Term Limits 4 Liberty

By Stan W. Hatfield MBA

Planet Xeon is located in the distant corner of the Alpha Centauri Star System, nearly six light-years away, and is comparable to planet Earth. Technology on Xeon is far beyond Earth's abilities, creating futuristic advancements, either unknown or out of reach from our reality. Xeon geoscientists have determined the planet core is unstable and may be uninhabitable in three hundred years unless it self-stabilizes, a rational probability. Superiors start a search for a habitable planet in order to save their people from becoming extinct, and they've selected planet Earth, specifically, the United States of America.

Identifying what is necessary to send to planet Earth is of great concern due to the advanced technology that can produce weapons with godly powers, powers that can destroy the planet. Once Xeon technology is introduced, our lives will change dramatically and make the United States a dominating country with powers that are unimaginable, creating a force that the world will envy and fight to attain. The superiors of Xeon are concerned about sharing military technology to an unstable or corrupt government. They plan to be selective when transporting certain types of technology until such time the United States government can prove to be trustworthy, responsible with alien weapons, and have total control of other countries on the planet, preventing them from acquiring these powers.

Titus and Xavia resign from their position at NASA to help the Xeon people rid the United States from corruption before announcing them to the world. In the process, they become good friends with Xeon citizens. The concerns about Xeon citizens migrating to the United States stem from the widespread corruption in the government. The Xeon government go through a comparable situation, ending in a civil war, where many people die. Term limits is discovered to be the key ingredient to a stable government that works for the people and by the people. "Lifetime politicians cultivate corruption."

Adventure, space flight, romance, friendship, family, and chocolate cake.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9798889826262

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Preface

Chapter 1: European Suspects (E-MEN)

Chapter 2: Dream Probing

Chapter 3: Flight to Cannon Beach, Oregon

Chapter 4: House on the Rocks

Chapter 5: The Trip Home

Chapter 6: Aztar Joins the Conversation

Chapter 7: The Wedding

Chapter 8: Preparing for Space

Chapter 9: UFO Encounter

Chapter 10: Back to the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Chapter 11: The Mission Begins

Chapter 12: Mission

Chapter 13: Mission

Chapter 14: A Trip to the Cabin

Chapter 15: The Cabin

Chapter 16: Mission

Chapter 17: Rescue Mission

Chapter 18: Double the Mission

Chapter 19: Mission Break

Chapter 20: Mission Continues

Chapter 21: A Meeting with Annie

Chapter 22: Astronaut Annie

Chapter 23: Art of the Deal

Chapter 24: Back to the Mission

Chapter 25: Helping the Church

Chapter 26: Back to the Mission

Chapter 27: Mission/Holiday

Chapter 28: Palm Beach Resort

Chapter 29: Holiday

Chapter 30: Xeon Attends Church

Chapter 31: Back to the Mission

Chapter 32: United States of America

Chapter 33: It's Time

Chapter 34: Midterm Election

Chapter 35: Holiday

Chapter 36: Christmas Holiday

Chapter 37: Christmas Holiday

Chapter 38: Christmas Holiday

Chapter 39: Happy New Year's

Chapter 40: The Last Mission

Epilogue

About the Author

cover.jpg

Term Limits 4 Liberty

Stan W. Hatfield, MBA

Copyright © 2023 Stanley W. Hatfield, MBA

All rights reserved

First Edition

Fulton Books

Meadville, PA

Published by Fulton Books 2023

ISBN 979-8-88982-625-5 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88982-626-2 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

I dedicate this book to my support team: my wife, Judith Ann, and my writing coach, Amy Whitmer.

Preface

Planet Xeon is located in the distant corner of the Alpha Centauri Star System, nearly six light-years away, and it's comparable to planet Earth. Technology on Xeon is far beyond Earth's abilities, creating futuristic advancements, either unknown or out of reach from our reality. Xeon geoscientists have determined the planet core is unstable and may be uninhabitable in three hundred years unless it self-stabilizes, a rational probability. Superiors started a search for an inhabitable planet in order to save their people, and they've selected planet Earth, specifically the United States of America.

The concerns about Xeon citizens migrating to the United States stems from the widespread corruption in the government. The Xeon government went through a comparable situation, ending in a civil war, where many people died. Term limits was discovered to be the key ingredient to a stable government that works for the people and by the people, Lifetime Politicians Cultivate Corruption.

Xeon citizens have been living on Earth for ten years and are able to assimilate within society, resembling the average American, while paving the way for migration. Xeon possesses three starships, each capable of transporting five thousand people at warp speed, 1.5 times the speed of light, traveling to Earth in four years. During the trip, they study the English language, American history, American life, and habits of the American people. Information on planet Earth and the United States of America was obtained from their initial voyage and is revised continuously.

This story takes place between the devil and the deep blue sea and shows how NASA engineers assist aliens from the planet Xeon to enforce term limits and modify the course of corrupt politicians in order for American citizens to take back their liberty and freedom. Once liberated from the vast corruption, a new government will be put in place that will adhere to the US Constitution and save the Xeon citizens from extinction.

