Chapter 10: The Contest, Day Three
"So what's the grand plan for today," Kim grumbled to Bonnie, as the two wandered towards the Dining Lair. Bonnie had decided to have Kim attend her during breakfast, freeing up Ron to clean the breakfast dishes and to take a long, cold shower.
"My aren't we testy this morning?" Bonnie observed. "Actually, I don't have much of a plan. I was just hoping to find out whatever contest is going to take place and plan from there."
"Are you going to try to eliminate one of the competitors today?"
"I haven't gotten that far in the planning," Bonnie confessed. "But I'd like to stay in the background again, if possible, and let the other two fight it out."
"Whatever you say," Kim grumbled.
"What's put a bug up your butt this morning?" Bonnie demanded. "I was trying to be friendly when I came over last night…Wait a minute! That wasn't a workout I interrupted, was it?"
"That's not important right now," Kim muttered.
"I don't see why it's such a big deal," Bonnie confessed. "I mean, the two of you are like, together now, so anytime you want to you can…" Bonnie's eyes suddenly widened and her face broke out in a massive smile. "Last night would have been the first time, wouldn't it?"
"Not a topic that's open for discussion," Kim insisted.
"I don't see why you've put it off so long," Bonnie snickered. "I mean, the two of you have been with each other forever, and you finally pulled your heads out over a year ago."
"Not going to answer," Kim informed her, even though Bonnie's kidding seemed more playful than snarky.
"I mean, Ron isn't exactly a hottie, but he's got a nice, tight body now," Bonnie continued, recalling seeing the subject of her conversation shirtless last night.
"I'm tuning out irrelevant sounds," Kim replied.
"Really, K," Bonnie mused, with a smile on her face. "The two of you have been so into each other for so long, even though you didn't know it, that I would have thought nature would have taken its course fairly quick…HOLD ON!" The tall brunette suddenly stopped cold. "Last night would have been your first time…ever…wouldn't it?"
"Like I said, B," Kim growled. "Not a topic for conversation."
"Would it have been his first time, as well?" Bonnie's smile was absolutely predatory as she resumed walking.
"None of your business, B!"
"You know, I would have understood if you had asked me to leave."
"Enough, Bonnie!"
"Or I could have stayed…offered a few tips and pointers." Bonnie's voice was definitely playful and not scornful.
"BONNIE!!"
"Just playing you, K," Bonnie giggled, stepping into the Dining Lair and picking up a plate at the buffet. Camille Leon was already seated, chatting Junior up. Shortly after Bonnie filled her plate and took her seat, Trudy Dementor arrived, followed by her guard. The guard was clearly on edge, upset that Camille had played his client on his watch. Kim offered a commiserating nod. The man tensed for a moment then apparently realized that he had no quarrel with the teen. He smiled and nodded back. Kim noted that he didn't keep his eyes on Trudy, he was watching Camille.
The breakfast passed fairly uneventfully. After Senior ate his fill, and noted that his guests had done the same, he climbed to his feet.
"Again, I must call a regretful end to this enjoyable repast," he announced. "First, let me offer my congratulations to Miss Trudy Dementor. Mr. Rotiffle ran a diagnostic on my computer systems and discovered that it was Miss Dementor who sabotaged Miss Minated's work yesterday. A truly fine, devious action that secured first prize for you."
Trudy looked more troubled than pleased.
"Be that as it may," Senior continued. "The Big Book of Villainy states that schemes will rarely work a second time, on the same target. I have taken the liberty of having Mr. Rotiffle isolate the computer systems for today's event. The three of you will either have to win this contest honestly or, more favorably, find another means of devious interference."
"Now, for today's event," Senior concluded. "My future daughter-in-law will need to safeguard the vast wealth and other possessions that I leave behind. Threats could come from many sources, but I am not concerned with legal issues or military action. Instead, I am addressing the need to safeguard the Lair and its contents against covert actions from rival villains, law enforcement agencies and independent heroes." Here, he favored Kim with a wide smile and a gracious hand gesture.
