The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series

by Jacqueline Druga

  George shook his hand. “Owen, excellent job. I don’t understand why we aren’t traced up by the tracking system in Beginnings.”

  “Simple, sir,” Owen explained. “We’re using the old underground lines. Nothing is bouncing off the satellite and the tracking picks up from the satellite. The old lines are safe from the tracking where cell phones and radios are not.”

  “Just what I wanted to hear.” George began to walk with Captain Anvers and Owen. “Tell me, did Captain Anvers here speak to you about running the lines through other cities.”

  “I’m still working on that, but I don’t see why we can’t get the lines up in running at least in the cities The Society operates. I would need the man power then I would have to train them and reprogram the phone lines. It could be months or longer.”

  “I understand. I’m in town for a day. After I’ve rested I expect to see you with a full break down and report.”

  “Yes sir.”

  George let Captain Anvers lead the way to the awaiting Jeep that would take him to the main set up. George needed his communications back, communication that could not be detected by Beginnings. The only problem George had was that his means of communication overseas would be detected. With his overseas expedition scheduled to start soon, it looked as though he was going to have to go into that blindly and have little communication with the outgoing ship. He felt going blindly was better than not going at all.

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  Henry raced into the tracking room in from the rain. He shook the water from him as he set down his tool bag. He looked at Mark who monitored the SUT tracking system. “What’s up, Mark? I’m supposed to be babysitting.”

  “We lost the front gate tracking.”

  “We what?” Henry flung the rain off of him and moved closer to the dead screen. “How long ago?”

  “Just when I called you,” Mark said. “Ten minutes maybe.”

  “Could be the rain. That wind is pretty bad out there. All right, let me check in here to make sure it’s not the power or anything internal. We drain a lot of power here and the storm may have an effect on it. Do me a favor and call Danny.” Henry opened his tool bag. “This is more his baby than mine. I could waste a lot of time.”

  “Danny’s working on the houses.”

  Henry pulled out the table the monitors set on. “I think this is a little more important.”

  “I’ll call Danny.” Mark picked up the phone.

  ^^^^

  Bright and chipper, Andrea walked into Dean’s lab. She held the small note Dean had left her and knocked once on the archway. “Morning, Dean. You wanted to see me?”

  Dean turned from his work. “Yeah, close the door.”

  “Must be important.” Andrea reached back and closed the door. “What’s going on?”

  “I need to know where you get off.” Dean walked to her.

  “Excuse me.” Andrea blinked. She was taken aback by his hostile tone.

  “Where do you get off? Ellen is my patient, not yours.”

  “What did…?”

  “You have no right what-so-ever to release her from the clinic without my knowledge.” Dean’s hand slammed on the counter.

  “First off!” Andrea raised her voice, “do not dare take that tone with me!”

  “Don’t you dare take control of my patients.”

  “It was Ellen!”

  “Yes it was!” Dean shouted back, “and you just assumed it was fine for her to not return.”

  “I checked on her all night.” Andrea spoke loudly and defensively. “She was in capable hands. She wasn’t alone. She was with . . .” Andrea cleared her throat. “I see.”

  “You see what?”

  “This has nothing to do with the fact I gave the O.K. for her not to return, does it?”

  “Yes it does.”

  “Oh horse shit.” Andrea moved to the door and opened it. “When you calm your little ass down, we will talk. If you want to discuss this on a professional level, we will, but I will not be victim to your petty jealousy because she stayed with Robbie Slagel.” Andrea pointed with her bobbing head. “That is where your anger lies and why you are blasting my judgment. Get over it Dean. Get over it now or you’ll be in for a miserable time ahead.” Andrea stormed out.

  As the door slammed loudly so did Dean’s hand again on the counter, this time sending a rack of tubes crashing over and breaking. “Shit.” Reaching for them, Dean stopped and ran his hand down his face, desperately trying to get his anger back in control.

  ^^^^

  The rain had stopped. Robbie laughed as he spoke into his headset, walking the pathway back to his Jeep. “No way. The chief can not be involved in the Neville nominations. He’s too old.”

