CASTLE THE WASHINGTON D C THREAT

CASTLE: THE WASHINGTON D.C. THREAT Things had not been going well, for Senator Castle, since she had been removed from the oversight board. Atleast five, of her proposals, for helping inner cities, had NOT passed the review process. Kate KNEW the reasons why her bills were being blocked. It ALL "centered" on her dis-approval, of funding the invasions, of the Middle East. Kate had found this not to be hallucination, but FACT, especially after five, state, dinners, that she, and Castle, had been invited to. At various times, during each dinner, Kate, and Rick, alternately, were called aside, for private discussions. While Kate was suggested "Senator, without New Yorks support, many jobs will be in serious jeopardy." When Kate asked "Care to elaborate?" all that the people would say was "I am sure you will make the right decision." As for Rick, it was only at these dinners that the author would learn of why so many buildings, in New York, had been left abandoned, and un-developed. Three, seperate, sources informed the author that the derelicts were just "window-dressing". It was deep under the surface, both of the ground, and even under the Hudson, and New York Harbor, that hundreds of people were working, round-the-clock, to develop new weapons. Weapons which were rummored to be used to protect the nation, in the event of an attack. The problem, as it was explained, to Rick, was "Due to your wifes attitude, toward funding the war on terror, we cannot effect enough change to make the invasions worthwhile." When Rick asked "Worthwhile, for WHOM?" his conversers would say "We need this war, to wipe out the enemies, of Christianity. GOD must rule over all." When Rick would suggest "Isn't Allah the same as God?" His sources would remind him "The world needs Christian Democracy, to be safe. Everyone on the same page." Shortly after Rick would whisper "Good luck with that." He would find himself standing, alone. Oddly enough, after each dinner, when Kate would call her father, hoping for advice, it was just as she was about to ask what she should do, when the line went dead. Time and again. When Kate would ask Rick "Why are these people so determined to continue funding a FAILED program? America was promised democracy, in the Middle East, by 2005. Four years of fighting, projected, then it would, all, be over. Yet, here we are. Decades later, and no closer, to a solution." This is when Rick would suggest "Kate, think of it this way. How many PEOPLE are employed, during the invasions?" Kate would say "I really dont know. Maybe ten thousand." Rick would suggest "What do you think will happen, when the invasions are over?" Kate would ask "What do you mean?" Three weeks, and another promise, this time to make a fan a supporting character, in his next book, Rick and Kate would be snatched off of the streets, hooded, and taken to what Kate was certain was an underground facility. Kate knew it was down, based upon how the walk was. Before the hoods came off, a voice, which Rick remembered, from his research days, of Derek Storm, whispered, to each person "What you are about to see does NOT exist. Breath one word, about this, and it will be your last breath." When Kate would ask "Why would you execute us, if we spoke of seeing something?" The voice would ask "Lady, WHO said WE would shoot you?" This is when Kate would say "Ready." When Rick hesitated, Kate would whisper "CASTLE!" and Rick would say "Right, me too." A moment later, Rick, and Kate, saw where taxpayer money was going. When Kate saw the size of the thing, she asked "Why under New York? Why not closer to D.C.?" The man would ask "Mrs. Castle, have you SEEN the security around D.C.? I mean, a mouse cant even fart, without those bozo's, at Homeland, knowing about it." What puzzled Kate was what she did NOT see, near the object. This is when she would ask "IF this is a bomb, where is the explosive?" Their guide would ask "Who said anything about an explosive?" Kate would give one of her famous looks, then ask "If its not a bomb, then what?" This is when one of the gun-men would come forth, with a packet, of information. After he handed it to the speaker, the speaker would hold it long enough to say "Understand..." Kate would say "I never saw it. I know the drill." When Kate looked at the contents, of the folder, along with Rick, she would say "Impossible." While Rick would say "Ingenious." The folder contained the summary of a plan to activate this "machine", yet, unlike the previous attacks, on New York. The ones which left debris behind, this device was designed not to explode, but to "teleport/transport" New York city to another dimension. The summary even described how the Taliban, and Al-Qaida, would be blamed, for doing the un-thinkable. When Kate would ask "How do you hide a city? I mean, where would the city go?" The speaker would say "Who knows? Who even CARES?" Rick would suggest "Either another dimension, or another universe." Kate would say "Castle! Real world." The speaker would say "Now that you know where the money is REALLY going, you can rest, easy. Right?" Kate would take one last look around, amazed at the scope