“Stop. Okay?” Tigger held up his hand. “I’m leaving Lodi because of two reasons. Mainly because of the meteor. We all decided to leave.”
“We also decided as a community to stay and fight the Society.”
“And you know what?” Tigger asked. “If there wasn’t a meteor, I would have stayed and fought. By why now? To save what? Face? Pride. Bull. I have a future and I want to live it. Lodi is part of this country, Dad. I’d rather fight to save this entire country, than die trying to save an insignificant amount of land.”
“Insignificant?”
“In the scheme of things yes. It’s a broader scope. Battles are lost but wars are won. We’re at war, for something bigger, I want to be in the big picture, because decades from now, that is the fight that will count. Not on a piece of land that will be useless after some rock slams to earth.”
“I see.”
“No, you really don’t. Because if you did, then you’d see that the best plan of action is for you to come with us. As far as the picture, that comes with us too. I’m sorry.” Tigger opened the door and walked out.
CHAPTER TWO
March 3rd
Hal loved it. It was the best five Danny Dollars he had ever spent. The personalized dart board. Where instead of numbers they had pictures. The bull’s eye was George Hadley.
He chuckled after throwing a dart and hit a triple Dean Hayes. He marked it on the board, and walked to his desk. Just before sitting down, there was a knock.
“Enter.”
Elliott Ryder popped his head in, then entered. “I heard you laughing.”
“Just shot a Single Henry, Single Dean and a triple Dean.”
Elliott looked at the score. “Dean is closed out.”
“I am pointing you. Take your turn.”
“You know I’m not very good at darts in the morning.”
“Elliott, you aren’t very good at darts any time.”
With an ‘hmm’, Elliott stepped to the line in Hal’s office and threw his darts. He smiled on the last one when he closed out the ‘Dean’ section.
“Not bad. Not bad at all. Someday we’ll finish. So what brings you here?” Hal asked.
“Dale.” Elliott responded.
Hal lifted his mug of coffee. “How ironic. Dale from Danny Bucks?”
“That’s the one.”
“What’s up?”
“He wants to know what we plan on doing about crowd control.”
Hal smirked. “Crowd control? Is he expecting that big of a day?”
“No, he is afraid he’ll lose business because of the crowd.”
“What crowd.”
“For Frank’s book signing.”
Hal gave a smile, almost a silent laugh. “Frank’ signing is not for another two hours. And I hardly doubt the crowd will extend to his business front.”
“The crowd already extends to and past his store front.”
Hal who was about to sit down, paused and lifted. “You’re kidding.”
“No, I am not Captain.”
“We have that large of a crowd gathering for my brother’s children’s book.”
Elliot nodded.
“Good God, what is wrong with people.” Hal sunk into his chair. “This is a story Frank wrote. Frank. It is on the same level as See Spot Run and they are crowding for it.”
“Appears so.”
Hal sighed out. “Okay, send as many men as you think to keep the crowd under control and moving.”
“Yes, sir,” Elliott nodded and stepped to the door.
“And Elliott, spare me anymore details of this insanity.”
“Yes, Captain.”
The second Elliott left, Hal just shook his head in disbelief. He then rose, chuckling out loud about the book signing, stood at the dart line, picked up his darts ad aimed at the Frank section.
***
Ellen giggled. She turned a page in the Frank book and laughed. Not like she hadn’t read the book before but it was so much better in published form. She couldn’t stay at the signing, but was glad she was the first in line.
Another turn of the page, another chuckle as she read the line out loud, “Fuck I said”
Fort knocked on the archway to her office.
Ellen looked up. “It’s free time. You’re supposed to be in the skills room.”
“I know.”
“Chester-Chester will get angry-angry if you don’t show up when he decides to play the hokey pokey-hokey pokey.”
“Do you have a second?”
“I’m reading.”
“Please.”
“Fine.” Ellen huffed out.
“Why don’t you like me?” Fort asked as he stepped in.
“Not that I don’t like you. You haven’t done anything. It’s just that … you’re a Containment resident and yet, so many are treating you different.”
“I learned about this Containment place. I don’t belong here.”
“Why is that?”
“Well …”
“Were you not just wandering in?”
“Yes …”
“Are you a Beginnings resident?” Ellen asked.
“No…”
“Do you think you’re above all rules?”
“No, I …”
“What year is it?”
Fort grunted. “That’s it, isn’t it?”
“Fort, please, you say you’re from the future.”
“I haven’t given you proof?”
Ellen laughed. “Hardly. Things you said could have been learned from eavesdropping.”
“Frank, Jason, and Joe believe me. Why?”
Ellen fluttered her lips. “Jason, well, this is his thing, Frank is Frank and Joe is senile …”
“I heard that,” Joe said as he stepped inside.
Smug, Fort looked at Ellen. “You’re in trouble. See? That’s what you get for talking about your dad.”
Ellen flipped him off. “See, this is what you get the next time you ask to leave Containment.”
“Missy Jane.” Joe snapped his finger and pointed backwards.
Fort laughed. “Look at him ordering you around. Guess you aren’t the boss.”
