I believe that the scale of uniform stealings (which is still higher than in our real worl) would lead to some form of reaction from the authorities, though probably not extreme either. And having infiltrators face savvy opponents using tactics designed to counter uniform stealings opens up the possibility for different scenarios.
Good story but too short, I was starting to get into it but then poof. But I liked it. Had a sort of Angry Soup flare about it. Will be following you for more tales
Thanks for the compliment. Indeed, these stories are rather short, especially compared to most of my other stories which are multi-part. For that I apologize. They're more a way to have some fun with a collection of short stories and explore a few ideas, but without having to take too much time or to write a real multi-part series.
Quick note: While not indispensable, it's probably best to read the short story called 'Supervillainess: On top of the world' beforehand, as some characters featured here are actually introduced in this short story.
**************
“In other news, Morgane Myrine and Valeria Chione, senior directors of Barca Corp & Associates, were charged with embezzlement, fraud, and financing of terrorist groups. When interviewed by our correspondent, Roxane Barca declared that she was 'shocked and saddened by the betrayal of two close business partners', and that she will do everything in her power to 'help justice prevail'. The CEO of Barca Corp & Associates was indeed cleared of all suspicion today after the end of investigation made by an independant commission. 'I've always had faith in our justice system.' also said Roxane Barca. 'Hence why I fully cooperated with the authorities, and I'd like to say-'”
Clover let out a disgusted groan and turned the TV off.
Against all odds, Roxane Barca managed to survive the scandal that followed the discovery in her casino hotel of compromising documents revealing that her company financed the infamous terrorist group the Eye when it was still active.
To survive the scandal AND to escape prosecution.
The corrupt businesswoman simply used one of the most basic tactics of all time: she found a few scapegoats. Her associates Morgane Myrine and Valeria Chione, whom Clover's team ambushed while they were trying to flee and anonymously delivered to the police, were perfect candidates. Thanks to her lawyers, Roxane was able to pin all the blame on the two women, and to make it look like Morgane and Valeria were doing everything behind her back and she didn't know anything.
Clover was furious.
Sure, Morgane and Valeria weren't innocent victims either, and it was indeed two criminals who were going to be judged and sentenced to lengthy prison terms. However, the main instigator was going to walk away scot-free...
Of course, the people in the know hadn't been duped. However, they couldn't do anything. Officially, Roxane's hands were clean.
Well, we'll see see about that... Clover thought to herself. We've lost a battle, not the war.
The black woman wasn't going to give up so easily.
**************
“In other news, Morgane Myrine and Valeria Chione, senior directors of Barca Corp & Associates, were charged with embezzlement, fraud, and financing of terrorist groups. When interviewed by our correspondent, Roxane Barca declared that she was 'shocked and saddened by the betrayal of two close business partners', and that she will do everything in her power to 'help justice prevail'. The CEO of Barca Corp & Associates was indeed cleared of all suspicion today after the end of investigation made by an independant commission. 'I've always had faith in our justice system.' also said Roxane Barca. 'Hence why I fully cooperated with the authorities, and I'd like to say-'”
Roxane let out a satisfied scoff and turned the TV off.
Once again, and against all odds, she got away. She survived the scandal that followed the discovery of the compromising files in her casino hotel.
Ultimately, she didn't even need to resort to a complex plan. She simply used one of the most basic tactics of all time: she found a few scapegoats. Morgane and Valeria tried to abandon ship and, most importantly, to abandon her? Well, Roxane too could betray people. And her two associates made fine scapegoats to take all the blame. In a way, it was almost too easy.
Sure, there were people who knew the truth – or who at least suspected the truth. But they were a minority. In the eyes of the general public, she was clean.
There still was a thorn in her side though. The women responsible of this fiasco. The Vigilantes.
Roxane still had no clue of their true identities, but she was going to get her hands on them.
The businesswoman wasn't going to give up so easily.
**************
Clover regrouped with Posy in the breakroom of the public library of Southern Cross, their workplace. For now, they were alone.
Contrary to her habit, Posy was looking glum.
“You saw the news too, didn't you?” Clover asked her friend.
“Yes.”
“Don't worry, this is only a temporary setback, and we'll...”
Clover was interrupted by a bipping sound coming from her phone. She had just received a text. The black woman grabbed her cellphone and read the message.
Her sulky expression disappeared, replaced with a look of determination.
Posy raised her head. “What is it?”
“Hieron sent me another message. Apparently, some juicy informations are starting to filter out.”
“About what?”
“Roxane is making her next move. She's trying to hide other potential evidences about her illegal transactions... by transferring several of her accounts, along with the corresponding datas, to another bank. One that is not affiliated with her own companies. Hieron will try to check his intel, but if it's true...”
“Then we will have an other opportunity!” Posy concluded without trying to contain her excitement.
**************
Roxane Barca was comfortably seated in her armchair behind her desk.
“I have called you because I require your services to help me deal with some... unpleasant wannabe crime fighters.” she said to the woman seated in front of her.
“You have my attention.”
“They call themselves the Vigilantes. A pesky group of do-gooders who have been hurting my reputation, and therefore my business, the past six months. They're responsible of the... events at my latest charity gala.”
“You have my utmost attention.”
“I think I was able to pinpoint the reason why they are so redoutable, outside of their definite talent when it comes to planning and to infiltration. They are not alone. Some members of the government are secretly supporting them and providing them with intel. I think Hieron himself is involved. With that in mind, I devised a plan...”
Roxane briefly paused for stylistic effect. Then she added:
“I allowed some informations to leak out. Hieron's informants recently learned that, to better hide my compromising data about my illegal fund transfers and transactions, I entrusted several of my accounts to the Hermann Brothers bank. A bank unaffiliated with my own companies. If my suspicion is correct, then Hieron will relay the information to the Vigilantes... who couldn't pass up this opportunity to try to steal the datas.”
“You're setting up a trap?”
“We will know where they are going to strike, but they won't know that we know. And when they strike, we will be ready to catch them. I've already started to take precautions.”
“I know. I heard that the director of the Hermann Brothers bank signed a long-term contract with Primrose Security. I suppose this is one of the precautions you mentioned?”
“Yes.”
“On a side note, I appreciate the irony. With the director of Hermann Brothers to serve as your frontman, they don't even know they're in truth working for you.”
“When you want to counter uniform stealers, you employ a team of anti-uniform stealers. I like hiring professionals. Primrose Security doesn't have a perfect record track, but they are the best on the market. And they have a good adaptability. They've been tricked once by the Vigilantes, they won't make the same mistakes twice. Also, I do enjoy the idea of them working for me without knowing it, even though their boss wants to have nothing to do with me ever since she saw the files at my casino hotel.”
