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For clarity's sake, I changed the titles of all the Marvel Stories, so that eventual binge-readers can easily follow the intended order. So don't get intimidated by the Part 10. All the previous stories have simply been retconned to be part of one saga.
There is now a dedicated post with the descriptions of all the main characters:
viewtopic.php?t=10048
**************
The True Value of Art
**************
The warehouse was big and ugly – concrete façades and roof made of sheet metal. Some genius had thought it would be a good idea to turn the place into a piece of street art, and had paid for an artist to graffiti on it. End result, the walls were ugly grey at the top, and ugly multicolored at the bottom. However, the building was also surprisingly clean. Apparently, the seagulls had standards, and thought the place wasn’t worthy of their droppings.
The members of Team Awesome (for lack of a better idea) – minus Nudge and Screwball – were waiting near the back entrance of the warehouse.
Trapstr was chewing on some bubble-gum, Charlotte was almost bouncing with excitement, Jenna was nervously shifting from one foot to an other, and Taylor (or ‘Sparks’, as Charlotte always nicknamed her) was carefully watching the area.
Trapstr finally spoke up: “You sure we can trust Screwball on this?”
Taylor shrugged. “Since we’re holding her streaming equipment hostage, yes. Plus, she loves money as much as you.”
“But-”
“We needed an acrobat to do ‘acrobat things’. Are YOU capable of reaching this building’s roof to enter it by squeezing through a window?”
“No.”
“Then shut up. Being part of a team also means knowing your weaknesses, and being willing to delegate tasks.”
Taylor didn’t add anything. To her, the conversation was over.
However, Trapstr was still in a contrary mood. “And remind me why Sarah-”
“Code names!” Charlotte interrupted her.
The sunglasses-wearing criminal rolled her eyes. “-why ‘Nudge’ is not helping?”
“She has a migraine.”
Trapstr snorted derisively. “Don’t tell me you fell for that old trick-”
“Michelle.” Taylor interrupted her.
Trapstr paled slightly. She wasn’t used to fellow crooks using her civilian name. When they did, it was a bad sign. “What?”
“You know nothing of Sarah. Keep talking about things you don’t understand, and you’ll need a straw to eat for the rest of your life.”
Taylor’s voice was colder than snow.
Jenna carefully took a small step back, and even Charlotte didn’t attempt to butt in the conversation to remind Taylor to use code names only.
Trapstr gulped. “Understood.”
Thankfully for her, the sound of the warehouse’s back entrance being unlocked created a diversion.
Screwball opened the door. She was clad in innocuous-looking grey clothes, and her face was covered with a gas mask. She lifted up said mask.
“Your favorite Internet star is here! No autographs, please.”
Taylor refused to humor her. “You used the sleep gas bomb?”
“Yep.”
The black-haired woman nodded, walked past the blonde, and entered the warehouse. The other girls followed her.
Inside the building, a group of employees were lying on the floor in various positions, deeply asleep. They were clad in black work shoes, bright orange work trousers and jackets with reflective grey stripes, white t-shirts, brown work gloves, and white safety helmets.
Two workers were light-skinned Caucasian brunettes, one was a blonde, and an other one was a redhead. There were also three black-skinned black-haired women, and one black-haired woman with Asian facial features.
“Be quick.” Taylor instructed.
The five criminals each chose a worker whose size was close enough, and began to strip the unconscious women.
Charlotte stripped the chubby blonde down to navvy blue bikini panties with a white waistband strap and a matching demi-bra. Taylor chose a brunette, who was left clad in a black thong and a red strapless bra. Jenna stole the clothes of the redhead, leaving her wearing forest green hipster panties and a white balcony bra. Screwball took the outfit of one brown-haired woman, leaving her in dark grey high rise briefs and a light grey full-cup bra. Trapstr stripped the black-haired employee with Asian facial features down to mango tanga panties and a burgundy brown plunge bra.
Package strings and tape were recovered from a locker of the warehouse, and used to restrain and gag the snoring women. The workers who hadn’t been stripped were bound and gagged while fully clothed. Taylor didn’t want to waste time.
