The Legion of Nothing Rivalry: Part 6

"You're going to have to talk to a judge if you want to get out." Jaclyn stood opposite Chris' grandfather. "We don't have any power over that."

Cannon didn't seed fazed by her response. "The old League was in bed with the FBI. You're telling you aren't? Besides, I'm not expecting you to do it directly. I'll tell you what you want to know about the ball, and after that you'll call the FBI and I'll tell them sothing they want to know."

"Like what?"

"Not while the Mystic's in the room. Get him out and we'll talk."

Daniel stood to the left and just behind . Cannon looked up and t his eyes. "I want your word that you won't listen in."

Without hesitation Daniel said, "You've got it."

Jaclyn turned around, "Mystic?"

I thought in his direction, confident that he'd notice.

: ?

Daniel: It's okay -- just a second, I'm bringing everyone in -- he's not going to screw us over.

Jaclyn: What is he going to do?

Daniel: Exactly what he said. He's going to tell us where the ball ca from and then give the FBI the na of soone he thinks they'll want.

: Who?

Daniel: I don't know, but it's sohow connected with the ball.

: Why isn't he giving him to us then?

Daniel: Not sure, but I'm guessing he doesn't think we can handle it.

Cassie: How would he know?

Haley: Did you get the na?

Daniel: No. He's doing a good job keeping it out of his head. Anyway, I'd better get out of the room.

The connection stopped.

"I'll be outside." He walked around Cannon and his guards and stepped out the door. The guards followed Daniel out, leaving Cannon alone with us. Did the guards trust us, or were they hoping we'd pull a Jack Bauer on him?

Cassie took a seat on one of the tables and put her feet on a chair.

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With the click of the door's lock, and the fading of Daniel and the guards' footfalls, Cannon started talking.

"I collaborated on the ball with one of my students. He knew the Maniacs and needed help with the laser and a few other problems. I did what I could, solved so problems he couldn't, and then he delivered it to them. Well, after that he told that they'd just taken it, and didn't pay. At first I didn't care. I'd retired when the Rocket did, and I had my business. I didn't need the money. But then I saw that they'd made millions of dollars. It pissed off. That's when I decided that they could afford my fee, so I dusted off the Man-machine armor, and caught up with them in Louisville. I ambushed them while they were counting the money from one of their jobs, and took the damn ball back. They were a bunch of pansies without their armor. A bunch of whiners."

Jaclyn's mouth twisted. "You ambushed them and beat them up?"

"Tell heroes don't do it. Ask the original League about it if they're still alive."

"Hey --" Jaclyn began.

Cannon talked over her. "They were in this little motel on the edge of town. I ripped open the wall, and gassed the group of them. When I questioned the first one to co out of it, you know what I learned? They'd paid. My student had taken both of our shares. Asshole. I took the ball anyway. Told them they should take it up with him if they wanted another one."

Cassie laughed.

"That's the story," he said. "Nothing more to tell about that."

"No, wait," Jaclyn said. "Your student. Don't you think he'll want it back?"

"He's moved on to bigger and better things. He's the guy who ca up with the paralysis rays Syndicate L uses. He and his people supply them with powered armor, chs, and a lot more than that. And not just them -- the mob, foreign governnts, and individual criminals too... That's the na I'm willing to give the Feds. Tell them."

Cassie got off the table and stood up. "Why didn't you just do that in the first place?"

"I don't rat out my friends that easily. Even him. My lawyers thought they could get off with a short sentence because of my age and the statute of limitations had expired on almost everything I'd done -- except for assault on the Rocket here. They still do, but I don't want to be stuck here if the Maniacs decide to pay a visit."

Jaclyn looked at him. "You don't think they've planned for the possibility that people might break into prison?"

Cannon's lips curled. "I don't believe in any security system I haven't checked out myself, and they haven't let look at theirs."

No one said anything for a mont.

"Well," Jaclyn said, "if nobody else has questions, I guess we can go. Anybody? Night Cat? Rocket? You haven't said much."

"I've only got questions he can't answer," I said.

Haley looked Cannon over once more, and said, "I don't have any questions."

"We're done?" He said. "Good. I want to talk to the Rocket -- alone."