Chapter Eighty-Five: Ruby vs Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service

“Look, I know that Ruby beat you up, but didn't Sidewinder come and help you out in the end anyway?” Charlie tried to calm Daniel down over the phone. “Yes, I KNOW your new tattoo nearly got ruined, but it didn't, so it's all...Dan, please, we're doing our best here!” He held the phone away from his ear as Daniel went on a very loud, very unpublishable tirade. “Mate, seriously! We'll be home as soon as we can. Okay, 'bye!” He quickly hung up the phone before Daniel could start raving and ranting again.

“Of course it just HAD to happen while we were at the Leos game.” Belle sighed. “Although it's nice that the Leos are starting to win again.”

“It is, it is.” Charlie agreed. “Webster should be back soon, hopefully he can get us what we need.”

“Fingers crossed.” Belle lay back on her bed. “Do you ever wonder if our ancestors ever saw this happening when they first dammed up Pleasant Lake?”

“How could they have?” Charlie asked.

“Well, that stupid Improbability Clause for one thing.” Belle said slyly.

It took three hours before Charlie would talk to her again.

--

Richard Dickson walked slowly through the streets of Pleasantville under the cover of the moonless night. Behind him were Testy and Ball, sticking close together.

“I can't BELIEVE we got stuck with this.” Testy ejaculated. “I bet they're all back at base having a good laugh at us.”

“They're laughing at YOU.” Ball grabbed him tightly. “Now shut up, this is a stealth mission.”

“We haven't arrived YET Mr. Ball, you can relax.” Dickson chuckled. “Now come on, faster!”

They were headed towards the Mayors mansion.

--

“What have you got for us?” Belle and Charlie dragged Webster into the hotel room that night when he finally arrived with news.

“Two communications. One made just after the protest, one made a month ago.” Webster handed the pair a folder.

The first one was simple:

“I'm sure you've seen the latest from Pleasantville. Now would be a good time to make good on our deal. Much love!”

The second one was a bit more threatening.

“The Mayor and his son only have power due to the machinations of the Death Valley Gang and the Mobsters of Misneach, plus that Ruby Suit. I suggest you do something about this. Now.”

“Both of them sound like Dad.” Belle scanned the two communications carefully. Charlie blinked.

“Oh...oh no...I know what Dickson is after.” He gulped.

--

Ruby Daryl was about to go out and terrorize the local school disco, when he heard someone behind him.

He stopped in the middle of the school oval. He saw three figures walking towards him. He flicked his hand, releasing a Ruby Shard, which he threw at the approaching figures.

One of the figures laughed and brushed the Shard out of the air! Ruby stepped back, shocked.

“Didn't expect THAT did ya, brat?” Testy snickered. He then formed his own Shard, a deep blue one, and threw it at Ruby, who flew up into the air out of the way.

“Looks like this is your show, you like flying better than me.” Ball grinned at Testy.

“With pleasure.” Testy suddenly launched himself into the air and chased after Ruby! Ruby began to freak out. The closest anyone had come to being his equal before was Giggles, and that was only because of her immunity to the Ruby Power. Now, these two appeared, and they seemed to be able to use that power without a suit?!

Ruby formed Ruby Blasts in two hands, and fired them at both Testy and Ball.

Ball chuckled, before grabbing the Blast and crushing it. He then returned his own purple Blast! Testy just swatted his away.

Ruby put up a Ruby shield, but even though it could easily take the Amethyst Blast, he went flying, barely stopping himself from hitting the ground hard. Testy followed after him, firing another Sapphire Shard. Ruby tried a Ruby Shield again, but the Sapphire Shard was too fast, soaring into Rubys shoulder!

Ruby began to scream in agony as the Ruby and Sapphire power began to flood his body.

“Perfect. Now to extract it.” Dickson grinned. Ball and Testy walked over and began to strip Daryl of his prized Suit.

From the light that the Ruby Suit was emitting Daryl could see that the two men were wearing grey shirts with “Project 42” on the sleeve. They ungraciously ripped the Suit from the young man, causing him even more agony.

“Mission completed. Let's get out of here.” Dickson waved the two men back to him.

“About time. I'm never gonna live down the code name “Testy”!” Testy groaned as the trio walked back to their lodgings, ready to leave Pleasantville forever.

--

“You guys are NEVER going to believe what happened!” Sunny looked almost gleeful as she and Melody walked into Bills restaurant.

“You won lotto?” Tammy looked hopeful.

