To Skin A Cat, Chapter 12, Interlude: The Unseen Turnip Is The Deadliest
Beneath the brick and steel of a non-descript building, the unscrupulous forces of the city of Bronson had gathered for a meeting to figure out what was next on the agenda. Glitter Kitten lounged on the plush leather couch, as usual, she was not wearing anything. She did not have a sense of shame. Her short tabby fur had some rather unusual bald spots. It looked like one of her self-grooming sessions got a little out of hand, or she had fleas and ended up biting at them too much. This cat was feeling rather full of herself since the recent hero attack only a couple days prior was fought off.
It was not surprising why she felt so smug. She had completed her task which had been to unload the shipment of drugs to Burnout. She then distributed them throughout the poor districts, fueling the grimy underbelly of the Bronson underworld. This was only a test, a convoluted one at that. Fold and his crew had nearly fucked everything up when they attacked, trying to steal the drugs. Greed was an enduring trait of criminals, but often times it got them in trouble with the law and each other. This was a very good example of that.
There were only two people here at the moment Glitter Kitten and Fold. The rest had yet to arrive. Fold sat at the oak table that had nine chairs positioned around it. His spiked blond hair recently gelled up and the red bandanna held it in place where several clumps were drooping. He crossed his arms, stretching the tiny red dyed leather jacket. The little crimson mask over his face did not hide his disdain. He eyed Glitter Kitten. The two did not exactly get along and had there not been the threat of mind control during the last fight he would have left her to rot. Of course, Fold was a smart man and was able to get over his own ego and ambitions to see the bigger picture. Should any of the gang leaders get caught it would create a domino effect and drag all the others down as well since they had sensitive information about the movements of the Boss and his plans. That said, he was tight-lipped and only told them what was absolutely necessary. The other reason why they had vested interests in keeping each other on the streets was sheer numbers. The heroes could not focus solely on one gang if multiple jobs are actively going on distracting them.
“You learn your lesson?” smirked Glitter kitten.
“You have no room to talk, I saved your ass.”
“Yeah, well, we would not have been in that situation had you not crashed my deal.”
“We have to maintain the appearance that we are not working together.”
“I know, but still, you fucked my shit up. Nyah, you can choose better ways than that to show we are not in cahoots.”
“It is good this way, it shows that there is a rivalry and that it is not all smooth.”
“Still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Besides, thanks to you I lost Vesper.”
“You two are rather early. Here I was thinking we would be the first ones here,” said a new individual, glancing over the chairs and a shorter person followed along.
“Spark Spray, Vira,” said Fold with a nod, “Finally, someone I can have a decent conversation with.”
Glitter Kitten gave him a long scowl, “Good, I did not want to talk to you anyway.”
Spark Spray was a tall and gangly young woman with translucent skin, beneath which a low blue glow radiated out. Her azure hair was spiraled from both sides of her head in short tesla coils that electricity arced off of. At the end of each was a ball that held itself there from the resulting magnetic pull. Most people think yellow when they hear electric, however, her costume consisted of a black rubberized suit that contoured her form. It was plated with external armor that had built-in power converters, allowing her to store excess power or use it as a weapon. These gave off a violet hue. The other purpose of the suit was to contain her raw radiant power, it served as a control mechanism due to how potent and at times uncontrollable her powers were. She had a tendency to fry people by accident when not paying attention.
Vira was very much the opposite of Spark Spray, she was short and a bit rounded. Where her partner was flamboyant and brash, she was shy and thoughtful and usually stuck to the blinding shadow of her Spark Spray. Vira in her crazed pursuit of her mentor had allowed herself to be experimented on. Her limbs had been amputated and replaced with robo augments. What she lacked in cyborg knowledge she made up for with robotic expertise. In this regard, she was a certified genius. Attack drones and robots were child’s play for her. She was the brains of the duo and typically did all the planning and research for the jobs they did.
Her outfit copycatted Neon Nurse with some rather drastic alterations. Neon lights spread along her like veins and they dyed her in a red aura. She hid all that made her human, opting for a full body suit complete with helmet. The face plate had a single large optical sensor in the appearance of an eye. Where the mouth should be a pair of hoses led away into her shoulders. This suit even had an advanced AI that helped her control the robots in the vicinity. This was what she was most proud of. It might not be as impressive as the mechanical terrors that she unleashed, however unlike them it was nearly sentient and learned. It was named Xava.
