[Veritas]

Lucas "Big Luke" Macaffey, chief of security at the Luxor Hotel and Resort, watched as a hotel maintenance employee spread a large poster in one of the display cases, fitting it squarely into the frame and smoothing out the wrinkles. Normally, Big Luke would not concern himself with such a mundane task, focused as he was with enforcing law and order in the two million square foot pyramid-shaped hotel, but this one was different. Very different.

ShareSpace

With your host: Buzz Aldrin

Our mission is to share the wonders of space
with children of all ages
and to foster affordable space travel opportunities
for all people.

We aim to facilitate space flight experiences,
expand human exploration
and advance space science education.


June ** to July**, 20**

The hotel staffer closed the glass door and turned to leave. He was startled to see the chief of security there, and instantly became nervous. "Oh, excuse me, Chief," he stammered, "I didn't see you there. Everything okay?"

Macaffey flashed one of his rare grins. "It's okay, son," he said in a genial tone, "everything's fine. Just wanted to see what you were putting up there, that's all."

The staffer respectfully backed away to allow Macaffey to read the poster. "Buzz Aldrin's coming to the Luxor to talk about his space program," he informed him unnecessarily.

Macaffey nodded. "Yeah, I see he is," he said. "Looking forward to it. It's not every day we get to meet a real American hero, right?"

"Right you are, sir," the staffer replied nervously as he picked up his tool box. "You'll excuse me?"

Big Luke dismissed him with an indifferent wave of the hand. The staffer made a hasty retreat. Even though Macaffey had been friendly enough, the presence of the hotel's top cop was intimidating to all who met him. Stories of his previous career as a guard at Nevada's super maximum security prison made their way through the hotel grapevine. How many were true or exaggerated was a matter of conjecture, but the sheer bulk of the man, coupled with his militant attitude toward keeping order in and around the hotel, kept everyone walking on eggshells whenever he was around. Being chief of security, of course, he was around a lot.

Macaffey continued on his way, mellow in mood but senses still on full alert. So Buzz Aldrin's coming to the Luxor, he mused. Won't that be something! Imagine, a real American hero coming here, live and in person, to talk about the Apollo mission! Beats hell out of strippers and magicians, that's for sure!

That last thought had barely faded out of consciousness when Macaffey spotted the Luxor's hottest attraction, Criss Angel, strolling through the lobby with his girlfriend by his side. "Hey, Big Luke," he said as he passed.

He greeted Criss with a perfunctory "Morning," and continued on his way. No time for pleasantries; he had a job to do, and he had to get to the security office to do it.

He barely had time to pour himself a cup of coffee and settle down at his desk when the phone rang. Macaffey snatched the receiver just after the first ring and put it to his ear. "Security, chief speaking," he barked.

"Uh, hello," a nervous woman's voice spoke over the line. "I-I-I just called to report...well, something that you should be aware of, I guess."

"Yes, ma'am," Macaffey said with cool, professional patience.

"Uh, you know that the astronaut, Buzz Aldrin is coming to the Luxor, right?" the woman said.

"That's right, ma'am. What about it?"

"Well, there's someone who's planning to...oh, how do I put this?"

"Ma'am?"

"Well, I guess you could call him a conspiracy theorist," the woman blurted out finally. "He's coming over to the Luxor to cause trouble. He thinks the moon mission was a hoax, and he's planning to disrupt the whole thing while Buzz Aldrin's there."

Macaffey nodded understandingly. "Now, don't you worry about a thing, ma'am," he assured her. "If there's any trouble, we'll take care of it. You know who this guy is?"

"His name's Boone Morris. He's about five-eleven, long, brown hair, light brown eyes, pale, and has a small beard."

Boone Morris, 5'11", long brwn hair, lite brwn eyes, pale, beard, Macaffey scribbled on his notepad. "Got it," he said. "If we see him, we'll handle him.

"Thank you, sir," the woman said, obviously relieved.

"Glad to be of service, ma'am. Will that be all?"

"Yes, thank you. Good-bye."

"Yes, ma'am, have a nice day."

Macaffey hung up the phone and read what he had written on the notepad. Boone Morris, a pale man of average height with long brown hair and a beard and eyes to match, a conspiracy theorist nut job out to make trouble during Buzz Aldrin's visit. Well, not on Lucas Macaffey's watch! Even if that lady hadn't called, bless her heart, he would've made damn sure that wacko didn't cause any trouble around the hotel! Didn't believe the moon shot was real--geez! What had this guy been smoking?