Joe Schmoe from Nowhere

Leave a message. Beeeeeep


What? No! No! No! This can't be happening. Not now.

Dude! You have to call me right back! Seriously! I need some urgent Big Brother help and I need it now! We're talking major intervention time here.

You have GOT to call me as soon as you get this message.

No wait! Better still. Read your email then call me right back. I'll sleep with my damned cell tonight. I don't care what time it is but you have to call me man.

Yeah, this'll be better. I'll be able to think things through. I can spell out everything and not panic. That's the key right now. Not to panic. But I think it's too late for that


Ok Jove, I know you already got my message so you know something major's up. I don't know what to do so you gotta help me out here dude.

Alright, I'm trying to stay calm here. I'm trying to work things out in my mind so I can explain it to you and maybe understand a little more myself. But you have to call me as soon as you read this. Seriously. No playing around here.

So, I told you about this new kid at school right? CJ? Well he's a year behind me, right? Well he's an ok guy. I mean, really ok ya' know?

(Yeah, I know I'm rambling but I'm getting there. Really I am)



So, I stopped off at his place after school today just to hang. We were just playing out by his apartment, you know, playing red hands, tickling, just talking, right?

We even played chess outside for a while. Then he says he has to go in to start dinner as his Mom'll be home from work soon. He was going to make burgers for us all.

Well he had only been inside for a few minutes when this car pulls up outside. Now, I know it's got to be his Mom 'cause he kinda described her to me. So I waved, right?


Hey, no worries, right? So Mrs. Gieke and I head in to dinner, right? Everything's cool. She's asking both me and CJ how school's going and stuff.


When suddenly, she stops all mid-sentence and all, and asks how you're doing in school.


CJ just looks at her and says, "So, you're going to tell after all, huh?"

And I'm all, "Tell who what?"


CJ looks at me and says, "Mom's had an interesting life. Just hear her out, ok?"

So I look at Mrs. G and said sure. Although I had no idea what it had to do with you. Or with me for that matter.


So she starts telling me about how she used to be in the military and how she had gotten hooked up with this guy who was totally the wrong kind of guy for her to be seeing.

She tells me about how this guy was into some heavy nasty stuff and was using her as a cover so he could go on bases and hang out with certain types of people.

She didn't know anything at all about it 'cause she was madly in love with him. She said that even later she still could hardly believe what he had been doing.

So, she got this transfer to Simington HQ and this guy went with her. Then one day, she got a knock on her office door. It was the MP's and some suits from the SimGovernment. They took her away for questioning. They thought she was involved in selling secrets and stuff to other Governments.



They kept her locked away for several months while they kept asking questions after questions and then double checking that what she was telling them was the truth. While she was there she found out she was pregnant.

Dude! She says that she's my Mother!!!

She sent CJ upstairs to get something from her room and he came back with a photo of her and Pop.


She said that all the time she was in custody and then in hiding she kept thinking about her one real friend. The one who had always stayed by her. The one who told her the truth about not trusting the guy she was seeing. Even though they had never met, Pops still had a bad feeling about him.

So, after she was discharged she knew that there was no way she could support herself and a new baby but she didn't know what to do.

She had become friends with one of the guards she had met while in custody. The guard had offered to help her make out a will and start own life over again. Apparently this woman knew some people who could help Mrs. G fake her death.

She said that she thought about it for several months. She didn't want to do it. Let me go like that. Never see me again. Ever.

But then her old apartment was broken into. The people who lived there were roughed up bad. One almost died. She said that she knew then that the guy who had done her so wrong would not stop coming after her. Especially if he knew she'd had his son.

She said that she knew that this was the only way to keep me safe. So she did it.


All I could do was sit there and look at the old photo. Man, this was too creepy. I couldn't seem to take it in. I still can't.

I got up and walked into the other room. I had to get away for a second.

I could hear her and CJ - my half-brother? - cleaning up in the kitchen. I vaguely remember hearing him say good night as he headed upstairs for bed. I just continued to sit there.

Finally she came out to the living room. She apologized for telling me like this. She said that when she had heard who CJ had met and made friends with it just seemed like fate had stepped in.


She wanted to meet me but she wanted to clear it with Pop first. If he felt that I couldn't handle it she said she would have never told me the truth. She would have just stayed "CJ's Mom" and left it at that.

Then she asked me what I was feeling.


I looked at her and said "You just dropped a bombshell like this on me. What do you think I'm feeling?"


I told her that I feel like I'm in some poorly done made-for-tv movie or something.

I told her that I needed to head home. Needed to get Pop's car home to him. I think I remembered to tell her bye and thanked her for dinner.

I do know that I told her I'd be in touch.

Dude! What do I do now? She said that my old man is dead so at least we're both safe from him now.

Gee, I guess that's something huh? "Hi, I'm your Mom. Your dad was a major-league bad guy and threatened my life and yours too. But that's ok because he's dead now. Hey, wanna be friends?"

Yeah, yeah. I know that's not really how she meant it but still.

Now you know why I need some help. Some advice. I can't go to Dad or Pop on this yet. I need to think some more. But I do need to talk to someone.


Help! Please?

Well, what do you know? My semi-literate big brother does know how to return emails. I was really starting to wonder.

Sounds like your second year is going to be as boring as your first. Make friends, make enemies, make good grades, rinse, repeat. Ho-hum.

Not like things here at home are all that different though. Some minor changes but nothing amazing.


Dad decided to try his hand at a cooking contest last weekend.


Did pretty well too. He won a blue ribbon on his first attempt.


Guess you know that he was pretty thrilled with that outcome.


Remember my telling you that Pops had taken over your garden while you were gone? Well, now he thinks he can talk to the plants.


I think he's been out in the sun too long but the scariest part of this is that it seems to be working. You wouldn't believe the condition of the plants right now. It's as though they are all thriving under the extra attention.


Dad and Pops went out for a special dinner last weekend to celebrate their anniversary or something.


I guess they had fun. It's not like I really want to know, you know?


Of course, the main reason I don't want to know anything about their date is because I saw what happened when they got back home.

Well, not really SAW (thank goodness) but I still have a really good idea.


Especially since they wrapped up their date in a huge liplock. In public!

Alright, now I have to change the subject. Fast.


Dad and Pops went out and bought two new cars finally. They figured the old clunkers had finally earned the right to go to their just rewards. Dad's car is awesome. Pops' is ok, but Dad's? Seriously jazzed!


Even CJ agreed that the new cars just spoke of money.


Oh, that's right. You haven't met CJ yet. He's a new guy at my school. He and his Ma just moved here. His real name is Chester Jr. Guess you can tell why he goes by CJ?


He's an ok guy and we really hit it off right away. It was almost like we just clicked or something.


Of course that doesn't mean that he hasn't managed to make me mad. But then again, you manage to make me mad often enough that it was easy to just shrug off his comments.


