Book 2: A Time Of Awkwardness-Chapter 7: Secret Truths

Sirens ring out their high-pitched wailing, and red lights flash like a strobe bulb. Heavily armed guards scramble around wearing N15 disposable medical masks to protect them from an unseen threat. Amongst the guards are soldiers. They wear a full-face-covered mask similar to a gas mask. Their purpose, to watch over the frozen population of the cryo-prison. This task is normally pretty tedious for the fact that the inmates are all in a cryo-sleep. Or as they would call them consicles. The frozen inmates do nothing but linger in their cryo-sleep, awaiting their eventual defrosting for a parole hearing, a pardon, or a release. The reason for the heavily-armed presence was to keep any potential jailbreakers out. That is if they were able to find the prison. You see, the cryo-prison is in such a secret location that no one knows it even exists. But it is better to have a little prevention so that a more severe problem does not arise. The guards, scientists, and soldiers are not concerned about the prisoners. They are busy packing up the facility. Their expertise is needed elsewhere. That being the World Trade Convention Centre now converted into a scientific research facility in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Their skills are needed to combat the plague. It serves no purpose for them to be there when the world's population is in danger of being permanently being wiped out. They run by the rooms containing the futuristic-looking plastic polymer capsules containing the frozen bodies of the inmates. Each cell has one of these capsules that resemble something out of Star Trek.

 As the last truck is loaded, an African-Canadian soldier in his early twenties, resembling an offensive lineman, stands.  He turns to a well-groomed caucasian scientist with short sandy blonde hair and said," Shouldn't someone stay here to take care of the consicles Dr. Astor.?" "Don't worry, soldier! This facility contains a gamma generator that will power this place for thousands of years!" said Dr.Astor. " What if someone finds this place and releases one of these monsters?" said the soldier. " There is no worry of that! I don't think anyone will ever find this place!" said Dr.Astor. "Do you think anyone will survive the plague? Or are we on the verge of extinction?' said the soldier. A solemn look comes over the face of Dr.Astor, who lets out a deep sigh and says," It doesn't look good! This virus spreads fast and has a 100% mortality rate. But we got to try! If humanity survives, it will be a small amount. And this place will remain a secret. We will be the only ones that know about it! And these inmates will be forever frozen!" The soldier nods his head and says," I understand!" Dr. Astor pats the soldier on the back and says," You better get in the truck and get going! You have a long journey ahead of you, and I have to finish packing my lab and head on my way!" said Dr. Astor. The soldier shakes the hand of Dr. Astor and heads towards the passenger compartment of the military truck. Dr.Astor watches as the last truck drives away. He turns and walks back into the cryo-prison. 

Dr. Astor walks up to one of the cell doors, opens it, and walks in. He stands over the cryo capsule. On the capsule is the number 999. Dr.Astor wipes off some of the frost from the thick plastic window. He stares at the frozen face of a man with massive burn scars on his face. Then begins to hum the tune Moody River. This moment is quickly interrupted by the sweet voice of his wife Dr.Susan Astor. He turns to see her thin athletic frame standing in the doorway. Her brown hair, flowing down her back all wavy-like. Dr.Kevin Astor is speechless at the sight of his beautiful wife. How could a woman like her love a man like him? He is such a lucky man. "Are you alright?' said Susan. "I am fine! Just getting one last look at this son of a bitch! Have to make sure his cryo-chamber is working properly. Wouldn't want him to wake up!" said Kevin. "Okay! When you're finished here, I will be waiting in the jeep," said Susan. "Okay! I will be right there!" said Kevin. Susan leaves the room, and Kevin refocuses his attention to the cryo-chamber. "You will never see the light of day again! This tube will be your tomb! My father's legacy and your connection to him end. Enjoy your eternal sleep!" said Dr.Kevin Astor. Dr.Kevin Astor leaves the cell and closes the thick metal door behind him. The echo of the metal door slamming shut gives off an eerie feeling of solitude and fear. 

Samuel looks on as his loyal minions encroach on Delphine and Jack. A large grin is still on his face. The sound of the gunfire and screams of his followers yelling out their battle charge. Mixed with the sound of the rain and thunder clapping gives an eerie feeling up Prestons' spine. He looks on to see Jack and Delphine taking down incoming Citizens. "You know what? I don't think you are going to win!" said Preston. Samuel looks down at Preston, the burn scars on his face more noticeable. "You are back to this again! I already told you that you are wrong!" said Samuel. "By the looks of it, I think you will be wrong! Because those two are kicking your sorry ass!" said Preston. "Always so confident you Brilliants are! Look into my eyes and tell me if you think I am scared that I will lose?" said Samuel. "I would try, but your face looks like melted cheese and pepperoni on a pizza! So those girls, you know your tart trio who wanted to give me an STI. Are they blind because I don't know any woman would not puke at the site of that! Or you naked!" said Preston. The rain pours down even harder, and Samuels' long hair is now stringy. He turns his attention back to the battle in the farmyard and says," You know your great grandfather was just as quick-witted as you! It's a shame that you don't have his brains because you might actually then be a worthy opponent!" A confused look comes over Preston's face. And wondering how in the hell does Samuel know his great grandfather Pops. "Who in the hell are you?" said Preston. Samuel quickly flashes a sadistic smile in Preston's direction and says," You'll find out soon!" 

Jack stares down the site of the General Electric Mini-gun. He turns in a 180-degree direction, killing oncoming Citizens. Behind himDelphine quickly goes through the ammunition of her M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. She drops her weapon, pulls out two Glock ACP's, and begins firing at Samuel's army. But it seems that the more they kill. More keep coming. Jack looks down at his ammunition supply. He notices that he is running low and will not have enough to keep this battle going. " I've got some bad news!" said Jack. "What is it?" asks Delphine. "I am almost out of bullets!" said Jack. "There is more in the barn!" screams Delphine. As Jack turns to fire the Mini-gun, he notices that the barn is blocked by approaching Citizens. "Duck and switch sides!" said Jack. He mows down the zealot army in an instant. "Cover me!" yells Jack. " Here, take this!" exclaims Delphine. Delphine throws Jack one of the samurai swords from the weapons bag on the Mini-gin's platform. Jack catches it and removes the sword from its sheath. With two hands firmly grasped on the handle of the samurai sword, Jack runs towards the barn. Two Citizens approach Jack. He swings the samurai sword at their midsection, fatally slicing them. Blood instantly pours out of their abdomens, and their intestines spill out on the ground. Jack, shocked by his actions, looks at what he has done and says," Gross!" Jack runs towards the barn doors and enters.

Jack quickly runs into the dark, empty barn. He feels along the wall with his hand and grabs the handle to the breaker panel. The lights illuminate the barn. The addition of the light gives way to all the treasures hidden within Delphine's barn. While the stalls would normally contain cattle or horses. These stalls house more weapons and ammunition. Jack notices in one of the stalls something large in size covered with a tarp. He walks up to it and lifts the tarp to see a tank circa 2019. "Well, that shouldn't shock me!" said Jack. He walks away from the tank and finds two replacement ammo canisters. Jack picks them up and walks out of the barn.

As Jack exits the barn, he witnesses the sheer awe of Delphine engaged in hand-to-hand combat with several Citizens. It is almost poetic how she moves, taking down her opponents with kicks and punches, some throwing knives in between to strike down incoming Citizens. The blades hit their targets perfectly, either in the chest, throat, or forehead. This scene is something out of an old 1990's martial arts movie. Jack, being caught up in Delphine's actions unaware of the impending Citizens about to ambush him. Suddenly they strike! With the sharp blow from a wooden club to the back of Jack's head, he falls to the ground face first. Jack, his vision a little blurred from the blow to his head, slowly lifts his face from the mud. The pouring rain, washing it from his face partially. Out of the corner of her eye, Delphine sees what has happened to Jack. "JACK!!!" yells Delphine. This brief moment breaks her concentration on the battle she is engaged in. A loud clap of thunder rolls. It sets the stage for what happens next. That being a kick to Delphines' abdomen followed by a blow to the right side of her head. She is subdued quickly by the Citizen army like a swarm of killer bees. They tie Delphine's hands and feet to prevent her from defending herself. Jack tries to regain his bearings and tries to stand. His attempt is thwarted by another shot to the back of his head, knocking him out. The army of Citizens lets out a loud cheer at their great victory. After, thousands of their ranks have been killed by these two. Paul stands up on the flatbed trailer beside the General Electric M134 Minigun and says," Brothers and sisters! We are victorious! As foretold by Samuel, our great leader, the prophet and chosen one! Now let us take Adam and Eve to him! Praise Samuel!" "PRAISE SAMUEL!!" yells out the Citizen army as the rain drenches them.

Hearing his army of loyal followers cheering on their victory brings a big shit-eating wicked grin to Samuel's face. He turns to look at Preston, his burn-scarred face looking like the skin of an avocado. "You see, nonbeliever! I told you that the Lord is on my side! And soon you will see the truth and believe!" said Samuel. "Not bloody likely, Freddy Krueger! Personally, I think it is the devil that is on your side and that before this is all said and done, you will meet him!" said Preston. "Heathen! Still have doubt in your heart! Well, maybe this will change your mind!... Bring the doubting Thomas. We are going down to the farmyard," said Samuel. Two Cromagnon looking henchmen pick up Preston and follow Samuel as he makes his way down to the farmyard. 

The strong wind howls through the empty wilderness of northern Manitoba. The earth is a much emptier place since the plague. It has been eighty years since the cure saved the remaining 1.5 million people of the world. Since that time, the earth has very few large cities left. The remnants of most of the planet's cities sit abandoned. There are small communities here and there in small towns. But for the most part, the people of the earth reside in Master Cities. Call it fear of another virus outbreak or just a sense to keep what is left of humanity alive. The earth's population has increased by 10,000 in that time that they could tell. There are people in the abandoned zones and no way of counting them. The numbers come from the Master Cities and rural communities. The ones in the abandoned zones have resorted to cannibalism. Their minds have lost touch with reality from the conditions they live in. That is why the people in the Master Cities have abandoned them. The last group to venture into an abandoned city was never heard from again. They became the food supply for these people. Occasionally these cannibals would eat rats when their regular food source was nowhere to be found. These people adopted tribe mentality and hunted other tribes. With their food source running out, two members of the Dundas Tribe have taken a journey out of Toronto. Their search has led them across the border into northern Manitoba. The land is ripe with thick bush and lakes. As the sky turns purple, they realize that they must find shelter. Their search leads them to the vine-covered entrance to the old cryo-prison. 

The two travelers from the Dundas tribe from the abandoned city of Toronto pull away at the vines as the rain starts to pour down in the distance. All around them, lightning strikes hit the ground, and the thunder shakes the ground like a massive earthquake. "Man, these vines are thick, Simon!" yells the one traveler. "Hurry up, Paul! The storm is closing in on us! If we get hit by one of those lightning strikes, we're done for!" said Simon. Paul feverishly pulls at the vines with all his might. The vines don't give up easily. Paul struggles and yanks at the plants. A loud clap of thunder shakes the ground and steals Paul's attention away from his task. He looks behind him to see the storm drawing closer. A bolt of lightning hits the ground only fifty feet away from them. Paul turns his attention back to the vines. "Could you help me before we both get french fried?" said Paul. Simon noticed the urgency of their dilemma helps Paul in pulling at the plant life. Another bolt of lightning hits the ground. This time twenty feet away from them. Their tenacity pays off as the vines finally start to come free. They are surprised by a thick metal door with a code panel entrance and not a cave. "What in the actual fuck are we supposed to do now? There is no way we are getting in there unless we have a code! To which I seriously doubt you have!" said Simon. Another round of thunder rolls and shakes the ground knocking Simon and Paul off their feet. On their backs. The rain starts to pour on the two men. Just when they thought that they were screwed. It was more of a stroke of good fortune. A bolt of lightning hits the metal door breaking the 5-inch steel locking bar like an acetylene torch. The metal door swings open. Simon and Paul, knowing that they just avoided certain death, choose not to tempt fate. They stand up quickly and run into the open door. As they step inside the old cryo-prison a bolt of lightning strikes the ground where they had been. 

Simon looks at the open door. The hot metal smokes and hisses as the rain cools it down. "Don't think we can close this?" said Simon. "No, we sure can't! There is no way to secure it shut. The lightning made sure of that!" said Paul. "Well, let's check out this place and see what we can find," said Simon. Paul removes the hood from off his head and unzips the tan camouflage army jacket. Simon follows suit, and the two men start to walk down the dimly lit corridor. "What is this place?" said Paul. "I don't know? Most likely an old abandoned government facility from the 21st century!" said Simon. "How do they still have lights? Wouldn't all power be turned off?" said Paul. " It must run on gamma energy," said Simon. "They had that back then? I thought that wasn't discovered until the 22nd century?" said Paul. "Well, there is lots that we don't know! But I do know that the government had lots of secrets after the plague. Thought they were rumors? Guess not!" said Simon. The two men keep walking down the corridor. Simon notices the lever to a power panel. He walks up to it and switches it on. The whole building becomes fully illuminated. "This place looks like a prison! But it can't be? It has to be an old military base!" said Paul. Simon walks up to one of the cell doors, wipes the decades of dust off the door to reveal a number on it that reads 105. "What does that mean?" asks Paul. "I do not know? Must be some sort of classification?" said Simon. "Then it has to be an old military base?" said Paul. Simon wipes the dust off the dust from the cell window and see's the cryo-chamber. "I don't think so?" said Simon. Paul looks through the window on the cell door and exclaims, "Holy shit!" "What is it?" asks Simon. "I heard that there was a cryo-prison. But I thought that it was just an urban legend!" said Paul. "It can't be? It has to be just some sort of military experiment?" says Simon. "Let's go and find out then!" said Paul. Paul looks for a door handle or some way to open the cell door. "What are you doing?" asks Simon. "I'm trying to find a way in Einstein!" exclaims Paul. Simon points towards a security panel next to the cell door. "Over here, eagle eyes! Good luck with that!" said Simon. What Simon is referring to is that the security panel contains a three-tier redundancy to enter the room. The first is a retinal scanner, second is a biometric scanner requiring a handprint. And the last is a seven-digit security code. Paul looks at it and exclaims," Pfft! That's child's play!"  "If you can get past that security system, then I will strip naked, cover myself in honey, and sing I'm a Little Teapot!" said Simon. "Deal!" exclaims Paul. The two men shake hands. Paul removes a jackknife with an 8-inch blade from his back pocket. He extracts the blade from the knife handle begins to remove the screws from the security panel. It doesn't take him long to perform that task. In no time, Paul has the cover to the security panel removed and is sifting through a forest of wires. "Don't electrocute yourself!" said Simon. Paul ignores Simon's sarcastic remark and keeps searching. "There you are!" exclaims Paul. Paul sticks the blade of the jackknife onto a section of a circuit board. A spark shoots out, and the door to the cell opens up. Paul retracts the blade of his knife and places it back into his back pocket. He turns to Simon and says," Try and not get bit by bees when you do that dance! Although if they bit your pecker, it might help with its size!" "Yeah! Yeah!... Where did you learn how to do that?" asks Simon. " Trade secrets, my friend! Trade secrets!" said Paul. Paul pulls open the door to the cell, and he walks in, followed by Simon. 

Simon and Paul walk up to the cryo-tube covered in frost. Simon cleans some of the frost from the cryo-tube and sees' a name on it. "Samuel! Is that who is in here?" asks Simon. Paul looks at the tube and wipes away more of the condensation, revealing more words. He shakes his head and says," Nope! It says, Samuel Industries!" "What is that? I never heard of them?" asks Simon. "It is a company that made these. Back in the 21st century, they were a big tech conglomerate. After the fall of humanity, they changed their name to Excalibur and helped build the Master Cities. It makes sense that you wouldn't know who they are! You are so young!" said Paul. "You aren't much older than me!" exclaims Simon. "Yeah, well, my father told me about all this stuff! He used to work for them," said Paul. Simon's eyes grow big and bright as a revelation dons on him. "That's how you were able to open that lock!" exclaims Simon. "Yup! My old man kept us safe as the virus raged on! He wouldn't let my siblings on social media. There were too many conspiracy theories about the plague being a hoax!" said Paul. "What's social media?" asks Simon. " It was a place where people went to bitch about politics, share photos of themselves and connect with friends while looking for strangers' approval," said Paul. "How old are you?" asks Simon. "I am twenty-five, two years older than you!' said Paul. " How do you know about this stuff then?" asks Simon. " Paul shakes his head at Simon's stupidity and says," Were you not listening? My father! He told me, obviously! I will tell you more later. Now let's see what or who is in here!" said Paul as he wipes the ice crystals from the window of the cryo-tube. A dim blue light glows inside the tube to reveal a burn-scarred face. Simon and Paul look at him with great awe. "This is the cryo-prison! It's real!" exclaims Paul. Simon feeling a bit apprehensive, and fearful said," I wonder what he did?" "It had to be something horrible! I heard that only the worst of the worst were sent here!" said Paul. "Do you think there are more tubes in this place?' said Simon. "There has to be! The number on the door must mean that he is prisoner 105!" said Paul. "Let's go and see what if there are any more of these!" said Simon. Paul stands transfixed by the face of Prisoner 105 and doesn't hear Simon. "Hey, Paul, did you hear me?" said Simon. "Sorry! What did you say?" asks Paul. "I said, let's go and check to see if this place has more of these tubes and whatever other goodies we can find!" exclaims Simon. " Yeah, let's! Or we could defrost this guy, and he could tell us!" said Paul. Simon shakes his head and says," I don't think we should! He looks kind of creepy!" Paul shoots Simon an annoyed look and remarks," Dude! We're cannibals! That doesn't get more creepy than that!" "Yes! I know! But this guy is a whole level of scary!" said Simon. "How do you know maybe he isn't?" said Paul. "We need to find food! Not another mouth to feed! Besides, he looks totally unedible!" said Simon. Paul realizes that he is not going to win this argument and says," Okay, I guess you are right! Let's go and check this place out!" "Great!" said Simon with a childlike exuberance. Simon quickly runs out of the room. Paul pauses for a moment, takes a step forward, turns his head back toward the cryo-tube, and says," I'll be back later!" Out in the corridor, Paul can hear Simon yell out, "Are you coming?" "Yeah! Yeah, I'm coming!" says Paul as he exits the room. 

