Chapter Two

"Ill Mannered Temptress"

Apex Chemical was a division of Apex Industries and anything that had anything to do with Apex industries was high priority to Dexter and Freakazoid. There was still the slim chance that Gutierrez was alive. Any chance the boys got to sneak in there on legal terms and snoop around was too grand an opportunity to pass up. Normally Freakazoid was banned from entering the premises of any Apex corporation building, but being that the thief had locked the place down from the inside, it was unlikely anyone else was going to get in without causing measurable amounts of damages.

Dexter was still nervous, more cautious than Freakazoid and less determined to go hunting for Gutierrez. As far as he was concerned, the longer the villainous CEO stayed missing the better; he just wanted more answers about their union, answers Roddy couldn't give him even being the chip's creator. Their mentor had made it clear to tread lightly, even before he had acquired the Pinnacle chip's powers old Armando had been a powerful man. His wishes would get done whether he was around or not.

'Find out what's going on before we barge inside' Dexter instructed.

"Jeeeeez!" Freakazoid groaned, rolling his eyes. "Aren't you the bossy one today? It's not my first day being a super hero ya know?"

'Then why are we in the lobby if the cops are posted outside?'

Freakazoid felt Dexter smirk; his little buddy had gotten quite snarky after a summer's worth of training and pummeling bad guys to pulp. Maybe the attitude came from the happenstance when he had used telekinesis against Gutierrez and Freakazoid couldn't lift a brick without smacking himself in the face. Now, Dexter hadn't manifested any abilities since, but Roddy speculated that perhaps when in their subconscious state their powers were divided based on which personality they originated from.

It was a simple theory but Roddy figured that maybe one day Dexter would be able to make that power surface. The thought exited Freak more than Dexter, who only groaned about how he didn't want the added responsibility of powers whenever either brought the subject up.

'There…over there. It's Cosgrove. Ask him'

Outside the local police had set up a stakeout, which was odd because according to Cosgrove there were no hostages and just a single intruder. The vagrant had locked every automatic door in the facility and the doors were all reinforced; no one could get in. Freakazoid shook Cosgrove's hand with a smile and told him he would get the intruder out…and do a rain check on that mint, he did have to get back to school after all.

It was easy enough to get inside through the wiring. The interior was eerily similar to Apex Industries' main tower. Freakazoid walked casually about trying to figure out how he was supposed to find the intruder with no leads in a seven story building? Dexter suggested looking for areas where the power was fluctuating; there was only one person here besides him and they had to be opening the electronic doors or going through computers or something.

"S-M-A-R-T spells Dexter", Freakazoid singsonged as he fizzled into a nearby socket.

…

The lights flickered for the second time. Audrey tugged at her hood and tried to focus, tried to hurry and find the jar she needed because she knew he was here. Oh, he was so annoying and stupid if he'd just keep his mouth shut she might actually tolerate his company.

"Ah, damn"

There were so many specimens in the cabinet that Audrey began setting them aside on the counter, of course careful not to drop them. She didn't want to find out that there were any deadly compounds stored in the fridge and end up in a body bag or transformed into some kind of monster. Many villains in this city were mutated from average, forgotten losers; the ones the bullies picked on at school.

Much like her new partner in crime she thought with a smirk on her face.

Something looked to be of interest so Audrey took the time to pull out the jar, hold it to her face and read the label. It said 'youth cream' on it. The prospect was alluring enough that she tucked it into her bag and continued her search.

A good minute later…

At long last she found the jar she had broken into the blasted building to retrieve. With haste she put it in her bag and headed for the door, the only way out of the closed off section of this particular storage room. But as she opened the door Audrey heard a muffled voice off in the distance.

"Shit", she cursed beneath her breath. "It's the blue blunder"

Closing the door softly and turning the lock Audrey soaked in her surroundings. She needed a way out. There were plenty of chemicals, flammable chemicals she assessed as a dark smile spread across her face. Reaching into her bag she pulled out a roll of duct tape and went to work, hoping she had enough time before Freakazoid came in after her.

"This place is bigger than it looks from the outside…" a brash sound caught his attention; was that the tearing of tape? "What was that? It sounds so ANNOYING!"

'Well don't stand there making a face' Dexter scolded. 'Go check it out'

Freakazoid relaxed his expression and turned to where he had heard the noise. Pressing his ear to the door, there was definitely something going on in there. Someone was tip toeing around all sneaky like. He kicked the door in to catch them by surprise, but his ear to ear grin was seemingly wasted. Nobody appeared to be in the room.

'Look around so I can see please' Dexter asked; he observed the images from their subconscious, keeping them embedded in his mind for clues. 'Look over there Freak. Those jars are just sitting on the table. Someone took them out of the fridge'

"Oh wow", Freakazoid was engaged as he sprung over to the scene and examined it; of course Dexter was right. "You're so observant!"

"Are you talking to him?" Audrey whispered from her hiding spot; she slowly rose from behind the counter, a gun pressed against her back. "How cute"

"You again?" Freakazoid groaned, his bottom jaw protruding. "I thought the writer was done with you"

"Excuse me?" she hissed turning the chamber on him and firing a warning shot. "Have you no manners? No wonder you're single…Mr. Douglas"

"You know about…" Freakazoid's eyes opened wide, his fists clenched defensively; Audrey leaned on one leg, smugly folding her arms over one another, the gun's shaft bouncing lightly on her arm. "Who told you! It was your boss wasn't it! Oh when I face him again ima going to give him such a pinch!"

