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Sniper lay on the medic table, that Grix lay on oh so long ago... just before they all entered his mind, and entered a world of the west, fought like cowboys and swore like Scotsmen.
Sniper, was in what seemed a coma... mind you, he didn't actually have a mind, as it had been removed...
Oh right, you don't know about any of this crap... better update you then.
A week ago, Sniper's and Bill Gate's mind were both put onto a megadrive cartridge after they failed to save him. Soon after that, Grix died, so they put his mind on it too. So he's kinda alive, but not.
Hmmm.
Let's start again.
Sniper's mind is now on the megadrive cartridge along with Bill Gate's mind and Grix's. We don't know why.
But, Sniper's mind for some reason has taken control, and now has created a world for which the minds to live in. A bit like the Matrix, but not.
For you see, it's Sniper's mind that creates the world... much like Grix's mind made the western world, that they all got stuck in.
Hmmm...
Did you ever see that episode of Red Dwarf when Kryten got that bug, and in order to fight it, he made a computer program that he fought in with his mind? Gunmen of the Apocolypse, right?
Well, it's like that.
-------------
"Would anyone be utterly shocked if we entered this thing and it was just a barren wasteland?" Pb asked.
"Now now, they'll be room for plenty of empty minded Sniper jokes later. Let's not ruin them all now." FM replied.
They had chosen the original four to go back inside the Megadrive cartridge, for obvious reasons. Being "more deserving to be wrote about" seemed to be top reason.
So Venombyte, Pb, Meka and FantasyMeister all decided that they would enter, Goatboy then managed to convince them that he should go too. Rock and roll, apparently.
So it was decided. The rest just lay around, and waited. And so they entered Sniper's mind.
----------------
Tuesday. Just a name for another day.
Sniper doodled a naked woman in his diary... completely out of proportion, dreamy.
He had been stuck inside all day, waiting... just like any other damn day. He wore a black and white suit, and waited in his black and white room... he looked out into the white sky, with black clouds and black rain. It was if the whole damn world was black and white.
He dreamed of a rainbow, but he couldn't remember what it looked like.
Hell, he couldn't even remember what his face looked like. He got up from his desk, and walked to the mirror.
A damn handsome man starred back at him... just as he thought, he was beautiful. How could he forget.
He went back to his desk, and began to clear away his things. Pointless staying in the office all day... damn, he needed to get out... and of course, his award ceremony tonight, dedicated to him... was supposed to be a surprise, but how do you hide something from Sniper?
He smiled to himself. He rocked.
A knock came at the black and white door of his colourless room... as it opened, the name of the occupant and his job description flew also, along with a beautiful woman in a red dress.
"Detective Sniper? Is that you?"
Sniper turned fully around, and brushed his hair back with his fingers.
"Hi there sugarcake. What can I do for you?"
The woman seemed flustered, embarressed.
"To be honest, I'm... I didn't expect you to look... so..."
"Handsome? Don't worry darling, the words will come, but let us forget communication for the time being, and let's get down to business..."
"No... I... but..." The woman resisted, still clinging to the handle of the door. "I need your help, I'm worried... I think there is someone trying to kill me."
Sniper took the words like the smoke from his cigarette, calmly destroying his insides while seeming so good. "I'm intrigued, why would anyone want to kill you?"
"I don't know..." The woman obviously lied. "I just... you have to protect me. It's Grix Thraves, I think he's stalking me."
Grix... the name made his tongue sting every time he uttered the word... speaking out to him like a lemon juice without any added sugar.
"Grix..." He said, wiping his tongue with his teeth. "Him."
"Yeah... he's after me Sniper, I feel him everywhere I go..."
Sniper's thoughts disgusted him. "Damn him. Don't worry darling, I'll get him, don't you worry about it."
"Thank you, please, I have something to tell you..." The woman left the door, and approuched Sniper... she leaned in towards him...
Sniper smiled and looked deep into her eyes...
"You can find him usually in the arms of a lady in the Queen's Arms at 9:00PM every night."
"The Queen's Arms? But that's a gay bar." Sniper said, thoughtful.
"How do you know that?"
Sniper looked around. "I'm a private detective sugarcup, I have to know these things." Sniper smoothed back his hair again.
"Please, Sniper, make love to me, now, please!" The woman fell to her knees.
"Not now darling, my clan awaits me... tonight we're playing Unreal Tournament." He paused. "It's been a while. A long while." Sniper left the room, and the woman cried in her arms.
