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Episode
170
“Evil has its physics. It has a current that passes through the
“So where do we stand now?” Armand asked, as he sat between
Ledger and Sydney. “I mean, where does the Brotherhood stand and all of
that? We’ve got them in this fortress, which we just kind of hope that
they’re in this semi-national park.”
“Well,
after some research, it’s pretty much assured that they’re there.”
Sydney answered.
“Okay,
but what are they planning?” Armand said, checking around the late-night
airport lounge to see if anyone was close by. “I mean, they built a big
damn fortress. I can imagine that they violated some zoning ordinances and
stuff, but what does that really mean?”
“The
Brotherhood of the Sun has been at war with the Illuminati for it’s
entire existence. And since those fools believe the UN is part of the
Illuminati, they’ve pretty much declared open war on the United
Nations.” Ledger explained. “It’s really just one of those
situations where, yeah, we don’t know what they’re preparing to do,
but man, we know they’re going to do something and we’re not going to
like it.”
“But
if they’re really after the UN,” Armand asked. “Why is everyone
talking about them going after America?”
“American
troops make-up over three-fourths of the UN’s peace-keeping force.”
Sydney explained. “America is the bulk, and I do mean BULK, of the
UN’s funding.” She looked at Armand with grave eyes. “They plan on
destabilizing America, according to what Ian, Orson, and Errol said. And
besides, this has been planned for years now.” “But
can taking America down be done?” Armand asked. “Yes.”
The dame and knight said emphatically in unison. “Okay.”
Armand said defensively. “But if America falls, is the UN really going
to go as well?” “Yeah.”
Sydney nodded. “And if the UN falls, the world could quickly plunge into
high-tech anarchy. The UN is really underrated as a governing and
regulating body. If they fall, war would erupt all over the world. Japan
and North Korea, India and Pakistan, Israel and the entire Middle East,
everywhere.”
“But
the Brotherhood doesn’t care about that so much as their primary
goal.” Ledger said directly. “And that is that they would crumble the
Illuminati’s hold on the world, if not expose them out right.”
“So
this is all a big ploy to expose the Illuminati?” Armand said, trying to
put it all together.
“How
did you miss that?” Ledger asked.
“What
I want to know is how you got your shotgun through the security
check-point?” Sydney asked to the black knight.
“Twenty
bucks, the promise it’s for a social demonstration, and checking rather
than carrying on all go a long way.” He answered without even a
sarcastic grin.
“There’s no confirmation of anything on the Knightsnet.”
Edgar said as he strolled towards Everett as the leader of the knights
stood by a vending machine. “I just checked down at the computer café,
but there’s nothing new. Some guy in Brooklyn keeps swearing he saw
Lancelot riding through the streets at night, though.”
“Yeah,
that guy scares me.” Everett said. “What was it last week? He saw the
green knight walking around with his head in his hand? But you know, I
just figure that’s Brooklyn.”
Edgar
just nodded. The two stood in silence for a moment, appraising the team of
five knights across the hall from them, waiting at the airport terminal.
“What if it’s just us?” Edgar asked. “I mean, there’s a chance
that none of the other knights are going to show.”
“Yeah,
but . . .” Everett just shrugged. “I have no idea, Edgar. We’ll
probably just do what we all say that we’re prepared to do.”
“March
to certain doom?” The eldest knight asked.
“Yep.”
Everett said with morose fatalism.
“Come on, man. What happened?” Roland pestered, leaning over
the seat divider to Morgan.
“What
happened when?” Morgan asked, pausing the handheld video game in his
hand. He looked at Roland and sighed. “You mean about Arthur?”
“No,
man. Forget Arthur. Arthur’s not important.” Roland disregarded
quickly. “The good stuff, man. That girl, man. That hot, chick knight.
The dame.”
“Lilah?”
Morgan asked.
“Sure.
Her too.”
“What
are you asking again?” The former knight tried, stumbling mentally.
“What.
Happened.” Roland said clearly.
“What
do you want to know?” Morgan asked, confused.
“Everything.
Every little thing. No matter how small, include it. Leave no detail out.
In fact, feel free to make some stuff up.”
