The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

Hank turned and then looked down. His eyes widened. “Did you get smaller?”

  “Not since the last time I checked,” He pulled out a chair and climbed up. “Are you just sitting here?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “You told me to wait here. That was before you got smaller.”

  “Ah, I see.” Billy folded his hands on the table. “Let’s test how well you pay attention. What else did I tell you?”

  “Say Fuck often.”

  “Makes sense.”

  “And not to tell anyone you and your female counterpart tortured me last night.”

  “Well, we wouldn’t want that to get out.”

  “No. I was told not to scream.”

  “It would wake people.”

  “That’s what you said. It hurt.”

  “It wouldn’t be torture without pain.”

  “Did I ask you …. When did you arrive in Beginnings?”

  “Two nights ago. No you didn’t ask me,” Hank said.

  “Your name is…?”

  “Which one? Is this a test?”

  “Yes.” Billy nodded.

  “I am 9-B754. I have assumed the name Hank, but if anyone asks, I am to be Frank,” he said. “Did I pass.”

  “With flying colors. You have the scars, even though the one under your eyes is about two centimeters too short.”

  “You said that last night.”

  Billy smiled. “You think you have this Frank act down?”

  “You and your female counterpart taught me last night before you put me in the trapping chair.” He pointed to the recliner. “We are supposed to learn more today.”

  “Well, let’s go then.” Billy slid from the chair.

  “What about the female counterpart.”

  “We’ll let her sleep. Hold on…” Billy walked into the kitchen and grabbed the granola container from the counter. He returned to Hank. “Food. We’ll be hungry. We can also stop at the bakery. Gemma opens in a little bit. I always wanted to go there. Ready?”

  “Yes.” Hank stood. “Where are we going for this training?”

  “All over.” Billy opened the door. “After you.”

  “Will you tell me how you got so small so fast.”

  “It’s a new experiment I have. It will wear off.” With a shitty grin, Billy waited for Hank to walk out, then he pulled the door closed and followed behind. It was going to be an interesting day.

  TWENTY – POLW

  The dust and vines that covered the mural were so thick, it had to have been decades since anyone uncovered it.

  Click.

  Hal grumbled and spun to Frank. “Will you stop?”

  “I wanted to get a picture.” Frank lowered his phone.

  “That’s smart Frank,” Robbie said.

  “I know right.”

  “Both of you just stop.” Hal faced Chaka. “This isn’t part of your history?”

  “No.” Chaka stared at the mural. “This is similar to images I have seen before, yet it was always with Hubra. The Virgin Hubra mother.”

  Hal gasped in shock. “The virgin mother is our history. It was human.”

  “We’ve had this argument before,” Frank said. “He’s still not grasping it.”

  “My beautiful pet is the mother of the son of God?” Chaka said in disbelief. “How does she get such an honor.”

  Robbie choked on his laugh. “I think if she is the mother of the son of God, that means you’re God.”

  Chaka looked at him.

  “She’s pregnant right now. We think it’s yours.”

  His eyes widened. “No.”

  “Uh, yeah,” Frank patted him on the back. “So basically, she gives birth to the first intelligent LEP. You created your own future. Man …. Just like Terminator.”

  “But what happened?” Hal asked. “I mean, obviously at one time man and LEP lived in peace. It a coexistent world. When did it switch.”

  “I don’t know,” Chaka said. “Things have changed. I was always taught God created Hubra in his image.”

  “Maybe it’s like in the Planet of the Apes,” Frank said. “Where your leaders always knew the truth, but never told you.”

  Rufus darted in between them and started signing and pointing to the wall.

  “What is he saying?” Hal asked.

  “He says he was taught that at one time Primal and Hubra were equals, then a great sickness caused a devolution process in Primal,” Chaka replied.

  “What the fuck?” Frank aske din shock. “He said that. He used that word?”

  “No, I used that word,” Chaka replied. “He said it caused them to go backwards and Hubra became the dominant species and had to care for Primals.”

