ClassicComedyFan2
03-26-2002, 12:03 PM
“Opening Day, Part I”
Episode 13 of Gopher’s Gateway
Story and Written by Sean Sporman
“Captain’s Log, School Day 1, entry 4:30 A.M. After seventeen hours sleeping in temporal stasis, we are beaming down to prepare for the new school’s first day. And, we still don’t have a name for this cool school…”
In Cargo Bay 4 of the Enterprise given to the student staff by Captain Picard when they traveled to the future, Lucy Camden and Jordan Reeves were waking up.
“It’s amazing, I felt like I was asleep all day!” Lucy Camden exclaimed as she examined a PADD containing data on the teacher list for the new school.
“I know. But, no time has passed.” responded Jordan.
“It looks like the same teachers from the previous list he showed me.”
Just then, Lucy heard the cargo bay doors open and then close. Sean Sporman had walked through those doors. Lucy handed him the PADD, done with it. “I see you have examined the teacher list. I’ll say it now, the Tylenol budget will be much less.”
“It’s number one.” Jordan added brightly.
“That’s me alright,” Sean smirked.
“Really? Exactly how will the Tylenol budget be so much less?” Lucy inquired. Sean motioned for the other two to follow him. They proceeded out of the large, but mainly empty, cargo bay.
“Class I offenses are taken seriously again. The security scanners can stop incoming cigarettes, drugs, and other disruptive things and process them to add to the emergency power cells. The audio dampers can make students quiet when they good too loud. The schoolwide security camera system will keep an eye on every student.”
“I don’t think they’ll like that.” Quietly admitted Lucy.
Sean smiled. “I haven’t even begun! The implanted audio filters will replace those useless profanities with Spormanisms. The visual automatic deresolutionizers will holographically blur over an area if someone becomes naked or gives a bad gesture! The new rules are back! School can be a place of sanity again!”
Lucy and Jordan stared at Sean in shock. Lucy said, “You really do care about this, don’t you?”
Sean’s smile remained. “Of course, it’s my project. Now, let’s meet with the others in the Captain’s Yacht.”
In the Armory of the still unnamed new school, Andy Blackerby talked with Kay Lindsay as he checked another weapons locker. Inside it were type one phasers, stun grenades and water guns.
“Water guns!?!” Kay Lindsay exclaimed in disbelief.
“Of course, an effective non-harmful crowd control method for extreme emergencies.” replied Blackerby.
As he closed the last locker, he walked into the hall. Looking up, he saw the dome of the playground that this small building was in.
“Do you really think we need weapons?” Lindsay asked.
“I was hesitant about it at first. But, unfortunately, teenagers are dangerous. They might even rebel when they find out Sean is in command. But, me and Sean, being optimists, think they’ll welcome it with open arms. They will be able to drink soft drinks and eat fast food.”
“If you say so.” Lindsay agreed.
As the Captain’s Yacht separated from the saucer section of the Enterprise, inside the main bridge of the yacht, Sean Sporman smiled.
The bridge of the Captain’s Yacht was much smaller than the Enterprise’s bridge, but it was bigger than the Hawking’s. Sean Sporman stood up, politely allowing Heather Allgood to sit in the Captain’s chair. Lucy Camden and Meagan Hall sat at the other two chairs.
“Well, this is a neat craft.” Commented Heather. “It’s named…Calypso.”
“Fascinating.” Sean said, “This craft can go up to Mach 20 in emergencies. Of course, we do have the Enterprise.”
“So, have you decided on a name?” Meagan Hall asked.
“Not yet.” Sean admitted openly. “Until we agree on a name it’s just Hueytown 2000.”
“Of course,” Lucy said, “I can’t wait to eat breakfast. Who is going to be working at the Lunchroom restaurants?”
“Holograms.” Replied Sean, “That way contamination risk is nil.”
“Ingenious.” Replied Heather, as the craft entered the atmosphere.
Sean’s parents, now awake at 6:00, smiled as they watched FOX6 Daybreak.
“This is Janice Rogers, and we are live at Hueytown, Alabama for the first day of the biggest school in the world, Hueytown Academy.” Sean’s mom pressed the mute button on the TV’s remote control.
“Is that what they decided to name Sean’s school?”
Keith Sporman was equally confused. “NBC 13 said Starfleet Academy, ABC 33/40 said Hueytown 2000 and CBS 42 said Hueytown Mark II.”
Sandra Sporman smiled anyway. “I am so proud of my son, no matter what the name.”
Keith Sporman also smiled. “I agree.”
“…so,” Meagan Hall continued in the great OPS of the new school, “Us primaries can stay here, roam around the school and such.”
“Yes.” Sean agreed in reply.
Meagan continued again. “The secondaries can stay here or roam the halls at their discretion or attend class, and the tertiaries have to attend class unless allowed by a primary not to.”
Sean smiled. “Affirmative! Great job!” Sean looked around the great room of OPS and noticed that Lucy was at what was dubbed the camera wall. It was a wall of numerous color televisions, linked to cameras all through out the school. However, not all of them currently showed rooms of the great school that dwarfed the puny Empire State Building. Some of these screens showed Nintendo Sixty-four gaming actions, some showed Star Trek and Pokemon as well as other television shows. And, some merely showed the alert status of the school, green alert. “Spying on people?” Sean asked dryly, stepping over to the camera wall with her.
“No!” she exclaimed in reply, “Besides, there is hardly anyone to spy on. By the way,” Lucy said as she stood up, straightening the starfleet uniform she wore, “You never told me about that alert system.”
Sean smiled again and then looked at Heather. She was chatting with Jonathan Reeves. Sean decided to listen to their conversation for a moment.
“What ever happened to those other shows you liked?” Jonathan asked, “Sporman isn’t your master or anything, you know,” Jonathan continued, “He’s just a friend.”
“And, a boyfriend!” Heather interjected. “But, I don’t let him master my life anyway. Come on, how is an honest interest in Star Trek gonna kill me?”
Jonathan Reeves walked away in distress. He turned back one final time and said to Heather, “I agree with my brother. You are under mind control…”
June Gabert smiled as she hot-wired the 2000 Chevrolet Corvette in the parking lot of Al-not Drivers Buy Place. She turned the wire and the car screamed out of the parking lot. She saw the owner, dressed in a fancy suit and smiled as she fired her phaser at him. He fell down with a push back by the phaser. As he fell back, he unknowingly pressed a Chevy Corsica backwards, and it began to roll toward the building. With his last thread of remaining consciousness, he ran away from the building.
Meanwhile, June laughed deviously as the Corsica slammed into the Dealership’s building. Glass flew everywhere and steel crumpled under the structural stress. “Well, that’s one target down in Hueytown!” June exclaimed triumphantly as she drove away from the now-destroyed car dealership.
Her other passengers; Peyton Freeman and Tina Thomas were also smiling. “So, what is our next target?” asked Peyton.
“Oh, you’ll find out soon enough.” replied June.
“Tell us!” Tina begged.
“Let’s just say Winn Dixie won’t be winning any more…” The three terrorist teenagers smiled.
