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

<Cobalt walks in looking deadly serious and sees a food fight breaking out in the middle of what he assumed would be a tension filled planning session.>

Well, I see the Red Bee has driven you all mad. Flinging around cake and having your sexual tensions bursting throughout this entire ordeal.

<pointing at Kalla>

She is a renowned murderer who deserves nothing better than a cold prison cell with no trial, or better, a cold sword across her pretty little neck.

But her intel was vital to saving you, Lardy and Timberwolf has vouched for her--for now--so that is enough to set that aside until we deal with the Red Bee. After that, I'd really like some sort of explanation as both friend and an LMB brother.

<points to Red Arrow>

She is responsible for all sorts of property damage on Legion World and what at the time felt like a worldwide invasion. But if Kalla Hrykos can get a temporary pass, I certainly think Red Arrow can. I've disagreed with almost everything she and Question Kid have said but the truth is, I'm beginning to admire their moxy and find their sense of strategy to be very impressive. And besides, we all know property damage means little to me.

<points at Shark Lad>

He better make his move on Lolita sometime soon or he's in for a world of trouble. Trust me, I know. That's my way of telling you I'm cool with it Sharky.

It's time to get this all planned. Between Dev's plan to trap him and Question Kid's plan to weaken him, I think we can take out the Red Bee. And while you call the roll (in its own thread of course), I look forward to further explanation of how a monster such as Kalla, through the use of a bare-breasted illusion, was able to infiltrate Legion World.

<looks at cake>

Surprised a hooker didn't jump out it. (What, it's Lardy.)

<looks at Power Boy>

So you battled him one on one and lived to tell the tale. Impressive as ever, PB. Where did the battle take place? It must not have been on this plane of existence, explaining the Bee’s absence these last few days.

<regarding the Kalla secret>

Don't give me that look, Lon. Everyone here knows by now. This is the inner circle for the secret. I'll keep it for now, until this ordeal is over at least.

<Lardy looks as serious as a person can with a face completely coated in icing>

Yeah, there's much to plan and discuss. For the moment it's vital that Hot Chick's identity be kept a secret...or she's no good to us!

<grins> Damn, Des--timed it just right to avoid getting a cake-shellacking! <points at him> Next time, buddy!

<hands the nurses several credits>

They'll never realize I them put Bismollian hot sauce in it. The planning session better have several bathrooms...

Timberwolf stop and looks at Cobie, his face growing dead serious. "You either trust me or you don't. We will talk about this, but coming in here and announcing it for every idiot within 100 yards to hear has just put a real hurt on the idea of keeping a low profile with it...doesn't it you sanctimonious...hypocritical..." He is talking through clenched teeth at this point. "If she deserves to be jailed so badly...you better be willing to throw someone else in this room in the cell next to her, because not everyone in here deserves to be given a free pass just because they're your best friend."

"Yeah, well, I'd feel a lot more comfortable with Lolita if I knew who was pulling the strings if you know what I mean..." SharkLad said with a raised eyebrow.

If Furb--er, whatever he calls himself, now--is referring to me, well... <shrugs> ...he might have a point. <randomly picks some icing off his face and licks his fingers>

"Have a happy birthday," Question Kid said. This may not end well for me and Red Arrow. But it was a fun ride, and I do have dossier files on everyone in case they go after me. I have stocks and mines. Oh and the tournaments! That cute Stareyes...whoever he/she is...doesn't really matter given that I'm incidently sexual. He walked into the waiting room and took out his wireless device and began checking the tournament standings.

Red Arrow was nervous, but she knew money was powerful. And with the money came pressure from the super-human community. She felt safe.

Dev looked around at everyone.

His eyes narrowed at Cobalt Kid and Lardy. "So Des, where do you two want to meet to have this planning session?"

I think Lardy should call the roll and all active LMBers should join us. But now I question a 'planning session'. The fewer who know, the better. It's all on you Dev...good luck, my friend.

<puts arm on his shoulder>

I'll have Lolita meet at the rendevous point.

<turns to Sharky>

Sharky, I'm only just recapturing her friendship. Trust me, I pull no strings here.

<now to Timberwolf>

I may be sanctimonious, but you must understand where I'm coming from Timberwolf. No one outside of this room has heard, Lardy is too smart to let anyone listen into his hospital room--I magnetically sensed the devices as I entered. But anyone about to embark on this suicide mission against the Red Bee deserves to know who they're fighting next to.

Bloody Liberty. Timberwolf is really serious about Kalla Hrykos...he really meant it when he said he loved her. I'll let both Lardy and he try to convince me. But maybe I'll need to talk to her myself to understand what they intend.

No need to call for me, I’m here.

*She walks over to Shark Lad, taking off her trench coat and draping it over her arm.*

And no one pulls my strings but me, Sharky. I hope you know that.

*She looks at Dev Em.*

I know what I have to do.

<holds his Omnicom> Done , Des. The roll is called.

