Issue 2 Volume 3

At Cal-Tech…

Annie was almost at her lab at Cal-Tech. It was around 7:45. She was just about to lock the door to her car and head into the lab, when she heard the Skype alert on her phone: It was Sherman Copper:

"Hello Dr. Flowers" He smiled wide seeing her. Annie took a breath and sighed. She tried desperately to hide her elation at the call.

"Hello Dr. Copper, how are you this morning?"

"Well, I had an interesting morning so far. Please forgive my early hour."

"Anytime, no problem. What's the matter?"

"I wanted to ask you something."amy

"Anything." Annie was waiting for him to ask her for a date again. She hoped anyway.

"Have you heard of the Emerald Vixen?" He asked flatly. Annie tried to keep a straight face and keep up with the ruse. Annie tried to look confused. Her shoulders slumped in disappointment, "Yes, although she doesn't like that name." I guess he is all business. Or, he would rather have her. Why am I not surprised?

"Well, I have a friend and he needs her help. Is there anyway you can send her a message for him?"

"Yes, I can." Annie knew it was really from him. He must have made his decision. He wanted The Vixen, not Annie.

"Tell her to meet at Larry's Lab tonight, can you call me back this evening with a time?"

"Okay, I'll try. She doesn't actually contact me every day, ya know."

"What do you know about her?" Sherman was dying to find out more about the Vixen.

"Not much. And she is very secretive. I wouldn't want to talk to about her without permission. Have you met her?" Yeah, pal. We know the answer to that, don't we.

"No, but my friend has. He wants to know more about her." It was getting harder keeping up two personalities. He wanted to know about her as well. The duplicity was killing him.

"I bet." Annie rolled her eyes.

Sherman saw her reaction. "What does that mean?"

"Well, your friend obviously has a physical attraction to her. I shouldn't be surprised. Males are often attracted to females with large buttocks and breasts. Studies attribute such an obvious physical attraction to an evaluation of the fertility potential in a prospective mate. I guess your friend's baser urges are raging. Too bad his hind brain is in control. However, what else should I expect from a man." Annie raised her eyebrows waiting for the reaction she knew she had evoked.

Sherman scoffed, "Well, that is not the only reason to find someone attractive. He told me she seems highly intelligent and witty."

"Sounds like you want to date her as well." Annie cocked her head, trying not to show jealousy over herself. "I can give her your number too?"

"No, I would rather go out with you again." Sherman smiled at Annie. "In fact, I am a little busy this evening. Hopefully everything will be resolved tonight."

"I am busy tonight anyway." Annie was blushing. He would rather go out with her. The real her… She was melting.

"However, tomorrow night I am free. Would you be interested in having dinner again?" Sherman's blue eyes were pleading for a yes.

Annie was just about at her Lab, "Well Sherman, I would like that very much. I will call you this evening if I hear from the Emerald Lady person…"

"Thank you. My friend will be very happy."

"I'm sure.. Good bye."

Annie opened her lab and sat at her desk in romantic confusion. Sherman seemed to want her AND the Vixen. OF course, he wants his cake and eat it too. She had to keep him in the dark on her identity. If he knew, he might inadvertently tell someone. Also, she needed anonymity to do some of the spying she needed for the current crisis.

For the moment, Annie needed to investigate who in Neuroscience would be interested in the nanobots. It was an exhaustive list. She spent most of the morning sifting through credentials. One name kept on coming up, Gablehaus, associated with the Glendale Corporation. Interesting. This is the second time she's heard of that company. The first time was with the formula and Barnsworthy. The company had no problem forgoing ethics and scientific scruples for profit. If they got a hold of the nanobots, it could be disastrous.

In an office in the Glendale Corporation…

Ramona had a busy day educating herself on the nanobots and their potential. She wasn't a neuroscientist but she knew they were a powerful tool and could be used to control a person's mind. She was one step closer to the goal of getting the nanobots for Professor G and herself. She had the computer program from Larry and a plan to get the bots from Sherman. The test bots proved to be quite useful. She could read code well enough to realize she could control them if she had a certain link. However, upon reviewing the program, she discovered that the computer program needed a blu tooth activation code in order to control the bots. She needed Larry, specifically Larry's phone, or the program was useless.

In an old apartment in Pasadena…

She donned her best seductive outfit and headed off to Larry's apartment. She thought to herself as she climbed the 4 flights of stairs, He is so easy. One compliment and he is putty in my hands. Men! HA! She pushed her chest out and knocked on the door. The person who answered was the last person she wanted to see.

"Hello Ramona, try to steal credit for anyone else work lately?"

