Chapter 01: CyberFun

A very pleased Kyle Alexander leaves his last class of the week and heads to work. He just turned in a major programming project that’ll account for thirty percent of his final grade for the class and he knows he aced it. Actually, he wrote the primary program over a week ago, but no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t get it to successfully compile and run. Thankfully, this morning Ryan Kennedy, one of his closest friends and a business partner, reviewed the program then pointed Kyle to the simple error that was causing the problem. Once Kyle made the change to the program the full project ran flawlessly.

Kyle dons a light jacket while leaving the computer center because there’s a cool winter wind bringing a mild chill to the sun-warmed El Paso, Texas campus. He walks to the front entrance of the campus to turn and walk down the street three blocks then stop at the corner. With much pride Kyle looks at the building before him. Four years ago it was an old grocery store which had sat empty and in disrepair for many years. Now, with its exterior painted white and trimmed in the university’s colors of orange, blue, and silver, ’CyberFun’ is a thriving part of the lives of many of the students who live or attend classes just a few blocks away.

What makes CyberFun unique is they really understand the typical student’s short attention span, thus the business is built around the activities needed by many of the students in their daily life. In Sam’s Café a student can work the Internet over a soft drink, a regular or gourmet coffee, tea, or hot chocolate with a pastry or deli sandwich before going to the study area known as the Study Hall for a couple of hours of studying in a comfortable and quiet environment.

If and when a study break is needed there’s the ability to join other students in The Mine as well as with other distractions. The Mine is a non-alcoholic sports bar primarily focused on The Prospectors, the name of the various sports teams of the neighboring university they attend. It offers the same deli sandwiches as the coffee shop but it also features more serious food like hot wings, rib-eye steaks, shrimp, chicken, salads, and several choices of vegetables. A number of large flat-screen TVs are strategically set all around the room to enable different groups to watch the various sporting events at the same time. When a major event is broadcast several large screen sets are combined to make a video wall. This arrangement makes The Mine a very rowdy and loud place during Prospector basketball and football games. On the other hand, if The Mine isn’t what the relaxing student needs there’s The Smelter, the largest mixed gaming area in the state of Texas features everything from darts and pool to multi-player action video games. There’s even The Bunkhouse where a hammock and soft music allows tired eyes to take a break for a few minutes. By combining everything under one roof the students can move between the various activities with a minimum of effort for a maximum level of enjoyment of their time at CyberFun.

While approaching the building’s front Kyle’s eyes are drawn to the large color painting of the university’s mascot of Ol’ Sam and Mose, a prospector and his pack mule loaded with supplies. The painting almost fills the only large plate glass window left of the old grocery store, and the view causes Kyle to reflect on the past and the origins of CyberFun.

Reminiscing

Kyle grew up in El Paso, living most of his life in a house backed up to that of his grandparents, Jonas and Wanda Alexander, and just a few backyards away from his two best friends, Ryan and Kathleen Kennedy. Because of the loving nature of Kyle’s grandparents and the volatile nature of the home lives of the three friends the trio spent a significant part of their days at the house of Jonas and Wanda. It helped that Wanda also functioned as a nurturing grandmother to all three children.

Ryan, or ’Brain’ - as Kyle nicknamed him, was the oldest by eight months and Kathleen, nicknamed ’KK,’ was just over two years younger than Kyle. They weren’t only drawn together by their physical proximity but also as a result of their home lives full of discord and disrespect. The negative environment reinforced their care and concern for each other.

The three children also had an insatiable hunger to learn and this need was aided and fed by Jonas, a history professor at the university. He stimulated their interest in life in the past and he involved colleagues from other disciplines to help expand and round their young minds. Included in their education was martial art training, though Kyle’s was more extensive and more intense than the training of his two friends.

Two weeks after Kyle’s high school graduation the minor struggles and usual disharmony in his home life suddenly burst into a major problem. Robert, Kyle’s father, was promoted to CEO of the oil company where he worked, Texas State Energy (TSE). When Robert told the family of his promotion he declared the whole family, including Kyle, would move to Houston. This dictatorial decree caused immediate hostility and it ripped the family apart. Refusing to live in the hostile environment any longer and, in an act of defiance, Kyle moved his personal belongings into a spare bedroom at Jonas and Wanda’s house then he went to the nearest Army Recruitment Office and enlisted.

