A Gala to Remember - Marvel: Earth-USB Saga (Part 19)
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 11:57 am
PS: As you probably have noticed, we jumped straight from Part 17 to Part 19 on this section. That’s because Part 18 has been written by tirepanted, so make sure you read his chapter before reading that one:
viewtopic.php?t=10719
That being said, I hope you’ll enjoy this story:
**************
A Gala to Remember
**************
Magneto prided himself in being a collected person. He wasn’t the sort of man who flaunted his emotions even when he was angry. It took people as well-versed in deception as Taylor or Mystique to read his mood.
Today, Magneto was beyond angry. He was livid.
And yet, he still behaved in a quiet manner.
“It appears a team has been assembled to counter our every moves. The hostages and the theft of Ultron’s technology were supposed to get our main enemies off our backs.”
“They did. These girls aren’t affiliated with the AVENGERS, SHIELD, or the Champions of Europe.” Taylor intervened.
Magneto raised an eyebrow. She had his attention.
“One was Black Cat. She wasn’t in costume, but I’d recognize her way of moving anywhere. She has teamed up with Ghost Spider.”
“You sure?”
“She too wasn’t in costume, but there aren’t many young women who can shoot webs.”
Mystique chuckled to herself. “You’d be surprised...”
“The redhead, I don’t know her. She’s just some nobody.”
“A nobody resourceful enough to foil our plans.” Magneto dryly commented. “And about whom we don’t have any information, so we can’t even act against her.”
“Anonymity has its advantages.”
Magneto raised a hand to close the topic. “No matter who this girl is, she and her friends are as well-versed as you in disguise and infiltration. We can’t afford to be subtle with that kind of opponents. They’ve foiled us twice because we added unnecessary steps to our plan.”
Taylor raised an eyebrow. She knew already where this conversation was heading. How many times had she heard her higher-ups dance around the topic when she was still a government black op and assassin?
“This time, we’ll be direct. During Kelly’s final big fundraising gala, at Hutton Brickyards. Your team will infiltrate the security, open up a path… and you’ll gun him down.”
Mystique grinned, but Taylor wasn’t impressed. “I thought you didn’t want a martyr.” she retorted. “That’s why you sent Sarah to make him have an emotional breakdown on live TV.”
“I’ll settle for the next best thing. I wanted to avoid galvanizing the anti-mutant agenda, but at least with Kelly out of the picture Jefferson will escalate things for sure. Once the conflict crosses the point of no return… Then we’ll have won.”
His head was full of plans and projects. He was already dreaming of the new perfect world he intended to build for mutants.
But all Taylor could think of was how Sarah would look at her after sensing she killed an other person...
“Where are the inhibitors?” she interrupted Magneto.
“What do you mean?”
“Did you forget? I’m not a government pawn anymore. I’m a mercenary. Mercenaries don’t work for free.”
Magneto frowned. Clearly, he didn’t like her attitude. But he didn’t put Taylor in her place, most likely because he too had a soft spot for Sarah.
“We’re making progress.”
“I want them done when this mission ends. They’ll be my payment for Robert Kelly’s head.”
**************
It was a spin-off of a popular sci-fi franchise like many others. A story of Empire and Rebels and a War in the Stars, except it had a special edge to it.
Among the main characters of the animated show, two characters were the big talk of some specific forums on the Internet.
Both were part of a ragtag group of rebel heroes and do-gooders fighting against the might of the Empire. One was a repentant former smuggler, the other was an acrobat-turned-rebel
Jysell Alhena Charil-Pol was a young female human with a light skin, smooth shoulder long black hair, and brown eyes. There was still something innocent and juvenile about her looks, with her round-shaped face and rosy cheeks. Back when she was a criminal, she had used her appearance to deceive many victims. While she genuinely regretted her past, she however still retained her skills at smuggling, blaster shooting and deception – and was now putting them to use against the Empire.
Eileen Rulqh’Zan was a human woman with white skin and blue eyes, an athletic body type from a past as an acrobat, and blonde hair in a pigtail style. She was taller and fitter than her partner, and better at hand-to-hand combat or physical tasks.
Both were known on the Internet for their fondness – and the show’s fondness – for infiltration and disguise tactics.
The camera shot showed an air vent grill being discreetly kicked open. The two women jumped onto the floor, and landed inside an empty storage room of the main Imperial command center of the Lothal system.
Jysell checked her tablet. “So far so good. DEE-20 hacked the cameras. I anticipate we have one hour before they notice and raise the alarm. The room in which they hold Minister Tua is over there.”
She exited the storage room, with her partner on the trail. It was the middle of the night. The building was quiet, with only the bare minimum of guards to patrol it.
“Entering is one thing, but how are we gonna leave with her?” Eileen whispered.
Jysell hushed her when she heard footsteps nearby, and took a glance across a corner.
There were two female officers wearing the Empire’s standard dark grey military uniforms. Their outfits consisted of a gaberwool uniform tunic, uniform trousers, a pair of black leather boots, a utility belt, and an Imperial kepi. Code cylinders and a rank insignia plaque were worn on the breast of the tunic.
One low-ranked officer had platinum blond hair and light blue eyes. She had a chin-long square-shaped haircut. The other officer was slightly taller. She had medium brown hair tied up into a military-like low bun, a light skin, and hazel eyes. Both were cute, but in the generic way of anime extras.
Jyseel smiled. “I have a solution. Why don’t we simply exit through the front gate and take a shuttle?”
Eileen also grinned at the bold plan. “Who’d think we’d be foolish enough to disguise ourselves and pretend we’re transferring the Minister?”
“Good thing then they don’t know we really are that dumb...”
Hiding around the corner and stalking their targets, they watched the two low-ranked officers unlock the automatic door of a storage room and enter. Jysell and Eileen ran after them. The automatic door closed right behind them.
The camera lingered on the closed metal panels.
Cartoonish off-screen punch noises and grunts followed suit.
One jump cut later, Jysell and Eileen were shown exiting the storage room. They were wearing the Imperial uniforms.
The camera lingered inside the storage room for a few seconds, showing the two Imperial officers lying on the floor in-between metal crates, unconscious and trussed up in their lingerie: light blue panties and t-shirt bra for the blonde, light pink panties and t-shirt bra for the brunette. Both were bound hands and feet with cables, and gagged with two strips of tape on the lips forming an X pattern.
The automatic door closed.
Charlotte paused the TV. “Can you believe how long it took this show to have an onscreen scene? Five times!” she complained.
"Yes, Charlotte. You say it every time, Charlotte. It's the third time this month."
"Yeah! But it's supposed to be THE show with the uniform thieves!"
Sarah didn’t answer. She simply turned louder the volume of the music she was listening on her I-pod. She often did that. And Charlotte didn’t mind.
An insightful person would have noticed Sarah’s emotional distress. Charlotte didn’t. But Sarah didn’t hold it against her.
Charlotte’s emotions were impaired. She could barely grasp concepts like guilt or shame, let alone recognize them in others. In many aspects, Charlotte was like a hyperactive child in the body of an adult, self-centered and scarcely able to emphasize with other people. At least she was a good-natured self-centered womanchild...
Sarah was withdrawn on herself.
Taylor had said this time would be different. This time they would only hurt the culprit, only hurt Robert Kelly. The plan had been to get Sarah close enough to him so that she would overflow his emotions and cause him to have a breakdown in live television. Nobody else would be harmed. The girls they had to mug would live.
But at the last minute, Black Cat, Ghost Spider and their sidekick had foiled everything...
Sarah remembered the redhead’s words. They still hurt. And the feelings they conveyed too. But what hurt the most was that Sarah knew the woman was right.
Sarah knew what other people felt when they were in pain or in distress. She knew what she made them feel. She knew how horrible it was.
When Charlotte resumed watching her episode, Sarah pressed her knees against her chest, and increased the volume of her headset.
Taylor opened the door. “We have a meeting with the rest of the team.”
“But the episode isn’t finished…” Charlotte complained.
Taylor grabbed the remote and turned off the TV.
“So unfair…”
“It’s important Charlotte. It’s about real infiltration.”
That lifted Charlotte’s spirit.
“Do we have to?” Sarah intervened.
Taylor looked at her. She understood well the double-meaning of the question. It wasn’t about this specific meeting. She sat next to Sarah, and put a hand on her shoulder.
“It’ll be the last one. Then we’ll have the inhibitors, and we’ll flee to Europe. The United States were a mistake.”
Sarah could sense Taylor’s concern. It reminded her of her parents, when they had noticed the odd things happening around her.
“Things will be fine. I’ll make sure they do.” Taylor concluded. “Now come with me. The others are waiting.”
Sarah nodded, but kept her doubts to herself. She too could tell a white lie to preserve someone’s feelings...
Taylor thought she could work for Magneto the time to get the inhibitors, but Sarah knew the truth.
Even if Taylor succeeded, even if she suppressed her powers, even if they fled the country...
It would never end.
**************
“We may not have arrested them, but at least this time it was a clear-cut victory…” MJ commented.
“We won a battle, but we may still lose the war.” Gwen interjected. “We’re still on our own. New York’s underworld is getting restless – Kingpin is at it again, and I’m convinced it’s part of a ploy to prevent Miles and Peter from getting involved. The AVENGERS are still after Magneto, and from what I heard he’s bought the services of heavy hitters.”
“Always glad to hear we’re the side-plot…” Felicia sarcastically butted in.
Gwen ignored her. “Both SHIELD and the Champions of Europe have become very pusillanimous about helping all of the sudden. I overheard Magneto has some sort of leverage against them.”
Felicia shrugged. “So what? It’s not like they were of great help anyway. We’ve done fine on our own until now.”
“I deduce Taylor’s team will strike again.” MJ intervened.
Gwen nodded. “Magneto must be getting impatient. Two times he tried subtlety, two times he failed. By now, he must have realized these failures are no coincidence and our team is systematically opposing his moves.”
“So?”
“So next time he’ll try the direct approach.”
“An assassination then.”
“Yes. During Kelly’s next – and last – fundraising gala at Hutton Bricks.”
“SHIELD’s algorithm again?”
“No. My own deductions.”
Neither Felicia nor MJ questioned Gwen’s judgment. She wasn’t the planner of the Spider Team for nothing. MJ was smart – except to notice the painfully obvious fact Peter was head over heels in love with her. Felicia was shrewd and clever. But Gwen…
Gwen was a league above them.
“The plan is to stop Taylor here and there.”
“A big political gala. Three different security details – four counting the regular staff of Hutton Bricks. And all of New York’s upper-crust gathered in one estate. Fancy gowns and expensive jewels everywhere.” Felicia smiled at the prospect of snatching a few. “What are we waiting for? Let’s make sure third time’s the charm!”
**************
Taylor didn’t like the idea of Mystique being part of the operation. She didn’t like the sight of the mutant sitting in-between Charlotte and Sarah, with her sarcastic smile.
The shapeshifter didn’t have her regular blue-skinned appearance – she had a plain-looking light skin, hazel eyes, and auburn hair – as neither she nor Magneto wanted ‘Team Awesome’ to know the identity of their employer.
Though Taylor was convinced Trapstr had deduced it by now – Michelle was insightful enough to read the clues, though she also was smart enough to play dumb. Screwball was too short-sighted to care. And as for Jenna, Taylor didn’t know. ‘Carpenter’ was a bit basic, but she was more clever than she let on.
Taylor showed her team a map of Hutton Bricks.
“Robert Kelly is employing a huge security detail. It’s made of four different groups. Silver Sable Security and the regular staff of Hutton Bricks will be stationed outside – SSS will patrol the park and the roof, the regular guards will watch the annexes. Orchis will be inside the main building. Kelly’s regular security detail will follow him in the reception hall.”
