Art By Lisa!

I want to give some kudos to Lisa Lappi! She is an AMAZING artist who did this painting for my and Seth's wedding...

In case you forgot what we look like:

We are VERY excited that she has decided to be on board with us for Seth's artwork for his books! More information about Lisa can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/ArtistryByLisaLappi

Congrats to Lisa Lappi! She won $75 and her picture will be the cover to Seth's book of short stories titled "Before the Storm." Check out more of her work at https://www.facebook.com/ArtistryByLisaLappi

A Question Of Heaven intro

“And I swear to you, if you re-elect me for a third term I will do what it takes to send those troublesome rebels back to the hole on Korhol they climbed out of!”

Federation President Andrew Martin smiled, basking in the applause and cheers of his faithful followers, whom without he knew a second, and possibly third term, would never have been possible.

“Now my opponent, he is a good man. I’m not going to slander him or his character but let me point something out to you. When we first started hearing about the Korhal Liberation Front, I was half-way through my first term. I have been there since the beginning. Mr. Ragsdale however, was still a wet behind the ears senator from a backwater planet.

“Am I saying he would be a bad president because of his inexperience? No! What I am saying is, I was in this position when they started this war, let me be there when we finish it!”

The roof almost blew off the building as everybody cheered. With a warm smile and a twinkle in his brown eyes, Adam waved to the masses as he walked away from the podium.

Even though the hall was only a mere fifty feet from the entrance, it still took nearly an hour for him to reach it, for Adam is a people’s President. His motto was ‘If you lose contact with the people then you lose contact with the reason you are in this position’ and he firmly believed that he should never walk away from any hand that wanted a shake, and shoulder that wanted a hug or any baby that wanted a kiss. It was this charm and his down to earth, ‘aw shucks’ personality, along with his strong no-nonsense stance on terrorism, massive tax cuts and improvement to the galactic economy that constantly brings in high approval rates.

It also won him a top spot on the Korhal Liberation Front’s list of targets.

“Wonderful speech Mr. President,” a local man said as he vigorously shook Adam’s hand. “Very moving, very classy.”

“Thank you. I appreciate all the support I can get.”

Finally, the retinue of security guards and political advisors made it to the foyer, where Adam’s press secretary was waiting with a communicator in her hand.

“Sorry to bother you Mr. President but there is a Lestra’ad on the line who wishes to speak to you.”

A huge smile appeared on Adam’s face as he accepted the tiny device. “Rowan! Good to hear from you old friend.”

“And you as well,” the amphibious alien responded. “Very moving speech.”

“Oh, you caught the broadcast did you?”

“Of course I did! Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

Adam chuckled as he walked towards the doors.

“Then why on Earth didn’t you come to it in person? Joveria is only a few parsecs from Earth. Shoot in, shoot out. We could have done a tandem conference. I talk about my re-election hopes and you talk about the hunt for the terrorist leader.”

At this Lestra’ad laughed, but with slightly less humor than his friend. “I’m afraid I was too busy doing the afore mentioned hunting terrorists.”

Adam sighed, suddenly feeling his years hit him. “When is this going to end old friend? We are much too old to continue. War and politics are games for the young.”

“All too true. Sadly though, as long as there are terrorists to hunt and crooked politicians to keep in check, we will never gain rest.”

“No rest for the wicked eh?”

“That saying could apply for me I’m sure but you? What’s the most evil thing you have ever done, jay walk?”

Both men laughed at this as Adam walked out into the street, security men all around him.

“Listen Rowan, I am about to head back to Earth. How about tomorrow morning I meet you at that little bistro in downtown Iacon for breakfast? If memory serves, it’s my turn to pay.”

“Actually it’s my turn to pay but I wouldn’t expect a boy scout like you to say that.”

The next one and a half minutes was such a blur that had things gone better, Adam would claim to never remember fully.

Stepping off the curb as he lowered his head to get into his car, a bolt whizzed by, singing some of the gray hair on top. Turning his head to see what the whizzing sound had been, he watched as a hole burned into the chest of the security guard behind him. Instantly, two pairs of hands pressed him closer to the ground.

“We have shots fired! I repeat, shots fired,” another security agent called into his walkie. “We have one man dead but the president is ok.”

“Did he say shots were fired? What the hell is going on Adam?”

“Mr. President, we have to get you in the car!” The agent on Adam’s left side yelled. Roughly, the two men picked him up, careful to keep his head hidden behind the car as much as possible.

“Adam! What the brix is happening over there!”

Another flash appeared in the night sky, and suddenly the head of the man holding up Adam’s right arm caved in on itself. Adam felt the communicator slip from his hand as the man’s dead body slid off his arm. He made an attempt to go back for it but the guard on his left kept pulling.

