“Uh!”
“Yes.”
“Babe, that’s awful.”
“I know. Only wholesome food. No sweets.”
“I’ll help you out.”
Cal smiled. “I knew you would.”
“Rickie,” Billy called his attention. “Cal is not allowed any sweets. It’s part of the experiment.”
“So?” Rickie replied.
“So you shouldn’t give any to her.”
“Are you gonna tattle?” Rickie asked.
“I may.”
“Dude, you tell, I’ll tell Sarge you were hitting on the Cal-Babe while you were here.”
“I give up.” Billy lifted his hands and dropped them.
“Uh!” Rickie shouted, stepped back and pointed at Billy.
“What?” Billy asked.
“You’re stasis.” Rickie said.
Billy laughed. “What? I am not.”
“Dude, you grew your leg back. Last I checked you were hop a long.”
“Still am Rickie.” Billy lifted his pant leg. “It’s a fake leg. A temporary bionic leg.”
“Whoa.” Rickie nodded. “Do-do-do-do.” He snickered at his six million dollar man reference. “can you run in slow motion.”
“No.” Billy replied.
“Maybe once it’s not temporary you’ll be able to.” Rickie sighed out. “Whoa. Look at all the babes.”
Cal finally turned around to see the sea of female faces staring. “Oh, hey, everyone, this is my son, Rickie.”
“Hey.” Rickie raised his hand in a wave.
One woman asked ‘How come your son is here?”
Rickie answered, “I’m a monster.”
“Oh,” the woman nodded. “Nice to meet you. Will you be joining us on the beach this afternoon?”
“Absolutely, I’ll be there watching.” Rickie nudged into Billy. “She’s cute. Dude, you and I can so hook up with a woman here. We’re totally outnumbered.”
“Rickie, they’re all pregnant.” Billy stated.
“So?”
“So .. they’re pregnant.”
“Don’t you think they’re hot?” Rickie asked.
“They’re pregnant.”
Rickie shook his head. “There it is again, Cal-Babe. Just like with the Sarge. He doesn’t think your hot while you’re preggers.”
Cal’s mouth dropped open and she faced Billy.
“Rickie,” Billy grunted. “You’re starting trouble already.”
“Dude,” Rickie smiled. “That’s why I’m here.”
***
Jake presented himself well. Stern and even keeled, not angry or hostile or even inquisitive. He returned from the other room, stating, “I’m sorry about that,” sat down at his desk and adjusted his seating position.
He stared at every line on Richard’s face, the curve, the reaction in his eyes.
“I’m not liking this silence,” Richard said. “Can we discuss my son?”
“Absolutely.”
“I am not fond of the fact that he is calling you his father.”
“Understandable.” Jake said.
“As a matter of fact, I’d like to cut through this bullshit. Where's my son, Colonel?”
Another nod, and Jake folded his and. “I have one question to ask you. One.” He lifted his index finger.
“And that is?”
“Answer me straight. When Caldwell called you and confirmed to you that Rickie had mutated, did you break off all communication with them in regards to Rickie?”
“He was mutated. I saw the images of the stasis.”
“Is that a yes or no?”
“It’s a difficult question.”
“I don’t believe it is, sir.” Jake said. “This is your son, or … was.”
“Is.”
“Was. Did you free yourself of parental obligations when it was confirmed that Rickie had mutated?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.” Jake rose from his desk, walked to his door and opened it. “I’ll inform Rickie you were here and allow him to make the decision to contact you. Please leave that information with my sergeant out there. I’ll make sure he gets it.”
“Colonel Graison.” Richard was argumentative.
“Good day.” Jake stood stern.
“I want to see my son.” Richard rose.
“Rickie is twenty-one years old … physically. It is his decision.”
“He is my son.”
“Sir, he ceased being your son the day you abandoned him because you thought there was something wrong with him.”
“How dare you, you pompous asshole.”
