“See anything, Wraith,whispered Jade Dragon.
“Nope, nothing,replied Wraith, scanning the dark room. “But with all these exhibits, who knows where the perp痴 hiding.”
The two heroines slowly worked their way through the museum looking for the cause of the triggered silent alarm. When the two of them, plus StreetCat and NightRaven arrived on the scene, they found the building still locked, but the guards were missing. After Wraith touch-teleported them inside, they had chosen to split up into two groups to try and find the infiltrator more quickly. Jade Dragon chose to go with Wraith, since Wraith could see in the dark, while NightRaven went with StreetCat, whose enhanced senses would be a complementary skill.
As Jade Dragon and Wraith rounded the caveman exhibit, Wraith caught some movement to the left. She quickly tapped Jade Dragon on the shoulder and indicated with a nod.
“Okay,said Jade Dragon slipping her sword from its scabbard over her back, “I'll try a direct approach, while you teleport in from behind . If it's too much for me to handle, hit them from behind.”
Wraith nodded and stepped sideways into the Ghost Dimension.
Jade Dragon silently darted towards the movement and caught the outline of a female figure in a smokey gray costume and mask.
“Stop!she ordered.
The woman stiffened and turned around to face her. “Well, Jade Dragon this is an unexpected pleasure ,she said.
As Wraith materialized behind the woman, Jade Dragon asked, “Smoke ?! I thought you were safely locked up in The Citadel with the other super-criminals.”
“Out on parole.”Smoke returned smugly, with a grin.
“And I don't suppose you'll come along quietly?”
“Not hardly,” answered the woman, assuming a fighting stance.
Jade Dragon leaped into the air her blade cutting a flashing arc before her--- and hit nothing but empty space. A split-second before she connected, Smoke turned into a cloud of vapor and Jade Dragon's sword passed right through it . Wraith jumped back out of the way of the deadly weapon.
Smoke re-materialized behind Jade Dragon and locked the heroine in a tight choke-hold. The blood draining from her head, Jade Dragon slammed her elbow against Smoke's chest, trying to get her to break the hold, but instead she tightened her grip all the more. Jade Dragon's eyes tilted upward and she slipped into unconsciousness.
“Let's see you try that on me.” Wraith challenged, raising her fists.
Smoke grinned wickedly at the rookie heroine,”Ready when you are, kiddo.”
It was over all to quickly. A few deft blows later Wraith was slumped alongside Jade Dragon, unconscious.
Smoke brushed her gloved hands off triumphantly, 哲ow to ensure you two stay out of my way.”
Over in the modern art section, NightRaven and StreetCat moved between the various sculptures quietly. StreetCat had caught a strange scent, something that resembled human, but just smelledwrong somehow.
Keeping her analysis to herself, she directed NightRaven towards the historical exhibits. Whatever was in here that shouldn't be was in that direction.
The pair quietly crept past the dinosaur bones and saw a woman standing over the unmoving figures of Wraith and Jade Dragon.
“Hold it!shouted NightRaven, as she lifted her power-bracer and fired a force beam towards the woman.
The woman turned to a cloud of mist and beam passed harmlessly through the center. She re-formed an instant later.
“What the....” muttered a surprised NightRaven. Smoke was already moving with dreadful purpose toward the pair. NightRaven tried a kick but met nothing but empty space. Smoke re-materialized and grabbed the stunned heroine by the neck, tossing her aside like a rag doll.
StreetCat jumped at the woman, fists flying but a quick backhand sent her crashing into a glass display cabinet. NightRaven looked down in horror at the woman, who was smiling evilly.
Smoke.the heroine realized.
The villainess gave her a mocking bow and pressed the attack. Nightraven dodged first few blows, but an elbow caught her in the sternum followed by a brutal strike at the side of her neck. Staggering, NightRaven fumbled at her utility belt before another punch sent her spinning to the floor.
Dazed but determined, StreetCat got back to her feet. A deep, guttural growl came from her throat, and the woman turned to face her.
Smoke grinned and said, “Hmm... This could be fun.”
Since when did you acquire super-strength, Smoke? I thought all you could do was turn to mist and back again.”
“I got me some new partners.” the villainess said proudly,”Gave me an upgrade.”
“Do tell?”
“And spoil the surprise? Are you really that stupid?”
“You wanna talk or you wanna fight?”
“What do you think, StreetRat?”
Both of them shot forward, fists and feet flying, neither giving or expecting mercy from the other. Two figures crashed back and forth in the dark. Having taken the full measure of her opponent, Smoke turned to mist form and re-materialized behind StreetCat, delivering a solid punch to the back of her head. StreetCat reeled, turned and kicked but hit nothing. Smoke had already turned to mist and was standing behind her once again. StreetCat dreaded the next blow before it landed.
