Stormy Tides (Shego)


Shego took a defensive stance and she noted the discomfort but lack of shock on Cleopatra's face. Shego glanced towards Pandora, waiting to see the smug look. What did I tell Misty, never trust... Pandora looked shocked herself, and stood straight backed away from the scene. The hair on the back of her neck stuck up again, like it had when Taxley... Dr. Botox.. had made the inquiry about her shoes. Because he clearly knew they weren't just normal shoes, Of coarse it's not a serpent, it's a Leviathan. There was something else, the way the smile quaked on Dr. Botox's face, it looked almost unnatural, the skin moved like rubber, was it even skin.

"Well now I don't have to go to as much trouble to get you down here, thank you Cleopatra," said Dr. Botox, he clicked something and the door sealed closed and the back of the office shifted, "How perfectly and unknowingly well planned... for me."

"Anyone care to explain this?" asked Pandora, glancing to where Shego saw the wall shift, she knew it was a lab, she didn't have to look, it only made sense.

"Pandora, it's nothing really... Dr. Botox knew I wanted to painting, and so... I decided to frame you for it and take it... but then he gets the payout," said Cleopatra with a shrug, but by the look in Dr. Botox eyes... there was more she wasn't in on.

"Yes, cute little plan," chuckled Dr. Botox, his arm removed itself from Cleopatra, "How well it played along with my own... and unwittingly... you as well, Shego. A former colleague of mine once told me about you and your brothers... your abilities... endurance, thick skinned, strong, and... youthful. He talked of you often. I had been disheartened when young Dr. Go turned down my invite to tonight's festivities... but then you walked right into my office. The odds are astronomical."

"Dollmaker," said Shego, and she felt her chest tighten, a series of flashbacks to her youth tried to flood their way in, but she needed to be present, "So that's why you didn't hesitate to hire me. I walked right into your little web, Dr. Botox... Funny, I always thought you were a women."

"Times change, and so do faces," said Dr. Botox, with a twitch of their upper cheek, "Now, why don't you ladies head out..."

"Your whole plan was to get Shego here?" asked Pandora, her eyes questioned Cleopatra, but Shego knew there was no answers that Cleopatra had, she looked concerned herself.

"None of your concern," said Dr. Botox, "This is between myself, Shego, and her unusual genetic makeup."

"It's not genetic, more divine intervention," said Shego, she took a step back, "Comet really."

"Either way, I can use it," replied Dr. Botox, Shego heard movement behind her, Henchman, of coarse, "Ladies, why don't you help our guest."

"What..." the look of horror on Cleopatra and Pandora's face, made Shego glance behind her just as hands reached for her.

Henchwomen stood, four of them, all dressed in lavender scrub based attire, all identical. There faces taught and emotionless, eyes wide and unblinking, their faces fixed in a forced smile. Metal implants on their half shaven heads. One nearly grabbed her and she kicked them back into the desk. It would make sense that a psychotic person like Dollmaker, whose had used Dr. Botox's Immobility Serum to turn people into living dolls, would be friends with someone who made bad Barbie wannabes. The one Shego kicked, twitched almost like a marionette as she stood back up. Dr. Botox sighed, and Shego glanced back towards them.

"Now, now... All I need is a little blood... some skin cells perhaps.. It's not that big a deal," said Dr. Botox, Shego mentally calculated how many she could take out as they advanced on her, her hands flared.

Shego was expecting for Pandora and Cleopatra to flit off with the painting, because she wasn't sure if she wouldn't have done the same. But as an electic jolt was sent through her by one of the Henchwomen's fingers, a fist flew passed Shego and into the face of Dr. Botox minions. Pandora had joined in, and was doing an awful job at best, but it kept Shego's numbers down at least. Shego mentally argued with herself as she stood back to back with Pandora. It's better if I take them out myself, more credibility. Yes, well I am outnumbered. I've been outnumbered before. Shego's mental struggle was halted as she punched one of them in the face. Blood trickled down their face and a disturbing realization hit Shego. The Henchwomen were actual women, not some sort of robots Shego had started to wonder about. Shego chose not to think about what sort of puppet like control they might be under, that wasn't her concern. Her concern was getting out of here before she turned into a guinea pig for a psychotic mad scientist. And not even the fun kind, geesh. Pandora fell into Shego as she was punched in the face, causing Shego to loose her own balance. Shego glared.