Sniper, was in what seemed a coma... mind you, he didn't actually have a mind, as it had been removed...
Oh right, you don't know about any of this crap... better update you then.
A week ago, Sniper's and Bill Gate's mind were both put onto a megadrive cartridge after they failed to save him. Soon after that, Grix died, so they put his mind on it too. So he's kinda alive, but not.
Hmmm.
Let's start again.
Sniper's mind is now on the megadrive cartridge along with Bill Gate's mind and Grix's. We don't know why.
But, Sniper's mind for some reason has taken control, and now has created a world for which the minds to live in. A bit like the Matrix, but not.
For you see, it's Sniper's mind that creates the world... much like Grix's mind made the western world, that they all got stuck in.
Hmmm...
Did you ever see that episode of Red Dwarf when Kryten got that bug, and in order to fight it, he made a computer program that he fought in with his mind? Gunmen of the Apocolypse, right?
Well, it's like that.
-------------
"Would anyone be utterly shocked if we entered this thing and it was just a barren wasteland?" Pb asked.
"Now now, they'll be room for plenty of empty minded Sniper jokes later. Let's not ruin them all now." FM replied.
They had chosen the original four to go back inside the Megadrive cartridge, for obvious reasons. Being "more deserving to be wrote about" seemed to be top reason.
So Venombyte, Pb, Meka and FantasyMeister all decided that they would enter, Goatboy then managed to convince them that he should go too. Rock and roll, apparently.
So it was decided. The rest just lay around, and waited. And so they entered Sniper's mind.
----------------
Tuesday. Just a name for another day.
Sniper doodled a naked woman in his diary... completely out of proportion, dreamy.
He had been stuck inside all day, waiting... just like any other damn day. He wore a black and white suit, and waited in his black and white room... he looked out into the white sky, with black clouds and black rain. It was if the whole damn world was black and white.
He dreamed of a rainbow, but he couldn't remember what it looked like.
Hell, he couldn't even remember what his face looked like. He got up from his desk, and walked to the mirror.
A damn handsome man starred back at him... just as he thought, he was beautiful. How could he forget.
He went back to his desk, and began to clear away his things. Pointless staying in the office all day... damn, he needed to get out... and of course, his award ceremony tonight, dedicated to him... was supposed to be a surprise, but how do you hide something from Sniper?
He smiled to himself. He rocked.
A knock came at the black and white door of his colourless room... as it opened, the name of the occupant and his job description flew also, along with a beautiful woman in a red dress.
"Detective Sniper? Is that you?"
Sniper turned fully around, and brushed his hair back with his fingers.
"Hi there sugarcake. What can I do for you?"
The woman seemed flustered, embarressed.
"To be honest, I'm... I didn't expect you to look... so..."
"Handsome? Don't worry darling, the words will come, but let us forget communication for the time being, and let's get down to business..."
"No... I... but..." The woman resisted, still clinging to the handle of the door. "I need your help, I'm worried... I think there is someone trying to kill me."
Sniper took the words like the smoke from his cigarette, calmly destroying his insides while seeming so good. "I'm intrigued, why would anyone want to kill you?"
"I don't know..." The woman obviously lied. "I just... you have to protect me. It's Grix Thraves, I think he's stalking me."
Grix... the name made his tongue sting every time he uttered the word... speaking out to him like a lemon juice without any added sugar.
"Grix..." He said, wiping his tongue with his teeth. "Him."
"Yeah... he's after me Sniper, I feel him everywhere I go..."
Sniper's thoughts disgusted him. "Damn him. Don't worry darling, I'll get him, don't you worry about it."
"Thank you, please, I have something to tell you..." The woman left the door, and approuched Sniper... she leaned in towards him...
Sniper smiled and looked deep into her eyes...
"You can find him usually in the arms of a lady in the Queen's Arms at 9:00PM every night."
"The Queen's Arms? But that's a gay bar." Sniper said, thoughtful.
"How do you know that?"
Sniper looked around. "I'm a private detective sugarcup, I have to know these things." Sniper smoothed back his hair again.
"Please, Sniper, make love to me, now, please!" The woman fell to her knees.
"Not now darling, my clan awaits me... tonight we're playing Unreal Tournament." He paused. "It's been a while. A long while." Sniper left the room, and the woman cried in her arms.
Page:
The screams of delight from the women as sniper ran past in his Y-fronts was deafening. At early evening, it was still quite light, but nonetheless, Sniper had no quibbles about showing off his impossibly perfect body.
