The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  Quantico Marine Headquarters

  “What’s going on?” George questioned as two soldiers and Steward rushed in the room. The soldiers helped George from the bed to the wheel chair. “My head. My head.”

  Steward hurried over and lifted George’s head. “They moved the lines at the front another half a mile.”

  “How many intruders are we dealing with?”

  “We estimate three hundred.” Steward adjusted the belt on George’s wheel chair. “We’re moving you to safety just in case.”

  ‘Stop.”

  “What?”

  “What in Christ’s name for?”

  “Just in case they break . . .”

  “Steward!” George yelled. “You asshole. How many men do we have? Are they getting that overrun?”

  “The enemy is violent sir. They are using tactical means we haven’t trained in. The Sergeant in charge called it guerilla warfare.”

  George felt the chair begin to move. “I said stop!” The chair did. “Pull our men back. Retreat.”

  “Retreat?”

  “Yes.” George didn’t want to nod but he did slightly. “Retreat. Load the mortars and gas the hell out of them.”

  “Some of our men won’t have time to make it to safety range, sir. If we give them that time, the enemy could get too close.”

  “Gas them. How many men do we have on front lines?”

  “Three hundred.”

  “Give the order to pull back and gas them. Now. Risk their lives. It’s better than risking mine.”

  “Yes, sir.” Steward motioned to the two soldiers and they hurried to the door.

  “Stew,” George stopped him. “Do we know yet who we are fighting?”

  “Yes, sir.” Steward hesitated in his leaving. “Savages.”

  On Steward’s one word and his leaving, George slumped in shock. “Savages?”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  New Bowman, Montana

  October 15

  There was a certain amount of handsome arrogance across Hal’s face. His hands were folded on the mess hall table and he wore a wide bright grin as he chewed then leaned over the table and snatched another bite of the toast that Alexandra offered him.

  Alexandra giggled. “You’re funny.”

  “You’re funny. Give me a kiss.” Hal puckered.

  Another giggle and Alexandra kissed his quickly. “You look like Pap-pap.”

  “No. No.” Hal leaned back. “Maybe in his younger days, but Pap’s old. What did I tell you I was considered?”

  “Hot?”

  “That’s it.” Hal looked across the table to Ellen who sat next to Alexandra. “I have to tell you, El, I wish you were staying.”

  “I have to get back.” She ran her hand down Alexandra’s hair. “But I really enjoyed staying with you, Hal. Next visit will be longer, I promise. I can stay with you?”

  “Oh my God, without a doubt.” Hal grabbed his coffee. “El, listen, I don’t know what’s happening between you and . . . Ned.”

  “Ned?”

  “Ned.” Hal motioned his head to an eating Alexandra. “But something is.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “I understand.” Hal held up his hand. “I’m not asking you to. Just know, I’m on your side no matter what.” He winked. “We’re family. And ... if needed, you should, you know, consider living here in New Bowman instead of all the future commuting.”

  Ellen laughed. “Frank would have a fit.”

  “Frank would have to live with it. We can set you up with a place to stay if you don’t want to stay at my place even if it’s only a few days every week. Consider it.”

  “I may. Especially if it comes down to . . .” She saw Hal’s attention was all hers with interest. “Comes down . . . we’ll see.”

  “Good, because I don’t think you know how much having my family back and being around them means to me.” At the very tail end of Hal’s words, a single loud air raid siren bleared. “What the hell?” He looked as he stood up. “We have sirens.”

  Alexandra looked at Ellen. “Code Seven ‘B’, Mommy?”

  “Wait . . .” Ellen held up her hand. “‘C’ Sweetie. It didn’t have the extra beep at the end.”

  Hal titled his head in curiosity.

  “Captain.” Elliott walked to the table. “What was . . .”

  It sounded like blowing into a speaker and it was. A few blows then . . . Frank’s voice. “Is this on?” Another blow. “Good morning, New Bowman.” Frank spoke gruffly.