Dad just asked me to tell you "hi" since he knew I was writing to you. Pops probably would say the same but he got a call earlier this evening and had to go out and meet someone. Whoever it was he sure was bragging about you. Dementia must be setting in early, poor man.


I guess it was probably Uncle Joe or Pete because I heard him tell Dad he had to go see an old friend.

Oh well, I don't have much more to tell you. Besides, I'll be seeing you later this week at Pops birthday party. You do remember the party, right? Well, don't forget. For some reason the old men are looking forward to seeing you. Go figure!

See you then Bro,
Jules

Hey you Back-woods Bum! How's it shaking? Is it shaking? Do I really want to know? No!

Thanks for all of the emails you HAVEN'T sent since you left. Each and every one of them mean oh-so-much to me. Dirtbag!

At least you're still calling the 'rents every week. They, at least, seem to like hearing from you.

I'm sure that you're on pins-and-needles (gee, what a stupid phrase huh? like someone would want to be on pins and needles?) wanting to know how I fill my every waking hour since you bugged outta here.

Well, being the loving, caring, magnanimous (no, I didn't just look up that word, dweeb) little brother that I am, I figured I'd spare you a little bit of the misery and angst you so richly deserve and tell you. I'm almost too kind for my own good you know!


I'm still "allowing" Pop to teach me how to play chess. He seems to think I need to work on my skills some more.


I figure that if he makes me wear that stupid light-hat he brought home from the lab that he deserves whatever happens, right?


There's been a few times I've pushed it a little too far


But since he really doesn't want to believe that his precious baby boy would be so underhanded, a quick flash of dimples, a hurt expression and a "Pop? Would I do that to you?" works every time.

No doubt you'll be thrilled to know that No Man's Land is starting to head into a new century. Finally. Too bad it's the last one. We have our very own skating rink now. yee-rah


Of course, being bored, I finally went to check it out a few weeks back. There's some nice looking women hanging out around there.


So I headed over to the dartbard and started chatting one of them up.


Unfortunately, she was late for a dentist appointment so she had to bug out, but that was cool. Couldn't blame her for running late. I've heard that root canals hurt a lot so I'd probably be put off the appointment myself.


Of course, I eventually broke down and had to try out the skates, right? Other than a little bit of a bobble when some jerkwater from school yelled out my name I did pretty well.


I didn't let that little twit bother me though. and of course, being the Heir of Coolness, I was cruising along with style in no time at all.


After a few minutes I was getting rather bored and decided to turn in my skates. Oh and just let me say that karma may be a witch, but she's a good little witch. The dirtbag who startled me before fell in an ignominious heap as I left the rink. I didn't laugh too much at him. Yeah right!


By then I was feeling a bit hungry so I hopped in to Pop's car and drove to LM for a meal. Yeah, it's a long drive but oh so worth it. Especially since there's this one waitress chick who seems to have the hots for me.


In fact, this visit was extra special since she decided that she'd cover my meal for me.


Yeah, you read that right. She made arrangements with the owner so I didn't have to pay.


I'm sure that doesn't happen too often. But of course, with my awesomeness the owner immediately saw the benefit of making me happy.

Well, enough about my wonderfulness for now, I guess I should fill you in on the 'rents too.


Don't worry about your garden out back. Dad and Pop have taken over it's care. And pop's even keeping his clothes on to do so. Something about a nasty rash he picked up once. (I didn't ask)


Of course, nothing has changed a bit between them in the romance department. Geez, I have friends at school who don't see as much action as those two old men do!


I'm sure Pop told you all about the big raise he got a few months back. Not too shabby at all. Whatever it was he did, Uncle John really took care of the family that time.


Dad got some kind of big bonus at work last month. Don't know if I really want to know the details, but he sure was jumpy for a while after that.


Oh yeah, and Dillweed? Just want to let you know that I saw right through your last little bit of advice. Remember how you told me that girls love to be treated just like guys?


Well, of course, I saw that for the bull that it was and the next time Melody was visiting I told her of your advice about giving girls noogies and playing Punch-You Punch-Me with them.


We got a big laugh at you thinking I'd be stupid enough to fall for that.


Oh yeah, and one time when Melody was visiting I saw that chick from the bowling alley again. She must still be in pain from the dentist visit or something. She decided to take out her frustration on our garbage can. I sent her on her way fast.


Oh geez! I almost forgot. Did Dad tell you about his big promotion? It was way too awesome for words. He's now the tops in his field at work. I swear that his feet haven't touched the ground once since he heard the news.


I was in their bathroom when Pop got home from work that night. I barely made it out of there before the celebrating started!


So I headed outside for a few while they were at it and saw the strangest looking lady out there.


I didn't quite know what to think of her, but as soon as the 'rents came up for air I told them about the visit. Dad must have known something about what was going on. he just nodded in that oh-so-annoying way of his and took the lamp inside.


Then, just a few days after Dad's big promotion Pop got one too. He's in charge of all the labs at the Foundation now. Not too shabby, huh?


Well I guess I'll go for now. Dad and Pop want to talk to me about something. I'll save this as a draft for right now in case it's something I feel like sharing with you. Ha-ha! I'll have news before you!


I'm back. Nothing too major. Just wanted to let me know that Dad's decided to retire. He's pretty jazzed about it, not that it shows of course.

Oh well, I'll see you at Pop's birthday party next week. Don't forget to bring any main squeeze you might have. I'd love to tell her all kinds of stories about your bratiness.

Your little bro,
The Desert Rat
(see, I told you that word could be spelled without the B)

I plunged into my second semester concentrating only on my studies... nah, I can't lie to you. I was spending time meeting new people and having some fun.

One of my newest friends, Corbin, is a school mascot. He showed up one day while I was working on some trick shots and we just hit it off right away.


Over the next few weeks he helped me work on my skills until I could actually hold my own against him. I couldn't win, but I got pretty close a few times.


Things with my dormmates were going about the same. Especially with one in particular.


I'd show up somewhere and she would leave. Not that I really minded, but others were starting to notice as well.


Oh well. Her loss, right?

Then, one boring day when I really didn't feel like studying, I was thumbing through the Uni directory and a name jumped out at me. Ginger Newson. I gave my friend Gabrielle a call and found out that yes, they are related.

Gabrielle came by for a visit scoping the place out for next year and invited me over to her older brother and sister's dorm. I felt like I fit in right away with the Newsons.


Ginger and I started hanging out with each other and got to be good friends.

When the boredom or the stress started getting to me I'd head out to the small pond out behind the dorms. I've always found fishing relaxing and besides, it reminds me of home in a way.


I didn't even care if I actually caught anything or not. Much.


Then came the day I had worked for. I finished my blasted paper.


I decided that I need a little reward and went shopping for some new clothes.

I could hardly believe who I saw behind the counter. Nicole had moved closer to the university so she could go to school and still work part-time.


We had lost touch this past year, especially after my "absence" from home. I had let a lot of my old friendships fade as I recovered from... Well, form what didn't happen!

I hadn't realized how much I had missed her smile and her laugh.

