Chapter Sixty-Seven: So am I

Tammy walked dejectedly down the street. People pushed past her, not even noticing she was there. She was invisible, a nobody, a nothing. Why was she even a Knight of the Last Order, no one noticed Lady Silent, no one cared if she was there or not. 

She was just Sammys shadow, an echo of her younger, more boisterous twin. She reached for the scar on her throat, that her stupid drunk uncle had caused. She hadn't been strapped into the seat properly, so when the crash happened her throat paid the price. She had paid a high price for her uncles stupidity.

Hey, that's not fair. Sammy has suffered too. She tried to tell herself. Sammy is terrified of water now. 

But Sammy still had a voice. He was still heard. People still acknowledged him.

She shuffled dejectedly past an alleyway, where she overheard some March Hill Crusaders talking about destroying a local florist who they suspected as being a front for the Death Valley Mobsters.

Swell. More work for us.

Tammy made her way to Bill's restaurant, and pushed her way through the doors. Suddenly, she was knocked aside by her brother, who raced out with Daniel, TJ and Charlie on his heels.

“Whoops, sorry Tam!” Charlie grinned at her before shooting off, laughing. Tammy sighed, and sat down where Petunia had Melody on her lap while Sunny desperately tried to get some food into her daughter.

“Kiddo, I love you dearly but will you just EAT!” Sunny tried to poke a spoon full of mashed pumpkin into her daughters mouth.

“'Ucky!” Melody spat it right back out again.

Tammy sighed as she watched the two women get overpowered by a baby.

“Oh, sorry Tam, didn't see you there!” Petunia looked over at her best friend while she tried to hold the squirming baby. “Melody, please!”

“I give up. Starve to death for all I care kiddo.” Sunny gave up, putting the spoon back into the bowl of mashed pumpkin. Melody immediately grabbed the spoon and began feeding herself. 

Petunia laughed while Tammy smiled. Sunny groaned, but it was obvious she was amused too.

“What are you up to today Tammy? You look a little glum.” Petunia noticed the younger girl was a bit down in the dumps.

Tammy bit her lip, not really ready to talk about her problems with being a shadow. Thankfully, a convenient excuse came up.

“While I was walking here I heard a couple of Crusaders talking about taking out a florist. The last thing we need.” Tammy stretched.

Petunia and Sunny glanced at each other, before quickly smacking their watch-faces.

“This had better be good, I was in the middle of a really interesting chapter about the Quadroon Four and the Elephants Tusk Spear!” Belle stormed out of the kitchen, clutching at her book.

“Tammy overheard some Crusaders planning their next move!” Sunny told her.

“Yeah, I'd say that counts as good. Let's go!” Belle shot off towards the tip, ready to don her Giggles outfit once more.

Tammy sighed again, and slowly got up, feeling more invisible than ever until she heard Sunny.

“Nice work by the way Tammy. You have a real knack for being in the right place at the right time.”

Sunny was right. Chuckles, Giggles and the Noble Knights of the Last Order were able to head off the attack before it even got started.

“You mean...awww.” Crusader Mark looked dejectedly at the crowd that was standing in front of the florist, ready to defend the flowers. “Can I at LEAST go in to by my mother a birthday present?”

(He ended up getting her roses)

--

Feeling more confident after her success that day, Tammy decided that she was going to approach her chestnut-haired beauty and see if she could at least make a new friend, if not score a date.

After she got home to her apartment and had a good, quick shower, she had kept an eye on the window and waited until she saw her crush walking to the laundry again. Sure enough, the young lady had washing to do. Tammy waited until she was inside, before grabbing her own laundry and making her way down to the laundry room.

Tammy walked into the laundry room trying to look as invisible as possible (“Should be easy enough.” she thought bitterly) and put her washing in the machine closest to the door.  She then settled down on the nearby bench with her mystery book. 

“I really didn't plan this well, did I?” Tammy groaned inwardly. The chestnut-haired beauty was even more beautiful up close, and Tammy found it hard to muster up the courage to speak to her.

