“Hold on, Veronica! Calm down,” Lisa was closing up shop for the day when she received a call, “Start from the beginning.” Veronica explained how Victor was abducted, but no one seemed available, and Chaos was out of town. “Okay, when did you see him last? Okay. Okay. Meet me there,” Lisa hung up the phone and put on investigation-worthy clothes, and grabbed her grandma’s revolver, “I hope I won't have to use this, but it's better to be safe than sorry.” Lisa met Veronica on a pier a little ways away from the amusement park on the boardwalk. Veronica hugged Lisa, sobbing. “So, Victor was supposed to meet you for a date?” Lisa asked. “Yeah, but he didn't come, and he's not answering his phone,” Veronica explained, wiping her eyes with the tissue Lisa handed to her. “Do you know what could have happened?” “Well, Vic was explaining how he had to go on a job dealing with the Master’s Crew--” “Master Disaster?” “Yeah! He was successful, and we were going to meet to celebrate, but he went missing.” “Chaos Corp and Disaster Inc have always been at odds with each other,” Lisa noted, “and no one is available?” Veronica shook her head. Lisa sighed, “I’m not too good with stuff like this, but Victor is a decent guy. I'll help the best I can.” “Thank you! Thank you, Lisa!” Lisa hugged her and nodded. She was concerned about more than just Victor. Veronica was behaving a little out of character. Lisa noticed a struggle and footprints leading towards the parking lot. Tire marks were heading in the direction of the warehouse district. Lisa and Veronica headed that way. It was eerily silent. Veronica clutched Lisa’s arm as they looked around. Then a bang made them both jump, but it provided a clue. They looked into a window of the building where they heard the sound. “Victor!” Veronica yelled, but Lisa covered her mouth, and they ducked. “I don’t think anyone saw us. Victor looks pretty bad,” Lisa thought. She could feel Veronica trembling, so Lisa took a deep breath and tried to formulate a plan. It was unusual for her to be the only level-headed one. They moved to another window to get out of the area where Veronica yelled out. The men checking the area passed over them because they hid in a crawl space behind the dumpster. The crawl space led inside, so Lisa instructed Veronica to remain silent as they wriggled into the vents. They ended up above Victor. “So-- where is Chaos now?” “Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you. Ugh,” Victor grunted as a bigger man slugged him again. “You do realize if you don't tell me, we will kill you,” the interrogator warned. “You'll kill me even if I did tell you,” Victor spat up blood. “Oh no,” Veronica whispered, taking a shaky breath. “We aren't going to let that happen, Veronica! The odds are against us, but we are the only ones Victor’s got right now,” Lisa whispered. “All right. Whoever is whispering up there in the vents has 10 seconds to get down here,” the interrogator called out. “Shit! What do we do, Lisa?” “Go down there, I guess,” Lisa shrugged, fiddling with something in her pocket. The two women stood in front of the four men with their hands up. “Veronica! Lisa! What in the hell do you think you're doing here?” Victor cried out. “Well, we were trying to save you but obviously failed miserably,” Lisa laughed nervously. “Victor! I'm sorry. You didn't come for our date, so-- I got worried,” Veronica sobbed. Victor shook his head, “Oh, Vero. You knew this could have been a possibility for either of us, so why—?” The lead interrogator almost fell over with laughter. “Chaos couldn't be here, so he sent two women?” the man got serious, “Do we look like idiots?” Lisa pointed at their animal masks, “I mean, that zebra isn't doing anything that would make me think otherwise.” “Lisa!” Victor and Veronica exclaimed at the same time. She shrugged, “I’m sorry.” “Oh, I'm definitely killing this bastard now...” — Meanwhile, Chaos just got off his flight and was in the car with Charles on their way home when his phone flashed, “Dangerous Little Flower.” He smiled, excited to get to see her again. He answered the phone and went to greet her when he heard arguing. “Lisa? Charles put this over the car speaker.” They both came in on the part where she and Veronica had to climb down from the vent. “What is she doing?” Chaos’s heart skipped a