Katie stuck her head in the office and said. “Do you plan on spending the whole day working? You know you are supposed to be recovering?” She asked me as she approached me.
“I know I was just finishing up. I will probably be working more in the next few weeks than I have been.” I stated as stood up from my desk chair. I may not be one hundred percent but I regained use of everything quickly enough.
“Why?” she asked and grabbed my shoulder to guide me in the direction of the fireplace in the great room. I could see she did not trust me to go on my own.
“Because I am relocating the headquarters for Opfree to that open space across the road.” I replied as she handed me a cup of coffee.
“Well it will be convenient to have it so close but we will lose the view of the woods and I quite like that view.” She answered me.
“I will probably have them plant full grown trees in a full strip along the road to block the view of the complex,” I said. “I enjoy the view of the woods too.” I changed the topic of discussion. “My brother Ricky will be coming tomorrow, so Mimi may want to have a small family reunion. I think you will like him.”
“I haven’t met a member of your family I did not like yet, love. Have you heard from Daddy today?” She asked me.
“Yes he called this morning. I am sneaking a couple battalions of my finest across the Canadian border to strengthen his position. He may have to hold out for a few more years.” I sighed as I spoke.
“I know, love and Daddy knows too. We took a beating thinning out the remainder of the Death Walkers who remain in Europe after we almost destroyed Xilis. We need time to rebuild and retrain personnel. Oh I almost forgot. they assigned your new mentor this week she will be arriving next week.”
“Another female? I think they may be the stronger of the genders in that race. Ok Who is it.” I asked.
“Actually they remained in the same family. I had no ideas they had twins in that race. It’s the twin sister to Moevin her name is Moerin.” Katie replied.
“Interesting. I might be able to work with her more easily than a stranger since I have worked with her sister.” I looked at my watch and asked. “Where are Irma and Mia now?”
“I think Irma took Mia over to her mother’s house to finalize the wedding plans. Just a week more before you get hitched again. Are you excited?” She asked me with a mischievous smile on her face.
“I just feel weird about it that’s all. I committed myself to you and fell in love with another woman when I thought you were gone.” I looked down at the floor.
“Hush, you did the right thing Jason.” She came closer and laid her arms around me. “I want you to be happy and I see the love you have for her. I love her too. Did you know that a far greater percent of the world lives under the concept of polygamy and a monogamous relationship is considered strange?”
“I was not aware of this fact. What are the laws in this new nation? I never thought to ask.” I inquired.
“They have relaxed them considerable and tossed out many laws governing marriage. We will still be legal under the new laws. Although I think they placed a limit on three wives.” Irma replied.
“Hmm three... wonder where number three will come from.” I mused playfully
“You’re impossible Jason White!” she giggled at me. “Anyway I doubt you will be able to handle the two of us..”
“You are right. Especially since you won’t let me get that turbo charged motorcycle to run away from you if I need to.” I shot back at her.
She slapped me playfully and then we kissed. The front door opened and Irma walked in with the sleeping form of Mia in her arms. “She conked out on the way over in the car. Sorry I am so late, Momka had a million things to go over.”
Katie jumped up and extracted Mia from Irma’s arms. “Sit down and spend some time with your future husband. I will put Mia to bed and start some dinner for us.”
Irma leaned forward and kissed Katie on the cheek. “Thanks Katie. You are sure one special lady and I love you.” Katie walked out of the room and Irma plopped down on the couch next to me. She leaned forward and kissed me tenderly. “So what have you been up to today love?”
I filled her in on the events of the day and when I told her about the complex being build across the road, she smiled. “I take it that meets your approval?” I asked.
“Of course, I means you are close to home and can spend more time with us,” she replied sweetly.
“I figured you would say that.” I said smiling at her. “So what’s the news on the wedding plans? Any crimp in them, since it is such short notice?”
“Not at all. Momka has everything running smoothly. I think she could plan around an earthquake and still have everything turn out fine.” She leaned forward and placed a kiss on my cheek. “You watch some TV and I will help Katie with dinner.”
I watched as she left the room in the direction of the kitchen. She never ceased to amaze me. The week I came home from the hospital she had been talking to Katie about the first time I landed in a wheelchair and the very next day crews where at back of the house digging for a new Olympic sized swimming pool. Now every day morning and evening without fail both of them were out with me running through the exercises that Katie taught Irma. I had full use of my legs but I was not as strong as I usually am. I knew they would not stop until I was back to my regular shape.
The doctors reported that both the MRI’s and CAT Scans came back clean, so it was just a matter of my mind regaining communication with my higher abilities. The going was slow. This time I did not have the advantage of a dormant mind waking up. The mind was active, according to Mimi, but still recovering from the brutal attack.
I turned my thoughts back to the North American Coalition and like before, I saw no immediate way we could win a conflict there. We were still too weak from cleansing the European and Asian Region. We might have to strike in Africa first where they were weaker.