So, naturally, she hid in her mystery book.

“You read mysteries too?”

Tammy nearly fell off her seat. 

“Y-yeah, I love mysteries. It's a nice change from textbooks.” Tammy tried to joke with her new friend.

“My name is Rose. I live on the first floor.” The chestnut-haired beauty introduced herself.

“I'm Tammy, I live on the second floor.” Tammy put her book down.

“I know. I've been...well...I kinda noticed you.” Rose went a little pink.

Tammy couldn't help but smile. Maybe she wasn't so invisible after all!

--

A few days later, Tammy had finally managed to shake her twin off, begging Lizzy Begly to take Sammy out for a while. Lizzy, being a twin herself, understood completely and was happy to take her boyfriend out for the day.

So Tammy had a full day at the library, and she was relishing the peace. 

Tammy had done a lot of thinking over the days since Sunny had told her she had a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Tammy knew she would always resent being invisible, just a little bit, but that being silent was her greatest strength – Lady Silent could find out things that her louder, more noticeable friends would never be able to, and she planned to use that to her advantage as much as she could.

But first, her education.

She'd gotten one of her assignments out of the way, and was trying to focus on another one when Judith Jofrey slithered in.

Tammy watched the older woman with interest. Judith looked her way, and for a second they made eye-contact. Then Judith went to the back of the library.

Tammy tried not to scream with frustration. She was one of Daniels BEST FRIENDS, how could Judith not recognise her?! How did Emerald Mobsters not recognise Lady Silent?!

Hold it. She settled herself. This could be your opportunity to find out what's going on with the Council. Head down, tail up, don't draw attention to yourself Lady Silent.

Tammy focused on her studies, keeping half an ear out for anything interesting. Soon enough, she got it. Two Emerald Mobsters walked in, trying to keep themselves inconspicuous. 

Hard to keep a low profile when your street clothes barely cover the Emerald Suits. Tammy thought snidely.

“What do you want?” Judith said quietly, looking harassed.

“Your sister is getting annoyed at your insistence on getting into trouble.” One of the Emerald Mobsters said. 

“Me? I've been good recently.” Judith looked as innocent as possible.

I thought Judith said that she didn't have anything to do with her sister? Tammy found her brain ticking over. Why did the Emerald Mobsters know Judiths sister? Why did Judith lie about it?

“She knows you're planning something.” The other Emerald Mobster said.

“I want a bit of payback for losing my trains. Is that so bad?” Judith leaned back in her chair. “Go away. I'm trying to read.”

Something isn't adding up here. Tammy thought furiously. What is Judith hiding?!

“Marion isn't going to be happy.” The first Emerald Mobster pointed out.

Tammy nearly fell off her seat. She buried herself in a book. It can't be. Sidewinder has blonde hair, Judith has dark hair. It's impossible.

Then Tammy looked closer at Judith, who was getting annoyed. She saw a stray wisp of blonde hair that had come loose and had to choke back a gasp. That...that's definitely a wig! No! It can't be! 

“My sister is never happy. Now go.” Judith ended the conversation.

Tammy felt sick. Judith Jofrey was none other than Sidewinder, the sister of Mobster Marion and currently the biggest threat to the Noble Knights of the Last Order.

Daniel is NOT going to be happy when he hears this!

Chapter Sixty-Six: Can You Hear Me?

"Danny!" Sunny waved as Daniel approached the hideout of the Noble Knights of the Last Order. In her lap was Melody, and next to her was Patrick, who was looking pretty happy. "Look at what Patrick and Tammy were able to do!"

Tammy grinned. "It wasn't much, but we managed to make better armour for everyone!" 

"With some help from Teej of course." Patrick motioned to TJ, who took a small bow.

"He managed to get some old bullet-proof vests for us all." Petunia smiled up at her husband.

"And with the Beglys help, we worked it all into some new armour so you guys don't look like complete junkyard rejects anymore." Patrick laughed, earning him six glares. "What? You did!"

