Bright lights blinded his vision as Grey woke up in a strange room with a cervical collar around his neck, still feeling a little dizzy, he tried to sit up from a hospital bed but suddenly felt an intense headache. He rubbed his temples with both hands as he looked around trying to figure out where he was. He tried to sit up but felt an intense pain to the back of his head and his whole back. The door opened as Dr. Peters came in wearing a lab coat with a stethoscope around his neck while holding a cup of water with his left hand and a medicine cup which had tablets of pain killers and muscle relaxants with his right hand. He approached Grey smiling, "There...there...take it easy will ya!...you just had a bad fall...". Looking around at the room which had complete medical equipments and supplies and with it's walls painted white, Grey reached for the medicine cup as he asked, " Did you bring me to the hospital?...". Dr. Peters waited for Grey to swallow the tablets then answered, "Actually were on the basement of the house. I made it into a fully operational clinic, which is as equipt with everything an emergency room would have in a hospital...plus some...like X-ray machines, CT scan room and an MRI room....With the help of my assistants we already did a scan of your brain and an X-ray of your back and all seems normal, though I need you to just keep the collar on at least for the next 24 hours...ok?...". Grey looked around once more impressed with the high tech gadgets that Dr. Peters had collected, it was like a doctor's ,"Bat cave",. He then looked at the doctor as he asked, "How's Samantha?, is she ok?...". Dr. Peters took the empty cup and threw it in the garbage as he replied, "She's a little distraught and worried about you my friend...I had to force her to entertain the guests upstairs while we did your scans.". Dr. Peters turned on a flashlight as he shunned it in Grey's left eye then on his right eye, then in his ears. Grey glanced at Dr. Peters as he said, "I'm really sorry for causing this problem with you and Sam I....". Dr. Peters smiled once more as he interrupted saying, "Sorry?,...there's nothing to be sorry about.....It actually ended up being a blessing in disguise...I saw in my daughter's eyes how much she loves and cares for you with tears in her eyes when you passed out....And you my friend proved your love to my daughter with that heroic but dumb stunt you did when you were both falling...". Grey looked confused as he asked, "Huh?...", The doctor smiled again as he explained, " You hit your head on the floor really hard Grey...that's why you passed out...You could have had a cerebral hemorrhage from that accident....", Grey looked more confused as he asked, "Are you saying that I should not have hugged Sam when we were falling?....". Dr. Peters gave a deep sigh as he paused what he was doing and looked at Grey as he explained." What I'm saying is that you have to weigh the risks and rewards of your decisions and actions....What's the worst that could have happened to Sam if you decided to brace your fall instead of protecting her?....maybe break her wrist?.....she was still gonna land on top of you...which is less serious than you dying or getting seriously injured from a broken neck or a severe head injury....". Grey finally understood Dr. Peters point of view as he nodded in approval.
Dr. Peters continued his examination checking the gripping strength of Grey's hands and the strength of Grey's legs and feet. "Grey...my daughter loves you more than you think...i just hope that both of you could give the extra effort in finding a way to get along rather than hurting each other's feelings...". Grey slowly nodded again feeling hopeful that all is not lost with his relationship with Samantha. After fully examining Grey, Dr. Peters told him that he sustained a concussion but that he'll be ok. He told Grey that he won't be driving home tonight and that his only options were to either sleep over in one of their bedroom suites or be driven home by one of Dr. Peters cheufers, Grey chose the latter. Dr. Peters then proceeded to open a medical drawer as he took out a needle and some sutures. Grey seeing this started to feel around the back of his head for any evidence of bleeding as he asked, "Did I sustain a laceration?...". Dr. Peters smiled and replied, "No..no..no...this is to saw the clip back unto your pant's waistline....I really want my hemostatic forceps back...", as they both stared at the surgical tool which was still clipped unto Grey's pants waist as they both laughed. "A 4-0 Nylon should be sturdy enough....You need not take off your pants son...this'll just take 4 to five stitches and your pants will feel as good as new....just don't tell anyone i sawed your pants....I got a reputation to protect....", as they both smiled again. After Grey's pants was repaired, Dr. Peters asked if they could talk some more. He asked Grey to proceed and wait in the Armory while he said his goodbyes and good nights to his guests who were still present in their ballroom.
