Chapter Eighty-One: My Fallen Idol, Part One

Richard Dickson walked into the police station, looking around suspiciously. The suspicion was returned wholeheartedly, except for Constable TJ who had his head down and buried in paperwork.

“You look hard at work for once.” TJ heard his boss, the stupid Inspector Dingbat, standing over him. TJ groaned inwardly. He wished like crazy Dingbat would just leave him alone.

“Just taking after you Sir.” He suddenly heard slip from his mouth. Uh-oh...

Dingbat narrowed his eyes at the younger man and was about to start a triade when Dickson walked over.

“I'll deal with you after work Jacobs.” Dingbat sneered at TJ, who groaned. Now there'd be trouble, and he probably wouldn't get home until well after dinner-time!

“Good Morning Mister Dickson, glad you've decided to visit our little establishment.” Dingbat said in his most wheedly, suck-up voice.

“I want to speak to your men. Individually. Privately.” Dickson narrowed his eyes and got straight to the point.

“Oh really?” Dingbat narrowed his eyes back.

“You've been told to cooperate with the Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service on this exercise Inspector, I suggest you do.” Dickson looked intimidating. TJ knew though that Dingbat was too stupid to be intimidated by anyone, and too ambitious to let anyone get in his way. Everyone else was trying not to giggle.

“I think I should join my men. For emotional support. They need to know they have their leader with them.” Dingbat stated. TJ tried not to snort. He knew full well that Dingbat wanted to make sure nothing was said against him!

“I want them to know that anything they say won't be used against them. I can't assure them of that if their boss is breathing down their neck.” Dickson fired back. TJ allowed himself a small smile. “Now if you'll excuse me, I'll start with your lowest-ranking officers, so you have less time to threaten them.”

The giggling stopped.

Dingbat looked beyond ropeable. Dickson motioned to the newest young recruit to the force, a pimply little weasel of a kid who reminded TJ of a school snitch. The little weasel quickly looked at Dingbat, terrified, not sure what he should do, before looking at the much more intimidating Dickson and bolting out of the room.

TJ quaked a little himself. This was going to get very, VERY ugly.

--

Petunia was stirring a beef casserole in her kitchen when TJ finally trudged home.

“Again?” She asked sympathetically.

“Again.” TJ groaned.

“Your father called earlier, he asked for you to call him back after dinner.” Petunia said, checking the rice.

“Swell. He probably heard about Dingbat and Dickson.” TJ slumped onto the couch, feeling defeated.

“Dingbat and Dickson?” Petunia began to dish up the dinner. TJ sighed, and got up to set the table.

“Dickson wants to interview all the cops privately without Dingbat involved, and Dingbat wants to make sure the truth doesn't get out. There was a huge blowup, Dingbat was screaming at Dickson and Dickson didn't even break a sweat.” He told her as he set out the cutlery.

“Damn. Sounds like Dickson is one cool customer.” Petunia said.

“You should have seen him. He totally had Dingbat scouted. Although I'm worried about what this means for the force.” TJ sighed.

“You really should talk to your Dad.” Petunia brought out two big bowls of steaming casserole and rice. TJ was beginning to feel better already.

The pair happily talked during dinner (TJ nearly spitting his out laughing when Petunia told him about a rather disgusting mess she had to clean up in the childrens ward). Afterwards, they cleaned up together before Petunia settled down to her jigsaw puzzle and TJ called his father.

“Heya Teej.” Theodore Jacobs Sr. greeted his son.

“Heya Dad. I guess you heard about the big blow up today.” TJ chuckled as he settled down in his favourite easy chair to talk.

“You bet. I've heard a few different versions, including one involving a gunfight and Chuckles and Giggles getting involved.” Theodore chuckled along with his son. “So the government is running an inquiry eh?”

“Yeah, Dickson wants to talk to us all privately.” TJ pulled up his footrest and leaned back.

