Crazy trouble with love part 8
Professor Utonium and Sedusa
Series: Powerpuff Girls
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The city of Townsville, a peaceful metropolis where everyone lives safe happy lives thanks to the hard work and dedication of its trio of tiny titans, the Powerpuff girls.
"Girls! It's time for school!" called Professor Utonium while trying to get their lunches packed and ready to go.
"Coming Professor!" They called before flying down stairs to the front door.
"Kinda cutting it a little close there girls." he said handing them their lunches. "Be good today girls and stay away from that Princess Morbucks."
"Feh, easier said than done." scoffed Buttercup crossing her arms. "She'll probably try something right as we get there."
"If she tries bullying you just try to ignore her as best you can, but if she does eventually try to reach out and be your friend…"
"Be polite and try to be her friend." Blossom stated like she rehearsed it
"That's the spirit." The professor said. "Now off you go girls."
"Bye professor." they waved before flying out through the front door while the man smiled and moved to take his apron off.
"Now that that's taken care of, it's time to get to work."
Yes Townsville is the most peaceful town around. But what's this? A hooded figure hiding in the bushes across the street?
The figure held binoculars and looked through the window to see Utonium was all alone with the figure letting out a low chuckle. They raced over and knocked on the door.
"Now who could that be?" The professor wondered looking back at the door before opening it. "Yes?" The next thing the professor knew he was sprayed in the face and everything went black as he passed out.
"Hmhmhmhmhm, sweet dreams Prof. Utonium." spoke the person in a female tone before reaching down to grab his shoulders and started to drag him over to the door that lead to the lab.
The professor was tied to a swivel chair on wheels by the time he came to. He groaned and shook his head while confused. "W...What happened?" he wondered looking up at his desk and saw the figure looking over his books.
"Tch, useless, garbage, not even close to what I need." They said tossing books haphazardly. "It'll take me all day to find what I need."
"Hey now what do you think you're doing?!" He spoke out getting the intruder's attention.
"Oh, you're awake."
"Yes and judging by your voice I assume you're a woman. A familiar one too." he spoke before hearing the figure chuckle under hood.
"Aw, you remember me? How sweet." she spoke sarcastically while turning to the professor and reached for their hood. It came down to reveal the face of Sedusa with her hair reduced to a stubble.
"Sedusa." frowned Utonium who flinched a little seeing the nearly bald head before glaring at the woman. "What are you doing here in my house? I thought my girls put you away?"
"They did, but the cops in this town are so lazy it was easy to sneak out. Now if you'll excuse me I need find the right book." She said going back to her search. "I'll say this much professor, your books are up to date." She said taking a book and smiled in approval.
Utonium frowned and tried to move, but felt the rope grip him tightly and made it hard to move much. "Just what on earth could you possibly need in my lab?"
"Everything that I could possibly need, it's amazing, you have all the equipment of the most advanced research facilities, but not the security. I've been trying to get my hands on most of this stuff for years." She said taking another book and laid it with the first. "With all of this equipment, I'll finally have what use to be mine before it was taken from me." she scowled then took off her disguise revealing her supervillain outfit underneath then tossed said disguise aside before grabbing a lab coat and put it on
"And just what might that be?" he asked while trying to discreetly work on undoing the ropes.
"Isn't it obvious? I want my hair back!" She said pointing at her scalp before walking over to the work table. "And since it was your brats who did this to me it's only fair that I use your equipment to help me."
"The only thing my girls did is bring you to justice." frowned the professor. "It was you who tried to pass yourself off as Miss Bellum and seduce the mayor, then try and have the real Miss Bellum carted off to prison in your place."
"The going to prison part I could leave with." She said opening one of the books and flipped through the pages. "But shaving my head, that was overkill."
"After all the crimes you've committed with it I'd say it fit the punishment." he muttered while trying to get his fingers to reach the knot without moving too much.
"It was my hair gel that was the real threat." she said grabbing a few beakers of various chemicals and started mixing them. "It was a little something I whipped up just for your girls. I may be a crook, but I do have a brain. Where's your bunsen burner?" She questioned looking around.
"I'm not saying a thing." he spoke up defiantly.
"Ugh fine, I'll look for it myself." She said putting the chemicals down and walked to a cabinet.
"Come on, come on." The professor said trying to pull at the knot only to find out the more he pulled on it the tighter it became. 'No good, she sure knows her way around a knot.'
"Don't bother trying to get those ropes off." She said searching the cabinet. "I may not be a decorated boy scout, but I do know how to tie a sturdy knot." She smiled finding what she was looking for and took it out. "It's one the only things I picked up working in Svengolly's Circus."
"Svengolly's Circus?" The professor perked up. "I went to their show everytime they came to town back when I was a kid. You worked for them?"
"I didn't just work there, I grew up there." she replied taking the burner to the table. "I was literally born on the circus train."
"That's….not quite what I expected." he admitted while she rolled her eyes.
"Well how else did you think I became who I am? Did you think I was some kind of spawn of a Gorgon trained by Ninjas?"
"Uh...well…" Utonium blushed with a chuckle making her facepalm.
"No. That's not it." She said going back to her work. "For starters my mother was a fifth generation acrobat."
'That would explain how she's so agile and nimble.'
"And you remember the man of a thousand faces, right?" She said mixing the chemicals in a separate vial.
"Of course, an amazing artist. Who wouldn't want to look like anyone off the bat?"
"That was my father." she revealed making the professor feel like a lightbulb went off in his head as the dots clicked.
"So that's where you got your mastery of disguise." He spoke as she used a pair of tongs to hold the vial over the burner.
"Of course, thanks to him I could fool anyone. Including you." she smirked with Utonium frowning at the memory before he gave a chuckle making her turn. "What?"
"You might have tricked me at first, but it was also thanks to my girls I found out who you really were. So is that really a moment you can hold over my head?"
