Chapter 42.5: The Noblest and Most Ancient House of All

[rufusluciusivan]

Part 6

**************

Tina was driven to the estate by House Eudokia’s recon team. She was seated in the back of a van, with her hands zip-tied behind her back. They were using a black van to transport her.

Zoë Eudokia was following them. She was being driven in a car by her bodyguard.

In the back of the van, with Tina, there were ten special agents. One more was driving the vehicle, and a twelfth one was seated on the passenger seat. They were all women. Apparently, the male ones were escorting Irene’s son during an important business trip.

The special agents were wearing uniforms that looked like the ones worn by SWAT teams and other various special task forces. They were clad in black long combat shoes, and dark grey camouflage trousers with front pockets. Their were protective pads on the knees. Each woman also had a black equipment belt with various tools, and was wearing a dark grey long-sleeved uniform jacket over a white short-sleeved t-shirt. Their upper-body was protected by a black sleeveless bulletproof vest. Each was armed with a machine gun. When in mission, they were also using black balaclavas and protective helmets. However, they had removed them. They didn’t feel the need to wear them in the van or in Irene’s estate.

The squad leader, who was driving the van, was called Alexia. She had short auburn hair, green-brown eyes, and a light skin. One strand of her hair was dyed white.

Her second-in-command, named Keira, was the woman sitting on the passenger seat. She had black hair, dark brown eyes, and a light skin. Her neck-long hair were tightly braided. However, her most noticeable physical feature was her tall statuesque figure. One strand of her hair, from her fringe to the tip of her braid, was dyed red.

Inside the van’s back, the first special agent had a brown skin, hazel brown eyes, and shiny neck-long black hair. Her haircut was a square cut. She was named Rosalina.
The second special agent had a pale white skin, faded blue eyes, and light blond hair tied into a short braid. She was named Katherine.
The third special agent had an olive skin, green eyes, and brown hair tied into a shoulder-long low ponytail. She was named Agathe.
The fourth special agent had a white skin, emerald green eyes, and neck-long ginger red hair. She was shorter and burlier than her colleagues. She was named Molly.
The fifth special agent had a tanned skin, hazel green eyes, and slick brown hair. She was named Maria.
The sixth special agent had a black skin, dark brown eyes, and frizzy neck-long black hair tied into short braids. She was named Constance.
The seventh special agent had a white skin, black eyes, and shoulder-long black hair. She was named Yumi.
The eighth special agent had a porcelain white skin, sapphire blue eyes, and pure diamond blond hair. Her haircut was a square cut. She was named Ruby.
The ninth special agent had a black skin, brown eyes, and closely-cropped coarse black hair. She was named Joyce.
The tenth special agent had a bronze brown skin, amber brown eyes, and a mane of fluffy curly shoulder-long red hair that were barely contained by her helmet. She had an exceptionally surly expression, as if she didn’t want to be here and was hating every second of her life.

Alexia stopped the van in the backyard of Irene’s estate. She and Keira quickly checked the surroundings. Once they were sure that no witness was around, they ordered their squad to lead Tina outside.

Zoë and her bodyguard exited their car at the same time.

“Bring her to her cell. Mother will deal with her once she’s finished.” the young aristocrat ordered them.

Alexia instructed her squad to follow her.

However, Zoë didn’t go with them.

“Milady?” Alexia asked.

“I refuse to enter the estate while Anastasia is still inside. Tell my mother I needed some fresh air. It’s not like she needs me to plan the wedding.”

The young aristocrat returned inside her black car. Her bodyguard, a woman called Nora, sat behind the wheel to drive her off.

“I’m smelling a family dispute…” Keira commented with a small chuckle.

“Would you blame her? I’ve met Anastasia’s son once, when I was escorting Lady Irene. That man is a complete buffoon.” Alexia retorted.

The recon team then surrounded Tina.

“Move, lamb!” Keira said, while giving a strong push between her prisoner’s shoulders. “Time to face your destiny!”

Most of the women shared a wicked mocking laugh.

Tina glared daggers at them. However, escorted by the twelve special agents and with her wrists tied, she had no choice but comply.

They went to the manor’s back door.

One woman dressed as a guard greeted them.

“Lady Eudokia instructs you to bring the prisoner to her cell.” she announced.

Tina’s eyes widened when she saw the woman. She had recognized Blink! The clone bit her inner-jaws hard to keep quiet.

“I know.” Alexia angrily retorted to the guard. Thankfully, her words drowned out the small noise of surprise Tina had made. “My instructions were given to me by Lady Zoë. I don’t need a low-ranked GUARD to remind them to me. Now, move out of the way!”

Blink didn’t retort anything, even though the other woman was being very rude. She simply smiled, and moved aside. “Of course.”

Tina’s body tensed with anticipation.

For the first time since her capture, she started to feel hope. Blink couldn’t be here alone. She was probably with Mag. And if Mag was here, then Stasis and Libido were here too.

And if Blink was greeting the squad, it meant that Tina’s friends had taken control of the estate… Maybe her other sisters were already free...

It took Tina only a few seconds of reflection to come up with this result. She got ready. She knew a fight was going to break out.

The second the squad had entered the building, Blink closed the door.

One second later, the special agents were simultaneously assaulted by all of Tina’s sisters and Blink.

The women of the recon team didn’t have the time to react. They were maybe twelve against eight, and were maybe well-trained. But by the time they fully comprehended they were under attack, half of them were already knocked out.

Various neck-chops, sleeper-holds, and nerve-pinches were swiftly applied. There were also a few punches and kicks.

BB quickly recognized Keira as the biggest physical threat. Therefore, she quickly immobilized the woman who was as tall as her, and applied a sleeper-hold to knock her out. The second-in-command was strong and tall, but even she couldn’t compete with BB. Her gurgles were short-lived, and soon she was off to sleepy-land.

Alexia was a competent and well-trained leader, Tina would give her that. She reacted as quickly as a trained human could, and opened her mouth to shout orders – both as a way to organize her squad and to sound the alarm. Too bad for her that Mag had made the squad leader her top priority target… She applied a swift neck-chop just as Alexia was opening her mouth. Therefore, instead of a scream, the latter made a weird grunt, and fell on the floor. Out cold.

Libido beamed when she heard Agathe let out a distinctly aroused moan as she was applying a nerve-pinch to knock her out.

The twelfth red-haired special agent didn’t even show a token resistance. Blink had no problem wrapping her arm around her throat, and subdued her with a sleeper-hold.

Stasis put Constance to sleep with her slingshot and a green ball. “Hope you’re usually showing more CONSTANCY in your work.” she jabbed at the special agent. Fortunately, in the confusion, nobody had heard how weak her pun was.

Well, save for Rosalina, who raised her machine gun to show Stasis what she thought of her joke. Fortunately, Soph’s neck-chop put out of commission the woman who fancied herself a critic.

Since her pen had been confiscated, Marie was forced to use hand-to-hand combat to subdue Maria. However, as her ‘almost-namesake’ quickly discovered, the former clone trooper hadn’t lost her hand. A stomach-punch and a neck-chop swiftly put Maria out of commission.

Between the melee and the lack of instructions of her squad leader, Yumi was totally confused. However, Mag had the decency of helping her out of her confusion. With a precise nerve-pinch that sent her to slumber-land, of course.

Thanks to luck, or maybe thanks to her shorter stature that made her less noticeable, Molly was able to escape the first assault. She tried to escape, to look for reinforcements. Unfortunately for her, Tinker was standing back, both because she knew she wasn’t the best physical fighter, and because she was smart enough to know that one agent may try to escape. She tackled Molly on the floor from her blind spot, forcing her to drop her machine gun. Of course, Tinker couldn’t defeat a trained special agent. She could only immobilize her for a small period of time.

But ‘a small period of time’ was all that Soph needed, after knocking out Ruby with a perfect neck-chop, to quickly arrive and to punch a very specific spot of Molly’s skull to instantly send her to slumber-land.

Joyce had taken advantage of the fact that Soph was busy with Molly. She had positioned herself behind Soph, and was about to shoot her.

Then she realized that she was the last woman standing, and that most of Soph’s sisters were surrounding her while cracking their knuckles. She dropped her weapon.

“I surrender! Not in the face! Not in the face!” Joyce pleaded.

Libido’s wrapped her whip around her arms to immobilize her. Then Mag gently took Tinker by the arm, and led her behind the special agent. She showed her the Vagus nerve.

“Pinch here.”

Her sister followed her instructions.

Joyce’s eyes widened. “Aaaaaaaaa…” she moaned. Then, it was lights out for her.

In no time, the special agents were all lying on the floor. Unconscious, moaning and groaning.

BB lifted Tinker on her shoulders to allow her to parade a little. The latter raised her fist. “Flawless Victory!” she announced, imitating the memetic line from the Mortal Kombat games

Stasis also raised a fist. “Woo-hoo! The sisters (and Blink) come out on top once again!”

Everyone cheered.

Tina beamed. “Mag! Libido! Stasis! You’ve done it! You saved everyone!” She couldn’t hold back tears of joy. “I knew you would!”

Mag cut the zip-ties binding her sister’s wrists, and gave her a bear-hug that would make BB proud. “Of course. We wanted the reception committee to be full, for when you’d return…”

Soon, Tina was at the center of her sisters’ group hug. She tried to take them all in her arms, and mostly succeeded

“Looks like this time, WE were the ones who saved you!” Soph and Marie commented.

Tina was still crying in relief, and tightened her embrace. “You sure did…”

She wished she’d never have to let go of them.

Blink waited a little time, to give them to occasion to celebrate their reunion.

Then she cleared her throat. “Sorry to ruin the mood, but we should do something about these twelve women before they wake up.” She pointed at the defeated special agents.

“You’re right. This is a private party, and they’re not invited.” Stasis commented.

Mag glanced at the defeated special agents, then at her own guard uniform, and thoughtfully scratched her chin. “You know what? I think we should take their clothes. Then, after we’ve dealt with Irene, we can take their van and pretend we’ve been sent on an other mission.”

“Good idea.” Blink approved.

“Isn’t it a little risky? We could come across someone of the staff…” Tina commented.

Libido smiled. “Bah, don’t worry about that. The entire staff is currently taking a break.”

Stasis playfully nudged her sister. “Come on, it’ll be fun! Let’s do something all together! We need it! Plus, I can already picture Irene’s face when we’ll barge inside her office dressed as her own elite agents.”

Tina smiled. “You know what? I’m sold! Let’s do it!”

**************

Twelve injections later, the twelve special agents were sleeping like babies. The sisters and Blink dragged them into a nearby unused lounge room of the manor. There, they stripped the women of their gear and of their clothes, including the socks to go along with the thicker footwear.

Stasis’ prediction proved to be correct. Tina enjoyed a lot the process of robbing Irene’s elite goons of their uniforms. In no small part because she was able to do it with her entire family. Judging by her sisters’ smiles, they were all sharing her sentiment.

They stopped once the women were down to their underwear.

Alexia was wearing a white t-shirt bra and white panties. Both had a pattern of red, orange, and yellow autumn leaves.

Keira was clad in plain black boxer briefs, and a black sports bra.

Ruby was wearing sapphire blue (ironically) hip-hugging knickers, and a matching full-cup bra.

Katherine was clad in navvy blue tanga panties, and a white bandeau bra.

Rosalina was wearing green seamless panties, and a jade-coloured demi-bra.

Agathe was clad in a black thong and a cherry red bra with black borders and a pattern of translucent lace hearts. She actually let out soft moans while she was being stripped. Libido was soon unable to restrain herself. She wanted to help the woman have the climax her body was subconsciously begging. (But hey, her sisters were now safe, so she didn’t have to control herself like the time with Theodoroa.) Ultimately, Libido had to be literally immobilized by BB, and Marie finished stripping her.

Constance was wearing burgundy French-cut panties, and a purple plunge bra.

Joyce was clad in bright yellow knickers, and a matching triangle bra.

Molly was wearing pink control briefs with white borders and a pattern of white little hearts, that were designed to slim down her waist. Her full-cup bra matched the panties.

Maria was clad in white panties with blue horizontal stripes, and a dark blue cage bra.

Yumi was wearing light lavender taps pants with lacy white borders, and a light blue push-up bra with lacy white borders.

The defeated underwear-clad special agents were left piled up on the carpet. Each was bound and gagged the same way: The wrists were zip-tied behind the back, and the ankles were zip-ties together. (For extra irony, the sisters had used the zip-ties which the special agents were carrying on their equipment belts.) Then, strips of low-ranked guard uniforms previously worn by the sisters were used to restrain the shoulders, the upper-arms, and the thighs. A few strips were stuffed into the mouth, and one thicker strip of guard uniform was used as a cleave-gag. Keira and Alexia had been put at the bottom of the pile, to immobilize them even more than the others.

When it came to disguising themselves, with all the women they had mugged, Blink and the sisters were spoiled for choice. Of course, BB took Keira’s clothes, as they were her size.