of the project. This before saying "Remarkable." This time, the speaker would hold out the blind-folds, asking "Ladies first?" Kate noticed that, this time, there was no shoving. In fact, it was more like a blind car ride. When the hoods were removed, and Kate saw their location, she asked the escort "Why here? Why not where you collected us?" The escort would say "Un-fortunately, your previous location is an "abduction" scene. It seems that "someone" made a call, saying that the author, and the senator, had been abducted." The escort would add "Walk two blocks, that way. Look for a black taxi, and ask for Vinnie. He will take you home." When Kate would ask "What about our cars?" The escort would say "Regretfully, ma'am, you car will be found, gutted, in the morning." When Kate would say "You guys are sure thorough." The escort would say "We try to be. Now, have a good evening." With that, the man was gone. This is when Kate would mention "You know, for a group, of blood-thirsty murderers, they sure are polite." Rick would say "The "families" have many branches. Most of them are just everyday people. They are taught good manners, from grade school. The "hoods" you deal with are a different branch." When Kate began making inquiries, the next day, it was not long before she was invited, to another luncheon. This, at the request of the wife of the finance committee chairman. Over pre-lunch drinks, the chairmans wife would whisper "Dont be too concerned." When Kate would ask "Why? That device can..." And the chairmans wife would say "Dont be silly. If my husband promises "NO Collatteral Damage", then there wont be." When Kate would ask "Just where will New York City go?" The woman would say "I dont know all the details. My husband just wanted me to promise you that there will be no, annoying, blasts, or explosions. Just a twinkling, of light, then the city will be off." When Kate would ask "WHERE will the city go?" The woman would say "Lets order, shall we?" Halfway through their salads, when Kate would ask "Does your husband know who will be blamed, this time?" The woman would say "OH, just those, nasty, Talibani's, I think." When Kate would ask "Why not Al-Qaida?" The woman would say "They aren't fun to play with, any longer. No one cares about them. We could wipe them out, and the world would not even notice." Kate would say "So, the Taliban gets blamed. Then what?" Over the main course, the woman would explain how information would be "found", detailing how the Taliban had struck. The woman would, even, say "We even have two of those nasty boys in holding. Very im-polite they are." Kate would mention "Not surpising, considering the "enhanced interrogation" being used, on them." By desert, the woman would come to the point. "Okay, senator, I will be frank. The war has LOST support, even here in the states. We need something, dramatic, to fire the public up, again. This time, however, there will be no bodies. No clean up. We just need to re-light the flames, of rage." When Kate would ask "For how LONG? It has been 20 years, already." The woman would say "Just until we clear out those, nasty slums. With no more poor, demanding services, we can sell the area's for real estate development." When Kate would ask "What do you suggest that I do?" The woman would say "Simple. Forget what you think you saw, and bring New York back into the war. Do this, and you will be back in good standing. If you agree, then I will introduce you to people, whose power you would not believe." Before the two ladies parted, Kate would pull a Castle-classic, saying "I will give it very serious thought." Back at Chez Castle, Kate would place a question on the Castle fan site. How hard would it be, either as fiction, or real life, to make a large city "exit" one dimension, and WHERE would the city be sent?" While awaiting a rational answer, Kate would receive an un-signed note. The threat could not be more direct. "Senator Castle, If you breath one word, about the project, then your daughter, Alexis, WILL be in the center, of New York, if the plan is placed into effect." Shortly after Kate brought the note to the attention of the committee, saying "If anyone harms my daughter, there will be consequences" Shortly after this, Kate was baffled when Alexis would ask "Mom, WHY has my name been placed on a no-fly list?" Kate would say "probably just a clerical error." Shortly after Kate began checking into the matter, uniforms, from another precinct, would arrive, with a warrant, for Alexis arrest. Reason: Suspected of drug dealing. After this, Kate would receive another, hand-written, note. This one saying "Alexis case will not even come up, for review, for months. By then, the project will be completed, and Alexis will follow New York, on its journey." When Kate would inform the 12th, suggesting "Maybe I should just resign the senate. I wont risk Alexis life." This is when Ryan, Esposito, and even Laney, would interfere, saying "NO way, sister. You are going to STAY in the Senate. WE are going to do the ground work." When Kate would ask "What about Castle? Alexis is as much his daughter..." Laney would say "Do NOT go there, girl. You married