"I can when the look on your face is so priceless." She shot back keeping her eyes on the mixture. "When I think back to how easy it was to trick you, I always enjoy a good laugh. You were like a lost puppy, you even bought my fake name, Miss Goodlady. For a scientist, you sure are dim. Then again it wouldn't be the first time I did that."
"So you used the skills your own parents taught you to be a thief, is that it?"
"Not at first, honestly this isn't how I thought my life would turn out at all." she answered while crossing her arms. "At first I always imagined I'd still be in the circus, growing there until I was an old lady and showing people my skills, but that all changed, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Do you know what I had to keep myself entertained growing up?" She questioned.
"Um...dolls?"
"No, books. chemistry books to be exact."
"Wait, really?" he looked at her in surprise. "You studied chemistry?"
"Reluctantly. Most circus profits went to upkeep of equipment and animals. The only reading material I had to my name growing up were those Chemistry books someone donated. I read them over and over to stave off boredom." She said moving the vial from the burner and turned it off. She took a syringe and drew some of the mixture and put a drop between two pieces of glass and slid it under the microscope. "Honestly I read them so much for most of my childhood all I remember were the equations. Guess I had a knack for it. I was homeschooled but chemistry was one thing I excelled at."
"Wow, I didn't really get interested in science until I was a little boy. Of course, I wasn't what you'd call book savvy. I was a little trouble maker. I even blew up my elementary school Science Lab."
That got a chuckle from Sedusa. "I've been there before. Although for me it was actually in college." She said looking into the microscope. She saw several cells under the glass with some of them attaching to each other.
"Wait, college?"
"My parents saved up every cent they earned since they noticed my skill with chemistry. All so they could send me to collage."
"But I don't understand, why turn to a life of crime?"
She gave him a deadpan expression. "Isn't it obvious?" She questioned opening the lab coat to show off her feminine frame.
"Oh…right, the whole 'no one takes female scientist seriously' thing." he spoke with a blush while averting his eyes before she closed the coat and nodded.
"Yeah, I had to 'convince' my professors to use the lab for personal experiments."
"You mean seduce?"
"Call it what you want, it worked. Back then I had long, luxurious, curly black hair. My colleges however….let's just say crome dome doesn't exactly cover it."
"So...what happened?"
"I wanted to create a formula that would make hair grow for the bald, but since no one would volunteer I did the only thing I could."
"Did you... experiment on yourself!?"
She gave him a sideways glance. "Of course, what other choice did I have if I wanted any respect? But... well, you and your girls already know what happened. Instead of making my hair grow it made it prehensile."
"But experimenting on yourself is extremely risky! What if something had gone horribly wrong? Not to mention highly appreciated ethical."
"Tch, you sound like my professors." She said looking back the microscope. "They said the exact same thing. A day later I was kicked out of the school for what I did, that and my hair creeped them out. The rest...is history."
Utonium looked at her with amazement while utterly conflicted. Here was a woman with a rather simple childhood who grew to become somewhat similar to him, but she had to deal with other scientists who didn't think she could cut it, pushing her to being a criminal.
"No!" She shouted and smacked the microscope off the table in frustration. "Not again."
"Woah woah calm down, no need to break expensive equipment. What's wrong?"
"The formula is supposed to stimulate the cells into replicating at an accelerated rate, but the result is still the same as with all my other attempts, the cells end up deteriorating." she frowned while slamming her fists on the counter with a yell. "At this rate I'll never get my beautiful hair back to its former glory!"
"Why the rush? Won't it just grow back on it's own?" Asked the Professor.
"Yes, but the formula that made my hair prehensile also slowed down it's growth speed. My research indicates it with take my hair 20 years to grow back to how it was, at least!" she fumed. "I can't wait that long!"
"Yeesh….what if, and I can't believe I'm saying this, I help you?" he suggested making her look at him and let out a laugh.
"You? Help me? The woman who would love nothing more than to see your girls crushed? Do you think I'm stupid?" she frowned. "The moment I let you go, you'll go running screaming out there calling them to beat me up and throw me right back in jail."
"Grab my keys, then open the top drawer of my filing cabinet. I think there's something in there that you'll like to see." The professor said.
She raised an eyebrow at him before looking at the filing cabinet. "Okay, I'll play along." She said walking over, she then searched his pockets, pulled out his keys and went to the filing cabinet.
"It the goldish key." The professor stated.
Sedusa looked at the key ring and grabbed the gold one before putting it in, turned and pulled open the drawer finding multiple files. "What am I looking for exactly?"
"Just look under the H's." He specified before watching her begin her search. "See a while back Bubbles and Buttercup gave Blossom a bad haircut, Blossom got back at them by laser blasting their hair. So to remedy their situation I created-"
"A hair restoration formula!?" Sedusa exclaimed in shock taking out a file after reading it's name.
"Yes, exactly." he said as she opened the file and started reading it.
"You mean you had this the entire time and you just let me waste good chemicals?!"
"Well actually I always make sure to stock up on extras in case the girls make a mess, so it's not like I lost any extremely valuable kind. Plus you are still a wanted felon."
She groaned and marched back to the table to start over.
"There's just one thing I don't understand, if you're a scientist, then why didn't you try to use my research against me?"
"Who says I didn't? How do you think I came up with my super strong hair gel formula?" she smirked as she grabbed chemicals with Utonium shocked.
"You mean...it was MY work that made it?"
"A little of yours, a little of mine, but like an idiot I didn't take into account its resistance to water." she grumbled in annoyance. "Not one of my finer moments I'll admit. Oh, interesting. So this formula requires your patented Chemical X. Gotta say, even I have to commend you on creating that stuff." she admitted before walking over to a vault on the wall. "Too bad its so volatile. What's the combo?"
"Untie me and I'll do it."
"Yeah, not happening. I wasn't born yesterday."
"Then I guess I'll keep my mouth shut, because you also need my thumbprint to open it."
"Ughhhhhh, you're making this a lot harder than it has to be." she groaned rubbing her template. "Just tell me what it is so I can get on with this."
"...3, 15, 69."
