Doc Lays Down The Law
"Ladies and gentlemen you are about to hear a story of greed, corruption, blackmail, betrayal, irony, and murder," Doc said to the crowd. "All those fun things that make life interesting."
"Ooh this is gonna be good," Stingray smirked.
"Let's start at the beginning when the late George Pratton retired from his sport. He claimed that it was because of an injury," Doc showed them some copied records. "But as these doctors' examinations can show, he wasn't. George Pratton was never injured. He left the sport because he had no choice. He was blackmailed out of it."
"Blackmailed? Why?" Zozo asked.
"For throwing key Polo matches in order to win bets and pay off his creditors," Niko said. "We spoke to the head of the International Polo League a few hours ago and he confirmed the whole thing. Pratton was caught trying to fix a match. And Bobo Bling was one of the jockeys he was fixing it with."
"But rather than let a scandal be leaked out and ruin the entire sport they decided to make a deal," Doc said. "Pratton would fake an injury and retire from riding with dignity. He also made some sort of payment to the League. Long story short, Pratton kept his reputation but lost nearly all his money. Didn't help that he intended to keep up appearances of his lavish lifestyle. That's where the late Mrs. Preston came in."
"Here's where the irony comes in," Shane said. "He thought she was wealthy and she thought he was wealthy. In other words they married each other for the money they thought the other had."
"Must have been quite a shock for the both of them when they found out the truth," Doc smirked. "Add to that Pratton was suddenly saddled with a stepdaughter who could spend as much as they could and had a failed marriage to boot. Not exactly a bonus for climbing high society. He needed money and fast. He went back to his ways, fixing matches and even selling horse tranquilizers for drug money. Using his old contact Bobo to make sales. But even that wasn't enough for him. Then he realized that maybe Mina wasn't such a burden after all? How long were the two of you lovers?"
"Walter?" Mina gasped. "I…"
"Come on Mina, spit it out!" Doc snapped. "How long?"
"We got together a few months after my mother married him," Mina admitted. "But I don't understand. How did you find out? That telepath?"
"No, but it's the only reason that makes sense," Doc said. "You were his alibi for when your mother was murdered. And you knew about his secret apartment in the city, which means you've been there before."
"That and the fact that we found your monogrammed lingerie in the room," Niko added. "Pretty hard to miss a lacy bra with the name Mina written all over it."
"Oh don't look at me like that," Mina folded her arms. "It's not like mother didn't know about it! She practically threw him at me after she found out he didn't have any cash! She was already looking around for a better husband. It was just part of the plan."
"And what plan was that?" Zach asked.
"Both of them decided to stay married for a short period of time," Mina said. "Just long enough to make it look respectable. Then George would 'leak' his love nest location to the scandal papers and then those two would have a reason to divorce. But George wouldn't murder Mother. She didn't have any money or a life insurance policy. There was nothing to gain!"
"I'm afraid there was," Doc said. "You see your mother was blackmailing George for money."
"What? The drug money?" Mina gasped.
"No, his stash from another source of revenue. You see George also realized there was another way to get more money," Doc said. "He had contacts with a certain Governor and his buddies. Which means he had contacts with the Black Rose Society. And he knew they'd pay big money for information, particularly the movements of the Series Five Galaxy Rangers and any alien ambassadors."
"Oh that's ridiculous! How would I know that? I haven't spoken to you before you got here!" Mina shouted.
"No, you talked to Dad, Giselle and Eleanor" Doc frowned. "Somehow you weaseled the information about the conference in New Atlantis and when that failed you got the information about this party. And then you told George, not for love. But for a cut of the profits."
"That's why your mother was killed," Niko said. "I guess being a traitor was one step too far for her. She was trying to talk to Harrison that night she was killed and warn him but…"
"So George killed my mother?" Mina bristled.
"No, he only killed Bobo before he could blab his secret," Doc corrected. "Probably trying to get more cash. He helped the murderer frame Dad though."
"Hey don't look at me!" Walski protested when everyone looked at him. "I may be a contact for the Black Rose but I never killed anyone! No way!"
"George did not kill anyone!" Mina snapped.