"This will be another virtual reality contest. Each of you will be given a full, hypothetical lair's design. You will be armed with a budget, a time frame, and a chart showing the expenses and installation times for certain, fiendish traps and other barriers. At the end of the day, Mr. Rotiffle will insert a virtual team of infiltrators into your virtual reality. This team will attempt to infiltrate your lair and reach the devices of appalling doom you have stored within. The contestant who designs the most successful defense will be the winner. The contestant who designs the least successful defense will leave my island. You will have one hour to consult with your entourage before we convene in the Technology Lair to begin the contest."
"That's like, so not fair!" Camille Leon protested.
"Ah, Miss Leon, while the very idea of fairness in a villainous contest seems most odd to me, I must ask you what you find objectionable about this arrangement."
"Huh?" Camille asked.
"What do you find to be unfair, my prospective daughter-in-law?"
"It's like, the other two girls have people to help them!" She pouted. "I totally didn't have enough time to find anybody to come here with me!"
"But Miss Leon," Senior observed. "I arranged for your escape a full two weeks before this contest began."
"And that was, like, barely enough time to shop for a proper handbag!"
"It takes you two weeks to purchase a handbag?" Senior was confused.
"Well, that took four days, then I had to take a one-week vacation to get rid of all the stress from the shopping," Camille explained.
"Be that as it may, Miss Leon, you failed to obtain assistance in the allotted time. You will need to live with your priorities. As another consequence, the Big Book of Villainy states that the true villain does not bemoan his; or in your case her, fate in public. As such, I now grant the contestants two hours to consult with their entourages. Make use of the time as you see fit."
Camille stormed out of the Dining Lair while Bonnie stood up and approached Kim.
"This is perfect," she whispered to the Redhead, motioning for the two of them to return to her suite. "While Trudy will have an advantage over me, you and Ron will give me an advantage over Camille."
"We've never designed defenses,' Kim informed her.
"No, but you've broken into them," Bonnie pointed out. "You know what works and what's just expensive, useless junk. That should let me beat Camille."
"True," Kim conceded. The two girls talked shop on the way to Bonnie's suite, halting their conversation as they passed a servant polishing the wooden walls. A quick call brought Ron from across the hall, and they were soon working out a general strategy for Bonnie.
"Okay, several layers of defense are better than one big trap," Kim pointed out, after forty-five minutes of talking strategies. "Put your most formidable defenses on the inside of your layers. That way, the infiltrator uses up her resources and energy on you lesser defenses, leaving her tired and empty-handed to face your last one."
"Not to mention, you might trap the infiltrator between layers," Ron pointed out. "If someone sneaks all the way into your last barrier and can't get through it, they might not be able to get back out through your outer barriers."
Kim sat back and let Ron do most of the talking. While her partner didn't have the keen mind that she did, he was better at explaining things to Bonnie. The blonde boy explained that she needed to cover all openings, including ductwork and utility tunnels. As he was going into greater detail, Kim decided that it would be a good idea to check in with Wade, to see what was happening back home. She excused herself, since Senior had Bonnie's quarters shielded against all transmissions. She offered a polite nod to the custodian, who was still polishing the walls, as she crossed the hall and stepped into her suite.
"Hey Wade," she greeted her sleepy technical support. "Do you have any updates for us?"
"Not much," the youngster admitted. "The FBI picked up Adrena Lynn as soon as she tried to sneak back into the country. I don't know where she's being held right now, but she has a nice collection of additional charges to go with the original ones."
"That's sounding good," Kim nodded. "How about the site?"
"Traffic is slow. Most people seem to accept that you're currently engaged. A few people have been insisting that you're the only one who can help, but I've been forwarding them to appropriate organizations. On a more personal note, Monique is back in town and wants to inform you that you better be ready for a MSS, whatever that is, as soon as you get back."
"Major Spill Session," Kim translated. "Anything else?"
"Other than Riverna's wanting to know when Ron's getting back to take over the dessert duties, no."
