Sleeper Cell: Alpha One

By Nelson B. Johns

Have you ever wondered if there was more to life? John thought about this every day since his life took a turn for the worst almost ten years ago. He was plagued consistently with bad luck and was just about at the end of his rope. After a chance encounter with a black ops colonel and a kindly doctor, John soon realized his potential and the reason for this rotten luck. He was secretly being trained as a sleeper agent for the government, and it was his time to be activated for his first assignment. Along with a scientific secret and his newly assembled team, John hesitantly embarks on his first mission. Follow along as the uncertainty of what lies ahead unfolds for John and his team.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 13, 2020
• ISBN: 9781647015824

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Sleeper Cell

Alpha One

Nelson B. Johns

Copyright © 2020 Nelson B. Johns

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2020

ISBN 978-1-64701-581-7 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-64701-583-1 (hc)

ISBN 978-1-64701-582-4 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Day 30

Day 29

Day 27

Day 26

Day 25

Day 24

Day 20

Day 17

Day 16

Day 15

Day 14

Day 13

Day 12

Day 11

Day 10

Day 9

Day 8

Day 7

Day 6

Day 5

Day 4

Day 1

Day?

Team Roster

Pilot: Steve Corley, aka Hound Dog

Enforcer: Tom Andrews, aka Tank

Sniper: Mike Nelson, aka Eagle

Spotter: Joe Gilbert, aka Talon

Infiltration Unit: Alex Rodriguez, aka Rat One

Emily Corder, aka Rat Two

Computer Hacker: John Woolberg, aka Geek

Team Leader: John Wilson

Day 30

The 18-wheeler smokestacks growled loudly with thick black smoke pouring out of them as John pulled into the truck stop parking lot.

Son of a bitch! John said while unlocking the tightened seat belt from the rapidly decelerating truck.

Looking around for a parking space, as well as looking to see if anyone saw his mistake of leaving the engine brake on with an empty truck, he maneuvered the vehicle into a straight line and attempted to back it in the open parking space. With little success, John had that feeling of despair spring up again in his head. The last ten years had been one bad luck day after another.

After three attempts, John finally put the truck into the parking space and exited the vehicle with a sort of sliding slowly down a slide, feeling the whole time, thinking to himself why did he pursue such a foolish career. After taking a deep breath of the warm spring air and kicking the front tire, cursing, he decided to go inside the restaurant to talk to his favorite server and do some serious flirting. He was feeling very lonely having been divorced twice, and a woman with any shred of common sense was not going to lock herself in a truck for months with no real way to care for her beauty. He was, however, optimistic that she would be single, having left her man and prowling for a new one. At least he would be treating himself to some steak and pleasant conversation even if it did not go any further than that.

With his bag in hand and a shower coupon in the other, he walked in to get himself cleaned up and have a decent meal for a change. Rubbing the skull section behind his left ear, he walked toward the door. It was doing that vibrating numbing feeling he had always had and showed concerned about to a doctor on several occasions but was always dismissed as nothing. Inside the restaurant, she was serving as usual in her very upbeat personality that seemed to bring people in—the lonely truck drivers, at least.

John sat himself down on a stool along with the other drivers and began his meal order with coffee and the steak he had desired. She flirted as usual but still had a boyfriend. In addition, nothing was going to pry them apart. With a disappointed tone, John just continued with his harmless flirting and conversation with the other truck drivers. Small talk about how fuel was up, freight was down, and the government did not seem to care about them lowly truck drivers. You know the normal complaining that makes a person feel alive because they share in the misery of the masses. John decided to make his meal a long one, taking his time to eat and drink coffee. The air of the restaurant made him feel at ease and comfortable, more like a person with friends and conversation. Something he had longed for since he split up with wife number two and had no one to talk to anymore. Sure, he had his kids to talk to, but he much preferred adult conversation. The restaurant banter continued, and conversations swelled. John joined in on the conversations, not noticing the two military figures approaching him from the rear. They walked up as if they were just going to order food and took a seat next to John.

Good evening, Colonel, Sergeant Major, John greeted them but did not stare directly at them.

How do you know our ranks? the colonel asked with a puzzled look.

John replied still not looking in their direction. I just know.

Colonel Smith introduced himself and Sergeant Major Jones followed the colonel with his introduction.