INTO that FAMILY. They are as important as your father." When Kate would ask "So, what is the first step?" Esposito would say "First, we get Alexis cleared of the drug charge." Ryan would say "That will take like five minutes. She is even cleaner than her father is." This is what the 12th thought, atleast until they called up Alexis file. Esposito would call out "I want a trace on this line, right NOW!" even as the detectives watched as Alexis spotless record was changed, before their very eyes. The record was changed from college major, to "homeless", while her college credits were wiped out. Ryan called out "Where is that trace?" even as Alexis face changed, before their eyes, with photo's being uploaded, showing that Alexis had drug use "tracks", on her arms. By the time Esposito called out "WHERE is that trace?", and was told "Federal firewall. They WANT us to know WHAT they are doing, AND that we can do nothing about it." Within minutes, a federal order came on the record, saying that Alexis was being transferred to a prison, for the criminally insane. Ryan slipped up, saying "God knows what they..." until Esposito slapped his back. The Ryan added "Sorry." When Laney would ask "What can we do?", Esposito would ask Ryan "Remember that stock broker. The one we, first, found in a tree" Ryan would say "Who can forget that case. Drug dealers stole the body, from us, sliced it open, took out the drugs, then dumped it, for a second pick up." Suddenly, all three co-workers looked at Kate, as she said "Tell me you are not suggesting..." Laney would say "This IS Alexis we are talking about." Espo would say "As long as Castle does not find out." Due to Kates position, as a U.S. Senator, she could file the permission slips, without the new captain even knowing. Using the best hackers, that the N.Y.P.D. had, the "team" would weapon up, and prepare to battle their own. With full schematics, of everything from clothes, to route map, three detectives, and Laney (for medical purposes), would sign out both an armoured, assault, vehicle, and a chase car. For the first time, in more than a century, the police would be on the defensive. When the prisoner transport would not pull over, voluntarily, Espo would begin crashing into the unit, even as, back at the 12th, the computer hacker was jamming its transmissions. Laney would shout, at Espo "Alexis is in there. Be careful!" Espo would say "What do you think I am trying to do?" About the only blessing, of the entire event, was that Alexis had been strapped to a gurney, and shot full of sedatives. This is why, when the transport flipped, Miss Castle sustained only minor abrasions. With speed, born of necessity, the team took Alexis, gurney and all, to the chase car. Here, the girl was transferred to the rear seat, along with Laney. As soon as Alexis was secure, Kate burned rubber, like never before. This would be risky, at best, and deadly, at worst. Using one of the D.E.A.'s OWN cars, Kate made a run for the only place where the plan would work. Just ten minutes after rescuing Alexis, all access, to New York City was closed down. Still, Kate kept the accelerator to the floor, even as she came to the barrier. While the bridge was closed, with the span raised, at 160 miles per hour, Kate was determined to succeed. Even with pursuit units now in chase mode. The chase cars might have shot out the tires, on a regular, squad, car, but they knew that bullets were useless against the governments rampant paranoia. A paranoia, which resulted in cars with 600 hourse-power engines, bullet-proof glass, and self-sealing tires. At the bridge, all Laney would do was embrace Alexis, while whispering, to Kate, "I hope you know what you are doing." In a feat, worthy of Evil Kneivel, Kate launched the car over the gap, with such speed, that it was like the car had wings. The pursuit cars would have to stop, before falling into the river. To Laney, and Kate, soaring over the gap, seemed to take years. Years with nothing, below them, except ice cold water. With the speedometer sitting off the scale, at its highest limit, the engine roared, like an animal, charging in the hunt. Kates every sense locked on the approaching mass, of the Jersey side, of the bridge. Laney did all she could, to shield Alexis, when she knew that contact was imminent. The only question was "Are the 600 horses enough power, to close the gap? OR, was the car destined to fall into the water?" The answer came when wheels hit the road-bed, nearly ten feet beyond the gap. Coasting to a stop, Laney would check on Alexis, before turning her attention to Kate. Laney just smiled when Kate no-sooner said "Im okay", when she turned from Laney, and got sick, right there, at road side. When an attendant came, rushing, up, Laney would say "I am Doctor Parish, and I am taking care of these women." When the worker asked "What do you need, of me?" Laney would say "That bridge has just taken a severe shock. Do NOT reopen it, until safety inspectors arrive." When Kate re-gained her own, and said "I am okay." Laney would say "Uh, uh. You ride with Alexis. I am driving." Funny thing about all of this new electronic stuff. It may think FASTER