Bubble Gum HYTE (Fan-fic)
Source: Bubble Gum Crisis/Crash
Author: LV426
Chapter 5: Enclosure
Leon returned to his apartment and collapsed on his couch late in the afternoon, a welcome calm to the insanity that seemed to follow him all day. He had to admit it wasn't all bad, I mean sure he was suspended from duty, something that still pissed him off deep down, but he had a good time anyway. Hell, even Jake's presence didn't really ruin things... it was too fun to watch him drink one person under the table after another.
Though that definitely returned his attention to a potential problem he might have. 3 rounds for the whole bar is not an inexpensive thing. And the 2 or 3 other dozen drinks Jake finished himself in his drinking competitions add an impressive value to that tab. "Ah, but he cant possibly prove he wants to get out there with that thing... what do I have to worry about?" Leon smirked, "besides, it was kinda funny to watch the drunk across the table from him try to slur out insults."
With a stretch and a yawn, Leon looked to the TV. He wasn't sure he would want to see what was on, but then again, he just spent a lot of time out. This should be a chance to relax. "Well, maybe if there is a movie on, I will check it out..." he hit the remote button. Sadly, he found no such relief. Instead, it felt like every news report out there just could not wait to harp on the once recognized as the best officer on the force of the AD Police, now suspected murderer of Vision. With a sigh, he turned off the TV, finally figuring out exactly what part of this gets him the most. Not that he was put on suspension, which was very aggravating in the first place, but rather the fact that most probably DID believe he was a killer now. Without much else to do about it, Leon went to the kitchen, grabbed a shot glass, and some scotch.
He didn't drink often or really all that heavy, but tonight, he would need something to take some of the edge off.
* * *
Outside the building, maybe 30 feet from the edge of it, 3 cars of random design sat in the parking lot. Not really suspicious... there were a lot of cars in the parking lot, and all of them looked pretty much like they belonged, no one make or model standing out, besides maybe the occasional decaled car, including a yellow Beetle with black lighting running down the sides. However, these three blended right in with the (mostly) random conformity.
Inside, however, was another story. Inside the two smaller cars, sat 3 members of the Hou Bang, the Chang family crime syndicate. The beige SUV carried in it's hollowed out back equipment for observation, 3 more soldiers, and one more member, though he carried an air about him of much higher status in this organization. His calm green eyes glanced casually at one of the small screens fixed in place on the tailgate door of the vehicle. Being an LCD, it didn't cast much light on his features, but the man was used to seeing in the dark. He was more concerned with the view inside the building this screen let him have... from each and every camera they had inside for security reasons.
That idea got a smirk and a small chuckle from him. "To think, they feel safer with all this stuff around them, and it just makes my job that much easier," he thought to himself. A glance to the screen to the right of this one, revealed a zoomed in view of Leon's apartment window. Currently, the lights were on, but there was no activity visible. This could have been either good or bad, but the third camera screen finished the picture quite well with an infrared camera aimed in the same direction, the two combined giving a good idea of what was going on inside Leon's place.
"This should be very easy. Mr. McNichol didn't let his partner come with him, leaving him alone and unprotected up there," the man now said just loud enough to be heard, the calm in his voice matching the calm in his eyes perfectly. With a glance to his watch he continued, "but we should wait just a little longer. 5:30... rush hour isn't over yet, and the halls wont be quiet for a while still."
The others in the SUV didn't answer vocally as much as nod in agreement. They all knew the job well, and they knew the man crouched at the screens was one of the best the Hou Bang had. He was not the only choice Dr. Chang had to do this job, however, as there was at least one other person who was willing and perhaps even more qualified to take it on. Why Dr. Chang made his choice, no one else could know, besides perhaps, the man himself, Dr. Chang, or the other choice Kou, but none of them was would speak about it.
The man smiled, knowing that the soldiers wouldn't dare argue with him. He was well known within the syndicate for his skills. But no one, perhaps not even Dr. Chang himself, knew anything else about him, which is how he liked it. He was truly alone, making him truly untouchable. "That had been Kou's mistake," he thought to himself, rather amused that a man of his caliber would make the ultimate mistake of having feelings for the one he was trying to protect.
The smile disappeared rather quickly, however, as he looked back at the security screen, to see a man in a trenchcoat walking causally down the hall. He seemed in no hurry, but something about him made the man's skin crawl. "Moria!" he called to one of the soldiers. She quickly came to his side.
"Yes, Mr. Clax?" she asked, duty and a little confusion in her tone.
"Have you ever seen that man before?" Clax asked, pointing to the man on the screen as he continued his little walk, his finger's touch rippling the screen just a little.