"ANYWAY." Tammy quickly stepped in to diffuse the situation. "We can debut this stuff next time the DVM or the Crusaders decide to start trouble."

"Or the next time you guys decide foot-faults don't exist." Sam muttered under his breath.

Cue pointless argument about cricket that in no way advances the plot whatsoever.

"ANYWAY!" Tammy growled loudly. "You guys should try on your new outfits to make sure they fit."

Unfortunately, her voice is still several decibels below that of a normal human being. The argument raged on, with insults ranging from being compared to the Great Nations team of well, forever, to being called another Ian Chappell.

Tammy sighed. She supposed they'd have to notice her and her work eventually, but it still sucked to still be so quiet that she couldn't be heard.

--

It played on her mind one day as she sat at the library computer doing her Disability Studies degree. The lecturer was talking about "being a voice for those who don't have one."

How could someone who couldn't be heard be a voice for someone else? Who could she fight for when she wasn't a fighter?

Her thoughts mingled with the tapping of her pen, when she noticed Judith Jofrey walking past. The two women shared a stare briefly before pretending they hadn't seen each other. Despite what she knew about Daniels feelings for the City Councilor, Tammy could not bring herself to trust Judith. The older woman was hiding something, and Tammy worried that whatever it was would hurt Daniel.

Daniel had been her brother for as long as she could remember. The five of them had been inseparable from such a young age, all of them against the world. When they had formed the Knighthood, that bond had only gotten stronger.

"Hey Tammy!" 

Tammy cringed as she heard her loud brother make his way through the library. She could imagine the filthy looks he was getting and could hear the librarian shushing him.

"Sorry." He grinned sheepishly. He turned to his sister.

"We're going out to the movies, come on!" He began to pull her arm.

"Sam, I've got assignments to do!" Tammy tried to resist him. She wanted some time to herself.

"You can do that any time Tammy, come on!" Sammy started to pack up her stuff.

"Sam!" Tammy gave up. She felt so small and powerless compared to the big personality of her brother.

As she was dragged from the library, she noticed the look of pity from Judith.

Just what she needed.

--

After that unwanted trip to the movies, Tammy finally retreated to her apartment, glad to have some time to herself. It wasn't that she didn't love her brother and her friends, it's just that sometimes she needed time to herself.

She dumped her bag on the counter and settled down on her futon with a good book. She would never be the bookworm Belle is, but Tammy was definitely always in the mood for a good mystery book.

She was just getting to the part where the heroine fell in love with a character who Tammy was pretty certain was the murderer, when she noticed something out of the window.

It was the chestnut-haired beauty from downstairs heading to the shared laundry. Tammy watched her as she carried her washing-basket across the courtyard, wishing like mad she had the courage to say something to the gorgeous young lady.

Tammy sighed as the figure disappeared from view. She returned to her book. It wasn't like anyone would ever notice Tammy anyway. Not when she was nothing but a shadow of her brother.

--

"REVOLVER!" Giggles roared as she flew after the gunman. "Give those watches back!"

"MAKE ME!" Master Revolver shouted back, firing his gun erratically.

"DON'T MAKE ME COME OVER THERE!"

"JUST TRY AND CATCH ME!"

"I LOVE your new outfits by the way!" Mobster Marion said as she parried blows from Sir Lionheart while Chuckles pulled a splinter from his foot.

"Really?" Sir Lionheart asked.

"Of course not. You're still idiots!" Mobster Marion used her sword to lever the scythe from Sir Lionhearts hands. Her killing blow was only deflected by the riot shield of Sir Dark, who had thrown himself in front of his best friend.

"Oh groovy." Mobster Marion groaned as Sir Lionheart ran to get his scythe. She blinked as Chuckles poked her lightly with the Lions Claw Blade. “I'm not even going to dignify that with a response.” Mobster Marion stormed off.

Lady Silent sighed, and watched the scene in front of her. What was the point of her being here? What did she contribute?

She was fiddling with her watch when she overheard a few of the Emerald Mobsters talking.

