Chapter 32

ID: 1762291   (Rated: 13+) Artifact Man  A thriller, new age, sci-fi novel about a strange man found in the desert. by Hyperiongate

ID: 1840859   (Rated: ASR) Chapter 31  The colonel must decide between helping JD11 escape or turning him over to the church. by Hyperiongate

Camp “Lanier”, Nellis AFB, Nevada
8:30 am, April 4th

Jack and Lise, having brought nothing of their own, helped JD11 and Annie pack up their few possessions as quickly as possible. Five minutes later, the colonel returned.

“Come with me quickly,” he said and turn to head off down the hall. Everyone scrambled after him. As soon as they exited the room into the passageway, they were flanked by four of the colonel’s men. Jack instinctively braced for a confrontation. No one had told him what was going on and he had the feeling that things were rapidly unfolding, and not in a good way.

“Don’t worry, Jack. The colonel is helping us to escape,” came the thought that could only have originated with JD11.

“Escape? Escape from what?” asked Jack out loud.

“Danger,” was the single thought sent out in response.

Jack and the two women could feel the comforting touch of JD11 as he reached out with his mind to theirs, calming them. All could feel it and none questioned how the young man was able to do this. The calm came and they accepted it.

The colonel hadn’t looked back once since he told them to follow. In typical Lanier fashion, he expected to be obeyed. As he hurried ahead, he was talking constantly into his cell phone. Anyone listening could quickly understand that plans were being made on the fly. This was not going to be a well-planned escape.

“Yes, Sir. He’s being sedated as we speak. It will take a little longer than we expected. He put up a bit of a struggle and I had to bring in some extra muscle. So, I’m a little behind schedule. Tell the priest he should expect us within the next forty-five minutes.”

The colonel hung up and immediately dialed another number.

“I want the documentation to meet us at the rendezvous. Make sure all details are destroyed after the documents have been created. That includes erasing all files. No one must know the identities, the fund sourcing and safe-house locations. That includes me.”

He listened for a few moments before saying, “That’s right. I want all both choppers on the pad by the time we get to the surface. I don’t care that you can’t get air clearance that quickly. We’re going to be going under the radar anyway. That’s right. No one will notice until it’s too late. You’ve got five minutes.”

He hung up without looking back at the gaping expressions on the faces of the people following him rapidly down the hallway. Only JD11’s face remained calm. Jack looked at him and wondered if the calmness came from a lack of understanding or from perfect understanding. Somehow, he expected the latter. JD11 probably knew, not only what was going on, but the eventual outcome as well.

This helped Jack to settle down somewhat. If JD11 knew everything would be alright, then that was good enough for him.

“That’s right, Jack. Now pass that understanding along to the women,” came the thought. Jack looked up and saw JD11 still looking forward, but now wearing a small smile on his face. Jack felt like he’d just been praised for doing well on an unseen test.

The next few minutes was a blur of right and left turns. The colonel briefly explained that they would be leaving through the “back door.” Finally, they reached an elevator and everyone piled in.

The colonel turned to them and began to explain.

“I don’t have a lot of time so pay attention. You are all in danger. By danger, I mean that there are very powerful people that want JD11 wiped off the face of the Earth. That includes any evidence that he ever existed. All of you are part of that evidence. Sam was part of that evidence. I’ve decided to keep that from happening.”

He turned to JD11 and said, “I don’t know who or what you are. However, I don’t think you’re the Dark Lord that some seem to think you are. I’ve learned to trust my intuition and right now it’s saying that you must live to do whatever it is you need to do.”

Turning back to the group he said, “You are all part of this, whatever “this” is. We’ve understood for years that there was a convergence of Timelines. Without going into too much detail, I’ll just say that mankind’s options are dwindling. He is either going to survive or not. I think JD11 here is the determining factor. I’m hoping he turns out to be one of the good guys. If not, then I’m making a mistake of biblical proportions.”

He paused for only a moment to make sure what he was saying was hitting home. It was imperative that they understand the gravity of their situation.