Once they were done, Blink and the sisters exchanged thumbs-ups, and exited the room. Behind them, they were leaving a pile of defeating deeply-asleep underwear-clad special agents. Some of them were snoring, others were lightly moaning in their slumber.

Stasis was the last one to leave. Just as she was about to close the door, however, she paused.

“I can’t help but feel as if we forgot to strip one of them…”

Stasis shrugged.

“Bah! It’s probably not important! It’s not like there was an Easter Egg somewhere, or something…”

She closed the door.

**************

When their little group reached the first floor, Blink stopped. “I’ll let you deal with Irene. This is something you need to do as a family.” she said to the sisters. “While you’re teaching her a lesson, I’ll check the floor one last time, in case we’ve missed a staff member.”

Mag nodded. “You want someone to come with you?”

Blink shook her head with a small smile. “Don’t worry. I’m a grown woman. I can handle it. Besides, you need that face-to-face with Irene more than me.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

The sisters walked towards Irene’s office.

Once her friends were out of eyesight, Blink’s smile slightly faded away. She didn’t want to mention it in front of Mag and the others, but Blink had actually a second reason for wanting to be alone.

She grabbed her cellphone.

Blink was worried for her sister. It wasn’t like Knipperen to not answer the calls of her twin for so long.

However, she didn’t want Mag and the others to see her call Knipperen. She knew they didn’t like her, and that they had good reasons to dislike her. But…

Something had happened to her sister. Blink was sure of it.

She couldn't explain how she knew it. Maybe it was her instinct as an infiltrator. Or some sort of connection between twins. Or simply the fact that she had witnessed how much House Eudokia was on the warpath against the infiltrators who had wronged them… and Knipperen was among their targets.

But she knew that something was wrong.

“Come on… Answer…” she muttered to herself while listening to the ring tone.

The answering machine, once more.

Blink cursed.

Where was Knipperen?

**************

Irene was starting to feel that something was wrong. The aristocrat had learned to trust her instinct.

Why was she feeling in danger? Her two bodyguards were standing behind her guests, as silent and as professional as ever. Irene completely trusted them, and their fighting abilities.

Tina was escorted by her elite agents. And once Irene was done with the negotiation, she would have the pleasure of watching Tina questioned by Mabel… Then she would see her and all her sisters executed.

The aristocrat knew she had won.

And yet… Irene couldn’t help but have a bad feeling.

Anastasia was prolonging the wedding’s negotiations. As if to buy some time… But why would she try to buy time? What could be her interest in doing so? Was she-

As if she had read Irene’s mind, Anastasia suddenly announced: “But I think we’ve wasted enough time already. Myrtle, can you show the marriage contract to lady Eudokia? It’s time to get down to business.”

Myrtle nodded, and grabbed the folder…

… and suddenly threw it at the face of Irene’s first bodyguard. The folder hit the woman in the forehead, momentarily distracting her. Her colleague reacted with cool-headed professionalism, and drew her gun.

Myrtle had already jumped from her chair.

When the bodyguard tried to shoot, she grabbed the woman’s wrist. The bullet was lost in the ceiling. Myrtle kneed the bodyguard in the stomach three times before she could try to shoot again. Myrtle let the gasping gurgling woman fall on her knees.

The first bodyguard, having recovered from the blow, drew her gun. Myrtle kicked the weapon from her hand. Then, she hit specific nerve points with her fists. The bodyguard groaned, as several parts of her body were suddenly numb and heavy, almost paralyzed. A neck-chop then knocked her out.

Finally, Myrtle moved behind the second bodyguard, who was still on her knees. She wrapped her arms around the guard’s throat and neck, and used a sleeper-hold to knock her out. Once she was done, she let the limp body fall face first on the soft carpet.

Irene tried to get up.

One glare from Anastasia was enough to dissuade her.

“I suggest you to remain calm. Let us professionals do our work.” Anastasia commented.

Myrtle pulled out two small syringes filled with a colourless liquid – no doubt some sort of paralyzing serum. She injected each of Irene’s bodyguards with the serum.

“Now, these two amateurs won’t bother us…” Anastasia said.

Irene was careful to not make any sudden move. She knew who her opponents were. She knew they’d slit her throat in an instant if they so much as suspected she was trying to fight back or to call for help.

Indeed, both before and during the civil war, Irene had learned to be wary of THEM. Special combatants. Assassins and spies. The Rebellion was sending them behind their enemy’s lines to kill officials and officers. They would slit a few soldiers’ throats, disguise themselves, and get rid of any sentry on their way. And once they had reached their target, they were ready to die to accomplish their mission. One of them was the assassin who had killed her husband.

Irene didn’t try to offer them money. She knew they would never accept a bribe.

The aristocrat forced herself to remain calm. She knew she was untouchable. Her government needed her alive to prevent social unrest.

“Your chief is making a mistake. When everyone will learn that Hieron was linked to a criminal operation targeting me, people will-”

“Who are you talking about?” the fake Anastasia interrupted her. “I’m working for Anna Porsche. You’ll actually find several proofs linking me to her. I’m afraid I’m not very good at covering my tracks…” She was smiling mockingly. Her speech was, of course, a lie; and Irene would have staked her life on the fact that all the so-called ‘proofs’ were fakes. However, she also knew she wouldn’t be able to prove it in front of a tribunal. Hieron would remain untouchable.

The door of Irene’s office was suddenly opened. A group of women entered. The aristocrat recognized the uniform of her special task force.

Irene smiled triumphantly. “Well, perhaps you’ll accept to talk about your REAL boss when we’ll interrogate you!” she gloated.

The fake Anastasia glanced at the agents. She didn’t look worried. She didn’t even take a fighting stance.

She simply said: “Took you long enough. But, actually, your timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I’m sure you’ll enjoy what will come next.”

Irene’s eyes widened. She realized that the newcomers didn’t look like any of her sentries.

“Wait… You’re not my guards!” the aristocrat whispered with an incredulous expression. “You’re- oh no!”

Soph exulted.“That FACE! That face ALONE makes our entire invasion of this estate worth it!”

**************

While searching for women who hadn’t been bound-and-gagged yet, Blink entered the unused baby bedroom.

She immediately thought that something was off with this room. And not only because of the incongruity of seeing something as innocent as a baby cradle in Irene’s house.

She had a strange feeling. As if something was calling her.

And also… Why was she thinking of Knipperen when inside this room?

Blink had long learned to trust her intuition. She took the time to search the room.

This wall… Was she hearing banging sounds?

Blink realized that someone was locked behind this wall.

Those bastards! They had walled someone alive!

She attempted to find the hidden door, but only found a small hidden panel with a digital keypad.

Blink would need Tinker’s help to crack the code.

**************

Agria and Cleo stripped Irene’s two bodyguards down to their anthracite grey elastic boyshorts and sports bra, and claimed their clothes as theirs. “Don’t mind us.” Agria said to the sisters while changing herself. “Settle your score with Irene. We only care for her life, not for her dignity.”

They then zip-tied and tape-gagged the bodyguards.

While they were busy, the sisters surrounded Irene.

The aristocrat overcame her moment of surprise. She forced herself to look dignified. “I should’ve killed you when I had the chance.”

“You underestimated us. Rich people tend to do that, no matter how smart they are. They tend to be too full of themselves to realize that us plebeians can think too.” Tina retorted. “We’re a lot more resourceful than you give us credit for.”

“We maybe have not received your ARISTOCRATIC education… and even then I’m sure BB is more cultured than you could ever hope to be… but sometimes being uneducated stubborn peasants pay up.” Soph added. She was cracking her knuckles.

“Now, it’s time to teach you a lesson.” Mag concluded. “About how corrupt people like you should never mess with our family.”

Irene kept her composure. She didn’t beg like Theophano. She remained haughty and dignified, the living embodiment of the aristocratic ideal she had been promoting all her life. She was being brave, the sisters would give her that.

“I’m disappointed. Usually, it’s the part when they start squirming.” Soph commented.

Irene laughed haughtily. “You think that you peons can scare me? YOU?”

Soph grabbed her by the collar. “People like you usually change their tune when I start to beat them up.”

The aristocrat scoffed and looked her in the eyes. “You think YOU can inflict me real pain? You’re still wet behind the ears, little girl. I could be your mother.”

Soph lost her cool, and briefly shook her prisoner by the collar. “I have a mother! Her name is Maryse! And you’re not HALF the woman she was!”

In spite of the roughing, Irene still chuckled. “Your ideas on how to make someone suffer are so laughable, they’re actually EMBARRASSING, little girl…”

Irene withstood Soph’s glare.

“Tell me, have you ever carried a child? Have you ever been happy at the prospect of giving birth to life? And have you ever been DENIED that joy? Have you ever been poisoned by a rival? Have you ever been lying on a hospital bed... and felt your child wither slowly inside you and die? My firstborn would have been a son. I was robbed of him. And my House was robbed of its glorious future. So who cares if I step on people? Morality is irrelevant. I am merely righting the wrongs.”

The sisters shared one look.

That explains the spare child’s bedroom. That explains why Theophano was spoiled rotten. Tina couldn’t help but think to herself.

“I’m sorry for your loss. Honestly. No mother should go through what you went through. But you can’t use it to excuse your actions.” she commented. “Don’t expect us to sympathize with what you did.”

Irene looked at her with an expression of intense disdain. “I’m not asking for your sympathy. I am merely explaining a fact: Nothing in this world, or the next, can scare me anymore. Nothing. And certainly not you naive fools.”

Mag smiled harshly. “Well, allow us to try a little…”

**************

Agria and Cleo went to stand guard outside while the sisters were busy with Irene.

Irene didn’t even make a peep when they removed her clothes.

The sisters briefly debated, but ultimately chose to not leave the aristocrat naked. They hated her with a passion, but they would respect her bravery by allowing her to keep her set of white silk underwear: full-coverage bra, and control briefs.

They removed the white pantyhose, and were intending to use it as a gag. Because they didn’t want to be TOO nice either.

The sisters also made sure to not be too gentle when they bound the aristocrat to her chair with ropes. They tied the wrist and the arms behind the back of the chair. They wrapped ropes around her waist and the chair’s back, and around the thighs and the chair’s seat to prevent her from getting up. They tied each thigh and ankle to one of the chair’s legs.

One half of Irene’s pantyhose was stuffed into the aristocrat’s mouth, the other was used as a cleave-gag.

“Well then, good riddance, Irene. Meeting you in person has been a real DISpleasure.” Tina concluded. “We’ll let the police find you… in a while. Enjoy the next few hours.”

“Mfffff!”

The sisters walked away.

Except for one, who was glaring at the gigantic priceless portrait of Irene and her children on the wall behind the woman’s desk.

“Stasis! Don’t lag behind, please! We don’t know when Zoë or her brothers will return…” Mag said.

“Just give me a second!”

Stasis grabbed a chair, stood on it, and pulled out a black marker. She drew mustaches on each member of House Eudokia featured on the portrait. Of course, she drew the kind of mustache that would make proud the villains who wore a top hat and tied women to rail tracks. Dick Dastardly would have been proud.

“Now, they look better like that. Don’t you think?”

Her sisters agreed, and shared a good laugh.

“MHHHFFFFHHHH!” an angry Irene tried to shout. She was glaring at the joker. For the first time, she was losing her composure.

Stasis ignored the aristocrat’s stare, and drew a smiley on Irene’s forehead.

“See!” she told her sisters. “Even she approves! Plus, a smiley’s way more sophisticated than a dick-”

“Language, Stasis.”

[rufusluciusivan]

Note: This is the second post. Be sure to read the first one above beforehand.
























**************

However, when the sisters exited Irene’s office, they saw that Blink was waiting for them. Agria and Cleo were standing next to her.

“We have a problem. I found something weird while I was searching the house for any remaining staff member.” Blink announced the sisters. “It appears Irene has an other prisoner.”

“What?”

“I found a wall that looks suspicious. But there’s a digital code to open it. I want to check it with you.”

The sisters briefly glanced towards the two special combatants.

“Go check. We will secure the escape route.” Agria said to them.

She and Cleo left.

The sisters followed Blink.

“It’s in here.” the latter announced.

“In the spare room that was supposed to be for her stillborn child? That family is SICK!” Tina exclaimed.

“Now I regret not having slapped Irene silly a few times…” Soph muttered.

They entered the room. It was similar to Tina’s memory of it...

… save for a computer screen and some speakers on a shelf. That little detail was odd, but the computer’s screen wasn’t lit, so the sisters didn’t comment on it.

“This section of the wall is weird.” Blink explained to them. “It seems to be slightly less thick than the rest. And if you listen carefully…”

“… I can hear faint noises coming from behind the wall.” Mag completed her friend’s sentence.

“Well, if someone’s inside, I hope they’re not claustrophobic…” BB commented. “The cell seems barely the size of a locker.”

“The digital keypad is here.” Blink opened the hidden panel.

“Let’s crack that mechanism…” Tinker concluded.

It took her quite some time.

But when she did, she couldn’t help but brag a little. Her sisters didn’t mind. It was a proof she was getting better.