"No sir... should I have?"
"I'm not sure yet." The two of them watched a little while before the man calmly and deliberately entered Leon's apartment. "Dammit! Ok, Moria, I want you to radio the nest. Get me all you can on this man." His voice was tense. From what he had gathered, Leon wasn't the kind to shy away from a friend, but the ones close enough to just walk into his apartment were VERY few, in fact, the only one Clax had heard of was Daley.
Moria turned behind them and was already making the call before she replied. "Yes, Sir!"
* * *
Nene watched from her desk as Jake marched past her, not so much as a glance in her direction. It was no secret to her that he would strike up a conversation with her if he could. If her friends in the office hadn't told her, she still would have figured it out, as she has caught him more than once looking at her with the indecisive look on his face. But tonight, his march of determination matched an expression that would offer no diversions. "This can't be good," she told herself, watching him be-line it straight to the chief's office. Normally, she would be curious, but she just couldn't take any more yelling. Priss' little outburst finished her off for the day.
Jake, for his part, seemed rather calm. He knew this would not be an easy sale, but he was gonna be damned if Leon's bet was left unmatched. He would bring his K-suite out, and show Leon his true passion. "Besides," he thought to himself while waiting for the chief to let him in, "he should really enjoy some of the adjustments I made to this puppy." He grinned for a moment, remembering the work in the garage; Every step of the way perhaps the most careful he has ever been.
The grin disappeared as Jake tried his best to appear serious as he heard what he was waiting for. The chief was barely audible, "come in."
* * *
It was a nice sunset as Priss finally returned home. She couldn't bring herself to get back till now, partly because she was not in the mood to sit still, and partly from her own guilt at failing Leon and Vision so recently. This mood still hovered over her, to the point she didn't even consider the scenery... not even to say it was pathetic to think much of it. However, another need brought her home: the need to check on Linna. She killed the motor of her bike and flipped the kickstand down, only removing her helmet a moment later. With a sigh, she gazed into space a moment, trying to think of what to say in case Linna needed to be consoled still, but the words would not come to her mind.
"Just give it up, Priss... you KNOW your no good at those things," she rebuked at herself, slowly but as confidently as she could striding to the doorway. "Besides, just being there is a lot better than nothing," she added, trying to make herself a little less guilt ridden. For the rest of the rip, through the hall and the elevator, she did her best to keep her mind from wandering.
At the door, Priss knocked gently, afraid to wake Linna if she was asleep. "Hello? Linna? You up?" Again the tone was a bit quieter than normal, but there was no response. With a shrug, Priss got out her own keys and unlocked the door.
Glancing inside, Priss relaxed just a little before pushing the door open completely. The lights were on, and there was a plate and glass on the table. Apearantly, Linna was up and decided to get a bite to eat. She didn't do the dishes, but having lost a good friend, who could blame her? "I know I can't," Priss thought to herself. First time someone close died, she didn't do half as well as Linna was now.
Shaking that thought, Priss moved into the living room, seeing Linna staring at the TV, which she had placed back on it's stand and, suprisingly, still worked. Getting a little closer, Priss heard the voice of a reporter talking about the stock market.
Linna finally noticed someone was there and turned her blank stare to Priss... her expression warmed up almost immediately, glad for company. "Hello, Priss... what kept you out all day?"
"Uh... hi..." Priss was stunned, but glad to see that. Linna wasn't the only one that could use the company tonight. "How you holding up?"
Linna smiles slightly, "A little better. Thanks for calling work today."
"WHAT? How did you..."
Linna smiles a bit more. It was hard to tell if it was the expression on Priss' face, or genuinely being thankful. "Kinda had to miss the sympathy cards from the office." She gestured toward the small pile of cards, a tear streaking down her face.
"I see... well, I thought it best if you take the day to rest... Hell I would have said to take the week, but I didn't think you would be the kind to stay away from the office that long." Priss' hand was behind her head, but then her voice showed a bit more concern again, "but it is good to see you up again. I was afraid I was gonna have to force feed you when I got home."
Linna laughed, the visual being VERY clear in her head, but all the more needing to laugh. "Yeah... that wouldn't be very pleasant, would it?" After a moment, it was her turn to come back to earth. "By the way, Priss... where were you all day?"
"Well, erm... you see..." Priss tried to consider how to go on, not sure how much Linna knew already, but the news soon cleared it up...
On the screen, the reporter had returned, "and a touch of unusual news, one of the two singers at the Big Egg Stadium, Priss Asigiri, was caught on film today, at the AD Police headquarters. Her reason for being there, to argue in defense of the only suspect in the..."