“I was expecting a better fight than that,Smoke muttered before she delivered a right-cross to StreetCat's jaw. Returning to her feet, the woman shook her head as she looked at the four prone heroines. Disappointing, indeed”
Wraith awoke, initially confused by cold smooth gray material surrounding her on a three sides. After a few seconds, she remembered the museum and the strange woman she and Jade Dragon tried to fight. She shifted, but found herself securely bound. Duct tape was wrapped around her body from the next down her knees and ankles were also taped together. She tried to cry out for help, but more tape covered her mouth. Smoke appeared at the opening of the container she was inside of and grinned unpleasantly.
“Under normal circumstances you could do that ghost-shifting thing you do and get right out of there.” Smoke said, “But this sarcophagus is unique because its lined with lead, you see and lead prevents you from accessing the ghost dimension. Suffocation is such an unpleasant way to die.”
Wraith glared and muttered at her hatefully. Smoke chuckled and slowly shoved the lid of the sarcophagus back in place. Sighing in helplessness, Wraith twisted around as much as she could and began wriggling her wrists in an attempt to get them free.
StreetCat awoke slowly and wished she hadn't. She felt like a truck had run over her, backed up twice and did it again. She shook her head to clear the cobwebs and discovered the depth of her new plight. She was gagged with duct tape, lying on her back on a narrow platform, her neck was locked in a wooden brace like a medieval stock, her arms fastened at her sides, her hands likewise bound behind her back. She could feel her legs bound in several places as well. The three-inch thick wood around her neck wasn't budging no matter how hard she bucked and twisted. That wasn't what concerned her as much as the gleaming razor-sharp guillotine blade mounted above it.
“I wouldn't move too much if I were you,Smoke said, the blade mechanism is very touchy, and the least vibration could release it and chop that pretty blond head of yours clean off. But what a wonderful trophy that would make for Dr. Fright, wouldn't you agree ?”
Doctor Fright? The most powerful super villain in Champion City ? StreetCat thought frantically- that must be Smoke's new backer who gave her those new powers!
“But I can't have you just lying there, that's boring and so...Smoke walked in StreetCat's line of sight, holding a lit candle in one gloved hand. The helpless heroine followed the villain with her eyes as she positioned the flickering taper under the thick old rope that held the guillotine blade aloft,There, that should be suitable entertainment.”
StreetCat wriggled in her bonds as best she felt was safe.
Waking as if from a horrible nightmare, NightRaven's eyes shot open hoping to find herself safe in bed in her downtown apartment. Instead she found herself lying gagged and bound underneath a large stone slab. The slab itself was balanced on some sort of fulcrum so its weigh merely pinned her in place, as opposed to crushing her to death, which it could have done easily. Above the slab was an arcane looking mechanism of brass gears and hinged wooden platforms holding several flat iron weights. Smoke was at the controls, winding up a large iron spring with a hand-crank. NightRaven flexed under the stone slab.
“Ah, there you are.” Smoke said,” I was hoping you wouldn't sleep through this. That would be so dull, and as you're the most ingenious enemy I've ever fought I felt it would be fitting you have an ingenious demise. When I pull that leaver, the spring will uncoil and power the mechanism which will drop iron weights one-by-one onto the stone slab. Its perfectly balanced now, but slowly, inexorably the additional weight will over-balance it and crush the life out of you in say.... 15 minutes? Tah !” Smoke yanked the lever hard. With a shudder and a clank-clank-clank the machine crawled to life.
“Oh here, you'll need these.”Smoke called mockingly, flinging NightRaven's utility belt and power gauntlets on the floor beside the heroine's head, before she left giggling. NightRaven looked at the equipment desperately as the first weight slipped free of its confinement and landed with a hard clank on the stone slab.
NightRaven squirmed, realizing her hands were bound in front of her body, but were trapped under the stone as well. Smoke had encased her hands in tape up to the wrists but pressure and weight of the stone would soon make even that small aid useless to her as more iron weights were dispensed.
Clank!! Another weight fell and NightRaven could already feel the stone tipping, pressing down on her more firmly.
Jade Dragon came to and knew she was in trouble. She was gagged with duct tape and fastened into an electric chair, with broad leather straps cinched tightly across her neck, arms, wrists, legs, waist and torso. Her head was locked into a harness which pressed the bowl-shaped metal conductive helmet tightly to her scalp.
