The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  “We’re to leave for Lodi.”

  “I know. Send a messenger to Lodi to tell them we’re delayed. Say it’s the weather or something. They won’t have a goddamn clue.” George waved out his hand. “Lodi isn’t going anywhere. Neither am I until I know something about Johnny and I have a feeling that is going to be soon.”

  ^^^^

  Usually the start of Joe’s day would give indication of how the rest of the day would go. If his day started out slow, he was guaranteed to have a busier afternoon. If it started out bad, it was going to get worse, seemingly intensifying with each sweep of the clocks hand.

  Fortunately, Joe felt that he was beating the odds. Having had that early morning meeting with his grandson over concerns of Frank and Dean’s bickering, Joe was certain the rest of the morning would go downhill. It didn’t. It was calm, cool, and easy. Then again, Joe hadn’t left his office. He stayed there, avoiding the phone, while doing schedules and reading over reports.

  But it was time to leave, get air, take a walk, and make rounds. He dreaded doing that for as soon as he stepped out into public, he knew something would pummel him.

  Joe was lucky. He made it from his office, past the warehouses, and into town without a soul stopping him. Of course, the trickle of snow falling aided in that. He was en route to his first stop . . . the clinic. Joe had only one momentary pause and that was to stop in the ‘Joe Park’ to post the new distribution schedule on the ‘Joe board’.

  Approaching the board, Joe reached for the glass door and stopped. “What the hell?” He spoke out loud when he saw a sign posted. He hadn’t put it there and Joe was usually the only one that regularly posted memos on the board. He and . . . Jenny.

  Joe winced. Obviously, Jenny was the reason. The sign read, ‘Town meeting today after work day hours. Not to alert anyone, but it deals with a situation that threatens to shake our community. Frank will address us.’

  He couldn’t believe it. Shake the community? Had the people of Beginnings nothing better to do than to worry about whether or not Frank and Dean were arguing? Joe really debated on whether to take that sign down. It was ridiculous. However, since it would be something to occupy the minds of the Beginnings residents during the boring winter months, and Jenny did do a nice job on that sign, Joe didn’t take it down. Instead, he just buried it under his brand new distribution schedule, shut the glass door, and moved on.

  ^^^^

  Shuffle. Squeak. Silence.

  Dean listened.

  Shuffle. Squeak. Silence.

  Shaking his head, Dean, in a half lean into the counter of his lab, flipped a page in the folder he reviewed.

  Shuffle. Squeak.

  “Frank,” Dean spoke his name. “What are you doing?”

  “Playing I spy. Frank is the cool interrogation guy.” Frank spoke smugly.

  Dean dropped the page he was holding and spun around. “You’re kidding. The interrogation went well?”

  “Very well.” Frank nodded.

  “He gave her up.” Dean said with excitement.

  “Who?”

  “Ben.”

  “Dean.” Frank snickered. “Ben’s gay. I don’t think he’s giving up any woman.”

  “No, Frank, that’s not what I meant. I meant did he finger . . .” Dean closed his eyes. “I’m not touching that one. Let’s try this again. Did Ben confess?”

  “No.”

  “Did he say that Misha did it?”

  “No.” Frank shook his head.

  “Frank, how can you say it went well?”

  “Because he gave me two more names and I probably can get the truth out of those two. I know I can.”

  Dean blinked in shock. “Two more names?”

  “Yep. He said they were involved. Well, he said he let them have access to his computer and shop. Dean, it’s a fuckin conspiracy against you. I won’t be surprised if there are more involved.”

  “You think?”

  “What did I tell you before?” Frank asked.

  “Well we both didn’t think Misha was smart enough to do this on her own.”

  “Yep.” Frank nodded. “But who would have thought so many people were involved.”

  “You really think it’s a lot.”

  “I think it’s more than we think, that’s what I think.”

  “What did I do?”

  “Dean, a lot of people don’t like you,” Frank told him.

  “They don’t like you either.”