than humans can, but they will NEVER beat human ingenuity. Proof: By the time the New York warrant was out, for Alexis, Kate had the girl safely at her fathers property (and beyond state lines) Now, only a federal warrant would bring the girl in. Kate was certain that those, who threatened Alexis, would NOT be willing to draw that kind of attention. Not with how they were going so far as to build an "inter-dimensional" device, under New York City, then try to blame the Taliban, when the city vanished. With her fathers computer, and an up-link, to the N.Y.P.D., Kate, and Laney, would watch as Alexis "hijacked" file returned to normal. This, while Alexis rested, and was given another drug, to clear her system. Just days later (and AFTER verifying that Alexis had made a full recovery), Kate marched into the Senate chamber, announcing "Going after my daughter is the worst move you could have made. If you want to kill me, I am right here. Leave my family OUT of it, from now on. Understand?" When the chairman would say "Senator Castle, control yourself." Kate would say "Like HELL! You just tried to get my daughter locked away, on drug charges. Try that again, and I will take down the White House, if I have too." Sensing the fiery passion, behind Kates words, the discussion was tabled. When the panel adjourned, the chairman asked Kate into his office. Once Kate was inside the office, the chairman would lift the phone, and say "Put the call through, on speaker, if you would." When Kate heard her fathers voice, her first thought was "Remember the family code". The one the family had memorized, DECADES ago, in case a member was in danger. A code no one else knew anything about. When Kate asked "Hey, pops, hows old age treatin ya?" and Mr. Beckett would say "I may be old, but I AINT dead, yet!" This is when Kate would say "Good to hear from you." Mr. Beckett would say "Your friends were kind enough to explain what has been going on. I have to say that I knew the government had secrets. I just hope you are staying safe." Kate would say "I am trying, dad." When Mr. Beckett would add "Dont try jumping any more bridges, okay? I dont think my heart could take that." Kate would say "Not if I can help it." After signing off, Kate would ask the chairman "Let me guess. That was to let me know that you KNOW where my father lives." The chairman would say "Not true, at all. When our sources informed us that he was concerned for your welfare, we made it a point to make sure father and daughter knew each were well. By the way, that bridge stunt was either foolish, or crazy." When Kate would say "MY daughter was in danger..." The chairman would say "An un-fortunate mistake. It has been corrected. And, yes, you are correct. Here in Washington D.C., we may go after one another, but WE never go after family." When he saw Kates smile, the chairman would say "I do not, ofcourse, speak for the media. Only for Congress." When Kate would ask "So, what IS the next move?" The chairman would say "With just a couple of more years, at FULL funding, the project will be secreted from New York, to a test target. If it works, then another city will be drawn, at random." When Kate would ask "Will the people be evacuated, first?" The chairman would say "They will receive free passage." (Kate did not like the sound of that. In fact, all she did like was the idea that, when finished, the device would be evacuated, from New York.) To try to set her mind at rest, Kate would, at home, ask Castle "How do you make contact with that alleged time traveller?" When Castle would say "Mind games." Kate would ask "Real world, Castle. How do you contact him?" Castle would say "As I said, its a mind game. If I focus, hard enough, he drops by." When Kate would ask "How long will this take? I need to know that not only Alexis, but Laney, Ryan, and Esposito, are safe." While Kate knew that she had missed lunch, with all that was going on, it was not until her stomach began to growl that Kate realized that she had not eaten, since breakfast. That, and the fact that Castle was in the kitchen, preparing dinner. It was right during the argument, over contact, and dinner prep, that the time traveller would appear, asking "What is up with you two? I cant leave you alone, for more than a week, and you are back at the arguments." When Kate would say "Sorry, I just got some bad news. I am concerned about if something goes wrong." The man would say "Thank god, you understood the message." When Kate would ask "What message?" The man would say "That device. The one, under the city." Kate would ask "What about it?" The time traveller would ask "Do you know what they plan to do with it?" Kate would say "They plan to build it under New York, then ship it some place, for testing." The time traveller would say "Correction. They will TRY to move it." When Kate would ask "What do you mean "try"?" The time traveller would say "Let me say it this way. You are "children" who have found daddy's loaded gun." When Kate would ask "Just WHAT does THAT mean?" The time traveller would say "IN MY time, there is a story. A story, about a machine. It is built, to make cities vanish." When Kate would