ALL NOVEL Loop 255 - Part 6: Harold
“Well, you’re not Harold,” said a man as he took the seat and sat down across from Bart. Harold may not have been sitting at the table, but he had loaded Bart down with the gear needed to talk, whether he was physically there or not. Depending on how this went, he may end up joining them in person, but for now, he would do it all remotely.
“And you don’t appear to be the body of Clark, even if the voice does sound right,” replied Harold through a specialized speaker phone Bart had set on the table. The visual feed was coming from a camera in Bart’s hat.
“I checked out one of our specialized ogres for the occasion. I figured I might as well show you how far some of our technology has come,” Clark explained, lifting the menu to take a look.
“So you went through that horrible program, did you? I’m not sure many people would consider this technology so much as enslavement,” Harold responded, carefully keeping the building rage from his voice. Clark had to have known about his grandson then. This was a show to knock him off balance.
“We can’t have rogue individuals roaming the streets with unchecked magical powers. Someone had to do something, and considering what you’ve learned, you must understand the need for an army. It just so happens we’ve recently gained several powerful new recruits. The data we are collecting is amazing. Sure, we had theories about the long-term effects of energy cores on animals, but now that we have actual subjects, that’s something. I’ve heard the boys in the lab have made more discoveries in the last year than they have in the last two decades combined,” Clark set down the menu and waved for a waitress.
It seemed the man was pulling out all the stops in an attempt to push Clark into something stupid. Luckily, he had thought this through and convinced Trashcat to stay outside guarding the building and not listening inside. She did not have his emotional regulation skills or the lifetime of experience handling someone like this and would only have made things go from bad to worse.
“What’s your goal here Clark? See how angry you can get me? Hope I cause a scene so you can call in backup and take me out?” Harold asked.
“Hey, you’re the one who asked about this meeting. Don’t blame me for coming prepared,” Clark paused the conversation and looked at the waitress who had just arrived. “Yes, I’ll take four of your phase burgers, and my friend here will take two,” He turned back away from her immediately after ordering for both himself and Bart.
“Yes, I did. There are just some things you learn that manages to push you past your dislike for certain individuals, and the idea that you are suddenly out there brazenly kidnapping people en masse to build your forces, well, that’s new. So now I have to start wondering. Just how bad is this invasion?” Harold asked.
“Oh if I understand it correctly, we’ve already lost several times over. It may even be a hopeless cause, but I’m guessing you already knew that. How is it that you came to know the Marshall family exactly? They don’t seem to be people that would typically be in your circles,” Clark paused again as two platters of burgers and fries were sat on the table.
“Strange friendships tend to form when the world starts to go to hell. I have it on good authority you’ve gotten into bed with some very unsavory people, somehow more than you yourself. How’d you pull that off?” Harold replied, watching as Bart scarfed down the burgers. He had warned them of the potential poisons, but apparently, whatever Bart’s physiology was, made it highly unlikely they had anything that would work.
“I think you explained that with your own answer. I will do what’s necessary to save the world, no matter what. So let me make this offer. You’re an intelligent man; just come work with us. We could use you. I think I can even arrange for Melissa’s safety if you come willingly. It’s the only way this ends with you finding her,” Clark made his offer between bites of his own burger.
“No. I won’t even entertain that idea, and the threats won’t possibly help. I suppose that means this meeting is over then?” Harold said.
“I’m a patient man, so how about we meet again in one year, and you tell me if you still aren’t willing to work with me? For my part, I strongly think you will have changed your mind. The world is changing fast, and you will need to catch up,” Clark said, finishing his first burger with a loud burp.
“I doubt it, and I further doubt you’d ever trust me even if I did agree to join, I thank you for the meeting, though. It has been informative. Bart, I believe it is nearly time for you to head out,” Harold said.
Neither Clark or Bart had a chance to respond as two men suddenly crashed through the front window of the restaurant, both badly beaten and covered in blood. A third man stood outside, fighting a losing battle against something Harold had never seen. He was reasonably sure the man still fighting was one of Clark’s ogres, which made it even stranger that the second man had only a single eye in the center of its face and was fighting with a sword of fire. Was he one of the aliens?
“Dammit, we need all units. It was an ambush. I don’t know what it is exactly, but Harold has a heavy hitter,” Clark screamed into a communicator before leaping from his chair to join the fight.
Before Harold had much time to debate why Clark thought the newcomer was with him, Bart stood up and called out: ‘Twonger, where the hell have you been, mate?”
“Where have I been? Where the fuck have all of ya been? You are the only idiot I can still find on this planet!” Twonger screamed back, punching Clark in the face and driving his sword deeply into the other agent as he spoke.