"Let the appropriate people know that we should be just a couple more days," Kim told him. "I won't say anything until the contest is over, but it shouldn't be much long…"
A knock on the door interrupted her.
"Gotta go, Wade."
"Anytime, Kim."
Putting the Kimmunicator away, Kim opened the door to reveal her boyfriend.
"Ron?" She asked. "Aren't you supposed to be helping Bonnie and why are you knocking?"
"I lost my card thingy," the blond boy told her, stepping inside. "And…Bonnie…has enough of her unfair advantage."
"Unfair advantage?" Kim asked. "Why is us helping her unfair?"
"Never mind, Kim," Ron waved the question away.
"Okay, what's wrong?" Kim demanded.
"Why do you think anything's wrong, Kim?"
"Using my name, of course! Look, if this was about what happened last night, I'm just as disappointed as you are."
"Uh, right. Last night…was…disappointing…wasn't it?"
"Yeeeeaaaaaahh," Kim drawled. "Look, are you feeling okay?"
"Sure Kim, I just wanted to hang a little bit with my most…like…radical girl for a little bit."
"Don't you mean badical?"
"Like, whatever," Ron reached out to gather Kim into his arms. Kim leaned forward to kiss him when she had a sudden moment of doubt. She pushed away from him, knocking him back.
"Like, Kim, what's wrong?"
"This," Kim snarled, pointing the Kimmunicator at him and pushing the button. The device emitted a barely visible beam onto the blonde boy.
"Eiiieyyouch!" He squealed, in a higher voice. Ron's features blurred for a moment to reveal.
Camille Leon!
"What's the sitch?" Kim snarled at her.
"What's wrong Possible?" Camille taunted the redhead. "Afraid you won't want to go back to the sidekick?"
"You…what…I…" Kim spluttered. "YOU ARE SUCH THE UNDERNOURISHED GREASY SPLOTCH ON THE WALL ONCE I GET MY HANDS ON YOU!"
Camille screeched and ran back out of the door. Kim was in immediate pursuit. The emaciated contestant ran just a short way down the hall before turning to face her pursuer.
"Now Kim," Camille said, backing away slowly and holding up her hands. "Don't tell me you aren't intrigued a little bit."
"YOU!!!!" The redhead screamed. "ARE SOOOOO DEAD!"
"Kim, no!" Bonnie yelled, running up behind Kim with Ron at her side. The blonde boy attempted to restrain his girlfriend.
"Let go!" Kim yelled at him, trying to shrug him off.
"If you deck her," Bonnie said, in a calm voice. "I'm out of the contest."
That remark cooled Kim's temper like a supertanker full of water dumped on a redheaded conflagration.
"THAT was your game!" Kim snarled at Camille. "You wanted to taunt me into smacking you down, to take Bonnie out of the contest!"
"And I almost pulled it off," Camille snickered back. "Watch your back, Kim." Camille spun on her heel and stalked off, her nose planted firmly in the air.
"I think we'd better be careful, whenever we meet up after being separated," Ron murmured.
"That's the truth," Kim agreed. "Maybe we'd better warn Trudy and her guard."
"No!" Bonnie insisted.
"She might try to play them, next," Kim protested.
"I'm not a proud girl, K," Bonnie admitted. "If Camille wants to play the competition, and help me survive another day, that's fine by me."
"You've got to be kidding me!" Kim insisted.
"This is a villainous competition," Bonnie reminded the redhead. "What could be more underhanded than letting your competitors do the dirty work?"
"That makes sense, in a sick and wrong sort of way," Ron admitted.
"Fine," Kim grumbled. "We have a little time, let's review a little more.
By the time Senior's starting time rolled around, Kim and Ron had Bonnie as prepared as they could, realistically. The two teens escorted the brunette to the Technology Lair, then joined Trudy's guard in the Observation Room to watch the competition. As with yesterday's competition, each of the contestants had a tutor to help them input commands. The first hour went by with the contestants learning how to implement their decisions.
