Returning to the primary street from the Sub-Basement of Solitude, Sam, Max, and the Geek emerged back into the sunlight.
"Alright, what typically is the first thing you two do after you get your stuff from me?" Geek asked, "Or really I guess how you start a case at all. Sorry, still getting used to being back in this."
"Well, usually we see what we can get from Bosco or see whatever career Sybil has settled on for the time." Sam explained
"You'd be amazed at how frequently both those things come in handy." Max pointed out.
"So which should we check first?" Geek asked.
"I vote we check in with Sybil last." Max said, "I kind of want to hold off seeing that creepy half statue spawn of hers."
"Half-statue spawn?" Geek asked confused.
"Somehow despite all science and probability, Sybil somehow had a child with the animated statue of the Abraham Lincoln memorial."
"Which of course I managed to beat in an election for president." Max butted in.
"That isn't relevant at all Max." Sam reminded him.
"I know; I just love bringing it up." Max said, "Especially the part when I destroy him with a hidden nuke stash."
"Wow, things have defiantly gotten weirder since I left." Geek said half confused by the back and forth between the Freelance Police.
"Well Geek, truth is we had to sort of make ourselves a little more appropriate when around you way back when." Sam confessed, "The Commissioner made it very clear that the penalty for scaring your childhood innocence would being fired"
"Out of a cannon, into the Atlantic Ocean, skimmed out of the ocean, shot, and then would be fired at our funeral." Max added on. "I love saying that part."
"A lot more than I'd imagine you'd love going through it." Geek sarcastically pointed out, "As for my innocence, it was kind of messed up before I even met you guys."
"Wouldn't have noticed." Sam said, "Now, let's see what Bosco has for us."
Bosco's Inconvenience
With a chime, they walked into the store. The bunker-like look has been replaced with a traditional convenience store front. A bald man with an irregular skin tone was standing behind the counter.
"Sam! Max!" Bosco said, "It's been too long. No one's been buying any BoscoTech from my store."
"Really? With Mama Bosco working on your technology, I thought it would be flying off the shelves." Sam said.
"With some of your stuff I assumed literally." Max pointed out.
"Oh they are." Bosco said, "Problem is everyone's buying my mama's goods and no one wants my certified BoscoTech inventions anymore."
"So you must be the guy who was providing Sam and Max with gadgets while I was away?" Geek said finally getting a word in. "Gotta say, over simplification aside, some of those creations aren't horrible. I mean, high speed onion launcher, seemingly infinite helium balloon, English speaking cockroach, vodka with an implausible level of alcohol, and a satellite re-entry remote."
"You forgot about my BoscoTech biological weapon."
"You mean snot." Geek said.
"But my newest invention will erase all of that." Bosco said. "My patented BoscoTech anti-disguise formula and application system."
"Bosco!" A female voice said as the likeness of Mama Bosco appeared on a TV Screen next to the counter, "Bosco, I know you aren't trying to sell your inventions under the BoscoTech name."
"Mama, we reached an agreement and you know it. I can sell my stuff out of my store." Bosco said.
"Sam, Max, didn't notice you there." Mama Bosco said. "Sorry I can't be there in person. I'm down in the lab working on some of the more serious elements of BoscoTech. I've been trying to keep my son from scamming you guys with his inventions lately, even if it's just contributing in some way to them. Bosco, show them your Anti-Disguise formula application system."
"Alright, but I am not gonna be responsible for any stolen goods." Bosco said pulling a bottle of seltzer out from under the front counter with the BoscoTech label on it.
"That's a bottle of seltzer." Geek said.
"A normal bottle of seltzer doesn't cost $1,000,000." He said, "But trust me, it works. Spray this on someone, and any disguise they have painted on their face will melt right off."
"Mostly because I added a special unbonding chemical to the mixture dissolving most oils and plastics." Mama Bosco said from the monitor.
"But still, $1,000,000?" Geek asked, "How can you justify charging that?"
"Past experience." Bosco said. "I can charge most anything and these two fools will pay it."
"They really can't be that stupid." Geek said casting a side glance at the freelance police duo, "Okay, they could be."
"We'll be back Bosco. Once we have the money needed to buy that seltzer." Sam said.
"You have got to be kidding me." Geek said. The trio left the convenience store ignoring the protests of the Geek about the overcharge on the item.
"Man I can't believe we have to see Sybil now." Max said, "Ugh, that stupid freak show child is gonna haunt my dreams. And there's enough weird stuff in my head already."
"Shut up Chowder head." Sam said, "I'm sure it can't be too horrible."
"Oh we'll see; I'm telling you it'll be a total freak show."
Sybil's Office…
As per usual for Sybil, she has once again found a new job, with a fresh new sign in her window. Apparently this time, she fell into the career path of a Talent Agent. Inside, Sybil sat at her desk in her usual spot, with a baby cradle close by.
