There were rapid changes occurring in the egg bearing animals. It appeared to be a learning curve based on experience. It was clear they weren’t afraid of people. Joe thought, I’m not surprised the creatures have a gentle, fun loving nature, after all Dr. O had created them.
ECO-X had debuted into the outside world. No secret anymore as the people welcomed the cute little guys with the big blue eyes. Hundreds of them were carried home to be pets for the kids without any resistance from the ECOX. Logistic plans for trapping the animals in swarms were useless now. Joe had a horrible vision of a helpless ECOX being snatched out of the hands of a four year old girl in tears.
The honeymoon with the ECO-X was shortlived though. In most residential homes parents were stunned at the damage the cute guys had done by feasting on all of the plastic items in the house during the night. At the same time they were shocked to find the house sopping wet after the feast was over. Homes resembled war zones. All of the plastics on TV sets, electronic equipment and computers had been digested. Stripped of their protective covers the gadgets looked like junk yards of bare wires, memory boards and terminals.
Towns exploded with all sorts of activities with the animals. Public departments like the police and fire stations had crowds arriving to turn in the cute animals. Some parents had their children with them who were crying or screaming about the cold treatment of their pets. So mobs gathered trying to put ECO-X in the hands of town officials. Noise was deafening in a combination of children’s protests and calling out pet names for the creatures being taken away like “Pooky, baby, blue eyes, and proper first names, Hazel, Lily etc.
In the commercial areas of towns were rescue and pet control squads chasing ECO-X with a variety of nets. It was slow going as the animals chirped loudly and joined in what they thought was a game. All sorts of eluding tactics were dreamed up, like quietly sitting on the chasers’ heads, or interesting sets of aerobatics. Gradually a unique emotional response grew inside of the chasers. Like the boat workers they became humiliated, angry but liking the little guys all at the same time.
At exactly the right time Joe had a call from Maggie. “How’s it hanging Joe?”
“I’m not laughing much these days.”
“No wonder you hid out in Hawaii. I would too with a
major mess going on like the bug thing. How about a fast escape with me? I’ve been missing you.”
“Damn right Maggie. Where are you now?” “At the dock where I dropped you off.”
“Don’t move. Right there”
Maggie was astonished when she heard a car coming on fast then a squeal of brakes in the loading dock. Man. she thought, Joe needs a break really bad. She knew it could only be him coming in since it was 3 AM. Before she could say hello Joe jumped on board in a single leap.
“ Is the government after you again?” she asked. “Not yet but it’s possible they might look for me. I’m nearly as unraveled as Dr. O has become trying to cope with the ECO-X’ capabilities. How smart are they? We’re left off balance over what happens. So far no one has the insight including O, to predict their next dazzling performance.”
Maggie had quietly poured him a drink as Joe became more and more agitated. It was gone in two gulps she gave him another one. It was dispatched in the same manner as the first. She watched him closely as the alcohol took over his brain. The tightness in Joe’s face slowly went away.
She needed to know what his situation might be now. “Look Joe is their any danger of police following you or is there a federal warrant out. I need to know so I can sail out of here right now.”
“No heat but I need to be on guard so act like I’m escaping from Devil’s Island.” was his slurred reply. “ Gotcha.” Maggie roared away frrom the dock with twin screws whining at top speed probably waking a considerable number of residents. Joe was curled up on a deck bench not hearing any engines just now.
During their lazy cruise down to Baja California they kept up with the exciting adventures of the swarms of ECO-X. Eventually the EPA was saddled with the thankless job of corraling the animals now spread all over. Actually all of the actions used in the round up were making the situation worse. It scattered the ECO-X into numerous large swarms. Every possible method of trapping them was in use, boats, patrols with nets and helicoptors to catch them on the fly.
All of this action was producing some results although modest. Netted ECO-X were transferred to a large Naval warehouse in Long Beach where they had to be fed plastic. They set up a drain system to handle the water the creatures emitted. It was a weird sight in the warehouse as the animals ate and watered, ate and watered, until the place appeared to be in a monsoon.
Helicoptors were a bad idea with nets at the rear of the fuselage. To the creatures this appeared to be a game set up for their entertainment. They enthusiastically flew in and out of the nets in great swarms causing the pilots to lose control of their machines. Choppers were being pulled downward, then up again and yawing in great arcs from their antics. It was time to boogy out of the area and go home.
Using a learned behavior first observed at Disneyland the ECO-X came together in one gigantic swarm. Across the sky near Malibu the animals formed themselves into a giant finger and floated down the coast in formation on the wind stream. So the California coast residents down to San Diego saw themselves being given the finger. It caused an uproar not knowing what the hell it meant. Joe had his own theory. He told Maggie.
“ Where they learned this finger formation is a mystery. But being somewhat familiar with their nature I think to them it’s meant to be a friendly gesture for the good time we’re showing them. This operation to contain them has worked out to be an advantage for the ECO-X and leaving us at a disadvantage. They are a slippery bunch and smart.
Joe understood the ECO-X were developing into an original species of animal created by Dr. O and aided by Nature. In the beginning they were content to live as a single entity. He often wondered if the change in their feeding patterns was caused by the efforts to capture them. Now there were separate swarms hunting for plastic along the coast but periodically gathering together somehow.
