The New Young Justice Fanfic
By ssj4vacca and RT/manticoraus
[Where we left off was when dld past out (again hehe) after muttering something about a temple.]
(Gamer enters the room in which DLD lay unconscious in a bed, Phoebus checks DLD for signs of improvement, and OSK wearily looks on .)
Gamer: Geezz, he still out?
(Phoebus , a little frustrated, turns to Gamer with his right eyebrow raised, slightly)
Phoebus: This is the tenth time you've asked! He has been through a great deal, so chill. Take some valium or somethin'.
Gamer: I'm going to pretend you didn't say that, frag'n simbad looka like.
(OSK chuckles a little as phoebus's face turns read. Then OSK's face is dark and serious)
OSK: (snaps) This isn't the time. This guy could wake-up at any minute. We don't even know what he is capable of. I say we kill the little son of a bitch while we can. He is too #$%&&#$& dangerous.
(Phoebus turns to OSK with a stern face).
Phoebus: No killing.
OSK : Who are you to tell me what to do? I don't have to answer to you.
Phoebus: Though that may be true, and killing a person in there sleep shows that you have no honor. If you try to harm him while he is in this state I will stop you.
Gamer: You have no right to speek of honor, you're runing around in a figg'n halloween costume.
OSK (smiles a little): Fine Phoebus, but if he so much as looks at me wrong, I'm all over him.
(Phoebus leaves dld's side and makes his way to an intercom and then presses a red button.)
Phoebus: Rosario, I have some unexpected company and I greatly appreciate if you could order some pizza.
(the voice in the intercom): Is there any specific kind of pizza you have in mind?
Phoebus: Just order three off every kind.
(the voice in the intercolm): Ok, is there any beverage that you desire.
Phoebus: Not at the moment but I'll call you if I need anything else.
(Phoebus presses the button again to turn off the intercolm and then turns to DLD who is just waking up, Gamer who is on the phone, and OSK who warily watching DLD with his arms folded leaning on the wall.)
(DLD moans as his eyes open to see everyone in the room staring at him)
DLD: Wha- where am I?
Phoebus: In Los Angeles, but to be more specific your in one of the
guest rooms of my mansion.
OSK: Where did gamer go?
Phoebus: Don't know, Don't care. What does that guy have against me away? Seriously from the moment he saw me he.......
OSK: I think we should get back to the subject at hand. Ya know, the human time bomb slash nuke and one Jerry Tanget.
Phoebus: Oh yeah, sorry about that.
Phoebus (turns to DLD and smiles ): I'm Phoebus and the guy glaring at you is oh-ess-kay. You put up quite a fight a while ago. . .
DLD : I'm. . . The Dragon Lord Descendant, but you can call me Luke. Why am I here?
OSK (smirks): 'Cause you couldn't handle your liqeur.
(Ignoring OSK, a puzzled look came over Phoebus' face.)
Phoebus: So what you're saying is you don't know how you got here?
DLD: Yup, its pretty much as fuzzy as a polar bear in a sand storm. Eeh eeeh? Hehe
(OSK rolls his eyes while Phoebus smiles because he found DLD's attempt to make make a joke humorous)
DLD: Well it sounded funner when I was thinking it up.
OSK: Speaking of jokes, my friend told me a joke the other day. Its pretty funny; A pirate walked into a bar with a stiring wheel on his crotch and.....
Phoebus (frowns): I don't think I like where this is going-
OSK: Don't worry this is one of the cleanest jokes I know.
Phoebus (sighs): Ok, lets hear it.
(OSK rolls his eyes at Phoebus's presumption of authority)
OSK: Anywho; the bar tender says, "Do you know that you have a steering wheel on you crotch?" and the pirate says, "Arhhhh, it be driving me nuts all aday."; Heeeheee haaahaahaaahaaahaaaahaaa.!
Phoebus (slaps himself on his forehead): Geeeezzzz........and this is the cleanest joke you know?!
