Consigning Fate (34 page)

The computer sounded off that the DNA program analysis was complete and Dean moved to the computer. He pulled up the results and they literally stumbled him backwards.

The computer found a DNA match. The buddy or dining partner of the clone was without a doubt from Beginnings. And the results shocked Dean. It was the last person’s name he expected to see on the screen.

<><><><>

Roy panicked.

He wasn’t able to get into the trailer. Someone had changed all the locks and sealed it up tight. His things were in there, but he took comfort in the fact that they were hidden. Who would go under the bed anyhow?

He was supposed to meet his friend again before heading to Ellen’s to see the kids. But since the meeting place was locked tight, he didn’t know if he’d see his friend.

The last they spoke, his friend told him that if he had nervous energy Roy should go work in the lab.

That was a good idea. Roy decided after meeting with the kids, he’d go to the cryo lab and work on things. It would be quiet and no one would bother him.

Plus, since he was filling in for Dean as Dean, perhaps Roy could help out his original by not just solving problems, but by giving him really cool tools that Dean didn’t have. Tools Dean probably would have invented had he thought of it. Dean would be grateful.

First problem first.

The children.

Roy was clueless on not only how to handle them, but who they were and all of their names.

Elliott Ryder looked proper as he stood a small distance from the dining room table where Ellen instructed the children.

“So, you see, he may seem a little different. Be on your best behavior.”

Alex asked, “Is he dangerous?”

Billy rolled his eyes. “I cannot believe you just asked if our father was dangerous. She said ‘different’ not dangerous. God!”

“Well, sorry.” Alex snapped.

Hand to the side of his head, Billy asked. “What exactly do you mean by different. Looking different? What?”

“A little. Mainly personality wise,” Ellen answered. “He’s been giving himself the healing agent for the damage caused by the chip and he’s very ... very pleasant and different.”

“So you’ve said,” Billy stated. “And this has happened in two days.”

“Yes.”

“Really. I find it hard to believe.”

“Why are you questioning me?” Ellen asked.

“Because I think there’s something you’re not telling us.”

“If there’s something I’m not telling you, there’s a reason for it. Just … be nice. Be good and don’t saying anything to him about being different.”

“Fine.” Billy tossed his hand upward.

The doorbell rang, Ellen walked to retrieve it. “Dean. Come in.” she opened the door wider.

Roy stepped inside.

The second he did Alexandra and Joey pelted him with screams of, ‘Daddy!’

Roy jumped back with a scream of his own … shock.

Billy looked over his shoulder at Ellen. “Different.”

“Hello,” Roy said to Alex, shaking her hand, then did the same to Joey.

Again, Billy delivered a glance to Ellen. “Different.”

“Shh.” She placed her finger to her mouth.

Roy walked further into the house. “Sgt. Elliott Ryder. What brings you here?”

Elliott smiled peacefully. “I came to help Ellen get the children situated. I’m also her escort tonight.”

“That is very nice of you,” Roy said. “You are a very nice man.”

Billy snorted a laugh. “That’s not what you said last week. Last week you said he was gonna cut through the middle and take mom from Frank.”

“Take her where?” Roy asked.

“Marry her.”

“Oh,” Roy scoffed. “She is already married to Frank. You must have heard me incorrectly. I would know better than to say that.”

“Right.” Billy nodded.

Ellen sighed out loudly. “OK, well.” She cleared her throat. “We won’t be long, Dean.”

Roy did a double take. “You’re leaving?”

“Um ... yes.” Ellen nodded.

“You’re leaving me alone with the children?”

“Yes,” Ellen said. “Dean, you said when I asked you this afternoon if you could sit with the kids, you said yes.”

“Yes, I did,” Roy said. “But when you asked me to sit with the kids, I thought you meant sit with the kids. Like at a table. That table.” Roy pointed. “It’s a nice table.”

“Are you not feeling well? You don’t want to be alone with them?” Ellen asked.

“No. I’m... I’m fine.” Roy examined the faces of the kids and swallowed hard. “It won’t be a problem. They’re just miniature people, right.”

Ellen smiled. “Right.” She grabbed her coat. “You’re sure you’re OK with this.”

“Yes. Yes.” Roy gave a thumbs up. “Where are you going?”

Elliott answered. “To the Dan-a-Plex. We’re gonna catch, The Saw.”

“Oh, that sounds dangerous,” Roy said.

Elliott chuckled. “No. not at all.”

“But I’m sure you know what you’re doing. I hope you catch it without slicing yourself.”

Billy crinkled his brow. “What the …”

Ellen’s hand quickly covered his mouth. She clenched her jaw and whispered to Billy. “Shut up.” She changed demeanor with a smile. “Alex, why don’t you take Joey in the back?”

“Fine. I always get stuck with him.” Alex grabbed his hand. “He’s not very bright you know.”

Billy chuckled. “You should relate.”

Alexandra flipped off Billy.

“Mother, did you see that display of physical vulgarity.”

“Yes.” Ellen kissed him on the head. “You deserved it. Ready Elliott?”

“Not really, I’d like to stay and see …” he stopped talking when Ellen yanked him. “Or not.”

“Night, Dean. Make sure they go to bed early. They have school.” Ellen opened the door and quickly left with Elliott.

When the door closed, Roy stood in awkward silence. He looked at Billy who just stared at him. “You and I have an amazing likeness.”

“I should hope so, you’re my father,” Billy said.

“But it is seems more than just a genetic link.”

Billy shrugged. “Some people call me your ‘mini me’ or clone.”