The situation was impossible and the EPA in desperation released a national bulletin officially declaring the ECO-X to be a destructive pest. They were to be caught and destroyed wherever found in the US. All of Dr. O’s protestations were ignored it had become a disaster beyond his control. WAMI broke off its alliance with him in an effort to distance itself from the liability. It was the act of a corporation in desperate trouble.
Joe knew he couldn ’t help O. The EPA hadn’t bothered to consult O about his creation when they took control of eradicating the ECO-X. O no longer had any role in helping. The EPA hadn’t listened to his plan to eliminate the creatures via introducing sterile specimens into the swarm.
Joe correctly guessed that O would return to his lab to look for another way to fix the problem.
Chapter Eleven Maggie and Joe docked at Puerto Hacienda in Mexico for their time out from reality. It was a small inlet so the place was skipped over for tourist development. Joe had never been there nor heard of it.
“You picked the perfect place to get loose and rowdy. How did you find it?” “ I became interested in the Pacific basin around the west coast. When I take time off from my charter business I pick an area and explore it. My recent law problems with the feds have exploration is concerned the left me a little paranoid. Part of the
finding places to hide. As far as I’m government can never be trusted once you’re convicted of a felony.” Joe nodded his head in agreement.
“Up until the ECO-X troubles started I wouldn’t have understood your insecure feelings about law enforcement. My recent hassles with the feds have left me with the same paranoia you have. Let’s have a drink to always being there to sound the alarm and drop everything for each other.”
Hear, hear Brother Joe. Let ’s toast to fighting to the death for our right to be free to party.”
They st
ood close looking into each other’s eyes as they drained their glasses.
Puerto Hacienda underwent an invasion of Maggie ’s friends from Hawaii. They arrived via some boats, a catamaran and several pontoon planes. It all made the town residents nervous as these strangers arrived but also grateful for the increase in business. On the edge of the town Maggie had found an old lodge and cottages with virtually no customers. Marginally passable it was perfect for privacy.
In the main the visitors stayed away from the town out at the old resort. The locals were also happy to learn these weren’t the outdoor enthusiasts roaring around water skiing, no boat races nor surf boarding. Once in awhile one of them would wander out and lay down on the beach. But the action was mainly indoors and on the large patio with loud music where a perpetual poker game was in play. Players came and went, some winning, then losing later, breaking even was a rare occasion.
One night Maggie and Joe boarded her boat for some peace. Seated comfortably aft Maggie commented. “ Are you avoiding talking about your future for some reason? You’re out of a job and unless there’s a family fortune or something have you thought about work?”
“ Not really. I’ve been working 24/7 for over two years. One thing good came out of it. I didn’t have time to spend my wages. A tidy sum is at my disposal to spend on useless and expensive pursuits. I figure there’s enough money to last about six months then I’ll give some attention to snagging something.”
“ I’m surprised Joe I took you for a too serious, overly responsible employee. Your devotion to Dr. O has been the center of your life. What’s changed?”
“ Everything has changed Maggie. I’m no longer involved with the ECO-X. I’m powerless to do anything more. Oh, I suppose going back to managing the embryo ECO-X teams might be possible. Not very appealing but if I have to earn a buck I would do it.”
“ What an exciting plan Joe. Very moving. I’m surprised because you seemed to be more than that. You showed me some character when you were willing to go back and help your friend. Now you’re sounding like a middle management hack. Very boring and disappointing.”
Maggie ’s opinion of him was surprisingly important. Instinctively he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. She didn’t resist even though his move was unexpected. Like Joe she was startled about her feelings.They melted together and as natural as breathing they were kissing each other passionately.
While the party continued on at Puerto Hacienda Maggie and Joe disappeared with the boat for over a week. Their absence was only vaguely registered, not one minute was lost at the poker game nor a note of music. Infatuation is known to last roughly three months and kept burning hot by a brain chemical. After 90 days the brain has become weary of all of the action and the chemical stops. All of a sudden the adored one has defects not noticed before. She is a little chunky he thinks, she thinks, how did I ever believe he looked like Brad Pitt? And so on. Hopefully they have developed a friendship, if not, things often become interesting. As the song goes”too hot not to cool down”.
Learning experiences continued to expand for the ECOX and the public. Police departments all over the west coast were deluged every day with complaints. Citizens reported a range of damages to their property caused by the animals. Part of the reason for the growing complaints was the supply of plastic the ECO-X needed to live. It was impossible to guess what would happen and where.
Gradually they were learning humans weren ’t playing. Creatures were injured and others caught in the nets.They became sneaky during the day. Flying low, never in the open, swimming underwater and burrowing to create temporary shelters.
EPA was furious and frustrated like the boat crews had been earlier. There was an additional problem for the govenment agency. The only thing they were finding out is where the creatures had been yesterday never where they were today. Damage from the ECO-X banquets was climbing into the millions. Attorneys were enjoying a brisk business as they sued various entities to recover money from the damage. It was murky in the legal area as to liability claims. WAMI was the main target and Dr O which seemed to be a useless gesture, he was bankrupt a long time ago.
