Verron_Birth of a Nation

by Douglas Varnell

  When they finished their meal, Paul told them, “We have 36 hour days here, so we’ve got a good bit of day left. What would you guys like to do?” Both speaking at the same time, Amber said go flying, Hunter said Jxansa Gha lessons. Paul looked at Dalhia and said, “Lets divide and conquer, we actually have time for both. I’ll take Hunter and go flying for a while, then come back and work with him on his Jxansa Gha. You take Amber and do the same.” Paul thought a moment and turned to Amber saying, “I know your way to mature for this, but you like Unicorns?” Amber smiled and showed him the gold unicorn on her charm bracelet. Back to Dalhia, he asked, “See if you can find that Unicorn herd that grazes the high plains. Have you seen them lately, Lucy?” The kids looked at Paul as if he were completely insane, there was no one named Lucy at the table, everyone else knew exactly what he was doing. Lucy replied with live satellite footage to his implant. He spoke again, “Thanks.” Turning to Dalhia he informed her, “About 150 miles northeast of Mt. Ola; their actually in a small valley watering in a lake there. Looks like about 1000 of them” Amber and Hunter now knew he was crazy. They gave questioning looks to the others around the table and got reassuring nods of approval. Dalhia leaned over and spoke in Amber’s ear, “Welcome to Verron, I promise, you will never get bored. There’s something new every day.”

  Paul’s sleeping and exercise time was all messed-up. He slept like a rock after spending time with Hunter. He let him fly his small transport he’d been using around the planet. He did a pretty good job for his first time and with no simulator training. They later spent two hours in the gym with Paul teaching Hunter the difference between Jxansa Gha and the fighting form he had been studying. He soon realized that Hunter was far better at martial arts than he ever was at the same age. He had even been training, with his instructor, to prepare for his first UFC bout. Paul could tell that Hunter was a gifted athlete, he learned much faster than anyone he had been around before. They finished the evening with a swim and he showed him to his room. It was next door to 99s, so when they walked past, Hunter was immediately invited to watch a movie. To his surprise, Amber was already on the sofa eating popcorn and drinking a Mountain Dew. Hunter looked at his sister and asked, “Can’t us guys ever have a little time to ourselves?” Ninety-nine smiled at being considered “one of the guys.” Paul excused himself and headed for bed. He never went to bed this early, but was beat. He woke, in what should be the middle of the night, and decided to go for a run. After a good three hour run, he came back and fought with the droids a while, took a shower and headed for breakfast; he had a lot to get done today.

  Everyone was up and eating Kinfu eggs and Kzki sausage, with overly toasted English muffins. Paul told 99 he was going to be taken off toast detail if he didn’t get it right soon then added, “But you make better sweet tea than my Mom.” Amber jumped to his defense and comforted him by saying she’d been burning toast for years and told 99, “Just tell them to scrape it off if they don’t like it burned.” Looking at 99 she added, “What my Mom taught me was to never walk off and leave it. The margin of error between perfect toast and burned toast is very small. I’ll show you how to do it.” With just his small exposure to his two grandchildren, he realized what an incredible job Renee and Joshua had done raising them. He really hoped they would be sticking around to be a part of Verron. Hunter asked, “Can we go flying again today? I really think I’m getting the hang of it. I think I could learn to love it more than driving.” Paul really wanted to stick around, but it was critical that he get his people in place to get Verron organized and running. He answered, “I’m afraid I’m not going to be here most of the day, but should be able to later. What about if I have Dalhia take you and Amber to the spaceship factory to spend a few hours on the simulators? It may sound boring but it’s more fun than an E-Ticket ride at Disney. You really will have a hard time telling the difference between the virtual flight simulator and the real thing. I told 99 that when he hit level 10 on the simulator, he could pick a Speeder for his own. How ‘bout I make the same deal with you two. When I get back, I’ll let you show me what you learned.”