Yes, Africa was the answer. I would talk with Ricky tomorrow and we could begin collecting intelligence from the African Theater. We did not have much information from the Dark Continent, but it was the rational place to begin. I realized the longer we waited, the deeper entrenched the enemy would get in the Americas but there was nothing I could do. It would be years before we were strong enough to launch an offensive there. I sat and watched TV for a while, until I was informed that dinner was ready. I flipped off the TV and tossed the remote on to the table. The rest of the night I spent with my family.
Chapter 29 - Building for the Future
The next morning I was up at five am working in my office. I started to consider how I would reorganize the structure of Opfree into a more manageable format. Right now every facet of the organization was under my direct control and I knew for sure I would not be able to handle everything alone. I had an idea I wanted to implement but I needed the right people for the various groups I intended on forming. At six am, I picked up the phone and dialed the number for the Western Divisions of the Paneuro military headquarters. “Good Morning, Alice,” I said when the phone was answered on the other side. “I am General White from Opfree and I need to speak to General Blackthorn please.” I waited for a few moments and then I heard his familiar voice on the other end of the phone. “Good morning General Blackthorn.”
“Good Morning General please call me Nathan.” He replied.
“You can call me Jason, Nathan.” I returned. “The reason I called you is because I have a post in Opfree I would like for you to take over.”
“I am listening. What’s the job?” He replied.
“I need a good commander for my strike force. I am creating two departments in the organization. Your Strike Force would be the first and the second will be a group consisting of people who have mental abilities which are greater than the normal person.”
“Sounds like a good idea, but may I ask why me?” He inquired.
“You have a very impressive career in the forces and you are the man I n
eed for the job Nathan.” The door to my office opened and I waved for the person at the door to wait for a moment.
“I will have to make arrangements here before I could give you a definitive answer to this offer, Jason,” He replied.
“That’s fine Nathan, It will take some time to complete the reorganization here anyway. I am moving the headquarters from Frankfurt to Phillipsburg. The Kasern here is in the process of being shut down and I am already making the necessary offers to purchase the entire base in order to house and train members of your strike force. You will have full control over the group and will only have to answer to me.”
“This sounds like a good plan. I suggest that we meet to discuss the details. I will make the necessary arrangements on my end and contact my superiors. I will call you later today to fill you in on what’s happening on my end.”
“Ok Nathan. We have time here and will be building up the organization slowly.” I waved the person at the door to the chair in front of my desk. I had suspicion as to who the visitor was.
“Ok will phone you later today, Jason. Bye”
After he hung up and turned my full attention to my visitor. She looked identical to my first mentor. “Good morning Moerin, I did not expect you until next week.”
“Good Morning, Jason. I am honored to be your mentor and teacher,” she replied.
“I am sorry for your loss and I know the pain you must be going through.” I answered.
“My sister told me everything about you Jason. I finished my last task early and came early I know we will have a lot of work to do to repair the damage caused by the attack on your mind.”
“Yes I know we have a lot of work to do but right now I have something else on my mind. I am creating a new group for the various talents in Opfree and I have you in mind to lead the group.”
“I would be honored to assume the position. Does this group have a name yet?”
“I was thinking of calling it Psy-ops, Moerin” I returned.
“Interesting choice I must admit. Right now if you have the time I would like to start the process of repairing the damage done to your mind.”
“I have a few hours before my brother arrives so now is as good a time as any.”
For the next few hours we worked on the basic exercises I had learn during my first series of sessions with Moevin on Origan. We made progress and slowly I started regaining control of my special abilities. We worked hard on regaining control of the section of my mind where most of the special abilities seemed to be locked. At the end of the session Moerin called for a halt in the exercises.
“That will be enough for today Jason. You have progressed nicely.” Moerin complimented.
“Thank you, it feels good to regain a part of myself. I have been having the feeling that I am lost and trying to find my way back to who I am,” I replied.
“Patience Jason, it will take time but I sense no major obstacle to you regaining control of your abilities.” Moerin stated.
I looked at my watch and said. “It’s eleven right now and Ricky will be arriving soon. We are going to start on the plans for the new headquarters for Opfree. You can join us in the discussions.”
“I look forward to it Jason, and now I will take the time to get nourishment. I suggest you do the same. You cannot live on coffee alone.” She waved at the coffee cup on my desk.
I laughed and replied. “I have already made arrangements for that, but thank you for your concern.” I paused for a moment then I said, “Why don’t you join us for lunch. I haven’t seen Ricky in years and we are throwing a family get together.”
“I do not want to intrude..” Moerin began.
“Nonsense,” I interrupted, “You are and will always be considered a member of the family.”
Only a person who had been around the Barmin’s as long as I have been could discern the expression of happiness I now saw on her face. “I would be honored, Jason.”
