"Sifu Te Dee Q'star," a voice to the side of her said, and she froze.

Her body cramped up and she couldn't move a muscle. No matter how hard she willed her body to move, it wouldn't. It's as if her entire body had decided to rebel against her. She was able to tilt her head to the side, and saw a man in a black outfit that reminded her of ninjas she had seen in the movies, except he had a darkened visor over his eyes. A katana hung from his belt in front of him, and he had shuriken lining another strap that went over his shoulder.

"You seem to be a bit lost, Miss Stonewall."

He knew her name, and that can mean only one thing.

"You're PCU, aren't you?" Sherry asked.

The man chuckled.

"I am, though I'm not here to take you in, if that is what you are worried about."

Sherry's face crinkled up in surprise.

"You're not?"

The man nodded.

"I am an associate of your benefactor, the Asian man who freed you from the medical bay."

Sherry's face brightens up at the sound of that. If this man was here, then he must be all right and still looking out for her.

"I see that you are pleased at this."

Sherry nodded her body still frozen and unable to do anything else.

"Why can't I move?" she asked.

"But you can move," replied the hooded man.

Sherry felt control return to her muscles, and flexed her arms and her legs. She was still a bit perplexed by what had happened, but it didn't seem that important now that she was getting news about her benefactor.

"So, my benefactor is alright? He didn't get into trouble?"

The hooded man once again nodded.

"He is doing fine. Is that why you haven't been able to focus on your training, because you were worried about him?"

A sheepish grin crossed Sherry's face as her cheeks reddened.

"Yes, because I felt Jarred had left him behind."

The hooded man nodded his head as he took this in.

"He needed to be left behind, to cover your escape. If he didn't stay behind, you would have never escaped."

Sherry's lips let out a big "ohhhhhhhh", as realization dawned on her.

"He has been disappointed at your progress."

Sherry gave the man a perplexed look.

"Jarred reports to him?"

The hooded man shook his head.

"I've been checking on you from a distance. You haven't been improving that much."

Sherry gave him a look of indignation.

"How would you know?"

The hooded man walked over so he was standing across from her and stood there.

"Show me what you have learned then. Attack me."

Sherry shrugged her shoulders and got into a ready stance. She looked at her opponent, and noticed she couldn't really see his eyes. Still, she readied herself and paused. He was just standing there, perfectly still. He was waiting for her to make the first move.

She started to kick him, like Jarred had been instructing her before, but holding back, as she didn't want to take this agent of her benefactor's head off. But, her kick hit empty air, as his head was gone. She felt a contact around her legs, and in the next instant, she was lying on her back, with him standing above her.

"That kick was sloppy and left you unbalanced and easily vulnerable to my Legsweep."

Sherry shook her head in disbelief.

"How did you…"

"That was why you go with Jarred. You have potential, but you lack training and discipline."

He offered his hand to her and she used it to pull herself up.

"Could you teach me?"

The man shook his head.

"I don't have the time to take on a novice. Besides, I'm closely watched by others in the PCU."

Sherry's head dropped when she heard that.

"So, I'm stuck with Jarred."

The hooded man reached over and lifter her chin.

"Always remember its what your benefactor wants. You have a purpose and he wants you to be ready."

Sherry let a smile sneak onto her face.

"From now on, listen to what Jarred tells you, unless told otherwise by myself or your benefactor. You understand?"

Sherry nodded her head in agreement.

"And you will not discuss this conversation with anyone."

Sherry once again nodded her head in agreement.

"Good. Now, let's go speak with Jarred."

Sherry was about to say that might not be a good idea, but thought better of it. This man obviously knew what he was doing and was acting on the behalf of her benefactor. That she knew instinctively. So, instead of saying anything, she followed him back down the way she had just came. Back towards Silent Death's Private Training Camp.

