Ellen nodded impressed. “He has a point. Isn’t he cute talking about you in the third person.”
“Please.” Billy softened his voice. “I’ll explain everything. I promise. Well, as much as I can. Can we do this?”
Without hesitation, Ellen nodded. “I feel important.”
“You are.” Billy raised his eyebrows. “More than you know. If need be, I will take only you, but I would like you . . .” He looked at Dean. “To come. We need you as well.”
Dean took a deep breath in along with his thoughts. “Why not?”
Billy grinned. “Thank you. My father is going to be so happy. He’s counting on this working.” He moved quickly to the end of the building.
Ellen nudged Dean with a whisper as they walked. “It’s the two minds are better than one thing. Two of you is double the brains.”
Dean snapped his finger. “I bet you’re right. Two of me, two of you, all of our minds working.”
Ellen giggled. “I hope we get along.”
“That’s funny.” Dean stopped walking with Ellen when they reached the area behind the utility building.
“Hey.” Ellen turned serious. “We’re fighting. I forgot.”
Billy, who was going from left to right, looked back. “Please, I’ve heard how you two fight. Look at it this way. Everything happening now is being put on pause. So pause that too.”
Dean looked offended. “He’s arrogant.”
“Like you,” Ellen said. “He has your body, only taller.”
“Really? I’m that thin?”
“Petite.”
Dean rolled his eyes then watched Billy zig-zag around. “What are you doing, Billy?”
“Looking for my mark.”
With his hands in his pockets, Dean bounced from heel to toe. “And he wants us to go with him.”
“Leave him alone,” Ellen scolded.
“Found it.” Billy bent down to the ground and picked something up.
Ellen snuck up from behind. “What is that?”
Billy laid it in her hand with a quirky look. “A coin,” he snickered.
Showing Dean, Ellen checked it out with curiosity. “Weird. Look at the date. Whoa. You guys use money?”
“Sometimes.” Billy pulled out a pendant. “Things will be different. I’ll give you the rules when we get there.”
Dean mouthed the word, ‘rules’ to Ellen.
Ellen shrugged and put the coin in her pocket. “Hey Billy, is it better in the future?”
“Better than now?”Billy punched in numbers. “In some ways it’s a lot better, in others . . . well, that’s where we’re hoping you help out.” Seemingly out of nowhere, a doorway of bright light appeared. “Let’s go.”
The three of them stepped through.
The Aragon Entrance
Beginnings, Montana
TWENTY-TWO YEARS IN THE FUTURE
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The warm sensation of stepping through the time machine was still with Ellen and Dean when they emerged into an emptiness on the other side. They were in a dark room with a slight glow and a tin feel to it.
“Um . . .” Ellen shifted her eyes to Dean. “I think we’re in no man’s time land.”
“Bill,” Dean called to him. “Did you mess up?”
Billy walked a few steps to a table where computers were set up. “No.” He looked up with a smile, one so much like Dean’s. “This is a special room designed for the machine. It had to be secluded and secured.” He punched a final click on the keyboard. “Ready?”
Dean stayed close to Ellen, or as close as he could with the purse on her shoulder. “Can you tell us why we’re here?”
“You’re needed. That’s all I’m allowed to tell you,” Billy said. “But, like I said, you will be told everything, including the rules. Rule number one was this visit was contingent on telling you nothing that happened from the moment I took you until this point in time. ”
Dean nodded. “Understandable. You want no ripples.”
“But you’ll tell us, right?” Ellen asked. “We’re your parents.”
Billy shook his head. “No. I can’t. If you knew what I went through to be the one to make this trip, you wouldn’t ask me. This is the only instant that you’ll be alone with anyone from this time frame. The rest of the time, they’ll be a, well, time theorist, who will ensure no information is transferred to you.”
Dean took a deep breath. “I’m really confused.”
“Me, too,” Ellen whispered.
“I promise you it will be made clear at the Joint Council briefing for you. Just bear with us. This is monumental.” Billy started to walk. “Ready?”