  “Dean, please, people love me, but even if they didn’t, I don’t have a fuckin chip in my brain to mess with” Frank pointed to his own temple. “My mind is strong. They can’t get in there.’

  “I’m not so sure anyone would want to.” Dean moved across the lab toward the coffee pot. “Want a cup?”

  “Yeah, I can take a break.” Frank pulled out a stool.

  “You know, Frank speaking of minds.” Dean poured. “How’s the mind reading psychic thing going?”

  “Well, I haven’t seen any more dead people.” Frank took the coffee. “Thanks. The mind reading thing is getting under control. I’m able to block out people’s thoughts. It’s a good thing, too. I wouldn’t want to hear what Ben was thinking about me.” Frank shuddered. “I felt violated by his eyes.”

  Dean laughed. “Well, you know you’ll have that when you’re the hero of the community.”

  “True and don’t forget, I’m hot.”

  Dean rolled his eyes with a snicker and sarcasm. “Oh, yeah, Frank. You are a sex symbol.”

  “Christ,” Joe blurted out when he stepped in. “Please don’t tell me I’m interrupting something I shouldn’t.”

  “Oh, hey, Dad. No.” Frank stood up. “We’re just sipping coffee.”

  “Sipping coffee?” Joe asked. “Sipping?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Men don’t . . . sip, Frank,” Joe stated strongly.

  “Dad.” Frank chuckled. “If men don’t sip how the fuck are they supposed to get the coffee into their mouths?”

  “That’s not what I meant. I meant, men drink coffee.”

  “Yeah.” Frank nodded.

  “Not . . . sip. Forget it.” Joe waved him off. “Anyhow, what are you doing in about an hour?”

  Frank looked at his watch. “I have the town meeting I have to speak at. In fact I have to get ready what I have to say.”

  “Are you sure you want to address that?” Joe questioned.

  “Dad, the people are concerned. We started it. Me and Dean.”

  “True.” Joe bobbed his head. ‘Dean, are you speaking?”

  “Are you nuts? I’ll let Frank handle it.”

  “Well, how long will this take?” Joe asked.

  “What?” Frank returned the question.

  “The town meeting.”

  “Why?’

  “Just answer the question.”

  “I don’t know. An hour maybe, depends how many questions people have.”

  “Christ.” Joe rubbed his eyes. “Fine. Just after the meeting get to my office. Hal wants to pull an emergency meeting sometime today.”

  “About?” Frank quizzed.

  “He didn’t say much, just that it had to do with the Society. So after the meeting come to my office.”

  Frank shook his head. “I can’t.’

  “Why?”

  “I have an audition.”

  “What!” Joe blasted.

  “Yeah, for the Hoi Hour talk show.”

  “Well, do the audition after the meeting.”

  “It doesn’t start until after the meeting. That’s when I’m doing it.”

  “Not the town meeting, my meeting,” Joe explained. “Go then. Audition then.”

  “Dad, what if it’s too late?”

  “Frank”

  “I want to be on the show,” Frank continued.

  “Frank.”

  “What if someone else does better than me and . . . ?“

  ”Frank!”

  “What!

  “Don’t worr
y about the goddamn show! You’ll get on it! How many people are gonna audition?”

  “Lots,” Frank answered. “It’s the first television show ever in Beginnings.”

  Dean, who had been silent, spoke up, “Frank, don’t worry about it. There’s no way Danny won’t put you on his show. You’re you.”

  “I am.”

  “I mean, you’re Frank.”

  “I am.”

  “You’re the only one who does what you do.”

  “I am.”

  “Plus, you have that personality that . . .”

  “Enough!” Joe screamed. “Will you just stop! Christ.” He shook his head. “Frank, Dean’s right.”

  “On which part?”

  “On the part that you’ll get on the show, so go to the town meeting, come to mine, and then audition. All right?”

  Frank grumbled, “Fine.

  “Fine. I have to get back to work.” Joe started to leave but stopped. “Speaking of work, you did interrogations this morning, right Frank?”

