Castle: THE MISSING TRANSPORTS

CASTLE: THE MISSING TRANSPORTS While Richard Castle had, as predicted, by the "time traveller", switched from writing Nikki Heat novels, to begin writing real literature, Katherine Beckett Castle would find her own world changing. After aiding one of Castles multi-millionairre friends, Captain Beckett would find other, high profile, persons, asking for her help. People who appreciated the fact that Beckett felt that finding the truth was more important than the media circus. After Beckett made sure that four cases NEVER saw the light, of day, her career would be "launched" into "warp speed", after Beckett "turned the tables" on a blackmailer. The case had been simple, really. A young man, who had graduated high school, had impregnated a high school classmate, before graduation. Even though the young man had given his classmate enough money, for an abortion, the problem was not the couple, but the legal system. While the girl was pregnant, at graduation, both had graduated, since the girl was only two months, at graduation. As the man would tell Beckett "I really, thought we were in love. Besides, since she was, already, pregnant, we thought "What can it hurt?" Beckett had said "You were, probably, right. After all D.N.A. testing was not even around, in those days". All that the man knew, after graduation, was a few, HOTT, weeks, of passion, then the young woman was gone. When Beckett would ask "Why didn't you move on? Find someone else?" The man would say "Try replacing the love of your life, then ask me that question." When Beckett would ask "Why come to me, now?" The man would say "There is a young woman, "out there". She says she is my daughter, and the information, which she has given, so far, is the same as when I was young." When Beckett would add "What does that prove? Nowadays, people post their whole lives, on the internet. She could have found you, that way." The man would say "All of that MAY be true, except for one thing." When Beckett had asked "Whats that?" The man had said "Looking at her is like looking at my beloved, all over again." When Beckett would ask "What is it that you want me to do?" The man would say "All I ask is conclusive PROOF that the woman IS, or is NOT, my daughter." With both Detectives Ryan, and Esposito, out, training other precincts in Becketts methods, Beckett would investigate the case, herself. Thanks to both hers, and Castles, underworld, contacts, it would take all of two weeks for Beckett to discover the womans plan. With more than a little help, from Laney, and forensics, Beckett had been able to break the case, using just simple procedure. Beckett had been able to find an on-line journal, which the former school girl had kept. A "Greatest Screw-ups, of my life." The young woman had gone into painful detail, about having wanted to seduce the athlete, while never considering falling in love. She had known that something was not "right" from the moment when, after some great sex, she had a vision of the couple, walking down a rose red carpet, after taking their vows. After this is when she realized that she was pregnant. It would seem that, while the young woman had wanted to "do the deed", right after graduation, she had been left, to document her four month pregnancy, while state government decided if they were going to abandon all funding, regardless of the reason for the abortion. The reason why the state had decided to let women, four, and five, months pregnant, to have abortions, was because the records showed that the women had applied, for the procedure, as soon as they knew they were pregnant. While the young woman had suffered "morning sickness", while awaiting the government decision, she did not know what had made her feel sicker. Entering the clinic, pregnant, or feeling the void, when she left the clinic. As Catherine Beckett read the womans entries, she could FEEL the young womans pain. The woman felt no pride, or freedom, over having done the deed. This is how Captain Beckett had managed to trick the con artist. When Captain Beckett brought the man, and the young woman, together, Beckett knew that the man was honest, since he could mention things, about the young woman, that only a lover, or family member could know. His answers came, clear and concise. The woman was the opposite. Her answers, always, began with "Why are you asking?" Each time Beckett had said "Just answer the question." the woman had to THINK about her answers. (Like she was thinking about a rehearsed script.) Once the woman got enough wrong, she did something, which Castle would have enjoyed, far too much. She opened her top, and asked the man "Want some?" This is when Captain Beckett would use the womans full, REAL, name, and say "You are under arrest, both as a con artist, and, now, for solicitation." After the woman was lead away, the man said "I cannot believe that a woman would do that. INSIDE a police station. How could she think she would get away with it?" Beckett would say "Too many criminals just dont think crimes through." When the man asked "How did you know so much, about my high school love?" Beckett would say "She kept a diary, which she placed on-line, for her friends. She wanted those she was closest to to understand why she did what she did. She did not get the abortion, to save her own lifestyle. She did it because she loved you enough that she did not want YOUR future "haunted", by a high school romance." Beckett saw the look, on the mans face, as he was cleared of charges, and released. She had seen that look, so many times. So many times, she had seen those, falsely accused, who had not cheered, at being cleared, of crime. The truly innocent left the precinct, looking as if they had just been convicted. That was the price of having a conscience. Add in true love, and the "sentence" was like Life, in Prison. Still, word got around, not just to Castles writers poker game, but to other individuals. People, with money, and resources. People, who saw the REAL EFFORT, that Kate Beckett put into clearing the innocent, and imprisoning the guilty. While Beckett had been asked to consider running for mayor, she had made the joke "Nah, I think I would make a better senator". This, in reference to the man, who claimed to be from the future, and had mis-spoken, in telling Beckett that she WOULD, eventually, become a senator. The same man who had told Castle "I am glad that you gave up writing that fiction. Your real literature is worth reading." Soon, however, the Castles were invited to several dinners. The topic of which seemed to be that of "Whom would be the best candidate, for which position." Beckett would be shocked when she heard "If we want to run a "Law Enforcement" ticket then the only choice, for senator would be Mrs. Katherine Beckett Castle. Captain of the 12th precinct." When Kate would say "I am flattered, but I am sure that there are others who are just as deserving, to serve this state." This is when a hostess would say "Captain Beckett, you miss understand. This is not an offer, to run, for state office. We are offering you the chance to run, for U.S. Senator." Beckett would no-sooner begin to say "I am flattered..." When Castle would whisper "Kate remember what the..." and Beckett would ask "Would you excuse me, and my "husband", for a moment." Beckett would, then, pull her patented ear-pull, to "drag" Castle from the room, and into the ladies room. Here, she would ask "What were you thinking?" Castle would say "Remember, the time traveller..." Beckett would say "Yes, I remember that nut case. Claimed to be from the future." When she saw Castles look, she would say "Dont say it." Castle would only ask "What IF he was correct? What IF he DID come from the future." Beckett would say "Castle, he was a nut case. A whack job." When Castle would ask "What if?" Beckett would say "Why did I marry you? Why didn't I adopt you? You will, never, grow up." Castle would mention "So far, the evidence, including Dechiles paper, have lead the way to this. What could it hurt to try?" Beckett would say "OH, really. And WHAT happens if I screw up the state? Do you think that New York will just let me return to running the 12th?" Castle would ask "To quote my mother: What are you afraid of? That it wont work, or that it will?" Beckett would say "Dont you DARE bring Martha, or Alexis, into this. You know I love them, like family." Castle would say "Just as I respect your father." Then Castle would add "Maybe THATS it! Maybe you are afraid of disappointing your father." Beckett would say "Castle!" Then, after a silence, she would say "Fine, but, I swear. If I embarrass New York, in any way, I am coming for your jewels, and I dont mean your money." Castle would counter this by adding "You will, always, know where to find them." After the Castles would leave the ladies room, a woman, in one of the stalls, would take out a device, and type in "Mission proceeding. Katherine Beckett on her path, to becoming senator." A moment later, the stall was empty. Beckett had been up, for election, for less than three months, when a case came up. One, which was too big to keep under wraps. When Captain Beckett would arrive, at the crime scene, she would look about her, to see other officers doing the same. When Beckett would ask her old friends, Ryan, and Esposito "Okay, I was called about a crime scene. So where is the body?" Ryan would look at Esposito, saying "You tell her. You are better." Esposito would say "Thanks bro." When Beckett would say "Any time guys." Esposito would say "As far was we can tell, electronically, this is where the crime scene SHOULD be." When Beckett would say "Come on, out with it." Esposito would say "According to the tracker, used on city busses, THIS is the last location, transmitted, by the bus." When Beckett would ask "What do you mean "Last position transmitted?" Ryan would join the conversation, saying "New Yorks transit authority noticed that one of its busses trackers went dark." When Beckett would ask "What do you mean "went dark"?" Ryan would say "The transit center says that the unit was fine, when checked, two days ago. The unit worked, fine, to this location." Esposito would add "The bus company says that, when the transmitter went "dark", a maintenance van was sent out, to check the tracker. Only, the maintenance crew hasn't found the bus." When Beckett would ask "How could the city lose a 30-ton mass transit vehicle, the size of a locomotive?" then add "Where did it go?" Ryan, and Esposito, would say "Thats what everyone wants to know." This is when Beckett would say "Okay, lets start with the basics. Pull street cams, both before and after. You cant just hide a 50 foot long bus. Someone HAD to have seen it." Ryan would say "On it." By dinner time, Ryan, Esposito, and other officers, had been taking turns watching, and re-watching, street cam footage. Still, when Beckett joined the group, the news was less than expected. Ryan would be given the duty of explaining the situation, to Beckett. "We have footage from the time the bus left the transit center, through its stops, passengers loading and un-loading, until this point. This is where it gets weird." When Beckett would ask "How weird?" Esposito would say "Street cams show the bus entering this street, then the cams lose the bus, and the transmitter stops operating." When Beckett would ask "Pull up the next street", Ryan would do so, only to have the footage show no bus. When Beckett would say "Wait a minute. We just saw the bus go in." When Beckett would say "Lets wash it. See if we can pick up anything." Esposito would say "We did that, three hours ago. This is the cleanest it can get." Through more than a dozen orders, of pizza, salad, and garlic bread, the staff, of the 12th, would review the cam footage, while, at the "site", uniforms would be checking for "anything unusual." As far as "unusual" went, about the best that a uniform