It was now 7:00 at the new school and teachers had begun to arrive at the new school. Thanks to information provided to them by Blackerby and Lindsay, they knew how to use the twenty-forth century technology to teach.
She pulled out the PADD that showed where her room was. Besides her, Mister Morrison pushed an anti-grav cart that carried her belongings.
“Where is that room again?” asked Ms. Toomey.
“It’s Room seven of ninth grade building. A very spacious room according to specs. It will be interesting to be an assistant principal here.” Mr. Morrison replied.
“And it will be interesting to be a teacher here. Do you know we get paid four times as much now?”
“Mrs. Lindsay and Blackerby are Millionaires now. I’m close with a half-million salary. How does he do it?” They passed room four.
“I’m not sure. But, how about those rules? With those things in OPS, us teachers and principals can truly be sane again. Not to mention the extended holidays and free days.” As Mr. Morrison finished, Ms. Toomey turned to him as they passed room six.
“What kind of uniform is that?” Ms. Toomey asked.
Morrison rubbed at his four pips on the collar, three of them opaque and one with a transparent circle. “A starfleet uniform. Completely optional, but allowed.” They smiled as they reached room seven.
As Sean checked his wristband portable monochromatic temporal chronometric display device (otherwise known as a watch :)), it showed 7:10.
“The first students should get here soon.” Jordan stated the obvious.
“I know. I’ll be at security station one.” Sean smiled as he exited the glorious OPS.
At the security station where Sean Sporman now stood, there was no one there, not yet anyway. This specific security station was in what Sean called the school lobby. The school lobby was the first building that the students entered. Sean smiled as Tina Adams, Amy Rodgers and Emily Ham entered. These three were recent transfers from the Crenshaw County School System and tertaries of the staff.
“I see your vacation went well.” Sean commented to the three girls as they prepared to walk through the security scanner.
“Yup.” Replied Amy.
“I liked the bumper cars, especially.” Emily said also.
“Six Flags was a great recreational experience.” Added Tina. Then the three girls stepped in between the two security scanners. Light blue beams washed over their clothed bodies. After a second more, the computer said, “Scans complete. No threatening or harmful possessions detected.”
Then, three PADDs were deposited from the side of one of the scanners. Sean handed one to each of them and said, “School map, lunch menu, and schedules.”
“How did it know our schedules?” Amy asked.
“Well, the PADDs have everyone’s schedule. But, when the security scanners finish, it deposits a PADD, with your schedules on it. DNA analysis can be very precise as well as optical sensors.”
“Awesome! Worthy of ShockCee!” Tina said, as the three walked off into the massive school.
Kay Lindsay was looking at an LCARS wall terminal when it suddenly showed a Yellow Alert. Stepping back, she asked to the computer, “What is the nature of the emergency?”
“Illicit substances detected. Force fields in place at security station five detaining violators.”
Remembering the specs, she ran around through the building and when she arrived at her desired destination she saw two boys locked behind a force field. She didn’t know who they were, but they were clad with the old-fashioned Gopher’s baseball uniform. They even had the hats.
“Computer,” Lindsay ordered, “Beam the illicit substances to external holding compartment.” Mrs. Lindsay heard the now-trademark sound of matter rematerializing. She looked in the force field-protected container and saw two packs of J-brand cigarettes. Her stomach turned in disgust. “You know that those things are prohibited on an educational facility.”
The boy with the black hair glared at the principal. “Curse you, Lindsay. I should have known you would come back as the evil principal. And, using this new technology, too.”
Kay Lindsay smiled as the other boy, whom she now recognized as Holly Toidi, bounced into the force field. “I’m not the principal, I’m the assistant superintendent now.”
The freckled, black-haired boy screamed and kicked the force field. “I’m James Kola! Listen to me! Who is the principal?”
Kay Lindsay smiled again. “Sean Sporman.”
The two boys screamed as Lindsay spoke again, “Computer, beam these two to the brig.”
“They’re starting to pack the place.” Liz Larson commented, also in OPS of the new school. She looked out of the window and saw a grand view. The building OPS was in was twenty-five stories tall.
“Not really packing.” disagreed Cathy Frederick.
“The school has the capability for one million.” Commented Meagan.
“Lucy, ready yet?” Sean asked.
“I’ve never interfaced with a holo-communicator before.” Lucy responded.
“You don’t interface,” Sean commented delightfully, “You just stand there and talk.”
“Ok.” Lucy gave in as she stood up. Looking forward, she could see the holographic line prompter, which listed the announcements she was to give before Sean came on. “Engage.”
Sean smiled at the beautiful fifteen-year-old. “Initiating holographic transmission…now!”
In what was currently Mrs. Painter’s room, many students were talking.
But, Mrs. Painter knew this and yet she heard nothing. Behind the audio damper, she heard only the distant hum of the warp cores and the environmental system.
Outside the influence of these dampers however, students could definitely hear themselves.
“Sporman’s running this school, too?” Melissa Hamilton asked.
“That’s what I heard. I was in the Hueytown Olympics for a while, you know.” Jessica Otwell replied, as she threw a paper ball at Tara Blevins. Tara calmly ignored the impact.
“Well, this is ridiculous, you know.” Morgan McBrayer commented, “You should remember him in his seventh grade year.”
Interrupting the conversation, Kristen Lovejoy said, “This place is the bomb, it rules!”
Melissa Hamilton nodded in agreement with Morgan. “And, his sixth grade year.”
“What about whose sixth grade year?” asked Kelly Argo.
“I’m equally curious.” said Andrea.
“With Sporman, where should I start?” Melissa said as she saw a figure appear in the front of the room. “Who is that?”
Suddenly, Ms. Painter walked down the middle of the two rows of desks. Thanks to the expanded budget and employee count, she only had fourteen students in her largest class. “That’s Lucy Camden, giving an announcement over the holocommunicator.”
“She’s like an angel from Heaven!” exclaimed Allen Johnston.
“I rate her a seven out of five for hotness!” agreed Brandon Campbell.
“I’ll activate the audio dampers selectively if I have to!” Mrs. Painter threatened. The students became quiet.
Mrs. Painter watched as a chair deployed from the floor. At the same time, Lucy Camden began the announcements. “Greetings. I’m Lucy Camden and welcome to H…to the new school. You may be unused to the technology, but don’t worry, it doesn’t use a certain system, so no crashes are threatened. Now, here’s Sean.”
The holo image of Lucy disappeared as a massive viewscreen began to come down. As soon as it was locked into place, Sean appeared. In his background, a radar image was shown. “Hello and greetings,” Sean began, “I’m your new principal, but first the weather.”
James Spann sat in the ABC 33/40 Weather Center, actually a small room that was part of the studio, watching the weather report Sean Sporman gave. “Well,” he said to himself, “He’s got it right!”
“Except the snow part.” Added John Oldshue.
In Mister Seller’s classroom, Chemistry was the first period subject. However, the teacher had not yet arrived and some of the sophomores in the class were chatting among themselves.
“Sean’s still a looney!” Jordon Coston told Rachel Waters.
“I don’t think so!” replied Rachel.
“He’s a fruitcake.” Jason Brown said in a monotone.