Priss changed the channel, half annoyed with the news for putting her 'outing' in the lime light, and half embarrassed that the news should tell Linna what she had done... or possibly even Leon.
Linna, however, looked at her quizzically. "Priss? Why would a stop by the AD Police get attention like that?"
Priss didn't reply right away, which explained enough to Linna. She knew very well how bad her friend's temper could be, and all the more so when someone she cared about (whether she would admit it or not) was getting nailed to the wall. With a sigh, Linna nodded. "Alright, Priss... I understand. How did it go?"
"The new chief is everything Leon said he was... and absolute, ass kissing, moron." Priss' tone said enough. It didn't go well at all.
Even as she knew Priss was upset, Linna couldn't help but laugh a little. Priss, for her part, decided to ignore it. She could press Linna to find out what was so funny, but she either wouldn't get a direct answer or wouldn't want it. On that note she calmly strode to the phone. "Well in anycase, I have to make a call. I can't let the moron win, now can I?" Priss smirked as she said it, somehow a little more at ease that she can at least do something.
Linna nodded. "Alright, Priss." Rather than listen in, which at any other day, she may have found amusing, Linna went back to the TV, though now switching on some cartoon. Something light.
Priss smiled quietly, glad to see this. Everyone on the team has been through there times of depression, but it was never easy to watch a friend drop to those levels. Snatching the phone mechanically, Priss made her call. As the dial tone told her the other end was ringing, she considered how she was going to do this. "Will she even pick up after how I treated her?" she had to question. It wasn't like Nene couldn't handle being rebuked, but there really was very little she could have done, whether either of them liked it or not. Her connections to Leon also would undo her arguments on behalf if him as much as it has Priss...
The thoughts quickly left leaving a blankness as the phone was picked up on the other end and Nene's voice answered. "AD Police, Nene Romanova speaking." Her voice was not nearly as perky as it normally was.
"Hi, Nene," Priss began, knowing her name would not be needed.
"Priss..." Nene's voice trailed off.
"Nene..." Priss waited a moment that was uncomfortable for both of them, "...sorry to bother you again, but, I need your help."
Dead silence on the phone. Priss had to wonder what was going on in her younger teammate's mind. Finally Nene spoke again, "alright, Priss," her tone was quiet still, as if in shock, "what do you need me to do?"
"I need you to look in the files for anything to help clear Leon's name," Priss replied rather quickly, "Anything you can find will help."
"Alright... I... I will get right on it."
"Thank you... Oh, and Nene? I'm sorry I yelled at you. This has been a lot for me to take." The last part of that took A LOT of effort on Priss' part to say. She almost never apologized to anyone.
"It's ok, Priss... you were right. I... I didn't even try..." Nene's voice fluctuated a little, and it was a good thirty seconds before she came back, "I froze when he needed defense."
Priss was stunned. "Nene... listen to me now... you may not have been able to help then, but you can now. Help me figure this out. You shouldn't feel guilty... you know you would have been thrown out just like I was, and I don't doubt you knew it then. But now is the chance to do something about it. Please help me." Priss really didn't like her own tone at the end. She sounded like it was personal to get Leon out of this.
However, it seemed to have the right effect on Nene. The girl was good at what she did, very good, but sometimes, she needed to know she had her friends and teammates behind her. "Alright, Priss... lets do this..." her tone got more resolute as she spoke. "I can begin tonight after my shift."
"Excellent! See you later!"
"Bye!"
And with a click, the phone was down. Priss grinned, imagining the determined look on Nene's face. Satisfied, she went to join Linna. After all, it had been a long time since she had sat down to watch much on television. And she was curious what could be keeping Linna grinning from ear to ear with a snicker here and there.
* * *
Boots snuck around the back of the AD Police tower, a determined look on his face. Each step was cautious, as if he didn't want to make a sound, but anything but silence came from his mouth. He was constantly muttering about how the chief needed to get his ass kicked, or he should put 5 does of industrial strength ex-lax in his coffee, or give him some other rather inventive, but brutal penalty. As these ideas effortlessly crossed his mind and mouth, the conversation he just had with the chief remained perfectly fresh in his mind...
After knocking at the door for about a minute, the chief must have finally gotten tired of hearing it, as Jake heard the sound he was waiting for... the voice of the chief. "Come on in," he said in an impatient tone.
"What could have made him so sour?" Jake thought to himself as he walked inside. The chief was calm, though he seemed tired as he looked down into the papers before him. Before the chief could tell him to, Jake sat down. Before he could be told not to, he also had his feet up on the desk.
