Chapter Six: All Paths Lead to Washington, Part I

The main company of Earthlings heads to confront the Deceiver. The Changer and his team begin storming the White House. All paths begin to lead to Washington, everyone with their own purpose.

 

6: All Paths Lead to Washington, Part I

          “Let’s go,” the Deceiver said, looking up at Mr. Lily. “Somewhere we can be alone. I’ll direct you there.”

          Lily smiled fondly. “Of course, dearest of my heart. We will go wherever you desire.” Without hesitation, he strode to Alan’s car, Deceiver still in his arms. Happily he opened the door to the driver’s seat and got in, placing the Deceiver on his lap.

          “Here are the car keys,” she managed to say seductively, pulling them out of her pocket and handing them to Lily.

          The burly man grinned widely, gently accepting the keys with thanks and a rather flirtatious comment to his companion. Still beaming, he turned the ignition, put the car into gear and slammed on the gas, speeding away.  

          Meanwhile, back at Lily’s house, Kroozi still had the barrel of a gun on Teddy’s head; he hadn’t shot it yet, but he had loudly proclaimed that if anyone moved noticeably or called anyone or did anything else suspicious, he would pull the trigger. In this manner the situation continued for a few more minutes, Alicia standing there like a sitting duck (or maybe more like a standing duck) and Eddie still completely engrossed in his beloved Patty, absolutely oblivious to the dangerous predicament right outside.

          Then, in the midst of this, three police cars zoomed down the street, screeching to a halt in front of none other but the house of Mr. Lily. Kroozi, of course, heard them coming when they were still half a mile off, and once the sirens shut off, he yelled at them, still facing Teddy. “If any of you officers try anything, the boy dies. Believe me, I can pull the trigger of this gun in a briefer moment than the difference of the time it takes your bullet to reach me and the time it takes the sound of your shot to reach me.”

          Out of the four officers present, the final comment confused two, but the two who got his point acted quickly, conferring between themselves quietly. “All right,” said the older of the two (though neither was young), “You knock this guy’s arm so the gun doesn’t point anywhere harmful, and I’ll tase him.”

          The other nodded, the only comment which he had for a reply being, “Step quietly.”

          The first nodded at that, and both of them began treading stealthily towards Kroozi, the other two officers having enough sense to act like nothing was going on, and Alicia wisely averting her eyes from the two approaching cops after catching a glimpse of them. Kroozi was too focused on Teddy to notice any of the warning signs until it was too late for him. The younger officer jerked his arm away, the inventor fired, but it was simply at a wall, and the older officer tased him, all as they had intended. The gun fell from Kroozi’s limp hand, and the younger cop produced a pair of handcuffs and quickly and efficiently cuffed him. While he took Kroozi to his squad car, the older gentleman questioned the conscious witnesses, Teddy and Alicia, beginning with the latter.

          “So, ma’am, what exactly was going on here?”

          Alicia smiled, displaying pure, unadulterated innocence. “Well, officer, we were all sitting inside the house, which belongs to Mr. Sylvester Lily, when there was a knock on the door, and somebody asked for Teddy McTralf and Patty Harrte to come out, when--”

          “Excuse me, ma’am, but what is your name?” the officer interrupted.

          “Alicia.”

          “Last name?”

          “Charles.”

          “Thank you. All right, you may continue.”

          “Well, Mr. Lily and his friend Eric (he’s the one crumpled on the ground grasping a gun in both hands) went to look for some firearms, and Teddy and I (Teddy’s the guy who had a gun pointed at his head), we went to look for knives. Finally, everyone was armed, and Mr. Lily went to answer the door with a gun (a pistol, I think) in his hand. However...” Alicia went on through the entire story, which I’m certain would be at the least slightly boring to hear again, so we won’t. 

          After Alicia finished her story, the cop stroked his chin thoughtfully. “So you’re saying the guy we have in custody was pointing a gun at your friend’s head because he was under the spell of an alien?”

          Alicia shrugged. “Well, it’s not the wording I would have used, but yes, that’s what happened, however crazy it might sound.”

          “Hmm...” the cop said in reply. “Well, if you had reported this two days ago, I probably either wouldn’t have taken you seriously or suggested you see a psychiatrist, but yesterday we found a deceased officer on the side of the road. There were scratch marks on his arm, and a few tests revealed that some unknown but lethal substance had entered his bloodstream, most likely through those scratches. When we investigated, we found one witness, a street bum who said he saw the most beautiful face he had ever seen through the driver’s window of the car, and also saw the officer die by her extraordinarily long fingernails. I heard you mention that this alien has both beauty and poisonous claws, right?”

          Alicia nodded. “Right.”

          “Well then, my best guess would be that this is the same woman, if your story is true. This is definitely uncharted territory, though. This aliens thing. I’m not quite sure I know what to do.”

          Alicia smiled warmly and patted the officer on the shoulder. “I think this is uncharted territory for all of us, officer. It’s not as if this has happened before on Earth. We’ll all just have to do the best we can and hope it’s enough.”

          “That’s a complete cliche if I ever heard one,” Eddie said.

          Alicia, the policeman, and Teddy all turned to stare at him, those who knew him incredulous that he had dared leave Patty’s side.

          Teddy was the first to react verbally. “Eddie...what happened to Patty? Is she awake?”

          Eddie nodded. “She’s awake. I wanted to stay with her, and I implored her to allow me to, but she said that if I persisted she wouldn’t speak to me anymore. I was reluctant, but...I suppose it was a sacrifice I had to make. She really should get some treatment, though. She has several bruises and some ugly gashes. Perhaps you wouldn’t mind calling an ambulance, my good cop?”         

          The officer nodded. “Sure, as long as you stop addressing me as your good cop and start addressing me as officer.”

          “Okay,” Eddie answered, “Just make sure you do it swiftly, officer.”

          Alicia frowned at the boy. “But, Eddie, if you’re so concerned about Patty, why don’t you call the ambulance yourself?” she asked confusedly.

          Eddie pretended to cough into his hand. “Well, uh, I don’t exactly know the number to dial...I thought somebody who knew what they were doing would be able to do it faster than someone telling me what to do and then me doing it. But, you’re probably right. I should have taken action personally. If you want something done right, you need to do it yourself. All right, so what’s the number--”  

          “Eddie, don’t get carried away there. I think the officer has it under control. Just stop freaking out. I’m sure your friend Patty will be fine.”

          “I need to go see her now...” he said wistfully, starting back towards Lily’s house. 

