Tales of the Parodyverse

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Wed Jan 18, 2006 at 04:52:58 pm EST

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Adventures In Parodyverse: Consumed (Untold Tales #250 tie-in)
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Adventures In Parodyverse - Consumed (UT#250 Tie-In)


    Yuki Shiro burst into Sir Mumphrey's office uninvited, yet not violently. She didn't seem to be angry...it could better be described as carefully controlled frustration she needed to vent in front of the Lair Legion leader.
    
    "Could you please make an appointment?" Asil asked her. "He's quite busy right now."
    
    "Go away," Yuki muttered carelessly. She walked past Lisa's clone and approached Sir Mumphrey's Desk. She rudely took his pen from him as he wrote and set it aside. "I need to talk to you."
    
    "I'm sorry, I tried to ask her to--" Asil began.
    
    "It's all right." He motioned for Asil to leave, and then he offered Yuki a seat. "Have a seat, please."
    
    "Jay thinks I overstepped my bounds," Yuki began suddenly, pacing slowly. "That I exceeded my authority." She stopped pacing and looked directly at Mumph. "And he suggested that if I did it again I might find myself out of the Lair Legion. Were those your words or his?"
    
    "It's a complex situation, Yuki," Sir Mumphrey began.
    
    "I don't see anything complex about one of our most powerful Juniors, one who's related to one of our members, by the way, running off in anger and becoming a super villain!"
    
    "Perhaps you should sit and explain your point of view, what?" Sir Mumphrey suggested.
    
    Yuki finally sighed and sat down. "She was packing," Yuki began.


---


    "You're seriously thinking about leaving?" Yuki asked Kerry Shepherdson.
    
    Kerry didn't reply, but she nodded. It was obvious that she was emotional about the whole ordeal, but didn't want anyone to know. "I told you, I'm not running away. I have somewhere to go. I'm treated like a kid here, without any respect. I think maybe it's time I try to make my own life. My sister did, and she's fine."
    
    "Sarah works at a bakery," Yuki pointed out. "Are you even aware of how boring that is?"
    
    The teen Junior shrugged. "It's better than being held back while people you've been with for years move on. I'm gonna be a joke to them. The fire-girl who's been a Junior for ten years."
    
    "Do you know that you need to control your temper better?" Yuki asked. "Because that's important. Whether you know it shows whether you can improve."
    
    "I know, I know." Kerry took a deep breath after her impatient response. "Yes, I know. I'm very conscious of it. I mean, look, I never got any of my teammates hurt or killed because of it."
    
    Yuki nodded. "You know...you're right."
    
    "I am?" Kerry stopped packing and looked up.
    
    "Yes," Yuki confirmed. "I get in trouble with Hatman and Visionary and even Sir Mumphrey sometimes because I don't follow the rules or the plan."
    
    "That's how I get in trouble too," Kerry pointed out.
    
    "But if I know everything will turn out well I take risks, because I know they'll pay off in the end."
    
    "Yes! That's what I'm saying!" Kerry sighed. "But I can't seem to convince fake-o and stiff-boy of that."
    
    Yuki folded her arms. "Well maybe you don't have to," she said. "Maybe you only have to convince me."
    
    "Huh?" Kerry asked, now clearly confused.
    
    "I'm going to try to invite you to the Lair Legion," Yuki clarified. "It's pending Sir Mumphrey's approval, of course. I'm hoping my support will mean something to him."
    
    "He'll probably say no," Kerry replied with another sigh.
    
    "Then I'll stand by you," Yuki suggested. "I don't back down easily. If he says 'no' I'll ask again later. And again. Until he's tired of me asking."
    
    Kerry smiled. "That's almost evil," she said.
    
    "Look," Yuki added, "I don't know how much authority I really have around here. But I'll give it my best, and I've done some impossible things before. Just...give me a chance to see this through. Don't leave just yet."
    
    "Maybe I need a little more incentive to stay," Kerry said. "In case your evil harassment fails."
    
    "If it fails," Yuki shrugged, "Maybe "I'll teach a class or two of yours. Find an excuse to bring you out into the field with me anyway. Sound fun?"
    
