Part Four: More Favors (Part Two, Phase Two)
"Amari," Kevin greeted his old partner-in-crime amiably. Amari had left the criminal life after inheriting the throne to his homeworld; he still owed Kevin though.
"Levin." Amari greeted back cautiously, "I assume this's a business call…"
"Yes, yes it is," the Plumber nodded, "I heard you rebuilt your palace a few years back, I heard it's very nice and that it only took a week; I wish to borrow your construction crew…"
"You're mad!"
"Yes probably," he agreed with the assessment, "still doesn't change the fact."
"Why should I lend you my servants?"
"Oh, does the name Aldo Temple, Terra IV ring a bell?"
Amari paled, gulped but said, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You're wearing the gem, moron. The gem that nearly killed you. Because you were stupid enough to grab it off the alter."
"I do not know what you are referring to."
Kevin leaned back, smirking, "Whatever. I also know that your planet houses several most wanted criminals and that you know about this and haven't informed the Plumbers. Meaning you are willingly giving asylum to them and thus aiding and abetting in their continued criminal doings…Plumbers don't like this fact…but nobody's reported you, yet…"
Amari gulped again. He wasn't stupid; he knew a threat when he heard one.
"Give me your location and co-ordinate points and they'll be there within the week."
"Glad you see things my way Amari," Kevin's smirk widened and he sent the information, "But don't send them until I call for them, things aren't ready for them yet."
"Fine."
So that was taken care of; now to get building materials. The wood was easy enough. Oak and redwood, mahogany and birch. A couple calls, some negotiating on the pricing and it was going to be shipped within his needed time frame. The same with the vegetation; the land around the house would be alive with greenery. A favor from Cooper; he knew a lot about construction and architecture so he agreed to come up with the blueprints and oversee the whole project.
The final material was extremely rare and expensive but he was almost literally sitting on a goldmine of the gem; Tandenite. Hardest material in the universe, even against Versitium, if the walls of a house were, at their core, Tandenite they could survive anything short of Nuclearly Powered Bombs.
"So let me get this straight," Ben stated as they talked over smoothies; Julie was keeping Gwen occupied at a spa, "you want to mine Tandenite from my back for a house?"
"Yep, pretty much."
"Why in hell should I let you—?"
"It's for Gwen." The softness of the words shocked the brunette Plumber; his friend never was so quiet before, "if I get the house built with Tandenite it can handle anything."
Ben saw the desperation in Kevin's dark eyes but knew that prying would only earn violence and so agreed, "Okay. You can have whatever you need."
"Thank you."
Those two words scared Ben to no end. Kevin never thanked anyone, for any kindness, other than Gwen.
"Codeword?" Ben demanded, hand hovering over the Ultramatrix.
"Cantaloupe," Kevin replied easily. "Biology, Family, Loyalty."
Ben paused, unsure. This Kevin had gotten all four passwords right but he wasn't acting like Kevin.
"Drop the hand, you moron, I'm me. We both know that there's only one person able to take me on and win."
Ben smiled, dropping his hand; that was definitely Kevin Levin.