The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Your mood seems good.”

  “My temper is short.” Johnny smiled as he moved to the door.

  “That’s probably because this whole biopsy thing was a big headache, huh?”

  “Yeah, but I was only in here a small amount of time.”

  “True, but I bet two more minutes and you would have been insane.”

  “Good one. Two more. Tumor. I have to try a tiny bit harder to keep up with you.”

  “Doesn’t take half a . . . brain.” Tigger moved with Johnny down the hall.

  “Just a wee bit of effort.”

  “Don’t beat your head against the wall.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it. I don’t want this thing to get me down. So what are our plans for today?”

  “I am to escort you home and get you to bed. Not in that way. And hang out with you. I promise not to play mind tricks.”

  “I promise minuscule amounts . . . amounts.” Johnny stopped. “Oh my God,” he wisped out.

  “What. Are you okay?” Tigger looked up then saw Johnny was just locked in a stare forward. “Johnny, what . . .” Then Tigger saw. “Oh.”

  Johnny swallowed and spoke soft in a whisper. “What do I do?”

  “Walk. Keep walking, Try the eye contact thing. Smile then judge a hello. Got it? But we have to keep walking. He’s in our path.”

  Johnny nodded. Talking that next step was like learning how to walk all over again. The remaining corridor to the exit wouldn’t have been a problem had Robbie not been there.

  Robbie didn’t let it show. The fact that he hadn’t a clue on how to react to seeing Johnny was well hidden. He kept his Slagel stride with his head up. The brief pause in the shock of seeing Johnny was over. He had a destination and Robbie moved there. But would he look at Johnny and say anything? He didn’t know, however the moment was approaching faster than he wanted.

  Closer. Closer.

  Johnny’s eyes were forward, not even looking at Robbie until he was right there. He couldn’t help it. Johnny slowed down.

  So did Robbie. He sniffed, “Tigger.” Then he shifted his eyes.

  “Uncle Robbie,” Johnny’s voice trembled.

  Robbie couldn’t speak. He did make eye contact, gave a single acknowledgment nod, and kept on walking.

  Tigger stopped at the door. He looked back at Robbie who turned the bend. “That went well.”

  “Are you being sarcastic?” Johnny asked.

  “No, I’m serious. He could have not looked at you or flipped you off or hit you. He didn’t.”

  “No.” Johnny peered down the hall. “He didn’t.”

  “So it went well.” Tigger opened the door. “A first step.”

  “Yeah.” Johnny smiled. “Yeah, it went well.”

  Robbie let out a slow deep breath from his parted lips as he grabbed his stomach and leaned against the wall just inside the room he was going to use. He had to take a moment before he made the phone call home because he had just been face to face with the person whom he never thought he’d see again, nor ever want to see again, and he just didn’t know what he was feeling about the brief passing.

  ^^^^

  “Robbie, you there?” Joe asked as he connected Robbie’s call to the speaker phone.

  “Um, yeah,” Robbie responded.

  Upon hearing the lack of typical ‘Robbie Enthusiasm’, Hal looked at his father.

  “You okay?” Joe asked.

  “Yeah. Yeah.” Robbie answered. “Fine. So . . .” He tried to change his demeanor. “This is a conference call.”

  “Of sorts. Yes.”

  “Is Hal there?”

  “Right here, little brother,” Hal spoke. “How are things in Lodi?”

  “Uh . . . as you would expect. It’s a little place and kind of boring. But, you know, I’m making good use out of my time. They have a zoo. It’s my first stop tomorrow.”

  “A zoo. Hmm.” Hal nodded. “A zoo in the post apocalyptic world. I have feeling the residents of Lodi will get along just fine with the people of Beginnings.”

  “What about New Bowman?” Robbie asked.

  “Well, I’m sure,” Hal responded, “but I was merely making a sarcastic comment as to the demented nature and similarities of Lodi and Beginnings.”

  Robbie laughed. “And the UWA isn’t demented? Hal, please, you guys dress like the cavalry

  “And your point?”

  “Um . . . no point. Where’s Frank? Why isn’t he backing me up here?”

  Joe’s answered. “he’s at the clinic. He was shot.”

  “Oh my God!” Robbie panicked.