    "Cool." Kerry tossed aside the remaining clothing and left the suitcase sitting where she put it earlier.


---


    "Unfortunately she bragged to Jay about what I told her soon after," Yuki continued. "He wasn't happy. Said I had no right to go over his head. I told him I had to go around because as far as this topic was concerned his head is too thick to go through."

    Asil turned around, trying hard not to laugh. Sir Mumphrey didn't, having years of practice at remaining serious.
    
    "I'll apologize for arguing with him eventually," Yuki went on. "But I think his threat was inappropriate, and I refuse to let him force me to admit I was wrong about Kerry."
    
    "Sounds like you have everything in hand, then," Sir Mumphrey said. "Mr. Boaz is a reasonable chap. Tell the same story to him and he may see things your way."
    
    "The problem is, Jay's the one who recommended Kerry be held back," Yuki pointed out. "And he really wants to stick by that decision."
    
    "You and he need to come to a compromise, perhaps? Decide who's being inflexible about what?"
    
    Yuki took a deep breath and sighed. "Yeah, maybe. With everything going on lately we're all on edge. I guess there's no sense in fighting over this. I'll tell him what I think about it and if he lets me I'll take full responsibility for aiding in Kerry's training."
    
    "I think you'll make a wonderful role model," Sir Mumphrey said as he picked up his pen again and tried to resume working. "Now if you don't mind I have some paperwork to catch up on."
    
    Yuki stood and nearly walked to the door, but then she turned around again. "Need some help?" she asked.
    
    Sir Mumphrey looked up again and smiled. "No, thank you. I'll manage."


---


    "Jay," Yuki nearly whispered, trying to sweetly get his attention without angering him again. He was sitting in the library looking through an illustrated book on the history of Gothametropolis. "I'm sorry, Jay. I lost my temper. I should have stayed calm and discussed things with you."

    "It wouldn't have changed my opinion," Jay replied quickly.
    
    "You're--" she nearly snapped, but then she calmed herself and tried to speak quietly again. "No offense Jay, but you're beginning to sound like Dominic."
    
    Jay looked up from his book. He seemed genuinely offended by the comparison. He nearly responded angrily, but Yuki was smiling at him. "Am I really that bad?" he asked.
    
    "Well no, because you didn't storm out of the room after being stubborn." She sat down across from him and folded her arms. "Can I have an intern?" she asked suddenly.
    
    "A what?" Jay was confused by the question.
    
    "I mean, if I'm not allowed to invite anyone to the Lair Legion--"
    
    "No, that's wrong," Jay corrected. "You are allowed to invite some people. I just don't appreciate you working with someone...one of the Juniors, no less...to try and get around a rejection."
    
    "I wasn't trying to get around--" She stopped and calmed herself again. Trying to justify herself wouldn't do any good. "Jay, you know how I go a little too far sometimes? How I keep ending up in Sir Mumphrey's office discussing rules, or protocol or discretion, or some such?" She smiled slyly as she added, "Doesn't that suddenly seem very familiar?"

    "Hmm," Jay agreed reluctantly.
    
    "What I'm saying is, I see a little of myself in Kerry. And in my humble opinion I think she deserves the same chance. Because if we don't...before I was invited to the Lair Legion Jay, I was going to flee the country to hide from my enemies. Maybe live in London or Paris."
    
    "You're afraid Kerry will run away?"
    
    Yuki nodded. "She's restless and determined, Jay. And she's growing up fast. At some point she'll feel like she's learned and done all she can here and she'll want to move on."
    
    "But we can't just reverse the decision and induct her into the Legion," Jay pointed out.
    
    "I know." Yuki sighed. "But maybe it's time...I dunno, maybe I can take her on a few missions with me."
    
    "Are you suggesting an internship program?" Jay asked.
    
    Yuki shrugged, and then stood slowly. "It wouldn't really be my place," she said, "But I'm sure it's something a senior member might come up with at some point." She gave Jay a sly smile before leaving the library.
    

-- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2006 by Jason Froikin, and may not be
-- reprinted without permission.
-- Yuki Shiro and Liu Xi Xian (C) 2006 by Jason Froikin, all rights reserved
-- All other characters property of their respective owners





To the Spirit of the Night, I surrender...


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