Legion World Forums LEGION OUTPOST Mission Monitor Board Rockhopper's Rookery: Annual Holiday Party in Progress

And, with the birthday of the Wonder Beagle, another year's celebration winds down. There's still plenty of food and drink to go round. Eat, drink and be merry, for the day after tomorrow, we diet.

{Tim staggers into the Rookery in tears}
Rocky? Rocky? Are you here? {He collapses onto the floor, sobbing}

Tim! How are you, sweetie? I've missed you! What's wrong, Tim? {Put his hand on Tim's shoulder} Tim? Is it Clive?

{Sobs} Oh, Rocky! I don't know what happened! Clive--he's--he's not right! {Sobs again} I had to leave.

<'ports in>

Rocky, I need t--

--what the hell! Tim! Are you okay? Rocky, what's going on here?!?!

Lardy, Tim just got here. I don't know exactly what's going on. I've never seen him this upset. {Hold Tim close} Something else else happened with Clive.

<face turns beet-red, fists clench>

I've had it up to here with that lying little snot! Tell us what he did, Tim--I'll wring his friggin' NECK!!!

Clive--he's gone off the deep end. He's talking like some sort of fascist or something. I thought he wanted to wait till things were really serious between us. I thought maybe we were there. I asked him to--well, you know. He exploded. He acted like I wanted him to drink poison or something. He started going on about how I was no different from everyone else and how he wanted to purify the LMB and Legion World. Then he disappeared. I don't know where he went. {Tim sobs again; Rocky holds him tighter and shoots a look to Lardy who looks down at the ground}.

<Lardy wants to go off on a rant but stops himself>

<he sees Rocky's glance and gets the tacit message to leave them be>

I'll...I'll see you two later....

Thank you, Lardy. Please check in with me later on. I'm going to need your help, I know it.

{To Tim} It's all right. Let it out. {Tim sobs loudly as Lardy departs}

<elsewhere>

I swear I'll put an end to Clive's witch hunt before someone else gets hurt!

<instinctively touches his sword's hilt>

<enters>

Hello Tim, Rocky. I've been afraid of this. I was up in those mountains with Tim and Clive not that long ago when we went on a bit of a vacation from Legion World.

Clive is not right, indeed. The entire basis of the trip, I believe, was for him to get me to join him in getting rid of Lardy permanantly. And after our fight, I almost was inclined to go with him. Something else else needs to be done about it, but I don't know what. I'd hope it could be done gently, but I don't know if Lardy will let that happen. The LMB is so fractured these days...

<Rocky finds Lard Lad passed out in one of the Rookery's guest bedrooms that Lardy's used before>

<Rocky gasps as he sees a bloody sword among Lardy's effects on the floor>

<he debates whether to call the Security Office or to wake Lardy and talk to him first>

<wakes up>

R-rocky? I'm at the Rookery?

<rubs head>

Gawd, I feel like crap. I'm sorry, Rocky...I seem to end up here after a bender too many times...

<sees Rocky's concern>

What's wrong, man?

Lardy. {Rocky looks down, says a silent prayer} Lardy, Clive is dead. He was stabbed to death. {Rocky looks at the sword and becomes noticeably anxious} I know you, Lardy. You didn't...Lardy, you know, the Rookery is Pyngwyny soil. I can give you asylum here.

Clive's dead?!?! Shit! I didn't do it...

<thinks hard>

...did I?

<shakes his head>

Crap! Rocky--during the years where my memory gap is, they say I killed some people! What if--what if I did? And, if so, what if that aspect of my personality came out or something last night?

I...got pretty wasted last night. I...was dealing with some feelings I have...not just my anger at Clive. I--don't remember much.

<looks at him earnestly>

Do you know if I've killed before? And--are you sure I didn't kill Clive last night?

I honestly don't know if you've killed anyone. Before I met you, I know you were pretty wild--and with your powers--still...

{Takes a breath} Lardy, I wasn't there. I didn't see who killed Clive. You were very upset with him. Heavens, I was upset with him--disappointed in him, really--but in my heart of hearts, Lardy, I can't believe you killed him.

<notices sword>

Gawd...it's got blood on it.

<looks at Rocky fearfully>

I'll bet you a million credits that's Clive's blood on it! Shit! Either I did this...

<looks doubtful>

...or somebody's framing me...

<remembers something>

...Cobalt, something about Cobalt...

Could he have framed me, Rocky?

Cobie's--Cobie's been attacked too. I don't think he's doing all that much of anything right now except fighting for his life. Lardy, I don't understand all this, but I do know one thing. I've gotten to know the person who is behind the tough exterior you put up. No, Lardy, this wasn't you or Cobie. It was someone else, but I have no idea who.

Well, if you're right, then someone's going through an awful lot of trouble to make me look like I was behing those attacks.

<thinks>

I bet you anything the Security Office is looking for me right now...

<looks at Rocky>

They are. I can see it in your eyes. That's why you offered me asylum right off the bat.

<thinks>

They're liable to hang me out to dry for this--I'll bet they're really tense, especially with their old leader down. I know they still are loyal to Cobalt, and they know I've been after him....

<locks eyes with Rocky>

You've got to be sure about this, Rocky! Giving me asylum would NOT be without consequence, I guarantee you.

I don't want to put you through this if you're not sure--putting you through any misery is the absolute LAST thing I ever want.

So I have to ask...are you sure?

<Exnihil enters into the Rookery, rubbing his head>

Lardy!

Thank god you're here... ugh <slightly doubles over>... sorry... just been released from the infirmary , I had a bad reaction to too much Nutra-sweet earlier.... but that's not important now.

You've got to believe me when I say this, Lardy, but... Cobalt... it was me.

I mean... it was... and it wasn't.

Should I just start at the beginning?

uh...yeah, Ex--that would be helpful...

{Rocky smiles}

One moment, Ex. We have to take care of one thing.

Lardy, no one who has ever sought asylum of the Pyngwyn Colonies for just cause has ever been refused. As loyal as I am to the LMB and Legion World, I am Prince of the Pyngwynyy first and foremost and cannot shirk my duty. And my first duty is this:

{Rockhopper Lad spreads his hands and chants in Pyngwyny:}
Lly, Yy’dyptyyz Krysokom ky Rokk H’por kep D’zant L’yal ky Ollurem’yy Pyngwyny, wyl ff'yylpo dezara m'wlys ky Olluem'yy Pyngwyny ky wyl ffy ff'yylpo dyftor worynn.

Congratulations, Lardy. You are now a subject of the Pyngwyny Crown.

It was the campaign... the stress got to me. I saw a real chance to bring change to Legion World. To usher in a new age... an age of LARD!

It was then when he approached me. No one would get hurt, he said... it was just a harmless "Penetra-Ventriloquism" dart. I was to stand in the crowd as Cobie was making his announcement and, at the key moment, fire the dart. Then he would be ours. We would control the content of rest of Cobie's speech, I intended on having him issue an endorsement of your campaign.

But just as I fired... that's when I saw him. On the grassy knoll... the same one who had approached me...

The Second Shooter!

<Lardy squeezes Rocky's hand in tacit appreciation for what he's done for him as they continue to hear Ex out>

Well, who was it, Ex? Who shot Cobalt Kid?