The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

  “It’s cool. It’s weird. I haven’t a fucking clue how or what it does and why. Don’t touch it.”

  Dean’s eyes shifted to the box. Cool? Weird? Don’t touch it. It was like telling a kid not to peek at his presents.

  Don’t touch it.

  Dean chuckled and lifted the box. It was unlike anything he had ever seen. The alphanumeric keypad. He recognized, that was obvious. The shift button next to those ... obvious as well, to shift from numbers to letters. The three top buttons just under the blank LCD display he didn’t have a clue.

  The symbols looked Greek.

  Sort of. Almost hieroglyphic.

  Two camera lenses, one on top, one on the side. Was it a photo machine? A projector …

  Dean smiled. A projector.

  Only one symbol was encased by a circle. Using what he thought was common sense, and thinking ‘O’ for on, Dean pressed it.

  The blue funnel light swirled up.

  “Help me, Obi-won-Kenobi, you’re my only hope.”

  Dean chuckled.

  “Hello Roy. My, you look Handsome. Where do you want to go?’

  Curious, Dean looked down to the LCD display; it read ‘set time’. He looked at his watch.

  13:22

  Dean pressed in the military time of 13:22.

  “Ok,” he spoke out loud. “Where is am or pm?” It wasn’t the power button, he tried the Green one.

  Zap!

  Thump.

  “Shit.” Dean found himself on the ground, midst of a wooden area. He picked himself up and looked about. “Oh my God.” He looked down to the box. “I’m so stupid!” shaking his head, and hoping common scientific sense would kick in, Dean pressed the green button.

  Zap!

  He was back.

  He shook the electric chill from his body and laughed at his own stupidity. “Green means go. Of course. Of … shit.” If he had been zapped elsewhere, like Robbie, he wondered where he zapped for his return. He put down the box and lifted his phone. He dialed. “Hey, Robbie. Um … just checking in. How long ago did you leave here?”

  “You touched the box, didn’t you?”

  “No. No, I didn’t.”

  “Dean. You touched the box.”

  Dean sighed. “Yes.”

  “I told you not to touch the box.”

  “I know. But that made me do it.”

  “And?”

  Dean paused. “We have to talk, figure it out, and learn this thing.”

  “It’s really cool, isn’t it?”

  “Without a doubt.”

  “Should we tell anyone?” Robbie asked.

  “Absolutely not. Not yet.”

  “I agree. See you tonight. Don’t touch it again. Wait for me.”

  “I will.”

  “Promise.”

  “I promise. See you tonight.” Dean disconnected the call. The box set on the table, and though the scientist in him really wanted to touch that box again, learn more about it. He gave his word to Robbie. It would drive him insane not being able to play with it, so Dean threw his focus on the remnants of the sandwiches and the DNA to be found.

  <><><><>

  Lunch time. Of course, it was a late lunch, but Roy didn’t mind. He had to admit being a bit frightened when he saw the Slagel clan, minus Robbie walking across town.

  They were like a wall. Roy carried his lunch sack and was going to sit in the park like everyone else in Beginnings. He tilted his head when he saw the newness of it.

  “What’s wrong?” Frank stopped to ask.

  “That concrete square.” Roy pointed to the large object in the park. “What is that?”

  “The base of the statue,” Frank said. “For my dad. You know, you even told us you saw that when you went through the Aragon Window.”

  “Yes.” Roy nodded. “Yes. I did.”

  He mumbled the Aragon Window as he walked to the park and took his seat on the bench. It was a great day. As he unwrapped his sandwich, he watched the Slagels walk into Containment.

  Roy smiled when he realized it.

  The Aragon Window. Frank referenced the statue of that time frame, yet Roy never recalled hearing about a statue in his future history.

  Had it worked?

  Had he succeeded?

  When he had returned from his first time trip and realized nothing had changed, Roy went into a learning frenzy. He knew he had to make another trip, and he had to prepare for it.

