Dark as Daylight Ch. 16

Richard didn't know what to expect from Rebecca. Instead of waiting for her to attack him, he stepped forward, grabbed her arm and hip rolled her to the ground, with him on top of her.

He asked, with a smile on his face, "Do you want to give up now?"

She replied, "Why would I give up, when I have the superior position."

"Please explain that to me, when I am laying across your body?"

"It will take too long to explain it to you, so just watch."

She bit his forearm, hard, and he screamed in pain. What he didn't understand was why she didn't move when he let go of her. He grabbed her rib cage again and resumed his hold over her, and asked, "Why didn't you get up?"

"Why didn't you learn?"

"Learn what?"

She bit his forearm in the exact place she did before, and this time he moved away from her.

He screamed at her, "Biting is not allowed."

"This is not a sanctioned match. Everything goes."

Richard looked at Joseph, and asked, "Is she correct?"

"She is correct."

"You could have told me."

"Do you remember when I asked you if there were any questions?"

"Yes sir, I do. I apologize."

Richard was angry, but not angry enough to have his mind overridden by anger. He bounced up and down on his toes and approached Becky and began kicking at her knees.

Rebecca moved very fast, and so did Richard. The faster Richard kicked, the faster Rebecca danced away. Richard watched her movements very closely as they worked their way around the 18-foot circle. He kicked, she moved. He kicked, she moved. He faked a kick. She moved and he moved in on her with a left to her jaw while she was still in mid air. She hit the mat on her side, and lost her breath. Richard was all over her. He would not hit her face, again, but he hit her ribs, shoulders, chest, and arms with all the strength he had in him.

She was pinned between his thighs, and tried desperately to roll onto her stomach. He wouldn't allow it. He had the upper hand this time, and they both knew it.

He yelled to her, "Yield!"

She replied, "Debbie hits harder than you do."

As he continued to hit her Richard asked Joe, "Is that the way Laura treats you, when you have the superior position?"

"Richard, Laura is between me and the exit. Do you really want to see me die?"

"I will take that as a yes."

"Joseph, you and I are really going to dance tonight."

"I didn't answer him. He did that all by himself, and as you know he is a very bright boy."

"Yes, my love, he certainly is a very bright boy; extremely bright."

"Joe, I have her pinned."

"Like hell you do; I'm on my side."

"Well, miss know it all; if you know all the rules, they say 'if either competitor stays in a captured position for four minutes or longer, they are disqualified."

"Is it correct Mr. Constantine?"

"Yes he is Rebecca. You have lost this match.

"That's the only way you'll ever beat me smart ass."

"Rebecca, watch your mouth."

"I'm sorry, grandmother."

"I apologize for my language, Mr. Constantine, it was uncalled for."

"It's your decision Richard. Do you want to chance the third match, or do you want to walk away with one draw, one win, and one no contest?"

"If I walk away now I walk away a winner, is that correct?"

"Pussy!"

"Deborah!"

"Yes grandmother."

"You have seen your competition Richard. It's your decision. Do you want to face her one more time, or do you want to walk away the champion?"

"May I speak with Rebecca for second?"

"Sure go ahead."

"What's up kid?"

"Have you thought about the fourth qualification for having sex with a boy?"

"You want to discuss that now? I've been a little busy with other things for the past half hour, and I hadn't thought about it. Is it that important to you?"

"Let me just put it this way; what's keeping you in Chicago?"

"Man, you are in a hurry. I told you there were no guarantees."

"I know that, and there's no guarantee that tomorrow will come either. But I can't get to know you, if you 700 miles north of me. You will be doing nothing up there, and I will be doing nothing down here. The ship is finished. All we have to do now is load it, pick a departure date, and let everyone know who is coming what the arrangements are. It's less than six months' work. The computers already have the information in them, ready to go. As soon as Holden hits send, everything gets put into motion. So let me ask you one more time, 'What's keeping you in Chicago?'"

"Those three people over there: My sister, my grandmother, and my grandfather. I won't do anything without them."

"Okay, I'll talk to them after I beat your ass to a pulp."

Rebecca smiled. "You have a fat chance at that big boy."

"You haven't seen him yet; how did you know?"

This time she blushed, and she smacked him.

Joe asked, "Is everything okay between you two love birds now?"

