Joe (3 page)

“Frank!” Andrea scolded. “Be compassionate.”

“Sorry.” Frank said.

Roy snickered.

Dan backed off. “I’m sorry, Frank. I’ll pull it together.”

“Please. Have a seat.”

Dan took in a deep breath and sat down. “I’m traumatized.”

“Obviously.”

“Frank,” Again Andrea scolded.

Dan held up his hand. “I saw his ghost.”

“Who?” Frank asked.

“Your father.”

“Sweet Jesus.” Andrea placed her hand palms to heaven.

“My father’s ghost scared you this bad?” Frank asked.

“Yes.”

“Did he look that bad?”

“I don’t know Frank. It’s made me doubt the beyond.”

Frank scratched his head. “I’m lost.”

“Ok, Joe blew up, right.”

“Yeah.” Frank nodded.

“All that’s left for him to wander around with is … is … is …” Dan burst. “His head. He is a head in the afterlife.”

“A head in the afterlife?” Frank asked for clarification.

“Yes.”

“A head of what?”

“Himself.”

“He’s a head of himself in the afterlife. Was he in a race with himself?”

“Huh?” Dan looked up confused.

“You said he was ahead of himself.”

“Not ahead as in ahead, but a head as in a head.” Dan paused. “He has no body Frank only a head.”

“Fuck.”

“Yeah. A floating head.”

“Fuck.”

“Sweet Jesus.”

“What kind of head, a full head, old head.”

“His head.” Dan said.

“Fuck.”

“Sweet Jesus.”

“I saw him and that’s the last I recall. Ask him.” Dan pointed.

“Who?” Frank asked.

“Robbie. He saw.”

Robbie turned around. “What’s going on?” He walked into the lab and handed Andrea her coffee.

Roy explained. “Seems Dan has seen the ghost of Joe but only a floating head.”

“Really? Cool.” Robbie nodded. “Ok, I’m out of here.” He turned.

“Wait.” Frank called out.

Robbie stopped. “What?”

“Dan said you saw.”

“He saw,” Dan blurted out emotionally.

“I saw what?”

“Dad’s floating head.”

“Frank.” Robbie dropped his voice to a whisper. “I thought I made it clear I never opened the coffin just the tomb.”

“Sweet Jesus!” Andrea screamed. “You broke into your father’s grave.”

“Sorry.” Robbie shrugged.

“No,” Dan said. “Today, you were talking to Joe’s floating head.”

Frank turned to him. “You were?”

“When?” Robbie asked. “Because if I were, I’d know it.”

Dan explained, “At the trailer. I came to give you a ride.”

“I uh, I didn’t call you for a ride.” Robbie said. “I walked back.” His head cocked when Roy cleared his throat.

Frank asked. “If you were at the trailer, how did you get here?”

“I don’t know.”

“But your jeep is out front.” Frank said.

Roy interjected. “He drove.”

Frank looked at him. “He drove?”

“I drove?” Dan asked.

“I saw him. I was walking in when he pulled up. He drove.”

Robbie made eye contact with Roy, Roy winked.

Roy continued. “Robbie do you know what he’s talking about?”

“No. Not at all. My dad’s floating head?” Robbie fluttered his lips. “Nope, I’d remember that.”

“Strange. Along with the loss of time, memory, seeing things. Any headaches lately, Dan?” Roy asked.

“Come to think of it, yeah.” Dan nodded.

“Sweet Jesus. Jimmy has been complaining of headaches.” Andrea said. “I wonder if he’s having memory loss.”

Frank snapped his finger. “He is.”

“He is?” Robbie asked.

“He is. He fixed the ALS3 and doesn’t remember doing so?”

“He fixed it? When?” Robbie asked.

“Don’t know. He doesn’t even know he got it working yet. I found it. Wait till he finds out.”

“Wow. Cool.” Robbie nodded impressed. “Bet that tells a lot.”

“A lot more than you know. Since you didn’t show up.”

“I had to walk.”

“I came to get you,” Dan said. “I wish I hadn’t.”

“Dean?” Andrea asked. “What are you thinking?”

“Simple. I was worried, hoping it would pass, but it sounds to me like we may be having a few cases of … of …”

“Of?” Andrea asked.

“A brain virus.” Roy nodded.

“What’s it called?”

“Gosh,” Roy fluttered his lips. “Modula oblongata Hypo …desamen … tray …a chica ….titis.”

Everyone blurted out a ‘Huh?’

Roy smiled a tightly closed mouth.

