Angie stopped talking and took deep breath.
“My God, Mrs. Sheldon; I had to see you. Somehow, I thought you would believe me; please?”
Angie got a strange look. She had completely forgotten until that second. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the two-inch long blue test tube vial.
“Look at this, I was supposed to inject it, into his neck; but I freaked out and ran. I swear, Mrs. Sheldon; he was as alive, as we are here, right now.”
“What is that?”
“I remember, I got the original email around 10:30 p.m., from Dr. B. It said I should inject Dr. Sheldon at precisely 2 a.m. with ‘this’, into his right carotid artery.”
Angie handed the vial to Rachel.
“After that, they took me away and locked me in Dr. Bellos’s office. I found a book. I read part of it; but I don’t believe it. It said that Dr. Sheldon was alive, because of something called ‘Ever-Life’.”
Rachel’s eyes swelled, as she stared at the blue vial.
“Oh my God!”
She took Angie’s shoulders and squeezed.
“Can you walk?”
“I think so.”
“Then come with me, girl.”
Rachel led her down stairs to the lab. She grabbed Jack’s manuscript and showed it to Angie.
“Did the book look like this?”
“Why no; the book I saw was bigger. It had a kind of white leather cover, with gold lettering that simply said J.A.S. But inside, it described Jack Avuar Sheldon, as being ‘duplicated’. There were a lot of technical definitions and medical procedures, regarding DNA. He was approved for something called ‘tran-stosis’. Yes that’s the word, I think.”
“Whatever is that, I wonder? Angie, something is going on?”
Rachel sat down and thought.
“That book…It couldn’t have been written tonight; that is impossible.”
The two women looked at each other.
“What’s the last thing you remember, Child? You didn’t just appear at my door. Can you tell me?”
“Yes, I think so…”
She recounted her evening to Rachel.
“Angie, we have to get back to the hospital. There is a lot going on. Can you get us into ‘focus ward’?”
“Yes, sure...”
“I know I’m asking a lot of you; but, you are in this, honey; otherwise why kidnap you and then leave you at my door?”
“Yes, all right; besides I have to find Ralphy. The last thing I remember is him being thrown onto the street curb. I know I am right about this, Mrs. Sheldon. I know it.”
“We will go to Matt’s office. You carry this book. We have to see the other one…Wait, let me think. I have to see Jack, first…The morgue; we will go there first. I know the department head. Come on; and Angie, whatever happens, don’t lose this vial; and don’t tell anybody you’ve got it, okay?”
“Okay; but, Mrs. Sheldon, Dr. Bellos wrote the email in the first place. He already must know I have it.”
Rachel looked at her and paused, with a confused look.
“You are right. Let’s go?”
Chapter 14
Bellos & Jack
Dr. Jack Sheldon awoke naked, in the corner of room 309’s bathroom shower. He slowly stood up and thought, Okay, no bruises; no sores; Christ, I feel fine. I wonder what time it is. I’ve got to get myself together. What the hell has happened to me?”
There was a clean terrycloth robe hanging on the back of the door. He quickly put it on and walked back into the hospital bedroom. The door lock clicked and the knob twisted. In walked Mathew Bellos.
“Matt, is that you?”
“Jack…”
They smiled at each other and embraced.
“How are you feeling? God, it’s good to see you up and about. Come; sit.”
“Matt, I had blood everywhere. I’ve been lying down, sitting; Christ, I fell in the shower; and just woke up, crouched in the corner. For God’s sake; what the hell is going on?”
“I have a lot to tell you; but, we have too little time for me to start, right now. Here, I brought you some clothes. Get dressed. We have to leave. Your body is in trauma. Obviously, you have no idea what happened to you. So, just shut up and trust me?”
“Okay Doc; now what?”
Jack started to dress.
“First, take a sip of this.”
Bellos handed him a glass.
“What is it, white Champagne? Not bad.”
Jack put on the clothes, leaning against the bed.
“Guess I am out of shape.”
“Come on; you’ll be fine; follow me. Try to be as quiet and quick as you can. There are people who, if they are not here yet, they will be. They want you; and I don’t mean in a good way.”
The two walked out of room 309 and down the hall, into Angie’s office. Bellos opened the closet door.
“Matt, did we miss our coats?”
Bellos turned with a sarcastic smile. He reached out, tapping a particular part of the molding behind hospital gowns and whispered strange words, “Yuopenz echduar GGM-TBN 010”.
The wall slid to one side, revealing an elevator, much like the one in Bellos’s office. They stepped in and Bellos continued speaking in his strange language, “Master secure, initiate directive-197.”
The wall closed behind them and both men felt a slight tug down and to the right.
“What the hell was that? Is this some Vampire Castle with secret passages? And when did you learn Chinese-That Wong Tong, Wang Chang shit. What was that; Jeez?”
They both looked at each other; and Bellos chuckled, “Shit, Jack, I’m glad you haven’t lost your sense of humor.”
“Great, thanks; that tells me nothing.”
“The fact is, my friend, to quote your favorite science fiction; we are going where you have never gone before; or something to that affect?”
“Oh okay; I feel ridiculous; like that’s exactly what I was thinking.”
