Part 2

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Chapter Ten

     Gary used to spend his Saturdays at Forget About It.  The Forget About It was a local town bar, one of those bars you could go to on any night and see about twenty people you went to high school with twenty years ago.  Gary had a little routine going.  He would show up around seven or eight o’clockish and have himself a cold beer.  The bartender would slide him the remote controller down the length of the bar, and Gary would flip through the channels until he found the evening’s main sporting event on the large wall-hung flat screen.

     When he finished his beer, dinner was served with a tall glass of either iced tea or ice water with a splash of lemon.  Gary loved the food at the bar, but he usually stuck with the basic double cheeseburger, crispy curly fries, and maybe an appetizer.  No rush.  The night was young.  After dinner, Gary got it going again with a shot of whiskey followed by another cold beer, and this was about the time when the night could go into one of two directions.  Either he would leave the bar with some friends if someone had somewhere better to go, or if nothing special came up, he’d just stay and continue drinking.  Maybe he would shoot a few games of pool or something.

     On that particular evening, right around the time when he was finishing his second beer, Maureen came walking in passing by Gary unnoticed and finding a secluded seat in the back corner booth.  Maureen took her coat off and made herself comfortable.  She was in love with Gary, she could sit there and watch him all night giggling to herself at the way he cheered and celebrated for his favorite teams playing on the television.  It was going to be a special evening because Maureen had plans.  Gary was half way done with his beer when the bartender poured him another shot of whiskey.

     “What’s this for,” Gary asked.

     “I don’t know, it’s from that lady in the back,” replied the bartender.

     Gary turned around and scanned the dark bar, but it didn’t take long to notice the gorgeous woman waving to him.  Gary smiled, and there they were .  Two lovers giggling at each other from opposite ends of the bar.  Gary nodded his head in a gesture of appreciation as he lifted his glass and took down the whiskey.

     “Well, it looks like I’m staying local tonight,” Gary said jokingly to the bartender.

     They both laughed, and Gary ordered two more beers before getting up off his bar stool and making his way to the booth.

     “Thank you for the whiskey,” said Gary.

     “You’re welcome,” answered Maureen.

     They hit it off immediately, and it wasn’t long before other patrons were looking in their direction.  With a fun upbeat conversation, their booth was brimming with laughter, they were the main attraction.  Neither were tired, and the good times continued well into the early morning hours.  There were times when they just stared into each other’s eyes, they were the perfect remedy for each other, and Maureen made Gary feel good again.

     Eventually she broke the news about what she did for a living, and slowly she revealed a little more about her responsibilities and how she was helping.  She offered Gary a job, not that evening of course, and the rest was history.  Maureen’s hunch about Gary was correct.  She did love him, her feelings were accurate, and just think, there was always the possibility of brushing Gary off as an assignment.

a short story of good and evil

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Chapter Six

 

     Maureen’s husband was at his desk when he heard his name being paged over the intercom system.

     “Gary Gregory you have a telephone call on line two, Gregory, that’s line two,” the system echoed.

     When Gary picked the phone up the voice on the other end was low and to the point.  He was instructed to get to the main conference room immediately, and as soon as he hung up the phone he was on his way.

     “I’m sorry for interrupting you Gary, but I just received some information that you need to hear,” Commander Bright said.

     “Okay, lay it on me Commander,” encouraged Gary.

     “We’ll, we’ve known for a long time now that our opposition is using the Astrological Planetary System to sneak around and manipulate the masses, and we’ve been spending the majority of our time tracking their movement.  As you know, it has been our goal to catch up with the sons of bitches, however, our failure to do so isn’t a secret,” reminded Bright.

     “Yes, I’m aware,” answered Gary.

     “When you joined our organization we gave you something,” the Commander continued.  “The Scale, it was a Gift.”

     “Yes, I remember.  It’s sitting on the mantle over my fire place,” Gary stated proudly.

     “You’ve been a wonderful member of this team, and you deserve every reward you get, but the Scale was bait.  We knew the enemy would realize eventually they were one egg short of a dozen.  Let me get to the point,”  requested Bright.

     “Go right ahead Commander,” encouraged Gary.

     “If we lose the Scale then we lose our integrity.  We’ll also lose trust, and it won’t be long before our entire way of life becomes polluted and corrupted.  Protecting the Scale is one of our top priorities, and I know that that’s a tremendous amount of pressure, but that’s why we presented it to you as a gift.  You were calm not knowing what you were in possession of, and everyone else had piece of mind, but that’s not the situation now.  Early this morning I found out that someone located the Scale,” informed Commander Bright.

     “How,” asked Gary.  “It’s in my house for Christ Sake.”

     “I don’t have time to get into specifics,” Bright said.

     “So what now,” Gary asked.