beat. He could hear a group of men there, Veronica crying, and Victor shouting. “Lisa!” “I don't know why you have Victor out here in warehouse four near the amusement park, but you, Zebra mask, are not killing Victor today,” Lisa declared. Charles immediately started heading in that direction as Chaos sent out an SOS for the rest of the crew. He and Charles kept listening. “Don’t do anything foolish, Lisa,” Chaos prayed. “Definitely killing this bastard now,” he heard a thud, then a gunshot. Chaos jumped. “Did you-- just throw your revolver at me?” the man reeled. “Well, it made you miss, didn't it?” Lisa blew a raspberry at the other guy. Chaos facepalmed, “Jesus, Lisa.” “You-- do realize we have your gun now,” the man said slowly. “It won't do you any good. It's empty. Plus, even if it did have bullets in it, I didn't want to shoot Victor accidentally,” Lisa explained matter of factly. “So— definitely shooting you first now, so you don't get any more bright ideas,” then man cocked his gun again. “Charles!” Chaos exclaimed. “I’m pushing the car past its limit as it is, boss.” Chaos shook with rage, “Damn it!” Another gunshot was followed by Victor and Veronica screaming out Lisa's name. Chaos heard some rustling. “This broad is definitely dead...” Chaos slumped back but then heard more rustling and a “What the fuck?” “I thought you said she was dead, you idiot! Augh!” another gunshot rang out. “We are almost there, boss!” Charles shouted. Chaos disconnected the call as he and ten men burst into the warehouse. They shot all the guys holding Victor, Veronica, and Lisa captive. There were only three out of four. The fourth man was laid on top of Lisa in a heap. Lisa was reeling. The first bullet grazed her arm. The second and third ones hit the guy on top of her, thankfully not going all the way through. Lisa was trying to hold back tears, “It just grazed me, but this hurts like a son of a bitch. Spencer and his friends deal with this every day?” Chaos threw the man off and cradled Lisa in his arms. “Lisa? Lisa! God, there’s so much blood-- I can’t tell,” Chaos panicked, holding her face, “Lisa! Stay with me.” “Chaos, is that you?” Lisa coughed. “Yes! It's me!” Chaos held on to her tightly, “What were you thinking?” “That more than my arm hurts like a son of a bitch,” Lisa was looking pale. “Shit,” Chaos couldn’t tell where else Lisa had gotten hurt. He lifted her to take her to the SUV. Chaos had his reservations about stripping her, but he had to find where else she got hit. Chaos found the wound in her thigh. He examined it, “Lisa— the bullet is still in here. I’m going to have to get this out.” Chaos went pale. He’s pulled bullets from wounds thousands of times, but his stomach started turning. “Don’t worry, Spencer,” Lisa pat his arm, “I trust you.” Chaos bit his lip, beginning to wonder if that’s something she should do. He took a shaky breath and started digging into the bullet hole. Lisa cried out, squeezing his shirt. “I know. I know,” Chaos tried to sound reassuring, “I got it! Lisa? Lisa!” Lisa passed out. “Hey, Lisa,” Chaos held her face again, “Lisa!” She groaned, “I’m sorry. I blacked out again.” “I need you to stay awake until we get back to base, okay?” Chaos was pressing his sweater against her wound, “What were you thinking?” “Veronica needed my help finding Victor,” Lisa began, “We found him, but Veronica got startled, so— we had to hide.” “I’m glad you called me, but what if I were still on my flight and couldn’t answer?” Chaos was trying to keep his voice even. “I guess the three of us would have died,” Lisa coughed. “Lisa,” Chaos furrowed his brow. She lifted a hand to touch his face, “Hey, don’t look so distraught. You were able to answer. Victor and Veronica are okay. It all turned out all right.” Chaos held her hand to his face, “I’m sorry, Lisa. I’m so, so sorry.” “Why are you sorry? Veronica and I were the ones playing Scooby-Doo,” Lisa’s voice was hoarse, “obviously, I was Velma.” Chaos laughed though he was shedding tears, “I always thought Velma was the sexy one.” “Maybe I should start wearing glasses,” Lisa smiled weakly. “Boss! How is—“ Charles got into the car and saw the sight. He hadn’t seen his friend look so lost and desperate since the first time he saw Chaos wake up from a nightmare about his parents. “I’ll get us back to base so we