"Either learn to fight, or stay out of it!" she snapped, swiping under one's legs, "I'll handle it myself."

Shego didn't register any response from Pandora, as she used a plasma blast to send one flying right into Dr. Botox, knocking them to the ground. Shego saw the Henchman freeze as the device slid from Dr. Botox hands. Shego shot another plasma blast at it as Dr. Botox reached for it, and then another right at them directly. Dr. Botox cringed and yelled in pain, and Shego readied another blast but Cleopatra had grabbed the device. She seemed unsure as what to do with it, and Shego could see the debate behind her eyes. She didn't have much time to decide her move as a humming sound began and Shego looked towards Dr. Botox, a glowing fun in their hands. Shego ducked, and a large blast hit the wall. The sound of the lake came rushing in, the sound of yelling, and as Cleopatra made a choice and made an attempt to get the gun, Shego saw the escape. The Henchwomen moved in, just as another humming began. Shego yanked Pandora with her as they dove out the opening, the blast hit them, but not as strong as it would have.

Shego's body ached as she took a stealth stance next to Pandora, the rubble still crumbling in front of them, the entire hole in the side of the building causing a commotion to the guests above. Her heel dug into the sand and she could hear the agonized groan of Pandora beside her, and running. Shego glanced to see Anne had made her way towards them and blood was seeping out of Pandora's knee through her suit. She cringed and remembered the cracking sound as she'd thrown them through the hole. Her eyes focused back on the figures beyond the hole she'd made. Cleopatra was on the ground, clutching her mouth, whether it out of shock or if she'd been injured, Shego didn't care, because in front of her was Dr. Botox. The pseudo mask fallen away, their no longer the waxy looking facade it had been, but beyond was a face so tight and deformed, it was almost skeletal in nature. Shego felt her insides cringe and her skin crawl, but at the sound of another humming the gun Dr. Botox held began to glow again. A loud whooshing sound caused the gun to be whipped from Dr. Botox's hand. Shego looked to see Misty standing along the edge where she'd climbed down. A long black whip retracted as the gun hit the ground. Dr. Botox didn't have time to retrieve it as sirens were heard and he fled in the direction of the lab.

"Are you two okay?" asked Misty as she sprinted along the rocks, though she glanced behind her as if waiting.

"Fine," said Shego, she looked at the whip, gold laden handle with a serpent head, "Gift from Cleopatra?"

"... I," Misty began but at the sight of Cleopatra with the painting, making her way towards the exit, Misty began back peddling.

"You double-crossed me for Cleopatra?" asked Shego, there was a twist in her stomach and Misty looked uneasy before she looked annoyed.

"You were willing to double-cross them, there was no telling if you were going to do the same to me," said Misty, Cleopatra called out to her, "I couldn't trust you, you even told me not too.. So I listened."

"I wasn't going to double-cross you, just them," said Shego, Why wasn't I?

"That's not a real vote of confidence to a person you barely know," said Misty, and she sprinted across the grounds, Shego's hand glowed, ready to send a blast towards where the two escaped to a waiting ride.

"Keep pressure on your wound, the ambulance should be here," said Anne, and Shego's hand stopped glowing as she remembered Pandora next to her, the sight of the busted knee cap beyond the fabric made her queasy again, "I'm going to go check on them."

"I have to get out of here, good luck," said Shego, she was still a wanted escaped convict, Pandora wasn't, Shego went to stand but Pandora grabbed her arm, "What?"

"I can't believe you," hissed Pandora, probably from pain, "You're just leaving me here..."

"Your not a wanted fugitive, you'll be fine," said Shego as she yanked her arm away, "Claim you were trying to stop a madman, they'll believe you. Possible just saw with her own eyes Dr. Botox."

"You can say the exact thing," snapped Pandora, she glared, "Unlike you I won't throw you under the bus."