The chief didn't seem to notice. "Mr. Boots, it's been a long, long day, so if you have any kind of scheme planned, please do me a favor and spare me of it."
Jake looked stunned. "What? Me? Scheme? Why would you think that?"
The chief only now looked up at him, the kind of look that asks 'excuse me, but, do you want to die.' Calmly he spoke once more, "Please remember, I'm talking to you after all."
Jake sighed, "Well if you feel that way about it, but that's beside the point. I have a question for you. Why the hell when things get serious, do you hold me back in here and not let me in the action?"
"You know the reason Jake. The fact is we really don't need the support of K-Suits all that much. You're here because the top brass of the AD Police feel each office needs to be fully equipped... just in case," he paused a moment, "and you know as the main headquarters, we need to put up a prime example."
"Well, you could at least let a front be shown. I mean, I'm sure the people would feel MUCH safer if they saw a K-Suit in use once in a while. Just to show we are out there."
"Is it really that, or do you just want to impress some girl because you drive the thing?" The chief didn't need to say anymore. He simply wasn't buying into this.
Jake growled. He wasn't expecting this to be a smooth sale, but he also was hoping the chief would be a little more professional than that. "Listen, Sir," the word sir in so much sarcasm it was ridiculous, "You might want to take serious consideration on letting me take my K-Suit out there tomorrow... otherwise..."
The chief waited a moment, before answering in what was quickly becoming an infuriating calm. "otherwise?"
"Ever here of disgruntled employees, buddy?"
"Are you threatening me? As I said, I have had a long day, but not nearly long enough to cave to that kind of thing. That may have gotten you where you want to go across the ocean, but it doesn't work with me."
"How about I show you a disgruntled employee right now."
"And get kicked off the force, never to see your precious K-Suit again? I don't think you would do that," the chief was smug, watching the anger rise in the other officer he least appreciated... perhaps even as much as Leon.
Jake jumped to his feet, fist balled back, ready to strike, and it took all the will he had in him to let the fist drop. The chief was right, he would kill this creep, if only it wouldn't cost him the K-Suit.
The chief's smug grin only grew, "There's a good boy. And if I can help you out with anything else, please do me a favor and let it wait till tomorrow... I really cant deal with more of these antics tonight."
Jake marched out the door, slamming it behind him...
"Yeah, but he didn't count on everything, did he?" Jake said to himself hauntilly. Just like in his previous office, the maintenance people were always interested in a game of cards or dice or what have you during off-time, and to have an officer who wouldn't be so full of themselves as to join in was always more then welcome. "And having friends who can get you in always helps." Jake smirked... when he first went out back after hours, the technician people just looked on, not sure what to make of him as he went on with one of his new friends to go over various systems in the suits. Within a month, he was welcomed as he would tweak this or that system in his suit to his own needs.
Now, that same access would let him win his bet with Leon, no matter what. Getting to the gate, he unlocked it quickly and stepped inside. It didn't take long for him to find his own suit. Most of them were in blue and white... and nothing else. Jake's, on the other hand, was pitch black with lightning down each arm and flames along the shins. He had thought about getting deamonic eye decals for the sides just below his display plate, but just had not gotten to it yet.
Jake quickly approached his suit and climbed inside it. "So much for the chief getting in the way, now lets show Leon just how serious we really are!" he was as much talking to the suit as to himself, then he turned on the suit. Within moments, he was off, making running leaps with his thrusters to get to Leon's.
* * *
Try as she might, Priss could not get herself to stick to cartoons easily. She had to admit, sometimes that damn dog-like thing was amusing as it tried to catch the blue bird, but over all, it was pretty mindless, and didn't take her mind off other things. Linna, wasn't too engrossed either, but her mind really had nothing more important to handle, so she found it a bit easier to laugh at the antics of the two. Priss glanced at her, envious of that.
With a sigh, she got up once more. "I wonder how he is doing?" Priss finally let herself think without rebuking it. The idea of being suspended on murder charges must have been hard for Leon to swallow, and as much as she hated to admit it, it bothered her too because of it.
Linna watches as she walked on, "What's wrong, Priss?" she asked quietly.
Priss was silent a moment. It wasn't so much the silence of someone who was upset as someone who didn't expect to be noticed. "Nothing's wrong... I just need to make one more call... that's all."
Linna smiled slightly, understanding instantly. "Alright." She wanted to add not to worry too much about it, but decided against it. It was probably better if she didn't try to make Priss face how she felt right now...
Priss didn't really acknowledge Linna's response, but there was no need to. Instead, she picked up the phone and dialed the numbers... in a moment, she heard the phone ringing.
