Sunday Pt 9

"Shit."

"Well," Walt said leaning back in the chair and putting his boot clad feet up on the rail as he sat on the porch. "That pretty succinctly sums it up nicely." He lifted the flask pausing to ask, "What can you tell me?"

He heard Dave sigh and then there's the sound of ice and the pouring of liquid as he must have been refilling his glass. "Well if you have the two characters you say you have, not that I doubt it mind you, it's going to be a goddamn mess. If protocol has been broken we're going to have to check every one of the "protected" instances on the list, no matter what the logs say. Nobody's going to be happy about this. That's a lot of work and man hours for no generated profits, the board isn't going to be happy because the protected instances ensure the viability of the business so that's a direct threat to the company, the agents aren't going to like it because it's a ton of work but also a threat to past agents and explorers like yourself... which I'm guessing is what's got your feathers ruffled."

Walt nodded and took a belt of the whiskey. "Yup. That's what I figured too. I wanted you to be among the first to know and I told Chuck and a few others at the wedding... I'm dropping the bomb tomorrow. I can't wait."

He heard Dave swear then sigh as he reached in his pocket and pulled out the case. He pulled out a cigar and lit it listening to Dave say, "That's not going to go over well... but I suppose it's best to pull this bandage off quickly and get to work on stitching it up asap. I appreciate the heads up... but that isn't why you called me. You want me to start poking around, don't you? Especially into your old cases?"

Walt nodded taking a puff. "That's right. So far I'm the only one I know about and have proof positive of... but it's a lot of proof. I currently have in my legal possession as my legal property 10 characters who shouldn't even be in the system from no less than 6 Do-not-enter, Do-not-tamper-with "Protected" list instances. All from my own personal cases. Thats not some random "Oops a mistake has been made" coincidence. That's clearly "intentional" as well as a disturbing amount of tampering in things I, and the company, don't want tampered with. Either it's a company wide problem or it's just me.... and as much as I don't want to be the one upsetting the apple cart we need to find the rotten apples and assess damage ASAP." He sighed. "I'm sorry Dave. I know this is going to make a lot of work for you all..."

Dave made a dismissive noise. "Has to be done. Not your fault. I'm sorry it happened at the end of my watch... I was going to retire the end of the year."

Walt sighed. "I know. Harls has been planning you a party but I figured-"

"Oh I already knew," Dave chuckled. "For such a surprise maker she ain't exactly "crafty" or "subtle", but it's part of her charm!" He paused. "I'll be there first thing tomorrow going over the logs. Come see me as soon as you can. I assume you're going in?"

Walt nodded. "Of course. Any good detective will tell you you have to go to the scene of the crime... our crime scene happens to be my past. I'm the only one authorized to go in there and besides... who else are they going to get? Name one still active agent or operative from our time who's still in the game that's got the experience and is capable and that has more logged time than I do?"

Dave sighed. "Yeah, that's all true. There's only a handful still capable that way and none with your record... and none of you want some wet behind the ears rookie poking into your old case files and worlds. Too... intrusive. Like sleeping with another mans wife... though in this case it's while in his bed, wearing his clothes, drinking his liquor while patting his dog and his whole family is waiting in line to be next. Way too intrusive and personal. Shit... all you old bastards are going to be coming down here demanding to go into your old case worlds!" Dave groaned.

Walt chuckled and grinned. "Yup. And you'll be sending your current top agents to double check all the untouched ones too! Guess there goes those instances "virgin" statuses. Yall are going to be busier then a stump-tailed bull in fly season!"

There's silence then a sigh and a chuckle. "God damn I missed your colorful, cowboy ass around here. You're going to have these suits and the youngin's alternating between the vapors and scratching their heads in confusion! Hit me with another you old reprobate!"

"Happy to oblige," Walt grinned. "Busy as a funeral home fan in July!" He listened to Dave laugh and hit him with one more. "Busy as a one-eyed dog in a smokehouse!"