OSK (grins): Hey there ain't nothing dirty about it. Its one of the funniest
clean jokes I have ever heard.
Phoebus (sighs): Nevermind just forget it.
DLD: I don't get it. Why in the heck would someone have a steering wheel on there crotch?
Phoebus: So! You mentioned a temple earlier, what did you mean?
(As soon as Phoebus finished that sentence he felt a huge wave of sadness, grief, and anger; coming from DLD. DLD's face turns dim after he starts to remembers what had happened at the temple.)
Phoebus: Is there something you wanted to tell us?
(Phoebus senses that DLD is trying to hide his feelings)
DLD: No, not really. So tell me about you guys. (DLD then turns to OSK) Uuuhh-uhh what's your story? What does your name even stand for?
(A smerk comes across osk's face)
OSK: It stands for One Shot Kill, I'm half demon, and that's all you need to know.
DLD (turns to Phoebus): And 'Fo-Bus' what about you. You seem nice.
(Phoebus smiles)
Phoebus: Thanks for the compliment.
DLD: Well, you are nice you don't even know me and you bring me to you house.
(BEEEEEP BEEEEP)
Voice in the intercom: The pizza is here Cody and I took the liberty of setting out beverages. Everything is set in the third dining room. Oh, one last thing, your friend gamer asked for your phone number before he left. So I gave him your cell. I'll be in the rose garden if you need anything else.
DLD: Is that your mom?
Phoebus: No, but sometimes i caller that on an accident.
osk: Yeah.... I called a guy mom once. He wasn't too happy.
Phoebus (turns to his guest and smiles) : shall we eat?
[1 hour and forty five minutes later]
(Gamer sighs while doddling in the dirt on the floor in one of
Tanget's prison cells)
Gamer: Where are those guys?
[back at phoebus's manison]
OSK: what tha %^#@!!!!! how in the hell does paper beat rock!
DLD: It just does?
Phoebus: uhh OSK, language.
osk: Oh, sorry about that.
Phoebus (sighs): And could you keep it down I'm sorta on the phone.
DLD: I think paper wraps around rock.
OSK: But rock tear through paper.
DLD: Not if paper imoblizes it.
OSK: Well, rock would set paper on fire.
DLD: Paper would just put out the fire and throw rock into the sun
OSK: The rock's buddy named scissor would cut paper into pieces and rock would win!
DLD: No way, rock didn't win. Scissor did and scissor wasn't even in the fight to begin with. So paper wins.
Phoebus: Guys! (they pay attention to Cody) It looks like your going to have to postpone this discussion. Some guy who calls him self Thoughsniper says that Gamer is in trouble.
Osk slowly gets up form the dinner table and made his way to Cody.
"So, where, exactly, is Gamer?" Osk asked looking down to the seated host. The dark-haired privileged youth turns his head tilting up his chin to dark-skined 'evil fighter' with a worrisome look on his face responding, "At Tanget's underground base."
"How do we know we can trust this ThoughtSniper guy? For all we know we could be walking into a trap," Osk stated. His arms shivered in frustration.
"Does it look like we have a choice?" Phoebus answered with a shrug.
"So when do we leave?" Luke interrupted from his seat, still. He could apparently understand them with ease.
"We-uh- you want to come?" Phoebus asked with a puzzled look on his face. This youth's emotional state of being was just confusing, "You just-"
Something stopped him just before the words the words from the land-tossed youth came out, "I'm game if you are, Hahahahaha! Do ya get it?" Both Phoebus and Osk frowned across the table at him in unison.
"Not funny," Osk responded.
"Sorry, sometime I just can't help myself!" Luke exclaimed with a wide grin in affected belly laugh. He kept one eye close; to hide his pain.
"That's all right", Phoebus responded, soothing Luke's received nervousness and covering his own. It was hard to think of this recently unconscious foreigner as comprehensive and articulate.
"We're leaving just before nightfall to meet with Thoughtsniper at Starbrucks."