"Sam, Max. Great to see you. Did you come to see little Abigale?" The constant career hopper asked.
"Prefer not to." Max said flatly.
"Shut up chowder head." Sam said, "Truth is we're on a case, but since we're here, I can't think of a reason not to."
"Except that I just ate." Max said.
"You mind letting this drop already Max?" Geek said.
"I'm sorry, have we met?" Sybil asked.
"no sorry, I hate my real name, so by all means call me 'Geek'." Geek responded, "I go way back with these two knuckleheads. Used to be the one who provided them all their tech and gear."
"Interesting. I don't think they've ever mentioned you before." Sybil brought up.
"Well Max is all short turn memory so he barely remembered her. And me, something caused my brain to add on extra dimensions causing it hard to recall a lot from long time ago in casual conversation."
"It also forces him to explain things in long detail like some idiot at a keyboard was making him do it."
"Max stop talking nonsense." Sybil said.
"So this is yours and the Abraham Lincoln Memorial's daughter?" Geek asked checking in the baby cradle.
"Yup, that's our little Abigale." Sybil said. "We both thought it was a really pretty name."
"Naming Abe child's Abe. Who would have thought that being a giant memorial would give you a massive ego?" Max asked.
"Where you trying to be sarcastic?" Sam asked.
"I can't tell anymore." Max said looking into the cradle as well. "Huh, a lot less gross then I expected." Said child seemed far more human than the offspring of a human and a giant motorized statue should have been. She looked perfectly human in size, it's skin perfectly flat with the occasional freckle like that found in marble across it.
"What where you guys expecting?" Sybil asked slightly annoyed.
"Well, I mean, it's like this" Sam tried to form the coherent sentence.
"We were expecting some kind of freaky half statue thing with like half of its face being stone and the other half being flesh or something." Max said demonstrating his complete lack of social awareness to get a point across.
"In their defense, this kind of thing shouldn't be possible, so they can't really be penalized for failing to guess the end results." Geek said quickly coming to their aid.
"I suppose you have a point. Where were you for all their other bad decisions?" Sable asked.
"College."
"Didn't think these two knew anyone smart enough for that. Aside from me of course."
"Hey Sybil?" Sam asked interrupting the conversation, "What's with the box of staplers?"
"Oh those? Some guy left them here. They were part of his act, the juggling accountant. He juggled supplies while doing someone's taxes."
"Wow that sounds like a great potential for self-harm." Max added.
"I wish, maybe then I could have got him something. No, biggest mistake he made was using the wrong form."
"Mind if I take one?"
"By all means." Sam grabbed one of the staplers and slipped it into his pocket.
"How did you do that Sam?" Geek asked.
"Never quite figured it out, but somehow my pockets can contain anything, like an infinite void."
"Makes about as much since as anything else with you two." Geek said crossing her arms. "But why are you taking it?"
"Never underestimate the usefulness of everyday random objects." Sam answered.
"So, we going after that circus yet?"
"Not quite yet, I want to swing by the office again. Forgot to search it for things we might need." Sam responded.
"I don't remember you guys doing so much bouncing around to do things like this."
"Yeah, you've been around more for our straight forward cases. Me and Sam do stuff like this all the time." Max piped up. Once the trio made it up to the office, Geek was the first to speak.
"This has been bothering me for a while now." Geek said, "Is it my imagination, or are we better detailed then we were in the past?"
"I think it has to do with a better budget and improved technology." Sam explained.
"And not having to play anything safer so soccer moms don't get their underwear in a bunch." Max added being Max.
"This could come in handy." Sam said grabbing a ruler off his desk.
"Who did he say that for?" Geek asked silently to Max.
"I have no idea, does it all the time." Max answered, nowhere near a whisper. Sam continued to give a quick overview of the office, even looking into the trophy closet. Inside it was a shaved off afro, a creepy looking teddy bear, a bandit themed slot machine, the severed head of a president puppet, VR glasses, a jar of liquid label 'Bliss', a small doll with boxing gloves and half of its hair missing, a mauled surf board, a pack of garlic cigarettes, an AI core off a space ship, some kind of black cake with white goop on it with fish sticks sticking out of it, and a large block of granite.
"What in the world is all in there?" Geek asked.
"Me and Max keep a souvenir from every case we solve. I like looking at them before we properly start a case." Sam responded.
"You guys never took souvenirs."
"We started back in 2006. Makes for great Easter eggs." Max added.
"If there's one thing I learned it's never question you two." Geek said, "So, we finally ready to hit this carnival?"
"Hm…yup I think we got everything we need. Come on." The group went back down to the street and got into the Desoto.
"I see you never bothered to install something like seatbelts."
"We talked about it, but it wasn't worth it. Especially when we had to work out of the car while the office was being renovated." Sam said starting up the engine. With a roar, the car shot off, swerving onto the road and shooting down it to their destination.