The armory was about 10,000 square feet in space and was filled with over a hundred statues of mid evil knights in Armor with hundreds of different kinds of swords and shields hanging from the walls. This was Grey's favorite area that he loved to visit, he always felt like a kid in a candy store when he was in the armory. Looking around, he noticed a new statue of a knight's armor which seemed a little more modern but looked authentic enough. placing his hands in his pockets while admiring the new statue, he heard the door open behind him and as he looked back, in came Dr. Peters, "How's the headache...", Dr. Peters asked, "It's still there but slowly fading....". Grey answered, pointing to the statue, Grey asked, "Is this one of your newest collections?....", he asked with excitement. Dr. Peters smiled as he walked closer to Grey, "Yeah, i actually had that specially made....They just delivered it three months ago...it's made of titanium alloy.". Dr. Peters turned around as he headed towards a glass cabinet. "But why would you make a titanium armor?....They did not have this type of armor during the early years of knighthood....did they?...".Dr Peters opened the glass cabinet as he took out a silver rectangular metal plate with rugged edges which was two inches by four inches long. The plate looked worn out and had dents all over it, it was as light as an aluminum metal of the same size. Dr. Peters hands the plate to Grey as he holds and inspects it. He asks Dr. Peters, "What's this?....". Dr. Peters leans on a table as he crosses his arms over his chest as he explained. "That my friend is an archaeological find from an archaeological dig site of an ancient castle in London. It's been scientifically studied and dated to be from between the 10th to the 12th century AD....", Grey looked at it again as it aroused his curiosity. "The scientist who found and studied it concluded that it is a titanium alloy...", as Dr. Peters excitedly explained. Grey looked even more puzzled as he waited for more explanation. "Titanium was discovered in the year 1791 in Cornwall, United Kingdom by William Gregor....", Grey now looked more confused than ever as Dr. Peters continued to explain, "Do you know that that piece of metal in your hand was a part of a knight's breastplate?....Legends say that during the time of King Arthur which was between the 5th and the 12th century, Merlin the magician was searching for a knight who could help Arthur protect the Kingdom of Camelot but was unable to find a skillful swordsman with a humble and good heart.
The story goes that Lancelot who as a child was raised by Vivien, the Lady of the Lake grew up as a lad with a good heart....Secretly,...Vivien entrusted the young Lancelot into Merlin's care. Merlin took this lad under his wing to train him to be a skillful knight...but after a few years of training,...the best Lancelot could be was an average swordsman....Being a magician, a chemist and also a metallurgist...legend has it that Merlin invented what we now know as a titanium alloy which he processed and made into a full armor...together with a sword and shield for Lancelot to wear and battle with. So even with Lancelot's average skills as a swordsman,...but because the titanium armor he wore which was as strong as steel but 45% lighter, he was able to move faster and quicker than the other knights who wore the much heavier steel armor who he was able to defeat in sword fighting...His armor also had a very high tensile strength and toughness even at extreme temperatures which again was tested when Morgana the sorceress attacked him and his knights with balls of fire. The other knights with him got scalded but not him...not one single trace of burned skin or hair follicle....And that's another reason why all the knights in King Arthur's kingdom revered him...Just like Arthur who became great because of his sword Excalibur,...the same was true with Lancelot and his titanium alloy...and that my friend,...that priceless piece of metal you're holding...which I got at an auction for $14 million is a part of Lancelot's Armor Breastplate...". Grey's eyes grew wider in amazement as his fingers rubbed the piece of metal as he asked, "Are you telling me that Lancelot cheated?...", Dr. Peters quickly answered, "No...no..no,...Lancelot did not cheat...he just had the best technology at that time.....he just had them fooled thinking that he was the best swordsman because of his skills...not knowing that it was the light armor that