The Lapse in Our Politics

Part 8: Tristis est anima mea ora loquentium mendacium

Roy knew all it took was one wrong move. The professor on the other hand was set on ruining Roy's chances. Together they were in a plain looking room, quite wide in its obvious protest to the common dullness.

"Hmm, how strange to see someone like you two try to join our midst," the speaker had earlier introduced himself as 'Captain Trevor Roy'. Awkwardly, Roy felt self-conscious of his own similar given name. "How exactly did you prance your way over to the last known stronghold in North America? There better be one, terribly alluring, reason."

The man tittered. Roy could immediately tell this man gave little-to-no care on what could and probably would happen to the rest of the human race. Somehow, he could sense a movement was being tried at, but its start date was abruptly being cut off.

That was before Roy found out he wasn't the only one of his kind here. The humans, seemingly, had no clue on just how close their enemies were.

With a steady voice, Roy began the recite the words he had been practicing for days, "We both have incredibly important information you'll likely want to hear—"

"The last human strongholds, lads? This place in nothin'!"

With a blatant scowl on his face, Roy turned to the interrupting professor. Unfortunately, the professor didn't seem to notice.

Captain Trevor matched Roy's expression in pure arrogance.

The captain frowned, and menacingly stated, "Nothing? What the hell do you mean nothing? This place has been around to a very long time and serves a higher purpose than anything else. It's a gateway, a— "

"Place to cower?"

Captain Trevor drew back in surprise, practically hissing. The other soldier who was in the room suddenly paid great interest to the naturally cool captain as he turned red-faced, fire in his eyes.

"Cower? You think that that's what we do, old man? Cower? For your information, we've likely done more than you ever have and will do."

Nearby, Roy covered his disappointed expression in wild haste. Already one hour into meeting the largest selection of last-remaining humans, and Professor Greenly was making valiant foes.

Clearly annoyed, the professor mocked in return, "For your information, I'm not an old man, and second... I've likely done more and discovered more than you could ever dream of. So there."

The captain scoffed, "You? You've done more?" With a crackle of maddened glee, the captain drew in the remaining gazes of his comrades. "What, now, what exactly have you done?!"

While the captain attempted to calm himself, Roy cut off the professor before he could giddily respond.

"Nothing! He's done nothing... right?" Roy gave a try at making his last word sound as rude and sinister as possible (hopefully the professor would be wise enough to understand the clear warning Roy was attempting to give him).

"Apollo!" Professor Greenly didn't hold back his astonishment. It was so unlike the chap to be so unruly.

"No, ignore the boy, you see I've been running experiments on the OoxpokloskiI for nearly decades, and it's quite offensive to think you honestly believe that—"

"Experiments?" Captain Trevor had finally calmed down just enough to comprehend the newcomer's words. The professor nodded.

"Yes, of course, and for a brilliant example here..."

Roy's thoughts dropped like a stone as he knew he wouldn't be fast enough to tell the professor to shut up.

"...This lad, here, is one of them!"