Jacob And Tiffany Naked in SchoolPart 4B Thursday
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Chapter 64: Jacob's father's view.
3am, Thursday, October 28th, 2006
Jerusalem was supposed to be the city of God.
And it was acting very godlike at the moment.
Old Testament God, that is. There was fighting and feuding, bickering and betrayal. A lot of people thought it was odd that all three religions that claimed Jerusalem as a holy place and also claimed mercy and honorable treatment of fellow human beings would not practice it here.
The very God each of them claims to worship is either laughing, or more likely crying tears at the behavior done in His Name.
No wonder so many people these days are abandoning religion.
The streets had people scattered here and there. The people carried guns with the fervency of the National Rifle Association. And there were more guns in this town then there were shown at the last nine NRA conventions.
Armed crimes committed over religion were as common as people disagreeing over religion.
The United Nations security checkpoint four was a perfect example of that. It was a bunkered building with guards, barbed wire and it even had a machine gunner on the second floor.
Major Daniel Stone of the United States Marine Corps was at a desk doing paperwork.
I'm certainly living up to my name. East Jerusalem is a den of danger.
I pushed the paperwork aside. I think I would rather face the lions outside than this annoying paperwork. Any decision above using the latrine needs paperwork in triplicate. Using the latrine only requires the paperwork to be done in duplicate. What I'd really like to do is use the paperwork in the latrine. It's softer then the stuff the Marine Corps is sending us these days.
"Sir?"
I looked up to see somebody I thought was on guard duty today.
"We have somebody under a flag of truce here to see you."
And so it goes again. At least twice a week we get these messengers from one group or another. If it wasn't for all the civilians in the area, I'd suggest to my superiors that we isolate the area and hand control of it to whichever group was standing last.
"Bring him in." I told the guard. "But be alert."
I watched as an Israeli dressed in battle fatigues was brought in.
The Israeli let himself be searched for weapons without complaint.
That should have been my first clue trouble was coming.
"He's clean." The guard said.
"I've come with a message." The Israeli said.
"Who do you represent?" I asked tiredly. I received more messages sitting at this desk than I think I would have received if I were working for Western Union.
"I represent the Sharon brigade, agents of Almighty God in the Liberation of Occupied Israel."
The usual speech, then.
Ok. I guess I have to give my standard reply.
"I'm Major Daniel Stone, United States Marine Corps and am here at the invitation of the United Nations and the Liberated State of Palestine."
The envoy of the Sharon brigade practically spat onto the floor in disgust at the mention of the name of the new Palestinian nation.
"I know who you are. You and your intruders are interfering in the Word of Almighty God. If you remain in the land God gave to his children, you and all the other trespassers here will be dead before the dawn. God will grant us victory."
I tried to remain calm. But I hated threats to my friends here.
Even if death was the occupational hazard of being a marine.
"You must know that the President has promised to cut off all aid to Israel if your group attacks once more."
"We know that our former friends betrayed us to our enemies and threw God's Children to the wolves. The Day of Retribution is surely coming says the Lord."
BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!!
Every piece of glass in the checkpoint shattered.
Hell, every window in the neighborhood must have shattered.
The ground shook like an earthquake hit.
The cries of my men filled my ears filtered through the dust and falling plaster.
A chunk of masonry fell less then five feet from me.
When my eyes adapted enough to see, I saw it had hit the messenger. It was crushing him to death.
I shook my head sadly at the dying messenger. "It looks like your friends couldn't wait for the Lord."
The messenger glared at me as he died.
Chapter 65: Fred
Fred's log, Acting Commander, 3:10 am, Thursday, October 28th
Acting Commander.
Me.
Yeah. If Jacob does not die from what he did earlier tonight, he's gonna die of laughter when he hears about this.
I was sitting in the command chair again.
I must have been crazy the first time.
Now I'm not only doing it again, I'm taking a ship I'm not even sure I rebuilt correctly into a war zone.
I hope this ad hoc crew of Jacob's lives up to his expectations again.
Bob's voice broke into my thoughts. "We are approaching the Middle East." He reported.
"Ok. Lets see how well the repairs hold. Red alert. Diane, give me all the engines. Give me maximum shields and power. Bring up all weapons. We are at battle stations."
Diane's hands worked across her control board.
Bob hits a few keys of his own. "Ok. Weapons are ready."
Lucy asked "Should I try to contact anybody. Let them know we are coming?"
"Not yet," Fred says. "Soon enough they will be trying to speak to us. Joe, take us to East Jerusalem."
"Proximity alert," Joe said.
The phone went off.
"On screen." Bob said.
I told Lucy to put the call on the main speakers.
Then the inside of the ship changed. Not for real. Everybody and everything was still where it was before Bob spoke. But now the middle of the control room was taken up with a three D holographic display. The Dutchman was at the center with the extended landscape in excellent details.
Mouths dropped.
We should be used to this by now, but our mouths still dropped in shock.
Bob grinned. "I've been trying to talk Jacob in to licensing this to the video gaming industry."
I laughed a little then addressed whoever was on the phone. "Who is this?"
"This is Tiffany. What the hell are you doing on the Dutchman?"
Being constantly amazed.
"I helped rescue you." I told her. "Because I recovered first, I took the command."
"What do you think you are doing now?"
"What I'm trying to do is get one of Jacob's parents so that they can sign the paperwork. The asinine doctors won't start without it."
"Six incoming jets." Bob shouted.
"They are definitely sending signals at us." Lucy said. "At least one of them is a communication attempt."
"Sorry Tiffany, but I'm going to have to cut this short. I think we'll about to be in a battle. Do me a favor and stay by the phone. We may need you soon enough. Ok Lucy, cut that call, and get me the other one."
"Attention unidentified flying object. Who the fuck are you and what are you doing approaching Israeli airspace?"
Unidentified my left foot. I know exactly what this flying object is.
"This is Acting Commander Fred Dash of the Flying Dutchman. Who the hell are you?"
"This is Captain Frank of the Israeli Defense Force. What nation does the Flying Dutchman belong to?"
I looked around, hoping for suggestions or inspiration. I got none. "We belong to the teen nation." I said. "We are on a mission of mercy to Eastern Jerusalem."