Source: Bubble Gum Crisis/Crash
Author: LV426
Chapter 5: Enclosure
Leon returned to his apartment and collapsed on his couch late in the afternoon, a welcome calm to the insanity that seemed to follow him all day. He had to admit it wasn't all bad, I mean sure he was suspended from duty, something that still pissed him off deep down, but he had a good time anyway. Hell, even Jake's presence didn't really ruin things... it was too fun to watch him drink one person under the table after another.
Though that definitely returned his attention to a potential problem he might have. 3 rounds for the whole bar is not an inexpensive thing. And the 2 or 3 other dozen drinks Jake finished himself in his drinking competitions add an impressive value to that tab. "Ah, but he cant possibly prove he wants to get out there with that thing... what do I have to worry about?" Leon smirked, "besides, it was kinda funny to watch the drunk across the table from him try to slur out insults."
With a stretch and a yawn, Leon looked to the TV. He wasn't sure he would want to see what was on, but then again, he just spent a lot of time out. This should be a chance to relax. "Well, maybe if there is a movie on, I will check it out..." he hit the remote button. Sadly, he found no such relief. Instead, it felt like every news report out there just could not wait to harp on the once recognized as the best officer on the force of the AD Police, now suspected murderer of Vision. With a sigh, he turned off the TV, finally figuring out exactly what part of this gets him the most. Not that he was put on suspension, which was very aggravating in the first place, but rather the fact that most probably DID believe he was a killer now. Without much else to do about it, Leon went to the kitchen, grabbed a shot glass, and some scotch.
He didn't drink often or really all that heavy, but tonight, he would need something to take some of the edge off.
* * *
Outside the building, maybe 30 feet from the edge of it, 3 cars of random design sat in the parking lot. Not really suspicious... there were a lot of cars in the parking lot, and all of them looked pretty much like they belonged, no one make or model standing out, besides maybe the occasional decaled car, including a yellow Beetle with black lighting running down the sides. However, these three blended right in with the (mostly) random conformity.
Inside, however, was another story. Inside the two smaller cars, sat 3 members of the Hou Bang, the Chang family crime syndicate. The beige SUV carried in it's hollowed out back equipment for observation, 3 more soldiers, and one more member, though he carried an air about him of much higher status in this organization. His calm green eyes glanced casually at one of the small screens fixed in place on the tailgate door of the vehicle. Being an LCD, it didn't cast much light on his features, but the man was used to seeing in the dark. He was more concerned with the view inside the building this screen let him have... from each and every camera they had inside for security reasons.
That idea got a smirk and a small chuckle from him. "To think, they feel safer with all this stuff around them, and it just makes my job that much easier," he thought to himself. A glance to the screen to the right of this one, revealed a zoomed in view of Leon's apartment window. Currently, the lights were on, but there was no activity visible. This could have been either good or bad, but the third camera screen finished the picture quite well with an infrared camera aimed in the same direction, the two combined giving a good idea of what was going on inside Leon's place.
"This should be very easy. Mr. McNichol didn't let his partner come with him, leaving him alone and unprotected up there," the man now said just loud enough to be heard, the calm in his voice matching the calm in his eyes perfectly. With a glance to his watch he continued, "but we should wait just a little longer. 5:30... rush hour isn't over yet, and the halls wont be quiet for a while still."
The others in the SUV didn't answer vocally as much as nod in agreement. They all knew the job well, and they knew the man crouched at the screens was one of the best the Hou Bang had. He was not the only choice Dr. Chang had to do this job, however, as there was at least one other person who was willing and perhaps even more qualified to take it on. Why Dr. Chang made his choice, no one else could know, besides perhaps, the man himself, Dr. Chang, or the other choice Kou, but none of them was would speak about it.
The man smiled, knowing that the soldiers wouldn't dare argue with him. He was well known within the syndicate for his skills. But no one, perhaps not even Dr. Chang himself, knew anything else about him, which is how he liked it. He was truly alone, making him truly untouchable. "That had been Kou's mistake," he thought to himself, rather amused that a man of his caliber would make the ultimate mistake of having feelings for the one he was trying to protect.
The smile disappeared rather quickly, however, as he looked back at the security screen, to see a man in a trenchcoat walking causally down the hall. He seemed in no hurry, but something about him made the man's skin crawl. "Moria!" he called to one of the soldiers. She quickly came to his side.
"Yes, Mr. Clax?" she asked, duty and a little confusion in her tone.
"Have you ever seen that man before?" Clax asked, pointing to the man on the screen as he continued his little walk, his finger's touch rippling the screen just a little.
