A little more than a half-hour had passed since the entourage of henchmen fled. From their van’s side window, an unsteady light shined on the back of Sam’s head. Sam peered out the window and saw the source; a brilliant, silvery moon shining down upon the mountainsides and mixed evergreens of the Angeles National Forest.
“Yo, Max, we’re here,” whispered Sam. Maxwell’s eyes were still shut and Sam guessed that he was still knocked out from using his powers on all the other henchmen. With no audible response from him, she grasped Maxwell’s shoulder.
Maxwell let out a small startled yelp before realizing that it was only Sam. “I’m up, I'm up, stop shaking me.” Maxwell groaned as he rubbed his eyes, no longer pitch black from when he used his powers.
Sam realized her body was still so jittery from the post-battle high that even Maxwell could feel her trembling. She apologized and quickly clasped her hands together in an attempt to calm herself and lessen the vibrations.
A few deep breaths outta do the trick, she thought. As she tried to breathe in with her nose, her senses were assaulted with the stench of blood and sweat that dampened the air. Gagging, Sam switched to breathing only from her mouth for the time being.
Why am I still shaking? She wondered to herself. Even if the heist mission was a near failure, Sam couldn’t help but revel in it all. The thrill of fighting for her life and escaping dire consequences was like a long-lasting dopamine hit. One consequence still lingered, though, and that was Maxwell's injuries and fatigue. Perhaps it was her guilt that was causing her to shake. She had known Maxwell long enough to realize that he wouldn't feel the same exhilarating rush that she had. Regardless, maybe the experience would have persuaded him more.
Sam’s attempt at self-reflection was interrupted as the three vans went off the beaten path down a rocky road deeper into the forest. Although they slowed down, the number of bumps increased in frequency which was sure to awaken anyone who wasn’t already up. The vans stopped at a small campsite at the side of one of the mountains. It was a semi-quaint spot with a few wooden picnic tables and a pitched tent next to an unlit campfire. What wasn’t quaint about it was the amount of bright yellow caution tape strung around numerous broken trees and a blue portable toilet next to the mountainside itself.
The frontmost van stopped at the portable toilet while the others tagged closely behind. The driver rolled down his window and knocked on the portable toilet’s door. A slight rumbling noise came from it until a man in a construction worker outfit peaked out. He saw the Reigning Storm henchman driving the van and immediately closed the door. A part of the rocky mountainside began to open like a garage door with a dimly lit path leading downward inside. The vans casually drove in as the secret entryway closed behind them and light bulbs, which were strung above, began to illuminate the path in response to their arrival.
An asphalt trail led to an underground garage. It was much more lackluster in comparison to the massive aircraft hangar on the opposite side of the base. It's mundanity shared similarities to a multi-level parking lot minus the Reigning Storm henchmen guarding each corner and the crimson lobby that lead into the rest of the headquarters. As the vans parked, more henchmen resembling parking attendants, mechanics, and medics swarmed out of the base’s menacing entrance.
One by one Sam, Maxwell, and each of their teammates stepped out of the vans. Sam and Maxwell both took deep breaths once they touched the ground. For those two, the cold and dry underground air was justly pined for, especially after what they had experienced. As Maxwell put both feet on the ground, his injured leg gave out on him. The sharp pain caused him to audibly wince as he started to trip. He was lucky enough to slump onto Sam who gladly supported him back up.
“Anyone critically injured?” one of the medics called out to everyone.
“If they couldn’t walk back, we didn’t bring them back,” said the weary yet feverish Lieutenant Tempest.
“Hey wait, I got someone for you,” Sam said, walking towards the medic, who had one of Maxwell’s arms over her shoulder. “He’s lost a bunch of blood and there’s still something stuck in his leg.”
The medic nodded and helped Sam lift Maxwell onto a stretcher.
“You’re gonna be fine, Max,” Sam assured him.
Maxwell looked back at her and said, “If they replace my leg with a prosthetic, I’m going to beat you to death with it.” He let out a faint chuckle as his serious facade broke.
“Eh, I doubt it,” Sam said as her gentle smile turned more smug.
