Near Local Sites

“Why is it that every dumb ass criminal seems to want to own a nightclub.”

“I mean, liquor trade is an easy way to launder money. Cover charges hide a lot of sins. Most importantly, though, they want their base of operations to be near good restaurant’s.”

“It pisses me off how much sense that makes.”

Luna Fuego and Qilin discussing their most recent bust.

"Oh hell." Carl whispered, stepping back, fingers hitting the zoom at the same time, though he wasn’t looking through the viewfinder anymore. "What's she doing here?"

"Mister Lizard made her. This is probably her lair!” Emilia said just as softly. She was 90% sure none of their weapons would work on the huge beast and wasn’t certain they’d even manage to annoy it.

The Kaiju swam forward, eyes focusing as it looked closer at the group, lifting its head out of the water and letting out a small roar, showing off its sharp white teeth.

“I think it’s more curious than pissed. That’s a good thing, right?” Ryan said.

That’s when Davy decided, in a completely unnecessary and overconfident fit of courage, to run towards the huge beast. "Chirp! Chirp! Squeak grrr!” The comparatively tiny reptile spat at the larger splicer beast, bouncing its front legs in a display of tiny rage.

"Davy, no! Get Back here!" Lisa shouted, wincing as her own voice echoed, sure she was going to lose the cute little croc to the jaws of a much bigger animal. Likely instants before it ate her.

“We’re going to die.” Carl muttered.

Instead, the large crocodile pulled back and seemed to roll its eyes in response to the smaller animals’ high-pitched barks, then made a chuffing sound before sinking back below the dark water. They soon saw it appear from under the dome, swimming away from the facility.

"Or not?" Ryan said, eyes wide in shock. “Davy could not have driven him off, could he?”

“The thing looked more amused than concerned. Still, that raises even more questions.” Emilia agreed.

The little Crocker Spaniel bounced and squeaked as Lisa ran over and grabbed him up in her arms, dragging him further from the dock. "I don't know if I should scold you or praise you, Davy. You scared the piss out of me!” she hugged the Crocker Spaniel tight. "Does one of you have any rope in the packs so we can make him a leash? Otherwise, I’m going to tear some of the sheets up to make him something, so he doesn't do that again!"

“You mean tell a kaiju to kiss his lily-white ass? How many more times do you see that coming up! Or working, for that matter?” Ryan asked incredulously.

"We have rope." Emilia said, ignoring Ryan as she pulled some out. She cut off a length and fashioned a halter. "I don't know if his head is thick enough to hold a collar, so I figured this would work better."

"You are probably right. A halter is going to work better, he could probably slip a collar.” With a bit of help from Emilia, she got the harness on Davy who looked a bit confused by his new accessory. "I don't think the Sub is a good idea, I don't know if it's going to fit all of us, and do we really want to go out there with the Dragon?"

"That's not the only relevant part." Carl sighed. "It's a Diesel Electric. I can tell just by the stack here, it's a snorkel for running the engine underwater. Its batteries are going to be dead, and no fuel down here is going to be good at this point."

“Right, so stock up water in Bathtopia and back out to the Lab exit?” Emilia suggested. “It’s no better a solution, but it’s the only one we have.”

Ryan nodded. "I think that's what we'll need to do."

"Maybe I should bring some electric scooters or hoverboards down here. These halls are brutal." Lisa said, half joking and half whistling in the dark, to calm her nerves as they walked back towards the home section of the Lair.

"I want to meet the contractors who come down to fix that tube, to be honest." Ryan admitted. "I'd hire that crew. They’re going to be some unflappable sons of bitches."

"Or we’d question their sanity." Lisa suggested.

Emilia looked at Carl. "Um, you're weirdly quiet, what's wrong?"

"That was a moon pool." Carl explained.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Moon Pool?" Lisa asked. "I don't think I've heard that term before.”

"That room was pressurized; you felt the ears pop as we went in.” he paused, shaking his head. “No, it was depressurized. The entire compound is otherwise at surface pressure. I\out there actually at the pressure of the water this deep. It means that on top of everything else, this place is mostly adjusted to be at surface pressure. Luckily, for us. I didn't even consider the pressure this deep, but he apparently did."

“You’re right. I should have considered the possibility of the bends.” Emilia agreed. “We just didn’t expect to be down here, and by the time we realized it other issues were on our minds.”

Lisa froze for a moment. “Oh god, I’m going to have to put that in the disclosures. Lovely submarine dock and moon pool, be aware may also be a Kaiju nest.” She shook herself and started walking again. “Hannah, I am going to kick your preggo ass. Then I’m going to buy your child the messiest gifts for every gift giving occasion I can find.”

“Anything with glitter is great for that too.” Em suggested “Or wait for her to give birth, then be the fun aunt who teaches the kid to do all the things their parents don't want them to know."

Carl grinned "I can get you souped up power wheels. I mean, seriously souped up. Ten second barbie cars."

“I may very well take you up on that.” Lisa said with a laugh as they got back to the bedroom foyer. She dropped onto the bed. “This place is annoyingly big.”

