The following story is gay fiction. If the subject matter is offensive to you or you are too young, please exit now. This story is the property of the author and may not be reproduced without permission. John Tucker, JETjt@aol.com
EMPIRE
Chapter Forty-seven
Sunday Morning, 9 AM, Lake Mead
Tyler and Dan sat out on the lounge chairs that provided outdoor seating on the upper rear deck of the houseboat. Earlier, they had fixed breakfast burritos consisting of scrambled eggs, green peppers, onions, crumbled breakfast sausage and salsa, all wrapped in large, warmed flour tortillas, topped with sour cream. The boys had two apiece, and Tyler and Dan one. Matt had called the night before reporting on David's recovery, then Ron took over asking Tyler and Dan to talk to the boys about minimizing discussion about David's attempted suicide, especially the reason for it. Explaining that he wanted to talk privately with Tyler, Dan and Matt about the circumstances, Ron asked that the whole incident be kept as low-key as possible. Over breakfast Tyler had brought up the subject, explained Ron's request, then reported that David would be returning with Ron, Matt, and Carl later. The boys all agreed but naturally were curious. Nevertheless, each had his own ghosts in their past and knew that when the time was right, they'd be told. They all agreed that they could be satisfied with that.
Dan heard the whumping sound of the rotor blades of the RET helicopter before they saw it approaching in the sky. Knowing that the cove where they had camped was not flat enough for the aircraft's landing, Tyler asked Brad and Cliff, the two security guys who'd spent the night watching and camping on the upper rear deck of the houseboat and who'd joined them at breakfast, to keep an eye on things while he and Dan went to the spit of land where the chopper had landed the afternoon before.
Jumping into the runabout, Tyler started the engine as Dan pushed off from the shore, jumping in as the prow began to float freely. Putting the gearbox in reverse, Tyler backed the eight-passenger boat away from the camping area before cranking the wheel, turning the nose toward their destination. Putting the outdrive into forward gear, Tyler pushed the throttle forward causing the nose of the watercraft to rise as the propeller thrust the boat powerfully forward into a plane. When the boat's speedometer indicated 25 Tyler backed the throttle down to maintain that speed, which he estimated would still cause their arrival at the sandbar a few moments before the helicopter. True to his prediction, the small boat slowed, then buried its nose up in the sand as the aircraft began its descent. Tyler had made sure to beach the boat far enough away from the helicopter's landing site that he and his partner wouldn't be covered with dirt and sand from the downwash from the rotors. From their docking point, they watched the chopper settle down gently, until it's wheels buried themselves nearly to the axles, then stop, finding enough solid ground to support the weight of the aircraft. The side rear door of the plane opened providing the exit needed for the passengers to alight. Ron climbed out first then extended a hand for first Matt, then Carl, then finally David who appeared in a long sleeved shirt, concealing most of what was a somewhat bulky bandage on his left wrist.
As soon as the passengers were on the ground, they bent over at the waist and moved quickly away from the aircraft and its whirring rotors. When the last two, Ron and David, reached the spot where the other two men waited, Ron waved to Butch and the speed of the aircraft's turbine engines began to whine from increased speed followed by the accelerating rotation of the rotors. The four passengers joined together in making a hasty retreat away from the craft toward the small runabout, knowing that when Butch pulled up on the cyclical control the rotors would bite into the upper air throwing it again downward and creating a large cloud of dirt and dust resembling an upside down mushroom cap. They wanted to be out of the wake of air, dirt and dust. Butch too was most aware of the turbulence caused by the rotors and waited until the men had nearly reached the boat before pulling up the control causing the helicopter to gently lift off the ground where it had rested. The plane was less than twenty feet above the beach when Butch swung the tail around and dipped the nose, causing the craft to move forward into a climbing upside down arc back toward town.
The four arrivals clambered into the boat as the helicopter rose, yet remained without speaking; knowing that trying to yell over the noise made by the chopper was futile. Being the last person to climb into the boat, Ron pushed it off from the beach before jumping aboard. Tyler again backed the boat away, turning it toward the houseboat which sat in its overnight mooring less than a mile away.
Before again pushing the throttles forward. Tyler said simply, "Glad your back and that you're okay, David."
