There is a New Villainess in Town
© 2011 by: Mr. David R. Dorrycott
Chapter Fifteen
Two weeks later Night was attending the monthly Superhero’s meeting which was held in the Empire State building, the exact floor was never released but generally though to be the 100th. Actually the meeting room was in the basement of that building so that the tunnels connecting that grand old building with the rest of the business district could be used by those hero’s who could not fly to enter and leave unseen. The rest landed on the near forgotten Dirigible debarking platform, then took the elevators down.
Night was uncomfortable this time, as she hadn’t as yet gotten used to the change in her body that the filthy evil alien cat had done to her. A change that she would go to the grave with it seemed. Even as she was mentally cursing Captain Fluffball Professor Q was calling the meeting to order.
“Old business?” he asked, passing over Roberts Rules of Order as he would when time was tight. “None? Good. New business.”
“Where is Panther” Rice Monkey asked, looking around for his long time friend.
“It seems that he no longer has his shape shifting powers” Professor Q answered. “Therefor as per this organizations charter he has withdrawn his membership. I believe that he said something about Idaho and fishing.”
“Lost ‘es powers?” the little grey dressed man gasped. “How, that’s supposed tah be impossible.”
Shrugging the lab coated leader of New York’s superheros shook his head no. “I am not that well versed in Genetics my speed climbing friend. Perhaps with research we will discover the reason, but to assure you, it was also my belief that losing ones powers was impossible. Perhaps this is a short term thing and he will return to us in time.” ‘I hope not’ Q thought, ‘He’s a vicious fighter and dangerous man.’
Night chimed in then. “With Razor in jail and Panther gone we have lost two of our best close in fighters. Could this new villainess, Captain Fluffball be responsible?”
Q shook his head no, his frizzy white hair (artfully bleached weekly) swaying as he did so. “In Razors case no, that was an accident that the jury decided was not. A single alien could not have controlled so many minds as you are well aware. There is also the fact that she did not appear for many months after his sentencing. Panther? That possibility I will hold in reserve, though it appears that she desires to humiliate us, not harm us. Correct Detector?”
Looking up from his data pad a currently purple skinned young man giggled. “Very inventive, very inventive” he answered. “Wonderful trap, I must invent a detecting device that will find that nasty little chemical but it is so sensitive. So very sensitive.” He brushed a purple hand through purple hair. “Her devices seem to have been based at least somewhat on iodine. If we could find a way to detect great masses of that, or interfere with its chemical reaction. Yes, that would defeat her.”
“Thank you for your report. Now Night, it is our understanding that you too were captured by this alien feline?”
“Yes” Night answered shortly, venom in her voice.
“I see, and just how did she humiliate you? I saw nothing in the papers nor have you the standard purple stain visible.”
“And you’ll never see it either, that Lesbian bitch.” She stood, knowing every eye was now upon her. “In short, with that strange plastic she painted “This slave is the property of Captain Fluffball” on my body, then left a note that said ‘I could have used an ultraviolet laser.’”
“So. You are still purple there?”
“Not that anyone here will see” Night snapped. “We need to find her hideout, Staten Island certainly isn’t it I searched for a full week, but it has to be close. Find her, crush her and throw her to the wolves.” Sitting down Night continued to fume.
“Ah, well moving on” Q continued, “Solar Man you fought her two days ago, what is your opinion of her abilities?”
A very powerful man sporting a black eye stood, rubbing his freshly shaved chin as he thought. “Strong yes. Not as strong as I but as Kato reported she knows martial arts. Since I barely do she cleaned my clock for me. Faster too, very fast though she cannot fly. That was how I managed to escape.” He looked around the group a moment. Solar Man wasn’t quite of average intelligence, his one major weakness, but he was brutally honest especially with himself. “Escape was exactly what it was” he continued. “Had I tried to continue the fight she would have reduced me to chopped liver. Yet she did not laugh as I flew away, as I ran away. She simply watched and waited. I will not make the mistake of meeting her one on one every again if I can help it.”
