ClassicComedyFan2
02-28-2002, 07:45 PM
Here's the sixth episode! Enjoy!
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“The Takeover, Part I”
Episode 6 of Gopher’s Gateway
“Computer, set to light stun.” Sean Sporman, type III phaser rifle in hand, turned a corner in Ivy building on this pretty Monday morning. Allen Johnston appeared, but Sean stunned him in time as he sprinted out of the building toward the office. He smiled as phaser shots from John Barnes and Jacob Allison pelted harmlessly against his personal deflector.
“Stop!” proclaimed Andy Blackerby, superintendent of the Jefferson County Board of Education, who stood in the doorway, which led to the office. Sean merely fired his phaser, and he also fell down stunned.
“Simulation complete.” The computer of the Hypothetical said as the hallways of Hueytown High School faded away to reveal the yellow grid lines on the black wall of a Federation Holodeck. But, that too, faded away quickly into the bridge of the Hypothetical.
“You did it that time.” Jordan Reeves, in the command chair, said.
“Yes, I did.” Responded Sean, as he looked out the window down at the school.
“So, did you enjoy the DS9 first season marathon?”
“Affirmative.” responded Sean. “I believe it is time to beam down.”
“Yes, I agree.”
Meagan Hall sat in the now completely modified office of Hueytown High School. Around her, LCARS panels showed maps, video feeds and other data where windows used to be. In place of the large desk, three Starfleet-issue chairs were, with LCARS sitting-level panels to the side an in between. On the ceiling, portable shield generators, phaser blast cannons, and holographic emitters were hidden within a skylight.
Sean had said that he planned to keep this office and the activity room for the new school. Just then, the two beamed in.
“Greetings.” Sean said, smiling.
“Hi, cutie.” Meagan responded.
“Good Gracious! My foot!” Jordan said.
Just then, two teenage girls and one teenage boy walked in. The oldest one spoke first. “Hi. I’m Mary Camden, are you Sean Sporman?” Sean smiled, Jordan shook his head, and Meagan prepared for battle.
Andy Blackerby, superintendent of the Jefferson County Board of Education, sat in Conference Room 2 with Hueytown High supervising Principal Kay Lindsay. Blackerby smiled, and handed her a PADD. “Have you seen of some of the design ideas?”
Kay Lindsay nodded yes. “I think they are very good.”
“Yes. Multi-level grade buildings, Amusement Park like playgrounds, an advanced monorail transport system and much more! And, with our budget and his technology it is all within our grasp.”
“I agree, very great indeed. But, did you call me over here to ask my opinions on the design?”
“Actually, no. It was my assistant’s idea. He says he has a proposal.” Blackerby was no longer smiling.
“You don’t like him, do you?”
“No! The United States Education system sticks me with an assistant that doesn’t like kids. Can you believe it?” Mrs. Lindsay turned and looked out of the window. The airship, Pittman One, was tethered and ready for it’s next voyage.
“…Today’s pick city, picked by Lucy Camden, is Baltimore with Snow Showers and a high of thirty-four. Thank you and have a nice day.” Sean pressed a button on the LCARS panel, which deactivated the intercom system, via combined electronic and positronic connections. However, Brooke Thompson handed him an announcement.
“This just in from the 12th grade. Jacob Allison would like to say this to Courtney Gage: Have a good day…my love. Again, that is from Jacob Allison to Courtney Gage.” As Sean once again tapped the button, he smiled.
“Who is Courtney?” asked Lucy Camden, already a friend of Sean.
“A freshman girl that now has a boyfriend. I must say her ‘Pika’ and phaser sound effects are very good.”
“I like these designs.” Mary Camden said from one of the LCARS panels in the back of the office. “We’ll have to come visit again after it’s built. Right, Lucy?”
She hesitated for a second, then said, “Yeah, sure!”
Heather Allgood then walked into the office. “I have got a new idea for the new school. What if there was an exit from the freeway?”
“Hmm?” This got Sean’s interest.
Heather continued. “We could have an exit leading from I-59, and have it lead to a junction where you could drive into a parking deck or hop into a monorail and go into the main section of the school, leaving the car in a force shield.”
Sean smiled broadly. “Great Idea. You sure you don’t want this job?” Laughing filled the office.
Ms. Toomey, the newest teacher at Hueytown High School, sat at her desk in the formerly vacant Activity Room Two that lie below the Boy’s gym. She would not have a class until third period.
Just then, Mr. Morrison walked in. “So, how do you like it?”
She responded with a smile, “Well, it’s not exactly like Riverside…”
“Yes. In-school olympics, student principals, supercomputers, it’s not exactly normal, is it?” He sat down in one the desks.
“Well, I don’t have anything against it. Even if some of the teachers are loquacious.” They both smiled.
“I’m quite fond of your vocabulary setup.” Just then, Mr. Morrisons’s combadge beeped. He tapped it, and Ms. Toomey’s eyes widened. “Yes?”
“This is Mr. Swiney in Pine, I need to talk to you about something.”
“Understood. I’m on my way.” Looking back at Ms. Toomey’s expression, he said, “I’m sure that Sean can get you one, for free.”
As he walked up the flight of stairs and out of the door, she said, “They never had those in Mobile!”
Mr. Swiney patiently awaited Mr. Morrison in the Pine Office. He saw Brooke Stephens and Sarah Lowe pass by, scanning the halls with their tricorders. But, other than that, there was nothing out of the ordinary.
“You rang?” Mr. Morrison was smiling broadly.
Mr. Swiney let out a quick laugh. “Have you heard of the incident where Mr. Holmes was fired?”
“Yes. I couldn’t believe it. His son must have asked for one too many things.” Mr. Morrison laughed again.
“Um…yes. We were wondering…”
“Yes?”
“…If you would like to become the new assistant principal of Hueytown.” The two stared at each other for several seconds, then Mr. Swiney said, “Here’s why…” They began to walk down Pine, talking along the way.
Timothy Johnson entered Conference Room 2 in the Jefferson County Board of Education Headquarters, smiling.
Andy Blackerby could not contain his shock. “You are happy!?”
“Yes. It’s time you heard the Brighty Plan.”
“The Brighty Plan?” asked Mrs. Lindsay.
The assistant superintendent took a seat across from the other two in the room.
“Yes. Here is how it would go. Without any of the tertiary baggage of Sean’s silly staff, he would command and design the new school.”
“Who?” asked Blackerby.
“Brighty.” Replied Johnson.
“What is Brighty!?” demanded Mrs. Lindsay.
“He is Julien Brighty. Here is his profile and his idea for the new school.” Andy Blackerby read his profile. He had a clean record, but few friends, and did not daydream, write, or draw. Turning to the design, he saw a design almost identical to the old school.
Blackerby began to laugh, loudly. “Nice one, Tim!”
But, Timothy Johnson was not smiling.
Blackerby stared at him incredulously. “You can’t be serious!?”
“I am. Why?”
Blackerby took in a breath and cleared his throat. “Look at this CI—I mean personality profile! Few friends, lacks imagination! And, this design! This is a throwback to the dark ages! You must take me for an oaf! He wouldn’t command my project if he was the last teen on Earth!”
“That is what we need!” Johnson retaliated. “We don’t need a daydreamer floating around, flirting with girls and building a school that is mainly for recreation and transportation.”
“It’s not just about Education! It’s about the image! Look at it, Tim, before you are blinded! The headlines: star student and his friends, boys and girls, design and command the largest American school! Our flaws would be overlooked! Jefferson County Board of Education would no longer bring up looks of disgust. It would bring an image of the future, a positive future.”
