Chapter 2: Test Me! Test Me!

The group of 12 sits patiently waiting in The House Of Toast on the main floor of the hotel. Grace looks around at everyone and than glances at her watch. The silence continues to fill the room as the the minutes tick by quickly. Liam a strapping tall man in his late 20's finally breaks the silence and says," Do you think he is alright? He has been gone an awfully long time now!" Keith looks up from tying his boot and responds," It doesn't take that long to take a shit! Maybe he fell asleep on the toilet or he died on there!" Maria a young Hispanic woman in her early 30's with dark brown eyes and looks that would rival J-Lo picks up an old dust covered menu from off the table and throws it at Keith hitting square in the back of the head. Keith stunned by the blow from the hurled menu almost falls forward off his chair. He looks back at Maria and says to her," What the Fuck! Why the hell did you throw that at me you bitch?" Maria in an annoyed and angry voice looks at Keith, she picks up another menu and exclaims," First of all, you rude arrogant asshole! If you ever call me a bitch again not only will I throw another menu at you but I will cut off that cocktail weenie you call a dick! Secondly how about a little respect! He obviously knows how to survive out here and he hand picked us himself to come on this expedition! So before you make comments like that remember that!" Preston a 6ft 5inch tall man with a muscular build reminiscent of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and a military style haircut replies," But we don't even know why he picked us! All we got was this crazy but yet interesting story." " Do you think he is just avoiding the question or do you think there is a point to what he was saying so far?" responds Axel. Keith looks back at Maria and exclaims," Personally I think he is full of shit!" Keith quickly ducks as Maria throws another menu at him. Maria  than stands up and begins to walk out of the room towards the glass doors of the restaurant. Axel looks at her and asks, " Where are you going? He said to wait here!" Maria turns to the group and responds," To find out if he's okay and not sit here like a bunch of idiots making assumptions! You know what actual concerned people do when they are worried! Anyone else want to come?" Maria continues on her path out the doors of the restaurant. Preston gets up from his chair and follows her. One by one members of the group stand up and make their way out of the door with only Keith still sitting as the others walk out of the room. Keith looks at them and exclaims," Oh come on! I'm sure he's alright!" Keith sits for a few seconds in the empty restaurant, he quickly gets up and says to himself out loud," Well there is no way I am looking like the worlds biggest asshole today!" Keith quickly makes his way towards the glass doors and out of the restaurant.

The group quickly walk up the stairs and step up onto the mezzanine. They turn to the left and follow a sign showing the way toward the men's washroom.

Keith races up the stairs taking two at a time until he reaches the mezzanine. He stops looks around and sees the rest of the group and shouts out, "HEY! Wait for me!" Keith turns and runs down the large well lit hallway with great speed. He stops abruptly as he reaches the rest of the group standing around waiting outside the door to the men's room quietly arguing. Axel looks at Preston in confusion and exclaims," You are the ones who wanted to see how he is! Why the fuck should I go in there and check on him?" Preston walks up to Axel their bodies mere inches apart with his 6ft 5inch frame towering over Axel, Preston looks down at Axel and replies with great intent," I'll still go in! But you have the medical training and if something has happened to him you are qualified to deal with it and need you to come with me!" Keith makes his way through the group of the people towards Preston and Axel, Keith stops beside the two men and says," I'll go with you guys!" The two men turn and look at Keith, Preston with a bit of annoyance in his voice asks," Downstairs you didn't give a fuck! Why the hell do you care now to come and check?" Keith looks around as the eyes of all the group members stare at him while an awkward silence fills the air ad answers," I 'm doing it because I felt bad about being a total douche bag! Also because he I remembered that he didn't have to ask me to come out here too many times, I was more than willing to leave and have a little adventure! Even if I always thought he was just some crazy hermit who lived in a old abandoned four-plex." Preston turns away from Axel, he puts his large hand gently on Keith's shoulder and says," That is really sincere man! You are somewhat decent after all Keith. Come on lets go check up on him! " Preston puts his large muscular arm around Keith's opposite shoulder. The two men make their way towards the bathroom door, just as Keith is about to put his hand on the door to push it open Preston turns towards Axel and says," If something is wrong we will come and get you!" Axel quietly nods in agreement.

