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

by Jacqueline Druga

Ellen tossed her hands up and spun to see also. “I give up. What’s so funny?” She saw Henry walking in the lab. “Why are you guys laughing at Henry?”

  Johnny ran his hand down his face, catching his breath. “Henry, what’s up with the white button down shirt and tie?”

  “Hey.” Henry ran his hand down his tie. “Joe said it’s the leader uniform. I have to dress like this. Don’t make fun of me, it’s not very nice.”

  Ellen moved closer to Henry. “Well I think you look very nice.” She took off her lab coat. “Ready?”

  “Whoa.” Dean called out and rushed to stop her. “Where are you going? It’s not time to leave.”

  “Yeah it is.” Ellen played with the collar of Dean’s lab jacket. “You heard Robbie on the radio. He has a new survivor. Containment calls and I want Henry to walk with me. There’s so much prestige in that now.” She kissed Dean who grumbled. “I’ll check back in an hour.”

  Dean watched her leave. ‘I’m bringing you files to look at. You aren’t pulling a Frank today and hiding in your office.”

  Ellen’s fingers were still waving when she walked into the corridor with Henry. They saw Joe walking in. He looked straight ahead. There was a bit of sweat on his brow and he looked as if he had seen a ghost. “Hi Joe.”

  “Ellen. Henry.” Joe kept walking by them.

  “Joe?” Ellen called out. “What’s wrong?”

  “Um . . .” He scratched his head that held the letter. “Nothing. Is Dean in there?”

  “Yeah.” Ellen answered.

  “Thanks.” Joe walked in the lab.

  Ellen and Henry both shrugged and walked from the clinic.

  “Dean.” So serious, yet calm, Joe called his name.

  “Hi Joe.” Dean was still smiling over some rip on Henry remark Johnny had just made.

  “Hey Pap.”

  “Johnny, can I have a minute alone with Dean, please?”

  “Sure.” Johnny stood up and walked to the lab’s door. “Everything O.K., Pap?”

  Joe nodded and waited until Johnny left. He walked over and shut the door.

  “Did I do something, Joe?” Dean asked.

  “No, you’re about to.” Joe met Dean at the counter. “Dean, I need your honest, expert scientific opinion.”

  “Go on.”

  “You’ve studied the DNA of us. You’ve been working with Jess about his family. With all that, you know about the virus and DNA hereditary factors. Is this possible?” He laid the letter flat on the counter.

  Dean’s eyes shifted as he read. Suddenly he lifted his head. “Holy shit.”

  “Exactly.”

  Dean read again. “Holy shit.”

  “You’ve said that.”

  “Oh shit.” Dean flew over to the closet and ran inside.

  “Dean . . . the mad scientist strikes again.”

  “One second, Joe.” Dean’s faint voice and rummaging was heard. “I know it’s here . . . yep, got it.” He came out of the closet with a large bound manuscript. “I was about to pull this out to work with Jess. It’s my notes on the survivors.” He opened it up to the Slagel family. He chuckled.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Nothing. See . . . Robbie’s in here.” Dean pointed “I ran tests on Robbie.”

  “Yeah so.”

  “Look at the date.” Dean went to show Joe the date and stopped “Never mind. It would be right to you.”

  “Is this a time machine thing?”

  “Yes. See, I wrote down that because of the mutation factor in the gene, it was possible, not probable, that more Slagels could be alive.” Dean grinned then turned serious. “You don’t think it’s a trick do you?”

  “No.” Joe shook his head. “This United Western Alliance. No. Not with our infection patient saying he was with the Alliance and the messenger that came today was dressed exactly like Ellen described, very cavalry like.”

  “Wow.” Dean took the letter again. “So what you want to know from me is, can this be your son or is it a similar name?”

  “Exactly.”

  “It’s possible, Joe. It’s worth everything you are to look into it.”

  “Thanks, Dean.” Joe patted him on the back and took the letter back. “I’m disappearing for a couple hours, maybe more. I need you to tell Henry there was a problem um . . . ” Joe took a second to think. “Tell everyone there was a problem in recycling. No one is there right now. I’m not to be disturbed. Tell Robbie that too when he comes back. Andrea and Dan know because they were there when I got this letter. You know now. No one else, not even Robbie is to know. No one. If this is not my son, I want no hopes to get up on Robbie or Ellen’s part. I’d rather have it be a surprise. I’ll radio you as soon as I know something. Help buy me some time, Dean.”