"I have an image to maintain," said Shego, "Can't have everyone thinking I'm out busting other villains."

"... you never change do you?" asked Pandora, her face wasn't angry, just sullen, "Always about what other's think of you."

"Thanks for the help," said Shego, the words stung without warning, but she heard running and she sprinted off.


Gauntlet Night


When Shego had gotten back to the Villain's Inn that Tuesday, she was exhausted. She'd spent two days hiding out, making sure no one was on her trail, sending a cryptic message to her brother's about Dr. Botox and their crazy new idea about their DNA. Had stolen two cars and a change of clothes... all to end up back in this hole in the wall place. Her mind, for the first time since this weekend, began pulling it all together. Dr. Botox. One of the first villains she'd ever read about, or rather, was interested in... villains were darker then. She nodded, her mind swarming with her own youth filled villains. Some were lame like Avarius, insane and questionable like Electronique... but then... then there were the earlier ones of Go City. Back when the city itself was nothing but violent crime. Dweller, Dollmaker, Stitches, Hush... She cringed. Dollmaker, obssessed with using Dr. Botox's serums to imprison people in their own bodies, making them into identical dolls in his Dollhouse lair. She shook her head, not wanting to revisit that again. There was too much on her mind already, she needed to talk to someone, vent about the strange chaotic twist of events. She grabbed her phone, Drakken was going to freak out... she paused.

"What am I doing?" she asked herself as she put the phone back down and she glared at it.

She shook her head, she wasn't going to call Drakken and rant. Why not? He already would know...No... No. Just because he knew her family secret, some of her history... the Company... No, she could tell Junior and... Junior would be so confused. Adrena... No, god no. She wasn't going to tell either of them about her past... the idea made her stomach turn. Her mind fell back to Drakken. I told him. That was different. How? I didn't have a choice. Yes you did... you could have lied... but you didn't. Shego was not arguing with herself today, but her head was spinning.

Shego looked at the phone, her chest pounding, and a weird wave of anxiety turning in her stomach now. She reached for it and then retracted her hand. What should I say? No, I'm not calling... wonder how he is? Who CARES!? I could talk to him about Dr. Botox, though. No. Yes. No. Shego yelled in frustration and snatched the phone. She took a deep breath and hit the contact. She felt uneasy as it rang, how was she going to start this? He didn't answer, as his voicemail came on she hung up. Was he dodging her? It rang so he hadn't blocker her. She glared now, if he was dodging her... well, fine. She tossed her phone on the table and turned on the television. Like she cared.

"The Upperton Musem is currently under lockdown. Inside the suspects still remain..." Shego flicked off the television and glared back at her phone.

"I ought to... no... nope. I need a drink," scoffed Shego as she stormed out of her room.


Nearly A Week Later


Too many drinks, too many days. Shego hadn't remembered the last time she'd been on this long of a bender. She wasn't even sure why she was on one to be honest. Yes, she'd been double-crossed by someone she had decided she enjoyed spending time with. You were doing to same to everyone, she had a point. She glared, she was not having this argument again with herself. That's why she'd stopped having Rum. Cleopatra had pulled the wool over her eyes, again. She seemed shocked herself. No, that argument had ended with Scotch being cut off. There was the starting over thing, regaining her title, and erasing any rumors. No mater what I do, it's still going to be out there now. There was that argument now, she'd thought that was gone with Gin. She mused at her shot of tequila burned her throat. She wasn't having a good time, she wasn't numbing anything, it wasn't even because she liked to taste. So why was she on a bender? Why had she been a social butterfly? Lida and Casey had avoided her today... Cadence? Who gives a... Shego rolled her eyes. Annoy the crap out of the people around her by talking too much. It was a new level. She'd successfuly done what only Drakken ever managed to do. She only realized all this, because she was starting to come down off of said binge, she suspected her drinks had slowly turned to water hours ago now. She looked at her phone and glared. Drakken. She shook her head, the man had ignored all of her... she looked at the screen and nearly dropped the phone on the counter.

"I called him 187 times, fuck," said Shego as she slid the shot glass away from her and got up, grabbing her phone, "Oh god."

