AN: I realized a bit too late that I was supposed to upload this chapter hours ago. Well, hope that it's not too late. Here's another chapter and I hope you all enjoy it!
Chapter 4 - A Decision You Can Take or Cannot Escape
The ride back home was quieter than usual. In a situation where one or two of them would have talked more, the Bad Guys were lost in thought of the black-ops offer. There wasn't anything else good to talk about since the previous fiasco at the fight club turned out to be a bad highlight for them. There was no gain from it eventually.
It wasn't truly awkward, however, as they enjoyed the familiar drive back to their hideout. A sense of calmness came over them as they drive through the empty riverbend. The trip through the tunnel underneath the bridge was uneventful. Nothing changed from it since Diane ensured all records of the hideout's location were removed.
The only major changes occurred inside their hideout. Once the elevator doors opened for home to greet them, they were met by the shine and glow of their base. Blue light highlighted the fur and scales of Bad Guys as they stepped in, reflecting the similar shine of stolen goods from rewards and previous casual heists.
Wait a minute, no. This shine wasn't from the money, treasure and artifacts they possessed. In fact, that was stored away in another room. The huge main base, the size of a warehouse, was converted into a more comfortable, less-crowded area where it could make the living room of mansions look jealous.
The kitchen and television areas remained, but they included more furniture suitable for a normal, domestic house. Not to mention equipment easily recognizable for a superhero headquarters. From what they could see in this spot, it included a computer table with large monitors, a small area for arcade games, a guest en-suite, a mini fighting ring that served as their training ground and a large hologram table in the center for planning.
Chandeliers decorated the ceiling, filling in the broken ceiling lights. This time, they illuminated in colors of light blue, orange and pink. It would nearly look like a party going on, but they were bright enough to see through. Enough to lift the spirits of the Bad Guys from their double careers. Didn't mean that they got used to it, regardless.
Especially Snake as he blinked his eyes upon clashing with the blue light. "This is all so cold. So cold…"
"What do you mean?" asked Wolf. "I don't feel cold."
"No, it's the lights, it's…" He paused, trying to tell what he was bothered by. "It feels like the cops are watching over us."
"This is not like the blue the police wear," pointed out Hornet.
"I know, but it's a little too much. Too soothing. Too calm. It's not the same."
"I don't know," said Shark, smiling. "But it feels calm. Like a calm ocean!"
"I prefer more warm colors," said Snake, shaking his head. "It's not the same as the golden glow. Even Webs' hair is not the same anyway!"
"Dude, I told you that they had a dye offer at the fight club!" said Webs.
"Better than nothing," said Piranha, shrugging nonchalantly. "We used the 8 ball to make the decision!"
Wolf took a look around the room as they made their way to the television area to rest. Snake was right that it wasn't really the same. No matter how long it was ever since they last decorated the room, it was still hard adjusting to the recent changes. Ever since becoming mercenaries, they had to switch things around for their own direction of being 'good'. All of this additional equipment was necessary in getting ready to take on a larger world.
Admittedly, it was his excuse to distract himself from being a full bad guy again. While heists were still a regular hobby, the risk of drinking in their accomplishments could lead his pride to send them back to jail. The best thing to not continue bragging severely was to create these new areas to remind themselves of missions they would need to do. Even for a sense of normalcy.
He smiled ironically, finding it funny that at least two out of six find the room unfamiliar. He had to admit that he missed what it was like before and it was much harder to handle today, but it felt more worth it than taking the easy and risky path of being 'villains'.
Despite Snake's comment, they didn't go into a deep conversation just yet. Wolf, Snake and Shark made themselves comfortable on the couch while Webs and Piranha decided to sit on the head rest with Hornet resting on the latter's head.
Wolf nearly thought of turning on the television, but he didn't want to discard the recent offer.
"So…what now?" said Hornet, sounding a little miserable. "You guys are the ones called over for this. What would you say to this?"
Wolf scratched the bottom of his chin. "I…I'm not sure about this. It isn't fair that they don't want you to be included. The government sounds like they have selective issues."
Shark scratched the back of his head. "I'm not sure about this. This sounds really shady. Do you think that they might make us do something bad 'cause we ARE bad?"
"That's ridiculous," said Webs. "They trusted us to help out for this 'mission'. It cannot be just due to our criminal expertise."
"You're saying we should…accept the offer?" asked Piranha. "Something doesn't sound right about it, chica."
Snake had a thought about it. "You know, I wouldn't trust whatever Diane gave us this time. But I'll g-give credit to her for helping us out on some days." He grumbled to himself, not liking to spit that fact out. "It's strange that people on this high level would want us for some undercover task to, I don't know, 'save the world'."
"It feels more like a VIP thing," agreed Hornet.
"But maybe we can give it a shot."
This elicited a gasp from the other five.
"Give this whole thing a shot?" repeated Wolf, surprised.
Snake shrugged, smirking a little. "Well, black-ops can do a lot of illegal stuff they get away with, right? This can be a perfect opportunity to do something bad without being punished while playing nice."
That would have sounded like a good idea for themselves, but when you think about how 'bad' black-ops could be, the implications weren't pretty.
"You're insane, right, sweetheart?" said Wolf, raising a critical eyebrow. "We're not the stereotypical monsters people know us now."
"But it's all in secret if we accept the offer, right?"
"Yeah, but that might go against what we want to present ourselves. We're not secret assassins who can talk the talk with the wrong people. A government mission to do something more illegal than we do sounds…overkill."