“Speaking of which. Wasn't Primrose partly responsible of the scandal that almost made you fall? Wouldn't you want to have your revenge on her as well?”
“Isn't having her unknowingly further my own agenda the best kind of revenge?” Roxane retorted with a smile. “I won't deny that I may not be able to refrain myself from blowing her brains out if we met in an empty alleyway with no witness, but ultimately I have nothing personal against her. The Vigilantes are the ones who orchestrated everything to make sure that she would find the compromising folders in my office. Primrose is a professional. Depriving the world – and myself – of her talent would be a shame.”
The corrupt businesswoman joined hands. She added:
“However, Primrose Security is more something akin to a guarantee. My main goal is to get rid of the Vigilantes. If I reach my goal because they are arrested, it's fine. But if I reach my goal because they are brought to me bound hand and foot, it's even better. This is where you enter the picture.”
“I'm all ears.”
“When the Vigilantes will strike, I want you to take advantage of the situation to capture them and bring them to me. Alive. I can even provide you with grunts to do the menial tasks, such as being on the lookout 24 hours a day around the building and listening to phone calls from and to the bank. Besides, as Primrose Security's employer – even if they don't know it – I can give them instructions that would facilitate your work. I can also provide you with the informations about their shifts and their staff turnover, as well as informations about the identity and appearance of their guards, if you want to use it to your advantage...”
Roxane's interlocutor settled in her seat.
“Now, lady Barca, you are a woman of taste.” she said. “Indeed, you seem to have a lot of faith in my array of talents and wondrous abilities... Though still, it begs the question: What do you have that I'd want?”
Roxane didn't answer.
She grabbed a checkbook and wrote a number on it. She then gave the check to her interlocutor. The woman whistled between her teeth. She was impressed.
“For your charges.” Roxane calmly said. “I will give you another check with three more zeros at the end if you deliver me the Vigilantes.”
“My lady, you've got yourself a deal!”
******* A few weeks later... *******
“Is the van loaded?” Luan asked.
“Yes. We have everything. The first inspection is at the Hermann Brothers bank building, right?” Maggie answered.
“Right. Better check if you have all the papers. Heard that their new security is very zealous.”
Luan and Maggie were environmental inspectors. They were sent to check if buildings were meeting the new environmental stadards. Both women were wearing grey-green zipped long-sleeved worker jumpsuits with multiple pockets: on the sleeves, on the torso and on the thighs. Each pocket was filled with something: pens and pencils, small tools, measuring tape... A grey-green belt was tied around the waist. Their feet were protected by black work shoes and the top of their heads by white safety helmets.
Luan had light brown hair, worn up in a large ponytail tied with a yellow scrunchie, and hazel eyes. She was tall with an oval-shaped face and a rather prominent chin, shapely legs and a shapely bottom, but a small chest.
Maggie was a tall slim girl, with a round face, a light pale skin, dark eyes, and waist-long black hair styled in a hime cut. While she had a well-endowed chest, the rest of her body was plain and not very curvy.
Currently, they were standing next to their van in the backyard behind their office building, in which their vehicle was parked.
Maggie checked her pockets.
“Wait a sec'!” she cursed. “I've forgotten my accreditation card in the office!”
“Go fetch it. They won't let us enter the private part of the bank if you don't have it.” Luan answered.
Maggie disappeared inside the building in which their office was located.
Luan looked at the closing door and sighed. She was envious of her colleague's bust size. She wished hers were a little bigger.
If they were, then perhaps Maggie would finally notice her and see her as something more than a friend...
Luan grabbed her cellphone to check the latest news on the social medias. She needed to think of something else.
She didn't look up when she felt a presence near her. “Maggie? You're already back? Check this video!”
An odorous rag was clamped over her mouth and her nose. “Wa-mmmmuuuu?!”
Luan dropped her cellphone on the gound. Reflexively, she tried to grab the hand pressing the rag against her face, but at the same time an arm was wrapped around her torso to block her arms.
Luan struggled and thrashed.
“Don't fight back, please. We don't want to have to hurt you...” a voice whispered in her ear.
Someone else suddenly grabbed her legs and pulled them to make her lose balance. With another person holding her legs, the light-brown-haired woman now had no foothold. Luan tried to kick, but to no avail. She could barely wiggle her feet.
And, because of her panicked muffled screams, she was breathing more and more narcotic fumes. Soon, she was overtaken by the effects of the sleeping drug.
Her muffled screams became muffled moans, which then became slurred whimpers. Her eyes were teary.
Her body jerked one last time, then her mind shut down and she went limp.
Her last thought before falling into a deep sleep was for Maggie.
**************
“I'm back!” Maggie said.
However, she didn't see Luan anywhere in the backyard of their office building.
“Luan? C'mon! It's not the time for jokes!”
Maggie noticed that the backdoor of their van was open. Perhaps it was a trick of her mind, but the vehicle seemed to be slightly rocking back and forth, as if someone was moving inside.
“Luan? Is that you?”
Maggie warily walked around the van to look at the back, as she couldn't see what was going on inside from where she was.
She suddenly noticed a pair of bare feet and unclothed calves that were protuding from the back of the vehicle.
“Luan?”
From behind, a hand was clamped over her mouth and a needle was jabbed in her neck.
“MMMHHH!”
Maggie's eyes widened. Something was flowing through her veins...
She was feeling... sleepy. Her eyelids flickered.
Her attacker led her in the back of the van.
The bare feet and calves indeed belonged to Luan. A half-naked Luan who was only wearing her underwear.
Reflexively, Maggie couldn't help but blush. She had always been a little envious of her colleague's shapely legs and bottom. Maggie maybe had a round busty chest, but the rest of her body was plain and with no curves. Ever since she met Luan, she had wished the lower half of her body was more curvy.
If it was, then perhaps Luan would finally notice her and see her as something more than a friend...
However, the sleeping drug didn't allow her to ponder for long on how much the affairs of the heart were complicated.
Her last thought before falling into a deep sleep was for Luan.
**************
Clover laid the dozing Maggie on the floor of the van, next to Luan – who was stripped down to her yellow t-shirt bra with white dots and orange edges, her matching knickers, and her white socks. At the same time, Posy closed the door of the van to give them more intimacy.
“You can take this one's clothes.” the black woman said to her accomplice. “Her bust size is close to yours.”
Posy let out a happy sigh. “Happens too rarely in my opinion...”
The busty brunette removed Maggie's white safety helmet, and unlaced and took off her work shoes. She then unzipped her worker jumpsuit before peeling it off down to the waist. She also took off the white t-shirt the black-haired woman was wearing underneath, revealing a dark purple bra with black edges. Posy finally unbuckled the belt tied around the woman's waist and grabbed the jumpsuit by the legs. She pulled it off. The panties matched the bra, though the socks were plain white.