  “Right.” Steve the tower guard came back sarcastically. “How old do you think Charlton Heston was?”

  “Not that old.” Robbie laughed, “Besides, I’m Neville.”

  Steve’s joking tone changed. “Whoa . . . hold up. Which way you headed?”

  “Why?” Robbie asked. “To my Jeep.”

  “There’s someone at the back gate.”

  “One of Mathias’ men? Cause with tracking down we can’t be...”

  “No,” Steve said. “This is one, no, two men and one just dropped the other off at the front gate.”

  “I’m there.” Robbie took off running to his Jeep. He jumped in, lowered the microphone to his headset, and screeched the Jeep to the way of the front gate. “Frank.”

  ^^^^

  Danny huffed and shook his head when he heard Henry laughing through the headset radio. “It’s not funny.” Danny clenched his hands as he climbed a rope up a tree. “Why aren’t you doing this? It’s internal.”

  “External.”

  “Internal.”

  “Danny, you secured it badly. Admit it.”

  “Never. I can’t believe a storm knocked this down. Hell, I secured this thing so tight fuckin’ God himself couldn’t knock it off.”

  It wasn’t the intrusion voice they expected. Reverend Bob interrupted. “Must we speak the Lord’s name like that.”

  Henry laughed. “Listen to you eavesdropping. That is so wrong.”

  “I eavesdrop so I know who to pray for.”

  Danny grunted as he climbed. “No offense Reverend, but that doesn’t work for me. Henry, almost there.”

  “Down the front gate!” Robbie could see the man, wrapped in a blanket on his side. His dark hair protruding through it. “Shit, please.” Robbie beckoned in his mind as he raced over to the body and dropped to this knees. He turned him over in complete disappointed. It wasn’t Frank. Placing his revolver in his shoulder harness, Robbie saw the note attached to the man. It was addressed to the doctors in Beginnings. “O.K., let’s get you in.” Robbie reached down to the man and pulled him to the front gate.

  Finally Danny made it to the top of the tree, lifting himself to the high branch where the tracker was. “Oh shit. Henry.”

  “Yeah.”

  “It wasn’t any storm that did this.”

  “What was it?”

  Danny looked at the spear that stuck from the tracker. “It was a spear.” He heard the ruffling of grass below him. “Oh shit, not again.”

  “What. What’s wrong?” Henry came back.

  “Gets security out here now! We have savages.” Danny’s eyes shifted and he saw Robbie by the front gate. “Damn it, Henry, get help!” Grabbing the spear and tugging it with all he had, Danny tucked it under his arms, grateful he was wearing gloves, and then slid most of the rope length down the tree.

  Robbie stood quickly to his feet and dropped the man a few feet from the gate when he heard the single war cry chants. “Shit.” He grabbed his gun and moved up his microphone. “Get me a team out front, but put up that perimeter now until they get here. We have savages. Sounds like a lot.”

  Steve was on the other line. “Already spotted them. They’re on their way.”

  “Fuck,” Robb
ie said disgusted and knew he didn’t have time to get the man out of the way. He held up his revolver and tried to zoom in on the direction, but they seemed to come from all directions. Robbie prepared to fire. Louder and louder they grew. Suddenly, from the trees, they emerged like wild animals. There were more than Robbie could count and they came almost as quickly as he could shoot. He was taking them down but they plowed to him. He was only one man with one gun then Robbie felt the sear of an arrow into his leg. “Fuck!” he shouted out as he felt a savage leap to his back. He flung him over his shoulder, snapped his neck, dropped him, and swung out his gun in a punch to one that dove at him. As he swung at another, Robbie saw Danny run from the trees.

  Danny made as much noise as the savages trying to divert attention from the ones who went after Robbie and it worked. Danny held the spear in both hands as the savages flew towards him. Danny spun the spear in a martial arts style, using the ends of the stick in alternation to nail each savage that came his way. He danced on his feet in a fighter’s stance, giving the savages his best shot.

