Heavy footsteps echoed along the silent city streets of the town that had always seemed quiet, except for tonight. A tall, stocky man was driving home a little boy he knew way too well and who for some reason would not stop getting into trouble all the time.
"Hey! No, seriously, what was that? Are you by any chance working for the aliens? Look, let me go, I promise you..."
The old guard paid little attention to the indistinct buzzing coming from that annoying little punk. His mind was elsewhere, focused on what he had seen a few minutes earlier. He still couldn't believe it. It seemed like he had just been living in a dream. Nothing that had just happened made any sense. Who was this man? What was he doing? How was it possible for him to levitate objects...to make a train appear out of thin air...
"Are you even listening to me? Why aren't you saying anything?"
If the little boy hadn't seen exactly what he had seen, Ted would think he had gone crazy. He had seen a lot in his life, but this situation was on another level.
"Be quiet, little boy. There are people sleeping in these houses. Do you also want to add 'late-night cackling' to your list of misdeeds? Don't you feel like you've done enough already for tonight?" He replied with a huff.
"At least stop holding me by the foot, you're making me nauseous," replied the boy, emphasizing his discomfort with an obvious look of distress on his face.
Perhaps a little too dramatic, but sincere nonetheless.
"I can't blame you." The guard replied, grabbing the boy's sweatshirt by the scruff of his neck. A low growl came from the big dog walking beside him, as if to warn Jake not to try and run away. Ted nodded slightly to calm the animal down. The steady clicking of the dog's claws on the concrete reassured the guard, reminding him that he was not alone in this. He could always count on his faithful and loyal friend.
"I can walk, you know. So, can you explain what you were doing? Who was that? How come there was flying stuff in that old underpass?" Jake stared at the man with an annoyed expression. What was that old fart hiding? Did it have anything to do with the turbine that Yutani found some days ago?
"I already told you it's none of your business. Stay out of this." The guard abruptly replied, but he quickly realized that this would only increase the boy's interest in the matter. "Please. I'll be honest with you, I know exactly as much as you do. I was looking for you when that strange individual in the rabbit mask..."
"Rabbit mask?"Jake couldn't help but smile. "Are you kidding me? Was he a furry or what? Oh, wait ... now that you mention it ... that man I saw walking away actually had ears ..."
"Style details don't interest me. I'm more interested in the fact that he looked like a dangerous person. I have no idea what he was doing. So, I'd appreciate it if you didn't stick your nose into this too much. I'm saying this for your own sake. Let me do my job of keeping this place safe." Ted sighed. "Although I find you a rather rude child, I would never forgive myself if something bad happened to you."
Jake responded aggressively almost instinctively, but quickly regretted it. "I am not a child! It's you who are too old!" The man's tone was serious. He seemed honestly concerned. The fact that the guardian was concerned about his health made him feel ... welcomed. Protected. "... Sorry. I didn't mean it. I just want to help in some way. Please tell me if there is at least one thing I can do to help you."
Ted smirked "You can start by taking a shower. You stink."
"Your dog stinks!"
"Please do not insult my buddy. He is a very clean, well cared dog."
"You mean a well cared Satan. Look at him, it looks like he has demons from hell stuck inside that canine body."
"At least he does not ruin my garden every damn time. Come on now, we have arrived at your place. Looks like your mum doesn't know you're out, all the lights are out."
