"No, not yet. I've been waiting for the results to see how strong it stays while they attempt to make a large batch of it downstairs."
"Wait. You asked them to make a large batch? Why would you ask that? They make tankers full of that and it's not going to be any good if it doesn't come back as correct! We can't have medicine being made when we don't know if it's going to be successful! That could be disastrous!"
"You know as well as I do, sir, that it's E&T protocol. Something works, they get it on the shelf, they know it's vitamins, and no one's going to die, are they, from what we make here? It's designer vitamins for God sakes!"
Frank, thinking back to his army days, got lost for a minute. Rogers was probably correct. Yes there was no realistic chance that anyone would die from having a little too much vitamin c in their diet. He had a quick realization that what he was making here wasn't something like project X-74.
On Friday at four thirty he hit the save icon for his current project, powered down and backed up his machines in the large lab. "Rogers, make sure you get everything backed up and saved. Got it?"
"Rogers, get it?" He joked. "Have a good weekend, Dr. Fox."
"Rogers, yes I get it, get everything backed up." Frank hated the joke Rogers used making a pun out of his name weekly,
Frank arrived at home at five o'clock. His arms were full with pizzas, pops and movies. The films had PG-13 ratings and, to make himself feel old, they were full of a cast of actors he hadn't heard of. He thought Shaun would be pleased or would be at the very least full.
Frank made his way to the kitchen where he laid the treasure on the counter. Shaun appeared from nowhere like a ninja. He took a big whiff stared at both pizzas smiling. "Pepperoni?"
Frank nodded, surprised he could make it as far as the kitchen with the food before his son was on top of it. "You think you can find someone to help you eat and drink all this, and maybe watch a couple of movies?"
Shaun looked at it all and clicked--his dad was being nice. He was going to be left at home by himself. He realized one thing--he would rather spend the night with Ellie. He smiled. "You know, there's a good chance that I can find one or two people to help me with this, dad."
Frank nodded. "Just don't invite the entire school over, and keep the night's excitement and trouble making to misdemeanors only."
Shaun rubbed his hands together. "Oh, but father! Just think of the debauchery I could get into without you here! The videos could be online before you ever get home!"
"Do you need a babysitter? Isn't Ellie older than you? Maybe she'll make sure you stay out of trouble?"
"Not sure if Ellie should be your best choice. She's a little bit of a hell raiser, Francis."
Franks snapped his fingers. "Watch your mouth! I'm 'dad' not 'Francis'! Anyway, I trust Ellie, but don't go raising too much trouble. I'll probably be home later tonight."
Shaun saluted his dad, and pulled out his cell phone with his skinny young fingers tapping at speeds which Frank couldn't comprehend. Frank checked his watch and saw it was nearly five thirty already.
He took a steaming hot shower. He had planned out what he wanted to say for a while now, and was thinking that, as the time got closer, he was going to completely forget all of it. He laughed at himself in the shower. There were very few times he'd been able to remember having been so nervous.
Frank took the dry-cleaning bag off the hook. He slipped on a pair of black dress slacks and a gray and black, pin-striped, button up shirt. He checked himself in the mirror, rubbed some aftershave on and got on his suit coat.
****
Ellie stared around the room and completely spaced off what her mother had just said, thinking about what surprise was entailed for her tonight. She put her cell phone down and looked up at her mother. "Huh? Sorry, mom, I was just reading a message from Shaun. What'd you say?"
Karen was motioning for Ellie to come and zip up the dark green revealing dress. "Are you and Master Fox going to stay out of trouble tonight?"
Ellie zipped up her mom's dress and smoothed out the back for her. "Dressed like that, I'd have to ask you the same question!"
"Young lady! We are just going out for dinner."
In a poor English accent Ellie mocked, "Well, I hope you and Dr. Fox are able to enjoy a wonderful evening...." Giving up the accent, she continued, "It would seem Shaun and I will be eating some pizza and watching vampire movies."
"Don't watch too many scary movies! I don't want to have you curled up with me later!"
Ellie rolled her eyes. "Please, mother! There are no such thing as monsters. If I get too scared, I'm sure Shaun will take care of me."
"You watch that Shaun. I'm pretty sure he has a thing for you."
"Mom, he knows I don't have feelings for him like that."
Karen gave a knowing smile to her daughter. "Things sometimes change honey."
"Well, if you and Dr. Fox end up for the long haul, then what do you expect me to do? Date my brother? Wouldn't that be kind of weird?"
"So, if I wasn't dating his father, you might be interested?"
Ellie threw up her hands in frustration. "Why do parents have to be so difficult!? I just got a text from Shaun asking if I can come over for pizza and movies tonight. Do you care if I go?"
"We could drop you off on the way to Des Moines if you want."
"Really? You, me, your lover boy and a car ride? I don't think so! No, thank you!"
