A thick cigar sits in an old round metal ashtray, the kind you would see in every old black and white detective films. Smoke billows up from it having been just puffed on but now placed in on the edge of the ashtray waiting for another go-round. A name placard sits center stage on the old wooden desk that reads "General Patrick Jordan". General Jordan a lifetime military man of close to thirty years comes from a long line of military men and women. He can trace his family back to the days of Alexander The Great. Standing 5ft 10, salt and pepper hair with a thick body type. He is known by the nickname "River Of Death" a play on his last name. This comes from the fact that many of his military victories have been extremely bloody. And that his last name is related to the famous river in Israel. General Jordan reaches down with his thick sausage-like fingers and picks up the cigar from the ashtray and places it in the corner of his mouth. He sucks in a portion of the lit tobacco and releases it immediately as he reads through a file on his desk. The phone on the corner of his desk starts to ring breaking his concentration. General Jordan picks up the phone and with his gruff baritone voice says, "Yeah! What is it?... Yes!... Okay!... I see! Well, when did this happen? Better yet, how in the fuck did this happen?... Never mind! We can figure that out later! I'll be right down."
Lt.Franklin sits watching the live video footage from Smallwood 1 of The White Dragon and his army of Scavenger making their way down Idylwyd Drive, turning down 25th street past the old police station. Behind him stands military scientist Dr.Samuel Washington. Dr.Washington an African-Canadian in his early 50's stands 5ft 9inches tall, his family immigrated to Canada from Tanzania in 2000. General Jordan swings open the door startling both Lt.Franklin and Dr.Washington. "Alright what in the fuck is going on here?", exclaims General Jordan. " The Scavengers and The White Dragon have somehow escaped containment.", said Dr.Washington. General Jordan slams his fist down on the desktop of the monitoring terminal and exclaims, "You already told me that over the phone! I want to know how in the hell it happened?" "We don't know sir!", said Lt. Franklin sheepishly. General Jordan leans into Lt.Franklin's ear, the smell of cigar smoke on his breath so close it's like Lt.Franklin could re-smoke it. With a calm but intimidating tone, General Jordan says, "Was I talking to you?... NO! NOw please be quiet and let Dr.Washington tell me!" "The Lieutenant is right General. We don't know!" The implants should have exploded killing them all but somehow they have all failed but the trackers have remained intact!", said Dr. Washington. "Did you try re-booting them?", said General Jordan. "That was the first thing we tried, but they are unresponsive.", said Dr.Washington. General Jordan pokes Dr.Washington in the right shoulder and says, "Well, fix it!" Dr.Washington returns the gesture to General Jordan and says," I can't! We haven't had to deal with The Scavengers since 2022. These implants were supposed to be foolproof!" "I thought you studied this? You are supposed to be one of the smartest people on this subject!", said General Jordan. "I only know so much on this, the person who knew it best was Dr.Desiree Deitrich. She could have gotten it going again.", said Dr.Washington. General Jordan stands stares at the video feed as the White Dragon and his army of Scavengers march on like a swarm of cockroaches. He places his hands on his hips and says, "We'll bomb them!" "Bomb them? Do you think that will work? What about project slingshot?", said Dr. Washington. "We are nowhere near it! If we hit them now they will never reach it or risk damaging it!", said General Jordan. " But, what if any civilians are living in that zone? They will be killed!", said Dr.Washington. " Barring us being able to resurrect Dr.Deitrich. They are acceptable losses doctor!... Or would rather have those things spreading like locusts?", exclaims General Jordan. Dr.Washington hangs his head in defeat knowing that the generals' logic is sound and nods his head in compliance. General grabs the red telephone on the computer console presses a button beside it and says, "This is General Jordan! I want you to start firing The Equalizer missiles at the co-ordinates being sent to you!" "Oh Dr.Deitrich we sure could use your expertise right now.", said Dr.Washington under his breath.
The sound of fire crackling and the feel of a hand holding a cold cloth on his forehead re-awakens Jack from his slumber." Hmm! That's nice!", said Jack. As the hand moves away from Jack's forehead he notices a small tattoo stretching along the side of the pinky finger of a comet and stars. Jack thinks that he is hallucinating perhaps a side effect of being reanimated by Graham. That tattoo was not too common! It was an original concept. And he only knew one person who had that tattoo and she has been dead for over a hundred years now. No, he must be hallucinating. What he see's next shocks him as the petite female hand moves from his line of sight he sees two of the brightest light blue eyes and blonde hair that stretches to the middle of the back. This is a face he knows all too well! That of the face of Dr.Delphine Deitrich. Speechless Jack just sits and stares at her expecting to be awakened from a dream and find himself alone on the shoreline of the riverbank. Or perhaps still floating along down the stream. " Hi, Jack! It's been a long time!", said Delphine. Jack just sits there in silence for thirty seconds and says, "You can't be real! I have to be hallucinating!" "I assure you you are not! I'm quite real.", said Delphine. Jack reaches his right hand out and touches Delphine's cheek. He slides his hand down Delphine's right cheek and as Jack pulls his hand away, he passes out. Delphine looks down at Jack and says," Well, I never thought I had that effect on men!"
Graham stands and stares up from the basement floor at the rope attached to the top of the stairwell. Keith walks up to him and says, "So, what's the plan, Stan?... I mean Graham!" "Oh my god! Your humor is so cheesy!", said Maria as she punches Keith in the shoulder. Keith grabs his shoulder from the pain the power of Maria's punch inflicts. "Ouch! That hurt!", exclaims Keith. "You big baby! I didn't hit you that hard!", said Maria as she leans in and kisses Keith. Graham looks at them as the two lovers and smiles remembering when he once experienced that with his loving wife. Having seen this moment of joy in others he returns his attention to the rope and the climb back up. Keith places his right hand on Graham's shoulder and says, " A person who stares up at rope like that has a lot on his mind! Or is fascinated with ropes." Graham chuckles loudly and replies," Your sense of humor is something else, Keith!" "Thanks, I try!", said Keith. "No, I was just thinking that we better start the climb up so we can contact Preston. I'm getting a little worried that something might be wrong!", said Graham. Keith removes his hand from Graham's shoulder, walks up to the rope, and starts to climb up it. Pausing halfway up he says," What are we waiting for then? Let's get out of this dungeon!" Graham nods his head and Maria just smiles at the positivity of her new beau.
Preston's lifeless bullet-ridden body floats downstream facedown along with the strong current of the South Saskatchewan River. A mere 20 minutes ago Preston was alive, now dead! Suddenly Preston's body twitches and shakes. Images of his demise from the Peak Room back at the Bessborough start to flash through his mind as if it were on some sort of constant rewind. Like a duck raising his head out of the water, Preston lifts his face from water's grasp like Lazarus rising from the dead. Grasping for breath and spitting up all the water from his lungs Preston looks around at his surroundings. "How in the hell am I still alive? Those gunshots should have killed me! Not to mention the fall!", said Preston. As he fully regains his bearings, Preston normally a very strong swimmer tries to swim to shore. This proves fruitless as his body all stiff still from the atrophy in his body. Preston in deterred by this keeps trying and is met with resistance and pain. After about 10 minutes Preston gives up and just decides to let the river take him downstream in hopes that this will subside. " I will take a break and try in a bit! I need to get back before Emil hurts anyone else!", said Preston to himself.
Emil slowly walks up to Priya, the Glock still in his left hand and a lustful look in his eyes. Priya frozen with fear just stands there not able to move as much as she wants to. Emil strokes the warm nose of the gun up and down the brown skin of Priya's arm. He puts the Glock in the back of his pants and with his right-hand grabs Priya and pulls her in close to him. Emil says nothing, he just takes a deep sniff of Priya's long curly hair like some lustful dog. All Priya can feel is the warm breath of Emil on her face. She closes her eyes in hopes that this is all a bad dream and that when she opens her eyes Emil will be gone. "You smell so good! And your skin is like milk chocolate, I like milk chocolate!", says Emil in a tone so creepy that Hannibal Lector would be creeped out. Priya awaits in total fear and starts to shake slightly at the thought of what would come next. "You know what I like to do with milk chocolate?", creepily asks Emil. In a scared tone with her voice stammering Priya responds," N,n,n,n...No!" "I like to lick it!", says Emil who promptly starts to run his tongue up and down Priya's cheek. Tears start to flow down Priya's face from this nonconsensual touching. As Emil continues to slowly run his disgusting tongue down Priya's cheek down her neck and towards her chest Priya can feel Emil's erection against her stomach. The tears flow like a river from her eyes, Emil stops his tongue bath and places his hands on both of her shoulders continuing to hold her close to him. "Oh don't worry! I'm not going to do anything to you yet!... I'm just building anticipation when I'm ready to have you I'll let you know. And you better not resist because it will only make it worse! Just ask Hannah!", said Emil who takes his left hand, wipes some of the tears from Priya's face, and licks his fingers. Emil pushes Priya away and walks back over to the open window looking out at the rain falling. Priya sits down on Graham's bed and quietly cries so Emil does not hear her.
As she reaches the top of the rope, Grace standing on the concrete landing reaches her right hand out and helps Hannah up onto the landing. Graham soon follows behind up onto the landing. As he climbs up to the landing he looks down and yells at Liam and Greg standing below and says," Okay you two, you are the last ones to come up! Time to make your way up! Liam nods his head and gives a thumbs up. Hannah walks up to Graham who asks her, "Where are Keith and Maria?" "They are in the hallway. They said it would be too crowded here. I just think they went out there to make out a bit!", said Hannah. "You are probably right! Just so long as they are not visiting the beach house out there! The last thing I want to see is Keith's twig and giggle berries!", exclaims Graham sarcastically. Hannah and Grace let out a loud chuckle at Graham's off-color remark. Hannah places her hand on Graham's right arm to get his attention. Graham turns and before he can say anything Hannah grabs his face and kisses him and says, "Thank you!" Graham's face turns red with embarrassment for the first time in a long time and asks," For what?" "For saving me! Between you, Jack, Preston, and Grace you each had a hand in not just saving me physically but emotionally and psychologically. After what Axel and Emil did to me it showed I have some people who have become the family I never had!", said Hannah. "You're welcome, Hannah! And thank you, I feel like I have a family again too!", said Graham. Hannah looks over the railing of the basement landing to the floor below at Greg standing by the crate that was Axel's final demise. She spits over the railing, the huge ball of saliva hurls at high speed to the ground below and lands perfectly on what remains of Axel's arm lying under the crate. Graham's eyes get big as he sees this and says to Hannah," Great shot!" "Good riddance you creep!"
Greg watches as the wad of spit splatters on the exposed arm of Axel's crushed remains. He looks up at the stairwell landing high above as Hannah says her not so well wishes at Axel. But he has seen something the rest of them haven't. Greg knows that Axel while at the moment may be dead as a doornail and as squished as a cockroach on the bottom of a shoe. Axel won't be that way for long! You see Axel is being reborn, a new Axel will eventually emerge and it all thanks to the Lazarus Serum. A crooked sinister smile appears on the face of Greg who takes a look at the remains of Axel. The blood still slowly flowing back into Axel's reassembling body. Greg studies this process with great interest, he even thinks he saw Axel's finger's start to move slowly. Greg turns his attention away from this for a second and glances back up at Hannah and Graham. " Make your snide and disrespectful comments and gestures! Soon enough Axel will be back and you will all be sorry!", says Greg under his breath in a maniacal tone. With all this attention he is paying to Axel's remains and Hannah up above, Greg is startled by the hand of Liam on his shoulder. " Your turn to climb up big guy!", said Liam. "You go first! I'll follow.", said Greg. "Are you sure?", asks Liam. "I am! I just need a few more moments here!", said Greg who continues to stare at Axel's regenerating body. Liam slaps him on the back, walks up to the rope, and before he climbs up says, "You do know he's dead?" A look of surprise comes over the face of Greg who thinks that Liam had noticed Axel being reborn. "Of course! Why would you say that? I was just taking one last look at him! We kind of had a friendship going!", said Greg. "Sorry, just my attempt to be humorous! I meant no disrespect!... If I were you I wouldn't waste any tears on that prick! You're better off without him. How he treated you and what he did to me and others. You have better friends than that!", said Liam. Liam starts to climb the rope, pauses, and just like Hannah spits on Axel's remains and says, "Rest in hell you fuck head!" As the latest wad of spit hits Axel's remains and Liam continues his way up the rope. Greg's anger now doubles and says under his breath to Axel's remains, "If I were you I would kill him first!"
