“I bought it all right.” Aldo watched the other four sit down.
Greg waited patiently for everyone in the gymnasium to gather around. Reporters, soldiers, Colin, Col. Johnson. His props for the second part of Iso-Stasis thirteen. “Now I’ll try to explain everything. Any questions . . .” Greg smiled. “I’m sure Aldo will ask.” There were chuckles. “All right.” Greg lifted his leg onto a chair and leaned into it in an explaining mode. “First off, the Hawaiian islands are still intact. There are no amoebas there, and none were ever found. The special effects . . .” Greg held his hand out to four men, “. . .courtesy of CGI. These wonderful special effects experts worked on the film about aliens a few years back. Fourth of July, was it?”
“No.” The one shook his head. “Independence Day.”
Greg snapped his finger. “That was it. Anyway, miniatures as you can see, effects. We did it all. The world hadn’t a clue about this. I guess you know that by seeing our own Central Network stage. We hired the low on the totem pole reporters, set them up. They did great. And . . . where’s Leo. Oh.” Greg reached behind Beth and pulled forward a small man, no bigger than five feet tall, thin, dark hair. “He’s afraid you’ll kill him. Leo here played the voice of our President. He’s a wonderful character actor who does voices for cartoons. All of our soldiers, including Col. Johnson, are courtesy of the Screen Actors Guild right here in LA.” Greg indicated to all the military dressed men. “And of course, if I were to give an award to best actor, I’d have to say . . .” He pointed to Colin. “Dr. Colin Whitney. Or, rather, Steve Harris. He did great.”
“What?” Aldo blasted in shock. “This man is an actor?”
“Quiet impressive.” Greg nodded. “Dr. Jefferson and I did the scripting. We all learned our lines. I knew Steve in school. We did dinner theater together in college. But . . .” Greg chuckled “I almost died the other night. Tell them Dr. Jefferson.”
Dr. Jefferson laughed first. “I called Greg from the hotel and told him to put on the station where they showed old television programs. You know, I was enjoying an episode of Laverne and Shirley and who walked by on the screen as a waiter?” Dr. Jefferson pointed to Colin.
Greg laid his hand on his own chest. “I thought we were screwed. With all the television you watch, Aldo, I thought for sure you’d flip through and see him. But . . .you were too engrossed in the news.”
“Which wasn’t real.” Aldo nodded.
Greg stood up and started to pace. “Some of it was real. The amoebas were real. And I have to admit . . .” He whistled. “They got out of hand. But . . .we knew we could kill them. See, when Dr. Jefferson and Dr. Carrington invented the amoebas many years ago, they invented a gas that would destroy them as well, or we would never have used them. The botched rescue attempt was real. The tank that didn’t unload, we set that up so all that chopper could lift would be Cal and Rickie, letting the rest play out. And we were going to say the other chopper ran into trouble. Then, as you know, Reed jumped in and our amoebas unexpectedly hit. So knowing the danger in a rescue, not to mention the expense, we decided to leave Cal and Rickie on that island.”
“What about the nuke?” Douglass asked. “That was real right?”
“No,” Greg answered. “In fact, everyone warned me against using that idea, right, Dr. Jefferson?”
“Right.” Dr. Jefferson nodded. “I thought for sure one of you would realize how farfetched it was that we were dropping a nuclear weapon into a volcano. I warned Greg, but he insisted that you would be so engrossed, you wouldn’t even question the redundancy of it.”
Aldo sat back in his chair. He lit a cigarette and chuckled as he blew out the smoke. “And he was right. We were engrossed. And I have to tell you, Haynes, you got me.” Aldo pointed his cigarette at Greg. “I have to say, thinking about this now, I really had a good time. Scared the hell out of me, but I had a good time.”
“Good.” Greg smiled “I’m glad. That’s what we’re supposed to do. Provide maximum entertainment for our investors. And you cannot say you weren’t entertained. And we used the clause of the contract you signed to include you in the experiment. After all, you did agree to oblige us in whatever Caldwell deemed necessary for the experiment, and that was you. We had an independent council of psychologists and psychiatrists observing your behavior, and Aldo . . .” Greg titled his head. “They said you were the best under stress. You took control. You led the reins. You finished the experiment for us. The other three that left were so upset when they found out it was a set up. All four of you did extremely well. But you, Aldo, you were the man.”
