macblaze.ca

“Everyone RELAX!” the beaver intoned loudly overtop of the noise of people panicking. “Grab a drink and just relax.”

Sequence 02

<pause>

Pass the popcorn eh.

And get me another beer before the movie starts…

Get it yourself. Nimwad!

More-or-less-0n!!

<play>

“Okay, places everyone!”

“Scene 12:7—Take 2 and…”

“Roll ’em. Wait for it… wait for it… wait for it…”

“ACTION!”

12:8

“Hey.”

“What?”

“Did you know yesterday was Pearl Harbor Day?”

“Really? Nope, didn’t know that.”

“Yup. Glenn Reigel’s birthday too. Coincidence that though.”

“Coincidence? Right. Still, Pearl Harbor: sneak attack, bombs planes, desperate defence… must of been a tough day.”

“Tough? I guess. Ya, tough.”

“Pass the pizza ok.”

12:7

“It’s funny,” thought Gareth, “this is all a little too disjointed to be real.”

The rumbling hadn’t stopped with the excitement at the door. In fact it kept getting ominously closer and closer, like some sort of attack or invasion was imminent. But that was ridiculous, who would attack us? We have done nothing to…

“Oh my god!” screamed Rowan. “It’s the Japanese! We’ve gone too far and they think we’ve infringed on their copyrights. But how… how could they launch an attack like this with no warning?”

“Rowan, Gareth. Clear the doorway,” barked Edward immediately assuming command. “Beaver. You head for the street and see what you can do about delaying the warriors. “Caroline, there’s no more time for this. Take our guest to bedroom and see what you can scrounge up for defenses.”

Edward took in the old furniture and tacky anime art on the walls. “I’m going to set up here and coordinate. Beaver, keep in on the loop.”

“Now MOVE it people! Lives will depend on this!”

12:5
A soft knock was heard at the door and Caroline popped her head out of the kitchen. “Did you want…”

“Yes dear,” the beaver said almost kindly, “if you;d please.”

Edward, knowing the beaver better than most, turned his attention abruptly from the far side of the room and stared at the beaver. There was… something…. in the beavers voice. Something, not sinister, but not entirely pleasant. Edward had gotten the sense that the beaver didn’t really care for the lady making the drinks. Her role as menial in this little soiree was evidence enough. The beaver was not usually one for having servants; an odd shade of egalitarian.

While Edward looked intently at the beaver wrapped in his comforter, everyone else, including the beaver was peering down the badly lit hallway to see who the final guest was. And no one else saw the beaver shrink minutely into his little cocoon just as the the door was opened.

Edward failed to see what else the beaver did as, at that moment an ear-splitting shriek came from the doorway and he instinctively started to move towards the sound, all his attention not directed on the sudden tableau at the apartment’s only entrance or exit.

“What, what are you doing here?” Caroline screamed at the figure outlined in the doorway, her voice filled with an admixture of fear and loathing. “You… you can’t make me go! I won’t go!” She tried to slam the door closed again and turned to escape down the hallway and realized that the malevolent gleam of the beaver’s gaze stood between her and the window that was the only other way out of this now hellish trap.

“YOU!” she spat at the beaver. “I thought … I thought I should trust you! You’re just a fucking animal! Disgusting beast!” Caroline backed up until her back was against the wall and the tears that had been leaking from her angry eyes started to pour down her reddened cheeks. “You’re all against me! I should never had tried to help.” Caroline’s words were slowly becoming a soliloquy as she turned her attention inwards and slumped down to the the ground mumbling in an increasingly incoherent manner.

Gareth and Rowan moved almost simultaneously to the now quivering woman while Edward interposed his body between the figure in the doorway and the helpless woman. “Beaver. What have you done this time?”

From over his shoulder, the beaver replied with relish in his voice, “Ah, my good Edward, may I introduce…”

12:4

What sounded, and felt, a lot like a distant rumble of thunder reverberated softly through the crowded room. The subsonic vibrations seemed to affect everyone and the tension ramped up with a few of the occupants showing palpable reactions.

“Huh,” murmured the odd young man sitting on the ratty couch. “Sounds a bit like some kind of big machine.”

“Oh its a machine all right,” the beaver responded brightly, “A deus ex machine. And it’s comin’ round the bend.” He gestured with his right arm, pulling down an imaginary whistle cord. “Buckle up, cause its gonna get exciting!”