A New Order

by Jacqueline Druga

  Lars looked through his notes. “Right now, with Bowman, we have seventy-eight infected.”

  “My guess that number will grow. Maybe another forty. By then we’ll have the antibiotics. Once we stop the bacteria we can curb the spread. This will end it once and for all. Stop all the bacteria cases and then we’ll have no more viral cases.

  “Hence no reason to find a cure?” Lars asked.

  “In a sense.”

  Lars nodded. “I get that. Stop this madness by curing the ones with bacteria. Here’s my concern. We have been focusing on treating the later stages to hold them off from going viral. Right now, we have eight that are maybe a day from transitioning, and another fourteen that are at most two days away. Are we to just apologize to them because we can’t help them, that we’re sorry they have to die, but we have to focus our energy on what we can beat. How are we to tell them we are giving up on them?”

  “Lars, I told you I’m not giving up on finding a cure for the virus. I am just putting my energy into beating this so it doesn’t claim any more lives. And beating it is …”

  “Killing the bacteria. I get it. So you’ll be working the virus when you have time? Like a hobby.”

  “What?” Dean nearly snapped. “No. Once we get this under control I will dedicate one hundred percent of my time to curing this virus. I have to. Especially with Ellen where she is.”

  “Dean. Unless you can cure it in a day, unfortunately, those about to transition, and Ellen, simply don’t have the luxury of time to hang around and wait.”

  “Actually, Lars, that is the one thing they have going for them.”

  Lars slightly shook his head. “I’m confused.”

  Dean turned fully around from his computer to face Lars. “Can I trust you?”

  “I suppose.”

  “No, Lars, I mean it. Can I trust you?” Dean asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Good.” Dean stood. “Come with me.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “I want to show you my Plan B.”

  Lars hadn’t a clue what Dean was talking about or where he was going. But since he seriously asked for his secrecy, Lars figured it had to not only be good, it had to be something hopeful.

  SIXTEEN

  Frank read the text, ‘Meeting Canceled’, and immediately called the sender … his father.

  “What meeting?” Frank asked.

  “Both,” Joe answered.

  “Both what?”

  “Meetings.”

  “There were two?”

  “Yes, Frank. The one where Henry was supposed to give us the run down of changes, then the meeting with Jason, Lars, Roy, Dean and …. Um, the woman. What’s her name?”

  “Mrs. Lars.”

  “Yeah, her. Meet about that and getting the antibiotics from Billings.”

  “I don’t mind canceling that one.”

  “Me either,” Joe said. “I’m gonna disappear for a while. I suggest you avoid people until we figure out everything that’s happening.”

  “That’s what I planned on doing,” Frank said. “Call me if you find anything out.”

  “Will do.”

  Frank hung up and immediately called Henry. “Did you get the text?”

  “About the meeting being canceled?” Henry asked. “Yes, I did. And I’m glad. Honestly, Frank, it’s overwhelming, all the changes.”

  “So you looked at them?”

  “Not all.”

  “Exactly what do you mean by not all?” Frank asked.

  “Barely any. I’m just not ready to. You know. It’s hours. I mean hours worth of comparing.”

  “It doesn’t seem all that different,” Frank said. “I mean yeah, there’s a couple people we weren’t expecting, like your twenty-five year old son. But maybe they aren’t all bad.”

  “Dean’s reputation is bad.”

  “I want to figure that out.”

  “And you found God,” Henry said.

  “And I lost him somewhere. I’ll find him again. I’m looking. In fact, I think that’s what I’ll do now. My dad said we should avoid people until we know what’s going on.”

  “Why don’t we plan on doing that when Dean has time. The four of us. I’m in Mechanics now. I’ll do some work to stay busy for a while, then just go home and go to bed.”

  “Yeah, I was thinking of grabbing Chaka and heading out to New Town. See the kids, since I can. That will keep me away.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Until then I think I’ll continue my search for God. He has to be around here somewhere. We can use him with this bacteria happening.”

  “You do that, Frank.”

