POWER TOOL - CHAPTER 00 - Prelude and Additional information

John's Background.
Both John Smith's parents were top notch scientists, well off, and in demand. His brother was several years older than him, but not as smart. At an early age, John realised he could mesmerise people, and make them do as he wished. Being a genius, he didn't make that public knowledge - he knew it would cause trouble for him, if he did.

When John's brother needed a tricky problem solved, he asked John to help him, and he did. This resulted in John being asked to help his brother and his friends with their concerns, when they, as the Snake Gang, had issues with other gangs -specially the Fern Gang. John became their general, their war lord, the one who planned all their operations, while the others performed them. He demonstrated his analytical, planning, and mesmerising skills. When the Snakes went inactive, he worked at keeping a low profile. His trying to vanish into the woodwork increased, after his family's murder.

In high school, he demonstrated his intelligence by entering and winning science competitions, and achieving high academic results. He was being actively recruited by colleges (universities for the non USA people) and businesses.

When John's family were killed in an explosion that was intended to also kill him and Brooke, he was severely shocked and traumatised - physically and psychologically. He was smart enough to realise he and Brooke should have been killed as well - no one knew they'd left the house. His whole family had just been killed, except for Brooke. He buried his grief and pain in taking on the responsibility of caring for Brooke; this need to care for her, is what keeps him going. She became the centre of his world, his reason for being. He drops everything to see to her welfare. In doing this, he retreats from life and keeps a very low profile, not demonstrating his intelligence or other skills, as it'll place demands on his time, demands that'll take him away from Brooke. She's his only remaining link with life, and he's her only remaining link with life.

Several years later, he's severely traumatised again, when another explosion kills him, the emergency people resuscitate him, but the damage is extensive. He doesn't have time to deal with the physical or psychological trauma of this, when he's told his body is no longer flesh and blood. He gets through this, simply by hanging onto his need to stay around and care for Brooke. It's this need that keeps him alive in the emergency room, despite his body's need to die; he won't let himself die and leave Brooke alone.

He's still trying to deal with all, when he's confronted by the fact the little girl Brooke, is no longer a little girl, but a young woman - the same with her friends. He's also aware of the similarities between the two explosions, and suspects the last one was targeted at him. If he dies, Brooke is left alone. He must find and stop his attacker before they succeed, for Brooke's sake. To do this, he must stop maintaining a low profile; he must use all his skills and abilities to deal with these people. He realises this, and sets out to do so. And that's where we arrive on the scene as observers.

Most of these background details are provided by others talking about him. The principal tells us some, Steve tells us most, and John also reveals some of his background. Some of it is assumed knowledge, like when someone is hurt in a major explosion, I assume you know they'll have shock and trauma issues involved. The grief being subsumed into caring for Brooke is evidenced from his throwing his college studies away, for her care.

John is a sensitive and caring person, despite not being able to see anything but Brooke and his work. The latest explosion is a wake up call that makes him open his eyes and look about. Having accepted he has to change his profile and lifestyle, John sees no reason not to use all his abilities, and make the most of his life. His past low profile hasn't been so much a case of trying to hide, but a case of not looking around and not doing his best, as his efforts are focused elsewhere - Brooke's care. Extreme tunnel vision and myopia. Now he opens his eyes and looks at the world; looks with new eyes.

POWER TOOL - CAST OF CHARACTERS

as at day 28

NB:Alignment was perfect as a text document but the html rednering messes it up and I'm too lazy, at the moment, to take the time to fix it. Sorry.

Smith Household
John Smith (Cobra).......................................................25
Brooke Smith................................................................16
Gwen Weatherall...........................................................29
Sera Weatherall.............................................................16
Stacey Goddard...................office clerk........................32
Rissa Goddard (Clarrisa, Boss)*..Slave............................18
Mel Phillips (Melissa)...................................................16
Wendy Fleming*...................Slave...................................16
Liz Preston (Elizabeth)*................................................32
Mary Jones*...................................................................32
Janice (Fuck Toy)*........................................................30
Tina (Triple T)...............................................................17
Carmen Bradley (Bitch)*.....Slave - office clerk...........40
Carly..............................................................................16
Paris*..................................Slave - trnee child care......36
Dallas..................................Slave..................................17
Houston...............................Slave..................................17
May.....................................Slave - head slave..............19
Nora.....................................Slave - child carer.............18
Iris.......................................Slave - hairdresser.............21
Isobelle................................Slave - trnee child care.....20
Nadia...................................Slave - pt work at VS.......22
Marcia.................................Slave - accountant............18

