April understood Walter’s concern but was still worried about the Curry kids and what Walter had planned for them.
“I just want to make sure that Amanda and Steven are going to be taken care of, Walter. None of this is their fault, and I don’t want them being placed into any unnecessary danger.”
Walter chuckled and said, “The mom has really come out in you, hasn’t it? Look, I have an idea for the Curry kids. You just need to trust me. For now, I need to know everything that happened while you were in 1984.”
Walter pulled out a recording device and placed it on his desk. “It is very important that you are honest with me. Anything that happened out of sorts while you were there could have tragic effects in the here and now.”
April told Walter of the wonderful things she had seen while they were in Travis. She talked about the look of the people and the feeling of family that seeped from the masses in 1984. They both laughed at the thought of April teaching the boys to dance and her questionable wardrobe selections. She told Walter that she had thought about not coming back at all.
“It was so different from our time. I had visions of Matthew and Connor growing up there and living their lives before the Minister ever came to power.”
Walter understood April’s feelings about the past. “It was a time where anything was possible. I’m proud, though, that you decided to come back to us.”
“I made you a promise, and I know that your actions are just,” replied April.
Next Walter asked April to describe the circumstances of how Amanda and Steven had come to be with them. April took a sip of water before getting to that part of the story, apprehensive about Walter’s response to what they had done.
She described the moment that Matthew received the charm from Amanda and the actions of Keith Kellington at their small home in Travis. She told him about Matthew finding the letter that Walter had sent to her containing the newspaper clipping of the deaths of the Curry family. She exuded pride in telling Walter of the decision that Matthew made to rescue the Curry family from their burning home and how she and Connor had helped Matthew escape from Keith after he’d saved them.
Lastly, April talked of the confrontation that had occurred with Keith and his men at the park as they attempted to get back to the tunnel.
“Keith was strong. He had all the powers of the Hathmec, but we were able to elude him and get back to the tunnel.”
“So, you think Keith actually saw you go through the tunnel?”
“I don’t think he was conscious when we went through, but I can’t be sure,” April replied.
Walter shrugged his shoulders. “Even if he did see you go through, there’s no way he could have known what it was. I think we’ll be ok there. Is there anything else important that happened while you were there that could have affected the timeline? In other words, did anything important happen that didn’t happen originally?”
The vision of Officer Charles pulling the trigger of his gun and killing himself flooded April’s mind. She knew the effect his death would have had on his family, but she couldn’t bring herself to tell Walter of how that moment had come about. Her thoughts jumped to Officer Charles’ little girl, Lucy. She wondered how her life had turned out without her father there.
Unable to look Walter in the eyes, April told him she couldn’t think of anything else that could have happened out of sorts during the trip.
“I think we did the best that we could do. It wasn’t perfect, but we did accomplish the goal. We have the attribute charm.”
Walter turned off the recorder and told April he was proud of what she and the boys had accomplished. He’d known it would be a difficult task, but he’d had total faith in April’s ability.
“I knew you could handle yourself, April. I also knew that you could make the tough decisions for the cause.”
He walked around his desk and sat on its edge in front of her. “That is why I was so infuriated when I saw who you’d brought back with you.”
Walter stayed calm as he talked, not showing the obvious anger that had existed in the moments following April and the boys’ return through the tunnel.
“You brought back two kids, who should have died over two hundred years ago, into a future world that has nothing for them. I gave you very specific instructions, and you ignored them.” Rubbing his face, he added, “Now I have to figure out how to fix your mistakes.”
April rose from her chair and faced him squarely.
“You weren’t there. You didn’t have to explain to your sons that it was right to let people die because that’s how it’s supposed to happen.”
She turned from Walter and headed toward the door. “I was in an impossible position, and I did what I thought was right as a mother and a soldier.”
Walter chuckled. “I see you describe yourself as a mother first and then a soldier. That just doesn’t work. Someday it will, but that day isn’t here yet.”
Approaching April, he took her hand. “This is bigger than your boys and yourself. It’s bigger than me. You have to think about the larger picture here and put your own feelings and moralities on the back burner.”
April dropped her head, but Walter reached out and lifted her chin.
“I admire your passion and your love for your boys. I’m sure you feel responsible for Amanda and Steven too. I understand where it all comes from.” Walter took a deep breath before continuing. “And I understand that there isn’t always a good choice.”
Walter let go of April’s hand and walked back to his desk. “I understand, April. We’ll figure things out. Perhaps this will even work out to our advantage. Go grab yourself some food and get some rest. We have busy days ahead.”
“Is that it? Is there anything else you want to know?” She was shocked that Walter had ended their conversation in such an abrupt manner.
“No, I have everything I need.”
As April headed for the door, Walter called out, “Send Connor in next!”
April left the office and entered the hallway, where the boys and Addie sat in uncomfortable silence. April indicated to Connor that Walter was ready to see him. Connor asked his mother what Walter wanted and she told him to just be honest. But as he started moving toward the office, April grabbed his arm and whispered, “Try not to mention Officer Charles.”