“He did forecast that snow one time.” Haley Jasper said quietly.
“He doesn’t deserve a pretty girl like you.” Robert Richardson pleaded. “Besides he already has Heather, Meagan, Lucy, and…”
Jonathan Reeves sighed. “Disturbing isn’t it,” The few got quiet, “That I have a hard time getting one girlfriend and he has two officially and about twenty others that like him.”
“What about his friends? What do you think of us?” Brooke Stephens asked.
“Don’t try to change the subject!” Chassidy Smitherman yelled, “Sean’s crazy as a bat. In seventh grade, I told Rachel not to go out with him and she did--“
Rachel Waters turned her back to Chassidy. “What were you saying, Brooke?”
June Gabert smiled as she held a phaser to the head of the manager of Winn Dixie. “Now, hand over the money, or you will be stunned beyond belief. Oh, be sure to throw in a bucket of chicken. Peyton is getting restless.”
Peyton, also nearby and holding a phaser, glared at June. “I’ll get you for that.” Then the two girls laughed as the manager handed them a bag money that had a dollar sign on it.
“Amazing, I thought that these kinds of money bags were just in cartoons.” She then turned around to see to see three boys with baseball bats. She blinked. “Well, you don’t have phasers or shields, so you are not with Sean.”
“But, we are against him. Allow me to introduce Sub-Go, the latest evil association of anti-Spormans. My name is Matt Smith, but I have more nicknames than names. Those would be Smitty, Evil, or the Big Shot.”
The second one introduced himself, “My name is Daniel Rogers. Just call me Stonewall or Dankind.”
June rolled her eyes, “Scanning for brain cells…”
The last one said, “I’m Tank Dewrell—“
“Let me guess,” June said, “M-33 or Abrams.”
“Huh?” he responded.
“Those are tank names. So, tell me, can you press a button?”
Mister Blogues, teacher of junior classes, left his room to do something he did not tell the students. So, naturally, the students began talking.
“I can’t believe I thought Sean Sporman was an exchange student!” Cassie Fields exclaimed, “He’s an extraterrestrial!”
“Well, I don’t know about that!” Sarah Lowe exclaimed.
“Well with that money he replicated you and all of the girls that like him, no wonder you disagree.” Cassie snapped back.
=[0;0;’ “Do you know anything? The fast food? The extended vacations? Hmm?” Sarah replied.
“Huh?” Cassie asked, her voice actually tolerating this time.
“Principal’s Log, Day 1, First period has barely begun and forty-seven rule violators are in the brig. Most of them are from this year’s original Men’s choir and Baseball team. Of course, that’s not shocking at all. Overall, however, all is well. The press and public love it and I’m having fun. Thankfully, so are Heather, Meagan and the rest of the primaries.”
Sean Sporman walked toward the playground of the new school with his girlfriend, Heather Allgood. “You do like the school, don’t you?” Sean asked to her.
Heather smiled in reply, “Of course I do. I helped design it, remember.”
Sean smiled back. “Of course. And, you like your job here, too?”
“Yup,” Heather responded, “The only thing I am curious about is the playground. It’s the only part you didn’t design with help from us.”
“I think you will like it.” Sean said as they exited the transition tunnel that led to the playground.
“Wow!” Heather said in awe. Looking around, she saw everything Six Flags and Visionland had, only about one thousand times better. There were Ferris wheels, several roller coasters, bumper car sheds, tilt-o-whirls, boat rides, water slides, and many other things. Also there were basketball and tennis courts, holodecks, game tables, televisions linked to video game systems, swing sets, mini-playplaces, tunnels, shubbery mazes, and tons of other things.
“You don’t have too many shrubbery mazes, do you?” Heather asked.
“Ni!” Sean replied.
“Huh?” Heather asked.
“I mean, no. Only forty-seven.”
“Pi?” Heather said, imitating Pikachu.
Sean smiled, and shook his head saying, “Pika! Pika! Pika!” The two laughed. Then, Heather looked up and saw the Sporman Maze-Slide. It was fifteen thousand feet tall.
“How long do your calculations show it will take to get through that thing?”
“Oh, about six hours. But, never fear, there are plenty of monorail junctions, transporters, and such to get people out for class.”
“Now I see why PE is two hours now.” Heather replied. Sean smiled broadly.
James Spann, still in the ABC 33/40 Weather Center, looked at the radar and was perplexed. It was another one of those accursed snow bands that even the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Service could not figure out.
Sure, it was winter. But, there were no low-pressure areas or upper air disturbances that could explain for this. He used a special pen to zoom in the Pinpoint Doppler Radar and then walked to the blue screen. “Time for another special report…”
“…and that is why girls rule. So cool! And, remember, life is good!” Sean finished his long speech to Jordan Reeves in OPS. Jordan liked girls, but didn’t talk about them as much as Sean Sporman did.
“Look, you know Courtney Gage, right?” Jordan asked and Sean nodded yes. “Ok, it’s funny, she likes all boys and you seem to like all girls.”
Sean gave Jordan a stare as if Jordan was insane. “Not all of them, just—“
“Most of them.” Jordan completed.
Sean decided on a different approach. “And, what if I do? Besides, I have some girlfriends right now, anyway. Heather and Meagan.”
“Who do you like more?” Jordan pushed.
“You really want to know, Jordan?” Sean responded flatly.
“Yes.” Jordan smiled.
“I can’t tell you, Mister. That would be disrespectful to my girlfriends.”
“Hummph!” Jordan said, and he exited OPS quietly. Just then, Lucy Camden entered the room.
“Hey, Lucy!” Sean greeted, “Doing well, I trust?”
Lucy Camden smiled. “Of course. But I have heard some rumors…”
Sean stood up, curious. “Rumors, what kind of rumors?”
Just then, yellow lights began to blink. The computer warned, “James Spann is giving a special weather update. Linked to main viewscreen.” Sean and Lucy turned around to watch the aforementioned weather update.
“Good Morning, I’m Meteorologist James Spann of ABC 33/40 and this is a special weather update sponsored by Alagasco. If you have been watching us, you have noticed that StormAlert has shown a Winter Storm Warning for most of the state. Behind me, on the Pinpoint Doppler Radar, you can plainly see a band of heavy snow approaching us. Pickens, Lamar, and Marion counties are already in it. According to the Pinpoint Weather Predictor,” The map behind James Spann changed, “We estimate it will reach the metropolitan area of Birmingham in about forty-five minutes.”
“Computer, deactivate viewscreen.” Sean ordered. The viewscreen returned to show the Yellow Alert status display.
“Could that snow craziness you told me about happening before I moved here strike?” Lucy Camden inquired.
Sean turned around and looked at her. “I don’t know. I just don’t know. But, hey, let it snow!” The two laughed.
Oblivious to the approaching snow, a group of seniors lounged in the library were talking among each other. The library of this new school was huge. It was two stories high and not only had about forty-seven thousand books, and a magazine, microfilm, and microfiche archive. Also, many LCARS panels were all over the place and a cool skylight dominated the ceiling.
“So,” asked Jacob Allison, “What do you think?”
“Are you crazy!?” John Barnes replied, “You and Heather aren’t exactly best friends.”