could get was a lonely woman, who claimed that the mother ship, from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" had levitated the bus into a hold. The officer would say "I would not put much stock into that story. I found a classic copy, of the movie, in her video machine. It was set to the final contact scene." When Beckett would ask Laney, all Laney could say was "Without any evidence, or bodies, I dont have any better idea's." Four days later, the bus would turn up, in a drained pool. It would be reported since the department of public works had been scheduled to clean the pool, that day. They could not start until the bus was removed. As soon as Ryan brought in the report, Beckett would call out "Dont let them touch anything, until we get there." Ryan would say "I figured that you would say that. Thats why I told the cleaning service to take a break.," When the detectives arrived, the first thing Laney would say was "Dont ask ME how this got here." When Beckett would ask "Fingerprints?" Laney would say "For a mass transit bus, this thing is cleaner than a church, on sunday morning. Some one scrubbed it down." When Beckett would ask "Any idea of why?" Laney would say "If this was a trick, or hazing, I am stumped." When Beckett would turn to Ryan, and Esposito, asking "Anyone see it come, or the route the perps left by." Ryan would say "As far as anyone is willing to say. The pool was closed, early. Some seniors watched the pool being drained. Probably the highlight of their day." Esposito would add "All anyone knows is that, by the time the crew left work, the pool was empty. Last person to look at the empty pool is a Roger Olms. He says that, when he looked at the pool, maybe about 10:25 last night, the thing was empty, and drying. When Mr. Olms awakened, he, and his neighbors, found the bus, in the pool." It was right as Beckett was asking "Who could miss a bus, being placed in a pool", when a mobile crane entered the site. As the bus was hooked up, a crowd gathered as the cranes engine went into over-drive, and got as loud as a ball game, as it lifted the bus from the pool. Beckett, Esposito, and Ryan, would agree. NO one could have missed that much noise. When a transit worker would enter the bus, and try the starter, the worker would call out "Hey, boss. I thought you said this battery was serviced just before that last run." When the supervisor came over, looked at the power levels, and said "Thats impossible." Beckett would ask "Whats Impossible?" The supervisor would say "This battery was brand new, out of the crate, just five days ago." When Beckett would ask "So?" The supervisor would say "By these readings, this battery is about ten years old." When Espo would ask "Sir, how is that possible?" The supervisor would say "Beats the hell out of me." When Beckett would say "Fine. How about the passengers?" All anyone would say was "No sign of them." While the 12th precinct was working at keeping this "thing" under wraps, Richard Castle would be one, among many, who would, seemingly see the bus passengers, appearring, as if out of nowhere. When Castle would tell Beckett "I swear. There were no sparklies, like either the original series, next generation, or Voyager. Not even the shimmering beams, of the Klingons." When Beckett would say "Castle, people do NOT "just appear", from nowhere. WHERE did they come from?" This is when Ryan, and Esposito, would approach Captain Beckett, asking Castle "Even if you did not see where they came from, where did you see them, and which way were they walking?" Castle would say "Thats easy. The woman appearred about here, and was walking this way. The men appearred, about here, and were walking that way." When Beckett would ask "Okay, guys, why the directions questions?" Ryan would say "Castles story tallies with 15, other, "witnesses". All 16 people say that the people just appearred, and were walking, just as Castle said." When Beckett would ask "Why here? Why now?" This is when a call came, over the police band. "Caller says blinded by lights, from outside their residence. They want us to tell the people to shut down the floods." When Beckett would ask "Location?", and dispatch confirmed, Esposito, then Ryan, would confirm "There are no games, in that area, Especially not tonight." When Beckett would ask "Why not tonight?" the guys would say "State tournament, tomorrow. They want to be rested, and ready." When Beckett would call in "Who is closest to that location?" A police unit would respond, saying "Jefferson 457. My GOD, I dont believe it." When Beckett would call out "Jefferson 457, WHAT is it that you dont believe." Jefferson 457 would respond "You would not believe me if I told you. You have to SEE this." When Beckett would call out "See WHAT? Describe what you are seeing." When no response came, Beckett would call the unit, twice more, before issuing the command "Any units, in that vicinity, aid Jefferson 457." Shortly after this, Dispatch would come on the line, saying "Intercept units, be advised. Use extreme caution." When Beckett would call out "Dispatch, state reason for caution." Dispatch would reply "Captain Beckett, Jefferson 457's tracker just went dark." Within moments, the 12th precinct would be in "hot pursuit", of the "event". Just ten minutes later, everyone would arrive at the last location of Jefferson 457. Nothing but parked cars. By the time Beckett would say "Canvas", an elderly man would come forth, saying "You can ask anyone you want, but you wont find that police man, or the car." When Beckett would ask "Sir, why do you say that?" The man would say "Because they took him, and the car." When Beckett would ask "WHO, and WHERE, are "they"? The man would say "I dont know the WHO, but, when the police car approached, "they" levitated it. The flood lights had gone out, by then, and I could see the man calling into his mike. After that, he floated up, to the ship, and it took off, just as I heard your sirens." Back at headquarters, Laney would say "I am sorry to say, but I have no better idea." This is when the group would return to the squad room, with another, un-answered, question: WHO would WANT to steal a police car? All the police could do was list the officer as M.I.A. It would be four days later that the police would receive an irritating phone call. According to a construction contractor, someone had parked a police cruiser on some exposed I-beams, at a construction site. The question was not HOW? Even the foreman said that the tower crane could lift the car, easily. The question was: Why bother? Back at the station, Beckett would think, aloud "A mass transit bus, in a swimming pool, and a police cruiser, on the exposed I-beams, of a building, under construction?" Ryan would add "By the way, even if the bus was driven into the pool, even by a stunt driver, WHY were no windows broken? Wouldn't the impact have shattered atleast a few windows?" Esposito would counter with "NO dice, bro." When Beckett would say "Impress me." Espo would say "That bus must weigh 50 tons. No way it could have either been "jumped in", or driven in. No tread marks, on the floor of the pool." When Beckett would say "Espo, dont tell me you think..." Espo would say "All I am saying is that someone PLACED that bus, for us to find." This is when Ryan would say "That reminds me. When uniforms oversaw the removal, of the cruiser, from the building, they noticed no scratches, on the beams." Beckett would say "Are you saying that the cruiser was PLACED, just like the bus was?" Ryan would say "Unless you have a better idea." Beckett knew better than to ask Castle. For an adult, the man loved spinning wild theories. Sometimes they panned out. Most of the time, it was just an annoyance. In fact, in Castles "world", Atlantis was, currently, an undersea base, which was taking humans, for study. The United Federation of Planets was funding the research. These were theories which Beckett did not want to deal with. That is, until four, of the missing women, from the bus, just appearred, in the Castles loft dining room, at dinner time. Beckett would have written it off, as a bad joke, if Castle, alone, had been present. With Martha and Alexis, as witnesses, Beckett took it seriously. The family stood aside, as the pro's, of the 12th, swept the loft, for radiation, and so on. As to who was most astonished, over what had happened, that was a toss up. The women had no idea how they got into Castle's loft. The Castles had been expecting only three, for dinner, not seven. The time, when Beckett could NOT cover up a disappearance was when, just three days later, as the Staton Island Ferry was cruising its regular route, behind a politician, who was running for office, live camera's caught the event as the ferry just dissolved. Eye-witnesses insisted that it was NOT an explosion. The videotape, from the camera's, proved this. A ferry, full of workers, and passengers, had dissolved, right on camera. The event was headline news, within the hour. There was no way this could be kept quiet. Ofcourse, four days later, when the police were called in, to investigate a boat, which was hanging from a hill side, the 12th would assist in identifying the Staton Island Ferry. The story was the same. People went to bed, as usual, and awoke to find a large boat, hanging from the mountain side. The question the detectives had was "How does anyone move a large boat, even at night, with no one seeing anything." Another question was "Where were the passengers?" It was not until uniforms stated "The only witnesses, to the event, all have copies, of "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind", in their homes. When Castle would mention, "Even for its day, that was a ground-breaking movie. Just think. The first movie, NOT to portray aliens as hostile." When Esposito would ask "Your point?" Castle would ask "How many, of those, returned, have been violated, by probes, or other means?" When Ryan would check his notes, then say "None appears more than severe shock." Castle would say "Thats my point. These aliens are not hostile." Esposito would add "Are you, REALLY, going there, bro?" Castle would say "Unless you have a better idea." Esposito would say "Sadly, I dont, BUT that does NOT make this an E.T. scene." When Beckett would ask "Why leave a city transit vehicle in a pool? A patrol car inside a builidng, under construction? A Ferry, dangling from a hill-side?" When Castle would mention "I know, neither Mr. Scott, nor Chief Obrien, would have been so clumsy, with a transporter." Beckett would say "What? More Star Trek references?" When Castle would say "I was just thinking." Beckett would say "This is the 21st century. Starships, and Battlestars do not exist. They wont exist, for centuries to come." When Castle would mention Star Trek episodes, such as "City on the edge of forever", as well as the episode, about the Enterprise being hurled back, in time, to the 1960's. The one where the starship had to travel back, in time, again, to return humans to the time before interacting with the ship, saying "What IF a ship DID get forced BACK, in time, to THIS century. How FAR would its crew go, to get back to their own time?" When Beckett would ask "Why kidnap people? And, DONT say "for a snack"." Castle would say "I was thinking more about questioning. You know, like you, Espo, and Ryan, do, every day." When Beckett would sit back and say "Okay, WHY?" Castle would say "What if the ships time-keeping device was out of order, and they needed a reference point, from which to "jump" back into their own time." Beckett would say "So far, close to 100 people are missing. How many people would a starship, or a battlestar, need to verify that it is out of time?" Castle would say "I haven't figured that part out, yet, except..." When Beckett would ask "Except what?" Castle would say "What if the ships systems needed repairs..." Beckett would say "Castle, that is why the