Connor nodded. He had no intention of saying anything about Officer Charles. Strolling to the office door, he looked back at Matthew for a moment and then, with a quick smirk and wave, went through the door and into Walter’s domain.
Connor was also impressed at the tidiness of Walter’s office. It reminded him of a museum, not a place where any work was being accomplished. He saw Walter sitting behind his desk, so he plopped down onto the seat in front of him.
“So, Walter, what can I do for ya?”
Connor’s natural cockiness was on full display, but his lack of trust of Walter was not. Walter asked this relaxed member of the Chance family what had happened on the trip to Travis. What he heard was rather surprising.
Connor rolled off the events of the trip in much the same way April had described them. He talked of the wonderful feeling of the time and how people had the choice to make their own life decisions.
“If you wanted to be a firefighter, you could be a firefighter. If you wanted to be a teacher, you could be a teacher. You could pick your own path, even if you weren’t any good at the path you chose.”
Shocked at these answers, Walter asked, “Of your family, I thought you would be the one with the most misgivings about the past. You even told me before you left that things weren’t so bad here. Are you telling me that you have now changed your mind?”
Connor knew that his involvement with Walter and his own family hinged on how he answered Walter’s questions. Connor’s fear was that honesty, in this case, would keep him from Matthew, April, and Amanda going forward. Knowing that Matthew had been the one to get the charm from Amanda, Connor didn’t want Walter thinking he wasn’
t a needed member of the family for the tasks ahead.
So Connor put on his best poker face and answered Walter.
“Just being in the past has changed my entire outlook. You were right. My mom was right. We have to do everything we can do to correct what the Minister has done. I’ll help in any way that you see fit.”
Walter was excited by the words of the more impetuous of the Chance boys, but his excitement was tempered with a bit of hesitation. It seemed unlikely that Connor had changed his tune to such an extent in such a short period of time, but Walter wanted Connor to believe in him and the cause, so he chose to limit his hesitation.
“I am very happy to hear that you are completely on board, son. I knew a look into the past would be just the thing to show you what the Minister had taken away from us.”
“What’s the next big mission?” Connor asked. “Are we gonna go back in time again?”
Walter’s response was evasive. “We’ll talk about that soon, but for now, go on and grab some food. I think I have all the information I need.”
Connor smiled at Walter and started out the door. “Do you want me to send in Matthew?”
“Yes, tell him to come on in.”
Connor rejoined his mother and brother in the hall and relayed the message to Matthew. “It’s your turn, bro. Don’t worry, it didn’t hurt a bit.”
Connor proceeded to punch Matthew in the arm, and Matthew returned the playful blow. Matthew took his time getting to Walter’s office door. Addie stared at him from the moment he stood up until he reached for the doorknob. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but he was confident that Amanda Curry would be a primary topic.
Like April and Connor before him, Matthew passed through the walls of boxes as Walter welcomed him into his office. Noticing a particular odd-shaped box, he asked Walter, “Is that some sort of movie projector?”
Walter turned to see what Matthew had asked about and replied, “Not really. It’s a long, frustrating story. The stupid thing never did work. Perhaps we can take a look at it some other time.”
Walter placed his recorder back on the table and began, “Now, let’s see what you have to say about the mission.”
Matthew brought forward many of the same things that April and Connor had spoken of. He talked of the freedom of the time and how he now understood what Walter was trying to tell them about the past and about what the Minister had done.
“It was great being a part of a real family. April and Connor are really my mom and brother. And Amanda, well, she’s a whole different story.”
Walter noticed a slight break in Matthew’s voice as he broached the subject of Amanda. “I know that you were the primary drive behind bringing Amanda and her brother here. Why did you feel that you had to do that?”
Matthew was a bit confused by the question. He thought to himself, “Why did I not want a sixteen-year-old girl and her little brother to die?” He thought it was a strange question.
Matthew tried to explain. “I mean, they didn’t have to die. They were innocent—they didn’t do anything wrong. I knew I could save her…I mean them.”
Walter nodded his head at this confirmation of his suspicions and began to tell a story. “You know, Matthew, I knew a man several years back. He was a good man, a strong man, but he wasn’t the best soldier. He had a weakness that I should have known about, but I was just too blind to figure it out in time.”
Walter went on to tell Matthew about a man who was skilled in many different aspects but who had fallen for a young woman also on Walter’s team. He cared for this woman more than he cared about himself, and he cared about her more than he cared about the mission.
“Now, don’t get me wrong. To love someone as much as he loved her is a wonderful thing. If I didn’t love the human race so much, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing.”
Walter grabbed a sip from a steaming mug on his desk and continued. “But there is no place for love above the mission when it comes to fighting the Minister.”
Matthew looked to the ground and said, “I don’t understand.”
“The mission must take precedence over everything else, Walter replied. “This man couldn’t accept that, and his decisions cost him not only his own life but her life as well.”
