Consigning Fate (37 page)

Jason shook his head. “No. Actually, as crazy as this sounds, I think this is deliberate and out of my control. I’ve looked at everything, from every wire to sequence. Nothing is out of the norm.”

“I’m lost.”

“So am I. It’s almost as if someone said, enough, and locked it down without my knowledge, or changed my formula on time travel. Perhaps maybe, my machine has just seen it’s time. No pun intended.” Jason grunted. “It’s like a puzzle I have to solve.”

“I know that feeling.”

“So I pound away. It’s my focus. It has to be,” Jason said. “It’s my entire life’s work. My entire work is right here, for the moment I could time travel. So I have to do this.”

“It’s your baby,” Robbie said.

“It is. And it burns me that there’s time travel in the future. Or was”

“Why do you say that?”

“What? The ‘was’ part?”

“Both.”

“Well, Fort came from the future, and he can’t get back. Ironically, not long after his trip to us he got stuck here, no return door and my machine stopped working. It’s a strong coincidence I cannot ignore.”

“It’s a weird coincidence. You think they shut his door down in the future and it affected yours.”

“Crossed my mind. And the other thing is they have this great time travel or ability to do so in the future. All based on my machine. But it’s in the future. I take comfort in the fact that I have been a godfather for it all.”

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” Robbie said and glanced at his watch. “Well, I have to get going. George and I are checking out the coast and seeing damage done by the Fredrickson.”

“Sounds exciting.”

“Kind of is.” Robbie reached for the door. Before he left, he took one more look at Jason who immediately returned to his computer. Jason looked down, beaten. Not that Jason was the most pleasant of people but he never was such a loner and recluse.

Robbie wished he could help. At least for his father’s sake. Reaching for the door knob, Robbie paused.

Jason’s words rang in his mind, “Maybe my machine has just seen its time. No pun intended.”

“Maybe.” Robbie murmured aloud.

“Did you say something?” Jason asked.

“Yes, yes I did.” Robbie turned around with a bright look. “Wanna snap out of it Jason.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Wanna snap out of this funk? I mean like instantly.” Robbie snapped his finger. “Snap. Gone. You’re back to being you, maybe even a bit more excited.”

“I don’t understand.”

“This investigation about my father has taken a weird turn. I haven’t shared with anyone in Beginnings, at all. My father trusted you because he could confide in you. You have a theoretical mind that I can use and I can use some help with this puzzle I’ve found myself with. I think Jason … I think you’ll find it fascinating, and I think you’ll thank me.”

Jason chuckled. “I would love to help. I can use the diversion. Let me know what I can do. I’m sure I’ll thank you if it does take my mind off of things.” Jason returned to his computer, stating in a joking manner, “I’d thank you more if you got my machine to work.”

Robbie grinned. “I can do you one better. Actually, Jason, I can do you ten better.”

Jason quickly turned back to Robbie.

Robbie opened the door. “I’ll pick you up tonight about ten at the hall. I have to go. See ya then.” Robbie walked out, paused, and stuck his head in the door. “And don’t say anything to anyone.”

The door closed.

“Ok,” Jason spoke to himself. “You told me nothing.” Shrugging, he simply returned to his work.

<><><><>

To Ellen, Billy was always an odd child. Too intelligent and mature for his own age. Like William had told of Dean’s youth, Billy was the exact same. Lacking any normal child’s social skills. In Ellen’s opinion, Billy felt he was an adult waiting for his body to catch up.

That was evident when she woke up and smelled coffee.

Usually the first to rise, if she didn’t sleep in, Ellen liked to have her coffee before dealing with the kids.

To her surprise, Billy was already awake and sipping coffee at the table.

“What are you doing?” Ellen asked.

“Preparing for my day.”

Passing him, Ellen stopped. Billy was literally wearing his Sunday best. Brown pants, white shirt, blue tie, complete with pocket protector. “Is there something I’m missing?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why are you dressed like that?”

“It’s a big day. My … that man who sat with us last night suggested this look.”

“The man who … you mean your father,” Ellen stated.

“Hmm. Sure. He said this would work best for impact.”

“He would,” Ellen mumbled.

“In fact …” He at his watch. “I’d better be going.”

“School doesn’t start for forty minutes,” Ellen said.

“Yes, I know, but I have to prepare.” Billy hopped from his seat, grabbed a jacket, and walked to the door. “Have a good day.”

“You, too.” Ellen crinkled her brow watching Billy lift a briefcase almost the same size as him and walk out the door. She wasn’t going to give it much thought; after all, Billy excited about school was a good thing and about time.

When Jenny received the upbeat phone call from Ellen, she had to admit she was thrilled to hear that Billy was excited about school. She knew eventually she would hit a subject that enticed him and made him want to learn.

And of course, he was a boy, why wouldn’t he want to hear the story of Cowboys and Indians, especially with Elliott Ryder coming into the class to give a speech on the differences and similarities between Indians and Savages.

Ellen told Jenny to not be taken aback when she saw how Billy was dressed.

Jenny had a visual in her mind. Billy showing up in a little cowboy hat, wearing jeans made by Ben.

It was time to open the doors, and Jenny wrapped up her breakfast sandwich, straightened herself, and walked to the door.

As she expected Billy was the only one there, first in line. But not dressed as she expected.

“You locked me out,” Billy said.

“I never open the doors until eight,” Jenny replied.

“But today is special.”

“Yes, it is.” Jenny smiled.

“I’m very excited about this.”