Her bulky back had several layers, platforms and each housed several smaller drones. These were mostly for scouting and relaying detailed area awareness. Vira was more or less a walking hive of drones. She had a she had a multitude of specialized machines that could perform a wide array of tasks. This made her a potent threat since she could hack computers, cut power, take hostages, spy on people and even sensor sweep areas for threats. She could do all of that without actually being there, in harms way. That being said, she still needed to be within a certain proximity for the control signal to work.
A sleek disk hovered by her side, emitting a blue light that scanned over everything in the room. A hologram appeared in her interface overview, it looked and sounded like Neon Nurse, “Scan complete. Threat Assessment medium. Subject, Glitter Kitten rank 6.3 Speed, rank 5 Reflex, rank 4 Strength. Subject, Fold rank 5 Dimensional Rifter. Subject, Spark Spray rank 6.5 Electrokinetic.”
“Thank you, Xava.”
“It was my pleasure, Vira.”
“So, it is just Burnout we waiting on?” asked Spark Spray.
“Nyea, no idea how late she will be though. She did just get a lot of drugs,” said Glitter kitten scratching the back of her head.
Spark Spray frowned, “Oh god. She is probably streaking again. Nobody wants to see that skin and bones crack addict flapping around in the wind. If she is not here in an hour I say we start without her.”
Glitter Kitten nodded, “I agree we might be here all night if we wait for her. How did your task go?”
“Without a hitch. We did our assignment almost two weeks ago. Me and Vira are already vetted and in. We had been waiting on you two to get your shit together,” replied the glowing woman, taking a seat.
“Well, things happened, alright? It is done now, so we all gravy. What did you have to do anyway?”
“We embezzled two hundred million from various accounts when we attacked the bank. Vira made it so that it appeared to be a clerical error and transferred the funds to several hundred overseas accounts. I won’t get into specifics in case any of you gets caught since we get to keep ten percent of that. Let’s just say the Boss is very pleased with us.”
“I was wondering why you guys tried to rob a bank. Nyhahahaha, didn’t you two get your asses handed to you? By Neon Nurse no less.”
Vira visibly got agitated and her drones took up aggressive stances, fluttering about, “Don’t talk bad about her. She has not abandoned us, she would never leave us.”
“She has been a hero for a while now. You gotta face reality, she sold you guys out.”
“Hey, no fighting, Vira, remember? We don’t talk about her anymore. Just ignore that whore cat,” said Spark Spray, uncharacteristically the calm one. She had to hold back her shorter counterpart.
She shook her head, “You, you are right Sparky. Filthy organic your time will come. The glorious revolution from our fleshy prisons is close at hand.”
“Hey, I never called you guys names. You know, you are lucky Boss said no fighting. Otherwise, I would wipe the floor with you like I did Neon Nurse just a couple days ago. If I had not been interrupted I would have killed her.”
“You could not kill her if you tried.”
“Oh, I certainly could. Metal bends just as easily as bones if given the right pressure.”
“I will let your primitive brain think it is possible. Best not to burst your little bubble of self importance,” said Vira turning away.
“Seems things are fun in here,” asked Burnout entering from the portal gate that everyone had used to come to this place.
She was decked out in her motorcycle leathers, the black outlining the red logo of skulls and wings of fire. She looked pale. Her eyes were sunken into her face a bit and the bags made it clear how unhealthy she was. Burnout appeared to be a lot worse off than she had a few days prior, in all likelihood she had not slept at any point in the last three days. Too hyped up on drugs and far too anxious to sleep. That was how addicts were, they always had to do something or they felt uncomfortable, most feared just sitting there doing nothing. Of course this depended on the drug they were on, Burnout preferred speed, crack, cocaine and heroin, sometimes she would even pop molly just to get to her next fix.
Xava chimed in at her arrival, “Subject, Burnout, rank 5 Pyromancer. Threat medium.”
Vira nodded silently, taking her seat and observing Burnout. Due to how her eyes were not bugged out at the moment and that she seemed sluggish, it was clear that she was not high. She was sober, something rather rare and showed exactly how serious she was taking this. Her movements were twitchy, but those were side effects from withdrawal. She licked her chapped lips, looking over the other villains a bit paranoid. She waved at Glitter Kitten shakily.
