“A thousand years?”
“Oh, yeah. This place is a planet of LEPS,” Fort said. “So as I was saying. We all end up here. I leave, they keep looking for me and now you. Never knowing I left. How would they know? Hopefully they get stuck or die, I’ll be long gone and knowing the Slagels, they won’t give up.” He winked. “Without the Slagel men, there is no way the Great War will be won. And bonus, Henry is stuck here too. He’s probably dead. Knowing how much Robbie hates him, he probably killed Henry before he heard an explanation.”
Johnny closed his eyes, trying to rid himself of the pain.
“Are you following? I know you’re in pain. Back has to hurt, I dragged you here. Anyhow, it’s been fun. Henry is here. Your uncles. Dean. All gone forever from Beginnings. Check this out, to throw them off. Me and 9-B, snatched up a few of the street dwellers and locked them away to throw your pap off. Just for fun. So you know, they’re in warehouse four, the third storage room.”
“Where is your friend now?’
“Friend? Or he’s not my friend. More of a lackey. He actually believed we were going after the clone last night and not your father. Not the brightest person. Then again, I only worked with him once before. He’s still in Beginnings. Left him there. Convinced him it was best. I figure he’ll blend in there are so many new faces there. I’d tell you what he looks like but, unfortunately he always wears that damn ninja mask. Pay attention Johnny you need to know this.”
“I need to kill you.”
“You don’t have the strength. And when you have it, I’ll be gone and you’ll have questions to answer. I just gave the answers to you,” Fort said, then fiddled with a small device in his hand. “My time kit had two return devices. One for me and one for 9-B. Since he won’t need it. Lucky you. You’re going back.”
“Back?”
“Yeah. Probably a little later than when we left,” Fort said. “But you’re going back. I have no qualms with you and really I like Joe. He has to have someone in his family left. Me, I have nothing in the future. You can tell them I won’t be there. I’m going to 1984. Ronald Reagan, Bon Jovi, and relaxed immigration laws. I’m gonna use the name your father gave me. Tenanay Fortutu.” He shook his head with a smile. “So funny. Device is set.” He placed the device in Johnny’s pocket. “You’ll be better in an hour. And, Jason was right. I jumped after I killed your dad. Nothing personal, but he had to go. Man was tough to kill. He’s dead now. For sure.”
Suddenly, Johnny was filled with rage and he had enough strength to give it all his might and swing out at Fort. However, the time sequence occurred and in a flash, he was back in Beginnings just outside of Jason’s lab. His arm completed the swing and when he arrived, instead of punching Fort, his fist connected with an unsuspecting and unprepared Roy.
FIVE – BEGINNINGS
Joe recounted in his mind the level of insanity the morning had. First Frank’s office blows up... with Frank none the less, only after he found out Johnny was missing. Of course, Johnny was one of twelve unaccounted for between Beginnings and Bowman. One of which was Creed. He was seven feet tall. Joe hadn’t a clue how he vanished. That was the icing on the cake. Fortunately, Frank was fine, the time culprits went through, his sons and Dean chased them. Elliott emerged from a coma, sending psychic warnings that it was a trap the same time Robbie, battered and broken, bound to a post appeared and disappeared in Jason’s lab.
Hating to leave the lab, Joe went to see Elliott Ryder. Who, after being shot in the head and torso, was trying to get out of bed and get dressed. Upon seeing that and the fact that Frank magically healed after being burnt, Joe was seriously contemplating putting a halt on the unorthodox experiments of the resident madman Dean.
But a part of him was happy. He needed Elliott and Joe knew his sons weren’t coming back for a while.
Just as he was discussing things with Elliott, he received a video call from Danny Hoi.
“Joe, we have a situation.”
“Why are you video calling me, Danny?”
“Because I can and I thought you’d want to see my face.” Danny grinned.
“Christ.”
“Anyhow, we have a situation. I need you to meet me right away. I’ll stop by at Gemma’s bakery, I want a latte.”