Jack and Delphine sit restrained with rope, their hands, and feet securely bound. The remaining Citizen army surrounds them, waiting for their leader to arrive. Jack and Delphine sit in the mud as the rain continues to pour down upon them. Their clothes drenched from the downpour cling to their respective bodies. Rainwater streams down Jack's bald head in rapid succession. He looks over at Delphine, her long blond hair still in a ponytail, all stingy from the rainwater. The green t-shirt she is wearing clings to her ample breasts. Jack knows that he shouldn't stare but can't help but look. He shifts his glare up Delphines swan-like neck and then her ocean-blue eyes. Delphine notices this, and she gets a confused look on her face and says," What?" "Sorry, I couldn't help but stare! You look so beautiful!" said Jack. "Oh please, I am covered in mud! My hair is soaked and makes me look like a drowned cat! Oh, and I almost forgot the most important thing! I am tied up sitting in the pouring rain and mud by a bunch of psychopathic, religious, semi-cannibalistic cult members!" said Delphine. "Yeah, but that makes you even more beautiful!" said Jack. "Delphine shakes her head and says," You are one interesting man, Jack! I have always said that! I should be weirded out, but I am flattered! Can I give you a tip, though?" "Sure!" said Jack. " My eyes are up here!" Jack chuckles and says," Sorry, I didn't mean to stare so long!" said Jack. "It's all good! We are married after all!" said Delphine with a laugh. Jack starts to chuckle too. The remaining Citizen army is confused as to why Jack and Delphine are laughing. Why would these two be laughing? They lost, and yet they are happy for some reason? 

The Citizen army parts like Moses parting the Red Sea as Samuel. He walks towards his prize of Jack and Delphine. Behind him, his henchmen carry Preston, his hands and feet bound to a long pole. Like he was a pig on a spigot on his way to be roasted. Samuel reaches his destination as a bolt of lightning strikes and the thunder rolls, shaking the ground. A fitting entrance to announce this blight on humanity's presence. He shoots a cold stare in the direction of both Jack and Delphine. They stop laughing, and Delphine says," Hello, scarface!" "Cute! Ever the smart-mouth aren't you woman?" said Samuel. "It's better than being a monument to not play with fire! Tell me, how did that happen again? Was it while you were naked, masturbating to sheep fucking while you were reading the bible?" said Delphine. A collective look of shock comes over the face of the Citizens. No one has ever talked to the Messiah Samuel like that! Samuel, himself will not have this. He will not be talked to like that! A fake hearty laugh comes from Samuel's mouth. The Citizens start to laugh along with him, not wanting to be disloyal. Even Jack and Delphine laugh. "You're funny woman!" said Samuel. "Well, I try!" said Delphine as the laughter continues. "No! You are! Isn't she funny, brothers and sisters?" exclaims Samuel. His followers nod their heads in agreement. Samuels' laughter shifts to seriousness, and a psychotic look comes over his face. He reaches back and strikes Delphine across the face, knocking her over into the mud. "Hey! Don't touch her!" yells Jack. "Oh, look at Adam here, being noble and chivalrous!" said Samuel. "It is better than being a walking talking piece of shit that hits women!" said Jack. Samuel walks up to Jack and strikes him, sending his face into the mud as well. Samuel stands over the two captives with a twisted, maniacal look on his face. "How is that for equal opportunity for you?... No one, especially a woman, disrespects me! A woman is to keep her mouth shut, wait on man, and bear children! Oh, I forgot you, cannot have children! Or can you?" said Samuel. Delphine looks up and says, "You hit like a little bitch!" "You didn't answer me, woman! Come on Eve, tell us all the gospel truth!" What Samuel is referring to is that back before the plague. Delphine had a complete hysterectomy to remove cancer back in the second decade of the 21st century. But with the blood transfusion, she received from Graham. Her uterus had been regrown. Delphine shoots Samuel a cold glare and said," You sick fuck!" " Oh, did I touch a nerve? I see you found a new playmate or is it an old one?" said Samuel. " Jack sits up and exclaims," Look, asshole!  I don't care who you are but, when I get free, I am going to end you!" "Oh, how cute! You think you are a man! All noble and standing up for his lady!" said, Samuel. "Let me loose, and I will show you how much of a man I am!" said Jack. Samuel bends down and whispers into Jack's ear," You really don't know your woman, do you? But you will find out!" Samuel stands, looks at his army of Citizens, and says as he walks away," Bring them to camp!" Two large men pick up Jack and Delphine, throw them over their respective shoulders and follow Samuel back to his tent. The Citizen Army follows like ants.

Graham follows the spectral form into theatre number six at the end of the east hallway. The rest of the group standing near theatre number one by the lobby watch in great interest. "What is he doing?' asks Keith. Maria looks at him with confusion and says, "What makes you think I would know that?" "Well, you two have become good friends, it seems!" said Keith. Maria's face gets red with frustration. She can tell by Keith's words that he is jealous. Any woman can tell when a man is jealous. They aren't very subtle about it! "I ought to hit you, gilipollas! How dare you insinuate that I am cheating on you with Graham! Men!!! Always jealous!" Keith grows silent as he realizes that he has been an idiot! A jealous fool! Maria is the best thing to happen to him. His stupid male pride and jealousy could cost him that if he doesn't apologize. Keith hangs his head in shame and says," I am sorry! I did not mean to accuse you of being unfaithful to me! I am a stupid, stupid male! I have no excuse for that other than jealousy." Maria is shocked. Never has she met a man that is willing to admit that he is wrong other than her papa. She can tell that his apology is sincere. Not a phony one that most men would give. She places her hands gently on Keith's face, kisses him, and says, " It's all good, my love! But if you ever do that again. I will knock you out like I did, Graham!" " And I will gladly accept it! As I will deserve it!" said Keith. "I love you!" said Maria. "I love you too!" said Maria. " Oh, my god! You two don't even fight like a normal couple! Now, if you two are done looking into each other's eyes and after disagreeing for five minutes. Can someone please find out what the fuck is up with Graham!' said Paulina. Hannah feeling a sense of duty to help the man who helped her says," I will go!" Hannah doesn't want to admit to the others, but she had seen the spectral image too. It seems that when Graham healed her with his blood, she has developed a psychic connection with Graham. "Are you sure? I can go or come with you?' said Grace. " It's alright! I will be fine, besides someone has to do it. And he did save my life, so it only seems right to see what's troubling him!" No one argues with Hannah's logic. They all just nod their heads in agreement as she starts to walk toward theater six at the end of the long hallway.

Graham walks into the dimly lit confines of movie theatre number six. Cobwebs cover the town leather theatre chairs and dust so thick it hangs like icicles from the ceiling fill the room. Graham looks up at the 45-foot movie screen. His mind drifts back to a time before the plague. When the theatre was filled with families, couples out on dates, groups of friends, and a solitary person out to see a movie. Then it is like he is transported back in time. The cobwebs and layers of dust disappear. The seats are like brand new and filled with people. Graham turns to the movie screen and sees' a film playing. Not just any film, though. It is a film called A Matter Of Time. A tear comes from his eye as he sees the credit on the big screen.  The words read, screenplay by Jack Chomers. This was the movie that Jack won an Oscar. Graham scans the seats at the imaginary people sitting there. He sees himself and his wife Jessie cuddling with her long brown hair on his muscular shoulder and a big bag of popcorn on his lap. What a beautiful memory. If only the world had taken the threat of the plague seriously, then maybe others could have memories like this. Maybe the world wouldn't be a post-apocalyptic horror movie. A tapping on his shoulder breaks his memory, and the images disappear. It is back to a dusty cobweb-filled room. Graham turns to see the petite frame and angelic face of Hannah standing there. " Are you okay?' asks Hannah. "I'm fine! What makes you think there was anything wrong?" said Graham. "The fact that you walked away with a shocked expression on your face gave it away! You don't have a good poker face, you know!" said Hannah. " That bad, hey?" asks Graham. "One of the worst I've seen!" said Hannah with a laugh. Hannah's laughter lifts Graham's spirits, and he starts to chuckle as well. Hannah looks around at the old movie theater and says," It must have something to come see a movie here?" "It really was! A great experience! There were new movies every week, and summer was the blockbuster season with all the biggest and best popcorn flicks! Depending on the movie, you had to buy your ticket early. Wait, you have a movie theatre in Martinsville, don't you?" said Graham. "Yes, but not like how you describe it! There are no new movies anymore, and the theatre is only half full. The theatre is nice, built in the old-school 1930's style. But I have always wanted to see the 21st-century style I only read about. Never thought I would ever see one, and now I have!" said Hannah. "Yeah, it was something! Jack would be here faithfully every Tuesday night for cheap movie night. It's what made him become a screenwriter!" said Graham. Hannah's jaw dropped as she figures out by Graham's words who Jack is. "You mean Jack is Jack Chomers? Oh my God!! I love his movies! He's almost as good as Justin Chomitzky!" said Hannah. "Yup! He sure was! Jack had a lot of talent, and if the plague hadn't happened, he would have had a long and storied career! You know my wife Jessie and I saw A Matter Of Time when it premiered here!" said Graham. "Shut the front door! That movie is a masterpiece! I cannot believe you saw it when it first came out?" said Hannah. "Well, I am almost 200 years old!" says Graham with a laugh. "True! So why did you come down to this theatre for? Is this the one that has the time machine?" said Hannah. " No! I just felt like taking a walk," said Graham. There is a moment of silence for about a minute and a half. Hannah then says," Didn't find that spectral figure you saw, hey?" Graham is shocked. How did Hannah see it too? "You saw it?" said Graham. "Yup, but never got a good look at who or what it is!" said Hannah. "Me neither! I thought so for a moment and followed it in here, but now it's gone!" said Graham. " Well, maybe we will find it later on? Come on back to the lobby. The others are worried about you!" said Hannah. Graham looks around, nods his head, and said," Okay!" Hannah shoots him an innocent smile, and the two of them exit the theatre.

As the metal door to the theatre slams shut and echoes out in the empty room, the large dust icicles fall from the ceiling. The power comes on in the projector room above, and soon an image appears on the screen. That image is of the very movie that Graham was reminiscing watching over one hundred and fifty years ago. If he had stayed a few minutes more, then he would have seen a clue on the screen that would lead him to Project Slingshot. That clue being some script before the picture that said," Keep one eye on the past and one eye on the future. But always live in the present!" The projector shuts down and leaves the room, again abandoned and in silence. The very spectral figure that Graham and Hannah were looking for reappears. It comes through the projector room wall and moves down the stairs. It stops in front of the movie screen and disappears.

The Citizens carry Delphine, Jack, and Preston into Samuel's tent. The appearance of the tent is like the throne room of a King's Palace. A large throne made from a mixture of human bones, gold, precious stones, and iron. The throne sits on a 3ft platform. Samuel sits on his throne like a king,  proud of his conquest. Two armed neanderthal-looking thugs with a height of over six feet and the body of a wrestler. They stand guard in front of Samuel, their long hair propped up in a man-bun, their arms crossed to make themselves look intimidating. In their hands, they each hold a machete and blank clueless look on their face to show their lack of intelligence. Jack, Delphine, and Preston's bindings are cut, freeing them from the poles that they had been carried on. Their bodies fall to the dirt floor of the tent with a thud. "Welcome to my tent! So glad you could drop in!" said Delphine. "Haha! You are a laugh riot!" said Delphine. "Yeah, you are a barrel of laughs, scarface! You ever heard of hospitality?" said Jack. "You must have confused me with someone who cares!" said Samuel. "And you must have confused me with someone who doesn't want to kick your ass!" said Delphine. "Cute! Very cute! Your words only show your lack of respect," said Samuel. "And you taking us against our will only shows yours!" said Preston. Samuel stands up from his throne, walks down the three steps, and stands in front of his three prisoners. He places his hands on Preston's shoulder, flashes a devilish grin, and knees Preston in the stomach. The blow to his stomach causes Preston to fall to his knees and get the wind knocked out of him. Hunched over, he coughs and tries to regain his breath. Samuel looks down at him and says," No one said you were guests! You are the prophecy!" "What do you want?' said Delphine. Samuel walks up to her. He grabs Delphine by the neck with his scarred left hand and lifts her off her feet. Looking into her deep blue eyes, he maniacally stares. " You will show me some respect, woman! I sparred your life and the lives of your friends!" said Samuel. "Delphine fights for air and to get free of Samuel's death grip. Jack knows that, like himself, Delphine cannot die. But if it's one thing that Jack has always hated, it is men who abuse women." Let her go, you walking piece of shit!" exclaims Jack. Samuel throws Delphine to the ground and says as he turns his attention to Jack," How noble! Much like the last one you had!" A confused look comes over the face of Jack. What exactly is Samuel talking about? Delphine coughing herself, looks up at Jack with a look of embarrassment. "Oh, she never told you? Well, I will! Eve and I have met once before. She was with a man who I believed was named Travis? We had been watching Eve for a while and knew about her gifts. We thought that Travis was you. Long story short, we had the trapped, and Travis being all noble, sacrificed himself for Eve's life. And we cooked and ate him later that evening!" said Samuel. With tears in her eyes, Delphine yells," You are all sick fucks!" "She is speechless! It is a first that you don't have a witty comeback!" said Samuel. "What do you want with us then?" said Jack. "That is simple! I want immortality and the chance to spread my word!" Jack's face fills with confusion, and he blankly stares at Samuel. "I can see you are confused! Let me tell you a story!" said Samuel as starts to walk towards his throne. Samuel stops, turns around, and says, "But first this!" Samuel strikes Jack with a hard right cross that knocks him to the ground with his friends. "There, now it is even! I have you all on your knees!" Samuel walks toward his throne, sits down, and says," Now where do I begin?... Oh, I know where!"

The doors of the lightspeed train open up, and out steps Agent Regina and Virginia Sexsmith. On the platform to greet them is Mr.Pervus and Pops. Their collective mouths drop in awe at the site of Virginia's curves in the tight tan dress she is wearing. As Agent Regina and Virginia walk along the platform to Pops and Mr.Pervus, the CBC agents they pass all have the same reaction. Virginia lowers her sunglasses and gives the agents a seductive wink. Agent Regina notices this and whispers," What are you doing?"  Virginia leans into Agent Regina to give off the impression that they are in love and quietly says into his ear," It's psychological warfare, you fucking idiot! Just watch and learn!" Agent Regina gives a fake chuckle and quietly speaking into Virginia's ear," Blow me, you whore! If you want to see how it's done? Watch and learn!" Virginia notices that they are approaching Pops and Mr.Pervus. She presses her firm, curvaceous body against Agent Regina and whispers to him," Even if I could find it! I wouldn't do it! Or maybe I will bite it off and do you a favor of not having to suffer the embarrassment of having such a small dick!"

Mr.Pervus extends his hand to welcome Virginia. "Hello! Welcome to Toronto! I am Mr.Pervus," said Mr.Pervus. Virginia lightly grasps Mr. Pervus' outstretched hand and says," It's nice to meet you too! I'm Virginia, but I am sure you probably knew that? It is nice to meet you too!" Mr.Pervus lets out a hearty laugh and says," Yes, I did! But I did not want to make it too obvious!" Virginia, Agent Regina, and Mr.Pervus all start to laugh. Pops lets out a boisterous laugh that echoes throughout the platform. With all four feigning interest in this first meeting. Pops suddenly stops laughing like a car braking at a red light and says with a serious face," Seriously, we did know that you are coming! And on a different note, Vagina! How could you let someone who is not a CBC agent on this train? No one outside of the agency is supposed to know about it, and our agency? Well, other than other government agencies and officials." Agent Regina places his hand on Pops muscular shoulder and says," Wow, Pops! Have you been working out?" "Don't change the subject!" said Pops. "I'm not! I am only complimenting you!" said Agent Regina. " Yes, I have, as a matter of fact! Now please remove your hand from my shoulder!" said Pops. "Wow! Someone is quite testy!" said Agent Regina. "Yeah, well, no offense Miss. Sexsmith, but I don't know where his hands have been?" said Pops. "Haha! Isaac told me that you were a barrel of laughs, but he didn't tell me that you were quite so handsome!" said Virginia. Pops had been studying Virginia's body language, and one of his best talents has been being able to know a phony when he meets one. And he knows for sure that Virginia is one of those! Is she worse than his two-faced partner? Only time will tell, he thinks to himself, and with a phony demeanor of his own says," Well, thank you! It doesn't take much with old Vagina here to compare to!" Everyone laughs, including Agent Regina. Pops knows for sure that something is amiss. That these two are up to something! "No, Pops, I actually work in the Vegas department of the CBC. But I am originally from Calgary, Alberta," said Virginia. " Oh, redneck country! Or, as I call it, Canada's version of the deep south, complete with tons of racism! But then again, that is most of western Canada to a tee! So, how did you two meet?" asks Pops. Virginia is stunned by Pops' bluntness. It is the first time she had ever been taken back by someone's words. She tries hard not to snap back in anger and thinks to herself, that she can play this game too! "Yes, I have to agree on how you put that Pops! That is why I moved away from there!" said Virginia. Very well played, Pops thinks. "You didn't answer me! How did you two meet?" said Pops. " Well, Isaac and I knew each other as kids and lost touch after his family moved away. And when he checked in at the Nevada station, I instantly recognized him and was surprised that he was a CBC agent as well!" said Virginia. " So I asked her out for later that evening, and we spent most of our time together. It was then I knew that this was fate, and two days ago, we were married!" said Agent Regina. Pops and Mr.Pervus stand there stunned as Virginia flashes the large diamond ring. Pops fights with every ounce of his being. The urge to call him a liar and expose him right there and then for his dual identity and for killing Karen. But he needs to follow the plan. And he now needs to find out who Virginia is? "Congratulations! That is a beautiful ring!" said Mr.Pervus. "Yes, it sure is! Congrats, Vagina!" said Pops. "You two must be tired from your journey? Why don't you go up to the bridal suite, and we can get better acquainted later!" said Mr.Pervus. "Thank you! We are tired!" said Virginia. Agent Regina and Virginia grab their luggage and head towards the elevator as Pops and Mr.Pervus wave at them. "See you later!" says Pops. The elevator door closes, and Pops turns to Mr.Pervus and says," I think I am going to puke!" "Me too, Pops! Me too!" said Mr.Pervus. "We need to find out more about her!" said Pops. "I agree!" said Mr.Pervus.

