Dark as Daylight Ch. 01

Monty screamed, "WHAT!"

Janet took off running for her life towards the auditorium. Monty was a few steps behind her. This left Gordon to his own devices. He continued watching the little turkey battling to get out of its shell. He was going to help it, but let nature take its course. It took two more minutes but it was finally out. As soon as the sensor picked up movement, the mother turkeys began to move and shake. The little one moved straight towards them. He wanted to stay to see what happened next, but time was not on his side. He took the elevator to the third floor and peered into the auditorium. It was full. Even the children were there to watch the proceedings. His dad was standing behind the lecturn laughing, as was everyone else. Monty was still chasing Janet around the room, yelling at her.

Precisely at 10:00 A.M., my dad said "This Quorum will come to order. That includes you two misfits, Monty."

Monty controlled her breathing and asked, "You made her a captain?"

My dad replied, "Where did you get such stupid information? Janet is taking care of our turkeys."

"Gordon called her captain."

"Did you believe the source of your information, or could he have been doing what he does best? Testing your temperament?"

"I will kill him with my bare hands."

"Our computer made Janet captain, because she was the best student on our spacecraft."

"NOOOOOO."

"Yes, now sit down and be respectful of the third captain on this ship."

"Yes captain."

"By the way Monty, where is the prisoner?"

"Oh no."

She was about to get up to find me, when I walked in to the room.

"I'm sorry I'm late dad. I was watching our first turkey break out of its shell."

"You do realize if you were not here by five minute after the hour, this quorum would have been meaningless."

"Yes, I am familiar with the law. However, I asked for this quorum, why would I not attend it?"

"Sit in the accused's chair, Gordon."

"Before I call the roll I have something to say. Gordon Luck is guilty of the crime of "Disobeying a Direct Order" given to him by a senior officer, Captain Even Luck. He was given three chance to extend the Nuclear Engine, which is his invention, and was running 7% hotter than normal. Our computer named 'Callie', said it was time to extend the engine, for safety reasons. Gordon refused 3 successive times saying it was his engine and he would extend it when he wanted to do it. On the fourth time I ORDERED HIM TO EXTEND THE ENGINE, and he refuse again. He became belligerent believing he was the only person on this spacecraft who knew how to extend it safely. He threated the ship, the people on it, and the mission itself. More important, he broke the laws of our community. That is the reason we are here today. He has admitted his guilt, and apologized to me, and my wife privately. Whatever he does here today is up to him.

This quorum has many options. The prisoner has requested to put to death, because of his actions. He does not want you to believe that anyone, including a member of my family is above the law. He believes being in solitary confinement for 6 months will leave him without a useful mind. In other words, he will have lost the ability to think. I agree. It will a waste of a wonderful scientific mind, but so will his death. The decision is up to you.

During your speeches' you may suggest alternative courses of action, those decisions are also up to you, to vote up or down.

It is now 10:05 AM, and we will call the roll.

"Even, its' not necessary to call the roll. We have 66 people on board. 65 are here, and Newton is on the bridge. He is too young to vote. Ask for a show of hands if they agree if a Quorum is here."

I did what Jennifer asked, and it was approved unanimously.

"Thank you. According to our log requesting to speak here today, number 1 is Doctor Joseph Finch. He has requested two minutes, and I have approved it. Doctor."

Joseph was handed a microphone, and began telling everyone about the tumor inside Gordon's brain. He did some in-depth studying about the tumors of the brain in that area, and the success rate of operations by skilled neurosurgeons, which he was not. It would take him at least 4-6 months of intensive studying, if not more, to even think of operating on Gordon. The only reason it would be that short of a time period of time, was he was already a surgeon, and had rotated through Neurosurgery while in medical school and as a resident."

"Your time is up doctor."

Sandy stood up and asked if she could give her time to her husband.

I had to ask the members if it was alright them.

"All in favor of giving Mrs. Finch's time to Doctor Joseph Finch, signify by saying 'Aye.'

"Every woman and some men said, "Aye."

"Everyone opposed say 'Nay.'

There was a very weak 'Nay' vote.

Doctor Finch had one more minute explaining how putting Gordon to death, would be like putting a sick man outside on a freezing day and watching him die. That is what we would be guilty as a community of doing Dr. Luck, 'Mass Murder, in Reverse."

