Generation 2, Chapter 27 - Close Call

 

While they were talking an alarm started going off. Emit scowled at the time almanac. His frown deepened as he turned to Peter "you need to leave, now. Logan has alerted the watchers to your presence. They've started searching for you."

"I thought you said this was a safe house," Peter objected getting to his feet. There were so many more questions he needed answers to.

"It is but that doesn't mean they won't do a house to house search," Emit let out an agitated sigh "process of elimination will bring them here."

"Shit I didn't think of that," Peter looked around the room then back at Emit. "How do I get back to the portal without them catching me?

Emit stared at him for a moment not sure what he was asking "oh, oh there's a portal here. Use it, it's safer and use this code to program the portal on the other end to bring Adam directly here instead of to the portal at my place."

Taking the code Peter followed Emit to the portal hidden within the safe house. Turning to Emit he asked "you'll watch out for Adam?"

Nodding Emit agreed then on impulse shoved the time almanac into Peter's hand "take this. I have an extra one. This will alert you to any time shifts, like I disappear for instance. It'll help you figure out what changed and needs to be done to correct it." Emit took a few extra minutes to explain the device relying upon Peter's enhanced brain to figure it out. "You're the only person I trust. Don't lose it or tell anyone you have it."

Staring at the device in his hand, Peter nodded. Before stepping into the portal he put the almanac in his inside jacket pocket. "You can count on me," he said stepping into the portal.

"I hope so," Emit mumbled as Peter disappeared.

***

Stepping out of the portal Peter felt the enormity of his task and the weight of the future laid heavily on his shoulders. How was he going to convince Adam to move? Dragon Valley was so far away, he may never see them again. What choice did he or any of them have? He's seen it for himself, the timeline the almanac showed him if Adam stayed here was everything Emit said it would be.

 

***

 



 
A couple months later Peter was at work when he received a letter in his mail. Picking it up he turned it over in his hands wondering who had sent it. There was no return address or post mark on it, no way of knowing from whom or where it had come from. Sighing he laid it unopened on the desk. Something about it had him worried. What if it contained an air borne pathogen? Not very likely but still a possibility. He had a bad feeling about it.

Standing indecisively he rubbed his chin. Maybe he was over reacting, jumping to the wrong conclusion. Ever since Emit had given him the time almanac he's felt like was a walking target. Flexing his fingers, coming to a decision he picked up the envelope watching it shake as he put it into his pocket. Breathing deeply he sought for calm as he left his office.

Entering the mailroom he asked if anyone had seen who had dropped off the envelope in his mailbox. He knew it was a long shot expecting anyone to remember but he had to ask. Everyone shook their heads no, eying him as if he had gone off his rocker. Feeling the same, Peter left wondering what next. There had to be protocols to screen mail for security risks. Stopping in his tracks he retraced his steps, going back into the mail room and into the supervisors office.

"Mr. McNeal I'm Peter Van Winkle," introduced himself to the older man.

"What can I do for you?" the man asked getting up and walking around his desk to shake Peter's hand.

"I received an unaddressed envelope in my mailbox," Peter explained "I was wondering what your protocols are in handling these situations."

Rubbing his chin Mr. McNeal thought for a moment "do you have the envelope with you Mr. Van Winkle?"

Nodding Peter took the envelope from this pocket and handed it to him. Turning it over Mr. McNeal muttered "this should never have been delivered to you. Protocol is to destroy all such letters." Grimly the man walked out of his office to address his department. Peter was somewhat sorry for whoever it was that messed up and delivered the letter to him.

A few minutes later Mr. McNeal returned followed by a young man. "Now explain to me how you let this happen?" Mr. McNeal growled. Peter could hear the anger bubbling just beneath the surface.

The young man looked up flinching at the menacing face of his superior, muttering "he paid me five hundred dollars to deliver the letter to Mr. Van Winkle." Looking up again, turning towards Peter "he said it would be alright, that you would know what it was. I didn't think anything of it since he used to work for you."

"You knew him?" Peter asked pouncing on the boys words. "Who was he?"

His excitement startled the young man as his eyes skipped from object to object in the room finally coming to rest on Peter "Ch ... Chase Mmmmars" he stammered.

"You're fired," Mr. McNeal yelled not letting the boy continue. "I advised everyone that we were not to deliver any packages from Mr. Mars under any circumstances after he was dismissed from the premises. Why didn't you report Mr. Mars presence?"

"But ... but ..." the boy stammered "I forgot." He turned entreating his former boss "Mr. McNeal please I need this job."

"You should have thought of that before excepting bribes to deliver packages," Mr. McNeal responded back unrelenting.

Watching the exchange between them, Peter felt like a spectator. Clearing his throat "thank you Mr. McNeal for looking into this for me." Turning towards the young man "I'm sorry but thank you for coming forward." He felt bad for the boy and his obvious distress over losing his job but what did he expect would happen?

"We'll have the letter destroyed," Mr. McNeal stated as he opened the door to let Peter pass through it.

Peter scooted through it hesitating outside the door undecided to ask for the letter back, curious now as to what was in it. Standing outside the door he heard McNeal say "you idiot. What happened to the address label I gave you?" The boys response was too low for Peter to make out. Then he heard McNeal continue "what possessed you to mention Chase Mars? Now he'll be on guard and it will be twice as hard next time."

The door knob turned as Peter stood rooted outside the door. He quickly ducked behind a stack of mail bags. As the door opened Mr. McNeal's voice carried to him "take this and destroy it. I'll advise Chase of your failure." Heart pounding Peter watched as the boy incinerated the envelope. Sighing he realized there was no way to know what was in it now. He slipped out of the mail room while the boys back was turned.

