Lewis took a few days to dig some cores around the first graboid recorded movements. He didn't find anything like eggs as Dr. Merliss did. Lewis still believed that was a lucky dig. Especially when the area was desert rangeland. He even took cores around the area Dr. Merliss took his core samples from. He hoped maybe there would be an indication of something the Assblaster back then would believe this would be a good area to lay eggs. He would need to get maps dating back to prehistoric times to navigate through the geological changes as well. Since the eggs were found during a core dig, there might be more hidden away somewhere.
Lewis also tracked the second graboid recorded movements. He did core digs there as well. El Blanco is the only surviving one. He will have to see with all of El Blanco's movements if El Blanco goes down memory lane of where they were hatched. Lots of tedious digging and going down rabbit holes that could lead to nowhere.
After Lewis put his cores away, he headed back into town to fuel up. He had been driving around the whole area of Perfection Valley. He stopped in Chang's to grab a few cool drinks.
"Hey, Dr. Thorpe, any luck today?" Jodi asked him as she was at the counter cutting up pieces of paper.
"Not yet," Lewis had to give in to small talk as every person in the hamlet of Perfection needed chit-chat and to soothe their curiosity. He had grown to giving them the small portions of information each time he saw them. Almost like giving scraps to wild animals like seagulls and such. "More of things to add on to the ever-growing list of questions and things to do."
Jodi looked up, raising her eyebrows. "Oh-kay. Well, if you need time to relax," Lewis was walking up to the counter. She slid a small square towards him. "We are having a costume Halloween party. It's also a potluck so bring a dessert."
"I'm not affiliated with Perfection that way," Lewis started to reject.
"It's fine," Jodi started to ring up the items. "You're going to be here a while, might as well enjoy yourself. Plus, it may relax your brain, give you some more new questions, but also may answer some old ones."
"Okay, I will put it on my schedule then," Lewis did not want to go but it is true he would be there for a while. He didn't want to burn bridges. It may give him a stronger connection to the people.
A few days later, a big clue was finally arrived in Lewis' hands. The history behind Perfection Valley. He opened the box containing different envelopes.
"Rejection?" Lewis was intrigued. "Founded in 1800s but was renamed Perfection in 1889. Town relied on the silver mine workers. However, not much silver was to be found at first." He skimmed over the maps and photos of the mine and its workers. Nothing unusual until he got to a telegram. "Wanted. Gunfighter. Town of Rejection, Nevada." Not unusual for them to ask for a skilled gunfighter to keep the town in check. However, the town was still small in number. There were no clues stating a rival gang or businessman coming to take over the town. He continued to read. "Seeks experienced quick-draw artist, calm in the face of danger. Salary negotiable. It was sent to the Territorial Enterprises, Denver Post, and Wichita Eagle. Hm. A gunman named Black Hand Kelly did arrive at Rejection, but died during his time there." He sorted through envelopes to find more pictures and documents. Most of these documents were in plastic. The pictures were duplicates. He flipped through until he found something interesting.
"No one knows about this story. It was those in the town's secret. We covered our tracks and spread rumors to hide what people might believe in our town. I, too, will burn this, but I wanted to get it off my chest. It started in the town of Rejection." Lewis read out loud. He read over the words quickly until he got stuck on two words. "Dirt. Dragons." He was amazed. "Dirt-dragons. There-there is evidence of possible graboid encounter in the 1800s with Perfection. That means this area is full of graboid potential!"
This was exciting news. A diary excerpt from one of the people who was there for the first ever recorded incident and it was from a family who still thrives in Perfection. This was from Fu Yien Chang. Lewis kept reading the diary pages over and over again. He wrote down notes on a separate paper. He rolled his chair down the long counter. He marked down on his map with a pencil of places from the diary. He will need to do core samples in certain areas. It was great. This was getting him somewhere.
The next few weeks, Lewis was all over Perfection Valley again. He visited the mine. There was a hot spring trickling through some parts of it. No sightings of any eggs though. He ventured around taking samples, pictures, and jotting down actual coordinates.
At the mine facility in Utah, things haven't been as productive. With one motion, the gun fired and a scientist dropped dead upon the floor. The pant suit lady brought the gun point up to the ceiling.
"Anyone else saying they can't up with anything that actually works?" She eyed the scientists who were frozen in fear. They all looked like little animals afraid of a big predator. She raised an eyebrow. "Good. Now come up with something so we can get things finally started. You're all highly praised with your credentials. This is why you went to the private sector; however, the private sector wants results, and I want results now." They nodded to her. She turned around to one of her henchmen. The scientists started to scurry as their lives were now on the lines. "Get rid of the body and find me another scientist to replace that one. Maybe some few lined up in case I get tired of these too if they can't be productive." She handed the gun off to him before leaving.
One night as Lewis was working out all of the routes of every graboid, his personal computer had a message. He glanced at it before going back to drawing but stopped. He gave the screen his full attention. Lewis clicked on the message. It was from his system he put in place to scan the web for any graboid type of information. This message was coming from the deep dark web. A message asking for scientists who want to have their hand at playing God. It was cryptic but Lewis knew what it meant. There were rumors that Proudfoot was wanting to get the lab up and running, hence why the government put its best crew on it.
Lewis knew that Dr. Frankenstein would be head of that operation. He knew from her research and how she worked diligently that she would be the most fit for the job. She was one of his idols. That's how he wanted to do work like her. He wanted to go into the unknown. He wanted to seek areas no one was willing to search. He wanted to get a nickname and join the Last Pioneers. Lewis took on graboids because they were fascinating but also because not much was known on them. He would be the one to continue on digging. Even if it meant going where no one would go.
His first search through the whole web brought him things from the dark web he didn't think would be seen, but it was the illegal selling of supposed graboid parts, fossils, and whichever conman can think of to sell. Lewis wasted a good amount of money onto those things to find out they were fakes, but that meant there could be something real. The first rumor he came across was something that Proudfoot would suggest, finding any graboid like things to sell, a high bidder would buy them all. Those accounts that would chat with him told him how this bidder is trying to bring graboids to life like that in those famous movies. The other rumors that followed were similar too.
This must be the same high bidder who needs more people to do their bidding. He reached out to the dark web wanted advertisement. He submitted a resume full of fake but reasonable credentials. This was an opportunity.
Lewis went back to working and not dwelled on the outcome. It was getting close to Halloween. He needed to hurry with some of El Blanco's data as the rainy season was upon them. As most of the rain falls between November through April. July through September does bring monsoons but few on occasion unlike the constant rainfall from November to April. He could do more work then too, as it would be easier since El Blanco travels deep underground to get away from the sound.
Another notification dinged on his personal computer the day of Halloween. He was getting ready in his costume. The message notified him that he, indeed, got the job as the next scientist. They were wondering when he can quickly come join their field base. This struck him. It was that easy to become into a shady group. He thought he wouldn't be able to. Lewis' heart was beating so hard, he had to put a hand over it. "Calm yourself, calm yourself. Let's do what Jodi said. Let's go to the party, relax our mind, maybe we can answer the question there." Lewis shut his computer, grabbed his dish, and headed out.
At Chang's, it was all festive with spooky decorations. Garland of orange, black, green, and purple were twisted together and strung on the counters. Witches, ghosts, and other monsters were taped to the walls. The tables were all pushed together to make one long table. The counter was where all the potluck dishes would be placed. There was a big bowl of punch with dry ice that made it bubble and wispy with its own fog.
Burt noticed all of the cars parked outside of the Market. He walked inside to see Harlowe in an orange cowboy shirt with a dark green wild rag chatting with Casey who was wearing a flowery dress and Roger was wearing flannel. Near them was his son in a weird black suit which Rose was wearing something similar. The five of them noticed him. He nodded to them. They nodded back. The five watched him. He didn't like that. He headed over to put his dish, which was diced up cacti with corn, string beans, and carrots with some seasoning by the rest of the dishes. He heard someone come from the kitchen he had to do a double take. Larry was wearing an Atlanta Hawks hat and a fake mustache. Larry was also serious. He nodded to him. Burt nodded to him.
Burt turned around to see Jodi who also had a similar hat. All her hair was pulled up under it. She, too was wearing a fake mustache. He blinked a couple of times. Shook his head. Turned fully around to see not only Rosalita but Tyler in the same outfit as the other two. Burt backed away from all of them. The four all grouped together as they kept looking at Burt. The door opened to the Market. Burt turned around to see Nancy dressed up as the same outfit. She nodded to him before passing him. Burt whipped back around to see five people dressed up as him.
"Is this some sort of insult or practical joke?" He looked at all five of them while glancing to the other five.
"Nope, we all had the same idea," Tyler let out a sigh.
"To come dressed as me?" Burt pointed to himself.
"Yep," Nancy was giving the others a once over. "Sadly, great minds think alike."
"Think alike!? There's only one Burt Gummer!" He tapped himself.
"I like it though," Jodi smiled. Her mustache covering her top lip. "We all wanted to be you. That should actually boost your ego."
"How come the others didn't?" Burt looked over to the others.
"Because we didn't think of being you," Roger shrugged his shoulders.
"I wanted to be a pumpkin," Harlowe clarified. "It was the only thing I could actually think of."
"We came as movie characters," Rose informed.
"Hey we all came as something, what did you come as?" Rosalita crossed her arms. She was right. Burt came as himself.
"Paranoid," Burt nodded his head. "I am paranoid now."
"Ah it's okay, think of it as a compliment, since that's what we wanted it to be," Larry didn't like him becoming upset. "We wanted to be someone legendary. Who's legendary in this area, you." This did calm Burt down a bit.
"Okay, I think I get your two costumes," Rosalita was pointing to Rose and Wes. "But not you two." She looked at Casey and Roger.
"We're the Maitlands," Casey clarified.
"Ah okay," Rosalita was still confused on who that was.
"I like the reference," Larry nodded. "I also like your reference as Paul and Chani."
The group dispersed into smaller groups to chat amongst one another. This was when Lewis came in. He headed straight for the potluck area to put his dish there.
"Lewis, your costume is amazing, nice reference," Larry was thrilled. "You came as Luke." Lewis did come as Luke but from a certain scene. He was dressed in all black with a silver flashlight tucked into his belt. "I think there is going to be some great competition for the costumes." Larry had him notice the other costumes.
Lewis stopped hearing the words Larry was uttering. His eyes locked on a person he never thought he would ever meet in person. His body moved on its own. Larry looked between him and where his eyes were on. Larry followed Lewis as Lewis was now in front of Rose.
"Doc-doc-doctor Frankenstein!" Lewis uttered out. "I-I-I can't believe you're really here, in the flesh."
Wes eyed the man. Larry was enjoying the drama unfolding. Rose knew a fan when she saw one.
"Yes, Dr. Lewis Thorpe, it is nice to meet your acquaintance, finally," Rose extended a hand.
"You know my name?" He breathed. He smiled. He forgot that she had her hand out. "Oh!" He looked down at it. Grabbed it with both hands and shook it, he was so nervous. "Nice to finally meet you!"
"Of course, I know your name," Rose treated him as any other person. People were always awestruck of those who were in the Last Pioneer group. It was as if she was a celebrity in the science department. She didn't want to treat the others like some of her colleagues.
Lewis was thankful that he could meet the most wonderful scientist in his eyes. She was going where no one would go. Doing things others would be afraid of. This was going to be a memory he was going to cherish. He was glad he took Jodi's advice. This helped him relax. He got to meet and chat with his idol, who was dressed like the characters from one of his favorite books. A thought popped into his mind as he was reveling. Ask her for advice.
Rose could see the change in his look.
"Um, Dr. Frankenstein, would you mind having a private conversation with me for a moment?" Lewis became quiet then when he first spoke to her. This made Wes and Larry curious. Rose had a feeling it was confidential.
"Certainly," Rose nodded. "You two stay here, we will be outside. No need to worry about us." Wes nodded. Larry looked at Wes then turned to them. He nodded with the same energy.
Rose leaned against one of the wooden poles to show him she was relaxed so he could speak. Lewis looked away from her eyes. He then wondered if this was right. He wondered if he was going right in her eyes. Would she be disappointed in him? This made him doubt.
"Whatever it is that you're thinking," Rose spoke first. "You probably already have your answer. You don't need my advice. You do want it, but you know that you have already decided. By the looks of it now, you're doubting yourself if you made the right decision. You don't know if it was right since you never went that route. I don't know what it is exactly, but I know that look." Lewis became drawn to her words. He looked at her. "Don't rely on my advice. I didn't get to where I am by seeking out what others thought of me. I got where I wanted to be, because I wanted to be there. Don't think about consequences, don't think about repercussions. I am called Frankenstein for many reasons. Thankfully not a dropout would be scientist who creates another human but then doesn't take any accountability. Not a monster. But I am called Frankenstein because I didn't care of what others thought. I only cared about what I wanted to bring into the science world. What I wanted to discover. It was microbial, cellular level with mushrooms and cadavers yet that got me here. Here in a hamlet, doing recon on a mess some corporation left.
"If it involves us, don't worry about us. Go forth with your decision. I read your file; you want to become a Last Pioneer. Well, we didn't get our seat and names because we treaded in the comfort zone," Rose raised her eyebrows. "We set foot to make a path on places where paths can't be made. Go with your decision." She got back up and headed past him. Rose went back inside.
Wes came over to her. Lewis was still outside pondering her words. "What was that about?"
Rose lowered her voice. "Just some scientist-to-scientist pep talk. No need for worry. But see if we did do the other costumes, we would have a third."
Wes blinked at her. "I don't think that Leia outfit would be appropriate for a dinner party."