Chapter 9: We’re here to help you

We would be making a stop at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. This was a stop I was actually looking forward to. List or no list.

It was also the first indication that the list wasn’t as up to date as when my grandfather made it.

People at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory had heard of my visit to Livermore Labs. Learning that I was nearby offered me a tour in the hopes of luring me to their labs.

Of course, I took it. It was everything I could have hoped for, a chance at the stars. The whole thing soured when they learned of my grandfather’s alleged involvement with the nuclear fuel rods. Guilt by association.

That was when I learned the operations had been moved to San Jose. It was still ongoing as everything was searched container by container before allowing it to be shipped.

Learning that I was there to check the company out, they wanted to know about my involvement. Of course, I told them I had none. I was just there to collect my grandfather’s personal papers and mementos.

They wanted to see them. But as I hadn’t even entered the building, I didn’t have anything of my grandfather’s. So, I said sure, as soon as you produce a warrant. In fact, do you have one to search the building and its contents? They asked what did I have to hide? Nothing, I replied. But when the government wants to see something, they usually provide a warrant of what they were looking for.

National security, they said. Bullshit, I said, you still need a warrant. So, I had my girls start video recording. Soon facial recognition software was identifying them. Those that it couldn’t be, I asked for an official ID and time to photograph them.

Give someone a badge and a bit of authority, and they think they can ride roughshod over you.

I put a stop to that and called my attorneys, all of them. I also called for a large RV with phone and internet service to function as an office. When I saw how many attorneys I had, I promptly called for a second RV. Then I turned them loose on the Feds.

Turned out that, as I suspected, they didn’t have the legal authority to even be here. Sigh, I didn’t make many friends with the feds that day. They left with the ominous threat that they would be keeping an eye on me.

That was duly noted by my attorneys, and a harassment lawsuit was put into motion.

It didn’t stop the company’s movement to San Jose, but it did mollify some of the people with the Jet Propulsion Lab.

The excitement of seeing the Jet Propulsion Lab dampen. I didn’t hold a grudge, but the way I had been treated by the feds certainly didn’t help.

Back to the airport, the trip to San Jose was uneventful. Well, other than that, I had been told of some hold-up from the control tower. So that we were delayed by two hours.

I made a note of it, and I would deal with it later. Two could play at that game. My attorneys would provide me with names, and some digging would tell me who held the mortgages on their homes, credit cards, bank loans. If they had any kids, which schools do they attend? I might even have any dogs they owned checked for rabies and shots.

No, I didn’t hold grudges. I was a payback sort of guy. These people needed an education, and I was going to give it to them.

Flying over the central valley, I couldn’t help but notice the high-speed rail line was no farther along than it had been twenty years ago. Then, California was supposed to be a progressive state. Would have been first in the nation. However, nationwide, there wasn’t a single finished high-speed line to be found.

China, on the other hand, had the largest. And had only started a few years ago and was still expanding. But who wanted to live in a communist country?

Flying into San Jose, I saw that hanger one at Moffett Field had a shiny new covering. Who had done that?

Taken to the new facility, I learned as I suspected that my grandfather’s office hadn’t yet been reconstructed. In fact, there were unopened packing boxes all over the place. As the move was still ongoing.

Stopping one young man, I asked who was in charge. His reply was, “I thought you were,”

I had the strong suspicion that even when they got around to my grandfather’s office, it wouldn’t be the same as he had left it. So, what clue had been left within it? Would I find out?

While I was not fond of the puzzle factor, it was a quintessence part.

I guess loitering about with nothing to do caught the attention of somebody that was in charge.

He didn’t know me, but he did recognize the girls. So, he asked them where Mr. Wolfenstein was. They pointed to me. He looked back at me, “Mr. Wolfenstein?”

“Yes, I’m his grandson. Unfortunately, my grandfather died recently. He sent me to check a few of his holding and collect some of his things.”

“Hmm, then I expect you will want to see Stark. Mr. Wolfenstein and Stark worked closely together.”

“I’ll send a runner for him. Meanwhile ... casting about, I guess that office is as good as any other.” And he led me to it. “Sorry about the clutter. The move was thrust upon us at the last moment. It is going to take a while to get it all sorted out.”

“Yes, so I gathered down in Pasadena,” I replied.

“Oh, you been down there?”

“Yes, and I’m none too happy about it,” I answered.

“None of us here have any idea what that was all about,”

“Unfortunately, I do, and some heads will be rolling because of it.”

“Oh, here is Stark,” noticing a woman walking up to us.

The woman looking irritated, “How many do I have to tell you? It’s Doctor Stark. I’m not some underachiever BullShit (BS Bachelor of Science)” Then, turning and looking back to me, “And you must be the grandson of Mr. Wolfenstein. I’ve been waiting for you, then looking around, sorry about the mess. The move was rather short notice,” Pointedly, looking at the man with the clipboard.

Then looking about the room, “Well, at least you did something right.” Now ignoring him and turning to face me, “This was where we were planning on putting your grandfather’s office. Guess there is no need for that. now”. Again Pointedly, looking at the man with the clipboard. Dismissing him.

The man with the clipboard looked determined, “Now look here, I’m in charge here... “He never got to finish. Dr. Stark finished for him, “You were never in charge of anything. The only reason your name was put on the front door was that Mr. Wolfenstein knew you were too stupid to know about anything, you could repeat,”

“If it wasn’t for you, we would still be in Pasadena and not in this dump,”

I was starting to like this young woman already.

Without looking at the clipboard, she started flipping her hand in dismissal.

The clipboard started to make one more try, then looked at Doctor Stark’s determined face, slumped, turned, and walked away.

Dr. Stark watched him disappear, closed the door, and locked it, “Adam? Can you do something?”

Adam, “Jamming all frequencies. It’s the best I can do for now,”

Dr. Stark sighed, “Better than nothing, I suppose,” she marched to the corner of the office, moved a few boxes, and carried the last on to the desk. Sweeping everything off it, she put the box down.

I eyed at the cardboard box questionably.

She looked back to the box, then where it had been sitting, then back to the desktop, lastly at me. Then burst out laughing.

I didn’t get it. Well, at first, I didn’t. Then I started laughing as well.

Dr. Stark stated, “Putting it all in an armored car would have drawn attention to it. But, adding it to a pile of random boxes was the perfect camouflage.

“Now I supposed you will want to get on with what you came here for,”

Another keeper. I thought to myself.

“Unfortunately, I can’t demonstration to you any of the actual test results,” Dr. Stark added. “But if you will help me with this monitor, I can at least show what we been up to,”

We proceeded to unpack a two-meter 16K wireless monitor. Then we put together two office chairs. I did say they were just moving in. I saw there was a microwave, so I unpacked that. Stark went out and got some popcorn and drinks. We then sat back, “Adam, if you please,”

So started the briefing that lasted the rest of the day. I may have mentioned this before, but why do they insist on calling them briefings when they’re nothing of the sort?

When it was over, all I could say was,” Wow, a replacement for a rocket/thruster motor.” I looked over at Doctor Start, for she was the real deal, “You say there is no need for traditional fuel?”