Author's Note: I own nothing.
28 A Moments Rest
Dealing with Animo and his dinosaur men eggs was pretty simple and by the end of the day they were at the Mr. Smoothies enjoying a victory drink. Jen frowned around and Kevin bumped her with his shoulder.
"What's wrong?" Jen shook her head.
"I'm gonna miss this." Gwen glanced at Kevin. "Gwen's going off to college in August." Gwen blinked. She hadn't told Jen that she'd been accepted yet. "Auntie Natalie told me. She's planning a party, but you didn't hear it from me. You're heading off to Friedkin?" Gwen nodded.
"Yeah I am." Jen nodded and turned to Kevin.
"I'm guessing you're going with her." Kevin nodded.
"I am."
"Good. I hope it goes well." Gwen leaned forward and took Jen's hand.
"You know we will be back, holidays and stuff." Jen nodded.
"I know. But it'll be weird to be on my own." Kevin nodded taking another sip of his smoothie. Jen tossed her empty cup and stretched. "I'm gonna head home, I could use some sleep." They nodded and Gwen pulled her cousin into a hug.
"Love you doofus."
"You too dweeb." Jen laughed and hugged her back. She waved as she got into her car and drove off. Kevin took another sip of his smoothie.
"That would have been a really good time to tell her about Max's partner idea." Gwen shook her head finishing her own smoothie.
"No Grandpa's right, it'll be harder to fight the idea in front of the new partner. If he's smart about it he'll brief them first, let them at least read her file." Kevin frowned.
"The real one or the buried one?" Gwen frowned.
"She has two files?" Kevin snorted.
"Yeah, I buried one for Max a while back. Only a few people have access to it and it's nigh impossible to hack unless you're a Galvanic Mechamorph." Gwen frowned.
"Why does she have two?" Kevin shrugged.
"There are ways to kill her that aren't public knowledge and don't need to be. The differences are small but crucial." Gwen nodded, the removal of the Ultimatrix. The fact that biologically she wasn't technically human anymore, her altered metabolism, her scars, her unique medical needs. Small but crucial differences indeed. She tossed out her cup.
Max frowned. He was off planet for the first time in a while. He had a few face to face interviews to do. So far there were three candidates left for him to go through. Between him, Gwen and Kevin they had eliminated a long list of prospective partners. Some didn't have the drive needed, others lacked experience. He had it down to a Florauna, a Tetramand, and a Revonnahgander. That was a race he wasn't familiar with this agent was the first of his people to join the Plumbers. It was interesting that he had been put forward for consideration. Max had almost marked him off for lack of experience. But he'd been on a few missions during his time at the Academy. He'd helped head up the evacuation when Kevin had attacked the Academy. So he'd stayed on the list. He was also familiar with some of the new equipment they would be giving Jen's new partner. But of course none of these beings knew that's what they were being interviewed for. As far as they knew this was an easy check up on them.
Max sat down across from the Florauna who was twisting a vine nervously.
"Hello Magister Tennyson!" They burbled at him then hiccupped. "Is there a problem no one will really tell me what this is about?" Their eyes brightened. "Wait do I get to meet your granddaughter?" Max inwardly shook his head. This one was too excitable. The last thing they needed was a star chaser watching Jen's back in the field.
The Tetramand was a bit more acceptable but too battle hungry that left only the Revonnahgander before Max would have to start over in his search. The being waiting for him in the office was male, at least according to his file. He was tall at least a foot and a half taller than Jen. He smiled as Max sat down in front of him.
"Hello Agent Rook." The smile contained sharper canines than a human one but that didn't bother Max, he went for drinks most weekends with a Piscciss Volann. He smiled back.
"It is an honor to meet you Magister Tennyson. I have read about your fight against Vilgax in several of my classes." Max smiled. Not a mention of Jen, at least not yet. The Tetramand had literally given him a com number to give to her, the Florauna had kept bringing her up.
"Thank you Agent Rook. This is just a routine checkup for your progress outside the Academy. Tell me how things are going on Revonnah, I hear it's not very eventful." Rook nodded.