“Doubting if I would?”
“Doubting if you could, even with the leg.”
Tempest quickly walked past the entire group of henchmen to reach the entrance, bumping into anyone who got in his way. Before he could make it inside, the lieutenant was halted by J as she walked into the garage. Tagging along behind her was secretary C who was actively filing papers out on her clipboard. She also had a small towel slung over her shoulder. J, with her hands behind her back, counted that seven henchmen were missing leaving a total of only seven accompanied by their lieutenant. Tempest straightened himself and attempted to walk around the two of them without any form of greeting.
“And where are you going?” J asked.
“To take a bath, what the Hell does it look like?” Tempest replied as he pointed out all of the dried-up blood on himself.
“Kaiser Gravitus has made a request to see you and your team in his meeting room, effective immediately.”
Tempest’s eyes narrowed as he turned to properly face J. “But I wouldn't want to track blood and dirt into our fearful leader’s meeting room, now do I?” Tempest replied arrogantly.
C grabbed the towel that was on her shoulder and gave it to J who then threw it at Tempest’s face. As he pulled the towel off, his frown warped into his all-too-familiar vile grin and stared intensely into J's eyes. Tempest clenched his fist, ensuring his grip was slow and powerful enough to force J to hear the leather folding in on itself.
“Get moving,” J said firmly and without a single sign of fear.
Tempest exhaled directly towards J before breaking eye contact to walk inside. Just before stepping inside, he paused to wipe his boots with the towel. Finishing up, he threw the towel behind him without looking in hopes of it hitting either of the secretaries. The towel barely reached the two women as it fluttered to the ground.
“Your breath smells like a dead rat. I hope you know that,” J said before the doors closed on Tempest. Looking to the side of her, J saw C with a bit of worry and apprehension on her face, half-obscured by her goggles.
“Jesus, that guy is such a creep,” said C once Tempest was out of earshot.
“Like I told you before, you get used to it,” said J. She then gave the same announcement to the rest of the henchmen present. The heist team and medics fell into line behind the secretaries as they were escorted into the lair.
Sam stuck close to Maxwell on his stretcher and whispered down to him, “Hey, that’s one of the girls I was talking about before,”
“The one with the goggles?” Maxwell asked.
“Yeah yeah, I think I’m gonna try getting her name and maybe a number if I’m lucky.”
“You can’t even see half of her face, what makes you think she’ll give you her name?” Maxwell grumbled, falling back onto the stretcher after craning to follow Sam's line of sight. “Besides, you don’t even know if she’s gay, or even if you’re her type or not.”
“Well, only one way to find out then,” Sam said before clicking her tongue and making finger guns. Maxwell brushed his bangs to the side and rolled his eyes for Sam to clearly see. Sam looked back up to gaze over to C again, only to realize that she and J were turning left while the medics up ahead were turning right. “Shit. Think it's too late to break my leg and hop a ride down to the med bay with you?”
"What the Hell are you talking about, Sam?" asked Maxwell.
"We're splitting off up ahead, they’re really taking us to the big boss’ lair after all."
"Just don't say a word, you'll be fine. I promise." Maxwell raised a weak thumbs-up as the medics started to turn to the hallway on the right. Sam tried to follow but one of the end-of-the-line medics pushed her back into formation.
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"Wait, you promise? Max, what did you do?"
Maxwell had already been carried too far down the opposite hallway to respond, let alone hear her. Every fiber of Sam's being wanted to escape and follow him. The secretaries were leading Tempest's squad to what could very well be a death sentence if the rumors were true. Maxwell's words lingered with her as she fell back into line.
Sam followed the henchmen and secretaries down the main hallway towards the command center. Many of the guards and henchmen passing by them paused in place to gaze at them or whisper to their peers. Even though the heist team was able to clean themselves up a tad with towels and bandages, the aura of contempt around them was still quite palpable.
“Better call the cleaners to the boss’ room. It’s gonna get messy,” a passerby chuckled.
“God damn, it’s like high school all over,” Sam mumbled under her breath.