The thanks that David replied was drowned out by the noise of the boat's engine's labored acceleration and the prop biting into the water. As the boat picked up speed and shot toward the large houseboat moored ahead, David wondered again about the reception of the other younger guys still on the boat. He felt embarrassed to return to their midst, yet took comfort that Ron, Matt and Carl had all assured him that they would control any inquiries that might occur.
David was still in a state of mental confusion and at times regretting that his attempt to end his life had been unsuccessful. Yet he was somehow convinced the he was safe with this family who had adopted him in spite of his revelations. Even more spectacular to him was being with Carl and what they'd said to each other. Yes it was Carl who lifted his spirits, Carl, the guy he loved more than anyone on earth. It was Carl, the guy who had accepted him in spite of all. He thought back to the previous night after Ron and Matt had left to return to their home, leaving Carl with permission from the hospital and doctor to remain with him overnight:
"How are you feeling?" Carl had asked sitting beside the bed and taking David's injured hand in his own.
"I'm okay," David had begun, "I'm just feeling pretty stupid."
"Stupid?" Carl asked.
"Yeah, I'm so stupid that I can't even kill myself," David admitted.
"I think that maybe, just maybe, you really didn't want to do it," Carl said hopefully. "Of course, I'm thinking selfishly. You have so much to live for. You have a family now who loves you and will help and protect you, you have a good job with a future, and you have me, someone who loves you."
"Yeah, perhaps I wasn't thinking too clearly," conceded David missing Carl's full message, "but you don't know about my troubles. You're more than my best friend, but you wouldn't be if you knew about me. You'd hate me."
"Is that what you talked to Ron about?" Carl asked.
"Yes," answered David.
"Did he hate you, after you told him?"
"No," David admitted, "he surprised the hell out of me when he said he suspected what I told him."
"If he didn't hate you, then I know I couldn't either. He wants you as a son, but I want even more."
"A best friend is more important than a son?" David asked.
"I want to be more than a best friend," explained Carl so that there could be no misunderstanding. "I want to be your lover and partner, now and forever."
David gasped in surprise, now getting the full message. "But what about Nathan?"
"He knows and wishes us well," Carl said with assurance.
"But I thought you were boyfriends?"
"At first that's what I hoped for too. I still love him, but I'm not in love with him. He feels the same way. It took us a while to realize it, but we're different people and in the long run it wouldn't work," explained Carl.
"But I've nothing to offer you but sorrow and grief," David argued.
"I admit that I don't now what your problems are," Carl said, "and I really don't need to know if you don't want to tell me. Just knowing that Ron accepts them and will help us all we need, gives me great confidence. That guy, our dad Ron, is amazing. He's not omnipotent of course, but if human resources can fix something, he can do it, and if he tells you he will, you can rely on it."
"You could be in danger!" David said giving his final argument.
"Every day is a gift," Carl said philosophically. "I wish you could have been there when Douglas died. He was the bravest guy I ever knew. He was the only one who really believed that he would die, yet all he thought about was others. But he died only because there was no choice. We have a choice. If we die it can be for something. We could leave the world a better place. That's the worst that can happen. If we win, we will triumph together over adversity, and our love will be the greatest triumph of all."
"You make me see things so differently," David admitted. "I've always been so alone that what you're offering is so much more than I could have ever dreamed."
"I guess there's only one question then," Carl said softly. "Do you think you could ever be in love with me?"
"Carl, I've been in love with you from the time I really got to know you. At first it was a friendship that blossomed in spite of what I thought was my life's goal, one that had no place for friendship or love. When we met my being with you socially was a masquerade. I wanted to fit in and appear to be a normal guy. Oh, I knew I was gay, but it was buried, hidden from a culture that I grew up in that would never accept that part of me. When you took me home, I found unconditional love and acceptance. I'd never ever experienced that before. Truthfully, I didn't know what to make of it, but I knew, down deep, that it was what was missing in my life. That's when I realized that I loved you. Now you've offered me happiness that I never, ever thought possible. I want to say yes. Yes! YES!" He stopped and his face lost the joy that had been there and became serious. "I can't say yes, the words I long to shout to the world," he said slowly, showing his fear of Carl's answer but unable to withhold the truth, "^Åunless you know it all ^Åand can still love me. ^ÅI'm going to tell you my deepest secret. Then if you still want me, I'll throw myself into your arms, but you're free to walk away if you can't. I'll still love you, but I'll face my fate alone."
