The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  Startled, Dean turned around. “Oh, hey.”

  “Am I bothering you?” Hector asked.

  “No. No. I‘m just. . .” He pointed to the cage. “Bonding with Majestic.”

  “She’s losing weight.”

  “She’s not eating right. She’s missing Ellen. I know it sounds strange.” Dean shrugged. “I’ll tell you, if something happens to that rabbit while El is gone . . .” He whistled. “I’m in for it.”

  “Ellen loves that rabbit.” Hector winced. “I don’t know why.” He chuckled. “Maybe Misha can help?”

  Dean nodded. “I’ll try but she’s still very skirmish.”

  “You’ll have that. She’s out here waiting. I wanted to let you know.”

  “Thanks.” Dean stood up. “I appreciate it and I appreciate you two coming by this morning.”

  “Oh, no problem. Misha was very concerned about Alex.”

  “Yeah.” Dean exhaled. “Alex is really missing Ellen. It’s nice that Alex knows Misha from Bowman.”

  “Well, Ellen brings her there quite a bit. Misha is so fond of Ellen, she said she would feel terrible and wouldn’t be able to face Ellen if she didn’t help Alex when she could.”

  “She did. She got Alex to stop crying. Usually, Frank and I, well, we get frustrated . . .” Dean snickered. “And we make Jenny deal with it. Thanks.”

  “Anytime.” Hector nodded. “Misha will be staying tonight so if you need anything, we’ll be happy to stop by.”

  “I appreciate it. I’ll let you know.”

  Hector stopped as he started to turn. “It won’t be too much longer, Dean. Really. Not much longer and she’ll be back.”

  Following Hector from the closet, Dean watched him walk to Misha and innocently kiss her on the cheek. After a smile, he gave an upward motion of his head as his goodbye to Hector and approached Misha. “Morning.”

  “Good Morning, Dean,” Misha said in a ready mode. “I’m am excited about this new test you want me to run.”

  “Really. Good.” Dean grinned and walked to the fridge. “We’ll start.”

  “What is it?”

  Dean turned From the open fridge, with a tray in his hand. “Urine samples.”

  It was awkward but Misha kept that smile on her face as Dean set the samples before her.

  ^^^^

  Joe’s cheek was smashed as he pressed it deeply into his palm, while in a head spinning, ‘get me out of here’ stare at Henry in his office. The only thing that kept Joe alert at all during the entire Council meeting was the occasional moans from Elliott and Frank.

  “And that’s my decision, Joe.” Henry’s hands flung about.

  “What is, Henry?” Joe asked. “You spewed forth about something I haven’t a clue about. It’s a simple goddamn question of how many Jordan residents we should bring in to work agriculture.”

  Frank interjected, “I say none.”

  “I know what you say, Frank.” Joe looked back at Henry.

  “They move too fuckin slow. We won’t have food,” Frank continued.

  “All right, enough.” Joe held up his hand. “Why is Elliott the only one who gave me a decent answer?”

  “He’s a pansy,” Frank said.

  Tightening his lips, Elliott half closed his eyes with an expected nod.

  “You’re an asshole, Frank. Henry!” Joe snapped. “What’s your response? This wasn’t a hard question. It was multiple choice.”

  “Fine. Go with what Elliott said,” Henry griped. “I just wanted to give my opinion.”

  “On what!” Joe tossed up his hands. “How people keep coming in to visit the greenhouse? Henry, I don’t give a rat’s ass that in three hundred and forty-three years we would have lost one year’s worth of food. What the hell does that matter to me?”

  “It matters to our future,” Henry stated. “I think we should take a look at the long term effect of Hector giving freebies.”

  “Speaking of which.” Frank looked at his watch. “I have to get a snack.”

  “Then that’s it for today.” Joe leaned back.

  “Don’t ask me back, Joe.” Henry stood up. “If you don’t value my opinion. I am very insulted. Why did you call me here?”

  “Danny is busy. You’re filling in for him while Frank is filling in for Jason,” Joe explained.

  “But I was excommunicated from Council, you know.” Henry moved to the door. “And Mechanics.”

  “Henry, you quit,” Joe said annoyed.

  “Same difference.” Henry opened the door. “I really think you should look at the choice you made in Danny. How much more am I going to have to fill in? It’s very biased. That’s my opinion.” Henry walked out.

