Chapter Eighty-Three: The Business Card
TJ knew what he had to
do.
do.
It was Monday morning,
and it was time for his interview with Richard Dickson, the leader of
the Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service. He had to be
careful. If Wallace Dingbat suspected a thing, then it was all over.
and it was time for his interview with Richard Dickson, the leader of
the Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service. He had to be
careful. If Wallace Dingbat suspected a thing, then it was all over.
He walked through the
entrance of the room that had been set aside for the interviews and
looked around, inspecting everything. He wished he was Belle, who
could take in a lot of information quickly and scope out a situation
before anyone else, which allowed Charlie to form the best plan of
action. Of course, they were in Brisvegas for the week, so they were
no help.
entrance of the room that had been set aside for the interviews and
looked around, inspecting everything. He wished he was Belle, who
could take in a lot of information quickly and scope out a situation
before anyone else, which allowed Charlie to form the best plan of
action. Of course, they were in Brisvegas for the week, so they were
no help.
His eyes scoped the
small window to the main office, the only window in the room. There
was a single desk with two chairs. Dickson sat on the other side of
the desk.
small window to the main office, the only window in the room. There
was a single desk with two chairs. Dickson sat on the other side of
the desk.
“Please, take a seat
Mr. Jacobs.” Dickson smiled at him.
Mr. Jacobs.” Dickson smiled at him.
TJ closed the door and
sat down. “My name is TJ.” He said.
sat down. “My name is TJ.” He said.
“TJ?” Dickson
asked.
asked.
“So I don't get
confused with my Dad. He's Theodore Jacobs Snr, I'm Theodore Jacobs
Jr.” TJ told him. “Only my wife gets away with calling me
Theodore.”
confused with my Dad. He's Theodore Jacobs Snr, I'm Theodore Jacobs
Jr.” TJ told him. “Only my wife gets away with calling me
Theodore.”
“Yes, I see you're
married to a nurse. Petunia, am I right?” Dickson looked through
his paperwork.
married to a nurse. Petunia, am I right?” Dickson looked through
his paperwork.
“Yup, my 'Tuney.”
TJ smiled.
TJ smiled.
“You've been married
for a while. Judging from the fact that your face could light up the
dark side of the moon, I say things are going well?” Dickson smiled
back. “I recently got married myself.”
for a while. Judging from the fact that your face could light up the
dark side of the moon, I say things are going well?” Dickson smiled
back. “I recently got married myself.”
“Congratulations.”
TJ nodded.
TJ nodded.
“Thank you.”
Dickson shuffled his papers again. “Now, before we start, is there
anything you want to tell me?”
Dickson shuffled his papers again. “Now, before we start, is there
anything you want to tell me?”
“Not here, no. I
mostly keep to myself and don't bother anyone.” TJ replied.
mostly keep to myself and don't bother anyone.” TJ replied.
Dickson looked at him,
confused but not showing it. “Very well.” He sighed with
disappointment. “I see you're not going to talk.”
confused but not showing it. “Very well.” He sighed with
disappointment. “I see you're not going to talk.”
“Not here, no.” TJ
said again. “I don't have any knowledge that you might want.”
said again. “I don't have any knowledge that you might want.”
“Very well.”
Dickson sighed with defeat. He handed TJ his card. “Let me know
when you want to talk.”
Dickson sighed with defeat. He handed TJ his card. “Let me know
when you want to talk.”
TJ looked at the card.
“I don't think I'll be needing it.” He handed it back and left
the room.
“I don't think I'll be needing it.” He handed it back and left
the room.
—
“I don't get it.”
Belle stared at the page for the millionth time as they pored over
the files in the hotel. “Why did Dad sell the specs for the Ruby
Suit?”
Belle stared at the page for the millionth time as they pored over
the files in the hotel. “Why did Dad sell the specs for the Ruby
Suit?”
“Maybe he was hoping
for a favour from the government? Maybe that's why the…them…are
here?” Charlie had to suppress a giggle.
for a favour from the government? Maybe that's why the…them…are
here?” Charlie had to suppress a giggle.
“But why would Dad
wait so long after the protest to cash in?” Belle wondered.
wait so long after the protest to cash in?” Belle wondered.
Charlie thought hard,
but ended up shaking his head.
but ended up shaking his head.
“It's no good. I need
more information before I can use the Clause.” He said. “Let's
get back to work.”
more information before I can use the Clause.” He said. “Let's
get back to work.”
“Yeah.” Belle
nodded, before the pair of them dove into the paperwork in front of
them.
nodded, before the pair of them dove into the paperwork in front of
them.
—
“Why MIDNIGHT of all
things?! And on a Monday night too?!” Sir Hyper grumbled.
things?! And on a Monday night too?!” Sir Hyper grumbled.
The Noble Knights of
the Last Order was standing on the walkway of Pleasantville Dam
the Last Order was standing on the walkway of Pleasantville Dam
“Because that's the
way they do it in the movies.” Sir Dark replied.
way they do it in the movies.” Sir Dark replied.
“I gotta admit, that
was a good idea, handing back the note with his card.” Sir
Lionheart said approvingly.
was a good idea, handing back the note with his card.” Sir
Lionheart said approvingly.
“You learn quickly. I
couldn't risk Dingbat seeing anything.” Sir Dark told him. “I'm
already in a enough hot water there.”
couldn't risk Dingbat seeing anything.” Sir Dark told him. “I'm
already in a enough hot water there.”
“Ssshhhh, I hear
something.” Lady Silent piped up.
something.” Lady Silent piped up.