"See? That wasn't so hard." she said inputting the combo then tried to turn the wheel, but it wouldn't budge. "Ngh. Come on. Nggggh!"
"I told you so." The professor said. "I installed the thumbs scanner after my girls gave my money hungry Ex-college friend some of my Chemical X, because they don't have thumbs you see?"
Sedusa moaned in annoyance and hit her head against the vault door. "...ow."
Utonium sweatdropped seeing that while finding it a little sad.
She turned to him with a red spot on her forehead and tried to hold back the tears of pain with a pout, which he thought looked pretty cute, before taking a deep breath and walked up to him. "Alright, what do you want?"
"Well being untied from this chair would be a nice start."
"I mean what do you want in return!?" She pinched the bridge of her nose. "All men expect something in return."
The professor let that sink in before blushing and shook his head. "N-No no! I'm not like those other scientists. I'd never make someone do something they didn't want. In all honesty it's….kind of nice having someone to talk to in the lab. Especially someone who understands my 'science gibberish' as Buttercup calls it."
Sedusa looked at him in brief surprise before crossing her arms. "You really expect me to believe you don't want ANYTHING in return?"
"Well I mean everyone needs a little human interaction or they'd go crazy. A good conversation is all I really need."
"Huh... alright, but try anything funny like calling the cops and I'll kick you so hard in the balls you'll be singing soprano for the rest of your life." she threatened making a fist making the professor pale and gulp before she started to undo the knot. "There."
"Wow, you really do know your way around a knot." he admitted rubbing his arms.
"I had a lot of practice." She said before he walked to the vault.
"Can we circle back to the fact you use to work at Svengolly's Circus?" He said putting his thumb on the scanner. "What did you do there?"
"Whatever I needed to be, but if I had to pick, I'd say my favorite would be the Barker." She answered as he dialed in the combination. "You might have seen me at least once shouting 'Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Come one, come all!' while holding a cane and wearing a top hat." She said smiling in nestalgia
"Oh yeah! I remember that now, the little girl who stood on that tall crate at the entrance, that was you?"
"Of course, there was something about a cute little girl being the Barker that drew people in. Eventually old man Svengolly made me the Barker full time, until I grew out of my cute stage... So are you going to open the vault or-"
"Oh! Right, sorry." he chuckled before grabbing the handle and opened the door. Revealing numerous shelved of chemicals. "I just can't believe you were Barker Girl." He spoke as Sedusa walked up.
"Well my looks are just naturally charming. At least until I started to 'fill out' and I was replaced by one of the clown's younger daughters. Aha! Chemical X!" She said grabbing the beaker. "So much potential, in the palms of my hands."
"For your hair you mean."
"Oh come on, you can't expect me not to at least think about what this stuff can do, I'm a chemist." She said and took the chemical X back to the table.
"Then you won't mind if I supervise to make sure you don't stray from the formula."
"Go right ahead, just make sure you don't supervise something else." she remarked with a slight tease.
"Let's just change the topic. I can only assume after being replaced, you didn't take it too well." he guessed while trying to keep his blush down.
"Not at first, but Svengolly did put me in charge of training my replacement. There was something oddly satisfying about passing on what I knew." she admitted before pulling the beakers over and began to carefully administer the chemical X. "After that I was sharpening the sword juggler's blades, feeding the animals, and serving popcorn."
"Oh yes," Professor Utonium licked his lips. "Svengolly Circus popcorn was so good. other circuses never make popcorn that actually tastes good."
"The Svengolly's always kept the secret with them, except the one time the old ringleader told me that is." she smirked.
"You know the recipe!? Oh you gotta tell me! Please please please!" pleaded Utonium with his hands together like a little kid.
"No can do, I swore I would take it to my grave and that's just what I'll do."
"Aw come on! I've been wondering just how they made it so good! I even spent free time in school trying to imitate the taste."
"Aw poor baby." she mocked before mixing the chemicals together before seeing them start turning black. "All I can say is that the butter is homemade."
"Ah ha! I always had a suspicion that was true. But I tried homemade butter and...it was unpleasant."
"How about you get us some drinks? This will take some time to finish apparently.
"Well...okay but since you already added it, I'll just put the chemical X back." Utonium said taking the chemical X and put it back in the vault. He closed it and made sure it was locked before heading up the stairs.
He then went to the kitchen and headed for the fridge "I'll just grab some sodas and-" he stopped the minute he opened the door and saw the shelves were almost completely empty. "Oh no, in all the excitement I forgot had to go to the store." He sighed before a lightbulb went off in his head seeing an opportunity. "Hmmm." He closed the fridge and went back down with two glasses of water in each hand. "Sorry all I have to offer is water. I haven't gone to the store yet."
"It's fine, I'm not worried about anything fancy right now." She said taking the glass. "But if you have the right ingredients, I suppose I can find it in my heart to make you that oh so delicious popcorn. It's just one key ingredient that really makes it taste good and I'm pretty sure you have it." She said taking a sip.
"What is it?"
"Like I'd tell you so easily. You just go the store and buy everything you need plus the basic ingredients for homemade butter, you said you made it before so you know what I need."
"Oh fine, but I'll hold you to that." he said as she set the bunsen burner on low then turned and headed back upstairs. "Come on you, I don't trust you around in my lab alone."
"I'm coming I'm coming." she replied before following him.
"Now you are to stay here until I get back." He said locking the lab door. "And don't even think about trying to go through the bedrooms. You are to stay on the ground floor."
"Oh please, you really think I'd try and take anything around here? The only valuables are in the lab." Sedusa replied crossing her arms.
"That's good, I think, now I'll be back in half an hour. And Sedusa, for what it's worth I think there might actually still be some good in you." he smiled before leaving her with her watching him go in surprise.
"Hm, nice guy, poor judge of character though." she muttered as she looked around the house when the door shut. "Hmm, since I'll be waiting on him, I might as well watch some TV." she muttered grabbing the remote from the coffee table.
(Later)
The professor was at the checkout and was fishing out his money.
