Chapter Eighty-Five: Ruby vs Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service
“Look, I know that
Ruby beat you up, but didn't Sidewinder come and help you out in the
end anyway?” Charlie tried to calm Daniel down over the phone.
“Yes, I KNOW your new tattoo nearly got ruined, but it didn't, so
it's all…Dan, please, we're doing our best here!” He held the
phone away from his ear as Daniel went on a very loud, very
unpublishable tirade. “Mate, seriously! We'll be home as soon as we
can. Okay, 'bye!” He quickly hung up the phone before Daniel could
start raving and ranting again.
Ruby beat you up, but didn't Sidewinder come and help you out in the
end anyway?” Charlie tried to calm Daniel down over the phone.
“Yes, I KNOW your new tattoo nearly got ruined, but it didn't, so
it's all…Dan, please, we're doing our best here!” He held the
phone away from his ear as Daniel went on a very loud, very
unpublishable tirade. “Mate, seriously! We'll be home as soon as we
can. Okay, 'bye!” He quickly hung up the phone before Daniel could
start raving and ranting again.
“Of course it just
HAD to happen while we were at the Leos game.” Belle sighed.
“Although it's nice that the Leos are starting to win again.”
HAD to happen while we were at the Leos game.” Belle sighed.
“Although it's nice that the Leos are starting to win again.”
“It is, it is.”
Charlie agreed. “Webster should be back soon, hopefully he can get
us what we need.”
Charlie agreed. “Webster should be back soon, hopefully he can get
us what we need.”
“Fingers crossed.”
Belle lay back on her bed. “Do you ever wonder if our ancestors
ever saw this happening when they first dammed up Pleasant Lake?”
Belle lay back on her bed. “Do you ever wonder if our ancestors
ever saw this happening when they first dammed up Pleasant Lake?”
“How could they
have?” Charlie asked.
have?” Charlie asked.
“Well, that stupid
Improbability Clause for one thing.” Belle said slyly.
Improbability Clause for one thing.” Belle said slyly.
It took three hours
before Charlie would talk to her again.
before Charlie would talk to her again.
—
Richard Dickson walked
slowly through the streets of Pleasantville under the cover of the
moonless night. Behind him were Testy and Ball, sticking close
together.
slowly through the streets of Pleasantville under the cover of the
moonless night. Behind him were Testy and Ball, sticking close
together.
“I can't BELIEVE we
got stuck with this.” Testy ejaculated. “I bet they're all back
at base having a good laugh at us.”
got stuck with this.” Testy ejaculated. “I bet they're all back
at base having a good laugh at us.”
“They're laughing at
YOU.” Ball grabbed him tightly. “Now shut up, this is a stealth
mission.”
YOU.” Ball grabbed him tightly. “Now shut up, this is a stealth
mission.”
“We haven't arrived
YET Mr. Ball, you can relax.” Dickson chuckled. “Now come on,
faster!”
YET Mr. Ball, you can relax.” Dickson chuckled. “Now come on,
faster!”
They were headed
towards the Mayors mansion.
towards the Mayors mansion.
—
“What have you got
for us?” Belle and Charlie dragged Webster into the hotel room that
night when he finally arrived with news.
for us?” Belle and Charlie dragged Webster into the hotel room that
night when he finally arrived with news.
“Two communications.
One made just after the protest, one made a month ago.” Webster
handed the pair a folder.
One made just after the protest, one made a month ago.” Webster
handed the pair a folder.
The first one was
simple:
simple:
“I'm sure you've seen
the latest from Pleasantville. Now would be a good time to make good
on our deal. Much love!”
the latest from Pleasantville. Now would be a good time to make good
on our deal. Much love!”
The second one was a
bit more threatening.
bit more threatening.
“The Mayor and his
son only have power due to the machinations of the Death Valley Gang
and the Mobsters of Misneach, plus that Ruby Suit. I suggest you do
something about this. Now.”
son only have power due to the machinations of the Death Valley Gang
and the Mobsters of Misneach, plus that Ruby Suit. I suggest you do
something about this. Now.”
“Both of them sound
like Dad.” Belle scanned the two communications carefully. Charlie
blinked.
like Dad.” Belle scanned the two communications carefully. Charlie
blinked.
“Oh…oh no…I know
what Dickson is after.” He gulped.
what Dickson is after.” He gulped.
—
Ruby Daryl was about to
go out and terrorize the local school disco, when he heard someone
behind him.
go out and terrorize the local school disco, when he heard someone
behind him.
He stopped in the
middle of the school oval. He saw three figures walking towards him.
He flicked his hand, releasing a Ruby Shard, which he threw at the
approaching figures.
middle of the school oval. He saw three figures walking towards him.
