The Watchwomen

Chapter 14 (Intermission): Thoughtful Advice

We last read Chapter 13, in which Herman receives the mysterious red dust sample from Monica and thoroughly analyzes it in order to prepare a report that will allow her and her team to continue their investigation of the Diamond Legion assassins. After gathering a significant amount of dirt on the chemical, its origins, and its potential manufacturers, Herman composes an email detailing his findings and sends the delivery drone, with the dust vial accompanying it, back to Dr. Duncan Drevis's apartment complex in Mercury Heights, New York, which Monica's team is using as their base of operations for the time being. Also included in Herman's email to Monica is a heartwarming, selfless suggestion that the Paragons ideally shouldn't operate apart, and that they are stronger together than separately. He still voices his support for them to potentially complete the mission all by themselves, but reiterates that the door is still open for them to come back together as a team again in the event that the threat proves too much for even them to handle.

Meanwhile, Carla Rosenblood a.k.a. Nightclaw attempts to stealthily patrol Mercury Heights for crime, somewhat bitter at not having gotten to do anything on the group's first day investigating the assassins. Although she expected to run into petty criminals such as muggers, robbers, or drug distributors, she instead crosses paths with a horribly malnourished homeless man whom she unsuccessfully attempts to save. Before dying, he informs the anti-heroine that his boss had fired him from his job after he received a ticket from the police when he was speeding in an attempt to get his dying dog to the vet, since the boss didn't want "criminals" working underneath him. Now further embittered, Carla personally repositions the homeless man's body in a more dignified position for him before calling the authorities and alerting them to his position; then, she sets out for the Victor's Vittles grocery store---the homeless man's previous workplace---to avenge him.

This time, we watch Nightclaw dispense proper---or technically improper---retribution, and catch up with Monica the next morning as she receives Herman's report.....

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-Victor's Vittles Grocery Store, Mercury Heights, New York, United States-

Victor's Vittles Grocery Store should have already been closed by now. Its lights should have been shut off, its products should have already been restocked, and its employees should have already clocked out and been given the opportunity to return home to spend what little time they could with their families and loved ones.....not to mention that they needed to get a good night's sleep in order to be more productive for the next day's shift.

Instead, as it neared midnight, the grocery store was still technically open and operating, though it was no longer accepting late-night customers. The manager of the establishment was callously pushing his subordinates around and selfishly working them to the bone, watching with displeasure as they rushed all around the store's aisles and struggled to complete their tasks.....without any aid from the person who was supposed to look after them.

"RUN, GERBILS!" the manager hollered. "ROUND AND ROUND THE WORK CLOCK GOES! WHEN I'LL RETIRE, NOBODY KNOWS! I HATE EMPTY SHELVES MORE THAN I HATE MASHED POTATOES, SO HOP TO IT!"

Some employees were carrying bulk items within their hands, while others were instead transporting boxes, packages, or pallets on pushing dollies. They struggled to be fast and accurate at the same time---getting the merchandise to their proper places in a timely manner without dropping or breaking anything---since nothing less would be accepted. Meanwhile, their overseer was sitting back in one of those soft folding chairs that you would usually see on campouts, with a cooler filled to the brim with liquor bottles and ice positioned at the foot of said chair, slightly to his left.