“I know. Never mind.” Jacob replied. “So, have you given up on Meagan?”
“Yup. Beaten by a freshman. How embarrassing.” John replied, his head drooping, “But he was some competition you have to credit them for that.”
“Credit who for what?” Liz McGowen asked, coming back from putting up some books that someone had purposely knocked on the floor.
“Nothing.” Jacob replied. “Hey, don’t you think that it is a little neat…this technology I mean.”
“Well, sure.” Liz replied. “I’ve been on the starship. The Enterprise.”
“Wow…” Jacob responded. That was when Sean began his holo-announcement.
“A school-wide yellow alert has been issued due to an incoming winter storm that will enter our area in about forty-five minutes. Do not worry, though, our shields will hold and the snow craziness will not strike. Sporman out.”
As Sean Sporman exited OPS quietly, he met up with Meagan Hall in the corridors. Sean smiled and greeted brightly, “Hey Meagan. How are you doing?”
Meagan smiled back. “Of course, cutie. You?”
“Doing great!” Sean responded.
Meagan began to walk by Sean’s side. “You know, it’s really amazing what you have done here. I was honored to be selected in this project.”
Sean then saw Heather approaching them in the corridor. She had heard most of what the two had said. “I know,” Heather agreed, “I feel special to be selected on the main staff. You could have easily selected more pretty ones.”
Sean was shocked by a portion of Heather’s statement. “But, Heather, you’re beautiful. You too, Meagan. And, besides, you two have been great friends in fourth period before the project began. And, you even put up with me in seventh grade when I was really girl-crazy.” Both Heather and Meagan laughed.
Suddenly, Lucy emerged in the corridor. “Sean, you have a phone call.”
Sean walked back toward OPS.
“He’s cool, isn’t he?” Meagan asked.
“Yes.” Lucy agreed.
“A definite rarity.” Heather replied.
Sean Sporman felt a little bit strange picking up an old-model telephone when he had become comfortable with communicators, but he did it all the same.
“Hello?” He said.
“Hello, Sean.” A familiar voice said.
“June, so you have escaped again?”
“Yes, you pig-dog! I was growing extremely tired of the same old walls. Tell me, how is that traitor Barbara Noieque doing?”
“What do you want, June?” Sean calmly replied. Nearby, Jordan received the signal from Sean and began to use the LCARS computers in OPS to trace June’s call.
“I want…a shrubbery!” June said. Sean shook his head, knowing he could not have heard that right.
“Excuse me, June, what did you say?”
“I want my revenge, Sean. Did I ever tell you that your mother was very smelly and your father looked like a gerbil?” June replied.
Sean breathed in, attempting to stay calm. “What is it you want?”
“And, did I ever tell you that Jordan had an I.Q. of a nearly-dead pansy?” June added.
“Sticks and stones can’t break my bones, so you can imagine how I feel about being called names.” Replied Sean.
June continued to insult Sean’s friends and family. “And, that your girlfriends couldn’t win a mud beauty contest!”
Sean had had it. “Listen to me, June!” Sean replied in anger, “I demand a response!”
“A ha!,” June exclaimed in response, “You got angry. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you get angry before.”
“I only got angry,” Sean began to reply, “Because you insulted by parents, my best friend, and my two girlfriends! You’ve crossed the line!”
“Well, I have to go now. Oh by the way, there are some bombs in the school. See the explosion in twenty minutes too bad you don’t have an outside area. Good-bye.” Sean placed down the phone.
“Did we get a trace, Jordan?” Sean asked, not smiling.
“Nope.” Replied Jordan, “According to this, she used a trixaxiltaing encryption algorithm. What did she say anyway?” asked Jordan.
“Computer,” Sean said, “Red alert. Initiate the holo-communicator.”
Mrs. Ware, in the new and enhanced Art Room, looked as Sean fizzled into holographic life in front of her class once more. She noticed his expression was grim. “This is Sean Sporman, your principal. Red alert. This is a fire drill. Red alert.” Mrs. Ware noticed as the LCARS desks and panels in the room all showed Red Alert.
She stood up and began to lead her class out. “Let’s go. This way.”
“What was it?” Jordan asked, picking up a few PADDs and other things, as they began to evacuate.
“It was a bomb threat. We’re evacuating to the playground.”
“Why there?” asked Jordan.
“Besides the security stations, it’s the only place in the school with force fields. I didn’t think it was necessary to install…” Sean’s voice trailed off.
“Alright, I’m done here.” Jordan said, stepping on the transporter pad. “Energize.”
The computer automatically responded to his command and he began to dematerialize.
“Computer, locate Heather Allgood, Meagan Hall and Lucy Camden.”
“All three are in Student Lounge.”
Sean immediately tapped his combadge. “Sean to Heather, come in.”
“This is Heather. We heard the fire drill alarms. Should we evacuate?”
“Yes.” Sean said, “I’m beaming you directly to the safest area I can think of.”
“Meagan and Lucy too?” Heather asked.
“Of course.” Sean said, and then he smiled, “Good to talk to you again, Heather.”
“Same here.” Heather responded. “See you on the other side.”
As Andy Blackerby and Kay Lindsay materialized at the far end of the playground, they saw many other teachers and students among them.
“Sean told me through an encrypted transmission, it was a bomb threat.” Blackerby told Lindsay.
“Well, I have to say, he handled it well. Both Pittman and Hueytown High have had their share of bomb threats.”
“I know,” Blackerby replied, “Over forty-seven in the past fifteen years.”
Sean Sporman took his tricorder from his belt to confirm that there were no human lifesigns left in the building. There were none.
“I’m curious,” Lucy asked, “What did you do with the delinquents in the brig?”
“They are locked securely in Recreation Tunnel 3. They’ll get to play with video games and balls and other fun things, but they will be safe.”
“How long until the school blows up?” Meagan Hall asked.
“According to the tricorder, forty-five seconds, if it is a real bomb threat.” Sean replied. He looked up and saw a bird. “Is that a swallow? I wonder if it is an African or a European swallow?”
Heather seemed interested. “How do you know so much about swallows?”
Sean smiled, suppressing a laugh; “You have to know these things when you are a principal. So, Heather, you were going to talk to me at two o’clock?”
“Yeah. I don’t think I’ve seen your house yet. Are you having one of your parties anytime soon?” Heather asked.
“Well, I am having one this weekend. I’ve invited about eight people. Of course, you are invited.”
Heather hugged Sean. “Thanks. It’s always good to have such a polite friend…and boyfriend.”
“Sean!” Andy Blackerby exclaimed. “Is the force field up?”
“Affirmative.” Replied Sean.
“Will we…?” Meagan said grimly.
“No. Of course not. Even though it would have take an hour to beam everyone here up to the Enterprise, the main staff have top priority to beam up. The rest will be beamed into the Maze-Slide. This will occur if the force field goes down to fifty percent.”
“Five seconds…” Heather said.
“Four…three…two…one.” And, they looked toward the school…
To Be Continued…
Next Time on Gopher’s Gateway
The conclusion to part I! What will be the fate of the school? And, will this be the final showdown between June and the school staff? Find this all out on the explosive conclusion!