Unlike yesterday's competition, there was no way to determine who was winning. Trudy Dementor concentrated on electronic traps and detection devices. Bonnie, following Team Possible's suggestion, first hired a solid core of guards before installing a functional communication system. Finally, she installed a basic, single perimeter. She was working on the second layer when Trudy's guard broke his silence.
"I notice dat your charge is keeping it zimple and ztraightforward," he commented.
"Is there something wrong with that?" Kim demanded.
"Nein," he replied, holding up his hands in a mollifying gesture. "I vas just making ze converzation. It vill be interesting to zee how her approach compares to Trudy's high tech methods, no?"
"I guess so," Kim agreed. "I don't think the third contestant is really in the running."
"Dat's der truth," the guard nodded. "But dat vill make her even more dangerous in der real world, no?"
"Good call," Kim nodded her thanks for pointing out that fact.
Indeed, Camille's efforts appeared to be a complete farce. She had started out by hiring a band of security guards…then wasted the next forty-five minutes color-coordinating their uniforms with her lair's interior. After this, she insisted on having her lair's exterior painted to match the interior, and her guards' uniforms. Finally, she had an electrified, perimeter fence installed and fitted with motion and contact sensors, only to waste more time and money by insisting on a new color scheme for the fence. Kim, Ron and Dementor's guard began to relax as the morning wore on.
"It is now time to break for lunch," Senior announced to the contestants, shortly before noon. "Such fiendish, mental activities require good food to maintain! We will take a one-hour break, which you may use to eat, confer with your entourage, or a combination of the two. We will take another break at three-thirty this afternoon, for light refreshment before judging this contest's results. Like yesterday, I will lock this room after we leave and it will remain locked until I return, one hour from now."
With that, Senior herded the contestants out of the Technology Lair. Kim and Ron met up with Bonnie, who told them that she wanted to catch a quick bite to eat before retiring to her suite for a little more brainstorming. As the she escorted her former rival to the Dining Lair, Kim noticed that Camille left for her suite's wing, rather than the Dining Lair. Trudy Dementor motioned for her guard to follow the changeling.
The lunch was rather quiet and subdued, despite Senior's best efforts to be a genial host. While both Trudy and Bonnie knew that they could beat Camille in the ongoing contest, they were both aware of the fact that the fallen socialite was likely to try something underhanded. The fact that Camille was not in the Dining Lair seemed to make the two, young women even more nervous. Both contestants grabbed a quick bite to eat before excusing themselves as quickly as proper manners would allow.
Once back at her suite, Bonnie called a meeting with Kim and Ron, describing some of the more exotic items Senior had included on his 'shopping list'.
"The spinning tops of doom are nasty things," Kim admitted. "Bit I don't think they're very cost effective. Besides that, they only work if you're down on the floor level. They can't follow you up stairs like a henchman can."
"Not to mention if you put some in, the henchmen won't be able to chase intruders through the place the tops are running," Ron added.
"Okay, here's my advice," Kim stated. "Throw in some of the hidden systems that the henchmen can activate. That way, when the motion and heat sensors pick up intruders, your henchmen can activate the hidden systems, catching intruders by surprise."
"And don't forget the ducts," Ron added. "Wherever you put a barrier across hallways, put barriers across any ductwork."
Kim and Ron continued to discuss more details with their contestant until they only had a few minutes left before Bonnie needed to return to the Technology Lair. Senior unlocked the door and allowed the contestants to enter. He addressed them before restarting the contest.
"I must warn all of you," he addressed the contestants, as well as the guardians watching from the Observation Room. "One of my loyal henchpersons informed me, just before we reconvened, that they have spotted Miss Minated's guard creeping about the island. My henchperson is concerned that he might be trying to gain revenge, for failing his charge during yesterday's competition."
"Like, what good would that do?" Camille demanded. "Isn't Elly, like, already out of here?"
