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

--Incoming Call--

Rocky, it's Cobie...I'm in some real trouble and so are a bunch of us...

We have nowhere to go and don't think we're safe. The Security Office is out of control and there is a real danger on Legion World.

Could we come to the Rookery...Ranger, Furball, Ex, Power Boy, and a young kid named Question Kid?

I'm sorry to put this burden on you...

<Rocky can tell that not only is Cobalt out of breath, he is generally worried, something he almost never let's on>

<arrives at the Rookery in a tattered costume with cuts and bruises; with him Exnihil and Power Boy>

Rocky! Tim! Are you come! We are in need is safe haven!

Let them follow us here...it won't matter. Only one person has the diplomatic and moral sense to stop them now and he's a Prince. We'll be safe.

Things spun out of control too quickly. I won't let us fight our fight our friends if I can help it. All a distraction anyway...there is far greater danger afoot.

<Ex, quite out of breath, nearly staggers in>

Those Security Office guys play for keeps. That archer - I think I heard Lardy call her Red Arrow - could have killed me if it wasn't for Dev-Em.

And speaking of Dev... I couldn't tell whose side he was on in that fight! If there was one guy I thought would have Lardy's back it was him, but I think we just saw the turning of the tide.

<Rockhopper Lad, Time-Teller Lad and Hyvvie the Wonder Beagle enter>

Here we are, guys! If you're seeking asylum here, of course you have it. The Pyngwyn Colonies always welcomes those who need refuge.

Please, tell me what's going on and how I can help.

Rockhopper... uh... sir... uh... your majesty... <Ex letting his nervousness get the better of him, and only realizing after the fact he's not sure how to address royalty>

... we seek temporary sanctuary within your borders. I'm not sure how much you've heard of the recent fighting, but a schism is forming on Legion World, and our group has fallen on the opposite side of that headed by the Chief of the Security Office.

I'm sorry if that creates any conflict of interest. I know the two of you are very close.

Furball walks in.

"Rocky. Thanks so much for your hospitality. I need a place to clean up a little. Shark Lad is packing a mean bite nowadays. Hey Hywie...how ya doin boy."

<Hyvvie shows Furball to the washroom>

*Sigh* We were very close, Ex. Past tense. I guess I don't blame him for giving me the cold shoulder, but I've...Well, the last time we spoke, he was very cold--and not in a way I like cold.

No, don't worry about conflict of interests, Ex. Whatever there was with Lardy and me, that was a long time ago.

And, please, call me Rocky. Everyone else does.

I'll have Sffenyskus get five rooms ready. Can I get anything for anyone? Tea? Something else else stronger?

<Power Boy has been quiet the whole flight. Perks up when Rocky enters!>

"Where are my manners ... I hate magic ... it boggles my mind ... and it's the only thing that seems to work on those in my power class. "


"Well ... How do you do Rockhopper Lad? Pardon my babbling"

< Everyone looks around at each other, worry on their faces ... Power Boy out of sorts after a fight IS troubling >

<Places a hand on Power Boy's shoulder>

Calm down, Kid. Yeah, magic can effect us. But we can also effect the magic user. This Tempest seems to be verey similar to Cobie's old flame, Viv. Loads of power but very little control. Burn her buns a bit and she'll lose it. Remember that.

Rocky, I won't be staying here, which I think you already guessed. I've some business elsewhere.

Cobie, I've activated security protocals at the tower and restricted access to list 17. ASTRA owns most of the building nowdays. I doubt Lardy wants to bring Kent in to this against him. But...

I'll see you guys in a few hours.

<At Rockhopper's words, "Whatever there was with Lardy and me, that was a long time ago," Ex involuntarily bristled. There it was again; that deja vu he had experienced before. He had already seen a snippet of this scene play out in his mind at the Midnight Lounge .>

<It was all coming true, and if these harmless snippets of conversation were coming to pass, what of the more violent scenes he had seen?>

<What of the Lard-Bots... and of Sir Roy?>

It's quite all right, Power Boy. I understand.

I remember Tempest from when I arrived on Legion World. Yes, she is very powerful, but she is unfocused. Remember that my powers are magic-based as well. I'm quite happy to keep their limit at what it is.