“Well,” Bellos shrugged, “I have to get you far away and safe, fast. We are getting on a plane here on the Complex.”
“Matt, I feel funny; all of a sudden.”
“Hold on; here we are.”
The elevator door didn’t open. It appeared to just disappear, to reveal a flight hanger and a small one-engine propeller plane, waiting for the two to board. Jack grabbed his ears.
“Jesus, could it be any louder. So, are we back in the ancient 1960’s? Where did you get the antique?”
“We’re flying low and slow, to avoid detection. Come on; up the stairs; watch your head.”
“Just sit anywhere, and put the belt on, will you?”
“I feel so sleepy.”
“You need a shot. You might as well give into it, for now. I have to see the pilot. I’ll be back.”
In a few minutes, even considering the noise, Jack drifted to sleep. It felt like only seconds, when the plane bounced on the landing strip and Jack woke up.
For security purposes, Bellos tried to give the impression that they were leaving the state, so he arranged for the plane to take off from the Andrews airfield, circle the campus several times, and then land at a private entrance.
“Jack, you up? We are here.”
“How could I not be, with that smooth landing? Where are we?”
“Let’s go.”
The two deplaned and the pilot immediately took off again.
“This still looks like desert, except of course for the concrete door over there; oh, my head.”
The two walked toward a bright light, shining on the door, about a hundred yards away. A special ops guard, in full combat regalia, greeted Bellos with a smile and salute.
“Evening, Sir. This way...”
“Well, this can’t be Brazil,” Jack joked. “I don’t see any bikinis.”
They stood before a large fifteen-foot square concrete door.
“Oh, great, something else ridiculous; it looks like some old 1950’s bomb shelter?”
&n
bsp; “Actually it is, sort of.”
Bellos gestured to the guard and the door slid open.
“Matt, I need to sit down. It’s like I’ve had the crap beaten out of me.”
Bellos held Jack’s arm and they walked through the door, into the first room on the right.
“Here; sit down and drink this.”
“This is the same stuff, you gave me before? What the heck is it; and where are we?”
“Just relax; you are going through some very radical changes.”
“Really, ya think? And I just got out of bed, you know.”
“Just drink it. Look Jack, I know you are upset. I said I would explain and I will. But you have to be patient with yourself, the situation and with me. This is life threatening; it is very sensitive. The most important thing right now is, that you take it slow for a while.”
“Upset? I am way beyond upset. It’s all so frustrating; and where is Rachel? I have such a headache. Christ, I am a doctor; and I can’t even think. I feel like I have superpowers one second, and the next; it’s like I’m going to vomit my insides out from the pain. I can’t breathe.”
“Side effects, Jack, side effects. They should pass; and if they don’t, this is the one place on Earth you want to be.”
“And, where is this, I see four walls, a table and chair?”
Bellos put his hand on Jack’s shoulder, smiled and said, “Listen; you are having massive memory issues; and I don’t want to repeat myself more than three times, okay? Do you feel up to eating something?”
“Yes, the only food I’ve seen, is what that nurse dropped on the floor.”
“Then you remember the nurse?”
“Not really, maybe; I don’t know.”
Bellos sighed, leaned into him and examined Jack’s eyes.
“For now, I don’t expect much. The only thing I’m asking you for, is patience. Are you feeling any better?”
“Yeah, as a matter of fact, I am. What’s in that drink?”
“Good; come on then; follow me; this way.”
They walked out and down a hall, to another door. Bellos pulled out his Knofer; waved it over the icon, above the lock, and the door clicked open. Jack walked into a very small room.
“So Matt, you’ve brought me from one closet to another?”
There was one lounge chair and table in front of a small round stone fireplace. A video image of a world map was on the wall, and what looked like a silver refrigerator stood in the corner.
“Jack, please sit. We call this room a Unit. This one’s young, I mean small. It’s one of many here. If I had to describe the whole area; it’s like a bee’s honeycomb. You haven’t seen this part of the Complex, yet. There is nothing to fear at all; but it is highly secure.”
“Obviously, if you have kept it from me.”
“The important thing is that you are safer here than if you stayed in the hospital; and you get much better service. We have a lot to cover, in a very short time.”
“Okay; what’s next?”
“Actually, I need you to get comfortable here; drink more wine; and maybe nap a bit.”
“And how do I get food and the drink?”
“Well, that red button; just speak as you push. You can order anything. After you order, go around the corner and you’ll see a small ‘lift door’. Open it. Whatever you ordered will be there. Use the remote, on the table there. It will enable you to monitor hospital activities on the screen above the fireplace. You can catch up a little. We have no way for you to communicate with the outside though, sorry. As for the drink, more is in the refrigerator, over there, ready for you. Jack, this isolation is necessary for your health; just for a short time, and to guarantee your safety. Try to keep calm, will you? Just don’t forget to drink the wine.”
“In case you haven’t noticed; I keep asking you what is that stuff?”
“It’s a very old and rare healing elixir. I couldn’t really explain it, if I wanted to; but it makes you feel a lot better; doesn’t it? Drink all you want.”
“You are just trying to get me drunk, my first day back.”
