Good guess, Starship Gazer! Thanks for the lengthy review, Tonifranz. I
agree that given the girls' powers and relative lack of guidance (when they
are out crimefighting, anyway), it is not surprising that they sometimes
abuse their position, usually unconsciously. Also, since they have been
superheroes almost since they were born, they consider their way of life
normal. As for instinct, I have sometimes wondered if the Chemical X in
their system is responsible for their aggressive tendencies (it seems to
cause aggression in most people who come in contact with it), and the other
ingredients (and good influences like the Professor and Ms. Keane) help to
balance out their personalities. That's only a guess, though.
Chapter 3
The Professor burst through the door of Him's suburban residence, and strode into the red-tinted living room. The demon was lying on his sofa, watching the local news station on the television.
"Ah, Professor Utonium! Come to watch the news with me? So much talk of despair and death always makes me feel SO INVIGORATED!" He stretched out his long, leather clad legs casually.
The Professor's face was red with anger. He glared at the demon, and pointed a finger at him accusingly. "Don't play dumb, Him! You stay away from my daughters!"
"I suppose this visit has to do with their little Dreamstone episode?" Him asked lazily.
"Aha! So you admit it!" the Professor said angrily. "I knew this had all the makings of one of your evil schemes."
"Oh, it's nothing to do with me," replied the demon nonchalantly.
"What! Then how did you -?"
"Split screen TV," Him gestured to the screen in front of him: in one half the news continued to play; in the other, the Powerpuff Girls were seen sitting together in silence in their living room, heads bowed, Bubbles crying quietly. "I like to keep up with these things, you know. When I felt all of those emotional emanations from your girls, my curiosity simply got the better of me!"
The Professor's frowned. "Well, even if you aren't involved - and I don't see much reason to believe you - that stone does your work!"
Him laughed shrilly. "Oh, John, do you really think that stone is any more an instrument of the devil than a regular piece of rock, or a musical instrument, or sugar candy? Nearly anything can be used to cause suffering in this world, you know!"
"A regular rock doesn't distort the truth!" the Professor protested. "My daughters have done so much good in this world, and yet all that thing showed them was the memories crooks have of the things they've done wrong!"
"True," Him pondered, rubbing his goatee with his claw. "From what I have learned about this stone in my lifetime, recent memories connected with strong emotions are the ones that are the easiest to experience. I expect that many criminals have quite strong feelings when they see your girls after them."
Becoming more animated, Him started to float above his couch, drifting closer to the Professor. "And, after they are put away, those men and women have lots of time to dwell on those memories; how the Powerpuff Girls defeated them, humiliated them, incarcerated them; lots of time to develop a GOOD, UNHEALTHY HATRED of your little darlings!"
The Professor resisted the urge to back away. "Love is the strongest feeling," he replied with conviction. "If my girls were to experience the most emotional memories others have of them, they would first see all of the wonderful times I've had since we became a family!"
"Maybe so, but perhaps the girls have not been your focus of attention recently. Perhaps your mind has been occupied with other things - your job, the rent, what to make for dinner, that annoying little man in your office who keeps misfiling your papers - "
The Professor felt his cheeks flushing guiltily. "No!" he thought, Him is just trying to trick me! I will not let him get the better of me!"
Aloud, he said, "Have you touched the stone, then, Him? I'm sure you'd get a kick out of all of the memories people have about you!"
"Me? Why Professor, I'm surprised at you! I have no need of such crude technology to feel the thoughts and emotions of those around me! Why, it is one of my most essential powers - if I didn't know when people felt anger or fear or hate, I would not be ABLE TO GORGE ON those wonderful emotions!"
Utonium recoiled. "Why are you telling me this, Him?" he asked quietly.
"You're an intelligent man, Professor, I guess I thought you had figured it out by now for yourself. Anyhow, I'm not bothered by anyone knowing my little secrets!" Him smiled sweetly. "I know the NATURE OF HUMANKIND!"
Feeling a sudden overwhelming tiredness, the Professor turned away from Him. "I'm wasting my time here," he thought wearily. "What was I thinking? I should be at home with my family."
"And how about you? Have you touched the stone?" Him asked.
Giving no response, the Professor began making his way out of the room.
"What's the matter, John?" Him called after the man. "Afraid you'll feel the pain of someone you've hurt? Remember something you wish you hadn't done? Or perhaps something that you wish you had?"
Rubbing his cheek, the Professor continued striding towards the door.
"Oh, and Professor-" here Him's voice was nearly a whisper. The Professor turned around, and gaped at what he saw; where the transvestite demon had been floating there was now a huge, writhing tentacled monster, a jumble of eyes and gaping mouths and snapping claws.
"WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN THREATEN ME?" the creature rasped "YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR DEPTH, LITTLE MAN-" Oozing tentacles slowly crept along the hall, twisting and writhing towards him.
Gasping, the Professor turned and fled from the horror, rushing through the front door and slamming it loudly behind him.
"Oh, I do so love doing that!" Him cackled in delight, returning to his standard from. "What a grand day it's been! I think I'll celebrate with a nice bath and a hot fudge sundae!"