A section of the wall opened.

A trussed-up woman suddenly fell on the floor in front of the gathered infiltrators.

They all let out a gasp.

They knew the prisoner.

It was Knipperen.

“Well, I can safely say I wasn’t expecting THAT!” Tina exclaimed.

**************

“SIS’!” Blink shouted. She rushed to her twin’s side. “I knew it! I knew my intuition was correct!”

She removed Knipperen’s gag.

“How long have you been here?”

Knipperen caught her breath. She was looking a little pale, but she wasn’t hysterical, and was able to remain coherent. Tina disliked the woman a lot, but she had to give it to her: Knipperen was one of the bravest and most cool-headed persons she had ever met.

“Don’t know.” Knipperen answered to her twin sister. “They wanted to keep me alive until they captured you, so they put me out from time to time to allow me to drink, to eat, and to relieve myself.” she explained. “In a way, you can thank their pusillanimity. These idiots didn’t want to have to smell at my dejections. Not that I’m complaining, of course.” She looked Blink in the eyes. “But I knew you’d find me, sister dear. I don’t regret all the time spent banging against that stupid wall.” She was still subdued in her reactions, but she was showing to her sister a degree of emotion she was rarely showing.

Blink couldn’t help but briefly hug her sister tight against her. Knipperen’s body stiffened, as she wasn’t used to big physical displays of affection, but she didn’t comment on it. Then Blink grabbed the bonds restraining Knipperen’s wrists.

“Wait a second.” Mag intervened. “I don’t think we need to untie her.”

Blink grew somber. “What do you mean?” she retorted, now on the defensive.

Mag grimaced. She was looking sorry. Especially since Blink had just helped her save her family. “I apologize in advance, Blink. But what I mean is: We don’t owe Knipperen anything anymore.” she explained. “She’s maybe not Mary Clide, but she’s still not a good person. She’s a criminal, she hurt several people, and she doesn’t want to change. Since we have the occasion, I say we should give her to the police.”

Blink paled suddenly. “Y- You can’t be serious! You can’t make me do that to my own sister!”

Knipperen didn’t react with fear, or even with surprise. She simply took two seconds to assess the situation, and to think of the best plan to get out of it. Once again, Tina couldn’t help but admire her exceptional calm.

Knipperen turned to Blink, and said to her:

“Come now sister dear, you can’t let them do that. I'm your own flesh and blood. You always say you cherish my love more than anything, so maybe you should prove that right now.”

“You know I do sis. God! I-”

“Please understand Blink, that we really don't want to do this, but Knipperen doesn't care if her victims live or die. Plus with that sort of mentality it would only be a matter of time before the next Sarah or the next white mask appear on the horizon. If there was any… ANY other way, we would take it.” Tina admitted.

“Tina… You know how much you and your sisters mean to me… You’re my friends… You saved my life… But she’s my twin! I can’t… Please don't make me choose. I just don't want to do this.” Blink nearly pleaded.

“Oh come on. Remember Blink, you used to be exactly like me. We had the whole of Heartfelt City in the palm of our hands. You and Tina were even rivals last year remember? Plus I've saved you twice, you owe me this at least sister.” Knipperen stated with confidence in her voice.

Blink looked once again at Knipperen.

“Tell you what. I'll even make you a deal, once a month I'll come round and visit Shannon, now I know that this is something you've wanted me to do for ages, so I'm saying I'll do it.” Knipperen sweetened the deal.

Blink bowed her head as thoughts rushed through her mind. It was the situation she had always dreaded.

The rational part of her mind actually agreed with Cleo’s and Mag’s analysis. Blink knew that Knipperen was a criminal, and that if she followed her logic to the end, she should try to have her arrested.

But how could she be rational when her twin sister was involved? To Blink, family was sacred. For most of her life, she had only had Knipperen to support her. And Knipperen had never betrayed her. Blink was persuaded that there was good in her sister. After all, Knipperen loved her twin sister – even if it was in her own way.

But what could Blink do? Could she fight Tina and her sisters to prevent them from arresting a dangerous criminal? Such an action would make her lose all credibility when trying to prove she had changed...

Blink didn’t know what to do, and yet she had to make a choice. What could she do?

However, this time, fate decided It had other plans.

Suddenly, the computer’s speakers sprang to life. They heard a voice.

“Hey! Hey! HEY! What do you THINK you’re doing here?! STOP THAT!”

The computer’s screen suddenly turned on. They saw a short chubby woman with round-shaped glasses.

Ellie Merces.

The sudden appearance of a common enemy made everyone temporarily forget about the conflict at hand.

“YOU!” Mag exclaimed. “I thought we were done with you and your friends!”

The White Mask frowned, genuinely surprised to see her. “What are you doing here? Don’t tell me the Eudokias managed to get the drop on you? Wow! Kudos to them, they’re more clever than I thought!” She quickly glanced at all the gathered sisters. “Though not clever enough, apparently.”

“What are YOU doing here?” Mag retorted. “You’re in cahoots with Irene?”

“Yep!” the chubby woman admitted without any shame.

“You little gremlin!” Mag roared. “I will-”

“You will what? Kill me?” Ellie mockingly interrupted her. “That would break Cassie’s heart. She happens to care a lot about me, you know? Would you really hurt her like that? Now, that would be callous. Don’t you pride yourself with NOT being callous? Unless of course you’re only lying, and you are now showing your TRUE character…”

Mag glared daggers at her, but Angel put a hand on her shoulder to calm her down before she could retort something else. “Don't let her get to you. She's looking for conflict. If you give it to her, she'll have won. You won't defeat her with violence, only make her more convinced she's in the right.”

Not having heard Angel's whisper and not caring to know what she had said, Ellie simply made a 'shooing' gesture of the hand towards the sisters.

“Anyway. This doesn’t concern you. I suggest you to leave. This is between Knipperen and I.”

“I knew it was one of you wackos…” Knipperen coldly commented. “You crazy bi-”

“Looks like you can’t take what you dish out, miss ‘Apex Predator’… Did you like my little attention? Because trust me, I have have an even better thing under my sleeve for our face-to-face!”

Ellie smirked cruelly.

“Though Blink can stay too, if she wants…” she added.

“We’ll do what you said and leave.” Tina intervened. “But we’ll take Blink’s sister with us.”

Ellie rolled her eyes. “Trust me, you don’t want to save her. She’s not worth it.”

“How dare you?!” Blink exclaimed.

“Still sticking up for her, I see…” Ellie looked Blink in the eyes. “By the way, Pauline Floyd says ‘Hi!’.”

Blink frowned. “Who?”

“The coffee shop vendor you and your sister assaulted, and left to die of thirst and cramps in a cupboard.” Ellie explained with a fake genial tone of voice. “That was a close call for her. One more day, and she would have been beyond saving. We were sometimes working the same day at the park. She’s a nice person. She didn’t deserve to live what you made her live through.”

Blink looked at her twin sister. “You didn’t call the police like I asked you?”

Knipperen shrugged.

“So much for your moral high ground…” Ellie commented to Blink with a mocking smile. “You have a strange way to make this city a better place. Allowing a dangerous criminal to act as she pleases. Even ACTIVELY HELPING her hurt other women. And then you DARE act like Cassie is worst than you?! Maybe Tina and her sisters should reevaluate their friendship with you…? Maybe you don’t want your daughter to know about your real activities because you know she’d be ashamed to know the truth…?”

Pushing the ‘daughter button’ proved to be the last straw.

“Maybe you should just SHUT YOUR TRAP!” Blink retorted. She was looking ill-at-ease however. She knew that there was a huge contradiction between her vow to be a better person, and the lenience she was showing towards her sister. But she couldn’t help it. Her love for Knipperen was as strong as the one Tina had for her sisters!

Said sisters gathered around Blink, to show that in spite of her flaws, they still considered Blink a trusted valuable friend. One that they would protect at all cost.

“Finish releasing her.” Tina hurriedly whispered to Blink.

“Tina?”

“One thing’s certain, we won’t leave her in Ellie’s hands. Be quick.”

Ellie hadn’t heard or seen this quick exchange. She shrugged, not impressed by Blink’s comeback or by the sisters' display of friendship. “I should thank you though, Blink. You’re making things easy for me. I’ve talked to Pauline. She’s been very receptive to my arguments. People are often receptive to my arguments, because I’m a reasonable person. Therefore I have reasonable arguments.”

“Allow me to doubt that.” Mag retorted when she saw that Ellie’s right eye was twitching.

Suddenly reminded of the sisters’ presence, the White Mask looked at Tina and her sisters. “You weren’t part of my calculations though.” she admitted.

Her eyes fell on Angel. She made a weird small grimace, and seemed to hesitate briefly.

While their foe was busy looking at the sisters, Blink resumed cutting her sister’s bonds.

“You know what? I’m going to do you a favour!” Ellie suddenly exclaimed to the sisters. “For Willow’s sake, for Cassie’s sake. Just leave this room now, I won’t try to stop you. Leave this room, and you’ll get to live.”

“We can’t let you torture and kill a person. No matter what’s your justification.” Tina retorted.

“That’s your final word?” Ellie shrugged. “In a way, I’m not surprised. I should have known you’d pick HER side. Guess you’re showing your true character, uh? Putting the torturer above the victims…”

As she was talking, Blink finished releasing her twin sister.

“More like showing basic decency to a fellow human being.” Soph retorted to keep Ellie’s attention on herself. “If we didn’t kill Kuebiko or Theophano, we certainly won’t start with Knipperen!”

Ellie lost patience this time. “Can’t you see I’m offering you a way out?! I didn't have to do it! I shouldn't even do it! Why must you always meddle with things that are NOT your business?! This is between Knipperen, Blink, and I!”

While they were talking, Knipperen tried to discreetly leave the room.

Ellie noticed her. “STAY HERE YOU!” she screamed.

She pressed a button on a small remote control. All doors of the room suddenly closed, and locked themselves.

The sisters, Blink, and Knipperen were trapped!

“I’ve stolen files belonging to the Phantoms while you were fighting the Prophet! I know the woman who mugged me was either Blink or Knipperen!” Ellie looked at the twins. Her eyes were burning with anger and hatred. There was a mad smile on her lips. “You made me go through hell, so let me return you the favour!”

“Stop it! You don't have to do this!” Angel pleaded with her. “Not like that! Revenge will destroy you from the inside, just like it destroyed Sarah! Think of how your friends will react! You think they could bear seeing you harmed?!”

Ellie hesitated, opened her mouth briefly, but then she hardened her heart and shook her head. “Our truce has been over the moment Shannon was saved. You should have left when I gave you the chance.”

Strangely enough, she became really calm.

“I have them right where I want. I will never have such an occasion again. I’ve come too far, there’s no turning back now. I refuse to give them a chance to worm their way out - AGAIN. I won't let them harm another woman like Pauline. If there are collateral damages, then so be it!”

“Listen, if it’s amends that you want, I-” Blink started to say to Ellie.

“God! Just stop trying to debate with her! We have better things to do!” Knipperen intervened.

The sisters, Blink, and Knipperen could suddenly hear a faint noise. Some sort of ‘Pshhhhh!’

“Irene had thought of everything. This is my insurance policy.” Ellie gloated. “It’ll be a lot quicker than what I hoped, but at least I can make sure Knipperen will never hurt anyone ever again.”

Tinker was the first to understand. “Gas!” she screamed.

“She’s trying to suffocate us!” Marie added.

There was a short moment of panic.

Tina felt despair. She had just been reunited with her sisters. She didn’t want them to die just as they were about to escape that mansion!

“Get on the ground, and crawl!” Marie ordered everyone. She grabbed Tinker and Soph to make them get on the floor with her. “I know this gas! It’s like smoke! Pure air will be found near the floor!”

Most of the other women followed her instructions. Yet, they were all panicking to some degree.

However, one woman remained cool-headed.

Mag ran to the room’s window. It was big and wide, with two huge glasses.

She tried to open it but, of course, it was also locked. She kicked a few times at the glass, but didn’t even scratch it.

Mag drew her gun

“It’s no use! The glass is bulletproof!” Ellie gloated.

Mag ignored her. She raised her gun.

“You daft? I said-”

“The glass is maybe bulletproof, but the window’s frame isn’t.”

Mag shot specific parts of the frame, enough to dislodge one window glass. A violent kick sent it flying outside.

Everyone immediately gathered nearby to breath the fresh air.

They heard Ellie curse. The chubby woman glared at Blink and Knipperen with a mixture of hatred and mad rage. “I can’t believe it! Will you two always find a way to dodge the consequences of your actions?!” She abruptly cut the transmission.

Mag removed one of the ropes of her wrist-launchers. She tied it to the grill of the window’s small balcony, then used it to climb down the façade.

“It’s sturdy!” she said to the other women once she was on the ground. “You can use it!”

“Mag! You’re a genius!” Tina exclaimed with a smile of relief. All the sisters approved, even Tinker.

One after the other, each sister climbed down the rope.

