Nerve: A Short Story Read online

much of his time visiting Children's and Veteran's Hospitals to spend time with terminally ill patients. Many of those patients only lived a few hours after Espanoza left. The nurses began to spread stories of how Espanoza would somehow pick out the patients nearest death. He would spend a few minutes talking to them softly, making them comfortable, cradling their heads in his left hand and holding their hands with his right. Usually, he would visit until they fell asleep. Many never woke up.

  The good Senator's system had evolved to the point that his mind had complete control of his body. He had grown an external web of nerves on the palms of his hands that were invisible to the eye. Rock could create an interface between the brainstem of the dying and ground it with their hands. By absorbing their mind, but keeping their most primitive brain intact, most of them lived a few hours if not a few days afterward as a vegetable.

  Espanoza's evolution didn't stop there. Life always adapts to fitter states of being with its environment. Soon, Espanoza could grasp anyone's hand with both of his and create a connection that allowed him to download the person's memory and knowledge without their awareness. He didn't alter their being in any way. The person lived on.

  This ability made Rock a force to be reckoned with on the Senate floor. He could out negotiate any opponent he had shaken hands with because he knew where their limits were. Rock climbed the ranks from rookie congressman to Majority Leader. As an influential political leader, Rock made frequent trips to the Middle East where he negotiated peace deals between warring factions. His intimate understanding of Middle Eastern culture made him a close ally to powerful royalty and elected official alike in the turbulent region.

  Espanoza was widely respected as a bipartisan figure. He picked a female running mate from the opposite party and ran a split ticket campaign. Rock demolished his opponent in the polls. Realizing eight years was a short amount of time for real change to occur, the President quickly established his agenda.

  Education reform took one year. President Espanoza had spent most of that year drafting legislation that overhauled the outdated education system while rerouting other pork-barrel spending into states to use for education with very few strings attached. He walked into a joint meeting with the AFT and NEA, shook hands with the presidents of those organizations, and within an hour had both of the public support.

  The biggest improvement to education was the creation of the United States Teacher Corp. Potential teachers were recruited to enlist in a three year tour of duty. Recruits were trained in a world class program operated by a coalition of top universities. By the end of three years, students who had not shown aptitude as teachers during volunteering tours in urban, suburban, and rural settings were dismissed. The others were allowed to reenlist and finish their degrees and serve two years under a Master Teacher. During this whole time, USTC enlistees had their room, board, and education paid for. At the end of their mentorship, they could enlist for another three year stint of teaching where their salary was paid for by the U.S. Government if they served in a high-need area like an inner city school or a high-poverty rural school. At the end of nine years, the cream of the crop was given one last chance to re-up for three years as a Master Teacher. Those who finished the 12 year career would receive a pension to subsidize their public teaching career as a top-paid Master Teacher.

  Next, Espanoza streamlined the military. He used his knowledge of the terrorist cell network to create a small, flexible military with loosely connected units united in purpose. He diverted a portion of spending into humanitarian aid the military used to help provide technology and education in the countries they were stationed in. Soon, the world was pro-USA again.

  The U.S. budget was cut significantly by removing entitlements for disability, welfare, and food stamps. At the same time, Espanoza eliminated the IRS by enacting a federal sales tax. Families immediately saw larger paychecks which translated into increased spending. The deficit would be reduced significantly by the end of the President's second term putting pressure on his predecessor to continue its elimination. Former recipients of disability, welfare, and food stamps had two choices: enroll in government sponsored vocational programs or be placed in a work program to strengthen the infrastructure of the nation. The unemployment rate dropped to almost zero. With these entitlements gone, most of the illegal immigrants in the country returned home and sought the proper channels to immigrate into the country.

  Immigration was loosened so that more people could come into the country legally and support the growing economy. Because China had become competitive and had to increase wages, major corporations began returning their factories to U.S. soil instead of transporting raw materials internationally at record oil prices. President Espanoza opened up the U.S. oil reserves to help pay down the deficit quicker and lower oil prices to stimulate the economy even further. He directed a large portion of funds into alternative energy development. Occasionally, he would review various research reports, mark them up with his understanding of molecular biology he had picked up along the way, and soon the U.S. had a biological fuel source that fed off of carbon dioxide and monoxide molecules.

  The advent of vehicles operating on carbon and emitting oxygen reversed the trend of increasing man-made pollutants. The globe continued to warm as global warming was cyclical and not directly related to man's irresponsible environmental behavior. President Espanoza extended technological assistance to countries that allied with the U.S. to improve the infrastructure of those countries so that everyone resided in artificially cooled buildings.

  All too soon, the President's two terms were up. There was a global outcry for him to continue to serve. But Rock knew that he had impacted the globe at the maximum political level. Elected leaders in any country had a new standard of excellence to live up to. Rock Espanoza retired to the private sector.

  By this time, Rock had assimilated the mental capacity of thousands of individuals. His burgeoning mind spent most of its time contemplating things the average human couldn't comprehend. But Rock hadn't forgotten he was mortal. Every morning, the mirror reminded him of this fact. It was time to take a mate and ensure his immortality.

  Rock picked the most intelligent woman he could find. One who was beautiful, enigmatic, and kind. He didn't have any difficulty as he had remained the most eligible bachelor in the world during his entire political career. He knew she was ready to have children and he was to. Within nine months, Mr. and Mrs. Espanoza were at the hospital delivering a beautiful baby boy. Genetically, he was perfect.

  Rock took the baby boy in his arms and held out a finger. The baby grabbed the offered digit with his tiny, pink hand. As Rock's neural interface connected with the web of nerves in the baby's hand, he felt a rush as his mind collapsed through the conduit into the void of the baby's new, unorganized mind. Lifeless, his body dropped to the ground as his wife grabbed the baby from his hands and screamed and screamed.

  The baby boy blinked a few times, then turned, exhausted into his mother's desperate embrace. As he fell asleep, baby Rock began to dream the dreams of thousands of people including his father, former President and war-hero Rock Espanoza. Buried within the dreams, his father's mind came to the forefront as whispered plans for Rock Espanoza, Jr. to become President of the United States, just like his father, and continue to make the world a better place.

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  About the Author

  Kevin T. Goddard was born in Springfield, Missouri in 1975. He grew up watching shows and movies like Transformers, G.I. Joe, Star Wars, Star Trek, Dukes of Hazzard, A-Team, and much more action/adventure/science fiction. Kevin is currently a school administrator in Missouri. His family consists of a wife, 8 kids, and a chihuahua. Kevin earned a Doctorate of Education, Ed. D., in Educational Leadership in 2010. He started writing when he was a kid, but as he worked on his advanced degrees in the field of education, his writing turned academic.

  About 9 years ago, Kevin wrote a short book entitled Adam Powerhouse: Birth of the Double Zero. Afte
r finishing it, he didn't know what to do, so Kevin saved it on his computer and forgot about it. When he reopened the file in 2010, Kevin found he could self-publish on the internet and let others enjoy his writing. Due to his demanding schedule, Kevin has many more ideas than he could ever write about. The short story allows him time to complete a story without it living in his computer for a decade. These stories may be short and unpolished…kamikaze attempts at best…but Kevin hopes you find them enjoyable and worth returning to.

  Kevin plans on writing many more kamikaze short stories in the near future. Stay tuned…

  Connect with Kevin T. Goddard online:

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  Email: [email protected]