“Come on Mr. President! There’s no time!”

Adam glanced back at the communicator and the two bodies lying on the ground. An odd feeling began tugging at the back of his mind but he couldn’t quite figure out what it was.

“Drive! We have to get the president out of here!” The guard yelled at the driver as he closed the door behind them.

The driver nodded as he pressed the ignition switch to the car. For a brief second the engine stuttered as if it didn’t want to start. The driver thought nothing of it but Adam knew. He also figured out what that feeling had been.

Ah yes, he thought to himself, seconds before the flames engulfed his body. That was Death breathing down my neck.

MEGADETH!

So one of Seth's passions is Megadeth so from git-go of our relationship, even though I am not a heavy-metal type of gal (i love my country and Christian music), I set out to try to do my best to one day take him to a concert. Guess what. Not only was I able to get him a concert 2 days after saying "I do" BUT I was able to get him the ULTIMATE wedding gift...a PHOTO-OP with the band. That meant we would be able to be up close and personal to his hero Dave Mustaine. The 1st two concerts were performed by Lacuna Coil and Volbeat...and then came the big show...MEGADETH. BUT some idiots, who thought body surfing was something all crowd members wanted to be apart of, decided to come our way and I was kicked back to back in the face and my head slammed into the baracade. My husband loved me so much that Megadeth was no longer on his mind...so he ditched his FRONT ROW spot to make sure I was ok. I tried talking him into going back and getting his spot back. BUT he wouldnt listen...still all in all...we had a blast. I got a cool souvenir to show off for a few days and my love got the best gift anyone could ever get him! He told me after I got him the tickets of a Megadeth concert he attended and the girl he was with at the time threw a fit when he wanted to by a $20 CD so he could go backstage. So when I realized that I replaced a sad memory with a happy one...I was once again reminded how much we really belong together. I sure  do love my husband!

A new idea!

So Momma Nan had an idea (Nancy Eaves the mother of Seth) that I think is so amazing! As she was reading one of his short stories, she noticed how much color comes out in his writing and suggested he get with his cousin Cliff Sapaugh and make a graphic novel! On day 1 of my new life as 100% dedicated to Seth and kids I researched a little bit and I may have found an editor to get his novel ready for the kindle app...

Tomorrow I will be looking into getting Seth enrolled in college; he will be pursuing the career of a psychologist but with the help of some writing classes I think he will be on his way to show off more of his talent! More progress reports to come!

Jamie's thoughts

I am going to take some time to voice out my opinion. This blog is used to promote Seth's talent and something was said that just irritated me. Everything is about perspective....a view...an image that is unique to each person. One word that can alter someone's perspective. Jaded.Perspective is used as my email, as my blog...because the things in life that cause us to be jaded...they are a little of what makes us. Seth and I both were cheated on in the past. Every horror story has two sides and people can have reasons to try and justify what was done...My ex will tell you that I was cold to him...I dont know "her" side on her reason for giving up but both gave up on what they promised to us. A promise in front of God and everyone we hold dear to us. Everything has cause and effect...I was cold for a reason...reasons that I wont go into. But the point is, we all have our side and perspectives on what happens.

I wont trash either ex because every person in life has faults and things they wish they could take back.I like to imagine them regretting how bad they caused us to hurt, that they are sorry. Things I cant ever know. I will not say they are bad people. In fact, what they did caused both me and Seth to find each other and get to start something happy...But I will say that both did do something that caused a lot of hurt that we both have to still deal with. I have to remember that Seth is not my ex and vise-versa. I want to SO BAD reveal why I am on this frustrated rampage but Seth asked me to leave it alone. I am trying to leave it alone. But for the audience that reads his short stories and my thoughts associated along the lines of promoting my Seth's talent, one word can be damaging and one word can distort one's perspective. This will be the only post on the subject and I only write it to ask this. If you are on this site....be here to read the talent of Seth. If you do have something to say other than positive...(unless you are giving useful criticisms) email one of us. SethEaves@gmail.com or Jaded.Perspectice@gmail.com but not on here. I do not like to launder my dirties for the world to see.

Frustrated Loyalty....the Ending...

“Come on,” he said after a few seconds. “Let’s get in there.”

The men inside sealed the front door but it was only a matter of seconds for the men outside to blow it open. Sam and the Army made fast work of the mild resistance.

“Ok, you and your men sweep the base, look for any more men guarding the place. I need to get to Devin.”

“Come on Sam, don’t make this personal!” Riker yelled to Sam’s back.