"That was just from your cellphone," said Casey or... honestly she didn't care about his name right now, he pointed to the bar phone.

"Great," said Shego, she felt the wave of embarrassment and thoughts on explaining it, hoping she hadn't left voicemails... when it shifted as she got to her room door, "He never called me back?"

She felt a wash of anger hit her now, maybe it was the tequila. As she was heading out she heard a familiar voice, or rather voices. Shego glanced towards the pool tables and saw familiar faces, her Henchman. She shook her head and rolled her eyes, Drakken's Henchman. She thought about just heading back to her room, but this was an opportunity and as she glanced at her phone, she wasn't going to miss finding out what was so important that Drakken hadn't called her back at least to say something spiteful at best. Shego hoped she looked okay, looked focused. The last thing she wanted was for the Henchman to go running their mouth that she looked wretched, tired, and bitter. She was banking on poking Drakken from afar, and getting some dirt.

"Well, fancy seeing you lot here," said Shego smugly, they all looked at her and she expected fear, uncomfortable, or shocked as a reaction, she wasn't expecting smiles.

"Shego!" yelled Lucius, there was relief in his eyes, "Is this where you've been?"

"Doy," said Shego, it was odd how calm they all seemed, how relaxed at her presence, Have I lost that much edge?

"I'm sure your busy, but care to join us?" asked Williams, Davis nodded.

"Well... why are all of you here?" asked Shego, it was odd to see all of the main together outside of group fun nights, they worked different shifts.

"Great place to find work," said Hector as he and the other normal Henchmaids joined them with drinks, by his red cheeks he'd already had a few, "Looking for Henchman?"

"Did Drakken replace you all with Synthdrones again?" asked Shego as she leaned against the pool table, there was a silence among them and Shego raised a brow, "Did he can you all?"

"In a manor of speaking," shrugged Davis, he drank his beer and shot wide eyes at the others, Shego felt her senses perk up, especially as Hector and Lucius started talking.


So Drakken had dismissed the Henchmen... why? From what they'd stated, he'd been fine, working away like always, then when the lair had been finished... he never showed up. He stopped taking calls, and then suddenly, he'd simply notified them they were all let go. It bothered Shego, but she didn't know why, it wasn't like Drakken to not relish in a new and shiny lair. Every time they got a new one or revamped a destroyed one, he never shut up. Not to her. Not to the Henchman. He at least ranted for two days, minimum. Not have one rebuilt, avoid it, avoid everyone, He didn't call me back? Shego glared again, even when they'd fought before, he would at least call back to tell her not to call him. He'd only done that once, and then called her back ten minutes later. It had been weeks, surely he still wasn't that mad. He doesn't need you. She felt that cold feeling she'd been fighting again. Her stomach knotted and she looked at her phone and then at the room. She hated this Inn, it reminded her of when she'd been a dedicated Mercenary. Isn't that what I'm trying to do again?

She sighed as Pandora's words and her own actions came back to her. She'd planned to double cross them all and take all the spoils if she had too. They hadn't. Clearly they were too gullible. Shego told herself, that had everything gone accordingly, it would have been an impressive double-cross. Who'd you impress? Not those who'd helped her, she hadn't one up'd those who double-crossed her. The idea of even telling the Henchman had felt wrong, so she hadn't. Her mind played back the events from the previous weekend, the uncertainty, the risk, the nightmares she'd had about her past and how she could have easily walked into a twisted trap. The feeling of not knowing who to trust, including herself. At the time, she'd had thrill and adrenaline, but it was shifting... had shifted. She wanted to rant about it, get an opinion, mock the others, not have to worry about who to trust, and not stare at holes in the walls and questionable bed sheets, listen to stupid ideas and mock them, go on tedious ill thought out capers, not questionable uninformed missions... and most importantly, she cringed at the thought, have a reliable friend. She groaned and fell back on the bed.

"I miss Drakken," she scoffed to herself, "I miss home."


