The Tiger Lady
by Leslie Josette Gill
and Edited by Sapphire

Chapter 9

Smith wanted to put us through some training and orientation to get us used to his ways of doing things. One of his strong points was the big computer network under this modest base. While he knew lots about JOE, he didn't realize I had as much computer expertise as I did. I looked at his computer terminal and asked him if I could look. I did a network properties and was blown away by what I saw. He took the controls and asked me to not say anything about what I saw.

"You have access to the main frame at the white house and the pentagon. You have your own mainframe which is serving as a carbon copy backup to the main networks in both places. Then you have the same thing at Langley. Your running high bandwidth connections to all and satellite up and down links running at even faster speeds. But what I can't get over is the Russian connections and the Chinese connections. You would know everything."

"And now you cannot ever talk about what you just saw. I would have to kill you if you ever even thought to talk."

"You know you could never do that."

"I am afraid that you are maybe the only person I could not get killed."

"You can trust me. I don't have any agenda's and I am a computer nerd just like you. I might want to play on your network. Why don't you assign me a password on the system and let me get used to it. And By the way, I could always use yours. But I really don't like manipulating people like that. I like to work above board and honest."

"I have never trusted anyone before. I always tried to keep this operation to one or two people. I am getting old. Trying to keep this going by myself is almost too much. I need help. So, I am hoping that after we get to know each other a little better, That you could help me."

I don't know, I had hit a nerve with this guy. Maybe the direct connect I used earlier had melted him some. Normally, this guy was ICE. I think this could be a good relationship....

Things were rocking.

We were going to get some special training. And the staff would get to know us. Mary and Waldo both had decided that working for Smith was much better than getting killed. So, they both signed on. Waldo would continue doing his gathering bit. And Mary would help me learn to do the female thing. I would need help with some of the missions Smith had lined up for us.

Smith was very impressed with the groups abilities to keep in contact even though were thousands of miles apart. But in real life, could we keep calm and function as one? That was one of the unanswered questions.

Smith came up with a wonderful idea. And he had the resources to make it work.

Me and some of the others were given access to FBI training. We, in effect, were going to be FEDS. This would allow us the flexibility to move within the government and have the necessary creditentals for what we were doing. So about 6 of us were going to the academy. Smith had made the arrangements. Of course, the higher powers knew we were special and were being assigned to special operations. They didn't know just how special, but, they would soon find out. While this was a possible security leak, it was the best solution to several immediate difficulties. We were not known in law enforcement. We had no legal powers. The only resources were Smiths computer network. And we had no formal training in anything except our mental powers.

I jumped at this chance. Smith was obviously worried that I could kill someone if I did not keep the abilities in check. The academy people were warned about some of our abilities. They would have to be very careful with me. Bill also got to go. He also jumped at the chance. Bill would make a very good FBI agent. Mell, who was just a military man, was also offered the chance. While he was not one of us, he was a prime candidate for this. We needed NP's to help us keep prospective. When you can pick up things and not have to get up to do it, you lose real life prospective and get caught in the trap of your abilities. So, we needed an anchor. Mell would be that anchor.

Me, Bill, Mell, Angela (the angel), Howard (Mr. TK), and Storm (Indian physic) showed up at the academy. The director of the academy called us into his office and asked for a full briefing. Smith had made them very aware of the special nature of each of his new candidates.

I started. I was in Joe mode.

"Mr. Director, sir."

"You can call me Fred."

"OK, Fred, I am a shape shifter, telepath, and telekinetic. On our scale of abilities, I am a 20+. I have not found the limits of my abilities yet. I can read minds and control people without their knowing. I can change shape and sex. My abilities have been tested at 20 miles with no degradation. I exist in several forms and one form in particular causes some concern. I have a 600 LB Siberian tiger who protects me. He is a physic being tied to my mind. If I sense a threat, Kat appears and dispatches it. Its automatic up to now. Kat has already taken out a 100 man team completely."

"Thank you Joe. I am having a lot of trouble with the concept of your abilities here and how you will have to control them. We are going to have to modify our techniques especially in your case. Some of our self defense instructors will have to be very careful with you."

"Bill?"

"I came to the Village just like everyone else. I am a physic. I am a 10+ on the ability scale. I have more mental abilities than TK abilities. I am a very powerful empath and mind reader. I also sense paranormal events. So I specialize in paranormal. Otherwise, I am physically just like everyone else."

"Thank you Bill, I am beginning to see the connections. So lets continue."

"Mell?"

