Greg's gigantic hulk-like forearms turn red with the added pressure on them as he and Keith along with Paulina pull the on the rope elevating the weapons crate. As the massive rectangular metal crate gets closer to the three Greg exclaims," Can you put your back into it! I know that you are a bit of a puny man compared to me! But this is ridiculous, I might as well do this all myself!" Keith pauses for a second and with a look of disgust for Greg's ignorant comment says," Maybe you should! I am putting everything I have into this!" "Maybe you should get bigger arms!... This is what I get for having a dork help me!", said Greg. "Just because you have big arms doesn't make you a big man!... I have muscles too!", responds Keith. Greg spits on the ground in front of Keith just missing his right boot. He holds up his left bicep while still holding onto the rope with his other hand and says in a cocky tone," No! This is a bicep! What you have is what guys who can't build mass have!.... Pffft! Lean muscle mass! That is for pussies!" "Typical cocky jerk! Just like the kind of known all my life!... I bet if you had a thought a blood vessel would burst in your brain!", said Keith. "Why you little asshole!" As the arguing continues with the same comments thrown back and forth Paulina, who has been doing her best to hold onto the rope says," Can you two bury your macho, testosterone-fueled rage and help me here! Because the only thing I see is two men with a massive inferiority complex for something that they don't have between there legs!" Keith and Greg stunned by Paulina's outburst, grab the rope tighter and start to pull up the crate, their eyes focused only on each other with a glare of intensity! "Try not to drop it!", said Greg. "Try not to get confused as to which way to pull up the rope!", said Keith. "Oh Brother!", exclaims Paulina. Just then the blinding light of gold and white shoots out! The room is filled with it along with the high-pitched humming sound and the shaking of the ground. The power of the blast is too much for the three and the rope slips from their collective hands and sends them to the ground like bowling pins. As the light quickly disappears Paulina regains her bearings and leaps for the rope before the crate crashes to the floor. The force pulls her towards the edge of the broken stairwell landing. Keith noticing quickly rushes in like an action star and grabs the rope himself helping steady Paulina's balance and position on the landing. Greg slowly gets up and grabs the rope as well and the three start to pull on it lifting the crate back up from a couple of feet from the floor. " What in the hell was that?", exclaims Paulina.
Liam bored of sitting on the desktop of the concierge desk gets up and walks around. His gamma lantern shining to add extra illumination to the darkness. The light from the lantern catches the sight of the small red rubber ball Liam had been playing with previously before the rat took it. He walks over, bends down and picks it up, tosses it in the air a few times and says," That's a weird stroke of luck, I thought I lost this!... Wonder if I will find anything else?", said Liam. The building shakes and in an instant, a loud humming noise blares out followed closely by the blazing explosion of Samantha's soul explosion. The blast of light fills the entire room and the whole event knocks Liam on his back sending the red rubber ball flying from his right hand. The ball bounces its way into the abandoned Pops House Of Toast restaurant down the hallway on the left. As the whitish-gold light clears from the room, Liam rubs his eyes and then his ears. He slowly sits up, notices the ball is gone again and yells, "SHIT!... I'm never going to find that again!" Liam slowly gets back on his feet, looks around as he stretches out his back and says," What the fuck was that?"
"Okay let us not waste any time here! We need to get this generator up and running!", said Preston as he Priya and Emil stand in the middle of the room looking around. "Yes, because having the building collapse on my head was the plan entirely!... Fuck, you must think I'm an idiot!", said Emil with a snide and sarcastic tone. "The thought had crossed my mind!", responds Priya. A shocked look comes over the face of Preston and Emil at the sudden quick comeback from Priya. "What are you looking at?... Have you never heard a woman use sarcasm?... Men!... Well what are we waiting for, you said we have to get this thing up and running!", said Priya. A grin comes over the face of Preston, he extends his right arm out and says," You heard the lady! Let us get moving before all hell breaks loose!" The peak room starts to rumble, followed by the high-pitched hum then explosion of the whitish-gold light filling the room that knocks Priya, Emil, and Preston to the ground. As the freak explosion runs its course and the light retracts the three sit up simultaneously and look at one another with confusion. "What in the name of all that is good and holy was that?", exclaims Preston.
As the number of crates on the ground remaining numbers two, Axel stands a foot away from the crate high above in the air drawing closer to the concrete landing. "Hey! There are only two left, can we go back to the mechanical room to wait for the call from the other team?", said Grace. " Not until we have the last one on its way up!... Besides what's the harm in waiting, it's not like anything is going to happen. Just then the room shakes and is filled with high-pitched frequency noise and a light so bright it could block out the sun. Hannah and Grace are thrown to the ground in separate directions as if avoiding an oncoming car from the power of the blast.
Axel stumbles around a bit as if he had been on some sort of all-night drinking bender. He yells out over the noise, "Go check the generator!" The high-pitched noise is so loud that Hannah and Grace cannot hear what he is saying at all. Axel keeps stumbling around and finally falls flat on his face breaking his nose and gashing his forehead open. Not noticing that all his stumbling has landed him directly under the falling metal crate from high above. Axel lies there for second and rolls over on his back, his face full of blood from the head wound. Axel touches his face with his left hand and as the light dissipates he notices it, but not quickly approaching crate. As he moves his blood-filled hand from in front of his line of sight he looks up to see the metal weapons crate half a foot from his face suspended in the air. Axel rolls his head to the left to see Hannah and Grace both sitting up regaining their composure. "Now do you want us to check the generator out?", exclaims Grace. Axel points towards the corridor and says, "Yes, go!" Axel grabs the walkie talkie from his belt and says," Nice catch!... Can any of you tell me what was that?"
"Hey, did you two hear me?... You both have some explaining to do because that was fucking intense!", said Maria as she stands up. Graham still tending to Jack says," Are you, alright brother?" Jack pushes Graham's right arm from around his shoulders with anger and says," Am I alright?... Am I alright?!... Wow! That is one hell of a stupid fucking question!" Graham reaches his right hand to place on Jacks's shoulder but is slapped away by Jack before it could reach its destination. " Come on man! Don't be like that! Samantha wanted to do it, I didn't tell her to!", said Graham. Jack stands up, dusts himself off, looks over his body to find all his wounds healed. Jack walks over to the large industrial washing machine to retrieve his shirt, jacket, boots, and backpack. "Don't! Just don't! I just want to be left alone for the moment!", said Jack. Jack slowly walks over to his belongings, he sits on the ground, grabs his socks and slowly places them back on his feet followed by his faded tan hiking boots. Jack stands back up, grabs his dirty military green colored t-shirt. He holds it in his right hand at his side, he places his other hand in front of him on the industrial clothes washing machine, hangs his head down and starts to quietly sob. Memories of the last dance he and Samantha shared run through his mind over and over again as does the melody and lyrics of "Moon River". The feeling of her body against his can still be felt even though Samantha is gone. Tears flow from his eyes like a waterfall. Maria and Graham stand silently watching Jack work through his grief. "Poor guy! To lose the person you love not once but twice!... That's unfortunate!", said Maria as tears start to fall from her eyes. She quickly wipes away the tears as they come. "Yeah! We should leave him alone for a few minutes! I know him too well and space is what he needs at the moment.", said Graham. " Seeing as we have a little time, can you tell me what was that, that just happened?", said Maria. " Well, the time to save Jack with the Phoenix serum had long passed. Samantha knew that Jack is still needed here to help you all and finish his goal. So, she took and sacrificed her soul to put Jack's life force back into his body... The earthquake, deafening noise and blinding light! They were all a result of it!", said Graham. "Wow! I kind of figured that!... That was some explosion, I wonder if anyone else was aware of it?", said Maria. "I'm sure they did! When a soul sacrifices its existence, it is like a nuclear bomb! All that life energy being wiped out of existence is extremely powerful!", said Graham. "So, Samantha is gone?... What did she mean by go and find her?", asked Maria. "Yes, she is gone! She doesn't even get an afterlife, it is like she never existed. Completely wiped from life, but she had to, to give Jack his life back!... There is another, but that's Jack's business and his to tell not me!", said Graham. " Interesting! I wonder what condition the hotel is in from all of that?", said Maria.
In the far corner of the room and all over the hotel from floor to floor, the large foundation cracks that appeared from the thunder quakes start to repair themselves. The building starts to heal itself from Samantha's soul sacrifice. Healed by the light energy the cracks disappear and the building looks as if it had never been damaged. Liam standing in the main lobby notices this first hand and simply exclaims, "What in the fuck is going on here?!"
Hannah and Grace quickly run past the door to the laundry room not knowing that the cause of the explosion came from there. "I sure hope that we still have time to get the generator online!", said Hannah. "Well, if that explosion did come from there we are royally fucked!... I told him to let us go back to check at least we could have gotten some sort of sign the gamma generator was ready to be reactivated!", said Grace. The two women run quickly as they can to the door of the Mechanical room and enter without hesitation.