The cold dark skies of outer space are backlit by the distant stars and planets that surround the Earth. High above the atmosphere of the Earth a large satellite known as Rickstar1 that almost resembles a space station comes to a stationary orbit over Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Deep inside the satellite, the targeting computer shows the video feed of the ever-approaching White Dragon and his hoard of Scavengers. With the computer acquiring its target. The base of the satellite opens up and slowly arranged in a circular pattern comes the heads of the Equalizer missiles numbering 100. In an instant, a barrage of 20 missiles is released from the circle of death making their way through the atmosphere towards their target below.
Unaware of the impending missile strike about to interrupt their advancement into the city center. The White Dragon and his army of Scavengers continue to move further towards the downtown core of the city. The entire mob has moved past the police station on 25th street and is approaching 1st ave. Watching from the video monitors in his secure military installation General Jordan waits in anticipation for the missiles to hit and obliterate the White Dragon and the Scavengers. No one in the room says a thing, not Dr.Washington, nor Lt. Franklin as not to incur the wrath of the General. There will be time to talk and possibly celebrate when the missiles hit. Suddenly the White Dragon holds his hands up in the air stopping the Scavengers in their tracks. A few of them bump into one another and proceed to swipe their grey claws at each other and growl like a bear mixed with a lion. The White Dragon looks up into the sky and before he can do anything he and the Scavengers are hit by the missiles. Multiple massive explosions rock the abandoned city street sending not only asphalt and concrete into the air. But limbs, organs, blood, and severed heads. General Jordan cheers out in great joy at his victory, he even embraces both Dr.Washington and high fives Lt.Franklin who is a little taken back by the general's joy. "We got them! See! We got those sons of a bitches! And we didn't even need some dead scientists from a century ago's gadgets!... Just plain old fashioned gamma missiles!", exclaims General Jordan. "Did you say that those are gamma missiles?", asks Dr.Washington. "Yes! Of course, they are! That's what all Equalizer missiles are made of! What did you expect to be in them? Rainbows and sunshine?", said, General Jordan. "That might be a problem then!", said Dr. Washington as he points to the video monitor.
The city street is filled with a cloud of smoke and fire along with a green glow. As the smoke starts to clear a bit the face of the White Dragon emerges from the ground as he climbs out of a crater in the street. He dusts himself off and looks around at the destruction and carnage of the hundreds of dead Scavengers. Standing perfectly still he holds hands out at his sides, palms facing out, closes his eyes, and begins absorbing the gamma energy. He then looks up as if to know he is being watched and flashes a maniacal grin. Looking up at the heavens as the rain falls on his face washing the dirt off The White Dragon says," Thank you for the charge!... Very good! But I can do one better!" The White Dragon turns around extends his open palms to the ground letting out a blast of white light into the ground. Like a kid putting lego blocks back together, The White Dragons energy blast brings the dead Scavengers back to life.
General Jordan looks on in horror at the events unfolding in front of him on camera. "If you would have told me what was in those missiles before you fired them I would have advised you against it!", said Dr.Washington. General Jordan turns abruptly from the video monitor, grabs Dr. Washington by the shirt collars, and exclaims," Now is not the time to get smart doctor!" Dr. Washington his body filled with adrenaline slaps the generals' hands-off his collar and says," I'm not trying to mock you! But if you had given me more details I could have told you that the White Dragon feeds off of energy sources particularly gamma!" "Nonsense! That's just an old wives' tale! Hit them again, and this time with everything we got up there!", said General Jordan. "You are a fool! You will just feed him more and make him more powerful! Then the White Dragon will be impossible to stop!", said Dr.Washington. The general turns and says, "You can either be quiet and let me do my job or you can leave!" Dr.Washington knows that it is useless to argue with a macho fool with his brains in his biceps. Not willing to waste any more breath on arguing with the general Dr.Washington sits beside Lt.Franklin. General Jordan grabs the phone and says, "Hit them again! And keep firing until there is not one of them left or Saskatoon is a crater!" Dr. Washington leans into Lt.Franklin and whispers, "His funeral!"
Like a meteor shower, the Equalizer missiles make their way with great urgency toward their target. The White Dragon looks up at the uninvited guests about to crash his party. He holds his hands up to the sky like a televangelist, turns his head slightly to the left and the right getting the angles and timing for his next move. The White Dragon just stands there and until the missiles are about 25 feet from him. Then he starts to glow like the sun an orangish-white glow and out of his hands comes to thick beams of energy. Moving the energy beams from his hands into the paths of the incoming missiles exploding them instantaneously. The aim never missing the White Dragon directs his hands hitting all 80 missiles. The White Dragon retracts his energy blasts and places his hands at his sides soaking up the gamma energy in the air like a leech. The White Dragon looks towards the heavens, grins, and shakes his head.
Back in the military installation, General Jordan looks on with awe and anger. He slams his fist down on the countertop and screams. General Jordan picks up the phone again and says," Hit that son of a bitch again!... I realize that we used up the missiles from Rickstar1! We have other satellites up there, use Rickstar2!" Dr.Washington just shakes his head in silence as he watches General Jordan repeat his mistake for the third time. And as they watch the 100 missiles get destroyed again by the White Dragon and energy absorbed. As General Jordan is about to pick up the phone again to order another missile strike, Dr. Washington stands and says to Lt. Franklin, "I'm going to stop this madness!" Dr.washington quickly walks over to General Jordan, grabs the phone from his hand, and places it back down. General Jordan's face red as a tomato and steam coming from his ears tries to lift the receiver but is thwarted by Dr.Washingtons unmoving hand. "You are in danger of being thrown in a cell doctor! Now remove your hand from that phone or I will have it chopped off!", exclaims General Jordan. "I have another!", responds Dr.Washington in a sarcastic tone. General Jordan takes a swing at Dr.Washington landing his fist square against the right cheek of Dr.Washington. Dr. Washington remains unmoved, cracks his neck, and lifts his hand from the receiver. The general thinking he's won this battle says," That will teach you for trying to supersede my authority!" But as General Jordan is about to reach for the phone he is surprised by a hard right cross from Dr.Washington that knocks the general to the ground flat on his ass! "How dare you strike me! I will have you locked up so long your great-grandchildren will come to visit you!", exclaims General Jordan. "Do it! I dare you because it is better than watching you waste all our missiles and keep feeding that monster!... I have never seen anyone so stubborn and pig-headed! Do you think we can stop him now? NO! You just made him all but unstoppable! Use your brain if you have one you fucking neanderthal!", said Dr.Washington. General Jordan just sits on the ground shocked thinking. He stands up, grabs the phone, and says, "This is General Jordan assemble Alpha Company for deployment! We are going to Saskatoon to stop this monster! If we can't blow him up then we can sure a hell can try and drain his batteries!" "Now that's using your head general! Do you think that will work?", said Dr. Washington. " We have to try! Otherwise what's left of the planet will be destroyed and there is no one else to stop him!", said General Jordan.
Graham paces back and forth in the main floor hallway, the walkie talkie in his hand. "Preston come in! For the love of God please answer!", said Graham. Graham's pace becomes more and more intense as he waits in anticipation of Preston's response, but all he gets in return is more silence. With every round, he makes going back and forth Graham stares down at the crates of weapons. The gamma rifles inside Graham are all too familiar with from his past. Lost in his worries and his glare, not on the path in front of him Graham does not see Keith standing right in front of him until it is too late. Graham runs smack into Keith knocking Keith to the ground. Keith sits there for a second and dusts himself off and says to Graham," Entirely my fault, I should have said something!" Graham extends his large right hand and lifts Keith off the ground. " No worries! It is me that should be saying sorry! It's just that I can't reach Preston and it is getting a bit disconcerting.", said Graham as he holds the walkie talkie against his right cheek contemplating trying to reach Preston again. " I am sure he is alright! Remember we weren't able to reach them for a while, the signal in this place can be choppy!", said Keith. Outside the sound of the Equalizer, missiles exploding grabs Graham's and Keith's attention. They promptly run to the front exit and look outside to see what was going on and are shocked to see the light beams destroying missiles from the ground. "What in the hell is going on over there and who is shooting down the missiles?", asks Keith. Graham stands silently, a cold chill runs up his spine and he says," Hell on Earth and Satan himself is doing that!" Keith stunned by Graham's response says, "What?" Graham grabs Keith by the shoulder and says, "We better get going back in now!" As they get back inside Graham makes a quick beeline for the weapons crates and pulls out a gamma rifle and tosses another to Keith. Keith is still confused by the events outside and Graham's cryptic words asks," Can you please tell what is going on?" "It's the White Dragon and he's brought some friends with him! We have to be ready if the World Military Force can't stop them!", said Graham. Keith turns as white as a ghost and says nothing. Graham grabs the walkie talkie from his coat pocket and says, "For the love of God Preston come in! We need you down here! Respond!... Where are you?"
Preston floats quickly down the South Saskatchewan lying face up in the water, the rain beating down on his face. Looking up all he can see is the deep purple of the clouds. A side effect of days past when the planet was at war and Mother Nature herself was used as a weapon. But that is a tale for another time or at least when Preston can remember for his memory is a little foggy. All he thinks about is how in the hell is he even alive? The gunshots should have ended his life and if not the fall should have! Why is he still alive Preston wonders and he quickly floats along the river the rain stops and the clouds disappear. The moon is full and orange in color, the stars twinkle. Preston closes his eyes to embrace this peaceful moment. His peace is not for long as the events that led him here play through his mind like a movie reel. The more he fights to forget it, the more it replays. The sudden shock of Emil pulling out his gun and filling his chest with bullets. The feel of the impact as the bullets tear into his chest and abdomen. His body catapulting out the open window and slaloming down the sloped roof of the old Bessborough Hotel. The falling through the air and the weird feeling of crashing through the gamma shield. That felt like being poked by ten thousand needles. But the one thing that Preston can't get from his mind is the look of horror on Priya's face as Emil shot him. God only knows what he is going to do to her! And with that thought, Preston musters all the strength within himself as he shakes off the atrophy and starts to swim to shore. Although each stride he takes hurts, the hurt quickly subsides and he seems to get stronger and faster. Is it the adrenaline running through his system or something else? This mysterious force that saved him. Whatever it is driving him on Preston knows he has to get back to the hotel before Emil can do any further damage.
Emil rifles through the papers on Graham's desk up in the Peak Room tossing them up in the air and onto the floor. Priya sits quietly on Graham's bed, afraid to make a move for fear of what Emil might do to her if caught. "Where is it?", exclaims Emil as he tosses more papers in the air. Priya shifts her body nervously and looks down at the floor to not make eye contact with Emil. Knowing she shouldn't say anything but in a crackled and scared tone to her voice, Priya asks, "What are you looking for?" Emil turns quickly, saunters up to Priya, and standing right in front of her says," A map!" "A map of what?", asks Priya. Emil stands silent for a moment, takes the forefinger on his left hand, and runs it down Priya's cheek. The feel of Emil's hand touching her face sends a chill down her spine and a feeling of disgust in her body. "I could say it is a map to get in your pants! But I know a way to do that!... No! It is a map of the building. If Preston's relative could get around this place with that stairwell blocked then there must be a secret passage somewhere.", said Emil as he continues to stroke his forefinger along Priya's cheek. Priya has frozen with fear once again, knowing she shouldn't have asked. She sits with her eyes closed as Emil just stands creepily touching her with a lustful look on his face. Priya thinks to herself, " I should have just kept quiet! He's going to do to me what he did to Hannah and who knows how many others?... I need to say something to get him away from me so I can find a way out of here!" Emil moves his face close to Priya's neck, she can feel his hot breath that smells like menthol and cheese. A truly disgusting smell, But not as disgusting as Emil touching her. As Emil is about to kiss her neck Priya quickly says," Have you tried the drawers of the desk yet? Bet you might find it in there!" Emil stops and thinks for a second and then says, "I'll look later! Right now I'm in the mood for something else!" Emil kisses Priya's neck, his reptile-like lips making her pull away. Emil is quite perturbed by this slight grabs Priya by her shoulders and forcefully lifts her off the bed. He spins her around whispers into Priya's ear and says," You really shouldn't do that! Just go with it otherwise it could get much worse!" Once again Emil starts to kiss Priya's neck and to make sure she doesn't pul away again he places his left hand on her throat. With his hand on her throat enough to make her breath but pushed back against Emil. She can feel the disgusting impact of the erection in Emil's pants pressed against her bottom. Emil quite turned on now whispers in Priya's ear," See! You make me so hard! I'm going to fuck you just like I did Hannah! And like I did in prison!" Priya shaking with fear starts to cry as she knows all too well what Emil has in mind and prays for something to stop him. Emil releases his left hand from Priya's throat and rips down her pants and underwear, leaving her standing with her lower body naked. Emil pushes Priya's face down to the bed and starts to unzip his pants when he is suddenly stopped by the sound of the explosions in the distance. Emil zips up his pants and runs to the open window to see the missiles being shot down from the sky with beams of white light. Priya still lying face down opens her eyes to see the outline of a secret hatch against the back wall behind the desk. She slowly gets up, pulls her underwear and pants back up. She knows that this must be the way out that Emil was looking for. She knows that she somehow has to get to it and escape. Priya looks around the room and see's a thick hardcover copy of War And Peace that fell off the bookshelf from earlier. Priya picks it up, slowly walks up behind Emil and with all her might she strikes him across the back of the head knocking him out. She drops the book beside Emil's unconscious body and says," Peace out asshole!" Priya grabs her backpack lying on the floor beside the desk, runs to the back of the room, and feels around for the latch to the secret hatch. "There you are!", exclaims Priya as she finds it sunken into the wood panel floor hatch and opens it up. She looks back to check if Emil is still unconscious and her fears are calmed by the confirmation that he is. On the desk, she notices the journal that Emil had. She quickly runs over to the desk and grabs the journal, stuffs it in her backpack, and starts to make her way down the ladder, closing the hatch behind her.
