“He here … but in meeting. Not to be disturbed.”
“We’ll see about that!”
The verbal exchange was conducted at sufficient volume that it penetrated the room’s door, and the Legionnaires assembled had ample forewarning of the interruption even before the door opened.
Tusk-anini had specifically been chosen to stand guard on the meeting, as his sheer presence was enough to intimidate most would-be intruders. Unfortunately intimidation alone was not enough to deter the petite bundle of energy which now burst through the door. Though dressed casually in jeans and a sweater, she carried herself as regally as a queen-or, to be more accurate, a spoiled princess throwing a snit fit. The sight of a dozen black-clad Legionnaires sprawled about the room, staring at her like a pack of panthers, was, however, sufficiently unnerving to at least bring the young lady to a halt.
“Captain Jester?” she said hesitantly.
“Yes?”
The commander rose lazily to his feet from his seat on the sofa.
“I need to talk to you right now. I was told-“
“Excuse me,” Phule said, holding up a restraining hand with a smile. “Now that you know who I am, may I ask who you are?”
Though they eventually grow to dislike the intrusions on their privacy by droves of nameless admirerers, big-name entertainers nonetheless depend on public recognition for their livelihood. It is therefore more than a little jarring to them to be confronted by someone who is not only unimpressed by but unaware of their identity.
“Tough house,” the intruder muttered, almost to herself. “All right, Captain. We’ll play it your way. I’m Dee Dee Watkins, the featured attraction for the casino’s grand-opening show.”