"I don't think it is something that you can help me with. But thank you for the offer?" He said with a grin.
"I could listen, if you need somebody to talk too. I do have a set of good ears, and I think you would agree since you are always nibbling on them." She said with a laugh.
Gerald's grin blossomed into a smile. "Well, I did a favor for someone. In return, he did a favor for me, but now it looks likes the favor he did for me caused more harm than it was worth."
"Oh, I see. It is true that they say no good deed goes unpunished. Is it too much to ask what sort of favor he did for you?"
Gerald thought it over for a moment. "I know that we both have shared a lot about our selves in the past year, but there are some things I haven't told you about. I have a less than normal skill set. I did a favor for someone high up in the military and gave a bit of training to his people. It was combat training. Does that alarm you?"
"Pfft." She sprayed out a mouthful of chocolate milk across the table while laughing.
"What's so funny?" Gerald asked with a frown. "It's true."
"Ha, ha, ha, I am not doubting you. It's just… Do you remember the second time we met? I was still not to sure what was required of me as your editor. We stayed at a café all night while you walked me through what you were looking for. You walked me back to my hotel since it was already very late and those two thugs jumped out with guns and tried to mug us. In a flash you disarmed and broke their arms with ease. I know I have told you my brother is a police officer. He is actually a member of S.W.A.T. and even he wouldn't have been that quick and capable. And he is one of the best of the best in his department. I have always known that you are capable when it comes to those sorts of things. I never brought it up because you didn't seem to want to talk about it. Since I have known about your capabilities for years, why would it alarm me?"
"And it doesn't frighten you that I am dangerous?"
Amy laughed while wiping the milk off the table. "Dangerous? I don't think so. You aren't an angry person that flies off the handle for no reason. I know that you wouldn't ever hurt anybody unless they intended to do bodily harm to you are maybe me."
Gerald nodded. "That is good to know."
"So how did this favor cause you trouble?"
"Well, due to a mistake. The unit I trained, tried to pay me and put me on their staff list. But there is no record of me ever doing any work. Now the higher ups are asking questions and in order to not be bothered, they want me to go work for them. But the only reason I did the one-time training was so that I wouldn't be bothered."
"Hmm, it sounds like your friend really fudged up the favor they owed you." Amy said.
Gerald nodded. "They cocked it up big time."
"Language." Amy said.
"Sorry." Gerald said while he took a bite of his waffles. "Mmm, these are really good."
"They came from the best breakfast place in the city. I don't mess around when it comes to breakfast. It is the best meal of the day."
The ate until the food was gone. Then they both began to clean up. Gerald enjoyed it. Amy brought over the dishes while he washed them and then set them aside to dry.
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
Gerald, who had his hands in the sink was a bit busy.
"I will get it." Amy said, offering to help out. She left the kitchen before he could say anything.
Amy opened the door to see a slim and fit woman in military fatigues at the door.
"Hello." She said while curiously looking over the woman in the hall.
"Oh, um hello. Is Mr. Acers here?"
"He is. What do you want?" Amy asked.
"I need to discuss something with him. I didn't realize he was entertaining a guest. Who might you be?"
"I am Amy. I am his ed-."
"She is my… girlfriend." Gerald said while walking into the room and taking off the yellow rubber gloves from his hands.
Amy quickly spun around. "Girlfriend?" She said with shinning eyes.
"Girlfriend?" Gerald asked hesitantly. He was unsure till he saw the happiness that she couldn't conceal.
Amy spun back around towards the door. "Yes, I am Gerald girlfriend." She said while taking his arm. "Who might you be?"
"Ah, I am sorry. I didn't mean-."
"She is Charlie. A subordinate of the person who fudged up the favor." Gerald answered for her.
"Oh, I see. Please come in then. You can talk for a bit, I need to take a shower." She said before retreating to Gerald's bedroom.
Gerald chuckled when he saw Amy immediately stepping into the role of his girlfriend.
Charlie entered the living room and sat across from Gerald. "Mr. Acers. I am sorry, this whole thing has turned into a giant mess. You did us such a huge favor and in return, we have brought you trouble." She said with her head bowed.
"Then why are you here?"
"It sounds like Mr. Dasher already told you what happened. After I contacted him, I came into the city and was planning to call and arrange an appointment with you. But then I received a call from my assistant that the Secretary of Defense has arranged one of his aids to come and inspect the new recruits who received your 'training' next week. I know that you can just blow us off, deny involvement and whether through any storm that may come, but it will cause us a great deal of trouble. Can you please help us? Please?"
Gerald didn't answer and rubbed his temples while he thought for a minute.