"You sound like Americans. And we hate Americans here. I've been ordered to prevent any resupplying of occupied Israel."
"We are on a mission of mercy." I repeated. I had no intentions of getting involved in a war.
"The only mercy that is going to be given is that you can turn that contraption around and return to your Nazi homeland." Captain Frank said.
I was furious. I doubt even Jacob's vast scientific imagination could grasp the levels my anger was reaching.
I now hated Captain Frank more than Tiffany hated Coach Koke.
And the fates have stupidly put me in this chair.
I had the power to act on my anger.
And damn it, I was.
I slammed a fist into the palm of my hand. "Apologize or you will surely die."
"Never, you Nazi freak."
"Missiles in the air!" Diane shouts.
"Bob? Just how much confidence do you have in what this thing can do?"
"From what Jacob told me about it, a lot."
"Very well. Joe. Give me a status report."
"All shields are operational and at maximum. Shield generators ready to regenerate as needed. All weapons are charged. All other systems operating at roughly 94%."
"Excellent. Lets show these idiots the foolishness of firing at things you do not understand. Bob, ignore the missiles."
"But Fred..." Diane started to say.
The missiles hit us and exploded as Diane was talking.
"Joe, shield strength?" Diane asked, hesitantly.
"Outermost shields down 65%." Joe responded.
"Remember we still have three other shield generators." Bob reminded us. "Jacob really built back ups into this."
"Excellent." I said.
Over the radio we heard some confused pilots chattering.
"That's impossible."
"Must have been a malfunction."
"No it wasn't. I saw them explode. 4 feet away from whatever the hell that is."
"Everybody fire!" Shouted Captain Frank.
I just sat there.
This could become more addicting then some of the stuff at Harry's parties.
"Missiles in the air." Diane shouted. "Twelve of them!"
"Joe, lock targeting beams on those missiles." I said as calmly as if I was playing football.
"Done." Joe replied equally as calmly.
"Blow them up." "Done."
The computer and I might as well have been talking about the weather in Eastern France.
The four of us aboard the Dutchman and the six fighter pilots aboard the six fighter craft watched the missiles blow up before they got within 1000 feet of the Dutchmen.
"Good" I purred, "very good. Now get me a target lock on each of those fighters."
There was shouting now on the radio between the fighter pilots.
"Excuse me," I said. "I have something to say."
"Now what Nazi freak?"
I let my boiling hatred at their Nazi freak comments show.
"Say hello to Hitler for me. Joe, destroy those aircraft."
On the holographic display we watched the Israeli fighter aircraft suddenly flare up and explode.
They exploded before they had time to respond to my Hitler comment.
"I cannot believe you just killed them." Lucy told me. "We could have easily out run them, and our shields would have kept us alive. Why?"
Like the others, she was shocked.
I was unrepentant. "Never call the grandson of a concentration camp survivor a Nazi freak."
Chapter 66: Jacob's father
3:12am
Bullets were flying back and forth.
The Marines were firing carefully, trying only to hit those that were firing upon them. They were limited by the United Nations Rules of Engagement. Killing civilians and noncombatants was severely frowned upon.
The Sharon Brigade's people on the other hand were shooting at everything in sight. They figured that everybody knew what an evil thing it was to have the United States Marines here. Therefore, anybody nearby had chosen to be close to that evil. Worse yet, they could have chosen to stand with that evil. Death was the only thing such a decision deserved. Death at the hands of the Chosen of Almighty God. The Sharon Brigade.
The solider ran back into the building as an explosion occurred behind him. "Major!!! Major assault in progress. Everybody outside is dead."
Then I heard a voice outside shouting. "Come on! Kill the enemies of God!"
I had a few men set up a defense perimeter. The rest of the surviving men I took up to the second floor.
Outside there was more gunfire and some explosions.
The Marine taking a window post was blown back a bit by a missile that missed going in the window and hit a tree instead.
I caught him as he stumbled at me.
The guard pointed out the window as he fell into my arms. "Oh shit."
"Now what?" I muttered as I pulled the guard up. I looked where the guard was pointing.
What in the name of the Halls of Montezuma is THAT???
It was about the size of a small Greyhound bus. It looked 40 feet long and 15 feet wide. The outside looked rather battered as though it got into a crash and smash derby with three ticked off tanks. There were things mounted on the hull that looked vaguely familiar. Speakers and receiving type things. There was also other, odder stuff. It plainly looked like it had gone thru hell. There was something I could not identify keeping various airborne things at least 4 feet from the hull. It was flying silently.
And it was coming this way.
Chapter 67: Fred
Fred's log, acting commander, 316pm, Thursday, October 28th
I had the Flying Dutchman maintain a slow and steady course.
We looked at the battle scene below us.
Lucy looked at the mess that used to be the building the United Nations checkpoint was based in. "Are you sure he is down there?"
"According to the information on the Internet, this is the place." Diane said. "Although the United Nations site on the net didn't say anything about a battle."
Bob shook his head at the complete lack of good behavior in this holy city. "It looks like they need our help, whether Stone is here or not."
"Agreed." I told him. "Take us in. Put the hatch on the American side."
Bob worked his controls. "Switching to surface operations."
Bob steered the ship so that the attackers were all scrambling back, then landed between them and the security post.
Both sides started shooting at us.
"Ok Lucy." I said in my 'you should know by now what to do' tone.
"Speakers on."
"Listen up, we're friends. If you are in here, Major Stone, hurry up and get aboard." I paused. "Speakers off."
"Speakers off." Lucy confirmed.
"Good." I didn't want those attacking the Marines knowing my next command.
"Bob, drop shields, left side only if we can."
"I don't think we can do that."
"Who the hell are you?" a strange voice called.
"I'm a friend of Jacob. This is the Flying Dutchman, and he needs you in the hospital."
"Your must be fucking crazy. No way."
"Fucking crazy I may be. But you are nuttier. At the very least, we can get you out of the battle before your position is overrun. What's worse? Getting aboard something strange... or staying behind for your certain death?"
"Good point. Coming."
"Damn it. Joe, take out the opposing forces. Bob, when it looks like Stone is going to hit the shields, drop them. Put them up as soon as possible afterwards."
