Tanya, Leroy, Oliver, Tate and Buzza
"Ahh, you're here, Tanya," said Wayne. "Good."
Tanya walked into the office and Wayne closed the door behind her. Already seated were Leroy, Oliver and Tate. And Buzza too - on Tate's shoulder.
"I have a new assignment for you," he went on.
"I guessed that," Tanya remarked dryly, taking a seat.
"With The Spider gone," Wanya went on as if Tanya hadn't interupted. "We have rumours of new people starting up to replace him."
"He did have splinter groups all over the place," Leroy nodded. "They can either dissolve into chaos or create new leaders for themselves."
"Exactly! It's a bit of a shame that he's gone - it was easier to dismantle these groups with him around. Now they're going to be suspicious of everyone."
"They... they might not be suspicious of me..." Tanya pointed out hesitantly.
"But they defintely will not like me," Leroy smiled, ironically.
"Don't flatter yourself," Tanya told him. "Not everyone knows your face."
"Not everyone knows yours either."
"They don't have to. They were led by a strong telepath once. I'm even stronger."
"And this is what I'm getting at," Wayne cut in. "We need you to start picking up on these splinter groups before they cause trouble. What we'd really like to do is reintergrate them into society, but that can't happen overnight. Get a foothold into one group and then start working on the next. Now, I don't care if by a foothold into a group means taking on the leadership yourselves or simply beginning a deal of some sort with the current leader. Just keep the end goal in sight and don't jeapodise it."
"There's more isn't there?" Leroy said. "You wouldn't have called Oli and Tate in here otherwise."
"Indeed. For this little excercise, we would like you four to play the family unit."
"what?" Tanya exclaimed.
"It's the best way in there - and you know it Tanya," Wayne said. "Most of the alien portion of the Spider's people were families. Best way to get recruits - breed them."
"Wayne. Recently we had to get Tate out of court on a breaking and entering charge," Leroy said. "Now, can you imagine the effect these people are going to have on her?"
"I know that pathic shifters are capable of bonding. And if you ask me, I think Tate may be your biggest asset. Especially in getting through to the younger generation - not meaning to talk about you in the third person, of course, Tate."
"Oh, it's okay," Tate replied cheerfully. "I don't mind. Happens lots. And as for bonding, I already have a parental bond with Leroy. But it would be nice to have a maternal figure as well."
Tate looked unhappy.
"I miss my Mom and Dad so much. I wish my bonds with them hadn't been broken at all! But I also know that I'm not considered an adult yet. Therefore I must still be a child. And if I am a child that means I need to have parental bonds, that's why I have one with Leroy."
Leroy was looking surprised at this news. He hadn't expected to hear that! Tanya, on the other hand, looked plain uncomfortable.
"I'm no one's mother, Wayne."
"Look, I'm not debating this with you," Wayne said. "The decision has been made. Leroy is the best man we have, but his being the guardian of two kids make it difficult to assign the usual assignments. Tanya, you're the best woman for this job, and you know it. It only makes sense to make you the wife and mother of this little family."
"Wife?"
"Wayne, I'm not sure about this..." Leroy said.
Wayne held up his hands.
"As I said, it's already been decided. Tate can change her appearence so that she looks like Tanya. Leroy and Oliver already being related solves that part. I know you guys can do this. Your first stop is Connecticut."
Despite their misgivings, the briefing continued, and that night they packed up and left Tulsa and became the Johnson family.