Casey M Peterson Just Another Job (epub)

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.We graduated together.He’s a director of computer analyses or some shit like that.He has power and can hire us directly.”“Why didn’t we do this sooner? Before we were fired.”“I hate him, but it’s a job and I know they’re getting a boost in funding from the federal government to do those experiments, which means new hires and better salaries than stupid ass X-Tech.”“You hate him?”“He’s an attention seeking weasel.”Chris thought about it for a moment before moving on.“I only know how to fix a couple computer problems and set up routers.I can’t program like you.”“I know.They need technical writers.There’s going to be a huge microscope on top of all this after the president made it public.They have to have evidence that what is happening is legal.”“That’s kind of surprising.I guess he is being true to his campaign of a transparent government.”“Fuckin’ traffic.”“I still can’t believe they’re real.”“Face it.Spider-man and Wolverine are here.”“Or Wonder Woman.”Frank punched Chris in the arm with a smirk.“You perv.I won’t tell Sadie, but I’m sure that’s what she would’ve done.”“I meant equal opportunity.”“I wouldn’t mind being wrapped up in Wonder Woman’s lasso of truth.You better not let that slip to Gail.”“I don’t slip, I just forget.You’re the perv… I was just… I don’t know what I was saying.”The traffic lightened and they made their way onto the Altamont.Wind turbines churned across the yellowing grass hills.Frank sped past the scattered cars chugging up the freeway.The air conditioner blasted on full and Chris couldn’t keep his eyes off the temperature gauge.He was thankful for the cool air inside because it was already high into the eighties outside, but Chris didn’t want the stress of calling and waiting for a tow service.Nothing stressed Frank out; at least Chris had never seen him in such a situation.“Quit freaking out over there.I can see it all over you,” said Frank.“Just nervous.”“Don’t be.It’s going to be fine.Shit!”With Frank’s curse, a semi jackknifed five car lengths in front of them.Frank smashed the brake pedal sending his pickup swerving dangerously in the lane next to other panicked drivers doing the same.To make it all worse, the trailer of the semi lifted off its wheels and tipped the entire thing on its side blocking the five lanes completely.All of this took place on an incline of the Altamont mountain pass.To add on top of everything, the semi and trailer’s weight proved too much for gravity and sent the metal obstacle skidding down toward the hastily parked cars.“Oh shit, look,” said Chris.Their safety at stopping in time leapt out the window as the semi’s skid picked up speed and collided with the first cars.Glass and metal gave way for the bigger hunk of rampaging metal.Frank turned his head to look out the rear window and only saw other cars stopped behind them, blocking an escape path.The passengers that realized what was happening ran from their vehicles and up the hills on the side of the road.More cars compacted against the side of the semi with no signs of slowing down.Frank clenched his hands around the steering wheel while his eyes darted in every direction.No plan involving staying in the pickup seemed reasonable so he let go of the wheel and pushed Chris into the passenger door with one arm while opening his own door with the other.They raced across the pavement, weaving around stopped cars to the safety of the golden hills.With a comforting distance set between them and the sliding semi, Frank and Chris turned to watch the slow destruction.Frank’s pickup sat only a few feet away from the semi.Chris put his hand on Frank’s shoulder for conciliation.Frank loved his truck, but did his best to hide that with an angry shout, “Bastard!”Inches separated Frank’s beloved from an irreparable accident when the semi stopped.The onlookers looked around at each other confused.A few clapped slowly in appreciation.Frank moved forward, but Chris held his shoulder to wait.There was still a steep grade and the semi should have kept sliding for a while.Cell phones went up next to everyone’s ears to call insurance companies, police, and loved ones.Sirens wined now in the distance.No one was hurt, but the cleanup would take a lot of man power.“What the hell is that?” asked Frank, pointing to the semi that was now shaking.“Oh no, what do you think’s in the cargo? Could it explode?” said Chris.“Look out!” shouted someone on the hill.The semi creaked and groaned as the shaking continued, but it wasn’t just shaking.It was being lifted off the ground.Chris looked for a crane or a helicopter with wires pulling up the massive weight, and then more shouts came.“He’s doing it!”“Who?”“Oh my God!”“They are real,” said Chris.“He better not scratch my truck,” said Frank.A man stood underneath the semi with arms stretched above his head to support the 80,000 pounds.He stayed in that position for only a moment.Then with incredible ease he turned the eighteen wheeler above his head and placed the behemoth back on its wheels as if none of the events beforehand had ever occurred.After a shocked silence, the crowd on the hills cheered louder than a Rolling Stones concert for this new rock star in front of them and realizing things were relatively safe, rushed the stage to get a better glimpse at the spectacle.Frank checked his truck first for any damage and Chris tagged along, but eventually they made their way to the hero too.The man stood a head taller over most of the crowd and smiled at the numerous congratulations offered to him.Frank gently shoved his way to the front for Chris and him to take in a better look.The view was fleeting, because at that moment a black SUV opened its doors to reclaim the man.As he stepped into the vehicle, Chris glimpsed a black athletic outfit fitted around the man’s defined muscles.Tall, muscular, and an escape plan.At this angle he really did fit the part of a superhero.“I guess he can’t fly,” said Frank.The black SUV drove off leaving the fans wanting more and having nothing left to do but get in their own cars.Tow trucks came in quickly to pull the damaged off to repair shops, the police interviewed the truck driver and a handful of witnesses, but things cleaned up fast.Frank and Chris sat in the pickup and took in the scene in front of them.Then Frank looked down at his phone.“Ha! It’s already on there,” said Frank.He handed his phone to Chris.“Wow.Louise will give me crap for a week that I didn’t record this,” said Chris.Traffic started again and they moved past the excitement to the normal stretch of highway leading on to the Greenville Road exit.Chapter Five“Hey Erik.How the hell are you?” said Frank to a short man with a sharp nose and chin.“Frankie boy, I’m perfect as always,” said Erik, his words blazed out so fast Chris could barely take one in before the next came out.“This is my good friend and amazing technical writer Chris Byrne.”“Hi, there.Erik Lee.Nice to meet you.” Erik’s brown eyes traced every inch of Chris before their quick handshake was over.“Nice to meet you too,” said Chris.“You a mind reader now Frank, because I was literally told this morning about positions opening up,” said Erik.He led them down the hall with the conversation.Beyond the main hallway, a large open room with white tiled floor and white walls made up Chris and Frank’s introduction to the labs [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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