The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Which one is Costco. I go by numbers.”

  “Twelve and you know I don’t.” She then upped her voice as if talking to a baby. “There you are. How are you today? Are you ready to be groomed?”

  “Groomed? Not medical?” he asked.

  “Not today. Here, Costco, yes, a treat.”

  “Watch your hand,” he told her. “They bite.”

  “If you are gentle so are they.”

  Frank listened, getting clues and hints to try to be what they needed so he could gain their trust. Unlike Taylor in the Planet of the Apes. Frank always thought he pulled a stupid move, talking or trying to, showing his hand early.

  He listened as they opened the cage. He heard a squeak, obviously it swung open, that was good.

  “Okay, calm down,” she said. “Calm. Calm.”

  Her partner shouted, “Hadda! Get in here and help. Now!”

  “Easy with him, Pike,” she said. “Don’t hurt him.”

  “They’re animals, Dr. Vesna. Treat them like that.”

  There was mumbling and scuffling, Frank couldn’t make out what it was. Then he heard them coming. When he saw them walk around the bend, it took everything in his power not to laugh. The female was slightly smaller, dressed pretty nice and wearing a white lab coat. It was clear she was female and it was the first LEP that Frank ever saw that had hair. She wore it long and to her shoulders. Pike was dressed exactly like Chaka was when Chaka arrived in Beginnings.

  “There are the new ones from last night,” Pike said. “Some we got from a Primal camp. They attacked. We only took one, the elder Primal because he said strangers from the stars were in the sacred city with a feral young Primal.”

  She laughed. “From the stars?”

  “I laughed, too. Until …” he pointed at Frank.

  She cocked back in surprise when she saw Frank. Then her eyes shifted to Rufus. “Feral or not, you know I don’t like the young ones in with the older ones. The older Primals tend to try to mate with them.”

  Frank instinctively produced such a dramatic look of disgust that it caught her attention and she snapped a look at him.

  Quickly, he changed to a blank expression.

  “There is something different about him,” she inched to the cage.

  “His clothing is odd.”

  “He looks harmless.”

  Frank gave a puppy dog look and tilted his head.

  “Oh, how sweet,” she said.

  “Sweet? No. He fought and killed one of our Hubra.”

  “If he did that, why is he in here.”

  “We believe he found an ancient banned weapon in the sacred city and it went off. There is no way he’d know how to use it.”

  “True. He’s just so different.”

  “So was the Hubra with them, we think a bounty rebel.”

  “Segavas?”

  “He claims to be from here, but no one knows him and he was wearing bright color clothing. He’s detained now. He is very civilized but we believe he is a bounty.”

  “You said Primals from stars, where there other like him?” she pointed to Frank.

  “Two others. They … they vanished.”

  “Vanished?”

  “Vanished,” Pike said. “Gone.”

  “Oh, nonsense,” A snobbish sounding male voice entered the conversation and walked forward. He, too wore a lab coat. “The sacred city has caverns all under. They probably fell into one and the simpleton Segavas claimed magic and ran. Hello, Dr. Vesna.”

  “Doctor Hoota,” she said coldly.

  Doctors? Frank thought. How the fuck did these things become doctors.

  It was getting harder to stay silent.

  “What brings you here?” she asked.

  “I came to collect Pike. I need help removing some specimens from my lab. And also, to give you the heads up. Senator Wa, is coming by. Like me he will be curious as to why you have so many Primals using our resources. Why are they not being groomed or taken for exhibition and experiment?”

  She winced. “You know I don’t believe in that.”

  “You’re protecting them.”

  “They are my work.”

  “They are animals.”

  “They are still living beings. And look some are different, look at him.” She pointed to Frank.

  “He looks like every other Primal.”

  I do not!

  “He does not.”

  Thank you.

  “Yes, he dresses different. What if he is from a more intelligent tribe, one we don’t know about? ”

  Dr. Hoota laughed. “An intelligent Primal? They are not intelligent.”

  Hey now.

  “You know my theory on this. Look at this one.”

