I have finished my nanowrimo project. Life for me can now get back to abnormal! I can get my RPG plot going again (should be in full swing after thanksgiving) and get caught up on a lot of other stuff. Thanks to everyone who has been so patient. I will continue to post excerpts here as I proof read the manuscript. If you would like to be one of my manuscript readers, just drop me a line and let me know. I still have a few slots!
November 25, 2008
November 11, 2008
Chapter 4 Excerpt — Viper
This is necessary background information that you will need for context in the story, so I decided to cut this one loose. Keep on praying! I’m at 35,000 + words and if it stays slow I may make it to 40,000 by lunch time. Then I’ll break for the day.
The green lights set in strategic locations around Carl’s office began to flash. That meant that there was an incoming message. The lights were situated so that no matter Carl happened to be in the office, he would be able to see that there was a message coming in and that he needed to act.
Carl activated his communications console by voice:
“Activate Communication Console. Message detail please.” Carl was extremely busy and wanted to prioritize. If this was not important, he would store it and pick it up later….. if he remembered. CLARA was sure to help him do that.
[Incoming message, top priority from Agent Viper.]
“Viper? CLARA recheck. That’s impossible.”
[Cross Referenced and double checked. Message origin is genuine.]
“CLARA, data on agent Viper.”
[Agent, Codename: Viper, top security CIA operative for over seas missions. Cases attributed to Viper: --]
“CLARA, skip all of that unnecessary stuff. Current status of agent Viper.”
[Public records indicate that Agent, Codenamed Viper is missing in action after a high profile mission to rescue a supposed U.S. Air Force Col. Welch who has top secret information about the U.S. defense program and systems. Mission unsuccessful. Viper... again according to Public record is assumed dead.]
“CLARA you keep saying Public Record. What do the classified records indicate?”
[Insufficient Security Access.]
“Interesting. Well, what is the message”
[Agent Viper will be arriving within the next 10 minutes and desires to meet with you.]
“Thank You, CLARA, What is the identity of Agent Codenamed: Viper?”
[Insufficient Security Access]
“Well, I guess I’ll just have to wait 10 minutes to satisfy my curiosity.”
Agents were never known to be late, in fact they were usually earl; and by Carl’s clock Viper had 1 minute and 30 seconds to show up. Carl sat lost in thought trying to figure out why Viper would be contacting him, of all people after all of this time. He thought that he might be contacting somebody more on Jack Brody’s level than his. But whatever the reason, Viper was contacting him and he was going to be ready.
One minute before Viper was scheduled to walk in the door there was a major disturbance in the outer office area. Carl saw what appeared to be Secret Service agents securing the area. Carl did not have any recollection of a Presidential visit. It would make more sense anyway that the President would be here to see Jack or Manny. Carl just hoped that all of these agents didn’t spook Viper. This was one meeting that he did not want to miss. Carl’s hopes were immediately dashed when 2 Secret Service agents entered his office, flashed their badges and made sure that there were no immediate threats. “The President of the United States to see you, Sir.”
No, preamble, no call ahead first. Just like that… the President was here to see him. Under any other circumstances, Carl would have been elated, but right now, he was waiting for somebody and by his reckoning it was a meeting that was more important than meeting with the President of the United States….
President Curtis Young walked into the office. His stride was bold and confident. He was flanked by Agents on all sides. The President was unmistakable. He was the second Black man to be elected President and had improved a great deal over the first black President. President Young preferred the term Black to Afro-American or African American because he had never had an Afro and was not about to get one; and he had never been to Africa. While he may venture there at some point during his tenure as President, it was not, nor would it ever be his place of origin.
President Young was appropriately named because he looked very young for his age. His complexion was milk chocolate and his hair was jet black. He wore a well groomed mustache, but not beard and his side burns were military regulation length and cut low like the rest of his hair. He wore a modest suit that was light gray and had four buttons on each cuff and three buttons down the front of the coat. His shirt was a pressed white with a nice starched collar and he was sporting a solid red power tie.
“Simmons, you stay, the rest of you can wait outside. I should be safe enough in a 5.5 billion dollar building.” said the President.
