//------------------------------// // Chapter 07 - The Deal // Story: Backyard Anomaly // by Marmo //------------------------------// The Backyard Anomaly Chapter 07 – The Deal Vogel sniffs the air as he walks into Michael’s house, eyeing his living room with the various snacks laying around carefully. “It smells like I walked into a cinema, wunderbar!” The elderly man laughs and then turns towards his employee, giving him a happy smile. “Ahh, zis reminds me of mein youth.” Vogel walks towards the couch where Celestia just was sitting a moment ago, looking at all the snacks. He then takes a seat and grabs a few popped kernels, munching them happily after throwing a few into his mouth. His eyes notice two pizza boxes with some slices still inside. One pizza had a few mushrooms on it, the other various vegetables. “What do you want, Vogel? It’s my weekend…” Vogel slowly turns his body towards Michael and eyes him with suspicion, his wrinkly eyes blinking slowly a few times. “I am sorry for disturbing your movie night, Michael but I have received a call from ze local police department concerning a car accident in front of your home.” Vogel pops a few more kernels into his mouth and quickly swallows the crunchy treat while leaning back and crossing his legs, revealing his perfectly clean and almost shiny leather boots. He is making himself comfortable. Michael is still standing beside the couch, not looking at his boss, merely staring at Celestia’s pizza laying in front of Vogel. “Reports say that a winged white horse with colourful mane and tail appeared on ze street, colliding with my stepsister’s car. However, my stepsister was uninjured beyond a few scuffs and bruises. Quite lucky for her age I must say. Vogel points to Celestia’s pizza in front of him. “May, I?” Michael nods, not looking into his eyes. Vogel smiles happily and carefully removes one of his black gloves, taking a slice with his naked hand and fingers. “I find it intriguing how zis accident happened right in front of your house, Michael. Our searchers simply can’t find ze anomaly and usually they find everything within a few hours. Do you not find that intriguing? Sweat was forming on Michaels body, his temperature rising to a very uncomfortable level. “I- I yea I heard the accident with my own ears and then went outside to check on her. I even called the police.” Vogel just seems to be focusing on the slice of pizza, eating it slowly and not really listening to Michael. After Michael finished talking, he just gives him a quick look and then slowly finished his slice. He takes a handkerchief from his pocket and wipes his lips and fingers clean, quickly covering his hand with his black glove again. “Michael…” Vogel pauses for a while after saying his name. “…You know it is against ze law to hide anomalies, right? Michael slowly nods, his eyes staring into the distance. ”Yes.” He retorts softly. Vogel gives his employee a smile, uncrossing his legs and clapping his hands together. “Zhis pizza tasted simply wonderful. But I always thought you preferred pizza with ham. Ah indeed, pizza prosciutto, your favourite right?” He looks up to Michael who is still staring at the various snacks in front of Vogel, not daring to sit down, not daring to do anything. A few moments pass and Vogel simply observes Michael’s facial features while he stands there, petrified. A few crickets are chirping outside, and Vogel folds his hands together, forming a triangle with his fingers. “You are hiding it in one of your rooms, are you not?” A few more moments pass, only for Joseph to stare through the crystal-clear windows into his garden. The moon is already climbing into the sky and the last sun rays could be seen, soon it would get dark. “Y-Yes.” Michael stutters, sighing in defeat. Upstairs, Celestia’s eyes open wide, and her pupils shrink as she hears this from inside Michael’s bedroom. With her ears close to the door and with a simple spell, she could hear their conversation clearly. She looks to the windows and considers fleeing, but then she hears Michael’s muffled voice once again. “Please… Don’t hurt her. She is sentient. A Princess from a different Dimension who needs to get home!” “Hurt her?” Vogel smacks his knee and starts laughing. “Wunderbar, Michael! You sometimes are quite ze jokester.” His laughter sometimes sounds like a gentle wheeze due to his age. Vogel chuckles a few more times and then looks with a serious expression towards his employee. “Michael, unlike what many people and even some of our employees think, our organisation is not evil. I know we had out differences in zhe past, but we are over that aren’t we, Michael?” Michaels's eyes grow a bit more lifeless, but he nods, nonetheless. We are not trying to hurt sentient anomalies. Not at all. We are here to study, learn and if possible, even strengthen zhe diplomatic relationships with interplanetary or