Parker
Copyright© 2026 by A Well Traveled Man
Chapter 1
Parker Sheraton was fourteen and the only child of Robert and Jan Sheraton. Dad was a retired Navy SEAL and now writes action /adventure books. Mom helps him with research and editing. They met in high school, fell in love, and Parker was the result of the senior prom night celebration.
Robert enlisted in the Navy upon high school graduation and married Mom when they found out she was pregnant. Both their parents disapproved of their choice and disowned them. Jan got a secretary job at a law firm while Robert went through boot camp and took evening courses at the community College.
When he was born, Jan took a week off, then returned to work, and they let her bring Parker to work. Once Robert graduated boot camp, he got a week’s leave and saw Parker for the first time in person. Then he was sent to advanced training in computers and electronics. It was a six-month course, and they decided it was best if Jan stayed here.
Robert graduated, and his commanding officer put his name in for the SEALs. He got a two-week leave; Robert trained every day to get into the best shape possible. He would take Parker to the gym and the high school track. When his leave ended, Robert was notified to report to Coronado for SEAL training. Robert told Jan the training was challenging and that the dropout rate was high. So, Jan decided to stay and would move when he completed the training or got his next posting.
Robert completed the training and finished third in the class. His first posting was in Japan, and Jan and Parker moved with him. They were assigned a two-bedroom house on base, and Jan got a job as a legal secretary at the JAG office. Parker was two, and he went to daycare. He was a bright boy and learned to speak, read, and write Japanese from his favorite daycare worker, Kim.
Robert’s team was selected to participate in an experimental program to enhance their performance, and Dr. Ben Rhodes directed the program. After their physicals, Robert brought Parker with him, and Dr. Rhodes saw an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. Unknown to Robert or Jan, Dr. Rhodes included Parker in the program. Dr. Rhodes adjusted the dosage for his weight and gave Parker the treatments with the team. When Parker wasn’t with Robert for treatment, Dr. Rhodes gave it to him at daycare under the guise of a vitamin booster.
The team showed improvements in physical performance, mental aptitude, and reflexes. After three months, the team went on a mission and performed beyond expectations, and the treatments were deemed a success. But Dr. Rhodes found out continued treatments were necessary, or the enhancements would disappear. That was a no-go for the military, and the program was canceled, and Dr. Rhodes was transferred back to the States.
Unknown to Dr. Rhodes, the formula worked differently in Parker. It altered his DNA and changed his brain and body. If Dr. Rhodes had evaluated Parker before leaving, he would have known the formula was a success, but only in adolescence.
Robert’s team was transferred to Germany, and they moved with him. After six months, they moved to Saudi Arabia, then to South Korea. Parker was growing like a weed, as Dad said, and learned the languages at each posting. Not only speaking but writing too. They were posted in England, France, Spain, Germany, then back to San Diego. Mom said they would stay there for a while because Dad’s team was assigned to a quick-response group.
They were assigned a two-bedroom house on base, and Mom went back to work in the JAG office. Parker was eight years old, and they were tired of the constant moving. Issues came up with Parker’s education. He was far more advanced than his third-grade classmates and also taller. Dad and Mom discussed it with the school and decided Parker would attend his normal classes, and they would set up a special program for him.
Parker would be issued a laptop and would work on his advanced assignments at a computer in the back of the classroom so he wouldn’t disturb his classmates. Dad and Mom agreed because they wanted him to stay with his age group for social reasons. The school was happy because they got credit for his attendance. Parker didn’t mind, but listening to subjects he already knew was boring.
So, Parker’s schedule was set, and he went to school. Afterward, he trained at a martial arts dojo with Sensei three days a week. The other two days, he hung around his Dad’s team and trained with them. Weekends were a toss-up depending on everyone’s schedule. Sometimes Parker would play basketball or football with the team. But Sundays were always family time.
Dad was promoted to Commander and led his team. The SEAL team was sent on a mission, but the intelligence was wrong. Dad was injured along with several team members, and two were killed. Dad spent several months in the hospital and in rehabilitation. Finally, he was discharged with a 100% disability rating.
Sensi recommended acupuncture for Dad, and that was a lifesaver. It got him off the pain medication and helped heal the muscles, nerves, and spinal column. He kept going to the VA for checkups until his total disability was finalized. He was pissed that intelligence assholes didn’t verify their Intel, causing death and injury to his team.
Dad took college courses online at Mom’s insistence and earned bachelor’s degrees in English and creative writing. Mom earned a legal secretary degree online while they traveled around the world. They moved off base to a small three-bedroom ranch house near the base. It was a dump, but that’s all they could afford. Mom continued working for JAG and Dad honed his writing skills. He’d written short stories while deployed and had dozens of stories to reference.