can get that treated,” Charles said somberly, gunning it back to Chaos Corps. — They parked the car and were met by a frantic Ben. “Jesus! I looked away for— I have some of her things. I figured you wouldn’t take her to a regular hospital which is smart, but I hope you have good doctors here,” Ben was trotting after Chaos, who was rushing Lisa into the building. Charles grabbed Lisa’s things, “I don’t know who you are, but we have some of the best here.” “Good… Tell Lisa Mr. Wilson and I will keep up with the shop. she’s an unnatural color for someone who just got shot,” Ben looked at her as they were rushing, “Shit….” “What, Ben?” Chaos signaled for them to bring the doctor up to his room. “Those bullets were laced,” Ben explained what the doctor should look for in treating Lisa, “If you haven’t encountered this type of poison… just know the antidote makes you violently ill… make sure she stays hydrated. The next 24 to 48 hours will be touch and go. Good luck.” Ben made his exit when they reached the elevator. The doctor met them on the top floor with Veronica, who cleaned Lisa up and redressed her before the doctor started treatment. “Here are some of her clothes, Veronica,” Charles passed her the duffel bag. “I’m not sure how you got this so quickly, but thanks,” Veronica said as the doctor took Lisa and shut them out. Chaos slid down the wall, holding his head, “Shit, shit, shit….” Charles put a hand on his shoulder, “It’ll be okay, boss.” “How do you know?” Lector trotted up, “This is Lisa we’re talking about, boss. Which by the way, I think I found something— strange.” “Can’t this wait, Lector?” Charles reprimanded. “No. For once, I don’t think this can wait,” Lector pulled out the revolver. “It just looks like an old-school revolver, Lector,” Charles grimaced, “How can this not wait?” Chaos reached for it with a shaky hand and looked it over. If this is something Lector can’t wait for at a time like this, it must be important. “The woodwork is nice on the handle and the steel— this is pretty rare,” Chaos raised his eyebrows. “I found it where we picked up Lisa. Boss, there is only one revolver like this in the world,” Lector marveled, “Obviously, Disaster Inc. wouldn’t have this. Charles said he heard Lisa throw a revolver at someone. Boss, this has to have been Lisa’s.” Lector was almost dancing like he was about to reveal some big secret. “I remember that part. Yes, this must belong to Lisa,” Chaos looked it over, “but she doesn’t seem like the type to use a gun in the first place.” “Boss, do you know who the original owner of that revolver is?” “No, Lector, but I feel like you’re going to tell me.” “Boss, that revolver belonged to Crimson Katheryn,” Lector nodded. “The infamous pirate who stained the seas red for miles of you crossed her?” Chaos raised his eyebrows, “the one who monopolized thievery and international trade? The Queen Harpy if the seven seas?” Lector nodded. “Lector, you have to be shitting us,” Charles shook his head, “there’s no way….” “Look at the inscription,” Lector pointed out something on the butt end. “Holy shit! Why would Lisa have this?” Charles scratched his head as Chaos looked from the revolver to Lector, wide-eyed. “Well, it’s said that she disappeared around the same time Captain Vice disappeared off the face of the earth, too. There are a lot of theories thrown around. One was that they clashed at sea and killed each other. Some say it was coincidental. Then there’s an even smaller population stating that they became lovers and disappeared to raise a family in secret,” Lector explained. “The last group has to be crazy. How could history’s most beloved hero fall in love with history’s most hated villain? That woman was pure evil, and that man was just— pure. Lector, how do you know all this to begin with?” Charles frowned. “I love guns, Charles, and some guns have history and hold secrets,” Lector marveled at it. “They may be right,” Chaos said softly. Charles raised his eyebrows, “What was that, boss?” “I think Lector is right. This Madam Lesura could very well be Crimson Kate,” Chaos took a shaky breath, “with the way everyone was acting at the gala, it makes sense.” “Boss, I think you’re too traumatized to think clearly,” Charles shook his head, “I mean, this is her gun, but this is all circumstantial.” “I can’t believe I got to