“Really?” Ellen stood. “Just so happens that I am giving my chair up for my father anyhow.”
Joe shook his head and claimed her desk.
“Just …” Ellen lifted her finger. “Out of curiosity. Why am I giving up my desk?”
“You’re late, and I was sent to get you.”
“I’m late? For what?” Ellen asked.
“The girls and Todd …” Joe paused. “The girls and your wedding dress.”
Ellen’s eyes widened. “Shit. That’s right. I forgot.”
“Yeah, just don’t forget the wedding. We’re all looking forward to this.”
Ellen nodded. “Never. March twentieth.” she started to leave.
“Twenty first!” Joe yelled as she left.
“Wow, an event, I read about.” Fort said.
“What do you mean?” Joe asked.
“The wedding. I can say something about it, because it’s happening. It was in the history books.”
“What? Her wedding to my son was in the history books. It turns out that well?”
“I’m sure you see it coming?”
“What?”
Fort hesitated. “The ... Slagel divide. As a father, I am sure you …”
“Hold it.” Joe held up his hand. “How is her marrying Frank gonna cause a Slagel divide.”
“Frank?” Fort asked.
“That’s who she’s marrying.”
“Oh.” Fort nodded. “Oh. Ok.” He started to leave.
“No. No. Not ‘Oh Ok’ what are you talking about?”
“Well, in the history I know. She doesn’t marry Frank,” Fort said. “She marries Hal.”
“Hal? Ellen marries Hal …” Joe’s eyes shifted to the door. “Oh, hey, Elliott.”
It was an epidemic. Almost horror movie frightening. Lunch time in t
he mess hall and Hal only saw his men eating and... Reading. Reading Frank’s book. Frank’s Day out.
He shook his head in disbelief, and nodded at the compliments his men gave him to pass on to Frank. Hal couldn’t say much, he actually wanted to finish his phone call.
“I assure you, Elliott, there is nothing going on between me and Ellen. My brother and she are planning a wedding in two weeks.” Hal nodded in annoyance. “Why do you care? Didn’t you step back? Just... ignore the ramblings of a delusional man who believes he is from the future. He probably is some psychological weapon planted by the Society. Yes …”
Hal stepped when the doors to the mess hall flew open with a bang.
He turned, and prepared to reprimand whoever it was, when suddenly, chairs began to squeal, books began to fly up on their own, trays were disrupted and the men who rose, were knocked off their feet.
Total pandemonium erupted from an unseen force.
“What is God’s name?” Hal lowered the phone, and before he could say anything further was knocked off his feet and sent flying back by a force he could not see.
The call of his name by Elliott Ryder rang out over the phone.
In the midst of the confusion, Hal grabbed the phone. “Let me get back to you, Elliott.” He caught his breath. “I have to call Frank.”
***
Not that the day was busy. Actually, as a leader, George had it pretty easy. But he still went to the office, got a rundown of how things were going and played some solitaire.
By four pm, he started to get annoyed by the frequent disruption in meetings by Bertha. First she was late, then she left the room constantly.
Enough was enough.
What was going on?
The ultimate problem had arisen. She didn’t want to say anything until it was confirmed. Inadvertently, two enemies were about to join.
Bertha Callahan was pregnant to Tigger Manis.
***
Jason did not want to be part of the rave, but couldn’t resist. He picked up his copy of Frank’s Day Out straight off the production line. It was amusing, especially the artwork. More so the excitement generated over one little book.
He had finished most of his work in the lab, hadn’t any courthouse papers since it was Saturday, and decided to dedicate his afternoon to working in the quantum lab.
He had a few sequences to run for himself and Danny, and while he awaited them, he read the book, eating a sandwich.
Read. Page. Chuckle. Bite.
Somewhere around page six, and mid sequence, the ‘pop’ caught Jason’s attention. He set down his sandwich and book, and faced the screen.
“What’s going on here?” he reached for the keyboard.
The sequence on the screen scrolled faster and faster.
“Hello.”
‘Pop’
Jason blinked. He lowered his head to see if it was something under the table, when he did, he heard a rush of static.
“I know you’re there.” The voice said.
His eyes popped wide, before raising his head.
Static.
“Hello.”
Jason faced the computer screen.
The screen jumped and went in and out with a fuzzy picture, a picture graced with snow and static. But a picture on the screen clearly of himself.
“I know….static. There. Recall.” The computer Jason said. “Not two way communication … static. Listen up.”
“My God,” Jason said amazed. “I’m brilliant.” He immediately kept shifting his eyes to the other computer. “Where is this coming from?”
“You are worried too much about when … static. Future.”
Jason nodded. His future self looked worn, unshaven, thin and pale.
His future self spoke. “Only… source… two communications … static. This is one … write.”
Jason grabbed pen. The picture moved in and out.
“Static … Hoi… figure… way to…record communications. Got it?” Future Jason spoke. “Tomorrow…. Pick time. Give Danny… to figure out…. Record.”
Static.
The picture faded and came back.
“All Slagels here. Must speak….. Imperative. Make sure all Slagels … here. Future…. Imperative.”