  Paul couldn’t help but be amused at Amber and Hunter, when Hunter asked, “These Speeders, they don’t have any mirrors do they?” Amber stuck her tongue out at him and told him, “Your just jealous that I get to fly and only have a learners permit, well that’s exactly what I will be doing, learning. The kids in Driver’s Education will never believe it.” Paul thought a moment and asked, “I hate to mention school, but you brought it up. How are you guys doing in school? Are you going to get behind while you’re here?” Hunter answered for both of them, “Amber is a bit of nerd, straight A’s and all college prep. I still make straight A’s and I love anything to do with science, but I still love music and sports; I’m more diverse. But I suck at Calculus.” Amber was fine until Hunter said he was more diverse. She jumped right in, telling everyone, “Diverse, how much more diverse can a person be. I make A’s in every subject, play drums in the band, run on the girl’s cross-country team, have my black belt in Brazilian Mixed Martial Arts and even sing in the church choir; what else can I do?” Everyone at the table was amused at watching this brother and sister interact. It had been centuries since any of them had been around teenagers. Paul got up from the table to leave and told them, “You’ll both be able to add a few things to your list soon; visited another planet, met real live aliens, met a dragon, saw a herd of Unicorns, flew a spaceship; we’ll see if we can add a few more before you leave.” As he was making his gateway out, he heard Amber mumble under her breath to her big brother, “Hunter, I don’t ever want to leave Verron.”

  The Verron family tree dates back to the early colonies. Every generation was filled with Verron’s who were builders. Paul’s grandfather owned a construction company. His two sons, Paul’s father and his older brother Kenneth, worked with their dad for years. In their early years they built dams for the TVA, later they built houses for Frank Lloyd Wright. For a 200 mile radius of Chattanooga there were literally hundreds of homes, office buildings, university structures, industrial parks, factories, government buildings and even a few prisons and waste treatment plants, all built by the Verron Construction Company. When Paul’s father passed away, his older brother took over and his two sons became his partners. Paul and his brother Joe chose a different course in life, so the family business now belonged to Paul’s uncle and his cousins. Kenneth was 93 years-old and retired. His two sons, Wendal and Roddy, were now the managing partners. If Paul’s father were still alive, he would have jumped all over the opportunity Paul was about to offer his uncle. However, his uncle had lived his entire 93 years on this same piece of property where he and his wife now lived. As a Veteran of World War II, he was the oldest living member of the Verron family. He had outlived his brothers and sisters except for the youngest sister. Now Paul was going to recruit the best man he knew of to manage the massive building program he had planned for Verron.

  It was early morning in Ooltewah, Tennessee. Kenneth lived on a wooded lot that was all that remained of what had been over 5000 acres before the Civil War. The family cemetery was filled with Verrons who had fought in that war and every war since then, proudly serving their country. Uncle Kenneth and his wife Sarah were drinking their second cup of coffee when Paul knocked on their door. Although he was old and slow, and his health, after long years, was finally beginning to fade, his mind was still crystal clear. He recognized Paul right away, but stared in puzzlement at what he saw. He finally invited him in and offered him a cup of coffee and introduced him to his wife Sarah, who Paul had never met. Paul spent nearly three hours explaining what had happened to him, how much he needed his uncle’s help and how he could give he and Sarah a chance to live a whole new life on Verron; and not just them, but their family as well. At first his uncle wavered, but Sarah who loved life and had children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even great-great-grandchildren, had a mother’s instinct for surviving and doing so for as long
as possible and anyway possible. She finally told Paul, “Show us.” That was all he needed to hear. He took them through a gateway directly to the Medical Center. They had been very close to Paul’s Mom and had known her brothers for years. When they saw how much they had reversed in age, and continued to look at Paul who looked younger than their grandchildren, they both decided to stay and undergo the treatment if Paul would go back and lock-up the house and explain what was going on to Roddy, who was often stopping by to look in on them and was expected for lunch. He entrusted them to Tlase, Zimuel and Yadvega, who really were the selling point when they told them hold old they were. Paul said goodbye and was gone.

