literature

Rude Awakening

Deviation Actions

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Chapter One

“If Your Royal Highness would be pleased to step this way,” Lady Fotheringham invited, “so that you might meet my guests, only the crème de la crème of London society, of course… oh, dear, what is the commotion?”

Afterwards, no one could remember how or when he first appeared in the ballroom of the Lanesborough Hotel.  It was a white tie affair, all the men dressed in black coats and trousers, with white shirts and white ties, of course, and the women wearing full-length dresses.  The interloper, however, wore gaudy striped pyjamas, with a matching nightcap and slippers.  He carried an unlit candle in an antique brass candleholder.  He meandered through the crowd, his sleepy eyes barely seeming to register the scene around him, as if he’d awoken from a slumber of a million years.

The crowd murmured, echoing Lady Fotheringham’s indignation.  “What is a poor person doing here?” she demanded.

Two security guards approached, dressed as footmen in red livery.  “This way, sir,” one said, softly but firmly, hoping to steer him away with little fuss.

He found his voice, then.  “Leave me alone!  I wish to see the princess.”

“The princess does not wish to see you, sir.”

“Nonsense!  Allow me to see the princess, I say!”

“Is there a problem?” Princess Stephanie asked, gliding forward.

“This gentleman appears to be in need of some help, Princess,” a security guard explained.  “We were just escorting him out, to ensure that he received it.”

“I don’t need your help!” he roared.  “I wish to speak to the princess!”

With a flick of her eyes, the Princess dismissed the guards.  “Of course, I am always delighted to welcome anyone who wishes to speak with me.  I am Princess Stephanie of the Northern Isles.  Who might you be?”

He bowed theatrically.  “I am known as the Napper of, well, no place in particular.”

Princess Stephanie laughed.  “What a curious name you have!  Do you call yourself the Napper because you always wear your nightclothes in public?”

The Napper laughed along with her.  “That is part of the reason, Princess, but I am also called the Napper because…”

Before he could finish his explanation, all the lights went out, plunging the ballroom into near total darkness.  The Napper lit his candle, which emitted a feeble light, along with a powerful, sweet fragrance.  One by one, the assembled guests gently collapsed to the floor in a deep slumber.

The Princess’s tiara fell from her blonde hair as the Napper slung her over one shoulder and quietly carried her away.

………………..
“Unbelievable, right?”  Humphrey might have been asking the entire restaurant, his voice was so loud.  “A little elbow to the face, I mean, no blood, no foul, that’s how it should be, right?”

What did I ever see in this guy? Sara groaned silently to herself.  “There’s quite a lot of excitement over the way,” she announced brightly, trying to change the subject.  “A party for Princess Stephanie of the Northern Isles.”

Humphrey stared at her blankly.  “Well, who cares?  I was telling you about my basketball game.  We got the ball straight back, no problem, only I got called for an imaginary double dribble.  Honestly, where does the league find their refs, some home for the blind?”

Sara longed to get up and walk out on him, but she was stuck on the double date with her twin brother, Chris, who was dating her best friend and flatmate, Rachel.  The two of them were busy staring into each other’s eyes, seemingly oblivious to Humphrey’s account.  Still, Please, get me out of here! Sara prayed silently.

“…and anyone could clearly see I wasn’t over the three-point line… hey, what’s that?  You got a text or something?”

Sara nudged Rachel.  That wasn’t her ordinary mobile, but the red one.  Commissioner Cuthbert Pomeroy of the CID had sent them an emergency text (or, more accurately, his secretary had).  They were urgently required at his office!  Sara sent a couple quick texts and turned to her friend.

“Rachel, I need to use the loo.”

“Okay,” Rachel said absently.

“I received a text from the Walrus,” Sara hissed.

“What’s this about a walrus?” Humphrey asked.  “Listen, you won’t believe what the ref did next!  I snatched the ball off…”

Rachel hopped up.  “We’ll be right back, boys,” she announced.

The two young women disappeared into the stalls of the bathroom.  Sara emerged in her crime-fighting outfit as the Scarlet Sleuth:  red leotard, hood, and cape; purple utility belt and shoes; black leggings and gloves; and a pink mask over her upper face.  An instant later Rachel appeared as the Night Raven:  black minidress, cape, gloves, utility belt, and thigh-high boots; a grey mask; and a blue buckle shaped like a star.

