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

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Give me your hand.” She took it and laid it on her thigh. “Feel. Leg.” She moved it up an inch. “Feel it. A skirt.”

  Dean stepped closer to her. “You are.”

  “Sure I am. Dean?” Ellen paused. “Dean? Dean!”

  “Huh?”

  “The skirt stays down.”

  “Sorry.” Dean pulled his hands away and backed up. “I thought you were lying to me.”

  “Now why would I do that?” Ellen pulled out some plates.

  “For starters I’ve had to deal with a ton of bad blind jokes today.”

  “I’m just trying to lighten the mood.”

  “Don’t.”

  Ellen turned around and faced him. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

  “Just ... just not yet. OK?”

  “All right,” Ellen’s voice dropped and she turned back to preparing the lunch.

  Dean sensed the change in her mood. “I made you feel badly, didn’t I?”

  “No,” Ellen answered shortly.

  “I did. I didn’t mean to.”

  “I know.” Ellen gripped the counter. “I’m just trying to help your mood, Dean. I thought I did last night, but every time I try to be nice or touch you, you pull back … with the exception of the skirt. But that’s a problem I won’t have again. This is the last day I wear a skirt.”

  “You did help last night, El.”

  “So if I did, why do I feel so ...” She grabbed the plates. “Lunch is done.” She brushed by Dean and brought the plates to the table.

  “So what, Ellen? You feel so ... so what?”

  “Never mind.” She took hold of his arm. “We’ll eat.”

  “No.” He stopped her. “What is it?”

  Ellen let out a loud breath. “It’s just that, I thought we kind of clicked last night. I wasn’t really looking at it like a stepping-stone over a hurdle. You understand? I looked at it differently than just something you needed.”

  Dean was silent for a second. “You think I used you.”

  “No.” Ellen’s voice took on that high pitch fake sound, “No. I didn’t say that.”

  “Yeah you did, El.” Dean stepped closer to her. “I didn’t use you. I loved last night. I want last night all the time, but I know the moment I get used to it, it will be taken away from me.”

  “You can’t say that for sure.”

  “No, I can’t. But I know our history and I know our pattern.” He laid his hand on her face. “I love you. Right now, just knowing I have you here for me, is all I need.”

  “So you don’t want to take a chance?” Ellen asked. “That sucks. You know that? Every single time we get close, one of us always stops it. I thought this time we could take that chance.”

  “I can’t take that chance. Right now, I am really vulnerable. I know that. If I sleep with you again, it’s gonna make it that much worse when it’s taken away from me. I work with you, El. I’m with you more than anyone. I’d rather want you and know that I can’t have you, than have you and wait for it to be taken away.”

  “I understand,” Ellen said softly. “I wouldn’t trust me either. I have a pretty ... uh ... strong reputation.” She watched Dean’s awkward smile. “It’s OK. We’ll work together. We had a great time last night, a great time.” She leaned to him. “I’m kissing you right now, so don’t back away.” She kissed him, softly and quickly. “There, painless.”

  Dean’s hand immediately went to the lips that just kissed him. He moved in to kiss them again and stopped. “Last night was not only what I needed, know it was what I wanted.”

  “Then why give it up?” Ellen asked softly.

  “I don’t want to give it up. I just don’t want my heart to get broken again.” Dean stepped back. “Just once, just once I’d like to be the one who’s in the way rather than the one who gets stepped on with you. Just once, I’d like to be that other man. Because you and I both know, you never give up that other man.”

  Ellen huffed slightly. “I can’t believe you just said that to me.”

  “OK, that was wrong.”

  “It was.”

  “But there is something appealing about being the one you sneak off with, the one you fool around with.”

  “Appealing meaning exciting? Or meaning the sex?”

  Dean raised his head. “Both.”

  “Oh,” Ellen gasped with shock. “You of all people, Dr. Hayes, are not one to say that. You’re the sensitive guy. You’re the romantic. You’re not the guy who sleeps with someone without his heart getting involved. Besides, you just don’t have it in you. I for one would never do that with you. Ever. Sex? Sex only?” Ellen fluttered her lips at him. “Let’s have lunch.”