At the same time, Clover used white ropes to truss up Luan, as they still tried to not buy too many zip-ties and were keeping them for the times they needed to be quick or to restrain people who knew how to escape ropes. She didn't bother with complex bondage techniques either. She simply bound the wrists and the ankles, as well as the knees and the upper-arms. She simply made sure that the restraints weren't too tight, to not cut off the blood circulation. She shoved a sponge into the woman's mouth and cleave-gagged her.
Posy grabbed other coils of rope to secure Maggie, before gagging her as well.
Then, she and Clover put on their disguises.
**************
While Clover and Posy were leaving the van of the environemental inspectors, now clad in the work shoes, jumpsuits and helmets of said inspectors, another van parked behind theirs. Amber was driving it.
“Here to load the passengers.” she said to her friends.
“Perfect timing.” Posy happily exclaimed.
“I trust you to take them for a ride?” Clover added.
Amber smiled. “No problem. I trust you to be careful?”
Clover smiled. “No problem.”
They loaded Luan and Maggie into the back of Amber's van, laying them on a sheet that was placed on the floor of the vehicle. Therefore, their bare skin wouldn't be in contact with the cold metallic floor. They covered the slumbering women's bodies (save for the heads) with a second sheet. It now almost looked like they were taking a nap together.
Clover left between their heads a note reading: 'Sorry – This is for a good cause.' and two bills of cash. Then, she closed the back door of the van.
Amber was going to drive the bound-and-gagged real environmental inspectors out of town, and to leave the vehicle hidden in a nearby grove. Then, a few hours later, once Clover and Posy were done, she would give an anonymous tip to the police to tell them about the two women.
Thanks to Hieron, the Vigilantes learned that Roxane Barca indeed managed to hide a lot of illegal transactions and fund transfers by asking the Hermann Brothers bank to handle a few of her bank accounts. Thanks to Hieron, they also learned in advance about this planned environmental inspection visit.
Their new plan almost wrote itself. They simply needed to make sure to come early enough to pay the real inspectors a visit... and to relieve them of their duty.
Due to how administration worked, Primrose Security – who were protecting the bank building – couldn't ask in advance for pictures of the inspectors. And Hieron gave them fake accreditations forged by his best experts. There would be no problem. Once inside, they'd simply need to find a way to put their hands on a passcard to have access to the room in which the bank's datas were stored.
Amber waved one last time at them, then drove her vehicle away.
Clover and Posy sat in the inspectors' van. Clover started the engine. The radio sprang to life.
“Boom! Boom! Boom!-”
“Gah! The song of the demon!” Clover shouted.
“Turn it off! Turn if off!” Posy exclaimed.
**************
However, as they were driving away, the Vigilantes didn't notice the threat... A woman was observing them from afar. And she saw everything.
Hieron wasn't the only one who knew about the upcoming visit of the environmental inspectors. The director of the bank also knew, therefore so did Roxane Barca.
Thus, one of her grunts was sent to observe the departure of the inspectors. Just in case... And her caution paid off.
The woman grabbed a cellphone. “I saw them.” she said to her interlocutor. “It's for today. They've taken the place of the environmental inspectors.”
“Perfect. Then it's my turn to take the stage.”
**************
Clover and Posy entered the bank through the main entrance, acting as if they were professionals, carrying notepads and a toolbox to look more authentic.
The Hermann Brothers bank building was a tall skyscraper with an old-fashioned design. It was built in the city centre of Southern Cross. There were a main entrance for the public and a back entrance for deliveries in an alleyway. An underground parking was built under the skyscraper.
Two security guards from Primrose Security were watching the main hall of the bank, right after the main entrance. A woman called Katniss and a man called Octave. While they were watching the hall as a whole, Clover noticed that they also spotted the newcomers the second they entered the building.
She and Posy ignored the guards' gazes and approached the receptionist desk. Nobody was allowed to go further inside the building without stating their name and purpose to the receptionist first.
“Good day, miss.” Clover said. “We're here to proceed to the scheduled environmental expertise. To check if the building complies with the new environmental standards.”
“Ah, yes. We were expecting you.” the receptionist said. “I will however have to ask you to show this gentlewoman your accreditations.”
Clover realized that, during the few seconds their attention was focused on the receptionist, Katniss approached them without them noticing. She was now right next to them. She's fast!
The security guard was rather young, but she was looking both confident and professional. Clearly, this was someone who flourished at her work.
“Please.” she said.
Clover and Posy gave her the fake accreditations. Katniss closely looked at them, and compared them with a model that she was keeping on her. Since they were forged by experts working for Hieron, the two vigilantes were confident that they would fool the guard. At least they hoped...
“They look in order. However, I will ask you to submit to a search before you can proceed.”
“Is this necessary?” Clover asked while staying in-character.
“Security has been tightened as per the direction's orders. This is the procedure now. People that aren't regular employees have to be searched if they want to have access to the private part of the building.”
“Fine.”
Katniss first used a metal detector, then touched their clothes to proceed to a meticulous physical search. Finally, she inspected the content of their tool box. Her eyes lingered on the two rolls of duct tape inside during a few seconds, but ultimately she found nothing wrong with the presence of duct tape among other tools in a tool box. The two vigilantes noticed that, during the entire process, Octave was watching them from afar. One of his hands was resting on the walkie talkie, the other was near the cross of his handgun.
“You're clear.” Katniss said. “I apologize for the inconvenience.” She tipped her cap. “Have a good day.”
"Likewise." Clover politely answered.
"You will have access to the private part of the building." the receptionist said to her and Posy. "However, as per the director's orders, you won't be allowed to enter the restricted rooms that need a passcard. If you encounter any trouble, please ask one of the patrolling guards."
"Trust us, we will..." Posy said out loud.
She and Clover walked away. "... not." Posy whispered once they were out of earsight.
“They seem to have amped up the security compared to the last time we met them...” Clover whispered.
“We were right to not bring sleeping needles with us this time.”
**************
“What I'm saying is that we should include a facial check and a cleavage search in our standard search procedure...” Piper was explaining. “I mean, ever since the incident with Hazel, we check each other's faces when we arrive at work, and I'm sure that these two uniform stealers who mugged Annabeth and I hid their sleeping needles in their cleavage. Why not check these two bodyparts with everyone as part of the body search?”
“I see your point.” Roberta answered. “But I also understand why Primrose didn't include it in the procedure, especially the cleavage search. Can you imagine the scandal? I already see from here the sexual harassment lawsuits...”
“People are underestimating the threat of uniform stealers.”
