Chapter Eighty-Four: Reasons
“Dickson wasn't given
a mission to investigate Pleasantville, I can tell you that right
now. The government doesn't give two figs about that city, no matter
what the uproar is.” Webster told them. “There must be another
reason that they went, and the investigation is just a cover.”
a mission to investigate Pleasantville, I can tell you that right
now. The government doesn't give two figs about that city, no matter
what the uproar is.” Webster told them. “There must be another
reason that they went, and the investigation is just a cover.”
“What on earth are
they after then?” Belle asked.
they after then?” Belle asked.
“We know about as
much as you do.” Webster sighed.
much as you do.” Webster sighed.
—
“Peter Masters is the
reason you're here? HE called you?” Lady Luck raised an eyebrow.
reason you're here? HE called you?” Lady Luck raised an eyebrow.
“Yes. He has a few
deals with the government, and so he called it and we're here.”
Dickson told the Knights of the Last Order.
deals with the government, and so he called it and we're here.”
Dickson told the Knights of the Last Order.
“Then why weren't you
here earlier? The protest was well over a year ago.” Sir Dark
asked. Something wasn't adding up.
here earlier? The protest was well over a year ago.” Sir Dark
asked. Something wasn't adding up.
“The wheels of
progress aren't very fast in the great City Hall of Ostraya.”
Dickson smiled.
progress aren't very fast in the great City Hall of Ostraya.”
Dickson smiled.
Sir Lionheart closed
his eyes. This was going south badly. “I'm going to call an end to
this meeting. We're getting no where fast.”
his eyes. This was going south badly. “I'm going to call an end to
this meeting. We're getting no where fast.”
“Very well. I'll send
my messages through your friend Theodore?” Dickson got up to leave.
my messages through your friend Theodore?” Dickson got up to leave.
“Constable Jacobs to
you.” Sir Hyper snapped.
you.” Sir Hyper snapped.
Dickson nodded, before
walking away with Testy and Ball.
walking away with Testy and Ball.
“I hope like crazy
Chuckles and Giggles have found something, because this is getting
hairy.” Lady Courage groaned when the Presidents Entrusted National
Intelligence Service was gone.
Chuckles and Giggles have found something, because this is getting
hairy.” Lady Courage groaned when the Presidents Entrusted National
Intelligence Service was gone.
“I'm worried about
what they said about Peter.” Sir Lionheart folded his arms. “We'd
better get on to Giggles and let her know.”
what they said about Peter.” Sir Lionheart folded his arms. “We'd
better get on to Giggles and let her know.”
“Right.” The others
except Lady Courage agreed. Inside, Sunny worried about her friend.
How would Belle react to the news that her father sold the power of
the Ruby Suit?
except Lady Courage agreed. Inside, Sunny worried about her friend.
How would Belle react to the news that her father sold the power of
the Ruby Suit?
—
Belle woke up drowsily
the next morning (barely) as her phone beeped, alerting her to an
email from Sunny. She read the contents before groaning.
the next morning (barely) as her phone beeped, alerting her to an
email from Sunny. She read the contents before groaning.
“What's up?”
Charlie didn't even open his eyes.
Charlie didn't even open his eyes.
“Apparently last
night Dickson confirmed that my father sent for the Presidents
Entrusted National Intelligence Service.” Belle sighed. “Apparently
it took them a while to get to Pleasantville.”
night Dickson confirmed that my father sent for the Presidents
Entrusted National Intelligence Service.” Belle sighed. “Apparently
it took them a while to get to Pleasantville.”
“Huh.” Charlie
opened his eyes.
opened his eyes.
“That's that. Dad
sold the Ruby Suit to the government for a favour, which he called
after the protest and they've just taken their sweet time getting to
it.” Belle leaned back on her bed.
sold the Ruby Suit to the government for a favour, which he called
after the protest and they've just taken their sweet time getting to
it.” Belle leaned back on her bed.
“Hmm.” Charlie
stared at the ceiling. “It's taken them over a year to get to it,
even with the public outcry?”
stared at the ceiling. “It's taken them over a year to get to it,
even with the public outcry?”
Belle sat up and rubbed
her chin. “You're right. Why wait until the public outcry died out
only to restart it again?”
her chin. “You're right. Why wait until the public outcry died out
only to restart it again?”
She flipped through her
notes again, looking for anything she could find. There was a knock
at the door, and Charlie answered it. It was Webster, holding a pair
of coffees and a cardboard box filled with hot toast.
notes again, looking for anything she could find. There was a knock
at the door, and Charlie answered it. It was Webster, holding a pair
of coffees and a cardboard box filled with hot toast.
“Yes please!” Belle
and Charlie reached for the coffees. Webster chuckled as they ate and
drank.
and Charlie reached for the coffees. Webster chuckled as they ate and
drank.
“You certainly
haven't improved your study habits Belle.” Webster said when they'd
calmed down.
haven't improved your study habits Belle.” Webster said when they'd
calmed down.
“Yours aren't much
better thank you.” Belle snapped back. “By the way, we need some
information.”
better thank you.” Belle snapped back. “By the way, we need some
information.”
“All ears.” Webster
perked up.
perked up.
“We need to know when
the Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service was requested
to go to Pleasantville. I want to see my fathers communication with
them.” Belle told him. Her voice quivered slightly.
the Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service was requested
to go to Pleasantville. I want to see my fathers communication with
them.” Belle told him. Her voice quivered slightly.
“Your father isn't a
traitor Belle. He did what he had to.” Charlie said quietly.
traitor Belle. He did what he had to.” Charlie said quietly.
“I'll see what I can
dig up.” Webster told them. “Why don't you go to a Leos game?
I'll be a few hours.”
dig up.” Webster told them. “Why don't you go to a Leos game?