The Dutchman started firing at the attackers.
The attackers fired back. They were willing to die for God.
Those aboard the ship were worried about was going to happen next.
"He's almost here... dropping shields."
A couple bullets hit the ship.
"Look," Mindy shouted. "They are readying some form of rocket!"
We heard somebody come aboard.
"He's in." Diane called.
"Shields up." Bob went to hit the button as he told us.
"Hold on. More people coming." the voice I had been arguing with called out. "Wait..."
Mindy pointed. "Incoming."
We heard a couple more people board.
"That's it, sir."
"Ok. What ever you were going to do, do it now."
Bob hit the button.
Chapter 68: Jacob's dad.
3:19am
We all held our breath as the missile hit.
The missile hit the shields moments after the last Marine boarded.
"The shields are back up." a voice said.
I think we all noticed this. The clue that gave it away was the fact we were all still breathing.
Another teen announced. "There are three vehicles approaching us."
Is this ship run by teenagers?
What in the name of the gods everybody is fighting over is going on here?
I looked around as I went from the hatch towards the front. In every science fiction movie I've ever watched, that is where they put the control room or bridge. When I reached the control room I saw a bunch of things that looked vaguely familiar. The stations were manned by a bunch of teenagers.
There is only one person on this planet that could produce such a craft and yet have to resort to teenagers to crew it.
My youngest son.
"Jacob, I didn't think you'd be dense enough to..."
Some kid turned the command chair around and interrupted me. "Your son was not dense enough to do this. Your son is nearly dead."
Who the hell is that? I wanted to know. What the hell is he talking about?
Not to mention why is he sitting in Jacob's chair?
The kid introduced everybody. As he said their names, he pointed. "Major Stone, meet Bob, Diane, Lucy and Mindy. I am Fred. I am also acting commander of the Flying Dutchman. Both your son and his girlfriend are in the hospital."
"I'm Major Stone, United States Marine Corps."
"We know. What we don't know is who is the bunch of people that followed you in."
"They are the survivors of my detachment. I could not leave them behind."
"Then they can come along. But they are to stay in the work room and stay quiet." Fred spun the command chair back around to face the main screen. "Diane, please put those vehicles you guys were talking about on screen."
"Sorry Fred, they are being blocked by all the buildings."
"Ok. Target weapons at both ends of the street and let me know what shows up."
Lucy told us. "We have a lot of radio chatter, mainly American."
"What else?"
"Some sound French, and something in a language I don't recognize."
"Keep alert." Fred says. "Major Stone, we're here because your son is in a coma. The doctors were told that you and your wife were in the Middle East. They still refused to operate."
Diane said, "We have a visual. They are French, I think."
"Did anybody here take French at school?"
"Nope."
"No."
"Sorry."
"Shit."
My radio went off. I pulled it from my pouch and answered it. "Major Stone, United States Marine Corps here... yes I know what's happening at checkpoint four. They appear to be on our side."
"Who ever they are, they are firing on us." Diane yelled.
Not for long. "Joe, lock target and..."
"No," I shouted, stopping them, "they are from the United Nations."
"Ok." Fred says, "Cancel that Joe."
"Command cancellation confirmed." Joe responded.
"Relax." I said into my radio. "Believe it or not, they are friends of my son. This thing as you call it, is his little hobby toy, and they just took out the entire terrorist assault squad."
"Yeah man," We heard the American group leader say back, "and rumor has it that this hobby toy of your son's took out six Israeli fighter craft too."
"That's no rumor." Diane told him.
"Six of them. We shot down six jets." Bob corrected him.
"Why did you guys do that?" I asked.
In a tight voice, Fred answered me. "They called the grandson of a concentration camp survivor a Nazi freak."
I heard a new voice on my radio. "This is General Smith."
"Yes, sir" I responded.
A General on the unit radio? What is going on here? I wondered.
"Put who ever is in charge of that thing on."
"Yes sir." I turned to the teenager sitting in the center chair. "General Smith insists on speaking to you."
"Joe, figure out which incoming signal is going into that radio and run it though the ship's speakers."
"Ok."
"Identify yourself." The General's voice now demanded over the speakers.
"Acting Commander Fred Dash, currently in charge of the Flying Dutchman."
"Consider yourself under my command. Prepare to receive your orders."
"Fuck no."
I went pale.
People usually do not talk to Generals like that.
The General was so furious all he could do was sputter.
Fred continued as though he was arguing with another teenager. "Listen to me. The only reason I'm here is to get Major Stone. And you must be stoned if you think I'm suddenly going to be listening to loudmouth strangers. His son's girlfriend saved my girl from sexual assault. Then she got kidnapped and assaulted her self. Jacob is in the hospital, in emergency, practically dead from saving Tiffany. Not only are you talking to the wrong kid, but I don't have time for this." Fred flipped a few switches on the command chair. "Bob, activate the engines, switch it to sub orbital and take us up to 6000 feet. Go 50 mph till we clear the city, then 2500 mph."
The General sputtered in shock for a few moments, then he calmed down. "Stone, you believe them?"
"Yes. No way my son would let anybody fly his project if he was not dying."
Smith's voice softened slightly. "Ok Major. Go deal with the hospital. But as soon as you can, we need you here." General Smith pauses. "And I'd really like to have that craft too."
Fred said, "With luck, Major Stone will be back by nightfall, local time. As for the ship, you'll have to wait for Jacob."
The ship flew out of the radio's range.
Chapter 69: Fred
Fred's log, acting commander, 3:30am, Thursday October 28th, 2006.
Major Stone was pacing up and down the width of the control cabin. "Can't this thing go any faster?" He asked me.
Faster?
He wants to go faster?
Can anything else go this fast?
I asked, "Bob?"
"Not that I know of. I'm not even sure that this is safe."
"Diane?"
"Some of these things are redlining. Others peak in and out of the danger zones. Each spike seems to go higher."
Bob says, "That sounds bad."
"You don't know?" I asked.
"Like you, this is my first time in the Dutchman."
"Damn it. We have to slow down."
"What???" Major Stone shouted. "You can't be serious."
Bob said "Fred's right. We'll be no good to anybody if we blow ourselves up."
"Damn it. Joe, drop speed by one third, give me an ETA."
