Chapter 19: Sending a Message

Chapter 19: Sending a Message

The streets of Haven City were empty. Empty save for two thugs in ski masks trying to break into a jewelry store. These two thugs weren't the best at this act of vandalism. For one, neither had brought anything to pick the locks on the fence.

"Can't you just tear it open with your hands or something?" One thug said.

"No, I can't just tear it open. I don't have super strength, Henry."

"SHHH. Don't use my real name, you idiot. What if someone hears?"

"Who's gonna hear? There ain't no one around if you couldn't tell."

Dana Dozer sat on the roof above lazily watching the two men argue. Tonight it was her turn to use the VIS but the game wasn't all that fun at the moment. There were only so many times she could stop a bank robber before getting bored after all. She had been hoping for an actual fight, to feel the rush of adrenaline in her veins.

Dana thought back to the day she had faced that obnoxious roleplayer. Despite his annoying tendency to be over the top, Dana enjoyed the fight. It had sparked an interest in learning how to fight. Maybe then she could show up her idiot of a brother. Of course, mom and dad weren't about to let her take any sort of martial arts lessons. Not because they didn't want her, they just couldn't afford it.

Dana jumped down from her perch on the roof and landed on the pavement below. The ground cracked under her weight and the two criminals turned with a start. Dana swung a fist at the one on the right and sent him flying into the air. The second turned to run away but Dana grabbed him into a chokehold and held him still.

"Tap out, tap out," Henry groaned. The thug tried to struggle out of Dana's grip by pulling at her arm but wasn't equipped with super-strength like the woman. She sighed, it looked like another simple fight.

His partner fell back down to the ground with a thud and Dana grabbed him with her other arm. With both thugs in a chokehold, the hero started spinning around. The two thugs went from struggling to escape to struggling to hold on as Dana's spin became more of a tornado.

"Henry, I'm slipping!"

"Stop. Usin'. My. Name."

Once Dana had gained enough speed she let go of both thugs. The two criminals soared up into the sky and twinkled as they disappeared. She sighed again. Even messing around with the mobs in the game wasn't any fun.

Dana sat down at a nearby bus stop and watched the video advertisement while thinking of what to do. She was only C rank at the moment, maybe she should try and work her way up to B rank. The NPCs kept talking about how she could use the shuttle when she hit B rank. Maybe there was a chance of finding some fun there.

The video screen she watched flickered and changed. Instead of some random advertisement, a familiar face appeared. Dana shot to her feet as that roleplayer from before stood next to the mayor's son. Behind him stood a row of suited mannequin-men, like the ones she'd fought against the first time. Except now the minion's held a straight cane in their hand.

The man adjusted his monocle and fixed his suit before speaking. "Hello people of Haven City! It is I! Dr. Zlo!"

Dana smiled. It looked like she might get a good fight after all.

Dextra had been created to be the rich corporate mastermind. The plan was to buy the entire island, or become mayor and rule the place as a villainous nation. With their power of superintelligence, the idea had seemed easy enough. Of course, no one could expect a villain like this ruining their plans.

However, Dextra did have to admire Dr. Zlo's theme. The whole monocle, mustache, and top hat look evoked a definite reaction in anyone who saw it. Add in the lanky frame and maniacal voice and you had a classic villain. The mad science addition was a nice touch, but maybe a bit too steampunk.

Truthfully, Dextra didn't care that their plan to take over the city had been ruined. There were three more like it in the works. But the way they played the character meant any sort of slight in their plan was a slight against them. Dextra was meant to be the maliciously evil mastermind after all.

"The man is a blight, Ms. Black," Hans said, reminding Dextra of their presence and bringing her attention back to Dr. Zlo.

"Indeed," they replied as they watched the villain command his minion to control Tyler, exposing him as the hero Stonewall.

"As you can see, your beloved Tyler is none other than the hero Stonewall! Once again, I require one hundred million dollars for his safe return. Oh, and to give you a taste of the terrible things to happen, I have prepared a demonstration."

Dextra watched as the villain turned and pulled out a strangely shaped gun. It almost looked like a hairdryer but there were too many other accessories on it for that to be the case. They watched as Dr. Zlo aimed and pointed the weapon at Stonewall.

A beam of purple light shot out of the end of the gun and connected with the captured hero's chest. Dextra watched as the large super shrunk down. Well, not all of them shrunk. The hero's hips seemed to widen and Dextra stared as Stonewall's chest expanded outward. The hero's stomach shrunk down to a svelte six-pack of abs.

Stonewall's rocky, fractured exterior shrunk down and reformed into a marble-like material, smoothing out all the rough edges. Amazingly, the jeans Stonewall wore shrunk with the hero, staying a pair of form-fitting yoga pants. Dextra blinked and Stonewall suddenly had a torn t-shirt top on, ripped at the sleeves and stomach. Finally, the hero's stony face became a marble bust of a woman's, complete with wavy long hair.

"Say hello to the mayor's daughter, Tyla! Ahahahahahahaha!" Dr. Zlo threw his hands into the air as he laughed. "Remember, you have until dawn!"

The broadcast shut off, leaving Dextra alone with their minion.

"Hans, ready the car. We're going to go hunting."

"Of course Ms. Black."

Villainous speech finished, Dylan turned off the camera and turned to his minions. The Jacques milled about the area save for the group standing behind Momma Mabel. The minion had taken control of a few of the Jacques and had converted them into a completely different unit. Their suit jackets had been replaced with a formal vest, giving them a semi-formal look.

Cass stood by a console hosting a single large button. Wires ran from it down and over to a monorail train resting on the tracks. Next to him stood a few more Jacques with canes. Cass seemed to be a bit nervous.

"Boss are you sure this is a good idea?"

"I'm always sure Cass! Now, let the show begin!"