Florine Atner                                                                                                  November 10, 1999

Disclaimer:  The characters of Simon and Simon do not belong to me.  This is for entertainment purposes only.

 

            OUR FAVORITE VAMPIRE Part Two

 

 

            A.J. answered, "My name is A.J. Simon.  My brother and I came here to fish.  We borrowed a cabin from a friend, Carlos Rivera.  I suppose you know him?"

            "Big Latino.  Likes snakes?"

            "Yeah, that's him.  He collects and sells snakes to collectors.  My brother sometimes helps him."

            "Tall guy, likes to wear cowboy hats?"

            "Yeah, that's him!"

            "He and his buddy broke up a bar about three years ago.  They were in jail overnight.  I told them if they ever broke up the bar again, I was going to put them in jail for a week.  I guess they got the message.  I never had trouble from them again."

            "My brother never told me about that!  How much damage did they do?" asked A.J.

            "Oh over two hundred dollars worth." replied Hardison.

            "Oh, so that explains...."

            "Explains what, Mr. Simon?"

            "Nothing."

            "Well, you two stay out of trouble.  You going back to the cabin right away?" 

            "As soon as I get our supplies.  We had supplies, but some animals got to it."

            "How'd that happen?" asked Hardison.

            ""We were careless.  Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go back.  My brother is all alone.  And it will soon be dark.  I have to be back before it gets dark."

            "Why?"

            "Sheriff Hardison, why are you asking me these questions?"

            "Just curious that's all, just curious."

            A.J. just looked at Hardison and then walked over to the counter where Lou had put the supplies.

            "That's all of it, Mr. Simon.  Everything you asked for," said Lou.

            "How much is that?"

            "Oh about thirty dollars.  And why did you ask for cow's blood?  Seems a strange thing to ask for."

            A.J. didn't answer him. Then he said, "How much was that again?"

            "Thirty-four dollars and twenty-two cents." said Lou.

            A.J. paid the man and took the box of supplies at the truck.  He loaded it in the back seat and drove back up the road.  Sheriff Hardison watched as A.J. drove up the mountain, towards the lake.

            "Hmm, there's something fishy going on.  Why would he want cow's blood anyway?  And why didn't he see anything if everybody else did, including me?  I think I'm going to check them out and then go up that mountain.  Just to make sure everything is all right with them and of course to check out the sighting,"  thought Hardison to himself. 

            Hardison went back to the police station.  There, he  picked up the phone and called an acquaintance of his at the San Diego police department, Lt. Marcel Proust Brown.

 

            A.J. drove back to the cabin.  Rick was just coming back from catching  five fish. He was coming up the hill when he spotted the PowerWagon driving up.  He met A.J. just as he came to the cabin.  Jamie was checking the Droid.  That's when A.J. noticed that the door had been put back on it's hinges and that the stairs were fixed.

            "Hey, who fixed the stairs and the door?" asked A.J."

            "The Droid did," replied Rick.  "It's a very handy little thing to have to around."

            Jamie got up from the ground and went over to where Rick and A.J. were and looked at the fish.  Already the fish were beginning to smell. 

            "How can you eat something that smells so bad?" asked Jamie as he wrinkled his nose.

            "Well, now it smells, but wait until A.J. gets hold of it.  He's gonna create a gourmet treat, you'll see."

            "Yeah, but first it has to be cleaned and I'm not going to do it am I?  Right Rick?

            "Ah right, I'll clean them now!" replied the cowboy.  He walked into the now fixed cabin and started to clean the fish.

            "Jamie, we gotta talk.  We've got big trouble.  The people of this small hamlet saw your crash yesterday.  They wanted to organize a search party to find you and Martin and do God knows what to the two of you!  If the sheriff hadn't stopped them, they would be up here right now, dismantling you!  But we're not out of the woods yet.  The cop is suspicious of us, and might just come up here.  We have to hide the ship!"

            "Who might come up here?" asked Rick.  He had come out of the cabin after cleaning the fish, at the tail end of A.J.'s story.  A.J. explained everything to Rick, including finding out about the fight he and Carlos had been in three years ago.

            "Oh that!  I meant to tell you about that.  But we got busy and I decided it was best not to mention it to you."

            "And Rick, I now know what that two hundred check was for!  It was to pay for the damages.  Why didn't Carlos pay also?"

            "He did.  He paid the sixty-five dollars and forty-two cents."

            "Do you mean we practically paid the whole amount?  Why didn't you and Carlos split it between each other?"