Johnson seemed to almost have an expression of understanding, when he suddenly said, “What about these injuries, the brawl in Oak, the battles! He’s a risk!”
“You are the risk, Johnson! You don’t like his technology from the future, or anything that could come good out of this! Sure, this Dimy—“
“—Brighty.” Mrs. Lindsay, a former English teacher herself, corrected him.
“…Brighty may not have enemies, but he is just a walking cliché as Sean calls them.”
Mrs. Lindsay joined in. “Yes! I don’t want someone with no facial expression, and no imagination commanding my school. Sean keeps the school in order and manages to have the majority like him. School has never been this good.”
“But, Kay, it started with you.” Blackerby said.
Johnson tried one last desperate plan. “What happened to the adults!? We are supposed to be in charge. If we have kids in charge, who knows what will happen next!”
“Get out!” Blackerby proclaimed. “Me and Mrs. Lindsay have to go to Hoover City Schools for some ideas. Leave, or I will fire you!”
Johnson stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Mrs. Lindsay smiled broadly. “Handled greatly.”
“Yeah, but I couldn’t have done it without you. As Sean says, ‘Let’sa go!’” As Blackerby smiled, Mrs. Lindsay rolled her eyes.
As a Hueytown Police Officer dragged Brandon Tucker to his car for attempted destruction of school property; Lucy Camden talked with Jordan Reeves.
“Has Sean told you about the Hueytown Olympics?” asked Jordan.
Lucy smiled. “Yes. He even said I could be on the Spormanworld team.”
Jordan lowered his head and shook it. “Good gracious, you like him too, don’t you?”
Lucy giggled. “Don’t tell him.” She walked back into the office, smiling, as Sean and Heather returned from outside.
“Well, Commander, it seems that Spormanworld wins yet another victory. And, it is all thanks to Heather.”
Heather blushed slightly. “But, Sean, you got the phasers…”
Sean raised his hand. “You found him on your way to get a Mountain Dew and stunned him before he could destroy the desk.”
Just then, Sean saw Mr. Morrison walk up. “Hey, Sean.” He was smiling broadly, which quite a few people seemed to be doing. It was a good thing.
“Well, you seem happy, what’s up?”
“Besides the ceiling, I’m an assistant principal now. Ms. Toomey is taking my place.” Jordan winced at the copy of his joke.
“Coolness.”
“Well, I have to go back now, good luck and good day.” After Mr. Morrison exited the main building, Sean walked back into the office…only to see a chair fly over his head and shatter into pieces as it came into contact with an LCARS shield.
Another one followed a few seconds later. “What’s going on?”
Simon Camden was quick to respond. “I just pressed a button…and chairs started to fly out that box-like thing over there.”
Suddenly, a chair slammed into Sean and Jordan, knocking them out. Heather, trapped under a chair, saw that Lucy Camden was close to the replicator controls. “Press the button again! It will stop it.”
She did as told and the last chair shattered against the shield. “Good job. Computer, activate emergency medical hologram.”
“Huh?” Lucy said.
Suddenly, the hologram appeared. “Please state the nature of the medical emergency.”
“Simon over there set the replicator to chairs. Sean and Jordan were knocked out.”
“I see.” The hologram said, activating his medical tricorder. “Minor concussion, Jordan here has a broken index finger on his left hand. Nothing a good subdermal regenerator won’t fix.” Pulling the required device out of his medkit, he ran it over Jordan’s finger for only a few seconds. He also injected them both with painkillers and removed the bruises using the dermal regenerator.
“Thank you, Doctor.” said Jordan. Suddenly, two teenage boys crashed through the window. It was Brian Diputs and Brandon Ogla.
“Ok!” Ogla proclaimed. “We want our girlfriends back! Fight us.”
Sean Sporman did not put up his fist. He quickly activated the intercom system using one of the LCARS panels. “So, do you so-called men want to attack your principal, heard by everyone in the school.”
“We demand a fight!” screamed Brian.
Sean shook his head three times. “Come now, you foolish terrans, violence is not the answer! There is a peaceful solution to everything.”
“Never!” yelled Ogla.
“Well, I can always kick you people off of those silly sports programs. Football, Ha! Silver Bullet, now that’s a game!”
The two glared at Sean and then walked out of the door.
“Handled like a true man, not with fists, but with brains.” said Lucy Camden.
Heather Allgood whispered something to Jordan Reeves.
“Maybe he is an alien.” Jordan smiled as he said that to himself.
“But, he’s a cute, smart and top-notch alien, if he is one.” Heather laughed aloud as Jordan left the room. “One day, he’ll accept that I like Sean a lot. He’s the best boyfriend I’ve ever had.” Smiling, Heather sat down and took a sip from her Mountain Dew.
Stacie Tucker, a sophomore and proud friend of the new student staff, sat in Mr. Seller’s tenth grade science class quietly. Over the past week-and-a-half she had witness a great many things from the change of command, two snowstorms, and the Hueytown Olympics. Now, she heard a rumor that she was going to be on the staff.
She had been Sean’s neighbor for about nine months, before moving to an even bigger house. During that time, Sean became a friend with both herself and her younger sister, Loren. Also, just a couple of days earlier, Sean had taken up for her when an annoyer, a suspected member of the Inbiots, had called her names.
“Now, I hate to get off-topic from cells.” Mr. Sellers began. “But, who in here is part of the Hueytown Olympics.” Stacie raised her hand, as well as Jonathan Reeves, also in the class. She had replaced Liz McGowen on the Noneonones because Liz had said she wanted to do more than compete. Jordan had allowed her off before Sean had arrived at school. Today would be her first day in the exciting competition.
“Ah. Interesting. So, how do you like it? Stacie?”
“Well.” She responded. “I haven’t played yet, but from the VIP bleachers, it looks pretty fun.”
“Thank you. And, Jonathan?”
“I enjoy it, even if little brother Jordan is in it. I must say it’s better than being trapped between a cytoplasm and a hard place.” The room filled with laughter.
“Ok. More on cells later, now onto Titanium and Silver. Erin Connell said that Titanium has an atomic number of 47.90 and Lauren Shivers said that Silver was element number forty-seven. Some more facts are…”
“Principal’s Log, Command Day Six. After stopping a replicator mishap caused by Simon Camden and a stopping a fight caused by two new Inbiots, day three of the exciting Hueytown Olympics is about to begin. Looking at the weather, it would seem that a sudden blast of arctic air could bring us a wintry mix in about thirty to forty-five minutes. We are under a Winter Storm Watch. I’m calling the superintendent to see what he is going to do. Meanwhile, I have become good friends with the Camden kids, who are staying in the area for the rest of the school week.”
Onboard the dirigible called Pittman One, the videophone installed since its first flight rang. The face of Sean surprised the superintendent only a little. “Greetings, Sean! We just left Hoover High with some cool cargo. What is it you need?”
“Have you heard of the Winter Storm Watch?”
“Yeah. Snow is so cool!”
“Hey, that’s my line!” Both of them smiled. “What are you going to do? Are you going to close the schools?”
“I’m closing all but yours and executing policy 6-20-47-Delta-Gamma.”
“What’s that?” asked Sean.
“A new policy. Any school that is presently holding a major competition can stay in session. However, staying is voluntary and whoever wants to go, must go.”
