Barge & Lauren - Ch 2 - Arrested Development

Arrested Development

The glasses of water sat untouched on the table. Barge leaned back in his chair, glaring at the waitress as she slapped a thin black device onto the table.

“What’s this?” Barge asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Your bill,” the waitress replied, her tone flat.

Barge’s jaw dropped. “Ten credits? For water? That’s highway robbery!”

The waitress folded her arms. “That’s the price. You drink, you pay.”

Lauren, equally indignant, jabbed a finger at the bill. “Water’s supposed to be free! We didn’t even get ice! This isn’t Europe!”

The waitress sighed, clearly unimpressed. “Look, I don’t make the prices. Pay up, or I’m calling security.”

Barge puffed up his chest. “We just got out of prison! We don’t even have ten credits to our names!”

“Not my problem,” the waitress said, her hand hovering over a small device clipped to her belt.

“Yeah? Well, I’ve got news for you, lady,” Barge shot back, rising from his chair. “You can take your ten credits and—”

Before he could finish, the waitress pressed the button on her device. Instantly, a heavy force slammed Barge back into his seat, pinning him there like a fly under a swatter.

“What the hell?!” Barge yelped, struggling against the invisible field holding him down.

Lauren, also frozen in place, groaned. “Gravity lock. It’s a security feature. Didn’t you read the sign on the door?”

“What sign?!” Barge snapped, his voice muffled by the force pressing him into his chair.

The waitress leaned in with a smug smile. “Next time, read the fine print. Enjoy your wait for the cops.”

Booked and Bothered

The police arrived within minutes. Two officers in sleek, reflective uniforms strolled into the café, casually attaching anti-grav cuffs to Barge and Lauren’s wrists. The cuffs glowed faintly as the officers led them outside, pushing them into the back of a levitating squad car.

“This is an outrage!” Barge shouted, his voice echoing in the cramped, glowing interior. “All this over water?!”

One officer glanced back, unimpressed. “Theft from a merchant is a crime, sir.”

“It’s water!” Lauren groaned, slumping against the cold, metallic seat.

The officers didn’t respond. The car hummed softly as it glided through the air, weaving between towering buildings before descending to a sprawling police station.

After being booked—complete with retina scans, biometric readings, and a stern lecture on “compliance with merchant contracts”—Barge and Lauren were led to a sterile room. In the center stood a sleek terminal with a holographic interface.

The officer escorting them gestured to the terminal. “Use this to select your legal representation. You have five minutes.”

“Five minutes?” Barge grumbled. “I can’t pick a lawyer in five minutes!”

The officer shrugged. “Don’t take too long, or the system will assign one for you.”

The door hissed shut, leaving them alone with the terminal.

Enter Egon Tusk

The terminal blinked to life, displaying a rotating hologram of a smiling man in a sharp suit. A soothing voice guided them through the selection process.

“Welcome to the Legal Aid Interface! Please scroll through the available attorneys to find the right match for your case.”

Barge groaned. “This is ridiculous. Why can’t we just talk to a real person?”

Lauren began swiping through the holographic profiles, each one displaying a 3D image of a smiling lawyer. “Look at these guys. They all look the same—like used car salesmen.”

As she scrolled, the screen flickered. The smiling lawyers vanished, replaced by a familiar face.

“Greetings, my friends!” boomed a cheerful voice.

Barge and Lauren froze. There, projected in shimmering holographic detail, was the unmistakable head of Egon Tusk. His grin was as wide and unsettling as ever, his eyes twinkling with manic energy.

“It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?” Egon said, his head floating in the air like a disembodied deity.

Barge’s face twisted in disbelief. “What the hell is this?!”

Lauren leaned closer, squinting at the hologram. “It’s him. It’s... Tusk.”

“Indeed it is!” Egon said proudly. “But I’m not just a man anymore. I’m an idea. A vision. And that vision is Magatopia—the greatest utopia humanity has ever known!”

Barge groaned. “What do you want, Egon?”

“Oh, Barge, it’s not about what I want,” Egon said, his voice dripping with patronizing charm. “It’s about what you need. And right now, you need Magatopia.”

Lauren crossed her arms. “We don’t need anything from you. We just want a lawyer.”

Egon’s grin widened. “Why settle for a lawyer when you could have rejuvenation? Magatopia offers you a second chance at life! Imagine: a younger, stronger body. A fresh start. Unlimited possibilities!”

Barge scowled. “I’m not buying your snake oil, Tusk.”

Egon raised a holographic eyebrow. “Oh, Barge. Don’t you want to make a difference again? In Magatopia, you’d be celebrated for your sacrifices. You both would be leaders in our glorious government!”

Lauren snorted. “Yeah, right.”

Egon’s expression softened, his tone becoming conspiratorial. “And Barge... we can make you whole. I know you’ve always felt something was missing. With Magatopia’s technology, we can give you the body you’ve always dreamed of. A new identity. A new life.”

Barge blinked, caught off guard. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about transformation,” Egon said, his voice low and enticing. “A fresh start. You’d be reborn, Barge. The person you were meant to be.”

Lauren turned to Barge, her brow furrowed. “Don’t listen to him, Barge. He’s just trying to mess with your head.”

“Am I?” Egon said, his holographic eyes twinkling. “Or am I offering you a way out of this mess? Think about it. A place in the government. Freedom from this outdated society. And, most importantly, a chance to finally belong.”

The screen flickered again, returning to the rotating lawyer profiles. Egon’s voice echoed faintly as it faded.

“Magatopia awaits. Just say the word.”

Barge and Lauren stared at the screen in silence, the weight of Egon’s words hanging in the air.