Freeing Cymbal

Chapter 9


Jolie quickly looked up at the others. Cymbal was the same as he was, but she heard a low growl from beside her. Bobby was looking up at her, her eyes incandescent and amber. Jolie slowly pushed her self away, Bobby stood and sniffed the air around her looking around.
“Bobby...” muttered Jolie.
Bobby let out a cat like roar and she leapt off of the bed and brought Kelly to the ground. She screamed as Bobby’s claws sunk into her shoulder. Cymbal ran forward and grabbed Bobby trying to hold her down, but she was behaving like a wild animal. She raked her claws over his face as he tried to restrain her hands. Kelly got off the ground with her hand clutching her bleeding shoulder. Bobby slipped free from his grasp and ran to the door way and crouched down blocking the only exit. They all gasped as a long cat tail uncurled from behind her, her legs were changing into haunches.
“Whoa.” muttered Ruben.
“What the hell...” Jolie got off the bed and inched her way slowly to her cabinet she slipped her hand inside and brought out a small vile. Bobby caught her movements and bounded for her.
“Grab her!” Jolie yelled.
Cymbal sprang forward with equal speed and grabbed her. Jolie ran for her tools and took out a syringe. She filed it and ran over and grabbed one of Bobby’s arms and held it under her own. Bobby actually bit down into her neck with her sharp little fangs, but not before Jolie injected her with a sedative.
“Let her go!”
Cymbal released her and she staggered to the ground and fell back as the drug began to work. Bobby soon fell unconscious. Jolie sighed.
“She found out how to engage the chips.” she muttered and she looked at Cymbal.
“Is Cymbal...going to act like that?”

Jolie hesitated then nodded, Cymbal nodded back and he picked up Bobby and walked down stairs. Jolie followed him and he went into the next room where he had been before.
“We’re going to figure a way out of this, I promise.” Jolie told him with tears in her eyes.
“This One knows Jolie.”

* * *

Bobby was sobbing in the corner of the room. Cymbal tried to console her, but every time he would come near her she would run away. And what’s more, the tail and the haunches she had developed hadn’t changed back, neither had her eyes. But her mind was back to the way it once was. Cymbal was sitting near the door. How long they would have to stay in there he didn’t know and he wondered if Dygon would still engage the chip while he was in the room with Bobby. If they did would he attack Bobby? Would he break free and go after the others? Each question that presented it self had an answer worse than the last. It had been hours since they were locked away.
“Bobby.”
“Leave me alone.”
He sighed and he stood up again. And she ran again, but he caught her by her tail and pulled her into his arms and she hung rather like a disgruntled cat being held by a child.
“Bobby can’t keep crying it will do her no good.” he told her.
“What else am I supposed to do!? This one has no control over any thing any more and my DNA is so unstable I’m starting to look like an animal!” she almost yowled like a cat.
“Listen Bobby, Bobby and this One...are animals. These One’s aren’t human, but that doesn’t mean these One’s can’t control the way these One’s actions.” he told her sitting down.
“Yes it does, with these chips we haven’t a chance.” she sniffled.
He thought for a second, “What does Bobby think of when she is primal?”
“What does this One think of? ...This one thinks of...trees and animals...and hunting...” she muttered thinking back.
“This One does too, but when he thinks of such things they make him feel...untamed. Perhaps...if this One thinks of other things this one can control himself. What makes Bobby feel at peace?” he asked.

She closed her eyes and smiled, “Momma. She always made this One feel human and normal in her most abnormal hours.”
She looked down and her legs changed back and her tail was gone. She looked up at Cymbal and he smiled.
“Bobby’s eyes are back to normal.” he told her.
“Maybe Cymbal is right, maybe we can control this, but...it’s gonna take a while...we might need some help.”
“These One’s can help each other.” he said and she nodded.
She sighed and she hugged him.
“Thank you Cymbal.”
He chuckled and ran his hand over her cat like hair.
“Bobby is welcome.”

