“Positive. That …” He pointed to the bracelet tells me. “It is a tracking and identification system used on all beings. Hubra and Primal both. In case they are taken. That belongs to a Primal.” Chaka took the bracelet and showed the outside. “This is the identification of the Primal and inside is the name of the town. But this makes no sense …” He looked around. “All of this was destroyed by fire from the sky. It was scorched land.”
“How do you know?” Dean asked.
“Because I know exactly where I am and when.”
“Uh, yeah,” Frank said. “Montana, a thousand years in the future.”
“Not just that,” Chaka said. “My time and I … am home.”
TWELVE – BEGINNINGS
“What the hell is magic cream?” Joe spoke out loud when he received a text from Creed that read, “I want to sign up for the magic cream, as a scientist myself, I find it intriguing.” Joe shook his head. Again, Beginnings was drumming up things that the apocalypse didn’t need. In annoyance, Joe simply replied, ‘K’. In fact, he did the same to the other four messages requesting to be put on the magic cream list.
Danny or Dean was up to something, he just wished they’d let him know about their experiments before the community did.
At least Danny called him right away about finding the future ninja guy. Joe was pretty excited about that, until he realized it was bingo day at containment, and every nut case that wasn’t working came to bingo day at containment to play with the residents and try to win things Danny Hoi found salvaging a Walmart.
Buses came from Bowman, Creedville and Jordan a half an hour before Danny placed the call. Joe was pretty certain not even Danny knew every face and ninja man blended in.
So he stopped and got a latte, walked a little slower and enjoyed the jelly roll that Gemma had on special. Danny sent him four text messages asking where he was.
Joe was on his way.
Danny by nature was excitable and hyper, but when Joe approached his office and saw Danny pacing out front, he got irritated.
“Joe, what took you so long … Oh my God.” Danny pointed.
“What?”
“Who hit you in the mouth? Johnny?”
“What? No. Why would you say that?”
“He hit Roy.”
“He didn’t hit me.”
“You’re bleeding.” Danny pointed to his own corner of the mouth.
Joe brought up his index finger. “Oh, it’s jelly from the donut.”
“You stopped to get a donut?’
“Yes, Danny, I did.”
“Joe, I called you. I found our future guy.”
“Yes, Danny, I know. But I’m pretty sure you’re mistaking someone from Jordan.”
“No, Joe, I know everyone,” Danny said.
“I doubt that.”
“I do. This is the future guy. Even if I didn’t know him, I would know for sure.”
“That makes no goddamn sense.”
“When you see him you will.”
“It better. Did you ask him anything?”
“Not much. He seems nice. Ready? Brace yourself.” Danny reached for the door knob.
“Yeah, yeah, quit blocking the door.”
Danny turned the knob and stepped inside. “9-B.”
“9-B?” Joe asked.
“His name,” Danny said. “Nine? This is Joe Slagel.”
9-B stood from the chair and turned around.
Joe stared.
“It’s so great, right?” Danny said with an excited laugh.
“You gotta be goddamn shitting me.” On those words, Joe turned and walked out the door.
“Joe,” Danny called out. “Where are you going?’
“Back home. Back to bed. This has to be a dream,” Joe said. “Because there is no way this day is happening.”
“What am I supposed to do about him?” Danny asked.
“Hide him somewhere until I can wrap my head around this.” Joe walked off.
Danny stood dumfounded, he shrugged. “Okay, I’ll hide him.”
THIRTEEN – POLW
Hal, Robbie and Henry were first to arrive back at the meeting place. It wasn’t long before Frank, Dean and Chaka returned, as well.
“We saw no one. No beings at all,” Hal said. “Remnants of old camps here and there and that was it.
“Well, Dorothy, the river eventually narrows into a creek. We made our way down the hill, saw one of those bad LEP things, just one.”
“Dorothy?” Hal questioned. “And you weren’t supposed to leave the hill.”
“Why not? We did.” Robbie said. “We found a bridge. Not old either.”