“Teej, let me give you some advice. Don't say anything. Plead ignorance.” Theodore warned his son. “It's for your own safety, and a good career move too.”

“Dad...what?!” TJ suddenly felt uncomfortable.

“You're at a stage of your career where you can't afford to be making waves, and believe me, when this is all over there'll be a tsunami. Minimise the damage to yourself.” Theodore continued.

“But what about Pleasantville?!” TJ sat up. “If I have a chance to do something I have to do it!”

“You've been listening to those Knights of the Last Order.” Theodore groaned. “TJ, let them take care of Pleasantville, you need to take care of yourself and Petunia. How do you think I got so far?”

TJ felt himself boil inside. His father would never know that he was in fact a Knight of the Last Order, otherwise there would be no end of trouble. Theodore Jacobs Sr. was a career man, and he had hoped his son would be the same.

“Dad, I can't. I joined to serve and protect, and I can't do that by clamming up and letting morons like Dingbat get away with murder!” TJ cried. Petunia looked up from her puzzle.

“TJ you start blabbing and it's gonna get ugly!” Theodore also raised his voice. “Don't think for a second that those private talks are actually private, you talk and you're going to find yourself so deep in trouble you won't be able to breathe. Especially if it goes up the City Hall and the Mayor gets involved.”

TJ growled.

“I'm telling you this to protect you. There are dangerous people in Pleasantville who will easily destroy you if you make trouble, and for added pain they'll take down your whole family too.” Theodore pleaded. “Think about it. Do you really want to risk your Mother and I? Petunia? Could you honestly live with yourself if anything happened to her?”

“I'll think about it.” TJ groaned.

“I only say this because I care about you kid. Look, your mother is having a fit, she needs to call a friend to organise their next Bridge game. Catch ya later.” Theodore said.

“Love you too Dad. Catch ya.” TJ hung up.

“That sounded controversial.” Petunia sat down next to her husband.

“He wants me to put my head down, bum up and shut up.” TJ sighed. “He worries if I talk and cause waves it will get back to me and put me in danger.”

Petunia said nothing.

“But I have to say something! If I don't, nothing will change!” TJ cried. “Dickson HAS to know where the problems are, and I have to tell him, I'm the only one on the force who actually cares about the people of Pleasantville! Everyone else just cares about their pay packet and half of them are under the employ of the Mob!”

“Yes. Dickson needs to know, but you're not going to tell him.” Petunia said.

“If I don't, who will?!” TJ cried.

“Sir Dark and the Noble Knights of the Last Order.” Petunia grinned.

Chapter Eighty: Sneaky

“The LIBRARY?!” TJ groaned loudly as he sat with Tammy at the Pleasantville Library.

“Shhhhhhh!!!!” Hissed the Librarian.

“Sorry!' TJ ducked his head.

“Trust me, the Pleasantville Library is the one place where everyone comes for a bit of privacy.” Tammy whispered. “Judith is here all the time, Demon shows up on occasion with Daryl, and when Mark was alive he used to love the Aquatics section.” Tammy took TJ through the History section. “We won't talk about how Belle spends all her free time here.”

“When she's not stepping on her wicket.” TJ pouted.

“SHHHHHH!!!!” The Librarian hissed again.

“Geezus...is he always that vicious?” TJ hissed as Tammy picked a book from the Contemporary Arts section.

“Mr. Bookley is the sweetest man ever thank you.” Tammy glared at her friend.

“I was just saying...” TJ started.

“SHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!” The Librarian looked ready to kill.

“I'm not going to speak for the rest of the day.” TJ grumbled under his breath.

“Good, because Richard Dickson just arrived, and we need to scope him out today.” Tammy took her book down to a table and opened her bag, pulling out her laptop. “We're gonna find out why the Service is in Pleasantville.”

TJ immediately grabbed the nearest book and threw himself into the seat next to her, earning a filthy look from Mr. Bookley.