“You don’t know how glad I am Billy that you have this attitude today.”

“Good. Good.” He nodded. “You’re gonna have a great day, Jenny, filled with excitement and learning.”

Jenny, giddy, clapped.

Billy paused. “I’m not a two year old who just used the potty.”

“Sorry.” She held back her smirk.

Billy walked to her desk.

“What … what are you doing?”

Setting his briefcase on the desk, Billy popped open the lid. “Will you be sitting in my seat? You’ll have a better view.”

“Why would I sit in your seat?” Jenny asked.

“To learn.”

“To learn what?”

“What I’m teaching.”

“What you’re teaching?”

“Why are you repeating me?” Billy asked.

Jenny huffed. “Billy get away from my desk.”

“My desk.”

“My desk!” Jenny blasted. “I am the teacher, you are the student.”

“Not today.”

Jenny marched to the desk. “Every day. Why would you think you would teach the class?”

“My father told me.”

“Oh, really?” Jenny placed her hand on her hip. “I am the teacher. You are not teaching the class.”

“I am. My father said. And ...” Billy straightened his tie. “He also said if you don’t like it, go see him.”

“I think that might be an option,” Jenny said sternly, then after making sure his little fingers were free and clear, she slammed his briefcase closed.

<><><><>

Roy stumbled as he entered the clinic lab, bumping into things on his way to his computer.

“You’re late,” Frank said.

Roy shrieked. Frank startled him.

“You OK?” Frank asked.

“Yes. Yes. I’m just rushing. I want to get everything done up here and get back to the cryo lab to finish the project before Ellen arrives.”

“Just do what you did before.” Frank shrugged. “Blow off the clinic.”

Roy gasped. “It is my duty and obligation. I can’t do that. I don’t know what I was thinking. I probably was late all the time before, too.”

“Pretty much.”

“I hate being late. Look at the time.”

Frank did. “You’re not late. I was joking.”

“I’m to be here at eight. It is one minute after.”

“That’s not late. Technically, yeah, it’s late, but in the scheme of things, it’s not late. Why are you late?”

“I thought you said I wasn’t late.”

“Ok. Why are you rushing from and back to the cryo lab?”

Roy answered. “I have nearly completed something special. Something that will surely aid Beginnings.”

“What is it?” Frank asked.

“I can’t tell you. I have to tell Ellen first. But it has to do with DNA.”

“Yes!” Frank clenched his fist. “Perfect. That is exactly why I’m here.”

“About DNA.”

“Problem solving.”

“With DNA?”

“Dean. I can’t problem solve DNA, only you can,” Frank said. “Which is why I’m here. You can solve a problem.”

Roy smiled. “Yes, I can. I can solve many.”

“Check this out. Remember when you went to the future with Ellen through the Aragon Window. You said everything was rosy except one thing. The killer babies had grown up and they had been out of control.”

“LEPS.”

“Yeah, that’s right. That’s what you said they were called. They were out of control.”

Roy whistled. “And deadly. Killer. They were massive and couldn’t be stopped.”

“Wouldn’t it be fuckin sweet to remove the problem now so we don’t have that problem in the future?”

“It would be a grand idea.”

“Like the one Iffy said. He said he came in the invisible suit to eliminate the problem. Good in theory.”

Roy shook his head. “But that didn’t work.”

“No.”

“I wouldn’t think it would.”

“Fuck no. You can’t fuckin invade Beginnings, attack me, and meet your mission.”

“Perhaps they should have found you first and said what they wanted.”

“Perhaps.” Frank nodded. “But if they did I wouldn’t see them. Anyhow … I got a solution.”

“Go on.”

“What if we stop it now?”

“How?”

“We start here.” Frank reached to the sack on his hip. “Ow.” He reached. ‘Little fucker.” He pulled out another subject. “This one was a bitch to get. I got the leash around him, though.”

Immediately upon seeing it, Roy screamed and jumped back. “What? What is that!”

“You know what it is. What does it look like?”

“A fetus!” Roy peered closer. “Whose uterus did you extract it from?”

“I didn’t,” Frank said. “It’s a fetus. A Killer Fetus.”

“Oh my God! Did it tear its way out?”

“No. You fuckin know this, Dean. They nest.”

“They nest?”

“Dean. Stick with the program.” Frank flung the fetus about as he spoke. “Killer Fetus turns into Killer Baby, then it turns into a Killer Toddler, and finally a killer adult.”

“This is a fetal LEP?”

“Yes.”

“Holy cow.”

“So I was thinking. He looks pretty normal huh?”

“As normal as a fetus can look,” Roy said.

“Except for this prickly teeth. But … listen to what I’m thinking. They are DNA enhanced. What if we get them right now, at this stage and do something with their DNA to either stop the mutation right here, or try to mutate it to normalcy. What do you think?”

Roy stared.

“Dean?”

“Frank. That is brilliant. Absolutely brilliant theoretical thinking. The notion alone is plausible and exciting. You are a genius. Pure genius. I do not care what the history books say.”

“Thanks.”

“Can I have him to start working?” Roy reached.

“He bites.”

Roy retracted his hand. “Can we cage him?”

“I’ll take him to the cryo lab for you.”

“Thank you.”

Just as Frank started to leave, he stopped when Jenny stormed in. She tugged Billy along with her by his ear and boomed her voice with a hard point to Roy,

“You!” she blasted.

“You!” Roy pointed back.

Frank laughed.

Roy walked to her. “Why do you have him by his ear? Is there something on his hands that you can’t touch him that way?”