Piranha bit his lip. "I…have to agree with you, hermano. We're not THAT crazy. We're not killers! I mean, I love violence, but I don't like causing death to those who don't deserve it."
Webs smirked, playfully elbowed Hornet. "Good thing the heavenly vegetarian of the team is going to marry the right guy."
That was pretty true, though both Piranha and Hornet appeared annoyed on mentioning their future marriage.
"And for those who do deserve it?" questioned Snake.
"There can be like a hundred dimensions that show all the consequences of slaughtering!" squeaked Shark. "We might not have the order to kill anyone, but it's still risky!"
"Not gonna lie, that's a solid point," said Hornet, raising his hand. "I've heard stories about black-ops. They're not exactly…kind people. Whatever the other governors told Diane, they might work as a team to scheme something deceitful. Don't you think they might force you to be outside your comfort zone?"
"My point, exactly!" muttered Shark in understanding. "I don't really want to do a dirty task based on what people want us to do. It's a nice offer they give, but for what business?"
Webs had a different thought. "I say that we take the offer."
"See?" said Snake, pointing his tail at her. "She agrees with me."
"Not for doing bad things as you would want, Mr. Grumpypants."
Snake grimaced. "Expected."
"Enlighten me," deadpanned Wolf.
"The government gave us an option to not be in jail anymore," said Webs. "We have provided what we can for the city and what we can do during our freedom." She sighed, curling up her hands into fists. "As much as it sucks, I don't think they can keep this up by giving us the jail key card. They're giving us a huge chance to be free, but we must show we can earn this award."
"And I don't think it's just an award," remarked Snake. "It's a promise."
"Besides, if they make us exceptions to the law without reason, then the government could be attacked due to this favoritism. And that could lead us to have longer life sentences when we face more unpleasant people. Whatever they are worried about, I think they know we know angles they don't."
"By breaking the law?" asked Hornet, rubbing the back of his head. "Why cannot the government just do that for themselves?"
"Maybe it's because it would make them appear unreliable if caught?" wondered Webs.
Piranha huffed. "They could have just sent the military. Wait, but that would mean-"
"Don't even think about it, hon," laughed Hornet. "You said you don't want to kill anyone."
"Oh, right. Using guns…so basic!"
Wolf raised an eyebrow. "Webs, you have a valid point. But sweetheart, do you actually want to intimidate people?"
Snake seemed to be taken aback. "Excuse me?"
Wolf was already through psychoanalyzing his friend. "D-Do you actually want to scare people again?"
All eyes were on Snake. While most of them were done scaring people, Snake was often the one liking to remain as the meanest of the group. As evidence, he still wasn't friendly towards everyone outside his crew or at least didn't partake in any further interactions.
"I still manage to scare people!" insisted Snake. When he noticed the deadpan looks, he gave in. "OK, but you know that I…do get back into the habit of being a scary monster. It's just so different during the past year. No one is bothering us, so that's a good thing. But I didn't expect people to be kinder to all of us."
Hornet hummed, smiling. "They probably learnt their lesson when they saw you blowing up Marmalade's mansion."
"Oh yeah, there is this meme that calls Snake the 'reptilian deity'," chuckled Shark. "It exploded everywhere, babe!"
"Exactly!" piped up Piranha. "And they started comparing him to a lot of people. Such as Zeus, Thor, Hade-"
"OK, OK, we get it," mumbled Snake, embarrassed. "That's an example. And I cannot understand how they worshiped us. Even if they're unhappy with what we do, they're more tolerant. I can't mock-scare them anymore, I don't see them screaming in fear. It is all…new to…me."
"You mean new to us," said Wolf, pointing a finger at his own chest. "I mean, I cannot believe that I got many girls asking me out for dates."
"And I'm surprised they don't run away from me," cooed Webs. "They took me seriously as a symbol."
"And everyone thinks Hornet is cute now!" piped up Piranha. "Maybe because he was mistaken for a bee sometimes. And bees are cute." He paused. Their words, not mine."
Snake briefly looked to the side to see Hornet's face turning light pink. The look in his eye indicated it expanded more widely.
"Sure, it went all cosy for you lot," continued the reptile. "But don't you ever wish you might get the same feeling as before? With being feared again?"
Wolf sighed. Words couldn't describe how much that came close to home. "Snake, you know that I took a while not to be a tryhard anymore. I don't need anyone else's praise. It might have been great back then, but now, it feels more…free. Don't you think it's best feeling that no one is gonna be on your toes?"
"Nope," said Snake bluntly. "And I don't have any toes."
"It's a metaphor," snarked Hornet.
"Well, agree to disagree!"
"Whoa, whoa, hold on!" said Wolf, his ears lowering. "Are we agreeing?"
Snake laughed. "I'm just saying. We can take the offer or not. I'm just…kind of excited for it."
Wolf groaned, putting his face into his hands. "Great choose-your-adventure game."
"Hey, let's relax for a little," offered Shark. "Maybe some telly to keep our minds off? Diane said she gave us time to decide."
"Until the FBI starts banging on our door," humored Webs.
Wolf picked up the remote control and turned the television on. As always, it switched to the usual channel they loved watching. Instead of the normal live reporys, the news was more focused on an upcoming event.
