THE MOMENT
"Cashing in a favor," The general didn't waste any time on pleasantries, which Selma appreciated. As it was, she was barely holding back her terror as she watched the screens. It was easy to feel safe in the brightly-lit monitoring room, next to the general, knowing the rampant violence was still several floors below them. "Right," he answered after a couple of moments of listening, then hung up.
"Shouldn't we be trying to help them...?" Selma pointed at one of the monitors. A team of scientists had barricaded themselves in one of the labs. Another screen showed the outside view and the creatures trying to get to them. She assumed he'd called for help, but now it'd been almost a full minute, and he wasn't doing anything, nor calling any other numbers.
"We are," he nodded. Selma felt safe not only because of the general and the distance between her and the rampaging test subjects, but also because the control room was tightly secured. There were two sealed steel doors back to back to get in, each of them with heavy bolts keeping them locked. And, despite all that, someone unexpected spoke up and startled Selma.
"Fred, been a while," the voice made her jump as she whirled around to see a heavyset man with green hair, wearing a green Hawaiian print shirt. He smiled politely at Selma once he noticed her reaction. She was further surprised when a buxom blonde in a star-print dress stepped out of a portal behind the large man; presumably, he came through there also. "My name's Ozone, and this is my assistant, Andie," he nodded at Selma. She wasn't entirely sure how to react, but Ozone was satisfied he did his part and turned his attention back to the general. His gaze lingered on the screens for a moment before he met the older man's eyes.
"What's the issue?" he asked.
"Super soldier project gone awry," the general nodded. "Rescue any scientists you can.. the subjects are all to be terminated."
Ozone took another long look at the situation playing out on the monitors. The rabid soldiers were making headway into the main lab with the largest group of scientists, but there were pockets of survivors making sure they stayed visible by the cameras.
"No," Ozone shook his head and turned his back on the general. A tall black portal opened in front of him, and he walked into it with a dismissive wave. "Deal with it, Andie," he added before the portal closed.
"..what??" Selma was in disbelief, but the general shot her a stern glance.
"Mr. Ozone has chosen not to do this favor for you, it is too small a request. How would you like to proceed?" she asked. The general nodded and put himself between Selma and Andie so that his secretary wouldn't jeopardize the negotiation. She'd been his assistant for several years already, but he hoped he'd never have to call in the favor for work, and never felt the need to discuss Ozone.
"I've only got $400 in cash...," he said. Andie's eyes flitted over to Selma and he understood. "Do you have any money??" he asked her.
"What?" Selma hadn't entirely caught up yet. She thought he was calling in a favor, and now it felt like he was asking to borrow an inappropriate amount of money.
"It is urgent," He reminded her with a wave at the screens. "Anything you have in cash," he added. By strange coincidence, she happened to have a decently large amount; she hadn't had time to stop at the bank before work and intended to deposit during lunch.
"I've got a thousand...," she nodded as she pulled the envelope out.
"$1400 is an acceptable amount for our 'Junior' tier," Andie nodded. "Results guaranteed, neatness is variable."
"Yes, please!" the general nodded as he shoved the money at her.
"One moment, Mr. Fred," Andie nodded as she accepted the money. Then, she disappeared into another black portal.
"WHAT'S HAPPENING!!??" Selma didn't hesitate to raise her voice now that they were alone.
"Ozone runs a mercenary outfit," the general nodded with a chuckle. "We go way back, and he owes me a favor. Except... the few times I've asked to cash it in, he refuses. He still helps, if I can afford it. But, he won't call it even."
"AND THE PORTALS!??" Selma actually intended to speak at a lower volume, but he hadn't really answered her question.
"Oh, they're from an alternate universe," he nodded. Before Selma could say anything else, another portal opened. Andie returned; this time, she was following a teenage girl with green-streaked blonde hair. She wore a denim jacket air-brushed with a celestial theme, brown corduroy pants, and neon blue crocs.
"Rescue scientists, eliminate subjects," Andie communicated the goals while the girl took in the screens.
"Yeah, okay," she nodded and walked forward into a different portal and disappeared. Selma saw the girl appear on one of the screens.
"All set, Mr. Fred," Andie smiled.
"Thanks, Andie, I appreciate the rush," he nodded. She waved at both of them, then disappeared through her own portal.
"Why didn't they just help?" Selma asked. "If you're cashing in the favor... I mean.. he can't say no, can he?" She needed something to make sense as soon as possible.
"Yeah, funny story," the general chuckled.
"Ozone, he's a powerful guy. You wouldn't think it to look at him, but aside from running a multiversal mercenary group, he alone is strong enough to break an entire Earth," he said. "Right away, you hear that, and you think, 'I wouldn't mind that guy owing me a favor.' When I first met him, he was running a promotion. 'One time fee - buy a future favor,' " he grinned. "I bought it. Didn't read the fine print. Apparently, he gets to decide if a favor is worth his time. If it's not, he'll defer you to a talented mercenary for a reduced 'emergency price'. I hate calling in his favor, but I have to admit it...," he shrugged with a grin. "It's a talented businessman who can make more money from owing people favors than doing them."