12-25-2008, 08:20 AM
Chapter Ten
Shocks
Shocks
âHey, Pardy!â
âYeah, Chris?â
âWhere the hell are we going?â
âHow should I know? What diff does it make? Just keep us floating, okay? Okay! If we stay up here long enough weâre bound to find something!â
âYeah, I suppose youâre right... keep pedaling, kid... looks like weâre heading west.â
Moulty was trying to regain his equilibrium. They were too damn high. âOh, man.â He was doing loop-de-loops inside his cage, involuntarily. âCanât you guys keep steady? I think Iâm gonna puke all over my seed treat!â
Pardy was pedaling angrily. âStop criticizing or Iâll eat you! At least you get a free ride, Cupid! Iâm the leader now! Iâll decide what weâre gonna do!â
âOy, vey,â moaned Moulty.
âLetâs set down somewhere in one hour, kid,â Chris said. âThis gets boring after a while.â
? ? ?
John Diamond and David Furfy were traveling in Diamondâs car. The security guard looked out the window, gaped, then stopped driving. He got out. So did Furfy. They both looked up in mute amazement. Furfy looked disgusted. Finally, twenty seconds later, Diamond spoke. âYouâve gotta be fucking kidding!!!â
? ? ?
There was a knock on Beckyâs door. It was Hunt.
âThanks for knocking,â she said. She noticed he carried his tazer drawn... set to full charge.
âI wish it was good news, but...â he looked guiltily at the floor. âI think youâre in trouble. Letâs go, Fox. Iâve gotta take you to deck 8.â
âWhatâs happened?â She asked.
âI canât tell you until we get there. Iâm sorry.â
They arrived. Everybody was there-- the Genera, Roberts, Emerson and all the rest standing in front of something large, circular and white.
âHit it, Emerson,â Hunt ordered. The private began playing a grand piano.
As Becky stared, flabbergasted, everyone but Hunt and the General sang... Hunt was cracking up standing behind her, while Roberts sang loudest of all.
[indent]âHappy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday, dear Dragon!
Happy birthday to you!â[indent]
Applauding her, Roberts and the rest cleared the way so she could see the vanilla cake, and its 18 burning candles. âCome on up! Blow it out!â the doctor said, smiling.
Becky incinerated the entire cake, flicking twice in one second. Now the soldiers had a nice pile of black ash to chew on. She stormed off.
Robert looked hurt. âThat wasnât what I had in mind.â
? ? ?
In Diamondâs car, Furfy took out a photograph of Becky. He told Diamond sadly, âIf sheâs still around, she just turned 18 today. Dammit.â He wiped his eyes. âAnd these... these bastards think sheâll go to war for them? Kill for them? Theyâre out of their heads. Becky would never hurt a fly. Thereâs no way.â
âThatâs the kind of person who usually fights for the war makers,â Diamond said.
? ? ?
âHappy birthday, carrot-top, wherever you are,â Chris muttered.
âWhatâre you talking about?â Pardy asked.
âNever mind, kid. Letâs get ready to land. We need to get a bite to eat.â
âThank God,â Moulty sighed. âHey, wait a minute! Did we forget to contact Dragonâs sister? I just realized it.â
âWe did not forget,â Rabikes answered. âWe just didnât do it.â
âWell, why the hell not?â
ââCuz Tracyâs got a temper that makes even Furfy look like Mr. Rogers, and thereâs no point in worrying her just yet. If we can get Becky back today, I can unleash my latest practical joke on her. This one involves crabs. But if we canât get her back, Moult, I guarantee you her big sisterâs gonna hold every last one of us responsible. Pardy, letâs land this sucker. Whatâs that building down there?â
âCommencing Big Wheel impact! T-minus 5... 4... 3... â Pardy snarled.
? ? ?
Roberts came to collect Becky. He was alone, but carried a tazer.
âItâs time for your second major field trip, Dragon. Letâs go.â
She sighed, âDo I look like a flying green lizard to you? She left her room.
âThe VSO appreciates your cooperation,â he said. âTry not to worry. This assignment is different than the first. It's not what you think.â
Sure it isnât, she thought. She stopped walking and said âDr. Roberts, will you marry me?â
The doctor stopped, jutting back his head quizzically. Now or never! Becky thought, and whipped around, punching him in the gut and forcefully as she could. Startled at the sudden eruption of brutal Beckiness, he fell back into a line of file cabinets as she snatched his tazer. Down but not out, he shouted âStop her!â to no one in particular.
Becky ran around the side corridor and was instantly taken down by Emerson and Pastula. âUHHH!!!â they zapped her side and legs. The setting was high enough to put her out cold. Her escape attempt was 9.3 seconds long.
? ? ?
She awoke in the VSO van, with Roberts, Emerson and six other soldiers. There was no sign of Hunt. She looked out the window, but didnât recognize the city area.
Roberts told her âThat was stupid, Dragon. Shame on you.â
Emerson added âDâya think you can just run off every time you feel like it?â
âWhereâs Kevin?â she asked. âWhere are we going?â
Roberts replied âThe Generalâs dog, while off the hovercraft, is on solo assignment.â
âThatâs a little harsh, Doc,â Becky said. âWhat do you want from me now?â
The van parked. âI want you to enter that courthouse all by yourself...â
âNo backup?â she questioned. This was unusual.
âI doubt youâll need it. For your information, weâre in Minnesota. But time is short. You have to go into the courthouse in five minutes and be out in ten. Iâll give you the specific instructions in two minutes. Letâs just say you may not have to kill this time. Thatâll be a random factor. But you do have to flame up, of course.â
âYou want me to go in there. Alone,â she repeated.
Roberts nodded. âWe all wait outside.â
Becky asked âWhatâs to stop me from just -- â
He leaned very close to her. âThe life of a very special someone in your precious life.â
She bit her lip. âYou... you have David?â
âNo. Your niece.â