Andrea asked, spilling out the word smoothly, “Modula Oblongata Hypodesamentrayachictitis?”

“Fuck.” Frank looked at her. “You said that well.”

“Yes.” Roy said. “Modula Oblongata Hypodesamentrayachictitis. It’s a strange form of virus that strikes through testosterone every twenty-seven years. This is the year.”

“Sweet Jesus.”

“Am I gonna die?” Dan asked.

“Nah, it’ll pass. Some antibiotics, aspirin and rest. You’ll be good to go and won’t have delusions or loss of memory.”

Dan exhaled. “Are you sure.”

“Positive.”

“Praise.” Andrea whispered. “Well now that’s all better. Dan let’s go check your blood pressure and get you some pills.” She helped Dan from the stool.

“Thanks Andrea. Thanks Frank.” He looked at Robbie. “Sorry I dragged you into my delusion.”

“No problem.”

“I’m gonna head out too,” Frank said. “Catch me later little brother.” He gave a swat to Robbie’s arm. “I have some things to talk to you about.”

“Got it.”

Frank walked out behind Andrea and Dan. Robbie after looking a few times, for his latte, found it, lifted it and began to leave.

“Hold it.” Roy called.

“Yeah.” Robbie asked, almost at the door.

“Make some time for me, too. Because a floating head. We need to talk.”

“I think so.” Robbie sipped his latte. “We really do.” A raise of his cup, another sip and Robbie walked out.

*****

‘Ah, peace,” Hal didn’t know why he thought that way every time he pulled back home into Bowman. Usually the euphoric feel lasted briefly, and then something, someone from Beginnings rained on his sunny home parade.

Most of the time it was Elliott.

It was a serious stressful situation, not Frank induced or Beginnings induced that made Hal want to seek out solace. He avoided the mess hall and went directly with Elliott to his office.

Something that required his sleeping on it even though bed was quite a few hours away.

Elliott chuckled, causing Hal to look up while rubbing his temple.

“What, Elliott?”

“You’re still stuck on the sleep on it thing. You haven’t said a word about it, I can see it in your face.”

“What is my brother thinking?”

“He’s thinking that the Great War doesn’t start for months. That this is too small to be part of the Great War. That these soldiers up north are a diversion or are just waiting for a moment.”

“Yes, but …” Hal raised a pencil. “They took one of our men. Hostile.”

“Not part of the plan. Already we have changed the future.”

“How do you figure?”

“Our scouts were chased. We sent them back up there to look for them. We sent our scouts following them because we knew of a great war, had we not known of a great war, we would have never followed them, hence they never would have taken our guy, hence we wouldn’t have found all those …”

“Not another hence, Elliott.”

“Sorry, Captain.”

“So Sgt. Hence, what do we do?”

Elliott smiled. “Wait.”

“An hour ago, you spoke of a Special Forces mission.”

“Yes, yes I did.” Elliott nodded. “But, something inside of me tells me they are going to let our man go.”

“Let him go?”

Elliott nodded. “If that were us. If we were positioning and not wanting to be seen. And we captured one of the enemy long before we were supposed to be known about, I think we would release the soldier with a story.”

“What kind of story would that be?”

“I don’t know.”

At that moment a knock came at the door.

“Come in,” Hal called out.

Jenny poked her head inside. “Busy?”

“Yes,” Hal replied. “Is this an emergency?”

“I should think so, didn’t you get the fax?”

“What fax?” Hal nodded to Elliott, and Elliott stood. He left the office. “Sit down Jenny.”

“Thank you. I just assumed you got the fax when Ben got the fax.”

“Ben from Fabrics got a fax that you felt was an emergency?”

Jenny sniffed and nodded. “You know how Jimmy is sick.”

“Jimmy is sick?” Hal asked.

“Yes, he is in the hospital with a suspected brain tumor.”

Hal knew why Jimmy was put in the clinic. He squeezed the corner of his eyes. “Jenny, I don’t think he has a brain tumor.”

“Neither do I. He has the brain flu. Or virus.”

“What?”

The door opened and Elliott walked in holding a sheet of paper.

“Is that the fax?” Hal asked.

“Yes, Captain. Seems Frank issued a health alert.”

“Good God, for what?”

Elliott read. “A testosterone induced, rare, virus that strikes the brain causing headaches, memory loss, and hallucinations.”

“Frank issued this?”

“Well, it’s signed by Frank, ah, yes, and Andrea.”

“For real?” Hal questioned.

“From the looks of this, this sort of virus, like the bubonic plague makes its way back into circulation every twenty to thirty years.”

