Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service
Peter Masters was old enough to know better than to eavesdrop. He certainly should have been professional enough.
The interesting stranger who walked into Demons office was too enticing however. So Peter decided today was the day to get all of his shredding done. Nothing to do with the shredder being close to a vent that was right next to Demon Jones office.
"Mr Dickson. It's nice to meet you." Peter heard Demon say. The sound of clinking alerted Peter to the fact that Demon was trying to ply his guest with alcohol. Which meant this was either a good friend or Demon was trying to intoxicate them to cover himself.
"I won't be needing any of that." An almost female voice replied. Peter did a double-take. When Mr. Dickson had walked into Demons office, he'd looked HUGE.
"As you wish." Demon replied, Peter heard the note of disappointment in his voice and grinned.
"Now as you know, I'm here from the Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service to investigate reports of unrest in Pleasantville." Mr. Dickson continued.
Peter nearly died trying to keep his poker face. Across the room, Belle noticed her fathers behaviour and raised an eyebrow. A MASTERS sinking so low as to EAVESDROP?!
"I appreciate you coming in. We seem to have a strong vigilante problem here in Pleasantville." Demon said. Peter gritted his teeth. This was bad if Demon was turning the Government against chuckles and Giggles!
"If there's vigilantes, that usually paints to a bigger problem." Mr. Dickson replied.
'BURNNN!' Peter thought with a smirk.
"I'm sure with your help we can get to the bottom of it." Peter could hear Demon gritting his teeth.
'Looks like life in Pleasantville is about to get veeery interesting.' Peter thought with a smirk as he returned to his desk.
"Obvious eavesdroping is obvious." Belle said dryly as he sat down. Sure enough, everyone on their team was looking at Peter expectantly.
—
"The Government is coming down on Demons head!" Belle laughed at the tip with her friends after work.
"Ooooh, so the Law Enforcement Division is here?" Sunny perked up.
"Not quite…" Belle could barely keep her face straight.
"The Ostraylan Police Department?" Daniel looked suspicious.
"Nope."
"The International Law Association?" Sammy piped up.
"NO!" Belle groaned. She told them who had come to their rescue.
"You're telling us that the saviors of Pleasantville are the…" Charlie snorted.
"Presidents…" TJ giggled.
"Entrusted…" Petunia burst out laughing.
"National…" Tammy was grinning ear to ear.
"Intelligence…" Sunny looked fit to burst.
"Shut up guys!" Belle was laughing too.
"At least the Government is looking into it now." Daniel popped a barley sugar into his mouth and followed it up with a swig of ginger beer. "Who knows WHAT they'll come up with."
"Anyway, don't we have patrolling to do?" Sammy looked at his watch.
"Sure, although I doubt we'll need to do much if everyone's going to behave while the…the…" Tammy started giggling again.
"Hey, if Judith is right about the March Hill Crusaders trying to take power, this could be the perfect time to act up." Belle pointed out. "Especially as no one has seen Roger since Mark was slaughtered."
"Great choice of words there." Charlie groaned.
"Well, from what I heard, it WAS a slaughter." Belle began.
"We don't need to hear it. Thank you." Tammy looked pale.
The group suited up and shipped out.
—
"No crime over here." Sir Hyper walked past a jewelry store.
"None here." Sir Lionheart checked Pleasantville First Bank.
"No crime to be seen here, except my heart being stolen." Lady Courage giggled as she played marbles with some children.
"I think we can say that crime is taking a break." Lady Luck walked with Sir Dark.
"Absolutely." Sir Dark agreed.
Suddenly, they heard a loud screaming.
"Stand down, it's just Giggles trying to kill Chuckles." Lady Silent advised them over their radios.
"Wonder what Chuckles said this time." Lady Courage wondered.
They continued to patrol in various parts of the city, stopping briefly to watch Giggles hang Chuckles upside down in midair. ("I'M NOT SORRY!") before they both fell into the duck pond at the park.
"Any moment now, and the peace will be broken." Sir Lionheart stretched.
"Can't you just enjoy our good fortune?" Sir Hyper deadpanned.
Suddenly they heard a loud giggling. They rushed around the corner and found a Haunted Maze Trouper counting money.
"What the hell?!" Sir Lionheart readied his replica Dragon Scale Scythe.
"Sir Lionheart! Look!" Sir Hyper ran to come children who were all glassy-eyed and swaying dangerously.
"Too late! They're hooked!" The Trouper in her pink baby mask giggled. "They'll just want more and more and more and…"
"You MONSTER!" Sir Lionheart cried.
"Monster? HAHAHAHA!" The Trouper laughed. Suddenly, ten more Troupers, each with different coloured baby masks appeared.
Sir Lionheart slapped his watch and prepared to defend Sir Hyper, who was trying to round up the addicted children.
"You won't beat us. You can't survive until they get here. Why don't you just give in?" The Troupers pulled out their knives, all of them smoking with burning drugs just waiting to be inhaled.
Sir Lionheart stepped back. Even though he had added breathing protection now, he was still wary of those knives and the drugs they held.
"Give in Sir Knight, this will feel so good, I promise you." The Trouper said softly.
"I'll take it from here, thank you Knight."
Sir Lionheart turned around expecting to see a woman, and instead came face-to-face with Richard Dickson.