The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

  Mouth agape, offended, Henry responded. “Oh, my God are you rude. That isn’t very nice Dean. No wonder everyone hates you.”

  Dean shrugged. “You should know the feeling, not long ago, everyone hated you.

  “Come on, El; let’s get out of here before he insults me any further.”

  “I agree, Henry.” Ellen walked to the door. “Oh, Dean? See you tonight.”

  Dean waved.

  They weren’t gone a minute, perhaps not even that long, when Dean stood up. He shook his head at the pair and longed for the day when they didn’t talk. Standing to retrieve something, Dean buckled. A sharp pain struck his abdomen, twisting his gut, turning, like a dagger into his body. He doubled over, grabbing his gut, one hand on the counter for support.

  Throbbing. Throbbing. His head began to pound. He needed to sit down. The pain wrenched his stomach and shot to his legs. Fumbling, Dean tried to find a stool.

  Frank’s voice entered the room at the same time he did. “Dean have you seen Ellen?”

  Hunched over, Dean lifted his head; sweat formed on his brow and his face was pale. “Frank.”

  Frank rushed in. “What happened? What’s wrong?”

  “I … help me to sit.”

  “Did you get hurt?”

  “No.” Dean shook his head.

  Frank rolled over a chair for him. “Sit down.”

  Breathing slowly, Dean lowered into a chair. “Better. It’s subsiding.”

  “What is?”

  “I got hit with this really bad pain. Real bad, Frank.”

  “Appendix?” Frank questioned.

  “I had it out.”

  “What about the other one?”

  “Other what?”

  “Appendix.”

  Dean only peered at him. “Um, no, that’s fine. In fact, I’m feeling better.”

  “Can it be the same thing as the guys in Bowman?” Frank asked.

  “No, they vomited first.”

  “Maybe you have to vomit and just don’t know it.”

  Dean didn’t say anything, he started to stand. “It’s better now.”

  “I know. When’s the last time you went to the bathroom.”

  “What?” Dean chuckled.

  “Maybe you have to go to the bathroom,” Frank said. “Didn’t your mom ever ask you that?”

  “All the time, but I’m okay.”

  “Are you sure? Because if it’s been awhile since you’ve gone to the bathroom then …”

  “Frank.” Dean interrupted him. “I’m fine, really.”

  “Okay, well, I’ll see you later.”

  “Frank?” Dean called to him. “What did you want?”

  “Oh.” Frank snapped his finger. “Have you seen El? I went to containment, she isn’t there and I have to make copies.”

  “She went with Henry to agriculture,” Dean said. “She has to talk to Hector about a secret.”

  “What’s the secret?”

  “I don’t know, it’s a secret.”

  “Fuck. Okay. I’ll start making the copies by myself.”

  “Why do you need her help with copies?”

  “She keeps me from losing count. If you see her, tell her to get her ass over to containment. Richie took his break and left me there. I have a meeting with my dad and want to get this done.”

  “I’ll tell her,” Dean said and then barely had to chance to say anything else. Frank left. Alone again in the lab, Dean took a moment to wonder about that pain, just as he did, it started again.

  ***

  Hectors voice echoed as he walked through the tunnels with Ellen. “This is strange. I was just here with Frank.”

  Ellen paused. ‘Frank? Why?”

  “Well, he came up with the idea to store food down here in the event of the meteor causing more damage than originally thought.”

  “He comes up with some good ones some times.”

  “I’ll give you that. So … this favor.”

  “It’s big.”

  “I feel privileged that you’re asking me to do something. But why me?”

  “You’re Hector, and you are one of the only people I know in town who doesn’t gossip or aren’t a big tattle tale to Joe.”

  Hector whistled. “If you’re worried about someone tattling, it must be big.”

  “It is. I’ll be gone a few days. Trust me I went through my mind over people I want to handle this. You are the only one I came up with.” Ellen paused by the cryo lab door. “It’s complicated and not as easy as it seems, but if anyone can handle it, you can.”

  “If you think I can, I will.”

  “Thanks, Hector.” She punched in her code and opened the door.