“That’s a lot of people.” Jenna remarked with a nervous smile.
“We have one advantage. These groups can’t stand each other. Therefore they barely know each other, and they’ll mostly be kept separated.”
The brunette seemed put a bit more at ease.
Taylor ignored the mocking glimmer in Mystique’s eyes. “Jefferson has also hired a couple of mercenaries – Lady Bullseye for sure, maybe Scorpia as well. They’re no super-powered individuals, but they’re still dangerous enough to be a threat to me if they’re not incapacitated. And once we’re inside, we’ll have to be even more careful.”
Trapstr raised eyebrows behind her sunglasses. “Why?”
“Kelly hired Finesse.”
“Never heard of her. Why did he bother to hire a no-name?”
“She’s a polymath.”
“Gesundheit.”
“It means she can learn a fighting style just by seeing it once. And she’s also a human lie detector.”
“Oh.” Trapstr shrugged. “Then I vote we just call it a day and go home.”
“She still needs to read your body language. She doesn’t have some magical ‘bullshit detecting’ powers. I assume Kelly will have her greeting the guests and touring the staff.”
“And how do we get rid of her?”
Mystique intervened for the first time. “You know. If you find someone too intimidating, try and picture them on the toilet.” she cryptically answered.
**************
Hutton Brickyards was the most recent and – currently – the most popular gala venue of New York’s countryside. It was a huge estate built next to the Hudson River, surrounded by a forest.
Its main building was a huge white manor in a meadow near the bank, of which the architecture drew inspiration from both European palaces and 19th plantation villas. A park, with a garden and a hedge maze, was surrounding it. There even was a small dock and a shed with jet-skis.
Next to the forest’s edge, there was a huge heated greenhouse with many gorgeous exotic plants. During some event, guests were allowed to visit it, and marvel at the rare plant specimens.
However, tonight nobody was supposed to visit it. Kelly had rented the manor, but not the greenhouse.
Still, the place wasn’t empty.
It was the evening. Night would only fall in a few hours. It was going to be long...
Cindy yawned so hard she actually teared up a little.
“I can’t believe they stationed us here… We’re supposed to be the security staff of the building!” she complained.
The guard gestured to designate the exotic plants around her and the glass walls of the greenhouse.
Cindy was a black-haired woman with a round-shaped neck bun and a round face. Her skin was light and her eyes were brown.
Her first colleague, named Octavia, shrugged. She was a light-brown-haired white-skinned blue-eyed woman with a chubby waist and short hair fashioned into a bob haircut and a side-swept bang. “It’s called ‘defense in depth’. It’s actually quite brilliant when you think about it.”
“Then why aren’t Orchis or Silver Sable Security manning this brilliant strategy?”
Iris, the third member of the group, intervened. “Because they’re all a bunch of jerks who think we’re beneath them, obviously.” She was a tall strawberry blonde, with a white skin, grey eyes, a few freckles on the cheeks, and oval-shaped glasses. Her haircut was an armpit-long, low and slightly bushy ponytail.
The three security guards were wearing the same outfit: a beige cap, a beige long-sleeved button-up uniform shirt, a black tie, a black sleeveless bulletproof vest with front pockets, beige trousers, and black shoes. A walkie-talkie was strapped onto the left shoulder strap of their vests.
“So unfair. We ARE the regular security! We watch the estate all year round! We’re maybe not elite mercenaries or presidential security details, but we’re the ones who know its layout the best!”
Octavia lost patience. “Oh, stop complaining please! I think we should count ourselves lucky.”
Cindy raised an eyebrow. She clearly wasn’t convinced.
“You know the rumor. Infiltrators have it after Kelly.” Octavia explained. “And who will be on the front line when they come looking for disguise? Not us! I wish all these girls good luck while we wait safely here!” She sniffed a rare orchid. “Plus, the smell is delicious. At least, we’re not stationed in the jet-skis warehouse like Julia and Annette.”
Cindy scratched her neck, pondering on that. “Now that you mention it… Maybe it’s not so bad! Right Iris?”
Iris didn’t answer.
Mostly because Iris had been knocked out with a neck-chop by a masked woman dressed in black, who had previously been hiding in-between the rare exotic plants of the greenhouse.
Cindy and Octavia stared at the sight, with their mouths agape. How could have that intruder entered? Not through the main door. But then how did she manage to go through a roof window?
They didn’t realize two more masked women were assaulting them in their back.
Thus, the security guards were swiftly dispatched with neck-chops, caught under the shoulders, and dragged out of sight.
**************
The three motionless security guards were laid onto the grass.
Felicia gently jabbed a sleeping dart in the junction between Octavia’s neck and shoulder. “Swinging in-between trees with webs and climbing wall powers are so OP. You should come with us more often, Gwen.” she joked.
“Why didn’t we use the sleeping darts immediately?” Mary-Jane remarked as they were sedating each unconscious security guard.
“They need a few seconds to knock out a woman. There was the risk one would have the time to press the alarm button on her walkie-talkie if she felt the sting.”
“Come on Red! Our moves were flawless. They barely felt anything.”
“We’re also going to bind them.” Gwen warned the redhead.
“But-”
“We’ve already had that conversation. Too much is at stake. I don’t want to take any risk.”
Mary-Jane wasn’t entirely convinced, but didn’t argue further.
They swiftly relieved the three security guards of their belts, shoes, shoulder radios, bulletproof vests, equipment, uniforms, and caps.
Cindy was left clad in white socks, bright red bikini panties, and a matching red demi-bra. Octavia was left wearing grey socks, black panties lace-adorned around the waistband strap, and a black bra with a lace floral pattern on the top half of the cups. Iris was reduced to white socks with blue horizontal stripes, blue boxer undershorts with a black waistband strap, and a white tank top.
Gwen then pulled out some zip-ties from her backpack, as well as some padded handcuffs and red ball-gags with air-holes and black straps. She had bought them all in a bondage store.
“Must have been an interesting shopping trip… Did you keep a few to spice things up with Miles?” Felicia slyly teased her friend. “Maybe webs get boring after a while?”
Gwen didn’t dignify her with an answer. Her cheeks did, however, blush slightly.
They used the handcuffs to restrain each woman’s wrists behind the back. Then, they zip-tied each guard’s ankles. Finally, they ball-gagged them.
“Feels weird using ball-gags.” Felicia commented.
Gwen shrugged. “If it eases MJ’s mind…”
“… or a secret fetish of hers.”
“You take that back! I asked for them because they can breathe through the rubber ball!”
Inside the heated greenhouse, there was a shed which contained the gardening tools and bags of fertilizers. The three friends concealed Octavia, Cindy, and Iris inside. Octavia’s and Cindy’s heads both lolled to the side, and each fell and rested onto a shoulder of Iris who was seated in the middle.
Felicia glanced surreptitiously at the glasses Iris was still wearing.
“Don’t even think about it.” MJ warned.
“I only steal the smarty glasses with scientists!” the cat burglar objected. “I have standards!”
They left the three security guards huddled together next to the sacks of fertilizers, closed the shed’s door, and began to slip into the women’s discarded uniforms.
“I wish we mugged some jerks from Orchis...” MJ mumbled to herself as she was putting on Octavia’s trousers.
“Might as well paint a target on our backs.” Felicia objected as she was doing the same with Iris’ pants. “If Magneto’s team is here, Orchis will be their top priority.”
“Besides, these guards are beneath notice.” Gwen explained as she was getting dressed in Cindy’s button-up uniform shirt. “Nobody cares about them tonight. They’ve been sent here because Orchis and Silver Sable didn’t want them in the way.”
“However, they still command authority over guests.” Felicia added as she was zipping Iris’ bulletproof vest. “And nobody is monitoring their actions closely.”
Mary-Jane grimaced as she finished dressing up. She looked a bit uncomfortable. And ironically it wasn’t because of the clothes.
“What’s eating you up, Red?” Felicia asked.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit too… easy?”
Black Cat scratched her chin. “You believe these three were a bait?”
“No. Something worst.” The redhead elaborated: “I mean, sure, we had to avoid the SSS patrols… and we were lucky Lady Bullseye was watching the main manor only… and we had Gwen’s powers to make things easier for us… But that’s the problem… Shouldn’t Orchis be expecting people of Gwen’s level? Surely, they know about Taylor… I mean, they’re the ones who had Sarah’s files!”
Gwen’s face was grim. “Jefferson is playing both sides.” she deduced. “He’s doing what Kelly expects of him, but without any zeal. I bet he wouldn’t mind it if Kelly was murdered by Magneto’s team… That way he could turn him into a martyr, and become the sole leader of the anti-mutant side...”
There was a short moment of silence.
“One more reason to butt in!” Felicia intervened with exaggerated cheerfulness to lift their spirits. “I certainly don’t want William Jefferson to have the last laugh!"
Her two friends smiled thinly.
“Right.”
Felicia raised a fist. “Go, Team Felicia!”
“We did not agree to that name!”
**************
Lady Bullseye – real name Maki Matsumoto – was stationed on a hunting stand in the middle of a park’s tree, at some distance of the main building.
The Japanese woman was an intimidating figure. Stern, grim-faced, with an eerily white skin and crimson red lips (with of course the help of some make-up), jet black hair tied up into a traditional bun with chopsticks, cold black eyes, and a thin body frame. She wore a black eye-mask, a black-and-white full body suit, and black boots and gloves. A target inspired by the symbol of the infamous villain Bullseye was painted with black ink on her forehead.
Formerly an assassin, currently a mercenary on probation, Maki’s way out of prison had been bought by William Jefferson in exchange of her services.
Usually, Lady Bullseye didn’t play the part of the sentry. Usually, she was the one who took out the sentries. Permanently. But she was a professional. She would do the job she was (handsomely) paid for without complaining. Not like that annoying Scorpia.
To kill time, Maki was pretending to aim at the Silver Sable Security mercenary patrolling the roof and the other SSS mercenaries patrolling outside the main building and near the tent they used as control center. For now, there was still enough light for her to not need the heat detector. She was mentally counting the number of opportunities she was having to snipe each sentry with a head-shot.
“Bang… You’re dead…” She smiled darkly to herself.
Of course, she wouldn’t do it. She was on probation, after all, and Jefferson had been crystal clear. She was only allowed to shoot intruders on sight. Not incompetent underlings. Still, it felt good to know her skills hadn’t grown rusty while in prison.
In the scope of her rifle, she suddenly caught a glance of a woman picking her nose.
Lady Bullseye was maybe too professional to complain about a job, but even a professional had her limits.
“This work is beneath me…” Maki muttered to herself.
The attack happened too fast. The mercenary didn’t have the time to react.
Something – a human body – jumped her from a branch above, and pinned her onto the wooden platform with her legs. Maki only got a glimpse of a woman dressed in camouflage clothes and silent soft boots.
How did she?! I didn’t hear her!
Maki’s assaulter grabbed the Japanese woman by the hair, and slammed her forehead against the wooden platform to daze her. The blow was brutal, but also delivered with cold surgical precision.
Lady Bullseye grunted, and saw stars. She was too dizzy to fight back. She felt an arm being wrapped around her throat. The chokehold cut her breath.
How could she sneak past me?! Who is she?!
**************
Taylor mentally counted the seconds. She blocked Lady Bullseye with her legs, and listened to Maki’s feet kicking the wooden platform. The kicks became slower and slower, then stopped. The Japanese woman went limp. Taylor waited long enough to be sure she wasn’t faking unconsciousness, but released her victim’s throat before she would suffer long-lasting brain damage.
