Chapter 16: Beautiful Things

The City of Townsville. Suburbs. The House.

6 DEC 1988. 1650.

"And… There. That should do it," Professor Utonium said as he tied a little butterfly knot on around the back of Buttercup's party dress. Buttercup was standing in front of a standing mirror with the professor kneeling beside her. The professor had added a green ribbon to Buttercup's hair, and now her hair was held in place by an so many head pieces - a Blossom-styled bow, a large hair clip around the back to bunch together her hair, and now… A ribbon.

"Urgh… I mean, I look beautiful, Daddy!" Buttercup swiftly corrected herself, and by now, the professor's awareness was too lacking for him to notice.

"Good, you sure are, Butterfly," the professor added before coughing. It was a dry cough, and the breath he expelled was even worse, as if there was a furnace jammed down his chest cavity, packed with burning coal. Blossom came up to him, worried. She was in her own party dress, frowning briefly at Buttercup when she saw that she looked almost exactly the same as her, except they wore different colors. But she had more important things to worry about.

"Daddy, are you okay?" Blossom asked, hugging the professor from behind. "You look woozy… kinda sick, like the picture you showed me with the green man."

"I'm fine, sweetie, long as I have you," Professor Utonium lied.

"Are you sure? You feel really hot," Blossom pressed on. The professor gently nudged her to let go, before coming to Bubbles, who sat in bed, looking into space. Blossom stared after him with a worried look on her face.

"Bubbles, are you ready?" the professor asked. She did not reply. Instead, she was staring at Buttercup, with a look that the professor thought was difficult to read. Worried? Nervous? Afraid even? But then again, it seemed as if Bubbles was holding back on her facial expression, as if afraid to give away what she felt. "Bubbles?"

Buttercup turned away from the mirror and looked over her shoulder at Bubbles, giving her the same look as she did back in the cinema ladies' washroom. Her eyebrows arched in fury, her teeth gritted and showing as if priming to bite. Her hands clenched into fists, as if ready to turn the room into an open-aired balcony. Bubbles shrank at this display. Blossom thought it strange, but when she traced her line of sight back to Buttercup, Buttercup simply turned back to the mirror and feigned self-absorption, practicing her cutesy poses.

"I'm ready, Daddy," Bubbles simply said, forcing a toothy smile, which ended up crooked. Blossom wasn't convinced, and thought something was afoot. Standing behind Buttercup, she glared at Buttercup's reflection on the mirror with her hands on her hips, since that was the only way she could make eye contact. The latter girl noticed, and stopped acting in front of the mirror. She simply smiled sweetly at Blossom, conveying false innocence and ignorance.

"Girls, we'll need to go. My colleagues are waiting for me," the professor said, trying to sound excited but falling flat towards the tail end of his sentence. The Girls crowded around him, following him out of the room, none the wiser about the wider world, or the darkness surrounding them. On the way out, Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup took their synthetic fur coats with them, to put them on. The professor picked up his briefcase.


Downstairs, Professor Utonium could already see his transport, which was waiting for him on the suburban street. It was a nondescript white SUV with shaded windows (of course), most probably subtly upgraded with protective armor and equipped for war. Behind it was an Organization security squad car, just as squeaky white as the SUV. The unmarked white van that had been standing vigil over The House was just driving over to the front of the passenger SUV, taking the front.

"Why are there so many cars, Daddy?" Buttercup asked, all innocent-like. Perhaps she could get to the truth of it all this way…

"Oh, my colleagues are just worried about me, and us," the professor lied. Well, he wasn't exactly lying. It was more of a half-truth, a white lie as white as The House, as white as the snow and the unmarked cars outside. But he wasn't even trying as hard anymore. He couldn't, not just because he felt really sick, but also because he was really sick of having to lie to the Girls all the time.

"Why are they worried?" Blossom took her turn to ask.

"Well, you saw that explosion in the city. They didn't want that to happen to us," Professor Utonium half-lied again. As they got up to the door, the professor could feel a hand pulling at his lab coat. Looking down, he saw that it was Bubbles.

"Daddy, can you hold me?" Bubbles pleaded. There were no tears in her eyes, but she didn't need that to express… Something. For some reason, she had been somewhat distant lately. Before the cinema, Professor Utonium could see through her like glass, but now…

"Sure, Bubbles," the professor cooed, and picked her up. She was amazingly light, considering the kind of power she wielded - the kind of power she didn't know could be utilized for many things, good and bad. Despite being shaken by some shadow illness, the professor was able to carry her with one arm when she wrapped her petite little arms around his neck. He opened the door with his briefcase arm.