Three more women fainted as Sniper rushed past. Two more were on their knees begging for an autograph. Another was on her knees, begging for something else.
Sheepy turned to look over his shoulders, bad running technique he knew, but he had to know how close Sniper was. Sniper smiled back as Sheepy's panicked eyes met his. Sheepy wasn't going to get away this time, and he knew it.
A red van started up outside the sports club across the road, and Sheepy dashed across the road to reach it, not even checking for traffic. The van started moving as Sheepy approached, and the passenger door flew open. Sheepy leapt up into the moving van, but Sniper was close behind.
Not close enough.
Sniper just caught a glimpse of the other two people in the vehicle before the door slammed shut in front of him, leaving him breathless by the roadside as the van rapidly became a memory.
Goatboy? What had Goatboy been doing driving the van?
It had taken a few sconds for the face to register in Sniper's adrenaline stimulated brain, but it was definitely him. What on earth was going on?
Who was the other character in the van? Sniper hadn't had a clear look, but he thought it might've been a woman.
-------------------
YH entered the Queens Arms. He was already fairly drunk. He needed to be to do something like this.
He spotted Turbonutter on his own on a table by the window.
"Hi" said YH
"Hello young man" Turbonutter replied with a smile. "How are we today?"
"Pretty good thanks" replied YH, desparately thinking of something else to say...
"So ...er, you like the window seat then?"
"Not really no, but when one is on the market, one must advertise." Turbonutter replied with a another smile. he paused before continuing
"What about yourself?"
Yh found his mouth suddenly dry. This was actually quite difficult.
"Would you like a drink then?" Turbonutter replied
"Whisky."
Upon further reflection, he added
"Better make it a double"
Turbonutter approached the bar
"A Double whisky and a babysham please"
Three more women fainted as Sniper rushed past. Two more were on their knees begging for an autograph. Another was on her knees, begging for something else.
Sheepy turned to look over his shoulders, bad running technique he knew, but he had to know how close Sniper was. Sniper smiled back as Sheepy's panicked eyes met his. Sheepy wasn't going to get away this time, and he knew it.
A red van started up outside the sports club across the road, and Sheepy dashed across the road to reach it, not even checking for traffic. The van started moving as Sheepy approached, and the passenger door flew open. Sheepy leapt up into the moving van, but Sniper was close behind.
Not close enough.
Sniper just caught a glimpse of the other two people in the vehicle before the door slammed shut in front of him, leaving him breathless by the roadside as the van rapidly became a memory.
Goatboy? What had Goatboy been doing driving the van?
It had taken a few sconds for the face to register in Sniper's adrenaline stimulated brain, but it was definitely him. What on earth was going on?
Who was the other character in the van? Sniper hadn't had a clear look, but he thought it might've been a woman.
-------------------
YH entered the Queens Arms. He was already fairly drunk. He needed to be to do something like this.
He spotted Turbonutter on his own on a table by the window.
"Hi" said YH
"Hello young man" Turbonutter replied with a smile. "How are we today?"
"Pretty good thanks" replied YH, desparately thinking of something else to say...
"So ...er, you like the window seat then?"
"Not really no, but when one is on the market, one must advertise." Turbonutter replied with a another smile. he paused before continuing
"What about yourself?"
Yh found his mouth suddenly dry. This was actually quite difficult.
"Would you like a drink then?" Turbonutter replied
"Whisky."
Upon further reflection, he added
"Better make it a double"
Turbonutter approached the bar
"A Double whisky and a babysham please"
Your Honour slowly opened the door. This was one meeting he hadn't been looking forward too.
"Come in!" Boomed a voice from the dark.
YH gulped and slowly tip toed in.
"I can explain..."
"Dont be foolish. OFCOURSE you can't explain! That Masked figure was completely unexpected. Did you really think I'd hold you responsible for that?"
YH suddenly felt very sheepish.
"But who was he?"
The dark voice sighed. Couldn't his henchmen work ANYTHING out?
"He's either an AI simulant created by Strafex to look after Sniper, Grix and the others, or an entity created my Snipers subconsiousness in order to protect himself - a sort of guardian angel.
If he is a simulant by Strafex then we can find out where his files are and delete them. It will be a hard, long and costly process but it can be done.
If he's a guardian angel then he's going to be a lot harder to deal with.
There is a way of finding out what he is. If he's a guardian angel created by Snipers subconsiousness then he will protect and guard Sniper and Sniper only.
If he is a simulant then he will defend all major players involved. This is why I plan to attack Grix next in order to identify this Masked man's identity.