The trussed up women were stashed in a bunch of empty crates.
Taylor dusted her hands once the last worker was concealed.
“Good work, team.” She checked her wristwatch. “Ship’s about to arrive. The armored van supposed to pick up the Sun Stone is either already here or on its way. Let’s keep going. We have a crate to intercept at the dock. Trapstr, take your paste gun with you.”
**************
BREAKING NEWS!
Artnapping of the Sun Stone!
The Aztec Sun Stone, priceless Aztec artifact lent to the Brooklyn Museum by the National Anthropology Museum of Mexico City, has been stolen as it was being unloaded at the harbor today. This historical artifact is perhaps the most famous work of Mexica sculpture, and its value is hard to estimate.
According to the preliminary investigations, a group of criminals dressed themselves as dock hands, and used their stolen identities to snatch the crate holding the artifact. During their search, police discovered the real employees locked in crates, some of them stripped of their uniforms and trussed up. Police Captain Yuriko Watanabe declared this is the work of a group of professionals, trained in infiltration and impersonation. She suspects either the culprits or their client will hold the artifact for ransom, as it’s too famous to be sold on the black market easily.
An odd detail was also brought to our attention. The driver of the armored van supposed to pick up the artifact was also found mugged for her uniform, tied up in the garage of her company. Police can’t explain the reason behind this mugging yet. They suspect an other rival thief was involved, but failed to snatch the artifact.
Hopefully, we’ll get more information when the investigation progresses.
By our correspondent Mary-Jane Watson.
**************
Daisy and Chloe were patrolling the corridors of the New Museum of Natural History. The two security guards were wearing similar uniforms: sneakers, dark blue trousers, a brown belt with their equipment strapped onto it, a blue shirt, a dark blue light blazer with the word SECURITY written in white on the back, and a black baseball cap with the word SECURITY written in white. (Since they were the night patrol, they didn’t have to wear the ‘classy’ museum guards uniforms...)
Daisy had frizzy shoulder-long honey brown hair tied into a loose ponytail, a bronze brown skin, and dark brown eyes. Chloe was a tall leggy blonde with a softly tanned skin (thanks to a lot of tanning sessions), and sky blue eyes. Her haircut was a low bun.
“They sure have increased security…” Daisy commented. “I remember a time there were no night shifts...”
“Must have something to do with the Great White Star.” her partner reasoned. “Upper management is on edge.”
The museum was indeed hosting a very special artifact for the month – a priceless diamond said to be one of the oldest on Earth.
Chloe yawned. “Night’s gonna be long.” she remarked. “I don’t mind the extra income, but I’m glad this is my last night shift of the month...”
“I heard there was a commotion today…” her colleague mentioned to pass time. “Just as the museum was about to close, in fact.”
“Do tell.”
“Some wacko on a sugar rush, Debbie told me. Made a fuss for no good reason. Debbie had to call all the other guards to kick her out.”
“I can’t believe some people...”
They passed next to the door of the storage room for unused exhibits.
Chloe frowned and paused when she noticed something odd. The door was slightly open.
“Did somebody forget to lock the door?” she remarked.
Before Daisy could answer, the door was burst open. Two hooded women jumped out.
The startled security guards were each grabbed – Daisy by the shoulders, Chloe by the collar – and yanked inside the room. Taken aback, they didn’t fight back, and only yelped.
Daisy and Chloe disappeared in the storage room.
There were a ‘THWAK!’ and a ‘THUMP!’.
Then, the silence.
Minutes passed.
Taylor and Jenna exited the storage room. They were now dressed in Daisy’s and Chloe’s uniform.
“Not bad, but next time grab the girl by the shoulders. If you pull her by the collar, you risk ripping her uniform.” Taylor instructed her partner.
“O- Okay…”
The black-haired woman glanced behind her.
Charlotte’s diversion earlier today had worked like a charm. While the guards were distracted by her tantrum, she and Jenna had been able to hide in the storage room, and wait for the night. Disabling the security cameras and playing fake footage had been child’s play for Trapstr.