Robert was really out of touch with his family and he was very shocked at Kyle’s rebellion. Robert was still screaming and making threats three weeks later when he, Kyle’s mother, Charlotte, and Kyle’s two sisters, Felicia and Courtney, left El Paso for Houston.

Robert’s rants, coupled with some increased tension in the Kennedy household, tightened and strengthened the trio’s bond of friendship so much the bond held and supported Kyle through Basic and Advanced Training, and finally through jump school. Graduating at the top of his class Kyle joined the 82nd Airborne in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he became part of a scout team for the rest of his Army career.

When Kyle’s enlistment ended he infuriated his father by rejecting Robert’s plans for his future and announced he would be attending the university in El Paso instead of some esteemed Ivy League school in the east Robert wanted for him. In addition, he stood fast in his refusal to join the rest of his family in Houston to, instead, live with his now widowed Grandfather. Robert had tried to use the ’money treat’ but Kyle just laughed at him because his savings, plus his military education funds, and the free rent at his Grandfather’s was more than enough to enable Kyle to complete his education without receiving a dime from his father.

Kyle had come up with the general idea for CyberFun while at Fort Bragg and he’d told it to his friends. They also caught the vision, thus the idea began to take shape in the form of a full business plan which they refined over time. A few months prior to his discharge Kyle was home on leave. During his leave this building was discovered and the three friends approached Jonas for his opinion.

Jonas contacted Ed and Beverly Kennedy, the now divorced parents of Ryan and Kathleen, then the three of them spent an entire weekend going over the business plan while making many insightful observations and suggestions. At the end of the weekend Jonas and Ed had shocked the trio by offering to loan them the money to get the business started. Now, almost four years later, those loans are paid off and the holding company set up to hide the youngsters’ ownership in the operating LLC is flush with cash. This setup is part of Jonas’ idea to imply to the rest of the world Kyle, Kathleen, and Ryan are nothing more than trusted part-time managers and assistants to some off-site owner.

Today Again

Kyle enters the front door while shaking off his reminiscing and accepts an offered deli sandwich with a cup of his favorite coffee: a latté with fresh ground cinnamon and a dash of a black cherry liqueur. He heads to the office, throws his backpack on the couch, and sits at his desk. While slowly chewing his sandwich and sipping on the latté he reviews yesterday’s activity reports. Ten minutes later Kyle is fully transitioned from student to businessman. So he leaves the office to wander through the rest of the building while talking to employees and customers along his journey of checking how things are doing.

Two hours later a short-handed Kyle is trying to cover the front counter until more of the part-time student employees arrive after their late afternoon classes. The word ’trying’ is probably a euphemism because the place is much busier than normal for this time of day as well as being understaffed for its normal business activities at this time of day.

Someone shouting in the Study Hall is quick to get Kyle’s attention as it’s like a library, thus loud noises aren’t allowed in there. He responds to it by racing toward the sound before others are too disturbed by it.

When Kyle gets closer to the area a vaguely familiar male voice shouts in frustration, “Nadia, I can take care of myself.”

On opening the door Kyle finds a guy sitting in a wheelchair with a beautiful woman on her knees in front of the chair. Her face is turned down to the floor while she sobs in frustration and anguish. Using his normal calm approach to a crisis Kyle takes a quick look around the room while deciding on a course of action. In his scan he finds there are sixteen students trying to study and they all seem to be waiting for him to remove the distraction.

He approaches the couple to warn them to be a lot quieter or leave the room, but Kyle soon recognizes the young man in the wheelchair from his Army days in Iraq. Fortunately, before he can say anything he feels a soft feminine hand on his arm. Intuitively he realizes KK is now here and she followed him to the source of the noise. Kyle smiles when he turns to the chestnut-haired Kathleen and asks, “KK, will you take the young woman to the coffee shop and help her to calm down? While you’re helping her I’ll quietly talk to her friend to see if I can straighten this out without any further disruptions to everyone’s study time.”