He flicked his hand, releasing a Ruby Shard, which he threw at the
approaching figures.
One of the figures
laughed and brushed the Shard out of the air! Ruby stepped back,
shocked.
laughed and brushed the Shard out of the air! Ruby stepped back,
shocked.
“Didn't expect THAT
did ya, brat?” Testy snickered. He then formed his own Shard, a
deep blue one, and threw it at Ruby, who flew up into the air out of
the way.
did ya, brat?” Testy snickered. He then formed his own Shard, a
deep blue one, and threw it at Ruby, who flew up into the air out of
the way.
“Looks like this is
your show, you like flying better than me.” Ball grinned at Testy.
your show, you like flying better than me.” Ball grinned at Testy.
“With pleasure.”
Testy suddenly launched himself into the air and chased after Ruby!
Ruby began to freak out. The closest anyone had come to being his
equal before was Giggles, and that was only because of her immunity
to the Ruby Power. Now, these two appeared, and they seemed to be
able to use that power without a suit?!
Testy suddenly launched himself into the air and chased after Ruby!
Ruby began to freak out. The closest anyone had come to being his
equal before was Giggles, and that was only because of her immunity
to the Ruby Power. Now, these two appeared, and they seemed to be
able to use that power without a suit?!
Ruby formed Ruby Blasts
in two hands, and fired them at both Testy and Ball.
in two hands, and fired them at both Testy and Ball.
Ball chuckled, before
grabbing the Blast and crushing it. He then returned his own purple
Blast! Testy just swatted his away.
grabbing the Blast and crushing it. He then returned his own purple
Blast! Testy just swatted his away.
Ruby put up a Ruby
shield, but even though it could easily take the Amethyst
Blast, he went flying, barely stopping himself from hitting the
ground hard. Testy followed after him, firing another Sapphire Shard.
Ruby tried a Ruby Shield again, but the Sapphire Shard was too fast, soaring into Rubys shoulder!
shield, but even though it could easily take the Amethyst
Blast, he went flying, barely stopping himself from hitting the
ground hard. Testy followed after him, firing another Sapphire Shard.
Ruby tried a Ruby Shield again, but the Sapphire Shard was too fast, soaring into Rubys shoulder!
Ruby began to scream in
agony as the Ruby and Sapphire power began to flood his body.
agony as the Ruby and Sapphire power began to flood his body.
“Perfect. Now to
extract it.” Dickson grinned. Ball and Testy walked over and began
to strip Daryl of his prized Suit.
extract it.” Dickson grinned. Ball and Testy walked over and began
to strip Daryl of his prized Suit.
From the light that the
Ruby Suit was emitting Daryl could see that the two men were wearing
grey shirts with “Project 42” on the sleeve. They ungraciously
ripped the Suit from the young man, causing him even more agony.
Ruby Suit was emitting Daryl could see that the two men were wearing
grey shirts with “Project 42” on the sleeve. They ungraciously
ripped the Suit from the young man, causing him even more agony.
“Mission completed.
Let's get out of here.” Dickson waved the two men back to him.
Let's get out of here.” Dickson waved the two men back to him.
“About time. I'm
never gonna live down the code name “Testy”!” Testy groaned as
the trio walked back to their lodgings, ready to leave Pleasantville
forever.
never gonna live down the code name “Testy”!” Testy groaned as
the trio walked back to their lodgings, ready to leave Pleasantville
forever.
—
“You guys are NEVER
going to believe what happened!” Sunny looked almost gleeful as she
and Melody walked into Bills restaurant.
going to believe what happened!” Sunny looked almost gleeful as she
and Melody walked into Bills restaurant.
“You won lotto?”
Tammy looked hopeful.
Tammy looked hopeful.
“Alas, no.” Sunny
sat down with Melody squirming into her lap.
sat down with Melody squirming into her lap.
“You bought a house!”
Sammy guessed.
Sammy guessed.
“Wait, what? NO, I
already have a house!” Sunny rolled her eyes.
already have a house!” Sunny rolled her eyes.
“You're pregnant
again!” Petunia looked thrilled.
again!” Petunia looked thrilled.
“NO!” Sunny was
getting annoyed.
getting annoyed.
“You got a job?” TJ
asked.
asked.
“WILL YOU LOT
LISTEN?!” Sunny roared.
LISTEN?!” Sunny roared.
Silence.
“Thank you. Now, some
Mobsters found Daryl butt-naked and passed out at the high school –
apparently Dickson stole the Ruby Suit off him!” Sunny told them.
“We're free of that tyrant!”
Mobsters found Daryl butt-naked and passed out at the high school –
apparently Dickson stole the Ruby Suit off him!” Sunny told them.
“We're free of that tyrant!”
The cheers startled
passersby.
passersby.