Hard Road To Paradise Prologue

My name is A ( that's right, just A) and this is a story of how complicated life can get, not just for me but for anyone and everyone, at any time.

I thought I had the it all figured out, I was always game to face what I thought was reality ( even when it sucked) I have been willing learn new things since I was old enough to have language.

I am usually honest with myself and try to be honest with others, even when they seem to want pretty lies. When you add all those things together along with hard experience and disappointments plus the pain of midlife you get what some would call a cynical asshole.....but I do get better after my first cup of coffee.

On the morning of February third I woke up pretty much the same as I always do, with a vague sense of dread and the echos of regret in my dreams. I survive, its all I have ever done, I just get by, I'm one of those guys who tells you he's good when he is in serious pain mentally... physically.. spiritually...or all of the above.

I served in the military, I have seen bad shit, survived cancer, worked construction in the Arctic, experienced the paranormal, been electrocuted and burned, worked hundreds of feet in the air and in confined spaces. No shortage of life experience here.

I am short, ugly and grumpy but my friends will tell you I am damn near fearless and a fighter. My IQ tested out at 144

( probably would not guess that from my spelling ) I am a lateral thinker and capable of immense focus, i have been known to create logic chains miles in length.

Even so, in my life I have done only a few things I can look back on and be proud of.

I saved a friends toddler grandson before he could get horribly burned in a bon fire (some people should not be parents). I joined the military BECAUSE my country was under attack and not in spite of it. Lastly,I have been there when people needed me, I was the strong shoulder to wipe their noses on( yes indeed, I'm a bit cynical).

On March second I found out I was dying, I am all alone, my closest friends are far away and my closest family are all dead. I'm not afraid of death but a slow dying by cancer doesn't suit me, so you can guess where I was headed. I was deep in the sad ocean but decided to wait until the actual physical suffering started before doing anything....irreversible.

The story I will tell almost didn't happen, the lesson is; to never make big decisions when you are emotional.

Surprise, not only did something happen to save my life but also improved it by several orders of magnitude. Here's what happened.

I got a call from the VA early the next morning or at least they CLAIMED to be from the VA, they knew everything about me going back to my preteen days. This individual we will call Nick and here is the conversation we had.

Nick: Hello, is this Mr.A?

Me: Yes. Who is this?

Nick: My name is Nick, I am with the veteran affairs cancer treatment center,can I get your last four please?

Me: ( rolling my eyes so hard I strained something) 5145 but didn't they tell you I'm not interested in chemo, it just ruins the quality of life for whatever time I have left.

Nick: We are aware of that sir but we are offering you a alternative that you are almost uniquely suited to, we only ask a couple years of your time and in return you will get the rest of your life.

Me: A experimental treatment Nick? I'm not sure that is better than chemo and infact could be worse.

Nick: The treatment is not experimental, it works but only for some people, people like you but it comes at a cost and requires a minimum two year commitment on your part.

Me: What makes me so special, is it something genetic then?

Nick: Not exactly sir or perhaps I should say not only genetic. You have a outstanding service record first as Army enlisted then as a Air Force officer.

You place consistently in the top two percent on intelligence tests, including the highest scores in mechanical reasoning, thought speed, visual learning and mathematics we have ever seen. You do extremely well under pressure, it's like you don't even care about what happens, you screwed around all through high school and challenged all the classes in the last year but still graduated with a 3.8. You already had a mechanical engineering degree when you joined the Air Force and received a master's in electrical while at the same time working in the oilfields once you got out.

You brought a rattlesnake home when you were eleven, built a computer at twelve, installed a transmission in your first truck at thirteen and chased your abusive ex brother-in-law out of your sister's house with a axe at fifteen. Oh and you are a cross dresser, who stopped performing drag do to negative associations.

Nick continued "We know damn near everything about you sir. This is a chance to serve your country again, EVERYTHING I mentioned makes you a strong candidate for what we require and before you ask...yes that includes the transvestism.

Me: Um..uh uh... you are not with the VA are you? ( I was just a wee bit red)

Nick: This is the only time I will be talking to you( ignoring my question), I need a answer,if you say yes you will have a hour to pack and a car will be waiting at your door. Hold up your end of the bargain and we not only cure you but you will never need to worry about money or health problems again

Me: Oh um uh, uh ok.. uh I guess" was my intelligent response ( shit!)

Nick: Ah that's good sir, you will be meeting with Ms Wellen in about a hour please present your ID to the drivers window before she lets you load up and get in. All of your affairs will be handled in your absence, so just focus on treatment and training. Good luck sir.

Then the arse hole just hung up and blocked me.

I started started jamming clothes and gear into suit cases and duffle bags, speed was more important than organization at the moment.

The hour flew by with how busy I was. Little did I know, I was about to become a key player in one of the strangest stories you could possibly imagine.