The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  He hung out with them for about an hour and they all parted ways. He had a few more items to gather and then he would slip into MacArthur Park and begin to build.

  Robbie pretty much ran through the city. He tried to stay in the sun as much as he could but staying in the sun wasn’t an option when he was trying to cut distance.

  Darting through the last building, with his duffel bag packed and on his back, Robbie stopped. He heard it. It carried from the broken double glass doors. He couldn’t see it from where he was, but Robbie was certain and without a doubt, he had just heard a truck.

  Slowly, so as not to be heard or seen in case it was the Society, Robbie side stepped his way toward the light of day. When he did, he smiled. “Oh, shit.”

  Hal was so perturbed as he opened the passenger door of the truck. “Can you just . . . stop, Frank. Just stop singing bad L.A. songs.”

  “I can’t help it.” Frank disembarked from the truck.

  Joe took a deep whiff of air when he stepped out. They were just at the entrance of MacArthur Park. “Smell that air. Ocean air.”

  “Can I go see the ocean, Pap?” Billy asked. “I would love to see the ocean.”

  Joe smiled. He turned and looked back at Billy about the same time as Frank, Hal, and Elliott did. “You know what, Bill? Yeah. Yeah. Let’s make a detour and go see the ocean.”

  Frank clenched his fist, “Yes!”

  Elliott chuckled. “This is great! I also think Frank should sing some more.”

  Hal snapped a glare at Elliott. “Why are you encouraging him? Since last night you’ve done nothing but encourage . . . oh, I get it.”

  “Get what?”

  “You’re pining,” Hal said. “You want to try to get that understanding position in case Frank tosses out Dean.”

  Elliott grinned.

  “Got one.” Frank snapped his finger.

  “An idea of what to do?” Joe asked.

  “No,” Frank responded. “I know another L.A. song. Look where we are.”

  Hal winced. “No. Don’t.”

  Frank began to sing as they all slowly walked. “MacArthur park is melting . . .”

  Everyone whined.

  “All the sweet cream icing something down,” Frank continued.

  “Flowing,” Elliott corrected.

  “Thanks.”

  “Frank!” Joe barked. “Enough!

  “Someone left a cake out in the rain . . .” Frank sang. “I don’t think that I can take it.”

  “Neither can I!” Hal yelled. “For the love of God, stop!”

  In a mumble, Frank quickly spewed forth the words. “It took so long to bake it, and I’ll never find that recipe . . .”

  “Frank!” Joe yelled.

  Frank smiled. “Again.”

  Hal snarled, “I hate you.”

  Elliott spoke up, “There’s one that you haven’t sung.”

  “Good God, Elliott.” Hal spun to him. “This insidious ass kissing is making me ill.”

  Elliott lifted a finger with a smile and jogged back to the truck.

  Hal looked at his father. “And you invited him?”

  Frank gave a nod. “He’s not being bad. I kind of like him now.”

  “You would.” Hal barked then heard the ringing of picked notes and he slowly turned around.

  Elliott stopped playing his guitar.

  “Oh! Cool!” Frank blasted.

  He played one chord then Elliott walked to the group, singing. “All the leaves are brown.”

  Frank echoed. “The leaves are brown.”

  “And the sky is gray.”

  “And the sky is gray,” Frank sang as well.

  Elliott continued, “I’ve been for a walk.”

  With his voice, Frank smiled when he heard Hal join in. He wasn’t enthusiastic but he joined in. “Been for a walk.”

  “On a winter’s day.

  “On a winter’s day.”

  Joe rolled his eyes. He just wanted to keep moving. He took Billy’s hand.

  Elliott played and sang louder, “I’d be safe and warm.”

  “Be safe and warm.” Frank and Hal did the backups.

  “If I was in L.A.”

  “If I was in . . .”

  “Enough!” Joe halted the group. “We have work to do. Christ almighty!”

  Another step and they heard it, close but not right there. The male voice sang, “California Dreaming.”

  The whole group froze.

  Joe felt his heart sink and he grinned.

  Frank peered around, left to right. “Someone’s singing with us?”

