Whatever you do, don't sneak up behind this man. Xing, this is Mike Heaberlin. A whiz kid that Eric just brought on board. Mike, this is Xing Chun. He's the martial arts teacher and kung fu master guy around this place."

Xing, who often walked around VAMP headquarters holding his hands behind his back, stepped through the doorway and gave Heaberlin a hard once-over. An instant later he registered Heaberlin's threat assessment as zero. Heaberlin extended his hand. Xing looked at it for a moment, then extended his own and shook. His grip was like steel. Heaberlin's eyes bugged behind his dark glasses and he gnashed his teeth to keep from letting out a squeal. Xing released Heaberlin's hand, looked him in the eye and nodded very slightly. He looked at Big Bill and gave him a more generous nod, then continued on towards the elevator.

Heaberlin made a tight fist. Big Bill laughed.

"How's the hand?"

"Glad I don't need to type with it. Is he one of the good guys?"

"Absolutely."

"Are you sure?" Heaberlin asked while he massaged his knuckles.

"I used to think Victor Steiger was the baddest dude in town. Then I saw Xing take out a roomful of armed prowlers. I've never seen anything like it. Victor said Xing is one of the five or six most dangerous humans on the planet. I'm glad he's on our side."

"He looks…angry."

35