            "Well, it was my fault.  I started the fight.  I saw this really gorgeous waitress.  How was I suppose to know that she was this big, red-headed guy's girl?"

            "You mean a big red-headed guy with all the personality of a ox?"

            "Oh you met him." 

            "Yeah, and are you nuts or something?  He could have smashed you!"

            "Well, he didn't did he?"

            "Oh Rick, will you ever learn!"

            "Ah, well, the fish is cleaned and it's time for your special touch, A.J. "

            A.J. gave an annoyed look at his brother and then went into the cabin.   In about a half an hour the wonderful smell of cooking fish walfed from the cabin.

            "Rick, is that the fish?" asked Jamie, not believing  that the smell could really be the fish.

            "Yep, that's the fish.  I told you he could make it great.  A.J.'s a great cook.  Too bad you're unable eat any of his food.  Which leaves a lot more for me!"

            Just then, A.J. came out with two plates of fish and vegetables.

            "Here you go bro, I hope you like it.  It's too bad you are unable to eat Jamie.  I would have liked your opinion on this new recipe I'm trying out today.   Well Rick, do you like it?"

            "Like it?  I love it!  This is the best you ever made!  Hey after we eat, let's go to the lake and take a swim.  You want to come too, Jamie?"

            "No, I must stay here with Martin.  Perhaps next time."

            So A.J. and Rick went to the lake and stayed there for several hours, enjoying the cool lake water.

 

            It was late afternoon when the boys came back from their day at the lake.  They saw Jamie readying the Droid to dig up Marty. 

            "Gentlemen, did you enjoy yourselves?" he asked the Simons.

            "Yeah!  The lake was nice and cold.  Just right!" said Rick.  We even had a race to see who would get back to the shore first!"

            "Who won?" asked Jamie.

            "I did,"  replied A.J. "You know Rick, you're an old man!"

            "Yeah well.....if that current hadn't caught me, I would have won!'

            "Yeah, yeah sure.... sure you would have!"  teased A.J.

            I believe it is time!" announced Jamie.  He pointed to the west.  The sun was just going down over the rim.  The last of the rays poked though the earth and then the sun was completely down.

            "Droid, start digging!" ordered the android.

            The Droid started digging and in about six minutes, he had Marty dug up.  Jamie jumped down the hole and gently picked him up and then jumped back up.  He put him down and then took out a small knife.

            "Now it is time for the ceremony," said Jamie.  "Please give me your arms.  A.J. first."

            A.J. put out his arm and Jamie cut it.  Blood began to flow out.  Jamie caught the blood in the cup and then asked for Rick's arm.  Rick gave him his arm and Jamie did the same thing to it.  Then he swished the cup to mix the blood together. When he had finished mixing it, he then recited a incantation.  Or it seemed like an incantation.

            "Oh child of the night, drinker of blood, immortal one, master of the creatures that roam the dark, I beseech you, awaken from thy rest!" 

            He repeated it once more and then he poured some of the blood on Marty's body, keeping the rest of it for him to drink when he woke.  Marty's body began to glow.  His eyes popped open and they were the color of blood.  Then he sprung up like a jack-in-the-box  Jamie gave him the left over blood and he drank it.  When he was finished there was blood on his lips.  He licked them and then looked at the two men who stood next to him. 

            "Hello Captain, it is good to have you up.  I was worried that the ritual would not work.  I did not believe it would.  It should not have worked and yet it did.  Very illogical!"

            "Jamie, you sound just like Mr. Spock, do you know that?  I don't remember anything after we crashed.  What happened?  And who are those two dudes standing over there looking shocked?"

            "Captain Martin Cunningham of the starship Kindred, this is A.J. and Rick Simon, the two humans who donated the blood for you."

            "Hi, it's a pleasure to meet you both and please, call me Marty.  I prefer that to Martin any day.  I keep asking Jamie to call me that, but he insists on calling me Martin!"

            Marty got up, brushed himself off and then offered his hand to them.  They shook hands with him. 

            "Martin, we are in luck.  It turns out that they are private investigators too!"

            "They are?  Great!  I'm one.  In fact, I used to be a PI when I was mortal.  Recently I was a starship captain, but I got into trouble.  I punched an admiral in the nose for making insulting remarks about vampires and my family.  Starfleet Command demoted me down to Lieutenant, but I decided that I didn't want that life anymore.  So I resigned, told that admiral what I thought of him and decided to open up my own business.  And that's how I got back into the business."

