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Regretfully, I am going to have to postpone writing Times 7. My wife has been extremely ill for some time, and my health has also deteriorated. I never missed posting each week starting in November of 2006, but I must do so now. When and if our health improves, I will continue Times 7.
Roustwriter
This week with Times 7:
...“Well, Ava, I’m glad to meet you. Comp said that Mr. Kessler wanted to see me. Is he busy?”
“He’s always busy, but there isn’t anyone with him just now,” she answered frowning, “but he said to send you in as soon as you got here. So, go on in, I guess.”
Mack started toward Kessler’s door but turned and said, “This is none of my business, but that’s never stopped me before. At any rate, I’m going to say it. Be sure of yourself, Ava. That ‘I guess’ demeans you. If he hasn’t left specific instructions on how to do something, do the best you can, but don’t ‘I guess’. Don’t take any crap off him, either. I don’t mean to disrespect him – on the contrary, but being busy isn’t an excuse to mistreat you. I take it Kathy was here quite a while and knew what he wanted, probably sometimes before he realized it himself. Kathy says that you have just started. You can’t know what he wants until he tells you. You’ll be just as good as Kathy when you have had the experience. Remember, it takes a year to gain a year of experience.” Mack was unsure about his last statement with the blurps factored in, but he doubted if there was a blurp entitled Kessler’s assistant...
Have a goodun;
Roust
This week with Times 7:
...As they entered the administrator’s office, Kessler was speaking with someone on the com. He did something, and they could no longer hear his end of the conversation, but he motioned for them to be seated. Mack did, but Kathy paced until Kessler ended his conversation. Eventually, he leaned back in his chair and propped his feet on his desk. “You seem stressed, Kathy.”
Turning toward him, she said, “I suppose I am. I’ve been thinking…”
“Sometimes that can be dangerous,” he kidded.
Kathy, frustrated, started again. “I heard you setting up security for the time chamber last night, and I fully agree, but what if these aliens just send us a bomb?”
“I’ve been thinking about that. Do you have any ideas?” Turning to Mack, Kessler said, “Sorry, Mr. Tyler. I didn’t mean to ignore you. Kathy and I have known each other for quite a while. She was, by far, the best assistant I ever had. I suppose I didn’t fully realize that until she went on the trip.”
Kathy’s face began to flush, and her jaw set. Uh oh, here it comes. Mack thought, remembering how angry Kathy had been about being sent downtime with Thad...
Have a goodun;
Roust
This week with Times 7:
...A few minutes later, Sgt. Hansley walked in, weaponless as usual. Security was a broad term at Temporal. The two officers assigned to the detail did little more than maintain weapons for the Ops and assist Operations. There had never been any need for a real Security force. An occasional fistfight was so rare that it remained the height of gossip for days.
Hansley, who was expecting to be reamed out about challenging Kathy, was, instead, offered coffee or stim before Kessler got down to business. Addressing Hansley, Kessler said, “There have been some extenuating circumstances lately that I will have someone bring you up to speed on the details later, but basically, Kathy, Thad and Mack were fired on by aliens. First off, I want you and Cromwell to be armed at all times – and I do mean all times. And that means both a sidearm as well as a rifle. And if you two haven’t kept up with your weapon proficiency, I want that corrected ASAP. Even if you have kept up with the minimums, some extra practice could very well save your life.”...
Have a goodun;
Roust
This week with Times 7:
...“An obvious non-human, but bipedal humanoid-shaped alien started firing at us just as we were changing our campsites. Thad was hit before we even knew what was going on. Mack shot the alien with an arrow from a homemade bow. By the way, the bow is back in the chamber. Please don’t let anything happen to it. Mack made it himself and killed the alien with it. I actually managed to hit the alien with my sidearm, but only because Mack’s arrow had already gone through him.”
“Thanks,” Jamison said to Mack...
Have a goodun;
Roust
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