QBLH
by
Helen tipped Abdul with another gold coin, and the two entered the building. Helen's dazzling beauty immediately caught everyone's attention, as the hotel staff recognized the pair as their VIP guests. They still carried the four assault rifles that they had picked up in Gaza. Helen reluctantly surrendered her acquisitions to the bell captain, who was eager to lock these weapons safely away. Hilton management frowned upon guests toting automatic weapons on their premises. It tended to chase away their customers. However, Jim refused to surrender his Colt 45. Helen was permitted to keep her hand weapon as well, since no one could recognize what kind of weapon it was.
Jim kept his cane, and Helen kept her parasol. The couple found their way to the conference room which was already filled with curious Israeli and Palestinian officials. For some odd reason, both parties had taken a favorable attitude towards this pair. The Americans had not disclosed the fact that Helen was alien. This was classified information.
Antiope Industries had just made a spectacular performance on Wall Street, and Helen carried the credentials of executive officer, Antiope Industries. Antiope Industries had been the buzzword for the day, and here was Helen in Jerusalem about to make another announcement. Every major world investor had learned to gain respect for the stock to Antiope Industries on that day. Antiope had warned the market not to play profit taking games with her company, and they had been seriously burned by doing so. No one ever before had so powerfully controlled the market, but still very few knew much about Antiope Industries. It was such a new company, and management was somewhat hard to approach. Antiope was always busy and scarcely available.
Helen did not seem to concern herself with business and Batavia had been her only public speech thus far. She could see that the lecherous old men still had fire in their hearts for her. She could easily arouse each and every one of them with a minimal effort. She could even get a rise out of the eunuchs.
Jim pointed to the time indicating that time was getting short. Genie was fully charged and was performing preflight checkout. "Password, Jim. I'm critical."
"OK Idiot. Fire up!"
It was not yet time for departure, but Idiot needed password clearance in order to enable its central reactors. It still needed to do an initial systems readiness test on each of the warp and antimatter functions and make programming adjustments. Due to the nature of the time jump, Jim had to secretly concern himself with the programming as Helen sold the audience the Albert Einstein Power Company.
"Gentlemen, as some of you may know, we demonstrated our new fusion control module yesterday in Batavia, Illinois, and created the most powerful, sustainable, and controllable fusion reaction the world has ever seen. We have the ability to maintain this process indefinitely and artificially. We can use this process to make energy to drive a thriving economy. We can use this process to take the waters from Mt. Moriah and provide everlasting freshwater for everyone and their garden. Indeed the land can be flowing with milk and honey as cheap power can make pure the waters of the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean. The price for this gentleman is a cessation to the Palestinian demand for a separate nation. The water shall be shared by both tribes for it knows not whether you be Jew or Muslim. It only knows that you are thirsty and seek its power and quenching goodness. We seek the consent and support of the Israeli government and hereby request a building permit. When can we start building this complex gentleman?"
"My lady, are you intent on using the waters from our sacred Mt. Moriah to power your infernal engine from Hell?"
"Of course, gentlemen. Any more questions?"
"I object. It would be immoral for us to profane our sacred ground with this engine from Hell. It could also cause an atomic explosion. Are you insane, my lady?"
"No, just a tough bitch, and you're a spineless worm. So what are you going to do if I build in spite of your objection, have a temper tantrum?"
"No I shall simply vote no and not allow you to build and profane our holy ground nor threaten this holy city. We Muslims can not allow you to profane our ground."
"Get real, gentlemen, we intend to provide each and every Muslim child in Jerusalem inexpensive electricity and plentiful water. You will no longer burn oil to make power. I do not intend on going through the expense of building this unit and being forced to bill Muslim and Jew under different infrastructures. I only want to bribe my city officials once. This complex is going to be intricately linked with Mt. Moriah because that is your fountainhead and our reactors need fresh water which requires minimal filtering. Fresh water and electricity will be distributed throughout the city using a unified distribution matrix which we also are constructing. I do not intend to deal with two squabbling governments in my attempt to keep your city flowing with fresh water and illuminated during the upcoming centuries."