"No sir... should I have?"
"I'm not sure yet." The two of them watched a little while before the man calmly and deliberately entered Leon's apartment. "Dammit! Ok, Moria, I want you to radio the nest. Get me all you can on this man." His voice was tense. From what he had gathered, Leon wasn't the kind to shy away from a friend, but the ones close enough to just walk into his apartment were VERY few, in fact, the only one Clax had heard of was Daley.
Moria turned behind them and was already making the call before she replied. "Yes, Sir!"
* * *
Nene watched from her desk as Jake marched past her, not so much as a glance in her direction. It was no secret to her that he would strike up a conversation with her if he could. If her friends in the office hadn't told her, she still would have figured it out, as she has caught him more than once looking at her with the indecisive look on his face. But tonight, his march of determination matched an expression that would offer no diversions. "This can't be good," she told herself, watching him be-line it straight to the chief's office. Normally, she would be curious, but she just couldn't take any more yelling. Priss' little outburst finished her off for the day.
Jake, for his part, seemed rather calm. He knew this would not be an easy sale, but he was gonna be damned if Leon's bet was left unmatched. He would bring his K-suite out, and show Leon his true passion. "Besides," he thought to himself while waiting for the chief to let him in, "he should really enjoy some of the adjustments I made to this puppy." He grinned for a moment, remembering the work in the garage; Every step of the way perhaps the most careful he has ever been.
The grin disappeared as Jake tried his best to appear serious as he heard what he was waiting for. The chief was barely audible, "come in."
* * *
It was a nice sunset as Priss finally returned home. She couldn't bring herself to get back till now, partly because she was not in the mood to sit still, and partly from her own guilt at failing Leon and Vision so recently. This mood still hovered over her, to the point she didn't even consider the scenery... not even to say it was pathetic to think much of it. However, another need brought her home: the need to check on Linna. She killed the motor of her bike and flipped the kickstand down, only removing her helmet a moment later. With a sigh, she gazed into space a moment, trying to think of what to say in case Linna needed to be consoled still, but the words would not come to her mind.
"Just give it up, Priss... you KNOW your no good at those things," she rebuked at herself, slowly but as confidently as she could striding to the doorway. "Besides, just being there is a lot better than nothing," she added, trying to make herself a little less guilt ridden. For the rest of the rip, through the hall and the elevator, she did her best to keep her mind from wandering.
At the door, Priss knocked gently, afraid to wake Linna if she was asleep. "Hello? Linna? You up?" Again the tone was a bit quieter than normal, but there was no response. With a shrug, Priss got out her own keys and unlocked the door.
Glancing inside, Priss relaxed just a little before pushing the door open completely. The lights were on, and there was a plate and glass on the table. Apearantly, Linna was up and decided to get a bite to eat. She didn't do the dishes, but having lost a good friend, who could blame her? "I know I can't," Priss thought to herself. First time someone close died, she didn't do half as well as Linna was now.
Shaking that thought, Priss moved into the living room, seeing Linna staring at the TV, which she had placed back on it's stand and, suprisingly, still worked. Getting a little closer, Priss heard the voice of a reporter talking about the stock market.
Linna finally noticed someone was there and turned her blank stare to Priss... her expression warmed up almost immediately, glad for company. "Hello, Priss... what kept you out all day?"
"Uh... hi..." Priss was stunned, but glad to see that. Linna wasn't the only one that could use the company tonight. "How you holding up?"
Linna smiles slightly, "A little better. Thanks for calling work today."
"WHAT? How did you..."
Linna smiles a bit more. It was hard to tell if it was the expression on Priss' face, or genuinely being thankful. "Kinda had to miss the sympathy cards from the office." She gestured toward the small pile of cards, a tear streaking down her face.
"I see... well, I thought it best if you take the day to rest... Hell I would have said to take the week, but I didn't think you would be the kind to stay away from the office that long." Priss' hand was behind her head, but then her voice showed a bit more concern again, "but it is good to see you up again. I was afraid I was gonna have to force feed you when I got home."
Linna laughed, the visual being VERY clear in her head, but all the more needing to laugh. "Yeah... that wouldn't be very pleasant, would it?" After a moment, it was her turn to come back to earth. "By the way, Priss... where were you all day?"
"Well, erm... you see..." Priss tried to consider how to go on, not sure how much Linna knew already, but the news soon cleared it up...
On the screen, the reporter had returned, "and a touch of unusual news, one of the two singers at the Big Egg Stadium, Priss Asigiri, was caught on film today, at the AD Police headquarters. Her reason for being there, to argue in defense of the only suspect in the..."
