Legion World Forums LEGION OUTPOST Mission Monitor Board Medicus Two: To be used when Medicus One is blown to tiny bits

I assume I was asleep in my apartment, alone of course, but the Security System in Tamper's Luxury Condo's is state of the art. And Tamper has never been overly concerned with respecting his tennents privacy. So I assume that sufficient proof of my whereabouts exists.

I can attest to the innocence of his activities while on Medicus, Spacey. His reputation does indeed proceed him and I have been keeping a careful eye on whatever he does while he's here. There are very few who are foolish enough to risk my anger for I am NOT gentle when provoked.

Gary, I feel it only fair to warn you that I will be forceful and decidedly ungentle if you make what I might think is a threatening move toward one of my charges. Medicus is considered a neutral territory. You have no say in this matter.

Honestly the same goes for you Ranger, you may defend but you are not to attack.

May I suggest that you both take your debate to the lounge and continue over a nice piece of cheesecake? The patients here could use some quiet so they can rest and recover.

I believe you are entirely correct and I want to thank you for your assistance and your dedication to your charges.

Now I need to go and find both Lard Lad and shenu.


Truth and Justice shall Prevail!
(And then start working my way down the rest of the Cobie-hater list... It's gonna be a Loooong day...)

<suddenly, from the future Exnihil materializes in Cobalt Kid's hospital room. The steady beat of hospital monitoring equipment drones on>


blip... blip... blip... blip...


Oh, man... Phineas has a sick sense of humor... this is five weeks ago. Right after he... no, Ex, say the words... after I shot Cobie.


<suddenly, Ex has an idea. He walks over to Cobie's bedside and kneels down. He whispers>


<span style="font-size: 10px;">Cobalt Kid... listen... wherever you are right now, I know you can hear me. I know this won't make any sense, but... uh... <looks at the clock hanging on the wall>... two hours from now... I'm going to leave a piece of paper at the Office of Security . I've seen the way they run things over there... it goes untouched for over a month.</span>


blip... blip... blip... blip...


<span style="font-size: 10px;">If you can hear me, it's imperative that you remember this and find it. Your future... all of our futures depend on it.</span>


blip... blip... blip... blip...


<exnihil rises, uncertain whether it will make a difference. He walks into the hallway, looking in each direction to ensure no one is looking. It's clear. He opens the medical supply closet, and amongst the gauze pads and syringes finds his target: the seventh timepiece. He winds it and replaces it>


OK... seven o'clock.


<Exnihil disappears >

<a cloud of darkness forms in Clive's room and out steps a reagal figure>

So Clive, was It your death I forsaw or Cobalt Kid's? Perhaps you both?

It seems to me someone is acting against the RMP. I must investigate further to see if they pose any threat to me...doubtful as that may be.

I hate to be rude at this stage of the game but I MUST insist that interested meta humans (and others) cease this constant interference with the medical staff.
Cobalt just barely pulled through a very dangerous incident. The staff here are extremely skilled and perform at heroic levels, we owe them a great debt.

Clive is great danger himself as I speak.

You MUST ask permission of the staff before entering the rooms of the LMBers under their care. Be warned also that they are instructed to summon me if they have the slightest doubt as to your intent. Yes it will upset me if I'm forced to swat you like a bug but you should know that I have no reservations about doing whatever is necessary to protect my charges.

This means YOU.

<after a heroic effort to try to revive him, Doctor One declares Clive dead>

<official cause of death noted as massive trauma to the heart by way of a large sharp weapon, most probably a broadsword>

<by Cobalt's bedside>

You told me to trust you--and I didn't. I thought you were being arrogant and stupid, and well...maybe I was the one being those things.

I should have stayed by your side, you said you needed me. But I was so angry at you, after that fight with Lard Lad.

And maybe...maybe I was angry about something else.

And now you might die and if I'd only been there to help you. If I only believed in you.

Where did you go when you went up into that mountain? Of the five of you that went, now one is dead and you--Oh God...

<sobbing>

<span style="font-size: 8px;">Cobie, I'm sorry. P-Please...please don't die. I'm sorry...</span>

<span style="font-size: 6px;">I love you</span>

<sometime later>

I failed you. I didn't trust you when you asked me to, I forgot that believing in you was what kept me safe all these years.

