Danger Girls
By Soul Hunter
"Expect the Expected!"
Chapter Four
8:45 PM
I don't think I've ever seen a house this huge in my entire life! Okay, Rinoa. Calm down and get your act together. We're just about to enter the house of the most despicable millionaire in Dollet, Monsieur Diego Corneo. But demented or not, he sure has a taste for the Gothic accoutrements. I mean, look at those two marble pillars at the front gate, or this huge arch that seems to be designed to keep light from reaching the humongous door that's so huge it can probably accommodate an Iron Giant in a tux.
Wow, look at these two gargoyles guarding the front door! They kinda remind me of those of those
Iguions
We better get inside fast.
Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
"Ahh, ladies! Come in, come in!"
You'll immediately recognize a maniac when you see one. Even in the midst of all his guests who entered the same way we did, this fat guy easily singled the three of us out. I'd be flattered if I didn't think that he's so hard up he'd pounce at a Wendigo wearing a skirt.
But still mission directive #1: act as charming as you can possibly be.
"My darling, darling guests of honor. My, Mamerto sure meant what he said about sending his best for this gathering. Please make yourselves at home while I gather some people who are just aching to get their hands on umm I mean, get to know you better."
Ewww! What a slobbering maniac! Geez, I hope I won't be the one to get paired with him. But still I just can't sit back knowing that either Quistis or Selphie will be sharing a bed with this pervert. And to think we left our weapons in the hotel.
Well, at least everything's going smooth so far. And I assume that by the best' Corneo was referring to those three girls we had to tie up with their pimp just before coming over here. I'm almost sorry we did that we shouldn't have left those poor girls with that creep. We should've fed him to an Anacondaur or something.
Anyway, we're here, right in the middle of the lion's den (no reference to my honey bunch, of course). Quisty seems to be taking this well despite the story she shared with us this morning. Wish I had nerves of steel like hers. Selphie, on the other hand, just can't keep still for even one minute. What does she expect to see, looking around like that?
Okay, so there are lots of prominent faces in this crowd like actors, politicians, popular journalistsThere's Tacoma Washington and Astarte Hunter talking to that movie mogul Call Fleming by that central fountain. Then there's a couple of Dollet senators whom I know only by face, occupying the spot nearest to the lavish buffet table. And then there's there's
Ohmigod! It's Drake Henshaw!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! What's this hunk doing here?!? Ohmigod, please make him take me! Please make him take me!!!
"My pretties, it would do me great pleasure if you could walk this way."
Great. What's this butler up to? But I didn't really have time to wonder when he led us into a private office of some sort. I noted the clean desk made of rich Galbadian oak situated near the north side of the room, with a rather ugh disgusting picture of Corneo hanging on the wall right behind the desk. There's a row of expensive looking couches and sofas lined up parallel to the main desk, with a snazzy coffee table in between them. This room definitely reminds me of my dad's main office.
But the question is, where's our clients'?
"Strip."
What?
"I'm sorry, but what did you say?"
"You heard me, young lady. I said strip."
Whoa, whoa! You don't exactly look like the King of the World, buster! Looks like this creep wants in on the action before his boss gets the chance. Of course, we had no choice but to comply but peeling my clothes off has never been easy for me. I even had to let Squall do it for me when
Secret!
I look at the two, and they appear as reluctant as I do. Even Quisty seems she's not really as ready as we thought she would be.
"Young mistresses, I have no time to waste in these games. Master Diego just instructed me to tell you to take off your clothes for a few moments, and then have them back on. This is not in any way for my benefit, alright?"
"B but why?"
My thoughts exactly, Sef.
"I suppose he just wants to make sure of your femininity. I was told once that one of Master Diego's cousin almost lost his err manhood when he took in three beauteous ladies – like yourselves – only to learn that one of them is a sick cross-dresser. So he doesn't want to make the same mistake his cousin did."
Oh my I guess we really have no choice here
"That will be enough of that, Bruno."