"Complying. Speed now 1750 mph. ETA 115 minutes."
"Will we in be time?" Major Stone asks.
Chapter 70: Tiffany
3:55pm
I paced back and forth in the observation room. At one point or another, I must have tried to read every magazine in here. The seats were worse than the chairs at school. And the view through the window had not changed. I have garden statues that have shown more life recently than Jacob.
The rape counselor tried to get me to relax. "Relax. It will be all right."
Relaxing was the one thing I could not do.
"Roberts, you do not understand."
"Call me Sylvia."
"Ok, Sylvia. This is all my fault. If he had never got involved in my life, he'd never have had to keep saving me. That would have spared him the feud that escalated to the point where Koke raped me, then threw me out of the moving sports car to piss Jacob off. It's all my fault he's in that horrible mess."
"You know that can't be true." the counselor tried to tell me.
"Do I?" Tiffany asks. "Bullshit. He thought I was worthy of dating him. That means I should be able to take this. Hell, I should have seen trouble coming and prevented it." I paced some more. "What the hell is taking them so long?" I looked for my cell phone. "Damn! It was destroyed in the chase. Shit."
"You can borrow mine."
"Thanks." I quickly dialed Diane's phone. "Where the hell are you guys... what do you mean, you had to slow down... damn it, I can't argue that... how soon... less then an hour if no delays... then I hope you have no delays. We'll be waiting... he does? Then put him on... yes, they told you the truth. In a coma and the hospital is only doing what's needed to keep him alive... no need to shout. Do you think that I let a bunch of high school kids fly Jacobs's project into a war zone for the fun of it? We told them about your and the rest of his family being in the Middle East, but they insisted on a signature of a family member... ok, I can't wait."
"Did the call go well?"
"Not really. Mr. Stone is understandably upset about the hospital's behavior. And I bet he did not expect to meet his son's girlfriend in this way."
But should I be Jacob's girlfriend?
Chapter 71: Fred
Fred's log, Acting Commander, the Flying Dutchman, 5:03am, Thursday October 28th, 2006.
The Flying Dutchman was flying at speeds usually reserved for missiles.
"Approaching the Eastern Coast."
"Very good, Bob. Prepare descent course."
"Incoming call." Lucy announced.
"What is this," I moaned, "a gossip party line? The next time I take this ship out, I'm getting an unlisted number. On speakers."
"Attention, unidentified flying object. This is General Hambright of NORAD. Identify yourself and prepare to be taken into custody."
I was getting very tired of this.
"This is the Flying Dutchman, Acting Commander Fred Dash speaking. We are on a medical mission and cannot afford distractions. Request denied."
"That was not a request, Dutchman. Under the Patriot Act, we can do whatever we please to vessels we deem a threat to the United States. You will surrender that craft and be taken into custody."
"No. Yellow alert. Raise maximum shields."
"Then under the Patriot Act, I'm ordering your destruction."
Diane shouted in shock. "You can't do that! We're Americans too. We have rights!!"
"Not if I say you don't."
"I see." I said. "Red alert. Battle stations. Arm weapons."
"Incoming! Missiles incoming!! I don't believe they fired on fellow Americans."
Fred sounded somewhat tired of it all. "Joe, take out those missiles."
"Done." The ever helpful computer informed me.
The missiles were struck several thousand feet away from the Dutchman.
They promptly exploded.
"More missiles incoming."
"Joe. Take out the missiles as soon as you get a safe shot. Bob, where are those ships?"
Bob looked at the screens on his console. "I can't get a reading."
"Stealth bombers." Major Stone told us.
I sighed. Here's a lesson for Jacob. Technology never has all the answers.
"I see." I told them. "I guess I'll just have to show you guys a football trick. When the opposing side does something we do not follow, the moment we can see what's going on, we strike. If we fire at the missiles the moment we see them, perhaps we can take out the stealth bombers."
Major Stone moved in front of my command chair. "Hey, they are Americans, too." he objected."
"They are also trying to kill us."
"Give me a chance to deal with it, please."
"Ok. But make them go away, or I will. We have a hospital to get to."
Stone looked at Lucy. "Did that system record NORAD's frequency?"
"I think so."
"Get it back on."
Lucy looked at the controls. Then Bob got up and gave Lucy some help. The frequency came up. "Ready."
Major Stone took a deep breath.
Bob told Major Stone "Relax. According to Jacob, military people tend to respect strength. Right now, you are sitting in the stronger craft.
Stone nods. "Come in, NORAD."
"This is Lieutenant Lewis. Identify yourself."
"This is Major Stone, passenger aboard the Flying Dutchman."
"How the hell did you get on this frequency? This is a top secret channel."
"I know this. Put General Hambright on."
"General Hambright?? Three stars and just as explosive? You want me to get him??"
The teens rolled their eyes at each other.
"Yes Lieutenant. Do it now. That's an order."
Four minutes later, Hambright's pissed voice was heard on the speakers. "Who the hell do you think you are? I'll demote you so low, you'll be saluting dogshit for this." "I doubt it. I'm the only person that can talk my son into letting the military get their hands on this kind of tech."
"Letting??"
"Yeah. Letting. Exactly how many other craft like this do you see? But we are getting away from the main point. I have been told that they have come up with a way to end this attack."
"Yeah, surrender."
"No, sir. The teen in charge is about to order the ship to destroy the missiles the second they leave the stealth bomber. The bombers will no doubt be destroyed along with the missiles."
"They would not dare!"
"You're trying to kill us. Why should we not reply in kind? Stone asked."
"We? You joining them?"
"A few kids on a mercy mission get attacked by their own Air Force. How do you think your kids would respond in their shoes?"
There was silence on the other end. When Hambright spoke, it sounded like he was choking on the words. It was as if he'd rather kill them then admit anything that makes Stone sound right. But in the end, he was honest. "They would have destroyed the bombers and said something rude."
Personal log (voice), J. J. Stone, captain of the Flying Dutchman, 1204 EST October 27th 2006. It was 12:04am. That is what my alarm clock said in those bright neon numbers the nearly blind could read at twenty paces. With my vision, I could not see them from further away than three feet. These thoughts I should not have running in my head. I should be having my post midnight fantasy about now. The noise that interrupted my sleep sounded again. I turned over and looked. There was a new...
