The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  George sighed out, “Well, if we get communications up soon, give the word to our science team to do just that.”

  “Head back to Quantico?”

  “Yes.” George nodded.

  “What about you? What will you do?”

  “I’ll wait and see and make my call then. What can we do now, right? We wait. It shouldn’t be that long, two or three days.” George returned to looking out the window. “What’s two or three days.”

  ^^^^

  “Two or three days!” In an angry frenzy, with his face red and jaws tense, Frank blasted at Dean.

  “Lower your voice, Frank.” Dean leaned across the counter in the cryo-lab.

  “Oh, who’s gonna fuckin hear me?” Frank continued his stone-face stare at Dean. “The fuckin rabbits? Mutated animals? Huh? None one!”

  “Frank . . .”

  “No, Dean. You’re telling me some time in two or three days, Brian and Caroline wake up. How can that be?”

  “The process is based on size. They are, to put it layman’s term, defrosting faster.”

  Frank growled and stepped back. His hand ran over his head and down to this neck. “This is a fuck up.”

  “What basis do you have for saying that?”

  “When did you say they’d wake up?”

  “On the fourteenth.”

  “What day now are they waking up?”

  “Probably the tenth.”

  “Fuck up.”

  “Fuck you, Frank. You have no justification making those remarks.”

  Loud, too loud, Frank bellowed. “I have every justification! I stood behind you! I took your side! I believed you knew exactly what you were doing!”

  “I do. It’s only three days early! How can you say that?”

  “Because, it is something that went out of your control! You said you had it figured out, at least the technical side! Obviously you were wrong! You know it all. You followed it correctly! Well, Dean, you don’t fuckin know it all, This isn’t some lab experiment . . .” Frank’s hand waved about. “This isn’t some fuckin animal we can care less about. This isn’t even a fuckin Savage. This goes way beyond just human life! This is personal! These are kids!”

  “Why are you screaming at me?”

  “I’m fuckin mad. We cheated fate once! You going through again cheated fate, again!”

  “You think me going back to fix errors is gonna make a difference in the end result!”

  “Yes!”

  “Wrong!” Dean screamed back. “Wrong. They would have woken up three days early no matter when we did it. Maybe this is what went wrong in the future. Maybe no one was there! Maybe that was it! Did you think about that, Frank!”

  “Obviously you did when looking for fuckin excuses for what’s happening now.”

  “Fuck you.” Dean spoke low.

  “No!” Frank blasted. “Fuck you! I swear to God, Dean, the wrath of El will be shit compared to my wrath if this goes down wrong!”

  “If you want to talk rational, I will, but not with you screaming at me. Lower your voice”

  “Again!” Frank yelled the loudest he could. “Who’s gonna hear!”

  Dean exhaled with a point behind Frank.

  Frank turned around.

  With her arms folded, Ellen stood in the cryo-lab door. “What about me?”

  ^^^^

  “Ev-ert.” The small man spit then reached into a little pouch and pulled out what looked more like grass than chewing tobacco. A big thick wad was pinched between his cheek and gum. He showed the pouch to Jimmy as all three of them sat on the porch of an old shack.

  Jimmy shook his head. “No, but thank you anyhow. So . . . Everett, how long you been here?”

  “Aw ma life.” Everett nodded then showed the pouch to Jess.

  Jess refused the offer as well. “So you stayed here after the plague?”

  “Thas wah I says. Dint uh?” Everett spit. “Pep-pel, day jews gun done die. Tooks a few days. Had some pep-pel. Day live.”

  “Are you the only one alive now?” Jimmy asked.

  “Yup.”

  “How long have you lived alone here?” Jimmy questioned further.

  “Sees year ago jews but nun of us lift.”

  Jess blinked. “Six years ago there were only Jews left?”

  “Wah?” Everett asked. “Speck in-lish.”

  “You said . . .”

  Jimmy halted Jess. “He said there were only nine of them left.”

  Jess nodded with an ‘oh’.

  Everett continued, “Den. Tie dun pass ‘n den dun star ta drip off. Hear? Dean all zat left is ma ‘n Bib Bub Bossen. Dint like em much.”

  Jess blinked. He was totally lost.

