Serena Calico dreamed. Her dreams were twisted and odd, unlike any others she'd ever had before. She'd felt truly free for the first time in her life, yet somehow strangely constricted.
She remembered last night. The terror, the pain, the revival ... all these were still clear in her mind. She'd gone back to her small apartment afterwards in a dream-like state. She couldn't fight evil dressed in a business suit, so she'd ransacked her wardrobe for something suitable. After a few alterations, she was happy with the old leather catsuit she'd found.
She'd curled up on the bed, seeking warmth and comfort. It had all seemed so small and cramped, though. This place was part of her old life. She was no longer the same person. In the middle of the night, she'd left, driven by a strange compulsion that she couldn't even begin to explain.
Still wandering as if in a dream, Serena had come across an old warehouse on the river. It appeared to have been abandoned for years, and it was dilapidated and falling to pieces, but Serena loved it. It had a wide spaciousness that she craved, and dark corners that whispered their secrets to her. The smell of wear and tear was ingrained into the wooden fixtures, and she felt as comfortable there as if it had been her home her whole life.
She had found a platform high above the water, where she'd fallen asleep and had dreamt about her new life. Stretched out happily, the hard surface not even bothering her, Serena slept.
She was woken sharply by the sound of a voice. A male voice, too. Rebuilding? Power of the sun? She couldn't hear what he was saying, but it sounded ominous.
Serena hissed softly. This was her new home, and this stranger had invaded it. What was he doing here? She'd clear him out quickly, then go back to sleep, awaiting the night when she could prowl the city.
She peered over the edge of the platform, then recoiled in shock. The stranger was tall and imposing, but what was most startling about him were the four long and flexible metal tentacles extending from his back, each ending in metal claws. They writhed and chittered ominously, as if talking to him. Serena squinted at him in mixed fear and curiosity from her hiding place. His back was turned to her, so she couldn't see anything else of him, but he was draped in an old grey blanket, looking for all the world like some bizarre refugee. She smiled to herself. Another freak. She'd soon show him that this warehouse was hers.
Rising silently to her feet, she paused for a moment, then sprang off the platform, landing lightly in front of the stranger. She hadn't anticipated the speed with which a tentacle would lash out. The blow knocked her off her feet and halfway across the warehouse, landing her squarely in the water. She gasped as the cold water enveloped her body. She'd made a mistake underestimating the stranger. She would not make that mistake again. She was like a cat now. Stealth and secrecy were her allies. With the strength of those tentacles, she couldn't hope to win in a face-to-face combat, but –
Serena suddenly found herself hauled out of the water by her ankle, then dangled upside down. Another tentacle was extended, this one gripping her head threateningly.
"I should have done some spring-cleaning when I arrived. You never know the vermin you'll find in this kind of place", the stranger said, the menace evident in his voice.
Even in her panicky state, Serena frowned. There was something familiar about the voice. Something distinctly appealing too. She pushed the thought from her mind. She was dangling upside-down, with her head about to be squashed, and this was not the time for that sort of thing.
Instinct took over for Serena. She swung forward, still upside-down, and lashed out at the man. Her fists contacted flesh, and she heard him gasp. The tentacle's grip on her ankle loosened for a moment, but that was enough for her. She pulled her ankle free and dropped, turning a somersault in the process and landing on her feet. She needed to get out of the range of those tentacles. She looked over at the stranger to judge his distance, then stopped, staring at him.
"Dr Octavius! Otto!" she cried.
He looked at her in shock, then with rapidly dawning recognition. His mouth twisted in the semblance of a smile.
"Serena Calico. Not the first person I would have thought of in black leather, living in a deserted warehouse. You always used to seem so demure."
"I don't live here", she snapped.
Otto raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Okay, well, maybe I do", she conceded, then gestured at his tentacles. "What happened to you? I read about the work you were doing, and about the ... assistants that you were developing, but I never expected anything like this."
His face twisted in sorrow, his tentacles writhing in sympathy. "There was an accident, and these arms have been fused to my spine. My life's work is ruined. Rosie is dead."
Serena closed her eyes briefly. She remembered his wife as a warm and caring person. She'd been Otto's graduate student for a while, and, while Otto had always remained a slightly distant figure, Rosie had always been good to her. They'd gotten on very well, with Rosie giving Serena tips on dealing with her husband. She found it difficult to believe that Otto's vibrant wife was dead. She opened her eyes again to see Otto watching her with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Why are you here, Serena?" Otto asked directly, his face hardening. "Are you here to talk to me? Reason with me? How did you know I was here?"
A tentacle snapped menacingly. Serena shrugged helplessly.
"I didn't even know about your accident. I ... died and was reborn. I couldn't live in my apartment any more. So I came here. I was murdered, and I don't know why. But I'm going to find that out."
Otto laughed coldly, then paused as he watched her face. A single tear trickled down the porcelain perfection of her skin, an odd contrast with her determined scowl. She obviously believed what she was saying about her death. What had happened to the cynical scientist he'd known?
"I don't believe it all either", Serena went on, "But it happened anyway. Watch this."
She crouched slightly, then leapt. She reached her sleeping platform with ease. She did a series of acrobatic rolls as she swung her way down to Otto, landing in front of him with casual grace.
"I don't know what's happened to me. I just know what I can do."
She fell silent, watching him cautiously. Otto frowned slightly, then nodded.
"I know you, Serena. And I believe you. But I need this warehouse so that I can rebuild. My life's work will not be wasted!"
"You want me to leave?" Serena asked wonderingly. "You're a freak, Otto! How are you going to interact with the outside world? At least I don't have tentacles attached to me. I can move around easily, and I can get you whatever you need. You need me. And I need this place. I don't know where else I'll go."
Otto scowled at her. "I suppose I could use you. You were the best grad student I ever had, and you're a damn good physicist by all reports. You can help me."
Serena smiled for the first time. Otto was struck by the openness of her smile, and by the crinkles of laugh lines around her golden eyes, eyes that truly resembled those of a cat, fringed with dark lashes. He suddenly realised that he was staring into her eyes and turned away quickly. Serena gestured at his blanket.
"It's not that I don't appreciate the view ...".
Otto looked slightly embarrassed and pulled the tattered fabric around himself.
"... but I really think we need to find you some new clothes".
Otto raised an eyebrow. "Oh? From where?"
Serena smirked knowingly. "Leave that to me ..."