"Why so late?" Luke asked disparagingly peering with his eyes at the Decon and Cody.
"So we can have time to rest up, and I'm going shopping," his nose scrunched as his tone shifted to that of lecturer, "Its helps me think!" he then seems displeased at himself, readjusts his breathing and attitude in an instant appends, "You guys can come if you want."
Luke and the half-demon simultaneously declined Phoebus's offer. Phoebus's faces became more as it had been, calmed but with a soulful softness. He stood up slide a hand into his pocket calmly offering another hospitality.
* * *
"Yeee!" the young Asian man splashed into the indoor/outdoor pool as Osk watched scarfing more pie.
It was a few hours later as Luke was toweling off that Cody returned with a new, expensive, and chique wardrobe. His assistant stood behind and to the side of him as he smirked and nodded, "Well guys, I'm ready let's go."
OSK scoffed a little but followed to the limosine. Luke looked about curiously this was definitely different from his temple life. The car's body filled his irises as he reached his hand as in a trance to touch the smooth and spotless surface. Cody moved to stop him, then-
shhhh-wumph
Cody kissed the hard smooth paint of his limo even the crevice of the trunk. His head was swimming from the rush of blood to it. He grimaced. Luke backed away shaken and then shoved his hands in his pockets.
The limo ride to the rendez-vous was surprisingly lacking in tension between the displaced youth and the privileged social-worker. Empathic Cody understood what had happen and so had Luke with a few choice words. OSK was the only one radiating such barely ignorable rage the driver kept darting eyes to the rear.
They had pulled off the highway and were onto the street towards the downtown coffeehouse when OSK ended brooding with a declaration, "Stop the car."
Cody raised an eyebrow and began to object but seemed to be held back by something.
OSK responded anyway, "Look you're obviously new to this. I don't mean the evil fighting. I mean the underground. I am not. Informants are not by themselves, not the professional useful ones. They have watchers and coming in this big rod is nice if you're a syndicate leader, but with us.. that's suicide. We get off three blocks from."
Cody thought about it and then smirked "Okay!"
The limo pulled up and stood at a curb. Cody gave the driver instructions on where to meet then disembarked. Out stepped one Caucasian with French blood, a black youth with demon blood 'raised' in Japan, and then an American Born Chinese ((psst comic by Gene Yang I demand you read it www.humblecomics.com)). Now they were band together to meet a concerned stranger, or as OSK suggested a front man, to save some southern kid with a loudmouth and a strange power.
The stuff (he daren't call it coffee) was way too uneven. The flavor part water and part mass. They obviously kept in business in name not by product, typical outlet. He adjusted his hair and rubbed at a tense point at the rim of his eyes beneath his large squarish glasses. So many people here. It was hurtful on the ears. Not to mention he was having trouble thinking for himself what words to say. He had practiced so much, hours before, but now the performance could be undone with a bit of stage nerves. He then glanced to the window of the shop. Knowing just then they approached.
Cody was also feeling uneasy. Downtown had a much rawer but also more hardened emotion-scape. Places of business that sold wares influenced the atmosphere. It hit with their projections and then he felt the 'reality.' And then there was something else. Familiar. Fear? It was hard to say. His companions' moods were apparent to him but they felt more distant than their contact. He let OSK take point. He was invincible or something like it. He didn't feel watched. But couldn't be sure. His empathy could be more a weakness than an advantage. Perhaps Thoughtsniper knew of it. Like he knew of Gamer and this Jerry.
Luke was still amazed by the city life. After seclusion in an obscur Chinese temple it was a quantum leap. The light felt different here. And the boys around him.. about his age were actually friends of a sort. Luke's eyes sought something.
A young kid who fit the crowd like any other raised his hand. He could have been raising it to anyone in the shop he blended in so well with the scenery. Cody then noted what was so familiar about him. He didn't really project his own self in the store so much as let it move through him. He was receptive like Cody!?
