ReaderPaul

Usually a "beard" is a female who acts as the girlfriend of a gay male so that he appears to be straight. However, Dale Andrews reluctantly agrees to become a "beard" to Cole Pritchard so that Cole will appear bi or gay. This is supposed to make it easier for Cole's father to change to a more gay friendly political stance. However, several several other factors seem, at times, to interfere with some of the aims of Cole and Dale. Then there is the mysterious "Foundation" later in the story -- A fascinating read with some humor, some seriousness, and also some serious questions that are raised -- and often answered -- It was too bad this did not get a sequel before "dkstories" ceased writing on the Internet.

The incident with Charlie's father finding the old double book, almost certainly one of the old Ace Doubles, although there have been a few others which produced them, reminded me of much old time reading fun. It also reminded me of a section of Robert A. Heinlein's "The Number of the Beast" where Lazarus Long had read of meeting Zeb, Hilda, Jake, and Deety in a long-lost book. This is already a great story!

What a wonderful story this is turning out to be! Fascinating, fun, full of practical and sometimes poetic prose. I collect quotes, and I see several to record from this chapter. Example --- "I see what Rick means," Max said. "Everything that happens, everywhere, is the result of probability defining itself one specific way, a sequence of events, that all lead to the next event. Altering any of the events in the probability chain would change the outcome at a given time later on." | Next example --- Ragal issued forth a very human-sounding sigh. "I hesitate to possibly pollute this investigation with probable misinformation." "If you know something, you should share it," Casper urged carefully. "Anything you're unsure of can be viewed as an aside for now. But...I feel like you should share this." Next example --- Ragal chuckled, and sat back and closed his eyes. "When I was a child in Burnitadas, in the realm of Tiva, I used to hear those spooky tales." He sighed. "I think every intelligent race out there has such stories, designed to cause a sharply-felt tingle, or a delicious shudder, or a sharply taken breath of anxiety." He nodded. "Tales to frighten the children with." I could go on, but there is much in this chapter. Browbeat spoke of a probability discriminator. I wonder if that might be distantly related to the probability index of another story? As usual, very well done, Geron.

At first when Will said he could be hard to see if he did not want to be, it reminded me of Robin and his "negative light." But I remembered that Charlie's second presence could detect Robin in the warehouses -- and then I wondered if it might be Pacha detecting Robin and feeding the sensory input to Charlie's second presence? Only our favorite @Geron Kees knows for sure -- it might have even been Rick or Frit or Pip or Kiernan picking up Robin and feeding the input into Charlie's presence. I don't think we know what Kiernan's potentials are yet -- unless magic mechanic Rick has figured it out. Good start to this story.

Fascinating chapter. Mark has many adventures in bed and out of bed. When does the next chapter post?

Perception, perception, perception -- a good spin-doctor can make almost anything look like anything else. Avery has an advantage, but that does not always make things easy. Could the lawyer's client sue her lawyer for wrong legal advice? Probably not --

With such authors as @dkstories, @JamesSavik, @W_L, @Grumpy Bear, @D.K. Daniels, @Mark Arbour, @AC Benus, @Lee Wilson, @lomax61, @Bill W, @quokka, and so many others, you can't go wrong with a list like this. Thanks, @Myr!

It was a welcome twist at the end. I only partly expected it. Well done.

A great selection of stories. Thanks for the summation, @wildone. A suggestion for a possible future story contest, if @Cia and you, @wildone, and @Myr and anyone else necessary for the consideration -- How about a contest where writers write a story under their own names, but try to write in the writing style of a different author -- and then we readers have to guess which author is being style paralleled? Possibly @Geron Kees writing in the style of @astone2292, or @P. E. Knapp writing n the style of @quokka, or @Backwoods Boy writing in the style of @Lee Wilson, or @Mancunian writing in the style of @dkstories? (Sorry, Craig, I couldn't get your name to come up.) Of course, these are just suggestions. Might it even be feasible? I don't know. Admins, what do you think?

Much of that will be answered in future chapters.

@pvtguy and @Lee Wilson, we lived 5 miles away from the nearest cable system. We got our first television when I was 9½ years old. Robert A. Heinlein on types of lying: "It’s not enough to be able to lie with a straight face; anybody with enough gall to raise on a busted flush can do that. The first way to lie artistically is to tell the truth — but not all of it. The second way involves telling the truth, too, but is harder: Tell the exact truth and maybe all of it . . . but tell it so unconvincingly that your listener is sure you are lying."

Sorry, @P. E. Knapp -- I keep thinking of Uroda as Ursula for some reason. Apologies.

The answer to why Marc was upset with Bryan is clearly here: “Say that again?” Tom asked in disbelief. “Bryan met me at the shuttle hanger. Dragged me up to his quarters. Undressed me. Bathed me. We felt each other up and traded blow jobs in the fresher. His Link sounded a warning tone, and he rushed us out of the fresher. Dressed and smiled apologetically as he introduced me to his parents, thanked me for the help with a class, which we didn’t work on, much less even discussed, and showed me out the hatch.” “That’s what I thought you said. Really?!” “Yeah. I don’t even want to talk to him again. I don’t want to hide when I am with someone. I don't appreciate people lying about our connection. And shoving me out of the hatch without even saying goodbye. What’s his deal?” “I don’t know. We can always check.” “Honestly, I really don’t care. He’s done in my book.” I said with the finality of an Alexander. We are known for our long memories and tempers. Tom gave me a sharp nod in agreement before he changed the subject. Marc is serious about his "playthings." While they are together, they must be willing to admit it.

You will have to read quite a bit further to understand. There is more than meets the proverbial eye.

I used to read the Perry Mason books by Earl Stanley Gardner. This reminded me of some of those books. Well done. I never saw the Perry Mason television series; it was on a channel we did not receive when I was a kid. (Growing up, we could get one over-the-air channel, being down in a valley. The neighbors up the hill from us, ¼ mile, could get TWO channels!) I look forward to seeing A] more of the life of Avery Noonan, Sr., and B] wondering if Avery Noonan, Jr., can also see auras.

The story is fascinating, but feels like much more could follow, Several sequel chapters would clear up a few points that seem a bit fuzzy. Sometimes friendship can become much more, and at the same time generate more mystery as more is learned about another person. I recommend this.

An interesting chapter. Sounds like Valerie's father may have to learn a Marc Alexander lesson or two. I am guessing Janek does not yet have an implant? Will we eventually get to see more of Ursula?

I'm looking forward to the next chapter. This is a good series.

I am wondering how good the plastic surgery of the future is. Does "Austin" have fingerprints that actually register? Or does it merely LOOK like he has fingerprints? Does the CONFED have the ability to alter retina patterns?

Wow! Good story.

I also would like to see more of this.

This story has a point of view less written. A really good story with quite a bit of humor for such a quick read.

I have heard of persons who can see auras. I am interested to see what happens to persons with white, orange, purple, lavender, indigo, and violet auras. I am not sure if I have ever seen an aura or not. A couple of times I have thought I saw an aura for a second. But I am not sure. Intriguing story.

Very good ending for this book. Question -- is Janek Wojact now a superior officer to Hugo and Rory? Will we see Ursula again? Camille and Roman will have high standards for anyone lasting more than one or two dates with each of them.

Sometimes life throws multiple curves. Some of the curves can turn out well. Good story.