Episode 13 of Gopher’s Gateway
Story and Written by Sean Sporman
“Captain’s Log, School Day 1, entry 4:30 A.M. After seventeen hours sleeping in temporal stasis, we are beaming down to prepare for the new school’s first day. And, we still don’t have a name for this cool school…”
In Cargo Bay 4 of the Enterprise given to the student staff by Captain Picard when they traveled to the future, Lucy Camden and Jordan Reeves were waking up.
“It’s amazing, I felt like I was asleep all day!” Lucy Camden exclaimed as she examined a PADD containing data on the teacher list for the new school.
“I know. But, no time has passed.” responded Jordan.
“It looks like the same teachers from the previous list he showed me.”
Just then, Lucy heard the cargo bay doors open and then close. Sean Sporman had walked through those doors. Lucy handed him the PADD, done with it. “I see you have examined the teacher list. I’ll say it now, the Tylenol budget will be much less.”
“It’s number one.” Jordan added brightly.
“That’s me alright,” Sean smirked.
“Really? Exactly how will the Tylenol budget be so much less?” Lucy inquired. Sean motioned for the other two to follow him. They proceeded out of the large, but mainly empty, cargo bay.
“Class I offenses are taken seriously again. The security scanners can stop incoming cigarettes, drugs, and other disruptive things and process them to add to the emergency power cells. The audio dampers can make students quiet when they good too loud. The schoolwide security camera system will keep an eye on every student.”
“I don’t think they’ll like that.” Quietly admitted Lucy.
Sean smiled. “I haven’t even begun! The implanted audio filters will replace those useless profanities with Spormanisms. The visual automatic deresolutionizers will holographically blur over an area if someone becomes naked or gives a bad gesture! The new rules are back! School can be a place of sanity again!”
Lucy and Jordan stared at Sean in shock. Lucy said, “You really do care about this, don’t you?”
Sean’s smile remained. “Of course, it’s my project. Now, let’s meet with the others in the Captain’s Yacht.”
In the Armory of the still unnamed new school, Andy Blackerby talked with Kay Lindsay as he checked another weapons locker. Inside it were type one phasers, stun grenades and water guns.
“Water guns!?!” Kay Lindsay exclaimed in disbelief.
“Of course, an effective non-harmful crowd control method for extreme emergencies.” replied Blackerby.
As he closed the last locker, he walked into the hall. Looking up, he saw the dome of the playground that this small building was in.
“Do you really think we need weapons?” Lindsay asked.
“I was hesitant about it at first. But, unfortunately, teenagers are dangerous. They might even rebel when they find out Sean is in command. But, me and Sean, being optimists, think they’ll welcome it with open arms. They will be able to drink soft drinks and eat fast food.”
“If you say so.” Lindsay agreed.
As the Captain’s Yacht separated from the saucer section of the Enterprise, inside the main bridge of the yacht, Sean Sporman smiled.
The bridge of the Captain’s Yacht was much smaller than the Enterprise’s bridge, but it was bigger than the Hawking’s. Sean Sporman stood up, politely allowing Heather Allgood to sit in the Captain’s chair. Lucy Camden and Meagan Hall sat at the other two chairs.
“Well, this is a neat craft.” Commented Heather. “It’s named…Calypso.”
“Fascinating.” Sean said, “This craft can go up to Mach 20 in emergencies. Of course, we do have the Enterprise.”
“So, have you decided on a name?” Meagan Hall asked.
“Not yet.” Sean admitted openly. “Until we agree on a name it’s just Hueytown 2000.”
“Of course,” Lucy said, “I can’t wait to eat breakfast. Who is going to be working at the Lunchroom restaurants?”
“Holograms.” Replied Sean, “That way contamination risk is nil.”
“Ingenious.” Replied Heather, as the craft entered the atmosphere.
Sean’s parents, now awake at 6:00, smiled as they watched FOX6 Daybreak.
“This is Janice Rogers, and we are live at Hueytown, Alabama for the first day of the biggest school in the world, Hueytown Academy.” Sean’s mom pressed the mute button on the TV’s remote control.
“Is that what they decided to name Sean’s school?”
Keith Sporman was equally confused. “NBC 13 said Starfleet Academy, ABC 33/40 said Hueytown 2000 and CBS 42 said Hueytown Mark II.”
Sandra Sporman smiled anyway. “I am so proud of my son, no matter what the name.”
Keith Sporman also smiled. “I agree.”
“…so,” Meagan Hall continued in the great OPS of the new school, “Us primaries can stay here, roam around the school and such.”
“Yes.” Sean agreed in reply.
Meagan continued again. “The secondaries can stay here or roam the halls at their discretion or attend class, and the tertiaries have to attend class unless allowed by a primary not to.”
Sean smiled. “Affirmative! Great job!” Sean looked around the great room of OPS and noticed that Lucy was at what was dubbed the camera wall. It was a wall of numerous color televisions, linked to cameras all through out the school. However, not all of them currently showed rooms of the great school that dwarfed the puny Empire State Building. Some of these screens showed Nintendo Sixty-four gaming actions, some showed Star Trek and Pokemon as well as other television shows. And, some merely showed the alert status of the school, green alert. “Spying on people?” Sean asked dryly, stepping over to the camera wall with her.
“No!” she exclaimed in reply, “Besides, there is hardly anyone to spy on. By the way,” Lucy said as she stood up, straightening the starfleet uniform she wore, “You never told me about that alert system.”
Sean smiled again and then looked at Heather. She was chatting with Jonathan Reeves. Sean decided to listen to their conversation for a moment.
“What ever happened to those other shows you liked?” Jonathan asked, “Sporman isn’t your master or anything, you know,” Jonathan continued, “He’s just a friend.”
“And, a boyfriend!” Heather interjected. “But, I don’t let him master my life anyway. Come on, how is an honest interest in Star Trek gonna kill me?”
Jonathan Reeves walked away in distress. He turned back one final time and said to Heather, “I agree with my brother. You are under mind control…”
June Gabert smiled as she hot-wired the 2000 Chevrolet Corvette in the parking lot of Al-not Drivers Buy Place. She turned the wire and the car screamed out of the parking lot. She saw the owner, dressed in a fancy suit and smiled as she fired her phaser at him. He fell down with a push back by the phaser. As he fell back, he unknowingly pressed a Chevy Corsica backwards, and it began to roll toward the building. With his last thread of remaining consciousness, he ran away from the building.
Meanwhile, June laughed deviously as the Corsica slammed into the Dealership’s building. Glass flew everywhere and steel crumpled under the structural stress. “Well, that’s one target down in Hueytown!” June exclaimed triumphantly as she drove away from the now-destroyed car dealership.
Her other passengers; Peyton Freeman and Tina Thomas were also smiling. “So, what is our next target?” asked Peyton.
“Oh, you’ll find out soon enough.” replied June.
“Tell us!” Tina begged.
“Let’s just say Winn Dixie won’t be winning any more…” The three terrorist teenagers smiled.
It was now 7:00 at the new school and teachers had begun to arrive at the new school. Thanks to information provided to them by Blackerby and Lindsay, they knew how to use the twenty-forth century technology to teach.