By the time they were finished, Cleo and Agria had noticed them. The special combatants regrouped with them.

**************

Knipperen and Blink were the last women to climb down.

The former immediately gazed around her, looking for a potential escape route. But the sisters weren’t leaving an opening.

Tina glanced at Blink. She was wondering how they were going to get out of this situation.

However...

When she saw Knipperen, Agria smiled lightly.

“Ha… Knipperen… What a pleasant surprise.” the special combatant commented. “Long time no see.”

Once more, Knipperen didn’t react with fear. However, all her body tensed in anticipation. “Why did Hieron send his attack dogs here?” she coldly asked.

“We weren’t after you. However, I won’t deny that I appreciate this opportunity...”

Mag anticipated the conflict. “Remember who leads this operation.” she reminded the special combatant. “Remember your instructions.”

Agria nodded. “Of course. We have a deal. My word is my bond.”

The special combatant had such a good control of her body reactions, that Angel was the only one who noticed it in time.

She was the only one who noticed that Agria was lying. That she was about to strike.

Which was logical, since she used to be the exact same type of cold-blooded assassin as Agria. In fact, it was reminding her of a similar situation of the past, when Lighter had pleaded with her to spare a sentry… and ‘Demon’ had taken advantage of a second of inattention from her sister to shoot the guard dead.

“No!” Angel shouted.

When Agria grabbed her gun and raised her arm to open fire, Angel reflexively jumped and grabbed it. She forcefully lifted the arm, and Agria’s shot was lost in the sky.

Agria grimaced. “Cleo! Get Knipperen!” she shouted. “Kill her!”

The blond special combatant hesitated during a fraction of second. A few of the sisters were able to take advantage of her hesitation. They surrounded her to prevent her from having a clean shot.

“Blink, take your sister with you! We’ll take it from here!” Tina exclaimed.

“But-”

“We don’t want you to be hurt!”

Tina and her sisters indeed knew that Knipperen’s death would destroy Blink. And that she may very likely be killed by Agria in the cross-fire, or while trying to avenge her twin.

“But this is a one-time thing. Next time we come across Knipperen, we’ll do everything in our power to arrest her!” Mag added.

“Tina, Mag, I… Thank you.”

“Be careful! Don’t worry about us! We’ll call each other once everything is done!”

“Okay!”

Blink and Knipperen quickly fled.

Agria was still struggling with Angel for the gun. “Cleo! Shoot them! Shoot them both! Shoot through these idiots if you have to!” she shouted.

Her blond partner hesitated, but ultimately shrugged. “We can’t exceed our orders.” she softly commented.

Angel, BB, and Soph had to work together to immobilize Agria. They held her arms behind her back.

“What was that about?!” Mag angrily shouted. “We had a deal!”

“You mentioned the ‘no-name sentries’. You never said anything about Knipperen.” Agria retorted.

“Way to use the letter of a deal to betray its spirit. Mayor Porsche would be very proud of you right now.”

Agria shrugged. She was looking unimpressed. “I never said I was a good person. Just one who gets the job done.”

Mag smiled harshly. “Then allow us to tie your wrists until your friends come to pick you up.”

**************

Rosie and Vivian were jogging in the park located near Irene’s property. They didn’t live in the wealthy district, but they loved to come here to admire the houses. Plus, the park of this area was the most beautiful of the town.

Rosie was wearing a light grey sweatsuit, with matching sweatpants and a hot pink sweatband. Her running shoes were white with pink stripes. She had light blond hair tied into a ponytail, a fit body, a white skin, and blue eyes.

Vivian was clad in a pitch black sweatsuit, with matching sweatpants and a blue sweatband. Her running shoes were black and blue. She had shoulder-long chestnut brown hair, a fit body, a light skin, and hazel brown eyes.

In the middle of their jogging session, the two friends took a break. They drank water, and started to do some stretching.

“Hey, Vi’! Did you also hear weird noises when we passed near the Eudokia property?” Rosie asked her friend.

“Not really.”

“That house gives me the creeps… I mean, who puts golden BARB WIRES on top of their fence?” Rosie commented.

“Who cares? It’s not like it concerns us…” Vivian objected.

“Yeah… I guess you’re right...”

**************

Blink and Knipperen chose to leave the district by going through its park. They intended to use the trees and bushes to cover their tracks, and to lose eventual pursuers.

“I hope Tina and her sisters will be alright…” Blink couldn’t help but comment to herself.

“I wouldn’t worry too much about them. They’ve proven themselves to be very resilient.”

“They’re also the reason why you’re still alive!” Blink retorted.

Knipperen shrugged. “Come on! We can’t waste any more time here!”

However, she also suddenly noticed the two lone joggers who were doing some stretching.

“On second thought…” Knipperen grabbed her sister's arm, then pointed at the joggers. “Agria must have reinforcements in the area. This is her government’s procedure. A change of clothes will help us evade them.”

Knipperen cracked her fingers.

Blink grimaced.

“You know they’ll shoot me on sight.” Knipperen insisted.

“Fine! But we’ll do things my way. You owe me that, after what happened!” Blink retorted.

“Suit yourself, sister dear.”

**************

Blink approached the two joggers from behind.

She grabbed a little ‘surprise’ she had brought with her for the estate’s infiltration, but hadn’t had the occasion to use.

A box filled with a special ‘magic powder’.

She positioned herself behind Vivian and Rosie, who were still obliviously chit-chatting, then grabbed a handful of said blue powder.

Blink cleared her throat. “Excuse me?”

One of the oldest tricks in the book. And yet it worked.

Vivian and Rosie turned.

“Yes?”

Blink blew the powder on their faces.

Vivian and Rosie coughed slightly.

“Hey! That’s not funny!”

“Jerk!”

Blink ignored their recriminations. “3… 2… 1…”

The fast-acting sleeping powder took effect.

The two joggers suddenly shared a glance. Then their eyes rolled back. They moaned together, and fell forward.

Blink caught them mid-fall.

“Never gets old...”

Rosie and Vivian started to snore lightly.

Knipperen took Vivian in her arms, so that her sister wouldn’t have to carry the two women at the same time.

The twin sisters dragged their victims behind some nearby bushes to conceal the subsequent stripping that was about to happen.

Blink gently laid Rosie on the grass.

Knipperen simply dropped Vivian, which made her sister grimace slightly.

However, Knipperen didn’t notice her sister’s reaction. She was looking at the two unconscious women. “You haven’t lost your touch…” she complimented her twin.

Blink sighed. Cleo’s and Ellie’s words were still echoing in her mind.

“Sis’. This can’t continue.”

“What do you mean?”

Blink looked her twin sister in the eyes. “Ellie didn’t lie, about that coffee shop vendor, did she?”

Knipperen didn’t answer.

“That woman almost died!”

“Well, she didn’t die. So where’s the problem?”

Knipperen grabbed the zipper of Vivian’s sweatsuit, and opened it, revealing her white tank top.

Her sister kept talking: “This is the sort of thing I want to avoid now. I want to be a better person for Shannon. I-” Blink rubbed her temples. “Sis’… We’re not talking about a robbery… We’re talking about manslaughter...”

She grabbed Knipperen’s shoulder.

“Today, I’ll put my cards on the table. I love you. I’d do anything for you. I’d choose you over Tina. At least I think I would. But- I don’t want to have to choose between her and you! I love Tina, Mag, and all their sisters! I owe them so much. And what we’re doing to cleanse this town... I know it’s a good thing. For everyone. And especially for children like Shannon. We’re securing them a better future. I don’t know what’d happen to me if I lost their friendship.”

Knipperen frowned. She was in the middle of removing Vivian’s sweatsuit, but interrupted her action. Now, for anyone else, her reaction wouldn’t mean much. But Blink knew her twin sister. She knew that her reaction was one of intense reflection. Knipperen loved her twin sister, even if it was in her own way. She had realized that Blink, who still hadn’t completely recovered from the intense stress of almost losing Shannon, was close to her breaking point. And Knipperen didn’t want to lose her twin.

“You know I don’t care about your and Tina’s naive dream. But it also means that I won’t try to hinder you, sister dear.” Knipperen finally answered in all honesty, while removing Vivian’s sweatsuit at the same time. “Play heroine all you want with your friends, but I’ll keep on doing things my way.”

She then pulled off Vivian’s tank top, revealing her dark blue sports bra with white borders, and her pierced navel.

“You’re not thinking clearly. You’re still affected by our confrontation with that fat gremlin. You’re letting your emotions overcome your reflection.” Knipperen added while unlacing and removing the jogger’s running shoes, revealing white sport socks. She grimaced when she smelled them, and refused to take them.

“If an innocent died because of you, I don’t know how I’d react.” Blink finally confessed. “I may not be able to-” She couldn’t finish her sentence. She loved her sister, so much that even the idea of something potentially breaking their bond was unbearable.

For the second time, Knipperen froze. She was loosening Vivian’s sweatpants, but didn’t pull them off immediately.

“What’s going on with you? You know I don’t kill. It’s simply… too vulgar. It lacks style.” She looked Blink in the eyes. “But you can’t ask me to follow your footsteps either, sister dear. I don’t believe in your naive dreams or your silly crusades. I know what I am, and what I want. Some people are just not made for the light. Now, start stripping your woman. It’s not exactly the best time for a moment of introspection…”

Knipperen matched her words with action. She shimmied down Vivian’s trousers, revealing the jogger’s dark blue boyshorts with white borders.

Blink took a deep breath, to try to clear her mind. Her sister was right. First, they needed to put some distance between them and their eventual pursuers. Then, once she and Knipperen were safe, they could talk again.

Blink unzipped Rosie’s sweatsuit, removed it, and pulled off the light pink tank top that was underneath. Then she took off the running shoes, and pulled off the sweatpants. Underneath, Rosie was wearing a hot pink sports bra, light red sports socks, and white panties with pink borders and a pink floral pattern.

Stripping the jogger actually allowed Blink to clear her thoughts. It was a familiar process. She had been trained since she was young to do it.

It allowed her to think of a plan to try to control more her sister…

Blink got an idea. She knew her sister. Knipperen didn’t believe in emotions. She believed in pragmatism. She maybe had found a lever to influence her…

Blink decided she would leave a little cash to the jogger, as a way to thank her for her help – even if it was unwilling.

Now that Vivian and Rosie had been relieved of their clothes, Blink and Knipperen removed their own outer clothes, and slipped into the joggers’ running outfits. The clothes were warm and a little sweaty, but the fugitives didn’t complain. Beggars couldn’t be choosers, and these outfits may save their lives.

The twin sisters then cut Blink’s discarded uniform, and turned it into makeshift ropes and gags.

They cross-tied each jogger’s wrists behind her back, bound each woman’s ankles, and each woman’s knees. They then cleave-gagged the two joggers.

While her sister wasn’t looking, Blink slipped a bill of money in the left cup of Rosie’s bra – and since she didn’t want the other jogger to be jealous, she slipped an other bill in the right cup of Vivian’s bra.

The disguised women left Vivian and Rosie concealed under the bushes. They pretended to be normal joggers, and ran to leave the park.

Soon, they were far enough to be out of reach.

Blink decided it was time to try her plan.

While they were still jogging, she started to talk:

“You know. I bet you’ve never realized that Tina’s way of doing things can be very useful.”

“You shouldn’t bet with a magician, sister dear.” Knipperen retorted.

“I am a magician too.”

Knipperen smiled slightly. “Then I accept the bet.” She was relishing the challenge.

Gotcha! Blink thought. Then she said: “Ever since I started to work with Tina, I’ve realized that police tends to be more lenient with infiltrators who make sure there are no casualties.”

Knipperen scoffed. “Pfff. As if we’d need it. Police is corrupt as hell.”

“Less and less, sister dear. The world is changing. You gotta adapt yourself.”

“Honest cops are as incompetent as corrupt ones. They’re no threat to me.”

“Individually maybe, but they are more numerous than you. Also, the press is just begging for more spicy stories about infiltrators. They love women like Tina. It’s easy to turn them into sympathetic Lupin-like heroines. Their stories sell like hot cakes. I’m sure a former magician knows the importance of good publicity.”

“Yeah, sure… If I one day want to sell a book…” Knipperen snarked.

“Or if you want most of society to give you some slack. Plus, Tina’s way makes less likely for people like Ellie to appear and recruit women to fight us. And some of the ones who do hesitate to use lethal force, since we DON’T kill.”

“I don’t think that gremlin stands the ghost of a chance against me.”

“Remind me why you were captured?” Blink slyly asked.

“Touché.”

“Plus, Kheshig is reforming the Phantoms to hunt down criminal infiltrators.”

Knipperen briefly stopped jogging, and rolled her eyes. She added:

“I’ll hand it to you, sister dear. I’m a LITTLE impressed by how you manage to make Tina’s naive idealistic whims look ALMOST practical. Tell you what, I MAY consider some of your ideas.”

Blink stopped running as well, and smiled. “After all, you DO owe a favour to the woman who saved your life.” She paused, then added: “What do you think? One time doing an infiltration with me. While following my instructions. And to reach my goals. That’s the payment I’ll require.”