The sounds of arguing echoes into the once quiet bathroom from hallway outside bouncing off the marble floors and counter tops. The Group Leader sits in the last stall the picture of Samantha in his right hand. The images of the two of them dancing in the tiny kitchen of their little apartment to the song Yellow by Coldplay.

The Group Leader and Samantha sway back and forth slowly in one spot. Samantha presses her petite body against the Group Leaders chest and softly says," This is my favourite place in the whole wide world to be, right here with you dancing in the kitchen! Can't believe it took me so long to see it was you who was my soul mate!" The Group Leader looks down at the sparkling green eyes of Samantha now looking up at him, he runs his right hand through her soft brownish blond hair moving it away from her eyes and replies," It's mine too! And to be honest I knew from the start when I first met you that you were someone special! There was this feeling I couldn't explain and the more I got to know you I knew you were meant for me! Didn't think I would ever have these moments with you though!"
Samantha still swaying to the music looks at the Group Leader in confusion and asks," Why would you think that? I know I was just trying to find myself after getting out of a long relationship, but deep down I always liked you! I was just scared, scared that you would be like every other guy I dated." The Group Leader replies," I know that now, but I thought I scared you away because I tend to try too hard to when it came to trying to build a relationship! It happened too many times in the past, I'd be interested in someone and try to do too much and scare them away because I always seemed to be a second choice to others." Samantha stops dancing, raises her right-hand and caresses his face saying," It did!" "Well that's comforting!" replies the Group Leader. Samantha continues to caress the Group Leaders face telling him," But it was your persistence, your concern for me and my well being, your all around sweetness that won me over! And to be honest it came down to one day and one thing you did that changed my heart!" The Group Leader softly touches Samantha's hand with his own right hand and says," Which day was that?" Samantha replies," You don't lose any points for not knowing because I never told you before! But I will tell you one day." The Group Leader leans down and passionately kisses Samantha. Their lips part for a few seconds and Samantha quietly says," You do win points for that though!" Samantha places her right hand on the Group Leaders defined chest and says," I love feeling the beat of your heart! It has such a strong beat! Babum! Babum! Babum!

Tears flow down the checks in a steady stream from the eyes of the Group Leader. He is startled from his daydream by the sounds of loud knocking on the stall door.

On the outside of the stall door Preston and Keith stand continuously knocking on the door. Keith knocks rapidly and asks loudly," Hey are you alright in there! Are you alive!" Preston looks at Keith in confusion and replies," What kind of question is that? Do you really think he is going to answer you if he was dead?" " My dad always used to ask that when I was in the can for too long! That and before you come out to light a match!" responds Keith.

The Group Leader puts the picture of Samantha back in his jacket pocket, wipes the tears from his eyes and responds," It's okay guys I'm not dead! It's those dehydrated eggs, they get me every time leaving me on the toilet for a while! It's a good thing I had some reading material, which I got caught up in! "

Outside the stall door Keith and Preston look at each other and smirk a bit as to not laugh. Preston leans in close to the door saying," Alright! Sorry we were worried something happened! But seeing as you are alright we will go tell he others and wait for you on the mezzanine." The Group Leader responds," Okay, I will be right out! I'm almost done!" Keith and Preston start making their way towards the door of the bathroom. Keith leans into Preston and whispers," Bet he was jerking off in there! Thank god he didn't die doing that! That is the last thing I want to see!" The two men open the bathroom door and walk out into the hallway, the sound of the door closing shut echoes through the bathroom.

The Group Leader stands up from the toilet, does up his pants and makes his way out of the stall towards the sink. He stands in front of the mirror collects himself and walks towards the bathroom door, pulls it open and exits into the hallway.