  “Wait.” Dean tried to stop him. “Where exactly are you going Joe?

  “Well, I’m taking a Jeep and me and this messenger are going on a little ride back to his home. Alone. I have to do this alone.” Joe raised the letter. “If this Captain wants a response, by God he’s gonna get one and if he ends up being my son, then he’s getting a bigger response then he ever thought he’d get. Wish me luck.”

  “Good luck, Joe. My prayers are with you,” Dean said with such hope.

  Joe stopped mid-walk. “Thank you.” He smiled a closed mouth smile to Dean, then Joe, clenching the letter, left.

  ^^^^

  Leaving the horse behind, there was a mixture of expressions on Joe’s face as he drove through the front gates of Beginnings with the UWA messenger in his Jeep . . . worry, seriousness and anxiousness. There wasn’t an emotion Joe was feeling that wasn’t justified. He kept his focus forward and listened to the directions Willy gave him. Joe’s hands kept gripping and releasing the steering wheel, trying to dry the sweat that collected there. He couldn’t help it. He was nervous. He swore if his heart beat any stronger he would have a heart attack eventually. Joe didn’t care if he dropped dead as long as he dropped dead knowing and seeing for himself that another one of his sons had lived.

  ^^^^

  Binghamton, Alabama

  Frank jingled the keys in his hand as he sat behind a huge oak desk in the CO office of the Binghamton base. As he stood up, ready to try the unknown keys out of boredom, he heard the knock on his door. “Come in.”

  “Colonel Sir.” Lt. Merrick stepped inside. “You wanted to see me, sir.”

  “Uh . . .” Frank fluttered his lips. “I don’t know. Did I? Who the hell are you?”

  “Lt. Merrick sir.”

  Frank held out his hands. “O.K.”

  “I’m the executive officer here, sir.”

  “Oh.” Frank nodded. “Then I did want to see you, Lieutenant. Shouldn’t you have stood at attention until I said at ease?”

  “Yes sir.”

  “Then?” Frank motioned his head and watched Lt. Merrick stand at attention and Frank just stared and stared. “O.K. At ease. What I wanted you for is, I want every single man here rounded up tomorrow morning at zero five hundred hours out front on the drill deck. Got that?”

  “Yes sir.”

  “I will review with them what I want prior to chow. Then I need you to notify my staff that their training will begin will me at zero seven hundred.”

  “Training?” Lt. Merrick asked.

  “Training. When’s the last time you trained?”

  “About six months ago.”

  “Should do it every day,” Frank stated and walked to him. “And it should be regimented and rough. Makes a man strong.” Frank’s hand gave a slap to an unsuspecting Lt. Merrick’s back, sending him a foot forward. “Sorry. Let’s go.”

  “Where to?” Lt. Merrick asked, seeing Frank walk out of his office.

  “Um . . . Armory. We have an Armory division. Don’t we?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I need you to take me there. Can’t train men properly without knowing what we have, can I?”

  “No sir.” Lt. Merrick shook his head.

 
“Lead the way.”

  Lt. Merrick stepped before Frank.

  “Oh and Lieutenant, I got a task for you.”

  “What’s that, Colonel?”

  Frank tossed him the keys. “Find out what each of these unlock and label them for me please. Thanks.”

  Lt. Merrick looked at the huge pile of keys. “Sir, there has to be thirty keys here.”

  “Is there a problem?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Armory.”

  “Yes sir.”

  Frank gave a smirk as he closed his office door and followed Lt. Merrick to Armory.

  ^^^^

  Bowman, North Dakota

  Hal finished eating his apple, never getting too close to the core. Perhaps it was a waste, but somehow that story his father told him when he was a child stuck with him. Even though Hal knew it was impossible to grow an apple tree in his stomach if he ate a seed, Hal never really wanted to chance it. He tossed the apple remains into his office trash can and stood up to look out his window. He was supposed to be reviewing maps and reports from the scouts, but Hal couldn’t. To him this was a landmark day and excitement over waiting to hear from Beginnings grew even though he knew it was going to be a while before his messenger returned. So he took a break, hoping to get his wandering thoughts from his mind so he could get back to his work. Hal leaned against his window and stared out at the training men in the distance.

