“They why aren’t I?”
“Beginnings doesn’t want you dead.”
Mike vocally scoffed. “Like you give a fuck about Beginnings.”
“I do now, always did. But I have to now.”
“Are you expecting me to ask you why?”
George shook his head. “Nope. If I wasn’t such a bleeding heart I’d have a bullet in your head.”
“Yeah, and I wasn’t so careless, you’d have a bullet in yours.”
George snickered. “You had a bad plan, Manis.”
“Bad?” Mike ridiculed “I don’t think so. You lead this mess. If you aren’t around, this mess wouldn’t be on such a vindictive mission.”
“Our mission is the same as Beginnings now.”
“Right.” Mike sat down.
“Fine. Believe what you want.”
“I don’t believe for a second that Beginnings wants you alive.”
“Beginnings wants me alive, Mike and they need me alive. I’m not gonna tell you why. Not yet. You don’t deserve to know. But I’ll tell you this. You’re no good to us in a jail cell, and you’re no good to us dead.”
“Us as in the Society?”
“No, us as in the Society and Beginnings.”
Mike laughed.
George shook his head and turned. “I’m not gonna waste my breath anymore on you. It’s frustrating. You don’t know anything, so right now you can’t comment in an educated manner. I’ll fill you in when I get back, and then you can make the choice. You can stay here and rot, or you can walk away on the same path we’re all on.” He walked to the cell door and signaled the guard.
“Where are you going that’s gonna make that big of a difference on what you do with me?”
George paused before leaving. “Beginnings.”
<><><><>
Elliott’s eyes widened. “No.”
Hal grinned and finished his drink. “Yes.”
“Captain, this obsession of yours.”
“Obsession, Elliott?” Hal tilted his head. “I prefer calling it a mission.” He leaned further in the bar at the Social Hall.
“But this …”
“Is all part of the plan.” Hal raised his eyebrows a few times.
“I just …” Elliott shuddered. “I feel so weird doing this.”
“And I don’t?”
“Well, you have been there before.”
Hal scoffed. “That was when Frank was Frank. Now … sadly, I miss my annoying, dense, hard headed short bus brother.”
Elliott laughed.
“Let’s top this off with one more.” Hal poured a drink for Elliott and himself. “Then let’s hit this phase.”
Against what he wanted to do, and not very convincing, Elliott mumbled a ‘fine’ and took his shot.
The back room of the old shoe repair store was larger than the front, but Lars needed that. It was where he held his seminars and group meetings. He didn’t need chairs for the class. The women all sat on the floor, Indian style.
Lars paced, walked around them, while their eyes were closed, palms up.
“That’s correct, breathe deeply,” Lars spoke almost hypnotically. “We need to clear our minds of all the centuries of brain washing. Centuries of being told that producing estrogen is a no-no. That those of you who do, are condemned to carry a demon inside. Menopause is not a bad word, it is an awakening …”
“Amen,” Andrea whispered out.
“The fallopian tubes are a roadway to womanhood,” Lars said. “Blocked or unblocked, the fallopian tubes are a symbol. The eggs, the hormones you generate, are not a curse, but a blessing. Men who have condemned you are envious of you. Estrogen is empowering. Progesterone is enabling. You as women have the uterus. It is the super dome. The birth canal, the golden highway …”
Hal caught Elliott slipping away, as they stood in the hall just outside the room. He reached out, grabbed Elliott by the shirt and yanked him back. “Not so fast,” Hal whispered.
“Captain,” Elliott gasped. “The super dome, golden highway, Progesterone is enabling. Oh my God.”
‘This is perfect Elliott. Share perfection. Come on.”
“No,”
“Elliott.”
“No, unless it’s a direct order, I’m leaving.”
Hal smiled. “I order you.”
“Fuck.”
Hal grinned.
With a depression of his finger, Lars pressed the music player and soft relaxing music piped through the room. He paced and spoke, “Envision your ovaries. Imagine their tentacles waving Saying hello Saying …” he paused. He saw Hal and Elliot in the back room. “Gentlemen.”
A unison ‘huh’ flowed through the room.
Andrea turned around. “Hal, I know you strive to be a part., but this is an ovary class, not a testicle class.”
“And I await it,” Hal said walking through the room toward the front.
“Can I help you gentlemen?” Lars asked. “This really is a women’s class.”
“And we won’t interrupt your travels to the superdome via the golden highway.” Hal grinned. “I won’t hold up too much of your time.”
‘What is it?” Lars asked.
“I need a way to speak to the women,” Hal stood before them. “What better way.” He smiled. “Ladies, I have a favor to ask of you.”
<><><><>
Peace.
Frank had every intention of going home after a long day. Go home and spend time with Ellen, but when he found out she was at a body parts class, he let her be and hung out a little longer.
But instead of going to the Social Hall, Frank went somewhere else.
Sector thirty-two.
The Killer Baby region.
It was a long day, one that ended with Danny giving up on why they had another meeting. Danny did his job. He confirmed to Frank that Dean was nowhere near his father’s murder. And the Dean looking person was actually the clone.