The Group Leader walks out of the bathroom, down the hallway and out onto the upper mezzanine where the rest of the group is sitting on the dirty torn red plush carpet with a 19the century chair with an oak frame and trim. The Group Leader walks up to them and ask," What in the blue hell are you guys doing?" Maria stands up and replies," You said you would tell us all more about what happened after John Brilliant was born. You got our attention peaked and we want to hear more!" The Group Leader looks around at all the people looking at him in anticipation and retorts," What the fuck do you think I am some story teller for kids!" Axel looks up at him and replies,"Yes! Now make with the story old man!" The Group Leader shoots a glare at Axel that could cut glass and break concrete. Axel slowly sinks his head down and says,"I mean sir." The Group Leader dusts off the chair and soft sits down in it, looks at around the room and says," Now if I remember right baby John had just been put in the nursery?" " Yeah and he just told his dad to make himself useful and get him some fucking toast!", yells out Keith. "Oh yes! Now what I am about to tell you next is what happened a little while after baby John was born!"

The time shifts back to 1947 in the maternity ward, Karen Brilliant sits up right in her bed eating the breakfast of eggs and toast that was just brought for her. Rick sits slumped in the leather covered hospital chair fast asleep, his trilby hat slumped down over his eyes and his jacket covering him as a make shift blanket. A young nurse with brown curly hair in her early 20's named Stacey with a thin body frame walks into the room, she starts to make her way towards Rick until Karen casually waves at her to leave him be. Stacey turns and quietly makes her way towards Karen. She takes the pressure cuff of the of the blood pressure monitor and wraps it around her left arm above her elbow while placing a thermometer in her mouth. Stacey than begins to press the bulb of the of the blood pressure monitor. She pulls out the the thermometer from Karen's mouth and says,"38.7! Perfect!" Karen," Looks at her and asks," Is That normal?" Stacey replies," Yes it is exactly where it should be! Now let us see where your blood pressure is at!" Stacey stops pressing the bulb and looks at the gauge and says," 140/90, that is  high but normal after giving birth so there is noting to worry about!" Rick begins to turn from side to side in his sleep and mumbles in his slumber," No! No! Quit asking! I'm not giving you toast!" Stacey looks on in confusion and asks Karen," Your husband sure is a restless sleeper! Does he often dream about toast, hahaha!" Karen looks over at Rick and replies," To be honest he was always a very calm sleeper! It has only been for the past 6months that he has been restless and always the same dream , saying the same thing! Maybe now that the baby is born he will stop!" " Did you want to see your son?", asks Stacey. Karen nods her head and Stacey releases the pressure from the blood pressure monitor and removes the cuff, she takes the clipboard at the end of the bed holding the medical chart and writes on it. Stacey places the clipboard back on the end of the bed and says to Karen," I will be right back with your son!"  As Stacey exits the room Rick awakens from his slumber and quickly shoots up out of his chair and yells out," GOD NO! Not again! I have to get out of here!" Karen looks at him with an icy glare and sternly replies," Sit back down and lower your voice! What has gotten into to you? Was it the shower dream again?" Rick slinks back down into the chair, looks down at the ground and responds sheepishly," No!....Yeah..... Well kind of it's hard to explain! I'm seeing some really weird shit here! " Karen confusedly stares at him and says," It can't be that bad, now that the baby is here maybe the nightmare swill stop?" Rick shuffles in his chair and bites his fist lightly staring at the sun starting to shine through the windows and quietly whispers," Oh it will be! You'll see!"