"I'm afraid he did," Doc said. "While you and your mother were at my house trying to get some cash from me, George snuck around and killed Bobo. Then he tormented a horse into making it look like it was an accident. My staff identified him as the pilot of your aircraft that day and they remember he was missing for nearly twenty minutes."
"That doesn't prove anything!" Mina shouted.
"He had motive and opportunity, that proves a lot to me," Chang snorted. "So then what happened?"
"But he didn't kill my mother! You all were there with us when we got the news!" Mina said.
"And wasn't that a good piece of luck for George?" Shane asked. "No wonder he was so eager for us to stay. We were his alibi while someone else killed of Helena."
"From what we figured out, Georgie boy and his new wife got in a bit over their heads," Doc said. "According to some files and surveillance pictures we were given by an anonymous source…"
"You mean Jake Redd?" Chang folded his arms.
"How did you know that?" Doc did a double take.
"Because that man lives for information on everyone who crosses his path or lives on the islands," Chang said. "And because being the Sheriff I might know something about the criminal element that lives here!"
"Yes well," Doc coughed. "Anyway we have information the George met with individuals that were more than sympathetic with the Black Rose and their philosophy. Like your chief of staff Governor. As I was saying he worked with them in order to get money. He gave them all the information he could get on us to the Black Rose. There was just one problem. George must have gotten a bit too greedy."
"And the Black Rose decided they didn't want to pay for information like that," Chang frowned.
"Well at least not that high a price," Doc shrugged. "This person killed both George and Helena. And only one person can point him out."
"Who?" Mina asked.
"You," Doc said. "You're the only person here who can tell us all who the murderer is. And that's the person who told you to tell us George was still alive."
"What do you mean?" Mina asked. "No one told me to…"
"Come on Mina," Doc said. "Your mom and your lover are already dead by his hand? Do you want to be next? And Mina, remember what happened to George? He tried to get money from the Black Rose and it cost him his life! You want that to happen to you? You really think they are just gonna let a loose end like you go free? Not a chance!"
"It's a good thing we checked all the vehicles on Doc's orders," Mook showed them something. "Mina this bomb was found underneath your plane. It would have gone off right after the pilot turned on the ignition."
"The second you walked out of this building the Black Rose was going to kill you," Doc said. "Not just to get at me, but because you were too dangerous. They were never going to pay you, Mina. They were planning to kill you."
Mina's eyes widened. Then she spun around and pointed. "Why you dirty double crossing…"
"You stupid little…" Trembaly snarled as he pulled out a blaster. "I should have killed you before that greedy boyfriend of yours! You're the one that put that idea into his head to get more money out of us!"
"Mina knew all about this?" Niko shouted.
"I didn't know anyone was going to get killed!" Mina protested. "Just scared a little bit! You know just a little pressure! No one was supposed to die! Especially my boyfriend and my mother!"
"Interesting isn't it? The order of preference you just stated of who got killed," Waldo rolled his eyes.
"Where the hell is the diary you witch?" Trembaly snapped.
"What do you care about that diary? Did you sleep with someone you shouldn't have?" Stingray asked.
"The diary contains more than sexual escapades you stupid freak," Tremblay snarled. "It also details who joined the Black Rose Society for the past fifteen years!"
"And some more people not known could still be named," Niko realized.
"Give it up, Trembaly," Zach said his blaster drawn as well as a bunch of other rangers and law enforcement officials. "You can't win against all of us."
"You really want to try a shoot out against me?" Shane challenged. "Trust me pal. It won't work!"
The traitor seemed to debate a moment before he lowered his weapon. "You're right. I can't beat you," He snarled as his weapon was taken away and he was handcuffed by another Ranger.
"Okay Mina, where is the diary?" Doc glared at her.
"Oh here! Take the stupid thing!" Mina took a medium sized leather bound diary out of her purse. "It's caused me more trouble than it was worth!" She gave it to Doc. "Half of those scandals are so old most of the people involved are dead anyway!"
"There's one thing I don't understand," Zozo began.
"One thing?" Darkstar gave him a look.
"Why did you do it, Trembaly? You were a hero," Zozo asked.
