Fairy tales can come true

A well-dressed man with chiseled features, carrying a leather briefcase, walks into the lobby of the Collinwood Building. Flashing a business card, he smiles friendly at Lon Lynch, the burly security guard sipping a Big Mac at the front desk.
"Hmm. Falstaff Advertising. I've heard of being a good employee, but go further," Lon jokes. "Your office will not be open for two months. In fact, no office has even been opened."
The man places his briefcase next to the table and asks, in a refined tone, "How many people are in the building now?" »
"Several hundreds of people are working to finish the offices, but that's it."
"Tell them to leave."
Lon laughed nervously. "Was it Evelyn from Rockville Design who pushed you to do this?" She said she would reply to me for flirting with her. »
The man looks at her. "It's eleven fifty-five. You have five minutes to evacuate the building before it explodes. »
"What you do?"
With a pleasant smile, the man walks towards the door.
"Wait! Is this a joke?"
The man's calm and cultivated voice echoed in the sterile room.
"You'll know in five minutes." »
Lon gets up from his comfortable chair to run after the man, casually patting the bag.
His hands shake as he grabs it.
"Here's a chance to be a hero or a zero," he said, opening. It contains a single sheet of paper with a message.
NOW YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES. MOVE!
Lon pulls the fire alarm yelling into the phone, "EVACUATE!" EVERYONE GET OUT OF THE BUILDING, NOW! »
Fire trucks, police cars and unmarked FBI cars quickly surrounded the building.
A bomb detection robot makes its way to the main entrance.
Standing on the corner, two blocks away, the man stares at her. A deafening explosion jolts passing pedestrians. Fearing a terrorist attack, they sink to the floor.
With a terrible noise, the building collapsed on itself.
The man smiles proudly in front of the nearby CCTV screen, then walks confidently down the street through a cloud of gray ash.
***
Manhattan FBI Director Rashod Bateman addresses the gathering of interested agents. Short and stocky, Bateman is determined to bring the bomber to justice.
"The initial report from the bomb squad indicates that this was a deliberate attack."
"Is this a terrorist act?" asked an agent.
"It's a theory that works," grumbles Bateman. "The security guard thought the bomb was in the bag the suspect left in the office. It was an unhealthy delaying tactic." The bomb squad determined that a dozen bombs had been planted in strategic areas of the building the night before. We’re lucky he didn’t wait a few more months to strike while thousands of people were inside the building. »
“Is there anything on the CCTV?” » an agent asks.
“A camera two blocks away from the scene caught a man posing for the camera. It was like he wanted to be seen.”
***
Bateman calls Officer Kelly Kwan into his office. A muscular 5-foot-10 Asian-American with a bowl cut and dark, piercing eyes, Kelly is known and respected for dismantling Wo Yung Yee, a ruthless Chinatown drug gang that was dedicated to the occult. "There's someone here I want to meet," Bateman smiled.
Bateman points to a naked young man waiting by Kelly's desk, wearing beige corduroy pants, a plaid shirt, and granny glasses.
"Who is this batakchi?" »
"Your new partner, Cosmo George," Bateman replies.
"Oh come on Rashod. What did I do to deserve this?"
"He is part of the Extraordinary Office of Investigation."
"E.B.I. is a bunch of weirdos in tin hats who think the leaders of the world are aliens."
"Judging by the state of the world, they might be right," answers Bateman. "Couldn't one of the young agents accompany him?" »
"I think you would." He says he knows who the bomber is. »
***
Looking at the photo taken by CCV TV, Cosmo said: "His name is Thunder. »
"A name people are so narcissistic. So where can we find him?" »
"He was with Taziens. »
"Is this some kind of cult?" »
"You could say that. Thunder was a mathematician and a scientist. Everything was black or white to him." Joy, sadness, violence and love were all foreign to him. He couldn't afford to be exposed to so many emotions at once. He started having violent thoughts, so they had to send him home, but he escaped. Now he is alone. »
"Looks like you studied it." »
"While the Tatians were studying us, we were studying them."