  “Calm down, calm down,” Joe told him. “It’s only a flesh wound when someone’s weapon accidentally discharged.”

  Hal bit his bottom lip and held in the laugh.

  “He’s Okay, right?” Robbie asked.

  The door to Joe’s office opened and Frank made his physical and verbal entrance. “I’m here, finally. I’m late for my audition, thank you for very much.”

  Joe tilted his head. “Does that answer your question, Robbie? He’s fine.”

  “No I’m not!” Frank barked. “I was fuckin shot.”

  “Hey, Frank,” Robbie cut through. “You’re auditioning, for what?”

  “The Hoi Hour talk show,” Frank stated. “I’m going there after this. Danny’s starting the first ever talk show and he’ll make it like television.”

  “Cool. What are you singing for the audition?”

  “Singing? I didn’t think of that.” Frank scratched his head. “I better come up with something fast.”

  “I’d stick with something traditional.”

  “I will. Thanks.”

  Joe bobbed his head. “Frank, just sit down.”

  “I can’t. Thank you very much,” Frank snapped, “since you shot me in my bum.”

  Robbie laughed loudly in shock. “Dad? You shot Frank in his bum?”’

  “No.”

  “Yes.” Frank jumped in. “Yes. It hurts too. Fuck.” Frank rubbed his rear.

  “I told you to run, Frank,” Joe said.

  “Yeah, you did, but you still didn’t have to shoot me. He shot me, Robbie.”

  Hal lifted a finger. “In the bum. Don’t forget that part, Frank.”

  “Yeah,” Frank continued, “All because he was mad because I was trying to calm people about the earthquake.”

  Robbie’s confusion carried over the phone. “The earthquake?”

  ‘Yeah, the one that’s coming. It’s gonna be a big one. The first one we had was nothing.”

  Joe’s hand slammed on the desk. “Frank! Goddamn it! There was not earthquake in Beginnings.”

  “Was too.”

  “When! When! When!” Joe screamed.

  “I don’t know when!”

  “That’s because there wasn’t one!” Joe yelled.

  “Was too. It was big, very big.”

  “Did you feel it, Frank?” Joe asked with edge.

  “Well, no, but that doesn’t we didn’t have one.”

  “Frank, if there was an earthquake, a big earthquake don’t you think we would have felt the ground shake.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You don’t know?” Joe pointed to a chair. “Sit your big ass down!”

  “I can’t!” Frank yelled. “And I don’t have a big ass.”

  Hal, seated calmly, leaned back and viewed. “Well, you do now with that large bandage”

  “Where.” Frank looked over his shoulder, trying to see his backside.

  “Frank,” Joe tried to get his attention.

  “Where?” Frank kept looking, turning in circles trying to see his rear end.

  “Frank.”

  “Where?”

  Hal smirked. “My God, he’s like a cat chasing its tail. Are you amusing yourself, Frank?”

  “Hal!” Joe blasted. “Frank. Stop!”

  “Fine! But . . .” He turned his back to Joe. “Does it look big?”

  “No. Sit.” Joe indicated.
<
br />   “I can’t!” Frank yelled.

  “Try!”

  “Fine.” Whipping out the chair, Frank began to plop down, but stopped. Carefully, he lowered himself with a slight, ‘ow’. “Shut the fuck up, Hal.”

  “What? I said nothing?” Hal lifted his hands.

  Robbie laughter seeped though.

  “Robert, what is so funny?” Joe asked.

  “I can’t believe you shot Frank in the ass.”

  “Yeah, well, he deserved it.”

  Frank gasped.

  “I can honestly say,” Joe continued. “I aimed for where his thinking comes from.” Joe saw the look of confusion of Frank’s face. “Don’t. Now, let’s start. Hal?”

  “Wait.” Frank held up his hand. “Why does Hal get to start?”

  Joe remained relatively calm. “Do you know what the meeting is about, Frank?”

  “No.”

  ‘Is it your meeting?”

  “No.”

  “Is it Hal’s meeting?”

  “Yes.”

  Joe lost it. “Then Hal starts!”

  “Fuck. Fine,” Frank sulked. “Just hurry up, Hal. I have a song to practice.”