“I see.” Sean said. “Thanks.” Sean’s eyes darted around the cockpit. “So, where is Mrs. Lindsay.”
“She is asleep. She needed rest.”
“Understood. Happy snow days.”
The superintendent smiled. “You as well!” The videophone turned off and Andy Blackerby slumped back down in Chair No. 3. “Computer, arrival time to Jefferson County Board Headquarters?”
“Fifty-two minutes.”
“It’s going to be close.” The blimp sailed on as clouds covered the sun.
Sean finished his announcement about the new protocol and then smiled as he sat in the captain’s chair. I think it’s time for a daydream…
Another phaser blast flew down the hall, as Sean lie behind a force field.
“Are you saying that they we now have Jedi powers?” asked Jordan Reeves, who was taking cover behind an LCARS panel in a new classroom in the new school.
“Apparently.” Heather said, as she fired a phaser blast at the attackers that hit Brian Diputs, knocking him unconscious.
“Let’s go.” Meagan proclaimed as she walked into the hall. The five walked into the hall as phaser blasts flew from the enemy’s phasers.
The phaser bolts warped and hit the walls beside the four heroes as the slowly walked up to the enemy. “You are not destroying this school.” Sean said, as he waved his arm and three of the inbiots flew into a group of cardboard crates.
“Yes!” proclaimed Heather. With a gesture of her hand, Brian Diputs went flying, colliding with a thunk on the wall, even though he was already unconscious from the phaser blast.
“Sean!” Sean lowered his compression phaser rifle as he heard the voice of Lucy Camden…
Pittman One flew on course to the headquarters of the Jefferson County Board of Education. There was eighteen minutes left to go when the precipitation began. “Computer, switch antenna reception to Alabama’s ABC 33/40.”
In a second, James Spann popped up on the main viewscreen. “This is a Winter Weather update from Alabama’s ABC 33/40. The precipitation has begun in central Jefferson County. Hueytown reports it falling as a mix of snow and sleet. However, in Hoover, it is mainly rain. However, as the temperatures drop in the area the precipitation will change over first to freezing rain and sleet and then as snow. We would advise against travel. Now, we go to Pam Huff in the newsroom with the litany of school closings.”
“Computer, antenna retract.” Outside, a huge dish antenna folded up and retracted into the pancake-like dirigible.
“Retraction sequence complete.”
“Thank you, computer.” Suddenly, red lights began to flash throughout the cockpit.
“Warning, ice accumulation on main superstructure. SIF field failure in five minutes.” The superintendent ran quickly to the passenger compartment, where Mrs. Lindsay was sleeping. He tapped her on the shoulder a few times and she awoke.
“What…?”
“Ice is accumulating on the windshield. We have to get to the cockpit.” The two ran to the cockpit and wintry precipitation fell around them. When they arrived in the cockpit, they sat down.
“This is Superintendent Andy Blackerby, requesting separation of cockpit from main section.”
“Does the second-in-command concur?” The computer inquired.
“This is Kay Lindsay, supervising principal of Hueytown High. I concur.”
“Confirmed. Separation sequence in ten seconds.”
“Computer.” Mrs. Lindsay began. “In one minute, self-destruct the main section.”
“Enter access code.”
“Blackerby Happy-03047-Omega-Future.”
“Code one confirmed. Awaiting code two.”
“Lindsay 123456789-t.”
“Confirmed. Passenger and engine section will self-destruct in 59 seconds.” Suddenly, the resounding clank of metal separating was heard as the small cockpit section slowly separated from the main section. Transparisteel windows deployed where massive lightweight turbolift doors once were.
“Separation complete.”
“Ok.” The superintendent said, rushing to another panel. “We need to contact Sean. He’ll have to tractor us to safety or we will crash in eighteen minutes.”
The videophone rang a class-two, or urgent, ring. Sean ran into the room and entered the activation sequence.
“This is Blackerby on Pittman One. The main section is going to blow up in about twenty seconds. We’re in the separated cockpit, almost seventeen minutes until a crash. We need you to activate the Hypothetical and save us before the crash.”
“Understood.” Sean said. “We are on our way. Sporman out.” Sean rushed into the office. “I wish I didn’t have to beam everyone up.” He sighed, then said. “Sporman to Hypothetical, seven to beam up.”
In the slowly descending cockpit section of Pittman One, Kay Lindsay and Andy Blackerby prepared for an explosion.
“Three…two…one.” An incredibly loud explosion hurled the cockpit section forward. Papers, PADDs, and other objects that were not secured were tossed about the cockpit, while the two adults remained in place using advanced restraints.
“Warning. Inertial Dampers off-line. Multiple skin breaches. Impact in sixteen minutes.”
“Tell me something I don’t know!” The superintendent proclaimed.
On board the USS Hypothetical, former Federation starship now the property of Sean Sporman, everyone sat down.
Sean flipped up a console beside the Captain’s chair and entered a sequence of buttons. “This is Sean. Stacie, I need you to take command until I get back.”
The beautiful sophomore responded, “I will. Tucker out.”
Lucy Camden walked sat in a vacant chair beside Sean. “You have a starship, too!”
Sean smiled broadly. “Yes. I do. The USS Hypothetical! NX-75115.”
“Meagan, maintain the cloak. Heather, set course and engage at one-quarter impulse.” Sean smiled broadly; he was captain of a federation starship.
June Gabert raised her phaser compression rifle and shot several shots at the school. The impacted harmlessly off the deflector shields. She laughed. “Finally, I can defeat Sean. Hand me a spatial charge.”
Barbara Lowieque handed her a small, round federation-marked device. June grabbed it and slapped it on the door of the high school and then ran from it. “Let’s move!”
Only a few seconds later, an explosion blew the doors meters away and left a smoking hole in the school.
“Yes!” proclaimed June as she raised her phaser and ran into the breach. “Revenge is mine!”
They entered the school to meet three battle droids. Sean had created them using the replicator and specs from the Phantom Menace Game, with a few suggestions from the Hawking’s computer. “You have caused severe destruction of school property. You have ten seconds to surrender or you will be destroyed!”
June chuckled and fired a phaser blast at the droid in the center. When hit by the phased energy blast, it fell apart in many pieces. As the other two droids opened fire with their blasters, Barbara Lowieque kicked one of the droids and phasered the other.
“Barb, I didn’t know you had it in you!”
“Before I was a bad guy, Sean said I should learn ways to defend myself after being picked on by some guys.” June smiled, then began to walk. However, after only three steps they bounced into a force field. June could also see some students she did not know on the other side of the field.
She raised her phaser rifle and began to fire. “Fire your phaser, after about two minutes, it will go down…”
In the small cockpit of Pittman One, the two school faculty members awaited rescue. “Seven minutes until impact!” Mrs. Lindsay said, as the computer voice protocols had been damaged.
Suddenly, the cockpit shook. “Sporman to Pittman One. We have you in our tractor beam. We are now towing you above the clouds and then we can beam you up.”
Suddenly, as it popped out of the clouds, a huge Federation starship decloaked. Then, the two appeared on the already crowded bridge of the Hypothetical.
“Well, let’s get you to your home.”
“Pittman One is now in Cargo Bay.” Reported Lucy Camden, who was also smiling broadly.
“Engage.” Sean said, as his dreams were coming true.
As the force field fizzled from the constant energy flow, Derik Olvey and Michael Redman launched themselves toward the attackers. However, the enemy females tackled first. However June’s phaser went flying to the edge of the door.