"Oh uh yes, Master Diego. As you wish."
"Ladies, please follow me to my humble playroom."
Whew! Saved by the bucket of lard. I never thought I'd be happy to see Corneo. But still the real show is just about to start.
As we were walking toward the den, the three of us had to contend with the dirty looks being thrown at us by the other guests. Of course, this cannot be avoided. And I'm not really bothered by this as much as the possibility that one of them might just recognize us. I don't know I feel like I'm walking a tightrope that could snap at any moment.
I can't help noticing one particular guest. Well, who wouldn't? He's huge! I can easily tell under that black tuxedo that this guy has been working out very seriously, with those muscles almost popping out of his size 56 coat. I tried to focus on his face to memorize its features.
Geez, he sure has one heck of a baby face for a body like that. It almost doesn't match. And
He seems to be looking at us as well.
Okay here's where the fun starts. I hope Quisty and Sefie remembered our arrangement.
"Ladies, let me introduce you to my friends and closest business associates."
Dorkfest!
"To my right, wearing that spiffy lavender suit that reflects his passion for inner beauty as long as it's the inner area of a bedroom is my best buddy and owner of the prestigious Costa Del Sol resort, Locke Dahdor.
Tall, slim, kinda athletic. Nice coat, too. But overall considering the company he's in no class at all.
"And to my left, the guy who really needs no introduction for his feat of transforming Timber into a veritable economic tiger – just before he was deposed by his business partners due to a rather nasty statutory rape charge – is financial genius Lynxius Malady."
Malady is right. He does look like trouble. All four feet of him, that is.
"And gentlemen, I would like to present to you our three entertainers for tonight."
Jerk!
"Magnificent as always, Diego. You never cease to amaze us with your impeccable taste. But I'd appreciate it more if our young courtesans can provide their names for us. Any name will do."
"Hah! That's a good one, Locke. Any name will do'? BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Jerks! If only Angelo were here
"Would anyone want to start? Or should we just pick a name for all of you three?"
It's getting more and more difficult to smile with these dingbats making fun of us like this. But here's where Quisty's starting to do her thing with that seemingly eternal calm of hers.
"How do you do? Please call me Yuri."
"I'm April."
Hey, what's Selphie doing? I'M supposed to be April! Oh well, doesn't really make a difference anyway.
"I'm Mina. Pleased to meet you all."
Yeah, almost as pleased as looking straight into an Elnoyle's face! I'm really getting sick of this charade, but I can't do a blessed thing about it at the moment.
And frankly, I'm starting to doubt the worthiness of going through such predicaments merely for the sake of accomplishing a mission. I can't avoid asking this nagging question again: is there no limit to what a SeeD is expected to do?
But as I look at Selphie and Quistis, I'm slowly realizing the answer to that question. And I don't like what's forming in my mind. These two have been trained for this since they were kids. I got a package deal. I wasn't honed to be as steel-willed as they are or Squall, or Zell, or Irvine
I remember how fuming mad I was when my dad tried to keep me out of that assassination mission more than a year ago. Of course, I had to go with my nature, do everything in my power to defy him and force myself in the circle that definitely didn't want my help. And I had to pay for my rebellion by being nearly eaten alive by two overgrown lizards. Good thing Squall and Irvine were there to bale me out. But that didn't change the fact that I jeopardized that mission.
And it looks like I will be endangering this one as well if I don't get my act together. Guess I'll just have to follow their lead if I want us to make it out of here in one piece.
Did I just say make it out in one piece'?
"Say wait a minute I remember you"
"You should, Lynxius. You've been going out to the red light district way too much. And you're not even inviting us along!"
"No, no. That's not what I meant, Diego."
Uh-oh I don't like how this mook's looking at me.
"Yes! I do know you! Everyone, I lived in Deling City for more than a year. And I definitely know this girl."
Oh no
"You're General Caraway's daughter!"
We're dead!
End of Chapter Four