“Did you cross it?” Frank asked.
“Dorothy didn’t want us to,” Robbie answered.
“Why…” Hal lifted his hands. “Are we calling me Dorothy?”
“We’re not in Kansas,” Frank said. “In fact, we’re about a seventy miles from where Beginnings was. Know that water we dropped in.”
“The dinosaur lake?” Hal guessed.
“Yep. Only it looks like we’re west of there.”
“How did you find out?” Hal asked.
Frank pointed to Chaka. “He found something on the ground. Something from his time and his home. “Chaka also says if things haven’t changed, we aren’t far from a bad LEP settlement.”
“So it is conceivable they took Johnny and Fort?”
Frank nodded.
“So what now?” Hal asked.
“I don’t think we should stay here,” Frank replied. “Those fucking Planet of the Apes horns go off every four hours and they started hunting.”
“They were faint where we were.”
“They went toward the setting suns,” Chaka said. “If my calculations are right, that is out of range for the settlement. Still there could be smaller camps.”
“What did he say?” Hal asked.
Frank looked at Chaka. “What about this bridge they found. Do you know about that?”
“I am unfamiliar with the term.”
“What is he saying?” Hal asked.
“It’s a structure that goes over water.”
“There are remnants of ancient structures like that. None to my knowledge still exist in my time. Then again, the country is vast. Much land I haven’t seen.”
“”Bu it’s so close to here,” Frank said. “I mean, wouldn’t you know.”
“Hey!” Hal yelled. “Can you tell me what he is saying?”
“He said west is far enough from the settlement if they are still there and he doesn’t know about the bridge,” Frank said. “Also he thinks you suck.”
“Funny. Chaka would the LEP or your people cross that bridge?”
Chaka shook his head. “Until today, I was never submerged into water. We fear it. Unless to cleanse or drink. I would not see us crossing the water.”
“What did he say?” Hal asked.
Frank replied. “He said no and your hair makes you look like a girl.”
“Frank, grow up.” Hal snapped. “If they don’t cross the water, then they didn’t take Johnny and Fort. There’s no way.”
Henry spoke up. “We can’t be sure. Chaka is talking his time. Things could change.”
“From my calculations,” Frank said. “We aren’t far from Jordan and that’s where Chaka says the LEP camp is. Our best bet to look for Johnny is to go there. Chaka asked if it was possible that Fort had his own time device. Because of the way they disappeared.”
“Oh my God, that’s possible,” Hal replied. “How would we know?”
“We won’t,” Frank shrugged. “We have to assume they didn’t and look. Get close enough to the settlement, Chaka and me will get close. They can’t smell me. I’d send just Chaka but he’s kind of racist and says we all look alike to him. He wouldn’t know Johnny.”
“Until then?” Hal asked.
“We head toward that bridge. Make plans to cross it in the morning, after second sun up. Problem is, we have weapons, yes,
but we don’t have what it takes to take on a fucking horseback riding army of demented LEPs who toss nets at humans. We don’t have the ammo, or rather the right ammo.”
Hal lifted his hand. “Nothing we can do about that.”
“That’s …” Frank held up a finger. ‘Not necessarily so. I have an idea. See, there is an ancient city. The ruins are sacred, but there are still structures. That city is Bowman. Parts of it still remain.”
“You’re kidding,” Hal said.
“Nope. We find out what remains, because Chaka has been there and …”
Hal finished his sentence. “We plant what we need.”
Frank snapped his finger. “Exactly.” He faced Chaka. “What buildings remain in the sacred city?”
“Only a few structures,” Chaka replied. “Most are not fully intact. Just shells. Only one still has some walls and has a lower level beneath the ground that still exists. We believe it was a place of worship.’
“The church, good.” Frank looked at Hal. “The church is partially intact and the basement is accessible. We put it in the basement.”
“Uh, Frank,’ Robbie said. “If we’re where I think we are, we have to pass Jordan, unless you want to take the long way around.”
