Joe (4 page)

“Robert!”

“What?” Robbie asked innocently. “You would have done the same. “Dad. That you, had gray hair.”

“I know. That me saw some shit that made my hair gray.”

“Can I …” Robbie folded his hands, leaning into Joe. “Can I ask why and what happened.”

“You can ask, I really can’t tell you anything. Other than … I did it for a damn good reason.”

“Nearest we could figure is a decision you made in the Great War that wasn’t a good one. I mean, the Aragon window screwed it up, theoretically.”

“Yep. Dean was supposed to die. Dean died, I died. Dean lived so he saved me, I lived. Frank … Frank wasn’t president.”

“Hence you making a different decision.”

“Exactly.” Joe lifted his glass and finished his drink.

“Do you know what it was that happened?”

“Nope,” Joe said. “I never got there. Remember that.”

“Can you at least tell me how it occurred?” Robbie asked.

“The clone, slash Dean came to me right before Jason got the message from the future. He forewarned me about the Great War, figuring if I saw it coming, I could do something about it.”

“He give you any details?”

“No.” Joe shook his head. “Just that. Then a day or two before the explosion, he came to me again. Only this time he brought me. I’ll tell ya, was a scary sight to see that me. I knew, as soon as I looked at hi that, I fucked up. We set it up by using my future me to die in the explosion. I was supposed to go back in time, 1930 or something when life was simple, and age some. Whatever, stay out of the picture. But the time machine broke, so I wore the invisible suit.”

“So you have to stay out of the picture until a certain point and you can return?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know what that point is?” Robbie asked.

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

Joe raised his eyes to Robbie. “Christ would I lie.”

“You faked your death.”

Joe grumbled. “I don’t know. I don’t want to know. The clone knows and the clone will let me know when that moment in history has passed. It’s the big decision is all he told me and I messed it up.”

“I can’t see that, Dad,” Robbie said passionately. “You are a good leader.”

“Bingo.” Joe pointed. “I am. My humanity was my downfall. That’s what Roy said. He told me I made the decision many leaders would have made. The humane decision.”

Robbie started laughing.

“What?” Joe asked.

“Well, you made a humane decision. Obviously when this occurs, it is something that requires someone who is cold and doesn’t give a shit.”

“Frank.”

“Frank.”

Joe snickered. “He may not be the brightest bulb in the drawer, but when it comes to the military shit. He’s good.”

“That’s true. I really thought he was in on this with you.”

Joe shook his head. “He of all people can’t know.”

“He’s gonna be pissed when he finds out.”

“He’ll get over it. Besides, I thought he knew.”

Robbie tilted his head. “Why do you say that?”

“He never mourned me. Grieved me. Kind of pissed me off.”

“Me, too.” Silence. Pause. “You think he knows.”

“Nah,” Joe said. “He’s just being … he’s just being Frank.”

*****

“I am.”

Dean looked curiously at Frank when he opened the front door to him standing there. “You are what, Frank?”

“I am here.”

“Ok.”

“Didn’t you just say, I think Frank is here?”

“No, I thought it.”

“Wow, I still got it.” Frank walked inside.

“Still got what?”

“The mind reading thing. Here …” Frank handed Dean the cooler. “Put this away.”

“Thanks. Wanna come in?” Dean asked.

“For a second. I’m looking for something?”

“What?”

“Um … something.”

Dean nodded, set down the cooler. “Where’s Harry. I have his cage all ready.”

“Harry?” Frank asked.

“Killer Fetus.”

“You don’t have him?” Frank questioned.

“Oh my God.”

“What?”

“Oh my God you lost the Killer Fetus,” Dean said.

“No I didn’t. I just …. Put him somewhere and I can’t remember where.”

“Frank!” Dean snapped. “How do you lose a Killer Fetus?”

“I didn’t lose him. I was playing with him. I’m sure I put him somewhere.”

Jason walked into the foyer. “What’s going on?”

“Frank lost a Killer Fetus,” Dean replied.

“Technically,” Frank held up a finger. “He’s too small to be a killer. Annoying Fetus. Biting fetus. Pinching fetus but not …”

“Frank.” Dean said his name stern.

“What?”

“You lost him.”

“Ok, I did. I’ll find him though.”

Jason interjected. “I’m sure you will Frank, I have the utmost confidence in you.”

“Thank you Jason.” Frank began to leave. “I have to go. I’ll stop by later. Jason, do you need a ride back?”

“No, thank you. I’m good.”