The group stares at the Group Leader with great confusion as an awkward silence fills the room with only the sound of the wind and rain pelting against the metal window covers. Keith breaks the silence  as he yells out," What the fuck happened next? You can't tell me that this is it? Your last story was much better, think your slipping old man!" Maria raises her right hand and cuffs Keith across the back of the head lightly and exclaims," He's not done jerk-ass! Don't you know dramatic effect when you see it?" Keith shaking off the slap he just got turns to Maria and responds," No, I thought he was done! Because if he was I was going to take a piss but if he is not than I am going to hold it until after he is done!" Maria rolls her eyes and sakes her head and retorts," Umm, too much information! One would think you are Pops Brilliant! It's a damn good thing you are good looking because your intelligence is definitely not your strongest attribute!" Preston turns around to Maria and Keith and exclaims," Hey can you two stop arguing like an old married couple and let him finish!" Keith and Maria lock eyes and than turn and look at Preston and nod their heads in agreement. Preston turns back towards the Group Leader and calmly says," Please continue." The Group Leader pauses for a second looking up at the 12 pairs of eyes focused on him and responds," Where was I? Oh yeah the nurse went to get baby John."...........

Stacey comes back in the hospital room carrying baby John with a shocked look on her face closely followed by a group of three doctors. Karen with a look of worry on her face says to them," Is there something wrong with my baby?" The doctors and nurse Stacey continue to stand in silence with only the sound of loud snoring as of that from a middle aged adult male coming from baby John. Karen her voice with urgency and irritation sits up and yells," What's wrong with my son?" Rick adjusts himself in the chair and sarcastically responds," What isn't!" Karen turns and shoots an angry glare at Rick and angrily says to him," Why in the blue hell would you say something like that about your son? You are such an asshole! He's just a baby! Just sit there and shut up and let the doctors speak!" Rick looks down at the ground and quietly responds under his breath," You'll see!" An old grey haired doctor with wire framed glasses and a partially balding head steps forward and says to Stacey," Give Mrs. Brilliant her child please and we will explain." Karen with a small sense of relief in her voice responds," Thank you!" Stacey starts to move baby John away from her chest and carefully hands him to Karen who places him close to her own heart. Karen looks down at all 10 pound ,8 ounce 24 inch long baby and asks," He seems perfectly normal! Or am I wrong? Because I don't see anything unusual." Baby John's eyes open and suddenly a loud raspy voice can be heard," Hey! Where the hell am I? Who are you? I want to go back to the other chick, she was hot and has a great pair of boobs!" Rick looks on at the shock in Karen's face and extorts," See I told you!" Karen looks at Rick, than back at baby John, than Rick and finally towards the doctors and asks," Am I hearing what I think I am hearing? Or am I suffering from a brain tumour?" Baby John pushes himself away from his mother, sits upright and exclaims," What like you never talked before? I am a medical fucking marvel! A middle aged doctor with slicked jet black hair and large glasses with black plastic frames comes forward and says," Your son is correct! He is a medical marvel!" Baby John turns his head looking at the doctor and than looks up at his mother and exclaims," See, I rest my fucking case!" Karen looks down at her fowl mouthed infant son and responds," Watch your mouth or I will wash it out with soap! Do you want the taste of soap on your tongue?" Baby John looks at his mother and says," Hell no!" Karen looks up and says to the middle aged doctor," I'm sorry what is your name?" The middle aged doctor responds," I'm sorry my name is Dr.Stevens, I specialize in genetics and if it is okay with you I would like to test your son to see why he is the way he is!" Karen looks at Rick, down at baby John and replies with the sound of concern and curiosity in her voice," I'm not sure... maybe? Don't know what you are going to find other than he talks and has the mannerisms of a middle aged man!" Baby John looks up at his mother and says," Oh come on! I'm not some fucking test monkey! I am perfectly normal! I'll prove it... TEST ME! TEST ME!!!!!" Rick silent from the shock of his infant son nods at Karen who turns to the doctor and says," Okay you can. And seeing as little Johnny says it's alright you can do all the tests you want!" Baby John leans back against his moth placing his arms behind his head and exclaims," It's about god damn time! I am getting hungry and could really use some toast! But first I need a diaper change because while you were all gabbing I had to take a crap that really couldn't wait! And it's Pops not little Johnny!" Nurse Stacey walks over and picks up baby John and says," Come on Pops, lets go, I will change and feed you!" Baby John looks up at Stacey and responds," Now she's got it right! Now lets go take care of business toots!" Stacey carries baby John out of the room as the doctors follow behind her. Karen looks over at Rick with a concerned look on her face and says with frustration in her voice," This is all your fault!"