"Hero? He was just establishing his cover," Shane growled. "He knew the Civil War would end badly for the Black Rose so he sold out the most obvious players in order to protect the rest!"
"You perceive correctly mutant," Trembaly smirked. "I knew I should have killed you long ago. But I just didn't have the chance. So I relied on fools to help me. It doesn't matter. I've protected my secrets this long. I won't give them up for you or anyone."
Tremblay bit down on his back tooth and convulsed violently. "Someone help him!" Zach shouted but it was too late. The disgraced captain fell down dead.
"There was some kind of poison tablet in his back tooth," Shane looked into his mouth. "All he had to do was bite down hard enough and…"
"How horrible," Eliza shuddered. "I'm just glad the kids aren't here to see this."
"Speaking of kids I'd better check on the baby," Darkstar said as she left the room.
"So you were in on the whole thing?" Chang glared at Mina. "Why am I not surprised?"
"You're in a lot of trouble Mina," Zach growled.
"Don't be so sure," Mina glared at him.
"Shane, Dawnstar's missing!" Darkstar shouted as she ran in. "There's another baby in there but it's not her!"
"What?" Shane barked. "Hold on!" He ran in with Stingray. A cute white haired alien baby was in the playpen. "That's not…."
"Shane…" Darkstar gasped. "You don't think…?"
"Only one way to find out!" Stingray snarled. They all stormed back in.
Just as Mina was finishing up. "It's not like you people aren't used to cover ups. Just give me enough time to pack and leave the islands."
"What makes you so sure that you are just going to walk out of here?" Darkstar barked.
"You are. You like that mutant brat of yours don't you?" Mina sneered. "Well if you want to see her again you'd better tell Walter to give me at least a million dollars! And you'll get the cops off my back!"
"Mina! Even you wouldn't…" Doc was horrified.
"Just let me walk out of here and I'll give you the location of the infant and where you can download the money in…" Mina began.
"MY BABY! WHERE IS MY BABY?" A large humanoid woman with barely a nose and white hair stormed into the room carrying Baby Dawnstar. Dawnstar was screaming her head off.
Ambassador Rigel followed her. "Come on! You can't blame me! I mean they do look a lot alike!"
"How can you possibly not tell the difference between this baby and my beautiful Raffella?" The humanoid female screamed.
"Dawnstar! My baby!" Darkstar burst over and took her. "Oh my little girl! You're safe!"
"That must be your kid in the next room," Stingray let out a sigh of relief. "Follow me!"
"Oh Raffella! Raffella! Mommy is coming!" The humanoid woman screamed as she followed Stingray.
Everyone glared at Mina. "Oh give me a break! I saw the kid wasn't the Supertrooper baby when I went in there so I decided to take a chance," Mina folded her arms. "You can't blame me for trying!"
"Oh yes I can!" Darkstar gave her baby to Eliza and then started to storm towards her.
"Darkstar! Wait! First we need her alive to answer a few more questions about what else she knows about the Black Rose Society," Shane said. "Then we'll kill her!"
"Nobody is killing anyone!" Cain snapped. He then looked at the covered body of the murderer. "Not anymore!"
"Wanna bet?" Stingray snorted as the humanoid woman came out with Rigel and a screaming baby.
"How can you mistake my baby for hers?" The humanoid screamed. "No offense it's just that my Raffella is my treasure."
"None taken but come on!" Darkstar glared at Rigel. "They don't look anything alike!"
"What do you mean? They both have pink dresses on and they both have white hair!" Rigel shouted.
"My baby does not have a spot on her face!" The humanoid screamed.
"And mine has a nose!" Darkstar snapped. "What kind of moron are you?"
"It was an honest mistake…" Rigel gulped.
"Your last mistake you…" The humanoid woman did a double take. "What is that on the floor?"
"Dead body," Shane said simply.
"YOU BROUGHT MY BABY INTO A HOUSE WITH A DEAD BODY?" The humanoid woman rounded on Rigel.
"Galaxy Rangers! Protect me!" Rigel screamed as the humanoid woman and Darkstar started to chase Rigel.
