Shocked, didn't even begin to explain her mood when Juan told her, she had to do a little makeover if she wanted Michael Shore, her target, to even notice her.
"At first, we need to get rid of all this… grey." He said while fumbling on her top. Before she could defend her color of choice, he continued: "We know someone who can fix this. Don't worry about payment. I'll accompany you." The attractive guy nodded at the other gang members and they promptly left them alone. She started sweating. Makeover? She needs a fucking makeover? She looked good. Well, not that… but good enough for some attention. Her hand wandered around in her hair trying to get to know what was wrong with it. He placed his hand on Val's shoulder and tried to comfort her while saying: "Calm down, chica. I'm with you." Then he stood up and dragged her with him.
The shop he meant was in the middle of the Gozu District, where Sidonis apartment was, which made her fucking nervous. More nervous than her pending task. She didn't want him to see her with gangs. He could be angry or worse, he could try to save her. Which would lead to a lot of blood, death and a longer road to find her dad.
Every feeling of discomfort was blown away by an even bigger indisposition as she saw the small building covered in pink fabric and neon signs of the same color. "Beauty & Spa (humans only)" could be read on one of it.
Glitter on the small door made her lose it. "Oh, god. Barbie went into business for herself." Juan laughed at her hint at the old toy for girls on earth.
"It gets better, believe me." He said while opening the doors for her. She really didn't want to have that glittery stuff somewhere on her body.
"Welcome, Juan. I see you finally found a girl. Bring her here, I'll make her irresistible."
Val stared at the small batarian in disbelief. He wore an overall matching the color of his equipment, scissor and blow dryer, and his store. Pink. Everything was covered with this horror tone of red.
"Close your mouth, darling or you will look like a country rube." Said the batarian while dragging her into a chair coated with fur. Valerie nodded, for lack of something else to do while she examined the fabric, she was sitting on.
Of course her new stylist promptly told her about it.
"Its from earth, you know. I love your stuff. This look is called "retro"… It's so awesome."
She nodded again. Where was she? Was this hell? Was she shot in the Afterlife before and this was her personal kind of hell?
"Okay, princess, do your best. She needs to look smoking hot." Juan placed a card on the counter next to him, trying not to touch anything glittery. "The card is for your Room, Val. Continental towers, 17th floor. I'll see you there."
"Your name… is princess?" was the first thing she could say when Juan was gone and the drag queen started to fiddle her hair.
"True. Also from earth. You used this term to describe a beautiful girl who always looks fantastic in gowns. It suits me don't you think?" Princess said, while waving around with a scissor.
Again, the nodding. While watching her reflection in the mirror, she thought about this absurd situation. There was a batarian called princess, who was obsessed with pink and glittery stuff and he opened a spa for humans on Omega. This was just too weird to be true.
Three hours later she exited the shop as a different person. You could say a lot about this strange guy, but he knew what he was doing. He cut and colored her hair, which now shined in platinum blond and blue wisps. Her fingernails were extended and colored in the same shade of dark blue while he forced her into a tiny black dress that didn't cover anything at all, matching the heels he gave her.
She looked like one of the dancers at the club. Not bad, but definitely bitchy.
Val got the card Juan left behind and walked towards the hotel he mentioned. She dropped it because of her new weird fingernails and struggled with picking it up again. Sexyness was obviously more important than functionality.
When she arrived at the continental towers and entered the big shiny glass doors of the high building, everyone had their eyes on her. Some men seemed interested while women looked disgusted and maybe a little jealous. Two human men and one volus tried to buy her a drink at the hotel bar, on her way to the elevator.
Maybe she could like this style. The attention was absolutely worth it.
She got the ultimate affirmation for her new look as she entered the room, where Juan, Martin and the others were waiting. With a wiggling butt, waving hair and the best bedroom eyes she had to offer, she walked towards them.
"Dios mio. I think I am in love.", said Juan while standing up to watch my new appearance closer.
Everyone in the room started making compliments on her figure and the dress while Valerie went red and tried not to giggle like a schoolgirl. "Not bad, is it?" she said.
"Not bad? Cutie, if he doesn't want to fuck you now, he has to be gay." Martin pointed out while raking through his red hair. "Hell I would, even if I knew you would kill me afterwards." The others nodded rapidly and started laughing.
Val's smile disappeared as she remembered why she did all this. To kill a man.
Juan noticed her feelings and added: "Michael Shore is a wanted criminal, chica. He is a lieutenant of eclipse. He probably killed more people than everyone in this room combined. Last summer…" he reached for a picture in his pants. "my sister was killed, because he demanded it. Simply because she was with me at the wrong place. This man is not a victim. He is monster and you are going to stop him."
Something was weird with this situation. The guys went quiet and didn't look at her, while Juan told her this story. But if Michael really was that bad, he needed to be stopped.
"Okay, I understand." She said and touched his arm to soothe him. "Were am I going to meet him?"
Juan grabbed her hand and kissed it before answering: "In this VIP bar on the third floor. He should be there in a few hours. Call attention to yourself… get him to talk to you. And when he invites you to his room, we will follow you."
"Okay. I can do this. But…" she hesitated. "Isn't this going to be too obvious, if they saw him with me?"
"Gangs don't know you here, chica. They heard of "La Valiente" but they never saw your face. And when the time has come, they will know you as one of us. And they will know that you're untouchable."
I do this for you, father. She thought to herself while walking towards the door.