The lights of the grand old hotel go out at the storm gets more violent and as the Group Leader looks around the darkened room. He turns to the rest of the group and says," Sorry guys we need to find the emergency power, I will finish this off after we fix this." Keith looks at the Group Leader and responds," Shit! I was hoping to hear more about what happened when they took Pops to be tested!" The Group Leader stands up from the chair as everyone else follows suit and replies," Don't worry I will get to that, let's just get the lights back up!" The Group Leader pulls a small lantern from his back pack, lights it and starts to walk away. He turns to the rest of the group who have lit their lanterns as well and tells them," Come on lets go!" Keith looks at Axel and Maria and quietly says," Lets find it quick, so we can find out what happens next!" Maria nods her head in agreement and responds," Yeah this place is creepy when it is dark, can only imagine what we might find." Axel says with sarcasm in his voice as they walk along the dark corridor off the mezzanine," Feels like we are going to our doom!" The light of the lanterns gets dimmer as the group leaves the mezzanine and the darkness fills the air and the sound of footsteps softly walking fills the air and a shadowy figure swatches the group walk down the hall oblivious to his presence.

Chapter #1- In The End!

The dust blows harshly across a barren wasteland of an orangish red sky. A small group of 13 people fight against the wind to get to the abandoned city of Saskatoon from the north highway leading out to Martinsville. Vehicles line the road some of them burned up others just left there to rust. Skeletal remains of those who couldn't escape remain in their vehicles or on the road beside them. Weeds grow out of the cracks in the asphalt showing that nature is trying to reclaim the planet. The small band of people walk under the crumbling remains of the overpass towards the Yellowhead Highway. One of the group members notices a small SUV hanging with its front bumper partially over the edge and points it out to the to a couple other members of the group who stop to look. The man leading the group stops and yells over the blowing wind,"WE'VE STILL GOT A WAYS TO GO! YOU WILL SEE LOTS OF THIS ALONG THE WAY! WE NEED TO GET TO THE CITY AND GET SHELTER FROM THE STORM!" The group leader starts walking again and all the people start to follow as they make their way down the highway past the airport, under a couple more over overpasses. A young woman in the group noticing the three hotels up above on either side of the street says to the group leader, " shouldn't we go in there? If we were looking for shelter either one of those would be an ideal place." The group leader holding the tattered scarf from blowing off his face points down the road and says, "Those are not in great shape, also too many scavengers roam the halls of those places looking to pick off searchers like yourself! That is a red zone! Red as in blood! We need to be a little further in the city in a blue zone just past the police station." The group continues there way down Idylwyld towards the downtown core of the city.

As they reach the downtown core a large storm rolls in! The leader of the group points to the boarded up doors of a large castle like Victorian style hotel. The group moves towards the entrance and the group leader pries the lock off the door and they enter the old hotel.

