"Before or after she disappeared?" Jeanette asks.
 
"Before." Chihiro answers.
 
Jeanette Isabelle

Note: This is written in collaboration with Arik.
 
"Hikaru, you've been talking about the settlements in Texas unifying so they can be one nation." Jeanette considers how to put this. "What's driving this unification?"
 
"There are several things." Hikaru answers. "The Texas power grid is one of main things. Expanding existing and building new electric rail lines is the other. The DART Blue Line goes as far south as Laredo. The Dart Red Line, which goes through Charlton, goes all the way to Presidio."
 
"Where's Presidio?" Jeanette is not familiar with that town.
 
"It's a settlement, that existed as a town before the happening, just north of the Rio Grande. DART added another electric rail line but this one uses a wide gauge. It goes from the Settlement of Dallas, along Charlton's northern wall, to Sweetwater where the line splits with half of the trains going to El Paso and the other to Kit Carson, Colorado with discussions on expanding that line but I don't know where. Another wide gauge electric rail line goes from Port Arthur to Fort Worth to Wichita Falls to St Louis, Missouri. The Huston Metro Red Line goes to the Settlement of Dallas and there's a new line between Huston and El Paso, that follows Interstate 10, but it's not associated with the Huston Metro. It also uses the wider gauge. There's another wide gauge electric rail line, not associated with DART, which goes to Kansas City. No one has a plan yet but people want an electric line that goes Chicago."
 
"I have several questions." Jeanette states. "The Texas power grid doesn't even cover all of Texas, just most of it. How are these electric rail lines going way past Texas when electricity doesn't continue on forever with those overhead lines?"
 
"The two surrounding power grids are in the process of being rebuilt with new wind farms constantly being built."
 
"Why are the surrounding power grids being rebuilt and new wind farms and electric rail lines added when it's the Texas settlements that are unifying?"
 
"People are looking beyond just having the Texas settlements unifying. The hope is that all of the settlements west of the New Madrid Sea will be unified. A part of the United States will be reborn and Texas will be a part of it. Unifying the settlements in Texas seems to be the first step."
 
"New Madrid Sea?" Jeanette inquires.
 
"The earthquake along the New Madrid fault line split the United States in two. We now have an inland sea."
 
"Why do people want an electric rail line to Chicago? Does Amtrak still exist and don't they go to Chicago?"
 
"Yes but electricity is cheaper than diesel, especially with more and more wind farms being built."
 
Elsa speaks up. "I will see the America I heard about?"
 
"Not only will you see America," Hikaru answers, "you'll get to see it being reborn."
 
"Hikaru, you mentioned Texas hotel coins will be one of the two official forms of currency." Jeanette states. "What is the other?'
 
"Old U.S. coins will be the other form of currency."
 
"Why U.S. coins?"
 
"Old vending machines still work and they use U.S. coins. The newer vending machines also take paper currency but paper currency in circulation does not last long. You can't barter with a vending machine and they don't take hotel coins."
 
"There are enough working vending machines to justify a second form of currency?"
 
"That's correct and certain institutions only deal in U.S. currency." Hikaru retrieves her Renmei notebook. "There's only one bank I know of that uses this form of currency. The other banks only deal with hotel coins. The Renmei bank used to run a fiat system and because of that, only a few places accepted the Renmei notebook. Last year they began to convert their system to a U.S. coin backed system and that was implemented in January. They wanted to implement the new system late last year but that didn't happen until January. Anyhow, because it is now a backed system and it's the only bank that deals in U.S. coins, it's quickly gaining wide acceptance in Charlton. DART is now accepting it which means it's only a matter of time before Renmei builds banks in other settlements accessible by DART. DART, however, wants the Renmei bank to issue bank cards. We'll see."
 
"Vending and card-reading machines still work?"
 
"If you constantly replace parts, machines will last forever."
 
"New parts are being made?"
 
"Yes." Hikaru answers. "Making new parts require less resources than making new machines."
 
Jeanette goes onto the next subject. "Once the Texas settlements unify, will walls be coming down?"
 
"The Settlement of Dallas already has, well, most of them. The people of Charlton revere their walls so Charlton may just leave their gates open when the Texas settlements unify."
 
"How soon will the Texas settlements unify?"
 
"They are shooting for this year. We are so close but some details need to be worked out first."
 
"What about the reunification of the western United States?"
 
"People want that in ten years but I think that's a bit overly optimistic. I think it will be closer to twenty."
 