Jack stands still leaning as he was before against the industrial washing machine. Tears flow even more from his green eyes. The thoughts and memories like a movie being replayed over and over through his head. Jack removes his left hand from the embrace of the machine. Fighting back more tears Jack takes and wipes his face dry with the t-shirt in his right hand and slowly places it back over his torso. As he bends down to retrieve his tan canvas jacket Graham says," Are you feeling any better?" A flood of emotions fueled by Jacks's anger and grief all boil to the surface turning his face red with anger. " Why in the fuck didn't you try and convince her to not do that!.... I was happy for the first time in a long time and you all ruined it!", exclaimed Jack. Graham walks up to Jack trying to remain calm and said, "Even if I wanted to she never would have listened to me! It was her decision and her decision alone!" Graham starts to walk away to avoid a full-blown argument, but stops turns around and said," We did not ruin anything, we came here to help you! I didn't want to, but it was Sam that convinced me to help you!" Jack walks right up to Graham and looking up at him says," Maybe you should have stayed up in your belfry Quasimodo! Then she would still be here and I would be happy!" "She still would have done it regardless if I helped or not!!!", said Graham as he pokes his large right finger in Jacks's chest. " Don't touch me!", said Jack as he pokes his right index finger in Graham's chest. "You're a little upset so I'm going to let that pass and everything you just said! Now let us get out of here!", said Graham. Graham turns and starts to walk away from Jack only to be stopped dead in his tracks when Jack said," It's easy for you to say that! You only lost Jessie once I lost Sam twice now, three if you count her assault by those assholes!" Graham quickly turns around, his mind now filled with anger and frustration himself over Jack's comments. Not saying a thing he quickly approaches Jack with a balled-up fist. He reaches back and strikes Jack with a powerful right-cross that sends Jack flying back into the industrial washing machine. "Is that all you got asshole? My old Ukrainian baba could hit harder than that!", exclaimed Jack. Jack quickly stands himself back up and rushes at Graham spearing him to the ground. The two old friends roll around on the ground engaging in fisticuffs.
Up in the peak room of the Bessborough Preston and company look over the controls of the gamma generator. "Can you make sense out of any of this?', asks Priya. "The Group Leader gave me some instructions as to how to get this thing up and running again.", said Preston. " That's not what I meant!", said Priya. Preston removes his backpack, and searches around in it and removes a lock picking device from it. He walks up to the padlocked chainlink fence surrounding the gamma generator and starts to work the lock. " That, what just happened, I have no fucking clue as to what that was!... But, whatever it was, it seemed to have come from the basement!", said Preston. Preston returns his attention to the lock as he continues to try and pick it as the others look on.
Liam stands in utter amazement at the crack repairing itself after the explosion still. He paces the floor back and forth. Wanting to go and tell Keith and Paulina, but he stops himself realizing that if he does it would ruin the plan they came up with. He walks into the pool area to see if Maria and Graham have returned with Jack. He shines the gamma lantern in the empty pool and examines it thoroughly with no sign of Maria, Graham, and Jack. "Shit! Where are you guys?... I need to find out what the hell just happened!", said Liam to the empty hotel. He makes his way back into the main lobby and sits back on top of the concierge desk holding the walkie talkie in his hand. Liam looks for some sort of an explanation and with all his panic he forgets he has the walkie talkie in his hand to do so.
As the metal crate approaches its final destination, Greg reaches for the handle on the side of the crate and pulls it up onto the landing. " If you have any power at all in those arms of yours how about helping me move this one out in the hall with the others!", said Greg. Keith releases the rope, walks over to the crate sitting half over the edge of the concrete landing. Keith grabs the handle along with Paulina and the three of them pull the crate in. Without hesitation, they take the weapons crate out into the hallway with the others to not add any extra stress on the already fragile concrete landing. They place it down beside the others along the far wall all in a single file. " Okay, if no one else is going to say it then I will!... Have any of you got any idea what the hell just happened a few minutes ago?", exclaims Paulina. "I have no idea what that was? But it seemed to come from the basement, maybe the gamma generator?", said Greg. "I don't think it was the gamma generator!... It did come from the basement for sure! Just not from the gamma generator!", said Keith. "And how would you know that?", responds Greg in a snide tone. "Well, just the plain and simple fact that we are standing here and not a flaming pile of ash!", said Keith. "And how would you know that?", said Greg. "Umm, I have a master's in structural engineering and a degree in mechanical engineering!... Is that enough of a resume for you?", said Keith. A look of embarrassment comes over the face of Greg for his under assumption of Keith's abilities. "Wow! I'm sorry! I didn't realize!", said Greg. "It's all good! You didn't know!", said Keith. An awkward silence fills the hallway for a moment, which is quickly broken by Greg saying," That was weird!... Don't think that that makes me like you any better!" "Me neither!... It is kind of sickening!... Let's get back to the stairwell and retrieve the last of the crates before I vomit!", said Keith. "Agreed! Let's get back at it!", said Greg. Paulina just stands there rolling her eyes at the conversation that was taking place and mutters, "Men!"
Axel stands at the bottom of the long stairwell looking up awaiting the arrival of the rope to tie it onto the next crate. He grabs the walkie talkie off his hip and says," Greg, do you copy?" The walkie talkie crackles and Greg's voice comes back saying, "Yes! What is it, Axel?" "Do you or the Pointdexter up there happen to know what just happened?", exclaims Axel. "Keith says that it for sure came from the basement somewhere! Just not sure where? But, he is sure that it wasn't the gamma generator because if it was we would have obliterated!", said Greg. "I see! Guess the girls will find that out when they get to the mechanical room to check!", said Axel. "You sent them to check?", said Greg. "Are your ears broken? I just said that!", responded Axel. "You don't have to get snarky!... We are ready to start pulling up the other crate, just going to send the rope down!", said Greg." Roger that! I'm just waiting here for the girls to get back to help me tie it on!", said Axel. In an instant, the rope comes down and is quickly grasped by Axel who stands impatiently waiting for the return of Hannah and Grace.
Jack and Graham roll around on the ground, grasping onto each other! Graham has Jacks's fists held in a vice-like grip, preventing any attempt by Jack to even throw a punch. " Let go of my hands you big pussy!", exclaims Jack. "No! I came down here to help you!... Here I thought we were past all of that shit from the past!", said Graham. "You're the one who hit me first!... Remember?", exclaims Jack. "You would have done the same if someone had said that to you about Sam!... Don't tell me that I don't hurt every day in losing Jessie! Plus never getting to see my daughter again to boot!", said Graham. " Yeah, well the score is 3 to 2 I guess!... At least you had a kid, I never got the opportunity!", said Jack. " That's bullshit, you had plenty of opportunities!", said Graham. Jack's face turns red in anger, he struggles with all his might to break free of Graham's grip on his fists. Realizing that his current course of action is not working, Jack knee's Graham with a hard shot to the balls! "You dirty fucking son of a bitch!... Kneeing me in the balls? That is low!", exclaims Graham. "Yup it is! And, here is something else that is low!", said Jack as he knee's Graham in the balls two more times. The excruciating pain from the cock-shots causes Graham to let go of Jack's fists. Graham holds onto his crotch, rolling slowly from side to side as he protects his manhood from any further hits. Jack stands up, looks down at Graham, fighting the urge to kick him while he is down. Jack readies his left foot back to strike an already down Graham but stops and says," I should hit you for that! How dare you say that! You know that Samantha was unable to after the assault!... But, you must have forgotten, just like you forgot that one detail that let those assholes go free!" Graham slowly stands up, gingerly walks over to Jack, the pain still subsiding. He stands right in front of Jack, looks him in the eye and head butts 3 times, each more powerful than the others. The first two hits of Graham's head to Jack's face land squarely above the nose and the last smash against Jack's nose breaking it, filling Jack's face with blood. Jack falls to the ground like a boxer taking a knockout blow. "That makes us even for your comment and cock-shot!", said Graham as he stands above Jack. Jack looking up at Graham cups the blood flowing from his nose, Jack takes his hands and shifts his nose back into place, looks up and says, "Not even close!" Jack takes his right leg and sweep kicks, Graham, at the knee's sending Graham falling on his back. Jack then straddles Graham, takes a few shots to the face with his fists. Graham quickly grabs Jack's fists again and the two roll around again just as they started.
As Graham and Jack roll around fighting one another the time shifts back to 2022 and a sterile exam room of the research facility located at Prairieland World Trade Center. In the corner, Jack is slumped down in a leather armchair, asleep. In the bed lies Graham still unconscious from the fight with the White Dragon. On Graham's face, a mechanical breathing device is strapped around the lower portion of his face that resembles slightly the same thing that Tom Hardy wore as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises. Graham's eyes slowly open, the light from the fluorescent bulbs overhead shining their beams directly into Graham's eyes. Graham struggles to regain his bearings as he opens his eyes fully. His vision still a little blurry makes it hard for him to tell where he exactly is. The blurriness does not last long and Graham starts to be able to make out shapes and finally he has the full capacity of his vision. He turns his head to the side and see's Jack fast asleep in the chair. "Hey, Jack! What in the merciful hell happened?... Where am I?", said Graham in a muffled baritone tone that is projected out of the speaker of the breathing device. Jack just rolls from one side of the chair to the other, not hearing Graham. "Hey! Asshole! Did you hear me?", said Graham. Graham feeling the breathing device on his face realizes that this might be the reason that Jack cannot hear him. Graham feels around, touching the breathing device on his face to find a way to remove it. He is quickly stopped by jack who has woken up and says, "Don't do that, my friend!" "Why? I don't need this!", said Graham.
