"Adam?"

     Adam sat up like someone'd slapped him in the mouth.​  

     "The Bloodhawk's here, Adam."  

     "What time we got?"

     "Well, supposedly, it's been ten minutes, the first billionaire is supposed to get killed, but a deal's been made. The world governments have agreed to the 500 billion. The money is to be transferred within the hour."

     "That gives us a little time, then. Good." Adam looked down at himself. He wore again what looked to be a stylish three piece suit. His battle uniform.

     "I'm pretty sure I'm going to be needing a spacesuit again," he said.                         "Of course."

     "As far as I..."

     "Look to your left." 

     There it was, a plump, juicy cheeseburger. "Oh yeah, come to Papa," Adam said as he grabbed it to take his first bite. 

​     "So?" Claudia inquired.

     "Fantastic as usual, Claudia. You really know how to take care of a fella."

     "Flatterer. We're at the surface, Adam." The top of the submarine flipped open. "The Bloodhawk's right above us."  

​     "Cool." 

     He climbed a ladder out of his submarine and up into his own private jet. He waited until he sat in the cockpit before he finished his cheeseburger. 

     "Shadow-man's trying to contact you, Adam."

     "We can talk en route. Let's get moving."

     "Fine." Once Adam was strapped in, Claudia prepared the Bloodhawk for immediate launch. Then,

     ZOOM! 

     Adam put Shadow-man on the screen. "Hey Dude, what can I do for you?"

     "Your mission is aborted. Return to your personal headquarters. Your billion dollar fee has already been transferred to your account, but you must abort the mission."

     Adam laughed. "I got under his skin that bad, huh?" 

     "This is not an amusing or a negotiable situation, Mr. Forwarder. It is, in fact, the most serious threat this planet has ever faced."

     "The first of many, I'm afraid. Seven at least. Anyway, thanks for the advice, but if it's all the same to you I think I'll just go ahead and complete the mission." 

     "What?" 

     "Yeah, I think I'll just go ahead and hunt this fucker down, then beat the bloody gush out of him until he dies."

     "Mr. Forwarder, perhaps you don't realize how dangerous this man is."

     "No, I believe it is you who are unaware."

     "Sir, my intelligence team is the most..."

     "Ever hear of The Fours, sir? How about the Seven Talons? The forces behind Gideon Goldbody are more powerful and technologically superior than you can possibly imagine." 

     "Although not too big for you to imagine, I assume." ​

​     "The entire reason I am on this planet at this time is due to The Fours and the Seven Talons. but, really, in terms of our purposes here, that's all beside the point."

​      "And the point is that..."

      "There's no way you'll ever be able to stop Gideon Goldbody if he wants to take over the world, and that's what looks like he eventually plans to do. He's going for it. I'm the only one who can stop him, and that's what I intend to do if I possibly can."

     "You don't want us to send missiles after you, do you, Mr. Forwarder?"

     "You do what you feel you have to do. I'd rather take out Goldbody's jets, but if you insist that the be U.S...."

     "If..." 

      "I'm off to save the human race, friend. Right now. We're going to be like a couple of alley cats, Goldbody and me. Therefore, my advice for you or anyone like you is to stay the hell out of our way."

     "You know, Mr. Forwarder, there will come a day when..."

     "Yeah. Real busy. Gotta go," And, with that, Adam broke the connection.

                                                     CONTINUE