The beating of the rotors lulled Beth into a deep sleep. The muscles in her neck relaxed and allowed her head to flop forward with a snap. She woke with a start. She wiped her mouth with her sleeve and oriented herself still unsure of where she was.. Cassandra was in the pilot's seat, her fiery red hair was tied at her neck in a bun. She wore a billed hat and overalls that did little to hide her shape if anything it exaggerated the exquisite full curves of her body. Beth smiled at the huge stogie that Cassandra drew and puffed.

"Hey, sleepy head. You have nice dreams?" Cassandra grinned.

There was something undeniably erotic about the way the big redhead mouthed the cigar. The thought made Beth miss sex.

"Sorry, I get tired. Something the techs need to work on I guess."

Cassandra nodded." I do too. Super ladies or no we still need rest once and awhile. What did you dream about?"

"Sex. It's been along time since I let a man have me." Beth watched the landscape pass under them. " I have never seen you tire. Hell, I haven't ever seen you breath hard."

"The difference is that we are made for optimum performance but we are still human…animal really. The expenditure of energy in our bodies isn't an immediate biological debt but it is a debt just the same. We use energy more efficiently but it must be replaced…rest and food. They made me a bit stronger perhaps…more muscle mass that is sure. Chances are you would come back faster than me if we were depleted."

Beth stared at Cassandra's breasts. She had unzipped her front allowing a goodly part of her amble bosom to spill out. She frowned and cupped her own breast through her shirt. The touch had her nipples harden and created a stir in her groin. Arching back she shoved her hand down her pant front and fondled herself.

"Jeez, I'm as wet as a Saturday night virgin and my nips are so hard they hurt. Is this you."

"Not me honey. I'm keeping my odors under control. It must be your dream." Cassandra laughed at Beth's gyrations.

Beth flushed. The memory of the dream came on her all at once. The handsome man with the bow and arrows had her down on a blanket in the middle of some garden. She was wearing a lacy gown and he had it pulled up here and drawn aside there, playing her like a violin. her body was responding with each touch and caress. Then suddenly he was falling away from her. He was falling through the sky and had no parachute.

Cassandra asked. "Well, tell me about your dream."

" I don't know. It was about some pretty young guy doing me really, really, well. Then he was falling out of a plane. Robin Hood or something." Beth shrugged.

"Is that it?" Cassandra banked the copter around a steep rocky cliff and leveled off into a long green valley.

Beth hung on and watched the verdant forest canopy pass quickly below. She looked up toward the sun thinking she had seen something.

"Did you see that?" Beth shouted above the roar of the revving engines. " It looked like a huge bird."

Cassandra dipped her head to look out Beth side. "A bird?"

Beth picked up the binocular case and took out the instrument. She scanned the sky.

"I don't see it now. I swear it was diving and pulled up and flew along that cliff face. It was big, kinda leathery, like a dino our something. Have you ever heard of an animal like that?"

Cassandra settled back to her controls." It's hard to determine size. The sky is clear so you don't have clouds as a reference but I believe you that it was big. Don't worry about it. There is a lot of new species popping up all over the world. if it was a machine bent on gunning us down, we are more than a match. You won't believe the weapons this thing has." She reached over and flipped a switch.

"What was that?" Beth asked.

"While you were asleep I found this." She handed Beth a strange looking helmet. "It is some kind of cerebral device. It downloads information into your brain. I think it rewires you so that not only do you know the data but you integrate it as well. This ship is like an extension of my own body now."

" My Lord, is that possible?" Beth examined the headset.

'I switched on a force-field and a hawk hit it and blew apart into blood and feathers. The field extends out about one hundred feet from the craft. You have to turn it off before you land… for obvious reasons."

Beth checked out the sky again still worried about what she saw.

Cassandra patted her friend on the back reassuring her." We climbed over the mountains about 19,000 feet and dropped down into this valley. We are on a good line to where we need to go. Relax and put on that gizmo in case I get hit you can drive this thing. By the way there are some surprises in there as well."

"Okay, does it hurt?"

"No, tingles a bit. Look the coast is on the other side of that range ahead of us. They look higher than the ones we crossed so I have to find a pass to get through them. I don't know how high this thing can go. It pushes air so if we are up where there is no air…boom ba da bing."

