Chapter 9

Waking up early on Monday, I showered, dressed, and carried my bags downstairs. After breakfast, I took my vitamins and protein drink, took out sandwich baggies, and put enough vitamins and protein powder in two baggies for the week. My ride arrived 10 minutes later, and we were off to the airport. I was surprised we went to a different side of the airport and drove up a gate. The driver’s ID was checked, and we drove to a hangar with a small jet. I carried my bags to the plane, went inside, and sat down. The co-pilot put my bag away, leaving my carry-on, and said put on your seat belt. We’re leaving soon, shut the door, taxied to the runway, and took off.

This plane felt more solid than the commercial plane Mom and I took to South Carolina. The pilot said the flight was five and a half hours. Food and drink and the restroom are at the rear of the plane. I enjoyed the ride, so I got up and checked everything out. It was compact and efficient, and I used the restroom, got a drink and snack, and opened my laptop. Next, I needed to beef up my security on the laptop and tablet. So, I built a program that called my phone when the wrong code was entered into the devices. It would show who was hacking, and it recorded onto the device. When I finished, I thought about home.

Our home was a scientific, agricultural, and mineral-producing planet. As such, we had almost no defenses because the government believed we offered no strategic value. As a result, we had only minimum defenses, two spaceports, and shuttles running between them. We relied on the planetary group we belonged to for protection. We never saw spacecraft other than people movers and cargo ships unless we visited other planets. I saw some working with Dad as he designed circuit boards for systems on those defense crafts. They were highly classified, and Dad warned me never to discuss what I saw in his lab. This jet reminded me of the size of the fighter spacecraft deployed during the battle from larger spaceships. The pilot brought me out of my memories, saying we were landing in 15 minutes. Put your things away and buckle up.

The plane landed and taxied to a hangar where an SUV was waiting. I was then taken to a high-security complex that looked like a small college campus and dropped off at the main building. Sam Barton came out and greeted me and asked what I thought of the campus. He laughed when I said nice security. Is it meant to keep people out or in? He said out mostly but occasionally inside because we get sleeper agents to slip through our background checks and try to gather intel. Next, Sam introduced me to Robert Stewart, the campus director, and reviewed what I would be taught this week.

They took me to the dorms and showed me my room, where I put my things, and then I was taken to get my ID lanyard. I asked Mr. Stewart how I tested out of self-defense and got weapons training. He said by putting the instructor on the mat, and I said okay if only the instructor and an observer. They stop and look at me, and I tell them I have a dojo at my house. I practice four times a week with a heavy bag. A man walks up behind me, and I spin around and knock him out with a kick. I asked Mr. Barton to get me a ride back to the airport and went to my room to get my bags. Mr. Barton comes in and asks me to settle down. The director made a mistake, and I said a grievous error.

I said look, Mr. Barton, I agreed to this with the understanding it would be discrete. Being here causes enough attention without pulling a stunt like that in open view. If I decide to stay, all my files will be destroyed, and my training will be done privately. And the story is you’re placating some high-ranking diplomat by babysitting his son. Mr. Barton said fuck me, your right. It was handled totally wrong. Get some dinner, and I’ll straighten out Robert Stewart and left. So that’s what I did, then called Mom and told her a bullshit story about my day.

I asked if I had interrupted something, and she laughed, saying, NO. But you were partially right about my trainer. She has a reputation for over-coaching to make more money and fights with her girlfriend constantly. I said somewhat, right? It sounds like I hit a home run on that one, Mom. Mom laughed and said I’d changed trainers so it won’t be a problem anymore. I said good, and remember, my magic foot is only a phone call away. I said Love you and goodnight and hung up, hearing Mom laughing. I went to bed and fell asleep but did not sleep, more like resting or meditating. I was aware of my surroundings, and sometime later, I sensed someone evil walking down the hall.

