BLOGS

The PAnd0RA Ultimatum season finale' ends with 'Epilogue'. Many questions have arisen in the wake of the fiery end of the Transport DROMEDARY. Have the sinister forces completely undone Pandora and the crew? Was the unleashed technological nightmare destroyed before it could descend upon the Planet AIPOTU? Will the terrible weapon aboard the Attack Transport WHIPLASH be deployed thus condemning an entire star system? All these questions and more will be answered in the Fall of 2013 with the 2nd Season of 'THE PAND0RA ULTIMATUM!'

Smashing White Dwarfs - Max Planck Institute

•Title: Photometric Variability in a Warm, Strongly Magnetic DQ White Dwarf, SDSS J103655.39+652252.2
•Authors: Williams, K.A., Winget, D.E., Montgomery, M.H. et al.
•First Author Institution: Texas A&M University – Commerce

Astrobites: A New Pulsating, Magnetic, Carbon Atmosphere White Dwarf

Not much to say about this one.  It is currently in development and should be released soon and concerns a rehabbed serial killer who has his limits tested.

ETH-Zurich researchers use x-ray tomography to screen lithium ion battery electrodes and can reconstruct the microstructure in high resolution. This helps to understand the discharging and charging process better and develop optimized electrodes.

ETH Zurich: Tortuous paths hamper ion transport

No, not him...

Star Wars Wiki

Physics World: Dark lightning sheds light on gamma-ray mystery

Hey, everyone!  I saw "Oblivion" the other day, and made a review.  

WARNING: I spoil the living crap out of the movie in it, so if you want to watch the movie first, don't watch the review!  You have been warned.  

I recently spoke to one of the founders of the start-up togather.com -- he's an sf author who was disappointed when he had some poorly attended readings, realized this was a common problem, and decided to see if he could create a new kind of venue. The idea is to create in-person or online meetups with authors where there's some level of audience committed in advance to attend and/or buy a book. He felt their best events were ones in which the author did a reading or signing and Q & A and all the attendees already had the book and had read it. (Their system can facilitate book sales in advance).

I think it's an interesting idea, but I was disappointed to note that aside from Tobias Buckell, who first brought my attention to the site with some posts on his blog, the (relatively small) set of sf authors they have signed up so far are all white, and most of them are male. I would love to see that change.

Go to http://www.togather.com/authors to see what I mean.

The site is in Beta right now, so I'm not sure how rapidly they are taking on new authors, but I wanted to bring it to wider attention in case folks here are interested in trying it as an additional way to promote your work and meet your fans. I'd be curious to see if sf conventions could pair up with Togather to try to improve attendance and other planning for readings at cons. Andrew was open to that idea.

I.  Brother  Lee

     Lee was the most extraordinarily average boy you'd ever meet, at least that’s what he thought.  In reality, Johnny Lee Belamo was a very different story.  He was good looking, smart and athletic but he didn't stand out in a crowd.  He stood at 5'7, 140 lbs with caramel skin and curly brown hair with an auburn patch above his eye that he kept styled in a low Caesar.  The one thing people would notice about him was his eyes, twin pools of quicksilver, and incidentally that is the thing he hated about himself. He wore brown contacts to try to hide them.  It didn’t help that his mother said that he had his father’s eyes. 

     Lee's mom, Erica, was a cop.  Despite her small size, 5'2 and 110lbs , she

was hardly the person you wanted to cross. She kept her brown hair about shoulder length.   It matched almost perfectly with her chestnut colored eyes.   Even though she was in her late 30's, none of her friends could believe that she was old enough to have a teenaged son.  Erica never kept information about Lee's father a secret but she never went out of her way to explain things to him either.  "It's complicated and child support is a beautiful thing." was her typical response.       

     Lee was a pretty friendly kid, he could talk to anyone, if he wanted to. At school he was well liked, far from popular but made few enemies. Erica would always ask him why he never invited people over or why he never visited anyone.  He would simply say, 'I don't want to clean up after they leave,' or, 'I don't feel like leaving home.'  She tried her hardest to get him to go out and have fun. 

            On her way home from work one day she saw two boys robbing a grocery store.  One boy was tall and slim and was wearing a black hoodie and a black cap that covered up his mess of blonde hair.  The other boy was shorter, probably about 5'6” wearing jeans and a black tee shirt. He had raven hair pulled back into a ponytail that hung to his shoulders. Since she was off duty she called in the crime.  About five minutes into the robbery the store owner started shooting.  She leapt in to break it up and  was able to subdue the shorter boy without a problem.  The taller boy began to run and the store owner chased him.  The kid was fast and the chubby store owner could barely keep up.  His 43 years of bad eating and in activity had definitely taken its toll. 

            The cops came just in time to catch the boy.  The store owner however wanted to punish the boy himself.  The two had robbed him several times.  The owner

pulled out his gun and began trying to shoot the boy while he was still in the cop’s grasp.  The cop threw the kid onto the floor out of the way and then got cover for himself.  The officer called for back up and began to return fire.  As this was happening Erica was coming out of the store with the other boy.  She saw the gunfire and decided to head back in when the store owner noticed her and the boy.  He turned his fire on them.   Erica tried to pull the boy out back but he ran the wrong way. She ran after him.  The cop shot and killed the store owner, only to find that Erica had been hit by a bullet meant for the boy.  She laid there groaning in a pool of blood.  The officer's back up got there just in time to see her go down. The ambulance came and carted her to the nearest hospital. 

            Lee was called from school to the hospital.  Steve, Erica's live in boyfriend, picked Lee up from school and drove him to the hospital.  Lee arrived just in time for the doctors to tell him his mom would be paralyzed from the waist down.  Lee was openly devastated but even more grateful his mom was still alive.  He went in to see her but she was barely awake.

            "I told you, you weren't Wonder Woman," Lee joked trying to hold back the tears.

            "I was so, you didn't know Wonder Woman was in a wheelchair." she responded groggily.

            "So, what are we gonna do?" he asked

            "I don't know yet, I'm still working out all the details.  As soon as I do know I will tell you," she answered

            That was the last they spoke that night.  Lee sat by his mother's side until the next morning when she made him go home and go to sleep.  She came home from the hospital nearly a month after that.  They got along pretty well under the circumstances.  Erica hired a home attendant to stay with her while Lee was at school or Steve was away doing research, which he did quite often.  Lee, Erica and Stacy, the home attendant, got along pretty well for the next year.   Stacy was young, about 24, she was slender but toned.  She was 5'6 with long dark hair that was contrasted by her sparkling blue eyes.  Lee later found out she was half Japanese, half Irish.  Lee tried pretty hard to hide the fact that

he had a crush on her.

            Lee's grades improved, simply because his mom was able to watch him all the

time.  He still hadn't made many friends but he had more than before the incident.

            Lee's 15th birthday was on Saturday and his mother really wanted to do something nice for him.  He had taken care of her for so long and so well that she thought he deserved a break. So she sent him to her friend's boarding school for the weekend, hoping he would like it and want to attend.

            It was located in a small town called Hingham outside of Boston, Massachusetts.   Anything you could ask for you could get in that place.  It was a resort with classrooms.  Lee got there at 5pm on Friday night and immediately felt out of place.  He was greeted by one of the students on campus.

            He was 17 or 18, about 6 '2“, 195 pounds, black hair, chocolate skin and naturally

gray eyes.  Lee thought he might have been a football player by his size.  The kid was all muscle and knew it. He was wearing a white button up shirt, blue tie and blue slacks.  Everything was very neatly put together and overall added to his massive appearance. They walked around campus for awhile in silence, until they saw a dark haired girl named Janet.  

            “Hey, how's it going?" Janet asked. "Oh, who's this?  Are you two related?"

It hadn't occurred to them that they looked similar to each other before this.  The only

differences between them were eye color, which without contacts was identical as well, and size.

            "No this is that kid from New York that Dr. B told us about." he responded.

            "What is his name?" Janet asked as of the boy as if Lee wasn't there. Then the boy realized he had not bothered to find out anything about Lee. 

            "Uhh "

            "It's Lee.  What's yours?" Lee asked facing them both.

            "Well my name is Janet and this is Brian.  It is nice to meet you.  Are you going to school here?" Janet responded.

            "I don't think so.  I could never afford this place." Lee answered.

            "No one sees this place unless they can afford it" Janet replied.

            "No I think he is right, he is just here for the weekend." Brian replied with a hint a jealousy.

            "Whatever. Nice meeting you." Janet said as she walked away.

            "So where are we going?" Lee asked his guide.

            "To Dr .B's office. He wants to see you."

            It was a long walk back and they walked it in silence.  When they arrived Dr. B had them sit in two plush leather chairs in front of him.  Dr. Barter was a tall man probably 6'3 or 4.  He was close to 200 lbs.  He looked like he had worked out every day of his life.  Lee would have thought he was in his late 30's if he hadn't started going gray. Even his beard was flecked with gray strands.  His gray eyes were hidden behind a pair of Gucci frames that made him seem like he was an actor playing a high school principal rather than being one in real life. He was about to begin speaking when he received a phone call.  As he listened his face grew solemn and he focused in on Lee.  As he was about to hang up, he fanned Brian away.  Lee turned to leave also.