  Frank let out a heavy breath as he placed his phone in his pocket.

  Dealing with the time changes was something he wanted to avoid he had a lot on his mind. Especially with El being sick.

  Chaka was working the back gate region as acting Head of Security. At least Frank hoped he was. All that could have changed with the arrival of Lars’ wife.

  Thankfully, to Frank, Chaka was walking a beat.

  He looked up from the clipboard and then lifted hand and waved to Frank.

  Frank put his translator in his ear, even though he was pretty convinced he didn’t need it.

  He swung out a wide handshake to Chaka. “There you are.”

  “I am where I was told to me. I take my job very seriously.”

  “As well as you should and I bet you do it well.” Frank pointed at the clipboard. “I see you do the reports.”

  “I did. Hopefully they are understood.” He showed Frank.

  Frank looked at the handwriting. It looked neat, almost as neat as Frank’s but he couldn’t understand a word it said. “Yeah, it works. My dad will be happy. Hey, if you’re almost done. Do you want to take a ride to check on the kids.”

  “I would enjoy that. I get to see Jenny who is with my child. I would like to place my hand upon her flesh and feel the movement of my child.”

  “Yeah, that’s pretty cool.”

  “Soon, she will be far enough long that I can place my hand inside of her and …”

  “Whoa. Whoa.” Frank held up his hand. “To much information.”

  “You do not pet your child while he is in the womb.”

  “No. Not at all, That would be gross.”

  “Speaking of children,” Chaka said. “I have conveyed to Marcus that as soon as this crisis is over, they will be removing the cacaline gland so he can speak like me.”

  “Or me.”

  “Or both. We should take him with us on the trip. He is immune and not a carrier. He would enjoy seeing the children.”

  “We can do that.”

  “How was the trip?” Chaka asked. “I am quite envious after hearing about this Lost Vegas.”

  “Whoa.”

  “Whoa what?”

  “I always thought it was Lost Vegas and we just used slang. Anyhow, it was good. Good.”

  “Why am I not convinced?”

  “Let me ask you a question. What do you think of Dean.”

  “I do not.” Chaka scoffed. “He is the anti-sasa in my opinion. When you first found me, you were good to me. He treated me like an experiment. Even after our trip to the future. Then the poison water got to him.”

  “Fuck. We have poison water in Beginnings.”

  Chaka nodded.

  “Man. Just everyone treats him really bad.”

  “He lacks conviction and gets very angry when he drinks the poisoned water.”

  “I would be too.”

  “Is that all that weighs heavy on you, my friend?”

  “No,” Frank said. “Somehow, and we can’t figure out exactly how, things got messed up with time.”

  “That bad?” Chaka asked.

  “No, and … why are you not surprised?” Frank asked.

  “You can’t go back and time, meet those you know and expect it not to change. So you say it isn’t that bad?”

  “It isn’t. There are p
eople here that weren’t alive or were never here or even fucking existed. But they aren’t bad additions. They’re good actually. I don’t know why it's bothering me.”

  “Maybe it isn’t the good that bothers you,” Chaka said. “Maybe it is the bad you know is there. And yet to discover. You know there will be loss to compensate for the gain.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of …” Frank stopped speaking when his phone rang. He lifted it. “Hey, Dad, everything okay? Alright. I’m on my way.” He put his phone away.

  “Is there trouble?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll find out. And then after everything is settled we’ll head out.” Frank gave a swat to Chaka’s arm, and headed toward the cryo tunnels.

  If his father were calling him to meet him there, something was up. He just hoped it wasn’t one of those ‘bad’ things, Frank was worried about.

  <><><><>

  Even though Joe hated the thought of delaying his meeting, he hated the thought even more of dealing with Frank, Dean and Henry all together at the same time. He wasn’t ready to learn all of what changed and how. Then deal with the planning of the Billings trip.

  But the medical community didn’t have time to get together, so he called Frank and Henry and told them hold off for a bit. They’d meet as soon as Dean could make it.