"Sir, excuse me, Fred, I really don't belong with this group. I am not a paranormal. I am Joe-non-comp. I have spent my military career in a silo or in special ops. I can do the job which I have been assigned here, but, by no means do I have the abilities like these folk. So, I am going to have to work very hard to just keep up. I hope I am up to the task."

"Mell, don't worry, you have what it takes to make it through the courses here. But you will be on a different tract than the others here in this room. You are going to be their support person. The agency decided to have someone to help our special friends here remain in and tied to the normal world. You will have a very important job in this operation. So don't feel like an outsider."

"Angel?"

"Yes sir, please forgive me, I am very shy. I prefer to remain in the background. I, I, don't like attention."

"Don't worry about that. We are all friends here. Please tell me about your abilities."

"I am a 15 years old and a 10+ on your scale. As a young child, I could move things and make things appear and disappear. I can manipulate things. I have the ability to make things change into something else. I can make myself invisible. Hence, I am know as "The Angel". So I was made fun of in school until things were too weird for the local school, and then I was sent to the Village as their youngest member."

"We all know that your age is the biggest problem here, but because of the nature of this group, we are waving all prerequisites and making you welcome just like everyone else here."

"Howard?"

"Well, They call me Mr. TK. I am a 10+. Just like the name implies, I am a telekinetic. I was working in a circus side show when a Mr. Waldo appeared and asked me if I wanted to join a group of Paranormals. Of course, I was always an outsider and never was able to be socially active. So I became a side show performer. I have had this ability ever sense puberty. So, I was spared the problems as a young child. But my abilities caused many problems. I wanted to teach school. But after several accidents, I felt that I needed to keep away from normal people. The circus was the obvious choice. Then being asked to join this group. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I could be here. I hope I'm up to the task here."

"Again, I don't think this will be a problem."

"Storm?"

"I am Storm. I am a 10+. My mother and father were Traditionalists and taught me all the "Medicine" ways. I do not claim to have special abilities, but, I do call the spirits and am able to perform magic in the our peoples way. I am happy to be here and serve my group. I understand why I am in the group and I believe in the cause. Tell me how I am needed."

"Storm, we all greet you and hope you will learn the ways we will teach here. In fact, all of you are welcome. This is a grand experiment. We have never had a group such as all of you here in this academy. When we are done, you will know the law and our methods. Although, I think you will have ways of your own which we will never understand. But we will teach you team operations. You will learn the way FBI people work and then you can help us better. So, lets get you settled in and started."

Fred, the director, hit a button on his desk and a secretary came in.

"Betty, take these nice folk down to the special dorms and get them settled in."

We were going to the VIP Dormitory. We were not to be in with the other students. Quite frankly, I don't think the Tiger Lady would be understood very well. I had not changed into her for this entire trip. This was a Joe thing. So, She was just watching from inside my mind. The Tiger was there too. But, They all knew my face was needed.

The FBI was not normally a military agency. But we would need someone as a keeper. Just like Mell would be our keeper in our real world assignments, We needed a FBI academy person. So we would have a keeper. One of the senior agents would be assigned as our instructor and counselor. We would have a day to settle in and then, we would start.

The FBI did not know that the link was active with the entire group. So everything we were being taught, was being taught to the entire group. Poor Smith didn't know just how to act when he saw the entire group assemble and sit down in a trance like state. Every move and every thought was being sent to them. The entire group was being trained through us 5 members. Mary and Smith were watching.

"Mary, does the CIA have any protocols for what we are seeing?"

"Shit, General, who knows. I have been in the CIA for years and this group scares the crap out of me. I hope we can control these people. After all, we don't need rouge operations going on here. IF there was ever a group who could, you are looking at them. And quite frankly, Joe scares the dog shit out of me. How do you deal with someone who can kill you by just thinking about it? And even worse, there is no way we can shut him down or take him out. There is no fix. We are stuck with this person. So the only way to control or even maintain some control, is to keep him busy."

"Mary, I am a good judge of people. I don't think any of these people would deliberately hurt or kill any of us. Now, the Tiger Lady scares me. Joe is OK. Tiger Lady is not of this world as I understand it. But what could we do if they did go out on a rouge operation or even worse think we are the enemy? Not much I am afraid. We need to keep a very lose reign on them and let them progress with some guidance. But control? There is none. The FBI Regiment will allow us some control. But these people are a big unknown. WE just need to hang on to our seats and enjoy the ride."

"Its going to be a bumpy one........"

TigerLady Continues with the Next Chapter!