  Frank stepped closer to the bars.

  “it seems like he understands us,” she said. “look at him.”

  “He’s hideous.”

  Fuck.

  “Put aside his repulsive appearance.

  I’m getting a complex here.

  “Put that aside and look at his eyes,” she said.

  Frank blinked several times and widened his eyes.

  “See. See. There seems to be depth. Like a soul in there.”

  “Ha!” Doctor Hoota scoffed. “Primals have no souls. You know this. God gave only Hubra souls when he made Hubra in his image.”

  “I am a Hubra of science. I don’t subscribe to that.”

  “You better. It is our law as written in the sacred scrolls.”

  Wait. I heard this conversation before.

  She argued. “Sacred scrolls are written by Hubra. You want to speak about sacred. In the sacred city, there is—"

  “If you say that you have been there I will be forced to turn you into counsel. You know the only Hubra permitted on those grounds are soldiers.”

  You dick.

  Dr. Hoota flung out his hand. “Now I suggest you quit wasting the resources of counsel, send a few of these creatures off. And you might want to send this one…” He pointed at Frank. “To the museum. As hideous as he is, he will make a great exhibit. Excuse me. Come along, Pike.”

  Pike began to leave, but stopped. “Dr. Vesna, please stay a few feet away from the cage. You know how they like to reach out.”

  She nodded and when they left, Frank swore he saw sadness on her face. He wasn’t sure. He was still thrown off by the fact that it looked like she wore lipstick.

  Her eyes danced from Rufus to Frank, then back again. “I am not crazy. You two are very different from each other. Almost as if two different ends of the evolution spectrum. I’m not insane.” She lifted her eyes to Frank. “You hear me. You understand me.”

  Frank smiled.

  She gasped in shock. “You reacted to my words.” She lifted her hand.

  Frank lifted his.

  Maybe if he went along with it, she would take him from the cage. Test him, Do a blood test, just not cut into his brain. He needed that.

  She waved.

  Frank waved.

  Dr. Vesna stepped closer to the cage. “You aren’t going to hurt me, are you?” She extended her hand.

  So as not to frighten her, Frank gently reached out with his index finger and ran it over her palm.

  “My God, you are a different species of Primal. Almost as if a super intelligent species.”

  “I am.”

  Her eyes instantly widened, then Dr. Vesna screamed at the top of her lungs, spun on her heals and ran out.

  “Fuck.”

  Rufus looked up at him with worry...

  “It was habit. It just slipped out. I swear. She said I was super intelligent. I said, ‘I am’.” Frank shrugged. “Oh, this should get real fucking interesting now.”

  Vesna wasn’t gone long, but long enough that Frank was really feeling hungry. Even that slop that looked like creamed corn and oats was starting to seem appealing. Any longer, he’d have to cave in.

  When she returned, she was alone. She inched her way cautiously to Frank.

 
; “I … I don’t know if I had a moment or it was real, If I imagined it, I will look like a fool in a few minutes,” she said, keeping her distance. “I swore I heard you speak.”

  “I did.”

  She gasped in shock. “You make noise. Are they words?”

  Why didn’t she have a translator? Frank wondered if they weren’t common place. Frank nodded.

  “You understand me?”

  Frank nodded again.

  She placed her hand to her chest patting it. “Dr. Vesna. Vesna. My name is Vesna.”

  “My name is Frank.”

  “Frank?”

  “Yes.” Then he pointed down to the slop. “Food.” He rubbed his stomach. “Food.” He mimicked eating.

  “Oh, you’re hungry. Go on. Eat.” She nodded at the slop Rufus was enjoying.

  “You fucking nuts.” He made a face of disgust.

  “Oh. I should know. Look at the way you’re dressed. If you aren’t from the stars, you’re from some civilized primal camp. Hold on.” She shuffled away and returned with a plate. “My food. Try.” She extended it to him but still kept her distance.

  It didn’t look half bad. From what Frank could tell it was some sort of cooked fruit or vegetable, something that looked like a fat cracker and he could smell the fish. With a swoop of his hand to the plate, he grabbed the fish and eat ate.