The door to the exam room opens and in walks a tall east Indian man sporting a doctor's coat and a muscular frame. The nametag on his coat reads Dr.Sanjay Singh. Beside him a silverish blond-haired nurse standing 5ft 4. Her long hair pulled up in a ponytail that still hangs below her shoulder blades. Glasses cover her bright blue eyes that shine like sapphires in the night. You can tell from one look at her that she does weight training from the defined muscle tone in her arms and legs, which Jack has been staring at along with her ample chest. The name badge on clipped to her uniform reads Delphine Deitrich on it. "Hello, Jack! It's been a long time! Good to see you again!", said Delphine. " You know each other?", asks Dr. Singh. " We're old friends, just haven't seen one another in ages since Jack stopped communicating after he got together with his late wife!... I'm sorry for your loss by the way!", said Delphine. 'Thank you!... It's all good, I should be the one for not talking to you for ages!... In all fairness you could have texted or called too you know!", said Jack. "Yes, I know I could have! But, I just didn't know what to say!", said Delphine. "Umm, I'm touched by this little reunion and all but, can you tell me why I can't remove this contraption from my face?", said Graham. Dr.Singh walks up to him, light beams reflect off the silver belt buckle that he sports on his pants with a large ruby in the center, right into Graham's eyes. Graham holds his hand in front of his eyes to block the incoming glare. Dr.Singh seeing that Graham is bothered by the light off his belt buckle closes his lab coat. "Sorry! I should wear a different belt buckle! But this one was a gift from a good friend and it's my way of honoring him!", said Dr.Singh. "That's quite alright!... That's a nice belt buckle!", said Graham. "Thank you Mr.Brilliant!", said Dr.Singh. "You know who I am?", asks Graham. "Yes, I do! I knew your father Pops! We worked together a long time ago and he said the same thing to me after he gave me this belt buckle!... Thankfully you didn't reach for it like he did while I was wearing it!", said Dr.Singh. Graham slaps the palm of his right hand against his forehead and says, "That sounds like something he would do!... My dear old dad!" "Dr.Singh checks over the breathing device to make sure that Graham had not loosened it and says, "Yes he sure was an interesting man and lived quite the life!" "So, what's the deal with the mask? Why can't I remove it? I thought I had Wolverine type healing powers?", asks Graham. "This mask is meant to keep you alive Mr.Brilliant!... When you were hit from the blast of energy from the White Dragon he permanently damaged your lung's capacity to fully let you breathe. This device helps do that while adding the nutrients to possibly heal them in time, but it's not for sure that it will happen!", said Dr.Singh. "Wait! So, you are saying that I can be hurt? I thought that that could not happen? How is that possible?", asks Graham. " In comic book terms, he is your kryptonite! His energy beams with enough focus and power can do serious damage, even kill you!", said Dr.Singh. "Well, this sucks! I look like a freak!", said Graham. Jack taps Graham on the right leg and says, "No brother! You look badass, like Bane from Batman! We just need to do something about that voice box to make it clearer and not so obscene callerish!" "Haha!... You are too funny Jack!", exclaims Delphine. "Thanks! I know!", said Jack. Delphine giggles like a teenage schoolgirl, Graham rolls his eyes and says, "Why don't you two get a room and quit with all this flirting or are you going to just do nothing like before!", said Graham. Dr.Singh reaches on either side of the breathing device, does some adjustments and says, "There! Now try that Mr.Brilliant!" "Try what? Wait? My voice sounds normal!", said Graham. "Yes for the time being this mask will do!... But, I am working on one that is revolutionary, that is nothing more than a piece of cloth fitted with the components in it! Till then, this will be what you need to wear and try not to take it off!", said Dr.Singh. "Thanks, Doc!", said Graham. Dr.Singh looks at his watch and says, "We have to get going nurse Deitrich! I have to finish off the prototype on the permanent containment for the Scavengers and the White Dragon!" Dr.Singh starts to walk out of the room, Delphine walks up to Jack and hugs him tightly saying, "It was good to see you again! Don't be a stranger, message me. I still have the same number!" Jack holds Delphine tightly not wanting to let her go, but he does as she has to do her job. As Delphine walks out of the room she waves at Jack who waves back and says, "I will! Or you can message me too you know?" Delphine winks as she exits the room and says, "I know!" Jack lets out a lovelorn sigh and sits on Graham's bed staring off into space mesmerized by the moment. "You two going to do something this time? Or just let it pass by again?", asks Graham. "I don't know? It seems wrong to cheat on Samantha!", said Jack. "You won't be cheating on her! She would want you to be happy and in all honesty, I think you and Delphine would make a great couple!", said Graham. "Yeah, but with me not being able to die, I just don't think I can watch her die too while I can't!... And like I said It would not be right to do that to Sam!", said Jack. "Did you sustain brain damage from the fight? Sam is dead and you talk about her like she is here!", said Graham. "But she is! Say hello Sam!", asks Jack. Samantha 's ghost materializes out of thin air right beside Graham and says, "Hello Graham!"
Grace holds up the gamma lantern, surveying the mechanical room. Grace moves the lantern ever so slowly as they walk around the room examining for damage. "What do you think that was?", asks Hannah in her raspy voice. "I don't know? But, I do know that if it was the generator this place would be a pile of rubble!", respond Grace. The two women walk up to the gamma generator, Grace looks it over from top to bottom. She turns to Hannah and says," Well, the generator has no gamma leak! All the connections are in place, and that is about the only thing I could think it was!... Now I am just baffled!" Hannah pats her on the back and says," It's okay! Guess this old place holds more secrets than a woman!... The only question is now is when do we take down Axel?" "We do it when the last crate goes up! As soon as it gets halfway up, you shoot him in the legs, but make sure he is under the crate and then shoot the rope!", said Grace. 'Got it! You think it will work?", asks Hannah. "I hope so! We just have to believe it will and time it right!", said Grace. The two women high five and Hannah says," Yeah, there is no way that little slimy bastard is selling me off as a toy to the White Dragon!" Grace puts her right arm around Hannah's shoulders in a comforting embrace and says, "Don't worry! I won't let that happen!... Come on, let's get out of here!" "Yes, lets! Let's get this all over with!", said Hannah. The two women walk towards the exit of the mechanical room and whistle the tune to One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) by Frank Sinatra.
Keith looks down the abyss of the stairwell watching Axel pace back and forth. Paulina joins him and says, "Whatcha looking at?" "Just waiting to finish hauling these crates up for the giant and the troll!" Paulina laughs and says, "You know it is so tempting to hock a luggie on Axel from here!" "That would be so funny! I dare you to!", said Keith. "Don't you even think about it!", exclaims Greg. Keith walks up to Greg, looks up at him square in the eyes and says," It was just a joke! Relax!" "No! I think you were going to! Besides that is not funny.", said Greg in a serious yet monotone voice. Keith walks even closer to Greg and says," When this is done, so are you!" "I'd like to see you try little man!", responds Greg.
Standing below Axel can hear the conversation of Greg and Keith as it echoes off the walls of the basement. Axel removes the walkie talkie from his belt and says," Now, now Keith! Remember we have a deal! I would hate for my large friend to throw you off the ledge before we have this done!... After it's done then yeah, he can do whatever! Until then the two of you focus and quit this shit!... We have work to finish!" The voice of Keith and Greg respond over their walkie talkie's saying, "Yes!" Axel places the walkie back on his belt and continues to pace and says in frustration, "Where are those women?"
The faint sound of clanking and crashing rings out from the old hotel laundry room as Hannah and Grace walk by! Grace stops suddenly followed by Hannah who asks, "Why are you stopping?" "Can't you hear that?", asks Grace. "Hear what?", asks Hannah."All the clanking and crashing sounds coming from the laundry room!", exclaims Grace. Hannah focuses her attention on the laundry room and after about 30 seconds says, "Yeah, it's probably just stuff falling still from the explosion!"Grace thinks for a second at Hannah's suggestion and says, "I guess you might be right!... Besides the Group Leader hanging in there unconscious, there isn't anyone else down here but us! Let's go!" Hannah nods her head, her and Grace continue on their way back to the stairwell to complete their plan for Axel completely unaware of the fight going on between Graham and Jack.
Axel's pacing gets more intense and as Hannah and Grace enter the room, he stops. "It's about time you got back! What did you stop in the bathroom too!?", asks Axel. "No, but I do see a piece of shit in front of me right here!", exclaims Grace. Axel reaches back and slaps Grace across the face, she lifts her head back up after the striking blow and rubs the tender skin. "You get that one! But it's the last one asshole! You touch me again and you are dead!", says Grace in an ominous tone. Axel attempts another strike, but this time his hand is caught by Grace who is preparing to kick Axel square in the balls. The feel of Hannah's Glock against the back of her head stops Grace in her tracks. "Now, now! How about we just get back to removing the crates? I would hate to have to shoot you and lose the help we need!" Grace lets go of Axel's hand and walk's over to the rope and crates. "That's fine work sexy!", says Axel as he slaps Hannah square on her firm, petite buttocks. Hannah fights the urge to shoot Axel herself for his gesture and responds," Well, we need to get this done, don't we? Just thought it would help her re-focus her attention on the task at hand and not at my man!" Hannah reaches in and garbs Axel by the shirt and plants a deep passionate kiss on Axel to keep her cover as an ally intact. Hannah an Axel release their lips from each other, Axel a deeply satisfied look on his face says," Wow! What was that for?" " Your take-charge attitude is really turning me on and I just can't control myself any longer!", responds Hannah. "Axel seductively runs his pudgy left index finger down Hannah's right arm and then across her chest and says," We could go and relieve that stress? I don't mind taking a break for that!", exclaims Axel. Hannah runs her petite right index finger up and down Axels left arm and responds," After we are done! Then you will get the thrill of your life!" Hannah starts to walk towards Grace shaking her hips from side to side seductively. "Did you find any explanation for the explosion in the mechanical room?", asks Axel. Hannah stops, turns and responds, "No! There was nothing! Only some stuff knocked off shelves. But, there seems to be a lot of damage to the laundry room!... There was a lot of clanking and crashing coming from there!" Axel's face turns as white as snow and a look of worry comes over his face. "Don't do a thing till I get back!", exclaims Axel as he runs out of the room on his way to the laundry room.