“I think you're exaggerating. Sure, they are numerous, but statistically they are still far less numerous than traditional common thieves, drug dealers, murderers or organized crime. We hear a lot about them because their heists tend to be more... flashy. Still, they are not numerous enough to justify the draconian measures you'd like to apply. Sure, I too find it frustrating to be so ignored, but I can see why the politicians think it's more important to fight against the drug dealers or against the organized crime than against the uniform stealers. And besides, nearly all the teams of infiltrators still active use non-lethal methods, so...”
Suddenly, Roberta's walkie talkie sprang to life. She grabbed the device. “Roberta, yes?”
She listened to the instructions that were given to her.
“I've received a message instructing me to meet up with employees from a subsidiary of the bank. They will arrive in the underground parking, and I have to escort them.” Roberta said.
“That goes against the procedure.”
“I know. And Yusufa also knows. But it's an order coming from the director.”
“I'm starting to think that this guy is doing everything in his power to make our job harder...” Piper mumbled.
“You're just being paranoid. Statistically, what are the odds that this building will one day be infiltrated? My guess is that the guy was just looking for some publicity, so he hired us, because since uniform stealers are glamorous in the eyes of the public, anti-uniform stealers are too. You can't expect people to follow the strict security rules by the letter each second of each day. It's impossible. There will be unforseen occurences. We're only human, not machines..”
**************
While pretending to inspect the building, Clover and Posy were able to spy the different groups of employees – and the patrols of security guards.
They only had access to some parts of the building. They weren't allowed to enter the truly restricted areas. For that, they would need to get their hands on a pass – and on more appropriate clothes, since people would probably bat an eye if they saw women dressed in worker jumpsuits enter rooms restricted to the bank employees.
“Clover... I think I saw an opportunity...”
She pointed at two security guards of Primrose Security talking to each other.
“Too risky.” Clover objected. “We don't have sleeping needles or taser stun guns to avoid hand-to-hand combat.”
They moved to another part of the building. Piper and Annabeth probably gave their descriptions to their colleagues after their encounter, so they tried to avoid approaching security guards as much as they could. While the vigilantes were disguised during their heist at the charity gala, they still couldn't completely modify the shape of their faces. Therefore, they weren't sure if Piper's and Annabeth's colleagues were able to recognize them or not. They chose to not take any chance.
Posy was growing impatient. She was searching for any opportunity. “What about them?” she suddenly asked.
Two bank employees were talking in front of a door leading to a small office room. The first, called Emily according to her badge, had a fair white skin, neck-long loose blond hair with a bang over her forehead, and deep blue eyes. She was wearing mascara and red lipstick. She was clad in an open long-sleeved blue jacket over a white v-neck shirt, blue business pants, and back shoes. The second, called Shirley, had a light skin, brown eyes and light chestnut waist-long hair with a straight fringe. A light pink ribbon was tied in her hair. She was wearing a light pink sleeveless knee-long dress over a long-sleeved white shirt, light grey stockings and black heels.
Clover and Posy listened to their conversation. The employees were going to have a brainstorming session, just the two of them; in an office room.
Attached to their neck, there were the precious cards they needed to open the doors leading to restricted areas. Including the ones where the datas about the client's accounts were stored.
The two vigilantes shared a look and smiled. “Perfect.”
**************
“Did you manage to hack the frequence of Primrose Security's walkie talkies?”
On the other line of the cellphone, there was the hacker working for Roxane Barca.
“Yes, ma'am! It wasn't easy, but I guess that's one of the perks of secretly being their employer. It's easier to betray them...”
“Good. Then make sure that they can't raise the alarm with their devices. The Vigilantes are mine, not theirs.”
“Roger that!”
She closed her cellphone. She observed the underground parking of the bank building. She was about to go into action.
**************
“Apologies. We're the environmental inspectors. We have to check this room.” Clover said when they entered the office.
The room was small, with a desk, three chairs, and a few shelves.
Emily, the blond-haired employee, nodded. “Please be quick, then.” She was seated behind the desk. It probably was her office. The other light-chestnut-haired employee, Shirley, was sitting in a chair in front of the desk.
Clover and Posy closed the door. They were using their safety helmets to hide their faces. They put the tool box on the floor.
The two vigilantes pretended to look at the window behind Emily and Shirley, though in truth it was simply a pretext to move behind their backs.
The bank employees weren't suspicious at all. They were talking with each other, eagerly discussing business plans.
Clover moved a little further to be able to grab Emily, while Posy stayed a little behind to have Shirley within her reach.
After sharing one last glance, the two vigilantes striked.
The bank employees were completely taken by surprise. Before they were able to scream, get up from their seats, or even understand what was going on, their attackers were on them.
Clover immobilized Emily's head, throat, and carotic arteries with her arms and applied a tight sleeperhold. Posy did the same with Shirley.
Their victims were gurgling. The sound wasn't pleasant to listen to, especially since these two were innocent bystanders who simply had the bad luck of being in the wrong place at the wrong moment. However, Clover and Posy were confident in their skills. They knew how to apply the hold to be sure to not inflict grievous harm. And, while not painless, this type of blood choke was at least quick. Mentally, they counted the seconds.
In record time, the two employees passed out.
“I'm glad we practiced that move for months...” Posy commented.
Klenia herself, who taught them that sleeper-hold, was impressed by how quickly they mastered it. Clover and Posy were fast-learners. According to their teacher, they were naturals.
Emily and Shirley were laid on the floor, then swiftly stripped of their bank employee outfits. Clover took the blonde's clothes, while Posy took the brunette's.
Once her shoes, her blue jacket and business pants, and her white v-neck shirt were removed, Emily was left wearing only a scarlet red g-string with black lacy edges and a matching balconette bra as well as red socks. As for Shirley, her heels, light grey pantyhose, pink dress, and white shirt were pulled off; revealing fuchsia briefs and a champagne full-cup bra. Posy didn't touch the ribbon in her hair thouh; she didn't want to ruin her hairstyle.
The two vigilantes used the rolls of tape in their toolbox to immobilize Emily's and Shirley's limbs. They taped their legs from the ankles to the knees, and their arms from the elbows to the fingers. They wrapped tape around each woman's lower face to gag them after filling the mouth with a rag. They put a strip of cloth over each woman's closed eyelids and secured it with tape, a way to blindfold them without having tape directly in contact with their eyebrows.
Clover and Posy dragged the two bank employees in a corner of the office.
**************
Piper was patrolling the corridors alone.
Perhaps Roberta was right... Perhaps she was being paranoid... To even have access to these corridors, people had to have their identity checked.
However, the brown-haired guard couldn't help but feel that something was wrong. She had a hunch.
Perhaps I can check the rooms while waiting for Roberta's return...