As the group of 13 stands on the dust covered white marble floor looking up at the cobwebs hanging from the railing of the balcony and crystal chandelier  overhead a young woman named Grace turns to the Group Leader and asks," So how come we can be in here and not in those other hotels we passed on the way in? Wouldn't there be scavengers in here too?" The Group Leader begins to walk around the room. He walks up to the wall and flips a switch on and off to check for power with no luck. Grace walks up to him and exclaims," Hello! Did you hear me or are you ignoring me?" The Group Leader replies while still staring playing with the switch," I heard you! We are safe here, the scavengers don't make it this far inward!" "And why is that? Wouldn't they want to try and get anyone  in this part of the city?", asks Grace. The Group Leader walks over to the the ride of the room and starts flipping another switch with no luck and says," They can't! This part of the city is off limits to them!" " And why is that? There is no one around to enforce that, they could easily be in here too!" Grace says. The Group Leader walks to a large black marble desk and walks behind it and opens a breaker panel behind the desk and flips a few switches and the room lights all come on illuminating the grand hall showing off the years of dust, dirt and cobwebs. "Wow! You just don't like answering questions do you?" yells Grace. The Group Leader looks at grace in the eyes and replies," I do, but we needed lights! And to answer your question they have explosive implants put in them that  explode if they cross the past the train tracks. The government put it in them when the plague hit to protect the infected from the uninfected. So we are safe here! Does that answer your question?" "Yes it does! Wait how did you know this place would still have working electricity?" replies Grace. The Group Leader walks up to the staircase and starts to make his way up, he stops looks at the group and says," I promise you I will explain it all to you in the morning, but we better get some rest there is a ballroom up here we can set up base camp in later on. Find yourself a room and get some sleep" The Group Leader makes his way up the stairs and the rest slowly fallow behind him.

The wind howls like a banshee outside as the rain pelts against the steel covers of the hotel windows. The Group Leader stands on the mezzanine starring down at the lobby below holding a faded picture in his hands of girl with blondish brown hair, green eyes, a petite body build and a mischievous smile. He turns it over reading some script on the back of it that says " My marathon man, the sweetest person I know and my best friend! Never lose the light in your heart! Time and circumstances may separate us but as long as I am in your heart you will always have me near! -Samantha" Members of the group walk into the mezzanine area, the sound of them chattering are oblivious to the Group Leader as images of him and Samantha throwing snowballs at one another, sitting on some green grass having a picnic in the park, and them walking down the street with his arm around Samantha. Grace walks up behind the Group Leader and says," Hey! Did you hear me?" The Group Leader is broken out of his daydream, he takes the picture and places it in the inside jacket pocket. He turns around and replies," I'm sort I missed that! What were you asking?" A dark haired man with a light beard and muscular build named David says," You said last night that you would explain to us what we are doing here and how you knew this place would have electricity." The Group Leader responds," Yes I did! Well meet me downstairs there is a restaurant down there, we will have some food and I will explain it all to you!" Grace looks at him and says," Okay, but you better tell us the truth or we will go back storm or not!" Grace lifts her hand in the air and motions for the rest of the group to follow her as she makes her way towards the the stairs and says," come on everyone lets go down to the restaurant." The group make their way down the stairs. The Group Leader pats the front of jacket and quietly says," Soon, soon! It may take a while but I will see you again soon!"

The group of 12 walk through the dust covered lobby and turn left to set of open glass doors with a gold neon sign above it. A thin man with red hair,freckles and glasses named Keith reads the sign and says," Pops House Of Toast! Is this some sort of breakfast joint? If it is, that's a awful name for a restaurant!" The Group Leader walks up behind them and replies," Nope, it is just your plain everyday restaurant!" Keith asks," So it must be a sandwich place that toasted everything?"

"You would think that but no! This place just served toast, toast of all kind on all kind of breads. It was an odd idea for a restaurant but surprisingly popular! I'll tell you more about it inside, but first lets break out the ration pills and eat!" replies The Group Leader. All 13 people walk into the open doors of Pops House Of Toast and into the abandoned restaurant.

The group picks up the wooden chairs off the ground, they dust them off and take the backpacks off their backs, they set them on the tables, open them and pull out two large pill bottles each a metal plate,water bottle and eye dropper setting them down on the table. They close their backpacks and place them on the dust covered floors. The Group Leader takes a pill from each bottle, fills the eye dropper with a small amount of water from the bottle and drips the water from the eye dropper on the pills. The pills hydrate turning into scrambled eggs,fruit and bacon. The group sits silently and eats their meal. 

