Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2000 17:14:35 EST From: ZLATAZOBO@aol.com Subject: Where no one owns the Rain, part nine Welcome again! Here are the legal statements. If you are not yet old enough or if it is not legal to read this type of material where you live, please leave now. If the subject of homosexual relations offends you please read no further. The following story is a work of fiction and with the exception of Andy and the brief mention of Terry, all persons in this story are fictional. Any resemblance to persons living, dead or not yet born are completely accidental and unintentional. The Author reserves all rights. copyright 2000 The Author is Andrew Simon van Ryan. Email me at Zlatazobo@aol.com Visit me at my web page http://hometown.aol.com/zlatazobo/myhomepage/profile.html Where no one owns the Rain.... By Andrew Simon van Ryan Copyright 2000. All Rights Reserved Part Nine ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hackers Break Into Microsoft DATELINE, SEATTLE: 10/17/00 - Hackers broke into Microsoft Corp.'s computer network and may have stolen blueprints to the latest versions of the company's software, it was learned today.. ``We're still looking into it." a spokesperson said. ``This is a deplorable act of industrial espionage.'' Passwords used to transfer the source code behind Microsoft's software were being sent to an e-mail account in St.Petersburg, Russia. The identities of the hackers are unknown. They are believed to have had access to the codes for three months. The hackers accessed Microsoft by e-mailing software, called QAZ Trojan, to the company's network and then opening a so-called 'back door' with it. It looks like a normal attachment in an e-mail, but contains a hidden code that can, in effect, take control of the recipient's computer. Once inside, the hacker can destroy files or change codes. Microsoft contacted the FBI on Thursday. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Andy, I don't think that's going to work!" Zeke said in a hushed but worked up voice. "Why not?" I asked. "Well first of all, it's not common practice to give high tech military devices to civilians and secondly, you don't know what my Father is like!" Zeke said, trying to keep his distress in check. "Does your Father love you and your Brother?" I asked staring into Zekes eyes. "Does he still have feelings for your Mom?" Zeke straightened up and stared back at me for a moment. "Of course he loves us. He doesn't like the fact I'm gay, but he still loves me. He still loves my Mother, too. She left him, not the other way 'round." "OK." I replied. "Then get me in to talk to him. I know I can persuade him to help us." Zeke studied my face for a brief second before he spoke. "If it was anyone else asking me to do this, I'd tell them no." He stated. "I just can't say no to you." "Geez!" I smiled. "You really are head over heels!" "Like you're not?" He smiled back at me. At three that afternoon, Ezekiel and I departed Heaven in an old Ford Ranger 4X4 pickup built in the mid 1990's. As Zeke exited the compound onto the Hummingbird Highway, I prayed for the creaking rust bucket to get us there and back. Driving south towards the Military Base, we talked over the task of defeating Conner. "What we're doing is a flat-out assassination, Andy." Zeke remarked. "Not exactly." I replied. "I like to think of it as a preemptive action against an out of control madman. Only it's a civilian group rather than the military attempting it." "Hmmm." Zeke huffed. "Civilian Group is a nice way of putting it." "OK, we're a bunch of pissed off escaped queers." I replied. "It doesn't matter what we call ourselves. The world will come up with some name to hang on us anyway." I sat there silent, feeling anger toward the rest of the world for a moment. As a group, homosexuals had been spit on by them and now we were trying to save their asses. Hopefully, they'd find out who it was that saved them once this was over. Assuming, of course, we would succeed. The Paratroopers Jungle Training Camp was two and a half hours away. I didn't want to ride in silence the whole way. "Zeke, don't mind me." I said. "I've just got a bad attitude. I'm pissed off no one stopped Conner before it got this far." "Andy, don't apologize." He replied. "We have every reason to feel pissed off. Just keep that anger directed at Conner. He's the one who lied to get into office, the one that used the CanAnMex for his own goals and he's the one directing the actions of the Military. We have to take him out for the sake of EVERYBODY, not just ourselves. Maybe it's time for the world to see homosexuals from a different perspective. One from which they have to respect us." I thought about what he said as we rode on down the pot holed highway. My mind eventually turned to other questions. "Zeke, I was wondering. Do you know how Gabriel and Noah plan on getting the transmitter within fifty feet of Conner?" I asked my companion. "They're not real sure how to do it." He said. "First, they have to know where Conner is going to be. So assume he's in the White House. It's best if he's in the Oval Office, at night. The light through the windows let's any movement be seen, so it's fairly easy to know if he's there. We've tossed around ideas. Someone suggested using a slingshot to get the device onto the lawn outside. Someone else suggested hiding it in an employees car, but they don't park on the grounds. The best way would be to have it planted in the Oval Office, but there's