After reaching the end of the main hallway they had all arrived at their destination: the lair of Kaiser Gravitus himself. Sam had always wanted to enter that room but never thought she would so soon in her villainous career. She and Maxwell had always heard it was never a good sign for a grunt to enter because they would usually never come out. In front of the double-door entrance were two heavily-armored henchmen who opened the doors upon their arrival.
The private quarters were laid out like a long steel box. Crimson and violet drapery dangled from the high ceiling. Columns decorated with The Reigning Storms insignia and banners aligned with red lights illuminating them from underneath. In the center was a long glass conference table with empty chairs all around it. At the end of the table was where Kaiser Gravitus sat, waiting on his metal throne bolted onto the dark slate floor.
“Is this all of them?” came the gravely metallic voice of Kaiser Gravitus.
“What’s left of the ones still standing, yes,” J replied as she listed each henchman by number.
Sam lined up with the remainder of her squad on one of the sides of the room with Tempest at the helm. Parallel to them was Vice Cyclone who was sitting in a chair of his own at the table. Even when sitting, he was still quite tall and his gasmask signaled no emotion. Standing proud and unscathed, they looked as if he never even left headquarters to begin with. Secretaries J and C took their respective places standing next to Gravitus’ throne.
“Then let us begin,” Kaiser Gravitus said as his bright yellow eyes began to glow. “Vice, as always, you have done quite a commendable job. But I must also give my praises to our newest infiltrator,” he said as he looked to the right of him as the spy from the museum heist revealed herself. “None of this could have been possible without your expertise.” The spy thanked Gravitus with a strong salute and a proper thank you. “Unfortunately, it appears that all of their efforts were in vain,” Gravitus turned his attention to the left of him where Lieutenant Tempest and his squad stood. “...because of all of you.” Gravitus stood up from his throne and walked towards the group; his every step pounding on the floor.
As he stood square in front of Tempest, all could see the difference in size and stature between them. The eight-foot-tall mechanical giant effortlessly overshadowed the bloodied five-foot and ten-inch tall lieutenant. Even when raising his head as high as he could, Tempest could barely meet the emotionless glowing eyes of his master.
“I’m… forgive me, Kaiser Gravitus,” Tempest said with a tone shifting between anxious and sullen. It was the first time that Sam had even caught a glimpse of Lieutenant Tempest, or anyone in the Reigning Storm for that matter, to be in such a powerless state. “We managed to get as much as we could. Everything was going on track until the alarm went off...”
“Which brings me to the question at hand, lieutenant,” Gravitus interrupted. He then walked a few paces back to give Tempest more breathing room and to have a better look at the rest of the henchmen. “I won’t linger on this subject much longer. All that I wish to know is who was the responsible party? Who set off the silent alarm?”
Sam, with her head snapping back straight forward, made her eyes glance to the right of her where Ms. J was standing. J was standing at attention too, much like the rest of the henchmen, but noticed Sam’s gaze in the corner of her eye. J simply raised an eyebrow back at Sam before returning her attention towards Gravitus.
“Surely, one of you must have done it... or knows who did,” Gravitus continued. “What say you, lieutenant?”
Tempest stood in silence with the rest of his henchmen. “I know that... there was... Uh, well... Shit, uh, I can't remember, sir," Tempest stammered, starting to absentmindedly rub his forehead.
"It's all a blur, sir," one of the henchmen further down the line shouted, immediately recoiling at his own outburst.
"I remember going into the museum, but I feel like I remember leaving the museum before I went in..." another henchman blurted out.
"I don't even remember getting there, only picking up gems, did we break the cases or unlock them?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty confident that... well... uh."
It seemed that every henchman was compelled to chide in, possibly at Tempest's defense or from some other subliminal force. The only one to not speak up was Sam who was instantly struck with both relief and anxiety. It was clear no one suspected her and Maxwell, but now none of them were suspecting anyone. Sam feared that if she tried to frame anyone, she'd be singled out as the first suspect. Her throat began to tighten to the point where breathing became a difficulty.
