Escape the Planet of the LEPS: Beginnings Series Book 28 Page 14

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  “Thank you. I’m so happy you’re better.” One hand on Elliott’s shoulder, Hal gripped his hand.

  Just before both men parted ways, Dean moved quickly down the clinic steps, completely focused ahead as if Hal and Elliott weren’t there.

  “Everything okay?” Hal asked.

  “Is … Hank at Containment?” Dean answered with a question.

  “Yes, he is.”

  “Thanks.” Without saying anything more, Dean moved at a fast pace.

  “That was odd,” Hal said.

  “It’s Doctor Hayes.”

  “True. I’ll see you later.” Another swatting pat to Elliott’s arm, Hal walked up the stairs and into the clinic.

  He was feeling better, less stressed as he walked down the halls on his way to see Robbie. That was until he saw Ellen.

  She had just walked from Robbie’s room and she stopped cold, looking almost frazzled when he saw her.

  “Ellen.”

  “Hal, it’s good to see you back. How are you feeling?”

  “A little sore from the abrasions. I…” He stopped talking when Ellen reached to feel his neck. “What?”

  “Just checking.”

  “For?”

  “Fever.”

  “I’m fine. What’s wrong?”

  “Robbie …Robbie is having set backs, it hit him really fast and …”

  Hal rushed by her to Robbie’s room.

  Every ounce of air escaped Hal as soon as he stepped inside. He wasn’t expecting what he saw. He wanted to scream in his emotional confusion.

  His father looked drained as he sat in a chair by Robbie’s bed. He looked up at Hal and shook his head.

  Hal was speechless.

  Robbie turned his head and looked at Hal. His little brother was near gray, dark circles were under his eyes and his body seemed to have gained at least twenty pounds from swelling.

  “Hey, Hal,” Robbie said then coughed.

  Hal’s eyes widened. “I’ve been gone no more than an hour,” he spoke with emotions and panic. “My God, what happened to my brother?”

  <><><><>

  For a half an hour Hal sat there on the other side of Robbie’s bed, waiting through silence with his father and the occasional comment from Robbie. Then finally, Dean returned.

  “Where’s Ellen?” Hal asked.

  “She’s working with Roy, right now and that’s where I need her,” Dean said.

  “What’s going on, Dean?” Joe asked. “Two hours ago my son was fine.”

  “Yes.” Dean nodded. “He was. But we didn’t see what was happening below the surface. Robbie handled the surgery great. He’s strong. He is very strong.”

  Weakly Robbie spoke up, “Would I sound like Frank if I said, I am?”

  Hal smiled and grabbed Robbie’s hand. “Yes and better.”

  “Hal, you’re holding my hand.”

  Hal choked up. “I am.”

  Joe lowered his head.

  “As you know, an infection has hit Robbie, pretty hard and fast. But it is not normal bacteria. I have seen a lot and never seen anything like this. It is a very virulent bacterial infection that just seems unstoppable. It is devouring his immune system. Eating his white blood cells like there is no tomorrow. This is like nothing we have ever seen. It’s new … to us.”

  “Oh my God,” Joe said. “He got something in the future.”

  Dean nodded. “We believe so. That’s why we need to watch Hal. We don’t know if Robbie got it from the dirt or from the arrow. It hits fast, it moves fast.”

  “Is it contagious?” Joe asked.

  Dean shrugged. “I don’t know. But I promise you with everything I am, we are working on it.”

  “I have faith, Dean,” Joe said. “It’s you. You can do this.”

  “Thank you, Joe.”

  Hal sighed out heavily. “I feel fine. It has to be the arrow,” he gripped Robbie’s hand. “I mean, if it wasn’t why ….” He looked down to Robbie oddly. “Dean, could he have gotten this from something he touched, possibly inhaled and not from the arrow?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  Hal held up Robbie’s hand. His palm was completely red and his hand swollen. “Robbie found an odd flower. He grabbed it for you.”

  “What?” Dean asked.

  “He said it was so odd, he wanted to bring it back for you,” Hal said. “I asked him not to. He pulled it anyhow and sealed it in a baggy. I remember he had pollen from it on his hand.”

