Terry Neale - Jo-el

Now everyone around the table leaned forward. Arms uncrossed and eyes widened.

Alberton asked, “how did you do that?”

I had to be careful that I didn’t tell them too much, it wasn’t opportune. “My wings and dress are holograms controlled by the computer I wear around my waist. The wings don’t work, they are just for show, I added them because I felt they would make me more acceptable to the public.”

“So how do you fly?” Alberton.

“Anti-gravity.” I said.

There was a complete look of consternation. The Two-Star Marine General at the back of the table said, “show me.”

A ‘please’ would have been nice, but Generals aren’t known for their courtesy. They’re used to barking orders. I lifted off the ground and rose a few feet, then dropped back down again.

“The belt around your waist controls that?” The General asked.

“Basically yes but I’m not going to go into details right now.”

I could see him nudge the Colonel sitting next to him. He knew that a military force with anti-gravity capability would swing the balance of world power, not that the Americans needed any swing. I had their complete attention now. But I was also aware that I’d wet their appetite and they would be salivating to obtain the technology.

“Yesterday I left the CIA building in a hurry. I’m sure, Colin, that you’ve told all of the people around this table what happened and most of you could not possibly believe his explanation.” Alberton was nodding. “I’m going to demonstrate the technology, but before I do, I think it would be prescient if you would take the eyes off me that you have around the hangar. I think the less people who see this, for now, the better.” I looked at Alberton.

“You know we have security.”

“Yes, of course.”

“How?”

“I’m not going to reveal that.” I kept my voice stern.

Alberton looked across the table at the General, he didn’t speak. I read the expression on the General’s face as he didn’t really have a choice. He whispered to the Colonel on his right, who left the table, walked to the back of the room and spoke into a handheld transmitter he was wearing. He then rejoined us at the table.

“Are the back-up leaving?” I asked Sally.

“Looks like it, Jo-el.”

“Thanks.”

“Thank-you.” I said.

“How do you know they’ve been pulled back,” asked the General.

I smiled.

“Okay, let’s move on because we have a lot of stuff to get through and part of it is time sensitive. I ‘bounced’ from the CIA building yesterday. You may want to think of it like the TV show Star Trek. They called it ‘beaming’ and you saw the actor vanish slowly and then appear elsewhere in a sort of shimmer. On the show it was science fiction but the writers were not far from what can actually be accomplished. Effectively the molecules of the body are bounced back and forth very fast and then transmitted by a method not unlike the way packets of information are sent over the internet. They are then reformed at the new location. It happens so fast that the heart doesn’t miss a beat. The speed is close to the speed of light. Obviously, I must designate where I’m going to appear prior to the bounce. Now comes the fun part. I’m told that I can take as many as five people with me. So far I haven’t tried this with anyone. So, who wants to volunteer?” I smiled but didn’t get any response. I wasn’t surprised, I’d just blown their minds with a concept that would be laughed out of the room if it hadn’t come from a guy who’d flown in using his own wings, then changed his attire instantly. Plus, what I’d done at the CIA building, yesterday.

The General stood up. “This is nuts; I’ve never heard of anything so ridiculous in my life. You are telling me that you can, what, transport yourself, plus five people anywhere on earth at the speed of light. This is going too far. I can just about accept the anti-gravity claim, there’s a few us looking at that. But, what did you call it, ‘bouncing’, my God, this is trickery.” He sat down again.

“General, I totally understand your skepticism, that is why I want to demonstrate it. That’s why I want to take one of you with me, it just helps you all to believe.”

Pippa beamed at me. “I’ll do it?”

“Oh how romantic, first date, bounce the girlfriend to Paris.” I heard Sally in my ear. I held a laugh.

“Wait a minute. She was the one you picked out of the meeting to talk to. How do we know this isn’t a trick?” It was Georgina Lambert.

“You come, too, Ms. Lambert.” I said.

“No thanks,” she replied. “I think I like my molecules the way they are.”

There didn’t seem to be any other volunteers. I ignored her comment. I reached into a pocket inside my jacket, which caused a little alarm and brought out a disc monitor. I held it up for the group to see.

“This is a disc monitor; I will show you a live video of the bounce.” I put it in the air and let it drift slowly to a spot behind me, maybe twenty feet off the ground. “I need somewhere to go that you will be able to verify.”

“It’s in mid-air!” One of the Homeland Security team. The group around the room were frightened, it was clearly advertised on every face. Some were sweating profusely, moping their brows with handkerchiefs and tissues. They were shaking, shifting back and forth in their chairs. Mouths opened and closed, breathing was elevated. Fear was everywhere.

“Anti-gravity.” I said. “Now, one of you pick a place, anywhere in the world, where you know someone who’s there now. I, with Miss Moran, will bounce to that location, out of sight, then meet with the designated person, who can confirm to you that we are there with them. Does that make sense?”

There was a mumble around the room.

“Anywhere?” stammered one of the FBI team.

“We have troops in Afghanistan, I’m very familiar with many of them.” The General, who appeared less perturbed than most.

I put my hand up. “General, let’s not pick a hostile environment. It might be somewhat disconcerting for whoever you want us to meet. Too many questions.”

He threw up his hands but I believe he understood, “what about Germany?”

“Fine, but just think about having to explain our presence, okay.”

Then Georgina said, “the FBI office in Dallas. I’ll have someone meet you in the lobby then call me to confirm.”

Heads started to nod and voila, we had a decision.

The General said, “wait a minute, I still don’t trust you. I want a Marine to go.” He turned to the third member of their team, “Major, I’m volunteering you.”

Oh, the armed forces, into battle we go, well you guys anyway, we’ll keep the lights on.

The Major bit his lip but showed little sign of concern, maybe he was just waiting for orders. The guy was a Marine, nothing fazed him. He stood up and walked around the table to where I was standing.

“Oh dear, a chaperone!” Sally.

“Hang on,” it was Georgina Lambert. She pulled out a cell phone dialed a number. When she hung up she said, “Brian Thain will meet you in the lobby, the address is 1 Justice Way. Do you need anything else?”

“No, thank-you, Georgina.” I turned to Pippa, “are you coming.”

“I don’t think you need me.”

“Jilted at the starting gate, what a shame.” Sally being funny again.

“Okay, ready Major?”

“Ready, I guess.”

I turned to the monitor and told Sally to show a birds-eye view outside the FBI office in Dallas. The office was close to a freeway, but all alone, perfect.

“I’ll land us around the corner of the middle building. You’ll be disorientated at first, just relax and imagine what it’s like being there, worked for me.”