Jack and Graham continue to exchange punches and kicks. Their bodies all bruised and bloodied, but heal as quickly as they are damaged. This battle seems that it could go on forever at this rate. Maria has been leaning against one of the old industrial washing machines and says," Can you two stop already! Someone is bound to hear you two!" Maria's pleas go unheard and ignored. Graham hits Jack with a shot to the gut and an uppercut to the jaw that sends Jack flying across the room. "How about you two save some of that energy and we get out of here?", pleads Maria. Once again they ignore Maria and keep their gladiatorial battle going. Jack grabs a small metal pipe, holds it like a baseball bat. Graham lifts his right hand and motions his fingers to move forward and says, "Bring it! I dare you! But, I promise you, you won't get a shot!" Jack moves his neck from side to side cracking it and says, "Alright you asked for it!" Jack runs in ready to take a swing and as Axel is about to grab the pipe, Jack does a baseball slide under Graham's reaching hands. Jack quickly turns and strikes Graham behind the knees. Graham drops Jack kicks him in the gut and as Graham is hunched over Jack strikes him in the head with the pipe. The blow sends Graham flying across the room and Jack says, "Homerun!" " Will you two please stop it! We need to get out of here!", said Maria. Yet again her request goes unanswered.
The voice of Liam comes over the walkie talkie asking," Maria! Graham! Are you guys there?" Maria removes the walkie talkie from her belt and responds, "Yes, what is it, Liam?" " Have you guys reached the Group Leader, I mean Jack yet?", asks Liam. Jack and Graham stop their battle momentarily as they hear Maria and Liam's conversation. " Yes, we have! We are just about to make our way back up to you!", said Maria. "That's good!... There was this explosion earlier and didn't know what it was? Did you guys have anything to do with it or happen to see and feel it?", asks Liam. "It's a long story, and I will explain it all later to you! Go wait for us by the pool to give us a hand!", said Maria. "Roger that! See you soon!", said Liam. Maria places the walkie talkie back on her hip to see Jack and Graham staring at her. "Before you two start up again, remember what you just heard and if Liam felt Samantha's soul sacrifice explosion, then it won't be long till Axel gets here! Now quit measuring your dicks and let's get going!", exclaims Maria. Jack looks at Graham and nods his head in agreement with Maria's request. "Alright let's get going! Follow me!", said Graham. Graham leads Jack and Maria to the back left corner of the laundry room and they enter the open door to the secret passage. As Graham closes the door to the passageway Jack says, "I would have won you know! My dick is bigger! Haha!"
The door flies open breaking the closer off the top of the door shooting what's left of the hydraulic oil in them all over the door and onto Axel. The door slams against the door frame knocking the door off the hinges, and having it come crashing to the ground. Axel turns around and looks on in wonder at this feat of strength he just performed. A cocky grin comes over his face as he quickly strides into the laundry room looking for Jack. The first thing he notices is the swinging laundry hook that Jack was suspended on, still swinging back and forth as if an invisible man was hanging from it. Axel grabs the hook with his chubby hand, steadies it and looks around the room for some sign of Jacks's whereabouts. From his casual observation, he notices the evidence of a fight had taken place. Numerous broken shelves lie on the ground, a broken door on one of the industrial clothes washing machines. A broken pipe lies on the ground in a puddle of blood. Axel picks it up, looks it over and starts to follow a trail of 3 different sets of bloody footprints that end at the concrete wall in the far, back left corner of the room. Axel, knowing that there has to be a hidden passage, feels around the wall for a way in with no luck. "Shit!... The lever has to be on the inside! How did you survive?...Where does this passage lead? And who in the fuck is helping you?", exclaims Axel. Axel grabs the walkie talkie from his belt and says," Be on the lookout for the Group Leader, he seems to have survived after all and he had some help!" The voice of Greg quickly responds," Are you serious?... But he was dead! How is this possible?" "I don't know? But one thing is certain we are not alone here! We have some new players on the board!", exclaims Axel. "Roger that I will be ready for are uninvited guests!", said Greg. Axel places his walkie talkie back on his belt and starts to walk out of the room. As he gets back to the laundry hook, Axel stops, looks down and notices a large burn mark surrounding a permanent imprint of a body on the concrete floor. "What the fuck!... How did this happen?", said Axel as he carefully examines the imprint.
Keith standing near Greg manages to overhear Greg's conversation with Axel. He walks over to Paulina and whispers, "We have to be ready! They know that Jack is alive and that someone helped him!" "For sure, I have been ready since we got here!... I can't wait to take these two down!", whispers Paulina. "Hey, you two! Let's get ready to finish Axel is on his way back!", exclaims Greg. Paulina rolls her eyes at Keith who just taps her on the shoulder to tell her to keep calm. "Okay! I'll be glad when we are done here, your body odor is horrible! Have you not heard of deodorant?", said Keith. "I wear it!", said Greg sounding all offended. " Really? What kind? Rotten fish!", exclaims Keith. "Just shut up and let's get back to work or I will throw you off this landing to the ground below!", said Greg. Keith leans against the wall waiting for the signal to start pulling on the rope and says," It would be better than smelling you because that is quick and painless! Your odor is doing it slowly!" Greg shoots a deep and piercing glare at Keith for the shot taken and a small pout appears on his face.
Graham holds up the gamma lantern as he steadily makes his way down the secondary passageway. Behind him, Jack follows closely stepping over the carcasses of dead rats in the downed cobwebs. Looking down at one of the abnormally large dead rats, which is roughly the size of an armadillo Jack just shakes his head. "I would hate to see the size of the spider that caught that!", said Jack. " No! You wouldn't!", said Graham. Maria gingerly steps around the downed cobwebs but the narrow space that the passageway offers makes it near impossible. She grabs her walkie talkie and says," Hey, Liam! We are on our way up! We should be there in about 15-20 minutes." " Roger that Maria! I'll be waiting for you in the pool area.", said Liam. Maria stops for a quick few seconds to place the walkie talkie back on her belt when the sound of arguing catches her attention. "Son of a bitch! Not again!", exclaims Maria.
" Are you sure you can find the way out?", said Jack in a snide tone. " I think I know my way around this place better than you asshole!", exclaims Graham. " Well, it doesn't seem like it! Maybe you forgot, it wouldn't be the first time you did!", replies Jack. Graham turns around, stands toe to toe with Jack, with frustration in his eyes he says, "You just won't ever let that go, will you?!... Like you never made a big mistake in your life?!... Oh, wait you did! And I helped you then too!" "You forgot one little piece of paperwork in cataloging the evidence and Sam's attackers went free!... Something you have known how to do a million times, and you screw it up!", said Jack. " You ungrateful bastard!... You don't think I regret that every day of my life for the past 100 plus years?... I regret even coming to you, then maybe I wouldn't have to hear this bitching all this time!" Maria runs up to them, pushes the two men apart and says to get their minds off their issues," Hey, you two! Please stop, you guys are friends! You need to move past this all already. It has been over a hundred years!" " That's not going to be easy!... This guy won't let it go!", said Graham. " Why don't you guys tell one of those Pops Brilliant stories? I would love to hear what happens next and it just might be the thing to get your mind of your troubles!", said Maria. The passageway is filled with a momentary silence, Jack nods at Graham and then says, "Yeah I guess so!"
"So where were we? Oh yeah Harold had just killed Rick and...", said Jack. Before Jack could finish his thought Graham said, "We are past that part!" "Okay, so Pops is in Paris and...", said Jack. "Yeah, I told that story already!", said Graham. "Can you tell me just exactly where we are? Because I've been kind of getting beaten, stabbed, slashed, died, brought back to life!... So, a little help would be nice here!", exclaims Jack. "I'm past the Christmas of 57!... You know what? I will tell the story!... Months have passed and it is now May 27th, 1958, Pop's 11th birthday and just as hot and humid as the day he was born!", said Graham. "No! It was pouring rain when he was born that night!", said Jack. " No! It was a humid night man!... He's my dad and I think I know the story!", exclaimed Graham. "I think you have spent too much time out here on your own in seclusion!... It was raining, it was even in the autobiography your dear old dad wrote!", exclaims Jack. "Would you like to tell the story?!", said Graham. "Well, that was the plan but just go ahead, because what do I know?", said Jack. "No, go ahead and tell it! You seem to want to and are all mad about it or still mad that I kicked your ass back there!", said Graham. Jack spits a huge ball of saliva onto the dirt-covered cobblestone floor of the passage-way. "Oh please!... I kicked your ass, but if you would want we can finish it right here and now to settle it!", said Jack. Maria had been watching this argument progress and having enough steps in between the two men. She hauls off and hits Graham with a huge left hook, stunning him and knocking him to the ground. Graham looks up stunned from the knockout blow trying to regain his composure. Jack starts to laugh and says, "Haha! Dude she just Rocky'd you!" Maria turns quickly and without hesitation hits Jack with the same herculean left hook, knocking jack to the ground. "There! does that settle it! I kicked both your asses!... Now if you two little boys can stop with your pissing match we have friends to save!", exclaims Maria. "But he...", said Jack before he is cut off by Maria. " I don't want to hear it from either of you! I've had enough of this shit!... Look we all have things that happened to us in the past that and in the present that hurt us!... Get over it already!... You two are friends for god sake!... Jack, Graham has done lots for you over the years and you hold a mistake over him. He didn't have to come down here to help you, but he did!", exclaimed Maria. Jack sits up and says," Yeah you're right!" "It's about time!", said Graham. Maria turns to Graham and says," And you, there is no need to do that and be so bitter that you are out here!... You made that decision, not Jack!... And it was you who decided to shut down the generators, putting us in this predicament now!" "Yeah, you're right!", said Graham.