Jeanette Isabelle and Arik

It wasn’t the way Hondo had ever thought he would die, nor would he have chosen this way. He tensed up waiting for the drop, but kept his cold stare directed at the tyrannical General Douglas Custer, who stood on his 3rd floor balcony with the falcon perched on the railing. Right before the hangman pulled the lever something caught Hondo’s eye and drew his attention away. It was the glint of sun off a rifle barrel, pointed his way. About the same time a ruckus started in the direction of the front gate. The hangman turned to look, as did most everyone. Hondo couldn’t see shit from where he was but he heard a crashing and the roar of an engine followed by gunfire from multiple weapons. He could see the general jumping up and down and screaming at the hangman to trip the lever. The hangman took off running and the general shot him from his balcony and watched him tumble down the hanging platforms stairs. The falcon took off from his perch and dive bombed the trip lever, sending Hondo, still attached to the road threw the floor. Hondo through it was the end for him and waited for the snap of the rope. Instead he heard a boom of a large caliber rifle and found himself hitting the ground.  He rolled as he hit and saw a jeep skid to a stop beside him but he was too dazed to do much at the moment.  A cowboy in the jeep stood firing a rifle and an Indian jumped out, and cut the ropes that bound Hondo’s wrists. It took Hondo a moment to recognize him. As Hondo spoke the Indian helped him to his feet.
 
 
Hondo: Panther? What the hell??
 
Panther: We are here to save you.
 
Hondo: Talk about last minute rescue! Just you two?
 
Cowboy: Naw, My brother and Valentine are outside the gate keeping the path open for us.
 
Hondo: Hope she’s alright. Let’s get the hell  . . DUCK!
 
  Hondo pushed Panther down and the cowboy in the jeep ducked. The falcon had swooped down at them.
 
Hondo: We gotta kill that bird!
 
Cowboy: That’s taken care of.
 
  The cowboy picked up a homemade handheld radio and talked into it.
 
Cowboy: Hotshot, hit the bird. I repeat hit the bird!
The falcon swooped down for another dive at them but was cut short by another boom of a large caliber rifle. The bird almost exploded in the air as the round hit it. Just as soon as that happened a huge flock of crows engulfed the area.
 
Cowboy: That’s our cue! Let’s get outta here! YEEHAW!!
 
 Hondo and Panther piled into the jeep as the cowboy jumped into the driver’s seat and stomped on the gas pedal.  They raced out of the fort like hell was on their heels. Hondo saw a black bronco behind them.
 
Hondo: Is that Valentine?
 
Cowboy: Yeah. We’re getting’ y’all outta here right quick.
 
Hondo: What about General Douglas Custer, the tyrant that runs the fort?
 
Panther: With Evil spirit bird gone I think he will find himself in a lot of trouble.
 
  The group raced southeast away from the fort. No one talked as the roar of the engine and sound of the wind in the open topped jeep made hearing almost impossible.
 
 
Back at the fort the crows had left, the evil spirit in their custody. General Douglas  Custer spit and cussed on the parade grounds as the crowd of people looked on.  
 
Gen. Custer: Where the #$@! is he? I want my hanging!!!  
 
Lead Guard #1: We don’t know, sir.
 
Gen Custer: Wrong answer.
 
  Custer pulled out a pistol and shot the guard leader in the stomach.
 
Gen. Custer: Wrong Answer! Are you all a bunch of fools!! How did they get in here!!! Where is my Falcon! Why is everyone STANDING AROUND!! DO SOMETHING!!!!!
 
Sheriff:  Calm down General.
 
Gen. Custer: Calm down? Calm Down!?!  #$@! YOU!!!
 
 Custer shot the sheriff right through the head. The people in the crowd started to murmur. Custer pointed his pistol at the crowd.
 
Gen. Custer:  What!?! You want to question me too?! I’ll kill all of you if I have to!! I demand respect and perfection!! I will kill anyone who doesn’t meet my expectations. I’ll kill all of you and keep your kids and start over if I have too! If they don’t listen I’ll kill them!! I will not be questioned! I Will Not Be Disappointed!! I Will Be WORSHIPED!!! I AM YOUR GOD!!!!!
 
 The Preacher stepped forward from the crowd.
 
Preacher: That is blasphemy! You are NOT our God!!  
 
Gen. Custer: Shut-up.  
 
Preacher: No. I have stayed quiet too long! You are a tyrant and we will bow to your wishes no more!
 
Gen. Custer: I said SHUT-UP! I’ll kill a preacher just as fast as I’d kill a fly. That’s all you are to me. An annoying fly waiting to get swatted!
 
