Project S.T.A.T.I.C. Part 5: The Asylum

Jason and Zoey were sitting in the lounge working on Jake’s computer and trying to extract data from his hard drive. Jason had been working on it off and on shortly after Jake and the others had left. He’d originally intended to spend some time cleaning his guns, but that hadn’t lasted long before the screen started to flicker in and out. He hated the rig that Jake had set up with a passion. The damn thing was temperamental, and computer systems had never been Jason’s area of expertise. While he’d helped with the setup of their system, it was the definition of a technological frankenstein which meant it was a headache. Which was why he was relieved when Zoey walked out from the living quarters.

Rebecca had gone off with Bruce to help him get settled into one of the other rooms and to continue their chat. After Sam had finally conceded to Zoey and Beth about taking laying low, getting their bearings, and regaining their strength, Jason assumed that he’d have the place to himself until Jake and the others got back. He was surprised when Zoey walked out alone carrying a notebook. She’d managed to get Sam to sleep, but only after promising to take the notes they’d written out to Jason. He could tell that she wasn’t thrilled by the compromise, but that was part of the give and take of their relationship. 

Zoey had walked out as the computer started to beep and flash. She’d originally come out to compare the notes on weapon caches and get a working inventory, but that had gone out the window shortly after arriving and hearing Jason cursing profusely. She’d abandoned that idea in favor of lending a hand and trying to help get the systems working. They’d been working on it for nearly an hour when a vortex suddenly appeared out of thin air. A sphere of darkness appeared above the bar and continued to spin as one by one, Jake, Beth, and Pam were thrown to the floor. 

“What the hell?” Jason asked, getting to his feet and walking over to check on them, “That’s one way to make an entrance, I guess. What happened?”

Jason stopped when Beth snapped to attention and raised her pistol at him. He held up his hands as a sign of surrender and took a step back. He frowned as he watched Beth relax after a moment of tension and lower her gun. His eyes flicked over to Pam who was getting to her feet and shutting the portal. He caught sight of something large and gray floating behind her. The usually stoic version of Pam that he was used to was slightly shaken up. He could see it in her eyes as she walked over to one of the nearby table and took a seat. Then he saw Jake get to his feet and unclip his cowl. HIs face was a mixture of worry and anger. 

“Guys?” Zoey asked, looking between the three of them, “Does somebody want to fill us in?”

“Things didn’t go well,” Beth sighed, flipping the safety on her pistols and holstering them, “No Alexis, just a ton of bodies and a fucked up scene. Oh, and we’ve got some new fucking monster out there too, so there’s that. I need a drink…”

“It wasn’t a total bust,” Jake shook his head, although his voice didn’t convey much optimism, “It’s not much, but I’ve got something that we might be able to use. I’ll have to work at it to see what I can get out of it, but I found a phone that belongs to one of my old reps in the neighborhood.”

“What’s this about bodies and a monster?” Jason asked, looking at Beth as Jake walked over to the computer.

Pam flicked her wrist and tossed the severed hand of the giant that she’d accidentally brought back with her across the room. It landed at Jason and Zoey’s feet. “What in the world?” Zoey asked, “Is that a hand?”

“Yes,” Pam sighed, “Bullets didn’t work on her, explosives didn’t seem to phase her, and she nearly broke through my spells.”

“She?” Jason repeated with a groan, “Don’t tell me we’ve got another super powered sociopath out there.”

“I don’t know,” Pam shook her head as Beth sat across from her with a half empty bottle of whiskey in hand, “She was human once, at least I think she was, but I haven’t seen someone that large since…”

“Havoc,” Jason frowned, bending down and picking up the severed hand, “Son of a bitch, it’s like they’re trying to recreate and refine her.”

“Something you want to share, Jay?” Zoey asked, noticing a slight shift in their friend. 

“A while back I stumbled across someone working in one of the drone factories,” Jason shook his head, “I was looking for supplies and intel back then, and I found this woman in a lab coat working like a mad scientist. I don’t know what she was doing, who she was reporting directly to, or even what her freaking name was. I do know they had some woman strapped to a table and hooked up to all these different tubes. She was giving a report to someone on an update, but I’m pretty sure that the warehouse they were working out of was only a temporary space.”

“You’re saying this is something they’ve been working on?” Beth asked, pouring a glass for herself and one for Pam, “How long ago was this?”

Jason shrugged, “Five, maybe six months ago now, I’m not entirely sure. I’m also not sure if this a one-off experiment, or if this was something that they were planning to mass produce.”

