Alex looked at him, mustering the courage to ask for a favour.
"I want first to ask you sothing," he started, locking gaze with Clark.
Clark saw the seriousness in his eyes, and automatically, his anger vanished. Alex was always joking around or acting stupid, so for him to be serious, it couldn't be a light matter.
"If the world was coming to an end, would you help defend it? If people were to die unless you took up arms, would you join the front lines, risking your life? If you knew you were the only one standing between innocent lives and impending death, would you hold your ground, even if the possibility of dying fell over you?"
With Alex's tone as solemn as it was, Clark imdiately understood he wasn't asking those questions rhetorically. But it wasn't sothing he could answer to with ease.
Many acted righteously, saying they would sacrifice themselves in the face of danger to save another life. But the truth was, most of these people were talking out of their ass.
When it ca down to it, they beca weak-kneed and fled at the first sign of danger. They would abandon even their loved ones in a heartbeat if it ant saving their own skin.
Clark wasn't one of those, to say he wouldn't hesitate.
The truth was, he had no idea how he would react.
Would he flee? Would he cower in fear?
Would he rise to face the threat, or throw his life away, hoping to save as many people as he could?
Only being put in the situation would tell him what kind of man he was. But was he willing to even put himself in that spot to begin with?
Alex could see the wheels turning in Clark's mind. But he couldn't afford to wait forever for the answer.
"Clark. I know they are tough questions, but I need an answer."
Clark clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"How do you want to respond to that? I've never been put in a situation like that before, and I don't know how I would react. I would love to say that I would stand up for strangers. But would I? Cut so slack, man."
Alex smiled at his reply.
"Good. At least you don't have false bravado."
Clark tilted his head in confusion.
"What's with these questions, anyway? It's not like the world is ending, is it?"
Alex and Kary smiled wryly.
"Well…" Alex started saying.
But Kary cut him short.
"Discussion for another ti, Clark. What Alex wants to ask, what he's been spinning around the pot for, is, will you fight with us? We need awakened people tomorrow for sothing I can only discuss if you say yes. And you are one of us.
"If you don't join, it's fine. But your help would greatly improve our odds of success and survival…"
Clark took in her question, and his mind went blank.
How was he supposed to say yes to sothing he knew nothing about?
"Why are you asking this? And why survival? Are you guys going on a suicide mission or sothing?" Clark asked, confused.
"Sothing like that. But that is beside the point, Clark," Kary said, trying to keep the conversation on track.
"We need help, and there are not many we can ask. You are now part of those few. Can you and will you help us?"
Alex wasn't sure that bombarding Clark like this was the way to go, but it was already too late. He still wanted to give the man an out, though.
They were asking a lot, from soone who wasn't in the know. His reaction was only natural.
"Look. We would love to say this is for the greater good. Or that humanity needs us. The world isn't heading toward a peaceful state. Things will happen in the coming months, and years, that put humanity on the brink.
"If we manage to break that curb a bit now, who knows how many more people will be there to fight when the ti cos. But we need help, and you have the power to help. Will you help us, Clark?"
Clark instantly felt like Alex's words had a deeper aning than he let on.
"What's going on with the world? What are you talking about, Alex?"
"I'll tell you later. For now, I want to know if you can trust enough to join us without knowing the full story. I won't keep you in the dark for long, but it's better if you are, for now."
Clark ran that statent in his mind on a loop.
Could he trust Alex? Could he follow him blindly into sothing he told him was dangerous enough to lose lives?
The obvious answer was no. He barely knew the guy.
But he had a feeling saying no would lead to more secrets. Lead to more uncertainties.
And he was tired of this. If following the kid into a battlefield where he could lose his life was the way to see the complete picture, then so be it.
"I can't say that I trust you, Alex. You are hiding too much from . But if you need my help, and I can get you to promise no more secrets? Then I will lend my asly strength to you."
Alex grinned from ear to ear.
"Sure! After this is done, we can sit down and talk. I'll tell you everything I know. But first, the matter at hand."
Alex pulled out a copy of the files David had shown them that morning and rushed to his television. He loaded the files by shoving the data stick into a slot on the TV's back.
He needed to explain the situation thoroughly to Clark if he would have him fight with them. He couldn't have him going in blind, after all.
And boy, Clark was not ready for this information. They spent the next half hour less on explaining the fight to co than explaining how wolves the size of bears, much less ones the size of construction trucks, could even exist.
This was all so surreal…
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