Ellen whispered to Dean. “Joint Council? I bet Beginnings acquired another town.”
“Oh, yeah, most definitely. It’s been twenty years.” Dean nodded. “Bill, when will this meeting tale place?”
“Early evening,” Billy answered. “We don’t believe they’ll be any time machine memory loss. But to be on the safe side, they want to give it at least eight hours before they speak to you. Can I make a suggestion?” Billy stopped walking.
“Sure.” Dean shrugged. “What’s that?”
“This is just my personal suggestion,” Billy said. “They are going to check you into the hotel for the wait until the meeting . . .”
“Hotel?” Ellen asked. “Oh my God, Danny has really built this up.”
Billy smiled. “It’s changed. You’ll see. But they’ll check you in. Your purpose here may take a while in this time frame. Then again, it may not. Use the time in the hotel room, and the paper there, to write down everything, I mean everything that was happening in your lives the moment you left.”
Dean looked impressed. “Bill. Good idea. That way, before we head back, we’ll refresh.”
“Exactly,” Billy said. “Write down the emotions as well. That may help so you don’t act strange.”
Ellen was a little in shock. “We could be gone a while then.”
Billy didn’t know how to answer. He simply gave a twitch of his head in indecisiveness. “We should move ahead. We’re a little behind schedule.”
“What do we . . .” Ellen slowed down in her walk when they entered a long metal tunnel. “What is this?” She looked around.
“Your protection,” Billy answered.
“From what?” Dean asked.
“This.” A black thick tarp was before Billy. He extended his hand and opened it.
Flash!
They were pummeled and blinding flashes went off in their faces. Mobs of voices shouted so much that they merged together in a non-comprehensiveness.
Frightened by the sudden splurge into what seemed an unknown, Ellen turned into Dean.
Dean had to turn his head away. He couldn’t see. Flash. Flash. Flash. “Bill.”
A deep male voice spoke so close. “This way, Dr. Hayes.”
Dean was disoriented. He held tightly to Ellen, refusing to let her body get more than an inch from his. He was gripped and led. The blinding lights were pelting him in the face continuously. Swarming in confusion and yelling voices, Dean couldn’t get his bearings. He tried to see what was happening, but both he and Ellen were surrounded by soldiers. Only on occasion did he see the blur of a face jumping out at them. Moved more than they walked, Dean could only follow the lead. He looked for his son but didn’t see him. The brushing of Ellen’s hair against his face was the only direction Dean had to aim his voice. “Hold on, El. Just hold on,” he whispered. He didn’t hear her response. The noise level was too loud. But the grip Ellen had on his arm, the one that nearly drew blood, said more than any words could.
Silence.
Slam.
Dean’s heart pounded up into his throat. He found himself and Ellen sitting on the leather back seat to a huge car.
“Oh God,” Ellen whispered, huddling into him. “Dean?”
The noise level erupted again with the opening of the car door. Billy slid in and shut out the crowd again. “So
rry,” he said. “Driver, we’re ready.”
A motorized noise brought the winding down of the window between the back seat and the front. A younger man, wearing what looked like a black military uniform, looked into the back seat. “For assurance Dr. Hayes, I need to hear what’s being said.” He put the window up, leaving it open a few inches.
“Whew.” Billy fidgeted into a comfortable position. “That’s one of the time theorists.” He pointed to the man and spoke upbeat. “. What we just went though was the worst part. We knew it was coming.” He caught his breath. “You guys O.K.?”
Dean wanted to say ‘no’, but at that moment he couldn’t speak. Shock would have been the best diagnosis he could give of what he and Ellen were experiencing. That and maybe regret. Had he not felt Ellen trembling against his chest, Dean wouldn’t have believed such a strong woman would have been so scared, but she was and so was Dean. With his fingers twined within Ellen’s hair and holding her tightly to his body, Dean planted his lips to the top of her head. He didn’t move nor did he speak. He closed his eyes when the car started to move and he wondered the same thing he supposed Ellen wondered.
