The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series

by Jacqueline Druga

  ^^^^

  The minute Frank got the radio call from Joe that Johnny was approaching, he made his way to the landing field. He wanted to be there waiting and watching as the helicopter touched down. The message from his father was clear, they would be there in a few minutes and Ellen had a surprise for him.

  Leaving his father at the hanger, Frank stood proudly, hands on hips, his eyes smiling as he watched the chopper touch down. Waiting for the propellers to slow, Frank made his approach near to the bird. He watched the side door open and Henry stepped out waving. Frank knew as soon as he reached inside, Henry was helping out Ellen, and he was.

  Ellen waved to him as she trotted quickly his way. Grinning, Frank stepped to her. “El.” He placed his hands firmly to her face and kissed her. He felt her pull away. “What . . .”

  “We brought something for you, Frank.”

  “Oh, yeah. I love surprises. What is it?” He asked as she stepped from him, letting his hand slide from her cheek, and she grabbed it.

  “A big black man,” Ellen giggled and slipped her fingers from his, backing up. “Is Joe in the hanger with a jeep?”

  “Seriously, El, what did you get for . . .” Frank’s words slowed when from the corner of his eye he saw Sarge step with ease from the helicopter. He listened to Ellen chuckle. Sounds that formed words failed to emerge from Frank’s mouth as he stared at the giant who stepped just a few feet closer.

  “Hey, Frank.” Henry walked by him. “We got you a new friend.”

  Opening his mouth to speak, a stuttering gasp came out as he ran his hand harshly down his goatee. He said nothing to Dean who walked by him. He just watched Sarge make his way over, slumping some with his arms swinging back and forth as he walked and stood in front of Frank. Frank looked up to the man who had him by a good five inches.

  Dean’s snicker was heard from behind. “Let’s go El. Hey Frank? God, you look small.”

  Henry decided to be the polite one, and introduce them, “Sarge, this is the man I was telling you about. This is Frank Slagel.”

  “General Slagel Sir!” Sarge saluted and stood tall. “Sergeant Luther Baily at your service sir. Mrs. Hayes told me you were in need of some men in your battle.”

  “Mrs. Hayes?” Frank’s head spun to watch Ellen and Dean walk to the hanger. “Mrs. Hayes?” Frank looked stunned to Henry. “Henry? Mrs. Hayes?”

  Henry didn’t know what to say. He lifted his shoulders and hands. “Talk to Ellen. I’m heading down to the hanger.” Henry started walking.

  Frank closed his mouth and faced Sarge. “So they call you Sarge.”

  “Yes sir!” Sarge answered loud. “I am at your service, sir. Implement my skills as you see fit, sir!”

  Frank stepped back squinting his eyes and wondering if he sounded that loud when he barked. “O.K., well. Let’s start now.” Frank cleared his throat then shifted his eyes to Johnny who carried a box to the truck. He whistled to him. “John!” Waving his hand, he signaled Johnny over.

  “What’s up Dad? I see you met Sarge.” Johnny approached.

  “Yeah I did. Sarge is gonna give you a hand unloading the bird. Bring him to receiving when you’re done.”

  “Got it, come on Sarge.” Johnny turned to walk away.

  “Sir!” Sarge snapped to attention, gave a salute, waited for Frank’s nod, and then Sarge followed Johnny.

  Releasing a silent whistle of relief, Frank looked once more to the newest addition. After twitching his head in amazement at the size of Sarge, he headed to the hanger.

  ^^^^

  “Why am I the houseboy?” Henry asked as he loaded the duffle bags in the back of the jeep.

  “You’re the everything guy,” Ellen answered with a smile then looked to Dean who was huddled with Alexandra and Billy outside the jeep.

  “I missed you guys.” Dean kissed the twins, not wanting to let them go. “I really missed you.” He shifted his eyes to Ellen. “El . . .” He slowly stood up. “I know you have things to do at containment, but can I get you to go home with the kids? I have to talk to Joe for a little bit.”

  “Sure,” Ellen answered. “It’ll give me time to bask in my souvenir bag. Henry? Will you drive us? ”

  Henry shrugged. “Why not? I might as well add chauffeur to the list.”