Priss changed the channel, half annoyed with the news for putting her 'outing' in the lime light, and half embarrassed that the news should tell Linna what she had done... or possibly even Leon.
Linna, however, looked at her quizzically. "Priss? Why would a stop by the AD Police get attention like that?"
Priss didn't reply right away, which explained enough to Linna. She knew very well how bad her friend's temper could be, and all the more so when someone she cared about (whether she would admit it or not) was getting nailed to the wall. With a sigh, Linna nodded. "Alright, Priss... I understand. How did it go?"
"The new chief is everything Leon said he was... and absolute, ass kissing, moron." Priss' tone said enough. It didn't go well at all.
Even as she knew Priss was upset, Linna couldn't help but laugh a little. Priss, for her part, decided to ignore it. She could press Linna to find out what was so funny, but she either wouldn't get a direct answer or wouldn't want it. On that note she calmly strode to the phone. "Well in anycase, I have to make a call. I can't let the moron win, now can I?" Priss smirked as she said it, somehow a little more at ease that she can at least do something.
Linna nodded. "Alright, Priss." Rather than listen in, which at any other day, she may have found amusing, Linna went back to the TV, though now switching on some cartoon. Something light.
Priss smiled quietly, glad to see this. Everyone on the team has been through there times of depression, but it was never easy to watch a friend drop to those levels. Snatching the phone mechanically, Priss made her call. As the dial tone told her the other end was ringing, she considered how she was going to do this. "Will she even pick up after how I treated her?" she had to question. It wasn't like Nene couldn't handle being rebuked, but there really was very little she could have done, whether either of them liked it or not. Her connections to Leon also would undo her arguments on behalf if him as much as it has Priss...
The thoughts quickly left leaving a blankness as the phone was picked up on the other end and Nene's voice answered. "AD Police, Nene Romanova speaking." Her voice was not nearly as perky as it normally was.
"Hi, Nene," Priss began, knowing her name would not be needed.
"Priss..." Nene's voice trailed off.
"Nene..." Priss waited a moment that was uncomfortable for both of them, "...sorry to bother you again, but, I need your help."
Dead silence on the phone. Priss had to wonder what was going on in her younger teammate's mind. Finally Nene spoke again, "alright, Priss," her tone was quiet still, as if in shock, "what do you need me to do?"
"I need you to look in the files for anything to help clear Leon's name," Priss replied rather quickly, "Anything you can find will help."
"Alright... I... I will get right on it."
"Thank you... Oh, and Nene? I'm sorry I yelled at you. This has been a lot for me to take." The last part of that took A LOT of effort on Priss' part to say. She almost never apologized to anyone.
"It's ok, Priss... you were right. I... I didn't even try..." Nene's voice fluctuated a little, and it was a good thirty seconds before she came back, "I froze when he needed defense."
Priss was stunned. "Nene... listen to me now... you may not have been able to help then, but you can now. Help me figure this out. You shouldn't feel guilty... you know you would have been thrown out just like I was, and I don't doubt you knew it then. But now is the chance to do something about it. Please help me." Priss really didn't like her own tone at the end. She sounded like it was personal to get Leon out of this.
However, it seemed to have the right effect on Nene. The girl was good at what she did, very good, but sometimes, she needed to know she had her friends and teammates behind her. "Alright, Priss... lets do this..." her tone got more resolute as she spoke. "I can begin tonight after my shift."
"Excellent! See you later!"
"Bye!"
And with a click, the phone was down. Priss grinned, imagining the determined look on Nene's face. Satisfied, she went to join Linna. After all, it had been a long time since she had sat down to watch much on television. And she was curious what could be keeping Linna grinning from ear to ear with a snicker here and there.
* * *
Boots snuck around the back of the AD Police tower, a determined look on his face. Each step was cautious, as if he didn't want to make a sound, but anything but silence came from his mouth. He was constantly muttering about how the chief needed to get his ass kicked, or he should put 5 does of industrial strength ex-lax in his coffee, or give him some other rather inventive, but brutal penalty. As these ideas effortlessly crossed his mind and mouth, the conversation he just had with the chief remained perfectly fresh in his mind...
After knocking at the door for about a minute, the chief must have finally gotten tired of hearing it, as Jake heard the sound he was waiting for... the voice of the chief. "Come on in," he said in an impatient tone.
"What could have made him so sour?" Jake thought to himself as he walked inside. The chief was calm, though he seemed tired as he looked down into the papers before him. Before the chief could tell him to, Jake sat down. Before he could be told not to, he also had his feet up on the desk.