Silent Death looked out onto the redwood-laden hills that surrounded his encampment. He should've seen this coming, but he allowed himself to get distracted by being able to teach Terry something. The thought of letting her go crossed his mind, but was quickly squashed. Terry cared deeply about her sister, and would be distracted worrying about her. And, Sherry knew where they were, and considering how vulnerable she was to mental probes, when the PCU caught her, and they would catch her if she was on her own, they would know where to find him and Terry. And he wasn't prepared to relocate just yet.

Terry stood beside him, also scanning the hillside. But, while he was limited to his visual sight, she was scanning the hillsides for her sister's mental signature. Her gaze came to the meadow, and she stopped.

"Got her," Terry stated plainly.

But, there was a glimmer of something else there. A presence, though she couldn't get a lock on it.

"I don't think she's alone," Terry added.

Jarred nodded and drew his katana. He wished the second one was finished, but this one would have to do.

"How many with her?"

"One…though I can barely get anything from that one."

Jarred sighed. If there was only one, then it must be a dangerous one.

"How far?"

"Approaching the treeline over there," Terry stated, while pointing across the field.

"Get in the cabin and keep a lookout. Do what you can with your mental abilities, but if things go badly, get out as fast as you can."

Terry nodded and ran back towards the cabin. Jarred looked out over the field and saw two heat signatures approaching the treeline. It didn't look like Sherry was under the gun, and in fact, it looked like she was trailing the unknown. Did she capture a PCU agent? If she did, they would need to get out fast, as more would soon follow. He switched back to his normal vision mode as they approached the treeline. Sherry came out into the field following…

Jarred brought his sword to ready as he shouted, "You must be getting old, Sensei, if I can spot you this far out."

Gaijin casually walked across the field, drawing his katana as he went.

"Wasn't trying to sneak up on you, as I'm returning something I think you lost."

Jarred cautiously approached him, sword remaining at the ready.

"Are you, now. Last I heard, you worked for an organization that captured individuals such as these girls."

Gaijin nodded his head as he stopped and brought his sword up to a ready position.

"Very true, but things are not what they seem."

Jarred brought his sword around and cut at Gaijin, which Gaijin easily blocked.

"Is that so, then why are you here?"

Gaijin swung around, feinted with his sword, and connected with a kick to Jarred, that sent him stumbling back a few steps.

"Your form is off a little, Jarred. Growing rusty with these girls."

Jarred stepped back, started to come around with his sword, but made a fast punch at Gaijin instead. Gaijin sidestepped the punch, dropped, and swept his leg around to bring Jarred crashing to the ground. Gaijin jumped back up to his feet and sheathed his sword.

"Not a bad feint, Jarred, but, you know they have never worked against me."

Gaijin reached down and extended his hand. Jarred, shaking his head, accepted the hand, and allowed Gaijin to lift him to his feet.

"One of these days, I will beat you."

Gaijin nodded his head as Jarred reached down and picked up his sword.

"The student is always striving to become the master."

Jarred smiled and sheathed his own sword.

"So, if you are not here to take us in, what brings you here?"

Gaijin shook his head as he said, "Always one to get right to business. No, how have you been Sensei?"

Jarred gave Gaijin a frown and said, "How have you been, Sensei?"

"I've been good. Thank you for asking."

Gaijin turned to Sherry.

"Why don't you go join your sister while me and Jarred have a chat."

Sherry nodded and started walking towards the cabin. Jarred turned to Gaijin with a quizzical look.

"She seems to listen to you."

Gaijin nodded as he responded, "You need to work on you interpersonal skills. But, I think she'll listen to you from now on. We had a little chat."

Jarred gave him an eye.

"Did you, now."

"I'm surprised to see you attacking me with just one sword. You made it a point to specialize in two sword combat."

"My other sword is not yet finished," replied Jarred.

Gaijin nodded his head again.

"At least you've kept the sword making skills you acquired from Master Hakashi."

"You still haven't answered my original question, Sensei."

Gaijin let out a sigh.