They got outside. It was even colder now, even in the late afternoon, with winter in full swing. The window of the unmarked van in front of the SUV rolled down, revealing the leader of the security squad attached to the House. The same grey-haired, aviator-sunglasses-wearing lunatic poked his head out.

"Get in the SUV, we'll take you there, one hour tops," was all the security lieutenant said, before disappearing into the darkness of his ride. As if on queue, the driver of the white SUV opened his door and came out to greet them. A stocky chap, dressed finely in a business suit and coat. Another person, a woman in just as formal a wear, with sunglasses, came out from the shotgun seat, peeking over the roof of the car at the Girls.

"... Professor Utonium. Please," the driver greeted the professor after a pause, as if every single word he said was carefully selected and weighed.

"Hi, mister friend!" Blossom greeted the driver, while waving her hand at him. The driver appeared to stiffen up, as if in anticipation of something, but then loosened himself up after the world did not end.

"Greetings," the driver said stiffly before turning his back to open the backseat door for them.

"Awfully kind of you, mister friend!" Buttercup followed up.

"Naturally," the driver acknowledged unnaturally, before returning to the driver's seat. The Girls came up to the car, but neither Blossom nor Buttercup wanted to get in first. They both wanted to sit next to Daddy.

"I'm scared. You first, sister," Buttercup said, feigning cowardice, offering the opening in the car for Blossom.

"Oh come on! You were next to Dad in the movies!" Blossom argued, more direct, pointing an accusing finger at her sister.

"But- But- But-" Buttercup struggled to keep up with her girlish-girl act. She eventually broke, her frown returning. "You were with Dad ALL the time! You're selfish!"

"No, you're being selfish!" Blossom tossed the heinous word back.

"No, you're selfish!" Buttercup returned.

"Do you need require assistance with this, professor?" the woman at the shotgun seat offered.

"N-no, it's fine. It's just the Girls being the Girls," the professor said, looking incredibly harried. In his mind, poisoned by sickness and exhaustion and the fear for the unknown, unabated by a forward-thinking scientific attitude, it seemed as if the world was falling apart. He had to keep this under control - there was no telling what the security officers might do. He'd seen how twitchy they were.

"Girls, please," the professor pleaded, feeling drained. "Just pile into the car."

"But Dad!" Blossom and Buttercup said in unison.

"Buttercup, get in the car," the professor chose the first of them to go in on his first instinct. Afraid to argue and ruin her act entirely, Buttercup climbed into the SUV, scooting over to her corner on the other side of the car. Blossom, with a smile on her face, sat in the middle. Gingerly, Professor Utonium plopped himself down heavily on the right-most side of the car, with Bubbles on his lap.

The journey was spent in silence. Professor Utonium leaned on the door with his eyes closed and Bubbles had fallen asleep, exhausted for some reason. The professor knew, but he could not explain Bubbles' sluggishness as of late. Buttercup started the journey with crocodile tears, but when no one cared, dropped her tactic and just stared out the window. Blossom leaned against her creator, who she knew to be her father, worried for him, worried for Bubbles, even worried for Buttercup too.

The suburbs gave way to the snowy plains, and then the city, and soon even that was passed, as they entered the forest reserves of Pokey Oaks. Within this space of time, the Girls were able to put past grievances behind them as they stared out of the windows in wonder: they had never seen a forest before. Once in a while, they were rewarded with the sight of the local wildlife, who were long used to these strange metal containers whizzing and screaming through the forest. Deers, mostly.

Before they knew it, the convoy slowed down, and before them were chain-link fences. Behind it was a compound, strangely devoid of security personnel despite the expansion of the Department of Security. The SUV followed the unmarked van in turning left, and they stopped beside what appeared to be a massive bunker.

"This is your stop, Professor Utonium," the driver said gravely without turning back, his eyes on the rear view mirror. The professor stirred, unable to bring himself to open his eyes.

"Daddy?" Blossom shook the professor worriedly.

"I'm fine, I just need a second…" Professor Utonium did not complete his sentence, but instead opened the door without another word. Bubbles felt heavier in his arm. Even the briefcase felt like a boulder. He couldn't believe he was back - back to an Organization establishment. Buttercup took the initiative and opened her door, getting out from the left. Blossom followed Daddy, realizing with a mix of fear and confusion that somehow, he no longer seemed like the invincible giant she thought him to be.

