Cleveland: "And that's about the thick of it really," R. Chase concluded his story to a stunned audience of Sheila and JT. Houston had decidedly opted to not hear what he had to say, claiming she already had enough reason for revenge against Slick, she didn't need any more ammunition.
"You're telling me that I ordered the Vigilantes to kill Chassey?" said Sheila in utter disbelief. Chase shook his head, figuring that Sheila's confusion was her utter shock over the entirety of the story.
"No, you were convinced that she had been brainwashed somehow into marrying Clyde. But most importantly, this was the one opportunity you would have to eliminate the man who would most likely become OMAR's CEO and rule the entire world with an iron fist," Chase continued. "The President agreed with your assessment, but he couldn't commit troops to just take out one board member. So you contacted the Vigilantes of '77 to help you out. They agreed and off they went led by Convoy. What exactly happened was never made clear, only that JT, Houston, and Convoy attacked the wedding ceremony shortly after it began and that Chassey was killed in the subsequent crossfire."
"And we were the ones who killed her," JT concluded. Chase shrugged noncommittally.
"Officially no one knows since all three of you were also killed in the attack. Clyde does blame you all though for what happened," he offered optimistically. JT shook his head.
"No. We killed her," JT repeated. "From Slick's attitude and snippets of conversations I've had with him these past couple of weeks it's clear that's what happened. That's why his first act against us was killing Convoy. Ordinarily Slick would never avoid a challenge but he must've held him personally responsible for what happened to Chassey and that made him the first target on his quest for revenge. Next on his list is me but Slick and I have developed a bond that wouldn't allow him to just ambush me. He had to personally see my plans fail first. Slick's still here to conquer America, but what you just told us answers a lot of questions I'd be having about his motivations."
"I just can't believe Chassey got married to Slick," said Sheila still in shock over that one fact. She thought she knew Chassey like a sister but evidently there were a lot of things she had no clue about. The sound of screeching tires reached their ears and all eyes turned to the entrance way.
…And then Chassey strode in the door of the restaurant angrily and slugged Chase so hard he fell off of his chair.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" she shouted at him as JT and Tomey held her back from throttling the CIA Agent.
"Go ahead, but it won't change the fact that that timeline already happened!" he yelled back as he wiped a trickle of blood from his busted lip. JT meanwhile was thankful that the bar they'd chosen to hole up in was owned by a personal friend and one quick look and the bartender began leading the remaining patrons into an adjoining room.
"You shouldn't have kept the truth from me," Chassey spat out. "I had a right to know my own future!"
"And what would've happened then? You would've lost focus and been solely determined to find the future Clyde and I would've been left alone to try and defend the west coast. We saved lives because of your ignorance and we might very well have saved America as well. If that makes you hate me then I'm only more than happy to take that abuse," he swore. Chassey was still seething at him as the gold necklace with the ring on it was now adorned around her neck and hanging where all could see it.
"I want you to look me in my eyes and realize I'm going to tear you apart when I get the chance," Chassey growled angrily at the CIA Agent and then stormed out the door followed by another screech of tires as she peeled out and away. The others then sat in the barroom in silence as each tried to think about what had just happened.
"Well what's past is past, what matters is what we do about it now," said JT trying to cut in to try and get cooler heads to come in. The outside door swung open and a shadow fell onto the room, but all were too wrapped up in their own thoughts to notice.
"What indeed?" cut in a new voice that sound very familiar causing all heads to turn to the doorway and what they saw caused all of their expression to turned to a stunned stupor.
"You guys must have quite some problem if you're fighting amongst yourselves this bitterly because this never happened in my day," the man reminisced before he gave them a smug smile. "Hello JT, Houston, Sheila, it's been awhile. Did you miss me?"
Standing in the doorway was the 1979 Slick Clyde in his duster, designer cowboy clothes, and cowboy hat who then advanced into the bar.
Elsewhere: Lord Clyde, Obake, Keiko, and Dallas XIII were sequestered around a table reviewing their notes.
"Just four of us, that's not good," Molo commented offhand as he messily crammed a burger into his mouth.
"We'll manage, we always do," Clyde commented as he always did when faced with these situations. "True the loss of Boogie and the disappearance of Nina Loco is unfortunate, but the weak will always die off to make room for the strong."
"Whatever old man," said the teenager unconvinced. "I wish Sid was here."
