Evening. 7:00 PM.Business Park.
A two story building stood at the corner of west avenue. With an enormous mascot standing on the roof–an hawk dressed in a blue tuxedo–it was not exactly the most inconspicuous building. Beneath the garish cartoon bird was a sign that read, "Bird Brains Lawyering Co."
This was where Mina worked when she wasn't in a courtroom. But she wasn't working too much today. Instead, she reclined in the upstairs lounge on a beanbag watching TV.
Mina sat munching a bag of tortilla chips as the Science-Fantasy channel went on commercial.
"C'mon kid," a squawky nasally voice muttered. "You can't just sit around watching cartoons all day. What do you think you wenta law school for?"
The voice came from Raven Lockwood, her mentor, a tall, wiry birdlike man in his late twenties. He had bushy dark hair, tanned skin and a matching soul patch on his chin. He was handsome, but his lackadaisical demeanor often betrayed his attractive appearance. As did his garish light purple business suit.
Mina looked up from her bag. And shook her head. "C'mon, Raven," she pouted, "We haven't gotten a single person all day."
Raven smiled his crooked smile and pointed his fingers at the shelves over by his business desk. "How about you dust those shelves? I'm certainly not gonna do it. I'm a big important flashy lawyerpants!"
Mina rolled her eyes. "Some lawyerpants you are. You visit the beach every weekend and worst of all you don't even take me! I'm so pale that I make saltines blush."
Raven was silent, but he laughed like a crow cawed. "That's what being a lawyer is all about. Sitting in court rooms all day until you become whiter than a vampire. Anyway, care to tell me what you're watching?!"
"Only the best sci-fantasy serial ever!" Mina exclaimed with eyes sparkling. "Venus Warrior from Mars!"
"You kids still watch that stuff?" Raven smirked. "That was something my gramps watched back in the day and he was so old he that even powdered milk told him to take it easy!"
"Well," Mina said, a happy lilt in her voice. "It's so old, it looped around to being cool again! Plus the lead actress is soo cool!"
If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
She quickly cued up her phone and showed a blond woman with a spiky pompadour in a black tank top. "Her name is Star Skye and she's known as the androgyny prodigy!"
Raven cocked a bushy eyebrow. "You keep those kinds of images on your phone?!"
Mina tuned bright red and pulled the phone away. "Hey I'm allowed to have a girl crush! She's soooo cool. And a real action hero!"
A gleaming yellow and red logo flashed on the screen against a starry background. A dramatic and quite campy voice reminiscent of the sixties serial Space Voyage broadcasted itself over the TV. "The exciting adventures of Venus Andromeda…!"
"Oh boy!" Mina exclaimed, her eyes as starry as the backdrop
"...will not be airing today due to an unforeseen accident at the studios."
"Oh nosy!" Mina said with her hands to her cheeks. "How is this possible?!"
"Quick!" Raven exclaimed. "To tha news!"
Mina flicked the remote to Ear Hearing News.
Once she did, she immediately regretted it. The screen cut right to a mugshot of Star E. Skye. A female newscaster spoke quickly over it.
"Yesterday, famed actress and body builder, Star E. Skye was arrested yesterday. Skye is suspected of killing her fellow actor and crewmate, Dirk Lord."
A picture of a nerdy, dark haired man in glasses appeared next to her. "Dirk Lord played the Evil Emperor Zork on popular show, Venus Warrior From Mars and the arch nemesis of Venus Andromeda. He was shot through the heart with a pistol that was thought to be a prop."
"How is this possible!" Mina said. "She's supposed to be a hero."
"Roid rage?" Raven said before Mina shot him an angry glance.
Raven cleared his throat. "You know what they say, sometimes you either die a hero, live long enough to become a villain, or in the case of yours truly, live long enough to become even more awesome!"
Mina frowned.
"Nobody who makes jokes in a time like this is awesome!"
Raven was about to answer when suddenly, he was interrupted by a buzzer. "Oh, there's someone at the door. I hope it's the pizza guy."
Mina frowned and stared into the bag of chips. She couldn't believe the evil deed one of her favorite actresses committed.
When Raven appeared at the top of the steps, he was all smiles. "Well kiddo, you're in luck."
"I'm gonna need a whole lotta pizza to feel better from this," Mina muttered.
"Well," Raven said. "This is better than pizza. Okay, maybe he's not tastier than pizza, but uhh…just turn around already."
Mina did. There was a slightly overweight man standing behind her in a red vest, a goatee and purple beret. "Oh no!" Mina exclaimed. "Not another French man!"
"Kid…" Raven said shaking his head. "And you say you're a fan of this Venus Weenus show. This is Artie Deco, the director of Venus and he needs our help."
"Heck yeah baby!" Art exclaimed thrusting two fingers at Mina. "You need ta get my honey, Star outta the slammer so this show can continue!"