The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

He could spot him a mile away wearing those bright purple camouflage pants made by Ben from Fabrics.

  Chaka was handcuffed and being escorted, his head hung low.

  “Chaka!”

  He lifted his head and saw Frank.

  “Come on!”

  With a shift of his body, Chaka plowed into the one guard, knocking him over. He kicked out at the other one and took off running toward Frank.

  Frank waited until Chaka caught up.

  “Do you know how to get out?” Frank asked.

  “We run straight ahead,” Chaka replied. “Once we get to the end. We’ll be free and clear and can cut through the forest.”

  “I’ll get you out of those things, once we find my pack.”

  Chaka agreed and they raced down the road.

  They didn’t make it far.

  Within seconds a wall of Hubra on horseback blocked the end of the street and before they could turn or change direction, they were surrounded.

  Frank looked at Chaka. “I think we can take them.”

  “I do, too.”

  No sooner had they said that, in unison, they all lifted a bow and drew back an arrow aiming at them.

  “Maybe not,” Frank said.

  Then Senator Wa slowly walked before them with another group of Hubra soldiers. He held his hand up, halting them from firing and was wearing the translator. That was when Frank noticed, it was different and larger and not easily concealed like his.

  “Guards arrest the bounty and the mutant Primal. Take them to maximum holding.”

  “Sir,” the one guard said. “The Primal, as well? Maximum holding is for Hubra only.”

  “He is as strong and as fast as any Hubra I know,” Senator Wa said, walking close to Frank and Chaka. “In fact, call Doctors Hoota and Vesna. I want his life fluid tested. If he resists, cut off his legs.”

  “They’ll grow back,” Frank said.

  Senator Wa leaned in to him. “Somehow, I don’t doubt that.” He stepped back. “Take them away.”

  It wasn’t one or two guards, it seemed like an entire brigade that grabbed on to Frank, securing him and dragging him away. He so badly wanted to scream out, ‘Get your stinking paws off me you damn dirt LEP.’ it would have been good, perfect, but somehow it seemed too cliché and Frank refrained. He didn’t struggle because he knew, he’d find a way out. He was confident.

  TWENTY-FIVE – BEGINNINGS

  As much as Dean didn’t want to, he gave in to Henry who spoke like the moral authority on behalf of Hank.

  He relented and opted to try to infect Hank’s blood and not Hank.

  Henry’s words were, “He’s a person, Dean, whether you see him as that or not. He is.”

  Henry was right, as much as Dean hated to admit it, Dean didn’t see Hank as a person. He doubted he ever would. Hank was a successful experiment. In fact, as cold as it sounded, for reasons known only to Dean, he would never nor could he ever see Hank as a human being.

  He was knee deep in his enthusiasm over Hank’s ability to fight infection when he got the call from Joe that Robbie and Hal were back, they were both injured and he’d meet Dean at the clinic as soon as they finished the breakfast Andrea insisted they eat.

  Dean figured their injuries couldn’t be that bad, then he saw them.

  Hal was covered head to toe with dirt and brush burns. Robbie had abrasions as well. However, protruding from his leg was thickest arrow Dean had ever seen.

  Because they wanted to keep it under wraps, Roy worked on cleaning Hal, while Dean and Jason removed the arrow.

  It took both of them to pull it out. The impalement has sealed the wound until the arrow was removed. It was so bad, Dean had to act fast or Robbie Slagel was facing another amputation. Luckily, he remembered the healing agent Chaka had brought. They tested just a drop on Hector and it worked, it was souped up version of his own. After dousing the wound with the Dean healing agent, he sutured the back of his leg, then proceeded to use Chaka’s. Tiny drops into the open wound. Before he a dozen drops in the leg, it stopped bleeding. Within five minutes, Robbie only needed a band aid.

  It was amazing and Dean would have to use it sparingly until he and Roy replicated it. They already had the building blocks to it.

  He wrapped Robbie’s leg anyhow, and planned after the wound was fully healed, to set it in a temporary cast.

  The fast moving surgery had worn Dean down, he was glad Ellen wasn’t around. He didn’t feel like fielding questions until he had answers.

  Robbie was awake, Hal was in the room with Joe when Dean walked in with an IV bag.