"Why hello Professor Utonium." Spoke none other than Miss Bellum walking up with her own cart.
"Oh, hello Miss Bellum, fancy meeting you here." he smiled. "Shouldn't you be at City Hall helping the mayor?"
"The mayor gave me the day off, so I decided to do some shopping."
"Well that was nice of him, I myself just need to get the usual before the girls get back home from school. Plus I'm... entertaining a guest who's going to treat me to Svengolly's world famous popcorn."
"Svengolly? As in Svengolly's Circus?"
"The very same."
"Oh my gosh I haven't had been to Svengolly's Circus in ages, let alone had some of their popcorn."
"Same here, that's why if I'm lucky I might find out how they make it so good." he whispered.
"Let me come along, perhaps I can help persuade them to tell us the recipe."
"Uh...no need." he spoke while glancing away. "I'm sure I can get them to tell me as soon as I get home. Besides I wouldn't want to inconvenience you, you probably have the whole day planned."
"I did, but if it mean getting my hands on Svengolly's mouth watering popcorn recipe, I can put my plans on hold." she replied making Utonium inwardly shake his head. "I'll come on over later. See you then Professor." She waved before walking off.
"I...Well I don't...oh no."
As he was driving back he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. "Oh dear, I can't let Miss Bellum see I've got Sedusa in my house." he muttered. "I can only imagine the angry look she'll give me for letting a known criminal in my house without calling the police, or worse, my own girls." he could already hear her screaming at him. He shivered and managed to reach his house before rushing out of the car, to the door, and looked around. "Sedusa! Sedusa!"
"No need to yell, I'm in here." she called from the couch. "No need to lose your head I didn't do anything while you were gone. Did you get the groceries?"
"Forget the groceries, right now we have a problem." he spoke as she muted the tv. "Miss Bellum is coming over right now, we need to hide you."
"What!?" The woman shouted. "Why is that bushy haired bimbo coming here?!"
"I ran into her at the store when I was shopping, and...I may have let it slip about me getting a chance at Svengolly's popcorn, and it turns out she's a fan too, so she decided she wanted to come over and see if she could help my 'guest' tell it."
"Ugh, god dammit! Sometimes that recipe is more trouble than it's worth." she facepalmed with Utonium looking embarrassed. "As soon as she finds out I'm here she'll call that blasted mayor, and then your own girls will be on me in no time flat. At least she won't be coming by too soon, right?"
"I... don't know. How long will it take you to make?"
"At least fifteen minutes, give or take."
"Ok, I'll try and distract her as long as I can when she shows up."
"Uh, professor, the groceries?"
"Oh! Right, my bad." he blushed before rushing back out to the car.
Later Sedusa was in the kitchen getting ready to start cooking.
The professor couldn't help but peek to try and see how she did it. However the minute she reached for the cabinet she quickly turned her head giving him a sideways glare that made him reel back. Suffice to say it made him think back to when he was a kid trying to sneak a cookie from the cookie jar and how angry his mother would get.
"Keep those wandering eyes out of this kitchen until I'm done, Mr. Peeping Tom."
"Sorry, I'll just leave you to your work." he spoke moving away while discreetly snapping his fingers. 'Darn it, I was hoping I could get some idea of what ingredients to use, but I suppose I'll just have to wait and keep my eyes peeled for-'
*Ding-dong*
"She's here!" he spoke up in panic which Sedusa heard.
"Keep her busy!"
Utonium ran to the door and adjusted his tie while clearing his throat before opening the door a little and smiled. "Hello Miss Bellum, nice to see you again."
"Sorry if I'm a bit late, there was a slight traffic jam on my way here. I hope you save some popcorn for me."
"Uh no!" he spoke blocking the way while slowly sweating nervously. "I mean...it's not ready yet. The 'chef' is getting it started now."
"Oh, well then why don't we wait in the living room? I'd love to get a chance to meet this chef face to face."
"Great idea. She won't let me go in anyway." he replied letting the woman in while making sure to keep in her line of sight aimed to the kitchen. "We have about fifteen minutes. Anything you'd like to talk about to pass the time?"
"Well I wouldn't mind telling someone how hectic work's been this week. You have no idea what it like have a boss that's decades older than you yet has the mindset of a child." she sighed as they sat down. "It's like I'm a babysitter rather than a secretary. "I can't tell you how many times I had to 'misplace' his plans for a theme park dedicated to pickles."
"Well knowing the mayor I wouldn't put it past him. Just the other day he came to me asking if I could make him an everlasting pickle. Not the kind that would keep fresh forever, but a pickle that regenerates after taking a bite out of it. He even gave me a check to fund the research."
"Please tell me you didn't make it for him."
"Of course not. The science necessary to create it doesn't even exist, yet." he replied as she sighed in relief. "Besides, it felt a bit much all for a pickle. Now crops, that would be way more beneficial."
"Good, the last thing I need is the mayor causing the city to go bankrupt." she said before they heard the mixer turn on in the kitchen. "So just who is your friend?"
"Uh….just an old acquaintance. So how about those supervillains huh?" He asked before hearing a glass break in the kitchen making him wince.
"What was that?" Miss Bellum asked before Sedusa's ungloved hand held out a broken glass bowl.
"J-Just a little slip of my fingers is all." she said with her glove between her teeth and making her voice sound higher.
"Are you alright? Maybe I should help sweep up that glass."
"No!" Sedusa reeled back her hand. "No no no. I got it."
"Yes, she's an expert, we need to leave her to her work." spoke up the professor quickly.
"Alright, now I believe you said something about supervillains?"
"Right, uh…. They've been rather quiet lately." he replied while trying to be careful. "Usually someone would have tried committing a robbery or worse."
"Yes, your girls seem to have them hiding like rats."
"Well, I wouldn't say rats." he spoke while clearing his throat. "Perhaps they're just taking a small break from their usual routine. I mean let's face it Mojo's last defeat was rather embarrassing."