What in the world did they just step into?
^^^^
The tinted windows and the speed in which the limousine traveled allowed Dean and Ellen to see very little of where they headed. A tree lined road and occasional cars on the other side were their view. The bright flashing lights ahead and behind the limo told them they were labeled as important.
But why? Dean felt mobbed when he walked out of that metal tunnel with Billy. Thinking about it during the silent ride, Dean figured out the flashes or at least he thought he did. Cameras. But it sounded ridiculous. Why would anyone want to take pictures of him and Ellen? Wasn’t their time trip branded a secret, like most of the Beginnings times trips were.
The sense of urgency stopped the moment the car did.
Dean watched as Ellen’s fingers slipped out of his. “El? You O.K.?”
“Yes.” She sat up and tucked her hair behind her ears. “I’m fine now. It was a bit overwhelming, whatever occurred.”
Billy interjected, “That sort of thing shouldn’t happen again. You have to understand, for three years we have been preparing this trip. Everyone’s been waiting. I’m to tell you to remember when you guys brought Dr. Forrest Caceres to Beginnings. The excitement around that is the same only on a bigger scale. But . . . . things will be calmer. We’re here now.”
“Where’s here?” Dean asked.
“The hotel,” Billy answered.
“But where’s that?” Dean questioned.
Billy nodded to the time theorist.
The window went down all the way and the theorist extended his hand shaking Dean and Ellen’s. “My name’s Lancing. I’m one of your assigned theorists. Many questions will be answered through me so don’t be offended or alarmed if I answer for someone. We just have to be sure no paradox information is passed.”
“I understand,” Dean said. “Now where are we?”
“Actually, you wouldn’t know,” Lancing answered. “We’re sitting about two miles outside of a place you called New Bowman. It’s expanded. It’s called Freedom City.”
Dean looked quickly when the car door opened. Within seconds Lancing was standing there. He extended his hand to Ellen to help her out. Dean emerged with the same look of ‘awe’ on his face as Ellen when they looked at the hotel before them. It was five stories tall. Turning in a clockwise circle, Dean inhaled the view. Cars, military trucks, and police vehicles were around them.
Ellen exhaled. “We’re not in Kansas anymore.”
Lancing held up his hands to the escorts. “We’re fine now. Young Dr. Hayes and myself can take it. Thank you. Dr. Hayes.” He nodded to Billy.
“Thanks.” Billy smiled. “See, this is where I am allowed to explain things. Well, some of it. The hotel has been cleared out. The most contact you’ll have is with those on Joint Council that are staying here, Security, and of course my father.” He pushed open the glass double doors.
“Whoa,” Ellen commented as she stepped into the lobby.
“This is a new building,” Billy explained. “It was the first newly constructed building following the United Renovation seven years ago, which I am not allowed to explain.” He held up a finger. “You’ll stay here. Clothes are in the room for you.”
Ellen leaned into Dean as they walked. “Good thing I brought my purse. I have stuff.” She nodded.
Billy led them to the elevator. “More will be explained to you at the meeting. As far as contact with people you knew in your time frame, it’s going to be by chance. If you run into them . . . you do. If you don’t, they aren’t allowed to deliberately see you. Well, except for my father.” Billy held the doors open. “Trust me when I tell you, anyone you know from your Beginnings are pretty spread out.”
Dean whispered so softly to Ellen, “Make a mental note. Freedom City. Spread about. We won the war against the Society.”
Ellen nodded with a wink.
After Lancing stepped in the elevator, Billy pressed the top floor button. “The hotel is pretty impressive. It was constructed mainly for tourists.”
Dean looked surprised. “Tourist?”
Lancing gave a nod to Billy to answer.
“Tourists,” Billy explained. “The Beginnings that you live in is a landmark now, a tourist attraction. It outgrew its use.”
Dean understood. “Makes sense. We’re outgrowing it now.”
