Joe (5 page)

“Yes. And you are in the hospital so you are not.”

“Oh my God.”

“What?”

“I have another brain tumor.”

Quickly, Roy flipped the chart. “No. No you do not. You scared me for a second. I thought I missed something.”

Johnny snickered. “And are you sure you’re ok?”

“Yes, just stunned to see you.” Roy moved to the bed. “Very stunned. No wonder you are kept a secret.”

“Tell me about it. I had to be snuck in.”

“Did Frank sneak you in?”

“Yep.”

Roy nodded. “That Frank is clever.”

“Uh …” Johnny laughed. “Yeah.”

“This is amazing.” Roy peered closer to Johnny. Just staring. He tilted his head left to right. “Last I saw you, you were still growing.”

“Something like that.”

“Tell me. How did you get back here?”

“Back here?”

“Yes, how did you travel here from …?”

“Oh.” Johnny sang out. “Sorry. The pilgrimage.”

“Is that what they call it now?”

“Yeah.” Johnny shrugged.

“Do you know about yourself? How medically you are different?”

“Yeah. Unfortunately.” Johnny replied. Not knowing why Dean was asking him these questions. Perhaps testing his memory post tumor. “Am I able to fly?”

“You do not have wings.”

“A ha, ha, ha.” Johnny nodded. “Funny. Jets. Can I fly jets?”

“Do you know how?’

“Of course. I want to know if the pressure will harm me.”

“You are fine to be in jets. Now, back to my questions.”

“About?’

“Have you been treated differently?” Roy asked.

“Um, yeah, what do you think?”

“Were you isolated?”

“Still am.”

Roy gasped. “Is that because Frank keeps you hidden?”

“I guess. It’s to stop people from getting irate, I guess. You know with me. But I spend a lot of time alone.”

“Oh, I know how that is.”

“Go out only at night.”

“So people do not see you.”

Johnny nodded

“We should hang out. Play cards. Chess. We have a lot in common.”

Johnny raised his eyes. “I’d really like that.”

“Me, too.”

With a clomp-clomp, ‘Hey’, Frank entered the room. “How’s it going?”

“Frank!” Roy said brightly. “No wonder you kept this a secret!”

“Yeah, you see that now.”

“Wow he is amazing. Coming along nicely.” Roy touched Johnny’s head. “Imperfections and all.”

“You think.”

“Very much.” Roy exhaled. “Wow. Does anyone else know about him?”

“Just George.”

“Oh, yes, the elderly man that looks like Hap.”

Johnny raised a crocked smiled. ‘Dean, again, you seem …”

Frank interrupted. “Very happy today.”

“I am.” Roy smiled. “Especially after my meeting with this young man.”

Johnny nodded. “We’re gonna hang out and play chess.”

Frank looked at Roy. “Oh, yeah? You think you can beat my son at Chess?”

“I did not say …” Roy paused. “Your son? Who is your son?”

Johnny raised his hand.

Roy gasped. “This is your son? It’s not RR44173?”

Both Frank and Johnny shook their heads.

“Whoops. Sorry. I’m bad.” With a quick spin, Roy flew out.

“Dad? RR44173?” Johnny looked at him with question.

“Eh, don’t mind Dean. It’s his chip. He needs a tune up.” Frank waved out his hand. “Ready?”

Johnny stood from the bed. “Ready. Oh, hey, check out what George gave me.” He showed Frank the flight suit.

“This is really nice. You’ll look all fuckin official when you …” Frank’s eyes widened.

“What?”

“A lieutenant?”

“Yeah, George …”

“No. No, not another Slagel being an officer.”

“I can’t be a pilot and enlisted man.”

“The hell you can’t.” Frank reached for the bars on the uniform.

“Hey, hey, are you stripping me of my rank?”

“Yep. I’ll give you a new one.”

“Dad. You can’t strip me. George authorized that. He runs the CS army.”

“Yeah, but I’m the fuckin president. I run him.” Frank gripped the bars and grinned. “Let’s go.”

Johnny grumbled. He would have complained more, but instead he basked. Basked in the fact that his father was being … his father with him again.