There was one thing Dr. O would always own. It was the process for producing ECO-X and a patent on the creatures. Although the embryo ECO-X harvesting in the CRAP site were his property California had the right to use them until the site was cleaned up. So O was busted. Fortunately his university came to his rescue and he returned
continue
to the place
his research
where it all started. He would to solve the problem of the
marauding ECO-X.
O was literally structure and building studying the a specimen animals’ molecular studying the most minute part. O was also experimenting with ECO-X in various conditions to learn about their reactions. He wasn’t sure it was possible to know everything. Nature’s contributions were a mystery and he could only hope to discover the secrets.
Any event or situation creating publicity naturally attracts opportunists who will look for a way to make some money. The ECO-X affair was exciting growing in size and controversy. Who wouldn’t love a creature aiding society by eating up a big mess? On the other hand, people who suffered grievous losses due to the ravenous appetites of the creatures were somewhat less fond of the cute guys. Especially if you are standing in the middle of your house staring at the junk left over from a healthy ECO-X meal.
It was all confusing to the animals. Passing over or dining in some areas brought on barrages of gun fire mostly shotguns. They instinctively tried to escape the noisy area but would return to continue the feast when the shooting stopped. Not an endearing habit. To the shooters trying to bring down a few as retribution it seemed to be an arrogant gesture.
But lovers of the little guys would try to catch them and bring them home. Lately though stories of the great havoc in houses had drastically reduced the people willing to take the chance. To the ECO-X there wasn’t any difference between enemy or friend. Any actions disturbed them.
A pattern was forming with the creatures. No matter how scattered, once a month clouds of them were spotted migrating to the CRAP site where they began. There was a societal feature in them even though they had no natural enemies. No living thing wanted to eat them. Studies of their behavior at the CRAP site revealed a happy creature strongly attracted to each other for frolicing and fun. Apparently it was a need for them to play. It was difficult to really hate them for their destructive ways since eating is not a malevolent act.
While Joe had been away from the CRAP site his senior manager, Frank was in charge of the harvesting. Confusion and differences of opinion with the coast guard, SAMI suits and the EPA caused the operation to be very slow. These people would come up with a new hot flash to coral the creatures. Operations would be halted then started again as Frank received new orders from one of these groups.. He resented being left on his own to deal with it all. Joe and Dr. O were up to their necks with a whole different set of crisis driven problems. It was a mess.
Many entrepeneurs were studying the ECO-X operation and its potential for making buckets of money. Small clandestine harvesting operations sprang up using stolen ECO-X. Under the radar, so to speak, they worked for companies with waste plastics disposal problems. With all of the dilemmas of epic proportions going on, no one had time to take action to stop them.
Times and turmoil were in perfect alignment to tempt harvesting managers to listen to money guys with bribery propositions. Frank in particular was ripe to listen to less than legal money deals.
He was on a weekend break in LA when three fast buck guys contacted him to talk. It was explained in a casual way as a meeting to discuss a possible consulting job on the side. He was wined and dined while they heaped mountains of praise on him for his mastery in the waste disposal business. He would keep his job with SAMI but work with them part time to plan out waste contracts.
Money has a special charm to tempt the dissatisfie
d and the busted into listening to shady deals. Frank was a prime candidate and the fast buck guys knew it. They had done their homework on the operation and Frank. After a few dinners with him they decided to go for it.
One of them took the lead to sell Frank on the big money to be made with a film company in LA by producing ECO-X for a movie idea. Before Frank could speak he went into the sales closer about using the creatures for a few months then returned to SAMI. Then the clincher. Frank was offered a position in the film production as a consultant and manager of the animals. No harm done, no one gets hurt and here is a fifty thousand retainer to show our goodwill. Can you deliver ECO-X for the production?
Frank sat there in shock staring at the 50 grand checl. A perfect deal he thought to himself, sort of rental of the ECO-X returned in a few months. He didn’t hesitate to answer them that he was in. What about the animals? Frank knew where to “borrow” a swarm of ECO-X
“ This is like a dream to me after all my hard work. he replied. “EPA is using a Navy warehouse in Long Beach to store the ECO-X they’re capturing. I’ve been there with the EPA guys several times to advise them on the animals appetites for plastic and their behavior. I know the warehouse manager. I’ll go see him.
‘ I’ll tell him tthe EPA wants me to transfer the ECO-X to the CRAP site. It won’t be a problem for two reasons. First of all the EPA never goes to the warehouse, no need. Secondly, the manager hates all of the grief the animals have caused him. He’ll gladly open the doors to us and offer to help us load them.”
Wheels were turning quickly once the ECO-X contract was signed with the picture studio. Old veteran that he had become, Frank set up the area to house the creatures. Also plans for the warehouse move, to transporting the ECO-X onto a boat and landing them in their new home.
One night on a boat in the CRAP site a clandestine meeting was being held by five opportunists with big, big ambitions. Two of them were Joe’s harvesting managers meeting with the fast buck guys. Not wanting to be seen on the boat the five men were bunched together outside of the wheelhouse in the dark.
DR O and the ECO-X Page 6