Without complaint or challenge of any sort the agents dispersed. One agent, presumably Simmons stood guard near the office door. Carl rose and the President stepped over to the desk and greeted him with a hearty handshake and introducing himself.
“Agent Reardon, or should I say Assistant Director? I have waited a very long time to make your acquaintance. You will never know how long. It is so good to finally meet you.”
“Mr. President under other circumstances it would be a pleasure meeting you but I really have some pressing business and –I know its a lot to ask— but if we could schedule this meeting for any other time I would be most obliged.”
[Carl, this is--]
“Not now CLARA, this is a bad time.”
[But Carl--]
“CLARA!” Carl said sharply, hoping that the President didn’t think he was crazy talking to a machine. CLARA, although it was not human, understood the tone and went silent.
“Of course! You’re expecting someone right about now and I’m in the way!” The President laughed his trademark hearty laugh. Carl didn’t see what was so funny. Simmons, in the corner never cracked a smile, he just kept an eye on the president, ready to pounce should the need arise. The President enjoyed Carl’s confusuion for the moment, but he had let this go on long enough.”
“CLARA, please reveal my complete identity for Agent Reardon; authentication Alpha 1399276 Zulu!” said the President.
Carl was shocked when he heard CLARA reply… [Authentication confirmed. Identity Curtis Young, Covert International operative, Codename: Viper. Current Status: President of the the United States.]
Carl’s jaw just about dropped through the ground when he heard CLARA’s response.
“YOU’RE Viper?” asked Carl.
The President grinned and shook his head as he said, “The one and only.”
“Wow. Well, Sir, why didn’t you just say so?”
“Because THAT would not have been as much fun.” said President Young.
November 7, 2008
Chapter 3 Excerpt — Carl’s Assignment
I guess you’ve all been waiting with baited breath. I’ve been working hard on the book. I’m in Chapter 9, but here is an excerpt, hopefully not as dry as the intro, from Chapter 3. “I’m going back date these posts until I get current so that they stay in order. And, remember, leave comments!!!!! If I know you’re looking I’ll post more!
Moving in day came around and Carl went over to the secure side of the building and to the designated cubicle, which was in its secured state. Carl tried his card and the security systems did not release. He double checked the cubicle number to make sure that he had the right one, although his card should have granted him access to any cubicle. “Well, I guess we have a few glitches to iron out. Glad I got here before everyone else did this morning.” Carl said, speaking to himself, or so he thought.
“No glitches Carl, that card will only work in one door right now. As soon as you scan it in that door everything else will be opened up to you. We have them all programmed like that so that nobody goes to the wrong cubicle to or ..Ahem… office on the first day.”
Carl turned around to see J. Jackson Brody, the Director of the CIA and his good friend standing there. “Exactly what do you mean by ‘ahem office?’ “asked Carl.
“Well,” said Jack, “Carl it’s been a long time in coming, but you’ve been promoted.”
“Oh NO! Jack I told Manny, and you already know, I am field agent and I will always be a field agent. I am not going to be turned into a pen pusher for a think tank and let all of these young guys go out and do all of the work and have all of the fun.”
“Now, you knew that I knew that you were going to say that, don’t you?”
“Yeah, but that won’t stop you from pulling rank, as I recall.”
“True, very true, but I did something special just for you. We created a new title for you: Deputy Executive Field Director position. Got a nice ring to it, huh? It comes with a new compensation and insurance package too. I think you’ll really like the compensation part-twice what you were pulling in before. Apparently the President really like the job you did on the building design–well that along with you other work too.”
“The President?? There you go mentioning the President in reference to me now. First it was Manny. Somebody want to tell me what’s going on?”
“How about I show you your new digs?” asked Jack.
“Oh, so you’re sworn to secrecy too. Great. Well let’s see the cubicle.”
Jack walked Carl over around the corner and showed him the satellite office that Jack had set up for himself for when he came down to the Emerald Valley building. Next to that was Manny’s Corner Office. A very nice spread for the Director. Manny sat in the office working away on something, just like Manny always did. He looked up and smiled. Next to Manny’s office was another office. It appeared to be glassed in, but Carl knew that was just for effect. There was solid wall on the other side of the glass, although that is not what was projected.