          Alicia stopped him, barring his way with her body. “Eddie, why don’t you wait until Patty’s ready to see you? That way, you can both enjoy each other’s company, not just you enjoy hers.”

          From Eddie’s expression, his parents might just have died. “But, Patty...”

          Alicia embraced him. “It’s all right, Eddie. You can see Patty soon. But she isn’t everything you have, so don’t act like she is. Try to be content with what you do have.”

          The boy clung to her as if clinging to life itself, and though no words came forth from his mouth, his silence revealed an abundance of information all by its lonesome. 

          “All right,” the officer announced, “we’ve got two ambulances on the way; one for the girl, and one for this fellow here.” He motioned to Eric to signify that he was being referred to as “this fellow here”. “These two big fellahs lying next to him are obviously dead. Did you say it was this other fellow...”

          “Eric,” Teddy put in.

          “Right, thank you, son.  Did you say it was this fellow Eric who killed them?”

          Alicia, now more focused on what the officer was saying, answered that question. “Yes, that’s what happened, as far as I could tell.”

          The officer nodded. “Well, I think everybody is going to have to come with me and stay under police supervision until we can get this whole thing figured out. Now, Miss Charles, you told me that there were two other people present at the crime scene, correct? A large, burly man and that...alien...woman? ‘The Deceiver’ I believe you said?”

          “Yes,” the woman affirmed, struggling to release herself from Eddie’s embrace without being too offensive. “Eddie,” he said softly to the boy, “Why don’t you go tell Patty that an ambulance will be coming for her in a little while?”

          Instantly, her problem was solved; she was not the object of Eddie’s affection, or more correctly, his obsession. Anything relating in any way, shape, or form to Patty instantly averted the lad’s attention from whatever else he was occupied with. As long as he was aware it was related to her, at any rate. In this particular situation, he was, so he ran off to Lily’s house as eagerly as it was possible to run.

          “So, officer, why don’t you fill me in on what you’d like us to do?” Alicia asked in a pleasant voice.

          “I would be happy to,” he replied, “but I’d rather wait until that kid returns with the girl so we can all hear and I don’t have to repeat myself.”

          Alicia nodded and shrugged. “Fair enough,” she agreed.

          Soon enough, “that kid” did return with Patty, he with his arm around her and she trying to push it off. At that point, the police officer, true to his word, assessed the situation.

          “All right. Well, I don’t think that anyone here has committed any serious crimes, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to keep everyone whose fingerprints are on any of the guns strewn about this crime scene in police custody until we can find the other two witnesses and sort this whole thing out. For the present, I think everyone uninjured had better come back to the police station with me for further questioning and wait for the fingerprint identification to finish. In fact, it seems there’s just enough room for everyone to ride in my squad car. If there are no questions, then we can go as soon as the ambulances arrive.”

          “I need to be with Patty!” Eddie whined.

          The officer sighed in exasperation. “Son, I’m sorry, but that won’t be possible until you’ve answered all the necessary questions and are proved not to have handled any of the guns from the crime scene.”

          “Eddie, you’re going to go to the police station or I’ll never speak to you again,” Patty declared in a very imperial tone.

          The boy immediately started pouting, but after one last hug to the girl he could never stand to be away from for too long, he at least seemed under control. A few minutes later, the ambulances arrived, Eric and Patty were promptly loaded in, and as they began to disappear into the distance, the police officer bade everyone still present (Teddy, Eddie, and Alicia) enter his squad car. An incapacitated Kroozi had already been placed in the front passenger seat, so the three remaining passengers were left to squeeze into the back. Eddie took the window seat on the far right, staring wistfully out of his window towards the road behind them, the way the ambulance had taken Patty. Alicia took the middle seat although she was not the smallest of the three, not wanting anyone else to be uncomfortable, leaving the left window for Teddy.

          “By the way,” the officer said once the trek was underway, “I don’t want anyone talking back there, or when we reach the police station until everyone’s been questioned completely. I don’t want anyone discussing a fake version of what happened so you can corroborate it and still be fabricating. We wouldn’t want anyone to actually get jail time now, would we?”

          Therefore, no one spoke through the entire ride. Alicia started fiddling with her skirt, then her blouse. Teddy watched for awhile, then became bored and followed Eddie’s example of staring out the window. Within the duration of ten minutes, the car stopped and the officer got out. They had arrived at the Creektown police station.

          Alicia and the boys followed the officer (who was carrying a still incapacitated Kroozi) inside wordlessly. They walked through a few rooms until they reached a long, poorly lighted corridor. 

          “All right,” the officer announced, “I want you all to come with me while I drop the boys and this fellow who had a gun to the lad’s head off with my commanding officer. Then I’ll take the lady to the interrogation room to complete her questioning.”

          The boys and the lady all nodded, and followed the officer down the corridor until they eventually came to a door on the right, which the officer opened. When they emerged into the room on the other side, they saw six police officers total, including the one who had led them into it. Closest to Alicia, Teddy, and Eddie was an officer whose back was turned to them, was of average height for a man, just under six feet, and had long, straight, dark brown hair. When that officer turned to face them, they saw the most striking features they had ever seen on a woman, features that didn’t belong to any police officer.

          Thinking quickly, Teddy and Eddie bolted as fast as they could, dragging Alicia with them until she joined in with her own pair of legs. However, before they had gotten very far, the Deceiver’s familiar voice boomed at them, for once not sweetly at all.

          “Come back to this room immediately, or I’ll kill both of your friends here. Mister Lily and Professor Kroozi? Unless you don’t care about that, of course. Then you’re free to go.”

          Teddy and Alicia immediately stopped in their tracks; Eddie tried to continue, but Teddy grabbed his arm.

          “What are you doing?” Eddie hissed in response. “The Deceiver said we’re free to go! Don’t you remember our previous encounters with that witch? Let’s get out while we still hold our lives!”

          “But the Deceiver said that she’ll kill Kroozi and Lily if we don’t come back,” Alicia replied. “Eddie, we can’t let them die. That’s not our choice to make.”

          “My point exactly,” Eddie replied smoothly. “We don’t hold their lives in our hands; we don’t decide whether they live or whether they die. That’s why I think we should not intervene.”

          Alicia gave an extremely exasperated sigh. “Eddie, we don’t have time for this. Now, the only noble thing to do--”

          “When does it mention nobility in the Bible?” Eddie cut in. “The only place I remember it is in subject matter for conversations, not actions!”