Personal log (voice), J. J. Stone, Captain of the Flying Dutchman, 9 am, October 28th 2006. The hospital room I was in was rather quiet. The machines did their subdued beeping as they did what they were supposed to. But like any place there was quiet, it was about to be shattered. I woke up muttering. "The fluctuations in the density drives adjustments are causing the changes in the effective simulations of reality. Those fluctuations are caused by frequency adjustments. So what would...
Science class went as it usually did. Jacob and Mr. Schuman got into a deep argument again on the fundamental interactions of density as it related to forces within reality. They went at it for ten minutes again, losing the rest of us 3 minutes into the argument. I did sit next to him though. I didn't do anything else to get his attention. I just watched him scribble the answers to the science experiments in the lab book before Mr. Shuman finished explaining. In other words science class...
Personal log (voice), J. J. Stone, captain of the Flying Dutchman, 7:50pm, October 27th 2006. I was singing to myself as the Flying Dutchman flew along. "It's Pinky and the brain. It's Pinky and the Brain. One is a genius, the other is insane..." I changed my voice slightly. "So what are we going to do tonight?" Then I spoke in my normal voice. "The same thing we do every night. Try to take over the world!" Now why would anybody want to take over the world? Have they no idea the...
Diane 6:43 pm, November 4th, 2006 11:43 am November 5th, 2006 (local time) I watched the map roll on my screen. It was programmed apparently to keep pace with the Flying Dutchman's current location. Right now it showed us crossing over the Eastern Shore. I sooo liked this craft. There are times when girls wish they could be invisible so that they could hear more about what others thought or noticed. Right now I was effectively invisible. I know this because the Flying Dutchman just flew...
Personal log (voice), Tiffany French, Captain of the Flying Dutchman, 9 am, October 28th 2006. I sat in the command chair of the Flying Dutchman. Karen was right about one thing. With this ship, I can do anything. Anything at all. The only request Jacob had of me is that I flew no higher than 25 miles until after Jacob made his orbital flight. I had no problem with that. It was time to begin. "Joe, activate mission log." "Activated." "Let the record show that I, Tiffany Mary...
Jacob Personal log (voice), J. J. Stone, Captain of the Flying Dutchman, 2:34 pm, October 28th 2006. I sat on the bench watching Kevin do incomprehensible things with the game. We were nearing the end of the second half and I think the opposing team just received some sort of penalty. That meant Fred got to kick the football. It went through the goal posts. Even I know that meant we got 6 points. Touchdown I think that move is called. When I remarked on this, I was informed that a penalty...
White House Spokesman 1:27 pm, November 4th, 2006 7:27 am November 5th, 2006 (local time) "Can you do this, Mr. Speaks?" I thought about it for a moment. The question is not whether I could do this. The question running through my mind is whether I should do this. The President just asked me to schedule a press conference and make an announcement. That's nothing new. That's why I'm his press spokesman. What was new was the fact that he wants to me say that he was going to apologize...
Senate Majority Leader 9:30 am, November 5th, 2006 2:20 am, November 6th, 2006 (local time) Senator Klause stood at the podium. "Ladies and gentlemen, fellow servants of our God Given President. It is my duty to continue this lecture in the hopes that those that put this treasonous piece of..." "Enough." Senator Clinton snapped. "Mr. Majority Leader, I believe that there was a motion for cloture first on the agenda?" "I beg your pardon, traitor? Nothing can be more important then...
Melanie 4:02pm, November 5th, 2006 9:02am November 6th, 2006 (local time) I wonder if my boyfriend is still... To find out, I stuck my head through the hatch to the bridge. Yep. He still is. This is ridiculous. He needs sleep like the rest of us. Kevin turned. He saw my face and paled a little. Excellent. The only time men obey women without question is when they are aroused... aroused or scared. "Kevin! Why the hell are you not in bed?" "I'm not tired." his yawn betrayed...
Tiffany Personal log (voice), Tiffany French, Captain of the Flying Dutchman, 12:10am, November 1st, 2006 I grabbed my coke and slice of pizza and sat down on the sofa. "Did you see the way those tough guys ran when they saw that headless horseman image?" Lucy asked. "Did I?" Debbie laughed. "I saw them running past the gate. It was soooooo cool." "I bet." Mr. Mason added. "Ok everybody, you can enjoy the laughs later. Time to see how well we did. Karen, have you finished...
Saturday Chapter 236 Ashley 12:20 am, November 5th, 2006 5:20 pm, November 5th, 2006 (local time) And here I thought my workouts were harsh. He's been at it for the last twenty minutes and I've barely heard him complain. He really must have some demons he's trying to forget. Jacob grabbed a drink from a table at the side of the room. "You might want to slow down a bit. You don't have to do the whole week's regimen in one go." the trainer told him. Jacob did not so much as...
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2006 Chapter 76 Military reporter for the Stars and Stripes 12:04 am November 2nd, 2006 (5:04 pm local time, Palestine) This was the strangest trial I ever attended. The Commandant on the Parris Island Marine Base Training Camp is not the sort of defendant I expected to meet on my beat in the Middle East. And he was on trial for piracy. Not even in my most drunk and drugged party state in college would I have thought this would happen. The defendant looked...
Jacob. Personal log (voice), J. J. Stone, Captain of the Hades, 3:50 am, October 31st, 2006 (1:50 pm local time) I felt my pulse starting to speed up again. Odd. Why should a simple recounting of the story cause this? My mother spoke as I paused for more tea. "You never told me you planned something this advanced." "You never asked." I told her. "To finish the report. The missile hit the outermost shields and exploded. Harmlessly as far as we were concerned. Not so for the other...
General Colt, USMC 1050 pm November 2nd, 2006 3:50 pm November 3rd, 2006 (local time) I watched two burly MPS came in. They were the same ones who arrested me a few days back. I stood happily to one side as they grabbed General Smith and dragged him out as if he had never been their commander. I stood there for a few moments enjoying the memory. Then I called my secretary in. He came in and stood in front of my desk. He didn't even come to attention. I could see that I was going to...
