up to the base of operations. They were too cool to
ooh
and
ahh
but the upgrades kept their heads on turning mode. The Carousel seated them in a conference room. He had Heroes Man present at full chick magnetism, now renamed
Rock Hero
, keeping silent but lounging like a rock musician’s British accent. They took him in and their gazes kept returning to him. They lit cigarettes. They put their high heels on the conference table.
The Carousel stood framed by a wall-sized map of the city of Brutalia. “Ask anything.”
Mermaid Gangster went first. “Still fighting evil are you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Apparently the Sirens had picked up adolescent cynicism. “Good is better than evil.”
“Why?”
“AXIS has confirmed the existence of super powers outside Brutalia. That indicates a key that could release super powers to the rest of the world. AXIS must find it first. If the OSD finds the key first the world as we know it is fucked. Dr. Playground will wipe his ass with every military on the planet and put everyone into a uniform. Except the children, who he will dress according to his sexual fantasies. The OSD will end inequality because everyone will be slaves. For now only AXIS can stop the OSD.”
“How big is AXIS?”
“All the members are in this room.”
“Then AXIS is in bad shape.”
“Has the OGD taken over the world?”
“No.”
“Then AXIS is winning.”
“That’s winning?”
“The work is getting done.”
“Still juggling heroes?”
“Yes.”
“Blue Boss, Martian Justice?”
“Correct.”
“How strong is the OSD?’
“Stronger and rising.”
“Any new super villains?”
“Man Mafia. He’s a one-man mafia. Instant self-cloning.”
“Holy shit.”
“Evil never sleeps.”
Mermaid Gangster: “New terms.”
“Terms?”
“Right. We’re not the Powerpuff Girls anymore. We’re two years older now. Do we talk terms or do we walk?”
“Some adult advice. With negotiations, keep it civil. Avoid creating a negative impression in the other party.”
“My advice to you, be open.”
“No advice needed. I’m listening.”
“The Syndicate has plans to monetize its brand.”
“Explain.”
“We created a new drug. We named it Siren Six. It’s really good shit. It’s meth that makes you healthier.”
“Inside or outside the Limit?”
“Inside only.”
“So you figure to cut a better deal with AXIS than the OSD.”
“The OSD has to own everything. With AXIS we have less static. What do you think?”
The Carousel paced across the map, building suspense for the official answer from AXIS. This didn’t get a quick answer, turning AXIS into a drug dealing operation. He had a quick answer but they should have to sweat for it.
He said, “AXIS must analyze and approve this drug for use.”
“Agreed.”
“AXIS approval does not come easily.”
“You want a percentage?”
“AXIS does not ‘monetize its brand.’ AXIS does not participate. AXIS wants performance.”
“Defined how?”
“Anti-OSD operations. Taking out the Customizers.”
“Know who they are?”
“We know Man Mafia 4 is running it.”
“But you don’t know the ones who do the killing?”
“That’s a work in progress.”
“But the Syndicate could track them sooner.”
“That’s how AXIS defines
performance
.”
“The Customizers are done.”
“You’re confident.”
“As fuck.”
“Prove it.”
“Give us a moment. We’re reading you.”
Gingiri spoke. “I’m picking up.”
Mermaid Gangster: “What?”
“Severed penises?”
Mermaid Gangster looked at The Carousel.
“Serial homicides,” he said.
Mermaid Gangster looked back at Gingiri.
Gingiri said, “The killer is Man Mafia clone number nine.”
“The psycho one.”
Gingiri said, “I’m picking up a second set of serial homicides…this one by a female…”
Mermaid Gangster: “Who?”
“Remember Apple Gotti?”
“Old friend of ours. Freaky chick, did hits. She’s dead by now,
ooh
and
ahh
but the upgrades kept their heads on turning mode. The Carousel seated them in a conference room. He had Heroes Man present at full chick magnetism, now renamed
Rock Hero
, keeping silent but lounging like a rock musician’s British accent. They took him in and their gazes kept returning to him. They lit cigarettes. They put their high heels on the conference table.
The Carousel stood framed by a wall-sized map of the city of Brutalia. “Ask anything.”
Mermaid Gangster went first. “Still fighting evil are you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Apparently the Sirens had picked up adolescent cynicism. “Good is better than evil.”
“Why?”
“AXIS has confirmed the existence of super powers outside Brutalia. That indicates a key that could release super powers to the rest of the world. AXIS must find it first. If the OSD finds the key first the world as we know it is fucked. Dr. Playground will wipe his ass with every military on the planet and put everyone into a uniform. Except the children, who he will dress according to his sexual fantasies. The OSD will end inequality because everyone will be slaves. For now only AXIS can stop the OSD.”
“How big is AXIS?”
“All the members are in this room.”
“Then AXIS is in bad shape.”
“Has the OGD taken over the world?”
“No.”
“Then AXIS is winning.”
“That’s winning?”
“The work is getting done.”
“Still juggling heroes?”
“Yes.”
“Blue Boss, Martian Justice?”
“Correct.”
“How strong is the OSD?’
“Stronger and rising.”
“Any new super villains?”
“Man Mafia. He’s a one-man mafia. Instant self-cloning.”
“Holy shit.”
“Evil never sleeps.”
Mermaid Gangster: “New terms.”
“Terms?”
“Right. We’re not the Powerpuff Girls anymore. We’re two years older now. Do we talk terms or do we walk?”
“Some adult advice. With negotiations, keep it civil. Avoid creating a negative impression in the other party.”
“My advice to you, be open.”
“No advice needed. I’m listening.”
“The Syndicate has plans to monetize its brand.”
“Explain.”
“We created a new drug. We named it Siren Six. It’s really good shit. It’s meth that makes you healthier.”
“Inside or outside the Limit?”
“Inside only.”
“So you figure to cut a better deal with AXIS than the OSD.”
“The OSD has to own everything. With AXIS we have less static. What do you think?”
The Carousel paced across the map, building suspense for the official answer from AXIS. This didn’t get a quick answer, turning AXIS into a drug dealing operation. He had a quick answer but they should have to sweat for it.
He said, “AXIS must analyze and approve this drug for use.”
“Agreed.”
“AXIS approval does not come easily.”
“You want a percentage?”
“AXIS does not ‘monetize its brand.’ AXIS does not participate. AXIS wants performance.”
“Defined how?”
“Anti-OSD operations. Taking out the Customizers.”
“Know who they are?”
“We know Man Mafia 4 is running it.”
“But you don’t know the ones who do the killing?”
“That’s a work in progress.”
“But the Syndicate could track them sooner.”
“That’s how AXIS defines
performance
.”
“The Customizers are done.”
“You’re confident.”
“As fuck.”
“Prove it.”
“Give us a moment. We’re reading you.”
Gingiri spoke. “I’m picking up.”
Mermaid Gangster: “What?”
“Severed penises?”
Mermaid Gangster looked at The Carousel.
“Serial homicides,” he said.
Mermaid Gangster looked back at Gingiri.
Gingiri said, “The killer is Man Mafia clone number nine.”
“The psycho one.”
Gingiri said, “I’m picking up a second set of serial homicides…this one by a female…”
Mermaid Gangster: “Who?”
“Remember Apple Gotti?”
“Old friend of ours. Freaky chick, did hits. She’s dead by now,
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