            "You punched an admiral?" asked Rick in awe. 

            "Yeah."

            "Well, let me shake your hand again.  I admire you!  Not many people would do that!  I'm surprised they didn't throw you into the brig for what you did!"

            "They almost did.  But my family's got influence and my Uncle Peter, who's a big shot in the Federation convinced them to knock down the charges.  He reminded them that it was the admiral who had made those offensive remarks in the first place.  My uncle's a diplomat and a former President of the Assembly.  He's highly respected.  When he talks, everybody listens!  Oh, and by the way, we got company coming." 

            "What?  I don't hear anything!" said A.J.

            "That's because they are about ten miles away yet.  In about twenty-five minutes they'll be here."

            "But how do you know they're coming?  Whoever they are?" asked A.J.

            "Oh, I can hear them coming.  And the reason I can hear them is that I got really good hearing.  I can hear a pin drop in the next room.  With music playing and talking going on at the same time. We vampires have that ability along with a few other powers."

            "Martin, we will not have enough time to hide the ship, what shall we do?" said Jamie

            "I don't know what you're going to do, but I'm going to have my dinner.  And while I'm having dinner, I'll just make the two mortals forget all about us and you know I'm very good at making mortals forget a lot of things."

            "Two guys?" questioned Rick.

            "Yes, two.  I can also see quite well too.  Ah, here they are!  Dinners on!"

            Sure enough, just as Marty said, a jeep came up and who was in it, but the big red-headed guy and Joe.  A.J. looked at Marty and before he realized it, he could hear Marty's voice in his head.

            "A.J. my friend, I sense that you know these two.  Who are they?" asked Marty.

            "Hey, are you talking to me telepathically?"  asked A.J.

            "Yes, I am.  Now, who are they?"

            "That big guy is the one who wanted to go hunt you down.  The other one is they guy who saw you crash.  They're dangerous."

            "You mean, they were dangerous.  I will soon make them as docile as kittens.  And I will have had my meal for the night."

              "Oh my Lord!"  They all heard.  "I knew it!  I knew it!  I knew there was something funny about the blond haired guy.  He's one of them!  He's one of them aliens!" said Joe.  He pulled out a gun and pointed it at A.J. 

            "My my, little men shouldn't play with big guns," remarked Marty flippantly.  He walked towards Joe still talking.  "In fact, you might hurt yourself.  Or someone else.  Now you really don't want to shoot him do you?  Of course not!  Look into my eyes and tell me you really want to shoot him."  Marty began to stare at Joe.

            "A.J. asked telepathically, "What the heck are you doing?  He might shoot me!"

            "No he won't A.J. He won't because I giving him  the stare'".

            "What the heck is the  stare'?" asked Rick, now realizing that he could hear what Marty and A.J. were saying.

            "The  stare' is what we vampires call the power to hypnotize mortals.  It is the way we hunt.  Once we catch our dinner, we must subdue him to keep him from struggling.  We don't want to attract attention, so we give our dinner the stare.  It is also the way we make people forget. And it is also the way we make people do what we want them to do.  I'm going to put them deeply under so that they will help us get the ship off the mountain.  Watch mortals and learn!"

            A.J. and Rick were about to have a lesson they weren't soon going to forget!  Marty continued to stare.  Rick and A.J. could see Joe's eyes begin to glaze over and go blank. Then he was completely under.

            "Now mortal, put down the gun." ordered Marty out loud.  Joe did exactly what he was told. He put down the gun. The red-headed guy couldn't believe what had just happened. 

            "Joe, Joe!  What's wrong Joe!"  The red-headed guy turned to Marty and said, "Hey what did you do to him!"

            "The same thing I'm about to do to you.  Now, look deeply into my eyes!  Deeper, deeper!  You can not resist!  You are completely under my control!  Obey!"

            Red looked into Marty's eyes.  He couldn't help it.  He tried to resist, but like Marty had said, he couldn't .  Red soon submitted to Marty's will.  He was now Marty's.

            "Now to make it official.  Come to me Joe!"

            Joe walked over to Marty.   He then he gave Joe the telepathic command to turn his head so that he could bite him.  Joe turned his head and Marty went for the throat.  He bit it and then drank the warm blood.  He began to feel strong and invigorated.  When had drank the one pint allowed by vampiric law, he then called for Red to come to him.  The red-headed guy came over and Marty repeated the act.  When he was finished, he licked the last of the blood from his lips and walked over to the two mortals.  However, poor A.J. and Rick was feeling a little under the weather, their faces white as sheets.   They had seen movies about vampires, but had never seen one in action in real life.  Now they had, and they were sick from the experience.