Ramona brushed past the cheeky blond waitress and burst into the apartment, "At least I have job, honey. How's that acting working out for you? Or are you still the headliner at the Poundcake factory?"

Jenny was fuming. She never trusted Ramona when she was hanging on Sherman like a lost puppy and she sure didn't trust her now. "What do you want Ramona, Sherman's not here."

"I'm not here for him. Been there done that…" Ramona walked in the kitchen like she lived there. She was looking around for something while she was barely acknowledging Jenny, "I'm here for Larry. You remember him don't you dear?" She looked back with a sneer.

Jenny giggled, "Oh I certainly do." Jenny knew Ramona's game, at least she thought she did. She collected men like action figures and she wanted a complete set. Larry sometimes could be had for a sweet smile, especially after Jenny broke his heart. Larry might have grown up a little bit. She needed to see it for herself. A few seconds later, Jenny tested her hypothesis. Larry emerged from the bedroom tying a robe around his waist, confused and groggy.

"Ramona! What are you doing here?"

"I think a better question is what is SHE doing here?" Ramona blazed a death stare at Jenny which she ignored. Jenny walked over to Larry, "I'm taking care of him, you were too busy, remember."

"I took care of him all night. Remember Larry?"

"I remember you kicking me out at 5:00 AM. And leaving suddenly."

Jenny piped in the interchange, "I came here to check on Larry and he was bleeding! He needed help Ramona."

"I did help him. I can't help it if I had to work." Ramona was insulted, "I actually have a career, unlike you Blondy! What were you acting like you loved Larry again today? HA! Your best acting job yet!"

Jenny moved toward Ramona, " I will go Junior rodeo on your sorry ass, bitch."

"Come at me see what happens?" Ramona moved toward Jenny. Jenny didn't flinch.

A low voice boomed from the hall, "Back off Ramona! Jenny was taking care of me! She's a great friend and a wonderful actress."

Ramona threw her head back with a condescending laugh, "HA! She could act her way out of traffic ticket. You really are pathetic, Larry."

Larry heard enough. "No, you are Ramona. She doesn't need to steal someone's work to get ahead in the world. She is making her own way, unlike you. I think you need to leave." Larry moved over to the door and held it open, waiting for Ramona to walk out.

Ramona would have been insulted if she hadn't seen Larry's phone on the coffee table near Sherman's spot. Ramona moved over to the spot, "Before I leave I want to do one thing." She sat down in Sherman's spot after moving a pillow to the coffee table. She put her finger in her mouth seductively, watching Larry's reaction. He seemed indifferent. She slowly pulled it out and then ran the wet finger over the couch arm making an R shape, marking her territory like a feral cat. She sat up quickly and grabbed the pillow, with the phone and replaced it on the couch. While her back was turned, she slipped the phone in her bra. .

"Tell Sherman I said hello. And I hope you two have a happy life. Given your history. I give you a week." She rushed out the door and ran down the stairs.

Jenny went over to Larry who was holding his head with one hand, and rubbing his eyes with the other, "Okay you. Back to bed. No more drama for the day."

"Okay, Jenny. Thanks for taking care of me. You're a good friend."

Jenny smiled, "You're too, Larry."

Once Larry was back in bed, he looked so content, " Jenny… Will you sing me soft kitty?"

"Oh brother… You two guys… Okay…" Jenny brushed his hair off his face and placed a hand on his chest. " Soft kitty, warm kitty.. little ball of fur."

Back at Cal-tech….

Annie's work and research kept her mind occupied from thinking of Sherman for most of the day. Also, Yoohoo and Micky's antics kept her busy. The two monkeys were getting along well, snuggling and teaching each other a language that Annie seemed to understand.

Once she looked over and Yoohoo was showing Micky the lock. Annie thought she could hear him say, Open, but Annie knew that was impossible. It must have been unconscious understanding or an assumption. Annie noticed her connection with Yoohoo had grown stronger. Each day she felt these new feeling growing in her. She was stronger, faster, and more agile than she had ever been in her life. As she went down the hall of Cal-tech, she thought she could hear people speaking. The voices in her head were clear, as if they were talking to her, but she couldn't see their lips move.

Annie had to know more about these extraordinary changes she felt. She felt different, strange and she needed more data before she made any conclusions. She used the only tools she knew, or needed: science.

The small sample she took of her blood created more questions than answers. Her blood showed signs of 8 different unknown genetic materials that seemed to be latching on and changing her DNA. She needed a full work up at the cellular level. Annie took another sample of her blood and sent to Betty as Monkey V sample. Since Betty was a microbiologist, she could run a more thorough analysis than Annie ever could. It might be possible that the attack at UCLA did something to her that she was not fully aware. Betty stated it should take a few days to get the results.