          “Eddie, your source for everything in life doesn’t have to be the Bible. There are--”

          “My source for everything…you know what, Alicia? You made a good point. A remarkably good point. We don’t have time for this. Good-bye.” Without another word, the kid darted down the hallway the way they had been going.

          Teddy started panicking. “What are we going to do without Eddie? Why does he have to be such an idiot? Now we’re going to be one person short going to the Deceiver, which might not be enough to save Kroozi and Lily…”

          “Teddy, we’re just going to have to make the best of this situation,” Alicia said in a feeble attempt at a commanding tone. Subsequently, she locked arms with the lad standing next to her. “Now, come on. If we want a chance at saving lives, we’re going to need to do what the Deceiver wants and hope to God for a miracle.”

          Swallowing, Teddy nodded. “You’re right.” After taking a shaky deep breath, he added, “Let’s do this.” Thus, the resolute pair walked back they way they had come, slowly and pensively. 

          The Deceiver was the first to greet them when they arrived, planting a hand on the shoulder of each of the returned victims. Teddy instantly ran for the nearest wall and made sure not to put the Deceiver anywhere near his line of sight. Conversely, Alicia shook hands with the deceptive woman and smiled. “So, Miss…MacDonald, I believe? What would you ask of us?”

          The Deceiver smiled back just as sweetly. “I’m not familiar with the name MacDonald, lass. My name is Allison. Allison Landis.”

          “Well, Miss Landis, you still leave my question unanswered.”

          The Deceiver replied, very cordially, “That is because you’re not all here yet. You see, girl, I was addressing three of you when I demanded your return to the room under pain of your friends’ death. Only two of you have, as yet, returned. That’s one less. I’ll give that remaining one three minutes to get here, or your friends pay the ultimate price. Starting now.” And a timer began counting down from three minutes after the Deceiver pressed a button on it. She stood motionless, hands intertwined, as the minutes elapsed, but her eyes never left Teddy and her bodyguard’s hand never left Alicia.

          The uneasy silence was broken with a minute and fifteen seconds left on the timer by the ring of the Deceiver’s cell phone. Cautiously, her gaze still fixated on Teddy, though it flickered over to Alicia once or twice, she picked it up and answered it.

          “What is it? You have? Well, that was a good job, my dear. I love you, too. Yes, bring him here now, to my main room.” Still not shifting her gaze, the stunning woman put the phone back on the table she had gotten it from. “Well, Mr. McTralf, Miss Charles, today’s your lucky day. One of my men coming back from a mission intercepted your friend Mr. Jenkins on his way out. It looks like your other pals may not have to die after all.”

          “Yes, but what--” Alicia began.

          “You will find out soon enough,” the Deceiver interrupted in her melodic, soothing voice as she pressed the reset button on the timer she had been using.

          She was in fact correct; the wait was over in barely sixty seconds. Then, a large, burly man carrying a wildly struggling Eddie over his shoulder, strode into the room.

          The Deceiver smiled sweetly, as she often did. “Mr. Jenkins! So good to see you again.”

          Eddie carefully averted his eyes. “Sorry I can’t say the same, you grimy excuse for a fat hog.”

          The Deceiver frowned slightly but controlled her own temper. “I think you need to remember your friends’ lives are on the line with all your actions in here,” she said in as close to a growl as Eddie had ever heard her.

          The boy snorted contemptuously. “I just want my own life, you deluded psychopath.”

          The lady he addressed held her temper in check more naturally this time. “Well, perhaps you don’t care about Kroozi and Lily, but you might be interested to know that I have control of the ambulance which your beloved Patty is currently riding in. If that doesn’t spell things out for you, this should: I hold Patty’s life in my hands.”

          Although he still wasn’t looking at his verbal opponent, Eddie’s face contorted into a grimace as he spoke. “Why, you twisted little son of a…”

          The Deceiver cleared her throat loudly before Eddie could continue. “So, I think we should all have reason for self-control today. Now, I think I’ll get into what I brought you here for. Sylvester, baby! How about we make love again?” In an instant, Mr. Lily and the most lovely creature ever conceived were on the ground in deep passion.

          Eddie, who had taken a spot up against the wall next to Teddy, quietly announced after gazing upon the spectacle of the Deceiver and Mr. Lily, “That’s the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I think I’m going to be sick.”

          Teddy was still staring at it. “But the Deceiver is such an amazing woman! How could anything involving that most beauteous of all living things be disgusting?”

          Immediately, Eddie shook him and pushed his head until it faced the ground, trying to stop him from becoming completely immersed in the Deceiver, as all the other conscious males in the room probably were. However, he didn’t have much time to do so before he ran to the middle of the room, where Deceiver and her lover were still making out ardently. Abruptly, although he had warned Teddy, he emptied his stomach all over the blue police coat the Deceiver was wearing. Satisfied with all but the taste in his mouth, he returned to his spot on the wall, making sure to avert his eyes from the undeniably extremely attractive woman as much as he could. Teddy, praise the Lord, had returned to his senses. He smiled at Eddie. “Good thinking, man,” he said amiably.

          The Deceiver, of course, was not in such good humor. She got up from the ground, her coat drenched in digested food. Disgustedly, she pulled off her soiled jacket, revealing a tight, slightly too small, light green tank top, at which point she smiled wickedly and looked straight at Eddie, who still stared at the ground. “Mr. Jenkins, why don’t you look up and see what fruit you’ve borne through your spur-of-the-moment action just a few moments ago?”

          Eddie shook his head. “I’ll leave it enough that I will reap what I have sown, Your Deceitfulness.”

          The Deceiver nodded. “You speak the truth, at least. Now, who wishes to show their devotion to me next?”

          All the policemen in the room, as will as Lily (although he had already taken his turn) were eager to be that lucky man. The Deceiver looked around the room, as if to see which most suited her, then decided presently.

          “Teddy! Come show your love to me.”

          “No thank you,” he replied timidly.

          The Deceiver smiled. “Lily, Venture, please escort the boy to me in proper form.”

          The two men each took one of Teddy’s arms and flung him at the Deceiver. Out of instinct, Teddy grabbed at what was in front of him to avoid hitting the ground; unfortunately, what was in front of him was the Deceiver’s torso. She grabbed at his in the same way, making them locked in each other’s arms, and suddenly her face filled his vision.

          “Kiss me,” she commanded, though in the sweet tone she generally used.    

          He complied instantly, locking lips with her as fast as he could, vehemently trying to gain as much of the Deceiver as possible from that one kiss. For three minutes this went on. Then the Deceiver pulled his head away and whispered, “Stop.”

