{Day 3 Late Afternoon outside the dining hall.}

Puss had spent the last couple of hours getting settled back into her
apartment. In her time at the farm she had missed the Warren life
terribly, but it had been a necessity.  Mamma wasn't getting any younger
and the birth of the twins had almost cost her, her life.  It had taken
the better part of a year for Mamma to get her health back and even then
she still wasn't completely well. But she had been well enough for Puss
to return to her "home" away from home.

Several of the old faces were still here but there were a lot of new
ones and she was anxious to get back into the swing of things.  After
reporting into the Warren Lady and a nice catch up visit with Realee and
Vesta, Puss wandered around the warren refreshing herself with the area.

[I'm glad we're back Puss!] Bootsie said with a sigh.

*You and me both!*

[There are some extremely handsome new dragons in the warren now.] the
pink dragon said preening slightly.

Puss snorted, *You know there are other things in life besides men!*

[Um-huh! And, do we say this because we, meaning you, don't have one?]

*Don't get smart with me, Missy! It wouldn't take much to turn that
pretty pink hide of yours into a fancy outfit.* snapped Puss.
Considering she had enough brothers to start a small Army Puss was used
to being around males but they were just stupid farmboys compared to the
suave and debonair men of the Warren.  She had never considered herself
overly pretty and usually stayed to herself and when she did mingle with
the men it was in an official capacity.  She didn't really mind being
alone, at least that's what Puss kept telling herself when she would see
couples pair up and she would be the odd one out.  For some reason
Bootsie had never had a mating flight and Puss wasn't sure what she
would do if her dragon did.

Loud yelling caught her attention, stepping around the corner of the
building she stopped dead.  There stood some of the most drop-dead
gorgeous males she had ever seen.  Her blue eyes about popped out as she
looked him up and down.

[Well, does my mind deceive me or are your hormone levels going up!]

*I wonder who they are!* Puss answered ignoring the saucy comment.
*That one with the bandaged arm he is the handsomest man I've ever seen
and he has got the most drop dead gorgeous blue eyes and that big one,
god almighty look at the way he is standing up to the big red dragon.
He's bigger than all my brothers put together and so brave.*

[Well there is no accounting for intelligence in some humans, if it's
the dragon I heard about.] Bootsie sniffed. [He's lucky to still have
his body parts attached.]

Puss's eyes sparkled as she started forward.

[Oh no! Don't do that!] Bootsie said sharply.

*What?* the woman answered.

[You have been on the farm too darn long. Trust me grabbing him in the
butt, is not the way to start a relationship!]

*But he's got such a cute one!*

Bootsie sighed [HELLO! Pay attention here!] the pink dragon rolled her
eyes [Lord, I have no idea why I picked the only female in the world
that not only has no fashion sense, BUT IS JUST PLAIN DUMB!]

*I AM NOT!* Puss shouted back, then froze. A dark-haired woman stepped
out from behind the big man. *My gosh she is so beautiful! She looks
like some princess from a fairy tale.* Puss said in shock as she stared
at the long raven colored hair and perfect figure.

Feeling very inadequate despite her dragon's half-hearted encouragement,
Puss went the other direction.  She needed to speak to the Gamma Squad
Leader anyway.  She had heard rumors about an Elite Squad being formed
and wanted to find out more.

[..] Day three - sometime in the afternoon in T'rell's office

T'rell was tired as he headed back to his office. The incident with Olaf
and Samson had been an amusing diversion to say the least. He needed it
though getting the BCS going was a big job and it was wearing on him.
So his mood was not the best as he entered his office.

Puss sat in T'rell's office waiting patiently.  One of the office
attendant's had told her they expected him back at any time.  Finally
hearing noises in the hall the door opened.  Puss was sitting in the
chair closest to the door and when she jumped up her arm hit the door
slamming it hard against the entering man, knocking him into the
doorframe.

"OH MY GAWD!" Puss squealed, "I'm so sorry." Grabbing the man by the arm
she lifted him neatly and pulled him in the door. Not sure why, she
began brushing him off.  "I'm so so sorry! Please forgive."

T'rell was rattled by the incident, not only had he just been hit by a
door, but then lifted upright as if he was nothing more than a rag doll
by a woman almost half his size.  Now she was brushing him off so hard
it stung. Grabbing the woman's hand he said through clenched teeth. "And
just who are you?"

Puss stopped instantly, "I am so sorry I didn't mean to..."

T'rell cut her off, "Please answer the question," he said moving out of
arms length.

"Why I'm Puss Deverly, Sir! I've been on a leave of absence for almost a
year and just gotten back. From your description I'm assuming you are
T'rell the Gamma Wing Leader. My understanding is that you are
recruiting for an Elite Squad and I came to tell you I'm your girl!"

The man looked at the small woman without emotion, his coffee cup was
empty and he was now getting a headache.

"Well Miss Deverly there are certain requirements to being part of an
Elite Squad!"

"Of course there are!" she stated nodding slightly, "It wouldn't be an
Elite Squad if there weren't! But I'm here to tell you my qualifications
up front!"

As he sat at his desk staring at this very strange looking female the
Wing Leader sighed managing to keep his eyes focused.  Blinking for a
moment he thought for sure he was now going blind.  The woman  stepped
up to the desk and stood at semi-attention,  her clothes, a pair of
overalls in deep purple with a light lavender shirt to match were so
loud they were shouting at him increasing the pain in his head.  Her
hair was parted  in the center and pulled into a braid, wound in a large
tight bun over each ear. The woman was extremely muscular and very buxom
for her short height making her look like she might fall over at any
moment.  If he had been in a better mood he might find the situation
comical. The more he looked at her the more her whole demeanor was
starting to remind him of someone.

"We're you by chance raised on a farm." he said more as a personal joke
thinking of Olaf.

"Why yes Sir, I must say that I'm very strong because of it.  I'm not
afraid of a hard day's work unlike some of the soft females I've seen."
Puss blurted out thinking of the dark-haired princess she had seen
earlier. "I'm very loyal and trustworthy and I do what it takes to get
the job done and I don't need a man to do things for me!" She said
nodding sharply. "I can sit a dragon as well as any of them and in some
cases even better and I know my way around several different types of
weapons and can handle myself real good. I've been in previous battles
and am not afraid to fight."

"Well Miss...." his voice reflecting doubt.

Hearing the hesitation in his voice Puss said firmly, "I hear doubt in
your voice Sir. Is that because I'm a female? Oh my gosh I didn't think
to find out if this is an Elite Squad of men."

Before T'rell could answer she added, "I can assure you I can hold my
own real well.  If you need me to prove myself I'll wrestle any man you
name. I would have to be honest to say I don't always win and have lost
a few, but not too many.

Shaking his head, T'rell rubbed his temples," and please quit calling me
Sir!"

Puss saw the man squinting at her and couldn't help wonder what was
wrong with his eyes. Noticing he kept staring at the empty cup before
him, she said,  "Yes sir! I noticed you keep looking at that empty cup
of yours. Did you need some more coffee? Would you like me to get you
some, it wouldn't be a problem."

***************
NRPG:  Well John? <BG> And if anyone wants to REMEMBER her feel free to
come say Hi!

Submitted by,
Puss & Bootsie
aka
Tree Deutscher
treedr@yelmtel.com

Chinese Proverb--Baseball is wrong: man with four balls cannot walk.