*****

Money was getting tight. They could only go back to poor Dean’s bank account so many times. So Jason, donned an invisible suit, went back in time, hit a Chinese Restaurant and stole someone’s order. It wasn’t right, but it was a special night.

At Dean’s home he set the moo shu on a platter with egg rolls, the entire house smelled wonderful.

The places were set, booze was ready, and the special guest was set to arrive.

“19.” Dean stated as he returned to the room.

“19 what?”

“So far, 19 different types of genetic make ups were found in the nesting.”

“But Frank only brought back a small portion.”

“Exactly,” Dean said. “Which is worrisome. If a small portion tells me it held 19 Killer Babies, how many does an entire nest hold.”

“That’s a frightening prospect.”

“Which would explain why we get run over in the future.” Dean looked to the food. “Can I steal an egg roll?”

“No, we’ll wait for Joe.”

“Joe.”

“Joe,” Jason sighed out. “I am so excited. But …” Jason looked his watch. “Where is he?”

“Christ Robbie.” Joe bounced in his seat. They had pulled over a few miles before Dean’s so he could remove the invisa suit.

“Sorry, I just have to get back to Beginnings.”

“I know.”

“I want to learn the ALS3. Plus I want to avoid Roy.”

“He’s not a bad guy. Just strange.”

“And you probably didn’t help that.”

“No,” Joe shook his head. “I didn’t want to ruin him. He knows I’m alive, why are you avoiding him?”

“I don’t know.”

“Make sure you don’t go to that meeting without me tomorrow. I want to hear about those soldiers up north.”

“I thought you weren’t going to influence.”

Joe shot a look Robbie’s way. “If I’m invisible and quiet, how am I gonna influence.”

“Frank will read your mind.”

“No, Frank will read your mind, think it’s you and do his own thing. Besides, I want to keep note. I want to mark down what I would do and see what Frank does to see how that affected the Great War.”

“Hopefully, positively.”

“Hopefully. We went through a lot of trouble. It had to be bad.”

“You should have seen your future corpse.”

“I can imagine.”

Robbie slowed down the jeep. “We’re here. You’re sure you’ll ride back with Jason.”

“I’m fine.”

In a few seconds, Robbie had stopped the jeep. “You look nervous.”

“Not nervous. Anxious,” Joe stepped from the jeep. “I missed my friend. I can’t wait to see him.”

“What about me?”

“I had you my whole life.” Joe stepped out and stopped. “Robert.”

Robbie looked at him.

“I’m glad you discovered my whereabouts and the truth.”

“Really.”

“Yeah. I am.” Joe winked. “It makes it all a lot better now going through this with you.”

Robbie smiled. “Thanks, Dad. Have a good night.”

Joe nodded, gave a proud look to Robbie, and then turned to walk to the house.

*****

One wouldn’t expect much more from Jason, but the look upon his face when he opened the door, told Joe all he needed to know. Jason was happy to see him.

He said nothing, smiled, opened the door wider and when Joe stepped inside, Jason embraced him.

“Good to see you, Joe.”

“Good to see you smiling, Jason.”

They were mid-breaking the embrace when Joe pulled back at the sound of scurrying and thumping.

Dean as if he tripped his way into the room, appeared. “Joe.”

“Dean.”

“Joe!” Dean raced to Joe, like a child he put his arms around Joe’s waist, his head to Joe’s midsection.

“Nice. Nice.” Joe patted him and moved back. “Christ, you guys act like I was dead.”

Both Jason and Dean stared at him.

“It’s good though, feels damn good to be able to be out of that suit and talk to someone else besides the clone.”

“The, uh clone, huh?” Dean scratched his head. “What’s he like?”

“You want to meet him?” Joe asked.

“I don’t know. Do I?”

Joe shook his head. “He’d intimidate the hell out of you.”

“How’s that?”

“He looks like you, is super intelligent, and a nice guy.”

“I’m a nice guy and super intelligent.”

“No, Dean, he’s super intelligent.”

Jason snickered. “That’s funny. Joe, come in, we have dinner. Bet you’re starved.”

“Actually I am.” Joe followed to the dining room. “I mean I’ve been living off of …” He paused. “Did Danny Hoi do something new or is that Chinese takeout.”