Agent Regina, aka Tendersnatch, presses the button the elevator floor button. "Did you think they bought it?" said Tendersnatch. "No! I don't think they did! Especially Pops!  He is on to us! Especially you!" said Virginia. "I know that he is!" said Tendersnatch. " Since when?" asks Virginia. "Since I killed his mother, and then he confirmed it when he saw me do it!" said Tendersnatch. "I don't get it? He suspected you after you killed his mother and then saw you do it?" asks Virginia. " The time machine! He got it going and came back in hopes of stopping it but instead failed. That is when Pops saw me killing Karen and also saw me with Harold!" said Tendersnatch. Virginia shakes her head in disbelief. " No wonder Harold had me help you! Well, at least he didn't get any photo evidence?" said Virginia. An uncomfortable silence fills the elevator. Tendersnatch bites his lower lip and says," Yeah, you see!" Virginia rolls her eyes and says," Oh, my god! He got photos of the two of you! Men! Guess we have to find those too!" "They can only be in one place!" said Tendersnatch. "And where is that?" asks Virginia. "In Pervus' office, of course!" said Tendersnatch. "Great! Not only do we have Pervus and that little shit Pops on our scent! But we have to find those pictures. And still, find a way to ruin the unveiling of the new Canadian flag! Piece of cake!" said Virginia. The elevator door opens directly in the bridal suite, and Tendersnatch says," After you!" Virginia exits the elevator, closely followed by Tendersnatch.

Pops and Mr.Pervus exit the elevator and step into the confines of Mr.Pervus' grand office. They are greeted by the face, Miss. Sutherland, standing by Mr.Pervus' desk. "Well, hello, Miss. Sutherland! What brings you in here?" asks Mr.Pervus. Miss. Sutherland says nothing. She only points to the large picture window. Mr.Pervus looks and sees a figure standing in his perch. He can't quite make out who it is, and he must refocus his eyes. "It's good to see you again! Bet you thought that you wouldn't see me again?" said Agent Banning. It had been quite some time since Agent Banning was expelled for being a double agent. A look of shock comes over the collective faces of Pps and Mr.Pervus. Pops breaks the silence and exclaims," What the fuck? How did you get out of prison? Better yet, how did you get in here?" Mike Banning only laughs and replies," I see you haven't lost your charm Pops or grown any hair!" Pops starts to lunge at Mike Banning when the sound of the office door opens, and Prime Minister Pearson enters, followed by his security detail and Mr.Fratner. "I see you have met Mr.Banning!" said Prime Minister Pearson. "Yes, we are old friends, actually, and we were getting reacquainted!" said Mike Banning. "Old friends, my ass! Bastard here is not my friend! He took money from the Russians and tried to weaken our position in the world. And he tried to get me fired!" exclaims Pops. "Yes, I know! But, he has served his time!" said Prime Minister Pearson. "Yes, I am fully rehabilitated! I am sorry, Pops, for what I did! I acted out of anger and would really like your forgiveness!" said Mike Banning as he extends his hand in friendship. Pops gives Mike a cold stare that could cut glass. "There is no fucking way I am shaking your hand!" said Pops. "Oh, come on, Pops! I know you don't trust me and have every right not to trust me! If I was in your shoes would feel the same. But can't you find it in your heart to forgive me?" Pops thinks about Mike Bannings' words for a brief second and says," NO! Wait! HELL NO! There is no way I am shaking hands as nothing happened! What do you expect from it? Your job back?" No! Just your forgiveness! I have a new job already," said Mike Banning. "Where the garbage dump? Because that is where you belong!" said Pops. "No, Pops! He is working for my office assisting Mr.Fratner here. He and Mr.Fratner are old friends, and when Mr.Fratner told me about Mr. Banning's situation, I decided to give him a second chance. And you should too!" said the Prime Minister. Pops shakes his head in disbelief. He knows that he has to do this as much as he hates having to. Pops sticks out his hand and shakes Mike Bannings' hand. " Sorry for what I did!" said Mike Banning. Pops grins and whispers," And I'm sorry too! Sorry for not pissing in your face instead of on your pant leg!" The two mens' grip tightens as they shake the hands of each other. " There, doesn't that feel better?" said Prime Minister Pearson. "Yes, it does!" said Pops with a phony smile. "Good! Because he is going to be working closely with you all on the flag day security," said the Prime Minister. Mr.Fratner points at the time on his watch to Prime Minister Pearson. "I'm sorry, gentlemen! We have to get going. I have an important meeting. Sorry to lay this all on you in such a hurry! But I needed to clear any bad blood there might be between Pops and Mike. Come on, Mike," said Prime Minister Pearson. "Bye, Pops! It will be so nice getting to work with you again!" said Mike Banning in a slightly sarcastic tone. The Prime Minister and his entourage leave the room. Mike Banning being the last to exit, flashes a devilish smile at both Pops and Mr.Pervus as he closes the office door behind him.

"Oh great! The universe has to keep adding more assholes in our path!" exclaims Pops. "You can say that again!" said Mr.Pervus. "Did you know about this?" asks Pops. "If I did! I would have told you! It is much as a surprise to me as it is you!" said Mr.Pervus. Pops walks over to the leather armchairs and falls back into one of them. Mr.Pervus walks over to his large, tinted picture window. He stands with his back to Pops, looking out the movie screen-sized window, and says," I don't know what kind of game is being played here, but I think you and I better be prepared for anything!" Leaning forward, in his chair, Pops said," I agree! All of these things smell of Harold!" "Do you think they saw you in the past?" said Mr.Pervus. "I am sure of it!" "Then we better take steps to protect the time machine. Maybe hide it in a secure location that no one knows about!" said Mr.Pervus. " I agree, and I know the perfect place for that!" said Pops. "Where?" asks Mr.Pervus. "The last place on earth anyone would ever think of going!" said Pops. "Good! You handle it! Move it, and don't tell anyone where you hid it. Especially me!" said Mr.Pervus. "Okay! You got it!" said Pops. "I don't know about you, Pops? But I have a strange feeling that something is going to happen tomorrow!" said Mr.Pervus. "Me too! The question is, who is going to do it?" said Pops.

Tendersnatch walks out of the opulent bathroom that, with its large jacuzzi tub, gold and marble fixtures is fit for royalty. He walks through the large sitting room that would give Buckingham Palace a run for its money. He steps into the large master bedroom with a four-post kingsized bed and gold silk sheets. Looking around the room, Tendersnatch searches for his luggage, but it is nowhere to be found. He wonders if he even brought it in the master bedroom? No, he is sure that he did! In fact, he had put his suitcase on the bed. Virginia, working diligently on placing her long blond hair in a ponytail. Watches Tendersnatch this while seated at the makeup table. She stands up and says," Did you forget something?" "Yeah! I could have sworn that I placed my luggage here!" says Tendersnatch while pointing at the bed. " I moved it!' said Virginia. "You moved it?" asks Tendersnatch. "Why would you do that?" asks Tendersnatch. " Because I get the bedroom! You can sleep on the couch in the sitting room! I already put your luggage in there!" said Virginia. Tendersnatch turns around and sees his luggage in the sitting room by the couch. "Once again, why would you do that? What if Pops or Mr.Pervus came up here or anyone else from the agency? We are supposed to be married!" said Tendersnatch. Virginia walks up to Tendersnatch, knees him in the groin, and then digs the tip of her high heel shoes into his chest. With a psychotic look in her eyes, Virginia glares down at Tendersnatch and says," Let us get this straight! I find you disgusting and repulsive! I would never let that cocktail weenie between your legs near me!" Tendersnatch grows more and more turned on by this show of force by Virginia." Do you understand me?" asks Virginia as she digs her heel into Tendersnatch's chest even harder. Tendersnatch, sporting a full throbbing erection in his pants, starts to moan in ecstasy. Virginia sees this and can't help but be aroused. With every turn of her heal into Tendersnatch's chest, she orgasms more and more. "YES! YES! YES! You like that, don't you, you sick fuck!" exclaims Virginia. "Oh yes! Keep dig that heel in deeper!... DIG IT BITCH!" exclaims Tendersnatch. The sounds of this sick and twisted form of sexual arousal echoes throughout the hotel room. To anyone in other rooms, they might mistake the noises as normal, intense sex. But it's anything but that! After about five minutes of this, Tendersnatch's erection explodes like Mt.Vesuvius. Virginia not to be outdone orgasms so hard that she drenches Tendersnatch. She removes her heel from Teendersnatch's chest, and as he stands wiping the vaginal juices from his face, says," Don't expect that again! Now, go and clean yourself up! We have a flag day to ruin!" Tendersnatch starts to walk toward the bathroom. He stops, turns, and slaps Virginia across the face. She lifts her head up, wipes the blood from her lip, licks it off her fingers, and returns the favor to Tendersnatch, knocking him back to the ground. He lifts himself to a seated position, and Virginia says as she walks to the ensuite bathroom," Now get out of here! I'm done with you!" Tendersnatch stands up and says as he walks out of the room," What a woman!"

Mr.Pervus presses the button to the intercom on his desktop. " Miss.Sutherland! Can you please get Mr.Palawko up here?" said Mr.Pervus."Yes, sir! Would you like Mr.Wilcox as well?" said Miss. Sutherland. "No! Just Mr.Palawko, please!" said Mr. Pervus. "I will get right on it, Mr.Pervus!" said Miss. Sutherland. Mr.Pervus opens the file on his desk and starts to flip through it. The file he is reading is one of two that are of great importance. The one he is reading is the one on security for tomorrow's flag day security. The other is Virginia Sexsmith. Mr.Pervus opens up the file on Virginia and looks back and forth, studying both files simultaneously. His studying is interrupted by the opening of the elevator in his office. Mr.Pervus looks up from his work and turns his large, brown leather office chair to greet the chiseled face of Frank Palawko. "Greetings, Mr.Palawko!" said Mr.Pervus. "Hello to you as well, Mr.Pervus," said Frank Palawko. Frank takes a couple of steps toward the armchairs at the front of Mr.Pervus' desk but, Mr.Pervus stops him' hand held up like a stop sign. "No need to be seated, Mr.Palawko! This will only take a second!" said Mr.Pervus. Frank feeling a bit nervous, shuffles his feet as Mr.Pervus pauses in silence while closing the files on the desk. " I need you to do something?' said Mr.Pervus. "What is it, sir?" asks Frank. "I need you to follow Agent Regina's new wife around and report back to me and only me!" said Mr.Pervus. "Okay! Is there anything else?" said Frank. "No, just that! Be careful not to be seen!" said Mr.Pervus. Frank knows better not to question this request by Mr.Pervus. But one thought can't help but cross his mind! Why would Mr.Pervus ask him to shadow someone? And why would it be Agent Regina's new wife? He does know one thing, and that is that this must be a serious matter. Frank turns to step back into the elevator but pauses. He turns back around and says," Can I ask why, sir?" Mr.Pervus leans back in his office chair, his hands placed in prayer formation, said," What I am about to tell you! Only a handful of people know about it! Agent Regina's new wife, I believe, isn't who she says she is!" said Mr.Pervus. "And who would you think she is?" Frank. " She is Virginia Sexsmith! Deadly assassin and chameleon! She makes Tendersnatch look like a choirboy! She is seductive and deadly, so be careful!" said Mr.Pervus. " Wow! Does Agent Regina know?" said Frank. " Agent Regina, I imagine, does know! Because he is Tendersnatch!" said Mr.Pervus. Frank Palawko's face turns as white as a ghost, and a lump fills his throat. He can't believe what he is hearing! Agent Regina has been around for a while now, and if he really is Tendersnatch and his wife is Virginia Sexsmith? Then the whole CBC is in trouble! " Are you serious?" said Frank. "Deadly serious! As serious as a priest! I know that you have tons of questions, Frank! But I don't have time to explain it all to you! All I can tell you is that there aren't very many agents I can trust, and Pops is overworked. He is looking after his show, Project Slingshot, and the security for the new Canadian Flag unveiling tomorrow.   " said Mr.Pervus. " I got it, sir! You can count on me!" said Frank as he steps back into the elevator. The doors close, and Mr.Pervus returns his attention to the files. He leans back in his chair as he looks over Virginia Sexsmith's file and says," Dear, God help us!"

A shallow rapid knock, echoes throughout the bridal suite. Tendersnatch, having just finished cleaning himself up and changing his clothes, zips up his pants. He walks towards the door to the hotel suite, a look of annoyance on his face. Tendersnatch rips open the door. Standing before him is the weaselly face, of Mr.Fratner. And standing right beside him is Mike Banning. Tendersnatch extends both of his arms. He grabs ahold of the shirt collars of the two men and yanks them in the room. He slams the door shut with his right foot. Tendersnatch pins Banning and Fratner up against the wall and exclaims," What in the fuck are you two doing here? Are you trying to screw up this mission entirely?" Virginia steps out of the bedroom. Her curvaceous petite frame tightly flaunted in her little red dress. "What is going on here?" said Virginia. "Oh, not much! These two morons are about to jeopardize the whole mission!" said Tendersnatch. Mr.Fratner tries to say something, but the Tendersnatch's grip has moved from the two men's chests to their throats, cutting off their air supply. Virginia walks up to them. She looks at the fear in their eyes and the blue color that their faces are turning. A sense of arousal builds in her. She moves her face close into Fratner's and licks the right side of his face. She then walks over to Banning and does the same to his left cheek. "Why Tendersnatch! You do seem to know how to please a girl! But as much fun and pleasurable as it would be to hurt these two limp dicks. We do need them!... For the time being, anyway," said Virginia. "I wasn't going to kill them! I just wanted to know why they were here?" said Tendersnatch. "Well, they can't hear you with you choking them genius!" said Virginia. Tendersnatch nods his head and lets Banning and Fratner go. Fresh air fills their lungs, and the color starts to return to their face." Thanks!" said Mike Banning. "Yes, thank you! Sorry to come here!" said Mr.Fratner. "Consider it a gift! Now can you tell me why you came here stupid?" said Tendersnatch. " I wanted to tell you that Pops and Mr.Pervus are on to you two!" said Mr.Fratner. "No shit, sherlock! Tell us something we don't know!" exclaims Tendersnatch. " You know?" asks Mike Banning. "Yes, we do! And if they see you up here, then they will know that you two are with us as well!" said Tendersnatch. " Too late! I think they know! Well, maybe about me! But Mike, they still might be on the fence about," said Mr.Fratner. Tendersnatch walks up to Fratner, grabs him by the left ear, and starts to lift him off the ground. "They might! And how might they suspect that?" said Tendersnatch. "The Prime Minister introduced him as my assistant and old friend today!" said Mr.Fratner with a scared, stuttered voice. "Well, you better fix that!" exclaims Tendersnatch as he lifts Fratner off the ground another inch by his left ear. Virginia watching all of this starts to breathe deeply and moan silently in ecstasy. Mike Banning notices this and realizes that he has either entered the twilight zone or a house of BDSM. Mike realizes that he must defuse the situation, and he says, "If I may Tendersnatch? We meant no disrespect. Mr.Fratner here was concerned and felt you should know! Being a former agent myself, I made sure that we were not seen. And as for my status, I can assure you that after tomorrow's flag day ceremony. There will be no doubts that I am on their side. Tendersnatch drops Fratner to the floor. Fratner stands and rubs his ear to get feeling back in it. Tendersnatch walks up to Mike Banning, gives him an intense cold stare, and says," We'll see! If not, you will find out that I am not so tender! Got it?" Mike Banning does not break his gaze at Tendersnatch eyes and says," Got it! We will leave you alone, so no one sees us!" "Yes! Do that!" said Tendersnatch. Virginia opens the door and Banning, and Fratner walks toward it. "And gentlemen, there better not be any slip-ups or one of you will suffer the consequences!" said Tendersnatch. "There won't!" said Mr.Fratner. Virginia blows the two men a kiss and slams the door. Tendersnatch, all annoyed, walks back into the living room. Virginia watches him walk away and says to herself," Now there is the Tendersnatch I heard of! I think I have to change again!"