“Frank,” Dean called out. “I’ll need another.”

“Another what?”

“Killer Fetus.”

“Biting fetus.”

“Whatever, I need another. Can you get me one?”

“That will be easy. I can find them. Maybe he went back home.”

“Who?” Dean asked.

“Harry. Maybe he went back to the nest. I can ask the fetuses since they can spell now maybe they can talk.”

“Maybe,” Dean said. “Good luck let me know how that conversation turns out.”

“I will.” Frank reached for the door.

“Oh, Frank,” Jason stopped him. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Who was Ronald Reagan?”

Frank stared at Jason for a moment, he stared very seriously. “Is that a trick question?”

“No, a serious one. Who was he?”

“It’s a test.”

“No, just a question.”

“Why? Don’t you know?”

“No, I know,” said Jason. “I want to see if you do.”

“A leadership thing. Huh?” Frank nodded.

“Exactly. Who was he?’

“Who?”

“Ronald Reagan,” Jason snapped, then quickly regained his composure.

“Oh.” Frank paused. “He was the fuckin president. Wait. He was the fuckin awesome president of the United States. Fuckin ended the cold war with a statement. Bring down that wall.”

Jason smiled. “And what of his psychic ability.”

“He had psychic ability?”

“You didn’t know about all his predictions?”

“No. He made them?”

“Yes.”

“Wow, where was I?”

Jason rubbed his chin. “That’s what I’d like to know. Where were you about two hours ago?”

“Jason,” Frank snickered. “Ronald Reagan didn’t make predictions two hours ago.”

“I know. But where were you?”

“In the communications room.”

Jason turned to Dean. “Below ground. Who was with you?”

“A bunch of people.”

“Can you do me a favor and ask them if they know about Ronald Reagan’s predictions?’

“I can do that while I’m looking for Harry.”

“Good.” Jason patted him, on the back. “Good luck.”

“Thanks. See you guys tonight.” Frank opened the door and walked out.

The moment he left, Dean saw the look on Jason’s face. “What? What are you thinking?”

“Frank doesn’t know.”

“About Reagan?” Dean laughed. “It’s Frank.”

“Yes, think about it. Of all people Frank would be into that psychic shit about him.”

“So.”

“So, what if... What if because of where he was he was immune to the time change.”

“Is that possible?”

“Possible, yes.”

“Ok. That would be cool. But before we make any determinations, we still have to remember,” Dean said. “That was Frank.”

He got coffee or a latte everyday along with a Danish, how his father accomplished this, Robbie didn’t know. But he was about to find out. Joe claimed he was quite versed at the invisi suit, and he gave Robbie instructions on what to do.

He sported the suit, but before he did. Robbie had to ask. He had to know.

Was Andrea aware?

Joe resounded with a strong, “hell no. I love my wife, but she drives me nuts. Do you honestly think that’s I’d hang around her all the time?”

“Do you hang around her at all?”

“Actually, not really, no.”

“Then how does she speak to you?”

“She doesn’t.” Joe replied. “I’ve been there, I’ve heard her have conversations. I’m not saying a word, she’s just whacked.”

“That’s just wrong, making her sound crazy.”

“She is and if you keep talking to me people will think you are, too.”

Robbie laughed as they rounded the bend in town. But as they did, he heard the slight whisper of disgust in the form of the word ‘Christ’ come from his father. Robbie looked back, of course he wasn’t going to see Joe, he was in the invisible suit. Another whisper another word, ‘Frank’, made Robbie look back toward town.

There was Frank in the Joe Park, but he wasn’t walking, sitting or jogging as some people had taken to doing, he was … looking. At the base of the flagpole, around the grass, in the small bush. He’d look, scratch his head, look again.

“I have to know.” Robbie said, changing direction and walking toward the park. “With me?” he whispered.

“Unfortunately.”

With a wide grin, Robbie, moved in a sneaky manner to the park. “Hey Frank. Uh, did you lose something?”

“Um. No.” Frank stood up.

“You look like you’re looking for something.”

“No.” Frank replied quickly.

Robbie smiled.

“Ok. Fine.” Hands on hips, Frank leaned into Robbie whispering, “I lost a fetus.”

“You lost a what?”

“Fetus? Killer Fetus. Well, biting fetus.”

“In Beginnings?”

“I think. Not sure. I borrowed him to play with him. I set him down somewhere and I forgot.” Frank shook his head. “No, not like with the dog. Why would you think that?”

