  |
|
Sorry about the absence. I hope to be back by September 15 October 6, with a full explanation. Or, at least, a decent excuse.
Nothing bonds two friends closer than trying to kill each other with guns, flamethrowers, high explosives, and proton swords.
Tim Tenniel snuck up on Banny. He fired one, two, three blasts into Banny, before Banny could even turn around. Then he fired another round or two into Banny's rapidly fading corpse.
As Banny re-started Tim shouted, "YES! That's five to two! Me to you. You taking it easy on me?"
Banny hit pause, put down the controller. In a way, he was. Banny could have sped up, and no way Tim could match his reflexes. But he didn't want to cheat in a game of Thunderkiller with his friend. Besides, Tim had the best security training Banny's father could buy, which meant the best security training, period. He'd spot Banny moving too rapidly. And if comic books taught Banny one thing, it was how to keep a secret identity secret.
"Banny, if you want we could play something else. How's that HellHound: The Devil's Dog?"
For a moment Banny thought he meant Mr. Fwuzzums. "It's okay. But it's single player. Naw, I'm just getting warmed up."
"Banny, man... What happened to your job? I heard you got let go."
"It was... sort of a mutual decision. I had another opportunity. I got a new job. Sort of a troubleshooting deal. I can't really talk about it."
"That's good. I mean, getting fired by your own father. I mean, I respect the man, he got me a job, you know I'm heading security at his main office building. He got me a gun license and I don't even know how he did that. I'm an ex-con, that's bad enough, but even worse is I used to be a linebacker for the Pats. How in the hell does an ex-football player get a gun license? So, okay, he scares the crap outta me. But if you need me to go to bat for you against him, you know I'm here."
Which brought up a troubling question. Just how did a dog, even a talking dog, get Desmond O'Herlihy to fire his only son? O'Herlihy got a gun license for a former NFL player. Someone who could do that could do anything. Ignoring the queston for now, Banny said, "don't worry about it. My old man's cool with it. It's okay."
"Banny... you don't think maybe this new company hired you to get some of O'Herlihy's secrets?"
"They know I don't know anything about anything. I've proven that time and again."
"And they ain't using you for leverage against him?"
"Believe me, Tim. That's the last thing I'd worry about. Look, they hired Lissa and me because we have unique talents. It has nothing to do with Dad."
"Snippy? They hired Snippy, too?" Tim wasn't actually allowed to call her Snippy. But he did. He said the name fit, though he wouldn't say why. "They need people kicked in the shins?" Truth to tell, he liked Lissa, and thought she was a good influence on Banny. But he'd never tell her that.
"Something like that."
"And how'd you get beat up? Don't look surprised, I know when someone's recovering from bad injuries. That's what football's all about. I'd say, something to the chest, and general exhaustion. Plus you been getting more exercise than you're used to."
Tim took his share of hits to the head, but he was still sharp. Banny never could lie to him or sneak anything past him. That was one reason why Desmond made him Banny's bodyguard. "I told you, I really can't talk about it. I'm okay, and there's nobody I need you to beat up for me over this."
"What is this job? It ain't security. No offense, but there ain't no way in hell you and Snippy working security. What is it?"
"I'm using my superpowers to save the world from the forces of Evil."
"I'm serious, man. What is it?"
Banny could prove he had superpowers easily. But, no. He couldn't take the risk. "Tim, you worked security long enough to know the importance of secrecy. I can't tell you about my job, and you of all people should understand and respect that." He picked up the controller, unpaused.
"You're right. I'm sorry I pressured you. I'm here if you need me, and I'll keep back if you don't."
* * * * * *
That night in bed Lissa asked "Do you think this thing, the gonner-fighting, the secrets, the mistrust... do you think that could hurt us with our friends? Maybe... destroy our friendships?"
He held her tightly. He whispered, "not if we don't let it."
Go to Chapter 40: Just A Light Lunch
Go to Chapter 42: Life, The Universe, And Everything
Bring your friends into the Gonspiracy! Tell them about
Banny
And
Lissa
and get their eternal gratitude, and a chance to win $10,000 and a Sony DVD Player, because using your friends for your own personal enrichment, and having them owe you for it, is the gonner way!
Home |
The Most Recent (Mis)Adventure |
Notes |
E-ditorials |
Letters |
Fan-Art |
The Message Board |
The Store |
Links
Copyright © 2003
Dave Lerner Stories (note that to use the mailto you'll need to edit it in your 'send to' window. I apologize, but I've already lost one address to spam, and if I get inundated again, I won't have time to read your letters.) - All Rights Reserved. Note that this includes images of the Tricryptogon, and the name "Tricryptogon".