Chapter 29A

Wednesday Morning Continues... It's just part of another long day in the Program...

Back to the old grind. Too many girls! Too damned much goin' on! What the Hell is next!?

He sat there and was soon surrounded by the three girls who knew that he knew that he'd fucked them.

Well, Don fucked 'em. And then he fucked up out of some feeling about havin' done something wrong. Well, maybe...

And out of the corner of his eye he tracked the lithe figure of the little black girl who'd been Don's last lover before his accident.

Damn! Who would ever have thought that such a small girl who looks like she couldn't have reached puberty could do such things!?

He reviewed what he'd learned from his recall of Don's memories and calmly sat there while considering how he might bring it up with Tasha.

His ruminations regarding Tasha were interrupted. Susie leaned into him. She whispered. "What happened after we left?"

"Not much. We found more weapons. And there were drugs. The DEA and ATF are headed here. No bunch of kids should have access to that kind of firepower. I'm thinkin' that the car probably belongs to the father. Maybe he's a drug dealer or something. Their house was found abandoned and cleaned out. Nothing, and I do mean nothing — would surprise me!"

Susie just looked into his eyes and nodded. She seemed to be about to say something else but looked at Cindy and Donna and just shook her head. She instead took her seat.

An' what the hell was that about?

Then he remembered that Dr. Prescott had fainted. "Oh! Principal Prescott fainted or maybe had a heart attack or stroke. He was taken to the hospital."

Several students nearby heard that and there were collective expressions of surprise and shock. Those kids started talking and Don was questioned by the girls along with Vince and Abe. No one even noticed when Bart Johnson exited his office. Only Dan was paying attention to things in that direction and noticed the Command Sergeant Major approaching.

He looked up and saw an inquisitive expression on the temporary teacher's face.

He decided to lay things out for everyone to hear. "Sergeant Major Johnson — Dr. Prescott was taken to the hospital during the first period. He either fainted or suffered a stroke, I think. Mr. Mullins is here and making sure that things are running smoothly. I left the front office as he was taking charge of things."

Bart Johnson's face got a bit expressive. "Whoa, Don! What happened!? Do you know why Dr. Prescott fainted or whatever?"

"Yeah. I know what happened. It has to do with those four guys who attacked us yesterday. I had noticed one of them watching me and I recognized his car out in the student parking lot. I told Corporal Littleton about the car. The detective that we met yesterday had the keys to it and came over with Captain Thomas to have a look at it. We found guns and drugs in it. Several of the weapons were fully automatic sub-machineguns. After Dr. Prescott had seen both the drugs and the weapons and I mentioned that there might be a drugs for guns trade happening he just fell over."

There were more gasps and some shouts from the kids in the classroom. The finding of a possible drugs for guns ring and the news of their principal having passed out represented a shocking experience for many of the students.

Dan described the situation and how he had helped to support the falling Principal. He went further and described how Dr. Prescott had been taken away by an ambulance. As he finished that he noticed that there were many kids with huge, round eyes staring at him in reaction to his news.

Bart Johnson looked both surprised and concerned. He frowned for a moment in thought. He seemed to change gears. "Don. You mentioned automatic weapons. Do you know what kinds of weapons were found?"

"Yeah. There was a Czech Skorpion. Then, there was a Beretta Model 12. And there was a weird Argentine FMK3. Plus, there was a Micro Uzi. And there was a Beretta machine pistol. That was a Model 93R, I believe. Those were just the ones we found in the passenger compartment. All five of them were 9mm Parabellum and selective fire capable."

Bart's eyebrows had climbed up on his forehead. "Don, how do you know that's what those weapons were?"

"Small Arms of the World. I memorized some portions of it while I was recovering from my injuries earlier this Summer. I couldn't do very much for days on end and I just decided to study several topics. Military small arms was one of the things I learned really well." He managed half of a grin and shrug of his shoulders.