They darted out a window and into a nearby parking garage, where a van towing a trailer waited in a dark corner.  “Thank goodness Reginald is already here,” Scarlet Sleuth murmured in wonder, for she had only texted him moments earlier!  Somehow, Reginald always managed things, no matter how impossible they seemed.

“Welcome, Miss Sleuth, Miss Raven,” Reginald Silversmith intoned.  He was ostensibly the butler in the luxury flat they shared, his salary paid for by a grateful kidnapping victim they’d once rescued.  In reality, though, he was their assistant in fighting crime.  He opened the rear doors of the trailers and set down a ramp.  A couple passed several rows away, but Reginald was not concerned; any witnesses or CCTV recordings would not see anything of importance.  He wore a small mask, and the number plates would be traded for new ones once the mission was complete.

“Thank you, Reginald,” Scarlet Sleuth said, as Night Raven hurried into the trailer.

“A moment, Miss Sleuth,” said Reginald.    “Might I have your gloves?”

“Reginald, I’m in quite a hurry…”

“I must insist, Miss.”

Scarlet Sleuth pulled her gloves from her hands.  Really, what could possibly be wrong with them that Reginald felt it was so important to exchange them?

“I designed a new pair for you,” he explained.

“Thank you.”  They looked exactly the same to her as the pair she’d just given him, but she put them on and dashed into the trailer, in too much of a hurry to listen to what more Reginald had to say.  The Commissioner was waiting for them!

A loud roar filled the night as two Kawasaki Ninja H2 motorcycles raced down the ramp.  Scarlet Sleuth and Night Raven jumped over the garage’s exit barrier and weaved through the busy London traffic.  A lorry blocked an intersection, but the two superheroines did not even slow down, sliding their motorcycles underneath the stalled vehicle before righting themselves and continuing.  Only minutes passed before they arrived at the impressive offices of the New Scotland Yard on Broadway.

………………..
“Thank heavens you’re here, girls!” exclaimed Commissioner Pomeroy, a large man with a ferocious moustache.  “It’s a terrible business.  The Napper has struck again, grabbing Princess Stephanie of the Northern Isles!”

“I wasn’t aware the Princess was visiting England,” Night Raven said.

“Didn’t you hear me mention her at the restaurant?” Scarlet Sleuth whispered.

“It was an impulsive visit, apparently,” the Commissioner explained.  “And now she’s gone, only her tiara left behind!”  He pointed absently to his desk, where he’d used the tiara as a paperweight.

“Is there a ransom note?” Night Raven asked.

“Yes, it was sent directly to my office by special courier, the cheek of that devil!” he exclaimed.  “Demanding a hundred million pounds for her safe return!”

The two superheroines studied the letter.  

“Of course, I realized with an archfiend such as this, there was only one thing to do.  Get you two on the job!  With any luck you’ll have her back, safe and sound, before we contact the Northern Isles embassy about this affair.”

Night Raven looked up.  “You haven’t notified her country yet?”

The Commissioner shifted uneasily in his chair.  “Hoped you might get her back first,” he explained.  “If they see she’s safe, no harm done, they might not make much of a fuss, right?  Don’t want an international incident if we can help it, right?”

Scarlet Sleuth handed him back the ransom note.  “There’s not much on this.  Although it says something about a video we’re supposed to watch…?”

“Might have something to do with this mysterious electronic thingy that came with the package.”  The Commissioner indicated what appeared to them to be a perfectly ordinary iPad.  “Going to have the lab take a look at it, see if they can make any sense of what it is!”

“Do you mind, Commissioner?” Scarlet Sleuth asked, reaching for the iPad.

“No, by all means, see if you can figure it out!”

Scarlet Sleuth started the video.

“Ah, good evening, Commissioner.”  The Napper rubbed his eyes.  He still wore the striped pyjamas and nightcap, the brass candleholder on a nightstand beside his comfortable chair.  “I take it by now you’ve had a chance to read my message.  Your options are clear; either your government will pay the hundred million pounds for the Princess’s safe return, or face the consequences with the government of the Northern Isles for your failure to keep her safe during her visit to your country!”

He paused briefly.  “To set your mind at ease on one point, allow me to show you the Princess is still unharmed… at the moment!”

