Author's Notes: This is shorter than most of the other chapters in this story, but that doesn't make it any less intense. Here is where the story starts to really get (mostly) serious. Thank you to everyone who is reading and reviewing. Thankfully my PPG inspiration has been carrying me along like a passenger train :)

Chapter 15

How Power Feels

Bubbles flew through the mansion's second story window, breaking the glass around her. Her hard glare and gritted teeth bespoke of her transformation. She was no longer cautious, and no longer questioned her actions. This was the work of pure adrenaline and fury. No one hurts the professor!

She floated from one room to the next of the massive hideout. She couldn't find anyone just yet. Not Mr. Big, not the professor, no one.

Every room looked different, to the point where the house didn't seem to have any one dominant occupant. Some rooms looked like a classic gangster movie, complete with corded phones and mahogany desks. Other rooms looked like they were made for a spoiled rich boy, full of arcade games, used pizza boxes, and fast food wrappers.

Bubbles checked everywhere, from the walk-in suit closets to a huge terrarium that housed a 20 foot long snake. Everything was quiet, and Bubbles was starting to get nervous. Did Femme Fatale give her the right address? Was she too late? Would she ever see the professor again?

She flew into the basement to see if she could find the professor there. A lot of villains liked to keep their victims in basements for some reason.

It was somewhat dark, with the occasional flickering blue light. Clearly there was technology in here, although Bubbles didn't have the scientific background to understand most of it. Times like this she wished she paid more attention to the professor when he spoke about his work.

"Hey, sweet thing," A surfer sounding voice called out, "Mr. Big said you wouldn't be able to resist coming here."

Bubbles turned around, and she focused her super vision to identify who was speaking to her. There was a blonde skinny guy and a buff guy with scars on his face and hands. The blonde wore a purple suit, and the scarred guy wore a blue pinstripe suit. Both looked malicious, and Bubbles was ready for a fight.

"Where's the professor?" Bubbles demanded.

"He's around," The blonde guy told her, "Mr. Big just wanted to make sure he was comfortable. He told us to make sure you were comfortable too."

"Tell me where they are or I'll beat your face in!" Bubbles screamed, her high pitched voice cracking.

"Not a problem," The blonde guy sneered.

He then pushed a button on one of the computer consoles and displayed a security camera image. The footage showed the professor, hanging from a rope, over burbling brown liquid.

"Professor!" Bubbles cried out, "Give him back right now!"

"Sorry sweet thing, it's not our call," The blonde guy shrugged, "Mr. Big's orders. The professor gets dunked if you don't do what we say. He's listening right now, so I would choose my words carefully if I were you."

"Why you…you…" Bubbles's rage soon faded to impotence, realizing she didn't have a choice, "Fine. What does he want?"

The bigger goon then pressed another button, and a large jar-like apparatus lowered from the ceiling and stopped halfway from the ground.

"Boss wants you in there," The gruffer man told her, "So, hurry up and get in the waiting room."

Bubbles gulped, wondering what kind of device this was. Well, whatever it was she could handle it. She might not have been in the best shape of her life, but she was still a super-powered young woman that could handle whatever came her way. Slowly, cautiously, she stood under the glass dome. It lowered around her, and she scowled at the mobsters challengingly.

"Is it on, Fingers?" The blonde asked his compatriot.

"Yeah, it's on," Fingers drawled, "I guess we gotta deal with lab coat boy now."

"Mr. Big will be with you shortly," The blonde then said to Bubbles, "Don't worry. I know it's tough having to wait. We'll make sure your dad doesn't interfere with your big date, okay?"

"If you hurt him you'll never eat solid food again!" Bubbles threatened, "Do you hear me?"

"Who wouldn't hear you?" Fingers scoffed, "I've seen quieter fog horns."

The two men then left her alone in the room, and Bubbles fumed with anger at their audacity. How dare they threaten her beloved professor? She couldn't stand being trapped in this situation, and in a moment of impulse she punched the glass wall holding her in!

It…

It didn't break.

Bubbles looked down at her hand, surprised that punching with all her might didn't break the glass. She tried again, but nothing happened. If anything, her punch was weaker than before. She gasped in horror at the realization. She volunteered to be trapped because she assumed The Saga Cartel was too inept to find a way to actually keep her in here. How did they do this? What was going on, and where was the professor?

Mr. Big had a lot to do before he could confront Bubbles. He waited for his friends to tell him she was in the Chemical X-tractor, and once they gave him the good news he got to work. He untied the professor and locked him in a closet near the kitchen. Then he started gathering phone numbers of people he needed to call about the Smith raid. After that, he changed into a new black suit and the thinnest black gloves he owned. They would have to be thin to make room for his brass knuckles. Then he ended the ensemble with a red clip-on tie. There. That looked intimidating enough to confront that little freak.

He grabbed his book of phone numbers, a case of cigars, and made his way downstairs.

