“Had to run some errands … and to get some new clothes.” said Lana.

“Yes, so we can see,” they said, eyeing her striking figure, clad now in a one-piece black dress that did not run much past the tops of her thighs.

Lana turned and surveyed the room. She’d originally had no intentions of joining them tonight, much as Marie and KC had suspected. Not that she had actually been invited, of course. But when she had uploaded her report for analysis by the satellite-based supercomputer it had come back with some recommendations for her. It was virtually impossible to plot and codify the social workings of any complex society from without. However, with weeks to monitor and learn, an understanding of the behaviors and customs of the various nations the Agents were infiltrating was building that would be essential to the operatives’ success. It was based on this ongoing analysis that Agent Lana Wilson had been informed that she should consider a more involved approach to not only her seniors, but also her peers.

It had been clear, based on the insults and comments made to and about Lana that she was not connecting with them, and this had to change. It had also been noted that she had a powerful tool at her disposal that she was not yet using: her looks. First things first, connecting with peers.

“I need a drink.” Lana said as she turned to the bar, “What are you two having?”

“Hey, you’re behind girl, we just had boilermakers.” said KC, expecting Lana to balk at the idea.

“OK then. Hey! Sweetcheeks!” Lana shouted at the bartender, thrusting out her chest, “I’ll need a round of boilermakers for me and my fellow soon-to-be-officers here.”

“Whoa, we just had one!” started Marie, but Lana held up her hand.

“Fair enough.” and turning back to the bartender again she corrected, “I’ll be needing you to line up two of those bad boys for me, please.”

The bartender stared, then shrugged, and continued pouring. KC and Marie glanced at each other, KC mouthing “Really?” at Marie. Dropping shots into two of the four glasses, she handed one each to Marie and KC, then dropped two more in the remaining beers and picked them both up herself.

Facing her cohorts, she smiled, then downed the first of her two pints in one swig. She held a straight face for a moment, then decided it was best to ham it up. “Yuck, that never gets easier!” she shouted, cringing.

“Atta girl!” shouted KC, “We didn’t know you had it in you.”

“Yeah, well, what about you two?” she said, putting down the empty glass and raising her second.

“Oh, it’s on!” laughed Marie, and they all began drinking.

Ten seconds later the other two were doubled over, laughing and coughing at the bitter taste. Lana looked from one to the other with cold calculation, unfazed by the drink.