  Thinking ‘yeah-yeah’, Joe relaxed in his chair.

  “I agree with Henry,” Frank spoke up. “You’re being very biased and not to mention racist, if it’s not the same thing.”

  Irritated, Joe looked at Frank. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “One Asian man can’t make it so you get the other. There is a difference, you know. Henry’s Japanese.” Frank gave a pacifying ‘for your information’ nod. “Danny’s Chinese.”

  “Yeah, Frank.” Joe winced. “I know that, you moron.”

  “On that note.” Elliott stood up. “I must leave. I have something to deliver to Dean before heading back to Bowman.”

  “About time.” Frank mumbled.

  “Better late than . . .” Elliott raised an eyebrow. “Never. Which would be the case if you had it.”

  “You probably hate to agree with me,” Frank said. “And you’re just holding off seeing the truth.”

  “No, Frank, I do not agree with you.” Elliott made it to the door. “In fact, I am about to see for myself that I am the correct one.”

  “Whatever.” Frank gave a flick of his hand. “Fuck you.”

  Elliott smiled on his exit. “Mr. Slagel, have a good day.” He gave a nod to Joe. “Frank?” He waited for Frank to look and then he spoke pleasantly. “Fuck you, too.”

  Joe gave a shudder of confusion. “What was that all about?”

  “That?” Frank asked.

  “Yes.”

  “He responded to what I said.”

  “No, Frank . . .”

  “I said ‘fuck you’. He said, ‘fuck you too’.”

  “Frank!” Joe barked.

  “It goes on the same lines as I love you. You know, I love you. I love you too.”

  “Frank . . .”

  “It’s only polite to respond in any case but I don’t love Elliott Ryder.”

  Joe rubbed his brow in frustration. “Of course, not . . .”

  “Because I don’t want you to think I’m gay or anything like that. Not that Elliott Ryder couldn’t be an attractive man . . .”

  “Frank!” Joe screamed. “Enough!”

  “What! You asked! Fuck.”

  “Dear God.” Joe dropped his head to the desk, lightly banged it a couple times, then lifted it.

  “You all right?”

  “Yes.” Joe sniffed, twitched his head, and sat back. His demeanor switched to a calm one as if no ‘Frank-style’ conversation had just transpired. He could have let his curiosity lay. However, masochistic it was, it was no longer an issue of what Frank and Elliott were discussing. It became an issue of just finding out. “Frank. On another subject. I’m interested in something. Elliott Ryder said. He said he has to give something to Dean. You and him, I don’t know, argued a little, disagreed maybe. Why?’

  “Oh.” Frank nodded. “Dean likes ice cream.”

  Joe just stared.

  “Yeah,” Frank continued. “Vanilla, but now he’s into chocolate . . .” He tilted his head. “Something like that. Ask Hal. He started the whole thing.”

  “Ice cream.”

  “Choices.” Frank winked and stood up.

  “Vanilla and chocolate?”

  “That’s what Hal said,” Frank shrugged.

  “You were arguing with Elliott Ryder about what choi
ce Dean would make?”

  “Yeah. Hal explained it all. Dean now likes chocolate because he has a choice.”

  “Hal started this?” Joe asked. “Not Danny Hoi?”

  Frank paused, “Danny Hoi? Why would you say Danny Hoi?”

  “Ice cream? Come on. Isn’t it obvious?”

  Frank gasped. “That is so wrong.”

  “What?”

  ‘There you go again being racist. Just because Danny is Asian doesn’t mean he started this mess.”

  “What the hell are you talking about!” Joe yelled.

  “You. You’re being racist.”

  “I am not,” Joe defended loudly. “How in the hell is it racist to blame Danny Hoi?”

  “It’s racist because he’s Asian.”

  “It has nothing to do with the fact that he’s Asian. I brought up Danny Hoi because it would be so like him to bring it back.”

  “Bring what back!”

  “Ice cream, you moron!” Joe lost it. “Ice cream! Having ice cream again in Beginnings.”

  “Dad! What the hell does having ice cream again in Beginnings have to do with anything!”

  “It has to do with what we’re talking about.” Joe rose up slowly.

  “We were talking about Dean!”

  “Yes!” Joe nodded. “You brought up Dean and choices!”