The image shifted, moving to a chair on the other side of the nightstand.  The princess looked lovely and regal in her evening finery, an elegant gown and glittering jewellery, only missing her tiara.  White ropes bound her crossed ankles and wrists.  Her hands lay in her lap, kept in place with ropes that circled her waist, disappearing around her back.  A white cloth gagged her.

“You fiend!” the Commissioner roared, jumping to his feet.  He shook a fist as he shouted so loudly no one could hear what the Napper said next.  “How dare you hold keep Her Majesty prisoner in such deplorable conditions?”

The princess struggled energetically against the ropes, moving her bound feet about and pulling with her arms on the ropes.  She leaned forward, giving a pleading look, as she seemed to be trying to say something.

The image shifted back to the Napper.  Scarlet Sleuth nudged Night Raven.  Although not much of the background was visible during the transition, they could see a row of dusty sewing machines.  “An abandoned pyjama factory, perhaps?” she murmured.

“I know you’ll contact your government and arrange for payment for her release,” the Napper said.  “Once everything is in readiness, Tweet me on Twitter.”

“Tweet him where?  What the devil is he going on about?” the Commissioner asked, as the Napper supplied contact details.  “I’m not a blasted bird!  I’m beginning to think this Napper chap’s had entirely too much brandy in his nightcap!”

“Oh, and one more thing,” the Napper said with a scowl.  “You will, of course, not involve the Scarlet Sleuth and Night Raven.  I’ve had quite enough of their interference!  If I see so much as their shadows, I’ll, I’ll….”

The video ended.

………………..
He wore a black sweater with white letters spelling out his name, “SNORE”.  “We got trouble, guv’nor,” he announced, shaking the Napper awake.

“Hmm, what is it?”

The other henchman, Zzzzz, spoke up.  “Scarlet Sleuth and Night Raven just drove up in their motorcycles.  Looks like they’re trying to find a way in.”

“What?” shouted the Napper, springing to his feet.  He turned to the princesses, who started to say something.  Her words were cut off abruptly as he jammed the white cloth back between her pink lips and tightened a few loose ropes.  “I thought I told the Commissioner not to involve those two meddling minxes!”

“Maybe you did, guv’nor, but they’re ‘ere now,” said Snore.

“Release the Princess, Napper!” Scarlet Sleuth ordered, jumping down to stand only a few feet in front of him.

The Napper threw his hands up in front of his face.  “Get them, Snore, Zzzzz!” he ordered, as Night Raven landed next to her partner.

The henchmen moved forward, swinging their fists in broad arcs (SWISH!) that the superheroines easily ducked.  They high-kicked in return, (CRACK!) sending the Snore and Zzzzz tumbling across the floor of the abandoned factory.

“Up with you!” the Napper ordered.

The henchmen groaned, starting to rise, only (THWACK!) for the superheroines to kick them down again… and this time, they stayed down.

“Sleeping on the job?”  The Napper looked at his fallen henchmen in disbelief.  He lit the candle, filling to factory with its sweet aroma.  “Time for you to join them in dreamland, girls.”

“I think not!” Scarlet Sleuth announced.  She had her back to the Napper, who could see her fiddling with her utility belt.

“After our last dealings with you, we added these folding gas masks to our utility belts!” Night Raven explained, turning around to show she wore one.

The Napper turned to the Princess, whose gently sleeping head sagged to one side.  “Goodnight, sweet Princess.  Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

He raced away.

“Why can’t we ever rescue a handsome prince?” Scarlet Sleuth sighed, untying the cloth gag.

Night Raven retrieved a bottle of smelling salts from her utility belt, which she waved under the Princess’s nose.  “Wake up, Princess.”

“Oh, it’s so good to be able to stretch again!” the Princess exclaimed, standing up.  “It felt like I was tied up forever!”

“Are you okay, Princess?” Scarlet Sleuth asked.

“Hmm, yes, he didn’t hurt me,” she said.  “He not that sort of supervillain, you know.”

“We have your tiara, Princess,” Night Raven said.

“Oh, gee, thanks.”  Princess Stephanie settled it on her head.  “I got so used to this thing, I felt kinda naked without it!”

Night Raven exchanged a glance with Scarlet Sleuth.  “Your accent’s slipping, Princess.”

She giggled.  “I guess that’s because I’m not really Princess Stephanie.  I’m Molly Walden, an actress from Chicago.  Everyone said I overacted, though, so I couldn’t get a job anywhere, until the Napper hired me.”