“Great, so we’re still flying blind,” Beth sighed, “Fucking perfect, we’re back to square one with the added bonus of having an extra side of bullshit!”

“Let’s see what I can get off of my harddrive and this phone,” Jake said, “It’s not a guarantee, but there could be a lead on one of these. It might not point us to that creature, but it could help us find the rest of our friends. That’s one thing that hasn’t changed: we keep our focus on rescuing our friends first and foremost.”

“Okay, so what about Alexis and bodies?” Jason asked, “You said she wasn’t there, right?”

“She’s in the wind,” Beth replied, “Her and Miri are both MIA right now. We couldn’t exactly do a full sweep of her place either before that thing showed up and tried to rip our damn heads off. What we do know is that she kept busy with a murder spree.”

“You’re joking,” Jason said, “How many?”

“I don’t know, man, too many,” Beth shook her head, “They were cut up and dismembered all over the house.”

“Seriously?” Zoey asked, “I know she was a little off in the head, but that seems extreme even for her.”

“She was using the bodies as a substitute for blood magic and rituals,” Pam clarified, “It doesn’t make it better, but she seemed to have a reason for her mass killings. Or at the very least, she was using the bodies for something.”

“She was using them for spells?” Zoey asked, “I didn’t know she was into the dark arts, or whatever.”

“First off, that’s mildly insulting,” Pam pointed out, “Certain magics require an exchange, and in some cases the cost is blood, bone, and flesh. The term dark arts can be blanketed to magic, but magic is in itself neither good nor bad. It is the intent of the caster that determines that. Going back to your original remark, the spell she was trying to cast was designed to break through to Hell. There are a couple of ways to break through the veil, but to open a simple doorway involves using blood. Instead of using her own, Alexis was using those that she had killed.”

“Jay, you didn’t hear about any killings or anything while you were hiding out, did you?” Beth asked, trying to change the subject.

“The news reports haven’t exactly been transparent over the last year, Beth,” Jason said, “If you’re asking if I heard anything on the internal radios or communication networks from the Brunswicks, then no.”

“The people she killed used to work for me,” Jake added, connecting the phone to the tower, “I know those suits and these phones. Either these were people that were already loyal to Eva, or they defected shortly after she took over. Either way, I’m guessing they were there trying to either spy on or recruit Alexis.”

“You think?” Zoey asked, thinking aloud, “I guess that makes sense. She might be nuts, but a little bit of crazy can go a long way under the right circumstances.”

“She’s a wildcard,” Beth agreed, “Always has been and always will be. She can either swing things in your side’s favor or sink them depending on the mood she’s in.”

“Why would she kill these people, though?” Zoey asked, “She’s crazy, yeah, but this doesn’t fit her MO.”

“I’m guessing she wanted to be left alone,” Jason shrugged, “You made that announcement about Blackridge being dead shortly after things started popping off last year, remember? There’s not a doubt in my mind that she heard it, and it likely pushed her all the way off the deep end. Whatever sanity she had left likely flew out the window. Pam, you said she was trying to open a doorway to Hell. I’m guessing she isolated herself to try to figure out a way to get into Hell and get lover-boy’s soul back. It’s a stupid and insane idea, and that’s just the type of thing that someone as batshit as her would try.”

“Do you think she was successful?” Zoey asked.

“Ash doesn’t think so,” Jake answered, “She’s pretty sure that she gave up after so many failed attempts. It still leaves the question of where she’s gone.”

“We don’t have the resources to devote to finding her,” Jason pointed out, “We barely have enough for us to keep going like we are.”

“I know,” Jake agreed, “I’m not saying that we search for her, but it wouldn’t hurt to keep an ear to the ground. I doubt she’ll just pop-up until she’s ready to be found, but she could slip-up. Eva and the rest of her cronies will likely be hunting for her, so if there’s a chance that we can get to her first we need to take it. The last thing we need is to have her working against us.”

“On that we agree,” Jason said, looking around the room, “Alright, so we’re back to playing the waiting game. Blackridge, since you’re here you and Zoey can take a crack at your homebrew computer bullshit. It’ll be good to have someone else here who can work this damn thing.”

“It’s not that bad,” Jake said, “It’s got a few kinks in it, sure, but you just have to know the right sequence to get it to work.”

“Not an IT guy, Blackridge,” Jason rolled his eyes, “I can work a normal computer fine, but this hodge-podge bullshit is a pain in the ass.”