made Lancelot better and faster in fighting while the much heavier steel armor made the other knights slower during battle....". Dr. Peters walked towards the titanium knight statue as he explained, "So this here would be a close replica of Lancelot's armor.". He looked at Grey as he smiled at Grey's amazement when suddenly the door opened as Samantha peeked her head in. "Come on in honey...i was just about to call you...". Dr. Peters waved his hand urging Samantha to enter in. Samantha rushed towards Grey as she hugged him tightly with her eyes closed while she sobbed and whispered, "I love you Grey...please forgive me for putting you through this ordeal....", she then locked eyes with Grey, kicked off her two inch high heel shoes and kissed him passionately. Grey's eyes were wide open while they were kissing as he felt her body press tightly into his, arousing him sexually as he felt himself slowly getting an erection which was the last thing he wanted to have at that moment. With Samantha's father staring at them, he gently pulled himself away pretending that he was starting to have sharp pains in his neck from Samantha hugging him around the neck. He just hoped that Samantha did not feel his erection which might give her a false impression that all he ever thinks about is sex. He quickly sat on a chair to avoid exposing the growing bulge in his pants as he pretended that he was getting lightheaded from the trauma he sustained from the fall. Both father and daughter attended to him but he was quickly able to convince them that he was fine. Samantha gave her dad a hug and stood slightly behind him with her cheeks flushed from crying. They both pulled out a chair and sat close together. After a few seconds of silence, Dr. Peters looked at them both then leaned forward in his seat as he said, "First of all, I want to apologize for putting you both in this awkward situation....I thought that by asking you both to present a dance as your birthday gift to me...that I could somehow get you back together again.". Dr. Peters glanced at both of them as he continued, "Fighting and arguing in a relationship is normal...I remember when my wife was still alive...she would always nag at me for spending too much time in my research...Even though i knew that we both loved to do ballroom dancing..it was hard for her to get me away from my work...Even when she was sick with cancer and was terminally ill....All she asked for was for me to be by her side...But even then, I was blinded by my ambition...and perseverance....promising her a cure....i spent days...weeks...months...in the lab researching cancer's cure". Dr. Peters glanced at Samantha as tears were once again flowing down her eyes as she remembered those sad times when she was with her dying mother. Dr. Peters continued, "I always thought I'd be able to cure her....but all she was asking for is for me to spend more time with her during her final months...weeks...and days....". Dr. Peters took out his wallet and pulled out photos of his wife before she died and when she was in her twenties as he handed them to Grey. Grey took it and was surprised to see that Samantha looked so much like her mother. "You look so much like your mom...Sam...", Grey said as he admired the pictures before handing them back to Dr. Peters. Samantha glanced at Grey as she replied, "Yes...she was very pretty...she actually won the Miss Teen USA when she was seventeen years old...". Dr. Peters looked at Sam saying, " And you should have won it too honey...you were just too nervous during the competition....". Grey was surprised at this new revelation as Samantha blushed about keeping her accomplishment a secret from Grey. she never boasted to him about her winning second runner-up in the Teen Miss USA pageant that she competed in when she was seventeen years old. Dr. Peters face turned serious as he said, "You know if I could take back time....I would love to have spent every moment with your mom even if it mean't not rushing a cure for cancer...maybe curing her was really not a part of God's plan for us Samantha...and when i see you both dance.....it brings me back to happier days when I and your mom used to have so much fun dancing....". Dr. Peters finally stood up as he stared at Grey and said, "If you love my daughter...then don't make the same mistake I did....I know that you love your work...but don't let it control your life....find a balance....you don't have to prove anything to me....my daughter...or to the world...".