"Calling all Butterflies!" said the familiar voice of Tiffany Fluffit. "It's officially confirmed that 18 Years 'Till Gone will be performing and nominated at the Million Musical Hearts Awards Show this week before they embark on their world tour! This popular band known for their experimental and colorful nature has topped the alternative charts 5 times this month with their new album!"
Appearing on screen was a snippet of one of the band's music videos. It presented three young adults performing with dancers wearing matching black robes, all set in a vibrating night club. Spotlights in gold, pink and red shone all over them, setting the mood for the tough-sounding techno-pop song. However, the club's Asian-inspired architecture indicated that they weren't like any other pop idols.
The screen transitioned to a live broadcast where Tiffany Fluffit was with the band themselves at the news interview table. The viewers could count eight of them. Five wore white, cyberpunk-influenced suits and helmets to disguise themselves. However, the three vocalists stood out strikingly at the front.
The Hispanic vocalist on the left was Black Rose. Light tan skin, black and pink eyeshadow and her long hair shaved on one side while the rest were pulled over to the right in a braid ponytail. Matching her joyful nature were the vibrant shades of lavender, purple and pink streaks decorating her braid. Her outfit was the most sophisticated: a black collared shirt, a red tie with zig-zags, black fingerless gloves, purple trousers and a pair of white boots with red soles. A bright red cropped tuxedo covered her top, complete with black buttons, a black lapel and her sleeves rolled up to her sleeves. Finishing the touch was a purple fedora with a rim in Cuban patterns and an attached feather, silver bracelets around her neck and silver earrings.
The Filipino vocalist in the middle was Glock. Tan skin, shoulder-length black hair tipped in hot pink and a large bundle of hair tied in the middle. Going for a more traditional look, she wore a baro't saya dress consisting of a light pink bara blouse, a black saya skirt, a hot pink tapiz overskirt with a black stripe and a white panuelo scarf with orange flowers. To represent the modern twist, she also wore a white and black puffer jacket with orange stripes, black leggings and white boots with chunky golden heels. Finishing the look was a pair of orange visor sunglasses and golden earrings.
The Malaysian vocalist on the right was Mania. Light skin and roughly dyed turquoise hair contrasting his black roots. His hair was tied in a loose ponytail with sideburns and a large, messy swoop combed to the left. His outfit was arguably the most untidy, but it reflected the Korean culture he grew to like: a golden hanbok with a white dongjeong, a black collar trim decorated in white swirls and black coat strings wrapped around his chest. This was finished off by a simple black denim vest, black fingerless gloves, black pants with a rip on his right side and black boots with cyan, pink and yellow shoelaces. For accessories, he wore a golden necklace and a black left eyepatch with a white X.
"Please introduce Glock, Mania and Black Rose to our humble newsroom!" said Tiffany, grinning from ear to ear. "And let's also hear it for their backing band: Miss Spoon, Freeman, Guff, Warren and Kettle!"
"Whoo-hoo!" cheered Glock.
"Let's hear it!" said Mania.
Black Rose, on the other hand, had a funny idea.
She threw her cup upwards, dosing her two fellow vocalists in soda. Laughter ensured from all of them.
"Oh my goodness!" guffawed Black Rose. "I'm so sorry!"
"This is so sticky!" said Mania, trying to sound serious. "Please don't tell me I'm dripping."
"I think our clothes designer will be mad about this," joked Glock.
To the Bad Guys, they were just another famous band interviewed for ratings. However, for one of them, it was the announcement of them performing live again. This time, on their first-ever world tour.
"Oh…my…goodness!" squealed Webs, her abdomen wagging.
Snake turned to her, incredulous. "Webs. Who are exactly those…crossdressers? And why are they called 'EIGHTEEN Years 'Till Gone' if there are only EIGHT of them?"
Webs chuckled sheepishly. "I…um…don't know. A lot of people like them."
"Huh?" uttered Shark.
"They are this popular?" asked Wolf, confused as well. "You don't often see kids wearing these. Interesting, but unusual…"
Snake snorted. "They are probably just some band stealing songs for money."
"No, no, no," explained Webs giddily. "They are a great band. They have the freedom to express themselves and explore territories to appeal with others. They're technically their own producer and label! I mean, there used to be only three of them as a pop group, but they came back a year later with a full band since they didn't want the popularity of their first album to rush them."
Hornet hummed, rubbing his chin. "I never heard of them, even though they're specifically related to Pop. Maybe they weren't too popular?"
"Yeah, not as huge as their first album, but they still have their own fanbase!"
"I'm, for one, sure that I'm glad they have the freedom to do what they want as a music group!" said Piranha cheerfully. "Like us!"
The song playing in the background briefly had a loud bleep. It sounded like a censor covering up a blunt rap Mania sang.
Shark clenched his teeth nervously. "Oh dear. This is giving me too much punk."
"It doesn't sound too bad," said Wolf. "We're already adults!"
"I know that," mumbled Shark. "I know which one is really adult."
"Hmm, hey, Webs! They seem to be close to their culture. If you're one of the members, then you should wear traditional Chinese clothes."
Webs was flabbergasted. "Wait, what? Maybe not-"
"Oooh!" said Piranha with a childlike glee. "Maybe you can put on that makeup that includes that white face paint! That way, you can be like one of them!"
"Hold on, dial that a little-"
Wolf laughed. "C'mon, you would look great in a Chinese dress and white face paint. With blushing red cheeks!"
"Don't say that," snarled Webs, her cheeks turning red.
"I'm imagining you playing the guitar with these guys."