hold Crimson Kate’s gun! Do you think I can ask Lisa if I can shoot it when she gets better?” Lector beamed. “She lost a lot of blood, Lector. The bullet hit a vital spot in the thigh, and the bullets were laced. How do you know she’ll get better?” Chaos repeated. Lector looked at Chaos deadpan, “Boss… this is Lisa we are talking about. She’s not just any woman. Lisa beats up guys twice her size. She owns her own business. She goes to the annual gala to arrange flowers in her grandmother's absence,” Lector listed, “And she likes you, boss. Not anyone can look you in the eye and say flirty things to make you act silly. I’m pretty sure you don’t give very many people that time of day, boss.” “Boss, you can come in now,” the doctor exited the room, followed by Veronica. It had been several hours, so the doctor said she had most of the vomiting out of the way, and he was able to give her IV fluids. He noted it’s a good thing that they came in knowing what the poison was, or she would have died before he could figure it out. The doctor handed Chaos some medicine and gave instructions. “Thanks, doc,” Chaos nodded. The doctor bowed, and Veronica pat him on the shoulder. She shooed Charles and Lector away as Chaos went into his room and shut the door. He approached his bed and looked down at Lisa. “My dangerous little flower,” he brushed the hair from her face, “I know you aren’t going anywhere because you’re sleeping, but I’ll be right back.” After some time, Chaos returned cleaned up. He sat next to her on the bed. She still looked pale. “I’ll go pull up a chair—“ He started to get up, but something was holding onto his shirt, “I’ll be right back! I just need to get the chair.” Lisa tugged on his shirt some more. She was barely conscious, and her throat burned from throwing up for almost an hour straight. “Do you— want me to stay in bed with you?” Chaos asked. Lisa tugged his shirt. That was the extent of what she could manage. “I don’t know. You’re hurt, and I don’t want to—“ Chaos began. Lisa forced a choked, “Stay.” “Okay. I hear you. Just don’t talk and relax,” Chaos climbed into bed next to her, carefully wrapping his arms around Lisa, “There. Sleep— well… she’s out like a light now.” He smiled and kissed her forehead, “Good night, Little Flower.” — Veronica kissed Victor passionately as soon as she made it back to their place, holding him tightly. Victor winced, face still pretty sore from having the snot beat out of him. “Vic,” Veronica hiccuped, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I—“ Victor cupped Veronica’s face in his hands, kissing her softly. He brushed tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. “Vero, it’s okay. Thanks to you and Lisa, I can hold you like this,” he kissed her again. “Y-you aren’t mad?” Victor shook his head, “I’m just glad you’re alive, too.” “Okay…” “I’m more concerned about you, Vero. You know not to come after me like that. It would have been better to wait or at the very least bring your gun,” Victor brushed a stray hair behind her ear. Veronica flushed, silent. “Vero?” Veronica looked away, turning a deeper shade of pink. “It seems like you had something to tell me on our date,” Victor tilted her chin to look back at him, chuckling, “Why are you acting so shy right now?” Veronica was tapping her heel nervously. She had her usual steeled resolve until Victor went missing. Veronica sighed as she rummaged through her purse. Victor looked on curiously. She dropped what she was looking for into his hands. “Vero, what is—“ Victor turned the object over, “this is—“ Victor was dumbfounded, then his face lit up, “Vero, are you—?” Veronica nodded sheepishly. “So I’m going to be—“ Veronica nodded then made a noise of surprise as Victor held her in his arms, kissing her repeatedly. His face hurt, but he didn’t care. “Vic, take it easy! I’m sure your face is killing you!” Veronica couldn’t help but smile, “Not the reaction I was expecting.” “How could I not be happy that the most beautiful woman in the world is making me a father?” Victor touched his forehead to Veronica’s smiling, “We should celebrate! What do you want to do?” “Well,” Veronica smirked at him, “I could think of a few things that wouldn’t require us to leave this room— if you’re up for it.” Victor chuckled, kissing her, “Vero, for you— I’ll always be up for it.”