Slideways

by Jeffrey Grode

  “Everyone, these are agents with the FBI,” Dad said. “Agent Miller, could you please tell your man to relax?”

  “Stand down, Fulkowski.” Miller said.

  Agent Fulkowski stopped struggling beneath Ben. Dad knelt next to them. “I’ll have that gun agent.”

  Fulkowski narrowed his slate gray eyes. “You’re all committing a felony.”

  “I know,” Dad said. “But we’ve got bigger things to worry about.”

  Ben shifted his weight and Dad removed the gun from the Fulkowski’s holster. “Let him up, Ben, so he can remove Brandon’s cuffs.”

  Ben released the agent, stood, and saw that Louis, GranPat, and Albert each had handguns pointed at Agent Miller. Albert looked ill, but alive.

  Dad glanced at Jack and smiled. “I guess you are real then.”

  Jack smiled back. “You must be Ben’s father.” He offered his hand, “I’m—”

  “Jack,” Dad said. He hugged Jack tightly, whispered something into his ear, and let go. His father knew this Jack wasn’t his real son, but Dad’s eyes were far from angry. He had a glimpse into the what-might-have-been. Life’s woes fell from his father’s face, if only for a moment. Dad never looked more alive.

  Ben grinned. I got something right.

  Dad caught his eyes, smiled, and mouthed the words, “Thank you.”

  Miller kept his hands on his head. “C’mon people we’re wasting time.” He frowned at Louis. “I’ll have your badge for this Deputy, and more. . .”

  Louis grimaced, but held the gun steady.

  Shit. Ben frowned. Louis might lose his job and go to prison. He didn’t want to be responsible for that too. The weight piled up like dirt on his coffin, but he pushed the thought away. I can fix this. “Hold up, everybody,” Ben said. “We need to stop the test. Agent Miller, we’ll put down our guns if you’re willing to listen.”

  Miller dropped his arms to his side. “I’m listening.”

  Guns were lowered, but held ready.

  “Agent Miller,” Dad said, “it’s 9:45 right now. We have thirty minutes until the test. I’ve already told you about the new threat. Will you help?”

  Miller put his hands on his hips and scowled. “Okay, but why should we believe Ben? He’s been evading us all week.”

  “You have to stop the test.” Ben maintained eye contact. “Terra’s not our biggest problem.”

  “Show him, Benzo.” Lori said. “Let him see the truth.” She stood in the doorway wearing green scrubs and holding a mop. She shrugged at the raised eyebrows. “The janitor let me in.”

  GranPat lifted his head. “She’s right. Show him Erde.”

  “Erde?” Albert said.

  Ben nodded. He drew the portal watch toward his eyes, checked the coordinates, and opened an apple-sized portal to Erde. Miller took a step back from the distortion in the air. “Agent Miller, please look through the portal, but be careful not to touch it.”

  Miller gazed through the peephole. “Looks dark, a lot of dust.” His forehead furrowed and he gasped. “Can you rotate ninety degrees?”

  Ben turned the portal.

  “Stop there.” Miller’s lips moved slightly as if he were counting. His eye grew wide and he ducked. “Close the portal!”

  A flash of intense heat and light blasted through the portal and burned a hole through a steam pipe above their heads. Smoke and hot water vapor billowed through the hallway. Ben closed the portal.

  Miller drew his phone and dialed. “Agent Lovitsky, stop the test. Now! If we turn on the beacon, we’ll open up a door for a large invasion force . . . Yes. They have robots and lasers . . . No. I’m serious. I’ve seen it— I don’t care if DOD won’t listen! They have to—Lovitsky? ” Miller lowered his phone, took a breath, and turned to him. “I can’t help from here. Can you open a portal to your grandfather’s house?”

  Ben glanced at his father.

  Dad nodded back.

  Ben switched on the portal watch and set the coordinates. The air shimmered and the deck behind GranPat’s house became visible. National Guard troops moved past toward the woods.

  “Let’s go.” Miller and Fulkowski retrieved their weapons and leapt through the portal.

  Dad nodded to Louis and Jack and gave Ben a brief, but bearish, hug. “Keep your head down.” Dad hurried through the portal and jogged into GranPat’s house.