“Am I late?” she looked around worried.
“No, just on time,” said a deep voice behind her.
Burnout spun around and her eyes gaped at the star and stripe adorned chest. She instantly threw herself on the floor, prostrating herself at the man’s feet, “Forgive me!”
He bent over, grasping her arm and pulled her to her feet, “Tell me, why are you so worried? What did you do?”
“During the drug exchange roughly thirty percent of the stash got burned. I will do better next time. I promise. Please give me another chance!” she shook like a dead leaf on a withered tree.
“Don’t worry about the drugs, it was a small loss. Besides, things happen, I understand,” smiled the masked man. It was a warm and disarming face.
“Boss,” cried Burnout and he wiped her tears, patting her on the back.
“There, there. Don’t cry, you are a Super Villain, right? Alright, shall we get this meeting started?
Shakily Burnout retreated to her seat after a bit of coaxing. The broad shouldered man looked them over, they all knew who he was, Bronson Man. He had been assigned to be their handler and report their progress to Kraken. If favorable reports were made then more jobs were given and if they continued to perform then they would get in. While everyone’s eyes were on the Boss only Glitter Kitten noticed the tiny figure who had followed him in and her hair stood up in terror.
Vira’s drone buzzed, “Danger level elevated, Subject, Bronson Man rank 7 Strength and Endurance. Danger level extreme, Subject, Molotov rank 8.7 Strength.”
“Molotov.” Muttered Vira lowly and the eyes in the room fell on the cute little girl who did not look like she could hurt a fly let alone be dangerous to these Super Villains.
“Who is this? Hey, why did you bring a kid here Boss?” asked Spark Spray, pointing right in Molotov’s face. Bad move.
Vira did not even have the chance to warn her before it happened. Spark Spray’s pointer finger bent backwards like a twig. It snapped and she looked wide eyed as it drooped to the side dislocated and broken in three places. Her mouth opened and shut several times before she emitted a blood curdling scream. She held her finger, trying to put it back into place.
Molotov smiled like an angel, as though the person crying on the floor had nothing to do with her, she said a girly voice befitting the adorable princess dress she wore, “Didn’t your mother ever teach you it is rude to point at others? Maybe now you will remember.’
“You should not be so rough with women,” said Bronson Man.
“Oh please, give them an inch and they will take a mile. Women will walk all over you if you let them.”
“Still, it is bad to hit them.”
“I did not hit her, she would be crumpled up on the floor if I had. Sometimes women need a good hit with an open hand. Teach them their place,” replied Molotov with a smirk.
Vira quickly taped the finger to the next one over with a crunch as it popped back into place. Spark Spray bristled with electricity as her eyes glowed. It was clear that she was planning to start a fight. Molotov simply smiled at her, watching expectantly. Vira whispered in her ear, “Rank 8.7.”
Spark Spray bit her lip and swallowed her pride. She took several deep breaths and looked away, breaking eye contact in a show of submission. Molotov hummed, looking over the rest of them. Burnout and Glitter Kitten awkwardly looked away, they did not want any trouble. Fold had to cover his mouth to keep from laughing hysterically.
“Why do you sound like that?” asked Glitter Kitten.
“Hmmm? Oh, you mean all cute and cuddly?” she asked with her sweet, innocent voice and as she continued it changed abruptly to a deep man voice, “Da, sometimes I forget after being undercover to change voice back. Little girl sound strange sounding like this, after all.”
“Why are you here?” she asked wearily.
“Well, I came to inspect the prospective recruits. Make sure everything is smooth like turnip. Bronson Man you may start the meeting.”
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He nodded and placed a cube on the table, a hologram appeared. It shifted between several scenes. First was Spark Spray guarding Vira while she hacked the computers in a bank and filling bags with money while they waited for it to finish. They made their escape when the heroes showed up. The image shifted to Fold opening a giant portal on a wall. Soldiers wearing wolf, snake, and eagle insignia marched through in groups of twenty. Their weapons were highly sophisticated and each of them sported futuristic armor. Behind them emerged a tank with a mounted laser cannon and several side turrets. It shifted again to Glitter Kitten attacking a Diablo De Chillar drug convoy out in the middle of the desert and Den Mother stole the cargo containers filled with drugs. Then it moved in to Burnout and the fight between her, Glitter Kitten, Fold, and the heroes.