  Roddy was early and sitting in a kitchen chair, reading the short note his father had left behind. When Paul knocked on the door and walked on in Roddy looked surprised and more than just little angry. He immediately started yelling at Paul for kidnapping his father and Sarah and informed him that he had already called the police. He then proceeded to accuse him of the kidnappings of his mother and his uncles. He never shut-up long enough for Paul to explain what he had done and was evidently too upset to notice the truth standing right in front of him; when Roddy had finally finished ranting and Paul was about to speak, two County Sheriff cars pulled up in the drive-way. The deputies were getting out of their cars and heading for the house, while Roddy had a smug look of satisfaction on his face. Suddenly, to Roddy’s surprise, the four deputies froze in their tracks, not even an eyelash blinked. Paul turned to Roddy and asked, “If you’re through, I’d like to say something, then I’ll be on my way.” Roddy, still staring at the immobile officers, indicated his yes, and sat down. Paul proceeded to offer a condensed version of what he had told his uncle, then added, “Roddy, we grew up together, went to high school together, we were one year apart in our military service and lived next door when we both attended college, your exactly one year older than me, now, take a look at me, a long hard look. If you haven’t noticed, I look better than I did in college, and that was the best shape I had ever been, then you need a new prescription for glasses. So you figure it out. Isn’t it fairly obvious that I know something you don’t and now it’s my greatest desire to share good health, long life and prosperity with our family, how could you be so selfish as to deny that to your Dad and step-mom. In about a week they will be right back in this house; I pray that it’s only long enough to pack and move to Verron. You and your family are more than welcome to join them. I’m starting the most massive construction project in history. I want you to be a part of it. Think about it. I’m outta here.” As Paul was getting ready to make a jump across town, Roddy shouted, “Paul!” He turned to see what he wanted, only to notice Roddy pointing toward the driveway, “What about them?” Paul smiled and said, “Whoops, almost forgot, my bad!” The deputies were suddenly looking around as if in a daze and Paul was gone.

  He didn’t want to keep his cousin in suspense any longer about her Dad. This time of day she would have normally been visiting his uncle at the nursing home. He was pretty certain she would be home. When he rang the bell, she was at the door in an instant. The expression on her face was not exactly one of welcome. In fact it was the first time he had ever seen that much loathing on her usually smiling and happy face. He knew she was home alone and knew he didn’t want to get into a shouting match with the women who loved her father unconditionally and had proven it for years as his primary care giver. Paul made a quick decision. He reached out and gentle grabbed her arm and said, “Come with me.” He pulled her with little resistance into the treatment room on Verron. Without saying a word, he escorted Tresea across the room to the side of her father’s tank. When she looked in, she began to cry, as she caressed the rejuvenation tank. In her sobs you could hear her say, “Oh, Daddy, you look young enough to be my son.” Paul gently pointed out the tank with his mother, their uncle Les and Aunt Sherry. She turned and looked at Paul, asking, “How is this possible?” He responded, “How much time do you have before someone will miss you?” Tresea looked at her watch and answered, “John won’t be home till 4:30.”

  Paul took her by the arm and led her over to meet the people taking good care her father and his mother. Afterwards he gave her a tour of Mountain City and the Mansion, explaining what his plans were for building a new Nation, and starting with his family first. He told her it is not only Biblical to look out for family and relatives before anyone else it was also wise to surround yourself with people you know and trust. He went on to say, “I have plans in mind for you, John and your boys and their families. I’ll need computer skills, carpenters, mechanics and truckers. I will also need people like John’s son who knows his way through military intelligence. On Verron I intend for everyone who is healthy enough to work being required to work and as you can see from my medical facilities, everyone on Verron will be healthy.” Paul took her home to a surprised Yorkshire terrier and a dinner to prepare for John, and a lot of explaining to do. The last words out of his mouth before he left were, “Please tell Carol what you saw, so she can stop worrying. Both your Dads should be home in a few days. I pray you and John will come back to Verron with him. How would you like to be 30 again?”