Jason nodded. “It’s Chinese takeout.”

“How the hell did you get Chinese takeout?”

Jason shrugged. “Went to a Chinese restaurant in 1998.”

“Why 1998?” Dean asked.

“Ah,” Joe held up a finger. “Height of the Clinton Administration. Chinese Restaurants were a dime a dozen due to his China policies.”

Jason nodded. “Exactly.”

“So you used the time machine, you got it working?” Joe questioned.

“Actually, no. I used the HG Wells.” Jason replied.

“It’s broke.”

“It was a glitch.”

“It works?” Joe asked.

“Brilliantly.”

“Well, I’ll be damned.” Joe placed his hands in his pockets. “It works. Don’t tell the clone though, this place isn’t ready for him to go back.”

“Yes, but look at this. You are out of hiding,” Jason said. “Even if only semi. We now can get a glimpse into the future to make sure you aren’t having a bad influence, and if you are, we can work to change it. Already, Joe, it has worked.”

“My death worked.”

“We’ve been there. Briefly, but enough to see a big change from the last time I sent Hal, Frank and Robbie to the future.”

“Beginnings was there?”

“Yes.”

Joe clenched his fist. “Yes. Excellent. Let’s keep this path until the point where I can emerge.”

“We plan on it.”

“So um, aside from Chinese food, you used the machine for anything else.”

Jason looked at Dean then to Joe. “We’ve had some fun. And Joe, the best part is, it’s endless. Any place, any time.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“You know I was supposed to go time traveling to pass time to make sure I don’t interfere at all,” Joe said. “I’d love to try that with you Jason. Might make a boring day go faster.”

“Anywhere you want to go,” Jason said. “Have any ideas? “

“As a matter of fact,” Joe rubbed his chin. “I do.”

How so many people could need so many things from him, Robbie didn’t know. He made it back in time to get the security schedules done, but then he made the mistake of putting Jimmy on duty. He had to change that, because according to Frank, Jimmy had to still believe he had that brain virus so he would realize he didn’t fix the ALS3.

But the next day would bring an end to that.

Frank planned on telling Jimmy the next day the wonders he accomplished while under the influence of a testosterone induced virus.

So, security schedule done, Robbie thought he was in the clear. Until he saw Henry, he was complaining to Robbie that he had to make a run in the morning, when he was beyond that.

Not Robbie’s responsibility to assign him to a run. That was Frank’s. Go to him. It wasn’t Robbie’s fault that half the men were out with a virus that didn’t even exist.

Robbie even contemplated faking the virus just to get some time off.

Which he hadn’t.

There was a lot Robbie wanted to do, especially since he discovered his father was still alive.

One of them was to spend time with his dad.

He never realized how much he needed, loved and adored his father until he was gone, now he had the chance to make it up.

Robbie’s triple life was catching up to him. But by night, he had gotten through the security job, and managed to swipe a bottle from Distribution for a little ‘alone time’ drinking.

He had just finished up, locked the office, and was heading home when he heard something behind him. He didn’t think much about it until he felt this huge blow to his back. Whatever hit him, slammed into his back, knocking him off balance but not off his feet?

“Fuck,” Robbie spun around. “Are you trying to knock me over?”

“Yes,” Roy replied. “I had to catch you.”

“Call me.” Robbie lit a cigarette.

“I did. Nineteen times.”

“I know.”

“Robbie, we need to talk.”

“About what?” Robbie continued to walk.

Roy reached out and grabbed his arm. “Joe’s floating head.”

Robbie exhaled.

It felt a little weird going to Roy’s place, which was actually Dean’s place that he shared with Richie. Weird because Richie was on the couch and Robbie went upstairs with Roy.

But Roy needed privacy and had some things he said he had to show Robbie.

“I think you and I know what Joe’s floating head means,” Roy said.

“Dan is nuts?”

“Robbie. Come on.”

“What?”

“Tell me what it means?” Roy asked.

“You say it.”

“No, I asked you first.”

“But I told you to say it first.”

“Fine,” Roy huffed. “It means Joe is alive.”