Grey looked up to Dr. Peters then glanced at Samantha who was staring back at him as he opened up his feelings saying, " I know I've been selfish with my time...It's just coming from the Philippines which is a third world country, it taught me the values of hard work....I remember when I was in fifth grade...I always wondered how my foster parents were able to send me to school and still were able to give food to our more impoverished relatives who were in their older years and did not have any livelihood. It was only my foster dad who worked and earned a meager $120.00 a month. Together with utilities,rent, food, school tuition, food assistance to relatives, I was amazed at how we were able to get by. Finally when we were about to immigrate to the U.S. my foster mom told me never to forget the hardships we've gone through, specially those times of hunger due to lack of food. She said that those memories will serve as my catalyst in working really hard and will be the secret to a successful life. She always reminded me to always help the poor, specially the hungry, sick children of the world who are constantly suffering every day...I know I cannot save everyone....but I can sure make a difference....".
Samantha and her father stared at each other with this new revelation finally getting some understanding of Grey's past. Dr. Peters looked at Grey then at Samantha, Samantha briefly glanced at her father finding words to say as she said, "I'm sorry Grey...I did not know how hard you had it growing up...". Grey looked at Samantha as he replied, " I love you Sam...I love you so much...From now on I'll surrender everything I have if that's what it takes...". Dr. Peters massaged the back of his head as he said, " I think you both should not make any drastic changes on how you wanna commit your time to each other...I would like to suggest that the both of you undergo some Christian counseling...". He looked at Samantha saying, "When I married your mom...it really helped that we had some marriage counseling even though everything was ok, it actually even made our marriage better...". He then pulled out a calling card from his wallet and handed it to Sam. "Here's a friend and a good Christian counselor you should see...It's best to have a professional counselor who can help you both heal the hurtful memories of your past and guide you to a more sound and stable relationship....". Grey and Samantha smiled at each other as if a heavy burden was just lifted off their backs. Dr. Peters knew that now was the time to give them a moment alone as he excused himself saying that he had to entertain the remaining guests who were still waiting for him. As soon as Dr. Peters left and the door closed, they both stood up and stepped closer, facing each other as Grey held Samantha's hands as their lips touched gently, eyes closed. Samantha hugged him tighter as tears of joy ran down her cheeks. Grey felt weak and strong at the same time as his headache and back ache both disappeared even before the medications had it's effects. Grey suddenly asked smiling, "Oh! by the way,...did you by any chance have anything to do with my seating assignment at this party tonight?.....". Samantha giggled as she responded, "How come?...Didn't you like the company of Mrs. Jenkins?....she wasn't complaining about her son-in-law again....was she?....", as they both laughed. They spent another hour alone in the armory as they talked, embraced and danced slowly without any music playing. Grey tried singing Samantha a love song three times but each time he was off key until he finally found the right tune to a love song he wrote which he knew was her favorite song that she always listened to. While dancing, they caught up on each other's lives during the past year they were apart. Grey was back on track making Samantha laugh with his jokes, comments and stories. They also laughed and cried as they shared each other's feelings oblivious of the time. Finally, at around 3AM, they called it a night and made plans to schedule days when they could meet for counseling and to have fun on dates.
There were less than a hundred guests left when they returned to the ballroom as Samantha had already changed into her comfortable faded blue jeans and sweater. They held hands as they walked through the ballroom not knowing that Chase was watching them from a distance with a broken heart. Samantha's cell phone suddenly rang as she answered it. Her father called her to ask her to meet some of his close friends who were waiting by the presidential table. Samantha excused herself from Grey as she headed towards her father. As Grey waited at the middle of the hall, he noticed Chase approaching him as he stared up at the giant. Chase held out his hand to shake hands with Grey saying, "Hey, I'm really sorry for what i did to you earlier...I'm sure that you're aware that I'm also in love with Sam...ever since high school...I do realize now that she's in love with you. It was impressive how you protected her from getting hurt when you both fell on the dance floor...you ignored your safety for her sake....I truly admire that....". Grey finally shook his hand as they gave each other a look of respect and cautious admiration for each other. Chase smiled as he quipped, "If you were only as good in fighting as you are in dancing.....maybe we'd have a good match on our hands....Though I'm sure i'd still kick your butt....". Grey smiled back as he responded, " Or...maybe if you were as good a dancer as you are in fighting.....maybe you'd be good competition.....but just like you said.....I'd kick your butt all over the dance floor....". They both nodded at each other as they parted ways that night not knowing that what they joked about would soon come true.