“You are going to be given new identities and a large sum of cash. My men will take you to where a car is being outfitted for your…escape. Once you get there, pick a direction, which direction doesn’t really matter. Go as far away, as fast as you can. Get rid of the car at your first chance and get another. Always pay cash. If you leave any trail of your passing, you will be found.”

The elevator came to a stop. They had reached the surface. The door opened and the followed Lanier into a hanger. Through the large doors they could see two helicopters.

“Colonel,” said Jack, “It sounds like you won’t be going with us. Is there some way we can get in touch with you if we need help?”

The colonel pointed to JD11 and said, “I have a feeling that he’ll know just what to do. Here is where we split up.” He said gesturing to the helicopters.

Camp “Lanier”, Nellis AFB, Nevada
9:00 am, April 4th

“Apache 6-6-3-bravo, come in, over.”

“This is 6-6-3-bravo, over.”

“6-6-6-bravo, I understand you have Colonel Lanier onboard as a passenger. Can you confirm.”

“That’s a roger tower. The colonel is onboard.”

A new voice came over the air. “Colonel, this is base commander, General Portus. I expected you to meet with me about half an hour ago with your…package. Can you explain what is going on?”

“Sorry, General. Your expectation has been overcome by events. The package will not be delivered as planned.”

“I think you’d better explain, Colonel.”

“General, my guess is that you have a priest in your office with you at this very moment. His task it to terminate the “package.” I’m afraid I can’t let that happen.”

The general looked up at the priest standing across from his desk. He didn’t like this any more than Lanier did. It was an insult to have a religious man come onto his base and start making demands. Still, orders where orders and the General was answering to a much higher authority than the priest.

“Lanier, listen. We know that you have two choppers in the air. I know you’re attempting to jam our fire-control systems as well as trying to fly below our radar. Be advised that we have a positive lock on both birds. You have little choice in the matter.”

“General, do what you have to do.” Both men, the general and the priest heard the same thing but came back with different interpretations.
“Shoot them both down,” said the priest. He’d heard “I dare you.” The priest really didn’t care if JD11 was killed by a surface-to-air missile or by a shot to the head as he lay in the trunk of a car.

The general had heard something completely different. Lanier knew the General could shoot him down easy enough. He wasn’t issuing a dare. He actually wanted the general to shoot. Why would he do that? The general knew that the wiley Lanier had a knack for surviving just about anything. So, if he knew he could be shot down, he must have assumed that the general would shoot, but not at him. That was it! Lanier wanted the second helicopter shot down.

To the priest, the general said, “Lanier is baiting us to shoot him down. This must mean the package is on the other bird. We’ll take that one out. Once that’s done, Lanier will have nothing left to protect and will certainly return to base to face his punishment.”

The priest understood and said, “Yes, that’s it. Shoot down the other helicopter!”

Jack looked at the main gate as it faded in his rearview mirror. That had gone easier than he’d expected.

Lise reached across from the passenger seat and patted him on his leg and asked, “How did you know they wouldn’t inspect the car at the gate?”

“I didn’t, at least not for sure. However, if they are going to inspect a car, they usually inspect them when they come onto a base, not when it leaves. Plus, I had a feeling…”

In the back, JD11 nodded with a smile. He, and everyone else in the car, understood that “having a feeling” would no longer mean what it once did. They all felt an increase in “the knowing” as it was coming to be understood. Jack “knew” they wouldn’t inspect the car, so they didn’t. He wasn’t sure if he could see the future or if just “knowing” had caused a future.

As he turned onto the highway heading towards Las Vegas, Jack looked out the left window and saw what appeared to be smoke from a crash or fire off in the distance. He rightly assumed that to be the remotely controlled helicopter that Lanier said the base would shoot down. This meant they’d taken the bait. No one had expected JD11 to simply drive right out the main gate.

Now, as the four of them headed into an uncertain future, Colonel Lanier’s helicopter was being “escorted” back to the base. When they found out that the “package” had escaped, Lanier’s career would be at an end.

He felt a small bit of regret at the loss of his life’s work. Then the Knowing swept over him. Yes, there was an even more exciting chapter in life to come.