          He stopped, standing there like a soldier in front of his commanding officer, awaiting her orders. Just like every other male in the room, save Eddie and Kroozi.

          “All right, now, Teddy,” the Deceiver began, “you are going to bring your friend Eddie to me, one way or another.” She pulled a gun from her belt and handed it to Teddy. “Use this if and only if you absolutely need it.” Then she pulled out another gun and handed that to him, too, subsequently muttering something indiscernible to everyone else in the room. “Now go!” was what she finished the command with.

          Not hesitating, Teddy strode purposefully toward Eddie, pocketing both the guns he had been given. Then, when he came to his friend, he grabbed Eddie’s hands and attempted to pull him to the Deceiver. Eddie snorted with contempt as he pulled his hands away. Undeterred, Teddy lifted Eddie in his arms, one arm under his back and one under his knees. Beads of sweat poured down his face from the exertion of walking with a 130-pound load to bear. Just as easily as with Teddy’s first endeavor, Eddie came free of his friend’s grasp, this time bringing himself to the ground feet first.

          Still not dissuaded from his task, Teddy went for Eddie’s feet, but the latter of the two was not to be taken in such a manner; instead, he kicked his as yet unsuccessful assailant in the wrist. Finally, Teddy resorted to the heavy artillery; he took the gun from his left pocket and held it at the ready. Next, he took the gun from his right pocket and tossed it to the boy who would be his opponent, Eddie--who almost dropped it in surprise.

          “Defend yourself!” was Teddy’s only word of advice.

          Eddie instantly kicked the lad in the balls, grabbed the gun that fell to the floor, and began firing at police officers. Within a minute, at least one bullet it had found a place in each of the officer’s bodies. Four were on the ground, either dead or unable to move. Two, however, were still standing, now trying to get out their guns. Eddie didn’t give them the chance. He held one gun to each man’s chest and fired simultaneously. Both fell to the ground without a word.

          Frantically, he scanned the room for the Deceiver, praying to God that he hadn’t fallen into some trap or another of hers.

          “Looking for me?” the Deceiver’s sweet, innocent voice called out. “I see you’re not bad with a gun. I hope you didn’t think to outsmart me, though, dear? Even if you could, my…talents would still overpower you.”

          Eddie still couldn’t find her. The room echoed too much. “WHERE ARE YOU, DARN IT?” he boomed.

          Suddenly he saw her face. It came out from behind Alicia’s head. And her hands were wrapped around the woman’s stomach. “I’m just enjoying the company of my new friend, Alicia. We’re best friends, aren’t we?”

          “Miss Landis, please let go of me. You obviously don’t have friendly motives if you’re using me as a shield from Eddie, but I’m sure we’ll both leave well enough alone if you release us all.”

          “Release you?” The Deceiver laughed richly. “Now why would I do a thing like that when I’m so close to controlling you? Mr. Jenkins killing Sylvester Lily was a loss, but I can still work everything to my advantage.”

          Eddie’s face suddenly went ashen with realization, as did Alicia’s. The boy began looking among the fallen men until he found Mr. Lily, who he had indeed shot accidentally, not realizing who it was he had been shooting. Tears began to run down his face. Distraught, panicking, he put his ear up to Lily’s neck, searching for a pulse. To his utmost relief, he found one; it was an erratic one, but a pulse nonetheless. Smiling, he turned from the fallen figure and lifted himself from the ground--right into the arms of the Deceiver, who returned the smile by kissing him fervidly, almost violently, it was so spirited. Desperately struggling to be free, Eddie tried to keep his mind on anything but the Deceiver although that was the thing directly occupying him. He kicked, he punched, he tried to force her away, whatever he could, but it was all in vain. She was too strong for him, aside from the fact that she had him in a near-death grip with both arms and lips. Every time he tried to pull away, she held him ever closer to her. When he still made endeavors to resist, she forced his hand down to touch her side.

          At first, Eddie began scratching and clawing away at it with his fingernails, hoping to get some opening, some distraction for the Deceiver. He got nothing, at which point he made the mistake of grabbing a handful of the woman’s flesh, intending to twist it with all his might, which might have been painful enough to distract the Deceiver a moment. Unfortunately, he never made it that far; the flesh felt much too good in his hand. Eddie relaxed, a pivotal mistake, and within seconds became completely responsive to the Deceiver, caressing her, kissing her, holding her as tightly as she did him. He had finally succumbed to her power.

          Once the Deceiver realized this, she quickly pulled away from him, soothingly informing him that he would get her again soon enough. After that, she produced from a pocket the cell phone she had previously used to communicate with one of her loyal menservants.

          “Wilkes?” she asked a few seconds after she finished dialing the number. “Would you please come in here and restrain one of the many… poor imitations of my beauty?”

          Hanging up and returning the phone to her pocket, the Deceiver turned her gaze to Teddy, who was currently restraining the “poor imitation of her beauty”, alias Alicia. Alicia, who was curled up in a ball, holding her knees and sobbing loudly. Apparently the woman had finally been broken. Or else she wanted the Deceiver to think that. Either way, the Girramonian paid her no notice now. Presently, she beckoned to Teddy, who came as quickly as he could.

          With a sweet, endearing smile, she stretched her arms out to wrap around the boy standing on either side of her--Eddie to her left, Teddy her right. Suddenly, a fist slammed into her ribcage, right above her right breast. Right over her heart. She struggled to breathe as oxygen left her. Suddenly the hand went for her neck and began strangling her, ridding her of any hope of oxygen, only a more intense desire for it.

          But this was ridiculous! Surely Alicia could not have recovered so quickly. The Deceiver hadn’t assumed that the state of brokenness was genuine, she had inferred it from the richness of the sobbing, the tightness with which she clutched her knees, the way her body shook. That last was nigh impossible to replicate. How in this wretched Milky way…

          Then the Deceiver looked down and realized her evaluation had been correct. Alicia was still clutching her knees to her, sobbing, and shaking. The one who had been strangling her--she used the past tense because her loyal Teddy and Eddie had now pulled that one off of her--was actually Bartholomew Kroozi. So. The man had proved more resilient than she had thought in terms of electrical shock. Of course, she hadn’t really run any tests to see how long those effects would last, and she hadn’t really specified to the officers how long they should implement their tasers when it was necessary. She would have to be a good deal more careful next time if she wanted to achieve the dominance of Earth unscathed.