  There were twenty or thirty, far out-numbering the Beginnings team.

  With the arrow still in his leg, Robbie felt an arm grip his neck and he was pulled backwards by more than one savage. Just when he used his every strength to pull off one, his head lifted and he saw another racing towards him with a spear aimed directly at him. He was coming fast and Robbie fought to free himself. Twenty feet, fifteen, ten, . . . and then out of nowhere came the ‘nay’ of a horse, a swing of a sword, and the attacking savage’s head flew from his body and rolled to the ground. Blood shot up like a fountain from the savage that had yet to fall. The rider on the horse barreled by the savage he had just decapitate and sent the body spinning.

  The savages were just as surprised as Robbie and in their surprise, Robbie took his advantage. Breaking free, Robbie began to fight, using his fist because they came so many, so quickly. He could see Danny battling. He also saw the rider on the horse remove an arrow from the horse's backside and not miss a beat. He swooped down his sword at the savages and as he did, he kicked the ones that came after him, even helping Robbie once in his pass. In his fight with three men, Robbie watched the long silver blade quickly shoot forward into the chest of one of the savages he fought. The sword retracted and the rider moved on.

  Through the small war the waged outside the front gate that Robbie, Danny and now the anonymous rider tried to protect, came steady gun fire as a team of ten Beginnings men burst through the front gate and began to pick off the targets. Precisely and quickly, just as they had been taught.

  Hearing the shots, Robbie backed up. He raced to Danny and pulled him to the line of Beginnings men. Holding Danny there, Robbie aimed as well. “Don’t hit the man on the horse!”

  When the savages dropped and silence entailed, Robbie saw the rider trot off in the other direction. He ran off after him. “Wait!” Robbie called out. “Wait!” The rider picked up speed and kept on going. “Shit!” Robbie tossed his hand out. “Who was that?”

  Danny couldn’t miss his opportunity. He snickered. “The Lone Ranger!” He saw Robbie look at him with hostile eyes. “Zorro?” Still no Robbie response. “The cavalry?”

  “Ha-ha-ha.” Robbie shook his head and turned to his men. “Nice work. Thank you.” Robbie returned to Danny. “Where did you learn to do that shit?”

  “Bruce Lee taught my father and my father taught me.”

  “You’re kidding?” Robbie asked, impressed.

  “Yeah I am. I had you going though. Hey did you know you have a broken arrow sticking out of your leg?”

  Robbie broke it at the head. He tried to not laugh at Danny and that took a lot. He moved toward the front gate.

  “You shouldn’t have done that Robbie.”

  “Why?”

  “You lost the Neville look.”

  “Shit.” Robbie looked down at his bleeding leg. He spoke in the radio. “I got hit with a uh . . . uh small spear. Give me a Neville point.”

  ^^^^

  Dean, calmer, waited for Andrea’s approval for him to enter her office. Slowly and humbly, he walked in.

  “Yes.” She looked up from the files she read.

  “I’m sorry.” Dean told her as Andrea just watched him. “I was wrong and you were right. You were perfectly capable of making the decision about Ellen and I shouldn’t have done that to you. You were also right about the Robbie thing. That is what has me angry. I can’t help it. It just hurts. It doesn’t matter what I do, I’m never going to be the person Ellen needs.” Dean stepped back to the door. “But I’ll get over it again. I just got wrapped up too much in what we had before Brian died.” Shaking his head, Dean opened the door.

  “Dean,” Andrea called to stop him. “I do understand and apology accepted. If you need to talk about . . .” Andrea’s phone rang, interrupted her. “Hold on.” She picked up the cell phone. “Dr. Winters.” Her face filled with worry. “Yes, Joe, we’ll get ready.” She hung up and stood up. “Let’s go Doctor.”

  “What’s wrong.”

  “We have incoming.”

  “Wh . . .” Before Dean could say anything Andrea had flew from her office.

  ^^^^

  Bowman, North Dakota

  After he was summoned, Hal charged into the police station, running. “Tell me.” He spoke and looked impatient.