Racing back to his office Peter called Jean to meet him there. If they were after him it was a sure bet everyone related to him was now potential targets. Opening his office door he found Jean already there waiting for him.

"What's up?" she asked standing as he closed the door.

Explaining the day's events and what he overheard, Peter rubbed his chin half expecting her to tell him he was overreacting. Her silence lingered as she absorbed what he was telling her. Clearing her throat "why is this happening? What haven't you told me?" she voice rising as panic started to rise within her.

Sighing once he knew he was trapped. He had no choice but to tell her everything. Opening his mouth he closed it without speaking at a loss for words. Sitting on the corner of his desk he came to a decision to tell her everything from the beginning from when he went to the future.

Jean remained silent, listening to every detail Peter provided about his experience in Oasis Landing. When he was finished she leaned towards him asking "you think we should move don't you?"

Surprised by her question Peter nodded "I do, especially after what happened today." Peter shuddered to think what might have happened if he had opened the envelope. What if next time he wasn't so lucky? What if the watchers decide that the aliens were an acceptable annoyance and decided to get rid of him? Was stopping Emit from correcting the timeline more important? Should he confide in Jean that he had the time almanac? Something he had omitted to tell her. Did the watchers find out he had it?

Coming up behind him Jean wrapped her arms around him " is there anyway we can contact Emit?"

Turning towards her he put his hands around her beloved face "I don't know if it'd be safe. What if Logan intercepts the transmission? We could be putting ourselves and Emit into even more danger."

Looking down Jean sighed "I suppose you're right. What about the children? Someone could take them .... I don't .... oh god I can't live through that again." She shivered as she thought about the danger the girls could be in.

Taking her in his arms he held her as her body shook convulsively. "We have to move but where?" she mumbled against his shoulder. Taking a deep breath she strove to get a grip on her emotions. Pulling back she looked up at Peter and smiled "why can't we move to Dragon Valley too? Didn't you say that was a blind spot to these watchers?"

"I did," Peter confirmed holding Jean tight drawing strength from her. "It's a little backwards from what we're used to but Adam and the kids are adjusting well." Peter chuckled recalling the email he received from Heath describing how he found dragon eggs in the park. "Evidently Emit wasn't lying about there being actual dragons there. Adam and Heath have found at least three eggs and hatched them. They're on the look out to find the elusive red dragon egg. I would love to have a chance to see one."

"and to study one up close," Jean smiled knowingly at him hearing his enthusiasm to learn something new.

"Did I tell you Adam got a job at the science lab?" Peter asked. Seeing her shake her head Peter moved to his computer to pull up Adam's email. "I must have forgot. Did I show you the pictures he sent?" Again she shook her head, following him around his desk and leaning over his shoulder to view the computer screen.

"Are those the dragons?" she asked bemused, "they're so little. I thought they'd be ... I don't know bigger."

 

"Yeah Adam said Heath was disappointed when he found out they were so small." He looked up at Jean laughing "Heath was hoping that they'd be as big as a dinosaur."

"Well that's what I was kind of imagining myself," Jean admitted.

Scrolling through the email Peter asked "did I show you the family picture Adam sent of the three of them?"

Smacking his shoulder, Jean laughed "no you silly goose you didn't. I don't think you showed me this email at all."

Peter felt his face grow hot "sorry I guess I've been distracted."

"You're forgiven," she said kissing the top of his head. "Oh is that it? They look so happy and it's so pretty. Was that taken in Dragon Valley?"

"I believe Adam said they took the picture in their front yard."

"Well I'm sold. When do we move?"

"As soon as I arrange a transfer to Dragon Valley. What do you think my chances are of them wanting a top level scientist in their lab?"

Sitting on his lap she smiled at him "very high I think; especially since they're parent lab is Bridgeport. Maybe you'll have an opportunity to work with your father."

Stiffening at the mention of his father "Jean I told you before I don't want anything to do with him. Not after everything that happened. It was his fault that Vallari was as bad as she was." Getting up Peter paced around his desk.

Crossing her arms "I know your upset but that's not really how you feel. If it was you wouldn't have named our last child after him."

Turning he stared blankly into outer space "I just don't understand how he could have been so heartless and cruel."

"Peter is it so hard to imagine your father was a different man then?" Jean came up and stepped in front of him. "He's getting old. He needs to know you forgive him."

"What if I can't?" He asked looking down at the floor. "I'd move heaven and earth to help my kids if I could. I don't see how he could just walk away from someone he helped raise for five years just because she didn't share his DNA."

Jean put her hand over his mouth to silence him. "This is the same man who disowned you for destroying his research, remember? Why is it so hard for you to imagine he could walk away from a child that wasn't his? From the woman who had lied to him?" Keeping her hand in place she continued "he's a lonely old man who has had years to regret the past. He misses you."

Hanging his head Peter drew her close to him breathing in her fresh clean scent. Memories of his mother's funeral floated to his mind. He remembered the lost, haunted look his father had throughout. Losing his mother had been difficult but he couldn't imagine how his father felt losing his wife. "Maybe I have been too harsh and unforgiving. Dragon Valley is only a couple of hours from Bridgeport, we'll have to visit him more often when we move."

"Good," Jean kissed him before adding "maybe you'll even consider the job offer at Bridgeport Labs? They'd love to have you as their consultant, even if it is just a of couple days out of the month."

"I'll think about it now that we'll be closer. I just haven't felt comfortable leaving you and the kids alone."