"I'm listening," Carl said giving David his full attention and support.
"It started when I was young^Å.." David began.
For the next twenty minutes, David told Carl all that he had revealed to Ron earlier. Through it all, Carl remained quiet and thoughtful, being careful not to show shock or revulsion at what David put before him. When David was finished with the story, he concluded with, "Now you know it all. I don't know how you could still love me, knowing what I planned to do."
Carl paused a moment, thinking before he replied. David waited with increasing anxiety for Carl to speak.
"The important thing David, is that you didn't do it. The inner decency in you refused to let you. I see now why you tried to kill yourself. You thought it was a way out of the conflict that was tearing you up inside. You knew that you couldn't participate in our deaths. I know more than that too. When Ron and I were away from you a while ago, he told me that he was sure you had a secret that resulted in your suicide attempt. He told me too that you had left a note that was not found until after we left the boat. I don't know exactly what it said; just that it was a warning to us of danger. Ron wouldn't tell me more. He said that anything more would have to come from you. Both he and Matt knew that I loved you. He wanted me to be prepared."
"Yes, I left a note of warning. Regardless of my fate, I couldn't let any of you die."
Carl smiled a grim smile, but his face still hid his decision.
What have you decided about us?" David asked, hopeful but uncertain.
Carl paused again.
"David," he said with a stoic expression, "What you were planning was horrible beyond my comprehension. I'm trying hard to understand."
"So your answer is `no'," David concluded aloud in sadness, not waiting for Carl to finish.
"I didn't say that," Carl said strongly. "Being in love is not something you can turn off and on. When I said I was in love with you, I didn't say it lightly. Love's a state of being, not something I can help. I love you David. I still love you and will always love you. What you've told me doesn't change that. It's just something terrible that we'll have to overcome. It will be hard for me to put it out of my thoughts, yet I know that I'm in love with you. David, I love the man inside, the man who is full of good, waiting to live, and waiting to be loved. Nothing you've told me has changed that. I love you and want to be with you always, through the good and the bad. I believe in you and I know that you'd die before you would ever hurt me. You need never think of dying as a solution again though. We'll see our way through this together."
As Carl spoke, tears appeared in David's eyes.
"Then my answer for now and forever is `yes'. ^ÅI love you so," David cried, pouring out his heart as tears of happiness flowed.
Carl arose from his chair, bent over the side of David's bed and placed the first of a lifetime of kisses on the face of his lover.
Carl held David's hand as the small craft slowed, then nudged the beach in landing. Ron leaped overboard, pulling the bow rope onto the beach and retying it to a scrub brush tree where it had been secured a short time before. Tyler had shut down the engine, and for the first time in the last hour there was silence nearby, with only the sound of a boat's engine to be heard in the distance.
The boys who had remained behind leapt off the prow of the houseboat and came running to meet the returning guys.
"Hey David," Ronnie began, speaking for the younger set. "Glad to have you back."
"Thanks guys," David said gratefully.
"Hey! Aren't you glad to see me?" Carl asked.
"Aiaaaah," Zack said, raising his hands, and quickly rotating them back and forth.
Everyone, including the older guys, laughed.
"What's for lunch?" Carl asked before anything else could be asked.
"I'm not sure," Matt said leaping from the boat, "but we can find out. Follow me."
He began striding toward the houseboat followed by Dan and a string of younger men. A minute later only Ron and Tyler remained on the beach.
Ron turned to Tyler.
"Brother, we need to talk," Ron said. "I have to tell you what David told me. Then we must act fast."
"Let's go up on the hill where we can talk privately," Tyler suggested grabbing a couple of life preserver cushions from the boat to sit on. They left the small beach, climbing upward until they reached a rocky promontory looking out over the lake."
"What's to tell?" Tyler asked as he placed his cushion on a 2 foot high, flat topped rock and was seated.
Ron found a similar rock nearby and performed the same action before beginning to speak.
"David is an Al Quaida operative," Ron revealed, putting all the cards out on the table. "They plan to blow up the Stratosphere Tower on New Year's Eve."
"Damn!" Tyler said in shock. "Here we've been looking everywhere for them and they're right under our noses. I understand his warning now!"
"What did it say exactly?" Ron asked with real curiosity.
