CHAPTER 76: Party at the End of the World

A huge stage had been set up in the center of the park. Tables and chairs were lined up on it. Speakers were playing music and a large video display was showing scenes from the activities happening not just in this area but other ones as well.

It would be an exaggeration to say that everyone from Jackson had turned out for the End of the World Party, however it felt like there were that many people and more. From 8am until after 10am the Sentinels had ridden on cars in a parade down streets packed with people.

Both local and national television crews were watching them as they drove along. Every so often the parade would stop so that the cars could take in some of the people in Sentinel Army chest protectors to ride along with Adam’s group. They tried to include as many people as possible and to show off that it wasn’t just Adam fighting. That anyone could be involved.

When they arrived at the park, Adam and his friends were brought up on the stage. Adam had been told to stay up there throughout the day, while the others were allowed to roam at intervals. The Colonel sat next to Adam with Captain Krysti and a few other high-level soldiers at attention behind them, showing the cooperation between the US military and the Sentinel Armies.

A long line was formed at the stairs as people were allowed up one at a time or in small groups to get their picture taken with him. He would prop kids up or make dangerous faces depending on who came up. Several community leaders wanted pictures while shaking his hand. A few even asked to hold his hammer, which was a hard no since no one could lift it besides Adam.

At one point a group of girls that he knew from high school, who had never given him a second glance, came up and argued over going on a date with him. When it had barely started, Andrea and Alissa came up and threatened them off the stage. Adam was sure at least one [Jolt] had been cast.

The policeman Brett popped up regularly, placing food in front of Adam, proudly wearing his police uniform with a Sentinels chest protector and sword. He practically looked bashful when he would get a nod and thanks from Adam. Back pats and envious looks greeted Brett when he would drop from the stage and go back amongst the crowd.

The rest of the Sentinels got similar attention to Adam. They were all in the cleared area in front of the stage, more easily accessible than Adam was. People wanted pictures together with them, too. Some people would pick their favorites, while others wanted groups of them. More than a few girls and women wanted pictures alongside all four of the girls. Adam would always smile at that.

His favorite was when a female soldier who looked like a body builder, half a head taller than Alissa, was so giddy she was tittering as she got an action picture with Brittney pretending to block while the other three brandished their canes and wands. The woman looked like a little girl meeting her idols.

Adam also had the biggest smiles when people wanted his picture along with some of his friends. It felt better to be with them than to be elevated above them.

When Adam spotted his parents, he had them brought up for a picture and did the same with the granny who had run the food canning line in the base. In that picture she insisted on giving him a bowl of food that she had gotten from one of the stalls that were set up all over the park.

Games and dancing were all over. Food and drink were provided by businesses until they ran out. Plenty of alcohol was being drunk. Sparring rings were set up while some gambling was allowed. Rides had been set up for kids, from pony rides to the park’s carousel. Minor injuries were healed by people with skills. Leveled policemen and soldiers easily kept the crowds in control.

Leveled people would sometimes perform shows, lifting heavy objects or challenging masses to tug of war. Lilliard was giving hourly demonstrations on how to fight with a bladed weapon while others gave demonstrations on self-defense or working with shields.

People flowed in and out like water. Adam spoke to more people in that one day than he had during his whole life. It was good that it was approaching winter, because the cool air kept him from getting too hot.

Some people treated Adam like a celebrity, while some showed genuine respect. Of course there were also the hecklers, claiming that the videos were staged. Adam even grabbed three of the hecklers and juggled them without dropping them, at least until one of them soiled themselves. He wasn’t about to catch that guy.

Throughout the day Adam noticed that the Colonel kept looking nervously towards the crowds and the nearby buildings. The whole time Davian was fidgety and distracted. Nervousness that seemed out of place for the man caused even his own soldiers to keep eying him.

“Calm down, Colonel,” Adam whispered to him when he had enough. “How are the people supposed to feel at ease if we aren’t.”