Around 5:00pm, she slipped into her Vixen costume and put her normal clothes back over them. The suit seemed like second skin to her; she felt comfortable wearing it. Before she pulled her blouse over the green suit, she was half Vixen, half Annie. She stared at herself in the cloudy reflection of the steel door refrigerator. Soon, she might have to make a decision to tell Sherman. Now, her secret was safe.

She bid Yoohoo and Micky farewell and headed to her car in the far end of the Cal-Tech Parking lot. On the way, she called Sherman on Sykpe again to set up the meeting. She was itching to know what he wanted with the Vixen.

"Good Evening Dr. Copper, I trust you had a productive day?"

"Good evening, Dr. Flowers. Truthfully, I've been quite distracted today. I hope my activities this evening will settle a problem I've been struggled to resolve."

"Wrestling with a problem, huh? Is it something I can help you resolve?" . I hate lying to him, but I have to for a while.

Sherman smiled at Annie, "Thank you but no, I have to work it out on my own. But tonight, I should put it behind me. Anyway, were you able to get a hold of the Vixen?"

"As luck would have it, yes. She will meet you tonight around 6:30 at Cal-Tech's Gym."

"That's great. My friend will be pleased."

"You look pleased enough for him, Sherman." It was true, Sherman looked giddy.

"Well, he's been pestering me all day about it. He is quite naggy."

"Oh is he now? Well, if he can get under your skin Dr. Copper, I'd love to meet him and learn a few techniques." Amy smirked at a pale faced Sherman.

"Well, I am not sure I want to share you, so I don't think that would be wise."

Annie smiled at Sherman. She didn't hear a person come up behind her. Suddenly the phone dropped with a loud crashing sound that echoed in Sherman's ears.

Annie had towel over her mouth with what she assumed was chloroform. She struggled against her attacker, but the fumes engulfed her sapping her strength. Her eyes rolled in the back of her head, she was out.

The phone had landed on the ground, facing up. All Sherman saw was a glimpse of the struggle. He heard Annie's muffled screams, the silence. Sherman was yelling for Annie to answer him, but instead his pleas were returned by a familiar voice; a grating sound. A woman with a mask on picked up Annie's phone and smirked at Sherman.

"Well, Dr. Copper. You have something I want. And now, it seems I have something you want."

"Where's Annie, don't you hurt her or , I'll.."Sherman was raging, his voice shaking in his throat.

The attacker cut him off, "Or you'll do what? Recited Pi? Bore me to death? Please! I'm shaking… Bring me the nanobot canister and I will give you back your mousy girlfriend." He could see Annie being lifted by a large man with a mask on as well. Sherman could tell the brute was grinning at her. "Meet me at Cal-Tech Chemistry lab at tonight."

"How do I know you'll keep her safe?"

"Ha ha ha! You don't! Meet me at 8 o'clock and you will see your Flower again!" Ramona turned back to the man putting Annie in a black car, "Take care with her. We wouldn't want Sherman' Copper delicate to get wilted." Sherman knew it was Ramona under the mask; her voice was unmistakable.

Ramona ran her finger down Annie's jaw and sniffed her neck while she turned her cold eyes to Sherman, "She does smell sweet, doesn't she, Copper?

"Don't you hurt her... Please!" Sherman was frantic. Pleading might help, but he doubted it.

"8 o'clock. Copper. Bring the canister. Oh, and Don't double cross me. Or I'll let this guy have his way with you little mouse. Toodles." The phone dropped to the floor.

The last image Sherman saw was the bottom of Ramona's boot coming down on the screen and the sound of cracking glass.

Sherman had 3 hours to come up with a plan and free Dr. Flowers and save the nanobots from Ramona. He only needed 2 minutes for the plan, but an hour to deal with Harold Woloberg. Planning was easier than execution…

Woloberg's Robot Lab…

Sherman donned his black outfit with the lab coat. He needed to blend in order to break into Woloberg's lab; no one looked twice at a man in a lab coat, he found. As soon as he approached the door, his heart sank: Woloberg was still there.

"Harold! What are you doing here tinkering about? You never stay late…" If Sherman voiced sounded annoyed, it was because he was. He needed to get one of Harold's battle armored robots for his plan with Ramona.

"Well… I work here!" He rolled his eyes at his lanky friend. Harold should say acquaintance since he and Sherman never really hit it off. "Betty is working late on some blood analysis for Annie. She is coming to get me later for dinner."