* * *

Three days had passed and Jolie had taken every rapid heal drug she had at her disposal. She refused to stay in bed at this point. Zach had retrieved a TV from her house and they were watching the news for and move from Dygon should it be made public. And indeed she did make something public and it was...Jolie’s full pardon?
“In Military news the charges place on Lieutenant General Jolie Titan were lifted today as other evidence was found to prove her innocent. General Alva Dygon had this to say...”
Dygon appeared on the news. Jolie scowled as she smirked at the camera. It was almost like she was starring right at Jolie through the TV.
“I send my deepest apologies to the Lieutenant General for this terrible mix up. I will of course giver her a full pardon, reinstate her occupation as well as give her generous compensation for her pains.” she said sincerely to the news crew.
A reporter spoke over the others, “General! Is it true that when Lieutenant General Titan was arrested she was sent to New York State Penitentiary, cell block number 666. A.K.A. the Devil’s Dungeon?”

“I am afraid that is indeed true.” she replied to their surprise, “There was a terrible mix up on her transfer file and she was sent there by mistake. A rather malicious offer who held a grudge hid the mistake and gave over counterfeit contracts as to her sentence with my forged signature. The offer has been apprehended, stripped of his badge and is now serving thirty to forty seven years in her place.”
“General!” yelled another female reporter, “There have been some suspicions to the death of Lieutenant Paul Younge!”
“Lieutenant Younge was a very brave officer and as to his death he was shot in the line of duty. There is no evidence other than vicious rumors of foul play.” she replied sternly.
And those were the only questions she answered. Kelly switched off the TV and rubbed her chin.
“No this doesn’t make any since, why would she pardon you after she worked so hard to frame you?” she muttered.
Jolie shook her head, “No she succeeded so far, she was trying to weaken me, make me vulnerable and then she wanted me to come out into the open and the only way she could do that is by lifting the charges. Plus...all of you haven’t been to work for days and that will arouse suspicion.” she grinned, “If any one finds out that her Lieutenant General and all of her Lieutenants just stopped showing up she would be inclined to explain why.”
“I get it.” said Tommy, “We got her in a tight spot.”
She nodded, “But she also has us in one too I mean...how long can any of us go not working before we can’t afford to live.”
“Oh snap, I got a mortgage and a stack of bills in the microwave!” yelled Lataura grabbing her head.
“I think we’ve reached a cease fire in a way.” said Ruben stuffing his hands in his pockets.
Jolie nodded in agreement. She couldn’t afford to quit her job either.
“Then we are all going to go back.”
“Are you kidding me?” asked Tula, “She’ll eat us alive it’s like cheating the devil and walking straight into hell and expect to get away.”
Hope chuckled, “But we have an ace in our hand, Dygon just made a public statement that Brick was killed in the line of duty and all Jolie has to do is say the word and boom! The real file goes to the public.”
They looked at Hope in awe, “You really thought that up yourself?” asked Lataura.
Hope gave her and indignant look.

Jolie smiled at her, but sighed, “Tomorrow some of us will go back to work and then more the next. We have to work it gradually so as not to arouse suspicion.”
“What about you?” asked Hope.
She nodded, “Me too.”
“What about Cymbal and Bobby?” asked Kelly.
“I can handle it.” she replied.
They all shook their heads.
“In your condition?” asked Hope concerned.
“Hey she’s got me.” said Skip.
Hope frowned, “She’d be better off alone.”
“Ugh! I resent that!”
“Ok just what the fuck is going on between you two! Perk asks like merry sunshine until you open your mouth!” Lataura finally yelled trying to solve the mystery.
“Mine your own business!” yelled Hope startling them all.
Her face went kind of red. Skip just chuckled.
“She’s just mad at me because...”
“Shut your mouth Skip!” she yelled at him going even redder in the face.
He chuckled, until she stood. Hope was a very strange woman indeed. She was a good six foot six some inches taller than he was and she could undoubtedly take him down. He held up his hands in defeat, but still had a smile on his face. She sat down and crossed her arms.
“I’m gonna figure this out.” said Lataura with a nod.