Dickson looked at the the library catalogue, then went to the Adult Fiction section. He grabbed a mystery and sat down near a window. He began to read quietly.

TJ looked at his book, “Self-Care after Pregnancy”. He groaned inwardly. Tammy shot him a Look, before continuing with her studies.

Dickson read quietly for a while, before another man walked in. He picked up a mystery of his own and sat by his commander. TJ noticed that Tammy sat back and appeared to relax a bit while reading her book. He sighed, and tried to enjoy the book he'd picked up.

“This is stupid.” The lackey said to Dickson. “Why'd they give us such crap supplies for?”

“Because you KNOW they don't want us to fix anything.” Dickson replied bitterly. TJ and Tammy nearly fell off their chairs when they heard the feminine voice of the big, strapping Dickson! “Pleasantville is where they take care of their shady business, and they don't want to lose it. It's disgusting.”

“You're gonna try anyway aren't you Sir?” The other man asked.

“Of course. I didn't sign up to be a whitewasher.” Dickson snapped.

“SHHHHHHHHH!” The Librarian looked ready to burst.

“I want to get a hold of the main two. Chuckles and Giggles. I hear they have ties to the Masters and Begly families who hold a bit of weight around here.” Dickson said quietly.

“I'll see what I can do Sir.” The lackey nodded, before returning to his mystery. “No good, I've read this one a million times, it's lost it's charm.”

TJ looked at Tammy, who looked deep in thought.

“What was THAT all about?” He asked her.

“SHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!” Both the Librarian AND Tammy shushed TJ this time.

“What?!” TJ asked. Tammy groaned, and dragged TJ out of there.

“The whole point of the library is that it's QUIET and people DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'RE EAVESDROPPING!” Tammy scolded him. “This is why I'm Lady Silent and you're a chump.”

“Hey, give me a break!” TJ groaned.

She ripped into him all the way back to the tip.

--

“This goes deeper than anything I could have imagined. Oh the drama!” Belle listened intently to what Tammy and TJ reported back at the tip.

“A global conspiracy? Awesome.” Charlie drawled, sitting on a pile of old mattresses. “I'm sure you'll find some way to make it boring.”

“So, how do we help them?” Sammy asked as Charlie went flying to the ground, the pile of mattresses destroyed.

“This is where TJ gets involved. Be sure to say hi from Chuckles and Giggles for us!” Daniel thumped TJ's back.

“Hopefully he does better than he did at spying.” Tammy frowned.

Suddenly, TJ's phone began to buzz.

“Constable Jacobs reporting...yes Sir, will be there soon Sir.” TJ hung up. “Bad news, Demon has called the police to make sure the Noble Knights of the Last Order are caught!”

“Not good.” Petunia moaned.

“It isn't.” Daniel rubbed his chin. “Okay. Lady Silent and Sir Dark will remain on...well, THAT detail.” He couldn't help giggling. “Lady Luck will remain here and keep things running. Lady Courage, Sir Hyper and myself will help Chuckles and Giggles fight crime, should it pop up.”

“Right.” The Knights nodded.

“Teej, it's up to you.” Daniel looked at one of his two best friends. “You have to get to Dickson.”

“I'll try.” TJ sighed.

--

“You're distracted love.” Petunia rinsed off plates and handed them to TJ, who loaded the dishwasher.

“How am I supposed to talk to Dickson? This is a job for Belle or Dan or even Tammy.” TJ sighed. “I'm just a cop.”

“You know how to talk to people.” Petunia pointed out.

“Yeah...but...” TJ sighed.

“But what?” Petunia looked up at him.

“I can't change anything. None of my coworkers ever listen to me when I try to steer them towards not being corrupt, and bloody Dingbat is the worst Inspector I've ever heard of. He won't promote me to Senior Constable because he's got his favourites.” TJ told her. “I wanted to do my Dad proud, but I can't do anything.”

