Joe Read online

  “Yeah, you’re missing two invisa suits.”

  “Yes. Do you have them?”

  “I don’t know. I might.”

  “Can you check?”

  “I can. But if they’re invisible, I won’t be able to see them.”

  Danny held back his grumble. “Frank.”

  “Yeah.”

  “We acquired twenty-three suits, I counted twenty-one.”

  “Is that including the one Darrell was wearing?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Maybe if you could see it …”

  “Oh my God, you have the brain virus.”

  “Fuck. No. I don’t. I wasn’t messing with a computer lately.”

  Danny squeezed the corner of his eyes. “Just please check. I’ll see you at the meeting.” He closed the phone, took a composing breath and walked to the Joe board.

  What the hell did she post?

  The moment he saw the word ‘impeach’ with the name Frank, Danny picked up the phone. “Nah,” he said out loud. “I don’t want to deal with Bob.” He paused. “What the hell am I saying?” He opened up the board, removed the notice and headed to his next destination.

  It seemed to be Danny problem solving day.

  Missing invisi suits, panic over the brain flu, and now Trish having a lock down.

  At least that would be easy.

  Trish was consumed with a phone call when Danny walked in. She paused enough to talk to him. “It’s been insane around here, Danny no one can view history.”

  “Was anyone even here?” Danny asked.

  “What do you think, Danny?”

  “I don’t think anyone was here.”

  “Well, the ghost was.”

  “Oh my God. I’ll go fix the computer.”

  “Be careful, Frank said the men were getting the brain virus from computers.”

  “I’ll uh, keep that in mind.” Danny went into the back room. It didn’t take him long to fix the problem, the computer was locked down. The main frame history link locked up when a password was entered incorrectly three times.

  Overridden, Danny had history back up and running.

  Trish was done with her phone call when he emerged.

  “Fixed?” she asked.

  “All done.” Danny prepared to leave. “Next time make sure you remember the password.”

  “It wasn’t me.”

  “Who was it? You lock it down.”

  “I know, but it was like that when I came in. It read the executive password entered is incorrect.”

  “You’re kidding me? Man, Frank couldn’t remember the password?”

  Trish snickered.

  “What?” Danny asked.

  “Frank never comes in here. That was the ghost.”

  “What are you talking about Trish?”

  She huffed out. “Danny, remember some ghost was using Joe’s password. Well I changed it and sure enough, the ghost only knew Joe’s word.”

  “Really.” Danny tilted his head.

  “Yep. Smart ghost.”

  “Um, yeah. Just make sure you lock up at night.’

  “I do. You can check lock history.”

  “I will.” Danny began to leave.

  “Things are weird around here,” Trish said.

  “You can say that again.”

  “Things are weird around here.”

  Danny laughed. “Tell me about it. Ghost using a Joe password, missing invisible suits and Joe’s floating head. Then again, it’s Beginnings.” Danny with another chuckle walked outside and pulled the door closed. But the moment he stepped out he stopped.

  His own words raced through his mind. Ghost using a Joe password, missing invisible suit, and a floating Joe head.

  He blurted out a ‘No’ with a shake of his head as he stepped forward.

  Then Danny stopped again.

  His mind started spinning.

  It took a few moments for Danny, but he reasoned out the insanity of his thoughts. But then he saw Dan from Security. He was coming out of the clinic and walking to where Dan believed was the down hatch to the cryo tunnels.

  He had things to do, a meeting to prep for, but he wanted to talk to Dan.

  “Hey, Dan, you have a minute?” Danny trotted to him.

  “Actually, not too much. I have to work. I missed all day yesterday.”

  “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

  “Mind if we talk and walk. I’m walking the cryo tunnels.”

  “Sure. I have to make my way up toward the offices, I’ll use this route.”

  “Sweet.” Dan lifted the hatch and climbed down, at the bottom he waited for Danny.