Hannah stands with a lost look on her face staring off into the distance up by the mezzanine railing. Her glare is completely focused on the constant swaying of the large crystal chandelier a side effect of the missile explosions going on in the distance. With every explosion, it moves even more and as it goes from left to right so does Hannah's head. Perfectly hypnotized by the chandelier Hannah does not notice Grace having walked up beside her. In Grace's right hand is a gamma rifle to match the one she has strung over her left shoulder. Grace places the gamma rifle in her right hand against the railing and taps Hannah on the right shoulder. This gesture completely startles Hannah who jumps and quickly turns to see who has touched her, a look of fear on her face. "Oh my god! It's just you Grace! You fucking scared the shit out of me!", says Hannah as she holds her hand over her heart to calm her racing heartbeat. " I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you! I should have known better! ", said Grace. Hannah looks down at the gamma rifle that Grace has over her shoulder and the one that is leaning against the railing of the mezzanine. 'Planning to be an old 20th-century action hero?", said Hannah referring to the old movies she watches. " We both can be! The other is for you!", said Grace. A stunned look at Grace's response fills Hannah's face and with an equally curious vocal tone asks," For what?" "I guess for what is going outside! Graham didn't say too much just that I needed to give you one! He's giving everyone one! Told us that he would explain why once Greg climbs up from the basement.", said Grace. "That doesn't sound too comforting!", said Hannah. "Yeah, well he and The Group Leader... I mean Jack certainly has this flair for the dramatic!", said Grace. "And for keeping secrets.", said Hannah with a giggle breaking her trance from the swing chandelier. A big smile comes over the face of Grace who starts to laugh as well. A stray hair falls over Hannah's green eyes, Grace noticing it tries to point it out but Hannah does not seem to mind. "You have a stray hair... No, you missed it!... I'm just going to move it!", says Grace as she extends her right hand carefully places the strand of hair back in place. A shy smile overcomes Hannah's face as Grace slowly starts to move her hand away. Hannah grabs Graces' hand with her petite right hand and holds it in hers seductively. Grace stands there and doesn't say a thing and in this tender moment, she feels love and an attraction to Hannah. Something she has never felt before! It is a calming feeling like she is home and that this woman standing in front of her was meant for her. " Does this mean what I think it means?", asks Grace. "Yes, it does!... I've never had much trust in men! They were just business and after I was sexually assaulted it disappeared even more! Then I thought Axel cared for me and that was all bullshit, that lying little creep!... But I feel that with you that I am safe and that you care about me.", said Hannah. "I feel the same as you, Hannah! Most men I dated cheated on me and treated me like shit too! And I find myself attracted to you and would love to see where it can go from here!", said Grace. "Me too! I can't believe I'm saying this because I have never said this to anyone before!... I love you!", said Hannah as tears of joy flow from her eyes. Grace can't help but cry too and then just like some scene out of an old romantic movie Grace pulls Hannah close and passionately kisses her. Keith and Maria come up the stairs to the mezzanine and notice this. They don't say a thing and just let Hannah and Grace enjoy this tender moment and turn around back down the stairs quietly to not disturb the two lovers. Grace and Hannah pull apart and look at each other with a smile on their collective faces. "I guess we better go back down before Keith and Maria come up here again!", said Grace. "Yes! It was nice of them not to say anything! Lord knows Axel would have!", said Hannah. "Well we don't have to worry about that and you don't have to worry about him at all!", said Grace. Hannah picks the gamma rifle up with her left hand from against the railing and grabs Graces' right hand with her own and says, "No, no I don't! Not anymore!... Shall we go?" Grace just nods and smiles as they make their way down the stairs to the main lobby.
Greg keeps switching his gaze from the reassembling body of Axel and Liam in order not to arouse suspicion. One minute he is looking down at the blood and organs reforming! The next he is watching as Liam nears the top of the rope hanging high above. As he returns his gaze to Axel's body rebuilding itself he notices that all the blood that once was surrounding the bottom of the crate is now almost gone. What once was a huge pool of blood is now the size of a cereal bowl of water. This time Greg's gaze lasts a little longer and a devilish grin appeared on Greg's face. "Soon we will make them feel pain for what they did!", said Greg as he quietly laughs. Greg's perverse joy is soon interrupted by the bellowing voice of Liam saying, "Hey are you going to just stand there all day and look at that assholes dead body, or are you going to climb up?" Greg looks up and yells back," Just getting one last look at this piece of shit!... I'm on my way up!" Liam nods his head and Greg responds with a thumbs up. Greg keeps watching until Liam is out of sight and turns to Axel's reassembling corpse and says, "Do me a favor! When you come back to life kill that little twerp first!" Greg makes his way to the rope, looks at Axel's body again, and says," See you soon my friend!" Greg returns his attention to the rope and starts to make his way up towards the stairwell landing high above.
Every weapons crate that was stacked two high is now single file and is stretched the length of the hallway into the main lobby. The crates stretch past the back of the concierge desk. This is the first thing that Hannah and Grace notice as they come down the stairs from the mezzanine. The next thing they notice is Keith and Maria sitting on the top of the black marble concierge desk. The looks on their face are ones of joy and happiness seeing the pairing of Hannah and Grace. " Hey, you two glad you could join us! What have you been up to?", asks Keith. "Don't even bother with the games, Keith! We saw the two of you and yes we kissed!", said Grace. Maria hops off the desk followed by Keith, a smile as big as the state of Texas, and says, "And we couldn't be happier for the two of you!... It seems that with all the problems this excursion has had it seems to have brought two different couples together." Hannah moves her petite frame closer to Grace who pulls her close and says," Yes it sure has!... Where is Graham?" Hannah's question is quickly answered at the appearance of Graham followed close by Liam, Paulina, and Greg who have just ascended the rope from the basement. Graham reaches in one of the crates from behind the concierge desk and promptly hands Liam, Paulina and Greg each a gamma rifle saying," Here you'll need these!" Liam and Greg both have a confused look on their faces and Liam responds, "Thanks, and it is not even my birthday!" Graham armed like an action star with two gamma rifles one in each hand and two Glocks fitted in a shoulder holster. "Okay, what gives Graham? Why the sudden arming like we are going to war?", asks Greg. "Because we are! All those explosions outside are just what's happening and we have to be ready to fight!" The whole room goes silent at Graham's words until Hannah breaks the silence saying," Who are we fighting? And why are we fighting? Isn't that what the world military force is for?" " They won't be able to contain it! Just delay it and if they get this far in we have to be prepared to fight!", exclaims Graham. "Hey! Hannah asked you a question! Who in the hell are we fighting?", said Greg. There is a slight pause as Graham tries to compose himself and after taking a few deep breathes he says, "The Scavengers!" "Well, that's not so bad! The World Military Force should be able to take care of them. And if any get down here we will blast them!", said Liam. " You didn't let me finish!... The Scavengers and The White Dragon! They somehow broke containment and are on their way down here. ", said Graham. "Why are they coming down here?", asks Keith. " There is a machine down here that the White Dragon wants and the journals. One that has the Lazarus serum formula to make the Scavengers more like him. And the other has the last hope to save humanity.", said Graham. "What is that?", asks Maria. " A project called Slingshot." "And what is slingshot?", asks Grace. "In lay terms its time travel!... Now I know what you are all thinking! That I'm full of shit but if the White Dragon gets to it he can go back and make this world worse than it already is. So we have to get to it first and protect it at all costs...even if it means our lives!", said Graham. The entire room stands silent for a moment to try and take in what they had just heard. Time travel? Could this be real? He sounds serious and from what they've experienced out here nothing sounds like fantasy anymore! This is straight-up comic book shit! " Well, I've had a good run. If I'm going to go out it might as well be saving the world. I don't know about anyone else but I'm in!... Anyone else?", said Keith. Like the wave at a baseball game, everyone's hands go up in the air. "So, where do we find this thing?", asks Grace. "It's somewhere in the city center, my father's journals have the location.", said Graham. "Your father? Whose that?', asks Grace. Graham pauses for a moment to let the rest of the group in on his identity that Keith, Paulina, and Maria already knew. "My father's Pops Brilliant!", said Graham. The stunned look on the collective faces of Grace, Hannah, Liam, and Greg said it all. "But how are you still alive? You should have been long dead !", said Greg. "The cure to your great, great, great grandfathers virus he created. It made me and Jack immortal or as you know him the Group Leader.", said Graham. "So you are both over 200years old? Man, this just keeps getting weirder and weirder!", said Liam. "That's exactly what we said when we all found out!", said Maria. "So, you have knowledge of the White Dragon then?", said Hannah. "Yes, Jack and I helped put the implants in him that imprisoned him and the Scavengers... We also did battle with him and the Scavengers too!", said Graham. "Speaking of Jack! Where exactly is he?", asks Keith.
Jacks' eyes slowly reopen as he regains consciousness. He pushes off the blankets that were covering him but quickly covers himself back up as he realizes that he is completely naked. Jack sits up still holding the blanket over his naked body. Looking around he realizes that he is in an old farmhouse somewhere downstream. In the corner of the room, a fire burns bright in the old red brick fireplace. He gets up of the dark brown colored couch wrapping the blanket around his waist. Jack makes his way to the large picture window the kind with a bench seat in them and looks out it. His guess was right, he was on an old farmhouse near the riverbank as he sees a nicely manicured farmyard complete with an old grey barn that he could tell was once red but faded with time. A makeshift fence out of thick tree branches contains a small heard of cows and on the other side of the barn he sees a couple of horses penned up. At the far end of the farmyard, he notices a chicken coop. Jack is not unfamiliar with these things as he spent many a summer on his grandparent's farm. This question now answered Jack has only one more question, just who pulled him from the river. It can't be Delphine, that must be a hallucination caused by all the trauma he had been subjected to with dying and being brought back. No! A farmer fishing in the river must have pulled him out! After all, it is not that uncommon for there to be lots of small farms out of the city and small settlements in this world since the plague. The sound of floorboards creaking behind him startles jack and the answer to his second question is confirmed. But instead of it being some farm family Jack looks into the deep blue eyes of Delphine. "Before you faint again can you please make your way to the couch! I don't feel like carrying you again. Especially while you are naked!", said Delphine. Jack just stares for a second and then says," This can't be real?" "Oh, it's real! Make no doubts about that!", said Delphine. "But you died! I saw you get bit by a Scavenger and then you got sick and they killed you before you could change!", said Jack. "You are mostly right! But they found a way to save me!", said Delphine. Jack only knew of one way that might save Delphine and give her the long life she now possesses, the Lazarus serum! But there was only one vial left and it was kept under guard! So, how is this possible? " Bet you are wondering how I am still alive?", asks Delphine. "Yes!... And where the hell my clothes are?", said Jack. Delphine points to the old wooden oak kitchen table and says, "Over there on the kitchen table! I had to dry them off while you slept. Also didn't want you getting my furniture wet!" Jack walks over to the kitchen table and grabs his clothes. "Is there someplace I can change?", said Jack. " You are such a gentleman and too cute! You can change here it is no problem, after all, I took your clothes off you!", said Delphine. Jack puts his t-shirt on over his chiseled torso and replies, "I would rather not!" Delphine turns around and says, "Here I will turn around and not look!" "Thank you!", said Jack as he puts on his underwear and khaki pants. "All done! You can turn back around.", said Jack. Delphine turns and smiles, walks up to Jack pats him on the ass, and says, "If I would have known you looked that good naked I would have dated you a long time ago!" Delphine starts to laugh and makes her way to the couch sitting down on it. "Okay, how are you still alive?", said Jack. Delphine pauses, takes a deep breath, pats the seat cushion on the couch beside her, and says," Come on over here and I will tell you and put your mind at ease." Jack makes his way over to the couch and promptly sits beside Delphine. Before she can begin to tell her story Jack is mesmerized by her light blue eyes. The only person that could do that! He has to focus though! He needs to hear exactly what happened to Delphine.