            "No not you, just him. Sit." the doctor said in a very commanding voice.  Lee obeyed him as if he were the man's wayward son about to get it. 

            "I've got very bad news," he began. "Your mother was killed in fire today shortly after you got onto the plane."

            "What?!?! What the fuck?! Why would you say that?  You're a

fucking liar. You're lying!" Lee screamed.

            "First off, why would I lie about that?  Second, don’t curse at me again." Dr. Barter answered calmly.

             "Your lying, the hospital would have called my cell phone." he retorted.  Through that movie magic kind of irony at that exact moment his phone rang.  He checked the caller ID and refused to answer. 

            "No. Please be lying!" he whispered knowing where the call was coming from. He began to cry.

             Dr. Barter never lost his composure but was able to calm Lee with the warmest hug.  It was almost as if Lee couldn't feel anything.  Then his brain started to kick in. He shoved away from Dr. Barter. 

            "Why did they call you first? How did they know I was here?  And how did you know my mom? And why am I here?" Lee asked in a storm of questions he knew the doctor could answer.

            "Not now.  I will explain soon but you need your rest now."  Dr. Barter responded almost lifting the anxiety from Lee.  

            He personally escorted him to a room where he would stay the night before he went home the next morning.  He couldn't think of his mother as being dead it just didn't click in his head.  All he could think of was the paternal voice playing in his memory saying the answers would come soon. 

 II. Happy Birthday

             The next morning Dr. Barter took Lee to the airport himself. They drove the short distance to Logan airport in Boston and prepared for their flight.  Lee wasn't ready to go back.  It couldn't be true.  His mother was strong and tough and she would never die on him like that.  She wouldn't leave him. 

            As Lee sat more questions entered his mind.  Where am I gonna live?  Where am I gonna get money?  Who's gonna cook? Who’s gonna plan the funeral?  How am I supposed to do this?

            His heart raced and he looked around the airport as if trying to find answers.  There were none in sight.  The only things he could find were more questions.  How did the fire start?  Where was Stacy?  Why didn't she try to get out?  Why wasn't I home?   Why did she leave me like this?  His brain was on overload.  His heart was ready to burst.  He could no longer process what was going on.  He was about to pass out when Dr. Barter placed his hand on Lee's shoulder. 

            "Calm down.  Everything will be fine.  Just sit down.  I'm gonna go get you some water and a sandwich.  Turkey is ok right?" Dr. Barter said in that voice that stripped Lee of all fear and worry.  He felt like a little kid who was lost in a mall, not a boy who had just lost his mother.  When he heard that voice he knew everything was really ok.   

            "Now first things first, we have to call and notify the rest of your family.“ Dr. Barter said handing him the sandwich and bottle of water. 

            "I don't have any family.  She never talked about any family.  I don't even know who my dad is." Lee responded sadly.

            "What did I say? Calm down and eat.  I will handle everything.  She did have family, they just didn't speak very often." Dr. Barter said.

            "How did you know her?" was the only response that Lee could think of.

            "Your mother and I were old friends.  We kept in contact all these years because of…" He answered.  "As for those other questions you must have..."  Lee was very confused now.  How could Dr. Barter always know what he was thinking?

            "I have been an educator for nearly 20 years.  I know how kids think.  We also have some things in common.  Half the questions you have, I had when my mom died.  I was about your age, maybe a little older.  But as I grew older I learned there is always a reason for things. Don't worry about anything, your mother wouldn't want you to have all that stress," Dr. Barter answered. 

            There was a long silence while they waited for their plane.  They began to board and they still remained in silence.  Lee was glad.  He didn't want to talk.  He didn't know what to say, and every time he thought of something to say it turned out to be more questions.  He wanted to ask them but he didn't want to disobey Dr. Barter.  He felt comfort in everything Dr. Barter said.  It was strange.  He'd never felt so at ease with anyone before. 

            As they settled into their seats on the plane Lee began to daydream about fun times he had with his mother.  He was beginning to tear up but stopped himself because he didn't want Dr. Barter to see him cry again.  He felt like he had to be strong around him.  He was drifting off to sleep when another question popped in his head.  This one he could not ignore no matter how much he wanted to. 

            "Where are we going?"  He blurted out.  Before Dr. Barter could answer Lee started asking a barrage of question. "Wasn't there a fire?  I have no house.   Where am I going to live?"  The flood gates opened and he couldn't stop.  "Who will support me? Will I have to get a job?  You said you're gonna do the funeral stuff, right?  Do you know where Steve he isn’t answering his phone? Will I have to live with one of those relatives you told me about?  What if they don't like me? What-"

            "- Just calm down.  We are going to New York and I will explain everything else once we get there. So just try and get some sleep.  We will be there in a little while so I will tell you then.  If you are sleeping the time will pass more quickly." Dr. Barter said with a hint of frustration.

            That was the last thing spoken for the rest of the ride.  Lee still kept coming up with questions but didn't dare ask them, at least not yet.  They touched down at Newark Airport at about one that afternoon.   Dr. Barter rented a car for them and they drove to a hotel in the city where they would be staying.  He got a suite that had a bedroom and a lounge area that contained a pull out couch.  He figured since it had a door they would feel like they were in two different rooms but he would still be able to check on Lee if he felt he needed to.  Dr. Barter made a few calls while they were at the hotel.  Lee didn't know who he was talking to or what they were talking about.  He wanted to take a shower so he went to his bag and realized those were the only clothes he had.  It was once again time for questions.

            "Hey Dr. B.  I don't have any clothes besides these.  When are we going home?  Wait, is there anything left?  When am I going to see my mother?  When are you gonna answer my questions from the plane?" Lee started his torrent of questions again.

            "Ok. I did tell you I would answer your questions.  First, your mom didn't get burned in the fire, she died of smoke inhalation. The firefighters got her out but it was already too late.  Your room was the worse burnt.  So I don't think you have any clothes left.  I will buy you more, don't worry about that. Ok what else was there?  You will not have to get a job; your father will support you.  You will live at my school as a student until college.  I have set up most of the funeral arrangements. The cops are still looking for Stacy.  And as for seeing your mother, we are going there as soon as you get ready to leave."  He responded.  Dr. Barter thought this would be the end of the questions but it only inspired more.

            "Where's my father?  Who is he?  Why hasn't he ever come to see me? What about Steve?"  Lee asked

            "It didn't start in the kitchen.  It started in her bedroom.  The police think Stacy was responsible for the fire.  Your mom got trapped in her room when it started."  He responded.  Lee took a moment to think.  He knew Dr. Barter had ignored his question but the answers he was willing to provide were pretty good too.  Finally he made up his mind.

            "Why would Stacy try to kill us?  This doesn't make sense." he questioned back. 

            "I have a question for you, what do you really know about Stacy, or your mother for that matter?" Dr. B questioned.

            "What?  What the fff...hell are you talking about? What does me knowing anything about Stacy have t-"

            "-Just answer me one question and I will explain what it has to do with anything.  Do you have any special abilities?"

            "I can read fast."

            "I'm very serious Jonathan.  Answer my question.  DO YOU have any special gifts?" he said but much more demanding this time.  Lee stopped and looked him in the eyes before answering.

             "Yes.  I can control fire but what the hell does that have to do with anything?  I

didn't start the fire.  I was with you, and no one knows I can do it.  Well except mom,

Dr. Steve and Stacy."

            "Your mom, that man and who?" Dr. Barter said trying to convey his point.

            "Stacy," Lee said finally seeing the point.  "But why would she want to kill mom

because of my powers?"  Lee said still a very lost.

            "Your mom didn't tell you much at all did she?"  He sighed and looked away for a moment before he began again.  "Well, there are groups of humans that don't like people with special abilities.  They try to kill them off.  Especially if their research deems them as a potential threat."

            "What the hell does that have to do with me?  I can barely use my powers.  They always shoot out of control and cause things to catch on fire. And why did she kill mom?"

            "Your mother was also a special person.  Most people call themselves mutants.  I don't really like the way that sounds though.  But your mother was a mutant, a very powerful mutant at that.  She was a target since before you were born.  Her sister was one of these mutant hunters.  I think for Stacy you would have just been a bonus kill.  However, your mother began to suspect that Stacy was up to something, so she sent you to me for protection."

            "Ok, so all of this is getting really complicated and I'm still very, very lost.  Why did she send me to you?  What the hell is her sister a mutant hunter for?  And what the fuck is going on?"

            "Watch your damn mouth."

            "NO, you guys have been fucking lying to me my entire fucking life.  My mother who I thought told me everything didn't tell me shit, her nurse whom I trusted with my life is trying to kill me and I am stranded here with you Random man number 1 who gives all these bullshit, cryptic answers that only cause me to have more questions!"  Lee screamed nearly crying.