"Oooh, maybe even have your tongue poking out or showing your teeth to show that you're fierce," continued Piranha. "Like a true rock star!"
"That's enough!" said Webs, burying her flustered face in her hands. "No more talking. No question. Stop."
Hornet tried his best not to snicker, patting Piranha on the head. "Piranha, you dummy. I don't think we know the appropriate use of white face paint in Chinese culture. Besides, you're from Bolivia and my heritage is Japanese. I don't think that'll fit for both of us."
"Let him imagine!" said Wolf coyly. "Kids these days can grow to become fabulous stars!"
"Wolf, please," said Hornet, trying not to think of anyone in too much make-up.
Detached from the conversation, Snake rolled his eyes. This band might look different to the mainstream, but they appeared too hip for his taste. Too many ideas blended into one. He doubted that wearing traditional clothing with a cyberpunk band and being listed in the alternative pop category would go smoothly.
Shark nearly spaced out as well, but he was trying to wrap his head around it. His best friend likes this band, but to him, it felt weird seeing this band being daring in looks and music. Especially since the song playing in the background could only be described as 'hardcore'. Yet, he knew that Webs was more likely to listen to this kind of music on the internet.
The elevator door suddenly opened, prompting all six Bad Guys to turn around. At first, they thought somebody had broken in.
But nope, it wasn't a criminal. It was a red-eyed piranha. One would mistake her to be Piranha, but she was distinctive. Silver and white scales, light red eyes, black eyeshadow and her fins strangely styled as a mammalian braid ponytail in the look of a mohawk, complete with a magenta streak. Her outfit was no different: a hot pink rose crown, a black leather jacket with pink golden spikes, a pink golden spike necklace, a black top fading to pink, a pink gem in her belly button, a black and pink flannel skirt held up by a pink belt, black leggings and black boots.
Fortunately, she looked surprised as they were, uncertain whether to move or not. In her hands was a cardboard box of what appeared to be books and trophies from a high school. In addition, she was carrying a backpack with a rope attached to it and a wheelie luggage bag her size.
Piranha stuttered, dumbfounded. "...oh, uh…hi there? What are you doing here, Fuchsia?"
Fuchsia chuckled sheepishly with a Bolivian accent. "Sorry. My parents thought that you left all your belongings back home and I was on my way with moving to…"
"Oh, hi, Fuchsia," said Shark casually. "How did you get here?"
"I found this weird charity map brochure outside," said Fuchsia, taking one from her pocket. "It looked like it had been there for a while, so I followed the big red circle."
And then, she whipped out her phone, taking a picture of the flabbergasted Bad Guys.
Snake slapped a hand over his eyes. "So much for climate change, Foxington…"
Hornet slowly leaned towards Piranha innocently. "Is this Fuchsia, the ex your cousins told me about?"
Piranha looked like he was about to snap. "MY EX?! She's not my ex!"
Fuchsia shared the same embarrassed look. "I'm DEFINITELY not your ex!"
Hornet crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes. "Huh. Your family must have thought otherwise."
"She's an old childhood friend of mine," explained Piranha wearily. "Her parents thought that I would succeed better if they hooked her up with me."
"We all know that," said Fuchsia, shoving the box into Piranha's hands. "You left these behind, dummy."
But Piranha barely recognized any of the contents in the box. "What? These aren't my things."
"Isn't that your name on those trophies?" asked Hornet, pointing to one of them.
"Piranha?" asked Wolf. "You didn't...tell the rest of us about her?"
"I thought she wouldn't be around my family after confirming to be in a different town."
"Me and Piranha didn't bother telling all of you," explained Shark. "I heard Fuchsia was gonna be another business in the criminal ring."
Snake snickered. "I guess we might have our little brawler feasting from some nice silver fish when she's close, am I right?"
Hornet was about to tell Snake off, but when he saw Piranha slowly turning to them with a tight grin, he decided to let this boyfriend spell it out.
"Snake," snarled Piranha without dropping the smile. "I will NOT hesitate to pull out all of your teeth."
"Guess you meant taking out all the bones before eating the flesh?" snarked Snake.
"This is getting a bit too much," said Hornet. "Wait, Fuchsia, is that a knife?"
The red-eyed piranha was holding one in her hand.
"Yes, it is a knife," she said bluntly.
Wolf, Snake, Webs and Hornet were understandably horrified, pupils shrunken.
"OK…" said Piraha, pushing Fuchsia's knife downwards. "I actually don't plan to kill Snake and neither are you."
"But when you first become a criminal, you need a weapon with you," said Fuchsia with a creepy grin. "You just start swinging it around and like stab, stab, stab! There goes your enemies!"
"She seems to be some sort of delinquent," said Webs, raising her eyebrows.
"Delinquents all end up drunk, locked up and miserable," muttered Snake sardonically.
"Oh please," said Fuchsia cockily. "The lucky ones get out alive. It would be easier to commit your first crime than later on when you grow older."
As she said this, Hornet glanced at Shark, who was shaking his head in disgust. Looking back at Fuchsia, seeing the careless look in her red eyes, Hornet could already see why the two piranhas didn't seem to favor each other that much.
The red eyes would have been scary, but they reflected something else. Akin to a naive person.
Piranha groaned. "Do you need help knowing Los Angeles? Again?"
Fuchsia snorted. "No. I'll be fine."
"Let me guess, you don't know your way around."
"Well, I'll just search for what I can find."
"It doesn't work like that."
"You don't know that for sure."