"You expect me to believe that absolutely none of you know?" bellowed Gravitus as his mask's voice changer crackled from peaking. The line of henchmen immediately fell silent. "I am left with no alternatives then," Gravitus continued as his voice calmed. From beneath his long cloak, Gravitus revealed his robotic left arm and he raised it in the air. The gauntlet's inner mechanisms began to move and turn and lights began to pulse from within. As some sort of power began to charge, henchman after henchman began to blurt out again.
“It was me! I-I was the one!” said one of the henchmen standing next to Sam.
“I really needed to go use the bathroom, sir! S-so I rushed to use one, and when I went in, all the lights outside started to flicker! And then there was music…” The henchman started to cry and weep as he fell to the floor. Bewildered by an unusual flood of emotions, he attempted to explain all the events that occurred a few hours prior but in a timeline that made absolutely no sense to Tempest or the others. Nonetheless, the henchman kept insisting that he was the one who set off the alarm and begged for forgiveness. Not only to Kaiser Gravitus, but to everyone else in the room. His pleas became incomprehensible as he continued to cry and cover his face.
Sam, as well as her fellow henchmen, grew more uncomfortable with the man’s continued groveling. Moreover, Tempest was slightly sent aback by it all too.
“I believe we have our answer,” Gravitus said with a bit of agitation breaking through his cold demeanor. Gravitus lowered his left arm and sat back on his throne. “Ms. J, would you take him... up?”
Without skipping a beat, J quickly walked over to the manic henchman and grabbed him by the shoulder. Accompanied by two of the room’s guards behind her, they scurried behind one of the columns where another door stood.
As the door shut behind them, Gravitus pressed a button on his chair’s armrest. It appeared he was spinning in his seat to observe the giant monitor behind him. Much to her surprise, a tight mechanical winding noise began to permeate as the screen split in two, slowly revealing a stunning blue aquarium. An unsourced light flitted around the coral and marine life, refracting through the water and into the room. The serene, soft colors changed the whole ambiance. Just looking at it made Sam feel slightly calmer but similar to what everyone else thought, she knew that in this line of work that serenity always masks something deceitful.
Above the aquarium was a metal walkway that stretched from one wall to another. There, J and the two guards were waiting along with the sobbing henchman. His entire uniform had been removed, leaving him only wearing a white undershirt and boxer shorts.
Kaiser Gravitus raised his giant left hand. The sounds of mechanical parts moving from within the glove began to grow louder as its dim lights began to start flashing. As the sphere in the palm’s center began to flash, Gravitus grabbed the space in front of him and thrust his arm back downward. Without any delay, the defenseless henchman was pulled over the walkway’s railing and dragged down by an intangible force into the water below.
As the henchman struggled to regain his orientation in the water, Gravitus began to swing his left arm, shaking the henchman along with his exact motions from a distance.
“Come out, Snuggles, it’s dinner time!” Gravitus said as his tone of voice turned ecstatic.
Smaller fish started to scurry into the reefs and rocks as an enormous bull shark appeared from behind it all. The shark was abnormally large for its species and had noticeable scars on its fins.
As soon as it came out, everyone in the room knew what was going to happen next. To prepare herself, Sam put on her goggles and bit down on her lip so that she wouldn’t make any noticeable cries. The clear ocean-blue water began to tinge red as the gray-brown shark tore into its food. As the carnage got worse, Sam shut her eyes while still facing the aquarium just to feign her continued watching.
C gasped for a quick second before she could cover her mouth or put her clipboard over her face, peeking over it whenever she thought the havoc had ended. Most of the other henchmen either groaned in disgust or looked away. As the water started to splash up from the open aquarium tank beneath her, J hastily walked off and back down to the meeting room.
Gravitus, still focused on his shark, began to shake his graviton gauntlet even more. A deep chuckle quickly turned into a maniacal cackle that was that mix of pure delight and hateful malice; the perfect evil laugh. His malicious nature mirrored that of a child playing with his food, or, more precisely, playing with his pet’s food.