            "I think you need to calm down and just take a breath.  Your mother was simply trying to protect you.  And as for Stacy it is no one’s fault but hers that she turned out the way she did.  And you being with me was your mother's choice and I think that you should respect her wishes." Dr. Barter replied in a surprisingly soothing voice.

            "You're hiding something, aren't you?  I can feel it.  You are lying and trying to keep something from me."

            "I am trying to get you to calm the hell down.  Everything I have told you has been the truth."

            There was a long pause.  Lee looked around still confused, sad and angry.

            "Your right, I'm sorry.  You have been really helpful and really honest with me."  There was a short pause in his speech. "But you have continued to avoid the question of why you?  Why your school?  Why, if you and my mother were so close did she never mention you, ever?"

            "I have told you several times how your mother and I knew each other.  I have also told you how and why she sent you to me.  So why do you keep insisting I am hiding something?"

            Lee stopped asking for a moment and just began to stare almost blankly into the face of Dr. Barter.  Dr .B stared him directly back into the eyes as if he could see right through Lee.  This connection lasted only a few seconds but it gave Lee his final and probably the most important question he could think of.

            "Who's my father?" 

            Dr. Barter was shocked by the directness of this question.  He wasn't at all prepared for it and had to take a moment to evaluate the question again.

            "It's a simple question.  I think you should be able to answer since you and my mother were so close.  Since you know everything else about her and about me.  Since she felt safe enough to send her only son off to be with a stranger instead of Steve.  Since she obviously told you things about me that she didn't tell most people.  You seem to know a lot to be Random man number 1.”  There was another short pause before Lee continued.  "You know what you don't have to answer that question.  I don't need to know right now.  Let's just go see mom.  You can tell me all about it later." Lee stared into Dr. Barter's eyes for a moment.  "I didn't notice before but you have gray eyes.  I bet people notice that all the time.  Did you know I wear brown contacts.  My mom used to tell me that I had my dad's eyes.  But whatever I wanna go see her."

            Lee began to walk out of the door.  He stopped and looked back at Dr. Barter who seemed a bit rattled. 

            "Hey Dad" he said.  Dr. Barter raised his head to acknowledge him and then realized what he had just done. 

            "Wow.  You looked me in the face and lied.  Are you proud of yourself?  You not only ignored my questions but you lied to me.  You fucking asshole.  You've known all this time about everything and you just let me feel stupid.  You told her not to tell me didn't you?"

            Dr. Barter just lowered his head in shame. He just stood there and allowed Lee to rant.

            "Nooo, don't get all quiet now.  Answer my damn question.  DID YOU TELL HER NOT TO TELL ME?" Dr. B continued to stand there in silence.

            "Answer me. ANSWER ME, ANSWER ME!"  Lee screamed with tears streaming down his face. 

            "It's complicated, but its not…" 

            "Excuse me?  It's comp...  So what, I'm just the good Doctor's little fucking secret. His extramarital consequence.  What a great man.  Everyone must love you.  So, how 's the wife?  Any kids?  Anymore people being lied to?"

            "She died. "  

            "That doesn't explain why you're still lying to me.  And you never seem to want to answer all of my questions.  How many other kids do you have?" This assault seemed to give Dr. B back some of his old control of the situation.

            "First off, if you believe you are my son then you need to know then next time you curse at me I will slap the shit out of you. Second, we are done questioning me.  If you

want to see your mother, get your shit on and let's go or else go to your room and shut the

fuck up.  Those are your options.  Chose carefully because you only get one chance to

choose."

            "I hate you.  Take me to see my mother."  Lee couldn't feel anything but anger at this point. He felt the anger rising and had to struggle hard to keep his power in check.

            "You can hate me all you want.  Just remember what I said.  And I put some work in your bag for when you get back.  Have it done by Monday. And learn to control your powers before I control them for you."

            When Dr. Barter looked up again, Lee was firing sparks from everywhere.  It was all pouring out of him. The carpet at his feet began to burn and melt.  Carpet fibers flew, like animals running from a forest fire.  The flames started to grow behind him, but only behind him.  They were echoing his fury, a fury his body had never felt in all of his 15 years.  They danced and leaped like the cape of the devil. His other powers were also starting to surge.  He had even less control over these since he never used them. He could barely look at anything without lightning striking it. Lightning leaped from his eyelashes with every blink and swarmed around and through his hair.  His fingertips were an inversion of the New York skyline on the fourth of July.  Gray sparks that matched his eyes snaked down his legs. Chairs, a desk, the mattress, and the TV levitated around him.  He was using powers he didn't know he had and quickly losing the battle for control. 

            "Get them under control now!  You've got 'til the count of three. 1. 2 thr-"

            This sent Lee beyond the edge and he just lost all control.  He felt his mind reach out and attempt to attack Dr. B, he saw all the chairs head at him and he felt the flames spreading around the room. He felt energy coursing through his body.  And then

                    He felt nothing.                                                                                      

NASA: NASA's Kepler Discovers Its Smallest 'Habitable Zone' Planets to Date

I have to thank Coursera for forcing me to step outside of my literary comfort zone, and, explore the legacy of science fiction in Western literature.This has expanded my understanding of speculative fiction, and I believe this will make me a better writer. I suggest we all take advantage of Coursera (and perhaps create our own on-line courses).

I discovered the book  Little Brother by Cory Doctorow online at Coursera. This was a fantastic read even though it was Young Adult (YA) and Black people were not the central focus. It still  is a good book. Black people need to read it. The author offers a tale of San Francisco teenagers who battle a corrupt U.S. government that illegally has kidnapped and tortured American citizens after a terrorist bombing. I am reading the sequel, Homeland,  now. (Both books are available free on the Internet).

According to the website,  Coursera is a social entrepreneurship collective that partners with the top universities around the world to offer courses online for anyone to take, for free. They envision a future where the top universities are educating not only thousands of students, but millions. Talented professors teach tens or hundreds of thousands of students.

The Fantasy and Science Fiction: The Human Mind, Our Modern World  started January 22, 2013, and ended on April 9, 2013 (another course begins soon). We read books and short stories.  I delved into the fantasy, fairy tale, and science fiction of many different authors from the 1800s to present day. There was a lot of discussion among people in different nations, who spoke different languages and had various cultural backgrounds.

The course required that students submit reviews of their readings as well as  analyze what other students had written. Each week, I reviewed five essays and received up to five reviews of what I had written. The rating scale was from 1 (the lowest ranking) to 3 (the most highly regarded). I never got a 6, but I receive many positive and helpful comments about my writing.

Our teacher was Eric S. Rabkin. Each week after we submitted our essays and reviews of our fellow students, Rabkin posted short video lectures about the works we had just read. Each video was a lesson about a specific aspect of our reading. This was enlightening and encouraging for anyone considering writing sci-fi for a living.

I had the pleasure of discovering the original Frankenstein, Dracula,  Invisible Man, John Carter of Mars and  others. I was immersed in great (and not so great) literature written by masters of the art. We were told that to be a good writer, you have to be a voracious reader. 

Also in the course, I was happy to see that speculative fiction is a global event. It involves many different aspects of what the future could be.  African, Asian, European and other ethnic/geographic writers have their own views of the future and how we all will play a role in it.  According to the New York Times, "Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) are often free, non-degree programs that have been drawing top professors. Some courses may attract nearly a 100,000 participants."

Your classmates could become your best customers.

Links to my essays and  peer reviewers from Coursera can be found at staffordbattle.com

The  course starts again in July. It is free and you may learn something that helps you to sell better books.

Peace out!

I wanted to add another story. After this one I will add Enter Cypher Team i02 to continue with the little bit of SoveReign. I hope the stories are enjoyed. This is them before script mode and I hope it gives a bit of idea of the direction I am taking things. All constructive critiques are encouraged and accepted. Thanks BSFS Fam!

Cypher Team i01 ©2009-2015

Reactivation Commence!

“Kishu no arashi sutairu: Raitoninguurufu.” Static unleashed into the atmosphere as energy left her finger tips. The dry crackle of electricity caught the interest of zenith and humans in Reaper suits as they looked her way.

She stood ready, in a lowered stance as she held her wakizashi in her right hand with it placed snuggly to her back, the hilt at the small of it as the blade stretched up the middle. Her left hand, the firing hand, faced the group fingers outstretched as a ball of current formed itself into visibility. A howl, not that dissimilar from a wolf, echoed through the area.

“Korosu,” she spoke as the energy discharged heading to its destination, the electricity took the form of a wolf as it hit the ground running. Its electrical tendrils spread out touching the first wave as it ran through the middle of the masses, stunning those in its path. Combating zenith and humans in range felt the static as it caused the hairs on their bodies to stand and then, it sent a shock through their bodies causing their muscles to spasm as they shook uncontrollably. Those out of range that were untouched turned their attention towards the kunoichi, totally forgetting the fact that in the beginning they had been fighting one another.