  Ben held the portal open, but didn’t cross. Jack, Brandon, and Lori stood by his side, ready to follow. GranPat spoke quietly with Albert. Through the portal, Fulkowski stood watch on the deck, while Miller ran toward the top of the hill.

  “GranPat, are we going through?”

  “Not yet, Ben. Close the portal. We have other business.”

  A guardsman, jogging toward the house, saw Ben and slipped in the muddy grass. Ben thumbed the switch and the doorway winked closed.

  GranPat nodded. Water droplets speckled his black-rimmed glasses. “Ok. Louis, we need you to guard the entry door. No one else enters until we’re gone. Okay?”

  “Yes, sir.” Louis said. “Good luck.”

  GranPat gave the holding cell keys to Jack. “Take Brandon and gather the prisoners. Keep your weapons ready, but tell these men they’re goin’ home, courtesy of Dr. Albert Dugan. If any resist, come get me.”

  In a few minutes, Brandon and Jack returned with the prisoners and Officer Pritchett. The Terrans looked bruised and sickly. Pritchett assisted a prisoner who had trouble walking. Brandon pushed another laying on a gurney.

  “Hey, Ben.” Jack grinned. “Look who I found.”

  Ben didn’t recognize the man on the gurney, but caught a movement by Jack’s knees. “Ginger?”

  “Yeah, found her in a cage in one of the cells. They must have brought her here for testing.” Ginger wagged her tail and sniffed Ben’s shoes.

  GranPat turned to Ben and whispered. “Time to use the red button.”

  “Here.” Ben offered the portal watch to his grandfather. “I’ve been protecting this thing for days, just so I could give it to you.”

  “Keep it,” GranPat said.

  Albert raised his head. “Ben, I gave you the watch. It’s yours. Don’t let anyone take it from you.”

  “I shouldn’t carry this thing around. It’s too important. What if I accidently break it?” He glanced at Jack. “What if I fuck up and someone dies? I’m not . . .”

  “I trust you,” GranPat confided. “Ever since you’ve had the watch, you’ve done what was necessary, and kept your friends and family safe. You’re more worthy than you realize. Now, please call Miss Betsy. We need a portal to Terra.”

  Ben pressed the red button. He wondered if the call to Terra was long distance, or just a little slideways. The watch began to vibrate.

  Betsy sat in a cushioned chair beside Patsy in her private hospital room. As Patsy rested, her color improved. The sedative had helped. If all goes well, she’ll be discharged tomorrow. Should she ask Patsy to stay at the house in Carmichael for a few days, or just drive her to Carlston? Either way, she wanted to spend some time with her daughter while she recuperated.

  The portal watch vibrated against her leg. Patrick? She pulled the device from her pocket, pressed the red button, and held it to her ear. “Hello?”

  “Hi, Grandma Betsy?”

  “Ben?”

  “We need a portal to Terra. Are you in a safe place?”

  “Yes, we’re at the hospital. Patsy was injured, but she’s feeling better.”

  Patsy opened her groggy eyes. “Is that Ben?” She turned her flushed cheeks toward her mother. “I want to see him. Jack too.” She moistened her dry lips. “They should visit their mother in the hospital.”

  “Grandma, please keep your finger on the red button,” Ben said. “We are coming through.”

  Deputy SAC Vargas of the CSD stepped into Patsy’s room and stopped. He held up a signed piece of paper in his right hand, while his left hand exposed his holstered gun. “Patsy Fuller and Betsy Dugan, I’m placing you both und
er arrest. A special medical team will be here in thirty minutes to transfer you to a CSD secure facility for further questioning.”

  Betsy gaped at Vargas. No, no, not now. She focused on Ben’s voice.

  “We’re on our way.” Ben said.

  She frowned. Should I drop the connection? No. Ben needed help. She kept her thumb on the button as the CSD agent loomed in the doorway.

  The portal shimmered just inside the hospital room’s window. She lowered the watch and stood. The view of the park to her right became obscured by the growing disturbance in the air. As the portal stabilized, a new corridor appeared filled with a line of people and gurneys. She focused on the first face she recognized.

  Ben stood just on the other side. He motioned for a tall man with two black eyes and a battered face to cross through the portal into the Patsy’s room. The man pushed a gurney carrying another injured stranger.

  Next came a large man in a security guard uniform who assisted a limping man. As they passed, she saw Patrick’s somber face watching her through the portal.