            "Hey, are you guys okay?  You don't look so good.  Maybe you should go into the cabin and sit down for a while," remarked Marty when he saw how they looked.

            They just nodded their heads and walked wobbly towards the cabin.  Their legs were like rubber.

            "Jamie, go help them, I think they're going to faint!"

            "Yes Martin." said the android.  He walked to them and guided the two men towards the cabin. 

            "Now mortals, let us talk about getting my ship off this mountain!" said Marty.

            As Marty was talking to Joe and Red, Jamie guided A.J. and Rick them into the cabin putting A.J. on the bed and Rick onto a chair. 

            "Are you two all right?" he asked.

            "Oh yeah, we're okay.  As okay as two guys can be who's just seen a vampire suck the blood out of two men." said Rick wanly.. 

            "Well, you wanted to learn about them.  Sucking blood is how Martin feeds.    "I know, but to see him do it....," said Rick.  "Well, I guess it wasn't what I imagined it to be."

            "I understand, what you see in the movies is fiction.  What you saw today is real," remarked Jamie.

            Rick was about say something when Marty came into the room.

            "Oh, don't mind me, keep talking.  Our two helpers have gone back down the mountain to get a large flatbed truck for the ship.  However, sneaking it out of this small town is going to be a problem.  I thought the four of us could brainstorm and get some ideas on how we can do it.  Of course, if you don't want to, I'll understand.  I know that my little display disturbed you.  I'm sorry, I guess I should have prepared you for it.  But everything happened so quickly.  If I hadn't done what I did, that mortal would have shot A.J. and perhaps even you Rick and that would have been terrible.  This way, the both of you are safe. and those two, instead of causing trouble, are helping us.  Still, I should have prepared both of you.  Again, I am sorry."

            "MY GOD!  He was ready to shoot us!" said A.J., as he realized that Marty did indeed save their lives.  "If you hadn't done what you did..."

            "The both of you would probably be dead right now."

            "Thanks Marty," said A.J.

            "Yeah, thanks," echoed Rick.

            "Hey no problem.  I'm just your friendly, neighborhood vampire.  Ready to do his bit for the cause, keeping mortals safe for democracy!" 

            Marty smiled a big smile.  For the first time, A.J. and Rick could actually see the fangs.  Before then, Marty had not smiled widely.  But now he gave a big smile.  Marty was beginning to trust the Simon brothers.  The two brothers laughed at his joke.

            "So my friends, you got any ideas how we can get my ship off the mountain without anybody seeing the it?" asked their new found friend.

            "Nope, do you?" answered A.J.

            "Nope."

            "Well, that was helpful," remarked Rick.

            "Perhaps I do," said a voice.  It was Jamie's.  He was carrying a metal container about the size of a large packing crate.  He put it down and then he inputted a code into the lock.  The container buzzed and then it opened.  He then took out  a slightly smaller device.  It was square and had extensions jutting out of it.

            "Jamie, what is that thing?" asked Marty.  Then he saw the writing on it.  He whistled and then walked closer to make sure he wasn't reading it wrong.  It was exactly what he thought it was.

            "Good lord, it's...a....a... cloaking device!  Where did Dad get a cloaking device?  So that's why the Durass Sisters want this cargo so much!"

            "Yes, there is a visual message for you as well.  Here."  Jamie gave Marty a tricorder and Marty activated it.  The screen scramble for a second and then a man that looked about in his forties came on.  He had long brown hair and wore dark glasses. 

            "Marty my son, if you are hearing this, your mission to get the cargo to Deep Space Nine has failed and the you are in trouble.  What you have is a cloaking device that was given to us by the High Council of the Romulan Empire.  It was part of a experiment in creating our own super starship for the Federation.  As you know, the Borg has been coming closer to  Federation space each year and soon they will knocking at our door.  The Romulans also know that the Borg are dangerous and that is why they have agreed to this joint project.  If you have not been captured by the Durass Sisters and you are still alive, which  I know you are since you have always been too stubborn to die, you will use the cloaking device to get yourself out of any trouble you may be in, which knowing you, is just another one of life's little problems for you to solve.  My son, I wish you luck, I think you are going to need it.  And I hope that you will find allies who will help you.  Farewell, my son.  I love you."        The screen went dead and Marty sat there saying nothing for a while.  Finally, he spoke, "Did you know about the cloaking device?"

