The Watchwomen

Chapter 27 (Intermission): The Woman In Us

We last read Chapter 26, in which we learned even more about Allie Bannister's past prior to her meeting Blake Birchwood and becoming one of the top caretakers of the Birchwood Estate in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was the daughter of Claude and Marissa Bannister---who adopted her from a foster home due to Marissa being infertile---but on her birthday, Claude murders Marissa and also tries to kill Allie, having come to see her as "weak", "oblivious", and "incapable" due to her being a girl. He rants about how he "ruined" their family with her presence like his wife had when she picked her, and the resulting struggle between father and adoptive daughter results in Claude inadvertently killing himself with a box cutter blade---the same weapon he used to kill Marissa---and the entire Bannister house being set ablaze; despite Allie having a clear escape route, she chooses to remain in the crumbling structure and seemingly perishes when it finally collapses.

She survives, though, and in time, she recovers to a somewhat-optimal condition, with Blake Birchwood---the head of the Birchwood Estate and a kind man who footed all of Allie's medical bills despite never even knowing her---successfully taking her in and giving him a new life as his assistant at his mansion. Some years later, she becomes thoroughly accustomed to her role while also developing a cosmetic routine that enables her to stop aging visibly.

The scene then returns to the present day, where Allie and the Diamond Legion have successfully captured The Viper and are about to interrogate her; Allie even double-checks that Ringo has probed the superheroine's memory for vital information prior to questioning, so she'll have a lot of material to work with. The chapter ended with Allie approaching The Viper and insinuating that they're going to have "fun".

This time, we watch as Allie tries to tempt The Viper to join the Legion.....

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The Viper briefly struggled against her rope restraints, but ultimately found that it was of no use. She sighed and instead took the time to regulate her breathing.

"What do you want?" the serpentine heroine cried. "There has to be some reason why you're doing all of this!"

"I want what anyone of our kind wants, Viper," Allie answered. "Equality and respect for the fairer sex."

"Hmph....."

"Tell you what. The chair I have you trapped in.....would you like me to free you from that?"

The Viper's suspicion heightened at Allie's abrupt offer, but the rope was making her rather itchy, and due to her being such an active and spry hero, she wasn't used to the feeling of being confined. So, she accepted.....but didn't physically say anything. Thankfully, Allie seemed to understand her response regardless.

"I'll take that as a 'yes'!" the Diamond Legion leader affirmed before moving to a brown set of shelves to The Viper's right and pulling a box cutter blade from it. The heroine tensed up as the sharp edge drew close to the ropes, wondering if Allie was preparing to double-cross and wound her.....but to her surprise, Allie genuinely cut off the ropes holding The Viper back and even allowed her to stand up. The heroine brought herself to her feet and stretched her arms and legs, clearly happy to be given free reign once again.

"There!" Allie said. "Feel better?"

"Why'd you go through with that?" The Viper questioned, not bothering to respond to Allie's in turn. "With everything you've done, I could've sprung out of that chair and attacked you right away."

"And yet you didn't! Guess my trust was well-placed, and I wouldn't have it any other way. We girls wouldn't betray each other, now, would we? Especially since we're all under attack by a common foe."