* * *

Jolie went down to the room where Cymbal and Bobby were. Every one else had left except Skip. She unlocked the door and went in. Cymbal grabbed Bobby before she jumped on her with a snarl.
“Bobby! Bobby! Calm down, think of your mother!” He tried to get through to her. She sat back on the ground her chest heaving her eyes still as feral as ever as she attempted to regain control.
Jolie watched in awe as she slowly shifted back into her old self. She fell back with a groan.
“This One is really tired.” panted Bobby.
“You...found a way to resist it?” asked Jolie amazed.

Cymbal nodded, “It is difficult, but these One’s have figured it out. These One’s think of calm things and thus it calms us down.”
“That is great news especially since...”
“Since?”
“Since we all have to go back to work.” she sighed.
He blinked at her dumbly, “Jolie and the others are going back to VINA corp. ...this One has one question. Is Jolie insane!? Even with the pardon Jolie will be right in that horrible buzzards talons!” he said indignantly.
Jolie chuckled. This was the first time Cymbal was ever really animated or sarcastic in what he had to say.
“Well this One knows that and this One knows what to do.” she said with a small smile.
He gave her a sardonic look, “Yes, mock this One’s speech.”
“Come on you two, let’s move it back to the house.”
“Is it wise that we leave?” asked Bobby.
Jolie nodded, “I think it’s ok now.”
Cymbal picked up Bobby’s limp body off the floor and they left the underground base and they went back to Jolie’s house. Minnie, Max and Phelix were glad to see all of them and so was Pan. Pan cooked while barking at Jolie like she was her mother.
“Going back to work I swear. Is your brain malfunctioning? You are already doing your damnedest to destroy her and you are still recovering for almost dying. You must have a death wish I swear...” she went on and on.
Jolie finally snapped, “Pan! I didn’t program you to nag!”
Pan turned and waved a spoon at her, “You programmed me with free will and Just because you made me doesn’t mean I’m above smacking you with every kitchen utensil in here missy!”
Cymbal was snickering.
“And you the spliced zoo! What are you doing just letting her go!?”
“This One has no control over Jolie’s decisions...”
“What kind of man are you!? Of course you do!” she yelled throwing her little metal arms in the air.
He looked confused and Jolie shook her head.
“I’ll be fine Pan I promise, I’m not going in unarmed.” she told her.
Pan sighed exasperate, “I give up, go get killed.”

Jolie went into the kitchen and Cymbal looked at Pan.
“What does Jolie’s decision have to do with Cymbal being a man?” he asked her.
Pan sighed and stirred a pot of soup, “If Michael were alive he’d never let her go. In a relationship it is usually a man’s job to protect the woman. Jolie is being reckless she needs some one more rational to help her think.”
“This One is confused.” he said scratching his head
Pan put down the spoon and she grabbed a pad of paper and wrote down some thing and gave it to him.
“Go to the library check out these books and read them. This is the kind of man Jolie has been waiting for and the kind of man she needs are like the main characters.” she told him, “Trust me on this. You don’t have to be just like them, but you need more experience if you wanna be a man.”
He looked at the list as Pan returned to her cooking. The kind of man Jolie wanted?
He went to the living room and told Jolie he was leaving.
“Where are you going?” she asked bemused.
“This One is going to the library.” he told her donning a jacket.
She grinned, “Read the whole down stairs huh? Ok be careful.”
He nodded and left Jolie wondering what he was up to. Skip was lounging on the sofa kind of zoning out.
“So...bored!” he groaned and sat up, “This sucks chief, can’t go any where, can’t do anything with this bum arm and plus your TV is smashed!”
“So read a book.”
“I hate reading!”
There was a knock on the door.
“Thank God some one to save me from your whining.” she got up and answered it was Lataura she came after work and was still in her uniform.
“Hey Chief.”
“What’s up, Shorty?” she asked.
“Uh...I’ve never asked some one else for help before so uh...” she started out.
Jolie stepped aside and she came in and took off her jacket.
“See...it’s like this...I missed pay day at work and...I missed two payments on my house and...”
“Let me guess every thing was repo’d?” sighed Jolie rubbing her head.