“I’m not,’ Sam said at the foot of a set of stairs. “If you know there was a tech team coming to scrub your systems for information regarding your leaders, what would you be doing right now?”

Riker’s eyes widened as realization hit him. Sam nodded.

“Besides, he is the Shadow Troops leader. Take him out, the rest will fall out of the hive mind mentality.”

Sam kicked the door in to the server room. Just as he thought, Devin was standing at the terminal against the wall.

“Stop right there Franks!” Sam yelled as he ran towards him, blaster drawn.

Franks turned around and threw three silver balls at Sam. As they flew in mid-air, the centers split apart, turning three silver balls into six sharp spinning blades.

Sam dropped to his knees and leaned back, watching as the blades flew over his head. He straightened back up in time to see Franks’ attack.

 A toe kick intended for Sam’s face was easily blocked by grabbing hold of the whole foot with both hands. Digging deep down inside him, Sam jerked Franks’ foot up, causing him to fall on his back

Sam jumped to his feet, then jumped to dodge a leg sweep attempt.

As Franks got to his knees, Sam delivered a side kick to his head, wrapping his foot around the back of his skull.

Franks tucked with the blow and rolled away from Sam, giving him enough distance and time to get to his feet.

“You just don’t go away do you?”

Sam just smiled and lunged forward, bringing in a right kick. As Franks’ moved to block it, Sam revealed the feint by bringing in a hard right hook. Not suspecting the fist, Franks’ guard was down just enough for Sam to connect with his jaw.

As he stumbled back, Sam moved with him, bringing in a one-two combo. Franks dodged the left. As the right came in, he step out of reach, then palmed Sam’s arm, adding more momentum to his spin.

As Sam’s back turned on him, he aimed a right punch to the back of Sam’s head. Not moving quick enough, Sam completed the turn and blocked the punch with his right arm, bringing his right leg out with him, connecting a spin kick to Franks’ side.

Franks stumbled to the side, recovered and deflected another right from Sam. Ducking under a left hook, Franks’ moved behind Sam. As Sam turned, Franks pulled a knife from his scabbard and aimed the blade at Sam’s chest.

Sam caught Franks’ hands in between his own and pushed the blade away. Releasing his left hand, Sam brought it in on Franks’ wrist in a hard palm smash, causing him to drop the knife.

Sam kicked it out of the way. Sensing Sam’s focus elsewhere, Franks delivered to quick left jabs, both connecting on Sam’s nose.

As he let go, Franks chopped Sam in the throat. As he bent over coughing, Franks grabbed Sam’s shirt, spun around and sent him flying into one of the computer banks lining the wall.

Sam fell to the floor in a shower of sparks, glass and wires.

With his opponent dazed, Franks recovered his knife, charged at Sam and leapt in the air.

At the last second, Sam rolled out of the way. With nothing to stop him, Franks’ knife drove deep into the motherboard. The smell of burnt hair and human flesh sat heavily in the air as 200,000 watts of electricity coursed through his body. In a shower of sparks, Franks was thrown through the air, crashing into the ceiling then back to the ground.

Franks rolled on the ground, screaming in agony as smoke drifted from his hand. Feeling like a million ants were crawling all over his body, Franks climbed to his feet.

“Yo Dev!” Franks turned around just in time to catch one of the sharp disks in the knee cap. Stumbling back to his knees, another one flew out and caught his right shoulder, shredding the muscle and tendons to pieces.

As Franks’ screams echoed in the room, another disk lanced out, severing his left ear. As he rose his upper body, two more disks flew out, sticking directly in his chest.

Sam walked up to Franks and looked down on him.

Franks smiled, revealing his blood stained teeth. “Nothing to say now, Mr. Owens? No pithy remarks, no glib comment?”

Sam gave him an ice cold stare, then in a flash put a blaster bolt between his eyes.

Sam stood on the bridge of the frigate Savannah watching as the rest of the fleet around him prepared to make the jump to lightspeed.

“Major General on the deck!” Someone yelled. Everyone turned and saluted Lestra’ad as he walked in.

Sam stood taller and gave Lestra’ad a respectful nod of the head. His right arm was placed in a sling by the ships chief medical officer. He was under orders not to use his right arm the rest of the trip home so his ribs could heal properly.

“At ease everybody,” Lestra’ad said. He walked up to Sam and put a gentle flipper on his left shoulder. “You did amazing work today my boy. You’re parents would be so proud of you.”

“Thank you sir.” The compliment brought a smile to Sam’s face. “What’s next?”

“What you uncovered in those files did amazing work. The Legions of the Lost are going to be reintegrated back into the Agency once Franks’ brainwashing wears off. The Shadow Troops are being disbanded and their neural implants will be removed.