"It said first, `I'm sorry. David,'" Then it said, "Beware the Crowds, Beware the Clouds, Beware the New Year' I didn't get it when I read it. I knew it was a warning, but I never put it all together."
"I guess he thought we'd figure it out before the New Year's party at the Stratosphere," Ron surmised. "I'm sure he knew we'd take it seriously, especially since he planned to die in order to leave us the warning, and to avoid participating in the bombing."
"Will he help us?" Tyler asked.
"He said he would," replied Ron. "I don't know if he'll help us more than telling us what he knows though."
"Hmmmm," Tyler said deep in thought. "I'm sure we can foil the attempt to destroy the tower, just by rounding up the members of the cell, but I'm not sure we can keep them in jail just based on David's accusations, nor prevent another cell from trying the same thing here or something similar. We'll need more evidence."
"We can ask him to do more," cautioned Ron, "but I know he's afraid they'll kill him if they find out."
"I'm sure they would try," Tyler agreed. "We'll have to talk to him and see how much he's willing to risk. In the meantime, we need to find out all he knows already. Do you know what their plans are?"
"I'm sure that the tour he requested to the Stratosphere Tower is a fact finding mission. We could go ahead with that at least."
"That's planned for tomorrow?" asked Tyler trying to confirm what he'd remembered.
"Yes, it's planned for after they get off work in mid afternoon."
"I think we have to make sure that tour happens," Tyler advised. "We don't want to tip our hand too soon. In the meantime, we need to interrogate him and find out what he knows. We need to do that this afternoon, or tonight."
"We can go back early, if you can set it up quickly," suggested Ron. "I don't want him to have to go home too late, or, if they're watching him, they might get suspicious."
"Right, and I want him protected too. I have some very good guys that can be close to invisible."
"That I know," confirmed Ron. "Even I rarely see the bodyguards you have following me around. It's easy to forget that they're there."
"I want you and Matt to only use the Escalade or your Mercedes until this is over too," Tyler insisted.
"Why?" Ron asked with curiosity.
"If it looks like they might fail in their plans, they may come after you. You're pretty high profile in this town."
"What does that have to do with the cars?"
"They're the only ones, except my Beemer that are armored," explained Tyler.
"Armored?" Ron gasped. "When did that happen? I don't know how that's possible, I bought the cars off the showroom floor."
"And I had them armored when you weren't around," Tyler said. "Remember the 5 days that the Mercedes was in the shop?"
"Yeah, I never had such bad service. They kept calling saying that they needed parts that had not come in. I knew they were taking out a couple of dings and doing a complete detailing, but I didn't pay that much either. I remember being surprised, especially when it looked brand new when I got it back."
"It was brand new," Tyler said. "We bought an identical car then had it armored. You should have seen the bill I got from the armor specialists," Tyler laughed. "It was over $100,000."
"That's pretty expensive," Ron admitted, "even for two vehicles."
"$100,000 each," Tyler confessed.
"Wow! I had no idea!
"Yep, and it took two months. When your car went into the shop we did a swap. It took a while though as we had to change the plates and registration. Fortunately the old car was in the company's name. We didn't know if you would notice. The new cars are 600 pounds heavier. The Escalade was easier because you don't drive it as much."
"You sure fooled me," Ron admitted. "I wondered why they've both felt sluggish after being in the shop. I was tempted to take them back!"
"I'd better call Wes to get the meeting set up," Tyler said reaching for his cell phone. "How soon can we get back there?"
"Make it for 3 o'clock," Ron suggested. "It's still morning, in spite of the kids eating `lunch' already. I want them, especially David, to have some enjoyment out of this trip."
"Uh, one last question," Tyler asked. "Did I notice a special look on Carl and David's face in the boat?
"Yeah, they're an item' after our trip' into town," Ron said smiling. "It's a good thing. I don't know if David would be able to get through all of this without some real personal support."
"If he's in love with Carl, then he'll have it. Carl is very tender, but nevertheless very tough. He's also done well in my self-defense training with the boys and developed a real body too. David couldn't have anyone better by his side."
"I think so too," Ron agreed.
"Well, I'd better call Wes. Go on back to the boat. I'll join you in a few minutes."
"Okay Bro," said Ron. "Just remember to go easy on David. He's had a rough time."
"Got it!" Tyler responded as he pushed the speed dial on his phone.