no way we can sneak it in there. One other thing. The out come for the person placing the device looks pretty grim, too." "Hmmm" I softly muttered. "Maybe I should ask your Dad for ideas." "No!" Zeke asserted. "It's slim chance enough he'll help us at all. You ask him that and he'll throw us out on our asses." "OK." I said, nodding. The placing of the device stayed on my mind for the rest of the trip. It took well over the two and a half hours expected. Our deteriorating transportation was doing just that, losing several panels of the rusted through fender to brush as we passed. The road was is terrible shape. The pot holes beat up the truck, which in turn beat us up. When the guard house appeared in the roadway ahead of us, I was ready to kiss it! As we pulled up slowly, the sentry guard eyed us with intense suspicion. "What's your business?" Barked the guard with a Mancunian accent. "Tell the Commander his son is here to see him." Zeke replied in a clipped bark. "Tell him it's urgent." The soldiers eyebrows arched up as he gazed upon Zeke. I thought I noticed a glimmer of recognition in his expression. Stepping into the guard house, he picked up a phone and began talking. Within a few moments, I could see him nodding his head. I knew we were in. "OK!" The soldier shouted. "Come through!" He waved us on with his hand. Our rusted Ford belched black smoke as we accelerated into the compound. "Zeke, one more quick question. How do I address your Father?" I asked as the chugging pickup lurched to a halt. "Commander Raleigh." He said and then added. "Andy, don't try being pushy with him. He'll plant his feet like a mule if he thinks you're pushing." Zeke was suddenly hit from behind and nearly knocked to the ground. I spun around, ready for anything. Anything, except for what I saw. "Hey, Look who's here!" The uniformed soldier cried happily while holding Zeke by the waist. "Where've you been, Wally?' As I watched the soldier stand upright, I noticed his smiling face. It was Zeke's face. This was Zeke's brother. "Come on!" Zeke cried. "Get off me Danny!" Danny let go his hold and the two began laughing. They stood facing each other, then hugged one another tightly. "Oh, it's good to see you!" Danny said loudly. "Who's your friend?" "Andy van Ryan." Zeke said with a smile. "This is my brother, Danny." "Good to meet you." I said, reaching to shake his hand. Danny took my hand and shook it firmly. He leaned over to Zeke and whispered not so softly. "Got you a cute one, Huh now?" Zeke turned bright red as his brother spoke to me. "Better take care of him. He's the only brother I've got." "I will, I promise." I responded with a small laugh. "So, how'd Dad get hold of you?" Danny asked as his attention returned to his brother. "He didn't." Zeke said. "Why, was he looking for me?" "You weren't called here?" Danny asked. "No." Zeke replied. Danny's smile faded. "Oh, oh.... Something's up." He said, turning his gaze to the doorway of the building ahead. "Something's definitely up." He repeated. He glanced at us and said "Better come with me." Danny led the way as we walked towards the building. Just as we reached the door, I whispered to Zeke. "Wally?" I questioned, arching one eyebrow. "Walter." He replied. "But call me Zeke... Or else!" He glared at me as I opened the door to let him enter. "Sure!" I smiled and said before whispering under my breath "wally..." "Wait up!" Zeke called to his brother. Danny waited as his brother hurried to catch him. "What did you mean by 'Something's up' ?" Zeke questioned. "You show up, unannounced after Dad asked me earlier today if I knew where to get hold of you. That usually means the two of you know something I don't. You want to tell me or should I wait for Dad?" "Better wait." Zeke said. "I might have it all wrong." "As usual." Danny said with a half smile. Entering the Office of the Commander, The two brothers stepped to the secretaries desk. Danny saluted and said "Tell Commander Raleigh his Sons are here." "Are you expected?" The secretary asked in a rough East-Ender accent. "We believe we are, sir" Danny replied. As he finished, the door to the Commanders inner office blew open. A tall thin man with a thin mustache stood in its doorway staring at the two. "Boys, come in here." He said. They turned and started for the doorway. Zeke looked at me. 'Come on." He said. I shook my head. "I'll wait here." I replied and sat in a chair against the wall. I waited nearly twenty minutes before Zeke stuck his head out of the office. "Come in here, Andy." By the tone of Zeke's voice I knew his Father had given his sons grim news. I also knew I had best be convincing. This was no time for me to say the wrong thing. Entering the office, I stepped to the Commanders desk. He looked up at me with an intense stare. "Andrew van Ryan, Sir!" I said. "Sit down, Andy." He said quite gently. He studied me as I sat. 