Legion World Forums LEGION OUTPOST Mission Monitor Board The Office of Security (out with the Lardy, in with the Dev)

"Thank you sir. Pleasure doing business with you. Who else owns businesses here?" Sebastian says. He didn't think a handshake would be appropriate at this moment, considering that Chief Lardy did not understand the power of money. Money is Freedom, money allows the individual to have power that the government cannot take away from you. I don't hate taxes, but the rent is too high here!

Emily was grateful for the mercy. She was doing her best to restrain herself from dropping to the floor and thanking him. The thought of "crimes" was a bit silly though to her, since technically everyone but her and Sir Roy committed treason during the civil war. But she believed in just God and that forgiveness was possible for everyone.

<touches Emily's chin> Keep this held up high, Emily. And...<takes her aside> ...I'm leaving on a special, dangerous mission very soon. I know you're good in a scrape, so if you want to know more...see me and Cobalt very soon.

<regards them and thinks> It's almost like looking at my own children, Hugh Desmonius and Helena. I...I've got to visit them and Helen soon. It may be my last chance...

Bye, kids. <exits>

"Well, I don't understand what exactly happened, but we should go talk to Exxnihil," Sebastian said.

Emily paused, lost in her own thoughts. I was understimated throughout the entire Red Bee saga, and now they want me along? I really don't understand either. She said, "**** it! I forgot to give him his birthday present! Oh well, I guess I will do that after our business deals are done. Let's go to Exxnihil."

<pauses at Tempest's door & knocks but no one answers> Well, Dev, never let it be said that I play dirty...

<slips Dev's unopened letter to Tempest into her mail receptacle>

<when she reads it later, it will say: <span class="spoiler_containter"><span class="spoiler_wording">Click Here For A Spoiler</span><span class="spoiler_text">Tempest,

I'm sorry I had to leave before getting a chance to talk to you after all that has happened. I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me, and I hope to repay you somehow soon. I will find you when I get back.

Dev</span></span>>

<as he leaves, he checks Omnicom and cancels all remaining appointments>

No sense keeping any more of these...

Now, maybe I can get to the Rookery and talk to Rocky uninterrupted.

<exits building>

(Tempest walks in, her hair is frizzled and she stinks of sulfur. Her little black dressed is scorched and she has a round, shiny scale in her hand.)

This damn thing better have been worth it.

(She walks into her room and throws the scale on a table.)

I'll deal with that later. It should be potent enough to fix Cobalt Kid.

(She spots a letter by the door, she picks it up, opens and reads it.)

Dev, what are you getting yourself into? What am I getting myself into? Here I am all confused as to what to do, getting ingredients to put the ultimate whammy on Cobalt Kid, a man I once...

(She stops herself.)

How stupid of me. I have with a school girl crush on one, a semi-metaphysical relationship with another and...Lardy.

I see myself, someone lost within his own passion. What is he doing with that woman and Cobalt Kid? Something else else isn't right? I don't trust the ho-chick.

(She looks at the letter and grabs the scale.)

While Dev is away, I suppose I should play. I'll keep an eye on Lardy. Someone has to make sure he's safe.

(She freshens up and leaves her room, heads to Lardy's office.)

<returns after talking with Rocky>

That was...intense.

<takes his boots off and props his feet on his desk, leaning back in his chair with his arms behind his head>

Need a nap after such a long day...

(Walks into his office, her heels slamming on the ground as she walks, the door shut by themselves behind her.)

Time for a chat, whether you want it or not.

(She raises her hand to him before he can say anything.)

You don't know me. Don't even think for a minute that you know what I am like. But for some strange reason, I find myself around you, becoming your friend and helping you out, getting stuck in a coma helping Cobalt and you fight that creep.
So I think it's safe to say, that in my short time here I have become invested in you. I take care of my investments.

What the hell is going on? That Hot Chick...she's not what she seems, the others may not see it, but I do. What are you getting yourself into?

<is embarrassed somehow that she walks in on him like this, so he takes his feet off the desk and sits up>

Um, hi, Tempest. Hot Chick... <considers his words> ...yeah, you're right. She's not who she appears to be. She's bad news. But she's useful bad news who can give us much-needed intel on the creeps who set the Red Bee on us.

So, uh... <smiles a little> ...you're "invested" in me, eh?

(Walks behind his desk and sits on the edge staring at him.)

Invested!

Like I said, I take care of my investments. She is bad for you, isn't she?

I don't mean this world or this team or this office...I mean you? She's hurt you somehow?

(She puts her hand on face.)

I can see pain with the mention of her in you.

It's...complicated. Honestly, most of the pain I have regarding her...is self-inflicted. I made some poor decisions after I lost someone. I basically slept with the enemy in my pursuit of grand revenge. I'm...not proud of what I did with her and for her. Not proud at all.

Then you can't be around her. At least not without me. I'm going to be there for you and make sure that tramp doesn't do anything to harm you.

I mean, seriously, a bikini in the winter!? Trollop.

I plan on make sure your kept in good condition, at least until I receive a return on my investment. So whatever Cobalt, the woman and you have planning, expect me there to back you up.