Knipperen thought for a moment. She of course didn’t care for Blink’s methods. However, she understood that she had to make concessions, in order to not risk burning her bridges with her twin. “I guess it’s a fair deal, since I asked you the same thing when I saved you.” she finally conceded. “I hope you appreciate the effort I’m making for you, sister dear. Though I warn you… It’ll be a one-time thing.”

Blink smiled. Time for the ‘coup de grace’. “More like a ten-times thing.”

“Ten?” For the first time since the beginning of the conversation, Knipperen looked a little taken aback.

“Tina and her eight sisters are also women who saved your life. If we go by your logic, you owe each of them one favour. And I’m sure they’ll go along with what I say.”

Knipperen blinked.

“You used my own words and my love for you against me. I respect this sort of manipulative mind.” she then admitted. “I may even agree to fall for your trick… depending on how my first infiltration with you goes...”

Blink didn’t insist more for now. She knew it was better to go one step at a time. At least, she now had some leverage against Knipperen. With her twin sister, the latter felt obligated to follow her word. It was a system the two twins had had for years. One favour in exchange of an other favour.

Blink concluded by: “It’s as you said, sis’. Never bet with a magician.”

**************

The sisters bound Agria’s wrists behind her back. As a safety precaution, they also tied Cleo’s wrists. While her brown-haired partner didn’t make things easy for them, the blonde didn’t try to resist.

“We’ll leave the estate, and call for these two’s friends. They will pick them up.” Mag proposed to her sisters. “I can’t wait for this day to be over…”

Her sisters approved.

“When this is over, I want all of us to go to the less healthy restaurant we can find! We will fill ourselves with grease, salt, and sugar!” Stasis exclaimed.

An other chorus of approvals.

“Not so fast!” a woman suddenly exclaimed in their back.

The sisters froze. They had recognized the voice.

Zoë Eudokia.

**************

Irene’s youngest daughter was standing at some distance. She was pointing a small gun at the sisters.

Her bodyguard Nora was standing next to her, and was also pointing her handgun at the sisters. Nora was a woman with brown hair, green eyes and a tanned skin whose hair were tied into a tight bun. She was wearing black shoes, black pants, and a black jacket over a crimson red button up shirt.

Libido tried to grab her whip while Stasis tried to grab her slingshot.

“I suggest you don’t move.” Zoë warned them.

Mag and Tina asked their sisters to not make sudden moves. They had studied House Eudokia’s history, they knew that Zoë was handy with a gun.

“I thank you for having restrained the two special combatants. It makes my work easier.” Zoë commented.

The sisters exchanged wary glances. They had the advantage of numbers. However, against women armed with firearms and who were out of reach, this didn’t mean much. Zoë and Nora could shoot at least half-of-them before they could grab them.

Tina attempted something.

“I’m pretty sure we can reach an understanding.”

“Oh? The idealistic Tina is ready to cut a deal with the corrupt elite?”

“I’m just trying to survive.”

“So am I.” Zoë shrugged. “I had it a lot easier, of course, but trust me, my life wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows either. I’ve seen Father order his soldiers to shoot peaceful protesters with real bullets. I’ve seen the Rebels forced to give up their non-violent ways, and then our government retaliate by decimating one tenth of the inhabitants of some villages. I’ve seen the end of the civil war, when our government panicked. I’ve seen the mass-suicides of our rulers, who wanted to escape their defeat and trials. I’ve seen former allies turn on each other. I’ve seen some Houses completely wipe out their rivals, down to the youngest children. Would you believe me if I said that, by the time the Rebels took over the capital city, there was barely a high-ranked official left to be put to trial?”

Apparently, after learning her mother’s wedding plan, Zoë was feeling the need to vent her frustration. And, with guns pointed at them, the sisters had no choice but to listen to her rant.

“My sister is an idiot to think her life of luxury is a dream. But of course, she has the luck to have been the first baby who survived… while I’m the one who almost killed Mother during the delivery… So I’m not exactly the favorite either.”

Tina noticed that Zoë had briefly looked over her shoulder while talking. She realized that the aristocrat wasn’t monologuing only for fun. Zoë was trying to stall for time. Whatever her reason was, the clone knew she had to regain the ascendancy in that conversation.

“You really want to obey the orders of a mother who intends to marry you against your will?” Tina interrupted the aristocrat.

Zoë frowned, but didn’t lower her weapon. “What do you mean?”

“Your mother is powerless right now. YOU’re the one calling the shots.”

“Family’s sacred, I’m sure your little group understands that.” Zoë retorted. Then, she suddenly smiled, and added: “Besides, I’m pretty sure that catching you and rescuing Mother will give me lots of ground to re-negotiate this wedding.”

“So, what are you going to do? You’re going to point your guns at us until we take root?” Mag retorted. “We may not be able to reach you, but the two of you can’t restrain the nine of us. And if you start to open fire, you’ll leave an opening to the survivors. And we won’t be nice with you.” she threatened Zoë.

The aristocrat shrugged. “Oh, there are actually a few spare special agents stationed nearby. Just in case. I have called them. We are merely waiting for them.”

Just as she was talking, two women dressed as members of House Eudokia’s private task force arrived. They were clad in black long combat shoes, and dark grey camouflage trousers with front pockets. Their were protective pads on the knees. Each woman also had a black equipment belt with various tools, and was wearing a dark grey long-sleeved uniform jacket over a white short-sleeved t-shirt. Their upper-body was protected by a black sleeveless bulletproof vest. Each was armed with a machine gun. They were also wearing black protective helmets.

“Speaking of which.” Zoë said with a smile. “Restrain them!” she ordered her agents.

The two special agents passed near her and Nora.

Then, suddenly, they dropped their machine guns. One of them kicked Zoë’s gun from her hand, sending it flying. At the same time, the other woman grabbed Nora’s arm, threw her to the ground, and immobilized her by twisting an arm behind her back, and pressing a knee against her back.

“What?!” Tina couldn’t help but exclaim.

“You… You are fakes!” Zoë commented in disbelief.

“Great deduction, detective.” the impostor who was immobilizing Nora said. “What are you going to say next? That we stole the uniforms of the real-”

“The joke’s already been made!” Stasis interrupted her.

The other impostor looked at Tina and her sisters. “Don’t worry. We’re friends. We work for Hieron.”

The first fake special agent, the one immobilizing Nora, was of average size. She had blue eyes and a tanned skin. Her helmet was hiding most of her shoulder-long blond hair.

The second one had braided dark brown hair, hazel brown eyes, a tanned skin, a curvaceous body, and a well-endowed chest.

The curvy woman saw the restrained Agria and Cleo. “Wow! Apparently, you have a lot of things to explain…” she said to the sisters.

To their relief, she seemed amused by the situation, not angry.

“Oh Goodness… Not you…” Agria complained. She glared daggers at the busty woman. “Klenia! Why did Hieron send YOU, of all women, as backup?” she complained.

The woman called Klenia smiled sheepishly. “Well you see, there was an incident… involving a female team of basketball players… and their outfits (obviously)… and a car chase… some damage on public property… Long story short, I’m now on community service.”

“Sorry to interrupt your comedic duo.” Zoë intervened. “But can someone tell me what happened to the real special agents?!”

Klenia smiled. “I’m glad you asked! Because you see, currently they’re all-”

“Don’t you dare!” Agria warned her.

Klenia’s smile widened. “They’re ALL-”

“I know where you live!” the special combatant threatened her.

Klenia’s grin was now huge. “They’re aaaaaaaallllllll-”

“Go for it!” Stasis shouted.

“TIED UP!”

Beat.

“I will murder you in your sleep for that pun.” Agria blankly commented.

**************

Locked inside the gardeners’ shed, Marla and Cara were currently hating their lives with a passion.

Marla was a tall blue-eyed young woman with silvery blond hair. Cara was a brown-eyed brown-haired young woman.

They were the reinforcements Zoë had been waiting for. Obviously, they were currently in no shape to help anyone, given the fact that they were bound, gagged, and half-naked. Marla was clad in a tangerine t-shirt bra with red borders, mellow yellow tanga panties with orange borders, and light orange socks; and Cara was wearing a pale turquoise sports bra, malibu blue boyshorts with black borders, and light blue socks.

The women squirmed in their bonds, and groaned in their gags.

They couldn’t stand it anymore...

Former employees of a big company, Marla and Cara had become tired to always be victimized by uniform stealers. So they had chosen to train their bodies to become real living weapons, to make sure they’d never be mugged again. They had become guards. They didn’t really want to hunt down infiltrators, just to make sure these uniform stealers couldn’t bother them anymore.

It hadn’t been enough. After all, guards were a natural target for infiltrators.

So Marla and Cara had chosen to train even more. They had become special agents in House Eudokia’s private mercenary corp. The cream of the crop as far as guards went, or so they’d been told. Strong enough to resist any infiltrator, or so they thought.

And it STILL hadn’t been enough!

The two women were lying on the floor, bound back-to-back, with each one’s wrists tied in front of the other’s stomach. Ropes were wrapped around both their shoulders, their waists, their thighs, and their legs to pin them together. A sponge had been shoved inside each woman’s mouth to silence her, and a tight white cloth-gag was preventing her to spit her gag.

Once again, somebody had been able to get the drop on them, and to steal their outfits. They had been bested.

But it wasn’t over...

They’ll see… We’ll train even more! We’ll find something even higher than special agent! And this time, this time, we’ll be strong enough to not be mugged for our clothes...

**************

Zoë and Nora were swiftly divested of their outer clothes. The young aristocrat was left clad in a lavender lacy full-cup bra, white lacy panties with light purple borders, purple socks; and her bodyguard was left wearing an emerald green t-shirt bra, jade green boxer briefs, and light green socks.

“Maybe you should have taken up my offer…” Tina commented to the young aristocrat.

“Stop teasing me. I already have two brothers for that.” Zoë retorted.

Tina shrugged. “As you wish. Our main beef was with your mother and your sister. We’re just on two different sides. Nothing personal. I’m sure you’ll understand.”

The sisters bound Zoë and Nora to a tree. Each woman was standing at a side of the tree. Ropes were wrapped around the waist, the upper-body, and the legs to press their bodies against the tree. Also, the wrists were bound behind the back, and the ankles were tied.

“You know boss, I think there’s certain pattern in how our encounters with infiltrators always go…” the bodyguard commented.

“Nora, please shut up.”

“Well, at least your brothers will be home soon… They will rescue us...”

“I said: shut up. I prefer not to think of my brothers’ teasing when they’ll find me.” Zoë somberly commented.

“Personally, I wouldn’t mind.” Nora cleared her throat. “Boss, I know it’s not really the right time, but your brother Basile and I are-”

“OH GOODNESS PLEASE JUST GAG HER!” Zoë begged the sisters. “I don’t want to hear about my brother’s sexual life!”

“I do!” Libido intervened.

“Sis’, stop mingling with other people’s personal lives.” Tina playfully commented.

“So unfair...”

She gagged Nora with a few strips of black tape over the lips before the bodyguard could give the juicy details.

Because there were some things you didn’t do, even to your enemy. You could strip her, steal her clothes, bind her to a tree. But forcing her to hear the awkward tale of her older sibling’s sexual life… No, it was just going too far.

Of course, Tina also tape-gagged Zoë right afterwards.

“Don’t worry! She’s used to it!” Klenia commented. “It’s actually her third time, unless there’s an occurrence I’m not aware of.”

Zoë and Agria rolled their eyes.

“Mhdht…” the aristocrat complained.

“Your friend sure is a sight to behold…” Angel commented to the brown-haired special combatant.

“Do not call this moron my friend!” Agria retorted. “I can’t understand why Hieron keeps on humoring her…”

“That’s because I buy him boxes of chocolate.” Klenia retorted.

“Besides, no need to be insulting.” Libido said to Agria. She glanced at Klenia’s curvy body, and well-endowed chest. “Personally, I wouldn’t mind getting to know her better…” she added with a seductive wink.

“Wow! You don’t waste time, that’s for sure!” Klenia answered with a chuckle. However, she then showed the wedding ring on her finger. “Apologies though, but I must decline your offer. I’m a married woman.”

She put a hand on her tanned-skinned blond-haired partner’s shoulder.

Said partner added: “Name’s Shayna, pleased to meet you. And I’ll have you know that I’m a very jealous woman…”

Klenia laughed and affectionately nuzzled the woman’s cheek.

“Looks like I wasn’t fast enough.” Libido commented with a shrug. “Such a shame. So unfair!”

“What about your plans with Blink?” Mag slyly joked.

“I’m sure she wouldn’t mind a polyamorous relationship.”

“Then there’s still that guard at the entrance… What was her name again? Theodora?” Stasis intervened.

Libido grinned. “That’s true! I will-”

Tina grabbed her by the collar. “We don’t have the time. We need to leave.”

“Oh come on! I swear she was interested! Just let me add a crotch-rope!”

“I said no.”