“Do you think the others are finished with the lolly store yet? This is getting boring.” One asked.

“I hope so, this is getting embarrassing.” The other replied.

Lady Silent felt her eye twitch.

“I'm right HERE, I can HEAR your stupid plans!” She cried in fury.

“Did you hear something?” The first Mobster asked. 

“I think so...?” The other replied.

Lady Silent roared in anger before storming off.

“Wait, isn't that one of the Knights?”

“I dunno, which one?”

Lady Silent wanted to scream, but she knew no one would hear her, because she was silent.

-- 

“Are you quite pleased you ruined my investment?” Sidewinder glared at her sister across the table where they sat.

“How was I supposed to know you'd gone and bought a lolly store?” Mobster Marion twirled her glass of wine around, admiring the deep crimson colour. “And why would you do such a thing?”

“Without legitimate business to keep this city afloat, YOU would be in big trouble.” Sidewinder growled. “Do you think you'd be allowed to ply your trade in Brisvegas so easily?”

“Quit worrying brat, we'll be fine.” Mobster Marion brushed her younger sister off. “Just make sure to stay out of our way in future and your little investments will be fine.”

Sidewinder fumed. How dare her sister just cast her concerns aside like that?!

Chapter Sixty-Five: Until Someone Gets Hurt

"Did you kiss her?"

"No."

"Did she kiss you?"

"NO."

"Was there any kissing at all?"

"NO!"

"Second date then?"

"It WASN'T a date!"

"Pretty sure it was a date."

"It WASN'T!"

"Then why are you going red?"

"Will you lot quit it already!" Daniel groaned as his fellow Knights of the Last Order grilled him about his lunch with the Councillor Judith Jofrey.

"She looked like she was really enjoying herself." Sam volunteered.

"Yeah, she was smiling and looked really interested in what you were saying!" Petunia agreed.

"Just...drop it, okay?" Daniel frowned at them. "Besides, you guys ran off half way through lunch, what would you know?"

"We got back in time to see you escort her out." Sunny pointed out.

"Thanks for ditching us by the way, oh-fearless-leader." TJ deadpanned.

The group were sitting at the tip again, on a bright and clear Saturday morning. They were waiting for Belle and Charlie, and then they were all going to go fishing together.

"Speaking of Judy...I kind of invited her to come out with us today." Daniel finally admitted.

Dead silence. Then:

"WE'RE GOING OUT WITH THE MASTERS CLAN AND YOU INVITE HER?"

"Daniel Lightheart, what WERE you thinking?!"

"Are you INSANE?"

"There's going to be arguments!"

"And she's not fond of the Begly Clan either!"

"It will be FINE!" Daniel tried to calm his friends down. "She's promised she won't say a thing about work."

"It still won't end well." Sunny warned.

--

If there was ever any doubt that Belle was Peters daughter, they were instantly put to rest that day. Both of them wore identical scowls and twitching right eyes.

The little girls Melody and Madeliene were splashing by the shore under the watchful eyes of Ozzie and their mothers. TJ and Petunia were diving for mussels, which they were handing to Thomas who was putting them in a bucket. Lizzy and Tammy were trying to badger Sam into getting into the water (which he was still scared of) and Daniel was gently trying to teach Judith how to fish.

"I can NOT believe he thought this was a good idea." Belle glowered.

"Tell me about it. It's just sucked the fun right out of today." Peter also glowered.

"LOOK OUT BELOW!" Charlie swung past them on the rope swing, flying into the creek with a splash. "Will you two sad sacks cheer up and join in the fun?" He poked his head out of the water.

"No!" Was the sullen reply.

"It's only because he thinks she's hot." Charlie tried to explain.

"Bloody idiot." Peter shook his head and sat down on one of the picnic rugs. "This is like working on the weekend, an absolute travesty."

"Tell me about it." Belle sat down next to her father and started pulling the grass out of the ground.