Lady Bullseye’s body remained still, lying on the stomach.
Taylor injected Maki with a powerful paralyzing drug.
Only then did she relax. Taylor put fingers in her mouth, and mimicked a nocturnal bird’s specific whistle.
Then she got down to work. She pulled off Maki’s boots and gloves, and took off the mask. Then, she unzipped the black-and-white costume and peeled it off the Japanese mercenary’s unresponsive body.
She stopped once Maki was reduced to white boyshorts and a black bandeau bra. She however took the time to search Lady Bullseye’s underwear for concealed weapons – and indeed found small blades in the bra cups and the boyshorts.
Taylor suspected Lady Bullseye was the type to build immunity to poisons. Therefore, she grabbed a few zip-ties to tightly restrain her.
Taylor zip-tied Maki’s wrists behind her back, her thighs, her knees, and her ankles. She wrapped a rope around the woman’s chest to restrain her upper-arms with a shibari harness. She tied an other one around the calves, then she used a third rope to strictly hog-tie the Japanese assassin. Many layers of thick tape were used as a wrap-gag. Finally, she blindfolded the mercenary with several layers of tape, and plugged her ears.
Charlotte finished climbing the ladder as Taylor was dragging Maki in a corner of the platform to conceal her behind the railing.
“About time.”
The chubby shape-shifter opened her mouth.
“No excuse. Put on her outfit, and take her appearance.”
Charlotte adjusted the enhancer strapped around her shoulder. Her body jerked awkwardly until she became a carbon copy of Maki. Then, she took off her current clothes, and slipped into Lady Bullseye’s costume.
“I’ll regroup with Trapstr. Stay here until we call you. And no matter what she does, do NOT get close to her. Do not remove her earplugs or her blindfold. Do not remove ANYTHING. In fact, if she so much as moves, shoot her with your dart-gun. Twice.”
Charlotte nodded with a contrite facial expression the real Maki Matsumoto would most likely never have sported.
Still, at least Taylor knew she would listen. Sparks paid one last glance to the trussed up assassin, who was currently the very picture of helplessness, lying curled up on her side.
Maybe I should’ve killed that one...
It wasn’t like Lady Bullseye was an innocent angel who would be missed… Why did she even bother to let her live? It wasn’t like the act would make her miss a heartbeat.
Was it to give the (metaphorical) finger to Mystique?
Or maybe it was because Sarah would sense she had killed someone… Sarah who was already more withdrawn than usual because of their confrontation with Black Cat and her crew… The redhead’s words had strung true.
Taylor shook her head. She didn’t have time for doubts. She was a professional on a mission.
If she succeeded, then Sarah wouldn’t have to worry about her powers anymore. She would be free.
**************
Gwen’s idea to mug some girls of the regular security detail paid off. Sure, sometimes a guest would give them a passing glance, but nobody was regarding their presence in the main building as abnormal.
Though obviously they were careful to stay in the secondary corridors of the huge manor, and to steer clear of the reception hall. They didn’t want to catch the attention of Orchis or Silver Sable Security – as they were the only ones who could potentially see through their ruse.
For now, they hadn’t been able to detect any suspicious activity. (Well, save for theirs, of course.) Most guards inside were part of Orchis – apparently SSS mercenaries had been given the thankless shifts outside. However, they didn’t see anything.
Of course, they knew it didn’t mean much. Maybe Taylor and her crew simply hadn’t reached the inside of the building yet.
Gwen wasn’t satisfied with their current situation. They had managed to enter the main building, but she thought it wasn’t enough if they wanted to foil Magneto’s plan and stop Taylor’s crew once and for all. “We need a way to enter the main rooms of the estate.”
Orchis and Silver Sable, in spite of their many differences, indeed agreed on one thing: The regular security wasn’t allowed to ‘encroach on their territory’. If one dared to enter the reception hall, they’d be escorted outside – and in Gwen’s, MJ’s, and Felicia’s case they’d be outed as impostors.
“That means grabbing a couple of Orchis mercenaries.” MJ commented. The idea wasn’t bothering her.
“Guests would be easier.” Felicia argued.
MJ opened her mouth, but Gwen was faster. “Both have pros and cons. We clearly can’t be picky. We’ll jump at any opportunity.” Her eyes darted all around her. “I hope we come across Finesse. She’s maybe working for Kelly, but she’ll help us if we convince her we’re on the same side. She may even take us to Kelly himself… Would save us a lot of trouble.”
She stopped talking when she heard a group of loud boisterous women getting closer.
Five mercenaries of Orchis. Given how laid-back some were acting, it was ambiguous whether they were on patrol or had sneaked away to stuff themselves with food. However, their weapons weren’t for show.
Felicia bit her lower lip. Oh dear!
“Keep your head low.” she whispered to her friends.
Even with the helmets and yellow protective transparent visors, Felicia could recognize Marilyn and Ruth – the two mercenaries she had mugged when she was looking for Sarah’s files New York’s Orchis facility.
The three other mercenaries looked like a typical posse of mean girls – the blonde, the brunette, and the redhead, complete with mocking sneers. Contrary to Marilyn and Ruth, they were carrying a few petit fours.
“I assume some of these guards may have a beef with you, should they recognize you.” MJ deadpanned.
“The two on the left, yes. I thought they’d take some time off, actually.”
Gwen glanced at the women Felicia was mentioning. Her cheeks blushed slightly. “Oh dear…” she muttered.
MJ glared at her. “What?! You too?!”
“The one on the far left, yes. With the dour face.”
Felicia raised an eyebrow. “Oh right, you also met Marilyn. Almost forgot.”
“At the debate, yes.”
“But there was, what, three days in-between the heists…?” MJ muttered to herself.
“Some people just have bad luck. Or don’t know when to quit. Pick one.”
“Careful. They’re coming our way.”
Gwen, MJ, and Felicia kept a low profile, and were sure to not make eye contact when the group of Orchis got closer.
Fortunately, they were too engrossed in their conversation to pay attention to the three regular security guards.
Or, more precisely, the three mean-looking mercenaries were busy doing what mean girls did best. Catty remarks.
“Hey, Marilyn. Bet you prefer this new assignment.” the ringleader of the trio slyly commented as she was munching on a snack.
The other mercenary warily glanced at her. She was sensing a trap. “Why?”
“’Cause there’s no locker for you to be stuffed in.”
Marilyn’s face became crimson red.
The lead bully kept talking: “I mean… How many times has it happened to you already? I bet you’ve come to secretly enjoy it! First time was the mutie Firestar, and then Black Cat. And who was it again during the debate?”
“We don’t even know. Probably the first comer.” an other mean girl of the posse intervened.
The bully ringleader tutted and shook her head. “Just like with her men...”
“Eat a dick, Jill!”
“Oooh! Someone’s salty! No need to be shy. If that’s some bondage you want, I’d be happy to oblige. I have a few toys that’ll help you pleasure yourself a lot quicker… You won’t need to wait several hours in a locker to climax!”
The conversation was a bit appalling, but at least the women were distracted. Gwen and her two friends discreetly passed by them.
They felt a little relieved once the group of mercenaries were in their back. Now, they simply needed to-
“Hey, you three!” Jill suddenly called them.
Gwen, MJ, and Felicia froze.
“Yes?” the former asked carefully.
“You better not be thinking of sneaking inside the main hall to grab some snacks! I know you girls are useless, but at least show some dignity.”
Jill munched on her own petit four with a mocking smirk.
Gwen subserviently nodded. “Yes, ma’am. We’re on our way, ma’am.”
Jill snorted. “At least you know your place…” She made a shooing gesture of the hand. “Carry on then! The grown women are handling the security.”
She laughed with her two friends as Gwen, MJ, and Felicia scurried off.
They only allowed themselves to pause once they were out of sight.
MJ’s fists were shaking. “Next time, I wish I come across this tramp when she’s alone in a dark corridor…”
“Without their high-tech gear and deadly weapons, Orchis people are a bunch of overgrown schoolyard bullies.” Felicia commented. “Oh I hope we can stop Taylor’s plan right under their nose… That would put them in their place!”
Gwen made a face as she deduced: “They’re not taking the assignment seriously. They’re treating it like it’s a normal job... Jefferson truly wouldn’t mind if something happened to Kelly tonight… We have to hurry.”
“These guys are the worst! They’re a bunch of trigger-happy jerks, and we can’t even count on them to make our jobs easier when there’s a real mutant-related threat!” Felicia complained. “Plus, their fashion sense just plain sucks!”
And that summed up about everything.
The three friends went looking for a better way to blend in.
**************
“It would’ve been easier to go after the regular security detail in the greenhouse or the jet-ski warehouse. Why are we doing things the hard way?” Trapstr complained.
“Because if we take out the big hitters, we get some disguises AND we get rid of the toughest threats.” Taylor explained.
Her tech-based accomplice grimaced, and glanced once more at the woman they were observing discreetly with their binoculars.
Elaine Coll, aka Scorpia, was best defined as a ‘thug for hire’. No ideology, no cause. She only believed in money, and worked for whoever paid her the most.
In the past, it had been people like Beetle, Kingpin or Tombstone. Currently, it was William Jefferson.
Scorpia was stationed outside the main building. Robert Kelly knew better than to flaunt her in front of his esteemed guests. Officially, she was on some kind of probation. However, most of the guests would’ve taken umbrage at the thought of rubbing shoulders with an infamous criminal – especially since she actually had robbed a couple of them. The scorpion-themed mercenary was therefore on standby, ready to intervene if there was any heavy threat.
Her haircut was a shaggy square cut. She had a white skin, green eyes, and black hair. (Though according to the rumors, they were red and she dyed them.) Her body was slim and athletic-looking, with a sharp-looking chin.
“She’s out of my league.” Trapstr added.
“Maybe for you. But not for me.”
Taylor carefully observed Elaine's green full body suit, reinforced with black parts on the shoulders, breasts, and pelvis, her black metal gloves, and her black boots. She mentally processed what she knew of the thug’s abilities.
Her upgraded Scorpion suit enhances her strength and speed. It is equipped with a version of the original Scorpion's tail that can be used to slice, crush, strangle, or fire energy bursts at her foes. In addition, her costume has forearm “pincers” that have razor sharp edges for slashing and they can also fire energy blasts.
Though the good news was that under the suit, there was a normal woman.
Of course, the problem is to peel off said suit.
Taylor’s mind lingered on that specific trail of thought.
Peeling off the suit...
She glanced at Scorpia, then at Trapstr, then at Scorpia again.
At first, she only wanted to neutralize the scorpion-themed villainess, but now she was beginning to think of a different plan.
“Michelle? Has anyone ever told you that you and Scorpia look awfully similar?”
Trapstr groaned. “Tell me about it!” she began to complain. “You have no idea how annoying it is! I mean, I know we’re not A-team material, but still… Even a toddler could tell we have different shticks!” She interrupted herself, as she was finally understanding where Taylor was going. “Oh.”
“Yes. ‘Oh.’ You have a problem mugging a colleague for her costume?”
Trapstr shrugged. “It’s just business. Plus, she doesn’t have to know it was me.”
Taylor took off her binoculars. “I assume you have her phone number? Since she’s a colleague of yours.”
“You want me to give her a call? I thought we agreed she didn’t have to know it was me.”
“She won’t.” Taylor handed Trapstr the device designed to change someone’s voice. It was the same one the latter had used to mimic Clint Barton’s voice and lure Kate Bishop into a trap. “William Jefferson will call her.”
Her accomplice smiled. “I love this gadget.”
