Latombe was whistling while he worked in his lab, Boxes of Chinese takeout he had devoured en masse littering the lab as he worked on scanning the comatose body of Gabriel Agreste. "I must say, I am very happy with this new toy you gave me. I learn so much about a Miraculous wielder's physiology through him…Shame I can't cut him up more as I need him as intact as possible to properly study…But that may be the psychopath and the scientist in me being at odds."
Mahamayuri just stood there as he watched. "Whatever plan you have best benefit from this, I took a big risk with this. His disappearance will not be unnoticed for long, law enforcement and the Miraculous wielders will be put on high alert."
"No worries, boss!" Latombe noted, speaking the word 'boss' sarcastically. "I know we have been too quiet lately and that puts the Miraculous heroes on edge. So best to give them something they can expect." Latombe said as he went through the data of Gabriel's scan one more time. "And I'm ready to put it out soon."
He moved over to a cylinder which contained a single, small anomaly. "This one was also hard to get, I suppose?" Latombe noted.
"I was lucky the heroes were distracted by anything the other anomalies coughed up. I could only take this one because any bigger one and the Rabbit Wielder would surely have detected it." Mahamayuri added.
"Understandable." Latombe added. "But it is enough for what I need." Latombe said as he moved over to a worktable. On it lay a Circular device and three small spherical, colorless clear objects the size of pearls. "And it will be worth all the effort. But first…care to borrow a little more of your essence, neighbor?" Latombe asked as he just held out one of the spheres to Mahamayuri.
Mahamayuri sighed as he touched the sphere with a single fingertip for a second and it immediately turned a purple-blue hue. Latombe grinned. He then placed the sphere into the device. He grabbed another sphere and took it to the console next to the cylinder holding the anomaly. He put it in a slot on the console and dialed away. The anomaly glowed more brightly than usual, Latombe covering his eyes with goggles as Mahamayuri stood there unflinching. The anomaly was gone. The sphere was removed from the console, now having the same green hue as the anomaly. He also put it on the device.
"One more…" Latombe said maniacally. He dialed away at another console. Some wires which were connected to Gabriel started to glow as the body twitched, as the remaining few electrical impulses in his comatose body were stimulated, but he didn't wake up. Purple lightning traveled across the wired in the console as Latombe placed another component on it, a single jar holding a white butterfly. Once the energy travelled inside the Butterfly…it turned into an Akuma. "Yes!" Latombe grinned widely. "I created an Akuma without a Miraculous…"
"A single Akuma won't be enough to defeat the Miraculous team. Even a group of Akumas won't be able to handle them." Mahamayuri noted.
"True, but if I can create a byproduct of the Miraculous, how long until we can create an actual Miraculous?" Latombe noted. "But for that I need to run a few errands. But that's where this thing comes in." Latombe said as he gestured at the device. He grabs the last sphere, released the Akuma, and it flew inside the sphere. "Now to attach the cores…" He then placed it onto the gauntlet and starts welding the three spheres, or rather cores, in place. "And voila, this masterpiece is finished." He said as he put on the device, with a chain around his neck like a piece of jewelry. "I call it the Latombulous. What do you think?"
"I think it looks and sounds tacky." Mahamayuri snarked.
Latombe frowned, sighed and recomposed himself with a maniacal grin. "Whatever you think of the name, I have a weapon that allows me to progress to the next phase of my plan. This thing is already pretty good but nothing compared to what I will put together next. But it help me obtain what I need." Latombe dialed at a few buttons on the device. "Now I am going to make an iconic transformation. I need a code word…how about 'Spread the darkness'? 'Unleash the beast?' How about…"
Mahamayuri just muttered in a growling tone: "Get on with it, you fool!"
Latombe pouted. "No flair for the dramatic. But oh well, I'll just settle on 'Transform me!'" He pushed a final button. "With that said, Transform Me!" The Latombulous glowed and started to expand as technology started to crawl up Latombe's body, forming more armor pieces until it became a full body armor. It looked sleek enough to move around in freely, but strong enough to take punishment. "Ta-Da!"
"All that trouble for a fancy getup?" Mahamayuri noted.
"Ok, now I know you're pulling my leg…" Latombe groaned. "It is more then a wardrobe change, though I like the look of this armor…"
"I'll pull your leg and other limbs off if you don't get to the point." Mahamayuri growled.
"Fine! With the DNA of the previous wielder I could create an Akuma. With the power of the multiversal anomaly I can tap into possibilities, and your essence as the stabilizer I can invoke any Akuma power I want. Unfortunately I can only tap into one power at the time…" Latombe explained.
"Sounds promising but in the end not quite practical as you may think." Mahamayuri said.
"I would agree if not only for a bypass. Invoke Sapotis!" Latombe said as he slammed a button on his gauntlet. All of a sudden, Latombe split into two. And those Latombes split into more Latombes, and those kept splitting until there was a small army.