Chapter 1

European Suspects (E-MEN)

Titus, a young, intelligent, and attractive man, is just getting home from NASA, where he has a position of applying astronomy and space exploration. He's busy showering, enjoying the hot water cascading over his six-pack stomach muscles. Both hands are against the shower wall, giving him support, head down, looking through the thick hot steam, which conceals his well-endowed phallus.

Xavia, his girlfriend and roommate, knocks on the shower door. Want company?

Titus wipes the steam from the shower. Hi, babe, sure, come join me while the water is still hot.

Xavia carefully removes her clothes, revealing a shapely, voluptuous woman dripping with sexy, eagerly wanting to join her man. She presses her body against his backside and starts washing him with a washcloth filled with strawberry scent body wash, taking advantage with playful touching, then reaching in front to gently stroke him, triggering an erection. Titus slowly turns toward her. They embrace; he reaches toward her backside, pulling her toward him. Her libido is in overdrive; she wants him.

He whispers, Let's finish this in bed, sweetheart.

They grab a towel and quickly dry off, and she lies on her back, directing her man to be on top; he complies. Intimate passion ensues. They know each other's sweet spots and desires; seldom is there ever a disappointment. After a slow, erotic session of lovemaking, they both become sexually satisfied, lying hip against hip, eyes gazing at the ceiling for several minutes before getting up.

Titus is a Greek name, meaning one of honor and strength. His family is from Greece, and their surname is Baros, meaning courageous. Titus was twenty-eight years old when he was offered the position at NASA. Both Xavia and Titus graduated from Sorbonne University, located in Paris, France, and considered to be one of the best universities for space science.

Titus Baros and Xavia Angelos are both scientists at NASA, applying astronomy and space exploration to enhance relevant projects. They became friends then lovers in college, and they were accepted at NASA practically at the same time. They became part of the Saturn NASA Solar System Exploration Group.

Titus was a competitive swimmer in college and took diligent care of his body and mind. He was the typical tall, blue-eyed, dark-haired, well-groomed man who took life and schooling seriously, resembling a modern-day Cary Grant with a zest for life. Titus has a vision for his future and is determined to meet and master the goals he established for himself. He does more listening than talking and practices the study of human behavior, which helps his confidence when conversing with others.

Xavia is a Spanish name, meaning a creation of God, princess of war, a powerful woman, and her surname is Angelos, meaning angel. Her dad is Greek, and her mother is Spanish. Xavia also takes life seriously and excels in everything she attempts; both are exceptional people. They met at Sorbonne University, discovered they were compatible, and started dating.

Xavia's long light-brown hair complements her tan complexion. She resembles Angelina Jolie with an attitude to match. She was also a competitive swimmer in college and an excellent golfer. There isn't anything she will not try or do, and like Titus, she has goals for her life and is confident these goals will be achieved. Xavia is sure of herself and is usually the first one to speak. She is a true leader and will not be intimidated by anyone. Her questions may sound harsh, but they are well thought out and pertinent to the conversation at hand.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the United States government, responsible for the civil space program and aeronautical and space research. United States Space Force (USSF), a fairly new government agency, and NASA signed a memorandum of understanding, formally acknowledging the joint role of both agencies.

Titus and Xavia have been with NASA for about five years and were studying NASA's Cassini spacecraft, Saturn, and its family of icy moons. Cassini revealed in detail the wonders of Saturn, a giant world ruled by raging storms and delicate harmonies of gravity. Cassini carried a passenger to the Saturn system, the European Huygens probe, the first man-made object to land on a world in the distant outer solar system. After twenty years in space, thirteen of those years exploring Saturn, Cassini exhausted its fuel supply. And so to protect the moons of Saturn that could have conditions suitable for life, the Cassini spacecraft was sent on a daring final mission that would seal its fate. After a series of two dozen nail-biting dives between the planet and its icy rings, Cassini plunged into Saturn's atmosphere on September 15, 2017, returning science data to the very end (Solarsystem.nasa.gov).

Titus and Xavia live together in a rented two-story house in an older neighborhood, not too far from NASA Kennedy Space Center. It's a quiet neighborhood with well-maintained old homes and with friendly neighbors. They sometimes walk a few blocks to one of their favorite coffee shops for a latte, a scone, or sometimes a light lunch. They work together and are on the same team, requiring them to be on call 24/7. They use their home for sleeping, eating, showering, and lovemaking.

The local coffee shop is located in an older one-story brick building with a flat roof located on the corner with neighboring businesses, including a small grocery store. A newspaper box leans against a poster-ridden telephone pole just outside the coffee shop entrance, peddling papers. Titus and Xavia have time on their hands and decide to take a walk to the local coffee shop on this crisp, cool morning, holding hands, chatting along the way. Xavia is wearing a thick blue wool sweater, jeans, and a scarf covering her ears, trying to stay warm. She stares down at the broken sidewalk as she tells her boyfriend about a project they're working on at NASA. They continue their walk while discussing the project and begin to smell the aroma of bacon being cooked on a griddle and the scent of brewed coffee. Titus puts money in the newspaper box, takes the morning paper, and reaches for the door to the coffee shop. A strange man dressed in a black suit wearing a white Panama hat opens the door from the inside and greets them, Good morning, Titus and Xavia.