Jack stopped here and said “Scan your card Carl.”
“What, here?” asked Carl, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Since when do I kid, Carl.” Asked Jack
“Good point!” said Carl. He scanned his card and the computer system came alive.
[Reardon, Codename: Carl, Rank Deputy Executive Field Director. Field Status: Active. Welcome to your new office space Director.] came the response from the computer. A very pleasant female voice emulation package has been added.
“Well, thank you,” said Carl
[You are most welcome.] was the computer’s response. Then after three soft tones sounded the computer continued…
[All access rights and programmed privileges have been added to your coded security card. Whenever you need my assistance, all you have to do is address me from anywhere in the secured parts of the building if I can be of service to you.]
“Address you? How in the world am I supposed to address you?”
[I am the Computerized and Logistical Agent Response Apparatus. Everyone around here calls me Clara]
“Well, thank you CLARA, it has been a pleasure making your acquaintance.” Carl finished.
[The pleasure is all mine, I'm sure.]
“Nice touch, huh?” said Jack
“Yes, very nice touch, that wasn’t in my original plans.”
“Well, I threw in a few of my nice to haves, not to be implemented and integrated until your stuff was working to spec. I like to contribute to the work too, you know. After all, I can’t ask you to do something that I’m not willing to do myself. And as I said before, you really did a bang up job and ev-”
“Yes, I know, even the President thinks so,” said Carl.
Jack just smiled at the interruption, but Carl knew he was out of line. He gave Jack a half grin as he raised his eyebrows, showing that he realized the he had just overstepped a boundary, but not intentionally.
Carl went over to his desk and sat down in the very plush, leather executive’s chair. There were all sorts of controls on the chair arm. Carl would have to investigate and figure out what all of these were later. There was, undoubtedly a manual somewhere, probably right in front of him, but who reads manuals when you can play around with the controls and find out what they are for.
As Carl glance around at the desk he noticed all of the “things” that were there and knew that they were not all what they appeared to be. That was something else to play around with later. There was a flat panel monitor depress in the glass and then flat panel screen on either side of him that could be raised and lowered to be in use or out of the way. Across the room was a wall full of monitors that looked like would Carl a vantage point of just about anything he wanted in the building. The one thing that stood out in the room at the moment was the figure of J. Jackson Brody sitting on the leather loveseat by the door. He hadn’t left, but he also hadn’t said anything. That only meant one thing and that was that he wanted something, but he was taking his time about telling Carl about it.
Carl looked up at J. Jack Brody who sat in his pinstriped blue business suit. Definitely tailor made to hide the bulge of the fire arm that Carl knew was under there. He work some expensive but practical shoes and a red “power” tie. J. Jack Brody was 59 years old, but he didn’t look a day over 58. He had what appeared to be a full head of silverfish gray hair but it was just cleverly combed so as not to reveal the bald spot in the center rear. His face was clean shaven and smooth. He stood about six feet tall and was slim and lean. For somebody who spent his days behind a desk, he was in impeccable shape. He had a tan overcoat slung over his right arm and held a wide brimmed, brown hat with a gray and black feather in the dark tan head band. He sat patiently. Not moving. Not speaking. Just looking.
“Jaaaaaaaaack?” said Carl
“Yeeesssssssss?” Jack answered.
“Jack you want something, why don’t you just tell me what it is?”
“Awwww come on Carl, what makes you think I want something.”
“Because I know you Jack. You’re a busy man. You don’t have time to just come and sit in my office and relax, so spill the beans.”
“My you are direct now, aren’t you?”
“You wouldn’t have it any other way and you know it.”
“True that.” Said Jack. “OK, here’s the deal Carl, we created this new position for you because we wanted to take some of the stress off of Manny. You’ll have 150 agents under you, but you will still be a field agent yourself. That is why CLARA said our field status was active.”
“Come on, Jack, you could have sent me that in an e-mail. And it wouldn’t even have had to be a secure one at that. So what else is on your mind?”
