Posts: 5,284
Threads: 32
Joined: May 2017
It was cold but not uncomfortable. A solid forty-two on the temp gauge with a slight breeze.
Nice weather for early winter in the mid-west. The stillness was welcoming, birds singing overhead.
Delia sat on the back deck taking in the beauty of her surroundings. She closed her eyes and for a brief
moment, this whole thing began to melt away like a bad dream. Then he got home.
"Hey, aren't you freezing?" Kenny asked as he stood in the patio-style doorway.
Delia turned to meet his inquiry, forcing a half-smile.
"I was only gonna stay for a few." she replied.
Her wardrobe consisted of - an oversized t-shirt, flannel pajama bottoms, a housecoat and terry-cloth slippers.
No make-up. Hair in a quick, messy pony-tail; all while wearing her sleepy-face. She was still the most gorgeous
girl in town. Some women just have it coming and going. Delia was certainly one of those.
"Come see what I got ya." he said, smiling.
They both walk through the house out front to the car. Kenny opens the rear driver-side door as Delia stares
down onto the things taking up residency in the back seat.
"What is all this?" she asked, smiling genuinely now.
He reaches in, grabbing the three large white canvases, passing them to her. Then he picks up a brown paper
gift bag, also handing that off. Finally, he brings out the easel lying across the seat. Delia tries peering down
into the bag.
"Paints and brushes." he said.
"This is all for me?" she asked.
"I thought it might help, with things. Getting back to what you love."
She looked at the canvases in her left arm, then back to Kenny.
"This is very nice. Thank you." she said, still wearing that authentic grin.
"Your old easel got damaged in the move; so I figured, why not just start you over with all new supplies?"
Delia was honestly touched. She leaned forward and pecked him on the cheek.
"Let's go get you set up!" he said shutting the car door and leading the way towards the house.
It would appear that Julie had some painting to do...
Posts: 5,284
Threads: 32
Joined: May 2017
The things truly worth dying for…
Posts: 5,284
Threads: 32
Joined: May 2017
[The next night]
It was just after 10pm when Delia found her way to bed. A full day - painting, cooking, a little exercise
and even a couple TV shows. This life as Julie was really starting to suit her. If only she knew.
Her bed felt exceptionally warm and cozy this night. That nice, warm hour-long soak in the tub beforehand
certainly didn't hurt. She climbs in and pulls the thick comforter over and nestles in on her right side. A deep
relaxing breath and she was gone.
[DREAM SEQUENCE]
Delia's sitting passenger in a car with a man behind the wheel. It's Roman, the CIA operative she watched
get murdered. They're not talking; they're waiting in a grungy alley. A car pulls up several feet in front of
them and parks. The engine is left running. The man's phone rings.
"Yeah." he said.
"It's me." he confirmed to the caller.
Two men exit the vehicle in front as Roman and Delia get out to meet them.
"Never be too sure." the first man said to Roman.
They walk to the back of the car and the second man pops the trunk.
"One-hundred percent pure Russian Kalashnikov's. Compliments of the Irish." said the first man.
"Ireland, eh?" Roman returned.
"Department of Homeland Security got the pipeline all fucked up. Greedy." the first man said, reaching in
grabbing one of the firearms to hand to Roman.
"They gotta go from the big bear to the emerald isle before we can get our hands on 'em." he continued.
Roman inspects the craftsmanship of the gun.
"So it's not just the CIA running dope and arms." Delia adds.
"Every fuckin' agency is dirty. Look what they're up against." the first man declared.
"They all dip into the naughty jar." the second man injected.
"Some deeper than others. But no one's hands are clean. Not anymore." the first man explained.
Roman passes the weapon to Delia and looks over the rest of the inventory filling the car's trunk.
"This gonna work?" asked the first man.
Roman stretches his hand out and they shake on it. Picking up the two large bags, he and Delia walk over
to load the trunk with their new toys. Delia notices a man already sitting behind the wheel of their car. She
carefully approaches the driver's side. The man didn't come with them and didn't look at all familiar. Until he
turned around. It was Charlie. She knew him, but she didn't know how.
"Wake up Delia." he said, looking at her with desperation.
Her heart skipped a beat. She was thrown; taken completely off guard.
"You have to wake up Delia!" he said louder, more forcefully.
[END DREAM SEQUENCE]
Delia was jarred awake, lying there on her side. Immediately she looked at the clock.
4:50am
Her mind began to race. What was all this and where was it coming from?
She was remembering...
