The Cross of Mithras Vol. 1: EOD Operation Welcome to Hell (7 page)

  Television taught Vaistll a lot about human civilization. And what she learned she didn’t like. When she learned about political correctness, she called it “political insanity.” She hated politics with a fiery passion; she found it to be so divisive. She once said that politicians are good for only two things: starting a war, and losing a war. And when it comes to activist groups; she called them act-up-tivist groups. Her feelings reflected where she comes from, more than anything else. She couldn’t fit in with those people and she didn’t want to. She wanted to see her Catholic friend more often. But they didn’t want to take any chances with her getting caught. So she couldn’t see him that often. It made her feel lonely and isolated - and depressed.

  Since Project 21 gave her the identity of an American citizen, she would at times go look for work. Being an unskilled worker, there was not many jobs that she could get. She knew that you could be trained for a job, but that doesn’t mean that you will get it. It’s up to the employer, not your training, which will get you that job. So she ended up with telemarketing jobs which she both resented and was no good at. Any other type of a job that she did get, she didn’t keep them that long. She didn’t keep those jobs because of her PTSD. She would always say, ‘Don’t forget the words, “Traumatic Stress.” The best way to understand PTSD is: stress elevated to the point where it become traumatic. It’s too much stress. So you don’t want any more of it. Not even a little bit. Not even if it comes from on the job stress. Until you endure it, you will never understand it.’ In truth, she felt more happy serving under Project 21, than being on welfare. But she felt stuck on welfare until Langston changed his mind, or leave office.

  So Vaistll would sit in her little studio apartment with it’s two burners instead of an oven, one sink for a kitchen sink, three foot tall refrigerator, no bathtub, no bathroom sink or mirror, can’t have a washer and dyer, apartment without a view, and the only type of pets that she can have are: birds, fish, mice, and cockroaches. All she would do is sit there and pass the time away and reflect. What she would reflect upon is: her life to some degree, but most of all, human civilization and human nature. She wrote down all of her ideas on paper and put them in a notebook. Later she learned how to type; she was good at it, typing at 25-30 wpm. She was a natural at it. She then bought some floppy discs, went down to the library, and stored all of her ideas on the floppy’s. Doing all of that gave her something to do, something to take her mind off of things. Just to pass the time away and to get out of her crappy little studio apartment. It gave her the chance to feel free.

  During the mid-term elections of 2006, both Vaistll and Project 21 finally got a lucky break. The Republicans party lost the mid-term elections. Perhaps it was the war on terrorism, perhaps it was the Apollinarians, or maybe it was the EOD, or all three, but Langston was becoming too paranoid.  He tested the loyalty of those closest to him, even his own wife. People didn’t jump ship because of the war on terrorism, or the fight against the EOD, they jump ship because of him. He even ruined his friendship with the Vice-President, causing the VP to say, ‘Langston is too drunk off of power to care about friendship.’ Some people in Project 21 thought (wrongly) that he might be an EOD agent. So they had him investigated to see if it was true or not. During that investigation, someone leaked that out to the press. He eventually started to give orders that made it appear to all those around him, that he is becoming a tyrant. He wanted to change the Constitution so that he wouldn’t be limited to two-terms in office. He even gave orders (that nobody followed) to make certain people disappear. What finally did him in, as well as the Republicans, was a simple mistake. Before the mid-term elections of 2006, a microphone was accidentally left on, and he was quoted as saying, ‘Freedom to me is an obstacle to giving people better security.’ He was not the type that ever slipped up on his words. But those words caused even more people to abandon him. After the mid-terms elections, he had to face impeachment hearings, which he was acquitted. Both Vaistll and Project 21 became the least of his worries. But the damage to him was too great. By 2007 both Vaistll and Project 21 finally got the news that they have been waiting for, Langston gave up on her. That message came from the Vice-President.