  “Where?” Joe whispered with a smile then he spotted him. He stepped into view, then leaned very relaxed against a tree. “Robbie.” Joe didn’t know the last time he let out a shriek of excitement, but it barreled from him in gratefulness as he charged to his youngest son. He made it to Robbie first and embraced him with a parental enthusiasm that couldn’t be matched by anyone. In fact, he nearly lifted Robbie from the ground. “Son of a bitch!”

  It had been over a month been since he had seen Robbie and Joe didn’t want to let him go.

  “Dad.” Frank tapped him on the shoulder. “Share him.”

  “You saw him a week ago, Frank. Billy and I haven’t.” Joe stepped back.

  Robbie blinked in surprise when he looked down.”Billy? What . . .”

  “I stowed away.” Billy shrugged. “Not that I’m not grateful to see you, but . . . . where’s my mom?”

  Robbie exhaled as he looked about the faces waiting for an answer. “Where do I even begin?”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “They have her,” Robbie explained softly, hidden from the hotel’s view. “I’ve made nine attempts since yesterday to get in there. No luck. The reason I’m out by myself is because I had a hard time getting her out. They granted me freedom, I left. Now, they aren’t treating her bad, In fact,. this guy Creed calls Ellen his queen. They pamper her, massage her, and bathe her in oils.”

  “Hold it,” Joe interrupted. “Do you think that somehow, just bear with me, do you think that maybe the reason you’re failing at a rescue attempt is because Ellen is inhibiting her own rescue?”

  Elliott was offended. “I can’t believe you, her father, would ask that. Frank?”

  Frank shrugged. “Knowing El, it’s a viable question.”

  Hal agreed, “It is viable.”

  “I was with her. It’s viable,” Robbie said, “but not the case. I don’t know what the problem is. Yeah I do. Dedication. The Drunes, or skinless underground mutant people as you call them, are dedicated to Creed, A.K.A. God. Man, this guy is huge. He’s over seven feet tall and that’s before he morphs.”

  “Morphs?” Joe asked.

  “He’s a scientist and was affected by some sort of radiation. When he gets emotional, he gets bigger.”

  Frank nodded knowingly. “Oh, yeah. Like the Incredible Hulk.”

  Over the groans, Robbie spoke, “Yes.”

  “What!” Hal blasted. “You’re shitting me?”

  “I shit you not,” Robbie said. “Plus, he has this really cool weapon, gloves that generate these electricity balls. The more friction he works up, the bigger the blast of shock. Then he tosses them like baseballs.”

  “Whoa,” Frank spoke in awe. “Cool. I want those.”

  “Beat God and you get them,” Robbie said.

  “What about his forces?” Joe questioned.

  “OK, from what I got, only a few of them have the same weapon as Creed. The rest of his guards, well, they guard with . . . with sticks.”

  Hal took a long blink. “Sticks? As in sticks and stones?”

  “No, Hal,” Frank corrected. “He said nothing about stones, only sticks.”

  “Sticks?” Joe questioned. “Just sticks?”

  “No stones,” Frank added.

  “Yeah,” Joe said sarcastically, “we know that.”

  “Sticks.” Hal sad. “Are they big sticks?”

  “No.” Robbi
e shrugged. “I just feel bad shooting men who only have sticks as a defense. It’s not right.”

  Joe nodded. “You have a point. What about a peaceful approach?” He heard the scoffs and saw everyone looking at him. “What?”

  “Father,” Hal chuckled. “They have one of our people. How peacefully should we approach them?”

  “May I?” Elliott interjected. “If the guards only have sticks, why are you having such a hard time getting in?”

  Robbie answered, “Every entrance I try has these dogs and then the guards with sticks. If I make it through, then the guards with the electric balls show up. Right now I’m setting up to just literally blast my way in.”

  Hal liked that and facially showed it. “Not bad. What do you have?”

  “Wait.” Frank lifted his hand. “Do you know where she is?”

  “Yes,” Robbie answered. “That building there.” He pointed. “Third floor, third window from the right.”

  Frank looked. “That building right there?”

  “Yeah.”

  Frank stood up. “Get by the truck. Give me five minutes. I’m getting Ellen.”