Daisy and Chloe were seated on the floor of the storage room, in the middle of the stored exhibits. The security guards were bound back-to-back with package strings tied around both their waists and upper-bodies. Tape was also immobilizing their wrists and ankles, and was sealing their lips. Daisy was clad in beige classic briefs with a pattern of flowers and a carnival pink push-up bra adorned with white lace flowers. Chloe was wearing lavender boxer undershorts with a black waistband strap and a bright fuchsia racerback bra.
Taylor shook her head.
“There’s no use in hiring extra security to protect your exhibit if they can be so easily impersonated.”
She closed the door.
**************
BREAKING NEWS!
Break-in at the New Museum of Natural History!
The Great White Star, said to be one of the oldest diamonds in the world, has been stolen this night.
The security guards of the night shift were found bound-and-gagged in the museum’s storage room. The janitress was also found bound-and-gagged in a toilet stall.
According to their testimonies, they were assaulted by a bunch of women who had stolen their uniforms. Police suspects they’re part of the gang who stole the Sun Stone one week ago, and were paid a ransom of 50.000$ to give it back. The museum is currently awaiting their demand. According to the investigations, it’s an all-female gang specialized in infiltration and impersonation. Police doesn’t have any clue on the identities of these women yet, and advises people working in uniforms to be cautious of identity thefts.
Strangely, there are key differences between the statement of the janitress and those of the guards. Police suspects two groups of thieves were at work.
By our correspondent Mary-Jane Watson.
**************
Trapstr was no art expert, nor was she interior decorator, but she could recognize a fancy apartment tastefully decorated. And this living room was especially fancy, and especially well-decorated.
Next to her, Charlotte was hopping up and down with impatience. “Okay. Let’s recap. I’m Lois Owlson, a wealthy gorgeous socialite. I’m the luckiest trophy wife of the country, since the old fart I’m married to croaked of natural causes without any direct descendant. Which makes me the sole heiress of his money and estate.”
Trapstr raised an eyebrow behind her sunglasses. “Uh. What are you doing?”
“Getting in-character.”
“Really? Because it looks like you’re talking to yourself.”
“Yeah! To better immerse myself in my upcoming role!”
“You’re not even wearing her clothes yet.”
“Details, details!”
“Mmmmmhhh!”
“See, you’re making our new friend uncomfortable too.”
Said ‘new friend’ was a green-eyed light-skinned brunette dressed in a maid uniform. She was glaring at the two bantering criminals with a mixture of fear and anger. Which, given that she was currently glued to the wall from the mouth to the feet courtesy of Trapstr’s paste gun, wasn’t a surprise. However, she couldn’t voice her protest. The glue was sealing her lips as efficiently as any gag.
“Okay, you two can stop the comedic routine. We’re back.” Taylor announced.
She was carrying an unconscious woman on her shoulder.
The real Lois Owlson was a tanned-skinned young woman of Korean descent with a slender-yet-athletic body frame, golden-brown eyes, and pixie cut-styled dark brown hair.
Jenna was following Taylor. She was dragging by the undershoulders a motionless woman dressed as a stylish bodyguard: shiny black shoes, dark grey business trousers, brown leather belt, white button-up shirt, black tie, dark grey light jacket, and earpiece. The bodyguard was an auburn-haired blue-eyed light-skinned tall woman with an angular face. Her haircut was a short square cut.
Taylor laid the limp young widow at Charlotte’s feet. Lois Owlson was wearing black high-heels with matching socks, a black sleeveless dress with three white vertical stripes on the top half, dark grey long gloves, and a small black widow hat with a veil obscuring her face.
“Oh! I see she was already dressed to go to the auction!”
“Yes. Grabbed her as she was leaving her changing room. Unlucky her.”
With a huff, Jenna dragged the bodyguard next to Taylor.
“For a Carpenter, you really should work on your muscles.” the latter remarked.
Jenna blushed of embarrassment.
Then, she started to strip the bodyguard off her shoes, trousers, jacket, tie, button-up shirt, and earpiece. The auburn-haired woman was left clad in an aqua blue sports bra with white shoulder straps, emerald green hip-hugging knickers with a black waistband strap, and sky blue socks.
