Dagon Rising(22)
“The ones where you’re living different lives on different worlds. Worlds that have eerie similarities to this one, and yet are different. You and your partner, Vince, fighting zombies in Finland, for example. That’s been a recently recurring nightmare, has it not?”
“Big deal. So I watched Dawn of the Dead one too many times. How the fuck do you people know about this shit? Who are you?”
“We know because those aren’t just dreams, Mr. Genova. They are memories. Memories of different worlds. Memories that versions of you have experienced in alternate realities. You are a survivor of the Clicker invasion. On another world, perhaps there is a Tony Genova who dreams of battling Clickers, or who right now, at this very moment, is dreaming of being tied to that chair.”
“Dude, I don’t know what kind of drugs you’re on, but can I have some? You people are tripping balls.”
“No,” the maintenance worker said, “they’re not. This is what they do. They specialize in all that occult mumbo jumbo—alternate realities, witchcraft, UFO’s, demons, all that stuff. They’re Black Lodge.”
“That supposed to mean something to me?” Tony asked. “Because it doesn’t. I don’t know what that is. Black Lodge? What are you, like the X-Files or some shit?”
“Our organization no longer works within the confines of any one government,” Baby-face told him. “We are beholden to a much higher law. We are engaged in many activities, and to tell you all of it… well, I’m afraid it would be a bit confusing for a novice such as yourself. Suffice to say, we’re a bit more complicated than the television show you referenced.”
The older man began dragging the maintenance man toward the door again. The captive shouted in protest, but the agents ignored him.
“You take him out of here,” Tony told Baby-face, “and I swear to fucking God I’m not doing shit for you. Ask her.” He nodded at the woman. “If she can read minds, have her read mine right the fuck now. Tell me if I’m lying. I dare you.”
The woman paused. Her eyes narrowed. “He means it. Stubborn and contentious, just as we were told he’d be.”
Sighing, Baby-face hung his head. “Who was the idiot that wrote this mission’s sit-rep?”
“You did,” the woman said.
“Don’t remind me.”
“What do you want me to do with him?” the older man asked.
Baby-face looked up. “He stays. We’ve got to keep Mr. Genova happy, don’t we?”
“But—”
“No buts. Need I remind you of your station?”
“That’s right,” Tony said. “You’ve got to keep Mr. Genova happy. So why don’t we start with some oral sex?”
They stared at him, unblinking.
“No? Okay, then. How about your names?”
“I’m afraid not,” Baby-face said. “Names have power. Instead, how about we tell you what we prefer to be called?”
“Whatever.”
Baby-face pointed to the older man. “That is Diamond. The gentleman to his left is Onyx. The young lady is Ruby. And I am Amethyst.”
“That’s a chick’s name.”
“Excuse me?”
“Amethyst. It’s a chick’s name. I used to bang a stripper named Amethyst. Wasn’t her real name, of course.”
“Nor are these our real names. They are simply what we prefer to be called.”
“You prefer to be called by a chick’s name? Hell, why not just call yourself Bambi or Sally, while you’re at it. Or wait…I got it. You can be Snow White and the rest of the happy fun club can be Dopey, Sleepy and Shit-head.”
“Okay. So, Amethyst…you gonna untie me or what?”
Amethyst glanced over his shoulder at Ruby. “Can we?”
“Not yet. He’s still imagining ways to escape.”
Amethyst turned back to Tony and smiled. “Perhaps after you hear us out.”
“What about him?” Tony nodded at the other captive. “No sense keeping him here. You’re not gonna say anything, are you dude?”
“That one is thinking of ways to escape, as well,” Ruby said. “He is driven by violence and an all-consuming need for revenge. He’s the one they’ve been looking for—the one who has killed many of those associated with the Tyler Administration. The secret assassin. He wants to murder former Secretary of State Donald Barker next. He’s hoping to cut a deal with us in that regard. If not, he intends on killing us, as well.”
“That’s unexpected,” Amethyst muttered, and then turned back to Tony. “Are you ready to hear us out?”