"If you are so wise, do you know how to make a fine escape without being caught?" asked Wolf, playing along. "Or without getting shot? Hideout? Contacts? Carrying a bag of ice cream stolen from the market?"
Fuchsia deflated at the thought. "Screw you, Snoopy."
"This is what we need to fix if you are gonna be a criminal," said Piranha sternly, grabbing Fuchsia by the arm. "C'mon! Let me just see what you brought over, missy."
"Fine," whined Fuchsia, like a younger sister being told what to do by her older brother.
As the two piranhas started to waddle away to another room, Hornet hovered upwards, deciding that he should come along.
"I'm gonna check on them," he said. "Just in case."
"Be careful," whispered Shark worriedly. "Fuchsia's a bit creepy."
Hornet raised an eyebrow. "She's a goth, but…she doesn't look creepy. How can you tell?"
"You would have to see it if you want to know."
Hornet wanted to ask what that meant but decided to leave it up to himself. "...OK?"
The little bug slowly flew towards where Piranha led Fuchsia to. Knowing that Fuchsia wasn't a threat, maybe incompetent, the rest of the Bad Guys rested back on the couch as they watched the rest of the interview on screen.
"Yep, the little fish is becoming more mature," said Snake. "It's a good thing that he and Hornet stepped in or who knows what chaos Fuchsia will bring?"
"My guess," said Wolf, shrugging. "She might get arrested for trying to steal a teddy bear from a baby."
"Yeah. I don't know about you, but I have a feeling that the children nowadays are more reckless. Especially when doing crimes."
Wolf hummed, sensing the disapproval in Snake's tone. "Well, no one is perfect. It would take time. It's a lot of information to take in before they can straighten themselves."
While it was more of a casual chat, the nearby Webs felt a little sad hearing this. She knew it was more in relation to Fuchsia, but given that she was around her, Piranha's and Hornet's age, it could still be applicable. The children didn't stand a chance against other criminals. These days, it was becoming more difficult and Webs got a taste of that when going outside her social circle.
It made her worry again about reaching future challenges as a criminal.
She crawled her way back to Shake, crossing onto his shoulder. The latter giggled upon feeling her, knowing it was her. It reminded him a little of how they first met; the ticklish sensation from Webs was never forgotten. Shark remembered that he used to be afraid of spiders despite Webs being friendly. Now, he lost the fear and often liked it better with her on his shoulder.
"So, erm, Webs?" asked Shark, still watching the television. At the moment, it showed the vocalists of 18 Years 'Till Gone trying to remove the helmets of their backing band. "I'm surprised that you're starting to like…this kind of music. I thought you listened more to techno."
"Why do you think so?" asked Webs, leaning against Shark's head.
"Because I noticed that you like fancying yourself in the 2010s era. As a fashion student, I can guess what style you prefer."
"Huh, didn't know that. For them, it's just me for what I like. 18 Years 'Till Gone is probably one of my favorite modern artists. They're nearly everywhere! If I wasn't the hacker, then how would I be able to know more about them?"
Shark curled his lips, still hesitant with liking the song playing during the interview. "Are they really a good band? I recognize that song's sound before. I believe I heard them on the radio. Maybe they sounded a little too…dark?"
"What makes you think that?"
The giant shark tried to think back on the many times he heard the vocalist's voices in the songs they sang. "Some of them may sound cute, but the lyrics can be frightening. Sad as well." Listening to the song playing on the television, it sounded savage and tough. "It's a bit hard to tell the noise they aim for."
Upon feeling a wince from the giant shark, Webs patted him out of instinct. It was probably due to the age gap between them, but she knew that Shark was the biggest softie of the group. He would prefer a more lighthearted aesthetic instead of something too confronting. Well, he could perform, but it was more of an act. Meanwhile, she loved the vigorous and sometimes inappropriate stuff she read on her computer.
"I just feel that this band…carries a lot of emotions," explained Webs, dreamily watching the band on screen. "They do show they know what they are doing as if they're avant-garde artists. I heard once that people would need to listen a few times to understand the meaning. It could mean much more."
"Mean much more?" wondered Shark. "All I hear is the grumpiness of a younger Snakr."
"That's probably due to Mania's songwriting. He's a little maniac." At this point, Webs was waving her hands as if leading an orchestra. "When listening to it, it feels like experiencing, well, heaven to me." She laughed, realizing how cheesy that sounded. "You know, like connecting to something that you can connect to. The words that embody a new personality. Or a huge pizazz revealing many colors."
Shark slowly nodded. "Their pizazz looks like a mashup. Chaotic. And would you say that there's meaning in the wild chaos reflected in their style?"
Webs grinned. "Good point! And you would know that a more crowded-looking or messy style could reveal anything."
Shark took a moment to absorb this new information in. While not fully familiar with modern music, he could see what Webs mean with this band. He preferred more friendly and jazzy songs for the whole family. But he could see the appeal and good connections made from the band Webs really like.
When Webs noticed how long Shark was quiet for, she felt embarrassed. "Is this a little too much?"
"Nah, it's all good, Webs," said Shark softly. "Just don't know what else to comment. You know more about this." He sent a wink to her. "Maybe Piranha is right, but you can be their fashion expert."
The tarantula chuckled sheepishly, opening her tiny arms wide to hug the giant shark on the side. "Aww. I think you would fit better, big guy."
