--Chapter Four: Bombardment
Fatal Error grinned at the pitiful sight in front of him. Here this bomb was, swelling up and trying to explode, when Fatal knew all too well that a land mine can only be set off by stomping on the space above it. For all the mine tried, puffing its cheeks and stressing itself out, it could not detonate on its own.
"You might as well stop doing that," said Fatal, "If I were a foe I'd have attacked you or run away by now."
The mine gave up; the stranger had a point.
"Well, if you're not trying to get rid of us bombs," said the mine, "what are you doing down here?"
"Why, I'm here to help you, of course," replied the int in an all-too-sly manner. He added, "Yes, to help you and all your land mine friends."
"But you're an outsider," observed the mine, "Why would you want to help us?"
"Would you believe it's because I'm on a mission to take over the computer and rule it like a king, forcing thousands of other creatures to do my will, and because in order to do that, I need an army that's strong enough to help me win and yet stupid enough to follow me and believe that my winning will somehow help them, but I'll inevitably double-cross them in the end anyway?"
The mine paused to contemplate this.
"Yes," he said, "Actually, I would believe that."
"Good," said Fatal. He needed to take a few deep breaths after saying that last paragraph, during which he almost choked on his cigarette smoke a couple times. Then he asked, "So are you land mines strong enough and dumb enough to follow me?"
Again, the mine paused to think it over.
"What's in it for us?" he asked.
"Freedom from those who have oppressed you, of course: Gus and Arrow."
"What about the flags?" said the mine.
Fatal had not thought about this before.
"The flags, hmm. I'll tell you what, if you take care of the creatures in the computer, I'll make sure the flags don't get involved. Besides, the only thing that can place a flag on a bomb is Arrow the mouse. And I've already taken care of him."
"You have?"
"Yep. All that remains is for you guys to follow me. Will you do it?"
"Yes, sir!"
Fatal sneered. "Good. And how do I know that all of the bombs will follow me?"
"Aw, don't worry about that. We bombs have a mob mentality; when one of us goes off, all of us go off. And when one of us vows loyalty to an ugly little thing trying to take over the computer, all of us do the same."
"Excellent."
Fatal Error couldn't believe how easy his plan was going to be. Nothing could stop him now!
--End chapter four