“Unfortunately, Buddy, the drink’s effects are only temporary; and it has no alcohol in it, sorry.”
Jack swallowed every drop, sat back and felt the warmth spread throughout his body.
“You must listen; there are things at work here you never foresaw.”
“I don’t understand. Quit being so damn cryptic and just spit it out, will you?”
“Do you remember C.P.T.?”
Jack looked puzzled at first; but, then he felt suddenly refreshed and alert.
“Yes, I think so, Chemical Personality Transfer.”
“Right, what else; come on?”
“It’s the transfer of personality, of our memory from a dead person to...Yes, I remember.”
“Where did it come from?”
Jack strained.
“From me?”
“Yes, you; and what happened, Jack?”
“Jesus, what did happen? Did I screw up?”
Bellos laughed.
“Not exactly; you did quite the opposite. You succeeded; you did it; you are the proof; well your serum.”
Jack went rigid and thought for a second.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that you took all the findings and research, and you combined them into one fantastic hypothesis, your manuscript. You proved it true. You found the formula, the chemical cocktail for yourself. Jack, you were dead, and now you are not.”
“Dead…Holy shit!”
“ You were in a car accident. It was very bad.”
Jack was speechless, scared and his nerves went into overdrive. He started shaking uncontrollably.
“There are other things though. Right now, I have to keep you going, with the elixir you are drinking, until we get the vial.”
“Why?”
“Let’s just say, you found the cocktail and how to extract and inject; but, you weren’t prepared for the corrective action, required by your body in total. You were a wreck, when you were admitted, bones broken, an arm and leg severed. You were pretty bad.”
“So, how did I survive?”
“Well, we gave you fix-its; to repair all body parts and functions.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“You can’t understand everything right now. Your mind is still fried. There’s a lot more to hear. Right now, the drink needs time to work. Here, have another, doctor’s orders. And, I want you to put on this headset. Listen to the program; relax, as much as you can. Drink all of the wine, little by little. Order some food.”
“Fine; good speech; I remember something else too. I had help.”
“Jack, we knew this would happen. Please, eat, drink; it’s critical. Listen to the headset. You will feel better.”
“Who is ‘we’, Matt? Who knew this would happen, the hospital staff?”
“There are forces that want C.P.T., all the vials. How much did you make? If they get it, they will try to duplicate it. Look, my point is that you may not even remember what we have said here, so far; unless you do as I say.”
“I remember five vials, I think. I’m well enough to talk. Tell me; where am I?”
“Why do you have to know everything, immediately? Right now, your wife and my daughter are in grave danger; and you have to get better a.s.a.p. to help me keep them safe.”
“What; Rachel…?” Jack shook his head. “What do you mean, ‘And your daughter?’”
“Yes my daughter. She is in this, up to her eyeballs; and she doesn’t even know it yet. Jack, she is the key to all this. We have to protect her. I can’t explain it all right now. Listen; do you remember Marion Brock?”
“He was co-investor of the Brock/Swanson.”
“Right; well, he invested in you, and your experiment to prove out C.P.T., because Gordon Swanson…”
“Gordon Swanson? Yes, I remember that Bastard. He turned me down.”
“Yes,
and for good reason; he didn’t want to murder you.”
“I was murdered?”
“Then, of course, there was your bad timing; your jackass impatience almost lost you your life. Now it’s threatening us all. Getting Brock involved, opened the door to profiteering and sabotage, on a global scale.”
“Wait a minute. Who is Swanson to judge and decide the future of C.P.T.? I don’t believe that.”
“Well, that’s why we are here. Obviously, you don’t believe anything bad about Brock. You don’t realize the forces in play, in all this. I can assure you, Gordon is one of the good guys.” Bellos smiled. “And so are we. What you need to know is that we have to move fast. That means you have to heal fast. The drink will work; but it needs a little time; and you need to listen to this headset.”
“Fine, I do need to eat. I am so tired again, all of a sudden.”
Bellos patted Jack’s shoulder.
“It’ll come and go, for a while. Now relax; I will be back to pick you up. Jack, you have discovered a miracle, but others have turned it into some cat and mouse game, for the usual power and money. We are going to make it right.”
Bellos gave him a thumb up and left the room.
Chapter 15
Why Me?
As Marion Brock descended with an armed guard in the Andrews hospital elevator, he reached inside his pant pocket and pressed the emergency button on his phone. It sent a signal to his Chief of Staff, Rash InVoy. InVoy was at his east European office in Istanbul, Turkey, when the signal came through.
“Archur…ARCHUR! Get in here.”
“Yes Sir.”
“I want a team at Andrews Hospital, in Arden, New Mexico, within a half hour, ready to complete stage four; and we need to get Mr. Brock out.”
“Yes Sir.”
“Who have we got there?”
“We have four men, prepped at the complex, in Mr. Brock’s building. I can have them in the hospital within twenty minutes.”
“Do it!”
Back in the Andrews elevator, Marion Brock looked like a man about to burst, thinking to himself and murmuring incessantly to the guard.
Ever-Life the Two Book Set: The C.P.T Incident and Time Trust Page 10
