I sprinted through the forest wildly, tripping and falling more times than I could count.

I could feel it tracking me, somehow. It was like I knew where the beast was, even when I couldn't see it.

I felt a jolt of adrenaline, and ducked just as a shadow of epic proportions slammed into me.

I moved my forearms in front of my throat just in time, and the beasts jaws locked around my guard. I kicked upwards as hard as I could, growling with pain and anger.

The beast released me, backing up and beginning to circle me. I stumbled to my feet, and stared at it, making eye contact.

As soon as my Silver eyes met the Golden orbs of the predator, and my mind blanked, as I felt the connection to the predator fully realize itself.

The predator launched itself at me while I was frozen, and it's giant teeth found my throat.

I choked on my own blood, recognizing the truth of the matter.

I was bleeding out. I had a 86% chance of death. That number was rising as I calculated.

'Fatal injury is impossible... But crippling...'

I fell under the giant Cat, and weakly reached up, clawing at its eye as powerfully as I could. My finger sank into its eye, and it released me again, rubbing it's bleeding eye into the snow in an attempt to staunch the bleeding. I chuckled wetly, coughing.

"Serves you right..." I spat, clutching my throat to stop the bleeding.

It lunged again, and I grabbed its jaws as best as I could, eventually failing. It's jaws clamped onto my shoulder, and in a moment of fevered rage, I bit the predators own jugular, tearing it out.

It jerked, and slowly collapsed onto my chest, trapping me with its 600 pound body of pure muscle and fur.

I chuckled and leaned back as my sight darkened. "I wonder, Sami... Is this how I die?" I asked softly, then scoffed. "Rather Pathetic, don't you think?... Fuck..."

--- 10 Years earlier ---

I jogged through the crowds of Dubai, ducking into a record store.

I picked up an album, ducking my head to 'read' the post. The two men in suits who'd been chasing me ran past the building, and I smirked. I bought the album, a Led Zeppelin classic, (drawing a grin from the elderly salesman, who seemed happy to teach the younger generation about legends of Rock,) and left, whistling 'Jolly Good Fellow'.

A click sounded behind me. "Hands up!"

'Baretta. 0.357. Silenced with a E-57. Oddly specific. A personalized firearm, not an issued one. Private contractor... Ha.'

"You're seriously going to shoot a 10 year old in the streets of Abu Dubai? Are you a moron, or do you just not care about your life?" I smirked.

"If I have to. You're Jim McCarthy, right?" The man asked coldly, switching his safety off.

'Tall, 6'4" at least. North American, New Yorker, Coney Island or Manhattan, possibly Long Island. CIA contractor? FBI? No, the FBI is under too much scrutiny to hire an assassin, and CIA is the only agency that thinks they know my real name. Idiots. CIA it is. Humph... What's the best way out of this? If I knew how to fight, I might have more options... But I don't. I do have an adorable face and my silver tongue..."

"I won't say either way... And do you blame me? In any case, This is Dubai, my American friend. A Non-extradition country. So if you plan to do anything, you'll be breaking several international laws. Also, if you ignore international charter, and attempt to arrest me, I can simply use my adorable charm to gain many allies."

"Like that would-"

"It's already begun." I gestured at the five tall, well built men walking towards us, angry at the man holding a gun on a child.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing with that kid!?" The lead man man shouted, drawing his own pistol. He had a badge, reading 'Ahmed Security'. The others wore the same uniform.

'Private security? Perfect.'

"Help me! He wants to take me away! Please!" I shouted in Arabic, and he disabled his safety, leveling his weapon on my would-be killer/arrester... Guy. Whatever he was. Pursuer? Hm.

As soon as my 'Pursuer' looked away defend himself, I was gone, sprinting through the alleys and troughs of Dubai, then calling my agent.

"Why is a CIA Contractor in Dubai!? They can't arrest or kill me here, right?" I called into the phone.

"Actually, sir, as an international criminal, your alleged crimes have made Dubai disavow you, and you are being deported. I was literally dialing to tell you, just now." Parker sighed. She was an elderly lawyer who was amused by my 'alleged antics', as she called them.

I sighed. "Where is the next stop?"

"Hold on, sir... Oh my. You're going to want to get out of Dubai. They're about to set you on the Most Wanted List."

"What number?" I grinned.

"#1." She sighed. "I hate working for you."

"I'm sure, But you do love watching my 'Alleged Antics'. Hmm... Number one... I really am awesome. A ten year old, number one on the American Most Wanted list. Ha. Now, moving on. Where to go? What country did I not anger?" I hummed, ducking into a crowd.

"The UNITED NATIONS, most wanted list, sir... But yes, moving on..." There was shuffling as she looked through her papers. "India, Japan, and Australia, it seems, stand to gain quite a bit from your... Alleged Antics. In fact, the Indian and Japanese Governments are giving a joint statement, at the moment, saying you are not, in fact, a criminal, and you are welcome in India and Japan, among the greatest economic minds of the planet."

"HA! They want to use me."

"Yes."

"Good. Get me to New Delhi, then, Parker." I said.

"Yes, sir. Go to the airport. I'll have your flight ready by the time you get there, Caleb." She sighed.

"I hope so. I don't know what happens to ten year olds in Super-Max prisons, but I would rather like to never find out." I chuckled.

"As would I."

---

"Anything you could think of, it is yours. India is home to some of the best chocolate factories in the world! I'm sure we could come to an agreement." The man said, smiling at me like I was a child.

Well... I am a child. But offering me candy for services rendered? Anyone immediately think 'PERVERT' should be my next word? I looked at him like an idiot, then at Parker. "Is he fucking serious?"

He flinched, and Parker nodded. "I think he is, sir." She sighed.