  Joe had waded through the little reunion long enough. “Dean.” He took hold of Dean’s arm and pulled him aside as Henry, Ellen, and the kids loaded in the jeep. “Does this little meeting have to do about the trip?”

  “Yeah,” Dean said less than enthused. “It wasn’t . . . “He dropped his voice even lower. “It wasn’t in the vials. But we’re not out of options. I have an idea.”

  Joe nodded. “Head up to my office now?”

  “Yeah, let me say goodbye.” Dean walked back to the jeep.

  “All right!” Frank’s voice blasted as he stepped into the hanger. His focus was on Ellen and that was where he headed.

  “Oh, hi Frank,” Ellen said chipperly.

  “Oh, hi Ellen,” Frank mocked. “No. Wait.” He added fake pleasantries. “Hi. Mrs. Hayes.”

  Ellen giggled, “Wasn’t that funny? But we have to go. See you in a bit.”

  “El.” Frank lifted his hand as the jeep pulled out. “You have to process my . . .” he lowered his hand. “…gift.” He grunted then turned to Joe. “That Sarge guy should be in your office by now waiting for processing.”

  “Shit.” Joe cringed. “Could you take him to containment for processing instead?”

  “Sure.” Frank shrugged.

  “Good.” Joe gave a swat to Frank’s arm. “Dean and I will be using my office. Let me know how it goes.” With a leading hand to Dean’s back, Joe started to leave the hanger.

  “But it’s not my job,” Frank called out as they left. “Fuck.” After stalling in a stewing moment, Frank, in a huff, walked from the hanger as well.

  ^^^^

  A human bark and growl came right before Frank’s loud ‘get off me!’ as he walked into Ellen’s office at containment with a slam of the door. “I hate this fuckin place,” he said to Sarge who sat in a chair. “Found her paper work.” He held up a clipboard. “Welcome to containment.” Frank walked behind the desk and plopped in the chair.

  “Strange individuals,” Sarge commented. “I won’t be running into that Japanese man much, will I?”

  Frank hid his snicker as he rocked back and forth in his chair. “Don’t like Henry?”

  “No. Whines and complains too much for my liking. Something should be done with him. He’s not fit to be in this man’s army especially with that long hair. Would it be much of a loss for the community if he was executed?”

  “No. Not at all,” Frank said calmly, “but unfortunately we can’t do that. As much as we want to, Henry’s the only Asian population we have. The Hitler law comes into effect with him. Don’t want to wipe out a race. We’ve been trying to rebuild the Asian community. Unfortunately none of the few women we have want to reproduce with him.”

  Sarge found humor in that. “What exactly is this place?”

  “Containment. A sort of holding center for new residents until we know they’re mentally sound.”

  “Begging your pardon, sir, but I was told my skills would be of use. Lt. Hayes can vouch for them. We were stationed on the same base.”

  “Let me let you in on a little secret.” Frank leaned into the desk. “Dean is no longer a lieutenant. He was court martialed years ago.” With a finger to his own temple, Frank sat back again. “Whacked out he is. His word sucks around here. But . . . I can use the men, especially one of your size.”

  “But sir,. if you give me a place to bunk and a meal to eat, I’ll earn it. You give me your weakest perimeter and I will sit watch outside of it from sun up to sun down, or sun down to sun up. You name it. But let me do what I do best. And sitting all day in a holding center to prove myself is not helping you.”

  “You have a point.” Frank’s mind began chuckling. “I think I have a perimeter
in mind. Let me see if I can talk to my Dad about special arrangements for you. Were you really in the United States Army?”

  “Fourteen years, sir, infantry training.”

  “Did they tell you what we’re up against, aside from the usual bad survivors and savages?”

  “Militant style soldiers heavily armed with weapons approximately three to five years pre-plague.”

  “Have you seen them or is this what my people told you?”

  “Took three out when they were snooping around my base looking for supplies.”

  “How?” Frank quickly asked.

  “Shot them.”

  “How many bullets?”

  “Five sir.”

  “Why did you waste two shots?”

  “Sir?” Sarge shuffled in nervousness in his chair. “One of them took off. I picked him off.”