We'll sort all of this out. If "Hot Chick" knew a way to help me, then maybe she knows some more about the Bee that will help us. In the meantime...have the docs make some more of that anti-toxin.

Is Ex doing okay? I took that huge dose, so Dev could save him. Please tell me it wasn't in vain?

Dev looked at Lardy.

"Ex is stable, but still in bad shape. So hopefully this stuff will help him too."

He looks at Lolita. "I know you do...everything is going to be alright, and Thank you."

I take it he'll live, though. Good.

I...hope this makes me and Ex even.

What about...Tempest?

Dev looked down at the ground. "she's still in a coma, and they have no idea if she's going to come out of it."

Dev then turned and walked out of the room.

Timberwolf watches his brother leave. "Dang, he is not doing good..." he says under his breath.

"So, when do you all want to start this thing?" He says as he looks between Lardy and Cobalt Kid.

I've...gotta see her.

<thinks> Could Dev be interested in her, too? Guess it'll be a moot point if she doesn't come out of her coma...

<stands, only slightly wobbly>

Mm. Feels good to stand on my own to feet again!

<wobbles some more> Er, could one of you help me to Tempest's room?

<looks back at T-Wolf> We'll meet in a coupla hours (OOC: meaning tomorrow) and get to work. We need to allow some time for all the LMBers who can participate to come in. That's assuming the Bee doesn't attack in the interim.

If I were you, Lon, I'd be careful with her and be sure. Not trying to preach, but she's as bad as another woman who destroyed my life back in the day. I...I've never been the same. Just think about it.

Now, could you help me to Tempest's room?

"C'mon big guy."

Timberwolf lets Lardy lean on him and walks him down the hall.

As they walk, Lon takes the time to say a few things low enough so that Lardy only hears the, "I am beeng careful, and I know what I am getting myself into with her. I'm not my brother...I'm not a boy scout."

I'm not either, man. But, I...should never have involved myself with Kalla. Dru had just died--in fact Kalla played a part in that. I was as happy as I've ever been. She and her superiors took it all away, and I literally got in bed with the enemy to get my revenge. I...was in a very dark place. Just...just please keep your eyes open, pal. <pats him on the shoulder>

<arrives at Tempest's room> I think I can take it from here... <opens the door and limps in>

A Doctor is looking at her chart.

"Oh, you're a friend of the patients? I'll leave you then."

the Doctor turns and leaves.

Oh...Tempest. <tears up a little> I wish I was there to fight by your and Roy's side that day. I...I really miss him.

I barely know you, but you are just the type of person I need in my life--one who won't take my shit and who can give as good as you take! <holds her hand> There's more to me than the bluster and swagger I let everyone see, and I think you know it. I hope to the gods that you pull through, and I get the chance to know you better. You are a remarkable woman.

<continues holding her hand and appears to bow his head in prayer as he lingers for a while>

<As Dev and Lardy tend to the sick and wounded, Cobalt rushes over to Timberwolf and Kalla Hrykos before they depart>

Wait. I’d have us speak some more before you go. You’ve been my enemy for so long that I’m having trouble seeing you otherwise. But I do realize that for many years I’ve had my spies and agents in the Dark Oval collecting knowledge, and here you are, likely with more knowledge than you realize to the inner workings of the Dark Oval.

“I told you Cobalt…” starts Timberwolf.

Cobalt holds up his hand. “It would help me get more comfortable with the idea, Timberwolf. You see, Kalla and I have never actually met face to face before; we’ve only ever battled from a distance or through our allies.”

Kalla nods, her face deadly serious. “What would you like to know? I am not an open book. You should know I won’t tell you everything, giving you cause to discard me after you’ve had your fill.”

“Tell me about the Red Bee. What do you know? During the Invasion, the Dark Oval freed him and took him back to their lands. I’ve never lost sight of that—and what he did to Lolita—so I’ve constantly had my agents looking for him. I know he escaped during the counter-Invasion I led. But for roughly 70 days, the Dark Oval had him and ran tests. With the Dominion as one of the five powers, surely you must have realized something?”

Kalla considers whether she should speak further, but after sharing a glance at Timberwolf, she decides to share her knowledge: “The Dominion’s studies revealed what was already suspected. The Red Bee is a member of a race known as the Scutellata. We know this because the Scutellata were once citizens of what is now the Dark Oval.” She pauses, but then continues. “Based on the your knowledge you may be aware that one of the five powers of the Dark Oval is the Hive; they are a gruesome, horrific race that work and conquer based on the will of their Queen. Such has it always been for the Hive. They are the furthest from the UP and one of the Dark Oval’s great secrets is the inner workings of their existence.

The Hive have lived for many millennia; along the course of their evolution, they have eliminated rogue elements to ensure all loyalty lay with the Queen. 1,000 years ago, there were many members of the Hive that were not workers serving the Queen; these were rogue killers, having no master and desiring only battle. They were known as the Scutellata. This offshoot of the Hive race had a brief civil war with the rest and when the numbers were too much to overcome, they left the Hive planet and journeyed into the stars to conquer other races, beyond even what is today the Dark Oval borders.”