  “This is nuts,” Robbie reached up to the mural. “It really is. Now if this is the start of it all we know how to stop it from starting.”

  “Yes,” Frank nodded. “Yes we do. I said it before.”

  Hal added. “It’s a combination. Break it. Jenny has the first intelligent baby, Frank implants all the embryos to keep the human race alive. We stop Frank from implanting the embryos, the intelligent baby will not have anyone to influence.”

  “What?” Frank blasted. “That’s fuckin stupid. Stop both events. Stop the baby and stop the implanting.”

  “You want to destroy my child?” Chaka asked.

  “We don’t even know it’s yours,” Frank said. “For all we know there may be another one of you running around. She has that reputation, you know.”

  “Oh, just stop.” Hal held up his hands. “This is all valuable information. And Frank has photographic evidence. But we are here for another reason. We have to retrieve the box in the basement.”

  “How?” Robbie asked. “How are we going to do that? Can we get there? Chaka, any idea?”

  Chaka shook his head. “I have no idea how to get to the floor below.”

  Rufus tugged on Chaka’s arm and waved his hand.

  “What?” Chaka asked.

  Rufus pointed down to the floor and then, continuously signaling for them to follow, he hurried to the outside of the structure.

  They followed him and Rufus led them to the other side of the mural wall. He crouched down to a small bush surrounded by broken branches, reached his hand in and lifted. The entire bush along with the branches lifted.

  Rufus pointed down.

  “They’ve hidden the stairs,” Hal said.

  Chaka interpreted. “He says this is a hiding place of many young Primals.”

  Frank smiled arrogantly. “Oh, yeah, I guess that gift did come in handy after all. Huh, Hal?”

  Hal ignored his remark and was the first to head into the hatch.

  TWENTY-ONE – Beginnings

  Ellen didn’t get much sleep, in fact she didn’t believe she would get any. But the second she sat on the side of the bed and took off her jeans, she plopped sideways and passed out.

  She slept so hard, she didn’t dream and the ringing phone jolted her awake. She reached for it and saw it was Jenny. She panicked thinking she slept in for school until she saw it was only seven in the morning.

  “Hello.”

  “Ellen, hey, did I wake you?”

  “Yeah, that’s fine. What’s up?”

  “I figured you were sleeping. Because I just couldn’t see you letting Billy out on the streets with Frank before the sun was even up.”

  “What?” Ellen sat straight up.

  “That’s what I thought. They were all over town this morning, both drinking coffee. I know Frank feels more youthful since his magic cream but it’s not responsible. He even said he’s not coming to school today.”

  “I’ll handle it. Thank you for telling me.”

  “And Ellen, he shouldn’t drink coffee. He’s already small enough.”

  “Thanks, Jenny.” She hung up and stood.

  What the hell was going on? Dean was supposed to be with Hank. Maybe Dean gave Billy permission to be with the clone. She stumbled from her bedroom and no so
oner did she pass Alex’s room, she knew what was going on.

  “Dean!” she blasted her loudest.

  Dean jumped and rolled out of bed with a thump to the floor.

  Alex didn’t budge.

  “What’s going on?” Dean asked.

  “How about you’re sound asleep and our son is out running around Beginnings with the clone.”

  “Which son?”

  “Which one do you think? The abnormal one.”

  Dean huffed a little with a chuckle. “Well, El, they’re all strange in their own way.”

  “Dean. It’s Billy.”

  Immediately, Dean jumped up. “Shit.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’ll find them. Where are they?” He asked

  “All over. I have no idea.”

  He held up a hand, tripped over dolls and walked to the door. He kissed Ellen on the cheek and walked out quickly. “I’ll find them.”

  “Dean.”

  He kept walking.

  “Your ...” the door closed. “Hair.” After shrugging, Ellen headed to the kitchen to make some coffee. It was going to be an interesting day.

  <><><><>

  When Dean walked from the house, he knew immediately it was an odd sight to see, but a welcome one. He looked at his watch. Joe had just stepped on his porch and took a seat. Joe rarely was still home at seven. However, he held a steaming cup of coffee,

  “Morning, Dean. Nice hair.”