  “I already have one, Dean.” Robbie held up his arm.

  “That’s saline. This is infection fighter.”

  “I feel great.”

  “I know you do, but you were really dirty and that arrow was dirty as well. Humor me, this is a precaution.” Dean set up the bag, then looked at Hal. ‘I have pills for you as well.”

  Joe asked. “Will Robbie be okay?”

  “Yeah, he’s fine. The leg is fine. I don’t want him on it for a couple days. He’s going to be on this course of anti-infection for that long anyhow. Take a rest Robbie.”

  “My leg really feels great,” Robbie said. ‘How long before whatever you used wears off and I start feeling the pain.”

  “Depends.” Dean shrugged, finished the IV and pulled up a chair. “Okay. So what happened?”

  “Well, you left,” Hal said. “And we headed to the sacred city. We made some discoveries. But in fairness, I think we should wait until Frank returns. He has pictures.”

  “Pictures?” Joe asked in shock.

  Hall rolled his eyes and shook his head. “My brother brought his phone. Took pictures left and right as if he were on vacation.”

  Robbie laughed. “I can’t wait to see them. How about those selfies he took with the Primals. I mean … humans. We ran into humans. They don’t speak. They communicate with pictures and sign language. It was weird. Like the human race went backwards.”

  “Were they violent?” Joe asked.

  “Not to us. They fed us … well,” Robbie paused. “Then turned us into the LEPs and that’s when things happened.”

  “We got your note, Dean,” Hal said.

  “You wrote a note?” Joe questioned.

  Dean nodded. “Yes. Telling them Johnny was back, Fort jumped time and that Robbie was in danger.”

  “And we were ready to return,” Hal said. “Okay maybe not that second. But we made a pact to stay one more day then come back. And if anything happened, we were to get Robbie out of there right away. At first the civilized LEP arrived, they got Chaka. Frank, being Frank, went after him and that was when the Segavas arrived.”

  Joe looked at him curiously. “Segavas?’

  Hal held up two fingers. “Two species of LEP. Mild and wild and we were caught in the middle.”

  “Hal was really cool,” Robbie said.

  “Ah, thank you, Robbie.” Hal smiled.

  “No, Hal you were.”

  Hal tilted his head with a fake blushing look.

  “Dad, they had me. They hit me with an arrow, bagged me with a net, were dragging me, when Hal rode up on a horse, jumped off, landed on me and pressed the pendant.”

  Hal, acting humbled, glanced down and brushed the leg of his pants. “Well, it was fun and I’m sure our big brother was a bit envious.”

  “He should be. Hell of a job, Hal...” Joe walked over and kissed Hal on the forehead. “Good job. Thank you.”

  “Wait.” Dean held up his hand. “Hal saved Robbie. Where’s Frank?”

  “Our brother runs fifty-five miles per hours, thank you very much, Dean,” Hal said. “He was running to divert them from us.”

  “But is he okay?” Dean asked Hal.

  “I’m positive he’s fine. Probably doing his Frank thing and sightseeing. He’ll be back very shortly, I certain. What could be wrong?” Hal said. “He’s Frank.”

  TWENTY-SIX – POLW

  The walls
were solid concrete without a window, but the bars to the cell were sturdy and wide. At least it wasn’t a cage. There was room enough to pace, two beds, a table, even a toilet. It was a civilized version of captivity.

  Frank’s hands barely fit around the bars. “Man, these are thick.” He looked back over his shoulder to Chaka. “They don’t even shake.:”

  Chaka sat on the edge of a cot. “This is maximum risk. So even the most cunning and strong Hubra cannot escape.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.” Frank walked over and sat on the other cot. “I’ll tell you what. They took my blood. It was the coolest thing. I have to fucking get one for Dean. He’d love it. It’s like this gun they put to your arm. I didn’t even feel a pinch. Bam it was done.”

  “They also have the ability to show the results, immediately.”

  “We have to get one for Dean. A souvenir.” He stood again, then walked to the table where to trays of food sat. “You want some?”

  Chaka shook his head.

  “What’s a bounty? I mean, I know what a bounty is in my time, or was, isn’t any more since the plague. But what is a bounty Hubra.”