"Bubbles… Wake up. We're here," he said to the bundle of joy in his right arm, gently shaking her awake. She was roused, still silent as before, and the professor put her down.

Once again, Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup crowded around the professor. Security officers in gray uniform came out of the entrance, four in all, and shepherded them through the blast doors of the Organization bunker.


Inside, the building seemed different. A little less ominous. But Professor Utonium knew that it was all a facade, just like how everything they did were a facade. There was a receptionist desk up front, a few uniforms around the edges of reception, along with something like a dozen other men in business suits. Officers in plainclothes, the professor knew. Now, he understood why the compound seemed like a ghost town. The walls outside were gray, but the walls inside were white, the furniture futurist.

"Utonium. Right this way," the friendly-looking receptionist in a cardigan waved to her left, flashing a smile that could only be hiding daggers. "We've converted the interro- urm- a room into a fun room!"

"Hello, girls. Do you like fun?" the receptionist rounded around her desk and approached the Girls, at the same time wary that she could be putting herself in danger, but she didn't show it. She'd read the reports - a single punch from one of them could land her in a hospital, eating through a straw and breathing through a tube.

Perhaps the receptionist had came on a bit strong, or perhaps the Girls were still recovering from the shock of their new stark environment, but they were anything but excitable. Blossom was still trying to figure out what 'interro-' was while Buttercup eyed her warily.

"Y-yes?" Blossom managed.

"Great! C'mon girls, let me show you the fun room," the receptionist added, pulling back on her failed attempt at being dynamic. She lead Professor Utonium and the Girls down a corridor, then turned right into a room. Even in his daze, the professor noticed the sign right by the door. 'Security Wing'. Behind the door was another desk, with another uniform behind it. A regular security officer.

"Afternoon, Jane. Afternoon, prof," the security officer greeted, standing up. He looked down at the Girls as they passed, with a half-smile on his face. Behind the officer had been a wall, and they had to turn another corner to see an open area with lockers and benches far behind. Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup could make out four men sitting there on benches, dressed in strange clothes - a headgear that appeared hard, like the helmet motorcyclists in the city would wear, but different. Their clothes seemed very thick, as their body appeared far bulkier than anyone, with numerous pockets that were filled with… something and bulging. The Girls could only guess at what they were filled with. Lollipops? Baby Kangaroos? Their shoes appeared to enclose more than just their feet, and in thick material too. In their hands were... Long metal things, some longer than others, with odds and ends sticking out of them.

It was the first time the Girls had seen submachineguns and assault rifles, and they would never figure out what they were until much later.

The moment the Girls set their sights on the four Organization SWAT officers, the officers returned the look, still talking without tearing their eyes away from the Girls. They seemed tense. Bubbles decided to try to be friendly, and waved at them with a smile on her lips. They didn't wave back, neither did they even smile. Thankfully, she didn't have to stay in this area for long.

"Don't mind the magic glass, kids," the receptionist said, referring to the seemingly ordinary window overlooking the 'fun room'. The receptionist stood beside the door. The Girls crowded at the window, finally excited, wanting to see what was inside. They had to stand on tip-toes to see.

There was a ball pit inside, large enough to accommodate three, as well as a castle-bouncer. They didn't know it, but under the window was a shelf containing more conventional toys, as well as picture books.

"Woah," Buttercup said, impressed.

"Wow!" Blossom followed.

"That room's yours, until your father's done with his meeting!" the receptionist offered. Blossom and Buttercup took it without thought, running at high speeds into the room. Too excited to continue their rivalry, they both dived into the ball pit at the same time, sending plastic balls flying upwards, and out of the pit. Only Bubbles seemed less-than-enthused, and she walked in with her head down. She sat on a chair by the shelf, alone.

The professor poked his head in, looking around. To him, it wasn't the 'fun room'. He knew what it was converted from. It used to be an interrogation room, and it will be again once the Girls were gone. The Girls hadn't noticed, but the 'magic glass' was a one-way mirror. On the inside, it showed only a reflection of the room, but from the outside, they could be seen as clear as day.

"Girls," the professor said to gain their attention. Blossom and Buttercup emerged out of the sea of balls they were in.

"Yes, Daddy?" Blossom and Buttercup asked in unison. Bubbles turned to face him, still silent.

"Behave yourselves now. I'll return in a couple of hours," he said. "I love you."