She pulled out the PADD that showed where her room was. Besides her, Mister Morrison pushed an anti-grav cart that carried her belongings.
“Where is that room again?” asked Ms. Toomey.
“It’s Room seven of ninth grade building. A very spacious room according to specs. It will be interesting to be an assistant principal here.” Mr. Morrison replied.
“And it will be interesting to be a teacher here. Do you know we get paid four times as much now?”
“Mrs. Lindsay and Blackerby are Millionaires now. I’m close with a half-million salary. How does he do it?” They passed room four.
“I’m not sure. But, how about those rules? With those things in OPS, us teachers and principals can truly be sane again. Not to mention the extended holidays and free days.” As Mr. Morrison finished, Ms. Toomey turned to him as they passed room six.
“What kind of uniform is that?” Ms. Toomey asked.
Morrison rubbed at his four pips on the collar, three of them opaque and one with a transparent circle. “A starfleet uniform. Completely optional, but allowed.” They smiled as they reached room seven.
As Sean checked his wristband portable monochromatic temporal chronometric display device (otherwise known as a watch :)), it showed 7:10.
“The first students should get here soon.” Jordan stated the obvious.
“I know. I’ll be at security station one.” Sean smiled as he exited the glorious OPS.
At the security station where Sean Sporman now stood, there was no one there, not yet anyway. This specific security station was in what Sean called the school lobby. The school lobby was the first building that the students entered. Sean smiled as Tina Adams, Amy Rodgers and Emily Ham entered. These three were recent transfers from the Crenshaw County School System and tertaries of the staff.
“I see your vacation went well.” Sean commented to the three girls as they prepared to walk through the security scanner.
“Yup.” Replied Amy.
“I liked the bumper cars, especially.” Emily said also.
“Six Flags was a great recreational experience.” Added Tina. Then the three girls stepped in between the two security scanners. Light blue beams washed over their clothed bodies. After a second more, the computer said, “Scans complete. No threatening or harmful possessions detected.”
Then, three PADDs were deposited from the side of one of the scanners. Sean handed one to each of them and said, “School map, lunch menu, and schedules.”
“How did it know our schedules?” Amy asked.
“Well, the PADDs have everyone’s schedule. But, when the security scanners finish, it deposits a PADD, with your schedules on it. DNA analysis can be very precise as well as optical sensors.”
“Awesome! Worthy of ShockCee!” Tina said, as the three walked off into the massive school.
Kay Lindsay was looking at an LCARS wall terminal when it suddenly showed a Yellow Alert. Stepping back, she asked to the computer, “What is the nature of the emergency?”
“Illicit substances detected. Force fields in place at security station five detaining violators.”
Remembering the specs, she ran around through the building and when she arrived at her desired destination she saw two boys locked behind a force field. She didn’t know who they were, but they were clad with the old-fashioned Gopher’s baseball uniform. They even had the hats.
“Computer,” Lindsay ordered, “Beam the illicit substances to external holding compartment.” Mrs. Lindsay heard the now-trademark sound of matter rematerializing. She looked in the force field-protected container and saw two packs of J-brand cigarettes. Her stomach turned in disgust. “You know that those things are prohibited on an educational facility.”
The boy with the black hair glared at the principal. “Curse you, Lindsay. I should have known you would come back as the evil principal. And, using this new technology, too.”
Kay Lindsay smiled as the other boy, whom she now recognized as Holly Toidi, bounced into the force field. “I’m not the principal, I’m the assistant superintendent now.”
The freckled, black-haired boy screamed and kicked the force field. “I’m James Kola! Listen to me! Who is the principal?”
Kay Lindsay smiled again. “Sean Sporman.”
The two boys screamed as Lindsay spoke again, “Computer, beam these two to the brig.”
“They’re starting to pack the place.” Liz Larson commented, also in OPS of the new school. She looked out of the window and saw a grand view. The building OPS was in was twenty-five stories tall.
“Not really packing.” disagreed Cathy Frederick.
“The school has the capability for one million.” Commented Meagan.
“Lucy, ready yet?” Sean asked.
“I’ve never interfaced with a holo-communicator before.” Lucy responded.
“You don’t interface,” Sean commented delightfully, “You just stand there and talk.”
“Ok.” Lucy gave in as she stood up. Looking forward, she could see the holographic line prompter, which listed the announcements she was to give before Sean came on. “Engage.”
Sean smiled at the beautiful fifteen-year-old. “Initiating holographic transmission…now!”
In what was currently Mrs. Painter’s room, many students were talking.
But, Mrs. Painter knew this and yet she heard nothing. Behind the audio damper, she heard only the distant hum of the warp cores and the environmental system.
Outside the influence of these dampers however, students could definitely hear themselves.
“Sporman’s running this school, too?” Melissa Hamilton asked.
“That’s what I heard. I was in the Hueytown Olympics for a while, you know.” Jessica Otwell replied, as she threw a paper ball at Tara Blevins. Tara calmly ignored the impact.
“Well, this is ridiculous, you know.” Morgan McBrayer commented, “You should remember him in his seventh grade year.”
Interrupting the conversation, Kristen Lovejoy said, “This place is the bomb, it rules!”
Melissa Hamilton nodded in agreement with Morgan. “And, his sixth grade year.”
“What about whose sixth grade year?” asked Kelly Argo.
“I’m equally curious.” said Andrea.
“With Sporman, where should I start?” Melissa said as she saw a figure appear in the front of the room. “Who is that?”
Suddenly, Ms. Painter walked down the middle of the two rows of desks. Thanks to the expanded budget and employee count, she only had fourteen students in her largest class. “That’s Lucy Camden, giving an announcement over the holocommunicator.”
“She’s like an angel from Heaven!” exclaimed Allen Johnston.
“I rate her a seven out of five for hotness!” agreed Brandon Campbell.
“I’ll activate the audio dampers selectively if I have to!” Mrs. Painter threatened. The students became quiet.
Mrs. Painter watched as a chair deployed from the floor. At the same time, Lucy Camden began the announcements. “Greetings. I’m Lucy Camden and welcome to H…to the new school. You may be unused to the technology, but don’t worry, it doesn’t use a certain system, so no crashes are threatened. Now, here’s Sean.”
The holo image of Lucy disappeared as a massive viewscreen began to come down. As soon as it was locked into place, Sean appeared. In his background, a radar image was shown. “Hello and greetings,” Sean began, “I’m your new principal, but first the weather.”
James Spann sat in the ABC 33/40 Weather Center, actually a small room that was part of the studio, watching the weather report Sean Sporman gave. “Well,” he said to himself, “He’s got it right!”
“Except the snow part.” Added John Oldshue.
In Mister Seller’s classroom, Chemistry was the first period subject. However, the teacher had not yet arrived and some of the sophomores in the class were chatting among themselves.
“Sean’s still a looney!” Jordon Coston told Rachel Waters.
“I don’t think so!” replied Rachel.
“He’s a fruitcake.” Jason Brown said in a monotone.
“He did forecast that snow one time.” Haley Jasper said quietly.