Tiffany Personal log (voice), Captain French of the Flying Dutchman, 2:19 pm, November 3rd, 2006 8:19 am November 4th, 2006 (local time) The Flying Dutchman flew on through the stratosphere. Nobody knew they were there. That was of no concern to the occupants. With all the systems smarter than the people inside of it, they had a bigger problem. It was finally sinking in to them exactly what they were about to do. Debbie for one was looking back and forth between the holographic...
Kevin Personal log (voice), Kevin, Captain of the Mary Ellen 9:35 pm, November 3rd, 2006 3:35 am November 4th, 2006 (local time) Now it is time to really take this attack on the offensive. Until now we've only been an annoyance. Well, maybe a little more troubling than that. But leveling targets doesn't do much towards rescuing Jacob and crew. We're going to have to land our people eventually. I just hope I'm returning with the same number of people as I left with. "Approaching...
Fred 9:50pm Jacob watched everybody from the chair he was sitting on. He finished his beer and looked at it for a moment. Then he put it down. I grabbed Dave as he passed by. "Can I get another Killiens?" "Sure. I never knew you were into the imported stuff." "I'm not. But Jacob likes it." "Not the Jacob?" "Yep. He's in the chair in the corner." "Will wonders never cease. Take as many as you want. Nobody will ever believe I provided beer for Jacob Stone." I went over to...
Lt. Anna 'Thunderfeet' Cork 9 pm November 2nd, 2006 2 pm November 3rd, 2006 (local time) I caught up with Ashley as she was leaving the gym. "Did you think any more about what I said about Jacob?" "No!" Ashley snapped. "No? Why not?" "Because I've bigger issues to deal with than some guy." she said with some anger. I finally turned to look at her. Ashley had a look on her face that reminded me of the time I had to tell my husband I smashed the Trans Am into a china shop. It...
Captain Amy 'Rolling Stone' Stone, USAF Sunday, 4:25am. "Rolling Stone, you are cleared for landing. Winds are adverse at 30 miles an hour." Adverse winds. Ha! I barely looked at the controls of the fighter. I didn't need too. Despite what my flight instructor said, there were only so many controls that were important at any one time. And I landed smoothly. I hopped out of the fighter and moved towards the pilots lounge. With luck, I had time to grab a quick bit of coffee and a...
Captain Amy 'Rolling Stone' Stone, USAF Sunday, 12:20pm I banged my fist on the computer desk in frustration. "Six times I've checked now and still no response." I muttered in disgust about the situation. "Six times! This should not be possible." I seriously wanted to shove the computer through the bulkhead. "What's wrong?" Anna 'Thunderfeet' Cork asked. She had a concerned look on her face. "Is the stress of the routine finally getting to you?" "I can't reach Jacob to...
Dr. Lacroy 12:22 pm, November 5th, 2006 5:22 am, November 6th, 2006 (local time) I was working in my lab when the phone rang for the fifteenth time. "Will somebody please get that before I do something very unscientific to them?" My patience had decided to go for a vacation quite a while ago. I had reviewed every bit of research I had. All futile. It was either all under development and too experimental to try, or already determined as not likely to work. So be it. I did not get this...
Karl 5 pm, Tuesday, November 1st, 2006 I closed my geology textbook as the mantle clock chimed five o'clock. It was time. They say we nerds are clever plotters. Tonight I was going to prove them right. If what I'm thinking works out, let's just say that I'll be very happy. I went upstairs to take a quick shower. Afterwards I looked through clothes for something that would not provoke Julia. I was going to take a big risk tonight. Selecting clothes that would not upset her was the...
Bill 11:45 am, November 2nd, 2006 "Bill? Do you have a moment?" I checked my watch. "Sure. I'm not in any rush, given what's on the menu." "What, they let the Home Ec class cook lunch?" "I wish they did. It would at least be looking better than what I'm seeing over there. What can I help you with?" "Come outside with me." I followed him curiously. "Rumor has it, you can give students advice almost as good as your father." "True. But if it's that important, you should...
Gunny Colepepper Personal log (voice), Colepepper, Captain of the Montezuma's Revenge, 10:31 pm, November 3rd, 2006 4:31 pm November 4th, 2006 (local time) "Minimal damage." The environmental agent called out. "Shields holding." "Return fire!" The weapons agent did so. "No apparent damage." the environmental agent informed them. "Let's move. No need to stay here now. Let's try out this thing's orbital capacities." The piloting officer adjusted the course accordingly and...
Libra 2:15 pm The conference room was as bland as possible. There was nothing that would give any immediate clue either as to the owner, or the owner's tastes. It was in a building designed to be so ordinary that nobody would notice it, even if they were staring right at it. I arrived and looked at the other eleven seated at the table. As was traditional, none of us spoke. We all exchanged computerized greetings. Sagittarius looked around and then bent over the keyboard in front him. As...
Adam Stone 11:31 pm, November 4th, 2006 4:31 pm November 5th, 2006 (local time) The table was set up perfectly. There were two cups of tea with the rest of the tea set off to the side. The cups were positioned in front of the chairs. Condiments were close by. A small plate held crackers and cheese. All was indeed in readiness, I saw Jacob arrive. Jacob paused at the entrance to the mess hall. He clapped once. A member of the Density Force ran over to help him stand for a moment. Jacob...
View of Sgt. Matthew Lane 5:45 am, November 4th, 2006 11 pm November 4th, 2006 (local time) I met Major Stone at the door to the private ward. "Thank you for coming." Stone told me. "I got the message. However, I'm surprised that Jacob wants to see me enough to send for me." "He doesn't know. My wife and I decided to send for you." "What do you expect to happen?" "We don't know. But something happened that night in the mess hall. His mother and I expected him to take you...
Vice Admiral Bright 10:20 pm, November 4th, 2006 3:20 pm November 5th, 2006 (local time) I found him precisely where she told me he'd be. He did not react. That meant he already knew I was here. I know I made the trip quickly, but I also knew enough not to think that I moved faster then the high school kids could gossip. Jacob Stone sat at the lake side watching the birds along the shore. In his lap was a load of papers. They looked about a foot high. He was reviewing them....