"I guess so, but I bet you didn't know this. Sedusa? Apparently she managed to escape prison by seducing one of the guards into letting her out, for a walk he said." Miss Bellum sighed in frustration.
"Oh? Really? Well that doesn't sound good." he spoke while glancing at the kitchen. "Am I right to assume you above all people want her captured, given your... history?"
"You mean when she impersonated me?"
"Yes, that." he replied.
"Well, being tied to a chair for a couple days wasn't exactly an the ideal vacation I wanted." she remarked with annoyance as Sedusa listened in closely while she continued to cook. "But… lately, I feel like I may have gone too far cutting all her hair off."
"Come again?" The professor said in surprise while Sedusa blinked.
"According to the prison warden her hair has barely even grown back in all the time she's been in and out of prison. The doctor's say it could be decades before it grows back to its previous state."
"Really? I had no idea." the professor said. "So...you regret doing it?"
"I wouldn't go that far. I mean I'm not one to hold a grudge, though she did technically kidnap me in my own home, but she also made sure I was well fed and hydrated. I don't know. Maybe if I had a chance to understand her I might know what I should feel." She said making Sedusa look down at the floor. "I will say one thing about that woman, she definitely knows how to cook."
"Well I'm sure with time on her hands, she'd have plenty to think over what she's done."
"A part of me really wants to think so Professor." Miss Bellum said. "Who knows, we might have even become friends."
"Do you really mean that?"
Both turned to the threshold to the kitchen where Sedusa stood sheepishly. Professor Utonium paled while Miss Bellum jumped to her feet with a gasp.
The room was silent as the red head looked back and forth from Sedusa to the professor. Said man looking away while Sedusa seemed nervous.
"Okay, someone needs to explain what's going on here, now." Miss Bellum stated.
(Later)
"And that's when you arrived." professor Utonium spoke before give a nervous grin. "So...any questions?"
"Quite a few actually. Like if you're from Svengolly's Circus why didn't you go back instead of turning to crime?"
"And say what? 'Oh sorry everyone, I couldn't cut it in college which cost so much money so I thought I'd come back here'. Does that sound like a good excuse?" Sedusa questioned. "Besides, even if by some miracle they did take me back I'd be working the freakshow for the rest of my life."
"Well not quite. I mean if you wore a wig you could-" the professor stopped when he saw the woman raise an eyebrow while looking unamused. "Uh...nevermind."
"Old man Svengolly always said 'Circus stick together'." Sedusa spoke with an accent. "But no one ever did something like what I did. So...no telling what their reaction will be."
"I say you should take a chance." spoke Miss Bellum. "Do you know how to get in touch with them?"
"We lived on a train, always going from one place to another. And they're not exactly in the yellow pages." she remarked with a shrug. "As far as I know they're back in Europe."
"And plane tickets aren't cheap."
"Actually we go by boat." Sedusa replied. "That way we can load everything up, even the train."1
"Ok, well I doubt they'd sail too far off the coast, so maybe somewhere with good weather this time of year."
"Yeah, right. You don't know Svengolly's circus."
*Ding!*
"Oh, butters ready. I'll go pop the popcorn and it'll be done." spoke Sedusa walking to the kitchen while Utonium and Miss Bellum finally registered the scent of it.
*Sniff* "oh yes, that's definitely Svengolly's Circus popcorn." The Professor said with nostalgia.
"Oh big time, I'm already feeling my mouth watering." Miss Bellum moaned. "I feel like I'm right back at the circus already."
It was another minute before Sedusa came out with a bowl of popcorn and placed it on the coffee table. "Alright, go ahead and dig in."
The two practically snatched handfuls of the buttery snack and chowed down. Both of them hummed and shivered at the flavor.
"Oh yes. That takes me back." Miss Bellum said.
"I know I should be a little more neat, but my mouth won't stop salivating even when eating so much." smiled the professor.
"Professor. Not to be rude, but I think you should check on the formula, it's been heating up for some time now." Said Sedusa.
"Oh shoot! I completely forgot!" he spoke jumping to his feet and ran to the basement door while munching on popcorn in his hand.
"I have to ask Sedusa, how can you make this and keep yourself from eating it all?" Asked Miss Bellum taking another handful.
"You've only had it when our circus came to town. Me, I grew up on this stuff." she remarked popping one in her mouth. "After a while, the taste gets mundane. That why you should only make something this good on special occasions."
"Well I'd say this counts for a special occasion. Sedusa please, I'm begging you, tell me the recipe."
"Oh really now?" she raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms with a smirk. "You? Miss Bellum? The lady who personally clipped my hair down to nothing, is begging ME, for a recipe?...what can you possibly offer me in return?"
"Well, I AM the mayor's secretary, maybe I can provide something of equal value."
"...I want a full pardon, my criminal information erased and destroyed from the prisons records, a written apology for cutting my hair, and...you can never tell another living soul the recipe."
Miss Bellum was silent hearing that and was uncertain. "That certainly is a tall order."
"It's also non negotiable, I'm not going with anything less, take it or leave it."
"I'll see what I can do." she relented with Sedusa smirking.
"Good." She said before making a come closer gesture, when she did Sedusa whispered it into Miss Bellum's ear.
"Really?"
"Yup. As said onto me by old lady Svengolly herself."
"Wow, that's just...wow."
"Don't tell the professor. I want to have a trump card to bribe him with." she whispered with a chuckle right as said man came up the basement with oven mitts on and carrying the beaker.
"Whew, got it just on time." she sighed before walking over to the ladies. "Alright Sedusa, it should be nice and ready."
"Then hurry, I can't wait any longer!" she spoke as he carried it over.
"Just be warned, it might be a bit hot, and there might be untold side effects since this was originally made for my girls."
"I don't care, just do it!"
"Alright, here goes nothing." he moved it over her head and began to slowly tip it over with the fluid coming down and washing over her head making her hiss and clench her fists.
"Hot hot hot hot!" Sedusa let out, but muscled through the pain.