“Ha! I knew it. I knew it.” He peered closer. “Amazing. May I see your hands?”

“Sure.” Billy held them up.

“Do you find them hard to maneuver? I know I did at your age.”

“Sometimes.”

“Would you like to sit at the table with me?” Roy asked.

“Sure.”

Roy walked to the table and sat.

So did Billy.

“This isn’t very exciting,” Roy said.

“Not really.”

Both of them tapped their fingers on the table.

Billy sniffed with an upward motion of his chin. “So, I hear you invented a viable artificial womb.”

“Yes, I did. It looks great.”

“You think it will sustain the life.”

“Without a doubt, and expand like a normal uterus.”

“Sweet.”

“Yes.”

Billy paused. “Do you have anything else planned to just … I don’t know, invent out of the blue.”

“Oh, yes. Without a doubt,” Roy said. “After I am done sitting with you, I plan on going to the cryo lab and working all night on new and exciting things for Beginnings.”

“Really?” Billy asked with excitement. “Like what?”

“Can you keep a secret?”

“I’m a scientist.”

Roy cocked back. “Oh, you are like me. Good.” He patted him on the head. “Ok, as a surprise, I am going to ... I have designed a DNA identification program. Can’t tell you more, but it is unlike anything we have.”

“Serious?”

“It is a serious thing. Yes.”

“Can I come with you and watch?”

“I would like that but … but you have to be in bed early. You have education tomorrow.”

“I hate school.”

“Why? Learning is fun.”

“Learning is very fun, when they can teach you something you don’t know.”

“The school doesn’t teach you anything you don’t know?”

“I’ve told you this,” Billy griped. “They teach me like I’m a normal nine year old.”

“And you are not a normal nine year old. You’re intelligence capabilities far exceed that of child your age.”

“I know. Jenny is nice, but she doesn’t know what I know. Dad … she doesn’t know calculus.”

“And she is teaching you?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh, that doesn’t seem right. I’m sure you know calculus.”

“It’s a breeze. You taught me.”

Roy smiled. “Then if you are smarter than Jenny. You should teach the class.”

“She wouldn’t let me.”

“Why?” Roy asked. “Learning is fun. Surely, she would like to learn. It is established that you are more intelligent than she, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then it is not only your duty but your obligation to instruct the class.”

“Can you tell her that?” Billy asked.

“Yes. How does this sound. Tomorrow when you go to school, you march right up to Jenny and you tell her, you are smarter, you will be taking over as teacher.”

Billy laughed. “She’ll yell at me.”

“Oh, she can’t do that. You’re my... how did you put it? My mini me. If she gets angry, you send her to me.”

“Ok.” Billy got excited. “I really should have a lesson plan if I’m going to do this.”

“I can help you.”

“That’s even better. What should we teach them?” Billy asked.

“Science, without a doubt.” Roy paused in thought. “We should start with something easy, interesting, and fun.”

“Any suggestions?”

“I know. We’ll start with nucleated red blood cells.”

“Perfect.” Billy jumped up. “I’ll get the hematology books.”

Roy nodded and smiled while watching Billy dart away. Sitting with the kids wasn’t a bad thing, and he actually enjoyed talking to another clone. He could relate on so many levels.

<><><><>

“What are you working on?” Frank asked Dean.

“Just stuff,” Dean replied, standing across the room in the new make shift lab at the house. He kept going from computer to Frank.

“So … anyhow ... ow,” Frank said. “Down at the Dan-a-Plex, they’re playing The Saw. Ow.”

“Aw, I love that movie.”

“It’s a great classic.”

“I wouldn’t call it a classic, Frank.”

“Ow. Why not? What’s the definition of classic?”

“Serving as a standard of excellence or recognized value.”

“There you have it. Ow,” Frank commented. “Anyhow, he hadn’t a clue what the fuck Ryder was talking about. Fuck. Ryder couldn’t talk, he was laughing so hard.”

“That’s not his fault Frank. He’s from the future.”

“True. Ow. And he isn’t dumb. I made the comment that he was a CAT four and Ellen said, oh, yeah, well, CAT four’s can’t invent viable artificial rooms, that expand with growth.”

Dean suddenly turned around. “He invented what?”

“A viable …. That’s what she said … ow … artificial room.”

“Artificial …room?”

“Yeah.”

Dean blinked. “Womb.”

“Huh?”

“You mean artificial womb.”

“Are you talking like Alex?”

“No, Frank. Womb. Uterus. Not room. He made a viable artificial womb that expands with growth.”

“I don’t know about that, but he did make an artificial room.”

“Fuck.” Dean slammed his hand down. “How did he do that?”

Frank shrugged. “I don’t know. Ow. With wood. No, wait, wood wouldn’t expand that much.”

“He couldn’t have invented it in one day. He had to have had the design before he got here and only implemented it.”

“Whatever. Ow. Why are you getting mad? You created him. He’s you.”

“In a sense.” Dean tapped his hand on the table. “I will be able to use it.”

“Really?” Frank asked. “Where?”

“In the lab.”

“Is it portable?”

“Probably. But once you get it situated, it can’t be moved. I wouldn’t think. Wow. I really can’t wait to see it.”

“What are you gonna use it for? Ow.”

“Create babies.”

“A place for sex?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Dean.” Frank snapped. “You're gonna make babies.”

“Yes.”

“In the artificial room. That means it’s …”

“No, Frank! God. Womb. Womb. Womb. Not room. Room. Room. Artificial womb.”

Frank stared.

Dean calmed himself. “I’m gonna use the artificial womb to make babies. Not the artificial room. An artificial room is pretty useless.”