His hair was long and straight slicked it back and kept out of the way of glasses only a mom would get him. Phoebus smirked an appraisal. Almost good looking if he put on some weight, but he was too sharp, too angular to be considered anything more than 'kinda cute in a geeky sort of way'. He had a simple black tee and jeans. A wonder he fit in with the bustling bourgeois at all but his manner was supplementing his outfit.
"Hello, uh uh uh, over here?" he said. Luke noted this kid seemed at place but a stranger of the shop. Not part of its current clientele. This Thoughtsniper was only boy of his age in around this time. Its what he had noticed. An artist's attention to strange detail. And an only child's.
"Is that the one?" OSK asked hissing low with gritted teeth walking in a strange path. Cody felt the wariness so nodded emphatically. The black youth trodded to the table and then sat, shortly join at his left and opposite sides by Cody and Luke respectively.
Cody did the talking making OSK bite his lip down, "Thoughtsniper-"
"I presume," the brown hair young white man interjected, "We got your," he seemed to shake something out his mouth, "my. You got my message and have showed up. Sorry you're late?"
OSK narrowed his eyes. Cody flinched back Luke began rubbing his fingers across a disposable menu mouthing silently. Luke nimbly tucked up his knees to keep his feet off the things under the table.
"You can uh.. Call me Dwayne if you like. The walls have ear," he then gave what was supposed to be a nervous jovial laugh.
"You got a roach under the collar?"
Cody was curious as to the meaning but Thoughtsniper-Dwayne's face reset in expression and gutturally answered, "No ya got a shiv up your ass?"
OSK seemed taking back by this shift. Dwayne frowned sipping more of his coffee. Phoebus fingered an umbrella sack. There wasn't a chance of storm but what it held could extend ready to hold off the pouring of blood.
Luke flopped down his menu and flagged a waiter, "A oatmeal muffin, please!"
OSK resumed interrogation, "Who are you? And why are you doing this?"
"I've told you, Decon.
"When did I give you my name?" OSK interrupted.
The kid continued, "Call me Dwayne and I am Thoughtsniper. I don't like Jerry Tangent as much as Gamer and you need my help. Since you can't track him."
OSK's face scrunched up as his mouth opened again Phoebus quickly took up mediation, "You're obviously very talented and uh resourceful to have this information on Jerry Tangent. Right now. Its just-"
"I'm not with some rival syndicate."
"We think otherwise," Luke piped eyes still on his menu."
Dwayne clenched his hands together and tried not to yell out his throbbing frustration, "He's a modern day pirate and fence. He has to be stopped. And he.. he's holding a lot of people uh captive. OR just two..I'm not sure?"
"What kinda crap intel is this. Make up your mind are you hardcore or just some dimestore stool pigeon. Or a fronter for a trap!"
"This isn't like with Akira, One-Shot Kill. This is genuine. I want to take a bad man down"
"AND HOW DO YOU KEEP-"
Luke interjected with a mouthful of muffin, "Can you take us there? Is he safe?"
"Not sure about the second but the first. Oh yeah. Also about Clique."
"What about them?"
"She's a trained assassin. Better than you perhaps. On loan from the Four Falls."
OSK became thoughtful at this and then his rage receded to anxiety.
"Look I'd rather start discussing our target ya see," he pulled up a tube container from Kinko's "I need to brief you on a lot more than that pretty thing."
And so he popped open the tube and rolled out one seamap and then another with outlines of the base. And then several clear binder briefs with different hued plastic clips. Luke flipped his open and was amazed, "You even write in my families language?"
Dwayne lopsided a toothy grin to Luke and began his briefing. Cody was easily catching this meant a lot to the informant so decided to go with it but had a better idea.
"How about we do this in mm-the limo?"
The four recently met teens paid at the register as the newest got his trench coat. The unnamed four exited the place and met up with the luxury car down the street.