After nodding her understanding KK kneels by the crying woman and comforts her until she’s able to stand. Once the girl is steady KK leads her toward the Café area in the front of the building.

Turning to the man in the wheelchair Kyle asks, “Larry Martin?”

Surprised someone knows his name Larry looks up at the young man staring down at him. Kyle’s face looks familiar but Larry just can’t place it. Not knowing anything else to say while in his current frame of mind Larry snarls, “Yeah, want to make something of it?”

“Larry, I’m Kyle Alexander. We met in Iraq. I led a patrol that took control of a bunch of prisoners you and your group captured. How about us moving out into the hall so the others can study?”

Larry nods his agreement and the pair move out into the hall, to the great relief of the others in the room. Once the door is closed Kyle sits on his heels so the two can talk softly.

In this new position Larry looks intently at Kyle’s face, and in a few seconds he recognizes Kyle. “Yeah, I remember you!” Larry says, “You led a scout team with the Eighty-Second. You had a huge black corporal named Andrews everyone called Amos.”

“Yep, that was us. He claimed they were all a bunch of racists but, inside, he knew they teased him out of respect.”

The knowledge he’s talking to a combat veteran he knows from ’the sand’ helps Larry to begin to relax. After his face visibly softens he asks, “So, what are you doing here?”

Because the three friends don’t want their ownership to be common knowledge Kyle replies, “I work here part-time, in addition to taking classes at the university. I’m a senior in Business Management.”

Larry responds, “I was able to take some correspondence and on-line courses while I was still in the Corps, so I guess I’m a junior. I’ve always had a fascination for rocks so I chose to study metallurgy and geology.”

“Larry, if I can ask, what was that outburst about earlier?”

“On my last mission I rescued Nadia from some rag-heads. She was a Russian journalist they’d kidnapped in an attempt to get ’Ivan’ to give them some Strelas. While we’re climbing into the chopper I took a bullet in the back from a guy we thought was dead. Since then she’s refused to leave my side, wanting to do everything for me. I don’t want anyone to feel sympathy for me nor do I want her to feel obligated to me.”

Note: A Strela is a Russian shoulder-launched ground-to-air missile similar in design, performance, and use to a US made FIM-92 Stinger missile.

“Hey, if I was bound to a wheelchair I can think of a lot of worse people to want to help me. Be glad she’s not a Bulgarian shot-putter.

Larry laughs at that image, “Well, I guess that’s one way to look at it. Though, at the same time, because of this injury it makes it harder ... I mean, more difficult for me.”

“I picked up on that. Does she get embarrassed at your erection?”

Larry hangs his head and mumbles something. Kyle doesn’t hear the words but from the body language he has a pretty good idea what the problem is.

In a casual manner Kyle responds, “So you’ve no feeling below the waist. What’s the prognosis?”

Surprised at how quick Kyle is to guess the real problem Larry says, “They’ve tried everything they know to reconnect the nerves, including an experimental use of stem cells. At present the results have been nothing, nada, zilch. They say if I can move my legs in a normal manner the stem cells might work. But without feeling I can’t move my legs. It’s a classic ’Catch Twenty-two’ situation.”

“Is that frustration why you were getting angry at Nadia?”

“Not completely.” Larry looks into Kyle’s eyes and confesses, “I’m afraid we’re falling in love with each other and she deserves better than to spend the rest of her life with a cripple who can’t give her sexual satisfaction or provide her with children.”

Kyle answers, “I understand your feelings. Why don’t we join Nadia and Kathleen. I need to check on a few things, so can you wait with them for a few minutes? I’ll join the three of you as soon as I can.”

Larry responds with a sad, “OK.”

At the front counter Kyle finds his part-timers have arrived and two are now covering that area while a third is working the games rooms selling tokens. Satisfied both the areas are covered Kyle makes a quick tour of the rest of the building while advising his different employees he and KK are in the café and they may be leaving early. He also reminds everyone Ryan should arrive within the next hour.