Are you ready to start phase one of this operation? The part with Turbonutter?"
YH gave a defeated nod and damned whoever wrote him in the story as a bad guy.
The life of a henchman really sucked...
"Come in!" Boomed a voice from the dark.
YH gulped and slowly tip toed in.
"I can explain..."
"Dont be foolish. OFCOURSE you can't explain! That Masked figure was completely unexpected. Did you really think I'd hold you responsible for that?"
YH suddenly felt very sheepish.
"But who was he?"
The dark voice sighed. Couldn't his henchmen work ANYTHING out?
"He's either an AI simulant created by Strafex to look after Sniper, Grix and the others, or an entity created my Snipers subconsiousness in order to protect himself - a sort of guardian angel.
If he is a simulant by Strafex then we can find out where his files are and delete them. It will be a hard, long and costly process but it can be done.
If he's a guardian angel then he's going to be a lot harder to deal with.
There is a way of finding out what he is. If he's a guardian angel created by Snipers subconsiousness then he will protect and guard Sniper and Sniper only.
If he is a simulant then he will defend all major players involved. This is why I plan to attack Grix next in order to identify this Masked man's identity.
Are you ready to start phase one of this operation? The part with Turbonutter?"
YH gave a defeated nod and damned whoever wrote him in the story as a bad guy.
The life of a henchman really sucked...
By the time Ant reached "Bleeders Inc," the sun was shining, and a beautiful rainbow lit up the sky. He went inside, and strolled up to the main desk, water dripping from his rain-soaked coat.
"Hello, I'd like to speak with Bleeders please."
"I'm sorry sir, Bleeders is busy right now, if you'll just wait over th-"
"Tell him it's Ant."
The largish woman at the desk pressed a button on her little control system, and said, "Sir, there is an Ant here to see you."
"Send him in," came the reply.
"Okay sir, if you would go through the door behind you, Bleeders will meet you there." She said, looking a little annoyed.
Ant smiled, "Thank you so much."
As Ant walked away, he heard her mutter, "Arrogant b*****d."
________________________
Ant sat in Bleeders' office, eating as many bourbon biscuits as he could fit in his smallish mouth. After a couple of minutes, Bleeders entered, a big grin on his face.
"Hello Anty-boy, how are you these days?"
"Not bad at all, and you?"
"Fine, but enough of the small talk. Why are you here? Let me guess...the system over where you work...damn I can never remember the name..but anyway, the system has crashed, right?"
"Close. Someone wrecked it, and it's gonna take Delta at least a month to fix it."
"Delta? Where's everyone else?" Bleeders asked, mystified.
"They're all in Sniper's brain. And, well I'm still here, but you know me. I'm about as good at that sort of stuff as women are at driving."
"So why are you employed there?"
Ant thought hard about this, and finally said, " I...don't...know."
Bleeders smiled, "Well, as you obviously know, I can help you. In fact, I'm probably the only person in this city who can help you right now."
"Yep, considering you're one of the very rare people who know about the system."
Bleeders stood up, and opened the door for Ant, "Well Ant, it's been nice meeting you again, and don't worry, help is on its way."
"Hello, I'd like to speak with Bleeders please."
"I'm sorry sir, Bleeders is busy right now, if you'll just wait over th-"
"Tell him it's Ant."
The largish woman at the desk pressed a button on her little control system, and said, "Sir, there is an Ant here to see you."
"Send him in," came the reply.
"Okay sir, if you would go through the door behind you, Bleeders will meet you there." She said, looking a little annoyed.
Ant smiled, "Thank you so much."
As Ant walked away, he heard her mutter, "Arrogant b*****d."
________________________
Ant sat in Bleeders' office, eating as many bourbon biscuits as he could fit in his smallish mouth. After a couple of minutes, Bleeders entered, a big grin on his face.
"Hello Anty-boy, how are you these days?"
"Not bad at all, and you?"
"Fine, but enough of the small talk. Why are you here? Let me guess...the system over where you work...damn I can never remember the name..but anyway, the system has crashed, right?"
"Close. Someone wrecked it, and it's gonna take Delta at least a month to fix it."
"Delta? Where's everyone else?" Bleeders asked, mystified.
"They're all in Sniper's brain. And, well I'm still here, but you know me. I'm about as good at that sort of stuff as women are at driving."
"So why are you employed there?"
Ant thought hard about this, and finally said, " I...don't...know."
Bleeders smiled, "Well, as you obviously know, I can help you. In fact, I'm probably the only person in this city who can help you right now."
