Chapter 6.4
**Katie**
Akane led the way upstairs and into the Public Relations office only to stop short a few steps inside the office. “Mister Chambers,” she said icily, “I thought that we had agreed that this was NOT going to be our costumes.”
Stepping past her and Taylor, who had also stopped I could see what looked like some kind of scouts outfit and a children’s ladybug Halloween costume. “It’s all we have for tomorrow’s debut and news conference, that is unless you can get your source to pop up with a few outfits within sixteen hours.”
“What about mine,” I asked, suddenly dreading the answer.
“No choice at the moment but to send you out there in your old one since you are not rebranding in another city,” he said and I goggled.
“Are you trying to get me killed?” I snapped. “I go out there in my old costume either the Empire thinks that it is ok to push me in my civilian identity for Wards information, or they brand me even more of a traitor than they are going to.”
“And I usually have a full PR crew including either a seamstress or tailor and at least three to four weeks to work on a debut announcement,” the head of Public Relations came back. “That at a minimum is enough to get new costumes put together, not the three days I was given to work with here.”
I looked at Akane who had pulled out her phone and was typing into it, “Who are you contacting?” I asked.
“Sabah,” she answered, “She’s our contact with Parian, we need to get you measured anyway, and if Parian can throw together a normal cloth costume for the three of us in that time frame we’re fine. That is, unless you have any other ideas than this SNAFU.”
Glenn spoke before I could say anything, “I already called Parian,” he said, getting a shocked glance from Akane. “We’ve used her before on capes in other cities for special costumes, and some piece work. I wasn’t against her doing your costumes, but she has tests today and tomorrow, and a backlog for their fashion show this weekend.”
"I may just,” I answered, pulling out my phone and pulling up a number while Akane grumbled under her breath.
“Uber and Leet’s Games, Comics and Cosplay, Leet speaking,” the voice on the other end answered.
“Leet,” I said with a hopeful smile, “A couple of friends of mine and I have run into a costuming emergency and need custom costumes by,” I looked at the man named Glenn with a questioning eye.
“Two PM tomorrow,” he answered and I repeated the timing to the gamer.
“Depending on the costume,” he answered, “yeah, it can be done. The question is are you able and willing to pay the cost because this isn’t going to be cheap.”
“One second,” I said to the tinker before turning to the others, “They can likely do it but it’s going to cost major money for the short turn around.”
“I can handle that,” Glenn said, breathing an obvious sigh of relief. “Put him on speaker.” I did and Glenn took over, “Leet, this is Glenn Chambers of the PRT.”
“Oh hell,” the tinker exclaimed, “How did you end up on this line, I was talking to a customer?”
“One of our new local Wards,” Glenn answered. “You worked with her on Saturday.”
“Oh,” Leet answered. “So the PRT is having a costuming emergency huh?”
“Yes,” Glenn answered. “Usually I have several weeks and an entire PR team to work on things like this, this is being thrown out there fairly slap dash and in a hurry, and that’s where you apparently come in.”
“Like I said to the young lady,” Leet said with an almost audible nod. “Depending on the costume depends on the turn-around time and cost.”
“Ninja Gaiden,” Akane answered, “One midnight blue, one deep forest green and one a dark dusky rose.”
“Yeah, we can do that,” Leet answered. “If you get down here by four, we could probably have them done tonight before the mall closes.”
“I’ll bring the girls down personally for measurements,” Glenn commented before hanging up. “What made you think of calling them?” he asked as he locked down his computer and grabbed a cell phone and laptop bag.
“They are making a Yuna costume for me for a convention that is in a few weeks,” I answered. “Uber was telling Greg and myself about the machine that Leet made and programmed that could make costumes for anyone just off their photos and also pick out the most likely characters for them to cosplay.” The Head of Public Relations smiled gleefully and nodded as he led the way out of his office, using his cell to call for a car to meet us in the garage.
**
**Leet**
I looked up as the door chime dinged and started to greet these customers with the phrase Uber and I had finally agreed upon, only to stop short, caught staring at the garish mass of clothing that had entered. To say the man was large was like saying water was wet or that ISP lag killed, and the clothing he wore was dated even to my own estimations. Behind him though entered three teens with domino masks on their faces. “Mister Chambers I presume,” I said, trying to remain calm.
“And you must be Leet,” the large man replied with a smile. “Yes, I’m Glenn Chambers, head of Public Relations for the PRT, now, I understand you have a machine that can churn out costumes pretty much at need?”