  But in order to do so, he had to get the government to do another one.

  “It’s a waste,” General Spade said. “We sent the first LEP soldiers through. We sent the second batch through. Nothing. No change.”

  “But I think you are missing the point,” Roy said. “I think you need to send assassins in with the mission to stop anyone that tries to get in the way of our LEP soldiers.”

  Roy knew he was taking a risk. But also knew the history of Beginnings and Frank. Even wearing invisible suits, they couldn’t be victorious.

  “No,” Spade said. “I don’t think so. We’ve sent thirty.”

  “Then what is ten more?”

  “First, the power supply …”

  Roy fluttered his lips. “Power cell is unlimited. You know I invented that.”

  Spade nodded.

  He knew it was a subject of debate and thought for Spade, and until he had his information of when the government’s next trip would be, he had to figure out what he had to do.

  He had to realize his error.

  Roy believed that by giving Joe the forewarning of the war then Joe would be prepared.

  Joe tried. But preparedness wasn’t the wrong doing.

  He heard of the Aragon Window history.

  They had a Great War there, too, but the world was different. It was free. Pleasant, not hungry and dying.

  What was the difference?

  Frank was the leader in that future. Danny explained to him that Dean was supposed to die and when his death was averted, he was able to be around to cure Joe from disease. Joe lived, when otherwise he would have died.

  That was the one big difference he could think of.

  The invasion would still take place, the same way, the same time, no matter who led Beginnings. Both times it would have been a surprise hit. But it was the action of the leader that made the difference.

  History dictated Joe as a great leader. A founding father of the country. What could he have possibly done wrong?

  During coffee, something General Spade liked to do with Roy, he broke into a conversation about that.

  “The Great War,” Roy said. “Did you study it?”

  “Yes,” Spade replied. “I love history.”

  “What do you think Joe Slagel could have done to make a difference? Or do you not know that much about the war.”

  “I know a lot about it,” Spade said. “See Roy, leaders make decisions all the time. Some good. Some bad. They don’t deliberately make bad decisions. They truly believe that they are correct in what they are doing. Advisors tell them differently. Example. In 1991 The President of the United States, George Bush defending Kuwait against the Tyranny of Iraq, went into Iraq and stopped them from invading Kuwait. George Bush should have pushed further, taking the leader of that country. He should have done that. He didn’t. Had he done so, it would have averted the Iraq war of 2002. During World War II, MacArthur told the president to push though Russia while they were weak. The US president didn’t do it. Had he done so, he would have avoided the cold war. See?”

  Roy nodded.

  “Now to say what Joe Slagel did wrong is easy in hindsight. It’s always easier in hindsight to see what you did wrong. I can sit here and tell you the decision he made. And what I would have done. But who is to say, in his position, at that time, I wouldn’t have made the same decision. There were a lot of factors to consider at the time of decision making. Factors, I know now, that they didn’t know.”

  Roy slipped into thought. Did Frank know those factors when he was leader in t
he Aragon Window? Frank knew as much as Joe. What made Frank make such a different decision?

  Roy asked. “So is it possible a different leader would have made a different decision?”

  “Very possible,” Spade said. “It depends on the man, the views, the humanity.”

  “Hmm.” Roy rubbed his chin. “So then tell me. What error did Joe Slagel make? What decision was it that you may not have made?”

  General Spade proceeded to give Roy a history lesson and tell him all about the factors he knew regarding the Great War. He then told Roy the one crucial turning point. The one decision Joe and his cabinet made that was the wrong move. It was one decision. One error. One thing that totally changed the outcome of the world.

  General Spade even pulled up history dockets where experts wrote about the error. How it was deemed a human decision that brought about inhumanity.

  Roy copied that history information, just like he did the other information, tucked it in his backpack for safe ‘time travel’ constant keeping and made his move.

  He plotted, planned, and knew his direction.

  When the time came and the government was sending one last squad through, Roy made his trip.