interdimensional species. And if zhis anomaly, she, is a Princess, zhis would simply make matters even better for both of us.” Michael is now slowly taking a seat next to his boss, thinking about what he just heard, but not replying yet. “I am a bit disappointed in you for not informing me, Michael.” Vogel sighs and leans back on the couch. “However, zhis is ze first time you are interacting with a sentient anomaly, so I understand your thinking. This does not occur often, and it is just logical that you would want to protect a sentient creature. But I assure you, your fears are unfounded. Our main goal in zhis case would be to study and learn. No gruesome experimenting. No inhumane techniques. Merely talking.” Vogel sighs and takes a single popcorn piece and pops it into his mouth. “We could even assist ‘her’ in finding her own dimension and planet, Michael. Wouldn’t you want that?” Michaels eyes open wide, his eyes now looking straight towards Vogel.” W-What? How? That’s not-“ Vogel raises his hand to silence him. “Do you not remember your clearance level, Michael?” Vogel clears his throat rather loudly and shifts a bit on the couch. “Michael Keller, ACASC Branch CF-17, Security Clearance Level 4. Advanced Researcher in Molecular biological anomalous threats. Working for us since January 1st 2006.” Michael just blinks at him in confusion. “Some aspects of our work are simply classified and reserved for level 5 clearance, zhe highest security clearance. Which you now are since I am telling you all this.” Vogel gives Michael a smirk. Michael gasps and goes through his curly hair with his fingers. “Wha… Level 5 clearance?! M-Me?” Michael exhales a breath he held for a while and then slumps back into the couch, his mind racing. Never ever had he imagined climbing that ladder. Level 5 clearance was reserved for the best of the best and those who worked for the ACASC their entire life with a perfect track record. “Indeed, Michael. We need skilled researchers like you in ze highest clearances. Together we will achieve great things. And, “Vogel gestures towards upstairs.” With her, we can learn more in a few short days than we have during ze last decade.” Satisfied with himself, Vogel smiles softly towards Michael and unfolds folds his other leg over the other. Michael just sits there, looking stunned as he stares at his boss with wide eyes. “Ahh, I almost forgot. Zhe new suitcase of yours!” Vogel unfolds his legs, grabs the metallic suitcase and puts it next to Michael onto the sofa. Michael admires it with wide eyes, a soft gasp exiting his mouth as a smile forms on his lips. “Go ahead, Michael. It is all yours.” Vogel beams proudly as he sees Michael gently brushing his hands over the fine suitcase. He opens it with two distinct clicks and folds the suitcase open. His hands tremble as he sees the contents. Inside were three items. First, a ‘Level 5 Security Researcher Access Card’ with his name and photo and fingerprints and personal DNA transcripts on it. It is attached to a lanyard and various holograms and emblems are embedded in the brand new plastic security card. The next item is a black stun gun similar to his. But it was not merely a stun gun. Everyone in the ACASC knows that these stun guns had different power levels Only the lethal ones were reserved for Level 5 personnel. The third item is a slick and beautifully crafted smartphone. An in-house brand by the ACASC with its own operating system, security features and different perks. One could for example call the various ‘Level 5 Services’ within the ACASC. If you need a private jet from point A to B, you would get one. If you need special equipment for research, you would get it. If you wanted access to the most interesting and dangerous anomalies in the Level 5 security areas, you would get said access. Michael’s heart is pumping rapidly now. He looks back up to his boss with excited facial features, only to see his boss holding his hand towards him. “Do we have a deal, Michael?” Michael blinks a few times, trying to hide his excitement a bit. He slowly closes the suitcase and clears his throat. Turning his head towards the stairs which lead to upstairs, he ponders for a second. He feared for the worst but maybe this could really turn out good for him and Celestia in the end. “Can you promise me that no one will hurt her?” Vogel merely chuckles and wipes his eyes dry with his other hand, giving Michael a nod and a soft smile. “Of course, Michael. I promise.” “Okay… I am sorry, for not informing you, Vogel. I-I didn’t know that-“ Vogel silences him once again and holds his hand closer towards Michael, insisting on the handshake, clearly growing a bit impatient. Michael noticed this and quickly but gladly accepts, firmly shaking the hand of his boss with a relieved smile. “You did not have zhe necessary information due to your lacking security clearance. No need to be sorry.”