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Side Story 167.1 - The Assistant
🕑 Added 2022-09-26 20:15:00 +0000 UTCLinda was still giggling as she sat in the limousine, imagining the faces Arachnalich would make. Chris was sitting nearby.
“Um, Linda?”
“Yes?”
“Is this…alright?”
“Oh, it’s not alright. Not alright at all. Do you know what it was like when I found that stupid mistress gone? Do you know what it’s like to have to reschedule a meeting with the President? Do you know what it’s like to have to cover for a UN hearing? It is not alright at all.”
“Right…I get that, but that’s not what I’m talking about. You know we’re heading to the ILS right now, right? What’s your plan for that?”
Linda froze.
“Don’t tell me…you forgot?”
Linda averted her eyes.
“I…um…i-it’s not my fault! Do you know how stressed I’ve been lately?! Getting arrested, covering for that stupid mistress, worrying about Bob…”
“Linda, you’re deflecting. I get it, but we only have a few minutes before we arrive. Shouldn’t you start thinking about what to say? Or if you should even leave the car?”
Linda paused, and then sighed. She looked down as she gripped her hands together.
She hadn’t spoken with Londyn since the day she was discovered. In fact, technically she was still a fugitive from the ILS. There was a very real possibility Londyn would have her arrested on the spot.
What…should she do?
—————————————————————————————————————
Londyn stood in the garage, watching the limousine pull up. She was waiting to escort the AVS personell to Arachnalich’s room. The door to the car opened…
Londyn froze.
Linda stepped out of the car.
The two stared at each other for a silent minute.
“Um…Director…”
“So you’re working with the AVS now? I should have known.”
Linda glanced down at her feet.
Londyn took a deep breath.
And turned around, not looking back even once.
“Come. The room is not far. The leader of the AVS is waiting. You should get to work immediately.”
Linda’s head shot up, her eyes widening. Londyn wasn’t arresting her after all.
She gripped her hands.
She made her decision.
She took a deep breath.
And then she shouted.
“Director Green! May I have a moment of your time tonight?!”
Londyn stopped walking. She didn’t speak, didn’t turn around, didn’t move a muscle.
“I know I have no right to say any of this but I really want to apologize to you!”
Londyn took a huge, long breath. She held her head and groaned.
“...you’re paying for the drinks. A LOT of drinks.”
And she strode off without another word.
Linda watched her go. Tears started to fill her eyes. Chris walked up and pat her shoulder, giving her a smile. She smiled back.
A chance.
A chance she didn’t deserve.
A chance to make things right.
She was so grateful for that chance that she even decided to go easy on Arachnalich and cut out some of the non-essential documents. Which meant Chris and the other staff only had to carry three quarters of the boxes they had packed to Arachnalich’s office!
Arachnalich’s screams indicated she did not appreciate that consideration.
Villain bosses are so ungrateful.
—————————————————————————————————————
Londyn was already sitting at the bar when Linda arrived, holding an empty glass. And not her first. Linda took a deep breath and walked over, taking her seat.
“Director.”
Londyn just grunted and downed the rest of her drink.
“Director…I wanted to say I’m sorry. For everything. Truly, I never meant to hurt you.”
“Ugh, please cut the crap. I get it but I don’t really want to hear that.”
“Right…”
Linda took a seat and ordered a drink. Londyn ordered another for herself and tanked it down.
The two sat in silence for a while. Londyn heaved a sigh.
“Ok, I'm here because there are some things I want to hear from your own lips.”
Linda nodded.
“Anything.”
“How long were you working for Bob?”
“From the very beginning, before I even met you.”
“You joined to spy on me from the very start?”
“Both. Bob did want someone who could feed him intel without compromising you. But he also needed you to succeed.”
Londyn just glanced at her from the side.
“You trying to tell me you were on my side too?”
Linda took a deep breath, looking at her cup.
“I was on Bob’s side, always. But I wanted you to succeed. We both did.”
"So you could manipulate me, right?"
"Partly. Bob never liked heroes but he considered them necessary for the world. Since he couldn't get rid of them, the ILS was needed to blunt their worst points and sharpen their best points. So even though we took advantage of you and the ILS for our own goals, we also very much wanted you both to succeed in your intended mission. In that, we weren't always your ally, but we were never your enemy."
Londyn grunted and finished the rest of her drink. She knew what Linda said was probably true, and she probably did need to hear it. But that didn't mean it didn't make her angry to hear these jerks claim they were on her side while maneuvering behind her back.
She turned, and looked at Linda.
She started to scowl, and glare at her.
She opened her mouth…
And everything poured out.