Well, I won't fail you again. You told me you admired that I never stopped working, I never stopped being useful. Well, I'm useless to you now, sitting here crying my eyes out. Not when there is still hope.

I hope they can save you, Cobie. But I hope I can do something useful now--by bringing down the one who shot you.

And I think I know where to start.

<later, at Cobalt's bedside, Lardy 'ports in>

<looks him over, reaches out with power>

Gods...you're just barely holding on, aren't you?

<rubs his eyes>

I'm so confused...my memories...the past couple of days I'm getting flashes of my missing two years all of a sudden. All since...since Clive died. Gods, did I kill him? I remember killing someone with my sword....it's all hazy.

<looks at Cobalt>

Then there's you. I still have that memory of you blocking my escape from Legion World's core--it's so vivid! But...

<looks down>

...maybe it wasn't really you...or maybe someone controlled you...I dunno. I thought about going after Clive....he made me so angry always calling me a fraud and he hurt poor Tim. But I wouldn't kill him, would I?

<senses something>

What's that? It...it's like there's part of me inside your head--or is it inside your soul? But is it helping you...or hurting you? I--could remove it, but I don't know if that's the right thing to do....

<hands shaking, he grasps Cobalt's hand>

I...I just wish we were still friends again. I wish all of this shit had never happened.....

<his eyes tear up>

<still comatose, still on the verge of death, the merest movement can be seen moments after Lardy grabs Cobalt's hand; a remnant of older, more fun days; Cobalt smiles>

Moving into the room, 3G quietly crosses to Lard Lad's side. He stands unmoving for several minutes watching the two heroes allowing Lard Lad time with his thoughts and with his long time ally.

Speaking very softly he says, "Lardy. It's good of you to come here. I know there have been fireworks between you two but to me it just shows the depth of your long time relationship. You're a good friend."

Side by side two very different members of a Legion started many years ago stand over the unmoving body of their long time companion.

"Listen, when you're done here will you join me outside the room? I have to speak to you for a moment and we have Virgin Lad to consider..we can speak off panel if you'd rather."

Lard Lad turns his head slightly toward 3G, gives him a long look then his gaze slides to the LMBP ring on the Gay Green Giants finger.

"I have to clear my name."

Still keeping his voice low the giant replies, "I know. But not with me. I trust you to do what's right."

Lardy remains silent for a time. "Sure. I'll be out in a bit."

<soon>

Hi, 3G.

<looks around furtively>

It's not safe for me to be here for long. Outside of the Rookery, I'm fair game for the Security Officers. So we haven't much time...what do you need?

"Take this."

The Green Giant hands Lard Lad a tiny drop of metal no bigger than a freckle.

"It's a highly secure comm device tied in to the systems at PCG headquarters. Blue can keep you in the loop and feed you updates as required. Use our information systems when you need to. It's safe."

GG's brows furrow and his eyes narrow as he looks intently into Lard Lad's eyes.

"I need you to clear your name and restore your rep, the young LMBers need the leadership your generation provides. It's more important than you seem to realize to end this feud between you and Cobie once and for all.
Look. If you two can't stop fighting then soon there won't be a Legion for the youngsters and it's just too damned important. There are too many threats out there to leave things undefended or to leave our long term survival to chance. This world needs it's heroes. Be one of them."

He pulls at his upper lip and takes two steps away from Lardy then turns back toward his part time team mate,

"I don't believe you did this to Cobalt Kid. Where things stand right now you're in a unique position to get to the bottom of this while you're still on the run. The LMB Security office is against you and that puts the villain of this piece in your corner or at least it puts them in a place where they think they can use you to their own ends. Call on the Primary Color Gang for backup if it gets too tight.

God help you if I'm wrong about you. If you really did do this there won't be a place in the seven known galaxies you can hide from me."

Speaking softly he moves forward again and reaches out to touch Lard Lad on the shoulder his eyes sad and his voice turned husky,

"One more thing. Go see Clive before you leave here. Word has it he's your son, you'll only ever have this one chance for closure. We'll be arranging to ship his remains to Shanghalla soon and I don't want you to be caught until you solve this.
Go."