She tried shifting her body weight, but the chair was either too heavy, or it was bolted to the floor and wouldn't budge. Her fingers were still free, but until she figured out some way to move her arms, her hands were useless. Her sword was placed purposely in her line of sight, but too far out of reach.
A loud spark drew her attention and she discovered Smoke ripping some cables out of a nearby fuse box. The villain pulled vigorously yanking a thick strand of wires free. At her feet lay the cables which would feed current directly into the electric chair.
“God, you heroes are so much trouble!” the villain cried distractedly,” Here I go to all this trouble arranging an amusing death for each of you, but this stupid place doesn't even bother to power up its own electric chair!”
Meanwhile, back in the Egyptian room Wraith realized her time was growing short. Inside the stone and lead sarcophagus, it was already growing stuffy as the air was running out. Her exertions against the tape had done no good, but had only made her use up the precious oxygen even faster. She was drenched with sweat. How had Smoke found out her weakness?Lead was the only material she couldn't dimension-walk through and.... Wraith gasped and tried to calm herself.
StreetCat's gaze shot to her right and she stared at the empty space, a low growl rumbling in her throat. Wraith materialized beside her and laughed slightly. “There's no fooling you, is there?”
StreetCat mmphed frantically at Wraith, nodding her head toward the candle that had burned the rope holding the guillotine blade halfway through. Wraith walked over and nonchalantly blew it out. Streetcat sighed and relaxed immediately.
“Ouch!”StreetCat yelped as the tape gag was removed. Thanks kid, now get me out of this thing.”
“Relax, I got you covered.”Wraith replied. After some moments StreetCat was freed. The guillotine blade dropped with a loud clank. The heroes looked at each other and laughed nervously.
Clank!! Another weight had fallen and NightRaven cursed herself silently. She had been using her hands to try and lift the stone up so she could try and crawl out, but as more weights fell the slab had gotten too heavy and now it lay heavily across her lower chest, pinning her hard to the marble floor. Black dots danced across her eyes. Another weight fell and she could feel the slab pressing hard against her diaphragm. She could barely breathe now...
StreetCat was crouching over her, slapping her face lightly and calling her name. NightRaven drew in a deep breath and realized she was free of her bonds and the stone slab and her two friends were at her side. The heroine stood up unsteadily at first, but was recovering quickly. She fetched her utility belt and power bracers and fastened them back in place with grim purpose.
StreetCat's eyes widened.
“Let's kick that bitch's ASS!” NightRaven declared angrily.
Meanwhile, Smoke had plaited the fuse-box wires together with those from the electric chair Jade Dragon was bound to, into more or less a serviceable electrocution-style death trap delivery system. She laid her hand on the fuse-box main switch. Jade Dragon for her part had never ceased struggling even though the effort had proven futile.
“Relax, Dragon.”Smoke chided, shaking her head,”It's hopeless. And besides if it makes you feel better, you'll finally be joining StreetCat, Wraith and NightRaven in that big Superhero Headquarters in The Sky. I sent them on ahead of you.”
Jade Dragon fixed her with an evil glare.
“Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that.” StreetCat said behind her. Smoke turned just as a sharp left hook caught her chin. Smoke staggered and reeled then suddenly dematerialized.
“Hi there, remember me ?” Wraith asked in the ghost dimension before delivering a powerful kick to Smoke's mid-section. Smoke re-materialized and was met with a flurry of punches from StreetCat and a series of kicks from NightRaven.
“But how did you....the villain gasped between blows and kicks.
“We're heroes, that's how.” NightRaven declared before delivering a knockout punch. Jade Dragon was released soon after and the triumphant heroines exchanged hearty hugs and handshakes.
“So now, what do we do with a villain that can turn into vapor?” Jade Dragon asked,” She could easily escape from almost any bond you can think of before the authorities can come and arrest her.”
Wraith grinned and replied, ”Not everything.”
Sometime later, Smoke awakened to the strangely muted sound of police sirens. At first she wasn't sure she was awake, it was still dark even with her eyes open, and it felt very stuffy too. She felt a cold stab of panic; her hands lashed out and hit cold smooth dark metal, at her feet lay the tangled remnants of the duct tape she had used to bind Wraith before...
Enclosing her in a lead-lined stone sarcophagus! Now inside of it, Smoke found she had no leverage to lift the lid.
“No! Smoke cried in disbelief, heaving uselessly at the heavy lid, “No-no-no- NOOO!!”
Outside the sarcophagus was hung a big bright yellow sticky note, on it was written: CONTENTS: ONE SUPER VILLAIN. PLEASE DO NOT OPEN UNTIL SAFELY SECURED INSIDE THE CITADEL'S HOLDING TANK !!
The End