Cautiously they tip-toed their approach towards her, which caused her to repeat the same words she had spoken before. Jagged lines of electricity, again, began to arc at her finger tips as another ball of current began to build up in the palm of her outstretched hand. “That wouldn’t be the smartest move, for any of you.”

“Lt. Reign!” The Madame's southern accent blasted through the sky as Sanjera suddenly became surrounded by the rest of her team. Col. Reign hit the ground his fist charged with a glowing aqua colored energy, his face sneered as he looked on to the mob that had now set their sights on his cousin who was more than ready for the challenge.

Alchemy and PyreBlade followed suit, Alchemy’s arms were changed over to two largely built and extremely sharp blades. Her husband had ignited his bastard sword, the blade glowing red and orange as flames licked out at the sky.

“I thought I said no casualties?” The Madame asked, hovering above the group as she looked down at Galisto.

“There are none Madame. That was just a stunning bolt. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t have been able to say the same for these fools,” she gestured to the oncoming group. 

“Well, you started it Lieutenant.” Alchemy spoke to Sanjera, pure distaste in her voice. It was obvious that Alchemy didn’t have any type of positive feelings for the girl. The reason for that was, she wanted to be the infiltrator but, Sanjera had beaten her for the position which stuck her as back-up. 

“Be as it may,” Sanjera calmly spoke, turning her attention to Alchemy, “Your’ LZ is clear.”

Alchemy smirked; she had no choice but to show some type of smile. The girl was right, her offensive attack did clear the LZ and that was what they needed. She turned her attention back to her husband dropping the half assed smile as she whispered to him, her British accent coming forth even stronger with her anger. “How the bloody hell was she able to do that, I thought she didn’t have any powers.”

Elias snickered a bit over hearing Alchemy ask PyreBlade something he couldn’t have possibly known the answer to. He answered for him, scaring Alchemy a bit since she had no idea he’d heard her. “You’re right, she doesn’t have powers but she has done something all humans are capable of. She has managed to gain control over her inner chi energy…there is no Zenith gene anywhere in her DNA. The techniques she uses are family traits, something she is only capable of, since she is the last one left.”

“Colonel, I apologize…I wasn’t trying to…I know she’s your cousin.”

“No worries Captain…just be glad she doesn’t care…because I’m sure she heard you.” He grinned.

“Let’s cut the chit-chat Lions. I was hoping to thwart this with words…but, it doesn’t look like that’s going to be an option.” The Madame spoke pointing to the mob as they gained more steps towards them. “All attentions on us now. If you don’t have to kill them, please don’t…Sanjera!”

“Roger that Madame…I’ll set my wakizashi to stun.” She joked, the rest of the group laughed with her gag. Even the Madame had to laugh, it wasn’t too often she said something funny.

“Smart ass.” The Madame cackled, “Get in your teams. Move out and remember to keep an eye out for the Angels of Anarchy, they would love to get into this.”

The team broke apart moving into the masses as the masses emerged their way. The Phenosapiens they were up against weren’t that strong and for the Team getting them to stop or stopping them forcefully would be easier than most would think. 

The Team is composed of five level 5 members. One zenith, Colonel Reign. Three who use magic as the source of their powers; Alchemy whose family was enchanted, Pyreblade who married into that family and The Madame who got her powers from a gem she found in the amazon on an excavation. Finally, there was Sanjera, the kunoichi. Who was just, good...damn good. They all were mastered in their gifts, and excelled in what they did. This Team was the leading team of the Black Lions, the “A” team if you will. If they were sent in, there was obviously more to worry about than the bout between the lowly leveled phenosapiens and P.O.M.

Which is why they watched while they fought, and why The Madame warned before they set off into their frenzy. The real worry was the group known as the Angels of Anarchy. A team that was once on the same side as T.E.M.P.L.E. They weren’t lions, but they were in the conglomerate, one of the first Zenith hero teams formed.

Unfortunately, they weren’t on the side of good anymore, well not the side that most would consider good. Their idea of what was right and what was wrong was now tainted. Blurred together in the design of rage. A rage that was set about some time ago when an Elementary school, filled with phenosapien and human children of workers in T.E.M.P.L.E, was blown up by the Protectors of Mankind.

That day, the Angels of Anarchy made a decision that they felt was right. To them the war between mankind and zenith would never end, it would only get worse. Zenith needed to be protected by someone who would go past the morality line, they needed angels, avengers. That day, the Angels of Anarchy became the avenging angels they felt their people needed.

If any, this was the perfect time for them to drop in. They had P.O.M and Zenith that they felt had sold out, all in one area.

The Madame grit her teeth as she looked down through the crowd, picking up a couple of people as she held them in place with her mind. She’d found a metal rod, long and strong enough to wrap around the small group and she did just that. 

“Bunt edges!” she yelled at Alchemy, causing the silver colored woman to role her eyes.

“Bunt edges...” she mumbled mockingly, displeased as she turned her blades into rods looking similar to extractable batons.

Sanjera continued, shocking and tasing those that she came across. Easily knocking them out as she continued her non-lethal approach. Elias followed suit but, instead of electrocuting he used is energy as a concussion grenade, disorienting those in range as he fired at the ground. 

“This is boring...fire’s not non-lethal.” Pyreblade growled, swinging on a human in a reaper suit with the flat side of his bastard sword, flames no longer ignited on it.

The reaper fell to one knee, his suit sparking as he looked up to Pyreblade. Pyreblade looked down at him his teeth gnashed as he told him to stay down. The reaper didn’t listen and instead got back up.

“Come on man!” he yelled as he watched the reaper come back to his feet.

Pyreblade shook his head as he let his free hand ignite with flames. There was only one way this guy was going to stay down and using the flat side of his sword wasn’t going to do it.

“You asked for it.” He spoke as he held his hand out to the reaper only to see him quickly fall back to his knees, two silver rods on each side of his neck.

“Bunt edges!” Alchemy yelled her accent flaring but flirty and with a wink she smiled at her husband.

Pyreblade pointed to his sword, “Bunt edges my ass. How about I just get back in the Manta?”

Alchemy laughed at him as she began to walk towards him, “Now what are you gonna do there love.” She turned one of the rods back into her hand as she placed it to his chest. 

She looked up at him and smiled, “You’re not gonna let me have all the fun, are you?” In the background the roar of a wild cat filled the air causing an uncomfortable feeling to creep up their spine. The two of them stopped talking and looked around. “What the hell was that?” PyreBlade asked as he looked back to his wife, only to hear the roar again. This time closer as the two of them were pushed off their feet and some yards back.

They both hit the ground and slid farther as the silhouette of a woman with a tail appeared where they were and quickly disappeared. The Madame had eyes on and was scanning the area as she saw the woman leap into the air just as fast as she had moved from the previous point. Her body was covered in spots that resembled the pattern of a cheetah. However, they changed over quickly, disappearing as the fur that coated her physique changed to a golden color, the tip of her tail gained a bit of hair as she began to look more similar to a female lion than the cheetah she was.

“Feline!” The Madame gasped. “Get out of there, now!” she yelled to Pyreblade and Alchemy as the cat like zenith appeared, her fist driving into the ground as she dropped in where the two were laying. The force of the punch caused the ground to crater open sending asphalt flying through the air.

“Sanjera, go back up those two!” The Madame directed.

“On it!” She responded, disappearing with lightning speed as she headed towards the corporate The Madame had called, Feline.

The Madame looked at Sanjera and quickly lost track of her as she sped off and then she cast her attention to Elias. “How the hell did she do that, didn’t you say she didn’t have pheno genes.”

Elias laughed, “That I did. I’ll check her DNA again.”

In the distance a rush of wind sounded through the air causing The Madame to look over in its direction. The gust came from the side where the majority of P.O.M were, the area where Sanjera dropped in. She watched as Reapers made their way to another woman who was slowing walking towards them.

The woman walked calmly as she approached. White leather wrapped her body, the tails of her trench coat danced behind her. Her stride was model like as The General watched. The woman stopped as the reapers continued their pursuit and slowly she began to take a deep breath.

The men closer to her began to drop like flies as cars in their area and other objects began to crumble and crush like tin cans. Windows in the buildings around the woman began to shatter as she continued to breath in, causing the structures to slowly fragment in on themselves as bricks chipped away. She was sucking the air particles out of everything. As The Madame watched, her expression changed to worry.

“Breather.” She whispered.

“Who?!” Elias asked, hearing the name she spoke but astonished that, that name was even spoken.

“Everyone!” The Maddam yelled, speaking to humans and zenith alike. “Get out of the area, NOW!”

Emmanuel Johnson

At 22 years old, Emmanuel Johnson stands before us drenched in the makings of the “American Dream.” Johnson is a first generation college student who has defied the odds to become the first North Carolina A&T State University Student Fulbright awardee. With the funds that come with the prestigious award, he will pursue a master’s degree in robotics at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

North Carolina A&T: Emmanuel Johnson First Student Fulbright Awardee

After weeks in space, Pandora 001 and her new crewmates take some much deserved liberty down on the 'Super Earth' AIPOTU. But, are the tropical world's citizens ready for the galaxy's most advanced interactive Android Companion and the crew of DROMEDARY? Is Pandora ready for all her crewmates have planned for her? Twenty-four hours might not be enough time for the smoke to settle by the time they are done! Standby for 'fun' at max thrusters in the season finale of The PAnd0RA Ultimatum EPISODE 5: Ultimatum Part I!