“Just let me give her my number!”

“We’re leaving.”

“SOOOOOO UNFAIIIIIIR!!!”

Klenia chuckled. “You seem like a lively family… Reminds me of my home.” she commented. “But you better leave Agria and Cleo under our care, and go away before the rest of our team arrives. It’ll save you having to give TONS OF explanations.”

“Thanks.” Mag said to her in the name of all her family. She quickly glanced at the two special combatants. “Well, Agria, this is farewell. Can’t say that I’ll miss you.”

“Feeling’s mutual.”

“Good luck to you, Cleo.”

The blonde simply nodded.

Then the sisters wished Klenia and Shayna good continuation, and left.

As they were leaving, they could hear Klenia’s wife ask: “By the way, honey. It was awfully nice of you, but have you thought of what explanation WE’ll give to Hieron?”

“Uhhhhhhhh…”

[rufusluciusivan]

Note: This is the third post. Be sure to read the first two above beforehand.










































Epilogue:

**************

Stasis kept her promise. She led her sisters to one of her favorite diners. Delicious food, though obviously not very healthy.

Amai, Midori, and Felicity were with them, of course.

The sisters wished they could have invited Blink as well, but the latter was busy dealing with her twin sister. It would be for an other time…

They were happy to share a joyful moment together. To celebrate the simple fact that they were together, alive, and well. After their terrible ordeal, they needed a moment to relax.

Libido and Stasis were talking with Amai and Midori.

“… I can say I was glad when you told me I could call the police so that they would fetch the cops and Anastasia and her crew.” Amai was saying. “One of the cops was starting to make weird moans…”

“Interesting… Tell me more…” Libido intervened.

Amai blushed. “Why would you want to know more?”

“BECAUSE I NEED SOME FANTASIES FOR MY NEXT TIME IN THE SHOWER!” a sexually frustrated Libido exclaimed.

“Man… She really needs to let out some steam… With some ‘green stuff’, if you catch my drift…” Midori commented.

“Bah! Just let her get on her HIGH horse…” Stasis answered while gulping down her chicken wings. “She’ll calm down eventually…”

Angel, BB, Soph, and Marie weren’t paying much attention to them. They were too busy taking care of Tinker, to try to help her overcome the trauma of her confrontation with Mabel. Tinker was a little embarrassed to be at the center of her four sisters’ attention and sibling love, but at the same time she wouldn’t have traded her place, even for all the gold in the world. Currently, she was talking of rebuilding Ivory and Ebony, since the bots had been confiscated by the Eudokias and the sisters hadn’t been able to find them.

Mag and Tina were talking with Felicity.

“I must say, I prefer taking part to your infiltrations from my seat, safely behind my computer…” Felicity was saying. She still remembered her confrontation with Sarah and Leonie.

“We’ll never thank you enough for your help…” Mag commented. “If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have been able to put this plan into motion.”

Felicity blushed slightly. “Don’t feed my ego…” she joked. “Elisha already says I’m getting big-headed...”

Tina laughed.

It was good to be with her family and her friends.

**************

In the Eudokia estate, the mood was a lot less joyful, to say the least.

Irene was livid.

These rats had dared to humiliate her in her own house. They had stripped her and had trussed her up. They had stripped and had trussed up her daughters, as well as all her employees.

The only saving was that Irene had been found by her sons, and not by the police. Therefore, when the law enforcement agents called by the sisters came, Irene had been able to put on some clothes.

And she had already been able to hide all her compromising files.

The police hadn’t been able to take her, or any of her staff and guards, into custody. They had no proof that House Eudokia had committed something nefarious. Irene could claim they were the victims of a band of robbers.

Now that the officers were gone, the aristocrat was free to vent her anger.

“I can’t believe it… These lowlives… These vermins… These RATS have managed to humiliate us… They won’t get away with it… They think they’ve seen the worst of me? I will teach them why you should never mess with Irene Iphigenie Helen Eudokia! Death will be LENIENT compared to what I have in store for them!”

Her four children were standing at the opposite side of the room, afraid to become the targets of her anger.

Theophano was the only one brave (or foolish) enough to try to speak.

“Mother! I-”

“Silence! How dare you speak up after you deliberately disobeyed me?! Their escape wouldn’t have been as easy if you hadn’t foolishly gone to their cells! I realize now that I’ve been too lenient with you, Theo. However, I-”

Irene’s private cellphone suddenly rang, interrupting her rant.

The aristocrat really wanted to ignore the call. However, only important people had access to this phone number. The sort of people she couldn’t ignore, no matter what was the situation.

She picked up her cellphone, checked the identity of the other person, and grimaced in disgust when she saw his name. Still, she had no choice but to answer.

“Hieron? Why are you calling me?”

“Irene! How do you do?”

Irene could barely mask her contempt for the man. This unrefined rat who used to be a combatant in the illegal fighting rings, and who was now parading around as one of the most influential members of the government.

“It’s ‘Lady’ Irene.” the aristocrat coldly retorted.

He ignored her. “My dear Irene… I know I’m calling at a bad time, but I couldn’t wait to share the latest news with you.” She could hear in Hieron’s voice how much he reveled in humiliating her. “Would you believe me if I tell you what I received in my mailbox?”

The aristocrat suddenly had a bad feeling.

Hieron added: “A copy of interesting documents. Detailing tons of illegal transactions involving your family.”

Irene paled. “Your special combatants… You had them take pictures of my files?!”

“I don’t see what you’re talking about.” Once again, Irene could hear the smile in the man’s voice. He was having the time of his life! “Anyway, I think you won’t be able to stay to Heartfelt City anymore. And the you won’t return there any time soon either. My fellow colleagues at the government think that it’s crucial that you return in our country, and that you stay in the capital city. Where we can see you. The time for the judges to clear up the whole affair.” Hieron paused. “IF they manage to clear it up.”

“How dare you?! I am the head of House Eudokia! I demand to be treated with proper respect!”

Once more, Hieron ignorend her. “You shouldn’t waste time. I would be saddened to have to issue an official arrest warrant. It also means that you won’t have the time to pursue the Nine Sisters.”

“Why do you care about these vermins?”

“I happen to like these women. If harm was to befall them, I would be displeased. So displeased that I’d refuse to speak on your behalf in front of the rest of our government.”

“You’d risk social unrest for these LOWLIVES?”

“Pretty much, yes.” Hieron’s voice suddenly became deathly cold. “Don’t try my patience, Irene. You’re on thin ice. People like you are clinging onto an outdated lifestyle. Just give me one occasion, and I will show to you how little your lineage means nowadays.”

The aristocrat suddenly remembered that the jovial black man was also a man who survived the illegal bloodfights. A man who led a resistance network for years. A man who had trained special combatants such as the legendary ‘Silent Butcher’, Emery, so notorious that she used to be some sort of boogeyman before the civil war.

“I’m a woman who follows the law. Of course.” Irene finally commented, giving up.

Hieron’s voice instantly became jovial once more. “Perfect news! See you soon, then.” He hung up before she could have the last word.

Irene stayed silent and motionless during one long minute. Zoë, Basile, Constantin, and Theophano exchanged wary glances.

Then, something they had never seen suddenly happened. Their mother lost her calm.

She angrily smashed her cellphone onto the floor, and shouted: “Curse these nine sisters!”

Irene took a few long breaths. Once more, none of her children dared to speak up. Finally, she looked at them, having no choice but to admit defeat.

“Pack up your things. We’re going home.”

**************

“And one, and two, and one, and two! Come on Zo’, keep up the pace!” Edwige exclaimed.

“Why… Why do we have to leave while JOGGING?” Zoe objected. “We’ve barely just been freed! We’ve barely just received new clothes!”

“Do YOU want to give them a chance to catch us before we’re far away?” Gillian retorted.

“I don’t care if it’s a breach of contract! I’m not getting mugged for my clothes at Irene’s service anymore!” Edwige concluded. “And I’m not waiting for the moment they’ll need a few more scapegoats either!”

Zoe couldn’t help but agree.

Technically, the three of them knew about the prisoners. Not like Loreen, Esther, Brianna, or Theodora. Therefore, they’d make for perfect scapegoats…

“It’s a new start! People in Heartfelt City will always be in need of guards! We’ll find a cushy job! At a place that doesn’t interest uniform stealers!” Edwige exclaiemd.

“Like a fitness club!” Gillian added. “Or maybe we could start our own business! Our own fitness club!” There were stars in the blonde’s eyes.

“Oh Goodness… Someone… Please… Save me…” Zoe muttered under her breath.

**************

Once they all had finished eating, Felicity said good-bye to everyone. She was supposed to spend the night at Elisha’s home.

Stasis went with Amai and Midori to grab a few more ‘late-night snacks’. Libido followed them, both because she wanted to spend time with Stasis and because she was hoping that Midori could give her Theodora’s phone number.

The rest of the sisters went back to the flat Mag, Libido, and Stasis had used as a hideout. Thankfully, they had been able to install enough mattresses for everyone. They would buy new furniture later.

Tinker was putting on a brave face, but she still hadn’t fully recovered from the ordeal with Theophano. Anticipating that she would have a hard time sleeping, Soph proposed to her that they did a movie marathon of all the Batman live-action movies. They grabbed a laptop, laid on a mattress, and started with the Burton movies. Marie and Angel sat on nearby mattresses to watch the films with their sisters. Soph and Tinker actually fell asleep together on their mattress halfway through the first act of Batman Returns. Their marathon didn’t last for very long... Marie and Angel indulgently rolled their eyes, and smiled, when they heard their sisters start to snore. They covered them with a blanket, and went to sleep themselves on mattresses next to Soph and Tinker.

BB was quietly reading in a corner, watching over her four sisters from afar.

Mag and Tina were sitting on the few chairs that were in this flat. They were waiting for Stasis’ and Libido’s return to go to sleep as well. They were also watching over their other sisters, and were talking at the same time.

“You did a wonderful job, Mag… If it weren’t for your cool head, we wouldn’t have made it alive.” Tina was commenting. “You’re a great leader… Better than me…”

“Don’t say that!”

“I led everyone into a trap. If it weren’t for blind luck, we’d all be dead because of me.” Tina was looking ashamed.

Mag grabbed her sister’s shoulder. “I’m not that great of a leader too, you know… I lack your empathy… I hurt Stasis and Libido…”

“They didn’t look very hurt to me.”

“That’s because they forgive easily.” Mag shook her head. “Look, let’s just agree that there doesn’t need to be a ‘leader’. We’ve always succeeded thanks to our teamwork. If it weren’t for you buying me some time, I wouldn’t have arrived in time to save everyone.”

“It wasn’t easy…” Tina admitted. “Infiltrating a factory filled with clone troopers… and these poor workers… I feel bad for them.”

When recalling her own side-mission for Irene, Tina couldn’t help but briefly glance at Soph, who was blissfully asleep.

“I’ve also seen one of Soph’s batch sisters…” she confessed to Mag. “They’re as efficient as expected… The perfect merciless infiltrators Anna has always wanted...”

Mag also glanced at Soph. “You think they want her back?”

“I don’t know how Soph’s sisters feel about the whole situation. But one thing’s certain. Now that we’ve directly hurt her assets twice, Anna won’t ignore us anymore. We can expect her to take action soon. And Soph’s sisters will probably be involved.”

Mag grimaced. Just like all the sisters, she was not a coward. However, with the Company, the enemy was more personal. They would literally have to face family members... as well as the woman who had them created.

“We can defeat Anna.” Mag still said. “We will prevail. Together.”

Tina nodded, then checked a watch. “I hope Stasis and Libido will be home soon. Sometimes, these two aren’t serious…” she commented.

“They are. But only with the things that truly matter.” Mag softly answered.

The laptop near them suddenly rang. Somebody was trying to contact them with Skype.

It was Blink.

Tina and Mag picked up her call. Blink’s face appeared on their screen.

“Hey Blink!” Tina commented. “Glad to see you managed to escape unscathed…”

“Hi… Glad to see you’re well too...”

Blink was looking nervous and pale.

“Is something wrong?” Tina worried.

“I’m sorry for letting you down, at the estate.”

“Don’t be. We wouldn’t have made it without you!” Mag answered.

“We know it’s hard. She’s your twin sister. We don’t blame you.” Tina reassured her friend. “Things ultimately turned out okay, and that’s what’s more important!”

“Thank you for understanding…” Blink smiled lightly. “But I have some good news. I may have found a way to control my sister a little more…”

“Blink… I don’t think you’ll be able to change her.” Mag said in all honesty.

“I know. But I have to try. She’ll never be a crime-fighter. But I can maybe convince her to tone down some of her actions… I have a plan.”

“We’re trusting you.” Mag reassured her friend. “But I’ll be honest. If we manage to capture her, we will turn her to the police.”

“Fair enough.”

“Please watch your sister for us.” Tina intervened. “We can’t let her do reckless things. Like trying to kill Ellie for what happened.”

Blink stopped smiling. “If she did, it would maybe be for the best.”

“You do realize you’re sounding just like Ellie, right now?”