I could already see the near manic light in the man’s eyes and sighed, “Sort of,” I told him. “Let me flip the sign and get the girl’s measurements. After that I can show you if you really want.”
Chambers nodded and then paid attention to everything as I had each girl stand in front of the anime and video games racks so the system could get their measurements. Then, since I wasn’t getting their names, I listed them as their desired color of costume in the system before I closed the door to the mall and led the four into the back area of our shop. “Now,” I said as we entered the employee only area. “Please don’t touch anything that’s back here unless I tell you that you can. Some of these things can be dangerous if not handled properly, others are completely harmless while a few are actual weapons.”
“Like the Mjolnir armor that you were wearing for Saturday’s little bit of fun?” one of the three, a long-haired brunette asked.
I nodded as we reached the costume machine. Behind it sat eight revolver racks of cloth bolts, one for each primary color and then a combined one for white, black and a few shades of grey. “Pretty much miss Rose,” I said. “Now, this is our costume machine. As you can see, it has a control stand and an auto-feeder of all the general colors as well as various shades of each color.” At this point I tapped on the touch screen and watched as the big screen on the wall at the discharge end of the machine lit up. “Now,” I continued as the measurements fed into the system from the camera program. “Is there anything special, like some embroidery perhaps, that you would like added to the costumes.”
The three girls shared a look before looking at Chambers. “Go ahead girls,” he said. “This is on the PRT, especially with what you did on Saturday going so well.”
The girls nodded and Rose stepped forward, “An owl outline in grey on the front left panel of the shirt please.”
I nodded and pulled up a group of images on the screen. “Do any of these match what you want?”
“This one please,” she said pointing at a one that depicted the owl of the goddess Athena of Greece. I nodded and shifted the image to the desired location and set the thread color. “Anything else?”
“No, thank you.” She said before stepping back.
“What about you miss Green?” I asked, actually starting to get into the job.
“The Lonely Mountain’ she answered wistfully. “Centered across the back in brown.” I pulled up image files for her to page through until she found what she wanted. “This one,” she said pointing out the image from the map in the book. “Just remove the words, Smaug can stay there in his usual red.”
I smiled, “It shall be done.” I told her. “What about you miss Blue?”
“The White Tree of Gondor across the back in white” she answered. I pulled up an image file and she picked the version she wanted.
“Very well then,” I said before turning to the man with the expense account. “Mister Chambers, I assume you have a PRT issued credit card?”
“I do,” Chambers answered, “When can these be delivered?”
“Just to give myself a buffer,” I said calmly, “how does eight in the morning strike you.”
“Perfectly reasonable,” he answered with a smiling nod, “Cost?”
“With all the embroidery and the rush job,” I said running the numbers in my head. “Three hundred even before Uncle Sam gets his cut.”
“That sounds reasonable as well,” Chambers said, pulling out his wallet. “We’ll settle up and be on our way.”
“This way then,” I replied, pushing the button to start the machine running and leading the way back into the front of the store where the credit card reader was located. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you Mister Chambers,”
“And we may just be sending more work your way Mister Leet.” Chambers said as the reader chirped. “Hopefully not something so rushed next time.”
“That would be appreciated as we try not to run this thing except on Sunday nights after everything has closed,” I answered as the register dinged showing the sale. I handed him his receipt and flipped the sign back to open while unlocking the door for them. “Have a nice evening.” I told them and they all nodded and waved as they left. Well that was profitable, I thought.
*
**Akane**
The rest of the afternoon was spent rehearsing for the news conference about what had happened Saturday and our debut. Glenn wanted things to go off perfectly and as we were about to leave for the evening specifically said, “Whatever you do, do not emulate Clockblocker. That boy caused us more problems than you can imagine.”
“I knew his approved name wouldn’t be a sexual inuendo,” Katie grumbled causing Glenn to shake his head.
“No,” the Public Relations man said, frowning. “He was supposed to be Time Lad, so that he could get rebranded as something more adult when he graduated to the Protectorate or left the program completely.” At this point he smiled nastily. “Do any of you think that something like that, or even Victoria Dallon’s “Glory Girl” moniker will survive them passing into adulthood?” All three of us shook our heads at that and Glenn continued. “Rune, even with your known history with that name, it is one you can give new meaning, and lots of things skitter around, not just insects. No, of the three of you only No No is likely to have to rebrand when she finishes her time in the Wards, and even that might not be necessary.”
