by David Rhodes
Sharon nodded her head and said, “Actually, it does. I’ll tell you more at six, does that work for dinner?”
“It does,” Charles said.
“Okay, Lisa hold still while I adjust this and then go along with what I’m saying,” Sharon said. Then she laughed and said, “But it’s a billion dollars Charles, I just need new shoes.”
Lisa laughed too and Doctor Blacke said, “You need to be careful Charles, Sharon needs a lot of shoes.”
Then Sharon asked, “Would all of you like to meet in the Dining Hall, say about six?”
As everyone agreed, Charles and Lisa walked outside and Charles asked, “Want to keep walking? I’d like to tour the facility some more and see if we can watch any of the animals.”
“Okay,” Lisa answered. “But I’m interested in where we’ll live. I’d like to rebuild your old house. What do you think of that?”
He took her arm and said, “I’d like that.”
Sharon called Chief Richards and said, “It should be coming in clear now.”
“It is, good work. What did you think?”
“We didn’t get to talk a lot, we walked over to the Doc’s, so she could check them out before they left. We’re supposed to meet them for dinner tonight and we’ll talk some more. So far though I can’t say I’m picking up anything.”
“Did they ask about anything?”
“Charles asked what animals were here and where different things happened.”
“Where we kept the time machines?”
“He asked about a few things and I guess…Chief you are smart. He could have figured things out by what I was telling him even if I didn’t mention time machines.”
“Don’t beat yourself up Jenson, I’ve been doing this for a long time. I know where he’ll be tonight. Call me after dinner.”
“Will do,” Sharon said as she left.
Richards leaned over and turned up the volume on Lisa’s bug and listened to them talk about building a house for a few seconds then turned it off. Then he turned the volume back on for a station marked ED1 just in time to hear Sharon walk into Doctor Blacke’s office and say, “He bought it.”
Then he turned ED1 off and thought how smart he was to have bugged a lot of different places around Dino City. He knew a lot of things about people and after tonight he was going to cash everything in. And he knew where he wanted to live, and it wasn’t around a bunch of dinosaurs. He got on his phone and said, “Cesar, get over to my office right now. No, I don’t want you to get Jenson. I said get over here now, and don’t tell anyone else. Got it? Now.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
THE END
Chief Richards stood in front of the room as the thirty security officers filed in and sat down. They were surprised by the sudden call-out and what it might mean. As soon as they were all in, Richards brought up a map of Dino City and began speaking.
“First, nothing that is discussed leaves this room until I say you can talk about it. Anyone who disobeys this order will be fired and you can bet you will never hold a job that’s worth anything ever again. Is there anyone who doesn’t understand what I just said?”
When no one answered he continued, “As you know, we have special guests in Dino City; Charles Dawson and Lisa Wells. They had some bad time travel experiences, Charles lost his wife and they both lost a lot of friends. Something like that will make you rethink what you could or should do with time travel.
“Tonight, at a time we do not know yet, we think Charles and Lisa plan on stealing a time machine. We believe they are going to go back and save at least a few people and maybe even everyone that was involved. Over two dozen people. It has to be tonight because they are scheduled to leave here tomorrow morning.
“You all know what that would do to the timeline. Irreparable changes of a global nature. The largest catastrophe in our time travel history. Who knows where any of us would end up and what we would be doing. That’s if we were still alive. So, no matter how noble their thoughts and concerns are, we can’t let this happen.
“Now we cannot just accuse them of something this big. We need proof, the overt act. So, we’ll be disabling the time machines and waiting for them to get in one and attempt the theft. I don’t know if they will attempt to shut off alarms, talk their way in because of who they are, stage a traffic accident, it could be anything. Whatever it is they try just let them succeed at it. Then we’ll move in and take them into custody when they try and use a time machine.
“The public doesn’t even know they have returned yet. I can guarantee the average person will sympathize with them. Their remorse about all the deaths, that somehow they survived, typical psychological trauma that led to the attempted theft. Others can judge them.
“We will be judged by how we handle this tonight so let’s do it right. No one gets hurt. None of us, and especially neither of them.
“So, no one will have a live weapon. No one. If one of them gets antsy then we can stun them, but that’s all. We do not want the public to learn that the person who invented time travel came back from the dead and we killed him.”
Richards walked over and stood by Sharon and continued, “Officer Jenson has gained their trust and is getting ready to have dinner with them in just a few minutes. She’ll bring back whatever intel she can get from that and we’ll set up accordingly.
“Right now, Officer Cesar will brief everyone on where they will be stationed. We’ll be heavy and hidden by the RABAR Travel building. Some of you will respond to all other types of calls just like usual.”
Richards paused and then said, “I really hope nothing happens tonight. I hope they are not planning what I feel they are and if that’s the case, well you earned some OT for just standing around. If it does happen though we will have stopped the biggest time travel problem ever. And that will be something for all of us to be proud of.
“Jenson, head out and report back as soon as you can. Officer Cesar, please begin your briefing.”