  It was after 4:00 pm when Paul left Tresea. His next stop was going to be one of his most difficult. He was not a close friend or a family member. In fact, he was an ex-brother-in-law of his 3rd wife, and that had been over 30 years ago. The last time he had seen James was probably somewhere around 1984. Paul was led to James because of his strong and unwavering Christian faith, his unquestionable integrity and his military leadership ability. Major General James Zarman, U.S. Marine Corp, Retired, was the same age as Paul. He had been a decorated helicopter pilot during two tours of the Vietnam War; in 1983, he was a Lt. Colonel attached to the 1st Battalion 8th Marines in Beirut, Lebanon, one of the survivors who had to helicopter out the dead and the wounded. After that he was in Pensacola, Florida to become a jet pilot with aircraft carrier experience. As a highly decorated pilot he was assigned to the Pentagon and became one of the pilots for Marine 1, and flew President Reagan until he left office in 1989. By 1990, Colonel Zarman was wing commander for 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Operation Desert Storm. In 2001, Brigadier General Zarman was commanding Marines in various continents during Operation Enduring Freedom; in Afghanistan, Somalia, the Philippines and Arabian Peninsula. Jim commanded Marines who fought the worst terrorist on multi-continents. His last few years until retirement, Major General Zarman was Marine liaison to Homeland Security and worked out of the Pentagon. This man knew how to command, how to fight, how to lead and do it with unquestioning integrity. He was one of the most decorated and respected Marines in history and Paul was headed to Beaufort, North Carolina to try and talk him into commanding his army.

  Jim’s retirement home was only a mile up a canal from the harbor. He kept a 32 foot Grady White fishing boat on a davit behind his home, and his golf clubs in the trunk of his five-year-old Lexus. He and his wife of almost 50 years, Barbara, had a very comfortable retirement. They often had visits from their son David, who was following in his father’s footsteps by graduating from Annapolis and becoming an officer in the Marines, now stationed at Camp Lejeune, only a few miles away. Jim was active in his church and making some extra money now and then working as a consultant and doing some lobbying when he had the time and if it didn’t compromise his principles. If there was ever anyone secure in their retirement and in good enough health to enjoy it, it had to be the Zarman’s. But Jim was bored, really bored, and today, as he sat in his family room on a rainy day reading The Fall of the Ottomans: The Great War in the Middle East by Eugene Rogan, while Barbara was baking in the kitchen. He desperately longed for the thrill of his youthful years, the rush of excitement when he flew a helicopter or a fighter jet and the gratification of leading good men. Paul could never have hoped for a more opportune time to knock on that door. It had to be a God thing.

  When Jim answered the door and there stood a total stranger, his first words we
re, “Tell me you’re not soliciting in this neighborhood. I don’t especially enjoy running you people off, but I would rather you left me alone.” Paul held out his hand and said, “General Zarman, it’s obvious you don’t remember, so I will refresh your memory. I spent one Christmas in Jacksonville with you and your wife when David was an infant. I still have a picture you took of your Christmas tree that year, and in the shadows against the wall was a very obvious silhouette of Jesus. I was also the man who first introduced David to a Jalapeño pepper, he thought was a pickle; by the way, I still feel really bad about that.” Before he could continue to identify himself, Jim said, “Stay right there. Don’t go anywhere.” He dashed back into the house yelling for Barbara. About 10 minutes later he and Barbara returned with a photo album of his younger sister, Lynn’s, first wedding; to Paul. They held the picture up. Lowered the album and asked, “Are you his son, you look just like him.” Paul smiled and answered, “I look like him, because I am him. That’s why I’m here. To explain to you how I can look like this and to offer you the opportunity of a lifetime. Will you give me some time to explain?” The door opened and Paul was escorted to a screened in porch overlooking the canal. Barbara offered him an ice tea and actually set out some of the fresh sugar cookies she had just been baking. Paul’s timing was perfect. This had to be a God thing; he loved fresh, warm sugar cookies.