I'll be a few hours.”
“You can get the
information we need?” Charlie perked up.
information we need?” Charlie perked up.
“I'll get it, just
you watch.” Webster grinned. “Or my name isn't Sir Hedgehog!”
you watch.” Webster grinned. “Or my name isn't Sir Hedgehog!”
—
“Confront him…wait
until Belle gets home…confront him…wait until Belle gets home…”
Sammy said to himself, trying to weigh up the options.
until Belle gets home…confront him…wait until Belle gets home…”
Sammy said to himself, trying to weigh up the options.
“We're waiting until
Belle-Belle gets home and that's final.” Sunny snapped.
Belle-Belle gets home and that's final.” Sunny snapped.
They were sitting in TJ
and Petunias lounge room, and that outburst from Sunny had Sammy
hiding in a corner.
and Petunias lounge room, and that outburst from Sunny had Sammy
hiding in a corner.
“Easy Sunny!”
Daniel tried to calm her down. “We might not have time to do that.
Dingbat, Dickson and Demon are all out there and we don't know what
Dickson has in mind.”
Daniel tried to calm her down. “We might not have time to do that.
Dingbat, Dickson and Demon are all out there and we don't know what
Dickson has in mind.”
“Well, from Belle's
email, we can safely say he's lying about his reason for being here.”
TJ read the email again. “I wonder what-,”
email, we can safely say he's lying about his reason for being here.”
TJ read the email again. “I wonder what-,”
Suddenly, a news
bulletin appeared on the television, that had been left on as
background noise. “RUBY IS OUT OF CONTROL AGAIN, AND SO ARE THE
HAUNTED MAZE TROUPE!”
bulletin appeared on the television, that had been left on as
background noise. “RUBY IS OUT OF CONTROL AGAIN, AND SO ARE THE
HAUNTED MAZE TROUPE!”
“Why, why, WHY did
they have to act up while Chuckles and Giggles were out of town?!”
Petunia groaned as everyone rushed to the tip to suit up.
they have to act up while Chuckles and Giggles were out of town?!”
Petunia groaned as everyone rushed to the tip to suit up.
They couldn't get there
soon enough, as Ruby Daryl was destroying everything in sight in
order to get even with some slight he had with the Haunted Maze
Troupe.
soon enough, as Ruby Daryl was destroying everything in sight in
order to get even with some slight he had with the Haunted Maze
Troupe.
“Why doesn't it
surprise me that my brother is dabbling in drugs?” Lady Courage
muttered under her breath as the Knights arrived at the scene.
“Thanks Sir Motor!”
surprise me that my brother is dabbling in drugs?” Lady Courage
muttered under her breath as the Knights arrived at the scene.
“Thanks Sir Motor!”
“You owe me.” Sir
Motor grumbled (he and his beloved daughter had been watching their
favourite show before his fiance had called him to take them to
battle).
Motor grumbled (he and his beloved daughter had been watching their
favourite show before his fiance had called him to take them to
battle).
“You'll live!” Lady
Courage chided him before rushing out to calm the farm.
Courage chided him before rushing out to calm the farm.
“GET. OUT. OF. MY.
WAY!” Ruby was already trying to get through Sir Hyper and Sir
Dark.
WAY!” Ruby was already trying to get through Sir Hyper and Sir
Dark.
"What the heck are
you doing Ruby?!" Sir Dark dodged a Ruby Dagger.
you doing Ruby?!" Sir Dark dodged a Ruby Dagger.
"Are you kidding?
I'm making a FORTUNE selling this stuff!" Ruby held up a packet
of white powder. The two Troupers giggled.
I'm making a FORTUNE selling this stuff!" Ruby held up a packet
of white powder. The two Troupers giggled.
"You sick,
twisted, spoiled BRAT! Ladies and gentlemen please stand back."
Lady Luck yelled as she quickly ushered people away.
twisted, spoiled BRAT! Ladies and gentlemen please stand back."
Lady Luck yelled as she quickly ushered people away.
"Aww, you're just
jealous you didn't think of it first." Ruby sneered, shaking the
bag of white powder. Suddenly he screamed in pain and dropped the bag
into the outstretched hand of Lady Courage, who had taken the
opportunity to smack the bag out of his hand with her faithful old
baseball bat!
jealous you didn't think of it first." Ruby sneered, shaking the
bag of white powder. Suddenly he screamed in pain and dropped the bag
into the outstretched hand of Lady Courage, who had taken the
opportunity to smack the bag out of his hand with her faithful old
baseball bat!
"You… give that
back or I …" Ruby readied a Ruby Shard. The two Troupers
continued giggling, until Lady Luck glared at them.
back or I …" Ruby readied a Ruby Shard. The two Troupers
continued giggling, until Lady Luck glared at them.
"I'd be careful
with that." Lady Courage opened the bag and held a bottle of
water over it.
with that." Lady Courage opened the bag and held a bottle of
water over it.
"You wouldn't
DARE!" Ruby looked ready to kill. "There's nearly $6000 in
that bag!"
DARE!" Ruby looked ready to kill. "There's nearly $6000 in
that bag!"
"You're making
this so much sweeter for me." Lady Courage looked quite pleased
with herself.
this so much sweeter for me." Lady Courage looked quite pleased
with herself.
Meanwhile, watching the
carnage on the television in his hotel, Richard Dickson of the
Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service grinned.
carnage on the television in his hotel, Richard Dickson of the
Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service grinned.
"So there it is."
He watched as the white powder ended up drenched and on the ground as
the Troupers turned on Ruby. “Our mission is going to be a success
after all.”
He watched as the white powder ended up drenched and on the ground as
the Troupers turned on Ruby. “Our mission is going to be a success
after all.”