Unleashed

by Patrick McLaughlin

  Chapter 35

  Ben disconnected the generators to double check the connections and fuses before powering them back up to test the power grid. He told Shawn to walk Drake into the main house to get him dried off and clothed.

  Ben suggested they check in his bedroom closet, find some shorts, and pick out one of his Hawaiian shirts. He didn’t have any other kind of shirt. Drake grabbed some khaki pants, but just couldn’t get used to putting on an old-guy-in-Hawaii shirt. “Man, can’t I go shirtless?” he asked Shawn. “This is Hawaii.”

  “Drake, this isn’t exactly a fashion show. Just find the least offensive shirt and put it on. And don’t say anything to Ben. He’s a solid guy and we don’t want to hurt his feelings. Here, take these sandals, you need something on your feet too.” He handed him some roman gladiator-type tie-up sandals.

  “Ah, c’mon, now you want me to look like Julius Caesar from a retiree cruise ship? Shit, this is worse than dying,” Drake bitched while selecting a shirt with an old car graphic print in all the colors of the rainbow.

  “Drake, we’re sponsored by Deep Surf, and I have tons of shit at my house. Get on with it. Ben will be here any minute and he wants to give you a medical once-over to see if you’re healthy.”

  “Well, I’m not getting out of the car once we leave here, at least not till we get to your house,” Drake replied.

  “That’s going to be tough seeing as how we’re on the North Shore of the Big Island and you and I live in Kauai,” Shawn laughed.

  “Yeah, pretty fucking funny; keep laughing at me Brah. You have a pretty weird-ass way of making fun of regurgitated or reincarnated people, or whatever the hell I’m called. Hey, speaking of…what about my gig on the pro circuit. If everyone thinks I’m dead, how will I compete and what happens to my sponsorship?”

  “Take it easy, Drake. You’re gonna hyperventilate. Told ya this is going to take some strategy. Can you just be cranked your alive again?

  “Listen, sure I was dead. But it doesn’t mean anything to me. I DID NOT KNOW I WAS DEAD! So try and see it my way. You’ve been cool about that in the past. How am I, I mean, how are we going to make a living? What’s going to happen to my lifestyle, the chicks, the islands? This is some pretty important shit we’re covering Brah.”

  “Drake, please hang for one or two days, buddy. These are big-concept problems to work out. It’s not changing your flights, or getting you out of a press conference early so you can hit the bars. We’ll figure it all out and this guy Ben is smarter than hell. Probably the most intelligent person I’ve ever met, even Sally. Ben is not only smart, he’s clever and sees things different than most. Later on, once you relax a bit, he said he’d sit down with you for a question and answer period. I promise he’ll help you see the situation you’re in. So like you said, pretend it’s just another day and you were knocked unconscious when you hit the reef, that’s all. Let’s get Ben in here to get you checked out and see when we can put down a few beers. Best way I can think of for you to start your day after your fall.”

  “Well, I know I hit my head, can still feel the bump so I’ll follow your lead and tell myself I was knocked out. But if you’re telling me everyone thinks I’m dead…I mean, even my Mom?”

  “Yes, even your Mom. She loves you very much you know. Oh, to tell you the truth, the bump is from when you fell off the wave in the lab less. Technically, we did that to you, not the wave. Please you just agreed to hold off on the questions for now. You’re here Drake and for this very moment that’s all that counts. If you don’t stop asking so many questions, I’m gonna put you back in that hologram where I can shut you up.”

  “Okay, I’ll chill,” Drake complied.

  Ben had finished out back and came in, the screen door slamming after him. “Sorry Drake, take your shirt back off, we need to give you a physical. Hey, that’s my favorite, you have good taste, son.”

  “Yeah, it’s my favorite too,” Drake said politely and pulled the gaudy shirt over his head, not even bothering to unbutton it.

  Ben reached for a bag on the top shelf in his cabinet. “When I was studying for my Masters at MIT, one of my professors taught we needed to understand the elementary anatomy of the human body,” he said as he opened his general practice MD check-up kit. He told us, “After all, how can you expect to research the universe if you don’t first understand how you work?

  Well, I took him up on it and took two years of premed then worked as an EMT in Boston part-time to help pay the bills.”