Of course, she greeted me as her favorite non-alien. With those words I felt the friendship taking hold again.


We were able to talk for a while since there were only a few window shoppers in the store. Finally though, it was time for me to leave. We exchanged new numbers and promised not to let the other slip away this time.

I stepped out of the store with a light heart into a beautiful world. A world where I felt I could do no wrong. A world where...


Witches were real? Nah. I must have been imagining things, right? But then how do you explain the sparkles and the butterflies and the fact that she waved and called me by name as she told me to have a wonderful day?


Great. Another thing I will never mention again. To anyone.

With the last of my essays done i knew that the semester was coming to an end.

Fall soon took on a sharp nip as I found myself scurrying to classes and taking finals. But it was all good. I carried a 4.0 my entire first year of university.


Of course, the money was pretty good as well. I was able to set aside a little bit of cash thanks to my second set of scholarships.

I made it! I'm now a full-time student at Sim State University. Very cool even if I was a little nervous. Alright, maybe more than a little nervous.


One of the first things I noticed once I got to Sim State was that it's green here. Very green. The second thing I noticed was that it had started raining.


So I headed inside to claim my room and start meeting my dormmates.


Everyone else seemed to be still unpacking so I figured I'd play darts for a little while. I knew I could live out of a suitcase for a while, so no hurries there.


It wasn't very long before I was joined by a real cutie with long blonde hair. Everything seemed to be going well even though she seemed very quiet. Marion didn't even smile when I told my alien jokes. What was up with that, right?


So a few days later I was eating lunch and trying to get this nerd-boy, Chandler, to actually talk to me when she walked by again.


Since I was done eating I figured I'd take a chance and chat her up. Things started off ok except she seemed a little more into things that didn't interest me but I listened anyway.


Then she stopped in midsentence and mentioned that I had something on my sweater.


I looked down to see what kind of slob I had become when up came her finger and...


Ok, I may have pulled that stunt on J-Brat many times but that was different. I didn't do something like that when he was trying to make a good impression on a group of strangers. At least not more than once or twice.


Another of my dormmates is pretty cool although she has an even stranger name than I do - Cherry Perry. We've had several dart contests together and she's good. Really good.


She's also pretty smart and has invited me to join her study group a couple of times.


By about mid-term I knew that I really needed to figure out what Marion's problem was. There's a pool table downstairs and when I went down to play she was down there and started poking at me.


Ok, Dad and Pop would not be too happy with me but I poked back. I told her that I would be surprised if she had any good friends at all if she kept this up.


Neither one of us was too happy with that encounter.


I don't know how things would have gone from there if we hadn't heard the alarms going off. The crazy old woman who pretends to be the cook had set herself on fire.


Luckily for her, the fire department was right on the ball (must have lots of fires on campus)


And I will not admit that I had to hold myself back from laughing just watching her crazy hotfoot dance. That would be just plain mean of me. *snicker*


I really do have some strange characters in my dorm though. There's this one chick who has never said word one to me at all. So you can well imagine my surprise when I got back from class and found her in my bed! I think her name is Stacey or Spacey or something like that.


Of course, I woke her up and shooed her out of there real fast. I also made sure that my door remained locked at all times now. I guess it's working since I haven't seen evidence of someone pulling a Goldilocks on me. Then again, I thought the door was locked before that time too.

Speaking of Goldilocks, I have to admit to liking co-ed showers. Just a few weeks ago I was in the shower when I heard the one behind me start up. Now, I have to admit that I usually try hard not to look, I mean that's just rude, right? But something yellow caught the corner of my eye and I just knew who was there. She may be one of the rudest people I've ever run across but dang she's hot!


Oh yeah, back to school stuff. I've been doing rather well in class and like being able to call the professors directly whenever I have a question. I've even struck up a friendship with Professor Sullivan Lee. He's not only a nice guy but he's helped me in a few of my other courses as well as helping me decide what major to declare.


At this point in my life I'd love to be the newest Captain hero but felt a strong pull towards Poli-Sci. So I made some quick changes to my schedule and managed to do a few drop/adds without my GPA suffering.

In fact, I ended the first semester with a 4.0 gpa. Not bad for a Frosh, huh? I don't expect to keep it up all four years, but it was a great feeling knowing that I could do it. We'll just have to see how things go next semester, won't we?

Luckily for me we never mentioned my... um, absence from the family ever again.

I guess having all the plans for the huge birthday party helped to keep our minds off what had happened to me and on more important things.

I had wanted to have a much larger party, maybe at the roller rink or something like that, but I was over-ruled by both Dad and Pop. Instead we had a nice little gathering at home.

Jewel Founder was quick to try some new dance steps but Peter? Well, I guess I should be nice and say at least he seemed to have fun.


Before long it was time to do the cake thing. We were all waiting breathlessly when Dad blew out the candles.


After doing a little jig the lightshow and confetti showed up and we got our first look at Dad the elder.


Ah, c'mon now. I know I have a better picture here somewhere. Found it. Let's try that again...

After doing a little jig the lightshow and confetti showed up and we got our first look at Dad the elder.


Doggone it all. That's not the one I wanted to use either. What did I name that good photo? Oh yeah, I remember.


Of course, Dad and Pop, being the people they are, didn't even stick around for the cake and ice cream. I guess you know where they headed right away, don't you?


J-Brat and I kept Peter and Jewel Founder company since Dad and Pop had disappeared. Again.


Before long the other birthday boy made his appearance and it was time to start the second half of the party. For Uncle John. I think that he enjoyed himself because he thanked me for the party as he was walking towards the door. Of course, with Uncle John it's hard to say how he felt. I'd never want to play poker with him. At least not for money.


I think Dad and Pop would have been pleased with the party as well. If they had stayed around for the end of it. But I guess they had their own little party, huh?


Life continued on after the birthday party pretty much as it had before hand. Just normal day-to-day living.

Dad and J-Bird tried to start up a band and Pop seemed thrilled by the sounds they put out. They were good but I don't know if they were that good.


I had thought about joining them but those plans changed when I heard that my application and scholarships had been approved.


J-Brat managed to hear about one of my scholarships and sprung the news on Dad and Pop before I could do so. Part of me wanted to bust his chops for it but another part of me was secretly glad I didn't have to tell them.


Apparently the university had found a small notation in my medical files. I hadn't heard of the "Extraterrestrial Reparation Grant" until then. I still don't know if it was because of my Dad's "absence" or my own. But if they want to give me more money for it, I guess I won't be a dummy and refuse it, right? As long as I don't ever have to talk about. Ever!


I managed to say goodbye to Dad and Pop without getting too choked up


Then said goodbye to J-Bird... I mean Jules, before I left.


Of course, knowing my parents, I'm sure that they were congratulating each other on my being accepted to university before the cab had even left the house.


Good thing that Jules is as used to their ways as I am.


But hey, that's my family. Loving, affectionate and more than a little crazy sometimes.