At the same time, Charlotte removed Lois’ expensive clothes. She took off the high-heels, socks, veiled hat, and fur coat first. Next, she peeled off the long gloves. Finally, she unzipped the dress, and pulled it off, revealing the widow’s black cami bra and black high-waisted panties.
“Even the underwear match… Maybe she truly loved her husband?” Charlotte pondered.
“Questions for later.” Taylor snapped to make sure she’d remain focused. Charlotte tended to get side-tracked easily...
The shape-shifting criminal nodded, and her facial features began to contort and twist. Her hair, eyes, and skin changed to match the appearance of the real Lois. She slipped into the widow’s clothes – though she struggled to put on the dress.
“Too tight around the waist!” she complained.
Charlotte’s shape-shifting powers had restrictions. She couldn’t alter much her height or body mass. Given her love of sugary treats and utter refusal to hit the gym, it was a problem.
Taylor rolled her eyes, and got dressed in the bodyguard’s outfit.
Trapstr raised her paste gun. “Should I glue them for you?” she proposed.
“Only the bodyguard. If we don’t let Charlotte bind her girl, she’ll pout and sulk all day.”
Charlotte nodded vigorously.
Trapstr shrugged, and complied. Lois’ bodyguard was left glued to the floor, from feet to mouth.
Charlotte grabbed a coil of ropes she had been carrying for hours, and bound Lois’ wrists and ankles. She connected the two pairs of restrained limbs with a loose hog-tie. She shoved a piece of cloth into the woman’s mouth, then wrapped a few layers of tape to gag her. The young widow was left lying curled up next to her bodyguard, on the carpeted floor of the living room.
“Oh, by the way.”
Chalotte snatched Trapstr’s sunglasses, and put them on Taylor’s nose.
“Hey!”
“What? It’s to sell the illusion!”
“But I feel naked without them.”
Taylor looked sideways at her through the sunglasses. “I bet you felt more naked when you were mugged by Black Cat, and she delivered you to the police in your skivvies.”
Trapstr’s face reddened. “Is it still because I complained about Sar-”
“Code names!” Charlotte interrupted.
“- about Nudge? I said I was sorry!”
“Just a quick reminder.” Taylor concluded. “Enough chit-chat for now. We move.”
Jenna was the first to leave, followed by Trapstr and Taylor.
Charlotte smiled at the restrained maid. “Have a nice day.”
The glued woman glared incredulously at her as she closed the door.
**************
BREAKING NEWS!
Spectacular robbery at the auction!
Today’s auction at the Heritage Auction Galleries was jeopardized when a duo of thieves threw several smoke bombs in the middle of the assembly, and took advantage of the chaos to steal late billionaire Sean Webb’s priceless coin collection, which was put up for sale as per his heirs’ wishes. Several witnesses saw the thieves flee in a car that was waiting for them in the street.
According to the preliminary investigations, the perpetrators impersonated wealthy widow Lois Owlson and her bodyguard, Clara Kaynt. The two women were found restrained in Miss Owlson’s flat, alongside with Miss Owlson’s maid. Their testimonies confirm they were assaulted and mugged for their clothes and IDs. Evidences point out this is the same band who successfully held for ransom the Great White Star and the Aztec Sun Stone.
According to the victims and clues left in Owlson’s apartment, known criminal Trapstr was part of the muggers. Police suspects there is a connection between the emergence of this new gang, and the recent mass break-out during which Trapstr escaped custody, among other criminals. Word on the street is that they call themselves ‘Team Awesome’. A witness, who wishes to remain anonymous, claimed she heard the fake Lois scream: “Yeah! Team Awesome rules!” just before fleeing the auction house. Why they chose such a non-threatening name is still unknown.
Odd detail: A caterer was also found tied up and robbed of her uniform in a back alley near the auction house. However, witnesses confirm no caterer was part of the thieves. Police doesn’t have more information on the identity of the possible rival thief behind this mugging.
By our correspondent Mary-Jane Watson.
**************
The chanting of the fans inside the stadium could be heard from the distance. One speaker on the microphone was making a speech.
