Mako's Message: Not particularly long (about average for me, really) but a fair bit better than the last one. Let me know if you'd like to know more about any of the characters in this chapter. Hmm... guess that's it for today. Enjoy!
Just got back from the first meeting of the new Justice Forever.
It wasn't what I expected.
But in some ways it was even better.
First off, it was in the basement of a bar. There was one of those doors in the ground in an alley behind it and it opened up to an elevator. It doesn't work unless you turn a key inside the basement. And the door that leads to what the bar uses as a store room was heavy with a metal bar across it and a keypad locking it.
There was a meeting room with a large table and several chairs around it. It had this really cool stars and stripes design on it with Justice Forever (Ya know, when I first heard it I thought that name was lame. But it's kind of grown on me. I can't really imagine it being called anything else at this point.) written around the edge. There was also a mini-fridge full of sodas and energy drinks("No drinking on the job") and some shelves of snacks( granola bars, power bars, fruit, and of course chips and snack cakes). The other room had a bunch of shelves, framed news clippings on the wall, and a really sweet computer set up. There where three stations, one main one with a big screen, maybe forty inches, and the other two where off to the sides and had other smaller screens.
We were the first one's there and Dave commented on the added security to the doors. Colonel Stars said, "I wanted to beef it up because with people like that(he nodded at some news clippings about the brawl) around, I don't want anybody getting in here if they aren't welcome."
The others showed up not long after us. The Gentleman was first with Insect-Guy right after. White Mage was next, and I was surprised by her. For some reason I thought she'd be really sweet and have long flowy hair. Instead she she had really short hair and was actually kinda like me. She was a field medic in the war and when she came back and saw all this going on she knew exactly what she has going to do with the rest of her life. Dave asked her if she was a final fantasy fan, what with her name and her costume. She just smiled and said she wasn't, but her brother had been and she remembered him playing the old ones and seeing the character that was supposed to be the healer beating people with a giant hammer and thought it was perfect for her new life.
Sting came next. He had all these needles that he said were coated in sedatives and pain killers, so every time he hit someone with one they'd start to go numb. He tried to aim for extremities, since it's better if they can't feel their hands, arms, or legs, than if their chest or shoulders. I said I didn't think it could be that helpful, then he asked me if I'd ever tried to walk when my foot had fallen asleep and I could see his point.
The Guardian showed up next, he didn't talk much as first, but when he did he got into an argument with Colonel Stars. He said he liked what they were trying to do, but he didn't approve of them using violence so freely. He went on this rant about how they should've called the cops with the info to bust up that underage prostitution ring instead of kicking in the door and assaulting the guys.
Colonel Stars said he was an idealistic idiot. That the guys that ran places like that were scum an only responded to violence (I knew there was a reason I liked him so much.), that they deserved the beatings for what they were doing, and that even if the police did respond to their info, it'd take too long.
The Guardian walked out just as Shield came in, but that's fine. He was an asshole.
Sheild was a pretty nice guy though. He talked a lot and made a few jokes. His armor kinda reminded me of Daddy's, but it was a lot heavier and more complete. I don't think he could fight much in it if at all. But he said he wasn't really interested in hurting people, that he just wanted to be able to protect people, so I guess it works.
All of them, except The Guardian, were really excited to see me. Insect-Guy was glad that I decided to join this time around, and the others just wanted to say it was amazing to meet me in person (White Mage said I was smaller than I'd seemed at the brawl.) and that they looked forward to working with me.
After that it was just a pretty basic meeting. Colonel stars explained what he expected of them, a lot of it sounded pretty boring, but as long as I don't have to stop going on our usual patrols I guess I can tolerate doing some volunteer work.
Maybe.
Through the whole thing I kept waiting for Biker Knight to show up, but he never did. I asked Colonel Stars about it, and he said he couldn't find a way to reach him.
At the end when everybody was leaving, Colonel Stars motioned for me to stay. Once it was just the three of us he led us back into the trophy/control room and picked up a box from under one of the computer desks. He turned to me and said, "I considered doing this during the meeting, but I didn't think you'd like me giving away that kind of information and didn't want to ruin the surprise by asking your permission. Happy Birthday," then handed me the box.
I opened it and there was this belt with a dozen beautiful throwing knives. I was so surprised and excited that I just kept staring at them didn't say anything for long enough that he said, "Well, I don't really know what you like in your civilian life, but I figured this was something you'd enjoy, even if it is more of a "business" present.
I told him I loved it and gave him a quick hug and a thank you. I even surprised myself with the hug, but I guess I felt comfortable enough around him, what with talking to him in the hospital and everything.
Don't know when the next meeting is going to be. He has to look over the dates we all gave him for when we had free nights over the next month before he can schedule a group action. But that's okay with me. I think I'll be plenty busy anyway.
I just wish we had a higher fence around the yard so I could try out my new knives.