I can't believe how much I'm missing them already.

Wow! I'm writing this out longhand while I'm waiting on my train. Life has changed so much since the last time I updated. My plan is to get to my destination, find a computer and type this all in and add the pics I have saved to a small flash drive.

I think I remember where I left off last time, but it's been awhile and a lot has happened so please bear with me, K?

For the most part, life had just been going on as usual since I last posted.


Just the day-to-day things like homework


Ignoring Dad and Pop's reactions to each other


Enjoying long leisurely weekends with J-Brat


And, on very rare occasions, checking out Dad's telescope.


Dispite the nicknames I've given him, the little pest really isn't so bad


Of course, I'd never admit that to him you know.


But there are times when you just need to be with people your own age, ya' know?


Even if you have to sneak out and then back home again to do so.


But, mixed in with the day-to-day stuff, we had four very big changes to our lives lately. The first one snuck up on us all unaware.

We had the whole family out at the oasis just having some fun together


When I heard a strange sound behind me


Part of me just wanted to ignore it but then I realized I had seen some sparkly stuff out of the corner of my eye and realized what had just happened


Today was J-Bird's birthday and the whole family had forgotten. Including the brat himself.


So I turned and saw my, now not so little, brother standing there behind me. Sure I may have teased him a bit about forgetting his own birthday but that's what brothers do, right?

Of course, Dad and Pop felt bad about forgetting and started consoling each other


And, being who they are, the consoling soon developed into something different.


For some reason J-Brat had decided that he wanted to do everything that I did now that he was a teen too. Once he even followed me on a hike


I quickly discouraged him from doing that anymore.


After all, I had planned on scoping out the babes at this one park nearby and he had caught the eye of more chicks than I had. Can't have little brother showing me up, right?


The second big change that happened was totally unfair. Even though I still went out to the telescope every few weeks or so, I knew to not stay for more than an hour. Can't have anyont noticing one small person on one small planet, right?

So, one night I headed outside shortly after sunset and was just getting the 'scope zoomed in on one piece of space when IT happened.


I couldn't believe it! I had barely been outside for ten minutes. It just isn't fair.

Pop said that he thinks I have blocked out what happened on the ship and he might be right since the next thing I remember was looking down over the house, seeing lots of bright lights


Then watching the dirt rush up and hit me in the face. Or at least that's how it seemed to me.


I vaguely remember standing on my feet and hearing a loud noise behind me.


I turned and saw... never mind. I've already said too much as it is.

I really wanted to quickly update everyone with what's been happening in our lives lately.

First off, we had a new family portrait done since we last talked.


We've also been doing a lot of family activities that have been the most fun ever.


And now that J-Brat has gotten old enough we've been having some fun together as well. Since we live in a desert we've found a great new pasttime. Water balloon fights!


A game that's just as much fun to loose as it is to win.


I have to admit that I'm spending as much time on the phone as I had been. Come on, seriously, when you live in one town and most of your friends live in another, what else can you do?


I'm still looking for my other home planet sometimes. Not too much though. I've really listened to what Dad and Uncle John have said about being overly curious. No thanks!


Of course, not all things are fun and games. We still have chores to do as well. I wouldn't admit this to J-Bird, but his help really does make a difference.


Speaking of J-Birds and chores though, it's probably a good thing we didn't know EXACTLY what goes on while we're at school. Judging by a couple of Dad & Pop's joking comments I don't think I want to know. Ever!


Oh yeah! I almost forgot to mention, we had something really cool happen lately. We had a visit from the Headmaster of a prep school nearby. This was something both Dad and Pop wanted for me and J-Brat.


Whatever we said or did must have been pretty awesome right? We made it.


I guess you can safely figure out where Dad & Pop headed as soon as the Head-dude left can't you? Yeah, they were off for their own celebration.


So now we have a new school. And we have to wear uniforms! I'm still unsure how I feel about that. Here's the geek-boy heading off to school in his new duds.


You know the difference between J-Brat and me? I make this look good.


Isn't that just the best line ever? J-Bird really hates it when I make comments like that, but hey, when you got it, you got it, right? And I gotz it!

So, there I was, still out shopping, when this girl walked in. She dropped off some books under the counter and headed into a small room in the back. When she came back out I just had to go talk to her.


Having seen the sci-fi books she had brought in I couldn't resist giving it a try. "So, you like Aliens I see?"


"Oh my, yes I do. I'd love to actually meet one someday."

"Well, this is your lucky day. Here I am!"


Yeah, I knew it was lame, but I just had to give it a try, right?

"No you're not. You may be half alien, but I want to see a real, true, spaceship flying, spacesuit wearing, born on another planet, one hundered percent alien."


"Gee, not asking for much are you?" I scoffed.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't really upset but I was a little confused. After all, how many people like me are there anyways? There's me and there's Uncle John. At least that's all I've ever seen.

Ok, so maybe her comments burned a little bit, but she got me thinking. What would the real aliens be like? And did I really want to know?

Anyway, Nicole and I talked for a few minutes more until she had to go to work. We made sure to exchange numbers so we could keep in touch and then I headed back home.

Besides, this "non-alien" still had chores to do at home. Although I soon found that Pops had already started on some of them for me. He's a great dad. He really is.


Life continued on as normal, my family doing what they do best.


And of course Dad and Pops doing what they do best.

Plus, there was me doing what I've come to like best. Socialize! Nicole and I would talk for hours about books, planets, family and even school classes we liked or disliked.


But my socializing wasn't restricted just to Nicole...


But we did seem to just click and it took no time at all for us to become best friends.


As it always seems to do, time flew by and it was finally time for Jules to have his big birthday party. He'd be starting school soon and was a little worried about it so we had a nice little party just for the family to help him celebrate.

Boy, he grew up fast.


Of course, since it was a family celebration, you can well imagine what Dad and Pops had in mind, right?


More day-to-day stuff coming soon.

Yeah, I know that I quit my update abruptly. I would apologize, but I'd be lying if I said I was sorry. I did have a good reason though.

So there I was, getting ready to blow out my candles and open my new gifts, right?


Now, mind you, it was a cool feeling to suddenly feel that rush of a sudden growth spurt but when I saw what clothes I had available...


Well, let's just say that I was not impressed. I was still happy that I had such great gifts to close out my childhood and to start my teen years, but still. Blah-humbug.


And of course, Dad and Pop immediately disappeared to do some celebrating of their own. Not as though I would have said anything to them about their poor choices in gifts. I mean, really, I've seen pictures of them both before I came along. Yikes!

Luckily for me Uncle John had expected this possibility and made his own arrangements. But I'll get back to that in a sec.

So, after they, ummm left, I asked him if they had always been like this, so oblivious to guests and so caught up in each other even before they married and he admitted that, yes, they had been.


Then he told me about how they had first met and then almost lost each other. It was kind of sad to hear about how things might have been. If Pop hadn't been so understanding after what had happened to Dad there's no telling how much different things might have been for me.