  <><><><>

  “Robert!” Joe scolded as he opened the door to his office. “Get the hell out of my chair.”

  “Sorry, Dad.”

  “What the hell were you doing sitting there anyhow?” Joe hobbled his way to the desk.

  “Waiting for you. What took you so long?”

  “Eh. Andrea.” Joe lowered himself to sit, paused, lifted back up, then slowly and gently, with a scrunched up face, sat down.

  Robbie ran the back of his hand across his mouth to hide his snicker. “So uh ...” He cleared his throat. “What about Andrea?”

  Joe gasped a slight moan and shifted in his seat. “She was measuring me.”

  Robbie tossed his head back. “You too? Man, I saw her coming with that tape and I ran. I ran, Dad. She is gone. Really gone. Walking around singing that stupid song. Whistling like the fuckin seven dwarfs.”

  “Robbie.” Joe’s hand slammed on the desk. “Enough about Andrea. Where are our two Survivors?”

  “In the extra room, waiting. Waiting for you because you took too long.”

  Leaning, Joe opened his drawer and pulled out his ashtray and put it on his desk. “What are they like? Forewarn me.”

  “Considering that Cole came across ...”

  “Aw!” Joe interrupted his son with a loud vocal complaint. “What the hell is wrong with Cole? Does he not realize he doesn’t do well with Survivors? He picks up the worst of them out there.”

  “Well this time they ...”

  “Where are they now? Cleaning up?”

  “No. They’re already cleaned up.”

  “That fast? They can’t be cleaned up that fast. They have to shower and sanitize. You know that. We don’t need another outbreak of lice around here.”

  “Actually, Dad, if you would let me finish.”

  Joe looked up at Robbie, curious about his tone. “Go on.”

  “They were clean when I got there. They had cleaned up. And wait, just wait until you see them. They are different than any other Survivors we have picked up and I have been doing this Survivor shit since we started it.”

  “They aren’t sick?”

  “No, not at all. In fact I predict Ellen, when she gets here, will give the OK immediately to go to Containment. If not past.”

  “What?” Joe asked. He started to lean back, stopped, grunted, shifted, and then finished leaning in his chair. “These are the two that saved Cole and his men?”

  “No. These are the two that also saved my ass.”

  “You didn’t mention this. How did this happen?”

  “What, saving my life? The one saw it coming. He saw the SUTs sneaking in before I did.”

  “You think maybe he’s a set up?” Joe asked.

  “Nope, not at all.”

  “Then how did he see them coming before you? You’re trained in that shit.”

  “Because of this.” Robbie laid in front of Joe the video game that Danny had.

  “You were playing games when it happened?”

  “No.” Robbie reached down. “Let me see what Danny said ... oh yeah.” He pressed the circle button and the instrument beeped. “It’s on.”

  “OK, but right now I don’t want to play a game.”

  “Dad, it’s impressive.”

  “The man knows how to make
batteries, so what?” Joe slid the game back.

  “No, Dad, you have it all wrong. Danny calls this the TT for Terminator Tracker, but he said he’d easily rename it the SUT finder.”

  “The SUT finder?” Joe laughed. “The SUT finder.”

  “Yeah. OK, we’ll come up with a better name.”

  “Robert, why name it that at all?”

  “Because this little thing, see this attachment on the end.” Robbie pointed to the small red square on the edge. “It’s like radar. It picks up our SUTs and it picks them up not only in distance, but in direction, and in numbers. It beeps. For each SUT, a red dot appears. Soldiers who aren’t SUTs, their dots are black.”

  “Black and red dots?” Joe spoke with sarcasm and lack of belief. “And it beeps. Robbie, you were duped. There is no way this will ...” A beep shut Joe up.

  Robbie looked down at the tracker. “See, one red dot.”

  “See, it’s wrong. I don’t think a SUT is walking in Beginnings.”

  “Fifty feet. Bet me it’s Henry.”

  “Why do you say that?” Joe asked, watching it indicate a closer range.

  “I told Henry to come up here and bring the microchips. Here he comes.” Robbie faced the door. “And ... Henry.” The door opened. “Frank?”