Sharon stopped behind Lisa, turned the bug under her collar to static, then sat down next to Doctor Blacke. She smiled as she said, “They are sure you are going to steal a time machine. The Chief is moving everyone up to RABAR Travel, so they are ready to grab you as soon as you step inside one. I’m not sure you’ll even need a distraction though he thinks it might be a car accident or something.”
“That would work,” Doctor Blacke said. “Maybe a car rolling out of a parking stall would make them think they were on the right track. They would really be watching for you at the Travel Building then.”
Charles shook his head and said, “No, we need a distraction that helps Lisa and me and also creates as much confusion as possible.”
“What were you thinking of?”
“Can we release all of the animals?”
Doctor Blacke sat back in her chair as if she had been slapped. “What?” she asked.
Charles leaned in and asked her, “Why do you want me to end time travel?”
“Because it’s dangerous. Sooner or later something bad is going to happen. I know there are laws and restrictions, but mankind has been ignoring them for the last three years. I don’t know what exactly, but at some point time travel will end up hurting all of us more than helping.”
“And you?” he asked, turning to Sharon.
“We weren’t meant to time travel. We should just live our lives and that’s it. Learn from the past, but don’t actually go and relive it.”
“So, we are all agreed that time travel has to stop. Not because some vague something will happen, but because it already has. Many, many times. Time travel is more desirable than gold, it’s an unbelievable treasure it seems. An invisible wealth that tears some of us apart and brings out the very worst in us.
“Think of Ray Taggit, Steve Weston and now Jack Barman and Rachel Sims. All of these people have connected death to time travel. It made them wealthy and made them feel powerful. They literally held the fate of mankind in their hands. And it will just kee
p going. There will always be another one of them. Always. And that means there will always be innocent people killed by greed.”
“Or until one of them does something so stupid they tear the world apart,” Dr. Blacke said.
Charles nodded, “You’re right. So, I don’t want a car accident or someone falling down some stairs for a distraction. I want the worst thing possible. Complete and utter confusion and disbelief. We need to release the ‘saurs.”
“And, there is another reason,” Lisa said.
“What’s that?” Charles asked.
“We don’t want the Rex in the pen when we go in.”
Charles nodded as he said, “Yeah, that too.”
Sharon was quiet then finally she said, “I can get all the gates open, but I’m not sure what team I’m on so I don’t know where I’m being placed. Chief Richards, myself and Officer Cesar are the only ones who have the codes. If I can be in Command I can open the gates by entering the right codes and no one will notice. If I’m not, I’ll have to enter them with my handheld and the Chief would see that.” She paused then said, “If this doesn’t go right, I’ll go to prison.”
“We all will,” Lisa said.
“Chief doesn’t think so,” Sharon aid. “Too much public sympathy for you.”
“That might be right,” Charles said. “Still, we could - ”
“No, you couldn’t,” Sharon stopped him. “If you spoke out for me it would turn everyone against you and who knows what would happen.”
“Then I guess we can’t fail,” Lisa said.
“Be by the Rex pen no later than 2300, 11:00pm, tonight.”
“I was thinking later,” Charles said.
“How will you explain walking around at three in the morning? Do you know where the Rex pen is?”
“We found it earlier today.”
“Then go for a walk and get as close to the runoff under the fence as you can. I’ll be watching for you, so it won’t matter when you go. When the front gate opens up and the Rex comes out, go and don’t look back.”
“What about other animals wandering into the Rex pen after its outside?”
“I’ve never seen anything just wander into the Rex pen whether it was there or not. And for your information you were right about the Stegosaurus. It was an accident. It got in with the Rex and three people died trying to get it out before they decided to just kill it.”
“It’s funny,” Charles said. “Everyone at that meeting was lying.”
“Some would say business as usual,” Doctor Blacke said.
Sharon tapped the package she had brought and said, “Here are a few things I brought each of you. A night vision scope and some clothes that can’t be time traced. If they set up on an area they expect you to be in, an old site or even your house, they won’t know you are there by your clothing. You can sneak up on yourself and have your conversation. I have to say I’d like to be there for that.”
“It will be interesting,” Charles replied. “But I’m sure I can do it.”
“Well, we’ve got about three and a half hours,” Lisa announced. “Will the bug be working again?”
“No, I’m not going to fix it again. And…and hopefully I won’t see you again. Good luck.”
“Thank you,” Charles and Lisa said, then they went back to their room.
As Sharon walked into the Security Building, Chief Richards called out, “Over here, Jenson. You’re in Command tonight.” She couldn’t believe her luck as the Chief added, “We have all the security teams around the RABAR Building just like you suggested. Let’s go over things in my office.”
As she walked in and the door closed though the Chief suddenly spun her around and pinned her against the wall. “What are you doing?” she asked as he forced her hands behind her and handcuffed her.
“I know what you’re up to. You and Charles and Lisa along with the doctor,” he explained. “Take a look at the screens.” She looked up and saw every security officer’s electronic team I.D. was gathered around the RABAR Building. “Just like everyone knows you asked. All the teams are there.