"Indeed, Miss Leon," Senior nodded. "But this guard is looking at a much larger picture. The Big Book of Villainy states that one should attempt to gain revenge upon whomever outwits you, thus discouraging others to attempt to outwit you, themselves. If he is able to gain revenge upon you or Miss Dementor, he will enhance his own reputation. But let's not worry about him at this moment. We are quite secure here and we have a competition to complete. Mr. Rotiffle, please restart the contest!"
Soon the contestants were hard at work, once again. Trudy Dementor continued her earlier strategy, maintaining a small core of henchmen, supplemented by very high technology security devices. Bonnie was Trudy's polar opposite, keeping a larger cadre of henchmen and more simple security devices. It didn't take long for the guards to become bored.
"Hey KP," Ron suggested. "Why don't I go get lunch for the three of us? None of us had a chance to eat and both Bonnie and Trudy are safe inside the Technology Lair."
"Sounds good to me," Kim agreed.
"And me as vell," Dementor's guard added. "I must thank you for being zo friendly during our ztay on ze island."
"Just give me a three step head start the next time we break into the professor's lair," Ron suggested, heading for the door. "And we'll call it even."
Before long, Ron returned to the Observation Room with a large tray of sandwiches, some veggies and dip, and a big pitcher of lemonade. Kim shocked him with her Kimmunicator.
"What was that for?" Ron demanded, struggling to keep from spilling the food.
"Just making sure you're not Camille," Kim told him.
"But she's right down there in the Technology Lair!" Ron protested, setting the bounty on a counter.
"You can't be too sure," Kim informed him. "She's tricky."
"She is, isn't she?" Ron agreed, then shocked Kim right back.
"Hey!" The redhead protested.
"Just making sure," Ron assured her.
"Leave me out of dis, please," Trudy's guard pleaded. The teens called a truce and soon they and the henchman were eating, watching their charges, and talking like old friends.
"Zo, you znuck into zer lair vitout der frauline because zshe had a book from zer library dat vhas overdue?" The man asked Ron, when they discussed the misadventures the boy had endured while Kim was working under Ms. Hatchet's angry gaze.
"Sometimes it was hard to believe that we had to deal with teenaged life, as well as techno-villains," Kim told him.
"You two lead a very interesting life," he murmured, with a shake of his head.
"How about you?" Ron asked. "How do you get into the henchman trade."
"I ztarted out as a porter," he admitted.
"What's that?" Ron asked.
"I vhas der guy who rode along in der truck vit der driver," he explained. "and helped unload der cargo. Vhun day, I zaw henchco's flyer at der loading dock and took a copy. Next thing I know, I'm enrolled in the henchperson's union and vorking for Dementor. Der pay was much better than der porter's."
"It's that simple?" Kim asked, but Senior interrupted the henchman's response.
"Time certainly flies when we're conducting simulated villainy," he declared. "It is already time for our afternoon break. My servants have set up some light refreshments in the Dining Lair. You are all welcome to partake, or to spend the time discussing additional strategies."
Again, the aging villain herded his prospective daughters-in-law out of the Technology Lair. Camille Leon immediately rushed off in her suite's general direction. Trudy's guard immediately followed her.
"Is something going on with that?" Ron asked Kim.
"I bet they decided that Camille is the biggest threat here," Kim told him. "Trudy doesn't want to get played again, so she's having her guard keep an eye on Camille."
"Not a bad idea," Ron commented, falling in step with Kim, behind Bonnie.
Senior led the small group to the Dining Lair and engaged the two contestants in casual conversation. The elderly man didn't stay at the table very long; just long enough to enjoy a cool drink. On two occasions, Dementor's guard rushed through the room, sporting a frustrated look on his face.
"I bet he can't find Camille," Kim whispered to Ron. "I wonder where she's gotten to?"
Before Ron could respond, Senior and his guests finished their refreshments. As Senior led the way back to the Technology Lair, Bonnie and Trudy excused themselves to attend to 'other business.' Kim followed the two at a discrete distance while Ron looked around for Camille and Trudy's guard. Ron had just spotted the Dementor henchman, approaching from the guest suites' direction, when Bonnie and Trudy emerged from the Ladies Lair. Kim trailed well behind the two contestants, who were on an intersection course with the oncoming henchman. The guard reached the corridors' junction before the two contestants and signaled his charge, with a shake of his head, that he couldn't find Leon. About that time, a ventilation diffuser, which Bonnie and Trudy had been walking under, literally exploded out of the ceiling.