“It’s been quite a while since she’s had something decent! Wild bobcats and boy scouts are hardly enough to satiate her appetite,” Gravitus said as he finished entertaining himself and lowered his gauntlet hand. The bull shark swam back into its nest within the rocks carrying with it a gored limb between its teeth. Bits of bloody flesh and strewn fabrics gently sank to the sandy bottom of the aquarium tank. Nothing resembling a human remained. “I hope my message was clear enough. Cause another immense failure and you will end up like this poor fool. No name, no face, and no one to mourn your passing!” Gravitus said, his voice matching the ferocity of a thunderstorm.
Everyone in the room, except for Vice Cyclone, gave a salute back to Gravitus. All of the henchmen from the heist team shouted “Yes sir!” just to be on the safest of sides.
“Kindly strike whoever that was off the roster, would you J?” Gravitus asked.
J pulled out a cell phone and said, “Certainly, that was henchman number…”
“Uhn-uh, I never asked for a name,” Gravitus said in an oddly playful manner.
“Of course, as you wish,” J responded.
Sam almost forgot that she had been biting her lip the entire time. As she unclenched her jaw, Sam could faintly taste her own blood. Nearly everyone in the room felt tense and uncomfortable. What surprised Sam was that Vice Cyclone, the Reigning Storm’s Number Two, kept completely silent.
What’s up with this guy? Is he just used to all of this by now? Sam thought.
With the meeting over, everyone was dismissed except for Vice Cyclone who stayed to talk with Kaiser Gravitus in private. The crowd of henchmen quickly dispersed to continue on their duties or to finally clock out for the night. As Sam made her way out, she caught secretary C leaning on one of the walls midway down the hallway.
This could be my best chance, Sam thought. She knew nothing about her but wanted to at least strike a conversation. What caught her eye initially was her black bob cut that was always well-combed, her slim figure, and the fact that she always wore goggles while on the job. She felt that the mask added a pinch of mystery to her which naturally attracted Sam.
As Sam approached her while taking off her mask, the strangest thought popped in her mind. It was a situation where if Maxwell were there, he would have been saying something like, Sam, you just saw a guy get eaten alive not even a minute ago. Why in the holy mother of fuck is getting laid your first priority now?
The best answer she could think up was that she was simply trying to cope or at least keep her mind off what had just occurred. As the henchmen dispersed more and more, Sam slowly walked up to C. C was looking at her clipboard until she began to hear footsteps make their way towards her. She didn’t expect to see a random female henchman walk up to her unmasked, let alone with a smile.
It wasn’t Sam’s footsteps that C noticed, however. As the meeting room’s doors shut, the clacking of high heels was the final noise to leave.
The sound began to grow closer towards Sam, signaling her to turn around to see J who got up to her face and said, “I don’t know what the Hell you and your little twink friend did, but the next time either of you makes a misstep, I will report it.”
Shocked, Sam broke eye contact from J for a moment. Nonetheless, just like what she saw with Tempest, Sam knew she wasn’t going to win just by ignoring her. Sam had to play J’s game, at least for the time being.
“Understood, Ma’am,” Sam said gently.
Mildly surprised by her maturity, J walked around Sam to meet with C and said, “Come on C, we’ve got one last stop for tonight.” C looked at Sam for a moment but went back to following J down the hallway. Sam couldn’t quite tell what C was feeling at the time due to her goggles, but she hoped that she didn’t ruin C’s first impressions of her without even talking to each other.
“It’s not a real name, but it’s better than nothing I guess,” Sam said. As promised, Sam decided to just go straight to the med bay to check up on Maxwell. She didn't pause to change clothes or even catch her breath. By the time she reached him, half an hour had passed since they parted ways; probably the longest and most intense thirty minutes Sam ever had to endure alone. Before she entered the med bay, Sam made sure to steal her nerves before setting foot inside. “Jesus, what do I even tell Maxwell first? Do I start with C? Or do I just like, jump straight into the part about the dead guy? At the very least I need to thank him. Damn, what have we gotten ourselves into?" Sam took one last breath right before pulling the handle on the door, hoping to see her friend waiting on the other side.