“Fold, despite your good performance. I do not appreciate people fucking with my plans. You could have cost us dearly for that little stunt. Whose bright idea was it to set up Mecha Fairy’s suit as a bomb?” Glared Molotov and Fold sunk in his chair a little.
“I, eh, sorry Boss. There were more heroes than I thought and they came earlier than expected. We were a bit desperate so I did what I thought was advantageous. Glitter Kitten was sort of getting mind controlled so I acted a little rashly. It killed a lot of Cyber Swat members, though so we got that going for us.”
“Are you stupid?” asked Molotov frowning, “Clearly you think the heroes are stupid. They might be foolish and blinded by their ideals, but they learn. You people do realize they are going easy on you right? They follow laws that greatly restrict what they can and can’t do. If things get much worse, they will start going for lethal force over trying to capture you. You showed them that you were capable of much more than simple back street turf wars. You showed them you are a threat. Your purpose is logistics. In other words you have to stay under the radar.”
“Sorry Boss.”
“Sorry, sorry, sorry. I have heard that a lot tonight. I think punishments will get my point across far more efficiently than mere words. Fold put your hand on the table,” said Molotov, tapping it with her fingers.
Reluctantly he complied. She pulled a knife and stabbed it down before he could react. He screamed pinned to the table. Blood oozed out from under it, staining the mahogany table. She ripped it back out and watched as he shakily clutched his maimed hand.
“Let that be lesson for you, Suka. Never fuck with my things. Fuck up again and I will slit Shadow’s throat right in front of you.”
“Why, why shadow? She has nothing to do with this,” he grit back.
Molotov cocked her head, grabbed him by the scruff of his suit and shook him like a doll, “Nothing to do with this? She tried to kill Vesper. Crushed one of her hearts. You even dismembered her.”
“She tried to kill Shadow!”
“Had you not been there in the first place that never would have happened. You have only yourself to blame. Remember, Vesper is not to be touched. Bronson Man has told you this before.”
“Ok, ok, it won’t happen again,” he shivered.
“Oh, I know it won’t. I will butcher your whole family if does.”
All the color had drained from his face and he nodded limply. The feeling of celebration had long since been smothered by the oppressive shadow of Molotov. Burnout just stared at the floor, hoping to avoid any sort of punishment. It was her lucky day since she had not actually done anything to warrant Molotov’s wrath. Glitter Kitten on the other hand was not so fortunate.
“Glitter Kitten.”
“Nyes Boss?”
“I am very disappointed, angry in fact.”
Glitter Kitten’s usual nonchalant attitude disappeared and the fur all over her body bristled, her ears flattened and her tail drooped, “Boss? What did I do?”
“What did you do?” repeated Molotov with a tight scowl that ruined her girly cuteness, “When did I tell you to interfere with Vespidian?”
She retreated, “It was a mistake, I swear! My stupid gang members did it without asking me. I beat them, I punished them, so, so you don’t need to.”
“Then why did you not immediately send her back?”
“I was going to, but, but, but it would look fishy if I just gave her back for no reason. Besides, I needed her help to find the drugs. I even made a ransom to throw them off.”
“If it was just that I could understand, but that is not the problem. When did I tell you to try and force her to join your gang?”
“You… you, eh, didn’t. Nyah, I am sorry, but I thought that-”
“You thought?!” said Molotov’s deep voice before she yelled, slapping Glitter Kitten. She was quick enough to dodge most of it, but the blow left her stunned and disoriented. “Da, you thought wrong. I have told each and every one of you what happen should you interfere with her. I already killed Blaze Runner for nearly cooking her. What do you think I will do to you for ripping her in half? She is still in the hospital, clinging to life!”
Glitter Kitten stammered, staggering to her feet, “She, she. It was her own fault! She jumped in the way I was trying to kill Sunshine! Not her, I would never deliberately kill her.”
“Did Dreamer tell you to kill her?”
“What?! No, I-” she started before she was interrupted.
“I heard you had a run in with her. Bronson Man, hold her down.”
Glitter Kitten became hysterical and for good reason, Molotov was notorious for her interrogation techniques. Some rumors even went so far as she broke people to the point the only words they could say was “Turnips not the turnips!” and should they see one they would cry uncontrollably. Glitter Kitten had already experienced a run in with Molotov’s cruelty and it was something that she wished to never experience again. Unfortunately, she was trapped like a rat.
