Samatha Tyler was pleasantly surprised after all the goings on when she had first awaken in the infirmary. She found out as her day progressed after that from several people on their coming and goings that Blackthorne Inc was taking care of everything. Sam had received plenty of specialist's who checked her from head too toe during her time in the hospital. After only a short few hours Sam had gained her strength back quickly out running the therapist's efforts by leaps and bounds. As her strength returned she had driven the physician insane till they finally signed off early on her release from the hospital. Sam had gladly received her papers as she left the hospital only half trying not too run out the door as she made her exit. Sam thought she would have felt more stung from being released from the Army so quickly but Major Reese from the J.A.G office appeared there at the door before she left the hospital assuring Sam that she was being honorably discharged and still would be receiving full benefits. Sam thanked the J.A.G officer for all he had done for her. She turned away making too leave and nearly ran head long into Jim Donovan standing in front of her in her path. "I have a feeling I might need too slap a bell on you so I can hear you coming." Sam advised straighten out her demeanor. This cowboy seemed too have a little native Indian in him seemingly too appear out of nowhere without making a sound. Donovan softly laugh. "My mother was one tenth Apache or at least that is what she always told me. He stepped back out of Sam's way allowing them both too make their collective way down the hallway side by side. As they made their way Jim Donovan assured Sam as well that she was not going to have too worry about those benefits as Project Blackthorne would see to her every need.
Jim Donovan stayed close at hand as they entered the elevator alone. He pressed the lobby button riding down quietly. Sam wasn't suppose too have noticed but Jim had kept close watch on Sam's progress getting an update on her every time he popped by her room. Sam had tried every chance she got asking several different people as casually as possible trying to get any morsels of information she could on the mysterious Mister Jim Donovan. Yet she received the same noncommittal answer each and every time from everyone she asked. They would say that Jim Donovan was some kind of corporate officer with a dang lot of clout. They informed Sam that Jim or at least those he was working for were taking a very keen interest Sam's medical attention. After about three hours of brow beating the rehab specialist's Sam had finally been given the green light to leave the hospital. It didn't take Sam Tyler long too get the Hell out of the sweat suit she had been supplied too wear through her rehab time into a pair of jeans with a plain white cotton teeshirt and plain black running shoes. Sam glanced at her appearance in the mirror of the bathroom as she was preparing too leave. She still had a few bruises and sore places on her body from the battle. Other than a little need of a good rigorous workout too tone her body back up Sam figured she would be back into fighting form in no time. She looked at her reflection in the polished stainless steel walls of the elevator. Her cheeks flushed a light tinge of red when she took notice that Jim Donovan was cautiously eyeing Sam Tyler's form as well smiling minutely seeming too approve of what he saw. Donovan allowed her too go first out of the elevator. When Sam stepped into the corridor she made a bee line for the doorway so as too get out into the open area. Sam found herself too be rather closed in when she was in her room still feeling the same when she made her way too rehab. But now that she was out in the open air Sam Tyler felt like a large weight was lifted off her shoulders. She turn back with a smile too look at Donovan who stood there eyeing her as she regained her freedom. She was not exactly shocked too see Donovan as their eyes met standing there with an all too familiar to go bag with Samatha's own belongings from her barrack no less hanging in his right hand.
"I had someone pack a little something for you too carry with you." Jim informed Sam handing the bag over to her. Sam gingerly took the bag weighing it a little in her hand but her muscles held up just fine. "The rest of your belongings will be delivered to our base of operation asap." Jim waved for Sam to go ahead and make her way out into a totally new and strange world. The bright sunlight flashed off a big black SUV that was waiting for them right up next too the hospital entrance. Sam followed Jim over too the SUV stowing her bag on the back seat then climbed into the passenger side seat. Jim ambled around the front of the SUV making his way to the driver's side. He careful sat his Stetson in a special rack that clipped the hat to the ceiling of the SUV. Jim pushed a start button on the steering column. The Suv rambled too life in a matter of milliseconds. He then planted a boot on the accelerator peeling rubber all the way from the parking lot shooting out of the gate having the SUV in traffic heading outbound in a matter of seconds.