  “Perhaps you should call Elliott Ryder and get him to assist you?”

  “I might, thanks.” Frank nodded.

  “Hal,” Joe grumbled. “Start. Robbie, are you still there?”

  “Yeah, but I don’t understand why I’m at this meeting. Not that I have anything else to do, but, I mean, I’m in Lodi. What can I do?”

  Hal cleared his throat. “There is something you can do, Robbie, because we have a situation with a large group of Society soldiers.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  The digital temperature readout pulsated, but pretty much stayed near the temperature it had to be. ‘Please,’ Ellen thought as she shut the lid to the tiny case and locked it.

  “Amazing,” Lars commented. “Cryogenics at its best.”

  “Not really. I’d say at its rawest.” Ellen smiled. “Basically, this will keep the culture fresh as opposed to regular freezing. This regulates the freezing process and makes traveling with the culture handy.”

  “It’s still amazing. What did . . .” Lars swallowed hard. “Dr. Hayes say?”

  Ellen started to laugh, but stopped. “He wanted me to call him back when we broke down the tumor biopsy. He’ll be able to do much better with what we have in Beginnings but he had me start a test process.”

  “Kind of absurd if he’s going to retest the biopsy when you bring it home.”

  “No, not really,” Ellen explained. “He has me checking a reaction to an agent. If the reaction is positive, I think Dean’s going to want me to try treatment before I go back. We’re dealing with a tumor, obviously one that grows rapidly. Johnny doesn’t have the luxury of our travel time. If we can do anything to combat it in the process until we know which direct route to take, then we do it.”

  “Hence the reason we called Beginnings. So I take it you brought the supplies?”

  “Different ones, yes Dean thought ahead. He’s thorough like that.”

  “Hmm. I’m sure.”

  Both of them looked up at the knock on the door.

  The lab door slowly opened and Mike popped his head in. “Are you busy?”

  Lars answered, “No, not at all. Come in.”

  “Sorry if I interrupted.” Mike stepped in.

  Ellen shook her head. “No, Lars and I are at a standstill.”

  Lars clarified, “We’ve done all we can with the biopsy”

  Ellen added, “I ran a test as Dean wanted and I just have to wait until some preliminary reactionary results come in, then I call him to find out the next step. But . . .” She looked at her watch. “I can’t call him with any news for another hour at least.”

  “Then will you be working again?” Mike asked.

  “Probably not again until tomorrow. Why?” Ellen returned a question.

  “Well . . . Lars, would you?” Mike twitched his head toward the door.

  “What?” Lars asked.

  Again, Mike gave a twitch of his head to the door.

  “Do you have a sudden case of Tourette Syndrome? What?”

  Mike grumbled, “Never mind. Ellen I was wondering, if you weren’t busy this evening . . .”

  Lars’s long ‘ahhh’ stopped Mike. “I get it,” Lars stated. “That’s why you wanted me to leave. You’re asking her on a date.”

  “No,” Mike answered quickly. “Not a date. Just . . . just . . . Ellen, I know you’re having dinner at the house and here in Lodi, we built this theater, We confiscated a lot of reel to reel old movies and show one once a week. Tonight at 7:00, the Horse Soldiers is playing and well, if you didn’t have plans . . .”

  Lars interrupted. “It’s Lodi Mike. What the hell is she planning to do?”

  Mike made a snarling face at Lars then smiled at Ellen. “If you want, you know, we can go.”

  “The Hose Soldiers?” Ellen said brightly. “I love that movie. Yes.”

  Lars saw the pleasure on Mike’s face. “Mike, I know it’s been a long time, but dinner and a movie is a date.”

  “No!” Mike snapped, “it’s not.

  “Yes, it is.” Lars turned to Ellen. “Careful, Ellen, he may expect you to put out.”

  “Lars!” Mike barked. “Fuck!”

  Slowly and calmly, Lars shook his head. “No Mike, put out is much more of a polite term.”

  “Huh?” Mike questioned then looked horrified. “Oh my God!”

  Lars nudged Ellen. “See. Are you prepared?”

  “I don’t know,” Ellen joked. “Not that I don’t find Mike attractive, but he’s an awfully big guy.”