  Yet, Everett told his tale while Jimmy nodded as if understanding. “Bib Bub Bossen ta tie dat now win likes, hear? Near did. New one. Hems a rab ‘n lie’ sun beach cuz treble. Still mo fud den don needs den dun blame ton so sore sun beach, hear? Uhs pose ya knew sum pep-pill like dat.”

  “Absolutely,” Jimmy stated. “Don’t we all, Jess?”

  “What?” Jess asked. “I can’t say shit. I haven’t a clue what this man is saying.”

  “Doe ya din speck in-lish. Jist a nodder sore sum beach lick Bib Bub Bossem. Hi ya de wit dat?” Everett peered to Jimmy.

  Jimmy lifted his hands “It’s tough sometimes, but we all have to deal with people like that, especially in this day and age, right?” Jimmy snickered. “Not too many people left. What can you do?”

  “Don huff ta leave wid it.” Everett. “Uh dint. Nah long.”

  “Where’s Billy Bob now?” Jimmy questioned.

  “Did,” Everett stated matter of factually.

  “How’d he die?”

  “Keeled em.” Everett nodded. “Bib Bub dared ma. Seed uh woo shoot em in da heed.” Everett placed his own finger to his temple in a mock manner. “No won dare Ev-ert. I shot em.” he made a moth explosion noise following it up with an assured nod.

  Jimmy exhaled his word, “Well.” Bringing his hands to his legs with a slap, Jimmy stood. “We have loved this little visit, but we have to move while we still have daylight.”

  Everett stood. “Uhs unner stand.”

  “Thank you so much for your hospitality.” Jimmy shook his hand. “You know what to do is you see those soldiers with the ‘CS” on their arm, right?”

  “Shoe dim.” Everett replied.

  Jimmy smiled. “You got it. Jess? Ready?”

  Politely, Jess extended his hand to Everett. “Sir.”

  Everett ignored the hand and turned to Jimmy. “Show ya woo like ma ta come long? Uh cane be pre us-fil fell.”

  “As much as I would love for you to come along,” Jimmy said as he adjusted his huge bag on his back. “We need you here for protection of the south, but we’ll come back and visit you.”

  “Dat be nice.” Everett nodded. “Ness vis uh fex . . .oh.” Everett snapped his fingers. “Ways.” He hurriedly raced into his home and came back out with a pouch. “Den mud ma self.” He handed the pouch to Jimmy. “Kip ya tummy fill on da wah him.”

  Jimmy looked into the pouch. “What is it?”

  “Skeel jerky.”

  “Mm.” Jimmy smiled. “Squirrel jerky. My favorite. Thank you.”

  With a wink, Everett nodded.

  “Thank you again. We have to go.” Nearly turning Jess, Jimmy led them away from the home.

  Jess whispered, “Squirrel jerky. We aren’t gonna eat that, are we?”

  “I’m keeping it. It’s long way home and this may save our lives.” After looking back with a smile and a wave to Everett, Jimmy and Jess moved on.

  ^^^^

  If Ellen could do the childish act of placing her fingers in her ears, she would have but that wasn’t an option. It was cold and she kept her hands in her pockets while walking to Containment. She whimpered out a defenseless, “Joe”, as she huddled to him in their walk.

  “Hold on.” Joe stopped walking and turned around in the middle of the street. “Frank
! Knock it off.”

  “I want to talk about this with her.” Frank followed.

  “She doesn’t want to talk about it with you. In fact!!” Joe pointed a finger. “She doesn’t want to talk about it at all. Not now and especially not today.” Joe clenched his teeth. “We’re on our way to something that’s gonna make her smile. Don’t ruin it.”

  “But, Dad, I’m mad.”

  “Be mad, but get over it.” Joe inched Ellen along.

  “I don’t understand why you aren’t mad either!”

  Joe stopped. “Ellen, walk to Containment. I’ll be right there.”

  Ellen nodded. “You’ll take care of him.”

  “I promise. Go.” Joe waited until Ellen was out of earshot and he faced Frank. “You need to knock this shit off.”

  “I have every right to be pissed.”

  “You have no right.” Joe’s finger swung about. “None! You hear me? I told you Ellen doesn’t want to hear about it. It upsets her and this is a subject I don’t discuss, ever, so drop it.”

  “You don’t understand. Dean could have screwed up. Brian could die. How will you deal with it then?”

