VIXEN - The Legend of the Five Totems

Chapter 11 - Secret Alliances, Secret Voices

Hyena squats above the open door of the second story porch to hear better. Wanting to get a better feel for Maksai's palace, Hyena has gone exploring. Her journey took her first through the wing that she is sharing with both Brutale and Cheetah, then it took her around the mansion and to the larger compound beyond. Eventually, she grew bored with her stealthy observations of the compound's military personnel. She wanted to see what her host did at night.

From the scents coming from the second-story office, the general, Colonel Jabari, and Grodd the gorilla are holding a conference.

"-means to an end, I assure you, my friend," Maksai says. Hyena is not foolish enough to lean over the window's ledge and peer in to see them, especially not when she could hear well enough from here.

"You? Of course you are, as well. Is that not what partnerships are for? You help me, and I help you. Think about it, Master Grodd. An army of Zambesi fighting at your side, at your command, as you destroy the usurpers to your rightful throne. It is beautiful, is it not?"

Hyena is momentarily confused by Maksai's response to the nothing being said. She realizes that it must have been the funky-smelling Grodd. He must have replied with his peculiar mind-speak, but as she was not a target for his communication, she did not catch what he was saying.

Maksai continues his one-sided conversation with the unspeaking beast. "Betray you? Why would I possibly do that? You are a mind-witch the likes of which none can stand before! Betraying you would be stupid and foolish. It would be like cutting off my own arm."

"Betrayal? What-"

There is a growl from inside the room.

"They are not you, Grodd," Maksai says, his smooth politician's voice unbroken by the threat present in Grodd's growl. "The fact that you can see into my head is proof of that. No. Betrayal is absolutely as far from my mind as possible. Especially not for the investment we have put into your liberation, to say nothing of how effective you were to bring us the American. I assure you, he is enjoying a life in a cell, where we slowly strip away his will with sedatives and starvation. Soon, he will give up the secrets of his Lifeweb. Yes, you were absolutely instrumental is acquiring him, and for that, we could not possibly thank you more."

Hyena wonders what American they are talking about. A male, for certain, but as far as she knew, the only male foreigner that was still here was the Hasaraguan, Guillermo Barrera. Unless there was another American male from the fundraiser that Maksai hosted? She thinks back, but the only representatives from LexCorp that joined her on the flight over here and at the party were female. She thinks of the other representatives, and can't think of anyone. Perhaps there was someone, amid the mix who Maksai had battered, knocked out and imprisoned.

"Again you are fretting about betrayal!"

There is another growl, this time louder than the first.

"Easy! Easy!" Jabari says. Hyena hears the muted thud of rubber-soled boots on the hardwood floor of Maksai's office.

"Stand down, Jabari. He is not about to hurt me, not when he has so much to gain by our partnership. To you, Mister Grodd, I am not one to share my secrets with people, but since you are so clearly bothered by whatever it is you have found in my head, then allow me to ease your burden. What you mistake for betrayal is simply cleaning up one's messes. And the others are messy. Look at the cat, and you will understand what I mean. She is a threat to everything I hope to do here. Cats are jealous, petty creatures that refuse to share."