  “Joe.” Dean took a few steps, stopped, veered off quickly to Joe’s porch, reached over the railing, grabbed the coffee and walked off.

  “Dean!” Joe yelled. “Goddamn it.”

  Dean sipped as he walked. He needed it and enjoyed it even though Joe used cream. What he wanted to do was down that whole cup, but it was too hot. He steadily sipped until he made his way through the living section, then he finished it and set the cup on the steps of Hap’s house.

  He rushed through town to the clinic. His lab was dark.

  “Morning, Dean,’ Patrick said.

  “Oh, hey, did you see Billy and Frank?”

  “A while ago, but they left. Said something about the bakery.”

  “Thanks.” Dean spun around.

  “Nice hair.”

  “Thanks.” Dean kept a steady pace, straight down the hall and out the door. He crossed the street and saw Dan coming out of the bakery. “Hey, Dan.”

  “Wow, good hair. Did Bentley do that?” He laughed.

  “Um, yeah. Have you seen Billy and Frank?”

  “I saw them this morning up at the killer baby region.”

  “What!” Dean squealed.

  “Dean, please, it’s Frank. He was fine. After that, I haven’t seen them.”

  “Oh my God.”

  “I did.” Josephine said from behind. “I saw your clone.”

  “Excuse me, what?” Dean asked.

  “Your lookalike, your son, Skippy. I saw him with the big dummy about an hour ago. They were headed into containment.”

  “Thank you.” Dean started to leave.

  “They aren’t there,” Josephine said. “The hot queer chased them out. It was funny.”

  “Do you know where they went next?”

  “What do I look like, your fucking game partner in a Where’s Waldo Challenge?”

  Dean cringed.

  “Are you looking for my nephew and brother?” Jimmy Slagel asked as he came from the bakery.

  “Ah, Jimmy, yes, thank you.” Dean said. “I forgot you were in town.”

  “Yes, everyone does,” Jimmy said. “Yesterday I thought my brothers all went somewhere and didn’t invite me. Then I saw Frank. He looks good since he dropped the weight.”

  “Uh, yeah. Do you know where he went?”

  “I tried to talk to him but he kept walking. Being an asshole, hiding Billy from school, Jenny said. They went below to the cryo labs.”

  “Thank you.” Dean grabbed hold of Jimmy’s arms. “And uh, I’m sorry everyone forgets about you.”

  “Eh, it’s been that way my whole life.” Jimmy shrugged.

  Thanking him again, Dean headed toward the Cryo tunnels.

  Sure enough, he knew when he approached the lab he had found them. The light was on and it carried into the tunnel. He buzzed in and was surprised to see Henry there as well.

  Billy was across the lab seated before a computer, while Henry and Hank appeared to be hanging out by the counter.

  “Billy.” Dean called out.

  Billy turned around. “Oh, hey, Dad.”

  “We were looking for you. We were worried.”

  Billy snickered. “I’m sure.” He returned to the computer.

  Dean noticed the bandages on Hank’s arm. “What happened to him?”

  “Guilty.” Billy raised his hand. “I was trying to get blood.”

  “What?”

  “Then I stepped in,” Henry said. “William taught me. Then I helped with blood the last outbreak. It took a few tries but we go it.”

  Dean looked at Hank. “Why did you let my son do that?”

  “He said he was you.”

  “In my defense,” Billy said. “You thought I was him, so I just went with it.”

  Dean looked at Henry. “And you encourage this?”

  “Hey, I saw them getting kicked out of Containment. I just wanted to get them out of sight.”

  Dean nodded. “Billy, what are you up to?”

  “Running some test. Not just blood. I’m still learning that. But other tests.” He slid from the stool, walked over and grabbed his book bag. He removed a notebook and handed it to Dean. “I wanted to test him with different people, different scenarios. For example…” Billy reached up and pointed. “It’s not Frank, it’s whatever you did to him. Killer babies flew for the fence and tried to attack when they saw him. Dan from Security said it was the magic cream because he never saw them get that bold. I saw its him.”