  His skinless appearance took Hector off guard, but he hid the flinch well. Not often did he have contact with Christopher.

  Ellen introduced. “You know Christopher Columbus, right. He is one of Creed’s people.”

  “Um, I’ve seen him. Never really spoke.” Hector extended his hand to Chris. “Nice to meet you. I bet you’re excited about your people moving this way.”

  “Very. Very excited.”

  Ellen winked at Christopher. “No too excited though, huh?”

  Bashfully, Christopher smiled “I try.”

  Hector shifted his eyes from Ellen to Christopher back to Ellen. “So, the favor?”

  “Oh, yes. The favor. I need your help. It has to deal with Christopher. But, first could you shut the cryo door?”

  As she dictated, Hector walked over to the cryo lab door and closed it

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  For an occasion such as the one he faced, Joe had to prepare. Rarely did he ever not prepare when he had such a lengthy meeting. With ten minutes to go, Joe parked himself in his office, sipped on a shot of whiskey, and smoked a cigarette. Even though he had quit, it was part of his endurance preparation. He needed endurance, plus headache medicine. He couldn’t recall the last time he had a meeting with his sons where he didn’t get a headache. He hoped this one went smoothly. Joe doubted that.

  It was in three parts.

  First was with his sons only, regarding their little time trip test they made. He needed to discuss what they saw, what they thought and what they would do. Second, Danny would join them. Hopefully by the time the first portion was finishing. But Murphy’s Law always dictated things in Beginnings so that meant Danny would show up before they finished the time test meeting. He was meeting with Danny to discuss Mike’s new town. Last was Ellen. She would arrive for the final and most important part… discussion of Dean as the mutilator.

  That entire subject gnawed at Joe’s gut. It was a catch twenty-two. They were damned either way.

  The knock on the door told Joe the first of his sons arrived early, that had to be Hal.

  “Come in, Hal,” Joe called out.

  Hal walked in. “You knew it was me.”

  “You’re the only one who is early.”

  “Well, had I not picked up speed I would arrive at the same time as Robert?”

  “Why didn’t you wait for him?”

  Hal smirked as he sat down, “Father, please and not be the first. I see you are preparing.”

  “It’s gonna be a doozy,” Joe said.

  “Can I ask what it’s about, the little pre-meeting?”

  “Call it a pre, pre, meeting. There major issues to discuss today. And let’s wait until your brothers arrive.”

  A single knock, and then Robbie entered. “Hey, Dad. Hal.”

  “Robert.” Joe noticed Robbie had left the door open. “Shut the door.”

  “Frank’s right behind me and his arms are full,” Robbie said. “This is going to be great.”

  “What does Frank have?” Joe asked. “Please don’t tell me he made four thousand copies again.”

  Robbie shrugged. “Can’t say about the copies, but he prepared for the first part of the meeting.”

  Hal turned his body. “So you know what the pre meeting is?”

  Robbie shook his head.
“Nope. Frank wouldn’t tell me. But he told me he has …”

  “No.” Frank interrupted as he walked in and closed the door with his foot. “Shh. Don’t say. Let it be a surprise.”

  Joe gazed up at his oldest son. He carried a box, and under his arm looked like a folding screen. “I’m afraid to ask.”

  “We have visuals.” Frank said. “I got the idea from the meeting.”

  “Christ,” Joe covered his face.

  “It’s gonna be good.”

  “Tell me you at least made my copies.” Joe said.

  Frank set down the box and handed Joe the stack. “Right here. Now I’m gonna set up, is that okay?”

  Joe mumbled a yeah as he reviewed the copies. “Frank? This looks right.”

  “It is. Two hundred and fifty.” Frank said.

  “You didn’t lose count?”

  “Nope. Not this time.” Frank pointed to his temple. “I thought ahead.”

  Joe nodded. “You used math. Figuring the machine only makes ninety-nine copies and …” he saw Frank shook his head. “You didn’t use math?”

  Frank spoke as he set up the movie screen. “Nope. I made Bub the savage do it.”

  “Good God.” Hal gasped out.

  “Bub the lobotomized savage made the copies?” Joe asked. “Get the hell out of here.”

  “Nope.” Frank said. “I was in there with the copy machine, you know working it out, Bub strolled in. He stood behind me. I told him I had to make copies. Dad, man, he kicked in automatically. He pressed ninety-nine and then start. Then he just assumed the position when I told him how many I needed.”

  Hal said, “You know it’s pretty bad when a lobotomized savage handles a copy machine better than you.”

  “No, he’s more experienced at using one.”

  Joe just stared and then said, “I’m afraid to ask.”

  “I’m not,” Hal added. “How is he more experienced?”

  “He worked in a copy store.”

  Robbie laughed.

  Joe smacked himself in the face. “Bub the lobotomized savage worked in a copy store. How the hell do you know?”

  “He told me,” Frank rolled. “Actually, he went, ‘arrrg’” Frank shrugged. “But he said yes in his own language.”

  “And you believed him?” Joe asked.

  “Why would he lie?”

  “I’m not saying he lied, Frank,” Joe snapped. “I’m just saying he grunted …”

  “No, he said, ‘Arrrg’.”

  Joe grumbled. “Whatever he said Frank, how can you take that as a yes? Maybe he says that to everything?”

  “No,” Frank shook his head. “When I asked him if he wanted some beef jerky he said, ‘oogle’. Which I think means, ‘no.”

  Amongst Hal and Joe’s groans, Robbie spoke up, “In Frank’s defense.”

  Hal rolled his eyes. “How did I know that was coming?”

  “Seriously,” Robbie said. “Bub responds to yes or no questions. “

  “Robert,” Joe said. “He may respond, but do we know if he understands the question.”

  “Um ... no. We don’t know that. But he responds and he made the copies.”

  “True.” Joe nodded. “And are you done, Frank.”

  “Yes, just have to plug in the projector.” Frank said. “And hook the camera into it.”

  Hal turned in his seat. “The camera. Does this have to do with the time test?”

  Joe nodded.

  They all went silent.

  Joe noticed this. He glanced at his sons. “Okay, what happened? Frank said you guys went through and nothing was there.”

  The brothers looked at each other.

  Joe called upon Frank.

  “Just like I said, Dad. Nothing was there. It was snowing, empty, nothing could be seen.”

  Hal added, “Not true. We saw Jason.”

  Robbie said, “In a radiation suit. He told us to go back.”

  “We did,” Frank said. “But we took pictures,”

  “Which …” Hal interjected, “The instant ones had spots?”

  Joe wisped out. “Radioactivity.”

  Hal nodded. “And I saw something else. My foot got caught up and I looked down. Ruins. Where we stood were ruins, burnt.”

  “The lab?” Joe asked.

  Frank nodded. ‘But Jason had an explanation. He said the lab exploded and the stored Uranium caused the radiation.”

  In thought, Joe bobbed his head. “That does make sense. Didn’t Ellen claim to be taken to the future? Didn’t she say it was great and rosy?”

  Frank replied. “Yeah, she did. And to be honest she didn’t mention anything about the cryo lab.”

  Robbie shook his head. “No, she didn’t. In fact, she said she didn’t arrive through the cryo lab.”

  Joe lifted his hands. “So it is possible that Jason’s theory is right. But you boys don’t think it?” he watched them all shake their heads. “What do you think we should do?”

  “Go back,” Frank said.

  “Go back,” Added Robbie.

  “Without a doubt,” said Hal. “We go back or forward, to double check. It isn’t going to hurt.”

  “But in order to do that. I’ll work on that,” Joe said. “We have to get Jason to agree. Jason never filed a history report on the time test.”

  Curiously, Robbie looked at Joe. “He didn’t. Usually Jason is really good at that.”

  “I know. Something is not sitting right. I’ll ask Danny what’s up with that.”

  “Ask me what’s up with what?” Danny questioned as he slipped in the doorway.

  “You don’t knock?” Joe asked.

  “Yes” Danny answered. “But when I am invited to a meeting, generally I think it’s a welcome invitation. Are we having a slide presentation, Joe?”

  Frank answered. “Yes, I’m showing it.”

  “Cool,” Danny said. “So …what did you need to know from me.”

  Joe pointed for Danny to sit, and then asked, “You and Jason had my boys do a time test yesterday.”

  “Last night, yes,” Danny replied. “To test the new door.”

  “Why wasn’t a report filed with history?”

  “It was.”

  “No,” Joe shook his head. “It wasn’t. I went to history to see it.”

  “Joe,” Danny chuckled. “I filled the report myself. Jason took it to history.”

  “Well, either Jason didn’t take it to history, or Trish screwed up. Trish doesn’t make screw ups. Which do you think it is?”

  Danny stared at his hands and shrugged. “I did the report, Joe. I can do another and file it if you want, but I did one.”

  “Why do you think Jason would not want to file the report?”

  “Simple,” Danny replied. “To document the test, you have to document the findings. Jason doesn’t want the findings documented.”

  “You think it’s possibly because he has that staunch rule, no messing with time, and if the explosion doesn’t occur in the lab, he’s afraid people will see the time test and see that he did in fact mess with time.”

  “Or … or else he doesn’t want to be wrong.” Danny said.

  Joe asked, “What do you mean?”

  Hal had the answer. “Jason believes the reason for what we witnessed was the explosion of the time lab. Nothing further. If Jason is wrong, he fears that perhaps with it documented in history, people may be upset because nothing was done to stop it.”

  “It was bleak, Joe.” Danny said. “I saw the pictures. I saw your sons’ faces.”

  “So there’s a possibility it was more than the time lab?” Joe asked.

  Danny nodded. “I think it is worth checking out.”

  “I think …” Robbie said. “I think something happened to Beginnings. Or something happens to Beginnings. The radiation suit shows it. Jason emerged wearing a radiation suit. There was nothing smoldering, which tells me the explosion was at least a few days. Radiation dissipates in a few days enough to be exposed for a short
period of time without repercussions. Jason wore the suit.”

  Joe sat back in his chair, rocking some, folded hands forming a triangle just under his chin. “Is it right to mess with the future.”

  Frank said, “It’s not the future. It isn’t.”

  “What the hell do you mean, Frank, it’s not the future.” Joe snapped.

  Hal interjected. “Not the future that it was supposed to be.”

  Robbie added, “We wouldn’t be messing with time, we’d be repairing it.”

  Joe gave a shake of his head confused.

  Danny explained. “In the history of time testing and traveling. The future has been visited a few times. One to warn of the virus, we stopped and fixed that future. Ellen went to the future with Dean. They told of a great place. But they did something.”

  Joe snapped forward. “They stopped the explosion at the warehouse, or rather, stopped a lot of people from dying, including themselves.”

  Danny winked. “Bingo. Speaking of which …”

  Joe grumbled. ‘Our two mad scientists were supposed to die in that warehouse.”

  Hal halted Joe. “Before you proceed with that line of thinking, you have to remember, others were supposed to die in that warehouse that didn’t. Obviously, someone who lived affected the future of this town. “

  Robbie added, “Problem is, it happens fast. We went eleven months into the future.”

  Joe tightened his lips and slowly shook his head. ‘We’re going off. It could also very easily be... the lab exploded.”

  Danny nodded. “True. And the only way to find out ...”

  “Go back to the future,” Joe said. “Only be prepared. I’ll talk to Jason. Frank. What do you think? You’re being quiet.”

  “I’m thinking that we don’t need the slideshow now to convince you.”

  “No, we don’t.”

  “Fuckin’ sucks …”

  “Frank.”

  “I went through all this trouble …”

  “Frank …”

  “Taking equipment, learning …”

  “Frank!” Joe yelled.

  “How to use it when it’s all a waste now.’

  Joe grimaced. “Fine. Show the slide show.”

  “Yes! All ready to go.” with a clap of his hands and skip of excitement, Frank hit the lights.

  Frank’s slide presentation really wasn’t much. Snow. More snow.