Consigning Fate: Beginnings Series Book 23 Read online

  “Eject the offspring?” Ellen asked.

  “Yes.” Hal nodded. “Legs in the stirrups, some sort of shocking jolt to the belly and out comes the child.”

  “Oh, my God, you’re such a Slagel.” Ellen shook her head. “So you two never told me why you rushed here.”

  “It wasn’t to sit in the waiting room, that’s for sure,” Hal said.

  “So why did you stay?”

  “To wait for you.” Hal held out his hand. “Escort you to Beginnings.”

  “Why?” She folded her arms.

  Elliott answered. “New security measures. No one is to travel the roads alone.”

  “I was fine.”

  “You never know,” Elliott said

  “And when was this new security measure made?”

  Hal replied. “You weren’t paying attention when we posted it. Perhaps you were sleeping, or dabbling in experiments or line dancing with George. Whatever the case. You didn’t get the memo.”

  “And it took two of you to escort me?”

  “Good heavens, Ellen.” Hal snapped “Can you just let it go and allow Sgt. Ryder to ride with you or drive you to Beginnings.”

  ““Yeah, but I want to stop in Bowman first.”

  “What for?” Hal asked.

  “Lunch,” Ellen answered. “It’s Oodles of Dan Noodles day, and they’re making a meal with them. I had the breakfast, it was good.”

  Elliott said. “The captain hated it. Gave him gas.”

  Hal winced in disgust. “Thank you for that, Elliott.”

  “Is that why I’m not riding with you, Hal?” Ellen asked.

  “No!” Hal snapped. “God. Can we just go?”

  “Not yet,” Ellen said. “I have to wait for Creed.”

  Hal threw his hands outward. “I quit.”

  “Captain, I can wait for Ellen.”

  Ellen said, “He can’t go, Elliott. New security measures. Can’t ride alone.”

  “Well it doesn’t count.” Hal said. “Not for me.”

  “Says who?” Ellen asked.

  “Me, that’s who. I’m in charge.”

  “Technically … Frank is.”

  “Technically my ass.” Hal nodded, kissed Ellen on the forehead. “See you two in Bowman.”

  Elliott cleared this throat after Hal left. “The captain is a bit moody.”

  “Probably the gas.” Ellen shrugged. “I’m going to go check on the mother. Creed should be here shortly.”

  “And I’ll just wait …” Elliott smiled and took his seat in the waiting room while Ellen tended to the medical matters at hand.

  <><><><>

  Trish had interrupted momentarily, and that was to bring more coffee to Frank’s office. They paused the conversation. A conversation that hadn’t even touched upon why they were meeting.

  Danny refreshed everyone’s cup, while Frank exhaled into his hand.

  “I don’t mean to step over boundaries,” George said. “OK, I do. But this deserves some thought. A lot of changes have occurred around you, Frank. A lot. The loss of your father, the sudden leadership role, just taking over that is stressful. It makes you put other things secondary.”

  Frank nodded.

  “I’m just simply saying, things done to Beginnings, to the Society, from both our sides, it was intentional. We have buried that. Put it behind us. What Johnny did, was caused by his tumor. I just want you to think about it, and think about talking to him.”

  After a single nod, Frank looked at Danny.

  Danny shrugged. “Tough call, Frank. Sometimes though it’s easier to hold the hatchet than to bury it.”

  “I’ll give it some thought. I really will.” Another exhale. “Ok,” Frank said. “Let’s get this started. Issues.” He nodded at Danny.

  “First …” Danny reviewed his list. “The Mike situation. Right now he’s in a holding cell.”

  “Can we release him?” Frank asked.

  George lifted his and in defeat. “I don’t know. He’s not buying the war or anything.”

  “I’ve got an idea,” Danny said. “Tigger. I think Tigger should return with George to the Society side of the country and speak to his father. Maybe come back with him. Can you two coexist?”

  Frank chuckled “Probably not.”

  George said, “I could use him if he agreed. Really. He has experience. And you guys would be miles apart.”

