Chapter Twenty-two – 'We meet again'
"That was a very informative seminar." Moe thanked the receptionist on the way out of the room. "I learned some valuable information to use to play this game."
"Money well spent." The receptionist agreed as she followed Moe back to her desk at the front of Red Blazer Realty. "I hope it helps you in your journey."
Moe looked at her again. "It will. I need to buy all the properties I can and work to develop houses on full color group properties."
"I'm not sure about buying properties, I just help with taxes and property improvements." The receptionist said as Gil joined them.
"Glad we could help Moe. Was my seminar good? Was it worth one hundred fifty dollars?" Gil stammered as Moe continued to gaze at the receptionist.
"Yeah. Maybe only one hundred." Moe politely said. "What happens if I come back here? Will it still cost one hundred fifty dollars?"
Gil started to get anxious answering questions knowing the answers would be less favorable. "Well..." He hesitated. "The seminar always cost ten percent of your net worth. Could cost one hundred dollars, could cost a lot more than that."
"I appreciate your seminar, but I may not be back to enjoy it again." Moe said as he turned his attention back toward the receptionist. "But I may come back to see you again." The MyPad lit up and displayed the roll icon. "I guess that is my cue. It is time to move on."
"Enjoy your journey." The receptionist said as she walked toward her desk and had a seat.
Moe pressed the roll icon and heard the loud booms outside. The MyPad displayed an eight. "Good luck in getting people to pay more for your seminar than I paid." He said to Gil and walked toward the front of the room. "I hope I'll be back to see you." Moe said to the receptionist but received no answer as she was on the phone.
Moe exited the building and saw his silver top hat still parked out front. He climbed in and it started to move along the road.
He waited patiently for a few minutes. "Last time, I moved four spaces and it took a while, now I am moving eight spaces." Moe calculated. "This should take twice as long, only problem is, I don't know how long the last time was though."
Moe continued his ride in the top hat. He looked around and didn't see anything that may help him. The top hat continued until he could see the tops of trees in the distance.
"That doesn't look good." Moe muttered to himself. "It looks like a wall of trees... like a forest. I don't seem to be turning away from it." He stood up in the top hat and braced him by holding onto the brim. The trees started to get closer. "I guess I am going through because it looks to close to go around."
He was right as the top hat sped toward the tree line and dodged two tall trees as it entered the forest.
"This is different scenery." He said as he rode between trees, over dirt mounds, and across paths. "Really dark in here." Moe squinted to try to see further through the darkened forest. A light appeared in between two distance trees. "I see light." He said to himself as the top hat started weaving through different paths.
"I don't like this wild ride. Why can't we just go straight. I meant 'I', like the top hat is actually part of me. 'We' as in a top hat and myself." Moe rambled on as the top hat made the final approach toward the light and emerged from the forest.
Moe wiped the sweat from his forehead. "So glad that is over. Now to figure out where I am."
The sound of a loud waterfall took over all his senses. A high dam appeared to his right as the sound of water became louder.
"I think I have arrived." Moe said as the top hat approached the wide river at the foot of the dam. A rickety wooden bridge spanned the river and the top hat started across it. "This doesn't look too stable, but if it falls apart I'll just use the top hat as a boat. Unless it sinks. It is made of silver." Moe worried as he rambled on again. "Let's just see what happens."
The top hat made it across the wooden bridge and slowed down as it approached the dirt path that led to the dam. "That was weird." Moe said as the top hat coasted to a stop.
"You have arrived at the Hydro and Electric Dam - Electric Side." The MyPad announced as it showed the eight spaces Moe had just ridden.
"This game gets weirder every turn." He said to himself as he jumped out of the top hat. "Guess I should see if I can buy it or if I lose money again."
He looked up the dirt path and proceeded toward the four trailers along the path. A few feet down the path he noticed a sign hidden among the trees. "Hydro and Electric Dam." Moe read. "This could be the Hydroelectric Dam that the receptionist was talking about. I should buy this. It looks expensive."
He continued down the path and saw another sign. "For sale." He read. "It looks like someone spray painted over the sign and now it says 'Sold'." Moe said disappointed. "I'm never going to buy anything at this rate. Maybe it is just a mistake... or vandalism."
The next sign appeared in the trees, but Moe could not read it as it looked like someone had burnt it. The smoldering remains of two posts and the bottom right corner was all that remained. "That has to a bad sign." Moe wondered as he approached the last sign. It was also partially burnt and spray painted. "I should just turn around." He thought as he looked back at his top hat sitting at the beginning of the path.