  “Up ahead, Chief.” Willy pointed then stood up in the moving Jeep.

  “What are you doing?” Joe asked.

  “Signaling.” Willy took off his yellow bandana and waved it high as the Jeep came closer to Bowman.

  “Captain.” Sgt. Ryder, without knocking, walked into Hal’s office.

  Hal turned from the window. “What is it?”

  “Private Conrad has returned. Tower has spotted them.” Sgt. Ryder had a look of excitement and breathlessness about him.

  “Did he run into trouble? This is way too soon.”

  “Doesn’t appear so. Seems he is arriving by Jeep. We believe he brings the commander and Chief of Beginnings with him.

  Immediately Hal became nervous. “Shit. Do I look presentable?”

  “Yes,” Sgt. Ryder answered. “I’d button my shirt all the way.”

  Hal began to button his shirt. “Tell all men to give the Beginnings’ man, whether he is the Chief or not, the utmost respect. All activity will stop as he passes. You hear me? Instruct them immediately.”

  “Right away.” Sgt. Ryder opened up the door. “I’ll bring him right up.”

  “Thank you.” As soon as his office door closed, Hal clenched his fist and grinned. “Yes!” He hurried about his office, cleaning it up, hiding the trash, and trying to make it look presentable.

  Joe’s foot hit the brake some as he rode into town. Men who worked on a house stopped and saluted him. Men who stood on the road did the same. In the distance, Joe could see an abundance of training men. They all stopped, dropped in formation immediately, and held a salute until the Jeep rolled by. “Holy hell,” Joe commented.

  “Sgt. Ryder.” Willy pointed.

  “Excuse me?” Joe looked at him then followed the point. He saw Sgt. Ryder standing at attention on the side walk.

  “He’ll take you to the Captain.”

  Joe pulled over the Jeep and stepped from it.

  Straightening his salute, Sgt. Ryder spoke deeply. “Sgt. Elliot Ryder, United Western Alliance. Welcome to Bowman, sir.” He extended a rigid hand to Joe.

  Joe shook it. “Joe Slagel. Nice to meet you.”

  Sgt. Ryder’s grip released. “Sir? What did you say your name was?”

  “Joe Slagel.”

  “The Chief of Beginnings?”

  “Um . . . yeah. Is this where the Captain is?” Joe pointed to the building.

  Sgt Ryder couldn’t take his eyes off of Joe. A little shorter, but the hair line was the same, and the jaw. The teeth. The nose. “Oh shit.” Sgt. Ryder’s eyes widened. “Sorry.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing sir. Um . . .” Sgt. Ryder opened the door. “Go on up, first door on your right.”

  Joe entered the building slowly. The city hall was dim. He moved to the steps and Joe could feel his body shake with anticipation. His heart fluttered in his stomach and he literally felt weak. How far up the top of the steps seemed, how long of a journey. Then Joe reached the top. The door was there, closed, and the name ‘Captain Hal Slagel’ went through him like a bolt of electricity. “Please Dear God.” Joe closed his eyes as he reached for the door.

  Hal was nervous, but he was bound and determined to be professional and to look the part of the leader. He heard the Jeep pull up but he couldn’t see the Chief. Standing at his window with his hands behind his back, Hal heard the single knock on the door. “Come in.” He heard the click of the door handle. Hal took a deep breath, drew up his confident, cool look, and turned around. The gasp that escaped him was nearly a scream when he saw his father, just as shocked, standing at his office door. “Oh my God.” He felt as if his insides had fallen from his being and were laying on the floor. Hal could not move.

  Joe’s mouth opened, but nothing but a stutter came out as he took a step into the room. “This isn’t real.” Joe moved closer to him. “This isn’t . . . Hal.” Joe spoke his name long and whispering. He closed his eyes as his hand laid upon the cheek of his long lost son. “Hal.” With gratefulness, Joe’s eyes shut tighter and his hand gripped firmer to Hal’s face. He let out an emotional releasing breath when Hal’s hand laid on his.