The informant rolled out his map on the floor of the limo. Hebegan, "Jerimiah Tangent, son of Kelly Tangent and one of his then favored sea sl.. uh ya knows. The Tangents are the legitimate face of an old pirate clan. They sailed the seas since before era colonial. They learn to have a legit fencer on the stands and slowly they ascended to the position of Mosk-En.
"You're kidding. A a pirate?" Phoebus responded next to Dwayne trying but failing not to recall Dustin Hoffin in a silly overloaded with accessories braided doublet, "And his title is similar to a shellfish?"
Dwayne grimaced and continued, "He dresses normally and hasn't been to raid for years. That title is head of the clan. It's been passed through that family for five generations."
"Many may raid expensive freighters and some fight illegal environment harming," Luke opposite the two of them offered though he apparently felt apprehension and not appreciation.
"Jerry's all business. The Tangents avoid most busts because they're more the transport service than the actual, ya know leaders and controlling orgs. Until Jerry. He's made Tangent Enterprises a significant transport and shipping venue for the semi-legit linking them with the illegal and then, well, implicating his clients."
"Okay you lost me," OSK griped next to Luke though not seated. He was crouched low noting the map.
"It was a kinda blackmail that assured he got old and new money support quickly. With a little backdoor tactics he secured himself a path and his company began to expand to an actual syndicate. There's even talk of a Triad and mafia induction as a bridge member.
Understanding dawning OSK even clarifies, "Privilege of both but slave to none. Sweet deal if you can grasp it.
"I am not liking your familiarity with such horrible person," Luke said.
Phoebus only looked on as Dwayne continued, "Ya, well needless to say with such a recent power move there's been stress. Sloppiness from his usual work."
After a pause Thoughtsniper continued, "Hence his recent expansions on the white trade on the East coast and the bust near here. Also his hiring of Clique from the Four Falls"
"Yeah, the upstart assassin cadre?" OSK said, "I mean really where are you getting this from? They were beer talk back in the biz."
Cody's eyebrows raised and furrowed on really confused. He put out fires where and when they came. But all this, this intimacy with the darkness and seediness of society, the matter-of-fact repartee about murderers and prostitutioners and racketeers, and the causal way they felt about it made him uneasy. Then it hit him how worse Tangent was to instill this into others.
"What, those source of all assasins?" Luke inquired pointedly still on the point about Clique's employers.
OSK rolled his eyes, "What a baby. C'mon man its just front for a bunch of yokels to make them scared. They don't have Triad or Mafia power so they say 'we are the crown of assasins or some such $#@^' They just a bunch of dipwad punks with decent swig of cred." Cody understood, being something of a maven on myths and reality. He'd be inclined to agree if he'd felt Decon himself was as sure as he was sounding.
"Whoah! Hold on you're way educated about organized crime in Asia?" TS answered, just as the thought struck Phoebus himself. A very strong revelation finally crystallized for Cody.
"I was raised there. I mean in Japan. A syndicate toad's dog."
Phoebus was taken back, "Uh!"
"Don't worry, I got treats," he snarked. Phoebus couldn't doubt the meaning of that. [I]No wonder he was so glazed with rage and discontent.[/I]
Luke narrowed his eyes, "I don't like Syndicate."
"Ex-Syndicate. I turned and left. I fight evil now. Not do it, okay. Look focus- HE'S the weirdo talking about stuff he can't possibly know about! And don't tell me he got this layout alone. I mean coordinates for an unlisted island and even blueprints for the infrastructure?"
"I hack well." TS said bashfully, "You need to understand. I'm not a threat. Really. I, I just learn stuff easy it's . . .a talent."
Cody sharply interjected, "I'm certain he's honest. But still this does seem but convenient. And it looks like your map of the base is incomplete.
"This is the proposed setting. He used different sets of contractors to build the whole thing. This only has the permanent unchangeable professional stuff. They needed to outsource to dig out the island and build in the main walls."
