Big thanks to capm, who inspired me to write this. It was my toughest one to write. I kept rethinking what everyone should do, and how long to make this story. Naturally, as with all of my other fics, I have the rights to none of Marathon's work. Enjoy!
WOOHP CF- Rec Area- Two months ago
"The leading lady has stage fright?" Milton scoffed when he had met Stacy after Sam's first visit. Stacy shared the details of the visit; Sam's reasoning and her own change of heart about escape.
She realized that even if she'd programmed a robot to break Milton and herself out of their cells without being seen, they'd have to somehow escape WOOHP, and avoid being recaptured. As far as she'd heard, everyone who's ever managed to break out always ended up going back in. Not going that route had saved her from that stress, she told him.
She didn't want to sink deeper into a cycle of crime that would define her for the rest of her life. She wanted to put that part of her life in the past, she expressed in earnest.
Milton slowly nodded, looking at her with empathy. "When you put it like that, I'd feel wrong denying you that wish. You've inspired me to rewrite my own script. Thank you, Stacy," he said.
Residential Hotel- Glendale, CA
Wink was seated at his desk, engaged in conversation on his cell phone. "So you've heard of my work. I'm flattered," he said.
"No, OK... I'll try to focus. I can give you a standard device that can control a few brains, but a deluxe version for crowds... and infusing info from the brain... I'll need some time," he said.
"Please bring payment to this location, and you'll receive your first item," Wink stated in his mock-announcer voice, and pressed a button on his phone to send info to the other caller. "Thank you. Bye!" he declared, ending the call.
He'd been short on cash since being released from WOOHP, but normal work was out of the question, and he didn't have the drive to hatch his own schemes any longer. So he was selling his technology to those that could use it. Margie wanted no part of anything illegal since her release, and stayed away when he was doing business. He sighed, longing for the days of hosting a game show.
WOOHP Gadget Lab- Two days ago
Stacy, wearing a lab coat over her Containment Facility garb, sits in a chair by Dean's desk, as he checks over her work. "This is amazing. To think we never had a brain specialist working on gadgets til now. I mean, there are a few others qualified in the CF, but no one willing to help or that we could trust," Dean said to Stacy.
"So you trust me?" Stacy inquired after a brief hesitation.
"Your window washing and janitorial robots have been a success," Dean gestured and smiled at the currently inactive cleaning machines. They'd been a good testing ground for whether Stacy could be trusted not to use them or this important new gadget to escape.
"Sam trusts you, and you've told me how much you respect her," he added.
Stacy nodded. She'd been happy to make those robots and share her success with Sam when she visited her at the CF a while back.
"Sam's fortunate to have a guy like you," Stacy said.
"Thanks Stacy, I hope you get to find that special someone too," Dean replied. "Alright, time to test this thing," he said.
Mali U Penthouse Dorm
The girls had finally returned from their individual busy schedules around the university, and were in their respective rooms, when they all received a a call on their X-Powder simultaneously.
"Hello girls, can you kindly convene in the living room for a WOOHPing? You haven't been together yet today," Jerry inquired.
The girls voiced agreement, moved to the designated spot, and were WOOHPed to Jerry's office.
"As you know, there's been a shortage in missions. The only one you've had in quite a while wasn't even through this branch, but Sydney," Jerry began. "However, a Montreal woman recently went missing after her match at the IFC. Incredible Fighting Contest.," he elucidated.
"And a familiar face from your past has finally reemerged in Dublin, where a second fighter went missing. The one villain who eluded capture in all the years of your service," Jerry said and gestured to the shaky WOOHP Pad footage an agent had managed to get of an athletic-looking woman with black hair. "No fault of yours, naturally, since you reported she vanished into thin air," he finished.
"Vanished...," started Clover, thinking back over countless missions.
"Shorter hair, but that face...Ariel!" Sam said in recognition.
"Wow, she said she'd return again with another scheme, but it's been so long. She sure is patient!" Alex remarked with surprise.
"Yes," Jerry concurred. "Her prior crime of mind controlling scores of women in an attempt to eradicate men has not been forgotten. It affected me quite personally, ending my relationship with former assistant Dinah," he said, practically drooping in sadness. The girls nodded in sympathy.
"Gadgets. The M-Ray Contact Lenses and Earring Sound Amplifiers are in your Jet Pack Backpacks," Jerry said, handing them out. "And due to the nature of her being able to vanish, we've developed the Power-down Handbag to counteract such measures. A containment shield that projects out like so," Jerry explained as he pulled a small white handbag out of a desk drawer. He pressed a button on the underside of the handle to cause a person-sized translucent energy field to appear before him, then switched it off and handed it to Clover.