"Look," Sam spoke up trying quickly to get her seat belt on before they were wrapped around one of many irate telephone poles whizzing by her passenger window at an all too consuming blur of speed. "I made it through life in one piece even with several military battles under my belt. I even survived those same battles in some armored battle buggies so I am not all too keen in returning too the hospital anytime soon!" Sam had one hand tightly clamped on a seat belt strap the other clamped white knuckle on the leather dash in front of her.
Jim laughed lightly never taking his eyes off the road nearly rear ending a car that appeared out of no where in front of the SUV. Some how beyond even Sam's belief they got around the car without connecting bodily with anything metal but the look of sheer horror on the opposing driver's face flashing by at what she suspected was sixty miles an hour raised the hairs on the back of her neck. When the road was more semi clear in front of them or the other driver's decided too run for their very lives Jim Donovan put the pedal too the metal making even higher speed to an as of yet undeclared destination. "I'll confess that I am a little more at ease in the saddle of a horse." Jim explained as he typed a set of numbers into the GPS system on the dash much too Sam's dismay as they still shot down the road at an ever increasing speed. "But we are a little late for a flight we need too catch." Sam kept her death grip on the seat belt across her chest her other hand wrapped tightly on the passenger arm rest now as they made their way down the road. After only a few minutes Sam could see that they were heading through the entrance to a far off private part of the base airfield that she knew of on the outer fringes of the airbase . She was taken back a bit as they shot out onto the runaway to find a rather large jet black colored C-130 transport plane waiting on the tarmac the four jet assisted propelled engines idling ready for take off. Sam had seen plenty black C -130 non descript planes in her military travels.. the wide range were either C.I.A transports or private military contractors working the fringes of any given military action. But Sam noticed a good many differences with this plane. The planes outer skin had a number of unfamiliar arrays sticking out in several different random directions Sam assuming they were perhaps communication but there was no way in Hell too know exactly what they could possibly be.
Jim slid the SUV into a skid which Sam was completely sure that they were going too slam into the waiting cargo plane's rear end. But much too her over whelming relief they did not as Jim skidded too a stop only several feet from the cargo plane's dropped loading ramp. Jim was out of the SUV reaching around grabbing his Stetson from the hat rack carefully placing it on his head. Jim whirled around his duster blowing open from the back draft of air from the idling props. Sam noticed that his ever present Navy Colt 45 was on his left hip tight in its custom leather holster. In a flash Donovan got her bag from the SUV then made his way heading for the lowered cargo ramp at the back of the plane. Sam held her place in the passenger seat a few seconds trying to gather her wits back and too take in all this new situation she found herself in.
"What the Hell have I gotten myself into now?" Sam said to herself still sitting there in the passenger seat of the SUV. Sam had been an officer in the U.S. military not all that long ago. It was a simple life with a regimented day that usually went like clockwork for those in the Army. But for some reason she could never explain Sam's life always seemed too have a troubling tendency of being able too take turns into strange avenues without her even realizing it. Her Dad when he was around instead of traveling the world would point out as she was growing up that Sam had a tendency too get herself into all kinds of strange trouble. Strangeness seemed too follow Sam no matter the situation which was why when she reached her teens Sam finally began too investigate exactly why it did so often. Sam remembered many a late night seeing lights she could not explain then being able to talk too what she at first thought were spirits of different species. Some were as normal human as anything Sam knew but there were those that were not anything near human but were able too converse with Sam easily. Without warning Sam snapped back too the here and now still seated there in the SUV. Looking around her for several seconds She finally took notice of Jim who had stopped his assent into the plane looking back her way. He just stood there looking back down at Sam reaching up too touch his right ear. "You've gotten yourself into a new adventure." he spoke answering her supposedly unasked