Whispers of smoky mist danced through a thick air of the west Texas dessert. A tan-gray world colored somewhat from the few dessert plants in the vicinity. A cloudless sky. Dark, making the environ almost cave-like between the darkness and the low, rolling hills. No stars in a moonless summer’s night.

A darkened figure slithered in the sand. Glistening wet and brownish-tan in color as the night that surrounded it, the shape moved silently toward a crest. It was large, it moved with purpose….a predator, a hunter in the night - a man!

This was not just another man but a soldier, a warrior, a black knight serving a dark justice…the Neutralizer!

The Neutralizer was sent by the Justice Department top fed, Dean Hickenlooper. Fresh from his briefing at “The Farm”, a super-secret base tucked in the Allegheny Mountains. The Big Fed and Susan Simpson (the gorgeous and brilliant mission controller).

This mission, a first soft probe, to discern the whereabouts of a man only known as Saladin. One of the most dangerous Taliban operatives in charge to work with the Medina drug cartel to smuggle 2 dirty bombs onto US soil. A partnership made in hell trading drug transport tunnels for heroin. There were 2 such tunnels Saladin favored for his deadly export to the US. The Neutralizer had to find the tunnels, take out the bombs and "neutralize" the key players.

Prior to leaving the Farm the soldier had met with the compound automotive expert Stephen "the Doctor" Skegg and Dino "Gadgets" Perez who was the Farm's electronic wizard. The Neutralizer was reacquainted with his ride, a 1972 MGB, which he had used on many missions before. The Doctor had done a complete engine overhaul. The B now sported what certainly looked like a British Leyland 1798cc in line four. Looks were deceiving as the engine was the standard 4 cylinder but rather than the heavy cast iron construction the power plant was made of a super light weight aluminum alloy. 2 - 1.1/4 SU carbs fed fuel thru twin ceramic turbo chargers providing for 300+ horsepower. The total weight of the B was 60% of its MK III factory counterpart b- it was a small rocket! The Doctor had out done himself yet again!!

Gadgets also did his thing placing a satellite tracker system into the B's dash. In its grill was hidden a small but powerful propulsion device capable of firing a laser guided tracker accurately for 100 yards. A good way to tag and follow from a distance any adversary worth that effort.

The soldier was laying on the top of a small ridge overlooking a compound thought to domicile the Medina Cartel's start point to sending drugs across the border. For the mission the Neutralizer carried his trusty Beretta 93R in a snap-on shoulder rig and his Israeli 44 magnum Dessert Eagle, the hand cannon, in a quick draw holster. He also sported his 8"Tanto combat knife and back in the MG was a MAC 10 sub gun with extended 38 round banana clip using 4.62mm NATO rounds. He watched with his 150X Bosch & Lolm field glasses.

All had been quiet since sun up. Then suddenly a flash of light...reflection from a windshield. A man in a black robe. "Hmmmm, that might be worth a follow" thought the soldier! The man stepped into the back of a black Mercedes and sped off. The Neutralizer went for the "B" and started after at a safe distance made easy by the desolate landscape. "No opportunity for Dino's laser here"!

NEXT: Clandestine Meeting!

NOTE: Previous Neutralizer is in the March driveline