“Yeah, Andrea talks to Dad all the time.”
“She thinks she talks to his ghost.”
“Who’s to say she doesn’t?” Frank asked.
“Me. There’s no such thing as ghosts,” Hal barked.
“Yeah, but Hal, who cares.” Frank shrugged. “I threw him into the investigation. I didn’t give him the time to grieve. Me, you, Jimmy. We may have adjusted. Grieved in private. But we aren’t Robbie. Robbie is different. He needs this. He needs closure. If he feels like he’s talking to Dad, who cares how he does it.”
“As long as he doesn’t break into Dad’s tomb?”
“Exactly.”
Hal sighed.
<><><><>
Jason hated to do it, but there was something amusing about the faces of the family when he suddenly appeared.
He also was curious as to what was being made for dinner.
He didn’t want to set the machine for to many trips to the same time, so he set it different years and decades.
He went back just after the plague to the house. He made the trip with Dean. They tested the radius of it.
Obviously, when in the same room. The machine brought everyone in.
1998, 1938, 1955. All what he determined were different families or generations in the house? All with Dean stepping further and further from the dining room.
Finally, in 1945, Jason arrived. He mumbled, ‘fifteen feet’ to himself and made a mental note to test it outdoors.
The aroma of the house smelled divine as he stood in the empty dining room set for dinner.
Dinner was late.
He made sure he set a six PM time arrival, too.
Damn it.
Ready to return, a woman screamed as she carried a platter into the dining room
“Don’t drop dinner,” Jason instructed.
“Agnes, what …” a man followed her out. “Who the hell are you?”
“I am traveler from the future.” Jason held up the box. “I’ll zap on out of here in one second. But may I have a dish of that meatloaf. It looks fantastic.”
Agnes nervously, set down the platter and grabbed a plate.
“Agnes,’ the man barked. “What are you doing?”
“He’s hungry, Earl. A little food …”
“He’s an intruder.”
“From the future,” Agnes nervously dished the meat loaf. “Potatoes?”
“Please.”
“Carrots.”
“Love them.”
Agnes fixed the plate. “Gravy.”
“Absolutely.”
“Agnes!” Earl yelled.
“Enjoy, it’s my momma’s recipe." She handed the plate to Jason.
He winked. “You folks have been great. Thank you.” He pressed the button.
He supposed that they screamed when he left, maybe even argued some. Left in shock.
“Fifteen feet?” Dean asked when Jason zapped back in the room.
“Yep.” He set the plate down; there were five other plates there.
“Another meal?” Dean asked. “What is this one?”
“Meatloaf.”
“Wow, it smells great.”
“Momma’s recipe.”
“I’m starved.”
“We have food.” Jason smiled. “A little early for pasta, but how long has it been since you’ve had spaghetti?”
“Too long.” Dean sat at the table at the same time as Jason. “So we have fifteen feet.” He handed him an empty plate and they used the meals they collected like a buffet.
“I want to double check outside.”
“Sounds good.”
“I wish Robbie were here for this,” Jason said.
“Robbie is too busy. He said just let him know our results. Speaking of which…” Dean wiped his mouth. “Any thought. Any ideas.”
“Actually, yes,” Jason said. “Obviously, Joe is wearing an invisi suit. He’s not time traveling. We have the HG Wells. The thing is to either find Joe’s hiding spot while he’s not wearing it or a way for Robbie to bust him while he is wearing it.”
“So which is the most feasible?” Dean asked.
“Bust him while he’s wearing it. Joe’s not going to be hanging around a lot of people. So Robbie, if he follows correctly, can get him alone.”
“Yeah, but are you talking about wearing infrared?” Dean asked. “Because surely, Joe will avoid him.”
Jason shook his head. “The suit is just that, a suit. Made of material. We don’t want to ruin it, it’s like gold. We only want to suit to be exposed long enough for Robbie to say, ‘gotcha’.”
“And you know how.”
“Thought you and I could work on a little expose gun tonight.”
“Like a squirt gun.”
“Exactly. Only with … invisible ink.”
“Good plan,” Dean said. “But, Jason. How are we gonna get invisible ink?”
Jason smiled and lifted the HG Wells.
<><><><>
Robbie had thought of it, but not in the terms that were presented to him. Follow Andrea. When he thought of the Andrea angle earlier it was to see, to get clues, on whether or not she knew what or who she was communicating.
But follow her to find his father?
It was a plan set in motion. Finding his father. A mission Robbie would not fail. He had conceived the thought, but never thought to follow through. Now it was imperative. It was something he was going to do.
He ran through his mind three reasons he thought it was so important.
Personal?
Absolutely. When it first came to light to him that his father may be alive, Robbie was admittedly angry. Then as facts poured in as to why, he understood.
He grieved. He grieved hard. A loss his soul had never comprehended. Robbie felt as if a part of his being was gone when he lost his father.
Yes, personal was one reason.
Another was effort.
Robbie placed himself in his father’s position. If he had to fake his death, surely it would be as painful for him to do so. To watch as your love ones went through so much pain. To be unable to reach out and tell them why.