“It’s actually quite the match.” Screwball commented while checking her phone. “The New York Mammoths VS the San Francisco Skyhawks. Two legends of football. Well, at least that’s what they say on this website...”
Taylor couldn’t care less about the game. She checked her wristwatch. The operation had been timed to the minute. They needed to act after the introductory speech, but before the teams of cheerleaders entered the stadium. She, Charlotte, Trapstr, and Screwball were waiting on the parking, near a back entrance leading to the stadium’s staff-only area and the locker rooms.
However, there was one problem.
Charlotte wasn’t her usual bouncy self this afternoon.
No. She was, in fact, a lot worst than usual. The chubby woman had a hard time standing still, and was literally shaking with anticipation while humming the fans’ songs to herself.
“How much coffee did she have this morning?” Screwball complained. The blonde was wearing casual clothes – sneakers, jeans, a tracksuit jacket over a plain t-shirt. She was concealing her chin-long shaggy bob cut and part of her face with a baseball cap.
“She’s not allowed caffeine.” Taylor answered. “Unless…” She glanced at the fourth member of their team. “Trapstr! You like sodas, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“And among them, you brought Coke?”
“Of course.”
Taylor face-palmed. “And you didn’t warn me after some cans vanished?”
“They didn’t have my name on them! I didn’t see a problem if someone else drank a few!”
Taylor pointed at the hyperactive Charlotte. “There’s your problem, right here!”
“Sorry…”
Taylor grunted, and rubbed her forehead. “Congratulations. You won the right to dress as a cheerleader in her stead.” she told Trapstr.
“But I wanted to put on their pretty outfit! Not fair!” Charlotte, high on sugar rush and caffeine, complained.
Taylor grabbed her by the collar, and dragged her to the van. “You’ll wait for us here.” She climbed inside the vehicle, yanking Charlotte with her. She exited the van one minute later, and locked the door.
Screwball and Trapstr shared an awkward glance. “Did you- Did you knock her out?” the former asked.
“You sure you wanna hear the answer?”
“Not really.”
“Then let’s go.”
The security guard standing in front of the access to the locker rooms – a petite light-skinned hazel-eyed brunette with a low ponytail – didn’t prove to be any trouble.
“Uh- Excuse me. You’re not allowed in the locker rooms.”
One neckchop later, she was taking a nap inside a broom closet – bound hands and feet with zip-ties, and gagged with a piece of cloth soaked with chloroform.
Security was so lax, Taylor didn’t even bother to take her clothes. Things were so easy… It was disgusting!
They didn’t encounter any other obstacle on their way to the cheerleaders’ locker rooms.
Taylor checked the corridor, then took a glance inside one locker room, of which the door was slightly open.
There were four stragglers. The girls were happily chatting with each other, reminding themselves of their upcoming routine.
They looked like the typical cheerleaders of fiction: tall and sexy, with flawless skins, long well-toned legs, and curvy hips. One was a natural blonde, with blue eyes, a light skin and a high ponytail. An other was dyeing her brown hair platinum blond, and had chestnut eyes and a light skin. Her haircut was a small high ponytail. The third cheerleader was a Japanese young woman with a white skin, dark brown eyes, and jet black hair. Her haircut was a top bun. The fourth one had a black skin, dark brown eyes, and frizzy black hair tied into a high ponytail,
They were wearing identical cheerleader uniforms: a green cheerleader sleeveless top with a white band around the chest and the word CHEER written with black letters, a green-and-white cheerleader skirt, long socks (one green, one white), and green shoes. To avoid the inevitable panty shot, the girls were also wearing bright forest green shorts under their skirts. Their scrunchies were also color-coded: they were all green-and-white. Their matching pompoms and batons were lying on a nearby bench.
Taylor imperiously entered the room, Screwball and Trapstr in her footsteps.
The bleached blonde alpha female of the pack of cheerleaders raised an eyebrow when she saw the newcomers. “Uh. Excuse me! This place is restricted! You have no business here!”
Taylor didn’t dignify her with an answer. She lunged forward, and hit a very specific spot between the platinum blonde’s neck and shoulder. The girl grunted. Her eyes rolled back, and she crumbled onto the floor, out cold.