Planck Space Telescope

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R&D Mag: Physicists close loophole for entangled photonic systems

I wanted to post the story form of i00 of Cypher Team. Hopefully you all like the read and hopefully if there is any insight, you awesome, talented writers of BSFS will help me out a bit, lol. Well, here it is...the story form of Cypher Team i00 Enter Cypher Team.

Cypher Team i00 ©2009-2015

Enter Cypher Team

The Madame sat at her glass desk as it seemed to float in its place, suspended in the air as the glass stole the bulk of the largely built office table. Trivial amounts of metal crisscrossed through it bringing the idea of its hovering appearance back down to earth.

A hand found her temple as she massaged it, her eyes closed as she seemed to bare a lot on her mind. She reached for a small glass with her other hand dragging it across the table slowly.  She drank from it, its contents relaxing her a bit more as she unwound in the chair.

 “This ain’t gonna be a good day.” The southern twang from her accent stood out as she sighed looking on at the monitor attached to the wall 20 feet in front of her.

“I can’t say I didn’t see this comin’.” Her gaze was fierce as she looked on to the television, blowing a couple loose strands of blonde and brown from her face. A camera gazed on at the mob on the ground as humans and phenosapiens clashed in the streets. A Reporter tells the story as the helicopter she was in circled the area; the camera following in its pan.

“This is Stacy Johns, reporting from the KYZ4 Direct Action news chopper. We are over Jacobs and Sterling dead center in the middle of North Star City where the Phenosapien hate group Protectors of Mankind have made a very disturbing display of their outlook on the Evolved populace of the city. Witnesses say that P.O.M was the first to strike as Phenosapiens lined up outside the T.E.M.P.L.E facility to register their powers. The act against the Pheno’s resulted in retaliation which triggered a brawl in downtown between the two.”

The reporter, Stacy Johns, continued her tale as the phone of the Madame began to ring. She looked at her desk, a smile finding her face as she recognized the number that was displayed on it. She pressed the speaker button, “General Blair,” She answered.

General Blair, this is Joseph Locklear director of TEMPLE CIA. His voice sounded old coming over the phone and fatigued as though he had, had enough with his job but, wasn’t willing to give it up.

Her hand found a display pad backlit into the glass on her desk that looked similar to a remote; she pressed the mute key turning off the sound of the woman’s voice. “I know who you are Director Locklear, how can I help you?”

Very well then, I will go ahead with the reason I called. I’m sure you know what’s going on in North Star City.

“Yes, I’m aware of the situation. I’m actually looking at the cluster fuck on the TV right now.”

Okay, well, we need your help. We would like to reactivate The Black Lions. This is a situation where we are going to need fire power. We need to impede both sides of this, the human side and the Zenith side.

She nodded, drinking from her glass once more. “Have you guys made any moves?”

He cleared his throat, a bit hesitant on the answer as she sat there and waited for his retort. We tried, we sent in Echo, Lima, Sierra and Tango squads from TDI swat for riot control. However, tides were turned against them as one of the squad members shot tear gas a bit too close to an Zenith’s child.

She snickered, shaking her head at the fact that four teams went in to cull the situation and instead poured gas on a fire that was already burning out of control. “You guys sure do know how to add gas to the fire now don’t ya?”

This is the reason we are asking for the assistance of your team, The Black Lions have to be reactivated; Or else, this is going to be on more channels than just KYZ4. She flipped through the channels as the director spoke.

“Too late, it’s already on GTN. Looks like there’s about to be pissed off Phenosapiens all ova this planet now, Director.” 

General, anything your team needs from TEMPLE, you have it. Deactivating the unit was indeed a premature choice.

“Well, I’ve been sayin’ that for the longest. If your sure though, we will move in. I will send in a SEQR squad first to get out any non-combatants,” she continued, spinning her glass around on the table as she spoke.

Her face shining with a winning grin; she finished off the glass.

This isn’t combat, his voice came over the speaker.

“It will be,” she answered.

He sighed and attempted to try to collect himself before he spoke again. Background clatter could be heard from his office to hers as it echoed through the speaker. His assistant had walked in and he was giving him the update on the situation. The Madame could hear it all and she itched, she wanted to stop it; they were taking too long.

Do what you can General Blair…and please, with as little casualties as possible. We don’t need another incident like before.

“Understandable, The Black Lions will be activated. Mission will commence within 20 mikes.” She pressed a button on the phone turning off the speaker and then picked up the handheld, quickly placing it back to the phone. She pushed herself away from the table and stood to her feet a smirk drawing on her face.

