Chapter 7: Frank's Dream

Everything went well this week; we even ordered some more electric vehicles for the property. I guess we could officially call it a ranch now, since we have horses. We also came up with a bio-fuel formula that Kristy could easily produce; the vehicles could be easily converted to run on it, while still accept regular fuel. I love it when a plan comes together, as my old TV buddy (Hannibal Smith) used to say.

We were just about to sit down to dinner when it happened.

"Spatial anomaly detected," Kristy said as she appeared in the kitchen.

"What the hell is a spatial anomaly?" I asked, looking at Kristy.

"A small ship has just appeared in orbit around the planet; there is not yet any indication of intention from the ship," Kristy said.

"Can you identify it? Is it from the POG group?" I asked.

"Negative. It appears to be an unmanned Lodi drone ship. The Lodi civilization are traders by profession and not dangerous, but this does not explain the presence of the drone ship."

"What is it doing exactly?"

"Nothing; just orbiting, no transmissions detected."

"Don't do anything that would let it detect you."

"Affirmative, just running passive scans."

"Will anyone else be able to detect this ship?"

"Not likely. With all the garbage in orbit they won't pick it up, and it's not generating any signals to pick up."

"You have any idea why the ship would be here?"

"It could possibly be to monitor the problems the planet is having, but I'm not sure."

"Well keep an eye on it, and of course please let us know if anything changes."

This was an interesting development. I wondered if it has anything to do with our other problems? We went back to eating and after finishing our meal, I went into the office. I asked Kristy to see the information she had on the Lodi civilization. They were a society based on trading and all the technology they had, they had earned through trading. Their technology level was typically quite a few years behind everyone else — nobody wanted to trade out their current technology.

Kristy appeared again and said, "The drone is active. It appears to be searching for someone or something; its scans are concentrated in the Malibu area."

"Damn. If it finds what it's looking for, I want a location. I also want to know what it's transmitting; make sure you're ready for that," I said.

I was still thinking of the drone when the gate bell rang. I looked at the monitor and it was Jessica's friend Leroy and his wife. Good, we may need his help soon if we have any problems with this ship. I noticed the gate opening and Jessica walking out to meet them. I went back to reading the information on the Lodi race, what they usually trade, and what they expect in return. Well, I ended up with a stress headache, so I went upstairs, took a long hot shower, then went to bed. I knew Kristy would wake me if anything changed.

Sunday I woke up feeling like crap. I got up, used the pisser, and went right back to bed. Patricia came back in the bedroom a while later, and laid with me, making sure I was ok.

"I don't know, I think it's just a headache. I had some strange dreams last night but I can't remember them really," I said.

I was in bed till around lunch time. Finally I decided I had to get up and eat something. Gloria made me some soup for lunch and we all talked at the table for a while. Jessica said Leroy had moved into one of the apartments, she also filled him in on the drone in orbit. After eating I got up and went back to bed, I didn't get back up again till the next morning.

Finally the next morning I woke up refreshed — I felt like a million bucks! I went to the bathroom, then lay back in bed and snuggled with Patricia.

"Well good morning," I said.

"Don't you look a lot better this morning?"

"I feel much, much better thanks."

"Good. You know we figured out it was the drone making you sick last night?" she said

"Really, how?"

"Not sure. It had something to do with dreams, almost like the drone was trying to communicate with you."

"How did you make me feel better then?"

"Kristy shielded the house from the transmissions the drone was sending out; in only a few minutes you started looking better."

"Well thanks; I feel much better, and thank you to Kristy for blocking that signal."

"You're welcome. I just wished I would have considered this possibility sooner. I was not expecting something like this; I do however think the drone found its target. It stopped scanning a few hours ago and has not started again," Kristy said.

"Do you know who the target was?"

"Registered owner of the property is Frank Mays, he is a stock broker."

"Ok, get me all you can on him and yes, please keep an eye on him."

Hugging Patricia, I asked, "Now I have you to thank for taking care of me, what I could do to repay the favor?"

"I will let you know later ... just keep this going for now."

We eventually got up and jumped in the shower together where I washed her hair as a partial repayment to her. We got dressed and headed downstairs where the rest were eating.

"Wow! You look much better today," Jenny said.

"Thanks, I feel as good as new. Are we expecting anyone today?"

"We're expecting the propane tanks, the electric vehicles and a few other things you ordered."

"Kristy, have you started on the fuel conversion kits?"

"Yes I have two hundred of them for diesel engines, and a few that will work for aircraft as well," she said.

"Ok. Jessica and Leroy, you are the security people so far. I need a recommendation on what diesel vehicles we should buy, though I'm sure Kristy will have a few upgrades for them. So put your hats on and get thinking; personally I figure something small for scouting and something larger for transportation. We should also have several vehicles that can pull tractor trailers. If you have any questions, just ask. Now someone please tell me what I'm forgetting?" I asked.