  At the point where the thing beeped loudly and out of control, Joe had enough. “Shut this thing off. It’s Frank and he’s no SUT.”

  “But, Dad.” Robbie grabbed the tracker. “I’m telling you this works.”

  “I’m telling you it doesn’t.”

  Frank stepped forward. “Can I interrupt?” Before he could take a chance on waiting for them to tell him he will anyhow, Frank reached his hand out and laid down a white cloth. “Here’s those microchips. Henry said to be careful with them.”

  Joe’s wide eyes immediately went to the cloth then to the game. “Robbie, get me this Survivor.”

  Robbie smiled and walked over to the far door, opening it. “Danny. I need you first.” He stepped back.

  The door opened a little wider and his black hair peeked through first, then his head with a wide smile. Danny slid in then closed the door behind him. He ran his fingers through his now short and neat hair, then extended his hand out, confused on who to greet first. “Danny Hoi.” Danny walked to Joe only because he sat behind a desk.

  “Joe Slagel.”

  “Really?” Danny asked. “You’re Robbie’s father? I see the resemblance.” He faced Frank. “Danny.”

  “Frank ... Slagel.”

  Danny laughed once loud. “Another one? Oh man that is wild.” Though already neatly dressed in a tee shirt and clean jeans, Danny tucked his shirt in more. “Thanks for letting us come in. We were a little worried that you wouldn’t let us in.”

  “Dan.” Joe held up the tracker. “Did you make this?”

  “Oh yeah.” Danny began to look around Joe’s office. “Is this your office, Mr. Slagel?”

  “Joe. And yes it is.”

  “Wow.” Danny smiled. “Clean.”

  “Thank you.” Joe continued, “Danny, how did you make this?”

  “Simple.” Danny walked up to the filing cabinet next to where Frank stood. He smiled at Frank then ran his hand over it. “Really clean. Amazing.”

  Joe looked at Robbie, then Frank, then Danny. “Danny? Explain simple.”

  “It’s like baking cookies. It’s just a matter of this and a matter of that.” He opened a file drawer. “Wow, files.” He pointed in with such childlike excitement. “Are they real?”

  Frank shut the drawer. “No we call them Copperfield files. They’re a fuckin illusion.”

  Danny laughed at Frank. “That’s funny.” He walked from the filing cabinet, pointing to the door behind Joe. “Is that another room?”

  “Yes,” Joe answered. “Now getting back to ...” He watched Danny open the examining room door.

  “Oh my God,” Danny exclaimed. “It’s like a doctor’s office. Oh my God.”

  “Danny, would you mind sitting down?” Joe requested.

  “Would you mind if I didn’t. I’m finding this place really interesting and I haven’t even seen it all.”

  “Danny, please.” Joe held out his hand to the chair. “You can look around when we’re done.”

  “OK.” Danny shrugged and walked to the chair, and sat down.

  “Danny.” Joe held up the tracker. “Do you realize what you brought in here?”

  “Yeah.” The smile dropped from Danny’s face. “Is it not allowed? I can take it apart ...” As his hand reached for it, he pulled it back when Robbie and Joe both shouted ‘No!’ “Or I won’t ...”

  “Can you tell me about this?” Joe asked.

  “Oh sure. It tracks the Terminator up to a hundred feet away. It detects in distance, you know, direction.” Danny acted nonchalant.

  “How did you come up with this?”

  “It was easy. OK. I’m lying, at first it wasn’t. At first it worked then it didn’t. I made the first type years ago when we ... the people I lived with ... when we were dealing with the, I call them Warriors because they remind me of something from Mad Max. They run around in loincloths and such, screaming.”

  Joe knew who he talked of. “We call them Savages.”

  “Yeah, sounds like them.” Danny bit his nails, leaned forward, and then back. “I made a tracker to detect when there were a large group approaching. It worked because when we lived in that town, man those things would hit us once a week, I swear. It was a game to them. We actually ended up moving twice.”

  “Where are you from?” Joe inquired, watching Danny fuss about. “Are you always so hyper?”