"Don't worry now, it's almost empty." the professor said. "And done." he moved the empty beaker back while Sedusa's scalp was covered in the concoction.
"Is it working? Please tell me it's working." Sedusa trembled.
"I can't tell, I can't see your head under all it." he spoke before moving to the kitchen and getting a towel. He came back and was about to try wiping the concoction off when she suddenly gasped.
"I-I feel something! Something's happening!" she said before her hair started growing.
"It's working!" gasped Miss Bellum watching the woman's hair grow more and more.
"It's working!" Cheered the professor as the hair continued growing and grew concerned. "Maybe a little too well."
"Are you kidding? This is fantastic! Oh how I've missed this!" It finally stopped after reaching the floor. "Oh my…"
"Seems like the Chemical X was a bit too strong. I don't mean to open old wound, but maybe we should cut-"
"No!" she snapped while some of the hair twitched and rose up on it's own. "Don't even think about it."
The professor held up his hands in defense. "Now now Sedusa, I only meant-"
"My hair is NOT getting cut, do I make myself clear?!" She shouted forming a tendril of hair and slammed it on her coffee table with enough force to break it in half surpring all three of the adults. "Okay...that's new."
"Your new hair has quite the kick to it." spoke Miss Bellum.
"Hmmm... Sedusa would it be okay if, just to test a theory, I could cut just a few strands?" The professor asked calmly.
She narrowed her eyes while her hair formed several fists.
"I promise it will be just a few, no more."
"...fine, but just a few."
It was a little later after the professor grabbed a pair of scissors and held some of Sedusa's hair with said woman clenching her eyes shut. The moment he tried to cut her hair the scissors broke in two.
"Alright, this is quite the discovery." he said before Sedusa opened one eye and saw the broken scissors.
"Oh what a relief." she sighed while Utonium rubbed his chin.
"And rather unexpected."
"That Chemical X must have given it powers, like the girls." spoke Miss Bellum.
"Not quite. The hair can still be cut with scissors." He said before looking to Sedusa "Whatever you used to make your hair prehensile must have bonded with my Chemical X at a cellular level."
"Along with giving it an increased durability along with accelerated cell regeneration leading to it being so much more longer." Sedusa concluded rubbing her chin.
"So what? You got like an upgrade?" asked Miss Bellum.
Sedusa rolled her eyes. "If you must put it so bluntly, yes."
"This is something I'll have to jot down for later." remarked the professor pulling out a notebook and pencil from his lab coat.
"As interesting as all this is, I should probably get going." spoke Miss Bellum. "I'll need to get the paperwork ready to make sure our deal is all good."
"What deal?"
"I gave her something in return for getting a pardon." She replied as miss Bellum left
"Which was?"
"I'll never tell." Sedusa grinned. "You already got a taste for your precious popcorn, even I need to have my own secrets."
"Alright, but I'm eager to see what kind of punishment this hair of yours can take, let's put it to the test in the combat simulator."
"You have a combat simula-woah!" She was cut off as the professor pulled her back down to the lab.
Minutes later she was standing in a room with white tiles on the floor, walls, and ceiling. The only thing that stuck out was the mirror which reminded her of the police interrogation room.
"This room is helpful to help the girls stay in tip top shape, so don't worry about going a little out of control if you get caught up in it. Are you ready?"
"I'm feeling rather conflicted about this!"
"Don't worry, I'll set you at a low level to get things started. Let's try Bubble's level." He said turning a dial.
The room suddenly changed into a dimly lit living area. The front door slowly opened and a little tinkertoy-like robot walked in.
Sedusa looked down at it and back at the mirror with a frown. "What is this? I mean it makes sense for Bubbles, but what's this thing supposed to do, make me take pity and not smash it?"
"No, it supposed to shoot lasers from its eyes." he replied with a grin.
"Wait what!?"
Said toys eyes turned red and she use her hair to pull herself to the ceiling just as it fired.
"Don't forget this room was built to train the Powerpuff Girls. You can't underestimate anything."
"Yeah, I got that!" she said before using her hair to grab the robot and break it into pieces. She dropped down and put her hands on her hips. "If this is what Bubbles does then how is the rest any worse?"
"Actually this lesson was about her learning not to underestimate her target. Level 3 to be exact. This baby goes up to 11, for Monster Armageddon."
"Yeah let's not do that one." she crossed her arms. "Give me like….Level 5."
"You got it." He said he giving her a thumbs up. He turned the dial up before the room turned into an alleyway.
"Oh yeah, this doesn't scream 'possible rape' at all." She remarked sarcastically. She saw several goons with crowbars coming her way and cracked her knuckles. She used her hair to block their attacks then threw them back then grabbed some trash cans and dropped them on top the goons. "Did you get that?"
"Every second." he replied with glee.
"Got anything with buzzsaws Professor?"
"As a matter of fact yes, level 8."
"Bring it on." she said before the room change to a suburban area with yet another robot, only this one was larger with buzzsaws for hands. "Ok let's see if this hair really is as uncuttable as I think it is." She remarked before the robot charged at her revving it's saws. Sedusa responded by making her hair form a shield.
The saws hit their mark but the teeth of the blades simply sparked from the friction.
"Ha! It can barely cut it!" she grinned before sending a tendril with a sharpening point piercing it's chest plate clean through it's back. It sparked before exploding into pieces. Sedusa inspected her hair and didn't find a single nick or break in any of the strands. "This hair is better than ever. No scratches or a single hair out of place, and no split ends too, I love it!" she exclaimed before dancing around without a care, but her hair was so long that she tripped and fell on the ground. "Oof."
Utonium chuckled while she pushed herself up and blew some of the hair from her face.
"Ok... so maybe my hair is just a tad too long."
"More than just a tad." Utonium muttered while she got back on her feet. "You do know it'll eventually need a slight trim, right? Possibly with a laser cutter, what with how durable it is and all."
"And, I'm betting dollars to donuts you have one and are just dying to try it out, right?" She asked resting her head in one hand while tapping the fingers of her other one against the ground.
"...maybe?"