Thousands of people wait in anticipation on Parliament Hill for the unveiling of the new Canadian flag. There are families, teenagers, young couples, elderly couples, and individual people of all ages and races. Surrounding the stage, soldiers from the Candian military. They stand there holding their FN C1's in their hands. A deterrent for anyone who might try to harm the Prime Minister. A band plays on stage to entertain the crowd on this relatively warm February day in Ottawa. Pops walks up to one of the soldiers and says," Be on the lookout!" The twenty-something male soldier with a crewcut only nods his head in agreement. Pops makes his way to the stage to et a better look at the large crowd. If Harold and his cronies are going to try and ruin this day. Then he needs to get a good vantage point. Never in his life has Pops been so nervous. All Pops can see are crowds of people. It is going to be hard to see anyone coming. Pops pulls out his walkie-talkie and says," Wilcox! Is that shield ready?" What Pops is referring to is the invisible energy shield. Once the Prime Minister steps on the stage. This new device that Orvan was working on will be activated. "It sure is young dude! All that you need to do is press the button on your watch, and presto! Force field on, man!" said Orvan Wilcox. "Thanks, Wilcox! And do me a favor?" said Pops. "What is it, man?" asks Orvan Wilcox. "If you are going to smoke weed, then do it after work!" said Pops. "Haha, far out, man!" said Orvan. "Fucking hippies!" said Pops. The band stops playing suddenly, and there is a brief pause for half a minute. They return with a tune that is familiar to all of the crowd. That song being O'Canada. It is the signal that the Prime Minister is on his way. Pops turns to go to his seat on the stage and sees Agent Regina, aka Tendersnatch, and his wife Virginia seated already. "Well, shit!" said Pops. Pops walks to his chair, sits down, and says," Nice, you could make it!" said Pops. "We wouldn't miss it for the world!" said Agent Regina. " Yes! I am so excited to be here! It is going to be one hell of a day!" said Virginia.

A group of CSIS agents surrounds Prime Minister Pearson as he makes his way to the stage. The crowd of people on Parliament Hill cheer as he climbs the steps and approaches the microphone. Behind him, on the stage. Mr.Pervus sits down beside Agent Regina, Virginia, and Pops. Other members of the Prime Ministers' cabinet sit down along with members of the opposition party. It is a day not for political disagreements but a time when all Canadians can unite to celebrate a momentous moment in history. Well, for everyone else but Pops and the CBC. They have to be on the lookout for Harold's organization's plan to ruin this. There is no idea what they will do. And after what happened in Dallas with Kennedy, he is not taking any risks. 

Prime Minister Pearson waves at the cheering crowd of thousands and says, "Hello everyone!" The crowd of people cheers, the noise is deafening. If a gunshot were to ring out, you would not hear it all. " I am so glad that you could be out here today! We are very fortunate to have such wonderful weather. February is not this nice, but I guess the good Lord has blessed us this day!" said Prime Minister Pearson. The crowd cheers even louder. You could swear that the ground trembled. Pops continues to look around for signs of an incoming threat. While Pops is observing the crowd, Virginia is watching Pops. The sadistic fake bridegroom known to Pops as Agent Regina, but who Pops suspects is Tendersnatch, keeps his attention on Mr.Pervus. Virginia leans over, making it look like she is whispering sweet nothings in Tendersnatches ear says," Okay, you small dicked premature ejaculator! It is almost time! But we need a clear shot!" said Virginia. Tendersnatch leans into Virginia's ear and whispers as she displays a fake girlish giggle," Hold on you, nasty ball-busting whore! We have one! The timing has to be perfect!" " I realize that we do, you human disease! We have one problem, though!" said Virginia. "What is it, queen of chlamydia? This plan is perfect! Remember, you are new here, and I run this operation!" said Tendersnatch. Virginia continues to giggle and smile as Tendersnatch whispers his condescending comments in her ear. Not to be outdone and being cut from the same cloth Virginia says," Your plan's success is about as big as your penis! Small and unfullfilling! That is why Harold sent me! He has grown impatient and wants his prize! Now, sit back and watch!" Virginia glares at the Prime Minister. She looks around the crowd, at Pops and the others on stage. Behind her and Tendersnatch, Mr.Fratner and Mike Banning are seated. She nods her head at Mike Banning and Mr.Fratner. She refocuses on the Prime Minister. " Ladies and Gentlemen, without further ado, I present to you all a new symbol of our beloved country. Our new flag!" said Prime Minister Pearson. The red and white of the maple leaf flag is unfurled and raised by two military servicemen as O'Canada plays. The crowd starts singing, as do those on stage who stand with their hand on their hearts. As the national anthem reaches the last line Virginia casually drops her handbag, it lands by Pops' chair. With the national anthem finished and the new flag raised, the Prime Minister says," Have a great day, everyone! God bless you! And God Bless Canada!" The Prime Minister starts to walk off stage, escorted by his security back into the House Of Commons. Pops breathes a sigh of relief as Prime Minister is safely in the doors of the Parliament building. The other members of the Canadian government slowly make their way off the stage. Pops notices the small handbag by his chair and picks it up. He hands the purse to Virginia, who lightly touches Pops' watch deactivating the shield. She does this with the skill of a professional pickpocket. Pops does not even notice or feel this! He is unaware that he and the others on the stage are now a target. "Thank you, Pops! You are such a gentleman!" Pops winks at her and replies," It was my pleasure!" 

Off in the distance, an unknown sniper sits. The sights of his rifle moving from person to person on stage. The crosshairs move from Pops to other members of parliament, Virginia and Tendersnatch, Mr.Fratner and Mike Banning. "Where are you?" says the unknown sniper in a low, raspy voice. He continues to move his sights and suddenly stops," There you are!" 

The crowd of people is slow to move off the stage. They are unaware that one of them has become a target. To their knowledge, they are protected by an invisible forcefield. No one is aware that Virginia has shut it off. The crowd slowly starts to disperse from Parliament hill but not before they get one more show this afternoon. A deadly show! Virginia turns and winks at Pops. Just then, five quick gunshots ring out in rapid succession. One of those strikes Virginia in the shoulder, knocking her to the ground. The second hit Pops in the right leg, sending him to the ground, as well. The third hits Agent Regina in the side, missing every major organ and the spine. All three wounds perfectly placed! Mr.Fratner and Mike Banning are both struck in their legs. The people in the crowd scatter like a herd of deer. Security leads the members of parliament off stage. CBC agents rush to get Mr.Pervus off the stage. Their efforts are fruitless as a sixth and fatal shot rings out, striking Mr.Pervus in the head exploding out the back of his skull. His body falls limp and down on the stage in a pool of blood and brain fragments. Pops lets out a scream," NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" People rush out screaming as the shooting stops. Agents of both the CSIS and CBC secure the stage as the wounded lie looking at the bloody corpse of Mr.Pervus. Pops crawls over, blood seeping out of his leg wound, and starts to cry. 

Pops lies in his hospital bed in the CBC's secret infirmary. His leg bandaged and treated with a speed healing sav. A parting gift from the alien friends that gifted them their technology and knowledge. Agent Regina and Virginia come into the room. Virginia, her arm in a sling, and Agent Regina in a wheelchair almost healed from his wounds. "Hey, Pops! How are you doing?" said Agent Regina. Pops sits there and says nothing. He only stares at the lime green walls. "Pops! Are you alright?" said Virginia. Pops still says nothing, it is because of two reasons. For the fourth time in his life, he has seen people he cares about killed right in front of his eyes. The trauma he is feeling has left him angry and wanting to find Harold even more and kill him. Pops knows that this is wrong. But he has been pushed to his breaking point. He wants to respond to Virginia and that chameleon Tendersnatch, or as everyone else knows him, Agent Regina. Pops very much wants to leap out of his hospital bed and choke the life out of them. But he can't! If they know that he knows who they are, then they would be expecting that. NO! Pops knows that he needs to bide his time and when their guard is down, and he has more evidence on them. He will strike! But first, he needs them to find Harold. Pops turns his head away from his gaze on the walls to Virginia and Agent Regina and says," Go! Leave me be!" This reaction is a slight shock to the dastardly duo. Inside they take a small pleasure at the misery and hurt they have caused. Virginia fearing that she might start to orgasm from the joy of Pops' hurt says," Okay! Isaac and I are going back to our hotel room. If you feel you want to, you are more than welcome to come up!" Pops turns his head to look at the green tile walls and says," Maybe!" "Okay!" says Virginia. She turns the wheelchair and pushes Agent Regina out of the room. 

Wilhelm Richard Wagner's Flight Of The Valkyries plays and fills the large, personal study of Harold. The room is a sea of mahogany oak shelves and walls. Even the large ten-foot double doors are mahogany oak. On the front of the double doors are golden door knockers in the shape of a dragon. The shelves in the study are filled with numerous books, all first editions. Some are in English, while the rest of the books vary from French, Spanish, Greek, Italian, Russian, Sandscript, Hebrew, Japanese, and so on! Harold has read every single one of these books. At the front of the room, there is a 200ft aquarium that contains two great white sharks, the only ones in captivity. In front of this massive aquarium are a circular end table and a red leather armchair. Harold sits in this chair smoking his Cuban cigar while watching his pet sharks devour some seals that he has put in the tank. He takes great pleasure in this sight, a sort of sick amusement that the insane and psychotic enjoy. As the music plays, the sharks attack the seals. Harold sits with a blank, emotionless stare. His sick and twisted moment of zen is interrupted by a knocking at his door. "Enter!" yells Harold over the music. Standing in the doorway is Harolds personal assistant and bodyguard, Christian. A tall man, measuring six-foot-five inches tall, weighing 210 pounds with not an ounce of fat with a muscular frame. Born somewhere in England, no one knows where for sure Christian's name did not match his personality. He may come off as refined and proper. But Christian is anything but that. A skilled fighter trained in several forms of martial arts, proficient in weapons from guns to knives. And trained in explosives, Christian is the last person one would want after them. But Harold does not use him for any missions unless he needs to! He would rather have Christian here watching his back. "Sir! I just heard from Miss. Sexsmith. The mission went as planned!" said Christian. Harold continues to observe the sharks in the blood-stained water swim around. He takes a puff of his large cigar and replies," Very good! It's all going as planned!" "Is there anything that you need, sir?"  asks Christian. " Yes, tell your cousin thank you for his fine work today at the ceremony! We couldn't have done it without his superior marksmanship!" said Harold. "Will do, sir! If there is nothing else, I am going to retire for the evening!" said Christian. " No, there isn't! You may go, Christian," said Harold. Christian bows and exits the room, shutting the massive doors behind him. Harold starts to laugh maniacally over the record player creating an eerie mashup with the classical music.

Virginia turns on the lights to the hotel suite as Tendersnatch climbs out of his wheelchair. She removes her arm from the sling and looks at the healed bullet wound. Virginia rubs her hand over the scar tissue. Tendersnatch stands behind her watching from the doorway to the bedroom. There is no sign of his injury either. The alien sav gel worked its magic. Two wounds that would have taken months to heal, are fully rejuvenated and back at full strength. All that remains is a small scar. "This shit is amazing!" said Virginia. " I know! I was amazed the first time I  used it!" said Tendersnatch." We really need to get our hands on it when we take control," said Virginia. " Yes, we do! In fact, Harold has plans for it! Along with all the other toys that the CBC has in its possession," said Tendersnatch. "Hmm! New toys! They could be fun!" said Virginia as she inches closer to Tendersnatch.  The thought of new toys for her to inflict her sadistic punishment on her adversaries, turns her on. As does the scar on Tendersnatch's right side. Soon Virginia is right up against Tendersnatch. Her firm breasts rubbing up against his body. She takes her hand and caresses the bullet wound scar on Tendersnatch's side. It is the first time she has not hit or punched him. And the first time that they seemed like normal people and not a couple of psychopaths. "I have one question?" said Tendersnatch. "What is it?" asks Virginia. " How come I was the one shot in the side?" said Tendersnatch. "Because I knew you could take the pain and would enjoy it!" said Virginia. She takes her thumb and presses deep into the scar tissue of the bullet wound. While it hurts him, it also turns Tendersnatch on. This twisted erotic moment is interrupted by knocking at the door. Virginia walks away to answer the door leaving Tendersnatch with an erection protruding like a flagpole in his pants. He follows her to the door, and as Virginia opens it, he sees the figure of Frank Palawko standing there. Frank steps into the room, and Virginia says," Welcome, Mr.P!" As Virginia closes the door behind him, Tendersnatch walks up to Frank and shakes his hand. " That was some great shooting! On behalf of Harold, I would like to thank you!" said Tendersnatch. "Thank you! Tell Harold it was my pleasure to serve him," said Frank. " I will pass that along! I know that he will be pleased that we are one step closer to victory!" said Tendersnatch. " As will I! You did a great job! The CBC had no clue that you were part of the Colony!" said Virginia. "No, they didn't! They trusted me so much that they had me shadow you! Fools!" said Frank. "And soon you will show us Project Slingshot!" said Virginia. Frank nods his head and starts laughing. Tendersnatch and Virginia start laughing as well. 

Pops sits in his bed, looking at a small handheld monitor, watching the events transpiring in the bridal suite. He shakes his head and says," Fucking Judas Iscariot! Laugh now! While you can!"

Samuel stops his story leaving Jack, Preston, and Delphine with a cliffhanger. There is complete silence in the room as no Citizen will dare speak until Samuel does. That is everyone except the trio of Jack, Delphine, and Preston. " That was a pretty good story! Lacked some humor, and your storytelling needs some work! But it was entertaining!" said Jack. "Oh, I'm so sorry that I can't be a master storyteller like you, Jack!" said Samuel. Jack looks surprised that Samuel knew this detail about him. No one knew this but Delphine and Graham. "You look surprised!" said Samuel. "You could say that! How do you know that about me?" said Jack. " Oh, I know a lot! The Lord speaks to me, and I know about you and all about your friends. "You're psychic then?" asks Jack. "He's not psychic! Just psycho!" said Delphine. Samuel walks up to Delphine, grabs her by the hair pulling her head back so that she can look up at him. " You will show me some respect, woman! After all, you and Adam here are the world's salvation!" said Samuel. "What the fuck do you mean?" said Delphine. "Yeah, you said that before! What do you mean?" said Preston. Samuel lets go of Delphine, walks back up to his throne, sits, and says," Through you two, I shall live a thousand years and spread my word through the ages!" "You are one delusional psychopath!" said Jack. "No, I am a man! A man with a vision! The chosen one!" said, Samuel. Jack starts to laugh at Samuel, mocking his arrogance. Delphine looks at Jack with an annoyed glare and says," Stop it! Don't aggravate him!" Samuel stands up stares at Jack with great anger. "You don't know who you are messing with, Jack!" said Samuel. "Is it a small dick lunatic with a God complex? So you know things about us! You could have found those out through old history books,"  said Jack. Samuel walks up to Jack, grabs him by the throat, and lifts Jack, his feet not touching the ground. Samuel looks into Jack's eyes and stares. Jack struggles for air and to get a word out. "I'm sorry, what did you say? You little pion! If I didn't need you, then I would kill you right here! But, I won't! And soon you will see who I am!" said Samuel. Samuel drops Jack to the ground with a resounding thud and walks back up the steps to his throne. He stops and shoots Jack an evil glare looking at Jack on his hands and knees, coughing. The perfect place he should thinks Samuel. Jack looks up, still coughing, and says," Don't keep us in suspense! Who are you then?" Samuel lifts his shirt, revealing a bullet scar on his right side. Jack, Delphine, and Preston look on in disbelief! "How? It can't be?" said Delphine. Samuel only smiles, pulls his shirt back down, and sits down in his chair laughing maniacally.

Axel watches on as Emil starts to choose which one of the soldiers he is eating next. Greg has left the room because he cannot stand the sight of it. He stood there and saw Emil eat three people and makes his way toward the front entrance of the Bessborough. "Where are you going?" asks Axel, aka The Silver Serpent. " I am going outside! I cannot stand to watch Emil eat! It's disgusting!" said Greg. "Don't knock it until you try it pussy!" said Emil. "Whatever! Tell me when he's finished!" said Greg. "What's wrong?" said The Silver Serpent. Greg stops turns around, and says," We are supposed to be looking for those others, the journals and that time machine! But instead, we are here letting Emil have playtime!" said Greg. Emil walks up to Greg, flashing his razor-sharp teeth in an attempt to intimidate Greg. Greg is not scared! Maybe a little creeped out, but not frightened. " How about I make it easy and eat you!" said Emil. " How about you fuck off!" said Greg. The Silver Serpent comes to break this confrontation up. He still needs both of them. They are too valuable of an asset. "How about you two cool off! It is no time for arguing!" said the Silver Serpent. "He started it!" said Emil. "I don't care! Greg is right! We are wasting time! Go over there and pick a snack!" said the Silver Serpent. Emil turns to walk away when the bright glowing figure of the White Dragon appears and says," And I can help you with that!" 

Graham wanders up and down the long corridor. He heads into each one of the eight movie theaters hoping to catch sight of the ghostly figure again. He wonders what it wants? Is there something that it wants to tell him? Graham stops as he again hears the sound of a movie playing in theatre six. Graham opens the door and again sees' the film A Matter Of time playing. He looks around and sees no one in there. "Is there someone in here?" yells Graham. There is no answer, only the sound of the movie on the screen. "Come on! Don't play games! Show yourself and tell me what you want!" yells Graham. The movie screen goes dark, and a deep familiar voice says," Right behind you, son!" Graham turns around to see the face of his father, Pops Brilliant. Hannah, having again followed Graham, also sees the ghostly figure of Pops. The two of them stand there in shock, not saying a thing.

Book 2: A Time Of Awkwardness-Chapter 6: Cry Havoc! And Let Slip The Dogs Of War!

Dr.Washington watches the footage from the Smallwood 1 satellite, the last stand of General Jordan. Safe in the confines of the World Military Force observation facility. Dr.Washington stands quietly, both of his hands strategically placed on the countertop of the computer terminal. "For the love of God!" exclaims Lt. Franklin. "You can say that again!" responds Dr.Washington. "For the love of God!" responds Lt. Franklin. Dr.Washington turns and shoots Lt. Franklin an annoyed glare. "I didn't mean literally! You don't seem to grasp the concept of sarcasm, do you, Lieutenant?" said Dr.Washington. "Sorry, Dr.Washington! It's just that I am in awe of what I am watching!" said Lt. Franklin. "I am too, Lt. Franklin, I am, too!" said Dr.Washington. "There is no way they can win, can they?" said Lt. Franklin. " If they were regular people, this would have been over! But they aren't, and I hate to say it, but we will lose!" said Dr.Washington. "Surely the General has a plan!" said Lt. Franklin. "I'm afraid Lt. Franklin that this is his plan!" said Dr.Washington. "Can we do anything to help?" said Lt. Franklin. Dr.Washington looks at the video screen as an impending slaughter is about to take place before his very eyes on live video. " Pray! We can pray!" said Dr.Washington.

