Solomon's Private File #66
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 15 in this story, in the Winter of 2041-2042.
Solomon's Private File #66 "Texas Standoff"
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There was an armed standoff in Texas. Militia Survivalist compound.
They were also making and selling drugs. Wanted on other charges as
well. I ported to the nearby forward command post. I asked to speak to
the person in charge. I was told to get lost. I said, "I am unable to
get lost. I always know where I am." One whispered to another, "I
recognize him. That's Solomon." I said to him, "I heard that. Proof
that I'm who you said I am? Keep it out of the news now. They can get
that inside." He nodded, and motioned me to go with him. Inside a tent,
he said to the person who was obviously in charge, "Captain, there is
somebody important to see you." He said, "Who?" The sergeant said,
"Solomon." I said to the sergeant, "He's staring at me. Should I give
him something REALLY strange to look at?" He tried not to grin, and
said, "Best you don't." I said, "Aww." More smiles around.
The Captain said, "I recognize you, strange humor aside. What can you
do to help this situation?" I said, "Practically anything, but there
are issues. Children. I won't do anything that will scare them more
than they already are." He said, "I appreciate your concern. You've
already scouted the place. Tell us?" I said, "First, they have two very
unstable drug labs there. Could blow at any time. One man has a deadman
switch to some very nasty bombs. They have enough firearms and other
military equipment to make a third world government very envious. And
they are, pretty much, absolutely nuts, if you'll pardon the non
professional preliminary diagnosis." He almost smiled.
I said, "I could fix all this in an instant, but you would lose all
the evidence. I do NOT want them out in the world for one second! And
if you bust in there, even if I disable all the weapons, the way you
look, you'll scare the kids half to death, and the effects of that
could last a lifetime. I just won't let that happen." He said, "Branch
Davidian. We do NOT want a repeat of that, EVER!" I said, "Good. We're
on the same wavelength. I'm starting. All their ammunition won't fire.
Explosives have no fuses and primers. Oh, and I'm documenting this in a
file for evidence. The Labs are shielded now." I ported some substances
to a table. I said, "These are samples from the labs, and the memory
card has files which show the source of them. Here's a pile of the
fuses and primers. I'm not giving you the powder from the rounds.
They've already fired shots at you, so you have proof that their
weapons could work before I arrived." He nodded.
I said, "The children are all in one room, with one woman. She is
more frightened than they are. That door is not in sight of the perps.
I propose porting to that door, and going inside, and explaining who I
am to her, and what I plan to do. Then we will port out with the kids.
With me so far?" He said, "Yes, and I like it. After that?" I said,
"They have rat holes and other safe rooms. Even without usable
firearms, you can't get them all out without causing injuries on both
sides. And some might not want to be taken alive. So, after I get the
kids out, I'll put all the others in there to sleep, and if necessary,
I'll guide your men to any they can't conveniently locate. They won't
be allowed to wake up until after they are secured. One more thing. You
don't have to make my involvement public. I don't actually like it, and
I don't want people, especially you guys, to think that you can depend
on me to do your own fine work. I'm here now because you can't work
this on your own without harming the kids." He said, "I understand
that, and I really appreciate your help."
He said, "What if the woman talks?" I said, "I can't prevent that,
but I'll ask her not to. No, no pressure from you, either. She's been
through way to much already, but then, she's not squeaky clean in this
situation. Anyway, she won't know I aided in the capture of the rest, I
think." He said, "Got it. Begin when ready." I said, "Where do I er,
deposit the kids?" He said, "In that van. We'll have Family Services
here soon. The woman here." I said, "I'll stay with the kids until
their help arrives. Ready? I'm off!" I ported to the door, and unlocked
it, and walked in, and shut the door. I locked it again from the
outside and shielded the room from transmitting sound outside of it.
The woman was surprised, and stared at me. I projected what was
happening, to outside. I sat down with them and said, "Scary things are
about to happen. I'm here to help you be safe and not scared." She
said, "Who are you?" I said, "I am Solomon. I'm not part of the people
here in the compound, and I'm not exactly a part of the police outside.
I'm here to help you and the kids. Want that?" She said, "Are you that
Solomon with the wacky humor in the news?" I said, "Did you REALLY have
to call it wacky?" She tried not to laugh from reaction, and began
shaking.