ask "What DOES happen to the city?" The time traveller would say "Best case scenario? City does vanish, taking the people with it." When Kate would, more forcably, ask "WHERE does the city go?" The time traveller would say "The universe which is opposite of this. You cannot imagine the agony, of positive particles being replaced with negative ones." When Kate would ask "What happens, in THIS dimension?" The time traveller would say "An explosion, which takes out 30% of the Earths surface." When Castle would ask "How do we prevent this?" The time traveller would joke "Easier to solve your marriage problems." When Kate would ask "Seriously?" The time traveller would say "There is only one way, to prevent the catastrophy." When Kate would ask "And that is?" The time traveller would say "Without its fuel core, the device is useless. All you have to do is prevent delivery, of the fuel core, for three days, and the world is safe." When Castle would ask "HOW do we prevent the delivery?" The time traveller would say "Figure it out." Before vanishing, the time traveller would add "Let me remind BOTH of you. I am NOT your referee. You need to handle your problems, without calling me. If I am caught, aiding you, my research grants will be cancelled, and I will be reduced to reading about you, in history books. Understood?" With that, the man was gone. Now, Kate had a new question. What type of fuel core was she looking for? Where was it coming from? Who would be delivering it? When the senator would check with every D.C. source, that she could think of, none had any idea of what she was talking about. When she spoke to the wives, all the women would say was "Big, nasty, thing. Only saw it once. Gave me nightmares, for a week." When Kate would ask "How big is it? Would you draw it for me?" It looked like nothing the detective-turned-senator had seen, in her life. What the ladies DID know was that their husbands were providing UNDERGROUND transportation, for the device. "They are even laying special tracks. It is so heavy." When Kate contacted the 12th, asking for idea's, the resident, computer, experts asked "About how big, and how heavy?" The only comparison that Kate could come up with was "Think of the Schwaller-Gustav gun. The one the Nazi's used against the Soviet city of Sevastopol." When Ryan would ask "You ARE kidding, aren't you? I mean, a gun, that big, cant be hidden anywhere. It was bigger than a locomotive." Kate would say "If the Nazi's could FORCE German laborers to move it, under threat of death, then what is to stop modern engineers." While Kate was working her leads, Castle was busy, enlisting the aid of his fellow authors. When Castle tried to expalin how LARGE the device was, the authors would ask "Rick, that is pure imagination." and "There hasn't been a gun, that big, since the fall of the Third Reich." When Castle would ask "What if I told you that the gun is being finished, maybe 500 feet beneath the city of New York?" This is when the other authors would throw down their cards, saying "I vote that Rick not be allowed into the next hand. All in favor?" When McConnell would ask "Just HOW such a weapon, IF it existed, be moved about?" Castle would say "My wife thinks that it will be moved via the subways." To this, the other authors laughed, while saying "Rick, the New York subway system just isn't LARGE enough to move something that large. Not unless new subway tunnels are being built." This would be when guest Patricia Cromwell would suggest "Not unless the city modernized the old tunnels." McConnell would add "Please, do you really think that New York would go to such expense, of digging new tunnels?" This is when Patricia would suggest "Wouldn't it be cheaper, and easier, just to widen one tunnel, by digging out the ground, between two, obsolete, tunnels?" This got Rick thinking. "Yes, all they would have to do was add more steel reinforcement, then run the line, OFF to the side of the main tracks." The other, attending, author, would mention "Rick, this is borderring on the ridiculous. Building World War Two style weapons, under a major, U.S. city? Clearing out, expanding, and shoring up, forgotten, subway, lines? A machine, which can make cities vanish? I dont know about anyone else, here, but this is beginning to sound like a cross between "The Time Machine", "The taking of Phelam One, Two, Three", and "The Fantastic Four" movies. None of which, by the way, are based in reality." When Rick would ask "But what if?" Patricia would say "Rick, what you are talking about would cost more than this nation can afford. It is pure fantasy. Now are we going to play cards?" By the time the card game was finished, Martha, and Alexis, would have refreshments laid out, for the players to relax with. Still, Rick could "see the gears turning", in his fellow authors heads. All were wondering if Ricks story might be true. The break, in the case, came when one of Castles mob-sources would arrange an informal meeting. The same, polite, mobsters, who had taken Castle, and Beckett, by surprise, the last time, used a different tactic this time. Instead of bags over heads, the lead man would ask "Mr. Castle. Mr. Bartlett