“Where’s the real Princess Stephanie?” Scarlet Sleuth demanded.

“The Napper’s got her stashed somewhere you’ll never find!”  Molly’s giggles intensified when she saw the worried look the superheroines exchanged.  “Naw, I’m just fooling.  She’s probably home in the Northern Isles.”

“Indeed she is,” the Napper agreed, stepping out of the shadows.  “I knew the Commissioner would never contact their embassy as long as I had the ‘Princess’, so he would never learn she hadn’t even come to England.”

“He’ll know now!” Night Raven said.

“No, he won’t, because I’ll shortly dispose of you!”

“Your sleeping aroma won’t work on us!” Scarlet Sleuth said.  “We’ve still got our gas masks!”

“Not for long!”  He lit his candle again, just as Snore and Zzzzz reached up behind the pair, yanking their gas masks off!

Scarlet Sleuth and Night Raven both kicked at the brass candleholder, knocking it from the Napper’s hand.  They never saw it land on the floor, though.  Sleep claimed them first.

………………..
Whish-thump!  Whish-thump!

“Ah, glad to see you ladies are back with us from the Land of Nod,” the Napper said.

Scarlet Sleuth twisted her head, an angry retort on her tongue that never left her mouth.  A strip of cloth ran between her lips, keeping her silent!  She turned her head, and saw that Night Raven was similarly gagged.

Whish-thump!  Whish-thump!

The two superheroines lay a few feet apart from one another, each on a long conveyor belt.  Ropes circled their torsos, keeping their arms against their sides, and binding their legs tight.  Scarlet Sleuth jerked her body, trying to reach her utility belt.  If only she could stretch her arm a tiny bit more….

She heard a grunt of frustration from her partner, as Night Raven also tried to reach her utility belt.

“Oh, dear me, no, you’re tied much too well for that!” the Napper exclaimed.  “Allow me to enlighten you as to your situation.  These conveyor belts lead to…”

“Hey, Napper,” Molly interrupted, striding to his side.  “Do you think I can keep this crown when we finish?  It’d be perfect for this fancy party I’m going to.”

“Of course,” the Napper said irritably.  “If you have no objection to appearing in public with a stolen piece of jewellery that identifies you with this fake kidnapping then by all means, do so.”

Whish-thump!  Whish-thump!

“As I was saying,” he continued, “these conveyor belts lead to blades that used to cut cloth for making pyjamas.  This was before it was outsourced to China, but I digress.  I have sharpened the blades and adjusted the strength.  I think you will find they are now quite capable of slicing meddling minxes to ribbons!”

“Gee, that seems awfully harsh, Napper,” Molly said.

“Of course, we’ll simply let them go,” he said pleasantly.  “Then they can tell the police all about Molly Walden, since you were thoughtful enough to tell them your name.”

Molly’s mouth dropped open.  She strode forward with determination and pulled a large lever on the wall.  With a jerk, Scarlet Sleuth and Night Raven felt themselves slowly moving forward, toward the deadly blades!

Whish-thump!  Whish-thump!

The Napper gleefully rubbed his hands, watching the superheroines’ frantic struggles for escape.  “It’s time to contact that idiot Police Commissioner again.  Since he ignored my warning not to send these two, the ransom is now two hundred million pounds!  Of course, we’ll have to tie you up again.”

“Aw, do you have to?” Molly asked.  “I was kinda hoping to go for a ride on one of those fancy bikes they came here with.”

“Those will be the spoils of war, certainly,” the Napper agreed, “but we’ll save the ride for later.  We need to tie you up, in case someone else decides to meddle!”

If only someone would come! Scarlet Sleuth thought desperately.  No matter how she tried, her fingertips remained inches away from her utility belt!

Molly rubbed her wrists.  “Well, okay, but don’t tie me up so tight this time.”

Scarlet Sleuth watched them leave, and then turned to Night Raven, hoping her friend might have made some progress.  Night Raven looked sadly back, though.  It was so frustrating to have help so near, and yet so impossible to reach!

Whish-thump!  Whish-thump!

IT SEEMS THERE WILL BE NO ESCAPE FOR SCARLET SLEUTH AND NIGHT RAVEN THIS TIME!  IS THIS THE END OF OUR CRIME FIGHTING DUO?  READ THE NEXT EXCITING INSTALLMENT TO FIND OUT!