  “Always. Always.” Danny shifted. “Nervous energy. I’m from California, Sacramento.”

  “Is that where this town is that you were at?”

  “At first. I lived in the mountains at my house there for a while. I went there at the onset of the plague with my parents and brother and his family. I thought if we were far enough from it, we would be safe. We weren’t. I guess I lived alone for ...” Danny closed one eye and thought. “A year and a half and then I moved on. I traveled a couple months when I reached the town where I met Bentley, the guy I’m with. He and about six men were farming this town. I stayed. The Savages hit. We moved on. We found another town with about ten more men and two women. But the women you couldn’t touch, look at, or speak to, or you’d get shot.” He turned his head back to Frank who snickered. “Anyhow, that place is where I made the first tracker. It worked, each one I made worked for years. No matter where we moved. But it failed about a year ago. We were in our town in Nevada and we got hit by these soldiers. Six of us escaped with our lives. They took the two women and killed the other men. Bentley was OK with me. The other men blamed me for my tracker failing. I couldn’t figure it out. It seemed everywhere we went, we ran into these things and had to run. We couldn’t get ahead of them because we couldn’t see them coming.”

  “But you see them coming now,” Joe said. “This does work, right? Robbie said it works.”

  “Oh yeah it works. Now.” Danny blew from his mouth. “How stupid I was. I, of all people, should have figured it out sooner. It dawned on me. What would cause my electronic instrument to fail? Why wouldn’t it pick them up? Interference right? What interference could there be unless these soldiers had either something on them or in them. So when we killed one we checked out its clothes. Nothing. We did an autopsy at first. Nothing. It was human, blood, guts, and such.” Danny tossed his hands up. “Then I realized what it was about them that made me think that perhaps they were robots. Their eyes, they had no soul. Being the big Planet of the Apes fan that I am, I checked the head of the next one we found. There was a laser scar right at the temple.” Danny pointed to his own temple. “We busted its head open and, you’re not gonna believe this, we found a microchip. These soldiers had a microchip in their brain.”

  Joe nodded. “We know about the chip.”

  “Oh good. I thought you weren’
t going to believe me.” Danny grabbed his chest. “So I took some time, a day or so, and figured the chip was what had to be causing the interference. So I took the chip and used that in conjunction with my tracker, sort of implanting it within the electronics and using it as a magnet. Now instead of just picking up humans, I pick up the chip and how many there are of them. Works quite nicely too. Depending on how many there are, we have enough time to run or fight them. But they are so heavily armed at times, we just kept running.”

  Frank snapped his finger loudly. “Wait a second!” He stepped away from the filing cabinet. “You mean to tell me this game thing tracks the SUTs before you can see them. Picks them up?”

  Joe rolled his eyes slightly at his son’s Einstein-quick way of picking things up. “Yeah, Frank, what the hell have we been talking about for ten minutes?”

  “That is so fuckin great!” Frank said with excitement, snatching the object from Joe’s hand. “This is great. Danny, can you make more?”

  “Oh sure. I need another microchip to make another one though. The game units we can get at any toy store. The circuit board, the rest, I can piece together with just about anything you have lying around.”

  “Whoa.” Frank looked at it. “Like the thing the Ghostbusters used.”

  “Exactly.” Danny nodded.

  “You said you have a range of a hundred feet?”

  “Yes.”

  “What’s the chance of you building one on a larger scale?” Frank asked

  “You mean like furthering the range?” Danny tried to clarify. “I don’t know. It works like radar and the radar part of it failed. I have it good with one chip. Furthering the range ...”

  “No,” Frank interrupted him. “Radar, yes, but large scale radar, connecting a bunch of these things together to make an entire tracking system.”

  Danny went silent and shifted his eyes around. “I guess. Sure, I’d have to design it and I’d need a lot more chips. Perhaps with an entire system like you’re talking about, we can actually pick up signals father out.” Danny shrugged. “I’d have to work on it.”

  Frank’s face lit up. “I have been trying to establish a first warning system and I was at a loss. This could save lives here, and manpower if we see them coming. Fuck, we’ll air-drop on them.”