  “Well, why don’t we talk to Tigger and get his take.”

  Danny nodded and wrote down. “Next … the satellite system still is not running. We do expect to be operational soon. But does that mean we’re gonna catch anything?”

  George replied, “We’ll be able to scan the skies and sea, but we’re gonna have a perimeter. They’ll have to get into that area.”

  “What area?” Danny asked. “Where are they coming from?”

  “I’ve always had a theory,” George said. “We feed most of the world. Eventually, they would have to make their way here to live. I’ve said this from the get-go and have planned for it. Unfortunately, my troops and their training leave a lot to be desired. This will have to be worked on ASAP. I think the attack or the invasion is going to come from the Eastern World. Asia, Russia.”

  Frank nodded. “The Fredrickson hit there, so it’s possible they planned on leaving, knew it was coming.”

  “That would have to be a hell of a movement,” Danny said. “If they’re invading here. They’d have to have the means. Would they all come at once?”

  “An attack. Maybe.” Frank said. “They have to know we’re occupying the East Coast, mainly. It’s easiest for us. Plus, the Fredrickson killed our west coast. So, I highly doubt an attack would come from there.”

  “We should check,” George said. “Has anyone flown a reconnaissance over the west coast for damage?”

  “No,” Frank answered.

  “How about Robbie and I do it while I’m over this way.” George suggested. “It’ll give us an idea of what that seaboard looks like and if it’s viable.”

  “Good idea. We’ll get together with Robbie on that,” Frank said.

  Danny asked. “If it were you Frank. How would you do it?”

  “Hit us?” Frank asked. “The West Coast is out. I wouldn’t even consider it. Me, I’d have two visible invasions. One from the east, one from the south, up through the Gulf of Mexico. I’d use SLBM to make strategic hits on our soil. Weaken us, then a ground invasion.”

  “From which way?” Danny asked.

  “Every way. Depends on what way they nuke us from. I also wouldn’t rule out coming from the north. In fact, I wouldn’t doubt at all if they already started moving troops in up there to come down. I would. Months before the big attack I’d have my men up there waiting.”

  “Holy shit,” Danny said. “What about these rebels on bikes? Ryder thinks they’re coming from the north.”

  George said, “Eight men on bikes do not make an invasion. They do however, make a good cover for a scouting team.”

  “I agree,” Frank said. “Hal’s getting scouts together to look for them.”

  “If it is them,” Danny said. “If they’ve been moving their troops in up there. Then what? What do we do?”

  “Mobilize.” Frank said. “Mobilize units up north with surveillance equipment. George has the troop power, but they aren’t ready.”

  George shook his head. “Not in the least.”

  “All right how about this. I’ll get a hold of Doyle, have him pick out ten of his best men and they head east to start training your men properly.”

  Under your direction?” George asked.

  “Absolutely.”

  “That’s the only way it’ll work Frank.” George said. “I’ve always said you had the knack.”

  “We’ve got to get ready. Period” Frank said. “That’s it. Get ready. We’ll prep Doyle for deployment to the east to train. Get your man on the horn to gather your troops into ten training divisions. We’ll work out the numbers later. This has to be d
one, without hesitation. Obviously, they’re coming. We just don’t know how, or when. We just …” Frank paused. “We have to prepare.”

  <><><><>

  How horribly devastating it would be, Dean thought. Robbie’s thought process was going towards Joe not being dead. Dean as a scientist and a doctor knew the odds of that were slim.

  It wouldn’t be as bad if Robbie wasn’t his son, but he was. He knew himself how hard it was to lose a father.

  But to get your hopes up that he was alive, only to have them crushed …

  Robbie didn’t deal well with Joe’s death. He hoped this wasn’t a setback.

  There had to be an explanation. Joe’s fingerprints were on the bomb.

  Dean thought back to the day Joe died. How by the time he found out he went to see Ellen, and Joe was already in a coffin when Dean arrived back at the hospital.