“Maybe you should talk to your Dad.” Petunia suggested, finishing the rinsing.

“I guess.” TJ put the last dish in the washer.

“Don't I guess me.” Petunia smiled at him with a giggle.

TJ smiled back, and hugged her tightly. “What would I do without you to keep me straight?”

“You'd probably be married to Dan and cheating with Sam right now.” Petunia poked him.

They laughed. As long as they had each other, nothing else mattered.

Chapter Seventy-Nine: Good Enough for Government Work

Sir Lionheart felt a bit foolish. Here was this huge beast of a man with a feminine voice who had just called him “Knight” with a level of respect.

“Sir, um, you might want to watch the knives. They're hollow and full of drugs that can knock you out.” Sir Lionheart warned.

Richard Dickson walked towards the Haunted Maze Troupers, pulling out his gun.

“Now I don't want to have to use this, but I will in order to subdue you.” He told the Troupers, who stared back blankly. Sir Lionheart squinted. No way...

One of the Troupers let out a high-pitched giggle and threw a knife towards Dickson. It missed, but Sir Lionheart hissed. It had come dangerously close to Dicksons face, which meant-,

“As a member of the Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service, I'm immune to petty drugs like yours.” Dickson scowled. He pointed the gun at the Trouper who had thrown the knife.

Sir Lionheart swallowed. It WAS! That gun was a cousin of the Lucky Seven Gun and the Mystic Eight Gun! Did that mean that a cousin of the Lions Claw Blade and the Dragon Scale Scythe was nearby?

Dickon held the gun steady. “Are you going to cooperate?”

Another Trouper threw their knife too, missing Dickson by inches.

“So be it.”

Dickson pulled the trigger twice. Nothing happened.

“Why did they give me this stupid thing...?” Dickson pointed the gun downwards and inspected the chamber. Suddenly, the gun went off twice, right in Dicksons foot!

Sir Lionheart groaned. Loudly. Bloody government employees...

“Fine, let's try this!” Dickson pulled a dagger out of his belt. Sir Lionheart grimaced. Sure enough, there was the talisman attached to the hilt, a hedgehog. Sir Lionheart debated whether or not it was worth the three hours it would take for Belle to explain it to him.

Dickson threw the knife at the Troupers...unfortunately the talisman got caught in his fingers, and the knife quickly turned around and stabbed its owner in the hand.

“Hmm. Unfortunate. Oh well, as you were Knight, I think you can handle this. I'm going to continue my investigation.” Dickson looked at his wounded hand, before walking away.

Sir Lionheart blinked. He looked at the Troupers, who were shrugging to each other.

“I, um...I'll take these kids to Peter Masters, maybe he can analyze what they were given and see if we can't get them some treatment.” Sir Hyper rubbed the back of his neck.

“Good idea.” Sir Lionheart sighed. He noticed one of the Troupers about to hand another little girl a stash of drugs. “NO.” He snatched the drugs away and bopped the Trouper on the head with the butt of his replica Scythe.

--

“Okay, hands up, who actually expected a group with the name Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service to actually be competent? Actually?!” TJ groaned at the restaurant after Daniel had told them everything that had happened.

“I don't think it was him per se, but his weapons.” Belle piped up, her nose (where else) in a book.

“Apart from exposition, do you DO anything?!” Charlie groaned.

“Don't make me reverse Clause you.” Belle threatened.

“What about his weapons?” Daniel asked.

“I'm just looking at it now, it seems -,” Belle started, only to be interrupted by Charlie.

“I called my friends over in Awesomica recently, and they said they'd been looking further into the lore behind our weapons. If Dan is correct, then we're looking at the Speedy Two gun and the Hedgehog's Quill Dagger.” Charlie said.

There was silence.

“Awesome! Do you know about any of the others?” Belle dropped the book and focused all her attention on her best friend.

The others nearly fainted.