Lataura nodded, “Uh...yeah it was.”
“When?” she asked.
“...three days ago.”
“Lataura...”
“Look I ain’t never asked for nothin’ my whole life it took me that long to get over my pride and realize I was at the end of my rope! You gotta help a sister out, Chief.”
Jolie took her to the kitchen.
“If you want somethin’ ask.” said Jolie folding her arms.
She groaned, “Don’t make me say it.”
“How do I know what you need if you don’t ask.”
“Come on Jolie!” she almost whined.
“Tick, tock, tick...”
“Fine! Can I...stay ...with you...” she muttered.
“Hmm?”
“Can I please stay with you!?” she said loudly.
Jolie chuckled, “Sure thing, Shorty.”
“Man I hate it when you do that shit.” she growled sitting down.
“You need a man little girl.” said Jolie sitting down.
Lataura snorted, “What I need is a way to make good cash and whoring isn’t an option.”
Jolie laughed and shook her head, “I know you got your eye on some one.”
“Oh, and what makes ya think that?” she asked with a little attitude.
Jolie grinned, “You said so in your sleep.”
“Say what!? No way...this is a trick or somethin’.”
“I’m serious the others were talkin’ about love and you knew exactly what it was. So tell me who you like Shorty.” Ask Jolie.
Lataura cocked her head, “And what makes you think I would tell you if I did?”
“Who else are you gonna tell?”
“No one I keep it with me to the grave.”
“And die a spinster? Have you ever even had a boyfriend?”
“Give me a break no one wants this! I’m four foot ten, with corn rows and the voice of Mike Tyson!” she said indignantly.
Jolie nodded and she took out her cell phone.
“Who are you callin’?” she asked suspiciously.

“Reinforcements...Hey Tiffany it’s Jolie...”
“No! No don’t you talk to her!” she yelled silently waving her hands and arms angrily.
“Yeah I was wondering if you and Ebony could come over this Saturday and stay the night...”
“No! Hang up! Hang the fuck up!”
“Oh nothin’ I just have...Shorty over here. We need to turn her into a girl.”
“Shut your white ass up and hang up the phone!”
“Ok...sure thanks bye.”
She hung up.
“No! You call her back and you cancel that shit!”
“We aren’t gonna kill you Lataura and I’m not white I happen to be half mulatto and half Greek. Now you are staying in my house and when you leave at least you can go home with something.” she said.
“I hate you...”
“Aw, I hate you too.” said Jolie affectionately.
“How do you know I want a man...maybe I’m a lesbian.”
“Because when Ruben asked you that you decked him in the face and called him a spik.”
“Look I am prepared to do anything to get out of this including beg.”
“Why are you so against it?”
“Because I ain’t a pretty girl ok! I ain’t never gonna look like you...or...or Perk or Boss or even Kelly!” she yelled standing up, “I was like this as a girl, as teenager and now i am a butch woman and it will always be that way! I have no sense of style, I have no taste and Tommy wouldn’t notice me if I was wearing a red flag that said horny, drunk and cheap...!”
“Whoa! Whoa! Tommy?” said Jolie skidding her to a halt.
Lataura looked like a deer caught in the headlights, “Oh fuck me sideways.”
“You...are in love with Tommy?” asked Jolie again.
Lataura rubbed her face and ran her hand over her braids.
“...Yes ok, yes I got it bad for Tommy! Ever since I first met the guy! Ya happy!?”
Jolie was grinning trying not to laughing.
“What’s so funny!?”
“I’m sorry, but it...way too cute.”

“Aw man don’t call it that! It ain’t cute it’s stupid and wrong!” she yelled ready to rip her braids out, “He ain’t ever gonna notice me end of story!”
Jolie sighed.
“Lataura I don’t know where you got the idea that you aren’t beautiful.”
“Oh don’t feed me that bull. Even my momma said it looked like some one beat me with an ugly stick.” she said rolling her eyes.
Jolie got up and she grabbed her and took her to the living room and shoved her in front of Skip.
“Skip do you think Lataura is ugly?”
“Man what are you askin’ him for!?”
Skip looked kind of startled, “What?”
“Do you think she’s ugly?”
“And tell the truth.” said Lataura.
Skip blinked and shook his head. He took off his yellow sunglasses and looked her up and down.
“No, not at all.”
“...Huh?” said Lataura bemused.
“You aren’t ugly in fact, and this is off the record, I think you’re pretty damn cute.” he said earnestly.
Lataura laughed, “You aren’t serious.”
“Of course I am, you are very beautiful you just hide it all the time. You don’t have to dress like Hope but that doesn’t mean you have to dress like ...well you dress like me. Find a medium.” he told her and put on her glasses again.
Lataura blinked at him for a second and then looked at Jolie and sighed.
“Ok, do what you want.”
Jolie giggled and crossed her arms.
“Now that you are in a talkative mood Skip...”
They sat on either side of him.
“Tell us what’s goin’ between you and Perk man.” said Lataura.
“No way.”
“You were fixin’ to spill before.”
“Yeah, before she threatened to beat me up.”
“You are such a wuss man.” she said disgusted.