Graham and Jack both stand up, Graham walks over and extends his right hand in forgiveness and friendship. Jack accepts the gesture without hesitation and the two men then embrace in a bear-like friend hug, Graham lifts Jack off the ground squeezing him tightly. "Graham, I can't breathe!", says Jack in a breathless tone. Graham places Jack back on his feet and releases him from the vice-like embrace. " Sorry man! For everything!", said Jack. "It's okay brother! There is nothing to be sorry for!... We were both being pig-headed!", said Graham. "You know what, you tell the stories, my friend! You have been telling them from the start anyways, I just helped out.", said Graham. "Yeah but, you tell them well too!... Are you sure?", said Jack. " I am!... I've always said you are a fantastic storyteller and writer!", said Graham. "Thanks, man!... Well, it's Pops' 11th birthday, Pops has been back on the air for a while now and is back in the studio to prepare for his next show! And it raining cats and dogs in New York, just like the day Pops was born. But, Pops is about to get a birthday surprise he didn't expect!
The streets of New York are filled with cars sitting bumper to bumper. Windshield wipers move back and forth at high speed, barely able to keep up with the torrential downpour currently hitting the city. People without umbrellas rush down the streets covering their heads with newspapers, briefcases or their coats. The rest of the population all hurry down the streets with umbrellas over their heads towards the safety of the subways. A 6ft 7 muscular man resembling a linebacker in his mid 30's with dark black hair with a brush cut style stands under his black umbrella in his black trenchcoat with matching Trilby on his head. In his left hand is a black leather briefcase and a copy of the New York Times under his right arm. He moves the briefcase to his right hand and waves for a taxi to stop. A checkered yellow taxi cab stops. The man folds his umbrella up and enters the cab quickly, the sound of Sinatra on the radio singing One For My Baby And One More For The Road rings out. " Studio 72 on Broadway and 81st street as fast as you can please!", said the man as he removes his Trilby. " You got it mack!", responds a short pudgy man with olive oil skin in his early 50's and sporting an accent that shows he is from Brooklyn. The hack license in the front of the cab says Gino Martinelli, Gino pushes the lever on the meter starting it, then pulls out into traffic and slowly moves along.
Pops sits in his make-up chair being taken care of by his 8th or 9th make-up artist a 20-year-old busty redhead girl in her late 20's with a shapely hourglass figure. Her hair pulled back in a ponytail hangs to her mid-back swaying back and forth in time as she carefully applies blush to Pops' cheeks. Pops hums the tune happy birthday as he reads the newspaper and occasionally checks out his make-up artists' breasts. He scans over every inch of the paper looking for some sign of Harold's actions in the newspaper. "Where are you?", said Pops. "Excuse me!", said the make-up artist. "I was talking to myself! Not to you my dear!", said Pops. "The names Julia, Julia Valentine! Not dear if you please!", said Julia. "Does it matter? You all only last about a couple of months then quit!", said Pops. Julia stops applying the blush, she holds the make-up brush in her right hand and gives Pops a glare that could cut glass. " You seem to have a lot of attitude for a 10-year-old!", said Julia. "I'm eleven! Not ten! It's my birthday today actually, so get that right!", said Pops. "Someone's a little full of themselves!... If you were my kid and you talked like that to me I would give you spanking and ground you!", said Julia. "So, you like spankings and discipline!... Kinky! But what concerns me is that you are saying it to an eleven-year-old!", said Pops. Julia stands there shocked and dismayed by Pops' comments. "Now just keep your comments to yourself and do your job!", said Pops in a very rude tone. Julia grabs a glass of water she has placed on the make-up table and pours it over Pops' head. "Apply it yourself you little monster!", said Julia.
Mr.Pervus walks up just as Julia finishes dumping the water over Pops' head followed closely by Agent Greene. Julia slams the glass down on the make-up table shattering it. She turns to Mr.Pervus and exclaims, "I fucking quit!... You can apply his make-up or maybe train a monkey to do it!" "Whoa, clam down what happened?", said Mr.Pervus. "This little brat accused me of being a child molester! When all I said that if I was his mother I would spank him and ground him if he was my kid for the way he talks to people especially women!", said Julia. "Pops is this true?", asks Mr.Pervus. "Yes, yes it is! But in all fairness, she doesn't know how to take sarcasm!", said Pops with a mischievous grin. "That was not sarcasm! It was just a plain rude comment!", said Julia. "You are right Miss. Valentine! Pops apologize please!", said Mr.Pervus. Pops looks at Julia with the same grin on his face and says," I'm sorry!" "Oh hell no! You are not sorry! That look on your face says it all!... I'm out of here!!!", said Julia who starts to walk away. Mr. Pervus motions for Agent Greene to go and talk with Julia, he quickly runs over to Julia and chats with her by the concrete wall away from Pops and Mr.Pervus. "Pops you have to stop that! We are running out of agents who are willing to work with you!", said Mr.Pervus. "Relax Pervert! I'm sure you can always find someone, but seeing as how it's my birthday I will as a present to you!", said Pops. " Thank you! And happy birthday!", said Mr.Pervus. Pops folds up his newspaper, places it on his lap and says," So, what brings you here Pervert? Are you here to give me a present? Perhaps take me out for supper for my birthday?" Mr.Pervus walks up to the make-up table, piles the shards of glass and says," Well, kind of! I have some news for you?" "Is is Harold? Have you found him?", said Pops. "No, we haven't, unfortunately, we haven't! The Harold front has been really quiet for a while now!... We haven't heard anything from him since before Christmas!", said Mr.Pervus. "What is it then?", said Pops. " I don't know how to tell you but here goes!... We are transferring Agent Greene to the west coast to our Los Angeles department where he will be working on the new show Bonanza!", said Mr.Pervus. Pops'face turns pale white like a bedsheet, as he sits there in shock of the news of his trusted friend and father figures departure.
Pops' face goes from white to red like a tomato with anger. Mr. Pervus noticing the eventual explosion of anger from Mt. Pops backs takes two steps backward. "What the fuck Pervert!... Hoss can't no he won't be going!", exclaims Pops. " Now Pops, I know that you are angry! But please calm yourself for a brief moment so I can explain.", said Mr.Pervus. Pops takes a series of 6 deep breathes each containing a cycle of 3 sets of deep breathes. Pops closes his eyes as he does so to enhance the effect. The shade of red on his face subsides, Pops' breathing returns to normal and he opens his eyes and says," Okay Pervert! Explain this to me!... Take in mind that I will not like it!" Mr. Pervus adds those two steps back and moves to Pops and says," The thing is Pops, there is a need for Agent Greene in Los Angeles." "Why?... You have exactly 2 minutes to explain why or I will let out a fart so rotten and nasty you wish you were never born!", said Pops. " Back in December, we got word that Harold was planning to control people's minds through television!... We know he has a branch of his organization out there working on every television program. So we decided to put a few of our agents out there as well to quell this threat!", said Mr.Pervus. "Okay, you have my attention! But why Hoss?... You could have sent someone else or better yet, sent us both!", said Pops. Mr.Pervus starts to pace back and forth slowly and he says," We needed his expertise. I suggested that, but we need you here on the air to cover the east coast! He deals with Harold's branch of evil while you deal with Harold!" " I get that, but we haven't seen any signs of Harold since before Christmas!", said Pops. " Yes, but we do know he is out on the east coast somewhere. But for the life of me, I can't figure out why he would risk it? Why he would risk us catching him?... We had all this information back at Christmas, it was what I originally was going to talk to you about that night in my office on Christmas Eve! Agent Greene felt that it could wait!", said Mr.Pervus. "So you decide to tell me on my birthday? Wow! That is so much better asshole!", said Pops. " No, we were going to tell you next week. The thing is that we got word that Harold's sect has pushed up the timing on their plan and we need Agent Greene out there sooner!", said Mr.Pervus. "Okay, I can see that! If it means catching Harold or stopping his group of pretty boy, muscle-bound morons... When does Hoss leave?", said Pops. " That's the thing! He leaves in 3 hrs, but he wanted to say goodbye to you!", said Mr.Pervus. Tears start to flow from Pops' eyes and he sits there quietly reminiscing about all the good memories he and Agent Greene had together. "Why so soon? Couldn't he leave tomorrow?", asks Pops. " Unfortunately we can't, Harold's sect is all ready to go and so are most of our agents, we just need Agent Greene out there! Because if even one of those shows broadcasts the mind control signal then Harold will turn the entire population of North America into his slaves!", said Mr.Pervus. "I see! This idea sounds all too familiar!"
