Fedoras and Forbidden Love

Chapter 7: Broken Hearts From Within the Base

   Claudius awoke to a dark room and the sound of slow clapping. All at once the lights burst on, revealing Claudius to be trapped inside of a small cage. The source of the clapping was a small fat man wearing a suit circa 1920, a monocle, and above all else, a bowler hat. "You almost had us there," he said in a sly British voice,"but you weren't smart enough, it seems."

"Where are you keeping her?!" said Claudius, gripping the bars like a fat man to a bag of Doritos.

"Pardon my rudeness, I haven't properly introduced myself. My name is Chester Bowler. You may recognize one of my greatest inventions, THE BOWLER HAT!" Suddenly a gasp came from the corner. It was the mechanic. "I SERIOUSLY didn't see that coming," he said. They stared at him. "Come on man, we're trying to do a thing here" said Chester. 

"Oh geez, am I in the way again? Sorry, sorry, I'll go." They watched him leave. "Can you believe that guy?" said Chester. "Oh don't even get me started," responded Claudius. 

"Anyways, you can't charm you way out of this situation. See, once I press this button, this timer will start, and once it runs out, the room will explode! Good luck-"

"Why?" said Claudius. "Why the timer, I mean. Couldn't it just be faster to like, I don't know, just shoot me?" Chester sat there looking a little dazed. "I mean I guess but that wouldn't-"

"These bars aren't even that close together" said Claudius, referencing the cage. "Anyone can easily slip through here and escape."

"Like anyone would ever be able to do that." You're getting a little too confident there Mr.Hotbod." Suddenly Jessica walked through the door. "W-what?!" screamed Chester,"How did you escape my trap?!" 

"I just slipped through the bars and walked out. Plus you gave me like five minutes, so I wan't in a rush or anything. You should have just shot me or something."

"That's what I'M saying!" said Claudius from the cage. "None of you appreciate my ingenuity!" he screamed. "You won't make it out of here alive, I'll tell you that much!" He ran through away, out the door, crying a little.

"Jessica!" screamed Claudius who slipped through the pipes to reunite with her. "I've missed you for so long" 

"It's been like 2 hours since I last saw you dude." 

"Oh for real?" he said. Well I guess when I went back to your apartment and you weren't there I freaked out. 

"Is it that strange for me to not be home? I don't spend all my time at home you know. I go out a lot actually. How did you even get in? It was locked."

"Uhh... " said Claudius, remembering door he had broken down to get in. "It's so great to see you!" 

"Same!" she agreed. "But escaping here is going to be tough.  We'll have to break down the main control center, at the heart of this facility."

Claudius got distant. His ab muscles tightened. "If it's what I have to do to defeat Chester, than I'll do it." And with that they were on their way.