《Inalienable Rights: The After-Hours Molar Message》Chapter 5
Advertisement
“Well, that went badly.”
"Yes," Henry said over the din of karaoke in the background. "I think that's a fair postmortem, Marsh. A terrible day in court. Or Council Chamber. Whatever it's called."
Henry and I were back at the Blarney Stone, tucked into a corner booth. We had both forgotten a small detail about traveling through the energy portal: time-dilation. It occurs every time we cross to and from the inter-dimensional plane where the Council Chamber exists.
So when we left Lord Farkvold and used the portal to transport back to the third stall in the men's room of the Blarney Stone, no significant time had passed since we left. It was still a little past seven o'clock. Which meant I’d have to sit through rush hour traffic again to get back home to Sherman Oaks. Since were already in a bar, Henry and I agreed that it made much more sense to wait out traffic.
The Slatt Territories are ruled by a system of government that could be described as fascist-neo-feudalism. Or maybe neo-monarchial-fascist-colonialism. At any rate, it's not very democratic. The High Council of Slatt, led by Lord Farkvold, pretty much call the shots on all forty-eight planets in the Territories. Most of the planets have local governments of some sort, but the High Council, with their limitless and unchecked military power, have the final say in all matters.
When Lord Farkvold wants something, he generally gets that thing and he gets it fast or blood starts to spill. He's what I would call 'results oriented.' Checks and balances, separation of powers, due process – as an Intergalactic dictator, these are things that Farkvold understands little of and cares even less about.
Farkvold expected us to deliver him Doug Dobbins by tomorrow afternoon. Dobbins was currently in LAPD lockup; most likely he had already been brought before a judge and a bail amount was set. The bond wouldn't be much, not for a non-violent possession charge. Henry and I could make arrangements with a bondsman – but then what? Dobbins catches the first spaceship out of town, or hops into an energy portal back to the Slatt Territories, never to be seen on Earth again. Doug Dobbins, the first interplanetary bail jumper. Henry and I would have aided and abetted his escape. We'd have to answer to the police and the State Bar – not a good look for Marshall / Todd and Associates. But what other option did we have?
Advertisement
“Why do you think they need him back so badly?" I asked Henry, pushing aside my watery gin and tonic. "And what was an Agent of Slatt doing with a bunch of drugs?"
Henry chuckled, a steady stream of liquor had mellowed him. "Well, he probably wanted to get high. That's what people do with dope."
"People, yes. Regular people. But an alien? An Agent of Slatt?" I checked the traffic app on my phone again. The 101 Freeway was a red standstill. "I mean, what was Dobbins doing in Los Angeles in the first place?"
"Looking for a party, I guess?" Henry sipped on his third double single-malt.
Something wasn't adding up, and I became more and more curious about Dobbins. What was his role as an Agent? Why was he so important? Was he in Los Angeles on assignment, on a mission for the Slatt Territories?
All of the Agents of Slatt report to Commander Boarvex, and Boarvex himself seemed overly-concerned about retrieving Dobbins from jail.
"Well, what do you think we should do?" I asked.
Henry's eyes glazed over momentarily. "Huh? Oh. Well, I guess we need to get Doug Dobbins released. So… I should talk to a judge in the morning, and see if we can get the charges dropped. Shouldn't be too hard."
"Henry, we don't even know what the charges are!"
"Pfft! Come on, a little drug possession? With a clean record?" He slurred the last word. "I'll just turn on the ol' Henry Todd Charm and get this dismissed, no worries."
I glanced at my phone again. “Look, traffic is still terrible," I showed Henry. "They're holding Dobbins over on Olympic, it's just a few blocks from here. Why don’t we go visit? Maybe talk to the arresting officers?”
Advertisement
“What, now? Aww,” Henry placed his head onto the table and spoke into his muffled sleeve.
"It would be nice to know what's actually going on with this case. Do you have something better to do?"
"Yes. I have to have two more drinks, and then call a cab to drive me home. I have a very busy schedule."
"Come on, let's go."
“Really?” Henry whined, lifting his head and rolling his eyes all at once. “All right. Screw it. The evening’s already ruined. Let’s just get this shit over with. One more for the road, then I'll close out my tab.”
I offered to drive.
After a quick check-in, the staff at Olympic Division gave us a privacy room to speak with our new client.
Henry and I sat on two folding chairs in front of a small table that was bolted to the concrete floor. Under the pretense of attorney / client privilege, I made sure there were no cameras or recording devices placed in the room so we could speak freely.
