"Oh no!" Clark mutters, sarcastically. Frightening images frequently appear on the horizon. Ever since the Great Meltdown, strange, deformed animals tended to rise from the sea, only to be quickly conquered by Government Forces.

In this case, the unusually slow response of the GF would lead to some minor damage to a shore town--nothing a tax hike for the residents won't fix. Many of the GF fought fires (and often lost) before the Great Meltdown; now, while more unpredictable, the job seemed slightly easier. Clark had considered going to the Academy to learn to be a GF, but his ambitions kept him away from Government work.

Clark turns to Lucinda and sees she's still visibly shaken by the apparition. He invites her to join him for a drink, and after a brief phone call, she consents. Without thinking, she walks toward the TeleBus station; Clark makes a show of walking toward his car. "You still drive?"
"Absolutely. It's good for your mind. When was the last time you were in a car?"
"Hon, I don't even remember the last time I saw a car. Take me away."

The road twists in front of them, a virtual roller coaster of madness. Their conversation ebbs and flows, starting with work (a very short discussion between two basically unemployed individuals), glossing over the weather, moving straight to philosophy. Clark loved to argue with people; he had even lost some close friends over value principles. Today, the topic was justice, and Clark used the Old Religions to attempt to demonstrate the powerlessness of retribution.

When the discussion began to devolve into a shouting match, Clark smiled stupidly.
"What?" she queried, annoyed.
"Come to dinner with me."
"We haven't even finished our drinks yet!"
"Well, drink faster."
"Bite me."
"Marry me."