“Contagious?”

“Doesn’t say. Only that more information will follow.”

“What all does it say. What we should do? What?”

“It states to make all men aware and should they experience symptoms see the clinic or hospital.”

“This is horrible,” Hal said.

Jenny added. “I heard Dan from Security has it really bad. It was hysterical, and in a near catatonic state he drove to the clinic and passed out in the chair without knowing how he got there, all because he saw Joe’s head.”

Elliott coughed a laugh, cupped his hand over his mouth and said, ‘Excuse me. Sorry.’

Hal held up his hand. “Joe as in my dad.”

“Yes,” Jenny nodded.

“He saw my father’s head? Like in the ground? What?”

“Floating.”

Hal mouthed the word, ‘Floating’ with question. “He saw my father’s head just floating about. Like a bouncing ball to a song or something?”

Elliot hid his snicker.

“I don’t know all the details,” Jenny said.

“Is this why you came? To tell me about my dad’s head?” Hal asked. “Or the virus.”

“No, actually, I came to you because I think your men are going to be scared of this virus, and I just want you to reiterate to them that they have responsibilities.”

“Absolutely. A soldier will soldier.”

“And act.”

“Excuse me?”

“Hal,” Jenny said brightly. “We have full dress rehearsal and then the three day performance of Guys and Dolls, I just want to make sure you let your men know, virus or no virus scare. The show must go on.”

“I’ll …. I’ll remember that.”

“Thanks Hal.” Jenny stood. “I knew I could count on you.”

Hal nodded. Jenny said her pleasant goodbyes and Hal sat dumbfounded.

“Captain?”

“There’s a virus scare and she’s worried about her production of Guys and Dolls?”

“Priorities. You know how the women are.”

“Hmm.” Hal sat back.

“This virus is scary. Anyone can get it. It’s frightening to think a man in a leadership position with it. Scary of right now, Frank comes down with it.”

“Elliott.” Hal snapped forward, folding his hands on the desk. “A virus that causes hallucinations and memory loss. Frank getting it is not scary, what’s scary is, would we even know?”

Elliott laughed.

“Sorry I’m late,” Ellen rushed quickly into the cryo lab, arms full of papers. “The clinic is a mad house.”

Danny sat with Roy at the counter. “Why?” Asked Danny.

“That brain virus.”

“What brain virus?” Danny questioned. “I’m on the council and I haven’t heard about it.”

“God, I don’t know why not,” Ellen sat down. “It’s bad. In fact, I need you, Roy to issue a fact sheet on this Modula Oblongata Hypodesamentrayachictitis.”

Danny laughed. He laughed loud. “Modula Oblongata Hypo…”

“Modula Oblongata Hypodesamentrayachictitis,” Ellen stated.

“Is that for real?”

“Yes. Very. Dan confirmed it when he came to the clinic with no memory of how he got there. We think he wandered in a near catatonic state.”

“Dan got to the hospital,’ Danny said with a chuckle. “By …”

“Shear gut instinct.” Roy cut him off. “Amazing how our bodices still function on auto command. People with Narcolepsy often do the same. Wander, walk, and wake up.”

Danny stared at Roy. He didn’t finish his previous thought. If Roy cut him off and stopped him from saying that Robbie brought him, there was a good reason.

“Anyhow,” Ellen said. “Since you know all about this Roy, can you do the fact sheet? And possibly a quick test for us at the clinic.”

Danny raised an eyebrow. “You told about her this.”

“Yes.” Roy replied. “Very scary stuff.”

“I bet,” Danny said suspiciously. “Now onward to our meeting.”

“Time bits was where we left off,” Roy stated. “No matter what, if we change something in the past, everyone will have some sort of memory of it, whether they think it was a dream or, whatever. Not a vivid memory of it happening.”

“But it won’t happen if we changed the future.”

“That is tough to say. Let’s assume for example we go back and stop the original plague. At this point in time, in the changed future, people like you, and Ellen will have a memory or feeling about the plague. It only occurs from the point of time of change. For example. Let’s say we went back to 1980 and killed Ronald Reagan. Every single person alive, right now, at some point in their life, will have envisioned, dreamt, or thought of Ronald Reagan as president. Because it already happened to them so they have memory bits.”

“I don’t have memory bits about Robbie being bad,” Ellen said.

“Yes you do. You just said it.”

“Yeah, but Frank told me.”

“But did he tell you or did he wake a memory bit?”

Danny scratched his head. “I’m being a Frank. I’m confused.”