  After Langston fall from power, Project 21 moved Vaistll to a much better place. Yes it was another apartment, but this time she got what she didn’t have before. Some of the Project 21 agents bought her stuff for her new apartment. But most important of all (to her it was), her Catholic friend gave her a kitten. She loved that little tomcat; he filled her life with such joy. His personality develop in the way in which she treated him; happy-go-lucky. Almost everyday she would give him a hug and a kiss. She was like that because of the grief of losing all of her beloved pets that she had in her lifetime. It was just her way of telling him, ‘I’m glad that you are in my life. You fill my life with such love and happiness.’ She was afraid of losing another beloved pet.

  The best part for Vaistll came when Project 21 put her on their payroll. She told them that before she go on a mission, they will need to build for her the obstacle courses that she trained upon back on her home world. She wanted to get back in shape since the last time that she was in combat, is when she was 60 plus years younger. The warrior class on her planet invented a simple 90 second water timer that told them how long they have to complete the course. If they completed the course within the required length of time, they would receive a special black ribbon that they can put in their Warrior Code Book of Honor. If they complete the course with 20-25 seconds remaining, they would then receive a special red ribbon. If they could complete the course five times in a row (with no more than 24 hours between each turn), while maintaining their status as a Master (red ribbon), they would then become a Grand Master (gold ribbon). Once completed, they can move on to the next course. The next course has the same condition in earning each ribbon. The time to complete the next course, as well as the time to become a Master, is reduced by 10%. If they are a Grand Master of a course, they do not have to repeat it if they fail the next course. In total there are five courses that must be completed. Once all five are completed, they can keep all ribbons that were earned. If they complete two courses as a Grand Master, they will then be called a 2
nd
Grand Master. Complete three courses as a Grand Master, and they will be called a 3
rd
Grand Master, and so on. They will receive a medal when they become a 5
th
Grand Master. Those courses test a warrior speed, agility, endurance, and determination. Vaistll still has her Warrior Code Book of Honor, her ribbons, and her medal.

  All of the Project 21 agents that were there on the day that Vaistll landed on the Earth, minus those who have left and sadly, the one agent who died in a car accident, were there on the day that she had her first go on the first obstacle course. She completed the course with 17.3 seconds remaining, which told her that she has a lot of work to do. But the best part for her on that day was the fact that she could stand there, not as Victoria, but as her true self. The finished line was on a platform and the only way to reach it, is by rope. If a person is in good shape they could climb the rope in a few seconds. As she stood there, she gave them the same speech that her Master, who trained both her and her class did, ‘If you consult your Warrior Code Book of Honor, it clearly states two things about war that you should never forget. One; battlefields are not for the weak of body, and the weak of mind. And two; war kills you twice, once on the battlefield, and once again when you come home. But when it comes to this obstacle course it will turn your mind and body into a formidable force. Only then will you have a true fighting chance to survive a war, both in body... and... in the mind. Then... and only then... would you earn the right to come home.

  All five of these obstacle courses symbolize war. Just one of them alone symbolizes the battles within war. Just like battles in war are different from each other, so are all five of these obstacle courses are to one another. Each one will impose upon you certain hardships. Those hardships themselves are only symbolic of the difficulties that you will face upon the battlefield. The make or break situation of war. But please, do not let that cause you to lose heart. For you see, those hardships will turn you into a much better warrior. Yes indeed this obstacle course will drain you of your strength and greatly test your will. But does not war impose the same burden upon you?

  Like war, each one of these obstacle courses is a great equalizer. Strength becomes irreverent when agility is required. None of you have an unfair advantage over that of another. But what it all comes down to is a test of will. Will you, or will you not complete this obstacle course? Will you, or will you not complete all five? Will you, or will you not fight hard enough in battle to achieve your objectives? Will you, or will you not survive war? Will you, or will you not come home to those who love you? Will you, or will you not become a true honorable noble warrior?’