  Only instead of going back pre Great War, he went mid Great War.

  He had to. It was the only way to get Joe to see that he made an error and that he had to make a change. If he went before the war, it was conceivable that Joe would feel the impact.

  It wasn’t the scene he expected to see. It wasn’t the happy Beginnings. It was a scene of tents, fires in cans, gunshots, and explosions in the distance.

  He asked where Joe was and was directed to the tent.

  Roy could see the amber glow of a warming fire and stepped inside. “Joe.”

  Joe looked up. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be with the others?”

  “Not me, Joe.” Roy stepped closer. “You know who I am, don’t you.”

  Joe stared for a few seconds, long and hard. “You. What … how …”

  “Again.” Roy nodded. “Joe, I thought … I thought it would work.”

  “I did, too.”

  “But truth be known, Joe. You made some bad decisions. You didn’t think they’d be bad, but they were.”

  “I made human decisions,” Joe said. “Human.”

  “And you and I both know you’d do it again if you had the chance to do it over.”

  “I based it on what I saw...”

  “You based it on what you saw, yes. That is what made you make the decision.

  “At the time, I felt it was right. Anyone would have done the same.”

  He shook his head. “Not anyone. Not everyone. Would they have?”

  Joe looked at him.

  “Do you think Frank would have made that same decision?”

  Joe chuckled in sadness. “Frank isn’t the same as me. He’s the only one who wouldn’t have made that decision.”

  “He is.”

  Joe closed his eyes briefly. “Why are you here, again? At this point …”

  “At this point what?” Roy asked.

  “Nothing can be done. “

  “It’s not over, Joe. Not completely.”

  “It’s never over. But at this point.”

  “I think you know what needs to be done. None of this had to happen.”

  “You’re right. But don’t you mean I know what needed to be done?”

  “Need. Present tense. We can still make a change. You … you can make a change.”

  “What are you saying?” Joe asked.

  “It’s time, Joe, to make a decision.” Roy paused. “The ultimate decision.”

  On that, Joe peered up with a heavy sigh.

  “We have to go back.”

  “Warning me again, may not …”

  “Not warning you.” Roy interrupted. “Not warning you. Making you make not just the ultimate decision, but the ultimate sacrifice.”

  Joe knew. He closed his eyes.

  “You have to die.”

  The ‘Hey, watch out!’ caught Roy’s attention in enough time for him to move his head to the side before being hit with a ball. He snickered as the boy ran by him, grabbed the ball, and stopped.

  “Hey, Dad.” The child smiled, and ran the other way.

  Roy tilted his head. He looked like another clone? Had Dean produced a clone in Beginnings?

  Dad?

  He lifted his hand in a wave to the child, took the last bite of his sandwich and stood. He had to get back to work. But before he did he looked at the concrete pedestal being erected for the statue of Joe Slagel. A statue to grace his Joe Park in his honor.

  Still lingering in the feel of his flashback, Roy walked to the concrete base. He rested his hand on it and looked to the empty space where the statue would stand.

  The laughter of children was his background music and Roy smiled. “We made the right decision, Joe Slagel. We made the right decision.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  The phone in the communications room still had a swirly chord, the old fashioned type, connected to the base of the phone. Jimmy wedged the phone between his shoulder and ear, kicking back in the chair, while playing with the chord.

  “Oh, yeah?” he asked slyly and soft. “It’s Sunday, Muffin, should you be speaking to me like that?” He laughed. “I can’t. You can go ahead. I can’t. No, no naughty girl.” He giggled, and then looked at his watch. “Well, my relief isn’t due for a half an hour. Not that type of relief. Hold on.” He reached down for his belt. “Undoing my belt now. Now my button. My zipper.” He paused to give an ornery moan, lifted his rear from the chair, and loosened his pants.

  The door opened and Frank walked in.

  Jimmy froze.

  “I don’t even want to know,” Frank said.