  “Could that be it?” Joe asked.

  “Yes, it could. That flower could have had something. That flower could also be a clue in beating this. Where is it?”

  Hal sighed out. “Frank has it.”

  “Frank will be back soon,” Robbie said. “I know it.”

  Just as Dean lowered his head, Ellen rushed in.

  “Here.” She handed him a bag of blood. “Roy and I will work on separating the next batch.”

  “Thank you,” Dean said and turned to the IV pole.

  “What is that Dean?” Joe asked. “You’re giving him blood?”

  “Yes. I’m giving him blood. The next blood will be more separated for fighting infection.” Dean hung the iv bag of blood and his hands worked as he talked. “Joe, I am not a real big ‘fall back on God’ type of guy, you know that. But sometimes, things are unexplained. They happen for a reason. Fort and Hank were supposed to come through the time machine at the same time. For some reason, Hank was delayed. He came when we needed him.”

  “What are you talking about?” Joe asked.

  “We tested Hank’s blood earlier. He’s different. His cells are mutated. Almost impervious to infection. We introduced the bacterium into Hank’s blood. In Robbie’s blood, the infection was invincible. Hank’s blood fought it, defended against it. He has the same type as Robbie. This is Hank’s blood” He started the flow of transfusion. “I believe, Joe. This is going to give Robbie the fight he needs.”

  TWENTY-EIGHT – BEGINNINGS

  Andrea spent a lot of time, wiping Robbie’s face and arms, while humming the Silly Song. A tune she hadn’t thought about until that moment. Every ten minutes she return to the room with fresh water, sit on the edge of the bed and wipe him down. He slept soundly.

  It was quiet in the room.

  Hal kept watching that bag of blood, how it slowly entered Robbie’s body.

  Joe watched the monitors, then his son.

  Andrea returned again. She softly sang, “How silly can you get …”

  “Andrea, please,” Joe said. “Not that song again.”

  She ignored him and started examining him, continuously singing.

  “I like that song.” Robbie said.

  His voice caused Joe and Hal to jolt in surprise.

  “Andrea, are they still staring at me?” Robbie asked.

  “Yes, sweetheart, they are,” she answered.

  “Guys, stop,” Robbie said. “I’m not dying if that’s what you’re waiting on.”

  “No, no,” Joe shook his head. “Not at all.”

  “Quite the contrary,” Hal added. “We just love watching you sleep.”

  “Liars. I know the sit and wait to see if I die, routine. We’ve done it enough with Frank.”

  “And you aren’t dying,” Andrea tapped his cheek. “Not anytime soon. Your temperature has dropped, in fact it’s low grade now. Your breathing is better. Whatever treatment Dean is doing, seems to be working. Let me check your belly.” She pulled down the covers and lifted his gown. The moment her hands touched his stomach, Robbie giggled.

  “That tickles.”

  “Better.” She smiled and kissed him. “I’m going to go let Dean and Ellen know, they’re working really hard on the next step. They’ll appreciate knowing their efforts aren’t in vain. I’ll be back.” As she left the room, she paused and pointed at Joe then Hal. “Take a break you two,” she said, then left.

  Hal exhaled loudly. “Thank God.”
>
  “Hal, that’s not nice. She’s our stepmother.”

  “Not Andrea, you,” Hal said. “You had us worried.”

  “Minor setback.” Robbie smiled. “I feel so much better.” He lifted his hand and made a fist. “Yep, the swelling is definitely down in my fingers,”

  “It’s down all the way around,” Joe said. “Still a little puffy, not like you were.”

  “Was I that bad?” Robbie asked.

  “Tell you what,” Hal said. “You looked like Uncle Jerry did after he married that chef. What was his name.”

  “Carl,” Joe said. “His husband was Carl.”

  “Yes. Wonderful baker,” Hal stated. “made all the cakes.”

  “What?” Robbie squealed. “Uncle Jerry weighed like three hundred pounds.”

  “Oh, stop,” Joe waved out his hand. “No he didn’t. He did gain fifty pounds and you looked like you did too.”