“And I’m…” Ellen stood up. “Being paged. I’m sorry guys, I have to go. More guys are coming into the clinic with suspected Modula Oblongata Hypodesamentrayachictitis.”

Danny laughed.

“It’s not funny Danny.”

“Sorry.” Danny wiped the smile from his face.

“Gotta go. Can we continue later?” Ellen asked.

“Yes,” Roy said. “I look forward to it.”

“And I …” Danny stood as well. “Have to go see this Modula Oblongata Hypodesamentrayachictitis in action.”

Ellen walked to the door. “If you want a good example talk to Dan from Security.” She opened the door, holding it for Danny. “He saw Joe’s head floating around the Joe Park.”

Danny froze mid stride, grabbing on to the door. He looked over at Roy. “Joe’s head.”

“Yes, but I believe it was by the old trailer.”

Danny was serious then suddenly he laughed. “This is so great.” Still laughing, he walked out.

“Oh sure,” Roy spoke to himself when he was alone. “Joe’s floating head.” He lifted the phone and dialed. “Robbie, where are you? And why are you avoiding me?”

*****

Did Robbie have MDH? Frank had to wonder, in fact, he was thinking of ordering Robbie to be tested for the brain virus, because Robbie seemed so preoccupied.

He was rushing off somewhere, but when Frank asked him where, Robbie couldn’t recall. He pulled Robbie aside to speak about the troops, Frank was pretty certain Robbie wasn’t even listening. He said, ‘Cool, gotta go’ and tried to dart out. Then the final clue came when Frank asked him to go into the Killer Baby region with him. Something brotherly, fun to do and Robbie turned him down.

Ouch.

Frank let him go. Taking Robbie at his word that he promised he’d speak to him soon.

But Frank had to check out the region.

It had been a couple days. Actually, Frank hadn’t been there since the discovery of the alien nest and Harry, the Killer Fetus. However, even though the Killer Babies now toddlers didn’t bother Frank, they were still a threat to the community, and since Frank was the only one who could go up there without danger, he went.

Journey played through his little headset. Don’t Stop Believing played as he crossed through the gates. Faithfully, a fan favorite with the Killer Babies played while he started his rounds up there, but Frank forgot to click to the next one, because the harmonizing singing groans of the babies, turned sour and almost into complaints when ‘Lights’ started to play.

“Sorry guys.” Frank moved it on to Open Arms. Frank, too, started to sing, the Killer Babies liked that. He tromped the perimeter, getting darts and kisses and playful bites from the toddlers.

“Teaching your off spring well, I see.” Frank said. “Good job.” He stopped walking. “What have we here?” He bent down to a fresh puddle of white stuff. “Fuck.” He reached for it, but stopped short. Through the corner of his eye he saw what was becoming a regular sight. A fetus killer baby. It perched up on its tiny hind stumps, embryonic tail swinging. Frank extended his index finger to it and it nipped him.

“Hey,” Frank said with a flick to the little guy. It fell over. Snickering, Frank grabbed his phone. “Sorry little guy.” He dialed. “Hey…” he dropped his voice to a whisper. “D... E … A … N. How are you?”

“Frank? Why are you whispering spelling my name?”

“No one is supposed to know I’m talking to you.”

“Frank if you don’t want anyone to know, I’m sure they can spell.”

“No, I don’t think so. I mean they may. Fuck. You don’t think they can now do you?”

“Yeah, Frank. I’m positive they can.”

“Fuck. You think they heard me.”

“Who cares? They don’t know you’re talking to the Dean in hiding.”

“True. Fuck.”

“What?”

“They spell.”

“Yeah.”

“Next thing you know they’ll be fucking making things.”

“They already do.”

“Man.”

“Why are you calling?”

Frank paused. “Oh, yeah, sorry. I was doing my round in the Killer Toddler region and I found more of that stuff. You know the stuff that looks like sperm.”

“Did you see another nest nearby?”

“I can go look.”

“Is that where you’re at? The Killer Baby region.”

“Toddler. Yeah.”

“Ok, makes sense. What I said about them being able to spell…” Dean’s words trailed off.

Frank waited. “Yeah?”

“Never mind. Anyhow, check for a nest. Ok? See what you can find. We have to determine how long gestation it is, and how many are growing in each nest. Do you see any of the fetus running about?”

“Sliding.”

“Ok, do you?”

“Do I what?”

“See any?” Dean asked.

“A few.”

“What did the clone say?”

“About this? Who knows he’s not here.”

“No, Frank about the fetus you brought him.”

A hesitation. “Um, he was cute?”