"Yep, considering you're one of the very rare people who know about the system."
Bleeders stood up, and opened the door for Ant, "Well Ant, it's been nice meeting you again, and don't worry, help is on its way."
Sniper lept fences and bushes chasing the unknown runner... why on earth was he chasing him anyway...?
Sniper lept a fence, and landed in a swimming pool... His hat floated away...
...and time seemed to slow down...
bullets began to whizz past his ears... quietly zipping past his body... he looked all around as they smacked into the sides of the swimming pool...
he bobbed up and down through the surface of the water... unable to see who was shooting at him from the side of the pool... some sort of tommy gun...
and then...
Sniper climbed out of the pool. The shooting had stopped.
-----------------
"What the hell?" Delta said, as the screen went blank. He pressed eject on the video, and Saving Private Ryan popped out... well, most of it did. The rest of the film stayed in the recorder, and he tried threading it out.
*snap*
"Uh oh."
Delta pulled the rest of the tape out, and decided that perhaps he should bring the videos back. Thank God he took them out in Ant's name.
------------------
Sniper squinted as he looked ahead, rubbing the water from his eyes... he squeaked as he walked.
Sheepy was running away, tommy gun lay on the floor in front of him... Sheepy must be a bad shot. A very bad shot.
Sniper couldn't lose Sheepy. Not this time. Not again.
Sniper began to strip as he ran... throwing off his wet clothes, and gave chase in his Y-fronts.
Sniper lept a fence, and landed in a swimming pool... His hat floated away...
...and time seemed to slow down...
bullets began to whizz past his ears... quietly zipping past his body... he looked all around as they smacked into the sides of the swimming pool...
he bobbed up and down through the surface of the water... unable to see who was shooting at him from the side of the pool... some sort of tommy gun...
and then...
Sniper climbed out of the pool. The shooting had stopped.
-----------------
"What the hell?" Delta said, as the screen went blank. He pressed eject on the video, and Saving Private Ryan popped out... well, most of it did. The rest of the film stayed in the recorder, and he tried threading it out.
*snap*
"Uh oh."
Delta pulled the rest of the tape out, and decided that perhaps he should bring the videos back. Thank God he took them out in Ant's name.
------------------
Sniper squinted as he looked ahead, rubbing the water from his eyes... he squeaked as he walked.
Sheepy was running away, tommy gun lay on the floor in front of him... Sheepy must be a bad shot. A very bad shot.
Sniper couldn't lose Sheepy. Not this time. Not again.
Sniper began to strip as he ran... throwing off his wet clothes, and gave chase in his Y-fronts.
Sniper headed to his local bar. It seemed like he was doing that a lot recently. In the small handful of places he'd been to in the last few days, three of them had been bars of some sort, although the Sushi bar probably didn't count. Which one was his local? Probably the Bull Inn. The Queens Arms was a gay bar, so it would damage his reputation to go there.
Sniper pushed open the door of the Bull Inn, and strolled in. As he walked up to the bar, he heard a rapid scuffling of chairs on the far right of the bar. He turned in time to see the fire exit swing shut. Who on earth was that? He decided to give chase...
------------------
Make turned the envelope over in his hands. It would change his life, Goatboy had told him. Change his life forever.
He paused, unsure what to do. If he didn't open it, everything would stay as it was. His whole life. He'd keep living as as Bank manager, with his 2.4 children in his semi-detached suburban dwelling.
Two thoughts revolved in his mind...
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Curiosity killed the cat.
Meka opened the envelope, and reached inside for the contents. He felt paper. Two small bits of glossy paper. He pulled them out, unsure wuite what to expect.
Two concert tickets. Tuesday evening performance. What was so special about that?
Teuesday evening was a bad time, too. That was only a couple of hours after VenomByte's wedding. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to make both.
Meka pocketed the tickets. It was somthing he'd have to think about.
------------------
"You have to be kidding!" Yh said. "I'm not doing that!"
Wookiee frowned back at him.
"You have to. We have to make sure he tells us what we need to know."
"Yes, but why can't I just threaten him? Wouldn't that be just as good?"
"No, it wouldn't."
"I'm not doing it."
Wookiee glared at him, his eyes narrowed to slits as sharp as razors.
"Please, is ther no other way? I really don't want to have to seduce Turbonutter to find out what he knows!"
Sniper pushed open the door of the Bull Inn, and strolled in. As he walked up to the bar, he heard a rapid scuffling of chairs on the far right of the bar. He turned in time to see the fire exit swing shut. Who on earth was that? He decided to give chase...