But no harm can come to you here. The Rookery has the status of an embassy. Anything they try would cause an interplanetary incident that I can assure you Lardy does not want. Besides Tempest, who does he have with him?

<Cobalt re-enters, putting on a new uniform shirt>

As usual Rocky, everything you have at the Rookery is the only the finest. Thanks for having your staff put together a new uniform for me.

More importantly, thank you for letting us stay here. Things had begun to spin out of control and I really didn’t know where else to turn. I’ll back up and give you the quick version:

Through my own investigations with the Quank Family, we began to uncover an illegal drug ring where narcotics and illegal tobacco substances were being imported into Legion World. We ultimately learned they were coming in through the Venturian Casino, ‘Zaryan’s Palace’, which is really a front for those operations.

<Cobalt glances at Ex but leaves his role in this out of the summary>

As we investigated it became increasingly clear that this drug ring was importing far more than narcotics. It’s point of origination was the Dark Oval and they were also importing their own brand terrorism. Specifically, one particular individual who up until now has remained a mystery. Once these facts became increasingly clear, Exnihil and I began to find ourselves under attack be an unknown assailant. This caused all kinds of property damage on Legion World during an incident at the aforementioned casino, which brought the security office in.

Which brings us to Lardy. <Cobalt pauses a moment; if anyone else on Legion World knows Lard Lad as well as he does, or perhaps even better, its Rockhopper Lad>

Rocky, he’s starting to lose control again. I thought those days were behind us, but his loss of powers has him over-compensating and pushing his role as Chief of Security harder than ever. His entire attitude and purpose with the Security Office seems to be more hard-nosed and detrimental to the citizenry than I would ever have allowed. He believes what he’s doing is right…but he always does. I think you understand what I mean. He’s brought in some real wild cards like Red Arrow, who was prepared to murder Exnihil; Tempest, whose motives and huge power base are suspect; and someone named Hot Chick who seems to have his ear. Sir Roy, who I’ve clearly never liked but realized the steps he’s taken is reverting back to his Royal Inquisitor form, and that is being entirely enabled by Lardy. Shark Lad remains a member of the Security Office but now I’m beginning to worry about him too—who knows if Lardy will encourage the ferocious side of his nature when he’s worked so hard to curb it. Dev Em was the final member, and Lardy’s top guy. But he had enough.

You see, as I was investigating it was clear that Lardy and his Security Office were working a protection scam on Exnihil; he later claimed this was all a ploy to get more information, but there was no way I could know that—based on his recent actions, it was entirely reasonable to think he was overstepping his bounds. Regardless, I still think it was a bad decision whether a ploy or not. So I fled from the Security Office to protect Ex because he was essential to my investigation. And whoa, did that cause problems. It must have offended Lardy because they began hounding us. I called in Furball for help, realizing the danger on Legion World was going ignored while they chased us, and Power Boy joined us when he realized the Office of Security was overstepping its bounds so greatly it was endangering the citizenry of Legion World. Question Kid was originally with the Security Office but came to realize he was on the wrong side. And Space Ranger, of course, has always been working with me. They chased us through the streets, to Vee’s Villa, to SHAKES and finally to here.

It was only really because Dev Em realized this was all a mess and totally unnecessary that we escaped. I realize now I pushed things a little too far—as is my nature. But I felt going to Lardy in the first place would have meant handing over my own investigation to him and letting him run with it and I don’t trust his Security Office right now. So I had to do it myself. Besides, I have my own interests in intergalactic politics with the Dark Oval that need protecting.

<sits down>

I have no desire to fight the Security Office. Far from it—what I really want is to be left alone to finish my investigation as I now believe I have a suspect but need a final piece to confirm before I send Legion World into a panic needlessly. This all started so I could protect Exnihil, whose become essential to this investigation; and I was right because Red Arrow was prepared to murder him if not for Dev Em.

<smiles>

Sorry for being long-winded. I figure you deserve the full story for putting yourself on the line for us.

One thing I neglected to mention is Lardy has initiated a program creating hundreds...perhaps thousands...of Lard-Bots as a back-up for the Security Office. You weren't here during the Dark Stu Saga, Rocky, all those years ago, but a similar thing happened...and the results were disastrous for all of us.