“Alas, no.” Sunny sat down with Melody squirming into her lap.

“You bought a house!” Sammy guessed.

“Wait, what? NO, I already have a house!” Sunny rolled her eyes.

“You're pregnant again!” Petunia looked thrilled.

“NO!” Sunny was getting annoyed.

“You got a job?” TJ asked.

“WILL YOU LOT LISTEN?!” Sunny roared.

Silence.

“Thank you. Now, some Mobsters found Daryl butt-naked and passed out at the high school – apparently Dickson stole the Ruby Suit off him!” Sunny told them. “We're free of that tyrant!”

The cheers startled passersby.

Chapter Eighty-Four: Reasons

“Dickson wasn't given a mission to investigate Pleasantville, I can tell you that right now. The government doesn't give two figs about that city, no matter what the uproar is.” Webster told them. “There must be another reason that they went, and the investigation is just a cover.”

“What on earth are they after then?” Belle asked.

“We know about as much as you do.” Webster sighed.

--

“Peter Masters is the reason you're here? HE called you?” Lady Luck raised an eyebrow.

“Yes. He has a few deals with the government, and so he called it and we're here.” Dickson told the Knights of the Last Order.

“Then why weren't you here earlier? The protest was well over a year ago.” Sir Dark asked. Something wasn't adding up.

“The wheels of progress aren't very fast in the great City Hall of Ostraya.” Dickson smiled.

Sir Lionheart closed his eyes. This was going south badly. “I'm going to call an end to this meeting. We're getting no where fast.”

“Very well. I'll send my messages through your friend Theodore?” Dickson got up to leave.

“Constable Jacobs to you.” Sir Hyper snapped.

Dickson nodded, before walking away with Testy and Ball.

“I hope like crazy Chuckles and Giggles have found something, because this is getting hairy.” Lady Courage groaned when the Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service was gone.

“I'm worried about what they said about Peter.” Sir Lionheart folded his arms. “We'd better get on to Giggles and let her know.”

“Right.” The others except Lady Courage agreed. Inside, Sunny worried about her friend. How would Belle react to the news that her father sold the power of the Ruby Suit?

--

Belle woke up drowsily the next morning (barely) as her phone beeped, alerting her to an email from Sunny. She read the contents before groaning.

“What's up?” Charlie didn't even open his eyes.

“Apparently last night Dickson confirmed that my father sent for the Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service.” Belle sighed. “Apparently it took them a while to get to Pleasantville.”

“Huh.” Charlie opened his eyes.

“That's that. Dad sold the Ruby Suit to the government for a favour, which he called after the protest and they've just taken their sweet time getting to it.” Belle leaned back on her bed.

“Hmm.” Charlie stared at the ceiling. “It's taken them over a year to get to it, even with the public outcry?”

Belle sat up and rubbed her chin. “You're right. Why wait until the public outcry died out only to restart it again?”

She flipped through her notes again, looking for anything she could find. There was a knock at the door, and Charlie answered it. It was Webster, holding a pair of coffees and a cardboard box filled with hot toast.

“Yes please!” Belle and Charlie reached for the coffees. Webster chuckled as they ate and drank.

“You certainly haven't improved your study habits Belle.” Webster said when they'd calmed down.

“Yours aren't much better thank you.” Belle snapped back. “By the way, we need some information.”

“All ears.” Webster perked up.

“We need to know when the Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service was requested to go to Pleasantville. I want to see my fathers communication with them.” Belle told him. Her voice quivered slightly.

“Your father isn't a traitor Belle. He did what he had to.” Charlie said quietly.

“I'll see what I can dig up.” Webster told them. “Why don't you go to a Leos game? I'll be a few hours.”

“You can get the information we need?” Charlie perked up.

“I'll get it, just you watch.” Webster grinned. “Or my name isn't Sir Hedgehog!”

--

“Confront him...wait until Belle gets home...confront him...wait until Belle gets home...” Sammy said to himself, trying to weigh up the options.

“We're waiting until Belle-Belle gets home and that's final.” Sunny snapped.

They were sitting in TJ and Petunias lounge room, and that outburst from Sunny had Sammy hiding in a corner.

“Easy Sunny!” Daniel tried to calm her down. “We might not have time to do that. Dingbat, Dickson and Demon are all out there and we don't know what Dickson has in mind.”