**************
Clover and Posy dropped their worker jumpsuits on the floor and hid them under Emily's desk, alongside with the t-shirts, the work shoes and the safety helmets.
“Careful. Your employee's waking up.” Posy said to Clover.
“Well, she's gagged and blindfolded. There's no risk.”
The blond bank employee tried to speak. “Mfff! Mffmmm! Plmmmhhh!”
“We're sorry.” Posy said to her. “Well, at least if you two are honest bankers. But we need your clothes and your passcard.”
The blonde shook her head and still tried to say something.
Posy and Clover chose to ignore her. They changed clothes. Posy put on Shirley's stockings, light pink dress, and white long-sleeved shirt; while Clover slipped into Emily's white shirt, and blue business pants and jacket. They put on their respective victim's shoes.
"MHHH! MHHH!"
However, when the blond employee started to make even more noise, the two vigilantes decided that they couldn't ignore her anymore.
“Listen. If you don't agree to keep quiet, we'll have to knock you out again...” Clover warned her.
The blonde shook her head.
“Is she trying to say something important to us?”
Suddenly, Posy understood why she was trying to get their attention. “Clover...” She pointed at the light-chestnut-haired bank employee.
Shirley was conscious.
She was also spasming. The two vigilantes could see her try to breath through her nose... and have a hard time doing it.
“She's... She's having an asthma attack!” Posy exclaimed.
The blond employee probably knew about her colleague's condition. Even though she couldn't see her, she knew she had to try to tell them about it in case she had an attack.
And when she heard that her friend was indeed having an asthma attack, she made even more noise to attract their attention.
Clover cursed.
Posy panicked. “She's... She's suffocating! What do we do? What do we do?!”
Clover grabbed her friend by the shoulders. “First, you calm down. Search her purse. She must have an inhaler. I'll remove her gag in the meantime.”
“Y... Yes!”
Clover rushed to the light-chestnut-haired woman's side and quickly started to remove the tape wrapped around her mouth.
At the same time, Posy was hastily looking inside the purse.
“This sort of things never happened before!” she muttered to herself.
Emily was keeping still now. However, Posy didn't have the time to ungag her and ask her if she knew where the inhaler was.
Clover removed the last strip of tape sealing Shirley's mouth and removed the piece of cloth filling it. The employee gasped and tried to breath through the mouth, but she was coughing and wheezing, too breathless to speak.
“I found it!” Posy suddenly exclaimed. She approached with the inhaler. “Quick, make her breath...”
“Hands up, criminals!”
The two vigilantes froze. A woman had just entered the room.
It was Piper.
The guard was probably attracted by the noise they made in their frantic attempts to find the inhaler.
**************
Posy was the first to try to speak. “Listen, we have to...”
“I said freeze! Don't move or I'll shoot!”
“No! Wait! This isn't a ploy...”
“I won't fall for your tricks. I recognize you now. You're the women who mugged me at the charity gala!”
Clover lost patience. She glared daggers at Piper. “Look, this woman is having an asthma attack and if my friend doesn't give her her inhaler in time, she may DIE. So shoot us if you want, but we're not going to stand still.”
The brown-haired security guard hesitated. She looked at the breathless bank employee. Finally, she nodded. “Fine. Make her breath her inhaler. I'm watching you.”
Posy put the opening of the inhaler in the woman's mouth and pressed the spray several times. She and Clover waited anxiously a few moments. Posy had to repeat the process a few times.
To their relief, the asthma attack finally stopped. The woman's body relaxed and her breath became regular again.
“Thank Goodness...” Posy whispered.
“Lay on the floor with you hands on the head.” Piper intervened. “I'll call an ambulance once you're both secured.”
The brown-haired security guard pressed a button on her walkie talkie to raise the alarm.
However, neither she nor the two vigilantes noticed that the red dot didn't start to flash...
Clover and Posy shared a glance.
“You should better comply.” Piper added. “The judge will be attentive to the fact that you chose to save this woman's life, but only if you don't resist arrest now.”
“I suppose we don't have the choice...” Clover said with a sigh.
She and Posy were however watching for the slightest opening. Piper was maybe armed, but she was alone and they were two.
However, their hopes were dashed when a second security guard entered the room.
**************
The security guard was short; and had black hair, green eyes, and a light skin.
“Roberta! Your timing couldn't have been more perfect!” Piper exclaimed. “Help me restrain these uniform stealers...”
Roberta looked around, smiled... then suddenly drew a cutter that she was hiding on her and pressed the blade against Piper's throat.
The brown-haired security guard froze. “R... Roberta?”
Clover and Posy immediately tried to get up, but two women dressed as delivery women entered the room after Roberta. The first had shoulder-long wavy loose auburn hair, green-hazel eyes, a fair light skin and a round-shaped face. The second, slightly taller and broader had closely-cropped black hair, dark brown almond eyes, and a tanned skin. The guns they were pointing at the two vigilantes weren't fake.
“You have three seconds to drop your weapon, or I'll offer you a second smile.” Roberta said to Piper, pressing the blade of the cutter against her throat.
“But why...?”
“One.”
“Why did you betray...?”
“Two.”
Piper dropped her handgun.
“Clever choice.”
Roberta grabbed a pair of zip-ties to tie Piper's wrists. However, she had underestimated the brunette's fighting spirit – as well as her training.
Piper took advantage of her opponent's second of distraction. In one fluid motion, she pushed back Roberta's arms, making her drop her cutter, and turned to face her.
The brunette immediately jumped Roberta, before her accomplices could react, trying to grab her and use her as a human shield. In the brief scuffle, Piper suddenly grabbed Roberta's hair and pulled them.
However, things didn't go as she planned...
To Piper's surprise, there was no resistance. She actually peeled off the skin of Roberta's face!
Because of the strength she put in her move, and since there was no resistance, Piper lost balance and fell on her ass on the floor.
“What the...? It's... a mask!” she exclaimed.
One of the fake delivery women pointed a gun at her.
“No need to get bloody.” Fake-Roberta said to her accomplice, to stop her from shooting. “Let the heroine have her moment.”
“You're not Roberta...” Piper whispered.
Indeed, while the woman was roughly around Roberta's size and build, she had closely-cropped copper red hair. There was a big birthmark on the right side of her forehead.
“Now, now, this is one clever girl...” the unmasked impostor commented with a chuckle.
“You're the impostor who stole Hazel's identity two months ago!” Piper added.
“And you jokers fell for it a second time! Perhaps you should check each other's faces more regularly? Sure, it's smart to do it at the beginning of the shift. But then, what happens when a guard is replaced during her shift? Also, I prefer the term 'supervillainess', if you don't mind.”
“I can't help but feel that we're missing some context here...” Posy, who was still forced to lay on the floor with Clover, intervened. “Who are you exactly and what do you want with us?”