“No one seems to have the full story, but it seems these weapons can be traced back to a war 150 years ago. Somehow in this war the weapons were created and made their way around the world.” Charlie tried to recount what he'd learned. “There's seven pairs in total.”

“I've only heard of the Lucky Seven and the Lions Claw, the Mystic Eight and the Dragons Scale, the Palatable Six and the Stingrays Tail, the Quadroon Four and the Elephants Tusk, and now the Speedy Two and the Hedgehog's Quill. There's nothing I can find about the other two.” Belle mused.

Charlie pulled out his smartphone and checked his emails. “Here it is. The other two are the Trinity Three and the Tigers Tooth Scimitar, and the Dangerous Five Gun and the Wolf's Fang Gauntlet.” He said.

“This is all interesting, but how does that help us now?” Sunny asked, again trying to feed her daughter with limited success. “Bloody kids...”

“It's weird.” Belle looked at Charlie. “I've never been able to use the Lions Claw Blade, it's too heavy for me, and Charlie can't make the Lucky Seven Gun fire.”

“None of us can, and none of us are able to use the Lions Claw very well either.” Sammy added. “Except Dan, but he's just talented.”

“I think you need to have a certain level of skill to use these weapons.” Belle folded her hands in front of her mouth and focused. “Or maybe it's a certain bloodline.”

“Neither apply to me.” Daniel said quickly.

“Hmm.” Charlie and Belle continued to think.

“The point is, how are we supposed to keep the Service from hurting themselves? More importantly, how are we supposed to show them that the problem is with the Pleasantville Council?” Tammy banged her hand on the table, making everyone jump.

“Especially as Demon is doing everything he can to keep Dad and I away from them.” Belle sighed.

“Maybe...maybe this calls for something a little bit...covert...” Daniel rubbed his chin, before grinning at Tammy.

“Me?!” She squeaked.

“Of course! The Shadow of the Last Order! The Ghost of the Last Order! Our own invisible informant!” TJ cheered.

“Of course...she'll need some help from the OTHER Knight who just so happens to work for the Pleasantville Council...even if it IS their police force.” Daniel smirked at TJ, who faltered.

“Of course! Demon wouldn't DREAM that one of his cops is part of the Last Order! He might have the reins tight on Belle and Peter, but he knows NOTHING about TJ!” Petunia laughed. “Dan, you're a genius!”

“I know. That's why I'm the leader.” Daniel stretched nonchalantly. Just then, Melody spat up a mouthful of carrots all over his shirt.

“Sorry! She's being difficult!” Sunny tried to clean up the mess as everyone laughed.

Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service

Peter Masters was old enough to know better than to eavesdrop. He certainly should have been professional enough.

The interesting stranger who walked into Demons office was too enticing however. So Peter decided today was the day to get all of his shredding done. Nothing to do with the shredder being close to a vent that was right next to Demon Jones office.

"Mr Dickson. It's nice to meet you." Peter heard Demon say. The sound of clinking alerted Peter to the fact that Demon was trying to ply his guest with alcohol. Which meant this was either a good friend or Demon was trying to intoxicate them to cover himself.

"I won't be needing any of that." An almost female voice replied. Peter did a double-take. When Mr. Dickson had walked into Demons office, he'd looked HUGE.

"As you wish." Demon replied, Peter heard the note of disappointment in his voice and grinned.

"Now as you know, I'm here from the Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service to investigate reports of unrest in Pleasantville." Mr. Dickson continued.

Peter nearly died trying to keep his poker face. Across the room, Belle noticed her fathers behaviour and raised an eyebrow. A MASTERS sinking so low as to EAVESDROP?!

"I appreciate you coming in. We seem to have a strong vigilante problem here in Pleasantville." Demon said. Peter gritted his teeth. This was bad if Demon was turning the Government against chuckles and Giggles!

"If there's vigilantes, that usually paints to a bigger problem." Mr. Dickson replied.

'BURNNN!' Peter thought with a smirk.