------------------
Make turned the envelope over in his hands. It would change his life, Goatboy had told him. Change his life forever.
He paused, unsure what to do. If he didn't open it, everything would stay as it was. His whole life. He'd keep living as as Bank manager, with his 2.4 children in his semi-detached suburban dwelling.
Two thoughts revolved in his mind...
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Curiosity killed the cat.
Meka opened the envelope, and reached inside for the contents. He felt paper. Two small bits of glossy paper. He pulled them out, unsure wuite what to expect.
Two concert tickets. Tuesday evening performance. What was so special about that?
Teuesday evening was a bad time, too. That was only a couple of hours after VenomByte's wedding. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to make both.
Meka pocketed the tickets. It was somthing he'd have to think about.
------------------
"You have to be kidding!" Yh said. "I'm not doing that!"
Wookiee frowned back at him.
"You have to. We have to make sure he tells us what we need to know."
"Yes, but why can't I just threaten him? Wouldn't that be just as good?"
"No, it wouldn't."
"I'm not doing it."
Wookiee glared at him, his eyes narrowed to slits as sharp as razors.
"Please, is ther no other way? I really don't want to have to seduce Turbonutter to find out what he knows!"
Sniper was asleep on the train station bench when Goatboy arrived.
"Who's he?" He asked the man who occupied his office.
"No idea. He wanted to see you, I think. He said he would wait."
Goatboy left his office again, and the man who had previously been in there left, and headed down the platform.
"Excuse me?" Goatboy asked the sleeping man. He kicked him.
Sniper awoke, removed his hat from his face. "Ah, hello."
He got up, and walked into Goatboy's office. Goatboy frowned, and followed him in.
"Can I help you?" Goatboy finally asked, watching as Sniper took a seat opposide his desk.
"I hope so. Did you notice a few days ago a small airship and crew started firing down on the town, and a unknown man dressed in a hood and cape saved the day?"
"I did notice that, yes... but what's that got to do with me?"
"Nothing, I thought..." Sniper said, eyeing Goatboy... "But I'm looking for records of people who have travelled to and from this train station in the last few days."
"And why should I do that for someone that just walks into my office?"
"Because my name is Sniper, Detective. Last, first." Sniper removed his wallet while lying back in the chair.
"Ah... you're Sniper?" Goatboy said, getting up and searching through a filing cabinet. "What sort of thing are you looking for?"
"Well my guess is that they had to get the airship in here by train, and I want to know who was with it."
"Well, sorry, but I don't keep names." Goatboy said. "But the airship was transported on train, and for that, you'll need to fill out some forms."
Goatboy closed the cabinet as he pulled out a piece of paper. "Here."
Sniper scanned the document. It had been filled out for 1. deflated carnival air balloon... the size and proportions for travelling all filled out.
That wasn't bothering him. It was the details of who filled it out that confused him.
"It was sent to me, so I have no description of the person. I don't ride the trains, I just make sure they get from A to B, and I do it well."
"Didn't you get a bit suspicious?"
"Why should I? It's a carnival airship, and they normally have weird names."
"But 'The Watcher'? Who on earth is the watcher?"
"Your guess, Detective Sniper, is as good as mine." Goatboy got up and opened the door. "I've got a busy day today."
"Yeah, so've I." Sniper said, not even bothering to look up to where Goatboy was.
A short silence caused Sniper to rise and leave Goatboy's office, and Sniper pocketed the form, and started to walk back to his local pub... about time too, he hadn't been out for a drink in a while.
"Who's he?" He asked the man who occupied his office.
"No idea. He wanted to see you, I think. He said he would wait."
Goatboy left his office again, and the man who had previously been in there left, and headed down the platform.
"Excuse me?" Goatboy asked the sleeping man. He kicked him.
Sniper awoke, removed his hat from his face. "Ah, hello."
He got up, and walked into Goatboy's office. Goatboy frowned, and followed him in.
"Can I help you?" Goatboy finally asked, watching as Sniper took a seat opposide his desk.
"I hope so. Did you notice a few days ago a small airship and crew started firing down on the town, and a unknown man dressed in a hood and cape saved the day?"
"I did notice that, yes... but what's that got to do with me?"
"Nothing, I thought..." Sniper said, eyeing Goatboy... "But I'm looking for records of people who have travelled to and from this train station in the last few days."
"And why should I do that for someone that just walks into my office?"
"Because my name is Sniper, Detective. Last, first." Sniper removed his wallet while lying back in the chair.