Enterprise had Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott. The man could fix anything." Castle would say "That may be true, in the 23rd century, but what if Mr. Scott was injured, during the time jump. What if he is "out of commission"?" Beckett would ask "Do you expect me to believe that a space ship is abducting humans, to find someone, who can repair their ship?" Castle would add "You forgot to say "Using 21st century technology." This is when Ryan, and Espo, would ask "Tell us, Bro. What will the aliens DO, with their prisoners, once the repairs are complete?" Castle would ask "Am I the only one, here, who recalls the Star Trek episodes, where peoples memories are wiped?" Espo would mention "You forgot to mention the SG-1 episode, called "Under the Surface". In that one, SG-1 are "stamped", erasing their memories." Ryan would add "All except Teal'c. Remember? His symbiant restored the Jaffa's memory." Beckett would interrupt, saying "I appreciate all of this trivia, but we have people, not actors, but real PEOPLE, missing." Castle would add "Dont forget, we have transports parked in ridiculous places. Like a transporter beam went out of control." Beckett would say "Castle, one more piece of sci-fi and I am divorcing you. We have REAL families, who want REAL answers. Not make-believe, but REAL answers." This is when Castle would ask "How else do you explain these transports, all ending up so far from where they should be?" When Beckett would say "I cant. But that does not make this science fiction." When Castle would joke "Dont let Captains Kirk, Picard, or Commander Adama, hear you say that." This is when Beckett would say "Thats it! I want a divorce." When Ryan, and Esposito, would look at one another, Beckett would say "I will tell Martha, and Alexis, tonight." When Castle would ask "Why not let ME tell them?" Beckett would say "In case you have not noticed, Martha, Alexis, and I are women. We understand women." Espo would say "Thats fine, for the two of you, however, we have three transports, 100 missing people, and nothing, except a clasic Sci-Fi movie, to link them." This is when Beckett would ask "Guys, check around the precinct. Ask if anyone owns a copy of that movie." When Ryan and Espo looked one another, Beckett would say "Maybe its nothing, but I want a review. Not a movie review. An official review. Maybe the movie can show us something that we are missing." While the police were looking for copies, of the movie, a crowd control call came in, saying that a closed stadium was full of people. When emergency services arrived, they found the missing, all seated in the stadium, and all with the same question: HOW did I get here? A check, with fingerprints, verified that these were the missing people. Medics confirmed that the people were in fine, physical shape, except for electrolyte im-balances. When Beckett asked "Why the dis-orientation?" Medics could only say "Shock would be my guess." Beckett would be glad that Castle was NOT present, since she knew that his first question would be "Trauma, from probing?" Laney would state "Castle would hate this. No sign of any type of violation." The problem was that not one, of the returned, knew where they had been. They remembered the "light", then they were in the stadium. By the time the reports were filed, Beckett would decide that the time had come. Time to "face the music". When she reached the loft, instead of using her key, she knocked, like a visitor. When Martha answered, and asked "Did you forget your key?" Beckett would ask "What has Rick told you, so far?" As Alexis stepped forward, to join Martha, the women would ask Beckett "You know he is an overgrown child. Still, he does love you." Beckett would say "I need some alone time. A chance to think." When Martha would ask "What for?" then add "Katherine, love, and marriage, are not based upon facts, and evidence. They are matters of the heart." Beckett would say "All I need is some time, to gather my things. I will be out of your way, in no time." Martha would stand, hands on hips, as she said "You are just like Richard. No wonder he married you. You were made for one another." The way Beckett would say "I doubt that." Martha would ask "Now, why dont I believe you?" Beckett would suggest "Maybe I dont know, either." While Martha would restrain Alexis, from stopping Beckett, Martha would only ask Beckett "Think of what you are throwing away." That was the problem. Beckett WAS thinking of what she was abandoning. While Castle had told his mother, and daughter "I need a drink, to figure this out", before he had departed, when he returned home, later, Martha could tell the truth. When Martha asked "So, went out, drinking?" When Castle said "yeah", Martha would ask "Why dont I smell alcohol on your breath?" Castle would say "Breath mint." Martha would say "If you have been out, getting drunk then I am actually, Mother Theresa." When Castle would say "I am going to bed." Martha had said "Just try to sleep, knowing you are losing the most important person in your life." That night, the memories flooded over him, as he remembered all of the "adventures" that he and Beckett had shared. All of the ear-pulling. All of the crazy plots. All the bad guys, they had put behind bars. Even that nut, who claimed to be from the future. At 3 A.M., Castle pulled out a book, on time travel. It was research, for a Derek Storm novel. In the book, the spell says to focus on the where, and when. Fixate on what/whom you want to travel to. Focus until you can smell the scents, and see the sights. This is what Castle was focused on, atleast until "time traveller" appearred, in his loft, asking "What is so important that you call me, during a case?" When Castle asked "HOW did you get here?" The man would say "Really? YOU summoned me, here. What is it that you want?" When Castle would ask "How do I save my marriage?" The man would say "Really? You call me off of an assignment, to discuss your marital problems?" Castle would say "Its important. Just as important as those vanishing vehicles, and their vanishing occupants." The man would say "I had nothing to do with that. It was supposed to be a test. It was supposed to draw you, and Beckett closer." When Castle would ask "Why do you care?" The man would say "LIsten, I told you, before. I am a researcher. I dont make the decisions. I go where I am told to." When Castle would ask "Told, by WHOM?" The man would say "You, still, dont get it, do you. I have bosses, just as you, and Beckett do. It is the bosses, who make the calls." When Castle would ask "Okay, whats my next move?" The man would say "You, still, dont get it. The decision has to be yours." When Castle would ask "Okay, what decision does history record me making?" The man would say "I dont have time for this. I have to get back to work." With that, he was gone. It would be mid-afternoon before Martha would rouse Castle, asking "Are you, really, going to sleep the whole day away?" When Castle would ask "What time is it?" Martha would say "Hey kid, thats my line." When Castle would remember that he had given Beckett a key, to the loft, when they got married, he had, barely, activated the tracker when it went off, inside the loft. Martha would say "By the way, Darling, your wife left her key, when she took her things." When Castle would ask "Why didn't you stop her?" Martha would say "She is, or atleast WAS, YOUR wife." When Castle called Ryan, and Esposito, with the information, both said "Sory, not taking messages, for Beckett. If you want to talk to her, do it yourself." Boy, first it was the time traveller, then it was his own mother. Now it was Becketts co-workers. How could he get the message to her, without being punched, slapped, or belted. This is why he sent her an e-mail, marked "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Being very careful, with his wording, Castle would tell Beckett "You were right. It was not E.T. It was the future. They wanted to tighten our bond. I mis-judged the references. For that, I am sorry. I was out of line." Beckett would be surprised when he did not include a "Will you take me back." It was not until two weeks later, that Beckett realized how much she missed Castle. This, when she had to give a speech, and she had to give it, with-OUT Castles wit. While the speech was plain, and dry, when asked "Where is your husband?" Beckett had been taken off-guard when she asked "Who/what?" Castle would say "She's losing it." Martha would remind him "Now it is up to you. It is because of you that Beckett came to life, and it is you, who are shutting her down." When Castle would ask "Mother, how can you say that. I haven't been around her, in weeks." Martha would say "Dear God, Richard. How can you be so blind. The woman depends on you." Castle would ask "For what? Witty anecdotes?" Martha would say "I give up. If you cant see, with your own eyes..." When Castle reviewed the footage, on zoom, he looked at Becketts eyes, when asked about him. Were those tears, in her eyes? This is why, prior to her next, public appearance, Castle had a friend forge him a press badge, and he snuck into the gathering. For a moment, when Beckett saw him, she moved toward him, then said "I cant do this." When he said "YES, YOU...CAN. you got this." With less than fifteen minutes to go, Castle got Beckett going, until she said "Castle!", then whispered "If you mess this up, for me." When Beckett heard her name called, she was surprised when Castle would say "You got this." in the same way he helped her overcome her gun-shot wound. Sure enough, as Castle moved, to watch his wife "meet the press", he saw that the woman he fell in love with, was on the platform. Not some cardboard cut-out. Captain Beckett, of the 12th precinct. She played the audience, like a master composer. This was her symphony. She was Mozart! After the "meet and greet", Beckett waved Castle to a side room. Here, she asked her husband "With all that work, and those messages, why didn't you ask me to take you back?" Castle said "I violated your space, in the past, and I did not want to do that, again. I wanted it to be YOUR decision." Beckett would ask "Why today, of all times?" Castle would say "You needed to look your best. I wanted you to BE your best. I cant explain it but we NEED one another." When Beckett would ask "Is that Richard Castle talking, or the "time traveller"." When Castle would ask "Does it matter?" Beckett would say "I guess not. The question is WHERE do we go from here?" With Castle working, behind the scenes, Beckett would put on prime performances, as she closed the gap between her and U.S. Senator. On election day, when Martha, and Alexis, joined Rick, by Katerines side, and Katherine would be asked "Are these your family." Kate would say "Absolutely. My husband, our daughter, and my dearest friend, Martha Rogers." By morning, the reviews were in. Beckett had won, by a wide margin. It would seem that solving the bizarre disappearances had "catapulted" her into the lead. When Kates father joined the group, and Beckett would say "Dad, I just hope I dont screw up." The man would say "Nonsense. You are a Beckett." Then correct himself, saying "Make that Beckett-Castle". While the family shared a joyous reunion, when Castle saw a familiar face, he excused himself, for a moment. When Castle asked the "time traveller", "Why didn't you tell me it would work out?" The man would remind Castle, AGAIN, "My job is to research events. Not to act as referee. All that I will tell you is that this is just the start of the journey. You will have good times, and bad times. Cherish the good, and never give up, during the bad." By the time Castle would ask "Can you be anymore cryptic?", the man was gone. Captain Beckett would be sworn in, as Senator Beckett-Castle, the following month. The 12th precinct would have a new captain, again, soon. Castle was left to wonder "What could happen, next?"