Sherman entered the lab and looked around like a safety inspector. He was scoping the lab for the battle bot and other useful tools he needed for his plan. Harold tried to ignore him, but could help notice Sherman seemed particularly preoccupied, "Sherman, the better question is what do you want? And why do you look like a Ninja mad scientist?

"I am just working with some chemicals, and I don't want to mess up my Bat Man Shirt. Besides, I look cool."

"Yeah, I guess... Anyway I don't know why you are here, but just so you know, I haven't heard from Steven Hawking lately, but I'm sure if you wanted to see him, I could arrange something…" The last time Sherman was in this lab, it was to ask Harold to introduce him to Stephen Hawking. Harold had made Sherman wear an embarrassing outfit as blackmail to meet Sherman's hero. It worked, but the embarrassment was equally as memorable as the meeting of the famous physicist himself.

"No, I am interesting in something else, Harold. Do you still have those battle bots? Specifically, the one with the projectile mechanism" Sherman had to be clever and let on he was desperate for the equipment," I am interesting in modifying them for next year's competition."

"Well, I have this one over here," Harold went over to his messy work station and opened a locked cabinet, "But the one has always lost battles. Projectiles are illegal in the MIT/Cal-Tech match."

"I know that, that is why I want to modify it. Do you mind if I take this?" Sherman had already picked up the bot and was ready to walk out.

Harold got a strange smile on his, "Well, now hold on there, Sherman… What do you want to trade for it? I have grown quite attached to this bot. She and I have had a lot of good times together…" He rubbed the bot like a puppy.

Sherman almost dropped the bot, "Oh god, Harold, what have you done with this thing? Any of your perverse sexual experiments like the robot arm? Have you disinfected this thing? I think I need a black light!" Sherman looked at the bot with a sour glower of disdain. He laid it on the table and looked around for a bottle of Lysol.

Harold responded unamusingly, "Ha Ha, Sherman. No, me and Camel Toe here have…

"Camel Toe?" Sherman looked even more disgusted.

"Yeah, cause it spits things back at people, ya know, like a Camel?"

Sherman responded flatly, he had no time for Harold's usual banal banter, "Thanks for that image. Anyway Harold, I will take good care of it. If anything happens, I will compensate you. Name your price. NO embarrassing costumes, though!"

Harold's eyes lit up, "A favor… to be name later."

Sherman's eye brow was raised with a suspicious ire, "What kind of favor?"

"Just a favor. Have fun with Camel Toe!" Harold returned to his work with a devilishly grin.

Sherman rushed out and exclaimed as he left, "Yeah, okay… Oh, Harold, I'm changing that disgusting name!"

Cal-tech's Chem Lab…

Annie blinked her eyes open to find she was staring of smoking hoary liquid. She was unable to move; Her hands were tied behind her back and the binds were cutting into her wrists. She knew she was in lab, possibly the chemical given her current precarious situation. She was suspended over large open vat. Even if she could get her hands free, she was inches away from falling into the fumes. She could see a reflection of the vat's label: Liquid nitrogen. Her mouth tasted like she swallowed the towel, dry and rough. She could hear faint voices in the distance, but her groggy state hindered her deciphering the conversation. One voice was becoming more clear.

"I have something to show you, Dr. Copper…" Annie could see a woman in a tight blue outfit with a mask walking toward her with a red rose and a phone. The woman was talking to someone on a video conference. She was followed by a large man with a rough face and gritty smile. Annie acted like she was still unconscious.

The Masked Sapphire clad woman came up to the vat and dipped the rose in the liquid and held it there while sneering at the phone.

"This is what will happen to your Dr. Flowers if you cross me Sherman." The woman smashed the rose against the side of the vat, shattering the solidified flower into shards that littered the floor. "You have 60 minutes. Don't be late." She hung up the phone. "That should get his attention."

"Dr. Norowitz, how can we be sure he will bring the real nanobots? You've been burned before." The large gruff man voice was low and intimidating, but he seemed afraid of Ramona

"I know that! Mind your place, Otto! I have the program now on Larry's phone." She pulled out a different phone and started pressing buttons. "As soon as the nanobots are within a few feet, I will get an alert. I can activate them to make sure they are the real ones, not some ruse that Dr. Copper cooked up. He's smart, Otto, don't underestimate him. If it comes to it, we need to get rid of him."

Otto laughed, "Oh, that'll be easy. I can break that skinny little jerk over my knee. What are we going do this one?" He nodded back to Annie and licked his lips.

"If he brings the bots, then let him have her. If not, put them both in the vat."

Annie kept her head down and slowly tried to untie the rope holding her hands. She would love to have a knife handy, but her fingers would have to do. Unfortunately, Otto had come up next to her and she had to stop her efforts. He saw that she was awake and informed Ramona.