"I'm afraid there is a little known loophole in the League Charter," Zozo gulped. "Don't mess with a mama!"
"AAAHHH!" Rigel ran for his life.
"I suppose we should stop them huh?" Shane sighed.
"I guess so," Niko shrugged as the two went to stop the insanity.
"Take them away!" Cain ordered his men over Mina and the captives. "All of them!"
"This is an outrage! I'll sue!" Mina snapped as she was put in handcuffs and taken away.
"Yeah good luck with that," Cain snorted.
"OWWWWWW!"
"Although I think Rigel may have a case," Cain said. "Foxx, Hartford…"
"Before I get any of my body parts whacked by an angry mama, Zachery, Cain there is something I want to ask you," Doc sighed. "A little favor concerning Mina."
"Doc you know you can't…" Zach began.
"I take it you want to deal with your sister yourself?" Cain stopped him. "We'll interrogate her but I doubt she knows much. Okay Doc. If you want her, she's yours."
"Cain! I'm sorry Doc but she broke the law…" Zach began.
"Oh don't worry Captain," Doc's face grew hard. "She will be punished. I guarantee it."
A few hours later Doc sat with his adopted father in his study. "I just can't believe both Mina and Helena were involved in the Black Rose," Harrison shook his head. "And all for money."
"I thought you'd want to hear it from me first," Doc sighed. "Dad…"
"I know son," Harrison sighed. "I know I can't help Mina out of this one. You do…You do what you have to do. Not just for what's right. But for the good of the family. God help me I can't do it. I'm too weak."
"You are not weak," Doc held his adopted father's hand. "You are good man. You always were. And your family loves you. Your real family."
"Walter I feel like I failed…" Harrison sighed.
"You did everything you could," Doc said. "Don't worry, Dad. I'll take care of it. I've already got Nana and Mabel getting things set up."
"What are you going to do to her?" Harrison asked. Doc told him. "Well…I suppose it's for the best."
"Who knows? Maybe this might be the one thing to put her life on the right path?" Doc asked.
"Walter, you and I know that we shouldn't hold our breath on that," Harrison gave him a look. "But aren't you going to get in trouble if…?"
"I already spoke with Cain and he agrees with me a hundred percent," Doc told him. "Besides the man won't miss any opportunity to get another favor out of me when he needs it."
"This is not going to be easy, Walter," Harrison sighed. "She's still my little girl, no matter what she's done."
"I know Dad," Doc nodded. "I'll handle it."
"You're a good son Walter," Harrison told him. "God only knows what I did to deserve a good boy like you."
"Compensation for my sisters," Doc smirked. "Sorry. I know. Bad taste. Giselle and Eleanor aren't that bad."
Mina was escorted in by two Galaxy Rangers. "Wait outside the door," Doc told them. "Sit down Mina."
"So is this the part where the Great Walter Hartford passes judgment on me?" Mina sniffed as she sat down.
"You're just damn lucky it's me and not a judge," Doc snapped. "He'd send your butt to either jail or Purgatory so fast it would make your head spin. Before I do pass judgment you are going to answer a few more questions."
"Like what?" Mina asked. "I've already told your commanding officer everything I know."
"How about what were you thinking when you contacted the Black Rose for money and agree to their terms? How could you do that Mina?" Doc asked. "How could you get involved with those people? Don't you know what they did? What they almost did to me? To my friends and the entire planet? And for what? For money?"
"Don't you realize that you committed treason not only against Earth but your own brother?" Harrison asked.
"You always did like him over me!" Mina barked.
"Is that why you were so quick to let Dad take the blame for murdering your mother?" Doc barked. "How could you do that to him? Explain to us why after all Dad has done for you…"
"Done for me! He's always put you and my sisters first! That's what he's done for me!" Mina yelled. "He even gave away power over the company that is rightfully mine!"
"That's a load of bull Mina and you know it," Harrison growled. "Remember your sister Eleanor ran our company as Vice President very well before she took over on Hartford. Even Giselle is better at managing money than you are!"
"That's because she has the luck to marry for it and half her husbands that drop dead are worth something!" Mina barked. "Little whore was always lucky like that."