They looked at each other, then at Joe, then down at the floor as if it was painted all over themselves.

Joe said, "Relax, everything is fine. Knock each other's blocks off. You'll feel better when it's over. It's the way Laura and I do it."

The two teenagers blushed, bright red.

Joe pulled them apart.

He shook them to get their attention. "Separate," he yelled. "Get ready, mouthpieces in, defend yourself, get ready, and fight."

Richard threw a straight right hand that Rebecca thought was coming at her face. She stepped away with her left foot, turning her upper body at a 45° angle to Richard. He followed his right hand in with his body, grabbing her right arm, which she raised to defend herself. Matching the front of her body to his back, he dug in his heels, and jumped backwards, propelling both their bodies to the floor, with his heavy one on top of her lighter one.

Although she had the wind knocked out of her, this time Rebecca could scramble to her feet, with little damage done to her chest and ribs.

Seeing that he wanted to be the aggressor this time, by using his height and weight advantage against her, she decided to make it miserable for him. She did what her instructors taught her to do to larger targets. Hit and run, stay low, and attack from the sides and the rear. Give the attacker nothing to hold onto from the front. For minutes they fought with each other, neither getting the better of the other. However, every time Rebecca caused Richard to miss an opportunity to grab her or slip out of a hold, she heard Laura laugh, and this gave her the will to survive, and continue harassing Richard.

Joe glared at his wife, who immediately returned to her time keeping duties, looking like a little angel.

Every night when he cuddled with her he said a prayer to His God, "Please tell me you only made one of these beautiful devils. Two of them would upset the balance of nature on this tiny planet."

Both combatants were tiring.

Rebecca made a halfhearted lunge at his knees from behind and missed.

Richard was able to pull his legs away, turned, and fell on her like a pile driver, or a wet bag of cement, neither one of them was sure which it was.

Rebecca was too tired to move. Her arms were trapped underneath him, and he was too heavy for her to move.

Richard did it for her. He flipped her onto her back, and pressed his advantage by laying on top of her body.

Joe slid in and counted aloud: "One, two..."

"Time!"

Joe sneered at his wife, who smiled sweetly at him.

Richard looked down at Rebecca, said, "Nice match."

He leaned down, and kissed her sweetly.

Her eyes blazed.

She said, "Yes, it was a nice match. We should do that last part more often; I kinda liked it"

"I couldn't agree more. However, your grandfather is standing up. He will kill me, if we continue this conversation, while laying as we are, here on the floor. Let's stand and improve my odds of taking you on a real date, while I'm still breathing."

"You haven't asked me out yet."

"You must be extremely hard of hearing. I must have asked you for a date, about a dozen times so far. So, is it a 'YES or a NO, Ms. Finch.?"

Joe pull them apart, thereby stopping their conversation, mid-breath and lifted them off the floor.

Sam Finch sat down, feeling a little more comfortable now with his granddaughter's position, and the sight of light between her and Richard.

"That boy was moving too fast."

Joan replied, "Our granddaughter didn't think so."

"I'm responsible for that child, and until she's 18, I will do her thinking for her."

"She has only known the boy for a few hours, Sam; she is not going to do anything reckless."

"I can guarantee that Joan."

Standing in the center of the ring Joe Constantine had a contestant standing on either side of him.

He said, "If you see my wife move her chair back from the table, let go of my hands, and run for the hills. She will be coming for my blood."

Rebecca said, "Mr. Constantine, we are wearing white. If we stay close enough to you, it will be easy for the police to put together the blood splatter evidence from when Mrs. Constantine makes initial contact."

Joe looked down at Rebecca and shook his head.

"Ms. Finch, if what I'm going to say comes out right, there won't be enough of anything remaining to prove I was ever alive."

"You are going to torment her?"

"I certainly hope so."

"Isn't that going to be extremely dangerous to your health?"

"Yes, it is, but the rewards are heavenly."

"I don't understand."

"You're not old enough to understand. When you get to be as old as Laura and I, or you get married, and live with a person for as many years as Laura and I have lived together, and you love each other as fiercely, and unconditionally as we do, then you will understand."

"But..."

Joe ignored her at that point, and proceeded with the activities.