Barbara sat up long enough to phaser him on heavy stun. As he fell to the floor, Michael picked up June’s dropped phaser and fired. But, Barbara cartwheeled out of the way and into the holographically enhanced gym.
She saw a huge gopher…actually it was Christy Burton, who wore the costume of the golden gopher on special occasions. At this time, she wore it to prepare for the Hueytown Olympics.
A phaser blast flew over Barbara’s head as she could see June ‘mega-punch’ Michael, who dropped the phaser. June quickly reclaimed it and, with Barbara, headed to the office, to find it empty…
Stacie Tucker rematerialized successfully in the secondary office, Type II phaser in hand. “Computer, disable all transporters for two hours.”
The computer beeped and clicked a few times. “All transporters on Hawking and High School are now without power for one hundred and twenty minutes.”
“Good.” Stacie said to herself. She walked into the camera room to see June Gabert and Barbara Lowieque storm out of the office. Apparently, they were angry that Sean was no where to be found.
“Warning, snow accumulations have begun. Also, K4 flu particles have been released throughout the high school by authorization of June Gabert.” Stacie rolled her eyes and prepared for the worst.
Mrs. Stevens’s class was out of control. After Sean’s unusual technology had repaired her room when the first snow craziness occurred, all seemed well…until now. She felt weird herself…
“Now is the time!” screamed Peyton Freeman. “Victory for the inbiots!” She proceeded to grab a Type I phaser that was given to Mrs. Stevens in an emergency and use it against the teacher of English and Speech. She fell down softly on a small air cushion.
“Hey!” Amy Ross said. “You are a bad guy! Take this!” She swung her purse and flung it toward Peyton, but a quick phaser shot hit it, and every object inside it burst out in various directions. Amy screamed at Peyton, but was soon stunned.
Joel Grey, who was trying to walk through the wall, felt and smelled a shoe on top of his head. Brandon Campbell placed it there. “You are an inbiot. This shoe will get you!” However, Joel smacked a Peanut Butter sandwich in his face, temporarily imparing his vision.
“June, this is TK4. The vaccine has now taken effect. Sean’s student agents in Pine have been neutralized.”
“What about Mister Swiney?”
“TK3 said that he went to Captain D’s for lunch.”
“Good job. Watch out for the ice and snow.” The two inbiots laughed.
In Oak, a phaser battle had ruptured in the halls. Sean Two struggled to control the situation. With crazed teenagers behind him and three inbiot attackers near the Oak office.
“Sean, I have had it with you!” screamed Holly Toidi as he fired another phaser blast at the hologram of Sean. Sean once more ducked behind Mrs. Coleman’s desk, which had been flung into the hall by a crazed Lauren Foust.
“That’s not Sean, its Sean Two. Find the holo-necklace.” Melissa Hamilton, a new inbiot, said. Sean Two smiled. Jordan Reeves, with the help of a Federation computer had designed a cloaking device for the holo-necklace. It was currently in Computer 12 in Mrs. McDowell’s room, which was protected by a small force field.
Sean Two fired once more, as a ball flew over his head, thrown by Fallon Shipman, who now was screaming for no known reason and running out of the building into the parking lot, which was now almost white.
“HA! You missed!” Sean Two said. “You can’t beat a hologram…” Sean Two snapped his holographic fingers. The gym was filled with holo-emitters. They were controlled from Ms. Toomey’s room.
As another shot from Melissa barely missed Sean Two, he picked up a PADD.
“Look! He’s going!” Sean two flickered, and then disappeared. Shortly after, the PADD exploded.
“Well.” Melissa said proudly. “He’s destroyed.”
“Yes!” Holly Toidi exclaimed happily.
“Let’s report this to June…”
Mrs. Painter had been teaching about the Industrial Revolution when what appeared to be the snow craziness struck again. Her students, and everyone else’s, were out of control.
She walked past Courtney Gage and Jacob Allison who were passing love notes, much to her surprise.
“Quite a few people are going to have marks.” She said to herself as she ran out of the halls, trying not to be affected by this madness. Suddenly, Brian Diputs, another evil inbiot, slapped what appeared to be an oxygen mask on her.
“What are you doing?” Mrs. Painter’s voice was muffled because of the mask.
“Have you ever been to the dentist?” Brian laughed deviously.
Mrs. Painter’s eyes widened. “Not sleep gas.” She now struggled to keep her eyes open.
“You catch on quick for a blonde.” Brian said. As Mrs. Painter passed out, Brian Diputs suddenly dematerialized.
Sean Two smiled with glee as Brian Diputs dematerialized surrounded a holographic army. “You will be the first. Surrender or be stunned.”
“You make feeble threats, Sean.”
“Actually, I’m a hologram, Sean Two. And, thanks to the emitters in the gym, all is well.”
“That’s what you think, fool! Do you know what a boomerang is?”
Sean’s eyes widened as he ran out of the gym as fast as he could. Brian just activated a shield. Just clear of the gym door, explosions began at the back of the gym. Then, one final explosion hurled Sean Two forward to the ground. He only stayed online thanks to holo-necklaces installed under the floor of the main building.
Just then, June and Barbara held their phaser compression rifles at point blank range, on full power. Sean Two sighed, and then put his hands up.
“So, holoman, you are smart, but not strong enough.” June laughed loudly, a laugh that permeated the building and gave Sean Two a holographic headache.
Quickly, Sean Two pulled out a PADD and entered a sequence. As soon as it was seen, June batted it away and it impacted on a wall. “Oops.”
“Bye.” Sean Two said, smiling, as he disappeared.
June smashed a window in anger. Barbara Lowieque seemed slightly stunned, and not by phaser fire.
“We’ve done it!” June proclaimed after cooling down for a few seconds. “Hueytown High is ours. Now, we wait for Sean and revenge will be complete. Barbara, bring the hostages in here and Brian contact the media, let them know of this.”
“Right away.” They both said, as June sat down in Sean’s Captain’s chair…
Sean Sporman, the real one, smiled as he prepared to beam back up to the Hypothetical. His newest passengers, Kay Lindsay and Andy Blackerby, smiled.
“Sean, we must thank you again.” Blackerby said.
“Yes. I agree.” Mrs. Lindsay added.
“Just doing my job. Do you need anything else?”
“Yes. Could you do something about my television?” Blackerby asked.
“Sure.” Sean smiled as they entered his office.
“Well, I have to go do something. I shall return shortly.” Mrs. Lindsay said, walking out another door.
“What seems to be the problem?” Sean asked.
“Well, I can’t get any stations.” Blackerby tried not to sound unintelligent.
Sean walked behind the massive sixty-two inch big-screen television unit. He looked at the wires for a few seconds. “Ah, ha!”
“What?” The superintendent asked.
“Your audio and video input cables are mixed.”
“Can it be fixed? I’m sorry, I know more about Personal Access Display Devices than televisions.”
“Of course.” Sean changed the wires and then came out from behind the TV.
“Let’s check on the weather.”
He activated the TV and quickly changed it to Channel 11. James Spann was on. “We have a breaking news story. Here’s Brenda Ladun in the newsroom.”
“Thank you, James. We just received word that a group calling themselves the inbiots has captured Hueytown High School. This has been confirmed by Hueytown Police.”
Sean leaned forward slightly, his mouth dropping open…
TO BE CONTINUED…
Next Time on Gopher’s Gateway:
Can the school be retaken…or will June be its new ruler?
Where is Sean two?
And, what will the Camdens do next?