"Family loyalty doesn't mean anything to you does it?" Doc bristled. "I was hoping, praying for some remorse. Some little sign of regret. Anything so I wouldn't have to…But that's not going to happen is it?"
"Don't you care that your mother and lover were killed by these people? God even Giselle and Eleanor aren't as hard hearted as you!" Harrison gasped.
"Those two may have their flaws but at least we can count on them to be loyal to this family!" Doc told him. He glared at Mina. "Which is more than what I can say for you."
"Why should I be loyal to this family when it's never done anything for me?" Mina snapped.
"I can't take any more," Harrison got up and started to walk way. "God help me Mina but I'm glad I'll never see you again."
"What do you mean by that?" Mina asked. "Father?"
"I have to go change my will," Harrison said softly before closing the door.
The implications of what was said hit Mina. For the first time in a long while she felt real fear. She turned to Doc in shock. "What…What did he mean by that?"
"What do you think it meant? What you did Mina was not only illegal and cruel," Doc told her. "It was the last straw. I'm done taking care of you! I'm done cleaning up after your messes. What you did is unforgivable. It is final and irreparable! And I will no longer allow you to harm Dad or any other member of our family ever again. After today you will be out of my life forever! And I will celebrate!"
"What are you going to do to me?" Mina gasped.
"I'm not going to send you to jail or to Purgatory, Mina," Doc said. "That would kill Dad. What I am going to do is put you on a one way ticket the furthest outpost colony planet available. Well second because I'm not going to allow you near Hartford. So I suppose that would be Nebraska."
"Nebraska? But there's nothing but dust and cattle and farmland on that planet!" Mina gasped. "What am I supposed to do out there?"
"I don't know and I don't care," Doc gave her a cold look. "As of now you are no longer a part of this family. You're out. For good. The days of me cleaning up your messes are over! And don't even think of calling Eleanor or Giselle for help. Or Dad or anyone else. Besides I wouldn't be surprised if some other members of the Black Rose want to get rid of you for good. So staying off the radar will be your safest bet. I had to call in a favor from Commander Cain and he was more than happy to oblige so I know I have to pay the piper later. But mark my words Mina, this is the last time you get anything from me! So it will be worth it."
He took out something from his wallet. "There. Don't ever say I never gave you a dime."
"But this is only a couple hundred dollars," Mina blinked.
"Two hundred interplanetary credits to be exact," Doc said. "Perfectly good on any frontier colony."
"But this won't even buy me one night at a decent four star hotel!" Mina wailed.
"No, but it will help you get on your feet long enough for you to do some actual work for a change," Nana said as she marched in with a small suitcase. Mabel marched in behind her carrying some clothes.
"Of course you might have to reconsider some of your spending habits that are more appropriate to your new lifestyle," Mabel told her.
"What do you mean by that?" Mina asked.
"Let's just say where you are going is going to be a long way from your Paradise Bay apartment complex," Doc told her. "And I don't mean just distance wise."
"You have been looking down your fake nose at those of us who do real work for as long as I can remember," Nana said. "Sitting around and ordering everyone like you're the Queen of Sheba. Well your majesty it's time for you to get dethroned!"
"Out of the three girls you were the worst!" Mabel agreed. "Eleanor can be a task masker but at least she works her butt off. And Giselle rarely ever raised her voice until she had to live under your roof! She may have been flightily but at least she treated us with respect!"
"And girl you are gonna get a lesson in respect drilled into your tiny brain the hard way!" Nana agreed.
"Are you going to let them talk to me like this?" Mina turned to Doc.
"Get used to it. A lot of people are gonna be saying worse if you don't change your attitude," Doc snapped. "Did you finish packing her stuff?"
"All packed. I put a couple of changes of clothes in there and some sensible shoes," Nana grinned. "It's a long way to walk from the station to the nearest town. Three miles I believe."
"Not to mention the loveliest and cheapest red and white gingham dress I could find," Mabel said triumphantly as she showed her the outfit. "You know those cocktail dresses you have aren't exactly appropriate attire out on the prairie."
