Chapter 6 starts
<My office>
‘ “C” Roger please.’
‘On line.’ ‘Roger…I request…’ ‘Denied!…I was already informed
of what happened. N sync had Pat call me after you left, and
N sync were in tears.’ ‘T.F.B.’ ‘Bob calm down, relax for a
while, and don’t do any thing stupid.’ ‘Would I do anything
like that?’ ‘Need you ask?’ ‘I guess not <sigh> ok…I’ll
try, no promises, but I’ll try.’ ‘Ok I’ll talk to you later.’
‘Yeah later. “C” Enigma low volume, lights to ¼, please.’ I
go to the bed room and lay down for a while.
“C” what time
is it?’ ‘4:15p’ ‘Is there any one in the Danger room?’ ‘Yes
the protection team.’ ‘Shit, that’s no competition.’ ‘Paul R.
would like to talk to you when you have the time.’ ‘Ok, tell
him he can come over alone, no one else.’ ‘Will do.’
<Knock…knock>
‘Come…’ ‘Bob
why is it so dark in here?’ ‘That’s the way I want it Paul.
Have a seat, what can I do for you?’ ‘Why are you so hard on
your self? Today you took all of the blame for what happened
in the Danger room.’ ‘I am the head of R&R and now I am
in charge of the protection team for N sync, so there is no
one else to blame.’ ‘You have to stop that, Pat, N sync, and
I am just as much to blame as you, and the trainers are more
so, since they know what we can do.’ ‘It’s still my fault, I
hurt them and let them get hurt! I am supposed to protect them
<small voice> not hurt them.’ ‘Bob if you keep this up
you will be in a rubber room. You have to let it go.’ ‘Easier
said than done. Besides there already is a room with my name
on it when its needed.’ ‘I can’t tell if your joking or not,
but get a cup of tea, relax, and meet me for dinner at 5:30.’
‘I’ll see.’ ‘Yeah…right, “I’ll see”…Take a shower and change
cloth, that’ll help. see you at 5:30.’ When Paul leaves I take
a shower and try to relax. At 5:15 I head to get some thing
to eat.
<Dinning room>
I look around
for a small table for Paul and me, I see Paul and Roger at a
large table I walk over, ‘Ok, what’s up?’ Roger looks up, ‘Have
a seat and find out.’ I shake my head and sit down. In a few
min. the trainers walk over, ‘Bob…we’re so sorry, we had no
idea our plan would backfire like that. It wasn’t your fault
, it was ours. Please accept our apology.’ I look at them closely,
Sara and Marsha look about ready to cry, the guys don’t look
any better. <sigh> ‘Accepted Sara, have a seat’ Next N
sync come over, if I thought the trainers looked bad, that’s
nothing compared to the way the guys look. ‘Bob…<sniff>.’
‘Accepted…sit down before you fall down.’ Then Pat comes over,
‘Bob, sorry about…’ ‘No Pat I will not accept your apology.’
<GASP> the guys all look at me in shock, ‘No Pat, you
did nothing to apologize for. You had no idea what was going
on. Sit down and forget about it.’ ‘Bob…you don’t…why should
I?’ ‘Your equipment worked fine. You have no control over what
people do in the Danger room so how could you be responsible?’
‘Bob…listen to your own advice. Get over it. I’m responsible
for ALL of you. If I thought you couldn’t do you job, I would
not have given it to you.’ ‘Yes Roger, but…’ ‘But me no buts…calm
down and relax. I need you mentally and physically fit for the
next R&R mission and to protect the guys at their concerts.
NOW everyone eat, then go to the rec. room…play cards, video
games, dance, have a drink, relax and do some thing different
for a change…and that includes you Bob.’ ‘Ok…I give up.’ As
we eat there are a few conversations, but it is mostly quit.