"The work on the helicopter was completed the other day. It is fully functional and has been converted to the new fuel system already. I also took the liberty of designing some weapons for it based on Earth models, but will not install them until they are acceptable. At the rear of the storage area I manufactured four tanks, two for clean water, one for diesel and one for gas. Our new bio-diesel has its own tank under the parking area," Kristy added.

"Damn you have been busy; well is that everything?"

When no one commented, the meeting broke up and we all went about our duties. Jenny had pretty much taken over care of all the animals including the dogs; luckily Kristy took care of the cleaning at night. Jessica and Leroy went into the office to use the computer and look up vehicles. I had a feeling they were going to want Hummers — I just knew it. I wish the original model was available. Then again, with Kristy's help they can all be as good as the original I guess.

I worked on the computer for the next few hours; I was still studying the information we had on the drone. What would it want with the guy named Frank Mays? Well I guess we will find out sooner or later. I watched the news for a while; mostly the same old crap but more power problems because of the heat; they were begging everyone not to use their air conditioners. The shortages of items at the stores were raising prices again. The people for the most part are still unaware of what is happening; the scientists have been getting more vocal however.

I logged in and checked the message boards; some of the responses were comical to say the least.

"The more people up here the better, we can raise our prices"

"They won't all come up here — there are not enough hotel rooms"

Damn! People could sometimes be so stupid, I just couldn't believe it. Some people recognize the problem with this, and were making plans to purchase additional ammo for their shotguns. I'm sure the sporting goods stores are making a fortune. This is going to get nasty, I can see it now. No way is this going to work out.

We all sat down for dinner and just talked about things in general, no work right now. After dinner, we all went and spent time in the pool, then Pat and I headed for bed. We were in bed when Kristy paged me.

"Justin, there is another signal coming from the drone; it is concentrated at the residence of Frank Mays again," she said.

'What type of signal? We need to tap into it and find out what the drone is transmitting."

"Standby ... The drone appears to be communicating in the subject's dream ... the transmission has ended. I'm decoding the delta-waves, standby," Kristy said. It was about fifteen minutes later she started again.

"The drone appears to have been from the future. It gives information about the destruction of a majority of mankind, about an 'EMP' and a battle," Kristy said.

"Do we have any way to confirm this as true?"

"As I reported, the drone ship arrived suddenly through an anomaly; it did not come into the system and then decide to orbit the planet. The real test will be if the things in the dream happen over the next few days."

"So that gives us less than a month to prepare. Will you be able to protect us from the 'EMP' and other effects of the battle?"

"Yes, but it would be better to have everyone underground to be safe."

"Kristy, can you do something to this person so we can monitor him completely? I mean sight, sound, what he sees, what he hears, even what he thinks; everything?"

"It would be possible to place a small node in the back of his head that would send us this information; I could have one implanted with no trouble."

"Is that something you do often?" I asked, kind of shocked.

"No, however I can do it because of the foreign intelligence that is already manipulating him," she said.

"Oh, I understand. Go ahead and do it. I want to know everything we can from this person."

"I will try to replay Frank's dream for you as you sleep," Kristy said.

I was lying in bed holding Patricia and trying to think. Well the population wouldn't have trouble with the heat — they'd be dead!

"As if we didn't have enough to worry about, now this," Pat said.

"In one way, it will keep the people from suffering from heat exposure, but on the other hand most of them will be dead," I said and shook my head. "I just don't know what to think anymore," I said as we cuddled together and tried to sleep.

I wonder what Frank is going through? I would make sure to keep an eye on him, I thought, a fading thought of consciousness as I fell asleep.

Frank's Dream

[this section reads a little confused — it's not always clear whether this is real, or Frank's dream, or Franks dream of a dream — it may clear up with some more speech markers or indenting the text... ?!?]

I was taking a leisurely drive down Pacific Coast Highway late one afternoon, just relaxing, thinking of the bum rap I have gotten from life. I had just got off the phone with my mother from letting me know my dad was in the hospital, but should be fine. Anyway I was driving along PCH when of all things, I come across an accident; so I pull over jump out of the car and see if I can help. It was an overturned van with two adults and three children inside, the doors were stuck and I needed something to pry them open with. I had just run back to my car to get some tools out of my trunk, when I heard the squealing of tires. I turned around to see another car come flying around the bend and slam into the van, then they both exploded into a fireball.

That was one of the worst days of my life, next to losing my wife. I will remember that day forever. We finished the police report, and then found they had actually been looking for the second car involved in the accident. They had had calls of a drunk driver, but had not found him yet. It is a shame that they had to find him this way.