Clyde chuckled at that. "He never cared for anyone but himself and that cost him in the end."
"But we could use the time machines and go back and get him…and Beezwax," Molo figured. Clyde leaned over to him.
"When you have a time machine then feel free to do so, otherwise we follow my orders," he promised him. "Any other questions?"
"Yeah," said Molo sarcastically. "Who's Darius?"
Obake and Clyde instantly turned their undivided attention towards the youngster.
"What are you talking about?" Clyde demanded as Obake tried to say something but couldn't form any words. Molo just shrugged.
"I think something happened to your robot in Alaska, he's started babbling a lot more than usual," the teenage explained. "One thing he kept saying was the word 'Darius', whatever that means."
"I'll take a look at his circuitry later, if that's all he's doing then we'll be fine," Clyde commented offhand. Obake meanwhile made note to root through the droid's circuitry before her father did to see what he knew about her friend. The bio-bot for the moment was completely silent and for that Clyde was grateful as he pulled out a topography map and laid it on the table.
"Guess we don't have much budget left if you're using old fashioned technology," Molo remarked snarkily. Clyde inwardly groaned but didn't rise to the bait.
"This is our final target and we'll head for it at dawn. Once it's done, Molo, you're free to do as you please," Clyde answered. "The bus is your payment as promised along with one hundred thousand dollars in cash."
"How about a time machine as well?" asked the teenager hopeful. Clyde shook his head.
"Maybe in another lifetime," he said and then got up as Keiko tensed to try and subtly ask to see Dallas before he did. "Obake, why don't you try and figure out what's wrong with the bio-bot for now. If you need any help, let me know, but I've got an appointment I need to keep first."
Lord Clyde then exited the room leaving Keiko alone with Molo who smiled smugly.
"Alone at last, babe, just the way I always hoped it would be," he said, trying to lay on the charm. Keiko rolled her eyes and pulled out her tonto and tapped it against her forehead and then pointed it straight at him in warning. Molo harrumphed at that and leaned back in his chair and began whistling to himself before he slowly closed his eyes and soon started snoring away. Keiko watched him for a few moments to make sure she was asleep and then began working on Dallas XIII, desperate to know why he was so interested in her former comrade.
Bar: "Well now, Houston, I'm under the impression that you're not happy to see me," said Slick with feigned astonishment as the All-Star Trio was desperately holding back the female Vigilante from throttling him.
"Slick, what are you doing here?" demanded Sheila. Slick smiled his usual smile.
"I heard my friends were in town and I came to say hi," was his casual response. "If I'd known I'd have gotten this response, I'd have not bothered to show up at all."
Sheila intentionally cracked her knuckles in anger as Chase placed his hand over his gun. Sensing the hostility was going to boil over against him, Slick looked pointedly at JT for support. John sighed heavily at that and rubbed his eyes with his right hand before cracking his neck and looking up at his former comrade solemnly.
"Even after everything that's happened, he's not the one to be blamed," JT told them to their shock. "He technically hasn't done anything, that's the point!"
"Exactly," said Slick smugly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get a drink and catch up with my old friend here."
He slapped JT on the back and headed for the bar as Houston once more growled angrily.
"As long as he's here, I'M NOT!" she shouted and stormed out, chased after by the All-Star Trio. Slick returned with his water and took a seat at one of the tables as he took off his duster and his cowboy hat and sat drinking from it as JT took a seat at the table and Sheila and Chase sat a nearby one to overhear the conversation.
"It's been a long time John," Slick acknowledged. The scientist turned bounty hunter nodded his head in agreement.
"You've been busy," JT pointed out. "Reformed the Coyote Cartel, joined OMAR, captured natural resources in Central and South America, etc. etc."
Slick whistled at that, impressed. "So you have been keeping tabs on me. Likewise I've been watching you too, Mr. Bounty Hunter. For your information, Nina Loco split with these futuristic meddlers and is apparently headed south for the border."
JT tipped his head at him before asking his next question. "Why are you really here, Slick?"
"You said it yourself, John, 'why'," responded his old friend sadly. "Why is he here? I have to know."
JT nodded his head. "So you know who he really is."
"I've known since the first time I met him all those years ago," revealed Slick, referring to an event JT was oblivious to. "But I live my code according to certain rules and he is breaking those rules by being here; thus my dilemma."
JT considered his words thoughtfully. "I imagine that couldn't have been very easy to admit."
