Chapter One Hundred and Forty-One: Family Ties

 Thankfully after Oscar was forced into the car he contented himself with giving everyone the silent treatment, which made for a very quiet trip into the shops.

“Does your Mum want low-salt or regular stock?” Peter asked as the trio wandered around the shop, Belle pushing the cart and Oscar walking silently yet determinedly next to her.

“She usually goes for the regular stuff, otherwise she says she just has to add the salt back in anyway.” Belle replied. “Isn’t that right Ozzie?”

Her comment was met with stony silence.

“See?” She turned back to her father. “Agrees with me.”

“That never works Belle. I used to do that to you all the time to get you to talk to me when you were that age and you would never give in.” Peter put two containers of stock in the trolley.

“Yeah, but you also made bad jokes which just made me madder.” Belle pointed out. “And making someone who is mad laugh just makes it worse in the long run.”

“If you say so.” Peter chuckled. He reached up to get a packet of gravy, only due to his lack of height, he couldn’t.

“Dad, we’re both impossibly short, give up.” Belle groaned as Peter started jumping.

“Oh come on, I can get YIKES!” Peter and everyone else dropped to the floor as a bullet landed just above his head! The gravy powder flowing onto him would have been funny in any other situation, but now it was just a reminder of how close that had been. “Don’t tell me someone is trying to kill me AGAIN!”

Belle pushed in the face of her Giggles watch, hoping that at least one of the Knights was paying attention. She then crawled over to Oscar, who was curled up in a ball, crying with fear.

“It’s okay kiddo, everyone is fine!” She tried to cheer him up.

“What if you or Daddy gets k-k-killed?!” Oscar sobbed.

“No one is getting killed.” Peter said firmly.

“On the contrary Mister Masters, it’s time that you and the rest of the Council died.”

Belle hissed. Two men in white button-up dinner shirts and black pants had guns pointed at them. On the shirts was the long-forgotten symbol of the Silent Lake Gang.

“Don’t even think about it!” Belle cried. Oscar began to cry harder.

“Shut the brat up. Now die Masters.” One of the men aimed his gun at Peter and fired. Thankfully, Peter moved out of the way, but his leg was hit in the process. Terrified, Belle grabbed some tins of stock and threw them at the Lakers, hitting one near his eye and the other ones gun.

“That hurt you little – STOP THROWING THINGS AT US!” One of the goons cried as Belle kept throwing tinned goods to protect her father.

“She broke my gun Stu!” The other goon looked tearful.

“Marty, it’s a gun, cope.” Stu rolled his eyes. “I got smacked in the face and you don’t hear me crying.”

“I’ve had this gun since I was in the Mob!” Marty sobbed.

“I’ll give you something to cry about – look out!” Stu pulled Marty down as a shower of throwing stars headed straight for them!”

“Got here just in time! How’s your Dad?” Lady Starlight jumped down from atop the aisle. “Waste of good kidney beans you know.” She looked at some of the tins Belle had used for ammo.

“You take what you can get. I’m gonna get Dad and Ozzie out of here.” Belle said. “Where’s Sunlight and Moonlight?”

“They’ve got the door in case any more of them show up. Looks like Laker Dan has been recruiting.” Lady Starlight said as they both helped Peter to his feet. “You okay Peter?”

“Just feeling a bit weak. I’m kinda sick of being shot at.” Peter groaned as some of his weight hit his injured leg, making him wince.

“Hey, you can’t just LEAVE!” Stu got up and reached for his gun. A throwing star put paid to that idea. 

“We can and we will.” Belle snapped. They helped Peter towards the door, Oscar clinging onto his sister tightly, when naturally Laker Dan had to be dramatic and break through the intricate skylight above them.

“I can see why Marion fired you two before she went mad.” He looked angrily at Stu and Marty, who both groaned. He then turned to Peter, Belle and Lady Starlight. “I told you Belle, I was going to kill all of the Counsellors, and your father is no exception. He’s as much a part of the problem as the rest of them are.”

“You’re even more of a problem!” Belle fired back.