********
Outside, the Professor shakily got into his car. He did not start up the engine immediately, though. He paused, hands on the wheel, thinking about Him's words: "Afraid you'll remember something you wish you hadn't done? Or perhaps something that you wish you had?"
The Professor's thoughts drifted back unwillingly to a certain day before the girls had been created, and a certain memory which he had tried to hide away from himself came unbidden to his mind.
Chapter 3
The Professor burst through the door of Him's suburban residence, and strode into the red-tinted living room. The demon was lying on his sofa, watching the local news station on the television.
"Ah, Professor Utonium! Come to watch the news with me? So much talk of despair and death always makes me feel SO INVIGORATED!" He stretched out his long, leather clad legs casually.
The Professor's face was red with anger. He glared at the demon, and pointed a finger at him accusingly. "Don't play dumb, Him! You stay away from my daughters!"
"I suppose this visit has to do with their little Dreamstone episode?" Him asked lazily.
"Aha! So you admit it!" the Professor said angrily. "I knew this had all the makings of one of your evil schemes."
"Oh, it's nothing to do with me," replied the demon nonchalantly.
"What! Then how did you -?"
"Split screen TV," Him gestured to the screen in front of him: in one half the news continued to play; in the other, the Powerpuff Girls were seen sitting together in silence in their living room, heads bowed, Bubbles crying quietly. "I like to keep up with these things, you know. When I felt all of those emotional emanations from your girls, my curiosity simply got the better of me!"
The Professor's frowned. "Well, even if you aren't involved - and I don't see much reason to believe you - that stone does your work!"
Him laughed shrilly. "Oh, John, do you really think that stone is any more an instrument of the devil than a regular piece of rock, or a musical instrument, or sugar candy? Nearly anything can be used to cause suffering in this world, you know!"
"A regular rock doesn't distort the truth!" the Professor protested. "My daughters have done so much good in this world, and yet all that thing showed them was the memories crooks have of the things they've done wrong!"
"True," Him pondered, rubbing his goatee with his claw. "From what I have learned about this stone in my lifetime, recent memories connected with strong emotions are the ones that are the easiest to experience. I expect that many criminals have quite strong feelings when they see your girls after them."
Becoming more animated, Him started to float above his couch, drifting closer to the Professor. "And, after they are put away, those men and women have lots of time to dwell on those memories; how the Powerpuff Girls defeated them, humiliated them, incarcerated them; lots of time to develop a GOOD, UNHEALTHY HATRED of your little darlings!"
The Professor resisted the urge to back away. "Love is the strongest feeling," he replied with conviction. "If my girls were to experience the most emotional memories others have of them, they would first see all of the wonderful times I've had since we became a family!"
"Maybe so, but perhaps the girls have not been your focus of attention recently. Perhaps your mind has been occupied with other things - your job, the rent, what to make for dinner, that annoying little man in your office who keeps misfiling your papers - "
The Professor felt his cheeks flushing guiltily. "No!" he thought, Him is just trying to trick me! I will not let him get the better of me!"
Aloud, he said, "Have you touched the stone, then, Him? I'm sure you'd get a kick out of all of the memories people have about you!"
"Me? Why Professor, I'm surprised at you! I have no need of such crude technology to feel the thoughts and emotions of those around me! Why, it is one of my most essential powers - if I didn't know when people felt anger or fear or hate, I would not be ABLE TO GORGE ON those wonderful emotions!"
Utonium recoiled. "Why are you telling me this, Him?" he asked quietly.
"You're an intelligent man, Professor, I guess I thought you had figured it out by now for yourself. Anyhow, I'm not bothered by anyone knowing my little secrets!" Him smiled sweetly. "I know the NATURE OF HUMANKIND!"
Feeling a sudden overwhelming tiredness, the Professor turned away from Him. "I'm wasting my time here," he thought wearily. "What was I thinking? I should be at home with my family."
"And how about you? Have you touched the stone?" Him asked.
Giving no response, the Professor began making his way out of the room.
"What's the matter, John?" Him called after the man. "Afraid you'll feel the pain of someone you've hurt? Remember something you wish you hadn't done? Or perhaps something that you wish you had?"
Rubbing his cheek, the Professor continued striding towards the door.
"Oh, and Professor-" here Him's voice was nearly a whisper. The Professor turned around, and gaped at what he saw; where the transvestite demon had been floating there was now a huge, writhing tentacled monster, a jumble of eyes and gaping mouths and snapping claws.
"WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN THREATEN ME?" the creature rasped "YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR DEPTH, LITTLE MAN-" Oozing tentacles slowly crept along the hall, twisting and writhing towards him.
Gasping, the Professor turned and fled from the horror, rushing through the front door and slamming it loudly behind him.
"Oh, I do so love doing that!" Him cackled in delight, returning to his standard from. "What a grand day it's been! I think I'll celebrate with a nice bath and a hot fudge sundae!"
********
Outside, the Professor shakily got into his car. He did not start up the engine immediately, though. He paused, hands on the wheel, thinking about Him's words: "Afraid you'll remember something you wish you hadn't done? Or perhaps something that you wish you had?"
The Professor's thoughts drifted back unwillingly to a certain day before the girls had been created, and a certain memory which he had tried to hide away from himself came unbidden to his mind.