"It's all in the wrist action." Daniel was demonstrating how to cast the fishing line. "A quick flick-," His line expertly flew across the air into the creek. "And then you sit back and wait."

"You make it look so easy." Judith admitted. "I've never been fishing before."

"Are you serious?" Daniel looked surprised. "Why not?"

"Too busy studying." Judith admitted. "Also my parents never had much time for me as the second-born." she silently added.

"We go fishing all the time together. You should come with us more often." Daniel smiled at her.

"Really?" Judiths cheeks went pale pink.

"NO!" Was the loud objection from the Masters clan.

Just then, Peters phone began to ring. "Hey Bill. You're kidding me...the truck yard? I'll tell Judith."

He couldn't help but smirk slightly. This meant that annoying Councillor would have to leave! On the down side it meant that the others would have to go to, but if it got rid of Judith, it was worth it.

"JUDITH! Your truck yard is under fire from the Crusaders!" Peter yelled.

"What?!" Judith dropped her fishing line and bolted towards her bag. She grabbed out her phone and made a quick call, which involved a lot of language unfit for print.

"I'm sorry guys, but I have to go sort out this mess. I'll see you later!" Judith grabbed her things and ran off, much to the satisfaction of the Masters Clan.

Daniel ran over to the others as soon as she was gone. "I have to go and get the scythe from the timber mill, I'll see you guys at the truck yard?"

"Absolutely." TJ nodded. "Let's go Knights!"

Daniel got into his beat-up old ute and drove to the timber mill, cursing his poor planning. If only he'd known...

--

Daniel tiptoed through the timber mill, feeling like he wasn't alone. He tried to shake it off, thinking it was adrenaline from being prepared for another battle.

He opened up his locker and pulled on his old "armour", which was nothing more than old bits of steel salvaged from the tip and fashioned by Tammy. It was badly worn by time and repeated blows from the Lucky Seven Gun and the Lions Claw Blade when they were in the hands of Master Revolver and Mobster Marion.

It was definitely time for an upgrade.

He was about to pull on his helmet when something crashed in the office upstairs.

Judiths office.

He pulled on his helmet and crept up the stairs, trying his best to be quiet. If the March Hill Crusaders were here, he was doomed. There was no way he would survive long enough for the rest of the Knights to arrive.

He made up to the top of the stairs and was about to open the door to Judiths office, when it was flung open from the inside and the Dragons Scale Scythe held at his throat.

"SIDEWINDER!" Sir Lionheart groaned. He tightened his grip on the replica scythe. "What are YOU doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing Bucket-Head." Sidewinder snarled. She lurched back to slash the Knights throat, giving Sir Lionheart time to get his scythe up to block the blow. He forced Sidewinder back into the office with his brute strength, hoping to get her off-balance.

"Why were you in Councillor Jofreys office?!" Sir Lionheart demanded.

"None of your business, peasant." Sidewinder pulled out the Mystic Eight Gun and fired, clipping Sir Lionhearts bucket-helmet. He was able to dodge, but the distraction enabled Sidewinder to stab him with an Emerald Shard in the chest.

Gagging, Sir Lionheart stumbled back. Sidewinder tried to shoot him again, but Sir Lionheart was able to recover fast enough to knock the gun from her hand.

He prepared to strike her chest core, when he saw it.

Judiths necklace.

The one her sister had given her.

He looked into those violent blue eyes. There was no doubt.

Sidewinder was Judith Jofrey. He had no idea how she fixed her hair to make it short and brown, but he knew that he had to get out of there.

He bolted out of the office and ran down the stairs. Bullets from the Mystic Eight Gun riccocheted around him, and he dodged them all before making it out of the building.

At least Sidewinder couldn't fly without the help of the Ruby Suit, Sir Lionheart thought bitterly. He felt betrayed and angry and confused.

No wonder Judith didn't want to talk about her family. Her father had been Mobster Marcus, killed when he'd tried to overrun a bank. Of course she'd been there for the battle of Silent Lake. Between her family and the Death Valley Gang, they'd brutally slaughtered the last of the Silent Lake Gang before turning on each other.