Kalla pauses again, as Timberwolf and Cobalt Kid listen intrigued.

“The Scutellata were never seen from or heard of again. It is unknown whether they settled on another planet or still exist to this today. 1,000 years later and no known record exists, not in the UP, the Khanate of Sol Invictus or the Dark Oval. You can see then, the utter shock of the Dominion when they discovered the Red Bee, a renowned enemy of Legion World and the LMB far away from the Dark Oval, turned out to be one of the missing Scutellata.”

“But what’s even more amazing is the Scutellata, while ferocious, never once displayed the immense powerset the Red Bee has. They had no abilities to summon swarms or become them; no biological toxin they could release into others. The telepathic abilities yes, stemming from the Hive’s own biology, but that is basically it. And they certainly don’t look like human beings.”

She now exhaled; glad to be done with her story. “That is all I know about him, and indeed, all the Dominion ever learned other that how to counter his toxins, which as you’ve seen, only works 33.3% of the time. He soon killed all his captors and escaped.”

Timberwolf stood in shock, because after all of these years and all of the deaths caused by the Red Bee, they finally had some semblance of knowledge about him.

Cobalt Kid, however, had a face of stone, showing no emotion. Timberwolf knew that look and realized he was working things out in his head. Cobalt at last spoke: “I think I know more of the secret origin of the Red Bee.”

Now Kalla Hrykos had a look of curiosity on her face, as Timberwolf also turned towards Cobalt. “What do you mean, Cobie? What do you know?”

Cobalt was still arranging his thoughts, looking away but spoke. “I’ve had agents in the Dark Oval for several years, as well as many in the Khanate of Sol Invictus…and ‘other places’. Before it was the Khanate, it was a loose affiliation of planets mistakenly referred to by the UP as “the Barbarian Hordes”. It was much easier to navigate then as the disunity allowed my agents to pierce deep into the territory. One specific agent has always had the particular orders to gather as much local lore as she can get, to fill our files with history and mythology as a better way to understand. And amazingly enough, one legend seems to connect to this story.”

Cobalt now looked at them in the eyes. His last words had him fumbling around his own knowledge but he now seemed to be more direct in what he was saying. “In the Barbarian Hordes there is planet known as Thrxcia; it is now a conquered part of the Khanate but until recently it was independent. They have a rich history with many legends, among them including a story of a race of conquering invaders they believe occurred about 900 years ago. They called them “the Bugs”, and these invaders were known for multiple limbs, multiple eyes and stingers. I believe this was the Scutellata. And if the timeline is correct, this is about 100 years after they left the Hive Planet. We know the Khanate borders the Dark Oval with a long border with a length we have no way to measure. Thrxcia is not far from the border with the D.O.

These “Bug people” savagely tormented the Thrxcians for several years, and the legend has it that in addition to being warriors, they had a super-science which allowed them to create a “Champion of their Race”. As the legend goes, the Champion was sadistic and soon found the Thrxcians to no longer satisfy his lust for battle, and so he turned on his makers…and then he wiped them out. When the dust settled, every single last living member of the “Bug people” were dead, and the “Champion” went off into space, never to be seen again.”

Cobalt stopped for a moment and silence permeated the room, as Timberwolf and Kalla considered the implications of this legend.

“The Red Bee, then. Meaning he is likely over 900 years old,” said Timberwolf.

“Yes. I suspect through science they artificially created him, which would explain all of his abilities. They likely had no idea how powerful they made him. What they did, and whether he is a mutant, or normal sentient experimented on or just artificially born are all facts lost to time—I suspect we’ll never really know. But they made him as their “Champion” and he turned on them and murdered every single member of their race. No further records in the D.O. or Khanate make mention of the Scutellata so its likely only the Bee survived. And he’s likely been terrorizing the galaxies for the last 900 years.”

“Does this knowledge help us in anyway?” asked Kalla.

Cobalt shook his head negatively. “I’m not sure…next to nothing is known about the Hive so we have no insight into any weaknesses. Yet, knowing something on the Red Bee helps me make peace with the “mystery” of our great enemy, and that is power in and of itself.”

“It also means he has at least one ability he’s kept hidden from us,” said Timberwolf. “He can change his form. He walks around like a man but he obviously is not. He’s some sort of grotesque bug, and even, a mutation or experiment of one. He takes great joy in attacking us, so holding that ability back has been by design.”

“He murdered his own race and set out into space 900 years ago, likely performing misdeeds all of this time, causing who knows what kind of chaos from planet to planet. It ends now.”

Dev turned to Lardy after a while. His face was not showing emotion anymore. "I need to get out of here for a little bit. Clear my head. Prepare for what's coming. I'll meet up with you guys when it's time."

He left Medicus 2 after stopping by Tempests room one last time. "I hope this works," he says and he is gone.