"When I checked the weather earlier, it said that it was supposed to be below zero and to expect a few inches of snow and fifty mile per hour winds.... But if you want to walk, I can see the intelligence in that."
Ellie thought about her thin winter coat she'd insisted on getting and her light beanie cap. She texted Shaun she'd be there after a while. "I would love a ride mother," she conceded as she left the room.
****
Frank yelled goodbye from the door, and told Shaun to stay out of trouble and not to raise too much hell. He smiled thinking of Karen, and enjoyed the ride over to her house. He was floating on a cloud as he thought of a wonderful dinner, great company, and the beginning of a new chapter in his life.
He pulled into the long driveway, leaving the truck running and the heater blasting. He got up to the front door and hit the doorbell hoping he wouldn't be left out here too long. Ellie opened the door with a mischievous smile. "Hi, Ellie," he told her.
"Won't you please come in, Dr. Fox?"
"Ellie, please call me Frank. I feel so old when you call me that."
Ellie stood aside so he could enter. Music was blaring in the background ... something romantic and poignant--clearly intended for him.
Frank entered the doorway looking a little surprised, and Karen screamed at Ellie from upstairs in a very authoritative voice to turn that damn song off unless she wanted to be grounded for the entire weekend.
Ellie and Frank were each trying to keep a straight face, and, after a moment, he realized the teen had quite the personality. They both started laughing hard. "You'd probably better turn that thing off," he finally managed, "or your mother might hurt you."
She pulled a remote out of her purple hoody and turned it off. She shrugged. "I'm pretty sure that was funny enough that she'll find it in her heart to forgive me."
Frank winked. "Better not risk it. What are your plans for this evening?" He didn't want to invite her to the house if Shaun hadn't wanted her there. He knew his son wasn't the happiest about this situation and wanted to put as little extra stress on him as possible right now.
Ellie looked at him as if maybe a third eyeball had popped out of his forehead. "I thought mom said the three of us were going out to eat? Pizza and a movie or something like that, right?"
Karen hollered again at Ellie from around the corner. "Ellie Gene! Would you please quit screwing with Frank, honey!? It's not fair--he doesn't understand your twisted personality."
Frank looked embarrassed and yelled, "I am a very quick study, dear! I believe this might be her being sarcastic!"
Ellie yelled back down the hall to her mother. "See mom! He likes it!" She lightly punched him on the shoulder. "Tell mom to let me know when we're ready to leave."
Frank nodded and, after she departed, whispered under his breath, "I'm going to have a step-daughter. How am I going to handle her daily?"
Karen came around the corner, wiggling into a black, tall high heel. Smiling at Frank, she walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his head and pressed her lips to his. Frank finally broke the embrace while still holding a firm grip around her waist. "Wow! I missed you, too!"
Karen smiled rubbing up against him and whispered in his ear. "Are you sure you're hungry? That money might just be better spent if we went to a suite downtown, don't you think?"
Frank smiled at the thought but managed, "You know we need to have this dinner. We deserve it."
"Yes,
you
do deserve it. We can always do the rest later...."
Frank smiled. "Lucky for us, we have all the time in the world!"
Karen yelled down the hall. "Honey, let's get out of here! I have a hot date waiting, and a young lady who needs dropped off before that can happen."
They left the house together. Frank walked around to the passenger door and opened the rear door for Ellie, and the front door for Karen, then waited until they both were in the truck and comfortable before he shut the doors. He hustled around to the driver's door. Karen had already pulled the handle for him and was waiting to meet him with another hot kiss.
Ellie made a gagging sound that made both of them kiss longer, but they laughed the rest of the way through it. They looked back at Ellie who was smiling and sticking a finger in her mouth.
They drove back to Frank's house where Ellie hopped out and disappeared into the heavy snow. "Stay out of trouble you two," she yelled, "or Shaun and I might have to ground you!"
She walked up to the house and rang the doorbell, thinking about how important tonight was. She was amazed how well she was able to keep quiet about what was going to happen this evening. Shaun opened the door and Ellie turned around and waved at her mom and Frank. Shaun waved as well as Ellie disappeared into the house.
Frank shifted into reverse and backed up the truck slowly. Karen teasingly leaned over. "Just so you know, we just dropped off the only other person that lives at my house, so if you're not all that hungry you ... maybe we could stop back home and make sure we didn't leave any lights on."
Frank gripped the wheel tightly. "Well, until we give her a ride home tonight, your house will still be empty."
"Frank, what are you up to? I didn't know men were able to change the subject once sex became involved! Is there something wrong?"
"Things couldn't be better! Don't worry about it. We're just going to go out for a nice dinner. I feel like once in a while I need to spoil the lady I love. We work too hard and we need to be able to enjoy life once in a while."
"Well, I can't think of any reason that good company and food can't be in our stars."