  “Yes!”

  “Vanilla. Chocolate. Dean. Ice cream! Was that or was that not what you said!” Joe screamed.

  “Yes.”

  “Then it’s the same thing.”

  “No!” Frank shook his head. “You’re talking about ice cream in Beginnings. I’m talking about Dean and ice cream. Man!” He huffed and shook his head. “You are really confused today.” He flung open the door. “And people talk about me!”

  Joe stared hard at the just slammed door, then slowly he sat back down. “Why do I bother?”

  ^^^^

  The silkiness of Alexandra’s thin brown hair was what did it to Jenny. She loved the way her fingers smoothed through Alexandra’s mane with ease and without catching a single tangle. Not only was her hair done, but Alexandra matched and smelled good as well.

  It wasn’t as if Ellen didn’t do those things. It was just that Ellen didn’t have time to deal with Alexandra’s whining and Jenny couldn’t blame her. If Ellen fought with Alex, it made it into the classroom. so Jenny was used to Alexandra looking like a tomboy. not neat, combed, pressed, or clean.

  Odd things to stir curiosity, however Jenny knew Alexandra’s appearance wasn’t her final step in going to the clinic. It was the fact that Misha was responsible for the suitable appearing twin.

  Misha.

  Did Jenny cause it? She had to wonder. In fact, she started feeling guilty. Jenny was the one who downplayed Dean, picked on Dean, and called him a pedophile. Was it her bad taste in bitter humor that made Misha, in her defense of the wily scientist, to take an interest in him and visa-versa? Was it also her dedication to Ellen that made her look through a distorted vision when glancing into the lab and watching Dean and Misha work. Nothing romantic transpired, not at all. All she knew was that the ‘happy-go-lucky’ feel of the lab bothered her and her lunch break was up.

  Backing up from her eavesdropping position, Jenny turned and bumped right into Elliott.

  “My apologies.” Elliott nodded. “Are you all right?”

  “Um, yes.” Jenny replied. “It was my fault.” She took another glance into the lab and walked down the hall.

  “Jenny.” Elliott followed her. “What’s wrong?”

  “Oh, nothing.” Jenny wisped out. “Probably my female imagination. I was just concerned about . . . . about . . .”

  “About?” Elliott asked.

  “Elliott? What is your take on Dean and Misha?”

  “Ah.” Elliott nodded. “You’ve spoken to Frank.”

  “About Dean and Misha? No.” Jenny said. “Why? Is he concerned too?”

  “Yes and I will assure you like I assured him it is no more than a scientist happy to have some help in the lab.”

  “If you say so, but I . . .”

  “Jenny, I’m positive.”

  “OK.” She folded her arms with uncertainty. “I have to head back.” She took a few steps. “But, Elliott, have you seen them together?”

  “No.”

  “Maybe . . . maybe you should.”

  Elliott was considering the source. Jenny, like Frank, had a dedication to Ellen, unlike himself, who although partial, considered himself pretty straight down the middle. Letter in hand for Dean and intentions of talking to Dean for Ellen concerning Frank, Elliott walked to the lab. He stopped before entering and knocking when he heard Dean yell.

  “Frank. No,” Dean said strongly. “God. Forget it. You’re an ass.” He slammed down the phone.

  “Is he upset again?” Misha asked.

  “When isn’t Frank upset?” Dean shook his head.

  “Maybe you should make time for him. Something seems to be bothering General Slagel.”

  “Something is always bothering Frank and I have enough to deal with. He’s on his own with this one.” In his huff, Dean paused, looked at the counter, and then smiled. “Oh my God. You finished these. This is wonderful.” He let out a short peep of delight, reached out, and placed his hand on Misha’s shoulder. “You are wonderful. I have to tell you, El would never do these this fast, ever. I can’t wait to have you work on things in the cryo. Boy, am I glad to have you here, especially during . . .” Dean’s words stopped when he heard the ‘click’ of the hard sole on the floor. He turned around. “Sgt. Ryder.”

  Elliott, eyes focused on Dean, took another step. His voice was firm and emotionless. “Sorry for the intrusion. This is very personal and confidential.” A little harder than he needed to, Elliott placed the envelope into Dean’s chest, gave one more glare, then turned and left the lab.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  “It’s coming,” Frank said with seriousness, leaning fist first on the table in the dining area of Containment. A small hand-picked group of ten, including Joe and Jason, were there. “Now we . . .”