Shark's pants suddenly vibrated. He casually took out his phone, but his smile fell when he saw who was exactly calling him. He glanced at Wolf and Snake, already engrossed in their conversation. Without needing seconds to consider, Shark let the growing uncomfortable feeling guide him to the kitchen area.
"Shark?" said Webs, holding on. "What's wrong?"
Shark sighed. "It's…my dad. He's calling me again."
It had been a while since he and his dad ever talked. Of course, Oscar the Great White Shark hadn't been in touch with him ever since he heard his son joined the Bad Guys. Over the past few years, they barely chatted. Only a few text messages and face calls, but they couldn't remember the last time they talked face-to-face.
Shark was nearly about to tell Webs to hide. She knew what his father was like and the last time they talked, it seemed to have left Webs meek. She didn't seem worried at the moment. But Shark was scared.
But scared of what?
He groaned, closing his eyes. Oh, right, yes. Seeing his father being disappointed with him. He could feel his father rolling his eyes on him already.
But he didn't want to leave him worried. Oscar had never hurt him before.
Reluctantly, he pressed the call button and the screen captured the face of his father. He had the same appearance as Shark's, except that the color of Oscar's skin was slightly more saturated. Oscar also had a mammalian grey mustache and beard which looked ridiculous out of place. This added to the purple stripes on his snout like a tiger shark. However, his dorsal fin slightly chipped made up for the rugged look.
"Wait, is his mustache the same color as Shark's?" whispered Webs.
From the screen, Oscar's eyes widened in relief yet carried the hardness of a veteran. "There you are, Lou! I thought that you would have ended up in the slammer."
Shark chuckled nervously, the familiarity of his real name giving him some pleasant nostalgia. Either for the best or worst.
"I'm…fine, Dad," he said awkwardly. "...how are you doing again?"
"Oh, you won't believe this, Lou," said Oscar proudly, slamming his hand to his chest. "Today, I managed to conquer yet another pirate ship again. They're a more feisty bunch but not too strong. I have to admire their traps. However, when I stepped in, it was more of wooden spikes they laid around."
Shark bit his lip. "Let me guess. You used those traps to kill the pirates?"
"Not really. When I got there, I already saw blood splattered on the swinging wooden cylinders. There, a few pirates tried making a bet that they could run through the obstacles to get me. One decided to go on all fours BUT with his back facing the floor. I don't think he made it since when one of the swinging cylinders swung in, it left him screaming. He wasn't scratched or anything, but there was a large stain on his pants."
Webs cringed, holding over where her crotch would have been at. "Ouch."
Shark snorted lightly. He was a little weary about his father's hobby in invasions, but at least there was some good humor. But he hoped that these pirates weren't good people.
"Is it a challenge for you, though?" he asked, trying not to sound tired.
"Oh yes, though I must admit that the captain nearly stopped me," said Oscar. "But he was dressed in a large teddy bear suit and hugged me. For like 30 seconds. It was only when I tore the head off the bear that I was freed."
"Brutal," muttered Webs.
"But it would feel nicer to be hugged by a teddy bear," cooed Shark. "Maybe…spare that guy so he could be in that costume?"
It was a silly suggestion, at least merciful. Shark waited as Oscar thought about it. It was nearly like staring at a mirror, not too moved by the powerful presence of his father. But he still felt apprehensive, knowing what the Great White Shark could do.
"Fair enough then," said Oscar. "Though, I don't think I'll find him in the woods where I dropped him off. But anyway, I think things might start to be better soon! I'm actually going to join a new empire!"
This caught Shark and Webs by surprise. A new empire? That was something new.
Typically, the Great White Shark never teamed up with anyone. He went solo or led his own criminal gang. But he didn't really have a team for long ever since…Shark left. Hearing Oscar reentering a team project would be the last thing they know. It was unlikely, however, Oscar would try backstabbing an empire for personal gain. Hiring him was much trickier since he was expensive. And difficult.
"How long are you gonna be in it for?" asked Shark, hoping his father wouldn't do anything stupid there.
"I think…it might be my last empire ever," said Oscar. "They said that they are gonna change the world for the better. I nearly declined, but their boss really wanted me. Something about needing the strongest guns in the market. I'll just…have a taste." His voice was noticeably lacking the previous goofiness and sadism he carried. He appeared more somber than happy about it. "…because of that, I'm wondering if…you would want to join me, Lou."
Shark's expression didn't change, but it barely hid the anxiety he held whenever facing his father. This wasn't the first time he was offered to join his father in whatever sick mission he would do. His father kept pleading for him to come back. A thought back to the flashback he had at the fight club was enough to deter Shark. He didn't like his father's ways of being a 'true' bad guy.
Shark shook his head. "Dad, I…I'm kind of busy. I cannot join."
"But Lou!" said Oscar, a mix of concern and stern in his voice. "If you come with me, then you'll be safe. I'm sure of that."
"S-Sorry, but I…have a mission to do with my friends. It's REALLY important."
Webs smiled. However, Oscar didn't. His glare intensified when he saw her.
"Lou," said Oscar quietly, keeping his voice to a scary minimum. "You're referring to the Bad Guys, right? They are a little…weird."
Shark flinched. "Dad, maybe for you, but it's the…kind of 'weird' that I like."
Oscar sighed. "Lou, you know that in this business, loyalty isn't gonna lead you to any good. It will get you killed."
"Oh yeah? Well, that should be the reason I can't come along with you. I told you many times…" Shark couldn't finish his sentence, wanting to get over this conversation. He could feel himself close to shivering, but there was even frustration.