question but Sam could hear Jim speaking clear as day there from her position in the car on the passenger side. That little trait should have been totally impossible while he was standing outside on the cargo ramp the wind shear off the props would have nearly drowned Jim's voice if he hand been standingright next too her. While Sam herself was still seated inside the ninety nine percent sound poof SUV. Jim waved to her drawing her attention back towards him there on the ramp. "Come on Sam," Jim Donovan smiled that wickedly warm smile. Sam would have compared that smile too that of a spider would smile too the fly as he entered his web. But for too many weird reasons Sam herself couldn't help but trust this walking apparition from a western movie. "A whole new strange world awaits." Jim held his position still watching Sam from the top of the cargo door. Samatha finally nodded to herself stepping out of the passenger side then slowly reached back in the Suv for her to go bag. Jim's smile broaden even more as she made her way over to the bottom edge of the ramp then slowly stepped up walking up too Jim position. He nodded his own approval then turned around continuing to lead the way through a deceptively large cargo bay. Upon closer inspection Sam took quick notice that the cargo area they were walking into was big enough for maybe two large size vehicles or four smaller jeeps or sedans. "You know I have too ask but how the Hell did you get your voice into my head?" Sam yelled too be heard over the back wash of the propeller's. Jim held up a hand stopping in mid stride. "While you were recouping in the hospital we had an implant placed just behind your right ear." Jim reach over taking her right hand then directing her hand too a spot behind her ear covered under her hair. "Before you get upset," Jim added as her eyes flared. "It is not surgically placed. It has a sticky back that is water proof. So if you decide or feel the need too be alone in your head you can simply pull it off. But whenever you think of one of your team members name a processor directs your thought's too that one particular person. It is rather useful for when we are out in the field also impossible too detect making it the safest form of communication for us." Jim released Sam's hand then turned heading back on through the bay area. "That's just one of a million toys you'll get too play with now that you work for Blackthorne." Sam Tyler clearly heard Donovan's voice in her head as they walked up together to an access door that Sam knew shouldn't be there. Her brow knitted ever tighter as she stepped into the cargo area as this was not the normal layout of a C130 which Sam knew intimately from her many missions with the army.
"Mother, I'm home." Jim called out slipping out of his duster then stowing it in a closet set next too the incoming door. Sam took in the plain cotton blue shirt with the cuffs round back half a turn. Dark well worn kakki pants with flared legs which cover most of the cowboy boots on his feet. Sam also couldn't help but notice that the cowboy boots were well worn but they had been equally taken well care of. She would have guessed just from the view of the tips that the boots looked too be over one hundred years old. But Sam also told herself that assumation had too be a mistake. She knew several custom boot makers that could have done the job but still something itiched Sam's nerve just the slightest little bit. He turned back to the door waving Sam to come the rest of the way into the cozy room. "Come on in. You are letting out all the air conditioning." Jim smirked at the look of awe on Sam's face slowly making her way through the door. She walked through the access door into a rather comfortable looking lounge area with a bar off to the right warm lighting reflecting off the rich leather lounge chairs that were positioned around the room. Jim slowly took Sam's bag while she stood there her mouth agape placing the bag into another closet. This lounge area resemabled something closer too a airline passenger not exactly high dollar but still more comfortable than was the norm for your average grunt in the military. He quickly closed the door then made his way behind the bar. "Can I offer you a drink?" Jim offered as he rumpaged around behind the bar."We have scotch,bourbon you name it. We have it." Jim poured himself a nice shot of whiskey as he waited for Sam's choice.
Sam absently walked over too one of the four viewing windows watching the tarmac go by as the pilot got into position waiting for the OK from the tower for takeoff. The floor rumble under her feet as the plane made its way over too the taxi way. Sam finally looked back over her shoulder as the plane was second in line for take off. "I would really love a glass of sweet tea."