  “Excuse me.” Andrea walked in. “I am so sorry I’m late.” She slipped inside. “It is insane at the clinic. Cold and flu season, you know.” With a ‘whew’, she found her seat at the table.

  “That’s all right,” Frank said. “Glad you made it. Now as I was saying . . .” He saw Dan from Security raising his hand. “Yes, Dan?”

  “Where’s Hal?” Dan asked.

  Joe leaned a bit forward to look at Dan. “Hal’s sleeping.”

  “Sleeping?” Andrea questioned.

  “Sleeping?” Dan repeated. “He’s not sick is he?”

  Joe shook his head. “No, he’s . . .”

  “Because, Joe,” Dan interjected, “you can’t be too careful. It’s cold . . . .”

  “And flu season,” Joe grumbled. “I know. No, he isn’t sick. He’s just tired. Can we get on with this goddamn meeting, please.”

  “Fine.” Frank took his ‘fist first’ leaning position again and repeated his earlier dramatic reaction of looking at all the faces first before speaking. “It’s coming. Sometime in February. It’s coming fast and straight for us.”

  “Sweet Jesus,” Andrea gasped out.

  “It’s big, too.” Frank added. “Jason said it’s about the size of Texas.’

  “Sweet Jesus.”

  Joe rolled his eyes and leaned into Jason. “Texas? Wasn’t that the comparison state in a movie?”

  Jason shrugged. “I was on the spot.”

  “Jason.” Frank pointed. “Can you?”

  “Um, yes.” Jason stood up.

  “Christ.” Joe slid in his chair.

  “As Frank said . . .” Jason paced around the table. “It’s coming. We don’t know when. With our barbaric equipment, I won’t be able to pinpoint a time until we near the impact date.”

  With his arms folded tight, with a calm and serious Frank gave an ‘up’ motion of his head. “Wil
l that still leave us time to prepare and go to higher or lower ground?”

  “Yes,” Jason answered.

  “After this . . .” Frank continued his line of questioning. “Will the dinosaurs return?”

  “Christ.” Joe slammed his hand on the table. “Can you get any more obscure, Frank?”

  “Dad,” Frank spoke in his own defense. “Its stands to reason. A meteor hits, the dinosaurs disappear. Another meteor hits, they come back.”

  Just about the point when Joe was going to blast Frank for the lamest logic ever heard, he didn’t. He knew it was in vain and he was outnumbered when he heard from the men in the room give a unison moan of agreement to Frank’s statement.

  “Yes,” Jason replied. “It is a possibility.”

  “I knew it.” Frank snapped his fingers.

  “Sweet Jesus.” Andrea grabbed her chest.

  “Christ Almighty.” Joe closed his eyes then jumped just a tad when he heard Frank’s phone ringing. Hoping it was an emergency, he opened one eye and watched.

  “What do you mean?” Frank spoke on the phone then back to the room. “I’m in the middle of a meeting here. It’s just a survivor . . . . He asked for me . . . and Dean? Who’s Zeus? All right. All right. We’ll be right there. Take him to my dad’s office.” Lifting an index finger to the quiet room, Frank dialed. “Dean, you have to get to my dad’s office. Some wacked out survivor priest is coming in . . . I don’t give a shit what you’re doing. Get up to the examining room now. Fuck. Like I don’t have important things to do, Dean,” Frank stated. “It’s your fuckin job. Get there.” With a beep of the phone, Frank hung up. “I have to go. Dan, can you?”

  “Sure, Frank.” Dan from Security stood up.

  “Dad?” Frank asked moving toward the door. “Are you coming?”

  “Absolutely.” Escape found, with Frank or not, Joe was leaving. He hurried to catch Frank. “A priest, Frank?”

  Frank shrugged. “I don’t know. Mark said some young guy showed up all dressed in black.” He moved down the hall. “Probably another wacko. What was I saying this morning?” He punched in his security code. “At least he’s religious, right?”

  Joe didn’t agree or disagree. Though he highly doubted a young priest showed up, he wasn’t going to question. After all, he got out of the meteor strategy meeting and that was fine with him.