What would make it all worth it? To know that the reasons for doing so were valid, and the efforts well on their way to working.
If indeed Joe was walking around Beginnings in an Invisible suit, what was his state of mind?
Frustration? Anger? Hurt?
Nerve wracking, to say the least, to watch and not say anything.
Locating Joe was going to be difficult, even with following Andrea. He had to be precise.
He wasn’t doing it to expose his father, in fact, more than anything, Robbie knew he had to keep his mouth shut about it.
A bad world turned good all because his father made the unselfish decision.
Obviously, his father knew there was a point when he could return and wasn’t planning on doing so until that point had passed.
Robbie had no qualms about helping his father keep that commitment. But he felt Joe had to know his efforts weren’t in vain, the path was set. Stay the course.
Maybe make it easy on his father.
Jason had called to let him know that he and Dean were working on something to help Robbie. It wouldn’t be so much to help him locate Joe, that was a task in itself, but more so to confirm that he had found him.
They didn’t get into much detail about what it was, just that it was simple.
Robbie was fine with that, he’d wait until they finished making it.
Until then he stayed on his mission.
Two things weighed heavily on his mind as he ventured into his day. One was finding Joe, the other what he would say when he did.
<><><><>
Ellen gave the introductory to it first. Which was an error; she should have told Roy when Danny walked into the room. Instead, she gave him the truth.
“I know you are here to stop a bad future,” Ellen said. “You won’t get into details. I don’t expect you to. You will when i
ts time. But I was worried. Worried that if you changed the future, you would disappear. After all, you were a product produced for the bad future.”
“I have thought of that, and that was a chance I am willing to take” Roy responded.
“Yeah, well, I’m not,” Ellen told him. “So I made arrangements and talked to Danny Hoi. In fact, he should be here any second. He wants to meet you.”
Roy jumped from his stool. “You have told Danny Hoi.”
“Yes.”
“I am not ready to meet him.”
“But you already have met him in Beginnings.”
“I have met him under the pretense that I am Dean. I hide behind that. I have not met him as me.”
“You’re about to.”
“Then I must get ready. Will you excuse me?” Roy left the clinic lab before Ellen could tell him it was all right.
Danny arrived shortly after and chuckled at the notion that Roy was preparing to meet him.
“The veils are down, Danny,” Ellen explained. “He wants to be him.”
“This is going to be weird.”
“Oh … yeah.” Ellen said, her eyes drifting off.
Danny turned to see where she stared,
Roy walked in.
He sported a crisp checkered shirt, bow tie, and lab coat.
Danny held back the laugh.
Ellen walked over to the door. “I’ll let you two be.” She reached for the knob and locked it. “Danny meet Roy.” She left after the introduction, locking the door closed behind her.
Roy extended his hand. “It is an honor and privilege to meet you like this.”
“We’ve met.”
“Not like this. I am nervous, so if you’ll excuse that.”
“Not a problem. You know I knew something was up. I just couldn’t figure it out,” Danny said. “The way you dress …”
“You don’t like it?” Roy asked.
“I like it. I like it a lot. Very Happy Days.”
Roy grinned. “Once you sent me a message that said Happy Days was when life was the best. Hence why it was called Happy Days.”
Danny smiled.
“Did you Danny Hoi like the Fonz.”
“Who didn’t?”
“I bet you and he had much fun at Arnold’s diner.”
Danny opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.
“Was the food good? I always wanted an Arnold Burger. Whatever that was.”
“Yes.” Danny replied. “Everything was great.”
Roy clapped his hands together. “I knew it. You must have grown tired of recording it. I wish you were not holding the camera all the time. But … someone had to.”
“Um … yes.”
“Was Arnold a relative?” Roy asked. “I always wanted to ask that. You and He share similar features.”
“You mean since we are both Asian.”
“I’m sorry I am not familiar.”
“With what?”
“Asian.”
Danny caulked back. “Really. It’s a generic term or phrase people use to lump together all those who look Oriental. Japanese are Oriental, but not Asian. Asian derives from the Asian Russian Continent.”
“Ah … yes. I see. Much like the term we know Midussain.”
“Say again.”
“The term is not around now?”
Danny shook his head.
“I don’t know if I can tell you.”
“Sure you can,” Danny said. “It’ll be our secret.”
“Midussain is a term that defines a combination of Middle Eastern, Asian, and Russian.”
“Like mixed together like one breed.”
Roy shook his head. “Soon enough, you’ll know.”
“OK, I’ll accept that.”
“So were you related to Arnold?”
“No.” Danny shook his head. “He is Japanese. Like Henry.”
“Then he is related to Henry.”
Danny grinned. “Yeah, actually his uncle.”
“Wonderful people. Where did he go?”
“Who?”
“Arnold. When he left and Al took over the business.”
Danny chuckled. “He went to California to be with Henry.”
“Makes sense.”
“This is great. It’s giving me a lot of insight.”
“To?” Roy asked.