Slick shook his head. "It wasn't. But you're my one friend left in this world JT and I really have no one else to tell these things to."
"It doesn't have to be that way," JT reminded him. "You don't have become the person he now is. You can walk away from OMAR. You can still save yourself."
Slick shook his head sadly at that. "It's too late for me, JT, far too late. I'd rather be feared than be ignored and there's only one way to make that happen."
Slick got up to leave as JT stood up as well and handed him his hat.
"I won't let you succumb to yourself," the bounty hunter promised. Slick nodded his head appreciatively.
"I'll hold you to that. I hope to see you on the battlefield on day JT, you're the only one I know who can stand up to me," Slick told him and then was gone. JT watched him leave as Sheila and Chase walked up to him.
"Why didn't you tell him why the old Slick came here?" Sheila asked a little surprised.
"It wasn't my place. There's only one person who has the right to tell him what happened and she's not here right now," JT answered as he put his hands in his pockets.
"You should've just let me shoot him," Chase admitted frankly.
"If you'd even reached for your gun, I'd have stopped you," said JT as he hefted his shotgun.
"But why does he mean so much to you, even after all that's happened?" the CIA Agent requested.
"He's my brother in arms," JT said honestly. "We developed a bond between us back in '77 where the only one who'll be responsible for taking the other out is each other."
"So you'll kill him if it comes to it?" asked Chase, a little hopeful. JT nodded his head.
"If I can't save him first," he responded. "Now let's find Houston, I've got a hunch where the future Slick is headed and I hope I'm wrong in my guess."
He headed for the door and the others quickly pursued after him.
Echo Base: "Impossible," said the General astounded as he looked at the map at a loss. "Why would he possibly go there? He has nothing to gain!"
"He has EVERYTHING to gain!" the Leader responded. "If he destroys the facility and eliminates the competition than he would rule them all!"
"And any hope of preserving, let alone repairing, the timeline would be forever lost," the General concluded. "We have to stop him, now."
"Yes, which is why-," began the Leader when sirens began flashing.
"Alert, alert, unidentified incoming temporal wormhole detected," said an automated voice over the loudspeakers. The Leader and the General looked at each other confused before the General ran over to the intercom.
"Report," he barked into it.
"Sir, it's as we said, an unidentified wormhole, we don't know anything else. We're mobilizing the troops now, but we never planned on an attack against this place!" said the voice a little hysterical.
"Calm down. If someone thinks they can go after us then they are sadly mistaken. I'll be down to lead the troops shortly," the General ordered. "Sir, you'd better leave and I wish you the best on your journey."
The Leader tipped his head. "We must not fail in either of our missions or else it'll be the end of everything."
The Leader quickly gathered his things and ran from the room as the General immediately strode out to the bay where a wormhole was quickly forming.
"Be ready men, we haven't worked this hard to lose now" said the General in an attempt to be uplifting. The soldiers cocked their rifles and aimed it at the wormhole as from it erupted a black sports car with yellow and orange flames on its hood and behind it came a green pickup truck with a camper on the rear end that immediately opened fire in the cramped space of the bay.
Cleveland: Chassey sat in a diner absent mindedly stirring a banana daiquiri with her straw as she toyed with the wedding ring with the other hand. She sighed heavily once more and leaned back and closed her eyes and tried to push the thoughts of what she'd just learned out of her mind.
"Hi, the diner's a little full do you mind if I sit across from you?" came a male voice interrupting her lack of concentration. Chassey shrugged, still not opening her eyes.
"Suit your self," she responded, not caring what the other individual thought of her not looking at him.
"Thanks," said the voice as a shuffling was heard and a sound of eating was heard.
"Don't take this the wrong way, but you seem like someone with a problem," said the person with their mouth full.
"That's putting it mildly," said Chassey, not exactly wanting to talk about it, but somewhat grateful for the opportunity to bounce her problems off of a stranger.
"Is it marital related?" asked the individual, undoubtedly drawn to the ring hanging from the chain on her neck.
"What gave you that impression?" Chassey replied wryly. The man chuckled at that.
"Yes it is," Chassey confirmed. "Of sorts…it's complicated."
"Try me," the man said, now munching on what sounded like fries.
"Fine, don't say I didn't warn you," Chassey said, still not opening her eyes. "I met the man I'm going to marry one day, there was just one problem, from his perspective we'd already been married for some time and he'd made several life choices that I didn't agree with. Now I'm torn between whether to join him…or destroy him."