Mr. Big had to adjust his limited vision to the dark room. He wasn't used to venturing into the basement, since tech support was usually Lucky's job. Still, it wasn't hard to find Bubbles, since the Chemical X-tractor gave off a faint blue glow. The light seemed to match Bubbles, who often wore blue and had blue eyes. Seeing her there, glaring at him, made him feel an excitement he hadn't felt in a long time. It reminded him of the first time he shoplifted when he was 8.

"Where's the professor?" Bubbles asked heatedly, "If you've hurt him, I'll…"

Mr. Big didn't respond to her. He didn't want to talk. Not yet. He just wanted to walk closer, to admire the results of years of hard work and planning. Mr. Big didn't typically plan things. Thinking about tomorrow wasn't as fun as living for today. Apparently though, some things were worth focusing on.

"Answer me, you big tub of lard!" Bubbles goaded him, "What did you do with my dad!?"

Her eyes were so layered. It was like looking into some sort of space portal, ready to suck in anything that got too close. Mr. Big couldn't help but stare at those eyes. He'd seen Bubbles many times throughout his life, but he never had the chance to really examine her up close before. She looked so weird. Her hands had no fingers, her legs and feet blended into one piece. Her head was huge, and her eyes were mesmerizing.

"Please…" Bubbles began to cry, "Look, you got what you wanted, okay? I know I'm the one you're after. Just let the professor go, please…"

He wanted to touch her. Mr. Big couldn't really feel like he had power over her unless he could touch her. Hit her, pull her hair, grab her arm, anything. Just something to show he finally had control over his greatest foe. One memory he could carry with him long after she was gone.

"Why won't you answer me!?" Bubbles screeched.

Mr. Big pulled a remote out of his pocket, and lifted up the dome that held Bubbles. Bubbles was confused at first, but when the huge mobster walked toward her she snapped out of it. She ran straight for him to punch him with everything she was worth. She landed a punch directly to his gut, and…

…Nothing.

Mr. Big then grabbed her head in his meaty hand, and used the other fist to punch her in the face with his brass knuckles!

Bubbles saw stars, and then saw multiple Mr. Bigs swirling around her blurred vision. She had been hit in her Powerpuff career enough times to know she was going to pass out, so she made sure to fall forward to prevent any back problems when she got up.

Mr. Big grinned wickedly as he watched her fall. With Bubbles knocked out, he took a moment to feel her soft blonde hair. Then he touched her arm. It was squishier than he expected, like feeling an adult-sized newborn. Everything about her felt so pure and clean.

He knew not to linger too long however. Dr. Hardly warned him that Chemical X can replicate itself in a mutated body if given the chance. Mr. Big didn't know why it worked that way, but he knew that meant she had to stay in the machine to prevent her powers from coming back.

Reluctantly, Mr. Big stopped playing around and scooted her back under the Chemical X-tractor. He then closed the lid around her and turned it back on. He kept the power low however. If he turned it up to max then she would disintegrate instantly, and he didn't want that. No quick painless death for Bubbles. Not this time. She would wither, she would starve, and she would drown in her own regrets as he forced her to confront everything she'd ever done.

Mr. Big had waited too long to not take his time gloating.

Bubbles awoke with a massive headache and a sore eye. If she had to guess, she had a black eye. It took a moment for her to remember, but then she realized she was back in the jar where Mr. Big left her. She groaned softly and rubbed her head, trying to make herself feel better.

In the background, she could hear a droning voice speaking in Spanish, but without her super vision she had trouble seeing who it was in the dark. After listening for a moment, she realized it was Mr. Big.

"…Hola? Es Mr. Big," Mr. Big said into his smartphone, "Yo soy un amigo de Gato Ojo. … Si, tango malo…malo…excuse me. Hey Bubbles, do you know how to say bad news in Spanish?"

"Huh? Um, malas noticias," Bubbles replied, confused why he was suddenly talking to her.

"Si, tango malas noticias," Mr. Big said into the phone.

Bubbles giggled quietly to herself. Mr. Big's Spanish accent was terrible. He sounded like he had a stick up his nose the whole time he was talking. Once the levity of the moment left however, Bubbles began to truly ponder her situation. She was trapped in a device that drained Chemical X, a dangerous mob boss was going full Bond villain on her, and she didn't know where the professor was.

With nothing around her to help except her own wits, Bubbles started looking at the bottom of the container. If she could just find enough grip to lift it away, she could escape and rescue the professor.

She tried to find a spot in the floor where there was a crack between it and the jar. She couldn't find anything though. Everything was perfectly level. She tried lifting anyway, but she was as weak as a kitten. Okay, so brute force wasn't the answer. Maybe if she could get him to lift the lid again, like he did before, then she could make a run for it. She just had to figure out how to get him to do what she wanted.

Mr. Big hung up the phone, and then walked over to where Bubbles was. Bubbles repressed a smile. This was her chance to put her new plan into action. She just had to figure out how to provoke this guy's temper.