<Rocky sits down as well>

That's a lot to take in, Cobie.

I know my breaking up with Lardy hurt him. At the time, it really was only because of his loss of powers, according to Pyngwyny law, but then I realized that even with me as an anchor, Lardy was...unstable. I really didn't want to hurt him and I tried to reach out to him, but was rebuffed every time.

And Sir Roy! Remember that I was there on the Path when he changed from the Royal Inquisitor to his present form. And I knighted him! He is a knight in the court of my father, the Emperor Pyngwyn. This may well cost him his title.

This is all very sad.

<Furball returns after patching himself up. Pulling on a shirt as he enters the room.>

Normal can be over-rated Kid, but I can empathise with that. Although, I have too much fun with being who I am to give this up.

<He sits down on an open chair.>

The thing to remember here is that we may have my brother before long. He's an idealist, and if Ranger gives him the information, I have no doubt he'll be here. Worse case scenario is that when this all goes down, we'll have some good power behind us...although I gotta get over this thing with Sharky, but it's almost like it's a genetic thing with us.

I'm not saint and I don't pretend to be, but I think Lardy is on the verge of crossing a line--if not already having done so--and its worrisome.

I also may have been a bit too hard on Sir Roy. I've always been unable to forgive him for killing Giant Squid all those years ago. But maybe Rocky you could talk to him and help him re-find his "Path"? Because he's quickly becoming Lardy's #1 goon.

We also can't lose sight of the fact that this litle problem with the Security Office is besides the point. We have a real threat here on Legion World.

Divying up the LMBP into two sides to battle one another serves no purpose--its certainly not my intention.

I'm not sure how we'll be able to operate on Legion World with them closing in on us though...

About that real threat, Cobie... you alluded to a Dark Oval influence behind the terrorist plot, but that footage we watched at Vee's Villa showed... something else... I don't even know what.

It was as though there were someone or something else on that tape... a presence that seemed invisible to the naked eye. And given all the trouble we've had along the way with these "invisible" attacks, I can't help but feel it's connected.

You know the Dark Oval probably as well as anyone on Legion World... just what are we dealing with here?

Dev entered the room and quietly waited till they noticed him.

Furball bounced out of his chair and moved towards Dev. "What's goin on Dev?"

Dev looked at him and a grin creeped onto his face. "Same ol' stuff...you gettin your ass into trouble again, me bailing you out again. See you've given up the mascot thing"

Dev leaneed in closer to Furball's ear and softly said "We need to have a talk about Shark Lad later."

Furball raised an eyebrow, shrugged and gave his brother a big hug. "Ranger get to ya?"

Dev nodded. He lookked around the room for Exnihil. "I'm sorry Ex, when I realized what Lardy was doing to you, I should have intervened..."

Before Ex could respond, Dev moved towards Cobalt Kid.

"I'm sorry Des. I should have trusted you. Lardy is getting really close to the edge. If the evidence you guys have collected is true, we need to convinve him that he's wrong here before it's too late."

<smiles at Dev>

No hard feelings, Dev--I'm glad you're here. I know I tend not to make things easy. My mind works differently I guess...I think it's the Ggrrggian in me. But you were the only one talking sense before and I see that now.

Lardy will be coming soon, and it will be time for a reckoning. Because all I have so far is suspisions...and I need some final bits of proof.

Tell me, who is working with Space Ranger? My Whee Fem I know. Is Everyday Girl? Is...Lolita?

"I only saw My Whee Fem at his place. I have not seen Lolita since..."

Dev closed his eyes and sighed, knowing that he had commited to telling Cobie what was going on.

"...since I questioned her at Cramers, but I think she is trying to keep out of this as much as she can. She's still really hurt man."

Dev thought for a moment.

"Have not seen Eveyday Girl recently, but that doesn't mean much."

<outside, the Security Office has the Rookery surrounded>

<grabs a megaphone>

Cobalt Kid, we know you're in there. By authority of the Legion World Office of Security, we demand your surrender and that of your fellow fugitives!

<thinks> Gotta go through the motions at least...

"Des...lemme take him out of the fight."

He's bluffing, right? I thought the Security Office had no authority inside of Rocky's borders!