Jim smiled broadly as he reached back under the bar. He worked for a minute then came back up with a tall beaded glass filled too the brim with ice tea. He carefully place the glass on the bar then waved for Sam too come over and have a seat. Jim lifted his shot of whiskey downing it in one gulp then poured himself another as Sam made her way over towards the bar. She took one of the three bar stools which she noticed was bolted to the floor so there wasn't much chance of her being dumped on her butt as they took off. She took the proffered glass slipping at the amber cold liquid eagerly loving the sweet mild taste as it slid over her tongue. Sam's brows raised in surprise as the tea was quite good sweeten just right. "I wish like the devil I could drink the whiskey at least." a Scottish voice prattled on in a mournful lilt. Sam tried not too appear too taken a back pretty damn sure that she had not seen anyone else in the cabin as they had entered. The voice came from the barstool too Sam's left so she turned that way too say hello. "Top of the morning too you Dear Lassie." a grey semi transparent specter looked back at Sam with a wry smile on his face. Jim downed his second shot of whiskey then slammed the shot glass back down on the bar. "You will find that this C-130 is a lot more comfortable than any other one you have ever been on before. Part of the fruits of working for the likes of the Project Blackthorne." Jim tried too keep a straight face as Sam stared open mouth at the Irish wisp of a ghost staring back at her in cap and coat . "Sam Tyler , I want you too meet Allister." Donovan reached for the nap of his neck pulling a small hand carved wooden cross on a simple piece of twine tied around his neck. "We each have a ghost spirit who voluntarily ties themselves too each of us." Jim explained slowly. "Allister tends too pop out of the wood work at the wrong time." Jim gave the ghost a stern look telling him too beat it at least for know with his eyes. Allister nodded in Jim Donovan's direction as he smiled back at Sam. "You can tell the big nobbler too kiss my shalaylee. "Allister laughed as he faded from sight. Sam sat there for a second then took another large gulp of her tea before looking back at Donovan. "I admit that was a bit of a shock." Sam added trying hard too keep her voice easy and calm. "But I guess I will be seeing a lot of that in this new line of work." Jim nodded back in return knocking his fist against the counter top before pouring a small shot of the whiskey into Sam's tea. But you'll have too admit seeing isn't too far off from many of the visions you have seen while you were growing up then through your stint in the army. Sam felt herself freeze her entire body for a moment an Jim dropped that little gem of secret information.
Sam leaned back in the chair sighing ever so slightly as she sipped at her tea. Jim Donovan was a wealth of information like none Sam had encounter. Throughout her career she had the misfortune too work with CIA spooks as well as a number of different secret agencies. But Sam had a eerie feeling that not one of them held a candle in the information franchise that Donovan or this mysterious Blackthorne agency was able too acquire. She had too admit Jim was right about the last time she had been on a C-130 it had been a eleven hour flight that had shook nearly every bone in her body. As Sam sat there looking around the lounge there was only the faintest of hums from the twin turboprops on both sides of the plane which usually nearly always made it impossible to speak without shouting. It was almost as quiet as if you were riding in a car out in the country. "Who is the team piloting the plane? I would like to get too meet them." Sam had to admit they were good as she knew they were already in the air barely feeling anything as the transport made its way into the air taking off smoother than silk. She didn't even spill one drop of her damn good ice tea as they had risen into the air. The sweat beads off the glass held tight through it all.
"Crew might be a tad bit of a stretch." Jim Donovan smiled wickedly at a secret joke only he seemed to know right at the moment. He looked around the room again like he was looking for someone who was hiding somewhere. "Mother, I said I'm home." he called out yet again. "Where the blazes are you?" Sam raised a questioning eyebrow at Jim as he continued too look around for whoever the heck Mother was. "Is your mother somewhere around?" She finally ventured to ask starting too look around the room herself. Jim snorted then threw Sam a lopsided smile. "She loves too think that she is my Mother. That's for damn sure." Jim came out from behind the bar looking around. "Mother, I suspect you have already set the autopilot. So I think its time that you introduce yourself to one of our newest team member's."
Sam was starting to seriously rethink her opinion on her savor and supposedly new commander Jim Donovan as being a tad bit on the left side of crazyville after all. Then out of the blue quite literally a beautiful oriental woman appeared at Sam's side. She bowed deeply at the waist towards Sam. "Good Afternoon Samatha LeeAnna Tyler. " her voice was soft and smooth as fluid as her motion. She rose upright smiling at the perplexed look on Sam's face. She was beginning too question her own sanity but Sam wondered how the Hell this little Oriental woman could simply appear out of the thin air. Course Sam also had too take all of this little episode with a grain of salt after all that Sam has had happening too her of late anyway. "I am what my Dear Mister Donovan likes to refer too as Mother. I am a artificial intelligence's program with a few very interesting upgrades." Mother smiled back at Sam placing her hand on Sam's hand holding the glass of tea. Mother's hand went through Sam's like a ghost walking through the wall. Sam still felt the slightest tingle like a static charge running gently across her hand as Mother drew her hand back. "Are you a halo graphic projection? Sam asked mystified as she stared back at Mother looking as real as day standing there before Sam.
