Legion World Forums LEGION OUTPOST Mission Monitor Board Every 10 Years Forum Legionnopolis General Hospital

<later, in a therapy session with LMB Reservist, Shadowplay in Candlelight, "Shady", who is now a professional psychotherapist...>

"Lardy, so far none of my scans have indicated any signs of mental illness, just as they didn't when I first examined you. You are, however, under a lot of stress."

No shock there, Shady.

"May I read your mind, Lardy...experience this memory you've recovered?"

.....yes, go ahead.

<she probes into his mind and experiences his dying moments....they unfold just as he described to the others at the Security Office, culminating with Cobalt Kid's betrayal>

"Oh! Oh my! I..."

<she begins weeping>

"Th-that c-can't be..."

<Lardy watches silently, feeling like he's about to get the backlash from her he gets from everyone else>

"...but the memory is genuine! I've worked extensively with memory implants, false memories, altered memories, memories altered by brain damage...I can recognize them. There's not ever been one that could fool me. You are not misremembering, Lardy!"

<shocked> You believe me? You believe that Cobalt Kid killed me?

"I can't authenticate it was him, though I felt the message that you received and the sureness that it was from him. I...am not ready to believe it as I love him dearly. But you're not crazy, Lardy."

<hugs her>

Thanks for that at least, Shady. So...am I free?

"No, not yet. Doctor One will need to run extensive tests on you to prove you're not an imposter." <squeezes his hand> "For the record, I've never once thought you were. He will also search for any anomalies that may be influencing your actions. If all that passes muster, we will try again together to recover more of your memories. This breakthrough you've had is a good sign that we'll be able to do so."

Will this begin immediately?

"No. Tomorrow. Meanwhile, you may accept visitors from your list the rest of today."

Thanks, Shady. I really hope Jailbait Lass will get my message and visit. I'd really like to talk to her...

as Lard Lad watches the omni-screen in his room, he suddenly realizes there’s someone in the doorway

*stares silently, then pauses*

My relationship with Cobalt Kid is very different than what most people think. Its certainly more of a punch-line to the Legion World media than anything else. I don’t particularly care one way or the other. I’m not really close with more than a handful of friends. But you once knew, if indeed you still do, that what I do for Cobalt is gather intel, analyze the data and give him theories on what it means. And on that front, Lard Lad, I have a lot of theories about you.

That’s probably the longest sentence I’ve ever said to you. Here’s a shorter one: Leave Cobie alone.

I can't do that, Lolita. Especially after remembering what he did to me. And for your information, strike "crazy" from your list of theories. Shady has given me a clean bill of mental health!

But I digress. I wanted to see you, not because I would ever expect you to turn on him. Hell, from what I've read, you'll always stand by him no matter what.

I asked you here because I saw something in your eyes last night. Something else else in the way you got yourself worked up.

<stands up directly in front of her, locking eye contact>

You've seen him standing at the abyss, haven't you? You've seen him on the precipice, doing something he had no business doing. You've seen him cross the line, and you had to pull him back!

You have, haven't you? I don't know what it was...when it happened, but I can see it in your eyes, your posture...your everything.

Look me in the eyes, Lolita...and tell me I'm wrong!

I've seen him hurt very badly, and I've seen him suffer for it. But I've never seen him cross the line.

*teary eyed, begins taking step back, pauses, keeps feet where they are*

During the Invasion he suffered so much and only because he was helping you and your secrets! And it caused him to be harsh and make rash decisions, but I went and saw him at his weakest point, and even then...at his weakest...he did the right thing.

*remembers Cobalt's words to her about stopping the war because of her*

Does he keep secrets? Hide things, keep them close to the vest? Give tidbits of information to different people so no one person knows the whole story? Yes, to all of it. Do I trust him with my safety, Legion World's safety and the fate the whole universe? Yes.

Yes, I do. We both know whatever he's up to right now is far more than he's letting on. But I trust whatever is will work to our advantage.

<frowns slightly>

I saw it. It was in your body language, Lolita. There's a tiny part of you that doubts. Even you, one of his closest confidantes!

Did you hear your own words? You acknowledge that there's more "than he's letting on" but "trust whatever is will work to [everyone's] advantage"? Blind trust is a dangerous thing, Lolita.

And are you sure he did the "right thing" when he was at his weakest? He manipulates everyone, as you yourself just admitted. That includes YOU!

Ever wonder why even you are not exempt from that? And just where has Crujectra been lately? No one knows him better than her, and she's been very, very scarce lately.

Well?

[coldy]Don't you dare imply he's manipulating me.[/coldy] I know exactly where I stand I've always known.

Crujectra is an Ambassador of not only Psyonia, but Legion World! She's probably on Weber's World, or across the universe promoting her various charities. What's to say she isn't currently in constant contact with Cobie?

Lard Lad you were once his best friend. Despite all the trauma you both suffered, including some mistakes made by both of you, that remained so. Yet even then you had no right to assume you understand his relationships with anyothers, and you certainly don't now.

Just what is it you're so concerned about? Hasn't he retired from the Office of Security?

And don't you find that odd? Is it like your boss to suddenly resign from all his responsibilieis and start a counter-culture, of all things? Have you just taken that all for granted?

And why not retire from the Security Office? Too many checks and balances on him to serve his purposes!

Has he given up his command over the Space Knights Templar, Lolita? Not that I've heard! That's where his real power is now!

And yes, I understand he and I were once the best of friends, Lolita. That's why--in the one memory I still retain--the pain of his betrayal was so, so very...profound. <tears up> He KILLED me...don't you understand?!?! HE KILLED ME!!!

<wipes eyes> He killed his best friend, Lolita! He's got to pay for that, and he's got to be stopped before he goes even further over the edge!!!