“We’ll have to. Take the long way to Bowman, get the LEP ammo and Dean-Ami and then go to Jordan.”
“One more question,” Hal said. “How do we plant the ammo? Do we all go back?”
“No.” Frank shook his head. “We can’t take that chance. Obviously things get skewed when going a thousand years in the future. We send someone back.”
“Oh! Oh!” Henry raised his hand. “I’ll go. Send me.”
Dean laughed. ”Henry, you disappeared with Fort. You go back, they’re gonna think you were behind it all.”
“Not if we send someone back with him,” Frank said. “That way there are two going to plant the stuff we need. Figure out how to seal it and bury it.”
“Who goes?” Hal asked.
Frank looked at Dean.
<><><><>
Dean whined. “No, Frank, send Robbie or Hal. I want to do this.”
“I know you do,” Frank said. “But if I don’t send you back, my father will be pissed that we even took a chance with you. Because you know as well as I do, you are needed there. If something goes wrong, we don’t make it back, Beginnings will survive without me, Hal and Robbie, they won’t survive without you.”
“Uh, Frank?” Robbie said. “That’s not true, they have Roy now.”
“Okay yeah, you’re right. He still has to go back.”
“You’re an ass for doing this, Frank. You can send Henry back with a note. But fine. I’ll go. Just ...” he handed Frank the bag, “This is everything you need. Use the water pills. Wait …” he opened his back pack and pulled out Chaka’s satchel. “I’m taking this. If you guys are in his time, he can get more and …” he lowered his voice. “Try to get me more of that healing agent. Please.”
“You got it.”
“Also … all of you,” Dean said. “I know you Slagels think you’re invincible. Well, maybe Frank is, but you’re human. The air is different. Your lungs will take a while to adapt if they ever do. In the mean time you will get winded really fast and really bad. Don’t take risks.”
“Explain winded really fast,” Hal asked. “What constitutes really fast.”
“Probably half the time that you usually would get winded. All of you smoke like fiends so that doesn’t help. Okay. Send us back.”
“Do you know what to get?” Frank asked.
“Yes. And I know where to put it. The basement below the altar, against the wall. Get Danny to help us with an airtight box, dig a hole and change the stone color to mark it.”
“Henry? Do you know what I need?” Frank asked.
“You want me to wrap up a Gemma cake.”
Frank gave a thumbs up.
“What?” Hal asked. “You can’t expect the cake to last a thousand years.”
“Uh, Hal, it’s a time machine,” Frank said.
“Yeah, so. It’ll be fine”
Robbie laughed.
“No, Frank, it won’t be.”
“Yeah, Hal it will be.”
“Frank, it will be a thousand year old cake. Even if by some chance it survived, if Henry wraps it well, you won’t be able to eat it.”
“What if he wraps it really well?” Frank asked.
“Even then.”
“Really, really well?”
“Frank!” Hal snapped. “It will be a thousand years old!”
“No, Hal it won’t be! Henry is going back, it takes a few seconds, so you can’t count that. Even if he doesn’t bury it for a day. We took a time machine here, it’ll only be a few days old.”
“How do you figure?”
“How long have out bodies been gone?’
“A couple days.”
“There.” Frank held out his hand. “She just made them before we left.”
“Frank. The cake isn’t going through the time machine. Henry will wrap it and it will be buried for a thousand years before we uncover it. Even if it was only two days for us.”
Frank went silent.
“Make sense?”
“No.”
“Remember when they uncovered food from Pompeii, it was six hundred years old, they said it was preserved. But would you eat it?’
“It was preserved.”
“But it was hundreds of years old.”
“Hal, if it wasn’t good to eat, why would they say it was preserved. Huh?”
“You know what? You’re right. Eat the cake when we find it.”
“Thank you! Man, it’s tough to get through to you.” He handed the pendant to Dean. “It’s all set. I don’t know how long it will be since we left. Hopefully only a couple seconds.”
