Intern’s Log: The Good Boys Have Resurfaced, and I Am Not Ready for This Conversation

  Date: [I Need More Beer]

  Intern ID: Reynolds, J. (I knew this day would come, and yet I am still unprepared.)

  So.

  Life was already spiraling out of control.

  ? I was abducted and probed by an alien intern.

  ? I accidentally helped create two new civilizations.

  ? Bandit has decided lemurs are next.

  ? Evelyn is way too into this, which is a problem for my sanity.

  And now?

  The Good Boys have resurfaced.

  I should have expected this.

  I should have been prepared.

  But when my comms lit up with an encrypted transmission, my first thought was "Oh no."

  Because if they’re calling me…

  That means something is happening.

  And it is definitely not good.

  Phase One: The Call I Was Not Ready For

  I stared at the transmission for a solid minute.

  Bandit, being the nosy little bastard he is, peeked over my shoulder.

  "Ooooh, it’s them, isn’t it?"

  "Shut up, Bandit."

  "Oh, no no no, please, do answer. I would love to see how this plays out."

  I sighed, took a deep breath, and accepted the call.

  The screen flickered.

  And then…

  Chips appeared.

  Still as serious as ever.

  Still with those cold, calculating eyes.

  And the first thing he said?

  "Reynolds. We need to talk."

  I immediately took a drink.

  Phase Two: The Good Boys Are Up To Something

  "I… was not expecting to hear from you," I said carefully.

  Chips didn’t react.

  "That is intentional."

  "Fantastic."

  He tilted his head slightly.

  "We have been observing your… recent activities."

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Oh. Oh no.

  "Look," I said quickly, "if this is about the bears, I had no choice."

  "The bears are a predictable outcome."

  "Okay, great, then—"

  "The lemurs, however."

  I choked on my drink.

  Phase Three: The Good Boys Are Keeping Tabs on Me

  "HOW do you know about the lemurs?!"

  Chips blinked.

  "You are not difficult to track, Reynolds."

  I rubbed my face.

  "Are you telling me you have eyes on everything I do?"

  "We have always known where you were."

  I turned to Bandit.

  "They’ve been watching."

  Bandit grinned.

  "Oh, I love this."

  I turned back to the screen.

  "Alright. Fine. You called me. What do you want?"

  Chips was silent for a moment.

  Then he said:

  "It is time we meet again."

  I sighed heavily.

  "I knew you were gonna say that."

  Phase Four: The Good Boys Have a Proposal

  "Where?" I asked.

  "Neutral ground. You choose the location."

  "You trust me with that?"

  "No."

  Of course not.

  I thought for a moment.

  Then I made the worst decision of my life.

  "Madagascar."

  Chips paused.

  "Why?"

  I glanced at Bandit.

  Then at Goldie.

  Then at the lemur wearing a tactical vest in the background.

  "Because you need to see what’s coming."

  Phase Five: The War is Closer Than I Thought

  Chips stared at me for a long moment.

  "Very well."

  "Just like that?"

  "We have already mobilized. We will arrive within the week."

  I blinked.

  "Wait—WHAT?!"

  "See you soon, Reynolds."

  And then the transmission cut out.

  I just sat there. Processing.

  Bandit, grinning ear to ear, patted me on the back.

  "Ohhh, this is going to be fun."

  I need another drink.

  Final Thoughts (This is Not a Vacation Anymore)

  ? The Good Boys have been watching me.

  ? They know about the lemurs.

  ? They are on their way to Madagascar.

  ? I do not know what they want.

  ? But I know it’s big.

  I don’t know what happens next.

  But I do know this—

  The war is closer than I thought.

  End Log.