Jake’s jaw twitched, but still he remained calm. “How dare I?” He replied calmly. “I dare because I love that kid. I love him no less than if he were my own flesh and blood. I watched him die, I watched him live. I watched him bring life into my world. Now if you’ll excuse me…” Jake widened the door. “I’m a very busy man.”
“If you don’t contact me, I will contact him. If I have to follow you, track him down, I will.”
“Don’t you think you should have done that three years ago?”
Richard breathed out heavily, almost a huff as he straighten his clothing and approached the arch of the door. “You haven’t heard the last of me.”
Jake, tightly closed lipped, gave a single nod. As Richard stormed from the office with a gust of hostility, Jake mumbled ‘asshole’ and shut the door.
***
It was a covert operation. Rickie had to carry it out just precisely or else he would deem himself a total failure. After the early lunch, Rickie spent the best part of the afternoon frolicking on the beach with the babes. They loved him and Rickie felt a like a super model. He wore his best swimming trunks, the green ones with bright yellow flowers. They came down to his knees. He was going to wear Speedos, but Cal advised him not to saying she knew of at least three of the women who hadn’t had sex in months.
Rickie thanked her for the heads up and made a note of them. She didn’t say which ones, but he was pretty certain the babe who asked him to skinny dip at night was one of them.
After hours of splash, ‘it tag’, and whose belly made the bigger hole in the sand, Rickie had to put his mind in focus and begin his task. His swimming trunks had dried out, and he wore those with a big giant blue Hawaiian shirt he had got for the Sarge. The Sarge never wore it. It was almost as long as the shorts.
Like with the last experiment, Rickie was Caldwell property and pretty much had free reign anywhere on the island. He loved that. He could explore, go to any floor, as his security card opened all the doors.
He started at the top. After all, he had to learn the place, before he could pull it off. Inside and out. It was a task and he knew it would be something he’d have to be very careful at.
He was busy. Not Rickie. Dr. Myers. He darted about the lab, working more on computers than people. He merely looked up annoyed when Rickie stepped in.
He did ask, “Can I help you?”
“Exploring, dude, exploring.”
“You must be Rickie.”
“Dude, I am.” Rickie walked around the lab. “Is there anything I should not touch?”
“Don’t play with the computers.”
“Got it.” Hands behind his back Rickie peered around. “So you run the bionics division?”
“Yes.”
“Is it fun?”
“At times.”
“Were you like a big fan of the Six Million Dollar Man?”
“As a matter of fact,” Dr. Myers said. “I was.”
“Dude! So was I.”
Oddly, Myers glanced at Rickie, one eyebrow cocked. “Aren’t you much too young for that show?”
“It’s not adult, guy.”
“No, I mean, too young to know what that show is.”
“Dude. No. Reruns, guy. Check me out.” Singing the ‘do-do-do music, Rickie moved in slow motion. “Can you give me a bionic ear?”
“No.”
; “Just checking. Did you like it? I mean, do you bionics people to move like that?”
“No.”
“Do you like say anything other than one word answers.”
“No.”
“Just checking.” Rickie walked some more about the lab. “What’s this door?”
“We like to call it the spare parts room.”
“No way.” Rickie said excited. “Can I look?”
“Be my guest.”
“I will.” Rickie opened up the door.
Myers breathed out, possibly from the thought of getting a break. He tried to ignore the Rickie comments.
“Dude! Whoa! Freaky!”
Myers kept working.
“Dude!”
In the room, Rickie’s voice caused Myers to jump.
“Dude, check me out.”
Myers turned around. “What?”
Rickie crinkled his face. “Ug. I’m not feeling very well.” He leaned against the counter, running his hand over his mid section. “Something is not sitting right with me.” Suddenly, Rickie began to shake, convulse, scream and with a drastic arch of his body, an arm popped out from between the buttons of his shirt. “UH!” Rickie shrieked and then laughed. “This is so great. Didn’t you think it was great? I love this arm.” He held it up. “Can I have it?”