The Group Leader finishing his meal says quietly to himself," Not quite as good as the real stuff but this synthetic stuff still hits the spot!" Grace walks up to him and asks," Okay, are you going to tell us now everything you said you would?" The Group Leader turns his chair to the group and replies," Alright! Be prepared for a long story! But this storm might last a while so I might as well get started!" Grace and the others turn their chairs towards the Group Leader and silently await his words. The Group Leader looks at them and starts talking," It was on a night just like this in 1947........." As The Group Leader starts to talk the scenery changes and everyone is transported back in time in their minds.

The wind howls and the rain pelts against the window pane of an old eight storey brick building on a May night in 1947. "Okay you said this part already!" the voice of Keith says. The voice of the Group Leader responds," I am just trying to set the mood! Man your generation knows nothing about storytelling!You know what just shut up and let me tell the story!" The voice of Grace extorts," Yeah!! Be quiet Keith! Men! Go on please!" An 1941 green Plymouth Special De Luxe 4-Door Sedan pulls up to the front doors directly under the sign that says Saskatoon City Hospital. A tall 6ft 5inch well built man with slicked back brown hair covered in a black Trilby hat, wearing a brown rain coat to cover his black dress pants, white shirt and black tie exits the car and runs around to the passenger side of the car. He opens the door and grasps the hand of a raven haired woman in her early 20's as she holder pregnant belly and the two of them walk slowly into the hospital entrance.

The scene shifts from 1947 back to the 2177 and the restaurant. A brown haired medium built man in his early 30's named Axel yells out from the back of the room," Boring!" In one collective voice the entire group turns and yells," SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Axel sits for a second with a stunned look on his face and says, "This sounds like every other dramatic story I've heard, just saying!" The Group Leader looks at Axel and replies," Oh it's not a dramatic story... It's more like a comedy of errors, you have to hear to believe! Now if you don't mind I'm going tot get back to my story here!"

Once again the scene changes to City Hospital in 1947, Rick Brilliant helps his wife walk up to the hospital admitting desk where a grey haired nurse in her mid 50's named Denise sits doing paper work. The nurse is so oblivious to Rick and Karen standing at the desk that Rick clears his throat to get her attention. Denise looks up from the desk and says," Oh my gosh! I am so sorry sir! What seems to be the problem?" In a smooth and calm voice Rick replies," My wife is in labour!" Denise motions for the orderly, he brings a wheel chair and Karen sits down in it. Denise looks at the Orderly and says,"Take this woman to delivery room #2 please!" Rick with a confused and somewhat terrified look on his face says to the orderly," Don't be frightened by the voice!" The Orderly looks at Rick like he has completely lost his mind and replies,"What voice? Are you alright sir? " Rick takes the hat of his head and runs his hands through his brown hair saying," You are going to think that I am completely insane or maybe I am just overtired but for the past few months now I could swear that I heard the baby talking to me from the womb! Very loudly especially when I touched my wife or when we had sex! Denise walks around the desk and places the back of her hand on Rick's forehead," Sir I think you might just might be coming down with something! Unborn babies don't talk!" As Denise is feeling Rick's head a deep gruff voice that sounds a little like Randy"macho man" Savages voice can be heard yelling out," What the fuck do mean I can't talk! I am doing it right now!" Both the Orderly and Denise look around in confusion, Denise asks the Orderly," Did you say that?" The Orderly shakes his head no with a confused and frightened look on his face. Rick gently removing the  hand of Denise from his forehead looks at his pregnant wife's stomach and then at Denise and then back at Karen a couple of times. Denise with an irritated look on her face says to Rick," Oh come on you did that you must be a ventriloquist! There is no way that voice came from the unborn baby!" The voice of the unborn baby yells out again," Well where the hell do you think it came from? He didn't say anything I did! Now are you going to get me out of here or not because it is getting cramped in here and I need to stretch my legs... all three of them!" Denise confused and frightened braces herself against the desk and says to the Orderly as she points down the hall," You better take Mr.s Brilliant down to the delivery room now and I will call the doctor but first I think I need a drink?" Reaching into the inside of his coat Rick pulls out a large silver flask, opens it and takes a large swing from it and passes it to Denise who does the same and silently says," I think I need to retire!"