'My son tells me you're with a resistance group and that you've got something you wish to speak with me about." "Yes, sir." I answered. Turning to the brothers, I said. "This information is 'need to know' only. Will you wait outside?" They both started to open their mouths to speak, but their Father cut them off. "Wait outside boys." After they'd shuffled out, with Zeke giving me doubtful looks, I turned to the Commander. "Tell me your plans, Mr. van Ryan." He instructed. I spent nearly forty minutes detailing exactly what we had in mind, leaving nothing out. I told him everything, but I refrained from asking for the device. After I finished he looked at me questioningly and asked "What do you want from me?" "I want to know if you think the plan will work, sir." I answered. "Quite possibly." He answered. "But you're going to need some help. Officially, I can't do a damn thing for you. On the side, I'm going to give you everything you'll need to succeed. THAT......" He emphasized "remains between you and me, agreed?" "Agreed." I nodded. "The first thing you're going to need is a Targeting Device. And we'll need to get you equipment and weapons." He said before standing and offering me his hand. "You can stay here tonight. I'll have a truck readied with everything before dawn. You'll have to leave before the rest of the men wake up in the morning, so be ready by 3:30 am. I'll send someone along to drive the truck. I can't leave that with you, what with the British Insignias all over it." "Thank you, sir." I said, shaking his hand. "No, let me thank you." He smiled sadly. "I know the danger you're going to be facing. I hope to God you succeed." As I started for the doorway he spoke up. "One more thing, Andy. Can you see to it my son is sent to safety?" He asked. "My boys are the only thing I have left in this world that I love." I could see he was holding back tears. "I've already thought of that sir. Don't worry." I replied. He nodded his head and I exited his office. As soon as I entered the outer office, Zeke sprang to his feet. "What did he say?" My companion quizzed. "Let's talk out side." I replied and motioned with my head. Zeke and I hurried out to the truck we arrived in. Once inside and with the doors closed I answered Zekes question. "We're getting the transmitter, weapons and other equipment, but we can't tell anyone how we got it, OK?" "You're kidding!" He gasped. "How'd you talk him into it?" "I didn't. He offered it." I replied. "Now lets not talk anymore about this until we leave, all right? Last thing we need to have happen is someone overhearing us." Then I quickly changed the subject. "What happened to your brother?" "He left to go to the mess hall for dinner. Its pretty late now and he's probably in his bunkhouse." Zeke said before looking at me with sad eyes. "Did Dad tell you what he told us?" He asked. I simply shook my head. "He told us he was on the phone with my Mother when they raided her house. She dropped the phone and he overheard everything that happened. Mom fought with them and he heard a gun shot." Zeke said, fighting back his tears. 'No!' Zeke thought to himself. 'Not until we're finished'. We slept in the back of our truck, lying under a mosquito net draped over the bed. Slept is not really a good way to describe the experience. We were both rolling and turning most of the time, unable to stop our minds from racing. At ten past three o'clock, I heard a truck startup somewhere on the far side of the compound. As I listened to it slowly begin approaching, a flashlight broke the darkness. "You're wanted in the Commanders Office. " A voice barked. "Follow me." Climbing out of the truck and following the figure ahead of us, Zeke and I made our way to his Fathers office once more. Upon entering we found him waiting in the outer office alone. "Come inside, quickly." He said and we followed him in. I shut the door behind us and he began. "I received word the European Union has sent the President an ultimatum. They're giving him five days to stop the rounding up and execution of citizens. If he continues the massive killing of civilians, they will declare a state of war. They've called an assembly of all representatives at the EU Headquarters this coming Saturday at 8:00AM Greenwich Time for a vote. I believe they don't expect Conner to back down. You've got to move by day after tomorrow at the latest if your plan is to succeed. Even then, it's going to be cutting it close." "Is it possible to send a representative to ask them to delay their vote?" I questioned. He stared at me with an intensity I'd never seen from anyone before. He stayed silent a few moments, then replied slowly. "It would be possible to have a representative sent, but it is entirely up to the Secretary General on weather or not to have the Assembly hear the request. What are you thinking, Andy?" "If we can get everything timed right, our representative can make the request at the same time our attack is under way. That way, the Europeans will be able to quickly know if we've succeeded or not. If we have, they can avoid declaring war and an exchange of long range missiles by automatic detect and launch systems will be prevented." "I'll do what's necessary to assure your representative gets to Brussells ahead of time." He said. "Now get going and make sure you get to Washington by 8:00AM Greenwich Time this Saturday. Have your representative returned here with our equipment truck tonight. I wish you success, Mr. van Ryan. I'll pray for you." He stepped to the doorway and opened it. Zeke exited ahead of me and as I stepped through, I turned to look at Commander Raleighs face. I gave a him quick intense glance and a nod of my head. I think I saw his mouth twitch a faint smile. Returning to where Zeke had parked our heap, we found the transport truck loaded with equipment and waiting for us. The door of it opened and the drivers shadowy figure stepped down. "Where we going?" The voice asked in a hushed tone. "Danny?" Zeke replied. "Who were you expecting, Winston Churchill?" He wisecracked. "Now where we goin'?" "North. Just follow us." I said. "Come on. We gotta' get moving!"