“Dean, I don’t want to talk seriously.”
“I do.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “El, if something should happen to ...”
“It’s not.”
“Listen. If something should happen to me in there, if when I come out something is wrong with me, brain damage and such, I want you to do something for me.”
“What’s that, Dean?”
Dean reached up and pulled Ellen closer whispering. “I want you to give me two cc’s of Tripolithimene.”
“Dean ...”
“Ellen, exactly two cc’s. Any less will make things worse. Anymore, if I can feel anything, I’ll suffer. Two cc’s and I’ll go into a deep sleep then finally respiratory arrest. I have a DNR. They won’t revive me.”
“Why are you asking this of me?”
“Because you ...” Dean clung to her hands speaking emotionally, “you are the strongest person I know. You are the only one I can trust to help me and stick to their word. Promise me you will. Promise me you not let me live the rest of my life a shell of a man.”
Ellen brought her lips to their joined hands. “I promise you.” She rubbed her cheek against his knuckles. “But I don’t have to worry about keeping that promise because you will be fine, I know it.”
“I feel it.”
“So do I.”
Andrea walked silently into the room, clearing her throat lightly to get their attention. “Dean, it’s time.”
Ellen shivered and clenched his hands tighter. “Oh God.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“I know you will.” She moved in closer to him when she saw Andrea near. Placing her hands on Dean’s face, Ellen brushed her lips lightly to his as she spoke to him. “I love you, Dean. I love you very much. Know that. Please, please know that.”
“I do. I love you too.” Sliding his hand up to the back of her hair, Dean gripped Ellen and pulled her to him, kissing her. For the longest time after that kiss, their closed mouths stayed together. Tenseness and fright filled that moment and then Andrea began to wheel Dean away.
Not wanting to let go, Ellen held on until Dean slid from her. “I’ll see you in a little bit.”
“No, El. I’ll see you.”
How much longer could it possibly take was not the question on Ellen’s mind. How much longer would it seem was the one that got her. Watching the dark sky turn bright, feeling tired but not giving in, Ellen paced the waiting room. Joe stayed with her the entire time. Worried also but he tried not to convey it. Like Joe, he was trying to be strong, but Ellen knew him too well.
There wasn’t a person who didn’t stop in for a progress report, staying longer than they should have, all hoping that they would hear something on their visit.
Sudden fear struck Ellen when Frank came back to the waiting room, told Ellen he had received a call from Johnny and that he was to summon everyone involved in the project. Within minutes of Frank’s arrival, Robbie, Danny, and Henry showed up as well.
Henry cautiously approached Ellen who held onto Frank. “You doing OK, El?” he asked as he laid his hand on her shoulder.
Ellen nodded, tapped his hand, and leaned more into Frank, who kept his arms around her.
Watching the two, Henry backed up and stood by Danny.
“Look.” Danny held out his hand to Henry. “Could I possibly bite my nails any lower?”
“Yeah,” Henry told him, “they could be as low as mine.”
“Ew.” Danny shuddered. “I’m glad I’m not ...” He reached up and lightly smacked Henry on the side of the head.
“Ow! What was that for?”
“Quit it,” Danny told him
“Quit what?”
“Staring and ... get that longing look off your face. Ellen doesn’t strike me as the type of woman to feel sorry for someone, just annoyed with them.”
“You’re right. Should I look mean at her?”
“Might work. Try it.”
“OK.”
Ellen lifted her eyes to Frank. “Frank? Why is Henry giving me dirty looks?”
“I don’t know.”
“Such an asshole. He’s not helping his cause in us talking, is he?”
“El, I told him to watch what he does. Obviously he doesn’t listen.”
“Something’s happened in there hasn’t it, Frank?” Ellen spoke so scared.
“No.”
“Then why did Johnny call you guys?”
“We’ll find out.” Frank turned her to the door where Andrea, Jason, and Johnny walked in. Their solemn faces conveyed more than anything at that moment.