  “Do you remember how to read and write?” After getting a confusing nod from Sarge, Frank handed him the clipboard and pen. “Fill this out. Oh, and by the way, we call those soldiers, SUTs.”

  “I know.” Sarge began to fill out the paper. “Mrs. Hayes told me that.”

  “Why do you call her that?” Frank asked with agitation.

  “That’s her name.”

  “No it’s not,” Frank snapped.

  “But Lt. Hayes told me . . .”

  “Lt. Hayes is an asshole who wants my wife. Ellen is my wife. So stop calling her Mrs. Hayes.”

  “Yes.” Sarge fiddled with the pen and started to look at the questions. “One more thing,” He looked up to Frank. “Hating to sound impatient, but it’s been a while. When should I expect my physical welcome from Jenny Matoose?”

  With a grunt and a shake of his head, Frank merely mumbled under his breath. “Ellen.”

  ^^^^

  Dean couldn’t take the long hard stare from Joe any longer along with the silence, the heavy thinking breaths. “Come on, Joe. Look …” He leaned from his chair into Joe’s desk. “I listened to your plan for a time trip. I agreed to go because, yes, I have the knowledge to look for the stuff. But on the same premises, give me this.”

  “Dean.” Joe sounded at a loss. “I’m not turning you down. Aside from the risk, I don’t know if it can be done. We’d have to talk to Jason . . .” Joe looked up when his office door opened. “Speak of the devil.”

  Excitedly, Jason walked in holding up a folder. “Found the third. And Joe, you won’t believe the answers. Oh, hello Dean.”

  Dean waved. “Tell him Joe.”

  “Tell me what?” Jason asked.

  “Who?” Joe questioned. “Who is the third?”

  “Don’t know,” Jason pulled up a chair, “thought I’d save the dramatic unveiling for us both. So . . . tell me what?”

  Dean turned in his chair to face Jason. “Joe told me about the trips to the past to get information. Well, I want you to squeeze in another trip. A vital one. The virus is in the future. Send me there. We have the date. Send me there to get the virus so I can beat it before it ever arrives.”

  Joe, with question in his eyes, peered to Jason. “Can it be done?”

  Jason blinked several times. “In theory no, but since the letter came from the future obviously . . .”

  “Holy shit.” Joe rubbed his eyes then blinked rapidly.

  “Ripple bits again?” Jason asked. “I have to mark this down. Anyhow, yes, it can be done. But Dean . . . the future I send you to will not be the same future that I sent that letter from. In that future you were dead and had been for some time. The future I send you to, you will never have died, and therefore, there may not be a virus when you get there.”

  “Good,” Dean said. “Then you’ll be waiting for my arrival and you’ll tell me that.”

  Jason continued. “On the other hand, you have to understand something. If we send you to the future, the virus can still be present. You may walk into a dead world. You, yourself may be dead. Can you prepare yourself for that?”

  “I can,” Dean said, “and facing that will give me the determination I need to beat it. We can work out the details of it once we get the CDC mobile. But what I’m thinking is, if the virus is in the future and I go, and I’m alive or was, I would have been working on it. I go get a sample, copy my research, and take off from there. We can do this. We can beat this and this is the only way. Now there will have to be quarantine and I’ll get a detailed plan together. But we have to do this.”

  Joe turned to Jason, looking for his response. “I think that we should do. This trip in time will take as much planning as the others. But I’ll want the first trip to go as scheduled in three days. I may sound bleak by saying this, but if something should happen to Dean when he goes to the future, catches the virus, what have you, I want to have the other part of the plan well in motion.”

  Jason was in total agreement. “Plus, the future is too unpredictable to waste the energy supply on over the past that has already happened. Let’s slate the future trip for three weeks. We should have the CDC Mobile up and running and ready by then. Set up your crew.”

  Dean clenched his fist and hit it on the desk. “Yes. Thank you.” He jumped up from his seat. “I wanna tell Ellen it’s a go. Of course she doesn’t know.” He bolted to the door. “Can I fill her in?”

  “Sure,” Joe said with a half wave, “go on. But be available. I want to have that time meeting tonight. Get the three of you together.”