  “Gotta go.” Jimmy said embarrassed, and hurriedly pulled up his pants. “I wasn’t having phone sex Frank.”

  “I didn’t say you were.” Frank pulled a cigarette from his pocket.

  “That was uh … Lars.”

  “Lars.”

  “Lars.” Jimmy fastened his pants. “Seems there’s some sort of rash that is hitting guys in the genital area. Well, only the guys who peed at the farm house.”

  “Really.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Wow.” Frank shook his head.

  “So, what are you doing here?”

  “Aside from being the president and pretty much allowed to stop in any time I want. I heard you have brownies.”

  Jimmy slid the plate his way.

  “Thanks.” Frank took one. “Plus, I thought this would be a really cool chance for us brothers to get together before dinner with Andrea and talk about how this is going. She hates us talking shop over food.”

  “I know. So when do the other brothers get here.”

  “They should have been here.”

  No sooner did Frank say that, the door opened and Hal walked in.

  Jimmy cocked back a little by Hal’s presence. “You look frazzled.”

  “I am.” Hal took a breath, “Let me just catch myself here.”

  Frank asked. “Would that be the same thing as touching yourself here?”

  “What?” Hal asked aghast.

  “Yeah, it’s like the newest rage in communications.”

  “Good God, Frank, where do you get this stuff from?” Hal asked.

  Frank pointed to Jimmy. “Walked in just in time to stop him from having phone sex.”

  Hal’s mouth dropped open.

  Nervously, Jimmy responded. “I told you Frank Lars said a rash is going around and I was checking.”

  “Yeah. Yeah.” Frank nodded. “I believe that one.”

  “Good Lord, Jimmy,” Hal said. “Have a little more respect for yourself than to masturbate in a public place.”

  “In my defense,” Jimmy raised his hand. “It’s not public.”

  “It’s a work place.” Hal snapped. “You just don’t masturbate in a work place.”

  �
�Hal?” Frank called him. “Why can’t you just say jerk off.”

  “Why can’t I have a little class when I speak?” Hal said.

  Frank fluttered his lips. “I don’t know about you, but doesn’t matter how you say it, it still comes off crude. Masturbate, jerk off, jack off, whack …”

  “Frank,’ Hal tried to interrupt.

  “Off.” Frank continued. “You have your monkey references. Spank the monkey, whack the monkey…”

  “Frank…”

  “How about being original ...” Frank nodded. “Slapping the ham, flogging the dolphin, jerkin the …

  Jimmy laughed.

  Hal shook his head. “You encourage. Frank!”

  “Gherkin, punching the clown, choking the chicken…”

  “Frank! Knock …”

  “Jerk before work or in this case at work.”

  “Enough!”

  “And the ever popular …roughing up the suspect.” Frank cleared his throat.

  Hal’s mouth formed the ‘R’. “Ever popular? Roughing …”

  “Up the suspect, yeah.” Frank nodded.

  “Roughing up the suspect?” Hal asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “How is that popular, Frank?”

  “Uh … Hal …jerking off has always been popular with guys.”

  “That’s not what I mean, you asshole.” Hal shook his head.

  Another opening of the door, and Robbie walked in.

  “A-ha!” Hal pointed.

  “What?” Robbie asked.

  “Robbie?” Frank asked. “What does roughing up the suspect mean?”

  “Jerking off,” Robbie replied.

  “See.” Frank pointed at Hal. “Popular.”

  “Why do you ask?” Robbie questioned.

  “Because Hal never heard of the term and I was telling him the term when I walked in and Jimmy was having phone sex.”

  “No!” Jimmy shouted. “I was examining my penis for a rash.”

  Robbie laughed. He stopped laughing when Hal stepped to him. “What?”

  “Why were you running from me?” Hal asked.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Robbie said.

  “Bullshit. You do. You ran from me.”

  “I believe I wasn’t running anywhere, I was driving,” Robbie said.