"No matter, he will be here in a matter of minutes. Make sure you stay near her, I don't trust her either." Ramona waited for Sherman with her hands behind her back, holding Harold's phone.

Sherman entered the Lab with the Battle Bot. He stopped exactly 10 feet from the Vat. He saw what he had suspected; Annie was bound and suspended over the vat. It was only logical that what Ramona had planned and her dramatic threat she showed him over the phone. His calculations depended on his memory of the room and the distance to the Vat. Ramona had her predicted spot next to the Vat, ready to make good on her plans to hurt Dr. Flowers.

Sherman had rigged the Battle Bot, now named the "Flaming Spittoon," to hold the canister and deliver it to Ramona. He had kept the canister with him after he pilfered it from Larry's desk. He attached the canister to the projectile mechanism and as soon as Annie was freed, he would send the canister back. The Flaming Spittoon was also engineered with a surprise for Ramona.

"So Sherman, right on time."

"Yes, Ramona, you shouldn't be surprised. I am always punctual, you know that. " Sherman kept the remote close to his chest as he positioned the bot.

"Oh, so you can see through my mask huh?"

"I would know your grating voice anywhere, Ramona. Also, you are the only one who has shown interest in Larry's mediocre work."

"Speaking of which, hand over the canister, Sherman, before I make sure you're punctual to your funeral..." Ramona could hear the alert on her phone telling her the bots were in range. She hit a button the phone, activating the bots.

"You get nothing till Annie's free."

"An exchange then." Ramona motioned to Otto to free Annie. Otto's roughly untied Annie and drag her next to Ramona. He looked over at Sherman and sneered at him as he pulled Annie close to his chest and smelled her hair. He let out a disgusting chuckle and pushed her roughly away toward Sherman. He called out to her, "Did they hurt you?"

"No, Sherman not yet." She glared at the gruff man holding her a little too tight.

Sherman glared at the man, but sent the bot over slowly. Ramona released Annie, "Walk slowly, Flowers." Otto pulled out a pistol and aimed it at Annie's head.

Annie walked over to Sherman slowly. She could feel all eyes were on her, except Ramona who eyes never left the canister. Annie walked carefully across the floor. As she walked past the robot, she could smell a distinct smell of sulphur. She looked at Sherman and tried to read his mind. She could only make out, Mercury Sulphate and 5 more feet.

Annie was within a foot of Sherman. The robot had only one foot left as well. Sherman looked at Annie, "RUN!" Annie ran to the door. Ramona told Otto, "SHOOT THEM! You IDIOT!"

Sherman hit a button on the robot, and with a woosh sound, the canister shot through the air in arch, heading toward Sherman.

Otto fired a shot at Sherman, but Annie pulled him out the way just as the canister was hitting the floor, cracking open. Sherman screamed at Annie, "I told you to run, woman!" And he pushed her out the lab door and locked it before Otto could pull the trigger again; the "Flaming Spittoon" was blowing up in their faces, knocking back Ramona and Otto in the side of the vat with a large bang. Some of the liquid Nitrogen spilled out over Otto's head and he was screaming running to back of the room in pain.

Sherman went to the canister and tried to pick it up. Annie banged at the door, trying to get back in the room to help Sherman. For some reason he had collapsed on the floor and he was holding his head. Annie couldn't hear his screams. The nanobots had been activated and found the closed host: Sherman. Annie watched as he curled up in a ball and held his head. Ramona had recovered from her blast back from the booby trapped Robot. Her face was bloodied from shrapnel and half of her mask was ripped off. Otto's came up beside her. He was holding his face. Annie could see blood dripping between his fingers. Ramona said something to Otto and he reached down and picked up Sherman and threw him over his shoulders. She could see his disfigured face; half frozen off and skin hanging from his exposed cheek bone. They hobbled over to the door. Annie hid behind the corner watching them take Sherman to the exit. She could hear the thoughts now in Ramona's head.

Annie followed them out to a large black van. Otto opened it up and threw Sherman in it like he was rag doll and slammed the door shut.

"What the hell are we supposed to do with him?"

Ramona was pulling off her half burned mask off her face, wincing with pain. "We were sent to get the nanobots. He has them in his head. Professor G will know what to do. Drive to the Glendale Lab quickly, before someone sees us or that mousy bitch calls the cops."

The black van speed away. Annie ran to her lab, got her spare set of keys and stripped down to her Vixen costume and donned her mask.

"Come on Yoohoo, we got to save Sherman." Yoohoo jumped up and down with excitement and they headed out, hand in hand.