Fanfic: Nemesis Theory: Chapter #2
Title: Nemesis Theory, Chapter 2
Authors: Raggedpelt and Yami Neko Tsuki
Summary: Minion interrogates their new "pet", learning what he can about a previously unknown threat.
Wordcount: 1,999
Rating: This particular chapter is rated PG-13 to be on the safe side. Rating of overall story will range from PG to NC-17.
Other notes: Minion's dialogue in this chapter was written by Yami Neko Tsuki.
Previous Chapters:
Chapter #1: Whiskered Evil
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Chapter #2
"So," Minion said, sitting at the table as he watched the new kitten happily lapping up a saucer of Truth-Infused milk, "What did you mean you had to go straight back home when you're done?"
"I just need to take the blueprints back to my master," she mewed, oblivious to the effects the chemical was having on her, "Once I get them, I go. I'm not supposed to stay longer than I have to."
"Blueprints, huh?" Minion said in a conversational tone. The Truth Infuser was a powerful tool, but he still had to tread carefully. If she realized he was milking her for information, she might stop talking. "For what?"
"The Kill-Sat, and the Brainbots, and the Dehydrator if I can get my paws on them." The tabby paused to lick the milk off her face.
"Your master can't make his own stuff?" Minion asked, pouring her a little more.
"Oh, she's not going to copy them," the little furball scoffed, "She just needs to figure out good counter-measures. …I'm also supposed to observe Megamind and see what I can learn."
"She?" he prompted, hoping to get more information on this cat's so-called 'master'.
Instead, though, she just scoffed and laid her ears back, "Who says only toms can be super-villains?"
"Well," Minion said, "All the female super villains I know don't need to steal plans." Which was true, as Minion didn't know any.
"Yeah, well, I like being alive," the little cat meowed, "So I'm gonna do what she tells me anyway. If she says she's a super-villain, I'm not about to argue with it."
"She sounds really smart," Minion replied, hoping a bit of flattery for her master might smooth the ruffled fur. Upsetting her wouldn't help things, "Is it anyone we know?"
"In passing probably," she replied, giving the fur on her belly a quick lick, "She challenged Metro Man once or twice while Megamind was in jail. …Neither time went well, but she escaped both times too."
"So now powers, just above average intellect?"
"I… I don't know."
"Really?"
The kitten's tail quivered, and she looked down, "Master doesn't talk to me much."
Feeling a twinge of sympathy, Minion carefully rubbed a metal finger along the kitty's cheek. She responded with a soft purr, narrowing her eyes to slits. "So," he asked, "Is she supposed to come get you?"
"I'm supposed to get back to her," the tabby meowed, "Why should she do the hard part? She's the Master." Given how small she was, Minion seriously doubted that the little creature would be able to travel very far on her own.
"Well," he replied, "You said you were supposed to stay and observe."
"Just until I find a few weaknesses, and I already noticed two!"
"Already?" he said, a bit startled, but tried to smooth it over, "Wow, you must be a very clever cat. What did you notice so far?"
"He likes little fuzzies, and he has a girlfriend." The cat flopped over on her side, grooming her belly with long loving licks, "I'm really glad he likes little fuzzies. That makes my life so much easier right now."
Minion reached out and carefully stroked the little spy's belly, getting a rumbling purr in return, "You know, you could just stay here. As long as you don't try to eat me." Not an ideal solution, but better than having her spying.
"But that would be disobeying Master!" she mewed, shaking like a leaf at the thought.
"It doesn't sound like your Master is a very good one, if you have to be afraid of her."
"How dare you!" spat the kitten, getting to her paws, "My master is better than any master who isn't my master! …Besides, you know what happens to bad henchmen!?"
"No, what?"
"They get baths," she mewed, her voice a horrified whisper.
Minion just stared at her, "How is water scary?"
She just looked at him with wide eyes, "I never said it was water. ….But I'm going to do this job right, so I won't get a bath."
Minion just looked at her, not sure how to respond to that. What on earth did her master do to the henchman that got a reaction like this from them? He had always obeyed Megamind because, well, it was his purpose. It hadn't occurred to him that maybe some villains ruled their creations with fear.
"I'm sorry, by the way," she meowed.
"For what?" he asked.
"Well, we're probably going to kill your master," she said, scratching her ear with a hind leg, "And I know you like him."
"I don't think that'll happen."
"Sure it will. My master is very evil, and yours is very new at being a hero."
"Well," Minion said with a nervous laugh, "Megamind is a pretty hard guy to get rid of."
"Is his girl?"
That sent a bit of a shiver through his fins, "Well, she's not new to being kidnapped over and over."
"Do you like her?"
"Well, she's nice and smart."
She looked at him curiously for a long moment, whiskers twitching. "Don't you get bored being a good guy now? I think I would get bored."
"There's still plenty for me to do," Minion said, relieved that she at least seemed to be considering switching sides, "You haven't met the Brainbots yet, and I'm sure he'll start forgetting to take care of you soon. To be fair, most of my job was to make sure stuff kept working and to occasionally kidnap Miss Ritchi. Now I get to-," he paused, realizing that she didn't seem to be listening to him anymore. Instead, the kitten was contemplating the empty saucer in front of her, eyes narrowed in the feline equivalent of a frown. Minion had no idea how long the Truth Infuser's effects worked. Were they wearing off?
