Lawrence's fox mules silently tapped against the floor, as he circled the room for the enessimal time in the day.
He was thinking of his newest plan: Operation Trojan Horse (God how great it felt just saying the name aloud.) More accurately, on the problems that kept him from starting right away.
"Let's list the problems first and think of a solution to them later" he said. He went headed for the drawer at his desk, taking out a pen and a sticky note, in lack of a proper notebook.
He pictured himself going to the LHU headquarters...
No, in fact, that was problem one.
"I can't do it myself" he said, writing down something like 'approaching heroes without endangering myself'. This included, getting to the heroes, convincing them that he carried no hostility towards them. And then came the next item of the list: 'persuading them into joining our side' he muttered, pen scratching the paper as it left the tray of ink on it.
This included: Making sure they wouldn't run away and alert anyone of Lawrence's activities; settling favorable conditions for both sides but ultimately placing himself in a dominating position. They heroes would be, in the end, only more powered minions for him. An expendable army, if it was necessary. He was sure that, with the help of Silver Tongue, he could manage to do that.
The main problem there was setting those conditions. On his current position, Lawrence had no power or wealth to offer to any of the heroes, not near enough that they'd act as moles and powered backup in case of need. This could be partially solved with compromising evidence. A little blackmailing here and there would help ensuring a certain amount of leverage in the LHU. Mika and Christiane could help with that. The problem came when Lawrence started thinking big. His goal was to eventually assimilate the state headquarters without them noticing. Or at least for long enough that, when they did, it would be impossible for them to face him. Or get help from higher up. To do that, he needed great finances.
Which brought him to the previous problem: how could he make money in a decent way?
He wrote down that question as well in the sticky note, as a part of the 'setting favorable conditions' item. He drew a big asterisk on the side to emphasize its priority.
Assuming he had all the money in the world, he still needed something solid to tie the heroes to him. Something so enticing they couldn't refuse. It would also be a good idea that the act of accepting it would be enough to put them in a delicate position, in case they wanted out. However, his ultimate goal was an evil utopia. A place where every villain, minion, evildoer and otherwise illegal worker could treat like Paradise. In order to do that, he couldn't force anyone. At least not with them noticing.
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And the next list item was written: "Make an offer they won't be able to refuse."
The problem was a tricky one. But he wouldn't tackle it now. It was a matter for later on.
"And last but not least: Making an efficient use of them when they're on our hands." For this, he would have to set up a command chain. All lesser positions could be filled with people he had a strong leverage on, but the higher links of said chains would have to be filled with his own people. Although Mika and Christiane didn't fit the requirements. In any case, Christiane could lead an intelligence division, and Mika on counterintelligence.
Those were the fittest roles he could think for them.
Which, ultimately, drew in yet another point of the plan:
"I need to recruit more people on this side too" he said. Not heroes. Not street thugs. Loyal minions. Like Mika and Christiane.
It would be difficult. Mika owed him, and Christiane thought he was some kind of super strategist. Finding someone with that level of commitment would be hard... But it could be done. In the worst case, he could set the conditions for it.
He wrote down that last item and left the sticky note in the screen of his computer, so he wouldn't forget about it later on. As of now, he would leave it be. He felt exhausted now.
"I need a coffee..."
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Lawrence looked once again at the creature in front of him.
"Meow..." it was all he got as an answer. And all he needed.
When he had gone downstairs startled by the sound of something scratching against the door, he wasn't expecting to find this preciosity!
"Are you lost, little fella?" he asked at the black cat leaning against his door. The cat looked at him intently, with deep purple eyes that seemed to reflect Lawrence's own. Then he looked at his side. Lawrence found himself horrified by what he saw: the cat was wounded!
There was an ugly bunch of peeled skin. It wasn't bleeding, but it looked badly. Someone probably threw a stone at him or something.
"Who did this to you?" he said, reaching for the cat. His fears that, as a straight who had just been injured, it would run away from him, vanished when the cat purred on contact. He scratched the back of his ears, then took him in his arms.
"First than anything, let's fix you up" he said, taking the fuzzball inside and closing the door behind him.
He left the cat on his favorite couch. He took a milk cartoon from his fridge and poured some in a dish, putting it next to the couch. "There" he said. "In case you feel hungry." He left the cat and headed upstairs again, turning up the computer and Glassing something like 'First aid for cats'.
It was simple. If it doesn't look urgent, take him to a vet. Lawrence pondered. The injury looked serious, but not critical. He could book in an appointment with the vet. After all, it was better than hurting it even more...
He came downstairs again. "You better, buddy?" He asked as he looked back at the couch...
The cat, however, was nowhere to be found.
"What?" He looked around. Even more confusing: the dish and the milk box were on the table now. The door was open.
"Well that was weird" he said, scratching the back of his head.
Somewhere nearby, a girl with furry cat ears and purple eyes poked at her just-healed side. "Well, at least he seemed nice. Thanks God it was milk" she said. "i guess not everyone heals instantly after drinking a bit, huh?" Well, of course not. She was special.
The catgirl's silhouette disappeared, blending in the darkness of the night.