The other cheerleaders glared at their friend, then at the intruders. It took them a few seconds to process. Then, they attempted to flee.
Unfortunately for them, Trapstr and Screwball had already pulled out some stun guns. They intercepted the black and the blond-haired cheerleaders, and knocked them out with electricity.
The last remaining girl tried to run around Taylor, but the latter was too fast for her. She wrapped a viselike arm around the cheerleader’s throat and squeezed. The Japanese girl gasped and squirmed, but the lack of oxygen rapidly rendered her unconscious.
Taylor laid her onto the floor, next to the three other unconscious young women.
“Lock the door.” she instructed Screwball.
The latter complied.
Then, the three women each stripped one cheerleader of her outfit. The natural blonde was left clad in a teal push-up bra and lime green hip-hugging panties. The bleached blonde’s undergarments were a black thong with lace around the waistband strap, and a matching lacy demi-bra. The black-haired Japanese girl’s underwear were light pink knickers with a Hello-Kitty pattern and a white t-shirt bra with a pattern of red strawberries.
The black-skinned cheerleader was also stripped, so that her outfit would be turned into makeshift ropes and gags to complement the bondage tools Taylor had already brought. She was left clad in a cream white sports bra with matching boyshorts.
Taylor, Trapstr, and Screwball used sturdy coils of string and tape to bind the four girls’ limbs and shoulders. Strips of uniforms were used to stuff-gag and cleave-gag the cheerleaders.
The three robbers stashed each bound-and-gagged half-naked girl into a locker, and closed the doors to conceal them.
The intruders then got dressed in the shorts and skirts, long socks, cheerleader tops, shoes, gloves, and scrunchies. They copied the haircuts of the girls they mugged.
“I used to be a cheerleader.” Screwball commented. She did a small cheerleading routine with her baton to prove her point.
“Let me guess. For the attention?” Trapstr intervened while smoothening her stolen skirt. She was still wearing her sunglasses.
“Of course!” the blonde retorted while changing her shaggy bob cut into a small top ponytail.
“Well, today, our goal is exactly the opposite of catching everyone’s attention.” Taylor intervened. “Keep it in mind.”
Screwball sighed.
Taylor added: “Security here is a joke, but there should be at least one guard inside the trophy room. So play your part. Nobody would suspect cheerleaders of foul play.”
“If they’re as efficient as the girl who guarded the locker rooms, I’m not worried.” Trapstr remarked.
Screwball smiled. “Indeed...”
**************
BREAKING NEWS!
Robbery at the Stadium!
Today, the match between the New York Mammoths and the San Francisco Skyhawks was marred by the theft of the Victor’s Cup. The trophy this year was a piece of contemporary art by Jason Lee. Its value is estimated at $10.000.
The robbers took advantage of the preparations of the event, and disguised themselves as cheerleaders to get close to the trophy. It appears they stole the outfits of members of the Mammoths’ Cheerleading Team. Four cheerleaders robbed of their uniforms were found concealed in their lockers.
Three security guards were also found bound-and-gagged – one at the entrance of the locker rooms, one in a storeroom, and one in the room storing the trophy, under the desk. According to our sources though, only one was mugged for their uniforms. Police has a hard time explaining this oddity.
Eye witnesses and the modus operandi confirm however this is the work of infamous Team Awesome.
When asked about the new syndicate, Police Captain Yuriko Watanabe declared: “I want to reassure our citizens. While the ransoms they demand for the stolen artifacts may sound impressive, they are in fact way below the artifacts’ real value. These women clearly are a gang of small-time crooks, only interested in quick money, and way in over their heads. It won’t be long before they make a mistake, and police puts them behind bars.”
In the mean time, because of Team Awesome’s modus operandi, police advises all women working in the art industry, in museums and the likes, or near works of art to be extra cautious.
By our correspondent Mary-Jane Watson.
**************
Charlotte proudly stitched all the newspaper articles detailing the team’s heists on a wall – next to the articles mentioning their breakout. She was happily singing to herself a parody of Spider-Man’s trademark song.
