Part Fourteen

The pair returned to Detroit on a Friday, finally getting to their apartment that evening. Once they were finally back home, Vic and Michelle still had two days of weekend before both had to be back at work on Monday. Neither had plans for the night - or the weekend - beyond resting. Though they were definitely open to opportunities.

"Well, I think I've learned my lesson," said Michelle, as she sank tiredly onto their familiar couch. They had already unpacked and started the washer for the small amount of laundry which they hadn't been able to clean before leaving Roosevelt Island. Without much conversation to this point.

"What lesson is that?" said Vic, from the kitchen.

"That I don't want to be involved in your adventures any more."

"I don't know," said Vic, only half teasing, as she leaned into the living room to smile at her wife. "You did pretty good. You kept your head and went peaceably along with the kidnappers so you could help the sick captives, then successfully fought back when you had to. I'm thinking about recruiting you for the Bureau."

"No," said Michelle, firmly, with a sharp shake of her head. "No way."

"All right, all right," said Vic, laughing. "You want to eat at home tonight, or go out? I warn you, if you want to eat at home we'll probably have to go to the grocery first. Everything in the pantry is either dried or canned. The fridge is empty. Just like we left it."

"Let's go out, then. Not to Wok on the Wild side, either. I feel a need to dance."

* * *

A small hatch opened in the large, heavy door. Someone barely seen peered out.

"What is the Devil's only friend?" asked the low, gravelly voice.

"Fire," proclaimed Michelle, boldly.

"Enter," said the voice, as the door slowly opened with an ominous creak.

"I'm glad we came back here," said Vic, as she and Michelle walked down the corridor.

"We need a vacation from our vacation," said Michelle in agreement, as they passed through the next set of doors and easy conversation became impossible.

* * *

"Wow," said Champion, looking a bit the worse for wear as the members of the Assembly came together in their meeting room for a post-mission analysis. Dr. Gorgeous was already there, of course. Champion dropped dramatically into her usual chair. "That was a lot harder than it should have been."

"It didn't help that one of the cops was more interested in flirting with you than helping with the problem," said Thunderer, smirking. She also looked like she'd had a hard time, but lowered herself into her chair much more gracefully.

"Don't remind me," said Champion, rolling her eyes. "Why don't you get that kind of attention?"

"I've learned how to read people and discourage that sort of interest subtly," said Thunderer, airily.

"All right, people," said Dr. Gorgeous, "let's try and focus, shall we? Now, start with the call for help..."

"It was from the DC police," said Rebound. "Only, they didn't know they'd been set up. Or, rather, were being used to set us up."

"By whom?" said Dr. Gorgeous, surprised.

"At a guess," said Champion, angrily, "it was by Rasputnik."

"The guy involved with the androids, the mansion and the super combat island?"

"Yeah."

"You're certain?"

"Yeah. He was actually there. I got a good look at him. It was at a distance, but I recognized him from the photos. He seemed very surprised that I was able to notice him."

"I saw him, too, although I didn't realize who he was until later," said Maciste.

"This means we need to warn everyone involved with both of those efforts that he may be after them, too."

"Definitely," said Maciste.

* * *

"We are definitely glad to have you back," said Vic's boss, the next day.

"Things go sour while I was out of the country, having an easy time fighting drug smugglers and mercenaries?" said Vic, with a slight smile.

"Let's just say that Lady Green focuses on general crime and not super civil rights," said Drake. "Not her fault; that's what the city wants. Now, if you're ready, I'll have Cal Pavolin take you to get your car."

"Great!" said Vic. "I'm eager to see what they've done with it."

* * *

"Wow," said Vic, slowly running a hand along a fender of the Corolla wagon. "I've never seen Monstro look so good."

"Your chief sprang for a new paint job," said the boss of the auto specialty shop. "Said to match the original color - which was easy, since it was still the factory paint job - then put on a clear coat of that special, new polymer which we got from the Shilmek after the war."

"Yeah, I read about that," said Vic, nodding. "Just one coat won't make her a tank, but should go a long way to keeping her from getting hurt again."

The shop did a lot of work on federal government, diplomat and corporate limousines. This had been an unusual job for them.

"We sprayed that stuff - which you can't buy, yet, but have to get straight from the company the feds hired to make it - on the whole outside. Even the windows, since it's completely transparent. We couldn't do a lot to the engine which hadn't already been done, but we put in a heavier strut tower brace, strengthened the suspension and transmission and differential, put in a low-restriction, tuned exhaust, plus better brake rotors, calipers and pads, a backup battery, and a few other things. Oh, yeah, and we also installed the pusher bar. All told, we added less than a hundred kilos while increasing the reliability, horsepower and torque, and the skidpad gees. With the torque and horsepower increases coming from the new exhaust."

"I need to take it for a test drive," said Vic, eagerly.

"Keys are in it. Feel free to make suggestions about how you want the suspension tuned. We can't mark the job as complete until you're satisfied."

Vic really should have taken the car to a test track, but just a trip of a few blocks around the area were enough for her to wring the car out. A bit illegally, but completely safely. She brought it back to the shop in about half an hour and made some requests. After a couple more iterations of that she was satisfied. Very satisfied.

"Thanks, guys," she said, shaking the boss' hand but looking around and talking loudly enough for the whole shop to hear. "She's great!"

She turned back to the car, smiling.

"Now I feel like we're ready for anything."