"No, but I am sure the women I donate your old dresses too will be more than thrilled with them," Doc grinned a sinister grin. "I mean most of them you haven't even worn more than once. And those handbags you can carry half a department store in? There are so many poor alien refugees on Mars that would so appreciate them. But I earmarked a few choice items that would look perfect for Darkstar. And I'm going to give her those lovely diamond earrings you conned Dad into giving you for your sweet sixteenth birthday. All three pairs of them."
"You're giving away my clothes and jewelry?" Mina screeched.
"All but three items," Doc said. "Your mother's favorite necklace so you can remember her by. The watch Dad gave you for your eighteenth birthday. And the family Bible. You might want to read it and familiarize yourself with some of its passages. Not like you won't have plenty of time to do so."
"You can't do this to me! You can't steal my things!" Mina shouted.
"Why not? You had no problem stealing my things when it suited you!" Doc asked. "I'm just returning the favor. You have a lot of jewelry. I think I'm going to give some to Niko and Eliza too. And I am going to put away a special piece just for my godchild. When she turns sixteen I'm going to give her that blue diamond necklace you got out of Carlton before he ran out of cash. I know she will appreciate it a lot more than you ever did! Hell with your collection I may not have to buy a piece of jewelry for presents for the next decade!"
"Walter!" Mina was horrified.
"In case you haven't figured it out Sweet Cheeks, this is what we call Karma," Mabel told her. "And girl you have a lot of chips to cash in!"
"The locks on your apartment are being changed as we speak," Doc said. "I sent Mook and Jenkins over there to do an inventory. Namely, what is actually mine or any other member of the family and what you have that is paid for. Which is probably not much. Don't worry, I'll give whatever you have left a good home. I'm selling your lease and furniture in order to pay the last of your debts. As well as a few other knickknacks. Like your cars and that boat you have in dry dock that you think I don't know about."
"You're throwing me out on the streets with nothing?" Mina yelled.
"No, you have some clothes, a few personal items and two hundred credits," Doc said. "That's more than most of the refugees from the Great Migration had. So be grateful."
"Obviously most of your make up we'll have to throw away," Nana said. "Oh I did put in a nice red shade of lipstick that has some SPF sunscreen. You're going to need that too."
"Goes with the gingham dress," Mabel said. "But for some reason I couldn't find your sunglasses. Which is a shame because it gets really bright out there."
"Speaking of shame, Walter you might want to leave now because little Miss Nothing here needs to get dressed," Nana pointed.
"What do you mean? You don't expect me to wear that do you?" Mina yelled and pointed at the dress in distaste. "It's not even designer! It's…It's store-bought! And so common!"
"Common as dirt which you are now," Nana growled at her. "Girl, you got a choice. You can either put this on or wear a garbage bag over your scrawny body. Which is it gonna be?"
"Let her keep the shoes," Doc smirked. "I give her a mile in them before she changes 'em on the way to wherever her new life is."
"Walter please! Don't do this…" Mina begged.
"It's been done, girl," Nana said. "Good riddance to bad rubbish."
"Oh and one more thing, Mina," Doc added as he went to the door. "I'm sending a special message to the law enforcement agents on Nebraska. So don't be surprised if the sheriff in whatever town you end up in takes a special interest in your activities. And the next time you break the law, I won't bail you out. So you might just end up in Purgatory after all. And if you think the weather on Nebraska is brutal, try a nice long stretch of winter in Purgatory where the warmest days are below fifty degrees!"
"Walter don't…" Mina begged. "Come on now! Give me another chance!"
"Goodbye Mina," Doc waved as he left. "Have a nice life."
"I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS WALTER HARTFORD! IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO! YOU HEAR ME?" Mina screeched like a demon cast into Hell. "I'LL GET MY REVENGE ON YOU AND THE REST OF THIS STUPID FAMILY EVEN IF I HAVE TO WAIT FIFTY YEARS TO…HEY! WATCH IT! LET GO OF ME! NO! NOT MY DRESS! NO! DON'T RIP IT! IT'S LACROIX! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
"She's a little high strung," Doc told the waiting rangers. "Just don't let her bite you when you escort her to the ship. Uh you do have your rabies shots just in case, right?"