THE NEW SIXTH SENSE # 20

THE NEW SIXTH SENSE # 20 Doctor Johnathan Rhoades, medical doctor, and licensed psychiatrist. A man who DARES to look PAST the obvious, and discover what is at the HEART, of patients conditions. The following is case-file number 20, of Doctor Rhoades highly unusual approach to treatment, of mental disorders. According to the file, which I have been granted access to, a group, of people, are insisting that Rapture is upon the Earth. Their rationale: It would seem as though "out of the blue", people have begun disappearring. Just because the police have found no clues, except for abandoned cars, local churches are suggesting that this is the beginning of Rapture. The concerned are even quoting the Bible, where it says "I shall come, like a thief in the night..." The police are asking for my assistance since some of the eldest residents, of the town, remember Jonestown Guyanna, as well as Waco, Texas. The police, main concern, is bringing an end to rampant speculation. Too many people are scared that the Lords return, to Earth is at hand. The police hope that a psychiatrist will be able to calm those, who remain, while the police search for the missing. While I, too, have Christian faith, I guess that I would be considered a "Sunday Christian". This because, weekdays, I spend working hours trying to dis-prove so many outlandish beliefs. Now, I was being summoned to work on the most bizzarre incident, of my career, to date. Upon arrival, at the police station, an officer would drive me to the scene of the "incident". Here, in a public, parking, area, maybe two dozen cars, of various makes and models, sat. What made the situation unusual was when the chief of police called me over, to the cars, having me make note that the keys were in the ignitions. Equally important was the fact that ignitions were in the "on" position. The chief of police also pointed out the abandoned hand bags, as well as the wallets. While officers searched the bags, phones began ringing, in various ring tones. An officer would say "Thats odd." When Doctor Rhoades would ask "Why is that?" The officer would say "Thats Chucks phone. The man goes nowhere, without that phone. Wont even leave it home, when he goes to mass." When another officer called out "Here is Miss Sadies phone." Another officer would suggest "Its as if they just were whisked away." The chief of police would say "Non-sense." Then the chief would ask Doctor Rhoades "Tell me this stuff, about people just vanishing, is just nonsense." Doctor Rhoades would say "So far, all we have is circumstancial evidence." When an officer would ask "Who, in their right mind, would leave wallets, purses, and phones, behind?" While Doctor Rhoades would decline to speculate, he doubted that this was Rapture. As the doctor set up his temporary office, in town, he heard of maybe five, to eight, people, just vanishing. It was not until the doctor spoke to each person that thing became clearer. Now, sure, in towns like this, people know one another, and only accidents, illness, or death, prevent people from attending appointments. The problem, that Doctor Rhoades was finding was that people spoke, early in the day, set appointments, then never showed up. It was when Doctor Rhoades would ask "Did they vanish, before your eyes?" Each person would say "No. They just walked away. That was the last I saw of them." When Doctor Rhoades would ask locals about the cars, asking "Did you SEE the driver vanish?" The reply was universal. The driver was seen, hours earlier, but the car was not found, until much later. This set Doctor Rhoades to thinking. Cars, with keys in ignitions, and motors running. All identification, including cell-phones, left with the cars. Was this, REALLY, a DIVINE incident, or was the answer much closer to home? People go missing, everyday. How can people KNOW that this is the Rapture? The scientist, inside Doctor Rhoades, refused to accept any conclusion, unless it was proven. By evening, both Doctor Rhoades, and the police, had their hands full, when the local minister called a special service, then began quoting Revelations. As the minister began quoting "And the Lord said, I will come, like a thief, in the night..." The minister would say "This is the word, and will, of God." Doctor Rhoades would ask "Pardon me, reverend, but is it not true that that book, you hold, and other, similar volumes, were written, NOT by the hand of God, but by the hand of man." The minister would say "The men, who wrote these volumes were Godly men. Priests, Prophets..." This is when Doctor Rhoades would interrupt, saying "But, men, anyway, right? The Gospel was neither mailed, faxed, nor e-mailled, from Heaven." The minister would hold the Holy Bible aloft, saying "This IS the will of God. His judgement IS upon us." When Doctor Rhoades would ask "HOW do you KNOW this? Arent the present incidents subject to interpretation?" When the minister would ask "What interpretations?" Doctor Rhoades would suggest "One, equally, plausable, theory, is that those, who seemed to "vanish" are being held captive. Maybe, the city should prepare for ransom demands." When the minister would ask "Sir! How could anyone, except the Lord, take on twenty-plus people, all at once?" When Doctor Rhoades would ask "How do you know that all of them were taken at the same time? Were they due at a meeting, and all of them missed attendance?" The chief of police would join the conversation, saying "Reverend, the answer, to that question, is NO. The missing were reported, days apart." When the minister asked "Then, HOW does your "science" explain the cars, grouped together, keys in ignitions, tanks run dry. Who can afford to run engines dry, at fuel prices?" Even Doctor Rhoades would admit "I have not, yet, had time to form a proper theory. Still, NO source should be given emphasis, when there are multiple possibilities." When the chief of police would say "The doctor is right. We just dont have enough evidence, yet, to make any conclusions." This is when the reverend would suggest "Chief of police, perhaps YOU should join this "doctor", in departing town. Once your sin is departed, the town will prepare to meet the coming of the Lord." Taking the threat seriously, both men, and the other police persons, loaded up and departed town. Just twenty miles beyond the city limits, however, the chief would stop the group, then ask "Doctor Rhoades, what do you make of that talk, about "preparations"?" Doctor Rhoades would say "It concerns me, since that term could mean anything from a Thanksgiving meal, to blood sacrifice." The chief would say "That is what concerns me, as well. I just wish there was some way to get the chidren away from there." Doctor Rhoades would agree "Yes, children are prime targets, for blood rituals." When an officer would say "I am going back." the chief would say "Not like this. If we go in, as police, we could cause more harm..." When the officer said "But, the children are innocent." The chief would ask "Dont you think I KNOW THAT?" When the chief saw the doctor thinking, and asked "Whats up, doc?" Doctor Rhoades would say "Maybe there is a way, both to save the children, AND find out who is behind the disappearances." After the doctor laid out his plan, more than a few clothes lines ended up with missing shirts and pants. As twilight drew near, and faces became less definitive, the police, and Doctor Rhoades, would wait until people, who passed them, mistook them, for other people. Then came Operation: Swap Starting with playgrounds, and local schools, the group began rounding up the city's children. Children, who had no reason to fear the sheriff. What proved trickier was when the group had to begin entering homes, to quiet children, them remove them, to safety. In fact, the ONLY children the operation had to leave behind were newborns. Still, when Doctor Rhoades, the chief, and a few deputies, found the "celebration", a deputy asked "Why are they draining the gas from the cars?" The chief would whisper "Just wait and see." Soon, torches, lit with gasoline, would light up the night. In the center, of the gathering, the watchers got their first view, of the fire platform. It was not, however, until the reverend called for the first sacrifice, that a farmer left the group. After waiting for awhile, the reverend asked "Where is he?" This is when the farmer would return, saying "I cant find any of them." When the reverend asked "What are you saying?" The farmer said "They are gone. All of them. The playground, the school, the houses." It was not until an infant cried out that the farmer added "Only the infants are left." When the reverend stood, saying "Is that so?" a young mother brought her child closer, while whispering "No, No, please not my baby." When the reverend said "Do not worry. You can make another." This is when the chief whispered, to the doctor "I thought I knew that man. Lived here all my life. Never thought..." Doctor Rhoades was more interested in what happened, next. If the ritual were for evil, certain spells would have to be spoken, to "sanctify" the sacrifice. Doctor Rhoades HAD to be SURE, before making any judgements. Quick judgements have lead to far too many, wrong, diagnosis. It was not until the incantations began that Doctor Rhoades realized that the "spell" was, almost word-for-word, from the Bible. Doctor Rhoades was about to ask "Why would Christians burn people, alive." then he remembered times like the Salem Witch Trials. It would be sun-rise, the next day, before the "caravan" would stop, in another town, for rest, food, and so on. Doctor Rhoades would set up an "office", near the campers, and review his findings. What Doctor Rhoades could not reconcile, about the "sacrifice" was the mixture, of religion. The doctor knew Latin, from medical school. The question was "Why were Latin words being used with voodoo gestures?" The doctor might have spent days, even weeks, trying to make sense of what he had observed. That is, until he overheard some teens speaking of their favorite spots. Places their parents had forgotten about, years ago. Only one girl objected, telling her friends "He's an adult. If we show him the spots, he will remind our parents." After a show of hands showed the girl in a clear minority, the group began the trek to some of the spots. What shocked the young people was when the Chief suggested "Better not take the road, or the path. Probably under surveillance." Closing on the mouth, of a cave (which even the teens did not know existed), the chief would whisper "I was young, once, as well." It was inside the cave, where some of the missing were found. All locked in some, very crude, form of cells. When the chief asked about the others, some of the captives admitted "They kept us down here, no food or water. Wanted us begging, and weak, when they took us out." When the police asked "WHO are they?" The prisoners could only say "They are the ones who have been kidnapping people." When Doctor Rhoades would ask "Did they ever say what for?" Another prisoner would say "I heard them talking, one day. Talking of selling the boys, and keeping the girls." When the chief asked "But, WHO are they?", suddenly the police heard some revolvers click, behind them, as a voice said "I guess you want to know." It was not until the thieves got the "drop", on the local cops, that the chief got a look, and asked "Who are you?" One, of the gun-men would smile as they said "The word of God." Now, Doctor Rhoades knew where the missing were, but this question was replaced with another. It was not until Doctor Rhoades sat in a corner, being bound, that he realized what had "bugged" him, about the ceremony. The infants were not dropped into the flames, the children wer TOSSED, THROUGH the flames (no doubt to someone who caught the child, on the other side of the flames.) No, that could not be right. Most of those the town were using, for "sacrifices" were school age. This would mean not one, but as many as three, hidden, forms, behind the flames. (But, HOW did they hide their actions?) The grief stricken mother had SEEMED realistic. Or, had she? Why mix Christian messages, with VooDoo practices? It would take the doctors "third eye" to sweep the area, and learn what was going on. In the vision, Doctor Rhoades saw teens, having been whipped, into submision, while adults were starved, into submission. The victims were loaded onto some sort of boats, then taken down river. At a coastal peer, the victims were loaded, along with other victims. If only the third eye could have shown the doctor the destination. The replacement craft was just like thousands of others. An old rust-bucket, of a freighter. The time, for the escape, arrived, when one of the criminals came for a bit of young woman. While the high schooler made herself as attractive as possible, the boys hid in the shadows. The girl was a very good actress. She had the man thinking that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. His mistake had been being an aroused male. The high school boys landed on the criminal, grabbed his keys, and let the prisoners free. After fleeing, back to camp, that people began to relax. It was as the doctor was trying to see the name, of the ship, that a young voice called "Doctor, do you want some dinner?" The doctor would try again, later. In that moment, he realized that he was very hungry. When the police chief joined the group, he would inform those, present "The town is TRYING to put out state-wide A.P.B.'s, on all you kids." When Doctor Rhoades seemed concerned, the chief would say "Relax, doc. Without the approval, of the chief of police, those notices aint goin nowhere." Just a few days later, the whole camp got a huge laugh off of an internet video called "Chief desperate for...", and an image, similar to the chief, supposedly having sex with a high school girl. It took a computer geek all of two minutes, to refine the video, and show what was what. The geek did applaud the video, which showed not the chief, and a girl, but a husband and wife. While most criminals HOPE that video will spread, world-wide, before it can be removed, more and more net-access ports give new posts the message of "Your content is awaiting moderation". This is how the F.B.I. had tracked a "child" molester, who had been brazen enough to post his activities. The man may have HOPED for world-wide fame, for eluding justice, but, because of "moderation", the videos were sent, instead, to the feds. The man had been convicted on enough counts that he would, never, be released, from prison. No child molestation convictions, however. This because it is known that those, convicted, of crimes, against "children" have a very SHORT life span, in prison. There was, however, another video. One which appearred to be an "outtake" from a chase movie. What caught the police chiefs eye was that the river, the bridge, and the car, all looked very familiar. It took the police chief all of five minutes to realize that the video was, supposedly, of HIM. This is how the criminals hoped to get around the police chief. Claim that the man was dead and the next highest officer would take over. While his late wife did think the man was paranoid, to have a secret code, for use with state officials, it was times, like this, that the code was designed. When "local law enforcement" tried to override the chief, what they did not expect was the challenge question. In order to protect the camp, the chief had one, of the high schoolers rig a relay. A chain of command, so complex that it would take MONTHS for any criminal to make any progress. When the chief answered the challenge question, the state asked if the man needed support. 