and yang collided.  The attacker touched down on his feet while his brother fell in an awkward sprawl.  Cain was about to rise and take the newcomer out when a hail of balls caught the ninja, splattering him with paint.
     Four down, three to go.
     The smoke cover was thinning.  It’s protection wasn’t going to last much longer.  Cain sheathed his sword and bolted under the Old Man’s house.  He bypassed the staircase, heading for the back of the property.  Excited shouts warned him that he’d been seen.  
     Coming out from under the building, he stopped, spun around, and leaped.  His hands caught the edge of a balcony.  He pulled himself up and over the railing.  A moment later, he was inside the house, in Kimmi’s room.  Confronted by an incredible display of excess, he paused.  There was a plasma TV, a wrap-around sound system, expensive leather handbags on the dresser, and the open closet was packed with a fortune in designer dresses.  
     Cain doubted that the Old Man had sprung for all this.  Love was one thing, wallet killing indulgence another.  It was more likely Kimmi had come suddenly into a large sum of money.  He’d ask her about it later.  Right now, he had a fight to finish.  
     On the way to the living room, he caught himself.  The sound of running water came through the bathroom door.  Must be the Old Man.  I don’t think anyone else would be taking a shower at a time like this.  He pressed on to the living room where he had a clear view of the kitchen.  The Old Man was there, on crutches, frying eggs and bacon in a silk robe.  Okay, so who is in the shower?  Brooks?  Maybe the Old Man got lucky while we were out playing tag. 
     Snowball, studied him with inscrutable kitten eyes from the top hole of the cat condo until movement caught her attention.  The trapdoor over the carport stairs began to lift.  Cain ran over and kicked it back in place.  he threw the deadbolt as a living room window exploded inward, spraying shards across the carpet and furniture.  
     Cain dropped to a knee, snatching up a coffee table to use as a shield.  The surface caught splatters of paint.  He rushed forward, slamming the small table into Dane, sweeping him back outside, into the railing of the deck.  Dane dropped his paint gun, grappling with the table.  Cain crouched low.  Picking up the weapon, he shot the man in the knees.  Dane howled with pain and dropped the coffee table.  “Ahgggh!  Crap!  That hurt.”
     With a clear heart shot, Cain fired again, punctuating the man’s chest protector with several spots of neon green.  “You’re dead,” Cain said, “but I love your enthusiasm.”  Now for Donner and Brooks. 
     Years of dodging bullets had honed his sixth sense to a razor edge.  Often, he acted without quite knowing why, responding to barely perceived stimuli.  He trusted the impulse that sent him spinning to the side.  Dane continued cursing, hit in a cross fire on two sides.  Donner shot from the yard below.  Cain returned fire, splattering the man’s vest.  One to go, Brooks.  And I know where she is.  Some of the shots that hit Dane came from the living room.  She’s inside.
     “Well,” she called, “are you going to make a lady wait?”  
     He hugged the wall below an unbroken window.  He popped up to scan the interior, knowing the glass would stop any paintballs coming his way.  She was in the open, wearing only flip-flops and a towel wrapped around her head.  Guess she’s not as shy as I thought.  Pretty clever.  She knows just what it takes to break my focus.   Her weapon hung laxly at her side.  Her other hand held Snowball against her ample breasts.
     Makes me wish I were the damn cat.  
     She smiled, seeing him stare.  “What’s wrong?” she asked.  “Don’t you want to play with me?”
     “Lady,” Cain called back, “you don’t fight fair.”
     She shrugged.  “Who does?  You’d better surrender.  I’ve got a hostage here.”  
     “So I see.  How about if we both shed our weapons and finish this hand to hand?”
     “Hmmmm.  I might like that.”
     “Get a room!” Old Man yelled, “and don’t hurt the cat.  Kimmi will kill us all!”
     Brooks set her gun down along with the kitten.  The animal sat there, looking up at her a moment before deciding to lick its private parts.  “I’m going to get dressed,” Brooks said.  “The game’s over anyway.”
     Cain entered the living room cautiously, suspecting a trick.  “Oh?  Are you giving up?”
     “Hell, no.  I’ve won.”
     “You have?”
     “Sure.  Go check on the girl if you don’t believe me.”
     “You found her?  Tell me where.” 
     “I didn’t have to find her.  A few days ago, I waved a roll of bills under her nose, contracting a hit.  By now, she will have killed herself.”
     Cain laughed, suddenly understanding how Kimmi could afford all the plunder littering her room.  Brooks left the room.  Cain went over to the breakfast bar.  He sat, taking a plate from the Old Man.  “Well, I can’t complain,” Cain said.  “She found the one weakness in my plan and exploited it beautifully.”
     “She has learned well,” the Old Man said.  “The best way to win a battle is not to fight it.  What amazes me is that you’re still here when there’s a naked woman waiting for you down the hall.  Once, you’d not have hesitated to take what was offered.”  
     “I’m seeing someone now--seriously.”         
     “That makes a difference to you?  You’re changing.”
     “You’re right, damn it!  There comes a time when even scorpions grow up, and love becomes as important as sex.”
     “That’s alright.  I’ll go comfort her.”
     “Your kindness is legendary.”

The Old Man grinned, hobbling by on his crutches.  “I know.  We all have our faults.”