“Most importantly though, you opened the door we needed to get ourselves back on trail of the K.L.F.”

Sam’s smile grew wider. “That has to be the best news I have heard in a few months.”

Lestra’ad nodded. “Now what I need you to do is rest and get better.”

“Doc says the sealant should be completely done by the time we get back to Earth. I should be good for duty soon.”

“I’m glad to hear it my boy. We are going to need our top Agent on this as soon as possible so we can bring their leader in. Until then though, get some rest,” Lestra’ad turned and walked away. Sam opened his mouth to argue when Lestra’ad raised a flipper.

“That’s an order.”

Sam called Lestra'ad's name as he turned to leave.

"What about the mole?" Lestra'ad gave him a curious nod of the head.

"You know, the mole. The whole reason I was assigned to this case to begin with."

Lestra'ad nodded absentmindedly as if he had just remembered the missing ingredient to a dish.

"It was Franks all along. He used his training to make it look like a mole."

"Just chasing ghosts huh?" Sam said with a smile.

"Shadows would be more apt but yes," Lestra'ad commented with a chuckle. "Now try and get some sleep."

Meanwhile in the city of Iacon...

“The base has been totally scrubbed sir. They know a lot of information. They know Devin was working for us and using the Legion as his personal forces.”

“I know.” 

“They know all our minor bases. They know some of our top officers. They know,”

“I know what they know. They know what they know because I allowed it.”

“Sir?”

“Why do you think that information was in that computer bank? Out of all the bases, why did the base, containing the Legions of the Lost have such ‘sensitive’ information?”

“You planted it there?”

Laughter echoed in the dark room. “Yes. Yes I did. Because I want  them looking for us.”

“You do sir?”

“Of course I do you moron! I want them looking for us because they will send him and if they send him then I can talk him into joining us.”

“I don’t understand why he is so important.”

“Are you kidding me? Look at how easily he handled this mission! Pretending to be me, making a false statement, giving me credit for something I didn’t do? Just so the Federation would allow him to come after me? That was brilliant!”

“So we didn’t kill Lancaster?”

“No, that was Devin’s doing. I just wanted the oil, he wanted Lancaster out of the way. Figured it would be easier to steal the oil that way. Speaking of which, did it arrive at the proper destination?”

“Yes sir. The cargo arrived safely on Dromon Kas. Just as you ordered the crew was killed as soon as the oil was offloaded.”

More laughter, then silence for a few seconds. “Are you familiar with the beliefs of the Synovians?”

“I’m sorry, no sir.”

“It’s ok. Synovia is a very out of the way, backwater planet. Their beliefs on hell are very interesting though. They believe that there are different forms of Hell, some we even go through during this life.

“Right now, Sam is going through what the Synovians call ‘Yoshur De Pofroom’……’ The Hell of Disillusionment’.

“Sam may have some faith restored in his precious Federation, but make no mistake about it, he is still very lost and we have his way.”

With that the mysterious man cut off the screen, ending the transmission. As he sat back in his chair, a smile crept across his lips.

Three days later, Sam had some free time and a lot on his mind so he decided to make a trip to see his psychiatrist, Dr. Marshall Langstrom.

You see dear friends, Sam has been going to Marshall’s ever since he was a little kid, for he has suffered from a serious problem for years.

Sam’s parents, proud members of the Federation Navy were killed by pirates when Sam was a baby. Every night since he was nine years old, he has watched his parents die over and over and over. The more stress the more vivid the dreams.

Last night though, something different happened. Something……strange. Marshall was the only person he could talk to.

The little blonde receptionist (I know she looks familiar…..who is she?) looks up and smiles.

“Can I help you?”

“Yes I was in the neighborhood and was just curious if Marshall was free for a quick chat.”

“Dr. Langstrom is with a patient right now. If you would like, you can have a seat in the waiting room.”

Sam smiled. “Ok fine. I spose I will.”

As Sam turns away and walks toward the ceiling to floor window overlooking the bustling metropolis of Iacon, he has no idea that his life is about to be turned upside down. Old friends, new enemies and a world of adventure beyond his wildest imaginations are about to be thrust into the path of his life.

Try as he might there is no going back now. The course is set, the wheel is in motion.

Sam’s greatest destiny is about to be revealed.

DID YOU ENJOY THIS SHORT STORY? STAY TUNED TO PURCHASE MORE STORIES OF SAM ON AMAZON FOR YOUR NOOK OR KINDLE! FIND OUT HOW BRIA COMES INTO THE PICTURE. FIND OUT HOW SAMS ULTIMATELY SAVES THE PLANET AND THE UNIVERSE!