"No use hiding hon, I'm a scientist too. And though I hate the very idea of having my precious hair clipped, the thought had crossed my mind." She admitted. "But only to test its durability!"
"Well so long as we both understand each other." the professor spoke. "Do you want to do it now, or do you need a minute?"
"Get everything ready while I prepare myself for the inevitable." She said sitting up.
"Right away." he turned off the simulation and walked off.
After getting the equipment set up and taking a small snippet of hair, Sedusa touched the cut end, which now was short enough to cover her shoulder blades while Utonium put the sample in a test tube.
"Incredible."
"What?"
"Your hairs cellular structure is unlike anything I have ever seen, it's more like metal than organic, yet it IS organic. I'm not even sure how to accurately describe it." he remarked while looking at it with a microscope. "This just might be a huge discovery."
"Have you ever even tested the full capability of what that Chemical X of yours can really do?"
"Well...to be honest, not quite. See I try to keep it from staying out in the open so someone couldn't sneak in and take it, but I tended to forget about it because I have other ideas at the moment."
"And yet the fact it created three super powered lives out of just sugar, spice, and everything nice didn't get you thinking? I mean really, the science behind it alone should be preposterous."
"Hey, you try being a single father raising three girls who have big responsibilities all day. It's not easy."
"All I'm saying is, if it could do this to my hair….just imagine what else it could do. Revitalize Crops, restore lost limbs, for all you know this could be the stepping stone to curing cancer, brain damage, even AIDS."
"I'm aware of that, but I need to make sure I have time on my hands to see how far it can go WITHOUT any bad side effects. I don't wanna be known as the man who caused some kind of mutant revolution."
"Well...what if you had another set of hands?" She asked.
"Believe me, I've already pondered on a robot."
"I mean real hands. Hands like...mine for example?" she spoke with the professor looking at her in confusion.
"Wait...are you talking about…?"
"You and me, working together." She said. "Let's be real, I can't get a job anywhere else with my history, and you need more help. Together there's no telling what we can accomplish pushing the boundaries, unlocking all the secrets of Chemical X. We'll not only be seen as heroes but go down in history as legends."
"Well….it would be helpful to have someone who understands my rather advanced form of intellect, and at the very least it'd be with someone I'm familiar with than some complete stranger, but...it might be a bit tricky. I mean how do I know I can trust you to help me considering...well, you know."
"Considering I completely betrayed you and strung you along like an old pursue," she sighed. "Yeah, that kinda thing would cause trust issues. Okay fine how about this: you want information, I'll give you the truth. You want me to do something, I'll do it, within reason of course. Let me earn your trust."
"Well it's not just that, but how my girls are going to take hearing the news." he replied.
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I won't attack them, but I will defend myself."
The professor sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Alright, but if you're going to stay here you need to something about your attire."
"What? What's wrong with it?" she asked looking down at herself and took a moment to put the pieces together. "Oh… right."
"I mean it looks good on you, very good in fact, it's just I don't want the girls to….get any brash ideas when they get older. Or ask any 'mature' questions so soon."
"Alright, I have a few disguises stashed away around Townsville so I can make due."
"Also, there's a burning question in my mind."
"No I never had Botox, plastic surgery, or implants, I'm all natural." She said assuming that's what he was going to ask.
"Actually that's not it." he blushed before clearing his throat. "What is your real name?"
"Oh...sorry, I've gotten asked the other stuff so much it gets really old." she remarked. "As for my real name...it's Sabrina."
"Huh, Sabrina, I like that name." he smiled.
"So...your girls won't be home for another few hours, we got the house to ourselves, anything you wanna do to pass the time?" Sedusa asked twirling her hair with a finger.
"Well, I could use a hand working on this one concoction. It's meant to try and help make the flavor for any food adjustable, kind of a way to make any food delicious to any person so there'd be no need to worry about picky eaters or wasting food just because someone doesn't like it."
"I'm starting to see why you never had time for Chemical X research. Alright let's give it a shot."
(Later)
The girls were on their way home with Buttercup laughing.
"Buttercup it wasn't that funny." Blossom said.
"S-Sure it was ahahaha! The look on Princesses face was priceless!"
The girls had gotten into yet another fight with Princess who had yet again tried to mimic their powers. It ended with the spoiled rich girl defeated and all her clothes disintegrated. Suffice to say she looked redder than Blossom's bow while needing to get taken home early for clothes with Buttercup laughing the whole way back.
"It's not funny," Bubbles said. "Don't you remember what happened when those nanobot ate our clothes?"
"Course I do, but seeing it happen to Princess is too much ahahaha!" the dark haired girl continued to laugh until they arrived at home. They entered with Buttercup wiping a tear away. "Ah man, wait till the professor hears."
"Professor! We're home!" Blossom called out.
They didn't hear any response while setting their bags down.
"Professor!?" Bubbles called before noting the bowl of half eaten popcorn on the table. "Ooh popcorn."
"Where is he?" asked Buttercup rubbing her head.
"Maybe he was watching a movie." Bubbles thought before trying some of the buttery snack. Her eyes widened and pigtails stood up before she let out a high pitched squeal. Her eyes sparkled and she twirled in the air.
"Bubbles? What's wrong?" asked Blossom floating over.
"This popcorn, it's...it's…."
"Yeah? It's what?"
"Sooooooooo yummy!"
"What's so yummy about it? It's just popcorn." spoke Buttercup picking up some before trying some herself. Her hair stood up while going wide eyed and silent with Blossom concerned.
"Girls?" She let out looking at the popcorn. She reached down and got some and popped it in her mouth. Truly it was the best popcorn she had ever tasted. She flew up into the ceiling and let out a happy squeal like Bubbles. "This is even better then the candy the mayor use to give us!"
"Oh yeah!" grinned Buttercup before going head first into the bowl and started eating more.
"Hey!" Bubble cried out. "Give me some more!"
"Girls! Don't hog it all!" Blossom frowned. She flew down and tried to get anymore kernels.