"You ladies have endured mind control many times over the years. Ariel used it on specially chosen women last time, such as Sam," Jerry noted. "Finally we've developed a gadget to block such an attack; the Mind Protecting Hairpin," Jerry proclaimed and handed them out to the girls. "And by we, I include Stacy from our Containment Facility. Her experience with technology and the brain were something we desperately needed to achieve this. Rest assured, she was closely monitored by Dean and his team, and they were tested thoroughly," he said.
Alex and Sam, hairpins already in their hair, blinked in surprise. Clover frowned, and pulled hers back out of her hair. "And you trust her? What if these things fry our brains or put us under her control?"
she fumed. "If anything happens to you girls, I'm yanking those pins out," Clover said firmly, gesturing to her friends. "And if they are OK... Um, I guess I'll just need to get mine in my hair quick if I need to," she finished, flustered.
Sam put a hand on Clover's shoulder and looked at her in sympathy. "You're right, Clover. I understand it's a good idea to be cautious. I really hope it works out OK. We could've used these years ago," she said.
"An IFC event is scheduled tonight here in L.A. If Ariel shows up and you manage to apprehend her, we've developed a WOOHP cell to neutralize her power," declared Jerry. "Your disguises: Clover, ticket collector. Sam, medical assistant. Alex, a last-minute replacement competitor by the name of Marta Perez," he said. Their X-Powders instantly put them into the appropriate garb for their jobs. Alex's hair was colored a reddish-brown and pinned back in a bun.
"Whoa! Wait a sec! I'm competing?" Alex exclaimed, glancing at her fighting outfit. A pair of protective gloves were in a handbag.
"I'm used to fighting, sometimes even in martial arts competitions. But this is a steel cage, televised! With knockouts and submission, right?" she fretted nervously.
"Simply try your best, Alex," Jerry replied sympathetically. "Each of you has a unique area you can cover in your positions. Now, off you go ladies!" he called out and gestured to the nearby black sedan.
Alex sighed, while Sam and Clover smiled encouragingly at her. They dashed for the car, Clover took the driver's seat, and they were lowered to the garage on a hydraulic floor. They sped off out of the garage into the early evening traffic, Clover following the GPS to their destination.
Super Center- Los Angeles
The girls used a staff parking spot near the large auditorium, entered the arena, and agreed to call each other if anyone spotted anyone or anything out of the ordinary. Clover gathered with the other ticket takers in the foyer, while Sam and Alex went backstage.
A few early arrivals handed over their tickets to be given admittance. Clover looked at every person who entered, until she noticed a man that looked vaguely familiar. She realized with surprise who the middle-aged man was, and told a fellow ticket taker she was going to take a quick call before the crowds started coming. She hit the speed dial button on her X-Powder once out of everyone's earshot.
"What's up, Clover?" Sam replied, who had a free moment, and moved a ways off from the other medical assistants backstage.
"I just spotted someone, but it's not Ariel. It's Wink... Whatever. The game show guy," Clover whispered quickly.
"Weatherdale. Of all the people. What's he doing here?" Sam mused. "Thanks Clover. I'll keep an eye out for him," she said.
"OK, call if you need me. I'll stay up front here in case Ariel shows up," Clover said, ending the call to return to her ticket taking and lookout.
Prior to the call, Sam was learning about treating injuries from the experienced sports medicine assistants, which she found to be quite practical for her spy missions. After talking with Clover, though, she quickly volunteered to run an errand out of the locker room. She eventually spotted Wink from a distance, and thanks to the M-Rays' ability to allow her to see through objects, she could tail him from a distance by seeing through the walls of the hallway. He stopped moving when he reached an area near a rear emergency exit, secluded from most of the staff. Sam stayed hidden, and tapped her Earring Sound Amplifiers, which enabled her to hear sound in a specific radius.
"I know you hate dealing with men," Wink said over his phone. "You're missing out, in my opinion. But as long as you bring my payment, I'll give you my upgraded gift and be out of your hair," he said.
His call ended, Sam tapped an earring to deactivate it, then backtracked a bit to avoid being spotted.
Super Center- Locker Room
Alex was stretching and warming up while thinking over the IFC's fight rules and tactics she'd looked up of her X-Powder during the trip to the stadium. Amidst the sound of the crowd cheering the opening fight; male lightweights, Alex heard the soft hum of her X-Powder. She checked in with her trainer, then went to the restroom, and took the call. Sam, efficiently having Clover in the call as well, filled them in on what she'd seen and heard. Then plan: Sam would keep an eye on Alex's fight, while Clover took over monitoring Wink. They agreed and ended the call, and Alex returned to the locker room to in readiness for the fight.