Once the tour is over Kyle joins KK, Nadia, and Larry around a table in the coffee shop. As soon as he sits down one of the waitresses brings him another latté. While he sips his drink Kyle has his first real view of Nadia. In his biased opinion she’s beautiful enough to give KK real competition as to who’s the prettiest female on campus. She’s roughly five nine and her figure looks well proportioned. It’s obvious she works out on a regular basis. Her blond hair is almost white but with streaks of gold, yellow, and brown. It’s styled in the ’just loved look’ made famous years ago by a poster of a middle level actress. Kyle begins to wonder if Larry has brain injuries as well as his back injuries.

KK asks, “What’s going on? I thought you worked until six.”

“I was supposed to but the boss says I need to take care of this.”

A concerned Larry asks, “I didn’t get you into trouble, did I?”

Kyle laughs, “No, far from it. Maybe KK and I will share more about that later. Now, would you and Nadia consider joining the two of us for a steak tonight?”

This question brings a smile with a nod of agreement from both Larry and KK but Nadia only gives Kyle a very puzzled look. Kyle immediately picks up on the lack of enthusiasm by her and he asks, “Nadia, are you a vegetarian?”

“I’m not sure. I was born on April fourth.” Nadia’s response makes KK laugh, but her laughter stops when Kyle gently rebukes her with his blue-gray eyes.

Kyle patiently explains, “Nadia, some people in this country make a choice not to eat meat. Some from religious beliefs and others out of the belief meat, especially red meat, isn’t good for you. These people are called vegetarians.”

With a sly little grin Nadia replies, “Oh, we have such people in Russia. They are called peasants.”

Kyle and the other two explode in laughter. The little Russian skunk had gotten them good.

“So you do eat meat?” asked Kyle.

“Definitely, but I don’t eat a piece of wood.”

“A piece of wood?”

“You said a stake. Is that not a piece of wood you drive into the ground as a marker?”

A smiling Larry explains, “Honey, that piece of wood is spelled S-T-A-K-E while S-T-E-A-K is a special cut of meat from the cow. It’s highly prized and very delicious.”

“Oh. I’ve had years of English in school. Do you think I will ever learn it all?”

KK replies, “Probably not. The language seems to grow, change, and evolve every day. Just look at it this way: you’ll provide us many hours of joy while you learn. You’re beautiful, yet you’ve the combination of the innocence of a little child with the mischievousness of a little puppy. In the short time I’ve spent with you this afternoon I’ve learned you’re more beautiful inside than out.”

“Thank you, KK. I can’t say it gives me a lot of hope concerning my English, but it most certainly gives me a lot of warmth in my heart. I don’t really care how intelligent I sound as long as I don’t become an embarrassment to Larry.”

The two couples talk a while longer while getting to know each other better as well as firming up plans for the evening. After discussing a few options the four agree to a meet at the Stetson and Spur, a quality steakhouse near the entrance to Fort Bliss.

After making reservations Kyle tells KK, “I’ll pick you up at eighteen forty-five and we’ll meet Larry and Nadia at nineteen ten.” He adds, “I hate to break this up, but I’ve got to take care of some things at home.”

It’s almost 17:20 hours when Kyle arrives at his grandfather’s house. When he closes the door between the garage and the kitchen he hears his grandfather call out, “Kyle, is that you?”

While heading toward his grandfather’s voice Kyle answers, “Yes, Jonas, it’s me.” After he enters his grandfather’s office he goes and sits in a comfortable chair while he asks, “How was your day?”

His grandfather, a semi-retired professor of history, replies, “I think these kids get more stupid every year. Today one even asked me why it mattered if the South seceded from the Union.”

Kyle laughs. He knows Jonas only teaches two courses now. One is European History of the Dark Ages and the other is American History through the Civil War. Though not actually part of the War itself Jonas has been known to also include the Reconstruction Period which ended in 1877. They’re both freshman classes usually being taught by a graduate student but Jonas claims he tries to open up minds which have been left virtually blank or distorted by the watered-down and biased public education system.

“So how did you answer him?”

“I suggested a minimum ten-page paper reviewing the political, military, and economic situation of Europe at the time, deciding which country would have likely been the first to attack our divided and weakened nation, and what life would be like for us today if that country had succeeded in destroying us as a nation.”

“I bet he loved that!”