“Exactly.” Billy held the elevator doors. “When you see your accommodations, I think you’ll be pleased.”
“Is that where we’re going?” Ellen asked.
“No.” Billy stopped in the hall. “See all these men? Security? This is a special stop before we settle you in. It has to be short but, because of the circumstances, Joint Council approved it. Everything has been moved here. My father moved all his work, everything, to this hotel to be here while you guys are. To be able to see you. It was a big move. He’s not usually in this part of the country. But . . .” Billy smiled. “He wants to be. He’s so excited. I’m very happy for him.” He started to walk again.
“Dean,” Ellen spoke quietly. “My heart is pounding. You are in your sixties. Bet me you aged well.”
“I had to have,” Dean said.
Billy stopped before a set of closed double doors. “Keep in mind this is going to be a shock for him. I am asking, even though he’s prepared, to not overwhelm him. He’s got a lot on his mind with other things that are just as important. He wanted to be at your arrival but you saw all the hysteria. It wouldn’t have been a good idea in his position.”
“His position?” Ellen questioned.
Billy grinned proudly. “He’s the President now.”
So excited, Ellen shot a view to Dean. “Oh my God, you’re the President. I knew you had leadership qualities.”
Dean laid his hand on his chest. “Don’t let this go to my head when I get back.”
“Please, you know I will.”
Billy knocked on the door. “Dad,” he called out. “They’re here.” He stepped aside.
It was an office filled with people that surrounded a desk as if they were a wall. One by one, they stepped back, parting like the Red Sea. But they didn’t need to part to see him. He stood up. His short and thick grey hair emerged first then the rest of him. Still fit, and still towering over everyone, stood Frank.
The room spun for Ellen when she saw him and she actually lost her balance. She reached for Dean.
Frank’s voice sounded deep and almost sandy. His eyes were wide. “Oh my God.”
Questions not answered, information not given, and rules were established, yet Ellen didn’t need any information. No matter how much Frank had aged, she still saw him and saw through him. She knew by the way he locked his eyes to hers, the way he fought to contain the emotion on his face, that it had been too long since he had seen her. There was too much shock, too much hurt, and so much grate
fulness that glazed his eyes. She knew one other thing, seeing her wasn’t what Frank wanted at that moment. He didn’t need to speak, Ellen understood. “Frank,” she said his name with a smile and stepped into him with a rush. She threw her arms around his neck and nearly lost every ounce of her breath when his arms embraced her with a tightness she had never felt from him.
His body hunched into hers and he hovered over Ellen. She swore she heard an emotional deep gasp come from him, but his lips were buried near her ear and any sound he made was hidden from the room.
“El.” Frank held her. “Don’t let go yet. Please, don’t let go yet.”
“I’m not.”
“Oh my God,” Frank’s voice cracked. “This feels so good. This feels . . .” He stopped talking and he pressed his lips to her cheek with everything he had.
The release of his embrace was preluded with another squeeze and rumbling sigh of emotion. He set her down, laid his hands on her face, grinned wide, and kissed her again. “El.” Frank shook his head and then he saw Dean. “And you.” Frank walked to him. “My God.” He extended his hand first then when Dean gripped it, he pulled Dean into a huge embrace.
Dean was confused. He caught his breath after the Frank hug and looked at his friend who had aged so much but still looked the same. And then he looked at Billy. Tears? Did Billy have tears in his eyes? Why? Dean questioned in his mind. He then peered around the office that had emptied out. “Where am I?”
Billy blinked, snapping his views from Frank who held Ellen’s hand. “What was that?”
“Where am I?” Dean repeated. “You said your father. The President.” His eyes widened. “No.” He looked at Frank. “You call him ‘Dad’?”
Lancing answered, “President Slagel has been a father to Dr. Hayes.”
“President Slagel?” Dean laughed. “Right. This is a joke. Frank, you’re pulling a joke. You knew we were coming from the past and this is a joke.”
The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20 Page 174
