Free Guardian Stone 1: Stone Genesis by Don Koch

their stopwatches and were amazed to see that it matched his announced time lapse precisely.
    "What will happen next is not intended to show off and there is a point that I will explain at the end of the demonstration. When Josh gives me a start, you will each start your stopwatches, I will run to the other table and retrieve the calculator and return to this table with it. When you hear the calculator placed on the table, stop your watches and I will announce an elapsed time. Please stay back about 10' from the table. Barana will not be providing any assistance during the demonstration. Ready when you are Josh."
    "OK," said Josh, "Ready , Set, GO."
    Hank took off in a blur. They realized he was moving so fast that it was difficult to follow with their eyes and understood why he wanted them to use the sound of the calculator hitting the table as their trigger to stop the watches. In a short time the calculator clicked on the table and Hank said, "25.75 seconds." The watches generally matched that time and those that did not were due to a reaction failure. They could just not believe that anyone could move that fast. "OK, who is good with the calculator? How fast was my average time over that 1 mile course?"
    Bill took the calculator and did the calculation, "Good Lord, 140 miles per hour. That is not possible."
    Hank went on, "the next part was difficult for me to accept but seeing is believing. Bill would you please check the weapon, the loads, announce the number of rounds loaded, then prime the weapon and insert it in the firing stand. It is a 1911 Colt 45, standard Marine Corps issue." "Roger that," said Bill, "It has 8 rounds, one in the chamber and seven in the clip. The weapon is hot, I repeat HOT." "Thanks Bill," said Hank as he walked to the target and stood in front of it, "Now please do not panic at what you see next, I have no death wish. Please, everyone in back of the firing line. Target stand, eight rounds only, commence firing." he said. Sam watched in horror and Hank thought to her, < I'm OK Hon, I'm not in any danger, I'm OK, see. >
    As the rounds stopped 12 inches in front of him, he quickly plucked them out of the air before they could start to fall. He then walked over to the table and placed all eight bullets on it. Sam, walked over to him and punched him on the arm. "Ow, what was that for."
    Sam responded, "You do that again and I'll shoot you myself. You scared me half to death."  The others all laughed.
    "OK, I probably should have explained that part or done a better job of forewarning you, but I wanted to test the shield so I would be comfortable with it. I was comfortable with the fact it would work. Barana told me it would. This whole demonstration is to show you some of what the command level enhancements can do. I want you all to have them emplaced starting sometime in the next two weeks, but the sooner the better. We will each be spending quite a bit of time, some more than others on planet. Once we go public and become associated with the stations in the public eye, there are radical groups out there who would like nothing better than to get a shot at one of us. Not everyone will get all of the enhancements but all of you here now will. Getting acclimated to the changes is not so difficult. It took me six weeks to adjust to all of it. The enhancements include strength, speed, agility, a clock in your head without even thinking about it and a very effective shield. There is lots more, probably the most exciting is life span and health. You will never again have to worry about being sick and you will likely live to see the next millennium. Each enhancement will be thoroughly explained. Trust me, Barana can do thorough."
    < Yes, I can. >
    "The treatment actually includes lessons on how to use and apply the various enhance features. Initially everything except the shield will be damped down until you have mastered them. I really want you all fully functional and protected ASAP. Does anyone have a