She bolted for the door only to find it had been barred and the imposing figure of Bronson Man stood waiting. He grabbed for her, but she was much faster and darted away, straight into the waiting hands of Molotov. The slender arm thrust the wily cat onto the floor and she put her knee on her back to keep her still.
“Now, now. I won’t kill you,” said Molotov, “Da, a rank 7 mind diver would not have been able to do much to non willing participant, unless they had several days to torture them. So the likelihood that you fell under her influence is low. However, I has questions.”
“Nyah. Then why hurt me?”
“Punishment. I hope you remember your best friend, Mr. Incentive,” grinned Molotov coldly, pulling out the crackling whip. Serrated edges of metal jaggedly dotted the metal lashes.
“NO! Not the whip, not again!” cried Glitter Kitten, squirming against the oppressive power holding her down.
“Then you better start talking.”
“What? You didn’t ask a question!”
“Wrong answer,” she lashed down and the other villains winced, looking away.
Glitter Kitten writhed, screaming as the current went through her. Her fur singed around the throbbing welt that it had made. Surprisingly, it had not broken the skin.
“Ready to talk?”
“Ask a fucking question!”
“Sounds like you want more.”
“No! Please, I am sorry. I will talk, just stop!”
“Da, that is what I thought. Now my little kitty cat tell me. What did you see when Dreamer linked minds with you?”
It took her a long moment to reply, “I, it is hard to describe. I could feel her scratching, clawing, trying to get in. But, but she didn’t I wouldn’t let her. She tried to trick me, changed her voice. Sounded like my kittens pleading for me to let them in. There were colorful things, like what Sunshine makes. Weird things. I don’t remember much else.”
Molotov pondered on it, “Da, I suppose that was too harsh. I has other idea,” she smiled and everyone in the room got goose bumps.
Molotov pulled out an electric razor and Glitter Kitten turned pale when it buzzed on. She set it to the skin, cutting through the fur. With each pass clumps fell off and the writhing cat girl’s struggling subsided. Glitter Kitten cried, it was better than being killed, but it was still humiliating. To be shaved in front of the other villains. She would be the laughing stock of the underworld for a long time after this. They certainly were not going to let this slide. The rest of the Mad Dogs would be laughing behind her back for months. To make matters worse, she rather liked her fur.
“Smooth as turnip,” said Molotov mildly amused as she got off of Glitter Kitten.
The cat, however just laid there in submission. She felt so vulnerable, naked, and afraid. It was the first time she had ever felt like this. This was worse than when Molotov had first broken into her home and beat her senseless in front of her family. That day she had been shown that she was just a big fish in a little pond. To obey the Alpha, that was the rule, the ingrained behavior imprinted on her since she turned. It was the same for the other subhumans, the strong were in charge. It was why running the gang was so easy, she just had to beat down anybody who questioned her authority.
“I have been shaved!” she cried curling away in the corner, “What kind of monster are you to skin a cat? That is like cutting a girl’s hair off.”
“Everyone knows a premium pussy should be hairless, it is unprofessional to have a wild and unkempt beast. See look at Miss Wiggles,” replied Molotov, holding up a hairless cat that she had pulled out of a compartment on her belt.
Miss Wiggles was a smug looking creature, an Egyptian Sphynx cat to be precise, with a pretty red ribbon around her collar and a bell dangling down. Slowly she surveyed the room with her large eyes and the bat like ears rotated. It almost looked like she squinted with disdain at Glitter Kitten and looked away with a hmmph attitude. She pawed her way up Molotov’s shoulder and sat there just silently staring at them with disinterested eyes. It was clear that the cat thought it was better than everyone else in the room.
“What the hell is that thing?!” asked Glitter Kitten emerging from her corner, “I don’t know why, but I get the feeling I don’t like it.”
“Da, she doesn’t like you either.”
“How do you know? Are you a cat whisperer?” Wondered Burnout in amazement.
“She told me. Da, good little Wiggles deserves a treat. She does, she does, she does,” said Molotov in a voice that made everyone give her a second glance. She sounded like a little girl and not just any, an adorable one. Molotov ignored all the dumbfounded looks and wiggled her fingers eliciting the cat to lightly claw and bite at them.