“And why do you say that?”

“Because I am the one responsible and you know it.”

“Ok, so, if you know it, why are you coming to me?”

“Curious.” Roy shrugged. “I figured you may have questions since we both share a secret.”

“I do.”

“You may ask. But first let me say your father is a wonderful person.”

“I know.”

“How did you know? How did you figure it out?”

“Easy. Fingerprints. His fingerprints were all over the explosion. Plus …” Robbie held up his hand. “You guys were at the trailer together. I found his DNA on a half-eaten sandwich.”

“Shoot.” Roy snapped his finger. “Joe’s prints on the explosive I thought might come up. Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“Yes. I mean who would run a dead man’s prints.”

“True.”

“But I forgot about the keen ability people in this time have with investigating. You probably discovered the prints first, started looking for answers, and found the sandwich.”

“Something like that.”

“Please, have a seat.” Roy indicated to a chair as he sat on the end of the bed. “I would like to speak about all that occurred.”

“Really? Cool.”

“Yes. Cool. It is heavy on me. Because it was so difficult.”

“I bet.”

“No.” Roy shook his head. “More difficult than you would think. Cause this whole ‘Joe died’ wasn’t the way it was supposed to be.”

Robbie tilted his head.

Roy began his story, “We need to go back to the beginning of March.” He reached into the nightstand drawer and pulled out a flat black box about six inches long. “When I showed your father this.”

Robbie took the box and listened to the story.

“
Hello, Joe.”

Joe was seated behind his desk, and he raised his eyes when the office door opened. “Hello, Dean, since when did you stop knocking.”

“Oh, many apologies.” Roy stepped back out and knocked.

“Christ, come in.”

“Thank you.” Roy stepped inside. “Hello, Joe.”

“Again, hello, Dean. What’s up? I’m a busy man.”

“Oh, yes, I know this.” Roy pulled up a chair. Then he stared.

“What?”

“It is an honor.”

“Christ. Dean, are you drunk? Taking your own pills. What?”

“I am not Dean.”

“A-huh. You’re not.”

“No.”

“How long haven’t you been Dean?”

“My whole life.”

“Hold that thought.” Joe reached for his phone.

“Who are you calling?”

“Danny Hoi.”

“Oh! I love him.”

“Yeah.” Joe began to dial. “He has to check your chip.”

“I don’t have a chip.”

“Oh brother.”

“Please don’t call Danny, Joe. I am not Dean. If I were where are my scars?”

Joe peered closer. “Probably invented something.”

“Never had them. Look at my hands. Are they worn?”

“Ha! No. But Dean never did a hard day’s work. So …”

“Joe. I am not Dean. I am from the future.”

Joe shut the phone with a disbelieving voice. “I’ll hear you out. Go on.”

“I have proof.”

“This I gotta see.”

Roy slid the box across the desk.

Robbie looked at the small screen on the box. They showed images, pictures of New York City, slum like, half destroyed. People destitute. “I know there is a certain time point,” Robbie said. “When my father can announce he is alive.”

“There is.”

“You know that time point?”

“I believe I do. I also believe that if we continue on the current path, with everyone assuming Joe has died, that we won’t see that future in your hands.”

“Is this the proof? My father said you have proof of the point in time. That if need be you’ll bring it forward.”

“No. I have a different disk for that. See, imagine if your histories John Kennedy wasn’t president. Imagine he was killed before the Cuban missile crisis. Imagine the man who was president took a different approach and the world was wiped out by nuclear weapons. If we knew John Kennedy would make a decision that would divert the disaster, and you as a time traveler went back and stopped his death, stopping the war, what proof would you secure to show him, during the Bay of Pigs controversy, that he indeed was on the right track.”

“Wow, that’s a long question. JFK was under a lot of scrutiny during the Bay of Pigs. So, I would want to show him the future if he wasn’t president, and proof that despite what people were saying, his firm stance was the right move.”

“Exactly.”

Robbie shrugged. “If I was from the future I would have something on my possession that they didn’t have in the 60’s, and something that showed what the other president did.”

“Exactly. I have that proof.”