Xavia removes her scarf and politely asks, How do you know our names?

The man replies, Please join us, and I'll explain. My name is Aztar. He walks them over to a table in the rear of the shop then introduces his friend. This is my friend Zoey.

Zoey stands and reaches out his hand. Good morning. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Please join us. Zoey waves the waitress over and tells his guests, Please tell her what you would like—it's on me.

Titus and Xavia take a seat on the opposite side of the booth. That's very nice of you to offer, Zoey. Thank you. Xavia orders for both of them. We'll have a latte and a blueberry scone. So how do you know us?

Zoey begins, We are astronomers and met you while attending Sorbonne University.

Titus replies, I'm not saying we never met, but for the life of me, I don't remember. What brings you to Florida? Do you have business with NASA?

Xavia chimes in, I'm sorry, Zoey and Aztar, I don't remember you either.

Zoey replies, I can assure you both that we met. Nevertheless, it was a brief encounter, and I suppose we were more interested in you than you were in us. To answer your question, we are interested in NASA's past involvement in Cassini, and since it is no longer in existence or considered classified information, we were hoping that you would be willing to share what you know about the Saturn exploration.

Xavia tries to get the attention of the waitress, who is sitting on a round stool connected to the counter, obviously too small for her tushy, drinking coffee, and flirting with a much younger man sitting next to her, dunking his donut. Xavia finally gets up from the booth and starts walking toward her in a polite and resolute posture. Would it be too much trouble for you to bring us a couple more lattes and refill the ice water?

Rose, the waitress, puts on a fake smile and tells her, I'll be right there, ma'am. Xavia begins telling their new friends what they know about the Cassini project and the wonders of Saturn. Titus and Xavia have a unique way of sharing parts of the storytelling, painting a vivid picture while keeping it interesting and well-defined.

An hour has passed; Titus looks at his watch and interrupts Xavia, It's getting late. We need to head home and get ready for work. Sorry, gentlemen, we need to get going. It was a pleasure meeting you. We enjoyed our discussion, and thank you for the lattes and scones. This was nice. Xavia says her goodbyes, shakes hands, and leaves the coffee shop.

On their walk home, Xavia and Titus talk more about their meeting with Zoey and Aztar, both having unanswered questions. Titus mentions, I noticed how they listened to what we had to say but didn't ask questions. Doesn't that seem odd?

Xavia pulls her scarf away from her mouth and replies, "Yes, the other thing I noticed was when Zoey said, ‘It's a pleasure to finally meet you,' telling us that we have never met before. We need to find out their objective if we ever bump into them again. I don't regret telling them about the Cassini project. Everything we discussed has been published and can be accessed from any library."

Titus reminds Xavia they are running out of time and need to get to work. He pulls the Land Rover out of the garage, warming it up for the trip to the office, while waiting for Xavia. She finally gets in and closes the door, and he starts to back out of the driveway when she tells him to stop. A couple of men dressed in long black trench coats, one wearing a white Panama hat, are walking on the sidewalk, about to cross the driveway. Titus stops to let them pass. One of the men bends down to give them a wave as they cross. Xavia shrieks, It's them, Zoey and Aztar!

Titus returns the wave then backs out of the driveway and heads to work. He tells Xavia, We don't have time to talk with them now, and I waved only because I want to continue a friendly appearance in order to find out more about them.

The workday is productive for Xavia and Titus, who spearhead a team of NASA scientists. They discuss the current project on their way home. As they drive through their neighborhood, they spot Zoey and Aztar walking down the sidewalk toward their house; Titus slows down and waves to them as they drive by. Their new friends start to appear more frequently, easily spotted by the white Panama hat, making Xavia and Titus feel as if they are being pursued.

A few days after meeting Zoey and Aztar at the coffee shop, Titus wakes up, realizing he's in his bedroom, lying in bed next to Xavia. The shades are drawn, yet the sun's rays are seeping through the perimeter of the windows, revealing the middle of the day; both are fully dressed, except for their shoes. He wakes up Xavia and asks, Are you okay?

She awakens and slowly gets up, sits on the edge of the bed, and replies, I'm fine. Where are we?

He walks over to the 1950s wall switch and presses the on button. The ceiling fixture lights up the room, and he answers, We're in our bedroom. Xavia checks herself and is confident she has not been violated. Titus does the same and appears to be unharmed, nothing to be concerned about. He tells Xavia, Check your Day-Timer.

She looks around the room and finds her purse lying on the floor next to the vanity; she carefully pages through her Day-Timer and tells him, There are no entries for the last eight days. Xavia transmits a somber glare; both are baffled as to what took place and with whom.

Xavia makes a call to Annie, their team leader at NASA; the phone rings and is answered on the second ring. Hello, this is Annie Walker. How may I help you?

Xavia sounds uneasy. Hi, Annie. It's Xavia. We have a problem. Titus and I just woke up in our bed, fully clothed, no sign of being violated, although we show no activity in my Day-Timer for the last eight days. This is a great concern because I make entries every day. We believe we were abducted, and that's why we've been absent from work.

Annie replies, How awful. What can I do to help?

We're okay. We just need to figure this out and let you know where we've been.