Glitter Kitten’s tail puffed up with jealousy, “Why do you like that thing so much anyway? It is not like it is a real cat.”
Molotov grinned, “Simple, Miss Wiggles is worth more than all of you put together. She is my most prized possession. Vespidian would be a close second though, I have such plans for her.”
“I don’t get it,” said Spark Spray, “Why is that cat worth more to you than us?”
“That is because Miss Wiggles is the cutest little thing. Isn’t she just adorable? Also, she happens to be a Super.”
“What do you mean that thing is a Super? How can an animal have powers?” asked Glitter Kitten.
“What powers does she have?” asked Burnout. It seemed that the drug addict was the only open minded person about this. Everyone else had skeptical looks, except Vira she did not have a face to see after all.
Miss Wiggles, the creature in question lazily stretched and yawned, Molotov scratched her under the chin and replied, “You are a cat person and yet you question that a cat can have powers? I am disappointed. As for what makes her so special, well she talks.”
Everyone looked suspiciously at miss Wiggles. A talking cat? Among all the strange things in this wide and messed up world that actually was not so weird. Considering that there were aliens, mutants, human power plants, people capable of creating a firestorm, and of course a little girl able to throw an oil tanker into the sky. A talking cat was really nothing to be that freaked out by. If anything, it was kind of lackluster.
Vira gave the cat a final glance as her drone concluded a scan, nothing was out of the ordinary. As far as it could tell Miss Wiggles was just a cat, a normal one at that. She thought on it for a moment concluding that it was a red herring to scare them and make them realize how lowly they were thought of. It was disconcerting, but she was not about to argue with a rank 8. They still needed to prove themselves to get into Kraken and even after that they would likely be working under Molotov, so it was best to be on her good side. Earning brownie points now would pay dividends later. Everything up until now was just to get their attention and now was the hard part, actually impressing the recruiter. Word on the dark net was that Molotov was rather fickle, which could prove to be good or bad.
“Now then,” said Molotov, rapping her hand on the table, “time to get down to business.”
The varied villains shifted in their seats and she continued, “Da, you have all completed your tasks, some more efficiently than others. This has affected my appraisal of each of you. Currently Vira and Spark Spray are the top in the hierarchy. For now we will lay low, due to someone getting the bright idea to set off a bomb and catch attention. As a result, you will avoid confrontation. Let the Heroes deal with the troublemakers while we move about behind the scenes. Keep your damned noses clean or I will personally make sure you disappear. Each of you will receive orders later, this will be far more important than these tests that I had you do. As a result do not talk about your respective tasks to anyone else. We can’t afford leaks, Chimera might be onto us, which means the risks will go up. If you do not agree tell me now and I will let you walk.”
Everyone was silent for a moment, looking between one another. Glitter Kitten and Burnout knew full well that was a loaded question and the only way out at this point was death. Fold, Vira, and Spark Spray had never been on the receiving end of the whip and as such did not know exactly how serious this was. They did not have complaints, none the less. Everybody passed the final test for the night.
“Is that it?” asked Burnout scratching her neck.
“Da. That is all. For now await my instructions and more or less take it easy. You should have more than enough money in your accounts to not need to do anything rash for the next month or so. I will notify you when there is something to be done.”
With things concluded Fold reopened the portal that had been used to get to this location and the other villains left through the hole in reality. Molotov shifted when it closed, Bronson Man by her side. Her hand lightly pet Miss Wiggles who had positioned herself on a fluffy pillow set on the table.
“Boris take that ridiculous mask off. You have such a handsome face so don’t hide it.”
“Da, sorry,” he replied, pealing off the star spangled wrestler mask and dropping in on the table.
“You did good, but remember give her the cold shoulder. Make her crave you. I know about little autograph session,” said Molotov eyeing him like a snake.
“But, I dream of her. Half time I bang super model I imagine it is her. I want to pound that tight wasp ass.”
“And I told you to just watch over her. Do not get overly involved, at the least not right now.”
“But I want to take her on dates to high end restaurant, looking out over the city and woo her with my passionate pussy wrecking.”
Molotov pat him on the thigh, “I know, I remember when I was a rearing bull, mounting anything that moved. Calm down, no need to rush. Timing is everything. Wait until she is vulnerable and weak, then swoop in and save her from all her troubles. Steal heart like turnip from cold Siberian tundra. Suka can’t resist hero. Remember play funky music, increases chances of wild mambo by thirty percent.”