     “You’re going home.  I want you to bring the Scale back here to guarantee it’s safety.  When you get here we’ll discuss the relocation plan,” ordered Bright.

     Gary left Area 31 immediately.  He was on the road en route to his house.  Maureen crossed his mind.  He thought about her getting attacked and defending the Scale all by herself with their children in the house.  Gary dialed home on his cell phone.

     “Maureen!  It’s me baby!  I’m coming home early,” Gary shouted.

a short story of good and evil

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Chapter Five

 

“How could you be so forgetful,” Baxter asked.

“I don’t know I was thinking,” Guy responded.

Baxter was someone that many people looked up to.  He was on the side of bad, but he was a really good leader.  The seventh house was his, all thirty degrees.  Baxter was respected and trusted because he was the most knowledgeable man around.  He knew the zodiac like no other, which was probably the most important thing since both good and bad were using it for traveling through time.

“It’s not like you to forget.  Do you realize this is the fourth time you traveled through this portal, and you came back empty handed all four time,” Baxter reminded him.

“I know Baxter, I’m really sorry.  There’s something wrong though, this isn’t like other missions,” Guy explained.

 “Well Guy, I don’t know what to say here.  You leave prepared, you know what I expect, and you know what you must do, but for some reason it doesn’t get done,” Baxter’s voice was increasing gradually.

“There’s something that happens to me when I’m on the other side.  When I come back here I’m confused,” Guy explained.  “I’m here though.  I mean I come back all the time.  I don’t remember much about where I came from or what I did, but I’m here.”

“I’m not a fucking psychiatrist Guy, what are you trying to tell me,” demanded Baxter.

“I’m saying at some point during my mission I forget the objective.  There’s something that sidetracks me, or pulls me away from completing the mission,” said Guy.

Guy was supposed to bring back the Scales of Justice.  The Scales of Justice symbolize power.  It represents judgement and balance, and Baxter had to have it.  Yes, Baxter was the Bright and Early Morning Star and the ruler of Libra.  He obviously didn’t know about Maureen or who she was personally, but it didn’t matter.

Baxter had to get involved now.  He had to go and recover the Scale himself because Guy was losing.  The love he shared with Maureen was too strong it was turning his brain to mush.

“Look Guy, we need the Scale, and we don’t have time.  The rotational period of Mars is almost two years so if you come back with nothing again we’ll have to wait a very long time to make another run at it.  Who knows where it will be then,” Baxter was just trying to reach Guy at this point.

“Okay Baxter, I understand,” reassured Guy.

“Good because I’m going alone this time,” said Baxter.

“Please, take me with you,” Guy pleaded.

Baxter starred at Guy as he thought about his request.  In any other situation someone in Guy’s position would’ve been replaced immediately, but Baxter knew Guy wouldn’t compromise a mission intentionally.

“I appreciate your enthusiasm and willingness, but I’ve decided to go alone this time,” Baxter responded.

Guy remained quiet with his head down.  Then, he looked up at Baxter and nodded his head in acceptance.  Baxter sat back down in his favorite chair and took in the silence for a moment.

“I like you Guy, I really do.  You’re welcomed to come and go around here as you please, and that won’t ever change.  Please, don’t take my decision personally.  This war we’re in right now, it’s like a chess match,” Baxter was actually taking some time to talk with Guy on a more friendly level.  “Please, have a seat Guy,” insisted Baxter.

Baxter’s office was dim but really clean.  It was also very organized, but what else would you expect.  It’s natural for someone like Baxter to have his shit together.  There was a really comfortable looking leather chair facing the corner of the room.  Guy turned it around and positioned it across from where Baxter was sitting.  As Guy sat down Baxter stood up and began pacing with his arms folded across his chest.

“We can do whatever we want, but there are certain limitations, or maybe delays is the word I’m looking for, Baxter explained.  He was getting into one of his moments of deep thought and inspiration.  “Good versus bad, bad versus good, that’s how we see ourselves you know.  That’s how we describe our war, but we are all awakened.  We’re alive and intelligent.  All of us.  Who can say what we do is bad?  Only those who oppose us, which of course makes them good.  You have to laugh Guy.  Seriousness is a breeding ground for problems,” Baxter shared.

Guy was listening as he swayed from side to side in his cool leather chair.  Guy and Baxter were friends, brought together by recent circumstances that turned both their worlds upside down.  To be honest there aren’t too many people who have childhood friendships anymore.

“Yup,” Baxter continued.  “You have to laugh.”

Guy began to lighten up a little bit and regain his awareness.  He was actually smiling.  Guy laughed then Baxter laughed, and then both laughed in unison.

“Oh boy,” said Baxter as he sat in his chair and faced Guy.

The laughter continued into the night.