The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

  Johnny chuckled ‘Get out of here.”

  “I’m not kidding. I mean, what is he? Superman?”

  Ellen’s voice entered. “I believe so.”

  Mike and Johnny both turned to see Ellen standing in the living room doorway.

  “I hope you don’t mind me letting myself in.”

  “No. No, not at all,” Mike said.

  Johnny asked. “Is my dad …?”

  Ellen shook her head “He’s with Lars. How’s your nose Mike?”

  “Bruised.”

  “Ego?”

  “Bruised as well.” Mike partially smiled. “What is up with Frank? Did you guys do something to him in Beginnings?”

  “Um ... no. He’s just Frank.”

  Johnny interjected. “She will never say anything bad about him, so don’t try.”

  “Mike, I’ve known Frank almost my whole life. He just doesn’t walk up and hit people. What happened?”

  “He was in the library armed. I pulled my gun. He pulled his. We argued. He hit me. End of story.”

  “I see.” Ellen nodded. “And Danny said you were a shit with him.”

  “Miserable would be the word.” Mike held up a finger.

  “What’s going on?” Ellen asked.

  “It’s the move. I don’t want to make it.” Mike replied. “And seriously. I’m really contemplating not going.”

  Curiously, Johnny looked him. “Not going? Mike the town voted.”

  “I know they did. The town can go. I’m thinking of letting the town go without me.”

  “You can’t do that.” Johnny argued. “You can’t stay behind.”

  Ellen didn’t react in shock. She was calm, yet spoke with an edge. “I know what you’re up to.”

  “What?” Mike asked.

  “If you think staying behind might generate some camaraderie and the town will not go ….”

  “That’s not it.” Mike defended.

  “Bullshit.” Ellen sapped. “Mike, sometimes being a good leader means doing what’s best for the people and not necessarily always what you want to do. These men love and respect you. If you stay back, they will too.”

  Mike shrugged. “Then we won’t move.”

  “Then you’re a piss poor leader.”

  “What!” Mike asked in shock.

  “You heard me. A piss poor leader. You don’t want to move. You don’t like that they voted against you. So what do you do? You guilt them into staying. The town needs to move. That’s what’s best for the town. But if you can shrug it off as oh well, because they stayed behind, then you aren’t looking out for what’s best for these people you love. And if you don’t look out for their best interest, then you aren’t half the man I thought you were. Excuse me.” Ellen turned and left.

  The air of tension was broken with the slamming of the door ad that caused a jolt in Mike.

  He shook his head. “I am ‘O’ for three with Beginnings people today.”

  Johnny nodded. “Well, if you want to see if you can improve your average, we can always call there. Although, you stand a chance of pissing off more people.”

  “Thank you for that.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  With another shake of his head, Mike turned to the doorway where Ellen had stood. She may had left, but her words still lingered.

  ***

  If Joe compiled a list, it would be the number one thing on his list of annoying things Henry does that keeps him from Council.

  Four times Joe had to pull the shirt down from Henry’s nose as they looked around the cryo lab. And they weren’t even there five minutes.

  “But, Joe, it smells.”

  “It always smells, Henry, now knock it the hell off.” Joe smacked his hand.

  “He’s not here, Joe. Just a bunch of smelly dead things.”

  “Henry.” Joe looked at him, shirt … again, over his noise. “You want back on council?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then act like a man instead of a baby.”

  “Joe, I resent that.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “Dean’s not here.” Henry said.

  “I heard you, but I also heard something.”

  “Maybe it’s one of his experiments.”

  “Nah. Dean!” Joe called out. “Dean you back there.” Joe aimed his voice toward the back.

  The door opened. Christopher Columbus emerged.

  “Chris?” Joe questioned. “What are you doing down here?”

  “President Slagel. I am an assistant in this lab for Dr. Dean. I clean up.”

  Henry scoffed. “You aren’t doing a very good job.” He then grunted when Joe backhanded him. “Hey.”

  “Chris, do you know where Dean is?”

  “Yes, he went to speak to Melissa about something.”

  “Thank you. Let’s go Henry.” Joe turned.

  Henry paused. “And please do a better job down here, Chris, it stinks.”

  “Yes.” Christopher nodded. “By chance have either of you seen Jenny Matoose?”

  An odd question and Joe facially showed it. “Um, no, should I get her for you.”

  “Ah, though I would love that, I cannot. Thank you.”

  “Sure.” A slight roll of his eyes and Joe opened the door, mumbling ‘weird young man’.

  “Tell me about it,” Henry said. “He asked about Jenny Matoose.”

  Joe only shook his head.

  They arrived at the clinic, and finding Dean was a lot easier than they thought. Joe would have used the Dean tracker had Henry not been with him. The sound of Dean’s voice carried outside the lab into the quiet halls.

  With a halting back hand, Joe stopped Henry.

  “I don’t understand, Dean.” Melissa said. “Are you using that term correctly.”

  “Yes, Melissa I am. I need to know. If he has, that’s fine. I just need to know.”

  “Would I know?” Melissa asked.

  “Without a doubt. He’d leave stuff behind.”

  “Hmm. Well, can’t help you out there. Marcus hasn’t molted.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Are you sure you are using the word correctly.”

  “Positive. Thanks.”

  Joe mouthed the word, ‘molting’ to Henry as Melissa walked out.

  “Waiting for Dean?” She asked.

  “Yes,” Joe answered. “Is he free now?”

  “Go on in.”

  “Thanks.” To be polite, Joe knocked on the archway. “Hey, Dean?”

  “Oh, hey, Joe. Henry. What’s up?” Dean asked.

  “Have a few questions.” Joe said. “But first, why are you asking Melissa if Marcus is molting.”

  “Because the substance I found up in sector thirty-two, that was a protein.”

  Henry grunted. “Uh, sperm.”

  ‘No.” Dean chuckled. “Like amniotic fluid. The only thing I could think of is our killer babies are cocooning and molting. But …” he shrugged. “That theory went out the window, Marcus hasn’t. If the killer babies are molting, then surely Marcus would have.”

  “I disagree.” Henry said. “Marcus was created by the embryos in the case. The ones up there are made by the Society and brought here by them. They could be related to Marcus, but have a different genetic makeup. Something simple.”

  “Henry.” Dean said brightly. “Wow. I’m impressed. Thank you. I will check that.”

  “Sure, Dean, no problem. I can be a smart guy.”

  “Now for the reason we’re here.” Joe said then laid the conjoined eggs on the counter. “What do you make of that?”

  “Holy shit.” Dean chuckled. “Poor chicken.” He lifted them. “This is weird.”

  “No shit,” Joe replied. ‘Three hens laid those today. It’s not a freak thing if more than one of them are doing it. Can it be your feed?”

  Dean shook his head. “No way. I haven’t changed the feed in years.”

  Joe hummed out a thinking breath. “You sure?”

  “Positive. I
can check.”

  “How?”

  “Examine the hen. But … I’d have to do an autopsy on it.”

  “Can you check the eggs to see if they are edible, too? Just in case.”

  “Sure.” Dean nodded. “Can I get one of those hens?”

  “Yeah, I’ll authorize it. And get back to me as soon as you can. About the molting thing too.”

  “Got it.” Dean took the eggs to the fridge.

  “We’ll leave you to your work.” Joe said.

  “Joe, any word on El and Frank?” Dean asked.

  “As a matter of fact ... Seems Frank and this Mike guy already went to blows. I’d blame Frank but Mike and Danny aren’t hitting it off. Only do you fight with Danny….” Joe rubbed his chin. “Come to think of it. You fight with Frank. You and Mike ought to be good friends.” Joe smiled, wished Dean luck and left with Henry.

  “Funny.” Dean said as he stood alone. “Real funny.” Hand tapping on the counter, he submerged in instant thought, a part of him grew excited and like a kid at Christmas, he hurried to the fridge to get that egg.

  ***

  Before he had left, Danny took the time to enlarge the photos from the future time trip and to print them off as requested by Hal. When he handed them over, Danny proclaimed they looked more like ‘nothing’ than before he enlarged them. Never the less, Hal wanted them normal view and larger.

  Robbie didn’t see the sense in them. Although he admitted, he was tired.

  “Maybe you need glasses,” Hal told him.

  “Hal, please,” Robbie smirked. “I’m young. I’m not you. My eyes are just tired.

  “You never know,” Hal spread the pictures out upon Frank’s desk. “They’re just blinding white.” Before Robbie could say anything, Elliott walked in.

  He paused, shifting his eyes to Hal and Robbie.

  “Please, Elliott,” Hal said. “You aren’t going to ask what we’re doing here. You have that look on your face.”

  “As a matter of fact, Captain I was.”

  Hal shook his head. “Give him a little authority and he runs with it. Actually, I was using the office while waiting on Jimmy.”

  Robbie cringed. “Please don’t tell me he’s off with Jenny again.”

  “I don’t want to know. I didn’t ask.” Hal said. “When he said he had something to take care of I just said, fine. Meet me at Frank’s office. Shut the door Elliott, it’s cold.”

  Elliott did. “What are those?”

  “Take a look,” Hal pushed the pictures forward as Elliott took a seat. “These are the photographs from the future.”

  “First time I got to see them. Wow. Can I ask why, if you’re going to the future, you are even trying to play a guessing game.”

  “Because Elliot,” Hal said with a snip. “It doesn’t hurt to have some ideas to play upon. And a direction.”

  “How can you have a direction if you don’t know what you’re dealing with.”

  Hal raised his eyebrows. “Hence the reason for the talking about it. Either look at the pictures and comment Elliott or … go away.”

  Elliott mustered up an odd face.

  Robbie added, “It’s just white. I never saw whiteness that … white.” He cringed at his lack of better wording.

  “You know why.” Elliott said. “It’s the radiation and the cloud.”

  “Nuclear cloud?” Hal asked.

  “You know that.” Elliott told him.

  “But would an explosion on a small scale cause such a wide range cloud?”

  Elliott shrugged. “Could. Doubt it though.”

  With a ‘hmm’ Hal looked at the picture. “My gut is telling me it’s bigger. Robbie?”

  “I think it’s Beginnings.” Robbie said. “If not more. Just my gut instinct as well.”

  “Okay.” Hal held up a hand. “Let’s assume this is a bigger explosion than the lab explosion. Let’s assume this is Beginnings or the area. Who? The Society? Obviously.” Hal noticed Robbie shaking his head. “What? No. Who else.”

  “Don’t know,” Robbie said. “I mean, I know the Society is the only logical choice.”

  Elliott asked. “Have you spoken to your brother?”

  Hal nodded. “Frank is in Lodi right now.”

  Elliot blinked a few times. “I was referring to the other brother.”

  Hal glanced at Robbie than Elliott,

  “Jimmy?”

  Hal cringed. “He doesn’t count. I thought you were talking about the brothers involved I this. Jimmy is not involved.”

  “Can I ask why?”

  Hal shrugged. “He is fraternizing too much with the big mouth.”

  “Ah,” Elliot nodded once. “Okay. But maybe you can find another way to ask him.”

  Robbie questioned. “Ask him what?”

  “About the other side of the world. I know he said the Society was watching them. Jess said the same thing.”

  Hal pointed a pencil at Elliott. “Good thinking. But Jimmy said they were unable to determine the statistics without going over. Seriously. Do you think they incorporated long range nuclear weapons? We’re taking eleven months from now, maybe sooner. I can’t see something escalating that fast.”

  Robbie interjected. “Nor can I see the Society hitting us. I mean, if they were gonna nuke us, they would have done it sooner.”

  “Have any of you given any thought to the possibility that we did it to ourselves?” Elliott asked.

  Robbie’s attention was caught.

  Hal was a little taken aback by the question, and in fact he showed some ridicule. “Good God, why? Elliott. Why would we nuke ourselves?”

  “Maybe there was something that only a small thermo nuclear weapon could destroy?”

  Hal chuckled.

  “Yeah, laugh," Elliott said. “But think. Twice hit by plague, killer babies, a monster, a man who runs fifty miles an hour, and you can seriously ask “God Good why would we nuke ourselves?’ Uh, Captain, I think at this rate, in the sci fi world in which we live, that idea that we’d nuke ourselves to save ourselves from something man made is not only possible it’s probable.”

  At first Hal stared, and then. “I hate you.”

  Robbie snickered.

  “I still,” Hal said. “Think the diverted warehouse explosion has something to do with the turn of events. Everything was fine and now this. It has to be the warehouse.”

  Robbie suggested. “Someone in there who should have died, that made the difference. Who?”

  Elliott answered, “Dean. Dean invents things all the time. He should have died. Dean.”

  “I have to agree,” Hal said. “I mean who else has that much intelligence and scientific pull that would impact the future if they didn’t die.”

  At that moment, Jason entered. “Glad, I caught you. May I steal a ride back to Bowman with you?” He waded through a weird silence. “Gentlemen?”

  Hal turned to Elliott. “Maybe it’s a combination of both.” After that he turned to Jason and smiled.

  ***

  “Not much superficial work will be done,” Lars explained sitting across from Frank. “About the size of a dime. Lasers will be used. Dr. Gavin is supposed to be quite adept in them. So much so, that you’ll not notice scarring.”

  “How long will it take to know if all the tumor was removed?”

  “There’ll be some initial swelling, so it will be hard to determine for about a week.”

  “We’ll be gone by then.”

  “But there will be good indication on how he’s doing. We’ve decided to keep him sedated for a while. General reaction to touch will tell us even without Johnny being conscious.”

  Frank nodded. “I understand, and you think the outcome will be good.”

  “I believe so. Honestly, Frank, Ellen could share this with you.”

  Frank shrugged, leaned back some in his chair, rocking a bit.

  “You don’t want to discuss this fully with Ellen.” Lars watched Frank for a reaction. “Is it because you don�
�t want to come across as caring?”

  “Nah. That’s not it. Talking to El is making progress about my son, if that makes sense.”

  “You’re not ready to make progress.”

  “Come on, Lars. All that he’s done. It’s gonna be tough. My kid shot me.”

  “Twice mind you.”

  “That’s right. I want to say something, but, I’m not ready yet.”

  “Like what?” Lars asked. “Tell me what you want to say to your son.”

  Frank took a deep breath. ‘I don’t forgive him, not yet. I haven’t forgotten. Not yet.”

  “Hmm. All cheerful stuff.”

  The corner of Frank’s mouth raised in a half smile toward Lars’ sarcasm. “But, I want him to know I love him. And I worry.”

  Lars nodded. “Then you do know there are other ways to say what you’re feeling.”

  Frank stared out. “You’re right.” He exhaled. “Okay.” He sat back again. “Check mate.”

  “What?” Lars snapped forward and examined the board. “Well, I’ll be damned. It’s been years since anyone has beaten me. Well done.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I’m amazed.”

  “Another?”

  “Sure. Why not.”

  Lars proceeded to set up his side of the board. Lifting his eyes occasionally to examine Frank. There was something about him. He heard Ellen stories about how there were times Frank wasn’t exactly an Einstein, but Lars also could judge a man by the way he played a game.

  Frank was a lot deeper than Lars originally thought And Lars wondered if below the big, tough, dumb guy exterior was deeper man.

  ***

  She had waited all day for a moment to sit down and call Dean. Not that Ellen was so busy, she didn’t have time. She did. Just not exclusive time. She had spent the afternoon with Johnny and the Society doctor. Plus, her recent argument with Mike didn’t set well with her. Also, Ellen learned something about Mike. He wasn’t like Beginnings men. Rarely if a woman and a man fought, did the man not try to make restitution, even if it wasn’t this fault. But Mike was making no efforts whatsoever. Johnny said not only did Frank bruise his ego by punching him in the nose; Ellen bruised his ego by punching him where it hurt... his leadership role.