says that you want some information. The question is: Are you willing to PAY for the information?" When Castle would ask "Only if the price is right." The mobster would promise "In that case, sir, and ma'am, if you will proceed to the next corner, a blue van will pull up. We will enter the van, together." When Kate would ask "If we refuse?" The mobster would put a revolver to her head, saying "That would be most un-fortunate." Kate would say "Got it. Lead the way, gentlemen." Kate was not-at-all surprised when the van had no windows. The mobster would say "With our apologies, ma'am, but you are a former cop. The boss does not want any "interruptions"." At the Bartlett house, Kate was surprised when the mobster would bid the couple entry, while asking Kate "Would you prefer that I refer to you as Nikki Heat, Kate Castle, or Senator Castle" Kate would say "Sir, Kate is fine." Once a servant had provided drinks, Castle would ask "Sir, what is on your mind?" The mobster would say "Rumor has it that you are looking into "modifications", being made, UNDER New York City. Is this true?" When Kate would say "Sir, I believe you know the answer, to that question." The mobster would say "Rick, my boy, you caught the image, of the lady, to perfection. I was HOPING that I would be dealing with Nikki Heat. This is why I have invited you into my home." When Kate would ask "Yes, sir, that was my question as well." The mobster would say "I have certain information, which will aid your investigation." Kate would suggest "You dont want the information to be linked back to you." The mobster would ask Rick "I thought you were smarter than this." When Rick would ask "What IS on your mind?" The mobster would say "Some of my boys have been "enlisted" for a project. Very hush-hush. Not even allowed to speak to family." When Kate would ask "Then, how do you know...?" and the mobster would say "It is my JOB to know what goes on, in New York. This is why I invited you to my house, for drinks, and dinner." It would be over drinks, then a dinner, of prime rib, steaks, potatoes, with melted butter, etc. that the mobster would tell of the plans, which some shadow group was trying to have passed. It would seem that some, of the subway tunnels, were just too small. Either for the device, or its power core. When Kate would ask "Just how BIG is this power source?" The mobster would look about the room, saying "Maybe four times as large as this room." When Kate almost choked on her food, while asking "How big?" The mobster would say "Let your food rest, for a moment." After Kate collected herself, she asked "What does this shadow group have to do with the device?" The mobster would say "In order to make the subways big enough, to move the parts through, the group has to remove the basements, from several skyscrapers." When Kate would say "There is no way that New York will agree to that." The mobster would say "This is where the "heart", of the problem comes into the room." When Castle would suggest "Sir, dont tell me what I think you are about to tell me." The mobster would set his wine glass down, then say "The family has been moving our people off of Manhattan for the past two days. I will be joining them, after you depart, for home." Then the mobster would look right at Rick, saying "If you love your family, like I do, do NOT be in New York, by (this date)." When Kate would ask "Sir, if you dont mind my asking, if the subways are not large enough, for transport, then HOW would the device be ignited?" The mobster would only say "Mrs. Castle, I would prefer NOT to be near New York, just in case the connection MIGHT be made." It was during a visit to a ladies room that Kate noticed the clipboards, that staff were carrying about. Each board had a list, of names, and workers were double-checking one another. By the time dinner was over, Kate shook the mobsters hand, saying "Thank you, so much. Both for the lovely dinner, and the information." Kate would be surprised when the man bowed, as a true gentleman would. On the ride home, Kate would reflect on the manners of their host, and his staff. Nothing seemed to be forced. All seemed genuine. When Castle saw her look, he reminded her "In the families, manners are taught, just as they have been, for centuries." Kate would say "I guess that I am just so accustomed to delaing with filth, that I just assumed they were, all, alike." Castle would mention "Dont judge a book by its cover." What would both concern, and surprise, Kate was when, on her next contact, with Ryan and Espo, the detectives told her "Thats right. Orders came down from the top. A practice exercise. We are to be set up, and, fully, operational, near the west side, of Jersey, by a specified time, and date." When Kate checked with other departments, in the city, she found the same. Calm, orderly, evacuation drills. (Presumably to judge how efficiently the city could be evacuated, IF necessary.) This is why, when Kate returned to the Castle residence, she found Martha, and Alexis, packing, for the Hamptons. When Kate checked in, with the Senate, her staff verified that there was nothing more unusual than the normal