"Mother is a lot of things including a continual nag." Jim muttered out of the corner of his mouth with a smirk from his position leaning against a wall next too the bar. Mother shot Jim a stern look which he returned with the look of a two year old thinking he had not been caught doing something naughty. "She is a living breathing computer that can access any info from any data base in the known internet world. She can think independently and controls ninety nine percent of our operational parameters. When we are in the field she also keeps us updated with minute by minute real time info no matter where we are."
Sam shook her head negatively at the world of nightmares that thoughts presented too her. "The military has tried any number of computer programs that control soldiers out in the field and their armament from any number of places. I'm not wild about a computer program that is in control of any operation perimeters as I have personally seen computers fuck up just as good as human's do. " Sam turned towards Mother. "I'm sorry if I offended you but I have to be honest."
"You have just contradicted yourself." Mother smiled coyly at Sam who threw Mother a questioning look. "You have just apologized to something that you have expressed as having no feelings. I am an artificial intelligence that is very self aware and cares deeply for those that are under my charge." Mother bowed slightly this time around then glanced back over her shoulder at Jim stucking her tongue out at him. Jim smiled waving back at her as Mother blinked out of existence.
"Where did she go? Sam asked not sure that she really wanted too know the answer. Jim coughed then looked back at Sam a pained look on his face. "She went back forward too fly the plane." Jim whirled around walking over to one of the other windows around in the cabin a few good steps away from Sam's position. Sam's eyebrows nearly jumped off her forehead when the implications of Jim's words sunk into her already smoking brain. Sam was totally sure now about her previous thought that Donovan just might be in fact slap out of his mind. She still had too wonder whether or not that perhaps Sam was losing her mind as well. Another cabin door opening drew Sam's attention from the opposite side of the cabin Sam and Jim had entered moments before. A rather large behemoth of a man lumbered through the very small opening having too hunch his shoulders a bit too get his frame through the narrow cabin door. Sam could have sworn she felt the cabin's floor tremble just a little as the Sumo size gentleman folded himself through the door then made his way over to where Sam and Jim were. Sam couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that once this huge dude made his way over too them that the plane might just flip over sideways. "Hello boss," a soft carefree voice called out from the rather huge dude. He turned with the pose of a boxer light on his feet towards Sam extending a ham size hand towards her. "Hello to you lovely lady." The Mountain size man's face broke into a smile which was warm and inviting. Sam thought that she felt her face flush at the huge Dude's silky voice. She took the proffered hand carefully which looked like it could hold her whole head in it. She was totally amazed at how gentle the touch was from the oversize big hand. Sam quite expected to have her hand wrenched like she had placed it into a vise.
"This mountain size Russian of a man is our resident bodyguard and heavy weapon's expert. His name is Hannibal Sikes." Hannibal bowed ever so slightly even though he was half way already normally bent over in the cramp quarters of the cabin area. "Formerly of the Spetnaz I was shanghaied into Blackthorne by this degenerate Capitalist." Hannibal rolled his eyes towards Jim's general direction. Jim pointed for Hannibal too take a seat a half smile cracked across his face. Hannibal lifted Sam's hand too his lips gently kissing the back of her hand. Hannibal released Sam's hand then slowly made his way over too a large couch easing his frame down carefully. When he was fully in the cushions the chair sounded with a heavy sigh as Hannibal's frame wiggled till it was comfortable. Sam noticed quite quickly that the couch now looked like a very small easy chair that a normal sized person would be sitting in.
