Ever-Life the Two Book Set: The C.P.T Incident and Time Trust (18 page)

“But why did I have to be safe? Something is missing.”

“Because, as you found out tonight, some aspects of what I am involved with right now, can be dangerous; and there is more, you have to hear and see.”

Bellos spoke into his
Knofer, in the strange Ever-Life language. Three holograms-a sphere, a square and a triangle, appeared right above his Knofer. He grabbed the triangle, and tossed it onto the floor, two feet from the others.

“P
lease set Carla Bellos program; authorization: Bellos GGM-TBN 010…”

Angie stared, focusing
in disbelief, as Bellos continued, “Angie, I am not just head of this hospital. For years, I have been a leader, in training, of a very old, secret organization; an underground society, really. That is partly why I didn’t tell you everything. It would have put you in danger, sooner. Now, you have to know.”

Angie stood
up, as if to leave, stunned; and obviously shaking; succumbing to shock.

Bellos gestured to
her to wait, “Try to calm down… Here…”

He
quickly went to the cabinet and pulled out a sealed foil-wrapped glass. He ripped the packaging off and handed it to Angie.

“
Drink this; quickly. It will settle you. Sit down; watch the model.”

Bellos
then turned to the shining triangle, and said, “Activate.”

It
began spinning, on one tip; and, projected a light beam to the ceiling. A skeleton began to grow. First two human feet; next up, leg bones grew like plant stems in fast forward, and so on, until finishing with a human skull. When the bones were completed, there was a beep.

Angie sat
in awe.

“My God.”

“Yeah, they don’t teach you this in nursing school.”

Bellos reached
next for the sphere, and tossed it into the skeleton. They both watched, as a spinal cord and nerves began to grow from the bottom of the backbone up into the head and all around the bones. Angie saw a brain flower inside the skull, and nerves sprout out, like beautiful Ivey spreading around a castle in quick time-lapse photography. The drink was working, though; she stopped shaking. For the last time, Dr. B. tossed the square onto the beam and said, “Features-Carla Bellos.”

Then he turned to Angie and watched her expression. Within seconds, muscles and skin covered the body. A light tan beautiful
skin color with detail feminine features appeared. Finally, body hair and facial hair finished the image. As it rotated, Angie involuntarily placed her hands over her mouth, and then reached out, “It’s Mom. How is this possible?”

Bellos gently grabbed his daughter’s hand
s, before they could touch the hologram.

“Listen to me.
I need to tell you a lot…I am part of a secret society that can do many wondrous things, like this. I show you this, because I-we, have no time. I need you to trust that everything I tell you is true. The form here, what you see, is Mom.”

Bellos helped Angie up and they stood together, staring
at Carla.

“Now; you need to be strong
, and open minded.”

Angie took a breath. “Why;
what now?”

Dr. B. went to the cabin
et and took a bathrobe out, which he kept for his wife. He turned, looked at Angie and they both watched Carla, as he spoke one word into the Knofer, “Employ.”

The holographic image became fleshy. The light disappeared
from the floor and the body slowly lowered onto the carpet. Carla Bellos stood before them, firmly. At first, she moved ever so slightly; and then, she blinked and looked at Dr. B.

“Hello
, Darling,”

Carla leaned in and embraced Bellos.

“Hi babe, here; put this around you. I brought someone to see you; look.”

Carla turned and saw Angie. After several blinks, she recognized her daughter. She
held out her arms and laughed, “Oh my heavens…” The two reached for each other.

“Mom?”

“Angela? Oh my baby; how wonderful to see you…My goodness, how you’ve grown.”

They hugged tight
ly. “Oh Mom…It is you.”

Then, she turned to Bellos.

“Dad, how can this be? This is too much for any girl.”

Angie stood back and held her breath.

“It’s all right,” Carla said. “I am here, just in a different way. I am still Mom. I can’t be exactly like you and Dad anymore…Mathew, please.”

“Angie, Mom is real;
but, in a different way. It’s similar to the principles regarding clones. From our research, we are able to create solid holograms; each similar to a clone, but with synthetic DNA. In your Mom’s case, I then programmed most of your mother’s memories into the holographic data; but I have been limited. She can function in every respect, up to the degree we have programmed. The important thing right now is that you two can reacquaint and be together; but Mom can only do so many things. Honey, we can talk about this; and a lot more, later, if that’s okay. Right now, you two should enjoy the moment. I have to go, to a short important meeting. You stay here with Mom; and I’ll be back in about ten minutes?”

Bellos kissed Carla and left the room. T
he two girls went to the couch, by the window. Angie sat down, having an overwhelming feeling of joyful excitement and disbelief.

