This chapter's short, I know, but I suppose in a sense it makes up for last chapter's delve into verbose posturing. In any case, this is basically a set up for stranger things to come.

Thanks for watching! ;) [And thanks for your great reviews, guys, it really brightens my day. :D ]
*Karasuma*Firestorm*

R for language.

Disclaimer: no one mentioned belongs to me, I guarantee it.

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"Man, that Bea Arthur is great," Rufus was saying as Bethany, Jay, and Bob returned to Potzer's Inc. He was totally lounged out on the couch, going nuts with chips and other snack foods everywhere, the remote control buried under a pile of greasy bags of food.

"It's the brother!" Jay yelled, and threw himself on the couch. "How you doin', homes?"

"Get your fucking hands off me, stoner," Rufus said, but he was smiling. "Hey again, Bethany. Biggie."

Silent Bob smiled and waved.

"Rufus, I wanted to ask you..." Bethany started, then wasn't sure how to finish.

"You wanted to know about Bartleby and Loki," Rufus said.

Bethany frowned. "How'd you know?"

"I *told* you, there isn't much I *don't* know about you. And anyhow, I couldn't tell you if I wanted."

"Why not?"

"People in Heaven are funny about things like that, they want to keep things hush-hush. Something about maintaining good publicity."

"There's no such thing as bad publicity," Bethany said sagely.

"Try to keep that frame of mind while converting the atheists. Those people are just looking for any excuse to hate our little operation."

"So I've seen," Bethany said. "Can't you give me a little hint? You're an Apostle, for Christ's sake. You must know something."

"Let's just say they're waiting for judgment to be passed and leave it at that, okay? I was already kicked out once this week. I don't want to make my record any more impressive than it already is."

"Fair enough," Bethany said. "Hey! You can't do that in here!" she yelled, snatching a lit joint from Jay and looking for a place to get rid of it. "Jesus." She got up, walked into the bathroom, and the others could hear the toilet flush. Jay made a disgusted face, and shook his head at Silent Bob. "Uptight little bitch," he muttered. Silent Bob and Rufus both glared at him. "What?" he asked.

Bethany returned, quite revolted. "This is someone's home, you idiot," she said irritably. "You can't just smoke in here."

Silent Bob frowned, cigarette halfway to his lips and a lighter in his other hand, but she shook her head at him. Holden smoked cigarettes, didn't he?

"Fuck you," Jay said. "This place is called Potzer's Inc., isn't it? No motherfucking Holden McNeil is going to tell me what to do."

"No," Bethany said, and leaned into his face. "But I am." She sat down in between Rufus and Silent Bob. "How's Jesus?" she asked.

Rufus shrugged glibly. "Black."

"I *know* that. And it wasn't what I meant."

"He's doing okay. Dead and all that. He told me to tell you that He's very proud of you, and can't wait to meet you. But that won't be for awhile yet, don't worry."

"That's comforting. At least I won't die young."

The door to the building creaked open, and four heads peered over the back of the couch. It was Holden.

"I leave, and there's one dead guy on my couch. I come back, and there's a dead guy, a virgin mother, and two stoner fucks. It's like a bad fucking movie," Holden said.

"Fuck, you didn't say you were a virgin!" Jay shouted, staring at Bethany with a mixture of horror and intrigue.

"Because I'm not," Bethany said, rolling her eyes.

"It's from the--" Holden started to explain, then shook his head. "Never mind."

"It's useless, trust me," Bethany said. "Where's Banky?"

"Out with Hooper and Alyssa." Holden coughed. "They invited us --me-- to join them later...do you wanna come?" He looked at Rufus, Jay, and Silent Bob. "You guys too, I suppose."

"Fuck yeah, I'm in it for the bitches," Jay said. "And Silent Bob too."

Silent Bob nodded; Holden looked to Rufus.

"Yeah, I've got nothing better to do, I guess. Thanks for the invite, brother."

"No problem." Holden shook his head, looking at the motley crew assembled in his warehouse home. "This is gonna be interesting," he mused.