Tomorrowland: Frank and Athena

Prologue

Author's Note: Welcome to my story! The 'About' page on the official story web site has a little background on how the story came to be, but let me say here that the story fits the events of the Tomorrowland Movie as far as we know from the flashbacks. It also takes into account additional information given by Brad Bird in interviews, as well as background information from the graphic novel for the Plus Ultra history. It uses some background info from the Before Tomorrowland backstory novel, though doesn't specifically use the events of that story.

I'll also say that I think the story stands on its own, if you haven't seen the Tomorrowland movie.

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August, 1952 – John Francis Walker

Samuel Walker ran out of his house excitedly with a bang of the screen door and jumped in his old jalopy, hoping it would start right up this time. Mercifully, it fired up on the first crank and he set off toward town, a box sitting next to him on the seat. The car bounced crazily on the dirt road as usual, which often annoyed Sam, but on this day he hardly noticed. He felt like he could've flown into town, powered by his good will toward life.

He pulled up to the general store, killed the engine in a cloud of dust, and marched up the stairs and onto the porch. Several men were sitting on chairs outside the store, watching the evening sun setting over the horizon. Sam, standing ramrod straight, announced, "Gentlemen, John Francis Walker has been born."

The men jumped to their feet, slapping Sam on the back and giving him congratulations. Sam pulled out his box, opened it up and handed out cigars. After distributing them to all who asked (several more men came out of nearby stores, attracted by the commotion), he pulled one out for himself. Several matches appeared suddenly before him, and he lit his cigar with a bit of each fire from his friends and colleagues.

He took a deep puff and let it out, feeling his tension start to release. It had been a long night and day. "Eighteen hours. By God, that was an eighteen hour delivery, but Katey's fine. My gal worked hard to bring my boy into the world."

"What's he look like?" asked an older man in a farmer's overalls, his face deeply tanned and deeply lined.

"I tell you, Joe, he's gonna be a big one," Sam said, with a serious expression. "I can tell. He's a born farmer. He's got my granddad's look. And ol' Granddad could throw sacks o' wheat like no man. And he had a hell of a brain, too. Smart, that man. O' course, he had the good looks that all in his line have," he finished with a grin.

The other men guffawed at that, giving him a few more slaps on the back. An older woman walked up and smiled. "Congratulations, Sam! So sounds like Katey's mighty glad that one's out of the oven," she said.

"Thanks, Clara! Yep, she's about done in," Sam said. "She held John Francis for a couple of minutes, handed him back to the doc, and then was snoring about a half-minute later."

"So you've decided to stick with the farm, then?" she said. When Sam's expression turned wary, she quickly continued, "Aw, Sam, I'm sorry. This isn't the time, but it just sounded like you'd made a decision. Let's just drop it."

"Nah, it's okay," Sam said, relaxing. "Yeah, it's been a tough few years, but we're gonna stick it out. I just can't let the old farm die. The Walkers have farmed our land for 200 years, and I'll be damned if it'll go to the grave on my watch. Especially now that I'll have John Francis to pick up the slack in a few years."

"Well, it's true the Walkers have always had farming in their blood, and you were no exception," Clara said. "Your pa and ma were always so proud, you know, and no one worked harder than them. It's a shame they didn't live to see this day."