Cody got it, "So a lot of paid off contractors knew. Or had records that leaned to them knowing. Shipping manifests. Inventory requisitions that stuff."
TS nodded then added, "But the migrants they used for the basic labor were too big a risk. Some of them are clan. Most are fertilizer, literally, the entire third quarter shipment."
"So this map is likely inaccurate?" Luke asked tracing green on it with his fingers.
"Don't do that I can't buy-huh WHAT??" TS was surprised as the green lifted off the paged and then formed a wireframe model...that vanished. The other three stared.
"Uh," Phoebus raised a finger shakily, "Gunt, to the house?"
"How did you do that?" Phoebus yelled
"I am Dragon Lord," Luke asserted.
OSK glared at him, "A freak. LIKE ME?"
"No, destined. I-look we've wasted many hours. Surely Gamer could be-"
"Alright," Thoughtsniper called from Cody's desktop. He had be allowed use and had strangely been involved like his brain was offshore.
"What!" Phoebusy yelled. He got up and ran to Dwayne, dressed to go he couldn't believe it. He'd been quietly imagining horrid fates of torture and humilation for the teen.
"He's imprisoned they've interrogated him, some but so far he's okay?" TS's tone seemed as if he was talking to someone else but then his face communicated assurance.
"This from a computer," OSK asked skeptically.
"From a guard," Dwayne's elbow was on his knee as he spoke his hands motioning "We duel backgammon with Yahoo. And chat. He recognized a boy similar to Ro- Gamer and then uh well he's big news."
"Why is that?" Luke asked eager and sharp. Glad to not be center of such interrogation anymore he still couldn't calm down.
"He's implicated there being a calvary charge by the "smite-y tighties" as they call them. They're rumors of a JLA sting. So," TS let the last hang.
"High alert," OSK immediately vocalized everyone's worries, "Yeah well not like we were planning to use the front door."
Dwayne bit in his lower lip and gained a harden stare, "I've got a more accurate lay of the area too. And an idea of its current staff. Good news they aren't prepared for a meta-scale assault but they're always on alert for coast guard and even some naval interference. Bad news, Clique and some other guys are there. Just in case."
"This has to be a stealth mission," Phoebus assessed.
"I got a door," Dwayne entoned strongly, "that shouldn't be that heavily guarded. But we still need transportation to island." These people wouldn't stop interrupting.
"We can't fly that crappy scifi craft," OSK thumbed to the X-Wing in the garden, "And I don't teleport groups!"
Luke was really impressed, "You can teleport?" then became bashful.
Phoebus turned a quick examining look from Luke's face to the group as something dawned on him at memory of last night, near the water, "I have that covered!"
"You own a stealth helicopter or a sub?" OSK wondered really not ready but not unsuspecting the possibility.
"Better!"
(one hour later)
"You're just ludicrously wealthy, aren't you?" Osk just covered his head. The salt air irritating his dread-strained scalp and tickled his eyes.
"When did you get this for your birthday?" Luke asked sitting behind them out on the deck.
"It's not mine?" Phoebus laughed. He was in a thin jogging suit to cover his outfit, no reason to give a full show until setting foot on the island.
"Shipjacking, my, my and here I thought you were all strai- well uh by the book" TS smarmed.
"No its from Mister Spears. Ya see my dad and him know each other and I helped him with some stuff and he lets us use the thing when he's off and about." Phoebus explained turning the wheel.
"You handle it nice. Very well and after little time to experience," Luke praised with an unsaid purpose.
"Aw, these things practically run themselves besides the real fun is when we hit unregulated waters. That's where the pirates attack," he steered the motored yacht a few more degrees to the left careful eye on the plugged in coordinates on his locator.
"Hold on, that is so not our plan, right?" OSK worried.
"No. It isn't," Cody answered, "Though we should plan for it. These guys aren't swords and striped shirts. An armed chopper. A trained super assassin team. Satellite T1 connection."