"At this time I would ask for anyone who has an opposing point of view to accept the microphone, and speak to us."

"Colonel Jack Daniels stood up and requested the microphone."

"Colonel, in the interest of fairness, I will give you 3 minutes."

"Thank you Doctor Luck. For those who do not know me well, I was a U.S. Army Engineer, and Explosives expert. I am a Graduate of the Military Academy at West Point. DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY. Gordon Luck, by his behavior, broke all three of those rules. He had a DUTY to follow a senior officers' orders, whether he agreed with them or not. He was HONOR bound to protect every member of this spacecraft. This Spacecraft is our COUNTRY, and he is supposed to put his life on the line every day to protect it.

Now I will give you an example of a man who had all three of these values in his heart, and saved this ship from disaster, but you have never heard a word about him or his extraordinary heroic act. We had a leak in the engineering section, near the Nuclear Containment Unit. We called this man, and without a word, he rushed down, put on his radiation protective gear. He knew if he came in contact with highly contaminated Radioactive Water, he was a dead man. He did this without complaint, to save his wife and each one of us. He crawled into the bowels of the ship, trying to find the source of the leak. He started walking through water, not knowing if it was his last moments on this ship but he continued on to save us. He saw the leak and luckily for him and us, it was the fresh water pipe. The pipe broke and knocked him unconscious for a moment. He got back up, and through sheer force of will was able to wrestle the pipes together, and stop the leak. Did he complain, No. He asked to speak to me and suggested two courses of action to maintain the pipes continuity. When we agreed on a plan, and he said, "Colonel, I am taking tomorrow off."

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Adam Schiff."

Adam shrunk in his chair, not being used to public adulation.

Colonel Daniels' said, "If you don't stand up Adam, you and Laura are sleeping in separate rooms."

Adam stood up straight and tall.

The audience applauded, and the Colonel said, "It gets newlyweds every time."

To finish I ask you to compare Gordons' actions to Adams'. If you were at war, which one would you want at you side. To me it is no contest."

"Colonel, I let your time run over, but now I have to ask you to desist. You have presented a very forceful argument, and I thank you for it."

Laura Schiff stood up, and asked if she could ask Colonel Daniels a question."

After receiving approval, I told her to proceed.

"Colonel, if you were in battle and you Adam and Gordon were infantry men. You knew Adam was heathy, but Gordon was suffering from an unknown ailment. Gordon refused to leave his squad one man short by moving to the rear to get help. What would you think of him then?"

"You leave me with an interest dilemma Laura. Both are good men doing their duty, but Gordon is rising above his pain, and helping maintain unity integrity. I would not mind having him at my side during a battle at all."

"You have changed your mind by saying painful and disabling illness does interfere with cognizant thought."

"Do you play chess Laura? I believe we can spend many hours debating subjects of mutual interest."

"You will never win Colonel."

"I love a woman who loves to fall gracefully."

"Are you two finished?"

"No I'm not Uncle Even. I may have an alternative to killing this disobedient baby."

Gordon yelled, "I am not a baby."

Laura replied, "Then stop acting like one."

"What are you thinking about Laura?"

"Doctor Finch needs time to study up on Neurosurgery, and Oncology. There will be a close vote on whether to kill this moron or not. He won't make 6 months in solitary confinement, I know I couldn't, and most of the men and woman in this room couldn't. We are all above average thinkers, and if we are not allowed to use our intelligence, we will go crazy. I don't want the tumor to grow another millimeter, while the doctor studies how to remove it. There in only one way to do it. Let me put Gordon in stasis, until Doctor Finch is ready to operate him."

Delicious yelled, "Could we make that 10 years."

"I don't have handcuffs on Delicious."

"Gray will protect me."

"In a pig's eye. He may not have seen that right hand coming but I saw it hit him. Fight your own battles."

I said, "When did I lose control of this quorum?"

Gordon replied, "When you told Monty that Janet was a Captain."

"It was that soon?"

"Ladies and gentlemen are there any other suggestions as to Gordons' punishment."

Delicious stood up and staid, "Chop off his head. We can get rid of the tumor and him at the same time."

Gordon was out of his seat in a heartbeat, heading for his sister when I yelled, "Gordon, sit down."

"Dad..."

"Gordon."

"Yes dad."