          But, at any rate, everything was all right now. Wilkes was watching to make sure Alicia didn’t go anywhere, and now her servants had this Kroozi lout taken care of. Once she had finished caressing her throat, the Deceiver commanded the boys in the loud imperious tone she used as a channel for her anger. “Boys, hold this imbecile at all costs. Your lives, and, more importantly, your ranking with me, depend upon it.”

          Not surprisingly, the lads restraining Kroozi looked more determined after that last than after anything else. The Deceiver’s words rang true; under her spell, esteem from her was the highest priority; in its fullest potential, coming before one’s own life, even before the life of one’s closest friends, one’s family. Teddy and Eddie would hold onto their captive to the last breath.

          And now, to their great dismay, the paragon of luscious women was seducing their captive, much in the same way she had them. What was this madness? He had just hit her, had strangled her, tried to kill her!…but it didn’t matter. The Deceiver was not to be questioned; there was no need to question her. What need could there be when she looked the way she did? Every look, every nanosecond of beholding her, ingrained that into Teddy’s mind, into Eddie’s. Her beauty was potent enough to cover all else.

          Soon, the enmity with Kroozi was all but left behind. He was another faithful follower of the woman every man longed for, the woman every man should detest. He was another mindless drone for the wonderful, the powerful, the dreadful--Deceiver.

          Then, just like that, the Deceiver was bringing them all into a group, standing with Wilkes, another contester for the greatest prize of all time, who had one of those poor imitations of the Deceiver’s beauty--a woman, Teddy, Eddie, and Kroozi vaguely remembered, named Alicia. Seconds later, Eddie and Kroozi were ordered to carry a man, another vier, another contender. Lily, was it? Yes, Lily. Sylvester Lily. The Deceiver had named him such from her sweet, sweet lips. With her melodious, oh so melodious voice, it had been all but a song. 

          With the four conscious men completely captivated by all things Deceiver, they were willing to the point of insisting loudly that they should comply with everything that she wanted and exactly what she wanted. Soon, they were all in a bright blue van, barreling down the road at 70 miles an hour with Wilkes at the wheel, the Deceiver in the front passenger’s seat, and the other three men in the second row of seats. Alicia had been stuffed into the trunk of the vehicle, while Mr. Lily had been immediately taken to the hospital; the Deceiver couldn’t have people thinking of his well-being when they were supposed to be thinking about her.

          In this fashion, the small assemblage arrived in the small town of South Racsya at about six-thirty to dine, not an hour from the looming Washington, D. C., that ever-present, imminent battleground, where, unbeknownst to the Deceiver’s party, the Changer’s had just begun storming that great hulking fortress which is often called the White House.

 

          “Hello, this is Ron Ottoman, reporting live from Washington, D.C., and the crisis occurring here and now may very well be the biggest since 9/11. Sightings have been reported of a pink, fuzzy, forty-foot monster, and while this may sound more suited for a demented man’s fairy tale, we have received at least one photograph from a local cell phone. This” (and the television screen flashed to a picture of the Changer, so large he belittled nearby buildings) “is the only one we received, but as you can see, it isn’t something to be making fun of. While most theories are that it’s a giant robot, others think it may be one of the legendary aliens which have been rumored about in the Creektown vicinity in the past few weeks. 

          “In addition to this thing, which may or may not still be romping around Washington, at least 150 men have begun pounding on the White House outer gates with uprooted tree trunks, using castle-storming strategies common to the Middle Ages in Europe, found in modern times in many fantasy books, movies, and games. Whether these two phenomena are related is uncertain, but there does seem to be something a bit…extraordinary about the men storming the White House’s gates; when attempts were made to negotiate with them, and then to stop them. While a few of them were killed, they didn’t stop giving their all until falling over dead--a symptom common to the usage of the drugs PCP or LSD, but, in light of the situation with the giant pink creature that many think to be extraterrestrial, the group of men has been left alone until a competent combat team can arrive. That’s all on the situation for now, and, once again, I’m Ron Ottoman, reporting to you live from Washington, D.C.”

          Less than two miles away, a voice rang through the crisp morning air; it was a strong, commanding voice, obviously used to being in control. “All right, then, Miss Evlor. Here are your options right now. You can either do what I told you to do, or I resort to plan B. There are no other plans concerning you in this situation. So what’s it going to be?”

          Lavender Evlor frowned and narrowed her eyes in silent reflection over the question given her circumstances. The ambitious creature calling himself the Changer had her in something of a catch-22. Either she followed through with his plan and most likely got herself incarcerated for many years to come, if not killed in the onslaught of all the events now surrounding the White House, or she did whatever this “Plan B” was. It was unlikely that it would be a better alternative, with the way he referred to it, but still, it couldn’t hurt to ask, so she did.

          “Plan B,” the Changer replied, “is this--I get you out of my way and carry out my plan alone. But I so wanted to have a capable partner in this.”

          “So, by get me out of your way, you mean…”

          “You die. Can’t have valuable information leaking out about me, now can I?” He grinned.

          Lavender meditated on everything a few moments longer. There had to be some solution to this apparent dilemma better than twenty years in a state penitentiary. Not long after, she came up with it. “All right,” she said merrily, looking straight at the Changer, “Just one more question, then. What is there to stop me from squashing you when you’re in my pocket and the size of a bug?”

          The man she addressed grinned so widely that it dominated his presence. He put an arm around Lavender’s shoulder before he answered her. “Quite the shrewd one, aren’t you? I’m growing to enjoy your presence more and more by the instant. To answer your question, there would be absolutely nothing in the way of you squashing me when I’m in such a state. I’m glad you didn’t think of such a plan earlier. You would have dashed all my dreams of grandeur to pieces. So, we switch to plan A2--we go to the White House together, as a couple, so I can protect you if needed, but I can still become microscopic and slip in through a crack in the defenses. Let’s go.” The Changer peremptorily put his hand next to him, expecting her to reciprocate and put her hand into his.

          Lavender swallowed. “Well, I don’t know if I’m comfortable being associated with you in a couple…”

          The Changer shrugged. “If you’re more comfortable with dying, then let’s be on with it.”

          The pretty, though perhaps not beautiful woman shuddered and shook her head, steeling herself to be able to do whatever it took to survive. With only slight hesitation, she took the proffered hand, and they walked together at what appeared to be the carefree stroll of two lovers, her bare, smooth, petite hand clutched in his large gloved one. 

          “So, Lavender, how has your day been?” the Changer inquired out of the blue.

          “Look, Changer, I agreed to walk with you, not to carry on a conversation,” the woman replied boldly.       

