BTC 14: There is nothing to fear but fear itself… and public humiliation

Joe Trebble and the Bio Tech Conspiracy
Chapter 14: There is nothing to fear but fear itself… and public humiliation

Back to Chapter 1: A Hot Pink Car

Joe slumped on the sofa. “What a day!” he slurred.
Devin brought Joe a cup of tea. “You’re back late. Did everything go alright?” Joe rubbed his temples. “Something to help this headache would be great dear.” Joe took the tea and sipped a little of the hot liquid. “A bit better with that,” he mused to himself. “I take it you met your contact,” devin said returning to the room with a couple of ibuprofen and a large glass of water. “Yeah, but not sure how good a meeting it was.” Joe swallowed the ibuprofen and gulped the water down. Devin sat down beside him “I’m sure what ever happened you’re good to go.” Devin kissed Joe on the cheek. “Now tell me what you can.” Joe shook his head to try and bring his senses back. “Give me a minute or two to compose myself . . . and try and remember.’ Devin patted Joe on the leg. “No rush. Mind if I put the news on?”
“Go ahead, I’ll be back in a moment.” Joe got up to head to the toilet, stopping briefly as the news clip came on: “. . . there was a bizarre act put on by a couple of pranksters. Police are withholding their identities. We have exclusive footage coming up after the break.” Joe shook his head and sheepishly continued to the toilet.
~~~~~ Devin noted Joe’s reaction to the news segment intro. Obviously was somehow involved in the prank. Devin pushed the record button on their PVR as the commercials ended; Joe had not come back from the toilet yet.
“There is a warning with the next clip; it contains nudity.”
Devin watched as a shaky video, from obviously a fair distance, came on the screen. Devin recognized the bare ass, zoomed in to only 1/8 the size of the screen, as that of Joe. The other guy, yelling things barely audible on the recording, was not known to Devin. Joe was running naked through the square with Justin streaking behind him. It was obvious Joe was completely naked, whereas Justin had a sock covering his front. The two of them ran around the square and tried to climb a statue. The police came rushing in and pulled the guys down as the camera shut off. “Eye witnesses heard the streakers yelling such things as ‘freedom from regulation’ and ‘gmo is natural.’ No one is entirely sure what they mean or the intent of their act. Police are keeping a tight lid on this, leading some to speculate one or both of the men involved are of high profile. We’ll keep you informed of any development of this story. In international news…” Devin turned off the TV as Joe returned to the room. “I think you might know about as much as I do now,” Joe said trying to laugh with his hangover. He slumped back onto the sofa next to Devin. “I’m not sure if I screwed up the mission before it started or what?” Joe’s voice wavered. “I’m afraid of the challenges of this mission, and have I blown it from that…” Joe gestured at the TV as he looked at Devin. Tears were beginning to swell in his eyes.

(110614)

Next: Chapter 15: TBW

BTC 13: The Equation Will Come Out At Last

Joe Trebble and the Bio Tech Conspiracy
Chapter 13: The Equation Will Come Out At Last

Back to Chapter 1: A Hot Pink Car

Henry Brightonston sat hunched over a pile of papers at his desk. How could feel there was a solution in there somewhere. The research they had done was already in the right direction, in fact it was possible something done a decade ago could now hold the answer.

Joe’s arrival the previous week had got Henry thinking about Mark’s work before the accident. He had been looking at combining various nucleotides to see the effect they would have on the germination of a simple virus. Technology had greatly improved since Mark’s preliminary research, now might be the perfect time to dredge up some of those old projects for a fresh new look.

That was what Henry was trying to do now, compare the old avenues with the new, and who in the company would be willing to pursue what. Henry found it tedious going through the old equations and reports, some still had hand written notes in the margins. When Henry saw these, memories would flood back of Mark and him discussing the theories and approaches; sometimes to the dismay of their wives when off time turned to shop talk. More often than not they found a solution that worked; perhaps not the most practical or economical, but the main goal back then was achieving results.