  Jack stepped past Patrick and pushed another gurney. Betsy’s mouth opened wide. Oh my God.

  A pale and emaciated Albert lifted his head and smiled at her. He looked so frail. She rushed the six feet to his gurney, and touched his face with trembling fingers. “Oh, Albert. Where have you been?” Her eyes flooded with fresh tears and Patrick faded from view. Albert needs me now.

  Ben stood in the subbasement and watched Ginger follow Jack and Albert through the portal. While Grandma Betsy saw to Albert, Jack and Ginger hurried to Patsy’s bedside. Ben had been so afraid of this woman and her connection to CSD, but now he wasn’t sure why. She looks so much like Mom.

  Tethered to her IV, Patsy pushed herself into a sitting position on her bed, gave Jack a hug, and kissed him on the cheek.

  “Where’s Ben?” Patsy said. “And who are all these people?”

  Ben felt a soft hand on his shoulder.

  “Go see her,” Lori said. “She needs you.”

  “Thanks.” Ben passed her the portal watch. “Don’t cross. We need to keep one watch on this side so I can return.”

  “Okay.” Lori said. “Got your back.”

  Brandon and GranPat stood a few feet behind her in the hallway.

  Ben stepped through the portal and walked toward the frail woman on the bed. His eyes caught an abrupt movement and scanned the room. He saw the three prisoners, Albert, Grandma Betsy, Jack, Officer Pritchett, Ginger— and a man in a suit pointing a gun at him.

  “I’m Agent Vargas. CSD. Everyone stop where you are!” The agent pushed his way past the gurneys to the foot of Patsy’s bed. “Ben Fuller, you’re under arrest.” The agent pointed the gun at Ben’s chest. “Everyone else back away.”

  “No!” Patsy cried, three feet from Vargas. “Leave my son alone.” She slid out of bed, dragged her IV behind her, and stood between Ben and the agent. Her bandaged arm flailed for the gun.

  Vargas tried to push her away, but she caught the barrel in her hand and pulled.

  The gunshot exploded in the small room. Patsy crumpled to the floor as blood spurted from her side. Jack knelt and cradled her in his arms, while Grandma Betsy applied pressure to the wound.

  “Someone get a doctor!” Jack yelled.

  “Stop that man!” Albert demanded.

  The agent glanced wildly around the room. “It wasn’t my fault.”

  Ben crouched into a wrestling stance and took a step closer to Vargas.

  The agent bolted toward the door and pointed his gun at anyone in his way. Officer Pritchett shoved Vargas back. The CSD agent spun and panicked. He dashed toward the portal and jumped through with his gun in his hand.

  Vargas crossed to Earth and ran past Brandon, who shielded Lori with his body. He came face to face with GranPat holding the thirty eight.

  Vargas raised his gun.

  GranPat shot first. He didn’t miss.

  Ben knelt down next to Patsy and Jack.

  “I’m sorry, Mrs. Fuller, I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

  “Sweet Ben. Not your fault. Mine.” A lock of red hair fell across her pale face. “I’ve missed you . . . so much.”

  “You saved my life.” Ben brushed her hair back with tentative fingers.

  An emergency alarm sounded in the hall. A nurse charged into the room and past the press of people. “What in the Redeemer’s name is going on in here?” She looked at the bruised men and the gurneys. Her eyes grew wide when she saw the portal.

  “My daughter’s been shot,” Betsy said. “We need help.”

  “Sweet Redeemer,” the nurse said. “Keep pressure on the wound while I get help.” She hurried back into the hallway.

  Patsy’s eyes closed. “Ben, I’m sleepy now. Visit me, when I’m better.”

  “I will . . . Mom. Love you.”

  Patsy’s green eyes blinked back open and closed. She had a small smile on her lips.

  Ben put his hand on Jack’s shoulder. “Sorry. I have to go now. I hope she’ll be okay.”

  Jack nodded. “Keep your head down, little brother.”

  Ben’s face felt warm. He turned to Grandma Betsy. “Goodbye.”

  Her hands were covered in blood. “Come back and see us when you can.”

  “I will.” Ben hesitated. He glanced at Jack and felt like he was losing his brother all over again.

  “Go. Get back to Earth.” Jack tilted his head toward the portal. “The fuse is lit and you’re running out of time.”