Six hours have gone by since she was bitten by one of the Scavengers. Delphine sits in her confinement cell on the kingsized bed looking around the room. In the back of her mind, she thinks just how well furnished this containment cell is. There is a full bedroom set, a small reading table, and even a hammock in the corner for her to read in, something she truly enjoys. She would prefer to use the hammock in the outdoors but hey this will have to suffice considering the circumstances. This is all Dr.Singh's doing she knows, he's a good friend and colleague. Most of these cells are just a plain empty room with a cot and a high pulse gamma blast to eliminate anyone who became a Scavenger. These rooms were built when scientists realized that they couldn't reverse the mutation process. But it was Delphine, Dr.Singh, and Dr.Larson who decided that the containment room was better. That they shouldn't give up on the Scavengers! That until a cure could be found one day that they should not be systematically eliminated. This was her hope and her dream, to help bring humanity back from the brink of extinction. Now she has given up on that and decided that she would rather be destroyed than become a mindless monster. Delphine gets up off the bed and walks over to the dresser in the corner of the room. Situated right in the center of the dresser is a picture of two girls, Delphine's two daughters who both share her facial features and tenacity. Their hair more of a dirty blonde, but other than that they are the spitting image of their mother. Delphine picks up the photograph and starts to cry. All she can think about is how do her girls live in this world without her? Delphine always knew this was a possibility, but now it has become a reality. The tears in her eyes fall on the photo and Delphine wipes water from the glass with the front of her shirt. She places the photograph back on the dresser. Delphine closes her eyes and says to herself, " Be strong! You always knew this was a possibility in this line of work! Who knows maybe the venom of the Scavengers didn't get in your bloodstream! No change has started!" Delphine looks in the mirror on top of the dresser and proceeds to wipe the tears away from her eyes. Her eyes have become all red and puffy from the tears. Then she sees it! A small purple blotch under her right eye the size of a freckle. She closes her eyes and shakes her head in disbelief. "It's happening!", Delphine says to herself. With the last stretch of hope left in her gone Delphine starts to cry again!
Delphine fights as hard as she can but the tears just won't subside. She keeps wiping them from her eyes as if they were windshield wipers on a car. After about ten minutes of crying the tears start to subside and Delphine looks into the mirror once again. This time she notices that her eyes are starting to show specks of yellow in them erasing the bright blue that usually fills them. It has become quite evident to her that the change is taking place a lot faster than anticipated. At this rate, she would become a Scavenger in 12-15 hours. Delphine leans her head forward looking down at the floor and shaking her head as she thought she would have more time! Maybe the suppression formula might help a bit, but what's the use it only delays the inevitable. Walking down the long hallway lined with scores of florescent lights burning bright except for one that is flickering. That flickering light is a sign of a ballast burning out and as Jack approaches it he sees that it is right in front of Delphine's containment cell. How ironic this is that the one flickering light fixture is outside this particular door. This is almost like some weird sign from above. Jack paces back and forth in front of the door trying to figure out what he is going to do and say. Finally, after about a minute and a half of this Jack punches the four-digit code into the panel beside the door and it opens. Jack sees Delphine standing her head facing the ground and a puddle of tears on the ground. This instantly starts to break Jack's heart as he knows that she is upset about her predicament. He can almost feel the sadness coming off her like a perfume that fills the air. Jack slowly walks over to Delphine and as she lifts her head to wipe her tears in the mirror she notices Jack walking up to her. In an instant, she turns around and hugs him! She leans her head into his chest and just cries. Jack pulls her close not saying anything, knowing that this is what she needs at the moment. It is in this instant that all the stuff he was wanting to say just disappeared. Delphine pulls her face away from Jacks's tear-soaked t-shirt. She looks up at him all 5ft 4 of her and Delphine says," I'm so glad to see you!" "Well, it seems obvious! I've never had anyone cry when they saw me!... Never knew I had that effect on women!", said Jack with a slight chuckle to his vocal tone. Delphine wipes her eyes, laughs a bit, and says, " Haha! I guess so!... You always could make me laugh when I was feeling down." "It's a gift!", said Jack with a louder laugh. This makes Delphine smile, even more, to forget her situation for a mere moment. "How are you?", said Jack with a concerned look and tone to his voice. Delphine pauses for a moment to fight back the tears from her eyes from starting up again and she says, "I'm fine!" Jack knowing that Delphine who has always been a private person knows by the telltale signs that she is lying, just trying to be strong. "No, you're not! What's wrong?", said Jack. "I'm changing and changing fast soon I will be one of those mindless beasts.", said Delphine as few single tears flow from her eyes. Jack takes his right hand and wipes the tears from Delphine's cheeks and he says," I will be right here for you! Maybe Sanjay has an experimental cure that can help?" Delphine shakes her head and says, "The best we have is a suppression drug but that buys you mere hours maybe a day it's all inevitable I will change!" Jack just stands there silently not knowing what to say, he wonders if only he had seen that Scavenger sooner then this would not be happening to Delphine. He thinks about how unfair this is, another person he cares about being taken by this damn plague and its side-effect! But this is not the time for selfishness, Delphine does not need that now. "And I will be there every step of the way and when you fully change I will make sure that they don't stop looking for a cure!", said Jack. Delphine shakes her head and says, "There is no cure! We've tried numerous things and nothing helps, it just amplifies the symptoms!... That's why I have decided to be obliterated rather than live as one of those creatures!", said Delphine who immediately starts to cry. Jack holds her close again to calm her fears, he knows what her fears are! They are on Delphine's two daughters Aurora and Mina and how they must go on through life without their mother. But Jack does not say a thing, he just stands there and holds Delphine, if he could he would hold her forever.
Jack and Delphine sway back and forth as they share what could be there the last embrace. Jack thinks to himself that if this is the last time he gets to hold Delphine he is going to make it last as long as Delphine will let him hold her. There is no music playing but the two longtime friends move as if there is. Maybe some sweet love ballad by Ed Sheeran, Ed Sheeran always could sing a love song like no one else. "This is nice! I don't want to move from your embrace.", said Delphine. who has her head against Jack's chest, her eyes closed enjoying every moment. "Me neither! I wish this could last forever.", said Jack holding Delphine tightly. "I was thinking that maybe you let me go and we finally have that date we always circled around but never got to!", said Delphine. Jack loosens his grip on Delphine as she pulls slightly away from Jack and looks up at him."Are you serious?", asks Jack. "Totally! After all, a condemned person usually gets one last request. And in all honesty, I can't think of a better way to spend what time I have left then with you!", said Delphine. Jack starts to tear up and says, "I don't know what to say? I mean I always thought you might have had feelings for me but was scared to ask and was going to suggest the same thing but it seemed inappropriate under the circumstances." Delphine moves closer to Jack and places her hands on his face pulling it close and starts to kiss him. They stand there for close to a minute kissing slow and passionate till their lips finally move apart. "How's that for an answer?", said Delphine with a laugh. " How was what?... Oh, you mean the kiss! It was good!", said Jack with a sarcastic tone. Delphine slaps Jack in the right arm to admonish him for his sense of humor and says, "Smartass!" Jack looks down into Delphine's bright blue eyes with a loving look and says, "Seriously I was waiting most of my life for that kiss and never thought I would get it! It was everything I expected and more!" Jack leans in and kisses Delphine again and as he pulls away from her sweet pink lips he says, "I better go and get ready seeing we don't have much time." "I better get ready too and I need to call my girls as well!", said Delphine. They break from their embrace and move apart the last thing to let go is their left and right hands as Delphine moves toward the sitting table and Jack towards the exit.
The sound of bells ringing fills the living room where Jack and Delphine are sitting in the old farmhouse that is the setting of their reunion. This interruption stops Delphine from finishing her story. "So what happened? You just stopped...", said Jack but is interrupted by Delphine holding her right hand up in the air to silence Jack. "What is it?", asks Jack. Delphine presses her the index finger of her right hand against her lips to inform Jack to be quiet. "Boy, you sure still can talk don't you?", said Delphine in a whisper. Jack realizing that what Delphine said to be true looks at her with a goofy grin and nods his head. Delphine gets up off the dark brown couch and hurries over to the light switch by the front door and flips the light switches off. With only the fireplace to provide light, Jack quietly steps across the wooden floorboards and up to Delphine now standing by the large picture window shutting the heavy gold cloth curtains. She leans in to look through the small opening of the curtains. "What are we hiding from?", asks Jack. Delphine not breaking her concentration from the curtain opening says," Citizens!" "Citizens?", responds Jack with a confused tone. "Yes! They live out here in the Lost Zones! They are searching for their latest sacrifice and if we are not quiet we will be it!", said Delphine. Jack had heard about the Citizens, extreme religious nutbags who live out in the lost zones. They believe that if they sacrifice a person a week then the world will return to normal. And if the person is from outside the Lost Zone then it means even more. Ever since the plague and the abandonment of the east what remained either moved west or remained to try and make a life. The ones that remained became so isolated and when a religious extremist named Samuel Evans started preaching they listened and because they were looking for a leader his words and beliefs became gospel. Jack always thought they were a myth but I guess not! The bells ring again, Delphine quickly move to a large wooden gun cabinet made of oak and pulls out a pump-action shotgun and a Glock. She hands the handgun to Jack and says, "I'll finish the story later! We are about to have company!" Delphine slides the pump on the fore-end of the shotgun and loads a round into the barrel.
Out in the heavily wooded treeline surrounding Delphine's farmyard. A small band of men and women numbering 12 chops through the vines and tree branches that block the dirt pathway leading to Delphine's farm. A heavyset man resembling an offensive lineman or powerlifter with a bald head and thick brown beard wields a machete clears the way. The group of "Citizens" edge closer to the farm. An average built woman with dirty blonde hair tied in a ponytail named Karol asks the man with the machete," Do you think there we will find this woman Paul?" Paul turns, holding the machete up high and says," Unlike the others, we will be successful and word has it she has a visitor!" Paul strikes at the group of branches blocking his way breaking them off the tree not knowing that every time he has done that he has alerted Delphine and Jack of his presence. "Yes but every time we have tried to capture her people have not returned.", said Karol. "Not this time! This time we got her! She will be our finest sacrifice!", said Paul. The group of "Citizens" trudge along the dirt path not knowing that Delphine is already waiting for them and she has some help!
Delphine walks over to an oak pantry shelf at the end of the kitchen cupboard. She opens up the doors to the shelf revealing six video monitors. Jack following close behind her stands and watches the video monitor as Delphine starts flipping a series of red switches on the shelf below the monitors. What Jack see's is a group of 12 "Citizens" making their way through the brush with one-man clearing the way. The cameras fitted with a night vision lens picks up the movement of the "Citizens" perfectly. Jack noticing that Delphine has been flipping a group of switches says, "What are you doing now?" As Delphine flips the last switch she moves over next to Jack and says watching the monitors," Just watch! You'll see!" Jack nods his head in agreement and just pays close attention to the monitors to see what comes next like it's a Holywood suspense thriller.