          Her walking partner snorted contemptuously. “You’re going to get us both killed if you don’t play along,” he hissed. “I look suspicious enough as it is wearing an overcoat and hat in broad daylight. If we’re not speaking to one another, either, we’re going to attract more than just odd looks in light of the current circumstances. So carry on some form of conversation with me, if you value your life.”

          Lavender rolled her eyes but did not disobey. “Your entering my theater was the worst thing that has ever happened to me.”

          The Changer smiled. “But would there have been a much better alternative? My men and I going to some other building so you can see your surroundings become chaotic and then taken over by us from a distance instead of being a part of it? What good would that have done you? You’d be on the losing side instead of the winning. You should consider yourself extremely lucky for us to have chosen your theater.”

          Lavender turned her head and frowned. “The outcome is yet to be, Changer. Don’t name yourself victor too soon.”

          “Oh, come on, Lavender, turn that frown upside-down!” the Changer replied, grinning just as widely as ever. “There’s no need to make the matter seem darker than it is. On a lighter note, that was some fancy wording you used. Perhaps your inner poet is emerging because you face inner turmoil?”

          “Perhaps your inner idiot is emerging because the sun has fried everything else in your head, hat or no hat. Was that you actually sounding stupid, or are you just trying to manipulate me? Not like you’d tell me, either way.”

          The Changer held her hand a little tighter after that. “We are putting out some interesting remarks, now aren’t we? However, although I would love to answer them, it looks like we have some more important business to deal with for now.”

          For indeed, they had reached the East Wall of the White House. 

          “All right…” Lavender replied. “So, what do we do now? It’s not like there’s going to be some random opening in the middle of an outside boundary wall.”

          “Yes, you’re absolutely correct,” the Changer answered her. “That’s why we sit and wait here unobtrusively.”

          “What? How are we going to be unobtrusive right next to the White House when it’s practically a war zone? I mean, we’re lucky all the American troops are still focused on the battering rams, or whatever it is they’re focused on right now--this place will probably be swarming with them soon.”

          The Changer laughed richly. “The police are focused on the Living Strength’s sudden appearance right now, and that is not due to luck--it is due to my careful planning. Remember how I said that he would be the second diversion? Sorry, I don’t have time to wait for your answer--you’re about to be the third.”

          Instantaneously, the wall in front of them crumbled, the Changer disappeared from sight, and the Living Strength ran past Miss Lavender Evlor faster than she had ever seen anyone move on foot, followed by several men with guns, firing rapidly. One of them bumped into her, knocking her to the ground and causing him to stumble slightly and to notice her, the only thing out of place in the current picture.

          He held a hand down to her, and she took it, letting herself be pulled up although she was fully able to do it herself. 

          “Sorry, about that, Miss. What are you doing in this kind of place, anyway? Nobody’s supposed to be around here unauthorized…”

          Lavender took on a look of innocence and bewilderment, only the former actually feigned. “I…I…” She wanted to let herself collapse in his arms, to be brought to some place of safety and recuperate while the remainder of the carnage ensued, but she knew the Changer wouldn’t let her live to see another day after. Therefore, she took the opportunity while the man was waiting for her to say something to bring up her foot and slam it into his crotch; he was on the ground instantly.

          Seconds later, the Changer was back to normal size, six feet tall. “Congratulations, Lavender. You’re playing hard ball now, in my league. Just make sure you know how to hit the curveballs, when they come to you. And they will. Anyway, enough with the moderately trite metaphors. Let’s make our way into the depths of the White House itself.”

          “Wait a minute, Changer. Let’s? The plan was I get you to a point where you can get in through the wall, then you do the rest on your own. You never said anything about invading the White House together.”  

          The man shrugged. “True. But I never said on my own either. I never said anything to you concerning this part of the mission one way or the other, but I’m saying it now, and we’re going together. Or we could always switch to plan B.”

          Lavender shuddered at that. “You heartless piece of crap. You’re using me just so you can have a scapegoat if any unwanted visitors show up. You’re horrible.”

          The Changer shook his head, looking as if sad that his plans were too sophisticated for her to comprehend. “But, Lavender, what use would I have for a scapegoat when I can easily change to any size I want and crush every unwanted visitor?”

          “Because if you change, you’ll draw too much attention too quickly.”

          “Well, judging from what the news is saying, I already let the cat out of the bag with the forty-foot stunt awhile back. And anyway, I might as well inform the United States of America on who their new ruler is going to be.”

          Lavender glared at him, apparently trying to see through his skin and try to figure out what he had in mind. It didn’t work. “Then what use would you have for me, you brute?”

          The Changer smiled. “I do enjoy all these colorful titles you’ve been bestowing upon me. But now, concerning your question, I’m going to give you the chance to figure it out for yourself. I can’t just go laying all my cards out on the table, can I? There’s no fun involved. You’re a bright lass. I’m sure you’ll figure it out on your own in no time.”

          Lavender sighed resignedly. “Then lead the way.”

         

          Chad’s Diner was packed when the Deceiver and the four men accompanying her entered it. Booths lined every wall, all full, none with so much as a seat to spare. Even the front waiting area was overcrowded with people waiting for the next spot to open up. The Deceiver walked purposefully to the hostess.

          “A table for five, please,” she said pleasantly.       

          The hostess snorted contemptuously. “Look, girl, I don’t know how everyone treats you in your modeling company or whatever, but here, you get to wait for a table with everyone else. It’s going to be about an hour.”

          The Deceiver growled. “Let me speak to the manager.”

          “Look, I’m sure he’s really busy with all the hustle and bustle right now. It’d be a while before I’d even think of approaching him about you…”

          “All right,” the Deceiver replied frostily. “I guess this place isn’t all of what I heard about it. I’ll make sure to tell all my friends exactly how the service really is at Chad’s diner.”

          The hostess narrowed her eyes at the woman. “I’ll go see if I can free him up.”

          “Thank you,” came the response with a cheerful smile.

          A few inches away, Teddy and Eddie were talking to each other. “I’m starving,” said Eddie. “I hope they have peanut butter here. Peanut butter rocks. My socks. I could go for a couple of jars right now, really…”

          “Yeah,” said Teddy, “I guess. But I could really go for some salmon. Wow, that sounds good right now. Of course, the whole concept of food pales in front of her…”

          If it wasn’t obvious who he spoke of from his tone and the circumstances, his immediate gaze towards the Deceiver made it crystal clear. Eddie simply nodded in answer and followed his friend’s example. Truly, what was food before the great Deceiver? What was conversation? What was life? All rhetorical questions; they were plainly absolutely nothing. Perhaps less than nothing. The boys waited for seats by gazing at the Deceiver--it didn’t matter that all they could see from their position was the back of her cloak. It was the Deceiver. It was enough.