“I don’t know if I will be sticking around after I graduate,” I said softly, earning a lifted eyebrow from the man. “I don’t know what exactly I want to do with my life. I could join the band on the road if we make it big, I could go back to Tokyo and become an officer in the Cataclysm Division, college, family, I just don’t know where I want to go yet.”
“And that is perfectly fine,” Taylor said, stepping up and putting a hand on my shoulder. “I know I want to go to college, but I haven’t really tried to decide whereas certain people were sabotaging my work. On the other hand, now that I have an unimpeded chance, maybe by the end of junior year I will have an idea of what I can do.”
“What do you want to do though?” I asked.
“Help people,” she answered, “fix the bay, get this city back to the way it was when things were still working.” She sighed, “After that though, I don’t know. It is going to take a while I know, maybe my whole life. What about you Katie?”
“Fixing the city sounds good,” she answered with a sigh as she sat down. “Things could be worse than they are now, but we’re going to fight to keep people safe, no matter what. After that though, a family would be nice, a quiet job to settle down into, someone special to hold onto.” At that point she nodded. “Have to clean things up first though. Find out a way to get that damnable tanker out of the way.”
Taylor shook her head, “Dad has talked about that before,” she said with a slight but sad sigh. “City will never do it as the cleanup would cost them too much money. Of all things they are more likely to just blast a new channel through the ship graveyard, assuming the money and the business was there to demand that level of shipping. But with the lack of automation it’s easier to justify shipping things overland from Boston and it’s harbor than cleaning out our own.”
“So the city is likely to just wither up and die huh,” Glenn asked. “Then why fight for it.”
“Because it’s our home,” Taylor answered, “Because the people here deserve better, and even if we can’t supply that for them, we at least have to give it our all in trying.”
Katie nodded, “Besides,” she said, “maybe we’ll luck out and find some cape that can solve the problem one way or another.”
"Just remember that the cleanup is the real problem,” Taylor said. “So I wouldn’t bet on anything that simple.” The PR head just smiled.
**
**Katie**
Akane led the way upstairs and into the Public Relations office only to stop short a few steps inside the office. “Mister Chambers,” she said icily, “I thought that we had agreed that this was NOT going to be our costumes.”
Stepping past her and Taylor, who had also stopped I could see what looked like some kind of scouts outfit and a children’s ladybug Halloween costume. “It’s all we have for tomorrow’s debut and news conference, that is unless you can get your source to pop up with a few outfits within sixteen hours.”
“What about mine,” I asked, suddenly dreading the answer.
“No choice at the moment but to send you out there in your old one since you are not rebranding in another city,” he said and I goggled.
“Are you trying to get me killed?” I snapped. “I go out there in my old costume either the Empire thinks that it is ok to push me in my civilian identity for Wards information, or they brand me even more of a traitor than they are going to.”
“And I usually have a full PR crew including either a seamstress or tailor and at least three to four weeks to work on a debut announcement,” the head of Public Relations came back. “That at a minimum is enough to get new costumes put together, not the three days I was given to work with here.”
I looked at Akane who had pulled out her phone and was typing into it, “Who are you contacting?” I asked.
“Sabah,” she answered, “She’s our contact with Parian, we need to get you measured anyway, and if Parian can throw together a normal cloth costume for the three of us in that time frame we’re fine. That is, unless you have any other ideas than this SNAFU.”
Glenn spoke before I could say anything, “I already called Parian,” he said, getting a shocked glance from Akane. “We’ve used her before on capes in other cities for special costumes, and some piece work. I wasn’t against her doing your costumes, but she has tests today and tomorrow, and a backlog for their fashion show this weekend.”
"I may just,” I answered, pulling out my phone and pulling up a number while Akane grumbled under her breath.
“Uber and Leet’s Games, Comics and Cosplay, Leet speaking,” the voice on the other end answered.
“Leet,” I said with a hopeful smile, “A couple of friends of mine and I have run into a costuming emergency and need custom costumes by,” I looked at the man named Glenn with a questioning eye.
“Two PM tomorrow,” he answered and I repeated the timing to the gamer.
“Depending on the costume,” he answered, “yeah, it can be done. The question is are you able and willing to pay the cost because this isn’t going to be cheap.”
