Chapter 39: A claw got stuck
The temple of knowledge traditionally greeted us with silence and desolation.
At the caretaker's desk, as usual, sat the young heroine, who was obviously pleased to see us, but tried not to show it. It was kind of funny. She was even generous enough to give Harley a hug, though I could see her trying to avoid it, given the enthusiastic blond cutie.
When we were seated at one of the library tables, away from the entrance so that we wouldn't be disturbed by any random visitors, Harley went straight to the book labyrinth to get information, and I pulled out my laptop to send a chain letter to Hugo Strange. His e-mail address was unknown to me, but the World Wide Web helped me, it was only worth it to request the information I needed. The address was a hundred percent real and not abandoned, because it was listed in the published articles that the doctor was steadily clipping every month.
It's time to get back to work on the game.
Creating the levels and thinking about the implementation of the gameplay mechanics was a lot of fun. It was necessary to program the behavior patterns of various enemies, as well as to create the towers themselves. I decided not to replace them with superhero figures, but instead to add recognizable elements to the design of the defensive structures, like the bat symbol with dark gloomy coloring or a hint of antiquity with blue, red and gold colors associated with Wonder Woman. I will still make the hero figures though, and they will function as special weapons. Although why would I do that, if you can try to create them right now to evaluate the idea?
"Ugh, Mr. J, why don't we go to the coffee shop?" My favorite asked, placing a hefty stack of books on the edge of the table. - I was getting hungry.
"Sun, I'm in the middle of the process, why don't you go?" I replied for a moment distracted from creating a superman chibiki, which when summoned will simultaneously destroy all enemies on the map. I wanted to finish the game as quickly as possible, because I still didn't know how much money I would get from Hugo, or if I would get it at all. Still, I couldn't blindly trust suspicious drugs that I had nothing to do with.
By the way, here's another headache: sneaking into the treatment center anytime soon. As far as I understood, the substances didn't need special conditions, or I wouldn't have dared to leave them there, and most of the flasks were sealed, but what if this stuff had an expiration date? Then it wouldn't be good if the amnesiac and liquid hypnosis went bad.
"All right. Uh-huh. Can I get you anything?
"I don't know... Pick something to your taste...
"Okay, I'll be quick. - The girl said before leaving and kissed me on the cheek.
Okay, let's add a cape and animation to the chibiki, then paint it in blue and red colors...
"Um, does he wear underwear over his pants?
"Don't interfere with my sense of beauty... Oh, it's you..." I didn't even notice Barbara coming over with her laptop and standing nearby, looking at my art. She'd had a lot of lessons with Bats, and now she was keeping her distance.
In my work I tried to recreate the classic Superman look from the old comics, it came out a bit grotesque, but that's what I need.
"Is this for your company's next game?" The young heroine walked over, pushed back her chair and sat down next to her.
"Yeah, I called it Tower Defense and even made a working demo of it... So, what do you want. - I stared suspiciously at Batgirl, who wasn't usually the first to make contact.
"Well... There's another game, I've improved it a bit too... - The red-haired beauty was visibly nervous.
Improvements are undoubtedly cool, but I sensed there was more to it, so I kept drilling her with my gaze.
The girl finally staggered away, but was in no hurry to leave.
"Oh, why are you so shy?" I decided to push Barbara. - I'm not gonna eat you. Ha ha ha, spank you at most.
The cutie snorted indignantly, but my words roused her a little and gave her courage.
"You were there in Metropolis during the battle. - The girl said affirmatively. - Here. - She opened her laptop, revealing an image of the city's buildings, which looked like they'd been hit by a volley of missiles. Wait, that's the battlefield of the fake Doomsday.
From a bird's eye view, the destruction seems even more epic. Hell, I can't really believe that I participated in all this and even contributed significantly to the victory.
The commissioner's daughter clicked the mouse a couple of times, and the image jerked closer, showing slightly blurred silhouettes of three people: two girls in seylor-fuku and a man in a cloak holding a hat, a few manipulations and the silhouettes became clearer and more recognizable. Hell, it's almost like some second-rate detective movie where they zoom in on a glass that reflects the license plate number of the getaway car with the killer in it! That's cool! I want to be able to do that.