Preacher: I will Not stand by any longer! Shoot me if you will but I will not just preach hope any longer! I Will show my people Hope and with God’s help we will overthrow you!!
 
Gen. Custer (laughed): Hard to stop me when you’re dead. Time to meet your God!
 
  The preacher stood firm as Custer raised his pistol. The preacher jerked as the boom of a gun fire but stood still. He didn’t feel anything. He looked down at himself and didn’t see a hole or blood. He looked up at Custer. Custer’s smile disappeared and a look of confusion came across his face.  His gun fell from his hands and he fell to his knees. He looked down at his shirt to see blood blossom from his chest,
 
Gen. Custer: But . .  I . . . am. .  Invincible.
 
  With that he fell on his face, gasped a few times and died. The preacher turned to the people.
 
Preacher: This is our town, our fort, our home. It’s time we take it back! Who’s with me!
 
 The people stayed silent for a moment then one woman step forward. “I am, Preacher”, then another “ I am”, and another and another until the whole town yelled out.
 
Preacher: Then in God’s name we take it!!!
 
They all yelled and charged forward into the guards and soldiers. A few fired into them, a few ran, but most, tired or Custer’s tyranny too, just surrendered. Things were over in a few minutes. The town folks appointed the preacher judge until they could have elections. For now they would sort out the good soldiers from the bad and reclaim their lives. The word quickly spread to fort Williston that was under Custer’s Rule too and revolution broke out there. Weeks later they would agree on a treaty, appoint an ambassador from each town to stay at the other, and there would be free trade between them and they would help protect each other. In the months to come several other settlements would join them in a pact. It quickly became known as one of the safest yet freest places to live on the continent.  
 
  As the preacher stood, watching the guards and soldiers being marched into a holding area he heard a motorcycle outside the wall start up and take off. He didn’t know who it was but he knew, inside, that it was the one who saved him. He prayed for God’s blessing on him and his family. He would never know that the man who saved him was a Sackett.
 
 
  Down the road a little over an hour drive on old HWY 85S, almost into what was known as South Dakota, Hondo and the group pulled into the coulee where Hondo’s truck was hid. The jeep pulled up first and Hondo ease himself out, a bit sore from the fall. The Bronco slid to a halt and Valentine jumped out and ran to Hondo, nearly knocking him over as she plowed into him. She wrapped him in a hug and buried her face into his chest.  He wrapped his arms around her and held her for a moment before they spoke. She spoke first, but quietly, face buried into his chest, and sniffling.
 
Valentine: I thought I was gonna lose you.
 
Hondo: You know better than that.
 
Valentine: Do I? I can’t go on without you! I just . . .can’t
 
Hondo:  Now, there, mustang. I’m alright. Take a lot more than some old evil spirit and a rope to put me down.  
 
After a moment of quiet there one of the folks standing by cleared their throat. Valentine looked up finally, eyes moist, and let go of Hondo.
 
Valentine: I’m sorry. I forgot y’all were there for a minute.
 
Logan: That’s normal for you.
 
Hondo: What do you mean by that?  
 
Logan: And you always were quick to jump to her defense.
 
Hondo: I’m not jokin’ ‘round here. Who the hell are you?! and ( Hondo looked at his camper and trailer done up in camo and made to look older) What happened to my truck?!?
 
Valentine: He’s our son.
 
Hondo: I’m not in the mood for humor.  
 
Milo: It’s no joke, Dad. I’m Milo. This is Logan. We are twins. Your first sons. Logan is a bit of a smart-ass.  
 
Logan: And you’re a big, humorless teddy-bear.
 
Hondo: Look like Trinity and Bambino to me.
 
Milo: Yeah, you called us that since we were little.
 
Hondo: And who is the lady?
 
Milo: Oh, that’s my wife, Molly.  
 
Molly: Always forgotten. We have 5 kids too.
 
Hondo: So we have grand-kids too. Great.  
 
Valentine: Fernando sent them.
 
Hondo: Should have known. What6 about my truck?
 
Logan: We had Molly do that while we were gone. that shiny black truck stood out like a sore thumb. don't worry. it's our own brand of peal off paint.
 
Hondo: At least it'll peal off.
 
About then a motorcycle appeared.
 
Hondo: Who is this then?
 
The motorcycle pulled up and the engine shut off. A tall lanky your cowboy stepped off.
 
Logan: That is your grandson, Hotshot.
 
Reilly: That’s my nick-name. My name is Reilly. You look exactly like Grandma and Grandpa.
 
