The Chronicles of Agent Thirteen Volume 2

By Gene C. Jensen

A short story collection that includes four tales of the many adventures of Agent Thirteen.
Includes the following works:
Mad Jack
One Last Hoorah
Crisis on Chronomni
The Monster Inside

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gene C. Jensen
• Release date: Mar 18, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224502363

Book preview

The Chronicles of Agent Thirteen: Volume Two

By Gene C. Jensen

Copyright 2024 Gene C. Jensen

Published by Gene C. Jensen at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. This ebook remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed for commercial or non-commercial purpose. If you enjoyed the book please encourage your friends and family to download a copy as well.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This short story is a work of fiction, strictly imagined from the mind of the author The characters are fictitious and are not based on any living or dead person. Any similarities to people or places are simply coincidence. Viewpoints on politics, religion, or aspects of morality don’t necessarily reflect that of the author, but rather the characters way of thinking and their viewpoint of the world in which they live.

Table of Contents:

Title Page

Copyright

Mad Jack

One Last Hoorah

Crisis on ChronOmni

The Monster Inside

Closing Words

Mad Jack

Three doors you must work together, your favorite foods will tear you asunder, a distorted voice rasped. A weeping maiden hides the key, an iron knight which you must flee. Don't check the box until it's time. Do all this, or you will die. A sickening cackle filled a dark room and Ryan Landers pulled himself off the cold floor.

He wasn't sure how he came to the dungeon of a place where he awoke moments before the horrific voice spoke. The last thing he recalled was standing at an odd location to meet a prospective customer interested in buying parts from his old hover-bike. While he waited, something sharp stung him on the neck. As he slipped into unconsciousness, some creep in a clown mask approached him—cackling.

He didn't know how long he was out, but he was hungry.The mad man said his death was all but assured unless specific instructions were followed. There was something about a crying woman, an iron box and a fleeing knight. Or was it a crying box and an iron woman? His head hurt thinking about it.

He was in some sort of abandoned clinic or hospital lobby, but the stiff plastic chairs were either broke, turned over or covered in a black goo. The walls had graffiti and the floor was sticky with papers littered about.

Ryan walked towards the only exit. On the table next to the door was a small metal box. Intrigued, he picked it and was about to open it before he remembered the words, ‘Don’t check the box until it's time’. He shrugged and left the room.

Ahhhh! Ryan jumped back—startled.

Ahhhh to you too! a man in a tuxedo shouted back. What's the matter with you? Sneaking up on people in a dark, scary place!

I'm sorry! Ryan said and almost dropped the box.

No harm done, the man smiled and extended a hand to shake. Normally I’d call myself Ronald Pierre before revealing my true name later on, but we don’t have time for that. I’m Thirteen.

Thirteen? Ryan laughed. What kind of name is that?

The man in the tuxedo glared. "Multitudes have cowered at that name, I'll have you know. In fact, a whole squadron of Gazitrian fighter vessels flew into a black hole rather than face me—but that won’t happen for another century. Agent Thirteen is a force to be reckoned with. May I ask your name?"

Ryan, he muttered. Ryan Landers.

Look out! Thirteen pointed and ducked. It's the nefarious, Ryan Landers! He straightened up and fixed his bow tie. It has the same intimidating ring as Agent Thirteen, no?

I think you made your point. …

Good! Thirteen clapped his hands. Now then, I take it that quaint little box in your boisterous hands was the one our friend mentioned?

That mad man is no friend of mine. I was kidnapped!

I've been trying to get myself kidnapped for weeks now!

Why would you do something so … reckless? Ryan asked. I'm scared to death!

You should be, he said in a more serious tone. This .. ‘mad man’ … as you so ignorantly call him, has been responsible for several dozen deaths. I figured the best way to stop him was to get captured myself.

Who are you anyway? Ryan asked. Are you a member of the Earth Federation Police Brigade?

Certainly not! Thirteen looked offended. "As if those children knew the first thing about investigating! I'm an Agent of Pyros Wolf."

Ryan burst into laughter. Pyros Wolf, you say?

Thirteen frowned. Everyone always finds that so funny and I can never guess why. …

Because, Pyros Wolf is rubbish, Ryan explained. Those freaks in that joke of a newspaper, ‘The Dark Side of The Moon’, are always saying something about it.

And how do you think anyone has ever heard of Pyros Wolf in the first place? Thirteen asked. Perhaps—I don’t know—maybe some Agenty Thirteenish person spreads the knowledge of its existence to those he encounters?

And why would an agent of a top secret organization do that?

Because, Thirteen pointed, it’s likely this said, Thirteen, got tired of doing all these countless good deeds without an ounce of recognition!

So … why should I believe you?

"Because, if I’m not Agent Thirteen and there is no Pyros Wolf, you will never leave here alive."

Fair enough, Ryan shrugged. So where to now?

Follow me, my corpulent companion! Thirteen walked off smiling while Ryan glared.

The next room was full of rusted gurneys with soiled mattresses. There was blood or other body-fluids, it was hard to tell the cause of stains in the poor lighting—for which Ryan was grateful. The place stank of death. On more than one of the abandoned hospital beds were body bags that looked full. While side-stepping an overturned wheelchair—dirty teddy bear and balloon still attached, Ryan asked, What is this place, anyway?

Your oversized feet are tromping over the floors of what used to be Shadowhaven Laboratories.

A lab? This looks like an abandoned hospital.

It was an experimental hospital, Thirteen said and hopped over a large bag filled with