The whole room filled with applause.
Aldo blushed. “Hey, what can I say?” He tossed his hand out. “Jake has nothing on me.”
Ivan, who had remained quiet in his shock, finally spoke up. “You guys certainly went to an abundance of trouble for this experiment.”
Greg tossed his hands up. “I vowed to beat the last one. And I vowed to make it the best.”
Aldo nodded, but let out a whistling breath. “But at quite the expense. I mean, this couldn’t have come cheap. You have got to be some sort of budget master, Haynes.
“Budget Master?” Greg had to chuckle. “No, more like Game Master. No amount of budget mastering could have afforded all this. Actually, aside from you investors and outside institute funding, we had a little bit of extra help. Well . . . an extra eight million dollars worth of help.” He extended his arm. “Gentlemen.” From behind the set of the news walked eight men.
When Aldo saw them, he, Ivan, and Douglas immediately stood up.
Greg stood before the suited men. “Mr. Daniela, I don’t expect for you to recognize these eight gentlemen, but I expect Aldo, Douglass, and Ivan will. Do you three remember these eight men?” Greg received stunned nods. “Some of these gentlemen invested in experiment eleven with you three, some in experiment twelve. Only they weren’t pleased with not having a chance or being loser so . . .” Greg gave a sneaky smile. “Like you gentlemen invested in our participants, these eight gentlemen invested . . . in you.”
“Son of a bitch.” Aldo fell backwards into his chair. “We were pawns in our own game.”
Doing like he had done so many times when he was pleased, Greg smiled. “Exactly.”
Cedars Of Sinai Medical Center - Los Angeles, CA
August 28th - 2:25 p.m.
A young corporal in dress uniform opened the back door of a black car that stopped in front of the hospital. First his legs then the rest of Jake emerged, looking so official in full uniform. Jake held a huge bouquet of long stem roses, across his arm was a garment bag, and in his free hand another black bag. He looked up at the hospital then to the corporal who saluted him as he shut the door. “Half hour soldier. Just pull around. I’ll be out.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Jake looked at his watch, then moved ahead into the hospital. He walked strongly across the lobby following the directions he had been given to go to the maternity floor to pick up Cal. But where on that floor she was, Jake didn’t know.
Taking the elevator, he stepped off and approached the nurse’s counter. “Excuse me, ma’am.”
The nurse behind the counter paused in her paper work to look up. “Can I, uh . . . help you?”
“I’m looking for my wife. She was being checked out by a doctor here. Mrs. Jacob Graison.”
“Oh, yes, she is being seen by Dr. Mason.” The nurse indicated. “Down this corridor, hang a right. Last room on the left.”
“Thank you.” Jake nodded once, and with his arms full, he proceeded to follow her directions. He paused on his way to get Cal to look in the nursery window at all of the babies, crying and lined up side by side. They were so loud, red faced. Jake winced, then moved down the hall. He could hear Cal’s voice carrying out, saying something about zombies, and Jake knocked once on the partially opened door and walked in.
“Jake.” Cal smiled. She wore a robe, and her hair was wet. “Look at you.” She looked at him so proudl
y as he approached. “For me?” She saw the roses.
“For you.” Jake kissed her and handed them to her. He laid the rest of the stuff on the bed.
“What’s that?”
“We’ll get to it.” Jake walked over to the doctor. “Jake Graison.” He extended his hand to the doctor.
“Dr. Mason. Caldwell had me check out your wife.”
“And?” Jake asked.
“She is doing excellent. Babies are fine. The stress test turned out great. A little weight gain is needed, but otherwise, she’s good to go.”
“Fantastic.” Jake smiled. “And we will work on the weight gain. Pretty much she’ll do nothing the rest of this pregnancy.”
“I would advise that,” Dr. Mason said. “Multiple pregnancies can take their toll. And we don’t want to chance a premature birth.”
“No, we do not.” Jake nodded.
“Great. I’ll let you be. And I’ll make sure that we get all the information to your doctor back home.” He moved to the door. “Good luck to you Mr. and Mrs. Graison, and good luck to those babies.”