24 hours later, mini-U.A.V.'s were cruising the skies, and streets, of the community. What they showed was not "pretty". The chiefs beloved community, had armed itself, with enough explosive to take out anything, within five miles. As for the WHO, of the plot, not even Doctor Rhoades could decypher that one. Not even when other psychologists joined the base camp. Every mind, in the camp, found it impossible that VooDoo would have ANY connection with Christianity. Even minds like James Jones, and David Koresh, were crossed off the list. Both of these men had CRAVED publicity. They LIVED for the video age. It was their "ultimate marketting tool". In the case Doctor Rhoades was investigating, the "leaders" were keeping quieter than church mice. These people let their "foot soldiers" do ALL of the work. When Doctor Rhoades did manage to make contact, within the city, he found that something had to be very wrong. While the doctor THOUGHT that he was locked on, to just one person, the problem was that this person was more like the classic film: Cybil. One person. Dozens of personalities. As for how this person kept both Christianity, and VooDoo, under control, this is what scared the doctor, most. This person had a will, so powerful, that they could have handled up to 100, seperate, personalities. This kind of mind, however, had a fatal flaw. This is how Doctor Rhoades knew how to defeat the person. The person was so focused, on local events, to keep control, that the persons "range", of telepathic ability, was limited to just the one city. Now, it even made sense, why the city never attacked base camp. If the mind sent people outside of the town, control effects would fizzle, within two miles. The persons own mind would awaken, and their mission, scrubbed. This is why Doctor Rhoades met both with the local high schoolers, and the evacuee's. If the plan worked, it would be a major achievement, in the field of psychiatry. Sure enough, once the chief of police called an old friend, at an army base, and arranged for a military lift helicopter, the plan went into effect. On the outer casing was a count down timer. This, when combined with the mental projections, of the chess, and computer, teams, caused the city to believe that the outside was ready to un-leash the most powerful neutron bomb, ever made. With the helicopter flown by remote control, there were no pilots minds to search. Add in the rampant fear, that Rapture was at hand, and the "source", of all of the fear, "ran away" from its potential destruction. And, just as Doctor Rhoades had expected, the victims, of the control, had no memory of events. It was like they had been asleep, for months. When the mayor looked at the box, asking "Just WHAT is this?" The teens, all, laughed as they said "Biggest trojan horse, to date". Yes, the box was just a supply container. Doctor Rhoades had suggested a lead based container, to prevent "peeking". The timer, was on-loan, from a demolition firm. Doctor Rhoades would stay on, for another two months. This, to aid people, who did not remember. As to what the "sources" plan had been, no human had a clue. The only thing which was certain was that the source had been very familiar, with the book of Revelations. In fact, the source had used Revelations, to instill FEAR in the people. FEAR, which gave the source even MORE power, over peoples worst fear. Of course, Doctor Rhoades knew it was impossible to "cure" people of the belief that Rapture was either at hand, or "coming soon". The doctor would do his best, to help people adjust to everyday life. Doctor Rhoades philosophy was "Let Heaven worry about Revelations. People should worry about daily lives. Not about "what if" scenarios." While many people still feared a possible return, Doctor Rhoades "prescription" would be "Just take it a day at a time."

DEMISE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

THE DEMISE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY While the New World Order had been so carefully planned, the one thing, that the Republicans should have, but did not count upon, was the reaction of the American people. From that time, in the mid-1980's, as manufacturing jobs began abandoning the United States, for lower wages, in Third World nations, Ronald Reagan had gone on television, telling Americans "If you want jobs to come back, you must go out and spend! Spend!! SPEND!!!" Those Americans, who fell prey to this "propaganda", and did spend savings (hoping to draw jobs back, to the U.S.) were the first un-employed to find themselves homeless. American management had decided that it was better to charge Americans prices, based upon American wages, even while products were being made, at much LOWER wages, in other nations. The problem, which management, and the Republicans, ran into, was the fact that, as more Americans LOST jobs, and others were being hired, at only ten percent, of former wages, the projections, made by both the analysts, and the computers just did not "add up", in the REAL world. The Republicans, and the computer programmers, just could not understand WHY the American people, now earning less than ten percent, of the way to the poverty level, were no-longer spending, on BIG budget items. The projections showed that the public would, when appliances stopped working, would just buy brand new. What the projections DID NOT show was how many people either paid 1/4th the price, of new, to fix old appliances, or how people would start shopping thrift stores, and on-line, for what they wanted. Management, and the Republicans, had been counting on Americans buying foreign made goods, for American prices. When Americans began buying, in bulk, directly from foreign manufacturers, management called for special taxes. These taxes would offset any savings, on buying direct. Less than five percent, of the Republicans, in Congress, would endorse this idea. As a result, the New World Order would begin to dissolve. Then came the BIG hits. New motor vehicles, which the experts were certain that Americans would buy, began sitting on lots. This, while Americans sold one another used cars, and the public began paying mechanics, to keep old, yet reliable, vehicles running. Then, there was the proposed "buy back", which was supposed to STOP the public from just walking away from homes, which they could not afford, on minimum wage. Buy back MIGHT have been a success, except that many banks told home owners that they would have to wait, up to ninety days, for buy-out checks. (The families had notices saying "30 days, or you are OUT!") Result, realtors ended up with thousands of homes, and no buyers. This is when, without permission, or consent, a Republican was quoted as repeating the same line that got another Republican, in serious trouble. This Republican got into deeper trouble, with their expanded version, of the original insult. The original insult had been: "If people want a better life, then they need to work LONGER, HARDER, hours" The new insult was: "If workers want a better life, let them, AND their children, work LONGER, HARDER, hours, for what they want. Besides, what are we waisting money, on education for? The children leave school, as dumb as ever." Since the Republican sent this out, as a press release, the party would not allow the incumbent on the next ballot. Still, there was the problem, of warehouses, filled with brand new merchandise, and the public, shopping thrift, and second hand, stores. The time, when the Republican knew their "hands were tied", was when Asian partners offered to buy out the Americans, for pennies on the dollar. Merchandise was not being sold, from stores, and warehouses were turning away fresh deliveries. The Republicans realized that the ONLY way to make the New World Order work, was to ban Americans from buying "direct". The one question, which no Republican could answer was "HOW do we STOP people from buying on-line?" Even as the Republican Party debated this issue, they watched as their numbers dissolved, as once profitable company's fell prey to the New World Order. Worst of all, the purchasers were not Americans, either. In the 1980's, the Republican Party was, reportedly, worth some $500 billion dollars. By the early 21st century, mergers, and buy-outs, had left the Republican Party with only about $10 million. The accountants, at party headquarters, warned that, if party resources fellow below $5 million, the party could not afford to compete. Of course, the Asians offered the Republicans loans, for elections. The "catch" was that the Asians wanted more freedom, from American law. The Asians wanted to pay Americans Asian wages, while the workers lived at lower than minimum wage jobs. Seeing that the party had only two choices, the Republicans would agree to abandon the New World Order. A "New Deal", for the twenty-first century, would be made. The easiest part, of the new deal, to implement, was the part about keeping children in school. This, since school districts would NOT release children, from attending school, until Congress sent down WRITTEN ORDERS. (Orders, which no member, of Congress, was willing to sign.) The computer industry took the next hardest hit when, as computers became more complex, and users began rebuilding the old (which users understood), and leaving the new sitting on shelves. According to the media, Windows 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, sold, about as well, with the public, as a model "T", or Model "A" Ford. When the media polled the public, the article would read that, even with Windows 7,8, and 9, most users used less then 20% of computers ability. The public, overwhelmingly, voted that computers had become far too complex. It just was not worth the effort, learning about programs which people MIGHT use, about every twenty years. The internet also had to report that copies, of Windows 2000, purchased via mail order, from Asia, were out-selling the new stuff, by 100,000-to-1. While Microsoft had, long since, ended tech support, for Windows 2000, a group, of investors, put together a new, support, network. A network, dedicated to working with those, who owned older machines. Of course, once the Asians heard about this new venture, they began to revise their product lines, placing only very SMALL orders, for the newer products, while watching sales SOAR, on parts, for out-of-date computers. In another industry, a corporation, which had been importing cheap, Asian, products, and selling that at the profit, of American prices, came to the bitter realization, that an international corporation was selling the product, direct to customers, at just 10% of what the corporation charged. Point of note: Even at 10%, the foreign corporation was making a 300% profit, from sales. The New World Order would become the New World Market. IF American corporations wanted to compete, then prices would have to FALL, drastically. This would mean no more new Rolls-Royces, each year. No more yachts. No more country clubs. Corporate boards of directors would return to living on budgets, just as they did, while working their way up, to the board room. One company actually tried to auction off some Rolls-Royces, to keep the company solvent, until profits returned. The same trick some fool, on e-bay had used, to try and sell a USED, 1972, Chevy Nova sedan, for $2,000. (A car, which had NO blue-book value) The Rolls-Royces went up for auction, four times, yet no offers were made. While no one could PROVE what happened, it seems that the Rolls were "lost", in a fire, along with about $50 million, in other, company, property. What made arson investigation suspicious was the fact that the goods were burned far enough from town, that nothing else was in danger. The insurance company not only refused to pay out, for replacement materials, but cancelled the company's insurance policy as well. When the idea, came out of Congress, to intercept foreign orders, enroute, then deliver, only when Americans paid, full, American, prices, the elder members, of Congress, reminded the younger members "That is called Piracy, on the high sea's. It has not been practiced, since the 1700's, and for good reason." When the elder added "Besides, thanks to electronics, people receive "paid in full" receipts, upon purchase. If you try to hijack their purchases, you will be sent to prison." Result, the New World Order would crumble to dust, while the New World MARKET, would lead to new prosperity. With the new world market taking over, the Republicans would "dissolve" back into the shadows, looking to, one day, make a come back. When this might happen was anyones guess.

