As the team made their way to the door, Dudley showed signs that he was nervous. What if he couldn't do the part? What kind of vile things could be lurking behind that door? Should he bail now and wait it out? Jeremiah noticed him and gave an assuring look.
"Scared?", he asked.
"Scared, me?", Dudley asked, "I'm not scared."
"Then why are your knees shaking, your forehead all wet, and your hands wringing?", Kitty asked.
Dudley quickly straightened out and tried very hard to look calm, but the others were clearly not buying it. Jeremiah placed a black bandana across Dudley's forehead to add a little more style to his tough guy look.
"Maybe I should do the talking.", Jeremiah stated as they got to the door.
Jeremiah gave a knock and the door creaked open.
"Password?", a voice sounding rough as rock and cold as ice asked from the other side.
Dudley got even more nervous. Nobody said there was a password , but Kitty held his hand which helped calm his nerves. Jeremiah thought for a second and then he snapped his fingers.
"Well?", the voice behind the door asked.
"Blackjack's the name and dirty dealing my game.", Jeremiah said using his tough guy voice.
At first nothing happened, then the door creaked open followed by faint sounds of what sounded like underground Gothic music, bar fights, and gunshots going off every now and again. The group then walked into the door to see that a very big, muscular and very scary looking Bengal tiger beside the door like a guard or bouncer. And his clothes suggested he was a prison warden that lost his job.
"Don't cause any trouble around here or the next thing you'll be doing is dying.", the tiger warned the group as they passed, "Got it?"
"You can count on it.", Jeremiah told him, "We just had ourselves a rumble and I'm just showing the new guy the ropes."
The guard looked at Dudley up and down, but his expression only darkened further.
"This is your new guy?", he asked coldly, "I was believing you just brought the gang's pet trying to make me feel sorry for him. But that's not how I work."
The guard grabbed Dudley by the front of his black leather jacket and pulled Dudley's face closer to his.
"So, think you're a tough guy eh?"
Dudley had never been this close to a mean guy's face and clearly he was scared, but Jeremiah piped in.
"He might not show it, but he's a lot tougher than you think. He managed to hold off a good twenty members of a rival gang before they got close."
The Guard looked Dudley right in the eye.
"Is this true? And if you're lying, I'll know."
Then Dudley got mad. He swatted the guards hand off his jacket and really let it fly.
"Listen carefully mister! I didn't come all this way just to be insulted! I've been bashed by rusty pipes, chased by blood thirsty hounds, and run over by a group of motorcycle crazed lunatics so if you want a tussle, let's get it on!"
Dudley then got into a fighting stance and had his fists raised. The guard then looked complimented.
"Well, for a little runt, you're pretty tough. Thought ya didn't have it, but clearly you do. Go ahead."
Dudley didn't loose the expression til Jeremiah, Kitty, Iris and himself were heading down the stairway that they were on top of.
After going down the stairs, they came to a passage that opened up into a large market place where stands lined the dirty, trash lined street with some taverns and fighting rings to keep the crowds entertained. As Dudley and Kitty looked in awe, Jeremiah and Iris kept their cool. As they passed some stands, some of the vendors were calling out offers.
"Hurry while supplies last! Just one swing on my tonic and your senses go where? Through the roof!"
"Step up and see. The grandest marvel of the century! One blast and you got hot metal ready for sculpting!"
"Fresh stolen diamonds! We steal em, you buy em!"
And while the stands were offering, the group caught ear of some of the fighting going on.
"And here it is folks, possibly the best fight we've seen today. In the red corner, from the savage wilds of Africa and despised by all his village, I give you...the bloodthirsty...the terrifying...the incredible Grizbane!"
The shout was coming from a ring nearby where a rat dressed like a referee was calling out like a boxing match and in one corner, there stood a tall, strong looking and very bad tempered gorilla in metal shackles and wrestling tights. Dudley saw for a minute but before he could get wind of what was coming next, an alarm went off and the whole market fell silent as a jumbo tron flew above.
"Attention shoppers, in five minutes we will start selling tickets for the underground grand shoot out! So get your tickets and credit cards ready by the south side fighting ring! This is a one time only event, don't miss it!"
As most of the shoppers got to the south end of the market, Jeremiah and Iris led Kitty and Dudley to what looked like a tavern where it looked like a good place for a stop. Inside, tables were lined with criminals playing poker games and clearly cheating cause some big thug like brutes were constantly breaking up squabbles by throwing the trouble makers out the already shattered windows after roughing them up a bit. Dudley kept close to Jeremiah as the group made their way to the tavern's back entrance. There, they came across another stand after they exited, but it looked abandoned.
"Here's the place.", Jeremiah said.
Dudley looked at the sign overlooking the stand.
"Sly Fox's Dirty Dealings. Illegal stuff available at earliest convenience.", Dudley read.
As Dudley finished, a fox dressed in a leather coat, black pants, brown leather gloves and an eye patch over his right eye came slithering out. He smiled revealing one of his teeth to be gold plated.