"Who are the Tatians?" »
"The Tatians have been among us since the dawn of humanity, watching over us. They are a kind race and have helped humanity anonymously whenever possible."
“Okay, I need a good laugh. Let's just say they've been around longer than Jesus. How is it possible that no one has met one? »
Cosmo hesitates to answer, sensing Kelly's skepticism. "They can disguise themselves to look human. It's like a form of hypnotism. They look like your Uncle Frank, but their true appearance is reptilian."
"I don't have an Uncle Frank," Kelly replies. "You I.B.E spies and your crazy beliefs are ridiculous. I need to do a real investigation, Cosmo, because the next time Thunder strikes, I might not give a polite warning and kill someone."
"You have to understand that he is an exception to the type of criminals you usually deal with. We would have no idea who the Tazians were if one of them, Lana Turner, had not been attacked in Chelsea three years ago. When she was taken to the hospital in a coma, she had no pulse, her breathing was shallow, and instead of blood, there was a fluid substance.
Kelly crosses her arms. "And I'm the juice to hear you. Lana Turner, who was her doctor, Al Pacino? So where is your fake alien now? Is he in the Museum of Extraterrestrial History? »
"Oh, you're kidding me. He doesn't exist," Cosmo replies. "Lana was also very radioactive. Fortunately, its type of radioactivity is not dangerous for humans. She quickly came out of the coma within hours, which should have left her in a vegetative state for the rest of her life. A day later, he seemed in perfect health..."
"Except it was radioactive enough to power a nuclear submarine," laughs Kelly.
"Lana told the police that it was Tazian and that she and her people were here to study us."
"This should get you a ticket to Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital."
"She was sent here, but one of her doctors believed her and contacted us. But she disappeared before we could ask."
"Of course. "Any more information on the Tatian Immortals?" Kelly asks.
"They don't like mirrors. It removes the illusion of being human and shows them the real picture. One more thing. This is EBI classified information. Don't tell anyone. »
"Don't worry, Skywalker. Your secret is safe with me."
"Don't take me seriously," Cosmo said.
"If you've talked to anyone else in this office, they should be sure to get Lana's bed at Bellevue." My grandmother used to tell me stories about the Eight Immortals, a group of ancient heroes who fought against evil. Even your Thunder looks like Li Tieguai. He was considered mentally disturbed, but he was an expert in medicine and went from place to place to relieve the suffering of the sick and the needy. But the Eight Immortals are fiction. What we are doing here is serious. Thanks for entertaining me, Cosmo. Maybe your children will like your stories about the Tasians, but I don't have time for them. »
***
Thunder approaches a security guard on the dock smoking next to the Britannica cruise ship. "Wow, this is an impressive ship."
"Over two thousand feet long. It's the largest airline in the world."
"So where is the fuel stored on a ship like this?" Thunder asks in a polite tone.
"Near the engine. Why do you want to know?"
"Then I can destroy the ship."
The guard grabs his remote. "I'm calling for reinforcements! Brett, Alan, Stevie... Come to the dock!"
"I don't want to kill you to get on board, but I have to," Thunder said. The guard reaches for his gun. Before he can reach it, Thunder snatches it from his hands. He lets go and presses it under his shoe.
When the trio of guards reached the dock, the dead body of the other guard lay on the dock, his head nearly twisted from his shoulders.
Within half an hour the Britannica was ablaze from bow to stern. Asleep in his apartment twenty blocks away, Kelly is awakened by the explosion of the ship.
***
"Thanks for asking me to come back," Cosmo says as he and Kelly watch the security footage from the dock.
Lifting safety Brett Winters over his head, Thunder breaks his back, not noticing Alan O'Dell's kick to the stomach as Stevie Stone pulls him from behind.
Throwing Winters' body into the water, Thunder pushed O'Dell away, pushing him back so far that he disappeared from the screen. Thunder's movement to grab the Stone by the neck happens so fast that the camera can't catch it. All Kelly and Cosmo can see is Thunder clutching Stone's head in the crook of his arm, snapping him like a nut. As Stone falls into the dock, Thunder smiles, chasing O'Dell, who is killed off camera.