“Actually, it was a she. I told her if I was pleased with her analysis I’d drop her lowest test score. I think even she thought it a good trade.” Jonas leans back in his chair and asks, “Now, how about your day?”

“I had a problem in my programming project due today but Brain quickly pointed me to a line where I branched out to get a value for a variable I hadn’t defined. This afternoon things got a little hectic at CyberFun because we had way too many customers for the number of staff on hand. If this continues we may need to add some more people.”

“Growth in a business like yours is good, though I’m going to miss our time together tomorrow.”

“I will too, Jonas, but if this paint-ball thing does take off I’ll hire someone else with a military background to run it. I’ve probably found the perfect person this afternoon but he’s bound to a wheelchair. He was a Special Forces officer I knew in Iraq.”

Jonas replies, “It sounds like he’d be good. Put some thought into a solution because people like that need to feel like they have worth, even more than the rest of us need to.”

“I’ve already seen that. He rescued a Russian journalist but ended up with a bullet in the back from a wounded terrorist / kidnapper. She’s devoted her life to taking care of him and he keeps pushing her away. Jonas, she’s one of the most beautiful women on this campus.”

“Is it Nadia Konnoff?”

“Yes. How do you know?”

“There aren’t that many Russian women on this campus and she’s in my European History class. She has a degree from Russia but wants to get another one here. She’s a delight to teach and has a great knowledge of the Cossacks and their influence on Eastern Europe, especially Russia. You’re also correct in your description; she’s a very beautiful woman.”

“Well, she and Larry Martin are falling in love with each other. Unfortunately, Larry is fighting the budding relationship because of his paralysis and he’s trying to push her away. From what he’s said he feels less than a man due to his inability to perform sexually. As a result he believes she’ll eventually despise him for not meeting her sexual needs or providing her with children. At the same time he’s falling head over heels in love with her and the conflict is driving him crazy. The result is he’s frustrated by the situation which he can’t see a clear answer for.”

“I can imagine. I know sometimes when I can’t be around MariLynn I hurt so much I can hardly stand it. Then on Crossroads I sometimes get grumpy the last few days before we have to return to Earth.”

Kyle chuckles. “I know because you usually take it out on me. I don’t mind though, because I understand. I know I’ll soon have my own Caretaker and eventually I’ll probably go through some of those same emotional struggles.”

“It wasn’t so bad when your grandmother was alive. She knew what I was doing and supported me. When I lost her to cancer I went to Crossroads because I needed comfort from Maureen. Unfortunately she sent me on a mission when I wasn’t mentally prepared and it almost got me killed. That upset her so much she resigned as a Caretaker. Afterwards I chose MariLynn as her replacement and our relationship now is much deeper than Maureen’s and mine ever was. If anything, our love for each other may be even stronger than Wanda’s and mine.”

Kyle asks, “Speaking of MariLynn, can you talk to her to see if there could be a way to help Larry, especially if he agrees to become a Hero?”

Jonas says, “Sure, I can do that.” He pauses for a moment to decide if he should say something that’s on his mind. Finally he adds, “Kyle, before you start your journey as a Hero talk to Kathleen. It’ll be good if she understands what’s going on. I suspect she’ll support your actions as a Hero, just like your grandmother did for me,.”

“My dear grandfather, KK and I are just good friends and business partners. Why would it affect her?”

“Kyle, I’ve seen you with that girl since you were six and she was four. If you two don’t love each other then there’s no love in this world. That girl was made for you.”

“Grandfather, we’ve never even dated.”

“What about the hours in your old club house, the camping trips in the mountains, and the studying martial arts together? None of those were dates?”

“No! They weren’t dates.”

“What are you doing this evening?”

“Kathleen and I are taking Larry and Nadia out to dinner.”

“And that’s not a date?”

An exasperated Kyle answers, “No, Jonas, it’s not a date!”

Jonas smiles at his grandson and asks, “Does she know that?”

At this point Kyle realizes this conversation isn’t going anywhere so he just ignores the question by saying, “I’ve got to get my shower and get ready. Will you be up when I get home?”