“Well, from Belle's email, we can safely say he's lying about his reason for being here.” TJ read the email again. “I wonder what-,”

Suddenly, a news bulletin appeared on the television, that had been left on as background noise. “RUBY IS OUT OF CONTROL AGAIN, AND SO ARE THE HAUNTED MAZE TROUPE!”

“Why, why, WHY did they have to act up while Chuckles and Giggles were out of town?!” Petunia groaned as everyone rushed to the tip to suit up.

They couldn't get there soon enough, as Ruby Daryl was destroying everything in sight in order to get even with some slight he had with the Haunted Maze Troupe.

“Why doesn't it surprise me that my brother is dabbling in drugs?” Lady Courage muttered under her breath as the Knights arrived at the scene. “Thanks Sir Motor!”

“You owe me.” Sir Motor grumbled (he and his beloved daughter had been watching their favourite show before his fiance had called him to take them to battle).

“You'll live!” Lady Courage chided him before rushing out to calm the farm.

“GET. OUT. OF. MY. WAY!” Ruby was already trying to get through Sir Hyper and Sir Dark.

"What the heck are you doing Ruby?!" Sir Dark dodged a Ruby Dagger.

"Are you kidding? I'm making a FORTUNE selling this stuff!" Ruby held up a packet of white powder. The two Troupers giggled.

"You sick, twisted, spoiled BRAT! Ladies and gentlemen please stand back." Lady Luck yelled as she quickly ushered people away.

"Aww, you're just jealous you didn't think of it first." Ruby sneered, shaking the bag of white powder. Suddenly he screamed in pain and dropped the bag into the outstretched hand of Lady Courage, who had taken the opportunity to smack the bag out of his hand with her faithful old baseball bat!

"You... give that back or I ..." Ruby readied a Ruby Shard. The two Troupers continued giggling, until Lady Luck glared at them.

"I'd be careful with that." Lady Courage opened the bag and held a bottle of water over it.

"You wouldn't DARE!" Ruby looked ready to kill. "There's nearly $6000 in that bag!"

"You're making this so much sweeter for me." Lady Courage looked quite pleased with herself.

Meanwhile, watching the carnage on the television in his hotel, Richard Dickson of the Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service grinned.

"So there it is." He watched as the white powder ended up drenched and on the ground as the Troupers turned on Ruby. “Our mission is going to be a success after all.”

Chapter Eighty-Three: The Business Card

TJ knew what he had to do.

It was Monday morning, and it was time for his interview with Richard Dickson, the leader of the Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service. He had to be careful. If Wallace Dingbat suspected a thing, then it was all over.

He walked through the entrance of the room that had been set aside for the interviews and looked around, inspecting everything. He wished he was Belle, who could take in a lot of information quickly and scope out a situation before anyone else, which allowed Charlie to form the best plan of action. Of course, they were in Brisvegas for the week, so they were no help.

His eyes scoped the small window to the main office, the only window in the room. There was a single desk with two chairs. Dickson sat on the other side of the desk.

“Please, take a seat Mr. Jacobs.” Dickson smiled at him.

TJ closed the door and sat down. “My name is TJ.” He said.

“TJ?” Dickson asked.

“So I don't get confused with my Dad. He's Theodore Jacobs Snr, I'm Theodore Jacobs Jr.” TJ told him. “Only my wife gets away with calling me Theodore.”

“Yes, I see you're married to a nurse. Petunia, am I right?” Dickson looked through his paperwork.

“Yup, my 'Tuney.” TJ smiled.

“You've been married for a while. Judging from the fact that your face could light up the dark side of the moon, I say things are going well?” Dickson smiled back. “I recently got married myself.”

“Congratulations.” TJ nodded.

“Thank you.” Dickson shuffled his papers again. “Now, before we start, is there anything you want to tell me?”

“Not here, no. I mostly keep to myself and don't bother anyone.” TJ replied.

Dickson looked at him, confused but not showing it. “Very well.” He sighed with disappointment. “I see you're not going to talk.”

“Not here, no.” TJ said again. “I don't have any knowledge that you might want.”

“Very well.” Dickson sighed with defeat. He handed TJ his card. “Let me know when you want to talk.”

TJ looked at the card. “I don't think I'll be needing it.” He handed it back and left the room.

--

“I don't get it.” Belle stared at the page for the millionth time as they pored over the files in the hotel. “Why did Dad sell the specs for the Ruby Suit?”

“Maybe he was hoping for a favour from the government? Maybe that's why the...them...are here?” Charlie had to suppress a giggle.