  “Puffy or not,” Ellen said as she walked in the room with Dean. “You’re still the best looking guy in Beginnings.”

  “Aw, thanks, El.”

  “You are looking so much better. Dean?”

  “Agreed.” Dean reached up and grabbed the empty bag. “Andrea said his temperature is down. The color is coming back and the fluid seems to be decreasing.”

  “So that’s it?” Joe asked. ‘That’s all it takes with the wonder blood.”

  “We want to be safe rather than sorry. Hank is still a living being and we can’t drain him. However we have taken more because he’s a bigger guy. We’re gonna give Robbie another half pint, and tonight we should have the antigens from Hank’s blood ready for tonight. That... hopefully, should do it.”

  Ellen added. “Combined with the anti-infection medication, which Robbie has to be on for a while until we know that bacteria is completely gone. We’ll run blood tests.”

  Joe asked. “What about this flower? If Frank gets back, would that be able to help?”

  Dean nodded. “If the flower is the cause. There still chance it was just the arrow.”

  “Roy does think it’s the flower,” Ellen said. “He thinks maybe it carries something. Like a bacterial virus. If we have the source, it’s easier to beat it.”

  “Whenever Frank gets back,” Hal said. “By my calculations he just spent another night in the future. Knowing my brother, he probably stayed to ensure another aspect of the LEP world becomes one with his obsession over Planet of the Apes.”

  “Is that possible?” Joe asked.

  Both Hal and Robbie but answered, “Yes” at the same time.

  “It’s a live action version of the original movie,” Hal said. “And Frank with his unnatural fixation … trust me … is living the dream. Well, a twisted dream. But Frank’s dream none the less.”

  “That’s insane thinking,” Joe said.

  Hal shrugged. “What can I say. We all know him. Insane? That’s Frank.”

  TWENTY-NINE – POLW

  “I am.”

  Frank looked over his shoulder when he heard the clunk of the eating utensil hitting the metal plate.

  “No wonder Hal gets so upset with you,” Chaka said. “You do that all the time.”

  “I know. It’s habit.”

  “How do you equate you with my saying the eggs were great.”

  “It’s a thing. And the eggs were great. The whole meal. Plus…” he sniffed his arm. “That soap wasn’t bad. The clothes suck.” He looked down to the pants, which were dark brown, and more like pajama bottoms. The top was a brown button down coat like cover. “At least they’re treating us good.”

  “That’s because this is the last day of our lives. Our final meal and we look clean so we leave the earth with our dignity.”

  “I’m not dying today and neither are you,” Frank said.

  “Frank. They think I committed treason and not only did you kill three Hubra but you set the Primals free on the city. You, my friend are dead.”

  “Nah.” From the corner of his eye, he caught Vesna approaching. “Looks who is here. And maybe she can explain why you are even on trial for treason.”

  Dr. Vesna answered. “Because he claims to be the son of Senator Wa. Which they don’t believe.”

  “That should be pretty fucking easy to prove. You mean to tell me with all this fucking technology. That easy blood gun and scan results you can’t prove he’s telling the truth? Even I know no DNA is the same. Scan the baby, scan him. Done.”

  Silence.

  “What? Neither of you thought of that?”

  “Time to go,” a guard called out.

  “Wait,” Dr. Vesna said. She looked at Chaka. “Tell Counsel there will be a delay. There is something I need to do for evidence.”

  Frank smiled.

  <><><><>

  It was no doubt, a courtroom, and Frank’s mind went directly back to Planet of the Apes. Like a senate hearing, perched on a platform was a long judge bench with five seats. The center one, large and royal looking.

  There were two tables before that bench, Frank figured a defense and prosecution. Behind him was an empty court room. It was a closed hearing, not open to the public.

  They were hours behind, but that was a good thing. They awaited the results of blood tests.

  Frank did what he always did when he was bored or nervous, he bit his nails while rocking back and forth in his chair.

  “Stop that,” Chaka told him.

  “Oh my God, each day that passes you are more and more like Hal.”

  “You bite your hard skin covering and spit it on the floor.”