Delicious was sitting on Monty's lap.

"Missy, I would have thrown you to him. You have a mouth problem also."

"I know it, but he earned that one."

"No he didn't. Do you remember the right had to his face?"

"It was his jaw."

"So you do remember it."

"Okay, I owe him one."

"He should take a strap to your bare bottom."

"You want my brother to see my ass?"

"Why is yours special?"

"Yes it's mine and he's my brother."

"He's adopted. You could have sex with him and it would be okay."

"Monty, you are gross."

"He is a good looking boy with a 9 x 5 - inch cock."

"Holy shit, no wonder Zoey walks around with a smile all day."

"So would you."

"Stop it Monty."

"I've been tempted, Janet too. Janet's afraid it will split her in half."

"I'm leaving; this conversation has turned obscene."

"No, it's just women talk.

I asked for quiet, and for everyone to return to their seats.

"This will be a recorded vote. Our computer has your voice prints; so do not say you are someone else because your vote will be discounted. The vote will be displayed behind me. First, the prisoners request to kill himself by leaving the spacecraft and floating off into the great beyond. Begin voting.

It was over in a flash, 7 AYE, 50 NAY. Second, the prisoner is to remain in solitary confinement for the remainder of his 6-month term. This vote took slightly longer and when it was finally totaled, it was 26-26. Everyone looked around asking, who did not vote. When they looked forward, I said, "I have not voted yet. "I wish to see the outcome of the vote on Laura Schiff's request to place Gordon in stasis, and then I will pass judgement on my son."

Third, Laura Schiff requests that we place Gordon Luck into stasis, for an undetermined period of time, so Doctor Joseph Finch may prepare himself to remove the tumor inside Gordon Luck's head. Begin voting."

When the vote was tallied there was another gasp. 26 – 26. It couldn't be.

I knew it wasn't me this time, because I voted. I knew immediately who the culprit was.

I turned to Gordon and said, "VOTE."

"You vote first."

"Damn it Gordon, Vote."

"You vote first."

"Vote Gordon, or I will send you back to your cell."

"You vote first."

I hit myself in the head when realized the game he was playing with me.

"GORDON LUCK, VOTE, AND THAT IS AN ORDER."

"YES SIR."

The light changed on the indicator. 27 for STASIS, 26 AGAINST.

Jennifer rushed up and hugged Gordon, and a line of family members followed. Delicious hugged him, and apologized for her earlier remark.

Gordon asked her if she meant it or if she was just afraid of retribution?

"Bro, you are going into stasis for a long time. When you come out you won't remember what happened."

They hugged again, and smiled at each other. "Okay, you are forgiven. You can name the boy in there after me."

"We haven't begun to think about names yet."

"I've just made it easier for you. The boy is Gordon."

"Okay, I will run it buy Gray and see what he says."

"Okay, I will see you later."

As soon as Delicious turned her back, Gordon reared back and smacked her ass with everything he had in him. Then he took off like a thief in the night.

Delicious scream at the top of her lungs capacity, grabbed her ass, and jumped into the air.

Teddy heard her mother scream, and pulled her father to her.

They were ten feet away when Gray saw tears in her eyes and she was holding her bottom.

"Honey, I don't think we should go near mommy now. She is crying, and I think Uncle Gordon gave her a spanking.

"Good, mommy did bad thing at meet. Go home put nose in corner."

"She will kill me."

"Take me, I do."

Teddy looked up at her mother, and shook her finger. "Bad, Bad, Bad Mommy. Come me, nose in corner, 1 hour."

"Teddy that's not fair. Uncle Gordon hit me."

"Should hit 4 times. Bad, Bad, Bad mommy, use bad words all time now. Hit Uncle Gordon, no reason. Not pray enough. Not mean it when pray. God not happy you."

"Are you sure you are only two years old?"

"Soon three."

"Soon Thirty. Let's go, nose in corner, 1 hour."

"Pray one hour."

"Oh Teddy, they should have made you Pope."

"Pope, I no here."

"I Love My Teddy."

"I Love My Mommy."

For those of you who missed my messages posted on this sight, I am delighted to inform you that I am in remission. The cancer is gone, not a trace anywhere, except in my memory. I am on pills for a year or more depending on how well my blood readings are, but who cares. One more thing, I now hate flying.

28923 words