The impostor looked at her. “Now, that's a tough question, 'cause I still don't have a true supervillainess name. 'Chameleon' was already taken, so I actually made a strawpoll on the Internet to let all my fans choose.”
“Yeah... All six of them.” one of her henchwomen whispered. The other snickered.
“Though for now they can't seem to decide between Copycat, Sideswipe or F2F.”
“F2F?”
“Face-two-Face, duh!”
“You forgot Blender.” the black-haired henchwoman intervened with a sly smile.
The impostor glared at her and groaned between her clenched teeth. “We've already discused that. A blender is a kitchen appliance, not a supervillainess name.”
Posy blinked. “Are you for real?”
The supervillainess whose name was going to be either Copycat, Sideswipe of T2F, but certainly not Blender, chuckled at her. “As real as it gets. A true supervillainess in the flesh. And I must say I'm glad to have been able to go against vigilantes. In a way, you're some kind of heroines, so it's natural that we...”
The henchwoman with auburn hair cleared her throat.
“Anyway... My henchwomen and I are here to offer you a little trip.” She made a gesture of the hand. “Girls, truss them up. Remember that our employer wants them alive and in one piece. She wants to deal with them personally...”
“What about the security guard?” one of the fake delivery women said while pointing at Piper.
“She's seen my face. We take her with us. She'll be a collateral damage.”
“And the two bank employees?”
“Well, they're lucky they were blindfolded. Leave them here. Gag the brunette though.”
“This woman just had an asthma attack!” Piper objected. “We have to call an ambulance for her!”
“And I'm supposed to care?”
“At least, leave her ungagged so she can breath!” Posy intervened.
“I'll see. Depending on wether you three behave or not.” the impostor answered.
Clover, Posy, and Piper gave up. They didn't try to resist when the henchwoman disguised as a delivery girls zip-tied their wrists and their ankles.
“Where is the real Roberta? What did you do to her?” Piper asked.
“I broke her neck and threw her body in a dumpster.”
The brown-haired guard gagged. “What?”
“Ha! You should have seen the look on your face! Priceless! Don't worry. I just knocked her out, bound and gagged her, and stashed her in the maintenance closet of the underground parking.”
“You...”
“It's not like she, or any of your friends, could help you anyway. We've hacked the frequence of your walkie talkies. We disactivated the alarm.”
Piper's eyes widened.
“Anyway...” the impostor opened the office door.
A third henchwoman, also disguised as a delivery woman, arrived in the corridor. She was tall, with a fit muscular athletic-looking body. She had neck-long jet black hair, short with the exception of one longer lock falling on each side of her face and on her shoulders, dark eyes, and a white skin.
She was also pushing a trolley on which there was a long wooden crate. Big enough to carry several people.
“Just the time to give you a little injection of sleeping drug, and the three of you will be ready for a nice cosy trip...” the self-proclaimed supervillainess exclaimed.
Wrists and ankles zip-tied, Clover, Posy and Piper couldn't do anything.
“How did you pass all that through security...?” the guard still asked.
“Now, now, as if I was going to reveal you my tricks... Now, time for your shot. And remember, no crying!”
**************
Katniss and Octave changed shift twenty minutes ago. They weren't watching the main entrance anymore: they were now patrolling the lower floors of the bank building and the underground parking.
Currently, they were walking in the underground parking. The place was empty, save for parked cars.
“Man! My ribs still hurt.” Octave was complaining.
“Well, you shouldn't have mentioned to Reyna the time she was mugged for disguise at the Institute.”
“Such a bad temper...” Octave shook his head. “Too bad Felice was the one who found her though. I wish I was here to see it. Must have been a sight to behold...”
“Pervert.”
“Of course not! Since she likes me...”
“She hates your guts.”
“To hide her true feelings. Women tend to do that.”
“So you're telling me that all the women who can't stand you secretly like you? Then you must be a real ladies man...” Katniss retorted.
“Low blow. I think I liked it better when you were still shy.”
“And I liked it better when you... Wait! Did you hear that?”
Both guards listened attentively.
“Sounds like a bang.” Octave chuckled. “He! He! Bang...”
Katnis ignored him. “It comes from this maintenance closet.”
Something, or more likely someone, was banging on the metallic door.
Katniss opened the door.
A bound-and-gagged body fell in front of her. Though, luckily for the trussed up woman, she landed on her side and not on her face.
The woman was short; and had black hair, green eyes, and a light skin. She was wearing lime green bikini panties and a white comfort bra. For some reason, her impersonator also allowed her to keep her black tank top.
She was bound with zip-ties and several layers of tape wrapped around strategic parts of her body, and was tape-gagged.
Given her bare feet, Katniss suspected that her socks were currently a part of the gag, and were filling her mouth.
“Roberta?!” Octave exclaimed.
“Mphh! Grmmff! Gmmfff! Mghh! Mhhh! Fhcmhh!” the woman retorted.
Katniss pushed the man away. “Don't look! Don't look! Don't look!” she barked.
“Fine! Fine! Fine! I'm not looking!”
**************
Clover brutally opened her eyes.
She immediately noticed that her wrists and her ankles were zip-tied, but she wasn't gagged.
At least, I am still wearing clothes, that's always a plus...
Apparently, she was in the back of some van. The vehicle seemed to be moving. It made her think of a prison transport van – though she doubted that the so-called supervillainess who captured them worked for the authorities.
Clover tried to keep a cool calculating head, like when she was planning their latest operations. Her first priority was to find out what happened to Posy and if she was unharmed.
She quickly scanned her surroundings. Light was entering through a tainted window.
A familiar figure was lying next to her. “Posy... Posy! Are you alright?” Clover whispered. She gave a few nudges with her bound feet to her friend.
The busty woman groaned, but opened her eyes. “I feel like I've downed a bottle of alcohol all by myself...” She shook her head. “Where are we?”
“In some kind of transport van.”
“It looks metallic. We can maybe try to bang for help...?” Posy said.
“You're wasting your time.” a voice on their left suddenly intervened.
It was Piper. The brown-haired guard, still wearing her uniform but having been divested of all her weapons, was also zip-tied. She was sitting in the opposite corner.
“The army has similar vehicles.” Piper added. “They are soundproof. Nobody can hear us from outside.”
“Great... I suppose this is why they didn't bother to gag us. They must really want to flaunt their superiority over us...” Posy complained.
“The impostor who took the appearance of your colleague didn't strike me as the type of person who would have access to such means..." Clover intervened while looking at Piper. "I don't think many people can afford a type of vehicle reserved to the army...”
“She's probably working for someone else.” Piper explained. “I've read her criminal profile, and she's not the criminal mastermind-type. More something akin to a mercenary, so...” The brown-haired woman shook her head. “I really shouldn't be telling you this. We're not on the same side.”