**************
Elaine wasn’t satisfied. She hated the idea of having to wait outside. She was a woman of action, of gang warfare. Not some glorified sentry.
Plus, she was denied access to the buffet! Even Kingpin wouldn’t do that!
And, icing on the cake, she was stationed with a bunch of Silver Sable Security mercenaries. Lawful people! Scorpia couldn’t stand these rule-abiding sticks-in-the-mud.
Still, she knew better than to complain. Like many criminals, Elaine was aware of the rumors about Orchis. Didn’t make her job any less boring though.
Scorpia entered the tent which was holding the radio equipment Silver Sable Security used to coordinate the patrols in the park and hedge maze.
Claire, Silvija’s second-in-command, was currently bent forward and listening to a report. She was a tough woman with auburn hair tied into a ponytail, a white skin, and blue eyes.
“Anything interesting?” Elaine asked.
“No. Get out.”
Of course, the mercenaries working for Silver Sable disliked Scorpia as much as she disliked them.
Elaine’s gaze went down. Being bent forward, Claire was unwittingly giving her a good view of her quite curvaceous bottom.
The scorpion-themed mercenary scratched her chin. That’s one mighty fine ass… I bet it’d jiggle if you give it a slap...
Claire suddenly turned her head. “Are you looking at my ass?”
“Hey girl, is it my fault it’s the only decent thing about you?” Elaine retorted. “Don’t flaunt it if you don’t want people to stare!”
“GET OUT!”
Scorpia shrugged, and exited the tent.
I’d clearly tap that. Of course she’s a total bitch, but then again so am I. Love isn’t necessary for a one-night stand.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a phone call.
“Yeah?”
“Scorpia. I hope you’re not getting too comfortable.”
Reflexively, Elaine straightened her back. “Boss!”
“At ease. I was jesting. I’m aware guard duty isn’t what suits you the best. Your talents are elsewhere.”
Scorpia chose to remain careful. Jefferson loved to affect a laid-back attitude, but he was still a ruthless businessman with a hand in illegal deals. Any sentence of his could be a trap.
“Yes.” she answered.
“Good news then. You’ll have an opportunity to put them to the test. There’s a van parked nearby. I’ll send the coordinates on your phone. Some nosy paparazzi are inside. They’ve been a pain in my neck for quite some time. Pay them a visit, if you please. I trust you’ll be discreet. I don’t want Silver Sable’s mercenaries to spoil the fun.”
Scorpia grinned widely. “Got it, boss!” She hung up feeling ecstatic.
Finally, some action!
“What was that?” Claire called her as she was leaving the tent.
“Nothing that concerns you. So stand here like an obedient little soldier. Orders from Mr Jefferson. The true head of security.”
She relished the sight of Claire’s angry grimace. But there was nothing the SSS mercenary could do. Jefferson’s authority superseded Silver Sable’s.
“And please don’t flaunt your ass in front of anyone while I’m gone.”
Claire gave her the middle finger, which was definitely a very un-professional thing to do.
Scorpia ignored her, and left.
**************
The vehicle indeed looked like the typical paparazzi van. Tainted windows, plain bodywork, non-conspicuous grey paint, a bit dirty and rusty.
It was concealed in the trees, far from the estate actually – at least out of range of its patrols and its snipers’s line of sight. Although, with the progress of drones and camera devices, it didn’t mean that much.
Elaine cracked her knuckles. This was going to be fun! She walked to the backdoor and knocked loudly.
“Open up! You’re trespassing on private propriety!”
No answer.
Elaine grinned, anticipating the moment she’d use her scorpion tail to break the door open and scare off the poor saps inside.
It’s the simple things in life, really...
However, as she raised the dart, Scorpia noticed a fast movement on her left.
“Uh?”
Elaine’s scorpion suit made her dangerous on the offense, but it wasn’t armored.
One stomach-punch was enough to daze her.
“Oooof!”
When the woman bent in half, Taylor hit her exposed neck with the edge of her hand.
“Ugh!” Scorpia grunted briefly, and collapsed onto the grass. Out cold.
Taylor grabbed Elaine under the shoulders, and dragged her out of sight and inside the van.
She closed the door. Then, she and Trapstr took off the scorpion suit in peace. The vehicle moved back and forth slightly as they struggled to peel off the body-fitting garment.
Scorpia’s underwear were green knickers with black stripes, and a striped racerback bra of the same colors. Even the socks had a similar pattern.
“Of course the underwear would match the costume…” Taylor shook her head. “That’s why she’ll never amount to more than a henchwoman.”
The scorpion-themed villainess – now a lot less scorpion-themed – was then trussed up with sturdy ropes. Taylor tightly tied her up, binding the legs, the wrists, the upper-thighs, and then the upper-arms. She wrap-gagged her with thick package tape. Finally, she seated the henchwoman in a corner of the ban, and wrapped a rope around her back and legs to ball-tie her. That way, she was sure the mercenary would stay put. Scorpia was maybe C-list villainess material, but she could still cause a lot of damage if she got loose. After all, Taylor’s team also had many C- and D-list material in her team...
At the same time, Trapstr slipped into the scorpion suit. “I’ve always wanted to know how it worked…” She was clearly marveling at the technology that allowed her to control the tail.
“Glad to hear you have something to nerd about. Now, let’s deal with the others.”
**************
Claire didn’t hide her hostility when she saw Scorpia return.
“I hoped you’d be gone longer…” she commented when the scorpion-themed mercenary walked next to her.
It wasn’t professional to snap at her like that, of course, but Claire couldn’t stand Elaine. And of course she wasn’t helped by the fact she found the scorpion-themed mercenary incredibly hot, with her slim body and form-fitting costume... Claire had a fetish for women wearing full body-suits. She chose to work for Silver Sable for a reason! Too bad Silvija wasn’t interested in girls…
Elaine didn’t answer.
“Say. You took the time to comb your hair or what? For once, you actually look half-decent.”
“Did you know Scorpia upgraded her suit with dart launchers built in the sleeves?” the woman dressed in the scorpion suit suddenly asked.
Why is she speaking of herself in the third person? Claire immediately caught on something was wrong.
She grabbed the gun strapped onto her belt.
Scorpia(?) shot first. Her two built-in wrist-launchers fired high-pressure-propelled thick darts at Claire’s left thigh and right collarbone. Both pierced through the clothes with ease.
“Don’t worry. I used a paralyzing dart. It won’t hurt for much longer.”
Claire blinked. The intense pain was vanishing. But it was because her entire body was now feeling numb. She couldn’t even move her jaw to call for help!
Her legs couldn’t support her anymore. She fell on her knees, then on her left side onto the grass.
“And you should lose consciousness… about right now.”
Indeed those were the last words Claire heard before she passed out.
**************
Trapstr didn’t waste time, in case somebody had heard Claire’s collapse. She immediately entered the tent. It was her job to
Two mercenaries were monitoring the radio, sitting on military transportable chairs.
One was a red-haired light-skinned woman with two short ponytails and green eyes called Wendy. The other was named Jane, and was slender and fair-skinned, with chin-length dirty blonde hair and blue eyes.
“Got rid of the bug, Claire?” Wendy asked.
So they hadn’t noticed the commotion. Splendid.
“Scorpions are arachnids actually.” (Trapstr couldn’t resist a brief quip.)
Scorpia’s suit had two dart launchers. One for each arm. Trapstr shot both women in the back at the same time.
The effect was as impressive as with Claire.
The two women barely had the time to react. The pain overcame their senses and by the time they were able to recover, the paralyzing effects of the drug had already kicked in.
Soon, two limp unconscious bodies fell from their chairs onto the grass.
**************
Sherry was a pale-skinned blue-eyed blonde with a closely cropped pixie cut. Like all mercenaries of Silver Sable, she was clad in black combat shoes, silver grey uniform trousers, a black weapon belt, grey protective fingerless gloves, a white shirt, a silver grey uniform jacket, and a dark grey helmet similar to the ones worn by SWAT officers. A black SSS logo was stitched onto the left breast of her jacket.
Claire had asked the blond mercenary to do a quick patrol around the tent. Even in the heart of the security cordon, they couldn’t afford to be careless.
However, Sherry didn’t mind a bit of peace and quiet – her captain was in a foul mood, and hearing her and Scorpia jump at each other’s throat was quickly tedious. Wendy and Jane joked that at this rate they’d bang each other before the end of the week. The thought made Sherry roll her eyes. She wished her colleagues were a bit more sophisticated sometimes… Though they were at least still better than the rambunctious lot working for Orchis.
Yes indeed, she was much better working for Silver Sable.
Two arms were suddenly wrapped around Sherry’s neck and throat, locking her head in a tight chokehold.
“GAK?!”
Sherry’s assaulter dragged her in the middle of the bushes.
The sounds of the struggle could briefly be heard in-between the plant life, as well as muffled gurgles and moans of distress. Some leaves and branches were sent flying.
But soon the evening was quiet again.
**************
Taylor dragged Sherry by the undershoulders in the main tent. She was pleased to see Claire, Wendy, and Jane were already concealed inside as well.
Trapstr was busy restraining the unconscious mercenaries with zip-ties. “I LOVE this outfit.” she purred.
“Glad to see you’re having fun.” Taylor dropped Sherry onto the ground. “Then you can also dart this one.”
“Yippee!”
“Don’t tie her up yet though. I’ll have Jenna put on her outfit.”
“Got it.”
Taylor grabbed her phone, and texted her instructions to Jenna and Screwball. Then, she finished zip-tying and tape-gagging Claire, Jane, and Wendy.
At the same time, Trapstr darted and began to strip Sherry of her protective gear, weapon belt, boots, and uniform. She stopped once the blond mercenary was clad in black-and-white sports socks, blood red boyshorts with a black skull on the front, and a black full-cup bra with a pattern of red skulls.
The radio came to life.
“Claire. What’s the situation?”
Trapstr used the device to mimic the mercenary captain’s voice. “All is quiet. Scorpia’s a total bitch, but that’s about it. What about you?”
The other mercenary snorted to herself. “Roof is quiet as well.”
“Roger that.”
“Penny, out.”
Screwball and Jenna discreetly entered the tent.
“We concealed the van in the bushes.” the blond criminal announced. “We left Scorpia inside.”
“Good.” Taylor pointed at the half-naked Sherry and her uniform lying next to her. “Jenna. You take the outfit of this one, and take control of the radio. Michelle, you keep Scorpia’s outfit, and make sure nobody enters the tent. Dart any mercenary who tries.”
Trapstr grinned widely. She trussed up Sherry – zip-tying the blonde’s wrists behind her back and her ankles and wrapping tape around her mouth and lower face – while Jenna disguised herself.
Taylor mentally recapped to herself the steps of the operation. These mercenaries were the ones coordinating the patrols outside the building. Now, Trapstr and Jenna could monitor their radio, and send false instructions to the patrols. With Lady Bullseye also out of the picture, the roof was left wide open to an assault.
They stashed all the defeated women inside one empty wooden crate – most likely (and ironically) the one that had been used to carry the very same radio equipment Taylor and her team were hijacking. Trapstr threw Sherry inside last. The blonde’s face landed on Claire’s bottom.
“Looks like we have a lucky winner…” the criminal quipped. Then she remembered Scorpia’s tastes in women. “I bet Elaine’s gonna be jealous...”
She closed the lid to conceal the pile of defeated mercenaries.
Taylor handed to Jenna the device to change the sound of the voice.