I couldn't imagine what my life would be like without Pop in it. It actually scared me a little, but Uncle John told me that it was just meant to be. Something about triple lighting bolts or something. He said that he hoped that one day I would understand.

Yeah, ok, whatever. I hope that I don't ever understand. I mean, hello?? They just walked off and left a guest out here for me to entertain. Again. Plus, I could tell that Jules was starting to get cranky so I'd need to put him to bed. After they were done, of course.

Anyway, Uncle John's gift to me was a coupon for a primo saloon in a nearby town. I mean, they have some specially trained stylists and know how to treat people right. Almost like pampering he said. Plus, he also gave me a coupon for a new wardrobe! How's that for a righteous gift?

And so, the next weekend I headed off to Bluewater Cove. First off, living in a desert all my life, then finding a place with lots of water and lots of green? Seriously awesome!

The cab stopped outside a nice shoppe. Yeah, that's how they spelled it even. Two P's and an E? Shesh. Oh well. Their choice, their shopPE.

So I went inside and checked in with the receptionist. I only had to wait a few minutes before a guy called my name.

Now, Pop has always trimmed my hair up when I needed it so I really didn't know what to expect. So for a second I really wished that I had brought Dad or Pop along with me but I knew that I could do this. I needed to do this. All on my own.


When he showed me what he had done to me I just dropped my head and waited to cry. Something I hadn't felt like doing for years. But then something clicked inside of me and I started to get angry. Really angry.

I looked up at the guy and told him that if he didn't fix this, and fix it right now I'd make arrangements to ensure he regretted it. One night while he was asleep I would see to it that his brains were extracted through his toenails.

Yeah, pretty lame right? But I had never been that mad before and I hadn't had any practice at all at threatening people. But it must have worked. His second attempt was much better.

Even still, I told him that his brains were safe for now, but he might want to start employing them on a regular basis. Couldn't let him think he got off too easily, right?


So next I headed off to this special boutique - I'm starting to wonder about my Uncle John by the way - but I have to admit that I had some fun trying on different clothes. Some for fun, some just out of curiosity.


Then, while I was paying for my purchases and arranging for them to be delivered, she walked in.

I really don't know why Dad doesn't want to update this anymore but as long as he isn't doing it, I guess I have to do so.

After Jules joined us Dad & Pop started talking more than they had been in a long while. They seemed to have patched up their problemsas they started disappearing into their bedroom more than they before.


The next year or so went by really fast after Jules joined us. There were a few times my parents had to call for a nanny to help out when their work schedules went kablooey, but mainly we managed on our own.


Then it was finally time for Jules to grow up some more. I was looking forward to this day so I could help out more. There's only so much I could do to help with a baby.


So Dad and I stood around blowing those silly horns until Pop finally blew out the candles. Pop took one last second to wink at Dad (barf)


Made a wish for Jules and...


Somehow those silly paper scraps came floating down from the sky and Jules had grown up. And he was wearing pink!


For some reason Pop and Dad just rolled their eyes and laughed saying something about "not more pink." Boy, are my parents wierd.

(Authors notes - here some info on Jules)


Luckily for Jules, we had some more clothes for him to change into. I spent a lot of time playing with Jules and helping him learn nursery rhymes,


Working on his words, especially the names of all our family.


Now, I wasn't the only one taking care of my baby brother of course. Dad and Pop helped out too.


Oh yeah, and I wasn't about to touch a diaper so they got that job too.

But sometimes I wanted to play by myself and so did Jules. And that's ok, too.


And of course, Dad and Pop liked to play by themselves as well.


Then it was my turn to have a birthday. So with all of my family gathered around, including Uncle John of course, I made a wish, blew out the candles, and


Couldn't help but wonder if I was really ready for this.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's note - I've been holding on to a copy of photos and I'm sharing them now.

1) Do we really want to know what this was all about?


2) Benny the Werewolf? Just doesn't have much of a ring to it does it?


3) Poor Jules is teething.

Oh, sorry about that. I had to run off and do some chores. Plus, I had forgotten to do my homework and Dad insisted that it had to be done. Then.. Oh right, you really didn't want to hear about that did you? You want to know about how our lives changed.

So, everything was going along just fine in our lives. Sure we had a few bumps in the road, like when Dad started going through what Pop called his mid-life crisis.

You see, Dad finally made it to becoming a Mad Scientist only to decide that wasn't what he really wanted to do with his life. So he made a career change. Even when things aren't going great, he was still happier than he was before so maybe it wasn't too bad.


But even that didn't change our lives as much as the visit we had early one Saturday morning.

Some woman called late one Friday night and said she needed to meet with Pop the next day. Something about Aunt Ivy.

So, even before Pop and Dad had gotten up to start their day, a blue van pulled up outside and a woman in black stepped out. She walked to the side door of the van and when she turned toward the house she had a bundle in her arms.


I called out to my parents and told them that some strange lady was here with a baby. Boy did that get them out of bed fast! When they came out the lady looked at them both and asked "Jace Schmoe?"

Pop nodded and then the lady gave him some papers but didn't say another word. Both Dad and Pop's faces went pale as they read the stuff she had handed over. Then he and Dad headed off into my room for some reason. I didn't know how to entertain this woman who had barely talked at all so I finally gave up and tried to read for a while.

I had read the same page three times when Dad and Pop came back in. The woman in black and Pop headed off into my bedroom with the baby while Dad and I worked on preparing breakfast. He was just trying to keep busy I guess.

I could see a worried look on Dad's face that I had never seen before. I didn't know what he was thinking but I could tell it wasn't good. I couldn't stand not knowing what was happening any longer. Dad hadn't spoken since he came back inside.

I walked towards my bedroom and saw the lady and Pop talking. Apparently Dad and Pop had gotten everything out of storage, unwrapped it and brought it back inside because my old crib was back in up and in my bedroom. I guess it was a good thing they had never gotten rid of my old furniture since this lady's baby needed it for a minute.

I couldn't hear what they were saying but Pop looked like he had just lost his best friend. His shoulders were shaking a little as they whispered to each other.


Then finally the woman leaned over and placed a kiss on the baby's head. As suddenly as she had appeared she was now leaving. But why was she was leaving her baby here? And what did all this have to do with Aunt Ivy?


Pop stood over the baby and stared at it until Dad called out that breakfast was ready. We all sat down at the table and ate in silence until Pop had stared at his empty plate long enough. Then he spoke.


Apparently that last time I saw Aunt Ivy was when she came to say good-bye to Pop. She had told him that she had found the man of her dreams and had requested a transfer to another post.


Somehow, the way she spoke about this man made Pop think that the man wasn't all that he wanted for his friend. He sounded like he was after only one thing. (I was old enough to know what Pop was talking about even if he didn't say it out loud.)


Aunt Ivy told him that it was already a done deal. Her transfer request had gone through and that she was headed to Simington HQ the next week.