Robbie stammered. “Um, I don’t know. Just popped into my mind.” He quickly shifted his eyes. “Where was the last place you saw him.”

“In my hand.”

“Makes sense. Where were you last playing with him?”

“I think at the house. Not sure.”

“Have you checked the dining womb?”

“No, but I will. Thanks.” Suddenly Frank’s eyes widened.

“What?” Robbie asked.

“That wasn’t nice.”

“Sorry, Frank, I was trying to be funny.”

“Thinking someone is a moron is not funny.”

‘Fuck’ Robbie thought.

“Now you’re swearing at me.”

“Frank! Quit reading my mind.”

“Sorry, it was just loud.”

“What exactly do you think you think I thought?” Robbie asked.

“I think you thought, Christ what a moron.’

“There you have it,” Robbie said. “I wasn’t thinking about you. I didn’t say your name.”

“Who were you thinking about?”

“Who?”

“Yeah, who?” Frank repeated.

“Christ.”

“You were thinking Christ is a moron. That’s fucked up.”

”Well,” Robbie shrugged. “I was having a fucked up religiously doubting moment. You’ll have those once and a while.”

“True.”

“Ok, well, I’ll let you go. If you need help finding the fetus, let me know.”

“I will. But I’m sure he’ll turn up. Keep an eye out.”

“I will.” Robbie gave a thumbs up and headed back toward the bakery. However in route, between listening to his father’s grumbles of ‘I didn’t miss this’, Robbie kept looking back at Frank, who kept on searching for that lost Killer Fetus.

*****

He had spent his life in another world, the same planet, only another time. Another way of technology. Now Fort was stuck in the beginning of it all. Condemned, he felt to live a life he had read about in history books. But that history had started to change. If he ever were able to go back, it would be a different place.

That’s what he figured.

He couldn’t tell anyone of events, even if he did, it didn’t matter. He knew already things had changed.

Would it make a difference? Not to Fort. He didn’t have family, no one he loved, and he wasn’t raised that way. He was raised to be a soldier and that was it. That was the only life he knew.

He made two friends in Beginnings. One, a soldier named Bob who came though the time machine as well. A different time, a different life, and a little girl who was zapped through just because.

That was it.

He wasn’t given a job yet. Nor was Bob. They were told to just wait once they were released.

He spent his days reading books that were never available to him, because they had long since been destroyed, and he also wrote a book. Or at least started to. And worked on theories on who was the clone. Fort was on his mission to find the clone, yet never did.

A soldier always completes the mission. Fort would at least, even if he couldn’t get the clone back, find him.

Bob on the other hand never fully understood his mission. He just went. He also couldn’t even read, Fort vowed to make that his project. Teach him to read. All Bob knew was to attack, kill and eliminate the LEP, or Killer Babies as Beginnings referred to them.

It was midafternoon and something was stirring in Beginnings, he could sense it in the air.

Frank was acting strange. Looking on the ground constantly, and into everything. He was in the library checking each book.

Danny Hoi didn’t make his usual rounds, and where was Henry.

Everyone seemed to be hiding somewhere.

He hoped it wasn’t the start of the Great War. He knew that was coming.

He stopped by Distribution, got his weekly order of supplies, placed himself on the list for the Dan Tran and after taking his things back to his place, he decided to take a walk.

The roadway led him to agriculture, then eventually to a gated region with Warning signs posted left and right.

Do not leave this area, the signs said. Even one that said, ‘Chance it’. Fort had to wonder who wrote that one.

There were indications that the fence was more charged, if that were possible than the other areas. Unlike the back gate, the bottom of the fence was encased in concrete as if stopping something from digging through.

Digging through.

When Fort thought of that, he knew what the region was.

He stepped closer.

“Six inches will zap you,” Frank called out from behind him.

“I won’t go any closer,” Fort said, turning to see Frank approaching.

“It has to be that way.”

“I figured as much. Is this the famous first LEP farm?”

“LEP farm?” Frank laughed.

“Sorry Killer Baby farm.”

“Toddlers, they’ve grown.”

“They will grow faster too.”

“Why do you call it a farm?”

“This is just what the history books called it. One big area they stayed at.”

“I feed them. That keeps them in the area.”

“Who …” Fort asked. “Told you to put concrete here?”

“That’s new,” Frank said. “Why?”

“Just curious, because ... In the history books, the LEP dug their way in one day. So now, with this, I don’t see that happening, because the books said a simple concrete foundation would have stopped it.”