ODE TO A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM

ODE TO A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM It may seem odd, however, to think of just how dependent modern Americans have become, on products, which use electricity. That is, until one evening, after dark, when a severe thunderstorm not only dumps enough ran to flood low-lying area's, but, when the rain is accompanied by powerful streaks, of lightning. I, for one, do not know which I fear most. The brief burst, of light. A burst which, for just a second, turns night time into high noon, on a sun-lit day. That, or the few seconds later, when the thunder crashes, so loud, that it shakes homes with the sound of a hungry predator. It is just so amazing that, one moment, a person can be listening to their favorite tunes, on their play-list, or watching a wide variety, of video products, yet, with the FLASH, of a bolt, of lightening, Battery powered, transistor, radios, and outdated, battery-powered, "boom-boxes" become the best music available. Then, of course, there are those persons, who enjoy listening to audio books, which they have down-loaded to their computers. One moment, the listener is engrossed in finding out if a spirit is, truly, that of a loved one, then, with a flash, of lightning, the stereo, and computer, stop playback (just before the truth is revealled). Suddenly, the listener is left to read printed magazines, and hard cover books. All by battery powered (or kerosene) lanterns. All due to the savage power, of "Mother Nature". Yes, how quickly our lives can change, without electric current. In fact, the very same type of current which, in the shape of a lightning bolt, can KILL, or destroy, instead of providing pleasure. Yes, how our lives have become so dependent, on electricity. Everything from C.D. players, to DVD machines. Stereo F.M. receivers, to Digital television signal receivers. Add in alarm clocks, microwave ovens, electric can openers, light bulbs, air conditioners, and portable fans, And it is oh, so simple, for a brief burst, of electricity to return a city, from twenty-first century high-tech, to seventeenth century candles, and paperback reading. It is at times, such as these, that I realize that a foreign power would not need a nuclear attack, to bring the United States to its "knee's". No, all that a foreign power would need to do was use a remote device, to shut down the power-grid, and the United States is returned to colonial times. All of the M.R.I.'s, ex-rays, and tests, whose names I wont pretend that I can pronounce, all useless, without electricity. And what of the American automobile? A device, whose systems, nowadays, run, almost completely, on electricity. Gone are the days, of carbureters, spark plugs (and wires), as well as simple gasoline. Nowadays, automotive design is so "addicted", to high tech micro-chips, that even ignitions do not turn over, without micro-chip permission. As for mobile (cell) phones. It would take just ONE, electrical, storm, to shut down an entire city/county. Add in the fact that pay telephones no longer exist, and it would be so very easy to cripple the nations economy, just with a few lightning bolts. My neighbors and I have sat back, and watched as just two, or three, lightning bolts, took out up to ten, city, blocks, of the power grid, leaving residents without light, heat, air conditioning, or entertainment. With our lives so dependent, nowadays, on this substance, called electricity, I have to wonder why cities dont move the power lines underground, to protect transformers from lightning strikes, as well as moving sub-stations underground, to protect against drunk drivers. In my town, there have been no less than three times when drunk drivers have driven through electric sub-stations, taking down several blocks, of the power grid, until electricity can be re-routed. How dependent we have become on this wonderous, yet deadly, substance, called electricity. A substance which can either keep a nations citizens in contact, or which can kill, faster than any sniper. How dependent we have become, on this substance, and how easily it can cripple our lives. Thanks to a severe thunderstorm, I have learned, first hand, what it is like, when electricity stops flowing. How life stops. How we find ourselves surrounded, by SILENCE. Maybe, we have satellite radio, however, this leaves the question: In colonial times, storms did not phase life, since families used hand-cranked phonographs, and kerosene lamps, as well as paper-back novels, to ride out storms. Are we really better off? This is my ode, to a severe thunderstorm (and the lessons such weather reminds us of)

RUMORS

Crystal and I knew, from the start, where, and HOW, the rumors got started. It was all so simple, and honest. While I had to wait for a friend to tell me that the Latina, Crystal, was engaged, still, I attended the party, which was sort-of an "anything goes", type of gathering. Still, I waited until I noticed how Jesus walked around the party, taking various womens hands, and rubbing them against his crotch. Of those I saw, atleast three women slipped their hands inside his pants. This is when I decided to offer Crystal my own wedding present. It took a bit of doing, to bring her aside, yet, once I got her into a space, where the music was softened, by the walls, and she asked me "Where is the present". I told her "Dont worry. Its right here." For just a moment, when I looked her over, Crystal was a bit apprehensive. As I carressed her, however, and whispered "Dont worry. I wont hurt you." Crystal felt like saying "Lets get on with it." What surprised, and excited, Crystal was how I did not just "shove it in". Instead, I embraced her, carressed her, then drew her into a kiss, which went so deep, and rich, that she wished it would last just for a few months. As the french kiss continued, she lost the ability to think. By the time she could think, again, she felt my lips on her neck. Un-like her fiance, however, I was not biting her (as he, and other men, did). In fact, as my lips and tongue, carressed her neck, she found herself embracing, and carressing me. The time, when she KNEW she had to stop me, was when she felt me kissing her chest. She KNEW where my lips were going. This is why she whispered "Baby", and I returned to give her a DEEP kiss. After the kiss, we just looked at one another (and Crystal did NOT like the thoughts she was having) Thankfully, when she heard her name being called, she whispered "Baby, give me five minutes." I understood. What Crystal did not realize was that her friends "understood", as well. Especially Christine. When Christine mentioned Crystals look, then asked Crystal "Have you looked in a mirror, recently?" Crystal did not realize how she looked until the ladies found an un-occupied bathroom, and Crystal saw the mirror. Her smile, and glow, was like a neon sign, saying "I have been LOVED." When Christine mentioned "I know it was not Jesus. His shaft has been working the party for an hour." Crystal would only say "A friend". It was when the drinking, and drugs, became a (sex)-fest, that Crystal found herself by my side. She did not know why but she felt safe/comfortable, with me. Still, when men began pouring beer into women, before insertion, I felt Crystals dis-comfort, and asked if she wanted to leave. When she whispered "Baby, not alone" I agreed. I understood her reason when, at the exit, she snuggled up to me, even as we passed more than a few men, all of whom seemed ready to take a woman "home". Funny thing, though. When we reached her place, Crystal swallowed a good sized amount of breath freshener. When I took a look, she promised "Give them fifteen to dissolve, and the smell will be gone." What surprised Crystal was when I asked to use her own bathroom. When she saw me take out my "tooth-kit", and prepare to brush my teeth, Crystal looked at me, and I suggested "I thought you might like a fresh mouth to kiss." Sure enough, moments later, our mouths fresh, the pills took effect, then Crystal got another surprise when I put on some soft music, then took her into my arms. She wanted to say "Boy, you, really, want into my pants, bad." however, all she did was carress me, in return. In her bedroom, for the first time, in YEARS, a man aided Crystal in un-dressing, yet without fumbling. In bed, Crystal got another shock when I did not "stick it right in". Instead, I seduced her until she was ready to beg. Only when she smiled, brightly did I slip it in. Once I began loving her, she prayed, to the Virgin Mary, that this day could last just a few years. By the time I was half-finished, Crystal whispered "Baby, I am going to have to teach you how to love me." When I was "finished", Crystal got another shock when I encouraged her to snuggle up to me, as I fell asleep. That following week, Crystal encouraged me to nurse and, the following week, she gave me her milk. At the start, when Crystal still felt that marriage was coming her way, she asked that I only express my love, for her, inside her place. In public, kisses, and carresses, were fine, but "private" touches were to be kept at home. She could not keep the truth from her friends. Especially when the women saw that Crystal, who could pack away a case of booze, alongside the best of them, had started a new habit. "Nursing" a single drink, while enjoying the company. It was when, after a friend ate a super-sized value meal, then mentioned "I guess I ate too much. Man, are my clothes tight." This is when Crystal abandoned most fast food, and began eating more salads. At the start, when Crystal noticed how much I exercised, outside of bed, she mentioned, to her mother, that I was getting back into the same shape that her friends were in, since high school. It was when mother challenged Crystal, asking "So, you think you are, still, in high school shape, huh?" When Crystal would say "Mother, I haven't been out of school, long enough, to get out of shape." Mother placed a $50.00 bill in front of Crystal, saying "If you can prove that you are in shape, this money is yours." Now, sure, Crystal had been watching her figure, since high school, but what she had not been noticing was her trim/tone. When mother and daughter went to the family's rear yard, Crystal did notice that it took a bit of effort, and a rest, at the halfway point, but she made it. All mother would say was "When you were in school, it was not so much an effort, AND you did not have to take a rest break." After Crystal joined me, at my next, doctors appointment, and listened to the doctor tell me "Sir, you are as healthy as a thirty year old. Keep this up and you may make it back to the fitness of a twenty-five year old." Crystals own appointment (which her mother, not myself, attended), was not so good. While the doctor would say "Not bad. Just about five pounds over-normal weight. You could use some exercise, though." Unlike myself, who had been out of school, for decades, Crystals own "recovery" was much simpler. It was not long before the clothes, which she had set aside as "shrunken" began to fit, again. Soon, when she was not doing housekeeping, or fixing meals, Crystal joined me in my exercises. Funny thing was, even as Jesus was teasing the ladies, about Crystal, and I, about being "sickly thin", she noticed how his own "diet" was affecting his body. Jesus may have THOUGHT that he was justifying the fact that he was humping as many women as possible, but, the fact was that people saw the difference. By the time Crystal hear about the rumors (which claimed she was laying with anything that had a shaft), even her friends stated that they KNEW I was Crystals only man. After all, I was the only one she was seen with, and I was the one, handling her "business". By the time Jesus was claiming that Crystal was dating every man she could find, her friends had started up a notebook, for the two. Inside the notebook, all that Crystal had was an index card, with my information. This, because the ladies never saw Crystal with any other man. By contrast, Jesus had pages of "conquests". As for Jesus rumors, of Crystal's "wild parties", Crystal found these hilarious. Considering the fact that she had me waiting for her, at home, Crystal made sure that the only times when she went near being drunk were the days when there was no chance of my needing her. Even so, when she attended parties, she began attending, for her friends. Crystal could even name the exact date, when she last became drunk, and high. It was three months after we became lovers, and Crystal was not sure we had any "future". Crystal did not know why but, while she thought she was having a good time, at a party, she had no idea that I was present, until she saw me. Ofcourse, I had told her, before the party, that I was visiting a friend, and that she should not worry. At the party, Crystal was just the latest lady, to stand on a table, and begin un-dressing. Crystal thought it would be "fun", and "laughs", but only until she saw me. There she was, topless, and looking at me as if she were a child, caught stealing. As soon as she saw me, she climbed down, from the table, grabbed her clothes, and let the next woman take over. Crystal was thankful that she lost me, in the crowd. Even as she dressed, Crystal realized that the "buzz" was gone. Instead of going home, Crystal had gone to her parents home, for her hang-over. The next morning, and without her mothers prodding, Crystal wrote out a pledge, saying that she would, never, removed her clothes, in public, ever again. Since that day, Crystal had not been drunk, high, or naked, in public. This is why, when the rumors circulated, that Crystal was stripping, for hire, her friends did not believe. Now, Jesus had taken on three strippers, so far. Crystals friends found it laughable that everything, that Jesus accused Crystal of, was what HE was actually, doing. It was not long after the rumors became ridiculous that Crystals friends asked me, straight out: If you want her so much, why not just MARRY her? Crystals mistake was in how she handled a name problem. Her friends could not pronounce my family name. To aid this problem, Crystal half-jokingly, suggested "Why not just call him Mr.H, and me, Mrs.H?" Not only, from that time on, was Crystal referred to as "Mrs.H", but, her mail began coming, bearing my family name. Once Crystal verified, both to me, and her family, that she had not done this, herself, everyone gave Crystal the same answer. "If you did not do it, then it is THEIR problem, not yours" What Crystal came to enjoy, about being my "wife" was the fact that, when people wanted "spur of the moment decisions", Crystal would smile and say "I need to speak to my husband, about this." The same thing I said, when people wanted FAST answers, or sales. What began making her mother laugh, more often, waas when the times came up where Crystal would remind me "You are my husband, and I love you, but you DONT O-W-N me." Each time I would ask "Who says I own you?" Crystal would say "Dont try to change the subject. I love you but you dont own me." It would be when mother would break out, in laughter, that Crystal would ask "Whats so funny?" Mother would say "You! You ARE acting like his wife." When Crystal would say "I a-", then realize that we were not married, she would brush her hair back, smile, and say "I dont believe it." By the time Jesus was out of her life, he had spread every rumor, from her having four abortions, to my selling her to some dictator, to pay off gambling debts. Now, sure, our life was not as smooth as glass. Like mother said "Tha best relationships are the ones where people work things out." For mother, the "ultimate" laugh was the times, when, with a butcher knife in hand, Crystal would say "How I would love to cut it off him." When Mother asked "Why not? Say it was an accident." Crystal would say "I enjoy it too much. Without it, what am I?"

