CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Unaware that Lynch was lurking outside, Tom along with Ed as his best man, Vito Gerona, and Attwood waited until the bridesmaids led by two of the Gerona grandchildren, walked down the aisle. How they could get so much done in so short of time would have been miraculous except that they were Dominants.
Paul's son, John, having been given leave by the Terra Firma Film Company, was the photographer and his sister, Anna, the famous Mexican B Movie actress would do a solo.
Ray declined to be on the platform and his wife also to be matron of honor. Mrs. Sedona took over that position. Besides, she had done most of the sewing, and did most of the preparations for the reception that would follow and no one argued with Mrs. Sedona. Any way Ray helped in checking out for any bugs, bombs, or other incendiary devices that would destroy the Church and everyone in it. So far, he had found two rifles hidden in the sanctuary and the local officers were questioning the man who had no idea how they got there. The detective informed them about the Dominant ability to mask their presence. The MPs said they would patrol the area. Still the same, Ray kept an eye on the stained glass windows expecting someone to drop in ala Invasion USA to finish off the Chosen and his bride.
The organist played, 'The Wedding March" and Sloan in a long bridal gown with a veil (the Dominants did not accept her first choice, a short white dress. As it was, they were long on ceremony) accompanied by her birth father walked down the aisle.
The priest asked "if there is any reason why these two should not be joined together...", but with the Dominants having guards outside, no one could, unless Alana could persuade them to let her in and so the wedding went on as planned. Not only were the 1.6rs making sure no one would come with guns blazing and kill everyone in the church, but the cousin had made sure that none of those implicated in the former thefts would make a show there.
Anyway, most of them were awaiting court martial or trial by the civil authorities so no one inside had anything to fear.
"Now marriage is..."
It was no surprise to Attwood's group that the Dominants knew all about what the priest said, the sacraments, and all that went through, knew when a particular hymn would be, when the priest would give the blessing, and when they would exchange rings. They had seen the same things going on in the Mexican villages before they moved in to massacre or drive off the population. And Attwood knew that if it were not for the success of the Dominant Progeny program, Tom and Sloan would be still hiding and Ed would still be trying to turn Tom into a human.
Anna Sedona now sang, "For All We Know." She was quite good, a mezzo soprano. This surprised the humans who figured with their low emotional level, Dominants would discourage expressing their happiness in that way, but she was a Progeny,
Ray heard from the Technical sergeant next to him that "they should have left us finish Saddam off once and for all," and "it's a shame those scum didn't try to rob the Air force. If they did, we'd take care of them."
Tom and Sloan exchanged rings. . John Sedona whispered to Ed, after hearing of his failure with the Neogeneis formula, that someone in the New England had succeeded, but this organization did not do things legally and it had a scroll reputed to belong to a group that broke off from the Templer Knights, a group based on an Island off the east coast of Scotland.
"What's this organization?"
"I have no idea. All I know is that it has something to do with the Advocate. The nearest equivalent would be your Attorney General. And it might do be something about the information you have in your possession."
"What information."
"Ssh." John put his hand
"And now I pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
After that, they had the reception, courtesy of the Geronas who could afford it and who having masqueraded as humans for so long, did not fear the government going after them. They decided to hold it in their house rather than hiring a hall for the occasion. Of course, Tom had his suspicions about so many military types but since Enrique was in the Naval reserves and since he would be going east in a few days, it would only be natural for some of his friends to show up.
"I hope there's not a rivalry between the Air force and Navy," he said.
"There is, but they've decided to keep the nags about what football team is the best to a minimum," said Ed.
"How's the new genetic drug coming along?"
"I'm having my doubt. That photographer told me about some cabal in New England that originated in some land that once belonged to an offshoot of a monastic order—at least, that's what it sounded like to me. He actually said they invented the same drug and actually used it."
"On humans? It would not work If there were Dominants there, it would, but Lewis never told me anything about that unless..."
"Unless what?"
"There's a legend about our ancestors, the humans. You know that we originated in Oaxaca, but since none of us have any relation to the native population, our ancestors must have originated in Europe."
"That's what I suspect," said Ed, "because your area was the only ones that became Dominants. It could be that your particular group, but it could not be inbreeding because then you would deteriorate instead of increasing in intelligence and mental powers."
"We do have strict laws about who to mate with and it was only recently that we would allow some of our human captives to survive. The start of the Progeny program."
"Kevin."
"We would have kept that matter to ourselves to see if the products were fertile. The human females so chosen would have been well cared for and given a place of honor. There would have been no sharing."
Ed did not comment on this.
At this, Attwood called for a toast. "To the bride and groom! May their decision improve our relationships!"
"To the bride and groom!" said Anna. "May they be as happy as I was when I was wed!" That man next to her must have been her husband.
Everyone raised their glasses.
"To Tom and Sloan! May their honeymoon last forever!" This was from Mrs. Sedona. "Even when the kids come!"
A Dominant called Gregory repeated the toast. John, between shoots, said he was the head of the Cooperation Program and it was only natural.
This time, everyone took another drink. No one felt any ill effects.
Then Paul stood up, raised his glass. "To the Lost Ships!"
Ed then remembered that DVD and motioned to Attwood. If he seconded the toast, the Dominants would know that they succeeded in piercing together Carmichael's information. All were looking at him.
He raised his glass. "To the Lost Ships and may who caused the ships to crash meet swift justice!"
Everyone in the house raised their glasses. "To the Lost Ships!"
The throwing of the corsage and the ceremonial hat (the Dominants used this instead of the garter) seemed an anticlimax after the last toast.
