The Leauge Of Fail

[a_time_slip]

Janie had been back for a few days now, but was nervous about Snake Steele showing up again. She had weapons but feared she wouldn't be fast enough.

His attack came as a complete surprise, and one of her fears came true. All of the bad guys were working together, which would make winning a lot harder. Today, she was at a mostly empty diner, drowning her sorrows in a plate of pie and a glass of chocolate milkshake.

Comments

[a_time_slip]

"Yes. It couldn't have been anyone else... That means this is all going to work out, doesn't it?"

[lostinthefog]

"I don't know. I mean, I hope that's what it means, but ..."

He shrugged. This time traveling business was certainly confusing to him, and despite knowing people like Janie, he still found it difficult to assume that you could know how things were going to turn out.

[a_time_slip]

"That's what it means". She wasn't sure either, but needed that small glimmer of hope.

[lostinthefog]

"If you say so ... you surely know better than I do."

He wished he could believe it as well -- as it meant that Janie would survive, too.

[a_time_slip]

"It does. We're going to make it and the league of fail is going to lose and wish they'd never crossed us. You'll see, Julian."

[lostinthefog]

Julian nodded half-heartedly, and then he realized what Janie just had said.

"The ... league of fail?"

He couldn't help but break into a laugh.

[a_time_slip]

"They're not superheroes, and they're going to fail because they're terrible."

She rather liked her nickname for their foes.

[lostinthefog]

"Alright, then! League of fail it is."

So did he, and somehow, surprisingly to him, that lightened his mood a little. It was silly, but it made their enemies appear less invincible.

[a_time_slip]

Janie happily sipped from her milkshake, thinking of ways to defeat them. "I've got a device that'll stop them from teleporting. It's a little dangerous, but mostly for them."

[lostinthefog]

"Mh. Since we're obviously not concerned with their safety, that's a start. But ... would it stop us from teleporting as well?"

Glancing at Janie's shake and pie, Julian decided he had found his appetite again and finally ordered a hamburger with fries.

[a_time_slip]

"Yes, but I'm working on something that will change that, hopefully... or I can shrink the device"

Janie copied Julians order, feeling hungrier than she thought she was.

"I'll shrink it! If it sticks to clothing, then it might just be what we need"

[lostinthefog]

"Alright. Even if you can't change it in a way that'll still leave us capable of teleporting, I'd take it. Maybe it'll buy us some time for a good strike until they realize what's wrong."

He wasn't particularly fond of this method of traveling anyway, especially not after having accidentally led Snake to Phoenix by using it.

[a_time_slip]

"We're going to have to team up on them individually". She realized. "But we'll win. I just know it. "

Janie was so reliant on teleporting, she wasn't sure how well she'd do without it.

[lostinthefog]

"You're right. Separating them is our only chance. We need a decoy. Something to lure them out, one by one."

The food was served and Julian started eating immediately, using only his good hand. Thinking of a plan was certainly easier with a full stomach.

[a_time_slip]

"What do you think would work as a decoy?" she asked, in between bites.

"How long will it take for your arm to heal?"

[lostinthefog]

"I wish I knew. I'm not even sure what they want. As for Snake, I know he's been after the reward on Phoenix' head. So maybe something similar might work."

He shrugged, if this had been his only injury, he would have healed faster.
"I guess I'll be alright in another day or two."

[a_time_slip]

"I offered him money to leave you and Phoenix alone." Janie said "I'd give him everything I had if it would work"

She frowned, and looked at Julian's arm "Giovan wants... I think he wants my job" It sounded like something very simple and stupid to kill someone over "He was fired from a lower position because of something that he did, and he blames me for it."

[lostinthefog]

He looked up from his plate, surprised. "You did? Oh ... Well, I'm afraid he won't leave us alone anyway. But he might accept another job that is rewarded well. A fake one, of course."

Giovan's motive was equally surprising, but maybe this one could be solved more easily. "What would happen if you resigned?"

[a_time_slip]

"You two mean a lot to me." she explained "I could always make more money."

The idea of sending Snake on a false mission interested her, she thought it would work once the details were ironed out.

"I can't resign. It's not that kind of job, and he knows that. "

[lostinthefog]

Julian smiled a little. "Thank you for trying."

He wasn't sure about the details yet, but at least it seemed like a chance.

"Hmm. And if you could make him think that you'd left in another way?"

[a_time_slip]

"We're friends." she smiled back, genuinely

"I could, but it would have to be a pretty large ruse... at least it will at home. I'll come up with something, I promise."

[lostinthefog]

"Yeah. Yes, we are." Hearing and saying it felt a little weird, but nevertheless good.

"Alright. That leaves Solus and Vahl, and I have no idea what to do about them."

[a_time_slip]

"Me either, but if we all work together it can't be too bad, right?'

[lostinthefog]

"It's essential that we do work together, yes. But we still need a strategy. And with those two, it's most important. You have seen what they can do."

[a_time_slip]

"Yes, I have." Janie looked down, trying to push both of them out of her head "Let's just... enjoy the food tonight? Shall we?"