  “As long as you don’t do any of anal checking or cough crap on me,” Drake warned.

  After using every device in the bag, Ben said, “Breathing, pulse, blood pressure, all good, you’re a perfect specimen of the human race; fascinating when you consider you didn’t even exist in this dimension a few hours ago!”

  “Well, I feel great, except for the bump. Can I put your cool shirt back on, and when can I get a beer?” Drake asked.

  “No beers for a while, until we’re certain you’re stable. Maybe you should have one tomorrow after a good night’s sleep, which by the way Shawn, you could use as well.”

  Shawn’s cell rang and Unknown came up. He hit answer in case it was one of Drake’s long-lost relatives or fellow pros. Since Drake died, everyone kept calling him for to offer condolences.

  “Shawn, it’s me. It’s horrible. I’m coming to you. I don’t know what to do.”

  “Sally, what’s wrong? Whose phone is this? Are you okay?”

  “It’s one of those convenience store cheapie cell phones; had to destroy mine. We can’t even be sure they don’t have you tapped,” Sally cried. “Shawn I’ve never been so afraid in my life, and my heart is shattered. Frisco is dead! But I can’t talk any more except to say I’m in danger, maybe you and Ben too!”

  “Frisco’s dead!” Shawn said and instantly knew he had made a big mistake.

  Drake bolted from the other side of the room to Shawn’s side. “What the hell are you talking about? Give me the phone; is that Sally?” Drake snatched the mobile from Shawn’s hand.

  “Sally, is this you? What about Frisco! What happened to my boy? Where is my Frisky Biscuit! Is he okay?”

  Sally, in a state of shock, sat stricken in the back of the cab. “Is this Drake?”

  “Yes it’s Drake, duh.” Then Drake remembered.

  Sally thought: They did it; they replicated Drake. I can’t believe this is a day in my life; be calm.

  “Drake, wow, you sound great! So glad you’re okay. Could you please ask Ben to get on the phone?” she spoke as kindly as she could so as not to confuse Drake.

  Ben had no problem hearing Sally since she was shouting into the burner phone.

  “Hello Sally, Ben here. Before you bite my head off, it was an accident. Well, under the circumstance, accident is not the appropriate word. Shawn used a new method to build the composite image, and I used a laser technique with unintended results.”

  “Ben, you don’t make mistakes. You knew exactly what you were doing. How could you? And Shawn, did he contribute to this?” Sally pushed.

  “Yes and no. Shawn did vastly improve the layered image, but he had no idea I set him up until Drake was already here with us.” Ben gave Shawn a thumb up which meant: Got your back, Shawn. It’s all on me. He knew nothing of my intentions. Do you want to speak with him?” Ben asked eager to get off with Sally.

  Before Sally could answer, Shawn took his phone from Ben. “Sally, it’s awesome, it worked. Wanted to wait till you got to Ben’s to share our success, but what about Frisco?”

  Sally gave him a few of the facts related to Frisco’s demise; Shawn listened, shaking his head while looking at Drake.

  Drake couldn’t take it anymore and fell to his knees. “No not my Frisk! I would rather still be dead than have my Frisco gone!”

  “Shawn, I’ve shared much more than I should have. Take down this number, and both you and Ben take the batteries out and smash your phones. I’ll bring two with me.�
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  “Sally, just get here; we have no clue what to do about Drake. You need to come to where we can protect you,” Shawn urged.

  “Shawn, you are so right. I need to be with you. I am on my way.” And she hung up.

  Drake was distraught. “Not my Frisco, how did he die?” Shawn shared only the part where Frisco saved Sally’s life, telling Drake Frisco had hit his head in the struggle and died at once.

  “Drake, when I signed on to take your photos my commitment was more than to be your photographer. I took it upon myself to make sure you kept it together and watched over you. But I let you down in a big way, no doubt. It was my fault you died the other day, and I won’t make that mistake again. Ben and I, well I guess in a way we re-borned you and now you are our responsibility. We will do our best to keep you safe and figure out a way to get you back to your old life, but it’s not going to be easy. What I’m trying to tell you Brah, is I will never let you down again.”

  “Sure, thanks Brah. I always knew you were watching out for me.” But Drake didn’t feel like talking. He could only think of Frisco.