  “Yes, I did,” Frank replied proudly. “They went good too.”

  “Interrogations this morning, sipping coffee with Dean, town meeting. Hoi auditions. If you’re big ass is running all around this community, who’s running Security?”

  “Me,” Frank said.

  “How in the hell are you doing that? How are you giving your job full attention?”

  “Like you and Dean said,” Frank grinned, “I’m Frank.”

  Joe walked out.

  ^^^^

  “So how long do you think it will take us to get to Beginnings?” Jimmy asked Jess as they stepped into Jimmy’s home.

  “It depends, don’t you think, on how much resistance we run in to. Weather. Resources. I would think no longer than ten.”

  Jimmy tossed his keys on the table. “Then we should start packing. I also think we should stay as far south as possible and plan our travel route there.”

  “Better weather.”

  “You got it.” Jimmy nodded. “Then we head north. Okay, today went good. Tomorrow, we start setting up the trail.”

  “The one to Johnny,” Jess finished the statement. “We tell George of our rescue attempt. Set that up.”

  “Then boom!. All three of us are dead,” Jimmy explained. “If we play our cards right, the only problem we should run into on the way home is transportation.” Walking over to the couch, Jimmy paused. A peaceful look hit his face as he plopped down. “Home. Man, I can’t wait.”

  “I bet.” Jess sat next to him.

  “I just wish there was a way to tell my Dad. We can’t call. I just wish it wouldn’t be such a shock. Plus, you know, if they knew we were coming and which route we are taking, then they might send assistance to get us there faster.”

  “That would be nice. It would have been possible if my battery didn’t die.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “This guy, Danny Hoi, rigged me up a palm type computer, a direct communication line for me. It’s secure and private. It sends emails directly to the one Beginning’s has. I was sending messages back and forth, but haven’t since the battery died.”

  “Have you searched out another?”

  Jess snickered. “The device is rigged, Danny Hoi rigged. Meaning, he created the new power source and battery. I couldn’t find another like it if I tried.”

  Jimmy perked with excitement. “Have you tried to recharge it?”

  Again, Jess laughed. “Not my forte.”

  “But it’s partially mine.’

  “What do you mean? Oh wait.” Jess held up his hand. “You’re a Slagel.”

  Smiling, Jimmy nodded. “That’s right. I may be able to hook up or charge enough power to the unit to get one more message out.”

  “You serious?”

  “I can try,” Jimmy stated.

  “Then let’s try. It’s worth a shot.” Jess stood up. He moved to the door. “If it works, getting home will be easier than we thought. I’ll be back.” Jess hurried out the door. There was hope. Things actually had potential for running smoothly. That is, if Jimmy could fix the message unit.

  ^^^^

  The folded aluminum crib barely fit through the small back door at the cryo-lab and Frank wondered how it was going to fit in that back room.

  “It’s not gonna work, Dean.” Setting down the crib, Frank rested his hand on the bars as he balanced it. “Dean?” he called to Dean who stood before the open freezer case. “Did you hear?”

  “I’m right here. How could I not?”

  “So why didn’t you respond?”

  “What did you want me to say?” Dean asked, his eyes still focused on the case.

  “How about what you want me to do with this? There’s no way this one is gonna fit, let alone two.”

  “A-huh.”

  “Dean.”

  “One sec.”

  “You weren’t listening.”

  “Yes, I was. Now . . .” Dean turned around. “What did . . . Frank, there’s no way that’s gonna fit in here.”

  “I just said that.”

  “Shit.”

  “Okay. Here’s an idea.” Frank leaned the crib against the wall. “I can take out all of this stuff, the table, chairs, and small counter. That will fit one crib, especially after we move the freezer out.”

  “I don’t know . . . I need work space.”

  “You can still keep the small counter. Dean, one crib should work. I mean, they aren’t that big.”

  “True and it won’t be for long.”

  “You can’t put the cribs in the other back rooms.”