  Ellen’s hand immediately covered her face, “Oh my God.”

  Hal tossed his napkin. “What the hell is my brother up to?” He and Elliott moved across the Mess Hall. Ellen and Alexandra followed.

  Frank continued, “What you have just heard was your introduction to the Beginnings emergency warning system. I had just blasted a Code Seven ‘B’.”

  Alexandra stopped in her walk outside with Ellen. “Told you. Uncle Frank quizzes us.”

  “There are twenty-two codes to learn,” Frank said Each is a separate signal. One may mean nothing to you. The other may mean your life. You will learn them. You will recognize them. You will be tested.”

  “Frank.” Hal stood before him. “What the hell are you doing?”

  Frank held a silencing hand up to Hal while speaking into the microphone. “In one half hour, all those who are not in the field training will commence to learning Frank Slagel warning signals 101. See you then.” He turned off the microphone and set it down. “Hey, Hal. El.” He stepped to her and kissed her. “Alex.” Frank reached down and lifted her up. “Man, I missed you.”

  Alexandra giggled as her little head tried to avoid the plastering kisses of Frank. “I was only gone two days, silly. Ow. Beard Burn. Mommy.”

  “Frank, stop,” Ellen told him.

  “What? I’m allowed.” Frank balanced Alexandra in his arms.

  “Frank,” Hal said. “What is going on? When did we get sirens?”

  “We hooked them up about twenty minutes ago. They work good.” Frank nodded. “And you need them. You have way more people then we have, Hal. You need a warning system for them. This is a start. So I’m here to teach today.”

  Ellen shifted her eyes quickly when she saw Hal toss his hands up. “Today, Frank?”

  “Yep.”

  “Frank, I thought you were taking us home?” Ellen asked.

  “Nah, Danny’s coming in an hour or so for a meeting. He’ll drive you back. I’ll follow on the bike.”

  “Frank, I have to get back,” Ellen said.

  “Why?” Frank asked. “You’ve been here a couple days. What’s a few more hours?”

  “Everything,” Ellen snapped. “Everything.” Folding her arms, she spun around, and stormed back off toward the Mess Hall.

  “Man, Hal.” Frank started to follow. “What did you people do to her? She hates it here. Then again, it’s probably Sgt. Fuckin Ryder. Come on Alex. Let’s go cheer up Mommy. Uncle Hal has her miserable.” Smiling, Frank walked with Alexandra to the Mess Hall after Ellen.

  Hal gave up. He had to remember he was dealing with Frank.

  Beginnings, Montana

  I love you . . . Dean.

  Dean signed his note and started to fold it. Catching glimpse of his wedding band made him smile. He turned it on his finger and touched it in a good remembrance. Tucking the cream color paper into the envelope, Dean simply wrote ‘El’ on the front and placed it in his lab coat pocket.

  “Done.” Johnny laid down three requisitions in front of Dean. “What are you doing?”

  “Nothing.” Dean shook his head then started to review the reqs. “You ran this batch twice?”

  “Double checked. Positive.”

  “Good.”

  “Want me to take it to Andrea?”

  “Nah,” Dean stood up. “I will. I want to let her know where I’m gonna be.”

  “Why?”

  “For when Ellen gets home.” Dean picked up the requisitio
ns and moved across the lab and out into the hall. He planned to drop off the reqs, speak briefly to Andrea, and then head down to the lab. As he drew closer to Andrea’s office, he heard her voice, but no one else’s. She had to be on the phone. When Dean walked in with the requisitions, he saw she was. Figuring he’d check on a patient and return, he held up the reqs in a showing manner to her, watched her nod, dropped them on the desk, and walked out.

  “Positive. I promise we will hold off for you, Ellen.”

  Squeak. Dean’s tennis shoes rang out as he skidded to a stop two steps into his walk from her office. Hurrying, he back tracked and flew in.

  Andrea was surprised as she glanced up at him. She was unable to say anything because Dean snatched the phone right from her hand.