"Ok," Sam spoke up looking over towards Jim. "You gave me a partial sells pitch there back in the hospital. What exactly is the deal with the Project Blackthorne? What is their deal or mission or project status? Are we truely hunting little green men or trying too reach the great beyond too tell ghost's too keep it down. You have shown me a few pretty good tricks that a normal person would scoff off as being magic tricks. I'm willing too go on a little faith but you have too give me more than you have so far." Sam let it all out at once breathing a little heavy as she got too the end of her train of thought. Jim looked over too Hannibal who's eyes glistened with mirth back at Jim. He slowly turned away from Hannibal leaning back against the wall. "Project Blackthorne is a collection of special operator's who investigate the truly strange that you yourself have seen popping up around the world. We are a privately funded group that operates in the U.S. interests around the globe." Sam shook her head already having been through the world of military red tape. " Only a sliver of the jurisdictional hassles must be a nightmare beyond belief." she added already having faced her own more than fair share of political red tape. Sam had too wait for permission before she could take a team into a hot zone too rescue a group of trapped Airmen who where downed trying too rescue an Army Recon team. The politic's of trying too get permission too go into a foreign battle field too rescue your own in a country you were invited in too help protect was mind numbing. Jim shook his head negatively knowing what Sam's reservation were having been there himself for a time or too earlier on before joining Blackthorne. "You will be overwhelmingly surprised at the things let alone the places we can get into without a lot of fuss from anyone or any country. We have the backing from the United Nations as well so we get passes into a lot of places that even The US Military couldn't get into on an off day." Sam had to admit she liked the sound of that but would believe it when she saw it. Sam has had plenty of weapons contractor's try too sell a weapon too her finding out all too quickly that it an expensive a pile of crap.
Sam mulled that thought over for a minute trying too find an argument that was worth throwing onto the table. "But surely the Department of Justice, Department of Defense or Hell even Homeland freaking Security would be sticking their collective noses into your business from time too time no matter how hard you try too keep them out. They have a really good habit of handcuffing soldier's hands no matter what the situation they find themselves in." Mother reappeared from out of thin air in front of Sam who flinched like she had received a sudden shock from Mother's sudden reappearance. "May I give you the answer too that question?" Mother's familiar voice asked politely from behind Sam closed eyes. Sam whirled around sucking in a breath trying too get her blood pressure back too a normal rate. Sam snapped her eyes open then looked around for Jim. "Would you please have her give off a freaking horn or at least a bell before she just pops up out of freaking nowhere, please?" Sam pleaded too Jim. Mother bowed her head a tad dismayed. "I am quite sorry Miss Tyler. I took for granted as the rest of the team are used too me. I will make a concerted effort too used the door properly the next time I make my appearance." Mother apologized but with a sly smile on her face. "But I wanted too explain that Project Blackthorne has the backing of the United Nations which gives us a multi national backing with legal recourse within the World Court." Jim Donovan raised a finger as well. "Plus we have our own financial backing which freezes the US government as well as any of her other agencies out of our affairs. We are wholly in control of our operations."
Sam Tyler leaned back against the wall mulling over everything she has just heard. Sam hated too admit it even too herself that she felt there were strange things out there that many others including herself had seen and couldn't explain them away as strange lights or the mind playing tricks. Sam had butted heads with enough other powers that be which told her too keep her mouth shut that they would handle it. Sam Tyler always knew before any other word was spoken that they were going too do the normal nothing what so ever. "Exactly what would my mission parameters be?" Sam asked looking towards Jim Donovan.
Jim smiled back almost laughing at Sam's question. "Sorry," he said throwing up a hand. "The parameters of our mission with the Blackthone Project is too finds strange things that go bump in the night and find out just what in the Hell they actually are. We answer too ourselves and only ourselves. The United Nations can ask for information but we can give them only we what deem is prudent." Jim walked over beside Sam staring into her eyes with a look that drew a cold shiver through Sam's soul. "Our personal goal is too save those we can and kill anything that is trying too do harm too human kind and or us. " Jim broke into a lopsided smile. "In which ever order they made pop into in front of us." Jim walked over taking Sam's hand in his. "Hey what have you got too lose. Come on! Come play on our side. You'll have a blast."