“So obviously, Frank has to make a decision that’s unpopular and one my dad wouldn’t make. And, when he does, you’ll pull forward the proof that if he hadn’t made that decision the world would turn to shit again.”

“Yes.”

“Can I see it?” Robbie asked.

“No. I don’t want you to influence. If you know what is to occur, you may influence.”

“But we have the ALS3, so that should help.”

“It was up in running in time before.”

Robbie looked at him curious. “The ALS3 isn’t the key.”

“No. Leadership is.”

“What did you tell my father?”

“I told him a Great War was coming and to think tough on his decisions, because if he didn’t, those pictures would eventually occur.”

“And he said what?”

“I explained think tough. He acknowledged. Agreed to stay silent. And would make tough choices. I went back to the future. And nothing changed.”

“What my father thought was tough, wasn’t tough enough?” Robbie asked.

“No.”

“Then you decided he had to die or at least look like he had to die.”

“Yes. But things got screwed up,” Roy said. “I then went to November of this year. In the midst of everything. Got future Joe. Told him he was warned by me, and it was future Joe who agreed that he didn’t have it in him to make the decision needed. So, I grabbed him and took him back to March. I figured if Future Joe looked as bad as he did, present Joe would see the importance of what we had to do. Present Joe saw himself, and was man enough to realize that perhaps, humanely, he didn’t have it in him to make the right decision.”

“Does my present father know what that decision is?”

“No. He agreed to disappear. We all agreed that Frank would be the best.”

“So,” Robbie said. “You guys set an explosion, put my dad in an invisa suit, and killed future Joe with the plan my dad stays hidden until that one event and decision.”

“That’s correct.”

“Got it.” Robbie nodded. “Easy enough.”

“I thought so, too. But it went awry.”

Robbie peered up. “How?”

“Jason.”

“Jason?”

“Ok, maybe not all Jason. But he really screwed some of it up. Him and not thinking things through,” Roy explained. “See when I secured the future Joe, I also secured, in a sense, the death of Joe. Jason sent a message to himself. Warning of Joe’s murder. History showed it was a clear concise message.”

“But that message came through jumbled.”

“Ah,” Roy lifted a finger. “I have theory on that. I’ll get to it. But first. This one. As near as I could figure, he called in you and Frank. That was it. I had everything wired for sound so I could monitor what was happening.”

“What happened?”

“One word. Frank. What does Frank never fail to do? What was the one thing all of you were angry about?”

“Saving the day.”

“Exactly.” Roy said. “Everything was ready. Joe was in his office. It was March 21
st
.”

“The day
after
Frank’s wedding?”

“Yes.”

“But he died before …”

“Wait. Allow me to finish. Your father knew he was going to be gone a while, and wanted to really send out some nice emails to everyone he loved. Future Joe wanted to as well, so they both decided they would both write emails.”

Robbie smiled.

“What?”

“The emails. Some were simple. Some were deep.”

“Past Joe, future Joe. Anyhow, I was standing outside the office with Future Joe. He was in an invisible suit. We were laughing because Joe was getting bombarded with phone calls and was getting frustrated. I had set the timer, there wasn’t much time. And we had no idea whatsoever, Jason sent that message.”

“Ok,” Joe spoke, his words being picked up by Roy. “Send him in.”

Future Joe in the suit made his way into the office.

Roy waited. It was a matter of time. He listened to the exchange of words between the Joes. And the door opened. Present Day Joe, wearing the suit, emerged and walked to Roy.

“All set. Fifteen minutes.”

They stayed and waited to make sure there were no problems. But at four minutes and counting, Future Joe got a phone call.

“Robbie, what … in my office. Why?”

Robbie paused Roy’s story. “I made a call to try to find my dad.”

Roy nodded, then continued.

“Why is Robbie calling, why do you sound so upset?” Roy asked.

“I don’t know … Jesus Christ.”

“What?”

“Frank.”

From over the hill, full speed, like only he could run, Frank raced toward the office.

“Goddamn it he’s going in there.” Joe rushed to remove the suit.

“Frank!” Roy called out.

Frank was focused, he ran into the office.

“Son of a bitch.” Stripped out of the suit, Joe ran with everything he had to the office.