“I’ve got a few IT certifications under my belt,” Zoey smiled, walking over to Jake, “I’ve never used anything close to like this before, but I think I can figure it out if you have some time to show me.”

“Sure,” Jake said, “It’ll be nice to have someone else here that knows their way around our systems. Sometimes it freezes up, but you just have to restart it by hitting the bypass switches over here.”

While Jake worked with Zoey to show her how to get the most out of their homemade computer, Beth finished the glass of whiskey she’d poured. Jason shook his head and walked back towards the living quarters. “I’m going to get some rest,” he sighed, scratching the back of his neck, “I’ve been up for almost a full twenty-four hours now. If you find anything, come get me. For fuck’s sake, nobody make any moves without consulting the group. It’s all for one still, so let’s try to work together.”

“Yeah, yeah, relax, Jay,” Beth sighed, “After that last little nightmare, none of us are itching to run back into the fire. Get some rest, man, I doubt I’ll be far behind you.”

“Going to take a cat nap, Elizabeth?” Rebecca asked as she passed Jason, “I take it things didn’t go swimmingly while you were away. Would anyone care to update me on what exactly I’ve missed?”

Beth was about to reply with a bitter and snarky response, but she stopped when Pam placed a hand over hers and gave her a look. “Yeah, walking through a friggin horror movie and then getting ambushed really takes it out of you,” Beth sighed, gently pulling her hand away and stretching, “Not to be rude, but I kinda want to lay down after that. Pam and Jake can fill you in on the new level of bullshit we’re dealing with. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to our room.”

Rebecca raised an eyebrow at Beth as she walked by, “Of course, far be it from me to stand in your way.”

“Thanks,” Beth nodded at her, “I’ll catch you guys later.”

Pam smiled at her pet as she walked down the hall. She was proud to see her keeping her attitude in check. By the same token, she was relieved to see that Rebecca wasn’t necessarily trying to agitate her further. It wasn’t perfect, but she’d take any semblance of good news on days like today. Some progress between her old friend and her girlfriend was something she could count as a victory. She gestured for Rebecca to take a seat and prepared to recount the events she’d already retold once. With any luck, Rebecca could give some insight into the monster they’d encountered or even a way to find Alexis.

—----------

Across the city in what was once Blackridge Towers, a gathering was taking place as it did every week. On the top floor of the tower was the boardroom adjacent to the corner offices. In the boardroom, Eva Brunswick stood at the edge of the tigerwood table that her familial rival had installed when he took over. As much as it pained her to admit it, Jake Blackridge had decent taste in furniture. The boy might have been the spawn of the enemy, but he wasn’t without his uses. He’d done a decent enough job keeping the business afloat and stocking his offices with plenty of high-end toys and equipment. 

Close to the end of the table where Eva usually sat, her lovely sister sat with her eyes shut and arms crossed. Emily Brunswick sat in her crimson armor quietly waiting for her next directive from her sister, or the go-ahead to resume playing with her toys. Eva knew how much she detested these meetings, but her younger sister knew how important they were. It was crucial if their operations were to continue to grow and flourish beyond Metropolis. Eva loved her sister more than anything, but she had never had the mindset for business and calculations. 

The doors to the boardroom were thrown open as their team began to arrive. One by one, the members that Eva had hand-picked began to file into the room. There weren’t many of them, but Eva was a firm believer that a smaller team meant they could operate at peak efficiency. The first to arrive was none other than the nerdy, little goth girl she’d recruited shortly before she’d made her move. She kept her head down and mouth shut as she walked into the room and took a seat near the middle of the table. 

Ingrid Isley had been through to metaphorical hell and back. After Jake and that freaky witch had managed to get the better of her, she’d been thrown into one of the padded cells at the prison. She’d heard the chaos happening outside of her cell the first few days as the doors were broken open one after another. All of them except hers, and that was fine by her. She’d tried her hand at playing the role of a supervillain, but that had only resulted in her being left partially crippled, alone, and with an almost ever-present migraine. Worst of all was the fact that she’d blown whatever chances she might have had with Beth in the process. Ingrid had been content to wait out her time in solitude before they arrived.