  The memorial service was held, closed casket, in an auditorium. Then after, a procession took them a few miles out of Bowman. Elliott had found the location. Actually, it wasn’t far from where Dean was hiding. A cemetery, and just inside was a personal mausoleum. A white structure with pillars and golden doors. So fitting for a man like Joe. Upon learning that no one was placed to rest in there, UWA soldiers cleaned up the vines, the high grass, and washed the building to perfection. The tomb was opened, and Joe’s casket placed inside.

  Was it sealed?

  Dean doubted it. In the old a tomb had to be sealed, but why would Beginnings seal it.

  He didn’t know. But Dean wanted to know about the fingerprints. Why they were there. What all went down that day? What seemed at first to be a simple plot of assassination, suddenly twisted and turned into a bigger mystery.

  To say he was against it would be lying. Dean wasn’t against, in fact, Robbie’s chain of theories piqued his curiosity. Not that he though Joe faked his death, Joe wouldn’t do that. Unless Joe didn’t have a choice.

  Dean actually, held on to that.

  Maybe Joe was forced by this person from Beginnings in the future.

  Whether or not Joe died, and whether or not Joe was actually buried in that tomb remained to be seen … but not for long.

  Dean agreed and planned with Robbie.

  When all was quiet in Beginnings, when all had died down in the late town of Bowman, when security in town was low and more focused on the outskirts, and the deep, dark of the night set upon them, Robbie and Dean would go to the mausoleum and find out.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  What a learning experience. Roy was absorbing everything in like a sponge. Not that he had too much to absorb. His morning was spent in the lab.

  Andrea was very pleased with him when she discovered all the urine samples were done and all the new blood as well. She praised him saying that he was dynamic.

  Roy liked that.

  The ding of the bell signified that it was time to go to the cryo lab and do some personal work. Although he wasn’t quite sure what kind of work Dean was doing, he was positive he wouldn’t have a problem filling in.

  After all, he was educated longer.

  He finished straightening the lab. He hated to leave it empty, but Andrea told him Lars was supposed to be pulling his shift shortly. After his appointments at the wellness center.

  The wellness center.

  Roy recalled seeing that.

  Just as he was about to leave, his phone rang. Admittedly he was filled with excitement, because he hadn’t gotten a call since when was in the future.

  “Hello,” he answered.

  “Hey, it’s me,” she said.

  “Hello, me.”

  She giggled. “Just wanted to let you know I was in Bowman and I’ll be back shortly. Where are you going to be?”

  “I will be in the cryo lab.”

  “OK see you soon.”

  “OK,” Roy said.

  The call ended.

  He looked at the phone. He didn’t have a clue who that was, but he figured, as she said, he’d find out shortly.

  First, Lars.

  He figured he’d stop and find him on the way to the cryo lab. Perhaps Lars forgot it was his shift.

  Roy walked out of the clinic and was greeted with a friendly smile from a woman he knew, Jenny Matoose. He waved and kept on walking.

  He registered it in his mind that people in Beginnings generally greeted each other, so he waved to everyone he passed.

  He walked to the Wellness Center.

  Tilting his head, he looked into the window. He knew Lars from appearances, but hadn’t a clue what his and Dean’s relationship was.

  He looked unoccupied and Roy went inside.

  Lars looked up from his desk. “What?”

  “This is very nice in here”

  “Excuse me.”

  “Your Wellness Center. It is very nice. I bet you are excited to have it.”

  “I am.” Lars said with apprehension.

  “I hope it is a success for you.”

  “What do you want, Dean? To rub it in that I messed around with you and Ellen?”

  “Messed around?”

  “Yes, messed around. If you can’t take a joke, Sorry, I was taking advantage of your naivety.”

  “Sometimes that is harmful, Lars.”

  “Give me a break.”

  “Ok.” Roy nodded. “How long do you need?”

  “What?”

  “A break. You asked for a break? Would you like me to fill in at the wellness center, or did you need me to go back over to the clinic and wait until you get there.”

  “Perhaps,” Lars said sarcastically. “You’ll even do some samples.”

  “I did. I did them all today.”

  “Right.”