Cal lifted her hand in a wave as the doctor left. “Thanks.” She turned to Jake. “Okay, what’s in the bags?” Like an excited kid she rushed to peek. “Jake?” Cal looked at the name on the garment bag. “Jake, this is on Rodeo Drive. Did you shop for me?” Cal smiled as she undid the bag.
“A few things,” Jake said, sitting on the bed and moving the other bag her way. “All the stuff from the island is old now and, well, I told you, I wanted you to be comfortable for this pregnancy. I think, Cal . . . I think I want to pamper you.” He winked.
“Pamper me? Jake, you don’t pamper me.” Cal laughed.
“I do now. At least until you birth our children.”
Cal lifted the two piece black maternity outfit. “This is nice. Did you pick it out?”
“Hell no.” He opened the other bag. “I told the woman your sizes, told her you needed items for a few days, you know, until we can get you home and get you more. I told her all our luggage and accessories were lost. Of course, it set me back, get this . . . eight thousand dollars.”
“Oh my God.” Cal shook her head. “But look at it all. Underwear, make up. Jake? Look at these shoes. So feminine.”
“Yes, well, she said all the clothing she picked is guaranteed to make you feel so good, you won’t feel pregnant.”
Cal ran her hand down her round stomach. “I doubt that.”
“All right, here’s the deal.” Jake took the items from Cal’s hands, reached out and grabbed her hip and slid her in front of him and between his legs. “Get dressed. I got our hotel room. I have to go do the debriefing and a transport is taking me out to Fort Irwin to do that. I should be back at the hotel by, let’s say eight?” He tilted his head. “Then, you, me, and Rickie will have a late dinner. Sound good?”
“Sounds good.” Cal wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ll get ready.”
“You get ready.” Jake’s hands slipped through the opening of her robe, gripping Cal’s bare back as he pulled her closer to him. He kissed her. “I want to go check on Billy before I go. So pick it up.” He slid his hand down, smacked her backside and caused Cal to shriek.
She pulled away. “I’m hurrying.” She grabbed her things and moved to the bathroom stopping at the door. “Oh, Jake. It’s good to be back.”
Jake couldn’t agree more. He sat on the bed waiting for Cal, and he realized that just like the last experiment had brought new meaning to his life, so had Iso-stasis thirteen in definitely more ways than one, and Cal’s growing body was proof of that.
^^^^
Greg walked from Billy’s room with Dr. Jefferson and a third man. He handed the third man a stack of papers. “Make sure you file those with the home office right away.”
The man nodded and tucked them into a folder he carried.
“Greg.” Dr. Jefferson pointed to the end of the hall. “Look.”
Greg did. Jake and Cal were coming his way. “I almost forgot they could look normal outside of the experiment.”
Jake rolled his eyes as he approached the dastardly pair by Billy’s door. “Look Cal, it’s the corpses.”
Dr. Jefferson greeted them with a smile. “Welcome back. Cal, you look great.”
“Thanks.” Cal smoothed her hand down her outfit. “Jake shopped for me.”
Greg reached out his hand laying it on Cal’s stomach. “I hear the babies are fine. Did you um . . . get to see them?”
“The one. Then the ultrasound machine petered out.” She shrugged. “How’s Billy?”
“Billy’s great.” Greg looked up at Jake. “Good job out there. Infection is able to be put under control and the amputation is shrinking perfectly.”
“I was worried about that,” Jake stated.
Dr. Jefferson nodded. “Us, too. If you hadn’t bandaged it properly and worked the leg like you did, Billy would not have been a viable candidate.”
“Candidate? Candidate for what?” Jake asked.
Dr. Jefferson answered. “Billy’s agreed whole heartedly to volunteer. He just signed the papers. We’re transferring him to Atlanta day after tomorrow, to a clinic we have there. He’s going to be going through a series of experimental surgeries with our bionics division.”
“Now I’ve heard it all.” Jake scoffed. “Excuse me.” He walked into Billy’s room. “Cal.”
Cal hesitated before going in. “Will he be able to walk again?”