"Oh come on! That did not really happen! Babies cannot talk in the womb or at birth! That is a total crock of shit!" says Emil a young blond haired man in his late 20's with a athletic build. The Group Leader replies," Oh he did! It was well documented! A miracle of nature they called it! Little do they know that the miracle would be a handful in time! But I haven't gotten to the best part yet.... the birth! Oh where was I? Oh Yeah I remember!"

The Doctor walks into the delivery room as Karen is lying with her legs in the stir-ups, he looks at Karen and says," Let's get going and bring your bundle of joy into this world" Just then the voice of the baby can be heard from the womb yelling out," Well hurry the fuck up than and get me out of here! I've outgrown this place! I need more room!" The Doctor confused looks around and asks," Who said that? Did any of you?" " No! It was me asshole! Now do your job and get me out of here! Your hands better not be cold!" yells out the baby. " Okay, I must be imagining things because I could have sworn that I heard the voice come inside Mrs.Brilliant, but it can't be!" the Doctor confusedly says. The Doctor looks at the Nurse and tells her," Give Mrs.Brilliant the epidural please!" The Nurse nods her head,she takes a large needle and injects it into Karen's arm. The voice of the baby from the womb can be heard saying," What the hell is this? Whoa, I feel all relaxed! YEAH!!!!!!! I think I will make my way towards this door down here. Wooo!Hooo! this is just like a slide!" The lights of the delivery room blind the baby temporarily but they quick adjust. The Doctor yells out," Its a boy!!" The baby turns his head,looking at the Doctor and replies," Of course I'm a boy! Look at the size of my pecker! Now that would fit in a mustard jar!" The Doctor stunned says," That's the umbilical cord!" The Doctor its the umbilical cord and hands the baby to the Nurse to clean up the baby.

As the Nurse washes up the baby, the baby extorts," Don't forget to get all the cracks! Is this a shower? I love showers!" She wraps up the baby and takes him over to Karen and hands him to Karen. The Doctor looks down at the baby and asks Karen," Do you have a name for this interesting and unique boy?" Karen looks down and at the baby and responds," His name is John, after my grandfather." Baby John looks at the Doctor and then at his mother and exclaims, " But you can call me Pops!"

The Pediatric Nurse comes out into the waiting room where Rick is anxiously waiting and taking small sips from the silver flask in his coat pocket. She walks up Rick and says," Mr. Brilliant you have a son! A very interesting son! If you come with me you can see him!" Rick puts the flask back into jacket pocket and follows the Nurse to the nursery.

The Pediatric Nurse takes Rick to the window of the nursery and points to baby John. Baby John"Pops" Brilliant looks at his father and exclaims," You must be my dad! Now you and ma can have sex without waking me up! YEAH!!!" John than turns to the crying baby boy next to him and says," Your name says Don, Don Sihickilo! I have a feeling you and me are going to be friends and there is something special about you!" Rick with a stunned look on his face continues to stare at baby John"Pops" Brilliant. Baby John looks at his father and yells,"What hell are you staring at asshole? How about you make yourself useful and get me some toast!"

The scenery changes back to 2177 as the Group Leader sits with the rest of the group staring at him. Keith yells out," That has got to be the craziest story I have ever heard!" Grace  asks," So was that the  end? Or is there more?" The Group Leader stands up from his chair and starts to walk out of the room, he turns to the group and says," It's the end and the beginning! It's the beginning of the end!" Axel yells out before the Group Leader leaves the room," What does that mean? Is there more?" The Group Leader turns again and replies," Oh there's more! But first I really have to take a shit! This crap can't wait anymore! I will tell you more when I'm done!"