“But why would Dad wait so long after the protest to cash in?” Belle wondered.

Charlie thought hard, but ended up shaking his head.

“It's no good. I need more information before I can use the Clause.” He said. “Let's get back to work.”

“Yeah.” Belle nodded, before the pair of them dove into the paperwork in front of them.

--

“Why MIDNIGHT of all things?! And on a Monday night too?!” Sir Hyper grumbled.

The Noble Knights of the Last Order was standing on the walkway of Pleasantville Dam

“Because that's the way they do it in the movies.” Sir Dark replied.

“I gotta admit, that was a good idea, handing back the note with his card.” Sir Lionheart said approvingly.

“You learn quickly. I couldn't risk Dingbat seeing anything.” Sir Dark told him. “I'm already in a enough hot water there.”

“Ssshhhh, I hear something.” Lady Silent piped up.

The group stood silently as they listened. Soon, they could all hear the sound of multiple sets of footsteps heading towards them. They soon saw Richard Dickson and two of his men in the moonlight.

“Mr. Dickson. I'm glad you accepted the Constables message. I'm Sir Lionheart, I believe we have met.” Sir Lionheart introduced himself.

“Interesting.” Dickson replied. “These are my men, the two I trust more than anyone else, Mr. Ball and Mr. Testy.”

Sir Lionheart had to swallow his laughter. He then introduced the rest of the Knights.

“Now, to business. We want to know exactly why you're here and what you plan to do next.” Sir Hyper sat on a nearby rock.

“That's a difficult question. You see, what we've been sent to do and what we actually plan to do are two completely different things.” Testy sighed. In the dark all the Knights could see was a weaselly-shaped man who looked completely untrustworthy.

“The government sent us here as a cover. We're just here for show.” Ball said. He was bigger than Testy, and looked more like someone military.

“But we don't believe that's right. We actually want to make a difference.” Testy said.

“No offence, but how do we believe you?” Lady Courage asked.

“None taken. We know our story seems far-fetched.” Ball said. “It's up to you what you do with it.”

“So you're not even prepared to try?” Lady Courage narrowed her eyes.

“Easy Courage.” Sir Lionheart said warningly.

“I don't trust them. They're on OUR territory, we don't know where they've come from or who they're working for or why. Everything they've said so far just sounds way too convenient.” Lady Courage pointed out. “Especially as it seems the government wants the status quo to stay as it is.”

Dickson stared hard at her. Sir Lionheart grimaced beneath his mask briefly, before turning to Dickson.

“My associate has a point. Until we can fully verify your story and your intentions, we won't be able to trust you or work with you properly.” He conceded. “What can you give us?”

“I can give you information about Peter Masters.” Dickson told them

--

Belle and Charlie were deep in their files, when there was a knock on the door. The pair looked at each other, stricken.

“Does anyone know we're here?” Belle mouthed.

“They shouldn't.” Charlie mouthed back.

The knocking started again. Belle reached into her bag and pulled out the Lucky Seven Gun. Charlie pulled out the Lions Claw Blade and walked to the door. Belle positioned herself behind the bed and nodded.

Charlie opened the door.

“Webster! Maddy! Tate!” Belle put the Lucky Seven Gun down. “What are you guys doing here?”

“Hopefully not getting shot.” Webster chuckled. He looked a lot healthier than he had when he lived in Pleasantville, which just went to show what that city did to people. “Your Dad let us know you were here, so we thought we'd help out. We can unlock doors that you can't.”

“Nice!” Charlie grinned. “We need more information for me to process the Improbability Clause.”

“And we've got some. We just need to know about who they sent to Pleasantville.” Maddy sat down and set Tate on the bed.

Belle and Charlie looked at each other and giggled. Then they saw that Webster and Maddy looked deathly serious.

“If it's the Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service, we're in big trouble.” Webster said. “You can NOT trust Richard Dickson!”

Chapter Eighty-Two: My Fallen Idol, Part Two

TJ might have agreed with Petunia and had a path going forward, but the fact that his father, the father he had looked up to and idolized, the father he wanted to emulate had turned a blind eye to the corruption of the Pleasantville Police Force just to further his own career made him feel sick. It was all he could think about that weekend, when he SHOULD have been thinking about how he was going to tackle Dickson.

Also, he probably should have had his mind on the game of cricket he was playing at the tip.

“TEEJ! Are you okay?!” Daniel cried as the bouncer he bowled hit TJ in the ear.