Beth nodded then turned her attention to the valley floor." Look, my lady, there is a herd of some type of animal…a big herd. Can we go down and have a better look?"

Cassandra drove the stick forward sending the craft into a rapid and steep descent.

"Damn!" Beth grabbed on for her life." This is an E ride."

"What's that?" Cassandra asked.

"Oh, in the ancient world there was something called an amusement park. It had roller coasters, cars that ran on tracks on rails that looped, climbed and fell from great heights. These rides used g-forces and speed to give the riders a thrill." Beth smiled that she knew something that Cassandra did not.

"Why were they called thrill rides and why would people put themselves through that?"

Beth continued to look at the herd. "I guess the lives of those people were pretty dull they needed something to tune up there adrenal systems. Anyway, the best rides were designated by the giving of a ticket that was indicated with the letter 'E' …lesser letters- less thrilling."

"Were these dangerous rides?"

"They were not supposed to be. However every once and awhile one would break lose. That possibility was what made it exciting." Beth smiled.

Cassandra pondered a moment and said, "I have admiration for these people. The idea of an existential theme park has some appeal. Maybe you and I should build one."

Beth laughed out loud.

The scene below looked like a chess game. There was a large herd of what appeared to be very large bison. The herd was not moving but positioned for the best defense from all quarters. The larger beasts were standing on their back legs guarding the periphery. It was Beth that pointed out the small group seemingly conferring with three men holding horses.

"My God , that is my little hard on and his friends."

She pulled back on the throttle and rose into the cloudless sky.

"I don't think they saw us." Beth commented. "It looked as if they had their hands full. Those big things didn't look all that friendly."

"Don't underestimate my sweetheart."

"How do you…?"

Cassandra interrupted, "I'm somehow connected to him. Did you see the young guy with him?"

Beth nodded.

"He's your dream lover…Robin Hood."

"That was a dream." Beth blurted as she tried to look back and get sight of him.

"No, there is something going on and I don't know what it is." Cassandra burst into song at the top of her voice. "Something's happening here. What it is ain't exactly clear. There is a man with a gun over there he's telling me I have to beware…la la la what's going round." Beth just stared at Cassandra with her eyebrow raised. "What? It's a song…an ancient one. It's appropriate too. The name of the band that sang it was 'Buffalo Springfield'.

"I'll look it up and see how close you were. Anyway, what do you dream about?" Beth got serious returning to the man on the plain floor.

"Sex!" Cassandra laughed. "It is weird because he has been hired to kill me. It's kinda like that amusement park you spoke of. The little guy turns me on and I him. Yet we are probably going to tear each other to shreds. I hope we have the time for a good boinking before we have to get down to dirty deeds."

Cassandra banked the copter north and into the sun, trying to block them from view.

Beth stared at Cassandra looking for information in her face. "Does he think he can kill you or me for that matter?"

"Yes my dear he does. Do you know what?"

"What." Beth answered not keeping her eyes off Cassandra's face.

"He could."

                                                                              ***

Samson and Benning quietly rode into the foothills. Both were stinging at the loss of Raul. It was a steep and rocky climb. They had spent more than half the time walking their tired horses. Benning had to fight back the tears for fear that his son was dead or alive and suffering. Samson let Benning have his thoughts. Even he did not know if Raul was alive. They may kill him right off but he was hoping that Samson's scent would still be on the young man. If that was so and the flying monsters remembered their anger they would keep Raul alive waiting for Samson's delivery.

Benning broke in on Samson's thoughts as if he were reading them. "Do you think my boy is alive?"

Samson stayed still and quiet.

"Boss? Do you think?" Benning insisted.

Samson reined up and dismounted. He tied his horse to a small tree and walked over to a rock formation that had the contour of an easy chair. he hoisted himself up and settled down looking at Benning.

"Get down and sit over here. What you are about to see will shake you up. It's not something I do very often and never in front of others. I'm going to trust you. I'm going to be vulnerable and I'm going to depend on you to keep us safe. No fires…keep your side arm in your hand. Do not try to touch me or wake me, no matter what. Got it? No exceptions… Do you get it?"

Benning alit and tied up his horse next to Samson's black beauty. he patted them both and came over to sit next to Samson. Tears were running down his face.

"Damn it Benning, do you get it?" Samson yelled.