“Whatever. Now stand aside and I’ll let you and the boy live.” Laker Dan pulled out the Mystic Eight Gun.

“I have a NAME!” Oscar snapped, eyes still red and wet.

“Get out of here Belle, and take Ozzie with you.” Peter commanded.

“NO!” Belle and Oscar cried.

“Yes.” Peter said firmly. “I’m your father, I make the rules.”

“He’s also clearly smarter than you’ll ever be.” Laker Dan smirked.

“You’ve fallen. To think I looked up to you.” Belle glared.

“I touched a nerve I see. Now move or all three of you will die here.” Laker Dan pointed the gun at Ozzie.

“NO!” Ozzie screamed as Belle dragged him away.

“I’m not letting my only brother get killed.” Belle growled. “And I won’t let Dad die either!”

They rushed to the car, Lady Sunlight and Lady Starlight close behind while Sir Moonlight stayed by the door.

“What can you do?” Ozzie whimpered as they made it to the car.

“I can’t do anything, but Giggles can. You really think I’d leave home without my gear?” Belle grinned.

“There’s a bin in the alley back there you can use for cover, and Sunlight will keep watch. I’ll go back in there and see if I can buy some time.” Lady Starlight rushed back in, throwing stars ready to be thrown directly at Laker Dan.

“You don’t have to do this Dan. You know that.” Peter tried pleading for his life. 

“It would look mighty suspicious if I killed all of the Counsellors except you.” Laker Dan replied. “Besides, you’re part of the problem. You could have done something by now.”

“I tried Dan!” Peter cried. “Lord knows I tried, you know I did!”

“That’s why I’ve allowed you to keep yapping.” Dan frowned. “But now you OUCH!”

Sir Moonlight had fired an arrow that had grazed Laker Dans cheek. Hissing with anger, he turned to fire back at the Outer Knight of the Last Order.

“You’ll pay for that you rich, snobby ARGH!” Dan cried again.

Lady Starlight had sneaked back in, and hit Dan in the arm with a throwing star. In his fury, he pulled the star out of his elbow and aimed the Mystic Eight Gun at the Knight.

“YOU SHOOT MY BABY SISTER AND WATCH WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU!”

“Chuckles! Lady Sunlight!” Peter cried in relief as Chuckles bolted towards Dan, the Lions Claw Blade drawn and the Arm Scythes armed.

“You really haven’t learned not to bring a sword to a gunfight have you Chuckles? You dolt.” Dan smirked, now aiming the Mystic Eight Gun at Chuckles.

“I brought a gun!”

Dan couldn’t get out of the way in time – Giggles fired the Lucky Seven Gun at him from the skylight he had broken, hitting him in the shoulder.

“Lucky!” Giggles cuddled her gun.

“You witch!” Dan screamed in fury.

“See what happens when you take us on? We’re family, and you’re disowned!” Lady Starlight exclaimed.

“Yeah!” Her siblings agreed.

And just to add insult to injury, little Ozze had run back in after his beloved older sister. He threw a packet of flour at Dan, that smacked the Silent Lake Gang leader in the head and exploded, covering him with flour.

“A satisfying conclusion to the day.” Giggles nodded.

–

“And then of course after that the police showed up and we all scattered.” Hugo explained as the group sat around the hospital room. Peter’s leg was mostly fine. No bones broken, but the muscle would take a while to heal.

“The police are going to be even worse now that most of them are Troupers.” Belle groaned, leaning back in her chair. “Even the Mob and the DVG never infiltrated the police like this.”

“Yes, well, unfortunately Jones got his claws into Dingbat, and it was all downhill from there. DAMN Daniel, if he hadn’t murdered Dingbat all of them would be in gaol right now.” Peter groaned. “Can someone please get me some water?”

“No use crying over spilled milk. Again.” Lara got her husband a drink. “We just have to do what we can do and hope that Webster can do his job.”

“It’s a lot to put on Webster though…” Belle sighed.

“He has help. Trust me, your fathers little stunt with the Ruby Suit might have caused some angst, but we do have people on the inside on our side. Trust us.” Lara patted her head.