Annie continues, As far as I know, neither of you have been absent. Let's discuss this in further detail when you get here tomorrow morning. In the meantime, try to enjoy your evening.

The next day Titus and Xavia show up at work for their appointment with Annie, and she meets with them right away. Annie is a physicist for NASA and has been employed for over fifteen years. She is middle-aged, never married, and brought up in the Midwest. She is highly intelligent, business minded, and will not tolerate incompetency from her staff. Her shoulder-length light-brown hair is always in place, and it complements her professional appearance. She has a natural beauty, a shapely figure, and a flair for style, making heads turn no matter the venue. No one can understand why this beautiful, intelligent lady was never married. Her canned answer is always I don't have time to train a husband, raise a child, or deal with in-laws, maybe later in life, but not now.

Annie is a superb host and a great leader. She invites them to her office and offers them a refreshment. Xavia takes the lead and makes lattes for herself and Titus. Annie has an espresso machine in her office and a library of several types of coffees, putting Starbucks to shame. She closes the door then sits across from her guests, with her shapely legs crossed and sips on her cappuccino. Annie begins, Please tell me again exactly what happened.

Xavia speaks first. All we know is what I told you on the phone. We woke up in our bedroom in the middle of the day, fully dressed, minus our shoes, and discovered there were no entries in my Day-Timer for eight days. Our conclusion is that we were abducted, causing us to be absent from work. We apologize for not showing up the last eight days.

Annie replies, I have something to show you. Annie goes to her desk and pulls out a manila folder and brings it to the table. After you called me yesterday, I did some investigating and asked some of your teammates about your absence, and according to your log, you were both here all eight days, which is confusing, based on what you just told me, explains Annie in a soft and caring way.

Xavia and Titus have a puzzled look on their face and say in unison, How can that be?

Xavia continues, We met two men at our local coffee shop, and they told us they were visiting from Europe and we met at Sorbonne University. According to them, they studied space exploration, were astronomers, and knew we worked for NASA. They brought up Cassini and were remarkably familiar with the project. Anything we discussed with them could be found in a NASA publication. Therefore, we never shared any classified information.

Titus continues, It seemed as though their interest is with Xavia and me more than any NASA project.

Annie concludes, Okay, so you met these two men, you had a conversation on a dead project, and nothing confidential was shared, correct?

Xavia answers, That's correct, but afterward, we kept seeing them no matter where we were—it was very strange and concerning. They would be walking from a different direction, wave to us, and keep walking. At first, we thought this might be a coincidence, yet as the day progressed, we saw them no matter where we were. It was bizarre.

Did you get their names? asked Annie.

Xavia replies, Yes, their names are Zoey and Aztar. It was a friendly encounter, although we neglected to get their last names.

Annie says, Tell me more about waking yesterday. How long were you two asleep?

Xavia explains, The last thing I remember is waving hello to Zoey and Aztar from the car as they were walking on the sidewalk near our house. We both woke up at the same time, fully dressed in the light of day, and everything seemed to be normal. One of the first things we did was to check our calendar. As I mentioned, every day for the past eight days, the pages are blank, and that's not normal, because the only days we might not enter a daily log is on weekends, when we're not at work.

Annie understands the importance of asking the same questions to ensure the story remains consistent and is a typical interrogation technique. Annie spends time thinking about what has been said and jots down a few notes on her notepad. In an authoritative voice, Annie states, This is strange, and I'm not too sure how to go forward. Did you check to see if any valuables or work-related information were taken from your house or notebook? Was the house broken into, or were there any windows left open? Maybe answering these questions should be our first step. Based on what I'm hearing, my initial thought is that these two men—let's call them European Suspects (E-MEN)—knew you were working at NASA, wanted classified information, and were able to get close enough to abduct you, filled you with a drug to knock you out, and returned you to your house. It's obvious they have been surveilling the both of you for some time. I would suggest that you immediately get your blood analyzed to see if there are any foreign drugs in your system. I will get you in contact with a private investigator to check out your house, and I want you both to go through your computers and all your papers to make sure nothing has been tampered with or is missing. This could be an espionage attempt, and I want it to be kept classified and resolved immediately.

Xavia clears her throat and explains to Annie, Your initial response to this sounds great, and we will start acquiring the information in question the moment we leave your office. However, how do we explain the evidence of our presence with the NASA team, including our logins, for the past eight days? Do we have a mole within our team that might be connected to the E-MEN?

Annie responds, Good question. I will check with security to see if the system has been breached. Our login protocol requires your badge and a thumbprint. Are you in possession of your tags currently? Stupid question, you wouldn't be able to get into the facility without your badge. Let me ask a different question: Where do you store your badges while you're at home?

Xavia speaks up. We keep our badges in the wall safe at our house the minute we get home, which is standard protocol.

Annie nods and asserts her plan. I will have the private investigator look into the safe to see if there was any tampering. One of you will need to supervise the opening of the safe. Anything else? They both shake their heads, and Annie continues her instructions. Okay, remember, this is classified, and I will need to contact both of you on a daily basis using a secured line to let you know where we can meet. I want frequent updates, and hopefully, we can solve this mystery in a brief time. This is top priority—don't worry about meeting with your team until this is resolved. I'll let the team know you are both on an ad hoc assignment and will be back soon. Meeting adjourned, good luck.

