<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Jerrod McKenzie</strong></span><br/><hr/><br/>The McKenzies were a well-known clan in the Third City - pretty prolific, too, with how they produced progeny.  Of course, when one half of your family had been a big to-do in SolForce going back a couple generations (which around here, meant you came from means), and the other half of the family ran stores all over the City (you couldn't walk a single district anywhere in San Miguel without running into a McKenzie's Dry Goods), that was what you would call a perfect convergence of...wealth, influence, you name it.  The McKenzies, as a family, were well regarded in the City, and by the Battalion, too.  And not just because of past glories, either - there were<em>six</em>McKenzies in the current generation - two boys and four girls.  Every last one of the girls, when it had been their turn, had stood up to be counted amongst the ranks of the Lightspeed Girls.  Two of them were still in - though one was set to retire in a couple of years, and the other another year or three after that.<br/><br/>But that was not why Alice was here today.  She was here because of the youngest - Jerrod, the only other son besides the oldest McKenize, Eddard, who was on the fast-track to take over the store chain in San Miguel.  Jerrod broke the mold a bit when it came to the famous McKenzie temperament - he was understanding, empathic, a bit sensitive, too.  He was planning on going to get his degree and becoming a counselor - while it was well known that the war against the Immortals was much more seriously waged Eastward, that did not mean the troops of the Battalion and of the City's SolForce contingent never saw a shot fired in anger.  He was going to speak to them, to be their source of help and understanding - he had declared to his family that his clients would be those who worked in the civil services, and in SolForce (which had gotten him hearty approval, at last).<br/><br/>"Captain Sanmiguel, please come inside," the much-anticipated butler replied as he closed the door behind her.  "The sitting room is to your left.  Who are you here to speak to?"  Alice knew the schedule - the two younger daughters would not be here, they would be at work somewhere (only on Sundays did Lightspeed Girls rest); Eddard and his parents would probably still be at work...Jarrod was here, obviously, as would his two eldest sisters - also veterans of the San Miguel Battalion.