“
Mom, I’m a nurse, and understand medical technology; but I can’t believe this.”

“I know, Honey; your D
ad explained everything to me, some time ago; so, I know what you mean.”

“You feel
real; like me; like anyone else, and you sound like Mom; I just; oh my, it’s so good to see you.”

Bellos left the room
, and refocused on the morgue murders; work demanded it. He walked to the front door and opened it. Chief of Security Dave Marshall stood before him.

“Dave, come in; sit down.”

“Sir, we caught the men who did it.”

“
Good; were they Brock’s?”

“Yes, their communications
are primitive. We traced contacts to Rash InVoy, his chief of staff, and Archur Smythe, InVoy’s hatchet man. He made the call from Istanbul, Turkey. The whole thing went down within 15-minutes. If we had more time…”

“Dave, that’s not the point and you know it.”

“Yes, I know. We are examining the room now. The Carrier- Unit malfunctioned from the bullets. We think it died.”

“What?”

“I know; I thought they only died from sunlight, right?”

Bello
s squinted and tilted his head, “Or apparently something else…”

“
Ever-Life is searching all databanks and testing a four-foot square wall section, struck by bullets. At this point, we don’t have answers.”

“All right, nothing else we can do
, until we get results. Keep me posted. Make sure Ever-life gets all necessary DNA data for processing Dr. Richard and Rachel?”

“Yes Sir;
one other thing; young Sheldon is in ER-1.”

“Hmm,
good, that’s convenient; deliver him to Carrier Unit-17. We will all be leaving from there. Thanks, Dave.”

“I a
m sorry about this.”

“I know. Tell the police I will be available to interview tomorrow…Oh, and Dave, tell Barb Sawyer to go home. We won’t meet
now, until I get back.”

They s
hook hands; and then, Bellos went back to his office to see Angie and Carla.

“Hi you two; I’m sorry,
I had to leave.”

“That’s okay, Luv. We had a wonderful time; didn’t we sweetie?”

“All this is wonderful; I just need a little time to adjust,” Angie said.

Bellos kidded,
“Your Mother and I understand. After tonight, I’m surprised you haven’t fainted by now.”

“Listen
, you two; I do hate to break this up, truly; but, Angie, you and I have several things we have to do. We have to go.”

“No…” Carla reacted, “not yet;
please Mathew; it’s too soon?”

“I’m sorry, Honey; it is necessary;
only for a short time; I promise.”

After a few seconds, Carla looked at her daughter and sai
d sadly, “Yes, right, we will be together soon. I Love you.”

“Yes, remember;
it is just a little different, that’s all.”

Carla looked at Angie.

“Give us a hug, baby.”

Angie leapt into her mother’s arm
s and they held tightly to one another. Then Carla gently pushed her daughter back, and whispered, “Bye, you two.”

She stood up straight, with tears in her eyes, and said, “End program.” 

Her image pulsated, blinked; and, suddenly, she was gone. Bellos took Angie in his arms.

“I know this
is difficult. I know this morning has been too much for anyone. But, Angie, you are not just anyone. I believe you can handle all this. There are changes coming, fast; and I promise, you are a big part of them. You WILL be with your mom again, very soon.”

“I hope so.”

Then with a smile, she stepped back again.

“Okay, w
hat’s next, Pop?”

“Have you got the book
, you brought in?”

“Ri
ght here…”

“Come on
, then; we go.”

They both walked out of the room and back into the elevator by the front door. Bellos spoke with conviction, “Down-red 6, stat…”

The elevator pressurized and fell fast, down below the hospital some 1300 feet.

Within ten seconds, the door opened; and they walked out into a lighted
, rock wall corridor. Once again, Angie stared at everything.

“Dad, where are we, some Wonderland?”

Bellos chuckled, “Interesting you say that; I have always thought so. This way; follow me.”

They walked through
the hallway quickly, passing five numbered doors. Bellos opened the sixth, which had number 17 on it. They stepped into an empty white comfortably lit room.

“Honey, this is the inside of
a Carrier-Unit. Remember repeating words in the elevator before?”

“Yes
.”

“Well,
now your voice print is part of a very special data base; and, consequently, in rooms like this, you have authority to request most anything you want. So, don’t be bashful or afraid to ask for what you want; within reason, of course.”

“I don’t understand.”

Bellos waved his arm out, “I mean like a chair.”

He said
it; and, immediately, a high back, cushioned chair appeared.

“Table
, with hors d’oeuvre.”

One dining table
and chair appeared, with a large plate of various appetizers.

“Standard programming is Victorian style
furniture. You will learn as you go. You try.”

