CHAPTER 34: The Offer

“Mr. Clemens. Mrs. Clemens. It’s good to meet you. I’m Detective Ronald Baker. Please call me Ron,” said Det. Baker as he stood in the entryway. “Behind me is Jordan Lane, one of our IT and tech specialists. Next to him is former officer Zachary Jones. I hope you don’t mind if we all sit down together. We have quite a few things to discuss.”

Both Jordan Lane and Zachary Jones were wearing business casual clothes. Det. Baker and Jordan looked quite tired, but a complete exhaustion was apparent on Zachary’s face. Shame and guilt could be felt from his body language as he kept his head down, unwilling to look them in the eyes or shake their hands and barely showing awareness of where he was. He looked familiar to Adam, but not enough for Adam to know who he was. Why was a former policeman in this group?

Adam’s dad led then down the entryway hall and towards the dining room, where there would be enough chairs for everyone. Det. Baker…Ron, paused to look in the living room where everyone else was carrying on. He shook his head a bit, surprised at how they weren’t showing signs of distress from the previous day. All the officers he had talked to from the scene were dispirited and depressed. The precinct therapist had her work cut out for her.

“Your friends all seem fine,” he said to Adam. “No after affects or trauma from yesterday?”

“Nah,” answered Adam. “They got it out of their system against the goblins. I’m sure you checked the posted videos after Tom’s promotion. Those were way more brutal than only three elves.”

“Veteran policemen usually have to spend years in therapy after something like yesterday. Yes, the goblins were even more brutal. How are they fine?”

“I help them if they need it,” said Adam.

“How do you help them?” the detective asked curiously.

“I just do,” Adam said, looking the detective in the eyes. Ron shivered inside and didn’t bother asking again.

Once they were all seated at the table, and his mom had gotten drinks for everyone, Ron began.

“Before we get to the larger issues, Mr. Jones insisted on coming to apologize to Adam.”

Zachary finally looked up, bringing his eyes to meet Adam’s. They looked inconsolable. “Adam, I’m so very sorry for the other night. I haven’t been able to sleep since, watching the memory over and over again. I don’t know why I pulled the trigger, and nothing in my training indicated I should do that. While I was watching you, I just felt that I needed to, and then your neck exploded. I’ve never seen anything so horrible, and knowing I was the cause of it… There is no way I can go on as a policeman after that. I’ve quit the force and I am fine if you want me arrest.” Adam’s parents moved between furious and mortified.

“It’s ok, man,” Adam said casually, stopping his rambling.

“It’s not ok. How could you even think so after what I did to you? After I almost killed you? I haven’t even been told how you are still alive.”

“Magic mostly. Besides, you were being mind-controlled. It wasn’t your fault.”

“Not my fault?! Mind control isn’t a thing and even if it were its hardly an excuse!” Zach yelled at Adam, his sanity clearly breaking down.

Adam reached out a tendril and pulsed calm energy into the connection before closing it. Zachary paused mid rant. His face got its color back and his eyes cleared up instantly.

“Mind control is real?” he asked after taking a steadying breath, his demeanor as calm as if he were sitting down to a tea party.

“Yup,” answered Adam.

“Did you just control my mind?”

“No. What I do is different, but you seemed a bit out of it. I just calmed you down.”

“What just happened?” asked Ron, looking between Zachary and Adam.

“I calmed him down,” said Adam pointedly. “I just said that.”

“How did you calm him?”

Adam sighed. “I just did. Don’t make me pick up your sighing habit.”

“Is that why your group isn’t traumatized? Because you calm them?”

“Wow, that makes it sound forceful. I only do it when they ask and it’s just temporary. It gives them the time and control to adapt on their own.”

“Huh,” Ron sounded stupefied. “I bet the military would love to have that.” Adam shrugged.

Adam turned back to Zachary. “Besides, you didn’t almost kill me.”

Zachary had sat back down and looked at Adam puzzled. “I put a bullet through your neck.”

“Well yeah, but it’s safer to say you almost killed yourself.” Adam pulled out his phone and brought up the video showing what happened after the shot, where Adam stayed on his feet and then disarmed Zach, moments from killing him. The camera was barely fast enough to catch Lucas, Nick, and Brittney attacking Adam and taking him away. They looked more like blurs.

Silence surrounded the table as everyone paled, included Adam’s parents.

