Beast Chap 5B

They arrived in Talos Island, the Green Line having no connection to their destination. As they exited the station Miyaka said quietly, "Look," and pointed to the North. The sky above the outer islands churned green with a misty haze. Top Ten stared at it for a moment then turned and crossed the river to the entrance to Founders.

They crossed through to the back of the zone and Hutchinson Park and, finding Bright Blade’s home, stood on a hill overlooking it.

Home was not the correct word. Mansion was closer. It stood on at least an acre of land, meticulously landscaped. The rear of the property was mowed green grass and at it’s center was a Victorian style maze carved out of a leafy hedge. A large pool and patio of white marble joined the rear of the place. At the front stood a gate closing off access to the winding driveway which led to a circle before the entrance.

The front of the mansion consisted of a red brick main building and two wings off to either side. Large double doors below a rounded window opened into the main building and at its side enormous picture windows adorned the bottom floor of both wings. The building had three individual peaked roofs and square windows lined the second floor all the way around.

The place was huge. The grounds were crawling with Enforcers and Ink Men of every kind and stripe and Sorcerers roamed among them. It was lit up like downtown Paragon. And people were arriving by limousine and foot, all examined at the front gate by two Dragon Enforcers with a hand held metal detector before they were allowed to enter.

Bright Blade was having a party.

The heroes looked down upon the scene, frowns growing deeper as the realization that getting onto the grounds and into the mansion was next to impossible.

Elendil shook his head. "There’s no way."

"Maybe there’s a blind spot in the back," Temptations began but Ryuuhoshi interrupted her.

"No, look," he pointed towards the maze. Flowing in and out of it were the ghostly forms of the Tsoo Ancestor Spirits. Along with the Enforcers and Ink Men the grounds were, for all intents and purposes, sealed.

Johnny Cognito stood apart from the group and watched the proceedings at the front gate. He nodded to himself and said to his teammates, "There may be a way. Give me ten minutes." He turned and bounded down the hill into Founders Falls.

Cadecus stared after him. "What do you think he’s doing?"

"Oh, there’s no telling," Miyaka grinned and gazed at the mansion again.

Several minutes later Johnny returned and in his grasp were four or five small plastic shopping bags. The name ‘Icon’ plainly written on them.

"Johnny, what…?", Scrap began but Cognito cut him off.

"Look at the gate," he said gesturing down the hill.

At the entrance, the Tsoo guards were checking over a pair of new arrivals, both men. The guards ran the metal detector over and around them, they made them hold out their arms and frisked them lightly, they checked their ID’s and still looked at the two warily. Finally the pair were admitted.

"Watch," Johnny whispered. Behind the two men were three young women. All were dressed for a night of clubbing in tight, revealing outfits. The guards waved the detector over and around the girls all the while talking and laughing…and then just waved them in.

Johnny held the Icon bags out to Temptations, WillowWind, Miyaka, Valya and Buttercup. "We can’t get in, but you guys…just walk in the front door," he smiled.

"Well, not me," Valya sighed.

"Why not?", Willow asked with a raised eyebrow.

Valya pointed to her head. "Horns are just a little too conspicuous."

Tropic nodded his head and looked at Johnny. "Brilliant," he said amazed.

The girls had begun to open the bags and pulled out all manner of different items. All the pieces had one thing in common, however: they were all small, tight and would display a considerable amount of skin.

Buttercup shook her head. "There’s no way I’m dressing like this," she stated firmly.

"Oh, come on, Butterz," Miya smiled. "It’ll be like a dangerous game of dress-up."

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

Cadecus stepped forward and sighed heavily. "It’s the only way, Buttercup. We can’t get in but you can. If you have a better idea…?"

Buttercup looked at her friends then rubbed her forehead. "Oh…all right," she said with resignation. "Where can we change?"

Elendil pointed at a large boulder and grinned, "I believe this rock is free!"

The four women moved behind the large stone and changed into their disguises. Several minutes passed by as the male members of Top Ten and Valya watched the guards at the gate and waited for the girls to appear. The pattern remained steady: the male guests were thoroughly searched while the ladies were given a cursory glance and waived through.

There was a rustle behind them and they all turned to look at their teammates in their ‘undercover’ outfits. Temptations had on a pair of skin tight lycra jeans and a red halter top. WillowWind had chosen a pair of tight, blue short shorts and a white, sleeveless zip-up hoodie with the word "Paragon" printed in a large circle on it’s front and zipped up to just below her bust. Miyaka was wearing a blue micro-mini and a white scoop front tee.

And Buttercup was still behind the rock. "I’m not coming out," she said firmly.

"Buttercup…," Cadecus said, scratching his forehead.

"No, I look ridiculous."

General Scrap stepped forward, "Listen up, Buttercup! Time is not on our side here! So suck it up, hero!" He crossed his arms over his chest and waited.

A few seconds later there was an audible sigh and Buttercup stepped out. She wore a pair of black, tight short shorts and a mid-riff bearing spaghetti strap tee. The heroine looked at her friends and frowned, "I feel like Madonna."

"You look…uhh…hot," Ryuuhoshi smiled in sympathy.

"I look like a hooker."

"Yeah, but an expensive one," Ryuuhoshi nodded and then was thankful that Buttercup did not possess an ‘if looks could kill’ power.

Tropic smiled at the women. "Ok, just get in, find out where he’s keeping the tablet and get out. If you run into any trouble just send up a signal and we’ll be there. Right?" The girls all nodded. "One other thing. Miya, Tempt…the swords won’t make it past the metal detectors."

The two women looked at each other and frowned but handed over their weapons. Tropic grinned at them, said "Luck," and the girls began to make their way down the hill towards the gate.

As they watched them go, Scrap turned to Ryuu and shook his head. "I can’t believe you tried to make Buttercup feel better by telling her she looked like an expensive prostitute!"

"It was the only thing I could think of!", he shrugged.

"We’re doomed," Scrap whispered and turned to see how the girls were doing.

Tropic watched the women move down the hill and to the street below. They had just rounded a corner and were making their way to the gate when Elendil stood beside him. "That language you were speaking to that Knife, Sister Hece… Hamo…umm Hammertime?"

"Hecate," Tropic corrected.

"Right," El nodded, "what was that?"

"Greek."

Elendil’s face furrowed in concentration. "Really? I’ve heard my share of Greek and it didn’t sound like…"

"They’re at the gate," Tropic interrupted.

The same tableau played out. The guards gave the women the once over but Buttercup and Temptations hung back. Tempt was always very stoic but Buttercup was quiet and appeared uncomfortable. This drew the one of the guard’s attention and he began to be a little more through.

Suddenly, Miyaka was in front of him and, from their vantage point on the hill, looked to be tickling the guard under his chin with her finger. The man threw back his head and laughed and the women were admitted immediately. The teammates on the hill all expelled the breath they didn’t know they were holding and watched as their friends walked up the winding drive.

Once they got to the front doors of the huge mansion WillowWind, Buttercup, Miyaka and Temptations looked at each other. They nodded their heads, took a deep breath and entered the building surrounded now by a very deadly enemy.