Dwayne was then listening to Luke. He was smiling politely as he was inquired about where did his Canton and Mandarin flourish around these parts. Or if he could hack satellites for photos of military observation.
Phoebus decided now was a good a time as any to broach the subject, "Why are you upset all the time?"
"Get raised in a spartan room pulled out to eat, sleep, train, and crap on schedule from age four then get handed a knife and pointed at a stranger, accomplish that only to be made to do it again and again get masticated a new one each day by your "father" until you learn the truth and ask me that question." OSK snided. Bitterness and envy and even a little disgust swirled through him.
Phoebus's stomach knotted as he continued, "So, I take it your mom uh didn't approve of your dad's lifestyle?"
"She was a textbook oyabun's wife. Well other than she liked strays. My real mom...she cacked at the foot of Ji-san's manor. She was discovered as a demon shortly after and then Cleanerz came for me. Ji-san fought them off and put an alert out on them. But it cost Syndicate resources and turned out for very personal and un-Syndicate interests. He thought he was being singled out by religious nuts. The Yak heads figured he was a tail worth losing so brought some heat on him. Whole lotta sacrifice he wanted a lot of payoff. Ugh...look I don't wanna talk about it. I'll sum it up. I've got demon blood in me. My mom was a demon...and and I don't know who my pop is."
"Oh...and Akira?"
"Some self absorbed teep just wanting a seat upgrade. Used the info in my head and then whined about how we were friends. Don't like mindreaders. One of my first kills."
Phoebus became very uneasy and then glanced to TS via mirror responding "Tough life!"
"Yah, its not be all crumpets and J Crue."
Phoebus sighed, "They all assume. You know not all us readers are bad."
"Say what?" Osk's arms swung low and wide away from his body as he leaned to study his peer's eyes.
"Ah, well ya see. I could well feel people's uh emotions since I was real young. I went to ghetto-slum in Mexico when I was really.. well it all hit. Headshrinkers failed then we came upon, alternative counseling. A gypsy."
"That lady in over the intercom?" Osk asked
Phoebus decided some mystique was in order, "She has many skills. Ahem, I was taught to control my power. Really was great."
"So you go from Deanna Troi to Roman Light Centurian?" Osk asked not following with the other demonstrations of Phoebus's ability.
"Uh, well ya see that's not me. I mean not really. I have this," he fished the now the size of cordless phone, "I found it in Greece when I was fifteen. It reacted to me and then uh," the scepter began to extend and glow, "Well did that. Also this man appeared. Blonde and in a royal ancient Grecian outfit. It was Apollo himself. He uh said I could have his caduceus?"
"Why," Osk asked, "Well I mean its powerful and aren't Olympic gods evil? I mean I only watched Herc and Xee, so-"
"I uh maybe the reincarnation of someone he loved a long time ago. Dark forces target this man for his favor by the god of light and then so this scepter was crafted for his defense. If it reacted with me than that means we are connected."
"And so that's it. You're were once a priest or something of Apollo and now you're a silver spooned trust fund boy. So you get all these powers?" Osk asked a little incredulous.
"Hey it isn't logical. And I don't know maybe Apollo seems to think I am," Phoebus twirled the scepter and then ran his thumb at the end of it at the other hand was firm at the handle. His elbow was holding on one of the rungs to keep course with the yacht.
"Ah, I see," Osk finally got what had been upsetting Gamer
"What!" Cody blushed and shrunk down the scepter and replaced it in his pants just focusing ahead.
"Uh hmm. Well, I hope that works out but my mom. I mean that jerk's wife. Well she told me more than a few stories about this sorta thing. He could be using you. Or abusing you before you know it."
"Look Apollo is a little flakey but, really, not all gods are"
"I meant high class hook ups. You wouldn't be the first High but ignoble class dude to shag in private and get staked in public," Osk thought about it and then smiled, "But no big deal for me. Besides. Might even need to meet this guy."