“My god,” Ron finally spoke. “We were amazed that you were alive after seeing the gunshot video, but it didn’t even stop you in that moment.”

“Yeah, I thought I told you that yesterday. It’s fine. I wasn’t conscious when I attacked Zachary. It was just instincts taking over since I was already exhausted from fighting the goblin chief and his henchmen. There is no video of it, but they managed to rip off some of my fingers.”

“WHAT?!” his parents yelled.

“I told you, I regenerate, but it’s exhausting and makes me beyond hungry. That’s why I’ve been eating so much. After being shot, my instincts were going to have me rip off Zachary’s head so I could regenerate.”

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“How does ripping off his head allow you to regenerate?” asked his dad, still not recovered from the shock.

Adam then looked up, showing embarrassment. “I know it’s gross, but if I drink blood I regenerate. I drank the goblins’ blood so I could get my fingers back and keep fighting. My group gave me some of their blood to heal the neck wound, since I didn’t take it from Zachary.”

The silence stretched on. Jordan Lane eventually muttered, “You are terrifying.” Adam heard and looked him in the eyes.

“Yes. To my enemies.” The look Adam gave Jordan caused him to instantly look away.

“Anyway, to the point, Zachary. I didn’t enjoy being shot, it wasn’t your fault, and I’m over it, so you should be too. I accept your apology.”

Zachary breathed in relief. “The situation seems more complex than I realized. Thanks for your graciousness in it. If there’s anything you need from me in the future, please let me know.”

“Great!” Adam said with vigor that surprised everyone. “Maybe we’ll use you as a consultant. We need someone who knows how the police work. Someone to let us know if we’re close to breaking the law more than the police will tolerate.”

“More than?” asked Det. Baker.

“We are hunting and killing aliens, man. You think we are always going to do it in a completely law-abiding way?” Adam asked with exasperation.

“Right. So you’ll keep it within tolerable amounts?” the detective clarified.

“That’s right. At least when possible,” Adam nodded.

“Fine. … That’s fine. I guess it fits in with the next topic.” Ron pulled out some folders. He put one forward and then pulled out his phone, followed by Adam’s buzzing at receiving a text.

“The police accept culpability for wrongful arrest and shooting you. This folder includes a settlement we’re offering you. Admittedly it isn’t as generous as it would be if you brought a lawsuit against us, but since your army wants to work with us it would be better for moving forward quickly.”

“How much,” asked his dad.

“$500,000. Because I trust Adam, I’ll say that if you sue us, you could get upward of $5 million, but that would take time and up-front expense for you.”

“T-that much?” his dad goggled.

“This next folder is an offer we are making to you. You and your group showed exemplary skills, bravery, and provided aid when others wouldn’t, successfully saving lives. Based on Tom Rhodes’ speech, we got the feeling that you wanted to work with us without being a part of the police. Toeing the line, as it were. This offer will pay you a $25,000 per month retainer, and $50,000 for any incident that we bring you in on, with conditions.”

“Wow,” said his mom.

“Conditions?” asked Adam.

“Mostly that you will not damage property unnecessarily, commit crimes, or disparage the police. We will also expect, hope really, that you will share more of your knowledge about the [System] and invaders. Of course, a big one is that you need to prevent the video of the police assaulting you from appearing in the public. There will also need to be a psych evaluation for your team to make sure it isn’t putting undue mental strain on them.”

“This is unbelievable,” his mom said.

“I can’t believe you want to put our son in danger,” said his dad, getting angry.

“Mr. Clemens, I do apologize for that, but based on the last week I don’t think anyone is going to stop your son from being in danger, especially him. Not to mention that an alien invasion is already a danger to everyone. With this cooperation with the police, he will have faster and larger access to information, emergency support, crowd control, manpower, and civilian management. As mentioned about the laws, he will also have more…flexibility…in regard to them. Since we do expect Adam to agree, based on our conversations, we have already begun trying to source equipment better suited to the group than what they currently have.”

“What will the police be getting from him other than consultants to endanger instead of your own force?” his dad continued to demand.

“Sir, you don’t seem to understand. What your son and his group fairly effortlessly handled yesterday would have killed all the police and civilians on the scene, as well as those rushing to help. We didn’t know it at the time, but we had no ability to affect the situation. Are we using your son? Maybe, but we currently have no other option.”

With his dad starting to get furious, Adam put his hand on his dad’s arm.