For quite some time, Londyn yelled at and berated the woman. Linda said not a word, just looking down at her feet and biting her lip.
And then it was done.
Londyn had no more words, no more feelings in her heart. Her lips were parched, her head was spinning.
She started to wobble…
Linda placed a hand on her back, steadying her, and nodded at the barkeeper. He brought over a glass of water. Linda brought it up to Londyn’s lips, slowly pouring the drink for her.
Londyn collapsed on the bar table after that.
And she started to sob.
Linda sobbed as well, gently patting Londyn’s shoulder as she did. Londyn just sobbed harder.
It was a while before either of them could speak.
But when they could…
“Just…answer me this. Why? Why did you choose Bob?”
“...I first met Bob on a smuggling job. He was brand new, a first-timer. We didn’t think much of him. It was something we had done dozens of times before, we figured we’d have to be taking care of him.”
Londyn looked over. Linda started to frown.
“Then everything fell to pieces. We got attacked by supers, people who could do things we couldn’t understand, couldn’t even imagine. They killed our guards like they were nothing, tossed us aside like used rags. Then they began to fight one another, trying to take our cargo for themselves. I’ve never felt so afraid, so helpless. I was so sure I was going to die that day, if one of those monsters so much as looked at me. I felt like there was nothing I could do but duck down and pray they ignored me and even then I might still die from a stray shot, because they didn’t care that I was there.”
Linda started to smile.
“That was when he came. The newcomer who knew nothing. Yet he was the only one who stayed calm, who seemed like he knew what to do. He came up with a plan. He pitted those gods against each other and outsmarted them all. And not only did we manage to escape, we ended up with the prize in our hands. Us! A bunch of normal people with no weapons or powers, a handful of ants among giants. He empowered us, showed us what we were capable of, that we were not helpless. It was then that we all decided we would follow him. So when he came to us with his plans, all of us answered.”
Londyn was silent. Then she whispered under her breath.
“...yes, we did.”
Linda turned to her, making a sad smile.
“And that was why I admired you too. You stood among those gods and held your ground, not just behind the scenes but face to face. You rose above them, such that now when people think of heroes, they don’t think of some super in a cape, but of a normal woman who made it there with nothing but her wits and her resourcefulness. You empowered all of us, became a symbol for every normal and helpless person in this world. I truly was proud to stand at your side, to help you in any way I could. And…I’m truly sorry that I hurt you. We should not have cut you out like we did.”
Londyn took a deep breath and straightened her back. She stared Linda in the eye. Linda met her gaze this time.
“As the Director of the ILS, you will never work under me again. You broke my trust, handed intel over to our enemies, put our people and the innocents of the world in danger. People may even have died because of your actions. That cannot be forgotten or erased and I know now where your loyalty lies. That relationship is over, for good.”
Linda frowned but she nodded. Londyn sighed once more.
“As Londyn Green…I understand. I…too…thought like you did. Followed after the one who empowered me and gave me hope when I was helpless and hurt. And…I was not myself when last we spoke, and did not handle things as I should have. I did things that I regret, hurt people that I shouldn’t have. So because of that…”
Londyn closed her eyes, taking another deep breath. Linda held hers…
“...I forgive you. I want to forgive you. We went through a lot together…and honestly…I miss you. I can't rely on you as a subordinate but...I wouldn’t mind having another friend…”
Londyn slowly extended a hand forward. Linda looked at it with tears in her eyes, then jumped and wrapped Londyn in a hug. Londyn’s eyes went wide for a moment, before she smiled and returned the embrace.
Author’s Note:
Bit of a preview into some stuff I got on the edit list, mainly turning Linda into a real character with an actual relationship with Londyn, as well as a reference to a new backstory arc for the Minion Team + Linda I might add in to a Volume 1 rewrite, which would go in between the current Prologue and Chapter 1. It would be the Tokyo Job Cikizwa mentions where Bob acquired the Scroll of Demonic Binding, as Linda says the jist is Bob’s the new employee on the job when Eternal Night and the shinobi get involved, Bob takes charge and not only gets everyone out but manages to take the scroll too. It would serve to more gradually and smoothly transition Bob from minion to mastermind, introduce Bob’s team and explain their loyalty to him, explain where he learned about Eternal Night and the isolated shinobi, and add some foreshadows to later plot points to further connect Volume 1 to the rest. We could even introduce Xiong Huang a few chapters earlier, get her annoyed at Bob before she even knows who he is!
But eh, that's for editing me! Who doesn't exist yet!
Anyways!
Will Arachnalich catch up on her work? Will Londyn and Linda figure out what their relationship will be? Will the author ever actually edit this thing? Tune in next time, to find out!