  Ben took a deep breath, stood, and motioned for Pritchett to follow. As soon as they crossed to Earth, Lori handed Ben the portal watch and he closed the connection. The Terran hospital room, Jack, and his family disappeared.

  GranPat and Brandon stood next to Agent Vargas’s body on the subbasement floor.

  “Oh to the fa-shizzle,” Officer Pritchett said, “How’m I gonna explain this?”

  Ben knelt by the CSD agent at his grandfather’s feet.

  “He’s gone.” GranPat said. “Didn’t have a choice.”

  Ben’s stomach rolled.

  GranPat gritted his teeth. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “Where to?” Ben stood.

  “Where we’re needed most.” GranPat gave him new coordinates.

  Chapter 47

  Rain stopped pounding the Earth for the moment. Mud and footprints covered McDugan’s property where the soldiers hunkered down in trenches, or behind sand bags around the perimeter of the hill. Two fortified M1 tanks in the woods faced the open field.

  Miller didn’t see any of his agents. Anxious, he sprinted up the hill toward the command bunker. His side ached from the exertion as if someone had inserted a steak knife into his kidney.

  Atop the hill stood an eight-foot high green canvas tent protecting the command bunker’s entrance. No guards were posted outside the tent opening this close to zero hour. When Miller dashed under the canvas, he found a man gagged and cuffed to the center tent post. His man. Agent Lovitsky.

  Miller removed the gag and then the cuffs with his universal key. “What the fuck happened?”

  “Sir, after you called, I tried to stop Colonel Armstrong. I told him about the new threat and why he should stand down, but he arrested me instead.”

  “Why?”

  Lovitsky’s face fell like a hatchling from a nest. “They searched me and confiscated the walkie-talkie for the remote detonation. I refused to tell him what it was for.”

  “Did they find the C4?”

  “Don’t think so. It may still be there, but someone stole our back-up walkie-talkie.”

  “What a shit storm.” Miller rubbed his forehead. “How much time do we have until the test?”

  Lovitsky checked his watch. “Seven minutes.”

  “I’ll deal with Sanborn. You go back to the house and stop the test. Cut the electricity. Destroy the beacon. Do . . . something!”

  Lovitsky walked toward the tent entrance.

  “Run! Damn it.” M
iller barked. God help me, I’ll transfer his ass to Nogales tomorrow morning, if we’re both alive.

  As Lovitsky ran out of the tent, Miller hurried to the bunker door.

  John Fuller jogged past the soldiers stationed behind a wall of sandbags on Patrick’s deck. He nodded to the sergeant he’d met before, went through the patio door, and into the kitchen.

  A guardsman stood by the cellar door tensed and raised his rifle to forty-five degrees. “State your business.”

  “I have a message for the FBI. Is Joanie still downstairs?”

  “Yes, but no one else is allowed downstairs until after the test.” The weapon rose an inch. “No one.”

  John forced a smile. “Okay, I’ll speak to her afterward.” He dashed through the house and out the front door. A green helicopter buzzed over the rooftop and circled the property. John raced around the house to the only other way into the basement - the metal bulkhead door. He pulled the handle, but the door was locked. Damn.

  His cell phone rang. Patty? Drawing his phone from his pocket, the caller info read L.D. John ghosted the call. Not a good time, Lucy. There’ll never be a good time. I love my wife.

  John felt the walkie-talkie dig into his leg. If he detonated the C-4 charge from here, he would destroy the beacon and kill everyone else in the basement.

  Instead, he called the agent inside. “Joanie, it’s me, John. Agent Miller sent me to stop the test. I can help, but I need you to open the bulkhead door.”

  “What? I can’t take your word for this. Let me speak with the SAC.”

  “We’re running out of time, Joanie. I have a signed order with me. Open the door and I’ll show you.”

  “Ok, but I’ll need to authenticate the order, “Joanie said. “Hold on.”

  “Stop where you are!” barked a voice to John’s right. “Don’t move.”

  Turning his head slowly, John saw a soldier pointing an automatic rifle at him. A click-clock sounded from the bulkhead as Joanie unlocked the metal door. As the door opened, John considered ducking behind the metal door, but didn’t think he’d be fast enough. Over the guardsman’s shoulder, John saw a familiar face racing toward them.