  The monitor looked up. “We were monitoring and our man was dropped off and discovered.”

  “That’s a good thing. You sent word there was trouble. What was it?”

  “Wildcat attack sir,” the monitor said, “or savages, as Beginnings calls them. From what we could tell, Danny was out there in a tree and Eagle one was picking up our man. Eagle one was hit with a spear, but seemed fine.”

  “Are they fine? Is our man fine?” Hal questioned.

  “As far as we know. We’re still waiting.”

  “What about our escort?”

  “No word.” The monitor shook his head.

  Hal looked at his watch. “He should be returning in a few hours. I’ll keep watch. Did they say how many wildcats.”

  “No sir.”

  “Keep listening and keep me posted.”

  “I will. But sir . . .” The monitor interrupted Hal’s departure. “There is one more thing.”

  “What is that?” Hal asked.

  “We were listening. I think there may be one more opposing force out there against us.”

  “The wildcats.”

  “No sir.” The monitor handed Hal a sheet of paper. “This is what they said. It’s not the wildcats or the society. They were looking out for these people too.”

  “Damn it.” Hal harshly flicked his hand against the paper. “This is all we need.” Hal took a calming breath. “I’m going to be in the field finishing today’s training and then I’m keeping watch. Please let me know if you hear anything further about the Mathias men.” He laid the note paper down and left.

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  A blue cloth draped over Robbie’s thigh with only his injury exposed. With each pull of the suture Dean made, blood seeped from the slice. “Andrea could have done this,.”

  “Yeah, but my legs are my best asset, Dean. You’re the stitch guy.”

  Dean shook his head with a smile and continued to stitch. “Go on, Danny, you were saying.”

  “Oh.” Danny was especially upbeat. “There he was, surrounded, right. There were fifty or sixty of them and Robbie was trapped. They were on him, beating him. Robbie was at their mercy. I come flying in, and I flew Dean.”

  “I’m sure.” Dean tugged the suture.

  “I come flying in and I take control of the situation. I saved Robbie and made him sit down while I battled the savages.”

  Dean looked up to Robbie. “Any of that story true?”

  “Oh yeah. Every word. Did he fail to mention his lightening fast hands? He told that one in the Jeep.”

  “Failed to mention.”

 
“Sweetheart!” Andrea called out so upbeat yet concerned. “Honey.” She hurried over to Robbie. “Are you all right?”

  “Um . . . geez.” Robbie cringed falsely in pain. “I don’t know. Some brownies later may help.”

  “Of course. Dean?” Andrea peered over his shoulder “Are you hurting my boy?”

  “Very much so.” Dean snipped the sutures. “Care to dress this.”

  “Certainly.” Andrea patted Dean’s hand. “Jason is cleaning up the new guy. Can you help?”

  “Yep.” Dean moved his tray and walked to the sink. He smiled at Danny. “Good story.”

  “Thanks.” After Dean left, Danny walked over and looked at the stitches Robbie had. “Cool injury. Very Neville like.”

  “Too bad I didn’t take one to the chest, huh?” Robbie joked.

  Danny snickered. “Andrea how bad would it have been if Robbie got arrowed in the chest.”

  “Bad.” Andrea said as she bandaged Robbie's wound.

  “Cool. Hey Robbie, we would have hung you up like Jesus just for the . . .”

  “Danny!” Andrea scolded reached out and smacked his hand.

  “What? I was making a Neville reference.” Danny stated. “At the end of The Omega man, when Neville was speared to death, they made him appear like he was crucified like Jesus.”

  “Robbie!” Andrea spoke, so shocked. “Please don’t tell me you let my Denny see that.”

  “Nope,” Robbie lied. “I covered his eyes again.”

  “Thanks goodness. Our Sweet Jesus watches over us and we shouldn’t be blaspheming. I think you should come to services tomorrow with me, Danny.”

  “O.K., yeah sure.” Danny rolled his eyes and waved at Robbie then made his escape to find someone else to tell his new hero story.