  Although Danny had no problem climbing down the ladder, he was dressed for a business day. He straightened his long sleeve shirt and tie, and then asked, “So how are you feeling Dan?”

  “Better. Much, much better.”

  “Good, I’m glad.” They began to walk.

  “Say, Danny, are they gonna have a town meeting, Maybe immunize.”

  “I’ll bring that up at the meeting today.”

  “Because this thing is bad. You start seeing things, feeling like shit. Man.” Dan shook his head once. “I hope you don’t get it.”

  “Me, too.” Danny paused. “So, with this thing, you don’t remember anything.”

  “You get these black outs where you function and don’t know what you did. You suddenly wake up or snap out of it confused.”

  “That sucks.”

  “And the visions,” Dan from Security whistled. “Scary shit. I heard Hap saw Eleanor Roosevelt naked.”

  “That’s scary.”

  “Don’t know if it beats Joe’s floating head.”

  “Tell me about that vision. Do you remember it or are you just telling me what people told you.”

  “You mean do I remember seeing it?” Dan questioned and waited for Danny to nod. “Yeah. Clear as day.”

  “Tell me about what occurred.”

  “Is this for info for the meeting?”

  “Yes.”

  “Ok. Well, I was driving to get Robbie. He called me for a ride. Or so I think. He’s saying now he called me back and said forget it. I don’t remember that, it must have been a black out. So anyhow I drive up there, turn the bend, slow down and what do I see?”

  “Joe’s floating head.”

  “Yep. Just floating back and forth. It was behind Robbie, I think my illusion had it attacking Robbie.”

  “Did he look normal, Dan.”

  “No. He was a head.”

  “I mean the head. Was it normal? Ghostly.”

  “What’s this have to do with anything?”

  “Trying to determine what is affected.”

  “Oh.” Dan nodded. “It was normal except for the fangs.”

  “Joe had fangs?”

  “Big ones.”

  Danny laughed. Inwardly though, not letting Dan see. Surely it was a hallucination. “So, Dan, was that what made you pass out?”

  “Black out.”

  “Pass out, black out? Is there a difference.”

  “Big time. See Dean explained that the visual perception portion of my brain was heavily infected, and the memory portion was too. So when I had the hallucination it affected my short-term memory causing a black out. I was mobile, but just didn’t know consciously what I was doing.”

  “When did you pass out?”

  “I suppose after I drove to the clinic. I shut down in the waiting room.”

  Danny stopped walking. “Excuse me. When you … when you drove to the clinic?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You remember driving there?”

  “No, I was blacked out. Remember? Which, if you think about it, could have been dangerous.”

  “I bet. Maybe... maybe someone took you there.”

  “No, I blacked out and drove. Besides who would take me there?” Danny asked. “Let’s keep moving.”

  Danny walked with Dan, but in his mind he answered the
question, who would take Dan to the Hospital. Easy. Robbie. Cause Danny saw Robbie carrying Dan from Security up the clinic steps that day.

  So why didn’t Robbie own up to it? Why didn’t Roy?

  Danny’s mind wasn’t put at ease by talking to Dan, it was sent into more of a frenzy.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  The communications room was void of anyone else but Robbie and Joe.

  It is a huge communications room with panels of electronics and computers designed for more than a one or two man crew.

  A railing extended in front of the stage like area just below the big board. Joe stood in that area, watching the lights on the board.

  “I’ll be a son of a bitch.”

  “Scary huh?” Robbie asked, holding on to the railing.

  “It’s a reality check.”

  “Did you know about this in the future?”

  “How the hell was I gonna know about it in the future? I wasn’t there, remember?

  “Yeah, that’s right. Sorry.”

  “This is what the meeting is about?”

  “And other things.”

  “Christ.”

  “Frank usually runs a tight meeting.”

  “As opposed to me not.”

  “I didn’t say that.” Robbie paused. “Hey Dad.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Can you put your hood back on? The floating head thing is kind of freaky.”