  She remembers all of that because it is written in her Warrior Code Book of Honor, in the section on “Obstacle Courses.” After she said all of that, she asked them if there were any volunteers and if so, for them to step forward. All of them did. When they did she told them, ‘I have to warn you... but your honor is considered to be in question until you complete this course. If you fail to complete it, then it is okay for you to try again at a later date. If you throw in the towel, then you have no honor. Do each of you still wish to volunteer?’ They said that they did.  She then told them to, ‘Line up. If you fall in the water... you fail the course.’ Most of them failed to complete it. Some fell into the water; others took too long, even some of those guys who were built like a gorilla failed. Most of those who did finish had only a few seconds remaining. Three of them were in the 10-15 seconds time remaining margin. Only one of them beat Vaistll’s time and finished with 18.1 seconds. As tradition held, each one of them got a black ribbon.

  After Vaistll gave each one who finished their black ribbon, she took her right hand and taps her medal a few times. Her medal was on her left side, over her heart. She then taps her right temple a few times and then she shook her finger at them. She smiled and then told them, ‘You know, there is a trick in completing this course. It’s actually quite simple. Its three things. It’s training, training, and yes... more training.’ She then had Project 21 built the right type of a training course. She instructed the Drill Instructors to never tell them that they will fail, or to suggest that they should throw in the towel, but rather they will succeed. To tell them that the mind is strong, the body is weak, and they will complete their objective within reason. She also told them that when they tell the new recruits to jump, the recruits are to respond, ‘From which building.’ Vaistll took Project 21 and turned their agents into a formidable fighting force to be reckoned with.

  Vaistll’s Catholic friend wanted to become a big shot movie director. Back when he was in college he even study a course on movie directing. He did have some friends in Hollywood, but he didn’t have any good ideas for a movie to give to them. When Langston gave up on Vaistll, both Vaistll and her friend got to talking one day. They were just catching up with each other lives. Vaistll said something to him and his eyes lighted up. He finally got his idea for a movie. Later, he talked to his friends in Hollywood (none where actors) and gave them his idea. They loved it. They help him to direct his first movie that was release in 2009. And it was called, “Yoke the Horse.” What’s more, he gave her a small part in the movie. So she got the chance to see herself up on the big screen. And there she was, this very tall beautiful white woman, with blonde hair and green eyes. Her voice sounded like she was a foot shorter. As she always puts it, ‘That’s typical for an Apollinarian. For I noticed that our voice makes us sounds like we are a foot shorter. With humans, the taller they are the deeper their voice is.’ Seeing herself up there got her to thinking, ‘Why do these nano-probes always make me look that way? Why can’t they make me look like someone else? Like a black woman or something. It sure would be nice if they could make me look different.’

  After Langston left office Vaistll got another big break. The Democratic President, when he learned about her existence and what Langston put her through, wanted to meet her and give her something. When she met him, he gave her a copy of an Executive Order which recognized her as an American citizen with certain privileges that most American don’t get. One of those privileges was that she is protected from all actions committed by future Presidents. It was to stop them from turning her into some lab rat. He also gave her the chance to influence the next Executive Order that dealt with what to do with an extraterrestrial when they land in U.S. custody.

  It all just proved something that she always said to those people who felt so sorry for everything that she went through, either with Langston, or from her life back on her planet. What she told them was, ‘There is a higher reason for everything that we go through in life. You just need to be patient, and you will discover the reason’ But for her sitting in that hotel room in Roscadia, she is still waiting for that reason when it comes to the EOD.

(2)

  “He did it to me again!” It was Behlmer, Wexler as usual, got drunk and ran down the street naked. Upset, and tired of always being stuck with him, Behlmer called Vaistll.

  “Ma’am... I’m sorry to disturb you, but it’s Wexler. He got drunk and ran down the street naked and got himself arrested. Ma’am... why do I always get stuck with him? I’m getting so sick and tired of him doing this to me. It’s embarrassing. And what’s more... he outranks me! So there’s nothing I can do about it. Why can’t you let somebody else baby-sit him for a change?”