<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 year or two, and the other within three after that.<br/><br/>But that was not why Amelia 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/>The butler closed the door behind her, instructing her.  "The sitting room is to your left.  Please wait there while I bring Master Jerrod."  Amelia 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.  They would need to be avoided.<br/><br/>The mother had been a Lightspeed pilot, as were Jerrod's four sisters.  Something ran in their blood that let them do this.  The only reason that Battalion Command had even considered the idea to begin with was the family record.  If you were a McKenzie, and you were female, you were a Lightspeed Girl.<br/><br/>Of course, if you were McKenzie and female, that's not all you were - McKenzies of the feminine persuasion were also, quite frankly, beauties one and all.  Maybe that was why they were all Lightspeed Girls - none of them were plain or ugly enough not to be one.  But no matter, the butler was ushering the boy in now.  Pretty nondescript, as far as guys went.  If nobody knew he was a McKenzie, you might not really have given much thought to him.  "I understand you're from the Battalion, over at SolForce," he told Amelia as the doors were closed (they were the only ones into the room), and took a seat.  "I'm not really sure how I can help out...yet."<br/><br/>Jerrod understood that he might be called upon to help out in SolForce - it was part of the Citizen's Agreement - but he had figured that it would be from the main branch, not the Battalion.  "I mean...I guess my sisters have probably told you guys that I'm planning on becoming a counselor, but I haven't even finished school for that yet.  I'm still a year or two away from really being able to do that..."<br/><br/>