Chapter 13
The Smell of Fear
As they were headed out of the forest preserve Bruni remembered that he had another flask, and it was still about three-quarters full. With a grin he retrieved it from his pocket and began swilling it immediately. The ale he'd consumed recently did a decent job of getting him drunk, but he was coming down too quickly. To make up for this he took not one, not two, but three quick tugs off of the flask.
Fitz looked sidelong at him. "Don't let Brandon see that."
"Why?"
Fitz sighed. "Open alcohol container in a moving car? I don't know why Brandon wouldn't like that."
"My rampant boozing just saved Zim's life," Bruni said. "I think he'd make an exception."
Fitz turned his attention to Zim, who was hunched over in his seat, closely examining the Rinkan Stone. He turned it over in his hands, leaving bloody fingerprints all over it.
"I thought Bruni had that thing," Fitz said.
"He gave it to me," Zim said. "He couldn't fit it comfortably in his pockets because that's where he keeps his flasks, so when I asked for it, he just gave it to me."
"Are you going to break this, too?"
"Probably not. It looks hard to break."
"You got blood all over it," Fitz said. "I hope it still works."
"He got blood all over WHAT?!" Brandon yelled.
"Don't worry. We're talking about the rock."
"You'd better be. Remember, Zim: NOT ONE SPOT OF BLOOD."
Zim let out a heavy sigh and put the Rinkan Stone in his pocket. On Fitz's other side Bruni took several more swigs from the flask. Fitz did an imitation of Zim's sigh. "I think we're all doomed."
Bruni perked up. "Wait! We're doomed if we go back to Tailgators! Brandon, do not go to Tailgators!"
"Thank God," Zim said. "I hate that place."
"What are you talking about?" Brandon asked.
"I am once again Future Booze Jesus, and I have had a vision. If we go to Tailgators we will be arrested, and the world will end because Zim wasn't in the right place at the right time."
"So where are we going, then?"
Future Booze Jesus smiled. "We're going to Mullin's. That's where Krimskep will appear, and that is where Zim must stop him."
"See?" Zim asked. "I wanted to go to Mullin's all this time, but everyone said we can't. I was right, and I want all of you to admit it."
Brandon ignored him. "Mullin's? Are you sure?"
"Positive," Future Booze Jesus said.
"Bullshit," Fitz said. "You just want the world to end at Mullin's because you're pissed off at that one bartender. The guy who cut you off because you puked in the bathroom."
"I did not puke in the bathroom. That cocksucker was spreading vicious lies about me. But no, I would never stake the fate of the world on such a decision." He paused. "This is, however, quite fortuitous. I like that."
"Great," Brandon said. "Does anyone know Angel's cell phone number? We have to let them know."
No one had it.
"I think you should pull up next to them and shout this new information at high speeds," Bruni said. "As your attorney I advise you to do this."
"There are only two lanes here," Brandon said. "What if someone comes along?"
"There is no one out there," Future Booze Jesus said. "There will be no car crash."
Fitz shrugged. "I trust his judgment when he's like this."
"Fine." Brandon pulled into the next lane going the wrong way and rode up next to Angel's convertible while Bruni leaned his head out the window and shouted drunken gibberish.
When no one in Angel's car got the idea, Bruni started singing a GWAR tune. "Fucking an Animal" came through loud and clear, and Lorne's head perked up. It was clear that he understood, and he explained the situation to Angel.
"Follow us!" Bruni roared. Brandon quickly pulled into the correct lane again. They were now on their way to Mullin's.
Twenty minutes later they were pulling into Mullin's. There was about a half an hour before closing time, so the parking lot was still fairly full. There was a local band playing, and from the sound of it they were still rocking away.
As soon as the van and convertible parked, everyone filed out and gathered together. "What now?" Zim asked.
"The Shelpshov demon told me that we had to find a particular individual," Lorne said. "The guy's name is Ace, and he—"
"Holy shit!" Fitz said. "I know that guy!"
"You mean, Guns-n-Roses Ace?" Brandon asked.
"As it turns out, yes," Lorne said. "He does have an affinity for GNR. But he's not a human being. He's a Sleshta Skatz, one of Krimskep's people. He's not a bad guy, though. He knows how we can lure Krimskep to this place."
"Isn't Krimskep supposed to be here anyway?" Zim asked.
"Yes," Lorne said, "but we need him here at our mercy, not the other way around."
"And Ace can do this?" Fitz asked.
"Yes. He's been Mullin's guardian for more years than I can count. Now it is time for him to finally fulfill his duty in the prophecy."
"A thought has just occurred to me," Bruni said. "Krimskep clearly knows about a prophecy involving him, right? And that this prophecy names Zim as the winner of this battle, right?"
"Yeah," Lorne said.
"Then why does Krimskep still want to come here and fight? If he knows he's going to lose, why is he going to do it anyway?"
Angel pursed his lips. "I've asked myself the same question many times about many different end-of-the-world prophecies."
"Think of all the time we could have saved," Spike said.
"Who cares?" Connor asked. "Let's just find this guy and get Krimskep here so Zim can kill him."
"Amen to that," Gunn said.
They advanced on Mullin's, and the bouncer stopped them at the door, asking for ID's. Then, before anyone could object, he saw Fitz. "Hey, man. Long time, no see. What's up?"
"Not much." Fitz shook his hand. "Just looking for a couple of last minute drinks."
"Come on in, man. Hey Brandon." The bouncer shook Brandon's hand.
Zim nodded to the bouncer, who ignored him as the others shuffled past him.
The bar was pretty crowded for the late hour, and there were a few people dancing in front of the stage. Most stood around tables, drinking their various-colored booze. Everyone spread out, hoping to find Ace in time.
Bruni headed directly to the bar, but when he saw the douchebag bartender was the only one serving this side, he went to the bathroom instead, where he started downing the remainder of his flask. He briefly considered puking all over the bathroom as a form of retribution, but he had a reputation to maintain, so he decided against it.
Fitz was making the rounds, shaking hands with familiar faces, but when he neared the back of the room he saw an incredibly beautiful woman. She was alone, leaning against the bar, sipping from what looked like a Jack and Diet Coke—Fitz's usual—and her strikingly gorgeous blue eyes met with his. He felt the incredible urge to approach her.
So he did. He had no idea as to what he was going to say, but he had confidence in himself. There was no doubt in his mind: as soon as this night was through, after all the demons had been dealt with, he would be going home with this hottie.
Zim and Brandon bumped into each other during their search for Ace. It was Brandon who noticed Fitz approaching the hot chick. He pointed. "That's weird."
"Huh?" Zim asked.
"Fitz is making the approach," Brandon said. "That's not his style."
"That's right. He usually waits for women to come to him, and he always plays it cool as if he doesn't care whether or not she's interested in him."
"And it is kind of a strange time for him to be making a move."
"Hey! There's Ace!" Zim said.
Brandon turned away from Fitz, so he did not notice when Desdemona turned into a pure golden light and shot herself through Fitz's eyes.