When I finish eating I look around everyone is concentrating
on their food. I get up <sigh> ‘I’m going for a walk,
I’ll see you in the rec. room in about a half hour, now you
can talk with out me being around to hear what you have to say
about me.’ ‘What…?’ I drop my stuff in the kitchen then head
to my room, sit down for a min. then grab a coat and ‘pop’ outside.
<Outside the
mountain>
Walk around for
a while, find a boulder to sit on in a clearing and watch the
clouds for what seams like a min. ‘Bob…where are you? You’ve
been gone for almost an hour.’ ‘Link with me and see.’ ‘Nice…now
please come back in, everyone is worried about you.’ ‘Ok I’ll
be right back.’ take one last look around then ‘pop’ back
to my room, take off my coat, then head to the rec. room.
<Rec. room>
Go to the bar
and get a Windsor and 7, look around and see the crew at a large
table, they see me and wave me over, ‘So what were you doing?’
<smile> ‘Link with me and see.’ I show them what I did
after I left the dinning room. ‘ That’s what I was doing , It’s
been a long time…’ ‘No wonder you were late.’ ‘Yeah…it’s been
years.’ ‘Years?’ ‘Remember how old I am, I’ve had to be careful
with the mutantphobes, then the sentinels were created, then
I came to A&A after that. Now about all I do is work, eat,
and sleep, I don’t have energy to do much more than that. And
now I will apologize to you for being such a prick earlier,
I just hadn’t had time to calm down after the Danger room.’
a chorus of ‘Accepted’ resound around the table. We sit any
relax for a while. I try to decide if I want a second drink,
or if I am just going to my room. A good song comes on and I
start to tap my fingers, the next thing I know Sara and Lance
grab my hands and drag me to the dance floor, I turn to leave
and the rest of the group is behind me. ‘Come on Bob, it won’t
hurt you to unwind some more.’ ‘Are you sure?’ ‘Yeah we’re sure.’
After the fourth dance my legs are done for, I mentally order
another round, and add on two iced teas, we get back to the
table as the drinks show up, I down the first tea in a couple
of swallows, then start on the second one. we sit around till
I notice it’s 9:30, ‘I’m going to head to my room, see you tomorrow.’
go to my office and sit down and start to surf the net.
<10:30p>
‘Bob’ ‘Yes “C”
.’ ‘Time for the next mission.’ ‘Turn on the holographic display
in my ready room, I’ll be right in.’ Turn off my computer, grab
a cup co coffee and go in to my ready room. ‘Ok start the display.’
As I watch I see five sentinels with a person each taking off
and people on the ground all heading in the same direction.
‘reverse angle and augment so I can see the faces.’ As I watch
I get a good look at them. ‘Oh yeah…now I have to rescue the
Backstreet Boys, “C” replay, normal angle, slo.-mo., please.’
As I watch something grabs my attention, ‘ “C” enlarge this
area.’ five sentinels, ‘Now this area.’ five more of them, ‘Now
here.’ the image is stiff fuzzy, ‘ “C” can you get this area
in focus?’ ‘Sorry Bob, that’s the best I can do.’ ‘Thanks “C”,
would you get Roger for me please?’ ‘He’s on line.’ ‘Roger…this
is a red alert, I’m going to need help on this one.’ ‘That bad?’
‘Yeah 15-20+ sentinels, and possibly ground troops as well.’
‘What are you going to need?’ ‘Can you come back here and take
over? I’ll need Brent and some of his people, the protection
team, N sync, and some volunteers at the venue, then some medics
here in case of injuries, I won’t have time to get them fixed
up there. Also I’ll need to use the claxon.’ ‘Granted…I’ll be
there asap.’ ‘ “C” the claxon please.’ it sounds for 30 seconds.
‘This is Bob, red alert, Brent and N sync to my ready room,
I will need medics ready and volunteers especially teleports,
portals, and telepaths, and any else that think they can help.’
N sync show up first, then Brent, Paul R., Gary, and Ed are
next. ‘Ok, everyone sit down, this is the situation. We are
up against 15-20 or more sentinels, and ground troops are possible.’