She said that he had always been her best friend and that she hoped that this wouldn't change things. She told him that she needed to follow her dreams.


Pop tried to find out more about the man but she wouldn't say anything more. He tried to find out at least if the man was military, politician, or what, but she wouldn't say.


Then Pop's voice got all choked up. He whispered the rest of what he had to say. The woman in black was a social worker. Aunt Ivy had not realized that she had some kind of rare disease until after she got pregnant. She had died a few hours after the baby was born. She had time to hold him and to name him but little else.

When the news got out that she was gone a lawyer came forward with her will. She had never told anyone who the father was (Pop said he thought the man was already married), but her will listed Pop as her executor and guardian of her son Jules.

I sat there in silence trying to understand what Pop had said. Aunt Ivy was dead. She had a son and wanted Pop to raise him. I didn't know what a will was or an executor or whatever. But there was one thing I did know.

I have a baby brother now.

I walked back into my bedroom where he lay asleep and stared at him for a long, long while. I could hear Pop crying in the kitchen and Dad trying to comfort him. Then I heard the door to their room open and close. I just stood there and watched my new brother sleep. Watched him breathing. In. Out. In. Out.

I had never seen something that small before. Something that fragile. That's when my life changed completely.

That's when I knew that I was no longer the center of Dad and Pop's world. I had to share their world now. Now I had a job to do. I had a baby brother to take care of.

And I would do it. Because now I'm a Big Brother.

Hi there!

You don't know me yet, least not really, but I got tired of Dad not telling you what was going on so I decided to take over real quick.

In case you haven't already guessed it, I'm Jove. Jove Schmoe. Yeah, I know. Some name, right? But I've gotten used to it.

Now, let's see. The last thing Dad told you about was my birthday. Not even my birthday party, just my birthday.


Gee thanks Dad. Leave me as a little child why don't you? And in my pajamas even? Sheesh!

So anyway, my birthday. It wasn't really what you'd call a party but Uncle John came by to help me celebrate. Oh yeah, he's not really my uncle, at least we don't think so, but I just call him that because he's like me. Just all grown up.


Of course, Uncle John and I dove right into the cake. Hey, what's a birthday for, right? Dad and Pop well, let's just say they dove into something else.

Truth to tell, I barely even notice anymore. After you've walked in on them a couple of times it gets rather old.

So Uncle John and I were eating cake and talking about whether we like butter cream frosting best or not while they were playing tonsil hockey. Again.


I ended up having to say good byt to Uncle john for them because they were a little busy. Again.

But I don't want to talk about them. I want to talk about me.

Pop says I get it from Dad, but I could hardly wait to start school. I want to know lots and lots and lots of stuff. Now, my parents know lots of stuff, but I want to know the basics first. I mean, they are good at showing me things, but as Uncle John says, "You have to know why before you learn pi." I still don't know for sure what that means, but I do like eating pie so it must be good, right?

Oh yeah, I guess I should tell you a little more about me.


Now that we got all that out of the way, I want to go back to telling my story, ok?

Pop still teases me that I stood outside waiting for the school but for close to an hour on my first day. But it wasn't really an hour, not really at all. Although, between you and me, I guess it was more than half that. Finally the bus showed up and I was climbing up those wonderful steps.


I was surprised when I saw that there was no one else on the bus but me. I was looking forward to finally meeting some kids my age and maybe even having the start of a friendship before I got to school. But that just wasn't meant to be I guess.

It didn't really matter though. I was so excited about school that I couldn't even build up a good grump-session. I think that was the first time that had ever happened. Believe me, don't let this smile fool you, I can do grump like nobody's business!


So my first day of school was great. I met a few other kids and I learned some more reading and writing and arithmatic. Pop called them the three R's but I don't get it. I've been reading for a while now and even I know that only reading starts with an "R." I think he was testing me for some reason.

Dad had the day off work so that he could be there when I got home. Dad's good about things like that. He thinks of the coolest things. He had sandwiches made when I walked in the door and then after we ate we sat right down and he started telling me about the bear with two dads.


Sometimes I wonder if Dad thinks I'm still three or four. He still reads the toilet book to me too. Maybe Pop and I need to get rid of those books and replace them with something a little more grown-up. I know I'm not ready for "A Brief History of Time" but geez.

Pop was probably outside talking to Aunt Ivy again. She comes home with him from work a lot but Dad doesn't like her that much because he says she's easy. Pop can't bring her in the house so they always stand around outside talking for hours and Dad stays inside and pretends he doesn't know that she's there.


I won't bore you with all my little journal entries I've kept over the years but I will tell you that everything wasn't always great for us. Sometimes Pop and Dad were passed over for promotions and sometimes they just made some bad choices. I remember one really bad one that caused some problems with Dad and Jace.


I just realized tha I think that was about the same time I last saw Aunt Ivy. I remember that Pop was outside talking to her when I came home from school one day. I talked with her for a little while until Pop reminded me I still needed to let Dad know I was home. I gave her a hug and headed inside to talk to dad. She never came by again after that. Funny that I never really realized that before now.


Oh well, I guess you could say that the next few years were pretty much the same. Dad helping me with my homework.


Me keeping myself busy while Dad and Pop disappeared into their room for a few hours.


Me getting good grades at school. Of course!


Me helping out in the garden.


Me doing my own form of genealogy research.


Yeah, everything was going smoothly at home until one Saturday we had an unexpected visit. Our lives changed forever after that.

One of the first things I discovered after becoming a father is that your time is no longer your own. Your life is no longer your own.

You spend the next few months just keeping them clean, fed and (you hope) happy.


But as they have no way, other than crying, of letting you know what they are thinking and feeling all you can do is hope.

Is that a smile on his face or a gas bubble? You don't really know for sure.


Then, almost before you realize it, a year has come and gone and you hope and wish that you are ready for the next level of parenthood.


Now, in addition to keeping them clean, fed and well-rested you have to entertain them as well.


Of course, it does make it easier if you have help.


Especially help who agrees that there is one kind of training that is more important than any other.


Actually, this may better summarize our next few years better than I ever could.

Once I began showing the gestation of our child, life appeared to start spinning faster. Occasionally it spun so fast I really could not keep up. But a few cat-naps always seemed to help.


By the time Jace returned home from work I usually felt more like myself and was able to carry adult conversations. Or at least I tried. Sometimes all Jace wanted to talk about were our latest online purchases or ones we still need to make.


One evening after a nice long nap I was able to broach the subject I had long contemplated.

I explained to Jace that I had wanted to speak to him about a concern of mine. I had realized that there was really only one logical conclusion to my dilemma.


I explained that I believed our emotions for each other had grown and intensified over these past few months and that I was grateful he had decided to be co-parent to the child I carried. I also informed him that I knew that indeed he would be a good one.


I explained that I had some concerns for the life of the child if anything were to ever happen to me. I did not want our child to end up in foster care or, worse still, in the hands of the government. Therefore, I felt that the most logical step for the child was to...