"He's increasing the tension. He's ready to kill now," notes Cosmo.
"Wouldn't that be against the beliefs of the Tatians?"
Cosmo removes his grandmother's glasses, wiping them nervously with his sleeve. "It's against everyone's beliefs, isn't it?"
***
Cosmo is surprised to find Dawn DeSica and Heath Hunter, two other E.B.I agents, waiting for him in his apartment.
"You should know better than anyone that Thunder cannot be stopped by conventional methods," said Dawn.
"The FBI will interrogate Thunder and put him on trial, causing an alien invasion panic." I think their inclusion was a mistake. But there is a way to control the narrative. »
Heath hands Cosmo a small device slightly larger than a TV remote. "What is this? "
"It's a tracking device made by Tazan and American technology. Happy hunting."
***
Kelly looks at Cosmo's device questioningly.
"Trying to call home, E.T.?" »
"It's a tracking device. It can find Thunder's radioactive signature."
Kelly looks at Cosmo suspiciously.
"Don't be paranoid; there is no organization for humans... At least not yet. And it is the only device that exists. »
"So how did you find it?" Beat him at poker with a Klingon? »
"It was Lana's. It was with the things she left behind when she escaped from the hospital," Cosmo replies. "The device cannot determine its location if it is inside or in the car, but I assure you that it works."
"So where is it?" »
"I noticed his signature this morning while I was in the parking lot of the Radisson Hotel in Lower Manhattan. His next location was a truck rental company on West 34th Street."
"So he either stole or rented a truck," Kelly says. "His last store was the Pump You Up Helium Company on East 60th Street."
"Let's see if it's still there." »
***
Kelly punches Art Airey in the shoulder. The regular Pump You Up Helium owner is frantically filling helium tanks and sweating through his ill-fitting Motley Crew T-shirt.
"Busy day, it's the Macy's parade, you know. I need to get these tanks to the balloon vendors."
Kelly shows her badge and shows Airey a picture of Thunder.
"Dandy Dan?" Yes, he was there half an hour ago. »
"For the helium?" Kelly asks.
Airey observes Cosmo's dumbfounded appearance.
Surprised, he asked: "Do you work for the federations?" »
Kelly waves the photo in Airey's face. "Focus. Answer the man's question."
“No. He bought the hydrogen. I tried to explain to him that it was dangerous to fill a large cylinder with hydrogen, which could explode, but he shrugged. »
***
Keli hits the accelerator.
"I feel like we're playing 'Where's Waldo?' He's always a few minutes ahead of us."
A red light on the tracking device starts flashing.
Cosmo checks the reading. "You're right. It's on 77th Street, near the American Museum of Natural History. But why? »
"This is where they fill the balloons for the parade," Kelly answers. "My gut tells me he's going to fill one with hydrogen and blow it into the middle of Manhattan."
***
Kelly and Cosmo walk past giant balloons depicting Donald Duck, Bart Simpson and dozens of other cartoon characters. Reaching the end of the line, Kelly points to a group of men filling up a crocodile-shaped balloon.
"Who paid to add this balloon to the parade?" Kelly yells at a wide-eyed man with a Fu Manchu mustache.
A cheeky man is shown smoking a cigarette a few meters away. "He did," said Fu Manchu.
The Thunder turns around, throws the cigarette at the ball. He escaped.
Kelly dives for the cigarette and grabs it before hitting the ball.
Keli gets out of the table and throws the car keys at Cosmo. "I'll follow him on foot. You'll catch up with me!"
Calling Director Bateman, Kelly gives his position and requests backup while he follows Thunder.
Pedestrians marvel at Thunder and Kelly's speed as they pass them. Turning a corner too hard, Thunder crashes into an old woman selling flowers, knocking her to the floor and spilling her buckets of daisies.