“When I give you the signal, call the sentry on the roof. I need you to distract her. The real mission begins now.”
viewtopic.php?t=10719
That being said, I hope you’ll enjoy this story:
**************
A Gala to Remember
**************
Magneto prided himself in being a collected person. He wasn’t the sort of man who flaunted his emotions even when he was angry. It took people as well-versed in deception as Taylor or Mystique to read his mood.
Today, Magneto was beyond angry. He was livid.
And yet, he still behaved in a quiet manner.
“It appears a team has been assembled to counter our every moves. The hostages and the theft of Ultron’s technology were supposed to get our main enemies off our backs.”
“They did. These girls aren’t affiliated with the AVENGERS, SHIELD, or the Champions of Europe.” Taylor intervened.
Magneto raised an eyebrow. She had his attention.
“One was Black Cat. She wasn’t in costume, but I’d recognize her way of moving anywhere. She has teamed up with Ghost Spider.”
“You sure?”
“She too wasn’t in costume, but there aren’t many young women who can shoot webs.”
Mystique chuckled to herself. “You’d be surprised...”
“The redhead, I don’t know her. She’s just some nobody.”
“A nobody resourceful enough to foil our plans.” Magneto dryly commented. “And about whom we don’t have any information, so we can’t even act against her.”
“Anonymity has its advantages.”
Magneto raised a hand to close the topic. “No matter who this girl is, she and her friends are as well-versed as you in disguise and infiltration. We can’t afford to be subtle with that kind of opponents. They’ve foiled us twice because we added unnecessary steps to our plan.”
Taylor raised an eyebrow. She knew already where this conversation was heading. How many times had she heard her higher-ups dance around the topic when she was still a government black op and assassin?
“This time, we’ll be direct. During Kelly’s final big fundraising gala, at Hutton Brickyards. Your team will infiltrate the security, open up a path… and you’ll gun him down.”
Mystique grinned, but Taylor wasn’t impressed. “I thought you didn’t want a martyr.” she retorted. “That’s why you sent Sarah to make him have an emotional breakdown on live TV.”
“I’ll settle for the next best thing. I wanted to avoid galvanizing the anti-mutant agenda, but at least with Kelly out of the picture Jefferson will escalate things for sure. Once the conflict crosses the point of no return… Then we’ll have won.”
His head was full of plans and projects. He was already dreaming of the new perfect world he intended to build for mutants.
But all Taylor could think of was how Sarah would look at her after sensing she killed an other person...
“Where are the inhibitors?” she interrupted Magneto.
“What do you mean?”
“Did you forget? I’m not a government pawn anymore. I’m a mercenary. Mercenaries don’t work for free.”
Magneto frowned. Clearly, he didn’t like her attitude. But he didn’t put Taylor in her place, most likely because he too had a soft spot for Sarah.
“We’re making progress.”
“I want them done when this mission ends. They’ll be my payment for Robert Kelly’s head.”
**************
It was a spin-off of a popular sci-fi franchise like many others. A story of Empire and Rebels and a War in the Stars, except it had a special edge to it.
Among the main characters of the animated show, two characters were the big talk of some specific forums on the Internet.
Both were part of a ragtag group of rebel heroes and do-gooders fighting against the might of the Empire. One was a repentant former smuggler, the other was an acrobat-turned-rebel
Jysell Alhena Charil-Pol was a young female human with a light skin, smooth shoulder long black hair, and brown eyes. There was still something innocent and juvenile about her looks, with her round-shaped face and rosy cheeks. Back when she was a criminal, she had used her appearance to deceive many victims. While she genuinely regretted her past, she however still retained her skills at smuggling, blaster shooting and deception – and was now putting them to use against the Empire.
Eileen Rulqh’Zan was a human woman with white skin and blue eyes, an athletic body type from a past as an acrobat, and blonde hair in a pigtail style. She was taller and fitter than her partner, and better at hand-to-hand combat or physical tasks.
Both were known on the Internet for their fondness – and the show’s fondness – for infiltration and disguise tactics.
The camera shot showed an air vent grill being discreetly kicked open. The two women jumped onto the floor, and landed inside an empty storage room of the main Imperial command center of the Lothal system.
Jysell checked her tablet. “So far so good. DEE-20 hacked the cameras. I anticipate we have one hour before they notice and raise the alarm. The room in which they hold Minister Tua is over there.”
She exited the storage room, with her partner on the trail. It was the middle of the night. The building was quiet, with only the bare minimum of guards to patrol it.
“Entering is one thing, but how are we gonna leave with her?” Eileen whispered.
Jysell hushed her when she heard footsteps nearby, and took a glance across a corner.
There were two female officers wearing the Empire’s standard dark grey military uniforms. Their outfits consisted of a gaberwool uniform tunic, uniform trousers, a pair of black leather boots, a utility belt, and an Imperial kepi. Code cylinders and a rank insignia plaque were worn on the breast of the tunic.
One low-ranked officer had platinum blond hair and light blue eyes. She had a chin-long square-shaped haircut. The other officer was slightly taller. She had medium brown hair tied up into a military-like low bun, a light skin, and hazel eyes. Both were cute, but in the generic way of anime extras.
Jyseel smiled. “I have a solution. Why don’t we simply exit through the front gate and take a shuttle?”
Eileen also grinned at the bold plan. “Who’d think we’d be foolish enough to disguise ourselves and pretend we’re transferring the Minister?”
“Good thing then they don’t know we really are that dumb...”
Hiding around the corner and stalking their targets, they watched the two low-ranked officers unlock the automatic door of a storage room and enter. Jysell and Eileen ran after them. The automatic door closed right behind them.
The camera lingered on the closed metal panels.
Cartoonish off-screen punch noises and grunts followed suit.
One jump cut later, Jysell and Eileen were shown exiting the storage room. They were wearing the Imperial uniforms.
The camera lingered inside the storage room for a few seconds, showing the two Imperial officers lying on the floor in-between metal crates, unconscious and trussed up in their lingerie: light blue panties and t-shirt bra for the blonde, light pink panties and t-shirt bra for the brunette. Both were bound hands and feet with cables, and gagged with two strips of tape on the lips forming an X pattern.
The automatic door closed.
Charlotte paused the TV. “Can you believe how long it took this show to have an onscreen scene? Five times!” she complained.
"Yes, Charlotte. You say it every time, Charlotte. It's the third time this month."
"Yeah! But it's supposed to be THE show with the uniform thieves!"
Sarah didn’t answer. She simply turned louder the volume of the music she was listening on her I-pod. She often did that. And Charlotte didn’t mind.
An insightful person would have noticed Sarah’s emotional distress. Charlotte didn’t. But Sarah didn’t hold it against her.
Charlotte’s emotions were impaired. She could barely grasp concepts like guilt or shame, let alone recognize them in others. In many aspects, Charlotte was like a hyperactive child in the body of an adult, self-centered and scarcely able to emphasize with other people. At least she was a good-natured self-centered womanchild...
Sarah was withdrawn on herself.
Taylor had said this time would be different. This time they would only hurt the culprit, only hurt Robert Kelly. The plan had been to get Sarah close enough to him so that she would overflow his emotions and cause him to have a breakdown in live television. Nobody else would be harmed. The girls they had to mug would live.
But at the last minute, Black Cat, Ghost Spider and their sidekick had foiled everything...
Sarah remembered the redhead’s words. They still hurt. And the feelings they conveyed too. But what hurt the most was that Sarah knew the woman was right.
Sarah knew what other people felt when they were in pain or in distress. She knew what she made them feel. She knew how horrible it was.
When Charlotte resumed watching her episode, Sarah pressed her knees against her chest, and increased the volume of her headset.
Taylor opened the door. “We have a meeting with the rest of the team.”
“But the episode isn’t finished…” Charlotte complained.
Taylor grabbed the remote and turned off the TV.
“So unfair…”
“It’s important Charlotte. It’s about real infiltration.”
That lifted Charlotte’s spirit.
“Do we have to?” Sarah intervened.
Taylor looked at her. She understood well the double-meaning of the question. It wasn’t about this specific meeting. She sat next to Sarah, and put a hand on her shoulder.
“It’ll be the last one. Then we’ll have the inhibitors, and we’ll flee to Europe. The United States were a mistake.”
Sarah could sense Taylor’s concern. It reminded her of her parents, when they had noticed the odd things happening around her.
“Things will be fine. I’ll make sure they do.” Taylor concluded. “Now come with me. The others are waiting.”
Sarah nodded, but kept her doubts to herself. She too could tell a white lie to preserve someone’s feelings...
Taylor thought she could work for Magneto the time to get the inhibitors, but Sarah knew the truth.
Even if Taylor succeeded, even if she suppressed her powers, even if they fled the country...
It would never end.
**************
“We may not have arrested them, but at least this time it was a clear-cut victory…” MJ commented.
“We won a battle, but we may still lose the war.” Gwen interjected. “We’re still on our own. New York’s underworld is getting restless – Kingpin is at it again, and I’m convinced it’s part of a ploy to prevent Miles and Peter from getting involved. The AVENGERS are still after Magneto, and from what I heard he’s bought the services of heavy hitters.”
“Always glad to hear we’re the side-plot…” Felicia sarcastically butted in.
Gwen ignored her. “Both SHIELD and the Champions of Europe have become very pusillanimous about helping all of the sudden. I overheard Magneto has some sort of leverage against them.”
Felicia shrugged. “So what? It’s not like they were of great help anyway. We’ve done fine on our own until now.”
“I deduce Taylor’s team will strike again.” MJ intervened.
Gwen nodded. “Magneto must be getting impatient. Two times he tried subtlety, two times he failed. By now, he must have realized these failures are no coincidence and our team is systematically opposing his moves.”
“So?”
“So next time he’ll try the direct approach.”
“An assassination then.”
“Yes. During Kelly’s next – and last – fundraising gala at Hutton Bricks.”
“SHIELD’s algorithm again?”
“No. My own deductions.”
Neither Felicia nor MJ questioned Gwen’s judgment. She wasn’t the planner of the Spider Team for nothing. MJ was smart – except to notice the painfully obvious fact Peter was head over heels in love with her. Felicia was shrewd and clever. But Gwen…
Gwen was a league above them.
“The plan is to stop Taylor here and there.”
“A big political gala. Three different security details – four counting the regular staff of Hutton Bricks. And all of New York’s upper-crust gathered in one estate. Fancy gowns and expensive jewels everywhere.” Felicia smiled at the prospect of snatching a few. “What are we waiting for? Let’s make sure third time’s the charm!”
**************
Taylor didn’t like the idea of Mystique being part of the operation. She didn’t like the sight of the mutant sitting in-between Charlotte and Sarah, with her sarcastic smile.
The shapeshifter didn’t have her regular blue-skinned appearance – she had a plain-looking light skin, hazel eyes, and auburn hair – as neither she nor Magneto wanted ‘Team Awesome’ to know the identity of their employer.
Though Taylor was convinced Trapstr had deduced it by now – Michelle was insightful enough to read the clues, though she also was smart enough to play dumb. Screwball was too short-sighted to care. And as for Jenna, Taylor didn’t know. ‘Carpenter’ was a bit basic, but she was more clever than she let on.
Taylor showed her team a map of Hutton Bricks.
“Robert Kelly is employing a huge security detail. It’s made of four different groups. Silver Sable Security and the regular staff of Hutton Bricks will be stationed outside – SSS will patrol the park and the roof, the regular guards will watch the annexes. Orchis will be inside the main building. Kelly’s regular security detail will follow him in the reception hall.”
“That’s a lot of people.” Jenna remarked with a nervous smile.
“We have one advantage. These groups can’t stand each other. Therefore they barely know each other, and they’ll mostly be kept separated.”
