Cyberknight: One Path

⁕ Sea of Broken Shards (part 2)

The dim sunset illuminated the horizon in a warm orange glow. On the Westwood farms, McCree drove his tractor across the field as it planted the ground with this year's new seed. The day was just as boring as any other, without anything notable to talk about. However, as McCree began to drive through the last row of unseeded lands, he noticed a government van driving up to the porch from afar.

As the men exited their vehicle and met up with Popeye, McCree could see the signs of a conversation between the men from his tractor. At first, things seemed to be casual, but the discussion soon turned heated, with Popeye yelling and screaming at the men in anger. With this worrying sight, McCree quickly jumped out of his tractor and ran through the field toward his father. By the time he arrived, the men were already gone, with his old man raising his fist at them while yelling obscenities.

[Popeye] - "Go to hell, ya damn bastards! Buncha of cocksuckers! "

Yelled Popeye as the van drove away.

[McCree] - "Pop! What happened? Who are these men? "

[Popeye] - "Damn government agents, son. They demand they we hand over all of our harvest this year for free to the military for the war effort. Also, an increase of 40% in our production quota for the year. Over mah dead body these bloodsuckers gonna turn mah farm into a whore for the military! "

Cursed Popeye as he turned around and kicked his chair onto the ground.

[McCree] - "This... This is sodomy! These son of bitches are already fucking us in the ass by taking 95% of our production for free! Now they want us to give 140% for free? "

[Popeye] - "That's what I'm sayin', son. We ain't gonna be able to afford a candle if they fuck us like this. "

Said Popeye with anger as he kicked his front door open.

McCree watched from the porch as his old man entered the house with desperation in his eyes. As he tried to turn around to go finish his task, his mother suddenly grabbed him by the shoulder.

[Margot] - "Son, leave it. You can go finish it tomorrow at dawn. It's time to eat for now, I made some pot roast for ya. "

Said Margot with a comforting smile.

At the dinner table, the family enjoyed their meal silently with a total lack of enthusiasm. Seeing how everyone at the table was dead silent, Margot tried to lighten up the mood by starting a conversation.

[Margot] - "So, boys, what do you think of my cooking? "

There was a long silence before Popeye finished chewing and swallowed.

[Popeye] - "It's good. It just lacks... salt and seasoning. "

Said Popeye dismissively.

[McCree] - "Yeah, it's good, Ma. "

[Margot] - "Well, money's been tight, so I kind of skipped on buyin' salt and sea- "

[Popeye] - "Ahem! Get the chainsaws ready tomorrow, son. We gotta cut down some of the fences and turn sum of the enclaves for the livestock into farmland. "

Said Popeye by cutting Margot off mid-sentence.

There was a look of unease on Popeye's face as he pretended not to hear what Margot said.

[McCree] - "Ma! We have to save on salt and seasoning? "

Said McCree, shocked.

Hit with McCree's question, Margot looked around in embarrassment, not knowing how to respond. Seeing the situation, Popeye quickly jumped in to change the subject.