With a groan of irritation, Joe ended the call. “Stay here.” He told Elliott. “Stay in bed. At least … another hour.”
“I feel fine.”
“Yeah, well, let’s let Andrea check you out thoroughly. Okay?”
“Then I can help out?”
“Yes.” Joe walked to the door. “And Elliott. Glad you’re okay.” He left the room, successfully darted by Ellen and out the front doors.
He had put Danny in charge. Danny was completely competent enough to handle things. To Joe he called either because it was bad, or Danny just wanted to see Joe’s expression about something.
It was deemed important, and Joe walked to the bakery.
Danny was walking out when Joe arrived.
“What’s the situation?” Joe asked.
“How’s Elliott. Heard he came out of the coma.”
“How the hell did you know?”
“Melissa posted in on Hoi Book.”
“What the hell is the matter with people? Do they not have anything else to do? He’s better. Now what’s going on?”
“Walk with me.”
“Danny …”
“Come on Joe, this is good,” Danny said and started to walk.
“It better be.”
“Anyhow … you put me in charge of finding our missing twelve people.”
“I did. I take it you found them?” Joe asked.
“I didn’t. Dan found them.”
“I thought Dan from Security was on that missing list.”
“No, that’s Dan Bosworth.”
“Who the hell is Dan Bosworth?” Joe asked.
“Skinny guy from Bowman, red hair, has a huge mole on is cheek and walks … anyhow, he’s the one that was missing.”
“So Dan found them.”
“He did. Nine of them.”
“Makes sense considering three went through the time machine. We knew they were taken to throw us.” Joe said. “Are they okay?”
“Severely hung over. I’ve been talking to them since Dan found them. Well, Dan heard them. Don’t know if you paid attention to the radio chatter …” Danny laughed. “He thought they were monsters. He called Jess, Jess had to run down there. It was funny.”
“Danny, where the hell were they?”
“Locked in warehouse four.”
“What?” Joe asked shocked. “How did nine people get locked in warehouse four?”
“Easily. Seems they were all lured to the location under the guise they were going to a rave.”
Joe stopped walking. “A rave?”
“Yeah, you know. Rave. A massive party, high tech music, things get out of control and …”
“I know what a rave is!” Joe snapped. “And serves them goddamn right. A rave. When the hell is there ever a rave in Beginnings?”
“Every other Thursday in various …” Danny slowed down when Joe stared at him. “You didn’t hear that from me.”
“Of course.”
“I talked to them briefly, I figured you would want to talk to them more.”
“Thank you,” Joe said.
“Apparently, they were all line dancing when they were asked to go, and they went.”
“Asked by who?” Joe questioned.
“Ready.”
“Danny.”
“Fort.”
“Son of a bitch.” Joe griped. “And we let him in on everything.”
“I mean we all thought of him. Right?”
Joe stared.
“Maybe not. Well, he brought them here and get this, some guy in a ninja mask locked them in. Jenny said it was believable. They heard music playing and everything.”
“A man in a ninja mask?” Joe asked.
“No one knew who he
was.”
Joe huffed out. “Jason said someone came through in the time machine last night. From the future. Fort’s future. Bet he came through to help.”
“If that’s the case, there’s something to think about.”
“What’s that?” Joe asked.
“Where is he?” Danny asked. “Twelve people went missing. Add him, that’s thirteen. To quote Frank, basic math. Three people went through. Nine are in this room. Where is he?”
“Well, we’ll find him. Ninja mask or not, a stranger will be easy to spot.”
“You think?” Danny asked. “You didn’t know who Dan Bosworth was.”
Joe rounded the bend to warehouse four and saw Dan from Security outside with bolt cutters. “Danny, where are our nine people. You said you talked to them.”
“I did, Joe. Through the door.”
“I’ll get you water in a minute,” Dan from Security yelled to the door. “Joe’s here.”
Joe grumbled. “You talked to them through the door? Why are they still in there?”
“I figured you wanted to be here for the unveiling.”
“Danny!” Joe yelled.
“What?”