threats. Americans, angry, that domestic problems were being denied funding, while the government was approving trillions of dollars, to fund the invasions, of the Middle East. International law-makers, who remained annoyed at how the real estate developer had "torched" agreements, each of which had taken YEARS of approval. Agreements, which the real estate developer had "burned to ash", with the stroke of a pen. Sure, the day, when the real estate developer LOST re-election, to an experienced, career, politician, had been seen as a "triumph", for democracy, however, the real estate developer had done enough damage that it would take years, if not decades, to repair the damage. It would be during this "gap", that the shadows intended to attack. If the device worked, on New York City, then the next target would be Washington D.C. The shadows THOUGHT that wiping out the capital city would so enrage the public that Americans would DEMAND the immediate extermination, of the Taliban. "Guilt" would not even be considered, once the "evidence" was found. The world would return to WAR, with "blood in their eyes", and the Taliban would not have a chance. Public opinion would convict the group, and stealth bombers would take out any village which had even a remote connection, to the group. The shadows would win, all the way around. Other than these, her staff had nothing, new, to report. When Mr. Beckett, at Ricks urging, visited the family loft, to encourage his daughter to LEAVE New York, just until the crisis was past, when Kate said "NO, dad, I am NOT leaving you, alone, in the city." This is when Rick would look at Mr. Beckett, saying "Sir, there is room, on the plane, if you want to accompany your daughter." Mr. Beckett would turn to Kate, saying "I will leave the city ONLY if my daughter comes with me." When Kate would say "Fine, just let me pack a bag." Martha would say "Already done. Our baggage is at the airport. We should leave before it is closed." It was one hour later, after the jet had departed New York, and was approaching the Hamptons, when the pilot would announce "Due to un-forseen circumstances, New York is, now, closed to all traffic. We will arrive, in the Hamptons, in five minutes." It was not until five hours, after landing, in the Hamptons, and getting settled in, that Rick, and Kate, would check their e-mail. Sure enough, each had dozens of messages, all with the same content. Everyone had been evacuated, and accounted for. Only the un-informed New Yorkers would be left to face whatever happened. What concerned Kate, most, however, was when the Senate began a "special session". While, in the past, such sessions required all members to be present, in Washington D.C., even if the military had to collect them, in this case, some, special override had been enacted, and the Senate members were on live, video chat. The very next day, people, from Jersey, saw a sight, which none had seen, before. A beam, of bright, blue, light, shot up, from below the subways. It turned a two foot manhole, into an eight foot gap, in the road, as the beam shot up, into the air, high enough to be seen, from miles, beyond the city. At its highest point, the beam split into a "mesh", which covered all of New York city. Viewers were left spell-bound, as the light spread out, until all of New York was "covered". Dis-believeing eyes began to think back on the limited run, televison series: Stargate: Atlantis. People wondered if New York was about to fly away. While the American people had come to ignore the "age-old" air raid sirens, originally designed to warn of approaching, Soviet, nuclear attack, yet, now used to warn of approaching, threatening weather, as the dazzling display un-folded, before their eyes, and the sirens sounded, the public was left dis-concerted over the reason for the sound. All of the action seemed confined, to New York. These viewers, were miles away. When Kate, and the senate, checked in with Congressional volunteers, who were assigned posts, inside New York city, all that the reports said was "Air is growing foul. It is like New York has been placed in a tupperware bowl, and sealed shut. Getting hard to breath. Strange feel, to the air. Almost like air filled with electricity." Moments later, the volunteers would say "Must switch to oxygen tank. Hard to breath." When two outposts went "dark", and the Senate asked "Bad comms?" Washington D.C. would report "No, senator. We just never thought that the event would cause pace-maker failure." Then added "Had we known, we would have chosen other volunteers." After about four hours, of the light show, the shaft, of light, dissolved. After this, there was the sound of an explosion. So loud that anyone, not wearing ear coverings, was left deafened, for several minutes. This, as news helicopters filmed the dissolving event, as the web, dispersed, from around New York. As New York returned to regular operations, Kate, and Rick, would be invited to another dinner, at the mobsters home. This time, the mobster was relaxed was he praised God, multiple times, for the failure of the project. During drinks, and dinner, the mobster would say "Good news is: when those bastards