            "No Martin I didn't.   All  I was told by your father was that it was very important that we get the cargo to Deep Space Nine." 

            Then I have failed!"

            "No Martin, you did not fail.  You kept the cargo from the Durass Sisters.  That is why your father hired you.  Because he knew you would keep the cargo safe.  Now we must use it for our own use.  Your father would not be angry at you for using it!"

            Marty sighed and then shook his head.  "Jamie, attached the cloaking device.  We just found a way to sneak the ship off this mountain!"

            "Aye, Aye, Sir!"  answered Jamie, as he saluted him.  Jamie took the device and walked out with it.

            "You okay?" asked A.J. with concern.

            "Yeah, just a little disappointed that I was unable to deliver this to Deep Space Nine  for my father.  I feel like I disappointed him.  But if I hadn't come here, I would have missed out on meeting the you two.  As a friend of mine would say,  It's karma Marty, it's karma.'"

            "Karma?" asked Rick.

            "Yeah, karma.  My friend is a great believer in it.  He's a little strange, but then all high - ranking warlocks are.  I know my Uncle Peter tends to be weird."

            "Your friend and uncle are warlocks?  Male witches?" questioned A.J., surprised to hear that there were such people in Marty's world

            "Yeah, but let's not talk about them.  If I did, we'd spend the next two hundred years doing it.  Let's talk about our future.  That interests me more.  So, Jamie tells me that you two are involved in a very strange case.  How could people be stealing right before your eyes?  And how are they getting in?  That's what we have to find out.  When we get to San Diego, I would like to check out the store.  See what is there and not there."

            "What's not there?  I don't understand?" remarked Rick.

            "It's  What s wrong with this picture?'.  I'll look and if I see something that does not fit, that is what we will work on."

            "But how will you know what doesn't fit?  How can you tell?" asked A.J.

            "Very simple my mortal friend.  I have powers and senses that are beyond mortal man.  I can look at people and see their auras."

            "Their what?" questioned Rick.

            "Their auras. The colors that surround a mortal.  A.J., you have a blue aura.  That is your normal color.  But when you get angry, your aura becomes red.  Rick, your aura is green.  When you get angry, your aura is a dark purple.  A person with a black aura is not to be trusted.  That is why I knew that I had to get the gun away from Joe.  I knew he would have shot you just as easily as I bite a mortal.  He has a black aura.  He will kill one day."

            "That's fantastic!  A.J., can't you see the possibilities?  We can have Marty check the auras of  prospective clients and if they are okay, we can take their cases.  This way, we'll be able to stay out of trouble.  We would know not to take that case."

            Yes A.J., the possibilities are enormous.  And Jamie is an expert in computers.  He can hack into any computer there is.  He can do some pretty incredible things!"

            "We can also go to jail because of Jamie's talents.  I really don't want to go, I'm too young!" said a worried A.J.

            "A.J., we are brothers now, I would never let anything happen to you or him.  Trust me, you will not regret knowing me!"

            Marty smiled that dazzling smile of his and A.J. just shook his head and said,  "I know I'm going to regret this.  I just know it!"

            "Now my brothers, I must rest.  The sun will soon be up and you will have a great  deal to do when our two helpers come back with the flatbed truck."

            "Our helpers?"  said A.J.

            "Yes, of course.  I sent them a telepathic message telling them to obey you two as if you were me.  They'll do as they are told.  They'll give you no problems.  Perhaps you should rest until they return?  I'm going to rest in the ship, it's safer for me in there.  Later, I'll put on a special belt that will enable me to stay up during the day. Now please, rest.  You're going to be very busy later on." 

            Marty went out of the cabin and walked to the ship.  He pushed the button on the side, said a code, the door opened and then he walked in.  The door slid shut and he was gone.

            "Well, so far, this has been a very strange experience and I've got a feeling, it's gonna get even stranger as we go along,"  remarked Rick.

            "You're telling me!.  Look, we now have a vampire as a friend, an android that looks like Dad, a spaceship and two guys who are  our helpers'!  How weirder can it get?"

            "Trust me, it's gonna get weirder.  A.J. my bro, we have just entered the Twilight Zone and I think I see Rod Serling standing at the door telling the people about our situation."

 

            It was late morning when Rick woke.  He got dressed and walked out of the cabin to see Joe and Red standing next to a large flatbed truck

            "A.J., A.J. come out here!  Now!" shouted Rick

            "Huh?  What's the problem?"  A.J. shouted sleepily..