Shego knocked on the tropical lair door with her mind set. She'd gone all the way to their old lair hide out to get their questionable Chinese food to end this stupid argument. She'd played it in her head a millions times. He'd open the door, she'd hold up the food and say with a snappy edge, "I'm so over this not talking thing." He would roll his eyes and smirk, letting her in, they would eat Chinese food and things would go back to normal like it always did. She gulped back the emotions she'd been feeling and fighting over for days. She shook it off as the door opened to their temporary lair, her chest pounded erratically and she felt her stomach spinning. Drakken looked like he'd been on a binge of no sleep, or eatting by how loose his clothes seemed to be. She waited to see a spark in his eye like she normally found even when he was annoyed or angry with her. There was a flicker for only a second before they became gaunt. His brow narrowed and she saw his hand ready to slam the door. Her plan fell away now and she looked at the food. This is pathetic. She gave her attempt at a cocky smile.

"I'm over this," she said, her voice not as strong or sassy as she'd hoped.

"Please, go," said Drakken, and he closed the door, she froze, her eyes shot open and the feeling of ice fell over her.

"Drakken," she half glared as she knocked at the door, a whirling sound started and she dodged as a blast flew at her, "Are you kidding me... Drakken!"

Shego felt like she was playing hopscotch as the lasers just barely missed her each time. It was sporadic, almost hitting her but last minute jolting away. There was no reason to it, no rhythm. It was being controlled, not auto. Her rage grew as she ducked a blast, her hands flared slightly and she shot towards one of the lasers, but the rain was obscuring her aim. That is rain.. right? She didn't analyze because hit a tree hard when she jumped back from a blast. She slouched to the ground, the pain was like a shooting wave of heat. But it wasn't coming from her back, her stomach was knotting and coiling. She was a mixture of rage and bitter astonishment. He was trying to hit me? Had he been aiming? She heard the whirling sound again, but she didn't get up as it glowed. The pain in her back, the rain, and her own internal battle wouldn't let her. The raging thoughts fell silent as she heard the power cannon about to blast, she debated rolling away, but she never had too. She heard a pained yell and it stopped, dropping away. Shego stared, the sound of the door yanking open gaining her attention.

His hand was bleeding as he clasped it and stared at her. The look in his eyes were focused and his breathing labored. Something seemed to wrong, so off, but his face tightened. Was he that furious at her that he'd hurt himself trying to fire at her. She felt her anger fade and her chest tighten. She stood up slowly from her position, and everything in her being told her to smack him, to yell at him, to demand answers. Then another part felt it.. felt a wall. His body posture, his eyes darting to his hands, where blood trickled behind metal gloves, everything was trying to keep her away. His foot shifted behind him ready to go inside.

"I'm sorry," said Shego, it left her mouth before she could stop it, not that she was going to try, "I get it, I deserved that. Just... I..."

"Leave Shego," said Drakken, he wasn't looking at her as rain picked up, "Just, go, don't come back here."

"I said I was sorry," said Shego, she glared, but her heart wasn't in it, "The least you can go is talk to me like an adult. Your being childish. Dodging my calls... shooting lasers."

"I..." He looked at her for a split second, "I have nothing left to say. I'm sorry."

"Fine," breathed Shego, she took a step back, waiting for him to say more, for him to cave, like he always did, but the door closed as he stepped inside. Nothing.

Shego looked towards the crappy Hover Car, her stomach knotted, her body reacting not with anger but with some form of rejection. She'd apologized, she'd put her pride aside, and he'd refused it. She had so many things she wanted to say, wanted to tell him. She could just start talking, maybe he'd cave and talk back. Maybe I... Her mind was swimming with thoughts as she took each step. Each step felt like lead, something was screaming at her to not go, to demand him to talk to her. She tried to flare her hands, she could threaten him. They didn't light, and she felt her emotions boil. It's just Drakken. You don't need him. He's an idiot, a loser, a failure, a friend... Her jaw clenched but a hand grabbed her wrist only for a second and she turned around. He looked uneasy now, his hands twitching in those strange metal gloves.

"The weather is too dangerous... just... just stay until the storm let's up," said Drakken, and before she could reply he'd already headed inside, almost sprinting.

"Drakken?" asked Shego, she looked on the oncoming storm growing heavier, and sprinted inside behind him.


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