I bought us two coffees in flimsy paper cups from the machine down the hall and we waited in the room for Dobbins, sipping silently. I knew that the coffee wouldn't help to sober Henry up, but it did help cover the smell of his whisky breath.
Advertisement
- In Serial437 Chapters
Magical Academy: Rise Of The Supreme Magic Craftsman
[ The book is reaching its end so the author started a new novel that you may want to check out "Reclaiming the Demon's Curse" is the title. Thank you! -xltnz ]
8 1152 - In Serial14 Chapters
The Second Coming of Fate [A High Fantasy Story]
Prologue Arc: The Day That Begins Your Fate - COMPLETED Story Arc 1: Chaos in the Lamorian Kingdom - ONGOING Please consider following/leaving a rating. I plan to turn this into a long lasting series, and it would really mean a whole lot to me. :) ----- Having succumb to amnesia, Galvin one day appears in the Grand Forest east of the capital kingdom Lamora. For the next two months, he lives a perfectly carefree yet boring life until one fateful day changed everything. Encountering all sorts of characters and dealing with all sorts of shenanigans, Galvin begins to experience visions of what appears to be the future. With this newfound power in a world full of magic, yet plagued with war, discrimination, and brutality, will Galvin be able to change fate…or die trying? ----- Do you like stories where the protagonist doesn't start out strong and is deeply character driven (with a LOT of inner monologues)? A story that has its fair share of comedic and dark moments? Well then you've come to the right place! However, if you're looking for LitRPG mechanics, then unfortunately, this story doesn't contain too many of them. The dynamics of the story will be based on real life physics and mechanics (with a bit of magic of course!) Also, I delve deeply into a lot of disturbing topics, so readers do be warned. However, if any of this sounds interesting to you, then please come by and give my story a read. ----- Expect releases as soon as possible (which is like 4 - 10 days). Just know that I'm writing this story as it progresses, so a lot of first drafts are to be expected. :D
8 158 - In Serial27 Chapters
The Sinful Mortal
A boy walks on a road alone. A God attacks from the right. A Devil bites from the left. Flames of war rise up his feet. He does not stop. Step, after step, after step. Until death looms closely around. Left with no choice, the boy- now a man- raises his head, staring at death itself, he smiles and utters a word:"Sin." ...... This is a short novel that contains heavy world building. If you are here for a casual read, then this story is not for you. You can read the full novel for free at WebNovel under the same title.
8 146 - In Serial8 Chapters
The Relistar
It's been hundreds of years since the Three Empires collapsed. Hundreds of years since belief in gods died out, and cults became the mainstay religions of Caloria. On the lone, warring island of Kylinstrom, most have turned their worship from the heavens to the world, though some yet worship strange beings and powers beyond their own. Cedric Castelbre felt the same. But now he may have no choice but to believe in gods and demons; Serkukan, the Great Red One of Etheria, has fled his own plane, seeking refuge... And it was within the boy's mind that he found it.
8 203 - In Serial29 Chapters
A Place To Call Home (Richie Tozier X Reader X Bill Denbrough)
Y/N L/N... is a 13 years old girl with a very hard past. Her parents passed away due to a tragic accident. Having to follow her aunt, means she have to move to a town called Derry, Maine. In order to protect herself from further loss, she chose to keep her distance from everyone. This makes everyone judge her as the Quiet Kid as they know nothing about her but her name. But one event with a group called The Losers Club, change her life. What happens if she catches the heart of a certain trashmouth and stuttering boy. Who will win her heart? Read and follow her journey in...A Place I Call HomeDisclaimer: I don't own IT. Following the movie and adding my own version. DO NOT COPY MY WORK!!
8 59 - In Serial24 Chapters
Demonify
Civilizations rise and fall. Battles are fought with the fate of the whole continent on the line. Each day is a battle for survival, a battle against creatures so vile they corrode the air itself. Swords clash, Magic is cast, powers clash, weapons break and there is blood. So much blood it paints the ground with the memory of desperation and death. Cities burn down to the ground, their ashes scattered in the wind.The creation of this world, this Virtual Reality took years of Research and commitment. The people of the modern age are bored, lazy. There is no thread to them so they create their own conflicts and finally create a world full of it.Conflict against beasts and Monsters, conflict amongst sentient races, battles and treasure… and unimaginable dangers.That is NeoPangea. A continent where beasts unseen by the modern world roam. Follow the players in this world as a cataclysmic event challenges everything they knew about the world and a never seen before crisis befalls the planet.EDIT: I'm currently in my exam phase and very busy studying. Therefore I'm putting this novel on hold for now! But despair not! I shall be back!
8 114