I walked toward the door and waved her to follow me. “My wife , future wife and grandmother is preparing a dinner which is supposed to be served in the great room.” I opened the door and indicated she should go first.
Moerin glanced around as she walked to the center of the great room. “This is certainly an impressive house you have here.”
“I blame my future wife for that.” I noticed a confused look on her face and continued. “I am just joking of course. When Irma found out that my first wife was still alive and that she insisted we continue on with the plans for our upcoming marriage, she changed the plans for the remodeling to accommodate an extended family. There are now sixteen bedroom in this house and only three of them are in use. Eight bathrooms of which I have only actually seen two of them. I have heard rumors there is a game room somewhere but I still have not found it.”
The equivalent of a laugh escaped what passed for Moerin mouth. “You can be very humorous at times Jason.”
“Yes my wife and fiancée have informed me of that from time to time.” I sat down in an easy chair and waved to another one for Moerin. One of the personnel hired for the day came and asked what we wanted for refreshments. I ordered a pot of coffee and Moerin ordered some boric acid which passed as a refreshment for the Barmin race. “Now about that position you accepted earlier. How many of your people can we count on for the department?”
Moerin looked at me in surprise. “Why all of them, Jason, We will need them to build a proper defense. After all there are not a great number of humans available to build a solid defense team.”
“About that. I believe we have more people than you think, we just need some means of testing potential candidates, classifying them and training them so they reach their maximum potential. Can you think of anything that would help us?” I took the pot of coffee from the servant and poured myself a cup while Moerin reflected on my question.
“Our scientists had been working on a device to test our own people. I am sure with time it can be modified to work on your race. One moment please.” I waited while she consulted with her people. “They are starting with the modifications right now they should have a working model in a couple of weeks.”
“Great. We will have to use some of the buildings on the base to screen personnel. Let me make a call quickly.” I picked up the phone next to me and punched in my grandfather’s office in the new capital building.”Grandpa Sam?”
“Yes, Jason?” he replied.
“I put in a bid for the base near my house for the use of Opfree. I thought the normal channels would be quick enough but I need it confirmed quicker. Can you push this along faster?” I knew I might be pushing my luck with my requests.
“I don’t see any problem with that. Let me check with my people today and I will have an answer by tonight’s dinner. Did Moerin arrive safely?”
“Yes she arrived a few hours ago. And thank you for finding someone I can work with without any major adjustments.”
“You are very welcome Pasche. You needed a good teacher, you already know more and can do more than I will ever be able to do. I need to go now I have a meeting with the President.”
“Ok, I will see you tonight you old squaw chaser.” I heard his booming laugh just before his action of hanging up cut it off. I replaced the phone and turned to Moerin “We will find out tonight if we have the screening facilities.”
“Great, after our nourishments this afternoon I will contact my people and devise a plan of attack.” Moerin held up her glass and said, “To success, my friend!”
“To success!” I agreed and clicked my cup into her glass.
The meal was wonderful and Ricky was overwhelmed with the reception he received from the members of my family who were here in Germany. He did bring his date and it was in fact the girlfriend from my soon to be wife number two. Sonja and Irma rattled on in German all through the meal and Ricky brought me up to date on the things that had happened in his life.
Mia was at the meal but for some reason Katie was absent. I asked Mimi where she was and
she told me she had no idea. I had an early afternoon appointment so I could not pursue my questioning.
All too soon, the meal ended and we walked back to my office. Ricky went outside to wait for the architect he had brought from Frankfurt and I settled in my office to handle some private market changes while I waited.
After about fifteen minutes Ricky returned with a short, but stocky man in tow. “General White, May I introduce Miles Ashton Architect extraordinaire.”
I stepped closer and extended my hand. “Pleased to meet you, Miles, my name is Jason. We do not hold much for formality at this point in time. Please have a seat.”
“Jason, I understand you have a headquarters building that you want designed and constructed in this area?” Miles said sitting down.
I waved to the open window. “Yes, right there across the street, in that open field. A couple of preliminary conditions must be met. First; There has to be an area of approximately 50 feet wide of full grown trees between the other side of the road which extends the entire distance from the gardens to the old German military base. Second; The main access road, and parking facilities has to be from the other side of the railroad station to the facility. A private access road which will be only accessible by members of my family and guests will run from that point.” I pointed at a sign on the other side of the road. “Fully equipped with the newest security devices available.
The complex will be no more than two stories above ground and no less than 20 stories below ground. I know this presents problems of great proportions, but this building will house the main strike force which stands between total alien domination and the freedom of the human species. Leave enough room on the property for comparable parking facilities, again no more than two stories above ground and enough below ground to accommodate the needed parking for the inhabitants of the facility.”
Miles looked startled at the request and had been making notes during the entirety of my monolog. “That’s a very tall order Jason, Do you have any idea of the cost for such a project?”
Rise of the Death Walkers (The Circle of Heritage Saga) Page 29