“Your assignment. ” said Jack.
“My assignment?” Carl asked
“Yes, your assignment. You know about the Eagle One guys on 4 and 5. Well their number one guy has had some threats against his life and he needs to be watched when he’s out on assignment. You’re our number one guy so we’re putting you on their number one guy.”
“OK, so when is he on his next assignment? I’m itching to go somewhere?”
“Unknown. But when he does go somewhere, he’ll be your Primary objective.”
“What do we do when I’m on assignment and then he has to go somewhere?”
“Well, they’re going to try to do their best to make sure that doesn’t happen. When you are on another assignment, the objectives of that assignment will trump all else. You will have a different primary objective. Somebody else will handle him.”
“And just out of curiosity, who is him?” asked Carl
“Him is Lawrence Blackwell.”
“Never heard of him.” Said Carl
“Then he’s been doing his job well. CLARA has a complete dossier on him. It has already been cleared for your review, all you have to do is request it. I’ll leave you to your work. I’m sure you’ll be doing a lot of reading and planning.”
“Gee, Jack thanks.”
“Hey, no problem.”
November 5, 2008
Excerpt #2 Carl Presents the plan
Well, I promised that excerpts would be shorter this time around. Just thought I ‘d try to keep to that promise. 
“Well gentleman there you have it. I may have missed a thing or two and I welcome you comments and suggestions. Please don’t be bashful.”
“Carl, you are definitely a welcome addition to this committee.” Said Sammy Johnston. “I call myself the spy of spies. I would never have come up with half of this stuff on my own. Much less a way to implement it. Capital job.”
Anthony Randall, every agent’s number one critic found a big problem with the whole thing. “Carl, hate to be the guy to rain on your parade.—”
“Oh Tony,” said Carl as he interrupted, “you’re the guy who rains on everybody’s parade and we’re all used to it. I have my umbrella up, so rain on man. What have you got?”
“Well, I was just noticing in this closed up monstrosity that you have designed that we’re going to be out of luck if there is a fire. It won’t take more than a minute before we all suffocate because we’re so secure. But, hey, at least all or our secrets will die with us, right? I guess that still means the country will be safe.”
“You know Tony, so some degree you could be right about that. That could be a very large oversight on my part and it would not take very long at all to suffocate us all.” Said Carl
Tony was proud of himself having caught this very vital problem. He had one-upped the best of the best and this time he wasn’t even trying. Now he got his gloating look on his face and was smug as ever, but didn’t want to let that out in front of every one, so he only said, “Well, hey, glad I could help. You know?”
“Perhaps though, Tony it would have been more helpful if you had thoroughly checked the environmental systems built into the building. They were developed to accommodate for just such a thing after my plan was initially reviewed. You will note….uhh that’s page 204, down in the middle of the page, Tony…. that the environmental systems are structured such that if there is a confirmed indication of smoke or fire, a high powered exhaust and Oxygen refresh system kicks in. In the event that any part of this system does not operate sufficiently, the built in failsafe will blow designated panels which will allow for smoke to travel to the outside of the building and oxygen to get in. I guess you missed that part.” That last comment Carl added facetiously because of the way that Tony has responded; which could have been avoided had he not had that slight oversight.
A thoroughly embarrassed Tony Randall now sheepishly said, “Yeah, right, I was just about to read that. I was on page 203 you know.”
“I like it!” said J. Jackson Brody, “I like it a lot! Very well thought out Carl. I will of course have some fine tuning adjustments that I would like for you to consider if they work out with the way that things are laid out. Otherwise they can wait to be later enhancements.”
“We’re going to do it right the first time, Jack. When can I meet with you to talk about your enhancements? We’ll get them in there.” Said Carl.
“Good answer, Carl. Good answer.” Said Brody.
“Well gentleman, if there are no additional comments I say we vote on Carl’s proposal and let the work begin. All in favor raise your right hand and all opposed raise your left hand. By the way, if you don’t now which is which….don’t vote.”