What remains of the World Military Force rushes on into battle. They run through the dirt and scattered asphalt. General Jordan is leading the charge. He knows that this battle will end with his ultimate defeat. But as a lifetime soldier, there is no better fitting end. "Chaaaarrrrrrgggggeeeee!!!!!!" yells out General Jordan. His remaining soldiers follow suit and yell out in unison," CAAAAARRRRGGGGEEEE!!!!!" It was almost as if General Jordan was leading a cavalry charge. Patiently waiting on the other side of the field, The White Dragon holds his Scavenger army at a standstill. This mesmerizing power that The White Dragon has over the Scavengers is mind-boggling. He lifts his right hand out in front of his chest. He extends his index and middle finger and swipes them to the left as if he were on a dating app. The first two rows of Scavengers, numbering 200, ready themselves for battle. They snarl like rabid dogs, complete with drool. They stop their feet in the dirt like a horse. A few even let a screeching noise that rivals an eagle. "Go and get them! But take it easy, I want to savor this battle! Let them win!" said The White Dragon. The White Dragon taps his open hand to his chest and lets this small Scavenger force-free. The remaining Scavengers stare blankly and observe as the 200 pawns rush towards General Jordan and his army. For the White Dragon, this is not a slaughter. It is a chess match. 

Captain Deitrich keeps her small force moving forward into the downtown core. A large pile of rubble from a crumbled building blocks their path. She looks around and see's a clear road. This one seems to have no obstructions. It takes them off the direct passage towards their destination to Chomerplex Cinemas and Project Slingshot. It takes them off course towards the riverbank and Spadina Crescent. "Why don't we just climb over the rubble?" said a cocky private in his twenties with blond hair. "It's too dangerous! There is no telling how unstable the rubble might be!" said Captain Deitrich. "Well, which way do we go then?" said the cocky blond-haired private. Captain Deitrich extends her right hand and points to the direction she was looking at earlier. "We go that way! Come on. We have no time for debate! Let's get moving!" said Captain Dietrich. The small force of soldiers led by Captain Deitrich turn to their left and go along their way. They pass the abandoned Saskatoon City Hall, all overgrown with vines and shrubbery. A common sight throughout the entire city, except for two places. The soldiers look on in awe at this site as they pass on their way towards the riverbank. 

Emil sits up like the WWE's The Undertaker in a match. Greg, having tried to sit up, falls back into the pile of shit. "Son of a bitch! Can you get him to stop doing that?" yells Greg. "You know I can speak for myself!" said Emil as he slowly stands. Greg places his hands on the ground and pushes his body up. He looks at his hands. Which now, like his clothes are full of feces. Greg looks at his hands covered in human waste and wipes them off on the grey-colored bathroom stall door. He rushes over to the sink, turns on the tap, and proceeds to scrub his hands. The Silver Serpent walks around the newly reborn Emil and inspects each inch of Emil's features. "How do you feel?" asks The Silver Serpent. "Stronger! Much stronger and hungry!" said Emil. "That's positive! We will get you something to eat! I think we have some food left in the backpacks?" said The Silver Serpent. "No thanks! I don't want that!" said Emil. "What do you want then?" said The Silver Serpent. " Raw meat, preferably living!" said Emil. Greg turns off the faucet and shakes the water off his hands. " God, I can still smell the shit on my hands!" said Greg. "It is probably the crap on your clothes that you smell!" said Emil. Greg lifts his hands to his face and sniffs them. "Nope, they do not stink! Guess you were right!" said Greg. "I rest my fucking case!" said Emil. " I am going to go and change my clothes. I have some fresh clothes in my backpack!" said Greg. "And when you do, burn the ones you have on!" said Emil. "Fuck you!" said Greg as he flips off Emil before leaving the bathroom. The Silver Serpent puts his arm around Emil and says," Come, my friend! Let us find out what you can do!" " I've got one question?" said Emil. "What is it?" said The Silver Serpent. "Are those assholes still here? I want to pay back that little bitch for killing me! And she would make a great snack!" said Emil. " No, they are gone, and I don't know where?" said The Silver Serpent. "I know where! They went to project slingshot," said Emil. "Well, that would be great if we knew where it was?" said The Silver Serpent. "I do! It was all laid out in the journal!" said Emil. "Well, well, well! Let us have a chat about that, and then we will go and get you that fresh meat you crave!" said The Silver Serpent. Emil nods his head, and he and The Silver Serpent exit the bathroom laughing maniacally. 

The group of eleven soldiers turns onto Spadina from off of 3rd Avenue. "So this was the only way around?" arrogantly remarks the cocky young private. "Captain Deitrich stops, turns around, and shoots a glare so nasty that it could cut through steel. "Are you questioning my decision private? Because it sounds like you are!" said Captain Deitrich. "Yes, I am! I mean, if we had a man leading us, we would be where we need to be already!" said the cocky young private. Captain Deitrich walks up to the cocky young private. Looks up at him into his dark brown eyes and said," You need to correct yourself right now, soldier!" "Why? I am just speaking the truth!" said the cocky young private. "Once again, I am asking you to apologize! Or I will put you in your place!" said Captain Deitrich. The cocky young private stares down at her. Trying to use his 6ft 4inch body and muscular physique to intimidate the 5ft 4inch Captain Deitrich, but it does not! "What are you going to do? Hit me, little girl? Remember you chose me to be in this group!" said the cocky young private. Captain Deitrich turns away and takes one step, then the cocky young private said," See! No balls! A man like me should be using this group and not some woman!" Captain Deitrich turns around and kicks the cocky young private square in the balls with her steel-toed army boots. The cocky young private hunches over from the searing pain. Captain Deitrich now has him in a vulnerable position and delivers a stiff uppercut to the cocky young privates' jaw. The cocky young private goes flying backward like a leaf in the wind. As he falls to the ground, the other soldiers in the group look on in awe. A few even chuckled at the dose of karma given to the cocky young private. Captain Deitrich stands over him and remarks," Who has no balls now?... Get up and get back in line! And don't you ever question or disrespect me again!" The cocky young private slowly pulls himself up as the other soldiers laugh at him as they start to follow Captain Deitrich. "Hurry up, private! We don't have all day for you to lie around with your wounded pride!" said Captain Deitrich. The cocky young private gets up and gets back into formation, humbled by this experience. As they approach the Bessborough hotel, the soldiers notice that the building is not like the others they have seen. No sign of overgrown vines or crumbled framework. The exterior looks almost brand new. Standing in the remains of the park, they notice a coyote. This sight is not new as the wildlife has refurbished their numbers since the plague. Captain Deitrich stops, as do the rest of the soldiers. The coyote stares at her, sending a shiver to her soul. She knows that this is a death omen. The scared young private approaches her and says," Why did we stop?" She does not say anything. She stares into the cold eyes of the coyote. A branch falls from one of the nearby trees scaring the coyote, and it runs away. "Captain, is anything wrong?" asks the scared young private. " No! I'm feeling a little tired, and I think we could all use a rest!... Soldiers, we are going to catch some sleep in that hotel there, and then we will be on our way!" said Captain Deitrich. The soldiers all nod their heads in agreement as they follow Captain Deitrich to the hotel entrance. 

Hannah, an avid movie fan, stands in the middle of the theatres' lobby, staring up at the ceiling." Wow! This is quite the theatre!" exclaims Hannah. "I agree! This place is pretty cool!" said Keith. Graham walks up to the group and says," Yeah, it is something! There is even a lounge upstairs and along with three more movie theatres." "How many are in here?" asks Grace. " Oh, there are fifteen screens in this place," said Graham. "Which one do we need to?" asks Maria. Graham places the sack with the journals on the ground, opens it, and sifts through them. After about three minutes, he finds the journal he was after. Graham then starts to search through the journal with great care. He slams the journal shut and exclaims," Son of a bitch!" "What's wrong?' asks Paulina. "My genius dear old dad never gave the exact location of the time machine!" said Graham. "Not even a clue?" asks Keith. "Yes, there is a clue! But it is so cryptic!" said Graham. "What is it? Maybe we can figure it out? I am pretty good at movie trivia!" said Hannah. "Okay, let's see if you know? Flashback to the past! To a happy time in life. This theatre was his sanctuary. It was his happy place when he needed to beat the blues from not having a wife!" said Graham. Hannah stands and thinks, as do the others. After about twenty minutes of searching for the answer, Keith said," I cannot figure that out! Can any of you?' everyone but Hannah nods their heads in agreement. "Have you figured it out, Hannah?" asks Maria. Five more minutes pass, and Hannah responds," I have got nothing! I do not know what that means! I don't think anyone does!" "Oh, there are two people that do! One is my dad Pops, and the other is Jack," said Graham. " Jack?" responds Paulina. "Why would Jack know?" asks Grace. " Because the question is about him!" said Graham. "It's about Jack? Why?" asks Hannah. "Oh, there is more to Jack than you know!" said Graham. "Sure wish we had him here!" said Keith. "Me too! If he were still alive, he could tell us!" said Graham.

The wall of fire slowly grows shorter as the Citizen army stands at attention, waiting. Samuel looks on impatiently, waiting for the right time to send in his minions. "Oh damn! It looks like you won't be able to have a war today! Guess that means that you won't need me, so you might as well let me go! But don't be too heartbroken about it because you can always send me a letter, and I will be here to watch you fail again!" said Preston. Samuel walks over to Preston seated on the ground, kneels in front of Preston. The hideous burn scars on Samuel's face are right in the direct line of sight for Preston and look like a maze. Preston can't help but stare and desperately hold back the vomit building up. Samuel places his large, scarred hands-on Prestons shoulders and said," Oh yee of little faith! Do you really think that I would let some fire stop me? Look at me and tell me that!" "It is all I can do not to look at you, you walking testament to fire safety!" said Preston. " I'm so glad that you aren't enjoying the view! I thought it would be fitting to torment you with it, seeing it was your great, great grandfather that did this to me!" said Samuel. Samuel's words leave Preston speechless. Samuel stands up, looks at Paul, and says," Send them in!" "But master the firewall is still high! The disciples could most certainly die!" said Paul. "True, the non-believers will die! But those that have faith in me will survive. Like me, they will sustain this trial by fire to affirm their faith! And then the true believers will be marked as the chosen ones as I was!" said Samuel. Paul bows to Samuel like a loyal servant and replies," Yes, my lord! As you wish! And I will be with them to show my faith in you! Please forgive me for doubting you." Samuel walks up to Paul, places his left hand on Paul's head, and makes the sign of the cross, saying," I bless you, my son. Your faith will bring you through this, and I accept your apology. Now go and get my prize!" Paul walks to the army of Citizens and starts to march them towards the wall of fire. "Brothers and sisters! The time has come. Let us pierce through this wall and prove our faith in our savior, Samuel! Cry havoc! And Let slip the dogs of war!" yells Paul. The army of Citizens all cheer and start to march at the wall of fire. Samuel looks at Preston with an arrogant glare to brag about his power. "My great, great grandfather did that to you?" asks Preston.

"Are you ready?" asks Delphine. Jack looks over the controls to the General Electric M134 Minigun. A confused expression comes over his face. Delphine readies herself by positioning the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, ready to start firing. Having not heard a response from Jack, she breaks her concentration. Delphine turns to see Jack struggling to find the controls. "Oh, for the love of God! What are you doing?" asks Delphine. " I'm a little confused! I don't exactly know how to use one of these!" said Jack. "I thought you knew how to use a gun?" said Delphine. "Yeah, a handgun! Not a fucking Minigun! I'm not the Terminator, you know!" exclaimed Jack. Delphine jumps up on the flatbed trailer and aggressively guides Jack's hands to the controls. " Here are the controls! They are right here, behind the gun! It couldn't be more obvious! You look through the sighting on the top of the minigun. Press the trigger, and bag there are tons of dead people! It's already powered up, and you have tons of ammo!" yells Delphine. " Okay! You don't have to get so mad! I am not as versed as you in these things!" said Jack.  Delphine looks around at the firewall. She knows that soon enough, the Citizens will be coming. Delphine realizes that Jack is right. He never had the training she did. If not for Dean, she wouldn't have known how to do this stuff. She knows that she should tell Jack about this part of her life. Maybe after, if they can get through this. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to yell at you. It is just that we are kind of in a tense situation. And I need you to be ready!" said Delphine. Jack can tell that Delphine is concerned. And that is why she got so mad at him. He also can sense that there is something that Delphine is hiding. And it might be the reason for the way she has been acting. "It's all good! I understand what you are saying. If I were in your shoes, I would have done the same," said Jack. "Looks like we had our first fight as a married couple, haha!" said Jack. "Haha, I guess we just did!" said Delphine. Jack and Delphine look into each other's eyes, getting lost and forgetting about the imminent attack. Their faces inch even closer to kiss. Before their lips are about to touch. In this seemingly weird romantic moment. The kiss is interrupted by the sounds of thousands of Citizens screaming their battle charge. Jack and Delphine break their gaze to see the first of many Citizens penetrate the four-foot-high flame wall. "Here we go! I will cover the back half of the farmyard while you concentrate on the front!" said Delphine. Jack places his hands on the firing controls of the Minigun, and said, "You got it, Sarah Connor, let's rock and roll!" Delphine rolls her eyes, laughs, readies herself for the first of the Citizens to come through her half of the farmyard.

About one hundred citizens penetrate the firewall. Instantly the fire covers their bodies. They scream in pain but, fueled by their desire to prove themselves to Samuel. The Citizens run towards Jack and Delphine. Jack presses the trigger on the General Electric Minigun. The humming sound of the weapon firing mixes with Delphine's firearm. The burning Citizens are met quickly by the bullets of both guns. Pieces of dirt go flying in the air from some missed shots from Jack's weapon. The ones that hit tear the burning bodies of Citizens in half. Some heads explode, some limbs are severed. The bodies of Citizens lie in the farmyard, burning like some sick cannibal barbeque. As quick as Citizens run through the firewall at Delphine, she takes them down with no more than one to two shots. The majority of the kills are in the head by a single bullet. This pattern continues for the next fifteen minutes. Citizens would run through the firewall, catch on fire themselves, run at Jack and Delphine, and get shot. In no time, there are over three hundred burning corpses of Citizens scattered around the farmyard. " How long do you think we can keep this going?" asks Jack. "I don't know? But we have to take as many down as possible! Right now, we have the firewall to help. But as soon as that starts to fall, we might be screwed!" said Delphine. Delphine quickly removes the empty clip from her M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle and places in a new one. Jack looks at the firewall measuring the height. As he continues to mow down members of the Citizen army. All he can think of is how much it would help to have Graham here and the others.

Graham stands staring down the two hallways at the multiple entrances to each of the twelve theatres. Keith approaches him and asks," So, you left really sudden without asking our question." "I did answer your question!" said Graham. " Did you? What you said was really vague!" said Keith. " And that is all I am going to say, at the moment!" said Graham. Keith starts to walk away. Keith knows that this is all the info that he will get from Graham about Jack. Keith gets about three steps from Graham when he stops, turns, and stands right in front of Graham. Looking up at Graham's mountainous stature, Keith exclaims," Look, I and the others have had it with all this secrecy! We get that there is stuff that you think that we can't handle! But we have seen and heard some pretty rank shit so far on this trip! And we haven't left yet! We still don't know why we are out here? Why Jack never told us his name when he recruited us? All of us came out here on pure faith and a promise by Preston that we would have an adventure in exploring the old city. And it has been an adventure! A seriously fucked up one! We lost five people, well four because Emil is no loss. Hannah almost died, and so did Maria! The only time we find out shit is when something happens for us to be informed! I thought that by now, you would trust us the whole truth and not more secrets!" Graham looks down at Keith with a cold glare. No one has talked to him like that since his late wife. Graham is part annoyed and part impressed. It doesn't take long for the annoyed part to take hold. Graham grabs Keith by the shirt collar and lifts him. "Look, you little shit! When I am ready to tell you all, I will! If not for Jack and myself, none of you would be alive!" Maria sees the confrontation happening and runs over. Maria grabs Graham by the arm and says," Graham let him go, please!" "Not until he apologizes!" said Graham. "Keith, apologize!" said Maria. By this time, the others in the group have gathered around. "I will not! He is the one that needs to apologize! And to start telling us the truth!" said Keith. "Why should I? When you show no respect and appreciation!" said Graham. " I thought you were a nice guy! But you are nothing but a hotheaded bully!" said Keith. "Oh, you think so! Well, if you want a bully, here you go, you little wimp!" said Graham as he tosses Keith three feet down the east hallway of the theatre. Keith lands hard on the torn carpet and lets out a scream of pain from the force of it all. Maria enraged by this, doesn't say a thing. She hauls off and uppercuts Graham to the jaw. The force of her punch sends Graham flying back into the glass casing outside the Imax theatre that would display which movie was playing. Graham slowly slumps to the floor and passes out. Maria runs to see how Keith is doing as the others look on in shock. Keith slowly tries to get up. Maria approaches said," Hold on! I will help you!" Maria grabs Keith by the hands and slowly helps him to his feet, and the two start walking back to the others, who are still staring at an unconscious Graham. Keith seeing Graham lying on the floor, says to Maria," That was some punch!" " Meh! I really didn't put too much on it to tell you the truth!" said Maria. "I pity the person you put all your effort into hitting! Thank you!" said Keith. Maria laughs, and said as she looks at an unconscious Graham," You're welcome! Maybe Graham will get some time to reflect on his actions!" Maria, with Keith's right arm over her shoulder, starts to walk back into the lobby. Keith is moving slowly from the pain of the impact. "Come on guys, leave him be!" The rest of the group follows Keith and Maria into the lobby and take a seat against the old concession counter. 