He nodded eagerly, taking mental notes. With that settled Molotov glanced to the purring cat on the table. “So what do you think, about our fodder?” she asked.
“Glitter Kitten will be a liability, should probably kill her now and get it over with,” said Miss Wiggles, though her mouth did not move and her voice was rather androgynous. In fact the voice was in both their heads. Miss Wiggles was a telepath.
“She has her uses. It would be troublesome to tame a new animal.”
“Well, true. As for the others, I would give them a fifty-fifty odds that any of them actually survive. If I had to put money on anyone it would be Fold and Vira, they are both cowards. Sheer brute force, maybe Burnout and Spark Spray might be able to do something. Those two combined would be stronger than most of the local heroes. Granted, we both know they are not the real problem. I wonder what fish we will catch with the bait? You think Arachnaon will come?”
“I doubt it. Chimera is too scared of losing her to the Puppeteer. At worst we will have to deal with Mantia, Nightmare or maybe Jackal. They did not take the bait in L.A. so they might not take it here either. They would not deploy anything that they would actually miss if things went badly.”
“Jackal could be problem. Mantia not so much just make sure she doesn’t get the jump on you. She is an ambush predator,” said Boris.
“But, we have much better bait than last time. We should have known that they would not try to save hero league members. So how is our bait doing by the way?” asked Miss Wiggles.
“As we all know Arachnaon has a habit of collecting spore spawn, so eventually she will come after Vesper, it is only a matter of time. Vesper is doing perfectly fine. Aside of course from barely being alive after Glitter Kitten’s little stunt. According to the data we have been receiving she should be almost rank 6. Once that happens her survivability should go up dramatically.”
Miss Wiggles looked her in the eyes, “Growing soft I see.”
“What are you on about?”
“It is not like you to be concerned about if a pawn dies.”
“Maybe I am just getting old.”
“Says the immortal,” scoffed the cat.
“Speaking of immortal, when is the Puppeteer coming back?”
“Well, she does not want to be disturbed. Having far too much fun.”
“So, it is a she right now? When did it switch bodies again?”
“Not again, she has not switched bodies for fifteen years.”
“Oh god,” groaned Molotov. “So she is going through puberty again? Is it a rebellious phase? I and the council can only do so much. What the hell is she even rebelling against? She is in charge and can change the rules whenever she wants.”
“If it gets too out of hand, she will step in. It is not as though she is oblivious to the world. In fact, she is still orchestrating everything going on around the globe. However, she will not be doing any hands on work. Unless there is a good reason she will continue living her dream.”
“I just wish she would take this seriously. I know she could make all of Chimera kill themselves when ever the hell she wants. I have seen the sick shit she has made people do. It makes me lose my appetite sometimes,” said Molotov looking a little queasy.
Miss Wiggles smirked, “Only sometimes? Remember the time she made that spy eat his own face? What about that time she forced a man to butcher his own family, cook them and then eat them. Oh, remember when she made that one bitch shove her head up her own ass? Or the time she made all the news anchors tell their deepest, darkest secrets on live tv. Didn’t most of them commit suicide after that?”
“Da, that type of shit. Let’s not forget about all of the cults she formed back in the eighties just to study human social behavior. Remember when she made that Minister of Bulgaria fall in love with a dog and marry it?”
“Never drink the cool aid,” nodded Miss Wiggles.
“I bet you know a lot more than I do, she did make you after all.”
“Well, she does have a creative side. However, you have known her much longer than me. I am only five you know.”
“True, true. What exactly is she up to these days?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“Oh, come on. Let me guess, it is another cult isn’t it?”
“No, well… maybe, kinda, I suppose she has a following, but it is not what you think. Surprisingly, it is nothing illegal.”
“Makes you wonder what would have happened if things were different. You know if she was some do-gooder.”
Miss Wiggles chuckled, raising her paw to her face, “Her, good?! That is the best joke I have ever heard. Ok, if it did happen, we would likely be living in a Utopia right now. No war, no crime, no hunger, no need nor want, but of course there would be a price no one would have any free will. We would all be mindless drones slaving away in a perfect, clean society. After all humans are greedy creatures and the only way for there to be peace is to control them. Individuality is by definition chaotic. Then again we are all dancing to the strings she pulls.”