Dr. Murray, Eva Brunswick, Emily Brunswick, and a handful of underlings broke open the doors to her cell. Ingrid had tried her best to remain confident and unphased by their presence, but no matter how hard she tried to remain impassive and uncaring, Eva had known her weaknesses. Murray had been well aware of the side-effects of her technology and the state that she was left in. The promise of a way of mediating it with experimental headwear that would allow her to interface with the nanobots and connect to nearby hardware was just one of the benefits she’d been promised. The biggest boon was that the headwear would alleviate the nasty head and body aches she’d been suffering.

All she had to do was agree to a contract extension that would likely result in her being a glorified indentured servant. She’d refused at first and fully expected Eva to sick her dogs on her, but that hadn’t been the way things played out. No, instead Eva made her an offer that Ingrid couldn’t refuse: say yes and she would have Beth all to herself. All she had to do was put her talents with technology to use working exclusively with and for Eva. Of course, Eva hadn’t been able to deliver that night; Ingrid doubted that she ever had any intention of delivering that night as she looked back. No, Beth was being stored for later and dangled in front of her like a carrot on a stick. However, the promises were enough to get her to sign on the dotted line without a second thought.

Ingrid’s headgear was a large helmet with a single camera lens jutting out of the center that she could use to see. The camera was equipped with high definition vision, and the helmet had smaller cameras in the back near several of the input and output jacks she could use to connect with. It gave her the ability to be one with networks, software, and hardware. It was heavy, but Dr. Murray hadn’t been lying about what her new equipment could do. The pains and aches were gone, and all that was left was the longing for the woman she’d loved for so long from afar.

Speaking of Dr. Murray, she was the next to enter the board room. She was wearing a pink lab coat that stopped just above her midthigh. It was buttoned up and the collar rose up to cover her mouth. Her hair was tied back and she had a pair of shaded goggles over her head. She wore a pair of black and pink boots that came up to her calves and had heels that clicked as she walked. The woman’s eyes conveyed her usual trademark smile and unsettlingly relaxed demeanor. Anna always seemed friendly, but Ingrid knew better than anyone how demented and menacing the woman behind that kind bedside manner really was. She’d seen first-hand the horrors that she’d cooked up in her private chambers.

Not far behind Murray was the undead nightmare that was Courtney Tellar. The woman was single-handedly responsible for the chain of events that kicked off the takeover over the entire city. Courtney practically skipped into the boardroom and threw herself into the chair opposite Ingrid. She placed her feet up on the table and leaned back in her chair. For every ounce of unnerving calm that Anna Murray had, Courtney matched it with unhinged madness the likes of which could give Alexis Hamilton a run for her money. Courntey was responsible for keeping the workers in line, the factories running, and the biochemists busy. However, that didn’t mean that Ingrid enjoyed being around the zombified nutjob.

“Where's the old bubble-butt Amy?” Courtney asked after a moment.

“I’m afraid that Amelia won’t be joining us today,” Eva announced without turning from her place in front of the window, “Her and the rest of her girls have gone underground after an unexpected development at Blackridge Manor.”

“You’re letting her go?” Courtney scoffed, “That hardly seems-”

“I will handle Ms. Ritters when the time comes and the opportunity arises,” Eva interjected, pivoting quickly and narrowing her eyes at Courtney, “That is not why we’re here. I called this meeting to discuss current events. Ms. Isley, I want an update on the rat problem that we’ve been monitoring over the last year. I have a sneaking suspicion that they’ve been multiplying.”

“Not to be rude, Ms. Brunswick,” Anna cleared her throat and gave Ingrid some time, “What does this mean for my stock? I had a series of trials that I was planning on testing on the next batch that Amelia was going to send me.”

“You’ll need to dip into your reserves for the time being,” Eva replied, “We can resume sending you test subjects once we’ve dealt with our vermin infestation. I’ve called this meeting to discuss a possible plan for dealing with our rats. If I’m right, you’ll have a batch of particularly interesting test subjects for you to toy with. Of course, I’ll want a full debriefing before you begin your fun just as before with your experiments.”

“What aren’t you telling us, Eva?” Courtney asked, earning a disgruntled snarl from Eva.

In the blink of an eye, Eva had appeared in front of Courtney and wrapped a hand around her throat. She hauled the undead vixen out of her chair and narrowed her eyes at her. For her part, Courtney didn’t try to fight back or fight out of Eva’s grip. Instead, she flashed a maniacal smile and let out a strained chuckle. “You will show me the respect I deserve, girl!” Eva snapped, “Or do you want to test the theory of whether or not the undead can die twice?”

“Did…I…strike a…nerve…Eve?” Courtney managed to wheeze out with a faint smirk.