“I was wondering when they were gonna call.”

~~~~~~~~~ 

The air in the room was icy, the furniture holding still as they seemed to be frozen in their spots. The only movement came from the glimmering computer screens that pulsed in their back-light adding to the fluorescent hue of the area, a black lion flashed across the screens. In the middle of the scope a table sat, decent mass, about conference size. Roll away metal with leather accented chairs bordered it. In the heart of the table a see through section sat, about 42 inches in width, its glassy screen too had a lion in the midst of it.

The silence of the room was interrupted by the clamor of individuals as they entered. They all had their own conversations going on as they found seats, some rolling away the chairs to take a place, while others stood close, either beside the seated individual or behind their chair. Some were rebels, not choosing either as they found the edge of the desk more comfortable than the leather of the chairs.

A man looked down to his wrist to check the time, and then back around the room at the faces that were there as though he were looking for someone in particular. His black hair with bits of aqua reflected under the shine of the fluorescent as he continued to scan the room. “All accounted for, but one.”

The conversations came to a halt as the group followed suit, looking through the members that had gathered at the table.

“Lt. Reign?” A woman asked with a stern look on her face. Her light mahogany skin began to change over to a mercury gray color as she grit her teeth. “She’s NEVER on time; she’s an infiltrator there should be no excu…”

“I am here Akana,” a meek tone, voiced out of nothing. “Behind you…” she finished causing the already uneasy woman to turn as the bearer of the voice fell into visibility, her camouflage giving way.

“Captain Singleton!” Akana bluntly followed referring to herself causing the pink haired girl to cast an eye at her.

“Roger that…Sencho,” Sanjera answered turning away from Akana to look towards the door as another woman entered the room. She had fair tan skin with blonde and brown highlight hair but that slowly changed as she gained steps into the room. Her skin altered to green as her hair followed suit, white highlights bathing in the green strands.

“How about both of you chill out,” she barked as she entered, the southern twang ever so present. “We have bigger fish to fry. There’s a nice little brawl going on in downtown North Star City. Save your hostility for that, trust me, you’re gonna need it.”

“Yes Madame,” the once mahogany now gray skinned woman replied as her body began to turn back to its original color. Her husband, Jordan, placed his hand on her shoulder, massaging her a bit in an attempt to calm her. Akana was the uptight one on the team, rules and regulations were what she went by and missions made her that more tough. Actually, both of the Singletons were extremely serious when it came to rules and regulations, especially around mission time. Jordan’s background in the Marines and Akana’s background in the British Marines made sure of that.

“Madame,” Sanjera followed, bowing in respect to the woman in front of her. She cast an eye over to Akana once finished, repeating the same, “My apologies,” she spoke, still calm as she pushed a couple loose strands of pink behind her ear. Sanjera was half Japanese, raised in Japan as well. Which explained her mannerism. One couldn’t tell by just looking at her alone since her skin complexion didn’t give her nationality away. She was half black also, her father being a naval Captain who decided to stay in Japan with his wife after he retired.

General Blair or as she was so openly called, Madame, looked around the room at her unit. She knew them all, some she worked with previously when she was just a member of the old team and then there were the new faces as a mixture of veterans and rookies sat around the conference table. It was a largely different group from that one 5 years ago. Even while deactivated, they recruited, in preparation for what would come.

“We have a very important mission ladies and gentlemen,” she spoke pointing to the table as she finished her walk, in a sense, urging them all to group around it so they could look at the display that lit up on it.

“Like I said, there’s a nice brawl going on in Downtown North Star between the P.O.M and Zeniths’s. This kicked off about 30 minutes ago. TEMPLE CIA sent in TDI SWAT for riot control and well, they couldn’t handle the situation so, they reactivated us. Our job is to, basically, stop it; both sides. Jahcera is heading up the SEQR team that went in to clear out any non-combatants. In other words, children.”

“Wait a second,” Akana interrupted, keeping her gaze on the General. “Jahcera? As in Sgt. Jahcera Paige, Lt. Reign's protégé?” She smirked a bit, turning to Sanjera.

“Yea, that one, she’s been doing well as of late. So, all we can do is hope that she has gotten all casualties out.”

“She will complete the mission.” Sanjera followed.

The Maddam nodded. Jahcera was a troubled teen, turned good. Her path was on the wrong end of the spectrum so, some of the Lions had their doubts. Sanjera on the other hand, the one who found her and trained her so she wouldn’t have to endure what would have happened to her, thought differently.

“So, shit is definitely out of control if they decided to put us back in the mix? Sounds like TCIA and TDI are having their asses handed to them.” The dark skinned, aqua eyed man spoke up, looking on towards the general as he placed a calm hand to the table, a grin on his face. He and the General were acquainted and knew one another well. He was part of the old team, not much of a soldier; he got his rank from being a geneticist. However, that wasn’t to be taken lightly, he was second in charge of the unit and was well known for his powers.

She laughed, “Yea Elias, it sure has.”

Her smile lingered a bit as she moved closer to the table, placing a hand on it. When her fingers met the clear surface a red light scanned over them, voicing her approval as the Black Lion faded from a desktop. She flicked her wrist a bit, bringing a folder over the desktop as she double tapped it with her finger tips, an aerial view map of the city popped up. She brought over her other hand placing it too, to the table and quickly began to raise both hands into the air above the display. A 3-D layout of the city and its buildings followed.

“Upgrade?” Jordan asked

“Yea, damn technology.” She answered.

The group snickered a bit as they put their sites on the map layout that was now scaling through the city as she moved pieces out the way to put a full view on downtown, the brawl and the surrounding areas. “The situation is, Protectors of Mankind versus Phenosapiens. So far the news is, POM started it, the Zenith’s were just registering their powers with TEMPLE or rather, waiting in a line outside to do so.”

She pointed a finger to the image scaling it a bit more, to the point where the riot could actually be seen going on, in real time. POM members fought against the Zenith’s in what they called, Reaper suits. It allowed them to somewhat match powers with Zenith’s because otherwise, fighting them would be useless. The locale lit up with an orange bulls-eye when her finger met it, a spot close to the TEMPLE building. 

“This is where everything kicked off, moving over into the streets of course,” she sighed, looking back up to the rest of the group.

The district on the map continued to flash as she moved her finger to another grid, “This is where I was told Jahcera and her SEQR team were going to enter from.”

“So, if things didn’t go according to her plan, it might be a rescue mission also?” Elias asked.

“Yes, Elias…but, let’s hope that they did. Jahcera completing her job is very important and it’s going to have a strain on us. It virtually decides on whether we can be affective or not. You know, if she fails…or not.”

“Alright. Makes sense.” He nodded.

“This is where I want our landing zone to be.” She continued, pointing to another grid on the map. It was a clear spot, close to the middle of the fight making it easier for them all to get to the center to attempt to stop everything; But of course, that fight could clog things up just as quickly as it cleared. “We will fly in using a HJ-01 Manta.”

The group looked around at one another, grasping the brief of the mission. “The plan is to go in with just us.” She continued. “By us, I mean THE Team. So, we are going to leave all the other teams behind. We’re keeping this reactivation as small as possible...for the time being at least.” Moans of disapproval could be heard echoing in the room. "Oh stop whining, you all will get your chance."

“So, we’re gonna have to take the gloves off.” Elias added. “This is gonna be fun.”

“Yea, that’s the idea. Once we hit the ground we will disperse… Jordan and Akana together…Elias, you come with me. We need to seriously split this up and on top of that, we also need to keep an eye out for the Angels of Anarchy.” The group nodded in response.

“Sanjera, you’re gonna be the only one that goes in solo. Your mission is to find your pupil and her SEQR team. You know what they were supposed to do, make sure they do it and then clear out the LZ for us. Support them first, and then come to the LZ and clear it for us.” She looked over to Sanjera, a smile touching her face as the other group members followed her eyes, looking to her as well.

“Roger that Madame,” she answered looking back towards the map, “I’m guessing my entrance will be via halo drop?”

“It’s the only way to travel, right?”

Sanjera smiled examining the map, “may I request this area?” She asked, pointing to a spot on the map. The area was almost in the middle of the P.O.M side, a little towards the back. Her idea was, if Jahcera were to get into any trouble, she would go the opposite direction of the Zenith’s because, she didn’t have any powers. Not to mention, the entrance will allow her to take out many of the P.O.M members.

“Let the pilot know once you are airborne. Your mission has started, you have 15 minutes the Stinger is on the pad waiting for you.”

“Arigato,” she bowed then turned to exit the door. Moving her hands, she began to form signs. Her uniform appeared on her in response to the signs she formed. She looked her part; the ninja of the group. Her wakizashi was placed along the small of her back, held by a chain that connected to the bottom of an armor that covered her left side. Her wakizashi wasn’t normal though, it had a crescent blade that connected to the hilt. That, she would use for blocking, pokes, stabs and decapitations. The top of the hilt, connected to the blade were two smaller blades that made the wakizashi look similar to a shi; this allowed for disarming. She also had a thin, damn near invisible line attached to the hilt with a kunai on it. This was used for wrapping or stabbing and pulling. Better than all of that, her wakizashi could extend to full katana. Her sword was the ultimate weapon, passed down through her family. 

“Ato.” She threw up two fingers as she exited the room.

Madame Neutron looked back to her team as Sanjera exited the conference room. “Colonel Reign, Alchemy, Pyreblade…gear up. We leave in 15.”

~~~~~~~~~

“Lieutenant,” the pilot called over the headset as he switched the controls of the Stinger, HJ-02, from flight to hover and turned to look into the aft of it. “These are the quadrants you asked for, weather is clear…the air is a bit cold at this height though, about -3 degrees Celsius. The closer you get to the ground, the warmer it should get and on top of that, the wind may pick up. Visibility is also clear, considering what’s going on. You’ll be jumping from 17 miles up.”

Sanjera grabbed her helmet, not acknowledging the pilot as he passed the information over the COMs as she unstrapped her harness rising to her feet. She walked to the center of the aft of the stinger pressing a button which caused a section of the flooring to dematerialize. She put the helmet on, buckling the straps and then looked back to the pilot. Finally she acknowledged him with a thumb up before stepping out, from the stinger.

He smirked a bit, seeing the slim built girl step from the stinger on a solo mission, so casual like. He heard stories about Sanjera but never got to see her in action. He did however feel a bit of remorse for the poor souls on the ground. He turned in his seat and changed the controls flipping a couple toggles as the HJ-02 went from hover back to flight. In the exchange he spoke over his COMs device. “Madame, the package has been delivered.”

Sanjera dropped through the sky, her arms as tight to her sides as she could possibly get them, her legs just as tight as they stuck together; her head towards the ground as she looked on, gaining speed with each inch. At this point she had turned herself into a human missile. The airstream ripped past her as she sliced through it, the rugged sound of wind pressure beat against her helmet with the decent. It was a long fall, most HALO drops were and she continued her dive, wading through the hardships, until see was close enough to give a synopsis.

The fall was approximately 29,920 yards, to think she got to her 2500 yard marker in the time she did was, just her. “2000 yards,” she yelled over the COMs, “switching H.U.D to on board targeting systems.”

Slowly she fought against the wind managing to lift her arms as she spread her legs. Flaps in the gaps of her legs and arms and body opened on her suit, slowing her decent a bit as the updraft caught her, lifting her.

“1700. The H.U.D is picking up friendlies in my drop zone.”

“How many?” Elias asked her.

“One,” she answered, keeping her arms and legs spread as her fall went into a gliding hover, still cutting through the yards as she made her approach. “It seems the friendly is on the move, the H.U.D is picking up another, zooming in. It’s Jahcera, she’s chasing a little girl.”

“Anything else?”

Sanjera turned her head a speck to scan the area a bit more, she gasped as she saw P.O.M enemies moving in on the two. “Yes, they are being converged on…I believe the girl is a Zenith, Jahcera is trying to get her out of that area.”

“Shit, do what you have to Sanjera….what /ever/ you have to. The last thing we need is the death of an Zenith child on the news, not again. However, stun the enemy...don’t take them out; we don’t need dead humans either.”

“Roger that.” She answered, forming seals with her hands again, causing her chi energy to began encompassing her body. She brought her arms back to her sides and closed her legs, once again propelling herself through the air back into the direction of the ground below her, this time moving faster than she had the first time. Her hands found the pouches on her lower thighs and from them she pulled suriken. She spread the suriken in both hands, revealing four in each hand. Slowly, she began to charge them with her inner chi, causing a bit of electricity to arc from them.

“Sanjera…are you not going to glide in?” her cousin asked over the COMs.

“There isn’t enough time for that Elias, I can handle the drop.” She answered back, as the static began to grow a little more.

Elias chuckled a bit, “be careful.”

“I will be.” She answered keeping her eyes on the ground. She could see that Jahcera had finally gotten to the little girl and was now protecting her as she herself opened fire on the Reapers with her own set of pistols.

“Jahcera, get that little girl out of there, NOW. I’m moving in…FAST.”