"The trailers don't look vandalized, so I'll go check those out." He said as he started to walk further up the path.
The first trailer came up on the right side of the path. Moe looked inside and saw a small desk lamp was dimly lit. He tried the door knob but it did not move. "Locked. Now that is just wasting electricity."
He left from the door and continued down the path. He came to the second trailer on the right and approached the door. He peered inside and immediately stopped and focused his attention at the Burns statue inside. "I found it. Just need to..." He tried the door knob, but it was locked. "That's just inconvenient." Moe said as he tried to turn the door knob harder thinking it might open by force.
"So close, but yet so far." Moe said to himself. "I need to find a way in here... without breaking in."
He stepped away from the door and walked toward the third trailer. He tried the door knob and it was locked too. "One more trailer, but it has lights on so someone must be home."
The closer he walked toward the last trailer, he slowed as he heard voices. He creeped under the window and listened for a few minutes. "I can't tell if anything is..." He stopped mid sentence as a man was discussing the plans for building houses on a color group.
"We are getting relatively close to a complete color group. Dark purple has one left, along with light blue and red. We need to come up with plans for future expansion. Was there a decision reached on the three or four house question." The man asked.
"I believe it was decided at four." Another man answered.
"We also need resolution about the ownership of this dam, and whether any houses will be built along the path or any floating docks will be set above." The first man continued.
"I believe that would need to be a rule change, but it was discussed..." A third man started before a knock at the door interrupted his speech.
The door opened and the first man greeted Moe. "Can I help you? We are in the middle of an important meeting."
"I heard that, so I waited." Moe admitted. "I heard you talking about color groups. What can you tell me about the different color groups?"
The man hesitated. "I'm not supposed to share game information like this, but I'm feeling generous tonight so I will tell you one thing. Besides, you are not the first player here. You already have that disadvantage."
"Story of my life. One disadvantage after another." Moe complained.
"There are eight color groups. Focus on the orange and red color groups. They are the most frequented." The man advised. "I hate to run, but this meeting is important. Go talk to the security guard. He will allow you into the dam."
"Thanks." Moe plainly said as he turned and headed for the dam. The path continued past the trailers and approached the guard-house. Moe looked up at the height of the dam as it loomed over him.
The security guard was standing in the middle of the path when Moe finished walking toward him. "Wonderful evening tonight." Moe hesitantly said to the security guard.
"It is. You here for a tour?" The security guard asked as Moe looked up at the size of the dam again.
"I would love of a tour of this place." Moe excitedly said. "I've always wondered how one of these worked."
"Just head inside and take a look around. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Enjoy your tour." The security guard said as he motioned for Moe to enter the structure.
"One question, before I start. How do I get to the Burns statue located inside the second trailer." Moe asked as he pointed back down the path. "The door is locked and I need to talk to the statue..."
"Talk to the... wait, I thought the statue was in the turbine room." The security guard asked with a confused look. "They delivered the statue in here. I watched them. I even signed the delivery confirmation."
"It's in the second trailer." Moe informed. "You can go look while I take a tour inside."
"I think I will." The security guard said as he walked down the path shining his flashlight so he could see.
Moe entered the dam and saw a sign that read: 'Turbine Room', with an arrow pointing down a hallway to the right.
"I guess this would be a good place to start." Moe said as he turned and proceeded down the hallway. The long hallway abruptly ended in a large room, a very loud room. "It sounds like I found the turbine room. This is impressive." he said with wide eyes as he walked around staring at the turbines.
Moe continued looking at each turbine one by one starting with the first, then walking to the second. He stared at the second then walked back to the first, then to the third. He walked back toward the second turbine when a very loud ding stopped him in his tracks. The sound of the bell was louder than the turbines.
"I heard that." He yelled to himself. "If it is that loud it must be important." He said as he looked for the source of that noise. Around the second turbine he walked, then back to the third where he saw the source of the noise. The bell sounded twice more just as loud. "An elevator?" Moe seemed surprised.
The elevator door opened to reveal a familiar sight and an unfamiliar sight.
"Luann!" Moe exclaimed.
"Moe!" Luann exclaimed. "It's funny running into you here."
"And it's funny running into you..." He paused. "And is that a purple hologram with you?"
Luann started to speak, but the hologram interrupted. "Yes. I am called Purple. I was explaining an important rule to Luann, and I was in the process of showing her."