"Assuming he's still alive…" she smirked while throwing the comment out there, her painted lips twisting dangerously. "…but I suppose only Gutierrez can know for sure?"

While she taunted Audrey psychologically sucked Freakazoid into a stand-off and began taking little steps to the side; he matched every step until he had crab walked half a circle. Freakazoid was so distracted by the taunting curve of her lips that he missed the mischievous glint in her eyes. Audrey let out a breathy chuckle.

"What's so funny?"

"This", Audrey giggled as she whipped out her pistol and shot the table, igniting the chemicals and birthing a flashy, powerful, very loud explosion; she was thrown back against the counter and did her best to take cover.

'Freakazoid!'

Dexter's alarmed voice rung through the teen's head, snapped him out of his state of shock and alerted him to the very unwanted fact that they were free falling. He reached out, flailing his limbs as he cut through the air. Pinching his face in distaste Freakazoid realized that he had been tricked by her again; he folded his arms in a haughty pout before plummeting into the sidewalk and reducing its structure to a crater filled with rubble.

Audrey didn't waste time looking to see if he was out. If that kid was conscious after that she might as well try to get a head start right? She quickly vacated the building to her getaway bike in the back alley. The cops must have been too occupied picking up Freakazoid's itty bitty pieces to bother looking for her because as she pulled out into the street there was no one out looking for her.

…

"Ow", Freakazoid whimpered as he lifted his hand out of the rubble. "I'm going to feel that tomorrow…ow, no wait- feeling it now. Feeling it real good"

Freakazoid felt hands gripping his costume and pulling him up to a standing position where he stood on wobbly legs trying to figure out why everyone had three heads. Cosgrove wrapped his arm around the boy with a smile. Freakazoid stumbled alongside him as he was taken to the ambulance.

"You're tuff, kid. Real tough", he said as he patted him on the shoulder. "Hey if they say you're good to go how about we go get that mint?"

"…kay…itsadeal…" Freakazoid mumbled incoherently as he fell back into the bad of the vehicle. "…butI-can'tstaytoolong…gottabacktoclass…"

…

A dimly lit room with a flickering florescent light housed Audrey's partner, a man who appeared mild mannered enough, fitting the stereotype of the typical chemist. He was of average height, but bone thin and sickly with pale skin and brown hair that stuck to his head with grease like it was wet. Looking up his elongated face reflected in one of his beakers as he lit the pilot and proceeded to warm up the chemical.

Creaking turned his head; Audrey was creeping into his space. Lovely woman, but very ill tuned to his distaste in her lack of boundaries. The bun on her head bounced as she walked with quiet precision to his work table. Once in the light he glanced over and saw the smirk she often wore when everything went well to his pleasure, but her eyes revealed like clear pools that deep down something troubled her. Perhaps a certain someone had intervened and caught her off guard?

That was the most logical solution.

He glanced away at once when she leaned against his counter, the cut of her shirt a little low for comfort. She knowingly turned to him and flashed her pearly whites while she leaned over to snatch the glasses from his face. Instantly the man turned and looked her in the eye; he watched her play with his only pair of spectacles, turning them in her dainty hands and feigning interest. Audrey folded the glasses and placed them on the counter just out of his reach. They made a soft tapping sound as she set them down.

"You are a troublesome minx", he grumbled wearily. "Return my spectacles to me"

"Shush", she teased as she reached into her bag and daintily pulled out what he had sent her for; his face lit up at the sight of it, eyes squinting as he reached for the small glass container. "See, no need to get all huffy doctor"

"I will still be needing my glasses", he held out his hand expectantly and Audrey obliged him; he opened his glasses by flicking his wrist and slid them on. "Thank you, my dear"

A chill ran up the doctor's spine as her slender hands suddenly reached around him, which wasn't very hard because he was so thin; she pressed herself against his back and whispered into his ear. Her words were like venom, poisoning his better judgment.

"No Doctor Warner…" she gently hissed into his ear. "Thank you for finding a way to close the gap between us normal people and that blue freak"

"The files you provided me with were very helpful", he added meekly.

"I just knew you'd know what to do with them, being an ex employee and all", she whispered into his twitching ear, her hot breath making him shutter.

"…I will…need..ahem…some time to prepare the serum…"he instructed wearily,trying to buy some space from the succubus leering over his shoulder. "…and one more ingredient is required…"

Her interest was sparked. Smiling from ear to ear she leaned over the doctor's shoulder and beckoned him to tell her what he needed and promised she would find it. If this meant she could live among men like a goddess, never feel pain or grow old then it was worth the trouble.

"Come now doctor…tell me what it is you require…"

((Author's Note))

So, for some reason I have a lot of fun writing Audrey Manatee who you all know becomes...
well, you either know or you'll find out soon enough in a couple chapters. And the good doctor, well we'll learn more about him very soon as well. mwahahahahahaha! I'm really going to struggle to keep this story from getting too dark because the recipe calls for a little tragedy.

Thank you SOOOOOOOOO much for all your guy's support at the beginning of book two! I have so much fun writing and it just makes my day to hear you all enjoying it so much :) Will have to edit chapter three before I post it so maybe it'll be up by Monday.

Have a good weekend Huggbees!