………………..
Chapter Two

WHEN LAST WE LEFT OUR LOVELY SUPERHEROINES, SCARLET SLEUTH AND NIGHT RAVEN WERE CAPTIVES OF THE NAPPER, WHO HAD THEM BOUND AND GAGGED, LYING ON A CONEYOR BELT THAT PULLED THEM TOWARD CERTAIN DOOM!  WILL THEY ESCAPE IN TIME, OR WILL THEY BE CUT TO PIECES BY THE DEADLY BLADES?  READ ON TO FIND OUT!


Whish-thump!  Whish-thump!

Despite how hopeless it seemed, Scarlet Sleuth continued straining her muscles, trying to reach her utility belt.  It seemed the rope had given, just a little.  Too little, though.  The chopping sounds grew louder.  She could see that Night Raven’s head was only a couple feet from the blades that would finish her off.

However, what could they do?  She had a vision of someone coming to their rescue.  Perhaps Reginald would spot their motorcycles outside and come to check on them?  But, no.  Reginald would have stayed with the trailer in the parking garage.  Perhaps her twin brother, Chris, or even Humphrey (as annoying as he was) would come.  They must be wondering what had happened to their dates!

Of course, but there was no reason to suspect they had crossed half of London to look for them!  No, they wouldn’t make a miraculous appearance.

Molly had sounded as if she felt slicing up the pair of them was too extreme.  Maybe she would come set them free!

No.  Despite what she had said, she’d been the one who had pulled the lever to start the conveyor belts!  Besides, the Napper had said he would tie her up again….

………………..
“Hey, I told you not to tie me up so tight!”

“Considering you nearly escaped last time….”  The Napper pulled a rope taut.

“I was thinking,” Molly said.  “Why don’t we let those girls go?  Yeah, they know my name, but if I set them free, we’ll be even, right?”

The Napper shook his head.  “If only the world worked that way!”

“But maybe it can!  Come on, Napper.  Let me up and I’ll pull the lever.  Don’t worry, I won’t untie them up until they see things my way.”

“You and your ideas,” the Napper sighed.  “It’s a good thing I’m tying you so well.”

“A little too well,” Molly protested.  “Hey, not so tight!  Remember, we’re only pretending I’m your prisoner, right?”

“Ah, but we need to make it as believable as possible,” the Napper said.  “And speaking of realism, I believe we’ll add one little detail this time.  Again, purely for realism!”

“Gee, what do you mean?” Molly asked.

“Oh, you’ll find out.”  The Napper carelessly folded a white strip of cloth lengthwise.  “Be a good girl now and open your mouth for me… yes, that’s it….”

………………..
Whish-thump!  Whish-thump!

Scarlet Sleuth tensed her body, preparing herself for the end.  She clenched her fists.

Snick!  Snick!

Sharp spikes shot out from the knuckles of her black gloves!

I shouldn’t have been in such a hurry at the parking garage! Scarlet Sleuth realized.  If I’d allowed Reginald to explain about the new gloves, we’d be out of this now!

She twisted her wrists, cutting the ropes binding her arms.  With her legs still tied, she hopped from the conveyor belt, lifting Night Raven from danger, just before a blade sliced down, directly where her throat had been!

“A handy (haha) improvement you’ve got there,” Night Raven said, looking at the spikes.  “I’ll have to ask Reginald to fix them to my gloves too.”

“I’m sure he will!”  Scarlet Sleuth flexed her hand, retracting the spikes.  “Especially once we tell him that it saved our lives!  First, though, we’ve the Napper and a fake princess to sort out!

………………..
“MPFFFFFFFFFFF!” Molly screamed into her gag.

“Oh, calm down,” the Napper yawned.  “You make me tired.  I’ve already explained that all these preparations,” he waved a hand, “are purely for show, and that you are in no danger whatsoever.”

Molly blinked in doubt, turned her head, and shrieked again.

“Oh, what is it now?” the Napper demanded.  “Scarlet Sleuth!  Night Raven!  How did you escape?  That trap was fool proof!”

“Perhaps it’s because we’re not fools!” Scarlet Sleuth shot back.

“Well, don’t lie about, Snore, Zzzzz!” the supervillain roared.  “After them!”