“Team Awesome… Team Awesome… Doing awesome things... all day round… Do they do… non-awesome things? Of course not! It’s in their name! Beware! Team awesome is here!”
“Charlotte! I swear to God, if you keep singing, I’m burning all your candy bars!” Taylor exclaimed from afar. “And stop chanting that dumb nickname like it's something to be proud of!”
The shape-shifter wisely went quiet.
Screwball chuckled loudly to provoke her.
“I wouldn’t show off if I were you, Screw-Up.” Taylor interrupted her. “I saw your latest video. You know, the one in which you tell your ‘Screw Crew’ about your past as a cheerleader... And how you were about to be ‘back in a cheer uniform’...”
The blonde gulped. “It- It wasn’t me- It was a deep fake video! With an AI-generated voice!” Her lie was pathetic.
“Didn’t I tell you to never upload a video that can give clues about our heists? Next time you pull out a stunt like that, I’ll make you eat your streaming equipment. Clear?”
“Cr- Crystal clear!” Screwball then did like Charlotte, and wisely went quiet.
Trapstr, Jenna, Screwball, and Taylor were resting on armchairs. The first two were drinking cans of soda together, the blonde was checking her social medias on her phone, and the former black op was busy cleaning a gun.
The stolen trophy cup was proudly standing in the middle of the table, waiting to be delivered to the buyer once the heat died down.
Sarah was sitting on a sofa, away from the main group, loud music blaring in her earphones.
“Now, I’m not one to spit on easy money.” Trapstr commented while drinking her second can of soda. “However, these missions clearly didn’t need to assemble a big team. We never even had to go all together at once. What’s the point?”
“A diversion.” Taylor answered.
“What do you mean?”
“The money we got is secondary. The goal is to conceal the importance of one single heist.”
“Let me guess. The upcoming one?”
Taylor nodded. “It’s important police thinks we’re a small-time gang of crooks, only interested in works of art and quick money. They must not suspect we pursue an other objective with one of our thefts…”
“Was the dumb team name really necessary?” Jenna intervened, nervously fidgeting her own can of soda. “I think it’s a little too good at making us look like buffoons...”
Taylor suppressed a sigh. Charlotte certainly didn’t have any clever long-term plan in mind when she chose the name. She just sucked at nicknames… But Taylor had long learned it was usually easier to go with the flow as far as Charlotte’s eccentricities were concerned.
“It’s too late to change now. The nickname has caught on. Why do you care so much anyway? Money and success are more important. Focus on the next heist. It’ll be the important one.”
Trapstr glanced at Sarah, who was still lying on the sofa, listening to her loud music. “Will she help this time?” She was carefully keeping her voice neutral.
“Yes. We only bring her for the major heists.”
“And what’s our target exactly?” Jenna asked.
“Oscorp Industries. The head office. There will be a health inspection in seven days. We’ll take advantage of it.”
There was a long moment of silence.
“That’s a big heist.” Trapstr finally remarked. “Why Oscorp?”
“They’ve built a prototype we’ve been hired to steal. That’s all you need to know for now.”
Trapstr, Screwball, and Jenna glanced at each other in silence.
In the room, there were only the sounds of Charlotte rummaging in a corner, and Sarah’s music.
Jenna threw her empty can in the trash can, and took a look at the newspaper articles stitched on the wall.
“Before we start… Shouldn’t we address the elephant in the room? You’ve all read the articles. It's pretty clear an other thief was sneaking around during our heists, mugging women just like us... We may have a rival. Any idea of who she may be?”
Taylor shrugged. “I think I have one.”
She finished assembling her gun.
“And she better pray she doesn't come across us... If not, then I will deal with her.”
**************
End note: If you're wondering what's the deal with those offscreen events mentioned by the newspapers, then all I can say is stay tuned, there may be a surprised in the next few days...
Taylor barely paid attention to that poor brunette - treating her like an after-thought to be knocked out and locked up. She was so unimpressed by the security she didn't even bother to steal the girl's outfit! Coming from a mistress of disguise in a USB story, that's a pretty big insult! Perhaps even more humiliating than actually getting her uniform stolen... 