Sir Lionheart looked to the sky as he headed out to the other battle, which he now had no desire to join. What a mess.

What a complete and total mess.

Chapter Sixty-Four: It's All Fun and Games

Daniel walked into Bills restaurant, Judith by his side. He figured he'd go somewhere he knew well, and especially where he knew the owner and could show off a bit. He picked a seat near one of the windows that overlooked Lake Pleasant, the view beautiful and tranquil.

He pulled out a seat for Judith, who smiled politely and sat down, placing her bag on the ground next to her. It was only as Daniel sat down himself that he heard poorly disguised snorts coming from near the kitchen.

His beloved friends were having lunch here too it seemed. Juveniles.

"Do you come here often?" Judith asked to be polite, and kicking herself because it was plainly obvious that he was a friend of the Masters clan, one of whom ran the establishment.

"As often as I can. The food here is great." Daniel replied, trying to sound nonchalant. The laughter was intensifying. There could only be one thing that could possibly be worse, and that would be-,

"Can I take your order Sir?" Lizzy Begly approached the table, notebook in hand and poorly disguised smirk on her face.

Daniel groaned inwardly. Of course it would be Sams girlfriend, she worked here when she wasn't at school. "Hi Lizzy. I'll just have wedges and aioli please." He tried to sound authoritative, but if the chuckles and giggles he could hear were any indication, he failed.

"I'll have the same, thank you." Judith smiled. "And water please."

"Make that double." Daniel piped up. Lizzy looked ready to explode, which irritated him no end.

"Of course Sir." She quickly escaped back to the kitchen where Daniel swore he could hear multiple people giggling. 

"It's a really nice place here." Judith sat, looking out of the window.

"Bill got it as a bargain. No one wanted it after what happened." Daniel told her, fiddling with his napkin. He could distinctly hear the whispered voice of one TJ muttering with one Sam, and the pair both snickering behind their hands.

"What happened?" Judith perked up, interested. Grateful for Belles everlasting lectures from books for the first time in his life, Daniel replied.

"It was one of the last acts of the Haunted Maze Troupe, who to be honest never really got a foothold in Pleasantville the same way that the Death Valley Gang, the Silent Hill Gang, the March Hill Crusaders or the Mobsters of Misneach did." Daniel almost repeated word for word what Belle had said, which caused an explosion of laughter from what sounded like Sunny. "They came in here when it was a laundromat and brutally murdered everyone in the building, stealing everything they had."

"People who use laundromats probably wouldn't have much to steal anyway." Judith mused, which made Daniel laugh.

"Like I said, they never really got a foothold. They were slaughtered by the DVG just before Masked Revolver died." Daniel continued. "This place was abandoned for a long time after that."

"You seem to know a lot about the history of the crime syndicates." Judith raised an eyebrow.

"A friend of mine is a bookworm and lectures us at any given opportunity about fixing the culture of the city and how it's up to the people to decide how the city is run." Daniel grinned, starting to feel at ease. 

"Ah, young Miss Masters I presume." Judith smiled.

"Yeah, Belle. Sounds funny to hear her referred to as "Miss Masters" though, she's definitely not a Miss!" Daniel decided a little payback was in order. "She and the other girls are such princesses."

"The other girls?" Judith perked up. That wasn't jealousy she was starting to feel, was it?

"Sunny is the "mother" of the group, she's the only one of us who has a child. She's getting married soon, and constantly reminds us while she's henpecking us. Petunia married one of my two best friends, TJ (an idiot), and she's a nurse who will never do anything fun. Tammy is the twin of my other best friend Sam, and they're both pains." Daniel smirked as the laughter stopped and was replaced with death-stares.

"Sounds like you have a cute little group of friends, when you're not trying to kill each other." Judith laughed, making Daniel feel good and the others frown.

Lizzy came out with their meals, and quickly rushed back to the kitchen before she could burst out into laughter. As he ate, Daniel could hear Bill Masters come out of the kitchen and talk to the group, who all immediately got out of their chairs and left.