  A strong man, emotionally and physically, yet that one simple touch from his father nearly brought Hal to his knees. They buckled on him and Hal grabbed hold of his father. “Dad.”

  The embrace at that moment was magnetic, powerful, and electric. Both Slagel men clenched tightly to the other in a hold that was seven years overdue. Joe pulled away some, laying his hands on Hal’s cheeks. “Oh my God.” His hands moved around Hal’s face and tears formed in Joe eyes. “Oh my God.”

  Hal tried. He kept his lips closed tightly together, but somehow they quivered with his emotions. That quiver reddened his face and vibrated his body as he touched Joe. Hal closed his eyes, trying his hardest to stop the crying that just wanted to come. But the reunion and the shock proved too much for the both of them. They returned to the tight embrace, inner feelings flooded to the surface, and they found themselves locked and lost in a moment that neither knew they had waited for. A moment that could never be recaptured again. Father and son, a family, reunited . . . at last.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Bowman, North Dakota

  What if he was wrong? What if the Captain gets angry at him for not doing his job? Taking a chance, Sgt. Ryder walked to Hal’s office. The door was slightly opened. He knocked once. “Captain, is everything . . .” He paused in his speaking and opening of the door when he saw the two men embracing. Sgt. Ryder was right. It was like he was watching an old movie. His heart skipped a beat for Hal and his eyes even glossed with a mist. “Excuse me. I apologize.” He began to step back.

  “Elliott.” Hal called to him. “Wait.” He wiped his eyes and hoped his face wasn’t too red, but it was. “Wait. I need you to meet . . . meet my father, Elliott. This is my father.” Hal proudly pointed.

  “Mr. Slagel.” Sgt. Ryder gripped Joe’s hand again, this time with pride. “You have raised one fantastic son. It’s an honor to not only meet the man who runs Beginnings but meet the man who taught our leader so well.”

  Hal snickered a blush and waved his hand in an embarrassing ‘go on’ fashion. “Dad, Elliot is my right hand man. Sort of like that . . . who is your right hand man in Beginnings?”

  “Supposed to be a man named Henry . . . .”

  “Henry?” Hal looked to Sgt. Ryder. “Oh yes. Whiny guy.”

  Joe looked at Hal oddly. “How do you know?”

  “We monitor your radio transmissions. We haven’t communicated because, well, we didn’t want yo
u to think we weren’t a serious organization.”

  Joe shook his head. “You’re a serious organization all right. Goddamn, Hal. You did all this?”

  “Yeah, but I don’t want to talk about that now. We will. Elliott have Craig bring us something to drink. Dad, are you still a coffee drinker.”

  “You bet,” Joe said.

  “Coffee, Elliott, and tell Craig to behave himself. My Father is here,” Hal said like a kid showing off his dad on parents’ day at school.

  “Be right back.” Sgt. Ryder smiled.

  “Elliott,” Hal called out. “Make sure you do return. We have a lot to talk about with my father.”

  Sgt. Ryder smiled at the enthusiasm Hal showed. He paused in his leaving. “Mr. Slagel, I just want to tell you, since we have been monitoring your radio transmissions, we’ve been really entertained, and a little jealous of you guys. You seem to have a good time there.”

  “Well you’ll have to come there, Elliott, meet some of our finest and then see how amused you are,” Joe said sarcastically and watched Sgt. Ryder leave. “Hal? If you’ve been monitoring transmissions, I’m on that radio all the time. How did you not know it was me?”

  “I thought it. You know.” Hal pulled a chair out for Joe. “But then every guy who listened said someone sounded like someone they knew. I chalked it up to my imagination.” Hal slid a chair near Joe’s. “But Dad, I have to know. Don’t think I’m off my rocker, just bear with me. O.K.?”

  “O.K.”

  “Is this Eagle One, this Robbie or Robert . . . is he . . . is he my baby brother?”

  Joe smiled. “Unfortunately, yes.”

  Hal shrieked and jumped from his seat. “Let’s go.”

  “What?” Joe stood up. “Where?”

  “I’m leaving Sgt. Ryder in charge. I have to see him. I have to see Robbie. God, Dad,” Hal spoke rapid and fast. “I have been thinking about you guys nonstop. Now I know why. It was you, it was really you.”