“It’s ok dad, we are doing this with or without them. We need to kill the invaders and keep you guys safe.”

“But Adam,” his mom started, but stopped when she looked at his eyes. There was a ferocity and anger there that was different than the pre-[System] Adam. It was something that wouldn’t be controlled. “Fine. I understand.”

Adam looked down at his phone and then tossed it behind him, where Tom was standing in the doorway. No one else had noticed him there. Tom caught it and walked to the table. Pulling out his own phone he called his dad and sat at the head of the table.

“Hi dad, it’s me. … No, I’m not in trouble. … Yes. … I’m sending contracts I need you to review. … Yes. … No … Maybe? … Because you’re a lawyer. … Yes. I know that. … It’s for the boss. … I know it’s illegal to sell people’s organs. … No. … Yes, badgers ARE better. … You should get Legolas and Gimli home now. … Yes, I do know that isn’t their names. … You wouldn’t want me to be your only remaining son, right? … Boss said so. … Not your boss YET. … Uh, the news. … Uh huh. … Yes. … Yeah, I’ve seen the video. … In the neck. … Oh yeah! … For blackmailing them. … It says we can’t show it to anyone. Sure, I’ll show you the video later. … No, I didn’t say that in front of the cops. … The amount isn’t the issue. … Ok, I’ll put him on.”

Everyone stared as he passed the phone to Adam.

“Hello, Mr. Rhodes. Adam Clemens. … Yes. … Yes. … No. … Maybe. … Absolutely not. … I can’t promise that. … I promise I will TRY not to. … Even then it shouldn’t be a problem since we have healers. … That is up to him. … Once the fighting starts for real it’ll be too late to get your sons. … Yes, I know that. … Yes, they know that. … Yes, everyone knows that. … Fine, I’ll ask.”

Adam put the phone down and looked at everyone.

“He wants me to make sure you all know Tom is a jackass.”

Ron muttered, “You don’t need to be a detective to know that.”

“They understand. … I’ll see you then. Thanks. … I look forward to it. … Here he is again.”

Adam slid the phone back to Tom.

“Ok. … Sure. … Thanks for your help. … No, I won’t say that. … Fine. Bye.”

Tom ended the call and then took a deep breath. “Boss, what did he want you to promise?”

“Not to punch in your face again,” responded Adam.

“Fair enough,” Tom agreed before addressing the group. “Ok, he has a few changes he wants to the agreements. I texted him your number, Detective, and he will send it back to proof before Adam signs. He is also setting up a business for the Sentinel Army, with Adam as the president. We’ll need bank accounts to put any payments or donations that we receive.”

“I work at a bank, so can set up the bank accounts tomorrow,” said Adam’s mom.

“He said he would come over tonight for me to sign everything. He also assured me, extensively and repeatedly, that Tom isn’t what the rest of the family is like. I’ll be putting the settlement money in the Army’s account.”

“Wow,” commented Adam’s dad. “That just happened quickly. It might be best for me to quit my job to help with the business side of things.”

“That’s a good idea anyway,” stated Adam. “I don’t like the idea of you driving into the city every day knowing the invaders could attack at any time. Mom, at least, works nearby. You manage and coordinate the business and then I won’t have to worry about it while I do what I need to.”

With that discussed, Ron brought up another topic.

“Good. I’m glad it moved that fast. Hopefully everything is signed tomorrow because…we found the elf base and want to move on it but need your help with it. Do you think two days’ time is enough to prepare?”

“Probably,” answered Adam. “Point it out to me and I’d go in today if needed.”

“Quite the dedication. Two days would be better though. We have some items coming in to help and are putting together an Emergency Response Unit. We also contacted the FBI regarding yesterday since it falls under a terrorist attack. They want a few agents to observe what we’re doing. There are a lot of questions about you and your group, even with the videos. Things are going to get hectic.”

“As if they haven’t been the last eight days,” complained Tom.

“True. Anyway, I’m going to be your point of contact. I guess Mr. Clemens will be working with us too now. Jordan Lane wants to discuss your technology needs to see if there is anything else we can do to get you set up. We’ll be providing some dedicated police phones, and some short-wave radios in case cell towers get attacked. Any traditional attack would include hits to our infrastructure. Also, we should talk about transportation…”

Just then, Ed burst into the room.

“Boss, boss! You’re never going to believe what's happening!”