I was unable to complete my well-rehearsed speech due to the screech Jace emitted.


Before my ears could stop ringing he had investigated the cut, carot and clarity of the ring. He then slid it on his finger and shouted "Yes! Yes! Yes!" thereby sending my ears into another painful recovery period.


While Jace began planning the wedding and declaring that at least we did not have to worry about bad weather, I sat silently pleased that I had secured a strong foundation for our child. Of course, I would not admit to anyone other than myself that my heart had been pounding during the proposal and that I was ecstatic he had agreed to it so readily. I did not believe that my heart would have handled a refusal.



Now, I know that there is no scientific justification for the feeling of deja vu and yet must admit that a few weeks after my impromptu proposal that is exactly what I felt.

I had been cooking some hamburgers for our dinner when Jace came home from work. I must have been distracted for a second because suddenly...


I began to dance around as my brain kept screaming at me "Run over there! Run now you idiot!" Somehow these words sounded so familiar.


Briefly the thought came to mind that at least this time I was no alone but I don't know why I would think that. Especailly since Jace was of no help whatsoever.


Fortunately, my intense fear of fire had caused me to install a security system that contacted the appropriate authorities immediately.


After dousing my throughly in flame retardant, the firefighter tried to insist on a quick visit to the hospital to make sure that the few burns I had were treated properly. However, I knew that I needed to keep the knowledge of my unborn child as quiet as possible. Instead we thanked him profusely and promised we would contact our family physician first thing in the morning.

I waddled to the bathroom to shower and change before returning to the kitchen for dinner.

I do not know if it was the excitement of the evening or if it was actually the correct time but soon after dinner we had an arrival.

Introducing Jove Schmoe


Once again my life has changed so much. I have come so far since I was dropped off here in the middle of nowhere.

From my time all alone


To being part of a family


My life is good.

The next few weeks seemed to fly by as Jace and I adjusted to living with each other. We spent a great deal of time discussing what we would do when I couldn't hide my situation from the outside world any longer. We needed more information. But to whom could we turn?

I asked John Doe to join me for dinner one evening after work. He was hesitant but agreed.

At first he didn't even seem to want to enter the house. I don't know what he thought was happening, or going to happen, as he seemed intent on explaining to me that he had no money. None. Whatsoever. Zilch. Nada.


I tried to explain to him that he had no cause for concern and that he was quite safe here. I explained to him that Jace and I wished to speak to him regarding a strange encounter I had experienced a few months ago. One might even refer to it as a Close Encounter.


Almost instantly his demeanor changed and he agree to come inside to speak to us about what he had knew. He also agreed to tell us a little of his childhood.

He and Jace seemed to connect and he began to open up a little more as they were able to share some experiences from their world travels.


It was just what John needed to relax and be able to share with us his life as a half-breed. That is how he referred to himself. It made my heart lurch in my chest as I worried about my child and whether they would feel the same. I promised myself then and there that my... no, our, child would know that he or she was wanted, loved and valued.

After John left we both had a great deal to think over and went to our respective hobbies to do so. I, of course, went to my robot bench while Jace got down and dirty.


We discovered the following night just what John meant by thinking that nowhere was safe for him. I am still trying to convince myself it was a coincidence. After all, it took me a long time to stop looking for agents from the SimGovernment around every corner. I do not wish to return to that stage of my life.

Whether this was connected to John or not I do not know, yet I am glad that Jace had insisted on an alarm system to keep the baby safe. It had quickly proven its worth.






Jace and I helped each other through the feelings of violation and betrayal by sharing new and quite imaginative punishments for one Gordon King. The more we shared the sillier and more extreme the ideas became. Finally they became so absurd we were able to leave the anger behind and start healing through the laughter. These exercises also seemed to strengthen our feelings for each other.


Jace was always quite complimentary of everything I did. Even tossed salad earned praises. And considering that seemed to be the only thing I wanted to eat I had a great deal of adulation.


Whether it was the salads or not, I finally had to admit that even my sweat pants weren't going to be enough for me any longer. It seemed to happen all at once. One morning I noticed that my abs weren't firm any longer. I could no longer hide my condition.


You might wonder what Jace's reaction was to this new development. He went shopping. For me. This is yet another sign of his affection for me as he abhors shopping!


He laughed off my gratitude by telling me he was jealous that I was able to live in sweats and pajamas all of the time. He wanted to make sure that I had other options as well. Although I think he was in too much of a hurry to get out of the shopping center as he bought eight pairs of the same sweatpants and t-shirts. In pink no less!

Now, I'm no fashion arbiter by any stretch of the imagination, yet even I know that pink is not a good color for a red head. But at least I could comfortably exist again. No more unfastening my pants to breath. I was even able to get back to the blogging that I had neglected for so long.

I wouldn't have believed it but I found a distinct disadvantage to researching. You can't stay ignorant afterwards.

What am I talking about? Well, after my little... *ahem* encounter, we'll call it... I started bringing books home from the research library. It seems that my little... um, shall we say vacation? Well, it wasn't the first one recorded in No Man's Land.

These encounters are known to happen in this area of the world. Then why didn't the people who sold me the deluxe telescope warn me? There should have been a warning sticker on the side of the box! Especially since there seems to be an added and long-lasting side effect of being... um, visited.


That night I spent some time doing what I had once loved to do. I figured that it couldn't hurt, right?


The next few weeks whirled by like a dervish. Before long I had almost forced the memory and the fears out of my mind until my body reminded me what had happened.


Finally I knew that I had to call Jace. I didn't really know what to tell him, but he was due to return home in three months and needed to know what he was coming home to.

Oh yes, I almost forgot to tell you. We had decided that when he came back from the Amasim he would be moving in with me.

I started to ask him if he liked toys but was afraid he'd get the wrong idea. Instead I began the conversation by asking him of his favorite childhood toys and memories.


Slowly, I navigated the story around to more adult toys. No, not that! I mean the telescope! He already knew about the abduction so at least that wouldn't be a surprise. Then I told him about my research and the newest discovery I had made. After I told him of the morning sickness the silence on the other end of the phone was deafening.

I told him I knew it was a surprise and I would understand if he choose to cancel our plans when he returned. Or even if he didn't want to return. He mumbled a few words that were lost in the usual long-distance static. With the connection getting worse, we hung up with no decision made of our future together.

The next weekend I called at our regular time. I was told that Jace had left the work site before his contract had ended. The man on the other end didn't know why or where he might have gone. Then he hung up.

All I could do was look at the phone.

I knew that I could do this on my own, I just really had hoped I wouldn't need to. I had allowed myself to hope again. To trust again. And once again, the rug was pulled out from under me when I least expected it.

I was coming back from shopping a few days later when I imagined I heard my name. I didn't want to turn around for fear of my mind playing tricks on me again.

Then I heard my name a second time and felt a hand on my arm. I turned around and found myself held tight in an embrace.


Jace had come home. He had forfeited the bonus he would have received had he stayed for the entirity of his contract just to be with me. He knew that I needed him and he left. He came home for me.