  “It is an intelligent Hubra with no loyalty,” Chaka said. “He or she will work with the Segavas to get what they want. Infiltrate Hubra camps. They work deals for Primals.”

  Frank nodded and tasted the food. ‘This meat is really good. What is it?”

  “Ana Bata.”

  “That’s not human, right?”

  “No. It is an animal. Much fur, stands on two legs. As big as a Hubra.”

  “Like a bear. I killed a bear once. Or Big Foot. I could be eating Big Foot. I fucking knew he existed.” He took another bite. “Wait. Why do they think you’re a bounty? Why are you even under arrest? I thought this was you time, your village.”

  “It is my village. But it is about thirty years before my time. I found my father. I was so happy to see him. He looks well. I wanted to see my mother. In my mind they had died many moon cycles ago. When I told him who I was, he had me arrested. Seems, as a stranger knowing the name of his child made him feel as if I were there to cause harm.”

  “He didn’t believe you were his son?” Frank asked.

  “No. Because I, in this time, am merely a baby.”

  “Oh fuck.”

  “It doesn’t help that my father is the most powerful man in this village.”

  “Wait. Wait.” Frank said. “Your father is Senator Wa?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re Chaka Wa.”

  “Yes.”

  Frank laughed. “Oh my God. Chaka Wa.”

  “Yes.”

  “Boom Chaka Wa-Wa.”

  “No Boom. No Wa-Wa. Just Chaka Wa.”

  Frank laughed.

  “What is funny?”

  “Nothing sorry.”

  “Frank?” Vesna called out.

  Frank spun around to see Dr. Vesna at the cell. “Oh, look whose here. Hey, Dr. Vesna. She’s wearing a translator”

  “You seem in good spirits,” she said.

  “I am. Dr. Vesna, do you know my friend Chaka... Wa.”

  “Chaka Wa?” she asked. “That is the same name as Senator Wa’s son.”

  “He is Senator Wa’s son,” Frank said. “He’s from the future.”

  “You both are from the future?”

  “He is. I’m from the past. Long story.”

  “Frank, you escaped today. I understand that. Placing Senator Wa in a cage was degrading.”

  “Yeah, I know. I felt that way when they put me in a cage.”

  Chaka stood up. “You put my father in a cage?’

  “Had I known he was your father, I wouldn’t have done it. Sorry.”

  “They are convinced you are his pet,” Dr. Vesna said.

  “They think we’re gay?”

  “I don’t understand that term.”

  “It means male Hubra and male Primal… mate?” Frank explained.

  “Yes,” she replied.

  “Fucking purple pants Ben from Fabric made,” Frank said in regards to Chaka’s outfit. “I’d think he was gay, too.”

  “Frank, I am here because you and he are scheduled for public execution and museum placement. However, even though it was your doing to release the Primals you did save three Hubra. The Hubrata that was being ravaged came to your defense and begged counsel not to put you to death.”

  “That was nice of her.”

  “I, too, spoke to counsel. I told them you were different and from a different tribe, an unknown one.” she said. “Because of her testimony and my theory, they have agreed to let you and Chaka speak on your own behalf to convince them to spare your life and free you.”

  Chaka moved toward the bars. “This is rare.”

  “He is the first Primal who could speak on his own behalf. It will not be easy. They’re scared. Frank is super intelligent. They fear he will lead the Primals.”

  Chaka nodded knowingly then glanced at Frank. “Sacred Scrolls prophesized a Primal will rise and lead an evil rebellion against God’s Hubra, hence beginning the end of the world...”

  “Oh, wow, our bible, which is like your sacred scrolls tell of the same thing. The Anti-Christ,” Frank said.

  “What is the Anti-Christ?” Vesna asked.

  “Evil. Bad. Gets real popular because everyone thinks he’s good. But he’s not. He’s bad. Causes the end of the world.”

  Dr. Vesna nodded. “Yes, it is the same thing.”

  “So they think I’m the anti-Christ.”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ve been called a lot of things. Never that. When do we speak to this counsel?”

  “Tomorrow, second sunrise.”

  “And we speak, convince them and we’re free to go?”

  “Yes.”

  “Just like that. They’ll let us go and not follow us to kill us?” Frank asked.

  “If counsel finds your innocent by ignorance, then yes.”

  “Can you get me one of those blood guns?”

  “What is that?” Vesna asked.

  “That contraption thingy you took my life fluids with. Can you get me one to take, I want to bring it home for my friend? He’d love it.”

  “The ones we have here are outdated. There are far more advanced ones at the medical facility.”

  “Either one will work. I’d appreciate it. Thanks.”

  “Frank,” Chaka said. “Their minds are already made up. We are dead. This is a formality. Changing their minds will not be easy.”

  Frank waved out his hand and scoffed. “Piece of cake.”

  “How can you be so confident?” Chaka asked.

  “Because, the story’s been done, written. It’s like we have a script already done. It’s fool proof. We got this.” Frank swatted Chaka’s arm. “I know exactly what to do.”

  “How?”

  “One word. And it is one word. Not two. One.” Frank held up two fingers. “The big guy.”

  “Ah yes,” Chaka nodded. “God.”

  “No. Chuck. And I don’t mean Chaka Wa. I mean Chuck. As in Heston. As in … this time tomorrow, we’ll be back in Beginnings.”

  “And you’re sure?” Chaka asked.

  “More than ever …” Frank smiled. “I am.”

  TWENTY-SEVEN – BEGINNINGS

  Robbie laughed. He laughed so hard he started to cough. “Oh my God, this is so great,” he said as Hank walked in the room to say ‘Hello’ then left with Hal.

  “I’m glad you can find enjoyment out of this.” Joe grumbled.

  “Dad, this is awesome. Promise me you won’t show Frank that guy if I’m not in the room. I have to see his reaction.”

  “I’m sure it will be entertaining.” Robbie turned his head toward the door when he saw Ellen. “Hey.”

  “Hey, you. How are you …” She walked in holding his chart. She leaned over and kissed him. “Doing, are you feeling okay?” she asked.

  “Um, El, I’m in a hospital. Totally enjoyed meeting that Hank gu
y...”

  “Yeah, he’s pretty cool. Nice, too.” Ellen reached in her pocket and pulled out a thermometer. “Open.”

  Robbie did. “He looks like …”

  “Shh.” Ellen took his pulse until the thermometer beeped. She read it. “Your temperature is elevated.”

  “Is that problem” Joe asked.

  “A little.” Ellen checked the IV bag. “But Dean expected it. He said the arrow was really dirty. Nothing we can’t beat. So, Robbie you were saying.”

  “I was saying Hank looks like Frank way before the plague. Except he has the same scars.”

  Ellen smiled proudly. “Me and Dean did that.”

  “Excuse me?” Joe snapped. “You and Dean gave him the scars? I thought I just missed them.”

  “Um … did I say we gave them to him? No. Gees. Joe that would involve cutting him and burning him. Never.” Ellen winked at Robbie, then looked down, as her fingers palpitated his neck. “Something wrong with your other leg?”

  “No, my hand is itchy.”

  “Must be getting money,” Ellen said and grabbed the chart. “Where’s Hal?”

  “He stepped out. He’ll be back,” Joe answered and slowly stood walking to the bed. “Ellen is his face swollen? He looks like he’s swelling up.”

  “Everything okay?” Dean asked as he walked in. He slowed down. “Robbie, you feeling alright?”

  “Why does everyone keep asking me. I did have surgery.”

  “His temperature is elevated, pulse is up, respiratory as well. And he looks like he’s retaining fluids.” Ellen said.

  “Did you check his ankles?” Dean asked and walked to the end of the bed.

  “Dean, honestly, I just noticed the swelling,” Ellen replied.

  “Me, too,” Joe said. “It seemed to come on rather quickly.”

  Dean lifted the blankets and felt Robbie’s ankles. “You have fluid.” He exhaled.

  “Is it an infection?” Joe asked.

  “Kind of soon to be showing like this,” Dean said. “I mean it’s only been a couple hours. Still can’t rule it out or an allergic reaction. I’m going to change his antibiotic and …” he paused when Robbie coughed. Dean whipped out his stethoscope and placed it on Robbie. “Deep breath.”