Dean growled.

“What?”

“You took the fetus to Roy for DNA testing. Did he work on it?”

“I doubt it, we had him on something else.”

Dean breathed heavily through the phone. “Ok, you know what bring me my Killer Fetus stuff back here, I’ll work on it. I have time.”

“Excellent. Because, Dean we may have a way now to stop the Killer Toddler take over that you saw in the future.

“I know. Thanks for letting me know this. See you soon, Frank.”

Frank closed down the phone, and hands on hips, looked around. He didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, no more carcasses and that was a good thing. But for now, while he had time and while he was in a thinking mode, he was going to get the things Dean needed.

He stopped by the office and picked up his jeep, he’d need it to go to Dean’s place, and before heading down to the cryo lab he stopped for some baked goods, Dean would like those as well.

The cryo lab door was closed, and Frank buzzed himself in. An aroma of clean hit him the second he stepped inside. He missed the days of the disgusting smells, where things died in the lab and Dean forgot.

“Hello, Frank.”

“Hello,” Frank replied. “Nice bow tie.”

“Thank you.” Roy fixed his tie. “What can I do for you?”

“Remember I brought you that Killer Toddler slash fetus nesting stuff to test for DNA.”

“Oh!”

“What?”

“I forgot about the testing, I should have remembered this morning when you came down for Harry.”

“We didn’t really talk much then.”

“True. I was only here for a moment. Then we left.”

“Ok, well, not to insult you or anything, but Dean is gonna work on it now.”

“No insult, Frank.”

“Good.” Frank nodded. “I’ll gather the stuff.

“The cooler is in the big fridge.”

“Thanks,” Frank walked back, a few moments later returned with the cooler that contained the nesting material. He reached the counter and saw the metal net, and then turned to the cage. “Where’s Harry.”

“I don’t know.”

“Did you let him out?” Frank asked.

“No, you took him out this morning to play with him.”

“That’s right.” Frank snapped his finger.

“Did you forget to latch the cage when you brought him back?”

“I doubt it. I fuckin never forget to … to…” Frank pivoted, hard left and right.

“Frank?”

“What?”

“Did you bring him back?”

“Um … no.”

“Did you lose him?”

Frank fluttered his lips. “No, I just forgot I uh, took him uh, somewhere else. Yeah.” He hurriedly snatched up the cooler. “Gotta run. Gotta run. Thanks.” He took a few steps, paused, hunched down and looked under the counter.

“Frank? Drop something.”

“No. Thought I saw dirt. Nothing there. Clean. Thanks.” A few more steps, Frank took one more peek around, and left the lab.

In the hallway, after the door closed, he paused. “Fuck. What the fuck did I do with him?”

*****

Finally.

First Robbie had to take Dan, then he had to get coffee, the steamer broke, then he not only had to bring Andrea her drink, but got into a conversation. Nine times Roy had called him to discuss the floating head.

On the way back to the old trailer, Danny Hoi stopped him to show him something he couldn’t figure out how to fix.

Finally.

A short fifteen minutes turned into an hour and Robbie was going to be pissed if he got back to the trailer and his father was gone.

But that wasn’t the case.

Robbie flung open the door, chest heaving in anticipation. He closed it behind him. “Dad?”

“Robert.”

“Yes!” He clenched his fist.

Joe stepped into the living room. He was wearing a tee shirt and boxer shorts, holding a glass. He sat on the couch.

“I am so glad you didn’t put the suit back on,” Robbie sat on the chair cattycorner to the couch. “It is so good to see you.”

“It’s nice that you see me, too.” Joe nodded.

“Dad, why do you seem kind of … I don’t know…”

“Pissed.”

“Yes.”

“Why do you think? I went through this elaborate thing to make sure I was out of the picture and you wouldn’t let me rest in peace.”

“Dad in my defense, I did think you were dead.”

“What made you not?” Joe asked.

“Your fingerprints on the explosive.”

“Christ. Does anyone else know?”

“Um, Dean.” Robbie replied.

“Dean in Beginnings.”

“Dad, what other Dean would there be?” Robbie snickered.

Joe just looked at him. “How did you find the crumbs?”

“Looking for the clone.”

“Bingo.”

“So, only the real Dean knows about the fingerprints and he’s out of Beginnings.”

“Yeah, him and Jason.”

“Christ.” Joe rubbed his eyes. “Ok, who knows I’m alive.”

“Just me.”

“Good.”

“But Dean and Jason suspect. Jason made the ink gun. They really started suspecting after me and Dean dug up your body.”