“Given the circumstances, don't you think we should agree to have a temporary truce?” Clover retorted.
Piper hesitated, but then nodded. “I suppose you're right. This woman calls herself Catalina, but her real name – according to the files Primrose showed me – is Katherine GreenHills. Comes from a traditional Ares family. You know, one of these huge families who basically own the village they live in and all the fields around it... Like the BlackHills or the Etaines. Katherine refused to volunteer in the Olympian army after the end of her military service, like her father wanted. She ran away from home, went to Okéanis where Olympian laws were laxer. Tried to become a stage actress. It didn't work out. So she became designer and builder of sets and props instead. She proved to have a natural talent in that field, especially when it came to masks and wigs. That's all I know about her past. At one point, she chose to embrace a life of crime and she disappeared from the radars.”
“So, basically, we have a failed actress who's now living her fantasy of playing a villainess?” Posy asked.
“Pretty much, yes.”
“Great! We're screwed...”
“She's not the one we should be afraid of.” Clover intervened. “We should be afraid of the person who's employing her.”
“You know who she is?” Piper asked.
“There's only one person who'd be interested in capturing us without refering to the law.” Clover answered.
Posy paled. “Roxane Barca.” she whispered.
Last edited by rufusluciusivan on Thu Feb 25, 2021 10:15 am, edited 2 times in total.
Ah, I see it didn't take long for Catalina and her crew to cross over into "Vigilantes". I suspected it was her early on, and it's interesting to see her play off the Posy/Clover duo.
The highlight of this chapter was the takedown of Maggie and Luan. I like the idea of these two inspectors having unrequited feelings for each other, as well as the use of two distinct techniques (chloroform and injection) to take them down. Clover and Posy really know how to lend variety when it comes to knocking out their victims.
I see you found a use for the "asthma attack" scenario. I have to say, I don't see myself putting a scene like that in one of my stories anytime soon. A little too disturbing and "real" for what I usually try to write as fun scenes. I like exploring the moral quandaries of uniform stealing, but stuff like that doesn't work for me.
This was another fun and well-written chapter, though I have to say I'm starting to feel a bit confined by the use of the same group of characters in these last few chapters and in "Supervillainess". Piper, Annabeth, Hazel, Roberta, and so on. I was kind of hoping to see more characters from the earlier stories (though they obviously don't have to be central ones). I definitely like these characters, but it feels like we should give some other women a chance to get mugged for their uniforms.
I'm glad you were able to identify her early on simply thanks to her lines. I was hoping readers would be able to guess. Honestly, she wasn't supposed to reappear so soon when I wrote her short story, but I just found this perfect spot for her to act as Roxane's muscle so...
During the writing, Luan's and Maggie's scene was indeed the one on which I spent the most time, and I liked adding the little detail of each having feelings for the other while being too unsecure to confess... without knowing that the other felt the same. Who knows. Maybe they will quickly appear in the next post(s), so we can see if this experience brought them closer?
I see what you mean by the story becoming confined. I had so much fun using the characters from Primrose Security that I neglected to add more variety. Thanks for pointing that out! Though a few characters from earlier stories are supposed to be featured in the next parts of this story, it's as muggers. (Not telling you who this is, just that this isn't Team Aster.) However, I guess that I can also try to see if I can bring back older characters to provide sets of clothes. Would spare me the trouble of inventing new characters!
Yes indeed, I used the 'asthma attack' scenario we've discussed in a previous exchange of comments. While I see why you wouldn't want to include such a scene, in my opinion this scene is a perfect start to explore the moral quandaries of uniform stealing. Precisely because it's gritty. I think it's especially interesting because it happens with characters who identify themselves as 'good", but who are now confronted with the fact that their actions may also hurt innocent - truly hurt them, as in put their lives in jeopardy. Especially with Posy, who was more excited and never truly fully realized that they could inflict long-lasting harm. I know you really like exploring the moral quandaries of uniform stealing stories, so I can't resist giving you a sneak peek of a discussion resulting from this event, because I can't wait to have your opinion (and because, depending on work, I have no idea when I'll have the time to finish it... it can be this week much like it can be at the end of the month or even later...) No context, only the dialogues, so there shouldn't be spoilers, but people who aren't interested can just ignore the last part of the comment:
“I was trained in hand to hand combat.” Piper explained. “That includes techniques mostly used by infiltrators. If you want to defeat your enemy, you have to know how they fight.”
“Enemy. Isn't the word a little too strong? You know, you and I aren't so different. We both fight for justice!” Posy answered.
“That woman who nearly died because of an asthma attack will probably disagree... if she was rescued in time.” Piper retorted.
Posy lowered her head. “It wasn't supposed to end this way... I truly thought that we would never inflict long-lasting harm to anyone... We... we didn't anticipate she would... I didn't want to hurt her! I didn't want to hurt anyone! I thought she would simply spend a few uncomfortable hours at most, then be rescued and go on with her life... Just like all the times we had to... mug innocent people to try to bring down Roxane...”
Piper sighed. “Listen. I'm not questioning your sincerity. I believe you when you say that you didn't think you would inflict long-lasting harm. I also believe you when you say that you thought you were doing it for the greater good. And perhaps you did some good on the way. But you have to accept that the days when freelance infiltration and uniform stealings were the weapons of the good guys are over. The civil war is over. Law inforcement is no longer on the side of a violent authoritarian government. You can't substitute yourself to them. Infiltration and uniform stealings are now supposed to be supervised practices, only used while following a strict set of rules and only by authorized government agents.”
Piper looked at Posy in the eyes.
She added: “Infiltration isn't what you think. It isn't supposed to be a fun glamorous game. It's a war tactic. In essence, it is meant to hurt someone, either a person or an organization. After Olympus' fall, the teams of infiltrators active before and during the civil war benefitted from an impunity, the same way a soldier wouldn't be accused of murder if they killed someone during a battle. Because that's what they were. Soldiers. And the truth is, people also got hurt during these infiltrations. Some infiltrators even used lethal means. And even at the hands of those who didn't, there's bound to be at least some victims that were inflicted long-lasting harm – at least psychologically.”
“The point wasn't to harm them. We were trying to bring down Roxane Barca.”
“You can't substitute yourself to the justice system.” Piper concluded.
“If the justice system did its work, then Roxane Barca wouldn't still be free.” Posy retorted. “She helped terrorists who tried to bomb my city, and who kept Clover and I captive.”
“Then I guess you remember how you felt when you were their captive?" Piper retorted. "The women you mugged probably felt the same way.”
This time, Posy didn't answer.