Karl 8:53am Somebody must have seriously lost their minds. Either it was me shortly after I walked in to the office and I'm dreaming what I just heard, or it was the school staff. "Why me?" I was flabbergasted. "Remember what happened the last time you guys put somebody 'different' through the Program? Don't you guys know what will happen the moment I show my scrawny ass naked in that hallway? Wasn't last week bad enough?" I looked at them like they were experiments that had...
4pm I went into the usual chat room online. Maybe PuckPusher 3000 would be on today. She really seems to be an interesting young lady. Of course with my luck she's 43, weighs 305 pounds and is male. To quote a Meatloaf song, 'you never can be too sure about the girl'. Me? You can be sure about me. I'm Karl Whittiker. German on my mother's side, English on my father's. I turned 18 last year. Despite the promises of my ex, I remained a virgin. In fact I broke up with her that night. I...
Lance Corporal Flack 1 pm, October 31st, 2006 (4 am the next day, local time) I sat there staring at my chicken. It was all very nice and good. But I would have killed for a slice of old english pizza. I went and got some dessert. After this I was going back to my tent. As I reached my table again I overheard an interesting conversation at the table next to me. The conversation got far more interesting when somebody came up to the table. I'm not sure what assignment the Special Forces...
Lou 9:24 pm, November 4th, 2006 2:24 pm November 5th, 2006 (local time) I watched as he was wheeled in. Jacob Jehosophat Stone. I'm betting he never expected this. Truth be told, neither did any of us. But now he's back. The problems will soon be fixed. Soon we will all be able to go home. Then again I'm not sure I want to try explaining all that's happened recently to my parents either. Johann wheeled Jacob in. Jacob stood up briefly. He looked around. Somebody came to talk to...
Vice Admiral Bright 9:50 am, November 4th, 2006 3:50 am November 5th, 2006 (local time) The view from the jet reminded me of one of the bad things about being promoted to Admiralty rank. I can no longer enjoy the thrills of being a fighter pilot. "Incoming signal." my pilot let me know. "American source?" "No. Somehow however, they matched our signal codes exactly. Whoever they are, they are damn clever, Sir." "The Stones." I muttered. "Put it though the headphone...
Lt. Anna Cork 3:30 pm, November 2nd, 2006 (8:30 am November 3rd, local time) I was doing something my job as a fighter pilot didn't give me enough time to do. I was waiting outside the guest barracks to pounce on Ashley. It wasn't that I expected her to be up to no good or anything like that. I just needed some mother-daughter time with Ashley. Ashley walked by a few minutes later. She was carrying her gym bag. "Where are you going?" She patted her gym bag. "I'm off to practice my...
Partial transcript, America over All 7:04 pm November 5th, 2006 12:04 pm November 6th, 2006 (local time) Many events happened recently that are of great interest to all pure Americans. First, our hero, General Colt was recently appointed chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by the God Given President. Second, the Association For An Almighty America went public. Let me strongly recommend that every person listening to this broadcast join this blessed organization. They, more than any...
General Smith 12:10 am, November 4th, 2006 6:10 pm November 4th, 2006 (local time) I was just thinking how I was so lucky it was Jacob's father who was assigned to run things. He was a Marine who had been under my command. He knew me and I knew him. Furthermore he respected me. All that and he was a Marine too. Then my luck changed. I saw a woman walk in. She started whispering to Major Stone. Then Major Stone handed her the school jacket he was wearing. She put it on. Another student...
Jacob Personal log (voice), J. J. Stone, Captain of the Hades, 12:33am, October 30th 2006. I just keep doing stupid things. Anybody with an ounce of sense would still be in bed. A full ounce of sense isn't even required to know that. A tenth of an ounce would do. But that fucking military once again involved themselves in my life. I don't want to hate them. Really, I do not. But how can I respect them when every behavior they show ranges from the tactless to tonight's attempt of...
Reverend Black 9:09 pm, November 5th, 2006 2:09 pm, November 6th, 2006 (local time) Lou and Carl assisted Jacob to the ground. Jacob slowly worked his way down to the place his family told him was right. I really hope they were not getting my hopes up about that weird treatment they did. Lazy people might not like walking, but they'd miss it too after too long in a wheelchair. The next design change I will make will make Density Force handicapped assessable. His parents split up. His...
Kevin 10:30am, October 28th, 2006. I watched Jacob's ship land at the side of the school field. He got out and came over. As he limped my way, I saw he was dressed in his normal outfit. That was going to have to change. Then again, I really wasn't comfortable with what was going down here anyway. Jacob had little sports experience outside of watching the Olympics. It was true he was the manager of the soccer team. Sports wise, that's mainly a social job. He didn't need any sports...
Jacob Personal log (voice), J. J. Stone, Captain of the Flying Dutchman, 11:30 am, October 29th 2006. The Hades was the second of the Dutchman class vessels to be launched under the command of Jacob Jehosophat Stone. It was the first of it's kind to circle the earth at 45 miles altitude. It was also, as far as I knew, the only manned craft to fly comfortably at that height. Everybody aboard the Hades was in position. Since this was a simple flight, they were mainly here for window...
Tiffany Personal log (voice), Tiffany French, Captain of the Flying Dutchman, 9:35am, October 31st, 2006 I'd like to say the class was interesting. I would, but it would be a lie. The fact is I did not give a damn about the recent deaths of Arafat and Sharon. It's true that I was sitting in current events class. Current events to me involves rock singers and television. That and medical science. The teacher was going on. "Those of us with relatives in the Middle East may be more aware...
Ali Alibaba 10:49 pm, November 5th, 2006 3:49 pm, November 6th, 2006 (local time) "Praise to Allah!" cried our leader. "Allah akbar!!" I shouted back gleefully. "Have you acquired the craft?" "Yes." "Are the items placed where they should be?" "Indeed. The infidels have no clue." "Excellent." "Have we all the information we need?" "That and more." "Allah is merciful. Our day of destiny in soon to be upon us." Chapter 278 Ashley 11:10 pm, November 5th,...
Kevin 2:56 pm, November 5th, 2006 7:56 am, November 6th, 2006 (local time) When will that woman stop pacing? I swear she's trying to wear a hole in my deck. She stopped suddenly. "Anything?" she asked Sam. "Nothing." She started pacing again. I stopped not being annoyed. "That's the eighth time you asked that question. What is so wrong? Why are you pacing around here like that?" "Because we should have heard from them by now." "Heard from who?" "The carrier. We had to...