3 PM, the Aztec-Turner offices of RET
"Welcome gentlemen," Wes said rising from the table where he sat with three agents as Ron and Tyler arrived with David. "It's good to see you David."
"Uh, I guess it's good to be here too," David said hesitatingly as the trio approached the table.
"Have a seat," Wes offered. "David if you'd sit next to me," he said, indicating the chair around the corner from his seat at the head of the table, "Tyler and Ron can sit next to you across from our agent Sparks and Agents Fernley and Tellman from Homeland Security."
The trio said hello to the agents, took their places, then looked again at Wes who would conduct the interrogation.
"David,"(delete ") we realize how difficult this is for you. "We'll try to keep it as low-key as we can, for your sake. Your cooperation is more than just appreciated; it's vital to the success of this operation. We need to know as much as you know, then we'll have to decide how to proceed."
"What will happen to me?" David asked. "They'll kill me if they find out."
"Our job is to see that that doesn't happen," Wes assured the young man, "and we take our job very seriously. When this is over, you will have a couple of choices. The safest is to put you into a witness protection plan, whereby your identity and even looks would be completely changed and you'd be moved elsewhere to continue your work or education. The second choice, which is unique in your case, would be to do the same identity changes, but you would stay as Ron and Matt's new son. The second option is a bit more risky, but with the security that Ron and Matt have, it would still be relatively safe. Another thing that we'd do, once the sting is over; we'd publicly announce your capture, along with the others and your prosecution. Of course it would never happen, but they would never know it. Each of the terrorists will be separated, so no one would know what really happens to the others."
"What do I have to do?" David asked, satisfied with Wes' answer to his previous question.
"First we need to know everything that you know, who the others are, where they live if you know, and then what the plans are."
"Right now I only know the leader Achmed Mubaric," David reported as an agent scribbled down the name. "The other three guys I only know their first names, but I don't know where they live or anything. We've only met twice all together. We're going to meet again on Tuesday after I've got the pictures from the Stratosphere to do the final planning."
"Where will you meet?" Wes asked.
"At Abdul's house," David replied. "It's a small place out near Tropicana and Jones."
"If we can we'll bug the house," Wes said. "If we're not able to do that you'll have to wear a wire."
"I really just want out," David said adamantly.
"We'd like that too," Wes agreed, "but unless we can catch them red-handed, you would have to testify against them in court. That would make protecting you much more difficult. Believe me, we'll be listening and if you're discovered we'll sweep in to protect you."
The questioning went on for another hour, the inquisitors wanting to make sure nothing was missed. The strain was beginning to show on David's face, making him look haggard.
"Let's wrap it up," Tyler ordered. "I think David's had it. We've all agreed that for now David will take life normally, going to work, going on the tour tomorrow, and attending the meeting on Tuesday night with Mubaric and the others. Then we'll see what their plans are and decide when to make our move. In the meantime, we'll do a 24 hour surveillance of David for his protection, and of Mubaric to see if he leads us anywhere. David, before you leave, we'll provide you with a `panic button'. Keep it with you always. It's disguised to look like a key fob, so put your keys on it right away. If you push it, help will be there within 30 seconds. Don't use it though just because you're scared. Use it if you're threatened and think they're going to try and kill you. Once you use it, the jig is up. We'll have to move in on the whole operation immediately. Oh by the way, we'll also wiretap both your phone and Mubaric's. Don't say anything on the phone you don't want us or them to hear. We're not the only ones that know how to place bugs or tap phones. It's important though that you do the things you normally do. If they become at all suspicious or even cautious about you, they may either watch you or bug your apartment. It's important that we're able to find all the members of the cell though. We'll have teams standing by to tail them after the meeting, so you needn't worry about finding out their addresses for us. From now on we'll be ready to move, but don't give it away any earlier than you have to."
"Yes sir," David said.
"Let's get you fixed up then," Tyler said with a smile, "then we can leave."
Ten minutes later, in the same room
Wes returned and sat with his agent and the two agents from homeland security.
"I want to make it clear from the start that this is our show," Chief Agent Fernley of Homeland Security stated.
"That's fine with us," Wes replied, "as long as we participate in a way that's acceptable to us."
"No conditions, I said!" Fernley said adamantly.
"That's fine," Wes said, "but I can promise you two things. First you will lose your witness, and secondly, you'll hear from either the Secretary of Homeland Security or the President within the hour."
