Season Parallel Development - 21. Orange You Glad

“Finally,” sighed Max as he and Sam reached the front of the now boarded up Bosco’s Inconvenience.  “I didn’t realize we were so far away from the office.”

“Manhattan’s a lot bigger than you think it is,” replied Sam.  “Maybe you’ve got all the street names memorized, but it’s nothing like actually taking the time to walk down through them in person.”

“Oh, yeah.  Anyway, after dinner, I’m going straight to sleep and I don’t want to be woken up until morning.  This is a rare moment of complete and utter exhaustion for me.”

Sam chuckled.  “No problem, little buddy.”

“What about you?”

“Oh.  I’m still feeling energized from the electricity, so I think I’ll try and get some work done if I can.”

“Uh, wouldn’t our this-worldly counterparts get mad if you messed with their stuff?  It’s not our office, after all.”

“Hmm, good point.  Maybe I’ll start working on a novel or something.”

Max chuckled.  “Good luck with… that…?”  His words came grinding to a halt as his eyes caught a glimpse of… something… in the hole where Medusa’s giant robot building once stood.

“What’s up, Max?”

Sam’s friend almost didn’t hear him; he just kept walking toward the large empty plot of excavated land.  Carefully, he jumped down among the dirt, concrete chunks, and various basement objects left behind, and made his way over to a personal radio.

“Sam,” he said, holding it up.  “Isn’t this the prettiest shade of orange you’ve ever seen??”

Sam shook his head.  “Well, it’s pretty orange, but that’s what this was about?  Come on, Max.”

“I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something special about this.  I wanna keep it.”  The lagomorph climbed back out of the disheveled basement with the walky-talky in tow, holding it close as if he were a proud father.

“Can I see it?”

Max thought for a second.  “Sure, why not.  But I want it back right afterwards.”

Max handed it to Sam, but as soon as he did, the two were thrown back from each other with another bright, violent flash.

“That answers that question.  But you know, there’s gotta be a less painful way to integrate with these things, Sam.”

“More of the Gear of Guidance?”  Sam was floored.  “And it was just over there?  Under Medusa’s building?”

“It’s all too ironic and convenient, Sam.  But, like I told Medusa, we have that weird habit of letting strange things find us.”

“I wonder what this does?”  He squeezed the button on the side.  “Hello?  Anyone there?”

No answer.  Huh, that’s weird, he thought.  I wonder if Max has any ideas.

“Can’t say I do, Sam.”

Dead silence.

“Whoa—Max??”

“Yeah, Sam?”

“Did you… did you just read my mind?”

“Is that what that was?  All I heard was you saying ‘I wonder if Max has any ideas’ in my head.”  His face curled back into its famous mischievous grin.  “Maybe I’m starting to become psychic after all…”

“No, it probably has to do with this,” Sam said, looking back at the personal radio.  “Let me try something.”  He closed his eyes and began thinking.

“Uh…” said Max.  “Sam, you know I don’t have the patience for story problems.”

“That’s amazing.  If I had to guess, this allows me to talk telepathically to anyone I want.  Neat!”

“Orange you glad I kept it, Sam?”

“Stop.”

“Well how about this?”  Max closed his eyes and put out a couple thoughts of his own.

“Eww, Max; that’s just wrong.  I think I’ll be skipping dinner tonight.”

The lagomorph gasped.  “But don’t tell me you’re not going to order anything!”

“Maybe I won’t…”

“Nooo, Sam!  Please!  I’m starving here!”

“Just kidding, little buddy.”

Max growled.  “See if I don’t sneak up and attack you later in the night, pal.”

“I thought you said you were going to sleep all the way through tonight.”

“Anger is a very motivating thing, Sam.  A very motivating thing.”