Langford waited patiently as the three men sat themselves down and looked at him expectantly. He had brought them news but was sure that not all of it was good. He had spent a long time in contact with his superior, the head of his division. His superior in turn had done all he could but their power was limited against the influence of the problem in hand being escalated out of their reach.
Knowing that etiquette forbade it but not caring for etiquette or other associated pleasantries, Langford seated himself on the coffee table. It was the only place he could sit down and look at the men surrounding him and from where he was he'd have a soft landing if the youngest of the group took ill of what he had to say.
A wry smile twisted Kit's lips as a quote passed through his mind that he voiced. "That table's for glasses, not for arses."
"Given the circumstances you won't blame me for sitting down. I'm not going to waste time with the good news/bad news aspect as what news I have is good or bad depending on how you take it." Langford explained, smiling slightly at Kit's joke. "AMATS, the Airship tracking service, started tracking Nine's airship almost immediately after we contacted them. They've confirmed that Nine has returned to the Island and Network officers in the area reported that he had a young woman matching Robyn's description with him when he left the airship and entered his home."
Robbie closed his eyes and released a sigh before opening them again, "Well that's something at least. How do we get her back?"
"That's where we might have an issue. News of Nine's actions has gone to the top, the very top of the Network and spread to the Heroes' Council. As dim a view as they take about how Robyn came to be on the Island, they agree with Nine's reasoning."
"What?" Sportacus snapped, knowing full well of the Heroes' council and what their involvement might mean.
"They agree that Robyn will be safer there than she is here though we have no doubt that Lily still has influence on the Island. In light of Nine's actions the Council has deliberated that at noon tomorrow he will be stripped of his title, the first in your line to be taken out of commission. As for Robyn, the Council has agreed that they don't have absolute power in deciding her future. You know by our laws, Sportacus, that until she is twenty five she isn't considered a full adult and with the concerns over her mental health she would normally be deemed unable to make a solid decision for herself with regards to her welfare. However, as Robyn was born here and is a Lazytown national they have no power to keep her on the Island if she chooses not to stay."
"So what happens now?" Kit asked, somewhat hopeful but still guarded against the possible outcome.
"My superior, the division head of the team here is going to Nine's house within the next two days to discuss Robyn's options with her. Should she choose to come back he'll bring her with him. It's been agreed that it's time for him to take over here. With Lily breaking through and attacking Bessie and Robyn, not to mention the base being burnt down in broad daylight and Nine kidnapping Robyn I've been found incompetent. The only thing stopping the Network pulling me back to headquarters and decommissioning me is how well Morgan has been kept under wraps and how we've managed to keep track of Robyn without her disappearing again."
Robbie looked puzzled, "What happens if she chooses to stay there? Where do you guys go?"
"We'll still be here even if Robyn isn't. We're not here primarily for her. Our duty is to safeguard the town against Lily or anyone that might be directly linked to her. We monitor Robyn purely so that she doesn't disappear again, she made a lot of people nervous when she ended up with Lily and if she ran away a third time there's no telling where she'd end up. Because of her involvement with Lily, it makes Robyn much more of a target not only from our favourite homicidal maniac but those that might see her in the same light as her mother. Robyn's resemblance to Lily doesn't go unnoticed, I've witnessed it myself when I took her to that cafe in Crazytown. If even they can match the two of them together it would hardly be difficult for anyone else to do the same."
Kit nodded, "I have to admit I noticed a few people giving her funny looks when we were out a couple of times. When we went to a bar on the edge of Crazytown once most of the people left, I just pegged it down to being smelly."
Langford stifled a chuckle, "The upshot of it is people are scared. When people are scared they either run away or confront what frightens them. With any luck no one will try to attack Robyn but we can't rule out it happening in the future if she comes back from the Island. At the moment our biggest concern is Lily, we have no idea of her whereabouts or when she might strike again. If she can go as far as to target Bessie, anyone could be next. You three have all had dealings with her and you're all close to Robyn. If Lily can't get to Robyn here you know she might try to get to her through one of you."
Robbie, Sportacus and Kit looked at each other nervously. They hadn't considered the possibility that they could be targets as well.