Bunting Dupree gave a laugh that was sharp, nasally and caustic, befitting for the realest Frenchman from New Jersey. "Oh ho ho, you leetle cabbage! You act like you have a weapon or a way to light zee bombs but I see nothing in your hands!"

Mina winked while grinning, her brain nearly fried from the adrenaline. "It's not in my hands, but on my feet!"

She took her left heel and scuffed the metal tip against the steel floor, causing an enormous spark to bounce haphazardly. "I have a feminine fashion accessory and I know how to use it!"

Bunting and Ritchie Lord both winced and the sleazy restaurant owner covered his crotch. "Sacre Bleu! Zis I know, when she came for my chic peas in the back alley!"

"That's the appropriate size for them!" Raven said, drawing his gun. "I know this kiddo too well. And I know that, much like her court game, she is all bluff and very little action."

Mina grew furious. She started scratching the floor with her admittedly expensive second pair of Dewey Glutton heels. It scuffed the bottoms and made an awful metal-on-steel scraping sound. This made Ritchie yelp in fear. "She thinks this is some kind of joke!" he hollered. "And I should know, being a top comedian."

"And this punchline will end in a bang!" Mina said, her gaze punctured by utmost sincerity.

Raven pointed his gun straight at her, ready to gun down his former protege. Mina puffed out her cheeks defiantly. "Oh I wouldn't shoot if I were you," she teased, still on an adrenaline high. "Miss me and hit those bombs and its klabammo!"

"Dagnabbit!" Raven shouted and Mina kicked up another round of sparks.

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There were a couple of yipes from Raven's allies, especially as a few of the fuses caught ablaze. Raven went to stomp on them, but Mina headed him off at the pass. He fake swore in frustration as the fire traveled up the fuses like a speedy snake.

Mina turned to Bunting and Ritchie. "What are you gonna do now?!" she shouted at the men who were hellbent on making her life miserable.

Bunting puffed out his weedy chest. "Zere is one thing zat a true Frenchman does in a time of intense strain...."

Mina raised a thick eyebrow. "And that is?"

Bunting threw his hands over his head and bolted. "Au revoir. Parting is such sweet sorrow!"

Ritchie Lord the comedian followed suit. "That's all folks!" he laughed nervously and the two headed for the stairs. Raven ran towards them and attempted to shoot them. "Come back, you cowardly swines!"

His gun went off several times, but in his frantic attempt to fire, none of the bullets hit their target. Mina used this opportunity to remove her heels and try to run too, but Raven cocked the gun and turned it back on her.

"Well now," he laughed like a cornered crow. "It's just you and me, kiddo. Like tha old days!"

"Raven!" Mina exclaimed with a tearful outburst. "Is your mission really more important than me? Why can't we just leave together?!"

Raven gazed forlornly at the ground. "Alas, poor Mina, it's gone too far for that. It was either I complete this mission or risk being hunted down by the very organization I work for! Miss Taurus would ensure that personally."

Mina shouted back. "But what is it you need so badly from them? That would require you to betray someone who trusted you so much?"

His dark busy hair flopped over his eyes. "It was back when I worked personally for the Hall of Lawson. Things were different. I was a young upcoming lawyer and I had different priorities in my life...til the Aura made them go south and..."

Mina had been creeping towards the door as he spoke, but upon shaking the hair and the memories from his vision, he screamed, "A-ha! This was all a clever ploy. A fakeout like you do in court. You don't really care!"

"I do!" Mina screamed as the fuses fizzled. "I just don't want to die. I don't want to be blown to a million chunks."

"Well don't worry," Raven snickered. "That won't kill you!"

"It won't?" Mina exclaimed.

"Yes," Raven said and he aimed the hand gun straight at her. "I will!"