            "No problem, our two  helpers' have returned!" shouted Rick.  Then he asked Joe, "Joe, when did you get here?"

            "we just came, sir," answered Joe.

            "What's going on?" said A.J. as he walked out the cabin, still tucking his shirt into this pants.  "Hey, they're back.  When did they come back?"

            "Just now," said his brother

            "We'll start working on getting the ship on the truck, Is okay by you, sir?"

            "Yeah, okay...sure..go ahead." replied A.J.  "Hey, how are we going to get the ship onto the flatbed truck?"

            "Yeah, how are we gonna do it?" asked Rick as well.

            Just then, Jamie came out the ship carrying a round object.  It was about the size of a large dinner plate and it was black and silver. 

            "I have the solution to the problem right here."  He held out the object to show the Simon brothers.

            "What's that thing?" asked Rick.

            "This is an antigravity device.  We have several of these on board the ship.  All we have do is place these on the Kindred.  I have a remote that can control how low or high we can float the ship.  We just float it on to the truck, release the anitgravs and ship will be on the truck ready to transport.  It is that easy."

            "Let me see that," asked Rick.  Jamie gave Rick one of the antigravity pods and he examined it.  This is fantastic!  It's like something out of a science fiction movie, only this is real!" remarked Rick after he examined it.  "C'mon A.J., let's help them put them on.  Who will control the pods, you Jamie?"

            "Yes.  Later on, I will show both you how to work the controls.  You never know, we might be able to use them on a case.  Now to put it on, all you have to do is stick it on.  Very easy."   

            "That's great, I'll make breakfast and then we'll start putting on the anti-gravs, said A.J.

            "Good," relied Jamie. 

            He was about go back to the ship when Rick said, "Hold it!"

            "What is wrong Rick?"

            "Marty's talking to me.  Even when he rests he can talk to me?"

            "Oh yes.  Even when he is resting.  What does he want?" asked Jamie.

             "Hey A.J. he is talking to you too?"

            "Yeah, I can hear him clearly.  It's like he's right here.  Weird man!"

            Rick began to nod his head, "Yeah, you're right.  I understand.  Ah huh, yeah, We'll do it right now.  We were gonna do it anyway.  Yeah, see you later, man."

            "What did he say?" asked Jamie.

            "Marty wanted us to put a guard on duty in case we should have more visitors.  I told him that we were gonna do it anyway.

            "Yes we were.  I'll take first watch." said A.J.

            "No, I'll take the first watch.  Jamie, how long do you think it will take to put on the disks, get the ship on the flatbed truck and get the hell out of here?"

            "Hmm, about one point two hours, exact.  That is if you skip breakfast and we start right now."

            "And if we don't skip breakfast?"

            "Two hours exact," replied Jamie.

            "We'll take a chance and have breakfast."

            A.J. looked at his brother.  "Always thinking about your stomach, aren't you?" he said sarcastically.

            "Well, I'm hungry!  Besides, didn't Mom say it's always better to start the day with a good breakfast?"

            "Sigh! Never mind, I'll make breakfast!  While I'm at it, Jamie can get the rest of the antigravs."

            "Yes, by the time you are finished eating, everything will be ready." said Jamie.  "You and the others enjoy breakfast.   I will check on Martin, make sure he is secured in his bed so that he will not fall out of it during the time we are floating the ship."

            Jamie started back to the ship and A.J. began breakfast.  Soon, he had everything ready.  They had eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, toast and coffee.  In a half an hour, everyone was finished.  A.J. and Rick took care of the dishes and they were ready to go to work.  Rick went up the road a little, climbed a tree and sat in it, guarding the road.  He had a communicator and a pair of high-powered binoculars that Jamie had given him.  They  were Star Fleet surplus, but they worked, so Rick was ready for any emergency.         

            Back at the cabin, everyone was given a antigrav disk and sent to different sides of the ship.  A.J. had the nose of the ship, Joe the left side, Red the right side and Jamie the tail end.  After they attached the disks to the ship, Jamie took the control module which  looked just like the remote control of a video game.  He pushed the red button and then took hold of the joystick and started maneuvering the ship on to the flatbed truck.  The ship began to rise and then floated just above the truck.  It hovered there for about a second, then gently landed with just a little thud.  After it was over, Jamie shut down the controls and signaled for the guys to take off the pods.  The first part of "Operation Sneak", which Rick named during breakfast, was a success.  Now, all they had to do was to get the flatbed truck with the ship on it down the mountain without anybody seeing them. The easy part of been accomplished, now the hard part was coming up.

