Carry On My Wayward Son
Chapter 15: Carry On My Wayward Son
“This is Dallas. I believe he has all the qualities you specfified, sir,” F led the Doll called Dallas by the arm.
“Hello,” said an empty, vapid voice that made the man in the designer suit fight back a wince.
Ben instead smiled and nodded. “He does seem to fit the bill quite nicely, yes. Dallas, you said? I find that odd.” The British accent felt strange coming from his lips, having not used it in many, many years.
“Odd,” F bristled.
Waving a hand around at the other Actives, Ben said, “Well, all the others you’ve shown me have had names from the NATO phonetic alphabet.” At F’s suspicious look, Ben tipped his head. “I was in Her Majesty’s Air Force when I was younger. I know NATO and Dallas is a city in America.”
F’s polite smile returned. “We have over fifty Actives currently in rotation here in Los Angeles. We simply ran out of letters. So, we are making our way through major U.S. cities. Dallas here was simply in the right place at the right time to receive the name. We found it serendipitous.”
Ben nodded. “Of course. Well, before I make my final selection, I must request the directions of the restrooms. Long flight and lots of bottled water,” he gave the woman his most disarming grin.
Armed with directions, Ben headed off to the bathrooms. Once he’d found a blind spot for the security cameras, he ducked into a recessed wall and tapped his ear. The comm’s static assured him it was on. “Okay, I’m in. Where do they keep their personal belongings?”
Karl’s voice cracked into life. “Two rights and it’s a locked door on your left. Password is… hang on…” typing sounds filled the silence, “9348274. Good luck.”
“Thanks,” Ben whispered as he made his way confidently down the halls. A good suit and an air of importance was the best way to make your way through any building unmolested. Locating the room, he typed in the code and slipped inside. Searching through bags marked with fake names, he finally found Cody’s. He opened the bag and quickly shoved the plane ticket into the pocket of Cody’s jacket.
As he made his way back to the lobby, he looked around at the many people wandering soulless; this was hell when they couldn’t find the matches.
“Sir?” F startled Ben and he whipped around.
“Sorry,” he apologised. “Got a bit lost coming back. Now,” he rubbed his hands together, “shall we get this show on the road?”
F led him to the room where Cody would be implanted with the personality Ben wasn’t going to select. As Cody lay down, Ben drew close to his head and whispered, “Carry on my wayward son, there’ll be peace when you are done. Lay your weary head to rest, don’t you cry no more.”
“What did you say, sir?” F asked, looking up from a clipboard.
“Nothing,” Ben opened his mouth to speak and his cell phone rang. Right on cue. “Pardon me just a moment.” He slipped out the door. “Perfect timing.”
“I can see you on the security cameras,” Karl’s smile was evident in his voice. “That’s a nice suit by the way.”
“I forgot how much I don’t like to wear suits. The minute I leave here, I’m heading back to the hotel where I plan to try to sleep and fail.”
“Dean’s swinging by the airport for you on her way back to town,” Karl informed Ben.
Ben started making random elaborate hand gestures and clutching the phone tightly. “Dean’s coming back?”
Karl was nodding, Ben was sure of it. “Said she wants to celebrate with everyone. She sent her first demon back to hell.”
“We have invitations for that kind of occasion already lying around.”
“Please tell me you’re joking.”
“My kids would be a more well-adjusted if I was,” Ben whispered, “going now.” He shut his phone with an angry growl and made as if to throw it.
F stepped into his field of vision. “Sir?”
Ben waved a hand. “Cancel my order. Bloody higher up has decided to change my meeting to New York City. I have to leave right away.” Without risking a backward glance at his son, Ben strode out of the Dollhouse not breathing properly until he was back in his hotel room.
“This is Dallas. I believe he has all the qualities you specfified, sir,” F led the Doll called Dallas by the arm.
“Hello,” said an empty, vapid voice that made the man in the designer suit fight back a wince.
Ben instead smiled and nodded. “He does seem to fit the bill quite nicely, yes. Dallas, you said? I find that odd.” The British accent felt strange coming from his lips, having not used it in many, many years.
“Odd,” F bristled.
Waving a hand around at the other Actives, Ben said, “Well, all the others you’ve shown me have had names from the NATO phonetic alphabet.” At F’s suspicious look, Ben tipped his head. “I was in Her Majesty’s Air Force when I was younger. I know NATO and Dallas is a city in America.”
F’s polite smile returned. “We have over fifty Actives currently in rotation here in Los Angeles. We simply ran out of letters. So, we are making our way through major U.S. cities. Dallas here was simply in the right place at the right time to receive the name. We found it serendipitous.”
Ben nodded. “Of course. Well, before I make my final selection, I must request the directions of the restrooms. Long flight and lots of bottled water,” he gave the woman his most disarming grin.
Armed with directions, Ben headed off to the bathrooms. Once he’d found a blind spot for the security cameras, he ducked into a recessed wall and tapped his ear. The comm’s static assured him it was on. “Okay, I’m in. Where do they keep their personal belongings?”
Karl’s voice cracked into life. “Two rights and it’s a locked door on your left. Password is… hang on…” typing sounds filled the silence, “9348274. Good luck.”
“Thanks,” Ben whispered as he made his way confidently down the halls. A good suit and an air of importance was the best way to make your way through any building unmolested. Locating the room, he typed in the code and slipped inside. Searching through bags marked with fake names, he finally found Cody’s. He opened the bag and quickly shoved the plane ticket into the pocket of Cody’s jacket.
As he made his way back to the lobby, he looked around at the many people wandering soulless; this was hell when they couldn’t find the matches.
“Sir?” F startled Ben and he whipped around.
“Sorry,” he apologised. “Got a bit lost coming back. Now,” he rubbed his hands together, “shall we get this show on the road?”
F led him to the room where Cody would be implanted with the personality Ben wasn’t going to select. As Cody lay down, Ben drew close to his head and whispered, “Carry on my wayward son, there’ll be peace when you are done. Lay your weary head to rest, don’t you cry no more.”
“What did you say, sir?” F asked, looking up from a clipboard.
“Nothing,” Ben opened his mouth to speak and his cell phone rang. Right on cue. “Pardon me just a moment.” He slipped out the door. “Perfect timing.”
“I can see you on the security cameras,” Karl’s smile was evident in his voice. “That’s a nice suit by the way.”
“I forgot how much I don’t like to wear suits. The minute I leave here, I’m heading back to the hotel where I plan to try to sleep and fail.”
“Dean’s swinging by the airport for you on her way back to town,” Karl informed Ben.
Ben started making random elaborate hand gestures and clutching the phone tightly. “Dean’s coming back?”
Karl was nodding, Ben was sure of it. “Said she wants to celebrate with everyone. She sent her first demon back to hell.”
“We have invitations for that kind of occasion already lying around.”
“Please tell me you’re joking.”
“My kids would be a more well-adjusted if I was,” Ben whispered, “going now.” He shut his phone with an angry growl and made as if to throw it.
F stepped into his field of vision. “Sir?”
Ben waved a hand. “Cancel my order. Bloody higher up has decided to change my meeting to New York City. I have to leave right away.” Without risking a backward glance at his son, Ben strode out of the Dollhouse not breathing properly until he was back in his hotel room.