Robert’s first book: he couldn’t find a publisher. But the second one drew interest from three publishers, and Dad signed for a small advance and a higher percentage of sales. The book made the New York Times bestseller list. The publisher begged Dad to sign a three-book deal, write another book about the character, and make it a series.
They moved into a five-bedroom house with a pool and three-car garage. It was in a gated community with guards at the gate and roving patrols. Dad received a movie offer for his book, and he had final script approval. Mom quit JAG and helped Dad with research and editing.
Parker was 10 years old and in fifth grade when the death threats started. They continued for several years until Dad got an email first, then a note on his windshield. Robert called Navy Intelligence and reported the threats. They told him to forward the threats to them and stay on guard. Dad hung up, saying this was bullshit, and began calling the remaining members of his team. He found out two had died under suspicious circumstances and the third he couldn’t reach.
Dad sat Mom and Parker down and explained the situation. He said no one goes anywhere alone and to be aware of your surroundings. We have a credible threat and should err on the side of caution. Dad told Mom, “Don’t leave the house without your Glock.” Robert told Parker to carry his Palomar throwing knives and stars at all times.
Parker played sports on Sensi’s and his dad’s recommendation. Football was ending, and they had another losing season. Parker’s position was quarterback, and he did well. But they had no running game, and the defense sucked. So, defenses blitzed often, and he had to scramble to survive. Coach Nadar told Parker that he had to stay late to watch game film of the next opponent. That was strange because he already watched it this morning.
Walking into Coach Nadar’s office, he tried to jab him with a syringe. Parker dodged the assault, grabbed Coach’s arm, and jabbed into his leg. Leaving the gym by the side door, Parker saw two Arab or Afghan men entering the main gym entrance. He took a picture of them and ran home, avoiding his normal route. When he arrived, Parker told Dad what Coach Nadar did, then showed him the pictures.
Dad told Mom and Parker to pack a go bag and be ready to leave immediately. Then Robert called his contact in Naval Intelligence and reported Parker’s attempted abduction. He said the names of the men involved, and I’ve got pictures. Tell those assholes in charge that if my family’s hurt or killed, I’m coming after them, and hung up. They loaded up the F250 4x4 and headed to grandfather’s cabin in Yucca Tree above Palm Springs.
It was Mom’s Dad’s cabin, and when he passed away, Mom was shocked that she inherited it along with his estate. The estate attorney said that her father regretted disowning her, but her Mother held a grudge so that he couldn’t do anything about it. After your mother passed, he moved to the cabin and hired PIs to keep an eye on you and Parker. Mom kept it under her maiden name so they had a chance to stay safe.
Dad stopped outside of Riverside, and they stocked up on supplies. When they arrived, everyone was shocked to see the property. It was built like a fortress with a 10-foot fence and entry gate. It was miles from the closest neighbors and backed up to the national forest. When they opened the cabin door, Dad said shit it’s 4 inches thick.
They were also surprised that the cabin had power, water, and internet. Everyone put the groceries away, then their gear, and got settled. The cabin had three bedrooms, and Dad took one for his writing. After checking out the house, they toured the property. Grandfather had a security system with point-to-point beams and cameras. There was also a shooting range for rifles and handguns.
They returned to the cabin and ate lunch. Dad said Wait a minute, where are the monitors for the cameras. After lunch, the hunt began from a hidden room or passageway. Parker found it in the second bedroom closet. It was a stairway to a room beneath the cabin. The room was 20 feet by 20 feet and had a bank of monitors on one wall. A rifle rack on the next wall held rifles for every purpose. Next to it was a pistol rack set up the same way. Next to it was the ammo cabinet, filled with every caliber. Mom said,” My God, there’s enough to start a war.
At one end of the room was a tunnel, and they followed it to a barn that was hidden and they hadn’t discovered yet. Inside was a used Chevy 4x4 Silverado with a battery minder attached. They exited the barn and found it was hidden in the hillside. Dad parked his F250 4x4 in the barn, and they returned to the cabin. Mom said that we had enough food for 2 or 3 days at most. So, if we’re going to stay longer, we should get more supplies.
Dad said we’d get them early tomorrow morning and be back before sunup. Hopefully we’ll only be here a week, and things will settle down. Mom went to organize the kitchen, and Parker went with Dad to the rifle range. They had been to gun ranges before, on and off base. Dad told Parker killing a man is different than shooting at a target. Envision them killing your Mom, and don’t hesitate to shoot to kill, or they will kill you. I’ve seen what they do to prisoners, so don’t allow yourself to be captured.
They shot the AR-15 and the Barrett .338 Lapua MRAD sniper rifle. After practicing with the Glock 19, they looked for a sniper’s perch. It was close to the barn, and they staged supplies there. Dad told Parker, if we’re attacked, exit the cabin through the tunnel and set up in the perch. Don’t fire indiscriminately. Wait for a kill shot and take it.