“You see, I was listening to your earlier conversation with Charles, Lisa and the doctor. I bet that’s a surprise isn’t it? I’m going to be at the Rex pen waiting for them to show up. Once their time machine appears I’m going to jam it, and what happens to it, will be my little secret. Then it’s too bad.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well whatever you and the doctor planned during dinner for the Rex, tranquilizer or something, well that’s off already. The doctor is asleep in my vehicle. And of course, you’ll be along for the ride too. Then what can I say? Apparently the four of you, in a very misguided attempt, tried to sneak into the Rex pen before Charles and Lisa stole a time machine. You were going to kill it for your time travel hating friends. Not a good idea though to try and sneak into the pen of a live Tyrannosaurus Rex.
“When it comes out that it was you who convinced me that Charles and Lisa were going to steal a time machine just to get me to move all my officers to the Travel Building, well, you aren’t going to look too good in the media. Neither will the doctor. I’m sure there will be some sympathy for Charles and Lisa when it appears that you sunk your hooks into them as soon as they arrived and tricked them into helping you. Such is life.”
He looked down at her and asked, “Nothing to say?” Then he roughly stood her up and said, “You know, I’ve wanted to do this all day.” Then he punched her in the head and as she collapsed he caught her, threw her over his shoulder and carried her out the back door and down to his van. He opened up the back and tossed her in beside Doctor Blacke, then he laughed and went back inside.
“After you speak to yourself, what are we going to do?” Lisa asked.
“Well, as long as I do what I want me to do, and I don’t have to kill me - ”
“Please don’t do that,” Lisa asked.
“Just kidding,” Charles said and then added, “I hope.” He thought for a few seconds then continued, “Maybe we can stay in the house until I, meaning he, destroys the machine. We’ll have to stay out of sight and not interact with anyone. We’ll have to figure it out as we go. It won’t be easy.”
Lisa nodded and was quiet then she asked, “Can we go now?”
“It’s still early.”
“I know, but after tonight it’s probable we’ll just be inside of your house…his house. I know we won’t be able to go anywhere or see anyone but…but right now that’s too much to deal with.”
“What do you think we should do?”
“I don’t know. I want to have one last talk with Ron, but I know it can’t really happen.” As the room grew silent she smiled and said, “This isn’t what I want to get into right now. Let’s keep to the plan and be ready to go. We’ll know what to do when the time comes.”
They quickly changed clothes and Lisa asked, “I see you have your boots on and you are carrying Danny’s. Do you expect a problem? Are we going to have to jump with them again?”
“I try to expect everything and yes there is a chance we’ll have to use them again. Something could go wrong. But if everything goes right…well, I still think they might get used.”
“How?”
“I’ll tell you later,” Charles said with a smile. Then they began walking around the courtyard and started toward the Rex pen.
Officer Cesar called Richards and said, “Chief, they are walking around right now and just headed west.”
Richards smiled and replied, “Okay, they might be arranging a diversion in that area before starting toward you. I’m going to stay close to them and see if I can tell what they are planning. They will probably start your way soon so get everyone alerted and in place.”
He cut Officer Cesar off before he answered and smiled, everything was going as planned. He walked to his van and as he started it up he heard a groan from behind him. “Are we starting to wake up?” he asked. A few minutes later he stopped the van near the Rex pen runoff a
nd called back, “Don’t worry, you’ll have a front row seat soon enough. I’m going to see what our guests are up to.”
Sharon was wide awake now and though her head was painful she remembered everything Richards had said. She elbowed Doctor Blacke and hissed, “Doc, Doc, wake up.”
“What?”
“Wake up. The Chief is going to feed us to the Rex.”
Doctor Blacke sat straight up and then almost fell over. “Feed us to…what?”
“He knows everything and he’s going to get rid of me, you, Lisa and Charles.”
“No.”
“Yes. Are you handcuffed with your hands behind you?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, roll over and spoon backwards up against me. You know the little pocket at the top of the right front pants pocket?”
“Yes, I know what you mean.”
“Okay. That’s where I keep one of my spare handcuff keys. Let me know when you have it and I will turn over and scoot up to you and take it from you. Don’t try and hand it to me, okay? I’ll roll over and take it from you.”
“Okay,” Doctor Blacke replied and after a few seconds of feeling in the pocket she said, “I have it.” As Sharon rolled over and moved to take the key, the doctor asked, “Should I try and unlock your handcuffs?”
“No, just give me the key and I’ll take care of it. I’ve practiced this many times.”
As Doctor Blacke felt Sharon take the key, she said, “That’s not something I ever would have thought of.”
Sharon sat up with one cuff dangling from a wrist and quickly unlocked the other one. “Fortunately, I have,” she said as she then took the handcuffs off of Doctor Blacke. Then she said, “He’s back, be quiet.”
Chief Richards watched as Charles and Lisa walked along the path that led to the Rex pen. Everything was looking good and since they were here early he might as well get it over with. As they stopped by the fence he pulled Sharon’s scanner out of his pocket and using her code he turned off the Rex alarm and opened its gate.