Even in my past life I had never felt so happy or so lucky.


Yes, we could have used the bonus but I still had my job and the full benefits it offered so we wouldn't be hurting.

I couldn't believe that he hadn't even changed out of his working clothes before he left. He just wanted to come home. To be here for me.


I'm not going to lie to you and say that everything was perfect when we first started living together. My mood swings and his lack of employment wore on our nerves sometimes.


But we were able to overcome those trivial difficulties and had fun getting to know each other better.


And when that didn't work, making up was always fun as well.

Wow. I can hardly believe that it's been ten months now since I last updated my blog. I have been very busy lately both at home and at work. I've been working my way up the ladder and became the youngest Inventor the firm had ever known. I guess loneliness is good for something, right?

I mean, sure, we talk on the phone frequently but that doesn't quite feel the same. Of course, hearing him talk about what an education this is for him doesn't help. If anything it just serves to remind me of what I've lost.


First I lost my own ivy-league education, my own company, my own millions, and now my own love.

Then, just as the despair had started to get to me Jace surprised me with a visit home.
I was outside trying to decide if building a greenhouse would be feasible in this clime when I heard my named called.

I reached out my hand to shake his and yet when he took it he didn't try to shake it, instead he kissed it.


I remember teasing a girl in high school once because she used the word "swoon" in an essay. If I were allowed to, and if I could remember her name, I'd find her to apologize. Because that's just what I did.


We stood outside in the hot sun talking, and kissing, and talking, and kissing.


Until the sun started to set. Then I finally kicked my brain into gear and invited him inside. I offered to cook up some dinner for us but we both had other things in mind.


It was awkward at first, and his underclothes seemed to fight against the romantic feelings that I had been having outside, but then we kissed. Again.


I won't tell more than that but I will admit that the next few days were wonderful.


But the week still wasn't long enough for either of us.


Before I was ready, he was off to the Amasim jungle again for another six months. But now that I know we both feel the same way for each other, I can wait.

I've thrown myself back into my job and my hobbies again and it's shown.


Before long I had been promoted, again, to Scholar. It was fun and exciting at first but then even that started to loose its luster.


Jace and I are still talking every few weeks, just like before. This time the absence doesn't hurt as much. We both know what the other is feeling and it's helping us handle the disatance better.


And then something happened last night. Something I never would have thought possible. Remember the guy that I thought was so strange when I first moved here? John something-or-other? I thought it was odd that someone would purposefully have their skin dyed and their face altered in such a strange way, remember? That didn't even include the odd clothes he wore.


Well, I know now that it's truly his natural self. He's not the only one like that and we are not alone in the Simiverse. How do I know? Well, I'd really rather not comment on that.

However, before I was sent back home I was given an intricate puzzle to figure out. Maybe the answer lies inside this cube?

**author's note: I had forgotten cinematics was on so there were no pics of the abduction**

I awoke with a start, my heart racing and pounding in my chest.

I don't know exactly what caused that dream but I don't need to be hit by a bolt of lightning to know that I need to changes the way I've been living my life.

And so I changed some of my habits even more. Instead of studying, I read


Instead of spending my nights stargazing, I called friends


Instead of making... Nah, I still liked making and selling my robots


But I didn't let them rule my days and nights. Just as I had earlier decided not to let paranoia take control, I now decided to live my life. Sure, it might not be what I had chosen for myself, but after the mess I had gotten myself into before this was far better than being dead!

I knew I was finally making the changes I needed when I realized that I was making friends and not networking.


Since I wasn't concentrating only on getting ahead you can well imagine my surprise when I was called into the office and given a promotion.


This is what finally made me realize that the paronoia was unfounded. I could barely refrain from laughing aloud as I realized what had happened. They had tapped me to be a science teacher? I, who never turned in a single paper in high school that hadn't been bought? I had several fellow students on my payroll even then. Doing all of my work while I claimed all the credit. I even had a teacher on my payroll to cover for my many absences.

If the SimGovernment was really still watching me they would have known my history and given this job to another.

Finally, I was free of the fear. And it would seem that it was just in time. You see, the same day I had my promotion a co-worker came home to visit for a while.

Peter Founder (no relation to Jewel) and I hit it off right away. It seemed as though I had known him all my life. I had to laugh again when I mentioned that he reminded me of someone only to be told he has a twin brother, Gabriel, who has a cooking show.


The more we talked, the more he seemed to have a strange gleam in his eye. Finally I had to ask him just what he was thinking.

"I have a friend" he said to me, "a friend that I think you would really like. Would you be interested in meeting him?"


I said yes of course.

I made some sandwiches while Peter called him. By the time I was done he told me that his friend was home and would come over right away. He introduced me to Jace and I thought my heart had lodged in my throat. I couldn't speak.

I motioned to the sandwiches and may have mumbled something incoherent about helping himself, but it seemed enough.

With a slight wink, Peter said he remembered that he had left something on the burner at work and had to go right back. Jace and I didn't seem to notice his leaving as we sat down together at my meager table.


The poor man had to carry the conversation for some time before I was able to speak. I was so embarrased at my actions but he just smiled and waved his metal hand when I tried to apologize.

He told me about a research project he was starting in the Amasim jungle. He would be leaving in the next few days and would be gone for at least a year.

He told me that he really wished we had met earlier so I could have joined him.

Then, just as the conversation started to get too maudlin I found myself with a face full of feathers.


Of course I grabbed a pillow and retaliated.

But before long it was time for him to go. I could only stand there and watch him leave.


As I turned off the radio and got ready for bed I just knew that my hope for happiness had walked out the door and I hadn't even kissed him goodbye.

As I said before, I make no apologies for the seeds that made their way to my house. Of course, I later found out that this was not out of the ordinary at all. When I received my promotion from Lab Rat... I mean Assistant to Field Researcher, I was given a potted plant.

Now I have a matched set.

That's when I decided to really start working on doing away with my paranoia and guilt. I started going to work with a spring in my step even. Or maybe it's the sand in my shoes.


Whatever it might have been though seemed to make a difference. After a little bonus I was able to make a down-payment on a new toy for myself. A robot station.

Of course, it did take me some time to figure out how to use it. Sure, there were instructions but who really reads those?

Between the robot station, telescope and work I barely had time to think let alone actually take care of myself. Maybe I was more exhausted than I realized.

The last thing I remember I was lying in bed reading. It seemed like the very next moment I was standing at my new telescope. (Oh yes, I now have two)


When suddenly a strange sensation came over me. A very WARM sensation.


Apparently the telescope had been struck by lightning.

I didn't even remember hearing or feeling the strike.

The fire quickly spread.

I couldn't get out of its range.

My brain kept screaming at me "Run over there! Run now you idiot!"

But all my feet could do was dance.

Then a strangely calm and peaceful feeling came over me and I watched what happened next as though I was floating somewhere above it all.


I heard a voice quite clearly say,