"Your watch is flashing." Judith pointed to Sir Lionhearts watch. Daniel panicked slightly.

"It does that sometimes. A bit faulty; it's only supposed to do that when I get a phone call." Daniel brushed it off. "How's your meal?"

"This is great!" Judith beamed, making Daniel melt.

Out of the corner of his eye, Daniel noticed Giggles flying backwards across the Lake, firing madly at a speedboat containing Master Revolver.

"So how did you become a Councilor?" Daniel asked, feeling much more at ease.

"I inherited it from my Uncle." Judith sipped her water.

"So you were the favourite niece?" 

"Not quite...it's complicated how things in my family work. I guess he owed my father. What about your family?"

"I don't have much, just my grandparents. My Mum and Dad were killed in the crossfire between the Death Valley Gang and the Mob when I was about five years old."

"Was that the battle of Silent Lake?"

"Yeah, that one."

"I was there that day. I was eight. It wasn't a pretty sight."

Outside, Master Revolver had Chuckles in a headlock, Giggles was now running away from the speedboat dodging Emerald Shards, Sir Hyper was hanging onto the back of the speedboat for dear life with Lady Courage trying to help him aboard and Sir Dark was trying to separate Lady Luck and Mobster Marion.

"I'm sorry to hear about your parents. I was seventeen when my Dad died." Judith pushed the ice around in her drink.

"How did he die?" Daniel asked.

"There was a bank robbery and he was killed."

"I'm sorry to hear that. What about your mother?"

"She hasn't spoken to us in years."

"Us?"

"Myself and my older sister." Judith flinched, realizing she'd just messed up.

"I thought you were an only child." Daniel raised an eyebrow.

"My sister...well, she's less than savoury." Judith tried to explain. "So I just pretend I don't have one."

"Wow, that's a bit messed up." Daniel said, surprised. He looked at her, and noticed something. "That's a pretty necklace you have on." 

"My sister gave it to me when we were kids, when we were still best friends." Judith fingered the star pendant, made with beautiful diamonds. Inside the star was a rainbow made from coloured gems and a mother-of-pearl cloud.

Meanwhile, Giggles had managed to blast a hole in the speedboat. Chuckles and the rest of the Noble Knights of the Last Order were monkey-chained to her feet, causing Giggles to sway dangerously. Master Revolver was roaring in fury as he sank with his ship, and Mobster Marion was crying.

"I would have loved to have had siblings, but when I was born there were complications and Mum needed an operation which meant she couldn't have any more kids." Daniel sighed. 
"That's why I take care of my friends so much."

"They're all younger than you?"

"Yup, although Charlie Begly is only six months younger than me."

"How did you become friends with the Masters clan anyway?"

Daniel froze.

"Accident I guess." He shrugged.

Speaking of which, guess whose Backpack cut out, plunging the entire group into the freezing depths of Pleasant Lake?

--

"Are you serious?" Daryl Jones laughed loudly as his father recounted what the Death Valley Mobsters had done.

"I honestly have NO idea how they ended up the dominant power in this city, they're a pair of foolish buffoons!" Demon Jones slammed his fist down on his desk. "This is getting out of control."

"Unfortunately there's not much you can do. Judy owns far too many assets in the city, and if we lose her, we run the risk of losing control." Daryl pointed out, making his father grimace.

"What I wouldn't give to get those assets away from their control." He looked out of the window. "They'd be out of here in a heartbeat."

"If only there was a way to separate them!" Daryl groaned. Demon Jones smirked.

"Neither Marion nor Judith have heirs yet. Maybe it's time to get rid of them permanently and align ourselves with a smarter force." He turned to his son, who grinned back.

"Now THAT sounds smart Dad." Daryl took his feet off his fathers desk. "Who, what, when, how?"

"We'll give it a little more time. Marion might be an idiot, but Judith is a lot smarter. She might be worth keeping around yet." Demon put a hand on his sons shoulder.