Everything seemed too switch gears into slow motion as Sam Tyler looked around the room. At the huge Russian Dude then the hologram of a beautiful oriental woman who was suppose to be flying the plane. Strange seemed too be the norm for Sam so her mind asked itself , Why the Hell not? "I'm hoping beyond hope that everyone in this cabin is not the entire team?" The room switched back too normal running mode as Sam looked to each of them in the area of view. Jim Dononvan chuckled heartily. "Not hardly. There are plenty of other members you will get too know and love soon enough." Jim turned to Mother clamping his hands together. "I heard the incoming call that we will be rerouted too the next black site. How many hours do we have too get Miss Tyler armored up and too speed before we touch down?"
Mother bowed then looked off into the distance then turned back to Jim. "We will arrive at the next black site in the next fourteen hours. I believe Sam has time too eat then armor up. I will keep you both informed as we get closer to out destination. " Mother bowed to Sam then walked over too the cabin door opening it with a touch of her hand closing it behind her as she left. Sam half grinned too herself as her mind wondered just how the Hell a hologram could open then close a door. She also knew that she was going too have too pace herself on the questions. Hannibal burst into heavy laughter having watched everything that had transpired pointing at Sam Tyler. "More meat for the grinder I see Comrade Donovan. At least she is worth looking at." He smiled to Sam who sheepishly looked back at him with a sly smile. Jim leaned in close to Sam's ear but speaking plenty loud enough too be heard. "I'll post a guard next too the showers if you think you'll need them?" he informed her sneaking a peek at Hannibal. Sam shook her head. "Naw, I can kill a Russian with my bare hands." she stared at Hannibal as she spoke. He looked her over trying too fain disinterest in her remark continuing to laugh but not near as hearty. Jim Donovan nodded his head approvingly. "She'll fit in just fine." Jim said too himself then nodded to Sam for her too follow him as he made his way over to the door Mother made her exit through.
Sam was impressed yet again as she made her way following behind Jim Donovan. It was another rather large room with a galley too the left side of the plane. But looking too the right Sam could see actual cabin spaces. Jim walked up towards the second cabin in the line then opened the door waving Samatha too come over and look within. Sam was more interested in hitting the galley as it had been quite a while since she had anything solid or more too the matter worth eating on her stomach. She was quite impressed by what laid within. The cabin was actually homey within compare too many of the places she had been stationed. A mattress covered cot was fastened too the floor against the far wall. A simple desk with a laptop was too the right side of the door then a locker about the size of a medium closet was to the left. The room looked a lot like some she had seen on some military navy subs. "This is your room." Jim stated pulling back outside the door. He pointed to a numerical keypad that was located on the right side of the door. "You can program your own entry for only you to know of course." Sam grabbed her stomach as a rather loud rumble came from deep within loud enough too be heard by the dead. Jim broke out into a gentle chuckle which he quickly quieted when Sam threw him a uncomfortable look. "I think your room can wait for a little bit. Why don't we head 2for the galley and grab a sandwich?" Sam had too fight real hard too keep the blush from showing in her cheeks but then started laughing herself. "Please!"
Over three rather large ham sandwiches Jim and Sam sat down at one of the chow tables eatting quietly for at least fifteen minutes. "I still have a few reservations." Sam admitted between two very heatlhy bites of her sandwich. "I would not have expected anything less from you, Miss Tyler." Jim nodded then took a deep draw from his own cup of iced tea. After wiping his mouth he carefully placed his cup back down on the table. "Go ahead and air out your reservations." Sam polished off her first sandwich then took several more bites of her senond one before she spoke up. "First off , Call me Sam. My Mom is Miss Tyler. What exactly were those things my squad and myself faced back there that strange ass night?" Jim nodded not hesitating too answer. "Straight and too the point I respect that. I'm not going too sugar coat anything never have never will. What your team had the misfortune of running into are an alien race known too us as Weevil's. They are brutal little bastards that have the strenght of a normal man strung out on serious steriods with the disposition of a pissed off wolverine. Little is know about the bastards other than their name. They are normally of a hive mind some researcher's have surmised that they are worker drones from another world. That were either dropped here as garbage or walked through one if not more of the Rifts of their own accord. They normally stay behind the scenes in hiding or leading a most solitary existance. But of lately they have been showing up in tactical squads in different places around the world attacking with precision not normally seen in them and usually actting with a specific objective in mine." Sam carefully set her remaining half eatten ham sandwich back onto a plastic plate that rested in front of her. "Alien?" she questioned then reached forward grabbing a bottle of water then carefully unscrewed the cap as she continued mulling over what Donovan had just told her. She started to tell him that his spirited story and he was completely full of shit. But Jim held up a hand as if reading her mind. "Must I remind you of what you saw there? What those being's did too you and your squad back there in that darkened town square?" Jim held up a hand for a second time letting what he had just said sink in. "As I mention earlier. I'm not going to sugar coat anything when I tell you something. What we face here with the Blackthorne Project on a daily basis are the stories of science fiction turned science fact. Surely even you can't believe that Earth is the only inhabited planet in the universe. That silly little myth that we are alone in this universe is fool hearty."