"I'm sure with your help we can get to the bottom of it." Peter could hear Demon gritting his teeth.

'Looks like life in Pleasantville is about to get veeery interesting.' Peter thought with a smirk as he returned to his desk.

"Obvious eavesdroping is obvious." Belle said dryly as he sat down. Sure enough, everyone on their team was looking at Peter expectantly.

--

"The Government is coming down on Demons head!" Belle laughed at the tip with her friends after work.

"Ooooh, so the Law Enforcement Division is here?" Sunny perked up.

"Not quite..." Belle could barely keep her face straight.

"The Ostraylan Police Department?" Daniel looked suspicious.

"Nope."

"The International Law Association?" Sammy piped up.

"NO!" Belle groaned. She told them who had come to their rescue.

"You're telling us that the saviors of Pleasantville are the..." Charlie snorted.

"Presidents..." TJ giggled.

"Entrusted..." Petunia burst out laughing.

"National..." Tammy was grinning ear to ear.

"Intelligence..." Sunny looked fit to burst.

"Shut up guys!" Belle was laughing too.

"At least the Government is looking into it now." Daniel popped a barley sugar into his mouth and followed it up with a swig of ginger beer. "Who knows WHAT they'll come up with."

"Anyway, don't we have patrolling to do?" Sammy looked at his watch.

"Sure, although I doubt we'll need to do much if everyone's going to behave while the...the..." Tammy started giggling again.

"Hey, if Judith is right about the March Hill Crusaders trying to take power, this could be the perfect time to act up." Belle pointed out. "Especially as no one has seen Roger since Mark was slaughtered."

"Great choice of words there." Charlie groaned.

"Well, from what I heard, it WAS a slaughter." Belle began.

"We don't need to hear it. Thank you." Tammy looked pale.

The group suited up and shipped out.

--

"No crime over here." Sir Hyper walked past a jewelry store.

"None here." Sir Lionheart checked Pleasantville First Bank.

"No crime to be seen here, except my heart being stolen." Lady Courage giggled as she played marbles with some children.

"I think we can say that crime is taking a break." Lady Luck walked with Sir Dark.

"Absolutely." Sir Dark agreed.

Suddenly, they heard a loud screaming.

"Stand down, it's just Giggles trying to kill Chuckles." Lady Silent advised them over their radios.

"Wonder what Chuckles said this time." Lady Courage wondered.

They continued to patrol in various parts of the city, stopping briefly to watch Giggles hang Chuckles upside down in midair. ("I'M NOT SORRY!") before they both fell into the duck pond at the park.

"Any moment now, and the peace will be broken." Sir Lionheart stretched.

"Can't you just enjoy our good fortune?" Sir Hyper deadpanned.

Suddenly they heard a loud giggling. They rushed around the corner and found a Haunted Maze Trouper counting money.

"What the hell?!" Sir Lionheart readied his replica Dragon Scale Scythe.

"Sir Lionheart! Look!" Sir Hyper ran to come children who were all glassy-eyed and swaying dangerously.

"Too late! They're hooked!" The Trouper in her pink baby mask giggled. "They'll just want more and more and more and..."

"You MONSTER!" Sir Lionheart cried.

"Monster? HAHAHAHA!" The Trouper laughed. Suddenly, ten more Troupers, each with different coloured baby masks appeared.

Sir Lionheart slapped his watch and prepared to defend Sir Hyper, who was trying to round up the addicted children.

"You won't beat us. You can't survive until they get here. Why don't you just give in?" The Troupers pulled out their knives, all of them smoking with burning drugs just waiting to be inhaled.

Sir Lionheart stepped back. Even though he had added breathing protection now, he was still wary of those knives and the drugs they held.

"Give in Sir Knight, this will feel so good, I promise you." The Trouper said softly.

"I'll take it from here, thank you Knight."

Sir Lionheart turned around expecting to see a woman, and instead came face-to-face with Richard Dickson.