Henry sighed and sat back, his mind taken away from the work at hand. “Who knew you’d have to look at betraying your father to save is legacy?” Henry thought about Joe entering the company. “Yes you have appeared to have grown to be your father’s son, I just hope it is the right thing to trust you; that you truly are your father’s son.”

An idea suddenly came to Henry. He riffled through the pile of papers. “It’s got to be here,” he said out loud. “Ahh, here it is.” Henry found the old file of papers near the bottom. “This will be perfect for Joe to work on.” Henry started to flip through the old file. “Yes, this was the big one that eluded us. The results of this avenue of research could benefit many if the key is found. But it could still take a genius, even with current tech, to possibly crack the code.”

Henry smiled at himself. This would look like legitimate work, in fact it would be, and yet could stall those over zealous competitors as they find the solution not that easy.

(100720)

Next: Chapter 14: There is nothing to fear but fear itself… and public humiliation

BTC 12: Wood Carving

Joe Trebble and the Bio Tech Conspiracy
Chapter 12: Wood Carving

Back to Chapter 1: A Hot Pink Car

Joe sat uncomfortably in the wood working class, his skill was good, and in the past week he produced enough pieces to make it look like he’d been in the class form day one; six weeks ago. He was uncomfortable today because there was someone new; someone he had to gain their trust while not giving anything away.

Why did he accept this assignment? Sure it was close to him, all the more reason to not be involved. Yet also justification for not risking lives. But for his first assignment?

Joe’s gouge nicked off a large chunk of wood off the candle holder he was working on. Joe stopped the lathe and took off the lopsided spindle.

“Sure don’t look like your day,” a voice said beside Joe.

“No it isn’t,” Joe said to the new guy.

“Been hard work for me today. Goin’ to the pub after class, care to join me? I’ll buy you a drink to burry the troubles of today.”

Joe took his ear muffs off. “Yeah sounds good. Class ends in five minutes, why don’t we go now? I’m feeling like I need that drink.” Joe held up the ruined candle stick. “At least this was the first one,” Joe said tossing the chunk of wood into the scrap pile as he headed to the door.

“Better than my bowl,” the new guy said tossing an indescribable hunk of wood unto the scrap pile as well, and followed Joe. “You’re Joe Trebble of Alberta, Canada, aren’t you?” the new guy said after they left class.

Joe stopped short, almost causing the new guy to walk into him. “Um . . . yeah . . . why?” Joe said, thinking: “contact made.”

“Name’s Justin, I’ll tell you why over that drink.” 

(081130)

Next: Chapter 13: The Equation Will Come Out At Last 

BTC 11: English Toffee

Joe Trebble and the Bio Tech Conspiracy
Chapter 11: English Toffee

Back to Chapter 1: A Hot Pink Car

Joe sat in the tea shop shaking his head in his hands. “I just couldn’t quite tell her.”

Devin put a hand on Joe’s shoulder. “There will be plenty of time for that later. Now’s not the time to worry about that, you have to prepare for the mission. Besides, perhaps it’s a good thing. If anyone close to you thinks you’re hiding anything, you’ve got that to fall back on.”

“You’re right.” Joe looked up into Devin’s green eyes. “Heh, you’re always right.” Joe scanned the old tea shop, one of his quiet refuges, and meeting places, for the past couple years. “I think I might miss this place.”

Over in the corner he saw old Dick working through his crosswords, with a chessboard beside him, ready for a game. Alice puttered away behind the counter, making the tea and baked goods. Claudette was by the till, chatting on her mobile, her French accent contrasting the pure Englishness of everything else in the shop.

“Come on, time to go.” Devin stood and strode to the till, disrupting Claudette’s call.

“Toffee?”