All this and more on the next exciting Gopher’s Gateway…
------------------------------------------
“The Takeover, Part I”
Episode 6 of Gopher’s Gateway
“Computer, set to light stun.” Sean Sporman, type III phaser rifle in hand, turned a corner in Ivy building on this pretty Monday morning. Allen Johnston appeared, but Sean stunned him in time as he sprinted out of the building toward the office. He smiled as phaser shots from John Barnes and Jacob Allison pelted harmlessly against his personal deflector.
“Stop!” proclaimed Andy Blackerby, superintendent of the Jefferson County Board of Education, who stood in the doorway, which led to the office. Sean merely fired his phaser, and he also fell down stunned.
“Simulation complete.” The computer of the Hypothetical said as the hallways of Hueytown High School faded away to reveal the yellow grid lines on the black wall of a Federation Holodeck. But, that too, faded away quickly into the bridge of the Hypothetical.
“You did it that time.” Jordan Reeves, in the command chair, said.
“Yes, I did.” Responded Sean, as he looked out the window down at the school.
“So, did you enjoy the DS9 first season marathon?”
“Affirmative.” responded Sean. “I believe it is time to beam down.”
“Yes, I agree.”
Meagan Hall sat in the now completely modified office of Hueytown High School. Around her, LCARS panels showed maps, video feeds and other data where windows used to be. In place of the large desk, three Starfleet-issue chairs were, with LCARS sitting-level panels to the side an in between. On the ceiling, portable shield generators, phaser blast cannons, and holographic emitters were hidden within a skylight.
Sean had said that he planned to keep this office and the activity room for the new school. Just then, the two beamed in.
“Greetings.” Sean said, smiling.
“Hi, cutie.” Meagan responded.
“Good Gracious! My foot!” Jordan said.
Just then, two teenage girls and one teenage boy walked in. The oldest one spoke first. “Hi. I’m Mary Camden, are you Sean Sporman?” Sean smiled, Jordan shook his head, and Meagan prepared for battle.
Andy Blackerby, superintendent of the Jefferson County Board of Education, sat in Conference Room 2 with Hueytown High supervising Principal Kay Lindsay. Blackerby smiled, and handed her a PADD. “Have you seen of some of the design ideas?”
Kay Lindsay nodded yes. “I think they are very good.”
“Yes. Multi-level grade buildings, Amusement Park like playgrounds, an advanced monorail transport system and much more! And, with our budget and his technology it is all within our grasp.”
“I agree, very great indeed. But, did you call me over here to ask my opinions on the design?”
“Actually, no. It was my assistant’s idea. He says he has a proposal.” Blackerby was no longer smiling.
“You don’t like him, do you?”
“No! The United States Education system sticks me with an assistant that doesn’t like kids. Can you believe it?” Mrs. Lindsay turned and looked out of the window. The airship, Pittman One, was tethered and ready for it’s next voyage.
“…Today’s pick city, picked by Lucy Camden, is Baltimore with Snow Showers and a high of thirty-four. Thank you and have a nice day.” Sean pressed a button on the LCARS panel, which deactivated the intercom system, via combined electronic and positronic connections. However, Brooke Thompson handed him an announcement.
“This just in from the 12th grade. Jacob Allison would like to say this to Courtney Gage: Have a good day…my love. Again, that is from Jacob Allison to Courtney Gage.” As Sean once again tapped the button, he smiled.
“Who is Courtney?” asked Lucy Camden, already a friend of Sean.
“A freshman girl that now has a boyfriend. I must say her ‘Pika’ and phaser sound effects are very good.”
“I like these designs.” Mary Camden said from one of the LCARS panels in the back of the office. “We’ll have to come visit again after it’s built. Right, Lucy?”
She hesitated for a second, then said, “Yeah, sure!”
Heather Allgood then walked into the office. “I have got a new idea for the new school. What if there was an exit from the freeway?”
“Hmm?” This got Sean’s interest.
Heather continued. “We could have an exit leading from I-59, and have it lead to a junction where you could drive into a parking deck or hop into a monorail and go into the main section of the school, leaving the car in a force shield.”
Sean smiled broadly. “Great Idea. You sure you don’t want this job?” Laughing filled the office.
Ms. Toomey, the newest teacher at Hueytown High School, sat at her desk in the formerly vacant Activity Room Two that lie below the Boy’s gym. She would not have a class until third period.
Just then, Mr. Morrison walked in. “So, how do you like it?”
She responded with a smile, “Well, it’s not exactly like Riverside…”
“Yes. In-school olympics, student principals, supercomputers, it’s not exactly normal, is it?” He sat down in one the desks.
“Well, I don’t have anything against it. Even if some of the teachers are loquacious.” They both smiled.
“I’m quite fond of your vocabulary setup.” Just then, Mr. Morrisons’s combadge beeped. He tapped it, and Ms. Toomey’s eyes widened. “Yes?”
“This is Mr. Swiney in Pine, I need to talk to you about something.”
“Understood. I’m on my way.” Looking back at Ms. Toomey’s expression, he said, “I’m sure that Sean can get you one, for free.”
As he walked up the flight of stairs and out of the door, she said, “They never had those in Mobile!”
Mr. Swiney patiently awaited Mr. Morrison in the Pine Office. He saw Brooke Stephens and Sarah Lowe pass by, scanning the halls with their tricorders. But, other than that, there was nothing out of the ordinary.
“You rang?” Mr. Morrison was smiling broadly.
Mr. Swiney let out a quick laugh. “Have you heard of the incident where Mr. Holmes was fired?”
“Yes. I couldn’t believe it. His son must have asked for one too many things.” Mr. Morrison laughed again.
“Um…yes. We were wondering…”
“Yes?”
“…If you would like to become the new assistant principal of Hueytown.” The two stared at each other for several seconds, then Mr. Swiney said, “Here’s why…” They began to walk down Pine, talking along the way.
Timothy Johnson entered Conference Room 2 in the Jefferson County Board of Education Headquarters, smiling.
Andy Blackerby could not contain his shock. “You are happy!?”
“Yes. It’s time you heard the Brighty Plan.”
“The Brighty Plan?” asked Mrs. Lindsay.
The assistant superintendent took a seat across from the other two in the room.
“Yes. Here is how it would go. Without any of the tertiary baggage of Sean’s silly staff, he would command and design the new school.”
“Who?” asked Blackerby.
“Brighty.” Replied Johnson.
“What is Brighty!?” demanded Mrs. Lindsay.
“He is Julien Brighty. Here is his profile and his idea for the new school.” Andy Blackerby read his profile. He had a clean record, but few friends, and did not daydream, write, or draw. Turning to the design, he saw a design almost identical to the old school.
Blackerby began to laugh, loudly. “Nice one, Tim!”
But, Timothy Johnson was not smiling.
Blackerby stared at him incredulously. “You can’t be serious!?”
“I am. Why?”
Blackerby took in a breath and cleared his throat. “Look at this CI—I mean personality profile! Few friends, lacks imagination! And, this design! This is a throwback to the dark ages! You must take me for an oaf! He wouldn’t command my project if he was the last teen on Earth!”
“That is what we need!” Johnson retaliated. “We don’t need a daydreamer floating around, flirting with girls and building a school that is mainly for recreation and transportation.”
“It’s not just about Education! It’s about the image! Look at it, Tim, before you are blinded! The headlines: star student and his friends, boys and girls, design and command the largest American school! Our flaws would be overlooked! Jefferson County Board of Education would no longer bring up looks of disgust. It would bring an image of the future, a positive future.”