The first thing Xavia and Titus do after the meeting with Annie is to have their blood drawn to be examined for drugs. Annie immediately makes the appointment with Nichole, NASA phlebotomy supervisor, and instructs standard protocol for classified results. Once the results are obtained, Nichole will meet with Annie privately to interpret the blood test results.

When Xavia and Titus show up at the lab, Nichole is ready for them to draw their blood, and she's finished within twenty minutes. There's an elevator that takes them to a private entrance to enter the lab. On their way to the parking lot, Titus expresses his opinion. I truly think the blood test is only a precautionary measure. What are your thoughts?

Xavia responds, I agree, although Annie has me thinking about the E-MEN. I can't believe we're stupid enough to allow these strangers to take advantage. It's not like us—we're smarter than that, right?

I hope so. Let's get to the house because I want to get this over with, says Titus, expressing his frustration.

On the way home, they stop at the local coffee shop for a latte, a sandwich, and a bowl of soup. Titus is able to find a parking spot close to the front door, keeping the Rover far enough away from the high curve so the door can be opened. It is mid-January; chill fills the interior of the Rover within seconds after opening the door. Titus hustles to the passenger side to help Xavia avoid the curb as she steps out of the Rover. They are both silently enjoying their lunch when Xavia's phone rings. Hello, Annie, what's up?

Annie skips all formalities and asks, Are you near your house? I'm sending over a private investigator.

Xavia responds, Yes, we're at the local coffee shop having lunch. Tell him we're ready.

Annie adds, I've given him instructions on the investigation. The less you say to him, the better. Please call me on my security line the minute he leaves. Again, the PI has been instructed to keep this investigation confidential. All findings come directly to me, so please don't ask him questions, just provide him access to everything he needs, and we'll talk soon.

They finish their lunch; Titus pays the check using his debit card. They cautiously walk out of the coffee shop, both looking in every direction to see if the E-MEN are nearby. Titus drives them to their house and puts the car in the garage. They're only three blocks from the coffee shop, and they normally walk, but today, they came directly from the NASA facility. On the way home, they both continue to look for the E-MEN, and they are nowhere in sight.

Xavia takes the lead and says to Titus, Hey, babe, why don't you start checking the computer and I'll go through our paperwork to see if anything is missing or unusual? Xavia clears off the dining room table and strategically empties both briefcases and all the file folders. She decides to take inventory, making the review of the contents easier for them. Titus starts with his laptop computer checking history to see if there are additions or deletions with any of the files.

It's been fifteen minutes, and the doorbell rings. Xavia opens the door and finds an impeccably dressed man, wearing a black suit. He introduces himself, Ciao, with an Italian accent. I'm Sean, the private investigator, you are expecting me?

Xavia replies, Yes, we are expecting you. Let me give you a tour of the house, and then I'll let you get busy with your work. It's obvious that Sean is a professional; he has a reason not to give his business card or his last name to Xavia. Sean thoroughly inspects everything from floor to ceiling, the doors, windows, appliances, lights and the safe. He takes several pictures and fingerprints and uses a device to check for electronic surveillance equipment.

Late afternoon, about 5:00 p.m., investigator Sean says he is finished and thanks them for their cooperation. Titus and Xavia tell him goodbye, and Xavia immediately calls Annie to let her know the current status. Hello, Annie. Sean completed his work and has left the house.

Annie replies, Good, I'm just now finishing with Nichole regarding your lab work. Let's meet at my office tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. I have news to share, so I'll see you then.

Sounds great, replies Xavia.

Xavia gets Titus's attention and explains, We are meeting with Annie at her office tomorrow morning at 8:00. She has news for us. How are you coming with the computers?

Titus replies, I've checked each of our laptops and didn't find a trace of tampering on either of them. I want us to go over the process I used to check them out and see if you concur. How about you?

Xavia replies, I've gone through each file in detail, and I don't see where there is anything missing, added, or changed. I want to go over this with you as well to make sure I'm not missing anything.

They decide to go out for dinner at the local restaurant and be fresh for Annie tomorrow morning. After the meeting with Annie, we should be able to get our portion wrapped up by noon, advises Xavia.

I hope so. This experience has gotten me down, and I want it to be over, admits Titus. He then looks at Xavia. I have visions in my mind—it's trying to tell me something. How about you?

Xavia nods and responds, Yes, there is definitely something happening in my mind, and I'm not sure what it's trying to tell me. Tomorrow morning, when we meet with Annie, we must share our thoughts. It may be associated with the E-MEN encounter—not sure how but I have no other answers.

That night, both Xavia and Titus have crazy dreams and wake up in the middle of the night sweating profusely. Titus decides to get up and shower; she joins him a few minutes later. Xavia, while in a playful mood, tries to push him away from the rain shower head; he stands firm, playing a defensive lineman, bracing for her attack. She grabs him, holding him with both arms, her breasts firmly pressing his backside. He's enjoying her touch, but he refuses to move. The resilient woman that she is finds another way to attack. She notices his legs are spread in order to brace himself, making it easy for her to reach his dangling phallus, gently gripping it for attention. She now has total control, pulling him away from the shower and claiming victory. They begin laughing at their childish antics, playfully washing each other and kissing passionately before stepping out of the shower.

After drying each other off, they head straight to bed, anxiously anticipating a well-deserved orgasm. She pulls back the sheets, and her naked body slides into position, ready for her lover. Titus bends down, hovering over her body, gently kissing sensual areas below her belly; he advances to her breasts and then onto her lips. Her legs wrap around his waist, and they share passionate kisses. His erection enters, gliding slowly inside, accompanied by long and deep strokes until his testicles slap against her. The passion escalates, and she signals with a nod, telling him she's ready. His strokes continue until he ejaculates inside her, igniting a fiery orgasm for both lovers.

Xavia falls back to sleep, and Titus gets up to make coffee and toast then brings it to her. Titus says in a soft voice, Xavia, it's time to get up. We have a meeting in two hours.

While dressing, Xavia says, I had a three-dimensional dream last night about a small house in a small town near the ocean. It was amazingly realistic.

Titus responds in an excited voice, Yes, I had a similar dream. This is getting weird. We need to keep a journal and see where it leads. Since they had some spare time before the meeting, Xavia pulls out her notebook and records notes of their dream.

They arrive at NASA at 7:50 a.m. and hustle to Annie's office. Annie waves them in and offers them coffee and a raspberry scone. They get settled, and Annie says, How are you two holding up?

Xavia responds, We are doing fine, although we do have a few things to share. What would you like to discuss first?

Annie begins, I discussed your blood work results with Nichole, and according to the lab, there are no abnormalities in either of your blood samples. Therefore, the question remains: What caused both of you to lose eight days of your life?

What about the investigator Sean, has he submitted his report? asks Titus.

Not as of yet, but I'm hoping to have something by the end of the day, replies Annie.

Xavia mentions, We need to do a second review of the paperwork and computer for missing or tampered files just to be sure, and so far, we've found nothing.

Annie is taking notes and mentions, You said you had something to share. What is it?

Titus speaks up. Both of us are seeing visions and data in our minds, and last night, we both had a realistic dream about a small house in a small town next to the ocean.

Annie replies, Interesting, was it the same dream for both of you?

Yes, replies Xavia, the same exact dream. We woke up in a sweat last night. What do you make of that?

Annie states, I'm not sure what to make of your dreams or any of this to be honest, but let me give this more thought. Finish with the computer and paper review, and I will find out when Sean has his report ready. I will make contact with you before the end of the day. Something to consider: This may take us down a road that humans have never been down before if you catch my meaning. I'm going to mention some of this to a specialist that I know and get his reaction. Any questions?

Titus speaks up. Yes, I have several, but I'll wait until the end of our investigation.

Annie walks them to the door and tells them, Hang in there. We will get to the bottom of this or just drop it and go on with our lives. I'll call you later this afternoon. Have a good day.

They are back at the house reviewing the computers and paperwork for the second time and agree that nothing is missing, changed, or added. The phone rings, and it's Annie; Titus answers the phone. Annie responds in an authoritative voice, Hi, I can tell you that the investigator Sean just went over his report with me, and he found nothing. It looks like he was very thorough with his investigation.

Titus asks, So now what do we do?

Well, replies Annie, I think we've done all that we can do for now. I want the two of you to take a couple of days off, rest up, and start back with the team on Monday. In the meantime, I will talk to my friend and let you know what he says. I don't have an answer, Titus, but I want the two of you to wear your contact watches day and night. If you should run into E-MEN, notify us using your watch. It will be immediate, and the GPS will guide us to your location. Otherwise, be sure to keep good notes of your dreams and thoughts, and we will talk later.

Chapter 2

Dream Probing

Their dreams tell a story, conveying a type of message that's getting clearer each night. Xavia is up early, wrapped in a white terry cloth robe, having coffee in the living room, and reviewing her notes. Titus is standing in the hallway, leaning on the adjacent wall watching her while sipping his coffee. Good morning, what are we doing?

Xavia responds, Good morning. I'm reviewing my notes and trying to better understand the message behind our dreams. One option is to talk with a psychoanalyst therapist, but I'm not so sure that's necessary.

Titus hesitates for a moment. That's certainly an option, although we need to discuss this with Annie because things need to be kept confidential.

Xavia replies, You're absolutely right, and I did consider reviewing this idea with Annie. Here are my thoughts: We tend to be dreaming the same dream and we're keeping notes. I figure we have a couple of days. Why not spend it brainstorming, drawing out our dreams, writing down the information, and seeing where it leads us? We have the tools and the knowledge, so let's make the attempt, and who knows, we may figure this out ourselves? If not, we try plan B. Monday when we're back at work, we can review our results with Annie. Titus agrees, and they both finish their coffee and get ready for their brainstorming session.

Titus takes two easels out of the hall closet, where he meticulously keeps his art supplies, and sets them up next to the dining room table then attaches 25 × 30 pads. He organizes assorted color markers, sets up his laptop, and lays out the notes they plan to discuss as Xavia watches his every move. Titus says to her, Get comfortable, sweetheart. We are ready to begin. I'll record our thoughts on the easel board, okay?

Xavia replies, Okay, let's do this.

Xavia starts to dissect her dream. In my dream, I see myself traveling to a distant place. It's a house next to the ocean. The house has a boat dock, and the view from the back side of the house is ocean as far as the eye can see. There are seagulls flying about, and the water is very misty—reminds me of a coastal fishing village.

As Titus writes down these points, he says, Let's talk about traveling to the house. My dream is the same, although I see numbers and data the same time the house comes into view. The other morning, I tried writing the numbers down the minute I woke up. Not sure if these are correct, but here are two sets of numbers I remember from my dream: 458918 and 1239615. Included were aviation codes (November, Whiskey, Delta). Does any of this make sense to you?

She studies the numbers as Titus is writing them down on the easel pad, Yes, I do remember the numbers. At first, they were unclear, but now that we are discussing them, they're clear as a bell. You are a more experienced pilot—don't they remind you of aeronautical numbers?

Yes, but what type of aeronautical numbers? Let me give this more thought. While Titus is working the numbers, Xavia runs into the kitchen and refreshes their coffee.

Titus continues, The Aviation Codes are N, W, and D, and the only thing I can produce is a location. If we show the numbers with a four decimal, which is standard for Longitude and Latitude, you get 45.8918 and 123.9615. Therefore, the location would be N45.8918 and W123.9615. The Delta could mean degrees, which is now starting to make sense. I'm beginning to think we're on to something. Let me look up this location on my computer.

Within a couple of minutes, Titus yells, Bingo! It's Cannon Beach, Oregon, and it's right on the Pacific Ocean. They call it Oregon's Tsunami Risk Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.

Xavia yells, I now remember hearing that in my dream. It's ‘between the devil and the deep blue sea.'

Titus says, "I also remember hearing about the ‘devil and the deep blue sea,' but I also heard the word caution mentioned several times. It appears that once we start focusing on our dreams, the clearer things get. Do you feel the same?"

Yes, replies Xavia, like I said earlier, the more we talk about our dreams, the clearer the dream. I find that to be true when I author my reports or write in my journal. Once I start focusing on the subject at hand, my memory seems to improve. In this case, the dreams tend to pop out in detail. Another feeling I get is if we can find this house, the pieces will all come together.

Xavia looks over to Titus and notices he's listening, yet he's in deep thought. Xavia asks him, Are you okay?

Titus takes a couple of minutes to answer then says to Xavia, Yeah, babe, I'm okay. I'm just thinking. I'm not so sure that we should keep NASA involved until we find out more about the message in our dreams now that we know for sure there is a message. The E-MEN may have wanted only us to be involved. Otherwise, why wouldn't they contact the CIA, FBI, DOJ, or NASA? They contacted us for a good reason. I'm able to better read my dreams now and understand what's going on regarding the message. Here is my proposal: We have tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday, then back to work on Monday. Let's take the Citation and fly to Cannon Beach, Oregon, to check things out and be back to work on Monday. This afternoon, we can perform a preflight inspection on the plane, fuel the plane, submit our IFR flight plan, and prepare food and drink for the trip. The weather looks good so far, and if we leave early tomorrow, we should be there in eight to ten hours, arriving around 3:00 p.m., depending on how long it will take to refuel, stopping at Rapid City, South Dakota. We'll have all day Saturday to look around and hopefully make some progress/ Wat do you think?

Xavia likes the idea, plus she is in the process of being checked out on the Citation and will be able to log flight hours. She becomes excited and replies to Titus, I think that's a wonderful idea: A trip sounds great, and we both could use a break. Besides, I wholeheartedly agree that for now, we need to keep this to ourselves, at least until we know everything there is to know about the message. I'll make reservations for Friday and Saturday at a motel nearby. You, my dear, need to clean up our easels, markers, and the rest of our mess. It's crucial that we don't create suspicion from anyone who might stop by the house. Once that's done, we can head to the airport and get our plane ready for the trip first thing tomorrow morning.

Titus asks Xavia, Do you think we need to tell Annie we will be out of town?

Xavia replies, I don't see why since we normally don't tell her what we are doing while we're on our own time. Besides, she'll want to know where we are going. Why did we decide to fly to Oregon? What's in Oregon? Does it have anything to do with E-MEN or the dreams? At this stage, the less said, the better for us, so let's keep things simple, sweetheart.

Titus agrees and continues his cleanup, neatly folding the notes and putting everything away, eliminating anything that resembles a brainstorming meeting.

Xavia hangs up the phone and excitedly tells Titus, "Babe, we'll be staying at the Hallmark Resort and Spa on Cannon Beach, and we get a free breakfast. I also rented a car at Seaside Municipal Airport. It's the closest airport to Cannon Beach, assuming that's our destination.

Titus responds, Yes babe, I'll make sure of that. Thanks. Now let's head to the hangar and get the plane ready for the trip.