Angie said,
“Lobster dinner, with Asparagus, baked potato and Champagne.”

A feast appeared
, on the table.

“
Try not to get caught up in it, too much, all right?”

“What do you mean?”

Bellos turned, as if he were speaking to the walls.

“Ple
ase provide a couch, fireplace, tables, lamps, and 60-inch wall monitor. Decorate walls in style of Bellos house-1017.”

Angie watched the r
oom lighting pulse for a second; and then, just like magic, everything Bellos requested appeared, out of nowhere, neatly positioned around the room.

“Oh my God!”

“Yeah; rather nifty; isn’t it?”

“Nifty…Please?
”

“Yes, nifty…
Obviously, I am sort of stuck on Victorian Santa chairs and fireplaces. You practice…Decide what you like. Just remember; if you abuse the Unit, it will cease to function. Honey, I have to go, for just a little while. Try and relax. Is the drink helping the body shock?”

“Yes, I feel better.”

“Good.”

Then he turned to walk out and heard, “Dad, wait, you can’t leave without telling me what a…Unit is; Carrier-Unit, right?”

Bellos stopped, and did
a double take. He turned around and took a breath himself.

“Y
ou are right. Sit a minute. I do have a bit more to say.”

He scratched his he
ad and looked at her, lovingly.

“Do you remember in the nurses’ lounge; how I acted?”

“Yes, I was hurt; shocked, really.”

“I am sorry for that. I didn’t think you were going to be so upset at what you saw. After all, you are a nurse”

“What did I see?”

“You saw something wonderful;
but yes, scary; especially if you are not prepared.”

“I feel safe now. Tell me.”

Bellos leaned back in the chair.

“As I started to tell you before; some year
s ago, I was recruited by an organization, a medical research organization. The organization is a subterranean culture of people, who base their lives on healthcare research and well-being. They have lived deep beneath Earth’s surface, for centuries; much longer really; but, the point is, they-we, have made unbelievable medical discoveries; discoveries that far surpass anything mankind has done up on the surface.”

“Like what.”

“Like; ‘how to bring a person to life’, for example”

“Y
ou mean, Dr. Sheldon, don’t you?”

“Yes;
and very soon, your Mom, I hope. Dr. Sheldon discovered a serum, a formula. It’s a bit complicated.”

Angie sat up straight and attentive.

“
So; frankenstein?”

“Far from it; however, w
e have not been able to duplicate the formula, completely. But, we are working on it, as we speak. Anyway, his serum can only survive and will only react correctly, in a special catalyst bath. That catalyst has a formula too, and only exists, in its raw state, within a single primary source, a person, who contains a very special DNA mix.”

“Okay, so the combination of serum and catalyst bath
can bring dead people back to life. I get it.”

“Well, it’s not just that. Follow me on this one point, please. I am referring
only to the catalyst bath, here.”

“Fine,
go on.”

“So far, within all t
he known gene banks, our family, Bellos/Esposito, has the only DNA structural combination to make the bath. It’s one of the reasons they recruited me, my DNA…And it has been passed on, to certain genetic relatives…”

“Your genes
?”

“…More specifically, in this case;
regarding the catalyst bath, you-your genes.”

“What?”

“Angie; you alone; you are the only person who has the genetic carrier proteins in the raw state; in the right sequence combinations. You carry the bath that will insure Dr Sheldon’s serum will live long enough to re inject into a patient.”

Angie sat still, staring
blankly, for a moment. She furrowed her brow, rolled her eyes a bit and looked around the room, trying to focus.

“
So, what are you saying, exactly?”

Bellos pulled his chair close
to her and took her hands. But just as he was about to speak again, Angie blurted out, “Dad, did you know I was kidnapped tonight?”

“No…When?”

“Earlier, after Ralph and I got caught in the elevator.”

“Jesus; I was the one who authoriz
ed the Elevator-Unit to take you out. I thought you would be safer.”

“We made it to a road
; and then, a van came. There were men with black hoods. They took me, drugged me and left me on Mrs. Sheldon’s doorstep. She and I talked, and we took Dr. Jack’s manuscript to the morgue. Dad, Dr. Richard injected Dr.. Sheldon with the vial you gave me; and he woke up.”

“I expected that; but that particular Dr. Sheldon was a duplicate body
, developed with a process called transtosis…It takes more explanation. We don’t have time right now. That book describes everything, including how we do it. We can reanimate cells; grow organs; even grow complete bodies. Unfortunately, however, the memory/personality of the patient is temporary. We keep the duplicates comfortable and normal, with periodic non-invasive procedures.”