Andrea looked at Johnny then Jason and stepped closer to the awaiting group. “We called all of you here because we thought you may want to know together. We believe ... we believe that the operation and the implantation was a success.” She smiled at the loud sigh of reliefs. “We think the chip was implanted correctly. There were no problems during surgery. Dean handled it well and we’re going to keep him sedated for a little bit. We’ll start to bring him out of it in eight hours so there really isn’t any reason to stay.”
Henry raised his hands. “Should we program the chip while he is sleeping?”
“No.” Andrea shook his head. “Let him rest in every aspect. Now if you’ll excuse us, we have some clean-up.” She gave another smile to everyone and left the room.
Squeezing Frank, Ellen was so relieved. “Frank, I was so worried.”
“I think we all were, El.”
“Will he wake up all right, Frank?”
“I believe he will.” Frank hugged her more.
Wanting to interrupt, Henry approached them. “Frank? Can you meet me and Danny at your house in two hours? We’re gonna try the first reprogramming.”
“Um ...” Frank looked at his watch, it rested on the arm he had around Ellen. “Sure, I’ll bring Robbie.”
“Thanks.”
Frank kissed Ellen on the cheek. “I’d better go. I’ll check back with you later or do you need me to walk you.”
“No, go on. I’m going to stay here for just a little bit more.” Waiting for everyone to leave the waiting room and continue on in their day, Ellen sat on the vinyl couch. She planned on staying a little while longer so she could sneak in and see Dean. But while she waited Ellen did something other than wait. Though she promised Dean she wouldn’t, Ellen prayed. She prayed that even if the program failed, she needed Dean to awaken as Dean. Praying at that moment—whether she was on good terms with The Big Guy or not—was the best option for comfort Ellen had.
<><><><>
Crunch. Crunch. Hearing this, Henry, annoyed, turned his head from the computer screen. Crunch. Crunch. Again, Henry turned his head. He ignored it. “OK. Danny, do you have the aural piece copulated with the system yet?” His eyes shifted harshly to Robbie’s snickering. “What is so funny about that?”
Robbie snickered again. “What does oral copulation have to do with what you’re doing to this SUT or are you just weird, Henry?”
“I said ‘aural’ not ‘oral’ ass.” Breathing out so as not to shout, he looked back at Danny. “Do you?”
“Ready and waiting for insertion.” With Robbie’s laugh, Danny laughed also.
Henry tossed his hands up. “I give up on you ...” Crunch. Crunch. “Robbie! Will you knock off the eating in my ear? Go stand over there if you’re gonna eat those things.”
“They are potato chips. Josephine made them. They’re actually ...”
“I don’t care!” Henry shouted. “This is a very important experiment and you’re munching in my ear.”
Robbie grinned then opened his mouth wide. Placing that mouth close to Henry’s ear, he stuck a chip in his mouth, and bit down as loudly as he could.
Henry rolled his eyes. “So immature. Where is your brother? He’s supposed to be here. I told him two hours.”
Robbie tossed his hands up. “Maybe he’s busy. I wish he would get here. He’s the only that can calm you down.”
“I d
on’t need Frank to calm me ...” Henry sniffed then sniffed again. “Aw! Did that thing go again?”
Robbie leaned to the SUT and smelled. “Yep.” He ate another chip.
Henry gasped in disgust, holding his nose, and speaking nasally, “I wish Frank would hurry.”
Danny just shook his head. “Henry, what is wrong with you? How do you change your kid’s diaper?”
“He doesn’t,” Robbie answered.
“You don’t?” Danny questioned.
Henry’s fingers moved across the computer program. “Not on purpose, I don’t. This is finally ready. Now where is Frank?”
“Here.” Frank walked into the basement. “Man, it stinks.”
“You’re late, Frank,” Henry griped. “I want to run this program. The SUT had another accident. He smells really bad.”
“Get over it. Now let’s work on that SUT.”
“OK, Frank.” Henry edged Frank to the table containing the computer. “Hook him up, Danny.”
“Got it.” Pulling the long wires that were attached to the ear piece, Danny placed it in the ear of the SUT. “Ready.” Danny saw the SUT struggling at the earpiece. “Robbie, can you?”