"'Kay uh-oh.. here we are," Phoebus killed the engine and began to slow the bow. Just then weighing anchor. They were miles from it but out just beyond the choppy waves was the lumping of rock. A secret well watched passage for nautical entry Phoebus couldn't see. Even touching the sceptre. Bhe he new just angled right was a well used and comparably recently renovated hideout for one of the world's foremost rising criminal masterminds at sea.
This was the headquarters to Tagent Pirate Clan.
"Everyone we're going ashore. Get dressed and flushed," Phoebus yelled, "This is a rescue mission. And hey think we should synchronize watches?"
Osk looked apathetic at his companion. Perhaps he wasn't as bright on the inside as out.
Dwayne, now insisting on Thoughtsniper had slipped on a dark fendora of his from below deck and his trenchcoat again. Luke was still in his previous clothing though practicing kata and stance and chanting in a foreign language to cleanse and prepare himself. Phoebus was tickled at the perceiving of the ritual. It always gave him a strange feeling, not from the others, just within himself as a person prayed. Though obviously this was very important and true to young asian he felt God wasn't going to aide the growing restlessness in the boys spirit.
Cody walked down to him raising to rap his knuckles within the cabin's stairway. Luke's eyes broke open and he turned on his heels straight to his host, "Hello, Cody!"
"Hello, uh, Luke," Phoebus was unnerved, okay he'd known he was there, "Listen, you obviously are new in town. And I've been thinking this has been rather unfair-"
"I asked to come and got on the boat because I wanted to. Besides fair is not the point duty and destiny are."
Phoebus folded his arms and then Luke broke out in a grin and then laughter, "Sorry, I uh couldn't help myself. Really really. I can't go back. Not like I came. And even if I did I'd be running from those who need me. I can't back out."
"Look, uh Dragon Lord," Phoebus began as his scepter awakened and his eyes glowed, "We all are a little experienced or at least knowledgeable about the danger," a surge or indignation, "Now wait, I'm not calling you a coward. Just well, I know what you're feeling. You got skills. My jaw reminds me of that. But everything is just too new to you. And if something goes down. We may not be able to watch you."
Luke thinks and then scrunches his face, not sure how to approach this. Phoebus felt an urgency and a longing. As if for answers. Or an item
"No!" Phoebus objected at the realization of what was to be asked.
"You are very perceptive," Luke complimented then held up his index finger as precession for, "But it is my ring."
"That thing I.. look it was burning on your hand. We had to take it off. And I am not sure we need you becoming our worst enemy again!" Phoebus fumbled to explain.
"I think I've shown now I am not an enemy. Or anyone. I am Dragon Lord Descendant. And that is the Dragon Lord's ring. You should give it to me. Or I will not be able to inforce the justice and aid needed for this mission."
"Why should I risk
"Because we will face many armed guards and Clique and likely Tangent himself. You had Gamer and still she nearly killed you. I was able to defeat OSK
"You uh, lost" Phoebus pointed out
"I was still ABLE" he asserted face flushed in embarrassment, "With the ring and me unified once more. And in a proper state of mind for a good purpose I promise I won't go crazy again."
"Unless some computer distracts you!" Phoebus spat back.
"You were trusted with great power yourself in a short time. You aren't much older than me. And I promise to fight to rescue your friend,"
"He's not my friend he's just some critical hick with some weird companions. I'm surprised he's not being sold on the black market. Or gotten himself out
"Thus indicating the direness of the situation. Besides surely I am more worthy of trust than Dwayne-sniper."
Phoebus relents and then reaches into his flair pants and tosses the ring to the Dragon Lord. Catching it deftly out of the air he spins it so it is a hole in tips of his fingers, "You won't regret," he begins as with one hand he slips it on. And his hair glimmers, "This"
Streaks of green become radiant with the assuming of the ring. Phoebus worries but then floats himself upstairs. Not seeing the hiccup of green firey aura for the split second it manifests.
And thus they prepared for their first mission against the uncrowned tyrant king.