"Good day.", he said in a tone that sounded slick and friendly at the same time, "What brings you to me?"
"Two things.", Jeremiah stated, "Toxic Flame. Ring a bell?"
Sly Fox just kept smiling.
"Oh yes, a fine product, but we're all sold out. They sold like there was no tomorrow."
"And who did you sell it to yesterday?", Jeremiah added, "I know you Sly. If someone offers top dollar, you provide what they want."
Sly got a con man like look in his green tinted eye.
"Oh very well I confess. I did sell my last bottle of the stuff yesterday, but that doesn't mean I need to tell you."
Dudley came close.
"What do we have to do to get this information?", he asked.
Sly Fox's smile got bigger.
"Tell you what, let's play a game."
"A game?", Dudley asked getting excited, "I love games."
Sly Fox put a closed sign on his stand and came around.
"The I have a game you'll really enjoy."
Back inside the tavern Sly Fox walked confidently to the seemingly deserted stage area and gave a sharp whistle. The whole tavern stopped dead in their tracks and turned to see what was up.
"Listen up everyone, cause do we have a show for you today! We're gonna have ourselves a good old fashioned...wait for it...SHOOT OUT!"
The whole tavern went wild like they were watching an Olympic sport as Dudley followed Jeremiah, Kitty and Iris on stage. Sly Fox slipped his hand into his leather sleeve and pulled something out. Before anyone could act, Sly Fox slammed his fist onto the stage which then filled with thick oily smoke. Dudley gagged and coughed, but the cloud dispersed in a moment. When it cleared, he was on stage with Jeremiah and Kitty and Iris were tied and gagged to two chairs guarded by about five very mean looking pit bulls.
"Uh what's a shoot out?", Dudley asked out loud.
"It very easy.", Sly Fox stated and he snapped his fingers.
From backstage, three more pit bulls came out and as two set up a card table, one placed six pistols on it in a circle like formation.
"Here's how the game works.", Sly Fox explained with a greedy and vain look on his face, "There are six pistols on this table, one of which contains a bullet. We each take turns picking a pistol and firing it at the other. The winner walks away with the glory and victory."
"And the loser?", Dudley asked nervously.
"Oh, the loser", Sly added with con man like charm, "is the one who's shot. Fair enough?"
Dudley was about to chicken out, but Jeremiah held him back.
"What's the catch?", he asked.
The crowd were clearly interested.
"You caught me.", Sly said, "If you win, I'll tell you what you want to know. But if I win, I keep your girls."
Jeremiah frowned.
"You're on." he said.
The crowd went wild and Sly and Jeremiah each took a side of the card table. Dudley stood back and clearly he was worried. If Jeremiah lost, he'd never see Kitty again, but Jeremiah only looked concerned.
"Since we're in my tavern", Sly stated, "I get to go first."
Sly picked a pistol on his end up and pointed it at Jeremiah. Sly pulled the trigger, but only a blank went off. One of the pit bulls came over and took the pistol from Sly and walked back to the others. Jeremiah picked a pistol from the table and pointed it at Sly. Dudley held his breath as Jeremiah pulled the trigger. There came a bang, but then nothing. Clearly the pistol was a blank and was taken away by the same pit bull.
"Well, now we're down to four.", Sly said still smiling, "And then Sudden Death."
Sly took another pistol and fired it, but clearly it was another blank so that was taken too. Jeremiah paused because there were only three pistols and one bullet. Was it one of the two on his side or the one on the other side.
"Something the matter?", Sly asked, "Thinking you've lost already and after you came so-"
"I'll take the one on your side.", Jeremiah said cutting Sly off.
Before Sly could answer, Jeremiah had claimed the pistol and fired it. This one...had the bullet. With a bang, Sly clutched his shoulder which had turned red and his pit bulls came over to tend him. While they were doing that, the crowd went wild as if it was all a show. Dudley and Jeremiah went over and untied Kitty and Iris. When that was done, Jeremiah came over to Sly and now he was the one smiling.
"Now, who did you sell that last bottle of Toxic Flame to?"
Sly shrugged.
"I don't know. They had a hood over their face, but I did find out where they were headed."
Jeremiah looked Sly in the eye.
"You better not lie or I'll make sure things here get ugly."
A while later, Dudley, Jeremiah, Kitty, and Iris were outside that underground market, above ground and in their regular attire.
"How did you know Sly had the pistol on his end?", Dudley asked Jeremiah, "It could have been one on your side."
"Sometimes you need to think like your opponent.", Jeremiah stated, "Sly would want his opponent to think they have the upper hand and when they feel safe, he then fires and they are then proven to be mistaken and they lose."
Kitty was impressed.
"Cool, you put yourself in your opponent's shoes and you gain a theory."
Iris looked over the notes she made when Sly told all he knew.
"Okay, the suspect was heading somewhere but didn't say where. Next up, the Toxic Flame spray obviously used for something big."
"Like break someone out of prison?", Dudley put in.
"Yeah.", Iris continued, "But Sly said the individual also purchased some kind of stolen black jumpsuit material."