“Yeah.” Standing behind the SUT, Robbie held down the reaching arms.
“Uh, Henry?” Frank called his attention. “Can I ask you a question? I’m looking at you running that program off a laptop. Laptops are mobile so why is this thing in my basement?”
“Easy. We weren’t sure we could load the program properly. We were testing it here in case there was a problem then we could program the SUT from the main computer. But we’ll find out. We’ll take the laptop to the clinic when we program Dean’s chip.” Henry hesitated before he pressed the enter button. “We decided on Domestication Program: File 123.” Henry shrugged. “Who knows what that is as long as he uses a toilet? Fingers crossed and ...” He pressed the button.
Frank watched the SUT. “I’m not hearing anything.” All eyes looked at him. “What?” He crossed his arms and watched the SUT twitch his head.
“Thirty seconds,” Henry commented. “Twenty.”
Frank slowly pulled out his revolver just in case the SUT went mad and then he’d shoot it.
“Ten,” Henry announced.
Danny tapped from heel to toe, nervously watching Robbie hold the twitching SUT.
A slight beeping occurred and Henry turned to the faces in the basement. “Done.” He then looked at the SUT.
The SUT opened his eyes looking around, his head lifted, and tilted back to Robbie. He cleared his throat and surprisingly in an intelligent style, laced with a British accent, he spoke, “My good man. Is there reason for you holding me down?”
Robbie’s hands sprang back.
Slowly and with shock, Frank spoke, “What the fuck?”
The SUT brushed off his arms. “Thank you very much.” He looked down to his wrist then to Frank. “Sir, I seemed to have misplaced my watch. Could you inform me of the time?”
Frank checked out his watch. “Uh yeah, almost noon.”
“Then there will be only the slightest delay in the afternoon meal. A delay in which I hope you understand,” he spoke to Frank.
“Sure I understand.” Frank shrugged, clueless to the disbelieving faces in the room.
“Will your preference be a hot meal, sir , or a chilled one.”
Frank bobbed his head in thought. “It’s summer, chill it. But can you hold that thought.” He motioned his head to Robbie and walked to Danny and Henry. “What is going on?” he whispered.
Danny shook his head. “As near as we can figure, Domestication means just that ... he’s domesticated. It looks like he is programmed to be a servant of some sorts. He probably saw you first, Frank, when he opened his eyes and that’s why he asked you for the lunch order.”
Henry tossed his hands up. “I’m sorry, Frank. We’ll wipe out that chip and program him as a soldier since that ...”
“No.” Frank stopped him. “No.”
Robbie, Henry, and Danny were shocked by this. “No?” They all said.
“No.” Frank shook his head. “Let’s have some fun with him first. Hell, he said he was going to make us lunch.”
Henry’s mouth opened in shock. “He smells Frank. I don’t want him to make my lunch.”
“Oh.” Frank looked at the SUT. “Let’s just have some fun with this for an hour or so. My beds all need made anyhow.”
Henry looked at Frank in debate. “Two hours, Frank, then I’ll reprogram him correctly, but you have to do something about his smell.”
“OK.” Excited and clapping his hands once, Frank turned to the SUT. “You, I need to ...”
“Sir,” the SUT interrupted, “I firmly apologize for my rude interruption but before I facilitate my duties to you, could you possibly point me in the direction of the washing area. Seems I had a bit of a mishap and would like to rectify it and cleanse?”
“Uh ... sure.” Frank nodded. “Robbie, can you show him?”
“Yeah, Frank.” Robbie placed his hand under the SUT’s arm. “This way.”
“Thank you.” The SUT stood and walked with Robbie. The second he took the first step up stairs was the second Robbie stopped him.
“I’ll lead the way.” His voice dropped to a murmur. “I’m not walking behind you.”
Frank gave a firm pat to Henry’s back. “Good job. And ... we get lunch.”
“He’s disgusting, Frank,” Henry complained. “I still won’t eat his lunch.”
“Suit yourself.” Frank looked at Danny. “You game?”
“I’ll eat his lunch,” Danny stated.