"Why don't you tell me about it?" Babs pulled the chair even closer, and I saw her eyes sparkle with curiosity and anticipation, displacing all awkwardness and shyness.
I didn't mind telling everything, but my inner Jew resisted it, and besides, I missed some of the events because of hitting the cylinder, it was better to wait for Harley. My girlfriend would definitely describe every stage of the battle more vividly, but for now I could stall for time.
"Hmm... I don't know. - My gaze lingered on the lips of the charming interlocutor. - There were other superheroes out there: Bats, Sunny Boy, Wonder Woman, in case I inadvertently gave away any of their secrets, breaking the superhero code.
"You just made that up about the superhero code. - The girl squinted at me. - And why are you being so disrespectful to Superman? He's the one who took down the monster.
"Huh, that's not true, by the way, and it's not a given that they could have defeated Doomsday without me! And I call Superman that because... Oh you sneaky little thing, deciding to take me on. - S pretended to zipper up his mouth, lock it shut and throw away the key, then turned to his laptop.
"Jay, now you have to tell me everything!" She stepped forward a little, her hand around my arm, and my body shook like a teenager in the midst of puberty.
Huh, let's see how far you can go in trying to learn about fighting Lex Luthor's dusky creation.
"You know... I'm ready to tell you everything: about my mega-ultimatum weapons against the Kryptonians, about Bats's shooting toys, about Wonder Woman's magic artifacts, about the power of Superman's blows, and even about the real magic that literally saved my life... - Speaking about it all, I leaned closer and closer to Gordon's daughter, whose eyes were filled with sincere delight. - ... For the kiss.
It took Barbara a few seconds to realize my words, but her craving to know the true story completely drowned out the weak voice of reason.
"Mmmm... Just one... And you'll tell me everything. - Saying that, her face flamed red.
Ahhhhhh, cute *-*.
"Naturally, Mousey.
I moved forward a little, gently put my arm around the young heroine's waist as she covered her eyes, and then gently touched her cherry-flavored scarlet lips, feeling their amazing softness. Our kiss was innocent enough, like a first kiss between two teenagers, but it was surprisingly vivid and memorable.
"Mr. J.!
When Harley heard Harley's outraged cry, the redhead immediately tried to pull away from me, but it was difficult to do so from her sitting position. Besides, who in their right mind would let go of a pretty girl like that? So I put my arm around her waist.
"Have you no shame?!" The blonde woman loomed menacingly over our couple, placing boxes of ready-to-eat food on the table.
"Harley... You don't understand... I... He... We... - The Commissioner's daughter tried to justify herself, blushing more and more. - I didn't mean to...
"What does this have to do with you?! Mr. J, a sexy chick is in your arms, and you give her such an innocent kiss. Watch this!" My faithful assistant was instantly at my side, pulling the red-haired girl I'd released from my arms to me and kissing her passionately.
Barbara was confused by this onslaught and didn't even resist much when Harley started groping her lower nineties in the process.
"Hmmm... I see... - I said as my favorite blondie broke away briefly, pulling her tongue out of the shocked young heroine's mouth.
I wasn't going to miss the chance, so I stood up and pulled Mouse to me as well, repeating the French kiss.
"Oh, that's better!" My faithful assistant glowed with enthusiasm, hugging the red-haired girl from the back. - But don't forget about the rest of the body.
I pulled away for a second, feeling Harley slip her hand between Barbara and me to clench the latter's breasts and then lick her seductive neck.
"Wait this-" Red as a cancer Mouse tried to say something, but I sealed her mouth with a kiss again.
After a couple minutes of this pastime, the girl between us was out of her mind, completely relaxed in our embrace and moaning when Harley or I touched her sensitive spots. As I explored her slender, taut body, I found more and more similarities with my beloved, from the size of her breasts to the similar location of her erogenous zones.
"Mx. - Breathing heavily, Barbara froze with her pink tongue sticking out.
And Mousey's clearly not averse to a sequel.
Her flushed face and a look full of expectation and lust, stirred up in me low desires, I wanted to attack and roughly possess the red-haired cutie.
~Tzee-zee-zee-zee-zee-zee-zee-zee-zee-zee-zee-zee-zee-zee-zee-zee-zee~
My smartphone started blaring, signaling an incoming call and completely destroying the atmosphere.