“Owch.” TJ fell to the ground, clutching the side of his head.

“You've been distracted all day, what's up?” Sammy asked as Petunia tended to the wound.

“Of course, if SOMEONE would avoid bowling bouncers, that would be nice!” Petunia rounded on Daniel.

“There is nothing wrong with my bowling!” Daniel retorted.

Ten minutes later, when the argument had finished, TJ told his fellow Knights about the conversation he'd had with his Dad.

“Wow. I can't believe your Dad just turned a blind eye to everything!” Tammy gasped. “I mean, we all know your Dad!”

“I just...” TJ couldn't bring himself to say it. Sunny put her hand on his arm.

“Your Dad loves you. He did what he thought was best to protect you and give you the best he could. Try not to hold it too much against him.” She said quietly.

“Not all Dads can be heroes.” Daniel added.

TJ sighed. “I just...what if I go against him and he finds out? What if he finds out I'm a Knight of the Last Order?”

“Then you have us. We'll wear it if it happens.” Sammy said quickly and firmly.

“Exactly.” Tammy agreed with her brother.

TJ sighed again. Petunia finished fixing up his ear and put her arm around him.

“You can't do any worse with Dickson and your father than your strike rate I guess.” She said slyly.

Instantly, TJs father was forgotten in yet another cricket argument. Stay classy Knights.

--

“What's up Dorkster?” Charlie poked his head out of his window. Belle was sitting in the tree, looking up through the new leaves.

“Something doesn't add up. The protest was AGES ago. The government had plenty of time to organize a raid, and something much more substantial then sending the p- Dickson.” Belle had a small giggle to herself before frowning again.

“Shouldn't we just be grateful someone is here?” Charlie asked.

“Yes...and no. Sometimes it pays to look a gift horse in the mouth. Not all gifts are given with the best intentions.” Belle mused.

Charlie looked at his best friend. “I don't think the answers will be in Pleasantville.” He said slowly. “We'll need to go to Brisvegas.”

“Yeah.” Belle nodded. “Wanna come with me?”

“And help you sift through boring information on a dumb research project? Heck yeah!” Charlie grinned. “We might need the Improbability Clause!”

“You're the worst best friend ever you know that?” Belle scowled at him.

--

All being said, it wasn't a bad car trip to Brisvegas.

“You are NEVER driving my car again.” Belle snapped at Charlie as they pulled into their hotel.

“You know it's a good idea to change drivers every two hours.” Charlie lectured her as he handed the key to the concierge.

“WE WERE TEN MINUTES AWAY!” Belle yelped.

“Semantics.”

They checked in with no problems (except Belle pouting) and they headed to their room. Almost immediately, Belle began to arrange the desk and Charlie closed the curtains.

“We could have been followed! You're pretty hot property at the moment!” Charlie pointed out.

“Good point.” Belle agreed. She pulled out her laptop and set it up on the desk, with her pen and notepad. She grabbed another pen and notepad and shoved it into her handbag.

“We've got two hours until the Brisvegas Council Library closes.” Belle said. “Let's get out some information and bring it back here to analyse.”

“How are we supposed to get said information? Most of it would be top secret wouldn't it?” Charlie asked as they walked out of the hotel room.

“A name is quite a lot.” Belle smirked. “And my name tends to get me into a lot of places others would fear to tread.”

They headed to the library, and got a hold of all the unclassified government records that they were allowed. They got everything they could relating to Pleasantville, and headed back to the hotel (with the all-important detour for snacks).

“So, what do we do first?” Charlie looked at the huge pile of binders on the desk.

“We procrastinate and watch the cricket, duh.” Belle told him, jumping on a bed and flicking through the channels.

“Now that sounds like a plan!” Charlie grinned.

They watched an awful game of Ostraya versus the Golden Isle. Towards the innings break, they ordered room service (charged to the account of Peter Masters) and continued watching the drivel before Belle got irritated and started reading one of the binders. Charlie snickered behind his hand, while watching the Golden Isle lose another wicket.

Suddenly, the binder was down and Belle was trying to breathe normally.

“Belle? BELLE!” Charlie jumped to her side. “What is it, what did you find?”

Belle turned to him, pale. She shakily pointed to a page in the binder.

Charlie picked up the binder and looked at it. He gulped. What he read could only mean one thing, and one thing only.

Either Lara or Peter Masters had sold the government the secrets of the Ruby Suit, long before Belle had ever worn it.