Mahamayuri just looked around at the large group of Latombes and sighed. "I had nightmares that started like this…"
The original Latombe spoke up: "Well, I needed someone whom I could rely on to get the job done. And what better person then me? They would obviously be the smartest, not to mention most handsome type of partner I could ask for."
One of the Latombe clones spoke up: "Why, thank you Latombe. You're also looking fine. Just like you, Latombe, what do you think?" he turned to a third Latombe.
"I agree Latombe, but I must say that Latombe looks pretty fine as well…" the third Latombe said and this went on between several Latombes.
Mahamayuri just growled, his eyes lit up and a cold feeling of despair washed over the collective Latombes. "Enough joking. How will more of you achieve anything aside from annoying me more?"
"You see…while I can only access one power at the time, and I have used up mine…they didn't." Latombe said as he gestured at his clones.
One of them said: "Invoke Stormy Weather!" and he started to float of the ground as a small whirlwind formed below him as his arms crackled with electricity.
Mahamayuri blinked for a bit. "That'll do I guess. But what is so important that you seek that you want to go for a full front assault like this?"
"Don't worry your ugly little head about it. We got it all figured out." Latombe said with a smirk.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Nathalie Sancoeur was busy in her cell. If she could call it that. She was into custody of 'the Bureau' (a real generic name if you asked her but due to some sensitive stuff they had to be vague she guessed). Anyhow, like I said, it wasn't much of a cell as much as a room with some basic luxuries like a bathroom, some training equipment, and a bed. She got limited access to tv and internet but everything was monitored. She even got a few books to read.
Right now she was on the salmon ladder, her hair tied up neatly, just wearing some sleeveless top and some sweatpants for the workout. She had to keep in shape. Her community service did involve helping the Bureau after all. They dealt with minor threats, magical creatures that were potentially harmful to humans but didn't need the Miraculous team to contain, or criminals whom may (with differing degrees of awareness) may have gotten their hands on mystical relics or other treasure connected to mystical relics. After having gone up the salmon ladder a few times she dropped down and wiped the sweat of her forehead with a towel. She thought she would need a shower as she suddenly got a call from her…warden by lack of a better term. "You got visitors, Sancoeur!"
She knew whom the visitors may be. "Please let them in." Nathalie smiled as she saw Emilie and Adrien come in.
"Nattie! So good to see you." Emilie said as she bolted in and hugged Nathalie. She took a sniff. "Not as good to smell you though, you are sweaty."
Nathalie chuckled softly. "Good to see you too Emilie. You too Adrien." Adrien just smiled back. "So Em, you seem energetic."
"Let's just say that a huge weight has dropped off my shoulders. A dead weight…a comatose weight…a jerkass weight…" Emilie droned.
"I get the idea." Nathalie noted. "It's great you smile more. Real smiles and not a model smile…and I say that for both of you."
"So…what have you been doing as of late Nathalie?" Adrien asked.
"Oh, most of the time I'm in here, working out, try to not get bored with the same three books and tv channels. Sometimes being sent along on missions. Mostly beasts that don't warry the Miraculous' heroes intervention or bozos whom got their hands on relics or info they shouldn't have." Nathalie said. "I can't give much details though." Nathalie noted.
"But you get to kick butt, right?" Adrien asked with an impish grin.
"Yes I do. It's very therapeutic as well." Nathalie said. "I don't think I have it too bad. Though I feel like it is not that much of a punishment for my stupidity."
"I don't think you deserve that. And Allegra may have said it before, but if you are locked in prison, how are you able to make up for the past?" Emilie asked.
"Besides, it means that in a way we are also still kind of are in the same business." Adrien added. "Is there something you can tell us about the missions that don't warrant secrecy?"
"Well, I can tell how I kicked the ass of an orc. I can't say what he was here for but I can say how I utterly humiliated him…" Nathalie explained. She was telling her story in detail and it got a few moments of excitement and laughter out of Nathalie. "…won't be able to carry on his family line anymore." Nathalie finished.
"Ouch!" Adrien said, half wincing and half-laughing. He then checked the time. "Oh…forgot to mention, I am also here on business and me and a few others have to…do a thing."
"I get it." Nathalie noted. Hero stuff no doubt. The Bureau has been working more closely with the Miraculous team from what she gathered. "So you know, Adrien…I'm proud of you. And sorry I have been a lousy godmother before now."
"I think you are doing well now, Nathalie. And I have said some harsh words in the past but…" Adrien noted. "I am not angry anymore. I am happy you are still in my life. I promise to visit again soon."
Nathalie was given a hug. She still wasn't used to getting more touchy feely with her godson so she awkwardly returned the hug. "Good luck." She muttered before Adrien left. It just left Nathalie with Emilie for a bit. "He has really grown up a lot. Not due to anything I did."