Joe was startled by the question, but managed not to overly show it.

“My dear, you still have to work on your peripheral senses. Now would you like some good old fashioned English Toffee for the road?”

Joe smiled at the silver haired woman. “But of course Alice, you sly one. I may need to work on my peripheral senses, but isn’t Dick the only one who’s ever heard you coming?”

“And that’s why I married him,” Alice replied as Joe grabbed a handful of toffee. “Now you run along my little Canuk.”

Joe stood and put on his jacket and cowboy hat as Devin returned to the table.

“All ready for your debriefing?”

Joe nodded and turned to follow Devin out of the shop. After one step he paused. Turned back around and faced Alice. “Now don’t you break down on me,” Joe said as he wiped the small tear from Alice’s cheek, and then gave her a kiss on both cheeks. “Bye Dick,” Joe said as he walked towards the door.

“Good riddance to you boy,” Dick spat back with fatherly love.

“Eleven down is pusillanimity.” Joe opened the door, looked at Dick with a smile and a wink.

Dick scowled back, and, as Joe left, looked at eleven down; “By George Alice, he’s right."

(081130)

Next: Chapter 12: Wood Carving

Note on Chapters 11 & 12

Chapters 11 & 12 were written before Chapters 8, 9, 10, & 13 and were temporary misplaced. They were found later and deemed to fit best after Chapter 10.

BTC 10: The Sea

Joe Trebble and the Bio Tech Conspiracy

Chapter 10: The Sea

Back to Chapter 1: A Hot Pink Car

Joe Watched the tide come in. It always amazed him how dramatic the tide was down the Bristol Channel, even this far down stream.

“Not as spectacular as the tidal changes where you're form. Or so I hear.” 

Joe smiled at the familiar voice coming from behind him. “You bloody well know I live no where near that part of Canada.” Joe leapt up and gave his partner a hug.

“As far as I know Stratford on Avon, Canada, is as close to your Bay of Fundy as Stratford-upon-Avon, England is to here. You keep promising to take me over for a visit.”

“It is just Stratford in Canada, and I will one day my love.” Joe sat on the rocks and looked towards the sea, out back towards home.

“Your mission is bothering you,” Devin said giving Joe a squeeze on the shoulders.

“It is . . .” Joe paused and looked into Devin's eyes. “. . . It is more the emotions stirring in me; Having to leave you for this unknown length of time.”

“Hey, I know you are the only one qualified for this. Even though our training isn’t complete.” Devin sat on the rocks next to Joe. “Johnson said he’d keep me apprised of your status as best he can, and will try and pass on personal messages from me when possible. I will miss you constantly, but if Johnson says you’re the best chance to stop these biotech company attacks, then we just have to trust him.” Devin rested his head on Joe’s shoulder while pulling him close. “Let’s just make the most of the time we have together.”

Joe kissed Devin, his emotions beating upon him like the ocean waves upon the nearby shore. 

(100703)

Next: Chapter 11: English Toffee 

BTC 9: Joy

Joe Trebble and the Bio Tech Conspiracy

Chapter 9: Joy

Back to Chapter 1: A Hot Pink Car

Christie entered the house and collapsed on a chair in the living room. Tears swelled in her eyes. The golden retriever looked up at her. "I'm not going to cry Duncan." Christie stroked his muzzle. "I'm not going to cry!" she said louder, to no one in particular, as tears started to roll down her cheeks.

"It's alright dear" Rachael said entering the room from the hall at the bottom of the stairs. "Joe has been away for a long time. He has changed and now has his own life. I'm sure he still has feelings for you" Rachael said putting an arm around Christie.

Christie looked up into her mother's eyes, through tear soaked ones of her own. "I know, but it still hurts. I have known for a while" Christie looked down." At least could guess, as you guessed at my crying."

Rachael kneld down infront of her. "You have been holding on to him for too long. We all have. At least now you know it won't happen" Rachael said gently holding Christie's chin up and meeting her gaze.

"You're right mother" Christie lent over and gave her a hug. "I'm sure I'll feel better after some sleep."