‘Shit.’ ‘Oh hell’ ‘Damn.’ ‘My thoughts exactly. that’s why I
called a “Red alert”, I’ve already talked to Roger, he’ll be
here as soon as he can to take over the defense of the Complex
if needed. “C” please show the display again.’ as they watch,
‘ I will have N sync in the Venue with me, the rest is up to
you.’ Julie and Roger walk in and look at the display and shake
their heads. ‘Do I get to help, or do I just sit here?’ ‘Gary
you can have the protection team if you want. Julie, would your
people get some stuff ready for when we get back? I’m sure every
one will be hungry by that time.’ ‘I’ll get right on it.’ ‘Thanks
Julie.’ she leaves. ‘Brent who will you take?’ ‘My alpha team,
Paul you can have the bravo team if you want.’ ‘Sounds good
to me.’ Brent and Paul start to go over their plans. ‘ “C” start
the display again please?’ ‘Sure Roger.’ ‘ “C” is that Orlando?’
‘Yes J.C. it is’ He goes over to talk to Brent and Paul. ‘Ed
I will need an extra healer with me, and be ready for when we
gat back, unless it’s an emergency I will bring anyone that’s
hurt back here as is and you can take care of them here.’ ‘Ok,
I’ll be ready.’ ‘ Roger anything that you can think of that
I missed?’ ‘Not now, but I’ll let you know before you leave.’
‘Ok people any thing else?’ ‘No.’ ‘Get your teams ready to go
and meet me in the transport room in a half hour then, N sync
try to make it a little quicker since you have to use the camo.
Hoods. See you in a few.’ after everyone else leaves, ‘Yes Roger.’
‘Now you can see why I won’t take your resignation. I need you
for situations like this. Take care of them, and I’ll see you
when you get back.’ ‘Later Roger, I’m going to take a quick
shower, then head to the transport control room.’ as he leaves
I go to my bedroom to get ready, ‘ “C” Travis please’ ‘Just
a min….On line’ ‘Travis, you have the con. Till Gary and I get
back, we’ll need rooms for 5, I’m going after the BS Boys, so
suites if possible, might as well be close to my area since
N sync are here.’ ‘Are you sure? I’ve heard they don’t get along
to well.’ ‘Well it’s time they start.’ ‘Ok I’ll have them ready.’
‘Thanks Travis, later. “C” have Eric and Joe meet me at the
transport area ready to go.’ ‘ Will do.’ Head to the armory,
get my stuff ready to go.
<Transport
control room>
Get the hoods,
maskers, tickets, and passes ready, I also grab 15 tracking
rings just in case any body forgot theirs, ‘ “C” I would like
the beacon set up in the maintenance area, red, white, and blue
lights, set for one hour and 15 min. after departure. I want
a large area with a lot of portals and teleports working together.’
‘Ok Bob it’ll be ready.’ N sync come in first and start to put
on the hoods, next Eric and Joe come in, then Gary and the protection
team, I hand out the stuff we need then head to the transport
room. Brent’s crew comes in, and Paul’s crew in a min. ‘Is everyone
ready to go ?’ Brent, Paul, Gary, Eric and Joe all nod, I look
at N sync and they nod. ‘Everyone grab the person in front of
them, J.C., Gary grab my arms, Justin kinetic shield up, here
we go.’ I open the portal and we walk thru, I sense the time
and place, head for it, then open the portal at Orlando, and
walk out on the far side of the parking lot by some trees.
<Orlando>
Close the portal,
‘Ok guys this is the rally area, when your team is done head
here, Now Brent, Paul set your teams up and relax till the sentinels
show up. Joey lead the way, time to get in line for the concert.’
We get in line, get seated and relax till needed.
