“So, what idiotic thing did you do?” Harold yelled at the senator the moment he was out of the car and standing on the lawn.
“What? I haven’t even had a chance to do anything yet, so why are you here yelling at me in front of house and family?” Glenn questioned back. It was the first time in these meetings that Harold had heard true anger out of the man. He realized the senator really had no idea what was going on. The man had been out of the real game too long.
“Dammit, Glenn, you really didn’t make the Agency guys watching you? I did everything I could to pull their attention away, but we have about five minutes at most before one of their hit squads comes smashing through your doors. I want you to go get your family packed as light as you can. Don’t take long. I doubt we can handle anything beyond the first squad,” Harold ordered the man.
Glenn looked like he was about to reconsider. The car that squealed into the driveway behind Harold’s quickly changed that. The senator ran through the front door, screaming his wife’s name as he did.
Harold felt a gentle breeze blow across his body and looked over to see Alfred’s mouth moving. It was hard to make out what just what he was saying, but it sounded like low singing. The sound of a car door opening drew Harold’s gaze back to the newly arrived vehicle. Four men were climbing out.
“Gentlemen, you strongly don’t want to do this. If you haven’t realized it yet, your group is at war, you’re losing badly, and I really don’t have time for prisoners,” Harold deeply wished he had brought some of his weapons cache with him but hadn’t remotely expected this level of resistance. This was supposed to have been just some easy blackmail. He wondered just why they were already watching the senator so strongly. There was no way to predict Harold was going to reach out; there was something he was missing here.
“On the ground now, hands before your head!” One of the men yelled. All of them had drawn their guns.
“No, I assume you don’t have any ogre hidden in there?” Harold asked. He knew they wouldn’t answer but wanted to make it clear where he stood on what was happening.
“There are several more squads coming. I promise you will regret not complying,” the man further ordered.
“Thanks for the warning; I guess we have no time to waste. Alfred, send Bart inside to check on the senator and then show these guys exactly what they’re up against here. I fear they’ve severely misunderstood the situation,” Harold turned back towards Alfred as he spoke, seemingly dismissing the threats from the agents.
“Bart, go check on the senator, please. As for you all, unlike Harold, I am willing to accept your surrender. Drop your weapons, and we will figure out how to take you with us without killing you. Any further hostile moves will not be tolerated.” Bart had appeared behind Alfred as he gave his warning, disappearing into the house before it was done.
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“Dammit, it’s one of the mutated animals. Why didn’t they tell us we need more backup!” one of the men yelled.
“Shut up and do your job,” the first ordered. No one dropped their weapons.
“I’m sorry, but I did warn you,” Alfred said before he began to loudly chant. Each of the men’s guns exploded into a fireball that grew until what was left of each of them dropped to the ground.
“What the fuck did you do?” The senator yelled, having returned outside with his family led by Bart.
“We didn’t have much of a choice. Everyone in my car now, Glenn, you’re driving; follow me as closely as you can. Alfred, if he tries to deviate, do whatever you need to,” Harold said. He walked over to what remained of the agents and looked around until he found another set of keys and hopped into their car. He ignored the kids crying. It reminded him too much of who he had failed to save in his own life.
They had managed to escape before any more men arrived. Harold led the car for several miles before pulling to the side of the road and telling them to get out. The rest of the trip was on foot.
“Leaving a car behind, what if they use it to find you?” Glenn asked.
“Unlikely, but I’m also not leaving it behind. I suggest you walk quicker,” Harold answered. Minutes later, there was the sound of an explosion somewhere behind. The car was gone, but that would draw even more attention. “Glenn, against my better judgment, I’m going to take you to safety, but before I can do that, I need to know why the Agency seems to care so much about you these days. They were shocked that I was there with Alfred, so this had nothing to do with me. What the hell is going on with you?” Harold asked.
“I’d rather not say, especially in front of my family,” Glenn whispered the second part.
“Find, but you won’t be coming with me any further until I’m satisfied. Alfred take the rest of them through the gateway. Close it if I’m not back in five minutes. I’ll find a different one,” Harold ordered the dog.
“Take us where? Glenn, what is happening?” His wife finally spoke, nearly in tears herself.
“It’s okay, trust me. This is the best thing for your safety right now. I’ve done things that are catching up to me, and right now, the best I can do is give you and the kids a chance at surviving everything,” Glenn answered.
“Please follow me. I promise I won’t hurt you on my honor as both a paladin and a dog,” Alfred said. Somehow, that was enough to convince the kids, with Glenn’s wife reluctantly following after them.
“It’s just you and me now. So start talking if you want to see them again,” Harold said.
“I was there, Harold, when all of this started, well maybe not started. I think they’ve established now that Cal Marshall was in the loops before us. But I was one of the people who ended up cursed with this existence when your people raided the lab, and I didn’t go straight to the Agency with my knowledge unlike Brice. So they have no idea exactly what to do with me, though after this event, I doubt I’ll be getting anything but a bullet to the head next loop,” Glenn explained.
“Well, huh, that I wasn’t expecting, alright, get in there after your family, and we will talk. We will figure it out,” Harold pushed the man through the gateway and stepped through after him.
“Clark?!” Harold heard Glenn’s started words as he appeared on the other side, and sure enough, there was an unconscious Clark, mostly rapped in a stone straight jacket. Maybe the day wasn’t a loss after all.