could not fit the power core close enough, for a real connection, they tried to use wire, rated for only half a million volts, as an "extension cord". I mean, can you believe it? An "extension cord", for something that powerful?" When Kate would ask "Sir what DID happen?" The mobster would say "Lets just say that half a million volts was not enough to make the device work. Five miles, worth of cable, fried, inside a few minutes. How dumb were those jerks. Even I could have told them that the cable was not rated, for the 100 million volts, which they tried to use, for the machine." When Rick would ask "What happens, now?" The mobster would say "The crews are taking the machine apart. Maybe they assemble it elsewhere. Maybe not. I wont lay odd's either way. What I DO know is that, in six hours, national news will carry a story, saying that the Taliban smuggled the device into the city, to finish what they started on September 11th." When Kate would add "Sir, you mean "What they were accused of starting." The mobster would say "You got it, sis, excuse me, I mean senator." This is when Castle would add "Of course, BLAME the Taliban, and make Americans THINK that the Taliban can strike, anywhere, in the United States, at any time." The mobster would say "Great press coverage for wars people no-longer care about. Scare the public back into fear, that the Taliban can strike anywhere." Castle would say "Of course, make a few cities vanish, and approval, for endless funding, for the invasions, becomes "automatic". No one will DARE question the federal government, once more lives are lost." The mobster would say "You see, I told the family that the two of you are smart. You just proved me right." The mobster would add "The only problem is that, with New York still in place..." Kate would say "All that the shadows can say is that the Taliban is capable." By the time Kate checked in, with the U.S. Senate, she was told "We have had to remove a threat from the boards. Since New York City did not vanish, the internet is rife with suspicions that Washington D.C. planned the event." When Kate asked "How do you plan to handle this?" Her source would say "All we can do is contain the damage. Put out information, saying that the Taliban TRIED to act, but failed. Leave it to the conspiracy mongers to figure out what the "truth" is." When the senate asked Kate "Senator, can we count on your support, for increasing military spending?" Kate would pull the same "trade off", which Rick had used, so many times. Kate would say "I am willing to make a trade. Attach my funding measures, to the appropriations bill, and I will give you my vote." When another senator would ask "Senator Castle, HOW is the re-modelling, of parks, and infrastructure updates, going to make this nation safer?" Kate would ask "Senator, would you explain, to me, how bombing the Middle East off of the map, and torturing our fellow humans, at Gitmo, is making America safer?" When the senator called out "Three THOUSAND MURDERED, on September 11th, 2001! Those Muslim radicals deserve every bomb we drop on them." Kate would say "Fine, we lost 3,000, on September 11th, 2001. My question is: How many lives have we TAKEN, since then? 30,000? Three million? Senator, how MANY of their lives, is each, of our lives, worth?" When the senator said nothing, Kate would say "Senator, I am waiting for an answer." This is when the chairman would enter the conversation, saying "Senator Castle, you make valid points. This committee, however, is just not certain that the American people will accept your proposals." Kate would sit back, in her chair, and say "Fine, submit the bill, for a vote, in the coming election. If New York does NOT support the bills, then I will remove them, and vote for your version, of endless wars." When the opposition would stand up, saying "We need that funding, NOW!" Kate would ask a simple "Why?" In the upcoming election, the spending bill, WITH the senators additions, went before voters. To the fury, of the appropriations committee, the bill passed, by 4-to-1. New York would receive its funding, even as the committee would be informed that public support, for the invasions, was at its lowest point, yet. If Washington D.C. did not do something, "dramatic", such as another 9/11, and SOON, the public would be either demanding to END the invasions, or worse. Replacing career politicians with new faces. Faces, whose "mandate" would be to END the invasions. The question was: With the failure of the project, HOW could Washington D.C. terrify the American public enough, to restore the need for the invasions? All that Kate Castle knew was that her husbands ability, to negotiate deals, had worked, for her, as well. Maybe Rick DID know what he was doing. What Kate knew was that New York City was safe, again. The damage, to a New York city street, was being repaired, and life was returning to normal. What more could Kate Castle ask for? (Post-script: With the failure, to make New York City vanish, the threat, to make Washington D.C. vanish, dissolved as well. If the shadows could not make an American city vanish then HOW could they make the nations capital vanish?)