"Well, who would purchase things like this?", Kitty asked.
"Somebody who knew what they were doing.", Jeremiah stated, "Or using this for something else. But what?"
The group went back to their vehicles and soon they were riding down the streets again to gain speed and finally, they were in the air again. While Kitty and Jeremiah drove, Iris was going over the things they had and tried to figure the situation out. Kitty looked over and saw Dudley lost in thought.
"You okay?", she asked him.
"Yeah.", Dudley said, "I just got real scared back there. What if I was chosen to pick the pistols? I would be too stunned to do anything after my first shot. And Sly called that a game?"
"He's a con man.", Kitty told him, "They do that."
"Kitty?", Dudley asked.
"Yeah?"
"Is all this going to impact your training with the chief?", Dudley asked, "I still kind of miss going on my assignments with you."
"I managed to work so well that Herbert told me that I could take some time for myself.", Kitty answered, "I know things are different, but keep your chin up. Things will work out."
"Thanks Kitty.", said Dudley looking better, "You always know what to say."
"You grew on me.", Kitty said to him.
Then Iris radioed in to Kitty.
"Sly said that the individual was going to a festival somewhere, but where does that get us?"
Kitty thought for a bit then it hit her.
"The Medieval festival in Petropolis.", Kitty said, "If we get there fast enough we can catch them before they shove off."
"My thoughts exactly.", Jeremiah stated, "Let's roll."
Jeremiah and Kitty both hit the gas and soon both vehicles were flying fast to Petropolis.
Back in Petropolis as the Medieval festival was about to close down, the workers heard something. As if someone was singing. They turned and saw a beautiful dog stroll down the street like she was hypnotized. Her song filled the air and before they all knew it, they were stiff as wooden boards. Some of the lifters dropped what they were holding and stood straight. Sabrina looked around and after confirming everyone was under her spell of control, made her move. She changed melodies and then the workers began to fight among themselves. The more they fought, the more Sabrina smiled. Being a siren, Sabrina relied on disorder in order to maintain her power. Last time she had failed, but now the canceling frequencies ULTRA used were nowhere near. Lucinda and Katty walked out to enjoy the view of everything from the make shift castle building balcony that was used as a prop. Lucinda's goons stood a little further back with earmuffs over their ears so Sabrina couldn't effect them too.
"Sabrina really knows her stuff.", Katty said smiling.
"Then maybe we should add our own personal touches.", Lucinda added.
Now things were getting out of hand, so a pedestrian called the cops and a cruiser came in with four cops armed and ready to make an arrest.
"What's going on here?", a cop called out.
Lucinda simply walked out from behind a stand wearing a zebra skinned dress underneath a pure polar bear coat( hey she had style) while still wearing her red silk gloves, red high heeled shoes and black and white earrings.
"Hello officer.", Lucinda purred, "What an interesting surprise."
The head cop frowned.
"Lucinda, by order of Petropolis police department, you are under arrest.", he stated, "Cuff her boys."
The other cops moved forward, but Lucinda just smiled.
"That won't work on me." she said.
As the other cops held their guns out, Lucinda simply reached into her polar bear skin bag and flung a shiny powdery dust into the air that formed a fog. The cops gagged, they sneezed, and then their eyes went wide, then they walked over to Lucinda's side and when they turned around, they looked like they had rabies and pointed their guns at their own officer.
"What on Earth did you do?", the cop asked in shock.
Lucinda smiled bigger.
"I taught your squad a new command.", she hissed, "Kill."
The squad opened fire and the officer fell dead. The other cops then turned on each other and with another shot from each, they were all on the ground dead. Lucinda just looked complimented as Katty showed up with some hydrofluoric acid to dissolve the corpses. It took a while, but soon it was all out of the way. They met up with Sabrina in the castle structure that Sabrina had now hypnotized the workers to construct. Sabrina was placing a box on the table in front of the thrones. It looked like a gray hat box tied up with a red ribbon.
"What's that?", Katty asked as Lucinda and her came over.
Sabrina flashed a devilish smile.
"The object that we're going to give away."
When they got closer, Lucinda and Katty saw that there were some black onyx crystals( each the size of a baseball) near the box. Sabrina saw that they were wondering what the crystals were for, so she answered.
"To ensure that this Medieval festival will be more than a festival. I'll show you."
Sabrina lead Lucinda and Katty to the balcony where she put the crystals down. Lucinda's goons were observing the workers and keeping them on track. Like magic, the crystals hovered into the air and shot off to form a circle around the fair. Then the whole area changed into a glorious kingdom like in a fairy tale. Sabrina turned to Katty and Lucinda.
"We're ready.", she said.
"We're ready for what?", Lucinda asked.
"Not what.", Sabrina said, "Who."
"Our fourth member?", Katty asked.
"To be recruited?", Sabrina asked, "Yes. Now, let us prepare for visitors to the kingdom."
The three villains cackled once more and they went back inside the castle being constructed to enact the next phase of the plan.
To be continued...