The brunette seemed put a bit more at ease.
Taylor ignored the mocking glimmer in Mystique’s eyes. “Jefferson has also hired a couple of mercenaries – Lady Bullseye for sure, maybe Scorpia as well. They’re no super-powered individuals, but they’re still dangerous enough to be a threat to me if they’re not incapacitated. And once we’re inside, we’ll have to be even more careful.”
Trapstr raised eyebrows behind her sunglasses. “Why?”
“Kelly hired Finesse.”
“Never heard of her. Why did he bother to hire a no-name?”
“She’s a polymath.”
“Gesundheit.”
“It means she can learn a fighting style just by seeing it once. And she’s also a human lie detector.”
“Oh.” Trapstr shrugged. “Then I vote we just call it a day and go home.”
“She still needs to read your body language. She doesn’t have some magical ‘bullshit detecting’ powers. I assume Kelly will have her greeting the guests and touring the staff.”
“And how do we get rid of her?”
Mystique intervened for the first time. “You know. If you find someone too intimidating, try and picture them on the toilet.” she cryptically answered.
**************
Hutton Brickyards was the most recent and – currently – the most popular gala venue of New York’s countryside. It was a huge estate built next to the Hudson River, surrounded by a forest.
Its main building was a huge white manor in a meadow near the bank, of which the architecture drew inspiration from both European palaces and 19th plantation villas. A park, with a garden and a hedge maze, was surrounding it. There even was a small dock and a shed with jet-skis.
Next to the forest’s edge, there was a huge heated greenhouse with many gorgeous exotic plants. During some event, guests were allowed to visit it, and marvel at the rare plant specimens.
However, tonight nobody was supposed to visit it. Kelly had rented the manor, but not the greenhouse.
Still, the place wasn’t empty.
It was the evening. Night would only fall in a few hours. It was going to be long...
Cindy yawned so hard she actually teared up a little.
“I can’t believe they stationed us here… We’re supposed to be the security staff of the building!” she complained.
The guard gestured to designate the exotic plants around her and the glass walls of the greenhouse.
Cindy was a black-haired woman with a round-shaped neck bun and a round face. Her skin was light and her eyes were brown.
Her first colleague, named Octavia, shrugged. She was a light-brown-haired white-skinned blue-eyed woman with a chubby waist and short hair fashioned into a bob haircut and a side-swept bang. “It’s called ‘defense in depth’. It’s actually quite brilliant when you think about it.”
“Then why aren’t Orchis or Silver Sable Security manning this brilliant strategy?”
Iris, the third member of the group, intervened. “Because they’re all a bunch of jerks who think we’re beneath them, obviously.” She was a tall strawberry blonde, with a white skin, grey eyes, a few freckles on the cheeks, and oval-shaped glasses. Her haircut was an armpit-long, low and slightly bushy ponytail.
The three security guards were wearing the same outfit: a beige cap, a beige long-sleeved button-up uniform shirt, a black tie, a black sleeveless bulletproof vest with front pockets, beige trousers, and black shoes. A walkie-talkie was strapped onto the left shoulder strap of their vests.
“So unfair. We ARE the regular security! We watch the estate all year round! We’re maybe not elite mercenaries or presidential security details, but we’re the ones who know its layout the best!”
Octavia lost patience. “Oh, stop complaining please! I think we should count ourselves lucky.”
Cindy raised an eyebrow. She clearly wasn’t convinced.
“You know the rumor. Infiltrators have it after Kelly.” Octavia explained. “And who will be on the front line when they come looking for disguise? Not us! I wish all these girls good luck while we wait safely here!” She sniffed a rare orchid. “Plus, the smell is delicious. At least, we’re not stationed in the jet-skis warehouse like Julia and Annette.”
Cindy scratched her neck, pondering on that. “Now that you mention it… Maybe it’s not so bad! Right Iris?”
Iris didn’t answer.
Mostly because Iris had been knocked out with a neck-chop by a masked woman dressed in black, who had previously been hiding in-between the rare exotic plants of the greenhouse.
Cindy and Octavia stared at the sight, with their mouths agape. How could have that intruder entered? Not through the main door. But then how did she manage to go through a roof window?
They didn’t realize two more masked women were assaulting them in their back.
Thus, the security guards were swiftly dispatched with neck-chops, caught under the shoulders, and dragged out of sight.
**************
The three motionless security guards were laid onto the grass.
Felicia gently jabbed a sleeping dart in the junction between Octavia’s neck and shoulder. “Swinging in-between trees with webs and climbing wall powers are so OP. You should come with us more often, Gwen.” she joked.
“Why didn’t we use the sleeping darts immediately?” Mary-Jane remarked as they were sedating each unconscious security guard.
“They need a few seconds to knock out a woman. There was the risk one would have the time to press the alarm button on her walkie-talkie if she felt the sting.”
“Come on Red! Our moves were flawless. They barely felt anything.”
“We’re also going to bind them.” Gwen warned the redhead.
“But-”
“We’ve already had that conversation. Too much is at stake. I don’t want to take any risk.”
Mary-Jane wasn’t entirely convinced, but didn’t argue further.
They swiftly relieved the three security guards of their belts, shoes, shoulder radios, bulletproof vests, equipment, uniforms, and caps.
Cindy was left clad in white socks, bright red bikini panties, and a matching red demi-bra. Octavia was left wearing grey socks, black panties lace-adorned around the waistband strap, and a black bra with a lace floral pattern on the top half of the cups. Iris was reduced to white socks with blue horizontal stripes, blue boxer undershorts with a black waistband strap, and a white tank top.
Gwen then pulled out some zip-ties from her backpack, as well as some padded handcuffs and red ball-gags with air-holes and black straps. She had bought them all in a bondage store.
“Must have been an interesting shopping trip… Did you keep a few to spice things up with Miles?” Felicia slyly teased her friend. “Maybe webs get boring after a while?”
Gwen didn’t dignify her with an answer. Her cheeks did, however, blush slightly.
They used the handcuffs to restrain each woman’s wrists behind the back. Then, they zip-tied each guard’s ankles. Finally, they ball-gagged them.
“Feels weird using ball-gags.” Felicia commented.
Gwen shrugged. “If it eases MJ’s mind…”
“… or a secret fetish of hers.”
“You take that back! I asked for them because they can breathe through the rubber ball!”
Inside the heated greenhouse, there was a shed which contained the gardening tools and bags of fertilizers. The three friends concealed Octavia, Cindy, and Iris inside. Octavia’s and Cindy’s heads both lolled to the side, and each fell and rested onto a shoulder of Iris who was seated in the middle.
Felicia glanced surreptitiously at the glasses Iris was still wearing.
“Don’t even think about it.” MJ warned.
“I only steal the smarty glasses with scientists!” the cat burglar objected. “I have standards!”
They left the three security guards huddled together next to the sacks of fertilizers, closed the shed’s door, and began to slip into the women’s discarded uniforms.
“I wish we mugged some jerks from Orchis...” MJ mumbled to herself as she was putting on Octavia’s trousers.
“Might as well paint a target on our backs.” Felicia objected as she was doing the same with Iris’ pants. “If Magneto’s team is here, Orchis will be their top priority.”
“Besides, these guards are beneath notice.” Gwen explained as she was getting dressed in Cindy’s button-up uniform shirt. “Nobody cares about them tonight. They’ve been sent here because Orchis and Silver Sable didn’t want them in the way.”
“However, they still command authority over guests.” Felicia added as she was zipping Iris’ bulletproof vest. “And nobody is monitoring their actions closely.”
Mary-Jane grimaced as she finished dressing up. She looked a bit uncomfortable. And ironically it wasn’t because of the clothes.
“What’s eating you up, Red?” Felicia asked.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit too… easy?”
Black Cat scratched her chin. “You believe these three were a bait?”
“No. Something worst.” The redhead elaborated: “I mean, sure, we had to avoid the SSS patrols… and we were lucky Lady Bullseye was watching the main manor only… and we had Gwen’s powers to make things easier for us… But that’s the problem… Shouldn’t Orchis be expecting people of Gwen’s level? Surely, they know about Taylor… I mean, they’re the ones who had Sarah’s files!”
Gwen’s face was grim. “Jefferson is playing both sides.” she deduced. “He’s doing what Kelly expects of him, but without any zeal. I bet he wouldn’t mind it if Kelly was murdered by Magneto’s team… That way he could turn him into a martyr, and become the sole leader of the anti-mutant side...”
There was a short moment of silence.
“One more reason to butt in!” Felicia intervened with exaggerated cheerfulness to lift their spirits. “I certainly don’t want William Jefferson to have the last laugh!"
Her two friends smiled thinly.
“Right.”
Felicia raised a fist. “Go, Team Felicia!”
“We did not agree to that name!”
**************
Lady Bullseye – real name Maki Matsumoto – was stationed on a hunting stand in the middle of a park’s tree, at some distance of the main building.
The Japanese woman was an intimidating figure. Stern, grim-faced, with an eerily white skin and crimson red lips (with of course the help of some make-up), jet black hair tied up into a traditional bun with chopsticks, cold black eyes, and a thin body frame. She wore a black eye-mask, a black-and-white full body suit, and black boots and gloves. A target inspired by the symbol of the infamous villain Bullseye was painted with black ink on her forehead.
Formerly an assassin, currently a mercenary on probation, Maki’s way out of prison had been bought by William Jefferson in exchange of her services.
Usually, Lady Bullseye didn’t play the part of the sentry. Usually, she was the one who took out the sentries. Permanently. But she was a professional. She would do the job she was (handsomely) paid for without complaining. Not like that annoying Scorpia.
To kill time, Maki was pretending to aim at the Silver Sable Security mercenary patrolling the roof and the other SSS mercenaries patrolling outside the main building and near the tent they used as control center. For now, there was still enough light for her to not need the heat detector. She was mentally counting the number of opportunities she was having to snipe each sentry with a head-shot.
“Bang… You’re dead…” She smiled darkly to herself.
Of course, she wouldn’t do it. She was on probation, after all, and Jefferson had been crystal clear. She was only allowed to shoot intruders on sight. Not incompetent underlings. Still, it felt good to know her skills hadn’t grown rusty while in prison.
In the scope of her rifle, she suddenly caught a glance of a woman picking her nose.
Lady Bullseye was maybe too professional to complain about a job, but even a professional had her limits.
“This work is beneath me…” Maki muttered to herself.
The attack happened too fast. The mercenary didn’t have the time to react.
Something – a human body – jumped her from a branch above, and pinned her onto the wooden platform with her legs. Maki only got a glimpse of a woman dressed in camouflage clothes and silent soft boots.
How did she?! I didn’t hear her!
Maki’s assaulter grabbed the Japanese woman by the hair, and slammed her forehead against the wooden platform to daze her. The blow was brutal, but also delivered with cold surgical precision.
Lady Bullseye grunted, and saw stars. She was too dizzy to fight back. She felt an arm being wrapped around her throat. The chokehold cut her breath.
How could she sneak past me?! Who is she?!
**************
Taylor mentally counted the seconds. She blocked Lady Bullseye with her legs, and listened to Maki’s feet kicking the wooden platform. The kicks became slower and slower, then stopped. The Japanese woman went limp. Taylor waited long enough to be sure she wasn’t faking unconsciousness, but released her victim’s throat before she would suffer long-lasting brain damage.
Lady Bullseye’s body remained still, lying on the stomach.
Taylor injected Maki with a powerful paralyzing drug.
Only then did she relax. Taylor put fingers in her mouth, and mimicked a nocturnal bird’s specific whistle.