Eva frowned and threw Courtney back into her chair. It rolled back and hit the table. Courtney chuckled and held a hand to her throat. “Insufferable little maggot,” Eva snarled, “Of all the people that the burrowers could find and bond with, why did it have to be you?”

“Let’s chalk it up to my winning personality,” Courtney grinned, “You need me, Eva. I keep your workforce in line, your factories producing, and your ridiculous plans for world domination on track. I could care less if you like me or not, queenie, but let’s not say that this isn’t a mutually beneficial alliance.”

Eva rolled her eyes and turned away from her meddlesome lackey. She hated to admit it, but the insane zombie-girl was more right than she knew. It was incredibly frustrating, but Courtney was smarter than she let on. She was more capable than most, as cunning as Amelia, and almost as ruthless as her sister and herself. Although, there was no way in hell that Eva would say it aloud, somehow the annoying parasite knew it. She took a deep breath as she walked back towards the window.

“Let’s agree to table this discussion for now,” she sighed, “I’m arranging a plan to deal with our infestation, and I’ll need you to make sure that your little minions stay out of the way and possibly help guide our rats through the maze. I’ll have an update on that for you before close of business today, but be ready to act when I say. Until then, I want you doubling your efforts to find Footgirl. I cannot afford to lose anymore of my people, but yours are a different story.”

“The undead have rights too, Eva,” Courtney frowned for a moment before cracking and letting out a guttural laugh, “Oh, man, I thought I could keep a straight face for that! All jokes aside, she’s finished the last twenty that got close to her. If we aren’t careful, we’re gonna risk depleting your precious workforce. I mean, I don’t really give a shit, but you’re the one who’s got all these grandiose ideas that require slave-labor.”

“Then we make more, or we give the living a good scare to remind them what happens when they choose to go against their God,” Eva frowned.

“Haha, there’s that side of you that gets me hot and bothered,” Courtney laughed, “Ah, you might be an arrogant and boastful bitch at times, but damn if you aren’t ruthless enough to back it up! I respect that tenacity, Eva. Consider it done, but do you want her brought in-”

“I’d rather her not end up in the innards of one of your goons,” Eva interjected, “Blackridge was bad enough, but I believe we can utilize Alexis and her skills to our benefit. I would wager that she can lend a hand in R&D that would go a long way to speeding up the process of our global expansions. I want your little pets reporting what they see rather than engaging in her. If they choose to engage, it should be to back her into a corner so that we can extract her so that I can speak with her. Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal, boss-lady,” Courtney smiled, glancing over at Emily who had been silent and stoic throughout the meeting, “If I may, why don’t you just send tall, shiny, and spooky after her? Those powers of hers would make it easy to find and snatch her, right?” 

Eva looked back at her sister who was staring out the window. “Emily is preoccupied with more pressing matters than that. She is scrying, as our ancestors and the occultists would say. Her talents are better suited to bigger pictures.”

“Hmph, I’ll let that little dig slide,” Courtney scoffed, getting to her feet, “Everyone has their part to play, right? I’ll be in touch if I find anything on Alexis. Until then, you know where to find me. Is there anything else, queenie?”

“Yes, see Razor about employing some of her security specialists to assist your dogs,” Eva nodded, “I believe she may have someone that could be useful in tracking and apprehending Alexis.”

“Goodie, I love dealing with that overconfident prick,” Courtney rolled her eyes, “Whatever you say, boss, I’ll go talk to her.”

“Excellent,” Eva smiled as Courtney got up to leave, “Doctor, I understand your pet project was unleashed not long ago. Have you had the chance to analyze any data from Project Chaos’ outting?”

“I haven’t been back to my lap yet, but the reports my girls have given indicate no damage was done to her that cannot be undone,” Anna replied, locking her fingers, “All we know at this point is that Chaos encountered resistance at the Hamilton hideout. The bullet holes line up with the handguns that Thompson used, the blast marks on her hand are a match for one of Blackridge’s explosives, and the clean cut on her wrist matches what I’ve seen from other mages. I believe that they’re back, but I am curious as to whether or not they’re using Jake’s tech, or if he has somehow crawled out of the grave.”