~~~~~

Christie awoke to her mobile ringing. "Uh. . . hello" she said in a sleepy tone after groping for it beside her bed.

"Hey Christie. Um. . . "

"Who is this?" Christie said sitting up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Trevor" the voice on the other ends sounded a little shocked and downhearted.

"Oh hey Trevor. Sorry I just woke up, had a late night." Christie looked at the clock and was surprised it showed 1:03 PM.

"Oh. . . . Um. . . ."

"An old friend was in town, nothing special." Her heart ached.

"Oh? . . . So, . . . um. . . want to study together?"

Even though her heart ached from Joe's news, she laughed a little at Trevor's request. She had to get him over this shy romantic bumbling. "Not really in the mood to study. Kind of in the mood for something more entertaining."

"M . . . m . . .movie then?" His voice squeaked.

Christie knew Trevor's age, and thought it was slightly weird his voice cracking at 21, but, hey, he had a crush on her and the mere fact he managed to studder out asking for a date amused her. "Sure, why not. What about the one you told me about yesterday? But not before four."

"Great! There's a 4:35 PM showing. Want me to pick you up or meet there?" Trevor said quickly and anxiously.

"Why don't you pick me up. Make this a real date."

In the dead air of a reply Christie could almost hear Trevor blush.

"Pick me up around 4 PM." Christie gave Trevor her address and hung up after a meek acknowledgment. She looked at herself in her dressing mirror. "It feels like spring" she thought as her aching heart was also filled with joy.

(100206)

Next: Chapter 10: The Sea

BTC 8: Dogs/Cars/People

Joe Trebble and the Bio Tech Conspiracy

Chapter 8: Dogs/Cars/People

Back to Chapter 1: A Hot Pink Car

The dogs barked as Joe pulled up in the pink Cadillac in front of Christie's house to drop her off. The poetry night had been canceled which left more time for Joe and Christie to catch up. However as the night wore on, Joe had to say goodnight for his busy day.

"Thanks for a wonderful evening" Christie said giving Joe a kiss on the cheek before getting out of the car. "And thanks for being so open and honest with me." Joe watched Christie head to the door and silence the dogs before going inside.

"Honest and open" Joe thought shaking his head. "If ony she knew." Joe drove off. There was one place he had to go to before he could rest for the night.

Soon Joe pulled his pink Cadillac into a used car lot with many other cars of the same vintage. Joe threw the large duffel bag of his belongings over his shoulder and grabbed the smaller briefcase from the back of the car. He then went to the back of the car lot office, dropping the duffel bag strategically on the way, and pulled out of the briefcase lock picking tools. Making sure no one was looking, Joe jimmied the lock and quickly hacked the security code.

"Way too easy" Joe thought as he made his way to a computer. Within minutes he'd hacked his way into the system and logged the pink Cadillac into the inventory. Joe dropped the keys into a pile of other keys, after tagging them, and discretely made his exit.

Picking up his duffel bag he made his way to the SPCA shelter near by. Joe knew better than to break in there, but this was to be a drop point for the briefcase. Walking nonchalantly around the building at a safe distance, so as to not get the dogs barking, Joe looked for the drop point. As he started his third circuit, switching his direction this time, he saw it; a broken air exhaust vent behind a dumpster. Checking again that no one was watching, Joe hid the briefcase.

With that done, Joe hiked to the Greyhound bus terminal. As the doors slid open, Joe saw the time; 5:58 AM. "This is going to be a long day" he thought seeing all the people already waiting for a bus. Joe found an empty corner, threw down his duffel bag and, using it as a bed, lay down to get some sleep before his 9:15 AM bus.


(100201)

Next: Chapter 9: Joy

BTC 7: Tears of Joy

Joe Trebble and the Bio Tech Conspiracy

Chapter 7: Tears of Joy

Back to Chapter 1: A Hot Pink Car

Joe and Christie sat panting at the table.

“I’ve not danced like that in ages. Thanks for suggesting it,” Christie said over the din of the club, once she caught her breath.

“Thanks for showing me this place. Do you care to go to a more quiet spot now?” Joe asked.