“What?” she answered back over the COMs looking up into the sky, “come on little one, we gotta move.” She picked the girl up, holding her with her left arm after holstering that 9 and began to run, using the other to engage the enemy. She began to make her way back towards the Zenith side.

“150 yards,” Sanjera calmly spoke, exhaling as she launched the electrified suriken in the direction of the Reapers. She threw up up a hand, forming a seal to control the electricity as she released it from the suriken. The electricity shocked those within the range of the weapons, knocking them out instantly. Those who weren’t affected or out of range looked up, seeing her as she made her approach. 

Quickly she formed hand signs again as she flipped, preparing to land. She hit the ground, landing, acrobatically on her hands and knees causing the concrete below her to crater as it waved up from around her, knocking the rest to the ground. She finished her hand signs, “Kishu wind style: Dragon breeze.”

The wind around her roared as it began to spin counter-clock wise away from her, slicing through the armor of the reapers as it cast them away.

“Shit!” Jahcera yelled as she turned her sight away from Sanjera, using her own body to cover the little girl, luckily for her, she was out of range.

She waited a bit before uncovering the little girl and then looked back towards where Sanjera was. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw the chaos, she had only heard stories about that move but never, had she ever, seen it with her own eyes.

“Jahcera,” Sanjera spoke, placing a hand to her shoulder.

“Jesus, Sanjera!” she jumped, startled a bit not expecting the woman to be that close to her so soon.

“Are all the non-combatants out?” she asked, looking down to her and the little girl.

“For the most part…this little one was the last one. She got separated from her mom and damn is she fast. I seriously need powers.”

Sanjera kept her eyes on the little girl as she watched her open hers. She could see the fatigue on her and that she had been through a lot. Not only that, she could see that she was indeed an Zenith as her pupils thinned out to cat like slits instinctively. See smiled at the little girl through the see through visor, receiving one in return. Even though her job called for her to be emotionless most of the time, children always found a way to get to her heart.

“Stay close, I’m going to get both of you out of here.” She said with ease, finally taking off her helmet, allowing her once held captive locks of pink hair to fall down her back. She began to wrap her face, taking the remaining cloth to tie around her braid. She then pulled her oni mask out of her side pocket and covered her face in its ninja attire , “I have to clear the LZ but you two are first on my agenda.”

“Right behind you, Sensei.” Jahcera answered.

“Then, let’s move and don’t call me that. We have five minutes before the rest of the lion’s rain down on this grid.”

“Them?” Jahcera asked.