"Ah... you're Sniper?" Goatboy said, getting up and searching through a filing cabinet. "What sort of thing are you looking for?"
"Well my guess is that they had to get the airship in here by train, and I want to know who was with it."
"Well, sorry, but I don't keep names." Goatboy said. "But the airship was transported on train, and for that, you'll need to fill out some forms."
Goatboy closed the cabinet as he pulled out a piece of paper. "Here."
Sniper scanned the document. It had been filled out for 1. deflated carnival air balloon... the size and proportions for travelling all filled out.
That wasn't bothering him. It was the details of who filled it out that confused him.
"It was sent to me, so I have no description of the person. I don't ride the trains, I just make sure they get from A to B, and I do it well."
"Didn't you get a bit suspicious?"
"Why should I? It's a carnival airship, and they normally have weird names."
"But 'The Watcher'? Who on earth is the watcher?"
"Your guess, Detective Sniper, is as good as mine." Goatboy got up and opened the door. "I've got a busy day today."
"Yeah, so've I." Sniper said, not even bothering to look up to where Goatboy was.
A short silence caused Sniper to rise and leave Goatboy's office, and Sniper pocketed the form, and started to walk back to his local pub... about time too, he hadn't been out for a drink in a while.
Delta woke to the sound of someone shouting his name.
"Strafex!" he exclaimed as Strafex hobbled in to the room on crutches.
"How's the repairs going?" Strafex asked as he surveyed the mesh of wires and tools, with Delta lying in the middle of it. "I see you still haven't returned the videos to the rental shop?"
Delta looked at the pile of yellow video cases and sighed. He'd been so busy watching all those movies and repairing the system that he'd forgotton about asking Ant to return them to the shop. He looked at the pile and realised that one of the tapes was still in the video, so he pulled it out. Hm, those Batman films were quite good, but he really wanted to watch Saving Private Ryan. Swapping over the videos, he inserted the Private Ryan tape into the machine and started work again on the broken computer systems.
"Strafex!" he exclaimed as Strafex hobbled in to the room on crutches.
"How's the repairs going?" Strafex asked as he surveyed the mesh of wires and tools, with Delta lying in the middle of it. "I see you still haven't returned the videos to the rental shop?"
Delta looked at the pile of yellow video cases and sighed. He'd been so busy watching all those movies and repairing the system that he'd forgotton about asking Ant to return them to the shop. He looked at the pile and realised that one of the tapes was still in the video, so he pulled it out. Hm, those Batman films were quite good, but he really wanted to watch Saving Private Ryan. Swapping over the videos, he inserted the Private Ryan tape into the machine and started work again on the broken computer systems.
Delta continued to work hard all through the day, but it felt he was doing absolutely nothing. No matter how much of the system he appeared to reconnect, it never seemed to make a difference. He slumped into his chair at 7pm, and called,
"Ant! Get me a cup of tea, will ya?? In fact, no, a bit of whiskey will be just fine."
There was no reply.
"ANT!?"
Still no reply.
"Damn!" Now both Sheepy and Ant had gone. Grrrrrr...lazy twonks. Leaving it all to him.
He went and poured himself a whiskey, and then went to the biscuit cupboard and got a few Ginger Nuts.
When he'd finished his little 'meal,' he sighed, and got back to work. He ploughed through it for much of the night, also making his way through the bottle of whiskey and the pack of Ginger Nut biscuits.
At just gone midnight, he staggered over to the whiskey again, but tripped over his own feet, and landed hard on the cold floor. He groaned, and looked up, and his eyes met a small piece of paper, which was under the table his whiskey was on.
He tried to clear his head, and he grabbed the note and looked at it. It was written in black biro, and it said...
"Ant! Get me a cup of tea, will ya?? In fact, no, a bit of whiskey will be just fine."
There was no reply.
"ANT!?"
Still no reply.
"Damn!" Now both Sheepy and Ant had gone. Grrrrrr...lazy twonks. Leaving it all to him.
He went and poured himself a whiskey, and then went to the biscuit cupboard and got a few Ginger Nuts.
When he'd finished his little 'meal,' he sighed, and got back to work. He ploughed through it for much of the night, also making his way through the bottle of whiskey and the pack of Ginger Nut biscuits.
At just gone midnight, he staggered over to the whiskey again, but tripped over his own feet, and landed hard on the cold floor. He groaned, and looked up, and his eyes met a small piece of paper, which was under the table his whiskey was on.