Benning wiped his eyes.

"I am going to need you as sharp as you have ever been. What I am going to do is find out if Raul is safe. I need you to protect me. Please focus.

Benning's mind was in a swirl. Since when did Samson need protecting and what was he going to do that needed Benning so sharp? He stood silently and checked his pistols. Whatever it was his friend needed his help and he would do what was asked. He stood tall and nodded his head that he was ready.

Samson unbelted his guns and sat them next to him. He pulled out his hunting knife from the sleeve on his right calf and held in a fighting grip. Laying back he closed his eyes and began to hum in a low drone. His breathing slowed down and got deep and long.

Benning watched him cynically thinking that this was not the time for some kind of meditation or mumbo jumbo. He looked at the sun going down wondering what the night would bring. Suddenly a loud crackling filled the air. Bursts of light shot out from behind him making him turn back toward Samson. Samson was glowing from and orange to a bright blue. Sparks crawled all over him and painful flashes discharged, pulsing from him, causing Benning to cover his eyes. Benning stepped back his eyes bulging at the spectacle. With a loud pop Samson disappeared. Benning screamed and ran toward the rock to help his friend. Samson appeared looking like a specter. His transparency caused Benning to gasp and fall back on his butt. Samson disappeared in another loud pop. Benning allowed himself to breathe. He thought that it was as it was supposed to be. He stood and dusted himself off. Taking a deep breath and sat down on a nearby rock checking his pistol with earnest.

"Well." He spoke to the horses that were amazingly unfazed by the carrying on that had just happened. "It seems that our friend has a few more tricks up his sleeve. Keep a steady head my boys we may have a long night."

Samson's ghost appeared and disappeared again and again. Benning settled in to keep guard, with all his attention, knowing that if anyone could save his boy it would be Samson.

Samson opened his eyes and held down the feeling of panic that threatened to overcome him. He felt whole but was actually a ghost, a specter, a mist with consciousness. He was floating above a rock outcropping. The ledge was about fifteen feet across and ten feet from the cliff face. A dark cavern was at the back. The scene was like watching an old movie. The color was lacking and there was a flickering as if two film cells were exposed and two were blank. The on again off again nature to Samson's vision was disturbing but he had better get used to it fast. He drifted over the ledge and back into the cave. In the large cavern he saw the winged creatures ambling about clumsily, tending the flightless young and forming groups that appeared to be talking and tending fires. A small group of males alit on the ledge behind him and waddle by him into another opening at the far side of the cave. Samson followed them. In that cavern he saw Raul lying on the cave floor. Samson could see no blood but the boy wasn't moving. Samson knew they had drugged him to keep him manageable. It was a good sign. They must, in fact, be waiting for him. It wasn't all good. This lair was high on the cliff face and attainable from neither the top nor bottom. If Raul was incapacitated then carrying him up or down would be a problem, even for Samson. He knew what he had to do and it was not going to be pleasant but the winged pain-in-the-asses started it.

Samson drifted over to Raul and fell on him entering his body. Raul awoke and screamed in pain then passed out. Samson drifted out of the youth with gritted teeth. About ten of the males' came over, prodding Raul, to determine if the yell was because he had died. Samson became solid behind them. He took his large knife and jumped on the back of the largest male. He slit the creature's neck causing a fountain of blood. As the first fell he jumped to another and another. In seconds six of the beasts lie on the floor covered in their own blood. The rest could not take to the air because of the low ceilings in the cavern. Two more died with their entrails spilling to the floor. Both were bellowing in pain as they tried to stuff the bloody mess back in their bodies. One got by Samson screaming an alarm. Samson leaped thirty feet on the back of the creature tearing at its wings and loped off its head in one slice. He fell with the winged creature and stood staring at the last one. It looked at Samson and made a sad squawk and fell over dead from fear.

Samson was a demon covered in blood and arcing blue and yellow. He stood in a pose waiting. He had put himself at risk. He wasn't truly there. His body was back with Benning, this apparition was a shell and vulnerable, its solidity was electrical and could only be maintained for a short time. It was a matrix created in his mind to approximate his true appearance. if he should return to vapor Raul would be torn to pieces. Samson gambled on the superstition of these beings. He had to be seen as a dreadful magic. Right now he depended on it to have his plan work.