"I Allegedly destroyed three countries economies overnight, with nothing but an Apple and a Knife, and he wants to pay me in chocolate?!? Are you absolutely Mental?!?" I stood, my small body barely reaching the large man's chest, but he leaned away in surprise.

'Footsteps. Heels. Well balanced, but not well worn. Her feet have calluses, born from much hard work. A concrete floor in her gym, maybe? She wears the heels very rarely... Almost as if she doesn't wear shoes often at all... Ahh, a martial artist. It is India, after all... And she walked with authority. Maybe a consultant, Someone who knows their value, and knows they can't be fired?'

The door opened and a tall Indian woman walked in. "I believe my associate was under the impression you were a normal child. We both know that is not true." She began speaking in Farsi.

She was a beautiful woman, with a well muscled frame that easily vindicated my theory. 'This woman... She could teach me Martial Arts, if I ask correctly, or even just whip me into shape...'

"Speak English, Miss-!" The man began to admonish her.

"And what do you base that observation on, ma'am?" I responded in kind, glaring at the man.

"You are the smartest being to have ever been recorded in the history of the world, with an estimated IQ of 320. The second best was 250, and he was a mathematician who revolutionized math and created the common idea of modern Algebra." She smiled.

'I don't plan on writing a math textbook anytime soon. I like the common understanding of the mathematics realm right where it is...' I smiled. "Why thank you for the comparison to one of the Giants."

"You match, and trump, any and every Human and non-Quantum computing system on the planet. And you are only 6 points shy of the Quantum Computer, which is theoretical and still in the testing stages in Japan. This means you are more intelligent, even, than the humans who have been observed on advanced neural enhancers." She continued and answered me concisely.

"Ahh, yes. The brain Drug. Useless, for me... My Brian is already functioning at 92% capacity. It's a healthy limit. Any more and you begin to experience psychosis." I smirked.

She raised an eyebrow at my blatant and casual disregard for her idea of brain enhancers. "Indeed. My point is, he was the smartest man on the planet, and you are even smarter."

"Thank you." I switched to English for Ms. Parker's benefit.

She smiled. "The Indian and Japanese Governments are working as a joint affair for now. We want you for our own goals. I make absolutely no notions to hide that, or Anything else, from you. I'm intelligent enough to understand it's pointless." She shrugged.

I smiled. "Then while we're being honest with one another, I know exactly what I want to solve your problems for you."

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"I want a home, a Dojo, and teachers. I am ten, after all. I must continue to learn. I want to learn everything. Literally. Everything. I want to learn the intricacies of Martial Arts. The only thing I am not proficient in is fighting. I don't know how. I'd like to, seeing as I've pissed off every single country in the world, and their pet assassins as well." I said firmly.

She blinked. "So... You want... A house, a Dojo, and to learn Kung Fu? Seriously, that's your price?" She asked incredulously.

"Well, I'll be deciding my own jobs, of course. I'll be your Consultant, and Parker will help with my paperwork. You bring me a problem with your economy, I fix it if I want, and we're done. And get my face off the air as soon as possible. Say you got the wrong picture, choose the picture of some kid like me who died a year ago, I don't care, okay?" I sighed and leaned back.

She nodded. "That can be done. Easily. Fizz. Take care of the picture. Now." The large man, 'Fizz', left quickly. "Anything else?"

"I said a Home. Not a house. I'd like... People to live there. With me. Even just one. Maybe a teacher I like, or something." I said softly, looking down at the table.

She nodded. "I can handle that. Do you care who it is, as long as you get along?"

"I... I'd prefer a woman. Men tend to irk me. They always have to puff out their chests and proclaim dominance. It's irksome." I sneered at the thought of male testosterone.

She laughed. "I think I can handle that. 60% of India is women, after all. Good odds you'll like one of us." She smiled.

I smiled. "60%, huh? Too bad my mind is so sensitive to facts or that would've been an awesome joke. It's actually estimated at 42% women, 47% male, and 11% undeclared, or 'Other'. But still. Amusing. Anyway, yes. Now. Housing arrangements?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Is this going to be a pattern, every time I give you a fact, you'll tell me I'm wrong?"

"Not if you're right." I shrugged.

She hummed. "I think I know the perfect place for you... Not far from New Delhi, a nice Dojo my sister runs... You'll like it, I think. Or her."

I shrugged. "We'll see, I guess. As long as your government is understood that I won't be running away. I have no reason to, until you give me one. So no bugs, and no government paparazzi. They annoy me. They've followed me for 6 years, and I honestly don't like being near them. It creeps me out."

"How so?"

"Seriously? Grown men, who's jobs it is to take pictures of unwitting subjects for a living? 78% of them find the act itself sexually arousing on some level. It disgusts me, as I said." I shuddered.

She blinked. "I... Wasn't aware of that fact. That is rather disturbing. Well, they wouldn't dare. My sister's home is already a protected government site. Any intrusion is dealt with by my sister. Harshly."

"I can't wait to meet her." I smiled.

"You say that now..."

---

"If you don't like joyful, but authoritative women, now's the time to walk away." The woman, (who's name I learned was actually Sana(S-Ā-Nah) Vosta, because her parents liked western names) said.

"Are you kidding? Best type of woman. Let's just do this. Waiting kills me." I knocked on the door sharply.

It opened slowly. "Waiting will become one of the things I must teach you, then. I was told I must make you a warrior? Hmm... Hello, sister. This is much you ask of me." She switched to Farsi.

I shrugged. "It's asking a lot of me, as well. I rarely trust anyone. But I must trust my instructors, or I'll never learn anything except suspicion. Can I trust you, Sami Vosta?"

"Not yet. But perhaps someday. Trust is built slowly, not at once. Now. You look tired, all of you. Would you like some Tea?" She smiled, opening her door widely.

"I like her." I smiled at Parker.