  “Got it. Thanks.” With a grin, Dean left.

  “O.K.” Joe laid his hands on the desk. “Speaking of the time trio, reveal. Who?”

  “First, I eliminated six applications alone by the answer to the last question. ‘If you were given permission to change time, what would you go back and do?’ If they said ‘nothing’, they were out.”

  “Because they lied to go,” Joe said.

  “Correct. But this application,” Jason opened the folder and spoke with enthusiasm, “I can’t stress enough how brilliant. The godfather of time question, this person was the only one that said me. And that’s the right answer. I am the only person with a working time machine and this applicant gave that exact reason.”

  “Really?” Joe said impressed, “would have said H.G. Wells myself.”

  “Though he is the fiction master, no.”

  “What was this person’s response to the change time question?’

  “Wait until you hear.” Jason read. “What would you go back and do? Answer. Make myself read THE STAND. It holds apocalyptic merit.”

  “Good. So, who is this masked wonder?”

  “Ready?” Jason took a deep suspenseful breath, flipped over the sheet and looked. His eyes widened.

  “What?” Joe asked. “Who?”

  Jason handed Joe the form.

  Joe’s reaction was simple. He looked at the name, looked at Jason, let out a whine, and plopped his head down to the desk.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Joe just wanted to get it over with, the first meeting of the trio of time travelers. Jason suggested it could wait until the next morning, but Joe wanted to finish up not only the first meeting, but all aggravation that would immediate ensue the second the time travelers discovered who their cohorts in quantum barrier breaking were.

  As if it were going to be a game show, Joe wanted the unveiling of partners to be timed perfectly. All parties knowing everything first, then they meet. Since Dean was the party that knew the most, Joe wanted to stop by his house and let him know what time to be at the office.

  The sound of children told Joe that all was amuck and normal in the Hayes home. He heard the all too familiar sound of his screaming granddaughter and when he opened the door, sure enough she was jumping around,. Only Alexandra wiggled as she did an irritating dance she learned from Ellen as a means of bladder control.

  “Pap!” Alexandra ran to him, hugged his legs and wiggled some more.

  “Hey little one.” He picked her up. “Where’s Mommy?”

  “With Daddy.” She kicked her legs, her sign for Joe to
put her down. With a running scream she chased Andrea’s daughter, Katie.

  “And take time out to go to the bathroom,” Joe ordered in vain.

  “Joe?” Andrea came down the steps holding Brian. “What are you doing here?”

  “I should ask you the same.”

  “I’m watching them. Of course Billy is sleeping.”

  “Why are you watching them?” He leaned forward and kissed Brian. “Is it me, or does he look like Dean?”

  Andrea shook her head and placed her hand over Brian’s face. “Ellen and Dean had something very important they said they had to work on in the cryo-lab. Urgent they said.”

  “Swell.” Joe turned back to the door. “He knows we have that meeting. I’ll find them. Thanks.” He opened the door and Melissa stood there. “Melissa?”

  “Hi, Joe.” She ran her fingers through her dark red hair. “Where’s your daughter? She and Dean came to get Marcus so he could play with the children and they aren’t home.”

  Thinking the words, ‘No, they wouldn’t’, Joe hurriedly closed Andrea’s door. “They uh . . . they took Marcus for a walk with Billy. They went over to Cole’s to see Kimmy. Yeah. So I’m on my way there.” He grabbed Melissa’s arm leading her from Andrea’s house. “How about I just bring Marcus home to you?”

  “Could you?” She asked. “It’s his meal time and I just don’t trust him when he gets hungry.”

  “Christ.” Joe took a deep breath. “All right, I’ll bring him right home.”

  “Thanks Joe,” Melissa smiled.

  Shaking his head at his thoughts, Joe went his separate way from Melissa and headed in the direction of the cryo-lab.

  ^^^^

  “O.K. Dean, I’m ready!” Ellen’s voice so far from his, echoed in the tunnel.

  “I’m releasing him El. Ready?” Dean set Marcus down. “And . . .” Dean undid the leash. “Now.” He immediately pressed the stop watch.

  “Got him!” Ellen yelled back giggling.

  “Damn.” Dean looked at the watch. “Damn.”