FRIEND OR FOE?
Chapter 11-Final Stakes and Preparations
The days blew by, turned into weeks and went by just as quickly. Before too much longer, it had been three months since Humphrey had first infiltrated the Black Assassins. Things were considerably, more or less, the same. Carl still hated both Humphrey and Jason, Jerry appreciated Humphrey's actions and was still suspicious of Jason, Eric was nevertheless still the same maniac, and everyone was still on the alert. Humphrey was surprised they hadn't found anything. He felt he and Jason were unintentionally leaving a very obvious trail.
Carl had stolen a 55-volt generator identical to the one that was supposed to be taken from Bismarck from a small town a ways from the hideout. According to Jerry, they had everything they needed.
"Tomorrow," he said. "That's when we'll activate the plan. I want everybody up bright and early tomorrow morning. We need to be in San Francisco by noon. We'll set everything up quickly, and by mid-afternoon, we'll be ready. We'll be successful by nightfall."
Humphrey began pondering how he and Jason would stop the whole operation. Three months he had come up with nothing that would completely prevent his and Jason's cover from being blown. The closest plan was to blow out the generator before they even left, but that would just confirm their disloyalty to the group.
Humphrey sat in his and Jason's room at dusk. He was lost in thought. His thoughts extended to Jasper, what life was like without him there, though he had a feeling. He would come up with something to stop the plan, and leave right after.
Jason entered the room at that point.
"Well, I'm all out of ideas!" he exclaimed. Apparently, he had just finished thinking about the same thing, and had no success coming up with a way to covertly prevent the operation.
"I've got nothing much," said Humphrey. "What do we do?"
"I'm not sure," said Jason. "We have to come up with something, though. We can't let three months of planning go to waste."
Humphrey grunted in agreement. They sat in silence for about five minutes.
"Come up with anything?" Jason asked.
"No," said Humphrey.
"I'm going for a walk," Jason said. "I'll see you later."
"Okay, see you."
Jason left the room. Humphrey sat in silence for a little while longer before deciding to do the same. He got up and left.
Jerry had officially grown a nearly-full trust of Humphrey. Humphrey wondered how he would react when he found out Humphrey wasn't one of them. Carl was still arrogant, giving Humphrey these icy glares as they passed each other. Humphrey had even overheard Carl speaking to Eric one night about how Humphrey was getting close to becoming a target to him.
Humphrey entered the main clearing, in which he had now walked through so many times since his first visit. There were a few wolves with him inside. They all looked up, nodded, and looked back.
Humphrey was walking by when he caught part of their conversation.
"So, did you hear about Jason?" one asked.
"No, what?" said another.
"Jerry's thinking about putting him at a lower level of service."
"Well, it's a good thing," said the other. "I mean, Jason's been acting way too suspicious lately. He always did, really, but these last three months have gotten way out of control."
"Whatever," said the first wolf. "As long as our plan goes own good tomorrow, that's what matters."
"Man, Jerry's got me going goo this time," the second wolf said.
"What do you mean?" the third asked, finally joining into the conversation.
"Normally he tells us what the plan is right away, and it usually fails, but this time he's got me all in suspense and everything."
"Yeah," said the first wolf. "I think this plan might actually work, unless someone stops it."
Humphrey grew slightly nervous at the last four words. He kept walking. He was nearly outside when he heard one more thing being spoken.
"I think there's one more thing that needs to be done tonight to ensure the safety of the plan."
Humphrey leaned back to listen some more.
"What?"
"Yeah, something with the generator or whatever. There's like a last-minute inspection that needs to be done."
Humphrey continued walking.
"Jason, you there?"
"What's up, Humphrey?"
"I just heard that someone is gonna be performing a last-minute inspection on the generator. Do you know where it is?"
"Yeah, but I can't go anywhere near it. They'll decapitate me or something."
"Okay, where is it?"
"In the back room, near where Jerry's room is. Don't let Carl catch you back there, as I'm sure you know why."
Humphrey turned and walked back inside. The wolves were laughing about something and didn't notice Humphrey's entrance. Humphrey went down the tunnel that lead to Jerry's room.
Humphrey was walking. The tunnel was just as dark as he remembered. He kept his eye out for Carl, sensing that he might be watching from the shadows.
One room he hadn't been in yet was one just before Jerry's room. Humphrey looked inside and saw all of the equipment that had been obtained through the months sitting inside. Humphrey went in and took note of all of it, so he knew how he would disable it the next day. When he reached the generator, he saw a plug sticking out of the back. Assuming it was important, Humphrey yanked it out. The main power cord was now out, so it wouldn't work properly. Humphrey smiled and left the room. He was still standing in the tunnel when someone bumped into his left side.
"Oh, Humphrey. There you are." It was Jerry. "Listen, I need to ask something."
"Okay, what is it?"
"Since the plan is going down tomorrow, I need you to keep an eye on Jason."
"Why's that?"
"Why do you think? I want to make sure he doesn't step in the way at all tomorrow."
"Ah, okay, sir."
"Good."
Jerry turned and walked right back off into the darkness.
Humphrey stared after him for a few moments, before turning and walking back to his and Jason's room.
"Jason," said Humphrey.
"Yeah, Humphrey?"
"Get in here. I need to talk to you real quick."
Jason walked in a few minutes later.
"Jason, so listen, everything is looking good. I've got the main power cable off the generator so it won't work. Also, Jerry told me to keep an eye on you, so you'll be sticking with me the whole time."
"Wow," said Jason, impressed. "Good work, brother. I guess we'll just have to wait it out through the night now, then."
"Yep."
Jason left again, saying he still needed to get some caribou to eat. Humphrey asked to bring back some for him as well.
That night, Humphrey slept good. He kept seeing Jerry's face, angered by the failure, possibly taking it out on Carl and/or Eric, and he and Jason leaving in the madness, and no one following them. Humphrey wanted desperately to see Kate again. He would go back eventually. Perhaps he would wait a little longer before he went back. A little longer, hanging out with Jason, fending for themselves. Humphrey smiled as the whole image kept him sleeping through the night, and no worries about the following day woke him at all. He was determined that nothing would go wrong, and that thought caused him to roll over in his sleep and fall further into a good sleep.
AN: The next chapter has it all. Don't miss it, because you'd just be excluding yourself from the action of the grand downfall of the Black Assassins. I'll have it up soon. Until then, predict, summarize, analyze, and whatever you else you do when wondering how a story will end. Ciao! R&R.