  With Dean’s focus on beating the bacteria kicking Beginnings ass, one didn’t know when that would be

  He decided he was going to take a pre-dinner nap, sneak off somewhere. That was when Jimmy called.

  Jimmy had got a call from Hal to head to the communications room to run a scan of the ALS3.

  Frank arrived at the door to communications at the same time as Joe. He probably ran.

  “Any idea what’s up?” Frank asked.

  “Not a clue. Hal only wants him to run a scan.” Joe opened the door.

  Jimmy was alone behind the controls, the map was lit up. “Hey, guys. Was waiting on you to call.”

  “Any idea?” Joe asked.

  “None,” Jimmy answered. “They got a radio call from somewhere. Well, the society did. That’s all I got. Frank, where’s Hank been?”

  “Who?”

  “Hank. Um, your clone.”

  “Oh, yeah, him.”

  “Yeah, Frank,” Joe said. “I really thought we would have seen him by now.”

  Frank shrugged. “Maybe he’s on vacation. I’ll look for him when I look for God, maybe kill two birds with one stone.”

  “You know, Frank,” Jimmy said. “It’s been a while since you gave a searching for God sermon. Maybe with all that’s happening with the bacteria, it’s time for one of those again.”

  “Yeah, sure, good idea.”

  “I’ll look forward to it tomorrow. Especially with the antibiotics trip tomorrow as well.”

  Frank nodded.

  “Danny reached out. He’s in quarantine. He asked if I would run the broadcasting. So I say let’s do it before the antibiotic run.”

  Frank shrugged. “Sure.”

  Joe looked at both of his sons then to Jimmy. “What the hell are you talking about Jimmy.” Joe figured he’d be the one to ask since Frank was obviously as lost as he was.

  “Frank’s church service, tomorrow,” Jimmy said. “We’re broadcasting it so we can keep people from getting exposed.”

  “That makes sense,” Frank said.

  “Frank?” Joe asked. “You think you’re up to giving a sermon.”

  “Yeah. I’ll do one on searching for God. I’m good at that, I found him.”

  “You did,” Jimmy said.

  “I….” Frank paused with his mouth open.

  “Were just gonna jump right on that,” Joe said. “Weren’t you. Gonna do your stock ‘I am’ and it just didn’t fit.”

  “Dad,” Jimmy laughed. “You know he’s always good at making it fit.”

  “Ha!” Frank snapped. “I am.”

  Joe grumbled. “Call your brother. Let’s do your scan.”

  Jimmy dialed, placing the call on the speaker.

  “Jimmy. Are you at the ALS3?” Hal asked.

  “We are,” Jimmy said. “You’re on the speaker. Dad and Frank are here.”

  “You’re on speaker as well. George and Elliott are with me.”

  Joe asked. “What’s going on Hal?”

  “Seems Mike got a radio call. A man who said he wanted to get home. Mike is thinking maybe a rescue mission might work. He’s not in distress, just claims he was far from home and couldn’t make it back.”

  “Radio call?” Frank asked. “He can’t be that far from Mike.”

  “That’s what we said,” Hal replied. “Then he said he was calling from Brazil.”

  “No way!” Joe scoffed. “There’s no way he’s radioing from there. None. Do you think it’s a trap to attack?”

  George replied. “It could be.”

  “Frank?” Joe asked.

  “Why can’t he radio from Brazil?” Frank asked.

  Joe stared at him for a second. “You have no idea where Brazil is, do you?”

  “Yeah I do, but pretend I didn’t.”

  Hal snapped his response. “He can’t be calling Brazil because Brazil is in South America.”

  “Okay.”

  “South America,” Hal repeated.

  “You mean like Georgia?” Frank asked.

  “Frank,” Hal tried to remain calm. ‘South …”

  “America. I know. Is it in Florida.”

  “Frank, you asshole!” Hal blasted. “South America.”

  “You can’t get much more south than Florida Hal!”

  “You can if you go to another continent!” Hal yelled over the phone. Brazil is in South America, the continent below us.”