Smith Staff
Belinda...............................housekeeper........................39
Melody Jones.....................cook....................................35
Beth Jones..........................maid / trnee child care........17
Harry (Harriette)................Driver / security.................30
Fred....................................Driver / security.................32
Steve Katz (Sidewinder)....Driver / security.................34
Bridget................................ladies maid - nanny...........24

Masters Household
Barbara Masters............................................................42
Steve Masters................................................................43
Paula Masters................................................................16
Liz Masters....................................................................14...........loosely referred to
Angela Masters..............................................................12...........loosely referred to
Deborah Masters...........................................................40
Jerry Masters.................................................................41
Jacqui Masters...............................................................16
Lorna Masters................................................................16
Nola Masters..................................................................14..........loosely referred to
Jenny Masters................................................................12..........loosely referred to
Julie Masters*................................................................38
Peter Masters.................................................................39
Peta Masters..................................................................16
Rena Masters.................................................................14...........loosely referred to
Margaret Masters..........................................................12...........loosely referred to

Masters Staff
Alice.............................Butler........................................40
James Thomas Delling (JT, Big Jim, Tiger Snake).......34..........slave
Jim...............................petty criminal..........................................slave
Thumper......................criminal and rapist...................................slave
Terri*............................petty criminal, budding gang leader......slave
Johnson.......................general servant............loosely referred to and named in wk 3
Unnamed cook................................................loosely referred to
Landers........................driver..........................loosley referred to and named in wk 3

Preston Staff
Liz Preston (Elizabeth).........CEO................................32
Diane....................................secretary..........................mid 20s
Mary Jones..........................Head Researcher..............32
Janice (Fuck Toy).................CFO.................................30

Law Enforcement and related
Commissioner Henry.....................................................late 50s
Captain Emily Miller.....................................................late 20s
Deputy Commissioner Williams...................................mid 50s
Alan Hedges..................................................................late 30s
(Mrs Hedges).................................................................late 30s
Irene..............................................................................mid 20s
Steve Katz (Sidewinder).....sergeant...............................34

Smith Neighbours and families
Celia Lincoln.................................................................early 40s
Mr Lincoln.....................................................................early 40s
Lee Lincoln........................pool cleaner.........................17
Theo Lincoln......................pool cleaner.........................16
Tom Lincoln.......................pool cleaner.........................15
Mrs Bellingham.............................................................mid 40s
Matt Bellingham............................................................mid 40s
Saul Stein.......................................................................mid 70s
Sarah Aarons
Isaac Aarons
James Harris........................paper boy.............................14

Soccer Team
Rachel Marshall..............................................................17
Mandy.............................................................................16
Jessica.............................................................................16
Mel Phillips (Melissa)....................................................16
Nataly.............................................................................16
Paula Masters.................................................................16
Jacqui Masters................................................................16
Lorna Masters.................................................................16
Peta Masters...................................................................16
Sera Weatherall..............................................................16
Brooke Smith..................................................................16
Tina (Triple T)...............................................................17
Wendy Fleming..............................................................16

Basketball Team
Rachel Marshall..............................................................17
Mel Phillips (Melissa)....................................................16
Paula Masters.................................................................16
Jacqui Masters................................................................16
Brooke Smith...................................................................16
Vera Manning.......................(mother Jane).....................16
Anna................................................................................16
Helen...............................................................................16
Eliza......................................pizza delivery....................17
Kira.......................................pizza delivery....................17
Bernice Stoner (Bernie)........Basketball Coach..............26

School Staff
Harding.................................Principal
Bernice Stoner (Bernie)........Basketball Coach.............26
Rosa Quentin........................Maths teacher...................32
various unnamed school staff

Snakes
Diamond......................David Smith - deceased
Cobra...........................John Smith
Sidewinder...................Steve Katz
Brown..........................unnamed - deceased
Mamba........................Dr Robert Black
Taipan..........................unnamed
Krait............................unnamed
Viper...........................unnamed
Tiger............................TJ Delling (AKA Big Jim) - thought deceased

VS Staff
Elise.....................................manager ............................40
May.................................................................................19
Vanessa...........................................................................25
Daisy...............................................................................24
unnamed
unnamed
unnamed
unnamed