Port of Sohar in Oman - (Oman- An oil rich country along the southeastern coast of the Arabian peninsula where Sohar has the second largest port in Oman.).
It was around 8 pm, warm, dark and breezy as a line of ship workers, pirates and crewmen were loading cargo in to the cargo ship, "Shin Lee Chin". By the docks, a shadowy figure was smoking his cigar as he was watching part of his plan unfold. Sirha Uhlo, an Arabian citizen who is the 6th highest official of the Al Queda organization was hiding by the shadows of an office structure while his assistant, Zhiad Marwan who is a Taliban expert and top official was slightly behind him waiting for instructions from his superior. Both men were dressed in a white tunic and both wore white turbans on their head. Sirha Uhlo was a tall and slender man who looked like the spitting image of a younger Osama Bin Ladin who had a long black beard and who was in his fifties. While his assistant Zhiad was a short pudgy man in his late thirties who did not have a beard but had a stylish mustache which ends were coiled around. While staring at the men loading supplies, Sirha Uhlo gave a sinister smile as he asked, "Are you sure that our most important cargo is on board Zhiad?...", his assistant bowed slightly with fake humility as he replied, "Yes my master, we loaded it on board three hours ago and we did wear those radiation deterrent suits as you instructed...". Sirha Uhlo glanced at his assistant with a devilish smile as he dropped his cigar on the ground and stepped on it. "In the next few days our plans will start rolling into motion and the time for our redemption will be close at hand....This will be the first of many nuclear bomb strikes at the heart of the infidels...Ha!...ha!...ha!...", Zhiad got excited from what his master said as he asked, "So should I load our baggage in the ship master?....". Sirha Uhlo looked back at his minion as he answered, "No need Zhiad, we're taking a first class flight to New York city where it all began almost a century ago....We're gonna visit ground zero were our heroes crashed their planes in order to strike at the heart of the beast....If we could only be as fortunate as they are and die for our cause....we'll be enjoying eternal life in heaven with our 72 virgins like they're enjoying now...Ha!...ha!...ha!...". Zhiad thought for a moment then hesitantly asked, "Master?...I was just wondering....when you say 72 virgins....are they all virgin women?....or are there any men thrown in with the women.....What I mean is....Can I mix and match?....this is all hypothetical of course but, do you think I can have five virgin women and 67 virgin men?....or maybe 2 virgin women to bathe and cook for me and the rest are all virgin men who I can have fun with.....Do you think Alah would be kind enough?...". Sirha Uhlo stared at him in disbelief as he scoffed saying, "Shush.....my friend....stop talking non-sense....let us focus on how we can bury our dagger deep into the heart of the American infidels.....Get ready!...Zhiad...we'll be flying to New York soon....and in first class seating too....Ha!...ha!...ha!...". Zhiad gave his master a worried look as he gestured in a feminine way asking once more. "But master....Homeland Security has our names and photos in their computers....once we land we'll be arrested right away!....". Sirha Uhlo laughed loudly once more as he explained, "Relax Zhiad...our allies in the White Aryan Nationalist Movement are sending their special forces to assist us....They are called the Twelve Disciples of Timothy McVey....the Oklahoma city bomber...". Twelve of his disciples are planted as high ranking U.S. officials in different government agencies...and the neat thing about this is that they're all caucasians....Ha!...ha!...ha!....", Zhiad wondered as he asked, "What's the big deal about them being caucasians boss?....", Sirha Uhlo's laugh quickly faded as his narrowed sight focused out to sea as he explained, "My friend, in order to beat your opponent, you need to find his weakness....And to find his weakness, you need to study his past...And in studying America's past,...their biggest weakness is their history of racism towards their own fellow men....They've in slaved the black people during the 17th and 18th century....They used Chinese