“One second,” I said to the tinker before turning to the others, “They can likely do it but it’s going to cost major money for the short turn around.”
“I can handle that,” Glenn said, breathing an obvious sigh of relief. “Put him on speaker.” I did and Glenn took over, “Leet, this is Glenn Chambers of the PRT.”
“Oh hell,” the tinker exclaimed, “How did you end up on this line, I was talking to a customer?”
“One of our new local Wards,” Glenn answered. “You worked with her on Saturday.”
“Oh,” Leet answered. “So the PRT is having a costuming emergency huh?”
“Yes,” Glenn answered. “Usually I have several weeks and an entire PR team to work on things like this, this is being thrown out there fairly slap dash and in a hurry, and that’s where you apparently come in.”
“Like I said to the young lady,” Leet said with an almost audible nod. “Depending on the costume depends on the turn-around time and cost.”
“Ninja Gaiden,” Akane answered, “One midnight blue, one deep forest green and one a dark dusky rose.”
“Yeah, we can do that,” Leet answered. “If you get down here by four, we could probably have them done tonight before the mall closes.”
“I’ll bring the girls down personally for measurements,” Glenn commented before hanging up. “What made you think of calling them?” he asked as he locked down his computer and grabbed a cell phone and laptop bag.
“They are making a Yuna costume for me for a convention that is in a few weeks,” I answered. “Uber was telling Greg and myself about the machine that Leet made and programmed that could make costumes for anyone just off their photos and also pick out the most likely characters for them to cosplay.” The Head of Public Relations smiled gleefully and nodded as he led the way out of his office, using his cell to call for a car to meet us in the garage.
**
**Leet**
I looked up as the door chime dinged and started to greet these customers with the phrase Uber and I had finally agreed upon, only to stop short, caught staring at the garish mass of clothing that had entered. To say the man was large was like saying water was wet or that ISP lag killed, and the clothing he wore was dated even to my own estimations. Behind him though entered three teens with domino masks on their faces. “Mister Chambers I presume,” I said, trying to remain calm.
“And you must be Leet,” the large man replied with a smile. “Yes, I’m Glenn Chambers, head of Public Relations for the PRT, now, I understand you have a machine that can churn out costumes pretty much at need?”
I could already see the near manic light in the man’s eyes and sighed, “Sort of,” I told him. “Let me flip the sign and get the girl’s measurements. After that I can show you if you really want.”
Chambers nodded and then paid attention to everything as I had each girl stand in front of the anime and video games racks so the system could get their measurements. Then, since I wasn’t getting their names, I listed them as their desired color of costume in the system before I closed the door to the mall and led the four into the back area of our shop. “Now,” I said as we entered the employee only area. “Please don’t touch anything that’s back here unless I tell you that you can. Some of these things can be dangerous if not handled properly, others are completely harmless while a few are actual weapons.”
“Like the Mjolnir armor that you were wearing for Saturday’s little bit of fun?” one of the three, a long-haired brunette asked.
I nodded as we reached the costume machine. Behind it sat eight revolver racks of cloth bolts, one for each primary color and then a combined one for white, black and a few shades of grey. “Pretty much miss Rose,” I said. “Now, this is our costume machine. As you can see, it has a control stand and an auto-feeder of all the general colors as well as various shades of each color.” At this point I tapped on the touch screen and watched as the big screen on the wall at the discharge end of the machine lit up. “Now,” I continued as the measurements fed into the system from the camera program. “Is there anything special, like some embroidery perhaps, that you would like added to the costumes.”
The three girls shared a look before looking at Chambers. “Go ahead girls,” he said. “This is on the PRT, especially with what you did on Saturday going so well.”
The girls nodded and Rose stepped forward, “An owl outline in grey on the front left panel of the shirt please.”
I nodded and pulled up a group of images on the screen. “Do any of these match what you want?”
“This one please,” she said pointing at a one that depicted the owl of the goddess Athena of Greece. I nodded and shifted the image to the desired location and set the thread color. “Anything else?”
“No, thank you.” She said before stepping back.
“What about you miss Green?” I asked, actually starting to get into the job.
“The Lonely Mountain’ she answered wistfully. “Centered across the back in brown.” I pulled up image files for her to page through until she found what she wanted. “This one,” she said pointing out the image from the map in the book. “Just remove the words, Smaug can stay there in his usual red.”
I smiled, “It shall be done.” I told her. “What about you miss Blue?”