Pool Party Girls (all 16 or 17 - choose for yourself)
Tracey, Jill, Kim, Candice, Georgette, Fiona, Patrice, Amanda, Natasha, Betty, Ann-marie, Susan, Delilah, Ernestein, Trudy, Linda, Olive, Opal, Therisa, Maria, Eve, Ashleigh, Amy, Alexandra, Jasmin, Inez, Hannah, Irina, Heather, Kristy, Lola, Kimmy, Nikola, Samantha, Tara, Stephanie, Zoey, Sabrina, Lia, Katia, Gabriela (18), Katie (18), Lori, Laura, Jade, Karen Black (daughter of Mamba Black), Slut 1 and Slut 2 - twins, gatecrashers - Houston and Dallas (daughters of Paris)

Boys
Barry Stevers..................................................................18
Max................................................................................18

Others of note
Guy Franks ( Guido Francesco )..........local mafia don
Gibaldi..................................................Franks sub boss
Johnston................................................Gibaldi crew boss
Franco Di Georgio..........deposed mafia don in prison - father of TJ and Carmen
Mallory..................................................Di Georgio sub-boss
Mrs Delling......................mother of TJ Delling and Carmen Bradley
Meredith Summer...........manager of the adult shop.......late 20s
Melinda......................................adult shop.....................mid 20s
David.........................................adult shop......................mid 20s
Shauna............................Comissioner Henry's autistic daughter.
Misha...............................Cheerleader ..................................19
Missy...............................Cheerleader...................................19
Hilda Lorne......................trauma counsellor
Erin Harris..............................................................................17
Rose Little..............................................................................17
Bob Little...............................................................................18
Marcia Jennings*..........Amalgamated Prosthetics................30s
Agatha*...............................Dom...................................early 40s
Esmay*................................Dom...................................early 40s
Martha.................................Dom...................................early 40s
Millie...................................Martha's daughter..............early 20s
Illiya.....................................Child care centre director.

NB: People listed more than once, due to other associations, are in italics. Minor characters who just appear and vanish aren't always included. Later, I'll probably add others as they appear.

* = pregnant to John

JOHN'S FUN COMMANDS

Dickman Commands
Floppy...............flaccid penis 150 mm long and 30 mm wide
Stiffy...............erect penis the same as a 1 T

1....................200 mm long penis
1.5..................225 mm long penis
2....................250 mm long penis
2.5..................275 mm long penis
3....................300 mm long penis
3.5..................350 mm long penis
4....................400 mm long penis
4.5..................450 mm long penis
5....................500 mm long penis
5.5..................550 mm long penis
6....................600 mm long penis

T....................thin............40 mm wide
M....................medium..........60 mm wide
W....................wide............80 mm wide
X....................extra large....100 mm wide
XX...................super large....120 mm wide

Slom................sets two penis sizes and switches between them
format = length/width, length/width, 'x'R (repetitions per second, 'x'S (duration in seconds)

Coom................ejaculate a set amont of sperm

Stong...............tongue expands to 200 mm sticking out of his mouth
Stonf...............goes stiff
Storn...............tongue retracts

Taser Commands
Snicked.............turn off snickle command
Snickle.............activates a trickle charge in the Taser
format = L/R (hand), 1-5 being the trickle charge level, can even be a charge percentage

Defib..............use Tasers as a defibulator - charge goes between hands.
format = designate chest hand, charge size in milliamps, charge duration length in seconds.

NB: The initial command set is floppy, stiffy, coom, 1, 2, 3, 4, T, M, W - the rest are upgrades suggested during the course of the story.

ABOUT MY WRITING STYLE

Technical English
A few friends and family have pointed out I've made some technical errors in the English of the stories I write, in style and grammar. I'd like to point out I haven't. Over the years, I've written millions of pages of documents that were technically correct in all ways, everything from accident reports, technical journals, training manuals, lectures, ministerial briefs, reports to the Senate, etc. All were technically correct and dry as a glass full of silica grains.

These stories I write for the pleasure of writing, I'm glad others enjoy the stories, but I mainly write for my own enjoyment of writing. I deliberately use a method and style known as 'the vernacular.' I write as people would speak. Whether in the first person or the third person, I write as if I, the author, am sitting in a comfortable chair with a glass of my favourite beverage to hand, and talking to you, the reader, sitting in a similar chair with your favourite beverage. Two old friends having a chat in a comfortable atmosphere, I'm telling you about an incident I was involved in or saw. I write as I would tell it to you. So it's not technically correct English, but it's not in error, it's deliberate - to make it feel more real and life like.

I also use a lot of contractions, as that's what people do when speaking, I write they'll instead of they will - he'd instead of he had, and so on. Some can have dual meaning, but it's always easy to work out which is the correct contraction from the context of the story at that point.