“Open the goddamn door and let them out!” Just as Joe barked out that order, his phone rang. “Christ, what now?” He grabbed his phone then looked at Danny. “And do not unleash them to the community until I talk to them.” He took a few steps away, looked to see who was calling, saw it was Jason and reluctantly answered. “Jason, tell me you have news.”
“I do. Very interesting news,” Jason said. “A time door opened up. Not mine.”
“What? How is that possible?”
“You’ll find out. I’ll meet you at the clinic. Johnny came through.”
Joe looked over his shoulder and whispered. “Johnny? The clinic? Is he hurt?”
“No, Roy needs stitches. We’ll see you there.”
Joe hung up and looked back at the warehouse. Jenny and the others emerged. Arms lifted they all shielded their eyes, looking like cast from ‘People Under the Stairs’. After telling Danny to put them somewhere, Joe headed back to the clinic, but only after stealing Danny’s latte.
SIX – POLW
The temperature was soothing warm and Hal finally lost the chill he had from being wet. He dried pretty quickly and the air was hot and dry. They followed the tracks through the woods and then they ended at the edge of small cliff that dropped to a small body of water.
Chaka was adamant that they jumped over into the water. The tracks just ended.
They retreated into the woods and to the beach, because it was getting dark. They’d wait it out until first light by the water’s edge, the safest place they could be, according to Chaka.
Their small fire was concealed by the line of trees.
Hal poked the fire and looked at Frank. He stood a little bit away with his arm raised high.
“Frank? What are you doing?” Hal asked.
“Trying to get a signal.”
“Good God. You aren’t getting a signal.”
“You never know.”
“I do know,” Hal said. “You will not get a signal a thousand years in the future. And even if by some miniscule chance you would, that phone will be dead soon anyhow.”
“No, it won’t. I have a solar charger.”
Hal scoffed. “Please there’s no such thing.”
Robbie interjected, “Uh, yeah, there is Hal. Danny has them.”
“Yeah,” Frank said. “Brilliant fucking idea, too. You never know when the apocalypse will come.”
“It has come Frank. We’re in it,” Hal argued.
“Hal, we’re a thousand years in the future. I’d say the apocalypse hasn’t come.”
“He has a point,” Henry said.
“I do.”
“Frank!” Hal snapped. “Just sit down and join us so we can make a plan for tomorrow.”
“Fine. And don’t yell,” Frank said. “You’ll wake up Dean. Fucking out like a light.” He stepped to Dean who was curled up, head on a backpack. “Probably jet lag.”
Robbie laughed.
“Jet lag?” Hal questioned. “Jet lag.”
“Hal,” Robbie said. “Did you ever notice how much you are like Dad when he isn’t around? Like, you become him.”
“And,” Frank added. “He has that bald spot.”
“Frank!” Hal yelled.
“Huh?” Dean sat up.
“Go back to sleep,” Frank told him. “Hal was just making fun of you.”
“Grow up,” Hal told him.
“I missed you guys,” Henry said.
“Can we just …” Hal held out his hands. “Discuss a plan for tomorrow. Direction, feelings, ideas, whatever.”
“They’re throwing us off,” Robbie said. “They’re here, close. If Johnny is drugged, he’ll wake up soon. Fort wants us to think they went over. We need to watch our camp.”
“Why do you say that?” Hal asked.
“Fort didn’t think he’d be a thousand years in the future, he’s going to need supplies.”
“Yes and no,” Frank said standing a distance from them. “I think he knew he was going to the future and maybe even this far. He needs the pendants. That’s what we have to watch.”
“That’s smart,” Robbie said.
“I am.”
“Will you stop? Why would he want the pendants, Frank?” Hal asked. “They have one direction. Back to Beginnings. He thinks he killed you. Everyone knows this. He’s missing.”
“Not really,” Henry said. “I heard them talking. They hid people to throw off Joe.”
“And …” Frank add. “The definitive word is ‘they’.”