“He doesn’t deserve a pretty girl like you.” Robert Richardson pleaded. “Besides he already has Heather, Meagan, Lucy, and…”
Jonathan Reeves sighed. “Disturbing isn’t it,” The few got quiet, “That I have a hard time getting one girlfriend and he has two officially and about twenty others that like him.”
“What about his friends? What do you think of us?” Brooke Stephens asked.
“Don’t try to change the subject!” Chassidy Smitherman yelled, “Sean’s crazy as a bat. In seventh grade, I told Rachel not to go out with him and she did--“
Rachel Waters turned her back to Chassidy. “What were you saying, Brooke?”
June Gabert smiled as she held a phaser to the head of the manager of Winn Dixie. “Now, hand over the money, or you will be stunned beyond belief. Oh, be sure to throw in a bucket of chicken. Peyton is getting restless.”
Peyton, also nearby and holding a phaser, glared at June. “I’ll get you for that.” Then the two girls laughed as the manager handed them a bag money that had a dollar sign on it.
“Amazing, I thought that these kinds of money bags were just in cartoons.” She then turned around to see to see three boys with baseball bats. She blinked. “Well, you don’t have phasers or shields, so you are not with Sean.”
“But, we are against him. Allow me to introduce Sub-Go, the latest evil association of anti-Spormans. My name is Matt Smith, but I have more nicknames than names. Those would be Smitty, Evil, or the Big Shot.”
The second one introduced himself, “My name is Daniel Rogers. Just call me Stonewall or Dankind.”
June rolled her eyes, “Scanning for brain cells…”
The last one said, “I’m Tank Dewrell—“
“Let me guess,” June said, “M-33 or Abrams.”
“Huh?” he responded.
“Those are tank names. So, tell me, can you press a button?”
Mister Blogues, teacher of junior classes, left his room to do something he did not tell the students. So, naturally, the students began talking.
“I can’t believe I thought Sean Sporman was an exchange student!” Cassie Fields exclaimed, “He’s an extraterrestrial!”
“Well, I don’t know about that!” Sarah Lowe exclaimed.
“Well with that money he replicated you and all of the girls that like him, no wonder you disagree.” Cassie snapped back.
=[0;0;’ “Do you know anything? The fast food? The extended vacations? Hmm?” Sarah replied.
“Huh?” Cassie asked, her voice actually tolerating this time.
“Principal’s Log, Day 1, First period has barely begun and forty-seven rule violators are in the brig. Most of them are from this year’s original Men’s choir and Baseball team. Of course, that’s not shocking at all. Overall, however, all is well. The press and public love it and I’m having fun. Thankfully, so are Heather, Meagan and the rest of the primaries.”
Sean Sporman walked toward the playground of the new school with his girlfriend, Heather Allgood. “You do like the school, don’t you?” Sean asked to her.
Heather smiled in reply, “Of course I do. I helped design it, remember.”
Sean smiled back. “Of course. And, you like your job here, too?”
“Yup,” Heather responded, “The only thing I am curious about is the playground. It’s the only part you didn’t design with help from us.”
“I think you will like it.” Sean said as they exited the transition tunnel that led to the playground.
“Wow!” Heather said in awe. Looking around, she saw everything Six Flags and Visionland had, only about one thousand times better. There were Ferris wheels, several roller coasters, bumper car sheds, tilt-o-whirls, boat rides, water slides, and many other things. Also there were basketball and tennis courts, holodecks, game tables, televisions linked to video game systems, swing sets, mini-playplaces, tunnels, shubbery mazes, and tons of other things.
“You don’t have too many shrubbery mazes, do you?” Heather asked.
“Ni!” Sean replied.
“Huh?” Heather asked.
“I mean, no. Only forty-seven.”
“Pi?” Heather said, imitating Pikachu.
Sean smiled, and shook his head saying, “Pika! Pika! Pika!” The two laughed. Then, Heather looked up and saw the Sporman Maze-Slide. It was fifteen thousand feet tall.
“How long do your calculations show it will take to get through that thing?”
“Oh, about six hours. But, never fear, there are plenty of monorail junctions, transporters, and such to get people out for class.”
“Now I see why PE is two hours now.” Heather replied. Sean smiled broadly.
James Spann, still in the ABC 33/40 Weather Center, looked at the radar and was perplexed. It was another one of those accursed snow bands that even the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Service could not figure out.
Sure, it was winter. But, there were no low-pressure areas or upper air disturbances that could explain for this. He used a special pen to zoom in the Pinpoint Doppler Radar and then walked to the blue screen. “Time for another special report…”
“…and that is why girls rule. So cool! And, remember, life is good!” Sean finished his long speech to Jordan Reeves in OPS. Jordan liked girls, but didn’t talk about them as much as Sean Sporman did.
“Look, you know Courtney Gage, right?” Jordan asked and Sean nodded yes. “Ok, it’s funny, she likes all boys and you seem to like all girls.”
Sean gave Jordan a stare as if Jordan was insane. “Not all of them, just—“
“Most of them.” Jordan completed.
Sean decided on a different approach. “And, what if I do? Besides, I have some girlfriends right now, anyway. Heather and Meagan.”
“Who do you like more?” Jordan pushed.
“You really want to know, Jordan?” Sean responded flatly.
“Yes.” Jordan smiled.
“I can’t tell you, Mister. That would be disrespectful to my girlfriends.”
“Hummph!” Jordan said, and he exited OPS quietly. Just then, Lucy Camden entered the room.
“Hey, Lucy!” Sean greeted, “Doing well, I trust?”
Lucy Camden smiled. “Of course. But I have heard some rumors…”
Sean stood up, curious. “Rumors, what kind of rumors?”
Just then, yellow lights began to blink. The computer warned, “James Spann is giving a special weather update. Linked to main viewscreen.” Sean and Lucy turned around to watch the aforementioned weather update.
“Good Morning, I’m Meteorologist James Spann of ABC 33/40 and this is a special weather update sponsored by Alagasco. If you have been watching us, you have noticed that StormAlert has shown a Winter Storm Warning for most of the state. Behind me, on the Pinpoint Doppler Radar, you can plainly see a band of heavy snow approaching us. Pickens, Lamar, and Marion counties are already in it. According to the Pinpoint Weather Predictor,” The map behind James Spann changed, “We estimate it will reach the metropolitan area of Birmingham in about forty-five minutes.”
“Computer, deactivate viewscreen.” Sean ordered. The viewscreen returned to show the Yellow Alert status display.
“Could that snow craziness you told me about happening before I moved here strike?” Lucy Camden inquired.
Sean turned around and looked at her. “I don’t know. I just don’t know. But, hey, let it snow!” The two laughed.
Oblivious to the approaching snow, a group of seniors lounged in the library were talking among each other. The library of this new school was huge. It was two stories high and not only had about forty-seven thousand books, and a magazine, microfilm, and microfiche archive. Also, many LCARS panels were all over the place and a cool skylight dominated the ceiling.
“So,” asked Jacob Allison, “What do you think?”
“Are you crazy!?” John Barnes replied, “You and Heather aren’t exactly best friends.”