He chuckled and stuck his face in hers, “Wear a dress when the girls come over and I’ll tell you.”
“What!? Are you kidding me!?” she yelled indignantly.
“You open your mind and I’ll open my mouth.” he said with a sly grin.
“...Ok fine, but it better not be some frou-frou piece of crap.”
They shook on it and Skip sat back and sighed.
“It’s kind of a sad story. My dad was heavy in debt after he died. He was into drugs and owed a lot of money to his dealer who just so happened to be connected with the mob. So as the next of kind I had to pay it off. Well I was only seventeen and I couldn’t make that kind of money on the jobs I could get. So as payment he had me dealing on the streets.” he said and ran his fingers through his hair.
“Man that’s heavy.” said Lataura earnestly.
“Yeah, any way. At the time at school I was...dating Hope.”
“No way you and Perk.” she chuckled and pushed his shoulder.
He nodded, “We had been dating for three years, but here’s the thing the reason why she doesn’t tell any one. Her last name is Marino and the guy I owed was her father who is...the mob boss.”
“No way, Hope is a guinea?” said Jolie unable to believe.
“Well that’s one way of putting it. She really, really hates it lost all respect for her father. But one night she saw me with that delivery bag in her house and lost all respect for me too. She broke up with me the next day. She didn’t even want to hear why I started selling.” he sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, “Well there you have it.”
“You don’t seem that upset about it.” said Lataura.
Jolie looked at him, “Which means he was devastated over it.”
“...I loved Hope with all my heart.” he muttered and got up, “I’m going to bed.”
He left and went to his room.
“Man that is really sad.” said Lataura shaking her head.
“We gotta get to Perk.”
“Meddling thy name is Jolie.” chuckled Lataura with a smile.

* * *

“Cymbal...can you do me a favor?” asked Lataura.
“What?”

“Go primal and kill me!” she yelled.
Ebony laughed as she took out Lataura’s braids, Jolie gave her a pedicure and Tiffany gave her a manicure.
“Oh come on Lataura. It can’t be that bad.” said Cymbal amused.
“You get on the God damn floor and get your hair done! Ow!”
“Jolie plays with this One’s hair all the time.” he said lightly reading.
Tiffany chuckled and shook her head, “What on earth are you readin’?”
“Er...”Immortal Highlander”.” he replied.
Ebony blinked at him, “You’re readin’ a romance novel. Jolie do not let him go.”
“Ok check your nails and watch while they dry.” said Tiffany.
Lataura looked at her French tips and shrugged.
“That’s pretty damn good.” she said looking them over.
She looked at her toes that were now painted pearl pink and wiggled them.
“I can’t believe how long your hair is.” said Ebony surprised.
“What that ain’t your real hair?”
“No girl, I got me a weave.” said Ebony taking out her last braid, “Ok go wash that afro-sheen off your hair, you got enough grease in your hair to fry two turkeys and an order of fries.”
Tiffany looked at her, “Wash it twice.”
Jolie lifted her foot and looked at her leg.
“You know what just take a bath and shave your legs while your in there.” she told her.
She sighed and went to the bathroom and didn’t come back for an hour. She came out with her hair in a towel. Ebony took her hair out and attempted to brush it.
“Ah! Ah! If you’re trying to make it longer it isn’t working!”
Tiffany was working on the other side. Once they had it untangled Jolie started mixing dyes.
“And what the hell is that?” she asked eyeing the bowl as Ebony put a towel on her shoulders.
“What ever it is it’s making Cymbal very dizzy.” said Cymbal blinking hard and shaking his head.
“Probably the chemicals go read in your room alright?”
He nodded and left.