"You'd better not threaten me!" Fernley shouted.
"I'm not threatening," Wes replied with a confident smile. "I'm making a promise. You don't have any idea just how much political juice Tyler's brother, Ron Turner, has in Washington. Piss him off and you'll end up running the Homeland Security office in Point Barrow, Alaska. And I'm talking about tomorrow. "
"What do you want?" Fernley asked in a toned-down voice, being smart enough to back down from his arrogant demands.
"We want to provide the security for David and for the Turners, and want to be included in all direct contacts between you and David. The rest you can have."
"I can agree with that," Fernley replied in surprise at the demands. "That's all you want?"
"Only that and complete amnesty for David," Wes replied. "We'll cooperate with you with any information we gather, but you can have the glory that goes with the capture of the terrorists. I will say this though, if David or any of the Turner clan as much as gets scratched because of ineptitude on your part, someone's career is over."
"I understand and agree," Fernley said begrudgingly. "I hope so," Wes said smiling. "Just so you know, I've recorded this conversation."
"I want that tape!" Fernley demanded.
"Fuck you!" Wes said smiling. "I wasn't born yesterday."
Monday afternoon
The tour that Ron arranged through the inner workings of the Stratosphere tower took well over two hours. Ron, Tyler and all the boys were shown in, out and around the 1000 foot-high structure by the casino's VIP Director and the Chief of Maintenance. The group visited the legs, both inside and out, the central staircase, the only means of exiting the upper pod if the elevators should fail, and all the workings of the Pod itself, including the elevator room, the six 10,000 gallon tanks of emergency water located on the top level of the pod, and the emergency evacuation concrete-encased floors located on the lowest two levels of the pod whose only purpose was to protect the occupants of the pod until evacuation could be accomplished in the event of a fire or other calamity. Finally, the guides took a key to the double deck elevators and delivered the group down to the casino's rooftop, where people could be evacuated if there was a mishap in the casino itself. During the tour David and Tyler took copious pictures of every feature of the tall tower. Finally thanking their guides, the Turner group headed home where Tyler and David would print out the digital pictures they had taken.
At home, in Ron's office, Tyler and David worked, reviewing the pictures as they came out of the printer.
"We got some excellent shots," Tyler commented.
"Yes," David agreed. "I'm not sure what it all means though. Achmed told me he wanted to blast the leg nearest the casino so that the tower would fall on the hotel. He wanted to kill as many people as possible. I don't see how that's possible," David remarked. "The leg that he wants to blow up is in the middle of the Casino. You could never haul enough explosives in there to do anything before being caught. The other two legs are a possibility since they're out in the open, if a huge truck bomb could be ignited at the base."
"I'm glad you're so observant," Tyler complimented David's power of observation. "Maybe if you want to get out of construction, you could come to work for Aztec-Turner Security."
"Wow, I hadn't ever thought of that," David said in surprise at the suggestion. "Oh, I just thought of something else."
"What's that?" Tyler asked.
"The leg nearest the hotel could be blown up from the roof. There are stairways and everything leading up there to evacuate people from the tower. I didn't see any security cameras up there either."
"I'm convinced that you'd make a good investigator," Tyler beamed. "You're very observant."
"Yeah, but what should I tell Achmed?" asked David.
"Tell him all he wants to know. Give him the evaluation you just discussed with me. We want to keep him convinced that you're a loyal member of the cell," Tyler advised. "If there is a plan developed and you can tell us, we can take every precaution to prevent it from ever happening."
"Alright, I'll do that," David agreed.
"Let's join the others then," Tyler said as he gave David's arm a friendly squeeze. "Mary should have dinner ready soon, then Carl can take you back to your place."
"Yeah, I probably shouldn't spend too much time here until this is over," David said.
"I agree," Tyler said. "If you have some information you need to give us, you can send it through Carl, or if you have to talk to me, call me from your cell phone."
"I don't have one," David revealed.
"Hmm," I'll give you Carl's and get him a new one," Tyler offered. "Just make sure you don't call from inside your apartment or where others can overhear you."
"Alright," David said.
"I guess that's it then," Tyler concluded as he looked at David with a smile and encouraged, "Don't worry son. You'll do fine."
David's thin smile back indicated that he wasn't totally convinced.
Happy Thanksgiving. JET