A few hours later the Galaxy Rangers had finished helping Doc's staff clean up after the party. All the guests were gone and the bodies were taken care of. "Hartford I gotta admit you know how to throw a hell of a party," Cain remarked as he took a drink.
"Thanks a lot," Doc groaned as he lay back on a chair.
"I mean it. I should book you for more parties," Cain said.
"Don't even joke about that Commander," Doc gave him a look.
"I still don't like that you guys bent the law and are keeping Trembaly's death a secret," Zach sighed. "And the murders he committed."
"Come on Zachery, what good would that have done?" Cain asked. "We're just building back our reputation as it is. The news that one of the great heroes of the Civil War was a traitor would have made things even more difficult. Technically we're only keeping the details of Trembaly's death a secret. As far as the world knows, he had a heart attack. We'll say that he requested no honors for his burial and sweep it quietly under the rug. Even Waldo and Zozo agreed to that."
"I suppose," Zach sighed. "Did you find anything on Walski?"
"We raided his office and both his homes. Between that and the diary we found not only enough evidence to ship him off to Purgatory for life, but information on all sorts of safe houses and lists of who is an informant to the Black Rose from here to Planet Hartford," Cain smirked. "The second I saw that list I got every law enforcement agent on every planet to grab every name on it."
"Did we get anything?" Zach asked.
"And how! We got codes, names, weapons," Cain listed them off. "Possible locations and fueling stations for the Black Rose ship. We even have our own informants now. Dozens of rats turning on each other so they won't get shipped off to Purgatory. We've broken at least a dozen cells and arrested over two hundred people on almost every colony planet in the League."
"It's amazing how many members of the Black Rose are still out there," Niko said.
"Niko, the Black Rose has been around for thousands of years," Cain said. "We're not going to get rid of them overnight. It's only lately that they've been so lazy and corrupt that we've been able to get anything on them. But I guarantee you there are still plenty out there."
"The Laredo had a sighting of the Black Rose ship and chased 'em away from a moon they were using to buy black market supplies from," Zozo said. "They got away but they have one less place to hide in the universe."
"And a lot fewer allies. If the Black Rose Society thought the Civil War last year was a disaster, this year is a nightmare for 'em," Shane smirked. "And speaking of worst nightmares, how did Mina take hers?"
"Not that well actually," Doc sighed. "Those poor rangers that escorted her had to get rabies shots after all."
"That girl was screaming like a banshee and swearing like a sailor all the way to the spaceport and beyond," Nana laughed.
"Zachery I hope you don't think I abused my power too much for what I did," Doc sighed.
"Are you kidding? Banishing Mina and cutting her off from the family fortune is the perfect punishment for a girl like her," Zach snorted. "Besides something tells me she might have liked Purgatory too much."
"Sorry Doc," Shane said. "I know how hard it is to be the head of your family."
"It wasn't that hard doing what I had to do to Mina," Doc snorted. "It just hurt Dad that's all. My sisters on the other hand will be celebrating once I call them!"
"What about your mom?" Zach asked.
"Dad's on the phone with her right now," Doc said. "She tried to be a good stepmother to Mina but Mina just wouldn't have it. She'll go along with this."
"Well I wouldn't say all's well that ends well but at least all the insanity is over," Doc let out a breath.
"MEOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW!"
CRASH!
"MEOWWWWWWW!"
"Oh hell I forgot about that stupid cat!" Doc groaned.
"DIVE! DIVE! ATTACK THE ENEMY!" Bubblehead was heard cackling over the cat's terrified screams.
"Oh I just love coming home," Doc put his head into his hands.
"So let's see," Zach sighed. "We dealt with murders, attempted murders, traitors, a cover up, an accidental kidnapping, insane animals…"
"Don't forget the cooks having knife fights on the lawn," Niko added.
"Monkeys driving a car all over the place and nearly running over the sheriff," Shane added.
"The swimming pool was on fire again," Zozo added.
"Senator Rigel getting beaten up," Waldo added. "Although that can also be counted as a good thing."
"Mina," Darkstar snorted.