“No really what is it?” she asked again.
“It’s hair dye, now before! ... Before you protest we aren’t gonna make you a blond we’re just gonna give you a few highlights.”
“If you mess up my hair I’m gonna kill me some bitches.” she said folding her arms grumpily.
So they highlighted her hair and she sat with the foil in it with a sour look on her face.
“I think I’m catching HBO.”
Tiffany tutted her looking at her face, “What is with those eyebrows do you ever pluck them?”
“No.”
“Jolie give me the tweezers.” she said and Jolie handed them over.
“Oh no way Big Momma...”
“Don’t make me sit on you, ‘cuz I will.” she told her and so Lataura sat still, but for yelling an ‘ow’ every now and again.
When Tiffany was done she went and washed her hair again and Ebony dried it, they were surprised to find that Lataura had a very rare trait for a black woman and that was fine, even hair.
“Now why in hell have you been wearing your hair in braids?” asked Ebony angry, “God gave you good hair and you spent twenty somethin’ years wastin’ it.”
Ok, now they looked her over. Ebony stepped forward and grabbed her chest and she jumped and looked like she was ready to slap her.
“What the hell are you wearing?” she asked.
“It’s a bra you ding bat!”
“It’s a sports bra; it makes you look like a board.”
So they managed to get her into a wonder bra and now she actually had some breasts.
“Ok.” said Jolie, “This is all we can do tonight girls. The transformation is half complete. Tomorrow morning before work. We shall complete the specimen and have her ready for display.”
“It’s alive!” said Skip walking through the room and laughed manically as he left.
“I wanna see.” said Lataura.
“Not until tomorrow now, pull back your hair before you go to sleep so it don’t get all messy.” said Ebony.

“We finish at dawn.” said Tiffany and they all put their hands in and went to bed.
The next morning they did wake at dawn and they did her hair, they did her make up and they accessorized.
“Ok, we are finished.” said Jolie as they stood her in front of a covered mirror, “May I present the new Lataura Zenon.”
They pulled off the sheet and Lataura’s jaw dropped. She looked at herself in the mirror and was amazed. They put her hair up in this great do, her long bangs behind her ears. She had on earrings, green eye shadow, pink lipstick and her face was just radiant. She looked down and for once she could just barely see her shoes because she had some cleavage. Which they had fixed her uniform to accentuate. They found one a size smaller and left the top unbuttoned and she wore a skirt instead of pants. She also had on high heeled sandals which she had never worn before showing off her pink toes.
“Good...God I am fine! You have done a miracle right here in this very room girls...you made Shorty in to...” she tossed her head and posed like a model, “Lataura.”
“Oh yeah, we are good. Now...let’s wait until Tommy sees this.
She almost fell off her heels.
“Tommy...is gonna see me like this?”
“Duh, we didn’t do this just so you could stay home from work.” said Tiffany putting her hands on her hips.
So Tiffany and Jolie go ready and they went to work.
“I can’t believe I’m gonna walk into VINA corp. like this.” she groaned.
Jolie shook her head, “You’re gonna be fine, just act normal. You can be yourself like always; you’ll just look fabulous while you are.”
She snorted and sighed. She fidgeted all the way to work. They all clocked in and went to the lieutenants rooms. Zach whistled and Ruben clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Dygon hire a new lieutenant?” asked Zach.