There, curious to hear your thoughts ; or to see if something like that could happen in your stories. It could be interesting to have characters like Prema or Carolyn confront your main heroines (I mean, even more than what Prema started to do) and push them to their limits. Though if you choose another way, I'd still be excited to read it.
Well let's be honest, Roxanne's little trick is an nearly as old as time itself, but I'm looking forward to seeing Clover making Roxanne realize that power only gets you so far.
That was really cool, seeing the exact point in time played out by the reactions of both Clove and Roxanne, nicely done.
I absolutely love that entire scene with Roxanne and her "guest", the whole scene just screamed perfection, the interactions was as shady as they come and it really made it feel whole unique and genuine, none of it felt forced and you added just enough to keep me wondering who this lady might. As you know I deliberately avoid comments before I finished reading because I don't want a single thing being spoilt for me.
Hahaha, I found it funny that both Maggie and Luan are both secretly envious that one has what the other wants while not realizes what they themselves have. To top it all off they'll have to see other bound and gagged rubbing it in each other's faces, I guess it's just going to be one of those days for them.
No. Please, have Mercy, I had just finished mentally blocking that song from your last chapter hahaha. Pure evil.
I can't wait to find out who these new almost hunters are, I get the feeling that even though they praise Primrose that they secretly have their own agenda or in it for some other reasons, I could be wrong but it's just the impression I'm getting, I'm enjoying putting the pieces of this together in mind and I can't wait to see how much I got right or how much I got wrong. This is why I love your stories, it's just phenomenal writing.
Oh no, I still think Posy will ask a member of security for access. Just not in the way it was intended. Primrose once again fascinates me, the regulations, the timing and professionalism of it all is really good. Very enjoyable.
You'd think with all these primrose security forces around the actual staff themselves wouldn't take a bit more care with their surroundings in case they themselves become the unwilling donor of an infiltrators next disguise, but I guess old habits die hard, amazing scene I loved the descriptions of Emily and Shirley.
I see Piper's curiosity is getting the better of her, but she should know, it's always unwise to go alone just in case your hunch is right. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next with Piper.
WHOE, threw a complete curve ball at me there with Shirley having an asthma attack like that. In truth though you touched on a very strong possibility here, some women who infiltrators take down probably do suffer from Asthma so it's actually quite nice if not shocking to see you include some real life possibilities, adds a whole new layer of realism to your work, you take risks and they all seem to pay off, I was genuinely starting to fear for Shirley's safety as it went on. Also I'm pleased Piper's conscience prevailed and she allowed to give Shirley her inhaler
HAHAHAHA, I see why little off the top of my head decisions got a little shout out there, well played sir, well played indeed.
Hhhhmmm I've read it a second time just to confirm my hunch, but is that Catalina making a very welcomed appearance, you hid this one very well, I didn't catch on until near the very end. Very well done.
This has been an absolute treat to read through this chapter, this story just continues to get better and better, your characters are full of life and their world is just great. I find myself again wanting more and looking forward to the next chapter, the setting, the dialogue, the characters and of course the USB scenes themselves were all written tremendously and honestly I really hope more members find time to read through this, because it's amazing.
I like that preview scene a lot. It's a nice encapsulation of the moral problems of uniform stealing and ties them in nicely with the background of the characters' world. Interesting that the world's law enforcement still utilizes uniform stealing while "following a strict set of rules." Perhaps we could have a scene or two where authorized law agents employ the tactic? It would provide a nice demonstration and emphasize the contrast between the officers and the Vigilantes.
As a matter of fact, I am working on a short story that will in part explore some of the moral issues of uniform stealing. The first chapter should be published quite soon.
trackman: Roxane's still here. And she also partly owes it to the positive reaction she got with some readers. Indeed, her interactions and lines are a delight to write, so I didn't regret keeping her around. Having her and Clover's reactions being displayed in parallel was a good way to introduce this new story. I liked this effect.
Luan and Maggie are indeed envious of each other's 'physical assets', but mostly because each think that the other would finally notice her if she had them... Who knows? Maybe seeing each other in that state of undress and peril will push them to finally overcome their mental blockade, and will make something blossom between them... This may be an idea for a little red thread for this story.
Old habits indeed die hard, though it's realistic. Emily and Shirley definitively should have taken a few lessons from their guards - though I guess they thought they didn't risk anything, since professionals were protecting them. Primrose Security's security protocols are indeed draconian, but the point briefly shown with Emily and Shirley (or with Luan's and Maggie's brief interaction about how they're "very zealous" and Piper's and Roberta's discussion) is that to the general public, their strictness is regarded as slightly odd and exaggerated. Clearly, Primrose and her team are the only ones aware of the kind of story they live in!
The scene with the asthma attack, I had it in a corner of my mind for quite some time, and it will hopefully lead to interesting moral dilemnas for the main characters (a preview above in my answer to tirepanted). Glad the tension was well-done. Piper's conscience prevailed, but given her personality this was a given. The main point was more to illustrate that Clover's and Posy's conscience prevailed, as they chose to put the success of their mission in peril to save a random person they don't know.
I didn't expect to be able to feature Catalina so easily in the Vigilante storyline, but it was a pleasant surprise to find a way. Indeed, a corrupt businesswoman needs hired muscles. Indeed, she got the idea for potential names frome someone, though unfortunately she can't seem to choose one for now.
tirepanted: Glad you enjoyed it. I look forward to read your short story. Wondering if it will feature Bobbie and her friends. It would tie in nicely with her character arc. Without giving away too much information, "authorized agents" should be featured soon.
first of all, thanks for the new story installment... words are unable to describe my deepest gratitude for keeping alive this part of the board , the real core -no offense to anyone active in other forums-
but I admit it I don't recognize this forum anymore...thing are developping into an unexpected direction
1) Trackman characters are worried about what happens to their writer and creator
2) Tirepanted characters, so far joyfully busy with becoming from victims to stealers - are now exhausting themselves about the 'moral implications ' of the Uniforms Theft
3) and now the Rufusluciusivan's characters, - impervious to the effects of the 'Tirepanted paradigm' - are forced into a different way , because the 'authorities' are studying anti uniform stealers tactics ... and the protagonists are now acting in a habitat where the uniform theft is somewhat overtaken and left behind
thus, in other words, all these three groups are growingly aware to be characters trapped in a USB universe! they are looking at us, the USB members ! they can see us!
In truth though you touched on a very strong possibility here, some women who infiltrators take down probably do suffer from Asthma so it's actually quite nice if not shocking to see you include some real life possibilities, adds a whole new layer of realism to your work, you take risks and they all seem to pay off, I was genuinely starting to fear for Shirley's safety as it went on. Also I'm pleased Piper's conscience prevailed and she allowed to give Shirley her inhaler 