News of the clone remained a secret between Hal, Elliott, Robbie, Frank and John Matoose. No one, absolutely no one else, no matter who they were was to find out about the clone.
Frank sent each man home to come up with a solution.
Then he himself took a detour to the Killer Baby section.
There was something soothing about the Killer Baby region.
It made Frank think of the old days. The days where he was chasing SUTS, savages and saving people. Back in the days when he didn’t have to have his thinking cap on too tightly. Until, of course, military action was needed.
Frank missed being that Frank. Playing with the killer babies, teaching them Journey songs.
But he knew those days were long gone. He had a new job, newer responsibility, and a new outlook.
He watched and listened to the killer babies. How soothing the sounds of the gnarling flesh. He even believed he thought he saw two of them having sex. But since they were toddlers, and since they were asexual, it couldn’t have been.
Frank did wonder if two asexual beings having sex made them homosexual. He’d have to ask Dean that. If it wasn’t weird enough, homosexual killer babies in Beginnings topped that.
Just as he thought of Dean he heard it, and it snapped in his mind. The odd request from Dean and Ellen.
The howling in the distance, not far from the edge of the Killer Baby region made Frank smile.
He told Ellen and Dean that he would see what he could do. Although he enjoyed hunting, he knew he didn’t have the time to play mighty hunter with a coyote. But how convenient was it? A coyote was there. Not far away. It gave Frank a sense of fulfillment over something he missed. The hunt. The chase.
Even though he didn’t really have much on him, Frank took the challenge and downed the gate to the Killer Baby sector.
He didn’t need much. It was a coyote. He was Frank. How hard could it be?
With those thoughts, Frank went in pursuit.
CHAPTER THREE
March 27th
There was something amazin
gly enriching and inspiring to Jimmy about the music of the old band, The Four Seasons. The upbeat, perky horns, and nasal vocals, along with the chord progression fueled Jimmy.
He longed for the days when he was a musician in high school. He played the triangle for Opus 17.
He was making progress on the manual. Read. Test. Fail. Succeed. He was certain; in the long run he’d have it down pat.
But one thing made him nervous. It was just after eight and he hadn’t heard from Jenny yet. She usually called him before she started teaching, but no call.
He scheduled a call from her in his mid-morning break.
But she was about a half an hour past due.
Just about on the next page, Jimmy’s phone rang.
“Communications,” Jimmy answered.
“Jimmy.”
With a smile, he kicked back. “Just the voice I wanted to hear. I expected to hear from you earlier. Is everything OK?”
“No,” Jenny replied.
Jimmy snapped forward. “What’s wrong?”
Jenny sighed. “We have a problem.”
“We as in you and me? You’re not pregnant are you?”
“No. no. Not us. Beginnings.”
“Have you gone to Frank?” Jimmy asked. “Because I’m just a worker bee here.”
Another long sigh from Jenny rang out. “This, that response is why I love you. You are so Slagel in one aspect, but so you in another. You would never hear your brothers say that.”
Jimmy didn’t know how to react to that one, so he just moved on. “So what’s up?”
“I don’t want to give details over the phone. But Trish … Trish is hysterical. Everyone that was at the library heard her scream and … she’s recovering now at the clinic. I spoke to her and told her not to mention a word to anyone until she spoke to you. So can you head over there?”
Jimmy looked at his watch. “Mark should be here any second. I’m on it.”
“Thanks, pumpkin.”
Jimmy snickered. “You’re welcome Shortcake.” Still grinning he hung up the phone.
“Shortcake?” Danny asked.
Jimmy jolted and spun around. “What?”
“Oh, that’s fuckin funny. You’re calling someone Shortcake.” Danny laughed. “Who’s the chick?”
“It wasn’t a chick,” Jimmy cleared his throat. “It was … it was my brother.”
“Yeah right,” Danny laughed.
“I’m serious.”
“Which one?”
“Which one what?”
“Which brother? You have three,” Danny said.
“Frank.”
Danny laughed harder. “Now I know you’re lying.”
“Danny,” Jimmy said seriously. “Do I joke around like my brothers? Have you ever seen me pull someone’s leg just to be an asshole?”
Danny tilted his head. “No. No I haven’t. But Frank … Shortcake?”
“If you must know, it was a nick name my father gave Frank when he was younger; because he was … he was short.”
“No way.”
“And he had red hair for a while.”
“Like the odd redheaded step child.”
Jimmy pointed. “Exactly.”
“So why haven’t I heard you call him that before? Why haven’t I heard him called that before?”
“Well, for starters, how often do you see me talk to Frank?”
“True.” Danny nodded. “I don’t see you talk too many of your brothers. They forget about you. I mean... I mean … you know what I mean.”
“Oh, sure.” Jimmy waved out his hand with a wink. “But, I’ve been trying to make him feel comforted by calling him that more often since my father died.”
“Totally understand. And Frank doesn’t mind?”
“Nope. Not at all.”
“Wow.” Danny folded his arms. “Frank’s nickname is Shortcake.”
“Yep.” Jimmy widened his eyes and turned back to his book. “I hate to be rude, but I have to read some more before Mark gets here. I have to go topside when he does. There’s a problem I have to deal with.”