  Hal stood as well when he saw Frank move to the truck. “What do you propose to do? Climb up the side of the building like Batman or Spiderman?”

  Frank reached into the back of the truck and, with a grin, pulled out a rope.

  Joe knew he was in trouble not only when he watched Frank do his typical strut toward the plaza hotel, but as he witnessed Robbie embrace and kiss the M-16 Hal gave him.

  “Oh, brother,” Joe mumbled to Billy then, with his hands in his pockets, he walked up behind Hal, Elliott, and Robbie who laid belly down in a cover mode, weapons ready. “Boys,” Joe said to them. “You know, my gut is screaming that we’re taking the wrong approach here. I just . . . what in the hell is he doing?” Joe asked seeing Frank.

  “Good Lord, Frank,” Hal whispered.

  Robbie tilted his head “He did take two ropes. It makes sense.”

  “He does have bunny speed,” Elliott added.

  Hal asked. “Why is he on the fifth floor? I knew he couldn’t count, but this is a rescue attempt. I thought he became intelligent in hero mode.”

  “He does.” Robbie grinned. “I know exactly what he’s doing.”

  “Christ,” Joe grumbled. “His aim better be good. Arrogant asshole.”

  Elliott watched Frank give a thumbs up from the fifth floor window where he braced himself. “Is he doing what I think he’s doing?”

  “Yep,” Hal answered. “As usual, my brother plans on making an entrance.”

  Thump.

  Ellen, her face resting on her hand, glanced up to the ceiling then after a shrug, moved her bishop across the chessboard and looked at the male Drune guard who played her. “Your turn.”

  His hand extended then retracted in thought.

  Thump.

  Oddly Ellen looked again. “Did you hear that?”

  “It’s from outside.” The Drune rose.

  Ellen did too.

  Just as they both turned to face the window, the loud ‘crash’ brought with it not only flying glass, but perfectly, at a solid speed, still holding a rope . . . Frank.

  Ellen screamed and Frank landed on his feet after a small slide. He dropped the rope, grabbed his revolver, extended it out, and aimed at the Drune. “Drop the stick,” Frank ordered.

  The Drune did as requested.

  “Step away from it,” Frank told him. “Back up.” After he watched the Drune move away, Frank shifted his eyes to Ellen and grinned. “Ready to go home?”

  She could have cried, that was how excited Ellen was. Biting her bottom lip, she charged to Frank and smacked herself into him. Her hand reached to his face and, on tip toes, Ellen raised herself to kiss him.

  With his eyes still on the Drune, Frank gripped Ellen, kissed her quickly, and backed up with her to the window. “It’s a drop, El, but we’ll be fine.”

  “Only you, Frank. Take me home.”

  “You got it. Stay back.” Frank moved her from the window, cleared some glass with his foot, then opened the remaining drape. He lifted his hand to signal Hal and pulled the other rope from his waist. No sooner had Frank done that, than a sizzling, electrical sound rang out.

  He heard the call of his name in warning from Robbie and when he looked up, he looked up only in enough time to see four sailing blue lights right before him.

  “Fuck.”

  Zap. Zap. Zap-zap.

  With a shriek from Ellen, Frank felt the blasting hits into his being, the force of which propelled him backwards into the room.

  “They got him.” Hal pounded his hand on the ground and rose in fast motion, almost to charge.

  “Wait!” Robbie called out. “We’ll take the second entrance. We’ll gas the dogs and hit them that way.”

  “You know where to go from there.?” Hal asked.

  Robbie nodded.

  “Elliott?”

  “Ready, Captain.”

  “Wait a goddamn second.” Joe stormed to the trio. “You three, against all of those thousands? Are you out of your goddamn mind!”

  “What do you expect us to do?” Hal questioned. “They hit Frank. They have him.”

  “Listen for a second.” Joe raised his hand. “Their weapons don’t seem to be deadly. They may not kill. You can’t do this.”

  Robbie stepped forward. “Dad, what do you expect us to do, just walk up and ask them to let us in?”

  “Yes!” Joe nodded. “Call it gut instinct, whatever but that’s the approach.”