They arrived thirty-five minutes later downtown, and found a parking spot after a few laps around the block. Frank parked and opened the door for his soon to be fiancé--given the stars aligned the way he wanted. Frank walked in and, as he was giving the hostess his name, he waited for Karen to turn around and handed the maître d' a small blue box with a note and a fifty dollar bill. They were seated in a dark corner rounded booth so that they could sit next to each other. She snuggled into him, laying her head on his shoulder, thinking about the week, and having issues letting it all go.
A young thin waiter introduced himself as Roberto and asked for their order. Karen, usually a lightweight at the bar, decided that she'd have something a bit more fun. She ordered a vodka tonic, and, not to be outdone, Frank put in an order for a whisky and cola. He couldn't see anything bad about having a shot of whisky before something so big about to take place. From what he saw of the other diners all dressed to the nines, he couldn't find a beer drinker among them.
Karen looked at Frank and then took in the restaurant. The atmosphere was quiet and elegant. It had all the signs of a landmark that was built to last. The old dark oak wood on all the walls which had intricate stenciling made from a lighter wood attached to it making frames around squares.
Later on, they caught each other gazing at the other, paying little attention to the wonderful prime rib and mussels in a white wine sauce. Frank timed himself to finish at the same time as Karen so that he could finish out his night the way he had planned. Roberto stopped to see only once if their drinks need refilled.
Karen put down her fork and looked over at Frank finishing his as well. "I couldn't possibly eat another bite. That was delicious! Thank you so much."
Frank caught the maître d's eye and nodded. Frank let out a long breath thinking--here goes ... all or nothing. The elegant wooden dessert cart came over promptly and came to rest beside their table.
Karen's eyes got big at the massive array of dessert. "Oh, would you look at everything! I couldn't even pick. Frank, what looks good to you?"
Frank peered over the cart, took the blue box from it, and held it out for Karen. The waiter backed away and left the couple to themselves. Frank's face looked very serious. "Karen, you with me for the rest of our lives sounds like the greatest thing in the world.... Will you be my wife?"
Karen brought her hands up to her face, and looked in awe for a minute as everything hit her all at once. Frank stared at her with a hopeful smile which melted away as the first of many tears started to flow freely down her cheeks. She pushed the box down and closed it. "I ... can't Frank. I've been thinking of a way to break this to you all week. I didn't want to do it tonight. It has been killing me, Frank, keeping this from you this long."
Frank shook his head, staring at Karen, unsure exactly how to react. He set the box on the table, thought about it, and slid it in his breast pocket. "I don't understand. Please, did I do something? What have you been keeping from me?"
Karen shook her head. "You didn't do anything, Frank. The week you went hunting I had a doctor's appointment.... Nothing serious but I had to get an annual checkup for work. I'd told my regular doctor about a pain in my legs and arms, but I just thought it was because I was trying to get back in shape. I had these weird pains and he had to do some blood work for my physical. He said not to worry about it, and he'd just run a couple extra tests. It probably was from the exercise and to just cut it back a little. So he looked at my CBC test.... Do you know what that is?"
Frank nodded slowly knowing all too well. "Yes, it's your complete blood count. Marie, my ... um ... yes, I know. What did they say? What were the results?"
Karen shook her head. "Frank I can't put you or Shaun through this. You've been through it before. Once is enough! Nobody should have to deal with that, and to deal with it twice ... I couldn't! I just couldn't do that!"
"I can handle anything. What did they say?"
"... Probably three to six months. They couldn't be sure. They said it was bone cancer."
Frank took a long drink of his whisky. He was staring at her, trying to choke back the tears and all of the painful memories he had. "Six months isn't bad.... You and Ellie can live with me while your treatment is under way."
She squeezed his arm. "No, Frank, you're not getting it, dear. I don't have three to six months to get through treatment.... I have three to six months to live. It's terminal. That's why I can't marry you."
Frank didn't say anything for the next twenty minutes ... or maybe he did--it was all a blur and he wasn't sure what happened. He signaled for the waiter again, charged his meal and helped a very somber Karen to the truck, hand in hand.
He thought through everything on the way home. It was still early and the traffic was just starting to pick up for the night crowd. The windshield wipers were going at full blast and Frank's demons, regrets, and nightmares were coming back on him. He thought of Shaun's black suit, red roses, coffins, all their friends and family, and his thoughts about Karen. He decided she was right. He couldn't go through with this again, and he wouldn't lose again. God only gave so many chances. He knew he only had so much time in life. He slammed on the brakes. The truck fish tailed through the snow covered highway until it slid to a stop with Karen screaming at the top of her lungs.
Frank peeled his hands off the wheel and put the truck into park turning his head to Karen unsure if he could but knew that not trying might haunt him forever. It would be even harder to try and explain this to her without sounding like an insane man.
"What the hell are you doing, Frank!?"