“I know. Never mind.” Jacob replied. “So, have you given up on Meagan?”
“Yup. Beaten by a freshman. How embarrassing.” John replied, his head drooping, “But he was some competition you have to credit them for that.”
“Credit who for what?” Liz McGowen asked, coming back from putting up some books that someone had purposely knocked on the floor.
“Nothing.” Jacob replied. “Hey, don’t you think that it is a little neat…this technology I mean.”
“Well, sure.” Liz replied. “I’ve been on the starship. The Enterprise.”
“Wow…” Jacob responded. That was when Sean began his holo-announcement.
“A school-wide yellow alert has been issued due to an incoming winter storm that will enter our area in about forty-five minutes. Do not worry, though, our shields will hold and the snow craziness will not strike. Sporman out.”
As Sean Sporman exited OPS quietly, he met up with Meagan Hall in the corridors. Sean smiled and greeted brightly, “Hey Meagan. How are you doing?”
Meagan smiled back. “Of course, cutie. You?”
“Doing great!” Sean responded.
Meagan began to walk by Sean’s side. “You know, it’s really amazing what you have done here. I was honored to be selected in this project.”
Sean then saw Heather approaching them in the corridor. She had heard most of what the two had said. “I know,” Heather agreed, “I feel special to be selected on the main staff. You could have easily selected more pretty ones.”
Sean was shocked by a portion of Heather’s statement. “But, Heather, you’re beautiful. You too, Meagan. And, besides, you two have been great friends in fourth period before the project began. And, you even put up with me in seventh grade when I was really girl-crazy.” Both Heather and Meagan laughed.
Suddenly, Lucy emerged in the corridor. “Sean, you have a phone call.”
Sean walked back toward OPS.
“He’s cool, isn’t he?” Meagan asked.
“Yes.” Lucy agreed.
“A definite rarity.” Heather replied.
Sean Sporman felt a little bit strange picking up an old-model telephone when he had become comfortable with communicators, but he did it all the same.
“Hello?” He said.
“Hello, Sean.” A familiar voice said.
“June, so you have escaped again?”
“Yes, you pig-dog! I was growing extremely tired of the same old walls. Tell me, how is that traitor Barbara Noieque doing?”
“What do you want, June?” Sean calmly replied. Nearby, Jordan received the signal from Sean and began to use the LCARS computers in OPS to trace June’s call.
“I want…a shrubbery!” June said. Sean shook his head, knowing he could not have heard that right.
“Excuse me, June, what did you say?”
“I want my revenge, Sean. Did I ever tell you that your mother was very smelly and your father looked like a gerbil?” June replied.
Sean breathed in, attempting to stay calm. “What is it you want?”
“And, did I ever tell you that Jordan had an I.Q. of a nearly-dead pansy?” June added.
“Sticks and stones can’t break my bones, so you can imagine how I feel about being called names.” Replied Sean.
June continued to insult Sean’s friends and family. “And, that your girlfriends couldn’t win a mud beauty contest!”
Sean had had it. “Listen to me, June!” Sean replied in anger, “I demand a response!”
“A ha!,” June exclaimed in response, “You got angry. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you get angry before.”
“I only got angry,” Sean began to reply, “Because you insulted by parents, my best friend, and my two girlfriends! You’ve crossed the line!”
“Well, I have to go now. Oh by the way, there are some bombs in the school. See the explosion in twenty minutes too bad you don’t have an outside area. Good-bye.” Sean placed down the phone.
“Did we get a trace, Jordan?” Sean asked, not smiling.
“Nope.” Replied Jordan, “According to this, she used a trixaxiltaing encryption algorithm. What did she say anyway?” asked Jordan.
“Computer,” Sean said, “Red alert. Initiate the holo-communicator.”
Mrs. Ware, in the new and enhanced Art Room, looked as Sean fizzled into holographic life in front of her class once more. She noticed his expression was grim. “This is Sean Sporman, your principal. Red alert. This is a fire drill. Red alert.” Mrs. Ware noticed as the LCARS desks and panels in the room all showed Red Alert.
She stood up and began to lead her class out. “Let’s go. This way.”
“What was it?” Jordan asked, picking up a few PADDs and other things, as they began to evacuate.
“It was a bomb threat. We’re evacuating to the playground.”
“Why there?” asked Jordan.
“Besides the security stations, it’s the only place in the school with force fields. I didn’t think it was necessary to install…” Sean’s voice trailed off.
“Alright, I’m done here.” Jordan said, stepping on the transporter pad. “Energize.”
The computer automatically responded to his command and he began to dematerialize.
“Computer, locate Heather Allgood, Meagan Hall and Lucy Camden.”
“All three are in Student Lounge.”
Sean immediately tapped his combadge. “Sean to Heather, come in.”
“This is Heather. We heard the fire drill alarms. Should we evacuate?”
“Yes.” Sean said, “I’m beaming you directly to the safest area I can think of.”
“Meagan and Lucy too?” Heather asked.
“Of course.” Sean said, and then he smiled, “Good to talk to you again, Heather.”
“Same here.” Heather responded. “See you on the other side.”
As Andy Blackerby and Kay Lindsay materialized at the far end of the playground, they saw many other teachers and students among them.
“Sean told me through an encrypted transmission, it was a bomb threat.” Blackerby told Lindsay.
“Well, I have to say, he handled it well. Both Pittman and Hueytown High have had their share of bomb threats.”
“I know,” Blackerby replied, “Over forty-seven in the past fifteen years.”
Sean Sporman took his tricorder from his belt to confirm that there were no human lifesigns left in the building. There were none.
“I’m curious,” Lucy asked, “What did you do with the delinquents in the brig?”
“They are locked securely in Recreation Tunnel 3. They’ll get to play with video games and balls and other fun things, but they will be safe.”
“How long until the school blows up?” Meagan Hall asked.
“According to the tricorder, forty-five seconds, if it is a real bomb threat.” Sean replied. He looked up and saw a bird. “Is that a swallow? I wonder if it is an African or a European swallow?”
Heather seemed interested. “How do you know so much about swallows?”
Sean smiled, suppressing a laugh; “You have to know these things when you are a principal. So, Heather, you were going to talk to me at two o’clock?”
“Yeah. I don’t think I’ve seen your house yet. Are you having one of your parties anytime soon?” Heather asked.
“Well, I am having one this weekend. I’ve invited about eight people. Of course, you are invited.”
Heather hugged Sean. “Thanks. It’s always good to have such a polite friend…and boyfriend.”
“Sean!” Andy Blackerby exclaimed. “Is the force field up?”
“Affirmative.” Replied Sean.
“Will we…?” Meagan said grimly.
“No. Of course not. Even though it would have take an hour to beam everyone here up to the Enterprise, the main staff have top priority to beam up. The rest will be beamed into the Maze-Slide. This will occur if the force field goes down to fifty percent.”
“Five seconds…” Heather said.
“Four…three…two…one.” And, they looked toward the school…
To Be Continued…
Next Time on Gopher’s Gateway
The conclusion to part I! What will be the fate of the school? And, will this be the final showdown between June and the school staff? Find this all out on the explosive conclusion!