  “I’m sorry,” Hal said, “That’s insane. Robbie? Lead the way.” Hal turned and moved backwards. “If you hear nothing in fifteen minutes, then come in. Otherwise, wait here. We will be careful when facing their . . . sticks.”

  Frustrated, Joe nodded.

  Pausing at the truck, Elliott grabbed his and Hal’s swords and carried them as he caught up to Hal and moved on with them.

  Joe looked at his watch, then shook his head. “Morons.”

  Ellen was hysterical. She fought, kicked, and screamed to free herself from the Drunes that held her back from Frank.

  “Silence!” Creed ordered as he barged emotionally into the room. His breaths were heavy and he glared down at Frank. “This has to be him.” Turning, he looked at Ellen. “Is this him?”

  Ellen hyperventilated.

  “Is it?” Creed screamed and waited. He received no answer. “It has to be. She’s protecting him and only this Frank would crash through a window. Remove him.”

  “God!” A Drune raced into the room. “There are three more coming in at the Wilshire ramp.”

  “This must end.” Creed marched to the door. “Remove this man and take him to another section, I will help deal with our newest intruders.” He stopped at the door and spun around. “Move my queen elsewhere as well.”

  The dogs went out pretty fast and it only took twenty seconds to clear the gassed area. The plan was simple. Storm in, gas their way in past the dogs, fight off the guards with sticks, dodge the flying blue balls of electricity, and make it to the third floor.

  At the same speed, with the same charge, and weapons ready, Hal, Robbie, and Elliott finished coming down the ramp.

  “We have to veer right.” Robbie said, stopping them at the end, “Make it across the lot into the stairwell. It’s on the other side of that wall. She’s in the hotel.”

  Hal nodded. “First one with her, head on out. Got that, gentlemen?” Hal waited for their agreement. “Let’s do this.”

  They turned the bend.

  “Captain.” Elliott gave an upward motion of his head. “Look. Forces.”

  Hal smirked. “With sticks too, Elliott.”

  “I’ll fed them off while you and Robbie head to the third floor.”

  “How chivalrous it is of you to take on men with sticks,” Hal winked. “Don’t hurt them. Robbie, let’s go.”

  They neared Elliott and he drew his sword. A few of the pack of D
runes backed off when they saw it and Elliott knew since there were many, his chance of being pelted here and there by the bamboo shoots was great but it was a chance he had to take.

  Confident, Elliott was ready. The first brave Drune, struck out and with ease and quickness Elliott blocked the ensuing strike.

  The connection made Elliott freeze.

  With a powerful surge, Elliott began to jolt.

  Hal skidded to a stop and his eyes widened as he watched Elliott fly back. “Oh my God! You said they were sticks.”

  “I thought they were sticks.”

  “They’re electric prods you, asshole!”

  “I was never hit with one. How would I know?”

  Hal debated, he really debated, and in his decision making moment he knew he couldn’t leave Elliott. “Go on.” He started to make a run for Elliott.

  “Hal, no, he’ll be fine.” Robbie beckoned, waving out his hand as he ran backwards. “Let’s go.”

  “Robbie I can’t let my right . . .”

  “Fuck!” Robbie exclaimed.

  “What?” Hal asked as he looked back. “Back up!”

  Robbie tried to step back from the men who looked as if they held bazookas. He figured diving would work and when he tried to do that the click of the weapon released a whipping sound that, fast and furiously, shot a web-like substance.

  It not only shot Robbie back against the wall but seemingly glued him there as well.

  “Hal.” Robbie struggled unable to even move. “Get . . . her.”

  “This is a fuckin walking, talking comic book.” Hal, after taking a look at Elliott who was being lifted by the Drunes, he took one more glance at Robbie and took off for the stairwell.

  The click and whip sounds were a warning to Hal and following a quick look, he dove out of the way just in time to miss the webbing. He rolled himself into a stand and widened his run so as not to be taken by surprise when he rounded the bend to the stairwell.

  Full speed and focused, Hal saw his goal and then he saw something else that made him completely stop. His arms went out as if trying to wave himself to a halt when he saw Creed.