There was a quiet scrape of chairs as the individual Legionnaires struggled with their decision. The only thing that was clear was that if the interlopers did serious damage to the Gnat, they were going to have trouble getting out of the lounge in one piece-public relations be hanged!
Suddenly a huge figure loomed out of the candlelit darkness and interposed its bulk between the civilians and the approaching Super Gnat.
"Ummm... Gnat?" Tusk-anini rumbled in his voice that was at once rasping and melodic. "Captain says tell you... if you bust up place, you pay... all damages."
The little Legionnaire pivoted around, her eyes seeking the company commander to protest such a charge. While she looked for Phule, her opponents looked at the figure between them and their intended prey.
As has been noted before, Voltrons are impressive if encountered by the light of day and one is expecting it. In a dimly lit cocktail lounge with a low ceiling, it can give the impression that part of the wall decided to walk up to your stool... if a wall had a large, misshapen head complete with tusks, and matted dark hair that ran down the back of its neck.
The three troublemakers tried to stand up, only to discover they already had performed that act without thinking when the apparition appeared. Which is to say, they became aware that they weren't sitting down... Tusk-anini was really that big!
"Umm... are you with her?" one of them managed at last.
"What he's trying to ask," inserted another, "is whether we have to fight you if we take her on?"
The Voltron reacted to this by retreating a step in shocked surprise.
"Her? No... she no need my help. She meaner than me... lot meaner!"
As one, the trio swallowed hard and looked at the Super Gnat again.
"Want advice?" Tusk-anini pressed eagerly. "Leave now. If no, then somebody get hurt... maybe bad."
There was no mistaking the open sincerity and concern in the Voltron's voice, though his normal peaceful nature was harder to detect. Suddenly aware of their own mortality, the cowed youths threw some money on the bar and beat a hasty retreat, evacuating the premises before the Gnat managed to catch Phule's eye, the latter notable being engrossed in conversation again.
After the "Super Gnat in the Lounge" episode, it was only natural that she and Tusk-anini be teamed as partners. The full effect that the fiery little Gnat and the gentle giant would have on each other was not even suspected until several days later. Unlike the lounge incident, there was no foreshadowing or warning of the explosion before it happened.
The Legionnaires had taken to using the Plaza restaurant as an after-hours gathering place for reading, quiet conversation, and any other activity requiring more space than a hotel room, and more light than was provided in the lounge. There were usually a couple dozen people there, and that was what Brandy was looking for when she stopped in for a late night cup of coffee and a little relaxing conversation before turning in.
Scanning the room with her mug in hand, her eye fell on Tusk-anini poring over a stack of papers.
"Hey, Tusk!" she said, plopping down at his table. "How're things shaping up between you and the runt? Won't she let you work in the room?"
The Voltron raised his head and regarded her with his black marble eyes.
"Brandy. No call partner runt. She no like."
Taken aback, the first sergeant tried to laugh off the rebuff.
"Hell... no offense meant. I know the runt's sensitive about her height, but-"
"NO CALL PARTNER RUNT!"
The Voltron rose angrily to his feet, and Brandy was aware of heads turning in their direction.
"Cool down, Tusk," she cautioned. "What's bothering you, anyway?"
"SHE HEAR YOU, SHE GET MAD. YOU HAVE TO FIGHT HER. MAYBE HURT. YOU NO CALL HER RUNT!"
The whole room was watching the confrontation of the company's Gargantuans now, and the top sergeant was suddenly aware of her status and authority being challenged.
"Look, Tusk-anini!" she snarled. "Nobody tells me how to talk-not even the captain! If I want to call the Gnat a runt, I will... and nothing you can do or say-"
The Voltron's bunched-up fist thudded down on top of her head, surprising her and knocking her sprawling backward off her chair.
The others in the room watched in stunned silence as their most pacifistic teammate loomed over the fallen sergeant, trembling with rage.
"I WARN YOU, BRANDY. NO CALL PARTNER RUNT!"
It had been a long time since anyone had challenged Brandy physically, but some things you never forget. Shaking her head to clear it, she groped about and found a chair leg.
"I believe this is my dance!" she hissed, and came off the floor at the Voltron.
Phule sighed and checked his uniform when the flurry of pounding erupted on the door of his suite.
"Come in, Super Gnat," he called as the assault began anew.
The smallest company member exploded into the room, red-faced and oblivious to the verbal clue that she was expected.
"Captain! Did you know that my partner's down in our room with a bandage on his head? That the doc says he might even have a minor concussion?"
"I'm aware of that."
"And did you know that bitch Brandy did it to him?"
"I'd heard that, too."
"Well, what are you going to do about it?"
Phule regarded her levelly.
"Nothing."
"Nothing? But she-"
"Since I figure doing nothing is better than seeing your partner brought up on charges."
Super Gnat blinked, hesitating in her tirade.
"Charges? I don't understand, Captain."
"Sit down, Gnat," Phule instructed calmly. "If I take official notice of what happened, then I'll have to acknowledge all the eyewitness accounts of Tusk-anini launching an attack on Sergeant Brandy... an attack that ended when she knocked him cold defending herself. I don't want to have to do that, so unless that bitch, as you called her, decides to press charges, I'm willing to pretend the whole thing never happened."
The Gnat frowned fiercely for a moment, then shook her head.
"I can't believe it, Captain. They've got to be lying. Tusk-anini is the gentlest soul in this whole company. What'd he want to take off after Brandy for?"
"Let me ask you a question," the commander said slowly. "Would you want to tangle with Brandy?"
The little Legionnaire twisted her mouth into a grimace.
"That's one I'd walk around if there was any way," she admitted. "Even if I kept my head and remembered what I learned in those classes I was tellin' you about, she'd probably peel me like a grape. That's one mean lady."
Phule nodded sagely.
"That's what the fight was about."
"Sir?"
"It seems that Brandy, was referring to you in less than complimentary terms, and your partner was afraid that if she talked like that in front of you, you'd take her on and probably get hurt."
"Shoot. You can say that again. Why, she could...
The Gnat broke off in midsentence as the implications sank in.
"Wait a minute. Are you sayin' old Tusk took her on because of me?"
"That's what the witnesses say. It seems he figured he had a better chance against Brandy than you would. Of course, he doesn't have your training. He tried to do it on guts and enthusiasm. "
Super Gnat shook her head ruefully.
"That don't cut it in heavy traffic," she said. "Believe me, I know!"
"He was doing what he thought he had to, to protect his partner," Phule said. "I might suggest that you consider doing the same."
"Sir?"