In his unconscious state, Graham's mind drifts back to the year 2022. The steam from the hot shower he has just finished has steamed up the bathroom mirror. Graham takes the hand towel hanging beside the sink and wipes off the mirror. He stands and stares at his reflection in the mirror. Graham takes a few deep breathes, and as Graham tries to strengthen his damaged lungs. This task proves fruitless, as after only two deep breathes, he starts to choke and struggle to breathe. It seems that the hot shower has further weakened his lung capacity. The breathing mask he was given sits on the back of the toilet tank. It sits there taunting him silently. With all his healing abilities, this is one injury that is impossible to repair. For a man who prides himself on his health and fitness. This is a hard pill to swallow. Graham reaches for the mask and starts to stumble as he begins to blackout. Graham fights with all his might stretching his fingers to grasp the mask. His vision starts to slip away. Graham fights it till finally, he can grab the ventilating mask.  He places it over his mouth and nose. The struggle pays off, but also too much. Graham collapses on the floor. He lays there for about fifteen minutes when he finally regains consciousness. The first thing he see's when he awakens, is the last family photo before Jessie died. Graham slowly lifts himself off the ground and into his feet. He walks into the empty bedroom. On the bed lies two large suitcases filled with all his clothes. And a big duffle bag filled with all his father Pops' journals. He grabs the jeans and dark black t-shirt off the bed and puts them on. Graham takes the suitcases and duffle bag into the garage and loads them in his truck. He walks back into the kitchen and stands there looking around. All he can think about is how quiet his house now is. There used to be so much life and laughter here. Now, gone! Heather is still in the hospital recovering from the cure. He can't bear to say goodbye to his one and only daughter. So he has left it up to Jack to do for him. Graham takes one last deep breath, closes his eyes, and says," Goodbye, house! Thanks for the memories!" Graham wipes the tears from his eyes and moves towards the garage door. He climbs into his blue Dodge Ram 4x4, starts the engine, and drives away. In his rearview mirror, he sees the open garage door. 

Jack gets back to his home in Martinsville. He stands outside watching the military vehicles parking up and down the block. The soldiers and scientists run out of them with large metal briefcases dressed in protective medical gear. These people go from door to door up and down the street, administering the cure to the plague. Jack stands and also wonders how he is going to have it go unnoticed that he cannot die. He walks up to his side-door entrance, unlocks it, and steps inside. 

Jack walks up the steps to his living room and drops his backpack down by the couch. He goes over to the kitchen and opens the cupboards below the sink. He grabs a bucket, sponge, and bleach, along with a box of garbage bags. Jack fills the bucket and starts to wash the kitchen cupboards. He spends most of the day cleaning his house washing, vacuuming, dusting, and disinfecting the duplex. He packs up all the newspapers, pizza boxes, and empty liquor bottles. In no time, the little duplex is all clean and organized. Jack walks outside and even scrubs off the red P in a circle that said he had the plague off the duplex. Looking for a moment of relaxation, Jack goes back inside and sits down on the couch. He opens his backpack and begins to unpack it. Inside he finds a letter from Graham. Jack does not remember getting a letter from Graham. And realizes that Graham must have slipped it in his backpack. On the back of the envelope is a sticky note that reads," Jack, can you please give this letter to my daughter Heather! It explains the whole truth to her of what happened!" Jack knows that this is the hardest thing to do! But Graham was always very honest, and upfront with his daughter. But, he knows that if he gives her this letter. She will not only be a target for people looking to find the journals. But also go and try and find her father in a dangerous abandoned city. Jack gets up off the couch and takes the letter to the kitchen sink. He pulls out a box of stick matches from one of the kitchen drawers and lights it on fire. The letter burns up very quickly as the ashes fall into the sink. Jack grabs his cell phone and texts Graham's sister-in-law Kerry, "Hello, Kerry! This is Jack Graham's friend. I am sorry to tell you that Graham died. He caught an advanced variant of the plague and died before the cure was ready. It was quick and painless. Please accept my condolences. His last wish was that you take care of Heather. Please let me know if you need anything." Jack places his cell phone down on the kitchen counter, walks downstairs to his bedroom, and falls asleep. 

Graham parks his blue Dodge Ram 4x4 in the underground parkade of Midtown Plaza mall. He grabs his two suitcases and the duffle bag and begins to walk up the ramp from underground. Graham makes his way through the abandoned cars of the above-ground parking lot and towards the Bessborough Hotel. The journey there while short was quite eerie. Empty streets boarded up windows, smashed windows, abandoned cars, and the haunting sound of the wind blowing. As Graham nears Spadina Crescent and the Bessborough Hotel, he stopped by the sight of two coyotes. One is standing on the hood of a car. The other is eating the corpse of a body on the pavement. In the American Navajo culture, that says if a coyote crosses your path, turn back and do not continue your journey. If you keep traveling, something terrible will happen to you. You will be in an accident, hurt or killed. Graham shakes his head and says as he walks towards the Bessborough," Oh well! What other bad thing could happen to after all of this?" 

Graham slowly starts to regain consciousness, the pounding of a headache beating like the drum in a heavy meat band. Graham hasn't had a feeling like this in over two hundred years. His vision is even a little blurred and believes he has a concussion.  Graham lays there with his face still on the old dusty, torn blue carpet. He blinks a few times to try and get his vision straight. Graham's vision starts to return to normal, or so he thinks. He starts to see flashes of what looks like a person standing over him. He cannot make out who or what it is he is seeing, but Graham knows that he must have a concussion. So he keeps his body where it is and closes his eyes a few more times, and falls back asleep. 

Captain Dietrich and members of her small unit gather at the front entrance of the old abandoned hotel. The cocky young private looks up at the marquee before entering and says," Bessborough Hotel! That's a weird name for a hotel!" "Come on, Private, get in here! It is getting dark! The city is no place to be after dark with evening storms, wildlife, and Voyagers roaming around!" said Captain Deitrich. A surprised look comes over the face of the cocky young, private, and he remarks," What the fuck are Voyagers?" There is no response from Captain Deitrich, she has already gone into the Bessborough hotel, leaving the cocky young private standing all alone outside. Some loose concrete from one of the crumbling buildings falls and echoes through half dark street.  This startles the cocky young private who quickly runs into the hotel following his fellow soldiers. 

As he enters the cocky young private is oblivious to his surroundings. Looking back at the front entrance, he says," I think there is something out there! It could be one of those Voyagers you mentioned! By the way, what are Voyagers anyway? I have never heard of those!" The cocky young private bumps into Captain Deitrich, just standing there along with the other soldiers frozen in place. "Sorry, Captain!" said the cocky young private. Captain Deitrich says nothing, as do none of the other soldiers. "Captain, are you all right?" said the cocky young private as he taps Captain Deitrich on the shoulder and even shakes her a bit. The glowing red eyes of Emil emerge from the dark. The only light in the darkened room. Then like a sadistic northern star, the Silver Serpent's silverish blue glow illuminates the lobby, and he says," They cannot hear you! They are in a comatose state. A little gift my friend here possesses." "What do you want?" asks the cocky young private. " We just want to invite you all to dinner!" said the Silver Serpent. "Who are you guys? Are you Voyagers?" asks the cocky young private. "No! That is a myth! A myth told to keep people out of the city. Stories told of sewer-dwelling cannibals, to frighten people, from wanting to search for the lost Pops Brilliant journals," said the Silver Serpent. The cocky young private still scared, asks in a crackling voice," I see! I would be happy to stay for dinner! What are we having?" Emil reaches with his talon-like fingers, grabs hold of the scared young private, and looks into his eyes. The blood-red eyes of Emil, while menacing, are eerily hypnotizing. In no time, the cocky young private is just like his compatriots. Emil places him with the other soldiers. "That is quite the buffet!" said Emil. "And it is all for you!" said the Silver Serpent. The Silver Serpent walks up to the cocky young private, looks into his blank face, and says," You are! You all are! Cattle for my friend here, so I guess you can say that we are Voyagers!... Bon appetite, my friend!" The Silver Serpent taps on the shoulder of Emil to ring the dinner bell. Emil walks over to the cocky young private and with his razor-sharp talons for finger. Emil rips the abdomen of the cocky young private. The intestines spill out onto the floor like a landslide, and the blood flows out like a river with it. Emil pulls out the live first and starts eating it like a wild animal. The body of the cocky young private remains standing upright in place. With only the color of his skin changing from tan to a pale white.

Samuel watches on in great interest as his loyal followers continue to sacrifice their lives without question. In great numbers, they run through the wall of fire and with certain death. His level of sadistic behavior is unbelievable. Samuel has no problem with doing this to get what he wants. He cares nothing about his followers. Only his end goal of capturing Delphine and Jack. The smell of the flesh of his dead followers burning fills the air with a pungent aroma. The smell of burning flesh would cause an ordinary person to gag. But not Samuel! Samuel actually lifts his face in the air and takes in a deep breath, and says," Do you smell that, Preston? That's the smell of loyalty and success!" A disgusted look comes over the face of Preston as he responds," You are one sick son of a bitch! And your followers are just as nuts as you! How can anyone follow you?" "My young friend! I not sick! I am a genius! I am an above-average man with a plan. These people recognized it and chose to follow me. After the plague decimated the east. Those left were looking for leadership. Abandoned and scared, they turned to me. And they will do anything for me!" said Samuel. Preston, while knowing that Samuel is insane. He does have a valid point. The world was in shambles, the east abandoned, and with no leadership available. The people left there would turn to anyone exhibiting it. In the air, the sound of the gunfire coming from the farmyard and the screams of death and pain. Preston looks up at Samuel, his eyes closed, with a big devilish grin on his face, enjoying his handy work. " You may have a point of what you said, but I still think you are fucking insane!" "Think that way if you must! But soon, you will see my superior intellect!" said Samuel. " I don't, fucking think so!" said Preston. " Just like a Brilliant! Full of profanity and a lack of faith!" said Samuel. "Who are you?" asks Preston. Samuel smirks at Preston and says nothing. He only continues to listen to the sounds of war.

Jack looks over at the ammo case. He can see that he is close to running out. He turns to Delphine and yells out over the noise of the gunfire," I need to change out the ammo case! I am almost out!" Delphine jumps up on the flatbed platform, catching a glimpse of the ammo Jack has left to use. "You cover me! I can change it out quicker than you can!" said Delphine. Jack nods his head and says," Got it!"  Delphine places her as M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle in Jack's hands. She quickly begins to change out the ammunition case. Jack acting as if he were Rambo shoots down the flame-covered Citizens as they approach with surprising accuracy. Delphine catches this feat skill and can't help but feel a little turned on. As she finishes loading the Minigun's ammo, Delphine yells out to Jack," It's ready!" Jack tosses the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle back into the hands of Delphine. She catches it, removes the empty clip, and loads a new one all in a matter of a few seconds, then begins to fire at approaching Citizens. Jack takes his place back behind the controls of the General Electric M134 Minigun. Before he sets fire upon the invaders, Delphine yells out," When this is all over, we are so having sex!" A big smile comes over the face of Jack. He says nothing but the word," Yeaahhhhh!!!!" Jack presses the trigger on the Minigun and continues to mow down the Citizens as they come through the firewall, the whole while the wall of fire starts to get lower.

Samuel, too notices the wall of fire has started to lower. The smile on his face grows even bigger. He knows now that his victory is soon at hand. Preston observing the battle sees the carnage that is taking place. Preston knows that the wall of fire has been aiding the Citizens' adversaries. And that the Citizens have suffered massive losses. Whoever these people are. These Adam and Eve that Samuel speaks of. They are, at present, winning the battle. And if that wall can hold up, then Samuel and will be defeated. There is one thing that bothers Preston. And that is the confidence of Samuel. "You are studying me! That's good! It is good to observe one's adversaries to look for weakness. I do it all the time!... I hope you like what you see!" said Samuel, who starts to whistle an old tune. This tune is hauntingly familiar to Preston. He knows it! But can't seem to remember it.

Graham sits up, his head has stopped spinning, and his vision seems to have returned to normal. He blinks his eyes a few times to test them and see if he still can see the strange flashes of light that looked like a person. Graham blinks his eyes seven times and looks around. Nothing! Just as he thought it was a side effect from a temporary concussion. Thank God for his accelerated healing powers. He feels no sign of a concussion. The only thing he hears is the laughter of the others in the group. He is startled by the voice of Maria coming from the washroom behind him. " Look who is awake!" said Maria. "Yes! I am sorry for the way I was acting earlier! It is hard to tell people I don't know that well some of these secrets that I keep!" said Graham. "It's alright! I forgive you! You know we all have secrets and trauma from our pasts. But you know what helps? It helps to share them! To let it all out and feel free!" said Maria. " Graham nods his head in agreement and says," You're right! It is just I don't think that you all can handle what I have to say! In fact, I think you all might be even more upset when you hear it!" Maria places her hand on Graham's shoulder and said," Why don't you let us decide! We might surprise you!" "Okay!" said Graham. "And I think you better apologize to the others as well!" said Maria. "I was thinking the same thing," said Graham. A sense of relief comes over Graham's face, and then fear and curiosity. Once again, Graham sees the mysterious figure of light. But this time it is behind Maria. Maria is saying something, but Graham is so focused on this figure of light. He is oblivious to what she is saying. "Shall we go then?" said Maria. "What? Sorry I just spaced out for a second," said Graham. "I was saying let's go and sit with the others, ready?" said Maria. "For sure!" said Graham. "Are you alright?' asks Maria. "I'm fine! Still a bit woozy, from that punch you gave me! You sure pack one hell of a wallop!" said Graham. "Haha, thanks! Let's go!" said Maria. Graham looks back where he saw the figure of light behind Maria and notices it is gone. "Yes, let's!" said Graham. 

Graham follows Maria to the other members of the group. They are seated around in a circle like they are sitting around a campfire. "Look who is back from his timeout! How are you feeling?" said Keith. With his head hung low from embarrassment.  Graham is ashamed of the way he acted earlier. "Embarrassed and ashamed! I am really sorry for my behavior! There is no excuse to act like that. You trusted me, and I betrayed that trust! And I promise you all that I will tell you everything!" said Graham. Hannah stands up and says," We have been talking as well, and we realize that maybe we pushed too hard. I better than most know the pain of reliving old memories that hurt! And sometimes one lashes out!... We accept your apology." "Thank you! I want to personally apologize to you, Keith.  I shouldn't have assaulted you like that! I'm sorry!" said Graham as he extends his hand in friendship and contrition to Keith. Keith stands and shakes Graham's hand and says," It is all good, my friend!" "Thank you, and like I said I will tell you all what you wanted to know!" said Graham. "Awesome! But before you do that, how about another one of those Pops Brilliant stories to really make up for it! Haha!" said Keith. Graham laughs and says," For sure! Now where we? Oh yeah, Pops had just agreed to start working on his improvements to the time machine!"

Mr.Pervus reads through the latest file reports on the ongoing investigations and daily intelligence reports. It has been two years since the Kennedy assassination. And still no sign of Harold or evidence that Agent Regina is Tendersnatch. Oswald was what he said he was, and that is a patsy. Framed by Harold and the financial and political backers who were the ones responsible for the Presidents death. Since that time, Pops has made some progress with the time machine, between keeping up appearances with missions and trying to get evidence on Agent Regina. The Prime Minister barely let Mr.Pervus keep his job as head of the CBC. And has been on a very short leash. If not for Pops' plan, the Prime Minister would have replaced him. In just two days, the Prime Minister and the government of Canada will unveil the new permanent Canadian flag. Mr.Pervus cannot afford to have any slip-ups. He reaches over and presses the button to the intercom. " Miss. Sutherland, where is Pops?" asks Mr.Pervus. "He is with Mr.Palawko and Mr.Wilcox working on Project Slingshot. Did you want to see him?" said Miss. Sutherland. "No! I do not want to disturb him. He will be coming up soon anyway. Where is Agent Regina?" said Mr.Pervus. There is a long pause before Miss. Sutherland responds," At present, we have no idea of his whereabouts?"

In a remote, secure location somewhere in the Nevada desert. In what has become known as a Survival Town or Doom Town. An old, unused military town used for nuclear bomb testing sits. Not destroyed by American Military  On the surface, there is no sign of anyone around. Old 1950's style homes filled with all the furnishings of a suburban home. In those homes also are creepy, white mannequins dressed in clothes of that era. On the outside, there are Fords, Buicks, and Chevy's in driveways and on streets. Those same mannequins sit behind the wheels of the cars. While some lie on the ground, blown down by the desert wind, all scratched and broken. Tumbleweeds blow down a replica of the main street. Anyone who would be driving through here would not think of it other than abandoned. These old military testing sites, known as Survival Towns. Part of Operation Teacup, set at varying distances from the blasts to test the impact and effects of the explosions, these towns were built. But, this one, in particular, was never touched. It was nowhere near the others in the Yucca Flat in the Nevada Desert. This town was built over a large, underground base by Harold and his contacts in the United States who share his equal ambitions. The sort of hideout for a supervillain from a James Bond movie. A place that no one would find. 

One hundred feet below the surface lies Harold's hideout aptly named The Colony. It is ten thousand square feet in size. And ten stories deep. A structure of steel, concrete, and space-age plastic. Something you would see in a science-fiction movie. The Colony is home to Harold, his associates, old cars, weapons, a swimming pool, gym, and running track. An entire floor dedicated to the training of his followers and one to his private art collection. He has in there some of history's most famous artifacts thought to be lost or a myth. The ark of the covenant, the holy grail, the library of Atlantis, and the spear of destiny are all in his collection.  Buried deep in the walls are tons of explosives, that when detonated. Make the appearance of a nuclear bomb going off. Lastly, on the tenth floor is Harold's private quarters and an underground lightspeed train system like the CBC has. 