The two henchmen lumbered to their feet.  Snore swung a wooden plank at Scarlet Sleuth, who twirled out of its way (WHOOSH!), agile as a ballerina.  Snore swung again, this time solidly connecting (THUNK!)… not against Scarlet Sleuth, who easily dodged, but instead his partner, Zzzzz, who collapsed senseless to the floor.

“I’ll take that!” Night Raven shouted, twisting the plank from Snore who was gaping at his fallen partner.  Scarlet Sleuth (CRUNCH!) delivered a kick in his midsection that sent him tumbling down next to Zzzzz.

“Your henchmen are out of the fight, Napper,” Scarlet Sleuth said.  “Give yourself up!”

“Stop right there!” he ordered, lighting his candle once again.

“That won’t work on us again,” Scarlet Sleuth said.

“We had time to consider what you’d used in your candle,” Night Raven explained, “and were able to determine the active ingredient.  We’ve taken antidotes from our utility belts to completely nullify it!”

“Oh, dear, I’m guess I’m defeated,” the Napper said in mock worry.  “Really, ladies, of course I realized that trick would not work against you twice.  You don’t smell any aroma, do you?  And surely you have noticed that the lovely Miss Walden is still with us.”

The superheroines looked at Molly, who looked back in wide-eyed innocence.

“If you look up,” the Napper invited, “you’ll see two industrial sized sewing machines tied together.”

Everyone looked up to see two sewing machines were directly over Molly’s head!

“The only thing keeping them up,” the Napper continued, “is one thin rope, the end tied to the wall next to me.  As I’ve rubbed some oil on a section of the rope, should I place the candle flame too close, it will burn through in less than a second!”

“You’re using your own partner in crime as a hostage?” Scarlet Sleuth asked in disbelief.

Molly sputtered indignantly.  She wasn’t a partner in crime, just an actress doing whatever it took to get by until she got her big break!

“Yes, no honour among thieves, I’m afraid,” said the Napper.  “Terribly depraved of me, isn’t it?”

“You know what we have to do, Night Raven?” Scarlet Sleuth asked.

“I’m with you, partner!” she answered.

“Whatever you’re planning, stop it!” the Napper ordered.  Seeing the superheroines suddenly dart forward, he raised the candle to the rope, which smoked and snapped.

The two sewing machines crashed to the floor!

Not before Scarlet Sleuth and Night Raven had pushed Molly out danger, though.

“You put your lives in danger to rescue the person who tried to end yours?” the Napper asked, and even Molly looked at the pair in wonder.  The sewing machines had missed hitting the two superheroines by inches.

“It’s time to call the Walrus, I mean, Commissioner Pomeroy,” Scarlet Sleuth announced, pulling out her red cell phone.  “It’s back to Her Majesty’s prison for you, Napper.”

The Napper snuffed out the flame with two fingers and curled up on the floor.  “Oh, well, it was fun while it lasted.  In dreams, at least, I may find the success that eludes me so in waking life.”

………………..
“I’m sorry I was so abrupt with you earlier, Reginald,” Sara said.  She and Rachel had both changed back into their evening wear, their marvellous crime fighting outfits now miniaturised once again, nestled snugly in their handbags.  “I should have listened when you gave me the new gloves.  They literally were a lifesaver!”

“I’m glad you are safe, Miss,” he replied.  “Incidentally, your two gentlemen friends have been anxiously searching the area, for you.”

“Oh, no!” Rachel said.  “Chris must be frantic with worry about me!  I’ve about a million messages from him!  I need to call and let him know I’m okay!  But… how can we explain our long absence?”

“I’ve an idea,” Sara said.  “It’ll involve these ropes we brought back as crime evidence, though.  Reginald, you’ll have to tie us up!”

“Indeed no, Miss!  I could never do such a thing!”

“Please, Reginald, it’s for a good reason,” Sara said.  “If you’ll get started, I’ll explain everything.  You see, what I plan to do is….”

A few minutes later, two bound and gagged figures hopped out of the van.  Sara and Rachel worked their way through the parking lot, bending their knees to take long jumps.  Reginald kept a careful eye on their progress, making sure no one interfered with their slow journey, until suddenly….

“Rachel!  Sara!  Are we glad to see you!” Chris exclaimed.

“What’s all this?” Humphrey demanded.  “How’d you get tied up?”

Chris untied Rachel, and then, seeing Humphrey wasn’t doing anything, untied his twin sister.  “Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yes, we’re fine!” Rachel gasped, rewarding her hero with a kiss.