An old male sauntered forward doing a good job of hiding its fear. Its old yellow eyes saw Raul lying unconscious and Samson standing in front of him looking terrible and menacing, the very stuff of nightmares.

Samson spoke in their tongue causing the old one to step back in shock.

"I am a sky creature made before the beginning of time. You have seen me in a solid form and have incurred my wraith. Death and destruction are mine to deliver on the unbelievers and the false ones. I am the dispeller of the old and the giver of the new.

I am the equalizer and I am known by you in many forms …asleep and awake… on the ground and in the sky. I am the preceder to the storm and the maker of lightening."

Samson concentrated and caused his form to swell and grow larger. he then manifested two huge leathery wings that snapped full and ominous behind him.

The old monster swiveled its head from side to side in fear and distress.

It dared to speak afraid not to. "You have slain the best of us like they were the smallest that scurry on the ground. I fear you but believe you cannot slay us all." Samson knew he was lying because his wings snapped down in a drum-like staccato. "You are known but came as a crawling thing yet you say you are a sky creature. We will overwhelm you and throw your bloody parts to the earthen floor." The creature hopped up and down and delivered the last threat in a loud high-pitched whine as a show of deviance.

Samson knew that this was it. "I am the storm and the wind. Can I not change my visage at will? Would I not come to you as the lowliest of creatures to test you? Take this earthly creature to the valley floor. I will meet you there and we will settle this with honor. I will send you to that greater sky as you deserve for you have been deemed worthy in my eyes. Should you not do as I say I will come in your dreams, each and everyone and slaughter you and you will spend eternity earthbound. I will do this until the storms no longer have riders." Samson voice trailed off in an echo. His form began to glow in blue light. Arcs of electricity snapped and danced around his form creating a cocoon of blue and white light. In a bang Samson disappeared.

he awoke on the rock. Sweat covered his whole body as waves of weariness swept over him. He turned his head to look at the surprised Benning.

"Damn, are you okay?" Benning asked.

"I'll be all right. Now we have to see if my little ruse worked."

                                                                      ***

Adams was waiting impatiently for the Director to meet with him. He did not like the man but he was the best at what he did. The man was a known Needonist, a believer in the appropriateness and the equality of men. Adams found it to be an archaic philosophy and total nonsense. He also knew that there was a ground swell movement here on Earth as well as Mars. If the movement gained a substantial following it could mean a democratic government could take hold on Mars. That would be, in Adams mind, a very inefficient way to run things and would be a bane to his pocket book. He knew human nature, no matter the idealistic beginning, politics and greed would create pockets of power. Those pockets would be more adept at getting things done. Adams laughed to himself. The truer nature of man was that upon creating a wonderful philosophy and finding it unworkable will stop at nothing to insist on its manifestation. It has always been the starter of wars. Right never started a war-wrong was always its instigator. As far as war or civil war was concerned it would never be allowed to start.

Adams stared out the window at the launch platform off in the distance. It was a relic to a forgotten age. The old space engineers would not recognize the new spacecraft. Modules would be shot from a great gun that would leave the Earth and would be assembled in space into odd shaped but utilitarian constructions, like round corner cubes piled one upon the other. The great ships would be swung around the larger moon then around the sun on to its four-month voyage to Mars and served the travelers well.

Right before Adam's eyes the old launch pad and derrick blew up in a huge fire ball. Adams was thrown to the ground in a cloud of broken glass. Alarms went off everywhere. He rolled over on his back and did a quick check of his body for cuts. His ears were shut down and he could barely hear the alarms. Standing up he shock his head and dusted off the plexglass shards as carefully as he could. More explosions went off on the tarmac. He felt them more than he heard them. Slowly his hearing returned he took out his phone and put it to his ear.

"This is Adams, tell that piece of shit Director that he better come and get me…now! Yes, I know there is a problem I was watching it when it happened. I am going to help. You tell him that if he isn’t here in three minutes I will be enjoying his funeral tomorrow. Do I make myself clear?"

Adams snapped his phone shut as his driver/bodyguard came in the room with his gun drawn.

"You okay Boss?"

"I'm fine stay with me with your gun drawn…we may have to do some serious

down- sizing before the day is done."

           CASSANDRA IS AUTHORED BY KEN LEHNIG (c) 2006 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED