Cut me Dry

Chapter 4

Leonard spends the next two years working on the secret project. The military had recovered some UFO technology, and Leonard was brought in to help identify what kind of laser was contained within this orb that the Army possessed. It was the size of a small ball and made of what they could only describe as crystal. You could see three tiny balls arranged in a triangle shape inside. And when heated to a certain temperature it forms a laser triangle that shoots laser beams in three directions and each beam could penetrate steel. Did the number 3 have any profound significant to the orb? Like the three pyramids of Giza. Or the three wise men from the Bible or even Shiva the Hindu god who has a 3rd eye on his forehead and it's believed to be the source of his untamed energy. What was it and what's it's use? Is it a device used as a portal, a gateway to another realm he wondered? The military wanted to harness its powers and use this new technology for warfare.

Leonard put his mind into his work and after a lot of tests behind safety enclosures, trials & errors Leonard and his team couldn't figure out how this technology worked, it was way too advanced for them. But Leonard wouldn't give up and kept testing different theories. His bosses were quite impressed with Leonard obsession figuring out the orb. They knew they picked the right guy and was just a matter of time before he figured it out. He loved the challenge, and he had no regrets. Never in a million years did he think he would be working on a secret government project let alone alien technology, it was like a dream come true.

He didn't have time to think of penny. He was sure she'd moved on and just hoped she was happy because that's all he ever wants for her. He had made the biggest mistake of his life and lost the one and only true love because of one stupid kiss that didn't even mean anything. He was drunk at the time which impaired his judgement and led to the breakup. He remembered the night how broken and lost she looked. He had broken her heart and would never forgive himself for what he'd done to her he will carry the guilt with him for the rest of his life.

Leonard thought of the gang occasionally too and felt sorry for leaving them without a word. He missed his friends and wondered what they were doing he hopes someday in the future they could find it in their hearts to forgive him. He hopes they understood how hard it would have been for him living next door to Penny knowing she had moved on and hated him.

As time passed Leonard slowly forgot about his old life, he stopped thinking about Penny every day his heart was healing slowly he made new friends within his team. They were not allowed to leave the Base and Leonard didn't even know where they were. They had everything they needed, and they could order any items they wanted once a month. Leonard was happy, but a small part of him still yearn for Penny.

One day while sitting in the canteen drinking coffee he had the shock of his life. He didn't recognize her for a moment or so, but there she was! What the hell was she doing here? It was the girl from the boat she spotted Leonard and walked towards him. She sat next to him. She had on a black suit and white shirt her black hair tied in a ponytail style. She looked at him with her big hazel eyes. She was very attractive. Why was she here? She apologized to Leonard about the kiss and explained that she worked for the secret service. She was put on the ship to monitor Leonard. And see if he was a good candidate who could be trusted, was hardworking and reliable before he could be choosing for the project. It took two years to veto him completely. Leonard was angry that he was been stalked this way and what else they knew about him. He kept it in and calmly let his feeling known about taking advantage of him why he was in a drunken state. But she explained that as she spends more time with him on the boat she began to fall for him. Leonard was shocked but couldn't forgive her for making him lose Penny. She knew he and Penny had broken up, and she wanted a relationship with Leonard.

Leonard hadn't been in a relationship since penny, deep down he felt he would be cheating on penny again. And, to be honest, he hadn't felt the urge or met a girl he wanted to have a relationship with since Penny. Leonard felt nothing for her so broke it gently explaining that he wasn't ready for a relationship at the moment and was flattered by her attention. She took it well but disappointment evident from her body language. She wasn't going to give up that easily. For the next few months she pursued him, and she was relentless but Leonard wasn't interested and made sure he was never alone with her and stayed away from booze while she was there. Every beauty can be a beast. Leonard thought.

Eventually, she realized she was wasting her time. Leonard was probably still in love with Penny and requested a moved to field duties. She underestimated the power of love.

Meanwhile, things were not looking good for Penny when a secret from her past came back to haunt her.

Her ex-boyfriend Mike sold pictures of Penny in the nude and the rights to his blog about their spontaneous sex adventures to the local rag. They were splashed all over the front pages and some very distasteful ones on the Internet. Penny was big news but not in a good way, it didn't help when more Ex-boyfriends began selling their stories & pictures too, even Kurt got in the act. It prompts a lot of her backers and investors to have cold feet and pull out of contracts with her. She got dropped from a family movie she was about to star in and an animated movie she was doing the voice over.

To make matter worst, she received a letter from the IRS. She had failed to file her federal income taxes for the last two years. The IRS filed a federal tax lien against Penny. She had made over $20 million so far but with her huge spending and her entourage she'd spend most of it. Penny could lose everything even her mansion, personal properties and any financial assets she owned to pay off her taxes. She also got sued by the film studios who had to find quick replacements for the roles she was dropped from. She was badly advised to settle out of court by her lawyers. Penny was rapidly running out of money. She also faces jail for not filing any tax returns in two years.

Penny fell into the trap that most actors who are new to the industry found themselves in, irresponsible with finances and blow everything they earned.