“No.”
“Borrow it?”
“Rickie, that’s a million dollar arm.”
“Yeah, but I won’t break it. I promise. Right hand to God.” Rickie held up the arm. And laughed. “I want to do my trick on people,”
“You mean the women here?”
“Yeah.”
Myers sighed out. “Fine, since we all know what your part in this research is.”
“You do?”
“Yes.”
“To keep my mom company.”
Myers winked “It’s a bit more than that.”
“No way.”
“Yes way.”
“Dude, I thought I knew, but I guess I don’t. So, like since I don’t know why I’m here, can you tell me?” Rickie asked.
“Maybe Stan should explain it. The research study isn’t my baby.”
Rickie snickered. “Research baby. I get it. My mom is here.”
“I know. But like I said. I don’t have anything to do with it.”
Rickie nodded. “That’s cool. You have any food?”
“No.”
“OK, I’ll go bother Stan.”
“You do that.”
Rickie, arm in tow, began to leave the lab. Not before using the arm to wave for him. He enjoyed his short trip to the lab. It was informative, but didn’t serve the purpose he needed. It was time to move onward.
Next …
Rickie could smell the popcorn a poppin’ and knew his nose would lead him to Stan. He was shocked when he got there. Stan had an office. Not only an office, but a lab connected to it as well. It wasn’t much of a lab, only computers and so forth. But still…
“Made it to the big time, didn’t you, Dude?” Rickie asked.
“Good to see you too, Rickie. Not really the big time. Just a small time of last experiment.”
“Are you like pulling pranks?”
“Pranks?”
“Like making things happen unnaturally?”
“No. Well sort of.”
“Dude, do you know …” Rickie paused. “Are you like eating Vienna sausage?”
“Yes, they’re good.”
“But … are they good for you?” Rickie asked.
“Rickie, they’re Vienna sausage. I’d say no.”
“Cool. And no, none for me thanks.”
“You sure?” Stan held up the can. “They’re barbeque.”
“Uh … no.” Rickie shook his head. “I ate some ice cream on the beach with the babes. So, my question. Do you know why I’m here?”
“In my office?”
“No, like, on the island. The Bionic man guy said he knew who I was here. I thought it was just to keep the Cal-Babe company, but like is there another reason?”
“Of course, Rickie, this is Caldwell.”
“Then, guy, share. Why am I here? Oh!”
“What?”
“I made a rhyme.”
Stan snickered. “Rickie, you’re here so we can test the reaction of the pregnant women to you”
“I do have a reaction to them, don’t I?”
“Yes, they all seem rather attracted to you.”
“Dude, that’s because I tell them how hot they are. You should try it.”
‘Maybe I will. Anyhow …” Stan turned his head to the sound of a phone. “Can you excuse me? I’ll be right back.”
Rickie nodded.
Alone.
He stood and began to pace about the office, being nosey, moving the mouse to stop the screensaver and see what Stan was working on. The first three computers were charts Rickie didn’t understand, but the fourth one …
Rickie nudged the mouse, cleared the screen and saw it.
At first he thought it was strange, maybe he was seeing wrong, then he took a closer look. Hurriedly he looked about. He walked over to the door that Stan had slipped through and listened. He was engrossed in conversation.
Being the savvy computer guy, Rickie was able to find the printer and print up the item on the screen. Maybe he was wrong for doing so, but he knew the Sarge had to see it.
After the two sheets had printed and Rickie realized he was in the clear, he shoved the sheets in his pocket and decided it was time to move on. Bother someone else in his quest. Plus, Rickie wasn’t a good liar and Stan would know he did something. Without saying anything Rickie, took what he needed and left..
Stan emerged a few minutes later. “Rickie, sorry it took …” he paused. “Rickie? Looking left to right, Stan scratched his head. Rickie was gone. “Oh well, guess he didn’t feel like waiting.”
