Hardbingers

6

After they'd finished arguing the suit issue, after Davis and Miller had changed into their uniforms, and after Jack had his heat back in his holsters, they were ready to go.

Davis held out a pair of sunglasses. "At least wear the shades."

Jack had no problem with that. He took them and checked them out, turning them over in his hands. Sleek black frames, slight wraparound.

"Okay. Sure."

"Put them on."

"I'll wait till I get outside."

Davis grinned. "No, try them. They'll surprise you."

Jack slipped them on and—

"Whoa!"

The room had barely darkened. He took them off and checked the lenses, but from the outside they looked impenetrably black. He'd seen photochromic lenses, even owned a pair once, but this was different.

"How do they do that?"

Davis shrugged. "Don't know. They're something the Twins came up with. Pretty cool, huh?"

Jack put them back on and looked around. Almost like not wearing shades at all.

"Hot."

"The 0 is calling other Homes for reinforcements, but we can't wait."

Jack spotted Zeklos standing off to the side, watching them. The longing look on his face tugged at Jack.

He turned to Davis and jerked a thumb at the little guy.

"What about Zeklos? Why not bring him along?"

Miller overheard that.

"No way. He's out for retraining. Besides, he's a menace."

"But he's got two good eyes," Jack said, and left it at that, hoping Davis would pick up the ball.

He did: "Yeah, Miller. Right now we can use all the eyeballs we can get."

"I told you—"

"Would you be saying that if the Twins were here?" Davis said, showing some heat. "You going to let your personal feelings pave the way for another nine-eleven? You want to win this one or not?"

Miller stood silent a moment, staring at Davis, then Jack, then Zeklos, then back to Davis.

"All right. He's another set of eyes, but that's all. He doesn't suit up and if we have to make a move, he stays put."

Davis turned to Zeklos. "That okay with you?"

Zeklos nodded, then glanced at Jack. Something like love glowed in his eyes.