Oscar rolled his eyes. He turned to Webs and the small tarantula could see the very look in his eyes, even though it was just a live recording on screen. There was annoyance but also seething anger. One that could burn a hole through her head. Webs glanced at her friend and back at his father. The room was suddenly cold.
"You have been using your God-given, natural talent for too long," growled Oscar, not keeping his eyes off Webs. "Keeping things on a low profile as a con and a master of disguise. And from what I heard, your mercenary-for-hire business is too tame. Everyone now sees you as a target. Is that how you cower?"
"I'm not cowering from anything, Dad!" argued Shark, surprised by how loud his voice was. "I'm taking an active part in dealing with the worst criminals. I'm bringing justice the right way!"
"Yeah, and guess what happens when you cross the wrong people when delivering so-called equality," said Oscar dryly. "You fail to kill, you fail to save your own life."
"Dad, I'm NOT the kind to kill," said Shark, trying to hide how much his voice was cracking. "I don't like the smell of blood."
"Do I need to remind you a million times about who we are? Or are you too senseless to remember that you are still a predator like us?"
That was when Webs tried to defend. "Hey! He's not senseless. He knows what he is doing!"
"Zip it, dolt!" yelled Oscar suddenly. "I wasn't talking to you! It was you and the other so-called Bad Guys' fault for parading him. Honing those fantasy thoughts? You should have known better that on the streets, luck is gained, not given. But I guess that I was wrong!"
"What? I wasn't parading him. I'm his friend!"
Oscar groaned. "All of that for something soft that leaves you defenseless?! I mean, have you been practicing being THIS stupid? Look at Lou! My son! You disillusioned him from what he still is as much as you are. This is no laughing business here! You're just making your kind look easy!"
Webs shook her head. "No, I-I mean, we are aware! We are taking things seriously! Perhaps if you just listen to-"
"Listen to you?" Oscar snorted. "Listen to yourself, young lady. After lowering your guard to a GUINEA PIG, how can I ensure that you're good at anything?" He gestured one hand to Shark. "You made my son provide more mercy than necessary and you've taken advantage of him for your blindness."
"Dad," said Shark. "She isn't really…"
He trailed off when he realized Webs not talking anymore. The poor tarantula was trying to come closer to him, but she didn't try to run away. She had her shoulders hunched and she couldn't maintain eye contact with Oscar. It was clear she was trying to maintain a stance, but Oscar's words cut through really deep. To put it simple, a person with enough power to control a country telling her off for being 'soft'...
Webs didn't know why, but it hurt more than she expected. She was scared. She was shaking.
Oscar moved his glare to Shark. There was no approval for his son's choice of being with the Bad Guys. To him, it was a cheap approach in building a crime career. However, his glare melted into a look of worry, his brows relaxing. As if fearing what his son would choose in a situation like this.
However, Shark overlooked the concern on his father's face. Instead, he quickly came up with a half-baked statement before he looked back at Oscar. He was dreading yet already saddened by what his father thought of him.
"Please, just let me decide, alright?" Shark pleaded, his fragile voice struggling to not break. "I-I need time to figure it out. I'm not gonna be as senseless as you are. Just…don't expect me to go to your empire, OK? I don't think the two of us will survive anyway if we all join…"
Oscar had a longing look at his son, wanting to plead his son again. He wanted to spell out that this empire might be a danger for him. However, his son was stuck with the Bad Guys. Those soft people, thought Oscar bitterly. Eventually, he knew that he had to find out about the empire he was joining. He just had to wait and see if his son would change his mind.
"OK then," said Oscar, despondent. "I should get going now…goodnight, my baby Lou."
Shark smiled sadly, feeling that this was some affection he could accept. "Goodnight, Dad."
Before Oscar could hang up, he noticed something different. His son had a golden ring pierced into his dorsal fin like an earring. He scrunched his face up in disgust.
"And until next time," said Oscar bluntly. "Please remove that golden earring. It makes you look too ridiculous."
Shark winced, knowing that his dad would criticize him for what he was wearing. It should be fine. He wanted to try to put on some piercings and the way he did it was something he liked. It might look feminine, but his father disapproved of that.
With the conversation already over, Oscar was already offline. That would mean that he already went to meet the empire or whoever called him. Shark stared at the phone for a long time before lowering it on the bench. He found himself hesitant to put it back into his pocket. But for what reason, he wondered? Why did seeing him again feel…hard?
There was emptiness from potentially losing his father.
But he already went through it, right?
He briefly touched the golden piercing from his dorsal fin. A shred of embarrassment sparked in him. He remained firm to keeping it on.
Webs felt ashamed of keeping silent after Oscar intimidated her. She wanted to think she was right. She knew she was. But Oscar was from another world. He was really different. A true bad guy. And she didn't know if Shark would agree with her, judging by how often he had to calm his father down. It always ended with empty promises with no returns to them.
"Do you think…he'll try calling back on you?" she asked.
Shark sighed. "Always."
"...do you believe that he…is right?"
"No!" said Shark, gently patting Webs. "I never think he is right. I think…he is crazy for thinking that I could be a murderer like him."
The small tarantula sighed, at least glad that her friend still hated the taste of blood. "Yeah…"
A few minutes had passed with Shark slowly calming down from his call. Piranha and Hornet were still talking to Fuchsia about the dangers of wandering around the criminal world without context. Wolf and Snake already moved their conversation back to the offered black-ops mission.