  “I will. I will. We can hear if someone is coming.” Joe looked at the board again. “That’s a hell of a mass.”

  “I know. This is actually the first time I have gotten a look at it. On the left it tells what they have with them as far as armory.”

  Joe exhaled loudly.

  “What do you think Frank’s gonna do?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Do you think this is it? The big event.”

  “Nah, it isn’t this. I don’t know for sure. But my guts says this isn’t it.”

  “I don’t think in the future this mass was changed.”

  “I’d have to agree. Especially with Jason’s message to himself.”

  “What would you do?” Robbie asked.

  “I’m not telling you.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t want to influence.”

  “Influence who? Me? I don’t make decisions, Frank does.”

  “Well. Just don’t try to tell him anything.”

  “Scouts honor.” Robbie held up two fingers.

  “You weren’t in the Scouts.” Another look at the board and Joe faced Robbie. “We have troops massing a mere hundreds of miles from our borders. They aren’t camping, that is for goddamn sure. I’d make contact with them, see what I pick up. Find out their intentions. I’d warn them to leave or back up if I deemed them a threat, then I’d just take them out. Too close for comfort.”

  Robbie nodded, and then he quickly turned at the buzz. “Door. Hood.”

  Joe placed on the hood to the suit.

  The communications room door opened and Jimmy stepped in surprised. “Robbie.”

  “I’ve been waiting for you.”

  “You have?” Jimmy asked.

  “Yeah, didn’t Frank tell you I was here?”

  “No. Not at all. I mean he may have I do have that brain flu.”

  “I thought you were cured.”

  “I am. But you never know. They said there could be a relapse and to … wow.” Jimmy stepped closer to the board. “Oh, wow. This isn’t a simulation isn’t it?”

  “No.” Robbie indicated to the board. “This is what the program uncovered.”

  “And I missed it.” Jimmy sat down in the chair.

  “No, you were here. You figured it out.”

  “So, did I discover the troops?”

  “We believe you did.” Robbie said. “Dean told me you were rambling something about bright lights. Bright lights. Blinking lights. Like the movie Gremlins, then you passed out.”

  “I don’t recall that.”

  “Dude, you had the brain flu.”

  “But I do recall the conversation with Frank this morning. He mentioned nothing about troops and … well, all that. Holy shit.”

  “I know. Did he uh …” Robbie scratched his head. “Mention a meeting?”

  “Yes.”

  “There you have it. He’ll tell you there.” Robbie held out his hand.

  Jimmy turned to the computer. “This is amazing. Look at what they’re massing. It’s like Desert Shield.”

  “I know.”

  “He should have told me when he spoke to me.”

  “Maybe he wanted you to feel the discovery of it by showing up.”

  “Jimmy shrugged. “I wish Dad were alive.” He sighed out.

  “Well, you know, he’s not.” Robbie surged. “You’ll have that. A parent dies. Umf.” Robbie sailed a foot forward when Joe hit him.

  Jimmy looked up. “You ok?’

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “That was ...that was kind of cold.”

  “Sorry. You’re right. You wish Dad were alive.” Robbie exhaled loudly. “Why do you say that? Not that you wouldn’t want him alive, but why did you say that?”

  “He wouldn’t keep me in the dark.”

  Robbie laughed.

  Again, this caught Jimmy’s attention. “What’s so funny?”

  “Dad wouldn’t forget you?” Robbie snickered. “Dad always forgot you. It was him who never remembered you were around. Ow.” He tripped forward. Was that a flick to his head? “I don’t know if he liked you.” Another move forward that was a smack to the back of the head. “Ok, he liked you.”

  “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  “Fine. I keep losing my balance.”

  “While standing still.”

  “How do you like that?”

  “Maybe you have the brain flu or virus whatever it is.”

  Robbie snapped his finger. “I may. Hey, I may not even know this conversation. Will you mark down what we said just in case?”

  “I will.”

  “And I’m gonna go get checked.”

  “Please, you don’t need to suffer with this.”