I held her until it was almost stopped. I said, "Well, at least you
know who I am, now." She said, "Yes. Will you help us?" I said,
"Instant transportation, yes. I'll stay with the kids in a van until
Family Services arrives to take care of them. You will be with the guys
in the funny suits and badges, until they sort things out." She said,
"My man?" I said, "Oh, you own one?" She said, "Father of my child." I
said, "None of them will be harmed. You know I won't allow that." She
nodded. I said, "You can help the kids with something. Names of them,
and the names of the parents, would be VERY helpful for all." She said
those things. I said, "One more thing. It's embarrassing. Can you kinda
keep me out of this in the media?" She said, "That bad?" I nodded. She
hugged me and said, "I'll do my best. They know out there?" I said,
"Some, yes, but they agreed not to mention me. I don't know how well
that will stick. Problem is if I'm asked about it, I can't lie. VERY
hard to keep secrets that way."
She hugged me again, and said, "I hope it works. I'm ready." I asked
all the kids to lie down, those who weren't already doing that. I
ported them to the inside of the van, and the woman to the waiting
Rangers. The kids were asleep from my projection. And so were all the
rest in the compound. I said to the Captain of the Texas Rangers, "All
asleep, including the kids. I thought it better that way. I'll wake
them when their help arrives. All the others in the compound are
asleep, including one man still sitting in one of the bathrooms. All
doors are unlocked and accessible. Two were in places you might not
have found them in. I put them in the open. The perps will wake up as
soon as they hit the open, so make sure your men are prepared for that.
Oh, and by the way, I'm actually in the van with the kids. What you are
seeing of me here is just a projection. I said I wouldn't leave them,
and I won't." He nodded with respect.
He sent the men in, with instructions. He said to me, "What if they
see you here?" I said, "Only your people can see me." He said, "What if
they describe how they were captured, and accuse us of using some kind
of sleeping gas?" I said, "As far as I know, there is no gas that
actually sleeps. Oh, Right. Now you really know who I am." He had to
laugh. I said, "They won't know they were asleep, and they won't be
able to talk about that missing time. Of course, if you really need to,
you can blame it all on me." He said, "Thanks. You saved a lot of lives
here today." I said, "You're welcome. I wish we hadn't needed to do
this. But it's a good thing I noticed it on the news." He said, "If we
and say you need to contact me for something very serious. Well, they
have a LOT of secretaries. I don't. They have my number. I've helped
them out a few times. They kinda like me. It's the least they could
do." He grinned and said, "You mean you did something, and they agreed
with you?" I said, "Sure. That's what I meant." We grinned at each
other.
His men began carrying out the perps, two to a perp. They started
struggling the moment they passed to the outside, but soon gave that
up. But not their yelling. Colorful, but not a large vocabulary. I said
that to the Captain, and he chuckled. The perps were put in special
transports. I said, "Here's files on the perps, with pictures,
fingerprints, DNA profiles, and other data on them, including past
crimes you might not know about, and where some evidence could be
found. Anonymous informant?" He looked through it, and said, "This is
VERY good!" I said, "Er, thanks. What do you want to do about the chem
labs?" He said, "Safe now?" I said, "Only while I'm suppressing some
chemical reactions. Not going to keep doing that forever." He said, "We
have some lab boys here. I'll send them in with their kits. When they
say they have enough on the dangerous things, I'll tell them to
separate out all the bad stuff. Then you can let go." I said, "Fine.
I'll be watching for that from wherever I am. When they come for the
kids, I'll change my image to look like one of your men to them, and
give them the info on the kids. I'll wake the kids, and tell them who
is going to be meeting them, and I'll hand them out. I will look like
this to the kids, but to the others, I'll be another of your people.
Then I'll port home." He said, "Got it."
We waited, and finally they arrived to take the kids. Fortunately,
their van was big enough. I said to them as a police officer, "They are
in that van. The officer in there with them will hand them out. Here is
the information." She looked at it and said in surprise, "This is very
useful! Thank you." I said, "One of the mothers helped us. The kids are
a little traumatized and might be confused, but we were careful to not
let them see any violence. They've been told you will take care of
them." She and her assistant looked at me with respect. She said,
"Please give my complements to your Captain for all the help you've
been for these children." I said, "Thank you, Ma'am." The kids were
awake, and I told them what would be happening. And I said, "You older
kids. Look out for the younger ones. They need you." I hugged them all
with love, fogging their memories of me. I handed them out to the
social workers. My image went around the van and vanished, and from
inside of the van, I ported home. A social worker tried to find one of
me, and couldn't, becoming a little puzzled. I was watching, with Mom's
arms around me.
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Grant
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