The computer blacked out then switched back to the sequence.
Jason looked at his notes. Though the message wasn’t clear, he was able to decipher enough.
He had to round up the Slagels for the next day. He had to speak to Danny Hoi about recording the message. A message that would come from the future.
It was imperative.
The one word that came though clearly.
Imperative.
Jason, after taking a moment of being impressed with himself, set out on his mission.
Something was vital. It had to be for himself to figure out a way to cross the barrier of time to get a message to the past. And that message, to Jason, could only be a warning.
CHAPTER THREE
It wasn’t easy for Joe. First he didn’t feel like running back to Bowman after getting out of the mayhem of Frank’s signing. But there he was arriving again.
Ellen got him off on the wrong foot, chasing him down the halls of Containment, yelling, “Give me back my resident’ when he took Fort.
“You are breaking you own rules, Joe!” Ellen screamed.
With a ‘yeah-yeah’, he left with Fort.
The phone call from Frank informing him about what entailed with Hal, sent a bit of worry through Joe. Frank has said there was more than one of the invisible predators, but somehow Joe didn’t want to believe that was true.
The moment he arrived in Bowman and parked the jeep, Ben from Fabrics came flying down the street.
He was frazzled, frightened and insisted on Joe finding a priest.
The town of Bowman was haunted and at the very least possessed by a food demon.
Another ‘yeah-yeah’ and Joe was in the mess hall.
Hal left things the way they were. Some sort of proof Joe supposed. Toppled tables, food spread everywhere.
“Mess,” Frank said as he assessed the damage.
“You think?” Joe shook his head. “Hal, any injuries?”
“None,” Hal answered, seated on the corner of the table, one leg dangling. “A few shoves and pushes, that’s it. Mostly this was a diversion.”
“How many do you think?” Joe asked.
Hal shrugged. “Hard to say, four or five. I’m going to tell you, Dad. Had I not seen it for myself, I wouldn’t have believed it. Even if Frank took a beating.”
From across the room, Robbie spoke in awe. “They leave no trail. Nothing.”
“You know what we need to get?” Hal suggested. “And I know we don’t have any in Bowman. Does Beginnings?”
Frank, hands on hips, nodded. “I think we have two. Getting more shouldn’t be a problem. We all should at least have a pair.”
Fort finally spoke up. “Won’t work. If you’re talking about Thermo Sights.”
Frank scoffed. “What do you mean they won’t work? There are some pairs that can see through thin walls, you’re gonna tell me these fucks wear cloth and can’t be seen.”
Fort held up his hand. “The whole entire premise and reason behind the suits was not to be used for war or attacks. They were used to hunt and kill the LEPS, or grown up Killer Babies. The suits protect the scent as well so the LEPS can’t see them coming. For some reason Thermo vision doesn’t pick them up.”
Frank shook his head. “That can’t be right.”
Fort shrugged. “You may get the chest area, groin, head, and high heat areas.”
“That’s all we need, a place to aim.”
“But what if they line up in a row?” Fort asked. “Then what?”
“Well, how about this?” Frank stepped to him. “You have a better fuckin solution to find these things?”
Fort shook his head. “What about Danny Hoi? History has him as this great inventor. Can’t you go to him?”
“And what?” Hal asked. “Ask him to do what?”
“Create the Hoi Vision early.”
Joe asked. “Hoi Vision?”
Fort nodded. “The glasses that allow you to actually see them.”
Robbie asked. “When were the glasses invented?”
“With the suits,” Fort answered. “About fifteen …Okay, that would be fifty-five years from right now.”
Joe rubbed his chin. “Danny’s thirty-four. Could he possibly be inventing at that age. Are we sure we’re talking the same Danny Hoi?”
Fort nodded. “He wasn’t a spring chicken when he helped invent the suits. He lived a long life. In control of his faculties.”
Joe lifted his hand. “Worth a shot. We’ll go to Danny.”
“In the meantime,” Frank added. “We get thermo sights. I want every guard walking a beat in all towns to have them. Obviously, the fuckin suits are perimeter proof so that why they came here. We can get more.””
Joe agreed. “Robbie, can you make a run for them.”
“Yeah, Dad.” Robbie said. “Not a problem.’”
At that instant, Jason rushed in. “Joe, Thank God.”
Joe stood up straight “What’s going on?”
“You are not going to believe this,” Jason spouted. “In fact, where’s Jimmy?”
Joe looked around. “Christ. We forgot about him.”
Jason waved out his hand. “No worries, we’ll get a hold of him. Right now. This is big and could be really important. In fact, it is important.”
“Hold up.” Joe said. “You are really rambling. What happened?”
“Hating to sound like an old movie,” Jason said. “I just got a message from myself … in the future.”
***
Johnny felt better. His young age played a key factor in his healing and strength. But something else aided that as well. His return home to the land of Beginnings. It wasn’t exactly Beginnings, but it was close enough.
But as he packed up what few items he had, Johnny tried with everything he had to recall his final days at home. He knew what he was told, but couldn’t remember a thing.
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