  “Not bad.” He nodded and grabbed the cracker thing. It was crunchy but tasty. “This really not bad at all.” He gave a thumbs up.

  “You like it?”

  Frank nodded.

  “Eat the fruit.”

  He held out his hand. “Nah, I’m good thanks. That worked.”

  “I have no idea what you’re saying. But you do, don’t you.”

  Frank was about to answer, when he heard the door open.

  “Dr. Vesna, where are you? You called for me,” the male said.

  “Back here Senator Wa.”

  As soon as she said that Rufus scurried to the back.

  As soon as the Senator came around the aisle, Frank saw why Rufus would be frightened. He was tall, bigger than Chaka. He wore a thick black leather coat and he had gray bushy hair, which was combed back. He was escorted by one soldier who stayed back.

  “What’s all the excitement,” he said with snobbish annoyance. “You made it sound urgent.”

  “This is.”

  “Why is this containment area full?” he asked. “Shouldn’t some of this beasts be gone.”

  “I am not here to be chastised about how quick I work or do not work.”

  “Hubrata, you take that arrogant tone with me one more time and I’ll have you fined for treason. Now what is it?”

  “My apologies, but this Primal…”

  “Gods, he’s hideous.”

  “Yes, but he is special. Docile—”

  “Docile?” he cut her off. “Is this not the Primal that killed a Hubra? He should be put down.”

  “He can’t be. This being is super intelligent.”

  “Oh, please. There are no intelligent Primals.”

  “He speaks.” She faced Frank. “Go on, speak, please. Say hello.”

  Frank did. “Hello.”

  He tried to act unfazed, but Frank saw it. The Senator was surprised.

  “See?”

  “I heard a sound yes.”

  “Primals do not have the vocal ability to speak.”

  “No. That’s nonsense. Some do, they just aren’t intelligent enough to form words.”

  “Frank can.”

  “Frank? Is that his name?” The Senator chuckled. “That’s an odd name.”

  “yeah, well,” Frank said. “So is Wa, you have room to talk.”

  Senator Wa lifted his eyes to Frank.

  “He speaks.”

  “He mimics,” Senator Wa scoffed. “When I was a boy there were circus Primals who used to pretend to speak. They made no more sense than a babbling baby in a crib.”

  “Then try the translator,” she said. “Try it. It works on the disabled, our scientist said it could interpret anything, even animals. Try.”

  “This is ridiculous. But I’ll humor you.” He opened his coat, pulled out a case and placed the translator in his ear, huffing out.

  “Go on, Frank, tell him something.”

  Frank grabbed on to the bars. “I hope that translator works so you can understand. I am getting out of here, and when I do, not only am I gonna wipe that stupid fucking smug look off your face and stick you in here, I am opening all the cages and letting the Primals wreak fucking havoc on this town. Well not Harry, he’s not getting out. He can rot for all I care.”

  Senator Wa blinked.

  “What did he say?” Dr. Vesna asked.

  “Nothing. It was nonsense. Babbling.” He took off the translator. “He was mimicking. A trained pet.”

  “You lie!” Frank told him and stared. “You heard and understood every word I said.”

  “But even though I don’t understand him, it doesn’t mean Primals can’t. He is dangerous if he can communicate with them.”

  “So you agree he is intelligent.”

  “No. I am not going to take a chance. Sergeant …” he motioned his hand to the LEP behind him. “Take him to the death pen for public execution.”

  “No!” Dr. Vesna leapt forward, stopping the soldier. “We can learn so much from him.”

  “You’re right.” Senator Wa said. “Soldier, take him to Dr. Hoota, have his vocal chords removed for examination and the portion of his brain for communication. Keep him alive for execution. The town Hubra can use a positive message.”

  The LEP soldier lifted what looked like a thicker card key and placed it in the door.

  Frank smiled. “Not today.”

  The moment the cage door opened, Frank charged forth. Shoulder first he rammed straight into the soldier. The force of his body sailed him back and slamming into the wall.