He tried to clear his head, and he grabbed the note and looked at it. It was written in black biro, and it said...
As Sniper walked across the train station, it stopped raining, and the sun came out for the first time for the whole day.
Walking across the damn concrete, he knocked on Goatboy's office door, and waited patiently for an answer.
Somebody who Sniper didn't recognise opened the door.
"Goatboy is away at the moment... he'll be back at about 1 o'clock."
Sniper looked at the station clock, hanging from a pillar. It was midday.
"Thanks... I'll just wait here, then." Sniper said, taking a seat at a bench. The unknown person closed the door.
Walking across the damn concrete, he knocked on Goatboy's office door, and waited patiently for an answer.
Somebody who Sniper didn't recognise opened the door.
"Goatboy is away at the moment... he'll be back at about 1 o'clock."
Sniper looked at the station clock, hanging from a pillar. It was midday.
"Thanks... I'll just wait here, then." Sniper said, taking a seat at a bench. The unknown person closed the door.
Delta sighed heavily, and turned to Ant.
ìLook Ant, this is worse than I thought. Itís gonna take more than 2 weeks, probably a month-and thatís with everything going perfectly, which obviously, it wonít.î
Ant cursed, ìWhy is it going to take longer than you first thought?î
ìWell, I take a week off, starting tomorrow, right? Itís in my salary.î
ìYouíve got to be joking. Surely youíre willing to put it off until this crisis is sorted out?î
ìNo, I donít think so,î Delta said defiantly.
ìIíll give you this cream and jam filled doughnutÖî Ant said temptingly, holding the delicious delight up to Deltaís face.
Delta licked his lips, ìYouíve got a deal there, Anty-boy.î
Delta quickly finished off the doughnut, and then looked disappointed for some reason. ìAwwwÖI wish Iíd never eaten it nowÖI was really looking forward to that holiday.î
Ant smiled.
ìOh yeah, itís still gonna take a month by the way.î Delta said, rubbing his hands and getting back to work on the system.
Antís smile fell from his face. ìI really donít like the idea of leaving them in there for a monthÖthere has to be some way to get them out before then, or at least get the system at 70%.î
He went outside and sat on a bench, and looked up at the dark clouds towering above him. He felt a drip of cold water on his ear, and then another on his hand. All of a sudden the rain was pouring, and he was soaked to the skin. Ant laughed, amused at the way the weather changes when youíre in a bad moodÖwell, in his case anyway.
Lightning flashed, and a light bulb appeared above his head. Well, not literally, but he did have a great idea.
ìYes, thatís itÖthatís it!î Ant got up, and sprinted down the street.
He ran for 200 metres, and then stopped to regain his breath. He made a mental note not to sprint when the distance he was going was over 200 metres, and then began to jog through what was now a light drizzle.
ìLook Ant, this is worse than I thought. Itís gonna take more than 2 weeks, probably a month-and thatís with everything going perfectly, which obviously, it wonít.î
Ant cursed, ìWhy is it going to take longer than you first thought?î
ìWell, I take a week off, starting tomorrow, right? Itís in my salary.î
ìYouíve got to be joking. Surely youíre willing to put it off until this crisis is sorted out?î
ìNo, I donít think so,î Delta said defiantly.
ìIíll give you this cream and jam filled doughnutÖî Ant said temptingly, holding the delicious delight up to Deltaís face.
Delta licked his lips, ìYouíve got a deal there, Anty-boy.î
Delta quickly finished off the doughnut, and then looked disappointed for some reason. ìAwwwÖI wish Iíd never eaten it nowÖI was really looking forward to that holiday.î
Ant smiled.
ìOh yeah, itís still gonna take a month by the way.î Delta said, rubbing his hands and getting back to work on the system.
Antís smile fell from his face. ìI really donít like the idea of leaving them in there for a monthÖthere has to be some way to get them out before then, or at least get the system at 70%.î
He went outside and sat on a bench, and looked up at the dark clouds towering above him. He felt a drip of cold water on his ear, and then another on his hand. All of a sudden the rain was pouring, and he was soaked to the skin. Ant laughed, amused at the way the weather changes when youíre in a bad moodÖwell, in his case anyway.
Lightning flashed, and a light bulb appeared above his head. Well, not literally, but he did have a great idea.
ìYes, thatís itÖthatís it!î Ant got up, and sprinted down the street.
He ran for 200 metres, and then stopped to regain his breath. He made a mental note not to sprint when the distance he was going was over 200 metres, and then began to jog through what was now a light drizzle.
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