The lab door opened and the professor stepped out. "Girls? What's going on? I thought I heard a loud squeal."
The girls stopped and turned to there father. "Professor!"
"Where did you get this popcorn?!"
"It's the bestest popcorn in the world!"
"Can you make more!?"
"Easy there girls, easy." the professor spoke holding up his hands. "I know it's good, trust me I know how good it is, but you need to try and calm down. You've just had your first taste of Svengolly's Circus popcorn, so try and savor it."
"Mmmm, it's soo0 good!" Blossom said. "Wait... there's a circus in town?"
"And you didn't take us!?" Buttercup shouted.
"Ohohoho, no girls. Svengolly's Circus hasn't been to Townsville in ages, but I did find someone who knows their popcorn recipe. And she's a fellow scientist who's also going to be helping me with my Chemical X research."
"Wait, really?" asked Blossom snapping out of it and smiled. "That's great! What's she like? Who is she? Is she here in town right now?"
"Slow down blossom. Yes she's here, she was also born and raised in Svengolly's Circus, before going to college."
"Is she an actual doctor or just a PHD?" Buttercup asked crossing her arms. "Not sure what it means, but I hear you gotta asked that."
"Actually she was kicked out of college after a...mishap from experimenting on herself." he admitted catching the girls off guard. "She's been on the wrong side for quite some time, but I've decided to give her a chance to make up for all her misdeeds."
"That's so nice of you." Bubbles smiled.
"In fact, she's been helping me down in the lab while you were at school. We've already made tremendous strides."
"Can we meet her?" asked Blossom.
"First let me just say this. Her name is Sabrina, and no matter what she's done in the past I want you girls to give her the same respect you would any other adult. Understood?"
"Of course professor, no sweat." Buttercup waved off.
"Sabrina, come on up!" The Professor called.
"Coming!" came the voice which the girls found familiar as they heard footsteps before the villainess stepped out.
"SEDUSA!?" they call cried out with wide eyes before getting in a formation around the professor.
"What are you doing here!?" Buttercup snapped.
"That depends, what did the professor tell you?" she questioned.
"Girls! What did I just say?" frowned Utonium.
"But professor, it's Sedusa! She probably snuck in here to attack you and Sabrina." spoke Blossom.
"Nooo, Sedusa IS Sabrina." He spoke moving them aside and walked up to her.
"What?!" the girls said at once.
"You gotta be kidding me!?" Blossom exclaimed. "There's no way you're a scientist."
"Actually I am, I made the hair gel that held you at Miss Bellum's house."
"This is all some kind of trick, there's no way the professor would let you in unless you did something to him." glared Buttercup.
"Well I mean at first I knocked him out-"
"What?!" gasped Bubbles.
"With knockout spray! I didn't hit him." she spoke up quickly while holding her hands up. "Look, long story short, I came here to try and get my hair to grow back after….you know. And after a while the professor let me use his hair regeneration formula."
"Are you Loco in the Coco!?" Bubble shouted to the professor.
"Now girls, I figured you might react this way, but let me say this. I was at first aghast myself, I thought she was up to no good when she got in and tied me up, but the thing is, the time we spent just talking and learning about each other showed that she's more than just some second rate villain, no offense."
"Some taken, just a little." Sabrina replied.
"But professor! She's the one who used the Gangreen Gang to steel egyptian artifacts and nearly destroyed the town!" Blossom spoke up.
"Says the little sticky fingers who stole a set of golf clubs in the wreckage of the city." Sedusa shot back making blossom look ashamed.
"Oh don't throw it on her, she at least fessed up." Buttercup spoke getting in Sedusa's face.
"And if I recall didn't you knock out almost every villains teeth for tooth fairy money?" she smirked with the girl glaring at her harder and looking close to punching her before turning away in a huff with her cheeks turning pink from embarrassment. "That's what I thought. Each of you has broken the law at least once or twice."
"Not me." Bubbles spoke.
"I'm pretty sure breaking Mojo Jojo out of jail just to put him back in for a reward of candy qualifies. Even if it was a team effort." she reminded them making them all look away. "Am I wrong?" She questioned looking at the professor.
"Well not really." he replied. "Look let's just say that no one's perfect. We all make mistakes, but what matters is that we learn from them and try to better ourselves."
"I guess." grumbled Buttercup crossing her arms.
"As long as she watches herself I'll be nice." Blossom stated pointing to the ex-villainess. "And doesn't try anything like the first time we met."
All eyes then turned to Bubbles who looked at all of them. "...will you make more popcorn?" She asked Sabrina.
"Well I suppose I could, provided the professor gives the ok. It's good, but if you have it too much it won't taste as great. Believe me, I know."
"Okay, I guess I can give you a chance too." Bubbles said.
"Glad we're all on the same page." smiled Professor Utonium.
"So what? Is she gonna be living here now?" questioned Buttercup.
"Yes, yes. I am."
"Great."
(Later that night)
"Good night girls." The professor said into his daughters room.
"Good night professor." they said before he left the door open just a crack then walked to the guest room.
He knocked on it lightly. "Sabrina? Are you decent?" He asked.
"Yeah, you can come in." she replied.
He opened the door finding her dressed in just a robe to sleep in. "Just wanted to make sure you were comfy in here."
"It's not the Ritz, but it'll do."
"Tomorrow we'll go get your hidden disguises so you have something decent to wear."
"And so you can sneak peaks at me without seeming like a perv." she smiled while fluffing her pillow with Utonium blushing and unable to come up with a response. "To be honest, I really do appreciate all this."
"Not a problem. It's the least I can do." He replied trying not to stare as she bent over to smooth out the sheet on the bed.
"I mean it, for the first time in a long time, I actually feel...happy, the real kind, not the fake kind." she said before standing up straight and looked at him. "Thanks, professor."
"Any time, if you need me for anything feel free to ask." he replied before seeing her walk up and grab his face.
"Well, there is one thing." she said with a sultry look then closed the door using her hair while Utonium gulped.