  The soldier, stunned, dropped to the floor. Frank spun around, grabbed on to Senator Wa and tossed him in the cage. “Fucking heavy.” He then reached down for the soldier, he was heavier than the senator. With a grunt and all his strength, Frank lifted him enough to get him in the cage.

  “Come on Rufus.” Frank waved. “Come on.”

  Rufus shook his head.

  “What the hell.” Frank rushed in, grabbed the boy, carried him out and shut the cage door.

  “No. please.” Vesna held up her hands.

  After he set down Rufus, Frank smiled, tapped her on the cheek and grabbed the card key that still extended from the door of the cage.

  He ran by each cage, placing the key inside and freeing those inside. Some ran out, some didn’t. He stopped before Harry’s cage and held up the key. “Nope. Sorry. Ha.”

  “You can’t do this!” Senator Wa yelled out. “Set us free.”

  Frank shook his head and ran down the aisle, until he found the door.

  He could see the sun glaring through the small window. He just needed to get out, make it back to the sacred city or the beach, get his pendant and go home. He could do it.

  As soon as he stepped outside, he felt confident. At least ten Primal men raced out into the street. It was a perfect diversion.

  Frank, however, wasn’t ready for the LEP town. His head had been stuck so deep in his Planet of the Apes fantasy, he expected a raw civilization, clay huts and tentpole stores. He didn’t expect a technological society.

  The first LEP he bumped into was so engrossed in looking down at what appeared to be a phone, that he never bothered to see Frank was a human.

  There were so many LEP in the streets, some walked, some rode on scooter style hoverboards.

  Instead of a foul odor, Frank smelled food. Across the road under a green awning, LEP sipped from cups as if they were at Hoi Bucks.

  It didn’t take long for everyone to realize there was a breech. Alarms blared and LEP screamed as Primal men ran amuck in the street. They grabbed food from hands, shoved and attacked LEP woman and childre
n. It caused Frank to pause.

  Why were they acting like that, the Primals were violent and reminded Frank very much of the savages. A part of Frank felt responsible, what had he done. He had a clear shot to run, but he didn’t. The citizens of the village didn’t do anything wrong. They were going about their day, playing with their phones, drinking coffee. Releasing the Primals was just like releasing the savages on Beginnings.

  “Fuck.”

  He couldn’t, with a clear conscious just leave. Instead, he attempted to clean up his mess.

  The first Primal he grabbed was repeatedly hitting a smaller LEP with a chair. As the Primal raised it back to lunge again, Frank grabbed it from his hand, and smashed it over his head. The Primal fell and Frank moved on to another attacking Primal. He grabbed and spun him around, delivered three fast blows to his face, and rendered him unconscious.

  As he dropped Primal to the street, Frank saw the arrival of some sort of LEP military group. They pursued the Primals that ran rampant. Frank knew he had to get out of there before they lumped him in with the others.

  He wasn’t like them. He may have had the same genetic make-up … sort of, but was not like them.

  Turning to leave, he heard the terrified screams. He looked in the direction and saw a Primal on top of an LEP female. He viciously pulled at her clothing as he grabbed on to her in the attack. It was obvious what he was trying to attempt, and Frank rushed over.

  He lifted the Primal who fiercely fought back. Frank was enraged at his actions, that after one punch, without hesitation, he locked on to the Primal’s head, and with one jolting action, snapped his neck and dropped him.

  “I’m sorry,” he said to the crying female LEP. “I’m sorry.”

  She screamed and scurried back.

  She was scared, in fact most of the LEP were. And that was when Frank realized they weren’t LEP or Laboratory enhanced Predators anymore, they were Hubra. Evolution had turned them docile and intelligent and in a twisted irony, man became the hostile predator, At least from what Frank saw.

  No wonder man was hunted and caged, they were the evolved Savages.

  He had to go.

  Being too concerned with those committing violent acts, they were focused on Frank. It was his chance. He would run straight down the street at full speed, and intended to do so, until he spotted Chaka.