"Ladies and gentlemen this was a very hard bout for me to grade. Neither contestant used any of the technical skills they were taught over the years. They just try to outwit the other. Rebecca was very good at it. It's called surviving. However, if we were using the rules strictly, it would be called 'cheating', and Rebecca knows it. Don't you Rebecca?"

"Yes Mr. Constantine."

"As Rebecca pointed out, this is not a sanctioned match so cheating is allowed, isn't it Richard?"

"Yes, it is, Mr. Constantine."

"Why didn't you cheat, Richard?"

"I had four advantages going into the match Mr. Constantine. I didn't have to resort to cheating."

"What were those advantages Richard?"

"I am bigger, stronger, faster, and smarter than Rebecca is, Mr. Constantine."

As Richard was listing his advantages, Joe took a small step to the rear, giving the contestants a clear view of each other. As soon as Richard finished listing has advantages, bedlam broke out.

Rebecca leapt at Richard, and had his head firmly in her hands, before the last syllable of Joe's name was out of his mouth.

Richard knew this was going to be her reaction, because Joe told him it would happen, and he was prepared for her assault. As soon as her hands contacted his head, he bent backward, like a reed, while bringing his knees up into her belly. He watched as she flew over the top of him, and landed with a thud, flat on her back, stunned. As her eyes cleared, she looked at him, sitting astride her chest, holding her arms by her ears.

"Did you enjoy your ride 'my dear'?"

As she was glaring at him, she could hear everyone in the gym laughing, and applauding.

"I am not your dear. If you think you're taking me out on a date after remarks like those, you can think again, smart ass."

"Can we dissect my remark so we can see where my remark insulted you?"

"Fuck you Richard."

"I would rather we get acquainted first. Sex may become our goal, but not until we know that we are compatible for the long term.

I'm sure you know the details of my mother and father's life. I would like a love story like theirs for my wife, and myself. I'm not looking for a one-night stand, with a beautiful young woman, and you are a very beautiful young woman. However, until tonight, I have never had the opportunity to touch a young woman my own age the way I've touched you.

My dad never knowingly touched a woman, sexually, until he was 31-years old. I am half a lifetime ahead of him, because I touched you tonight. What else did I say that upset you, or that I lied about? I am taller than you are. I am heavier than you are. I can run faster than you can. And I am smarter than you are."

"You are not smarter than I am."

"Miss Finch, how many patents do you have?"

"None."

"What is your doctorate in?"

"My doctorate is in Spatial Mechanics. My thesis is in the process of being printed by Peregrine Press under its original title: The Circumstellar Envelopes of Young Stellar Objects Near Black Holes."

"How angry with me will you be, when I tell you your computations are incorrect?"

"They can't be, I just finished all those computations three months ago. I use the computer at the University of Chicago. It's the same type that's in this spacecraft, only bigger. Five top rated scientists grilled me on it, and approved it. It's just finished being edited, and now being readied for the printing presses. Everyone who's read it has told me it's years ahead of it's time."

"Please don't get angry with me, because I want us to be more than friends, much more than very good friends; but a good friend forwarded your thesis to me, and although it is very good, I can prove to you, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the statistical models backing up your model is incorrect."

"I'll call the publisher and tell them not to print it, if you're that sure."

"If you move to Charleston, I'll show you how, and where your errors are, and the book can be published before we leave Earth."

"It won't be my book at that point. It will be your book. It will be your work not mine. I won't take credit for it."

"You will be working your ass off to get it ready for the printers. You will be working on the book, not me. I will be working on the spacecraft getting it ready to fly. On my days, off, I want to take you out on dates to see if we are compatible with each other for the long term. There will be no sex, until we are both sure. My dad waited 31 years, my mom waited 4 years, after my brother, Gordon's, birth to have sex again. I can wait for that once in a lifetime experience; can you, Rebecca?"

"I'm in no hurry to have sex, but as soon as Debbie and I get back to Chicago, we are going on birth control pills."

"An ounce of prevention?"

"Anything I do, Debbie does. It also works the other way around. We're as close as twins. Actually, we are closer than twins. We won't do anything without the other. Having sex, with our boyfriends, may be the first thing we do on our own."

"What happens if she doesn't like Holden?"