“Stranger things have happened,” Eva frowned, noticing Ingrid perking up at the mention of her lover’s last name, “The timing of the attack on Blackridge Manor and Amelia is far too coincidental to the other events. The raids on some of our supply trucks, sporadic attacks, and now a handful of idiots happen to venture out into the suburbs and to the very house that Alexis was using, all of it is too perfect to be a mere coincidence. No, somehow those two managed to escape the realities that we sent them to. Well, that Emily sent them to. I’ll be sending them to you, Doctor.”

“Wait, what?” Ingrid spoke up, surprising both women, “You’re going to send them to the asylum? You promised me that Beth would be mine!”

“Come now, dear,” Anna smiled, “Don’t you want a compliant little kitty-cat? I can ensure that she follows your orders to the letter and-”

“No!” Ingrid snapped, clenching her fist, “I want Beth as she is, not as some broken, slack-jawed sponge. I’ve seen what you do to people. I signed up because you promised me that I would get her. I could care less what you do to the others, but she belongs to me!” 

“Of course, Ms. Isley,” Eva smiled, “Now, you have to understand that in order for us to deliver your prize, we first have to deal with their rebellious spirit. The asylum will be the perfect place for us to do this, but you have my word that you will receive Beth Thompson as she is. She might need a nursemaid, but I’m sure you wouldn’t mind playing that part for her, now would you?”

Ingrid’s cheeks flushed for a second before she regained her composure and shook it off, “No, but isn’t there a way you can send those other two half-wits and send her to me?”

“In her current state, Beth Thompson is more of a liability,” Eva explained, “While I have no intention of breaking and altering her mind, we do need to wear her down physically, mentally, and emotionally to ensure you can handle her. On that note, I believe that we have something particularly interesting you might be interested in. Emily, if you wouldn’t mind a moment of your time.”

“Of course, sister,” Emily nodded and waved her hand to cause a rift to appear above the table that dropped a collar with a purple gem in the center onto the table.

“Perfect,” Eva smiled, pulling the collar over to her and holding it up for Ingrid to see, “Do you recognize this, Ingrid? I found it stashed away in the confines of one of Jake’s warehouses. This little collar is one of the few remaining control mechanisms that none other than the Goth Goddess used during her takeover of the city. Since your nanobots are in and out, this device will give you complete control over your beloved. She won’t be able to resist you. She can say no as often as she wants, but she will effectively be your little toy to control and play with. I must say, it’s one of the few things that harpie designed that I have respect for. It took a little time to get it working properly again, but I assure you it will do the trick.”

Ingrid stared at the collar and swallowed nervously. She’d managed to avoid the dreaded devices when Goth had taken control of Metropolis the first time, but she’d seen what they could do. She’d read horror stories online about the nightmarish control they had, and the sensations that came with wearing one. Placing one on Beth meant she’d have complete control, but was that something that she was willing to do to the woman she loved? 

“Fascinating,” Anna mused, eyeing the device, “I would love the opportunity to study the effects of one of these sometime.”

“Do I have to use it?” Ingrid asked, wearily staring at the collar in Eva’s hand.

“Consider it insurance,” Eva replied, “Take it and put it up to use if you need it. The threat alone should be enough to keep your little pet in line. I believe she has experience with these wonderful little devices.”

Ingrid nodded and took the collar from her employer. She held it in her hands and felt the weight of it. “Yeah, good point,” Ingrid swallowed, “If it’s okay with you, I’m going to go put this in my room. I’ll report back and we can cover my findings and plan out our next move.”

“Very good, I’ll see you shortly,” Eva smiled, watching as Ingrid walked out. 

“Are you really wanting me to refrain from testing out Project Chaos on these three?” Anna asked once Ingrid had closed the doors.

“Of course not,” Eva replied, “I expect you to utilize Chaos to her fullest. How else are we to know if our soldiers will be ready for the next phase of our plan?”

“And if there is a casualty of Isley’s precious crush?” Anna asked.

“Try not to let it come to that, but I didn’t make it this far without proper contingencies,” Eva answered, “Emily has located another universe that we can extract an almost identical Beth from if we need to. However, I would prefer it not come to that. And remember, Doctor, I want Jake alive as well so that I can make a proper example of him.”

“Oh, I hope to have all three of them alive,” Anna smiled, “Pamela has such beautiful eyes, and I want to see those pupils dilate proper once I have my hooks in her.”

“Lavely will be all yours, but let’s discuss how we will get these rats into their new home,” Eva smiled, sitting down, “To start, we need to kick the can at them and get their attention. There’s a particular vermin that’s been running amuck over the last year that I believe we can use to do just that. Here is what I’m thinking…”