The chief didn't seem to notice. "Mr. Boots, it's been a long, long day, so if you have any kind of scheme planned, please do me a favor and spare me of it."
Jake looked stunned. "What? Me? Scheme? Why would you think that?"
The chief only now looked up at him, the kind of look that asks 'excuse me, but, do you want to die.' Calmly he spoke once more, "Please remember, I'm talking to you after all."
Jake sighed, "Well if you feel that way about it, but that's beside the point. I have a question for you. Why the hell when things get serious, do you hold me back in here and not let me in the action?"
"You know the reason Jake. The fact is we really don't need the support of K-Suits all that much. You're here because the top brass of the AD Police feel each office needs to be fully equipped... just in case," he paused a moment, "and you know as the main headquarters, we need to put up a prime example."
"Well, you could at least let a front be shown. I mean, I'm sure the people would feel MUCH safer if they saw a K-Suit in use once in a while. Just to show we are out there."
"Is it really that, or do you just want to impress some girl because you drive the thing?" The chief didn't need to say anymore. He simply wasn't buying into this.
Jake growled. He wasn't expecting this to be a smooth sale, but he also was hoping the chief would be a little more professional than that. "Listen, Sir," the word sir in so much sarcasm it was ridiculous, "You might want to take serious consideration on letting me take my K-Suit out there tomorrow... otherwise..."
The chief waited a moment, before answering in what was quickly becoming an infuriating calm. "otherwise?"
"Ever here of disgruntled employees, buddy?"
"Are you threatening me? As I said, I have had a long day, but not nearly long enough to cave to that kind of thing. That may have gotten you where you want to go across the ocean, but it doesn't work with me."
"How about I show you a disgruntled employee right now."
"And get kicked off the force, never to see your precious K-Suit again? I don't think you would do that," the chief was smug, watching the anger rise in the other officer he least appreciated... perhaps even as much as Leon.
Jake jumped to his feet, fist balled back, ready to strike, and it took all the will he had in him to let the fist drop. The chief was right, he would kill this creep, if only it wouldn't cost him the K-Suit.
The chief's smug grin only grew, "There's a good boy. And if I can help you out with anything else, please do me a favor and let it wait till tomorrow... I really cant deal with more of these antics tonight."
Jake marched out the door, slamming it behind him...
"Yeah, but he didn't count on everything, did he?" Jake said to himself hauntilly. Just like in his previous office, the maintenance people were always interested in a game of cards or dice or what have you during off-time, and to have an officer who wouldn't be so full of themselves as to join in was always more then welcome. "And having friends who can get you in always helps." Jake smirked... when he first went out back after hours, the technician people just looked on, not sure what to make of him as he went on with one of his new friends to go over various systems in the suits. Within a month, he was welcomed as he would tweak this or that system in his suit to his own needs.
Now, that same access would let him win his bet with Leon, no matter what. Getting to the gate, he unlocked it quickly and stepped inside. It didn't take long for him to find his own suit. Most of them were in blue and white... and nothing else. Jake's, on the other hand, was pitch black with lightning down each arm and flames along the shins. He had thought about getting deamonic eye decals for the sides just below his display plate, but just had not gotten to it yet.
Jake quickly approached his suit and climbed inside it. "So much for the chief getting in the way, now lets show Leon just how serious we really are!" he was as much talking to the suit as to himself, then he turned on the suit. Within moments, he was off, making running leaps with his thrusters to get to Leon's.
* * *
Try as she might, Priss could not get herself to stick to cartoons easily. She had to admit, sometimes that damn dog-like thing was amusing as it tried to catch the blue bird, but over all, it was pretty mindless, and didn't take her mind off other things. Linna, wasn't too engrossed either, but her mind really had nothing more important to handle, so she found it a bit easier to laugh at the antics of the two. Priss glanced at her, envious of that.
With a sigh, she got up once more. "I wonder how he is doing?" Priss finally let herself think without rebuking it. The idea of being suspended on murder charges must have been hard for Leon to swallow, and as much as she hated to admit it, it bothered her too because of it.
Linna watches as she walked on, "What's wrong, Priss?" she asked quietly.
Priss was silent a moment. It wasn't so much the silence of someone who was upset as someone who didn't expect to be noticed. "Nothing's wrong... I just need to make one more call... that's all."
Linna smiled slightly, understanding instantly. "Alright." She wanted to add not to worry too much about it, but decided against it. It was probably better if she didn't try to make Priss face how she felt right now...
Priss didn't really acknowledge Linna's response, but there was no need to. Instead, she picked up the phone and dialed the numbers... in a moment, she heard the phone ringing.