Greg held up crossed fingers. “We believe in time with our research, he’ll be able to walk as if he never lost his leg.”
Cal smiled. “Thanks.” She rushed into the room. “Hey!” She called out to Billy who sat up in bed with Jake on one side and Rickie on the other. “I hear you’re gonna be the bionic man.”
“Yeah.” Jake held his hand out. “And what the fuck is up with you agreeing to volunteer for this?”
Billy, still looking pale, said weakly, “They said they’ll give me back my leg. Or . . . at least another one that works. I want that, Jake. Wouldn’t you?” He saw neither of them had an answer, and as Cal drew closer, Billy reached out his hand to grab Cal’s. “Guys.” He shifted his eyes between Cal and Jake. “I just wanted to let you know, I wouldn’t have made it off that island alive if it wasn’t for you two.”
“Sarge!” Rickie shrieked out. “Oh! Dude! He made it off the island and he’s gonna live. You know what that means.”
“Rickie.” Jake grumbled his name.
Rickie started to chant in an instigating way. “Billy and Cal, sitting in a tree. M-a-r-r-i-e-d.”
“Rickie!” Jake blasted him.
Billy snickered “Jake, trust me. I won’t hold you to that deal.”
“Bill, trust me. I wasn’t going to stick with it. What do you think, I’m nuts? I’m gonna give my wife up?”
“Sarge.” Rickie shook his head with a tsk. “Going back on your word, guy. Man, you should keep your deal. I can’t believe you made a death bed promise with no intention of keeping it.”
“Rickie?” Jake raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah?”
“One more word out of you and you don’t stay at the hotel with us tonight.”
Rickie pretended to zip his mouth closed.
Jake shook his head. “I have to go. Cal, I’ll send a car. They’ll take you to the hotel.” He leaned down and kissed her. “Bill, get better. Rickie?”
“Yeah?”
Jake opened his mouth, shut it, shook his head, and waved his hand at Rickie. “Nothing. See you guys later.”
“Jake,” Billy called out to him.
Jake stopped. “This is becoming a habit.” He turned around. “Yes, Billy?”
“Just tell me one thing. Did you bring my boxes back? I don’t remember.”
“We brought your boxes back,” Jake said with irritation. “Okay? Now you can break your big story.”
Billy leaned back in the bed and smiled. “Oh I will. I definitely will. The world has a lot to learn
about Caldwell and the Iso-Stasis experiment.”
“And you tell them Bill.” Jake looked at him with a closed mouth and left.
Rickie looked at the peaceful expression on Billy’s face as Billy stared at Cal. “So.” He interrupted. “Are you gonna, like, break the big story guy?”
“Yes,” Billy answered.
“Can I give you some food-a-mundo for the Billy thought process?”
“Sure Rickie, why not.” Billy looked at him.
“Like, before you break the big, Caldwell is a bad guy story, think about this. Dude, you’re, like, missing a leg, and they’re, like, giving you a new one.” Rickie snickered “You may find yourself walking around with two right feet for the rest for your life.”
Billy’s mouth dropped open, he quickly looked at Cal, and at the same time they both shook their heads with a ‘Nah.”
“All right.” Rickie tossed his hands up. “But think about how far they go. Look at me, guy.” Rickie held out his arms, smiled, the tilted his head with a snarling face. And then Rickie growled.
CHAPTER NINETY-THREE
Caldwell Research Institute - Atlanta, GA
December 22nd - 9:05 a.m.
Greg rushed into his own office, casually dressed, Levis and all. He saw Dr. Jefferson sporting similar clothing behind his desk as he rummaged through the papers. “Almost done?” Greg asked. “We have to catch that flight up. You know what Dr. Morrison said. Any day.”
“Yes.” Dr. Jefferson lifted papers with such an awe look on his face. “This is amazing.”
“Isn’t it?”
“The amount of responses to next the experiment’s funding.” He tossed a letter. “You’ve really done well.”
“I know I did.” Greg’s eyes shifted to the television. “Watching Billy?”
“Um . . .” Dr. Jefferson peered up. “Yes. Actually, a tape of last night’s segment on the experiment. Did you catch it?”
“No, I had, get this . . . a date.”
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