“Yes, let’s move.”

~~~~~~~~~

The Madame looked around her group as they prepared at the aft of the Manta. This was something that they had trained for; despite the fact the unit had been deactivated. To The Madame, that was political banter for you’re not allowed in the field. The reactivation was something that they all were waiting for. She could see their eagerness as Jordan prepped his bastard sword allowing flames to walk up its blade, he bawled his right fist letting it engulf too. Akana had fully turned over to her liquid metal state and was now turning her hands and forearms into weapons, each one switching through different metallic blades and axes. Elias just sat, letting his energy form in his palm. The aqua color of it lit up the aft a bit.

The engines of the HJ-01 whined as it came to a drift, red lights in the rear of the bird snapped on as the propellers in the wings began to spin supporting the hover. The 8x8 section in the floor dematerialized as all the Black Lions rose to their feet. Their red and black uniforms complemented the red lit interior of the bird.

“Lions, Sanjera informed me that we are dropping into a hot LZ. Which means, what was clear is no longer the same. She did what she could to clear the area and is now in the area awaiting us. She had to clear out Jahcera and a young girl before she could make it over. We /are/ at war, don’t forget that…you know your teams…you know our mission. Use precaution, so we can end this and head to a bar afterwards!”

The team members nodded as Jordan let out an “OORAH” to what The Madame had to say. They lined up at the side door, each person taking a step out of the bird one by one, dropping into the now battled hardened zone of Downtown North Star City.

Acronyms:

T.E.M.P.L.E: Tactical PhEnosapien and HuMankind, Protection and Liaison Executive

S.E.Q.R: (Pronounced Seeker) Search and Evacuation Quick Response Team

GTN: Global Televised News

TCIA: TEMPLE Central Intelligence Agency

TDI: TEMPLE Division of Investigation

Zenith: The shortened name for Phenosapiens. Phenosapiens are the evolved humans of the SoveReign Universe. This name also pertains to any Supernatural based human.

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Description:

An undercover agent hellbent on bringing a drug cartel enforcer to justice by any means infiltrates a group of college kids out to have a good time across the Mexican border. But the enforcer has plans to disappear forever before he can be taken alive, putting together a big show that will culminate with a big ending. But as the agent closes in, one of the zombies in the enforcer’s stable half-devises his own plan for revenge. When things finally explode, not even the dead may survive.

Excerpt:

Mama was really sick.  Cole had asked her just an hour ago if he should call 9-1-1, but she’d said no.  She was afraid of hospitals for some reason.  She’d told him to close the door and he’d been sitting sentry outside her door ever since. 

But now he had to go to the bathroom.  He knocked on the door and put his ear to it and listened.  She was quiet.  Must have been asleep again.  He crawled to his feet, his leg numb from the butt cheek down.

“Mama, I gotta go to the bathroom,” he leaned into the door and spoke.  No answer.  He told himself she was sleeping.  Cole race-walked to the bathroom, a short distance away from his mother’s bedroom in their tiny ranch house.  He closed the door out of habit and stole a glance at his reflection in the mirror.  Even he knew a boy his age shouldn’t look this old. 

Mama had gotten real sick a while back, so sick she’d almost died.  So sick, the doctor told her she’d gotten diabetes.  She had to take shots for her sugar and needles had always been hard for mama.  Cole promised the doctor he would give her her shots if she wouldn’t.  The doctor had told her to be careful, that she could come down with colds a lot easier, that they would be a lot harder to fight off.  She would need to test her sugar every day.  She’d need to get a flu shot every year.  More needles.  More doctors.  Mama had begun stockpiling her medical supplies in her bedroom.

Cole finished his business and flushed.  As he washed his hands, he looked at himself in the mirror again.  Mama was a lot moodier than she had been.  Had gained a lot of weight.  Cole was barely five feet tall and skinny.  He couldn’t really force her to do anything she didn’t want to.  Once, he’d given her a shot while she was sleeping.  Had managed to test her blood sugar and saw she was really high.  He used the little booklet the hospital had given her to calculate how much insulin to take, thumped out the little bubbles as the syringe dangled from the little bottle, held upside down and swabbed her shoulder with an alcohol pad before injecting her.

She’d opened her eyes as soon as the needle went in and his heart skipped, thinking she’d awakened.  But he steadied his hand, pushed the plunger down, and quickly removed it. Before his brain had told his body to relax, Mama shot up in bed.

“What was that?” she’d screamed, wide awake.  “Something bit me!”  Cole, in hindsight, wished he’d lied.  Mama had changed since the diabetes.  She was a lot meaner.  A slap here, a biting comment there.  But he’d told her, held up his hand and showed her the syringe.  She’d tumbled out of bed on top of him, sat up, pinning him there, and as calmly as reading the Sunday paper, plucked the syringe from his hand and began poking him in the chest with it.  Over and over and over.

“You see now?  You see how that feels?” she’d kept asking him.  He hadn’t intended to, but couldn’t help subconsciously counting the pricks into the thin muscle of his pectoral.  He’d cried, wailed, but she kept on until she’d poked him thirty-two times.

Cole turned off the water and flick-dried his fingers.  His stomach growled as he came out of the bathroom.  Mama was sleep, it wasn’t like she needed him right then.  Why not a sandwich?  He could make two—one for her if she woke up.  He could even cut off the crust just the way she liked.

He went into the kitchen and pulled the bread down from the top of the fridge.  He had to hop just a little bit to reach.  Cole took the meat and the mayo out and laid everything out on the counter.  He worked quickly with a knife from the silverware drawer.  A healthy smear of mayo on both his slices, very little on one of hers.  He plopped two slices of meat on both slices of bread and then covered them.  Cole cut his sandwich diagonally and was halfway through cutting Mama’s vertically when a muffled thump came from the bedroom.  It sounded like a bowling ball had been thrown against the wall.

“Mama?” he asked, sudden guilt propelling him back to her door.  “Mama, you okay?”

There was a sound, a voice, had to be hers, but it wasn’t right.  Cole hadn’t understood and inclined his ear to the door to listen.  The voice—Mama’s—said something else, but he just wasn’t getting it.

“Mama, I’m opening the door, okay?”  Cole reached and saw he had the butterknife in his hand still, a smear of mayo on the blade ending in a full glop at the tip.  He wished he’d left it in the kitchen, she might say something about him leaving her, but he’d look even guiltier if she opened the door and him standing in the kitchen.

The door gave a brief squeak before bumping into something that stopped it.  The opening was wide enough for Cole to fit maybe his head through and peer around at Mama in the bed, but he wanted to come all the way in.  Sometimes Mama fell out of the bed.  Like when he’d given her her shot that one time without her knowing. 

He looked, but the twin lumps of Mama’s feet under the covers weren’t there.  Neither were the covers.  He stepped farther into the room and saw her pillows at the head of the bed and then the door smashed into his shoulder, rolling him back and almost coming down on his neck.  He’d turned his wrist by some draw of luck and had managed to pin the knife between the door and the frame.  Something heavy on the other side pushed, driving the knife deeper into the wood and Cole let go of it to shove at the door with both hands.  He could feel the force on the other side, held temporarily at bay.  The sick-stink wafted over him then, not just from the room itself, he’d practically grown immune to it, but another stink.  A deeper one that set off the ancient alarm inside his lizard brain.  Without knowing why he knew, he knew it was the smell that had been scrubbed and perfumed away before they ever got to the funeral home for his Uncle Matty’s funeral.  It was a death-sick stink.

And if Mama was dead and trying to crush him on the other side of the door…

Cole pulled away from the door, banging the rounded section of skull behind his ear on the edge.  It stung like hell, but spurred him on even more.  He couldn’t turn his head, but could see in the corner of his eye a mass rise from the floor.  Then he heard it breathing, but not like a living person would.  Like… like… the engine to the last car Mama had had.  A big, grey Camaro, that coughed and sputtered as if it were being resurrected with each turn of the ignition.  Except, the breathing was the opposite of what the Camaro’s engine had been doing.  Mama coughed and sputtered as if her lungs were shutting down for the very last time.  What looked like an arm jerked into the air and Cole used the opportunity to give one last desperate shove and the form pitched over into the side of the bed.

He was free!

He had to get to the door and outside.  Mama might have been big and slow, but the house was small and he had no doubt his bedroom door couldn’t keep her out.  Cole dashed for it and a moment later he was unlocking the bolt.  But the front door had two locks.  The second one required a key.  And the only set was in Mama’s purse.  In her bedroom.

Cole turned.  He listened to the sound of his breathing.  Of the sound of his Mama, sliding over the wall as she pulled herself up again.  Of the death rattle still killing the last few living parts of her.  He realized he still had the butterknife in his hand.

Could he?

In those brief few moments, he confessed to himself he had hated his Mama on more than one occasion.  Most specifically the needle incident.  But he didn’t hate her.  Not really.  He knew no matter what she said or did, she loved him.  Or at least had.  Maybe she wasn’t all the way dead.  Maybe there was something of her left inside.

“Mama?”  Cole’s voice shook.  Her room was suddenly silent and he wondered if his mother was herself again or if the dead thing that she’d turned into had stopped to listen.  He felt the weight of the quiet in his bones, resonating from his trunk to his fingertips.  Cole figured the longer he waited, the worse it would be, regardless of whether Mama or the thing that had been her moments before was there.

Cole clutched his knife, the sandwiches and his empty belly long forgotten.  Even though it was where he intended to go, he steered away from her bedroom, closer to the ratty old couch against the far wall.  There was a backdoor in the kitchen, but they hadn’t been able to open that since they’d moved in.  Her bedroom door came into view and it was a minor and brief relief to see that it was mostly shut.  Brief because the door was yanked open and the thing focused a baleful stare on him with his mother’s eyes before charging.

He couldn’t have recalled the last time he’d seen his mother run.  It had been years, even before she’d been diagnosed, but this thing did.  Cole had nowhere to run.  To the right and back to the door would have brought him even closer, to the left and into the kitchen was an even more cramped space.  In his panic, he pulled back and held up his arms, his eyes closing involuntarily as he turned his head.

There was a sound as if someone had jabbed a pin into a big, meat-filled balloon and a sharp pain that thrummed up his arm and into his neck.  The Mama-thing’s forward motion stopped and so did its guttural grunting.  Cole opened his eyes to see she was impossibly close.  His arms were still outstretched, the one resting on her shoulder, the other… the other bent sickeningly inward at the elbow, the hand still holding on tightly to the knife. 

It chomped the air between them, its arms hanging loosely at its sides as if the thing had not figured out how to use them.  He looked into his Mama’s eyes, ignoring the intense pain in his arm as best he could, using it, in fact, to focus him into doing something to save his life.

Those light brown, almost hazel eyes—his were a carbon copy, just as big in a child’s head—were locked onto him, bloodshot and filled with a rudderless hatred.  So much hatred, they didn’t look real to him in a way.  Like the googly eyes on the armless stuffed monkey in his room.  Cole took his free hand, raised it, and fixed his thumb the same way he did before plunging it into the hole of a bowling ball.  Mama had been alive not more than a half hour ago; dying, but alive.  Maybe she wasn’t all the way dead.  It made sense to him on an instinctual level and without hesitation, Cole plunged his thumb into the Mama-thing’s eye socket, hooking it around something behind the eye and yanking. 

The thing screeched, shaking its head once before pulling back and wrenching the entire eye out.  Cole’s knife hand slapped into his thigh, numb and as useless as her two had been.  A fat drop of near-black blood oozed from the new empty hole in the Mama-thing’s face.  A red-green froth had begun at her mouth and nose and when he saw she was readying to charge, he let his body do what came natural.  Cole’s legs slid out from under him and he rolled forward and to his right, avoiding her just before she crashed into the wall.  He tried crawling on his hands and knees, but a sick feeling squeezed his stomach into his chest as he tried to use his broken arm.

Cole felt a foot kick him in the backside as he rolled over onto his back, the arm flapping onto his chest in a manner that looked totally wrong.  Mama fell on the floor next to him—she must have dived and missed—and then frog-hopped on top of him.

In her healthier years, Mama had been a beautiful, tall, shapely woman.  It burned Cole to see how men looked at her, but he knew why they looked.  But that had been at least two hundred pounds ago and the full weight of her on his eighty-something pound body drove almost all the air from his lungs.  If there was anything good about her size now it was that he suffocate before she could eat him and there was such an ocean of flesh between her face and any part of her body that she simply couldn’t get to him like this.

Cole saw pulsing black spots in his eyes.  His free hand began worming between them even before he knew what he was doing.  Mama’s hands had begun clawing at the carpet and it sounded as if it were being torn from the floor.  She lunged her head at him, snapping her teeth together so hard it hurt his ears and as soon as he got his index and thumb around the butt of the knife, he began tugging it free.

He had seconds before he passed out and gave a series of quick pulls, each one bring his arm farther and farther out.  Cole finally tugged his arm free and without hesitation, brought it up high and down, over and over until her jaw froze in place and his hand pulled away without the knife.

The Mama-thing made a sound as if something was caught in her throat.  Cole quickly felt up the wide-expanse of her back until he found the end of the knife just below her ear.  He pushed up on it and she rolled easily off of him.

She seemed frozen in place, as if the knife had penetrated to a tangle of nerves somewhere inside her head.  Cole rolled over onto his knees and straddled her big tummy.  He looked into the remaining eye, something akin to fear and perhaps… recognition in it.  Her hands and feet began drumming off the floor and he reached up and grabbed the heavy metal ashtray he’d made her in summer camp last year.

Cole aimed for the temple and began swinging, crashing the metal lump into her head until it dented, until flesh broke, until bone was exposed, until brain was exposed…

…until he finally took a breath.

Cole climbed off his Mama’s dead body—not a dead thing trying to kill him—but the woman who’d given birth to and cared for him his entire life.  He couldn’t hear his own sobbing voice, but knew he was crying as he stumbled into the bedroom, shoved a hand into her purse and chucked out contents until he had her keys.  He didn’t feel the pain of his broken elbow as he shoved the key in the lock of the front door, not taking a moment to look over his shoulder at the corpse lying half-in, half-out of the kitchen.

When he was outside, he screamed.  He screamed for someone to help him, to help his mother, but not with words.  His was the language of agony, of despair, of hatred freshly born, of love newly dead.

"As the youngest and only son of four children, Edward Alexander Bouchet was born to William and Susan (Cooley) Bouchet in New Haven on September 15, 1852. During the 1850s and 1860s New Haven had only three schools that black children could attend. Edward was enrolled in the Artisan Street Colored School, a small (only thirty seats), ungraded school with one teacher, Sarah Wilson, who played a crucial role in nurturing Bouchet's academic abilities and his desire to learn. He attended the New Haven High School (1866-1868).

"In 1868 Bouchet was accepted into Hopkins Grammar School, a private institution that prepared young men for the classical and scientific departments at Yale College. He graduated first in his class at Hopkins. Edward (along with A. Heaton Robinson) entered Yale College in 1870. Four years later when he he was the first Black to be graduated from Yale in 1874, he ranked sixth in a class of 124. On the basis of this exceptional performance, Bouchet became the first black in the nation to be nominated to Phi Beta Kappa, but he was not elected at that time. [NOTE: George Washington Henderson was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1877 at the University of Vermont as the first, Bouchet was not elected until 1884]

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Devotions Upon Emergent Occassions: Mediations XVII