"She's a disaster all on her own," Doc groaned. The doorbell rang. "Speaking of which…"
"DADDY!" Giselle ran in wearing a black dress. Harrison walked in just as she did and was immediately tackled by Giselle with the grace of a linebacker. "OH DADDY!" She hugged her father.
"Oh great," Shane groaned. "Here comes the other crazy sister!"
"Daddy! Oh Daddy! I heard about the whole thing! It's horrible!" Giselle sobbed. "I mean I never liked Mina but still it's horrible!"
"How did you hear so fast?" Harrison blinked. "I just got off the phone with your mother?"
"She didn't tell you I was coming?" Giselle asked. "Never mind. I was on my way here when Nana called me! She told me the whole thing!"
"Oh she did, did she?" Harrison gave Nana a look. Nana merely played innocent.
"It's all so horrible! Well not horrible- horrible but horrible enough," Giselle said. "I mean Mina was never a very good sister and her mother was never nice to me. Not even when she needed money and that husband of hers did try to hit on me but I told him no! I have enough problems with men without stealing someone's husband! But still oh Daddy for you to go through all that because of them! It's horrible! But I'm glad she's been cut out of the will. Not for the money because I have a lot but she was always so mean to me."
"Looks like you've been playing the part of the grieving sister," Doc pointed to Giselle's outfit.
"Oh this? Oh uh I just came from my husband's funeral," Giselle said. "They were finishing up the service when Nana called."
"Wait a minute, didn't you last husband die a few months ago?" Zach asked.
"That was Dawgie and he did, but uh well…" Giselle gulped. "Last week I kind of met this guy in Vegas…"
"Oh God no…" Both Doc and his adopted father groaned at the same time.
"He was really nice! He was a magician! Unfortunately he wasn't a very good magician and he kind of accidentally sawed himself in half," Giselle said nervously.
"Do I even want to know…?" Doc groaned.
"Not really," Giselle said. "It was kind of gross. Plus it was done in a shark tank with a live shark and uh…Part of it was kind of like déjà vu with my first husband."
"I'm experiencing déjà vu right now!" Zach groaned.
"Long story short there's this clown named Peaches who blames me for it even though I was nowhere near his equipment at the time and it turned out that his tools and stuff were faulty," Giselle rolled her eyes. "Okay so maybe I kind of broke their engagement when I married Harry. But it's not like that relationship was going to last anyway!"
"Giselle…" Harrison started to get a tick in his right eye.
"Daddy I swear I am so off men!" Giselle told her father. "That's why I'm going to stay with you! It was Mom's idea!"
"Oh it was now, was it?" Harrison groaned.
Suddenly there were sounds of a struggle and a gunshot going off. "Everyone down!" Zach shouted.
"It's okay Boss," Mook walked in. "We got this crazy woman dressed up like a clown trying to fire a blaster. But we got her."
"Must have snuck in with the clowns at the kid's birthday party," Doc groaned as they got off the floor.
"SHE STOLE MY MAN! I'LL KILL HER! I'LL KILL HER!" Screams were heard on the lawn.
"OH GET OVER YOURSELF PEACHES!" Giselle marched over to a window and stuck her head out. She barely pulled it back in when a rock flew through the window. Giselle was unharmed but the window was broken. "IT WOULD NEVER HAVE WORKED OUT ANYWAY!"
Everyone looked at her. "I said I would never go after married guys again," Giselle clarified. "Technically engagements don't really count."
"SHE RUINED MY LIFE! I WANNA GIVE HER THE SELTZER WATER BOTTLE OF DEATH!" Peaches screamed as she was restrained outside.
"Someone please call Chang and let him know there's another person that needs to go to jail?" Cain groaned.
"My God there is more drama in this family than in a soap opera!" Waldo was stunned.
"This makes our family look almost normal," Stingray quipped. "Almost."
"Fun vacation, sir," Zach sighed. "When do we go home?"
"I think tonight might be a good idea," Cain groaned.
"Doc remember last year? The Civil War where we were all nearly killed?" Shane groaned.
"Yeah?" Doc asked.
"I think it was a lot more peaceful compared to this!" Shane groaned.