To give an example of the difference: The scene is a lounge room, a 16 year old is awaiting the arrival of her favourite cousins who'll be staying for a week.

Technically correct:
I sit in a lounge room chair, as I await the arrival of my cousins, with great anticipation. The doorbell chimes, I stand up and proceed to the door. Opening it, I see it is they. I open the door wider, and speak loudly to mother, saying "Mother, it is them, they have arrived."

Vernacular:
Laying on the lounge, I'm eagerly awaiting my favourite cousins' arrival. The doorbell rings, jumping up, I race to the door and open it. It's them, throwing the door wide, I yell "Mum, they're here."

The vernacular is more colourful and much more active than the technically correct. And also much more fun. I write this way, as this is how people talk, and how I would tell you the story if I was speaking to you.

NB: I'm Australian and use Australian spelling and terms, e.g. arse instead of ass. I try to minimise the ones that can be mixed up, e.g. prison instead of goal or jail (for the USA).

Characters
Another thing that I've been called to task for, is the way I handle my characters. Some authors tell you all about the main characters at the start. I like to tell you the basics, the minimum to allow you to picture them for yourselves. During the course of the story, I add more and more little details about them, so you learn more as you get to know them better – just the way you learn about people in real life. As the story progresses, you learn more about how they think, their past, their behaviours, their attitudes. I hope you learn to love those I want you to, and hate those I want you to.

Descriptions
I've been told my descriptions of people aren't detailed enough, I should give much more detail. Technically, this is true, but again, this is a deliberate choice by me. I give my physical descriptions of characters just enough to allow you to draw a basic mental image of them. Then I leave it up to you, the reader, to add the fine detail. This is to allow you to use your imagination, and to make just a small part of the story your own, your very own and personal.

Sure, I could give a fine detailed description that would enable a police sketch artist to do a fine portrait. What happens if the description matches exactly someone alive that I've never met, or don't remember meeting. Oops, I really didn't want that law suit. But more important, I describe the sexy schoolgirl as being 175 cm (5 feet 9 inches) tall, medium build, athletic looking, 34 – 28 – 32, B cup breasts, fair skin, long light brown hair, very cute. OK, I say nothing about freckles or not, leave out the nose, the eyes, the hair style, the cheek bones. Why you ask. Well, my description is enough to give you the basic body style, you're now free to impose your own image of the face of the sexy school girl who lives three doors down the street if you wish, or the one across the road. If I'd given too much detail, you can't draw your own beauty into the picture. This way, I get you more actively involved in the story.

Suspension of Disbelief
Suspension of disbelief is like the concept of love at first sight, most people don't believe in it, but it happens. It's something that's possible, but low probability. A related point is a specific plot device, but they're usually easily identified, and only requires a simple acceptance of that one aspect, e.g. alien life forms masquerading as humans. This requires a single suspension of disbelief, but after that, the rest of the story should be totally realistic in its plot and actions.

Possible Reality
Take the cyborg in in the story Power Tool. Some people say 'Yeah, real, no way, it can't happen.' Yet the majority of the technology is there, and has been for over a decade. Memory plastic exists, as does Kevlar, carbon filament, fibre optics, tasers, computer control, and multi tasking software. For many years, scientists have been working on interfacing electronic devices with the human nervous system – the bionic ear, pace makers, bionic eyes, etc. It's happening right now. All I add is a small leap forward in the development (under current research) of a way to interface individual nerve endings of the spinal column with a computer, and allow two way feed and control between the brain and the computer.

The idea of not having the brain trying to match every nerve with the relevant cyborg body equivalent is my way of making this interface easier. The brain uses some nerves to send commands, instead of getting a whole bunch of individual commands that must be sent around the body, I have each limb and sub-unit operating with it's own processor commands, so only one command is sent from the processor linked to the brain, and the end recipient knows how to break it up and handle the positive feedback locally. Thus, the processor in the hand handles the touch and pressure sensitivity of picking something up, not the main processor or the brain. The brain says right hand pick this up, the central processor sends the command 'pick this up' to the right hand, the local processor in the hand handles the fine details. This is a way of simplifying the command sets and the communication links. Now, if the scientists working on this read this and use it, we may see some more advances.

But the main point I'm getting to, people see a cyborg as not realistic, yet the technology has been around for nearly twenty years, we can do this now – if you have millions of dollars to spare to do it. Give it a few more years, and the price will come down a lot. In 1965, companies paid a hundred million dollars for a building full of computer equipment that does less than a two thousand dollar computer they carry around in a bag today.