Hal hid his face.
The women applauded.
Slowly, Hal slid his hand down across the bridge of his nose.
“You really think so, Frank?” One of the women asked.
“Without a doubt. I know. I am Mr. Romance. Ask El, she’ll tell you.”
Lars asked. “Then why are you here?”
“To see if there’s something I didn’t know. I don’t want to just keep my wife, I want her to never feel the need to come to a meeting like this, or …” he cleared his throat. “Buy a personal massager. But I’m gonna be honest with you, Lars. You may want to stick to science. I haven’t heard anything impressive from you yet.”
“I haven’t started.”
“Oh.” Frank nodded. “Well, I got to start my shift in an hour, do you think if you discuss weddings you can discuss that first. I’m getting married in two weeks and I want to throw El the most romantic wedding.”
Group ‘ahs’ rang out.
Hal rolled his eyes. “Then why don't you let El plan it.”
“El’s not romantic. I am.” Frank said.
“Then why don’t you have a seat, Frank,” Lars said. “And I’ll start. Perhaps as a group we can have the wedding as a discussion.”
“Sounds good. But... do you mind if I get more food first?”
“Go right ahead.”
“Hal?”
Hal, covering his eyes just shook his head. And as his big brother made his way to the food line, and Lars started his lecture, Hal was thinking of ways to kill Frank.
***
Ellen wanted excitement. A change of pace. Something to take her mind off of things. She didn’t expect what she received from Dean.
After his, ‘yeah right, you’re joking.’ Dean threw a fit.
He initially screamed and ranted “How dare Lars?” and then he calmed down.
“What does this mean?” he asked.
Ellen laughed. “Dean, I think you’re over reacting. Perhaps you’re just a little jealous.”
“Of what?”
“Lars.”
“Why would I be jealous of Lars?”
Ellen snickered. “Uh, he has been in Beginnings less than a day and already he’s holding successful lectures about viruses and so forth. Lectures so interesting …”
Dean raised his eyes with a glare.
“That Frank is going.”
“And what the hell is up with that?” Dean asked. “Frank is quick to make fun of my lectures. Why is Lars doing this?”
“Maybe he’s not. Maybe Beginnings just needs another medical hero.”
Dean grumbled.
“Elliott said that he was working with Chris.”
Dean’s eyes widened. ‘No.”
“Yep. Just what Elliott said. When does he lie?”
“Fuck!” Dean blasted.
“Dean.”
“No, El, Chris is mine. Fuck. I hate him. Wait. Wait until I get back in Beginnings.”
“You gonna beat him up?”
“No.”
“You know … I have an idea.”
“What’s that?” Dean asked.
“Why don’t you help him?”
“Oh, sure, I’ll help him. Do what?”
“Well, Dean, seriously, he’s such a brilliant research doctor. He wasn’t supposed to go to Beginnings. Not yet. How many years did he live here? He did all his research here. At this clinic. That wasn’t touched by the Society.”
“So.”
Ellen huffed and looked at him.
After receiving the stare, Dean’s facial expression lit up. “All his research is here.”
Ellen nodded.
“And it would only be a professional courtesy to bring him research that he worked so hard on.”
“Exactly.”
“And if we happen to read his research…”
“Maybe research he stalled on…” Ellen sang. “Couldn’t finish, because he hit a wall …”
Dean finished. “And figure out and solve his research then that’s not our fault, right? We’re aiding him”
“Just like he’s only aiding you with Chris.”
“He’s not though, you know that.” Dean whispered.
“Fuck no, he’s not. He’s trying to accomplish something you didn’t.”
‘Show me up.”
“Absolutely, that fucker.”
Dean laughed then turned serious. “He can’t, can he?”
“Absolutely not, Dean. Come on, you’re the fuckin God of Wonder. The genius. No one’s mind is better. Dean! You cured the plague.”
“I did do that.”
“You mutated Frank.”
“I did.”
“He runs 55 miles an hour.”
“Without trying.”
“You cloned.”
“Successfully, too.”
“Shall I continue?” Ellen asked.
“It’s helping my ego, please.”
Ellen nodded. “You cured Joe’s cancer.”
Dean smiled proudly.
“You reinvented and grew back skin.”
“With ease,” dean said.
Ellen held out her hand. “Dean Ami?”
“The best weapon of all.”
“You went to the future and stopped extinction.”
Dean smiled.
“Numerous antibiotic strains meds …”
“True.”
“Feed. Fertilizer.”
“Good stuff, too.”
“What’s left? What is left,” Ellen stated. “What is left that you didn’t do?”
“Not much.”
“Exactly.”
“Wait.”
“What?” Ellen asked.
“Hybrids. We have failed every time to hybrid an animal.”
“It’s not important to science, Dean.”
Dean grimaced. “Yeah, I know, but call it a hobby. Something I want to tackle.”
“And you will. Eventually. I’ve been with you on this. It’s tough. But, you’ll do it if it can be done,” Ellen said. “Because that’s virtually impossible. And if you can’t do it, no one can.”
***
“Fuck!”
They had made their way into Lars’ lab, and like Dean, he had a back room. Ellen turned from the files when she heard it.
