CHAPTER III

Standoff

“Sir, The Meister has been killed. We found his body on the tracks last n-” BANG! The Sheriff shot the minion dead. “Not one person in this city seems to be competent enough to find me that nexus object.” he scolded. His top generals were lined up in front of him, while Trevor was standing smugly on the other side of the room. “Is it that hard to find one stupid old doctor?” The Sheriff asked again. “Well-” One general was about to say, but the Sheriff shot him in the face. The other generals shivered, as a thump echoed through the room. “I guess I’ve gotta do everything myself! And while I’m gone, clean this mess up! I don’t like blood on my carpets!” The Sheriff barked, signaling to the two bodies on the ground. “Trevor, come with me. We have a job to do.” “Okey-dokey, boss.” Trevor said, grinning. The two walked out, leaving the generals to clean up the mess.

Later that night, Harold was sleeping. He had bad dreams normally, mostly revolving around that strange glowing object, A shadowy figure with yellow eyes, and… a girl? Harold didn’t know why, but he just ignored them. One night, his sleep was interrupted by clatter outside. He looked out the window lazily, and saw Doctor H tinkering with something. Harold was reminded of the events from the previous day, and being him, wanted to confront the doctor. He threw on his clothes and walked outside, where the Doctor was still working on something.

Harold slowly approached, and quietly called out: “Doctor!” Doctor H turned around. “Oh, hey young man!” The doctor greeted. “What has you out this late?” He asked. “I could ask the same thing to you.” Harold said, with a dull smile. “What’s that you’re… working on?” Harold asked. “Oh, that’s just something to pass the time.” the Doctor replied. “Yeah, I was meaning to ask..” Harold started. “Have you happened to have owned a strange glowing object?” He asked, with a lack of better words. The Doctor was silent for a moment. Before he could get an answer, headlights pulled around the corner. Harold tackled the doctor to the side.

A black car pulled up, parking right by the building. Two agents stepped up. “Boss, we’ve located the building.” One muttered into a walkie-talkie. “Perfect! Now engage the plan.” Said a muffled voice from the other side. Doctor H and Harold watched from afar. More cars pulled up, and at least twenty more agents stepped out of them. Accompanying them was Trevor, spinning his pistol smugly. “Alright, here’s the plan.” Harold whispered to the Doctor. “We sneak around the back and get out of here. There’s no way we can take all of those guys.” He finished. The Doctor nodded, and the two silently stood up, and tip-toed around the back of the hospital. Once they reached the other side, Harold noticed a helicopter flying down.

It landed in front of the entrance, and a strange man walked out. He was at least a head taller than Harold. He had a desert eagle in his holster, and a black cowboy hat on his head. “No…” Harold muttered under his breath. It was the magistrate, or as he’s more commonly known as, The Sheriff. “Alright, search the building, people! Find the nexus!” He ordered. Doctor H seemed to flinch back. “They’re after the star.” He said to himself, walking away from Harold. “Hey, wait a minute! What star? What are you talking about?” Harold asked, as the Sheriff’s agents entered the building. “I didn’t think it’d come to this.” The doctor responded. He hopped through a window and into the abandoned hospital. Harold scoffed, and soon followed.

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Meanwhile…

Danny watched the town with his binocs. “This is the place.” He said. A helicopter flew past them, and over to a crusty looking hospital. “There he is! The Sheriff!” Danny realized, pointing to the helicopter. Sanford looked up, startled. “Then let’s get a move on!” He said. The two hopped into their car, and drove into the town…

Harold and the doctor ducked under the misplaced equipment, staying out of sight from the agents. The Sheriff’s goons were searching the building. “What are you doing?!” Harold whispered. “It doesn’t matter, just know we could all be in grave danger!” The doctor said back, looking for a weapon. “You really are crazy, aren’t you?” Harold retorted. The doctor nonchalantly agreed. Finally, he found a crowbar lying on the ground. “What are you gonna do with that?” Harold asked. “Stop asking questions and leave it to the professional, kid.” Replied Doctor H. Before Harold could stop him, he ran up and whacked an agent with the weapon. All of the other agents looked in that direction. “Professional, huh?” Harold thought. “Hey!” Barked the guard. “You’re Doctor-” Slam! The second guard collapsed. The doctor knocked out all of the agents. “I told you, leave it to the-” Doctor H was cut off. BANG! “Agh!” He clutched his leg. “Well, well, well. What do we have here?” The Sheriff asked. “No!” Harold called out, but he immediately regretted it.

The Sheriff looked up, and saw Harold’s frightful eyes. “Oh, silly me! Didn’t mean to scare ya!” he said in a mock-sweet voice. “What’s your name?” He asked. Harold shook in his boots. “Uhm… Harold..” He said nervously. “Harold… Yes, my assistant Trevor told me a lot about you.” The Sheriff replied. Out of nowhere, Trevor appeared behind Harold, holding him at gunpoint. “Now,” The cowboy said. “You must be Doctor H.” He continued, looking down at the fallen scientist. “My good friend told me you had something I want.” The Sheriff asked. “Have you heard of a little thing called… The nexus?” Doctor H. looked at him. “I sold that a long time ago… You’ll never find it…” The doctor spat. The Sheriff just sighed. BANG! With that, the doctor was dead. “NOO!!!” Harold screamed. “My apologies, Harold. I’m sorry for your friend… Why don’t we… make a deal?” The Sheriff said. “If you just… keep quiet about tonight, don’t tell anyone about this. Then, you’ll never see me or Trevor again? How does that sound?” He asked.

“You’re a monster! I’ll never make a deal with you!” Harold growled through gritted teeth. The Sheriff frowned. “Well, that’s just a shame.” he said, signaling it to Trevor. Harold prepared for the bullet, but instead…. BOOM! The right side of the building exploded into smithereens. Trevor was blasted through a pillar, and Harold was sent sprawling to the floor. BANG! BANG! RA-PA-PA! Gunfire went back and forth. The Sheriff ducked behind his agents, hiding from whoever was attacking them. A figure ran out from the flames, and helped Harold up. “C’mon! Let’s get outta here!” They said, He didn’t recognize them, but he didn’t care. He was still dazed and soar from the explosion. They carried him out of the hospital, and laid him onto the grass. The gunfire continued in the hospital, but eventually faded to silence. “Is he gonna be alright?” asked a voice. “Let’s hope so.” said a second. That was all Harold heard before he blacked out…