“We nipped out for a breath of fresh air after we’d gone to the loo,” Sara explained, “when we saw the Napper and a couple of his henchmen carrying off Princess Stephanie from that fancy hotel over there!”

“We jumped right in to stop them,” Rachel continued, “but, um, they were too much for us.  They tied us up, and stashed at the bottom of the lift shaft.”

“Luckily, they were content just to leave us out of the way,” Sara said, “but it took us forever to get out of there!”

“The important thing is that you’re safe now,” Chris said.

“What a bunch of foolishness!” Humphrey said.  “You must be daft, even thinking of tackling a supervillain like the Napper.  I know you had fun playing detective back in Carrington, but this is London!  Who do you think you are, anyhow?  Scarlet Sleuth and Night Raven?  Hahahahahahahaha!”

Sara drew back a hand and (CRACK!) slapped him full in the face.  “This date’s over,” she announced.

………………..
Epilogue

The diploma hanging on the wall of her prison office proudly informed the world that Claudia Ward had been awarded a PhD in psychology from Cambridge University.  “Guards, guards!  Somebody, help!” she shouted.

A gentle twang from a lyre answered her.  “There’s no point in calling for help, Dr Ward,” she was told.  “There are hardly any guards left, since everything is now controlled by computers.”

The therapist glared in fury at her captor, unable to find the words to express her outrage.

“Before I leave,” her patient said, “my sincere thanks not only for allowing me the opportunity to wear this outfit, a welcome change from my prison uniform, but also for your participation as well.  You do make a lovely slave girl.  A pity I can’t take you with me.”

“This game has gone on long enough!” Claudia said, jerking on one of the four gold-coloured chains that restrained her.  “Release me this instant, and return to the couch so I can continue your psychiatric evaluation, Professor Battersby!”

“That’s not my name.”  The man, dressed in a purple toga, sandals on his feet, and a laurel wreath in his curly hair, twanged his lyre yet once again, smiling at Claudia, who wore a simple white toga.  “I am the Roman Emperor Nero, brought back to life after all these centuries!”

Claudia jerked on the chains once again, wondering why she’d brought genuine manacles when she decided the ex-history professor would benefit from a bit of roleplaying, to explore his obsession that he truly was Emperor Nero!  Next time I’ll use costume ones, she promised herself.

Emperor Nero snatched a card clipped to the jumper hanging on a wall peg.  “And thank you for the use of your security card,” he said.  “With it, I should be able easily to leave the premises, since there’s no one to stop me.”

Claudia glared angrily at him.  “For the last time, Professor, I demand that you unchain me!”

Emperor Nero laughed instead, sauntering out of the office.  “All of London is rightfully mine to rule!” he gleefully informed the empty corridor.  “Once it is, I’ll attend to Scarlet Sleuth and Night Raven.”

He made a fist, stuck out his thump, and pointed down.  “I’ll repay them for putting me in this place….”

This story is my entry into :icongolavus:’s Sara and the CGDA 5th anniversary art/story jam!

golavus.deviantart.com/journal…

Scarlet Sleuth and Night Raven are the alter egos of Sara Marie Philips and Rachel Agatha Simpson, respectively, which Golavus created merely in fun, and not meant to be a part of their official adventures.  I decided not only to use these versions of his characters for the challenge, but also to write in the style of the old Adam West show from the 1960’s.  In addition, I made a few other changes, such having them move from Carrington to a luxury flat in London.  Thus, it’s all completely non-canonical.

Besides Sara and Rachel, another of Golavus’s characters, Sara’s twin brother, Chris, appears in this story.  It would have been nice to bring in other members of the gang from Carrington, but I felt doing so would overly complicate matters.  Thus, all the rest of the characters are new here, although admittedly many of them are expies from the show mentioned above.

As an extra touch, I originally considered having actual UK television stars playing the roles of the characters in this story, with someone being the Special Guest Villain, the Napper, and someone else being the Special Guest Damsel, Princess Stephanie, and so forth.  I couldn’t think of proper actors for everyone in the story, though, plus I got away quite a bit from how I’d originally imagined some of the characters, so in the end I had to drop that idea.

 

Tags:  damsel, damsels in distress, bound and gagged, peril

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sliferred123's avatar
Definitely felt like watching Adam west batman although the girls need to come up with better excuses for their superheroing in xp