  “I’m heading out now.” Robbie reached the door. “Good luck with that, bring the sheets with you to the meeting, and notes.”

  Jimmy nodded. “See you in a bit. Good luck at the clinic.”

  “You bet.” Robbie opened the door. He stood there holding it for a second.

  “What are you doing?” Jimmy asked.

  “Fresh air.”

  “Fresh air? Why?”

  “I uh … passed gas.”

  “Ok, thanks for being considerate.”

  Robbie smiled, felt the stomp to his foot, knew it was safe and stepped out. He pulled the door closed behind him.

  He laughed, and then squinted his eyes when he heard muffled words come from Joe. “What was that?” he asked as he walked.

  Again, more muffled.

  “I can’t hear you.”

  Joe stopped walking and irritated, whipped off the hood. “I said … you’re an asshole.”

  An immediate scream echoed in the cryo tunnel, followed by a thump.

  Both Robbie and Joe spun around.

  “Goddamn it.” Joe winced in annoyance.

  “Shit.” Robbie froze.

  Their surprise wasn’t so much spawned by Dan from Security, who had screamed and now lay passed out on the tunnel floor, but from Danny Hoi who had crouched down to attend to him.

  Danny, with a look of total shock, raised his eyes to them. “I know I don’t have brain flu. What’s going on?”

  *****

  Joe was getting a headache and it wasn’t the brain flu.

  “Danny.” He rubbed his temples as he sat in the storage office located in the cryo tunnels. “Danny. Christ I need a drink.”

  “That I can help you with,” Danny, excited, walked across the room and opened a box, pulling out a bottle and glasses. “My stash. This is so great.”

  �
�You use this office?” Joe asked.

  “It’s my hideaway. Here.” Danny poured him glass. “Have some. This is so great. You’re alive.”

  “Yes, I am.” Joe downed the drink.

  “It makes perfect sense. It really does.” Danny rambled, in his usual Danny manner, fast and furiously. “The password in history. You were reading history weren’t you.”

  Joe nodded.

  “The killer wanted you out of the way so Frank could be president and make a decision only Frank would make. But you weren’t gonna die you were only gonna hide.”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you done hiding now?”

  “No!” Joe snapped. “Not by a long shot. So you can’t tell a soul.”

  “I swear.” Danny pretended to zip up his mouth. “I promise not to tell a soul.”

  “I mean it.” Joe pointed at him. “I hear from our clone that you are very influential in the future. I wouldn’t want to kill you.”

  “Won’t say a word. Scout’s honor.”

  “Were you in the Scouts?”

  “All the way to Eagle.”

  “Figures.” Joe grumbled. “Danny …”

  “Who all knows?”

  “Too many.” Joe peered at Robbie. “Which makes me wonder if all that we did will be undone.”

  “There’s a way to tell. We can go to the future pay a visit and check progress.”

  “You guys got the time machine working?” Danny asked.

  Robbie snickered. “HG Wells.”

  “Sweet!” Danny grinned. “Joe, I had a feeling that you weren’t dead. I thought maybe it was wishful thinking, but I had a gut instinct. I’m psychic like that at times, you know.”

  “You don’t say.” Joe said. “What made you think that?”

  “Frank.”

  Both Joe and Robbie looked at him.

  “He didn’t mourn. So he knew.” Danny watched them both. “He doesn’t know?”

  “No.” Joe shook his head. “And for the sake of mankind. He can never know. All decisions have to be his without my influence. But there is one decision we have to make and make now.”

  “What’s that?” Danny asked.

  “What are we gonna do about …” Joe pointed to the closed door. “Dan from Security. He’s still laying on the cryo floor.”

  *****

  “Modula Oblongata Hypodesamentrayachictitis,” Andrea stated as she dropped the chart so exasperated on Dan from Security’s bed.

  “Brain flu again?”

  “A virus. It’s a virus, they are a bit trickier,” Andrea stated.