"I love you too, Daddy!" the Three replied in unison, with Bubbles murmuring. With that, he closed the door, and Blossom and Buttercup returned to swimming in the ball pit, pelting each other with plastic spheres with childish smiles on their faces, all hatred towards each other forgotten.

"Those sweet little girls," the receptionist said with a smile, which disappeared immediately. "But we all know what they really are, am I right?"

"I know 'what' they really are," the professor said cryptically, offended by the receptionist's disregard for the Girls' humanity.

"Meeting room. Opposite end of the building. Level B1. Just follow the signs. They're expecting you in 20 minutes, so take your time. There's a snack machine in the lobby. You look like you need it after 2 weeks with those… Things," the receptionist instructed before leaving the professor be, without waiting for a rebuttal.

But the professor didn't need a snack. He didn't want to leave the Girls. He stood at the one-way window, looking at his angels, putting a shivering hand on the glass. There was no telling what the Organization had in store for them; they were not known for their respect for human rights - much less for animal rights (as Jojo and his family found out the hard way), and even less for… 'Things' which they considered to have no rights. Not that the public knew about them. He feared for their lives, and the four newly-minted SWAT officers, who were now staring at him as if he was guilty of something, did not alleviate that concern.

"Such beautiful young things," a voice commented. A deep voice, gravelly. The professor turned to the source of it. Chief of Security Blackwater. And he was no longer in his gray uniform. Instead, he was dressed the same way as the SWAT officers, in black combat gear with gray trimmings, with a pistol on his thigh - Just no primary firearm and helmet. "All this trouble, over such pretty little things. It's hard to believe that so much power could be found in those creatures."

"Blackwater," Professor Utonium uttered his name with contempt. "Setting your sights on some new targets?"

"I do what is necessary, professor. 'Evil' things, if necessary," Blackwater elaborated, before turning his gaze on the Girls. "That said, that might not be necessary… for now, seeing that you've managed to pacified them… Against all expectations. My men at The House are actually beginning to slacken."

"What do you want?" Professor Utonium demanded. "I'm not supposed to see you until 20 minutes later."

"Just came here to look, prof," Blackwater said, turning to see the Girls in the 'fun room'. "One must know the enemy, as if they're one's friends and family."

"You know, they could be friends and family if you give them a chance," the professor said. He had no energy for hatred and hostilities, even if it was towards a genocidal maniac.

"So you say… So you say," the Chief of Security said, as if deep in thought. "It remains to be seen, but that said, I do only what is necessary. If these little rascals are of no threat to my men, then I will be of no threat to them."

Inside the interrogation room (aka fun room), Buttercup jumped out of the ball pit and came up to Bubbles. "Bubbles! You're missing all the fun!" Buttercup squealed in delight, having forgotten herself in the moment. Bubbles shrank away from Buttercup, but the ravenette took her by the hand and lead her into the ball pit.

"It's just like in the snow, Bubbles! Just… Ball-y!" Blossom shouted with glee from the pit. Bubbles jumped in, and slowly, warmed up to her sisters again, at first wading in the ball pit but then began to engage in the plastic ball fight, perhaps in remembrance of the snowball fight they had… At least the moments before Buttercup knocked Daddy out with a super-dense snowball.

Laughter filled the room, clearly visible through the speakers, fed by sensors in the room.

"I've seen lots of things in my long life, Agent Utonium," Blackwater revealed unexpected. "From the blasted graveyards of World War Two, to the slaughterhouse of the Korean War. I'd fought in the wet, fetid horror of the Vietnam War, seen the first Project Powerpuff subjects tear apart men like ragdolls. I've seen too many freaks tear apart too many of my men. I know freaks like I know the back of my hand."

"But I've also seen many beautiful things. My wife, my four kids. Two daughters and two sons. They're all older than you by now. But I remember how they were like when they were five," Blackwater seemed lost in his own thoughts, in his own past. His lips parted once more, but he sealed them again, preferring to remain quiet this time, with whatever was on his mind kept a secret. Then, he started up again, straightening himself with his hands behind his back as if he was standing at attention. "I'll see you in the meeting room in 15 minutes, Upton."

The Professor stared after the giant man as he left, wondering what all of that was about - he had never heard the man talk that way before.

15 minutes. He looked at the Girls one last time before deciding that it was time to go. Might as well get it over with. He ambled away from the fun room, dragging himself out of the security wing - with difficulty.