"I haven't seen you in awhile and was just trying to make conversation. The instant this turns to business, our conversation will be just business."

Jarred smiled.

"As you said, I like to get right down to business, especially if there is a PCU capture squad enroute."

"I give you my word as your Sensei that there is no capture squad enroute, as the PCU doesn't even know where you are. I tracked you down for my own purposes."

"And those are," Jarred inquired.

Gaijin sighed, as he continued.

"Very well, as business is all that is on your mind. I had arranged for those two sisters to be freed for a purpose…"

Jarred turned to his Sensei.

"You freed them?"

Gaijin nodded his head.

"Why?"

Gaijin sighed once again as he continued.

"You are as exasperating as you were as a child. I had them freed because I feel they could be the perfect individuals to start a resistance against the PCU."

"The PCU is suppose to protect us from Paranormals," Jarred countered.

"That's the propaganda we give to the Military Ops units."

Jarred turned again to Gaijin in shock.

"Oh, don't look so shocked. The whole point of the PCU is so that we control the world's population of Paranormals. Can you imagine how powerful an organization can be if they controlled that power."

Realization dawned in Jarred's head at those words.

"So, the PCU is out to take over the world, like some bad comic book world conquering organization."

Gaijin shook his head.

"No, not at all. Why would we want to take over the world when we already have taken over the world."

Jarred once again looked at Gaijin in complete shock.

"I wish you would stop making that face. I'm sure you must've wondered how we got to be so powerful and how far our authority extended."

Jarred nodded his head as he thought about it. Remembering how well they were tapped into the police and government. How they seemed to have everything at their fingertips if they needed. But, he always thought that the government controlled the PCU. If what Gaijin had told him is true, the PCU controlled the government.

"So, why do you want a resistance?"

Gaijin turned to Jarred and put his hand on his shoulder.

"Because there are those of us who feel that the people should be controlling their own destiny."

Jarred gestured towards the cabin.

"Why the girls?"

"Because, they seem to have the skills that can get the ball rolling. Sherry has the charisma to bring people into the fold and Terry has the intelligence to make the organization work."

He then pointed a finger at Jarred.

"And you have the skills to train them into a cohesive fighting force."

Jarred took this information in for a moment. He glanced over at the river, which flowed gently by his land.

"I want the man who killed Jennifer," Jarred calmly spoke,

Gaijin shook his head.

"He holds a position of some power. He will be very difficult to get at. You'll need an army to get to him."

Jarred looked over at Gaijin.

"And that's what you want me to do…to build an Army."

"And that is where I can help you."

"How?"

Gaijin walked over to the overhang that overlooked the river. He then turned back towards Jarred.

"There are some Paranormals whose existence I've either been able to hide from the PCU or that we have been having a hard time capturing."

"So, you want me to find them and get them to join us."

Gaijin nodded his head.

"Where at?"

"Los Angeles area," replied Gaijin.

Jarred stroked his chin.

"Michael's territory. Very dangerous."

"Michael has been more concerned with his own agenda, hence why his agents are having a hard time finding these prospects. That, plus they seem to be very resourceful."

Gaijin opened up his pack that he had on his back. It was a light pack, and in it were a couple of folders. Gaijin removed these folders and handed them over to Jarred.

"These are copies of the files I have on known rogues in the Los Angeles region."

Jarred took the folders and nodded. Gaijin put his knapsack back over his shoulder and started to turn away. He stopped and looked back at Jarred one more time.

"You will notice that there are reports of an old friend of yours being in the area down there. You may try to find him as well."

With that, Gaijin walked off into the woods surrounding Jarred's place, and disappeared. Jarred opened the folder and glanced through the contents. He reached a sheet of paper and stopped. He pulled out the paper and studied it carefully, and smiled. He put the paper back into the folder and closed it.

Looks like the girls are about to get a field trip, he thought as he started to walk back towards the cabin.