Agent Greene having calmed down Agent Julia Valentine comes walking back, standing beside Pops he says," It's because it was in that journal he stole from you!" "Holy shitballs! Now I remember, the signal turns people into mindless zombies! You can make them do whatever you want through a hidden signal on the television!... That dirty son of a bitch! I will make him eat my dirty gotch!", said Pops. "Yes, I thought you would remember it!", said Agent Greene. "You're damn right! Of course, I remember it!... That's why I needed to get the journal back!", exclaimed Pops. " And we will! There is evidence in that we have on file that Harold has the journal out in Los Angeles with his sect and right-hand man Rich Tendersnatch!", said Mr.Pervus. " Then let me go and get it back with you Hoss!", said Pops. " We can't afford that Pops! We need you here and in all honesty, you are not ready for dealing with a man like Tendersnatch! He is arrogant, cruel and condescending. He uses sexual torture as a way of getting what he wants or even just taunting you! A man whose shortcomings in his pants is no bother to him, he tells everyone he is bigger than average because he wears a prosthesis to make him larger!... But uses it as part of his torture! You are not ready to face him and quiet frankly not old enough for that kind of stuff yet! Not till you're 18!", explains Agent Greene. " I see! So, basically, I sit here with my thumb up my ass while you go and deal with rubber dick because I am not old enough!", exclaims Pops. " No! Harold is still here like we said! I get your journal back, his right-hand man and we force him out! That's where you sweep in and get him!", said Agent Greene. Pops wipes the tears from his eyes and thinks for a minute, then says," That I can understand! But, I don't want you to go, Hoss! Who is going to take your place? They won't be able to have the same chemistry we did! And in all honesty, you were more of a father to me than my own dear old dad!", exclaims Pops. Agent Greene places his large right hand on Pops' shoulder and pulls him towards him in a friendly hug. " I didn't want to go, but this is a great opportunity not just to stop Harold's organization but to also perhaps one day be the director of the CBC!", said Agent Greene. " I will miss you!", said Pops who starts to cry and as he cries he starts to fart. " I thought you only did that when you laughed?", asked Agent Greene. " It happens with both! I'm an equal opportunity farter!", said Pops. " Fair enough!... Now I want you to be nice to your new handler!", said Agent Greene. "I'll try!... Do you know who he is?", asks Pops. " No, I don't! He is new I do know that and comes highly recommended from the academy, his family has some high ranking government contacts... I wanted to help pick him out, but they wouldn't let me!" " Well, I tell you this! I will not like him as much as I liked you! I will make his life a living hell!", said Pops. "Now Pops, give him a chance! You may find that you might like him as much as you like me, maybe even more!", said Agent Greene. " If you say so Hoss, I will give it a go! No one can calm me like you, my friend, I am going to miss you!", said Pops. Agent Greene grips Pops even tighter in the hug and said," I will miss you too Pops!... And if you ever need me for anything, you can call me!" "Thank you! I will!", said Pops. "I know you will son! I really would like to spend more time here calming your fears, listening and smelling your farts! But, I have to get going!", said Agent Greene as he releases his hug.
Agent Greene places his grey Trilby on his head, puts his black trenchcoat on and starts to make his way towards the exit. Pops watches every step of Agent Greene's final journey from his life. As Agent Greene approaches the exit he passes by the large muscular man in the trilby from the cab. "It's raining pretty hard out there! You'll need one of these!", said the man in the black Trilby as he tosses his umbrella at Agent Greene. Agent Greene catches it with relative ease with his large right hand and replies," Thanks, I take it you are the new guy?" "Yes, I'm Agent Isaac Brent- Allen Regina", said Agent Regina. Agent Greene extends his right hand to shake hands with Agent Regina who reciprocates. The two men shake hands in a tight grip, Agent Greene not fully trusting him uses the handshake to display his displeasure. "Take care of him!", said Agent Greene. " I will don't you worry I will take good care of him!", said Agent Regina. " Thank you!... He's very special to me, so if you hurt him in any way I will end you!", said Agent Greene in an intimidating manner. "You have no worries Agent Greene! I have studied your files and I will not let you down!... Believe it or not, I asked for this assignment when it came up... You're my idol! My only hope is that I can do as good of a job as you with Pops!", said Agent Regina. " That's interesting and good to hear!... I can tell you will do just fine!", said Agent Greene. "Thank you! That means so much coming from you!", said Agent Regina. Agent Greene releases his grip on Agent Regina's hand, opens the stage door to the rainstorm outside. The raindrops quickly invade the safe confines of the soundstage, Agent Greene places the umbrella out the door and opens it. "One last thing! Pops will test you at first, he may even change your name and insult you! But, don't take it personally, just work with him and be understanding. Only then will you earn his trust, and for the love of God never, ever question his love of toast!", said Agent Greene. "I will do so! Thank you, Agent Greene! Good luck on your new assignment!", said Agent Regina. "Thank you!", said Agent Greene. Agent Greene takes one step out into the rain, stops, looks back at Pops and waves goodbye. Pops waves back at Agent Greene. Agent Greene steps out into the rain, he covers his body with the shelter of the umbrella. The large metal stage door closes behind him echoing out throughout the soundstage.
And just like that Agent Greene was gone from Pops' life but not forgotten. Pops stares at the stage door hoping that Agent Greene would come back in at the last second to say that he has changed his mind and is staying. The whole while he stares, he is unaware of Agent Regina's impending arrival drawing even closer. He stares and stares oblivious to the sound of Mr.Pervus's voice. He is broken from his trance by the sound of Mr.Pervus saying," Hey Pops do you want some toast?" Just like that Pops' attention switches and he says, "Did somebody say toast?" " I knew that would get your attention! I would like to introduce you to your new handler and partner Agent Isaac Brent-Allen Regina!", said Mr.Pervus. " It's not nice to tease me with toast like that!" "Sorry, but I had no other way to get your attention... Like I said this is Agent...", said Mr.Pervus who is quickly interrupted by Pops. " Yeah, yeah! I heard you! I am not saying that whole name and you owe me toast!", said Pops. "Fair enough on both! I will get you toast! And you can just call him Agent Regina.", said Mr.Pervus. "Nice to meet you Pops!", said Agent Regina. Pops stares at Agent Regina sizing him up and then extends his right hand in a gesture of good faith. Agent Regina shakes Pops' hand and says," Like I said it is nice to meet you!... What kind of toast can I get you?" Pops releases his hand from Agent Regina's grip and says," Nope! That's it!.. I can't work with you if you have to ask what kind of fucking toast I eat!" "I apologize if I offended you Pops! I have the info hear somewhere in my briefcase here. I will look it up and remember for next time!", said Agent Regina. "If you have to check then you are no good to me! It's pumpernickel, then white, all-grain, followed by brown then cheese toast and finally garlic toast!", said Pops. "Got it! At what times of the day do I bring these if you don't mind me asking?", asks Agent Regina. Pops crumples up a section of the newspaper on his lap and throws it at Agent Regina hitting him square in the forehead. "Idiot! I eat toast 6 times a day and that's the order you stack them on my plate for me! Two slices of each seeing as how you are so inept!", said Pops. " My apologies I will remember!", said Agent Regina. Pops gets up from his stage chair and says," No you won't! You know why Agent Pussy!" " Excuse me! did you just call me Agent Pussy? Why?", asks Agent Regina. " It is because of your name! Your initials actually, I. B. A Regina!", said Pops. " I don't get it?" said Agent Regina with a puzzled look on his face. " And I don't expect you ever do!... It's the other reason I called you what I just did! But seeing as how you are so fucking stupid here's the simple version! Your last name Regina rhymes with vagina and the other word for vagina is pussy! Put those with your initials and they say?", said Pops. "I.B.A Vagina?", said Agent Regina. " You got it Pusscake! Now if you don't mind I am going to, my dressing room! This day was supposed to be a great birthday, but it has turned into a festering turd!", said Pops as he makes his way to his dressing room ignoring Mr.Pervus and Agent Regina.
Pops enters his dressing room, stacked along the wall are wooden crates of pop bottles, stacks of newspapers on the orange polyester couch. On the make-up table is soup labels and a leather-clad journal. Pops sits in his actor's chair, grabs the journal, opens it and quickly starts to write out a complex equation. The complex equation is a series of genetic sequences. "This should be enough to stop Harold!", said Pops as works diligently on his latest idea.
The door to the dressing room opens and in walks Mr.Pervus, he glances around the room of Pops' collection of hoarding. "We will have to get you a storage locker for this stuff! I have seen this all get out of hand.", said Mr.Pervus. Pops ignores Mr.Pervus and continues working on his latest creation. " Pops, can I talk to you for a second?", asks Mr.Pervus. Pops puts his pen down, remembering how good Mr.Pervus has been to him and says," Okay, what is it?" " I need you to give Agent Regina a chance, please!" "Nope! Agent Pussy or Pusscake? I haven't decided what to call him yet, he blew his shot!", said Pops. " Come on Pops! You have to be reasonable, I get he screwed up on the whole toast combo! But, you have to give him a second shot! After all, you promised Agent Greene you would!", said Mr.Pervus. Pops sits and thinks for a second and replies," That's not fair to use that!... But you are right Pervert, I did give Hoss that promise! I will give him a second go!" " Good to hear! I will tell him to come in here and you can two can talk!", said Mr.Pervus. "Sounds good!", said Pops who immediately goes back to work on his genetic equation. As Mr.Pervus exits the room Pops writes on above the equation "The Virus".