The one hundred and twenty men and women of Alpha Company stand all geared up in Shoemaker battle armor, made of thick molded plastic. The battle armor resembles that of the same kind used in Batman Begins. Grenade belts holding twenty grenades each are strung like an X over the shoulders of each soldier. And each soldier is carrying a gamma rifle fitted with high-frequency pulse cannon on them. General Jordan enters the courtyard of the Brighton military base located on the east side of old Saskatoon, in an old green jeep. As the jeep comes to a stop General Jordan stands up in the back of the jeep. He is handed a handheld CB receiver connected to a loudspeaker and says," Alpha Company, today we go out to stop a threat, unlike anything you have ever dealt with! Today you are about to learn that myth was a fact! That legend becomes the truth! Today you go out there to battle an enemy that you have never faced but only heard of in legend!" General Jordan pauses his speech for a moment and looks out at the faces of the soldiers and what he see's is a look of confusion. "Now I can see by the looks on your faces that you think that I am a complete and utter fool! You think that I am full of shit and pulling a fast one on you, Just talking up a mission to motivate you! Well! You are partly right I am trying to motivate you, but it's to build your courage! Because once I tell you who and what you are facing I don't want you to freeze.", said General Jordan as he notices the facial expressions of the troops unchanged. "Today you go out to do battle with the Scavengers!", said General Jordan who notices the faces of the troops changing from confused to cocky as many of the soldiers start to laugh. A young soldier in his early twenties with movie star looks and a bodybuilder's physique says," Is that all sir? You make it sound like we are battling the devil himself! We know how to take down a Scavenger, this will be easy!" General Jordan centers his gaze upon the cocky young soldier and says," You think so hey? Well, I hope for all our sake it is because you are fighting the devil or as you have heard him called the White Dragon!" The faces of the troops all turn as white as a ghost at the thought that they will be facing the White Dragon. All except the cocky young soldier who says," We will just beat him like we do the Scavengers! Piece of cake!" General Jordan climbs out of the back of the jeep and stands face to face with the young soldier and says," I truly hope so! Well, I'm here to tell you right now to lose that cockiness and show a little humility! Earlier on today I thought I could do just that! I fired over 200 gamma Equalizer missiles at him and he didn't even bat an eyelash! He just stood there and destroyed those missiles with energy blasts from his hands like some old comic book villain!... So, I really hope you are right!" "Then why are we even going then?", said the cocky young soldier. "What's your name private?", asks General Jordan. "Private Laing sir!", said the cocky young soldier. "Well, Private Laing because we have a sworn duty to protect what's left of the planet and even if it means us getting our asses kicked! We will fight to the last person because we will not let that madman reach the downtown core or any further than that! As of now, we are the last hope for the planet! Now let's move out!", said General Jordan. The members of Alpha Company climb into the back of army trucks and start to make their way off the base to the abandoned remains of Saskatoon.
Graham stands out in front of the crumbling marble of the pillars on the outside of the Bessborough looking off into the distance watching as the White Dragon eliminates the Equalizer missiles. The energy blasts come fast and quickly destroying the oncoming missiles in rapid succession. Graham pulls out a thick metal cylindrical cigar container from his inner front jacket pocket. He opens up the container and pulls out a thick Cuban cigar leaving him with only two. These are a rarity in today's world since the plague happened. They all but disappeared with the mass loss of life and Graham had managed to get a few out before the apocalypse happened. He has heard in rumors that there are still some made, that when the world was being decimated by the plague Cuba closed off their island from the world. The Plague did hit there with a mass loss of life and now a small dwindling population they don't allow anyone in. Graham doesn't smoke these much, in fact, this is the first one he's had in over sixty years. Graham pulls the cigar closer and looks it over to check for any damage from the fall when he saved Maria and the fight with Graham. Graham closely examines it and notices no damage. Having no cigar cutter he bites the end off and pulls out a lighter from the same jacket pocket and lights the cigar. He spins it around slowly in his mouth and puffs the cigar to get cigar perfectly lit. Graham leans against the pillar, the nanites of the gamma shield slowly repairing it. Piece by piece the old marble starts to look a little more full. He watches this puffing on his cigar and then turns his attention back to the war in the distance. As he does this the White Dragon's energy blasts stop. Graham is now even more focused on these new events. Holding the cigar at his side burning out, Graham waits for about twenty minutes for more missiles to be hit but nothing!. This must mean that they realized it was pointless and now they will try and stop them with hand to hand combat. This will be even worse, the loss of life will be great, the amount of energy they just fed the White Dragon was enough to light up the east coast for two years. Graham drops his cigar on the ground, already over half burnt out and puffed three times. Graham crushes it under his right foot and says," Here we go! Time to get the troops ready!" Graham turns around and walks back into the old hotel.
Graham steps back into the main lobby of the Bessborough and is immediately met by the entire group sitting on some dusty torn leather couches in the lobby. Their collective glare at the look on the face of Graham lets them know that there is no good news coming their way. Keith is the first to get up, he dusts the back of his cargo pants and makes his way over to Graham leaving his weapon behind leaning on his backpack. " What's the good word?", said Keith in his usual glib manner. "They stopped firing missiles.", said Graham. "Tha's a good thing!", exclaims Maria. "Yeah! That means they defeated the Scavengers and the White Dragon!", said Liam sitting on the black marble concierge desk, his feet swinging back and forth. Graham puts his hands on his hips, lets out a deep sigh and says," I wish that was the case!... But, no! I've dealt with with the White Dragon before and with what was happening a few moments before it stopped. He's still alive, and now the next move would be for the World Military Force to send their best to stop him!... Which will lead to another massacre!" The collective faces in the room all turn white at the shock of the news they just heard. "How are you so sure?", asks Greg. "Weren't you listening? He just told you that he has dealt with him in the past! I think you should have spent some time building your brainpower and not just your muscles!", exclaims Paulina. Greg gives Paulina a look of disgust over her comment and then like an adolescent child he sticks out his tongue at her. Paulina rolls her eyes and repeats the gesture back at Greg. "Would you two quit it please!", said Grace. "So, what does this mean for us?", asks Hannah. "It means that we are going to have to go out ourselves and try and stop the White Dragon.", said Graham. "What makes you think we can beat them if a bunch of highly trained military specialists can't?", said Keith. "Well, my first-hand knowledge of him might help and we have to try!", said Graham. The whole room sits silently for a brief moment and then Hannah stands up and says," I'm with you!... Who else is?" One by one the rest of the team stands up, a big grin comes across the face of Graham at this blind trust in him. "Thank you! I know that you are all putting your lives on the line here! I truly appreciate it!", said Graham. Keith pats Graham on the back and says, "Well, if we are going to die then it might as be saving the world!... But before we go, can we have one last request seeing as how we might die?" Graham starts to chuckle because he knows in the back of his mind that Keith is going to ask for a Pops Brilliant story and that's fine with him. "I'm guessing that you want to hear a Pops Brilliant story, right?", said Graham. Keith pats Graham on the back again and says in a jovial tone, "You know me so well!... So, how about it?" Graham smiles, nods, and says," Of course! We have some time!" "Yay!", says Keith who does a little sidestep shuffle back to his spot on the couch. Maria rolls her eyes and says to Keith, "You are such a dork!" "Yes, but a dork you love!" Maria nods her head knowing that she can't argue with Keith's logic. Graham grabs the only seat left, a faded red leather armchair, and says as he slowly parks his butt down, "Now where were we?"
The group of seven sits silently staring at Graham, waiting for the words to come out of his mouth like a bunch of young school children at storytime.
The warm autumn air blows through the trees of the quiet suburban Toronto neighborhood, the leaves have changed from green to shades of yellow, orange, and red. One by one the leaves fall from grace off the tree branches to the ground below ending their life and signaling the end of another summer. The only thing missing is the cool air, but that will soon arrive in time because this is Canada and winter is usually hot on the tails of fall. This is a particularly warm fall, unusual for late October. Many neighborhood children play street hockey in the street to take advantage of this nice weather. While other children ride their bikes, skip rope, shoot marbles, hopscotch, and play catch. The only kid not out enjoying the nice warm weather is Pops! Pops has never been one to get along well with other children. He does not relate well with them, Pops intellect often leaves him feeling like an outcast with the other children ignoring him or ridiculing him. It's not that Pops hasn't tried to fit in. It's just that when some neighborhood kids made fun of him, Pops had his usual reaction of the groin kick and fart bomb. This happened so often that quite a few of the parents in the neighborhood had asked Karen to keep Pops away from their kids. This can have quite an effect on a young child being segregated by his peers. Not to mention that he is now 13 and has reached puberty, a teenager these awkward years are hard with all the changes a kid's body goes through. So, for Pops, his only friends have been adults except for Ray his cousin! But, Pops has not seen or heard from him in years.
Pops sits high up in his third-story bedroom pictures of him and Ray the last time they were together on his small wooden desk along with one of his time in Europe with Karen and Agent Greene. On the nightstand by his bedsits, a picture of his late father Rick, over his bed is a movie poster of the Alfred Hitchcock film North By Northwest. Pops loved this movie, Karen took him to see it multiple times, the story of mistaken identity, spies, and intrigue with Cary Grant's glib persona making it fun. Pops had been quite the Hitchcock fan, the drama, the intrigue, and suspense. While other kids were seeing cartoons, Pops was watching these. He even had a little screening room in the basement for him built by the agency with copies of past Hitchcock movies and film noir movies. Pops sits at his desk, a fresh journal opened, with a pen in hand Pops sits staring at the blank page waiting for inspiration. Pops taps the paper of the open journal with the back of his pen for several minutes and finally says, "Crap! I've got nothing!" Pops closes the journal and moves over to the comfort of the padded window seat of his third-floor bedroom window. Looking out at all the kids playing in the street, Pops grows even sadder. He thinks of all the fun times he had with Ray and wishes he could go back in time to those days. A neighborhood boy the same age as Pops with jet black hair and a crewcut looks up from the street hockey game he is playing and notices Pops watching. The boy fitter than Pops and more athletic, or so he thinks not knowing about Pops' agency training, just glares at Pops and lifts the middle finger on his left hand. Pops, not one to back down from such a juvenile insult returns the gesture flipping off the boy as well. Unknown to Pops Karen had been standing and watching her son this whole time. "Pops! What are you doing?", exclaims Karen, her hands on her hips. Pops turns quickly knowing that he is in deep shit for this, he may stand up to others. But his mother is the one person that he knows he cannot disrespect! He shoots up from the window seat and says," Tommy Walters did it first! I was just returning the favor!" Karen walks up to the window and see's Tommy Walter's still flipping off the Brilliant house. As soon as he sees Karen, Tommy quickly lowers his hand, lowers his head, and moves over to his group of buddies playing street hockey. Looking back up at the third-floor window Tommy and his friends still see Karen looking out and they laugh at Tommy's disrespect. Karen turns away from the window and says, " That little shit! I'm going to have to have a chat with his mother!" Pops starts to chuckle a bit, for he rarely hears his mother swear, it's not like she's a saint. It's just that it's a rarity to hear her swear, she must be really mad. Karen places her hands on Pops shoulders, the ravages of time showing their effect with the wrinkles starting. "I know it's tough son! I can't even imagine what's going on in your head, the thought of no one wanting to be your friend! But, I do know about loneliness with your father gone!... ", said Karen. Pops can see the sincerity in his mother's eyes, the consoling of the segregation the neighbors had put on Pops, and even Karen as his mother. "I just want to go back in time to when Ray was around or just to change the way I reacted to the other kids and maybe have some friends! To not be the weird kid!", said Pops. Karen can see the loneliness and sadness in the eyes of her son, this breaks her heart. If people only knew the time's Pops has saved the world so those who have ridiculed him could live their pitiful little lives then maybe they would show him some respect. But, sadly they never will! " Unfortunately son we can't go back in time! We can only go forward and make each day the best we can and take advantage of the good opportunities that come our way... Don't worry too much about it Pops! When you least expect it life surprises you, and I'm sure that soon you will have a good friend your age.", said Karen. Pops stands and thinks of his mother's words of wisdom and finally, his creative block is broken and that she also may be right about the friend thing but not the time thing. "Okay mom, I won't let them get to me!", said Pops. A smile comes over the face of Karen and she says, "Good, now why don't we go out and get some fresh air?" Pops wanting to get this fantastic idea down on paper before it disappears, it could change the world forever says, "Sure! Just give me 20 minutes to finish up something in my journal and I'll be right down!" "Alright! Just come down when you are finished and we will go!", said Karen knowing that when Pops starts something in his journal it can be longer than 20 minutes, but she will wait.