What a bunch of lies I've come to perfect the tellin' of...

"Really? You know those weapons types?"

"Yeah. There was even an Italian Spectre sub-machinegun in the trunk. You know, the one with that innovative four column magazine." Dan knew that the Command Sergeant Major was familiar with the weapon because they'd discussed its functioning on the range one day while being familiarized with a group of unusual weapons designs. The then Sergeant and then Lt. Colonel had also handled and fired the weapon. He still recalled that discussion, since that weapon had been so unusual with its quite unique 50-round magazine.

Bart looked off out the window of the classroom for a moment. He spoke to the class. "All of you be good and don't do anything crazy while I make a telephone call. Mr. Nichols is in charge of the class while I'm in my office." And with that the CSM retreated to his office and closed the door.

Dan knew that Bart had been in the Delta Force with him some ten years earlier. He figured that he was calling in to report on learning of something unusual.

Yeah! And ducks waddle 'n quack.

Dan realized that that the teacher in Bart had forgotten about the need to ask program participants if they needed relief. He got up and limped up to turn around and face the class. "First things first. I don't need any relief. I'm just a bit too sore for anything like that." He turned to his program partner Cindy Richards. "Cindy, do you need relief?"

"Did what you just said mean that you don't feel like giving relief?" Cindy looked at him with what could only be an imploring sort of an appeal.

"Yeah. I'm especially not willing to have the left side of my face touched today. And this leg is still bothering me." He pointed to his lower left thigh and the discolored, swollen area on it.

"OK. Then I'm not interested in any relief." Cindy was clearly disappointed in his response. It showed on her face. Donna and Susie were giving slight looks of disapproval or displeasure.

Dan couldn't do anything about that, just then. He didn't really want to think about having an orgasming girl squeeze his injured face between her thighs.

"Well, since I'm leading this history class — has anyone in the class besides me ever heard of the Revolutionary War Battle of Cowpens?"

That question got some snorts and protests regarding the subject matter from the class.

Since no one had, he then entered into a description of the three-layered battlefield trap that Brigadier General Daniel Morgan had laid out for Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton in January of 1781 at a cow pasture in the northern part of South Carolina. Dan went on to mention that their County and the county seat were obviously named for the Revolutionary War hero. Dan talked about how Lord Cornwallis had ended up surrendering to General George Washington at Yorktown was due in part to what Dan Morgan had done to Cornwallis' light troops. He expanded his commentary to include the entire situation in the southern colonies as they strove to establish themselves as sovereign states. He hobbled around to the marker board and showed the class what had happened in the upstate of South Carolina leading up to the climactic struggle of arms early on the morning of January 17, 1781.

He described the actions of the rifle-toting militia skirmishers from Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and the "Over Mountain" men from what was to become Tennessee. And he really got into detailing the fight of the "Continental Line" troops from Virginia and Maryland who had destroyed the charge of the Scots Highlanders. He spoke of the "Grasshoppers" — the small cannon employed by the British during the battle.

And he went on to describe the capture, wounding, or killing of nearly the entire force of British Regulars under the command of 'Bloody Tarleton'.

He continued with this for a while and when Bart exited his office he received a signal to continue with his description of the South Carolina and North Carolina campaign that led to the ruination of Cornwallis' army and the eventual failure of the Southern Strategy employed by the British. Once a historian, always a historian — Dan had to think.

Tasha and Susie seemed to be eating up everything he said. In fact, the majority of the class seemed to be fascinated as he detailed things that had happened nearly 230 years in their past.

He eventually wound down and looked to Bart Johnson. The CSM was smiling. "Thank you, Mr. Nichols. I think we all know at least one topic you read about while you were recovering from your injuries this Summer."

The class laughed and applauded Dan's efforts.

Dan managed to bow a bit in acknowledgement of the accolades being directed his way.

Bart Johnson wasn't finished. "So, Don. What will you lecture the next time I need you to fill in for me?" He was joking, of course. He was only a temporary substitute, himself.