Solar Man sat down then, his lack of average intelligence, though only by two points (his IQ was 98) was the only reason that he was not their leader. Given time he was able to plan with the best of them but he required days where others required only minutes, or even seconds in Professor Q’s place. He was though liked by all his companions, even Razor had admired his brutal honesty.
Professor Q looked around the room, studying the thirty odd heros gathered here tonight, about half the full roster but not everyone could make every meeting after all. Half would be enough to pass any measurements that came up. “Anyone else? Yes Tramp, you have an idea?”
“Wife has” the dumpy looking man answered, standing slowly. Tramps powers were near nothing, unless he was with his Lady. Powerless herself, she acted as an amplifier, giving Tramp the ability to crush anything that he could put his hands around, or stomp anything underfoot, even main battle tanks. Even together the two were slow, moving no faster than the average human. That was why they had built the Ladymobile, a very fast sports car that was quite street illegal.
Looking around at his fellow heros he abruptly blushed as he took an envelope out of a vest pocket and had it passed up to the Professor. “Her idea. I personally do not agree with her, it is dishonorable. Still, I am bound to present it.”
As the envelope made its way to the Professor, the groups leader watched it to insure that it didn’t vanish. Some of the heros under his command were little better than criminals themselves. “Where is Lady tonight Tramp, she never misses a meeting.”
“Couldn’t get a baby sitter” the other man answered, “made me come alone this time.”
“Ah, the joys of parenthood” the Professor sighed. “One day I hope to experience them myself. Ah, thank you Night.” He accepted the envelope, opening it to read the lines written. “This is dangerous” he admitted, “And just who would stoop so low anyway.”
“Well tell us you fizzy old fart” Night demanded, never known for her patience.
“Very well. Quite simply put Fluffball has admitted to being a lesbian, one without a lover. She must be lonely, so we simply get one of the female heros to snuggle up with her, then when she is unaware take her down.” He dropped the envelope and letter on his papers. “Quite right Tramp, I wouldn’t ask any women to do that. So, any other ideas?”
“I’ll do it” Night said from beside him.
“What?” the Professor gasped, shocked. “Why? You’re the virginal superhero Night, what possible reason could you possibly have to do something like this?”
“Revenge, vengeance, justice” the dark skinned woman answered. “I want to rip that bitches skull open and spit on her brain. Then I want to... She caught herself, stopping her rant. “Yes, its personal, that’s why I’ll do it.”
Shaking his head no Professor Q waited until the general babble that followed both announcements had settled down. “Your reasons are all wrong Night and that it why I caution against this. You already know she can defeat your powers, what if she is responsible for Panthers loss of powers. Think carefully, if she is and she removes your powers, what if she decides to really enslave you?”
Standing up Night looked the Professor eye to eye. “Someone has to do something” She answered him. “She’s kept Detector from locating her hideout, she went toe to toe with Solar Man and won and she’s starting to get the public on her side. No villain has managed to do all three of these things. Matt, she has to be stopped, if it means losing my oh so virginal status, which is a lie and you very well know it, then so be it. So what if she can block my power, all I have to do is find out the general area of her hideout. With sixty heros searching we’ll have her running at least. Maybe even behind bars in a week. Matt, let me do this please?”
Looking around at the other heros the Professor saw that most of them agreed, so against his better judgement he turned his attention back on Night, his sometimes lover. “She can spot and jam my best sensors Night, so I can’t help you there. You’ll be on your own entirely and a fool if you try. But all right, I give you my blessings against my better judgement.”
“Thanks Matt, I’ll reel her in very slowly, only at the last instant will I set the hook.” Sitting back down Night watched and listened as the meeting continued, knowing that what she was going to do was deadly dangerous. Mainly because although she was very angry at what the alien had done to her, she still admired the furred woman.
It was just too bad for the mind flaying hero that her name was on that list the Committee had given Captain Fluffball.