“It will.”

“So what made you put this here? Did someone tell you?” Fort questioned, and in his mind, he deduced it was either Bob or the clone.

Frank shrugged after a long hard look at Fort. “I had a dream.”

“Really. Wow. Awfully prophetic. Must be your time frame.” He looked back out to the area. “I mean you guys had the greats like John Edwards and Ronald Reagan …”

“Ronald Reagan was a president. I’m not sure about him being a psychic. But you never know. He smoked a lot of pot, I think. Not sure.”

Fort chuckled. “I’d like to try pot one day. I heard it was a big thing in the old world.”

“Big thing in Beginnings too. Talk to Dan from Security, he’ll hook you up.”

“Cool.”

“It’s not so bad here,” Frank spoke. “I know it must be lonely for you. But give it time. Ok?”

“All I have is time.”

“For now. Once you start being a soldier for Beginnings you won’t have it.”

“I’d like to be a soldier for the Great War.”

“Oh, yeah?” Frank smiled. “Gonna share some secrets.”

“I wish. I don’t think I can.”

“You’re not under any oath anymore.”

“No, that’s not it.” Fort shook his head. “A lot has changed already.”

“Like my death.”

Fort nodded. “Exactly. You died in that explosion my history.”

“Wonder what happened.”

“I don’t know. But I bet the clone had something to do with it.”

Frank gave an up of his chin. “Ever figure out who that is?”

“No. You?”

“No.”

“I will.”

“Maybe he’s gone,” Frank said. “Maybe the clone left.”

“Nah, he’s here. I feel it. I have a bit of Ronnie Reagan power, too you know.”

Frank laughed. “What are you gonna do if you find him?”

“Shake his hand.”

“Really?” Frank tilted his head. “Can I ask why?”

“Because, whatever he is doing here, he is doing for the best of mankind. And I believe, his cause will bring the right change. And stop this world from getting as fucked up as it gets.” Fort stared into the Killer Baby region. “God willing.”

*****

Roy checked up on Jimmy who seemed to not only be resting, but enjoying the attention he was getting. He said his headaches were better of course, Roy was instructed by Ellen to give him something strong and something that would make him loopy. Roy wasn’t sure about the term loopy, but he gave him something strong.

Dan was recovering… from basically nothing. Roy was still waiting to talk to Robbie about that.

But he saved the best for last, and as soon as he stopped by the lab he was going to see that special patient Frank was telling him about. Patient A.

Patient A was to be a secret and no one really to know he was there getting testing. He had a brain tumor that Dean had removed and Frank wanted to make sure that the brain tumor was still gone, could he fly his jets, and was there anything Roy could do with his futuristic technology to prevent the tumor? Roy would have to work on that one, he really didn’t work much with tumors in the future considering most people were more concerned with death via plague, starvation, cholera, or LEPs.

What was so special about this patient?

Roy would soon find out.

It was the type of flying suit the Air Force wore in the world before the plague. Johnny sitting on top of the bed held it up and smiled.

“You like?” George asked.

“I love it. It’s says CS though.”

“Yes it does. We’re all part of the same team. Think of my army as just another branch. I wanted you to have that. Only I can approve your rank for that uniform.”

“Second Lieutenant. Thank you.”

“So you’ll do it?” George asked. “Ready to come back, fly and well, teach.”

“Absolutely, as long as I get the go ahead from Dean.”

“Speaking of which.” George nodded to the door.

Roy moved inside the door and immediately to the sink.

Johnny whispered to George. “Since when did Dean start wearing cowboy boots?”

“Maybe it’s another midlife crisis.”

After drying his hands, Roy stepped further in. He stopped dead in his tracks and stared at Johnny. “Wow.”

Johnny snickered. “Wow to you too.”

Roy nodded then turned to George. “Hello Hap.”

“No, Hello George.” George corrected.

“No Dean. My name is Dean not George.”

“And I’m George not Hap.”

“Yes.” Roy snapped his fingers. “I knew that. Forgive me. You both are elderly and sometimes you look alike.”

Johnny laughed out loud.

“Yeah, well, you look like Henry.” George nodded, and then with a wink, gave Johnny’s ankle a squeeze as he walked by. “See you later on.”

“See ya George.”

“Wait.” Roy called out. “How can I look like Henry? He’s Asian.”

“I don’t know. You just do.” George walked out.

Roy immediately ran to the mirror. “Oh, I do not. He jokes.”

“You ok Dean?” Johnny asked.