Colonel Davian startled, not expecting Adam to talk to him at that moment. “What? Oh, Adam. No, it’s just that…well…nevermind.”

“Don’t sweat it so much. Everything has been taken care of,” Adam turned and looked Davian in the eyes. Intense eyes that made the Colonel flinch, just like the first time they met. Eyes with the will to never stop.

“What has been taken care of?” Davian asked suspiciously. Adam shrugged in response and looked back towards the crowd.

“I’m just saying that tomorrow we fight for the Earth. Allies stand together and enemies will be taken care of. There is no other way for it to go. Regardless of their race or origin.”

Adam’s statement made sweat trickle down the Colonel’s back. He took a deep breath but then was able to relax. Apparently, no outside forces were going to go after Adam today.

***

While Randall and Joseph relished the attention, though not as much as Tom, they still took regular breaks. They walked around the park like bigshots. People would hurry to make space for them, while cheers and phones snapping pictures followed them.

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They tried out some carnival games, enjoying how much praise they got from making them look easy. Randall and Joseph would compete for a better prize and then whichever got it would get first pick on the cute girl to give it to. The two high schoolers assumed that all the girls were flirting with them.

Never before had they had so much attention. Everyone wanted their time. The two boys snickered after a group of particularly good-looking girls had exchanged phone numbers with them. Joseph hadn’t remembered his phone since he didn’t need it in the Rift, but Randall swore he’d share the numbers later.

Nearly every food stand was willing to give them food for free. Which was good, since neither had brought money. They were used to raiding the storehouses in the Rift when they wanted something or hitting up Adam’s place when hungry since Adam had more than one fridge always full of food, and people refilling them daily. After a few days of their mooching, someone had even started filling their own fridges with food. Within the Rift, the words, “The General wants this,” was magic and got them anything they wanted.

Their formerly mediocre lives were practically perfect now. Being treated like superstars sure was nice. Neither could have imaged all the good things that would come to them just because the world was in a bit of trouble. Joseph never thought he’d get to make out with so many girls and ladies, he wasn’t one to discriminate by age, in one afternoon. Randall had better share those phone numbers, he thought more than once.

After a while of walking and basking in the fame, they decided to stop for hotdogs within sight of the stage. The hotdog man seemed hesitant to give them 10 hotdogs each, but the words, “they’re for The General” along with pointing towards their silly looking armor once more proved magical.

As they waited for their order to be ready, a noisy commotion caught their attention. There was a man in a very fancy looking suit, with a fancy looking hairdo, waving his arms as if everything around them was beneath him. Even with all the expense to his clothes, hair, and maybe makeup, his face looked a little haggard. He was tired and angry.

Following along behind him were four men. Two looked very professional. They wore nice suits with sunglasses, and very obvious gun holsters within their jackets. Probably bodyguards, thought Joseph. That guy must be rich, though probably not as rich as Adam had become.

The thought made him snicker. Damn he loved being in Adam’s gang. Lucas had never given them whatever they wanted like Adam did.

The other two men following looked more like leg breakers than protection staff. They had coarser outfits than the bodyguards. Both had rough looking beards, previously broken noses, and one of them walked a bit lopsidedly.

The rich guy was speaking loudly and belligerently to a police officer…one with a 6 in his tag. The rich guy and his thugs were all still zeros. At whatever the man said, the policeman spoke into his radio and two more cops came through the crowds to them.

“I’m telling you; he kidnapped her!” The man practically yelled.

“I understand what you’re saying, sir. Please keep your voice down so we can figure this out,” said the policeman. He stood with much less concern towards the threat of the entourage than he would have two weeks ago. “How long ago did your daughter disappear?”

“I last spoke to her one week ago!” The man still shouted. “I will make the coward who preyed on my daughter pay!”

The other two policemen had joined now, and quite a crowd was forming around them. Some people were watching it like it was entertainment, while others seemed genuinely concerned for the man. No one liked hearing about a kidnapping.