  “You could be right.” Dean flipped a page.

  “And it is amazing how many people didn’t think twice about him. They just assumed he was Frank. And by the way, you may want to do something with that hair.”

  Henry laughed. “I didn’t want to say anything. It’s funny.”

  Dean scooted over to the mirror over the sink. The entire right side of his hair stood up. “Swell.” He tried patting it down, then gave up. “All this is really cool of you to do, and I appreciate it, but …”

  “But nothing. I can’t look at DNA. I’m still learning that program, but I can work a microscope. You need to take a look at his white blood cells. Specifically the T and B cells.”

  Dean walked over to the microscope, flipped on the computer and brought the image to the screen. “Holy shit.”

  “What are they?” Henry asked.

  “Basically, your body defenders,” Dean replied.

  “Someone mutated him.” Billy said. “It wasn’t you.”

  “Don’t be too sure about that,” Dean said.

  “For real?”

  “Just something me and Ellen were working on when we were practicing cloning and embryos. But I am years from perfecting it. Years.”

  “Maybe during gestation?”

  “Possibly.” Dean rushed across the lab to the long white cooler.

  “Dean?” Henry quizzed. “What does all that mean.”

  “It means, if Billy’s right, like LEP are bred to withstand the elements, he seems to be bred to be impervious to infection,” Dean explained. “This was done either on purpose or by nature.”

  “What are you doing now?” Henry asked.

  “Testing that theory,” Dean said. “With something I know we can cure.” He opened the case. “I’m looking for Typhoid.”

  “Dean!” Henry snapped. “You can’t give him Typhoid. That’s highly contagious.”

  Dean winced. “You’re right. I was aiming high.” He looked at Billy.

  Billy shrugged. “I’d go with staph. You have pretty good results in beating that.”

 
“Staph. Yes, Thank you.”

  “Is it right?” Henry asked. “Honestly, is it right to do to him.”

  “Probably not.” Dean replied, then went back to searching the case.

  TWENTY-TWO – POLW

  When Frank was eleven years old, he and Doug Mason used to head down to the abandoned Tire and Lube shop on Fifth and Oak. There they would hide out and make the old Tire and Lube their clubhouse until they tore that place down. The basement of the church reminded him of that time. It was obviously a place where the younger ones ‘hung’ out. There was food and other items. Even short torches for light.

  “We may want to think about camping here for the night,” Hal said, as he took a break from searching. “It’ll be dark in a couple hours.”

  “Yeah,” Frank agreed. “Right now the torches are helping but once we lose the sun through that hatch it could be too dark.”

  “Got it!” Robbie announced. “I think.” He lifted Hal’s sword and pushed it into the ground. It clanked. “Yep. I’m sure this is the spot.”

  “Well don’t dull my sword,” Hal stated. He stood and looked.

  Finding the box wasn’t as easy as they planned or it sounded. Any markings left by Dean were long gone and instead of digging everywhere, they used the sword as a searching tool, drilling into the ground. There had to be fifty groundhog looking holes.

  “Has to be it,” Frank said. “It’s near the wall.”

  Robbie returned the sword to Hal and grabbed a piece of branch, they had gathered sturdy sticks for the actual digging.

  It didn’t take long to uncover the slab of marble that rested on the box,

  The box itself was long and heavy and both Frank and Chaka to break the seal and open it.

  They all cheered.

  “I wouldn’t have believed this to work,” said Chaka. “What is this?” he pointed.

  It wasn’t what Frank expected to see first thing when opening the box. A small baby doll rested on top, around its neck hung a plastic covered note.

  “In case you need this in your Planet of the Apes world. Danny.”

  “Oh, Danny is funny.” Frank lifted the doll.

  “Why is that there. I thought you needed weapons,” Chaka said.

  “Inside joke.” Frank handed him the doll. “We may need it.”