          However, Wilkes and Kroozi, forced to stand slightly farther away from the recent object of their affection, managed to stop her from being the primary focus of their attention, although of course she was the secondary by a long shot. Still, they pushed her further back into their heads enough so that they could carry on a conversation not grounded on her, though not by any means guaranteed no mention of her. In other words, they were doing better than Teddy and Eddie had; only slightly better, perhaps, but better nonetheless.

          “So, Wilkes, what do you do for a living?” Kroozi asked.

          “What? Oh, I uh…what do I do? Oh yes, I’m a police officer--or I was, before…well, you know. Before her.”

          Kroozi smiled and nodded knowingly in answer. “Yes, we had so much before she came, and yet so little. What a sweet, sweet paradox the glorious Deceiver makes everything. I was an inventor, and something of a scientist before. In fact, I was extensively using my work almost right up until she saved me from my contemptible life--I can remember some kids asking of my services, two of which were those boys traveling with us currently. I’m indebted to them for eternity; they showed me her  for the first time, that beauty that dominates all other. Then they started discussing an alien threat with me, which she was…wait, just a moment. I must be mixing up memories within my mind. It’s grossly inconceivable that the wonder of all wonders could be involved in anything unjust. How egregious of me to even think such a thought. I am sorry, Wilkes. I have committed a sin against her. I will speak no longer.”

          Wilkes frowned at the former inventor and turned around so he could look upon the Deceiver, upon her arm, upon her hair, completely ignoring Kroozi. Nothing else mattered, especially not something that had done wrong against her. That thing was filth tainted and marred beyond repentance. That thing was unclean.

          Meanwhile, the manager had finally come to the Deceiver. Obviously, he was not happy. “All right, Miss, what’s the problem here?” he demanded. “What makes you better than everyone else who has to wait for a table?”

          The Deceiver paid no attention to his questions, simply advanced on him until he was within arm’s reach, than stretched her arms out to embrace him, a virtual guarantee that he would fall under her spell. 

          He put out his hand before she could. “Not another step, Miss,” he growled. “With your looks, I’m sure you might very well be able to get what you want by seducing men wherever else you go, but not here.   You come another inch, and you’re leaving my restaurant. For good. Now let’s discuss this like proper human beings who have never met before, if you don’t mind.”

          “Okay,” said the Deceiver. “Hello. Nice to meet you. My name is Allison Landis.” She extended her hand.

          The manager went close to bug-eyed at the sight. “Are those claws?”

          The Deceiver looked at him with a puzzled expression. “Claws? I…” In mid-sentence, while the manager was concerned with her words, she flung herself at him, knocking him to the ground. Obviously, her goal was not to knock him out, so she had cushioned his head’s fall with her left hand. Her goal was to persuade, which she began by…being pulled off the manager by two huge men who each had her by an arm and a leg. Not what she had hoped for, but not something she had completely overlooked or overruled as out of the realm of possibility. Therefore, having previously planned such a scenario in her head, she knew what she wanted to do. She didn’t struggle.

          “Teddy, Eddie, Kroozi, Wilkes, follow me, but don’t hurt these men. They’re friends. This restaurant is too full, so you four can help me find another one with an empty table in it,” the Deceiver said as she was being hauled out. “Perhaps we could try McDonald’s; I think they have better service than this place.”

          “Shut your face, stupid girl,” one of the men replied, kneeing her in the side.

          “Hey!” she shouted. “You’re not allowed to do that. I could have you--”

          “Chick, you so much as think about filing a lawsuit against us, and we’ll have one on you for sexual assault before you can blink.” By this time, they had reached the front doors. Two other employees opened them. “Now get out of Chad’s diner, and stay out, you piece of trash.” The two men tossed her out through the open doors, and she fell to the pavement several feet away. Both the men spat on her, and they walked away to pursue other business, the employees who had been holding the doors open nonchalantly letting them go, leaving the four men accompanying the Deceiver with the task of reopening the doors before they darted out to help her up and look for the nearest McDonald’s.

          Incidentally, the nearest McDonald’s was only about a quarter-mile up the road, so it was perhaps a five minute walk from Chad’s to it. And, incidentally, three or four booths were empty. The Deceiver gave a sigh of relief as they walked in. She was becoming exceedingly tired of love. She was glad that she wouldn’t have to exchange any to persuade anyone here. They could purchase and sit down to eat a meal here quite legitimately without a hassle. At least, it seemed so. She hoped so.

          There was a line in front of the cash register, but nothing even in the same league as what there had been at Chad’s; this was only a couple in front of the Deceiver’s group ordering, then them. Nothing at all.

          “All right,” the man in front of them was saying. “I’ll have a…wait, I don’t see it up there. Do you guys still carry salmon biscuits?”

          “Salmon biscuits? Sir, as long as I’ve been here, we’ve never carried salmon biscuits,” the cashier replied politely.

          “What? I remember getting one last month in this very place. This very restaurant, woman! I know you had them!”

          “Sir, I don’t know what you’re thinking of, but I’m positive we’ve never had salmon biscuits in the two years I’ve--”

          “I DEMAND to speak with a manager about this!”

          “Shut up and order something on the menu!” the Deceiver yelled at him, voice nigh on bursting with irritation.

          The man turned around to face her, looking to be about to make a nasty reply, when he saw her. “Hey, you’re really sexy,” he said with a deranged-looking smile. 

          His wife smacked him in the face. “Bart! I thought I was the prettiest girl in the world! Why would you be checking out another woman? Am I not good enough for you now?”

          Still looking at the Deceiver, the man answered his wife. “You were the prettiest girl in the world. Or I thought you were. But this babe has you beat hands down. And hey. That slap hurt. There was no need for that. Now it’s time to hurt you.” Fulfilling his words, the man turned around and slammed his left fist into his wife’s face.

          “There, that’s better,” he said to himself. “Now.” He turned to the horrified cashier. “Where’s that manager?”