As Karen leaves the room she closes the door and Pops returns to his window seat writing down his idea fast and furious like it is being dictated to him. Outside a large moving truck pulls up at the vacated house across the street. Two large burly men get out of the truck, open the large garage door at the back of the truck and start to unload the furniture. Behind the moving truck a bright orange 57 Chevy Wagon with a white top, chrome bumpers, and wheels pulls up and stops. The doors of the wagon open and out steps William Washington an African American male standing 5ft 10inches tall with an average build for a man in his late 30's. From the passenger side of the car steps Louisa Washington his wife, a petite woman, her dark hair hanging in a ponytail above her caramel-colored skin and wearing a pink sundress. From the back seat, their son Ronnie emerges. Ronnie is 13 the same age as Pops stands 4ft 11inchess wearing a red ballcap, tan shorts, and a blue and white striped shirt. From the front porch next to their house Mrs.Walters just glares as the moving men start to carry in the furniture and boxes of the Washington family. Mrs. Walters unpleased with the thought of an African-American family living in the neighborhood says," Well, there goes our property values!" Ronnie hearing this looks at Mrs.Walters and says, "I thought it already did with a racist living on the block!" Mrs.Walters glares at Ronnie like the Wicked Witch of The West for his sarcastic honesty of Mrs.Walters' person, she waves at her son Tommy and says, " Tommy! Get on in here! I don't want you around such people!" Tommy runs up the steps of his house and into the open front door, Mrs.Walters slams the door behind him. Ronnie can see the welcome they already got from one of their neighbors has upset his mother by the sad look on her face. This was his mother's dream home and his father had worked hard his entire life, from the two jobs he worked to put himself through medical school and setting up his private practice here in Toronto. Yes, Dr.William Washington was a self-made man and moved his family up to Canada from Detroit, Michigan. "New city! Same old welcome!", said Ronnie. "Now son! We shouldn't judge an entire neighborhood by one person's reaction.", said Dr.Washington. Ronnie is more than hesitant about believing that, he has been looked down on and seen his parents been treated with such disrespect worse than Mrs.Washington. Ronnie knew that it doesn't matter what side of the border you live on, racism is always there. And his point was just proven with Mrs.Walters', one by one the six other boys playing street hockey with Tommy Walters run home. Only a handful of kids remain outside, which more than confirms Ronnie's theory that their new home is just like their old one. Dr.Washington notices the angry look on his son's face and says," Just ignore them, son! Don't waste your energy on hate for people with hate in their hearts!... The whole block can't be like this!" "How can you say that pops! These people basically slammed their doors in our collective faces!... You said I would find friends when we moved here and it looks like I won't have any unless we move into a neighborhood with our people! Not these racists!", said Ronnie. Dr.Washington pats his son on the back and says," Your fire and determination will change the world, one day son! Just don't let anger cloud it! Use it as fuel to make something of yourself! But, remember don't lump one group of people all in the same category. As for making new friends, I am sure you will make some friends! It will just take time! Now go inside and help your mother unpack." Ronnie was not one to argue with his father, his father has seen more and been through more than Ronnie can ever imagine. From the discrimination, he was the recipient of while attending medical school being only one of two African American students in that program. When Ronnie would get mad at the treatment he and his family would receive it was his fathers' words that could always calm him. Ronnie just nods his head and says, "Yes sir!" Walking away up the front walk Ronnie catches a glimpse of Pops watching. Pops had stopped writing in his journal and watched all the events transpire. Ronnie's first thought is here is another white person staring him down with their eyes full of hate and disgust. But, this time he is proven wrong when he gets a simple smile and wave from Pops. Ronnie casually waves back and quickly makes his way into the house for the one thing he didn't want is for his father to tell him twice.
The 1957 white Plymouth Fury with gold trim of Agent Regina aka Tendersnatch quickly pulls up in front of the Brilliant household. The brakes give off a squealing sound alerting the whole street of his arrival. Agent Regina usually dressed in his black suit and matching trilby has changed his attire. He is dressed in light grey polyester slacks and short sleeve light yellow dress shirt, and tan loafers. Agent Regina aka Tendersnatch runs up the front walk quickly and sprints up the steps to the cherry wood front door with a long glass insert from top to bottom. He knocks on the front door so quickly as if he were in a panic. The front door swings open with the face of Karen Brilliant greeting him, her sandy blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail, wearing a white sundress with little blue stripes. The look on her face is one of surprise, for she was not expecting Agent Pervus here for another two weeks. Something must be wrong for him to be here to interrupt Pops' vacation, the look on his face says it all something is wrong. "Well hello, Agent Regina! To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?", said Karen. " Hello, Karen, I need to see Pops! We have an emergency!", said Agent Regina. Karen can tell by the urgent tone to his voice and the fidgety movings of his body that Agent Regina has no time for small talk. Karen wasted no time just points to the narrow wooden staircase pressed up against the wall and says, "He's upstairs in his room! Just go right up, you know the way!" Agent Regina just nods his head as he makes his way up the stairs and says," Thank you, Karen!" Agent Regina scales the 14 steps two at a time reaching the second floor in a matter of 10 seconds.
Agent Regina reaches the door to Pops room and knocks to announce his presence. If it one thing he does not want to do and that is to piss off pops, especially now that he has gained his trust. Pops hard at work in his latest journal looks up and says," Vagina! How in the hell are you doing? Better yet why in the fuck are you here?" "Can I come in Pops?", says Agent Regina. Pops motions for Agent Regina to come in and says," Of course, get your ass on in here!" Agent Regina aka Tendersnatch steps in the room glancing it over for some sign of the other journals, particularly the one with the virus's genetic make-up. He the great Tendersnatch has to get ahold of that journal! Harold let him off lightly with just a small beating, but it has been some time since then and Harold is getting impatient if he does not get it soon his life is over! This would not be good for his track record, how does one of the most sadistic and successful henchmen in the business fail? Simple! He has underestimated Pops, and Harold told him not to! But now that he has Pops trust it should be easier. "What's up Agent Vagina? ", said Pops with a laugh. " I have been ordered to come and get you!", said Agent Regina aka Tendersnatch. "What's wrong? You look like you have minutes to live!", said Pops. "There is a situation that has come up and you are needed! So, I was told to come and get you!", said Agent Regina aka Tendersnatch. Pops continues to write in his journal ignoring what Agent Regina just said. " Did you hear me Pops? We need to get going!", said Agent Regina aka Tendersnatch. "Yeah, we will, just give me about an hour!", said Pops. "I'm afraid we can't! We need to go now!", said Agent Regina aka Tendersnatch. "Believe me we can wait! Pervert won't get upset! I've done this many times.", said Pops. "It's not Pervert, I mean Mr.Pervus! It's Prime Minister Diefenbaker!", said Agent Regina aka Tendersnatch. Pops closes his journal quickly knowing that it is one thing to be late to a meeting with Pervert but to do that to the Prime Minister is not ever allowed. Pops hops off the window bench, with his journal under his arm, punches Agent Regina in the gut, and says, "Well what are we waiting for? Let us go then! We can't keep the PM waiting!" Agent Regina rolls his eyes and says, "Okay!... Thank you for not punching me in the dick by the way!" Pops just laughs and says, "You're welcome and you are lucky because you should have said it was the PM who wanted to see me in the first place!... That was a warning shot!" Pops walks out of the room, his journal under his arm. Agent Regina pauses for a moment to glance over the room again and says," I know you have it hidden somewhere! I will get that journal and any other ones that you might have hidden." Agent Regina aka Tendersnatch's mouth curves at the left side portraying a lustful smile at the eventual prospect of getting that journal and follows Pops out of the room.
Agent Regina wastes no time to get to the bottom of the stairs as to not arouse suspicion in Pops of not following him down immediately. Pops is impatiently waiting for him there with a curious look on his face. Many thoughts run through his mind, has Pops figured out who he is? Does Pops know what he is up to? NO! He the great Tendersnatch has been so careful with how he has handled his dual identity, something as trivial as 5 minutes would not clue into that! But he watches his words and thinks," What would Pops say in this situation?" As Agent Regina reaches the bottom of the steps he looks Pops straight in the eye and says," Sorry, I really had to fart and didn't want to do it in front of you!" Pops lets out a laugh so loud it could wake the entire neighborhood. Pops slaps Agent Regina on the small of the back and exclaims," You are too polite Vagina!... That's too funny, I mean I do it in front of you all the time! And mine is worse! They actually peel paint off the walls!" Pops continues to laugh so uncontrollably at this fake thought of manners. "Yeah, well it's just the way I am Pops.", said Agent Regina aka Tendersnatch. "You are too funny Vagina! But I guess it is poetic justice, dropping an air biscuit in my empty room after all the times I did it to you!", exclaims Pops with a hardy laugh. "Yeah, well I learned from the best!", said Agent Regina aka Tendersnatch. Pops walks towards the front door and says while still chuckling," I'm leaving with Vagina here ma! Guess there is an important thing good old Dief wants to talk to me about!" Karen smiles, pats the partially balding head of her 13-year-old son, and says," Alright, have fun! See you when you get back... And try not to give the Prime Minister too much grief about the Avro Arrow again! I don't think he liked it that much!" " Oh come on! you're taking all the fun out of it, he chose not to listen to me and let the Americans have it! Don't know where he got that idea to scrap giving us air superiority?... Oh well, we have so much more anyway! That one little thing won't matter anyway... Come on Vagina, what are you waiting for?", said Pops as he walks out the front door. Agent Regina quickly follows Pops out the door just nodding his head at Karen as he leaves.
As Agent Regina's 1957 Plymouth Fury sits in traffic, Pops sits silently. An unusual thing for him, because Pops has always had something to say. Pops just sits there in the passenger seat working away in his journal. "What are you working on there Pops?", said Agent Regina. Pops doesn't say a thing, he just keeps working fast and feverishly, like a rapid virus Pops idea's come to him. He quickly writes and writes and even draws from what Agent Regina could see it is some sort of machine. By the advanced equations, he caught a glimpse of this machine might be something that Harold might want! Now all he has to do is find out what exactly it is, knowing Pops it could be anything. It's just that he doesn't want to jump the gun and take this to Harold only to find out that it is some kind of advanced toaster to satisfy Pops toast obsession. Pops not breaking eye contact with his journal pages says," Hey Vagina! Where in the hell are we? This is not the way to The Royal York!" "We are not going to The Royal York! We are going to The Cathedral.", replies Agent Regina. Pops thinks to himself and wonders why would they be going to the famous site known as The Cathedral? Site B was only used for the most urgent of meetings, and not very often because Pops himself had never been there! This must be an important meeting. "This is exciting! I've never been to The Cathedral!", said Pops. "Well I have once but never got past the front door, I've heard it's quite the place!", said Agent Regina. For Agent Regina aka Tendersnatch this quite the coup. He the great Tendersnatch will finally get to see inside the most secret of the CBC's facilities, just another piece in the puzzle to take them down from the inside. The traffic finally starts to move and in no time Pops and Agent Regina are finally on their way to The Cathedral.
Agent Regina's Plymouth Fury turns onto Carlton Street and slows down as Agent Regina looks for a parking spot. This does not take long as Agent Regina finds one directly across from The Cathedral. He carefully angles his boat of a car into its parking spot, quite difficult to do, but in 1960 the size of the vehicles was common and in no time they are parked perfectly. Pops closes his journal and exits the car, he stands on the sidewalk looking from across the street at The Cathedral otherwise known as Maple Leaf Gardens. "It's something, isn't it?", said Pops. Agent Regina aka Tendersnatch himself is dumbfounded by the pure aura coming off this hockey palace and just replies, "Yes it is!" The two just stand there and stare! In all the time Pops has been in Toronto he has never been here as a CBC agent or as a hockey fan even though he has always wanted to. "Shall we go? We don't want to be late!", exclaims Pops. Agent Regina just nods his head and the two men start to cross the street to the front entrance of Maple Leaf Gardens. "How do you think the Leafs will do this year?", said Pops. " Better, but I still don't think they will win the cup! It will probably be Montreal.", said Agent Regina. "Shit! I hope not! I hate those guys! Why did we ever make that deal for them to be the dominant team in hockey?", said Pops. "To keep national unity and get free poutine! Besides the deal runs out in 33 years!", said Agent Regina as they approach the front doors of Maple Leaf Gardens.
