Just Cause: Revised & Expanded Edition Read Online Free PDF

that job.”
    “ I’ll be right there, boss. ”
    “Give her about an hour to settle into her quarters.”
    “ Yes, sir. One hour, sir. ”
    Juice chuckled to himself, closed the phone and tucked it back into his jacket pocket. “Do you remember Jason Tibbets? He graduated from the Academy two years ago.”
    “I’m not sure, uh, sir.” Despite throwing herself into her studies at the Academy, she couldn’t have forgotten the tall blonde boy who had been two years ahead of her even if she’d wanted to. All the girls in her dorm had spoken at length about his dreamy eyes and gentlemanly manners. She’d been enamored of him at first, although she found her studies to take far more of her time than she could spare for crushing on boys.
    “Perhaps you’d know him as Mastiff,” said Juice. “And you can knock off the sir . Jason just does that to needle me. I’m not one for military formality and all that. Just make sure you follow orders when we’re out in the field and you’ll be fine calling me Juice, or James, or even Hey You! Just so long as I know it’s me.”
    “I will, sir. I mean, Juice.”
    The big man leaned his head back and laughed. “You’ll fit in just fine here, Mustang Sally. Welcome to Just Cause.”
     
     
     

Chapter Four
     
    “The most common occurrence when two parahumans meet is a fight, ostensibly blamed on ‘mistaken identities.’ It’s a form of establishing dominance like one might find in any other type of social situation. The second most common occurrence is mutual attraction. If parahumans are truly genetic mutants they could conceivably be a separate race from mankind. And like any other race, they must propagate or risk extinction.”
    -Dr. Lane Devereaux, appearing on Larry King Live , March 4, 1993
     
    January, 2004
    Denver, Colorado
     
    “Just breathe into the tube,” said the balding man named Harris.
    Sally blew into the glass tube that emerged from his device. The machine emitted clicks as it processed information and spat out a credit card a minute later. “What is it?”
    “Genetic key,” said Harris. “It’s the best security we have. Your genetic code is imprinted upon the badge. It’ll only work if it has contact with your living skin. If someone else tries to use your card, it raises an alarm in the Command Center. Can’t be too careful these days.”
    Sally picked up her new badge and looked it over. It identified her as a Just Cause intern. “What if I lose it?”
    “Come back here and we’ll retest your code. If it matches, we’ll just issue you a new card. If it doesn’t, well, it’s probably not really you so it becomes our problem, not yours. You don’t have an evil twin, do you?”
    “No. I’m an only child.”
    “Good.” He handed her a box from inside a cabinet. “Here’s your duty gear.”
    She examined the items in the box as Harris inventoried them for her. “Walkie-talkie satellite PC phone… these are state-of-the-art, but we replace them every six months whether they need it or not, the way they keep improving the technology. These babies work anywhere in the world as long as you’re not deep underground or underwater.”
    “Cool.”
    He pointed out the uniform and clothing requisition form. “Just fill in your sizes now. The tailor will get your costume specs later. Our in-house shop will handle all your costume needs from here on out.” Next, he held up a Just Cause Visa card. “This is for emergencies only. No shopping sprees. You swipe it anywhere, you gotta fill out an expense report.” Finally, he showed her the gear and equipment requisition form and said, “I’ll approve damn near anything. How the hell do I know what you really need?”
    “I need a Top Fuel dragster. You know, for training.” The whirlwind of being accepted onto Just Cause, even as an intern, had made Sally feel cocky and special. Every hero who had ever interned with the team wound up on the roster. Many of them filled out the ranks