“And that armored soldier?” Charles asked.
“A member of Legion. The suit is something we’re testing. It’s part of a few initiatives we’re working on,” Felix said.
“Were the people who appeared and disappeared the same thing?”
“That they were. Very similar in scope, but different function.”
“What happened to all the wounded prisoners?”
“There were no wounded. Legion security forces are all marksmen certified with their weapons before they’re allowed to carry them on duty. Unfortunately, all of their shots resulted in fatalities,” Felix said.
And the ones that weren’t immediate were turned into sausage after having their souls pulled out.
“The bodies never turned up. There are a number of missing prisoners,” Charles said. It wasn’t really a question.
“I can’t speak to what happened after Legion quit the field. We left the corpses behind to be policed and recorded appropriately,” Felix said. It was the truth, too. Anyone killed then and there was left on the field. Only the wounded were carted out to be used.
“The National Guard did confirm that. There were even some super villains you left for them.”
“Indeed. Legion security is extremely well trained, outfitted, and ready. We’re not just a pawnshop, anymore. Not at all. We’re in the automotive industry. Primarily used cars. Antique identification and restoration works too. And we’re always looking to explore other options,” Felix said with some pride.
“As has become readily apparent as of late. I even saw a news report that you’ve been purchasing every junkyard willing to sell for a reasonable price,” Charles said.
“I can’t deny that, and won’t. It’s nothing secretive. We’re in the business of restoration. Why does it have to be limited to cars and antiques? Why not anything and everything that we can? It’s a simple enough shift of scope. And with today’s online market, it isn’t as if we can’t reach a market. We’ll have our own shop, and make it available to other online retailers,” Felix explained.
He hadn’t intended on revealing that. At this point though, he honestly thought this interview would get heavy ratings for the clip of the prison break alone.
Felix had every intention of making that work for Legion’s benefit.
“That makes a lot of sense. I can definitely see the appeal,” Charles conceded.
“I mean, take it a step further,” Felix said, leaning forward. “Instead of dumping your old product at the junkyard, as you would normally do, what if you could simply have it repaired there? Cheaply, too. Much more so than buying a new item, or having it refurbished.”
“I’m pretty sure that’d invalidate any warranty the product had,” Charles said with a small upturn of his lips.
“Oh, and then some. But if you were going to throw it away anyways…” Felix stopped, leaving his open-ended statement hanging.
It was easier to let people finish the thought on their own. It never hurt to do it, and it always helped with the adoption of new ideas.
“I… yes. I see what you mean. Well, I think that’s all the time we had. I wanted to say thank you for coming out and talking with us. I know you’re a rather busy man. Especially with your bid for governor,” Charles said, leaning over his desk and holding out his hand to Felix.
Uh huh. You were hoping to watch me fall on my face.
Felix smiled and took Charles’ hand in his own and gave it a good shake.
I’m going to buy this broadcasting station eventually and put your show on at two in the morning, and have it recorded at three in the morning.
Chapter 18 - Blood Price -
Felix got into the car and waited long enough for Victoria to slide in next to him.
Andrea Prime was on his other side, Miu in the front with Chauffeur Andrea.
“Andrea,” Felix said. “Get me a meeting with Dimitry. Use our secure channels. Tell him we’ll meet him in his office at the time. I’ll need a Fixer or Kit, Victoria, and one of your Others.”
Miu turned around and stared at him.
Asking me if you can go, huh? Not this time, my little psycho.
“Miu, I need you to get ready to infiltrate the police station that undercover cop of ours debriefs at. I want to know what he’s been reporting. You might need to take a Fixer with you, so be sure to take one who can keep up with you,” Felix said, meeting her stare dead on. “Let me know when you’re ready to run your operation.”
She blinked then nodded. Turning towards the front of the car, she seemed content to know she had her own mission for him.
“I’ll take care of it, Felix,” Prime said from his side, rapidly typing something into her portable terminal. He couldn’t remember when she’d switched from her tablet, but it seemed like it was working out better for her.
In fact, now that he looked at it, he was a touch envious. Apparently Felicia had built her a wrist communicator that doubled as her phone, and light terminal entry with an actual display.
Andrea must have felt his eyes on her as she paused, her ears flicking to one side and swiveling towards him. Then she tilted her head and looked up at him shyly.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Nothing. Sorry, thanks, Andrea. Be sure to include one of your more combat oriented Others with me. You’ll have to stay put and man the ANet for me. Keep me looped in. I can’t deny the ANet has been extremely beneficial and helpful.”
“I will…” she said, her cheeks reddening slightly.
“Good. Alright. Let’s get back to Tilen HQ,” Felix said. Pulling out his own light terminal from his bag at his feet, he flipped it over and opened up the email section.
He needed to get Lily working on a contract that’d work to cover a third party vendor as if they were Legion, with all the same protections a normal member would have.
Legion had a leak, and he had to plug it.
One way, or another.
Kit ripped open the portal directly into Dimitry’s office. Victoria, a combat geared Andrea, and a Fixer in a Legion Security outfit darted through.
Ten seconds later someone called back.
“Toss through the bag. Got ears,” Andrea called.
A second combat Andrea picked up a bag off the ground. Taking a few steps forward she heaved it through the portal.
Got ears meant that Dimitry’s room was bugged. Either the policeman they’d turned had wriggled out of his contract, or Dimitry had picked up another spy.
One way or another, it’d be fixed tonight.
Felix had erred here. He had let something into Legion that wasn’t part of Legion.
All because he wanted to have an ally.
Shaking his head, Felix couldn’t help but berate himself again. This was all his doing, and it was up to him to get it resolved immediately. If this had gone any further south it could have cost him his governor run.
A minute passed in near silence.
Kit watched him from across the room as she held open the portal. She was concentrating on it, making sure to hold it steady.
I should up her control over that or something. That or have Felicia put a second gate creator here in Tilen. Having it in Skippercity is nice… but not so useful when we’re working out of somewhere else.
As if she could hear his thoughts, which she couldn’t he reminded himself, she cracked an eye open and gave him a smile.
Closing her eye she went back to holding the portal open.