“The White Tree of Gondor across the back in white” she answered. I pulled up an image file and she picked the version she wanted.
“Very well then,” I said before turning to the man with the expense account. “Mister Chambers, I assume you have a PRT issued credit card?”
“I do,” Chambers answered, “When can these be delivered?”
“Just to give myself a buffer,” I said calmly, “how does eight in the morning strike you.”
“Perfectly reasonable,” he answered with a smiling nod, “Cost?”
“With all the embroidery and the rush job,” I said running the numbers in my head. “Three hundred even before Uncle Sam gets his cut.”
“That sounds reasonable as well,” Chambers said, pulling out his wallet. “We’ll settle up and be on our way.”
“This way then,” I replied, pushing the button to start the machine running and leading the way back into the front of the store where the credit card reader was located. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you Mister Chambers,”
“And we may just be sending more work your way Mister Leet.” Chambers said as the reader chirped. “Hopefully not something so rushed next time.”
“That would be appreciated as we try not to run this thing except on Sunday nights after everything has closed,” I answered as the register dinged showing the sale. I handed him his receipt and flipped the sign back to open while unlocking the door for them. “Have a nice evening.” I told them and they all nodded and waved as they left. Well that was profitable, I thought.
*
**Akane**
The rest of the afternoon was spent rehearsing for the news conference about what had happened Saturday and our debut. Glenn wanted things to go off perfectly and as we were about to leave for the evening specifically said, “Whatever you do, do not emulate Clockblocker. That boy caused us more problems than you can imagine.”
“I knew his approved name wouldn’t be a sexual inuendo,” Katie grumbled causing Glenn to shake his head.
“No,” the Public Relations man said, frowning. “He was supposed to be Time Lad, so that he could get rebranded as something more adult when he graduated to the Protectorate or left the program completely.” At this point he smiled nastily. “Do any of you think that something like that, or even Victoria Dallon’s “Glory Girl” moniker will survive them passing into adulthood?” All three of us shook our heads at that and Glenn continued. “Rune, even with your known history with that name, it is one you can give new meaning, and lots of things skitter around, not just insects. No, of the three of you only No No is likely to have to rebrand when she finishes her time in the Wards, and even that might not be necessary.”
“I don’t know if I will be sticking around after I graduate,” I said softly, earning a lifted eyebrow from the man. “I don’t know what exactly I want to do with my life. I could join the band on the road if we make it big, I could go back to Tokyo and become an officer in the Cataclysm Division, college, family, I just don’t know where I want to go yet.”
“And that is perfectly fine,” Taylor said, stepping up and putting a hand on my shoulder. “I know I want to go to college, but I haven’t really tried to decide whereas certain people were sabotaging my work. On the other hand, now that I have an unimpeded chance, maybe by the end of junior year I will have an idea of what I can do.”
“What do you want to do though?” I asked.
“Help people,” she answered, “fix the bay, get this city back to the way it was when things were still working.” She sighed, “After that though, I don’t know. It is going to take a while I know, maybe my whole life. What about you Katie?”
“Fixing the city sounds good,” she answered with a sigh as she sat down. “Things could be worse than they are now, but we’re going to fight to keep people safe, no matter what. After that though, a family would be nice, a quiet job to settle down into, someone special to hold onto.” At that point she nodded. “Have to clean things up first though. Find out a way to get that damnable tanker out of the way.”
Taylor shook her head, “Dad has talked about that before,” she said with a slight but sad sigh. “City will never do it as the cleanup would cost them too much money. Of all things they are more likely to just blast a new channel through the ship graveyard, assuming the money and the business was there to demand that level of shipping. But with the lack of automation it’s easier to justify shipping things overland from Boston and it’s harbor than cleaning out our own.”
“So the city is likely to just wither up and die huh,” Glenn asked. “Then why fight for it.”
“Because it’s our home,” Taylor answered, “Because the people here deserve better, and even if we can’t supply that for them, we at least have to give it our all in trying.”
Katie nodded, “Besides,” she said, “maybe we’ll luck out and find some cape that can solve the problem one way or another.”
"Just remember that the cleanup is the real problem,” Taylor said. “So I wouldn’t bet on anything that simple.” The PR head just smiled.
**
Wolf wins every fight but the one where he dies, fangs locked around the throat of his opponent.
Currently writing BROBd
Currently writing BROBd