The group stood
silently as they listened. Soon, they could all hear the sound of
multiple sets of footsteps heading towards them. They soon saw
Richard Dickson and two of his men in the moonlight.
silently as they listened. Soon, they could all hear the sound of
multiple sets of footsteps heading towards them. They soon saw
Richard Dickson and two of his men in the moonlight.
“Mr. Dickson. I'm
glad you accepted the Constables message. I'm Sir Lionheart, I
believe we have met.” Sir Lionheart introduced himself.
glad you accepted the Constables message. I'm Sir Lionheart, I
believe we have met.” Sir Lionheart introduced himself.
“Interesting.”
Dickson replied. “These are my men, the two I trust more than
anyone else, Mr. Ball and Mr. Testy.”
Dickson replied. “These are my men, the two I trust more than
anyone else, Mr. Ball and Mr. Testy.”
Sir Lionheart had to
swallow his laughter. He then introduced the rest of the Knights.
swallow his laughter. He then introduced the rest of the Knights.
“Now, to business. We
want to know exactly why you're here and what you plan to do next.”
Sir Hyper sat on a nearby rock.
want to know exactly why you're here and what you plan to do next.”
Sir Hyper sat on a nearby rock.
“That's a difficult
question. You see, what we've been sent to do and what we actually
plan to do are two completely different things.” Testy sighed. In
the dark all the Knights could see was a weaselly-shaped man who
looked completely untrustworthy.
question. You see, what we've been sent to do and what we actually
plan to do are two completely different things.” Testy sighed. In
the dark all the Knights could see was a weaselly-shaped man who
looked completely untrustworthy.
“The government sent
us here as a cover. We're just here for show.” Ball said. He was
bigger than Testy, and looked more like someone military.
us here as a cover. We're just here for show.” Ball said. He was
bigger than Testy, and looked more like someone military.
“But we don't believe
that's right. We actually want to make a difference.” Testy said.
that's right. We actually want to make a difference.” Testy said.
“No offence, but how
do we believe you?” Lady Courage asked.
do we believe you?” Lady Courage asked.
“None taken. We know
our story seems far-fetched.” Ball said. “It's up to you what you
do with it.”
our story seems far-fetched.” Ball said. “It's up to you what you
do with it.”
“So you're not even
prepared to try?” Lady Courage narrowed her eyes.
prepared to try?” Lady Courage narrowed her eyes.
“Easy Courage.” Sir
Lionheart said warningly.
Lionheart said warningly.
“I don't trust them.
They're on OUR territory, we don't know where they've come from or
who they're working for or why. Everything they've said so far just
sounds way too convenient.” Lady Courage pointed out. “Especially
as it seems the government wants the status quo to stay as it is.”
They're on OUR territory, we don't know where they've come from or
who they're working for or why. Everything they've said so far just
sounds way too convenient.” Lady Courage pointed out. “Especially
as it seems the government wants the status quo to stay as it is.”
Dickson stared hard at
her. Sir Lionheart grimaced beneath his mask briefly, before turning
to Dickson.
her. Sir Lionheart grimaced beneath his mask briefly, before turning
to Dickson.
“My associate has a
point. Until we can fully verify your story and your intentions, we
won't be able to trust you or work with you properly.” He
conceded. “What can you give us?”
point. Until we can fully verify your story and your intentions, we
won't be able to trust you or work with you properly.” He
conceded. “What can you give us?”
“I can give you
information about Peter Masters.” Dickson told them
information about Peter Masters.” Dickson told them
—
Belle and Charlie were
deep in their files, when there was a knock on the door. The pair
looked at each other, stricken.
deep in their files, when there was a knock on the door. The pair
looked at each other, stricken.
“Does anyone know
we're here?” Belle mouthed.
we're here?” Belle mouthed.
“They shouldn't.”
Charlie mouthed back.
Charlie mouthed back.
The knocking started
again. Belle reached into her bag and pulled out the Lucky Seven Gun.
Charlie pulled out the Lions Claw Blade and walked to the door. Belle
positioned herself behind the bed and nodded.
again. Belle reached into her bag and pulled out the Lucky Seven Gun.
Charlie pulled out the Lions Claw Blade and walked to the door. Belle
positioned herself behind the bed and nodded.
Charlie opened the
door.
door.
“Webster! Maddy!
Tate!” Belle put the Lucky Seven Gun down. “What are you guys
doing here?”
Tate!” Belle put the Lucky Seven Gun down. “What are you guys
doing here?”
“Hopefully not
getting shot.” Webster chuckled. He looked a lot healthier than he
had when he lived in Pleasantville, which just went to show what that
city did to people. “Your Dad let us know you were here, so we
thought we'd help out. We can unlock doors that you can't.”
getting shot.” Webster chuckled. He looked a lot healthier than he
had when he lived in Pleasantville, which just went to show what that
city did to people. “Your Dad let us know you were here, so we
thought we'd help out. We can unlock doors that you can't.”
“Nice!” Charlie
grinned. “We need more information for me to process the
Improbability Clause.”
grinned. “We need more information for me to process the
Improbability Clause.”
“And we've got some.
We just need to know about who they sent to Pleasantville.” Maddy
sat down and set Tate on the bed.
We just need to know about who they sent to Pleasantville.” Maddy
sat down and set Tate on the bed.
Belle and Charlie
looked at each other and giggled. Then they saw that Webster and
Maddy looked deathly serious.
looked at each other and giggled. Then they saw that Webster and
Maddy looked deathly serious.
“If it's the
Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service, we're in big
trouble.” Webster said. “You can NOT trust Richard Dickson!”
Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service, we're in big
trouble.” Webster said. “You can NOT trust Richard Dickson!”