.                                            

            Rick stood watch in the tree.  He watched the road with the high-powered binoculars Jamie had given to him.  They were even more powerful then the ones he had in  Nam.  He figured with these, the enemy would have been easier to see and maybe just maybe, they could have won the war.   But that was water under that proverbial bridge.  This was 1983 and the war was long ago.  As he watched the road, he would occasionally go over to where  Operation Sneak' was going on.  But he always went back to the road.  Then he saw it.  It was about twenty miles away, but coming fast.  It was a jeep with a star on it.  Rick recognized it has the sheriff's car.  He remembered it from three years ago.  He knew who drove it.  Sheriff Hardison. 

            "He's probably coming up here to check on the reports of the UFO and to check up on me and A.J.,"  he thought.  He took out the communicator, picked up the top and called A.J.

            "Calling  Golden Boy', come in  Golden Boy'.  This is  Cowboy'.  Do you read me?"

            "I read you  Cowboy'.  This is  Golden Boy'.  What's up?"

            " Golden Boy',  Smokey' coming up road.  Twenty, but closing.  Advise!"

            "Come home  Cowboy'.   R2D2' says not to worry.  Second part of  Operation Sneak' about to commence.  Vehicle about to do disappearing act.  Come home."

            "Understand.   Cowboy' coming home.  Over and out!"

            Rick climbed down the tree and quickly ran up the road towards the cabin and the ship. 

            When Rick returned to the cabin, A.J. was sitting on the porch with Joe and Charlie.

            "Hey, you're just in time to see the great disappearing act.  Sit a spell," said A.J.

            Rick sat next to his brother and said, "You seem calm.  I'd think you'd be pacing back and forth, worrying."

            "I was, until Marty said to calm down.  He said not to worry, that everything was gonna be okay.  Karma he called it.  What will be will be.  And I believe him.  I don't know why, but I do.  He's a very interesting man.  We've been having a fascinating telepathic conversation.  Did you know that he comes from a very old and honored family?  That his ancestors originally came from another plant?  A planet called Eden?  And that his father is a Martian?  Rick there really is life on Mars, well at least in Marty's universe.  He told me that he became a vampire in 1999, and that there was a World War III.  A nuclear war that almost destroyed his world.  There's a lot more, but he didn't want to talk anymore about it.  I guess he got upset."

            Just as A.J. was finishing his monologue about Marty, there was a beeping sound.  A.J. took out his communicator, (Marty had given each of them a communicator to keep), and said, "Yeah, Jamie?"

            "It is time.  I have modified the device.  I think you will be pleased with the results as will Martin.  Ready?"

            "Ready Jamie, let her rip!"

            A.J. closed the communicator and waited.  He and Rick looked at the flatbed truck and the ship on it.  Suddenly, it and the ship began to shimmer and then they disappeared.

            "I'll be damned, it worked!" exclaimed A.J.

            "Hey, did you see that, the truck disappeared too!  I thought only the ship was suppose to be cloaked!"

            "It was, but when Jamie heard that the sheriff was coming, he quickly modified the cloaking device so the truck would be included.  And just in time too, here he comes!"

            A.J. pointed at the jeep with Hardison in it.  He had come around the bend just as the ship and truck disappeared.

            A.J. turned to the Charlie and Joe and said, "Guys act normal, You're just visiting, understand?"

            "Yes, Sir," they both said.

            "And don't call us Sirs, I'm A.J. and he's Rick" said, A.J. as he pointed at his brother.  "And when we get up, you get up, understand? 

            They all got up as the sheriff parked the jeep and he got out.  Hardison walked over to the brothers and said, "Good afternoon gentlemen.  I just came up to see if everything was all right."

            "Hi Sheriff, nice to see you again ," says Rick back at the sheriff.  "How long has it been?  Two years?"

            "Three, Simon," says Hardison

            "Oh yeah, three."

            "I see this time you brought your brother."

            "Yeah, I wanted him to relax.  My brother works too hard sometimes."

            "What's Joe and Charlie doing here?"

            "Oh, they're just visitin', ain't you guys?

            "Yeah, we're just visitin'," says Joe.

            "I thought maybe you guys were looking for the UFO after I told you not to."

            "No, Sheriff, we ain't lookin' for it.  We just came up to apologize to the Mr. Simon about what happened at the motel,"  Said Charlie.