Dean groaned as he sat up and ran his fingers through his hair and inched closer to the fire. “Good word, Frank.”
“Thanks. Did Hal wake you?” Frank asked.
“Asshole,” Hal quipped. “Now that we praised Frank’s use of a four syllable word. Do you really think he’ll come back for the pendant?”
“Yes, why wouldn’t he?” Frank said, as he sat down. “I mean. What’s here for him? He’s not from here. And he left that person behind.”
Robbie turned to Henry. “Did you get a look at this person?”
Henry shook his head. “No.”
“So he’s in Beginnings right now?” Robbie asked. “Some dangerous man from the future.”
“Should be easy to find.” Hal said. “Dad may not notice, but others will. Ellen... for example. A new face. A new person. He has no idea how to get anywhere. We know he’s from the future. He came through from Fort’s time. He’ll stand out like a sore thumb.”
“He will … Unless …” Dean said. “Okay, hear me out. He’s from the Fort’s time, right? God I can’t believe I didn’t think of this.” He ran his hand over his face. “Yes, he’ll stand out like a sore thumb. A newcomer. Unless … unless everyone thinks he’s Frank.”
“What?” Hal barked. “How they hell is that possible?”
Dean lifted his eyes to Frank.
Frank peered across the fire, making eye contact with Dean. “Fuck.”
“Exactly.”
“What?” Hal asked.
“Fuck.” Frank repeated.
SEVEN -BEGINNINGS
He started to think that maybe he misunderstood 10-A-A-4-2-2 or ‘Fort as he was called in Beginnings. After all. Fort sounded different than when he heard him talk just before they both stepped through the time devices. But 9-B didn’t arrive at the same time as Fort. In fact, Fort had been in Beginnings for some time. Enough time that he had had picked up a new dialect and lingo.
So when he was told, “You need to stay here.” 9-B just assumed it was for a few minutes. Even after 9-B was told to wait in that empty warehouse alone, he thought Fort would be right back. They had just finished putting people in a room and telling them they were going to a dance of sorts. 9-B didn’t even know what a dance was.
“We’re going to tell them we’re taking them to a
rave,” Fort said.
“What is a rave?”
“It’s a really intense dance.”
“What is a dance?”
“It’s a place you go to … dance. When you dance you move your body to music.”
“Sounds ridiculous.”
“Looks it too.”
His knowledge was limited to what he was allowed to learn. Learning about ‘dance’ was a luxury topic not given to 9-B. People moving their bodies to music seemed like a complete waste of time.
Yet, those in Beginnings were thrilled and willing to go dance.
How easy the people of the past believed things. 9-B didn’t consider himself all that gullible, until the hours passed and he was still in that shed of a room. He could hear the dance people talking away, though he couldn’t make out the words. As the hours passed and Fort didn’t return, he grew hungry and thirsty.
Finally, he fell asleep and woke up to the dance people shouting. Not a scream for help, but rather shouting their answers to an interrogation.
“A man in a ninja mask took us,” they said.
9-B didn’t know what a ninja mask was, he wondered if that was what they were calling his facial protection gear.
Before long a loud, angry sounding man came along and freed them. He expected someone to open his door, but they didn’t.
At that point he realized Fort wasn’t returning for him … yet. He didn’t even know where Fort went. Just like it was his job to do what men like Fort said, 9-B, when told to stay behind did.
He never questioned. Fort said he was leading the group of mercenaries into a future far beyond their own so they could do no harm. 9-B thought that was a noble way to spare their lives and the others of Beginnings time.
9-B didn’t believe in killing humans. Only LEP and select animal. In fact, most from his time wouldn’t dream of taking a human life. Human life was precious. Except the clone. He was an abomination created to be a superior being who would destroy the world.
Fort called the clone, “Doctor Evil.”
Hearing that frightened 9-B a little. He was glad they set the explosives to destroy the clone. Even though he worried that the clone was not alone. Fort assured him he was and the clone would be no more.
Escape the Planet of the LEPS: Beginnings Series Book 28 Page 2
