Roll picked up a full-size pool cue and began a martial arts weapons kata specific to the bo-staff. It was a modified version of Tokemine No Kun. The display was quite impressive and convincing. The group stopped their advance and watched, waiting.
Roll didn’t take his eyes off of the gang as he spoke to Alex. “I’ll bring your money tomorrow morning. It will be with the pool hall manager in an envelope.” Alex didn’t respond.
Roll addressed the gang. “Are we done here?”
They all nodded yes. Roll set the cue stick down and walked out of the pool hall.
END.
***
September 13th. We aren’t due back to the office until tomorrow, having been given 3 days R&R. Rest and relaxation. Aren’t those wonderful words? We all went to visit our families. Para and I told our folks that military life was exciting and rewarding. Our intelligence gathering operations have been a success, a help to the war effort. It’s all going to work out. But there is still a lot to do. We have to keep pressing on. You never know what those bugs might do next. Yup, isn’t Shockwave amazing. That sort of thing.
It was nice to visit. But after a couple days we were ready to go back to the office. So much to do. The truth of it is, Para and I miss our parents and being at home so much! But it is hard not being able to talk openly about what we do. They have been so understanding. It’s still hard.
Anyway, we were all back at the office early on September 13th. All of us except Roll. It wasn’t long before we were getting on Mr. T’s nerves. Too many questions. Mr. T decided to give us unlimited access to the top-secret website which the government had provided. I just say government since there are so many agencies communicating with Mr. T. It’s hard to keep track.
To our surprise, the general got all of us top-secret clearance. Well, everyone except Muncle. Now we can read reports to our heart’s content. And, really, who cares if a monkey looks at a secret report? With that clearance level, we will dig in deep and learn as much as we can before we invade the Moon base. Before we invade Darkside.
That’s what they’ve been calling the enemy base on the Moon. You probably realize there is no actual dark side of the Moon, not exactly. The sun eventually shines on all parts of the Moon. The days and nights can be long but the sun eventually shines. Still, from Earth, we only see one side because the Moon is tidally locked to the Earth, with one side always facing us. From our perspective there is a dark side. And knowing of the bug military base, the term Darkside of the Moon takes on a whole new and accurate meaning.
***
*COMMUNAL: Mr. T was in between conference calls. He passed the small conference room on the way to the break room. As he passed, the kids called out his name. More questions. He couldn’t help but admire their zeal. This was just not the best day for a lot of questions. And they should be out enjoying their well-deserved R&R.
He had already given them full access to the Shockwave website and the myriad of reports touching all the subjects to which they had questions. They just didn’t know it yet. There had been no opportunity. Now, he took the time to provide the access codes and give a brief tutorial of the site intricacies. Even as he did, Mr. T couldn’t get over a nagging concern.
Later in the day, Mr. T brought up the subject of his disquiet, speaking to no one in particular as he looked in on the team. “Where’s Roll?”
Rock glanced up, hesitated, but with all eyes on him he shrugged. “I don’t know. He didn’t show up at the apartment last night. I’ve called him a few times but he hasn’t responded. It is technically a day off, right?”
Mr. T cocked his head and laser-eyed Rock. “Is that normal for him? I mean, is it normal for him not to come home? I take it he didn’t tell you he would be out all night?”
Rock was turning a little red under the scrutiny. “It is kind of a new thing. He’s done this a couple of times now.”
Para jumped into the conversation as she actually jumped out of her chair. “Roll’s been drinking a lot and hanging out with some real losers.”
Mr. T never took his eyes off Rock. “Is that right?”
Rock decided he needed to pick at a fingernail. “Yeah. That’s basically true. He’s been a little off lately. He gets like this. Not the drinking part. But ever since we were little, he gets into these moods. You guys all know that. He snaps out of it though. I think he’ll be okay.”
Para glared at Rock. “He won’t be okay if he falls in with Tony and that crowd. I think I saw him in that seedy pool hall playing pool with Alex. Alex reports to Tony, at least he used to.”
Rock was getting a little defensive. “He’s not stupid Para.”
“He’s acting kind of stupid right now!” Viz interjected. She put a hand over her mouth as though the words had jumped out unbidden. But she kept looking at Rock.
Mr. T wasn’t sure what more they could do right then. “Let’s keep an eye on him. If he doesn’t check in within an hour or so, how about we go and find him?”
We all nodded. Roll returned Rocks call, one of several calls, a short time later. He told him he was fine. Rock should mind his own business.
Our concern for Roll made concentration difficult. But as the minutes ticked away each of us was pulled into all the new information that had been turned over to us.