Randall handed Joseph his carton of hotdogs as they moved over towards the incident.

“I understand you are in distress, and we’ll make every effort to find your daughter, though I must insist that you let us handle it instead of taking the matter into your own hands. No one else has been able to locate her since you spoke to her?” The officer asked.

“People wouldn’t even help once they heard her name. It’s like the slimeball has someone protecting him,” the man growled. The thugs behind him clenched their fists.

“What age is your daughter?” asked one of the officers, writing in a pad.

“Seventeen,” the man said.

“Heya, George,” Randall greeted the officer when he and Joseph got through to the center of the crowd. Joseph was surprised they knew each other, but figured if the guy was level 6 then they must have worked together at some point. Both Officer George and the other two gave them a quick salute, adding a “Sir!” to it. The rich guy looked at them like they were loons. Joseph had seen those looks his whole life.

To be polite Joseph held out his hotdogs to offer them one, but they all looked awkwardly at him before shaking their heads. He guessed dealing with this rich guy came before eating.

“And her name, sir?” Officer George asked.

“I’ve already provided all this information to the police before. Her name is Abigail Tamare,” the man said.

Joseph casually spoke with his mouth full of hotdog, “She has the same last name as Abbey!”

Everyone stared at Joseph. He wasn’t sure why. The looks didn’t stop his eating. He wondered if this was what Adam felt like when he ate.

“Buffoon!” The rich man shouted, eying Joseph’s costume critically. “Abbey is her nickname! You know my daughter?”

“You’re Abbey’s dad, huh? Sure, I know your daughter. We hang out every day,” said Joseph.

He looked to Randall in curiosity, not sure what the big deal was. For some reason Randall had his face in one hand. Only one though since the other hand was holding his carton of hotdogs. The cops were also shaking their heads and putting their writing pads away. Joseph took another bite.

“Where is she? I’m here to bring her home! And to show that kidnapper not to mess with my family,” Abbey’s dad said menacingly.

“I’m kinda surprised anyone could kidnap her. She is pretty strong. Besides, Adam wouldn’t allow it,” said Joseph, eying her dad.

“Adam?” the father asked.

“Yeah, the dude on stage getting his picture taking with a bunch of people. Abbey’s one of his wives,” Joseph pointed using the end of a hotdog.

“Wives?!” Mr. Tamare shrieked.

The crowd started laughing. Those who had concerned looks were now smiling.

One of the thugs hesitantly asked, “She’s one of The General’s Wives?”

“Of course. See, she wasn’t kidnapped. She lives with Adam and the other girls.”

One of the bodyguards put down his phone. “Mr. Tamare, our company has now discontinued our services with you. The contract has been cancelled due to you knowingly endangering yourself and your guards. We will also be willing to cooperate with the police should any issues come from this particular incident.”

The other bodyguard put out his hand to shake Joseph’s, saw the hotdog in it, and then switched to Randall.

“Sirs, sorry about this incident. Please apologize to The General and his wife on behalf of our company. Here’s our card should you need our services for any reason.”

Then the bodyguards wasted no time in rushing away from their former client, as if their lives depended on it. The amused onlookers even opened the way for them.

“My daughter can’t marry without my permission!” Mr. Tamare yelled. “Officers, I demand you arrest him.”

“Haaa,” breathed Officer George. “Give it up, Mr. Tamare. There is no way she was kidnapped, and I doubt there is any force on Earth that could arrest The General. Make sure you do your research better next time.”

Then the three cops walked away while being berated and cursed at by Abbey’s dad. The crowd also dispersed, except for the two thugs. They approached Joseph.

“Um, sir. Sorry to bother you, but do you think you could take us on? We’re willing to get a bit dirty, if you know what I mean,” one asked Joseph.

Joseph thought for a moment and then nodded. It might be nice to have some tough looking underlings. This time his offer of a hotdog wasn’t turned down.

“Just leave your numbers with my assistant Randall, I’ll let you know when we can bring you in for some training.”