Quickly getting out of bed, I dressed, waited for him to pass my room, and followed. He went to the administration office, picked the lock, turned on a small flashlight, and entered. I waited a few minutes, followed, and he picked the lock on a file cabinet and went through the files. I ran toward him, jumped in the air, and kicked the file drawer closed, pinning his hands in the closed file drawer. The loud bang of the file drawer slamming shut and his screaming brought attention to the area, so I quickly left and went back to bed.

Waking up early Tuesday, exercised, practiced my huku, sensed the area, and took off running to a running track and ran several laps, keeping a steady speed and stride. When I reached my endpoint, I increased my pace back to my room. After stretching, I showered, dressed, took my vitamins and a protein drink, then went to the canteen for breakfast.

That’s where Sam Barton found me and brought his breakfast tray. Sipping his coffee, he said we had some excitement late last night. It seems an instructor got his hands pinned into a closed personal file cabinet drawer. He wasn’t supposed to have access to the area, and it caused quite a shitstorm. The drawer was jammed shut and couldn’t be opened, so security called the fire department. They sedated the instructor to shut him up and assess the situation. The instructor had a camera, flashlight, and lock picks, so he was a spy collecting information to sell. The fire department had to cut the file cabinet into pieces with a saw to free his hands. Then, he was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery.

Then Mr. Barton asked what I did last night, smiling. He said, no one, but Mr. Stewart, the Director, and I know it was you. They wanted to give you a metal, and I said to keep him supplied with spy toys instead. A metal would blow your cover, so it was ruled out, and they agreed to my idea. The director asked me to pass on his thanks for providing them with an open and shut case, and we laughed.

In my first class, I was assigned Eagle as a call sign. Then, we spent the rest of the day coding and decoding texts and emails. A short text would notify me that an email awaited me. Next, we had lunch delivered and then practiced passing and picking up messages from agents in the field. Finally, I was given a phone number to memorize and a series of words to say if I was in trouble. The training ended at 7 pm, so I went to the canteen for dinner and then to my room. I called Mom, told her about my acting classes, and then went to bed. I fell asleep immediately; the thumping started again, and the soothing feeling spread throughout my body. When it stopped, I drifted into a deep sleep.

I awoke early, exercised, practiced my huku, sensed the area, went to the gym and did a light workout, returned, and did my yoga. Then I showered, dressed, took my vitamins and a protein drink, and went to the canteen for breakfast. After breakfast, I went to the gun range and spent the first half of the day learning about the five most popular semi-automatic handguns and revolvers. I was taught how to disassemble, clean, assemble, dispose of, and disable. Then we ate lunch, and I learned to stand, load, fire, and speed reload all the weapons. They stressed counting your shots and picking up your brass. We finished at 7 pm again, so I ate dinner, called Mom, and went to bed. I fell asleep immediately; the thumping started again, and the soothing feeling spread throughout my body. When it stopped, I drifted into a deep sleep.

Waking early Thursday, I exercised, practiced my huku, sensed the area, took off running to a running track, and ran several laps, keeping a steady speed and stride. When I reached my endpoint, I increased my pace back to my room. After stretching, I showered, dressed, took my vitamins and a protein drink, then went to the canteen for breakfast.

After breakfast, I went to a room the size of a small banquet hall and spent the day learning spycraft. First was lock picks and how to use them unnoticed. I practiced on a few locks, then was given a complete set, a pocket set, and two books to take home and read. They stressed practice and home to master the skill. We ate lunch, and then I was introduced to disguises. I was taught how to use them and the small things I could carry to change my appearance to disappear quickly.

They gave me a kit of items that work best for me to use in the field. We finished at 6 pm, so I ate dinner, called Mom, and went to bed. I fell asleep immediately; the thumping started again, and the soothing feeling spread throughout my body. When it stopped, I drifted into a deep sleep.

I awoke early Friday, exercised, practiced my huku, sensed the area, went to the gym and did a light workout, returned, and did my yoga. Then I showered, dressed, took my vitamins and a protein drink, and went to the canteen for breakfast. After breakfast, I went to the same room as yesterday. Today was the last day, a short session because of the flight home.