“I doubt it, because I want to be as rested as possible before I go to Crossroads and Chaos in the morning. I don’t know how many more of these trips I’ll be able to make. I know it’ll be hard on both MariLynn and I when they stop, but I want to die here, not on some unknown backward planet. This family, other than you, may not be worth much, but I feel they’re at least due that amount of respect.”

Kyle responds, “I probably won’t see you in the morning, either. The first group is due at the battle-ground at oh eight thirty and we need to be set up before they get there. Brain and I are planning to meet at the shop at oh six thirty. I’ll definitely miss our time tomorrow though, as it’ll be the first mission I’ve skipped since I left the Army.”

“I’ll miss our time together as well. You’ve worked hard and have been a very good student. You’ll soon take your place as a Hero, though I’m hoping for one more trip together with you as my Companion.”

After a short pause Jonas adds, “Kyle, if something does happen to me you know where most everything is hidden. My will is designed to keep the sharks off you but be prepared if any of them, especially my sister, Lucille, smells any money to be grabbed. Just keep your cool while you use your mind and the tools I’ve given you, and you’ll be fine.”

Kyle sits back down. He knows he’ll be late but feels the importance of the conversation.

“Jonas, you sound more concerned than normal. Is there anything I should know?”

“Do you remember meeting Gerald Jones?”

“Sure, we met on several of our trips to Chaos.”

“Gerald and I have also known one another here on earth. He passed away a few months ago. Because of our respect for each other, and the similarities of our families, we modeled our wills and instructions to our individual attorneys after each others documents. We both wanted to protect and preserve our portals, with the biggest difference being his nephew, Sid, knew nothing about Cassandra, Crossroads, or Chaos prior to Gerald’s death.”

“OK, that makes sense. You want me to have the house to protect the Portal and are using the rest of your assets to make sure your wishes are carried out.”

Jonas nods as he answers, “Kyle, my boy, if I had my way you’d get everything. Unfortunately, if I did that Lucille and Robert would have my estate tied up in court so long your beard would be below your knees before you ever went through the Portal. You should be aware there are some surprises which are outside of my attorney’s knowledge. They need to stay well hidden for a while, but, at the right time, a close friend will reveal them to you. My attorney, Stanley Patterson, has two life insurance policies showing you as the owner and the beneficiary, which leaves them entirely out of the estate. I’ve also arranged for the University to provide tuition and books for you, your future wife, plus your children, and this will even cover grad school, if you desire. With the insurance, the covered education expenses, this house, and your thriving business you should have a good start on the rest of your life.”

A stunned Kyle replies, “Jonas, I have to say I hope it’s a long time before any of that becomes relevant, but thank you for what you’re doing. You’re correct, I should have a good start, but I’d rather have you around for another thirty or forty years.”

“Kyle, without Wanda or MariLynn those would be miserable years.”

“I understand, Jonas. Is there anything else?” asks an emotional Kyle.

“Any other thoughts and directions will be in the hidden safe, but I suggest you keep as much money as you can in the corporation for a while. Stanley was very careful as to how he structured the CyberFun Corporation so let him tell you how to take money out without calling attention to it or burdening you with excessive taxes. From what your mother has said your family thinks you’re barely making ends meet, so it’ll probably be a good idea to let them keep thinking that way. I sure haven’t said anything to correct that impression.”

Close to tears Kyle says, “Jonas, I’ll definitely follow your directions and advice, but I guess I’d better get busy. I’m going to be late, as it is.”

Kyle goes to his room and carefully picks out his clothes for the evening. To his surprise he realizes he’s unconsciously considering each item according to what KK will think of them. He considers this for a few minutes before he shakes off the thought and enters the attached bathroom to shower and shave, then to the bedroom to get dressed.

In fifteen minutes Kyle finishes getting ready and he takes a final look in the long mirror behind his bedroom door. The sandy headed image before him reminds Kyle how little he’s changed since he returned to civilian life. Though his hair is somewhat longer, he’s still the same fit six foot, one seventy five pounds, and there doesn’t seem to be an ounce of fat anywhere on his body. Of course, between his walking around campus, his practice and training at the Dojo, plus his sword practice with Jonas his superb physical condition actually isn’t very surprising.

Chapter 2 »