On the tenth floor, in a large conference room with a hundred-foot high definition viewing monitor, sits Harold, his secret business partners, and Tendersnatch at a triangular table. These are all men from powerful corporations, politics, and royalty. They want what Harold wants, and that is power. The sound of a toilet flushing kills the dead silence of the room. Out walks Agent Stevens, the same agent from Dallas, when Pops was detained, after the Kennedy assassination."Damn chili, does it to me every time!" said Agent Stevens. The strong, pungent smell of the shit that Agent Stevens just took spreads into the conference room. Ted Daniels, a big wig at Westfire Arms, waves his hand in front of his face to brush the smell away. " I think you should have sprayed air freshener!" said Ted Daniels. "Yes, I agree! But we need to get this meeting underway. I will take care of the smell so we can have the meeting!" said Harold. Harold pushes a blue button on a control panel by his chair, and a lemon smell covers the shit smell in an instant. "There, that's much better! Now to business! Gentlemen, our plan is working perfectly! The CBC has been hanging by a thread since the Kennedy assassination. We have planted many members of our organization in their ranks," said Harold. "What about Pops Brilliant? He seems to be onto us or Tendersnatch in general!" said General Orsos. "Unfortunately, we have had a hard time finding out what Pops is up to! But rest assured, we have a plan for my dear baby brother as well!" said Harold. "How can you be sure? He is onto your man, and it is getting harder to throw him off the trail!" said Agent Stevens. "I know what he is working on?" said Tendersnatch. The room goes silent as everyone at the table looks at Tendersnatch. "Well, don't leave us in suspense, Tendersnatch! Tell us all what my baby brother is doing!" said Harold. " It took some investigating, but with the help of a tracker and hidden camera, I put on Pops. I have found out that Pops is working on modifying the CBC's time machine," said Tendersnatch. The whole room erupts in deafening shouting."What the fuck! If they get that running! Then they can undo all we did! Hell, they can even find us out! " said Ted Daniels. "Yes, I agree! This will be disastrous!" said General Orso. "Gentlemen! Please be quiet! I am sure that my number two has a plan?" said Harold. Very quickly, the room gets silent, and Tendersnatch said," Yes, I do! To ensure that Pops and the CBC do not do that, we are building our own. And to add a bit of insurance, we plan to sabotage the time machine. I need you to trust me! Do not lose faith yet! I have not let you down all this time, and I won't now!" said Tendersnatch. The men at the table all nod their heads in compliance.  Needless to say Tendersnatch, everyone here has faith that you will do this! But I feel you can use a little help on this!" said Harold. Tendersnatch is confused by this action. Harold has never given him help before. "

Harold, Sir, I work alone! You know this! I don't need some peon getting in my way!" said Tendersnatch. The door to the conference room opens, everyone turns their heads to see the five-foot-two, toned, and curvy frame of the sandy blond-haired Vivian Sexsmith. With a look of confidence and a ton of arrogance, she flaunts her body as a weapon sticking her firm c-cup breasts out. "Who are you calling, peon? Small dick!" said Vivian Sexsmith. "Tendersnatch! Meet your new partner, Vivian Sexsmith!"

"With all due respect, Harold! I do not need any help! Especially from some woman! She should be at home, barefoot and pregnant!" said Tendersnatch with a snide tone to his voice. Vivian moves towards Tendersnatch, gives him a cold stare, and says," What makes you think that? Have you ever heard of the women's movement?" "The only movement you should do is to the kitchen!" said Tendersnatch. "You shouldn't say that! Miss.Sexsmith is not your average person, Tendersnatch!" said Harold. "She doesn't look like much!" said Tendersnatch. Vivian Sexsmith tilts her head from side to side, cracking the bones in her neck. She walks closer to Tendersnatch, stares intently into his eyes, and in the blink of an eye grabs his penis. She twists it and pulls it from side to side. In a sick and perverted way, Tendersnatch, while feeling extreme pain, is also sexually aroused. The more Vivian twists turns and pulls on his penis. The more he loves it! It isn't long until he climaxes, shooting a huge load of semen in his shorts. No woman has ever been able to do this to him. Vivian feels Tendersnatch climax and let's go with a disgusted look on her face. "You are one strange man! I have never had that happen!" said Vivian. " I am no ordinary man!" said Tendersnatch. Vivian gets a half aroused smile on her face. She knows that she may have just met her perfect match. Usually, most men are just playthings of pain and pleasure for her. And no man as ever survived this kind of torture like Tendersnatch has. But she cannot let him think he has the upper hand and is superior to her. So as quick as a cat, she kicks Tendersnatch square in the dick. The semen splatters all over the inside of Tendersnatches underwear, completely soaking it. Some even leak down his leg onto his oxford dress shoes. Tendersnatch leans over to look, and Virginia uppercuts him. Tendersnatch falls against the conference table. A stream of blood, coming from his upper lip. Tendersnatch stands up, casually wipes the blood with his left hand. Looking at the blood in his hand, Tendersnatch said, "I enjoyed that!" Harold, seeing this, says," I think you two need to get better acquainted! Get cleaned up and go into town for lunch!" Tendersnatch and Virginia do not argue with Harold. They nod their heads and in sync, say, "Yes!" Tendersnatch says to Virginia, "After you! I insist!" "Thank you!" said Virginia. Virginia walks out of the room, followed by Tendesnatch. She shakes her hips from side to side, catching the attention of every man in the room. As the door closes, Harold says," That was entertaining! Now back to business!"

"Gentlemen, I apologize for that little scene!" said Harold. Donald Xavier, a heavier-set man with a bad comb-over of blond hair wearing a black suit and a red tie that hangs past his crotch, stands. " Harold! I just wanted to say that I traveled a long way. A very long way!" said Donald Xavier. A confused look comes over the face of Harold, and he said," And your point is?" "Nothing! I just wanted to point out that I came out here a long way!" said Donald Xavier. "Okay!? That was totally uncalled for!" said Harold. " And I also wanted to say that I build buildings! Great, big, beautiful buildings. Buildings so tall that people often compare them to my penis!" said Donald Xavier. " Thank you, Donald, for that! I know that you represent big business and real estate! And that you think you have a big penis, totally unrelatable but okay! Now, if we can continue?" said Harold. Just as Harold is about to start talking, he is once again interrupted by Donald Xavier, who says," Did I tell you about me winning president of the New York corporate business council? It was a huge landslide win! Huge! And so many people came to the swearing-in ceremony. More than any other ceremony! " Harold had had enough, he points to Donald Xavier, and one of his guards walks up behind him and grabs Donald. Another henchman walks up and places a piece of duct tape over his mouth. He then proceeds to tape him to the chair. "Thank you!... Sorry gentlemen, I could not take that anymore! The constant bragging is annoying! Back to business!" said Harold. "Yes! What do you have planned?" asks General Orso. Harold leans back in his chair. He looks over the people at the table and says," We plan to ruin Pops' reputation! And we plan to do it at the unveiling of the new Candian Flag!" "I see! So why the help for Tendesnatch?" said Ted Daniels. "Call her insurance! Miss. Sexsmith is just as cunning and dangerous as Mr.Tendersnatch! Maybe even more! And I figure that two heads are better than one!" said Harold.

Having just finished cleaning himself up, Tendersnatch steps out of his quarters in the Colony. Outside of his room, Virginia Sexsmith waits for him, leaning against the wall. Her arms crossed, having stood there for the past 20 minutes and an irritated look on her face. "It's about fucking time! You are worst than a woman!" said Virginia. "You do realize that you are a woman and are mocking yourself?" said Tendersnatch. "NO! I didn't realize that?! You mean the tits and vagina don't make me a woman? Although you have man tits and not much of a dick from what I grabbed! Are you sure you aren't a woman?" sarcastically remarks Virginia. Tendersnatch's face goes red with anger, like the shade of a tomato red. He swings his left hand striking Virginia across the face with such force that she slams into the concrete wall. She lets out a high-pitched moan of ecstasy. This show of force strangely turns her on as it did to Tendersnatch earlier." Don't ever mock my manhood ever again! I am bigger than average I will have you know, you mouthy whore!" said Tendersnatch. Virginia gives Tendersnatch a lustful look and says," There you are! That's the Tendersnatch I heard of in legend!... Come on, big boy, let's get going!" Virginia stands up, and as she walks by Tendersnatch, she slaps him in the cock. "What a woman!" said Tendersnatch, who follows her. 

The two sexual sadists from opposite ends of the gender pool make their way into Harold's private garage in the Colony. It houses some of the latest and rarest popular cars from the past thirty years. Harold, a collector, considered these cars his favorite possession. Besides himself, Harold only ever let one other person drive one of his cars. Virginia walks up to the metal lockbox containing the keys to all the automobiles. She opens it up and looks at them, choosing one. " Umm! What do you think you are doing? Harold only lets me drive his cars!" said Tendersnatch. "Well, you can make that two!" said Virginia. Virginia Sexsmith must have really impressed Harold thinks Tendersnatch. Virginia yells out," There you are!" Virginia removes the keys to a convertible red 1965 Ford Mustang. "Come on, let's go!" said Virginia. Tendersnatch is speechless by this woman. He follows her halfway down the massive 500ft by 500ft garage, to the Mustang is parked ten cars from the key box. "Give me the keys I will drive!" said Tendersnatch. "Not a chance! You might cum in your shorts again! And I am sure Harold won't be pleased with that?" said Virginia Sexsmith. "I'll have you know that I have driven most of these cars down here and never have done that!" said Tendersnatch. Virginia opens the drivers' side door and slides in. She puts the key into the ignition and starts the engine. The car, more than a cruiser than a bruiser, still was a status symbol. The base two-barrel, 225 horsepower 289 V8 engine echoes throughout the garage. "GET IN!" demands Virginia as she continuously revs the engine. Tendersnatch, knowing that he will never win an argument with Virginia, complies and jumps in the passenger seat. "Good boy!" said Virginia as if Tendersnatch were her pet dog. Tendersnatch shoots her a disgusted look. Virginia shifts the Mustang into drive and peels out, leaving tread marks on the concrete floor. The car quickly zips down the long lane towards the ramp out. In no time, they are on the inclined ramp, lit like an airport runway. As they get past the halfway point of the ramp, the ceiling opens, revealing the sunshine of the world above. Virginia presses the accelerator, and as they exit the bowels of the Colony the Mustang flies through the air. The car lands with a thud on the compacted desert dirt and speeds away towards the town of Smallwood. 

Pops looks up from his journal, looking over the plans to the improvements to the time machine. Orvan Wilcox comes up behind him, smelling of bacon, sweat, and marijuana. His granny glasses hanging on the edge of his nose. Pops catches a whiff of Orvans odor and says," I can't put my finger on it?" Orvan, confused, says," What is it? Is there something wrong? Do we have to start over? Man, we were, almost done!"  Pops, not moving his face from the journal, casually says," We are done!" "Then what's wrong?" said Orvan. " I am suddenly overcome with the urge to eat nachos and burgers!" said Pops. Orvan stands there with a confused look. Pops looks up from his journal, turns to Orvan, and says," Dude, you are literally making me high just sitting next to you!" "Sorry, it helps me focus, and I was running late this morning and didn't have time to shower!" said Orvan. Pops pats Orvan Wilcox on the back and says," It's all good, Orville!" "That's Orvan!" said Orvan Wilcox. "Yeah, yeah! Whatever Orville!" said Pops. Orvan chooses not to debate his name with Pops. For the past two years, Pops has not gotten his name right or Frank Palawko's, calling Frank Fritz. What matters is that they get the improvements Pops designed to the time machine done. And they are almost done! Or are they think Orvan. "So, is the time machine ready?" said Orvan. Pops looks down at his journal at the plans and replies," Yes, we are! We need to do one thing first!" 'What is that?" asks Orvan. "Test it, of course, Dr.Chronic!" exclaims Pops. "When are we doing that?" asks Orvan. Pops hops off his stool, his eighteen-year-old body at its full growth. He stands there muscular but yet with that slight bit of belly. His brown hair still as thin as ever, all 5ft 7inches of him. " Right fucking now!" said Pops. Pops makes his way towards the center of the room. He inserts the vials of the blood samples into their slots. The machine is similar to the one Pops made himself. Orvan hooks up a syringe to the vein on his right arm. Pops does likewise and says," Hit the switch!" Orvan flips the toggle switches on the control panel in front of him, followed immediately by pressing the large green button on the bottom of the panel. The time machine starts to hum as it powers up. Within seconds a large beam of light out of the projector lens opening a hole in time. Pops unhooks the syringe and walks into the time door. Where he has gone, Orvan knows not! Only Pops knows that. He inputted the coordinates. As Pops disappears into the hole of time. The door in time closes soon after, signaling that Pops has reached his destination. 

The rip in time opens up four years into the past. The time is 1961, late in the evening. The place is Tendesnatch's residence in Old Town. This is the moment in time Pops has had in his sights since he created his own time machine. The rip in time opens in a park near Tendersnatch's home so that no one was to see it, especially Tendersnatch and Harold. The hole in time closes soon after he exits it. A timer on his arm that looks like a wristwatch starts a countdown for when it will reopen. The timer reads fifteen minutes. Pops figures that this should be enough time to stop the murder of his mother and get the evidence he needs that his partner Agent Regina is really Tendersnatch. From the park, Pops sees his mother Karen's 1961 Dodge Dart pull up. "Perfect timing!" says Pops to himself. Pops runs across the park, all the while watching Karen walking towards the front door of the man she knows as Agent Regina. Pops knows that he doesn't have much time and hurries as fast as his body can take him. One might not know it but, Pops is quite fast on his feet. Like a cheetah, Pops runs across the grass of the park. His eyes set firmly on the front door of Agent Regina's residence. He sees Karen enter and knows that he does not have much time. Pops quickly approaches the steel gate of Agent Regina, aka Tendersnatch's house. Pops leaps over the gate as if he were an Olympic runner. Then up the steps to the front door and enters the house. As he enters, he sees Karen peering through the crack of the separation doors. Pops taps Karen on the back as he whispers, "Don't move and don't say anything! Quietly turn and back away. If they hear you, they will kill you!" Karen, frozen with a rush of fear, knows that voice and slowly backs away from the separation doors. She knows that that is the voice of her son Pops. Karen turns to see a face she somewhat recognizes. This cannot be her son Pops! He is only fourteen. This person before has to be at least eighteen of nineteen. Pops whispers," Hello ma!" Karen whispers," Pops? Is that you?" "Yes, but from four years in the future! You have to get out of here! If you don't, they will kill you!" said Pops. Karen runs her right hand along Pops face. "You've gotten so big!" said Karen. "Well, I am almost eighteen. Look, mom. I don't have much time. You need to get into your car, go to see Mr.Pervus, and tell him what you saw. If you do that, it will not only save your life but the lives of many others. And also help us catch Tendersnatch there in the living room!" said Pops. Karen can see the fear in her sons' eyes. Something that she has rarely seen before. Pops looks at the timer watch on his wrist and see's that he has a little over a minute left. "Hurry, mom! Go!" whispers Pops. Karen nods her head, and as she takes one step, it lets out a loud creak on the floor. Frozen with fear Karen, says to Pops," Sorry!" In an instant, several bullets pierce through the back of Karen, exiting her chest. One of the shots hits her heart, killing her instantly. As she falls to the floor, she whispers, "I love you!" Pops wants to scream and kill Harold and Tendersnatch right then and there, but he only has enough time to get one piece of evidence. He will deal with them both when he gets back. Pops quickly pulls out a small camera from his pants pocket, runs to the separation doors, and snaps a picture of Harold and Agent Regina together. "Gotcha, assholes!" As he runs out the front door, Harold and Agent Regina, aka, Tendersnatch see him and Karen's dead body. The timer watch starts to beep rapidly, and the time door opens, swallowing up Pops and closing immediately behind Pops. "Who was that?" said Tendersnatch. Harold calmly looks at his loyal agent and said," That was my baby brother!" "That can't be? There is no way? He looks so much older!" said Tendersnatch. " That's because he is not from this time!" said Harold. "He's from the future? That's impossible?!" said Tendersnatch. "Oh, it's possible!... Well, well, little brother! It looks like you have a new toy! And soon, I will have one too!" said Harold. 

Pops reappears, back in 1965, and as the rip in time closes, Pops storms up to his desk and angrily flips the desk. "Son of a bitch!" said Pops. "What happened?" asks Orvan Wilcox. "I failed! I had the chance to fix it all, and now that chance is gone! She was about to leave the house and still got shot and killed!" screams Pops. Orvan stands there, not knowing what to say. He knows that Pops is talking about his mother, Karen. There is not an agent in the CBC that does not know what happened to Karen. It makes sense that Pops would go back to this moment in time, and logical. That moment in time is the perfect point. A point where all that has happened to this point could change for the better. Pops sits on the ground and starts to cry. Orvan walks over to him and sits down beside him. He places his arm around Pops to comfort him and allows Pops to let out his sadness. "I'm sorry, Pops!" said Orvan. "I've now lost her twice! When I get my hands on that fucking small dicked asshole, I am going to kill him!" said Pops. "And I hope you do! You know it is said that there are certain moments in time. Moments that are meant to happen. One's that can't be changed. They are there for a reason, a purpose. Think of it like a river. A river can only flow in one direction. Sure, you can cause ripples, but those are only temporary. the water still corrects itself and flows where it is supposed to. There is a bigger purpose here! Whether it is in your lifetime or in your children's. Time and the universe has a strange plan we don't understand. I know it hurts like hell, and can't imagine what you are going through! But, I promise you it will get better!" said Orvan. Pops wipes the tears from his eyes, sniffles thinking about Orvan's wise words. Pops being a logical person, knows that Orvan is right. "Thanks, Orville! You know I think all that pot has made you even smarter!" said Pops. "Well, it helps! It's more of a way to think deeply," said Orvan. "Guess I should call you the chronic philosopher, haha!" said Pops. "That I can live with! By the way, Mr.Pervus wants to see you as soon as you got back," said Orvan. Pops gets up and makes his way to the elevator. He enters it and makes his way to see Mr.Pervus and give him the evidence he found.