"I'm guessing ten acres or so, under the big domes." Ryan agreed. "Which seems about right for a sustainable biosphere, at least it sounds like it would be."

Carl nodded. “Considering who designed it, I buy it. I’m sure it’d collapse eventually but it’s still impressive.”

Lisa sighed. “Well, we know how he stayed fit. Emilia, after we get out of here you and me are getting manicures and pedicures, maybe I’ll bring Davy too. To hell with it, a whole spa day!”

"I’m in, and we're totally taking him to Petco. I want to see the reactions."

“Oh, hell yeah, I’m going to take him there and get him harnesses, and a basket of chew toys!” She looked at Juicy. “Not so sure she’s going to take to a leash.”

"When we get out of here, I'll get her a nice terrarium. Maybe stick a few of the other house geckos in there, so she has playmates. Or food. Maybe both. I feel like it’d be both."

In the bathroom. Juicy hopped off Ryan’s shoulder as he filled the water sacks and walked over to a sink and did her business. “Ryan your lizard is potty trained, that’s kind of awesome.” Carl said.

"Well, can't beat that." He chuckled. "This is easily the second weirdest total trip we've been on.”

"We agreed not to talk about that one." Carl snapped, then held up a hand to the curious Lisa. "No, don't ask. He'll answer if you ask."

"You don't want to know." Emilia agreed.

“Okay.” Lisa said, taking off her boots and putting them in the hot pool with a sigh of pleasure. Davey took a running leap and splashed into the water with a chirp of happiness. “Man am I glad I don’t rent.” She was trying so hard not to ask about the other Lair,

"Yeah, I imagine a realtor would have her own place. I'm guessing not a former villain house, though."

“Not at all. It’s a nice little two-story ranch with a nice little yard. No traps, secret rooms, or HOAs.”

Carl winced. "I'd take the traps and secret rooms over the HOA."

The others all nodded.

“God, can you imagine the Karen-bomb an HOA would have over Davy. I can already hear it, ‘It’s a dangerous animal! a splicer beast! Regulation 16j subsection two all pets must have a lineage registration, be under 15 pounds and be an authorized breed and color.’” Lisa said in her best imitation of her mother. “God, I know at least three neighborhoods I have to tell perspective buyers they can’t have Glo-fish because of the way the HOA wrote the regulations.

"Yeah, screw that. I'd find a splicer beast pet just to piss them off." Emilia admitted.

Lisa nodded. “I mean look at him! He’s obviously a sweetheart.”

The white creature, seeing people paying attention to him, ran over to Emilia for pets, his tail wagging in the weird motion he used. “I just realized, he wags his tail up and down, not side to side like a dog. And his white scales shining from the bath water.”

"Why the hell did he have this next to a freaking murder-lizard?" Lisa asked. "This guy is so weird. He's just hot and cold!"

Carl laughed, That’s kind of the definition of grey cape. Hey Ryan, what do you think about having Clarissa work up a Juicy and Davy plush? I bet we could really move some merch with them.”

"We'll need to borrow Davy for future shoots, just to really sell it." Ryan pointed out.

Emilia nodded. "Right, kidnap Lisa for other jobs. We can do that."

"You just want me to cook.'

"This is true." Emilia agreed. “But you also don’t panic like some folks we’ve had along on an exploration. That’s something right there, too.”

Lisa chuckled. "I don't know, I don't really bring any other skills to your team. But I am sure Davy will love anything that gets him more attention." The little croc walked over to her legs and flopped down, closing his eyes to take a nap.

"Cooking is a skill. And honestly, you're better as a lock pick than I am." Emilia said. "But we're mostly teasing. Unless there's more villain homes to explore, that is."

"Oh, police seizure auctions are shockingly common. This is the fourth villain house my boss bought, but only the second I've been involved with. From what I've been told the other two weren't that interesting.” She paused, thinking. “Though after this one I may have a reputation for handling villainous properties, who knows what that would do to our listings.”

"Hey, there's a few islands if you want to break into the really super rich market. Though those island lairs? Whew, I've heard rumors. We'd need way more prep time." Ryan chuckled.

Lisa laughed. "Okay now I'm putting you on speed dial. I am no property tailor!”

“Actually, that might work the opposite direction. Cass would love a realtor who understands the pain she feels when a client wants something ‘special’.” Carl pointed out. “Especially since they all have no idea how to explain what ‘special’ means.”

“Oh lord. I’m going to be a property tailor.” Lisa moaned.

In the lake the Dagon swam making a happy death roll, her pup, her little nestling had hatched. She had heard him chirping through the dome, and now she had seen him. He had yelled at her to leave his people alone, that they had saved him from the fabric trap he’d been caught in, and that they gave good scritches. He was small, and fierce, and perfect. Just like the Master had promised. She let out a happy creel in the water that terrified the fish, driving them towards some fishing boats. Her pup had such beautiful white scales just like her, A little living storm. She was so happy, so proud, finally after such a long wait, one of her eggs had hatched. She was a Momma, and her son was Magnificent.