people as nothing more than tools in creating their transcontinental railway system....They've used Asians and Hispanic people to farm their lands and paid them barely nothing as they got wealthier....During World War 2 they've imprisoned 110,000 Japanese Americans in prison internment camps...Racial profiling is still evident in their culture up to now.....which means that if you have dark skin and a Middle Eastern name you will automatically be a suspect....and while they have their eyes on you...our white friends from the Aryan National Movement will slip by unnoticed on all security checkpoints with their bags loaded with bombs unhindered because of their blue eyes and blonde hair....the type of person Adolf hitler dreamt of creating.....". Zhiad asked once more while he combed his eyelashes with a small brush, "But why would this Aryan movement help us...i thought they hated people of color?....", Sirha Uhlo gave an evil smile as he replied, "That's because we share a common dream and goal with them....Throughout history....Do you know what Iraqi-Arabs and Aryan-Nazi's share in common?....". Zhiad thought for a moment trying to recall what he learned in school while he was rummaging through his make-up kit when he finally raised up a finger as he proudly answered, "Ahmmm....Was that when they both got their butt's kicked by the Americans?.....". Sirha Uhlo's smile quickly vanished in disgust as he scowled at his assistant saying, "No!....you fool!....we both hate the Jews and we want their destruction....that's our common goal!....Ahhh!....Why do I even bother!....". Sirha uhlo's eyes grew wider as he noticed his assistant putting lipstick on his lips as he whispered in anger, "What in Allah's! name are you doing?...". Zhiad being caught off-guard froze for a second then said, "Ah!...Oh...this?!...", pointing to his lipstick quickly answered, "Oh!...this is my disguise!...yeah!...that's it....a disguise....You never know who's hot on our trail master!...It's better to be safe....You know NATO has photos of us with huge rewards for our capture?!...". Sirha Uhlo thought for a minute then was convinced as he answered, " I guess you might be right Zhiad....just don't put too much mascara.....you're starting to look like my mother-in-law....". Zhiad feeling relieved offered to put some make-up on his master's face for a better disguise but Sirha Uhlo refused the offer as he decided to just wrap his face, except for his eyes with a handkerchief so no one might recognize him.
Zhiad looked up at his master as he asked, "So are we gonna detonate the nuke in New York city when we get there?....Can I first visit the twin towers?.....I wanna go to the top floor....I heard it's neat looking out at the whole city....". Sirha Uhlo's patience wearing thin answered, "You fool!...the twin towers are gone!....That's what our heroes destroyed back in September 11, 2001....". Zhiad thought for a moment feeling confused as he asked, "Oh!..I thought it was the White House that they blew up in New York?!...", Sirha Uhlo's eyes rolled in exasperation as he scoffed saying, "The White House is in Washington DC not New York!....Don't they teach you anything at the Taliban?!....Oh! never mind, please don't answer that!...". Zhiad stared at the cargo ship as he asked once more, "So if we're not gonna destroy New York, where are we gonna detonate the nuke?...". Sirha Uhlo gave another dastardly smile as he replied, "After visiting New York, we will fly to San Francisco and our team of mercenaries, pirates and fellow terrorists will meet us there with the nuke...Ha!...ha!...ha!....". Zhiad forced a laugh to match his master's elation then he asked, "Oh!...Ahmmm...hey master...before we blow up the whole city of San Francisco and we all die as heroes...Ahmmm...is it ok if I visit Castro street just for one night?....just wanna get some booty if you know what I mean....just in case they only offer virgin women in heaven...at least i did not miss out....you get my drift boss?....". Sirha uhlo stared at his assistant with disdain as he replied, "Enough of your foolishness Zhiad!...Soon we will be at the heart of the infidels and we shall deliver that fatal strike...Ha!...ha!...ha!...", as they both slowly disappeared in the shadows of the night. (End of Chapter).