Dan allowed a snort to escape Don's nostrils. "How about Leonidas and the 300 Spartiates at the 'Hot Gates'. That's a story of resolve in the face of overwhelming force. What happened afterwards was a just outcome for the invading force, if not the invading 'King of Kings'."

Bart nodded. "Yeah, that would be a good one to tell. Political will and statesmanship mixed up with intrigue and huge battles of epic dimensions. Why don't you go ahead and have that lecture ready for use in case anything else comes up."

Dan allowed another of his half-grins to form. "No need. I keep ol' Miltiades, Themistocles and Pausanias straight in my head. Marathon, Artemisium, Thermopylae, Salamis, and Platea really caught my attention the first time I read about them."

Lots of confused expressions followed his listing of those ancient Hellenic names of known Strategos and battle sites.

Bart just laughed. He appreciated the appreciation of another student of History.

The class ended shortly with CSM Johnson giving them a set of instructions regarding what they needed to be reading.

The students filed out of the classroom with Dan practically surrounded by an escort of Don's girlfriends. Abe and Vince tagged along, also. They also had their Biology class along with the other five who preceded them in their progress along the hallway.

As they passed along through the hall some guys were looking at Cindy as if they wanted to make use of a reasonable request (or two,... or three) with her. However, they also paid close attention to the figure of Don limping alongside her and simply dropped the idea.

And girls who were taking in the sight of Don's naked body were not failing to notice his escort of four classmates. That one was naked and a partner in the program was not unexpected.

They all went by their lockers. As he again switched out part of his load from his bookbag Dan was greeted by the trio of Antonio, Ceasar, and Miguel. They exchanged a few comments before he closed his locker and waved a goodbye. He turned around and searched for Tasha. He needed to speak to her before lunch. He really wanted to pull her aside during the lunch period and have a serious discussion with her.

He didn't get a chance as kids came up and started asking him about what had been found in the car out in the parking lot. And others had begun to hear about how Dr. Prescott had been taken away to the hospital. The only thing that saved him from the mob of questioners was the intervention of Mitch Littleton.

Corporal Littleton had been returning to the main school building when he encountered what appeared to be a mob of students gathered around some attraction. In the midst of the crowd he'd been able to make out the taller than average figure of his old best friend's nephew. He wasn't sure what was going on but he decided to intervene, as he could guess what was happening. He employed the Public Address function of his radio system and addressed the crowd surrounding poor Don.

Mitch got the attention of the crowd and announced that a vehicle in the student parking lot had been found to contain illegal contraband. He then mentioned that their Principal had suffered a seizure or perhaps fainted when he'd observed the discovery of some of the things that had been found. He'd been transported to the hospital and was now conscious. He was going to be there for further tests and observation for at least the remainder of the day.

As Mitch finished the crowd of kids turned to one another and began talking amongst themselves rather than questioning the naked figure of Don. Mitch worked his way through the crowd until he arrived at Don's side. "Don, are you OK?"

"Yeah, Mitch. Mr. Mullins had to save me from those damned program officials. That woman who seems to be in charge doesn't seem to understand warnings about not bothering me. She saw us and was immediately ordering me into some office to be questioned." Dan shook Don's head at his memory of that last confrontation.

"I already heard about it, Don. Chad reported that incident to the Department. We're gonna be watching for things that she might try, even though she's been warned twice."

Dan nodded. "OK. But, I won't be surprised if she tries it again."

"Yeah, I understand that." Mitch agreed.

Dan leaned in close to Mitch. "Anything new? About the car and its contents, I mean?"

Mitch grinned and leaned down to whisper in Don's ear. "Yeah. Both BATF & DEA are headed this way. The drugs alone wouldn't have brought out DEA. But all of those weapons got the ball rolling. Then, too — I think having your Dad call into someone he knows likely prompted a response. Henry was involved in a couple of really significant operations and when he reports something to his old pals then things kinda tend to happen. Don, your IDing of those weapons probably has gotten a whole slew of responses into gear."