John nodded while he continued with his meal. Can we ask you something? the colonel said.

John interrupted, Fort Bragg is in North Carolina, and it is south of here.

The colonel stopped and looked puzzled at John. How did you know we were from Bragg?

That thought just popped into my mind, John said to himself and wondered how that happened. These things had been happening more frequently in the last couple of years.

I just know, John answered and then took a sip of his coffee and another bite of his steak.

The colonel turned to his sergeant major with a smile and said, I think we found the right man. Then he continued, I would like to have a private conversation with you, if you don’t mind.

John looked over at them with a very puzzled look. I am a little old for recruitment, don’t you think?

They both replied, Yes.

We would still like to talk to you, anyway, in private, the colonel said while John stared directly at him.

By now all the truck drivers had lost their conversations and were wondering what two military men from Fort Bragg wanted with John, and they watched as the three men slipped away to a secluded table for their conversation.

Following behind the two men, John wondered what was going on. What are these two really about, and what do they want with me? Questions flew through John’s mind as he took a seat across from the two men, positioning himself with his back to the wall as he always did when he felt in a threatened situation.

I take it you have been looking for me? John asked, looking back and forth at the two men.

The colonel shook his head yes.

Can I ask why? John replied.

I have information of a sensitive nature pertaining to you, John, and who you really are.

John told the colonel to continue.

You are a sleeper agent for the government, and you are almost fully activated.

John looked puzzled at the colonel as he continued.

You were selected at a young age for this, and most of your conditioning was secret. You were not aware of any of it. Your training was imbedded through suggestion and synaptic input while you were asleep. Then triggers were sent to you through your daily life.

Okay, wow, heard some crazy stories before. Wow, hardee harr harr! John laughed and told them both to get serious.

We are serious, John, the colonel replied. Do you honestly think that all the terrible things that occurred in your life were by chance? We sent those people in to begin your activation process.

So I am a science project? John asked with a stern and angry voice, folding his hands and leaning in toward the two men.

Well, in a sense, yes, you are, answered the colonel as both he and John continued back and forth.

So everything that has caused me to lose so much in my life was yours and the government’s doing?

Yes, John, it was.

And you think that will make me want to do what you say now?

No, answered the colonel, but when you hear what we have to tell you, maybe you will change your mind.

Not likely, answered John in an even angrier voice.

Look, I don’t expect you to like me or want to help, but the truth of the matter is, we need you, and we are willing to compensate fully, both you and the team you choose. Just come with us, and we can explain everything to you.

With much hesitation, John agreed and told them that he would go with them.

John’s life had completely turned around about twelve years ago, and bad luck followed him everywhere he went. What the colonel told him was the only sound explanation for the complete bad luck John experienced on a daily basis. Even when John withdrew from society and led a life of complete solitude, people still sought him out to either steal from him, screwing with his money and just in general making his life totally miserable.

Exiting the restaurant toward his truck, John was confronted by a man that bore a striking resemblance to himself.

The colonel looked over at John. Give him the truck keys, and everything will be okay.

John agreed, throwing the keys to his truck toward the man.

He is a handsome fella. I hope he knows how to drive a truck, John said with a smirk on his face.

The colonel replied, Yes, and he will take your place here while you are on assignment.

John stopped. Wait a minute. I said that I would listen to what you have to say. I did not agree to anything yet, John stated in a demanding voice as he wrenched the hand of the sergeant off his arm, hearing the bones crack as the sergeant pulled his hand down then held it with a pained look on his face.

Sorry, John, said while thinking to himself, How the hell did I do that?

Oh, I think you might change your mind when you hear what we have to tell you, the colonel replied, moving in between the two men and looking at John.

Okay, so how do we travel? John asked with a smart-ass attitude.

We have travel arrangements already made, and our transportation will be here shortly, the colonel answered as he held his hand out toward the highway.

John followed behind the two as they made their way toward the highway. John always wondered why everything in his life seemed to go wrong and never got better. It all seems so evident now, John thought to himself as he reluctantly followed the two, but what was his fate now? Would he become something he did not want to become, or would he fall into greatness like he felt he was destined? Guessing the answers would come for him when he heard what they had to say, John continued behind them. Cautiously watching the two men and the direction he was walking in, he continued to think to himself in silence.