“Oh, sure, no problem I only came down to do a systems check.” Danny moved across the room. ‘So what’s the problem?”
Jimmy flipped a page in the book. “It’s Trish.”
“That’s why you were talking to Shortcake, huh?”
“Yep.” Jimmy nodded. “Wants me to handle it.”
Danny whistled. “Glad it’s you and not me. Thought I’d get the call from Frank to handle Trish.”
“I don’t know what’s going on, all I know is I was asked to go speak to her.”
“I don’t know either, but I know they carried her from the history office. Rumor has it she saw a ghost.”
“Really?”
“That’s what I heard.” Danny shrugged.
A buzz of the door brought in Mark. “Hey guys.”
Jimmy put a book mark in his book. “Hey Mark, glad you’re here. I have to run topside to check on Trish.”
Mark, like Danny, whistled. “Glad it’s you. Not me.”
Curiosity piqued, Danny asked. “Do you know what’s going on, Mark?”
Mark shook his head. “Haven’t a clue. I heard they carried her out, she was white. Pasty, barely breathing. Near heart attack. They’re saying she saw Joe’s ghost.”
“Joe’s?” Danny asked.
“Joe’s.” Mark nodded. “That's what I heard.”
Jimmy stood and walked to the door. “Guess it’s time to find out.”
Danny called out. “Will you let us know?”
“Absolutely.” Jimmy said and walked out.
Waiting a moment until he was gone, Danny sat on the counter. “Did you see her?”
Mark shook his head. “Clinic room is cordoned off. And I’m security.”
“Who’s on the door?”
“Belford.”
Danny swished his mouth from side to side. “She had to see something. For that reaction. Wow. So, hey …” He gave an up motion of his chin. “Did you know Frank’s nickname was Shortcake?”
<><><><>
“You’re looking awfully pleasant this morning,” Elliott told Hal as they walked down the streets of Bowman.
“I am pleasant Elliott. The glow of accomplishment is there,” Hal said.
“Then I hate to be the bearer of bad news.”
Hal stopped walking. “What’s wrong?”
“I just got word from Beginnings. They called to see if Anthony could go fill in at History for Trish.”
“Did something happen?” Hal asked.
“I’m afraid so,” Elliott replied. “They are saying Trish had a heart attack.”
“Good God,” gasped Hal, as he continued to walk “She’s so young.”
“I know,” Elliott replied. “They found her in the history unconscious, that’s the reports I’m getting. They’re saying that your father’s ghost spooked her.”
It caused Hal to pause in his stride once more. “My father’s ghost.”
Elliott shrugged. “That’s what they’re saying.”
“My step mother walks around speaking to his ghost.”
“You don’t think there’s some substance to his ghost being around do you.”
Hal looked at Elliott. “Don’t be absurd I think there may be more substance that hysteria is contagious.”
“That makes sense.”
“Well, fill me in on her progress.”
“I will. I hear Jimmy is on his way to check on her.”
“Good. Good.” Hal nodded.
“You still look happy.”
“I can’t help it, Elliott. I can’t. It’s pretty exciting. If all goes as planned.” Hal looked at his watch. “My little scheme to get Frank back should be starting now.”
<><><><>
‘Oh this is fucked up,’ was the thought that Frank had when he got the note.
‘Trish had a heart attack’ said the message, ‘she is in critical condition and may not make it’
So young. Frank couldn’t believe it. He made a note to stop in and see how she was doing as soon as he finished reviewing his notes from morning rounds.
Before he did so, he picked up the phone and called Ellen. “Hey, babe, how’s it going?”
“Good. How about with you?”
“Missing you. I’m sorry you were sleeping when I got in last night.”
“That’s fine, the Killer Baby region is important to you. I know.”
“Are you at the cryo lab yet?” Frank asked.
“Stopping by Dean’s, and I’m on my way.”
“I left a surprise for you.”
“Really?” Ellen’s voice perked. “What?”
“You’ll see. There’s a note.”
“Excellent, I’ll see it when I get there.”
He conversed a bit more with her, feeling badly that his new job and responsibilities had taken him away even more than when he just ran security. But he knew Ellen would understand.
After hanging up the phone he looked at his desk calendar and to the meeting set at one.
One o’clock they were to come up with a reasonable solution as to what to do with Dean and the clone. A plan to follow. Frank had his own, but before initiating, wanted to run it by everyone.
Morning round out of the way, Frank prepared to hit the later ones when a knock came at the door.
“Come in.” he instructed.
Jenny poked her head in the trailer. “Busy?”
“A little, what’s up?”
“It’s just meeting day,” she said.
“With?” Frank asked.
“Me.”
“About?”
“Things,” Jenny said and walked in. “Joe met with me once a week.”
“I’m not my father. I didn’t know about it.”
“Now you do.” She said perky. “May I sit down?”
“Actually. No I’m on my way …”
“Thanks.” Jenny sat. “This won’t take long.”
Frank grumbled. “Go on. What is this on?”
“Women’s issues.”
“Stop.” He held up his hand. “Explain women’s issues. Like voting.”
Consigning Fate: Beginnings Series Book 23 Page 4