Hondo: We don’t age. We stopped aging back in, what year was it, Val?
 
Valentine: 07 or 08. We were so busy I lost track of time during those years.
 
Hondo: Tell me about it.  Any more of you?
 
Milo: Not here. Some had to stay at home.
 
Hondo: Where is that now?
 
Milo: Your old safe house in the Laramie Mountains.
 
Hondo: Good choice. Now, About Fernando.
 
Logan: Can’t tell ya much without messing up time and all. Probably told ya too much as is but needed you all to trust us.
 
Milo: We can tell you that you guys and the Fernando of this timeline are not here. They are over seas on their own gig. This Fernando told us to help you here. How he knows, well it’s Fernando. You guys are to meet with the Fernando of your time, though. He is west of here somewhere. Keep your radio on. He should be on every evening after dark. You can pick him up on the skip.  
 
Hondo: What ‘bout y’all?
 
Logan:  We leave you here.  
 
Milo: If you need us, though, we will be on the air listening for ya every evening.
 
Hondo: Take ya a while to get to us though.
 
Milo: Not so. Ma is a genius. We have a couple home built VTOL airplanes and a couple dirigibles.  
 
Logan: We can get to ya fast. We’d offer ya one but we were told not to. Only offer emergency help.
 
Hondo: I appreciate it. Which way should we head?
 
Milo: Wyoming, north side. There is a passage from Oregon over that way, most of that land was destroyed in the happening.  You should be able to meet them there, if they make it that far. They have others with them and will be slower than you are.  Since it’s almost dark I’d camp here tonight.
 
Hondo: That’s what I was thinkin’. You guys are gonna spend the night too, eh?
 
Molly: We have a camp west of her by about 45 minutes. We will head there.
 
Hondo: Ok, but we have room enough and supplies enough. Panther, you stayin’?
 
Panther: No. I have been away too long. I return to celebrate with my people.
 
Hondo: Give them my greetings an’ you’ll always have my thanks. I am indebted to you.
 
Panther: No. I and my people still owe you. Thank you.
 
With that Panther reclaimed his jeep and left.
 
Milo: We need to be getting’ too. Logan get that stuff for Pa.
 
Hondo: Pa? You mean me.
 
Milo: Yeah. We have a chest of extra supplies for ya, 5 gallons of mixed gas, 5 gallons bar oil and two chain saws. Figured there might be some trees down on road ya might need to cut. Fernando gave us the list of stuff.
 
Hondo: I thank ya. Probably more your mother than me but you two seemed to turn out pretty good. I’m sure theme of this timeline is pretty proud. Speakin’ of timeline, where is my time device?
 
Milo: With you.
 
Hondo: Figures. Oh well. Many thanks.
 
Milo: One more thing.  
 
Hondo: What’s that?
 
Milo: Tell Fernando to not worry about the diary. We of this timeline have been hunting them down and burning them. We figure they have the last one. There may be one or two others but its only a slim chance they exist.
 
Hondo: What diary is this?
 
Logan: Fernando can explain it to you.
 
Hondo: Alright. I will tell him. Thank you.
 
Everyone shook hands and said goodbye. Hondo went into the camper to set it up for the night, Logan went to grab the stuff for them and put it into the trailer for them. Molly warmed up the pickup and Milo put Reilly’s motorcycle in the bed. Valentine followed Milo.
 
Valentine: Milo, I have a question for you.
 
Milo: What is it?
 
Valentine: I’m scared honestly. I don’t know how to be a mother, and definitely don’t know how to be a good mother.
 
Milo: So? How can I help?
 
Valentine: What could have your mother, the future me, have done better?
 
Milo: Not sure I should say anything.
 
Valentine: Please.
 
Milo: Alright. You need to trust us when we get into our late teens and not be too hard on us when we are younger.
 
Valentine: Can you elaborate? Please?
 
Milo: Alright, I know you and you always took information like this and made sure your actions wouldn’t harm the timeline. But I want you to promise me you will treat this information carefully.
 
Valentine: I promise.
 
Milo: We aren’t your oldest, nor are we your youngest. You have  three kids older, the first, a girl, is adopted. She is, how should I say it . . .special.  
 
Valentine: special how?
 
Milo: I'm not sure I should say but it's in a good way. Just believe that. When you meet her you will know.  
 
Valentine: Ok. Go on.
 