"You know that I was a soldier and then a scientist in the Army right? I left to start a family ... to have some peace in my life."
Karen catching her breath looked around where they were, which was nowhere. "What's that got to do with us stopping in the middle of the highway!? Are you insane!?"
Frank's adrenaline was pumping now with enthusiasm. "You don't understand! I know I must look crazy, and I know this will sound insane, but what if you had longer!? What if I could save you!?"
"Save me? How? I've never been the religious type."
Frank laughed. "God and I don't get along either, but science and I do. In the army, right before Marie died, we'd come up with a formula while working on a vapor to give the soldiers. It was a classified project. I was sworn to secrecy--signed my life away to it--but I have got all my original notes on it. We all worked together, each doing a part, but I understand all of it! If we alter some of the increments then I might have something we could use to start with. I will work on it until it's done!"
"I'm sorry? Are you saying the government can cure cancer and they just don't?"
"No. During Iraq, we were trying to come up with something to help soldiers who were exposed to chemical gas warfare. Their blood would break down, and then their bones ... much like what you're going through, but very quickly. We were trying to retro the effects and save them."
Karen grabbed Frank and gave him a hug and started to let out the tears she'd been holding in since telling him. "Do you really think it's possible?"
Frank put the truck back in gear and started to head home. "I'll get to work on it tonight. I'm going to need blood samples first, and we can get those tonight if we stop by the lab."
Karen reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the blue box. She opened it and slid the ring on, smiling at Frank. "Take me home, Frank. Tonight we celebrate our engagement, and tomorrow you start working on the cure."
Chapter 8
Day -3157: October 7
th
, 2008. World Population 6,698,128,515
Dr. Michaels sat and stared in disbelief, but took notes as quickly as he could. Dr. Christophers sat across from him watching and recording information. In a million years, neither of them thought they'd have to deal with something like this--especially in the U.S. Army. Just four days, ago Sergeant Daniels was in a coma state. It seemed like if the breathing tube was removed, he wouldn't last over an hour unsupported. They had unanimously agreed he would be the perfect test subject.
They had seen patients like this before first hand--dying quickly or sometimes, if they were less lucky, they would suffer a slow painful death. Unfortunately, those seemed the best test subjects. They had the time needed to study them and in times of war sometimes rules were bent like animal testing. They had just received the green flag from their superiors to start human trials immediately. Sergeant Daniels had been on the brink of death and had just days or hours left to live before the effects of the chemicals from the gas bombs took him. He was the only survivor of ten soldiers from the gruesome attack by the Taliban.
He had come back from his death bed to become the thriving, violence-filled man in front of them. Dr. Michaels noted a large increase in energy, bleeding of the eyes, and abnormally large amounts of aggression. He also had Dr. Moffenberg pinned to the floor with his knee and was punching and clawing at his face while the young pudgy doctor kicked and tried to push him unsuccessfully. The previously injured soldier had the power of a man who'd taken a giant hit of crack and acid. He had to have two young, strong, fit military police pull him off of the battered doctor. They might as well of been two rag dolls hanging from the soldiers arms. One was using the butt of the rifle to repeatedly strike the man in the back of his head.
Dr. Michaels called over the PA for more police and orderlies to assist with the injections, which they hoped would put the man out. Ten minutes later and after more injections than anyone would knowingly admit they had given him, the soldier finally succumbed to the drugs and passed out. The orderlies quickly chained him to the bed by his arms, legs, waist and ankles.
They rushed the doctor to the infirmary wasting no time--they knew he was not alright. Afterwards, the out of breath soldiers filed out the front door to see who could smoke the most cigarettes. They were all in shock at the strength of the man.
Four hours later, the head of the science research department, Major Stevenson, sat across from Dr. Michaels and Dr. Christophers who were typing each of their findings and reports vigorously while keeping a watchful eye on their associate and friend Dr. Moffenberg.
"Major," Dr. Michaels began, "I don't know what happened. This was our first test and from initial findings his adrenaline gland must have been pulling double duty to keep up with the testosterone his body was outputting. I've never seen such spikes in aggressiveness, either! His muscle tissues seemed inflamed and would probably be to blame for the tightened appearance of his body. If he'd have had a bigger dose then I don't know if drugs or ten men would have been able to contain him."
The Major looked at the beaten scientist and smiled at the two doctors. "Let's get another batch of sick recruits, cut the dosage to a quarter this time, and let's see what comes of it. I can't see telling my superiors that a strong and aggressive solder is something we don't want to further investigate, and if it can hold up against the elements of chemical warfare, I'd say it's a winner, boys!"
Dr. Christophers scowled. "But what do you want me to do with Sergeant Daniels?"
The Major had already stood and was walking away. "Who the hell is that?"
"He's patient A, sir."
The Major replied over his shoulder. "Oh, yes. Him. Well, we won't know the answers to what you two came up with until after we receive the autopsy results."