10/15/2003
Unaware that Lynch was lurking outside, Tom along with Ed as his best man, Vito Gerona, and Attwood waited until the bridesmaids led by two of the Gerona grandchildren, walked down the aisle. How they could get so much done in so short of time would have been miraculous except that they were Dominants.
Paul's son, John, having been given leave by the Terra Firma Film Company, was the photographer and his sister, Anna, the famous Mexican B Movie actress would do a solo.
Ray declined to be on the platform and his wife also to be matron of honor. Mrs. Sedona took over that position. Besides, she had done most of the sewing, and did most of the preparations for the reception that would follow and no one argued with Mrs. Sedona. Any way Ray helped in checking out for any bugs, bombs, or other incendiary devices that would destroy the Church and everyone in it. So far, he had found two rifles hidden in the sanctuary and the local officers were questioning the man who had no idea how they got there. The detective informed them about the Dominant ability to mask their presence. The MPs said they would patrol the area. Still the same, Ray kept an eye on the stained glass windows expecting someone to drop in ala Invasion USA to finish off the Chosen and his bride.
The organist played, 'The Wedding March" and Sloan in a long bridal gown with a veil (the Dominants did not accept her first choice, a short white dress. As it was, they were long on ceremony) accompanied by her birth father walked down the aisle.
The priest asked "if there is any reason why these two should not be joined together...", but with the Dominants having guards outside, no one could, unless Alana could persuade them to let her in and so the wedding went on as planned. Not only were the 1.6rs making sure no one would come with guns blazing and kill everyone in the church, but the cousin had made sure that none of those implicated in the former thefts would make a show there.
Anyway, most of them were awaiting court martial or trial by the civil authorities so no one inside had anything to fear.
"Now marriage is..."
It was no surprise to Attwood's group that the Dominants knew all about what the priest said, the sacraments, and all that went through, knew when a particular hymn would be, when the priest would give the blessing, and when they would exchange rings. They had seen the same things going on in the Mexican villages before they moved in to massacre or drive off the population. And Attwood knew that if it were not for the success of the Dominant Progeny program, Tom and Sloan would be still hiding and Ed would still be trying to turn Tom into a human.
Anna Sedona now sang, "For All We Know." She was quite good, a mezzo soprano. This surprised the humans who figured with their low emotional level, Dominants would discourage expressing their happiness in that way, but she was a Progeny,
Ray heard from the Technical sergeant next to him that "they should have left us finish Saddam off once and for all," and "it's a shame those scum didn't try to rob the Air force. If they did, we'd take care of them."
Tom and Sloan exchanged rings. . John Sedona whispered to Ed, after hearing of his failure with the Neogeneis formula, that someone in the New England had succeeded, but this organization did not do things legally and it had a scroll reputed to belong to a group that broke off from the Templer Knights, a group based on an Island off the east coast of Scotland.
"What's this organization?"
"I have no idea. All I know is that it has something to do with the Advocate. The nearest equivalent would be your Attorney General. And it might do be something about the information you have in your possession."
"What information."
"Ssh." John put his hand
"And now I pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
After that, they had the reception, courtesy of the Geronas who could afford it and who having masqueraded as humans for so long, did not fear the government going after them. They decided to hold it in their house rather than hiring a hall for the occasion. Of course, Tom had his suspicions about so many military types but since Enrique was in the Naval reserves and since he would be going east in a few days, it would only be natural for some of his friends to show up.
"I hope there's not a rivalry between the Air force and Navy," he said.
"There is, but they've decided to keep the nags about what football team is the best to a minimum," said Ed.
"How's the new genetic drug coming along?"
"I'm having my doubt. That photographer told me about some cabal in New England that originated in some land that once belonged to an offshoot of a monastic order—at least, that's what it sounded like to me. He actually said they invented the same drug and actually used it."
"On humans? It would not work If there were Dominants there, it would, but Lewis never told me anything about that unless..."
"Unless what?"
"There's a legend about our ancestors, the humans. You know that we originated in Oaxaca, but since none of us have any relation to the native population, our ancestors must have originated in Europe."
"That's what I suspect," said Ed, "because your area was the only ones that became Dominants. It could be that your particular group, but it could not be inbreeding because then you would deteriorate instead of increasing in intelligence and mental powers."
"We do have strict laws about who to mate with and it was only recently that we would allow some of our human captives to survive. The start of the Progeny program."
"Kevin."
"We would have kept that matter to ourselves to see if the products were fertile. The human females so chosen would have been well cared for and given a place of honor. There would have been no sharing."
Ed did not comment on this.
At this, Attwood called for a toast. "To the bride and groom! May their decision improve our relationships!"
"To the bride and groom!" said Anna. "May they be as happy as I was when I was wed!" That man next to her must have been her husband.
Everyone raised their glasses.
"To Tom and Sloan! May their honeymoon last forever!" This was from Mrs. Sedona. "Even when the kids come!"
A Dominant called Gregory repeated the toast. John, between shoots, said he was the head of the Cooperation Program and it was only natural.
This time, everyone took another drink. No one felt any ill effects.
Then Paul stood up, raised his glass. "To the Lost Ships!"
Ed then remembered that DVD and motioned to Attwood. If he seconded the toast, the Dominants would know that they succeeded in piercing together Carmichael's information. All were looking at him.
He raised his glass. "To the Lost Ships and may who caused the ships to crash meet swift justice!"
Everyone in the house raised their glasses. "To the Lost Ships!"
The throwing of the corsage and the ceremonial hat (the Dominants used this instead of the garter) seemed an anticlimax after the last toast.
10/15/2003