<smacks Lard Lad square in the chest>

You're wrong! You've never been so wrong in your life! I know he didn't kill you! Dammit Lardy, you're going to start something that can only end badly!

<backs away>

He didn't kill you, Lardy, I know it. I can't believe otherwise.

Eryk Davis Ester and Cobie control the Space Knights with the remaining soldiers of their Triumvirate army, and they warriors and monks! Soldiers bent on protecting the recently liberated planets from the Khanate and the Dark Oval. They protect interstellar travelers in that part of the cosmos. Both men, Eryk and Cobie, have only ever done the right thing with those warrior-monks, and the warrior-monks love them for it. Don't you find it odd that Eryk Davis Ester, your own brother, is a major confidante for Cobie in the Space Knights and this counter-culture?

You're not the first to make accusations against him, you know. Many have done so before, and many included Eryk Davis Ester in those same accusations. You're opening up an entire can of worms for their enemies to attack them.

<pauses again, controlling emotions>

I know in my heart that Cobie is a good man, and he is not a killer. I'm warning you again: stay away from him. I will not let you harm him in any way.

<turns, begins to walk out>

<before she leaves>

<gasping from getting the wind knocked out of him> He...he's gonna get you killed, Lolita...I can see it...clearly, now...o-open your yes...before it's too late.

*almost whispering*

Its already too late for me, Lardy... <span style="font-size: 8px;">because of the way I feel about him...</span>

*leaves*

<staggers back up into his bed>

Ow...girl sure packs a wallop!

<thinks a moment>

But she gave me what I needed. I could see the doubts, the uncertainty. It's what I needed to continue pressing on. Maybe, just maybe, I can save her...

<a thought flashes as he considers her>

She's so beautiful, and so...innocent, in a way. She reminds me of...of...of whom? I have so little memory at all, it makes little sense that I...

<the face of a beautiful blonde flashes in his mind>

Huh? Who was that? A name on the tip of my tongue...so similar to 'Lolita'.

But who?

<sits in quiet contemplation>

Laura...Lana...Lois...Lori...Lena...Lisa...Leeta...Lee...Lee?

<gasps>

Leelee?

Who...who was she?

<thinks>

I...loved her, didn't I? I...

<passes out>

<Shady rushes in>

"Lardy!"

<reaches out with her mental powers>

"Some of his memories are starting to flood back! Oh no...the memories about Leelee! At once some of themost wonderful and painful memories of his life! I--I've got to stop the flood of memories, or his brain might shut down irrevocably!"

<strains>

"I...I think I have them under control--I've put a block in before it became too much for him. I'm going to put a suggestion in there to let him sleep for a while. And when he wakes up, I'll help him sort through what he's regained."

<many hours later, Lardy wakes up with Shady by his side>

"Hi, sweetie."

Shady...I-I remember you, now!

"Yes, sweetie...you had a breakthrough, and now you have most of your memories back."

Most?

"Yes. if I'd let them all flood through it would've been too much to take in. I'm certain your mind would've shut down permanently. I put you into a deep sleep and integrated the memories you've recovered so that they are all ordered."

And the other memories?

"They are locked in another part of your mind. For now, I've fortified those locks. Tell me, what is your last memory before your death?"

I...I look like I do now, not like I did when I died. No white hair, scars or pupiless eyes. I'm at a party at the LMBP Ranch, here on Legion World. I get very, very drunk...I go off with Hummer Lass, and we...have sex? I really had intercourse with Pru?!?

"Anything else?"

No. I pass out. And then, flash-forward a couple of years or so, I guess, to when I died.

"So you're missing two years of memory, Lardy. Over two years of your life. From what you've read, you know it was the worst time of your life. I can restore those, if you want, but only a little at a time. Take some time, Lardy. Deal with all you now have back and decide later if that is what you want. Tomorrow, Doctor One will run the other tests. Do you want me to stay, Lardy?"

No, Shady, I...need to be alone for awhile.

<Lardy sits quietly and takes his life in. And he weeps for a love now long-lost...>

<the next day, after undergoing a long battery of testing...>

"That's it for now, Lard Lad," says Doctor One. "We have some more tests to run later, but you need to rest. You may take visitors again if you like."

<Lardy's escorted to his room>

Okay, much as I'd like to revel and mope in my memories, I can't spend much more idle time...

<Asks nurse to send messages to his other approved visitors: Gary, Faraway, Rocky and Sir Roy. He'd like to see any of them when they have time.>

<one week later>

<Doctor One enters>

More tests, Doc?

"No, Lardy, we're done now."

And?

"And, well, there's no doubt in my mind, or in those of any of the other foremost experts I've consulted with, that you are most assuredly Lard Lad of our LMB."

Well, Doc, I can't say I'm surprised, but it is comforting to hear it from someone people of this world will listen to!

"Yes, I will submit our reports to the Security Office, to LMB leadership and Legion World government."

But you know, Doc, they'll still question my sanity!

"Well, you have been examined by many psychiatrists and been tested for all known types of mental illness, and you've passed with flying colors...with the exception that you still retain some partial amnesia, comprised entirely of about the last two and a half years except..."

...except for that last moment, Doc, when my best friend killed me.

"Yes, there is no way to confirm that memory is real as far as his culpability, but it certainly wasn't implanted or altered in any way--"

In other words I still have an uphill battle in trying to bring Legion World's top citizen to justice for what he did to me...among many other crimes. I know, Doc. May I leave now?

"Certainly, your release papers have been signed. Just check out at the ward's desk and--"

<later, exiting the hospital>

<thinking> As of right now, Doc One's beaming my results to all the authorities. I've been cooped up long enough! Time for some action!

<smiles>