“See, Henry.” Frank pointed. “Robbie!” he called up the steps. “Make sure he washes his hands.”
“Got it, Frank,” Robbie called back down.
“You’re not having lunch with us, Henry?” Frank asked.
“No. I’ll stay here.”
“OK.” Frank began to walk away. “Let’s go, Danny.” They moved to the steps. Frank stopped on the third one. “Oh, Henry, since you’re staying down here, you might wanna do something about that chair the SUT was sitting in.”
“Frank I ...” Henry wanted to argue but Frank just laughed and ran up the steps with Danny. Afraid to, but compelled to, Henry slowly turned his head to the chair. When he did, immediate salivation and thickening filled his mouth, his stomach tossed, and Henry ran to the sink and threw up.
<><><><>
Danny’s hand reached out and grabbed hold of Ellen’s as she passed him the folded sheet of paper. “You’re trembling.”
“I know,” she spoke in a whisper as she sat close to him on the waiting room couch. “It’s been nine hours. Nothing.”
“Patience.” Danny raised his eyebrows. “Patience. We’re supposed to be taking your mind off of things, remember?”
“Yes.”
“All right.” Danny unfolded the piece of paper.
“What does it say?”
“Twenty hours of child care time plus five meals,” Danny read.
Ellen nodded. “What do you think?”
“Personally? I think the laundry for a month is better.”
“But I don’t do laundry. The man I live with does it.”
“Oh.” Danny grabbed the next one. “This one sucks. Ten work hours.”
“Where are we at right now with the Blake bids?” Ellen asked.
“It’s still between Jenny and Josephine. You’d better make up your mind. You promised a winner on Friday.”
“I know, I know.” Ellen dropped her head. “That cake a week for a year is gonna be hard to pass up.”
“True,” Danny added, “but will she be around for a year?”
As Ellen’s head lifted to comment, Frank walked up. “Frank.”
“Nothing yet huh?” Frank reached down and snatched one of the folded papers.
“Hey.” Ellen tried to get it back.
“Aw, El.” Frank shook his head. “I can’t believe you are actually takin
g bids on the guy.”
“No, Frank,” Danny corrected, “you should be saying you can’t actually believe women are making bids on Blake.”
“Making bids on Blake,” his voice interrupted, tossed them all through a loop as Joe stepped into their conversation. “Do not tell me the rumors I have been hearing are true. Ellen, for Christ sake, are you raffling off a human being?”
“No, Joe,” Ellen said and pointed to Danny. “He is.”
“Yeah right.” Joe’s voice took on a scold. “You cannot be raffling off a person like they are a new car.”
“But, Joe, the women love him.”
“Let them love him.”
“But I own him,” Ellen said.
“Ellen! You cannot own a human being.”
“Ya huh, Joe.” Ellen folded her arms defensively. “Ask Robbie. He got him for me. He was my gift.”
As Joe rolled the palm of his hand down his face and turned from Ellen, he saw Andrea walk in the room.
Andrea waited for the scuffling of feet pummeling to her to cease. “OK.” She held up her hand. “He’s up. He’s ...” She grinned brightly. “He’s alert. Has a headache but otherwise Dean is fine.” Andrea accepted the immediate embrace from Ellen and the applause that filled the room. “However.” Silence drew around her. “He is anxiously awaiting his programming. Henry?”
Henry nervously held the laptop. “I’m ready, Andrea.”
“Good let’s ...” Before she could finish her sentence, Ellen had bolted passed her. “... go.”
<><><><>
Ellen held tightly to Dean’s hand as she sat on the edge of the bed. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”
“Me too.” He let out his breath, squeezing her hand tighter. “I am really nervous about this.”
“Don’t be. How are you feeling?”
“I have a headache. Otherwise I’m fine.”
“You have a little less hair.” She pointed to the bald spot. “You can cover that up.” She fiddled with his bangs.
From their quiet moment, Dean raised his head to the abundance of footsteps he heard coming into the room. “Who’s all here?”
Ellen looked around. “Everyone is here. I’ll let you see for yourself, how’s that?”
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 324