Trick or Treat, Pt 10
By Jill Weber
Big Guy and Rusty characters owned by Sony and Darkhorse and are used without permission or intent to make a profit.
***
The elevator stopped on Slate's floor on its way from the penthouse to the floor with the maze. The doors slip open with a quiet whoosh.
Lt. Dwayne Hunter was a battle hardened veteran and accustomed to aliens, mutants and other bizarre lifeforms, but this was almost too much. He goggled like a tourist and backed off in alarm.
Rusty, that the brave little robot, cowered behind his creator like a frightened human child.
Dr. Erika Slate -- the lady scientist who had battled body-snatching squid, alien gangsters and a crazed space station powerful enough to blow up the moon -- felt like she was going to faint.
Only Jeffy Cook, the newcomer to Quark Towers, was unaffected by the apparition confronting them.
The larger of the two passengers already inside the elevator was a stunning vision in floor length, midnight blue velvet brocade gown with a sweep train skirt. The gown's off the shoulder design emphasized the whiteness of the plump shoulders and neck. The opera length, midnight blue gloves set off the dazzling diamond rings. Diamonds also glittered on the swan colored neck, earlobes and the upswept, elegantly coiffured red hair.
The piece de resistance of the ensemble was the tuxedo clad monkey perched on Dr. Axel Donovan's bare right shoulder.
"Don't just stand there staring," grumbled Donovan. "Get on or go away!"
The human boy bounded into the elevator, compelling the human adults and the boy robot to follow, even though it went against their collective better judgment.
"Wow! Pwetty!" Jeffy enthused.
"See, I told you the blue brocade was the way to go," Jenny crowed.
"Dr. Donovan?" Rusty squeaked.
Hunter and Slate were still too shell shocked to make a sound. They just edged into the elevator as if trying to avoid drawing attention to themselves.
"Lost a bet," Jenny explained smugly as she smoothed her cute little tuxedo.
There wasn't anything to add to that, so the adult humans rode to the party floor in silence. Rusty kept looking at his belt buckle, as if willing there to be a summons from Big Guy. Hunter understood his feeling perfectly.
As Donovan disembarked from the elevator, Hunter automatically stuck his arm out to prevent the door from slamming on Donovan's train. All he got as a thank you was a snarl to keep his hands to himself.
Slate, Rusty and Hunter stared down the hall until Donovan had sashayed out of sight. Then Slate finally found her voice. "That was the scariest thing I've ever seen," said Slate.
Before Hunter could respond, Jenny came bounding back and scrambled onto his shoulder. "Oh, before I forget, Lieutenant, give these to your Pit Crew," she said, handing Hunter a packet of movie passes. "I would have never thought of any of this without their oh-so kind help." Then she was gone again.
There was a long moment of silence until the elevator door began bumping against Hunter's arm like it wanted attention.
"Lt. Dwayne?" Rusty asked. "What was that all about?"
"Kid, I don't even WANT to know," Hunter said. He gestured with his free hand. "Shall we?"
"Why not?" Slate said. "I don't see how the evening can get any more frightening."