The thirty-something employee at the Out-in-Back Burger clutched Sharp Hikoboshi's order and slowly squished the bag with his right hand while a cold drink convulsed violently in the left. His face was a mixture of recognition and rage.

"Do you mind? I wanted a soda, not a shake." Sharp reached his hand out the car window and gestured impatiently at the employee whose clutching hand was slowly being surrounded by an oily stain from within the bag.

Maybe it's only the fries. I can live with mashed fries. They're not healthy for me anyway, but my burger…

Sharp grimaced. He should have known better. He was running late and forgot to order curbside service. He had better luck with those employees. The drivethru was always so awkward.

"Please. I'm holding up the line. Just hand me my food, and I'll be on my way."

"You cost me ten thousand dollars!" the employee shouted. "You ruined my life! Now look where I'm working!"

"Hey," Sharp said in a calm tone. "Everyone knows you take a risk when you invest in speculative markets."

This was a very sensible thing to say in a boardroom or a bank. It was unlikely the right thing to say to an outraged worker with a death grip on breakfast, not that Sharp ever took time to think about these things. In fact, it was well known that Sharp could never leave well enough alone.

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"Besides," he added, "I didn't force you to invest in skllazon. Now, hand me my order. Please?"

Sharp was surprised to see that the "please" didn't have the effect he had been counting on. His breakfast was suddenly launched through the window into his face. Sharp caught it deftly and placed the crumpled bag on the passenger seat.

"Hey! That was uncall…no! Not the drink! Not the drink!"

"One Coffin Cola coming up!" The employee wound his arm back for maximum velocity and went to send it to join the burger when other employees began to physically restrain him. The drink tumbled forward and spun a beautiful arc out the drivethru window and splattered all over Sharp's car roof.

"Aw man…I just washed it yesterday. This car is worth more than you can earn in three years working at this dum…"

For the second time that morning, Sharp was surprised. The other employees had stopped holding the apoplectic employee back. Anger splashed across their faces like a spray of ketchup. In that moment, the first employee launched himself through the window to join the burger and drink.

"I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"

Sharp fended off the employee and shouted, "Quasar, drive me to work!" He then pushed the man out of his window while the window rolled up to close. As Sharp's car drove away, he could see the employee still dangling out of the drivethru window, yelling and shaking his fists. Sharp assumed his co-workers were holding his legs.

It might be some time before Sharp ordered a burger there again.