Suddenly a holler came from his bedroom. "You should help people when the ask for your help." Amy yelled.
Gerald held up a finger to Charlie. "Give me a minute." He said before standing and heading to his bedroom.
When he opened the door, Amy was still standing at the wall with an empty cup pressed against the wall and her ear, acting as an amplifier.
She sheepishly smiled, but Gerald didn't mind her actions or think anything was wrong. He thought she was adorable.
He shut the door and approached her.
"If I help them out, I will have to go to the military base, and we can't spend our days together. And you are only here for a short amount of time. I don't want to miss out-."
"Don't be a dummy. I said I was leaving in a week or so when you were just my client that I would hook up with. But if you are my boyfriend…" She trailed off while running a finger down his chest. "Then that changes things. Besides I still have my own work to do. I have over a dozen manuscripts I need to read and then there is also the editing for your new book. I have to go through it with a fine-tooth comb. It isn't as easy as you think. I have to work my butt off. Like I really need you to understand that there is a difference between from and form. You can't just choose one randomly. And don't get me started on it's and its." She said with a laugh.
"You are going to stay longer?"
"I can do my work from anywhere. I just need to visit the main office occasionally and I have to fly places when I sign new clients. Other than that, I just need my laptop and an internet connection. So, go and do what you need to. Just come back at night."
Gerald nodded, gave her a kiss on the cheek and headed back to the living room. He didn't mind leaving his place in Amy's hand. A few years ago he might have be paranoid enough to think that she was someone spying on him and purposefully inserting herself into his life, but now he trusted his gut instincts. He trusted that and the hefty background check he did on her before he signed her as his editor several years ago.
Charlie rose when she saw him return. She eagerly waited for his reply.
"Alright, I will help you out."
"Thank you, thank you. Can you return to the military base with me? We need to get started right away."
Gerald grabbed his coat and followed her out of the apartment. He sat in the non-descript sedan as she drove out of the city.
After forty minutes, the pair arrived at an abandoned industrial compound. It wasn't entirely abandoned. The guards at the front took their job very seriously and checked Charlie's documents before using a mirror to check the bottom of her car.
After a minute, the gate was opened, and they drove into a warehouse. She parked the car next to rows of other vehicles. Not only were their civilian cars, Gerald also saw several military Humvees. In the corner he spotted a familiar black SUV. The entrance to the warehouse was closed by armed soldiers.
Entering a building that was attached to the warehouse, several people who were working in cubicles looked up upon their entry. As they passed, the people stood up and saluted Charlie.
She stopped in front of the desk and looked at the man who rose. "This is Mr. Acers. You were told to prepare his credentials."
"Yes colonel. They are ready." He then handed over a folder to her.
She turned and left, leading Gerald deeper into the building. When they entered an elevator, she passed him the folder.
Inside was a identification name tag, along with a non-disclosure agreement. Tucked in the back was the paycheck that caused all the issues.
He clicked his tongue when he saw how small the check was. Charlie then handed him a pen.
"You need to sign the agreement before we can go any further."
Gerald glanced it over. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He couldn't talk about what was happening here or reveal to others that he was providing additional training to the Calamity Unit.
He signed.
"What exactly am I supposed to do. I am sure your people have their own training methods and standards. It is not like I am some military training expert."
"I… I am not really sure either. If we knew the soldiers lacked training in an area, we would see to it that those deficits are filled. When General, I mean Mr. Dasher added you to the registry. You were listed as a consulting trainer who provides help in preparing the soldiers for unknown eventualities."
"What the hell does that mean?"
"Just do as you see fit. When I discussed it with Dasher, he was certain that you could bring up the standard of our soldiers one way or another."
Gerald shook his head and sighed. "I don't even know what your unit does." He said while following her out of the elevator that had finished descending deep underground.
"You don't?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I have a guess, but it is not like Dasher and I are good friends who spend our evening gossiping. How am I supposed to know?"
"Well, I am sure it will be easy for you to imagine. But there are many lifeforms out there that remain unknown to the populace. We keep things quiet and respond when things get too loud or out of control."
"That's what I figured." Gerald said with a nod.
Charlie took the signed agreement and passed it to a clerk as they continued walking.
She stopped at a set of double doors and then looked to Gerald.
"We picked up a hundred soldiers this year. They are almost through their training. They are already the best of the best, but they will be lucky if quarter can pass our final assessment. The Secretary's aide will arrive in a week. Their assessment will be conducted a few days after that. Till then, they are all yours." She motioned for him to head in and the turned to leave.
"What? You are not joining me?"
"Why should I? Do you need someone to hold your hand? I imagine your girlfriend wouldn't like that." She teased before turning and leaving.