The large oak bookcase separates in two to reveal the secret elevator in Mr. Pervus' office. The elevator opens, Pops leans against the back wall of the elevator. His head hung down low, looking at the green-tiled floor of the elevator to hide his red eyes. Mr.Pervus looks over quickly from the file he is reading and says," Come in Pops!" Pops saying nothing lifts his head and walks into Mr.Pervus' office. He sits down in one of the red leather armchairs in front of Mr.Pervus' desk. Mr.Pervus notices the redness in Pops' eyes, knowing that he had been crying, says nothing about that. In fact, he knows why Pops had been crying. Orvan Wilcox called him while Pops was on his way up. Mr.Pervus knows that Pops should bring it across and not him about the failure of saving Karen. Pops sits silently in the chair for about two and a half minutes. Then Pops breaks the awkward silence and says," I failed!" Mr.Pervus closes the file he is looking at, places it on the desk in front of him. He leans back in his large brown leather office chair and said," Failed at what? Is it the time machine? Did your improvements not work?" "That's not it, Pervus! The time machine works fine, better than ever, in fact!" said Pops. Mr.Pervus knows that Pops is upset because Pops has never called him by his real last name. " Then what is it?" asks Mr.Pervus. " I went back to try and stop my mother from being killed. I almost had her ut of the house, but she still got shot and killed!" said Pops. Pops fights back the tears in his eyes from pouring out. Only a few stray tears run down his cheeks. "I'm so sorry, Pops! I know it was hard on you the first time it happened. But to have it happen again and have to see it this time. I cannot imagine the pain you are feeling! But you got the machine to work, and you can always try again!" said Mr.Pervus. Pops shakes his head in disagreement and says," No, we can't! We only get one shot at it! After that, time is set, and the door to that place in time remains locked forever!" "Well, we can still change the Kennedy assassination now that your machine works?" asks Mr.Pervus. Pops once again shakes his head in disagreement and says," I'm afraid not! You see, that point in time was the perfect nexus point where all that was wrong could be made right. Where history could be changed for the better!" Mr.Pervus' face goes white with fear. He knows that the Prime Minister is not going to like this at all. "Shit! You mean there is no way we can go back to Dallas 1963 and change Kennedy getting killed?" said Mr.Pervus. "No! If we do that, we could make things worse in our present! Not that it already isn't! But, it could get a whole lot chaotic!" said Pops. "This is not good! What do we tell the Prime Minister?" said Mr.Pervus. Pops pulls the camera from his pocket, places it on Mr.Pervus' desk, and says," With this!" A confused look comes over the face of Pervus as he asks," What is this?" Pops gets up from the chair and walks over to the front of Pervus' desk. Pops says," Proof! Proof that Agent Regina is Tendersnatch!... I can't wait to take that little prick down!" Mr.Pervus' face goes from fearful to happy, and he says," This is great! And you will get your chance if we knew where he is?" "Oh, I know where he is!" said Pops. "Where is he?" asks Pervus. "He's on vacation, remember? He is supposed to be back before the flag unveiling. I wish I knew where he was? If I did, I would go and get him! " said Pops. 

The red 1965 Mustang pulls up to your prototypical small-town bar. Tendersnatch and Virginia Sexsmith exit the car. Tendersnatch looks at the sign above the doorway that says Joes Bar & Grill. "Of course it is named Joes!" said Tendersnatch. "Do you have a problem with the name? It's much better than your name! I can't imagine anyone eating at a place called Tendersnatch! That name sounds like more of a brothel for virgin hookers!" said Virginia. "Hahaha! You know you have quite the mouth on you!" said Tendersnatch. "Yeah, I know! And guess what? You will never find out just how good my mouth is if you keep up with the attitude, you chauvinist pig!" said Virginia. Tendersnatch notices a sign on the front entrance door that says all firearms and dogs must remain in your truck."Now I know I'm in a redneck town! Why do you want to come in here? There has to be a restaurant or diner somewhere around here?" said Tendersnatch. "Oh, suck it up! This place is as good as any. Besides, I feel like a drink with my meal!" said Virginia. Tendersnatch opens the front door for Virginia and says," Okay, if we must! After you!" " Thanks! You could almost pass for a gentleman!" said Virginia. "Don't expect this all the time!" said Tendersnatch. Virginia walks in the front door, followed by Tendersnatch, who sarcastically said, " Yee-haw!"

The bar room is dimly lit, the smell of stale beer and greasy burgers fills the air. In the corner, the jukebox plays the Marty Robbins song Devil Woman as they enter. Could this jukebox have a mind of its own? Or perhaps fate has a funny sense of humor? Either way, it couldn't have been better music for Virginia Sexsmith to enter too! To make matters even funnier, she turns to Tendersnatch and shoots him a mischievous smile and a wink. The deadly dup make their way across the yellow tile floor toward a booth in the back of the bar with torn brown leather seats. The bar contains eight other customers, all locals and more than likely regulars. Which all happened to be men ranging from 40 -60 years old. They are all dressed in blues jeans, cowboy boots, and flannel shirts. Not used to seeing a woman in there. Or anyone dressed the way that Tendersnatch and Virginia Sexsmith are. Tendersnatch in a light grey suit, white shirt, and blue tie with oxford dress shoes and sunglasses. Virginia is wearing a short-sleeved white blouse with an open v-neck exposing her firm c-cup breasts and a black skirt that ends above her knees and red high heels. Every man in the room stares at them as they sit down. Virginia noticing this says out loud," Hey, shitkickers, you never seen a woman in here before, or do you prefer farm animals?" The men in the room all turn their attention back to their drinks. A blonde-haired waitress, sporting a bouffant in her late 40's approaches. Wearing the same attire as the others in the bar and a friendly smile. "Hi y'all, my name is Tammy! What can I get for ya?" Tendersnatch had been observing their waitress as she stands there. He can tell that she is in her 40's, lived here her whole life, probably has some beer-bellied husband, and a former beauty queen of these parts. He can also tell that she has maintained her good looks, which could mean she has no kids. Virginia quickly answers and saving time orders for both of them. "We will have two whiskeys, straight -up and two steaks please?" said Virginia. "You got it, hun! By the way, I love your outfit!" said Tammy, the waitress. "Thank you! Yours is not bad either!" said Virginia with a smile and a wink for Tammy. Tammy smiles back, giggles, and says," I will be right back with your order!" Tendersnatch turns to Virginia and says," Were you flirting with her?" "Yes, I was! What? Do you have something against a person being bi-sexual?" said Virginia. Tendersnatch, turned on by Virginia's confidence and admiring her toughness, says," Not at all!" "Good! But it really wouldn't matter what you thought! I like boys and girls. I like freaky, hot aggressive sex. There is nothing that I haven't tried. From BDSM, strap-ons with both girls and on guys and anal. And in all of that, I am in control!" Tendersnatch is even more impressed at this point. What a woman, he thinks to himself. It is at this point that five guys in their 30's walk-in. They are locals by the acknowledgment that the bartender gives them. They all stand about six-feet tall with muscular, rugged frames and beards. They begin to grab Tammy and surround her, saying lewd and disrespectful comments. Virginia sees this, not saying a thing to Tendersnatch, she gets up and walks over to them. Tendersnatch from the booth watching says as Virginia approaches the group of men," This should be good!" Virginia taps one of the men on the back and says," You are keeping my order from getting to my table. And I am hungry. I get very cranky when I don't eat on time! So, if you don't mind, let the lady pass!" The Cromagnon looking redneck whose name she could care less says," Oh look fellas! We got us a high-class piece of ass!" "Charming! And by the way, I would never let you see my ass!" said Virginia. The same nameless redneck grabs Virginia by the shoulders and says," Don't knock it till you try it, sweetheart!" Virginia smiles sadistically and says," Come closer. I have something to tell you!" The nameless redneck bends down, face to face with Virginia, and said," What? Do you want me to kiss you sugar tits?" In a deep and sinister tone, Virginia says," I don't like being called sweetheart!" Virginia proceeds to headbutt the redneck in the nose, followed by a kick to the groin. As he falls to the floor, two more of his crew come at Virginia. One of the men takes a swing at her. Virginia avoids the punch and grabs his arm. She slams his face into the metal railing of the bar and separates his shoulder. The other man is met with a roundhouse kick to the head. In an instant, three men are on the ground. The fourth man runs at Virginia. She slides under his legs and kicks out the back of his knees, sending him to the ground immediately and screaming in pain. The last redneck looks at Virginia and says," You're a feisty one! You need a real man to tame you! And I think I know how to!" "Oh, please! Why don't you go back to fucking your cows!" said Virginia. "You have a mouth on you! I think it's high time someone shut it!" said the last redneck. He pulls a switchblade from his pants pocket and opens the blade. He lunges at Virginia. She avoids the blade of the switchblade, grabs his arm, and knocks the knife from his hand to the floor. Virginia kicks him square in the groin and as he is hunched over against the bar from the pain. Virginia picks up the switchblade from the floor and stabs the redneck in the shoulder blade. He screams out in pain, "BITCH!" "Thank you!" said Virginia who, immediately roundhouse kicks the last of the rednecks to the face. He falls to the floor with a thud. Everyone in the bar is in awe. Tendersnatch lightly claps in approval of Virginia's actions. A beeping noise comes from his pocket, and he pulls out a device that looks like a modern-day smartphone. He reads the message on it and gets up, and walks towards Virginia. "We have to get going!" said Tendersnatch. "Okay!... This is for the steaks, and the rest is for you!" said Virginia. Virginia places a fifty-dollar bill in front of Tammy that happens to have her phone number on it. "Thank you!" said Tammy. "It was my pleasure!" said Virginia, who winks at Tammy as she exits the bar. 

Tendersnatch waits patiently, leaning up against the 1965 red Mustang as Virginia approaches. "This better be important! I was about to get laid!" said Virginia as she climbs in behind the steering wheel. Tendersnatch slides in the passenger seat and says," Harold wants to see us!" "Enough said!" exclaims Virginia. Virginia starts the car and revs the engine. She places it into drive and speeds away, squealing the tires and leaving tread marks on the pavement.

The 1965 Mustang convertible flies down the single-lane asphalt road. Then turns down a red dirt road towards the entrance of The Colony. A large hole opens up in the desert, revealing the entrance to The Colony. Virginia speeds down the long ramp to Harold's underground facility. As they near the bottom of the ramp, Virginia speeds up. "I think you are supposed to slow down!" said Tendersnatch with one hand on the door handle and the other on the dashboard. As the car reaches its parking spot, Virginia slams on the brakes and turns the steering wheel sharply. The Mustang slides in perfectly into its parking spot. Virginia shifts into park and shuts off the engine. She looks over at Tendersnatch his face is all white with fear, not saying a word. "See, I told you we would be alright! Hope you didn't shit your pants!" said Virginia slapping Tendersnatch on the leg. 

Standing nearby watching this all is Harold. He walks up to the car before Virginia and Tendersnatch could exit. He places his hands on the drivers' side door and stares first at Tendersnatch and then at Virginia. The look on his face quite like that of a disappointed parent, stone serious and stern. Tendersnatch, who usually is the first to speak his mind to Harold, says nothing. He only stares at the ground like a child who knows that he has done something wrong. Virginia looks up at him straight in the face and says," What? What is it? You don't like my park job?" Harold's face breaks its stone-like demeanor, and he starts to laugh. Tendersnatch looks up from the ground, a surprised look on his face. He cannot believe it! He thought that he was the only one that could talk to Harold that way? "I loved it, Miss. Sexsmith! That was quite an impressive piece of driving! Tendersnatch, see why I partnered her with you? You two are exactly alike!" said Harold. "That's what I have been telling him!" said Virginia. "From what I've seen, I can totally see that!" said Tendersnatch. "You two need to get on the train and get back to Toronto! It's time to put our plan into action!" said Harold. Harold moves away from the car door and opens it to show some sort of chivalry towards Virginia. " Who do I say Virginia is?" asks Tendersnatch. "That's easy! You say that she is your new girlfriend!" said Harold. "I don't know if they will believe that?" said Tendersnatch. Virginia places her head against Tendersnatch's shoulder and says in a sweet, flirty tone," Oh honey! How could you think that? We make a cute couple!"  This bit of sweetness has two effects on Tendersnatch. The one is disgust the sweet voice sickens him. The sickening starts to make Tendersnatch feel aroused, and an erection can be seen growing in his pants. Harold notices this and says," By the look of that erection, I'd say you believe it too!" Virginia looks down at Tendersnatch's pants and says, "Yup! I agree!" "Good! Now you two get going, and Virginia, try not to make any scenes as you did in the bar!" said Harold. "You knew about that?" asked Virginia. "How did you know about that?" asked Tendersnatch. " You should know by now that I have eyes everywhere! Now go!" said Harold as he walks away. 

Mr.Pervus stands by the large, tinted picture window of his opulent office. He looks out on the bustling city streets of Toronto. Pops sits in the leather armchair writing his latest invention in his journal. The room is dead silent. But that silence does not last for long. Miss. Sutherland's voice comes over the intercom speaker like the voice of God. "Mr.Pervus. I just heard from Agent Matthews at the California train station. Agent Regina has just arrived and is on his way back!" said Miss. Sutherland. "Thank you, Miss. Sutherland! Tell Agent Roberts in our station to send him right up when he gets here!" said Mr.Pervus. "I will inform him! But there is one problem!" said Miss. Sutherland. "What is it, Miss. Sutherland?" asks Mr.Pervus. "He has brought someone on the train with him, a woman!" said Miss. Sutherland. Pops, hearing this, is overcome with an expression of surprise. Pops mouth's the words, "What the fuck!" Mr.Pervus, also shocked by this news, says," Did I hear you right? Did you say that Agent Regina has a woman with him?" "Yes! Apparently, she is his girlfriend!" said Miss. Sutherland. "Okay! Well, send them both up when they get here!" said Mr.Pervus. "I will tell Agent Roberts to inform them both!" said Miss. Sutherland. Pops gets up from his chair and walks toward Mr.Pervus. "A girlfriend? And he took her on our train? This seems all too suspicious!" said Pops. "I agree! You go and get those pictures developed so we can bust him. And I will deal with this new issue!" said Mr.Pervus. "Okay! I can't wait to see the look on his face when we arrest his ass!" said Pops. "Me too!... Now hurry, we haven't much time! The lightspeed train will be here in a couple of hours!" said Mr.Pervus. 

"Why did you stop?" exclaims Keith. Graham's stare is fixed on the same glowing blurred figure that he thought he saw earlier. This time it is a lot clearer. He sits there shocked and silent. "Hey! Are you alright?" said Maria waving her hand in front of his face. Graham sits stone-faced, not answering. "You think he is dead?" asks Hannah. "Nah! He is still breathing!' said Liam. Once again, Keith asks," Graham! Why did you stop? Is everything alright?"Graham does not say a thing.  He stands and walks away from the others towards the glowing blur. "Where is he going?" asks Maria. "I don't know? He is walking towards the bathroom. Maybe he has to poop!" said Keith. Maria slaps Keith across the shoulder and says," Oh my God! I can't believe you said that?" "What? What's so wrong with that? Everyone poops! I'm sure that Graham is fine. He probably just needed to stretch his legs." said Keith. They all watch as Graham walks down the long corridor. Where one hundred and fifty years ago, people stood and waited to get into the movie theatre. 

Samuel looks on at the wall of fire. He looks at the continuing massacre of his followers at the hands of Delphine and Jack. It is then that Samuel sees something that brings a big smile to his face. That being the sound of thunder that shakes the ground around them. "Perfect! The good Lord has blessed us!" said Samuel. " What do you mean? It's just a thunderstorm! There is no rain!" exclaims Preston. "Wait for it!" said Samuel. It is just then that the skies open up. A wall of water like Niagra Falls pours down, extinguishing the flames of the firewall. "Oh, thank you, merciful God, for helping us, your children, to defeat the non-believers and fulfill your prophecy!" said Samuel. Preston shakes his head and says," Religious nutbag!" "Soon, you will believe brother Preston! Brother Paul, lead us all into victory"! said Samuel. Paul nods his head and yells," Brothers and sisters, their defenses are down! Charge!!!!" A collective battle cry rings out over the booming thunder, and the Citizens march on into Delphines' farmyard. 

The White Dragon looks on at the last of his Scavengers, dying at the hands of General Jordan and his remaining forces. "Sir! We did it! They are all dead! We can take down the White Dragon!" said a scared young private. General Jordan stares at the face of the White Dragon. The White Dragon stares back and flashes General Jordan an evil grin. "Oh shit! I don't think we have won anything!" said General Jordan. The White Dragon starts to glow brighter and brighter, powering up his energy blast. " Close your eyes, soldiers! It will all be over soon!" said General Jordan. It is then that the White Dragon fires a blast of energy at General Jordan and his soldiers, turning them to ash. The White Dragon walks over to the pile of ash that was once General Jordan. He picks up the only thing that survived, General Jordan's metal lighter. The White Dragon places it in his pocket and kicks the ash pile scattering it to the winds. He then looks around at his dead Scavengers and begins to powerup again. He lets off a blast of energy like a small nuclear blast turning the dead Scavengers to ash as well. He walks out of the dust towards the Bessborough and says," Thank you! That was fun! But I can handle this myself now.  Your services are no longer needed!"  As he walks into the city, the White Dragon starts to hum the theme from The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly.