For the Betterment of Mankind

The plan had been set in motion. For a few weeks, Calli and I worked together, combining our teams. We met up one last time to finalize everything. I asked if there was anything else I should know. Her head dropped. Shite! There’s more.

“Alister… because I don't know how this will turn out; I need you to know. Elspeth was pregnant when my great grandmother found her.” “Pre…” I let out a ragged breath. “Pregnant? What… I mean, how, who’s… Mine?” My eyes raise to meet hers. I can barely focus, my heart’s banging against my temples and my ears start ringing.

“Yes. You two had a daughter.” “Had!?” I can’t stand this. It’s torture. “You knew this and…” My temper is starting to boil, I can feel the rage rising up from my gut, ready to spew out my mouth. “How could you not let me know? How long have you known this? Wait, she told me she was infertile.”

“Alister…”

My eyes were darting around like a caged animal. I couldn’t seem to calm myself. She took hold of my hand. I wanted to jerk away, but I let it stay between us, cradled in her tiny fingers. “We… I… needed to keep your family safe. Remember, I didn’t know you. I had no idea where you stood with all of this. Everything I know about your past is like folklore. And, if I'm being completely honest, the way you live didn't make me confident in you.”

My eyes drop to our hands. Her other hand is now petting mine. It looks so unnatural to see my over-sized, tanned hand between her two alabaster, infant hands. It makes me smile to myself as I try to find some humor in all of this.

“She told me she couldn’t get pregnant.” “Turned out her husband was infertile.” My hand raked over my face and through my hair as I blew out a ragged breath.

“So… Is she still alive? How old would she be?” “No Alister. Your daughter passed away well before my time. But you still have family. They haven’t been able to be brought into Beginning yet, they live just north of former Phoenix, Arizona.” “Are they safe? Are they being taken care of?” “The quick answer is yes. But we have other concerns that need to be addressed now. They have to take a back seat. I just wanted you to know, in case things…” “In case something happens to you?” She nodded.

—--

Everything was a whirlwind. Of course, my whole crew was on board. I came to find out that my sweet Bittie neighbor ladies were also part of this team, along with my two childhood friends. (Which both happened to be coincidences.)

And Elspeth had spent her whole life working towards the goal of saving this planet. Whatever our conversations were that steered her, she had enough information to make sure - as this story was passed down from generation to generation - that those involved would know what to watch for.

-

My team, along with about thirty of their people, who were led by Rue, Criag and Shade, would be working to take down their militia unit. Kendahl and Jess, along with Decker and Calvary were dealing with those second in command, while myself and Calli were going after the head honcho.

My buddies in office were at the ready to address the last of the men responsible for this and were working within the government to make sure everything went down without a hitch. We had to time everything to be synchronized. One couldn’t be taken without them all going down. Calli and I didn't have a choice, we needed to work with this character that I had dealt with on a few occasions. He was the kind of guy you had to trust, but didn’t really want to. The guy in the know.

The gems were handed over, and the information was given. Calli and I didn’t like it. Something felt off. But everything else was a go so we were not aborting the plan. Hours upon hours were put into making sure this plan went off without a hitch. I mean, we were planning a Coup.

My entire crew knew hand to hand combat and had tasers. It came with our job. When we had people stepping out of line that couldn’t be managed, civilians could get hurt. We need to be prepared for anything. Our intel said their militia group had weapons. I trusted my team, and Calli’s. Both were capable.

Calli and I had met with Jantii. We received our information as to where the Executive would be. It worked to our favor, because it turned out that every Thursday evening, he met up with a certain woman that was secretly in ‘the business.’ Those things didn’t happen in Beginning. Sex for gems was all done underground.

Executive Franklin would meet up at a hotel just outside of the city and that’s when we’d grab him. Three of Betterment's team would meet us there. Our intel said he always leaves his security waiting in his car when he goes to her hotel room. Jantii was to be our middleman and get the gems to her prior to our arrival. In her business, it was always –pay up front. Makes sense. Thankfully, she'd work for the highest bidder. It didn't hurt that she really hated the guy.

We didn’t trust anything that went through the airwaves, so our correspondence was either word of mouth, passing notes, or marks at designated places around the city. Once Jantii had our gems, Calli high-tailed it over to Rue, giving him the green light. We were A Go!

—-

God! What the…?

I start to stir, until I’m racked with pain –pain that’s running from my kidneys, past my ribcage, all the way up to in-between my shoulder blades. I’m racked with pain, feeling like discarded trash at the side of the road, slumped over in a heap, shivering and broken.

Where am I? And where is she!?

I open my eyes, just a slit's worth, because I'm finding myself - hands clutched to my head - trying desperately and without any success to push this debilitating headache out the back of my skull. And as I timidly run my fingers through my hair I recoil when I hit the large bump that's plastered with - what I assume to be - my blood-soaked hair. Fuu…. My word dies in my mouth.

The dungeons!

Reality strikes a heavy blow as I realize I’ve been dreaming again and yet, somehow that reality is a worse blow than any I received last night. My gut wrenches with the deep longing I have for her… I have no idea how long I’ve been down here. My stomach says probably twenty-four hours or more.

Things are foggy.

I try to move but the pain prevents that from happening.

My thoughts drift to last night. Calliope… she was supposed to… 

It seems I’m drifting in and out of consciousness. I’m confused, if I’m in the dungeons, where are all the citizens they’ve been bringing here? God! Were we too late? They've already started their plan to cremate. They must've been shipped out. Full-on panic surges through my veins, I’m worried about my crew, Calli, Rue, the rest of them. Did the whole coup blow up” Did anyone achieve the goal?

“Calli!” After a few moments of whimpering, I call out, ridiculously hoping she's in here with me but then praying to God she isn’t. I pause, hearing my voice echo down the hall.

“Calliope! Are you in here?”

I half crawl, half drag myself along the floor, feeling, checking for any possible way out. Nothing! Of course! So, this is how my life will end. I lay my head back, thinking about Calli. I hated to admit it, but she had grown on me.

She was the snarkier version of her great grand aunt. A real spitfire. Somehow --she’d worn me down, and I think I also got under her skin. She’d never admit it. But I think - in the several weeks we worked together - I had grown on her as well. More and more those scowls of hers had turned into grins. She’d also never admit that she had a funny bone in her. My stupid dad jokes always got a rise out of her.

If this is how my life will end, I just hope she’ll be safe. Once again, I drift off, having restless dreams. There’s hollering. In my dreams someone is calling out. “Calli!?” She’s here with me, I wrap my arms solidly around her waist, lifting her up to reach my lips and we kiss.

I’m shook awake, hearing noises… no --voices.

“Hello!” I try to sit up, pain shoots through my entire body. “Is someone out there?” In the distance I hear voices echoing off the stone walls. “I’m down here!” With every ounce of strength I can muster, I crawl towards the door. “I’m in here!” My fist goes up as I bang on the steel door. There’s not much left in me but I hit it with all my might.

“Alister!?” Oh, thank God! "Calli?” Her boots slam into the stone floors as she’s calling out my name. “Calli, I’m down here!” My fist continues to slowly bang on the door. 

I hear her near me now. “Alister?” “In here.” She reaches my door with a loud thud. There are more voices calling out. Calli turns from the window. “He’s down here guys!” There’s a triumphant sound of soles hitting stone as they run my direction.

“Alister.” Her tone is soft, she’s trying to look inside, trying to spot me. “I’m down here Cal.” “Can’t you stand?” “No, I think my leg’s broken.” I hear her curse right when Ken and Calvary reach her. “Boss?” “Hey Ken.” My voice is raw, crackling out his name. His head shoves against the bars, looking for me. “I’m on the floor.” “He’s on the floor.” Calli and I simultaneously speak. A smile comes over my face.

“Do you guys think you can get me out of here?” “Well Al,” Ken is looking around, monkeying with the lock. “It’s gonna take some doing. This is one heavy MF.” Just then I hear Decker calling out. The three of them yell out he’s down here! Boy, I’ve never been so happy to hear their voices.

“We need those tools Doll,” Calvary calls out as Decker almost slams into the door, tossing a heavy bag onto the floor. “Hey Boss!” “Decker,” I breathe out. “God. Am I glad to see you guys.” “Well,” Calli starts, “you can’t actually see us yet.” Everyone laughs, more out of relief than anything.

My head rests against the wall next to the door, relief pouring over me. “How you holding up?” Calli’s voice is quiet, calming. She’s right up against the bars. “Boy… glad to be getting out of here.” “Were you worried we wouldn’t find you?” “No. I was worried you all were caught or killed.” “Oh…” There was a long pause. “We weren’t gonna go down without a fight or not come searching for you.”

I let out a ragged breath. “Just hang in there, we’re almost there.” “Thank you,” my words come out coarse. “Hey,” she scolds, "no need to hear those words… especially from you.” “What do you mean?” “Listen Alister, relax, we’re getting you out of here. That’s all you need to know right now.” I grin. “There she is, hi bossy!” She huffs. “I’m not bossy Alister, I just know exactly what I think you should be doing... and thinking… I’m just saying.” “Good to know one of us does.”

I closed my eyes, relief floods over me, gratefulness fills me. My friends are safe, and I'm getting out of here

After a deafening clanking sound, like hammer to metal, the door creaked open, and my friends came piling in. Ken and Calli bent immediately, assessing the damage. Neither said anything but I could see it in their faces. “That bad?” They both look at me and then each other. “Let’s get you out of here.” Ken sys as his arm snakes around my back, hooking under my arm. Calli tries to help but Decker shifts her out of the way. “Pixies don’t lift heavy objects.” He jabbed. “Try me!” She huffs out, her arms crossing over her chest. Her irritation is music to my ears.

-

I tried to open my eyes. They were stuck together but finally cracked enough for me to take in my surroundings. Monitors were flashing and beeping a smooth, steady beat. Well, my heart was still working. It didn’t take me long to realize where I was.

“Hey.” A tiny hand lands on my forearm, and I look down at it, knowing whose it is. I lift my eyes to see eyes that carry the sun in them. Calli’s eyes. A soft smile slips into place, and I can barely recognize her. “Who are you?” “What!?” Don’t you know who I am?” Her face shifts immediately to panic. 

“I know it’s you Calli; I just didn’t recognize that strange thing your lips just did.” 

Her hand went to her mouth, her fingers running over her lips. “I know you’re not accustomed to it, but it's called a smile.” I offer up a half grin because my lips are swollen. Her arm raises, “I'd smack you if you weren’t such an invalid.” “Well, lucky me.”

I laugh but pain shoots through my entire body. “How’d I fare?” She bites that bottom lip of hers and I have a brief moment of wishing I could be the one doing that.

“If we’re measuring it against not being dead, you’re doing really well. If we’re measuring it against your normal body, you’re kind-of in tough shape.” “So… give me the invoice.” She laughs at that and God, I love hearing it.

“You had a large gash on the top of your head that needed like 50 stitches or something like that.” I cringe. “Also, a concussion. Plus, you have three broken ribs, a cracked fibula, enlarged kidney, and your left leg was broken in two places.”

“Woe!” “Not to mention, you aren't going to win the most handsome bachelor of the year with the way they worked on the ugly mug of yours.”

She won't look at me, but her hand runs up and down my forearm and I feel tingling running up my arm, spreading over my whole body. That could be from all the pain meds, or… I’m starting to have feelings for this woman.

“I know… it’s a lot…” She still won't look at me as her eyes travel over my blanket up to my extended leg that's casted. “But...” she continues. “I'm thankful you’ll heal from everything. I was thinking the worst.” My free hand comes up, laying over hers. Her eyes finally reach mine and I see all the worry hidden in them. “Calli…”

All of a sudden, the door swings open hard, and the room is instantly filled with people. Calli quickly steps back as everyone wraps around my bed, carrying flowers, balloons, candy, the whole hospital gift shop. And just like that, the room turns rowdy as everyone tries speaking at once.

I lay, grinning at them all as I look around the room, trying to see where she went to. I just catch the back of her, slipping out the door.

“Can I have this Jello?” Decker holds up the bowl of red Jello. I laugh, nodding at him as I listen to everyone tell me the tales of how they took down the powers of evil. They had done it! They got the bad guys. We won!

The majority of citizens taken from the dungeons, were still in travel units, awaiting deportation, to outside the walls, to be dealt with like they did with unwanted animals. Some didn’t make it. We were too late. But the majority were saved.

It seems Jantii (who my crew dealt with) ratted Calli and I out, which is why the three goons found me. But thankfully Calli and Ken made it to the hotel room. It took beating the life out of Jantii for them to find out what they had done with me. 

-

Those now in leadership include my two school buddies, who sent their love and said they’d come see me as soon as they could get away. Things were going to be different. Better. All stemming back to this small group that started from Elspeth’s tutelage, through the generations.

Calvary said, once I was on the mend, there would be a ceremony changing Beginnings name to Betterment. For the betterment of mankind and for the world. It seemed fitting.

Three days later I was released, with a long list of what I couldn’t do. Calliope hadn’t been back to see me --for some reason, that really upset me. No one knew what she was up to, and I didn’t want to seem too obvious.

Somewhere in all of this, I had thought we’d made a connection. Maybe there was something more between us. I shook my head. It would be sometime before Elle was out of my mind enough to think about someone else. I was probably emotional because of all the meds they had me on.

Kendahl and Jessie brought me home. Haywire wasn’t there, which upset me. Ken promised he’d be dropped off in the early evening and, after almost an hour of asking me if I needed anything, they finally left when Hazel and Gertie stopped by.

The two of them have been working alongside the new leadership to implement some protocols that can’t ever be overridden.  I swear there' nothing those two can't do.

-

The house was quiet. I sat on my couch, just trying to recall everything that happened, piecing the puzzle back together. My head still throbbed, and the meds just barely took the edge off. My stomach was revolting but Jessie said someone was coming by with supper, so I had to be patient.

I heard Haywire’s bark. He was right outside my door. The door swung open and he came barreling in, leaping on the couch, jumping in my lap, making me wince in pain but I was just too GD happy to see him. Kisses covered my face and I didn’t notice who brought him home.

“Alright boy.” He was whining, licking over my face, tail wagging, feet poking into my thighs. I finally grabbed hold of his chubby body, set him down, took hold of my crutches, and slowly, clumsily made my way into the kitchen. Calliope turned to face me. A soft smile on her face, as her eyes lit up when she saw me.

She set down something. “What’s this?” I glance down at the antiquated envelope. Alister was written out in beautiful cursive. “Elspeth…” I barely breathed out her name. 

“This has been through a lot to get to you.” My eyes couldn't look away from it. “How?” “Well,” she leans against the counter. “So, the story goes… Once upon a time, a handsome stranger from the future came into…” I lift my eyes. Calliope’s smiling. Actual, genuine smiles, at me.

My crutches fall to the floor with a crash, as I hobble over to her, taking her in my arms, hugging her with all this battered body can handle. Her arms wrap around my waist, her head pressing against my chest. “Thank you.” My words muffle in her hair. She giggles and straightens. Her eyes, smiling up at me. “Hungry?” “Am I ever!” “Good, because I also brought supper.” She steps away from me.

“Have you read it?” My eyes went to the envelope. She turns, quiet for a moment, so I glanced up at her. There was a flash of fear that immediately shifted over to snark. I’ve been noticing that seems to be her ‘go to’ when she doesn’t know what to say.

“I'm afraid it's kind of a rite of passage in our family.” She did her little air quotations. “Read the Alister letter.” She glances up, her eyes fluttering to meet mine. I feel faint.

All of a sudden she was in my space, her small hand landing on my bicep. “God Alister. I'm so sorry. I didn’t think!”

I’m frozen. Processing.

“I'm actually grateful for this.” I lift it up, holding it between us. “Everything was left hanging between us. The last night I was with her was the night Ailiith passed.” That whole scene flashed before my eyes as a heavy sadness fell over me. Alithih was gone! Elspeth was gone! Every hope I had of a ife with her is gone! I clench hold of my emotions, strangling them, tucking them away. I cleared my throat, “This should help with closure.” My eyes fall on the letter.

“Who's Ailith?” I look back to Calliope. “What?” “Who’s Ailith? “She was Elspeth’s grandmother.” “Woe!” I chuckle at her. “Yeah. Woe! Wait!” My hand goes through my hair. "That would make her your..." "Great grandmother." Her words come out as a whisper. I watch as she tries to hide emotions rising up. Tears are at the ready, but she's tough.

"Well! That explains a lot!" I'm grinning from ear to ear. She looks up, swiping her hand over her face. "What!?" Her eyes blink heavily.

"Now I know where your snark comes from. And why you're a pixie!" I blow out a laugh. "I was convinced Ailith was a fairy. You'd love her! Two peas in a pod."

There's a catch in her breath as she pulls up that familial trait, resolve kicking in. Her countenance shifts as she picks up the letter, waving it at me. She's not ready to have this conversation. 

Her hand goes to her hip, her snark shows up, and I witness it all. Smiling. "I don't want to give you any spoilers, but... you're gonna like the ending."

I take her all in, this little pixie of a woman. “Is that so?” Her hand drops over mine that’s resting on the counter as a somberness falls over her. “I promise.” Her words come out low, almost as a whisper. And once again we’re engulfed in silence. But it isn’t like the silences I always hated with women I dated. No, this was a warm, embracing silence, as our words become solidified in the recesses of our minds. She has that same gift. The gift Elle had of reading my mind, my emotions, my heart. Better than I can myself.

-.

Instantly the mood shifts and she's all smiles, camouflaging her emotions, bending to grab my crutches, asking what I'd like to watch tonight. I stand for a moment, caught off guard. Pleasantly so.

“Will you be joining me?” Her eyelashes bat, her bottom lip gets pulled in, and her hair’s tucked back. “If you don't mind.” Her eyes shift up to meet mine. “I definitely don't mind.”