Blink rubbed her forehead. “Sorry. It’s anger talking. I know the little gremlin has been through a lot. And I know it’s my responsibility. Well, mine and Knipperen’s… But after all she did… all she said... it’s very hard for me to feel sorry for her.”

“I’m also scared Knipperen will try to go after Ellie’s friends.” Tina added. “And we don’t need a rekindling of the conflict with the White Masks right now!”

“I’ll keep a watch on her.” Blink smiled slyly. “She did promise she’d visit Shannon more often. And since I TECHNICALLY sided with her, she’s now forced to respect her part of the bargain.”

The sisters chuckled.

“We’ll be looking for clues about Ellie. She has to be stopped before she goes too far.” Tina then said.

Blink nodded. “I’ll also go look for her. I’ll share what I find with you.”

“We’ll do the same. Good luck!”

“Good luck.”

Blink ended the call.

Tina and Mag shared a look. “And we’ll start looking for clues as soon as possible...”




******* Some time later… *******

Clad in black sweatpants, a black tank top, and black protective gloves, Louette was training with a punching bag, when she heard someone ring at her apartment’s door.

She went to open.

It was Mag.

A very grim-looking Mag.

“What are you doing here?!” Louette exclaimed.

Mag entered uninvited.

“Where is she?!” she exclaimed.

“Where is WHO?”

“The little gremlin you call your friend!”

Louette glared at her. “What do you want with Ellie?”

“I need to have a ‘talk’ with her. Her face has an appointment with my fist.”

“And you think I’ll help you HURT her? You have a lot of nerves! Barging here uninvited, and making threats!”

Louette attempted the grab Mag by the collar.

The latter dodged. “Don’t try to lecture me. I’m not in the mood to hear your self-righteous crap.” she threatened.

The blue-haired woman wasn’t scared however. “Oh, you think you’re SO MUCH better than us. Don’t act as if you have the moral high ground. Can you show me the list of all the women you’ve mugged the last DECADE, and show me proofs that EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM has walked out of the ordeal ALIVE and WITHOUT ANY PSYCHOLOGICAL SCARS? ‘Cause let me tell you something. Even if you let air enter, being locked bound and gagged in a tight environment is still a terrible experience.” She looked Mag in the eyes. “So then? You have the proofs? You even bothered to check from time to time?”

Mag remained silent.

Louette scoffed. “I thought so. I bet you can’t even give me the list for this year. Then why should I help you?”

“Your FRIEND has been in cahoots with the Eudokia family. She was helping them in their attempt to MURDER Blink and Knipperen. Now, I don’t know on what logic YOU operate, but in my opinion Irene Eudokia is a lot more noxious person than Knipperen. And when we intervened, because killing is WRONG, Ellie trapped us in the room and released a chemical gas! We were all here! Including Soph and Marie! Including Angel! I thought you guys could show at least basic gratitude!”

Louette blinked. She was looking surprised and horrified. Her reaction wasn’t fake. Mag realized that the blue-haired woman didn’t know anything.

“That… That idiot! She’s done it again!” Louette exclaimed to herself.

The news proved to be too much for her to handle. She sat on an armchair.

Mag calmed herself a little. “So. What happened?”

“I don’t know anything. It began one month ago. After the fight with the Prophet actually. Ellie started to vanish for several days, and refused to tell us where she was going. I haven’t seen her for days...”

“You should have watched her more closely.”

“I can’t put a leash on her! Nor can I tie her up and lock her in a closet like how YOU deal with your problems! She’s a free woman! She’s not stupid, and she can actually be very slippery when she wants to… I’m very busy. Willow’s still battling her suicidal thoughts.”

“I thought Angel and Ulla talked her out of that...”

Louette rolled her eyes. “For years, her sole goal has been to kill as many infiltrators as possible, and then herself to be reunited with her sister. A few heartfelt conversations, no matter how meaningful they are, won’t magically solve everything.” she retorted. “And Magda’s having a depressive episode ever since we went back from the mission against the Phantoms.”

“Because she was mugged?”

“God! Because she was raped! And because now she’s psychologically unable to have the child she’s always dreamed of! You think our lives revolve around you or what?! I have other things to worry about.”

There was a short moment of silence.

“You guys are messed up…” Mag finally commented.

“No shit.” Louette retorted. She shook her head.

Mag took a deep breath. “Listen, I’m going to be fair. Ellie DID hesitate to release the gas when she saw us. She hesitated because she knew what Willow owes to Angel, what you owe to Marie, what Cassie owes to us. She’s not completely rotten. That’s why I ONLY want to punch her and not, you know, snap her neck. But she’s letting her anger and her hatred get the better of her.”

“Like Sarah…”

“Exactly.”

“Ever since she’s seen those files she stole from the Phantoms… She can’t stand the idea that Blink and Knipperen are free.” Louette explained.

“Now, she’s running around, causing trouble. It’s only a matter of time before she causes people to get hurt, or before she’s hurt herself.” Mag softly commented. “We’ll be looking for her. And I’m sure you and your friends will be too. The only question is, do you want to be on our side or not?”

Louette bit her lower lip.

“Not asking you to answer right away.” Mag concluded. “Just think about it. But remember that, no matter what happens, we’re the side who doesn’t kill.”

The clone then left.

**************

“This is the one.” Tina said while pointing at an apartment’s door.

She was holding the keys of the building’s caretaker… and was also wearing the caretaker’s clothes: Dark blue denim overalls over a thick grey t-shirt, and black sneakers.

BB was carrying the real caretaker of the building under her arm. They needed to make sure that she wouldn’t be found before they were done with searching Ellie’s apartment, so they figured out the best course of action was to take her with them.

The caretaker was a woman of average size, with an oval face and a long nose. She was light-skinned and green-eyed Her hair were light brown and collarbone-long. She had a perm haircut. Currently, she was only wearing white classic briefs with blue borders, a light pink racerback bra, and grey socks.

Her wrists were zip-tied behind her back. A second pair of zip-ties was restraining her ankles. She was gagged with a few strips of silver grey tape. The sisters were confident that they would be done here by the time the sleeping gas of BB’s glove would wear off.

BB laid the underwear-clad woman on the sofa.

The two sisters then thoroughly searched the place.

Tina quickly realized that Ellie had grabbed the bare minimum, and left her apartment.

“Any clue?” she asked her sister.

“This is the living environment of a highly claustrophobic person.” BB commented. “No closets, only shelves with curtains. Big rooms, big windows. No shower stall, toilets in the bathroom and not in a small separate room…”

“Too bad it doesn’t tell us where she went…” Tina somberly concluded.

**************

Angel was discreetly roaming the corridors of Heartfelt City’s general hospital. According to Tinker, Ellie had been seen visiting this place a lot of times since the Prophet’s defeat. The sisters wanted to know why. And, more importantly, they wanted to know if she would return here.

Angel was dressed as a nurse: white slippers, white nurse trousers, and a white nurse blouse. Of course, these weren’t her clothes.

The real nurse was a woman called Sylvia. She had puffy black hair hair, golden brown eyes, and a black skin.

Angel had ambushed her in the hospital’s laundry room, and had shot a dart coated with Tinker’s knock-out serum in her back. However, when taking the woman’s clothes, Angel had found an asthma inhaler. Therefore, she hadn’t gagged her.

The real Sylvia was currently taking a nap in said laundry room, inside one of the laundry carts that Angel had pushed into a corner.

Angel was simply hoping that the effects of the knock-out serum wouldn’t wear off before she was done…

Unfortunately, Angel wasn’t finding any clue. However, during her exploration, she came across a familiar face.

The woman was dressed as a nurse, and was wearing the same uniform as Angel. She was exiting a hospital bedroom, silently closing the door.

“Blink?!” Angel reflexively exclaimed.

The other woman quickly turned, her fists raised in case she had to fight. She calmed herself when she recognized her interlocutor.

“Angel… It’s you…”

“You’re here because of Ellie?”

Blink smiled. “Yeah! I couldn’t let you do all the work...”

“Thank you…” Angel quickly glanced at the uniform. “Where is the real nurse?” she then asked.

Blink pointed at the door’s small window, which was allowing to see inside the hospital’s bedroom.

“Don’t worry. She’s just taking a nap.”

In the room, a woman was lying on the hospital bed face up. She had shoulder-long loose black hair, a pointy nose, a body of average height with a pudgy waist, and a tanned skin. Her brown eyes were closed. She was sleeping. The back of her head was resting on the pillow. The sheets were covering her from the feet to the mouth. Only her nose and the top of her head were visible.

Blink explained that the sheet was here to hide the fact that the woman’s lips were tape-gagged. The nurse was strapped to the bed with thick hospital straps; that were restraining her limbs and her waist, and were binding her to the mattress.

And of course, the sheet was also hiding the fact that the nurse wasn’t wearing hospital clothes, but was in fact clad in only her undergarments: a black underwired bra, light purple maxi panties with a purple top and a pattern of multicoloured polka dots, and light blue socks.

From the door’s window, the woman looked like a sleeping patient.

“Just like in those many Soap Operas… I’ve always thought they were SO contrived, but apparently it can work sometimes.” Blink concluded.

Angel nodded. “Did you find anything yet?”

“No. I’ve just snagged my disguise. I still-”

“Uh. What are you doing here? You’re not part of the staff!” a voice suddenly commented behind them.

It was an other nurse. She was a woman slightly shorter than average, and her thighs and her legs were slightly thicker. She had a round face, dirty blond hair, grey eyes, and a light skin. Her haircut was a chin-long bob-cut with a straight fringe.

Blink muttered a curse. Reflexively, she jumped to grab the woman, intending to knock her out before she could sound the alarm.

But suddenly, Angel grabbed her arm. “Wait! Don’t do it!”

She had recognized the woman. It was Cassie.

Coming across her in a hospital wasn’t surprising. Cassie was a nurse after all.

“An- Angel?” The blond-haired woman had also recognized her. She didn’t scream for help, but she was worriedly looking at Blink, and took a few steps away from her.

“Please calm down!” Angel tried to appease her.

“Wh- What are you doing here?”

“What about you?” Blink harshly retorted. “I thought a woman guilty of attempted murder would have a harder time finding a job!”

“Blink! No need to be so hostile!” Angel intervened.

Cassie became paler. She bit her lower lip. “Heartfelt City’s hospitals are in need of nurses.” she explained. “Every- Every time a nurse is assaulted for her uniform, there are resignations. They have to find replacements.” She avoided looking at them in the eyes when she confessed: “Most women here… don’t like women like you… They don’t mind that I tried to hunt down infiltrators…”

Blink didn’t find anything to retort. She changed the subject. “Well, since you’re here, it’ll make our search easier. We need to ask you some questions.”

“About what?”

Cassie was nervously looking at their uniforms. She knew they were stolen. However, before they could ask her a question, the nurse saw the badge on Angel’s uniform, she looked horrified.

“Angel. Sylvia has asthma.” she exclaimed.

“Don’t worry. I saw her inhaler. I just injected her a sleeping drug. She’s sleeping on a pile of laundry, in the laundry room. You can release her as soon as we’ve finished talking here.”

“O- Okay...”

“Listen, I didn’t steal this outfit for fun. The situation is dire. I need to see Ellie.” Angel added.

“Ellie? She’s not here. She came to visit Pauline Floyd when she was hospitalized here, but she hasn’t come since.”

Blink cursed.

“What’s going on?” Cassie asked Angel. “What’s happening with Ellie?”

“She’s losing it. She tried to kill us.” Blink answered in Angel’s stead.

Angel immediately added: “She’s not thinking rationally. Her mind is warped by anger and grudge. But she’s putting my family in danger. And she’s also putting herself, and you, in danger. We need to stop her before it’s too late.”

“I- I don’t know where she is… She and Louette quarreled several times… but I don’t know anything else… I’m sorry...”

Angel grimaced.

The trail was leading them to an other dead-end...

**************

Ellie wasn’t home. She wasn’t either with any of her friends.

She was actually trying to enter Heartfelt City’s mental hospital.

Trying AND failing.

Two muscular male nurses carried the chubby woman by the arms, and forced her to exit the building. The doctor handling Sarah’s care was following them.

“How dare you?! You have no right to do that to me!” Ellie angrily exclaimed.

“When it comes to protecting my patients, I have ALL the rights!” the white-haired doctor retorted.

“You can’t force her to restrain her true nature!”

“Madam. I will not tolerate your selfish immature behaviour.” the doctor shouted. “Sarah has made more progress here in one month than on her own the past four years!”

The doctor took one step forward. He was maybe old and skinny, but Ellie couldn’t hold his stare. She was feeling like a child who was being grounded by her parent.

“Out there, there are a husband and a daughter who have waited for YEARS to be reunited with Sarah.” the doctor coldly enunciated. “Do you realize how beautiful it is? Few people have such love and patience. I refuse to let you ruin their chance of finally finding closure for your own selfish needs. If you come near this building again, I’ll have you arrested.”

He returned inside the building with his two assistants.