          “Uh…uh…let me…”

          “Okay, I see how it is. You want to call the cops on me! Well, I’m tired of the stinking cops! NO COPS!!! I’m going to find those salmon biscuits if I have to do it myself…” In one fluid movement, he jumped over the counter, feet landing on top of the stupefied cashier, who subsequently crumpled to the ground under him. The man kicked sharply under her jaw a few times for good measure, then moved on to the back of the building. “I WILL FIND MY SALMON BISCUITS!!!” he yelled. “IF IT’S THE LAST THING I DO!!!”

          As he made his rampage through the cooking area, a long white van pulled into the parking lot, and several professional-looking men with syringes stepped out, proceeding to make their way into the restaurant. Once inside, one of them made a rather loud inquiry to no one in particular. “Has there been anyone acting…unorthodox in here lately?”

          Then, without waiting for an answer, the man recognized his subject of inquiry’s wife, and spoke to her specifically. “Ah! Evelyn! So he is here. You helped him out again, didn’t you? Do you have the moolah, or am I going to have to press charges against you at last this time?”

          A cry rang from the area of the building that Bart had entered. “WHERE ARE THEY? YOU CAN’T HIDE A WHOLE DANGED LOAD OF SALMON BISCUITS FOREVER!”

          The woman was distracted for a moment by her husband, but the professional-looking man never shifted his questioning gaze from her, and as she was forced back into the situation closer at hand to her, her eyes filled with apprehension; it was obvious that she didn’t have the money he was talking about. “Uh, look, I can start a tab with you guys, right? Just a little IOU? I’ll pay you back tomorrow, I promise. I’ll make you my state champion waffles if I don’t!”

          The man looked interested in that. “Really? All right, then. We won’t have to…hey, wait a minute! I was at the statewide waffle competition last year! You didn’t win! It was a tie between that one chick and that other chick…neither of which were you! That’s it, Evelyn. We’re bringing you in this time. Boys! Secure her and bring her to the vehicle. I’ll take care of Leonard.”

          His men did as he asked as he jumped over the counter, clearing both it and the unconscious cashier in a particularly impressive maneuver. Recovering almost instantaneously from his landing, he poised his syringe so that it would most easily stick into a neck while he was dashing on towards the back of the building.

          Soon, Bart was rushing back to the eating area, clearing the counter like a professional runner clearing a hurdle and continuing to the other side of the eating area, approaching the entrance to the playground. “I found the salmon biscuits!” he shouted ecstatically, holding up a bag of frozen hamburger patties in triumph.

          His pursuer was not far behind, looking ready to overtake Bart with his long, swift strides and the seeming effortlessness when he once again bounded over the counter, more like an Olympic runner than a simple professional. Within mere seconds, he was trying to approach Bart without displaying the syringe too conspicuously.

          “No, not you!” Bart whined. “I can’t go back! You shan’t make me go back! Least not till I eat my salmon biscuits. I would not have sacrificed three McDonalds employees if I wasn’t gonna get my biscuits.”

          “All right, Bart. All right,” the man with the syringe conceded. “You’ll get your salmon biscuits, but then you’re coming back to your nice, padded house with me.”

          “NEVER!!!” replied Bart, sprinting away from his enemy once again. “I will never go back! I must be free! Free with the salmon! FREE!!!” He tried to make a mad dash out of the building and away, but the mental home employee caught him at the doors leading from the eating area to the anteroom and filled him with tranquilizer.

          Without delay, the employee pulled the syringe from Bart’s body and dragged the unconscious form outside. “All right, boys!” the Deceiver’s group could barely make out from inside. “Let’s head back to HQ!”

          The Deceiver turned away in contempt, turn instead to the cash register in front of her. “Could we please order some food over here?” she asked impatiently to no one in particular.

          She smiled when the manager came out from the back, but turned to her male companions before he could respond. “Boys, why don’t you go ahead and pick out a booth?” she requested of them. “I’ll get us some food, and I’ll join you guys shortly, okay?”

          All four nodded as one, and mechanically, almost robotically, went searching for the best booth--only the best for the Deceiver.

          Still emanating cheer, the deceitress herself turned back towards the manager.

          “All right, what can I get you, Miss? Whatever you want is on the house for tonight, to compensate for the inconvenience of having to wait for that…mental patient…to finish running around the place. Anyway, what would you like?”

          The Deceiver quickly chose four of the first thing she saw on the menu, which happened to be the Big Mac. About half a minute after, once the manager’s attention was diverted with another customer, she exited through the front doors and walked back in the direction of Chad’s diner, where Wilkes had parked her van. She reached it in a relatively short amount of time, and was momentarily at the wheel, making her way out of South Racsya and into Washington, D. C. She had grown exceedingly tired of drooling bodyguards and flirtatious strangers. She was going to have to start getting things done on her own, the first of which would be helping out the Changer and the Living Strength. She could play it by ear after that.

          Once she was within five minutes of her destination, she pulled out her phone and called the Changer. No answer. Immediately afterward, she dialed the Living Strength. Her heart raced faster every time she heard a ring. Four, five, six times. Then finally a voice. The Deceiver hoped dearly that it wasn’t voicemail. 

          “Deceiver? This better be an emergency. I’m rather preoccupied right now.”

          She sighed in relief. It was him. “Strength. I’m entering D.C. as we speak. Is there anything you need help with?”

          “You’re here? But…oh, whatever. We’ll deal with that later. Look, the Changer and I are storming the White House right now. The police shouldn’t be a problem, but if you want to help, you can seduce or kill them. But don’t come near the White House itself! The Changer has everything planned out, and he doesn’t want any of it disrupted. I’ll tell him about you the next time I see him, but make sure you don’t approach the White House even if it’s apparent we’re the victors. Wait for a call from him or me, and do not call back. Good-bye.”

          The Deceiver muttered something, then returned the phone to her bra, where she had been keeping it of late. “So, he thinks all I’m good for is seduction and murder. Well, perhaps I’m not quite as brainless as everyone believes,” she said to herself. “Maybe he thinks no one can have perfect beauty, good fighting skills, and a competent mind. I should show him just how well-rounded a paragon of organic life such as myself can be. I have the capability to do something absolutely no one expects.”

          She suddenly slammed on the brake, and the large van screeched to an abrupt halt. With the utmost calm, she opened her door and planted her feet firmly on the ground, a new plan already forming in her mind.

          The Deceiver’s face altered just barely to allow for a slight upward curvature of her lips, commonly referred to as a smile. After this, no one--not a hostess, not a bouncer, not the Changer himself--would ever speak to her in a disparaging tone again. She was perfect in every way.

 

Author's Note

Does the police station scene seem to drag on a bit? Maybe it's just me. Anyway, yeah...review what you want.