Walt grinned listening to his old friend laugh while he smoked the cigar. Dave was nearly as old as himself and due to certain complications some of the regenerative and life extension procedures weren't an option. Who knew how much time he had left. Best to spend as much of it in good spirits as possible. "You know... when it's all over... the company's probably going to want to blame somebody. No matter what we find I don't want you to think that I think any if this is your fault, Dave. I got my suspicions that it's going to be Kelly's... but he's dead."

There's some wheezing as Dave stopped laughing getting his breath back. "I know... they'll like that for convenience but they'll want to be seen as "do something" and that'll mean firing someone... it's the end of my career. I was retiring anyway."

Walt nodded. "I'll go to bat with the suits for you... but if it comes to it... I'll give you heads up. You resign. Come work for 3S. I'll put your ass to work... offical coffee taster or VP incharge of measuring hemlines or something."

Dave chuckled. "Don't some of your regulars not only not wear skirts but pants neither?"

Walt smirked. "Yup. That's exactly where you'll start! Trying to contemplate the intangibly, meaningless and nonexistent." He knew Dave's type. "Start with Cammy White and if you figure it out we'll move on from there. Give her a look each morning and then spend your day thinking about it. What do you say?"

Dave laughed. "Tempting but no... I should've retired years ago... before things got this bad. I'm actually glad I didn't. Can you imagine the mess this would be without me? It's kind of you to offer but I'm well off, don't forget. We might not all be as rich as guy's like you and Charles but I don't need a megacorporation, a kingdom nation or mountain fortress of solitude either. We'll be just fine... though, when I do eventually "go"... Harls..."

Walt nodded. "She'll be looked after. If you don't leave her to your grand kids you can send her home through Rein Corp or she can have a place with 3S. Have you... talked with her about it?"

"No," Dave sighed. "I try but she always changes the subject... I got some time left according to the experts but..."

Walt looked at his cigar. "But things happen. When this is all over come out to the ranch a few days... meet my ladies. Maybe we'll go to one of Chuck's poker games like the old days... and we'll have a long talk with her. She can get as mad as she wants to ain't going to bother nobody out here except my closest neighbor and he's a grizzly. Hell the two of them can scrap if she want too! If she really wants to go nuts we'll call up some of the Villain-anon gang she's tight with. Maybe go down to the range with Norman and she can throw pumpkin bombs or whatever high explosives to her hearts content."

"Thanks, Hoss... well I better go get some rest. I'll be seeing you and 3S tomorrow I guess. Have a good night, Walt," Dave said.

Walt smiled and stood. "Yup. See you tomorrow. Have yourself a good night, Dave."

He ended the call and stood there looking at the clear night sky thinking about the busy day and the busy days ahead of him. All the things he had to do for work, the investigation... and how that was going to affect the time with ladies and home. He shook his head. Best start making good on the time he had now. He shot off a quick text and started preparing.

Pyrrha looked at her phone and broke out onto a grin. The message was short but it was something she'd been waiting for! She quickly texted back her reply as she hurriedly got dressed.

Neo gave her a questioning look and Penny asked, "Date?"

Pyrrha grinned. "Yes! He said it was short notice but we could go do it now!"

They were all happy for her and Nora gave her a hug. "Go have yourself a good date!"

"Thank you!" Pyrrha said as she let go. She waved as she turned and hurried out the door. She'd been so tired before. They'd all had a long day... but now?

She grinned as she practically skipped down the path. She was full of energy now! The wedding, Walt donning her colors, declaring their bond for all to see, now her man asking her if now was good for that date! "I wonder what he has in mind?"

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Nora Valkyrie Yang Xiao Long Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Zwei Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Raven Manami Aiba also with Tsuyu Asui Haruhime Sanjouno The Baroness Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress Serana Mission Vao Curie Ada PAM KL-E-O and Merida

Will Return In

Sunday

Coming Soon]