The little tabby looked up at him, holding his gaze for a long moment. A very serious, troubled look graced her face, as she spoke in a low voice, "I ate all my milk. Can I have more? Or maybe some better noms than milk?"
He managed to not sigh in relief, "I guess a little more couldn't hurt."
"Thanks!" she chirped, rubbing her cheek against his arm in a friendly way, "I climbed up too high earlier, and had to glide down, so now I'm all hungry from having to grow and un-grow."
"Huh? Grow and un-grow?"
She paused, giving him a shifty look, "I'll show you if I can have some tuna or ham or chicken."
". . . Deal."
"Okay, put me up on top of the fridge and watch close. I'm only gonna it once!"
Minion followed her instructions, then watched in horrified fascination as her flesh began to warp and change before his eyes. Flaps of skin grew between her front and hindlegs, making her look something like an oversized flying squirrel. The… creature… hunkered down, then launched herself off the fridge, gliding over and landing on the table with an ungraceful THUMP. A moment later, she was shaking off the effects of whatever had just happened, the gliding flaps being re-absorbed to leave her looking like a normal cat once more. She looked back at him expectantly.
"H-how did you do that?" Minion stammered, not quite sure of what he just saw.
"You promised me chicken," she replied, as if that answered everything.
He rolled his eyes, but got her some meat out of the fridge like he promised. Soon she was greedily wolfing it down, tail swishing gently in contentment. "You know," she said, looking up at him and licking her nose, "I've spotted some weaknesses on you too."
"Oh?" he said, frowning a bit in concern.
"You're too nice, and you're a fishy in there."
"You promised you wouldn't eat me!"
"I'm not gonna. I have chicken!"
He rolled his eyes and watched her finish off her meal, then jump to the floor. "Anyway, I gotta go. I'll probably be back pretty soon, though!" She started to trot towards the exit, no doubt to go tell her no-good master what she'd discovered so far.
Minion reached over, easily picking her up with one hand. "I think you'd better stay here for now."
She responded by trying to bite him, then letting out a pained squeak as her fangs connected with metal. "OW!" She hissed at him in frustration, "Your hands are hard! How am I supposed to bite them if they're all hard!?"
Minion rolled his eyes, "You're not supposed to bite hands, and they're made of metal."
"But I gotta go for a little bit! I promise I'll come right back in a few days!"
"A few days?"
"It's a long walk."
"To see your master, right? I think you should stay here."
The kitten gave him an exasperated look, "But I can't tell her all your secrets if I stay here!"
He swished side to side, as if shaking his head, "How is that supposed to convince me to let you go?"
The cat carefully considered this for a while, then tried to bite him again. He gave her a look, and said, "I can literally do this all day."
Another long pause as she considered him, before dropping her voice to a soft hiss, "Wanna know a secret?"
"What?" he said, leaning in close to humor the little thing.
"YEEEEEAAAAOOOOW!" she shrieked, right in his ear.
Minion let out a startled yelp and dropped her. The grey kitten bolted for the door, but he reacted quickly, extending his arm to grab her. "Nice try," he grumbled, head still ringing from the yowl. Thank goodness Megamind was a heavy sleeper, or he'd be down here demanding to know what was going on.
Quickly switching tactics, the kitten fixed him with a stare, took a deep breath, then held it.
He frowned, giving her a confused look, "…What are you doing now?" The tabby just shook her head at him, still holding her breath. Minion was a bit concerned, but he doubted she would hold out long enough to actually pass out. A few minutes later, though, and she slumped against his hand, unconscious. …Oddly enough, she changed in appearance once again. Instead of just looking like a normal kitten, Minion suddenly got the distinct impression of a few different ones stitched together--along with wing flaps sewn on for good measure. "Uh, little cat?" he said, leaning in to check to be sure she was breathing. She was.
After a few minutes that seemed like an eternity, the 'kitten' opened her eyes again, giving him a woozy look. A few seconds later she hid her patches and stitches and gliding flaps, once again looking like a normal kitten.
"Sorry," Minion said, actually feeling a little bad about all this.
"It's my one job!" she pleaded, "My one thing I'm supposed to do!"
"Yeah?" Minion replied, "What happens to you once you finish that 'one thing'?"
The tabby just looked at him silently. If she had an answer for that question, she wasn't giving him one. Heaving a sigh, Minion walked over and put her inside the cat-carrier Megamind had purchased earlier that day. He made sure it was securely locked, and then went to make sure all the Brainbots were on their chargers for the night.
He considered telling Megamind right now that the cat was a spy, but something stopped him. The alien fish wasn't sure how his master would respond to a threat like that, particularly since the kitten had hinted that they might go after Roxanne. …So long as he kept her contained, she couldn't report back. Besides, there was a lot he could learn from her if she cooperated; somehow Minion doubted that Megamind would have the subtlety required. With any luck, he'd have enough time to talk the "kitten" over to their side and get more information on this new "super villain".
For now, though, he needed sleep.
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Chapter #3: Said Too Soon