The lesson focused on being aware of my surroundings and ways to check if I’m being followed. Reflections in glass frequently stop and change direction. Then, there are ways to lose the tail or lure them into an unexpected confrontation. Also, never look directly at the tail, giving them notice you are aware of them. It could raise the situation to a new level. Finally, they would send retired agents to work with me at home and on the road during tournaments. Sam Barton was joining me for the flight home, so we grabbed our bags and my goodies and headed to the airport.

Mr. Barton saw my login on my laptop and got excited. I told him it wasn’t a program that could be loaded onto a computer. Because it was in front of Windows, there was a process to get it in place and working. I would have to program each one, and then you could change the login code after I’m done. It took me weeks to figure it out and make it work, so I’m not training someone to sell it to the highest bidder. And, like at the training camp, keep me out of the line of fire. Give me yours, and I’ll program it for you, and you set the code. Remember to keep me clean, or all hell will break loose with Mom.

When we landed, Sam Barton had his high-security laptop working and agreed new computers were the way to go. He was also aware he would be watched once it was introduced to find out who did the work and bypass him. Mr. Barton had a golf cart, and he drove to the main terminal and got me through security. I exited the American Airlines terminal as I had just arrived on their flight. Mom waited at the curb, loaded my bags, and took off for home. We stopped for Chinese takeout on the way home. I put my bags in my room and returned to the kitchen.

We ate and caught up on our lives. I asked about her old trainer, and Mom said she was pissed to lose her. Then she asked me about my classes, and Mr. Barton provided me with a script to go off, so I answered her questions satisfactorily. I told her I missed her and was glad to be home again, which was true. Then I asked if anything new happened with the movies, modeling, or commercials while I was gone.

Andrew Finkleman wants us to call him tomorrow afternoon. He said Sony called and said their ad was a success. Titleist, Callaway, and FootJoy all want ads for Japan. They are in the market and want to increase sales, but the issue of shooting commercials here needed research. David Brooks said shooting them here could be an issue with the NCAA and their sponsorship. His company’s lawyers are looking into it, but he recommended shooting them outside the US to be safe. A perfect opportunity would be after a tournament like New York or Miami. We could fly to Canada or the Bahamas easily and do the shoot. Then, any gray area would go away, and Mr. Fikleman agreed.

And Mr. Tanicka called, and we had a nice conversation. Also, we are invited for dinner on Tuesday in a private room again. So, I said wow, Mom, you’ve been busy while I’ve been gone. Then I asked if the new suits would be ready or if I dress business casual. Mom said we’d stop by tomorrow after lunch and ensure at least one is ready. We finished dinner, watched TV for an hour, hugged goodnight, and went to bed. I fell asleep immediately; the thumping started again, and the soothing feeling spread throughout my body. When it stopped, I drifted into a deep sleep.

Waking up early on Saturday, I exercised, practiced my huku, sensed the area, grabbed my walking staff, and took off running my route, keeping a steady speed and stride. When I reached my turnaround point, I increased my pace on the way home. After stretching, I showered, dressed, went to the kitchen for breakfast, vitamins, and a protein drink, and then drove the golf cart to the practice range. I warmed up, went out alone, and was happy I did. It had been five days, and I wanted to take it easy and shoot a two under par.

When I parked in the garage, I saw boxes from Titleist, Callaway, and FootJoy. I brought the clothes and shoes into the kitchen, and Mom said she had forgotten about them. I said it didn’t matter because I was gone all week anyway. I just brought them in to get them washed, that is all. The clubs I try out tomorrow on the practice range. Today, I took it easy, not having played in a week. We ate lunch and then went to the mall.

The suits were ready, but the tux wasn’t yet, which was fine. Everything fit perfectly, so I put them in the SUV, met Mom outside the tailor shop, and went shopping. She hadn’t shopped since I left, and the stores missed her. Mom said the stores are between seasons, and the new clothes haven’t arrived yet. The only things she bought were on sale.