Johnson seemed to almost have an expression of understanding, when he suddenly said, “What about these injuries, the brawl in Oak, the battles! He’s a risk!”
“You are the risk, Johnson! You don’t like his technology from the future, or anything that could come good out of this! Sure, this Dimy—“
“—Brighty.” Mrs. Lindsay, a former English teacher herself, corrected him.
“…Brighty may not have enemies, but he is just a walking cliché as Sean calls them.”
Mrs. Lindsay joined in. “Yes! I don’t want someone with no facial expression, and no imagination commanding my school. Sean keeps the school in order and manages to have the majority like him. School has never been this good.”
“But, Kay, it started with you.” Blackerby said.
Johnson tried one last desperate plan. “What happened to the adults!? We are supposed to be in charge. If we have kids in charge, who knows what will happen next!”
“Get out!” Blackerby proclaimed. “Me and Mrs. Lindsay have to go to Hoover City Schools for some ideas. Leave, or I will fire you!”
Johnson stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Mrs. Lindsay smiled broadly. “Handled greatly.”
“Yeah, but I couldn’t have done it without you. As Sean says, ‘Let’sa go!’” As Blackerby smiled, Mrs. Lindsay rolled her eyes.
As a Hueytown Police Officer dragged Brandon Tucker to his car for attempted destruction of school property; Lucy Camden talked with Jordan Reeves.
“Has Sean told you about the Hueytown Olympics?” asked Jordan.
Lucy smiled. “Yes. He even said I could be on the Spormanworld team.”
Jordan lowered his head and shook it. “Good gracious, you like him too, don’t you?”
Lucy giggled. “Don’t tell him.” She walked back into the office, smiling, as Sean and Heather returned from outside.
“Well, Commander, it seems that Spormanworld wins yet another victory. And, it is all thanks to Heather.”
Heather blushed slightly. “But, Sean, you got the phasers…”
Sean raised his hand. “You found him on your way to get a Mountain Dew and stunned him before he could destroy the desk.”
Just then, Sean saw Mr. Morrison walk up. “Hey, Sean.” He was smiling broadly, which quite a few people seemed to be doing. It was a good thing.
“Well, you seem happy, what’s up?”
“Besides the ceiling, I’m an assistant principal now. Ms. Toomey is taking my place.” Jordan winced at the copy of his joke.
“Coolness.”
“Well, I have to go back now, good luck and good day.” After Mr. Morrison exited the main building, Sean walked back into the office…only to see a chair fly over his head and shatter into pieces as it came into contact with an LCARS shield.
Another one followed a few seconds later. “What’s going on?”
Simon Camden was quick to respond. “I just pressed a button…and chairs started to fly out that box-like thing over there.”
Suddenly, a chair slammed into Sean and Jordan, knocking them out. Heather, trapped under a chair, saw that Lucy Camden was close to the replicator controls. “Press the button again! It will stop it.”
She did as told and the last chair shattered against the shield. “Good job. Computer, activate emergency medical hologram.”
“Huh?” Lucy said.
Suddenly, the hologram appeared. “Please state the nature of the medical emergency.”
“Simon over there set the replicator to chairs. Sean and Jordan were knocked out.”
“I see.” The hologram said, activating his medical tricorder. “Minor concussion, Jordan here has a broken index finger on his left hand. Nothing a good subdermal regenerator won’t fix.” Pulling the required device out of his medkit, he ran it over Jordan’s finger for only a few seconds. He also injected them both with painkillers and removed the bruises using the dermal regenerator.
“Thank you, Doctor.” said Jordan. Suddenly, two teenage boys crashed through the window. It was Brian Diputs and Brandon Ogla.
“Ok!” Ogla proclaimed. “We want our girlfriends back! Fight us.”
Sean Sporman did not put up his fist. He quickly activated the intercom system using one of the LCARS panels. “So, do you so-called men want to attack your principal, heard by everyone in the school.”
“We demand a fight!” screamed Brian.
Sean shook his head three times. “Come now, you foolish terrans, violence is not the answer! There is a peaceful solution to everything.”
“Never!” yelled Ogla.
“Well, I can always kick you people off of those silly sports programs. Football, Ha! Silver Bullet, now that’s a game!”
The two glared at Sean and then walked out of the door.
“Handled like a true man, not with fists, but with brains.” said Lucy Camden.
Heather Allgood whispered something to Jordan Reeves.
“Maybe he is an alien.” Jordan smiled as he said that to himself.
“But, he’s a cute, smart and top-notch alien, if he is one.” Heather laughed aloud as Jordan left the room. “One day, he’ll accept that I like Sean a lot. He’s the best boyfriend I’ve ever had.” Smiling, Heather sat down and took a sip from her Mountain Dew.
Stacie Tucker, a sophomore and proud friend of the new student staff, sat in Mr. Seller’s tenth grade science class quietly. Over the past week-and-a-half she had witness a great many things from the change of command, two snowstorms, and the Hueytown Olympics. Now, she heard a rumor that she was going to be on the staff.
She had been Sean’s neighbor for about nine months, before moving to an even bigger house. During that time, Sean became a friend with both herself and her younger sister, Loren. Also, just a couple of days earlier, Sean had taken up for her when an annoyer, a suspected member of the Inbiots, had called her names.
“Now, I hate to get off-topic from cells.” Mr. Sellers began. “But, who in here is part of the Hueytown Olympics.” Stacie raised her hand, as well as Jonathan Reeves, also in the class. She had replaced Liz McGowen on the Noneonones because Liz had said she wanted to do more than compete. Jordan had allowed her off before Sean had arrived at school. Today would be her first day in the exciting competition.
“Ah. Interesting. So, how do you like it? Stacie?”
“Well.” She responded. “I haven’t played yet, but from the VIP bleachers, it looks pretty fun.”
“Thank you. And, Jonathan?”
“I enjoy it, even if little brother Jordan is in it. I must say it’s better than being trapped between a cytoplasm and a hard place.” The room filled with laughter.
“Ok. More on cells later, now onto Titanium and Silver. Erin Connell said that Titanium has an atomic number of 47.90 and Lauren Shivers said that Silver was element number forty-seven. Some more facts are…”
“Principal’s Log, Command Day Six. After stopping a replicator mishap caused by Simon Camden and a stopping a fight caused by two new Inbiots, day three of the exciting Hueytown Olympics is about to begin. Looking at the weather, it would seem that a sudden blast of arctic air could bring us a wintry mix in about thirty to forty-five minutes. We are under a Winter Storm Watch. I’m calling the superintendent to see what he is going to do. Meanwhile, I have become good friends with the Camden kids, who are staying in the area for the rest of the school week.”
Onboard the dirigible called Pittman One, the videophone installed since its first flight rang. The face of Sean surprised the superintendent only a little. “Greetings, Sean! We just left Hoover High with some cool cargo. What is it you need?”
“Have you heard of the Winter Storm Watch?”
“Yeah. Snow is so cool!”
“Hey, that’s my line!” Both of them smiled. “What are you going to do? Are you going to close the schools?”
“I’m closing all but yours and executing policy 6-20-47-Delta-Gamma.”
“What’s that?” asked Sean.
“A new policy. Any school that is presently holding a major competition can stay in session. However, staying is voluntary and whoever wants to go, must go.”
“I see.” Sean said. “Thanks.” Sean’s eyes darted around the cockpit. “So, where is Mrs. Lindsay.”