As they looked around the conference room there was only 1 left hand raised and it was attached to the body of none other than Anthony Randall. “Would you like to make any comment as to your objections agent Randall, or do you just WANT to disagree for the record?” asked Brody
“Just for the record I guess, sir” said Randall shyly
“Of course,” said Jack, “of course. Well that looks like a landslide majority, Carl. Take it away.”
“I have already taken the liberty to have the work begin the day after tomorrow. I just needed the committee’s approval before I could actually begin.
November 1, 2008
The fist Excerpt
Well, it’s time for the initial excerpt. Writing is going a bit slow at the moment because every time I try to write a home, something else comes up that needs to be done. It has been a bit busy in the office for different reasons so I haven’t written much there. That 50,000 word goal is getting pretty close, pretty fast! No worry, a few conversations and actions scenes and I’ll be in the running again. Enjoy!
“Hey Paul! Long time no see! Are you going to the meeting?” Carl asked
“Am I going the meeting? What kind of question is that of course I’m going to the meeting!” said Paul
“Well, I know how much you like to skip out on these. Seeing that they’re usually boring and all.” said Carl.
“Yeah, but this time I was specifically told that I WILL be at this meeting. Attendance was mandatory and no exceptions were allowed. The only way out of going to the meeting was to be on assignment. You pretty much skip out on them too, what are you doing here?”
“Well, Buddy, I was pretty much told the same thing.” said Carl
“Well why aren’t you on assignment then?” both men asked in unison. They enjoyed a laugh at having the exact same thought. Both would have rather been on assignment—any assignment—than to have to sit through a meeting.
“Well, this must be some pretty heavy duty stuff this. You remember the last time we had one of these?” Carl asked
“Do I remember? DO I REMEMBER?!!! How could I forget. And how could I forget my good Buddy, General Spotlight?” Paul asked with a sly grin. It was the time that we had that near fatal attempt on the president’s life.”
“Yeah, and had we not gotten involved it would not have been near fatal, it would have been fatal. The prez would have been toast!”
“Its kind of hard to forget the nearly two months you spent in the spotlight with all of those interviews you had on just about every news and talk show in the nation. Not to mention the fact that they didn’t even realize that you weren’t showing your true identity until you let that one slip out in the last interview.”
“Yeah, that was a little bit of a goof up on my part. Now, come on. You have to recognize the fact that old “General Spotlight” as you call me, tried very hard to be out of the spotlight.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s true. Every chance you got you did try to point out that it was a team effort. It wasn’t you fault that you wound up with the major role and the rest of us wound up playing best supporting actors. And, yes, I do remember you also giving God all of the honor and the glory, despite what spin the talking heads tried to put on the whole thing. Your a good man,m, Carl. Say, when are you going to tell me your real name–because even that one is not it! That much I know.”
“Well that type of information is given out on a need-to-know basis. One of these days you may need to know, but for now—hey, I don’t even know what your real name is.” Again, they both laughed.
Well, we better get into that meeting or we’re both going to be ex-agents instead of agents. I sure would like to know what’s going on this time. Even the Jr. agents have to be there. It’s got to really big.”
“I don’t know what it is yet either, but I have a funny feeling that really big is an understatement. Lets go check it out.”
With that both men headed toward the auditorium and walking in silence the rest of the way. Both were evaluating and re-evaluating all that they already knew about the meting and trying to figure it all out before they were given more information. This time their efforts would not work. This was something big, but in a totally different way than either of them were expecting.
August 26, 2008
C.A.R.L. the Book
Thanks for stopping by. This site will not have any real content on it until sometime in November when the NANOWRIMO contest is under way. If you have not already figured it out, C.A.R.L. stands for C.I.A. Agent in Real Life. This is the story of a C.I.A. agent who leads a life totally different from what his family believes. I’m planning on a lot of action and drama but the outline (as of August 26 — this writing) has not even even begun to be developed. I have a lot of stuff going through my head though.
This is (kinda-sorta) based on a true story….well no, a real life situation. If you knew the full story (much of which you will be able to glean from this project) you would think it quite hilarious. Well enjoy the writing when it starts and please, please, please, please….. leave you comments for me when you read the excerpts.