Posts: 5,284
Threads: 32
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,284
Threads: 32
Joined: May 2017
Morning found Delia wobbling slowly towards the kitchen. Those coffee needs. Without it, she just
wasn't herself. Kenny is finishing up a few dishes as she stands watching from the doorway.
"Good morning." he says, turning from the sink to smile at her.
"You're up early." she said.
"Hope I didn't wake you. Gotta go in today."
Delia looks at the counter and sees a platter with bacon and an omelette.
"Cheese and mushrooms - your favorite!" he offered.
She smiles at him and walks over to the coffee maker.
"I think coffee will do for now."
He looks over at her basking in her fresh-from-the-bed beauty. Total knockout.
"Sleep OK?" he asks.
"Yeah, better."
He continues drying the dishes. Delia has the coffee brewing and turns to lean back against the counter.
"Do we know a Delia?" she asked.
His heart nearly stopped, but you wouldn't know it by looking. Dry the spatula - put it away.
"Delia?" he questioned.
"Yeah. Do we know anyone by that name?"
He turns to face her and crosses his arms - thinking.
"I - I don't think so. Why?"
She may not have been fully herself but Delia Delicato knew when she was being lied to.
"Aah, nothing. Crazy dream." she said before turning back to face the coffee maker.
Kenny had a terrible poker face. Things couldn't be going off script this early in the game.
"Probably just the meds. Re-acclimating and all." he said.
She didn't turn or look up at him. He had a bad feeling. Grabbing her left shoulder, he gently spun her
towards him, giving her a hug.
"You take it easy today, alright?"
"Yes sir." she said quietly.
He kissed her on the forehead and smiled then walked towards the table, picking up a briefcase and
heading towards the doorway.
"Almost forgot; need to make a few calls before I go."
Delia turns and smiles, watching him leave the kitchen.
She pours herself a cup of steaming hot goodness. Surely it could stand a slight cool down. Curiosity set
in - what were those calls about? Maybe she needed to go to the bathroom; the one in the hall next door
to Kenny's office.
The door was shut but she could still hear him. A dull roar - background noise.
"I don't know! That's why I'm calling!" he said in something of a panicked voice.
"She's asking questions."
"Ones that I can't answer!"
"I don't think it's come to that just yet."
"Of course I'm capable."
"I will handle it."
Delia crept into the bathroom and very quietly closed the door. Just for appearances, she flipped the
lid up and dropped her bottoms; taking a seat. She had to commit.
His door opened and shut abruptly. She could hear the sound of him locking it. Then, footsteps down
the hall and out the front door. He didn't even say bye. The car started, engine revved and he was gone.
She flew from the bathroom to the front windows. The coast was clear. Back to the hallway. She stood there
staring down at the office door handle. What was so important that he needed to lock it for? From his wife
no less. Julie may not have cared but Delia had to know! There were answers behind that door.
All she needed was a paperclip.
Posts: 5,284
Threads: 32
Joined: May 2017
Couple minor edits. Cuz words, and stuff.
Posts: 5,284
Threads: 32
Joined: May 2017
The lock clicked, she did it!
Delia quickly shut the door and ran to the window; double checking. She had full view of the drive
in case Mr. Creepy returned earlier than expected. Time to get to it!
Pulling on every drawer of his desk led nowhere. They were all locked tight. She crawled down into the cutaway
hoping to find something - anything - a secret compartment or spare key. Feeling around with both hands; nothing.
"What are you doing?"
A chill shot through her; it was him. But how? She didn't hear his car. Nor his footsteps coming up the hall.
She climbs out from under the desk and stands; facing him. Those few seconds were brutal.
"I asked you a question!" he said, in raised voice.
She just stared at him. Still and speechless. Out of the corner of her eye she spied a collector's item - a team-signed
baseball bat leaning against the bookcase. She lunged for it, grabbing it with both hands. Turning back towards Kenny
she finds him pointing a gun at her.
"I pitch a no-hitter." he said wiggling the gun.
Another few very tense moments. Then she drops the bat to the floor. She looks him in the eye and then down
at the gun.
"You at least gonna tell me why you're killing me?"
He reaches into a wooden box on the bookcase and brings out a pair of handcuffs. Keeping his gun on her, he
sets them down onto the corner of the desk.
"Tight, around your left wrist."
Delia did as she was told. He pulled her left arm behind her, grabbing her right arm and cuffing them together.
"Let's go." he said, pushing her towards the door.
She stopped in the doorway, his gun now pressed into her back.
"You didn't answer me." she said.