            Mr. Simon, did you or your brother see anything last night?"

            "Sheriff, I told you before, we saw nothing!" said A.J. indiginately.

            "You backing up your brother, Simon?"

            "Yeah, we saw nothin'!"

            But before Hardison could say anything else, a voice said, "Good afternoon, gentlemen."

            A.J. and Rick looked wide-eyed.  It was Marty in all his glory.  He stood there smiling that Mona Lisa smile of his.  A.J. looked up at the sky to check if the sun was still there.  It was.  He then checked his watch to see if he was mistaken.  It said 4:00 pm

            "No A.J., you are not seeing things.  It's really me."

            "But how are you up...? You're suppose to be resting!!"

            "l'll tell you later how I accomplished this amazing feat.  Right now, things are beginning to get complicated.  I must take care of him as well."

            "Marty, you're not...."

            "No A.J., I'm not going to bite him.  I will only make him forget.  Since we no longer need those two mortals, I'm going to free them, but first I will make them forget too."

            "So they can't cause any trouble?"

            "Yes, we don't any more problems then we already have."

            As A.J.'s and Marty's conversation was going on, Hardison walked over to where A.J. and Rick were standing.

            "Hey, who the hell are you???" asked Hardison in astonishment.

            "Who me?" answered Marty, innocently.  "I'm A.J. and Rick's cousin.  I just arrived a few minutes ago.

            Hardison looked at the Simons and asked, "Why didn't you didn't you tell me about him?"

            "Well, I didn't know he was here until I arrived.  Imagine my surprise at seeing him here, isn't that right Rick?"

            "Yeah, he sure did surprise us.  We didn't even know he was comin'.  Welcome to California,  Cousin Marty!"

            "Thanks, I'm glad to be here, Cousin Rick!"

            "Where you from?"

            "Oh, I'm from all over.  I travel a lot.  Never in one place for too long."

            Then Hardison asked him, "What do you do for a living?"

            "Actually, I'm between jobs.  I was a private investigator in Canada, but I left to come here,"  answered the vampire.

            "What part of Canada?"

            "Ontario."

            "Can I see your papers?" asked Hardison.

            "Why do I need to show you my papers?  I haven't done anything to warrant this!"

            "Okay, okay. I'd like to ask you if you saw anything in the woods?  Anything unusual?  Like say, a UFO?"

            "Yes, in fact, I did!"

            "You did!" Where?"

            "Come and I'll show you."

            As Hardison started walking towards him, Marty gave the Simons a wink.  Then he started the stare.  As he stared at Hardison, Marty took out a cigarette case, took a cigarette from it, took out a cigarette holder, put the cigarette in it and then lit the cigarette with a gold lighter.  He never missed a beat.  By the time Hardison came to him, he was completely under. 

             A.J. and Rick quickly walked over to where Marty and Hardison were to check him.  Sure enough, he too had same blank expression as Joe and Charlie.  Marty then called Joe and Charlie over. They came to him and stood next to Hardison.

            He then spoke to A.J. and Rick telepathically, "Okay, my brothers, I think it's time we hit the road.  Do you agree?

            "Yeah, we think so too," said Rick.  I'll put your's and Jamie's stuff into the PowerWagon with our stuff.  Okay?

            "Okay.  And while you're doing that, I'll make these mortals forget we were even here." 

            A.J., Rick and Jamie started to put the stuff into the PowerWagon, while Marty took care of the mortals.

            Okay, gentlemen, here's the deal," said Marty.  "You will all close your eyes and begin to count backwards from a thousand.  Joe and Charlie, you will forget that you saw the ship or even me.  Hardison you will  go back to your town and tell the good people there  that you found nothing.  When all of you have finish counting backwards, you will awaken refreshed and feeling great. You will remember nothing, but my instructions.  Do you understand?"

            "Yes Sir!" they all said in unison.

            "Good, now close your eyes and start counting."

            The three men started counting backwards, "A thousand.  Nine hundred and ninety-nine....."

            Okay, it's time to go.  Oh, by the way, who knows how to drive this thing??" asked Marty out loud.

            "I do," answered Rick.  "I drove these type of trucks when I worked the oil fields down in Mexico.  C'mon Jamie, you'll go with me so you can make sure that everything is okay with the ship."

            "Right, and Marty, you'll go with me in the PowerWagon, " said A.J.

            They walked to the two trucks, got in and started down the mountain, heading to San Diego and to a new life that  A.J. and Rick would not soon forget.