After School Villains Club (2)

Star Labs

Reviled
We arrived at Star Labs just after the morning rush. According to the Clare's research there were multiple tourist groups going in-and-out of the public centres every day, all we were going to have to do was join up with one of them. This time, to avoid being conspicuous we parked the Hopper a long distance away, in the yard of an abandoned hotel. With luck the fences would keep people steeling our ride. Then, in civvies, specifically looking like school kids and not super-villains - we walked straight up to the main entrance of Star Labs.

Bold as brass, the perfect strategy. We even had our school backpacks on, with costumes inside and the new kid was riding along in rodent form on my shoulder.

"Okay everyone, make sure you have your passes!" A teacher was directing the students in past a security guard, he was checking everyone had a 'day pass' apparently.

I felt E-Claire's hand on my arm, and we clustered together. She was doing her 'nobody here' thing right now, we blended in with the high schoolers well enough but this was true. Everyone in the group was having to show their 'pass' to the guard as they walked in. We followed in the throng, right behind a couple of boys. Boys holding hands, huh, they were actually a 'couple' of boys. I grinned. We probably looked an odd trio too, all our arms looped together as though Claire was hugging us.

Once we were in, we stayed with the group. Mostly. From the layout of the map we were able to identify vents for air conditioning and - with E-Claire doing her thing to keep suspicion off us, a machine to remove and replace a vent cover and a ferret who could carry the canisters through the vents to the locations marked, we were golden. One by one Garfield set them up, then after he came back we locked the vents.

"We're probably on security camera right now." Penny observed, "That nobody's confronted us just yet means nobody's watching, but we should find where the office is and yank the tapes!"

"Maybe you can get a key from the guard?" I asked Claire, with a nod she separated from our group, and we continued to follow the tourists for a bit.

"Star Labs, Home to Flash for 20 years, Barry Allen's Legacy has left a lasting Impression on this world!" This was the reason for the tourist groups. Set up in the public parts of the laboratories was a shrine to the first and greatest speedster in history. The mostly red costume was the direct mirror of the current Flash's gold costume. "-protecting people from a rogues gallery that seemed to refresh itself weekly!"

"They never found what happened to him. They say he tried to reverse the great disaster, then just vanished. Never returned." I told my group.

"The new Flash still hangs around this city, sometimes. Hopefully we won't run into him, or the Manhunter." Penny was eyeing the crowds, without Claire's effect we were fully visible.

"Hey, there's our door!" Garfield interrupted, "Behind the gorilla statue! Looks like a key-card!"

Penny and I nodded, "We just need to wait for Claire to return. Then we'll change!"

A moment later, hands gently pressed against our backs announced Claire's return, keys and cards exchanged and quietly we left the group, hiding behind the gorilla. From her bag E-Claire pulled out a hacking kit, a keycard attached to a tablet by a cable and we got to work, in minutes the light pulsed and the door opened.

Penny went first, putting her helmet on before passing through the door, closing it, I held it opened an inch. Something went "Hiss" as Penny spayed painted the camera, then she changed into her uniform. Claire went second, swapping out the school shirt for the Teddy themed dress, and Finally, I followed.

I Let the girls watch me change shirts. "We should start all our jobs with a costume change!" I observed. "Like the show?" I placed the hat on my head with a spin and a flourish.

I got three yes's. Three? We decided not to comment on Garfield's yes and continued the mission. At least he wouldn't have to ride on a shoulder out here, instead very quickly and without flourish three super-villains and a panther stalked through the back labs of the facility.

We moved quickly, there was no time to explore. If we were caught we'd blow the stink bombs and escape through the nearest exit.

"All the locks here are keycards, and we can easily bypass them!" Penny supplied, "But the one we really want uses retina scanning. I intend to just eat my way through!" Clutching her machine, she spun it around her wrist, let it rock as it crank started and with a practised toss sent it to some stainless steel work-tables and sinks.

"Make three at least!" she told it, "I'll need an entourage and people are used to seeing my pill-bugs by now!" The machine obeyed, recycling the metal and chemicals inside the cupboards fairly quickly. We kept moving, so far it was quiet in here but we'd no doubt set off security alarms. Silent alarms. We were on the clock!

"Over here!" We gathered up, three pill bug machines eventually gathering behind us. I tapped the wall. "Solid metal!" I said, tapping it. A blast door, tough to get through with a small camera set in the wall about head height. Not that such a thing would stop the machines! Two of them started on the door, one on the wall.

I went through first. It was usually a good idea, I wasn't bullet proof but I could take much more damage than the others. What hit me, throwing me back through the hole I'd entered was probably an energy weapon. I felt the impact on my chest, smelled a sizzling of ozone. Getting up again I growled. "Oh so that's how it's going to be!" I leapt back through, dodging the next three shots and crushing the defence turret.

"It's an Elevator?!" I told them, "What is it with lairs, elevators and death traps!"

"We Probably don't wanna be inside it!" Claire commented. "There could be more traps, is there an up?" I looked, there was. Probably went up to the roof.

"Yep! Sending it!" I punched the up button, jumping out before it took me with, then we descended the elevator shaft. I jumped, Penny Blinked, Claire using a grappling gun and Garfield dropping as a bird, before turning back into the Panther.

"Pity you can't combine forms!" I told him casually, "Flying cat? Would be impressive!"

The feline shook it's head, "It'd be too heavy to actually fly, besides which I think the transformations are cool as is!"

I shrugged, petting his long back and rubbing around the ears. "Hey, don't get me wrong. I think it's hella cool too. Was just making an observation."

"Aww!" Bad-Penny mocked, "Should I be jealous, Reviled got himself a kitty!" She punched my shoulder and we laughed. This was the life, "Come on, lets wreck shop!"