Chapter 13: Of Schemes and Fangs

Vertigo

                “Hey Nessa, it’s my turn to carry the bacteria!” I whisper-shouted, extending my arms to accept the box. She looked over at me reluctantly, hugging the box of bacteria closer.

                “You just want to carry it into the base and present it to Super Demon Baby,” she stated.

                “Yeah, well, I need the brownie points. He was going to execute me, remember?”

                “But now you’re useful. I should carry the box because I’m already closer to him than you are, so shouldn’t I use every opportunity to wiggle my way into his inner circle?” She hurried closer to the S.H.O.V.E.L. entrance. I raced after her and grasped the box. A tug-of-war ensued.

                “No because now I’m not useful! I just completed the mission he needed me to complete so who’s to say he won’t kill me the moment I arrive?” I asked, a slight panic to my voice.

                “Why does that scenario even change when you’re carrying the box?” She frowned. “And you aren’t going to be killed. I’ll do my best to keep that from happening and you know Phanta will too.”

                “Just… please, let me carry the box. It’s a comfort and whatever time is used in taking it from me delays him executing me a few moments more.” I gave her my best puppy-dog look; bottom lip slightly stuck out, eyebrows quirked, and fake tears pooling in my eyes. Well, half fake.

                She sighed dramatically before complying with, “Fine.”

                I grinned and took the box, entering the elevator leading down to the base. Time to go meet Super Demon Baby.

*****

                Super Demon Baby was sitting propped up against several pillows and removed his pacifier to speak as we set the box near him. The pillows appeared to have bugs nesting in them and Super Demon Baby protectively pushed them out of sight before turning back to us. The thought of him caring about anything other than power was hard for my mind to grasp. What was so special about those bugs?

                “I am pleased,” he said, his face split by a twisted grin. “I trust you dispatched whoever you may have come across?”

                “But of course,” Nessa replied with a slight tilt of her head. “Only one person though, sir, since both my partner and I are quite skilled in stealth and the girl couldn’t have been avoided.”

                Super Demon Baby’s eyes narrowed. “Are you sure there’s nothing… else you would like to tell me?”

                My mind spun. Did he know? The phone in my pocket felt heavy and I thought for sure he knew about it. What if-

                “No, sir,” Nessa replied evenly. “Unless you want to know about the poison defenses they used? Quite ingenious, really.”

                I glanced at her, fighting the urge to sigh in relief. I couldn’t give us away to this baby.

                “Oh? How lovely. Why don’t you write up a report and deliver it to my new secretary this evening.” Super Demon Baby motioned to a beautiful, delicate looking redhead who glared at us in turn.

                “Yes sir, I will,” Nessa replied.

                “Dismissed,” Super Demon baby waved us away, sticking the pacifier back in his mouth and crawling over to examine the box of bacteria on the floor next to him.

                After we closed the door to the office area we both sagged up against it, relief showing in every motion, facial expression, and sigh.

                “Thanks Nessa,” I said, smiling a little.

                “For what?” She looked over, confused.

                “For letting me carry the box and not breaking down in there. And I’m sorry,” I added after a moment of hesitation. “I’m sorry for fighting with you.”

                Nessa enveloped me in a hug and said, “I’m sorry too!”

                Feeling a bit uncomfortable now, especially since someone had just cleared their throat and wanted to use the door we were blocking, I grabbed Nessa’s hand and tugged her away. “Let’s go catch up on some much needed rest.”

                She smiled and accompanied me walking to our rooms. I looked around, noting changes. There were stockades set up in the cafeteria, with people in them, and a huge mural of people being tortured was lining the hallway to our rooms. From a stretching rack to the removing of nails to feather tickling, it was all there. The faces of the victims were twisted grotesquely, eyes bulging, tongues sometimes sticking out, blood everywhere. As I was admiring the visage of a very handsome torturer, I noticed movement in the corner of my eye and turned to look.

                Coming up the hallway were Phanta, Anaconda, the clerk, and Sunny D of all people, deep in discussion. They were fervently arguing about something involving floss, a tiger, and seashells. Weird.

                Nessa rolled her eyes and marched up to them. “Hey guys, sounds like an interesting conversation. What’s going on?”

                Not one to be left out, I walked forward and stood next to her and quirked an eyebrow.

                Anaconda exchanged a glance with Phanta, obviously trying to dissuade her from saying anything. She looked standoffish and turned to us.

                “We’re planning something,” she whispered, leaning closer. “We’re going to take him down.”

                Nessa and I exchanged an excited look, coming to the same realization and speaking at the same time-

                I said, “We met a super cool secret group who want to take him down, too!”

                Nessa said, “Vertigo, don’t you dare tell them!”

                Phanta looked at us humorously while Anaconda shook his head, annoyed.

                “Did you get contact information?” asked the clerk.

                “Oh yeah,” I replied, pleased with myself. Nessa was looking really annoyed.

                “We shouldn’t be talking about this in such a public place!” she hissed. “You never know who could be listening.”

                For effect, I made a show of looking down both sides of the hallway and, coming up with no one, I said, “Oh my goodness, do ghosts exist? Because that’s the only thing that could hear us right now-“

                “Very funny, Vertigo,” Nessa sighed. “Just please tell me you guys have a secret lair in which we can plot without worry.”

                Anaconda grinned, and I suddenly understood that the snake name wasn’t just because of his personality.

Author's Note

Sorry for the lateness! I may seriously maim my brother for his usage of the internet. As always, any review is a great review :)

Reviews

[SomeTypeOfArtist]

Aww, I'm happy they're friends again. : ) I also think it's cool how all of the old and new allies are banding together!