Krissy 2:58 pm, November 4th, 2006 8:58 am November 5th, 2006 (local time) "Are you sure?" my boyfriend asked. He had an unsure look on his face. It was so cute. "Yes. It's better for me to do it. Remember what you said in the hallway?" "Yes. But moments ago I realized that I was more concerned about you." "That's sweet. Don't worry. I can handle it." "What could possibly have happened that was so bad?" the annoying visitor asked, his attitude up there with nails on...
Megan 10:30am I drove to the Stone farm as fast as I could. This morning I didn't care if I got ticketed. Hell, this morning I wouldn't cared if I had to run barefoot over shattered glass with a broken leg. There was just no way I was going to miss this appointment. It just wasn't going to happen. It wasn't every day that people got an invitation to become part of Stone's project. But that was not what had my mother thrilled. I was being given an exclusive. I was to be the first...
Krissy 7:10 am, Tuesday, November 1st, 2006 I went down to a breakfast of burnt toast. This was nothing new. In case I hadn't mentioned it, both of my parents are in public service. My mother works on the hospital's ambulance. My father is a policeman in Annapolis. Dad's shifts are never constant and mother got called in. Both have to leave often and suddenly. I trashed the burnt toast. Then I put a couple of English muffins in the toaster and waited. Any minute now. The phone...
Valerie Dash Noon If that West Point recruiter had any idea in hell what I'd been left alone with, he'd join the Peace Core. It would be that dramatic a shock to his world view. I picked up the West Point recruiting materials again. With this barn's security systems running, I might be the safest person in the area. Of course the phone rang then. I hit the speaker phone button. "Speak to me." "Is this the Stone farm?" "Who wants to know?" "Staff Sergeant Rogers. I'm trying...
Monday Chapter 27 Jacob Personal log (voice), J. J. Stone, Captain of the Hades, 12:03am, October 30th 2006. Somebody was once reported to have said, 'I'm going to bed now. Someone please wake me if there's any other way we can screw up tonight.' The bed part was excellent advice. The problem was that moving made me feel really sick. My stomach was queasy and it felt like there was a gang of rioting musicians playing poorly on purpose in my head. If this was the result of getting...
Major Daniel Stone, 6:42 pm, November 3rd, 2006 12:42 pm November 4th, 2006 (local time) I turned and thought about what else I should be doing about the situation. Then I remembered that I better make sure the surrender took hold and that Colt had no more fanatics on the base. "Get me the Flying Dutchman." "This is the Flying Dutchman, Mister Mason speaking." "This is Major Stone. Stand by for new orders." I hit the mute and asked the crew if the Hades had been recovered...
Ms. Q. 8:54 am, November 4th, 2006 2:54 am November 5th, 2006 (local time) I finished filling out my current report. I put the report in its correct folder and reached for the next folder. Nobody told me back in college just how much paperwork a career in education contained. Sigh. And I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with the Program. This week seemed too quiet. I do not need all the excitement of last week, but a week with no problems is just unnatural in a high school. There...
Personal log (voice), J. J. Stone, Captain of the Hades, 9:19pm, October 29th 2006. I must be seriously insane. Crazier than anybody has yet accused me of being. There can be no other reason for what I'm doing tonight. I hit a few more keystrokes. I had another problem. I was once invited to this party. However I was not sure the guest of honor wanted me there today. Good thing it was a costume party. I had already changed into my costume. A wooden leg encasing my bad leg and some makeup...
Krissy 11:43 am, November 4th, 2006 5:43 am November 5th, 2006 (local time) Soup? After all the time I've been in this school, does the cafeteria staff think I am stupid enough to eat their soup? I've heard even the biology department won't touch it. I'm betting it would only take two or three lightning bolts to change it into some new life form. I joined the crowds of students grabbing only chips and sodas. "Hey Krissy." I turned. It was Frank. "Hey Frank what's up? Frank...
Karl 10:25am The bidding was getting hot. "Nineteen fifty." "Twenty." "Twenty two." "Twenty three." Time to get involved. "Twenty five." "Twenty six." the guy I outbid came back. "Twenty seven." the guy he last outbid called. "Twenty eight." "Twenty nine." I saw the two of them double checking their wallets. That wasn't going to help them. I still had all the money I received because my parents made me work when everybody else was doing their Halloween...
Staff Sergeant Rogers. 11 am Tuesday, November 1st, 2006 I met my superior in the oddest place yet. The abandoned outhouse of an 18th century farm. I understood the need for secrecy, but I swear they were finding me some really out of the way places to meet at. I swear if satellite photography revealed the entrance to the mythical Greek underworld, they'd plan a meeting in it's lobby. "You're early." Major General Edwards informed me. I turned and saluted. He returned my salute....
General Colt 4:12 pm, November 3rd, 2006 10:12 am November 4th, 2006 (local time) I drove away from any conceivable major target. My job here was nearly finished. By now any Association agents will be pulling out. But before that they would no doubt have killed Stone and everybody that was with him. I chuckled to myself. The funny thing about it all was that I never had to order them to do so. Their orders said that neither they nor their prisoners were to fall into enemy hands. But their...
Major Daniel Stone, U.S.M.C. 8:53 pm, November 3rd, 2006 2:53 pm November 4th, 2006 (local time) It has been nearly three hours since I took command of this mess. Nearly eight hours since the teens started to attack the base, if the rumors could be believed. It was time to start to get a firmer picture of where we stand. "Okay, all, reports. Lou, you start. What's the status of the Density Force in and of itself?" "All missions accomplished. The ships were redeployed as per orders as...
Julia 12:12 pm, November 3rd, 2006 I got lunch and looked for a seat in my usual area. For some reason, empty seats didn't seem to be so hard to find today. At least lunch didn't look like road kill today. It always helps the digestion when I am able to in fact eat the food. As I sat down, I realized that the lunchroom was a bit emptier than normal. I gave a quick check out the window. Nope, no blizzard. As far as I knew there was no special events going on today that would give that...