"You were still there more for him then…you-know-who. I hate having to go Voldemort on him but the name makes me want to throw up." Emilie noted.
"I feel stupid for ever following him. I should have known something was off, I thought there was an accident and he tried to help you but…I wanted to help you wake up and I liked Gabriel. But I think I have a lousy taste in men." Nathalie replied.
"That makes two of us." Emilie said. "But let's not pout and be all mopey. We should be happy that we are given another chance to reconnect. Even if we sometimes think we don't deserve it, we still… " Emilie locked up.
"How is life treating you now?" Nathalie asked.
"I am fine. I'm making up for lost time, indulging in things HE looked down upon but I loved. Though about getting back into acting…we're planning on rebooting Fashionata."
"You always loved doing that show." Nathalie noted. "What about…home? You're living with Greg right?"
"Yeah, and Adrien too. He is such a dear friend, having looked after Adrien and forgiving me for being a butthead. Feels like old times between us." Emilie said with a soft smile on her face. "He really is patient, makes time for us. Even when busy for work and not wanting us to feel left out he always thinks he should make up and do…"
"You really light up talking about him." Nathalie said with a knowing smile. It was a bit of a sly smile.
"Nattie, I know that look on your face and no, it's not like that. I d…" she wanted to say that she didn't like him like that. But it was she was literally physically incapable of saying it. "It's not…"
"You always loved him." Nathalie said. One thing she had kept from her secretary days is brutal honesty. "The only reason you didn't marry him is because you didn't want to drag him in the world of Miraculous. Which ended up happening anyhow."
"I…" Emilie said, but then she sighed. "My heart has always belonged to him. But I felt like I couldn't…But I just broke away from that sham of a marriage. I don't want to make him feel like the rebound."
"Is it a rebound if the marriage was a sham? He was your love first, right?" Nathalie asked. "I know Greg also cares a great deal for you."
"I have broken his heart with my past mistakes. I'm glad he is there to be part of the family and my friend, but can I ask of him…after I hurt him? Maybe it is best if we are dorky best friends like we used to be." Emilie noted.
"I thought you said you wanted to be stronger, to improve? To still be selfless but not have that selflessness make you act stupid? You wanted to do things right this time. That's what you told me!" Nathalie said as she poked her with her index finger on Emilie's collarbone. "I know Greg and he is like Adrien, he doesn't have it in him to hate. He isn't mad at you. He worships the ground you walk on. What I say is, you're right for each other."
Emilie was quiet for a few moments. "I'm afraid, Nathalie."
"You charge in with a damaged Miraculous in battle but you can confront your feelings?" Nathalie asked. "He told you he wouldn't abandon you for whatever reason. Whatever happens, you will not lose him. You deserve the happiness and so does he. And if you two can find it in one another…he has always been a good father figure for Adrien, you already basically a family. The only thing you haven't done is making everything official."
"Since when have you become the shipper?" Emilie asked.
"Because I care, you dolt! You're like the sister I never had. It is my job to look out for you and damn if this over-glorified house arrest is going to prevent me from doing my sisterly duty." Nathalie said.
Emilie let out a soft chuckle. "I appreciate your concern Nathalie and…I'll keep your words into mind. And thanks…sis."
"I know I am not as good with the touchy feely stuff but I think a hug is appropriate?" Nathalie asked. Emilie pulled her in another hug. "My workout smell no longer bothers you?"
"Oh it does but I say 'screw my olfactory functions, I'm hugging my best friend/sister'!" Emilie said. Everything was right in the world for these two.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Elsewhere in the Bureau's HQ, Adrien had transformed into Chat Noir and joined up with Ladybug at Allegra's office. "Thank you for coming Ladybug, Chat Noir." Allegra said with a curt nod. "I wish we could meet under more pleasant circumstances."
"Let's cut to the chase." Ladybug said firmly. "Because I believe I know what it's about. We suspect Latombe is up to something big."
"He has been way too quiet. He won't have left the country, he is too proud to let go of his vendetta and no way he decided to retire." Chat Noir added.
"That's what we believed. Luckily through you and your connections with your friends we have been able to coordinate with the mayor's office, the police force and the Louvre to put together a picture of what his next move may possibly be." Allegra noted.
The two were glad to work with the Bureau. They made valuable allies. Ladybug spoke up first: "Then what can you tell us?"
"Now, we have been able to put together a few clues from some crime reports at the police. Initially thought to have been unrelated incidents. Parisian crime bosses found dead. Normally they have laid low ever since the first Akuma and trying to be more discrete. But the deaths and the robbery of their money…initially believed to be the war in the underworld carried out in secrecy…Until one particular incident." Allegra pulled out a picture of an Asian man that oozed sleaziness.
"Charming fellow!" Chat said as his face looked in disgust.