"It is not very full of events as you say. The most dangerous thing on Revonnah are the Muroids." Max raised an eyebrow. "Very large rodents, usually five feet tall at their maturity. They can be a problem but we have dealt with them since before Revonnah first made contact with the universe." Max nodded.
"And that contact was only made over the last twenty years or so, is that right?" Rook nodded.
"That is correct Magister Tennyson. My people are highly traditional, many believe that technology will change our way of life for the worse instead of for the better. But several of us, myself included, believe that thinking like that will hold Revonnah back." Max nodded.
"Is that why you joined the Plumbers?" Rook took a deep breath.
"I joined the Plumbers for many reasons. Yes it was in part to help Revonnah advance but there was another reason." He paused Max nodded. Rook took another deep breath. "I was inspired by your granddaughter. I was eleven when she first defeated Vilgax. We had heard about the tyrant from the Plumber stationed on Revonnah. The thought that someone from a world not unlike my own, someone my age being able to change so much on their own, it was inspiring. Still is. I believe the Plumbers are the way I can help change the universe for the better." Max nodded slightly.
"How old are you Agent Rook?" The question seemed to take Rook by surprise.
"I am seventeen years old sir. Though I will be eighteen in less than eight months." Max nodded. He set down his data pad.
"Let me run a scenario by you, tell me how you would react. Say you had a partner, they're acting strange, not like themselves. Possibly threatening others. What would your first instinct be? What would you do?" Rook paused.
"I would confront my partner, restrain them if need be and if the situation escalated, I would call for backup." Max nodded.
"Another one for you. Your partner goes missing, they haven't been seen by anyone in days. Your direct superior orders you to give up the search, give up your partner for dead. What would you do?" Rook paused thinking.
"That is a difficult question. Our job is a dangerous one, there is always the possibility that one will not make it home at the end of the day. But after just a few days?" Max nodded.
"A few days."
"I do not believe that is enough time to give anyone up for dead, especially a trained Plumber. I would continue the search. Is this a test of some kind?" Max smiled. Smart kid.
"Maybe. Last scenario. You and a civilian are taken captive. Your captor says that he will shoot one of you. It is up to you to decide who lives and who dies. Who do you choose?"
"Myself." He didn't even have to think. Max nodded and picked up his data pad again.
"Alright. It says here you're looking for a transfer off Revonnah. Why?"
"I believe I can do more good out in the universe than I can at home." Max nodded again. "This is not a routine inspection of my progress outside of the Academy is it Magister?" Max shook his head.
"You're smart that's good. And no, it's not a routine inspection. It's a job interview."
"Then why the subterfuge?" Max nodded.
"Because this job is not only sensitive it is a highly sought-after position. Very few beings in the universe know the information you are about to receive but a position on Earth is going to open up within a month. A partnership with a specialist based on Earth." Rook's amber eyes widened.
"Are you saying what I believe you are saying?" Max nodded.
"My granddaughter needs a new partner, her team is leaving by the end of the month. She'll need someone she can rely on, someone who can watch her back. I think you might be that someone." Max said handing over the data pad. "You can refuse of course, this isn't an order, it's an opportunity. What do you say?" Rook blinked.
"Why me sir? There must be hundreds of beings more qualified to work alongside a specialist who has saved the universe more than once. Why pick me?" Max nodded.
"That's a good question. You have experience with the tech we'll be supplying you if you accept the assignment. A Proto-Tool and Proto-Armor to help you keep up with her. She's not easy to keep up with. But you have drive, the right kind of drive. The same kind she has. So what do you say?" Max reached out a hand.
"I would be honored sir." He shook Max's hand.
"Good, you have studying to do. I recommend taking Conversational Earthing, maybe the Earth Society course too, just to get yourself acquainted with what you're getting into. It can be a bit of culture shock. You've got a month to prep. Which should give you plenty of time to read her file." Max pulled a second data pad out of his bag and handed it over to Rook. Rook looked down at the file on the screen. A smiling brunette looked back up at him. He really wasn't sure how he had passed this test but if it meant working alongside a living legend he wasn't going to pass up the opportunity.