"It seems I have heard this somewhere before. It sounds like a good plan I shall vote for it. Tell us more."
"We are setting up our site here, and the nations shall come here to learn the secret of infinite power. We shall shut out the knowledge to no one. The secret to controlled fusion shall then not be used destructively and shall be hoarded by no nation, but shall be shared by all humanity. What say you now, gentlemen?"
"I still object."
He turned and looked for support. He thought he was about to get some when Helen shot the individual. He fell dead on the spot.
Jim objected. "Oh Helen, you should not have done that."
Quickly he moved over to the dead individual. Using Genie he managed to masquerade a resuscitation of the deceased individual disguising his true actions under the guise of an earth surgeon. The guests were surprised to see the exceptional healing skills of Helen's bodyguard. Besides being a remarkable soldier this man was apparently an exceptional surgeon. A rare combination it was indeed.
"Don't piss her off," were the first words the revived individual heard.
The rest of the audience was shocked and amazed, but they approved Helen's bid for construction. Helen reconfirmed the bid using several channels.
Satisfied, she concluded her business and turned to Jim. "Shall we go?"
Jim said. "It's about time. We have a helicopter waiting. Antiope is outside waiting for us. Did you enjoy our date?"
"I love you, Jim." She kissed him.
"When are we going out again?"
The duo ignored the approving crowd as they left the room. They slipped around a corner and disappeared, reappearing inside the helicopter.
Not being surprised, Antiope greeted Jim and Helen with a smile. "Need a lift?"
In spite of the early hour, the area around the Hilton was mobbed as all tried to intercept Jim and Helen before they boarded the helicopter. All were surprised as Antiope lifted off with Helen waving at the crowd from the chopper as it was airborne.
On the way back to the Dutchman, Genie intercepted communications concerning their visit. Apparently there still were a few individuals that did not care too much for the idea of building the Albert Einstein Power Company. Jim wasn't interested in arguing any more. In just a few minutes, he would be leaving, and time would take its course while he reflected on his options.
"So are you taking us with you, then, Jim boy?" queried Helen.
"Of course he is," emphasized Antiope, "otherwise yesterday's date would have been a sham."
"I was considering taking you back upon my return from Artemis."
"What if she insists on coming with you? Or insists on sending new guards for you?"
Jim thought of Lateisha and Tateisha. Reconciling that there was a very high probability that they would be his new escorts, Jim decided to take Helen and Antiope to the past, but he would have to pass near Cygnus first to establish the wormhole to the past.
"OK, ladies. You asked for it."
Antiope and Helen were elated. Genie would fold up the chopper and the Dutchman for later re-extraction as Idiot would reconstruct the Box enclosing Antiope, Helen, and Jim within its boundaries. Once enclosed, no outside radiation of any form would make it through the Box's gravitational shielding.
A destroyer was guarding the vicinity of the Dutchman where it lay anchor. Antiope expertly landed the small helicopter on the yacht's small helodeck. Before landing she thanked the Navy for guarding her yacht for her.
"But boys, you simply are going to have to clear out now; we are scheduled for some very special operations. Give General Armstrong my best regards."
Maintaining radio silence, the destroyer turned away from the Dutchman and increased speed. The trio scouted the yacht to ensure everything was in place. Antiope weighed anchor and Helen started the engines. Genie turbo-boosted the engines a little as well and the yacht was soon out of visual contact with land and ships.
"Blackout all electronic surveillance of this region, Idiot, and then take us to invisibility mode. Establish complete gravitational shielding and zero our mass. Enter 100% radiation absorption mode, and project us away from Earth mass center away from solar center towards Cygnus, minimize temporal displacement. Maintain apparent visual field and merge it in with our field of arrival."