  “Frank,” Jimmy said. “It’s far. It’s either a flight or …wait. Hey, George. I had a thought. If this guy really is in South America, it might be a good time to gather the Navy I trained, and test the USS Hadley.”

  “I’m sorry,” Hal said. “Did you just say the USS Hadley?”

  “He was the president Hal, is that a problem?” Jimmy said snippy. “Because I’m pretty sure if you could you would have a USS Hal.”

  “Aright. Alright,” Joe said. “Enough.”

  “Another thing,” George said.

  “Christ.” Joe shook his head. “Can we do the scan? Please?”

  “Just saying.” George interjected. “We take out the USS Hadley, we can also test the deep sea sonar we were working on.”

  Frank asked. “Deep sea sonar?”

  “Yes, scan for subs,” George answered. “I know we have this but …”

  “They could be under radar,” Frank said. “Maybe taking out your ship is a good idea with or without this guy.”

  “Well, let’s find out,” Joe said. “Hal, where is he to look.”

  Hal replied. “It is 2.5300 south, 44.2567 North.,”

  Jimmy clicked. “São Luis.” He made one final click and sat back. “Holy shit.”

  Joe looked up to the board as it lit up, “Holy shit is right.”

  “I take it you have a hit,” Hal said.

  “We do,” Jimmy answered. “Looks like people. A hundred and six to be exact. No heavy equipment. There’s a ship, but I’m gonna guess it doesn’t work or they just can’t operate it.”

  “Worth checking out,” George said.

  “Hal?” Joe asked. “Can you get in touch with this guy?”

  “Mike can,” Hal replied.

  “Good. Get Mike on that. Tell him, give us a week or so.”

  “Oh, yeah,” Frank said. “Road trip.”

  “Water trip,” Jimmy said.

  “And air,” George added.

  “Whatever you wanna call it,” Joe said. “George and Jimmy I need you both in quarantine. Then we’ll send you out as soon as we can.”

  Jimmy nodded. “It’s a good move. With or without rescuing this guy. It puts us out there and a chance to double check everything the ALS3 might not catch.”

&nb
sp; “Might be a good idea to go straight up the east coast,” Frank suggested. “Test that sonar there. We know, by Danny’s book, they come that way. We need every advantage we can get. One way or another the Great War is coming.”

  “Without a doubt,” Joe said. “It’s just a matter of when.”

  SEVENTEEN

  Tip to eraser, tip to eraser, Henry sat back in his chair at mechanics. He went there to stay busy, to avoid dealing with the time travel stuff, especially since Joe canceled the meeting.

  He expected there to be a lot to do. But there wasn’t.

  While sitting there, browsing Hoi Book, leaving troll like comments, the door to mechanics opened and Oliver stepped in.

  “Hey,” Oliver said.

  “Hey,” replied Henry.

  “I see you went from snooping at my dad’s to snooping on Hoi Book.”

  “I’m sorry,” Henry put down the phone. “Do we not like each other?”

  “What?” Oliver laughed. “You’re funny. We have our moments, but we get along fine.”

  “Oh,” Henry breathed out. “That’s good. I don’t want us to not get along.”

  Oliver laughed. “Okay.”

  “Sit down.” Henry patted a seat.

  “Why?”

  “So we can talk.”

  “About?”

  “Oliver, sit down.”

  With a shrug, Oliver did.

  Henry stared.

  “What?”

  “You look just like Dean with Asian features.”

  “Why are you being so weird … aw … I get it.”

  “You do?”

  “Yeah, the time trip. You guys get those time bits that mess with your brain.”

  “We do. This time is really bad because we went so far back. It’s just …” he twirled his finger around his own temple. “A jumbled mess up there.”

  “That’s really odd. There’s no medical reason for it.”

  “Oh, so you want to be a doctor.”

  Oliver snorted. “Um, no. Who wants that responsibility. I’d end up uptight like Dean. Not that I don’t love him.”

  “But you don’t like him.”

  “What?” Oliver blurted out. “No, I like him.”

  “Sorry. Time bits.”

  “Well, you know when I don’t.”