The club was beginning to creep him out. Not the club itself, but a couple of guys in the club. He’d over heard a couple of snippets of their conversations, and although he disapproved of the things they said, and their apparent attitude on people, it was a look, a movement, something that told Joe that for Christie’s sake, and his own, it would be best to get out of there soon, and discretely.

“Yeah, sure. I hope you still like poetry. There’s a great after hours café that has some dark poetry readings Friday nights around this time.”

Joe looked at Christie, with the look of ‘Why ask, of course I do’ before getting up and heading out of the club.

“Oh nice to get out of that din,” Christie commented.

Joe nodded. The guys in the club made Joe realise that there were some things he’d have to hide from Christie, and some he’d have to tell her. One, his relationship, should come soon.

“There is something I have to tell you,” Joe said opening the car door for her.

Getting in his car, Joe turned to Christie. “Christie, a lot has happened since I left, some I’m not ready to tell, some I can’t say, but there is something important you must know. As I said I can’t be your prince, well part of it is I’m already someone else’s prince.”

“Oh Joe. I’m glad for you.”

“You’re not upset?”

“Why should I be? How serious is it?”

“We’ve been friends for ever, and I could definitely see our parents wanting us to get married. I do love you, but as a sister, as family. As for how serious my relationship is . . . Well marriage is a possibility, but our careers limit that at the moment. Are you sure you’re alright?” Joe asked seeing tears in Christie’s eyes.

“Yeah, I’m just so happy for you and well, happy you still love and care for me. Now you have to tell me all about her. She's going to move here too, right?”

(070310)

Next: Chapter 8: Dogs/Cars/People

BTC 6: The Colour Blue

Joe Trebble and the Bio Tech Conspiracy

Chapter 6: The Colour Blue

Back to Chapter 1: A Hot Pink Car

"That must be Christie." Rachael said as the sound of the front door closing echoed in the front hall.

Joe stood as Christie entered. She was wearing a stunning blue dress.

"This was not intended to be formal." Henry muttered.

Joe smiled at his uncle's remark as well as Christie's appearance.

“When old friends get reacquainted, a little formality is not necessarily neglected.” Joe said to Henry as he passed towards Christie. “I remember the times as a child we played and you often were the princess waiting for your prince to come. Today I see not a princess, but an angel in your beauty.” Joe hugged Christie, who retuned the gesture. “I am not, nor will be your prince,” he added in a whisper.

“Joe you’re so sweet. Always kind to me. I hope life is treating you as well as you look. Although the accent is a bit of a pleasant shock.”

“Aye, life is good.”

“And what brings you back to Canada?”

“Business.” Joe glanced at his uncle and nodded. Their business had been completed soon after Joe had arrived. Henry said he would risk the deal to save the company. “Business that may perhaps bring me back to Canada more permanently.”

“Oh Joe!” Christie hugged Joe tighter. “That sounds great. Will you be here or would it be elsewhere in Canada?”

“Here. I’ve been interested in returning home, so to speak, and just asked if there was any possibility of a job at the BioTech company.”

“Having Joe work with us would be a great honour,” Henry interjected.

“We can continue this at the table, dinner is ready,” Rachael said getting up and leading the way.

Joe escorted Christie in to the dinning room as Henry took the dogs out back for the supper hour.

“So you are done your degree now?” Christie asked.

“Nearly. A couple more months.”

Joe smiled as they entered the dining room. The fact that Christie was wearing blue, a much lighter shade than his shirt, was interesting he thought, but the dining room was itself blue, something to almost laugh at. The walls, although they appeared white, had a faint robin egg blue hue to them, giving a mix of warmth and coolness to the room. The drapes across the picture frame window were a sea blue, accenting the blue sky, now going dusk, and the green grass out the back yard. The table cloth was a pastel blue with dark blue serviettes to match.

Blue was not Joe’s favourite colour, but nor was it the one he detested. Regardless, the blue of the dining room amused him.

(070310)

Next: Chapter 7: Tears of Joy