Her hand reaches to my bicep again. “Why don't you go pick something, I'll reheat our food.” I nod and hobble away, pausing just on the other side of the doorway. I pull out Elle’s letter. The paper’s trembling in my hand. My eyes drink in her words, her beautiful, cursive. I smile at that.

My Darling Alister, I have so much to tell you but first I want to say, I love you…

The paper got folded, tucked back in, and set it on my bookcase. My head leaned against the wall as I closed my eyes, feeling her so near. Tonight's read. I said to myself.

“Any preferences for a movie?” I hollered.

Calli called back from my kitchen. “Invalid's choice.” She laughed out loud. “Haha, very funny!” I smiled to myself as I slumped onto the couch, calling Haywire to join me. “Good boy.” I said, as my palm rested on his back while his head dropped into my lap. He snuffled loudly. “My sentiments exactly.”

Calli peeked around my kitchen wall, holding her tablet. I turned from TV surfing, smiling up at her. She put it behind her back and was swaying back and forth. “Now what’s going on with you? You look like the cat that got the cream!” She laughed. Out Loud!

“I have something else for you, I was going to save it for later, but I can’t wait that long.” “Oh Sweetheart, I don’t think I’ll be up for that for at least a few more days. But after that, yeah, I’m on board! One hundred percent!” My eyebrows lift as a smirk creeps across my face.

Her arm raises and it looks like that tablet’s going to come flying across the room and crack the other side of my skull open. Now I laugh out loud. “Maybe I won’t show you. You’re such a Jerk!” “I’m sorry Baby…” I could barely keep the smirk from crawling further across my face. “So! You want me to leave then… is that it!?” My hands go up in surrender. “Sorry. Let’s just blame that all on the meds.”

She looks warily at me. “This is your one and only warning. Now, this is something really nice. So don’t muck it up by opening your trap.” My fingers zip my lips shut. She slid in next to me, well, next to Haywire. He instantly shifted his rotund body to be laying in her lap. “Traitor!”

She chuckled as she rubbed under his chin. “He’s lived with me, so of course he’d choose me over you.” “You can’t have my dog! My apartment… Sure. My dog! Never!!!”

“Is that sweet ride of yours up for grabs in this giving moment?” “I'm gonna choose to ignore that.”

She actually giggled as she laid her tablet over Haywire's back. “This was sent over this afternoon.” Her fingers swipe across the tablet. “This here…” She shifts her body to be facing me wearing a wide grin.

“Betterment has already started on the Changeover in this area. They’re gonna make it official with a ribbon cutting ceremony and all that crap, somewhere down the road. But, because of what you and Elspeth did, they’re going to restore her old cottage, along with the farm, and restructure that entire area to be just as it was when she lived there. With you overseeing the process.”

She swiped over several concepts of what they planned on doing and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes and leaking down over my cheeks. In my silence, Calli turned to face me. “Oh Alister,” her hand went on my forearm. “I’m so, so sorry. I can’t believe how insensitive I can be sometimes.” My hand drug across my face, wiping away the tears. “Sometimes!?”

She chuckled but tears were ready to cross the threshold as she kept blinking them away. I tried to speak, but the words were strangling me.

She set Haywire on the floor and went on her knees, scooting closer to me. Her hands came up, small and soft, as she cupped my face in them. “Alister. I love knowing how much you loved Elspeth. And, obviously she loved you.” Her thumbs continually wiped my tears away as her hands stayed holding me still. Our eyes locked on the others and in the silence, we found our way. I don’t know when, or even how it happened. But I knew I’d be alright. And, with time, I felt confident that Calliope and I might find our way.

She leaned in, barely touching my cheek as she whispered-kissed it. “I’m so sorry, for all of it.” My eyes blinked heavily. “It’s just that… only four days ago we were together.” My head dropped; her hands lifted it back up. “I see it now." "See what?” Her thumb circles my cheek. I needed her touch; I needed her words. "What Elspeth saw... in you."

She rests –barely a breath’s width from my lips. Her hands, still cupping my face. My eyes stay on her as she leans, just the slightest, allowing her soft lips to touch mine. We kiss. A single, promissory kiss.

My hand went up, petting over her hair and down her back. “Thank you.” My voice cracked. “There’s nothing to thank me for.” “Calliope.” I lean back far enough to look into her eyes. “There’s everything to thank you for.”

Her lips kissed mine once more before she shifted herself, asking if I found a movie yet. She popped up off the couch, telling me I’d better hurry up because our food was almost ready. I just shook my head and said I’d get right on it. “Good!” She called back. I smiled a contented smile as I went back to searching.