“She is asleep. She needed rest.”
“Understood. Happy snow days.”
The superintendent smiled. “You as well!” The videophone turned off and Andy Blackerby slumped back down in Chair No. 3. “Computer, arrival time to Jefferson County Board Headquarters?”
“Fifty-two minutes.”
“It’s going to be close.” The blimp sailed on as clouds covered the sun.
Sean finished his announcement about the new protocol and then smiled as he sat in the captain’s chair. I think it’s time for a daydream…
Another phaser blast flew down the hall, as Sean lie behind a force field.
“Are you saying that they we now have Jedi powers?” asked Jordan Reeves, who was taking cover behind an LCARS panel in a new classroom in the new school.
“Apparently.” Heather said, as she fired a phaser blast at the attackers that hit Brian Diputs, knocking him unconscious.
“Let’s go.” Meagan proclaimed as she walked into the hall. The five walked into the hall as phaser blasts flew from the enemy’s phasers.
The phaser bolts warped and hit the walls beside the four heroes as the slowly walked up to the enemy. “You are not destroying this school.” Sean said, as he waved his arm and three of the inbiots flew into a group of cardboard crates.
“Yes!” proclaimed Heather. With a gesture of her hand, Brian Diputs went flying, colliding with a thunk on the wall, even though he was already unconscious from the phaser blast.
“Sean!” Sean lowered his compression phaser rifle as he heard the voice of Lucy Camden…
Pittman One flew on course to the headquarters of the Jefferson County Board of Education. There was eighteen minutes left to go when the precipitation began. “Computer, switch antenna reception to Alabama’s ABC 33/40.”
In a second, James Spann popped up on the main viewscreen. “This is a Winter Weather update from Alabama’s ABC 33/40. The precipitation has begun in central Jefferson County. Hueytown reports it falling as a mix of snow and sleet. However, in Hoover, it is mainly rain. However, as the temperatures drop in the area the precipitation will change over first to freezing rain and sleet and then as snow. We would advise against travel. Now, we go to Pam Huff in the newsroom with the litany of school closings.”
“Computer, antenna retract.” Outside, a huge dish antenna folded up and retracted into the pancake-like dirigible.
“Retraction sequence complete.”
“Thank you, computer.” Suddenly, red lights began to flash throughout the cockpit.
“Warning, ice accumulation on main superstructure. SIF field failure in five minutes.” The superintendent ran quickly to the passenger compartment, where Mrs. Lindsay was sleeping. He tapped her on the shoulder a few times and she awoke.
“What…?”
“Ice is accumulating on the windshield. We have to get to the cockpit.” The two ran to the cockpit and wintry precipitation fell around them. When they arrived in the cockpit, they sat down.
“This is Superintendent Andy Blackerby, requesting separation of cockpit from main section.”
“Does the second-in-command concur?” The computer inquired.
“This is Kay Lindsay, supervising principal of Hueytown High. I concur.”
“Confirmed. Separation sequence in ten seconds.”
“Computer.” Mrs. Lindsay began. “In one minute, self-destruct the main section.”
“Enter access code.”
“Blackerby Happy-03047-Omega-Future.”
“Code one confirmed. Awaiting code two.”
“Lindsay 123456789-t.”
“Confirmed. Passenger and engine section will self-destruct in 59 seconds.” Suddenly, the resounding clank of metal separating was heard as the small cockpit section slowly separated from the main section. Transparisteel windows deployed where massive lightweight turbolift doors once were.
“Separation complete.”
“Ok.” The superintendent said, rushing to another panel. “We need to contact Sean. He’ll have to tractor us to safety or we will crash in eighteen minutes.”
The videophone rang a class-two, or urgent, ring. Sean ran into the room and entered the activation sequence.
“This is Blackerby on Pittman One. The main section is going to blow up in about twenty seconds. We’re in the separated cockpit, almost seventeen minutes until a crash. We need you to activate the Hypothetical and save us before the crash.”
“Understood.” Sean said. “We are on our way. Sporman out.” Sean rushed into the office. “I wish I didn’t have to beam everyone up.” He sighed, then said. “Sporman to Hypothetical, seven to beam up.”
In the slowly descending cockpit section of Pittman One, Kay Lindsay and Andy Blackerby prepared for an explosion.
“Three…two…one.” An incredibly loud explosion hurled the cockpit section forward. Papers, PADDs, and other objects that were not secured were tossed about the cockpit, while the two adults remained in place using advanced restraints.
“Warning. Inertial Dampers off-line. Multiple skin breaches. Impact in sixteen minutes.”
“Tell me something I don’t know!” The superintendent proclaimed.
On board the USS Hypothetical, former Federation starship now the property of Sean Sporman, everyone sat down.
Sean flipped up a console beside the Captain’s chair and entered a sequence of buttons. “This is Sean. Stacie, I need you to take command until I get back.”
The beautiful sophomore responded, “I will. Tucker out.”
Lucy Camden walked sat in a vacant chair beside Sean. “You have a starship, too!”
Sean smiled broadly. “Yes. I do. The USS Hypothetical! NX-75115.”
“Meagan, maintain the cloak. Heather, set course and engage at one-quarter impulse.” Sean smiled broadly; he was captain of a federation starship.
June Gabert raised her phaser compression rifle and shot several shots at the school. The impacted harmlessly off the deflector shields. She laughed. “Finally, I can defeat Sean. Hand me a spatial charge.”
Barbara Lowieque handed her a small, round federation-marked device. June grabbed it and slapped it on the door of the high school and then ran from it. “Let’s move!”
Only a few seconds later, an explosion blew the doors meters away and left a smoking hole in the school.
“Yes!” proclaimed June as she raised her phaser and ran into the breach. “Revenge is mine!”
They entered the school to meet three battle droids. Sean had created them using the replicator and specs from the Phantom Menace Game, with a few suggestions from the Hawking’s computer. “You have caused severe destruction of school property. You have ten seconds to surrender or you will be destroyed!”
June chuckled and fired a phaser blast at the droid in the center. When hit by the phased energy blast, it fell apart in many pieces. As the other two droids opened fire with their blasters, Barbara Lowieque kicked one of the droids and phasered the other.
“Barb, I didn’t know you had it in you!”
“Before I was a bad guy, Sean said I should learn ways to defend myself after being picked on by some guys.” June smiled, then began to walk. However, after only three steps they bounced into a force field. June could also see some students she did not know on the other side of the field.
She raised her phaser rifle and began to fire. “Fire your phaser, after about two minutes, it will go down…”
In the small cockpit of Pittman One, the two school faculty members awaited rescue. “Seven minutes until impact!” Mrs. Lindsay said, as the computer voice protocols had been damaged.
Suddenly, the cockpit shook. “Sporman to Pittman One. We have you in our tractor beam. We are now towing you above the clouds and then we can beam you up.”
Suddenly, as it popped out of the clouds, a huge Federation starship decloaked. Then, the two appeared on the already crowded bridge of the Hypothetical.
“Well, let’s get you to your home.”
“Pittman One is now in Cargo Bay.” Reported Lucy Camden, who was also smiling broadly.
“Engage.” Sean said, as his dreams were coming true.
As the force field fizzled from the constant energy flow, Derik Olvey and Michael Redman launched themselves toward the attackers. However, the enemy females tackled first. However June’s phaser went flying to the edge of the door.