Dan realized he'd done it again.

I gotta stop being so damned effective as myself! I'm gonna end up bein' a subject of somebody's research project if I don't quit being so damned observant and informative.

He was saved by the bell. "I gotta get to my next class, Mitch."

"Right, Sneak." Mitch grinned along with his usage of that nickname.

Dan got Don's body into gear alongside the several girls and guys who were also headed for Jack Robbins' Biology class. As he entered the class the last bell was ringing. The nude figure of their Biology teacher raised his eyebrows as he observed their group enter the room together and doing so late. "What's up? I haven't seen any of you arriving late so far this year. And now all of you are show up at the last bell. Something's happening, isn't it?"

The entire group looked to Don to answer as they moved to take their seats. Dan answered Jack Robbins' question. "Yeah, it's a follow-up to yesterday's attack." He proceeded to tell the teacher and the rest of the class about what had been found in the vehicle of his 'watcher'. He mentioned the weapons and the drugs. He described the reaction of Dr. Prescott. Only about a third of the Biology class had been in History, so there were more shocked responses.

And the teacher was seemingly just as shocked as his students when Dan finished describing what he'd observed. Dan thought about those two program officials again and instead of taking his seat walked over towards Jack Robbins' office. He felt that he should warn the teacher of what had nearly happened to him earlier in the morning.

Jack realized that Don must have something to tell him as he turned around and walked over to his office. As he turned away from the class the kids discussed what they'd just learned from Don. He found the boy waiting in the office and closed the door behind his back. "What is it, Don?"

"Those two who came to my house last night tried to grab me again. Mr. Mullins threatened to have them arrested if they bothered me. So, two officers are going to stay at the school while they're here. And the officers were instructed to protect the students from those two. I know you're some sort of supporter or something like that for the program, but that woman is throwing around her program authority like she owns the world. Maybe you ought to watch out for her. She just might try anything, I think."

Jack Robbins nodded upon hearing what Dan told him. "OK, Don. I can see your concerns. I'll keep that in mind. Although, if she orders me do something that fits into a part of the overall program — then I'll have to follow her orders. I'm obliged to respond to program officials' instructions. Hopefully, nothing more will come of their presence here."

"Right. Don't count on that. She seems real persistent. Crazily dedicated kinda describes her real well, I think."

"OK. Let's get back to the class."

"Sure." They reentered the room. The class had continued discussing the news. He noted that four girls and two guys were paying particular attention to him. He shrugged and gave them a half-way grin. All of Don's friends relaxed seeing that he was unconcerned. Dan sat down in Don's seat.

Jack Robinson called the class to order and began teaching a new topic for the remainder of the first program week. He'd promised to do that for poor beleaguered Don.

The class was about five minutes short of ending when the phone in Mr. Robbins' office began ringing. He stopped his discussion of the basic concepts and notions of Darwinian evolutionary theory and headed over to his office. Dan had taken graduate coursework in both Palaeoanthropology and Archaeology as part of his grounding in his studies of History. He'd been wondering what the current status of Homo ergaster had become in this alternate reality. He thought that he should check about whether the Georgian hominine fossils from Dmanisi had been found. In his prior life he'd kept up on the topic as best as possible even if it wasn't a part of his later vocation as an academic Historian. However, things were just different enough in this world he found himself in. Those discoveries might not have been found in this reality. It was a pleasant diversion from his recent worries. The general topic of evolutionary theory was something he had a good foundation in. He had been gliding along on another plane of thought when the call came in.

He continued pondering these exotic topical matters as the teacher picked up on the internal line and listened to whatever was being said. Dan had a view of him and watched as the naked Biology teacher flinched and even seemed to pale. On seeing this reaction Dan automatically reached up to Abe's 'timepiece' hanging around Don's neck and held down the little green button for over a second.