He scooted over to his seat, reclaimed his position in front of the one computer, rested his hand on the mouse and blindly reached for a tasty Vienna sausage. His fingers touched down … on air.
Gone.
Rickie took his barbecue Vienna sausage? Stan was perplexed over that for only a brief moment. After realizing it was Rickie and there was no rhyme or reason for a lot of what he did, Stan put it out of his mind and continued his work.
***
Ring. Silence. Ring. Silence.
Billy couldn’t take it anymore. He also didn’t know if he could take Cal’s mood. He had hoped that Rickie would show up for dinner, but Rickie didn’t.
Ring. Silence.
“Cal,” Billy said. “Why don’t you just shut off your phone?”
“Because I won’t know if he’s calling.”
“Then answer the phone.”
“No.”
“I’ll answer it.”
“No, you will not.” Cal snapped. “I want Jake to know I’m pissed.”
“Maybe it’ll work out better if you answer and yell.” Billy suggested. “You might even feel vindicated.”
“Oh look at you tossing big words. That’s the second time you did that.”
“Vindicated is not a big word. And what other one did I use?”
“Delicious.”
Billy chuckled. “How is that a big word?”
“Because you used it to describe your steak.”
“It was.”
“Asshole.”
“What?”
“If you were any kind of man, you would have suffered through the meal and got what I got.”
“Cal, I tried. I asked.” Billy said. “I asked them to serve me the same as you.”
“You did?”
“Yes,” He nodded. “But they said it would throw the research study. Besides, how bad was it. It looked very good.”
“Oh, yeah, broiled Maui Maui, water chestnut salad and kiwi for desert. I hated it. And where was Rickie?”
“Did I hear my name?” Rickie walked into the room.
“Rickie where have you bee
n?” Cal asked. “You know how I feel about us having dinner together.”
“Cal-Babe, before you go prego ballistic, I was on a mission.” Rickie removed his nap sack.
Billy spotted Cal doing something odd. She sniffed.
“Did you know there’s a little town on this island?” Rickie said.
“No,” Cal answered.
“Oh yeah, movie theater and everything. It’s cool. I …” Rickie paused when his phone rang. “Hold on.” He grabbed the phone. “Rickie Miester from Monster Island.” He snickered. “Hey, Hey, Sarge, yeah hold on.” He extended the phone to Cal.
“No,” Cal shook her head.
“Cal-Babe, I bear gifts.” Rickie said. “Talk to the Sarge this is the fifteenth time he’s called me.”
“Fine,” Cal snatched the phone. “What?”
“Don’t hang up on me,” Jake said stern.
“And why shouldn’t I?”
“Why should you?”
“Bye, Jake.”
“Cal!”
“What!”
“If you hang up on me one more fuckin’ time I swear …”
“You swear what?” Cal snipped. “What? Jake. You’ll what?”
“I’ll get fuckin’ pissed.”
“Oh, get pissed. See if I care. See if it matters. Right.”
“What is wrong with you?”
“What is wrong with me is I am forced to eat water chestnut salad!”
“And this is why you’re hanging up on me?”
“No,” Cal barked. “I’m hanging up on you because you were partying all night at the Whitehouse with a bunch of thin women.”
“Oh, I was not.’
“I heard. I heard them call you …” She mocked a high female voice. “Jake. Oh Jake.”
“You’re nuts.”
Cal gasped. “Now I’m nuts. How can you even flirt with other women knowing my self-esteem is as low as it is when I feel as big as a whale?”
“Cal, perhaps you wouldn’t feel as big as a whale if you didn’t eat like a whale.”
She inhaled her shock and ‘beep’ disconnected the call. Then smug she turned off the power and handed the phone to Rickie. “I don’t want to talk to him again.”
“Ok.” Rickie put the phone in his pocket.
“Now, what did you bring me?” Cal asked trying to be pleasant.
‘Ready Cal-Babe?”
Terms (The Experiments Book 3) Page 18