  “Left.”

  Lars looked at him.

  Roy flashed a smile.

  “Are fucking with me.”

  “Oh my God! No. I would never assume to fuck with you.” Roy was well aware what the meaning of that word was. “I am not a homosexual.”

  “What is with this attitude, Dean? Is it the shirt?”

  “I think so. Do you like it?”

  “What is wrong with you today? Sniffing drugs. Inhaling a new chemical.”

  “No, I had bacon.”

  “They should feed it to you more often,” Lars said.

  “Yes, I like bacon.”

  “Why are you here?”

  “To get you.”

  “For?”

  “Your shift at the clinic. You haven’t shown up and I was just telling you in case you forgot. That’s all.”

  “That’s all?”

  “That’s all.” Roy nodded. “I’m going to the cryo lab to work on some stuff.”

  “Hmm.” Lars folded his arms. “Any chance I can get you to try to identify the mystery substance in Darrell’s blood.”

  “Yes, I can do that.”

  Lars laughed. “Only if I’m standing over your shoulder.”

  “That would be difficult to stand over my shoulder.”

  “I meant watch you,”

  “You can watch me. We can work in it together.”

  Lars leaned back in the chair. “Something is different about you. If I didn’t know you better I’d swear you were trying to get on my good side.”

  “Am I usually on your bad side?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I want to be on your good side. Enemies are not good.”

  “Are you dying?” Lars asked. “Did you run some test on yourself and discover you are sick.”

  ‘No.”

  “Then why are you trying to get on my good side. I have no secrets to share.”

  “Neither do I. I just want to make amends with all my enemies. The time has come.”

  “Hmm.”

  “Hmm,” Roy mocked. “Well, I must be going. Feel free to stop by and we’ll work on Darrell’s blood together. Have a great day, Lars.”

  When Roy left the wellness center, he took a route he was very familiar with, the way to the cryo lab.

&
nbsp; He whistled the song he heard in the wellness center all the way through the tunnels. He was surprised when he saw Henry there. He knew it was Henry. No guessing this time. Henry’s hair wasn’t as shiny as Danny Hoi’s.

  Working on something outside the cryo lab door, Henry merely looked at Roy.

  “Hello, Henry.”

  “I’ll be out of your way in a second.”

  “You aren’t in my way, I can walk right by you.”

  Henry shook his head.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Changing the key pad like you asked.”

  “Thank you.” Roy studied Henry. He would assume, because Henry was an original that he and Dean were friends but Henry wasn’t presenting a pleasant appearance.

  “Almost done. You can go in your lab,” Henry said. “I won’t bother you.”

  “Why are you speaking so edgy to me?” Roy asked. “Have I done something to you?”

  Henry nearly threw the tool, stood up straight, and faced him. “Look at my eyebrows.”

  Roy sang out his revelations response of. ‘Oh.”

  “I don’t care what people say, you are responsible for this.”

  “And you are very perceptive. Of course, I am responsible. Do you remember or are you using instinct.”

  “Remember what?” Henry, sharp, reached down, swiped up his tool, and tossed it in the box.

  “Remember me doing that to you.”

  “No!” Henry shouted. “I was knocked out.”

  “Of course you were, the drug works nicely.”

  “What?”

  “Then it is instinct,” Roy said. “It’s instinct that is telling you I am the one responsible for your eyebrows.”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, you are perceptive. Are you psychic?”

  “You know what?” Henry grabbed his tool box. “I’m done with you. You and your ‘let’s mess with Henry, it’ll be funny.”

  “I wasn’t trying to be funny. You said I did that to you. I was agreeing. Isn’t that what you wanted to hear?”

  “I want out of here.”

  “Exit is that way.” Roy pointed.

  “I’m done with this. Have a good day …” Henry stormed by Dean. “Asshole!”

  “I will Big toe!” Roy smiled as Henry moved down the tunnel. He was happy that he was quick and on the ball with this body part response. Feeling a bit more at ease at the way he just blended in, Roy entered the lab to dive into Dean’s work.