Is someone threatenin' him? Or, has something else happened?

"Alright. I understand. Yes, I'll do it. But, be advised that if anything amiss arises from this I'm going to make it plain to anyone who asks that you threatened me with dismissal unless I complied with your instructions." Dan listened to this and began to form a notion of what might be happening. And he hoped that Abe's timepiece was sensitive enough to capture and record what the teacher had said.

Jack Robbins hung his office phone and stepped back into his classroom. He did not look happy. He looked over the room full of students and then focused in upon young Tasha Thomas. "Miss Thomas, you're in charge of the class until the bell." He sighed upon completing that simple statement.

Dan knew it was coming. The naked teacher turned his attention to the naked boy known to him as Don Nichols.

"Mr. Nichols. You and I are required in the school offices. Apparently, there's someone there who wants to speak to you." The naked Biology teacher was frowning as he related that message.

Susie and Tasha were suddenly standing and looking furious. "What the Hell is this!? That FBI agent told them to stay away from Don last night! You were there! You heard what was said! Why are you doing this!?" Dan had never heard Susie speak that way. She sounded a lot more like Tasha than herself! He caught the expressions of others in the class as they caught the meaning of her statement regarding involvement of the FBI.

The teacher shrugged. "Better me to take him to the questioning than have them send someone else." Then, he smiled ever so slightly. "At least with me Don can be assured that I won't even think of trying anything against him. Let the uninitiated find out about him with me being his honest, uninvolved witness." His slight smile then grew a bit into a flowing shrugging of his shoulders. It was a somewhat comical, Chaplainesque movement that appeared quite incongruous on his naked frame.

Suddenly, Tasha burst out in laughter. Susie turned around in apparent surprise. But then, she started laughing, too. Dan thought about it and then he too was grinning, even though it hurt to do so.

Oh well, it's worth it. Maybe if I keep having reasons to smile I'll be able to ignore this damned injury that sonnabitch laid on me. Then, too — maybe I can even forget some bit of this damned craziness.

He looked at Donna and Cindy and found them frowning.

"I think I'll be OK. Janet's father gave instructions that I wasn't to be bothered. Maybe this is simply something new and requiring my input." He didn't really believe that for a moment. But, he had to tell the girls something.

He glanced around the class and noticed Abe tapping his chest. Dan looked him in the eyes and nodded. He'd remember to keep on recording with that little 'timepiece'.

He turned to Susie and found Tasha joining them. He whispered to Susie. "If anything happens to me, then you and Jan find those two who came by the house last night. Teach 'em a lesson they can't remember..." His lop-sided smile was hard.

Tasha made her own contribution. "I'm in! I was there! And Daddy taught me how handle those kinds of things. Susie! Don't you two leave me behind!" She whispered into his ear. "I know you don't remember it, but our fathers taught me how to use that silenced Ruger in your closet. If anything happens to you I'll find that bitch and her buddy. I'll hunt 'em down and put an Aquila 60-grain bullet through one each of their eyeballs! Do you understand me, Don!?"

HOLY SHIT! Tasha knows about the silenced 10-22!? And she knows how to use it!?

Dan pulled back from the young girl. She was just full of damned surprises! He gave it a moment of thought.

Time to tell her? Yeah. Might as well do so. She's practically screaming her love or lust for Don!

Tasha watched as an odd play of emotions crossed over Don's eyes.

He leaned into her and whispered his own message. "I understand, Tasha. I also remember some things from this past Spring. I know who I was with after Cheryl moved away. I'm surprised but not displeased. Just surprised. We need to talk. Please don't surprise me any more. At least, not that way. You've gotta tell me everything." He drew back and smiled at her.

Tasha's eyes grew big at what had been inferred. She watched as Don gave her a subtle nod and wink of his good eye. He turned to Susie and pulled her head close.