<smiles> I would like that...a lot!

Um...do you have another name I can call you? Or is Tempest your actual name?

(She get's up off the desk. She recalls the last time she used her real name on Legion World.)

Tempest isn't my actual name. But it's all you get.

(She turns to him and grins.)

Keep me posted, let me know when you need me to ready.

Can you make up something, then? "Tempest" just seems so formal, and "Tempy" just underwhelms.

<grins> I'll let ya call me "Tony"!

Back when I was still in training, I used to hang out with these girls and we'd get together at the lake at night...it would be so cold and we'd get into the water. With no clothes on and have pillow fights.

You should see your face.

(Rolls her eyes.)

Actually, I was close to some family members and this one other girl, we gave each other our names. And for short, they just called me "Temp."

If you need a name so bad, deal with that one.

Chief Pervy.

<grins widely> I like you, "Temp".

(She shrugs her shoulders.)

Why wouldn't you?

(She grins and releases the doors, she touches the scale in her bag.)

Silly me, could imagine me being of any use in this. I best go find something more suitable to wear.

(She walks outs and heads to her room.)

<watches her exit> Mamma mia!

<spins slowly around in his swivel chair in an infatuated daze>

She's "invested" in me! She's gonna "be there" for me!

<laughs and spins faster> WHEEE!

After several stops along the way, Dev Em had finally made his way back to Legion World.

His first stop was at the Lighthouse. He stayed there for quite a while, over an hour, just watching the Ocean, and thinking about the last few weeks. It had been a dificult time for him, but his life seemed more in order now than it had for quite a while.

He bounced on the balls of his feet for a minute to test his legs. They felt good, still a little sore, but healed and recovering nicely. He took a running start and jumped into the air and began flying widening arcs out from the Lighthouse. He loved the feel of flying, especially when he wasn't chasing someone or rushing form one emergency to another.

He checked by his home, and was glad to see that the belongings were still in place. The front door had been repaired, and he knew that his time living there was at an end. He would need someplace new to live, probably closer to headquarters.

He flew low over the city and was impressed that the repairs had gotten as far as they had this quickly. He rose above the streets and spotted his next destination. The Office of Security.

He arked and descended so he landed in the front of the building. The repair work here was still in process, and the building still looked pretty beat up.

He entered through the front doors and waved to the support staff that he saw as he headed towards the Chiefs office.

He knocked on the door as he opened it and said, "Lardy, we need to have a talk."

<looks up>

Oh, uh, hey...Dev. Uh, how's it hangin'?

Look, man, this may not be the best time...

"Why not? You got someone coming in to 'pay some dues?' Someone lucky lady coming over to satisfy your urges? You ordering a new round of Lard Bots?"

Dev was obviously getting annoyed.

"Well, when exactly would be a good time 'Chief'?"

<a little shocked> Dev? I thought we settled all this nonsense. Speak your peace, man.

"What exactly did we settle...honestly?"

Dev closes his eyes and sighs.

"Look Lardy. You have abused this office left and right. You exxtorted money from the people of Legion World to stroke your own ego 'in the name of defending Legion World.' You created those sprockin things to look just like you! You also had them programmed to form into a giant freakin monster. What the hell were you thinking about?"

Dev stepped a little closer.

You brought people into the Office that could be great one day...but they're unknown quantities at this point, and one of them enacted the protocols that started those things up...and all that accomplished was more of us and the citizens of Legion World getting hurt."

Dev was at Lardy's desk now.

"You were so into your self justified plans to extort money from Ex, that you used this Office to hunt them down. You're Sprockin lucky that nobody got hurt any worse than they did during that whole thing. If you had had one ounce of sense during that, you would have tried to actually talk to Cobie...who has his own frakkin stuff to answer for. I saved Ex's life that day. I reallyy do not think it was her intention to kill him, but sometimes in the heat of battle mistakes can be made."

Dev turned from him.

"Look. We've been friends for a long time, but you're out of control. Maybe it's because of your power loss...but you're using your position to overcompensate for it."

Dev turned back around.

"We didn't settle anything. I quit because there was no way that you or Cobalt were going to listen. I did what I had to for the good of Legion World. I have had everything that I hold dear taken from me in the last month or so because of the good of Legion World and its citizens. I saved your damned life with the Red Bee...Not because I wanted to resolve anything with you, but because you're my friend...because that's what we do whether we agree on everything or not."

Dev closes his eyes.

"Lardy...step down as Chief, or I will personally see to it that you are removed. You're time taking advantage of this Office is over. Nobody else seems to have the nerve to say this to your face...the fact that you're still sitting here is testimony to that, but it's time you finally did the right thing."

<anger swells within him> Dev, don't you think I sprockin' KNOW how badly I f***ed things up?!?! Don't you?!?!? <winds back to punch Dev but stops himself>

Dev...I'v sprocking lost everything! EVERYTHING! Do you have and goddam idea what that's like?!?

And NOW you want me to give up THIS?!?! <gestures around> It's ALL I've sprocking got left, Dev!!! What the HELL do you expect me to do with myself?!?!

WHAT, Dev?