FIXING THE FUTURE

FIXING THE FUTURE It started out, like a glorious dream. A dream ( or a fantasy), about the time when America would celebrate the addition of the 100th state, to the federal union. I dont know why, however, even as the festivities were going, full tilt, I felt an urgent need, to relax, and lie down. At the time, when I passed out, my last recollection was that the year was 2045. To say that I would be astounded to wake up, in 1970, would be an understatement. To say that my mother, who would, decades later, die, of a medical condition, which caused severe obesity, was not only alive, but not overweight, at all, was something, while my adult memories found more than freaky. As for my father, it seems that the factory worker, that I remembered, had changed jobs, using his advanced knowledge, of the German language, to land a career, in tech development, was more than a little un-settling. My eldest sister was well on her way to becoming a valedictorian, at our grade school. Our middle sister was harnessing her talents, as a project coordinator. As for myself, what I did not know, until that time, was the fact that the details, that I seemed to know, about coming events, were not just the fanciful ravings, of a child, with an over-active imagination. Without realizing it, I was quoting information from my then-future. What really surprised me was when 1972 came, and went, with my parents not only remaining married, but our moving from the suburbs, and into a development, which my fathers employer owned. Also odd was the fact that my mother did not accuse my father, of having affairs. Not when security placed him, working on projects, at the lab. The time, when I knew that history ws "changed" was when, in the late 1970's, the American Embassy, in Iran, was not taken captive, by alleged "terrorists". In a suspicious twist of fate, the Iran-Contra scandal never developed. Neither did Mr. Hinkleys attempt, on President Reagans life. My own life would change when my father secured me a maintenance job, with his employer. Sure, I was still dumping trash, and cleaning restrooms, but most of the jobs I had, previously, had, did not come forth. While both of the U.S.-led invasions, of the Middle East, did happen, my father was encouraging my pursuit, of body building. Then came the "BIGGIE". After Mr. Trump became "leader", of the United States, with his Zero Tolerance Policy, towards Latin Americans, my father encouraged me NOT to become involved. Even as the U.S. military was given orders to use "Any force necessary", to "seal" the Texas/Mexican border, and the bodies really began to pile up, my parents would remind me that the border was not my problem. I had a job, and my parents were working on finding me a wife. It was the night after Mr. Trump had ordered a mkassive shelling, of Mexico, in order to drive the Latino's back to the south, that I KNEW that history had changed. The war, which Mr. Trumps policies had started, had lead not just to massive devastation, of the nation, of Mexico, but the man sent the Pacific Fleet, to POUND the Latino's into surrender. What the man did not count on were the retaliatory attacks, on the west coast. The United Nations would pass an edict, condeming Washington D.C.'s actions, and authorizing retaliatory strikes, on California. Strikes which, by 2022, would level vast area's, of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other area's. It was the night after the strikes began that I began to wonder what had happened, and how life had changed. After all, in the 2045 that I remembered, the United States was at PEACE, with the world, and Latin American had added forty-nine states, to the stars-and-strips. I was left to fall asleep, wondering "How could the time-line be changed? How did Iran-Contra never happen? Why was the U.S. embassy never attacked? Why did Hinkley never shoot at Reagan?" It was not until American military units were ordered to launch nuclear weapons, on the Latinos, that I dared to ask the question, which began producing answers. Some guy, whom I had, never, seen, before, came to me, saying "History has been changed, on PURPOSE." When I would ask "Why?" The guy would say "They had to stop you from bringing the Latino's into the U.S., legally." When I asked "Why?" The man said "Dont you get it? With Latino's as legal Americans, the labor pool, which produced so much cheap products, would evaporate." When I suggested "Let me get this straight. You are saying that history has been altered. If this is so, then WHY do I remember the other time-line?" The man would say "This is your punishment, for trying to build a better life. If you accept this time-line, then all of the effort, that you put out, in the other time-line, will vanish." When I asked "Oh, yeah? What would the consequences be, if I stay in this time-line?" The man would say "Some very important achievements will not occur, and mankind will perish, on Earth." When I would ask "Achievements, such as?", the man would say "In 2040, yours will be the voice, of reason, saying that man must develop Warp Drive, and Sub-Space Radio, before sending out colony ships. By the time the `100th state joins the union, Germans will be working, with Latino's, on decoding ancient texts, which will begin to prove how space travel SHOULD be handled." When I would ask "How do you know this?" The man would say "I am a temporal law enforcer. I was sent back, to set the past, right, and to set you on your true path." When I would ask "What is my "true" path?" The man would say "While your parents would get divorced, and other tragedies DO happen, all of this, including almost going to prison, for, allegedly, claiming that murdering the president was the way to end the Middle Eat invasions, you will find your "voice", via diplomacy. It will be your repeated references, to the Founding Fathers, and the formation, of the United States, that will lead to a peaceful resolution, to the Texas-Mexico border. It will be YOU, who will show those, involved, that peace is the way. After all, YOU will be responsible for beginning the path, to state-hood." When I would say "Okay, but HOW do I get back to the correct time-line." The man would say "Let ME handle that. After all, this IS my job." I dont claim to understand it but, when I closed my eyes, I was in one time-line. When I opened my eyes, to hear someone calling my name, and saying "You are missing all the fun." I re-jioned the festivities, of watching state number 100 officially joining the union. At last, all of South America, was part of the United States. When I saw the time-traveller, and tried to thank him, he told me "Dont thank me. You are the one who inspired this. I am just doing my job." While I would write, and publish, an article, on the experience, few people believed in it. After all, history had, already, been written. If it were real, and not just a dream, then what a journey it had been. Knowing people, whom I, barely, remembered. When I contemplated "What if I could go back, and change just a few, key, decisions?" The "time-cop" would say "I know that look, and the answer is "No. You cannot go back, and change any part of the past. Not without consequences." When I whispered "Just a thought." The last thing, that the man said was "Thoughts are fine. Just keep it real." With that, the man was gone.