"I thought the holograms disappeared once our turns were over." Moe asked. "And there is no statue next to you, so how is... I'm so confused."
"The holograms choose to disappear when we are not needed." The hologram answered."
"So answer me this Purple." Moe started sarcastically. "How did the statue move? Or why do the statues move?"
"Cecil said..." Luann started to explain.
"Cecil told you what he was instructed to tell you." Purple explained. "Where is Cecil now Luann?"
"I don't know." She frowned as she said this. "He handed me the keys and left."
"Because he knows what is best." Purple continued. "The mayors were told to say the statues move because it makes the game more fun. It will, but that's not the real reason."
"What is the real reason?" Moe asked.
"Go find where the statue moved to and ask it." The hologram said before it faded.
Luann and Moe looked at each other. "I think we should listen." Moe quietly said.
"Probably." Luann said as she led the way out of the turbine room and back to the guard-house.
The security guard was sitting in the guard-house mumbling to himself. "...moved. Somehow. I never saw it. How? Why? This isn't..."
"Normal." Moe said to the security guard.
"This is creepy." The security guard said creeped out. "You were right. It is in the second trailer. I locked the door, but it is always locked. Here are the keys. Go see for yourself. I'm going to hide in here."
"This game just gets weirder and weirder." Moe said as he and Luann walked down the path toward the second trailer.
They passed the third and fourth trailers as Luann thought out loud. "I know the statue wasn't in the trailer the first time I was here..." Luann stopped mid-sentence as Moe glanced over.
"First time you were here?" He questioned. "You have already been here?"
"I mean... I was... Let's just get to the statue." Luann stammered.
They arrived at the second trailer and Luann unlocked the door and allowed Moe to enter first. He glanced at the statue and then around the room.
"What did you find here? The first time?" Moe joked as he chuckled to himself.
"I'll show you when you are finished." Luann gestured to the statue.
Moe approached the statue and placed his MyPad in the hands of the statue and a green hologram appeared on the left, and a yellow one on the right. "Two of them. This may be my lucky day." Moe said as Luann tried to contain a smirk that started across her face.
"Greetings, and welcome to the Electric side of the Hydro and Electric Dam. Unfortunately, this property has been purchased." The green hologram said before disappearing.
"Well that is unfortunate." Moe said as his attention turned to the yellow hologram.
"It is unfortunate." The yellow hologram agreed. "Since you do not own this property, you will be charged a visitor's fee payable to the owner."
"Visitor's fee? I saw three turbines." Moe said sadly. "Wonder who the owner is?"
The yellow hologram looked at Luann. "Luann, do you want to tell him you own this property or should I?"
Luann laughed nervously. "I think he knows."
"Actually, Luann owns both properties for the dam. The Hydro side and the Electric side." The yellow hologram explained. "Therefore, your visitor's fee is equal to ten times your dice roll. Eight times ten equals eighty."
"Eighty dollars to look at three turbines?" Moe said to Luann. "There better be more to the tour."
"Eighty dollars have been deducted. Thank you." The yellow hologram said before disappearing.
"Thank you? We didn't even find out why the statues move?" Moe said to Luann.
"You're right. We have to ask." Luann said before turning toward the statue. "Why do the statues move after each interaction?" As she said this a white hologram appeared.
"We move so we can not be easily found. We move so we can not be defeated. We know the master plan. We will win this game." The white hologram said before disappearing.
"What?" Moe didn't know what to say.
"Meaning?" Luann said. "That doesn't sound good."
A receipt printed below the statue's hands. Moe grabbed it and read. "Thirteen hundred fifty dollars minus eighty dollars equals twelve hundred seventy dollars. I'm not making any money." Another receipt printed below the MyPad and read: 'For Luann' in big letters. "It looks like it is for you." Moe said to Luann as he grabbed the MyPad.
Luann took it and read to herself: 'Transport Fee. Signed Purple'. She smiled to herself as she taught of this way to make more money. "Let me show you something interesting. I think it will help change your luck. Let's go back and talk to Purple."
They left the trailer and Luann shut and locked the door as loud booms echoed across the dam. "You didn't need to slam the door that hard."
"I didn't. Those were the dice. Remember?" Luann sarcastically corrected.
"Right. Let's go see the purple hologram again." Moe insisted.
"Yes. It will do both of us some good." Luann agreed as they walked back up the path towards the dam.