"To the barn." he commanded, pushing that cold barrel harder into her spine.
They walked out the back patio doors onto the beautiful wood decking she sat on and enjoyed only days
before. It was colder now. In more ways than one.
She knew it wouldn't do any good to scream; they were too far out for it to matter. She continued walking with
her head high. To the end - this was the job.
Once inside the barn he takes hold of her left shoulder, stopping her.
"Turn around." he said.
She spun slowly, meeting his eyes with hers.
"On your knees." he said softly, almost reluctantly.
"Go fuck yourself." she replied.
They stood in a locked gaze for what felt like forever. In reality it was only a few seconds.
"Have it your way." he said, then raised his weapon at nearly point blank range to her forehead.
"Goodbye Delia."
A single gun shot rang out from that old barn. She was dead before her body hit the hay-littered floor.
"Aarrggh!!"
"She's back." said the young lab technician.
Delia is strapped into what looks like a massage chair - wearing a sleep mask and head gear; complete with
color-coded electrodes. The older female lab technician walks over to attend to her.
"I'm going to remove the apparatus now, OK?"
"Fuck!" Delia said in a breathless gasp.
The woman frees Delia from the equipment and smiles at her.
"We get that a lot!" she offered kindly.
"Fuck!" Delia said a second time.
The woman takes the gear over to a metal table and picks up a small flashlight. She shines it into Delia's eyes,
checking her out.
"Everything turned out fine. Eyes looking good. Do you know your name?"
"Delia Anne Delicato."
"Date of birth?"
"November 11, 1985."
"Today's date?"
"January 13, 2010."
"And do you know where you are?"
She pauses to think.
"Uh federal building - Langley, Virginia."
The older woman smiles at her and places the small light into her coat pocket.
"While this simulation was based on very real possibilities, there's no telling how things will ever play out
in the field. It could end up far worse than the experience you just had." she explained.
"How long was I under?" Delia asked.
The woman looks at her watch.
"Ninety-seven minutes." she answers with a coy grin.
"Fuck! That felt like a week!"
"Technology." the woman said with a wink.
Delia needed a minute, this was the most intense thing she'd ever lived through in her twenty-five years.
"It's one thing to show new recruits training videos and tell them stories but with this, it puts them into
the game so they can feel first-hand what it's like." the woman continued.
Delia couldn't believe what had just happened. Frightening terror and exhilaration all in one.
"So, you wanna join the team?" asked the sophisticated older lady.
Delia smiled.
"I'm in!" she said without hesitation.
"Welcome aboard."
Delia stood, a little unsteady but she got there quick enough. The woman walked her to the door.
"As is protocol, we'll give you the night, think about it. And if you're sure then come back in the morning
and we'll get all the necessary paperwork done."
Delia smiled and shook her hand. Grabbing the door handle, she pulled on it gently as the lady stopped her.
"Did you arrange for a ride? No driving for the rest of the day."
"My husband will be picking me up."
The woman walks over and whispers to the young technician; he whispers back.
"Is his name Charles?" she asked.
"Yes."
"He's waiting for you in the lobby."
"Thank you. See you in the morning."
The woman smiled, nodded and Delia was out the door.
The Delicato legend was born.
THE END TO BE CONTINUED... ?? [lol]
[This story begins on page 14 - post #261]
Posts: 80,133
Threads: 4,861
Joined: May 2016
When we were writing this story, I had no idea Cowboy Bebop was a thing...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboy_Bebop
I had never heard of it, and now I'm watching this series:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboy_Beb...TV_series)
I was just shocked that it's so much like this story...
And of course by no means did I think I was the first person to come up with the concept of intergalactic detectives and stuff...
But what I thought was odd was the retro throwbacks that are inherent in Cowboy Bebop.
What I'm really wondering is why when we think about a colonized local space, stop-offs on other celestial bodies, entertainment venues in orbit...
Why do we all see it in a 'film noir' kinda way?
Posts: 80,133
Threads: 4,861
Joined: May 2016
One possibility that occurred to me is that they've been building infrastructure in space since the Moon Landing...
And that's why everything looks 1970s-80s retro.
Posts: 80,133
Threads: 4,861
Joined: May 2016
I dunno, I just thought it was awfully strange.
Posts: 5,284
Threads: 32
Joined: May 2017
(12-04-2021, 08:46 PM)Chatwoman Wrote: When we were writing this story, I had no idea Cowboy Bebop was a thing...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboy_Bebop
Me neither! Since then, I'd heard of the title but thought it was some kind of anime show.
|