Chapter 3

Flight to Cannon Beach, Oregon

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Titus owns a 1985 SII Cessna Citation, and it's hangared at the nearby municipal airport. He earned his pilot's license when he was eighteen years old and flew a single-engine Cessna 172 that his parents bought for him for his birthday. He traded up from a single engine to a twin Cessna then to his Citation that he's had for about six years. Titus and Xavia each receive an annual salary of $150,000 from NASA. Working for NASA will not make you rich; it's for scientists that appreciate space travel and do not expect a million-dollar paycheck. Both Titus and Xavia have sound investments and come from wealthy families.

It's 5:00 a.m., and Xavia is anxiously waiting at the door like a kid anticipating her first pajama party. She's holding a thermos bottle filled with freshly brewed coffee, suitcases packed sitting on the floor, and ready for the trip. Titus is finishing his bathroom routine and yells to Xavia, I'll be ready in just a couple of minutes. Please pour my coffee in a travel mug. They're out the door at 5:15 a.m. They lock the door behind them, load the luggage into the back of the Land Rover, review their checklist, then head to the airport. It's a quiet ride, too early for conversation; they enjoy the aroma of the fresh brewed coffee while watching the sun peek over the horizon, beginning a new day.

They arrive at the airport, where there's not much going on, and head straight for the hangar that houses the Citation. Titus is considered a neat nut; he works hard keeping his plane and hangar clean and organized. Xavia starts unloading the Rover and secures the luggage on the plane. The private hangar is equipped with surveillance cameras, giving Titus assurance that his Citation remains secure, and no one has entered the hangar in his absence. One of the first things he does after entering the hangar is check his security system. He opens the overhead door and shuttles his plane out of the hangar, then Xavia parks the Rover inside. Both Titus and Xavia work together to perform a preflight inspection, giving each other a thumbs-up, closing the hangar overhead door, and remotely turning on the security system.

They board the plane and review the preflight checklist. The plane is fueled, the flight plan is submitted, and they are ready for departure. It's 6:15 a.m. Xavia radios the tower and initiates the flight plan, gives their location, states their intentions, and requests permission to taxi to the approved runway. The tower gives them the radio frequency for departure and permission to taxi. He receives clearance for takeoff and checks traffic. They fasten their seatbelts, and he looks over at Xavia and asks, You ready?

Xavia responds, Yep, I'm more than ready. The journey is in flight, and the day looks delicious.

After Titus gets the plane at the cardinal altitude of 36,000 feet and vectored at the correct heading, Xavia takes the yoke and starts logging her hours of flight time as pilot-in-command. Normally, she would have piloted the plane from takeoff, but Titus hasn't flown the plane in a few weeks and wanted to make sure there were no abnormalities in the controls.

The flight plan is to land at Rapid City for fuel and a short rest stop. Xavia announces that she is descending for Rapid City Regional Airport. After landing the plane, Titus notifies ground control for aviation jet fuel, and they are directed to a place on the tarmac for refueling. They walk together, holding hands on the way to the terminal, and head for the restrooms to tidy up. Titus registers with IFR flight planning and then tells Xavia, We still have about one thousand nautical miles to go, and it should take us about three hours, scheduled to arrive at Cannon Beach at about 3:00 p.m. MT. Would you like to finish the flight, or do you want me to take over?

Xavia responds, Why don't you take over, and I'll try to get some rest, okay?

Titus receives clearance, and once they reach an altitude of 36,000 feet, he vectors to the correct heading, engages autopilot, then asks Xavia, Would you please hand me a sandwich and a bottle of water?

During the last leg of the flight, Xavia starts up a conversation about their mission. I've been thinking about this house we need to locate. How will we know it's the right house?

Titus responds, I thought you were going to rest.

Xavia, in a fun way, says, Just answer the question Mr. Wizard.

Titus goes on, I'm not sure, but I think we'll know it when we see it. We need to stop thinking logically and start thinking like a clairvoyant person. I know that sounds ridiculous, but if you think about what we've done so far, it has nothing to do with logic. Babe, we've got this. Everything is going to work out.

Titus begins his descent and says to Xavia, "We should be landing in about fifteen minutes. They prepare for landing and receive clearance for the approved runway. The wheels softly touch the pavement and the plane taxis to the terminal then follows the marshaller who directs the aircraft to the designated position on the tarmac.

While Titus is securing the plane, Xavia is inside the terminal taking care of the car reservation, selecting a Lincoln Aviator. She thought a little extra room might be necessary, and besides, a Land Rover wasn't available. Otherwise, that would have been her first choice. Xavia walks back to the tarmac, helps secure the plane, and goes through her checklist. Titus closes the hatch and questions Xavia, Is everything secure?

Xavia responds, Yes, everything is secure, the luggage is accounted for, and the car is waiting.

Titus says to Xavia, I'll take the luggage. You get the rest, and I'll meet you at the car once I close the flight plan.

Xavia is waiting in the car behind the wheel with the engine running. A few minutes later, Titus hops in on the passenger side and tells Xavia, Let's go.

Xavia speaks up. The motel is just down the road, and I'm thinking we should go straight there, freshen up, have dinner, get a massage, sit in the Jacuzzi for about twenty minutes, and then back to the room to discuss our plan for tomorrow. What say you?

Sounds great, babe. Let's do it, replies Titus.

Hallmark Resort and