John walked up a small hill to the very empty highway. An unusual site for such a busy time of day, John thought as he looked around. In the distance was thumping sound that brought John’s attention to the sky as he saw the approach of a helicopter.

I guess that is our transportation, isn’t it, Colonel?

Yes, it is John.

Oh, I have never rode in a helicopter. This should be interesting.

I would get ready for even more interesting things to start to develop in your life, John, once you agree to our proposal, the colonel said, looking back at John while the helicopter approached even closer and blew dust in a ring toward them.

We will see! John yelled over the sound as the helicopter made its landing on the highway and all three men started toward it.

The ride in the helicopter was exhilarating for John, bringing back memories of childhood, like riding roller coasters for the first time—the adrenaline rushes that only a boy or man could appreciate. He soon came back to reality and thought to himself, Is that why I have always had a difficult time in my life? Was it all their doing and not my fault! John glanced over at the colonel with an angry stare. What could it have been like if everything had gone well for me? Could I have been happily married with a home, good job, and no worries?

John remained quiet the entire ride, enjoying the scenery but still plagued with thoughts of why they had done this to him. Questions continued to run through his head while he looked out the helicopter window. Why were they making him so angry and resentful? More so, how could they let this happen to a fellow American?

All of it was, however, somewhat relaxing to John, though. He had always felt that something was wrong in his life and that everything was going wrong for a reason, but he would find out what that reason was someday. As he always said, he just knew. He continued to look over the scenery as the helicopter made its way south, feeling the warm air on him and watching as everything went by underneath his feet. It was turning into a long ride, and he felt uncomfortable thinking that he should not be here. Maybe he should just press on and make his life better. Nevertheless, that was too late as he was already on the helicopter and going to face his fate, head-on, as he did everything in his life never afraid and always sure.

The helicopter made its approach onto a landing zone, blowing up a ring of dust and landing with a thump. The three men exited toward a building that seemed unoccupied and was situated in the middle of nowhere. John became more cautious as he walked behind the two men toward the entrance of the building. An older man in a lab coat whom he had never seen before but seemed to know him appeared and greeted him by name.

John, we mean you know harm, and you are free to leave anytime you want to, the doctor said with an assured and firm handshake.

The doctor’s voice seemed soothing to John, like a voice he had remembered from a long time ago.

I will leave you two alone now, the colonel said as he walked away from them toward the helicopter.

The doctor pointed toward the door of the building and walked through it as John followed reluctantly behind him. The both of them entered the building to an elevator that brought them down to a laboratory.

No one will harm you, John, and you are free to leave at any time, the doctor said in a very reassuring tone. Plus, it is just me and you here, he added as he walked through the opening door of the elevator.

He also showed John the way out and let him go on it by himself, yet another reassuring gesture by the pleasant doctor. John felt that there was not much to worry about and that a bunch of weirdos were not trapping him. He also felt confident that if he had to fight his way out, he could easily overpower the elderly doctor. He returned to the laboratory and greeted the doctor once again. The doctor was glad to see that he had returned and that he had a little more trust for the good doctor. The doctor asked John if he could run some tests on him to see how he was physically and mentally. John hesitated, and the doctor pulled out a pistol. He handed it to John as if it was nothing at all and told him that he could use that if he felt threatened. John checked the weapon, and it was indeed real and loaded. Therefore, with pistol in hand and an uneasy feeling, John allowed the doctor to start his procedure. You know the normal sort of stuff a doctor does—blood pressure, reflexes, and all-around checkup.

John looked up at the doctor and said, You know I don’t even know your name.

The doctor replied, Tim, while he continued to work and did not look at John.

Tim, John thought. I always liked that name, John said while he watched the doctor wrap a cuff around his arm.

Well, it’s no surprise why. I have been a subconscious part of your life for a long time. I watched you grow up as if I watched my own children grow up.

How is that possible? John asked.

I guess the colonel has left it up to me to explain who and what you are. Figures he would hide behind his rank and make others do his work, Tim said frantically while doing his work.

Don’t you mean dirty work? John replied with a smirk and scoff.

Oh no, my son, it’s not dirty work. We chose you because of your genetics and intelligence for this project. In addition, I assure you, John, it is strictly voluntary. If you do not want to do this, all you need to say is no, and they will walk away.

That does not sound like the government I know, John interjected.

"Oh no, it