THE WOMENS REGRETS

THE WOMENS REGRETS While my worst, female, critics, spent most of their lives, insisting that I was NOT a man, that I did not deserve a woman, and that I would, never, be anything, these women had a smaller, and smaller, audience, as time passed. Truth is, after Decision 2018, I found a new ally, in the new, ward, alderman. An ally, with whom I would begin making a real impression, on our town. While our mayors office was dealing with a heated debate, over the need, for a sports arena, my alderman, and I, were working on a poll, to find out just how much market there, actually, was, for bringing a new supermarket into the neighborhood. While the deputy mayor insisted that there were just no funds, for our project, the deputy was "cornered" with "If there is no money, for grocery stores, then HOW do you intend to PAY for the arena?" The mayor gave their usual "Just give it TIME, and the economy will correct itself." My alderman, and myself, were among many, who were tired of waiting. That is why the alderman had sought office. To find solutions, to the city's problems. While the mayors office was not about to let go of one penny, for our poll, my alderman found a place, for the poll. For just $500.00, a hacker set up the poll, on-line. All we had to do was publicize it. Funny thing was, every chain store, that people talked to, about our area, said they would need atleast 10,000, regular, shoppers, for the project to be worthwhile. While the mayors office was certain that there was NO WAY that we could come up with 10,000, the mayors office, again, was silent, when we came up with 50,000 names. Sure, not all LIVED in the area, but many WORKED in the area. My alderman ended up attending five meetings, regarding the shopping issue, while I, thankfully, only attended two. The man must have been a better speaker than I was since it was one of his who decided that "Numbers dont lie". The supermarket chain would take out a two year lease, on the former grocery store. The city would, then have to "prove itself", by providing $10 million, in sales, per year. Once the new store opened, the alderman, and I, took our "bows", then thanked the public, for supporting us. As for the former, deep discount, store, it would take longer to open, since the building was in such bad shape. When contractors agreed that it would cost LESS, to just replace the building, that is what the north side decided to do. No, municipal money would be used, since the mayor was "hitting a brick wall", in regards to funding the new arena. As a result, my alderman applied for, and received, a "community improvement" grant. The two, new, stores, were, barely, open, and having customers, when the last, local, laundry owner announced that they were closing. It was no wonder. Not with half of the machines, down, for repair. That, and the fact that the prices, in the vending machines, made local, stores, look downright affordable. The owner said it would cost too much to repair, so they were closing. As a result, my alderman, and I ended up putting aside the latest plan (that of promoting the electronic tagging, of every bicycle, in the city, due to theft). We had not even rested, from the grocery challenge, when locals were asking about a place to do laundry. While the local, housing, authority promised that its residents had three wash rooms, inside the hi-rise, it was the tenants, who put the "damper", on this, by telling the media "We have to wait, in line, for a security key, to get into the wash rooms. After that, we have to sit around, WAITING for security to come back, so we can return the key." This is when I proposed a new use, for an abandoned store. It would seem that the state was happy, with our primary, community improvement, program, so another grant was allowed. With this grant, my alderman, and myself, would begin "selling" the city on the idea of a no cash laundry. It was simple. All a person had to do was secure a card, which would be their "key-card", and allow them entry, to the laundry, at any time. The same, key, card would operate the machines. When asked about vending, my alderman and I would remind audiences "You have atleast five, restaurants, and three dollar stores, within walking distance. Why not pick up supplies, and food, before doing wash?" When a few people asked "What if we have no money, on deposit, can we, still, use the machines." Both of us would say "Sorry, the cards are pre-paid. If you have no money, on deposit, then your card will be useless, beyond the door." While a small group, of people, protested the new system, including the fact that the people had been denied access cards, the media dealt with this, for us. Each, of those, who had been denied access cards, had horrible credit histories. Bills, months, even years, overdue. Loans in default. The list seemed endless. It was at this point that my antagonizers began to go silent (When not trying to say that it was ALL my aldermans idea). What neither of us saw coming was the problem of how MANY people wanted access cards. People from across town. People, who enjoyed a place, where they did not have to carry money. My alderman was just looking at five sites, across town, which would be good, for laundromats, when we got caught up, in yet another problem. Some gang had come to town with the idea that strip malls were easy to rob. Using long-bed pick-ups, the gang would target a strip mall, drive into the lot, then, simultaneously, rob up to seven stores. When the local police would say "We just dont have the resources to handle the problem." the people turned beyond their own aldermen, and their "Dont ask me" attitude, and the people asked us, for answers. I, really, did not blame the people. After all, any time the question, of expenditures, came up, NO one wanted to use the word "PAY". Thankfully, the grocery stores were doing even better than predicted. This meant that grant money could be re-paid, well ahead of schedule. This money was, then, offered to us, as we began work on the first "Members Only", no-cash, strip malls. By the time the project went into full swing, insurance companies were reporting record pay-outs, for damage, and other expenses. Some, insurance, companies were telling the media that "If the city does not do something, soon, WE are leaving town." While various aldermen did try setting up neighborhood watch groups, these were too little, for the busines community. This is why HOPE began to spring up, as the first "Members Only" strip mall went into service. The problem, that the mayor's office had, with the new service, was that it was NOT part of the plan, for the "New World Order". Instead of moving "forward", as the mayor, and the politicians had planned, My alderman, and I, were moving the city "backward", to a time of "stability". A time when things could be counted upon. Of course, this was very BAD news, for thieves, who wanted "easy scores". For the mayors office, this was even worse news, since the thieves got "wise", and switched to bicycle thefts. This, even as the deputy mayor was telling the public: "The city just cannot AFFORD to track every single bike, in town. We just dont have the resources." The aldermen, of the council, were being "encouraged" to follow our lead, by community supporters. This is why the mayor's latest project: An ultra-luxurious hotel, and sports center, with a price tag of about 45 million Was "shelved". The aldermen voted that public safety was more important than hotel rooms. With only a $5 million grant, for "public service" advertising, my alderman would begin a city-wide effort, to have people electronically tagging bicycles. When asked for comment, the mayors office would issue another "No Comment". With a REAL, and intense, bike tagging program going on, city-wide, the thieves found police on thier door-steps, within hours of thefts. The life, of crime, seemed to be becoming impossible. No doubt, this is why the thieves began vacating the city. This, even as the mayor, and deputy mayor did NOT seek re-election. Instead, my alderman was selected, for the post. As our grocery store plans, laundry plans, and so on, expanded, around the county, then the state, both the mayor, and myself, found ourselves travelling the state, for meetings, conferences, and seminars. This while, in PRIVATE, my antagonists were wearing down, on their belief that I was NOT what the state needed. More, and more, of them, were asking "HOW can we KNOW he is NOT a man? Have we met him?" The core, of the group, would say "You dont have to meet a creep, to KNOW he is a homo. REAL women KNOW homo's, when we see them. He IS a homo." Problem was that less, of the public, agreed with these women, every day. More women were wondering about my "potential". As to WHO it was, who decided to send me a "woman", with quad-D sized breasts, and a rear, big enough to hide the whole state behind, even the state-wide party knew, by this time, that this was not my kind of woman. The women, of the party, knew my type, because several of them had inquired. They said it was "political research". This is why I suggested that my favorite ages would be between eighteen, and thirty, with "B" cup breasts, and a trim figure. This is why, when the BIG woman stopped by, men and women, chuckled, as they KNEW this woman was NOT my type. (I have to admit that the workers did a splended job, of, tactfully, sending the woman away.) While this helped, on the "home-base", I DID accept some "company", while travelling between towns. I followed the same plan I was working on, for state-hood. In each city, I spoke to the women, about the area, and its people. This is what the party was paying for. Research. This is what helped me to be able to pin-point how to tailor my presentations. As the plans expanded, state-wide, I had to laugh, when my original town found out that I was part of the planning. The city actually tried to claim being my "home town". Not that I had lived there, in decades. I would only let the city agree to present itself as my birth-place. About six months later, the whole party was pretty sure of the reason why our mayor was being prepared to become the governor, of the state. The current governor, like the former mayor, was the kind of person who only said "Give it TIME, and the world will right itself." Well, after nearly five decades, the people were tired of waiting. With our plans being adopted, across the state, soon, community involvement, in making decisions, became just as REAL as it was, during the Revolutionary War. The "New World Order" was crumbling to dust, even as our "Get Involved" program was gaining momentum. Just at the time when I was preparing to re-start my state-hood plan, this was side-tracked, again, as the new governor informed the media "No, I am NOT running for president. I have enough to take care of, in my home state." This, it seems, is why people turned to me. This is why I became the states "liaison", to neighboring states. Following in our states "blue-print", our neighbors watched as city councils, firmly entrenched in the "New World Order", began vacating positions, while referring to our plans as "Un-American". (We, all, shook our heads at what that meant) Un-American, or not, as our plans moved forward, communities, on the verge of collapse, found new cause for hope, as local leaders joined my state, in returning stability, to local economies. Now, of course, there were some "conspiracy theorists", who believed that the "New World Order" was DESIGNED to bring an end, to the impoverished, and the middle class, by replacing much-needed goods, and services, with un-needed, social, activities. Atleast one conspiracy stated that politicians wanted to remove all, local, shopping, from inner cities. The goal being that, if the low income had no place, to shop, they would just move away. Another conspiracy claimed that the goal was to set the low income, at one anothers throats, killing one another, for access to goods and services. All that we knew was that, within a few years, our state was in the middle of a new, booming, economy. Trash dumping grounds were converted into parks, grocery stores either opened, or re-opened. No-Cash laundries became as common as acne. Stores were, now, proudly, advertising "All bicycles are tracker equipped" At first, the public feared that this was just more of "Big Brother", however, this fell by the way-side, just as On-Star tracked accidents, and dispatched aid. With trackers, lost bicyclists were found, in record time. This, however, was not what made the plan so effective. In atleast two cases, when bicyclists did not reach destinations, by established deadlines, the trackers were used to locate the injured cyclists. No more search parties. Now, emergency services could track any cycle to within 20 feet. Our state did, in fact, soon become a "pocket of prosperity", as people found a place where families were safe. I was just thankful when, before I grew too old, the Latin community reached out, to ME. They wanted ME to represent them, to the U.S. government. When I took the lead, in delivering the documents, to Washington D.C., the Latinos felt certain that their efforts would be successful. This, even as the Latin Americans took the Oath of Allegiance, to the United States. As the Latin community began taking the pledge, the remaining women (who had, so bitterly opposed me), found the world saying "Who CARES! Atleast he is doing something." Even my remaining sister went to her grave, furious that I had achieved some of my dreams. She would end her life being known as my "little sister". Her obit would consist of "Worked in private, and public, industry. Physically fit. Death due to natural causes". Being a government worker, her head stone would bear a copy of the state seal, as well as Name, and birth and death. Since she had spent so many years, driving people away, only her husband would attend her funeral. The only time, when my most ardent critic, would speak, in public, about me, was when my plans began stretching ever further, to the point where half of the nation was with us. (The other half was desperate for the "New World Order" to bring back prosperity.) When the woman blamed me, directly, saying "If we had not let that HOMO ruin our nation, we would not be at one anothers throats, right now." When the media asked the woman "HOW do you KNOW he is a homo?" The woman would, only say "A REAL woman KNOWS." Even the media had no idea what this meant. What the media DID know was that my suggestions had evolved into plans, which caused cities to evolve. Even the nation was evolving. It would seem that my efforts even bore un-expected "fruit". I was, even, offered a house, to live in. The governor won the office five times, before he decided to return to private life. As for myself, I did not rest until I knew that five, new, states had been admitted, to the union, with ten more awaiting processing. When my opponents time came, her friends only attended the ceremony since, when the woman was not making public claims, about my sexuality, she had many hobbies, as well. It was the people, whom she enjoyed her hobbies with, who would attend her funeral. I did wonder what the woman would have thought of an obit, which listed name, birth, death, and hobbies. (No mention would be made, of her stand, against my manhood.) After awhile, even her former co-horts did not remember what they had been standing against. Their own families now took up their lives. As for me, I had taken my STAND, and earned my place, in the history books.