On their side, the two of them discussed the pros and cons. Wolf was mostly reluctant and Snake felt that it was reasonable for them to do so. Snake could have used his dislike of Diane to weigh down the positives, but he decided not to use distrust yet.
Moe, the Bad Guys' team pet and mascot, just arrived in the room after his nap. The orange tabby cat crawled up to Wolf, meowing for his attention.
"Aww, hey there, Moe!" said Wolf happily, picking him up. "How are you doing?
Moe meowed, nuzzling right into the canine's chest. Wolf could feel himself purring, joyful to see his kitten. Any unease melted away just by feeling Moe close to him.
"I'm glad he is the only thing that stayed normal around here," commented Snake. "Otherwise, I would lose my mind about all the colors in this place."
"I guess so," humored Wolf. "Just don't think of staring at his fur for too long. He doesn't like being stared at." His smile faded. "So, to ask again, you're sure about this? Now, I'll raise my hand up, but I want to make sure in case there's any second thoughts. You had a strong point to bring some doubt."
Snake sighed. "I already brought out all of my strong points. Besides, I made my point that doing this mission could make us feel like how things were before without facing the consequences. Nobody will know it is us as long as we don't reveal ourselves in the progress. It's nothing personal. But on the flip side, it might give you that wag in your tail to be a part of something big like this. And I know that you want to help Diane and the government with a global situation. To protect the world from the worst things out there."
Wolf's ears slowly stood up as if he was literally ignited by burning hope. He was still against the idea of abusing the mission to be the villain. Not like this when he was starting to enjoy his current lifestyle. However, if they turned down the offer, they could be ultimately punished for restless activities. He still desired to help people, so doing this mission could make a change. Might be a little sacrificial, but maybe there was a catch to it.
His faint smile widened, nearly becoming coy.
"You know, someday," he said. "I'm gonna pass my leader role to you when I die, sweetheart. I'm proud of you. And yet, Mr. Grumpypants would rather brood away instead of picking this mission with good reasons!"
"Are you kidding?" said Snake, raising an eyebrow. "I don't want your job, lunatic. Who needs THAT kind of responsibility? I'm just your wingman." He moved his body in a pose to look like holding onto his hips. "Your vastly superior wingman."
Wolf chuckled, giving a kiss on Snake's head. "Oh yes, you are."
"Did you say something?" called Shark's voice.
"Wait, what? No, no."
Snake snickered. "Alright, kids! Me and Wolf have decided that we'll take Diane's offer. Are you all cool with that?"
AN: The trip to explore the Bad Guys' hideout in its current state felt like it only happened in this chapter as we'll be exploring through new settings. While it's short, I thought it's a good idea to touch on how their home looks like. Given their wider, open circle in availability and reachability, they would be handling way bigger threats. So the new equipment was necessary, funded by Diane.
This chapter feels like it has introduced many MANY new characters to the play. So, I'll make sure to keep things brief.
Oh, boy, 18 Years Till Gone. This is a huge ambition. The first inspiration drew from 4*Town from Turning Red, hence the reference. However, I also took inspiration from the leading idol groups from the three Splatoon games (Squid Sisters, Off the Hook and Deep Cut). Additionally, Glock (potentially voiced by Ylona Garcia), Black Rose (potentially voiced by Adassa) and Mania (potentially voiced by Guy Sebastian) are modeled and based on I.M. Rally, MasterClass60 and myself, respectively, based on our interests and connected cultures. Believe it or not, they actually play a significant role despite being minor characters. This band is so much fun to create and think about, especially since I have at least three songs prewritten for them.
Everyone, say hello to 'Fuchsia Parsley'. Piranha's rather more creepy, cynical and inexperienced friend. Honestly, the story could have gone by nicely even without her. There's gonna be a huge dynamic between Piranha and Fuchsia; if you can't tell by her appearance, Fuchsia has a more different outlook and view of the world. This will be shown in the next chapter. One of the main inspirations for her is actually Ambessa Medarda from Arcane…OK, fine, I even took some inspiration from White Dragon (Peacemaker) and the 2023 TV version of Velma.
Me and Rally were gonna have her ideally voiced by Melissa Barrera, but because of unfortunate implications during late 2023 (also, side note: damn you, SpyGlass assholes, we trusted you to take care of the Scream franchise!), we changed it to Leslie Grace.
And last but not least is Oscar the Great White Shark! The person hired by a definitely-not-suspicious empire. While I knew that the Bad Guys would have family ties in the criminal world, I decided to give the main treatment to Shark. Oscar could be said to fill in Wolf's father's role (if you read the second half of the book series).
Oscar is basically the opposite of Shark, though he could be a murderous teddy bear. If the flashback in the previous chapter wasn't enough, then this should explain everything about him. Regarding his relationship with his son, it's gonna be explored throughout the story. I imagine that he would be voiced by Keith David, one way to let people know where Shark got his hamminess from. Additionally, inspirations for him would be Paimon (Helluva Boss), King Andrias (Amphibia) and Jinx (Arcane) and for GOOD reasons!
What do you all think of this chapter so far? Do you like the new characters entering the scene? And what do you think of the conversations/interactions between the Bad Guys? Let me know in your review. Thank you for reading this chapter! If you enjoy this story so far, be sure to favorite or follow. Constructive criticism is appreciated, but if any flames, then it's down the drain.
Until next time, keep on rocking!