As they walk into the interior od Maple Leaf Gardens they are immediately met by a thinly built man in his mid-twenties wearing dark black horn-rimmed glasses, jet black hair, and dark black suit. This man Pops figures must be part of the PM's team or one of the Agents stationed here at The Cathedral. Extending his hand to Agent Regina the man introduces himself but does not extend Pops the same courtesy, he just glares at Pops as if he is a nuisance, and beneath him. The man says in a posh and arrogant tone showing his silver-spoon upbringing," Good day gentlemen! I am Mr. Fratner. I am the personal liaison/ overseer for the Prime Minister's office. If you will come with me Mr. Diefenbaker is waiting for you!" Pops very unsettled by this disrespect conveyed upon him by Mr.Fratner decides he is not going to let some high born snob look down on him. Mr.Fratner, Pops has decided that he is going to get the same treatment that others who have disrespected him have gotten. "Hold on there Farter! I think you forgot something!", said Pops in a higher-pitched vocal range a side effect of puberty hitting but still having a gruff sound. Mr.Fratner turns around sporting a disgusted look at the low-brow insult to his distinguished family name. "The name is Mr.Fratner to you Mr.Brilliant! Not... Farter, Ugh! I would expect you to extend me that courtesy, the same as I've shown you, young man!", said Mr.Fratner in an arrogant and annoyed tone. Agent Regina aka Tendersnatch just shakes his head and rolls his eyes, leans into Mr.Fratner, and says," I wouldn't say that if I were you!" Mr.Fratner gives Agent a look of disdain, looks Pops up and down, and says, "Why not? This rude little spawn of humanity has to be reminded of his manners!" "Pop's face turns a shade of red from the anger flowing through his body from the words and actions of Mr.Fratner. Agent Regina seeing Pops face knows what is about to happen and says, "For your sake, you really should apologize!" Mr.Fratner wrinkles his nose Agent Regina's words and looks at Pops with disgust saying, "And what will happen if I don't?" Pops has had enough of this before Agent Regina could respond Pops hit Mr.Fratner with a thunderous blow to the testicles, dropping his posh ass to the floor in a second. Mr.Fratner now lying on the floor holding his aching genitals screams out in pain, "ARGGGGHHH!!!! For the love of god! You hit me you rude little shit!" Agent Regina just shakes his head because now he knows more is coming and he is right. Unlike his usual one-shot cock shot than the usual chemical warfare that follows by a trademark Pops Brilliant fart Pops walks up to Mr.Fratner and kicks him three more times in the genitals. The whole, while Pops is doing this Agent Regina, is watching with great pleasure with a look on his face to match. This is one of his, the great Tendersnatch's favorite torture techniques, the sexual sadist in him getting aroused. With Mr.Fratner incapacitated with the pain coursing through his body from the repeated hits to his man parts, Pops hovers his chubby ass over his face and lets out a fart so loud it could shatter glass. The pure smell of the toxic gas that was just released from Pops bowels causes Agent Regina to cover his face with his shirt. Pops looks down at Mr.Fratner and with a look of accomplishment and says," Here's the courtesy you deserve Farter!... Come on Vagina, we'll find our own way!" Agent Regina looks down at Mr.Fratner says," I warned you! But you had to find out the hard way!" Agent Regina walks up to Pops and gives him a high-five and they walk down the hall towards the ice level.
Walking down the main concourse hallway all Agent Regina observes the surroundings to map out a future takedown of this facility once Harold's plan comes to fruition. Beside him, Agent Regina hears the nonsensical singing of Pops of a song that Pops just made himself. " You can be short or you can be tall but if you mess with me I will kick you in the balls! You'll be lying on the floor and trying to crawl to the door. But you will be in pain from the fall because I kicked you in the balls! Yeeeaaaahhhhh!!!", sings Pops with a little shuffle in his step over and over. All the singing that Pops has been doing gets in Agent Regina's head breaking his concentration. And in not too long Agent Regina is humming along too, realizing what he is doing singing this childish song he is torn. On one side how he cannot voice his displeasure because Agent Regina has Pops trust. On the other side of him, that is Tendersnatch is feeling the same disdain for Pops that Mr. Fratner had! But the song is catchy and starts humming along louder, realizing this again Agent Regina stops and says," Jesus Christ Pops! You have got that song stuck in my head now!" Pops just laughs and says," Mission accomplished!" "Yeah if you wanted me singing that in the meeting with the Prime Minister?", said Agent Regina aka Tendersnatch. "Hahaha! Now that would be funny! I can picture it! Yeaaaahhhh!!!", said Pops. "No, no yeah! This is a serious meeting!", said Agent Regina. "Oh lighten up Vagina! What's the worst that can happen? So, you sing it and the Prime Minister gets it in his head and starts singing it too! Maybe a little dance number breaks out! Hahaha!", says Pops with a jovial laugh. All Agent Regina can now picture is the sight of the Prime Minister and the others at the meeting breaking out into song and dance. This causes him to laugh, Pops noticing this says, "See you can picture it now! Now you are nice and relaxed for the meeting! Now let's get going!" Looking around Agent Regina is lost on where they go to thinking that he shouldn't have let Pops take down Mr.Fratner. How are they supposed to know where to go and they are already late.
Agent Regina's fears are calmed when a man in his mid 60's standing 5ft 6inches wearing a tan suit with a thin head of hair and thin mustache approaches them and says," You look lost! Perhaps I can help you, I'm Conn Smythe!" The collective faces of Pops and Agent Regina drop! Who'd have thought that Conn Smythe was part of the CBC? I mean it was a great possibility seeing as how The Cathedral was part of CBC headquarters, one of it's most secretive installations. This man was a Toronto legend, a war hero, and a part of the hockey hierarchy. With Pops and Agent Regina just standing and staring at him, the dead silence becomes uncomfortable. Finally, Conn Smythe said," Are you two alright?" "Yes, sir we sure are!", said Pops. "You are quite the respectful young man! Not quite what I was expecting from the stories I heard of you Pops.", said Conn Smythe with a chuckle. Conn Smythe extends his hand to Pops' who reciprocates and the two shake hands. "It's a pleasure to meet you both!", said Conn Smythe. "It's a pleasure to meet you two and an honor Mr.Smythe.", said Pops. Agent Regina is shocked by the formality in Pops demeanor, never has he seen Pops act so respectfully to anyone, and not change their last name. "Are you sure you are the same Pops Brilliant I heard of? Because the stories I heard about you painted a picture of a no-nonsense, free-speaking, and acting young man!", said Conn Smythe. Pops lets out a hearty laugh and says as he lightly slaps Conn Smythe on the bicep," Don't believe everything you hear! I'm not that bad!" Agent Regina tries hard not to call out bullshit and just chuckles a bit. At this point, Mr.Fratner has regained his faculties and caught up with them, walking with a slight limp from the blows to his genitals. "Believe it! Believe it all!... I would watch his hands if I were you and feet if I were you!", said Mr.Fratner.A devilish smirk comes over the face of Pops and he says," Good to see you could catch up with us Farter!" Conn Smythe tries not to laugh, for he respects tough people who stand up for themselves and their country. He was also a man who grew up poor not like Fratner's family people who turned their noses up at him throughout his life. Conn slaps Fratner on the shoulder and says," Well you shouldn't have disrespected him! I would have given you multiple cock shots too!" A big grin comes over the face of Pops at the approval of his beatdown of Mr.Fratner. "You saw?", said Pops. "But of course! There is nothing that does not go on here in Maple Leaf Gardens that I don't know about!... Now come on we need to get going the Prime Minister is waiting and we shouldn't keep him waiting any longer!", said Conn Smythe as he turns and walks down the stairwell of the main seating concourse directly in front of center ice. The three men follow as he Conn walks down and through the open gate onto ice level and stops at center ice. Standing in front of the blue maple leaf on center ice he taps his foot three times and hummed the first few bars of Maple Leaf Forever. A small section of the ice level opens about 6ft by 4ft revealing a stairwell. Conn motions his right hand towards the stairs and says," Gentlemen and Farter!" Pops just chuckles and walks down the stairs followed by Agent Regina, Mr. Fratner, and Conn Smythe. As they reach the bottom the ice level closes back up hiding the secret stairwell.
Pops, Agent Regina, and Mr.Fratner all follow Conn Smythe down a long well lit hallway. As they walk down this corridor Pops notices several pictures of many prominent Canadians that he recognized such as Mary Pickford, James Naysmith, Alexander Graham Bell, Tommy Douglas, Gordie Howe, and his good friend Lorne Greene now a big television star. But, there were so many others that he didn't recognize. Then in an instant Pops stops dead in his tracks in front of the photo of his father and stares. Inside a flurry of emotions is welling up, which can only be described as a combination of anger mixed with sadness. A few tears fall from Pops' eyes, he takes the back of his right hand and wipes them away. He can't be seen crying when he walks into the meeting. Pops quickly turns and continues to follow his companions down the hallway. The group of men stops in front of a set of large beautifully carved large oak doors.
Conn Smythe pushes in the two doors inward revealing what only can be described as a large round circular table that seats fifty people, with only Mr.Pervus and Mr. Diefenbaker sitting and quietly chatting. Behind them several large high definition flat-screen monitors. These monitors make the modern tech of the time look like shit! Mr.Pervus leaves his seat and makes his way towards Pops and Agent Regina. "It's about time you two got here! The PM is getting a little irate!", said Mr.Pervus. Pops slaps Mr.Pervus on the behind and says," Chill out Pervert! I'll smooth things over!" Pops instantly walks over to Prime Minister Diefenbaker, a well-built man with a piercing glare that could cut glass, his thick face and neck only made his presence more commanding. As Pops gets close to him the Prime Minister stands and extends his hand to Pops. Pops shoots out his right hand slapping it into the large hand of Diefenbaker and the two share a hearty handshake. "Pops! It's so good that you could grace us with your presence! I think I said the meeting was for 2 pm and it is now almost three!", said Diefenbaker. Pops knowing that this is was the way that the Prime Minister was voicing his displeasure quickly responds," Sorry Dief! It couldn't be helped, there was traffic and then I had to deal with your twat-waffle of a liaison Farter over there who showed me no respect. So, I showed him that he had to!" Mr.Pervus just rolls his eyes at the way Pops was speaking to the PM, but this was Pops and both men were from Saskatchewan, so Pops might get away with it! Diefenbaker just stands there stone-faced as Pops laughs at his own words. Before the awkward silence drags on Diefenbaker lets out a hearty laugh himself and slaps Pops on the right shoulder saying," It's quite alright! We saw it on the monitors, and I have to say I like your no-nonsense style Pops." Pops laughs and says, "Yeaaaahhhh!!! It's the Pops way!" It is at this point Mr.Fratner interrupts the Pops and Diefenbaker's male bonding and says, "I hate to interrupt sir but we need to get this meeting underway, you have other items on your schedule!" Diefenbaker lets go of Pops' hand and says as he sits down back in his high brown leather chair," You're right, you're a bit of a killjoy but you are right Farter!... Gentlemen, please have a seat we have some important shit to discuss!" This uncouth way of speaking was unusual, something that the public never saw and it disgusted Mr. Fratner who gives Pops a look of disgust for his effect on the PM. "Hey! I saw that Farter! Don't make me go nuclear on your ass again!", said Pops. "Saw what? I did nothing to you, you rude little boy!", said Mr.Fratner. "That's bullshit! You looked at me like I was shit on the bottom of a shoe!", said Pops. "Farter I mean Mr.Fratner I saw it too! And I will not have any member of my staff conducting themselves with such rudeness to anyone! Especially a great Canadian such as Pops, you can wait outside while we speak.", said Diefenbaker. Mr.Fratner is taken back by this, his face turns red from anger but does not say anything in fear that he could lose his job. So, Fratner lifts his nose in the air from this insult he felt he was subject to and leaves the room. As the door shuts behind Mr.Fratner Pops, Agent Regina, Conn Smythe, and Mr.Pervus all take their seats.
"Ha, ha! This shit is getting good! I love it that Mr.Fratner got put in his place! Can't wait to hear what happens in the meeting!", exclaims Keith with a laugh. Maria slaps Keith across the back of the head and says, "Well we would be able to hear it if you didn't interrupt!" The Group sitting the dimly lit and dusty abandoned Bessborough lobby just laugh at this site that has become all too common. "Oh, that turns me on!", said Keith. Maria just laughs and slaps Keith across the back of the head again and says," Men! If you don't watch it I'll punch you where it really hurts!" Keith crosses his legs at the thought of the pain of where he knows Maria would strike next and says," Sorry Graham! Continue please!" Graham smirks and says, "No problem! Now they all just sat at the table and..."