“I’ll wrap that cake tight for you,” Henry said.
Dean stared down to the pendant and took a breath. “Oh, wait, before I forget.” He removed the translation piece from his ear and handed it to Frank. ‘There.’
“What!” Hal blasted aghast. “You hand an extra the whole time?”
“Yeah, I had three.”
“You’re an ass.” Hal reached over and snatched it from Frank’s hand.
“That’s really gross,” Henry said as Hal put it in his own ear. ‘Dean had that in his body. What if he has old man ear wax leakage?”
Hal curled his lip in disgust.
“Just sayin’.” Henry shrugged.
Dean held up the pendant. “Okay, I’m ready. I’ll see you soon, Frank. And please come back.” He lifted his arm and Henry held on to it. “See you on the other side.”
With a press of the button and a flash, Dean and Henry were gone.
FOURTEEN – BEGINNINGS
Joe slammed the door to the quantum lab when he entered, causing Jason to jump. “I didn’t expect to see you here,” Jason said. “Didn’t Danny find the future guy?”
“He did.”
“Why are you here?”
“I need to get some space. I’m pissed and ready to kill someone or at least kick his ass...”
“Who?”
“Dean.”
“Dean?”
‘Dean.”
A triple flash happened in the lab and with a rush of an electrical sound, Dean and Henry appeared.
“Well,” Jason said with an exhale and smile. “It’s like Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice. Shall I find you a weapon?”
Dean looked at Joe, who stood, hands in pockets staring at Dean intently. Confused, Dean asked. “What?”
“Before I kill you, where the hell are my sons?” Joe asked.
“They’re still there,” Dean said.
“What!” Joe blasted.
Henry held up his hand. “Joe, they sent us back. They needed us to come back.”
Jason stepped forward. “How long were you there?”
“Twenty-four hours,” Dean said. “That’s all. We were canvasing
the area, that’s as much as we got done. And Jason, we weren’t in Kansas, we’re here or near here. Your trajectory was off.”
“Hard to be specific when dealing with that big of a time trip,” Jason said.
“I followed Fort,” Henry said. “Frank had me on him. It was Fort who was trying to kill Frank.”
“We know,” Joe said.
“And he kidnapped Johnny,” Henry added. “We were trying to track them.”
Dean continued. “But the trail stopped cold.”
“Because Fort had his own time device,” Jason said. “You had no trail to follow because they jumped time.”
“My grandson is back. He’s fine. Fort is in 1984. My son,” Joe said. “Robbie. Is he alright.”
Dean nodded. “He’s fine. Why?”
Jason replied. “Right after you left, he came back, and he was in bad shape. Looked like he had been through hell. Was tied up to pole, his arm torn apart, he was beaten.”
“Then it didn’t happen yet,” Dean said.
“Maybe we can stop it,” Henry added. “Warn them, then again, they will just return once they find out Johnny isn’t there.”
“No.” Dean shook his head. “Those three will stay and sight see, they want to see if they can find out how it went from a planet of humans to a planet of LEPS.”
“Wait.” Joe held up his hands. ‘We can’ send you back to warn them. We can’t take that chance.”
“You don’t need to,” Dean said. “That’s why we’re back. Apparently, Bowman is a sacred city in the future, well, the ruins are. The church is still standing. We’re supposed to find a way to bury the special LEP ammo and my Dean-Ami. When we do, we include a sealed air tight note, telling about Johnny and Robbie.”
“Bury ammo and a note?” Joe asked. “And leave them for a thousand years. Jason, will any of that be any good.”
“We would have to find a way to remove all air from the container and seal it good,” Jason replied. “Even then, it’s iffy. Worth a shot. Once we bury it, it could be a matter of hours and they’re back.”
Joe pointed at Henry. “I’m putting you on that.”
“Joe I already have ideas.”
“Good. And you…”He turned to Dean. “Elliott Ryder is awake, he is completely healed.”
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