Lataura snorted. Tommy came in with coffee and a stack of papers he was reading. He was on another bender and wouldn’t be stopped...normally, but he took his eyes off the papers and looked up then he did a double take. Lataura did the impossible and got him to put down his coffee and what he was working on. He walked over to her with a grin and shook his head.
“You lookin; for the infirmary?”
“...No, why?”
“‘Cuz you must have gotten hurt when you fell from heaven, baby.”
Tiffany shook her head and smacked him on the head.
“That was pathetic. I’ll see y’all later.” she said.
She left and Jolie went to her office trying not to snicker as Tommy hit on her.
“You new around here. I think I would have remembered if I had seen such a gorgeous creature walking these halls.” he said smoothly.
Oh God he was so suave she almost wanted to sigh and she smiled at him, “So tell me, your name must be Aphrodite for only gods could create such perfection.” he winked at her and flashed his white teeth and a grin.
She did sigh, “Tommy...”
“You know my name?” he said in a sensual confusion.
“Yeah I do and don’t freak out, but uh...”
She walked over to her desk and she sat down and she grinned turning her name plate at him. His face fell.
“Lataura!?” he said in shock.
The others all looked at her and she nodded.
“Oh my God...” he said suddenly looking mortified.
“I got Jolie, Tiffany and Ebony to doll me up.” she said deciding she was gonna do what she always did. Go bold and direct.
“What for?” asked Ruben.
She chuckled and gave Tommy a look, “To get some good catch lines from Seals over there.”
“Ooo!” they all said.
Tommy grinned looking very flattered he sat on the edge of her desk, “In that case catch this one. How would you like to have dinner with me this evening?”
“Don’t you have a project due?” she asked.
He chuckled, “It can wait.”
Tula dropped her coffee, Ruben’s pencil snapped in his hand and Zach and Hope just stared with their jaws dropped at the back of his head.
“So what do you say?”
“Like you even have to ask.”

“I’ll pick you up at seven.” he said and he gave her a wink and went back to his office.
Lataura’s expression was even more shocked than theirs.
“You made...Overload forget an assignment.” breathed Zach unable to believe.
“I know man that’s amazing.” she muttered, “And...I got a date...I’ve never had a date before.”
All of them said at once, “Never!?”
She shook her head and looked up, “Go figure.”

* * *

“I’m dead serious words all over the building. Lataura made him forget what he was working on.”
Jolie choked on her coffee and looked up at Tiff.
“Oh my God...that’s nothing short miraculous. Not even that time we had that terrorist with a bomb on his chest did he ever forget an assignment.” she said in wonder.
Tiffany left and then not too much later there was a knock.
“Enter.”
Jolie looked up and her gut suddenly boiled with hatred as Dygon walked in.
“Titan.”
“What do you want Dygon?”
She chuckled, “I came to see how you were doing.”
She stood and shook her head, “Don’t give me that bull you couldn’t give a crap about my well being.”
“But of course I do.” said Dygon, “If you were to die then who would take my place as General? It seems as though the chip I installed no longer has the desired effect. That’s one joker in my hand.”
She walked past Jolie to the window and she looked down on the city.
“Why would you give the company to me?” asked Jolie narrowing her eyes.
Dygon turned slightly to her, her good eye shaded dangerously, “Because you remind me so much of myself when I was your age.”

“I am nothing like you!” shouted Jolie perfectly enraged that she would make such a claim.
Dygon laughed and looked down again, “Wrong Jolie you are exactly like me. You and I are so alike it is scary. I know you have that hacker at your house Skip Borland. Why don’t you get him to do a back round check on me. Then you might see what I mean.”
Dygon walked over to her and put her chin in her hand. Jolie gritted her teeth and stared at her with all the malice she could muster.
“You’re already starting to out smart me.” she muttered menacingly, “Such a clever girl. Always were ever since I saw you in that convention center selling that robot. But with age comes wisdom and experience, so you will have to be a little ...more ...clever.”
She let her go and walked to the door.
“For now the water has settled and you have many days of smooth sailing for you. But the tempest will return and you and your friends will be hanging onto the life boats for dear life. Good luck Jolie.” she said, “And your bonus will come in next week.”
She laughed as she left her office leaving Jolie thoroughly unhinged.
Oh that woman knew just how to make her cringe. It seemed that Jolie was right and Dygon was gonna keep things still for a while. But how long would she keep them that way and when would she strike next. The anticipation killed her. All she could do now was prepare the best she could for the war Dygon was waging and for that she would need recruits. And that was going to be the hardest part.

To be continued...

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RosettaMoon: Finally! Maybe now the bitch can heal! Review please. ^-^