  “Frank!” Joe snapped. “I already dealt with it six months ago when my heart broke. I buried that boy. I mourned that boy and I dealt with it. I will not deal with it again because I will not let myself get that far. Right now, to me, he’s still gone.”

  Frank huffed out, “That is wrong. That is so wrong.”

  “No, Frank. What you people did was wrong. You stole a second chance other parents deserved. That was wrong. Trying to change what happened, wrong. This discussion is over.” Joe widened his eyes. “Over.” After a single warning nod he turned.

  “Dad.”

  “Over.” Joe continued to walk.

  “Fuck!”

  “Don’t swear at me.” Joe arrived at Containment. “And don’t follow me in here.” He glanced back one more time. “That is an order.” Joe went into the building.

  Frank just stood there.

  Ellen looked from the fingers that gently gripped her arm to the face that screamed irritation. Her feet barely kept up to the pace Joe set in his lead of her to the little Containment office. “Is there a reason I can’t see my people?”

  “You can see your people in a few minutes. Get in here.” Joe opened her office door.

  “Why?” Ellen asked.

  “Just . . .” Joe opened the door. “Get . . . Jesus Christ, Frank.”

  “I’m out of here.” Ellen tuned to leave and Joe moved her back in the office.

  “Frank!” Joe snapped. “I thought I gave you an order.”

  “You did.” Frank nodded.

  “What was that order?”

  “Not to follow you in here.”

  “Then you disobeyed my order.”

  “No.” Frank lifted his finger. “I didn’t follow you in here. I followed Dan.”

  “You’re an asshole.”

  Ellen looked up at Joe. “Joe.”

  “Frank. Out.”

  “No.” Frank shook his head. “We need to talk.”

  “I need to give Ellen her little surprise.”

  “He’s gonna ruin it, Joe,” Ellen complained. “I know it.”

  Frank gasped, “Oh, that is so wrong.”

  “No.” Ellen spun to Frank. “This is wrong. I just got home. Did you ask me about my trip?”

  “No.” Frank shook his head.

  “Why is that, Frank?” Ellen asked.

  “Because I know why you went. And . . .”

  “I don’t wanna hear it. I only want my surprise.” Ellen turned again to Joe who stood behind her. “If you can just make me smile then I . . .” Ellen smiled and just stopped talking.

  Joe gave a quirky look. “That was easy. What did I do?”

  “Fuck,” Frank bitched.

  Ellen wisped out, “Elliott.”

  “Fuck, Dad. You got Sgt. Fuckin Ryder as a surprise?”

  “Joe,” Ellen spoke pleasantly. “This is a great surprise.”

  “What?” Joe asked, confused. “No, Elliott isn’t your surprise.”

  “Thank God,” Frank breathed out.

  “Frank,” Joe warned.

  “Elliott.” Ellen moved to the door where Elliott stood.

  “Have I come at a bad time?” Elliott questioned.

  “No, not at all. Come in,” Ellen requested.

  Taking off his bandana, Elliott gave a nod to Frank then stood at near perfect attention before Joe. “Mr. Slagel.”

  “Christ. Uh . . .” Joe gave an ‘at ease’ nod. “Elliott.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Elliott took about as much of a step as he could in that office and it was toward Ellen. “May I welcome you home, Ellen?”

  “Yes.”

  Elliott extended his hand, took Ellen’s and, never removing his eyes from hers, brought her hand to his lips. “It’s good to see you safely home. How was your trip?”

  Ellen sighed.

  “Fuck,” Frank grumbled.

  “Frank.”

  “Ellen?” Elliott asked.

  “Huh. Oh.” Ellen blinked. “Good. It was good.”

  “Perhaps after the game show tonight, if you aren’t too tired, we can talk about it?” Elliott asked.

  “I’d love to.”

  Frank huffed out, “What is it with this guy and talking?”

  “Frank.” Joe rubbed his eyes.

  “Are you in the game tonight?” Ellen asked with a grin.

  “Yes. Yes I am.” Elliott nodded.

  “I didn’t know. Oh, Elliott, you’ll do so good.” The smile stayed brightly on Ellen’s face.

  Frank tapped Ellen on the shoulder. “He’s competing with me.”