  “Hey,” he spoke into it. “Where have you been? I’m getting a complex here. You haven’t returned any of my calls.” Dean listened. Nothing. Silence. “El?”

  “I’m . . . I’m sorry. I’ve been really busy,” Ellen told him. “And I’m busy right . . .”

  “Is Alex there?” Dean asked. “I’d like to speak to her.”

  “No.”

  “No? I can’t talk to Alex?”

  “She’s playing outside. Actually Elliott’s teaching her how to use a sword.”

  “Swell. So . . .”

  “Dean, I need to speak to Andrea.”

  Dean hesitated. “Um, sure. I love you.” He handed the phone to Andrea.

  Andrea held up a waiting finger to Dean. “Ellen, yes, don’t worry. Yes. See you then. Bye.” Andrea hung up.

  “When uh . . . when is she coming back?” Dean asked.

  “She’s trying to get back now. She may not be able to.”

  “I see.” Dean nodded. “Please tell her to find me when she returns.” He turned around and walked to the door.

  “Dean,” Andrea called to stop him.

  “Yeah?”

  “One, uh . . . one question.” She crossed her legs and rocked back. “Was Bev at your home the other night?”

  Dean rolled his eyes with an aggravated look. “Yes. She was there. I’m heading to the cryo-lab. Find me or tell El to find me when she gets home, please.”

  Andrea nodded.

  Dean waved, tapped the door frame, and the left.

  Andrea picked up the phone.

  New Bowman, Montana

  Hal’s office chair squealed as he set his hands on the arms and pushed himself to a stand. He walked around his desk and sat on the edge before Ellen. “I know I promised . . .”

  “You promised.” Ellen held up her hand.

  “And if anything, I am a man of my word.”

  “You’re a Slagel”

  “And . . .’ Hal reached down and grabbed her hand. “So are you. No questions, no comments, as I promised.” He tilted his head with a smile. “But I want something from you.”

  “What is that?”

  “Whatever this situation is, whatever is going on, I want to help. Just so you know. By guessing, a part of me knows why you can’t go to Frank. I’m here. Like I said before, I’m on your side no matter what.”

  “Thank you. And thank you for the early ride to Beginnings. I need to get this personal issue done and out of the way. I can’t wait another minute or I’ll be crazy.”

  “I understand.” Hal guided Ellen to stand. He placed his one arm around her neck and brought her into him and laid his lips to her head.

  Ellen closed her eyes and felt the strength of Hal. She imagined herself pulling some of it from him, stealing just an extra bit because she knew she was going to need it.

  “Captain Slagel.” Elliott stepped through the open door. “My apologies, sir. I’ll return.” He took a step back.

  “Elliott, no.” Hal released his embrace of Ellen. “We were saying goodbye.”

  Elliott stepped into the room. “Ellen, you’re leaving now? I thought you were waiting.”

  “Elliott,” Ellen spoke softly. “I can’t. Not . . . not today.” She raised her eyebrows to him.

  “Oh, yes.” Elliott nodded. “I understand.”

  Hal cleared his throat. “I am going to assume, Elliott is just begin cordial with that last comment, because if I assume he knows something I don’t . . .I’ll be pissed.”

  Elliott looked panicked.

  “So.” Hal clapped his hands together once. “Elliott, I called you because I need you to take Ellen and my niece back to Beginnings now. But you have to return.”

  “That would not be a problem,” Elliott said with a slight smile. “Are you ready now, Ellen?”

  “Yes I am.” Ellen turned back to Hal. “Hal, thank you for everything,”

  “Call me.” Hal kissed her on the cheek. “Any time. You call.”

  Ellen nodded and walked to the door. “See you soon.”

  “Tomorrow,” Hal spoke as he followed behind her.

  “Tomorrow?” Ellen asked surprised. “I’m not coming here tomorrow.”

  “Nope, I’m in Beginnings tomorrow. Elliott has the reigns here. Some sort of . . . . of . . .”