  “No.” Dean shook his head. “It’s too far away. I will have IV’s set up and meds ready. Caroline will wake up first and give me enough time to get her situated before Brian comes out of stasis. I’ll have to move fast and I can’t be running back and forth.”

  “Well, you’ll have help, what about . . .”

  “No. I’ll be alone.”

  “What about Ellen? And, Dean, I’m gonna be here.”

  “No, Frank,” Dean stated very seriously. “I’ll be alone. We discussed this. I have to face it first, just on the outside chance something goes wrong.”

  “I thought. . . . I thought you said you corrected the mistakes you made in the future.”

  “I’m pretty sure I did.”

  “Pretty sure?” Frank moved to Dean. “Dean, you gave me your assurance . . .”

  “I know what I said. I know what I did. I am positive I did things right. I am, Frank. The truth is, why did we cryogenically freeze them? So they could rest and heal enough to fight the virus and withstand another dose. We knew when we put them into stasis, there was a chance that it would all be in vain. We just have to remember that chance. That’s all, because there is still a chance, no matter how hard we tried or how long we waited. One year, ten years, understand?”

  “You argued with, El. You swore you covered and recovered your steps. You swore . . .”

  “I didn’t lie about that. I did what I had to do. I fixed the errors that were made, stasis errors. What caused Brian and Caroline to die in that future history was errors made when putting them into stasis. I fixed those.”

  “So what’s the problem? Why the worry now? It’s a little late, don’t you think?”

  Dean closed his eyes.

  “Dean.” Frank shifted his eyes to the case then back at Dean. “Is something happening? Did something . . .”

  “No, it’s all proceeding as it should.”

  “So why the change? Why are you so down about it now?”

  “Because something dawned on me.”

  “What’s that?” Frank asked.

  “We covered the errors and the problems with the process but we still have to face the fact that we are forgetting two important things, problems that no amount of preplanning can fix and no amount of time travel can change.”

  “They are?”

  “One is nature.”

  Frank was confused.

 
“What if nature, their genetic make-up, biological factors, all that, doesn’t let it work out?”

  Frank nodded once in understanding. “And the other?”

  “The other? The other is . . .” Dean walked over and shut the case. He stared at it as he spoke. “What if their deaths were just out of our hands, out of our control? We can beat illness, time, even the odds. But Frank . . .” He turned around slowly. “We can’t beat destiny.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Was there no one working in Beginnings? Joe and Hal barely squeezed into the packed Social Hall where almost every resident that wasn’t working a significant job, waited patiently for the meeting to begin.

  “You got to be shitting me,” Joe commented.

  Hal slowed down his walk and movements as he took off his bandana. “Good God. Is there impending doom and disaster?”

  “The people of Beginnings are acting like there is.”

  “This is absurd.”

  “Morons.” Joe shook his head.

  “Father, do you think that perhaps they truly don’t care but are using this as an excuse not to work?”

  “I think Hal, they do care. They have nothing better to worry about.”

  “Come now. Frank and Dean’s friendship isn’t all that important.”

  Just as Joe opened his mouth to speak, Dean’s voice intruded.

  “You would say that.” Dean looked up to Hal with disgust. “Asshole.” He walked away.

  Hal was dumbfounded. “I cannot believe the man still hates me.”

  “It’s hard to believe,” Joe said sarcastically, “and in reply to your statement, obviously it’s more important than we know.”

  “But does the community actually think it will impact them?” Hal asked.

  Another intrusion, this time it was Jenny.

  “Yes,” she said.

  Joe tossed his hand in the air. “I thought I was talking to my son.”

  “Well, Joe,” Jenny spoke. “Yes, it will impact the community. I wouldn’t have been so concerned if I didn’t think it would. I can’t believe you don’t take this more seriously.”

  “I am,” Joe mumbled, “sort of.”

  “Joe.” Jenny shook her head. “I’m hearing now from Jason . . .” she pointed. “That it will tear this community apart and possibly divide us in two.”