Rogue by Mark Frost

said Will as sincerely and urgently as he could. “But a prank about something this personal is the last thing we would ever try to pull. What we have to share with you is as serious as a heart attack.”
    “Where did you get this?” he asked.
    “Your father gave it to us,” said Will. “And we can take you to him.”
    The Perfessor’s eyes flicked over to the Barbarian and the blonde. Will saw him subtly signal them that they could stand down; the conversation would continue.
    “Oscar,” he said to the Barbarian, “let’s not forget our manners. Why don’t you bring our guests something to drink?”
    “Beer?” asked Oscar.
    “Use your head, Oscar,” said the Perfessor patiently. “You wouldn’t want to contribute to the delinquency of a minor, would you?”
    Oscar thought about that, which took visible effort; then he snapped his fingers and pointed at the boys. “
Root
beer.”
    The Barbarian stomped out of the room. The blonde pretended to go back to her book. The Perfessor gestured for the boys to sit on the pillows in front of his chair, leaning forward with his hands on his knees.
    “I’m all ears,” he said.

WILL’S RULES FOR LIVING #4:
    IF ANY TASK YOU UNDERTAKE REQUIRES YOU TO “DIE TRYING,” YOU MIGHT WANT TO RECONSIDER YOUR PLAN.
    Will figured he had about half a minute before the elevator reached the topside level where Elise and the others were waiting. Maybe another two minutes after that for the car to come back down to the hospital. He’d never been worried about Franklin as a physical threat, but he knew that Hobbes, Clegg, and the Hodaks would be a challenge for him to handle alone.
    “Perhaps Dr. Abelson’s decided to join us,” said Franklin, glancing up. “Lemuel, would you see if that’s Dr. Joe on the elevator and assist him, please?”
    Clegg left the room. Will blinked on the Grid and watched the man’s heat signature through the wall as he moved across the space outside toward the elevator. He also picked up that Hobbes and the Hodaks were just outside, watching him closely, so when he turned to glance back at the Carver, nestled in its case, he blinked off the Grid and moved his head slowly, betraying no intentions.
    Will heard a low rumble of turbulent sound coming from the other room and wondered if he was somehow tuning in to their thoughts. Franklin had mentioned that the “gifts” he’d been given should continue to develop over time; maybe his power to pick up things from other people’s minds was expanding.
    “Can you explain to me what these things are for, or how they’re used, Grandfather?” asked Will.
    “I’d be delighted to, Will,” said Franklin, reaching over and tousling his hair.
    Will had to exercise every ounce of self-control not to react.
    But if he touches me like that again, I’m going to break his arm.
    “This metallic cube, here on the right,” said Franklin, “I would best describe this as a power source, given to us by our friends, that can be used to awaken some of the creations they left behind.”
    “What sort of creations?”
    “Oh, I believe you’ve encountered a few of them already,” said Franklin, smiling vaguely. “During your ill-advised foray down below.”
    Will shuddered at the memory of the hideous treelike creatures that had chased them as they made their escape from Cahokia, the ones that pulled themselves out of the ground and came to startling life after he’d seen Hobbes use this very same cube.
    “But what are they?” asked Will.
    “I might best describe them as…forms of artificial life, built for specific purposes and hidden away in important places. Concealed, until they’re called upon, as a sort of secret weapon, if you will. Our friends call them sleepers.”
    “Are you saying they left more of those killer tree things lying around up here?” said Will, pumping up more dismay than he felt.
    “No, no, not the ones you encountered before
precisely,
” said Franklin, amused at his