Chapter 4

After stepping out of Jericho’s apartment, I made certain that his ambushes were over. Then take off to find Sax, who I had the feeling was blowing off some steam.
Thankfully, Sax is not difficult to track down when he’s mad so I started for the storage center, that served as the firing range the place wasn’t far from Jer’s place, so I just ran the roofs. A few minutes later my feet banged against the tin roof of the large storage unit. From inside I could hear the hollow blast of gunfire.
Yep, he’s here. I laugh, only Sax would keep up the target practice with me tap dancing on the roof. It took a bit of work getting in, but the old ventilation system served to be an apt pathway, and in no time I was standing behind Sax as he fired off three more shots.
“What’cha want, Lobo?” he asks, launching off the fourth shot.
I glance at his target, then to him, “Remember when I asked you if you had any plans for next month?”
“Yeah, what about it?” Sax says setting down his pistol, giving me a odd look.
“You now have plans.”
“Figures,” he mutters and rolls his eyes, gazing at the target for a while.
“Who got you riled up?”
“Who usually gets you ticked?” he threw back.
“What did Aguillo say?” I asked glancing again at the target.
“Nothing worth listening to,” Sax muttered.
“The regular BS session?”
“Yep, now what about this mission?” he inquired with a wily look.
“I’m guessing it’s big, otherwise Aguillo wouldn’t have volunteered me for it,” I replied.
“Okay, what’cha need me for?” is his next question, this time with the grin comes through.
“How many weapons can you accumulate in a month?” I toss in, knowing that question will tip him off
“Back up and weapon specialist, huh?”
“Partner, and weapon specialist actually,” I correct.
“I’m goin’ in with you, Lobo?” Sax looked like he had just been at Jer’s doorstep
“Every damned step of the way,” I grin back at him.
“Just me an’ you, or you got someone else in this?”
“You know Jericho?” I start.
“The mouse with the computer that I did target practice with a while back?” he asks, a bit worried.
I nod, “The same.”
“Oh, no,” he says as he buries his face into his hand.
“You know, Jer had the opposite reaction when I told him the news,” I reply grinning.
“That’s ‘cause he’s planning revenge, you stupid mutt,” he grumbles back
Normally I would’ve been tempted to claw him or anyone else to ribbons at that insult, but I settle for just beating his shoulder until I knew it would be one huge knotted bruise.
“Don’t call me that, Sax,” I growl after I’m done.
“Alright, ow, was that really necessary?” he asks, rubbing his shoulder.
“Yes, I believe it was,” I answer giving one final punch.
“Okay, let’s get some air,” Sax says, heading to the door, “I ain’t gonna be shooting straight with this shoulder now.”
I grin as he gives me a vengeful glare.  Once we were out the door he turns to me with a grave look on his face. “Lobo, spill, somethin’s worryin’ you.”
“I know what’s wrong with Pasha now,” I tell him, looking across the canals. “She’s worried that we might stop trainin’ the recruits and just send out sheer numbers.”
“Lobo, she’s always been worried ‘bout that,” Sax replies grimly. “an’ I think that she might be right if we ain’t careful.”
“It won’t happen as long I’m still breathing,” I mutter leaning on the banister over looking the filthy rivers.
“Aguillo’ll make you miserable then,” Sax shakes his head at my remark. “He’s gettin’ a long, honey coated tongue.”
“An’ how do you figure that?” I turn back to him, with my sulfur colored eyes flashing.
“I been watchin’ him,” Sax replies casually with a shrug. “he’s been talkin’ with the Guides.”
That gets my attention, the Guides are the tactical technicians and founders of the EM’s, for Aguillo to get their ear required a tongue like silk.
“What’ve they talked about?” I question eager for any information that could help on this mission.
“Well, they certainly haven’t been talkin’ ‘bout the weather,” Sax retorts. “Aguillo usually gets their ear on what he knows of the weak areas and events of the higher ups, then they usually give him ideas and advice from when they last met.  But lately, Aguillo’s been pushin’ for more people on the front.”
“What have the guide’s said?” I growl hoping that the answer was not the one that would prove Pasha right.
“They keep side steppin’ that issue like it’s a bucket of napalm,” Sax gives a grim smirk towards me. “But they also been talkin’ bout you, Lobo.”
I go dead silent for a moment before responding, “What exactly?”
Sax takes a deep breath, “Well, Aguillo says that you been one of the best additions that we’ve had in a long time, but the Guides keeps reminding him that you’re not gonna last forever.”
“And?” I press, know that this was not good already
“The Guides are considering to, well produce more werewolves.”
“Using my genes, I’m guessing,” I growl back
“But I think Aguillo’s on your side of the fence on this one, Lobo,” Sax contradicts me. “he keeps sayin’ ‘no’ to the idea.”
“That’s a first” I retort, Aguillo is usually the one who can’t live without a challenge.
“Don’t get too excited, Lobo, Aguillo’s reasons are running thin. Besides, The Guides are his boss.”
“What are you saying?” I snarl back, “That if he doesn’t agree with them that they’ll make him?”
“That’s what it sounds like to me,” Sax nods, then looks back to canals.
Perfect, either way I’m screwed in this,
“I’ll worry ‘bout this later,” I mutter loudly, knowing that Sax heard.
“If ya need someone to put in a good word for ya, I can try,” He offers, even as he realizes the foolishness.
I simply snort, “And put you in my problems?” I retort, “I think not.”
“Just sayin’,” he catches the hint, then shrugs it off.
“I’ll fill you in later,” then take off needing to think everything over before I land myself in more trouble.