The girls froze in shock while Kim, Ron and Trudy's guard moved in to investigate. Elly's burly bodyguard rose from the dust and took two steps towards the cowering blonde before Dementor's henchman sprang into action.
While the typical henchman couldn't handle Kim or even Ron in a fight, Dementor had clearly sent a very capable man to guard his daughter. He reacted almost as quickly as Team Possible's members and, since he was much closer, he arrived on the scene first. He reached the rogue guard just before he got his hands on Trudy. Dementor's guard tackled his adversary and the two bulky men tumbled down the hallway towards Ron.
The blonde boy was confronted by a wild mass of flailing limbs. Not knowing whom he should restrain, or even if he should try to restrain either of the men, Ron placed himself between the melee and Bonnie, determined to keep the brunette safe. Kim joined him as the struggle calmed, revealing Dementor's guard with a solid headlock on…
Camille Leon?
"Kindly unhand the contestant," Senior sternly instructed the man. "I brook no violence to my guests."
"But vhat is dhas?" The henchman demanded. "It vhasn't her dat I zsaw!"
"Miss Leon has just eliminated your charge in a most treacherous manor," Senior informed the henchman, who was climbing to his feet. "Indeed, Miss Leon deceived me earlier, by posing as one of my servants and warning me that Miss Minated's guardian was seeking revenge."
"Because you warned us, we were all more likely to believe that he was sneaking around here!" Ron concluded, politely offering Camille a hand to her feet.
"So I'm out of the competition?" Trudy demanded, glaring at the henchman.
"Indeed, Miss Dementor," Senior explained, in a patient tone of voice. "On your first day here, I explained to everyone that I would not allow any violence offered to any of my guests. As per the terms I explained on that day, you are eliminated from the competition."
"But he didn't know it was her!" Trudy protested. Interestingly, the blonde girl sported only a light accent.
"It does not matter," Senior informed her, gently. "It was still an assault. This is, after all, a villainous competition. Miss Leon eliminated you honestly, by devious means."
"Playing me didn't work," Kim growled, firmly taking Camille's hand out of Ron's. "So you tried the other team?"
"If this other guy," Camille pointed at Ron. "Had been five steps closer, I would have taken out your contestant, Kim."
"So I'm out, just like that?" Trudy gasped.
"Indeed, Miss Dementor," Senior reminded her. "I suggest you and your attendant pack up your things. My plane will take you home within the hour."
"I guess it's just as well that I lost," the girl grumbled. "Papa has been having stomach troubles."
"The professor's ill?" Kim asked.
"I don't think it's very serious, but it's a topic I'd rather not talk about. Fortunately, his last delivery from Henchco included a complimentary songbird. He says that the singing is a delightful diversion for him, since he cannot get far from his toilet."
"Please give the evil professor my regards when you meet him," Senior declared, with a note of finality. "I will now brief the last two contestants."
"Very well, my two lovely and devious, potential daughters in law," he addressed the two girls. "My original plan was to hold a contest to determine the best at gleaning information from casual conversations. Before the contest, I had already inviting my poker companions to the island, giving each of them secrets, and seeing which of you lovely young ladies could trick them into divulging their protected information. However, Miss Rockwaller took the evil initiative and eliminated Miss Lynn on the very first day."
"However, the Big Book of Villainy calls for us to be flexible," Senior continued. "Thus, tomorrow will see us conduct the final competition. Your goal will be to capture my son's heart. The two of you will spend the day with Junior. Tomorrow evening, in front of my wealthy friends, Junior will choose his bride."
A/N: The contest is almost done! Please stay tuned for the conclusion! Thanks for reading and thanks to Joe Stoppinghem for his ever-patient beta work.
Until my next update, best wishes;
daccu65