Silence ensued, which Chassey wasn't surprised about.
"You're right, it is complicated," the man agreed. "But I can relate. I once had a friend whom I cared for deeply, but we were headed in two different directions. I haven't seen her in years and when we do, I don't know if we'll embrace or attack each other. And I too once found myself deep in concentration like you are now, losing track of time and what's really important. Then I came to a revelation, one that I think may also help you."
"And what's that?" asked Chassey genuinely curious.
"Bite it," answered the man. "Whatever is going to happen is going to happen, so just let it happen. What happens after that is no longer your concern."
"Sage advice," stated Chassey, though she did tuck the man's words away to ponder on later.
"Well I'd best be off. I've got things to do but it was nice talking to you," the man said, getting up.
"I hope you find your friend and tell her how you feel," Chassey said, still not opening her eyes. The man nodded, though she couldn't see it and almost left before turning back.
"Uh-," began the man hesitantly. Chassey sighed.
"I'm not going to open my eyes, if that's what you're wondering," the FBI agent responded. The man shook his head which again she couldn't see.
"No, it's not that, it's just…," the man began quickly before a broad smile as Chassey briefly jumped startled as he placed a hat on her head. "I just can't believe I get you to say yes, Chassey."
Chassey's jaw dropped at hearing that and her eyes immediately shot open, but there was no one sitting across from her. She immediately reached up and pulled the cowboy hat off of her head and held it in her hands, stunned. She then turned her head and looked out the diner window as rain began streaking down the window. But despite the blurry image, she could still make out her former comrade, future husband, and enigma, Slick Clyde who was standing by his town car. He silently held up his hand and gave a melancholic smile as Chassey held up her hand to the glass window as tears streamed down her face, seemingly mirroring the rain streaks. She mouthed three words and he smiled a little broader at that before mouthing two back and then got in his car and drove off.
The FBI Agent raced for the door when the diner owner stopped her.
"He left this for you," he told her, holding out an umbrella. "And this."
He handed her a set of car keys that she regarded curiously before opening the umbrella once she stepped outside. Walking across the lot, she looked around curiously for what vehicle they could be attached to when she came to her parking spot and her heart sank in her chest. Greeting here was not her Vertigo, but a 1970 Clydesdale 4x4 and attached to it was a trailer with her Vertigo and a 1967 blue and yellow Rattler.
Her blue and yellow Rattler that had been taken from her before her current mission with the FBI had started and now restored to pristine condition from its formerly dilapidated state. She reached out her hand and pressed it against the car, once more reunited with her longest and dearest friend before looking off in the direction the town car went. With a look of renewed vigor, she nodded her head appreciatively and then got in the Clydesdale and drove off, looking for her Vigilante and Drifter comrades.
Hexagon Petroleum Facility, Chicago: Red was on the phone with one of his trusted colleagues who had created his own venture in Australia called 'Seven Sisters Petroleum', a man named Mike Pappagello.
"Very interesting my friend," Pappagello confirmed, after hearing about OMAR's offer to Red. "I really don't know what to tell you."
"I don't know either," Red agreed as he massaged his temples. "So how're things in the land down under?"
"Worse than ever," his friend confirmed. "The masses are losing more and more faith in the parliament every day. The only bright spot was that they finally approved the plans for a new elite police force called the Main Force Patrol to watch over the highways connecting the major cities across the deserts that have now become no man lands thanks to the armalite gangs. As such, supplies have become more and more heavily constricted."
"Do you think it'll work?" Red had to ask, thinking about his daughter and her associates.
"At first, perhaps, but the important roads are too many and too long in length to be effectively patrolled with just one force. I suspect they'll have to be broken up into smaller and smaller sections and then just fall apart," Pappagello replied, a little disappointed. "Unfortunately, I also think the government is going to collapse shortly thereafter and after that I don't know what's going to happen."
"So how're you going to survive, old friend?" said Red.
"I have an idea that I think will work, but it'll be risky. I may be gone for awhile, though," Pappagello promised. "In fact, I've got to go now to continue drafting my plans."
"Stay safe," Red requested.
"And you," his friend agreed and then hung up the line. As Red began reading once more through the proposal from OMAR, his secretary knocked on the door and peeked in.