Walter stood up and walked around his desk to a framed picture that hung on the wall. “I should have separated them, but I was blind to what was going on. Had I separated them, they would probably both be here now.”
Approaching Matthew’s chair, he said, “I won’t let that happen to you and that young lady.”
“I don’t understand, Walter. What are you saying? Are you going to do something to her?”
Walter chuckled and said, “I’m not going to do anything to her. I would never dream of hurting her or her brother. What I am going to do is keep you and Amanda separated. It’s just too much of a risk to keep you together.”
Matthew jumped from his seat. “That’s crazy! What, you think I’m in love with her?”
“You tell me. Are you in love with Amanda Curry?” Walter demanded. “Is that why you saved her and her brother?”
Matthew heard the question but didn’t want to answer. His feelings for Amanda were confusing enough to himself. How could he explain them to someone else? He didn’t know if he was in love with her, but he knew he had strong feelings for her. And because he didn’t want to be away from her, he did what any kid backed into a corner would do. He lied.
“Of course I’m not in love with her.”
“I don’t think I believe you,” Walter replied.
“She’s a pain. She’s spoiled. The only reason I went back to the house to save them was because of that stupid promise,” Matthew insisted.
“What promise?”
Matthew thought for a moment before he spoke. “I took Amanda on a date one night, and her dad made me promise to take care of her. I promised that I would. I wasn’t gonna break that promise. A soldier wouldn’t break a promise.”
Walter agreed, saying, “You’re right. Soldiers keep their promises.”
Walter walked around the room for a few minutes before coming to a stop at his desk. “I believe you, Matthew, but I also know that a young man can be drawn in by a beautiful lady and end up doing things he wouldn’t normally do. I’ll have to think about it.”
“Is that all you wanted to know?” Matthew asked.
Walter grinned and said, “It’s time to start thinking about the future, my boy. You have completed the first step, and now it’s my turn to get Phase Two up and going. I’m proud of you. I’m sure you and the rest of the Chance family will continue to impress me.”
Matthew rose and Walter said to him, “Go on, get some food and rest up a bit. We have a busy few days ahead of us.”
Matthew was almost to the door when Walter called him back. “By the way, I’ll need that watch back.”
Matthew looked down to the tool that just hours earlier had helped save the day. He took it from his wrist. “Will I get this back someday?”
“Oh, I’m sure we can come up with something,” Walter replied.
Matthew tossed the watch to Walter and walked out the door, relieved the interview was over but also concerned about his future with Amanda.
He was happy to see his mother and brother. Knowing they were there calmed his nerves. He could trust the two of them. Even though his mother had lied to him back in 1984, he still put his trust in her and what she believed in.
The Chance family found Amanda, Steven, and Agent Johnson eating in a makeshift mess hall on the third level of the complex. They grabbed some fresh fruit and vegetables and joined them, eating without discussion. Amanda did smile at Matthew, though, and he returned the gesture.
After about thirty minutes had passed, the door to the mess hall opened and in strode Agent Addison. She yelled out the following: “Protocol 47! We have twenty-four hours!”
“What’s Protocol 47?” April asked.
“It’s moving day,” replied
Johnson. “Get your stuff together, if you have anything, and let’s get started.”
“Get started with what?” Connor asked.
Johnson replied, “We’re moving the whole compound. Looks like Walter’s ready to start Phase Two.”
Chapter 5
THE FIELD TRIP
Protocol 47 was a vague term, but the actions of Walter’s team were distinct and precise with regard to it. The compound Walter occupied was six levels deep into the ground. It held artifacts from the past, electronics from the present, and multiple gadgets and gizmos from an alien civilization. Some of those gadgets were functional, like the rorimite tunnel, while others just sat idle, being of no use.
The compound held over one hundred agents who were loyal to the cause. Either Walter or Agent Johnson had personally vetted each occupant, as no one loyal to the Minister could be allowed to infiltrate the group. Each member of the team had a specific task to accomplish. Some were in charge of collecting personal belongings. Some took care of the loads of rations for food and medical supplies. A select few of Walter’s top agents handled the alien technology.
For the most part, April and the kids stood back and watched the organized chaos. Walter had the movements of the team well planned out and synchronized. With no specific role to play, April and the boys got in the way more than they helped, although the boys took orders as they were needed.
Matthew and Connor loaded food into large rolling containers and pushed them to a central room located on the top level, where all the supplies and technology were being moved. Once everything was ready, the team would wait for further instructions from Walter.
Amanda and Steven played cards in a corner with a deck that Johnson had given them. Steven was overwhelmed by everything going on around him. He missed his mom and dad and relied on Amanda to calm him and make him feel safe. She tried to take his mind off of things as best she could, but she herself was struggling as well.
No one had talked to Amanda about what was to become of her and her brother. She knew the Chance family would do all they could to protect her and Steven, but after seeing the number of people that followed Walter, she knew that he controlled her destiny.
Last Chance Volume 2 - The Legend of the Hathmec: Planting the Seed Page 6