“You’re
sick.” Morgan accused.
“And
you’re avoiding the question.” Roland argued. “What happened? You
were in the car, she leaned over, and . . .”
“Roland,
this isn’t football. I’m not going to roll a play-by-play.”
The line into the plane consisted of nineteen people. The six
knights and their grumbling companion stood at the back of the line,
waiting with polite impatience. “What’s taking so long?” Roland
asked, trying to look up ahead at the front of the unmoving line into the
plane.
“There’s
some little girl who needs to have a heart transplant done up at the Mayo
clinic.” Ledger joked.
“Oh,
we’re on THAT flight.” He rolled his eyes. “Figures.”
Behind
Roland, Armand leaned back to Sydney. “Are they serving dinner on this
flight?”
“No.”
The dame said. “But we have a lay-over at Dallas-Fort Worth.”
“Is
that a big airport? Cause I’m hungry.” Armand asked.
“Just
walk.” The dame charged.
“You
know, Edgar.” Morgan said, between him and Everett. “I honestly think
we’re doomed.”
“This
is the first time you’ve thought that?” Everett asked.
“Okay, guys.” Everett said, pulling out a notepad as the
knights gathered around his seat in flight. Next to him on the small
commuter plane, Edgar sat with mild disinterest, staring at the roof the
whole time. Across the isle, Morgan pretended not to listen, while Roland
and Ledger leaned over the seats, with Sydney and Armand standing up on
their seats and leaning over the backs to see Everett.
“Here’s
the deal.” Everett went on, glancing around once more to confirm the
isolation of several rows of seats from the nearest passengers. “We’ve
got a three-hour layover in Texas. We’ll get some food and change into
uniform.”
“Whoa.”
Morgan said, suddenly sitting up. “Whoa, whoa whoa.”
“I’m
still in my first paragraph, Morgan, what is it?” Everett asked.
“Does
anyone see wearing red shirts during a fortress invasion as a bad idea
other than me?” He asked.
“We’ll
be fine, Morgan.” Sydney started to argue.
“The
hell we will.” He retorted. “Why don’t we just paint concentric
black and white circles on our chests. Guys, I don’t’ care if it’s
Jericho or no, they are going to have guns. That means they will be
shooting at us.”
“Morgan,
please.” Everett started to argue.
“Why
are you acting like that it’s not a possibility? I mean, I know you guys
think it’s of it as a uniform, which I still argue is a dubious claim,
but come on. I think we can all go one night without wearing black and
red, you know, just for the sake of, oh I don’t know, Saving the
World?!”
“Are
you done?” Everett asked.
“Yeah.”
Morgan said, sitting back in his seat.
“Feel
better?” Sydney asked.
“A
little.” He said, situating himself. “Okay. Proceed.”
“Thank
you.” Everett said. He looked back to his notebook. “We leave
Dallas-Fort Worth in uniform and we’ll ride the rest of the way to the
fortress. After we disembark from the plane, we’ll rent a car, or get a
taxi if it’s possible, and head out to the meeting place.”
“Which
is?” Ledger asked.
“Like
we decided at the meeting, where at least a few were paying attention,”
Everett chided without a smile. “We’ll meet at a gas station on the
highway leading into the park. We checked on line and there’s very few
gas stations and there’s one really convenient one just at the
entrance.”
“And
you think it won’t be watched?” Morgan asked.
“Oh,
I’m sure it will be.” Everett said. “But the first team of knights
there is supposed to secure it upon arrival.”
“Uh-huh.”
The former knight nodded. “Right.”
“Morgan,
do the words ‘cynical bastard’ mean anything to you?” Armand asked.
“Yeah.”
He nodded. “It means ‘realist’.”
“Ignore
him.” Sydney said, looking back to Everett. “Go on.”
“No,
actually that’s about it.” He said. “We can let Morgan bitch some
more.”
“You
only have that?” She asked. “We’re doomed.” She announced, turning
around and slumping back in her seat.
“See?!”
Morgan said. “That’s just what I’ve been saying. Band Wagoner!” He
accused.
Sydney
just held up a single finger in response. |