"Sir, I know you asked not to be disturbed, but there's someone here to see you and-, hey!" said the secretary as she was pushed to the side and an older man walked in.
"I apologize for my intrusion, but a long time ago you did promise that I would be granted an audience with you no matter when I arrived," the man told him. "Well, a long time from my perspective at least."
Red regarding the man for several moments before pointing to a seat.
"Sit down, Mr. Clyde, I was wondering if you might show up," said Red as the OMAR CEO sat down. "I presume you're here to talk to me about OMAR's proposal."
"Yes, I am and I have a proposal of my own that you may find suits your interests even more," the CEO responded and shoved a packet of papers across the table. "I trust you'll come to similar conclusions."
Red looking through the document curiously as he carefully analyzed every page for several minutes before placing it down and the nodded his head in approval as Lord Clyde nodded as well and headed for the door.
"You realize what this'll do to him. Is he ready for so much power so early?" Red called out to him.
"He's going to have to be," was all Clyde could respond to that.
"Will he keep her safe?" Red had to know.
"He'll do everything in his power to see that she is. But if you truly want to give her a fighting chance, then you need to do as that dossier suggests," Clyde advised and then was gone from the room as Red once more glanced through the pages and then picked up his phone.
"Hello, Eight? Yes, I've made my decision," said Red ominously into the line.
Cleveland: Keiko was still working on Dallas XIII while digging through his databanks to cross correlate all information pertaining to Darius. Molo for his part was still passed out in his chair, mumbling something about someone called Sid, bees, and revenge. Keiko wondered from time to time about what he was talking about, but ultimately decided she was better off not knowing.
"Dallas XIII online!" declared the bio-bot as Molo fell from his chair at the loud noise but then continued to snooze on the floor. Keiko gritted her teeth and began using her handheld computer to try and make her way through his command lines.
"Inquiry mode activated," the robot now stated. Keiko nodded her head and moved a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she focused on the questions she was going to ask.
"What is the significance of the word Darius?" she asked.
"Former OMAR agent terminated by the United States government in 2019," the robot responded calmly as its cold demeanor over the death of her friend caused Keiko's blood to boil.
"Does that name have any significance to your unit?" she responded, trying to calm herself down. The robot didn't respond to that.
"Answer!" demanded Keiko after another moment of quiet.
"Logical fault detected; why would a deceased OMAR operative have any bearing on an OMAR bio-bot?" asked the robot, seemingly being evasive. Keiko growled at that.
"You tell me because according to that overweight glob of grease over there that you evidently feel that this is the case! Now tell me why!" the Asian woman pleaded through tear stained eyes as Molo shifted briefly at her outburst but continued snoring. The robot looked at her face and its gaze almost seemed to soften before it stared straight forward as electrical arcs began racking its body.
"Alert, alert, registry fault detected," it declared as it began shaking. "Twin registry entries detected."
Keiko was taken aback by that. "That can't be, if it was you'd have had problems long before now."
"New registry ID confirmed," the robot responded as it began shaking more violently. Keiko instantly turned to her computer, but the screen instantly shorted out and burned her hands from the electricity now coursing through it and she dropped it in pain as the robot shot straight up to a standing position.
"Registry identity confirmed," the robot affirmed as it seemed on the verge of falling apart. Keiko stood up to face him, despite her burnt hands.
"Who are you?" she asked in a hushed tone, both anticipating and dreading the answer. The robot placed its right hand comfortingly on her shoulder and then looked down at her tear streaked face.
"Darius XIII, online…," it declared proudly before its power shut off and it slumped over. Keiko regarding the robot confused before what was really going on occurred to her.
"No…," she said and slumped down utterly defeated. "Darius…how could he do that to you…"
Keiko finally broke down into tears as Molo yawned and sat up and saw her balling her eyes out and looked around uncomfortably before heading for the bathroom.
As he did so, the doors to the suite opened and a shadow crossed the floor, covering her huddled body. Looking up with bloodshot eyes, she saw the young Slick Clyde standing in the doorway looking down at her.
"Hello, I'm looking for your father, is he in?" asked Slick needing to know. And then when Keiko didn't respond. "Are you okay?"
Keiko finally came out of her funk and her eyes were filled with an uncontrollable rage and she pulled out both her katanas and swung them into an attack posture. Slick narrowed his eyes at her in deep concentration, just like her father did all those years ago when they had first met, and she leapt at him with an angry yell with both katanas ready to strike.