Then she got down to work. She pulled off Maki’s boots and gloves, and took off the mask. Then, she unzipped the black-and-white costume and peeled it off the Japanese mercenary’s unresponsive body.
She stopped once Maki was reduced to white boyshorts and a black bandeau bra. She however took the time to search Lady Bullseye’s underwear for concealed weapons – and indeed found small blades in the bra cups and the boyshorts.
Taylor suspected Lady Bullseye was the type to build immunity to poisons. Therefore, she grabbed a few zip-ties to tightly restrain her.
Taylor zip-tied Maki’s wrists behind her back, her thighs, her knees, and her ankles. She wrapped a rope around the woman’s chest to restrain her upper-arms with a shibari harness. She tied an other one around the calves, then she used a third rope to strictly hog-tie the Japanese assassin. Many layers of thick tape were used as a wrap-gag. Finally, she blindfolded the mercenary with several layers of tape, and plugged her ears.
Charlotte finished climbing the ladder as Taylor was dragging Maki in a corner of the platform to conceal her behind the railing.
“About time.”
The chubby shape-shifter opened her mouth.
“No excuse. Put on her outfit, and take her appearance.”
Charlotte adjusted the enhancer strapped around her shoulder. Her body jerked awkwardly until she became a carbon copy of Maki. Then, she took off her current clothes, and slipped into Lady Bullseye’s costume.
“I’ll regroup with Trapstr. Stay here until we call you. And no matter what she does, do NOT get close to her. Do not remove her earplugs or her blindfold. Do not remove ANYTHING. In fact, if she so much as moves, shoot her with your dart-gun. Twice.”
Charlotte nodded with a contrite facial expression the real Maki Matsumoto would most likely never have sported.
Still, at least Taylor knew she would listen. Sparks paid one last glance to the trussed up assassin, who was currently the very picture of helplessness, lying curled up on her side.
Maybe I should’ve killed that one...
It wasn’t like Lady Bullseye was an innocent angel who would be missed… Why did she even bother to let her live? It wasn’t like the act would make her miss a heartbeat.
Was it to give the (metaphorical) finger to Mystique?
Or maybe it was because Sarah would sense she had killed someone… Sarah who was already more withdrawn than usual because of their confrontation with Black Cat and her crew… The redhead’s words had strung true.
Taylor shook her head. She didn’t have time for doubts. She was a professional on a mission.
If she succeeded, then Sarah wouldn’t have to worry about her powers anymore. She would be free.
**************
Gwen’s idea to mug some girls of the regular security detail paid off. Sure, sometimes a guest would give them a passing glance, but nobody was regarding their presence in the main building as abnormal.
Though obviously they were careful to stay in the secondary corridors of the huge manor, and to steer clear of the reception hall. They didn’t want to catch the attention of Orchis or Silver Sable Security – as they were the only ones who could potentially see through their ruse.
For now, they hadn’t been able to detect any suspicious activity. (Well, save for theirs, of course.) Most guards inside were part of Orchis – apparently SSS mercenaries had been given the thankless shifts outside. However, they didn’t see anything.
Of course, they knew it didn’t mean much. Maybe Taylor and her crew simply hadn’t reached the inside of the building yet.
Gwen wasn’t satisfied with their current situation. They had managed to enter the main building, but she thought it wasn’t enough if they wanted to foil Magneto’s plan and stop Taylor’s crew once and for all. “We need a way to enter the main rooms of the estate.”
Orchis and Silver Sable, in spite of their many differences, indeed agreed on one thing: The regular security wasn’t allowed to ‘encroach on their territory’. If one dared to enter the reception hall, they’d be escorted outside – and in Gwen’s, MJ’s, and Felicia’s case they’d be outed as impostors.
“That means grabbing a couple of Orchis mercenaries.” MJ commented. The idea wasn’t bothering her.
“Guests would be easier.” Felicia argued.
MJ opened her mouth, but Gwen was faster. “Both have pros and cons. We clearly can’t be picky. We’ll jump at any opportunity.” Her eyes darted all around her. “I hope we come across Finesse. She’s maybe working for Kelly, but she’ll help us if we convince her we’re on the same side. She may even take us to Kelly himself… Would save us a lot of trouble.”
She stopped talking when she heard a group of loud boisterous women getting closer.
Five mercenaries of Orchis. Given how laid-back some were acting, it was ambiguous whether they were on patrol or had sneaked away to stuff themselves with food. However, their weapons weren’t for show.
Felicia bit her lower lip. Oh dear!
“Keep your head low.” she whispered to her friends.
Even with the helmets and yellow protective transparent visors, Felicia could recognize Marilyn and Ruth – the two mercenaries she had mugged when she was looking for Sarah’s files New York’s Orchis facility.
The three other mercenaries looked like a typical posse of mean girls – the blonde, the brunette, and the redhead, complete with mocking sneers. Contrary to Marilyn and Ruth, they were carrying a few petit fours.
“I assume some of these guards may have a beef with you, should they recognize you.” MJ deadpanned.
“The two on the left, yes. I thought they’d take some time off, actually.”
Gwen glanced at the women Felicia was mentioning. Her cheeks blushed slightly. “Oh dear…” she muttered.
MJ glared at her. “What?! You too?!”
“The one on the far left, yes. With the dour face.”
Felicia raised an eyebrow. “Oh right, you also met Marilyn. Almost forgot.”
“At the debate, yes.”
“But there was, what, three days in-between the heists…?” MJ muttered to herself.
“Some people just have bad luck. Or don’t know when to quit. Pick one.”
“Careful. They’re coming our way.”
Gwen, MJ, and Felicia kept a low profile, and were sure to not make eye contact when the group of Orchis got closer.
Fortunately, they were too engrossed in their conversation to pay attention to the three regular security guards.
Or, more precisely, the three mean-looking mercenaries were busy doing what mean girls did best. Catty remarks.
“Hey, Marilyn. Bet you prefer this new assignment.” the ringleader of the trio slyly commented as she was munching on a snack.
The other mercenary warily glanced at her. She was sensing a trap. “Why?”
“’Cause there’s no locker for you to be stuffed in.”
Marilyn’s face became crimson red.
The lead bully kept talking: “I mean… How many times has it happened to you already? I bet you’ve come to secretly enjoy it! First time was the mutie Firestar, and then Black Cat. And who was it again during the debate?”
“We don’t even know. Probably the first comer.” an other mean girl of the posse intervened.
The bully ringleader tutted and shook her head. “Just like with her men...”
“Eat a dick, Jill!”
“Oooh! Someone’s salty! No need to be shy. If that’s some bondage you want, I’d be happy to oblige. I have a few toys that’ll help you pleasure yourself a lot quicker… You won’t need to wait several hours in a locker to climax!”
The conversation was a bit appalling, but at least the women were distracted. Gwen and her two friends discreetly passed by them.
They felt a little relieved once the group of mercenaries were in their back. Now, they simply needed to-
“Hey, you three!” Jill suddenly called them.
Gwen, MJ, and Felicia froze.
“Yes?” the former asked carefully.
“You better not be thinking of sneaking inside the main hall to grab some snacks! I know you girls are useless, but at least show some dignity.”
Jill munched on her own petit four with a mocking smirk.
Gwen subserviently nodded. “Yes, ma’am. We’re on our way, ma’am.”
Jill snorted. “At least you know your place…” She made a shooing gesture of the hand. “Carry on then! The grown women are handling the security.”
She laughed with her two friends as Gwen, MJ, and Felicia scurried off.
They only allowed themselves to pause once they were out of sight.
MJ’s fists were shaking. “Next time, I wish I come across this tramp when she’s alone in a dark corridor…”
“Without their high-tech gear and deadly weapons, Orchis people are a bunch of overgrown schoolyard bullies.” Felicia commented. “Oh I hope we can stop Taylor’s plan right under their nose… That would put them in their place!”
Gwen made a face as she deduced: “They’re not taking the assignment seriously. They’re treating it like it’s a normal job... Jefferson truly wouldn’t mind if something happened to Kelly tonight… We have to hurry.”
“These guys are the worst! They’re a bunch of trigger-happy jerks, and we can’t even count on them to make our jobs easier when there’s a real mutant-related threat!” Felicia complained. “Plus, their fashion sense just plain sucks!”
And that summed up about everything.
The three friends went looking for a better way to blend in.
**************
“It would’ve been easier to go after the regular security detail in the greenhouse or the jet-ski warehouse. Why are we doing things the hard way?” Trapstr complained.
“Because if we take out the big hitters, we get some disguises AND we get rid of the toughest threats.” Taylor explained.
Her tech-based accomplice grimaced, and glanced once more at the woman they were observing discreetly with their binoculars.
Elaine Coll, aka Scorpia, was best defined as a ‘thug for hire’. No ideology, no cause. She only believed in money, and worked for whoever paid her the most.
In the past, it had been people like Beetle, Kingpin or Tombstone. Currently, it was William Jefferson.
Scorpia was stationed outside the main building. Robert Kelly knew better than to flaunt her in front of his esteemed guests. Officially, she was on some kind of probation. However, most of the guests would’ve taken umbrage at the thought of rubbing shoulders with an infamous criminal – especially since she actually had robbed a couple of them. The scorpion-themed mercenary was therefore on standby, ready to intervene if there was any heavy threat.
Her haircut was a shaggy square cut. She had a white skin, green eyes, and black hair. (Though according to the rumors, they were red and she dyed them.) Her body was slim and athletic-looking, with a sharp-looking chin.
“She’s out of my league.” Trapstr added.
“Maybe for you. But not for me.”
Taylor carefully observed Elaine's green full body suit, reinforced with black parts on the shoulders, breasts, and pelvis, her black metal gloves, and her black boots. She mentally processed what she knew of the thug’s abilities.
Her upgraded Scorpion suit enhances her strength and speed. It is equipped with a version of the original Scorpion's tail that can be used to slice, crush, strangle, or fire energy bursts at her foes. In addition, her costume has forearm “pincers” that have razor sharp edges for slashing and they can also fire energy blasts.
Though the good news was that under the suit, there was a normal woman.
Of course, the problem is to peel off said suit.
Taylor’s mind lingered on that specific trail of thought.
Peeling off the suit...
She glanced at Scorpia, then at Trapstr, then at Scorpia again.
At first, she only wanted to neutralize the scorpion-themed villainess, but now she was beginning to think of a different plan.
“Michelle? Has anyone ever told you that you and Scorpia look awfully similar?”
Trapstr groaned. “Tell me about it!” she began to complain. “You have no idea how annoying it is! I mean, I know we’re not A-team material, but still… Even a toddler could tell we have different shticks!” She interrupted herself, as she was finally understanding where Taylor was going. “Oh.”
“Yes. ‘Oh.’ You have a problem mugging a colleague for her costume?”
Trapstr shrugged. “It’s just business. Plus, she doesn’t have to know it was me.”
Taylor took off her binoculars. “I assume you have her phone number? Since she’s a colleague of yours.”
“You want me to give her a call? I thought we agreed she didn’t have to know it was me.”
“She won’t.” Taylor handed Trapstr the device designed to change someone’s voice. It was the same one the latter had used to mimic Clint Barton’s voice and lure Kate Bishop into a trap. “William Jefferson will call her.”
Her accomplice smiled. “I love this gadget.”
**************
Elaine wasn’t satisfied. She hated the idea of having to wait outside. She was a woman of action, of gang warfare. Not some glorified sentry.
Plus, she was denied access to the buffet! Even Kingpin wouldn’t do that!
And, icing on the cake, she was stationed with a bunch of Silver Sable Security mercenaries. Lawful people! Scorpia couldn’t stand these rule-abiding sticks-in-the-mud.