“To why I did a lot of things I did. I’ll need to know exactly the time line I did things. So when the world changes, I can still do the same outline and have you born.”
“Is it that important?” Roy asked.
“It is to Ellen. You’re brilliant. A mind that we need.”
“But you have Dean Hayes.”
“Dean is no you.”
Roy smiled. ‘True.” He exhaled. “What can I tell you Danny Hoi? What would you like to know? I will tell you what I can as long as it does not disrupt the future plans. I believe things are going good.”
“I do, too.” Danny paused. “There is something I have to ask. Something that far exceeds science. Something very important to me.”
“Yes, what is it?”
Danny hesitated and then he asked. “In the future. When I get old … do I still have my hair?”
<><><><>
Elliott had just finished the standard application. He placed his signature on the bottom, folded it, and tucked it in his drawer for safe keeping. Not that he was hiding it from the Captain. Perhaps he was. But he just didn’t want to hear the Captain’s remarks about it.
He had just finished closing the drawer when his phone rang.
Answering it with protocol, Elliott immediately grabbed a pen and paper to jot down what was told to him.
Upon gathering the information, he sought out the Captain.
Hal was exiting the mess hall when Elliott found him. It was the first he had seen him all day and spoken to him.
“Do you have a minute?” Elliott asked.
“Absolutely, must be important.” Without hesitation, Hal turned and opened the doors to the mess hall. It was empty, as it always was after the lunch rush.
Indicating to a table, Hal led the way for both men to sit.
“Roberts checked in,” Elliott handed Hal the paper. “The ten man crew packed up camp at 1300 hours and proceeded to head due north.”
“How are they moving?”
“Motorcycles were placed in one truck,” Elliott reported. Three other Humvee style vehicles followed the main truck.”
“Our man?” Hal asked.
“Still in their possession,” Elliott said. “Roberts reports that the captured scout seemed well, in good physical condition and in no harm.”
“Was he restrained?” Hal questioned.
“Yes.”
“When should we plan the rescue?”
“They’re obviously en route somewhere,” Elliott said. “They’ve taken our man with them. I say, let’s see where they end up. Right now, allowing our scout to be ears and eyes is good. Actually, if we can rescue him once a destination is reached, we may get more information.”
“I’m not comfortable with our man being in their captivity.”
“Neither am I. We can infiltrate when they stop.”
Hal took a deep breath. “No. No. We’re not there. Roberts is. Obviously, Roberts is not sensing danger. Let’s let him call this one.”
“Very well, Captain.” Elliott folded the paper. “He’ll be checking back in at 1800 for an update.”
“Keep me posted.”
“As I always do.” Elliot sighed out. “So, onward to something else. How was your morning?”
“Productive. Better when I got here to find out we weren’t having Oodles of Dan Noodles.
Elliott chuckled. “You seem to be the only one who has a problem with that.”
“And one would think since I lead this town, that would hold some consideration.”
“The needs of many outweigh the needs of few, or one.”
“Throwing that Star Trek bullshit a
t me, Elliott?” Hal asked with a snicker.
“Captain, Captain …” Elliott raised the corner of his mouth. “No. I am not.”
“You were going to make a wise crack, weren’t you?’
“Of course.”
“A Spock quote.”
“McCoy.”
“Even better.” Hal sat back. “So, I finally spoke to my brother Robbie today. It took Frank to corner him for me.”
“And?”
“And he admitted to him and Dean being in the mausoleum, and opening the tomb. Not the coffin, mind you. Just the tomb.”
“Did he say why?”
Hal leaned forward with folded hands. “To have a séance.”
Elliott turned his cheek and glanced sideways at the captain. “Séance?”
“Yes.”
“And you believed him?”
“Not on your life. But Frank did and I had to be passive. Robbie claimed his grief was taking him to desperate measures to speak to our father. And, I can’t ignore the fact that our mind reading president stated, Robbie’s thoughts are on just that. Speaking to our father.”
“Perhaps … there’s truth in that, then.”
Hal shrugged. “Perhaps.”
“What now?”
“Absolutely, nothing,” Hal said. “Nothing we can do. He said he’s not going back and really, he’s not committed a crime other than insanity.”
“What if he has a good reason for doing it and isn’t telling you?”
Hal chuckled. “Great. But Elliott, logically, other than trying to regenerate our father’s being, what logical reason is there to be in his tomb.”
“Maybe he thinks your father is a vampire.”
“That is not funny.”
“It’s not intended to be.”
“Vampires logical? Good God, Elliott have you been hanging around my brother? Nothing about this is logical.”
“Logic is in the mind of the believer,” Elliott said. “What appears to be illogical to one is the path of logic of another.”
“You are just a plethora of famous quotes.”
Elliott nodded. “Absolutely.”
“Who this time? Kirk? Spock? McCoy?”
Elliott smiled. “Ryder.”
<><><><>
“There’s nothing wrong with your eyes,” Ellen said, pushing the testing device from Jimmy’s face. “You passed the test. And no other signs of ocular trouble. I’m not going to do a cat scan, I really don’t think you have a tumor.”
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