Major General Toot-Toot was about the size of a Ken Doll, with a pug nose, dragonfly wings, and pale magenta hair. Funny how such a little guy could be such a huge pain in my ass. I glowered down at him. He glowered back, arms crossed over his chest, wings flickering every so often in irritation. He'd added a letter opener to his growing collection of weapons. It was antique and sharpened to a fine point. He looked like he wanted to put it through my eye.
"What do you mean they're on strike?" I demanded.
Toot huffed and paced a little circle on my work table, shedding sparkling motes of dust as he went. "You'd think the big people would hear better with their enormous ears, but nooo..."
"I heard you, I just don't understand. Are you saying that they're all gone?"
Toot considered it, face screwed up in thought. "No. The main guard is still faithfully serving, Za-Lady, but there aren't enough for all the work."
I sighed and slumped in my chair. The Wee Folk might not have been much for straight combat, but they were hell on wheels for reconnaissance and sabotage. They kept most of my foci charged and ready, as well as alerting me to any trouble brewing in Chicago. Without their aid, my job had just gotten a lot harder. I'd have to lean on Marcone for more resources, something which I'd been trying to avoid.
"Do you at least know why they're on strike?"
In answer, Toot tossed something small and colorful onto the dusty tabletop. It had probably started its life as a cocktail umbrella. Now the canopy was inside out, and a message had been scrawled on the inside in childish script.
LESS WORK, MORE PEPPERONI.
I just stared at it blankly for a moment. When I finally tore my gaze away from the makeshift protest poster, I found Toot regarding me solemnly.
"They can't be serious," I muttered. "Tell me that doesn't mean what I think it means."
"You made the switch back to Pizza 'Spress, and you thought there wouldn't be a revolt?" Toot scoffed. "We've had Pizza Hut! It's a slap in the face, Za-Lady! Stuffed crust for overtime! That was the agreement!"
I scrubbed my face with both hands to keep myself from kicking something. How could something this ridiculous cause so much fallout?
"I told them we'd have to make the switch until I can afford it again! They agreed. Pizza is Pizza, Toot! At least I'm feeding them."
"You break a deal, and there are consequences. Fix it before there's a riot."
He flew away before I could reply. A riot of the Wee Folk. Over pepperoni. God in Heaven, my life was strange. But he was right about one thing. I had to find a way to fix this before my foci were next to useless.
Who did a girl have to shake down to get the money for Pizza Hut these days?