"That was Gato Ojo's abuela," Mr. Big explained unnecessarily, "Gato Ojo was one of Mr. Big's enforcers. He died recently."

"Did you kill him?" Bubbles asked venomously.

"No," Mr. Big replied simply, "The Smiths got most of Mr. Big's crew. Now we need more. Mr. Big has a lot of work to do."

"Oh, of course," Bubbles said sarcastically, "You have people to hurt, things to break, innocent men to torment, and I'm sure the list goes on."

"Mr. Big is sure you have all those things to do too," Mr. Big retorted, "And let's not forget killing. There's always time for killing, right Bubbles?"

"You would know," Bubbles countered.

Both of them stood facing each other, arms crossed, with only the glass separating them. The fight would have looked immature if it weren't for the dire circumstances. Bubbles wished she could look this monster in the eye, but his hat and hair were obscuring most of his face.

"So, are you going to kill me?" Bubbles asked point blank.

"Mr. Big thought about it," Mr. Big replied petulantly, "But no. Bubbles deserves the worst death in the world, and Mr. Big had to think long and hard about what that death was. So, Mr. Big decided. You're gonna starve to death. Mr. Big is gonna come in here every day, and watch you starve. Maybe if you're real nice to me, Mr. Big will be nice and snap your neck instead."

"Fat chance, no pun intended," Bubbles sassed, "You think you can beat me? You think you're more hardcore than I am? Hah! I saw your stupid pink bunny plush avatar! You're a baby!"

Bubbles of course didn't really think bunny plushies were baby-ish. She was, in actuality, trying to channel her inner-Buttercup to get this guy mad. If he was angry enough with her, then he would open the door and let her out. Then she would make a run for it and escape.

"Mr. Big has your shrink profile," Mr. Big suddenly said, "You wanna see a baby? Maybe we should read some of it together…"

Mr. Big then walked away, and came back a moment later with the confidential files on Bubbles Utonium. She was furious that he actually stole these from her therapist, but she didn't say anything. If she got angry then it would be harder to make him break. She had to be strong, no matter what he said to her.

"Here Bubbles," Mr. Big said as he turned a paper in her direction, "Read it for us."

"No," Bubbles refused, "Why would I do that?"

"Fine. You don't have to," Mr. Big replied easily, "Maybe the professor will read it for us. Before Mr. Big rips off his arms and makes you watch."

Bubbles shivered, understanding the threat loud and clear. Though to be fair, unlike movie mobsters, Mr. Big wasn't exactly subtle when he threatened people.

"Wait! I'll read it, just…don't get the professor involved," Bubbles relented.

"Good girl," Mr. Big grinned smugly.

"Okay…today Bubbles Utonium described an encounter she…had with a boy," Bubbles hesitantly read, "…She said she wanted to talk to him, but when she went to meet him in the lunch line, she spilled ice cream all over his shirt. He yelled at her, and she retreated. Bubbles still lacks self confidence and this ill-fated encounter has set her progress back considerably…"

"Read the rest of the page," Mr. Big commanded.

Bubbles was on the verge of tears, but she sucked it up and did as she was told. She had to play along until she could get him to slip up.

"Bubbles also seems to lack control of her emotions," Bubbles couldn't help but feel the irony in that statement, "Her superpowers make this more difficult, as they are a source of danger when she becomes too angry or hurt. She…she is correct in assuming that a high-risk job like crime fighting is too much for her to handle in her current state. Bubbles can be impulsive…and…and…"

"Does the page end?" Mr. Big asked.

"Um, yes, it ended," Bubbles lied.

"So, what was the boy's name?" Mr. Big inquired.

"The boy? I think it was Mitch," Bubbles sighed, physically deflating, "When I was 15 I had a crush on him. It didn't last very long."

"Mitch, huh?" Mr. Big nodded thoughtfully, "Mr. Big will be right back."

The mob boss ascended the stairs and left, and Bubbles finally felt she could breathe easily again. She was so grateful she didn't have to read him the rest of the session. Dr. Needo said she could be impulsive and arrogant regarding her powers. Bubbles didn't understand what he meant by that, but it still hurt to read.

Bubbles had never been forced to read about herself from someone else's perspective, and she didn't like that she had to reveal it to Mr. Big of all people. The file went on to talk about how she conflates her superpowers with her own self worth, and how her PTSD would put her in danger should she ever try to fight crime again. Bubbles couldn't help but feel the truth in at least part of that statement at the moment, given that her reckless behavior led to being trapped in a basement with a knockoff Al Capone.

At the same time however, she also got the feeling that her therapist really didn't understand her as well as she thought he did. She wasn't arrogant. She didn't think she was better than everyone else. If anything, she felt cursed. Cursed to have superpowers she didn't deserve, cursed to hurt the people she loved, and cursed to be the most useless between her and her sisters.

Now…now she could be the cause of her father's demise. She could be the reason The Saga Cartel takes over Townsville. She could be the reason everything goes wrong. Why would she ever be arrogant about being the worst Powerpuff Girl?