Standing up, Thunder helps the woman and pushes her back. He takes her wallet and hands her a hundred dollar bill.
"That should cover the damage." I am sorry! »
Seconds later, Kelly stops to look at the daisy carnage.
"In what way?" » he asks breathlessly.
"Straight ahead. Good Luck. He’s a real track star.”
Cosmo gets in the car and Kelly jumps into the passenger seat.
The Thunder speeds down the road, its silhouette blurred.
Kelly checks the speedometer as they run a red light, trying to catch Thunder.
“If we’re going fifty miles an hour, how fast is the race?”
“Do you believe in Tazien now?”
“And the eight immortals. I think fairy tales can come true. »
A trio of FBI agents come around the corner, blocking Thunder's path. The Thunder bowled them like bowlers. An agent manages to hang on to his jacket. Thunder drags another block before the agent loses his grip and crashes into a trash can.
A boy leaves a bodega. Thunder slams into the girl, sending her small body bouncing onto the floor.
Holding her dislocated knee, the girl screams in pain.
On his knees, Thunder comforts him.
Cosmo parks the car on the sidewalk, blocking Thunder's path. He rushes to Thunder's side. He pulls out a small hand mirror and holds it up to Thunder, who steps aside.
Kelly jumps out of the car, pointing his service revolver at Thunder's head. Seconds later, a phalanx of FBI agents surrounded Thunder, who rocked the girl in his arms until she stopped crying.
Kelly carries Thunder in the back seat of the sedan.
"Don't hurt her!" shouts the girl. The radio beeps. An agent on the other end of the line requests an update.
Kelly gets into the driver's seat to answer the call. He looks in the rearview mirror and informs the officer that the situation is under control.
A reptile with green skin, sharp teeth and bottomless eyes stares at him. Jumping out of her seat, Keli looks back.
He reviewed Thunder's beautiful features, his eyes reflecting the loss.
A large SUV with tinted windows arrives on the scene. Dawn DeSica and Heath Hunter exit, heading for Kelly.
"We'll take it from there." Come with us, Cosmo. »
"Who are you clowns?" It's my necklace!" Kelly protests. "Where are you taking it?" »
Dawn holds her E.B.I. badge under Kelly's nose.
"The man said we'd take care of him. Thunder will be the guest of E.B.I. headquarters."
Kelly smokes as Heath, Dawn, Thunder, and Cosmo leave. ***
Kelly's car suddenly stops in the E.B.I parking lot. Show your ID to the woman at the front desk and discreetly enter the interrogation room.
He is momentarily distracted by the large long mirror in the corner of the room.
His mind registers that Agents DeSica and Hunter are talking to a pair of green-skinned reptilians.
Unfazed by Kelly's presence, Cosmo turns Thunder towards the mirror. "He comforted that girl," Dawn notes. "That must count for something." »
"That won't make up for the four lives he took," Cosmo says.
Tonnerre manages a benevolent smile. "It doesn't matter, Cosmo. I wanted these people to pay for the destruction of their world. Instead of being the solution, I became the problem. Seeing this girl suffer made me realize that.”
Cosmo pressed his hand to the back of Thunder’s head. Thunder meowed in resignation as his reptilian body began to fade, disappear.
“What just happened?” Kelly asks Cosmo.
“Justice Taziana,” Cosmo replies. "And you are one of them." »
"Head of Mission," Cosmo replies, reaching out to shake Kelly's hand. "Sorry for the trick, but we need your help to catch Thunder. We're suspending our search. I think the phrase 'Goodbye for now' sums it all up."
Cosmo faces the mirror. Kelly looked at the reptilian image of Cosmo, preferring to look at his human illusion. Cosmo walks into the mirror. A palmed green hand reached out, knocking Cosmo's grandmother's glasses to the floor before being absorbed.
Frost forms on the glass. It cracks, leaving shards of glass on the floor and an empty frame.
"What should I say to my boss?" Kelly asks. "What would you say to the world?"
"Case closed," Dawn said.

By Taun17