Barbara sat up long enough to phaser him on heavy stun. As he fell to the floor, Michael picked up June’s dropped phaser and fired. But, Barbara cartwheeled out of the way and into the holographically enhanced gym.
She saw a huge gopher…actually it was Christy Burton, who wore the costume of the golden gopher on special occasions. At this time, she wore it to prepare for the Hueytown Olympics.
A phaser blast flew over Barbara’s head as she could see June ‘mega-punch’ Michael, who dropped the phaser. June quickly reclaimed it and, with Barbara, headed to the office, to find it empty…
Stacie Tucker rematerialized successfully in the secondary office, Type II phaser in hand. “Computer, disable all transporters for two hours.”
The computer beeped and clicked a few times. “All transporters on Hawking and High School are now without power for one hundred and twenty minutes.”
“Good.” Stacie said to herself. She walked into the camera room to see June Gabert and Barbara Lowieque storm out of the office. Apparently, they were angry that Sean was no where to be found.
“Warning, snow accumulations have begun. Also, K4 flu particles have been released throughout the high school by authorization of June Gabert.” Stacie rolled her eyes and prepared for the worst.
Mrs. Stevens’s class was out of control. After Sean’s unusual technology had repaired her room when the first snow craziness occurred, all seemed well…until now. She felt weird herself…
“Now is the time!” screamed Peyton Freeman. “Victory for the inbiots!” She proceeded to grab a Type I phaser that was given to Mrs. Stevens in an emergency and use it against the teacher of English and Speech. She fell down softly on a small air cushion.
“Hey!” Amy Ross said. “You are a bad guy! Take this!” She swung her purse and flung it toward Peyton, but a quick phaser shot hit it, and every object inside it burst out in various directions. Amy screamed at Peyton, but was soon stunned.
Joel Grey, who was trying to walk through the wall, felt and smelled a shoe on top of his head. Brandon Campbell placed it there. “You are an inbiot. This shoe will get you!” However, Joel smacked a Peanut Butter sandwich in his face, temporarily imparing his vision.
“June, this is TK4. The vaccine has now taken effect. Sean’s student agents in Pine have been neutralized.”
“What about Mister Swiney?”
“TK3 said that he went to Captain D’s for lunch.”
“Good job. Watch out for the ice and snow.” The two inbiots laughed.
In Oak, a phaser battle had ruptured in the halls. Sean Two struggled to control the situation. With crazed teenagers behind him and three inbiot attackers near the Oak office.
“Sean, I have had it with you!” screamed Holly Toidi as he fired another phaser blast at the hologram of Sean. Sean once more ducked behind Mrs. Coleman’s desk, which had been flung into the hall by a crazed Lauren Foust.
“That’s not Sean, its Sean Two. Find the holo-necklace.” Melissa Hamilton, a new inbiot, said. Sean Two smiled. Jordan Reeves, with the help of a Federation computer had designed a cloaking device for the holo-necklace. It was currently in Computer 12 in Mrs. McDowell’s room, which was protected by a small force field.
Sean Two fired once more, as a ball flew over his head, thrown by Fallon Shipman, who now was screaming for no known reason and running out of the building into the parking lot, which was now almost white.
“HA! You missed!” Sean Two said. “You can’t beat a hologram…” Sean Two snapped his holographic fingers. The gym was filled with holo-emitters. They were controlled from Ms. Toomey’s room.
As another shot from Melissa barely missed Sean Two, he picked up a PADD.
“Look! He’s going!” Sean two flickered, and then disappeared. Shortly after, the PADD exploded.
“Well.” Melissa said proudly. “He’s destroyed.”
“Yes!” Holly Toidi exclaimed happily.
“Let’s report this to June…”
Mrs. Painter had been teaching about the Industrial Revolution when what appeared to be the snow craziness struck again. Her students, and everyone else’s, were out of control.
She walked past Courtney Gage and Jacob Allison who were passing love notes, much to her surprise.
“Quite a few people are going to have marks.” She said to herself as she ran out of the halls, trying not to be affected by this madness. Suddenly, Brian Diputs, another evil inbiot, slapped what appeared to be an oxygen mask on her.
“What are you doing?” Mrs. Painter’s voice was muffled because of the mask.
“Have you ever been to the dentist?” Brian laughed deviously.
Mrs. Painter’s eyes widened. “Not sleep gas.” She now struggled to keep her eyes open.
“You catch on quick for a blonde.” Brian said. As Mrs. Painter passed out, Brian Diputs suddenly dematerialized.
Sean Two smiled with glee as Brian Diputs dematerialized surrounded a holographic army. “You will be the first. Surrender or be stunned.”
“You make feeble threats, Sean.”
“Actually, I’m a hologram, Sean Two. And, thanks to the emitters in the gym, all is well.”
“That’s what you think, fool! Do you know what a boomerang is?”
Sean’s eyes widened as he ran out of the gym as fast as he could. Brian just activated a shield. Just clear of the gym door, explosions began at the back of the gym. Then, one final explosion hurled Sean Two forward to the ground. He only stayed online thanks to holo-necklaces installed under the floor of the main building.
Just then, June and Barbara held their phaser compression rifles at point blank range, on full power. Sean Two sighed, and then put his hands up.
“So, holoman, you are smart, but not strong enough.” June laughed loudly, a laugh that permeated the building and gave Sean Two a holographic headache.
Quickly, Sean Two pulled out a PADD and entered a sequence. As soon as it was seen, June batted it away and it impacted on a wall. “Oops.”
“Bye.” Sean Two said, smiling, as he disappeared.
June smashed a window in anger. Barbara Lowieque seemed slightly stunned, and not by phaser fire.
“We’ve done it!” June proclaimed after cooling down for a few seconds. “Hueytown High is ours. Now, we wait for Sean and revenge will be complete. Barbara, bring the hostages in here and Brian contact the media, let them know of this.”
“Right away.” They both said, as June sat down in Sean’s Captain’s chair…
Sean Sporman, the real one, smiled as he prepared to beam back up to the Hypothetical. His newest passengers, Kay Lindsay and Andy Blackerby, smiled.
“Sean, we must thank you again.” Blackerby said.
“Yes. I agree.” Mrs. Lindsay added.
“Just doing my job. Do you need anything else?”
“Yes. Could you do something about my television?” Blackerby asked.
“Sure.” Sean smiled as they entered his office.
“Well, I have to go do something. I shall return shortly.” Mrs. Lindsay said, walking out another door.
“What seems to be the problem?” Sean asked.
“Well, I can’t get any stations.” Blackerby tried not to sound unintelligent.
Sean walked behind the massive sixty-two inch big-screen television unit. He looked at the wires for a few seconds. “Ah, ha!”
“What?” The superintendent asked.
“Your audio and video input cables are mixed.”
“Can it be fixed? I’m sorry, I know more about Personal Access Display Devices than televisions.”
“Of course.” Sean changed the wires and then came out from behind the TV.
“Let’s check on the weather.”
He activated the TV and quickly changed it to Channel 11. James Spann was on. “We have a breaking news story. Here’s Brenda Ladun in the newsroom.”
“Thank you, James. We just received word that a group calling themselves the inbiots has captured Hueytown High School. This has been confirmed by Hueytown Police.”
Sean leaned forward slightly, his mouth dropping open…
TO BE CONTINUED…
Next Time on Gopher’s Gateway:
Can the school be retaken…or will June be its new ruler?
Where is Sean two?
And, what will the Camdens do next?
All this and more on the next exciting Gopher’s Gateway…