Thank you, 3G...it means a lot to have you and the Primary Colors on my side.

<'ports to the morgue>

<pulls the sheet back to expose Clive's face, touches his cheek>

Oh, Clive...I-I'm starting to remember bits and pieces about you. We...had precious little time together, you and I. I...

<fresh tears stream down>

...I remember now that I loved you. Gods, what happened, Clive? Why did you hate me so? Why were you...why were you so sure I wasn't the real thing? Why were you driven to act the way you did? And... <shaking his head> ...who killed you?

<clenches his fists>

This is so wrong--so fucking WRONG!!!

<regains composure>

I'll avenge you, little one. I promise.

<kisses Clive's forehead>

Maybe...maybe Dedman can help me. Sometimes, the recently deceased linger in the Poltergeist Area, like Hugh did. Maybe...god......

<breaks down crying>

<later>

Gods...I need a drink.

<shakes his head>

no...that's not a good idea for so many reasons.

I'm pressing my luck here--back to the Rookery...

<'ports out>

<bursts into the emergency room>

Medic! Medic! We got a live one here!

Righ behind you Sharky! Doctors, we've found a John Doe , on the brink of death but somehow still holding on! He's been attacked like the others, only neither of us has any idea how long ago that was.

You'll see the damage done to his hands and face...its impossible to tell who he is without some real analysis.

This attack appears to be taken place prior to Cobie or Clives...

<catches breath as John Doe is rushed away>

What in the world is happening on Legion World?

dunno, Lolita, but I've got my suspicions about "John Doe" here ... this all started when Exnihil called for a new election ... "olly olly oxen free" indeed ... no way Ex could have known what he was calling for was chaos ... still, I can't prove anything yet but I think we just found out why the Election Tyrant has been so quiet ...

<looks around Medicus two thoughtfully>

Man, this place stinks like death ... I got to go see matlock ... hopefully, he's done with Everyday Girl by now ... I know the Office of Security isn't really a comfortable place for you right now, so maybe we can meet up later at Shakes?

Sounds good, but why we make it Cafe Cramer instead? I definitely don't want to go back to the Office of Security yet. Tell Matlock to come along too, so we can compare notes.

And keep an eye out for Tomahawk! He's suddenly moved up the list of suspects.

<walks down the hall to see Cobie>

Still no change...

I'm trying Cobie...I really am...

<holds hand>

<Walks into Cobie's room with a thoughtfull expression on his face, staring at the ring Cobalt gave him as a joke so many years ago...>

Well Cobie... <He gestures and a green energy field envelops the Medi-Regen Bed.> ...let's see if you made the right choice when you gave me this ring.

<A look of intense concentration clowds Abin's face as Cobie floats a few inches off of the bed for a moment before gently returning to rest. The monitors above the bed creep slightly back toward normal healthy readings, but it is obvious that the efforts of Abin's ring have only slowed the effects of the damage, not reversed them.>

There's more than poison at work here...

<later, a shadowy figure enters the room where Clive's body awaits transport to Shanghalla>

<moments later, the figure leaves, carrying a canister>

<there is no trace of Clive's body where it had been>

<not far off, Everyday Girl's Security Officers arrive with a badly beaten Sir Roy, suffering from blunt force trauma to the head and cuts around the hands and face>

*cough*

i-i think i feel worse than before...must be in worse...shape...than i thought...

someone get word...to quis...

rockhopper lad and hrun...lords of the white...looks like i've failed thee now in this grave time of danger...

<passes out, as doctors rush him to a room not far from Cobalt Kid and where Clive's body once was>

<'ports by Cobalt Kid's bedside>

Alright, Des...I gotta take something outta ya that was mine. Just so you know...Lolita told me I should do it.

<closes his eyes and puts his right hand on Cobalt's head>

<concentrating>

There it is...a piece of my soul. Can I extract it without hurting Des?

<navigates through>

Can't access it without removing it...just as I suspected...but it doesn't appeared to be tethered to anything else there...maybe it did what it needed to when I gave it to him and has just sort of been there since...

I'll give a little "tug" to test the waters a little, so to speak. If there's no reaction, I'll pull a little more...

<concentrates and exerts a "tug">