  Lars shook his head. “Nah, I’ve given him a physical. He’s not that big.”

  “Lars!” Mike yelled. “I’m leaving. Forget I asked.”

  “Mike,” Ellen reached out and grasped his arm. “We’re having fun with you. Stop. Of course I’ll do that with you tonight.”

  Lars pretended to act surprised. “You’ll put out?”

  “Will you knock it off?” Mike barked. “God. Tonight then, Ellen.”

  “Yes.” She nodded.

  Robbie entered the lab and spoke as he did. “No,” he said. “Anything tonight here in Lodi is out of the question. We’re packing up, El. We have to leave, like soon.”

  “What?” Ellen asked shocked. “Is everything all right?”

  “At home, yeah,” Robbie said. “But I have to get back and my Dad pulled the plug.”

  “He can’t do that,” Ellen argued. “He promised me three days. He promised me. The plan of attack Dean and I set up is contingent on that time. I can’t leave. If I leave, I can’t finish what preliminaries I set out to do.”

  Robbie shrugged. “You’ll have to come back.”

  “When?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Well, Johnny can’t wait on ‘I don’t know’, Robbie.”

  “El. Why are you biting my head off?” Robbie said. “It isn’t my call. Okay? I’m the best pilot Beginnings has. I have to get back. I’m needed. Hal’s scouts are reporting heavy Society soldiers left over from the little game and they are up to something. I have to fly recognizance and help Frank run Security because he and Hal may go out there. We don’t know if they are planning a strike.”

  “Against Beginnings?” Ellen scoffed. “Robbie, please. Even a hundred soldiers can’t get Beginnings.”

  “Yeah, I know, but New Bowman is vulnerable and so is Texas Town. Sorry El. I have to get back.”

  “Then you go,” Ellen told him.

  Robbie chuckled. “What? Leave you? My Dad will have a fit. You said you’re staying and test were contingent on three days. Well, your staying here is contingent on me. I have to bring you back El. I’m sorry.”

  “Wait.” Mike raised a hand. “Why can’t she stay?”

  “Because she can’t,” Robbie told him. “My dad said.”

  “I heard that part. Now pre
tend I’m stupid and explain it a little better to me.”

  “All right. Fine,” Robbie said with such Slagel attitude. “Bottom line, Mike is she’s part of Beginnings. We protect our own. We can’t very well protect her when she’s a thousand miles from our walls, now can we?”

  “So basically, and I thought it was a joke, you were here for her protection not just a pilot.”

  “You got it. There were others that could have flown her but I came.”

  “Robbie, you don’t think I can protect her?” Mike asked.

  “I’m not saying you can’t, Mike. I’m just saying I know I can.”

  Mike laughed a little in disbelief. “You’re shittin me, right?” Mike walked closer to Robbie. “Son, look at me. I’m six foot five, over three hundred pounds. You think something’s gonna get through me to get to her?”

  Robbie locked eyes with Mike. “You’re big, Mike, but you’re just a man and that size is all you got going for you.”

  “What? As if to say you’re more?”

  “In a way, yeah.” Robbie nodded. “Granted I’m just a man, but I’m more, because I’m more to El and El’s more to me. I won’t just watch her with my body. She’s a part of me so I watch her with my soul.”

  Mike spoke passionately, “Robbie, come on. Answer me honestly. Do you think I’d protect her any less?”

  “Mike . . .”

  “Let her stay. Come back for her. I swear she’ll be safe.”

  Robbie exhaled, “Mike, it’s not my call. I won’t make that call.”

  “Who can?”

  “My father.”

  “Then Robbie,” Mike spoke softly, “how about the call you do make is to him. Call him. Please.”

  ^^^^

  Frank appeared so towering as he reached for the black musical box that sat on a chair. A child like microphone was in his hand and he didn’t move far from the black unit because the cord barely reached up to his height, let alone any distance. “Sorry.” He adjusted the volume, blew in the microphone, nodded, and inhaled. Holding a sheet of paper he began to sing. “Should odd acquaintances be forgot . . . and never brought . . . .” He stopped shook his head. “Sorry, Trish wrote these words for me.”

  Danny covered his face with his hand as he watched Frank on the band stage at the Social Hall. “Frank . . .’