About ¾ of the
way through the concert, ‘Bob I’ve got movement, only people
for know.’ ‘Ok keep them in sight and be ready to take them
out.’ As the next song finishes, ‘ Movement in my area
now.’ ‘Keep an eye on them Brent, be ready when I give the word.’
at the end of the encore, ‘5 incoming, heading down range,’
‘5 heading towards my area.’ ‘Here come the 5 for my area.’
‘Ok take the people out, be ready to do the sentinels on my
command, we are heading backstage now.’
<Backstage>
Show security
our passes and get shown to the dressing room. When I go in
look around, only five people besides us, check the time, 11:45,
give them till 12:00, then start pushing them to leave.
N sync, Gary,
and the protection team have been talking to the “Boys” with
the other fans, I also do a little chatting with them. When
the last fan leaves, I walk over and say ‘Did you here that
N sync had some trouble with sentinels the other day.’ ‘We heard
some thing about it why?’ ‘Well Kevin, guys, they had latent
mutant powers that the sentinels sensed and came to get them,
but I got there first.’ ‘Say what?’ ‘Bob…a group of 5 headed
for the parking lot, one looks different from the rest.’ ‘Thanks
Paul, all most ready.’ I look at the “Boys”, ‘Well I must
have pissed Trask off, there are 15 in the area <5 thuds>
now make that 20, grab your stuff and lets go.’ ‘Wait a min.,
how do we know that your for real?’ ‘Ok guys hoods off.’ N sync
take their hoods off.’ they do and BSB stare at them. ‘Grab
your stuff.’ J.C. says. ‘It’s already on the busses, we were
going to the hotel to shower.’ A.J. replies. ‘Ok it’s starting
to fall in place. Ok, lead the way.’ at the doors, ’Brent,
Paul take the sentinels out. Gary take the protection team
to the rally point and be ready if any one needs help, Justin
a kinetic shield please.’ Open the doors and head to the busses,
‘Drop the shield, guys get your stuff and follow J.C. and Lance
to the rally point, Joey, Justin, Bill, follow me and help take
out a few sentinels.’ As we take off I look around and Brent
and Paul’s teams have 8 down and are working on the other 2,
we start on ours, Justin spins a head off, Joey blasts one with
lightning, Bill kinetically pulls his apart, I hit mine with
a combined lightning and force beam attack, only one left and
all four of us hit it at the same time. I look up and I see
a spot heading our way. ‘Every one to the rally point, lets
get the hell out of here.’ when we land I take a quick look
around and don’t see Howie, I turn around and see him starting
to get up off the concrete and the last sentinel is about to
step on him, ‘NOOOOOooooo.’ I yell and darkness falls over my
eyes.
I feel someone
shaking my shoulder, I open my eyes, ‘What?’ every one is staring
at me, N sync help me up and point, ‘What the…happened to that?’
I look up and see the last sentinel turned inside out. ‘You
happened.’ Brent says ‘Say what?’ ‘Yeah…you did that.’ Paul
replies. ‘Is everyone ready to go?’ ‘We are now.’ Gary replies.
‘Ok all portals link with me and I will lead the way, kinetics
shields up, we are going home.’ The guys from both bands and
Gary’s team surround me, I open my portal under us and down
we go into the darkness, close the portal over our heads, I
sense the way to go and three lights start to flash, red, white,
and blue, I check the call signs, open up a portal over our
heads and up we go, and close it under our feet.
<The Complex>
‘Backstreet Boys,
please state your names for voiceprint identification.’
‘Kevin Richardson’
‘Confirmed’
‘Brian Littrell’
‘Confirmed’
‘Howie Dorough’
‘Confirmed’
‘Nick Carter’
‘Confirmed’
‘A.J. McLean’
‘Confirmed’
‘All voiceprints
confirmed, welcome to the Complex Backstreet Boys.’
‘Gary you have
the con., I’m going to sleep.’ Darkness comes flooding over
me and I’m out.
Email
me or fill out this respond
form with your comments.
.gif){kind=tracking}