The door to the dressing room opens up again and in walks the massive frame of Agent Regina. His large muscular body is barely able to make its way through the door frame. Pops quickly glances at him and goes straight back to work on his equation for "The Virus". " I want to apologize for the way I treated you! And for calling you Agent Pussy and Pusscake, you didn't deserve that!", said Pops. "That's quite alright Pops, Agent Greene told me you would give me a new name! I found them both funny.", said Agent Regina. "That's good because I still haven't decided what to call you?", said Pops with a laugh as he stops writing. Agent Regina laughs along with a loud bellowing laugh that fills the room. " I look forward to it!", said Agent Regina. " I think I might just get along with you Agent Pusscake!... If you don't mind me saying that you have a pretty good build!", exclaims Pops. Agent Regina's face turns a light shade of red from the awkward comment and replies, "Thank you!... I do work out a lot!" "And it shows! You probably bench like 350?", asks Pops. "It's more like 375!", said Agent Regina. "Wow, Pusscake! You are a well-built man!", said Pops who continues the work he started on "The Virus". Agent Regina walks up a little closer and catches a glimpse of Pops' latest journal creation. " Would you like your toast now? Or anything else?", said Agent Regina. " It's alright, I am not in the mood for any toast right now!... I am going to keep working here! You can go and get some supper, my mom will be here soon and we are going for supper for my birthday!", said Pops. "Will do!... Oh, and happy birthday Pops!", said Agent Regina. "Thank you!... See you tomorrow Pusscake!", said Pops as Agent Regina leaves his dressing room.
Scores of New Yorkers fill a local diner in the Bronx. The sounds of a metal spatula clanging off the grill and the waitress yelling out her orders to the cook are all that can be heard over the peoples' collective voices. 'I need an order of hash and two eggs sunnyside up! And a steak partially mooing Frankie!", said a dark-haired waitress with shades of grey in it. Agent Regina sits at the counter, he picks up the cheeseburger in front of him and takes a large bite from it. A look of satisfaction comes over his face from the pure joy the tastiness of the burger provided him. "That must be one hell of a burger?", said an all too familiar voice. Agent Regina looks to his left and see's Harold seated by him. "What are you doing here? You do know that if the CBC is following me the plan won't work!", said Agent Regina. "Don't worry! I wouldn't come here unless I knew they weren't watching, because I am watching them!", said Harold. Harold places his black trilby on the counter, the raven-haired waitress approaches him. Her 35-year-old face showing the wrinkles that the stresses of life have placed on her, her name tag reading Maureen."What'll you have doll?", asks Maureen. "I will take one of these delicious burgers that my friend here is having please!", said Harold. "You got it, hun!... Hey, Frankie, I need one cheeseburger all done up with some potato legs to go along with it!", exclaims Maureen. "You got it, sweetcheeks!", yells Frankie a large fat, balding man from the kitchen, a stained white t-shirt covered by an even dirtier white apron. " So, did my brother buy your performance?", asks Harold. " Yes, he did!.. He even did all the things that you told me he would do! Including giving me a ridiculous nickname, which I told him I liked after he apologized to me!", said Agent Regina. "Excellent! Those idiots, if you were able to fool my brother than you easily fooled Pervus and Greene! Everything is going as planned!", said Harold. " It seems to be and more!", said Agent Regina. "What do you mean by that?", asks Harold. " I saw your brother working on a new idea in his latest journal, and it's a game-changer!", said Agent Regina. "Do tell, what is it?", said Harold. " It's called "The Virus", he is working on a genetic sequencing equation. But, what it looks like is something that can destroy life on a massive scale!", said Agent Regina. "Excellent! I knew switching that information in Pervus' file on Christmas Eve would pay off!... We have Greene on the west coast where Tendersnatch will have him chasing a myth instead of reality! Isn't that right Tendersnatch?", asks Harold. Tendersnatch takes a bite from his burger and says, " Yes, that little pion has no clue, neither does the CBC or its entire field of Morons!" Maureen places a plate loaded with fries and a delicious looking freshly made burger in front Harold and says, "Here you go doll, enjoy!" "Thank you!", replies Harold. Harold picks up the burger, takes a bite and says, "This is a great burger you know! I might have to come here more often!" "Yes, yes we shall!", said Tendersnatch. "One more thing, once my dear little brother is done with that journal you are going to have to find a way to get it and all the journals!", said Harold. "Oh don't worry boss, I have a plan for that, those idiots will never see it coming or our master plan!", said Tendersnatch. Harold and Tendersnatch quietly sit and eat their respective burgers while the collective sounds of the diner echo around them.
Axel comes rushing out of the laundry room, slamming the metal door behind him in anger and frustration. "Fucking lying little bitches!... I am going to kill them both!", yells out Axel.
Hannah and Grace are finishing tying on the rope to the last crate of weapons to be hauled up when Axel rushes into the room. Axel's face is as red as tomato and steam could be coming out of ears. He makes a bee-line towards Hannah, reaches out with his chubby & dirty left-clutching onto her throat. Axel slams Hannah's petite body against the metal weapons crate squeezing his grip on her diminutive throat. Hannah struggles to free herself from the vice-like grip of Axels' grip hitting his arm. "You fucking little lying bitch!!! I'm going to fucking kill you!", yells Axel. Grace quickly runs up and tries to remove Axel's grip on Hannah's throat. "Let her go!", a panicky Grace says. Axel continues to tighten his grip on Hannah's neck, her face turns red as the blood vessels constrict. "Let her go, Axel!... Why are you doing this?", pleaded Grace. "You let him go!", screams Axel. "Who did she let go?", said Grace. "The Group Leader! He fucking gone, so either she let him go or you did or both of you did!", exclaims Axel. Hannah struggles to breathe, Grace wraps her hands-on Axels fat left arm and pulls at it. Axel takes his right hand and pushes Grace to the ground. "I will take care of you once I am done with this lying whore!", exclaims Axel. Grace stares as Hannah starts to lose consciousness, not wasting any time Grace quickly grabs a piece of stray broken concrete lying near her. She quickly gets up and runs up to Axel. Axel so focused on his rage towards Hannah is unaware of the impending danger. Grace swings with all her might and strikes Axel with the hand-sized piece of concrete on the side of his head. The piece of concrete shatters as it impacts Axels' skull, his grip is immediately released from Hannah's neck. Axels' unconscious body falls to the ground like a sack of potatoes, he lies motionless on the ground. Hannah slumps against the wall, an imprint on her neck from Axels' hand leaving its mark. She starts to breathe properly again, the color returns to her face. Grace rushes over and says, "Are you alright?" "I am now! Thank you, he was going to kill me!", said Hannah. "No problem! We have to finish all this up before he wakes up!" Grace stands up, she extends her hand and helps Hannah up. They rush over to the weapons crate and finish securing the rope.
Greg, looking down the from above at the ongoings below grabs his walkie talkie and says," What's going on down there?" The voice of Grace quickly responds," Axel had some sort of psychotic breakdown, We had to subdue him!" "I don't buy that!", said Greg. "Well he did, I think there is some sort of chemical leak down here! No telling how long it will take to get up there!... We need to all get out of here!", said Grace. There is a slight pause of thought from Greg and he said," Okay, let us get that crate hauled up!" " "Sounds good! It is all ready to be pulled up, then once we have this last load up we will tie Axel onto the rope and you can pull him up.", said Grace. "For sure!", said Greg. Greg turns to Keith and Paulina points at the rope and says," Start pulling!" A look of annoyance comes over the look of Keith's face and says," You get over here and help and we all will!" Greg walks over to the rope grips onto it, Keith and Paulina join him and Greg says, "Okay, then let us do this you assholes!"
The crate slowly starts to pull up off the ground, as it gets a few inches off the ground Grace turns to Hannah and says, "Let's do it!" Hannah nods her head in agreement. The two women quickly make their way over to Axel's unconscious portly body still lying on the ground. They each grab one of his fat arms and slowly drag him over towards the crate.
Preston examines the gamma generator over to find the right switches for the start-up sequence. Emil and Priya stand near-by to await their instructions. "What the hell are you waiting for prick?", asks Emil. Preston turns to him with an annoyed look on his face and says," Look! I have to make sure that we do this just right or it can be catastrophic!" "Well, hurry up already! While you wait that time ticks down even further and this place can cave in on us! I don't know about you but I would rather die in prison than under a pile of rubble!", said Emil. " Don't worry once we get this up and running and we are out of here that will be arranged!", said Preston. Preston continues to observe the generators controls, he stands back, turns to Emil and Priya and says," Okay, we start with the top row, then the bottom row of switches and finally the middle row! After that we prime it with the large toggle switch on the right side by pushing it 9 times then lastly we pull the front large front lever to activate it!" "Okay what the switch sequence then?", asks Priya. "It is one, then three, six then nine, five, two, four, seven, eight and ten! We repeat the same sequence on all three rows.", said Preston. " Got it!", responds Priya who immediately starts flipping the switches aided by Emil. As the switches get flipped lights on the generator start to illuminate. Soon all the lights above the three rows of switches are lit up like a Christmas tree. Emil starts to prime the switch on the side and finally says, "There! The machine is all ready to go!" "Okay, here goes!", said Preston as he puls up the large lever on the front. Preston struggles momentarily as he lifts the lever. The lever finally clicks into place, all three of them stand back expecting the machine to fire up or give off some sort of kickback from being off for so long! Their anticipation is turned into disappointment as the generator immediately shuts off. "What happened? Is it broken?", asks Emil. "No, we must have hit the wrong sequence somewhere! Flip the switches back and we will start again!", replies Preston as puts the lever back into the off position and Emil and Priya turn off all the switches.