Ellie was left alone. She couldn’t find a retort, so she left. Her helmet under her arm, she went to her scooter.

Her attempt had failed. What could she do now?

**************

Stasis, Soph, and Marie had gone to the mental hospital, reasoning that there was a possibility that Ellie would try to contact Sarah.

They were intending to lead their little investigation. They didn’t think they’d come across the White Mask herself. It would have required a big stroke of luck.

And yet...

They noticed the chubby woman in the parking area. She was wearing a helmet, and had started her scooter’s engine.

Soph grabbed her two sisters by the arm. “There she is!” she whispered, as she didn’t want their target to hear her.

However, Ellie had learned to be paranoid after her own mugging for disguise. She didn’t choose to park her scooter in an empty open space for nothing. One couldn’t sneakily approach her.

She saw the sisters in the mirrors of her scooter before they could reach her.

“Shit!” Soph exclaimed.

“Grab her!” Marie shouted.

“You’ll never catch me!” Ellie screamed.

The sisters ran to try to capture her, but she drove off before they could reach her position.

Unfortunately, they didn’t have any gadget to catch her from afar. If only Mag had been here!

Ellie was already out of Marie’s pen’s range.

Stasis shot a green ball with her slingshot, but her target was moving too fast and she missed.

They saw the scooter drive away. They knew they wouldn’t have the time to climb into a car before it was too late.

“Did we- Did we just get outsped by a girl on a scooter?!” Stasis exclaimed in disbelief. “We’ve defeated several comic-book supervillainesses, a literal secret organization, a mega-corp, and the ‘one percents’… But a GIRL ON A SCOOTER managed to get the drop on us?!”

**************

In the sisters’ flat, the mood wasn’t joyful.

Mag summed up the situation: “Great… So you mean we have an other enemy on the loose…”

“I don’t think she’s a big threat.” Soph objected. “She doesn’t have the same resources as Irene, Anna, the Prophet... or even Sarah...”

Tina shook her head. “Never underestimate the underdog. Sometimes, they are the most dangerous. Precisely because they are the most desperate.”

“Any idea on what she’d try to do next?” Marie asked.

“Perhaps…” Tina scratched her chin. “We should try to find a way to warn Kheshig. I can see Ellie trying to sway the Phantoms to her side.”

Mag scoffed. “As if she had a chance…”

“She may if she could prove that Kheshig asked infiltrators for help to remove the Prophet from power.” BB commented.

“I can find a way to discreetly send her a message.” Tinker intervened.

“Perfect. Angel, Marie, can you inform the White Masks of this development for us?” Mag asked. “They’ll probably be more receptive if it’s you two.”

The two sisters nodded. “Count on us.” Angel said.

“I’ll tell Blink!” Libido excitedly interved.

Tina smiled and rolled her eyes. “Yes. Do it.”

“Woo-hoo! Score!”

“We’ll get ready for this threat. For all the threats.” Tina concluded.

They had managed to defeat Irene Eudokia, but in Heartfelt City, there was always a new threat lurking.

However, the sisters were confident they could fight off any enemy. As long as they were together.

**************

THE END

[tirepanted3]

And we come to the grand finale. Emphasis on "grand" - three separate posts!

The chapter sets the tone well with the opening, with a group of SWAT-like agents on the wrong end of a mass uniform theft. Yet another example of a special tactical force of women getting humiliated and losing their clothes and weapons - it never gets old. Also a great way to show the group of sisters all together as they near the climax - what better way to come together than as part of a mass attack/mugging/disguise?

The defeat of Irene was similarly a good payoff. Her reaction (and Soph's reaction to the reaction) at realizing that the team of uniformed women was not her elite team was excellent. Another wealthy aristocrat defeated and humiliated by a team of uniform-stealing women - a hallmark of your stories for certain.

But this, surprisingly, is only the beginning of the end - we get the rescue of Knipperen, which provides some nice moral challenges to the sisters and their mission. Some good character development between Blink and Knipperen, nicely interwoven with their mugging of the two unfortunate joggers (which illustrates the difference in their tactics).

And then, the big reveal of Klenia and Shayna - a great reveal which further entwines the two storytelling universes. Plus, they've mugged Marla and Cara for their uniforms - so there are three USB worlds now interwoven. Although you had informed me beforehand that you wanted to use Marla and Cara in this story (which I was certainly happy about), I never expected that they would be mugged by two of the best and most enduring heroines in USB history. They should be flattered that Klenia and Shayna chose them as targets.

Additionally, I like the little details of minor characters returning, such as Zoë's bodyguard Nora (who made a brief but memorable appearance in "Final Gambits"). Some humorous dialogue as those two women were tied up. Poor Zoë.

It was also interesting to see the sisters clash with Agria and Cleo, who often function as anti-heroes and here show that they're not always interested in working with the main characters. Probably why they were two of the more intriguing characters in the Utopia series.

It's all wrapped up in a tidy epilogue that features a good balance of character development, story resolution, and wardrobe thefts. I believe this is the first instance of a building caretaker getting her clothes stolen - congrats to Tina for achieving another milestone.

The hospital scene was fun as well - and it had an excellent line from Cassie about why Heartfelt City's hospitals continuously need to find replacements. Ellie's escape at the end also leaves the door open to future sequels - though whether they'll be written by you or Trackman or someone else remains to be seen.

Now for some general thoughts about the story at large:

All in all, this was another impressive story. I'm continually amazed at the way you have built on Trackman's (already impressively detailed) world and added several new characters and story threads of your own without losing the threads that have made the original series so engrossing. While your writing style is different from his, you complement it very well and capture the personalities of the sisters excellently. As with your other work, the chapters are filled with memorable dialogue and USB scenes.

If I had a complaint, it is (ironically) about one of the most entertaining areas of the story. I enjoy the crossovers (both with the Utopia series and my own) and like how they broaden the world of the USB universe. However, the more I see of these crossovers, the more difficult it is to rationalize them and make sense of them in continuity with the other series.

The continuity of these series (both the Utopia stories and the Clone Saga) has always been exciting and one of the areas where both excel. But it serves above all else to give the stories and characters a touch of realism. Since one series takes place in "our" world and the other takes place in the Utopia world, there are natural continuity errors even if the characters maintain consistent personalities between the series. That just makes the crossover stories feel a bit less real than the main ones. (One example of avoiding continuity errors was found in the Pakal stories, which acknowledged that the Spacesuit and Vendela series took place in alternate universes.)

Anyway, I don't want to overthink this series too much. This was a very enjoyable story all around, with all the strengths I've come to expect from your work. Just pointing out an area where the story doesn't click in quite the same way as the non-crossover tales.

[rufusluciusivan]

What better way to come together than a mass uniform stealing indeed! The sisters have been through a lot during this story, so I owed them this moment.

As I've already mentioned, having antagonists and morally ambiguous characters get their comeuppance is a personal favorite trope of mine. Irene (and Theophano) were no exception. Same with Agria, who also ends up restrained and humiliated.

Indeed, the story has its little 'fourth act' with Knipperen's and Ellie's intervention. Honestly, the part I was the most afraid of. The collision of these storylines is a little contrived...

Knipperen brings out some of the most interesting dilemnas of the series in my opinion, and I thought it'd be interesting to directly adress them.

I didn't anticipate that I would enjoy featuring Klenia and Shayna so much, but I did. I like thinking they're living their own adventures off-screen, as her dialogue about the basketball players and her forced 'community service' hints.

I wish I handled this Marla/Cara cameo better, honestly... It worked better in my head (or in Protecting One's Lifestyle for that matter, since this cameo continues the running gag of them trying to escape their condition of USB victims). Glad you still appreciated it. Though I'm not sure they agree it's an honour...

Poor Zoë indeed. She's maybe more tragic than intended... She's the unfavorite, her bodyguard keeps on pestering her, and even the narration doesn't take her seriously.

Agria and Cleo are some of my favorite characters, at least when it comes to the writing process.

Technically, there was a concierge in Chapter 36.5. Not exactly sure if there's a difference with caretaker. In my head at least, the two words are synonymous.

I enjoyed a lot Louette's and Cassie's parts because they highlight the moral ambiguity of the 'lawful good' characters. Louette is right to point out that even if the sisters have good intentions and gentler methods, statistically there's bound to be some women who were still hurt by their ordeal, if only psychologically. And Cassie points out that the actions of uniform stealers have a negative impact on the health care system.

Indeed, this probably isn't the last time we heard of Ellie...

You're right: Rationalization and the internal working of the universe will always be the weak point of these crossovers. (I'm speaking for myself here, I'll let trackman comment on their own point of view on the topic. ) In all honesty, I don't think I'll ever give a satisfying explanation of the inner-logic on how these crossovers can happen, since from the beginning (at least as far as I'm concerned), the main focus has been on character compatibility and interactions. The way I see things: Trackman's universe happens in a ComicBook Earth. You know how in Marvel for instance they have fictional countries such as Wakanda or Latveria, but the rest of the world looks mostly the same? Same thing here, except it's a fictional small continent in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. They were populated by European and African populations in ancient times, and in modern history they remained fiercely isolationist, which would explain how the rest of the world history was mostly unchanged. If we go by 'comicbook alternate universes logic', technically there is one Earth where the characters of Utopia exist, have lived the same adventures as in the Utopia series, but with their country part of our Earth. But as you can see, this rationalization is more of an excuse...

All in all, I'm respecting the continuity when it comes to the characters, their personalities and their personal situation at the end of Final Gambits (Klenia and Shayna are married, Hieron is a powerful member of the government, Agria and Cleo are black ops, House Eudokia has a lot of political influence...); but I'm purposefully ignoring the fact that Utopia's stories hint they happen in a constructed universe.

[tirepanted3]

I think the Marla/Cara cameo was handled well, since they didn't take up too much time or interrupt the story too long. I never pictured them as women who would become security guards, but it's interesting to see how they're perceived by other writers. Perhaps it would make more sense if they had a scene with dialogue, but I am of course biased because I'm just amused whenever my characters pop up in other stories.

I can figure the basic rationalization needed to make the two universes fit together. I guess it would just be a bit awkward if, say, Klenia and Shayna referenced their run-in with the clone sisters in one of the Utopia stories. In any case, I think character continuity is more important than plot continuity (that's how I approach my stories as well), so I'm pleased to see you've done so well on that front.

You mentioned at the start of this arc that you plan to finish the Pakal saga next, which makes this story something of a "side job". Weill it certainly was an impressive one at that.

[rufusluciusivan]

I think the Marla/Cara cameo was handled well, since they didn't take up too much time or interrupt the story too long. I never pictured them as women who would become security guards, but it's interesting to see how they're perceived by other writers.

A bit of a leftover of their non-canon appearance in Protecting One's Lifestyle, in which they were part of the numerous USB-victims hired as guards by Sarah.

You mentioned at the start of this arc that you plan to finish the Pakal saga next, which makes this story something of a "side job". Weill it certainly was an impressive one at that.

I confess, I wasn't anticipating that this story would grow as big. Not that I'm complaining! It was a wonderful experience!

[meditions142]

Finally getting a chance to post a reply regarding this wonderful update!

The mass take out of the special agent security detail was really fun. First off, love the parts with Agathe. Interesting the way she seemingly got turned on by being knocked out with the nerve pinch and then by being stripped. And she was wearing thong. Sounds like she's a horny little thing.

Also love them taking advantage of Joyce surrendering to help Tinker learn the nerve pinch.

Then love the idea of all 12 being left in their bra and panties and given nice injections to keep them nice and sleepy.

And definitely enjoyed the take out of Irene's bodyguards. Great description of the action. Particularly liked the description of the way Myrtle hit her in a couple of nerve points to immobilize her and then took her out with a neck chop. And loved the image of Myrtle then casually injected each of them with the drug followed by the “Now, these two amateurs won’t bother us…” comment.

Fun stuff!

[rufusluciusivan]

Comments made a few days after the story has been posted have their own flavour: You've moved on to something else, but then you get to briefly return to it the time to answer.

While I make no secret of the fact that I enjoy a lot coming up with the plot and the character interactions, I still try to regularly include details to make the uniform stealings themselves enjoyable and memorable. Agathe is indeed supposed to be a horny little thing, and her moans meant exactly what you deduced . I suspected you would enjoy such detail.

Poor Tinker went through a lot in these last parts, so I thought it'd be logical her sisters would help her overcome that trauma. Plus, it brings to life a rarely seen type of scenario: A guard being used as a living training dummy for nerve pinches.

The taking out of Irene's bodyguards by Agria and Cleo was very functional, a necessary checkpoint to allow the confrontation between the villainess and the heroines, but I'm glad it pleased you.

[meditions142]

Agathe is indeed supposed to be a horny little thing, and her moans meant exactly what you deduced . I suspected you would enjoy such detail.

I definitely found it entertaining that's for sure. Interesting fact by the way. Research has found that a woman can be brought to orgasm by manipulating her Vagus Nerve. Perhaps this is what Libido did (accidentally or maybe not)!