Pops watches with great interest as Mr.Fratner closes the door behind him. Pops leans back into the tan leather office chair like a high powered CEO, puts his feet on the table, and says, "I'm so glad that he's gone! A bit of an asshole if you ask me! What do you say we get this meeting underway I would hate to miss my 4:30 toast munching. Mr.Pervus looks at Pops' making himself at home says," Just make yourself at home why don't you Pops!" Pops leans back even further, the chairs front wheels partly on the ground, looking up at the ceiling Pops replies, "Don't mind if I do!... You can join me if you would like!" Like some shot of correction from the fates, Pops chair loses its footing on the ground and falls backward taking Pops with it, and all you can hear is Pops yelling out, "For fuck sakes!" As the chair falls with a crash to the ground everyone in the room tries not to laugh, except for the Prime Minister who lets out a hearty laugh. This starts a chain reaction in the room and soon Mr.Pervus, Agent Regina and Conn Smythe are all laughing so loud that they are crying. Pops quickly shoots up from the ground and instead of his usual reaction, all Pops says," Assholes! Laughing at your dear friend Pops!" This causes the room to erupt even further into laughter, the Prime Minister has his head face down on the tabletop laughing and slamming his clenched up, right fist on the table like he was hammering a nail. "I'm so sorry Pops! We'll stop, but it was just so funny, the timing of the fall right after you confidently invited us to put our feet on the table.", said Prime Minister Diefenbaker. Pops picking up his chair catches the infectious aura of the laughter and starts to laugh as well. " It's good you can see the humor in that too Pops!", said Prime Minister Diefenbaker. Pops hops back into his chair and says with a laugh," I have to admit it was partly that, that got me laughing! But what really has me laughing is how you scrapped the Avro Arrow program!" The laughter stops suddenly in the room as everyone looks at what the Prime Ministers' reaction would be to this tactical error from a year ago. Even Prime Minister Diefenbaker has a serious look on his face as if to say," I can't believe you just went there?" The tension in the air for those few seconds is so thick you could cut it with a knife until Diefenbaker breaks out into laughter again. "That's the spirit Dief! Laugh at it, I know I always do!", said Pops. " Yeah well you can't live in the past and besides we already have so much secret tech anyway!", said Diefenbaker. The Prime Minister stops his laughter, wipes the tears from his eyes, and says," Alright gentlemen we need to get serious and down to business here, Mr.Pervus!" The room becomes silent and more professional as Mr.Pervus stands up types into the computer keyboard on the table in front of him. On the 100 foot HD screens behind the Prime Minister, footage of past recent failed missions is shown like some spy movie. "What's this Pervert? Is this Harold?", said Pops. "It's funny you would say that Pops because you have it right! This is Harold, it seems we have a mole in our ranks somewhere!", said Mr.Pervus. Pops face turns stone-cold serious and a little red from the thought of Harold being able to do such. The thought of Harold ruining a place he has called home and people he thins of as family is enough to make Pops spit out fire. Knowing that he has to choose his words carefully or his cover be blown, Agent Regina aka Tendersnatch asks," Do we know who it is?" Mr.Pervus brings up a blurred picture on the 100ft monitor and says, "We believe it is this man known only as Tendersnatch! He is Harold's right-hand man, an expert chameleon, narcissist, and sexual sadist. He is known for taking pleasure in causing pain and using, a prosthetic device for enhancing the male genitalia to extract information and for fun." The looks on the faces of all at the table are flabbergasted at the thought of this information. How can such a sick and a twisted person be allowed to walk around? " Is this the best picture we have of him?", aid Agent Regina expertly faining interest. "Unfortunately this is the only and best one we have! Tendersnatch is a master of not only infiltration but anonymity. No one knows much about his appearance and if they have seen him, they usually end up dead! The only thing we know about him is that his genitalia is freakishly small!", said Mr. Pervus. At this time Agent Regina aka Tendersnatch is trying to hold in his anger, how can they say that? He the great Tendersnatch is bigger than average! But, he holds it in and calmly laughs and says, "What a buffoon! Must be why he needs the prosthetic!" "Make no mistake Agent Regina, Tendersnatch is no buffoon, he is one of the most cunning and dangerous people next to Harold!" Agent Regina just nods in agreement. At this point, Pops slaps Agent Regina on the right shoulder and says," They should call him Tinypecker instead of Tendersnatch, well maybe they call him that because he is so sensitive about his small dick!" Agent Regina just laughs but inside he wants to strangle Pops for his disrespect, no one and I mean no one does that to Tendersnatch and lives. But, Tendersnatch thinks as he sits there belting out his phony laugh, goes against Harolds' orders. Soon enough once the plan comes to fruition that Harold has expertly put into place will they all pay, especially Pops! "Don't you worry Pervert and Dief! Vagina and I here will find Tinypecker and stop Harold!", exclaims Pops. At this point, the Prime Minister speaks up and says, "Unfortunately Pops we need you on finding Harold! To cut the head off the snake figuratively before it gets too out of hand!... We have a plan in place to find Tendersnatch and capture him!" "That's bullshit! Vagina and I can do both! We find Tendersnatch and we find Harold!", said Pops. "We know you can Pops! But it just might be what Harold would want.", said Agent Regina. Pops sits quietly and thinks for a second then he says, "You're right Vagina! I almost let my anger cloud my judgment!" "Do we know where Harold is?", said Mr.Pervus. "Rumor has it that he is in the United States, but we have also heard that he is in Europe, Asia, and Africa! So, no one knows!", said Pops. "Well, I would keep an eye on the U.S, they have an election coming up next month and he could be eyeing doing something there!".said Diefenbaker. "Will do! And what about Tendersnatch?", asks Agent Regina. "I have appointed a special investigator from the outside to find him whoever he is inside our organization.", said Diefenbaker. "And who would that b...wait, it's not Farter? Please tell me it's not Farter!", exclaims Pops. "Yes it is, I'm sorry to say! But don't worry you will not even know he is there!", said Diefenbaker. Before Pops can respond he is beaten to the punch by Agent Regina who said," I really don't think that is a good idea!... Firstly he is not one of us and secondly, Pops could either end up putting him in intensive care or the mental hospital." Pops brandishes a sly mischievous smirk on his face and just says, "Yeaaaahhhhhh!!!!!" "Unfortunately gentlemen seeing as who we don't know who to trust inside the CBC that is our only option! He will be helping Mr.Pervus by overseeing all missions and conduct background investigations of each agent!", said Diefenbaker. Mr.Pervus just stands there and listens, knowing that under his direction a mole has surfaced in the CBC and the Prime Minister has the final say in agency protocol. Pops having studied the CBC manual backward and forward knows this too and does not argue, but only says," Okay, but you were warned by Vagina here!" At this point, the door to the conference room opens and Mr.Fratner steps in the doorway and points to his watch. Prime Minister Diefenbaker stands up as do the others at the table out of respect. " I'm sorry gentlemen but I have to get going!", said Diefenbaker. As the Prime Minister and Mr.Fratner start to walk out the door Pops says," See you Dief! Try and not cancel any more government programs!" Diefenbaker just chuckles as he leaves, and Pops not wanting to let Mr.Fratner leave without one last shot says," See you later Farter, we will make sure to have lots of ice and smelling salts when you start work with us!" Mr. Fratner gives Pops a cold disgusted glare, turns his nose up in the air, and walks out of the room.
The red and gold of the autumn leaves blow around as Agent Regina aka Tendersnatch sits on a bench in Mimico Waterfront Park looking out at the cold autumn water of Lake Ontario. The sun is starting to lower and the orangish-bronze color it gives off fills the sky. That moment of solitude doesn't last as the thinly built frame of Mr.Fratner plops himself on the bench. "Nice view, isn't it?", said Mr.Fratner. "Yes, it is! The thing about a sunset is people don't take the time to enjoy it!... Were you followed?", said Tendersnatch with a hint of irritation in his voice. Mr.Fratner knows that he probably shouldn't have said anything to interrupt Tendersnatch's moment of solitude and just waited for Tendersnatch to say something first. "No, I wasn't I made sure!", said Mr.Fratner, his voice crackling not knowing if Tendersnatch will assault him for his mistake. "Good!... That was a good performance you put on there today! Harold will be pleased.", said Tendersnatch not taking his eyes off the sunset as it grows closer to the water. "Thank you! But did you have to let that little shit give me such a beating? I won't be walking right for a week or having any sex!", said Mr.Fratner. "Well consider it me giving your right hand a break so you won't get hairy palms! Besides, I cannot break my cover, I have to keep my role as Agent Regina tight as a drum and not lose Pops' trust!", said Tendersnatch. Mr.Fratner stretches his left leg out to work out some stiffness and lets out a slight grunt of the pain he still feels in his crotch. "I get that but I was just expecting the one punch and fart bomb! Not the multiple kicks to the dick!", said Mr.Fratner. Tendersnatch reaches his left arm and pats Mr.Fratner on the back three times unenthusiastically and says," There! There! You big baby! Does that make you feel better?" Mr.Fratner knows that Tendersnatch is not pleased with his words by this mocking sympathy. "I have gotten much worse so, you will take your lumps from Pops and like it, at least until the plan comes to fruition!... Or do we have to find someone else for the job?", said Tendersnatch. A cold chill runs up Mr.Fratners' spine knowing that he has angered Tendersnatch and he better choose his next words better. " No sir! I can do it! Tell Harold he can count on me!", said Mr.Fratner. Tendersnatch taps Mr.Fratner on the leg and says, "Good! Because if I had to dish out some punishment on you, you'd be wishing it was Pops!... Now, leave me to finish watching this sunset for tomorrow we start!" Mr.Fratner quickly and silently gets up from the bench and walks away. The sun slowly moves into the water and the day turns to night, the whole while Tendersnatch looks on as it does.
There is a collective silence in the old dimly lit lobby of the Bessborough. The faces on the group just stare blankly and the plot twists that they just heard. The silence just grows more and more awkward as everyone just sits there not knowing what to say.
Jack continues to stare at the video monitor as the encroaching zealots know as "The Citizens" have stopped dead in their tracks. They just stand there not moving a single muscle, from the video monitors it looks like they are staring directly into the cameras. "What am watching? Them not moving?", said Jack sarcastically. Delphine turns her head at Jack and sticks her tongue out at him like a child and then refocuses her attention on the video monitors. "I don't understand it! It's like they know I am ready for them!", said Delphine. "Maybe they are?", said Jack. "It's worked the other times they tried!", said Delphine. "It sounds like they were scouting your place to know where to stop! They obviously know where your defenses are!", said Jack. "But I don't understand it? I change the sensor placements every time and the type of booby trap! They shouldn't be able to!", said Delphine. "Well, maybe they were watching you while you did.", said Jack. Delphine shakes her head in denial and says," No way! The outer sensors would have picked them up!" Paul the leader of the group of "Citizens" lets out a sly, devilish grin at the camera and then strikes it with his machete. The monitor goes black, Delphine changes the focus to some long-range cameras just as "The Citizens" start to move gingerly through the brush towards the farmhouse avoiding the trap censors. "Son of a bitch!... Looks like we go with plan B!", said Delphine as she pulls back on the fore-end of her pump-action shotgun. Jack pulls the Glock Delphine gave him from the back of his pants and loads the chamber. "I'm ready! Let's do this!", said Jack. Then as if it were the plot scene to an action/thriller the cameras all go dark, Delphine walks over and tries flips the light switch on the kitchen wall, her fears are confirmed, there is no power. "Well, this got more interesting!", said Jack.
Scores of army jeeps, trucks carrying soldiers, a handful of old Apache attack helicopters refurbished for battle lead the way as General Jordan leads Alpha Company towards The White Dragon. With the certainty of battle drawing ever so close The White Dragon just holds his left hand up to keep his army of Scavengers at bay. The White Dragon just stands there and looks on at his opponents brandishing a devilish grin and says, "Bring it on fools! Do you think that this will stop me?... At least this will be fun!" The trucks stop and the members of the Alpha company emerge and line-up, their gamma guns in hand prepared for certain death! General Jordan stands up in his jeep and with the microphone in his hand says over the loudspeaker," Turn back right now Dragon, no one has to get hurt!" The White Dragon shakes his head in disagreement and says," It should be you that turns back! Just let us through and you might be allowed to live!" "You know I can't do that! Your journey ends here!", said General Jordan. " That's just what I was going to say!... But to make it fair I won't fight for twenty minutes, instead, I will let my Scavengers have all the fun.", said The White Dragon. "Okay, you asked for it! Alpha Company attack!", said, General Jordan. A barrage of missiles and gunfire rages out almost instantly after the Generals orders at the waiting Scavengers. The White Dragon lowers his left hand and the Scavengers jump and attack like a bunch of wild animals.
The sound of the battle breaks the silence in the Bessborough lobby, Graham stands, his gamma rifle in hand, and looks at the main entrance. This signal was inevitable and he knows they should head out but is scared to! He knows from personal experience that he is leading this small band of people to death. Before he can say anything Keith stands up and says, "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" One by one everyone in the group stands up knowing their fate but is willing to die to stop the White Dragon. As they quickly make their way towards the main entrance the door to the basement stairwell is blown off stopping them. Out of the dust and scattered flames steps out the white glowing figure of Axel who says, "Now where do you think you are going? I'm not done with you yet!"
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