  Elliott ended the long pause of Hal’s searching words. “Distribution meeting.”

  “Yes.” Hal snapped his fingers. “Thank you, Elliott. How did I forget that? A Distribution meeting.”

  “Huh?” Ellen looked confused. “I’ve never heard of them.” She shrugged. “That’s probably a good thing. I hate meetings. I’m gonna go head down, grab Alex, and say good bye to Frank. Elliott? Meet me at the truck?”

  Elliott agreed.

  As Ellen walked out the door, Hal let out a slow release of breath and widened his eyes once to Elliott with a silent ‘whew’.

  Elliott shook his head with a chuckle. “There’s really no need to cover up concern for your family, Captain.”

  “Nah,” Hal whispered as he lifted his eyes to see Ellen go down the steps from his office. “I’d rather her not know I’m there because I’m concerned. I’d rather just happen to be there if she needs anything.” He started to walk again.

  “Without really saying, can I say that’s a very wise choice to go?”

  Hal paused. “Elliott, I was very serious. If I find out you know something I should, I’ll be pissed.” He started to walk again. “But I should be there?”

  “Chancing you being really . . . pissed at me Captain . . . someone outside of the whole Beginnings circle41 should be.”

  Hal nodded once in gratitude and moved on.

  Quantico Marine Headquarters

  He could walk with the aid of a cane. It was only for minimal periods of time and short distances but George was mobile. After he was driven to the front gate, George assessed the damage that had happened to his camp two nights earlier. “Where in the world did all the Savages come from?”

  Steward didn’t have an answer. He supposed saying, ‘the gate’ would have resulted in another hit from that cane again. “Sir, the intelligence team scoured the hillside. At best as they could figure, they came from the south.”

  “South?” George turned while leaning on his cane. “O.K., we have farming and factories down there. I know I wanted to regroup and train but we have to send armed forces down there to protect our industry.”

  “Got it.”

  “Get me a meeting of the minds. I want to get surveillance teams together, not to take them out, but just to send out to find out where those three hundred came from.”

  “Maybe they were a roaming community.”

  “Doubtful. If there are three hundred, there’s more. They weren’t going to chance having their entire existence wiped out and they knew there was a chance of that coming on this base.”

  “Is it safe sending men out?” Steward asked. “Our last party never returned.”

  “That’s because we sent our last party out to take out a bunch of Savages we under estimated.”

  “I thought it was impossible to underestimate the savages. Their name says it all.”

  “The western world under estimated the Indians for th
e same reason. Surveillance parties only. We have to find where they feed from.” George happily moved back to the Jeep. His legs were becoming like rubber and he didn’t want to take a chance of falling again. It was difficult enough being taken seriously when his head fell forward on occasion.

  Steward walked beside him. “Do you suppose this is why Beginnings called?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “To forewarn us of this attack? They mentioned Savages.”

  “And I mentioned they weren’t our problem.” George slid into the Jeep. “They are now. I think it may be time to find out what exactly what it was that Beginnings wanted.”

  Beginnings, Montana

  “Camps are mobile at about seven miles northeast,” Robbie stated. “Two small ones.” He zipped up his leather jacket as he walked toward the hanger with his father.

  “So we know something is imminent.”

  Robbie shrugged. “Mobile meaning east to west, not toward Beginnings.”

  “They know we’re watching.”

  “Of course.”

  “What about the camps south?”

  “Stationary at twelve miles. It looks like they are making a nice little home.”

  “Any chance we can get you to check further out and see if anymore are coming?”

  “You got it, but they move in at night, Dad so I can’t see them coming.”

  “That I understand.”

  “Good. Here’s what I don’t understand.” Robbie reached his chopper. “Why can’t we just take them out? Gas them and eliminate any threat they pose.”

  “Because how do we know?” Joe said. “How do we know that’s what they are up to? We don’t. Until they cross our borderlines of tracking, we can’t do anything about it.”