Keith, I'm here. I'm sure this is Mexico. Please, if you can hear me, respond.

Melanie tried again, sighing in frustration as she felt her mental energy drifting away. Opening her eyes, she blinked in the afternoon sunlight and looked out on the scenery. The facility was surrounded by rolling hills, nothing too obvious from her exercise yard, although she thought she could see mountains off in the distance, which she had figured out by now was to the east.

Wherever she was, she was in the western half of Mexico, if her memory of high school geography was correct. Maybe somewhere in the Sierra Madres? She wasn't sure, but she remembered that the central part of Mexico was like one large chunk of mountain range, with the coastal areas on each side.

Rubbing her stomach, she looked over at the pull-up bar. It had been a long time since she had attempted any, and was suddenly stricken with the desire to push her body. Walking over, she rubbed her palms together, wondering just how much weight she had gained since her pregnancy began. Hopefully, it wasn't too much. She didn't want to feel totally weak by not even being able to do one, even if she did have a baby inside her.

Using the steps on the sides, she grabbed the bar, hanging for a moment, testing her grip. Confident she could at least try, she pulled, finding the level of exertion much higher than she'd expected. Either she had lost some strength, unsurprising considering the now close to two weeks of confinement, or she had gained more weight than she thought. Still, she struggled her way through five before failing, and she let go of the bar, dropping to the ground.

"Well little one, I think Mommy needs to keep herself in better shape," she whispered to himself. "Perhaps I need to use my time a bit more constructively. Less reading, a few more pushups."

One of the other attendants, who barely spoke to her other than to give her commands, stood up from his seat in the shade near the door and waved. She wasn't sure if it was because he didn't like her, or because his English wasn’t so good. "Time's up!" he hollered. "Come here!"

Melanie nodded and walked back, stretching the time outside by strolling. The sunlight was nice on her shoulders, and she didn't look forward to the period stuck inside. Reaching the door, she deftly avoided the guiding hand from the guard and shook her head. "I'm here. You don't need to touch me, and it wouldn't be a good idea."

"I'll grab your arm if I want," the attendant said. "Or do you think that you could stop me?"

"I was a cop, remember?" Melanie said levelly, staring him in the eyes. "Do you really think a baby is going to stop me from breaking your wrist if I really wanted to? And seriously, what could you do if I did? You hurt me, and you have to answer to your boss, maybe even the Archbishop."

The man brought his hand up, pausing before lowering it back to his side. "Come on. Lunch time."

Melanie nodded and walked inside. "So what's on the menu today? I am assuming that filet mignon is out of the question.”

"I believe that it is chorizo, beef, and potatoes," the man replied. “I’ll bring it to you in your room in about fifteen minutes. Afterward you will have a chance to shower."

"Appreciated," Melanie replied. She headed towards her room, rubbing her hands on her shirt. After lunch, she thought. She'd start getting herself ready after lunch, before her shower. Fifty or sixty pushups and some leg lifts wouldn't be that hard, would it?

* * *

Edward stretched out as he looked across the aisle at Akiko Thornblood. The Alpha Female, dressed in full tactical clothing, sat at the head of her warriors in the back of the C-130 transport. Stashed in the back of the airplane, crated up in secure lockers, were the weapons each warrior was going to use. While some of her warriors were multi-generational Lycans, two of them were first generation who had been recruited by the Clan due to their skills as warriors. Most of them would attack conventionally, using handheld weapons. Akiko Thornblood herself was planning on going in her full wolf form, so her clothing was for appearances sake only. "You don't look very comfortable," Lady Thornblood said. "Are you sure you will be effective?"

"Don't worry, Lady Thornblood," Edward replied. He rolled his shoulders and leaned back against the cargo straps that made up most of his seat, finding the most comfortable position he could. "This is nothing compared to my flight from Canada. That was four hours in the back of a Kamov helicopter. This C-130 is luxurious. Thank you for arranging for it."

"You’re welcome. Tell me, will your brethren meet us in Guadalajara?"

"They are flying in as we speak. They will meet us at the airfield. Ten warriors of the Aklark People to defend our Sister. Our strength combined with your tactical skills, weaponry, and Lycan speed should provide an overwhelming force. I read the account of the attack at Lockwood Manor. I wish I had been there, I could have neutralized the Bradley, at least bent the barrel of the main gun."

"Is that so? Then I wish so as well, my Mate would still be with us today."

Edward paled at the unintended comment and lowered his eyes. "My apologies, Lady Thornblood. I meant no insult. By what Keith told me, your Mate fought with honor and ferocity that I can only hope to emulate today. My brethren as well. We only wish to get our new Sister back."

Lady Thornblood nodded. "I see. Well, I hope that they are as effective as I am sure they are intimidating. You truly are a giant."

Edward shook his head, smiling. "I'm the runt of the family, actually. My mother's bloodline included regular humans a generation before. My grandmother was very short, only five feet three inches. But, my grandfather loved her very much, even if they did look a bit unique in the old photos."

"When did they marry?" Thornblood asked, intrigued. She was the product of a very long line of purebred Lycans, stretching back all the way to Japan's feudal period. She had grown up her entire life knowing she was going to be an Alpha Lycan and had always wondered what it was like for those of supposedly less pure blood. She personally thought that while the blood might not be as pure, it was more energetic than many of the purebloods she had met, who seemed stolid and stagnant. Just look at the Waldwycks, whose mother was also a second generation Lycan. They were some of the most energetic Alphas she had ever seen in her lifetime of Gatherings.

"Just after my grandfather got back from World War I," Edward replied to her question. "The People are long-lived, much like your own."

Thornblood nodded, pondering. "Wait, according to what I recall of Peter Alces' story, the peace between your People and the Kenai started just after World War I. Something about two friends meeting in Europe. Was this your grandfather?"

"It was. Although we were not the head of a united Bear People then, just another warrior family of a loose confederation. It wasn't until later that we truly became the Aklark People as a unified group. It was part of the peace process that my grandfather had to work very hard to bring together."

"I see. I must hear more sometime, it is very interesting." Suddenly, a little smile came out on her regal face. "So you are the runt of the litter? Just how big do your People get?"

Edward's grin widened and he nodded. "You'll see."

The plane banked, and the pilot, a Thornblood Lycan who was also a member of the Air National Guard, got on the intercom. "Lady Thornblood, we're making final approach to the landing strip. We'll be on the ground in five minutes."

The descent was gentle, and the pilot set down the cargo aircraft with no jostling at all. "You've got a good pilot," Edward remarked over the noise of them slowing down. "My compliments."

"Thank you. But I’m more interested in meeting your People," Akiko said, unbuckling her shoulder straps. "And I am very interested in seeing how Keith and Kimberly react to seeing their assault force."

"Considering what they said they are flying down, things should be very interesting," Edward said. "I'm just grateful you permitted me to fly down in your aircraft rather than in theirs. Much too small for me."

The rear cargo door opened, and Edward led Akiko down the rear ramp into the orange light of the local sunset. The sky was streaked in red, orange and purple to the east, only an hour before total darkness. "Ah, there they are."

In the seventy years she had been on Earth, Akiko Thornblood had seen a lot. Born in Osaka, she had watched as her nation rebuilt itself, and her shattered Clan tried to pull together the tattered remnants of their bloodline after the devastation of World War II. She had been among the first few women to go through her university, earning a degree in engineering at a time most women were considered little more than "office ladies" whose job was to serve tea to the men. Later, after falling in love, she had joined Clan Thornblood first as a Second Mate, then as First Mate and Alpha Female after Nioclas' First Mate had died in a tragic accident. She had stood by Nioclas through it all, and had held him in her arms as he had sputtered his last breath, a three-inch hole in his chest from the Bradley main gun, betrayed by his own daughter. She thought she had seen it all.

Nothing had prepared her for what she saw when she came off the plane, however. She for the first time in her adult life felt small, as a group of ten men, each of them over seven feet tall and easily four hundred or more pounds came closer and closer. Edward came up to the tallest and embraced him. "It's good to see you, Eznho. How was your flight?"

"Long, as you'd expect, but we've done worse. How are you doing Honiahaka? Living up to your name?" the gigantic man said with a smile. At first glance, he looked similar to Edward, but his skin was closer to the copper color of a full blooded First Nations member, and his hair was longer, being styled rather fantastically in spikes that twisted out from his scalp in short rows. He was dressed in a simple pair of track pants and a t-shirt that bulged over his massive chest and arms, which were tattooed heavily, and what looked like custom made shoes to support his massive frame.

"Come on, Eznho," Edward replied. "I've asked you not to call me that for years now."

"Hey, it was karmic, don't blame me," the giant said, before clapping Edward on the shoulder with a blow that would have broken most other men's shoulder blades before turning his attention to Akiko. "You must be Lady Thornblood, yes? I am Eznho Firewalker, leader of this squad. I look forward to battling next to you."

"I am Akiko Thornblood," she replied, looking back over her shoulder as her men unloaded the cargo plane. "Me and my Clan look forward to seeing the kinbushi blood flow as well. But I’m a bit confused. I was told your People are pacifists now. And nice clothes, are you planning on going to the Golden Corral afterward?"

"Even pacifists have their protectors," Eznho replied, chuckling at the insult. "For those of the People who are not of the temperament for it, there is a place for us. This is half of the Rapid Response Force. Our clothes are immaterial, we will fight in our true form. Honiahaka was a childhood friend of mine."

"What does that mean? I thought your name was Edward," Akiko commented, looking at Edward. "Was I wrong?"

"No, you aren't. Among the Aklark, we are granted two names at birth, one for the rest of the world, one used among the People. As we get older, we can choose which we prefer, if not both. I tend to use Edward." He shifted from side to side, obviously uncomfortable with the subject matter being discussed.

"Why? What does Honiahaka mean?"

Edward blushed and looked down at the ground. He knew that if he didn't tell her, Eznho would. "It means Little Wolf," Edward said. "My father wanted to give a gift to Clan Kenai, so he gave me that name."

Before Akiko could reply, the sound of a helicopter came to all of their ears, and they turned to see a black helicopter come howling in from the north. Eznho blinked, surprised. "They really have one? The Kenai had told us to expect it, but seeing it up close now....."

"Yes, they do. The Lockwood Twins have always been known for their unique sense of humor and point of view," Thornblood replied to the giant as the helicopter circled and then settled down. She turned her attention to Edward, who was almost hopping from side to side in nervous energy. "You’re going to have a very interesting betrothal, Edward."

The rotors slowed, and Keith and Kimberly climbed out, taking off their black helmets. They came over to the assembled group, Keith doing a momentary double take at the group of Bears before offering his hand. "Thank you all. Lady Thornblood, Edward, everyone. I am impressed."

"Just wait until the fight starts," Thornblood replied. "And I told you before, call me Akiko. This is not politics, this is family and friendship."

"I will try. It takes me a while to remember all the time. Edward, you look more comfortable than last time," Keith said. "At least, you didn't have to be pulled out of the back of the plane I hope."

"Not at all. Keith, when you said you had a Bell 220, I had heard the rumors, and I thought perhaps you had something like it, but that is beyond my expectations," he said, looking at the modified black attack helicopter. "Does the Wolf have teeth?"

"Damn right, and I'll be using them," Kimberly said.

"Have you gotten more on your Link since you have gotten down here?" Akiko asked, as the group headed towards the back of the cargo plane, where the Thornblood warriors had set up their crate of weapons after unloading their contents. A collection of printouts had been spread out on the top, weighted down with spare clips of ammunition to prevent them blowing away in the breeze.

"I have, starting about two hours ago. But I think Melanie is sleeping, all I'm getting is the familiar feeling of her presence. It's close, though, I can track it down now precisely. When she wakes up, we can communicate properly," Keith said. "Kim, you can feel her too, right?"

"Yes, but only a hint of it. I'd need to have her awake and focusing on getting more," Kimberly said.

"Either way, she's here," Keith said, tapping the satellite photo of the former insane asylum that she was held at. "The Familia Guadalajara has provided information, but won’t grant troops to the assault, they said. Either way, the intelligence they have given us is essential. There are roughly fifty Hunters there, most of them security forces. The little they've been seen, they are carrying heavy assault rifles for the most part, although there are probably machine gun points as well. The silberjagger are depending on stealth more than power to keep the facility, which should help us."

"So what's the plan?" Eznho said, looking over the imagery. "If you want your Mate out safely, we can't just go in there kicking ass and taking names. My guys don't exactly do precision operations."

"And you won't," Keith replied. "We're going to have a two stage attack. The first stage is me and Edward, with Kim giving us aerial recon. Edward is going to act as a distraction, while I infiltrate the building and get inside. Once I've found Melanie, I send a signal, and then you guys can unleash hell. We make our way out in the chaos, and then we hightail it for the airfield. Depending on the response of the local law enforcement or if they have any surprises for us, we can do a hot liftoff."

"What do you need me to do?" Edward said, looking at Keith. "Whatrver you need, I'll be there."

Keith smiled and patted Edward on his shoulder. "I know. Although this might be a bit of an embarrassment, I apologize. Sometimes, though, deception is as important as strength."

Edward gave him a curious look. "What do you mean?"