"That is not my problem; it is her problem. I found a young man that I like, and I'm willing to discuss having sex with. I will talk to my grandmother about it. I talk everything over with her. She is a great parent, and gives me wonderful advice. I like you a lot Richard. Let's see where this goes, okay?"

"So you're not angry with me for being smarter than you?"

"Would you stop saying that please. I must find some way to beat the crap out of you if you keep doing it."

"Okay, remembering that one thing should be easy enough for me to do. I'll discuss moving down here with your grandfather, while Holden is beating the shit out of Debbie."

"Let me warn you about that, because it's not going to happen. Holden is in for a rude awakening."

********************

Laura asked, "Are you two going to pitch a tent down there? Your two-minute rest session was up five minutes ago."

"I was testing to see if I hurt his brain, as he was throwing me onto my back. I wanted to know how far back I set his space program."

"The program is completed. All that needs to be done now is to load the ship, take on the water, advised the press of our date of departure, and get our passengers on board. Does that answer your question?"

"Yes, but I have one more."

"Go ahead."

"Where is the bathroom; I have to pee?"

"Richard can show you."

"I don't want to go to the bathroom with Richard. I just want to go to the bathroom."

"That wasn't what I meant, and you know it."

"It's what you said. I didn't want anyone to think I was going to lose my virginity on a bathroom floor. My grandfather would have had a heart attack. Upon his return to health, he would have killed me, my embryo, because I would have been lucky enough to become pregnant; Richard, because he would have impregnated me, and been the lucky father. You, because you gave me this lovely, sheer, white, outfit to wear, which overstimulated every male libido within 5 miles of this gymnasium, and Joseph, because he did not chaperone Richard well enough, and kept us far enough apart that we were not able to copulate. Finally, there is Debbie."

"Me, why would he kill me? I didn't do anything; Yet"

"That's very easy sis. He would kill you, so you wouldn't put him through what I just finished putting him through."

"In that case, shouldn't I get laid first?"

"It only seems fair, doesn't it! Where is Holden?"

"HERE," he shouted, jumping up from his seat.

Rebecca whispered to Richard, "I think you better take him to the bathroom. Seeing how high he jumped, he's probably ready to explode."

"Okay, but I'll meet you back here, with him, in a few seconds."

"He must be very excitable."

"I'm amazed he didn't change his godan, when he saw you take off your robe."

"Bathroom, now please."

"Can I watch? I won't touch anything."

"Ask my grandfather; if he says yes, I let you take off the leotard."

"Don't move, I will be right back."

"Richard, you are out of your mind."

"Just the thought of taking off that leotard, is giving me the courage to talk to your grandfather. Stay still, I will be right back."

He was halfway there when he lost steam. He turned and went back to her for a little more encouragement.

"Chickening out?"

"Not when I'm thinking of taking that off you. I'm going to talk to him man-to-man, about my plans, and before I did, I just wanted one more kiss, and to remind you not to move."

"If you talk to him about taking this off me, you are not going to have the equipment left to make love."

"I'll keep Joseph with me."

"I don't think that would help."

"I do."

"There is no priest here, and I am under age."

"I can see learning about you is going to be a lot of fun."

"You cannot use The Braille Method."

"Neither can you."

***********************

"Mr. Finch, may I speak with you privately for a moment?"

"Does privately include him?"

"I apologize, Mr. Finch. It is a fact of my life; where I go one of my agents is right beside me every moment. Nothing you say will ever be repeated. Is that okay with you?"

"Yes Richard, that's fine."

"I don't know if you believe in love at first sight, but my dad and mom did, and they had a wonderful, loving, and long marriage. They left my brother and me here on Earth, at our requests, because we wanted to build the second spacecraft. It's done now, and we have grown up with it.

Today, quite by a wonderful accident, I got into an argument with a young woman, and then had the pleasure of fighting with her; not only verbally, again, but physically. You can believe me when I say your granddaughter was the first female my age I have ever touched. It was an exciting, and pleasurable experience for me.

Your granddaughter and I have agreed to start dating each other, as soon as you move down Charleston. I would like that to happen within the next month. Two weeks would be better. You already know what you can pack and take on the spacecraft, and moving from a cold climate to a southern climate will limit the amount of clothing you will need to bring with you for the six or seven months before we leave the planet. Housing will be afforded for you.