  “Yeah.”

  “It’s a court of law.”

  “Minor detail,” Frank said. “So also a minor detail is your execution. Are you coming back to Beginnings with me or hanging out with the family a while?”

  “You really think they’ll free me.”

  “How can they not?” Frank asked. “the blood will prove that you’re Chaka Wa.” He snickered. “So who is this counsel?’

  “They are the leaders. All scholars and religious leaders. They are known as Prime Elders and are given numbers.”

  “They don’t have names?” Frank asked.

  “They do, but not in this court of law. They are law givers and makers. Prime Elder One, Two, Three and Four.”

  “Ah, and Senator Wa. Got it. Okay, you didn’t answer my question,” Frank said. “Once it proven are you staying back or coming to Beginnings with me? We have that extra pendant.” He brought his finger to his mouth and bit his nail.

  Chaka looked at him. “I will stay a short while to see my family. But my then I will leave. My pet is carrying my child.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Maybe.” Chaka watched Frank bite his nail again “Then I think I will join the UWA with Hal.”

  “Ug!” Frank grunted. “You can’t do that.”

  The door behind them opened and Frank turned around. “Oh, look, it’s Dr. Vesna. She’s my Zera.”

  “Who?”

  Frank waved out his hand.

  Dr. Vesna walked up and sat behind them.

  “Well?” Frank asked.

  “The results proved he is Chaka Wa.”

  Frank chuckled then cleared his throat to look serious. “And are you gonna tell them during the hearing?’

  “I already told Senator Wa.”

  Frank nodded. “So this is a formality.”

  “Let’s hope.”

  “What about you?” Chaka asked. “My lineage doesn’t free you.”

  “Yeah it does. If I can prove innocence by ignorance, I’m out. You being from the future proves that I am telling the truth about myself. Piece of cake.”

  Another Hubra, this one male in a suit walked into the court room and sat at the table next to Frank and Chaka. Frank lifted his hand in a wave, he didn’t wave back.

  “Must be the prosecution. Where is our defense?” Frank asked.

  “We don’t get one,” said Chaka. “That’s not the way it works.”

  “Well ho
w does this work?”

  “They come in. Read the charge, ask how you plead, then the Prime Elders ask questions and reach a decision.”

  “Got it.”

  “All rise.” A voice called out.

  They stood.

  A guard opened a door behind the bench. From the back Senator Wa and four other elderly looking Hubra walked in and took a seat.

  “Be seated,” the guard instructed.

  After they all sat down, Senator Wa spoke, “You both face death and are charged with treason, brutality and murder. How do you plead?”

  Chaka stood. “Innocent.”

  Frank stood. “Not guilty.”

  “It’s innocent or guilty,” Senator Wa said.

  “Okay if we’re being honest, I’m not innocent, but I’m not guilty by reason of ignorance.”

  “Sit down.”

  “Okay.”

  Senator Wa looked at the prosecutor. “Barista Dobdob, proceed.”

  Frank chuckled. “You guys and your crazy names.”

  Dobdob stood. “Thank you, Elders. I am here today representing the fine Hubra and Hubrata of our village. We the Hubra believed unequivocally that these two should be put to death and placed in public exhibition.” Dobdob paced and spoke like an overdramatized attorney. “By his own admission, right here, right now, the man who had given a name of Frank admits to murder. He killed three Hubra and while he saved the life of a Hubrata, he did unleash the creatures onto our city streets.’

  Elder one raised his hand. “Dobdob, I was shocked to hear the vocal ability of such a beast. How do you explain that?”

  “A freak of nature. Just as there are Hubra who an unable to speak anything but ancient Hubra-ese, he is a freak of nature with vocal ability. We should not let his talent get in the way or clear judgement. The Hubra falsely claims to be Chaka Wa….”

  Frank laughed.

  “The Frank won’t even say he is innocent. One claims,” he did quotes with his fingers. “He is from the past, while the other says,” He did quotes again. “He is from the future.”

  “Wait.” Frank interrupted. “Did you just air quote.”

  “Excuse me?” Dobdob asked.