Sam sipped at her tea then raised at eyebrow. "You're telling me that we fight an alien invasion?" she asked with a smirk on her face but Jim could tell she was thinking about something else. "Well to be honest we have already stopped that from happening about twice." Jim stated matter of fact. "But I know for a fact that you have ran into a group called The Unit while you were in the States. They barged into the base questioning you on the attack that your team came across in while you were on maneuvers in Arizona." Sam's face flashed with angry at the mention of the name "The Unit". She had been informed that they were a secret military outfit. "You're telling me The Unit is the governments verse of the Men In Black?" Jim shook his head. "The Men In Black are the official government agency that investigates the unexplainable. The Unit is the governments military unit that investigates the unexplainable with the hopes of gaining financially from said encounter." Sam snorted when Jim explained remembering her unpleasent encounter. "They were a load of pricks." Sam added as she was racked over the coals by the investigation team. "They wanted to know if we saw anything. All the Hell we saw were dead body's of our opposing team torn completely too shreds." Sam got a far off look in her eyes as she thought about that fateful day. Jim sat back sipping at his own glass of tea waiting for Sam to connect the dots that he was quite sure Sam would. The light in her eyes changed as Sam's mind struck a cord. "Are you telling me in a far reaching way that what my team ran into there was a Weevil attack like what we faced?" Jim sat his tea down on the table nodding again approvingly. "The report of you being sharp on your feet were completely correct. I laid the seeds and simply only had too wait while you connected the dots." Sam bit at right cheek sucking it in as she thought. "To what bloody end?" she asked more too herself but Jim continued the train of thought onward. "That's what we want too investigate as well as have been investigating for quite sometime. The Project Blackthorne meaning us in general." Jim waved around the both of them encompassing the plane as well. "Want too know the same thing. Someone or something is controlling the Weevil's too some unknown objective. I fear that it isn't for a good end." Jim's last thought were a total understatement too Sam's way of thinking. "Especially for those poor devil's that have been confronted by these Weevil things." There was a signal that grabbed both Sam and Jim's attention. Jim looked down reaching in his coat pocket taking out a silver pocket watch. Sam wondered why this man took in the old cowboy look and what that was with this Jim Donovan. It wasn't a bad look mind you in Sam's frame of thinking but something was off about this cowboy. Sam couldn't put her finger on it just yet but she would when the time was right. Jim popped open the watch. "What do you have for me, Mother?" Jim spoke too his watch. Sam was about too start laughing even questioning Jim's sanity until he leaned forward letting Sam have a closer look at the pocket watch. Where anyone of sane mind would have expected a orinate ticking away watch face Sam could see Mother's face there on the small round screen staring back at them. "We will make United States air space in about ten hours. We should make our private airfield there in New York an hour after we reach U.S. airspace." Jim nodded turning the watch a little so that it faced him a little more squarely. "Keep me inform when we cross into U.S. please." Mother nodded once smiling. "Prehaps you will have Sam geared up by then and she can meet the rest of the crew. Best of luck Miss Samatha." Mother chuckled a little as the screen went blank. Sam eyed Jim sharply. "Am I not going too like the rest of the crew?" she asked a worried look on her face. Jim scratched at a spot on the back of his head. "The crew can be a bit of a handful." Jim broke into a big smile. "But I have an even deeper feeling that you are going too fit right in."