  The smile dropped. “Oh.” Ellen cleared her throat.

  Frank smirked.

  Joe gave a swat to Elliott’s back. “So, did you bring the . . . surprise, son.”

  Frank answered, “No.”

  Joe quickly looked at Frank. “I wasn’t talking to you.”

  “You said son,” Frank defended.

  “I was speaking to Elliott.”

  “Uh!” Frank blasted dramatically. “I’ve been replaced.”

  “Frank!” Joe yelled.

  “What!”

  “Get the fuck out of here!” Joe pointed back.

  “Oh my God, you just said fuck!” Frank gasped.

  “Yeah, yeah. Some people bring out the worst in me.”

  “That’s Sgt. Fuckin Ryder.” Frank moved to the door. “El, can we talk later?”

  “Not about what you tried to talk to me about a little bit ago,” Ellen replied.

  “Fine. Then can we just talk?” Frank asked.

  “About?”

  “About . . . about . . . your trip.’ After a snide look at Elliott and a ‘ha’, he gave a grin to Ellen. “Can we?”

  “God, you’re immature. Yes.”

  “Thanks.” Frank inched to the door. “Dad. Elliott.” He nodded and walked out.

  Ellen rubbed her hands together anxiously. “Now, Joe can . . .”

  Joe lifted his hand. “Wait. Feel that. Breathe that.”

  “What?” Ellen asked.

  “A tension free space.” Joe exhaled, “Ah.” He clapped his hands together once. “All right. We can continue. Ellen, a lot has transpired since you left. We got a confession about the Dean chip incident.”

  “Oh my God.” Ellen backed up and leaned against the desk. “You’re kidding?”

  “Nope. Four people were involved.” Joe shook his head. “Punishment was delivered. but since Misha was one of them, as you know, and since Elliott was the one who thought of her punishment, I thought I’d let him tell you.”

  Ellen faced Elliott. “The House of Lesbians?”

  “No,” Elliott stated with a shake of his head. “I had reasoned that the punishment should fit the crime or rather match the crime. Since Misha was responsible for pretty much making a man insane for a span of time then . . .”


  A bright gasp escaped Ellen the split second before she brushed by Elliott and flew from her office.

  Joe just turned and looked at Elliott. The sound of Ellen’s running footsteps carried into the office, followed by the banging opening of the Skills Room door, a shriek, and then footsteps again.

  Joe motioned his head to the door. “Here she comes.”

  Ellen latched onto the doorway. “She’s here! Oh my God!” Grinning, Ellen kissed Joe on the cheek. “Thank you.” She hurriedly kissed Elliott on the cheek. “Thank you. Oh, this is great. This is so great. How long?”

  Joe held up three fingers.

  “Three days?” Ellen asked happily.

  Joe shook his head. “Three weeks.”

  Ellen screamed.

  Joe winced.

  Rapidly Ellen spoke with enthusiasm, “Oh what a great time to start. What a great day too. It’s Monday. Hokey Pokey Hokey Pokey day with Chester, Chester, plus we do inanimate object charades. I can’t wait to . . .”

  “Ellen.” Joe halted her. “Can we at least be a little more reserved and professional?

  With a swipe of her hand over her face, Ellen took a serious tone. “Joe, would you excuse me while I start my activities for the day?”

  “Go on.”

  “Thanks.” Ellen darted out, stopped, and flew back in. “Elliott? Wanna watch? It will be so much fun seeing Misha . . .”

  “Ellen.” Again, Joe halted her. “Reserved.”

  “Sorry.” Ellen cleared her throat. “Sgt. Ryder, perhaps as a fine representation of New Bowman, you would like to observe how we handle a day at Containment.”

  Disappointment crossed Elliott’s face. “Ellen, I would love to, however I have to decline. The Captain has asked me to return to New Bowman.”

  Ellen shifted her eyes to Joe. “Joe?”

  Joe looked at Ellen’s face. He saw the genuine gleam. “Elliott, I really don’t recall New Bowman ever observing Containment. It should be done for documentation and future references.”

  “But, the Captain.”

  Joe gave a closed mouth smile and a wink. “I outrank the Captain. Stay Elliott. That’s an order.”

  Ellen, almost giddy, took Elliott’s arm. “You can’t disobey a direct order.”