Fuck, I'm going to kill someone! I looked at the two hot girls. No, I'll finish here first, then I'll kill... Okay, I'll just break my fingers so the bastard can't call. I'm for the good.
As I was about to hang up, I looked at the screen and noticed that Alan was calling me. Given that we'd broken up only recently, and I'd sent an e-mail to Hugo about half an hour ago, the lawyer was obviously calling for a reason. This was the second time the asshole had screwed up my threesome.
I had to take a break, though.
As soon as I put the speaker of the phone to my ear, I heard a man's excited voice:
"Jay, we need to meet. It's important.
Holy shit, did anyone ever doubt that? Murphy's Law at its finest.
It was as if Barbara had awakened from her obsession and panicked. Looking into her green eyes, I could see that she was beginning to realize what had happened. By the way, if I was still trying to keep within the relative bounds of propriety, Harley was not particularly shy, more actively exploring the body of the young heroine.
"I-I gotta run! I forgot to turn off the iron. - After a ridiculous excuse, the girl started to lash out and had to be let go. I mean, really, you can't hold her down by force, can you? Especially since everything up to this point had been voluntary.
"Harley, keep an eye on her, please. - I asked my assistant, appreciating Mouse's awkward gait as she tried to button her jeans.
"Okie, Mr. J!" The blonde immediately responded, saluting comically and running after the fleeing Batgirl.
"Jay, who is it? I can come over if you need me, just give me the address.
"Wait, you don't have to drive anywhere. Are you in the office right now?
"Yeah. (chuckles)
"Great, I'll be right there.
I don't want anyone else to know about my relationship with the commissioner's daughter. And I'm not talking about the intimate side of things, but in principle. Besides, if her father finds out about it, I'm afraid I'll be in trouble.
My imagination pictured James Gordon standing in front of the cameras with the most dangerous thugs and maniacs of all stripes, promising them amnesty for my head. Brrrrrrrrrrrrr... I'd have a lot of trouble burying them all, and Bats would be upset about losing his nightly entertainment.
I put my laptop in my bag and headed for the library, noticing Harley and Babs sitting at one of the far tables on the way out. I didn't know what my lover had said to the mouse, but she seemed to stop panicking, though she flushed as I passed.
"I'll meet you at home. - I shouted before I left, and waved goodbye to the girls and left the abode of knowledge.
***
Night Gotham. The city had become even darker, but it had also acquired a certain mystical appeal. Dark alleys with inoperative streetlights were replaced by well-lit avenues, along which rare passersby hurried home. I felt an unprecedented mental high as I scrutinized the dark alleys from the windows of the bus, as my eyesight allowed me to see quite well in the dark. It was because of this that I did not feel subconscious fear, because I could clearly see that there was not some scary crocozabra like a giant spider lurking there. And in this world there could be even worse things... For example, an invisible giant spider!
Fortunately, there were no force majeure events along the way, so I had a smooth ride to the business district where Dershowitz's office was located.
It was already more fun here due to the large number of people. There were numerous nightlife venues, such as convenience stores, bars, cafes, and nightclubs.
Strange... The lights in the office are off. I can't see Alan's office from here, but the main entrance must be working. I can't climb up the wall, can I? Maybe I should make a phone call.
"Are you there?" The lawyer asked after a few beeps.
"Yeah. (chuckles)
"Great. - He was off at once, and a second later the door opened, revealing an agitated man, though I had some guesses as to the reason for his condition. - Uh, come on in.
We traveled all the way to his office in silence, and he didn't say a word indoors either.
"Maybe you can tell me...
"Hold on. - He interrupted me, unlocking the safe hidden behind the painting. - Five seconds.
A strange device, reminiscent of the stealth combat design from the game Fallout, was brought to the light: a round metal base with several buttons, an oval radar antenna attached to the top, which, after placing the device on the table, began to slowly rotate in a circle, and a barely audible modulated beeping began to sound in my ears
"All can talk now. - Said Dershowitz, sitting back in his chair with a satisfied smile. - It's a jammer. Radio transmitters stop working, eavesdropping with laser range finders is useless because of the noise.
What I mistook for excitement turned out to be anticipation, and Alan must have a very good reason if he wants to maintain a normal relationship with me.
As if sensing my mood, he said:
"Jay, you're gonna be a billionaire."
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