"Xiao Jing, also known as 'King Cash'. A Chinese black market dealer. From our informants we knew normal crime bosses would stay away from Akumas or Latombe. But he was one of the few guys whose standards are so low that he would make dealings with Latombe. This guy was known for trading in artifacts and stuff that are otherwise hard to obtain even on the Black Market." Allegra said.
"He was found dead…and once we contacted law enforcement in Shanghai, from where he operated, we are pretty sure that Latombe robbed some crime bosses, took their money and paid King Cash for his services…then cut him down when he was no longer needed. This already lets us know that Latombe is gathering resources for his next big project and covering his tracks."
"I see…and you believe that he may strike sooner rather then later?" Ladybug asked.
"Yes, because we have been keeping an eye on Parisian infrastructure and there are three events in short order that may draw his attention enough to come forth with whatever he has planned." Allegra said. "First is a new addition that is coming to the museum soon. Something found in Tibet…" Allegra saw the two heroes' eyes widen as if they figure something out. "And yes…an excavation team found a relic of the Guardians, we don't know what it is exactly but it is something Latombe can't get his hands upon."
"I should check the book or ask Master Fu what it may be, do you know what it looks like?" Ladybug noted. Allegra handed her a few pictures. It was a sort of box with a puzzle-like lock. "I don't recall seeing that, so I'll have to look into it soon."
"What else may we expect?" Chat Noir asked.
"A new power plant with cleaner energy has recently opened up. There is a newly discovered element that will power the complex and it is transported to Paris. It is on a ship, in a cooling vat, because it is unstable unless it is correctly plugged in to the new power plant. However, it has such great potential that Latombe may decide to take it for himself, to power a doomsday weapon. And if he isn't careful, could wipe out anyone in a fifty miles radius." Allegra added.
"So, no pressure." Chat said, still trying to make light of the situation. "What's point number three?"
"The Kwami Hunter is being transported to a new place. We learned everything we could from him, aside his identity and past. With the kwamis restored we no longer have to keep him here and can transport him elsewhere. We are meeting up with a few people whom will bring him to a special prison for supervillains. After the American heroes went into hiding following their identity reveal, the prison was constructed to hold their rogues gallery. So far has held everyone in. Kwami Hunter would be, in theory out of our hair for good." Allegra reacted.
"If the transport makes it. And Latombe must have kept tabs on us as well, knows we must have fought him. He can't learn what the Kwami Hunter did to put those Kwami in their horrible death-like state." Ladybug realized.
"Correct. Now, the transport of the Hunter and the power source, and the unveiling at the Louvre happen on the same day. And we can't just ask any of the rescheduling, because a lot is depending on these events. That's why I suggest coordinating both our teams to react in case…no, when Latombe strikes. It is a bit more open then what we usually do but knowing how dangerous Latombe is beforehand." Allegra continued.
Ladybug sighed. "I'll contact my team. Some of them had plans, but a lot is depending on successfully thwarting whatever Latombe may have in store."
"No rest for the weary. Sometimes I love the job, sometimes I hate it." Chat Noir sighed. "When will this all happen?"
"Less than a week. I can give us a few more days, delay so we got more time to plan, but I can't assure that. Just that we'll have to plan and move quickly." Allegra said.
"You gather your agents, we gather our team. We will make sure we are to handle anything Latombe may throw at us." Ladybug said.
"There is one more thing…" Allegra said, and while she kept her face stone-like, there was an underlying tension about what she got to say. "It is going to come as a bit of a shock, more so than anything else."
"Spit it out, Ally." Chat noted.
"Gabriel Agreste vanished form the prison hospital a day and a half ago." Allegra said. She thought it was best to give it them straight.
The effect was immediate. Adrien's hair flooffed with some sort of tension you see on an angry cat, as he went pale and grabbed his staff so tight that if it wasn't indestructible it would have snapped in half. Ladybug held her breath and couldn't help to look at her now tense partner. She put a hand on his shoulder, Chat absent-mindedly touching her hand with the fingertips of his other hand. "W-w-was it Latombe, you think?"
"Possible. The most likely. There was no trail, not a clear one, just like with Latombe's own escape. So whatever busted him out may have taken Gabriel Agreste as well. Though Fu has about confirmed that he may never wake up and if he did he is not going to be quite the same…Latombe is not your standard mad scientist and we fear he may make use of that husk of a man." Allegra said.
Chat jerked up. "Then we have no time to lose. Tell us where to start!" His tone of voice was devoid of his usual snark, joy de vive or anything light-hearted.
"Kitty…" Ladybug said. "Will you be ok?"
"I'm not ok when it involves him. But we dealt with him before, and whatever Latombe plans of making out of him, we can deal with that too." Chat Noir said.
Ladybug's heart ached. Why can't her Kitty and his family ever get a break?