Still, she knew better than to complain. Like many criminals, Elaine was aware of the rumors about Orchis. Didn’t make her job any less boring though.
Scorpia entered the tent which was holding the radio equipment Silver Sable Security used to coordinate the patrols in the park and hedge maze.
Claire, Silvija’s second-in-command, was currently bent forward and listening to a report. She was a tough woman with auburn hair tied into a ponytail, a white skin, and blue eyes.
“Anything interesting?” Elaine asked.
“No. Get out.”
Of course, the mercenaries working for Silver Sable disliked Scorpia as much as she disliked them.
Elaine’s gaze went down. Being bent forward, Claire was unwittingly giving her a good view of her quite curvaceous bottom.
The scorpion-themed mercenary scratched her chin. That’s one mighty fine ass… I bet it’d jiggle if you give it a slap...
Claire suddenly turned her head. “Are you looking at my ass?”
“Hey girl, is it my fault it’s the only decent thing about you?” Elaine retorted. “Don’t flaunt it if you don’t want people to stare!”
“GET OUT!”
Scorpia shrugged, and exited the tent.
I’d clearly tap that. Of course she’s a total bitch, but then again so am I. Love isn’t necessary for a one-night stand.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a phone call.
“Yeah?”
“Scorpia. I hope you’re not getting too comfortable.”
Reflexively, Elaine straightened her back. “Boss!”
“At ease. I was jesting. I’m aware guard duty isn’t what suits you the best. Your talents are elsewhere.”
Scorpia chose to remain careful. Jefferson loved to affect a laid-back attitude, but he was still a ruthless businessman with a hand in illegal deals. Any sentence of his could be a trap.
“Yes.” she answered.
“Good news then. You’ll have an opportunity to put them to the test. There’s a van parked nearby. I’ll send the coordinates on your phone. Some nosy paparazzi are inside. They’ve been a pain in my neck for quite some time. Pay them a visit, if you please. I trust you’ll be discreet. I don’t want Silver Sable’s mercenaries to spoil the fun.”
Scorpia grinned widely. “Got it, boss!” She hung up feeling ecstatic.
Finally, some action!
“What was that?” Claire called her as she was leaving the tent.
“Nothing that concerns you. So stand here like an obedient little soldier. Orders from Mr Jefferson. The true head of security.”
She relished the sight of Claire’s angry grimace. But there was nothing the SSS mercenary could do. Jefferson’s authority superseded Silver Sable’s.
“And please don’t flaunt your ass in front of anyone while I’m gone.”
Claire gave her the middle finger, which was definitely a very un-professional thing to do.
Scorpia ignored her, and left.
**************
The vehicle indeed looked like the typical paparazzi van. Tainted windows, plain bodywork, non-conspicuous grey paint, a bit dirty and rusty.
It was concealed in the trees, far from the estate actually – at least out of range of its patrols and its snipers’s line of sight. Although, with the progress of drones and camera devices, it didn’t mean that much.
Elaine cracked her knuckles. This was going to be fun! She walked to the backdoor and knocked loudly.
“Open up! You’re trespassing on private propriety!”
No answer.
Elaine grinned, anticipating the moment she’d use her scorpion tail to break the door open and scare off the poor saps inside.
It’s the simple things in life, really...
However, as she raised the dart, Scorpia noticed a fast movement on her left.
“Uh?”
Elaine’s scorpion suit made her dangerous on the offense, but it wasn’t armored.
One stomach-punch was enough to daze her.
“Oooof!”
When the woman bent in half, Taylor hit her exposed neck with the edge of her hand.
“Ugh!” Scorpia grunted briefly, and collapsed onto the grass. Out cold.
Taylor grabbed Elaine under the shoulders, and dragged her out of sight and inside the van.
She closed the door. Then, she and Trapstr took off the scorpion suit in peace. The vehicle moved back and forth slightly as they struggled to peel off the body-fitting garment.
Scorpia’s underwear were green knickers with black stripes, and a striped racerback bra of the same colors. Even the socks had a similar pattern.
“Of course the underwear would match the costume…” Taylor shook her head. “That’s why she’ll never amount to more than a henchwoman.”
The scorpion-themed villainess – now a lot less scorpion-themed – was then trussed up with sturdy ropes. Taylor tightly tied her up, binding the legs, the wrists, the upper-thighs, and then the upper-arms. She wrap-gagged her with thick package tape. Finally, she seated the henchwoman in a corner of the ban, and wrapped a rope around her back and legs to ball-tie her. That way, she was sure the mercenary would stay put. Scorpia was maybe C-list villainess material, but she could still cause a lot of damage if she got loose. After all, Taylor’s team also had many C- and D-list material in her team...
At the same time, Trapstr slipped into the scorpion suit. “I’ve always wanted to know how it worked…” She was clearly marveling at the technology that allowed her to control the tail.
“Glad to hear you have something to nerd about. Now, let’s deal with the others.”
**************
Claire didn’t hide her hostility when she saw Scorpia return.
“I hoped you’d be gone longer…” she commented when the scorpion-themed mercenary walked next to her.
It wasn’t professional to snap at her like that, of course, but Claire couldn’t stand Elaine. And of course she wasn’t helped by the fact she found the scorpion-themed mercenary incredibly hot, with her slim body and form-fitting costume... Claire had a fetish for women wearing full body-suits. She chose to work for Silver Sable for a reason! Too bad Silvija wasn’t interested in girls…
Elaine didn’t answer.
“Say. You took the time to comb your hair or what? For once, you actually look half-decent.”
“Did you know Scorpia upgraded her suit with dart launchers built in the sleeves?” the woman dressed in the scorpion suit suddenly asked.
Why is she speaking of herself in the third person? Claire immediately caught on something was wrong.
She grabbed the gun strapped onto her belt.
Scorpia(?) shot first. Her two built-in wrist-launchers fired high-pressure-propelled thick darts at Claire’s left thigh and right collarbone. Both pierced through the clothes with ease.
“Don’t worry. I used a paralyzing dart. It won’t hurt for much longer.”
Claire blinked. The intense pain was vanishing. But it was because her entire body was now feeling numb. She couldn’t even move her jaw to call for help!
Her legs couldn’t support her anymore. She fell on her knees, then on her left side onto the grass.
“And you should lose consciousness… about right now.”
Indeed those were the last words Claire heard before she passed out.
**************
Trapstr didn’t waste time, in case somebody had heard Claire’s collapse. She immediately entered the tent. It was her job to
Two mercenaries were monitoring the radio, sitting on military transportable chairs.
One was a red-haired light-skinned woman with two short ponytails and green eyes called Wendy. The other was named Jane, and was slender and fair-skinned, with chin-length dirty blonde hair and blue eyes.
“Got rid of the bug, Claire?” Wendy asked.
So they hadn’t noticed the commotion. Splendid.
“Scorpions are arachnids actually.” (Trapstr couldn’t resist a brief quip.)
Scorpia’s suit had two dart launchers. One for each arm. Trapstr shot both women in the back at the same time.
The effect was as impressive as with Claire.
The two women barely had the time to react. The pain overcame their senses and by the time they were able to recover, the paralyzing effects of the drug had already kicked in.
Soon, two limp unconscious bodies fell from their chairs onto the grass.
**************
Sherry was a pale-skinned blue-eyed blonde with a closely cropped pixie cut. Like all mercenaries of Silver Sable, she was clad in black combat shoes, silver grey uniform trousers, a black weapon belt, grey protective fingerless gloves, a white shirt, a silver grey uniform jacket, and a dark grey helmet similar to the ones worn by SWAT officers. A black SSS logo was stitched onto the left breast of her jacket.
Claire had asked the blond mercenary to do a quick patrol around the tent. Even in the heart of the security cordon, they couldn’t afford to be careless.
However, Sherry didn’t mind a bit of peace and quiet – her captain was in a foul mood, and hearing her and Scorpia jump at each other’s throat was quickly tedious. Wendy and Jane joked that at this rate they’d bang each other before the end of the week. The thought made Sherry roll her eyes. She wished her colleagues were a bit more sophisticated sometimes… Though they were at least still better than the rambunctious lot working for Orchis.
Yes indeed, she was much better working for Silver Sable.
Two arms were suddenly wrapped around Sherry’s neck and throat, locking her head in a tight chokehold.
“GAK?!”
Sherry’s assaulter dragged her in the middle of the bushes.
The sounds of the struggle could briefly be heard in-between the plant life, as well as muffled gurgles and moans of distress. Some leaves and branches were sent flying.
But soon the evening was quiet again.
**************
Taylor dragged Sherry by the undershoulders in the main tent. She was pleased to see Claire, Wendy, and Jane were already concealed inside as well.
Trapstr was busy restraining the unconscious mercenaries with zip-ties. “I LOVE this outfit.” she purred.
“Glad to see you’re having fun.” Taylor dropped Sherry onto the ground. “Then you can also dart this one.”
“Yippee!”
“Don’t tie her up yet though. I’ll have Jenna put on her outfit.”
“Got it.”
Taylor grabbed her phone, and texted her instructions to Jenna and Screwball. Then, she finished zip-tying and tape-gagging Claire, Jane, and Wendy.
At the same time, Trapstr darted and began to strip Sherry of her protective gear, weapon belt, boots, and uniform. She stopped once the blond mercenary was clad in black-and-white sports socks, blood red boyshorts with a black skull on the front, and a black full-cup bra with a pattern of red skulls.
The radio came to life.
“Claire. What’s the situation?”
Trapstr used the device to mimic the mercenary captain’s voice. “All is quiet. Scorpia’s a total bitch, but that’s about it. What about you?”
The other mercenary snorted to herself. “Roof is quiet as well.”
“Roger that.”
“Penny, out.”
Screwball and Jenna discreetly entered the tent.
“We concealed the van in the bushes.” the blond criminal announced. “We left Scorpia inside.”
“Good.” Taylor pointed at the half-naked Sherry and her uniform lying next to her. “Jenna. You take the outfit of this one, and take control of the radio. Michelle, you keep Scorpia’s outfit, and make sure nobody enters the tent. Dart any mercenary who tries.”
Trapstr grinned widely. She trussed up Sherry – zip-tying the blonde’s wrists behind her back and her ankles and wrapping tape around her mouth and lower face – while Jenna disguised herself.
Taylor mentally recapped to herself the steps of the operation. These mercenaries were the ones coordinating the patrols outside the building. Now, Trapstr and Jenna could monitor their radio, and send false instructions to the patrols. With Lady Bullseye also out of the picture, the roof was left wide open to an assault.
They stashed all the defeated women inside one empty wooden crate – most likely (and ironically) the one that had been used to carry the very same radio equipment Taylor and her team were hijacking. Trapstr threw Sherry inside last. The blonde’s face landed on Claire’s bottom.
“Looks like we have a lucky winner…” the criminal quipped. Then she remembered Scorpia’s tastes in women. “I bet Elaine’s gonna be jealous...”
She closed the lid to conceal the pile of defeated mercenaries.
Taylor handed to Jenna the device to change the sound of the voice.
“When I give you the signal, call the sentry on the roof. I need you to distract her. The real mission begins now.”
) The joke is even multi-layered: Charlotte is watching the show like a true member of the USB - and also complaining about off-screen scenes. But if you pay attention to the show itself, it's actually an ersatz of Star Wars, and one character is an ersatz of Harley Quinn (her name is even an anagram of Harleen Quinzel) - two franchises well-known for providing many scenes... and many of them being offscreen (cough cough Doctor Aphra cough cough 
).