Milo: You, Pa, and your three oldest go on a mission together. Your kids are injured. The adopted one gets taken, raped,  beaten, stabbed, and shot. To save her Fernando has to give her 2 types of his super pills. You get hurt too and blame yourself. Dad doesn't get hurt bad but takes you all getting hurt pretty badly as well. e tries to comfort you but you blame him, driving a wedge between you two. From there on you are harder on us for training, harder on our failures, and every mission you treat us like amateurs and every little mishap that goes against the plan you gave us hell and would pull us out for months at a time. On down time you never let yourself relax and just ave fun with us. You were always on edge with us even when we were safe at home. I know it’s cause you worried about us and loved us, but please, go easier on your kids, trust them more, and don't forget to let go and have fun, for you kids and for your relationship with Pa. We will always love you and respect you, but you’ll have a better relationship with us if you do this. We love our Ma but we only started enjoying our relationship with her 18 years ago. A couple of us still hold grudges.  I think Ma held a grudge against Pa at times to as we went to him to talk as he rarely yell at us outside the heat of battle. He listened to us, trusted us, and respected us. He could blow up at times but always made it right. Ma never apologized for yelling or hurting our feelings. She said it just made us tougher and to get over it. Pa wasn't naturally the warm-fuzzy type but he tried extra hard to make up for her cold-hard protective shell she had made over the years. Only one of us ever lied to Pa. It tore him up and the way he looked at the one who lied . . . let’s say none of us ever broke his trust again. We didn’t want him to look at us that way. I wish we had been like that with Ma too.  
 
Valentine was silent for a moment.
 
Valentine: I . . . I . . . wow.  I will try to do better, but I can’t promise. I . . I'm so sorry.  I never ever would want to hurt Hondo or my future children. I want to do better.  You are good people and I can only imagine how much your mother regrets lost time. Thank you.
 
Milo: No, thank you. You don’t know how bad as kids we wanted Ma just to talk with us, non-judgmentally. Just remember this, no matter what we will always love you. Bye, now.
 
With that Milo turned and walked off. Valentine watched him for a moment then walked back to the Bronco. She stood by the camper, messing with stuff inside, not really to accomplish a task but to look busy, and to keep the bronco between her and Hondo so he couldn't see her too well. Her eyes were already moist and as soon as they all pulled out she broke down sobbing. She yelled at herself in her mind for things that she haddn't done yet.
 
*Valentine*: How could you! How dare you hurt your own children and the man you love?!?! What type of weak woman are you to not swallow your own fear for the good of your family?!?!?!
 
She whispered as she cried : I'm sorry. Please God, I'm sorry. help me not hurt my family like that. keep them safe despite me. please!

"A 6th grade education is not enough to get anything in life. Even the Amish used to teach up to the 8th grade. Just like having small fields of solar and wind farms will not be enough to power the railway across Texas when you need something the size of Texas to power it all." Fernando says, "No one can not tell me that in all of Texas, in all of the USA, there isn't a high school teacher? Doctor? Or other professional that can teach? This is bullshit. These crows have you oppressed and you are allowing yourselves to be oppressed. Just blacks, make that African Americans, did to themselves after the civil rights movement to before when all this crap happened."

"I heard everything spoken. You all are hearing what you want to hear, not what is being said." He tells her. He continues, "Now listen real carefully for I will say this only once. What of those children older than Hikaru? What of children like Danielle? Those who have aged out of the system gets what - a piece of paper that said they completed the 6th grade? What is the basis of that education? At least the Amish education, though only goes to the 8th grade, was powerful enough for most who attended school there to take a state GED Test, pass it with a high score that they can continue to college if they want to do so if they decide to not return from Rumspringa - an Amish Teen Rite of Passage of seeing the world and decide which life they want. Thus I point out - 6th grade? Who are they kidding? That is only enough to make one into a manual laborer who can not think for themselves but make a decision that they either have to work and support the family or become a dreg of society. This is worst than what the shanty towns of Brazil had - when a girl ages out from school, she either becomes a whore or an abused wife and at times both; and a boy has to do what he can to support his family, including committing crimes that is unbecoming of a human and by that I mean selling his little sister to the sex shows or pimps. As a law enforcement officer and an educator, I can say you people are being oppressed. When are you all going to see that? You need a minimum of 8th grade education that has a strong backbone on the fundamentals that supports the arts, sciences and technology. Without it, you got nothing. If the spirits are listening, they can go to hell, because they can not stay here and do it all wrong and think they are doing right. Yeah - the National Republic of Texas. More like a National Republic of Uneducated Idiots. Think about that. Really. Think, and think hard."