"Wow! That was one hell of an ending!... I did not see that coming at all! Wait! How do you know that happened? If Harold and Tendersnatch aka Agent Regina met secretly how did Pops know and tell you?", said Maria. "Yes, I agree with Maria!", exclaims Liam. Jack looks at Graham who just shrugs his shoulders and nods. " You'll find out soon enough!", said Jack. The voice of Liam comes over the walkie talkie as he says," Are you guys almost here?" "Yes! We are close to the surface! Have you heard anything from Preston up in the peak room?", said Jack. " Not yet! I imagine that they should be there by now and getting ready to fire up the gamma generator, so you should hurry!", said Liam. "Agreed, I should have stayed down there to fire up the generator! But we do have a 15-20 min grace at least. That gives us more than enough time to stop Axel and get back down to complete the dual fire-up", says Jack as he gingerly steps over a large dead rat. Graham grabs Jack by the shoulder, stopping him dead in his tracks and said," That's not how it goes! The generators have to be fired up at the same time, they equally share power and if you fire up one and not the other almost simultaneously then the result can be catastrophic!", said Graham." Since when!", said Jack. "Since always, you were thinking of the first version, the one I used in the lab!", said Graham. Jack stands in silence for a minute, his face turns as white as a ghost and he says," Holy fuck! How could I get those confused?... Liam, be ready to help us out of here!", exclaimed Jack. "Roger that! I am ready and waiting!" Jack, Graham, and Maria start to sprint down the long narrow hidden passage. They run through the cobwebs, not even paying no mind to the carcasses stuck in them or the cobwebs in general. They just tear them off themselves as they hurry along. They reach the end narrow passage and into the larger one, they continue their relentless sprint down the more spacious passage. "How much further?", asks Jack."About another 300 meters. "That's nothing! I got this!", said Jack. Within an instant, Jack shifts gears into another speed and quickly pulls ahead and in no time is at the ladder to the surface. "Holy shit! He shot ahead like The Flash!", said Maria. " No! Not The Flash but The Ukrainian Flash that's who he is!... How do you all know about The Flash?", asks Graham. "We still have books, tv, and movies you know! Society didn't completely crumble!... The Ukrainian Flash?", said Maria. " Fair enough!... I'll explain later!", said Graham. Jack reaches the ladder in relative ease, he quickly jumps up on the fourth step with no problem at all and scurries up it and through the manhole.
Liam is patiently waiting by the opening to the manhole, his hand extended out. Jack grasps onto Liam's hand and is pulled to the surface. Jack quickly pulls the walkie talkie off his belt and says as he paces back and forth in the empty pool, "Preston! Preston! Do you hear me?" Nothing but static rings back through the speaker. "Preston! Preston! Please if you can hear me, respond!", yells Jack. Liam helps Maria out of the tunnel followed closely by Graham. Graham walks up to a feverishly impatient Jack and says," No answer?" "No! I think there is too much interference or something?", said Jack. "No, well yes and no! It's the structural make-up of the building and the gamma shield! Try going outside on the patio! That might help!", said Graham. Jack quickly rushes out of the empty shell of the old pool. He makes his way towards the old iron patio doors once covered completely with glass but now covered with the same material as the other windows. Jack rips the doors open with ease snapping the thick iron chain holding them closed and steps out into the darkened patio.
Preston looks over the instructions in the small notepad that he pulled out from his inside jacket pocket. He reads them over carefully examining every detail that he had written down from as per Jack's instructions. "What are you doing?... We need to get this thing going or the whole place could come crumbling down!", exclaims Emil. Preston holds his hand up in a signal to wait. Preston closes the notepad and places it back into his inside jacket pocket. "Okay! I have it!", said Preston. "Well! What is it!", exclaims Emil. "We had it right! It must have been off for so long! Guess we just keep trying the same sequence until we get it going!", said Jack. " Let's get to it then!", exclaims Priya. Just like before Priya and Emil start flipping switches on the first row.One, three, six, nine, five, two, four, seven, eight and finally ten. They repeat the sequence quickly on the second and third row of switches. Emil pushes the primer switch 9 times and says," My wrist is beginning to hurt! Who decided this should be primed 9 times?" "Here I thought with all the jerking-off in prison that you would have strong wrists!", said Preston sarcastically. " Not nine times in one day or in this case 18! Don't know who would or even could!", said Emil with a laugh. A confused look comes over the face of Priya as Emil and Preston have temporarily bonded over a joke. Preston pulls the large lever up and just like before the gamma generator goes on lighting up momentarily and then shuts down even quicker. "Well, let's try again!", said Preston. Emil and Priya nod and they start flipping the switches off and repeat the sequence.
The lights on the basement gamma generator light up red and shut off with each attempt up above in the peak room by Preston and company to get the other gamma generator online. A flashing orange light starts to appear by the large lever on the front of the gamma generator. Under the flashing light on a computer screen reads," gamma build-up! Situation critical! Explosion imminent!"
Hannah and Grace drop the arms of Axel on the ground as his unconscious body lay under the rising metal weapons crate. " Okay, that does it! Give it another couple feet off the ground and shoot the rope, I'm going to go and wait to turn on the gamma generator!", said Grace. "Hannah nods her head in agreement and says, "Okay! I will come join you and help!" "Good luck! And if he wakes up don't hesitate to shoot him", said Grace as she hugs Hannah. The two women embrace for a few seconds and Grace quickly releases Hannah and runs out into the corridor towards the mechanical room.
The waters of strong current South Saskatchewan River flows by the rear of the Bessborough having been eroded by time. A concrete barrier protecting the old hotel built before the downfall and the virus was all that was protecting it from crumbling. The gamma barrier created by the generators providing that now put it at risk. Jack momentarily looks at it like an old friend he hadn't seen in a while. The sky clear from a break in the storm giving Jack the perfect opportunity to contact Preston. "Preston come in! Come in, please! Stop the sequence!... It has to be done at the same time!", exclaims Jack. " Have you reached him yet?", asks Graham as he walks out onto the patio."No! I can't seem to get through!", said Jack. "Keep trying! If he keeps doing the start-up sequence, he will build up a gamma supply on the basement one which could cause an explosion! Which could be large or small and we don't want either!", said Graham. "I'll keep trying!... Preston come in, please! It's urgent!!!!", exclaims Jack.
Grace walks into the mechanical room and makes her way towards the gamma generator. She notices the flashing orange light and reads the warning on the computer screen. She grabs her walkie talkie and says, "Can anyone hear me the gamma generator says it's about to explode!... Preston? Group Leader? Anyone?! We need to get out of here!" Grace starts to run away from the generator.
"Okay, this has got be try 8 or 9?", asks Emil. "Nine!", replies Preston. "Well, if it goes on that would make total sense for it to go on seeing as how we have to prime it 9 times!", said Priya. Just like the previous 8 times Priya and Emil flip the sequence order of switches on all three rows. Emil starts to push the primer, the crackling of the walkie talkie starts to echo under Prestons jacket. The faint voice of Jack comes through, a surprised look comes over the face of Priya and Preston. Emil stops priming the generator. "Finish the sequence and then pull the lever up please!", said Preston. Emil nods and continues to prime the generator, "Six, seven..."
Preston pulls out the walkie talkie and says," Hello! Group Leader is that you?... It's good to hear your voice! We were worried that we would not be able to get through once we get the gamma generator running!" "Yes, it's me! You need to stop the sequence!", said Jack. "Why? Are you not ready?", said Preston. "It's not that! Both generators have to be up fired up at the same time! You could create a gamma build-up and explosion!", said Jack. Prestons face turns white from fear, he looks over at Emil now pushing up the large lever on the front of the machine. And just like a slow-motion action sequence from a movie Preston runs to stop Emil. "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Shut it down!!!", yells Preston. The lever clicks into place and the gamma generator turns on, this time not shutting down immediately. "What? Why? The machine is up and running! Look!" Within seconds the whole hotel starts to shake.
Standing on the patio down below the Graham jumps out of the way to avoid falling bricks and pieces of concrete. Jack stands in awe and horror at not being able to stop this disaster.
Down in the mechanical room, the second gamma generator lets out a loud screeching alarm, signaling an imminent explosion. Grace almost at the door pauses for a second and looks back. She then turns back around to continue her way towards the exit when a small blast sends her flying.
The explosion rings out sending Jack flying out into the strong current of the South Saskatchewan River. A large crack appears in the foundation and half-way up the back of the old hotel. Graham steps out onto the patio and says, "Jack! Jack!... Where are you?" Maria and Liam step out onto the patio. "That was intense! Where's Jack?", said Maria. "I don't know?... Oh dear lord!", said Graham as he looks up at the damage to the hotel. Maria and Liam both look up at the crack in the hotel and Maria says, "What was that?"
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