Dean swearing.
“In case you didn’t hear ...” Dean called out again. “Fuck!”
Ellen raced into the back room. “Why are you pretending to be Frank?”
“He did it.”
“Who?”
“Lars.” Dean had his hands behind his back.
“What did he do?”
“This …” From behind his back, Dean revealed an animal. It was small, hand held. “Look.”
Ellen stepped closer. “Oh how cute. He has dwarf rabbits.” She extended her index finger to the animal’s head. Floppy ears, whiskers, pink nose.
“No, El.” Dean turned it around to show the rest of the body. From the front legs back, it was the body of a mouse. The hind legs contorted high to match the height of the front paws.
“Oh, my God.”
“He created the hybrid. Mouse and rabbit.”
Ellen bit her lip. “I’m sorry Dean.”
“This was the ultimate, El.” He replaced the animal in the cage. “The ultimate.” He grabbed his hair in frustration.
“But, Dean, you cured the plague. Lars didn’t.”
“He would have.”
“We don’t know that.”
Dean grumbled.
“I’m sorry, Dean. Bet he can’t clone ...” Ellen said trying to make him feel better. “Okay, maybe he could.”
“I have to top this.”
“I know.”
“There’s only one way to do that.”
“You’re right,” Dean nodded.
“Let’s go through his research.” Ellen said with excitement.
“Good idea. Front room?”
“Got it," she winked. “Anything interesting c
all out.”
“Got it.”
Ellen went into the other room. She portrayed confidence.
Dean on the other hand was frazzled, and not so sure. But he was going to do everything in his power to find a way to one up Lars Rayburn. He had to; Lars was already laying that groundwork behind his back in Beginnings.
***
Elliott was grateful for the sandwich Jenny had sent into town with Frank and Hal; it went well with the belly laugh he enjoyed over the captain and Frank’s invasion of the romance meeting. Granted it would have been a great tale to hear from the captain, but somehow Frank, crowning himself Beginnings new most romantic man and talking about the romance tips as if a military strategy, made it all worthwhile.
It was hard enough to watch the wall of monitors. And Elliott did, despite the fact that he knew there was an alarm system. He watched not wanting to take a chance.
He only wished the monitors had sound, because he could only imagine the conversation between the captain, Frank and Alex as they both held hands with the little girl, walking down the streets of Bowman.
“Don’t you like me here, Uncle Hal?” Alex asked. “I like it here.”
“Yeah, Hal, don’t you like her?” Frank agitated.
“No, Frank. I …”
“Man, you’re tough.”
Hal growled. “Alex,” He stopped walking. “I love you and love when you visit me. I just don’t see the need for Frank to drag you out of bed at ten o’clock at night to bring you to New Bowman.”
Frank released a fake gasp. “Hal, how dare you. It’s father daughter bonding.”
“At ten at night?”
“She’s a night owl like her mother. Fuck. Plus, I’m off. Plus ….” Frank held out his index finger in a point. “Are the after meeting women’s festivities being held at Hoi-Hoi on the Range?”
“Yes, Frank, but we aren’t women.”
“Yeah, but she is.”
“She’s eight.”
“Yeah, but have you heard her bitch.” Frank raised an eyebrow.
“True.”
Little Alex’s head looked up and went from one brother to the other.
Frank continued, “Plus, some of your men are going to be there, and that Daniels guy is going to be shooting pool.”
“So?” Hal asked.
“So … she’s a fuckin pool shark.”
“Wait. Stop.” Hal said. “You plan on having her play Daniels?”
“Yep”
Alex added. “Uncle Frank said that I should play real bad the first game, then when Daniels takes it easy and feels bad. Hit him with everything I have.”
Hal looked offended “So you are going to have her hustle Daniels?”
“Hal, please. Hustle? No.” Frank paused. “Okay, yeah. But fair is fair, he beat my ass.”
“I see,” Hal nodded. “Well,” He started to walk again. “You have to let me get in on the bet.”
“Yes.” Frank clenched his fist. “Wait. You’re gonna bet on Alex, right?”
Hal looked at the tiny hand he held, then to the innocent face. He smiled. “Absolutely.”
***
They gave him a radio.
Static.
“Nothing. Over,” Robbie said.
“I have the south region covered," Callahan reported. “I’m pretty certain he’s not coming in that way. Over.”
“Agreed.” Robbie said. “He’s not gonna travel all this way to go miles out of his way. He’s trying the main area or at least in the region.”
“Where are you positioned so we … Hold on.” Callahan said.
Robbie waited. He waded through the silence of the airwaves, as he held himself perched in a snipers position about a hundred yards from the main gate. Trees were his cover, the darkness aided and he had a good view of the road and moonlit area. He had been there for hours.
“Eagle One,” Callahan called. “My men just spotted the abandoned motorcycle about three miles north.”
“He’s coming. I feel it. If he not here already.”
“Hold your position. I’m on my way.”
Robbie blurted a ‘fuck’ that didn’t make it over the radio. It was like a game. One he didn’t want to lose or Mike. Callahan had her mission in mind, if Mike crossed the perimeter of Quantico armed, then to her Mike was a threat that she would eliminate.
Robbie understood that, he would do the same in Beginnings. He only hoped that he could stop that from happening. He would reason first, and if all else failed he would fire. The only difference was, his weapon wasn’t like Callahan’s or her men, his weapon would only take Mike out for a few hours.
Checking the dart on the tranquilizer rifle, Robbie kept watch.
“No,” Callahan said firmly to George as she got in the jeep.
“Ask me if I care, Callahan,” George got in.
Callahan hesitated in starting the jeep. “Sir, may I speak freely.”
“Go on.”
“I think it’s irresponsible of you as a leader to place yourself in danger’s way.”
“It’s one man.”
“Armed and with the intent to kill you. If he sees you, he will shoot. It’s not a sport to him. He’s not hunting you down setting up the perfect trap. He’s here. He came here to arrive, see you and shoot to kill.”
“And I don’t believe that will happen.”
“I implore you not to go.”
“Okay, how about this. I go, but I don’t go to the front with you. I keep a distance in this jeep. Sound good?”
Callahan huffed.
“Deal?”
Callahan started the jeep, mumbling, “So much like a child.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing.” Callahan drove on.
***
“Good God,” Hal shook his head as he stood with Andrea. “Look at him.”
Frank hid his smirk, but not well. It partially graced his face, and occasionally he’d swipe his hand over it, in attempts to remove it. But every time he rasped out, “Oh, yeah,” the smirk returned.
Daniels was cocky. He took it easy on Alex the first game and she lost. Then after a nudge by Frank, Alex pouted. Her lips swelled up, eyes welled, and she said to Daniels, “Please mister, one more game. How about nine ball?”
How could he turned her down? That was what he said and he gave the break to the tiny little girl … who... proceeded to put the nine ball in on the break, winning the game.
“Yes!” Frank shouted out, picking Alex up and kissing her.
All chivalry and maturity went out the window. Daniels lost his cool, which was fueled when Frank laughed at him.
“What?” Frank said. “She’s a child. Lucky shot.”
Alex nodded. “I’m shocked.”
All it took was for Jenny to shout rematch and everyone began to gather to watch as Daniels racked the balls.
“Regular pool.” He told Alex with a point of his finger. “You’re going down little girl.”
“Uncle Frank?” Alex asked. “Why is he picking on me?”
“Yeah,” Frank taunted. “You can’t be picking on a kid like that.”
“I’m not convinced she’s a child. I heard her complaining to you about the beverages not being cold. She complains like an adult woman.”
“Okay. Point. But still, she’s eight and …” Frank shifted his eyes to Alex. “Hey.”
“What?” she held the stick as big as she was while moving about.
Frank inched to her and whispered. “Go pee.”
“I don’t have to, I’m just excited.”
“All right.” Frank winked and nodded. “Good luck.”
Daniels broke, by courtesy of Alex, placing the three ball in, then on his next shot, he called and got the one. He missed on this third.
Alex walked around the table, eyeing up her shots. She stopped, pointed her stick. “Nine ball off the bank, into the eleven. Eleven in the corner, nine in the side.”
Daniel gave a slight roll of his eyes, b
ut yet, took a bite of his nails.
“Uncle Frank, could you?”
“Absolutely, sorry.” Frank walked to her and lifted her up.
“Down a little.”
Frank adjusted.
“Thanks. Hold steady.”
Frank did.
Alex shot.
The balls did exactly as she called, and the place went wild.
Frank lifted Alex higher and hugged her.
Daniels threw a clenched fist into the air in his frustration.
“Uh-oh.,” Alex said in Frank’s hair. “You shook it loose.”
“Oh, Okay. Go.” He set her down.
Alex placed the stick on the table. “Be right back!” She shouted as she took off running. “Pee break.”
“She gets excited,” Frank said with a smile.
Hal watched Alex dart her body in and out of people to the rest rooms in the back. “I saw that coming.”
“Me too,” Andrea said and stood. “I’ll be back.”
“Where are you going?”
“To the bathroom with my grandbaby. I can’t let her go to the rest room alone. Sweet Jesus Hal, you never know.”
“Andrea, please, it’s Bowman.”
“Yes, it is. But, I still can worry.”
“And you wouldn’t be Andrea if you weren’t so motherly.”
“Aren’t you sweet?” Andrea tapped his cheek and walked away.
Hal took a sip of his drink, and shook his head. It was obvious that Frank was upping the intimidation. He made his way to the juke box and Hal could only guess what he was going to play.
<><>
It worked.
The alarm system.
Startling Elliott nearly out of his chair, he caught his bearings and looked.
What monitor. Where?
Eyes scanning, he saw the red light and froze.
“My God.”
Elliott picked up his radio.
“Hal,” Andrea frazzled flew back into the bar
Smile produced from the irritating song, “We are the Champions.” Hal turned serious. “What’s wrong?”
“The ladies room door is locked and Alex won’t respond.”
Andrea didn’t wait; she rushed back to the hallway. He was only a few feet behind, and only a few steps into his run when Hal got the call.
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